GM's historic Willow Run plant closes

After 68 years of arming the nation and putting America on wheels, the Willow Run manufacturing plant in southeast Michigan closed on Thursday. The 5-million-square-foot powertrain plant, owned by Motors Liquidation Corp., the remnants of the former General Motors Corp., has fallen victim to GM's 2009 bankruptcy and subsequent restructuring. About 300 workers left at the plant will either “retire, transfer to another campus or go on layoff,” said Chris Lee, a spokesman for the reorganized General Motors Co.

Ferrari sets price for the 458 Spider

Ferrari has set the price of the 458 Spider at $257,000, with U.S. sales to start in January, In Europe, the sports car will cost 226,800 euros, or $309,000 at current exchange rate. Sales begin in October.

Fiat launches new MultiAir engines

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 09 March 2009 14:02 Fiat showed off the detail of its new MultiAir engines at the 2009 Geneva motor show – and we’ll finally be able to buy the tech on the new Alfa Romeo Mito supermini later in 2009. The brains behind the common-rail injection system that shook up diesel technology have now produced a new technology designed to make petrol engines more efficient and cleaner. Engineers claim the MultiAir engines – which use electrohydraulic actuation, rather than the more widely available electromechanical systems – boost power and torque, while cutting CO2 by between 10% and 25% and other pollutants by up to 60%.