The Detroit Free Press is reporting that has added a total of 6,900 jobs since the automaker emerged from bankruptcy in 2009. The news came out of a radio interview with Steve Girsky, GM vice president. Girsky said that a portion of that figure is made up of workers who were originally laid off as part of the restructuring process and then later recalled as manufacturing picked back up. Of the nearly 7,000 jobs, 1,100 are situated in Michigan. GM has recently increased its workforce at its Delta Township and Brownstown Township facilities, amongst others.
The company has also hired around 2,800 workers at its Canadian operations as well. GM is set to release its financial statement for the most recent business quarter later this month, and Girsky says that the numbers continue to demonstrate a company on the mend. Last quarter, the company posted a $865 million profit.
While the addition of nearly 7,000 jobs is a good milestone for GM, it’s important to bear in mind that the figure marks a little more than a sixth of the workers laid off during restructuring.
When it comes to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s crash rating system, earning a score of “Good” is the best any automaker can hope for. And if a vehicle receives a score of “Good” for front, side, rear and and rollover crash protection and the vehicle has standard electronic stability control that car, truck or SUV becomes an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The became the 15th midsize SUV to be awarded with the desirable designation after the hot-selling crossover passed the rollover crash protection test with flying colors. The SRX had already received a “Good” score for its performance in the .
The current government standard for roof safety is that it needs to be able to support 1.5 times the overall vehicle weight. The roof of the SRX proved to be able to hold 4.14 times its weight, nearly tripling the standards required by the feds. The IIHS tests roof strength by pushing a metal plate against one corner of the roof at a constant rate of speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before the roof collapses by five inches is compared to the vehicle weight to determine the strength-to-weight ratio. Hit the jump to read over the IIHS presser.
Before things went all tipsy in the auto market, the engineers at were apparently hard at work on some pretty interesting projects. How interesting? How about an actual mid-engine ? Autocar says that an unnamed engineer confirmed that the Swedish automaker had actually been charged with developing a transmission for such a beast when the company was still under The General’s wing. Evidently, the cog box used a wet clutch setup and was built to handle up to 590 lb-ft of torque. If you’re keeping score at home, you’ll likely note that those twist figures are just south of what the ZR1 puts to the pavement right now.
How about them apples.
As Autocar points out, that project was canned when credit went tighter than a fat man’s socks, but there may be a ray of light in this whole tale. The UK publication claims that GM has fired up the burners under the C7 project one more time, and that a mid-engine chassis will indeed be part of the recipe. If you’re buying what Autocar is selling – and we’re not necessarily in that group – a turbo V6 will supply the car’s grunt, too.
We’ll admit that we’re not exactly up-to-date on the rules or goals of a lowrider hop off. It’s been awhile since we dusted off the Monte and threw down, but the last time we checked, flipping the car wasn’t part of the plan. Unfortunately, the gentleman in the video after the jump must have missed that memo. In the quest for ever more height for his remote-controlled monstrosity, his goes shiny side down after a few epic bounces. Impressively enough, the car doesn’t flip the easy way. Oh no. Instead of just rolling over and playing dead, the big coupe goes vertical before falling on its head.
After watching the car pancake itself, we’re suddenly fans of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s new focus on rollover protection. to check out the video for yourself.
Automakers are legally required to install stability control to all new cars and trucks for sale to the public, but as of yet, there is no such law for commercial tractor trailer trucks. That may soon change, however, as the Associated Press is reporting that The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is studying whether to mandate the safety system for all big rigs. Stability control systems utilize an array of sensors to detect imbalance and possible rollover. If a risk is detected, the system applies the brakes to an individual wheel (or wheels) until balance is restored. NHTSA crash avoidance director Nathaniel Beuse claims that mandating standard stability control systems on all semi trucks could prevent 3,500 rollover accidents, 4,400 injuries and 106 deaths each year.
Those are awfully powerful numbers that appear to justify the estimated $1,200 cost to retrofit existing trucks and the $1,000 it is said to take to install such hardware on a new rig, but it would also appear to make more sense with some trucks than others. Tanker trucks, which the AP says account for six percent of all big rigs on the road, account for 31 percent of all rollover accidents. And since tanker trucks often carry hazardous, potentially explosive materials like propane or gasoline, adding stability control systems could greatly mitigate the loss of life and property. One trucking company that has already installed the systems in its trucks, Trimac Transportation Systems, tells the AP that rollover accidents dropped from an average of 11 per year to only one last year. While that’s just one company’s results, it does suggest that even with the heightened cost incurred to purchase stability control systems, that the money can be recouped in lower insurance claims and perhaps even lower premiums.
NHTSA is conducting a two-day hearing to study whether or not enough is being done to prevent tanker trucks from running over. If in fact NHTSA determines that more needs to be done to prevent these potential rollovers, we’re thinking that legally compulsory stability control, at least for tankers, could be right around the corner.
2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight – Click above for high-res image gallery
Harley-Davidson is looking to cut its labor costs any way it can, even if it takes leaving Wisconsin. The Associated Press is reporting that the 107-year-old company has gone as far as to scout out other (likely southern) states in an effort to reduce its labor costs. Company CEO Keith Wandell says that the company will likely come to a decision in the next month or two, adding that Harley is open to tax incentives that will help keep the motorcycle facilities in the state of Wisconsin. Among the chief concerns of Harley-Davidson executives is the production schedules at its factories. Harley corporate wants to align production with seasonal demand, but as of yet, the union isn’t too keen on the idea, so it’s possible that the threat to move is posturing.
Meanwhile, the city of Milwaukee is already struggling to keep jobs in a down economy and the loss of 1,630 high-paying jobs would be a monumental blow to the community. The city already lost the headquarters of Miller Beer back in 2008, and Schlitz left the city in the 1980s due in part to labor strife. Harley-Davidson also brings tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, bolstering the local tourist economy. But although management is looking into moving its factories, it will reportedly keep its headquarters in the beleaguered city.
That’s right. has taken the bold step of offering a lifetime warranty with all new Vauxhall vehicles it sells. Not surprisingly, the warranty is non-transferable and is only good for the first 100,000 miles on the odometer – apparently their definition of ‘lifetime’ is a bit different from . Unlike their crosstown rivals, however, the guarantee covers most of the vehicle’s major systems, including the engine, transmission, steering, brake and electrical components. Not too shabby. The company is even looking into a way to offer the remainder of the warranty to second owners, which shows a pretty sizable amount of confidence in the company’s build quality as of late.
Interestingly enough, we haven’t heard a peep about similar programs for Vauxhall’s twin, Opel, or any of The General’s other deserving children. Here’s hoping that GM is using the Vauxhall warranty as a testbed for the rest of the family. Few things help move cars quicker than the peace of mind that comes along with the knowledge that the dealer will take care of any woe you have down the line. Similarly generous warranties have helped both and establish themselves here in the States, and they’d probably go a long way towards rebuilding consumer consideration. A bigger and perhaps more interesting question is, will this same guarantee apply to the forthcoming Vauxhall Ampera?
for a look at the official press release. Thanks for the tip, Lesbert!
Gallery:
[Source: Vauxhall]
into the lifetime warranty business… with Vauxhall
Chevrolet Spark Woody art car – Click above for high-res image gallery
At some point in history, the notion of having a wood-lined automobile went from the pinnacle of awesome to the depths of loathsome. We’re guessing that demarcation falls at about the same point in time when automakers stopped using real wood and started gluing vinyl recreations to the sides of vehicles that were an affront to cool to begin with. If you need proof, please direct your attention to any number of woody models or, if you’re of stouter stomach, the self-proclaimed Spark Woody Wagon art car pictured above.
Chevrolet UK decided to wrap one of the company’s diminutive people movers in wood-grained Di-Nocto harken back to the company’s American, youthful roots – or at least that’s what the press release says. If that’s not enough to send your head spinning, take a good close look at those tires. Yup, they’re wide whitewalls.
The company has rolled out a few different one-off art Sparks so far, and plans to keep it up with a new British Touring Car Championship inspired version set for an unveil later this month. We’re guessing that one will strike our fancy a bit more than the trans-generational pastiche above. for the press release and make sure to check out the large high-res gallery below – but perhaps you’ll want to pop a few Tums first.
Lexus LFA – Click above for high-res image gallery
Shortly after the supercar was unveiled last fall, Lexus announced that it would in the U.S. Toyota’s intent was to drive speculators out of the market for its $375,000 supercar by forcing owners to hold onto the car for at least two years. Once the lease was up, customers would then have the option to buy the car outright. That two-year lease, by the way, , which Lexus wants upfront as part of its 1Pay Lease Program rather than in monthly installments.
Lexus has apparently had a slight change of heart. According to a letter delivered to Autoblog by an LFA intender (see below in gallery), American customers will now be able to buy the LFA outright, but only on the condition that they sign an agreement giving the dealer first right of refusal to buy back the LFA if the owner wants to sell it within the first two years. The dealer will have the option to buy back the used LFA for either fair market value or the original sticker price, whichever is lower.
What happens if an owner sells the LFA within two years having not given the dealer the chance to buy it back first? The dealer is owed the difference between what the buyer originally paid for the car and what he sold it for, plus any legal fees. So whether you decide to lease or buy the LFA, Toyota is going to considerable lengths to ensure that no speculators will make a profit on reselling the LFA during the first two years.
Though 99.9 percent of Autoblog readers are most likely not in the market for an LFA, we’re still curious if Toyota’s tactics strike you as fair or would deter you from handing over your inheritance for a car that comes with strings attached, so have your say in Comments.
2011 Ford Fiesta SES – Click above for high-res image gallery
Remember when economy cars offered few concessions beyond roll-your-own windows, rear window defrosters and AM radios? It was only a handful of years ago that features on our tester would’ve qualified it for premium car status – if indeed items like Bluetooth, SYNC, a capless fuel fill and knee airbags were even available.
There’s no denying the steady trickledown of luxury goods into workaday iron, and the Fiesta is rolling proof.
As you might also recall, back about 10 years ago, executives and those charged with its British outpost, , worked themselves into a froth over the possibilities offered by ‘The Democratization of Luxury’ – boldly and conveniently overlooking that when a premium feature becomes affordable to everyone, it ceases to be a luxury at all. And while this sort of marketing doublespeak was the undoing of the ill-conceived Jaguar X-Type – and perhaps the undoing of Ford’s ownership of Coventry’s favorite feline altogether – there’s no denying the steady trickledown of luxury goods into workaday iron, and the Fiesta is rolling proof.
Of course, any automaker can lash a bunch of features onto a car and call it a day, but it’s not a real value unless all of those baubles and braze-ons are bungeed to a platform and drivetrain whose creators have that whole engineering ’special sauce’ thing figured out. In other words, the democratization of luxury is one thing – but does the Fiesta deliver the democratization of fun? Click through to the jump to find out.
The internets recently caught fire after what appeared to be a was spotted hustling around a Fiattest track in Italy. At this point, it’s still difficult to tell whether the car is an all new project from the company that brought the world some of the most wicked rally beasts of all time or if a bored exec simply decided to take the out for a quick run around. If that latter possibility is true, the car has received a little bit of front fascia work since it took a spin on the show circuit some five years ago.
Whatever the case, the crew at have come up with a few renderings to help those of us with imagination impairments figure out exactly what the car would look like from all sides. Here’s a hint: It’s as hot as you’d expect an Italian wedge to be. So far, all we know is what – the site that broke the shots originally – has suggested, which is that the car we’ve all been drooling over is a one-off project for one very wealthy individual. Head over to for a look at all of the rendered goodness. Thanks for the tip, Sean!
Anderson Germany Lamborghini LP550-2 Valentino Balboni – Click above for high-res image gallery
We have to wonder if we were given an expanse of resources and all the time in the world, if we could actually improve on the driving dynamics of the . The car was tailored specifically to the tastes of a man who knows more than a little about what the perfect driving car should feel like, so it would seem somewhat arrogant to assume to be able to improve on the recipe. Fortunately, the aftermarket world packs the kind of confidence we can only feign, and Anderson Germany has taken up the challenge of making Balboni’s ride even more lethal.
The company has added a few aesthetic additions to the car, including a set of hefty three-piece, 20-inch wheels and smoked tail lights. Meanwhile, Anderson Germany’s wrenches have managed to bleed an extra 40 horsepower out of the car – bumping the final figure up to 590 ponies. Otherwise, the only changes are a few interior updates. We guess it’s best not to mess with perfection. for the press release.
The interface between human and machine are often as much art as they are science. A prime example is the way automobiles are controlled, in particular acceleration and braking. While nearly all vehicles over the last several decades have used a pair of adjacent foot pedals to manage those operations (with a shrinking proportion using a third for manual clutches), a third setup hasn’t gained any traction in the marketplace.
As both and can attest, this arrangement is less than ideal for many drivers. In an emergency situation, when you can’t even see the pedals, it’s all too easy to hit the throttle when you meant to lay on the brake.
Japanese inventor Masuyuki Naruse has developed a single pedal solution that should eliminate the possibility of misapplication. Naruse’s system consists of an accelerator operated by rotating the right foot clockwise while the brakes are operated by pushing down in the traditional manner. While the idea of a single pedal solution is certainly appealing, the side press for acceleration seems like it could be problematic from an ergonomic standpoint – particularly over an extended period of time.
With the arrival of electric vehicles, regenerative brakes and even brake-by-wire systems, a single pedal operation with braking coming simply by releasing the pedal is a possibility. The Mini E almost does this through the use of a very aggressive regenerative braking system, allowing drivers to slow the electric Cooper quickly without ever touching the brake pedal. There’s little doubt that over the next few years we’ll be seeing more innovation in this area with the hope of eliminating unintended acceleration, but building a better mousetrap – one that stands up to the test of time – is going to be difficult to implement across all vehicles.
2011 Infiniti M56 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Automakers try their darnedest to keep future vehicles secret until they’re good and ready to reveal them. But more often than not, something leaks. One of the best sources of future vehicle information turns out to be government officials, who have been known – whether through regulation or by accident – to make public the private plans revealed to them by automakers. Vice President Joe Biden’s notoriously loose lips are one example; copyright offices are another.
In this case, potential plans for an upcoming new line from have been revealed under the name JX. According to Car and Driver, has applied to trademark the names JX20, JX25, JX25h and JX30 at both the US and Canadian federal patent and trademark offices. Just what these model names signify is a matter of speculation, but if the existing , and are anything to go by, we should be looking at a crossover.
The numeric designations suggest the potential availability of a 2.0-liter four, a 2.5-liter V6, a hybrid and a 3.0-liter V6 (potentially a diesel), indicating that the JX would likely be rather compact in size. Sources speculate on a possible premium variant of the quirky . But Nissan, for its part, reportedly claims the trademark registrations – like the XW35, PX35 and DX35 filed previously – are precautionary, registered in the event they should need them. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Back in 2004, there was no , no , no or . Just the CLS: the four-door coupe that started it all. But after six years of production, the first-gen CLS has ended its production run after more than 170,000 units made and sold.
In its place, Mercedes is expected to introduce the second-gen CLS at the upcoming Paris Motor Show next month. And it’ll be a tough act to follow, borrowing cues from the and concepts.
The final unit of the current model, a CLS 550 with the AMG styling package, is being delivered to an American customer who will undoubtedly enjoy the pioneering svelte lines of his new four-door coupe as it races its way into the history books.
We’ve yet to glean any hard facts about what has planned for an Avenger/ replacement. While a few scant rumors have cropped up that hint to the possibility of a partnership with , we simply haven’t heard anything substantial. You’ll find few souls out there who argue that the malaise twins aren’t in serious need of some updating, and judging from a handful of spy shot nabbed by the crew at Secret New Cars, it may be awhile before we see any significant changes to the chassis as a whole. For now, it appears that Chrysler is hoping the rental car buying public will be satisfied with just a nosejob.
The shots show a heavily camouflaged mule with its entire schnoz wrapped in disguising fabric. That leads us to believe that the next iteration will feature a completely new front fascia, possibly with new fenders and a hood to boot. Whether that means that the headlights will receive a similar update remains to be seen. Head over to for a look see at a full gaggle of spy photos of the car. Thanks for the tip, Jeremy!
Brabus Smooth-Ride Suspension – Click above for high-res image gallery
Brabus has developed an electronically controlled suspension for the , replacing the standard units with gas-pressure shocks with adjustable valves that go from “extra comfortable” to “sporty comfortable.” Actuation is handled via a knob installed just above the shifter, and swapping your comfort takes a scant five milliseconds. When we were pleased with its balance of suspension compliance and firmness, but we wouldn’t be against sharpening it, even at Brabus prices. Follow the jump for the presser and see the difference some shocks make in the gallery of high-res photos below.
Bentley Continental GT “SS” by Dartz – Click above for high-res image gallery
Snakeskin? What snakeskin, you ask? Look closer, because while it may not be as in-your-face as the treatment on those cowboy boots you spotted while on vacation in the Southwest (or the tights on those girls from Jersey), this is literally covered in the stuff.
The snakeskin texture on the you see above is carried out by Dartz, the same Russian firm behind the Prombron SUV. Fortunately, having apparently learned from the whole , the snakeskin treatment is applied as a pattern to a white vinyl wrap that gives the Bentley a unique texture. Along with it, Dartz has also applied white alloys, blacked-out brightwork and smoked tail-lamp lenses for a decidedly shine-proof look.
The same treatment carries on to the interior, and Dartz calls the finished product the Continental GT “SS” – a presumable reference to the snakeskin theme, while nodding to the similarly-shaded . And while it may not be everyone’s proverbial cup of tea, in this case we can say at least it’s not whale penis.
Nearly every major media outlet has pitted the against the best and brightest from the high-powered sports coupe segment, and thus far, the results have been predictable. Motor Trend brought the supercharged Caddy coupe to Germany for a against the and , while Car & Driver brought the three sleds together for a with ear-bleeding audio.
Road & Track have taken another tack with CTS-V Coupe, opting for an all-American drag-race of the 556-horsepower Cadillac against the 550-horsepower . The GT500 and the CTS-V Coupe are made within 100 miles of one another in southeast Michigan and two vehicles are within .3 inches of one another in overall length. The CTS-V Coupe has 41 more pound-feet of torque, while the Mustang is lighter. But which vehicle posts a better 0-60 time? How about the fastest quarter mile? to find out.
