Block finds out if an all-wheel-drive rally car can hang in the world of rear-wheel-drive drifters. Ken Block has built up quite the reputation for stunt driving and his Gymkhana escapades need no introduction. The Hoon extraordinaire recently visited the Formula Drift stop in Irwindale in his Ford Fiesta HFHV for a couple rounds of drifting. But what makes Block's ride stand out among the field of rear-drive drift cars is its all-wheel-drive setup. Block explains that, "Unlike a RWD car, counter-steering actually pulls my AWD Fiesta out of a drift, making long, constant radius-drifts difficult." "Once a RWD car is drifting, more throttle can be added to actually increase speed, where on an AWD car, I need to carry as much speed as possible into the initiation so I can carry the momentum through the turn, as I am essentially steering straight, any amount of grip would pull me off line and away from the bank." See what he means in the video below.
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Carbuzz
5:25 PM
TIGER PRODUCTIONS
Despite a sluggish financial recovery after World War II, Volkswagen struck gold with its iconic Beetle, which managed to stay in production until 2003. The concept of a "people's car" was nothing new when Dr. Ferdinand Porsche set out to make the Beetle. The Ford Model T had come and gone by this point, and in truth the Beetle didn't add much to the idea of what made for a proper people's car. But where the Model T was obviously going to be a success from the start, the Beetle was a surprise success, pulling off an amazing sales feat by way of good timing and a brilliant marketing campaign. 
Source: Carbuzz
Eckert�s Rod Shop supercharged a GT40 engine and put it in the back of a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1. This is the result. Ford recently revealed a series of tuned Mustangs that are heading to SEMA 2012 next week, but the Stang to keep an eye out for at the Las Vegas event is this mid-engined Mustang customized by Eckert's Rod Shop. Combining the body of a 1969 Mustang Mach 1 with the powertrain of a GT40, the Mach40 is powered by a 5.4-liter engine upgraded with a supercharger and converted to run a flex-fuel system. In other words, this is no ordinary muscle car. 
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Billed as an effort to curb the city's seemingly never-ending gridlock problem, the proposed law would specify days when only vehicles with an even or an odd license plate number are allowed on public streets. It would not be a city-wide ban as only the most congested areas would be affected, and it would only be enforced during the busiest hours of the day. Over the last decade, Beijing has tried to reduce traffic congestion in many different ways but most have failed. The new law's sponsors claim that it will be effective because it is aimed at specific areas and specific windows of time during the day. Be that as it may, the proposed measure leaves several high-placed members of Beijing's government skeptical. "I think caution is required. [The new law] could ease traffic congestion in the short term, but it can't solve the problem at the root," said Wang Limei, the secretary general of the China Road Transport Association, in an interview with China Daily. Other critics fear that the law will only affect members of the lower and middle classes who only have a single car in their household. "Rich people can buy two or even four or five cars to evade the odd-even car plate measure," said a businessman. A similar measure was enforced for two months in 2008 to prepare for the Olympic Games. During that time, traffic decreased by 21 percent on big roads and the average speed on all roads went up by 27 percent. Photo by Ronan Glon. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
"I saw a story today that one of the great manufacturers in this state Jeep � now owned by the Italians � is thinking of moving all production to China," Romney said, according to The Detroit News. "I will fight for every good job in America. I'm going to fight to make sure trade is fair, and if it's fair America will win." Although the exact source of Romney's intel wasn't immediately clear, several inaccurate stories were circulating the Web on Thursday making similar claims based on a story published by Bloomberg. The first paragraph of the Bloomberg article stated that Chrysler was planning to return Jeep production to China "and may eventually make all of its models in that country", which was misconstrued as Chrysler shifting Jeep's entire production base to China. In reality, Chrysler is exploring ways to produce Jeep vehicles in China for the Chinese market. "Let's set the record straight: Jeep has no intention of shifting production of its Jeep models out of North America to China," Chrysler spokesman Gualberto Ranieri said. "It's simply reviewing the opportunities to return Jeep output to China for the world's largest auto market. U.S. Jeep assembly lines will continue to stay in operation." The Obama campaign immediately picked up on Romney's gaffe. "Romney shamefully tried to scare voters tonight into thinking Jeep production moving to China. False," Obama spokesman Danny Kanner tweeted. Another Obama spokesman called Romney's statement "blatantly false." "At an event in Defiance, Ohio tonight, Mitt Romney shamelessly tried to scare voters into thinking Jeep was moving to China and taking American jobs with it," campaign spokesman Matt McGrath said. "That is blatantly false, and speaks to how Romney will say absolutely anything to win votes." Chrysler's Toledo Jeep complex, which is about an hour away from Defiance, employs about 1,800 workers and the Michigan automaker recently outlined plans to add up to 1,400 new jobs to the facility by next year. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
The Japanese automaker is bringing both a customized fishing-oriented Tundra truck and a Baja-themed FJ Cruiser to the event at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Bassmaster Tundra Celebrating its professional fishing partnerships, this "fishing rig" is outlandishly customized with everything an "Elite Series pro could imagine - and then some," Toyota says. Starting with a bone stock 2012 Tundra CrewMax, North Carolina's CS Motorsports added a huge tackle storage system that Bassmaster Elite Series pro angler Britt Myers compared to a Bass Pro Shops aisle. Included are tackle, reels, rods and a refrigerator. Inside, the rear bench seat was repalced with buckets and a fiberglass console that features built-in video monitors and subwoofers. A Navionics-style lake mapping system is also included. To finish out the Tundra, the truck features a TRD Big Brake Kit, a 12-inch suspension lift and a TRD supercharger and exhaust setup. FJ-S Cruiser Looking almost production-ready, the Baja-themed FJ-S Cruiser is labeled as a concept car, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a less-modified version arrive in showrooms soon. To tackle desert driving, the FJ Cruiser's chassis was given an underbody exoskelton to boost stiffness for serious off road jumps. Bilstein racing shocks provide a 1.3 inch lift and 17-inch beadlock-style wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires offer up a dose of swagger. The stock 4.0-liter V6 was given a TRD Twin Vortex supercharger, which boosts power to 345 horsepower and 340 lb-ft. of torque. Finishing off the powertrain mods is a cat-back exhaust system. Externally, the FJ-S stands apart with a front nudge bar and rock rails, while two-tone leather seats and unique floor mats round out the interior. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
According to J.D. Power, retail sales of new vehicles will climb 13 percent to 943,200 units this month. Moreover, October's seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for retail vehicles is expected to top 12 million units, which would be the second consecutive month for that achievement. That hasn't happened since April and May of 2008. "The October retail sales pace is solidifying an accelerating recovery in the automotive market," said Deirdre Borrego, vice president and general manager of U.S. Automotive Operations at J.D. Power and Associates. "Each month, we're seeing stronger signs of a healthy market, not only in terms of sales volumes, but also in dealer inventories, transaction prices and incentive levels." Overall sales are expected to grow 11 percent to 1,134,800 units in October. Of those total sales about 17 percent will be to fleet customers, which is slightly below the five year average of 19 percent for October. Thanks to October's strong sales, LMC Automotive has increased its 2012 sales forecast from 14.3 million units to 14.4 million units. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } ![First Drive: 2013 Ford Focus ST [Review]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vyRnZFP_MSLYDyOjw2NAnAAGdaHmnBR5i3EYYHWhyTWY4MvYbwjmIgdtpmjIRWieIefm5iqRQrc1ItYul6Zkua7bVZAhs1uTlci2LuPkOb4SaFt6yyhCPxvCm_BH3qpEFMzk0Wy8RPS3kJx8E1QFliMXrQ2YaRD5r75R88cIgjbsd4vQ=s0-d)
Across the Atlantic, Ford's reputation for cheap compact speed is truly enviable. From the original rear-wheel-drive Escort Mexico, which predated the Volkswagen GTI, through a series of well-respected Focus ST models, the company has succeeded in the segment again and again. In the United States, on the other hand, Ford's struggled to build credibility with the sport compact crowd. The new global Focus ST is intended to both continue the European momentum and to jump-start the next generation of would-be American Ford enthusiasts. This time, however, Ford is relying on power and panache, not price, to carry the day. We drove a fully-equipped "ST3" Focus around the back roads of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to find out how successful the company's been in that attempt. Open wide Visually, the new Focus is properly aggressive from all angles. The big-mouth-bass front end nods to the company's current Aston-esque grille styling but you won't mistake this for anything other than the fastest Focus. In front-plate states, the look is likely to be a bit untidy, but buyers in this segment tend to be fans of the license-plate-in-the-front-window look anyway. The standard 18-inch wheels are handsome and dark-finished in the current vogue. The original Focus SVT always looked tippy-toe on its seventeen-inch shoes, but the current car has no such visual issue. New side and rear skirts wrap around to frame a center-exit exhaust . On ST3 models, a strip of LEDs is added to the bi-Xenon headlamps. It seems almost impossible to believe that the LED-running-light look is only a few years old; it's already played-out and it's probably just a matter of days before every car sold in America has them, a sea of floating, meaning hieroglyphicss in twilight traffic. For now, however, ST owners who spring for the top trim can choose to believe that oncoming drivers are confusing them for an Audi R8 GT. Compact luxury Inside, the upscale look of the Focus Titanium is mostly retained. Three different seats are available, depending on selected option package. The base ST-branded chairs are acceptable, the mid-level cloth Recaros are very pleasant, and the ST3 heated leather Recaros are as good as anything you'll find south of the exoticars. The four-spoke Focus wheel is retained, complete with the "iPod buttons" which require chimpanzee thumbs to operate without an uncomfortable shifting of one's hands. By general agreement, the Focus ST has two primary competitors: the aforementioned GTI and the Mazdaspeed3. On the interior, it could have both of �em both licked. From the feature list to the solid operation of the various little buttons, this Focus has the swagger of a much more expensive car. Where the Mazda feels cheap and the Volkswagen feels just a little content-starved, the Focus is confident, shiny, and well-equipped. Drivers who remember the Focus SVT won't recognize their surroundings. Power to spare Things aren't quite as clear when it's time to pop the hoods. Against the GTI, the Ford offers a considerable advantage in rated power, putting down a claimed 252 horsepower and maintaining a slightly bumpy computer-controlled torque curve which plateaus at 270 lb-ft from 2,500 rpm. It's commonly understood, however, that the GTI's engine is curiously strong, and the Volkswagen is as much as 300 lbs. lighter than the Ford. This sort of thing matters; it's not called power-to-weight ratio for nothing. The Mazda has a 2.3-liter engine to face the 2.0 in the Focus, and that's the sort of thing that matters too. On the open road, the Focus always feels strong, but it never feels as strong as the Mazda and the gap to the GTI isn't as large as the numbers would indicate. The high-crowned rural roads on which we drove the ST also revealed a serious Achilles' heel in the car's demeanor. On any road with even mild camber, the Focus would torque-steer in two separate stages under full throttle. This was likely due to the artificial torque valley after 2,500 rpm. When the boost came on, the steering wheel would yank, then settle as the torque cut, then yank again. After years of racing front-wheel drive cars with extremely aggressive suspensions and high-strung engines, not to mention ownership of a boosted-up Neon SRT-4, this author thought he'd never be particularly surprised by torque steer, but the double-yank motion of the ST made two-lane passes on narrow roads occasionally dicey. To be fair, on flat freeways the motion was much less pronounced. Grip to spare, too Assuming you can hang on for the steering-wheel gyrations for a few seconds, you'll find yourself going very quickly in the Focus ST. Luckily, the suspension is engineered to the same standard of excellence found in the old Focus SVT - or, not to be too nostalgic, the SCCA-autocross-dominating Escort ZX2. The steering is direct and informative, and if the Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires don't seem to have the ultimate grip of Bridgestone or Hankook almost-R-compounds, they're good enough to make progress very rapid. It's possible to turn off stability control completely ("it's part of our brand DNA," according to an SVT spokesperson), back off the throttle in the mid-corner, and point the nose in a bit. This is great fun if your passengers are prepared for it, and even greater fun if they aren't. The ST has the edge on the GTI for ultimate grip, particularly in fast corners. What it doesn't have is that car's sense of nimbleness. The GTI always feels ready to change direction, but the Focus wants a moment or two of warning or possibly discussion on the matter. It would also be nice if the steering were a touch lighter, but since the market understands "heavy" to be synonymous with "sporty" and there just isn't room and time to make them all drive a three-hour enduro stint in an actual race to change their minds on the topic, that is unlikely to change. It's Euro, with all that implies American Ford enthusiasts have been demanding the "real Euro Fords" since about the time of the first Capri. Now they have one. The tricky part about that is that the Focus ST isn't an Escort Mexico. It isn't a cheap, quirky, hooligan-friendly car. It's a serious competitor in a segment that for Europeans is more than a bit middle-class. That segment now demands solidity and premium feel from its compact hatches as much as, or more than, it wants sporting potential. The resulting Focus is bigger, heavier, and more powerful than the BMW 330i of just a decade ago. It almost feels closer in concept to the Golf R than it does to the GTI. Volkswagen, for whatever reason, seems to understand how to field a lighter and lighter-feeling competitor for a similar price. This makes your decision easy. If you want the most car for the money, choose the Focus. If you want the most sporting car for the money, choose the Volkswagen. If you just want the fastest car for the money, choose the Mazda. If you don't want to leave your local Ford dealership, consider the V6 Mustang, which is significantly more powerful, drives a more sporting pair of wheels, and is likely to show its triple taillights to the Focus ST on anything like a real racetrack. Leftlane's bottom line The Focus ST is the most mature entry in its segment - fast, well-equipped, solid, attractive, sensibly priced. Those of us who are still immature might be tempted to look elsewhere. 2013 Ford Focus ST base price, $24,495. Some photos by Jack Baruth. 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Porsche's profits have already jumped by 23 percent this year and, with sales up nearly as much, the German sports car maker expects to set a new yearly sales record before the end of 2012. "We have almost matched the results of the entire previous year after only nine months in 2012," said Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke in a statement on Thursday. "We definitely expect to outperform the 2011 record year in terms of sales, revenue and operating profit. That's an excellent result seen against the backdrop of the ever cloudier market environment in western Europe,'' he said. During the January to September period Porsche's China sales grew 35.4 percent. The United States wasn't far behind with a 22.1 percent growth spurt, while Porsche's European sales grew 13.2 percent. Through the first three quarters of the year Porsche's global sales are up 20.2 percent to 103,245 units. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
Infiniti confirmed to Edmunds on Friday that it will not sell its FX Vettel Edition through its U.S. dealerships. As you might recall, the FX Vettel Edition made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011 as a tribute to world champion Infiniti racing driver Sebastian Vettel. "It is not going on sale in the U.S.," said Kyle Bazemore, an Infiniti spokesman. Bazemore cited "regulatory" issues for Infiniti's decision not to sell the car here, but the car's six-figure price tag and Formula One connection were likely contributing factors as well. Set to hit other world markets in the not-too-distant future, the FX Vettel Edition is largely based on the FX50, but boasts a 420 horsepower engine and a top speed of 186mph. The car will be available exclusively in Moonlight White, with the lone option being a carbon fiber rear spoiler. The 2013 Infiniti FX Vettel Edition will carry a base price of 120,000 euros, or about $155,000. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
The 2015 Mustang will also be the first one to be officially sold globally in large numbers, and as such will feature a number of thoroughly modern features, Car and Driver reported. Also for the first time, the source believes the new car will be shown off to the world on April 17, 2014, or exactly 50 years since the original Mustang was shown at the World's Fair in New York and went for sale. The new car will also get a multilink independent rear suspension for the first time, (with the exception of the 1999-2004 SVT Cobra) getting rid of the car's signature live axle. Other than bringing with it performance improvements, the setup will open up more rear seat and cargo space. The front suspension will continue to be struts but new geometry will be needed by the new body and chassis. The lower control arms on performance models will be made of aluminum, with base cars using cheaper stamped steel ones. Top-rung performance models will get Brembo calipers, which will be optional on some lesser models. Otherwise, the report has the car shrinking slightly in wheelbase and front and rear track, though overall length may grow incrementally to meet future crash standards. Rumors say Mustangs exported to some Asian markets will get a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder. The U.S. will reportedly get the EcoBoost four, which will cost more than the base V6, which will be more powerful but also thirstier. The EcoBoost engine is expected to make at least 250 horsepower, whereas the current 3.7-liter V6 makes 305. The Coyote 5.0-liter V8 is said to carry over unchanged, while the Boss 302, which arrive slightly later, should get a slight, 6-horsepower bump to 450. While the current transmissions are said to be carried over, an eight-speed auto will eventually be added. It's likely many more details and spy photos of the much-anticipated 2015 Mustang will reach our eyes before Thursday, April 17, 2014, and we, for one, can't wait. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
The car promises to be an enthusiast's dream, with a projected curb weight of under 2,200lbs and a power output of about 300 horsepower. Its motivator will sit between the axles and behind the driver and passenger, with 1,742cc of displacement and a turbocharger. Its specific output of 171hp per liter is the highest in the industry. The sole transmission will be a dual-clutch six-speed, sources say. The same informants speaking to AutoCar revealed the production car will stay true to the concept. Production numbers aren't set, as the car will be built to order in Italy and exported to various markets. The car should be offered to U.S. buyers as soon as the brand relaunches, likely to be sometime in 2013 or 2014. A drop-top should follow sometime later, likely by 2015. Pricing is the only other unknown, and would likely largely hinge on whether the car retains the concept's use of carbon fiber body panels. More likely, the production car will utilize much less expensive sheet-molded composites. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
A journalist from La Provence, a newspaper based in the south of France, attended the event and reported that Debard made an impromptu speech in which he called Mr. Montebourg "crazy" and "retarded." "He is ruining the lives of motorists from all walks of life, everyone suffers from the decisions he makes. He's stupid and he has no idea of what he is doing, you can quote me on that," said Debard, who has been in office for a little over a year. Mitsubishi Motors quickly issued a statement to apologize for the importer's insults. "We apologize to Mr. Montebourg and to the French government for any harm caused to their reputation and their honor by our independent French importer," said the automaker. Two days ago, Debard denied verbally attacking the minister and apologized for any confusion caused by La Provence's article. Nevertheless, he announced that he was stepping down as president of Emil Frey France, a group that also imports cars for Ssangyong and Subaru, among other companies. The French government has not commented on the matter. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
Although invisible to the naked eye, most car owners are familiar with microorganisms like mold and mildew, which are most often the cause of smelly interiors. Looking to take a bite out of the $2.3 billion air freshener industry, Ford is hoping to develop new technology with the University of Michigan (U-M) to stop microorganisms before they form. "Vehicle cabins are exposed to a wide variety of environmental conditions that can make them microbial breeding grounds," said Cindy Peters, Ford Motor Company technical expert. "Based on growing consumer desire for health and wellness solutions, we decided to take a look at the interiors in Ford vehicles with the goal of creating a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing environment for our customers." Lead by Dr. Blaise Boles, the U-M collected samples from several company and employee-owned vehicles. The U-M team focused on 10 specific locations within the vehicle for microorganism activity, including the steering wheel, radio buttons, door handles, window switches and gear shift knobs. "We weren't surprised to find microbial hot spots on the steering wheel, since that is where a driver's hands are most of the time," added Peters. "The console area near the cupholders is a common location for spilled drinks, so it provides an ideal feeding ground for microbes." In order to combat the growth of microorganism, Ford and the U-M worked with interior coatings supplier Red Spot Paint and additive supplier Sciessent LLC to develop a new paint infused with a silver-ion additive. Although still in the early testing phases, the additive has proven to be a useful tool to fight off the growth of microbes on interior surfaces. As car interiors are exposed to extreme conditions for many years, research are still evaluating the long-term effectiveness of the additive, commercially known as Agion. "We can't control everything that contributes to stains and odors in our cars and trucks," said Peters. "But we're doing our part to maintain a pleasant cabin environment for our customers over the long haul." Ford says it could one day use Agion in its production vehicles. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
Although the standard wheelbase prototype is wearing considerable camouflage, its proportions and its big front grille and complex wheels clearly indicate that it is an Escalade rather than its GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe platform mates. All three will ride on a new ladder frame derived from the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. As we can see from these photos, the Escalade appears to retain its solid rear axle, a move that won't necessarily improve ride quality but will aid durability for limo users and drivers who tow trailers. These photos don't give us a glimpse of the Escalade's new interior, but it's safe to assume that a version of Cadillac's new CUE infotainment system will be on board. We expect that the Escalade will use a particularly large touch screen for its CUE system. Stylistically, the Escalade should adopt the swept-back headlamps seen on the Cadillac ATS and XTS. The lamps on this prototype appear to be missing their covers, while the LED tail lights are obviously not production units. Two wheelbases will again be available. The current Escalade launched all the way back in 2007, which means that 2013 is it its seventh year. In that time, it has been eclipsed by rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and the Infiniti QX56 in terms of features and design. Still, the king of bling remains hot with consumers and livery drivers. The 2014 Cadillac Escalade should debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
According to Motor Trend, the problem has more to do with the subjective performance and feel of the gearbox rather than any technical issues. During a comparison with the new 3-series, Motor Trend staffers found the transmission's throws were imprecise and led to many missed gears. The manual is only offered on one of the engines offered in the ATS, the 2.0-liter, turbo inline four good for 272 horsepower. The fix is said to involve installing softer bushings in the transmission linkage to improve feel and get rid of the issue. It's not likely these ill-shifting manual-transmission cars will actually reach customers, as the car in the comparison may have been a pre-production unit. Only auto ATS models are currently on sale and shipping to customers and it's likely Cadillac will address the issue before any manuals are sold. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
The NHTSA announced on Friday that it is looking into about 310,000 Taurus and Sable models from the 2000-2003 model years because of a potential throttle issue. The federal agency has received 50 complaints from owners than the vehicles' throttle can jam open. The NHTSA's probe is focusing on Taurus and Sable models equipped with Ford's 3.0L Duratec V6 engine. The NHTSA has determined that the speed control cable collar installed in the 3.0L motors can break, causing a stuck throttle. No crashes or injuries have been linked to the flaw. The NHTSA has not yet decided if it will elevate the investigation to full recall status. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
Toyota's global sales tally stood at 7.4 million units as of the end of September, representing a 28 percent improvement over the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, GM's sales increased 2.5 percent during the first nine months to 6.95 million vehicles. GM spokesman Jim Cain told the Detroit Free Press that the company is focused on profitability and won't chase a global sales title. GM was the world's largest automaker by volume for more than seven decades, but was knocked off its throne by Toyota in 2008. GM regained its sales title last year as Toyota struggled through supply issues, but looks like it will hand the crown over once again. Toyota could face some problems in the fourth quarter due to an anti-Japan movement in China, but it is unlikely GM will be able to make up the 450,000 deficit. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; } 
Chevrolet confirms Sonic Dusk for production, adding a touch of luxury to its economy sedan. SEMA my be principally an aftermarket show, but these days it isn't strictly about providing a stage for hardcore tuners to showcase their wares. It's also emerged as an opportunity for carmakers to reveal mainstream models, as General Motors is doing with its Chevrolet Sonic Dusk sedan that was revealed in Las Vegas last year in concept guise. Now production ready, the new trim is expected at Chevy lots in 2014 to give an air of sophistication to the subcompact segment. 
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