Usually it’s a good thing when a major political figure mentions an automotive brand. Unless, perhaps, it involves tax dollars and automaker bankruptcy rescues, but hopefully we’re past that now. Still, some Subaru drivers may wonder whether they should feel a little nervous now that telegenic right-wing icon and former Vice-Presidential candidate…

The other shoe has dropped: Yesterday, two U.S. government agencies jointly announced the final fuel-economy rules for model year 2012 through 2016 vehicles, giving automakers a single national set of standards and averting the threat of state-by-state regulation. Starting with 2012, automakers must improve the fleet average fuel economy of their…

The problem with most car commercials is that they try to do too much. They have narrators rattling off features, bullet points touting even more features, the requisite “Do not attempt. Professional driver on a closed course” pasted at the bottom of the screen, and catchy-but-distracting indie tunes playing in the background. Upper-management may…

Mercedes-Benz has made some surprising announcements in recent weeks, perhaps the best example being its hybrid-only lineup of S-Class vehicles. The automaker also lifted the veil on a number of vehicles at the 2010 New York Auto Show, including the E-Class wagon and the revamped R-Class. To spread the word about those rides, however, Mercedes has…

Hmmmmmm. First Sarah Silverman, now “The Darker Side of Green.” What exactly is going on with Lexus these days? The ominous message is the tagline for an interactive web video called, logically enough, Lexus Dark Ride. It’ll be released May 13. “Young, energetic, tech-savvy” It’s meant to attract some new and different buyers–members of Gen X…