Beijing Auto, a.k.a. BAIC, is not giving up on its aspirations for owning a western brand. They came a little late in the race for Opel, and were used as bogeymen to pressure everybody into an 11^th hour deal (which is in doubt). Just two days ago, BAIC was rumored to covet Saab. What else is for sale? Ah, yes, Volvo. The WSJ has it on good authority that BAIC “has expressed interest in acquiring Volvo, becoming the second Chinese company to eye the Swedish unit of Ford Motor Co.” The first Chinese company wooing Volvo of course is Geely—maybe.
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Tesla Motors says it’s delivered 500 Roadsters to date. Rather than keeping overheads low and consolidating its position in the EV sports car market, Tesla is busy expanding its dealer network and talking up the Model S. One wonders how Martin Eberhard, Tesla’s ousted founder feels about the company’s current direction. Probably pretty good; like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Eberhard is one of those big picture guys. But there’s one thing for sure: there’s no love lost between Marty and Elon. In fact, Eberhard is suing Musk for defamation. Have a look at the the court filing pdf here. This is one of those original sources that’s actually well worth reading—if you’re a fan of ego wars. And who isn’t? Humor much? Oh yeah.

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The NYT Wheels blog has connected the dots between Fiat and Tata, and have concluded that the Nano could eventually be sold through Fiat at US Chrysler dealers. Tata and FIat have already discussed the possibility of selling the Nano in “markets where Fiat has already a strong presence.” Since the Nano is officially coming stateside in 2011, perhaps they decided that “where Chrysler has already a presence” is close enough. The Times mentions that Fiat’s Sergio Marchionne likes to talk about a Fiat budget brand, and suggests that Autobianchi might be a fun monikker to dust off. But why not just call it a Dodge or Chrysler? Since the 500 is going to be the only Fiat headed stateside, Tata’s volkswagen will either suit up in ChryCo colors or lock the dealer net into open competition with Roger Penske’s Wide World Of Cars. “Come on down folks! A car from every continent!” We now return you to the rescue of the American auto industry, already in progress.

Sergio Marchionne’s introductory epistle [via the Detroit Free Press] isn’t blessed with the same opportunities for self-congratulation as outgoing Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli’s. Instead, optimism is name of the game. And as Marchionne puts it, this isn’t the first time he’s stepped into “[what many perceived as] a failing, lethargic automaker that produced low-quality cars and was stymied by endless bureaucracies.” But, “through hard work and tough choices, we have remade Fiat into a profitable company that produces some of the most popular, reliable and environmentally friendly cars in the world.” Sergio thinks the same thing can happen at Chrysler. Could it possibly get worse?

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Readers of a certain age will recognize the latter part of this headline as the “gag” title above a Boston Globe editorial about President Carter—that somehow made it into print. I evoke it here because ex-ChryCo CEO Bob Nardelli’s goodbye letter to his troops involves a different sort of gag response. While you’re invited to read the full text after the jump, here’s the short version: I didn’t fuck up. I mean, he. Nardelli. Bob the Un-Builder. The Home Depot despot. A man who drove not one but two large corporations into the dirt.

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Buick: Enclave, LaCrosse, Lucerne

Cadillac: CTS/CTS-V, CTS Sport Wagon, DTS/DTS Platinum, Escalade/ESV/EXT/Platinum, Escalade Hybrid/Platinum Hybrid, SRX, STS

Chevrolet Cars: Aveo Sedan/Aveo5, Camaro/Camaro SS, Cobalt/Cobalt SS, Corvette/Corvette Z06, Corvette Grand Sport, Corvette ZR1, Impala, Malibu

Chevrolet Trucks: Avalanche, Colorado, Equinox, Express, HHR/Panel/SS, Silverado 1500, Silverado HD, Silverado Hybrid, Suburban, Tahoe, Tahoe Hybrid, Traverse

GMC: Acadia, Canyon, Savana, Sierra 1500/Denali, Sierra HD, Sierra Hybrid, Terrain, Yukon & Yukon Denali/Yukon XL & Yukon XL Denali, Yukon Hybrid/Denali Hybrid

Pontiac: Vibe

NB: The Chevrolet Volt is currently scheduled for “late 2010” as a 2011 model year vehicle. [thanks to JT for the heads up.]

“I don’t know anything about cars. A business is a business, and I think I can learn about cars. I’m not that old, and I think the business principles are the same.”

—Incoming GM Chairman Edward Whitacre Jr. admits his lack of auto experience to Bloomberg

Speaking of GM’s ambivalence towards energy efficient vehicles, Bob Lutz’s determination that 95 percent of America won’t pay a hybrid premium seems to be bearing more fruit. GM’s 26/34 mpg Malibu mild hybrid has been canceled, reports Left Lane News (blog). The news is hailed as “unsurprising,” considering the hybrid Malibu’s $2,000 premium only improved mileage by 4 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the highway over a six-speed auto, four-pot ‘bu LT.  Meanwhile, despite Penske’s rescue of Saturn, the planned Vue Two-Mode Hybrid has also been axed.

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Bob Lutz needs to clear something up. Fun lovers, report to GM Fastlane stat! It seems that the Man of Maximum is steamed about a WaPo piece which he complains casts him as “ambivalent” towards his beloved Volt. In fact, the piece is a sweeping look at the Volt’s place in GM, and it contains more than a few anecdotes that reflect poorly on GM management (shocking, I know). And the facts of the matter clearly illustrate that the Volt’s importance arises from political considerations far more than the inherent passion of GM’s product planners to create reliable, fuel-efficient transportation. Hence the accusation of ambivalence. But political motivation has to be disguised with pure intention (no matter how implausible) in order to work. And so Lutz is off to man the crumbling Maximum rampart.

The sale of Chrysler’s assets to Fiat is complete, reports the New York Times. Paperwork (and the transfer of $6.6 billion in Treasury money) was completed at about 9 a.m. Eastern, after news came yesterday that the Supreme Court would not hear the Indiana pension fund challenge. News reports refer to the speed of the Chrysler bankruptcy as “an important victory” for the Obama auto industry restructuring effort. Perhaps to avoid talking about the substance of the bankruptcy. Either way, she’s a done deal. Chrysler is dead, long live Chrysler!

The House of Representatives has passed Rep Betty Sutton’s $4 billion scrappage scheme [download full text here], reports CNN Money. The bill now goes to the Senate. Under Sutton’s bill, clunkers with a combined 18 miles per gallon rating or worse would be eligible for a scrappage rebate. Purchasing new vehicle which exceeds its replacement’s rating by four miles per gallon would earn a $3,500 rebate. Improve the combined EPA average by 10 mpg and snag $4,500. Offer good for one year. Or until we tear through $4 billion in a wholesome, American display of redemptive consumption. I’m sorry, I mean “shore up millions of jobs and stimulate local economies . . . improve our environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The [Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save] act demonstrates that we can free ourselves from the false argument of either you are for the environment or you are for jobs. You can do both, you must do both.” As the bill’s author modestly puts it.

Not thrilled meaning, I suppose, that they’re not in favor of it. Using that definition, AutoPacific’s summation of their survey of 900 Americans is an example of English understatement. According to their poll, “Fifty-four percent of respondents believe that General Motors should have been allowed to fail, while 58% believe that Chrysler should have been allowed to fail.” Not too bad you say, the words “simple majority” springing to your lips. Anyway. It’s a done deal. Yes, well, “Eighty-one percent of the respondents agree that the faster the government gets out of the auto business, the better.” The government’s counter-argument? We agree with your agreement! Meanwhile, don’t worry: good things are going to happen! The voters aren’t quite so happy-clappy at the prospect . . .

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Last Wednesday, the Arizona Supreme Court made it easier for prosecutors to convict intoxicated individuals who were not driving of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). The expanded policy was handed down in the context of a case involving Vincent Zaragoza who was arrested on April 29, 2006, for sitting a car with a blood alcohol content of .36. On that day, Zaragoza had gotten into an argument with a woman at an apartment complex. He went to his car in the parking lot of the complex, got in and—according to Zaragoza—put his key in the ignition briefly to lower the window and turn on the radio. Before anything could happen, a police officer ordered him out of the vehicle. The car’s engine had not been started, but Zaragoza was on his way to jail.

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Nezir writes:

Sajeev, I drive a 2004 Mazda RX-8 that I bought new. It currently has around 48k miles. As of late the seating has become uncomfortable and I seem to get strange cramps in my hamstrings from how the seat is pushing into my leg.

I’ve looked at some possible cars to replace it with such as the Evo X, etc. Love the Recaros on there and that alone would make me want to switch. However, I still love the RX8 and short of buying another one in R3 guise is there anything I can do to upgrade my seats?

As has become the custom these days, the seats have the side airbags built-in. So I’m not sure what options I have in the aftermarket for this. I know Recaro has the Sportster CS with airbags though I’m not sure how ‘universal’ they truly are. Mazda wants like 4k per seats for the R3 Recaros, so that’s not really an option either.

Also, I’d be ok with going for a seat without airbags, but I don’t know what effect that has on the rest of the SRS system.

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