I assume the Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton law firm that handles Chrysler’s trademark litigation is already on its way to China. If not, they will be calling the travel agent after reading this. What do you think would happen if Chrysler would license its Jeep brand to a beer? It appears as if Chrysler did just that in China. I assume there is no such license, but appearances are everything. The... 

Car prices are at an all-time high. Cash rebates and incentives are evaporating in front of our eyes. U.S. consumers are paying 11 percent more on average for a new vehicle, to a record $28,341, up from $25,505 on average in 2008. Yesterday, J.D. Power presented the inflationary news to car dealers assembled in Las Vegas for the National Automobile Dealers Association convention. Dealers applauded. Cash... 

This just in: “The U.S. auto industry has dropped a demand for Japan to abolish rules related to minivehicles ahead of upcoming talks between the two sides over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade zone,” The Nikkei [sub] writes after reading this story. Detroit made the generous concession to let Japan have its kei cars ahead of talks between Japan and the U.S., to be held in Washington... 

There are so many things I miss these days. I miss having a presidential candidate that is as ruthless and cunning as Richard Nixon. I miss stuffing my mouth with sweets and having a body that can absorb endless hours of athletic abuse. I even miss a lot of the comedians from days gone by. From Red Skelton to Chris Farley. Even the Charlie Chaplin and Groucho Marx flicks always find their way to my... 

Click for Larger ImageSince this was published, I’ve had the chance to meet Alex Roy, read his book, and watch as he has made the move into traditional motorsports, including a grueling stint in the Baja 1000. I rather like the fellow now, but I’m leaving the original text of the article since I’m not a huge fan of revising the past — JB Shall… we… play… a… game? How... 

For a long time, Japan’s automakers had pressured their government to enter free trade talks with Europe and the U.S. The Japanese government had dragged its heels, putting the interest of ageing farmers first. With a trade agreement, Japan would be a ripe market for American rice farmers and cattle breeders, and I would finally be able to enjoy a good steak in Japan without risking a heart attack.... 

Illustrating the state of the Japanese auto industry, and especially that of Honda, Honda unveiled its prototype of the NSX yesterday in Tokyo. The Acura sports car had been rumored for two years, and was shown at the Detroit Motor Show. Honda repeated in Tokyo what it had said in Detroit: The car should become available in 2015. It will be a hybrid, will be built at Honda’s plant in Ohio and will... 

  Imagine finding your car gone. Vanished. Not even a set of skid marks to document the trajectory of the assailant. You take a moment to catch your breath. The police are contacted along with the insurance company, family and close friends. Before long you have spent nearly half the day overloading your mind with stressful thoughts and conversations. Two nights follow with little to no sleep. Three... 

Click for Larger Image To provide a little light weekend reading in the months to come, I will be syndicating some of the “Avoidable Contact” columns that I wrote for our friends at SpeedSportLife back in the day. At the same time, I will be restarting the “Avoidable Contact” series and publishing it here. Be aware that these are long posts, running from 2,000 words to twice... 

Today, the Volvo 760 celebrates 30 years on this planet. Concieved in an uncertain time in the auto industry and launched in 1982, the 760′s various incarnations lasted until the S90 and V90 were laid to rest in 1998. Like so many great cars, the 760 was built with whatever happened to be laying around at the time.  Cost-effective was the operative word, and the 240′s basic architecture...