I know it was cheeky of me. OK, I was being an asshole. But I am genuinely perturbed by media outlets who accept airfare, accommodation, food and booze (not to mention gas and insurance) from car manufacturers without declaring this financial contribution. So when I saw The Car Connection live blogging their Pontiac G8 test drive (General Motors Death Watch on the G8 tomorrow), I couldn't resist adding a comment challenging Mart Padgett to reveal GM's financial interest in the Pontiac review. Within five minutes, the comment was removed. I reposted, trying to be a bit more subtle (as you can imagine). Gone in sixty seconds. (TCC later removed TTAC info provider Michael Karesh's car-related comment.) The last time I chided The Car Connection for their undeclared junketeering, I also took a swipe at Edmunds for the same sin of omission. Edmunds now publish this little ditty at the bottom of their junket-sourced editorial: Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report. Notice the note of self-congratulation. And the lack of any specific mention of the fact that the carmaker PAID FOR THE TRIP. Once again, I challenge The Car Connection and Edmunds to come clean on their relationship to the people making the cars they review. It's high time the automotive media cleaned-up its act and started serving the people who count: the readers.

Perhaps TTAC needs a new category, say "Stupid Car Tricks," where along with Jonny Lieberman's "Man Drives Stolen Car to a Police Station," we could add this: A Korean tourist was robbed at the Days Inn hotel on International Drive in Orlando early Monday morning- because the perps needed money to fill their SUV's gas tank. And according to WFTV, they might have gotten away with it, but they… wait for it… ran out of gas less than a quarter-mile from the crime scene. Police said two men and two women were caught in their "getaway car." Oh and while the police were on their trail, the suspects tried to toss everything they'd stolen out of the window, including the gun they used during the holdup (for better mpg?). With rising gas prices, perhaps the Prius will become the car of choice for criminals seeking that perfect getaway car.

The Economic Times of India reports that Tata's any-day-now-they-swear $2b acquisition of Land Rover and Jaguar has been delayed by the Unite union's insistence that Jag continue to source powertrains from Ford's UK plants. (The two brands will be kept as a single package because Jag and Landie share UK-sourced powertrain components.) Ford PR flacks aren't concerned that these unresolved issues may prevent the deal from going through by the projected March fifth deadline. "There will be a strong relationship between Ford and Jaguar-Land Rover post the sale, so it's important any agreements are fully understood by all the parties and work to the mutual benefit of all concerned. However, this shouldn't be seen as a delay or issue or roadblocks in the process." This should probably be taken with a grain of salt, considering Ford previously claimed the announcement had been held back "so as not to overshadow the launch of the new Fiesta at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show." Insert mirthless laugh here.

As part of GM's ongoing greenwashing campaign efforts to save the environment, The General has formed a partnership with one of the few companies in the world with an even greater responsibility for production of greenhouse gases: Virgin Atlantic Airways. In a splashy New York press conference [publicized via PRNewsWire], Virgin Atlantic and GM executives touted their agreement to provide fuel cell-powered Chevy Equinox limos as part of their Upper Class Limo Service. Initially, the vehicles will only be available only at LAX. If all goes well, the program will expand to The Big Apple, where Virgin customers will "experience the next generation of cars but also reduce their carbon footprint." Well, as long as they can afford the Virgin "Upper Class Experience" and ignore the energy-intensive hydrogen production techniques. In fact, the whole project serves only serves to reinforce the worst aspects of the so-called "green consumption" movement: offering immature technologies to alleviate the guilt of those who can afford to pay huge price premiums. How about focusing on reducing carbon intensive air travel or delivering cost-effective, fuel efficient vehicles across a model range?

After tugging their earlobe and saying Nano Nano, Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) has announced they'll start taking reservations for a U.S. version of the compressed-air-powered minicar later this year, for delivery in 2010. ZPM claims the car will allow you "to drive pollution-free and free of fuel dependency" and that "the air expelled from the tail pipe is actually cleaner than the air used to fill the tank." That is, as long as you're driving below 35 mph. Above that speed, you're fuel dependent, burning some kind of hydrocarbon to heat air as it enters the engine, delivering the supposed equivalent 106 mpg. The ZPM web site also claims the new car will top-out at 96 mph and offer an 800-mile range on the U.S. version "with supplementary fuel source." When you're not driving, you "recharge" the air tank by plugging into a nearby electrical outlet; obviously the "pollution free" claim ZPM is making doesn't consider the pollution generated from generating the electricity. But just think… an engine running on compressed air could bring a whole new meaning to the term "fart can muffler."

In the eternal quest for growth and profits, Land Rover is taking their image– which is one of the most focused in the auto industry– and stretching it to include yet another new soft-roader. Yes, rivet counters will recognize this as the same Land Rover LRX concept that we saw in Detroit, only spray painted black. It still looks pretty slick. But the press release just reeks of brand erosion. "The positioning of LRX could be described as moving subtly from traditional SUV to crossover, with its more car-like appearance and dynamics that are sportier and on-road biased." Screw that. Land Rover should be off-road biased. Although the LRX "promises the widest breadth of capability in the class" that means little when you're comparing its mud-plugging talents to a Honda CR-V's. Land Rover claims they're trying to gauge public interest with this model, but if you ask me, it's just Range Rover Sport redux.Hopefully, the brand's new owners will abandon this senseless pursuit of the BMW X3/Infiniti EX/Mercedes GLK/Audi Q5/Acura RDX, etc.

With the UAW less than a week into its strike at American Axle (AA), International Business Times reports parts shortages are set to idle a fifth GM truck plant sometime this evening. The Moraine, Ohio plant which manufactures Chevy Trailblazers and GMC Envoys will not be closing its doors; management told workers to report to their normal shifts for training. Striking union leaders at AA's Three Rivers, Michigan plant reported over the weekend that they are "ready for serious bargaining at any time." GM is unlikely to lean on either AA or the UAW for a quick resolution, considering their huge overstocks on nearly all of the truck-based models made using American Axle parts. J.D. Power notes that Envoys sat on dealer lots for an average of 59 days before sale in the December-February period, while Trailblazers languished an embarrassing 75 days. Without real leverage, the onus is on the United Auto Workers to explain to its 3,600 striking AA employees why it's worth disrupting production at plants which collectively employ over 12k union brothers and sisters.

Morgan has long been known as the maker of quirky British cars with technology, materials and looks straight from the early 20th century. With the de rigeur pre-Geneva release of its jointly developed prototype Lifecar, it seems that Morgan has decided to skip a hundred years or so of automotive development and go straight to fuel cells. Based on the Morgan Aero 8, co-developed by a consortium of British Universities and defense companies, the Lifecar concept features a relatively small 22kw fuel cell. With supercapacitors replacing batteries and regenerative braking, the Lifecar is pegged to scoot to 60mph in seven seconds and have a 250 mile range (now why does that sound so familiar?). The key to Lifecar's performance: a lean 1,500lb curb weight. Morgan's woodworking prowess helped give the Aero 8's crash diet a little class, fitting the concept with a super-lightweight wooden interior and seats. Morgan is not ruling out possible Lifecar production if there's an "enormous response." And if the idea of a totally silent lightweight Coupe based on an unavailable fuel source doesn't tickle your "enormous response," Morgan might just throw in a pair of headphones which will playback the sound of their five-liter V8 in time with the movements of your right foot. Now where's that checkbook?

Americans grumbled but they paid $2.00, and then $3.00 a gallon gas. Economists who study such things say U.S. drivers in a growing economy simply endured those price spikes, spending less elsewhere rather than changing their driving habits. But now, according to The Wall Street Journal [sub], those same economists see a broadly-troubled economy in which everything from food to health care costs more. The shift in both perception and reality is finally forcing Americans to drive less, and even to take (gasp!) public transportation. To wit: domestic gasoline consumption declined by 1.1 percent in the past six weeks. Lehman Brothers analyst Adam Robinson calls the potential for a long term conservation effort by Americans, "a major structural change in the market." Peak Oilers call it, "demand destruction." The working poor call it "more of the same."

No question: The Big 2.8's supply chain is in disarray. Plastech, Delphi, American Axle– these are just three of the U.S. parts suppliers already in bankruptcy, with fully 25 percent of other major domestic parts makers teetering on the edge of Chapter 11. The domestics are operating on the assumption that the faster they outsource their parts production overseas, the better. Speaking to Automotive News [sub] analyst John Casesa warns that Chrysler's new purchasing czar John Campi's rush to confront domestic suppliers (Plastech) and seek low cost foreign replacements may not be such a good idea– especially when seen in historical context. "In the early 1990s, former GM purchasing chief J. Ignacio Lopez proved that point. When he bid out proprietary part designs to garner the lowest prices, Lopez launched a brutal price war that created lasting animosity between GM and its suppliers. The industry is still struggling to heal the wounds." And speaking of war, does it really make sense for the domestics to combine Just in Time production and long, long supply lines in this time of crisis? As Toyota's quickly resolved Tundra problems show, it's best to keep your friends close and your suppliers closer. 

We've just received info from Autobild on the Volkswagen Golf TDI Hybrid by way of yet another unauthorized embargo break (funeral for the embargo system will be held next Tuesday; in lieu of flowers, send donations to me). You know what's ridiculous about this car? It's got a hair over 100 horsepower, but likely gobs of torque from a diesel engine and electric motor. But the Prius-kicking stat: 69 miles per gallon. Hooah! Is it coming to America? There's no info one way or the other. I speculate that it might, since VW has announced plans for bringing more diesels here, and this will surely have lower particle emissions by virtue of an engine that's not even on below 25 miles per hour (that's a guess). What's more, the 1.4 liter powerplant comes from the current Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion. For normal people that don't follow the European car market, that's VeeDub's fairly clean diesel engine. Clean? High miles per gallon? Getting whooped by Toyota? Sounds like VW needs this car in North America STAT– assuming it can hit 60 in 10 seconds (the car, not the country).

SEAT is yet another Volkswagen brand with an identity crisis (besides Audi, Porsche, and VeeDub itself). For the past umpteen years, VW has been selling SEATs based on two chief characteristics: sporty and cheap. Unfortunately, some strange designs and an overlapping product range have left SEAT with flagging sales– despite the fact that many models are just better value VWs. At this point, the SEAT lineup consists of a very out of date B-segment car called the Ibiza, an old minivan that was co-badged with VW and Ford on sale since 1996 and four Golf-based cars that pretty much all look the same (Leon, Toledo, Altea, Altea XL). To help rescue sales and image from the inodoro, SEAT is set to show a new B-segment concept car at the Geneva Auto Show. The [working title] Bocanegra or Black Mouth looks pretty darn good– even if it is derivative of Mazda concepts and BMW production models. As usual, it's not coming to the U.S. or Canada, not even on vacation.

[Pixamo gallery of the new SEAT concept here]

Looks like Honda, Nissan, GM and Ford need to slap their advertising agencies around. It appears some greenies don't know they make hybrids! From Ourgreenbabysteps blog comes this tidbit: "I ran into someone at work today who owns a Honda Civic Hybrid.  I didn’t even realize there was another family hybrid car other than the Toyota Prius." Toyota probably also needs to increase the advertising budget for the hybrid Camry and Highlander, since they seem to be semi-unknown as well. I wonder what will happen when the blogger finds out he/she can even get a humongous SUV or all-American pick-'em-up truck with a hybrid powertrain. I'm thinking spontaneous cranial combustion.

KERO reports that California Sheriff's deputies looking for three suspected drug dealers in the Kern River Valley area ended up searching for their own patrol car instead. Sheriffs said they parked their marked unit behind an abandoned vehicle involved with their investigation. When they came back from searching for the suspects, their cruiser was gone. Sheriff's said it was “tampered with” and then semi-submerged in Lake Isabella, northwest of Bakersfield. One of the men admitted that he was hiding in the abandoned vehicle, but denied he was involved with the patrol car’s immersion. The other two suspected drug dealers were arrested on grand theft auto (amongst other charges). Meanwhile, the “long-awaited fourth installment” of Grand Theft Auto is due to be released on April 29th. Will art imitate life or vice versa?

I had to check the calendar to see if it was April first, but no; Mexico has banned the importation of all American used cars except for vehicles built in 1998. No really. As of today, our NAFTA neighbor to the South has forbidden importation of all American pre-loved cars, trucks, pickup trucks, minivans and SUVs built before '98, and all those built thereafter. Until now, there was a five year window, from '93 to '98. The authorities responsible make no bones about the fact that the rule change was spurred by declining car dealers' profits rather than consumer interest. "The Mexican Consulate in McAllen said the change was made "to restrict the entry of vehicles that compete with the Mexican car industry." Needless to say, the rule change has inflated the price of '98's and eaten into the price of anything older– or younger. "With the sudden change in demand, such 1998 models are appreciating for the first time since they rolled off the lot, their prices rising by $500 to $800." Locura.