http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorTue, 07 Oct 2008 6:55:52 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/39283/face-facts-people-prefer-mean-looking-cars.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFriendly is out and angry is in—for cars, at least. When people look at cars, they tend to see human faces and characteristics, LiveScience reports. A new study found that "power" traits such as dominant, masculine, and angry—think BMW's 5 Series—top the list. And the results have the attention of automakers desperate to know more about how people pick cars.http://www.newser.com/story/39283/face-facts-people-prefer-mean-looking-cars.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 06 Oct 2008 15:14:11 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/39237/american-consumers-stop-spendingthey-all-feel-poor.html?refid=rss_all_defaultConsumers, hit by a tsunami of economic bad news, have dramatically cut back spending in recent weeks, on everything from clothes to cars to airline travel to dining out, reports the New York Times. The slowdown all but guarantees a drop in consumer spending for the third quarter, the first quarterly decline since 1991.“The last few days have devastated the American consumer,” says one analyst. “They all feel poor.”http://www.newser.com/story/39237/american-consumers-stop-spendingthey-all-feel-poor.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 06 Oct 2008 5:42:40 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/38909/ford-sales-off-34-key-ugly-us-autos-report.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAs expected, early sales reports from automakers paint a dismal picture, MarketWatch reports. Ford reports a 34% drop in US sales in September compared to a year ago; Toyota’s were off 32% and General Motors’ fell 16%, AP adds. Industry-wide, sales are down almost 20% over this time in 2007, the Detroit Free Press writes.http://www.newser.com/story/38909/ford-sales-off-34-key-ugly-us-autos-report.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 01 Oct 2008 12:54:42 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/38822/bush-oks-25b-for-car-giants.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPresident Bush today approved the $25 billion in low-interest loans aimed at helping US automakers in their transition to building more fuel-efficient vehicles, the Wall Street Journal reports. The industry long pushed for the package, estimating the total cost of the makeover at $100 billion. It’s now up the Energy Department to set eligibility guidelines, with lawmakers hoping funds can be available by mid-2009.http://www.newser.com/story/38822/bush-oks-25b-for-car-giants.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 30 Sep 2008 19:23:20 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/38496/nissans-new-safety-system-uses-bee-logic.html?refid=rss_all_defaultNissan is set to unveil new collision-avoidance technology modeled on the behavior of bees, PC World reports, with a small robot car to demonstrate the system in Japan next week. The automakers’ engineers have developed laser range-finders that mimic the insects’ ability to adjust their path and avoid collisions by utilizing their 300-degree field of vision.http://www.newser.com/story/38496/nissans-new-safety-system-uses-bee-logic.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 26 Sep 2008 11:56:06 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/38338/house-oks-25b-detroit-rescue.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe House has approved a $25 billion lifeline to Detroit's battered auto industry, the Detroit Free Press reports. The package of low-interest loans to help automakers switch to manufacturing more fuel-efficient vehicles is expected to be approved by the Senate today and signed by the president soon after. Michigan lawmakers cheered the news, saying it would save thousands of jobs.http://www.newser.com/story/38338/house-oks-25b-detroit-rescue.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 25 Sep 2008 2:34:50 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37775/auto-giants-press-congress-for-25b-loan.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe CEOs of US auto giants seem to have convinced some in Congress they, too, need billions in federal loans, the Detroit Free Press reports, though it’s uncertain if they’ll get the $25 billion they’re asking for. High oil and commodity prices and tightened credit threaten jobs in an already ailing industry, the heads of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler told lawmakers yesterday.http://www.newser.com/story/37775/auto-giants-press-congress-for-25b-loan.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 18 Sep 2008 8:06:02 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37659/how-much-more-will-taxpayers-have-to-pony-up.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMore than $320 billion in taxpayer funding has already been pledged to treat firms sickened by the subprime contagion—more than twice the $124 billion the government spent fixing the savings and loan crisis in the 1980s, reports the Los Angeles Times. The question, writes Michael Hiltzik, is how much farther will this "bailout binge" go?http://www.newser.com/story/37659/how-much-more-will-taxpayers-have-to-pony-up.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 17 Sep 2008 7:57:23 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37235/mini-debuts-an-suv.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe newest car to roll off BMW's Mini line may have more in common with a Ford Escape than with its cousins Cooper and Clubman, reports Driving.ca. The new model, which may be called the Crossman, premieres next month at the Paris Motor Show, and anticipation is mounting. Not too much is known about the all-wheel drive "softroader."http://www.newser.com/story/37235/mini-debuts-an-suv.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 12 Sep 2008 8:00:47 CDT