Don’t forget to tip your waitress… with a car

There’s something to be said for being nice to people, even when they don’t return the favor. Melina Salazar, a waitress in Brownsville, TX, will definitely tell you it’s worth it. She kept a positive attitude and a smile on her face when dealing with her most loyal customer, 89-year old Walter “Buck” Swords, who […]

Detroit ‘08 Preview: Mazda Furai breaks cover!

We got a small preview of the Furai Concept with a teaser photo released by Mazda a few weeks ago, but Inside Line has let the cat out of the bag with a full set of photos and more details about the car. The Furai, which translates to “sound of wind”, is built on a […]

Rolls-Royce to produce 10% more Phantoms in 2008

Business at Goodwood is, well… good. As such, Rolls-Royce, already having dedicated millions of dollars to enhancing its production facilities, is looking to add more hands in a bid to keep up with the ever-growing demand for its cars. Production in 2007 was up 25% over 2006 to 1,000 units, and RR execs see another […]

Detroit ‘08 Preview: Toyota A-BAT hybrid pickup concept

Perhaps in response to the criticism that Toyota has received over the past year from environmentalists for its ever larger and thirstier trucks, the Japanese automaker is switching direction with its 2008 Detroit concept - the A-BAT hybrid pickup concept. Toyota and Nissan pioneered the idea of modern compact pickup trucks in the U.S. market, […]

Euro-only Toyota Auris gains sporty SR180 model

The bucket of parts that makes up the Toyota Corolla also gives life to several other vehicles worldwide. In the UK and other parts of the world, they get the Auris, a three- or five-door hatch-type-thing. While Toyotas in the United States are sleepy affairs, the Auris is ringing in 2008 with a sporty, well-equipped […]

eBay Find of the Day: Saleen Transformers Barricade Replica

We are big fans of the movie Transformers despite its faults, and not because we’re fascinated with alien robots, but rather because it shows off some of our favorite cars in action. You can’t get your very own Bumblebee yet with production of the Camaro still a year away, but you can buy this replica […]

Toyota wants to sell 1 million hybrids per year

Shortly after the turn of the decade, Toyota expects sales of its hybrid vehicles to crest the one million unit per year mark. ToMoCo’s goal may seem a bit ambitious considering that it’s only sold about 1.25 million hybrids since the Prius’ introduction in 1997, but the alternative-power push will mainly be fueled by sales […]

REPORT: Volvo plans XC30 CUV to join V30 wagon and C30 hatch

We recently got confirmation from a Volvo PR person that the Swedish automaker’s new C30 hatchback will soon be joined by a V30 five-door wagon. Just-Auto.com is going one step further by reporting that Volvo will also add a new XC CUV model to its lineup based on the C30 hatch to be called, not […]

Don’t jump! Rotary-engine ‘Vette prototype saved from rooftop

Back in the 70s, GM was looking to take its much beloved Corvette to the next level. The General charged John DeLorean with investigating the possibility of putting a mid-engine rotary under hood, and the 1973 GM XP897 was the culmination of his efforts. The steel-bodied Vette was built atop a Porsche 914 chassis, and […]

Clarkson considers the MINI Clubman “a toilet”

For all of his popularity and sceptered isle wit, it’s probable that Jeremy Clarkson hasn’t kept anyone from buying a car they really wanted. Which is a good thing for MINI and those folks looking at a Clubman, because Jezza has this to say about it: “About as desirable as a packet of dung or […]

DiMora Natalia SLS 2: spec list shapes up for $2 million super sedan

As development moves ahead on the Natalia SLS 2, DiMora Motorcar is building an extensive list of equipment from OEMs for the anticipated $2 million super-sedan. The latest: DiMora has announced that the car will come equipped with the HeatFlexx electrically-heated frameless windshield wiper. (It’s exciting, we know.) The HeatFlexx system, designed by Von Stach […]

Automobile names Audi R8 top car for ‘08; GM wins for hybrid tech

It’s that time of year where everyone’s prognosticating like Nostradamus about what the coming year will hold. The authoritative ink slingers at Automobile magazine have decided that Audi’s R8 deserves the dual honors of 2008 Automobile Of The Year and Design Of The Year, as well. While infused with the generous spirit, Automobile named General […]

Chevy Tahoe LTZ gets 6.2L V8

You’ll soon be able to get General Motors’ 6.2-liter V8 in all three flavors of GMT900 truckness. GM announced today that the 380-horsepower/417 lb-ft eight cylinder will be available in the Tahoe LTZ beginning in 2008. If you’re like us (and by “us” I mean “me”) and you think that the Tahoe is the best-looking […]

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

As any kid learns on Christmas morning, expectations are a bitch. And once you’ve made the transition to adulthood, things don’t change. It’s widely accepted that most of us who pray at the altar of the car Gods are simply eight-year olds with a bit more expendable income… and for the most part, that’s true. […]

Lutz tells Forbes: the car business “ain’t for sissies.”

In a two part interview with Forbes magazine during the run-up to that NAIAS, Bob Lutz had a great deal to say about all things GM. The first part centered on CAFE and the costs of energy efficiency, the Volt, and what Mr. Bob would rather have lead consumer choice in the mileage debate. Hint: […]

Man buys new truck with only pocket change

Paul Brant, 70, bought his last new truck 13 years ago. Ever since then he’s been saving up for his next new one, which he bought Friday with $26,670 in rolled quarters and dollar coins. Clinton County Indiana Sheriff’s deputies escorted Brant to Mike Raisor Dodge where the estimated half a ton of rolled coins […]

Hartge goes off-roading with the X3 “Hunter”

The closest BMW has ever come to having an off-road vehicle was sticking its V8 engines into Range Rovers. Even it’s “Sport Activity Vehicle”, the X5, rarely sees time off the pavement and sticks to hauling kids to school and soccer practice. Hartge has set out to change that with an off-road program for Bimmer […]

Lamborghini celebrates 3000 Murciélagos sold

During most weeks, Ford will build more than 3,000 F-Series pickups by Wednesday. It has taken more than five years to build 3,000 Lamborghini Murciélagos, but in the realm of $300,000 supercars the Italian automaker can consider this level of sales success a very substantial accomplishment. The Lamborghini Murciélago replaced the Diablo in 2002, sporting […]