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Automotive News
2011 Ferrari 458 Italia Supercar Test Drive
Ferarri's new lust-worthy 562-hp supercar hits 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. It's indisputably attractive, but it is also derivative, as though it had been concocted from the best parts of previous great Ferrari designs. Let's see what it can do on real roads. Click For More.
Aptera's False Rumors: Founders Not "Ousted"—On Vacation
Recent reports claiming that Aptera motors founders were "ousted in a boardroom showdown" appear to be false. Click For More.
Why GM Might Repay Its Loans Early Despite Losses: Analysis:
General Motors has not yet turned profitable since emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy last July. That's no surprise. What is surprising is that the automaker is going to start repaying its government loans beginning in 2010, five years ahead of schedule. Click For More.
2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 Test Drive
BMW's ActiveHybrid X6 is a forward-looking crossover with a hatchback SUV-style design. But does the performance-oriented hybrid pack enough efficiency to make it worth an extra 20 grand? Let's see. Click For More.
2009 Kawasaki ER-6n Test Ride: Sporty Standard Bike Under $7000
Newcomers to motorcycling frequently face a range of sportbikes that are simply beyond their capabilities. The ER-6n's styling suggests speed, yet its underpinnings are milder and more forgiving. We took a ride on this middleweight to see how it stacks up. Click For More.
How to Troubleshoot a Tire-Pressure Monitoring System
Are your tires really inflated properly? Don’t put too much faith in your tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS)—it often won’t give a sign that they are low until it’s too late. Here’s how to set up your TPMS system so that you are never caught without enough air. Click For More.
GM Update: Lutz Will Take Reins of Opel
The fallout from General Motors' decision to keep its Opel brand could distract the automaker as it tries to fix its North American business. GM appointed its vice chairman Bob Lutz as Opel chairman following last week's resignation of CEO Carl-Peter Forster. Click For More.
How Better Place's Robotic Battery Swap Stations Work
The world's most ambitious electric car company, Better Place, will rely on robotic station attendants to change its EV cars' batteries. Here's how it will work. Click For More.
2010 Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS Test Drive
Despite its intimidating stance, this is one of the most civilized supercars around. Just don't forget that there's 563 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque available from the 6.2-liter V8, with all the performance you'd expect from a $200,000 aluminum spaceframe supercar. Click For More.
Hydrogen Gadgets at SEMA: Cars Still Can't Run on Water
This year's SEMA show is blissfully short on bogus gas-saving gadgets. Unfortunately, there are still some hydrogen-on-demand holdouts claiming dramatic improvements in fuel economy by burning water in your car. Click For More.
Chrysler Reveals Its Turnaround Plan
Less than six months have passed since Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy with new owners and a new lease on life. Recently, the company gave a progress report during an unprecedented eight-hour briefing session. Here is the new future of Chrysler. Click For More.
12 X-Prize Contenders Show Off Their MPG Tech At SEMA 2009
The Progressive Automotive X-Prize held a technical summit of the participating 43 teams at the 2009 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Twelve of those teams brought along vehicles to display at the show, each one in varying degrees of completeness. Click For More.
The 10 Ugliest Cars at SEMA 2009
At the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas we've seen the usual assortment of high-tech gadgets, tricked-out speedsters and blinged out interiors. But alongside the glorious mods, there are plenty of strange, dumb and just plain ugly cars, trucks ... Click For More.
GM Keeps Opel for Scale and Innovation: Analysis
General Motors' board on Tuesday reversed course on an earlier decision to sell its European subsidiary Opel. Here's what it means for GM's future products and strategy. Click For More.
Recall Safety: How to Fix a Stuck Electronic Throttle
Last month, Toyota issued a recall for 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus models because the floor mats were said to restrict the throttle pedal's movement and cause the car to unintentionally accelerate. Now the company faces a media firestorm over the problem. Click For More.
Why the Hydrogen Feud Needs to End: Analysis
Hydrogen fuel cell research is in the midst of a tumultuous debate. Proponents continue to sink money into research and marketing while the opposition asks that researchers shift time and money to more promising technologies, like batteries. Click For More.
Car Industry Plans Shift to Low-Impact Refrigerant in A/C Systems
The auto industry is shifting to new, low-impact refrigerant for car air conditioning systems. Here's what that means for car companies—and for you. Click For More.
2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Test Drive
It’s been precisely one year to the day since we first reviewed the 2009 Toyota Venza. Toyota’s cross-town rival Honda has been putting the final layer of polish on its own crossover wagon competitor over the past twelve months, and here it is: The Accord Crosstour. Click For More.
2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Test Drive: Super Porsche—and Everyday Driver?
Porsche is quick to point out that though the new 911 Turbo costs more than six figures, it consumes up to 16 percent less fuel than its predecessor, develops 20 more horsepower, delivers 22 lb-ft more torque, and accelerates up to 8 percent faster. Click For More.
2010 Bentley Continental Supersports Test Drive
The 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports pounds out some 622 hp and comes with equipment you'd never expect to see in a Bentley. Lighter, faster and more focused than the standard Continental, the Supersports puts a razor edge on Bentley's rapier. Click For More.
2010 Automotive Excellence Awards
Each year, we gather our findings and debate, sometimes quite passionately, which 10 cars, trucks and technologies are the most significant. The winners are presented here—in the Automotive Excellence Awards for 2010. Click For More.
Hybrid Carmaker Fisker Takes Over GM Factory
Startup firm Fisker Automotive announced today that it will build its next-generation hybrid sedan, with a $528 million loan from the DOE, in a now-closed GM factory in Wilmington, Del. Is this the first step to a new and improved U.S. auto industry? Click For More.
2010 Toyota 4Runner Trail Test Drive: Is This the Last 4X4?
The traditional mid-size SUV may have been the definitive vehicle of the 1990s, but it's an endangered species now. Whistling right past the SUV graveyard is the new, fifth-generation, 2010 Toyota 4Runner. It's a survivor—maybe the last of its kind. Click For More.
2010 Dodge Ram HD 2500/3500 Test Drive: Heavy Hauling Diesel Power
To play in the heavy-duty pickup truck segment, Ford, Chevy, GMC and Dodge know they have to deliver big capability and capacity anytime they come out with a new truck. And now, they need to meet tough new emissions regulations too. Click For More.
Jay Leno Builds a Turbine-Powered Biodiesel Supecar
A 1963 Chrysler turbine car and GM's 1950s Firebird jet cars inspired Jay Leno to build another high-tech supercar. This new turbine supercar runs on biodiesel and could theoretically top 245 MPH. Click For More.
The Case Against Magnetic Screwdrivers
A reader writes in wondering where he can find magnetic screwdrivers like the one his mechanic has. But PM senior automotive editor Mike Allen thinks that tool is unnecessary. Here is his case against magnetic screwdrivers. Click For More.
Tokyo's 8 Most MPG-Kicking Concept Cars
Compared to 2007, there were less than half as many exhibitors at this year's Tokyo Auto Show, thanks to the global economic slowdown. But the companies that were here made headlines with a compelling group of alt-fuel concepts and production debuts. Click For More.
2011 Lexus LFA Test Drive: Pushing the Limits of This 552-hp Supercar Prototype
Much in the way the aspiring Hollywood star needs to "do Shakespeare," Toyota felt it needed to "do supercar." Recently we had a chance to test drive a Lexus LFA prototype on the famed Nürburgring race track. Click For More.
PM's Ultimate 5 Car MPG Comparison Test
We test America's most fuel-frugal cars. We took the Audi A3 TDI, Toyota Prius V, Smart Fortwo Passion, Honda Insight Ex Navi and Ford Fusion Hybrid on mileage tests to see which ones perform best on city streets, desert highways and twisty back roads. Click For More.
2010 Volkswagen Golf Test Drive: Clean Diesel Hits 41 MPG
Using the heart of the current Jetta TDI Clean Diesel, the oil-burning Golf provides plenty of pep and fuel economy to boot. So are those additions enough to warrant a complete generation change or do they simply constitute a facelift? Read on to find out. Click For More.
Three-Wheelers Approved for DOE Funds
After months of debate, Congress has passed a bill that will pave the way for manufacturers of electric three-wheelers like the Aptera 2e to qualify for funding from the Department of Energy. Click For More.
2010 Suzuki Kizashi Test Drive: Is This Sporty Midsize Sedan the Best Suzuki Ever?
Suzuki clearly has lofty expectations for its new Kizashi sedan, which we recently drove on the roads around the Washington/Oregon border, as well as on Portland's eponymous international raceway. Click For More.
Test Drive: Volvo V70 and C30EV Show Battery-Powered Promise
In this rough economic climate, it's nice to see Volvo embracing the latest environmental technologies. The plug-in hybrid V70 wagon will be in European showrooms next year. Unfortunately, we're going to have to wait for the battery-electric C30EV coupe. Click For More.
Massive Recalls Jolt Toyota and Ford
In the past two weeks, Toyota and Ford have recalled almost 10 million vehicles for safety-related problems. Here's a description of the problems and what you should do if your car needs the fixes. Click For More.
2010 Nissan Altima Test Drive: Subtle Improvements for Nissan's Best Seller
The Nissan Altima battles head-to-head against giants like Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord. But lest you suspect that Nissan's midsize sedan is overshadowed by its competitors, consider that Altima is the brand's most successful nameplate. Click For More.
Why Saturn Owners Will Lose Out on Warranty Repairs: Analysis
Saturn is no more, but that doesn't mean that the 350 or so dealers and all their vehicles just disappear. Here are your options on keeping your old or brand-new Saturn up and running. Click For More.
Can the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport Dethrone the BMW M3? Comparison Test Drive
This unlikely duel pits what is arguably the world's best sports sedan, the BMW M3, against the Corvette Grand Sport. Under those hoods, both cars have V8s with over 400 hp. And more to the point, these two machines cost about the same price. Click For More.
5 Companies Making Fuel From Algae Now
Algae is now a burgeoning sector in biofuels with several high-profile start-ups, including Craig Venter’s Synthetic Genomics, and the interest of big-time investors like Bill Gates and ExxonMobil. Here are 5 projects leading the pack today. Click For More.
2009 Suzuki TU250X Test Ride: Bargain Retro Bike Generates Big Smiles
Modern motorcycles use all manner of technological trickery to extract maximum performance from minimum engine displacement. But every now and then a manufacturer goes against the grain and decides to keep it simple: the TU250X from Suzuki is one of those bikes. Click For More.
The Trouble With In-Car GPS Systems
PM senior automotive editor Mike Allen loves GPS systems both in and out of automobiles. But he finds that portable GPS devices beat factory-installed car navigation systems almost every time in terms of price, flexibility and ease-of-use. Click For More.
2010 Acura ZDX Test Drive: Sporty Hatchback Crossover Packs Style and Utility
But as the crossover segment has evolved, the genre has splintered into even more variations. The Acura ZDX takes an ambitious stab at a decidedly niche market. Click For More.
Should the US Tax Mileage or Fuel?: Guest Analysis
The government's push to raise mpgs may have a disturbing, unintended consequence—deteriorating highways. Nick Chambers of Gas 2.0 takes a close look at some of the high-tech and low-tech ideas that are being talked about now. Click For More.
What Went Wrong With Saturn?: Analysis
With the announcement that General Motors and the Penske Automotive Group have broken off negotiations to transfer ownership of the Saturn brand between them, it's an almost tragic end to one of GM's boldest experiments. Click For More.
How to Make Biodiesel With a Commercial Kit
You can make biodiesel in a bucket with little more than some drain cleaner, gas-line de-icer and a wooden spoon. But it can be dangerous. With a wide variety of new biodiesel kits on the market, it's easier than ever to turn used fry-oil waste into diesel fuel. Click For More.
2011 Kia Sorento Test Drive: Car-Like Crossover Hits 29 MPG
Not only is the 2011 Sorento a clean-sheet redesign—and a rather handsome one—but it also comes from Kia's sparkling new factory in West Point, Ga. What we've seen so far suggests that Kia's true success in America has only just begun. Click For More.
2011 Infiniti M37 and M56 First Look: Athletic Sport Sedan Gains Muscle
Infiniti showed its next-generation M sedans—virtually. The new cars were rendered in 3D on a foam buck at an event sponsored by Infiniti and Hearst magazines at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Click For More.
Meet the 9 New 2010 Harley-Davidson Bikes
Harley's lineup features nine new models for 2010, bringing the total model count to 34—the highest number of bikes in the company's history. PM takes a behind-the-scenes look at what's next for the legendary motorcycle maker. Click For More.
Cities Race to Add EVs—But Can the Grid Support Them?
Cities are racing to add infrastructure for electric vehicles. But even as they erect public charging stations and talk battery-swap plans, the question of whether the electric infrastructure can handle new demand remains unanswered. Click For More.
2010 Suzuki Kizashi First Look—New Midsize Sedan Good Enough to Take on Toyota and Honda?
The name Kizashi means “something great is coming" in Japanese and it’s clear that this is a big step for Suzuki. The company threw all of its creative and engineering might into the project, which is an all-new car from the ground up. Click For More.
Do 4 New Luxury Wagons Signal the Return of the Hatchback?
A handful of upcoming luxury cars will feature a body configuration rarely seen in the U.S.–the hatchback. Porsche, Acura, BMW and Audi all have plans to sell expensive cars with the feature in the near future. PM looks at these luxury hatches. Click For More.
2010 Subaru Outback Test Drive
The 2010 Outback is, of course, bigger and better than before, but it's still a proudly eccentric and weirdly wonderful mashup of station wagon, SUV and Australian off-road pretense. It hasn't lost its Subie soul and has gained both more ability and even some elegance. Click For More.
10 Cool Vintage Bikes From the 2009 AMA Bike Show
Every summer, vintage motorcycle enthusiasts gather at Mid-Ohio raceway to race, trade parts and check out some classic bikes. The event claims to host the world's largest motorcycle swap meet. Here are 10 of the most interesting bikes we found. Click For More.
2010 Victory Cross Country and Cross Roads First Look: Two Cruisers Ready to Take on Harley-Davidson
Victory has unleashed some serious design firepower in recent years, and this year, the company delivers two more aggressively designed bikes—the all-new Cross Country and Cross Roads. Click For More.
2010 Fiat 500C Convertible Test Drive: Open-air Fun in 37 MPG Fiat-Chrysler Retro 500 Cabriolet
Fiat admits that it's isn't exactly sure which cars will be coming to the U.S. But while talks are taking place over the next couple of months, it would be difficult to imagine this charming drophead failing to make it over to America. Click For More.
6 Mods for the Ultimate High-Tech Police Car
The typical cop car isn’t born—it’s slapped together. This involves taking a production vehicle adding some lights and a divider between the front and back seats. But with the right mods, a police car can be a hyper-efficient surveillance machine. Click For More.
4 Innovations for Cleaner, Flat-Free, Gearless Rides
Automotive breakthroughs don’t always have to reinvent the powertrain or find breakthrough materials for a new chassis. Sometimes the little things can make just as big an impact. Here are four innovations that sweat the details. Click For More.
Questions for General Motors' CEO Fritz Henderson
At the recent test drive of the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse, GM CEO Fritz Henderson made an unexpected appearance. We rode shotgun as he drove the new Buick (our own test drive is Click For More.
Why We Should Measure by Gallons per Mile, Not Miles per Gallon
The more intuitive way to measure a car's fuel usage is to measure the consumption—not the mileage. That's right, we need to start measuring fuel economy in gallons per mile. Click For More.
2010 Kia Forte Koup Test Drive: Can Sleek and Sporty Coupe Take on Honda, Scion?
In 1992, Kia arrived on U.S. shores with a value-driven persona, but thanks to some newer models, the Korean brand has suddenly become more enticing. Does Kia's latest offering have what it takes to nudge the brand into mainline competition? Click For More.
2010 BMW X6 M Test Drive: Is 555-HP Performance Monster-Track Ready?
BMW's storied M division has stepped up to what is, quite literally, its biggest challenge ever: Create M editions of the X5 and X6 crossovers. We had a chance to take the 2010 X6 M on the fast and fabled Road Atlanta racetrack—scene of many BMW racing triumphs—aiming to ... Click For More.
2010 Chevrolet Cruze Test Drive: Volt Without the Plug—GM's Compact Sedan for 2011
The Chevy Cruze will replace the Cobalt as GM's Civic and Corolla competitor for the 2011 model year. However, it has just gone on sale in Europe. Here's a taste of what we can expect from the new GM here in the States in less than two years. Click For More.
2010 Subaru Legacy Test Drive: Midsize Sedan Goes Mainstream, Still Packs Turbo Heat
Subaru's fifth-generation Legacy wields the brand's signature calling cards, and adds massaged powerplants, larger proportions and refreshed styling to counterpunch the competition. Click For More.
2010 Toyota Tundra Work Truck Test Drive: New V8 Offers Back-to-Basics Utility
Toyota brings its Tundra back to basics for 2010. It's everything you'd have wanted and expected in a 1955 Chevrolet Series 3100 done with 21st century technology and Toyota quality. Click For More.
2009 Ducati Streetfighter S Test Ride: Friendly Italian Exotic Packs Big Power and Techy Traction Control
If you're not an aspiring MotoGP star, but still want a motorcycle with serious bite, Ducati's new Streetfighter aims to scratch that itch for power without leaving you with sore wrists and a hefty chiropractic bill. Click For More.
Car Maintenance Quiz: How Do Your Automotive Skills Stack Up?
You may think you know how to change your oil, tires and oil filter, but are you really doing it the right way? Test your car expertise against Senior Popular Mechanics Automotive Editor Mike Allen--he might just teach you something new. Click For More.
The Bailout Blog: PM's Auto Experts Keep You Informed
UPDATED 12/19/08: President Bush has announced a $13.4 billion federal loan package for GM and Chrysler. Ford has said it doesn't need money at this time and was not included in the plan. Click For More.Automotive News
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