Motor News
MotorWeek tracks auto industry news, focusing on crash tests, safety ratings, new advances in technology and the latest from auto shows around the world.
Tesla Model S & Prius V Wagon 4.15.2011
Electric car maker Tesla Motors continues to accelerate towards launching the mainstream, 5 plus 2 passenger Model S hatchback in mid-2012. Tesla currently has prototypes up and running, performing quality tests that will be critical to the success of the mass-produced Model S. We're told that the Model S will have a top speed around 120mph, with a 0-60 time of… Read More
Marking Milestones 3.25.2011
Put on your party hats folks, as this week we celebrate a pair of anniversaries. One is a British icon, the other is a legend of our own.At the recent Geneva International Motor Show, Jaguar kicked off a series of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of their legendary E-type. Jag returned to the sight of the original launch in 1961: the Restaurant Hotel du… Read More
2011 Geneva Motor Show 3.18.2011
Busy press days at the Geneva Motor Show uncovered a showroom full of new models, a few familiar faces, and even a real surprise or two.Perhaps most surprising, given the high price of global gas, performance took center stage, starting with world debuts of three feisty Italians: The love it or hate it Ferrari FF, billed as the most powerful and versatile… Read More
2011 Chicago Auto Show 3.04.2011
More car owners attend the Chicago Auto Show than any other American car venue. So, for the 2011 edition, automakers rolled out a host of near term production vehicles designed to turn those lookers into buyers. Chevrolet got things roaring with two new Camaros. Celebrating 100 years of Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500, only 500 Pace Car replicas will wear the… Read More
Green Machines from Mercedes-Benz 2.11.2011
At a recent media event in Valencia, Spain, Mercedes-Benz previewed its current and future lineup of battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. From city commuters to cargo vans and even all-out sports cars, Mercedes-Benz has a production-oriented fleet of pure electric vehicles that is arguably the most diverse in the world. This is made possible by the use of a… Read More
Rearview Cameras 1.21.2011
Back-up cameras are available on a wide variety of models sold today, especially on utilities and trucks. But a new government safety proposal might make them standard on all models.The truth is, vehicles are becoming more difficult to see out of and low speed backup accidents are on the rise. Ironically, the addition of safety features, like pillar-mounted… Read More
Green Ratings 1.09.2011
After months of speculation and hype, car buyers can now use the official EPA fuel economy labels to comparison shop the newest and most talked-about green machines, the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. But the new labels are not without controversy, and may still leave some shoppers scratching their heads. These new labels are the first attempt by the EPA to… Read More