While General Motors appears to be getting its act together, the automaker’s preferred lending arm – GMAC – continues to be a black hole for government bailouts. GMAC has received $17.2 billion in government funding, but has yet to develop a viable business plan for the future.

Thanks to a leaky United States patent office, we have what appears to be our first look at the redesigned 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The Malibu will essentially be all-new for the 2012 model year, riding on a version of General Motors’ Epsilon II architecture.

General Motors and Chrysler might not be around right now if it hadn’t been for an $85 billion bailout by the United States government, but it appears as though that investment also saved the entire state of Michigan.

As several electric vehicles are entering, or at least are poised to enter global markets, Israel is establishing itself as an early leader in electric vehicle adoption. Israel is on pace to have 50 percent more charge spots and battery swap stations than fellow electric vehicle leader, Denmark, by late 2011.

The on-again, off-again talks regarding the possibility of a new small V8 diesel to power light-duty pickups have reportedly been reignited. Chrysler and Cummins have been rumored to have been developing a new 5.0-liter diesel V8 for some time, but Chrysler’s bankruptcy resulted in complications that brought the program to a halt – until now.

Toyota’s sales tumbled double-digits during the first two months of 2010 as the Japanese automaker struggled with its largest ever recall, but a new incentives program is expected to rally Toyota’s March sales in a big way.

Nissan has announced that Bruce Campbell, vice president, design, North America, will retire and be succeeded by European counterpart Alfonso Albaisa. Campbell has been with Nissan for 30 years, and will now retire to fill an advisor role Nissan’s global design division.

When we first tested the Suzuki Kizashi, we came away quite impressed. The four-door proved quite competent in the twisties and featured stylish good looks. The Kiazashi’s powertrain was the only thing that left us wanting more, but it appears as though Suzuki will remedy that complaint at this month’s New York Auto Show.

Despite vocal objections from about 200 cab drivers, the Dallas City Council unanimously voted yesterday to allow taxi cabs that run on compressed natural gas the privilege of skipping to the front of taxi queues at the city’s Love Field airport.

Following up its sensational 8C model, Alfa Romeo is reportedly readying a smaller – and more affordable model – version of its supercar to mark the brand’s 100th birthday. Alfa Romeo will celebrate its centennial at the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach this August.

After General Motors abruptly pulled out of its joint-ownership of Northern California’s NUMMI assembly plant, Toyota was left unsure what to do with its only unionized plant in North America. Now, a small California-based electric vehicle manufacturer, Aurica Motors LLC, says it is interested in the plant.

Three words we haven’t seen together in 25 years – Fiat North America – now have a leader: Chrysler has appointed former Volkswagen and Ford marketing executive Laura Soave to lead the inexpensive Italian brand’s renaissance in the United States and Canada.

General Motors held a public Web Chat with Mark Reuss, North America president, and Christopher Barger, Director of Global Communications Technology, who answered questions from the general public. Among the questions was whether or not the U.S. will be getting a two-door variant of the Cruze coupe or a ZETA-based rear-wheel drive car.

With Toyota’s safety problems dominating news headlines, it’s easy to forget about Chrysler’s struggle for survival. The Michigan automaker’s sales have tanked since early 2009, with the start of 2010 not looking any better for Chrysler.

Chevrolet will look to showcase its Corvette and Camaro flagship performance coupes as it plans a thorough refresh of its future marketing efforts, according to General Motors’ North American president, Mark Reuss.

Following an earlier request, Toyota has officially handed over an internal memo penned by Toyota employees to Congress. The memo – written in 2006 – details employee concerns about Toyota skimping on quality and safety measures in order to boost production and overall profitability.

Following a difficult first half, Volkswagen’s Lamborghini supercar division has posted a disappointing 2009. Lamborghini’s global sales tumbled 37 percent during the first six months of 2009, with the full on year seeing a further dip to 37.7 percent.

Toyota’s official twitter account has shared a new video that appears to have been filmed by a Toyota salesman. The video is intended to show drivers how they can disengage the vehicle’s transmission by shifting into neutral at highway speeds, as well as how the brakes should override the accelerator during normal conditions.

Japanese automaker Nissan has officially entered the large commercial van market with its new lineup of NV vans. Available in three model levels, two roof heights and with a pair of V6 and V8 gasoline engines, the NV vans clearly target traditional large vans like the Ford E-Series and Chevrolet Express – even if they borrow some tricks from more contemporary competition.

The California Air Resources Board recently revised its proposed “cool car” rules to exclude the soft top version of the Jeep Wrangler, but it appears as though more revisions are on the way as safety officials speak out against the proposed regulations.