L.A. Times - Auto Industry News

Saturday Drive: The story behind 'The Avengers' Acura NSX

By David Undercoffler, Auto Critic — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:06:00 PDT

Start off your weekend of motoring with a quick take on something fast, fun or rare that's recently grabbed our attention in the automotive world.

If you were one of the 18 billion people who went to see "The Avengers"recently, you probably noticed the film concludes with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark getting into a dark red Acura convertible and driving off with Bruce Banner. (Calm down, that's no spoiler).

Carroll Shelby dies at 89; cult classic car designer

By Shav Glick and Jerry Hirsch, Special to The Times — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

He retired from racing and built the Cobra, which married Ford V-8 engines with a lightweight British chassis. He later worked with Ford on the Mustang.

Carroll Shelby, the charismatic Texan who parlayed a short-lived racing career into a specialized business building high-performance, street-legal cars, died Thursday. He was 89.

Recalled cars often go unrepaired

By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

The editors of Edmunds.com's online auto forum recently noticed a wave of complaints about engine fires in older-model General Motors vehicles, primarily in vehicles equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine produced by the automaker.

Investment community gives Tesla Motors vote of confidence

By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Despite Tesla's wider first-quarter loss, analysts express optimism about prospects for the Palo Alto electric-car start-up.

DeLorean Motor Co. never had a future to get back to. Tucker Corp. got torpedoed. Fisker Automotive doesn't seem to have good karma.

A bull market for collector cars

By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:51:00 PDT

One gauge shows the value of collectible cars has risen 33% since the depth of the recession in 2009. The growth has been fueled by the finding that they have performed well as investment vehicles.

The collector car market, which slumped with the economy, is coming back along with the rest of the auto industry.

Honda wins appeal in Civic hybrid mileage lawsuit

By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

A Los Angeles County judge rules in favor of the automaker, which previously lost a lawsuit in Small Claims Court over the Civic hybrid's advertised fuel economy.

In a legal victory for Honda Motor Co., a judge has reversed a small-claims judgment that would have forced the automaker to pay a Civic hybrid owner nearly $10,000 for overstating the vehicle's fuel economy.

Saturday Drive: 2012 Mitsubishi i SE

By David Undercoffler, Auto Critic — Sat, 5 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Start off your weekend of motoring with a quick take on something fast, fun or rare that's recently grabbed our attention in the automotive world.

The car: 2012 Mitsubishi i SE

Review: Infiniti JX offers comfort even in the third row

By David Undercoffler, Los Angeles Times — Wed, 2 May 2012 15:20:00 PDT

In addition to offering an excellent driving experience and a plush interior, the 2013 Infiniti JX does something many crossovers don't: keeps its promise of adequate room for seven.

Jerry Seinfeld once said, "There's no such thing as fun for the whole family." Ask anyone who has tried cramming himself or his kin into the third row of seats in a crossover sport utility vehicle, and it's likely they'll agree.

General Motors reports lower profit

By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 3 May 2012 18:16:00 PDT

GM's first-quarter net income falls 69% from a year earlier, hurt by a $256-million loss in Europe.

General Motors Co.posted lower profit in the first quarter but still did better than Wall Street expected based on the strength of U.S. auto sales.

Toyota and Volkswagen make strong gains in U.S. market

By Jerry Hirsch, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 4 May 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Asian brands sold 536,000 vehicles in April, accounting for 45.3% of the market, up from 44.9% a year earlier, with Toyota accounting for nearly all the gain. VW grew the most among European brands.

Toyota Motor Corp.and Volkswagen are leading a charge of import brands in U.S. auto sales, eating into market-share gains made by the Detroit automakers over the last year.