The speed and severity of the U.S. auto market's decline has been unprecedented in recent weeks as consumers reel from the collapse of the financial markets and the resulting lack of credit for vehicle financing.

Congressional Republicans are finally taking a hard-line, fighting President Bush's request to push a bailout bill through. As of last night the bill was stalled in the Senate due to a requirement that the UAW (United Auto Workers Union) take pay and benefit cuts. These cuts would put them in line with the Japanese auto makers. The UAW seems to be unable to agree to a pay cut that most American's wouldn't be adverse to taking to keep a job in these rough financial times.

Production cuts will be affecting the following US based facilities, as well as a few in Canada and Mexico;

Ft. Wayne (Ind.) - Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Light Duty Regular and Extended Cab
Flint Assembly (Mich.) - Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Heavy Duty Regular and Crew Cab & Medium Duty
Wentzville (Mo.) - Chevy Express, GMC Savanna
Lansing Delta Township (Mich.) - Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook
Pontiac Assembly (Mich.) - Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra Heavy Duty Extended Cab
Spring Hill (Tenn.) - Chevy Traverse
Fairfax Assembly (Kan.) - Chevrolet Malibu/Hybrid, Saturn Aura/Hybrid
Arlington Assembly (Texas) - Full Size SUVs: Chevy Suburban, Tahoe & Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL & Yukon Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV & Escalade Hybrid
Lansing Grand River (Mich.) - Cadillac STS & CTS
Orion (Mich.) - Chevy Malibu, Pontiac G6
Detroit-Hamtramck (Mich.) - Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS
Shreveport (La.) - Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Hummer H3 & H3T
Bowling Green (Ky.) - Chevy Corvette, Cadillac XLR
Wilmington (Del.) - Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Opel GT

SEMA Design Awards honor vehicles a select group of voters chose as the most inviting and receptive to accessorization in four categories: car, SUV, truck and hybrid. Several unique, customized interpretations of both the Flex and F-150 were on display earlier this month in Las Vegas at the SEMA show, the world’s premier automotive specialty products trade event.

Karl Brauer, Edmunds.com editor-in-chief, says the design of the new Flex lends itself well to aftermarket accessorization.

“The Ford Flex has the kind of interesting exterior styling that encourages modifications, such as Blu-ray entertainment players,” said Brauer. “The wheels play a major role in the Flex’s styling, so changing or upgrading them could play a major role in personalizing the vehicle.”

Flex Marketing Manager Kate Pearce, says she was delighted – but not all that surprised -- to learn that Ford’s newest crossover was the SEMA Design award-winner in the SUV category.

“Before the Flex was even launched, customization shops were playing with the images online to show what they could do with the car,” she said. “That was confirmation of what we already knew, which was that this vehicle would have mass appeal in the customization world.”

The many ways to personalize Flex, a full-size utility with room for up to seven passengers, start at the factory.

“There are a variety of options available, with the colors, series and features you choose,” said Pearce. “For example, you can order a monotone versus a two-tone vehicle, and choose a roof that is either body colored, white suede or brilliant silver.”

Truck Trend Editor Angus MacKenzie says the all-new 2009 F-150 – winner of the SEMA Design Award in the truck category – is practically tailor-made for companies looking to address an exact niche for their specific customer base.

“Anything that can increase or improve the multidimensionality of a truck or SUV gives the owner that much more reason to keep the vehicle,” he said. “There will be big opportunities for those who can give a big personality-changing bang for a truck owner’s buck.”

F-150 has been part of America’s best-selling pickup line for 31 consecutive years. It is also the most accessorized vehicle in the aftermarket. New for 2009, the F-150 offers customers unrivaled capability, unsurpassed fuel economy and a host of smart, game-changing features. Combine that with the numerous add-ons available in the aftermarket, and the possibilities are endless, says Ford Designer Melvin Betancourt.

“Whether it’s adding big tires for off-roading or lowering the truck to give it more of a street performance look, the 2009 F-150 is like a blank canvas that you can do almost anything with,” he said. “It all depends on the personality of the owner.”

Source: Ford Motor Company www.Ford.com

The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units per year - approximately 100,000 in North America - and will utilize a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™).

A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility products, Honda introduced to market the first mass produced low-emission gasoline vehicles; America's first commercially produced gas-electric hybrid car and the world's first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named "greenest automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight time.

The demand for Ford vehicles, led by the new Ford Fiesta nabbed a solid 18.5 percent share of November registrations. This translates out to a 5.2 percent increase year over year, and follows October's 3 percent gain over 2007s results.

The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show how the Ford Mondeo, and the new Fiesta grew November sales in a bleak market. Fords Fiesta was the UK's top-selling car in November, with the Focus second, and the Mondeo in fourth.

Ford deliveries to private buyers jumped a solid 5.5 percent last month. Proof in the pudding that Ford is gaining solid ground in the UK amongst vehicle owners. The new Ford Fiesta, on sale since October, attracted 1,000 more buyers in November 2008 than November 2007.

Ford's commercial business is enjoying retail success amongst sole traders and owner/operators, who purchase vehicles that are not a part of fleet deals. Light Ford CVs such as the Fiesta Van and the short-wheelbase Transit Connect registrations jumped an impressive 11.3 percentage points in November.

Ford's Britain chairman and managing director Roelant de Waard said: "The best Ford range ever is cushioning us against the worst of the market downturn. We're seeing how unprecedented market conditions are not applying to all players equally. The deck of cards is being reshuffled in favor of Ford's combination of head-turning exterior styling, high-spec interiors plus low fuel consumption and CO2 output."

With the arrival of the new Ford Fiesta and the Ka, on sale next month, brings the total number of Ford models emitting under 120g of CO2/km to over 50. Sales of these cars are up by 50 percent so far this year.

Ford sales in the UK year-to-date stand at a whopping 384,230 cars, and CVs accounting for a total of 16.3 percent of the market. Translating out to a half a point higher than the same time last year.

The Ralliart engine’s redline is 6,500 RPM compared to 7,000 RPM for the Evolution. As in all Lancer engines, the Mitsubishi Innovative Valve-timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) system controls valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts to optimize performance at all engine speeds.

High-Strength Aluminum Construction
The 4B11 T/C is an intercooled-turbocharged 2.0-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine built with a cast-aluminum cylinder block and cylinder head. Although based on the architecture as the 4B11 naturally aspirated engine, the 4B11 T/C starts with a unique semi-closed deck block casting and is reinforced for turbocharging. Likewise, the internal components are reinforced to withstand high levels of boost. An integrated die-cast ladder frame contributes to engine block strength and also helps reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels. High internal rigidity helps ensure smoothness, and so the 4B11 does not use a balancer shaft.

The 4B11 T/C features a cross-drilled forged steel crankshaft that rotates in 4-bolt main bearing caps. Also unique to this engine are reinforced forged steel connecting rods that are attached to pistons unique for the application. The pistons are gravity castings made of a high strength aluminum material designed for durability and quiet operation, and also include a unique ring package optimized for this engine.

The 2.0-liter (1,997 cc) engine’s bore and stroke both measure 86.0 mm (3.4 in.), making it a “square” design with a bore-stroke ratio of 1.0. Fully floating pistons improve reliability while reducing frictional loss. Compression ratio is 9:1, same as in the Lancer Evolution.