3m Marine 8 Stikit Gold Disc P220a 216u 1488 on 2040-parts.com

Say Chevrolet--not Chevy--GM tells employees

From racetracks in the heartland to the iconic strains of “American Pie,” one word--Chevy--has transcended class and culture and helped raise the bow-tie brand to the lofty status as one of the most recognized in the world. But now, one of the most blue-collar and singularly American marques is going formal: General Motors has told its employees to use the world “Chevrolet” instead of the commonly used “Chevy” nickname. An internal memo distributed this week directs workers to use the official name in all communications, from official duties to simple conversations.

Amped Up! GM to hire 1,000 engineers and researchers for electric cars

General Motors will hire 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan for research and development of electric vehicles, CEO Dan Akerson said on Tuesday morning in Detroit. The new hires will work on batteries, electric motors and power-control technology. Akerson made the announcement at the factory that builds the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

It’s the Skoda Citigo, Skoda’s take on the VW Up!

Skoda Citigo If the latest addition to the Skoda range – the Skoda Citigo – looks familiar, that’s because it’s the Czech maker’s take on Volkswagen’s own city car, the VW Up! It gets a daft name too, but at least it doesn’t get the exclamation at the end. Sensibly, with a big chunk of the world falling in love with little cars designed for use in our congested cities (and about time too), Skoda has chosen to jump on the bandwagon quickly with its Citigo, with the baby Skoda arriving on its home turf – the Czech Republic – this year and the rest of Europe by Summer 2012.