Mazda3 equals 5For those of you that didn’t or couldn’t unload a thirsty SUV and are looking for a small car with decent fuel mileage, flexibility and some driving fun, the Mazda3 five-door is worth checking out.

The cost of driving

GM, Chrysler scale back glitz at LA auto showChrysler and General Motors are still showing off their newest vehicles at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but their displays were noticeably quiet Wednesday while Asian and European companies unveiled new models that will likely chip away at the U.S. market share. Photo gallery: 2008 LA Auto Show

GM to extend holiday shutdown, will cut production General Motors Corp. will extend its holiday shutdown or make other production cuts at five factories at as it deals with a continued U.S. auto sales slump and fights to stay solvent.

Automakers need to make case for government aid Democratic leaders began laying out conditions Friday that they say Detroit's Big Three automakers need to meet before Congress will consider giving them an emergency $25 billion lifeline.

Ferrari debuts California roadster, vows focus on fuel economyFerrari's California coupe made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, adding another high-end roadster to the Italian automaker's lineup. Photo gallery: 2008 LA Auto Show

Nissan debuts 370Z, Cube at LA Auto ShowWhile U.S. automakers scale back their presence at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Nissan Motor Co. was determined to make a splash, unveiling three new vehicles this week. Photo gallery: 2008 LA Auto Show

ML 320 BlueTEC makes solid case for dieselI’m slowly being won over by the idea of diesel. Take, for example, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 BlueTEC. During a test, I averaged around 22 mpg and didn’t even go through a quarter tank of gas in a week of my regular commute.

Dems are postponing crucial vote on auto bailout Democratic leaders in Congress sidetracked legislation to bail out the auto industry Thursday and demanded the Big Three develop a plan assuring the money would make them economically viable.

Stocks decline as hopes fade for immediate bailoutFlip-flopping sentiment about the prospects for U.S. automakers battered stocks again Thursday as hopes rose then fell that lawmakers would soon put together an aid package for the companies. Stocks declined after a brief advance that came on hopes that Washington would agree to help Detroit's Big Three.

Dems are postponing crucial vote on auto bailoutDemocratic leaders in Congress sidetracked legislation to bail out the auto industry Thursday and demanded the Big Three develop a plan assuring the money would make them economically viable. ''Until they show us the plan, we cannot show them the money,'' Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a hastily called news conference in the Capitol. She and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Congress would return to work in early December to vote on legislation.

Pickup showdownEven though sales are slumping across the board, pickup trucks still comprise a huge part of the new vehicle market. The 2009 model year sees two all-new pickups: the perennial best-selling vehicle Ford F-150 and the upstart Dodge Ram 1500. Photo gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram

Shelby favors changing automaker management teamsThe senior Republican on the Banking Committee said Wednesday he doesn't believe there will be a turnaround in the troubled U.S. auto industry until its top management is ousted and its manufacturing operations are revamped.

Big Three automakers running out of timeDetroit's Big Three automakers are running out of time in their quest to convince skeptical lawmakers that Congress should throw them a $25 billion lifeline.

Hard sell: Detroit links bailout, national defense In an increasingly anxious campaign for a $25 billion government rescue, Detroit's Big Three car makers and their allies in Washington are warning the demise of the auto industry will damage U.S. national security.

Southern lawmakers sour on Detroit bailout If it's no surprise that Michigan lawmakers are behind the pitch for a $25 billion lifeline for Detroit automakers, then it might be just as predictable that Southerners would be leading the charge against it.

Ford chief defends how company has been operatedThe head of Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday the company is working hard to "transform our business" into a more profitable one that meets 21st century demands for fuel-efficient vehicles.

Big 3 beg for aid as bailout bill stalls Detroit's Big Three auto makers are begging Congress for a $25 billion government rescue, while the legislation clings to life support on Capitol Hill and top lawmakers and the White House suffer from bailout fatigue.

VIDEO: 2009 Dodge Challenger

Gift ideas to steer byThe holidays are the time to celebrate family and friends. They also are the time when people scratch their heads trying to find the perfect gift for those on their list. If you’re shopping for someone who appreciates cars, there are plenty of possibilities.

Auto-aid plan prospects dim in partisan stalemate Prospects dimmed Monday for enactment of a $25 billion bailout for the faltering auto industry before year's end, as congressional Democrats and the Bush administration headed for a stalemate over the plan.

Auto bailout: A Washington issue beyond lobbying?Judging from the lobbying lineup, legislation to bail out the auto industry should be assured of passage.

Ailing auto industry awaits returning lawmakersA bailout for the nation's ailing automobile industry tops the agenda as lawmakers return to work this week to name leaders and reorganize committees for the new Congress convening in January.

GM to sell stake in Suzuki to raise cashCash-strapped General Motors Corp. will sell its entire stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. for 22.37 billion yen ($230 million), the automaker's latest move to stay afloat while awaiting a decision on government aid for the industry.

Galant Ralliart combines style with speed While it has a base model that is supposed to compete with the Toyota Camry, the all-new Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart is the high-end incarnation of a mid-size sedan that puts a whole lot of emphasis behind horsepower and style and a little less behind comfort. Photo gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant

Top Republican senators oppose automaker bailoutTop Republican senators said Sunday they will oppose a Democratic plan to bail out Detroit automakers, calling the U.S. industry a "dinosaur" whose "day of reckoning" is coming. Their opposition raises serious doubts about whether the plan will pass in this week's postelection session.