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The 'Cash for Clunkers' Law Looks Like a Lemon

Not enough new-car buyers can take advantage of it, and the program may even put more gas guzzlers on the road

Clean Diesel Is Coming! Clean Diesel Is Coming!

With diesel fuel prices down and rivals' diesel programs halted, German carmaker Audi has launched a U.S. marketing push

Slide Show: Diesels Are Back—and Now Green

Hyundai Offers a $1.49 Price Lock on Gas

It's the Korean carmaker's latest effort to seize share in the depressed U.S. market after earlier this year assuring buyers worried about their jobs

Cash for Clunkers: What Can $1 Billion Buy?

The government soon may be handing out vouchers for new cars. Cash giveaways have spurred trade-ins in Europe. Will they help in the U.S.?

Slide Show: 20 Fuel-Efficient Cars to Trade Up To Now

Ford of Europe: Benefiting from Rebate Schemes

Ford is ahead thanks to stronger design and government programs that pay cash for gas guzzlers. Now, that stimulus may be about to dry up

The U.S. Auto Industry in 2012

Wonderland or wasteland? Detroit could thrive on U.S. drivers replacing their aging cars—but they'll need to hurry up

Plus: Special Report: General Motors' New Landscape

Review: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

The sporty, well-designed Genesis is a reasonably priced, stylish, entry-level luxury car—and a big step up for Hyundai

Slide Show: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

Henderson's Strategy to Fix GM

With the Obama Administration pressuring for quick results, the CEO's first job is to remake a bureaucracy notoriously resistant to change

Special Report: General Motors' New Landscape

Chrysler, Fiat Drive Off the Lot

Freed from bankruptcy court, the new Chrysler Group faces a recession-wracked economy and no new vehicles for months

Putting BMW's New Z4 Through Its Paces

It takes a little more than a touch of a button to retract the new Z4's roof, but this sexy sports car handles beautifully—and the mileage isn't bad, either

Slide Show: BMW's New Z4 Takes on Rivals

Touring Europe's Best Auto Museums

More automakers, including the likes of Volkswagen and Porsche, are turning factories into tourist attractions, and with some success

Slide Show: European Auto Museums

The Car That Could Save Ford

At last, Ford is bringing its stylish, well-designed, fuel-efficient, and successful Fiesta to America. It's about time

GM: Marketing in the Time of Bankruptcy

How GM plans to free itself and its four remaining brands from the taint of failure

What Now for Fiat?

After missing out on GM's European units, Fiat CEO Marchionne faces a choice of less appealing M&A targets to help the Italian automaker bulk up

GM's Hummer Goes to Chinese

Sources say Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. of China will buy the line of rugged—and gas-guzzling—SUVs

The Tough Road Ahead for GM and Chrysler

Bankruptcy would produce leaner automakers, but it would still leave lots of debt and do nothing to fix their images—or the disastrous marketplace

The Ethanol Lobby: Profits vs. Food

If the ethanol lobby really believes in the biofuel, why are there so few E85 pumps in corn-growing states?

Review: 2010 Toyota Prius

The new 2010 Toyota Prius, with more horsepower, more cargo space, and more fuel economy, is better than ever—and all at an affordable price

Slide Show: 2010 Toyota Prius

Kia Motors' Cheap Chic

Thanks to German design chief Peter Schreyer, the Korean carmaker is making a splash at home and plans to do the same in the U.S.

Slide Show: 25 Iconic Cars of the Past 25 Years

At 50, the Mini Is Going Strong

Relaunched by Germany's BMW in 2001, the quirky, iconic British car has become an international success

Slide Show: The Mini Turns 50

China: Car Capital of the World?

It will soon be the world's busiest market, and domestic carmakers are growing rapidly in size and quality

The Great Ethanol Scam

Not only is ethanol proving to be a dud as a fuel substitute but there is increasing evidence that it is destroying engines in large numbers

Review: 2009 Ford Focus

The Ford Focus is Detroit's best compact car, but it still trails the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic in quality and sales

Slide Show: 2009 Ford Focus

China's Geely Eyes GM's Saab, Ford's Volvo

Geely, the second biggest Chinese automaker, is reported to be in talks with the hurting Detroit giants about taking over their Swedish units

An Alternative Auto Industry Bailout

Public money should not just go toward mending a broken system. It's time to challenge the conventional boundaries of the U.S. auto industry

Plus: Auto Bailout Special Report Table of Contents

Would You Buy a Car from Chrysler?

Persuading buyers to take a chance on the bankrupt automaker might turn out to be tougher than working Chrysler out of court

Why Indians Are So Thrilled by Tata's Nano

Car ownership in India brings feelings of pride and freedom, which is why 350,000 people have entered a lottery to buy a Tata Nano

Plus: Toyota Reveals Pricing for New Indian Compact Car

GM: The Vultures Circle

Bondholders, dealers, the UAW, and Treasury are all jockeying for a piece of a restructured General Motors, Chapter 11 or not

Plus: Auto Bailout Special Report Table of Contents

GM's Been on the Brink Before—Many Times

This isn't GM's first brush with death. Since 1910 the company has nearly disappeared three times—and come back stronger every time

Plus: Auto Bailout Special Report Table of Contents

Chrysler's Looming Tag Sale

If the carmaker is forced to sell assets, as bondholders claim they want, what would Chrysler's Jeep, minivan, and Dodge truck lines go for?

German Luxury Carmakers Press on Despite Slump

While most automakers are thinking about gas mileage and sticker price, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, and Daimler are expanding their luxury fleets

Plus: Can Porsche Manage Its Debt?

The Newest Supercar

The limited edition Novitec TuLesto has a V8 engine with dual superchargers and a rated power output of 777 hp

Time Is Running Out for GM and Chrysler

The two struggling automakers have got to cut deals and prove their viability, or face bankruptcy. They need to speed things up

Plus: Auto Bailout Special Report Table of Contents

As Old Auto Brands Fade, New Ones Appear

Even as Detroit reels, Chinese and Indian brands like Geely, Chery, and Tata are looking to launch in the U.S.

Slide Show: Picks & Pans of the 2009 N.Y. Auto Show

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac's awesome new CTS-V is faster from zero to 60 than Mercedes' E63 AMG and BMW's M5. It also costs many thousands less

Slide Show: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

The Picks & Pans of the 2009 N.Y. Auto Show

This year's auto shows take on an extra urgency as the success or failure of the models could determine the industry's course

Cars Gone Wireless

Automakers and tech companies are adding a growing array of information and entertainment extras such as Web access in vehicles

Slide Show: Cutting-Edge Car Communications

Nissan's Cube Aims Young

Nissan introduces the Cube, a $14,000 rolling box to compete with Toyota's oddly successful Scion xB

Carmakers Go for Broke at Thailand's Auto Show

Despite falling vehicle sales in Thailand, the Bangkok International Motor Show, with its high-heeled "pretties," was a big draw this year

GM: Who's In Charge Here?

It will be tough for he new boss to manuever with other hands on the wheel

Auto Bailout Special Report Table of Contents

2009 Acura TL

Sales might be sluggish for the redesigned Acura TL, but if the economy were better this sporty, entry-level luxury car would be a winner

Slide Show: 2009 Acura TL

What Can Tata's Nano Teach Detroit?

As the commercial model of India's microcar is unveiled, U.S. carmakers would do well to learn from the innovations that brought it about

Plus: Auto Bailout Special Report Table of Contents

Buick Earns Highest Dependability Marks

But Toyota dominates J.D. Power's dependability ranking, with five of its models scoring in the top 10. Volkswagen and Suzuki place last

Plus: Vehicle Dependability Study

Billions for Auto Suppliers' Bailout

Beleaguered parts makers could get as much as $5 billion in government funding "no matter what happens" to the car companies

Plus: Auto Bailout Special Report Table of Contents

2009 VW Tiguan

If you're in the market for a compact SUV and appreciate German engineering, consider the VW Tiguan

Slide Show: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan

Revealed: The New Lamborghini Murcielago LP 650-4 Roadster

The special edition Roadster version will offer a 6.5 litre V12 engine producing 650 hp and will zoom from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds

BMW's Push into Electric Cars

The company is developing an all-new electric vehicle under its "Project i." But will battery prices fall enough to make the car a success?

Chrysler's New Reality: How Real Is It?

The struggling automaker is talking up a rebound. But even if it partners with Fiat, a high debt load and brutal cuts could leave it flat

The World's Most Powerful Hybrid Car

At Geneva, Nissan debuted the Infiniti Essence concept, a hybrid with 600 hp from the combined output of a V6 twin turbo and electric motor

GM's Big Assumptions

GM is banking on a return to years of 16 million sales, but those numbers were as inflated as the housing bubble

Geneva Motor Show 2009

From low-cost, fuel-efficient Volkswagens to top-of-the-line luxury cars, the 2009 Geneva auto show features a wide range of new cars

Plus: Europe's Chevy Volt

Europe's Chevy Volt

Opel unveils its Ampera hybrid electric car at the Geneva Motor Show

2009 Ford F-150

America's favorite pickup has been redesigned, with a smoother ride, more power, and better gas mileage

Slide Show: 2009 Ford F-150

Auto Sales: Worst February in 40 Years

GM is the biggest loser, with new-car sales down 53%. And carmakers are finding that even lavish incentives aren't stopping consumers from buying used cars

SuperVeloce: Lamborghini's New King of the Bulls

The more extreme top-of-the-range Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is more powerful, lighter, and faster than the Murcielago LP 640

Mitsubishi and Citroen to Develop Electric Vehicle

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and PSA Peugeot Citroen will collaborate on electric vehicles based on a Mitsubishi's i MiEV

Bankers Slow Down on Buying Fast Cars

Luxury car sales languished in January as the financial crisis deprived investment bankers and other highfliers of their fat bonuses

Slide Show: Cars Bankers Can't Afford to Drive Anymore

GM's Fourth-Quarter Loss: $9.6 Billion

Perhaps more important: General Motors' $5.3 billion cash burn for the quarter. Without government loans, it would already be in bankruptcy

Poll: Bail Out the Auto Industry?

Why Saturn Fell to Earth

GM's 'Different Kind of Car Company' was a great marketing idea, but low margins and confused branding doomed the experiment

GM's Dicey Recovery Plan

Its best projection—a return to profitability by 2011—hinges on a massive, unlikely sales rebound

General Motors' High-Wire Bankruptcy Act

It's Wall Street against Big Labor as GM and Chrysler hint at Chapter 11 filings to frighten creditors and workers into discounting debt

Winning Over Bondholders: Key to GM's Survival

GM bondholders fear that even with a bailout, the carmaker may not avoid bankruptcy. They want their money now

Is Hyundai's Black Ink a Trend?

The weak won is helping the Korean automaker post big sales and market heavily. But that could eventually backfire by eroding profits

GM's Crash Diet: Thousands Cut

To get viable fast, GM is slashing 10,000 more workers from global payrolls, and dramatically trimming its lineup and production

BMW Design Chief Bangle Resigns

The infamous designer of the "Bangle butt" was both respected and reviled. His successor, Adrian van Hooydonk, has a tough act to follow

Ford First with Electric Vehicle

In 2010 the Ford Transit will hit the market, making it the first pure battery electric-powered light commercial vehicle in North America

Consumers Snub Troubled Brands

When car buyers know names such as Volvo and Hummer are on the block, they steer clear of the showroom

U.S. Auto Sales Hit 27-Year Low

With the exception of Subaru, Hyundai, and Kia, sales plummeted in January. Could the stimulus plan stabilize the market by yearend?

How the Google Model Could Help Detroit

Carmakers need to let go of their musty business models and start thinking like 21st century companies—like Google

Extreme Bentley

Will the new Extreme Bentley be the fastest, most powerful production car ever? That's what Bentley says

How California Could Affect Car Choices

A directive from the Obama Administration on fuel efficiency is creating alarm among automakers

How GM Lost Its Sales Crown to Toyota

It started with management decisions in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. High gas prices and the current recession only made matters worse

Is Tesla a Good Bet for Taxpayer Dollars?

The bold, upstart electric-car maker fits in with the green priorities, but there's reason to doubt the little company can go the distance

Picks & Pans of the Detroit Auto Show 2009

This year's NAIAS is the most important in years because Detroit needs to show it is still relevant. Does it succeed?

China's Long March Toward U.S. Garages

Instead of buying American auto companies to ease their entrance into the U.S. market, Chinese carmakers are building from scratch

Luxury Car Sales Keep Skidding

Sales of luxury cars in North America are likely to fall under 1 million units for the first time in more than a decade

Slide Show: Luxury Cars, Poor Sales

The Best Car at the Detroit Auto Show?

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro packs a 525 hp 5.2 liter V10 engine and looks gorgeous

Chrysler Goes Electric—Finally

Chrysler announces it will produce at least one of electric vehicle for North American markets in 2010

Hyundai's Halo: Car of the Year Award

The South Korean carmaker expects the prize-winning Genesis to help it encroach on Japanese and Western rivals when the auto industry recovers

GM's Garage Sale

GM to raise cash by auctioning off 250 show cars and one-offs from its Heritage Collection. Want a slightly used Popemobile?

What Big Three? Ford Motor Adopts a Scrappy Image

In declining a federal bailout, CEO Alan Mulally gambled that cash—and new models such as the Fusion Hybrid—can help Ford outlast its rivals

Plus: A Green Auto Show

For Car Companies, It Was a Year to Forget

A dismal December caps off the auto industry's worst year since 1992. Cars outsold trucks and SUVs for the first time since 2000

China's First Plug-In Hybrid Car Rolls Out

The infrastructure for running electric cars is not quite in place in China, but BYD Auto's plug-in has a lot to offer

Plus: Nissan's Ideas for Electronic Cars: Think Holistically

Recession-Proof Cars

Sure, Detroit is drowning and the rest of the auto world isn't doing so hot, but the world still needs to drive—and here are the cars we'd pick

Ford's Green Plan to Drive Sales

Promising a slew of new green vehicles, the troubled Detroit automaker is turning to top design firms to make those cars innovative and appealing

Cars We Want to Drive in 2009

Automakers may be stumbling, but that doesn't mean they aren't making cars and SUVs we can't wait to drive in 2009

Slide Show: Cars We Want to Drive in 2009

All New Lotus

The first new Lotus since the Elise debuted in 1995, the 2 + 2 Evora has a more luxurious interior—and a celebrity waiting list

Congress to Detroit: What's Your Plan?

If the Big Three automakers can't come up with a radical plan that will satisfy Congress, they can kiss the $25 billion bailout goodbye

The Man Who Could Run GM

Fritz Henderson, groomed to replace CEO Wagoner, has a strong track record—and a way with unions

Plus: Nardelli: Why Chrysler Needs a Bailout

The 500 hp Bentley Azure T

If you like thunderous performance and absolute luxury, then the Bentley Azure T is for you

Greener Luxury Cars, and Not Just Hybrids

Mercedes and Lexus hybrids each have impressive qualities, but the BMW 7 Series—to which Americans' access will be limited—edges them out

The Best New Cars of 2009

Between high fuel costs, credit woes, and overall economic gloom, it's a lousy time to buy a car. Too bad, because some of the '09 models are great

Slide Show: The Best New Cars of 2009

Swapping MPH for MPG

Stung by high gas prices, many Americans are trading in their gas guzzlers and finding it's a pretty smart move

Slide Show: Ten Trades for Better Fuel Economy

Squeezing Out the Extra Miles Per Gallon

There are plenty of futuristic fuel-saving technologies on the blackboard. What are automakers offering drivers today?

Slide Show: Low-Tech Solutions for Higher Gas Mileage

The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have

Ford's Fiesta ECOnetic gets an astonishing 65 mpg, but the carmaker can't afford to sell it in the U.S.

Slide Show: Americans Might Like These Fuel-Sipping Cars

Drive an Expensive Import? You Probably Lease It

Leases are falling out of favor, which is bad for import brands. They depend on leases to put people in cars they otherwise couldn't afford

Slide Show: America's Most Leased Cars

Which Cars Have the Best Gas Mileage?

Only 15 cars for sale in the U.S. get combined gas mileage of 30 mpg or better. We tell you what they are

Slide Show: The 15 Best Cars on Gas

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