GM to pick buyer for Opel by end of May

General Motors’ CEO Fritz Henderson said today that it will announce a buyer for Opel at the end of this month. He said the GM is currently speaking with multiple bidders and that the German government would not decide who will buy the brand.

“We are going to make sure any partner we pick is going to be suitable for them (the German government). We need their support,” Henderson said during a new conference, reports Automotive News.

The GM CEO said that Berlin will have major influence on who purchases Opel since it has been asked to provide 2.6 billion euros ($3.5 billion USD) in loan to finance a new company.

Henderson did not provide any information on how much GM is hoping to get for Opel.

So far Fiat and Magna International have shown interest in purchasing GM’s German brand.

Top Gear Crew & Stig Spotted in UAE with Lambo SV, Veyron, SLR 722, McLaren F1

Loyal WCF reader Ahmed Almuhairi managed to capture the Top Gear team in the United Arab Emirates with a host of high powered super cars.

Vinyl Vehicle Wraps Don't Increase Fuel Economy

PopMech's Ben Stewart put the Fastskinz MPG-Plus vinyl vehicle-wrap system through the paces to determine if it increases fuel economy. So, does it work? What the hell do you think, of course it doesn't. [PopMech]

Hyundai Equus spotted in the United States… again

Exactly a week ago, pictures of the Hyundai Equus driving around in LA hit the Internet. Now, the large luxury Hyundai sedan has been spotted once again.

We’re not sure if this Equus is one of the 100 being shipped over to Hyundai dealerships in the U.S. to gauge the interest of U.S. consumers - but it’s a very high possibility.

The Hyundai Equus made its stateside debut at the 2009 New York Auto Show. The model on display was the Equus VS460. It is powered by a 366-hp 4.6L Tau V8 mated to ZF 6-speed automatic transmission.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class / E550 Sedan - Second Drive

The German penchant for silly eyewear has expressed itself in the headlights of Mercedes-Benzes for a while now, and the 2010 E-class continues this proud tradition. Gone are the ovoid frames of the last E-class, in favor of a hipper set of squared-off lenses. The rest of the E-class is similarly predictable—it’s still an upright sedan, its dimensions are within fractions of an inch of the previous generation’s, and the same engines as last year power it.

The angular theme starts at the headlights and spreads rearward to form a chiseled yet still conservative body. The only peculiar and controversial aspect of the design is the upside-down swoosh that runs over the rear fenders. Mercedes tells us that the rear fenders are supposed to recall the ’50s Ponton models; we think Nike’s lawyers might want to take a look. The fenders do look better in person if wheels 17 inches or larger are selected, sizes that will be standard on U.S.-bound E-classes.

Underneath is an all-new unibody structure that Mercedes claims is 30 percent stiffer and able to meet future crash requirements. The beefier structure leads to a weight increase of 150 pounds in the E350 and 260 pounds in the E550, according to the company. Predictably, acceleration from the 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 E350 and the 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8 E550 suffers—zero-to-60 times will likely be slower by a few 10ths compared with last year’s results. In the fall, the 507-hp E63 AMG joins the lineup. A 50-state-legal diesel E320 Bluetec will be added early next year. All engines will be equipped with a seven-speed automatic.

Keep Reading: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class / E550 Sedan - Second Drive

Henderson: GM plans to keep Renaissance Center headquarter

During a press conference earlier this morning, General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson said that the company plans on keeping its Renaissance Center headquarters in Detroit despite the fact that its U.S. operations are in far worse shape than some of its overseas divisions.

There have been many rumors that GM will be moving away from its Detroit headquarters as a move to cut costs.

Henderson said that GM “doesn’t have any such plans” to move out of Detroit; although, he said that if there are “efficiency and cost advantages to moving, it would consider a move.”

2010 Mercedes E-Class Coupe: First Drive

Replacing the CLK, the 2010 Mercedes E-Class Coupe adopts a similar look to the new E-Class Sedan and most of its mechanicals. It's just a shame it's not as fun to drive as the four-door.

Full Disclosure: Mercedes wanted us to drive the 2010 E350 and E550 Coupes so badly, they flew me out to Vegas and put me up in a fancy hotel. Also, they fed me grilled shrimp, which, in hindsight, could have been responsible for the stomach trouble.

The thinking behind the name change is that the Mercedes range has simply grown too diverse, bewildering suburbanites from New Jersey and Florida who, inexplicably, can afford to shop in a Mercedes dealership despite lacking the mental acuity to understand the naming convention of what they're buying. The original CLK name was meant to reference the fancy CL coupe, just like the SLK was a small, cheaper, more permed take on the SL roadster. Mercedes wanted to make sure buyers are able to comprehend that this new car uses more E- than C-Class components, hence the E-Class Coupe designation.

Mercedes says the ratio of E-Class parts to "other Mercedes-Benz products" in the Coupe is about 60:40. They're happy to detail which parts are shared with E — the suspension, engines, looks and all the advanced safety features — but don't want to say where the other 40% comes from. Since the E-Class Coupe shares the C-Class's 108.7-inch wheelbase and minor interior parts, we're going to go out on a limb and say that's where the 40% originates.

That's kind of a shame, because the E-Class Coupe is noticeably less engaging to drive than the 2010 Mercedes E-Class Sedan. That's not to say it isn't competent, it's much more so than the old CLK and even the twistiest of mountain roads above Las Vegas fail to fluster it. Corners are taken with virtually no body roll, steered into with accuracy and exited with plenty of thrust from either the 268 HP 3.5-liter V6 or 382 HP 5.5-liter V8. It also hits the 130 MPH speed limiter in a picture of composure, it'd be happy there all day. It's just that none of those activities are in any way fun. You kind of get the feeling that if you're lulled into sleep by the coffin-quiet interior, the Attention Assist will conspire with the adaptive shocks, Distronic Plus with Pre-Safe Brake radar cruise control and Parktronic with Parking Guidance automatic parallel parking system to drive you home and tuck you into bed.

Of course this E-Class Coupe wasn't designed for irresponsible young hoons like me, but rather the irritatingly useless real housewives of a reality show near you. They'll go gaga over the seriously handsome new looks, including the Mercedes SLS-like grille and, since their husbands will almost certainly spec the upmarket interior, the nice pleated leather door and contrast-stitched leather seats too. They'll also love the new brushed aluminum and wood trim, the heavily contoured buckets front and rear and the very fashion conscious choice of chocolate brown plastic on the dash. In fact, they'll be so busy focusing on the bling - chromed seat handles and door jambs, pillarless windows - that they won't notice the distinctly C-Class plastics employed on the air vents, button surrounds and center console.

Constantly running late to hair appointments and charity galas, they'll prefer the V8's 391 Lb-Ft of torque that's delivered instantly anywhere in the rev range, but not the less imposing 258 Lb-Ft of the V6 since they'd have to work that engine using the manual override paddles located on the steering wheel. Doing that would likely require far too much attention, something that's reserved for cell phone conversations and molly coddling small animals, not for driving. The V8's 5.0 second 0-60 time will come in handy fleeing imagined paparazzi much better than the V6's 6.2 seconds.

It's unlikely that it'll ever be used, but the E550 also incorporates Dynamic Handling Suspension as standard. Click a cheapish button on the dash marked "Sport" and the suspension firms up noticeably, throttle response sharpens and revs are held longer. Revving the V8 results in a delightfully antisocial exhaust note from the squared off pipes.

Husbands that live by the motto, "Happy wife, happy life," will also like the new E-Class Coupe. The E350 starts at $48,050, $50 cheaper than the CLK350, while it gains a host of standard features: full-length sunroof, Comand display, driver knee airbag, pelvic airbags, Bluetooth, Agility Control and Attention Assist. The E550 starts at $54,650.

Unlike the E-Class Sedan, there's no plans to offer either a diesel or AMG version. That lack of an E63 AMG Coupe is perhaps most damning. Asked why, a Mercedes engineer responded, "Drive the V8 and tell us if you think there's a need for the AMG." Well, we've driven it and we don't think the E-Class Coupe merits a performance version. It's a very nice luxury car and a quite a looker, just not a driver's car.

2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 Track Romp - Video

Plenty of charm, plenty of flaws. Keep Reading: 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 Track Romp - Video

Lexus LF-A production version spied

A fresh set of spy pics showing a production Lexus LF-A has appeared. The car has new rear lights and has traded the previous rear diffuser for a mash-like net.

2009 Spanish Grand Prix: A Great Battle of Strategy [Formula One]

Whispers of team orders clouds a brainy race in Barcelona, where most of the action happened in the pits and in the tactical computers. Warning: spoilers below.

Spanish Grands Prix tend to be boring affairs. Held on the Circuit de Catalunya, more a motorcycle and testing track than one for spectacular racing, most GP’s here are rather dull. This year’s event, which saw Jenson Button make it four wins out of five races, was far from dull, but most of the action happened not on the track, but in the pits—and in the impenetrable, alien brain of Ross Brawn.

It started off well enough. Button, having grabbed pole on Saturday in the last seconds of qualifying, was passed on the way to Turn One by a resurgent Barrichello from third place. Then followed a mild accident, televisable but not particularly exciting, which decimated the rear of the field (both Toro Rossos, Jarno Trulli of Toyota, Adrian Sutil of Force India and Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren were out) and resulted in an safety car period which would prove decisive.

Unlike the rest of the field on their two stop strategies, the Brawns of Button and Barrichello were on three stops: three quick nips of fuel followed by scorching laps in a permanently light car. Following the safety car period, however, championship leader Button was put on two stops and he made the most of it, putting in blistering laps at the head of the field. Barrichello meanwhile, in a lighter car, lost precious seconds after his second pitstop, ultimately leading to his finishing by 13 seconds behind Button.

Whatever happened in those decisive laps—tire trouble, slow driving, team orders—the veteran Brazilian was very unhappy. This was to be his first win since the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix in what may be his last season in Formula One. A hugely selfless man, he played second fiddle to Michael Schumacher in Ferrari’s dominant years. Years when Ferrari’s strategy was determined by no other than Ross Brawn, the man who runs his current team.

Everyone at Brawn GP has pointed out immediately that they have no team orders in place—as evidenced, for instance, by Barrichello’s move on Button leading into Turn One—but the mind wonders. While Barrichello is a solid second in a championship with 12 more races to go and while he can be just as quick as Button, he has not won a single race yet in a clearly dominant car. Also, he is nine years Button’s senior, in a sport which favors the ultra-quick reflexes of the young.

Speaking of the young: 21-year-old Sebastian Vettel, driving the marvelous, Adrian Newey-designed Red Bull, had yet another frustrating race, stuck behind the Ferrari of Felipe Massa, whom he could not pass on the narrow circuit as the Brazilian deployed his speed-boosting Kers device in every corner. But make no mistake: Vettel is scramjet quick, as he has already shown in Shanghai. And once he finds himself in a position where he can really stretch his legs, the Brawns will have a young German in a dark blue car rapidly filling their rearview mirrors.

The 2009 Spanish Grand Prix was won by Jenson Button, followed by Rubens Barrichello and Mark Webber of Red Bull. Rounding out the points were Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Nick Heidfeld (BMW) and Nico Rosberg (Williams). Jenson Button leads the championship with 41 points, followed by teammate Barrichello with 27 and Red Bull’s Vettel by 23. The next race will be held in Monaco on May 24.

Photo Credit: Paul Gilham/Getty Images, GUILLAUME BAPTISTE/AFP/Getty Images, Manu Fernandez/AFP/Getty Images, FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images

Ford Announces Offering of 300 Million Shares

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today a registered public offering of 300 million shares of its common stock at a par value of $0.01 per share. Ford said it also expects to grant to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 45 million shares of common stock.

Tom Hanks Smugly Cruises His Toyota RAV4 EV Past 50,000 Miles [Celebrity Cars]

Tom Hanks driver has now put 50,000 miles on Hanks' Toyota RAV4 EV over the six years he's owned it. Jeez. Our aunt puts more miles on her hoveround. [The New Yorker]

2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed - Short Take Road Test

How do you explain the things this 5500-pound behemoth can do? It reaches 60 mph in 4.2 seconds—that’s verging on Corvette territory. It has 0.89 g of skidpad grip—as sticky as a Cadillac CTS-V. There’s also the 165-foot 70-to-0-mph stopping distance—a foot shorter than a Murciélago LP640.

Of course, one might be tempted to call it magic, the trick of some gray-bearded, spell-casting wizard—but that would be silly. Instead, blame this car’s performance on the Bentley engineers (some of whom may, in fact, have gray beards) who created this Speed, the über version of the Continental Flying Spur. The recipe was thus: take the normal car and uprate the engine, work over the suspension, retune the steering, and slap on high-performance rubber. The 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12 is now good for an even 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, up from 552 hp and 479 lb-ft. The suspension has been lowered by 0.4 inch, and also has new spring and shock rates and beefier anti-roll bars.

Gargantuan but Agile

The changes are noticeable. When you punch the throttle, it feels a bit like riding a skyscraper shot out of an artillery piece, with max torque coming at a low 1750 rpm. The sounds you hear are dominated by intake whoosh and a determined, locomotive groan from the engine room. But, disappointingly, the exhaust is overwhelmed by wind noise with the windows down and simply eliminated with the double-paned glass up. On throttle-lift, you can detect a pleasingwoofle from the back, but it seems that only bystanders are destined to hear the W-12’s exhaust note. Gotta toss the plebes a cookie sometimes.

Keep Reading: 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed - Short Take Road Test

Top Ten Auto Design Easter Eggs [Car Design]

An "Easter egg" is an intentional hidden message, in-joke or feature. We've noticed fun little buggers in the design of quite a few new vehicles. Here's our list of the ten best.

Click The Images To See What Easter Egg Design Surprises Await You

2010 Porsche Panamera

2010 Nissan Cube

2009 Renault Twingo RS

2005 Ford GT

2009 Infiniti Essence Concept

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2009 Volvo S60 Concept

2010 Ford Mustang GT

Formula 1: Spanish Grand Prix Review

This past weekend was the Spanish Grand Prix and was also the first race for the new development package for the F1.09. It was a long wait for this upgrade, one needed in a bad way and hopefully the first step in getting the team on par with the series leaders.

The F1.09 has been terribly low on grip from a lack of downforce and because of that the upgrades included a redesigned front nose much higher allowing for more air flow under the car, modified sidepods and a completely new rear wing. This new package also meant that the KERS system currently used was to large to fit in the smaller spaces created and would be left out. This was actually a good think allowing the team to concentrate on getting to know this new aero package.

Friday practice now took on the feel of a testing session due to the no in season testing and a car that had no track time. In the first free practice session when the leaderboard isn’t really indicative of much, both drivers managed good times in the 1 minute 22 range which already would put them higher in the order than the past 3 races. Unfortunately in the first session Nick Heidfeld suffered a brake problem and didn’t get the track time needed.

Saturday practice had Heidfeld running off track and braking the nose and front suspension ending his session early once again and without enough laps in the car.

Despite Heidfeld’s problems things were pretty up beat and both Kubica and Heidfeld saw a great improvement with the package. Qualifying was a bit up and down unfortunately. Heidfeld suffering from not enough track time to even get to grips with a base line setup was eliminated in Q2 and would start 13th. Kubica easily made it into Q3 with only one run, but when in to the pits for a final flier in Q3, the pit crew put the rear left on the rear right and the rear right on the rear left. He abandoned the final lap with a horribly understeering car and settled for 10th on the grid.

Nick had a great start immediately leaping up a number of places into 10th while Kubica hit heavy traffic slipped back from 10th into 13th before the race was one lap old. A crash set off by Nico Rosberg in the opening corners just missed collecting Kubica and both drivers managed to get through lap one unscathed. From that point on Heidfeld and a good pit crew managed to move him up into 7th place where he finished. Kubica on the other hand complained bitterly about his car sliding all over the track, something not present in the morning practice session. He languished in 13th and was eventually lapped.

All in all the new development package is a great start, but Catalunya being notorious as a circuit with no passing meant the race was very much a long train of cars and the team was not able to get the full potential out of the car.

New bits are scheduled to be put on the car to address some concerns noted this past weekend as the next step in producing a car that needs to be a full second or more a lap and by Turkey just may be.

Sen. Schumer Calling For Investigation Into Auto Warranty Phone Scam

Apparently Americans are being harassed by automated calls saying their auto warranty is about to expire, attempting to sell a worthless extended one. Since there's nothing else to do, NY-Senator Chuck Schumer wants to investigate.

The calls come regardless of the person being on the "Do Not Call" list, or whether they actually have a warranty about to expire, or even if they don't have a car. It's an annoying practice made only more annoying in that the few who fall for the pitch often get an extended warranty not worth the paper it's printed on. It's even more annoying since New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer got one of the calls last week, and now he wants an investigation on who's behind it and how they're getting around the do-not-call rules.

"This is an annoying scam whose perpetrators have found a way around the do-not-call list, the FTC has to track them down and then shut them down to put an end to this nuisance once and for all."

The chief suspect at the moment is USFidelis, which denies any involvement, claiming other operators are using their name for the nefariousness. Next on the list is that Nigerian prince who's been emailing Chuck about some money he needs help transferring. [ABCNews]

Lexus LF-A: To Build Or Not To Build

Seriously Toyota, are you going to build and sell the Lexus LF-A or what?

It is rather obvious, or it has been in the recent 10 years, Toyota needs a little bit more excitement. The Lexus LF-A has been a rumor queen beat to death over the past few years whether it was going to get axed or actually sold as a “Toyota Supercar”, “Lexus Supercar” or the “New Supra”.

The newest spyshots will reconfirm once again that the Lexus LF-A project is very much alive and slated to still be a Lexus Supercar sporting a 5.0L V10, over 500hp and a pricetag north of $200,000. Limited production is the name of this game. If you didn’t already know, Toyota is losing money just like the rest of the automotive companies. Expect the Lexus LF-A to continue to be tested and then turned into a hybrid version sometime after the LF-A is sold on US ground in within the next 2 years.

[source: worldcarfans]

Cougar Straddles A Cougar

One of our favorite albums this year is Neko Case's Middle Cyclone — and not just because of her booming voice. At 39, she's just barely a cougar, but what she's sitting on definitely is

GM may sell its Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky business

GM CEO Fritz Henderson said today that the automaker would be open to sell its Wilmington, Del., plant, which is responsible for manufacturing the Saturn Sky and the Pontiac Solstice. In a move that is similar to what Chrysler is doing with its Dodge Viper business, Henderson said that if a buyer wanted to sell those niche products, it would be open to selling the plant.

“If someone were to approach with a proposal that made good sense for our people, we’d be open to it,” Henderson said.

The Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky are both victims of GM’s restructuring plans with Pontiac to be killed by the end of 2010 and Saturn to be sold or shutdown by the end of 2009. The Delaware plant also produces the Opel GT, which is a rebadged version of the Saturn Sky.

All models are a front-engine, rear-wheel-driver sports car powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder unit making 260-hp.

Chrysler has been trying to sell Viper since last year.

2010 Opel Astra teasers released

The 2010 Opel Astra will be making its world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. To get us a little more anxious, GM has released some teaser shots of the new Astra in a five-door variant pictured with Lead Designer Marc van der Haegen and Engineering Coordinator Laszlo Kreth.

The two are hiding the detailed parts of the body with pieces of paper sketches of the Astra.

It is said that other than the five-door hatchback Astra, Opel is also looking to introduce a three-door variant, a sedan and a starting wagon. A convertible coupe with a folding hardtop is also in the works.

It was recently reported that the U.S. based Astra, currently sold under Saturn which will be ending its reign in 2009

Ducati 848: First Ride... Through A Shopping Mall

The only way we're going to bail out this economy is if we let a few hard-earned greenbacks fly. We just took it a step further with a Ducati 848 Superbike.

Raceday. The scene is Northland Mall, which sits precisely on the border between the Dirty D and "The Center Of It All" Southfield. With a trademark pop, the Ducati rumbles awake as we glide through the front doors.

Snap forward to turn three near the Dollar Dog, just past Detroit Gator Shoes. The Ducati holds the line tight as my soles drag on the polished tile. Barely on the edge of traction, an octogenarian piloting a hopped-up Amigo electric wheelchair veers sharply into my path and the game is on. We duel; Italian racing purebred versus Prius-shaming high-voltage horsepower. One thing is for certain: After this knock-down-drag-out Battle Royale, one of us is going home to eat applesauce. The pace heats up as we vie for position before the next curve. I pour on the power, 134 horsepower flowing through the semi-slick rear. She jabs me in the helmet with her cane and my balance is violently unsettled.

Thinking fast, I use my steel-toed boots to kick the Commemorative Matlock Collectors Edition DVD Box Set out of her basket and into the ether. She glances back, mourning for a brief moment, before continuing the fight. Now it's personal. We shoot for the quickly approaching turn when; catastrophe! The Amigo loses rear grip and goes into an uncontrollable slide. We haven't seen a wreck this intense since April of 2009. The driver seems to be uninjured as she straightens her wig and takes off her Nomex gloves. I glide through the predetermined finish, which stands as the visual line connecting the TJ Maxx and Payless Shoes. Victory is mine. Defeated, the old biddy turns slowly off into GNC to pick up the 3-gallon bucket of Metamucil she so desperately desires.

That's the risk we take living this life of speed. Sometimes you get the champagne — other times it's the stool softener. We both lived to fight again; only honor has traded hands this day which will live on in the annals of racing history.

Special thanks to TT Motorcycles and Rosenau Powersports!

Ford offering 300 million shares of common stock to raise cash

Ford has just announced that it will be Ford offering 300 million shares of common stock to raise cashoffering 300 million shares of its common stock at a par value of $0.01 per share. The Dearborn automaker said that net proceeds from the offering are expected to be used for corporate purposes.

It said that it is looking to fund with cash instead of stock, a portion of the payments Ford is required to make to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) retiree health care trust with the UAW.

“We continue to make strong progress on our transformation plan - gaining retail market share with great new products, improving quality, reducing costs and positioning Ford for a return to profitability,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. “Today’s equity offering is another example of the fast, decisive action we are taking as we build momentum on our plan, including further progress on improving our balance sheet.”

MAFF Muron Porsche Cayenne, it’s what you buy when you want to standout

If you thought the Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS was visually over-the-top, wait until you see what tuning firm MAFF has come up with. Meet the MAFF Muron Porsche Cayenne, which has a body kit that is built of fiberglass components and some additional power under the hood.

The wide body kit, which fits the entire Cayenne range, features a front and rear spoiler, a new aggressive front grille with LED lights, side skirts, a roof spoiler, a bonnet with nostrils, carbon fiber door handles and exhaust tailpipe covers.

Besides the crazy body kit (which we’re slowly beginning to appreciate), MAFF has added 100-hp to each variant of the Cayenne.

Hitler’s car for sale, GM bankruptcy more probable, 2010 Mercedes E-Class ad is a bit weird

What are some of the random things we’re coming across today? Find out in our daily Miscellaneous Thoughts post for today.

Adolph Hitler’s car for sale: Well it really isn’t his car, but he did sit in it. The 1939 Fiat 2800 pictured above was used by the king of Italy to transport dignitaries such as Hitler, Benito Mussolini and General Franco during the early 1940s. Only 638 units were produced before production ceased in 1943. - Top Gear

GM’s CEO Henderson says the bankruptcy is more probable: Fritz said today that bankruptcy protection is becoming more probably for GM with the government-imposed deadline almost two weeks away. He said that he is still hoping that GM can restructure without court protection. - MNBC

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class commercial says “dreams will have to wait”: It’s weird, it’s awkward and it’s a little funny. Check it out below.

GM plans to export China built vehicles to the U.S.

General Motors is considering selling vehicles it makes in China in the U.S. by 2011 - making it the first major automaker to import Chinese produced cars to the stateside. In document being circulated between GM and U.S. lawmakers, GM said that it plans on selling 17,335 units of China-made vehicles in the U.S. by 2011. It is looking to triple that number to 51,546 by 2014, reports Automotive News.

Of course this is expected to stir up some controversy among GM’s U.S. workers. GM said that the plans are subject to change depending on the outcome of the negotiations with the UAW.

The Detroit automaker said many of the vehicles will be similar in size to the upcoming Chevrolet Spark, which will be built in South Korea.

It said that even at its 2014 level, the China imports will account for only 1.6 percent of GM’s expected sales for that year. 

Small cars are fine and all but how about sending over that Buick Park Avenue

New Camaro integrates with iPod, Zune

The new Camaro gets an impressive cabin tech roster, including iPod and Zune integration.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

Microsoft employee David McLauchlan posted photos of how the Zune integrates with the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The news releases about the car from GM already confirmed that its stereo would feature iPod ...

Honda Insight Becomes Japan's Best-Selling Vehicle...First Time for a Hybrid

Honda has announced that the new Insight hybrid was Japan's best selling vehicle in the month of April 2009.

Honda managed to move 10,481 units making the Insight the first hybrid to ever top the sales charts in Japan (Toyota must not be happy). The Insight was introduced on February 6, 2009. It managed to move to the top spot in April up from the 21st best-selling vehicle in March.

The Honda Fit/ Jazz was Japan's best-selling vehicle until the Insight knocked it out of its top spot, thereby pushing it down to the number 2 spot. This is the first time that Honda has managed to occupy the two best-selling car positions in Japan.

Fiat/ Chrysler Deal Could Mean the Ford Ka May Eventually Come to the US

The deal between Fiat and Chrysler could mean that Ford could eventually bring its small Ka to the US.

The Ford Ka and Fiat 500 are built on the same platform that as developed by Fiat. Currently there are plans for Fiat to build the 500 at one of Chrysler's North American plants, when the vehicle eventually goes on sale here. Chrysler also wants a small car that would share the same underpinnings as the 500 and Ka. Since US car buyers historically like larger cars, the only way to make a profit would be to some how manage to sell more of them and bringing the Ford Ka here could help achieve that goal. By building three cars all built on the same platform in the US, costs could be more evenly spread out. This would provide more fuel for the business case to bring the little Ka here since the vehicle could actually be profitable.

There is no word yet on if Ford does indeed plan on bringing the Ka here. If the Ka did come here, it would be one of the smallest vehicles on the road, since its only marginally bigger than the Smart ForTwo.

The Top Seven Types of Car Guys

It took me a while to decide if I should post this top on here or …not, mostly because I didn’t want anyone to get offended, but after re-reading the content over and over again, I realized that it’s all fun and really, NO ONE should be offended by it. In the end, there is really nothing offensive, other than some stereotypes that I hope we can see past them.

So, the fellows at Spike.com came up with an …interesting subject: The Top S even Types of Car Guys. We won’t be posting the entire top on here, we still want them to take the full credit, so we’ll start with….Number 1:

1. BMW Guy

Source: JOERG KOCH/Staff/Getty Images

The most enjoyable activity for BMW Car Guy is convincing everyone else that BMW makes the best cars in the world. There can be no other car better than a BMW M3. It is simply perfection. The BMW guy offers a level of pretense which can sometimes rival Exotic Car Guy, but at a much cheaper impact on his bank account (which also makes him better than the Exotic Car Guy).

BMW Car Guy is a refined sophisticate, and he has ascended beyond the juvenile need to do burnouts. BMW Car Guy is more concerned with car magazine statistics, expensive aftermarket wheels, nanotechnology car wax, and the latest watches in GQ magazine.  BMW Car Guy would also ask that you ignore the slightly tacky carbon fiber roof on his ubercar. ‘Course, BMW guy also has the obligatory hot Asian girlfriend, so he scores a tip ‘o the hat regardless.

And continuing with Number 2:

2. Exotic Car Guy

Not satisfied by mere Vipers or Carreras, the Exotic Car Guy is less concerned with performance of the car than he is about, say, how rare it is, and how people will react to it. In that regard, the Exotic Guy is the epitome of the car guy who wants something that screams “this way, gold diggers!” Unless Exotic Car Guy is hitting Willow Springs every weekend, there’s no purpose for this car in an urban setting, other than to be a status symbol for what a fabulous lifestyle he leads. And when Exotic Car Guy drops $45,000 on an oil change, you know he must be pretty cool.

You can see the silly, funny top over at Spike.com, but before you head over there, let me touch a few points: Yes, I do believe the M3 is the Creme de la Creme, and nothing tops it. Yup, we love stats, we breath them, same goes for aftermarket wheels, the more the better. Car waxing is our part time job and the number one reason why our significant others divorce us. Carbon Fiber is to us what platinum and white gold for our lovely female companions.

Are we proud of it? Sure, but we grow out of it at one point, it comes with the age

P.S. Read this article with a smile on your face, that’s all the purpose of it.

Lorinser Mercedes-Benz GLK

German tuning specialist, Lorinser, has finally released some details and images of the tuned Mercedes-Benz GLK.
At the exterior, the Lorinser Mercedes-Benz GLK features robust, sporty and classy Swabian body kit which consists of body colored Lorinser spoiler bumper with fog lamps, bull bars and Lorinser side sills.

Opel/RCA future mobility competition winner sees car with no wheels

· Augustin Barbot of France wins internship with GM Europe Design

· Nineteen students exhibit their vision of mobility for 40 years in the future

· Culmination of Opel/Vauxhall project with the RCA Vehicle Design Course

London/Rüsselsheim. With his concept of a vehicle with no wheels, Augustin Barbot (25) of France was chosen as the winner of a competition sponsored by Opel/Vauxhall and Royal College of Art (RCA) Vehicle Design program to develop a concept of future mobility.

Barbot will spend three months working at General Motors Europe Design Center in Rüsselsheim and gain valuable work experience and insight through hands-on experience with future technologies such as electric vehicles.

He will be joined by Hyunjoon Park (25) of South Korea and Miika Heikkinen (26) of Finland, who were highly commended for their work. Recognizing their efforts, General Motors has invited them, too, to Russelsheim to meet the GM Design Team so they can see how car designers work on a daily basis and see firsthand how future mobility needs are shaped.

The competition was part of a celebration honoring 40 years of the RCA’s Vehicle Design course. Nineteen students from 11 countries, including Germany, the UK, the Czech Republic and China participated in the challenge, in which they were asked to identify the potential customer of tomorrow and use that profile to develop a vision of how the Opel/Vauxhall brand could play a role in the customer’s life.

Ideas included zero-emission single seat vehicles; a racing vehicle driven by the human brain; eco-touring machines powered by waterfalls and city transport run on magnetic levitation.

Barbot’s winning concept was called Opel D49 or Darwin 2049 – a new breed of vehicle which has no wheels. It moves 10 cm above ground by electro-magnetic power or in the sea like a submarine. Three turbines, two at the front and one at the back, produce the energy to move the lightweight vehicle forward. Because it is an essential part of the design, the aluminum frame covered by a semi-flexible and clear waterproof resin eliminates the need for body panels.
Park’s concept was based on the idea of escaping the stresses and strains of the world through a new vehicle body shape that moulds to the driver’s shape and mood, allowing human and car to become one.
Heikkinen’s vision was of a zero emission single seat vehicle for city use. When not in operation, it becomes part of the cityscape creating a place to rest. The design was inspired by light patterns on long shutter speed images and the marine creature nautilus.

Judges for the competition included Vehicle Design Course Director Professor Dale Harrow as well as tutors Sam Livingstone and Richard Winsor. Mark Adams, Vice President of Design, GM Europe, Anthony Lo, Director, Advanced Design GME and Peter Stevens, a car designer and part-time tutor also participated as independent judges.

“The standard of overall work was excellent; everything we saw was very forward thinking and anticipated both practical and emotional needs of mobility. Augustin did a good job interpreting the brief from an Opel/Vauxhall perspective, building on our commitment to electric vehicles and anticipating tomorrow’s mobility needs,” says GME’s advance design chief Lo.

"It's clear from the new Insignia that GM Europe is going through a design revolution and judging from the sales figures, good design is now on top of everyone's agenda. The RCA is a fantastic place to create and explore the future - to do this with such a forward- thinking company and their designers, many of whom are ex-RCA students, has been an exciting opportunity for all involved and has produced some spectacular results," adds RCA Vehicle design director Harrow.

April is the month with the strongest sales for Porsche in North America in 2009

Porsche AG, Stuttgart, was still operating in a difficult market environment in North America in April 2009. With 2,044 vehicles, deliveries to customers in North America were 34 percent below the previous year's value; of this number, 1,853 vehicles were for the USA and 191 for Canada. Good news from the viewpoint of the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer is the first sign of stabilization in the 2009 calendar year - with deliveries in April surpassing the March values by six percent.

Of the make 911, 722 vehicles were delivered in the reporting month,
26 percent fewer than in April of the previous year. Deliveries of the Cayenne model declined by 25 percent to 974 vehicles. Of the mid-
engine sports cars Boxster and Cayman, 348 cars were sold to customers in North America, which corresponds to a decrease of 58 percent.

SIGHTS SET ON INTEGRATED AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft welcomes the decision by representatives of the Porsche und Piëch family shareholders to create an integrated automotive group in which each of the ten brands will retain its independence.

During the next four weeks, a joint working group whose members will come from Volkswagen and Porsche will consult intensively with the State of Lower Saxony and the workforce at both companies to prepare the basis for a decision on the future structure. The Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft will do everything in its power to support this process.

Audi well prepared for start to DTM season

- Third consecutive DTM title as ambitious aim
- Audi undefeated at Hockenheim season opener since 2007
- 100th race of “new” DTM and 100 years of Audi

The waiting is over: After exactly 203 race-free days, the lights starting the most popular international touring car racing series will switch from red to green for the first time again on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at exactly 2:03 pm (local time). It will be the 100th race in the history of the "new" DTM – and the beginning of an ambitious task: In the year of its 100th anniversary Audi wants to become the first automobile manufacturer to win the prestigious DTM title for the third time in a row.
The squad around Head of Audi Motorsportchef Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich is well prepared for the DTM’s start to the season at the Hockenheimring. According to the motto, "Never change a winning team," the driver line-up has remained the same as last year’s. The championship-winning car, the Audi A4 DTM, was subjected to further development in numerous details, now bears the word "plus" after Audi Sport’s internal model designation "R14," and is even faster than the successful predecessor model. However, due to the regulations, the 2009-spec A4 DTM has to start from the grid with an additional 20 kilograms of weight compared to the 2008-spec vehicles.
How much of a difference the additional weight will make is not the only open question prior to the season opener. The event at Hockenheim will be the first one featuring a condensed format: On Friday, there will only be a short roll-out, the two test sessions have been eliminated. Instead, the free practice session on Saturday morning will now last two and a half hours. Qualifying has been complemented by a fourth segment in which the four fastest drivers on just one flying lap will fight for the pole position on used tires and without refueling.
In addition, only Hockenheim will show who has done their homework best in winter because experience has shown that the contenders do not put all their cards on the table during the official DTM tests.
In the past few years, Audi Sport always set the benchmark: Twice in a row Mattias Ekstöm won the season opener at Hockenheim. In 2008, at the new Audi A4 DTM’s debut, the brand even clinched a one-two-three victory.
Despite the reduction to nine "factory" fielded Audi A4 A4 DTM cars the brand with the four rings will be the strongest in the 2009 DTM field with the private team of Dr. Colin Kolles is entering three additional A4 vehicles.
The first DTM race of the year 2009 will start at 2:03 pm on Sunday, May 17. ARD will broadcast live from Hockenheim on "das Erste" starting at 1:45 pm (local time). Tickets are available on the internet at www.audi-dtm.de.