Cash for clunkers plan revives trade fight

Import brand automakers and dealers warned on Thursday that a vehicle scrappage proposal before the Senate would violate trade agreements and could weaken the economy. The Senate could vote on the plan on Thursday, which would offer $10,000 to any moderate- or low-income consumer who trades in a car or truck that is at least 10 years old and buys a new one that is more fuel-efficient and "assembled in the United States." The trade-ins would be scrapped rather than resold. The U.S.-made mandate "smacks of the protectionism that led to the Great Depression," said Barbara Nocera, the top Washington lobbyist for Mazda North American Operations.

European Car of The Year 2012 to be announced at Geneva

The European Car of the Year 2012 will be revealed at next month's Geneva motor show, drawn from a shortlist of seven cars. In the first stage of voting judges selected their seven favorite cars from a list of 35 candidates that were put on sale in Europe in 2011, with January seeing the declaration of the seven finalists. The second stage of voting will find the European Car of the Year 2012, with the winning car announced on 5 March at the Geneva motor show.

Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost wins engine of the year

Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine was named the 2013 International Engine of the Year on Wednesday, marking the second consecutive year it has done so. The engine also took home the highest score in the history of the awards, along with a “Best Engine Under 1.0-liters” category. The tiny engine packs a respectable punch for its size, producing 123 hp and 148 lb-ft or torque (Specs may be different pending specific model the engine is in).