From the birthplace of George Orwell, now the most-watched nation in the world, comes news of a car that has nanny-cams of its own. Car Magazine UK tells us that the new Vauxhall/Opel Insignia will offer a camera system that can read traffic signs, and  alert the driver when they have violated them. GM's Traffic Sign Recognition system uses a Hella-sourced (not in the Nor-Cal slang sense) wide-angle camera, that can take 30 photos per second at a range of up to 100 meters. It can recognize traffic signs, and by comparing them to an on-board database, it can tell if the driver is violating their edicts. When you drive your Insignia at 25 mph in a 20 mph zone, expect a "reminder" to flash on your dashboard, removing any doubt that you are, in fact, breaking the law. Though the proliferation of remote speed-control cameras in Britain give this option some merit there, less repressive societies will doubtless provide much weaker markets for GM's new technology. Still, when we heard that GM would "democratize technology" with its newly-upmarket Opel/Vauxhall brands, the last thing we expected was an option that facilitates continuous government intrusion into the driving experience. Sounds more like they've "totalitarianized technology."

It's been reported here (and at other less reputable outlets like Der Spiegel, Financial Times) that VW would not be selling the Mk VI Golf stateside. But wait! Panicky VW of America spokesfolks tell Edmunds Inside Line that the new Golf will be sold in the U.S. after all, uncooperative exchange rates be damned. "We are currently planning the new Golf VI and GTI introduction for the fall of next year," says VWoA rep Steve Keys. "The estimated volumes are already included in our 2009 financials." Inside Line reckons a new VW Civic competitor will be built stateside, and that's what has everyone confused. Given that VW won't even decide on a new plant location until this summer, and won't start producing vehicles for another three years, we're willing to bet that VW will cut the Euro-Golf from the US lineup for the Mk VII generation. Meanwhile, we still don't know if the Mk VI will continue to be saddled with the lumpen 2.5 liter I5, or if we'll get a taste of fuel-sipping Euro-spec engines. If VW's really saving almost $2k in production cost on each new Golf, they should be able to take the currency knocks and still offer at least one fuel-efficient engine, right? Right?

We've seen video of Acura's forthcoming NSX testing on the Nurburgring. It looked like little more than a chopped-up, hopped-up Honda S2000.  Possibly because the test mule was clad in ill-fitting S2000 panels. In any case, KGP photography has caught a camouflaged NSX testing on the road. The NSX's proportions have come to resemble Acura's Advanced Sports Car Concept; there's no question that it's far more GT coupe than the previous mid-engined model. Rumors that the new Acura will offer 2+2 seating now look unlikely. Not that manufacturers are above calling even the tiniest areas "+2 seating." With over 500hp coming from the front-midships V10, we know the thing has some go. If you ignore the too-tight S2000 clothes in the Nurburgring video, you'll see (and hear) the NSX tearing some serious ass. If Top Gear doesn't do a three-way test of this NSX, the Lexus LF-A and the Nissan GTR on Nurburgring, we're seriously going to stop watching… for free, on the internet. Seriously.

Mergers have not always treated the car industry well (hello DCX), but in the cutthroat EV/HEV/PHEV game, joint-venture hookups now appear to be the order of the day. Toyota's got Panasonic for a partner, Daimler's got JCI-Saft, and Nissan has NEC, while GM juggles Cobasys, A123 and LG Chem. Now, two new joint ventures are joining the electric drivetrain development fray. PSA (makers of Peugeot and Citroen cars) has joined Mitsubishi to develop an EV drivetrain for city cars. Auto Motor und Sport reports that Mitsubishi will bring knowledge gleaned from its own partnership with battery maker Yuasa to the joint venture. Elsewhere, Bosch and Samsung have set up a joint lithium-ion battery venture in Korea, according to Green Car Congress. The new venture, SB LiMotive Co. Ltd, will open its doors this September with production beginning in 2010. Samsung's lithium-ion expertise from its consumer electronics battery business will meet Bosch's vehicle-based electronics experience in hopes of creating new industry-leading electric powertrains. Samsung has already developed a manganese-oxide-based lithium-ion cell for EV use; it's looking into vanadium-oxide as a next-gen anode for EV applications. For the eager EV suitors of Silicone Valley (hello Tesla), these hyperconglomerate hookups could mean even more competition for OEM affections, says CNET. Gotta pass those genes proprietary technology development costs along…

Subaru's freshly-unveiled Exiga CUV may be only a vowel away from sharing names with Lotus' Elise-based road racer, but that's where the resemblance ends. The three-row, seven-passenger Subie is a Japanese market only seven-seat option to the once-hideous, now bland Tribeca. Autocar UK claims that the Exiga is based on the Impreza. Elsewhere, we hear it's based on the Legacy. As a JDM-only product, Subaru will offer an front wheel-drive base version without shocking its export customers. Power comes from either naturally aspirated (FWD only) or turbo versions of the corporate 2.0-liter boxer four. The turbo version puts out a tidy 222 hp, in AWD trim only. A diesel version is rumored, but only if Subaru decides to export the Exiga to Europe. Now, if we could only get this turbo-AWD family-hauling thingie to mate with the superlight road-racing Lotus Exige…

Remember when we told you Toyota would be dropping $673m on new battery facilities? In addition to expanding next-gen Li-ion production (and next-next-gen development labs), ToMoCo also wants to increase its current-spec NiMH production capacity. And no wonder. Toyota can't keep the NiMH batteries in stock, limiting sales of its hybrid lineup. The AP reports via the San Jose Mercury that Toyota's investments in production capacity won't bear fruit until next year. "Hybrids are selling so well we are doing all we can to increase production," says executive VP for production Takeshi Uchiyamada. "We need new lines." But the ramifications of Toyota's lack of insight (pun kinda intended) aren't limited to lost sales. Uchiyamada acknowledges that white-hot demand for the NiMH packs are preventing him from extending Toyota's production-greening efforts to the production of "green" hybrid cars. (Figure that one out.) As the industry pioneer in hybrid manufacturing, Toyota's battery shortage is clearly a measure of its product's success. On the other hand, as a longtime leader in production efficiency, it's hard to believe Toyota was caught napping by demand for its hybrids. It seems that when it comes to hybrids, Toyota's "just-in-time" ethic translates a little closer to "hurry up and wait." 

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.

At some point in our recent automotive history, all wheel-drive (AWD) replaced front wheel-drive as the paranoid consumer's drivetrain of choice. The safety advantages of high quality snow tires (as needed) and a low center of gravity (in all cases) got lost in translation. Ready to capitalize on the AWD's popularity: the economy-oriented Toyota Matrix and the Subaru Impreza. Both diminutive scramblers aren't nearly as cheap or efficient as their front-wheel-drive cousins, and they won't off-road, tow a boat or carry seven passengers. Still, both cars offer a [potential] extra safety margin and [potentially] better handling. So if you had to choose one…

Hybrid cars have had one of the biggest impacts on the automotive paradigm since front wheel-drive became popular. Sadly, not everyone can accept change gracefully. Exhibit one: Hawaii-based auto-journo Bill Maloney. In last months autowriters.com newsletter, Maloney's "The Hmmm About Hybrids," purports to show (in one non-stop "sic") that "market researchers and their soothsayers have been busy blowing holes in the rationale (and high pricing) for (sic) many popular hybrid cars… they even provide stats." And with claims like that, they probably should, right? "Would you believe a big Chevy Tahoe SUV has a lower energy cost-per-mile than a small import hybrid [question mark]," wonders Maloney. Yes, it's the infamous CNW Research "Dust to Dust" study, thoroughly debunked here and here and elsewhere. Never mind. Maloney doesn't want to analyze hybrids– he wants to demonize their buyers. "A car is no longer a car when it's a hybrid. It's a statement. There are high visibility dudes who like to drive statements. Cameron Diaz, Ed Begley, Jar (sic? It's so hard to tell), and the two guys who own Google, who (sic) the CNW study says quote 'don't know "dick" about the environment.' These are people of the conspicuous consumption class who are into whole foods, wild oats/sprouts and keep Trader Joes extremely profitable. They don't drink Jim Beam and prefer Grey Goose and of course their home away from home is Starbucks and its designer coffee. Researchers say these folks are willing to pay to display their moral superiority and virtue." As opposed to Maloney, who needs only one deeply-flawed study, a few hundred words (and by the looks of things, a few tumblers of Jim Beam) to display his own self-satisfied derision for anyone who buys a Prius. Well played, sir.

Paul Eisenstein of The Car Connection's Industry Insider blog thinks that China's going to cut the fuel subsidies that have insulated the Middle Kingdom from rising gas prices. Prices for gas have risen only nine percent since January 2007, compared to the nearly 80 percent jump suffered by American drivers in the same period. With the Chinese paying about $2.60 per gallon of unleaded (the exception to China's love affair with all things leaded), demand is still rising in China, with 1,300 new cars hitting the road every day in Beijing alone. So when will China make the much-needed subsidy cuts? Eisenstein joins the growing consensus that suggests the bitter medicine will be administered sometime after the Olympics, when China will be basking in global PR afterglow. With neighboring developing economies recently cutting fuel subsidies (Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and India), the International Herald Tribune reports that the such cuts are necessary across the board to help keep global oil prices from spiraling out of control. With the International Energy Agency taking up the fight against subsidies, expect pressure to mount on China to end incentives for fuel consumption. Eventually. 

Toyota recently declared that it would begin building Camry Hybrids in Melbourne, potentially reversing the industry's decades-long decline. The announcement vindicated the Australian government's half-billion dollar initiative to encourage local production of full-sized eco-friendly cars. PM Kevin Rudd and the Victoria provincial government each cut a $35m check to Toyota in return for its promise to build 10k Camry Hybrids per year. Win-win for all concerned, right? And then Toyota Australia spokesman Mike Breen opened his big mouth. Breen told The Australian an inconvenient truth: Toyota would have built Camry hybrids in Melbourne with or without the taxpayer-funded incentives. This prompted howls of outrage from the opposition, claiming the handout "amounts to nothing more than a $35m photo opportunity for the prime minister." Of course, Toyota has since backpedaled, disingenuously demurring that "Toyota's decision to build a hybrid Camry in Australia was based on various business considerations… however, the Governments' support was a critical factor in securing local production." Ford and GM reps are sure to learn the lesson when they meet with Australian Industry Minister Kim Carr this week; there's still $465m in taxpayer dross to be hustled Down Under.

Tesla Chairman Elon Musk recently told Fox Business Network [via just-auto.com, sub] that the EV startup has inked a deal with Daimler. With its Roadster safely at "good-enough" status (says them), the California firm is turning its attention to its planned WhiteStar sedan. With full-EV and serial hybrid versions of WhiteStar planned, Tesla needs some help with the various technical elements– such as an internal combustion engine. "We have a deal right now with Daimler," boasts Musk. But like much of Tesla's efforts (transmission, batteries, deliveries), the details haven't quite been ironed-out. "[The deal is] still in the early stages," Musk admits. "We have a small deal that could potentially lead to a very big deal." Autoblog speculates that WhiteStar's serial-hybrid ICE could use a Daimler-sourced SMART three-banger. But just as there are no Roadsters available for delivery at Tesla dealerships (or anywhere else), there's no firm info on this hook-up, including its actual existence. 

With the autoblogosphere going ape over Toyota's hybrid three-fer, ToMoCo reps are tamping down the hype. Advanced Technology Group guru Bill Reinert tells Automotive News [sub] to chillax on the mpgs. "When we see the (claims of) 100 mile-per-gallon stuff, not everybody's going to get 100 miles per gallon." Toyota isn't backing away from its 40-mile, EV-only range for its forthcoming plug-in hybrids. But Reinert warns "the demands of real-world driving, such as rapid acceleration on freeway entrances, could dramatically reduce the all-electric range of plug-ins… just as some consumers have been disappointed by the real-world mileage of regular hybrids, plug-ins may not live up to those high hopes." Meanwhile, GM's "moon shot" plug-in electric – gas hybrid Hail Mary appears to run solely on media attention. In Jonathan Rauch's feature in the Atlantic Monthly, GM PR maven Steve Harris reveals that the Volt project came about because "The PR guys want something more sexy and dramatic, a singular point for our message. This issue of the environmental image was hurting the company substantially." Which will be as nothing compared to the hit to GM's rep if or when the Volt fails to meet its expected launch date or [as yet unspecified] price point.

Last time we checked in on the Oshawa closure debacle, a GM spokesperson was calling the CAW blockade "understandable." After nearly a week of being barred from Oshawa by angry CAW workers, GM has lost its sense of empathy. The General is asking for a court injunction to end the protest. The Detroit News also reports that although CAW understands why GM wants their 250-car blockade of Oshawa removed, The General's request for $1.5m in damages from the Union comes as a bit of a surprise. Neither side likes the other, and both feel betrayed, so why is GM trying to squeeze an extra million bucks or so out of the situation? GM has said the blockade caused it to lose some production. With cash burning and nothing to gain in Oshawa, well, why not get that back from the union? For CAW, this is just more insult on top of losing the Oshawa plant. In short, this is the desperate squabbling with the short-sighted over the few remaining scraps of a once-healthy relationship. Cheery stuff.

ABC's decision to create a TV show based on the high drama of Detroit's auto tycoons is not particularly surprising. The backstabbing, corruption and alliances that you read about in these pages are often far more compelling than anything in the networks' lineups. But much like Detroit's interiors, Hollywood's high-concept pilots rarely hold up to more than a passing glance. The Prince Of Motor City is no exception. Rather than mining Detroit's rich, stranger-than-fiction heritage, the producers of TPOMC are erring on the side of hackery by simply transplanting the plot of Hamlet to the Motor City. Philosophy lecturer (yes, really) Billy Hamilton's father dies, leaving him in control of "Hamilton Motors," where he deals with uncle/mom entanglement, a ghost haunting the factory, a "spunky" girlfriend, and other eerie parallels to Disney's The Lion King. Ultimately, pilots rarely make it past that first episode– even if their scripts were written hundreds of years ago. ABC should ditch the Hamlet retread for some cheaper and far more entertaining Detroit-inspired reality television. Survivor: Detroit would sell itself, Extreme Makeover Chrysler Edition would tap into reality-show schadenfreude, and a show about Volt development could bring back the old Mission Impossible moniker. Then, there's always The Biggest Loser…