Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's love – hate relationship with Detroit automakers– they're evil, foot-dragging SUV-builders who need federal green initiatives (i.e. taxpayer money) to protect votes jobs– continues apace. Yesterday, Obama visited The Wolverine State to promise he'd meet with American automakers– unlike George Bush, who didn't have a sit-down with The Big 2.8's well-compensated execs until the sixth year of his presidency. Actually, it was his third year. But, as The Detroit News reports, "Late Monday, Obama's campaign acknowledged the misstatement as an 'unintentional oversight.' But they said it didn't take away from Obama's broader point. 'When the auto industry needed help the most, President Bush delayed for months meeting with them and now American workers are feeling the devastating effects of record layoffs and job losses,' said Obama spokeswoman Amy Brundage. Yes, well, one can only imagine how that meeting would go. "You are bad, bad people. Now take these billion dollar handouts and go!" Make no mistake, the former Chrysler 300C driver (yes it's got a Hemi) is ready to ask "what's in YOUR wallet?" when it comes to helping Detroit: "Obama today reiterated in his speech his pledge to spend $150 billion over 10 years to help create 5 million jobs in the 'green' sector, including helping automakers retool older plants to make plug-in electric vehicles."

Back in August of last year, consumer advocate Ralph Nader sent an open letter to the FCC questioning GM's relationship to conservative radio and TV talk show hosts. At the time, GM said it didn't pay cash money to these pundits for favorable mentions; it simply provided free test cars and facility tours (all expenses-paid, presumably). Oh, and advertising. Lots and lots of advertising. Nader correctly pointed-out that "Section 47 U.S.C. § 317, requires broadcasters to disclose to their listeners or viewers if matter has been aired in exchange for money, services or other valuable consideration. Section 47 U.S.C. § 508, requires that, when anyone provides or promises to provide money, services or other consideration to someone to include program matter in a broadcast, that fact must be disclosed in advance of the broadcast, ultimately to the station over which the matter is to be aired." Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh talked-up his forthcoming free ride, the Saturn Astra. Apparently, it's "the most popular executive car in Europe." Rush gushed "We love GM." Last night, one of Sean Hannity's liberal guests (Fox's Hannity & Colmes) was touting the value of green technology (as opposed to drilling for oil) in America's quest for energy independence. "I know about new technology. I'm driving a Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid" Hannity said. It's high time the FCC put an end to this craven commercialization. Or, to call it by its real name, payola.

First off, it's not very big. Measuring less than 10 feet long and weighing just over a ton, the iQ is Smart-sized. Unlike the two-seat Daimler product, the Toyota boasts a rear seat. Maybe "boasts" isn't the best word choice. ToMoCo is calling it a "three and a half seater." Ouch. Automotive News [sub] reports the iQ will also feature the thriftiest fuel economy of any Toyota product, save the Prius. Other pertinent info includes a diff in front of the axles to allow a relatively long wheelbase (79 inches) to create more interior space; a flat, underseat gas tank to cut down on the rear overhang, a longer steering column that lets the engine sit closer to the vehicle's front and high-tensile steel to create thinner seats. A legroom allowing flat-bottom steering wheel, too. Additionally, Toyota might sell the car in the US. Subjectively speaking, the iQ does bear a resemblance to both the Smart and Tata Nano. However, I find it much tougher looking. More sporting than either micro-car, too. Plus, unlike the ruthlessly decontented Nano, the iQ will be trying to pull off an upscale persona. Engines include a 1.4-liter oil-burner for Europe (natch) and 1.3 and 1.0-liter gas mills for other markets. No word on when the iQ is going on sale. But when it does it (maybe) could be yours for just a toro roll under $10,000.

Hmmm. Automotive News [sub] gives us insight into GM Car Czar Bob Lutz's confidence in his not-yet stillborn baby, the Chevy Volt. An odd choice of words to be sure. But hey — this is Maximum Bob we're talking about. Speaking in Detroit, Lutz told his assembled fans reporters that GM is confident in the 2010 Volt launch date and that GM's close to picking a battery supplier. Lutz claimed that the Volt-drivetrain-equipped Malibu mules have been hitting the target EV-mode 40 miles and beyond. "They've routinely had it to the high 30s, low 40s and they go up hills with it and everything," said Lutz. Of course he also referred to global warming as a "crock of shit" and called yours truly a pinhead. (Full disclosure — we were picking out XL racing helmets and he commented that we both have big heads. "7 5/8" I told him and he yelled, "Ha! 7 3/4 — Pinhead!") As for the Volt, as far as we can tell, those batteries don't exist yet. But what do we know?

Ford is accustomed to leaving products to die on the vine: Crown Victoria, Lincoln LS, Ranger, etc. Apparently, no more. Speaking to Automotive News [sub] about the Flex, Ford's design director Horbury found it "odd" that the design team is already working on a reworked design while the vehicle is still brand new. "To be working on the next one immediately is quite unnerving. It is strange, really." According to Horbury, the Flex's doors, greenhouse and glass are staying put; everything else is up to the designers. As those three elements are especially trick, we think this is the right kinda bold movement. And if you consider the money-making Mustang's countless iterations as mid-cycle refreshes, this type of thinking is doubly true. It sounds as if we can expect big changes, especially as Ford's internal research has shown that small changes aren't enough to bolster sales. Proof, pudding, time, tell. 

On the same day that USA Today reports that average U.S. gas prices have hit a new high, the paper has some bad news for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) fans who think they'll be able to tune in, turn on and drive off for pennies on the gallon: electricity prices are also heading skywards. "Utilities across the USA are raising power prices up to 29%, mostly to pay for soaring fuel costs, but also to build new plants and refurbish an aging power grid." New, schmew; those raw materials costs are soaring. "The price of coal, which fires half of U.S. power plants, has doubled since last year, largely because of surging energy use in countries such as China and India. Natural gas prices are up nearly 50% on high U.S. demand. In California, drought has forced Pacific Gas & Electric to replace cheap hydroelectric power with natural gas, helping to prompt it to seek 13% rate increases." And you know that "let's build nukes for our plug-ins" idea? "South Carolina Electric & Gas wants to boost rates 37% by 2019 to cover its share of two nuclear reactors costing $10 billion." And Americans who believe that global warming is a threat are going to have to put their money where their mouth is. "Expect bigger rate shocks if federal legislation, anticipated by 2010, passes and forces coal-fired generators to pay fees to emit global-warming gases. American Electric Power, the largest coal-fired generator, will have to raise rates 115% to pay higher fuel costs, build new plants and recover global-warming fees." Bottom line: ICE, PHEV, EV– there is no such thing as a free ride.

Stimt? The Porsche Cayenne is a gas pig built by a company that doesn't have an economy car in its lineup, in a world where automotive companies who don't sell an economy car– sorry, a low CO2-emitting vehicle– get the living crap taxed– sorry, "fined" out of them. So it's no wonder that Automobilewoche is reporting that Porsche is looking to fit their SUV with an oil burner for 2009. Porschephiles will know that this is not a new story. But it's a good one– as Porsche has previously denied rumors of a hybrid and/or a diesel Cayenne. Automobilwoche says not only is Porsche getting down and diesel, but they're looking to Audi to provide the Sultans of Stuttgart with 15k 240hp V6 diesel engines (up from 10k). It seems Porsche planned to introduce the diesel version in January 2009– along with the face-lifted Boxster– but postponed the launch so as not to steal the brave new Boxster's thunder.

Like any Big Lie, this one's based on fact. Automotive News [sub] reports "Through April, Chrysler reduced fleet sales by about 45,000 units, or 17 percent, from a year earlier. GM cut fleet sales by nearly 40,000 units, or 14 percent. And Ford Motor's fleet sales fell 25,000 units, or 9 percent." Both AN and our good friends at Autoblog are happy to parrot the "admirable restraint" explanation. In other words, Detroit could dump sales into fleets, but chooses not to to protect vehicle residuals. AN: "GM is not going to reconsider its decision to reduce fleet sales, said Brian McVeigh, GM's general manager of fleet and commercial operations. Residual values have been rising since GM started cutting daily rental fleet sales three years ago." Autoblog: "Showing great discipline amid declining sales, the Detroit 3 have held back on the temptation to dump vehicles on fleet customers in order to boost numbers." Bullshit. First, the rental car business is in the crapper; they're buying less cars. Second, ALL fleets are holding onto their vehicles longer. Third, they're not buying Detroit gas hogs (or even their relatively thirsty cars). Fourth, reflecting U.S. sales trends, fleet buyers are switching to more fuel-miserly transplant products (ToMoCo sold 100k units into the fleets in the first four months of '08). Fifth, if you think WE'RE nervous about Detroit's prospects, how would YOU like to be a finance company that gets stiffed with a hundred thousand cars made by a bankrupt automaker? And sixth, how gullible IS the U.S. automotive press anyway? 

If the Board of Directors at GM and Ford want to pay their CEO a billion dollars a year to run their companies into the ground facilitate their turnaround, far be it for me to tell them they should do otherwise. But if you're looking for a reason why these two automakers are on an engine out terminal approach, clock those annual pay packages and remember that they are the tip of the iceberg of over-paid unaccountability. Add in the rest of their executives' compensation and you have a culture of entitlement that makes Moctezuma's priests seem like chimney sweeps. The info [via The Detroit News] raises at least two important questions. First, why were we thinking that GM CEO Rick Wagoner earned $14.4m last year ($1.3m less than today's report)? Second, what was all that about Ford CEO Alan Mulally's pay being front-loaded to account for the fact that he left Boeing behind? Big Al's '07 $22.7m comes after last year's $28.2m. I make that $51.4m for two year's work. There are lot of other ways to crunch those numbers, as even the DetN feels it must. Wagoner's 64 percent rise "followed the posting of a $39 billion loss in 2007, a year when GM's stock price fell by about 19 percent, without adjusting for dividends." The DetN forgets to provide the same info for Ford. FYI FoMoCo lost $2.7b ($3.5b in NA) in '07 and their share price dropped 10.4 percent. Nardelli? Chrysler? That information is privileged…

As Mark Phelan pointed out, GM would dearly love to unload the unloved HUMMER brand on some overseas sucker investor. The rumor mill is gristing the idea that India's Mahindra and Mahindra may scarf the tree hugger's least favorite vehicle of all time, ever. It seems only natural; the company's been building the AXE, a Humvee knockoff, for the Indian Army. Just-Auto cites an anonymous "senior official at M&M" who told them "Mahindra is very keen on acquiring the Hummer, because of many reasons, but I can't go into all of them but for one it is the most seen vehicle on TV in any country, these days at least the military version of it. It is still too early to talk of prices and timeframes but we are in the process of designing a civilian version of the Mahindra AXE and owning the vehicle it was modelled [sic] after would make a lot of sense." Not only that, HUMMER would give them a well-known premium brand to compete against rival Tata's recent Land Rover acquisition. Analysts think the HUMMER brand could put about $750m into GM's coffers. Or not.

I'm paying $4.99 a gallon for premium. I'm not looking for sympathy (though feel free). After all, we're living in a new golden age of the automobile. Chatting with an autojourno friend I found myself saying, "435 horsepower? That's it?" Which is ridiculous. But now that gas is now horridly expensive, things are apt to slow down. And by apt I mean they will. Lots. We're already starting to see the cracks. Audi's next S4 will have six cylinders instead of eight. Which means that the RS4 might (gulp) only have a V6. Some of you no doubt remember how much I enjoyed the RS4. Which got me thinking: is Audi's four-door supercar the best vehicle I've ever driven? I get to drive an awful lot of fancy metal. The RS4 is better (if not much better) than most. But the best? No. You're going to have to wait a couple of days for my actual answer (review pending). Until then, how about you?

The Canadian Autoworkers Union (CAW) ended its two-week blockade of GM's Oshawa truck factory this morning, in compliance with a court injunction. The Detroit Free Press reports that the CAW is ditching the barricades for "other actions." CAW Chairman Keith Osborne tells the Freep that union lawyers will meet today to discuss the possibility of filing a complaint with the Ontario Labor Relations Board. But while the CAW lawyers talk offense, GM spokesfolks are trying to leave the unpleasantness behind: "Now is the time to focus on discussions on new product mandates for Oshawa and support for affected employees." And apparently GM's backing its words with… more words. Bloomberg reports that "GM is in preliminary talks to add a third vehicle at an Oshawa car plant," in addition to the "second car" promised to CAW in their month-old labor agreement. The Toronto Sun says that the Camaro and the unnamed rear wheel-drive "second car" planned for 2011 could be joined by a front wheel-drive model, thanks to the Camaro's flexible production line. Ontario may not be the cheapest or most efficient place to build vehicles, but its tax-dollar giveaways are world class. Expect public money for the third vehicle line to smooth things over between GM and the CAW. It's win-win– as long as you're not a Canadian taxpayer.

Despite Tesla Motors' March 17th (of this year) declaration that they've put their lithium-ion-powered Roadster into production, nothing. While we wait for a single customer car to hit the streets, we thought we'd fill the time by talking about Savannah Sampson. According to Wikipedia. Ms. Sampson was born Natalie Oliveros in 1966 in Rochester New York. After training in ballet, she became an exotic dancer. From there, it was a quick chassé to the world of adult films. For the past eight years, Sampson's starred in a variety of movies such as Rocco Meats an American Angel in Paris, Big Blowout, Best Deep Throat on the Planet and Patient, Patients, Patients. Although we can cannot corroborate Wikipedia's citation, she's reportedly filming a reality-based TV show for Showtime called M.I.L.F. Sampson's acting awards include an AVN award for Best All-Girl Sex Scene for The Masseuse (2004), an AVN award for Best Group Sex Scene (2004, 2005) and a GayVN Award for Best Non-Sexual Performance (in Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita, 2007). It's not known what kind of car Savannah drives, but it could, in theory, eventually, at some point, be a Tesla Roadster– provided she could fit her ample… uh… superstructure into the rather small cockpit.

Just when you thought it was safe not to watch an American bastardization of the UK's famously infamous Top Gear TV show, NBC and the BBC are proud to announce that they've put the defanged version into production. What's more (or significantly less), they've also revealed the final lineup: radio funny guy Adam Carolla, drift king Tanner Foust and TV construction guru Eric Stromer [pictured]. While we understand that Stromer has better abs than the nets' first choice, ace auto scribe Dan Neil, calling the failed soap opera star a car guy is like calling Vlad the Impaler a genial party host. To wit: "He’s a regular on Adam Carolla’s nationally-syndicated radio show giving out construction advice, and also appears on TLC’s “Clean Sweep,” NBC’s “Three Wishes” and is a special correspondent for “The Insider.”  Stromer prefers his Camry hybrid." To… what? No, don't answer that. Please. But don't worry: there won't be any "real" car reviews. The press release says the hosts will simply "drive the world’s most amazing cars, go on incredible road trips and blow stuff up." We can hardly wait. Oh wait; we can. [Fair disclosure: I applied for the job– and fell down.]

Before you start wondering about the color of the sky in CNBC's Phil LeBeau's private little world, the writer understands "that for many people (soccer moms, the guy putzing around the suburbs, etc) driving a gas guzzling SUV makes no sense." Whew! Phil's talking to those motorists who need an SUV's cargo, passenger or towing capacity; or off-road capability, due to job or locale. While TTAC Best and Brightest prepare to discuss the Marxist implications of needs vs. want, one thing's for sure: it's an SUV buyer's market out there. Kelly Blue Book prices for used SUVs are down more than $2.5k. Even so, you might want to hold off; they're expected to go lower as leases from 2005 vehicles start expiring and pump-shocked SUV refugees trade their behemoths for economy cars (no really). In an online poll, CNBC asks readers if they'd buy an SUV now. Almost half (49 percent) said "no." Of the remaining 51 percent, 13 percent said they'd "think about it," while 39 percent stated yes, they would buy one now. I guess there are still either a lot of "contractors, people in specialty trades, those who live in rural areas where the roads can get dicey at times" or gas prices aren't high enough to prise the keys from SUV fans' cold, dead fingers.