Posts Tagged ‘GM’

And now for the news

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

We bet if you called GM today you could pick up Hummer, ie the whole brand, for a song.

In a move that is being widely received with shock and sporadic gunfire, GM is killing Hummer off. The deal between the beleaguered Obama-owned US company and a Chinese consortium was blocked by the Chinese government because the vehicles are too heavy on fuel, and thus very eco-unfriendly. I know, it’s all a bit backwards. [source]

Tesla Motors, recently in the news due to the tragic death of three engineers in a light aircraft accident, is so confident in the ability of it’s Tesla Roadster Sport that it claims it’s after buyers trading in their Porsche Boxters. Motor Trend magazine in the US pitted the two against each other, with surprising results. [source]

In what is probably the most heartwarming news of the day, the Delorean rides again. Yes sir, that slightly daft, stainless steel, gullwinged coupe from the Back the Future fliks was a complete commercial flop, but such was the love that it garnered that some crazy bastards have resurrected it, and brought it up to modern safety standards. Car loon Jay Leno got his hands on one and made a little video so we can all be jealous together. [source]

If you’re the sort of person who enjoys  bureaucracy, paperwork and saying ‘Yes, Ma’am’ a lot, then boy, have we got a country for you. The United Kingdom offers an infinite number of opportunities to fill meaningless posts in offices created every day for no apparent purpose. One such office is the government’s Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV) who have managed to bag  £230 000 000 in an electric vehicle grant scheme. When purchasing an electric vehicle in 2011, owners can claim up to £5000 each. Actually, I don’t know why I’m being so cynical about this, it’s quite smart. Anyway. [source]

Saab dies a sad and lonely death. Thanks, GM

Friday, December 18th, 2009
Another crest we'll miss.

Another crest we'll miss.

We’re getting a bit tired of the fact that American car companies and their shit management have stuffed things up for the rest of us. The latest casualty in the absolute carcopalypse that was set off by Lehman and his brother is Swedish car company Saab. After failing to sell the entire brand to Koenigsegg, GM went knocking on Spyker’s door. After some due diligence, Spyker told them to get lost.

I was never going to buy a Saab, probably. But the motoring landcape is a bit less interesting now that they’re gone. And we find that a bit sad.

Hit the jump for the full (and brief) press release.

(more…)

Modern vehicle safety not overrated, as it turns out

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

To celebrate 50 years of smashing cars to bits and pieces, the American Insurance Institute for Highway safety tracked down an old (but roadworthy) 1959 Chevy Bel Air and threw it in the direction of an oncoming 2009 Chevy Malibu. Now you’d expect the steel-and-girders Bel-Air to tear through the aluminium and plastic ‘mid-size sedan’…but, you’d be wrong. Very wrong.

(more…)