Does that headline seem ripped from the pages of TTAC’s 2008-2009 headlines, or what? But really, who’s shocked? Chrysler spent early 2009 trying to convince the government that it was worth a (second) taxpayer-funded second chance, and now that it’s looking for a private-sector bailout in order to escape the terms of its publicly-funded bailout, [...]
Switching to direct-injection tends to produce engines with more horsepower and a reduced appetite for gasoline. Small wonder, then, that DI mills are spreading across automakers lineups. The 2012 Kia Sorento is the latest model to make the switch, as it gains a 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder for the new model year.
Kia hasn’t yet shared the power outputs or economy ratings of the new engine, but in the 2011 Optima sedan, that same engine peaks at 200 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Presently, t…
The past few months have been quite busy for Mercedes-Benz, with the German automaker having introduced a horde of new models such as the refreshed C-Class and the new SLK and C-Class Coupe, just to mention a few. In addition, the company has updated its engines and transmissions while also adding new features across the range like the new audio headunit with a 5.8-inch color display. In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz is planning a full attack this year starting with the launch of the second-generation CLS sp…
After our story last week about Barrett-Jackson introducing a reserve at their Palm Beach auction, we had a lively and – thank you – largely constructive debate on the merits of the reserve and no-reserve formats. Not surprisingly, Barrett-Jackson has been having a long internal discussion on this, too, and we talked with Craig Jackson on Friday to get his thoughts. You can call Craig many things, and you’d be hard pressed to come up with one he hasn’t heard before, but never say…
Barrett-Jackson has gone a long way as the No Reserve auction company, but that wasn’t the case in Palm Beach last weekend, where for the first time in seven years they accepted a reserve on certain consignments (those they valued at over $50,000). They’re not completely happy with the results, however, as the sale came in more than 20 percent down from the previous year, albeit on fewer consignments. Our informal count suggests about 40 percent of consignors opted for the reserve. A B-J spo…
Washington — The House late Wednesday rejected Democratic attempts to soften a bill to bar the Environmental Protection Agency and California from regulating tailpipe emissions but delayed a final vote until today.
DARPA Wants to Protect Patented Genomes DOE
Here at PopSci we love a good broad agency announcement from DARPA (that’s where they ask the private sector to do something technologically outrageous), but even next to the flying Humvees, the weather manipulation, the cyborg beetles, and the “hundred-year starships,” this one, we have to say, is WAY out there. DARPA wants a genetic security system that’s built into the genome that can monitor for and report on changes to an organism’s genetic makeup.
Or–t…
Carl Edwards has set the pace for others to follow at this weekend race at Bristol Motor Speedway by showing the field that a sub 15 second lap was achievable. Setting a blistering pace of 14.989 seconds (128.014 mph), Edwards scores his second pole for the season, which has had him out front for at least one lap at every race so far this year. However as the temperature was cooler than anticipated and the track has not been “rubbering up” as expected Goodyear make the executive decisio…