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In Today's Email Tuesday, November 22, 2005

The latest in auto industry news and reviews, culled from The New York Times and other sites on the Web. Compiled by Jeff Sabatini; edited by Norman Mayersohn and James G. Cobb.

Joy Rides: Fun Stuff
JOY RIDES
Drawing Board: Looking Ahead
ROAD SIGNS
On Track
SHOWROOM FLOOR
Behind the Wheel: Product Reviews ASSEMBLY LINE Assembly Line: News From Detroit and Other Motor Cities ON TRACK Motor Mouth: Car Chat MOTOR MOUTH


Auto Log
Fabrizio Costantini
for The New York Times
For a G.M. Family, the American Dream Vanishes

FLINT, Mich. - Four generations of the Roy family relied on General Motors for their prosperity.

Over more than seven decades, the company's wages bought the Roys homes, cars and once-unimaginable comforts, while G.M.'s enviable medical and pension benefits have kept them secure in their retirements.

But the G.M. that was once an unassailable symbol of the nation's industrial might is a shadow of its former self, and the post-World War II promise of blue-collar factory work being a secure path to the American dream has faded with it.

• Go to Article From The New York Times, by Danny Hakim
• Graphic: G.M. Wages and U.A.W. Membership
• G.M. Announces 5,000 Additional Job Cuts (The New York Times)
• Graphic: Closing Plants and Losing Employees
• Video: Announcement of Cuts | Workers React
• Mix of Shock and Resignation on G.M. Shop Floors Set to Close (The New York Times)
• Business Special: Rewriting the Social Contract
• Your G.M. Questions Answered (The Car Connection)



» Go to More Automobiles News



Joy Rides: Fun Stuff!
From Richard Dredge Archive
From "Crap Cars"
Unwanted at Any Speed
An entertaining book that reviews of some of the worst vehicles ever to turn a wheel could only be called "Crap Cars."
• Go to Article From The New York Times, by Roy Blount Jr.
• First Chapter: 'Crap Cars' (The New York Times)
• Great Moments in Automotive Malpractice (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland)

Days of Turkey, Days of Thunder
Thanksgiving traditions differ around the country, but for many at the Jersey Shore, celebrating includes a trip to the races.
• Go to Article From The New York Times, by Dave Caldwell
• Junior Racer Wins Microsoft Contest (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Mercedes Pile-Up at Safety Demonstration
Memorable moments in public relations: the television cameras were rolling when a high-tech accident-avoidance system failed. Three S-Class sedans were injured.
• Go to Article From Motortorque at Askaprice

Turnpike Crash Springs Holiday Turkeys
A spokesman for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority called it an "escape attempt," one of several recent Turnpike travesties involving fowl.
• Go to Article From 1010WINS.com
• A Portrait of the Artist as an Older Man (The Boston Globe)

As Bruce Hit the Notes, Thieves Hit the Cars
Springsteen fans found darkness on the edge of town after thieves made off with their expensive xenon headlights during a concert.
• Go to Article From The New Jersey Star-Ledger
• Billy F. Gibbons: Rock 'n' Roll Gearhead (4Car.com)


» Go to More Automobiles News



Behind the Wheel: Procut News
Dan Carney for The New York Times

2006 Jeep Commander: A Looming Case of Hummer Envy
Jeep's marketing executives figured they had to rush a seven-seat S.U.V. into showrooms. It shows.
Go to Article From The New York Times, by Dan Carney
2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Refining the Rugged (The New York Times)

Listen to It Hum and Then Start Dancing With Caddy
Ready to rumba? A Cadillac STS with the Northstar V-8 is as good a partner for curve dancing as any car on the road, says this reviewer.
Go to Article From The Washington Post, via The Los Angeles Times
2006 Cadillac STS Review (Forbes Autos)

Battlewagons: Audi S4 Avant, Dodge Magnum SRT8 and Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Sport Wagon
Definitely not your father's Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser: here are three "factory-tuner" wagons capable of embarrassing sports cars.
Go to Review From Road & Track
Space Shuttles: You'll Never Again Hear, "Are We There Yet?" (Motor Trend)


» Go to More Car Reviews



Road Signs: Consumer News
Honda Civic Named Top Car for 2006
Motor Trend's pick for Car of the Year is the redesigned Honda Civic, besting a field of 28 new models the magazine compared.
Go to Article From The Associated Press, via The New York Times
Motor Trend Announces 2006 Car of the Year (Motor Trend)
20 Years of Honda Civic Si (Sport Compact Car)

Agency Plans Updated Fuel Economy Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency would like to revise its widely criticized procedure for calculating gas mileage.
Go to Article From The New York Times, by Micheline Maynard
Automakers O.K. Safety Rules for Car-Truck Crashes (USA Today)

Jury: Ford Must Pay for Teen's Death
A Miami-Dade jury found the Explorer defective and held Ford liable for a rollover accident that killed a teenager in 1997.
Go to Article From The Miami Herald
Explorer Roof Called Too Weak (The Detroit News)
Crash Verdict Shows Need for Tort Reform (The Henderson, N.C., Daily Dispatch)

Buick Shifts From 'Dream' to 'Precision'
Goodbye Aerosmith, hello heated windshield washer fluid. Buick's new advertising campaign hopes to jump start the also-ran brand.
Go to Article From The New York Times, by Stuart Elliott
New Lucerne to Dominate Buick Ad Spending (Automotive News, via AutoWeek)

Getting an Oil Change, Maybe More, Off EBay
A new initiative by the online auctioneer will offer local automotive services through its eBay Motors Web site.
Go to Article From The Wall Street Journal, via The Hartford Courant
EBay Wants to Be the Yellow Pages (WebProNews.com)

No Brakes: Car Prices Set Record
The average price of a new vehicle has climbed to $27,958, as deep discounts have encouraged people to spend more.
Go to Article From CNN/Money
Chrysler Wants to Pick Up Tab at Pump (Reuters, via CNN/Money)
Ford Offers New Sales Incentives (Reuters, via CNN/Money)

Volkswagen Subsidizes Leases of New Passat, Jetta
VW sales are down by more than 17 percent on the year, and its United States dealers are growing increasingly frustrated.
Go to Article From Automotive News, via AutoWeek
Volkswagen to Yank Slow-Selling Phaeton (Automotive News, via AutoWeek)
Piech's Folly Continues to Haunt Volkswagen (Autoextremist.com)

Another Ford Recall
Nearly 200,000 vehicles will be checked for potentially defective windshield wipers, the third recall for Ford in a week.
Go to Article From Bloomberg News, via Newsday
Ford Recall Because of Fire Risks (KLASTV.com)
Volvo Extends Warranty (The Associated Press, via The Buffalo News)
Government Opens Probe of Chrysler Minivans (The Associated Press, via USA Today)

Avoid Being Dinged for Rental-Car Dents
Rental car companies claim they do not "recycle dings," but the savvy traveler knows better.
Go to Opinion From The New York Times, by Christopher Elliott


» Go to More Automobiles News



Showroom Floor: Product News
New Twists in Bodybuilding Put Curves in All the Right Places
Flashy auto show designs are often difficult to manufacture -- but some new technologies are making the process easier.
Graphic: 3 Ways to Build More Shapely Bodies
Best Inventions 2005: Roll With It (Time)

Seeking Clean Fuel for a Nation, and a Rebirth for Small-Town Montana
Can new coal-to-fuel technology turn Montana into an American Saudi Arabia? The governor thinks so, but Big Oil has yet to sign on.
Go to Article From The New York Times, by Timothy Egan
Has This Man Found the Next Gusher? (Time)
Don't Beat Up Big Oil. It's Just Doing Its Job. (The New York Times)

HANS Device Inspires Renault Head Restraints
Renault has introduced a head restraint for children that borrows its design from the popular racing safety device.
Go to Article From Gizmag.com
Related Link: HANS Device (Wikipedia)
Renault Product Planners Get Boost From Clio III Recognition (WardsAuto.com)

Electric Car Wins Infineon Performance Test
Ian Wright's homebuilt electric car can speed to 112 miles an hour in just 11.1 seconds, besting exotic Ferraris and Porsches along the way.
Go to Article From KRON.com
Hybrid Race Cars? Formula One Captain Sees It (Reuters, via MSNBC)


» Go to More Automobiles News



On Track
Marc Serota/Reuters
Consistency and Caution Give Stewart a Second Title
Tony Stewart joined an exclusive club on Sunday, becoming only the 14th driver to win multiple Nascar championships.
Go to Article From The New York Times, by Viv Bernstein
Stewart Poised to Head Onto Road Less Traveled (The New York Times)
Roush Expects Team to Chase Stewart for the Next Cup (The New York Times)

Toyota to Pull Out of the I.R.L. One Year Earlier
The move will leave Honda as the only engine supplier for the 2006 Indy Racing League season.
Go to Article From SpeedTV.com
Midland to Race for Russia in F1 (BBC Sport)

Busch Was Reckless but Not Intoxicated
Nascar driver Kurt Busch was not legally under the influence when he was ticketed two days before a race in Phoenix.
Go to Article From The New York Times, by Viv Bernstein
Pilot Killed in Crash Outside Speedway (The New York Times)


» Go to More Automobiles News



Assembly Line
Associated Press
Nissan's Mr. Fix-It Is the Talk of Detroit
Could Carlos Ghosn be the man to save General Motors? Some auto analysts seem to think so.
Go to Article From The New York Times, by James Brooke
Renault's Profit Warning Puts Ghosn in the Hot Seat (The Associated Press, via The Globe and Mail, Canada)

Delphi Unions Balk at Plan to Eliminate Jobs
The cuts are deep, so much so that a bankruptcy judge is likely to turn down Delphi's proposal, says one expert.
Go to Article From The New York Times, by Jeremy W. Peters
Ford to Cut 4,000 Jobs (Reuters, via The New York Times)
Buyouts Drain Big 3 Brain Power (The Detroit News)

New Relationship Between Toyota and Subaru Beginning to Take Shape
Toyota will be outsourcing the development and manufacturing of an upcoming model to its new partner.
Go to Article From American Auto Press, via Automobile.com
Toyota Beating Ford in Market Share (Reuters, via CNN/Money)

Car Factory Gets Green Light
Britain's oldest continuously operated auto manufacturer, AC Cars, will begin manufacturing in Bridgeport, Conn., next summer.
Go to Article From The Connecticut Post
Related Link: A Brief History of AC Cars (AC Owners' Club)


» Go to More Automobiles News



Motor Mouth: Car Chat
This Week's Discussion
In what ways might the federal government intervene to help General Motors out of its financial crisis?
Join the discussion

» Go to Reader's Opinions






   Future Cars

    2007 Jeep Compass
    » About This Car
    » Future Cars


Top 10 Interiors for 2005

1. Audi A8/TT: Audi wrote the book when it comes to crafting stylish cabins. Slide into the A8's if you're looking for luxury. With loads of rear legroom and enough wood to fuel a forest fire, the A8 offers an environment that's more jaw-droppingly luxe than that of any other vehicle in its class. If sporty's more your thing, you'll love the TT's industrial-themed surroundings, which meld modern and retro elements.

2. BMW X5: BMW cabins are known for being governed by an air of almost spartan restraint. Not so with the X5's. There's no skimping on the poplar, and the leather is so creamy, it could raise your cholesterol. The X5's cabin is easily one of our favorite places to spend our time.

3. Lexus SC 430: The SC 430 offers one of the most exquisitely finished cabins we've ever seen. Its styling cues call to mind a plush drawing room in a Riviera hotel. Burnished wood is everywhere — and if you want even more timber, a spring-loaded wooden cover can be used to hide much of the center stack. The best part? It's a convertible, so passers-by will be able to enjoy your cabin with you.

4. Toyota Prius: With its deeply recessed gauges and idiosyncratic layout, the Prius's cockpit looks like something from a sci-fi flick. We especially like being able to watch a digital rendering of the inner workings of the car's hybrid technology on the center display screen. Vegans can enjoy this car in good conscience; this environmentally friendly hatch is resolutely leatherfree.

5. Honda Element: If you're the outdoorsy type, the Element's rugged, go-anywhere interior will no doubt whet your whistle. There's no carpeting on the floors, just a rugged material called Thermoplastic Olefin that may be wiped down or swept with a broom. And it's available with waterproof seats. Surfers and mountain bikers, the line starts here.

6. Maserati Coupe/Spyder: These Maseratis boast stunning sheet metal, but scoot into the cabin, and things get even better. Curvy lines, an elegantly clean aesthetic — on the inside, these cars look like something from a very glamorous foreign film, circa 1965. The only thing missing is Sophia Loren in the passenger seat.

7. Rolls-Royce Phantom: Brushed aluminum. Bird's eye maple. Supple cowhide. With the storied Rolls-Royce name behind it and a price tag of over $300 grand, you'd expect the Phantom's interior to be heaven on earth — and it is. The only bad thing about getting inside this car is getting back out again.

8. Toyota Sienna: The Sienna's spacious interior offers a lot more luxury and style than you have a right to expect from a minivan; slide inside, and you'll swear you've stepped into a Lexus. Polished wood touches and baby-soft leather make this van's cabin a leader in its class.

9. Porsche Cayenne: When you settle into the cockpit of the Cayenne, you get a leather-drenched experience that delights all the senses. The artfully lit cabin seduces the eye with its blend of high gloss and performance edge. And the cabin feels even better than it looks. We couldn't stop running our fingers over the downy suede that lines the roof.

10. Volkswagen Passat: Thank goodness for the Passat, the car that proves you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to ride in style. Its interior is clean, modern and surprisingly upscale, given that this is an affordable family car. For the money, you won't find a better-looking cabin.

Read Full Article

» More Top 10 Lists


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