New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Even if you prefer Ford, BMW, Mercedes or Volkswagen, if you are an American taxpayer, you are cheering the news.

General Motors, one-third of whose shares are owned by U.S. taxpayers, sold 9,025,942 vehicles in 2011, up 7.6 percent from 2010. The number was good enough to place GM on top as the world’s largest automaker.

GM beat out Volkswagen, which sold just over 8 million cars in 2011. Toyota, which took the top spot from GM in 2009, has yet to report figures, but its production was severely hampered by the tsunami in Japan and the massive floods in Thailand.

Even more impressive, and better, is that General Motors is now making money and showing a profit, unlike in years when GM reigned king of automakers, but was an unprofitable leader.

In the first nine months of 2011, GM earned $8.47 billion, compared to the $6.17 billion earned in the same time period in 2010.

Driving the recovery for GM was its Chevrolet brand, helped by its popular Cruze compact car.

GM received a $50 billion bailout from the U.S. government two years ago. Shares of GM have lagged since its IPO, when shares were priced at $33. They are currently trading 26 percent lower, near $25 per share. Shares of GM would have to reach $53 per share before the U.S. government could sell just to break even.

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Wolfsburg, Germany (AHN) – Volkswagen AG announced it had record sales of 5.1 million cars and sport-utility vehicles worldwide in 2011.

Sales were up worldwide by 13.1 percent in 2011 from 2010, company officials said.

Volkswagen is Europe’s largest carmaker.

Although much of its growth came from gains in China, India, Russia and the United States, its two largest markets were Europe and China. The Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker sold 1.72 million vehicles in each of those markets.

However, company officials said they expected challenges in the market environment for 2012.

VW officials credited new versions of some models, such as the Passat, Jetta and Beetle for helping to boost sales in “difficult market conditions.”

The only region that didn’t record strong growth was South America, where sales increased by only 2.2 percent.

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Ferrari’s new hard top convertible sets a new standard for convertibles vs. coupes.  Although most auto aficionado’s typically prefer coupes over convertibles for their styling, lighter body weigths, acceleration, and faster speeds, Ferrari has once again raised the bar!  If your pockets are deep enough, a convertible has been born that meets all critics toughest standards!

Alonso test drives the 458 Spider on our “FEATURED VIDEO!”

Torrence, CA, United States (AHN) – Japanese automaker Honda has expanded its previously announced recall of vehicles with dangerous air bags to include almost 900,000 vehicles.

The recall affects only vehicles sold in the United States and includes model years 2001 to 2003 of the affected cars.

The recalled vehicles now include certain 2001 and 2002 Accord, 2001 to 2003 Civic, 2001 to 2003 Odyssey, 2002 and 2003 CR-V, 2003 Pilot, 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL models, Honda officials said in a statement.

Honda first said the driver’s airbag inflator needed to be replaced because it had a risk of deploying with too much pressure and could rupture, which might result in injuries or death.

The company will begin sending out official notices to owners. However, owners can find more information online and also take an affected vehicle to their dealer for inspection and repairs.

“When Honda identifies concerns of this nature, nothing is more important to the company than fulfilling our obligation and responsibility to alert our customers,” Honda officials said in a statement posted on the company website. “To this end, in addition to contacting customers by mail, in late December, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their vehicles require repair by going on-line or calling. Honda owners can go to www.recalls.honda.com or call (800) 999-1009 and select option 4; Acura owners can go to www.recalls.acura.com or call (800) 382-2238 and select option 4.”

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New York, NY, United States (AHN) – General Motors reported better than expected earnings in the third quarter on Wednesday, but CEO Dan Akerson said the quarter “isn’t good enough,” a signal that more cost cutting lies ahead.

GM, the U.S.’s largest automaker, earned $1.7 billion, or $1.03 a share in the third quarter, down from $2 billion earned in the last full period before its initial public offering.

While better than analysts’ estimates of 96 cents a share, Akerson said in the company’s earning statement Wednesday “Solid isn’t good enough, even in a tough global economy.”

The company did not give specific guidance on net income in the fourth quarter or lay out any specific measures to improve margins.

The lack of fourth quarter guidance, and the sinking Dow, helped send shares of GM down almost 8 percent shortly before noon.

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Without further ado, allow me to introduce the super car inductees from the 1980′s.

1985 Ferrari 288 GTO -  Styled by Pininfarina, the 288 GTO encompassed a 400HP at 7,000 RPM with 366lb ft @3800 RPM’s of torque, 0-60 at 4.8 seconds and top speed of 189 MPH.  Price in 1985?  $100,000+.  Current Value?  Between $500,000 and $600,000 hard earned U.S. dollars.

Porsche 959 -  450HP at 6,500 RPM’s with 369lb ft of torque at 5,000 RPM’s and 0-60 in 3.7 seconds!  The Porsche won the top speed award against the Ferrari 288 GTO coming in at 197 MPH.  But hey, it’s a Porsche, not a Ferrari, so prices are depreciated and well under the current market value of the Ferrari 288 GTO!  So add in reliability and a solid racing history, and it may be worth ones while to look into current prices being offered for this Super Car Porsche 959 from the 80′s!

Ferrari F40 – 202+ TOP SPEED, 4.5 second 0-60.  Price tag?  Forget it.  If you can find one of these limited production “RACING CARS for the ROAD” you’ll need anywhere from $500,000 up to buy one!

But wait, there’s one more.  And it’s unanimous.  It may not be the most refined, or the most comfortable, or even the fastest, but it’s probably the most BAD ASS cars ever designed, and one of the most affordable.  The 1989 Lamborghini Countach will surely continue to increase in value over time, and the 25th Anniversary Edition will lead the race.

1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary – Top Speed, 185 MPH, and 0-60 under 5 seconds.  V12 Engine with over 450 HP, at 7500 RPM’s and 369lb ft of torque at 5,000 RPM’s.  ONLY around 650 total built, and a current value barely beyond $100,000, which is close to its original sticker price.

Our advice?  We all wish we could afford a Ferrari F40, or a Ferrari 288 GTO, but Ferrari is an icon, so we advise you check out latter versions in hopes of finding a “good buy,” while keeping in mind, “if it wasn’t special then, it’s not special now.”  So…

Search the classifieds, eBay, and every dealership throughout the U.S. in hopes of finding a well-maintained Lambo Countach.  You’ll  make an amazing impression driving one (and the no “pop-up” headlight design makes it timeless).  Sure, it’s over-the-top – as everything was in the decadent 80′s, yet history will repeat itself, and everything will become “over the top” once again.   The Countach is an incredible looking machine, designed & engineered by the finest leading industry pioneers of the automobile industry.  With the combination of its design, engineering, performance, and limited production numbers, the Countach is a highly collectible exotic automobile that has gained a respectable place within the automotive history books and amongst all automobile enthusiasts.

Another cool new classified start-up is about to go-to-market as well called AutoBandits.com.  As an affiliate, we feel compelled to mention them, but judging by our trial run of the site, we’d mention them anyway, especially because we like their slogan, “Life’s Too Short To Drive a Honda!”   AutoBandits provides a few unique options such as their “One Click” technology which allows prospective buyers to locate several specific makes/models of their car that are advertised on multiple classified sites,  newspaper ads, auction sites, dealer sites, or not advertised at all!   The appearance and ease of use for the AutoBandits website seems unparalleled by others in this space.  BUT…  it’s in Start-Up Mode, and vehicles listed for sale on the site are, umm, as rare as the car you may be looking for.  Maybe start with the “One-Click” button for now, or send them an email and they’ll do the search for you.

If there was only a way to have a staff of experienced auto experts apply “Human Intelligence” and manually research specific vehicles to provide more accurate vehicle values for Exotic and High-End automobile.  Well now there is, and it’s free.  Read on…

In our attempts to bring more quality traffic to our website, EveBlue.com is now running a SPECIAL FREE OFFER where potential buyers of Pre-Owned, Exotic & High-End vehicles can simply email us specific vehicle information, and our industry experts will research, and provide:   Most Recent Prices your specified vehicle SOLD for, Current & Past Auction Prices- if available (normally only available to dealers), and Average Market Selling Prices, for your specific make and model.

Simply send an email to Admin@EveBlue.com, and include as much information as possible, such as:  Year(s), Make & Model of Vehicles, Exterior & Interior Colors, Special Features, Options, etc.  We’ll return as much PRICING information as we can gather!  Please allow 24 hours (or sooner) for a reply.

Stockholm, Sweden (AHN) – Struggling automotive icon Saab will change hands again in a proposed deal to save it from bankruptcy by selling it to two Chinese companies.

Swedish Automotive will sell its Saab unit to Chinese distributor Pang Da Automobile Trade and auto manufacturer Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile. The two will pay a mere $142 million for the 62-year old auto manufacturer.

General Motors sold Saab to Swedish Automotive only 2 years ago as part of GM’s restructuring to avoid bankruptcy itself.

Since that sale, Saab has had extreme economic woes that it has not manufactured a car since April and it has been in court trying to avoid bankruptcy.

China has become the world’s largest market for automobiles.

Chinese automakers bought another iconic struggling automaker last year, Volvo.

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Remember “TapOut Owner Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Dies in Horrific Ferrari Crash.”  Or “Russian Billionaire Totals Ferrari Enzo in Malibu,” or “Ryan Dunn in Fatal Car Accident.  Police Reveal Dunn Driving at 130 MPH Before Porsche Crashes Into Flames.”  And do you remember “Eddie Griffin Crashes Ferrari Enzo Into Barricade While Filming Movie?” 

Now there’s another.  With less than 400 made, and aprox. 15+ now totaled, the Ferrari Enzo just may end up finding itself the rarest car in the world!

You can’t drive a motorcycle without a “Motorcycle License,” so perhaps we should make it mandatory for buyers of High-Performance automobiles be required to do the same?

Ferrari Enzo Crashes Into Water