We reported yesterday that Autocar UK had "found" top secret renderings of a forthcoming RWD coupe being jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru. Well, today we have confirmation from the two firms that the new coupe is definitely in the works. A joint press release tells us, "The compact rear wheel-drive sports car is envisioned to offer a new 'fun to drive' experience based on an all-new vehicle platform." The release also confirms that Subaru's boxer four will be the only initial engine offering, and that production will begin in 2010. [Ed: there's that number again.] Subaru will launch first, sometime late in 2010, while the Toyota version will not be available until 2011. Watch this space for official images and further details as they become available.

The downturn in the economy isn't just affecting the mainstream automakers. The Wall Street Journal reports luxury car manufacturers are also suffering. (Yes, suffering.) In March, luxury car sales sank 14 percent from last year. "Super luxury" cars such Bentley, Rolls and Maybach were hit the hardest– the uber expensive segment fell 39 percent. Of those models, Bentley was the biggest loser, with a 42 percent loss. Entry level luxury models (BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-Class) were down by 13 percent. Middle (though not middling) luxury cars (BMW 5-Series, Jaguar S-type, Infiniti M35) were down 20 percent. And upper luxury vehicles (Mercedes E-Class, BMW 6- and 7-Series) dropped 24 percent. It's probably not a very good sign for the rest of us when even the wealthy start economizing on their whips.

I'm sure LA scribe Dan Neil's extraction from the U.S. Top Gear team came as no surprise to anyone who's ever seen The Player, or any other Hollywood movie about how Hollywood movies are ruined by Hollywood executives (who probably ruined the movie about how Hollywood executives ruin movies). It's the rare creative venture that can survive the cold dead hand of executives working for a deeply-entrenched, publicly-owned media company. From the moment that an American Top Gear was first mooted, American pistonheads (gearheads?) suspected the worst. They just knew that Top Gear's anarchic yet elitist spirit couldn't survive the jump into ad-sponsored network hypespace. Still, some good will come of NBC strong-arm tactics. As TTAC commentator Tom Anderson points out, Neil's dismissal saves him from the possibility, perhaps probability, OK certainty of an ignominious loss of credibility. Dan's automotive criticism is too important– as recognized by Lilly Pulitzer, I mean the Pulitzer prize people– to suffer a massive loss of face. This way, his work will remain unsullied; a literary gift to future generations. Meanwhile, Justin and I try to show that goofing around has its place in the autoblogosphere. We kid, you deride.

Last month, Jonny Lieberman asked if anyone had been hit with a fuel surcharge. And no wonder. News10 says high fuel prices "are being felt particularly hard by small business owners." San Diego's delivery business has been particularly hard hit. With gas at an average of $3.73/gal., "some small delivery businesses [are] wondering what to do." (Deliver packages?) CMF Incorporated's fuel bill has gone up by $4k in the past year– that's not including the cost of diesel fuel for their larger delivery trucks. Even Jonny's dreaded fuel surcharge doesn't guarantee the main man a profit. What's a small business to do? Raise rates too high, and they risk losing customers. Keep them static and they lose money. It's a bummer– for all concerned. "I'm walking into companies where the phone is not ringing and everyone's in this type of slump or depression emotionally," owner/driver Ed Bidwell reports with a distinctly California-esque metaphorical shrug. "And that's what gets to me."

Saying that TTAC readers have opinions about cars is like stating that water is wet. We'll therefore make the assumption that your friends, families and loved ones know what you think about cars. Assuming that, we will also bet that you get hit up for car advice more often than not. Us too. But do those who ask listen? A year ago my own sister was in the market for a new car; her '01 Sentra was just about dead. Her next car had to be good on gas and reliable while not looking dorktastic. I recommended the Mazda3, Subaru Impreza and MINI Cooper. She drove them all and reported back. They were "too sporty." She then bought a two-door Honda Civic. And loves it. On the other end of the spectrum, a friend of mine had a pair of Datsun 280Zs that were done playing parts car for each other. He wanted something reliable, fun to drive and cheap. I told him to try a Honda Fit. He not only bought it, he's decided to trade his current Fit for the 2009 model as soon as they hit our shores. That's 50/50, not too bad. Do I have to talk about my brother-in-law's RAV4? I do? Man… Anyhow, you?

The ties between Tata Motors and Fiat are plentiful; Ratan Tata sits on Fiat's board, and the two firms run several joint manufacturing ventures in India. And with Tata's recent purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover comes an opportunity for Fiat's performance brand Alfa Romeo to piggyback on Jaguar's existing rear wheel-drive sedan architecture. Fiat development boss Harald Wester tells Auto Motor und Sport that the two firms are already discussing details of the possible platform share. "We have diverse worldwide cooperations with Tata," said Wester, "because of this, it makes sense for us to seek opportunities with Jaguar and Land Rover. Naturally, a properly-dimensioned rear-wheel drive platform would serve Alfa well, and we're working on that. But there are more options. One alternative is developing a unique platform for Maserati, Alfa and Lancia. Another is that Maserati would get a unique platform, while the other two brands would share with a partner (Jaguar)." A Jaguar XF in a sharp Italian suit with Alfa badges could be exactly what the brand needs when it launches stateside in 2010, while platform-sharing would help Jaguar improve its profitability.

Environmental issues have topped cost reduction as the major concern for the auto industry for the first time according to a survey by DuPont and the Society of the Automotive Industry (SAE) [via CNN Money]. The survey of automotive designers and engineers picked a basket of challenges– from CAFE standards to emissions controls– as the industry's top concern, unseating cost reduction after 14 years. Fifty-three percent of those polled selected environmental concerns vs. 32 percent who went with cost reduction, Some 54 percent also say consumers are most concerned with improvements in fuel efficiency; only 37 percent think improved comfort and convenience float purchasers' semi-metaphorical boat. In less surprising news, alternative fuel-powered vehicles were named as the technology with the greatest impact on the car industry for the fifth year running. Biofuels and weight reductions also climbed in importance in this year's poll, completing the snapshot of an industry in transition.

Nikkei Tech-On says Toyota Fuel Cell Engineering Manager Taiyo Kawai told the NHA National Hydrogen Conference that plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) won't deliver a tremendous reduction in fuel consumption. According to Toyota's calculations, given a 20 to 40 mile plug-in range and U.S. driving patterns, "the maximum contribution that PHEVs can make in an effort to break dependence on fossil fuels or to halve CO2 emissions is a 20 to 30% reduction in energy." Kawai told the crowd that the plug-in Prius' cell system's power storage performance is "far below that of gasoline and hydrogen." Hang on. Did we just learn an inconvenient truth about PHEVs, or is this just so much pro-fuel-cell hot air?

According to The Scotsman, speed cameras fines fell by as much twenty percent in some areas of Scotland. In most parts of the country, the number of drivers being caught by cameras has dropped for the third year in a row. The director of the Scottish Safety Camera Program says he knows why: "There has been a fall in speeding fines detected by cameras because of better adherence to the speed limits by drivers." Math-savvy anti-camera groups claim crash rates diminish naturally over time "due a phenomenon known as regression to mean." Bruce Young of the Association of British Drivers says it's simpler than that. "Drivers are increasingly aware of both fixed and mobile camera locations." Neil Greig, the of the Institute of Advanced Motorists' Motoring Trust, says who cares? Speed cameras rock! "In our view the best safety cameras slow 100 percent of the traffic down and catch zero per cent of drivers." In any case, over the past two years, Scottish police [automatically] issued 114k fines, generating some £6.8m ($13.4m) for the Treasury.

While Standard & Poor's are planning for a seven percent slide in auto sales for the U.S. of A, things north of the border are looking up. The CBC reports that the Canadian automotive  market will nip at the heels of last year's totals (their second best year ever). The forecast comes courtesy of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants head honcho, Dennis DesRosiers. After seeing double-digit jumps throughout the first quarter, Dennis deduced an improved forecast was due. DesRosiers reckons the strong Loonie, decreased taxes (one percent G.S.T drop), and healthier Canuck economy will entice more Canadians to throw down for price-reduced whips this year. Don't figure on this news making up for the U.S. slide though. The improved forecast accounts for a mere 8k unit improvement (1.645m total).

So, radio funny guy Adam Carolla let the world know that he's one of the presenters of the new American Top Gear. And we can now, finally, confirm the rumor that drift king Tanner Faust is the Tiff Needel of the team. But the big news here is that NBC execs pulled L.A. Times auto writer Dan Neil from the U.S. show after a viewing his audition tape– despite a signed contract with the Pulitzer prize-winning critic. Neil says he's "very disappointed" with the network's decision, but understands their motivation. "They couldn't handle my heat," he joked. "Seriously. It's probably because I'm not very good on TV." The clock is ticking on finding Neil's replacement. Anyone heard anything?

Reuters reports that Delphi is considering asking federal bankruptcy judge Robert Drain to force equity investor Appaloosa Management to carry through with their $2.55b investment in the bankrupt auto parts manufacturer. Last Friday, Appaloosa announced they were backing out, citing GM's expanded role in the Delphi's exit strategy as the deal breaker. [NB: Appaloosa doesn't want GM to be able to prevent a strip-and-flip resolution to Delphi's bankruptcy.] In a filing with federal securities regulators, Delphi stated their board has formed a special litigation committee and engaged counsel to explore their legal options. Appaloosa had no comment, but they've said they'll consider investing in Delphi under "different terms." If Delphi doesn't get the funding from Appaloosa and/or other investors, they'll have to go back to GM for more than the $2.8b the automaker's already promised. If that fails, Judge Drain could lose his near-infinite patience, with Chapter 7 liquidation to follow.

For some people-– maybe not TTAC readers, but some people-– the cup holder is one of the most important parts of the car. Sure, torque between 4,000 and 6,000 rpms and brake fade are important. But when you’re crawling along at 15 mph with two antsy kids, your suspension’s settings simply don’t matter. The cup holder does.

Well, that's what happens when your employer pays you 80 cents on the dollar for your health care, and says here, you guys sort it out. The Detroit News reports that U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland considers Chrysler's $10.3b health care compact with its United Auto Workers (UAW) members "fair and reasonable." Under the terms of the agreement (a.k.a. health care VEBA), 170k active Chrysler workers, retirees, spouses and dependents will face new charges for their doctors' visits. In the short term, Chrysler retirees will now pay an $11 monthly premium and a $159 annual deductible. After that, a new 11-member supervisory board (six court appointees, five union reps) will ensure that the fund makes up the $8b shortfall AND makes enough money to cover soaring health care cost inflation, WITHOUT raising deductibles or further limiting patient choice OR allowing union members to plunder the fund OR letting cronies (lawyers, hospitals, etc.) get sweetheart deals OR waste precious VEBA funds. Meanwhile, Chrysler's lawyer says the VEBA's a good deal because her employer might go out of business. "We do believe in the light of the uncertain environment that Chrysler is operating that this settlement is the best for all parties," Nancy Ross pronounced. Ready for that summer vacation yet Nance?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safey (IIHS) released the results of their tests on seven midsize sedans today: Malibu, Avenger, G35, Optima, Galant, Aura and Altima. All but the Optima received good ratings in front and side crash tests. The Optima was rated acceptable in front and side tests while it received a good rating in rear crash testing. Four of the cars– Malibu, Aura, G35 and Altima– were considered "marginal" in rear crash tests; the Galant was rated poor and Avenger was rated adequate. The Detroit News points out IIHS test standards are more stringent than those NHTSA uses for their "star" ratings, but NHTSA says they'll have stricter standards in effect for the 2010 model year. Mitsubishi and GM were quick to say they design their vehicles to meet federal standards, displaying their usual "if 65's a pass, 66 is overkill" mentality.