Automotive News

Survey: Gas mileage top concern for new-car buyers

New-car buyers ranked fuel efficiency their top issue and are considering smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, according to survey by Consumer Reports released today.

GM begins $380M Mo. plant expansion

General Motors Co. broke ground Monday on a $380 million expansion at its Wentzville, Mo., assembly plant, where the automaker will build the next generation of midsize pickups, a move that will retain or create about 1,260 jobs.

Officials urge safety as motorcycle deaths remain high

Washington — Motorcycle deaths are an increasing concern among U.S. state highway safety officials as deaths may have hit 4,500 in 2011 — about the same as the year before — a study released Tuesday found.

Nissan to build Datsun cars in Russia

Nissan Motor Co., seeking to expand its presence in the fast-growing Russian market, will build low-cost cars under the Datsun brand at the facilities of its Russian partner AvtoVAZ.

Carmakers adding Internet devices despite safety concerns of feds

Drivers, start your cars and fire up your Wi-Fi. And please don't crash while tweeting or making dinner reservations on the interstate.

NHTSA probes fire in garage containing plug-in Fisker Karma

U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating a Texas garage fire that destroyed a Fisker Automotive Inc. Karma, a $103,000 plug-in electric vehicle.

Fire risk prompts recall of nearly 87,000 Jeeps

Detroit— Chrysler is recalling nearly 87,000 Jeep Wranglers in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere due to a risk of fires.

GM spikes its ads for Super Bowl 2013

General Motors Co., one of the biggest spenders in Super Bowl advertising, will not plug its cars and trucks during next year's game.

Comfortable, sporty Lexus GS350 can leave a Mustang in the dust

Sneak attack! My Lexus GS350 F Sport sedan is nose to nose with a Mustang GT at a stoplight. The road before us scrolls up a mountain pass. The Ford driver guns it.

Amid poor sales, Toyota unplugs Lexus HS hybrid

Toyota Motor Corp. has pulled the plug on the Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan, which never came close to hitting the sales targets set at its launch in 2009.

High-tech interiors drive future vehicles

The interior of your next vehicle will be driven by technology and entertainment systems, and in the next few years, could include "augmented reality" technology that spreads across your windshield, showing you roadway lines and exits, automakers and suppliers say.

GM to hire 200 at Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant

General Motors Co. is hiring 200 people at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant ahead of starting production of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu later this summer, a person familiar with the plant's plans said Thursday.

V-8 Chevrolet SS coming to U.S. as 2014 model

Chevy performance lovers have a reason to grin: The iconic brand said Thursday it next year will bring a new V-8 rear-wheel-drive performance Chevrolet SS sedan to the United States.

GM's Opel will build new Astra in U.K., not Germany

General Motors Co.'s European Opel division will build an updated version of the Astra compact car at a plant near Liverpool, England, while ending production of the model at its German headquarters.