Ex-Chrysler executive Tom LaSorda to consult Penske on Saturn bid

Chysler’s ex-president has joined the Penske Automotive Group and will advise the company on a possible bid for General Motor’s Saturn brand, reports Automotive News. Penske Automotive spokesman Anthony Pordon confirmed that Tom LaSorda has been hired as a consultant on providing insight on the Saturn matter.

Tom LaSorda, 52, announced his retirement after Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection on April 30th. Around the same time Penske Corp. Chairman Roger Penske confirmed that the company is studying the Saturn brand very closely.

LaSorda had left GM in 2000 to join Chrysler where he became CEO. He was replaced by Bob Nardelli in 2007.

GM, who is likely to face bankruptcy itself, is hoping to shed Saturn, Saab, Hummer and Opel before its government imposed June 1 deadline.

Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer unveiled, known as Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer in the UK

Adding to its Insignia OPC hatch and sedan lineup, Opel today unveiled the Insignia OPC Sports Tourer, the fastest estate model Opel has ever produced and the first to incorporate 4×4 and an electronic limited slip differential.

Like its siblings, the 2010 Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer (2010 Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer) is powered by a 2.8L V6 turbo engine making 325-hp with a peak torque of 295 lb-ft. That allows for a 0 to 60 mph time in 6 seconds with a top speed limited at 155 mph.

The 2010 Insignia OPC Sports Tourer also sits 10mm lower than the regular Sports Tourer and features the new HiPerStrut system, “which reduces torque-steer and maintains negative camber during cornering.”

Other than that, the 2010 Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer gets all the OPC goodies such as 19-inch alloy wheels (20-inches available as an option), Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, OPC steering wheel and gearknob and OPC sill plates.

Fiat confirms Opel bid, Magna also expected to submit offer

Fiat confirmed today that it has submitted an offer to buy Opel and British brand Vauxhall from General Motors. Sources told Reuters that investment firm RHJ International has also put in a bid and that Magna is also firming up its proposal.

The German government had asked bidders for Opel to have their final bids in by Wednesday at 6 p.m. (12 p.m. EDT.

Opel, which has four plants employing some 25,000 workers, is in a race against time to finalize the sale of the Ruesselsheim, Germany based automaker. While GM will decided on who gets Opel in the end, the German government is expected to play a major roll in the decision since they are likely to provide billion of euros in financing.

GM faces a June 1 deadline to restructure and is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy within weeks.

BMW M3 Darth Maul Project

Canadian tuner MWDesign have begun a tuning programme for the BMW M3 Coupe (E92) which they have codenamed Darth Maul, presumably from the Star Wars Episode One baddie. Currently the programme is in stage 1. For now only a few pieces of kit have been installed in Jerez Black, the colour of the exterior. For starters there is an Amuse Ericsson front bumper with custom orange highlights.
Carbon fiber side vents continue with the custom orange colour, as do the carbon fiber side mirrors. A rear diffuser made from carbon fiber rounds off the major exterior changes. The black 20-inch rims with orange-accented centre caps are wrapped in 245/30/20 front tyres and 285/25/20 rubber at the rear. Interior details are rare but we are told that Darth Maul comes with a Fox Red interior trim.
The BMW M3, of any generation, is undoubtedly one of the most tuned sports cars of our time. The current car was launched in 2007 with a 4.0-litre V8 engine replacing the old 3.2-litre straight six. Despite the 800cc gain the new engine is 15kg lighter. Maximum power was increased from 343hp (252kW) to 420hp (309kW). Stay tuned for stage 2 of Darth Maul.
© Source: worldcarfans

Miscellaneous Thoughts: 41 million Americans can’t pass driving test, Fed to invest $7.5B in GMAC, Leno drives the Aptera 2e

First of all, we’d like to apologize for the delay in posts today. We were all out in upstate New York test-driving the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe (a review will be up by the end of the week). Nonetheless, we are updating you guys on everything as fast as we can. 

Either way, it’s time for our Miscellaneous Thoughts post - so without-further-ado - here are some of the random things we came across today.

Survey says 41 million Americans can’t pass a driving test: According to a survey conducted by GMAC and TNS, about 20% of licensed Americans would fail a written test if they took one today. New York residents were reported most likely to fail. - MotorTrend

U.S. Treasury to invest $7.5 billion in GMAC: The U.S. Treasury Department is preparing to announced that it will invest an additional $7.5 billion in GMAC. In December, the U.S. Treasury invested $5 billion in GMAC. - Detroit News

Leno test drives the Aptera 2e: Check the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage as he test-drives the Aptera 2e.

Chrysler dealers doing all they can to sell new vehicle inventory

The 789 Chrysler dealerships, that are scheduled to shut down on June 9, are doing all they can to sell their inventory of new vehicles.

Some of the 789 dealers, which are being closed down as a part of the Chrysler’s bankruptcy, are offering customers the same prices they paid for new vehicles. Others are contacting existing Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep stores to purchase their inventory.

All of the 789 dealers fear being forced to sell their new vehicle inventory as used vehicles at auction, which would significantly devalue new vehicles at surviving dealerships.

Dealers have to “play every angle early on,” Tony Albanese, director of operations for Nelson Dodge in Martinsville, Va. told Automotive News. ”Nobody wants to take these cars to auction.”

2010 BMW X3 to be unveiled in December (2009)

In a recent interview with AutoBild, CEO of BMW North America Jim O’Donnell said that the 2010 BMW X3 will be officially unveiled in December. O’Donnell said that the production of the current-generation has been shortened to make room for the 2010 model year.

The 2010 BMW X3 will follow the compact X1, which will also make its debut at the end of this year. The production version of the BMW X1 will go on sale in early 2010 after it is unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Sources say that the 2010 X3 will have a lower roof-line and will get sportier looks influenced by the new X5. It will also get all of the technology features that were introduced in recent BMW models including a Night Vision System, a head-up display and the upgraded iDrive system.

In the U.S., the 2010 BMW X3 will be offered with the 3.0L 6-cylinder twin-turbo found in the 335i. It is also expected to get the diesel engine from the 335d.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-330 SST gets an extra 36-hp

Here is one situation that makes us wish we lived in the UK. Being fans of the new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, it hurts our hearts that the new Lancer Evolution FQ-330 SST will only be offered in Europe.

The new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-330 SST gets a ECU re-map which helps it produce an additional 36-hp for a total of 329-hp. Power is transferred to the wheels through Mitsubishi’s 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sports Shift Transmission.

Pricing comes in at £3,000 ($4,730 USD) over the standard Lancer Evolution X.

(Don’t tell anyone, but we’d much rather get the 405-hp Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400)

Click through for the press release.

Press Release:

MORE FQ- POWER ADDED TO TWIN-CLUTCH SPORTS SHIFT TRANSMISSION (SST)

* Lancer Evolution FQ-330 SST adds 36 bhp and 22 lb ft torque to the Sports Shift Transmission line-up

Since its introduction in 2008, the Lancer Evolution X has been an enormous success, gaining popular acclaim from customers and the media alike. Now, after extensive testing, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has added the eagerly awaited FQ-330 SST to its already impressive line-up.

The FQ-330 SST model utilises a breathing kit and ECU re-map to accomplish its enhanced power output, and has been systematically tested over the past 6 months to achieve successful results. This power upgrade noticeably improves not only the acceleration, but also significantly enhances the drive.

Power increased to 329 bhp
The power upgrade to 329 bhp is achieved by the addition of a high performance exhaust and downpipe, an intercooler piping kit, racing suction pipe, and upgraded CAT, which delivers an additional 36 bhp and 22 lb ft of torque mated to the advanced 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sports Shift Transmission.

Product line up and specification
The Lancer Evolution X FQ-330 SST includes the following standard equipment:

* Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC)
* 18″ Enkei alloy wheels
* Brembo braking system, including 2-piece front brakes
* Eibach coil springs
* Bilstein shock absorbers
* HID xenon headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
* Recaro front seats
* Bluetooth hands-free system
* Leather sports steering wheel with audio controls
* Front, side, curtain and knee airbags
* Privacy glass
* Front fog lamps
* ISO Fix
* Automatic headlamp and wiper sensors
* Remote central locking
* CAT1 approved alarm/immobiliser
* CAT5 approved tracker system + 1 year free subscription
* HDD satellite navigation system
* Rockford premium audio & Music Server - 6 premium speakers + subwoofer
* iPod/MP3 auxiliary input port

SST transmission
The GSR SST benefits from the fitment of Mitsubishi’s 6 speed TC-SST (Twin Clutch Sports Shift Transmission) automated manual gearbox with steering column mounted magnesium paddle shifters.

This advanced transmission puts odd (1st, 3rd, 5th) and even (2nd, 4th and 6th) gears on separate input shafts, each with its own clutch, and switches between these clutches to produce an almost seamless and lightning-fast gear change in either fully automatic or manual transmission modes. A switch located at the base of the gear selector allows the driver to choose between Normal, Sport and Super Sport modes for optimum shifts in a wide variety of situations ranging from driving around town to taking tight lines on winding roads. Because the TC-SST uses clutches rather than a torque converter to transmit power it benefits from improved efficiency and better fuel economy.

Colours and price
The FQ-330 SST is available in Cool Silver (M); Orient Red (M); Lightning Blue (P); and Phantom Black (P) colours with metallic and pearlescent paint included in the price of £35,999, £3,000 more than the FQ-300 STT variant.

Insurance groups and servicing
A testament to Mitsubishi’s confidence in the FQ-330 SST’s reliability comes in the form of its 3-year unlimited mileage warranty, and pan-European breakdown and recovery service.

Servicing too is highly affordable with the first 3-years / 30,000 mile servicing available for just £495 with the Mitsubishi Service Plan. The insurance group rating for the new model is 20A, in line with the 5-speed manual variant with the same power output.2