Ridiculed Edsel Gains Traction

Gizmos proliferate amid concerns on distracted driving

(NEWSER) - Imagine cruising down the highway at 65mph while checking tweets, buying movie tickets online, or booking reservations at a restaurant. This scenario is the not-too-distant future of driving, reports the Wall Street Journal , as auto manufacturers seek to design an innovative "connected car" full of Internet-accessible gadgetry. The push for a tech-infused car comes as a national push for rules banning phones in cars seems to be fizzling out and automakers look to entice the youth demographic. More»

$16K auto part lets fans build classic car from scratch

(NEWSER) - The 1967 Ford Mustang is no longer an endangered species. Just in time for classic car buffs' Christmas, Ford has added a brand-new shell for the '67 Mustang convertible to its Ford Restoration Parts line, giving enthusiasts a chance to build their own from scratch, the Los Angeles Times reports. The $16,000 auto part is built with modern techniques that make it stronger than the original, Motor Authority notes. More»

French auto was built in 1884

(NEWSER) - The oldest car on the planet that still runs was sold at auction Friday for $4.6 million, double auctioneers' expectations. It's the most ever paid for an early automobile, CNNMoney reports. The De Dion-Bouton et Trepardoux, a French vehicle built in 1884, arrived more than a decade before Henry Ford built the first of his cars in a garage. More»

Toyota recalls cost Asian automakers their reputation

(AP) - After a long romance with foreign rivals, Americans are once again falling in love with American cards. In a new AP-GfK poll, 38% said US-made cars are of a higher quality than their Asian rivals, compared to 33% who preferred Asian brands. The numbers appear to have been largely fueled by a plunge in Toyota's reputation and an upsurge in Ford's—the survey was conducted in March, when Toyota's recall scandal was in the news. More»

(NEWSER) - Ford surprised the markets today by posting a $2.3 billion quarterly profit, thanks mostly to debt restructuring actions, Reuters reports. The result beat estimates and represents Ford's first good quarter in more than a year; this time in 2008, the automaker lost $2.7 billion. But the global downturn that pushed Chrysler and GM to bankruptcy is still biting Ford—without the debt reduction the company would have posted a narrow loss. More»