Ford Genuine Parts Oval Decal on 2040-parts.com

Obama calls for shared sacrifice in auto bailout

President-elect Barack Obama says he wants to keep tough conditions on automakers that get federal loans. The companies must develop sustainable business models because it would be unacceptable "to keep them on their lifeline through taxpayer dollars in perpetuity," Obama told The Washington Post. Obama said industry restructuring will require "everybody, from labor to management to creditors to shareholders, giving something up." His comments contradict suggestions that the new administration will relax federal loan agreements reached last month with General Motors and Chrysler LLC, possibly with softer demands on the UAW.

Volkswagen preps the Golf EV for 2013 launch

Volkswagen AG has begun delivery of a second test fleet of Golf blue-e-motion EVs to customers in Germany, the automaker said in a statement. Of the 80 cars being tested in the fleet, 53 will be delivered in Berlin, with the rest going to Hannover and Wolfsburg. The vehicles will be distributed to businesses, public bodies and private motorists, although the majority of cars in Berlin will be tested by corporate customers, as VW views this group as the largest market for EVs in the future.

65 years of Land Rover

If there's any marque to which the overused “iconic” applies, it is Land Rover: A snapshot of a weathered Series I in the Serengeti never fails to trigger dreams of adventure. Since production began in 1948, Land Rover has evolved from a postwar workhorse into a plush but capable luxury SUV. Still, it's reassuring to know that your Landie will have you covered if you decide to take the wild way home.