MOTORING

Whether or not you’ve grown up as a car buff, unless you’re a troglodyte who still walks barefoot from point A to point B, you’re probably familiar with who “The Big 3″ automakers comprise. And if you’ve watched any of the executive groveling before our esteemed panel of D.C. dunderheads we call our “leaders”, then you’re absolutely familiar with The Big 3.

Fiat is purchasing a 35% stake in Chrysler as its private equity owner Cerberus attempts to save the troubled US car manufacturer. The Italians are stepping up to help because they see great potential in Chrysler and believe that the United States car market will rebound. Maybe some of the Italian magic will rub off on Chrysler and help them get back to the coveted position they inhabited for so long.

Beating rhythmically underneath the hood is the heart of the the RX-7 and RX-8 — a Wankel rotary engine. Wankel is such a funny sounding name, but the rotary engine (originally conceived and developed by Dr. Felix Wankel) is much more energy efficient than a typical combustion engine with pistons and cylinders.

Recently the Local Motors competition unveiled a fresh crop of incredible concept cars, and we were particularly impressed with the sleek NYC-centric Green Apple vehicle. A green machine that wouldn’t look too out of place in today’s world, the innovative three-seater features air intakes that spin integrated turbines to generate energy while purifying polluted inner-city air.

I can think of nothing more nerve-racking and less enjoyable than shopping for a used car. Ok, maybe dental surgery with rusty pliers. You take a big spin of the wheel hoping it doesn’t’ roll up lemons, putting blind trust into a commission-hungry salesman or random private owner. How can you really know the car’s true history? Will it break down the first time you back it out of your driveway? Is the car haunted? Was there a dead body in the trunk? These thoughts and more race through used-car-shoppers’ heads as they try to find new used wheels.

THE eagerly-awaited entry level version of the MINI Clubman will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March and dealers are already taking orders at a list price of £13,290 OTR.

Honda is once again placing its collective neck on the line and opening it up out on the hybrid highway with the 2010 Honda Insight, which they debuted at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) recently.

University researchers will evaluate drivers' attitudes to speed management measures to find if they are proper and effective in promoting road safety.

The big safety news in the new Volvo XC60 is City Safety - a unique safety feature that can help the driver avoid or reduce the damage of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic and bumper-to-bumper traffic. If the car is about to strike the vehicle in front and the driver does not react, the car automatically applies the brakes.