Auto news highlights – June 23, 2009

2010 Buick LaCrosse gets four-cylinder engine
Times are a changing. A direct-injection four-cylinder engine will join a 255-hp, 3.0-liter V6 and 280-hp, 3.6-liter V6 later this calendar year. The new 2.4-liter base engine will produce 182 horsepower. Matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, GM estimates it will enable the luxurious sedan to achieve 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway. [Consumer Reports New Car Preview]

Ford, Nissan, and Tesla receive billions in green tech loans
The federal government set aside $25 billion to advance green automotive technologies, and today it was announced that Ford, Nissan, and Tesla would receive significant loans from this fund. Chrysler and General Motors had previous requests denied, due to their financial situations. Ford will receive $5.9 billion, Nissan $1.6 billion, and Tesla $465 million in advanced technology financing from the Energy Department program. [Reuters]

GM asked to recall 2000-01 model year after trunk deaths
Kids and Cars has asked General Motors recall 2000-01 model year  sedans after two children perish in locked trunk. These cars were made before trunk-release latches became standard equipment. An aftermarket retrofit kit called the Quick-Out Emergency Trunk Release is available for $18 for installation in older cars. [Consumer Reports Safety Blog, Consumer Reports Kids and Car Safety hub]

Mini to expand dealer network
Mini USA announced that it will expand its 83-store network by 17 dealerships over the next year and a half. Mini has been well placed to serve increased consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars. New locations are expected in the following cities: Birmingham, Alabama; Pensacola, Florida; Alexandria, Virginia; Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Fort Myers, Florida; El Paso, Texas; Ontario, California; Louisville, Kentucky; Raleigh, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; Loveland, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; Mount Laurel, New Jersey; Allentown, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California and Tempe, Arizona. [Mini, AutoBlog]

No improvement seen for rear seat belt use
Rear seat belt use in the U.S. remains statistically unchanged at 74 percent for 2008 compared to 76 percent in 2007 according to the National Highway Transportation Administration.  Belt use in the rear seats is lower than the front seats, which is at 83 percent. The survey found belt use in rear seats is higher in states that have laws for belt use in all seats. [NHTSA, Consumer Reports]

New Jersey to ban GPS operation while driving
In a move to reduce driver distraction, Democratic State Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith has introduced a bill to “prohibit the manual operation of a global positioning system (GPS) device or similar navigation device by the operator of a moving motor vehicle,” according to Fox News. The legislation is the first of its kind, and the vote will have an important impact on how millions of drivers use these popular devices. [Fox News]

Legislation introduced to create teen driving standards
Some House of Representative members have introduced legislation that would set minimum standards for teen driving in order to reduce death and injuries; automobile crashes are the leading cause of deaths of teens in the U.S. The legislation would act as an incentive with rewards of funding for states that enact graduated driver licensing laws (GDL). Those states that don’t comply will have federal funding withheld. The GDL program will provide a three-stage licensing program, restrictions on night driving and restrictions against driving with more than one other person under 21 during the first two stages. [House, IIHS]