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GM awards small-car production to Michigan plant

General Motors will make its new subcompact car in Orion Township, Mich., the automaker said Friday, dashing hopes in Spring Hill, Tenn., and Janesville, Wis., that the small car would keep one of their factories alive. Stamping for the new car will take place in Pontiac, Mich., GM said in a statement. The small car, which GM said it plans to start producing in 2011, will save about 1,200 jobs in Orion and 200 in Pontiac.

Paramount Marauder – yep, the one from Top Gear

The Marauder lays waste a wall We knew the Hamster was off to South Africa to play with a vehicle that made the Hummer look like a Tonka Toy. And we knew – because they ‘hinted’ at it when we spoke to them last week – that the whole Top Gear segment had more than a little to do with the Paramount Group in South Africa, purveyors of innovative armoured vehicles. So, as suspected, we were treated to Richard conquering the Urban Jungle of Johannesburg in the Paramount Marauder, an aptly-named, go anywhere, seemingly indestructible piece of military hardware made street-legal.

Euro NCAP latest

By Jack Carfrae Motor Industry 28 February 2007 10:12 Euro NCAP releases results on five new models Should Euro NCAP recalibrate its results? We suspect it should, as virtually every new car launched these days scores a high four- or five-star overall rating for occupant protection. The new results announced today are no different: Small family carsFiat Bravo: 5 stars (occupant safety), 3 stars (child safety), 2 stars (pedestrian safety) Toyota Corolla saloon: 5 stars (occupant), 4 stars (children), 3 stars (pedestrian) Small off-roaders Honda CR-V: 4 stars (occupant), 4 stars (children), 2 stars (pedestrian) Mitsubishi Outlander: 4 stars (occupant), 3 stars (children), 2 stars (pedestrian) Executive Honda Legend: 5 stars (occupant), 4 stars (children), 3 stars (pedestrian) Dig below the surface, though, and several disappointments emerge.