GM to slash global vehicle platforms by more than half, to 14, by 2018

General Motors says it will cut the number of vehicle platforms it uses globally by more than half over the next decade, in a bid to reduce complexity and save on product-development costs. “More of our components will be common, and more of our vehicles will be on global architectures,” GM CEO Dan Akerson told analysts on Tuesday. His remarks came as GM kicked off a series of presentations online, billed as its 2011 Global Business Conference.

SEMA 2013: What's Right By Rong

Preval Project Woody Blake Z. Rong Preval calls this the "Fairy Tale Auto Ambitious Project Rover," whatever that means. For the low, low price of if you gotta ask, spraygun enthusiasts Preval will transform your Range Rover convertible -- all the rage in the Michelle Pfeiffer days -- into something resembling The Flintstone's Beach Buggy had they decided to cash in their 401ks and retire to Manhattan Beach.

Watch Tesla Model S testing new titanium armor

In a missive signed by Elon Musk himself, Tesla announced it would be adding titanium plates and aluminum deflectors to all new Model S sedans and offering free retrofits for the 20,000 or so existing EVs. The company earlier offered an over-the-air software update to raise the ground clearance of the Model S so the car would be more likely to clear dangerous road debris. The actions were in response to well-publicized fires in the electric luxury sedans.