DailyEdition@thecarconnection.com

Back to newsletter list

Daily Auto News: Nov. 13, 2006

2006 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview

The show itself is weeks away. But the list of new production vehicles and concepts driving toward aLos Angeles auto show launch is growing. Los Angeles show organizers are theming the show as "A New Beginning," and it's an appropriate choice. Since it's moved from January to November--and is no longer in the shadow of the Detroit show--the L.A. show has attracted 24 press conferences, 18 world debuts, a dozen North American debuts and an officially sanctioned "International" designation for this year.

GM Bringing Plug-In Hybrid To Detroit?

Wire reports from the weekend indicate that General Motors plans to bring a plug-in hybrid to the Detroit auto show. In a counterpoint to its portrayal in the film, Who Killed the Electric Car?, GM is planning a vehicle that would use a large battery pack augmented by a small engine that would recharge the batteries during use, while the plug-in feature would boost batteries when not in use. The difference from a Toyota- or Honda-style hybrid would be the emphasis on using electrical power, with less reliance on the gas or diesel engine.

New Lancer Headed to Detroit

Mitsubishi will bring three new vehicles to the Detroit auto show in January-and the most important one could very well be the new Lancer compact. The new Lancer four-door will make its debut with a distinctive shape based on the 2005 Mitsubishi Concept-X. Versions of the new car will include more conventional versions powered by a range of four-cylinder engines from the GEMA Chrysler/Hyundai/Mitsubishi project; the top Evo version will sport a turbo 2.0-liter four. To be sold around the world, the new Lancer arrives in U.S. showrooms in spring 2007.

Election Brings Change To Energy Policy

Elections have consequences, and one place where the Democratic takeover of Congress will make a difference is in energy and environmental policy.

One of the themes of the Democratic party's successful campaign was a pledge to find a way to reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil by boosting conservation measures and boosting funding for alternative fuels. At the same time, prospects for drilling for more oil in environmentally sensitive areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and coastal California and Florida, which had been promoted by the Bush administration and the Republican Congress, now appear very remote since Democrats are dead set against the plans.

No Room for Bernhard Back at DCX

The word from on high inside DaimlerChrysler AG is that Wolfgang Bernhard isn't coming back.

The announcement that Bernd Pischetsrieder would step aside as Volkswagen AG's chief executive officer at the end of the year had touched off speculation that VW's Wolfgang Bernhard also might look for other opportunities. Several commentors suggested that Bernhard, Pischetsrieder's top lieutenant, might opt to return to Stuttgart or Auburn Hills. However, one well-placed DaimlerChrysler executive said last week that, barring a dramatic crisis, the chances for Bernhard's returning to the German-American automaker for an executive job are remote at this point.

"Wolfgang isn't coming back to Auburn Hills," said one insider. "There is no job for him," the source said.

BMW Betting on Hydrogen 7-Series

Blasting by on the Autobahn, you might never notice anything unusual about the 7-Series sedan BMW rolled out in Berlin last week. Indeed, even sitting behind the wheel, you might not sense anything unusual, despite the glowing amber "H" in the instrument panel.

Not until you stop to fuel up, that is, at the Total station on the outskirts of the German capital. Hit the filler release and a motorized door on the right rear pillar whirs open, revealing a stainless steel contraption definitely not for use with your everyday gasoline pump. It is, in fact, the most visible piece of the complex, bi-fuel powertrain that powers the most unique version of the BMW 7-Series to roll off the automaker's Munich assembly line.

Cadillac Stretches STS for China

The SLS badge is gone from the American market, but it's back in use in the Cadillac portfolio, this time in China. GM's luxury brand is offering a new SLS sedan for the Chinese market; the new car is essentially an STS sedan with a four-inch wheelbase stretch that increases rear-seat leg room. The car is to be built in China for local consumption, primarily for chauffeur-driven markets. Three engines will be available: a 2.8-liter V-6, a 3.6-liter V-6, and a 320-hp, 4.6-liter Northstar V-8.

Mulally: Toyota is "Magical"

Ford Motor Co.'s new chief executive Alan Mulally said officers from the domestic auto industry plan to bring up currency exchange rates and the high cost of healthcare when they meet this week with President George W. Bush.

"Clearly, having a level playing field is very important," Mulally said in an interview with the editorial board of the Detroit Free Press. "It's just so important that the governments around the world ensure that the market sets exchange rates," Mulally added.

Mulally also indicated that the top challenge is to become more competitive. "It's been getting worse year after year," Mulally said. "The most important thing we can do is recognize our reality and deal with it," he added.

Mulally also said in a separate interview with the Detroit News that he also found there was ample room for improvement at Ford.

"If you were a lean machine, doing a turnaround like this would be very terrifying. But this is a complex place that has a lot of opportunity to consolidate and simplify," he said. "I'm a disciple of the Toyota-Production system from my Boeing background. They make products people want and they do it with less resources and less time than anybody else in the world. They're a magical machine," Mulally said.-Joseph Szczesny

The Week in Reverse

SEMA continues to vex us. Is it an important outlet for automakers and aftermarketers to meet and make nice, or is it just an excuse to take a HUMMER H2 and make it into a new Star Wars initiative?

We liked SEMA so much we hit it a second time. Yeah, we already regret it - it won't stop calling and emailing us.

Our spies nabbed both the MINI Traveller and the new BMW four-door coupe this past week. If they keep it up, we're going to have to do some regular thing with these off-the-record pictures of cars we seem to be posting every week.

Speaking of posting, you'll want to keep your eyes glued on TheCarConnection at the end of the year-after our Los Angeles and Detroit previews and the Year in Reverse-as we do a big revamp on the site. More functions, an easier interface, and lots of pictures of our scantily clad editorial team. Riveting is the word.

Cadillac promises a new CTS for the Detroit show, by the way. GM may also be planning on a plug-in hybrid for the show, while Toyota may show a heavy-duty Tundra and Ford - well, we hear they may have another Mustang variant, but don't hold us to that.

So, VW is dumping Bernd Pischetsrieder - you know, the guy they hired after he blew BMW billions on Rover. Corollary: sometimes you don't have to taste the whole Pop-Tart before you realize it's some apple-cinnamon crap.

The new smart fortwo has been revealed-and frankly we're having a hard time telling the difference with the old one. Wait! We can buy one here next year. That's one difference.

Finally this week, we'll join the White House in extending an olive branch to Detroit's automakers. We promise if you stop giving other publications exclusives, we'll stop carping about it. You know who you are.

POLL RESULTS

Aftermarket add-ons: what's the most recent addition to your vehicle?

33.3% Wheels/tires

20.6% Audio system

14.3% Chips/exhausts/power mods

9.7% Suspension kits/shocks

6.2% Bedliner/toolbox/functionals

5.6% Interior trim/seats

5.3% Body kits/spoilers/paint

5% Headlights/taillights

FROM THE SOURCE headlines from the latest press releases

Give Your Porsche its Own Name With 'Name Your Porsche'

Name	Symbol	Last	Change

Autobytel, Inc.	ABTL	3.30	+0.05 (+1.54%)

Autoliv Inc.	ALV	56.43	+0.80 (+1.44%)

AutoNation Inc.	AN	20.26	+0.25 (+1.25%)

ArvinMeritor Inc.	ARM	15.93	+0.57 (+3.71%)

American Axle & Mfr. Holdings Inc.	AXL	18.68	+0.15 (+0.81%)

Ballard Power Systems Inc.	BLDP	7.26	+0.01 (+0.14%)

BorgWarner Inc.	BWA	58.26	+0.48 (+0.83%)

Cummins Inc.	CMI	119.44	+0.67 (+0.56%)

DaimlerChrysler AG (ADR)	DCX	59.11	+0.11 (+0.19%)

Dura Automotive Systems	DRRA

Eaton Corporation	ETN	74.80	+1.21 (+1.64%)

Ford Motor Company	F	8.58	+0.02 (+0.23%)

General Motors Corporation	GM	34.67	+0.13 (+0.38%)

Gentex Corporation	GNTX	16.87	+0.53 (+3.24%)

Goodyear Tire & Rubber	GT	18.02	+0.48 (+2.74%)

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR)	HMC	35.92	-0.34 (-0.94%)

Johnson Controls Inc.	JCI	83.80	+1.35 (+1.64%)

Lear Corporation	LEA	32.34	+1.02 (+3.26%)

Magna International Inc.	MGA	73.01	+0.62 (+0.86%)

Motorola Inc.	MOT	21.38	+0.18 (+0.85%)

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR)	NSANY	24.88	+0.05 (+0.20%)

Sonic Automotive Inc.	SAH	26.97	+0.39 (+1.47%)

Siemens AG	SI	96.52	+2.02 (+2.14%)

Sirius Satellite Radio	SIRI	4.13	-0.16 (-3.73%)

Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR)	TM	121.82	-0.57 (-0.47%)

TRW Automotive Holdings	TRW	23.93	-0.10 (-0.42%)

Tower Automotive Inc.	TWRAQ.PK	0.068	-0.001 (-1.45%)

United Auto Group Inc.	UAG	22.91	+0.23 (+1.01%)

Visteon Corporation	VC	8.26	+0.27 (+3.38%)

XM Satellite Radio Hold.	XMSR	13.20	-0.42 (-3.08%)

You'll find lots more at TheCarConnection.com, including service tips from our resident gearhead Bob Weber; buying, selling, and leasing tips; recall and safety links; and a wide range of news, views, and reviews from the automotive world's top columnists.

The Car Connection, TheCarConnection, TheCarConnection.com and "The Web's Automotive Authority" are all trademarks of D.A. Acquisition, Inc.
Corporate mailing address:
22 Cambridge Blvd.
Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069-1103

You are currently subscribed to tcc-dailyedition as ralrusu@gmail.com
To *** click on the link below:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/***.asp?list=2&id=ralrusu@gmail.com

Back to newsletter list

Date:

From:

Subject:

Daily Auto News: Nov. 13, 2006