Normally, when a large, well-known company moves its headquarters, it's pretty big news. That's because in many cases, the company is moving across the country, or perhaps from the city to the suburbs. However, General Motors announced a move earlier this week and it seems like it's been met with a shrug. That's because in this case, GM is moving just a few blocks. It's not like Boeing bouncing from Seattle to Chicago to Virginia, or even United Airlines decamping Chicago for its suburbs (or McDonald's, which moved from Chicago's suburbs to the city proper). The General is moving just a mile ..read more

Ford's popular Maverick pickup truck gets only minor changes for 2024. That's a good thing, since there's a reason the Maverick is well-liked. The biggest change is that the gas engine is now standard, and the 2.5-liter hybrid that makes 191 system horsepower is now optional. I recently had a front-wheel drive hybrid example in XLT trim. As I try to do with most cars I test, I am giving you a Cliff's Notes version in pro/con format, with a full review likely to come down the road. So, here goes. Pros The fuel economy is great -- and the powertrain spends a decent amount of time in electric ..read more

Today we bring you a car that wasn't, to my knowledge, sold new in the United States. It's a Mexican-spec Volkswagen Derby. Which was basically a rebadged SEAT Cordoba. Basically, the car was built in Mexico using parts from Spain. This particular example has about 82,000 miles on it and a five-speed manual. It apparently has just 90 horsepower from the 1.8-liter engine (some Googling shows that there are different versions of that engine, and indeed one version does make 90 hp). There are no airbags, due to the different European safety standards of the time. A tuneup has been done recen ..read more

Electric-only automakers are going through it right now. Tesla recently laid off 10,000 workers after posting disappointing first-quarter sales numbers, and now Rivian is slashing another one percent of its workforce after layoffs earlier this year. A company rep told Automotive News, “We continue to work to right-size the business and ensure alignment to our priorities. This was a difficult decision, but a necessary one to support our goal to be gross margin positive by the end of the year. Rivian’s first 2024 layoff cut about ten percent of its salaried staff. The automaker has cited risi ..read more

Photo by Vova Shevchuk/Shutterstock.com Any off-road gearhead with a bit of dirt under their fingernails is sure to know that traction is a huge part of a great day on the trail. All the locking differentials and beadlock wheels in the world – or horsepower and torque, for that matter – won’t stand a chance in the tough stuff if the tires on yer rig are bald as Homer Simpson. This is why some drivers end up enduring YouTube infamy thanks to viral videos caught at the most inopportune moments. But wading through tire selection can be a trial. Even if a person has a brace of favorite bra ..read more

Chinese automakers are expanding into Mexico, with companies like BYD opening dealerships across the country. Even so, the Mexican government isn’t rolling out the red carpet due to pressure from the United States. Automotive News reported that the country would not offer tax incentives or land discounts to Chinese automakers. It noted that the U.S. government believes that they should not be able to enter North America without paying tariffs. Mexico is no stranger to Chinese auto companies, as there are around 20 already selling vehicles in the country. BYD, one of the largest, said it plan ..read more

I am told spring is here, though the weather has been, shall we say, inconsistent? We've had some warm days, and some spring rain, but it's also remained chilly at times. Spring in Chicago is non-linear, and this year is no exception. Still, warmer weather will be here sooner rather than later, and we're likely done with snow, or at least measurable snow. We've already asked you when you make the switch to summers, but now we're asking -- what would drive you to put summer rubber, instead of, say, all-season or three-season tires, on your ride? Would you do it if your came factory-equipped w ..read more

Today we bring you some wagon goodness -- a 2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS wagon. This one is 100 percent stock, according to the seller, with 63,900 miles on the odometer. It's been garage kept and there is no rust and only minor dings. As well as some curb rash on the wheels. The seller says it runs and drives well and the body and paint are in "excellent" condition, save for those aforementioned minor dings. Our seller is asking $6,200. You can see this Georgia-based car here. [Images: Seller] Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC ta ..read more

The Ford Motor Company is offering a limited appearance package for the 2025 model year of the Mustang, stating that there will be just 1,965 examples to commemorate the car’s introductory year. As previously teased by the automaker, the model will receive special badging, decals, and wheels that hearken back to the original. This likewise means paint options will be limited. While the 1964.5 and 1965 model years actually came in an array of hues, these anniversary models will be limited to Race Red, Wimbledon White, or Vapor Blue. Ford clearly is trying to hype up the vehicle’s status as ic ..read more

Honda is facing an NHTSA investigation looking at almost three million vehicles to review safety issues with unexpected emergency braking system activation. The agency opened a preliminary investigation in 2022 after receiving reports related to the Honda Accord and CR-V. The NHTSA is aware of 1,294 reports of “sudden vehicle deceleration,” with 50 reported injuries and 31 crashes. Its probe has expanded to include 2020-2022 Honda Accords and CR-Vs, increasing the number of affected vehicles from 1.7 million to almost three. While the term investigation sounds serious – and it is – it’s onl ..read more