Nissan EV moves electric car closer to reality

It's called the Leaf in Japan, and whether or not Nissan's production electric car carries that name in the United States, the company insists that the car will be on the road before the end of 2010. Slightly larger than the familiar Versa subcompact, the zero-emissions Leaf was unveiled Aug. 2 at a dedication ceremony for Nissan's new global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan.

Chevy and GMC pickup trucks pile up on dealer lots

General Motors entered December with bloated inventories reminiscent of its prebankruptcy days-and its lowest market share in 90 years. GM will try to fix both problems in a hurry. Dealers say the company has begun rolling out bigger discounts on many models, including the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu sedan and GM's full-sized pickups.

Lincoln to replace waterfall grille

Love it or hate it, Lincoln's waterfall grille is on the way out, according to sources familiar with plans for the updated MKS sedan and MKT crossover coming next spring. One source said the MKS and MKT grille will be "completely different" from the current grille, which has been controversial. He said the new grille is "not as pronounced" as the waterfall and "more elegant." Ford might show the revised MKS and MKT at the Los Angeles auto show in November, says a Ford source.