In many parts of the country, it has seemed like summer would never arrive, but just recently, the midwest and the northeast got an early preview (temperatures topped 90 degrees in New York City). Make no mistake: Summer's lurking around the corner, and you'd best be ready for its arrival.

Attending a press event for the Renault Nissan EV - slated for a 2010 U.S. launch - is akin to attending a high-energy cult rally.

The global economic crisis has severely curtailed future product plans for the world's automakers. Here are some of the casualties - so far.

Pontiac, the brand that thrilled us with the first muscle car but later embarrassed itself with a long series of plastic-cladded, rebadged Chevrolets, has reached the end of the road.

The Why: Your pride and joy would appreciate a more comfortable and attractive place to park its precious tires.

Doing something new often requires taking baby steps, and this axiom seems to ring true when it comes to the excruciatingly slow proliferation (or not) of electric vehicles in the U.S.

Traditionally, spring is a major selling season for automobiles. This year, however, the thaw has been almost imperceptible. April sales were 65% of those a year earlier; May was slightly better, reaching 66% of year-ago levels. Both figures are a tiny improvement on year-to-date sales, which so far are only 63% of 2008. So things appear to be getting slightly less bad.