Time for another update on my automotive family tree. Looks like GM can’t keep the joint venture with Toyota together to keep NUMMI running. The 25 year joint venture for the NUMMI plant has built Toyota/GM products like the Chevy Nova, Geo, Prizm and recently the Pontiac Vibe, which will end its run in August.

Toyota has offered a version of Prius hybrid to GM, according to media reports. This would keep NUMMI factory busy. But the “New GM” that comes out of bankruptcy is going to be lean and mean and ready to build.

Source: autoweek.com

Someone might want to check into voting fraud on this one! According to autonews.com, J.D. Power and Associates released the top honors in vehicle ownership satisfaction among German car owners. Number 4 was BMW, which was four points ahead of Audi and Toyota, tied for 5th. Number 2 and 3 was a tie with Alfa Romeo and Mercedes-Benz. AND… the number 1 spot goes to… Daihatsu (WHO?). The small-car subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp. won the top spot. Other car manufacture of note, Honda finished 10th, Mazda, MINI and Skoda were tied for 7th. Just so know, toward the bottom of the list was Smart at 27 and Chevy at 26.

Just as a finial note, the 2008 study showed Daihatsu at 6th, while BMW was 2, Audi 4th and Honda was number 1.

Source:autonews.com (subscription required)

For those keeping score at home, Mercedes-Benz is doing another rename. First it was the CLK, which will be known as the E-Class Coupe in 2010. In 2011, CLC hatchback will be replaced by a true C-Class Coupe. Now it looks like the large CL will be renamed to S-Class Coupe, when the next new model comes out.

So, just a review:

CLK = E-Class Coupe
CLC = C-Class Coupe
CL = S-Class Coupe

Source: EVO.com

The automotive press is going against Ford orders of a July release date about the test drive of the Taurus SHO. So I feel I should give my option. Tho I haven’t driven one, just looking at it and looking at the specs, I’d guess I’d like it. The more aggressive front end to me is more attractive than the old five-hundred Taurus. However, it’s still missing something, I’d prefer the Ford Mondeo untouched to come to our shores.

But the SHO isn’t about the outside as much as what’s under the hood. With 365 hp and 350 ft-lb from a 3.5-liter twin turbocharged V6, it should push the car nicely (and yes, Ford can make turbocharged engines). The six-speed auto with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters are a nice touch. But what surprised me, was the power going through a standard Haldex all-wheel-drive system. Look for 0-60 times to be about 6.2 seconds, which isn’t bad for 4,368 lbs. I’d expect gas mileage to be in the 20 mpg range and base price to be close to $38,000. Look for it in August.

According to autonews.com, GM is going to sell Saab to Koenigsegg Automotive AB. A source told Reuters that “The deal is there now and a few minor details remain”. Koenigsegg and Norwegian investors turned in their letter of intent to take over Saab. Bloomberg News is reporting that Koenigsegg was picked because it’s an automaker and it’s committed to investing in Saab. Financial Times reports that GM would provide $500 million in assets and cash and production equipment for a new Saab model as well as $150 million of cash, which is already in Saab’s account. However, the new owner would pay GM back if it succeeds in turning around Saab.

For those wondering where they have heard the name Koenigsegg, they are the maker of one of the fastest production cars, Koenigsegg CCX. Fans of the TV show Top Gear on BBC (or BBC America), will also recognize it was the fastest car to complete a lap in 2007 with a non-standard rear spoiler.

Source: autonews.com

Later this year, BMW will come out with a 2010 M version of the X5 and X6. The X6 M will have 555 hp, which is good for 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds. It will also feature BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system with dynamic performance control. The xDrive also as a self-leveling suspension with adjustable dampers. But the interesting part about this rocket of a “Sport Activity Coupe” comes from the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. The turbos are positioned in the valley of the “V”, for better space efficiency, according to BMW.

If you want one, it’s only going to cost you about $90,000.

Source:Autolinedetroit.tv

Tata, the owner of Jaguar and Land Rover from India, is planning on bring over the world’s cheapest car to the U.S.A. in three years. Chairman Ratan Tata made this statement at a Cornell University forum last week and was confirmed by David Good, a U.S. representative for Tata.

Tata will not be the first Indian made vehicle to be sold in the U.S., Global Vehicles of U.S.A. Inc will be importing in Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. pickup trucks later this year. The Tata Nano will have to meet U.S. emission and crash standards before importing. Which I’m sure will raise the base price of $2,500.

I’m not sure how the Nano will work in the days of lawyers and people expecting warranties.

Source: autonews.com

GM is selling the brands it can’t afford to keep afloat. Earlier this week, Hummer was sold to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd. Now it seems that Saturn is being sold to Penske Automotive Group. For those wondering what racing team owner Roger Penske is going to do with Saturn and what does he know about manufacturing, don’t be too hard on him. Penske did buy Detroit Diesel from GM and turned the company around in a short four years and sold it to DaimlerChrysler. Things do tend to turn into gold when Roger Penske is around.

So now that Hummer and Saturn is out of the way, what’s going to happen to Saab? Pontiac is began closing shops and will be dead by year end.

I guess I need to get started updating my Automotive Family Tree!

Source:money.cnn.com

Oh how we can so easily forget! Just a year ago we were rapidly approaching $4.00 per gallon of gas at the pumps. May’s sales figure came in and I guess we forgot about the $4.00 gas. Here is the Top 20:
1. Ford F-Series
2. Chevrolet Silverado
3. Toyota Camry
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Honda Accord
6. Honda Civic
7. Ford Fusion
8. Chevrolet Impala
9. Nissan Altima
10. Ford Escape
11. Dodge Ram
12. Ford Focus
13. Honda CRV
14. Chevrolet Malibu
15. Chevrolet Cobalt
16. Toyota RAV4
17. Honda Odyssey
18. Hyundai Sonata
19. Volkswagen Jetta
20. GMC Sierra

I find it interesting that four trucks are in the Top 20, that the larger Camry/Accord outsold its smaller siblings Corolla/Civic. How did the aging Impala outsell the much improved and better looking Malibu? Chevy giving away Impala’s?

Source: freep.com

Looks like we’re about to see the first car come from the Chrysler and Fiat alliance. They are saying in as little in eighteen months, look for the Fiat 500 in the showroom floor. Fiat says that the 500 is the only car which will come to America without any significant changes. Which I say that’s a good thing!!

What I’m not sure of is it coming over as a Fiat or as a rebadged Chrysler?

Source: nextautos.com