The race to make cars stylish, frugal — and fun

In secure conference rooms, engineering centers and design studios across Detroit, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are working to create... By Mark Phelan Detroit Free Press DETROIT — In secure conference rooms, engineering centers and design studios across Detroit, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are working to create a new generation of fuel-efficient vehicles without repeating their mistakes of the past. They are honing new technologies, refining designs and scouring the Earth for fun, fuel-efficient cars they can build or sell in North America. From Chevrolet Corvettes and Ford F-150s to small cars engineered in Europe and Asia, every vehicle is being rethought as fuel prices skyrocket and new fuel-economy rules loom. Haunting their efforts is the ghost of failures past. Detroit's automakers reduced emissions and fuel... [read full story]