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GM preparing Chevy Volt for export to Europe, China and Canada

Already in tight supply, the number of Chevy Volts available for delivery to retail customers will be further restricted over the next three months before production resumes and the Volt and the Opel Ampera begin being exported to Canada, Europe and China.

Forget the Hybrids, how about 75 MPG Diesels

Gasoline prices in parts of Europe are currently at $9 a gallon. I think it's safe to say that if those prices were ever to reach the United States, it would feel like the sky fell on our heads. With prices that astronomical, you would think that the streets of Europe would be littered with Toyota Priuses, Honda Insights and Chevrolet Volts. However, instead of embracing Hybrids, the Europeans have turned to an old automotive friend, the Diesel engine.

Nissan is mailing some cache to 2011 Juke owners

Apparently having a small gas tank is worth some cash? Due to a marketing error owners of Nissan’s sporty little crossover, the 2011 Juke, are receiving a rebate from Nissan. Owners should be on the look out for a check in their mailbox.

New idea in airbags: 'roof airbags' unveiled by TRW

TRW has unveiled a new concept in airbags, the "roof airbag." No, it's not an airbag intended to keep you in your seat during a rollover, though it does inflate from the roof of the car. It's simply a place to put the front-impact airbag somewhere other than the dash. And it's not just a concept but will, says TRW, be coming in at least one future model a major European car manufacturer's cars.

The Mecum 2011 Indy Spring Classic has something for everyone

TorqueNews has spent the last two days working through the 2000+ cars of the 2011 Mecum Indy Spring Classic Auction and there is one thing that we’ve learned - this event has something for everyone.

Senator Alexander says unused electricity should be used to plugin cars

"A conservative estimate is that we have an amount of electricity unused at night that’s equal to the output of 65 to 70 nuclear power plants between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.," Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) stated before the Senate Energy and National Resources Committee. “I suspect that’s probably our greatest unused resource in the United States. If we were to use that to plug in cars and trucks at night, we could electrify 43 percent of our cars and trucks without building one new power plant.”

Ford to invest 350 million in a Chinese transmission plant with serious capacity

Ford, in collaboration with its Chinese partners, is building its first transmission plant in China in support of the company's aggressive growth plan in the world's largest auto market. Ford's passenger vehicle joint venture in China, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Ltd. (CFMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the transmission plant project today with the Municipal Government of Chongqing.

Tesla announces creation of recharging network across England

Electric carmaker Tesla Motors has announced a partnership with UK hotels and tourist sites to install High Power Charging (HPC) stations, comprised of ten EV power outlets throughout Great Britain. A Tesla Roadster will be the first modern electric vehicle to cross Great Britain in a historic road trip May 21.

The very first Fiat store comes to Michigan

In the automotive equivalent of electricity coming to Arkansas, the first stand-alone Fiat retail point in Michigan has opened its doors. The much-heralded return of the iconic Italian brand to America has taken over a former Saturn dealership owned by the Galeana Automotive Group, now to be known as Fiat of Lakeside.

German Tesla owner reaches 100,000 km on his Roadster

Hansjorg von Gemmingen, who bought the 83rd Tesla Roadster sold in Europe, has crossed the 100,000-kilometer, zero-emissions threshold - the greatest distance traveled by any Tesla vehicle to date. Von Gemmingen drives it daily, charging nightly with just a standard household outlet, proving the electric Roadster functions as a daily commuter while not looking like an ordinary car at all.

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