But to save you the time, the relevant text is included at the end of this article.
Essentially, word on the street is that Chinese car companies may buy "assets" of GM and Chrysler if the giant automakers declare bankruptcy. "Assets" is a term that means factories, machinery, subsidiaries, and intellectual property like designs, manufacturing techniques, patents, copyrights and trademarks.
The end of an era?
What "Assets" does not include is the huge contractual burden the big three have with groups like the UAW. But the companies have to be in bankruptcy proceedings for those contracts to be broken.
With the nation's automotive industry hemorrhaging cash, congressional leaders called on the Bush administration yesterday to offer government assistance to the car companies as part of the Treasury Department's $700 billion emergency rescue program.
Could Dodge go the way of Packard?
The call came one day afterGeneral Motors, the nation's largest auto manufacturer, announced another multibillion dollar loss for the third quarter and said it was running out of money fast. Ford, the second-biggest car company, also reported heavy losses. Unless the government steps in, analysts warned, GM could face bankruptcy, endangering the livelihoods of about 100,000 North American autoworkers and hundreds of thousands of others whose jobs depend on the industry.
What is it about a long road trip that makes people’s eyes light up? Surely it’s not the prospect of roadside food, long hours struggling to find a decent radio station, or the inevitable stiff back – at least not for those of us who have attained a certain age.
A voyage of discovery
No, the attraction of a long journey on the road is what you expect to see – and expect to discover – along the way. You might find the perfect barbecue joint in Topeka or the unbelievable bookstore in Denver, and you might find out something about yourself while you drive through Monument Valley or mid-town Manhattan. The point of a road trip is to set out for the horizon and see just where the road takes you.
Of course, for Audi of America, a big road trip can also be about making a splashy introduction for its next generation of diesel-powered cars and SUVs. But don’t be fooled, these guys are natural-born road trippers.
People who don't participate in motorsports often wonder what it is that draws people to motor sports and keeps us fascinated by "driving around in circles." It's difficult to put it into words that other people will understand, but the whole sport was recently brought into sharp focus for me.
A local racer of my acquaintance remarked to me a couple weeks ago that he was planning to attend the SCCA National Championship Runoffs this past week in Topeka, KS. As it happened, I was going to be there as well covering some of the 25 separate races that make up that event for SportsCar magazine.
Eddie Nakato
Eddie Nakato races a 1999 Acura Integra coupe in Showroom Stock B class. In this class, almost everything about the car must be absolutely stock - the idea is that you're racing the cars as they are when they come off the showroom floor. At 10 years old, Eddie's car was by far the oldest car entered in the race.
Mazda Motor Corporation has confirmed that the sedan version of the all-new Mazda3 (known as Mazda Axela in Japan), fully redesigned for the first time in 5 years, will be revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19, 2008.
The All-New Mazda3
The covers will be pulled off during Mazda’s press conference from 12:20 to 12:45 (local time) revealing the all-new Mazda3, the latest evolution of Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom spirit.
Mazda says, "Every element of the all-new Mazda3 has been developed for heightened exhilaration, with a more refined sporty ride, top class fuel economy and quietness. Environmental and safety features, based on Mazda’s long-term “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom” vision, aim to achieve a balance with fun-to-drive. Add in a new expressive face and Mazda’s dynamic design elements, and the all-new Mazda3 is everything a driver could ask for in a sports compact."
That's a lot to claim, but Mazda has a good history with this car, so it'll be worth a look. The new Mazda3 will certainly be on display in January when the auto show season comes to the Portland Convention Center.
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