Vintage Model A Ford Step Plate, Cast Iron, on 2040-parts.com

Dual-clutch transmission put on hold at Chrysler

Chrysler Group has delayed introduction of a fuel-saving automatic transmission so it can make the shift patterns more palatable to U.S. drivers--the latest sign that a key tool in automakers' plans to meet tougher fuel-economy rules needs some fine-tuning. Two weeks ago, Ford Motor Co., which uses a similar dual-clutch transmission in its Fiesta and Focus, took a hit in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey because many drivers complained about balky shifting.

Report finds California leads nation in car thefts

It's not just the weather that's hot in California--apparently lots of the cars are, too. The National Insurance Crime Bureau released its list of the top 10 car-theft areas in the country for 2010. Eight of them are in the Golden State, mostly in rural areas.

Citroen unveils DS Inside concept

Citroen on Thursday unveiled the DS Inside concept car ahead of the its scheduled debut at the Geneva auto show in March. Sources told Automotive News Europe that the three-door hatchback concept is a near-production version of the planned DS3 small car, which will go on sale across Europe in early 2010. The DS3 will be the first element of Citroen's planned three-car "near-premium" range.