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GM is postponing some of its spending on product development as it tries to conserve precious cash during a severe U.S. auto sales downturn and a global economic slump. That's not surprising in these belt-tightening times...

Here's the problem with "bailouts".  As soon as you start handing out money, people are going to start to line up to get it. GMAC, the financing arm of General Motors Corp., is taking steps to become a bank holding company, potentially giving it greater access to the government's $700-billion financial bailout package, according to sources familiar with the matter. Maybe the Alternate Route can be converted into a bank holding company and get in line for some cash too...

Ford Motor Co. builds the most reliable American-brand cars and trucks. So said Consumer Reports, in its respected Annual Car Reliability Survey...

As the saying goes, there's one born every minute and the clock apparently never stops. Gas saving scams always have been, and always will be with us. And it just amazing how many people fall hook, line, and sinker for these hair-brained claims...

GM has a plan to merge with Chrysler and slash costs but initial attempts to secure financing for the controversial merger have been rebuffed, raising new doubts about whether it can be completed without government aid. Chrysler has $9 billion in debt that, under a change of control, would have to be paid off if it cannot be refinanced. At some point, you have to pay off your debts and not come begging to me to bail you out with my money...

The buzz is that the merger talks between GM and Chrysler are heating up. And it would seem that the biggest point of interest in the deal for GM would be the $11 billion in cash that is currently on Chrysler's books, and Cerberus is said to be considering a large investment in GM stock should the deal get done. With a pile of cash on the table and the prospect of more from the owners of that pile if the merger happens, it looks like this has a good chance to become reality...

Nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple like charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus. It is accompanied by the release or absorption of energy. The fusion of two nuclei with lower mass than iron generally releases energy while the fusion of nuclei heavier than iron absorbs energy...

Ford Motor Company is introducing an innovative new technology – called MyKey – designed to help parents encourage their teen-agers to drive safer and more fuel efficiently, and increase safety-belt usage. Ford’s MyKey feature – which debuts next year as standard equipment on the 2010 Ford Focus and will quickly become standard on many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models – allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume.  MyKey also encourages safety-belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour.    Naturally any teenagers surveyed about it aren't going to like this idea. In teaching my kids to drive, I've never had a problem with them speeding or being distracted while driving...

The Chevy Cruze debuted at the Paris Auto Show and according to some is much more important than the Chevy Volt. "The Cruze has a shot at being Chevrolet's best-selling car in the United States," Cheverolet general manager Ed Peper said. Unless the bottom falls out of the market, that suggests Chevrolet expects to sell more than 300,000 Cruzes annually in the United States...

Hideki Tanabe, proprietor of the world-renowned tuning and parts company Powerhouse Amuse, passed away on September 20 after enduring a long illness, leaving behind his wife, the company he founded and thousands of bereaved fans, friends and acquaintances. Responsible for the incredible R34-based Carbon-R time-attack car and the S2000 GT1 that many of you will remember from Gran Turismo 4, Tanabe-san was also Powerhouse Amuse's resident tuner, parts designer and race driver. I met with him personally several years ago to do an article on their S2000, and had a great day out there...