Redesigned, refreshed Fusion a winner

New sedan named Motor Trend's 2010 Car of the Year

DETROIT -- The Ford Fusion midsize car has been selected as Motor Trend magazine's 2010 Car of the Year, beating nearly two dozen contenders. The award is among the most prestigious in the automotive industry, and it will provide Ford Motor…

Ford, Subaru, VW tops in U.S. insurance safety awards

WASHINGTON -- Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen sit atop the U.S. insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety…

The best of the fest

The year's best eco-friendly technologies

An important part of AJAC's annual TestFest is recognizing the Best New and Best New Green technologies. This year, the entries ran the gamut. Here are the top three in each category, and my picks: Best New Technology 1. Given that 25…

R.I.P. (Rust in peace):

Eight cars that died for 2010

THESE eight cars will disappear with the new model year, but they merit more than a footnote for what they say about the auto industry and its buyers. ❚ Bentley Arnage (1966-2009): With a design dating back more than 40 years,…

Talk about staying power

Hybrids popular even after gas prices fall

HEATHROW, Fla. -- A year ago, the average price of a gallon of gasoline was US$3.45. Now it hovers around US$2.39. Why would anyone feel compelled to buy a hybrid? Having a hybrid isn't just about saving money on fuel. The…

Ford introducing inflatable seatbelts

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. said Thursday that its new inflatable seatbelts will provide additional safety for rear seat passengers, especially children and the elderly, who more frequently sit in the back rows of cars and trucks. "This really is about…

In Gear

Parrot's new Rki8400 Bluetooth car stereo POLLY doesn't want a CD player: While many car stereo manufacturers have migrated to providing Bluetooth capability built into their products, Parrot has gone in reverse as one of the few Bluetooth manufacturers that has…

MYRON LOVE: Mercedes sedan sports hand-built engines

Mercedes-Benz's new E 63 AMG arrived in the first week of November at Mercedes-Benz Winnipeg but, if you want to see one of the models, you better move fast. They have just one -- and two more on the way…