2000-2002 Mercedes Benz S430 W220 Clk320 Secondary Air Smog Pump on 2040-parts.com

Why carmakers say no to battery swapping

There's a strange disconnect surrounding Better Place, the company best known for its plan to extend the range of electric vehicles by relying on speedy battery swaps. Automotive executives are nearly unanimous in dismissing the idea. With the conspicuous exception of Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, rarely does an executive express interest.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 starts at $75,695

How badly do you want the baddest Camaro built today? When the Z/28 goes on sale this spring, expect to pay $75,000 for it -- or $75,695 with that pesky destination charge tacked on. If you remember, the hotly anticipated Z/28 was one of the big stars at the New York auto show this past March.

GM's Ed Whitacre meets the press in Web chat

General Motors' new front man, Ed Whitacre, remains a bit of an elusive figure in the car world. But at the very least, the former telecom honcho who's now the leader of the nation's largest automaker does like cars. “Oh yes,” he answered in response to that question during a Web chat on Tuesday, one of his first interactions with the media so far in his tenure at the helm of GM.