A heavy key chain may deactivate the airbags in your Chevy Cobalt or Pontiac G5

GM is recalling 788,000 Cobalt and Pontiac G5 sedans for a potentially deadly problem with the ignition system. When the vehicles' keys are connected to heavy key chains (or, say, key rings laden with a dozen extra keys), a sufficiently extreme jolt or impact could shift the ignition out of the "run" position and into the "off" position. Cuts electrical power to the vehicles' systems, in turn deactivating the airbags.

Fiat plans new high-performance Abarth models

Abarth Abarth, the tuning company owned by Fiat, is looking to grow the number of models it offers including a hot version of the 500L supermini, MSN Cars can reveal. Speaking exclusively to MSN Cars, Marco Magnanini, the European boss of Abarth, hinted that other models from Fiat could be given the Abarth treatment. When quizzed about the possibility of an Abarth 500L, he said: “The 500 family will offer us options.

Alfa owners throw a party for iconic brand

Alfa Romeo turns 100 on June 24, and the Capital Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (AROC) is celebrating the famed Milanese maker's centennial with a weeklong series of festivities called “Alfa Century 2010.” Centennial celebrations take place June 21-27 in numerous locations throughout the world including in Milan, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and during the Monterey weekend. But the Washington, D.C.-based AROC Capital Chapter's birthday bash represents the largest Alfa-exclusive commemoration in the United States. Chapter president Harlan Hadley said he expects a terrific turnout of Alfa Romeos from all eras of “Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili” (A.L.F.A.) history.