Chrysler 300 Full Test

the 2011 Chrysler 300 while traversing the 405 freeway through West Los Angeles should hardly surprise us. Two-year-olds, after all, have a knack for being impervious to more than just road noise.

Still, having driven this section of freeway in many vehicles, we're well aware that there's more going on here than just a little road noise. The number-one lane — situated only inches from the concrete center divider — was never designed to be a lane at all.

Here, in what was once the median, remain drainage grates, square-edge intrusions and rises sharp enough to rival the Baja 1000's famous Ojos Negros section of road — all on a first-world freeway. It is hardly safe. It is a ride engineer's worst nightmare. It is...our Sunday afternoon commute.

The Proof
But it's more than just the 2-year-old's sleepy indifference that is significant in this scenario. Cruising down this median-turned-fast lane at 75 mph, the 300's chassis remains settled over all but the biggest hits. It's stable, tame, locked on the lane and virtually impenetrable to road and wind noise.

Chevrolet Cruze: 2011 DUB Edition

The turbocharged engine puts out 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft. of torque and should be capable of up to 40 mpg on the highway. The 1.8-liter puts out 136 horsepower and 123 lb-ft. of torque.The Cruze is offered in four standard trim levels, as well as a specialty option package, known as RS Appearance, which includes rocker moldings, unique front and rear fascias, front fog lamps and a rear spoiler.
Cruze LS
The Cruze is available in several trim levels, including the base LS level, which comes with a 1.8-liter Ecotec engine and a six-speed manual transmission standard. Standard safety equipment includes 10 airbags, StabiliTrak ESC, ABS and more. Chevy also points out that even the base LS will come standard with A/C, power locks and windows and remote keyless entry.

Chevrolet Cruze: Overview

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze replaces Cobalt as the compact car from General Motors' volume division. Cruze is a 4-door sedan that comes in LS, LT, LTZ, and fuel-economy-oriented Eco trim levels. LT models are subdivided into 1LT and 2LT. The LS has a 136-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. The 1LT, 2LT, LTZ, and Eco use a 138-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on the LS and Eco. A 6-speed automatic is optional on those models and standard on the LT and LTZ. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, front- and rear-side airbags, and front-knee airbags. Cruze Eco models have ultra-low-rolling-resistance tires and other aerodynamic tweaks designed to increase fuel economy. Available on the LT and LTZ is an RS Appearance Package, which includes fog lights and specific exterior trim. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, remote engine start, and a wireless cell-phone link are standard on the 2LT and LTZ. A sport suspension is standard on LTZ. Rear-obstacle detection is optional on the LT and standard on the LTZ. This evaluation is based on preview test drives of pre-production vehicles.

Vauxhall GTC Paris Concept

* Three-door approach Vauxhall Astra stars Paris stand
* Dynamic Scanlines will make a bold statement of design development Opel
* Innovative features of transmission and suspension also highlight the power

Luton - This is the official photo of the Opel GTC Concept Paris, which is the strongest indication yet of the successor Astra Sport Hatch and a stir when it receives its debut Sept. 30 at the Salon de l'Automobile in Paris.

Mark Adams, Opel 's Vice President of Design, describes the way to Paris as "courageous, pure and iconic" in appearance. Vauxhall said it is not a production version of the distance from the elegant design, and AGB nickname be accepted, it would be the first time that Vauxhall has been appointed.

At 4.46 meters, the words of Paris has plenty of room for five people, but have a smooth and sporty. Adams tension "in the design, limiting the number of rows in the profile of the car and leave the impression that the machine shows the plots" pushed "to the notion of 21-inch wheels" team enlarged. "

Vauxhall imitated signature blade, which the Insignia and creates a nice tight deadlines along the threshold. This, combined with a second line below that said the back door of the car to handle both fine and broad shoulders. A third line of the shape of the roof is in fine brushed aluminum finish emphasis on the graphics window and door to an integrated spoiler heavily accented.

tip Slim's Eagle-Eye LED daytime running lights flanked by chrome-shaped ring occupy the front of the Paris GTC. A sharp crease along the center line of the hood (a style based on the Vauxhall brand in the past) and a bar led to a significant reduction trapezoidal grille with chrome emblem incorporated.

On the back are the impressive features of the concept of LED taillights extend, has a long night extended "wings" of graphics.

The basis of the procedures in Paris is a specially designed frame with extra-large position. Referring to the potential for self-power of an electronic differential lock and an updated version of the damping system is FlexRide Vauxhall. The new Astra unique combination winch / Watt rear suspension offers outstanding packaging and security policy based on the driver.

A four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbo gasoline direct injection and the start / stop technology has a six-speed drivers and provides high performance and energy efficiency.

As GM readies its IPO pitch

According to The Wall Street Journal, members of the U.S. Treasury are worried about General Motors' upcoming IPO. They aren't concerned for the automaker's stock price, or how even how many investors may decide to buy into the company – they're concerned about what country the money is coming from.

The Journal suggests that government officials are considering whether to limit or select which non-U.S. investors would be invited to be so-called "cornerstone" investors in GM's IPO. Cornerstone investors are sought out to purchase and hold sizable stakes in a given company at a set share price. Said price is often lower than what the general investing public can secure, the theory being that the cornerstone investors' presence (and the stability it implies) serves to drive confidence in the company. The fear is that there could be considerable political fallout if, say, some of those cornerstone investors turned out to be from nations like China. Either way, GM will need to firm up its investment plan fairly quickly if it is to allow enough time to court the 'right' cornerstone buyers.

As GM readies its IPO pitch, another key element in the company's talking points will be its long-term stability – including a chief executive officer who plans to stick around a while. New GM CEO Dan Akerson has reportedly told the board that he'll stay at the helm for two to five years - or perhaps even longer. The manner in which his compensation agreement is structured will likely include incentives timed to take effect over a period of years as a way to show investors that he's serious about making a longer-term commitment to the automaker's recovery

Toyota and Severinsky settle hybrid patent dispute ahead of ITC hearing

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7-21-2010 07:47

2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery
Following on the heels of our earlier report about yesterday's scheduled hearing between Toyota and Alex Severinsky at the International Trade Commission came word that the parties have settled. Neither side has released any details about the agreement – and they probably won't. Toyota had previously been found guilty of infringing upon Severinsky's patent, which centers around getting power to a vehicle's wheels with a gasoline-electric vehicle using both high- and low current.

In all likelihood, Toyota agreed to pay royalties to PAICE (Severinsky's company) for all of the hybrids it has sold and will sell in the United States until the patent expires in 2012. This means that the threat of a ban on imports of Toyota hybrids has been lifted – at least until the next case.

In related news, Ford has also settled with PAICE over hybrid patent issues. The details are confidential, but there's a bit more information after the jump.

[Sources: Bloomberg, PAICE]

PRESS RELEASE

Paice and Ford Reach Settlement in Hybrid Vehicle Patent Infringement Disputes

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 8, 2010, Paice LLC and Ford Motor Company entered into an agreement for the license of Paice's U.S. Patent No. 5,343,970. Each company had filed a lawsuit against the other relating to that patent relating to certain Ford hybrid vehicles.

Based on this agreement, the lawsuits will be promptly dismissed, bringing an end to all patent infringement litigation between the two companies.

In a joint statement, executives from both companies jointly announced, "We are pleased to have reached an amicable resolution." The terms of the license remain confidential.

About Paice

Paice LLC is a U.S. technology company formed in 1992 to develop hybrid vehicle technology that promotes lower emissions, superior driving performance and fuel efficient operation of internal combustion engines. Through its inventive endeavors, Paice has obtained 11 U.S. patents related tohybrid vehicle technology, including a breakthrough patent (the '970 patent) that describes the use of high voltage in a hybrid automobile. Paice has demonstrated that using voltage as high as 500 volts or more is essential to achieving real efficiency in hybrid automobiles. A 2009 study ranked Paice's hybrid patents as the most dominant in the world. Paice has been involved in ongoing litigation with Toyota and federal courts have ruled that theToyota Prius and other hybrids are infringing on Paice's patented technology .

Nissan GT-R goes up in flames while parked in locked showroom

A Gainesville, Florida Nissan dealership received a most unpleasant surprise Monday morning as the dealer's showroom floor became engulfed in smoke, with some flames centered in one very unfortunate area. Now we're guessing here, but we would think that if the dealer could save any one vehicle from the fire, they'd pick the nearly $90,000 silver GT-R. Too bad they apparently didn't have time to make the decision.

The Gainesville Sun reports that the GT-R was engulfed in flames when police and fire arrived at the dealership a little while after it closed, burning up much of the vehicle's exterior. The last person to exit the building was the security guard, who did a quick check of the showroom and locked up. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they had to bust down a door to enter the building, and when they got inside, the GT-R was being served flambé-style.

Firefighters don't know exactly how or why the GT-R burst into flames. Reports suggest that there was a light that dropped to the ground, and that light could have started the fire, or it could have dropped as a result of the fire. We don't have any idea what happened to the GT-R, or whether or not it was even driven that day, but you can head over to Gainesville.com for more details and to see a picture of the carnage. Thanks for the tip, Justin!