Volkswagen Golf Automatic Transmission; Base, Transmission Code Pdw 11 12 13 14 on 2040-parts.com

GM cuts Facebook ad spending, but Ford steps on the gas

On the eve of Facebook's wildly anticipated initial public stock offering, General Motors said May 15 that it will stop buying advertisements on Facebook--about $10 million a year--but "remains committed" to the social network as part of "an aggressive content strategy with all our products and brands." In other words, GM will not pay Facebook for ads but will continue to maintain content, for which Facebook doesn't collect revenue. News of the decision was reported in The Wall Street Journal. But GM's position is far from universal.

Next-generation Ford Transit dubbed taxi of the future

Ford introduced its redesigned 2014 Transit Taxi, which features increased passenger and cargo space, claimed “livery-duty durability,” and lower operating costs. The 2014 Transit comes with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is expected to deliver best-in-class highway fuel economy.

CCS students tackle GM project

Seniors studying Transportation Design at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, Michigan, have recently completed a project with General Motors that has been underway since late 2009. General Motors challenged the students to design an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) that focused on the brand identity of Buick, Cadillac or Chevrolet, utilized the EREV components, and optimized aerodynamic attributes. Design features that incorporated sustainability materials and efficiency were also considered important components of the design development.