Pontiac Dies, But Its Greats Live On

Layoffs, property price plunge leaves middle-aged workers in limbo

(NEWSER) - Tens of thousands of middle-aged white-collar workers have been left jobless and stranded in Michigan by the recession, the Wall Street Journal reports. Auto industry veterans laid off by the Big Three are finding themselves competing against against younger people for a smattering of job openings. With property prices down 45% from their 2006 peak, people are unable or unwilling to sell their homes and seek work elsewhere. More»

(NEWSER) - Recession be damned, desire for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro far outstrips supply—and some dealers are even charging a premium for the sporty new ride, USA Today reports. “Our current production schedule can’t meet the demand,” a General Motors spokesman said. But “that supply-demand tension is good. We don’t want to over-produce, nor do we want people waiting an unreasonable amount of time.” More»

(NEWSER) - Chrysler and GM could end up needing a “considerably higher” amount than the $21.6 billion so far requested, Bloomberg reports. Steven Rattner, who heads President Obama’s auto task force, said it's possible the request could go as high as $40 billion. He also said that Chrysler’s mention of a merger with Fiat is a “worthy idea” because the company is “just kind of barely making it” alone. More»

Mazda CX-9 wins best truck at Detroit auto show

(NEWSER) - General Motors' goal of taking on the Camry and Accord got a boost today as the Chevy Malibu won North American Car of the Year at Detroit’s auto show, CNNMoney.com reports. Its Corvette-inspired twin-cockpit design, and a body shape similar to European luxury cars, has already won media accolades. Truck of the Year went to the Mazda CX-9, which beat out two GM finalists for the prize. More»

(NEWSER) - Cadillac's CTS won Motor Trend’s 2008 car of the year honors today, reports the AP. Editors said the $32,990 entry-level luxury sedan stood up to BMW and Mercedes, and proves Detroit can build a competitive sedan—despite years of focusing on SUVs and trucks. "The CTS obliterates the old man image of Cadillac," MT wrote. More»