News Service

Daimler AG, manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, fined $185 million for bribery

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon ordered Daimler to pay $93.6 million in criminal fines and $91.4 million in civil penalties. According to court documents, Daimler AG and its subsidiaries in Germany, Russia, and China agreed to the filing of a single count of conspiracy to violate U.S. anti-bribery laws. The Justice Department said Daimler, whose stocks trade on multiple exchanges in the U.S., “engaged in a long-standing practice of paying bribes to foreign government officials.” Countries whose officials were bribed, according to the court documents: China, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Latvia, Nigeria, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and several others. The Justice Department said the bribes were made “to assist in

China's Geely finalizes deal to buy ailing Volvo from Ford

Volvo had been on the market since 2008 when Ford put several brands up for sale. Geely bought Volvo for $1.8 billion, the biggest overseas purchase by a Chinese car manufacturer. “Today represents a milestone for Geely,” the company’s chairman Li Shufu said of the deal first announced last December. Ford, which purchased Volvo in 1999 for $6.5 billion, hopes revenue from the sale will help pay off its debts. Volvo has not made a profit since 2005. Geely, China’s biggest independent car maker, has pledged to keep Volvo as a separate company with its headquarters remaining in Sweden. Geely, founded in 1986, has 12,000 employees and the capacity to manufacturer about 300,000 cars per year. Geely said it will

Dog rips off police cruiser fender; quarantine for beast, no recall for car

After almost two weeks in confinement, he was reunited with the Emerling family at McKamey Animal Shelter. “We think Chattanooga Police Department showed amazing restraint in not shooting the dog,” owner Michael Emerling said. “I know that a lot of places close to here we’ve seen cases where dogs have done a lot less and been shot. So we really are grateful to them for not doing that.” Emerling paid court-required fees of more than $200 and was required to enroll to dog obedience and canine good citizen classes. The dog attacked the vehicle after escaping from a fenced-in area at welding shop on March 14. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has

AAA selects best commuting cars, Honda to VW, Ford to Mazda

With the average commuting nationally about 3 1/2 hours per week, AAA’s last compilation is the good commuting cars based on comfort, fuel efficiency and affordability Here’s the list and a comment on each car. Honda Insight: Among the best in fuel economy while being reasonably comfortable for the driver and front-seat passenger. Ford Fusion: Four-cylinder versions have a good combination of power, comfort and handling competence. Volkswagen Jetta TDI: A fine-running modern diesel that “is every bit as economical as the most miserly hybrids” and “fun to drive.” Hyundai Electra: Good fuel efficiency combined with an interior that accommodates a driver and three passengers and 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. Subaru Legacy/Outback: These new models with four-cylinder engines perform well and offer

Cheap insurance available for savvy car shoppers

The recession has affected consumers from all economic levels. And when financial times are tough, both the rich and the poor alike may share one bad financial habit — not saving enough nor properly budgeting money. Shopping wisely for a car and for its insurance is a good way to save money. An insurer presented with Porsche 997, for instance, may exclaim: “Whoa! That’s an expensive car, and it could be stolen just as much for its parts as can for the whole car.” As such, the owner of Porsche seeking cheap insurance isn’t likely to find it. But a car buyer can save money on insurance if they consider buying an older, more common make and model and in

First U.S. Ferrari 458 grabs $530,000 in Los Angeles auction for Haiti charity fund

The 570-horsepower Ferrri 458 Italia will debut in the United States in estimated price tag of $225,000. the Ferrar 458 Italia is the replacement to the F430, with an even more enticing exterior design and a potent 4.5-liter eight-cylinder powerplant rated at 570 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The new Ferrari has a top speed of 202 mph and is rated at 0-100 kilometers kph (62.2 miles mph) in 3.4 seconds. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times

Ferrari World: fast times on Abu Dhabi F1 roller coaster?

According the official Ferrari literature, Ferrari World facts and figures include:new * World’s first Ferrari theme park; * World’s largest indoor park; * Located on Yas Island on the North East side of Abu Dhabi’s mainland; * Adjacent to the Yas Marina Circuit, site of inaugural 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; * More than 20 state-of-the-art rides and attractions: * The world’s fastest roller coaster emulating the feeling of being in an F1 car; * G-force experience taking passengers on an adrenaline-pumping ride up over 62m, through the roof and back down again; * State-of-the-art racing simulators using a similar system as those used by the Ferrari racing team; * Flume ride journey through the heart

Porsche, Mercedes-Benz most expensive sports cars to insure

1. Porsche 911 Carrera GT2 $2,943.78 2. Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG $2,863.03 3. Dodge Viper SRT-10 $2,851.89 4. Porsche Panamera Turbo AWD $2,837.39 5. Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible $2,815.90 6. Mercedes-Benz CL600 $2,754.80 7. Audi R8 $2,751.55 8. Porsche Panamera S $2,744.78 9. Mercedes-Benz SL600 $2,715.86 10. Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo $2,706.04 James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author

Honda recalls more than 400,000 Odyssey and Element models

Honda will recall Odyssey and Element in the 2007-2008 model years to fix the vehicle stability assist modulators. Some of the modulators were assembled so that could allow air to enter, Honda detailed in a media release. The trapped air could cause the brake pedal to fall closer to the floor before the car stops, and in affected vehicles the problem tends to increase over time. Not all of the cars involved in the recall may have this issue, but Honda is including all units that could be affected. Honda said it will start contacting affected customers at the end of April, and it encouraged all owners to see an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification that their

Nissan debuts mini-car March in China, hopes for 1 million global sales in 4 years

The 1,200-cc engine compact, called March in Thailand, China and Japan, and Micra in India, Europe and other markets will have a price range between $11,500 $16,500). Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said the compact would be sold in more than 160 countries, with Thailand one of four main manufacturing and export hubs with China, India and Mexico. Nissan expects production in China to begin in the second half of this year. Production of the March model would nearly double Nissan’s Thai car output to 200,000 units a year. The Micra/March, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, is the Japanese car maker’s most important model in years, the culmination of extensive experimenting with new materials and

Hyundai cruises past Toyota, Honda in Kelley Blue Book customer loyalty

Additionally, throughout the month of February 2010 Hyundai outperformed the overall car segment average by a healthy margin. Hyundai values increased 2 percent month-over-month, relative to a 0.3 percent increase for the entire car segment. In addition to topping brand loyalty, the all-new 2011 Sonata was named to kbb.com’s Top 10 Most-Researched New Vehicles list for the first time. In February, the Sonata was the fifth most-researched new car on kbb.com alongside ‘Top 10 Most-Researched’ mainstays such as Accord, Civic, Camry and CR-V. “2009 marked an unprecedented year for the Hyundai brand and we are well poised to keep the momentum going in 2010,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “With impressive new vehicles like the all-new

Runaway Toyota parodied on Saturday Night Live, Ford gets hybrid props

Toyota, in its continuing whirlwind of runaway vehicles, recalls and pending litigation, has received the ultimate compliment. It’s been parodied on Saturday Night Live. In a brief skit on the March 13 show, cast members Kenan Thompson and Abby Elliott are peaceful walk through what appears to be a national park or forest trail. But when the couple returns to their Toyota Prius, parked at the trail head, and leaves the area, the car immediately suffers from the proverbial “unintended acceleration.” The couple panics and shouts mock expletives. Despite the current series of runaway incidents around the country, the skit is hilarious. The commercial ends with the Ford emblem and the words, “We Make Hybrids, Too.” James RaiaA sports, travel

Volkswagen towing a travel trailer or an RV towing a VW?

Chuck Woodbury is publisher of RVTravel.com and several other web sites and blog relating in the recreational vehicle industry. Woodbury reports on campgrounds to recalls, new products to the sights and sounds of the open road. Woodbury also has a keen knack for discovering the unique, including the video below — a more than 25-year-old sales video for a Volkswagen Beetle towing a travel trailer. Or, is it a travel trailer towing a Volkswagen? The contraption has a 360-degree turning radius and the commentator discusses the idea with a combination of instruction and humor. For the latest information in the RV industry, visit: www.rvtravel.com. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the

Buy a new Hummer in Chesterfield, Illinois, get a free new shotgun

After recently attaining a license from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, to sell weapons and ammunition in the dealership, Lynch devised the perk for new Hummer buyers. “There is now a real reason to believe that the current inventory on hand at dealers may be the last of the new Hummers, we wanted to send them off with something memorable,” said Lynch. “Browning and Hummer are prestigious brands and American Icons – bringing them together is a natural fit.” Lynch told various media outlets’ reporters. Last week, General Motors announced it will keep Hummer until May 1. If the carmaker doesn’t reach an agreement with a partner for Hummer’s takeover by then, the brand will be “killed.” The

Total recall: Ford leads General Motors, Toyota, VW, Honda on all-time dubious list

10: Honda, 1995, 3.7 million — Faulty seat belt buckle. Recalled all Honda and Acura made between 1986-1991. 9: Volkswagen, 1972, 3.7 million — Non-functioning windshield wipers. The NHTSA ordered recall all VWs, 1949-1969. 8. General Motors, 1973, 3.7 million — Body had the potential to scrape the ground, prompting gravel to jam steering. Shields installed in full-sized models from 1971-1973, including including the Buick Electra, Riviera and LeSabre, Chevrolet Bel Air, Biscayne, Caprice, Brookwood, Impala, Kingwood and Townsman, the Oldsmobile 88 and 98, and the Pontiac Bonneville, Catalina and Grandville. 7: Ford, 1972, 4 million — Poorly constructed seat belt buckles could. All Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles built in 1970 and 1971 recalled. 6+5: Ford, 2009, 4.5 million,

Second runaway Toyota Prius in two days, this time in upstate New York

The previous day, a California man said his 2008 Toyota Prius sped out of control on a California freeway. The man, 61, said his car accelerated beyond his control after he overtook another vehicle in San Diego County. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is aware of both incidents and is investigating. In the New York incident, the woman was driving on a long, curving driveway when the Prius accelerated beyond her control. She sped across a two-lane road, described as a “fairly busy” street. She traveled 150 to 200 feet, he said, before the Prius’ front end struck the rock wall — built with boulders weighing 500 to 1,000 pounds — with such force that it “hurled those boulders