(December 3, 2009) After 13 years and hundreds of thousands of sales in the U.S., Volkswagen is pulling the plug on the New Beetle.

Volkswagen announced the 2010 New Beetle and New Beetle convertible Final Editions, which will mark the last of Volkswagen’s current generation of the iconic models. Available in U.S. dealer showrooms beginning in the Spring of 2010, the Final Editions will be limited to only 1,500 units each. The Final Editions will receive a host of unique upgrades and touches that will truly set them apart from others cruising across the country.

(Decembr 3, 2009) Green and performance luxury needn’t be mutually exclusive concepts. That’s a core belief at Audi. Today, that philosophy paid off with the all-new A3 TDI earning the prestigious title of 2010 Green Car of the Year.

The announcement came this morning during the Los Angeles Auto Show as Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com presented the award to Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen. The Audi A3 TDI was among five model finalists nominated for the award, which began in 2005.

(December 3, 2009) The Ford Fiesta will be missing one of Ford's most promoted technologies when it launches in 2011, according to Automotive News. But an EcoBoost engine will be coming, Ford officials say.

“It's coming,” Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of global product development, told Automotive News.

(December 3, 2009) LOS ANGELES  — The Volvo XC60 was named 2010 International Truck of the Year by the International Car of the Year (ICOTY) jury. The award was given to Doug Speck, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, at the Volvo display at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The XC60 was chosen over 10 new crossovers, SUVs and trucks by a distinguished panel of top automotive journalists.

(December 2, 2009) The General Motors board and CEO Fritz Henderson parted ways Tuesday, the board upset that the automaker's turnaround wasn't moving more swiftly and Henderson frustrated with second-guessing, two people close to the former CEO said.

Board Chairman Ed Whitacre Jr., the former head of AT&T Inc., will take over as CEO while a global search is conducted.

It was becoming clearer today that Henderson did not make the first move, but was asked to step down. The surprise resignation, which came just hours before Henderson was to be the high-profile keynote speaker at the Los Angeles Auto Show. At a hastily called news conference at General Motors Co.'s downtown Detroit headquarters, Whitacre would not answer questions, but said the board and Henderson agreed that he should step down.

(December 2, 2009) FEEDING FRENZY — By Jon Harmon, published by Eloquent Books

By Al Vinikor
MotorwayAmerica.com

Throughout history every major battle has produced books detailing everything from its cause, to its outcome — and the inevitable lessons learned. Not every hostility is military in nature, however, as proven in a new book called Feeding Frenzy — Inside the Ford-Firestone Crisis, by Jon Harmon.

The book chronicles the life-and-death struggle between Ford Motor Company and Firestone, which was the biggest business story during 2000-2001. The public fight raged over the 270 lives lost in the United States (and 100 more in Venezuela and other hot-climate countries) caused by the deadly and mysterious rollovers of the Ford Explorer equipped with failing Firestone tires.

(November 2, 2009) General Motors, Toyota, Ford, and Chrysler posted November U.S. auto sales that beat analysts' estimates as the economy stabilized and shoppers began trickling back to showrooms.

U.S. consumers bought 746,928 cars and trucks last month, about the same as last year.

Sales were down 1.8 percent for GM, up 0.1 percent for Ford and down 25.5 percent for Chrysler.

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, reported a 2.6 percent increase. Honda (down 3 percent) and Nissan (up 21 percent) also topped estimates.

(December 2, 2009) TORRANCE, Calif. — Acura announced today that for the second consecutive year it received the Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) 2010 Residual Value Award for Best Luxury Brand. According to ALG, Acura's line of luxury performance vehicles is expected to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three-year period. Acura beat out other luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz for the highly coveted award.

Honda has been a favorite of Car and Driver magazine and nothing has changed this year. Among the magazine's 10 best winners for 2010 are two Honda models.

(December 1, 2009) Hyundai Motor Co. may be growing globally despite the recession, but business in Japan is so bad the carmaker has decided to pull out after just eight years in the country, according to Automotive News.

Today Hyundai will notify its 46 dealers in Japan about its intention to halt sales here, company spokesman Oles Gadacz said today.

“If you're not a Gucci or a BMW, there are very few who prosper there,” Gadacz said. “Mass-market players have it very tough.”