GM profits surge to $3.2 billion in first quarter

General Motors on Thursday posted net income of $3.2 billion for the first quarter, its fifth straight quarterly profit since emerging from bankruptcy. Stripping out one-time charges and gains, including $1.6 billion in income from the March sale of GM's ownership in Delphi Automotive, GM earned $2 billion before interest and taxes. GM's net income for the January-through-March period a year earlier was $865 million.

Toyota files for 'Supra' trademark

Adding more grist to the new-Toyota-sports-car mill, the automaker has filed with the USPTO for a “Supra” trademark covering “Automobiles and structural parts thereof.” On one hand, it's routine for companies to protect their dormant trademarks; Toyota previously filed to protect the "Supra" mark back in 2010; that protection expired on January 27th of this year. The new filing was made on Feburary 10th, in the midst of the post-Detroit, FT-1 enthusiast froth. We can't help but hold out hope that there's a bit more weight behind this application than simple maintenance of the status quo.

BMW Mega City Vehicle (2013) and sports car news

The Vision Efficient Dynamics concept car is tipped as a potential addition to the MCV sub brand By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 03 June 2010 22:49 BMW's new Mega City Vehicle (MCV) will launch in 2013 and spawn a whole family of innovative, high-tech models – possibly including a production version of the Vision Efficient Dynamics concept car, according to the sales boss. Ian Robertson, board member for sales and marketing at the BMW Group, said the MCV would be the brand's first full series production electric car at launch in 2013.'It will be badged as a BMW sub brand - with a propeller badge and a separate name,' he said. 'We are in the final stages of deciding what that name will be and there are some exciting options.