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With all the hype surrounding the pending launch of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf electric cars, Ford's Transit Connect EV has gone almost unnoticed. It's easy to see why. In the car business, there are few things less sexy than commercial vans.

David Welch, The Auto Beat

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Featured Column

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GM: Still Making the Same Mistakes

Has GM learned nothing? The "introduction" of the Chevy Volt this week shows the company has no idea how car sales really work

 

VIEWPOINT: MARYANN KELLER

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Why Remaking the Auto Industry Makes No Sense

The auto industry doesn't work by the basic laws of the market—governments just won't let dead companies go

 

Auto Design

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Automakers Go on the Small-Car Offensive

Nine new small cars are rolling out in the next 18 months, six from GM and Ford. Will they sell without the incentives of high gas prices and federal subsidies?

 

Hybrids

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Korean Carmaker Hyundai Goes Green

It'll take a lot to catch up with Toyota and Honda, but Hyundai has ambitious plans to be a fuel efficiency leader by 2015

 

Classic Cars

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Wartime Alfa

One of the beautiful and rare interim-bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 2500s, it was bought by a German general during WWII

 

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Top Stories

How BMW's Mini Trumped Daimler's Smart Car

Daimler's brand has lost its way in the high-end micro-car market it pioneered

Auto Hacking Seen as Growing Risk With Electronics Frenzy

Electronics in cars, including safety and entertainment systems, could be a potential target for hackers. Vulnerabilities remain hypothetical

Having Thrived in America, Hyundai Takes On Europe

The Korean automaker uses its high-quality, low-price strategy to compete with Volkswagen

Better Place Says 2015 May Be Electric-Car Tipping Point

China's new-energy vehicle policy is expected to boost electric car use

Harley-Davidson Reports Profit on Sales Increase, Cost Cuts

Harley-Davidson's Q4 retail sales rose 11.8 percent in the U.S. and 10.9 percent worldwide

Designed in China. Driven 'Round the World

GM and other carmakers are using mainland designs for global cars

Reinventing Lincoln

With the debut of the new Lincoln MKZ, here's an inside look at designer Max Wolff's plans to save an iconic, but fading, American brand

Review: 2012 Range Rover Evoque

The award-winning Evoque blends brains with brawn—not to mention luxury and style—for a stunning debut in the premium SUV category

Infiniti's Hunky $75,000 SUV Charges Like Elephant, Smells Rich

Despite its girth, the 2012 QX56 SUV is Camaro-quick and incredibly comfortable

Dealer’s Best December in Five Years Follows U.S. Sale Ads

Heavy discounting and rising consumer confidence pushed cars sales to second fastest pace in more than two years

Thane Peterson's Best Drives of 2011

Businessweek.com's Thane Peterson tested dozens of cars and reviewed more than25 over the past year. Here are the 10 he most liked

Chevy’s $15,000 Sonic Subcompact Make Raucous Noise, Sips Gas

Chevy's new Sonic proves that America can build a subcompact that is small, stylish and fun to drive

Saab Automobile Breakup Looms on Chinese Cash Limit, GM’s Snub

After six decades of innovation, Sweden's Saab to be broken up and sold for parts

Jaguar's $132,000 XKR-S Blasts German 'Ring', Avoids Death Rail

The XKR-S coupe, a muscle car disguised as an elegant English grand tourer, is the fastest car ever made by the company

Review: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic

The redesigned Mercedes ML350 is a winning combination of power, engineering and style—at a surprisingly affordable price

Best Drives of 2011

Bloomberg's Jason Harper reviewed dozens of cars over the past year—here are the ones he liked best

Toyota Hybrids Go From Strength to Strength

A successful launch of the Prius PHV could secure Toyota as hybrid leader, undermining Chevy Volt

Jeep Wrangler’s $34,000 Convertible Plows Snow, Digs Dirt

After years of neglect, Chrysler is sprucing up Jeep--and the classic Wrangler gets a new engine but doesn't lose it off-road ruggedness

Review: 2012 Toyota Camry

Toyota won't mess with success the bestselling car in the U.S. has a better interior and mileage but dont expect radical changes

How New Car Models End Up Unmasked

The market for snapshots of future models is a cloak-and-dagger business

Recreated $97,000 Porsche 911 Brings Speed to Screaming Legend

The redesigned Porsche 911 keeps the best of its storied past and improves it with more speed, better gas mileage

First Drive: 2012 Honda CR-V

The redesigned Honda CR-V's fuel efficiency, interior, and standard equipment are better than ever. Too bad it's so underpowered

Hyundai’s Veloster Delivers Ferrari Technology to College Kids

The new Hyundai Veloster is the perfect starter car—it's cool-looking, loaded with gadgetry and surprisingly affordable

Surprise! Carmakers Are a Recovery Bright Spot

As auto companies prepare for a surge, lower-cost plants in the South will benefit

Speed Freaks Race Utah Salt Flats With Rocket Truck, Barstools

For people who can't drive 55, Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats is a paradise for those who dream of 200 mph--or more

Review: 2012 Audi A6

With its bold new redesign, the Audi A6 is an elegant, smart and fun-to-drive luxury sedan that costs less than Mercedes or BMW

Fantastic $36,000 Lexus Hybrid Outdrives Prius

The Lexus CT 200h falls short on luxury and prestige, but decent handling and great gas mileage make this the ultimate urban runabout

My $283,000 Roaring Ferrari Slams N.Y. Streets

The new $225,325 mid-engined, V8-powered Ferrari 458 Italia supercar is a worthy successor to the F430, only more so

First Drive: 2012 Mercedes S350 BlueTEC

The S350 BlueTEC is a big, beautiful, diesel-powered sedan that offers elegance and better gas mileage for less than the flagship S550

Slideshow: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec

With its diesel V6 engine, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC offers better gas mileage and a lower sticker price than the flagship gas-powered S550

BMW Seen Widening Lead Over Audi

Thanks to its revamped 3-series sedan, BMW's sales leave Audi and Mercedes in the dust

Chrysler Helps Shore Up Parent Fiat

As the European debt crisis depresses Fiat sales, Chrysler's profit gap widens to 87 percent

Souped-Up $80,000 Jeep Ascends Desert Roads to Telluride Snow

For an extra $45,000, an ordinary Jeep tweaked by American Expedition Vehicles becomes an extreme off-road bruiser

BMW Struggling to Enlarge Mini Market With Smallest Coupe: Cars

BMW plans to tighten cooperation with Mini by sharing front-wheel drive technology after the hatchback is overhauled in 2014

Review: 2012 BMW 135i Convertible

With super-fast-shifting and a 300-horsepower turbo engine, the BMW 135i is the perfect starter Bimmer (for people who aren't that tall)

BMW's Z4 Crashes Power Party

The four-cylinder BMW Z4 roadster proves that performance doesn't have to come from a high-displacement V-12 engine

Forty-eight Hours, Thirteen Cars, One Driver

At the International Motor Press Association's annual Test Days, journalists get a chance to go wild driving the newest and most interesting cars on the market. Here are the ones we liked best

A Mini Mercedes with Big Ambitions

Daimler's flagship tries small luxe cars to regain its edge

Electric Vehicles Fail to Connect With Consumers

Concerns about battery life and high sticker prices dampen consumers appetite for electric vehicles like Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf

Chrysler 300 Gets Its Groove Back

Chrysler's redesigned 300 sedan offer better gas mileage, upgraded interior and plenty of highway horsepower

Porsche Bets on Faster $123,000 Iconic 911

Seeking to boost sales, Porsche revamps its iconic 911 for the first time since 2004

Lamborghini's $400,000 Supercar Is Way Cooler, Faster Than Ever

The new Aventador, which is the replacement for the Murcielago, is quite simply the best Lamborghini ever made

Review: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS550

Mercedes's new CL550 is a bold, beautiful machine for drivers who are looking to combine power and luxury in a pricey package

BMW Revives 4-Cylinder U.S. Sedan

To conform with fuel-efficiency rules, BMW is bringing four-cylinder engines back to U.S.

The Ludicrously Fast Riley MkXXII

The $275,000 Riley MkXXII Track Day Car is an expensive training tool for wealthy amateur racers

Mercedes SLK350 Convertible Says Call in Sick

Mercedes' hot little roadster may not be practical but good times are almost guaranteed

IN YOUR FACE: PURSUE YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAM

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Reader Bobbie Goheen Writes:

"Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? Evaluate and adjust your assumptions monthly until your business is up and out of the red."

 

Featured Video

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GM Dealership on Industry Troubles

And how Obama's plan could affect it