(August 19, 2011) COSTA MESA, Calif. (PRNewswire) — T3 Motion, a producer of clean technology electric vehicles, announced this week that the University of Southern California has placed an order for nine additional T3 ESVs to supplement their electric vehicle fleet.

In 2007, USC entered a trial period with T3 ESVs to assess the vehicle benefits and capabilities for security initiatives. Since then, the school has purchased 28 ESVs — making their fleet the largest of any university worldwide. The vehicles have been used on the 300-acre campus for security patrol checks, student escorts, traffic and crowd control.

(August 18, 2011) GRAND BLANC, Mich. — The E-ROD 5.3-liter crate engine package is getting the green light from the California Air Resources Board, which says it can be legally installed in 1995-and-earlier cars and trucks that predate OBD II on-board emissions diagnostics.

The certification — carrying Executive Order D-126-31 — is the second in GM Performance Parts’  E-ROD lineup to get the all-clear for use on some 20 million pre-1996 vehicles on California roads. Both manual and automatic versions of the E-ROD 5.3L are good to go.

(August 18, 2011) NORTHVILLE, Mich. (PRNewswire) — Amerigon Incorporated has announced it has been awarded an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to lead the development of an energy recovery system that can improve passenger car fuel efficiency by five percent by converting waste heat from gas exhaust into electric power using a thermoelectric generator.

(August 18, 2011) DETROIT — The innovative Cadillac Converj Concept, a luxury coupe with extended-range electric vehicle technology, is moving forward as a production car that will be called the Cadillac ELR. 

Development of the ELR is just underway, so details on performance, price and timing will be announced later.

(August 18, 2011) LOS ANGELES — The all-new 2012 Toyota Yaris Liftback arrives this fall with upgraded styling, more safety features and improved fuel economy.

“There is a lot of excitement in the subcompact category today, but the all-new 2012 Toyota Yaris is at the top of the list when it comes to combining value and fuel efficiency with style and fun,” said Toyota Division Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter.

(August 17, 2011) MAHWAH, N.J. — The Jaguar C-X16 production concept will make its global debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Sept. 13.

Designed by the same team that produced the Jaguar XJ, XF and XK, headed by Jaguar's Design Director Ian Callum, the C-X16 concept is a precursor to future Jaguar sports cars that will aim to set new class benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology.

(August 17, 2011) COLOGNE, Germany — Ford of Europe said sales in its traditional 19 markets fell 4.4 per cent to 93,700 in July as overall market demand weakened even as the company continued to see strong sales for its new Focus and C-MAX.

In all 51 of its European markets, Ford sales fell 0.9 per cent to 118,300 in July. For the first seven months of the year, Ford sales in those markets totaled 953,800, up 1.3 per cent, boosted by sales gains in Germany, Russia and Turkey.

(August 17, 2011) DEARBORN, Mich. — The 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost has survived a series of torture tests — racing in the Baja 1000 and towing a maximum 11,300 pounds at high speeds around a NASCAR track for 24 hours straight — and this month, eight truck fans will put the truck to the test in their own communities.

(August 16, 2011) NEW YORK (PRNewswire) — Sirius XM Radio announced today that legendary music station BBC Radio 1 will be available to its listeners on SiriusXM Internet Radio beginning Friday at 5 pm ET as part of a new multi-platform agreement with the BBC that brings subscribers additional concert performances from the BBC vault.