News Opinion (Page 110)

Heading into its fourth year of racing, the TTXGP electric motorcycle racing series has seen rapid growth and an amazing list of accomplishments.

The public has spoken and the message is clear: an innovative and cost-effective approach to energy storage is required to enable the transformation from IC engine cars to cleaner, long-range, full electric vehicles. Lithium-ion, although viable, has a competitor on the horizon - Zinc-air. Question is: When?

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., is delivering its new 2012 Mitsubishi i electric vehicles, EVs, including six new ones in Normal, Illinois.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) made money in 2011, but did it mostly with a large tax credit. So, the market tried all day to decide if that qualifies sufficiently for Ford stock to rise. The stock still closed down.

Last time I wrote, Toyota Motors (ADR: TM) stock was sitting just above a down-trend line, and had a great showing in play at the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit. Now the stock has confirmed the trend line breakout is for real.

The thorny issue of collector car authenticity is one that sparks many debates and not too often will you hear about someone who takes up the challenge to body an un-bodied Bugatti. Today, is that day.

Every automobile is the result of work by teams of designers and engineers, but not always noticed by the public. To help the NAIAS 2012 crowd understand the difference, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) once again held its leading position as one of the best auto tech displays.

Younger auto-buyers are overwhelmingly looking for highly fuel efficient, hybrid, cars, with advanced infotainment features.

We are at a chicken-and-egg moment where prospective electric car owners want to see electric charging stations, but prospective charging station owners want to see electric car owners using their stations.

Ever wonder which hybrid is the best for 2012? Let's do a definition.

Toyota has been in a good place with its Prius line and now with its new Camry Hybrid. Question: Why is the Camry Hybrid cheaper than the Prius Plug-In?

NRDC's Luke Tonachel testifies in joint EPA and Dept of Transportation hearings that the proposed CAFE standards upgrade would produce huge economic and environmental benefits.

With the NAIAS 2012 in its public viewing stage, Polk’s analysis of national vehicle registration data shows the average age of light vehicles has steadily increased since 1995, though more rapidly in the past five years. Question: Besides government political pressure and marketing self deception, is there a list of criteria by the public that the automakers need to take more seriously?

Finally, good news for the auto industry. The NAIAS 2012 shows the Mercedes SL with a special display of its all-aluminum body structure. Does this mean Mercedes is stepping up as a leader in lightweight automobiles?

Last time I wrote on Toyota Motors (ADR:TM) stock, it had traded barely up to Moody’s downgrade of Toyota’s financial arm in the US. However, that was then, and this is now, as the stock is sitting just above a down-trend line, and has a great showing in play at the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit.

Last year I spent considerable time at the Audi R8 coupe, but this R8 GT Spyder has the power to bring out the roadster loving DNA in any driver; not to mention the beautiful model who adorned its presence in the photo and video.

With a double bottom already in place at the $19 area, General Motors (NYSE: GM) stock is breaking above a key technical downtrend line. Question is, can GM stock ride the wave of NAIAS 2012 to higher ground?

It was announced in September of 2011 that Top Gear US, which broadcasts on the History channel, will be extending its second season. For die-hard fans of the original Top Gear on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), this is worse news than if World War 3 was announced.

Government policy changes, along with economic and environmental issues, are changing the Chinese auto market, which had the biggest growth worldwide the last two years, leading major manufacturers from the U.S., Europe and Japan to pin much of their annual planning on the market in the land of the Giant Panda.

Every year, new designs made to meet a specific set of criteria are showcased at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The Michelin Challenge Design sets up a scenario and then designers of all stripes (professionals, students, amateurs) submit vehicle designs based on those criterion. Here's some favorites from this year's Challenge.

The refreshed design of the Fusion line at Ford will match performance with aesthetics, adding to the already huge success the car has proven to be.

I finally remembered where I first saw this car, the Falcon F7 Series 1 Supercar, in person; it was at the Battery Show 2011 in Novi, Michigan. The vehicle was dressed in a flat black, coated carbon fiber finish. Now the Falcon F7 is all dressed up, painted a metallic orange, shining brightly and making a supercar impression at the NAIAS 2012.

If the stock market is supposed to be a forward-looking entity, then judging from the display at the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit, one has to wonder what are the factors that are keeping Ford stock from moving significantly higher.

Congratulations to the 2012 EyesOn Design winners. Designers chose the 2013 Ford Fusion as the EOD Production Vehicle Award Winner; and the Lexus LF-LC as the EOD Concept Vehicle Award Winner.

If you are a fan of SPEED channel's “The Car Show”, you might be disappointed to hear that show has not been picked up for a second season. Sadly, this means the show has been canceled.

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2012 just completed two full days of exciting new-vehicle introductions and upbeat press conferences signaling an enthusiasm not seen in the auto industry for a few years.

The North American International Auto Show is entering its 24th year as an international event, and an entourage of national and state elected government officials will visit on various days throughout the preview events, including four members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet.

With all the sales reports in, Chevrolet came out number one among all U.S. automakers in passenger car sales in 2011.

In case you haven’t noticed, changes in automotive marketing have been affecting auto shows worldwide by morphing for quite a few years now. Questions are, how much, how deep and will they forever change the traditional NAIAS press days as well as other auto unvelings?

Yes, contrary to all the green writers and readers out there, and just in time for the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit , Pike Research’s latest survey shows consumer interest in plug-in electric vehicles has declined in the past two years. Question may be, why? Bet you can guess.