Opinion

Here's another impact of the recession and high unemployment in the U.S.: worsening traffic jams. According to INRIX – a real-time traffic data company – drivers can now expect at least a 10-percent increase in travel times. INRIX has found that there is an inverse correlation between unemployment and traffic ...    Read more

Congratulations to MINI Cooper Countryman! The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently awarded the all-new compact its "Good" rating on the company's front, side, rollover, and rear impact protection tests. The Countryman is the first Mini to win, and the second model from parent BMW Group to achieve top results ...    Read more

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may add hands-free infotainment systems to its list of car distractions. According to the Detroit News, the federal agency has begun researching to whether or not these types of systems pose a “cognitive distraction” to drivers, causing them to take their minds ...    Read more

Although Ford managed to avoid entering into bankruptcy in 2009, it had created a reserve of funds back in 2006 as it was beginning a four year period of operating losses. This allowance had let Ford hedge against deferred federal taxes, which they will have to begin paying at the ...    Read more

Like many others, I had my initial doubts and concerns about the Fiat/Chrysler marriage. If I had to make an analogy, I saw Chrysler like a middle-aged cougar divorcee. Attractive and slim, but but a little battle-bruised. With leathery tanned skin, and a raspy voice from many years of smoking ...    Read more

The autosphere is abuzzed with news that the next-gen Ford Mustang will get some style luvin' from the rest of the world. According to Automotive News, While development work is being reportedly assigned to Ford’s American engineering staff, the Mustang’s styling will be an international joint venture ...    Read more

Last week, JD Power and Associates recognized Jaguar North America as its Customer Service Champion for 2011. Only 40 companies received the honor this year out of more than 800. The candidates were first determined based on customer feedback and opinion, then culled down to the top 40 not only ...    Read more

The Automotive.com staff has been out of town most of the week covering the 2010 Chicago auto show. Thus the paucity of posts. However, Mazda's MX-5 convertible made it into the Guinness Book of World Records while the Department of Transportation cleared automotive electronics as a cause to Toyota's sudden ...    Read more

Unintended acceleration became a major issue for Toyota in 2010, prompting the automaker to recall millions of vehicles worldwide. Initially, Toyota found that the majority of reported occurrences were related to either floor mats trapping gas pedals, or faulty accelerator pedal mechanisms that could stick the throttle open. Both of ...    Read more

Well, here's news that'll likely get public transportation supporters smirking. According to Insurance.com, the average American pays a total of $84,000 for car insurance over their lifetime. Ouch.That figure stings a little — especially considering the average American spends a total of $150,000 on new cars in their lifetime, ...    Read more

Car buying sit Intellichoice released the list of winners of its coveted Best Value of the Year Awards for 2011. For 2011, Intellichoice reduced the number of categories to better represent what consumers are shopping for. For example, crossover vehicles have been combined with station wagons after they found ...    Read more

Missed the Super Bowl? Or, worse, can't remember the various ads after the umpteenth beer? Automobile Magazine was kind enough to post the various automotive commercials for your review. via Automobile Magazine Staff

This month, the Mazda MX-5, formerly known as the Miata, was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's best selling sports car with its 900,000 rolling off the assembly line. Introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989 and going on sales as a 1990 model, ...    Read more

From the Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary edition to best Ford vehicles for the Chinese New Year to the Cadillac SRX's all-new V-6, here's some of the latest and greatest automotive news found in the autosphere. ...    Read more

It may be a little early to determine whether this move was at the behest of new GM CEO Dan Akerson, but if it is, maybe he's not the corporate buffoon that many have made him out to be. A little background and history is in order. The Cadillac SRX ...    Read more

It's the Chinese New Year and you're looking for a new car. Well, Ford Motor Co. can help you with search. Ford matched each of the Chinese zodiac animals with a vehicle of similar characteristics. The Ford Fusion, for example, matches those born under the Rooster (ala *** and ...    Read more

Motor Trend Associate Online Editor Scott Evans did a bang up job in summarizing how the automakers did in auto sales for the month of January 2011. Full article can be found here. Our take? Will be interesting to see where Toyota and Ford take their luxury ...    Read more

When Hyundai unveiled the all-new 2012 Veloster at the Detroit Auto Show last month, more than a few of us wondered if the automaker may have lost its way. Again. The first time we asked ourselves the question was when Hyundai introduced the Genesis concept, its “premium sports ...    Read more

The autosphere is abuzzed that Fiat has released the fuel economy figures of its 500's compact. According to the automaker, 2012 Fiat 500 hatchback will achieve close to 40 mpg highway rating. The automaker says the five-speed will achieve 38 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg in the city. ...    Read more

Last April, the revised 2012 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) regulations went into effect, calling for automakers to meet a new fleet-wide fuel economy average of 35.5 mpg. Well, CAFE may become more of a headache, however, when the calendar reaches 2025. Although finalized figures for the new mandate ...    Read more

News always slows down during the holidays. Here, though, are some tasty tidbits from the autosphere: ...    Read more

During the Detroit Auto Show, we posed to a panel of Jeep executives if they considered adding a hybrid vehicle to the brand. Back in 2004, then DaimlerChrysler entered an alliance with General Motors and BMW to develop a hybrid system. The result, called the “two ...    Read more

The autosphere has been abuzzed with rumors suggesting Honda’s product development team was looking at developing a sport-tuned, Si-like version of the CR-Z to appease those underwhelmed by the current hybrid's performance. Subsequent reports suggested such a model could ditch the Integrated Motor Assist hybrid powertrain in favor of a ...    Read more

When Hyundai unveiled the 2011 Elantra compact car at last year's Los Angeles Auto Show, we heard one journalist remark about the "baby Sonata". Well, the remark is understandable especially when you liken the Sonata to actress Goldie Hawn and her daughter (and also actress), Kate Hudson. The Elantra ...    Read more

Mitsubishi is releasing more details of its future automotive plans. The automaker first teased with a new B-segment offering earlier this year, when it unveiled sketches of what it dubbed the New Global Small back in December. The company just announced, however, that the car will be shown in concept ...    Read more