Jim Motavalli Blog

Los Angeles Auto Show preview: Hot hatches, hybrids and electric vehicles
L.A. show, opening this week, features some intriguing green concept cars ... and they're already headed for production.
VW pushes eco-diesels -- and reaches out to American soccer moms
Volkswagen is trying to convince Americans that its TDI diesels are as environmentally friendly as hybrids, and it's using sports marketing to get the message across -- one free T-shirt at a time.
Sudden acceleration: Dramatic case histories of cars 'that wanted to take off on their own'
The cause of cars and trucks unexpectedly "taking off" remains unclear, but MNN had a big response to our request for case histories. Something is definitely happening here.
Blame the pelican: A $1.25 million Bugatti Veyron crashes into a Texas bay
With less than 1,000 miles on the odometer, this ultra-expensive supercar turned amphibian as its owner fled the attack of a killer water bird.
Sell the sizzle: Marketing premium BMWs in a recession
BMW fine-tunes its marketing plan with a better understanding of America's evolving consumers. Apparently, sustainability is a big value.
The 10 most dangerous American cities for pedestrians
You risk your life when stepping off the curb in these metro areas -- all in the South. Isn't it about time we took protecting walkers and bikers seriously?
Sudden acceleration: Bad floormats may be only 1 cause of deadly runaway cars
Attorneys say there have been hundreds of cases of cars suddenly taking off, some resulting in fatalities. The industry says floormats are jamming the gas pedal, but many consumers -- and MNN readers -- see a bigger problem.
Runaway Toyotas? Investigation of sudden acceleration eerily recalls deadly Ford transmission issue 25 years ago
ABC-TV covers an 'owner rebellion' among consumers who think their Toyotas are unsafe. The Center for Auto Safety sees parallels to the Fords that popped out of park 25 years ago. In both cases, automakers avoided expensive recalls.
Four wheels good; three wheels better?
EV trikes are now eligible for lucrative federal loans, so expect a flood of new (and very strange-looking) plug-in cars on the market.
Fun in the sun: A photovoltaic finish for Australia's solar car race
It's more than 1,800 miles from the top of Australia to the bottom, but these solar-panel-covered homemade racers went the distance.

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