There have been unfavorable claims being made by the auto industry. Some are saying that if improvements are made to cars to make them more efficient as far as staying below mandatory emissions levels, then the cars would become unaffordable.

Retired IRL IndyCar driver "Little Al" Al Unser Jr., who won the Indianapolis 500 twice in a storied 25-year career racing fast cars, was caught by out-of-breath sheriff's deputies in New Mexico driving 101 mph early Thursday but was released from police custody almost immediately.

Cyclone Power Technologies (Pink Sheets: CYPW), developer of the all-fuel, clean-tech Cyclone Engine, announced that it has signed an advisory agreement with former President Bill Clinton's former Chairman of the White House Climate Change Task Force, Roger Ballentine and his company, Green Strategies Inc.

Subaru of America Inc. has hired a new manager of corporate communications. She is Sheriece Matias, and she reports to Michael McHale, director of corporate communications for the Japanese car company.

A new Mitsubishi auto dealership is opening in November near Portsmouth, N.H., in the town of Stratham. Stratham Mitsubishi is setting up shop at the same location where new Jeeps were sold for almost half a century until hard economic times choked off sales and put the dealership out of business.

With the hoopla over the all-new 2012 Toyota Camry dying down, the Japanese carmaker is seeking to revive the frenzy. The next step in doing that takes place next month in Florida, when Toyota hosts two single-day ride-and-drive luncheons for the automotive press to drum up more interest in this 2012 Camry.

Mazda today launched an all-new "MyMazda" iPhone App that provides owners of its sporty cars access to service offers and scheduled maintenance reminders for free. It can be downloaded from the Apple App Store. Soon, Android users will also be able to use "MyMazda," too.

Nissan's 100%-electric LEAF is now available to order in six more states, with plans to deliver on those orders beginning in December.

NADAguides reported today that American car buyers are paying a premium for new and preowned 2011 models that they really want. It's an unusual trend that more than 100 used 2011 models have a premium showroom value that surpasses 2011 MSRP prices – some preowned 2011s are worth almost 40% more than their original MSRPs.

Ford has offered up their details for the 2012 SVT Raptor F150 and the Special Vehicle Team has added a couple items to make the most capable half ton truck on the market even better – tacking on a new Torsen front differential and a front aiming camera to aid in tackling the toughest terrain.