Fiat Doblo coming to America, new 911 Carrera, trucker cellphone ban

(Fiat)

Fiat bringing Doblo small van to US
Fiat plans to sell its Doblo small van in the U.S. and Canada starting in 2013. The Italian automaker says the Doblo (shown) will be sold under the Ram brand. Fiat plans to export of 190,000 units under a seven-year-deal. The Doblo, the 2011 International Van of the Year and likely competitor to Ford's Transit Connect, is made in Turkey. It currently comes in five- and seven-passenger configurations and has gasoline and diesel engine options.

--The Associated Press

Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller kneels next to the new Porsche 911 Carrera at the Frankfurt auto show this month. (Michael Probst / The Associated Press)

New 911 Carrera gets lighter, keeps looks
Porsche rolled out the seventh edition of its 911 Carrera at the Frankfurt auto show this month, the latest take on a sports car that first came out in 1963. The new 911 is lighter and slightly more powerful, with 350- and 400-horsepower engine options. It's got a longer wheelbase and new rear axle the company says improves handling. The German automaker didn't tamper with the familiar 911 silhouette with its sloping roofline, long, low hood and prominent headlights. U.S. prices start at $82,100 and $96,400.

--The Associated Press

Government: Trucker cellphone use should be banned
The government should prohibit truckers and other commercial drivers from using cellphones while behind the wheel, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended. The unanimous recommendation followed a hearing on a fiery crash March 26, 2010, in Kentucky, where a tractor-trailer slammed head-on into a passenger van and killed 11 people. The board ruled that distraction from the truck driver's cellphone use probably caused the crash. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates trucking, banned text messaging while driving a commercial vehicle last September, with penalties for truck and bus drivers up to $2,750. The agency proposed in December to ban all handheld cellphone use by commercial drivers, and a final ruling is expected this fall.