this is an american automaker's dream. this is what you're going to see in the future for the american automakers. the suvs, the trucks, not so much central focus for big three. it is about small, sustainable and about fuel efficient. let me tell you, they have reengineered a lot of these small vehicles so they can really take on their asian counterparts overseas. now, this is very, very roomy. i'm surprised to say inside for its small size. later in the morning, we're going to show you what ford and what g.m. have come up with in terms of competitors for the fiat 500. of course, the other sedans that are out there from the major automakers. we'll be here all morning long and with that, i'll send it back to you in the studio. >> all right, jess. looks like she's having a great time. beautiful car. >> i've never been to an auto show. i've always wanted to go. >> you can take metro. >> very cool. >> dumps you off right inside. don't have to go outside. >> at 5:20, another look at the question of the day. on average, this onl

. >>> ai, an american automaker is back at number one. >> that's right, catherine, coming from a car maker that bounced back quickly from bankruptcy just recently. u.s. automaker general motors is back as the world's top seller of new cars for the first time in four years. gm announced thursday that it sold more than 9 million units worldwide last year. that's up 7.6% from 2010. gm has steadily recovered since it went bankrupt in 2009 and has become the top automaker in the world once again. germany's volkswagen earlier said global sales increased 14% from the previous year to over 8 million units in 2011. and japan's toyota motors said late last year new car sales are expected to be just below 8 million units for the year. toyota was the world's leading automaker for the past three years, but it will fall to third place due to the impact of the march disaster in japan and the floods in thailand. >>> new home building in u.s. a key cater of economic trends was released thursday. the index for december fell 4.1% from the previous month. this shows there's still a mixed picture for the

. >> they may not think fiat an american automaker but they have to. it's the state of the world. >> actually, fiat and chrysler are working together now and the fiat 500 is one of the first vehicles that people have not seen in a while. it's been on sale in europe and won all kind of awards and now getting some really good reviews from the autojournallists. >> what's the price range? >> it starts at $15,500. >> the consumers really calling out for these types of vehicles nowadays, gas prices aren't going to go down anytime soon. >> exactly and you know two people think that maybe a small car doesn't have all the safety? it's an insurance institute for highway safety top safety pick. so seven air bags and they really paid attention to safety in the car. but the most you meek thing about the -- unique thing about the car is when you look at it from the outside, it looks small. when you get in you're like wow, i have a lot of room in here. just come on down to the show. >> there's a lot of head room too. >> oh, yeah. absolutely. >> for tall people. >> th

an example. after getting help from the government, the american automaker is once again the largest in the world. >> thanks for that report. we invite everyone to stay with abc 7. your election station with the latest on votes 2012 you can find updates on our website wjla.com. >> mourners will have a few more hours today to pay their respects to former penn state football coach joe paterno. his funeral service will take place this afternoon. we have a look at how he is being remembered. good morning. >> good morning. thousands of people stood outside for hours yesterday on a winter afternoon waiting to pay their respects to the late joe paterno. they were greeted by members of his family and also an honor guard of former and current football players. >> a linor thousands of mourners stretched nearly a quarter of a mile on penn state's campus. the crowd included students, athletes and community leaders who came to pay their respects to coach joe paterno. . his son described his last day to espn. >> his eyes would look up and he would nod. we were praying. you would see him mouthing the words even

american automobile industry. >> in exchange for help we demanded responsibility. workers an automakers to settle their differences. we got the industry to retool and restructure. today, general motor is back on top as the world's number one automaker. >> did he say number one? you mean we're number one at something? the united states of america, we're not three, we're not two. we have a company that is number one, president obama didn't take credit for the automobile industry success. he used the word "we." but he has every right, i think, to take some credit. in february of 2009, here's another bottom line for you there, cantor. in february, 2009, 72% of the american public said that the united states should not give chrysler and general motors a loan. most of the people who are against it. but the president, well, he knew he had to do the right thing for american jobs. i guess you could say that he showed true leadership. the loan saved more than one million jobs and prevented a loss of nearly $97 billion in person income in america. let's consume that now. 72% of the people, this is

the north american and international auto show, going on at the same time to make this announcement, positioning ford not only as an automaker, but trying to position them as a technology giant as well. convention center, marla and jon, going on through the weekend. >> i want more information and one of those cars. >> reporter: you give me a checkbook with your name on it, and i'll write it out. >> of course. >> i'll take care of you. i'm good like that. >> thanks, bob. >> hopefully, they'll let bob out of that car so he can check out the rest of the show. right? >> if the weather is anything like this the rest of 2012, miss loren, we'll be in for a sweet new year. >> sweet ride, yeah. if you want to take a drive, beautiful weather conditions out there. the sun is now out. we've pretty much been over the hump when it comes to the coldest point of the day. all the cold air is starting to mix out. really comfortable afternoon. look at where we're headed. mid 60s across the bay. onshore flow is the reason why it's strengthened overnight, pushing that big ridge of high pressure just slightly to the east. we head over the next 24

automaker. an amazing comeback for this american automotive industry. our resilient automakers brought it back even some here would have left it dead. between 2009 and last year the u.s. auto industry created over 75,000 new jobs. we've seen the impact in places like toledo where chrysler is expanding production. in avon lake, ford is investing and g.m.'s hot-selling kruz is lighting up factories from toledo to parma and lordstown. however, we cannot forget that cups like china want to muscle in on the u.s. auto sector. if we can't to see the u.s. auto industry in a continuing state of growth, creating jobs and building our economy forward, congress must champion fair trade. in december the congressional china commission held a hearing on china's unfair trade practices and i used the opportunity to point out exactly how the government in beijing blocks fair trade in u.s.-made cars and trucks. when congress had normal trade relations, proponents promised that u.s. product would gain real access to the chinese market. this has not happened. would you belie

an economic downturn. the average age of a vehicle sitting in the american driveway or in the garage or at the curb is at a record high 10.8 years old. though in fairness, automakers generally had a good last quarter of 2011 and analysts are pointing out that cars are just made better these days to last longer. >>> up next here tonight, getting into college. applications like nothing we've ever seen before. >>> if you're in the thick of it itself, then you know firsthand just how competitive the college admissions process has become. and now schools are going to new lengths to try to tease out that extra something that makes an applicant stand out in the sea of applicants. so how about essay questions like what costume would you like to wear? our report on this trend tonight from nbc's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: this high school senior is one of millions trying to crack the college code. and he's surprised by some of the questions. >> what's your favorite superhero and who's your favorite villain? >> reporter: these days there's all sorts of quirkiness in college applications. for example, emory university asks, what is your favorite ride at the amusement park? t

an american icon in the skies, reports now delta and u.s. airways are talking about buying amr, the parent company of american airlines. amr is currently in bankruptcy. germany is creating jobs here in america, automakerdding 300 workers at its plant in south carolina and a little spring buying spree for home depot adding 70,000 seasonal workers, spring historically the busiest season for home and garden products. that's business. i'm neil cavuto.   >> this fox 5 stock market report is brought to you by your lexus dealer. live life heroically. check it out.  whoa... got the verizon fios triple-play. the best picture, fast internet, unlimited calling, and they even gave me $300 back. $300? man, what are you going to buy? i was thinking about some new window curtains. makes sense. yeah. now get fios tv, internet and phone for just $89.99 a month. plus, get a $300 verizon visa prepaid card with a 2-year agreement. this offer is only available online at verizonfios.com. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 800.974.6006 tty/v. fios. a network ahead. >>> a world of twitter welcomed a new user today, first lady michelle obama. mrs. obama went live on

an american but as president i want to make sure that they get some credit for it. just three years ago, for example, we almost lost the american auto industry. today the big three automakershat the rest of the world wants to buy. [ applause ] ford motor company, the company represented by workers and management on this stage has committed to investing $16 billion in the united states by 2015. $16 billion. [ applause ] and that includes bringing back about 2,000 jobs and shifting production from countries like japan, mexico, and china, to states like michigan, ohio, and missouri. masterlock, iconic company. when masterlock looked at their numbers, they saw that union workers in america could do the same job at competitive costs as nonunion workers in china. in fact, masterlock is now exporting their jobs from the united states to china and europe. and today for the first time in 15 years -- today for the first time in 15 years, masterlock's facility is operating at full capacity. but you don't have to be a big manufacturer to insource jobs. bruce's family generated furniture for five generations but in 1996, as jobs began shifting to asia, the family sold their business an