1990s Cadillac Seville/eldorado/corvette Bose Speaker Rear Amplfier-16193505 on 2040-parts.com

Arizona auctions: Early days filled with optimism

The sun kept shining--both as a metaphor and in reality--while the cars were selling at the Arizona auctions. As of late Thursday, Barrett-Jackson had completed three of its six days of sales. Preliminary numbers assembled by on-site reporters indicate total sales of $20.2 million at the halfway mark, with 100 percent of the 656 cars on offer sold.

Chevrolet touts the 2012 Sonic's 40-mpg highway rating

With an EPA-rated 40 mpg on the highway, Chevrolet is calling its 2012 Sonic one of the most fuel-efficient small cars on the market. Chevy says that 40-mpg rating puts the Sonic right on par with the 2012 Ford Fiesta and the Hyundai Accent in terms of eco-friendliness. In city driving, the 1.4-liter turbocharged Ecotec engine gets 29 mpg.

Chrysler vows to rebuild SRT

Ralph Gilles promises that Chrysler Group will be "very choosy" about the cars and trucks that get the SRT performance badge. Gilles, recently named head of SRT, is charged with rebuilding the SRT unit, which languished when Chrysler was owned by Cerberus Capital Management. Three new SRT vehicles, versions of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, will arrive in dealerships this fall, joining the Challenger SRT8.