News Opinion (Page 109)

Options are the little things car buyers add to customize their vehicle to suit their tastes. Throughout automotive history, there have been some crazy, stupid, and outrageous options available.. for a price. Here are five of them.

Bob Lutz's latest blog post on the Chevy Volt bashers finds him disappointed that a Conservative Icon like Charles Krauthammer would stoop to joining in with heaping lies upon the Chevy Volt.

Cyclone Power Technologies (OTCQB: CYPW), developer of the all-fuel, clean-tech Cyclone Engine, announced today that it has closed the first round of funding of its Secured Promissory Notes since its acquisition of Advent Power Systems.

Automotive design takes many forms and is a fickle business, with last year's great thing quickly becoming this years butt of the joke. One example from 64 years ago highlights how a simple focus on one goal can be trendsetting and result in one of the most long-lived and highest-production vehicles of all time.

While the Board of Directors of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. at its meeting held on February 21, 2012 decided on a plan for changes to its management as of late June 2012. American Honda is being offered voluntary severance packages. Question is, why?

While gold and platinum appear to be in the news more, investors would be wise not to disregard palladium, as the connection between auto sales and palladium is still strong.

Hydrogen fuel cells sound good until you realize the result is $100,000 cars needing a fuel delivery system in existence nowhere but California, when it’s just an electric car you could easily plug in instead.

It is not easy to admit mistakes, but I have to in this case. Back in January I wrote that Infiniti was heading down the path of irrelevance, much like Lincoln is doing over at Ford. Well, Infiniti, all I can say is a qualified "Mea culpa" or forgive me.

Using the EPA's combined cycle miles per gallon ratings, we look at the most fuel efficient cars available to young families today for under $30,000.

I saw an electric BMW driving around and caught up with Simon Haxton long enough to ask him a few questions on how does it feel driving an electric ActiveE.

As the production of EVs and hybrids increases, so does the risk to automobile brand reputation, manufacturers and their suppliers; and Dykema is taking the lead this month at the ABA Conference on Automotive Product Liability and Litigation.

Amid a series of quality issues over the Fisker Karma, a report surfaces that Fisker rushed the Karma out the door in order to meet Dept of Energy milestones.

Magna International Inc (NYSE: MGA) stock may have a breakout on its horizon; problem is, the price-time chart shows the stock in a trading range, so it may be difficult for some to choose the direction of the breakout without further investigation.

Multiple news releases and reports by Exxon Mobil Corporation filled the ticker during CERAWeek 2012, signaling multiple areas of energy are about to get a shot of money and time: Investment to the tune of $185B, technology like hydraulic fracturing, and disclosure initiatives for Europe.

Rising fuel prices are affecting auto choices these days, and the 2012 Buick LaCrosse is showing one in four LaCrosse buyers chose the eAssist model.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) awarded CEO Alan Mulally $58.3 million in stock as a reward for the automaker's turnaround. Question is: Is this a return to business as usual?

While the Wall Street Journal reported first at CERAWEEK 2012, the IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates’ annual conference in Houston, it raises even greater questions about infrastructure for natural gas as a transport fuel.

Yes, it is March; it is time for March Madness basketball, but it is also time for the multiple, quarterly option expiration event. Question is, will you, your auto stocks and/or your portfolio be robust enough to handle the volatility of the stock market's reaction?

If you were expecting a breakout to the upside based on the news that General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) will offer a dual-fuel option for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 HD extended cab pickup trucks, you would have been disappointed today.

Cheap and plentiful energy was the promise of atomic energy in the 1950s, expected to power cars, provide cheap electricity and even power the robots who would take care of all our menial tasks and hazardous obligations.

Toyota stock put in a major low in late November of 2011, but since has experienced a full-blown, bull-market swing. Question is: Did this latest sell-off on Friday merely reflect a pause that refreshes in the bull run or is it the result of the CNN report about translated documents?

Yes, once again doubt about the integrity of Toyota is resurfacing; and this time it is CNN stating there are documents, three, that imply unintended acceleration may have been a known problem.

While General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) stock is presently sitting just below a price resistance level, a double bottom a few months back along with news of hedge fund participation may make the stock once again on everyone’s watch list.

Peak Oil; American dependence on foreign supplies. Is it possible that the energy crisis is not as bad as America’s politics would have us believe?

According to the U.S. General Services Administration purchase records, the purchase of hybrid and electric models dropped by 59% in 2011, making up only a small percentage of the federal government's total vehicle purchases.

As the Republican primary was unfolding in Michigan, home state of the Big Three, President Barack Obama criticized Mitt Romney for his opposition to the government bailout of GM and Chrysler.

Last article had merely the gallery of the Pirelli Great 8 for 2012. Now we have the videos processed for your review, as well as visual points on what makes a Ridler Award contender in three key areas: creativity, engineering and workmanship.

For a mature company, the weekly chart of 3M (NYSE: MMM) stock still looks healthy; and collaboration with Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) to design, manufacture, and market a portfolio of compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks for use in various transportation sectors in the U.S. is making the stock look even better.

Among the many chopped, channeled, and decked hot rods at the 60th annual Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama, one vehicle award stands out as much as the Pirelli Great 8 and Ridler Award. It is the Preservation Award won by the 1928-1929 era Ford Roadster of Scott Pieknik.

The original equipment manufacturers like GM Performance, Ford Racing and Mopar have taken an active roll in the 60th anniversary of the Detroit Autorama.