(April 22, 2012) Volkswagen is lifting the lid on the E-Bugster concept car at the Beijing Motor Show, which opens its doors to the press on April 23. The E-Bugster made its debut as a coupé at the Detroit Auto Show in January, but this time the electric concept’s hard-top has been removed, giving the best hint yet of the look of the future Beetle Cabriolet, and also showing the potential for Volkswagen’s future all-electric drivetrains.

(April 21, 2012) DEARBORN, Mich. — For decades, size meant everything when it came to engines — bigger was better and there was no replacement for displacement. But volatile gasoline prices and growing consumer interest in clean technologies are turning that notion on its head.
 

(April 20, 2012) — New separate auto loan and lease data from CreditForecast.com, a provider of consumer credit data and forecasts, shows that most consumers looking to buy a new vehicle are still financing their purchases with loans rather than leases, but the volume of leases is expanding rapidly and expected to grow approximately 50 percent by the end of 2017.

(April 20, 2012) DETROIT — Chevrolet today kicked off its 2012 “Diamonds & Dreams” program, encouraging participants across the country to visit www.chevybaseball.com and enter to win a refurbished baseball field for their community or one they feel is deserving.

One winner will be chosen each week for up to 12 weeks through July 22 and be eligible to win the Grand Prize: an all-new, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO.

(April 20, 2012) TORRANCE, Calif. — The all-new 2013 Acura ILX will go on sale at Acura dealerships May 22 starting at $25,900, Acura announced today.

"The 2013 Acura ILX will serve as the gateway to the Acura brand," said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. "At the leading edge of a new, sporty compact segment, the ILX delivers style, value, performance and connectivity to younger buyers looking to move into the luxury market.

(April 20, 2012) DETROIT — Originally developed as an airbag deployment notification system on three 1997 Cadillac models, OnStar has evolved to offer unmatched safety and security services. Today OnStar also provides everyday services like Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Hands-Free Calling and the RemoteLink Mobile App, leading to more than 439 million interactions — and counting.

(April 19, 2012) ATLANTA — Porsche has announced the debut of the Porsche Design Driver's Selection spring collection. Presented under the theme of The Speed of Sports, highlights of the collection include two new Porsche city bicycles, the Bike RS and S, along with new MARTINI RACING accessories and apparel.

(April 19, 2012) STUTTGART — Powerful yet with compact dimensions making it especially suitable for city use — for the first time, the Mercedes-Benz portfolio of vans features a vehicle specifically for the urban environment. The Mercedes-Benz Citan will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover in September.

(April 19, 2012) DEARBORN, Mich. — Rising oil prices have Ford upping the ante in its push to reduce petroleum dependence and use more sustainable materials — including retired U.S. paper currency — to make parts.
 
A wide range of alternatives to products now made with petroleum are under review for potential application in Ford vehicles from shredded retired currency to cellulose from trees, Indian grass, sugar cane, dandelions, corn and coconuts.

(April 18, 2012) WASHINGTON — Clean diesel automobile sales in the United States increased an impressive 35 percent during the first quarter of 2012 continuing the strong gains in diesel car purchases in 2011, according to new sales information compiled by HybridCars.Com and Baum and Associates.

The U.S. sales of clean diesel autos increased 39.6 percent in March 2012 over March 2011, 42.9 percent in February, and 21.2 percent in January.