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Hyundai Veloster For Real?

The Hyundai Veloster is one of the Frankfurt Motor Show's more striking concept cars. But according to the company it's not as outlandish as you might think and is a real production possibility, according to thecarconnection.com

The Veloster name is a combination of the words velocity and roadster. The car is designed to appeal buyers in their twenties.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:29 PM to Hyundai | Permalink | Comments 0

Small is Beautiful in Frankfurt

FRANKFURT - When it comes to this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, UP! is down, according to thecarconnection.com

Downsized that is, in the form of Volkswagen's pint-sized prototype car. Dubbed the UP!, it makes the automaker's original Beetle look positively huge. For the moment, the UP! is little more than a concept vehicle, but you likely won't have to wait very long to see it - or one of several variants the German maker will reveal later this year - go into production.

The same is true for a trio of minicar concepts revealed by General Motors, during its time in the Frankfurt spotlight. The American giant hopes to gauge reaction at this and several other major world auto shows to see if there's enough demand to justify production

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:23 PM to Alternative fuels , Design , Environment , GM , VW | Permalink | Comments 0

UAW talks extended; GM target for strike

The UAW has selected General Motors Corp. to be the lead negotiating partner, also known as a strike target, in the year's national contract talks, leading workers, analysts and labor experts to believe the union has agreed -- in principle -- to establish the retiree health care trust that the nation's largest automaker so desperately wants, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The union has agreed to indefinite contract extensions with Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC, those companies acknowledged.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:14 AM to Chrysler , Ford , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Car weight limits are a problem for fat Americans

The growing girth of Americans is colliding with government-mandated warning labels on all 2006 or newer cars that list the maximum weight — passengers and cargo — that's safe to carry, according to USA Today.

Many two-seat sports cars, including Mazda MX-5 Miata and Chevrolet (GM) Corvette, aren't certified to carry two 200-pound adults, according to a government formula aimed at tire safety.

Many five-passenger vehicles are rated about 850 pounds, maxxing out if their five occupants weigh more than 170 pounds each. Six 200-pounders would overload the seven-passenger Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:12 AM to Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil down on fading hurricane, new credit fears

LONDON - Oil eased from its record high on Friday as a hurricane subsided in the Gulf of Mexico and as fresh evidence of credit troubles in the banking sector hit financial markets, according to Reuters News Agency.

There was some downward pressure on oil from credit worries that knocked European shares lower after UK mortgage lender Northern Rock tapped the Bank of England for funding.

U.S. crude dropped 62 cents to $79.47 a barrel by 10:05 a.m. EDT, having settled up 18 cents in New York on Thursday, when prices hit a record of $80.20 a barrel.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:08 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Car-Buying Spurt Helps Retail Sales

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Retail sales posted a modest gain in August, helped by the biggest jump in auto sales in more than a year. But there are concerns that spending could falter as the steep slump in housing and financial market turbulence weigh on consumer confidence, according to the Associated Press.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:04 AM to Sales | Permalink | Comments 0