Sandisk Imagemate Sddr-31 on 2040-parts.com

Jeep Altitude package blacks out Compass, Patriot and Grand Cherokee models

Jeep is introducing three special-edition vehicles that will be sold under the Altitude name. The moniker was selected by 100,000 adoring fans voting on Facebook. Blacked-out Altitude versions of the Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass and the Jeep Grand Cherokee will go on sale in May.

Chevrolet Sonic at the 2011 Detroit auto show

One of GM's numerous debuts at the 2011 Detroit auto show was this: the Chevrolet Sonic. Shown as a hatchback and four-door notchback, it's one of The General's weapons to tackle the now-globalised Ford Fiesta and its ilk. Good spot. That's because this is the US-spec Aveo - albeit shown in US-only notchback form as well as the more Euro-flavoured hatchback.

Tesla pays off its government loans

Tesla paid off the last of its $465 million government loans May 22, nine years ahead of schedule, thus outperforming most U.S. college graduates and the vast majority of American homeowners. Tesla used funds from a stock offering to finish the loan with a whopping bank transfer of $451.8 million Wednesday, pointing out that it was “…the only American car company to have fully repaid the government.” Apparently no one at Tesla was even born when Lee Iacocca paid off Chrysler's $1.2-billion government bailout ahead of schedule back in 1983.