AutoWeek Daily Drive — Wednesday, December 2, 2009

HOME   |   CAR NEWS   |   CAR REVIEWS   |   RACING   |   AUTOSHOWS   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   MARKETPLACE Wednesday, December 02, 2009                  The Porsche Boxster Spyder goes on sale in February.... 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder, an AW Flash Drive What is it? This is Porsche's hunkered-down, go-fast version of the Boxster two-seater. The folding top is reconfigured for a sportier look, while changes such as the use of aluminum doors helps cut weight. It goes on sale in February with a base price of $62,150. In the engine bay is Porsche's 3.4-liter H6 rated at 320 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Curb weight is 2,811 pounds, with a 0-...   Los Angeles auto show: With Fiesta, Ford has big hopes for small cars Ford Motor Co. is betting that the small-car segment will continue to grow and that the Fiesta will be the right vehicle at the right time. The 2011 Fiesta is Ford's newest car. The company plans to tout the Fiesta, which is smaller than the Focus, as having class-leading craftsmanship and...   Los Angeles auto show: New Infiniti M sedans are wider, gain horsepower Infiniti showed its new 2011 M sedans at a private reception on Tuesday ahead of the Los Angeles auto show. The new M sedans debut with a pair of new engines and a slew of new technologies. Six-cylinder-equipped versions will now be designated as M37 in response to the new 3.7-liter, 330-hp V6,...   Los Angeles auto show: Dodge announces final plans for current Viper Dodge hopes to send the current-generation Viper out on a high note with slight performance alterations, a couple of new paint-color options and lots of special-edition models. Joining the paint palette for 2010 are toxic orange pearl and bright silver metallic, which bumps the available paint...   Whitacre must lead, impose discipline, ask good questions Five things about still another changing of the guard at General Motors: 1. Fritz Henderson did a heck of a job as the bankruptcy/reorganization CEO of GM. He dumped $90 billion in liabilities from an utterly failed financial wreck. Fritz systematically went after all GM's creditors...   Mercedes to build C-class in Alabama Mercedes-Benz will add production of C-class sedans to its plant near Tuscaloosa, Ala., starting in 2014. Daimler AG Chairman Dieter Zetsche, who participated in the creation of the Alabama plant project as a fast-rising executive in 1993, said in a statement released Wednesday from Stuttgart... You May Have Missed...   Patrick confirms Andretti deal, still talking with NASCAR teams Danica Patrick has emphasized her desire to drive stock cars, but for now, she's just a driver in the Izod IndyCar Series.In confirming a two-year commitment to Andretti Autosport--the third year is a joint option--Patrick said on Tuesday that talks continue with NASCAR teams.And she said the only...   Fritz Henderson removed as GM CEO General Motors' board of directors ousted CEO Fritz Henderson after eight months, saying it wanted to chart a new course as the biggest U.S. automaker pushes ahead with its restructuring.Chairman Ed Whitacre, 68, will succeed Henderson on an interim basis while a search for a new president and CEO...   IndyCar Series announces its 2010 broadcast schedule for ABC and Versus The IndyCar Series has announced its 2010 broadcast schedule, which will have five races on ABC and 12 on Versus.Three of the first five races will be on network television, with ABC picking up the March 28 race at St. Petersburg, the May 1 race at Kansas and the season's spotlight event: the May...   Ford and Toyota gain, Hyundai soars as industry sees strength Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. posted slight U.S. sales gains in November and Hyundai-Kia soared as the industry reported sales in line with its “new normal,” after a four-year decline and this summer's cash-for-clunkers incentive. Ford's sales climbed less than 1 percent, the...   Volt rollout will be in specific markets, GM says General Motors on Wednesday is expected to announce that the rollout of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid will take place in selected U.S. markets--not as a national launch.GM marketing chief Bob Lutz is set to make the announcement at the Los Angeles auto show.The Volt is one of the most...   Americans Rossi and Hildebrand join F1 rookie test in Jerez Nine Formula One teams were in action at the Jerez circuit in Spain on Tuesday. This is the only full test between the Abu Dhabi season finale last month and the start of proper testing with 2010 machinery in February. This week's three-day session is interesting because the FIA restricted it to...   Alfa faces product freeze under a review of the struggling brand Fiat S.p.A. could freeze new investment in Alfa Romeo under a strategic review of the money-losing brand ordered by CEO Sergio Marchionne.A product freeze is one of two alternatives that Fiat is considering to end years of losses and declining sales at its sporty premium brand.The other option is... CLICK HERE TO UNSUBSCRIBE from the AutoWeek Daily Drive E-mail or to sign up for other AutoWeek e-mail products. IMPORTANT: Please add AutoWeek.com to your E-mail Address Book to ensure you will continue to receive our newsletters. Please DO NOT reply to this e-mail. You will not receive a reply if you use this e-mail address. Crain Communications, 1155 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48207.