Brands Made Worse?

Looking at the elegant 7 Series Individual, you might think it’s the perfect missing link between BMW’s run-of-the-mill 7 Series and BMW’s big luxo-daddy, the Rolls-Royce Phantom. However, this hasn’t stopped BMW from developing the upcoming entry-level Rolls-Royce Ghost, recently previewed by the Rolls-Royce 200EX Concept at the Geneva Auto Show. Essentially it’s a V12-powered F02 7 Series that’s been made even longer and fitted with a body that looks like a Phantom with slightly softened edges.

Now, many purists think of this “entry-level” Rolls as blasphemy. Surely, to have the Spirit of Ecstasy mounted on the nose of anything even remotely affordable to anyone but the most corrupt international bankers is just watering-down the brand, right?

Perhaps so, but maybe the 200EX isn’t to blame. “Rolls-Royce” is indeed the quintessential brand of uncompromised luxury, but since BMW took ownership of the marque and released the current Phantom, “Rolls-Royce” has also become synonymous with ostentatious consumption. The cars (and their owners) are brash, unashamed, and over-styled. Rolls has become the Lamborghini of luxury. If you want to be subtle, you’d opt instead for a Maybach.

BMW has already made the Rolls-Royce brand a caricature of what it used to be. The new entry-level model will just make that cartoony image available to more people.

All of that is nothing new for BMW. Think of what the Mini brand has become. The cars really aren’t all that small (especially the Clubman). The overall package isn’t nearly as clever as the original. BMW just took the elements of the brand people remembered (sporting performance and retro styling cues) and applied them to a conventionally-designed hatchback. In my opinion, either BMW’s own Project i or Gordan Murray’s T.25 seems much more true to the essential premise of the original Mini.

It’s not that the Rolls-Royce and Mini automobiles produced under BMW’s management are bad cars; some would even argue that they’re better than their predecessors. The issue is that the brands’ images have been not just watered-down or evolved, but exaggerated and distorted in BMW’s flame-surfaced funhouse mirror.

Honda Insight Hybrid Best-Selling Car In Japan

For the first time ever, a hybrid vehicle is the best-selling car in Japan. But the champ is not the new Prius, but rather the newcomer 2010 Honda Insight. Green is big in Japan.

Excluding Kei cars, the Honda Insight and Honda Jazz (Fit) took the top two spots with 10,841 units and 9,443 units, respectively. The Insight is just starting to show up on dealer lots here in the U.S., so we'll soon see if the cheap and modern-looking ecorider does as well on this side of the Pacific. [AP]

Uk Debut For Jaguar XKR And XFR At London Motorexpo 2009

Jaguar will showcase the new XFR and XKR in the heart of Canary Wharf at this year’s London Motorexpo. Between 8 - 14 June, this bespoke motor show promises to attract more than 350,000 visitors, making it an ideal venue for the UK debut of Jaguar’s range-topping models. Jaguar will also display the recently launched XF [...]

HM EVO by HAMANN

HAMANN-Motorsport presents its new creation, the 22 inch design wheel HM EVO. This light alloy rim has been especially adjusted to the design vocabulary and technical requirements of the current BMW 7-series models F01 and F02, X6 E71 as well as X5 E70 ­- a rim with an exclusive character and highest technical standard. A typical [...]

Bob Lutz and Other GM Execs Dump GM Stock

GM North America President Troy Clarke and soon to be departing Vice Chairman Bob Lutz plus four other execs have sold more than 200,000 shares of GM stock.

Spokeswoman Julie Gibson says the sales don’t show a lack of faith in the company. As GM comes closer to the June 1st deadline, GM has publicly disclosed to its shareholders that they run the risk of losing their investments if GM does end up filing for bankruptcy.

Bob Lutz sold all of his 81,360 shares for a total of $130,989.60, while Troy Clarke sold his 21,380 shares for $31,001.

Obama Administration Slashes Chrysler's Advertising Budget by Half

Chrysler has only been in bankruptcy for close to two weeks, but the automaker is beginning to see how serious Obama's Automotive Task Force is. Chrysler had planned on spending $134 million over the next nine weeks on advertising, but Obama's team has reportedly only given the automaker half that amount.

Judge Arthur Gonzalez was skeptical about spending even 50 percent of that amount considering all of Chrysler's plants have been idled. Robert Manzo, executive director of Capstone Advisory Group and a consultant to Chrysler, testified at a May 4 hearing that the task force "believed that it was not feasible to not spend anything on marketing and advertising for fear of eroding the image of the brand," during the company's planned nine weeks in bankruptcy.

Steven Landry, Chrysler exec VP-sales and marketing said in a statement that the advertising efforts "gives us the opportunity to reinforce that it's business as usual and demonstrate a bright future ahead for Chrysler."

GM Claims an Opel Buyer to Be Announced by the End of the Month

Although Opel has been one of GM's "better" brands lately, the European brand is not going to be under the GM umbrella much longer. It's already been rumored that GM is looking for a suitable buyer for the brand, but now GM CEO Fritz Henderson recently stated that there are several bidders for the brand.

GM hopes to decide on a buyer by the end of this month, right before its June 1st deadline. Fiat and Magna have publicly announced their interest in the brand. GM insists on having the final word on who buys the brand. GM has also asked the German government for 2.5 billion euros to help finance new company.

Now if GM can find a buyer for Saab and HUMMER...

2010 Opel Astra Photos Leaked Onto the Web

Although the Saturn Astra may be dead, the US may still get the next Astra under the Buick brand. The first photos of the all-new Astra (Euro-spec) have surfaced.

The new Astra is based on the Delta platform, which underpins the Chevy Cruze and upcoming Volt. The sixth-generation Astra will be powered by a normally aspirated gasoline1.4L four-cylinder according to CarScoop and turbocharged variants will also be offered. A turbocharged 180-hp 1.6L is also expected. In regards to diesel powerplants, a range of diesels will also be available, including 1.3, 1.7 and 2.0L variants.

CarScoop also claims that the five-door Astra will hit showrooms this fall and a three-door GTC coupe is expected to follow. A wagon, four-door sedan, and a retractable hardtop model are also expected.

Now we just have to wait and see if the Astra makes it to the US, even though GM's ownership of Opel may soon be over.

Team Polizei Porsche 997 GT3 Rolex GT

Alex Roy and Team Polizei will be making its professional racing debut in the Grand-Am Rolex Series (Mazda Raceway) in Monterey California on May 17th. Henri Richard and Rene Villeneuve will pilot # 63 - Team Polizei 144 Porsche GT3. Both drivers are very familiar with the challenging 2.2-mile, 11-turn Laguna Seca circuit.

Alex Roy currently holds the unofficial driving record from New York to Los Angeles in a staggering 31 hours and four minutes. (Keep in mind that I plan on beating this record before I die)

Team Polizei will compete in the Grand-Am Rolex GT class at Laguna Seca with a TRG prepared Porsche GT3.

GM officially unveils 2010 Opel Astra… oh, and the Vauxhall Astra as well

After a little leak yesterday, GM has finally released all the details, images and a video of the 2010 Opel Astra (known as the 2010 Vauxhall Astra in the UK). The slightly longer (71mm wheelbase) Opel Astra will make its world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in Sept. as a five-door hatchback.

Opel says that the powertrain lineup will feature eight Euro 5 compliant engines including four gasoline engines and four diesel engines.

The gasoline engines range from a 1.4L to a 1.6L with outputs ranging from 100-hp to 180-hp. A new downsized 140-hp 1.4L Turbo replaces the 1.8L. The diesel lineup includes a range of CDTI turbo-diesel units with outputs ranging from 95-hp to 160-hp. Besides the lowest entry-level model, all 2010 Opel and Vauxall Astras are mated to a 6-speed transmissions.

Pricing and availability details will be announced closer to launch. As many of you know by now, when Saturn is phased out or sold by the end of this year, Buick will get the Astra in 2011.

Click through for the press release, high-res image gallery and the video.

2010 Opel Astra:

2010 Opel Astra in Action:

Press Release:

New Opel Astra: The First Class Compact

- Upscale: Exceptional technologies and innovations in the compact class
- Spirited: Athletic sculptured design promises a thrilling driving experience
- Agile: New mechatronic chassis raises bar in class for handling and comfort

Rüsselsheim. Integrating German engineering excellence, fluid sculptural design and accessible innovative technologies, the new Opel Astra captures the philosophy which quickly made the Insignia Europe’s best-selling mid-sized sedan. Opel’s new compact will premiere September 17 in Frankfurt at the IAA as a dynamic five-door hatchback with elegant touches that profits from the best of Opel engineering for a thrilling driving experience.

The next generation Astra brings many comfort and safety features to the compact class that the Insignia first introduced to mid-sized cars. Exceptional technologies like an all-new mechatronic chassis, the most advanced lighting system, a front camera that recognizes traffic signs and seat technology with the best ergonomics will be available.

“Opel’s unique expertise of making new technologies accessible in compact cars is really highlighted with this tenth generation. In addition, the new Astra carries the spirit of the Insignia into the compact segment with unprecedented passion and commitment to excellence,” says Alain Visser, Vice President of Opel.

At 4.42 meters, the new Astra offers increased passenger space and wellness in both the front and rear thanks to a 71 mm longer wheel base. Its slim and sleek body is designed for maximum efficiency in close collaboration between the designers and aerodynamic engineers who put the car through 600 hours of testing in a wind tunnel.

Elegant proportions give it a strong, cab-forward silhouette, with a steeply-raked windshield and falling rear roofline, adding visual excitement to the traditional hatchback format. The brand’s new design language - sculptural artistry combined with German precision - is now seen in a different way.

“The design themes introduced in the Insignia, like the wing and the blade, have been given a fresh interpretation in the Astra, because it’s important that each Opel model has its own personality,” says Mark Adams, Vice President of Design, General Motors Europe. “This is why you see double wings in each of the rear lights and a dynamic inverted blade on the flank that visually connects to the powerful movement of the rear window and C-pillar.”

The interior uses the same wing and blade design cues as the exterior, creating harmony inside and out. A special effort, too, has been made to add multiple flexible storage solutions.

“Opel’s mission to make high tech innovations accessible has proven to be successful in the Insignia. We’ve set ourselves an even more ambitious goal in bringing most of these features to the compact segment with the new Astra,” says Hans Demant, Managing Director of Opel.

Developed in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the Opel Astra also comes with an all-new chassis. Its longer wheelbase combines with wider tracks and a new rear axle construction to further enhance agility and stability with no compromise to comfort.

The Opel Astra’s chassis has been developed as a mechatronic system that fully integrates mechanical functions and electronic controls. Like the Insignia, it can come with the clever Opel FlexRide electronic driving system, a rarity in this class, which offers the driver three settings - standard, Sport and Tour - while being fully and continuously adaptive to changes in driving style and cornering speed.

Other innovative technical features introduced to the compact class by the new Astra:

* A new generation of bi-xenon Advanced Forward Lighting (AFL+) that changes its intensity and reach to suit prevailing drive and road conditions using nine different lighting functions.
* The Opel Eye front camera system, which recognizes road signs and warns the driver when the car inadvertently departs from its lane.
* Ergonomic front seats, developed for optimal back support and safety.

The powertrain line-up focuses on efficient performance and features eight Euro 5 compliant engines. All except the lowest powered units are equipped with six-speed transmissions. One new compact automatic gear box with Active Select function, for a clutch-free selection, will debut.

The CDTI turbo diesel line-up includes four common-rail, multiple injection units from 1.3 to 2.0 liter with outputs ranging from 70 kW/95 hp to 118 kW/160 hp. All are equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter. An ecoFLEX version with particularly low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will naturally be part of the program.

The four gasoline engines with 1.4 and 1.6 liter give a power bandwidth from 74 kW/100 hp to 132 kW/180 hp. A new, downsized 103 kW/140 hp 1.4 Turbo replaces the current naturally-aspirated 1.8. Thanks to exceptional high-tech features in this displacement range, the 1.4 Turbo develops 14 percent more torque yet maintains sensibly lower fuel consumption.

Grounded in the compact class tradition Opel initiated in 1936 with the first Kadett, the Astra has consistently made the top-three list of Europe’s best-selling compacts - a segment which accounts for 27 percent of the total car market. Astra sales make up a third of all Opel/Vauxhall purchases, for an average volume of nearly 500,000 units per year.

Toyota Cuts Annual Production to Lowest Level in 7 Years

Toyota has announced that the automaker will cut production this year by 28 percent to its lowest level in seven years.

Slow sales mean that Toyota will produce 6.68 million vehicles in 2009, down from 9.24 million in 2008.

"We expect the severe conditions to continue this year," said Toyota spokeswoman Ryoko Nishinohara.

Toyota also expects the fiscal year ending in March 2010 to be its worst year ever, forecasting a net loss of $5.7 billion (550 billion yen). In contrast in the fiscal year ending in March 2008, Toyota had a record profit of 1.72 trillion yen.

2010 Ford Taurus rammed with shopping carts, metal whips for safety research

FoMoCo has announced a new round of extreme tests to “fine tune new, industry leading safety technologies for its mainstream vehicles.” What do these new tests include? In a video released by Ford, engineers test a 2010 Ford Taurus against impact from shopping carts, bicycle wheels and metal whips.

FoMoCo holds more Top Safety Picks awards by the IIHS than any other company and more U.S. government 5-star ratings than any other brand.

You can check out a video of the tests after the jump.

Press Release:

ENGINEERS PIT SHOPPING CARTS, WATER CANNONS AND METAL WHIPS AGAINST NEW SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES
* Ford is using new types of testing as it leads the industry in introducing advanced safety technologies for mainstream vehicles
* Ford engineers test the predictive, pressure-sensing air bag technology featured on vehicles such as the new 2010 Taurus against shopping carts, bicycle wheels and metallic whips
* Ford holds more Top Safety Picks awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) than any other company and more U.S. government 5-star-ratings than any brand
DEARBORN, Mich., May 12, 2009 - Ford Motor Company has ushered in new, extreme tests - such as ramming shopping carts into car doors and blasting water cannons to force vehicles into skids - to fine tune new, industry-leading safety technologies for its mainstream vehicles.

These tests are part of Ford’s ongoing efforts to accelerate new collision protection and avoidance technologies. Ford’s safety leadership is built on having more Insurance Institute-rated “Top Safety Pick” vehicles than any other automaker and the most U.S. government 5-star test ratings of any brand.

“Blasting and ramming cars may seem over the top, but they’re part of a serious testing regimen that Ford had to invent, because increasingly sophisticated technologies require more advanced testing,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president, Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “We will continue to build on our safety leadership with advanced safety technologies that help enhance crash protection or even help customers avoid accidents.”

New Tests for a New Technology

Ford engineers conduct unusual “crash” tests to take thousands of impact readings that help calibrate the sensitivity of new air bag pressure sensors being introduced on the new 2009 F-150 and 2010 Taurus. The new air bag systems use pressure pulses from a side impact to deploy up to 30 percent faster than a traditional air bag system that uses acceleration-based sensors.

Engineers, however, were concerned that everyday mishaps - such as shopping cart collisions in parking lots or errant basketballs from neighborhood children - could trick the new sensors that now help predict crash forces before the full impact occurs. The engineers used reams of data from these unusual tests to calibrate the air bag sensor to disregard typically minor collisions.

In one test, a lab robot repeatedly pushes a shopping cart loaded with a 110-pound weight into the vehicle doors at 10 miles per hour. Another robotic test replicates the impact of a bicycle wheel on the car door.

Pressure-based sensors more accurately measure the severity of a crash than acceleration-based sensors, which makes them better able to differentiate between a life-threatening, air bag-deployable crash and relatively harmless daily abuse that should not require air bag protection. They also perform better in new federal side-impact and oblique-impact tests, are less likely to be affected by vehicle design differences, and give designers more flexibility because they take up less space.

The new F-150 is one of North America’s first vehicles to offer this new technology. According to a recent study by the IIHS, the truck offers better side-impact crash safety than the Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram and Nissan Titan.

Whipped, Stirred and Shaken

Engineers also conduct air bag sensor research on a test track rife with jarring, jolting surface imperfections, ranging from potholes and chatter bumps to curbs and ditches. There, certified test drivers are encouraged to push vehicles to the limit.

“They drive the test vehicles into curbs and railroad tracks at high speeds,” said Todd Clark, sensor development supervisor, Ford Safety Systems. “Most people wouldn’t drive that recklessly, but it’s our job to find out how much abuse the sensor will take before deploying the air bag and adjust the sensors accordingly.”

Ford’s safety engineers also have concocted a clever test method using a multi-tailed, lead-tipped steel whip. They use it to repeatedly “pepper” the underbody area where side impact air bag sensors are located. Data collected from such tests is used to refine sensor calibrations as well.

“Ford leads the industry in top crash-test safety ratings; now we’re helping take crash protection and prevention to new levels with technologies such as our new air bag pressure sensors,” said Steve Kozak, chief engineer, Ford Safety Systems.

From Pumpkin Patch to Test Track

Ford researchers also use a water cannon test to analyze how a moving vehicle reacts to being struck from the side, without putting test vehicles and drivers at risk of damage or injury. Researchers say the new test could prove useful in the development of next-generation stability control technology.

In this highly coordinated maneuver, Ford engineers mount an air-powered cannon - a tool commonly used in mining operations and pumpkin-throwing contests - in the rear compartment of a test vehicle. The cannon blasts water outward, causing a recoil impulse that forces the vehicle into a skid. Engineers use the test data in computer simulations to help study how to enhance stability control technology, reducing risks to test drivers and damage to test vehicles.

“It’s a very effective test that demonstrates the ingenuity of our engineering team to think outside the box,” said Jeff Rupp, manager, Ford Active Safety Systems Engineering. “We know of no other automaker doing anything quite like it.”

According to the 2008 New Vehicle Customer Study, safety features account for one of the top ten reasons why Ford buyers chose their vehicle. More than 53 percent of Ford buyers indicated that safety features are “extremely important” in their decision to purchase a Ford vehicle.

“Ford’s efforts to advance vehicle safety are driving more car buyers to the brand,” said Mike Harper, brand and tracking manager, Ford Market Research. “And their interest in safety continues to fuel innovation among our vehicle designers and engineers.”

Chrysler asks court to terminate its leases on corporate jet fleet

Chrysler has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to cancel its leases on two of its corporate jets including a $38 million Gulfstream 450 and a $55 million Gulfstream 550. Both were leased in 2007 and are located at the Oakland County International Airport near Chrysler’s Auburn Hills headquarters.

Chrysler received the two jets in Jan. 2008 and has a 7-year lease on both planes. It said that it put down a $3.6 million deposit on the 450 and a $5.3 million deposit on the 550 and is now seeking to apply those deposits to its lease obligations.

Congress ridiculed all three Detroit automakers last Nov. when the CEOs flew private jets to ask for bailout money from the U.S. Treasury.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: Detroit News

Carlos Ghosn says he won’t leave Nissan until it’s profitable

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said that he has no plans to resign until the Japanese automaker is “once again comfortably making profits.”

When Ghosn joined Nissan from Renault in 1999 as chief operating officer, he said that he expected to stay for 10 years.

“If you leave now, you wouldn’t be leaving — you would be deserting,” he said in an interview, after announcing his first annual operating loss on Tuesday.

Ghosn said that the “comfortable profits” were expected to come in the fiscal year ending 2011; assuming that auto demand stayed at 54 million vehicles, the dollar averaged 95 yen and Nissan cut costs.

However, the global economic crisis and the strong yen have pushed back Nissan’s goals.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Reuters

Hyundai’s Sonata-based hybrid coming in Oct. 2010, will get different styling

It’s been reported for some time now that Hyundai is considering a hybrid based on the Sonata sedan. According to Woong-chul Yang, president of r&d for Hyundai-Kia Motors, the Sonata based hybrid is scheduled for sale in the U.S. in 2010.
Yang told Automotive News that Hyundai’s first full-hybrid vehicle will get distinctive styling and may [...]

It’s been reported for some time now that Hyundai is considering a hybrid based on the Sonata sedan. According to Woong-chul Yang, president of r&d for Hyundai-Kia Motors, the Sonata based hybrid is scheduled for sale in the U.S. in 2010.

Yang told Automotive News that Hyundai’s first full-hybrid vehicle will get distinctive styling and may not be called the Sonata when it hits dealerships.

Yang said that the company “may change the name if the exterior is quite different. People who drive a hybrid like to be differentiated.”

The Hyundai Sonata-based vehicle will be powered by a gasoline engine mated to an electric-motor that runs on a lithium-ion battery pack.

Chrysler’s Jim Press: Things aren’t so bad, we’re doing okay

For February 2009 sales, Chrysler came out better than its Detroit rivals GM and Ford. Chrysler is now hoping that March sales come out better than February sales. Chrysler President Jim Press said that the company is extending all its February programs through March hoping to improve sales.
“Things aren’t so bad,” Press told AutoObserver. ”At 80,000 [...]

For February 2009 sales, Chrysler came out better than its Detroit rivals GM and Ford. Chrysler is now hoping that March sales come out better than February sales. Chrysler President Jim Press said that the company is extending all its February programs through March hoping to improve sales.

“Things aren’t so bad,” Press told AutoObserver. ”At 80,000 vehicles sold in February, we’re doing okay. We’re not paying dividends or bonuses but we’re okay.”

Press said that while Chrysler isn’t making money on those sales, he is hoping that the media and analysts look at retail sales instead of concentrating on the company’s fleet sales. He pointed at that Chrysler is not making money on those sales, adding that no one is in the current marketplace.

Press said that February incentives looked stronger than its rivals since it had more 2008 inventory to get rid of. He said that transactions for 2009 models “are pretty much in line with competitors.”

Chrysler reported a drop of 44 percent in February 2009 sales.

Source: AutoObserver 

Toyota’s Lentz to raise concern about auto parts sector during auto task force meeting

As reported last week, Toyota’s president of Toyota Motor Sales in the U.S., Jim Lentz, will be meeting with Obama’s auto task force this Wednesday. It was immediately confirmed that Lentz will not be asking for any loans and is not trying to influence the Treasury’s decision on the U.S. auto industry.
However, it is now [...]

As reported last week, Toyota’s president of Toyota Motor Sales in the U.S., Jim Lentz, will be meeting with Obama’s auto task force this Wednesday. It was immediately confirmed that Lentz will not be asking for any loans and is not trying to influence the Treasury’s decision on the U.S. auto industry.

However, it is now reported that Lentz will be raising concern about the state of the U.S. auto parts sector when he meets with the auto task force, a Toyota source said.

Unlike General Motors and Chrysler, Toyota has not been hit hard by the sales downturn in the United States. Nonetheless, Toyota does rely on many of the same auto parts manufacturers for its U.S. production facilities.

Source: Detroit News

Report: Audi TT RS and RS 5 have a high chance of coming to the U.S.

Audi’s very own official press releases say that the powerful Audi TT RS will not be coming to the United States, but Motor Trend’s Audi sources state quite the opposite. According to insiders, the Audi TT RS has a very high chance of making it to the stateside.
Audi figures that a high-performance car like the 250-hp [...]

Audi’s very own official press releases say that the powerful Audi TT RS will not be coming to the United States, but Motor Trend’s Audi sources state quite the opposite. According to insiders, the Audi TT RS has a very high chance of making it to the stateside.

Audi figures that a high-performance car like the 250-hp TT RS could be good for its image in North America. Not to mention a car that can compete with the likes of the Porsche Cayman S with a smaller price tag could lure in buyers.

We can expect the Audi TT RS to hit U.S. shores sometime this fall. Audi sources also said that the RS 5, which is expected to produce around 500-hp, will also make it to the U.S.

Ford Engineers Push Shopping Carts into the 2010 Taurus

Ford has announced a new series of safety testing that the automaker is using to evaluate the the sensitivity of new air bag pressure sensors being introduced on the new 2009 F-150 and 2010 Taurus.

The new "extreme" testing involves ramming shopping carts into car doors and blasting water cannons. The new airbag sensors being used in the new F-150 and 2010 Taurus use pressure-based sensors rather than acceleration-based sensors to determine the severity of a crash. The new sensors perform better in crash tests and are less likely to be effected by vehicle design differences.

Since engineers were worried that everyday mishaps could trick the new sensors, Ford's engineers came up with came up with tests like a shopping cart loaded with a 110 pound weight that was rammed into the car at 10 mph

BMW X6 Emergency Response Truck Is No Ambulance

People who call this BMW X6 xDrive50i an ambulance and complain about the lack of space are mistaken. It's a "notarzt" car, which Ze Germans created to save lives before ze ambulance arrives.

When it comes to saving lives, the quicker you can get to a scene with a qualified EMT the better. Ambulances are great, but they're expensive and too large to drive at insane speeds. Enter the notarzt.

Equipped with a wide range of life-saving equipment but with no need for a stretcher, the notarzt cars carry with them a doctor or specially trained EMT to stabilize trauma victims and prep patients for transport. What you need is a vehicle which is simultaneously fast enough to get to a scene quickly but also large enough to hold various gear. We can say, from experience, the X6 is faster than a vehicle its size should be. It's a great car/truck/wagon/cuv/hatch/van for the job.

[BMW via Carscoop]

Chrysler Asks Bankruptcy Court To Void Private Aircraft Leases... Finally

Chrysler has finally gotten around to asking the bankruptcy court to cancel those pesky private jet leases. To show how truly humbled they are, execs will now travel everywhere in a Sebring. [Detroit News]

Better Place Unveils First Automated Battery Switch

Better Place achieved a milestone in accelerating the mass-market adoption of electric vehicles by demonstrating the world�s first battery switch technology along with electric car charging spots. This simple range extension technology delivers a cleaner, more convenient experience for drivers.

2009 Tata Nano - Second Drive

Mumbai, India—the sprawling backdrop of Slumdog Millionaire and the site of the launch of the planet’s cheapest car—was close to Nano hysteria. You couldn’t open a newspaper or turn on a radio or TV without seeing the Tata Nano’s arced silhouette. It was called the “most awaited car in the world.”

But is America ready for a spacious yet tiny, four-door, four-seat car with a sub-1.0-liter engine imported from India? Ratan Tata, 71, the chairman of the industrial conglomerate that bears his name, the Tata Group, thinks the Nano will be the right car for the times when a U.S. version is ready in 2012.

For now, the Nano is the new Indian “people’s car,” the 21st-century equivalent of the Ford Model T or the Volkswagen Beetle. It is intended to get millions of Indians off their motorbikes (which often carry a family of four) and onto the relative safety of four wheels.

It is a tall car, just 122.0 inches long, with no frills, a minimum of equipment, and a 35-hp, 624cc two-cylinder engine mounted under and behind the rear seat. Ratan Tata shocked the world six years ago when he said it would be a “proper car” with a base price of “one lakh rupees” (a lakh is 100,000, and one lakh rupees is about $2000). If Tata could do it for that price—most of the auto industry was skeptical—it would be, by far, the cheapest new car in the world.

When the Nano goes on sale in July, Tata confirms that it will be wearing a $2200 price tag despite cost increases of steel and other commodities and the need to move and start again with the Nano factory after the original site in Singur, West Bengal, was taken over by displaced farmers and Marxist activists. Even though the plant was 90 percent complete, Tata abandoned the Singur factory and began building a new plant in Gujarat that is due to open next spring. Until the Gujarat plant is complete, production of the Nano has moved to the Tata truck plant at Pantnagar in northern India.

Keep Reading: 2009 Tata Nano - Second Drive

Suzuki XL7 Production Halted

It looks like Suzuki has stopped production of its only US-produced model, the XL7. Due to slow sales and the credit crisis, Suzuki has decided to halt production of the US-only crossover.

The XL7 was produced at General Motors' CAMI joint-venture facility in Ingersoll, Ontario. Although no other XL7s are going to roll off the production line, the factory is still up and running.

How To Disable GM's Manual Skip Shift For Seven Bucks

Under certain conditions, some GM high-performance cars with manual transmissions force a 1st to 4th shift. Everybody but Nancy Pelosi and the EPA hate it. Here's step-by-step instruction on how to defeat it for $7.

It's called "Computer Aided Gear Selection" or CAGS — and it's a system which works by using a solenoid in the transmission to force the driver to shift from first to fourth when you're driving in a leisurely fashion in 1989-and-on GM vehicles using certain 6-speed transmissions. It's purpose is to improve gas mileage and avoid the "gas-guzzler" new car tax.

CAGS comes into play under the following conditions:

* you're in 1st gear (of course)
* you're at 35% throttle or less
* you're between 15 and 21 mph
* engine coolant temperature is greater than 171 F (77 C)

We've noticed this annoying but necessary evil which allows cars with monster power to avoid the dreaded gas-guzzler tax by squeaking out a few extra miles per gallon in late-model Corvettes, but also, most recently, in the Pontiac G8 GXP. Which is what got us thinking about how to get around this little bugger of a dilemma. Luckily, it's pretty easy to defeat. There are systems on the market which plug in and kill the skip-shift for around $20-$40, but if you're a cheapskate with a Corvette or CTS-V, we've just discovered a $7 hacked solution that'll work just as well.
The guys at CadillacFAQ hacked together a replacement quick-disconnect plug which replaces a part of the same with one loaded up with a resistor as jumper to fake the system into thinking the servo is still in the circuit. All it takes is a replacement plug bought from the local parts store (here a "Conduct Tite" male end connector part number 85307 - $2.99) the pins to load into that connector ( "Conduct Tite" inserts, part number 85317 - $2.99), a 2.2K ohm 0.5 watt resistor from Radio Shack which costs about $1, some solder, electrical tape and time. The hacksters here soldered both ends of the resistor into the pin inserts after crimping them on, then bent the resistor for insertion into the plug housing.

Here they just leave it bare and insert it into the connector leading to the transmission, leaving the servo unpowered, then they tape it all together with duct tape and call it good. We'd probably get a vacuum cap and stick it over the end, then seal it further with heat shrink wrap, but that's just us. In any case, for seven bucks you no longer have the annoyance of your transmission wrestling some amount of control from you. Now perhaps Krewson will grant the Pontiac G8 GXP that final star in the transmission department. [CadillacFAQ]

2010 Opel Astra Officially Unveiled

Following yesterday's photo leaks, GM has officially unveiled the next-generation 2010 Opel Astra ahead of its unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall.

The 2010 Astra borrows styling cues from the mid-size Insignia. The new Astra has more interior room thanks to a longer wheelbase. It also features a cab-forward design that exhibits Opel's new design language, sculptural artistry combined with German precision. The wing and blade design cues on the exterior are also used on the inside.

There are a total of eight engines that will be offered, four diesel and four gasoline powered. The diesel engines range in size from 1.3L to 2.0L units, putting out between 95- 160 horsepower. The four gasoline engines put out from 100hp to 180hp.

Now that Saturn is dead, it's been rumored that Buick will receive this new Astra

2011 Nissan Murano Convertible coming in summer of 2010

Last August, Inside Line reported that Nissan is working on a convertible version of the Nissan Murano crossover. At that time we thought it was just a crazy rumor but it seems like that rumor was true then and is still true today.

Sources have told Inside Line that the drop-top Murano is still in the works and should arrive in dealerships in 2010 just in time for summer.

Coming in as a 2011 model year, the two-door Nissan Murano Convertible will have a fabric top and will be produced in limited numbers. Power will most likely come from the 3.5L V8 making 265-hp with front and all-wheel-drive.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Straightline

Miscellaneous Thoughts: Chrysler bankruptcy may last two years, lawyers ask judge to pay them first

Today’s edition of Miscellaneous Thoughts goes out to Chrysler and all the headlines the automaker has been making with its U.S. Bankruptcy Court stay.

Chrysler bankruptcy may take as long as two years: According to an administration official, Chrysler’s bankruptcy may last as long as two years instead of the 30 to 60 days President Barack Obama suggested. Apparently, the 60 day stay deals with the quick sale of Chrysler’s best assets to the new company that will be held by Fiat. - Reuters

Agreement prevents UAW strikes against Chrysler until 2015: In an agreement reached in court, the new company that will be owned by Fiat will be free of strikes by the UAW until at least 2015. - Bloomberg

Chrysler lawyers ask judge to pay them first: Chrysler’s lawyers have asked the judge to set their fees as a special priority. - CNNMoney

Alex Roy’s team tests the Polizei Interceptor 144P: Alex Roy and his team ran a test lap with their TRG prepared Porsche GT3 prior to Team Polizei’s professional racing debut at the Grand-Am Rolex Series Verizon Festival of Speed on May 17 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif

GM: Six speeds better than four

GM shows the insides of its six-speed transmission.

(Credit: GM)

GM touts its six-speed-automatic transmissions in video and blog form today, highlighting the kind of power train technology that should keep the company competitive. Engineer Jeff Lux provides some insight into GM transmission advances in his blog entry, and another ...

Nissan announces prices for 2010 GT-R

For 2010, the Nissan GT-R will again be offered in two models � GT-R and GT-R Premium. All 2010 Nissan GT-Rs are equipped with a standard 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 backed by an advanced paddle-shifted, dual clutch rear transmission and a world�s first independent rear transaxle ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system. The Manufacturer�s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)* is $80,790 for the GT-R, and $83,040 for the GT-R Premium model. Destination & Handling (D&H) is $1,000.

2011 Nissan Murano Convertible in the Works?

Last year Inside Line reported that Nissan was working on a convertible version of its Murano crossover...many of us didn't believe the rumors. A Murano convertible? Right!

Well now Inside Line has received confirmation from sources that Nissan is still working on the Murano convertible and that it will hit dealerships before the summer of 2010. The Murano convertible is being aimed at empty nesters that need a little extra room. It will feature a soft top.

The 2011 Murano convertible will feature two less doors than the current Murano and will be powered by the same 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 mated to a continuously variable transmission

Bentley Achieves Recyclability Benchmark

British car manufacturer Bentley has taken another step in delivering its class-leading environmental strategy. Bentley now guarantees 85% recyclability (or 95% recoverability) of materials for all its current Continental models, becoming one of the first carmakers in the luxury vehicle bracket to take such a step as well as providing environmental friendly recycling or recovery at the end of the car�s life.

2010 Toyota Prius ‘Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine’ campaign launched

Toyota and its advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi LA, have officially launched the marketing campaign for the 2010 Toyota Prius called “Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine.”

The main theme behind the campaign is to show consumers how they can get extra power, space, safety, advanced technology and 50 mpg in one car.

The 2010 Toyota Prius is on sale now with prices starting at $21,750.

Auto industry could get free pollution credits for producing fuel-efficient cars

The auto industry could receive free pollution credits under a new compromise reached by the House Democrats on a bill to cut greenhouse-gas emissions. According to Automotive News, the new bill would give free pollution credits to automakers that produce electric and advanced-technology vehicles.

The auto industry would get 3 percent of all free permits for factories from 2012 to 2017 and 1 percent of such allowances after that time period, until 2025. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman says that the bill will help companies cut costs while focusing on reducing vehicle emissions.

The rest of the free permits will be given to oil refineries, utilities and heavy manufacturers.

- By: Omar Rana

2010 Audi RS5 to get 4.2L V8 from RS4, Cabriolet RS5 in the works

The next-generation Audi RS4 is rumored to be get the same supercharged 3.0 TFSI V6 from the 2010 S4 but will be messed around with a bit to produce 400-hp. So what happens to that beefy naturally aspirated 4.2L V8?

According to CAR, that engine will find its way under the hood of the upcoming Audi RS5 and will be twin-turbocharged to produce a total 450-hp with a peak torque of 332 lb-ft. That will allow a 0 to 62 time in the low 4.-something seconds.

The UK publication says that Audi is also planning a cabriolet (convertible) version that will join the RS5 coupe, which will hit showrooms in late 2009. The RS5 Cabriolet will be a soft-top convertible.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: CAR

Nissan GT-R laps Nurburgring in 7:26, beats Corvette ZR1

While Porsche is claiming that the Nissan GT-R still can’t mange to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in a time better than 7 minutes and 54 seconds, Nissan announced today that Godzilla has improved its lap-time to 7:26.

“This record demonstrates our commitment to the continuous evolution of the Nissan GT-R,” says Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Vehicle Specialist. “We would like to continue delivering the passion and pride of ownership to our customers by improving its performance every year.”

Yes, that time is officially better than the 7:26.4 seconds for the 2009 Chevrolet ZR1 piloted by GM development engineer Jim Mero. We have no word whether Chevy and Mero will be headed back to the Nurburgring to top the new GT-R time.

On a side note: In October 2008, it was reported that Jan Magnussen, a race car driver from Denmark and a General Motors factory driver, took the Corvette ZR1 around the Nordschleife in 7:22.4. However, GM nor Chevrolet ever confirmed that time so we have to count it as unofficial.

Make the jump for the press release.

Press Release:

AWARD-WINNING NISSAN GT-R ACHIEVES NEW RECORD LAP TIME AT NURBURGRING CIRCUIT

TOKYO (May 14, 2009) - The NISSAN GT-R, winner of the 2009 World Performance Car of the Year, has improved its lap time at the renowned Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany to 7min 26 seconds 70 on April 23.

This new time underlines Nissan engineering team’s commitment to constantly challenge the GT-R’s performance. Previous recorded lap times at the ‘Ring’ were:

- 7 minutes 27 seconds 56 on April 15, 2009
- 7 minutes 29 in April 2008
- 7 minutes 38 in September 2007

“This record demonstrates our commitment to the continuous evolution of the Nissan GT-R,” says Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Vehicle Specialist. “We would like to continue delivering the passion and pride of ownership to our customers by improving its performance every year.”

The Nissan GT-R has won more than a dozen awards globally including Car of the Year from CAR Magazine in the UK, and Car of the Year by both Motor Trend and Autombile Magazine in the US.

While the Nissan GT-R benefits from a strong image and heritage amongst performance car aficionados, its updated 2010 version will be the first to be sold globally. It was launched:

- in Japan in December 2008,
- in the US in March 2009
- in Europe, GCC, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan in April 2009

Europe is currently in the process of delivering the first GT-Rs to more than 2,200 pre-order customers.

The model R35 GT-R was first launched in Japan in December 2007, selling 5,900 units until March 2009. It went on sale in the US in July 2008, where 2,100 have been sold so far.

- By: Omar Rana

2012 MINI Cooper i-MegaCity?

According to French magazine, L'Automobile, this is an early prototype of the upcoming 2012 MINI Cooper or the i-MegaCity, featuring MINI Crossover Concept-inspired headlights and a much smaller, non-clamshell hood. Sacrilege!

L'Automobile also claims to have received a spy photo of the upcoming MINI's interior as well, but as we've believed all along, our suspicions about the French have been true. The MINI-obsessed folks at MotoringFile have uncovered that the interior image that L'Automobile has "acquired" is simply a Photoshopped version of a development mule for the current 2nd generation MINI, which makes us question the whole story.

But, if what they're saying is true — this single exterior photograph is that we're looking at an early clay or foam design mock up for the next generation R60 platform-based 2012 MINI Cooper. It's also entirely possible that this is a mock up for the upcoming production MINI Crossman which has been spied wearing trippy acid brown camo as of late. Regardless of which specific model it is since its fairly hard to tell from this single photograph, the design details such as the slightly less round headlights and more conventional hood will be shared between the two models.

The production version of the MINI Crossman is expected to be shown this fall with a concept version of the R60-based MINI Cooper bowing a little less than a year later. [theswitchback, motoringfile via L'Automobile]

2012 Cadillac Converj - Car News

What it is: A Chevy Volt, in Cadillac drag. Like the Volt, the Converj can go 40 miles on batteries alone, then a gas engine kicks in to extend the range. Recharging via a wall outlet is also possible.

Why you should care: By putting the Volt’s pricey electric powertrain into a Cadillac, GM may be able to charge enough to make some money.

Keep Reading: 2012 Cadillac Converj - Car News

Perana

The idea of producing an Italian styled, South African designed and manufactured Super Car was incubated in late 2007. To give this idea mobility, the Perana Performance Group was created as the entity to bring what was a concept to where they are today with a show car that enjoyed its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3, 2009.

Toyota Yaris short on tech, long on economy

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

2009 Toyota Yaris sedan photos

The Toyota Camry set a standard for the car as appliance, an unexciting machine that got you from point A to point B without hassle, a car for people who don't particularly like cars. The Toyota Yaris can be seen as a stepping-stone to the Camry, an unexciting car that will do its job and do it well, demanding minimal investment from its owner, both in initial and running costs.

The unassuming little Yaris that arrived in our garage was a 2009 sedan model, featuring Toyota's unique design language with the badge pushed out from the hood, over a narrow grille. Inside, the ergonomics are a little weird. Lacking a wide range of adjustment, the steering wheel sat at lap-level. The seat doesn't have height adjustment, either, dictating a somewhat odd driving position.

As a car designed to be easily convertible from right- to left-hand drive at the factory, the instrument cluster sits in a pod at the center of the dashboard, leaving a sweep of empty plastic in front of the driver. The stereo and climate controls also seem unbiased toward the driver or passenger.

The Power package includes this MP3 CD-capable stereo.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Our model came with the optional Power package, equipping it with an upgraded stereo capable of playing MP3 CDs and ready for satellite radio. Suggesting how basic the Yaris can get, the Power package also upgraded the windows to power operation, no cranking required.

Browsing MP3 CDs is made easy by simple controls to sequentially choose folders and tracks, and the stereo display is nice and big. The only other digital music option was an auxiliary input jack, mounted on the side of the console conveniently in a pocket, making a good storage area for an MP3 player. ...