Steve Levy, over at Autofiends.com, has encountered the Tesla in person in Los Angeles. The lithium-ion -powered sports car was driven by none other than your sister's favorite actor, Matt Damon (who does a killer Matthew McConaughey impression). Levy spoke with Damon, who claimed the car was still a prototype. Damon said the off-the-line acceleration sucks, but the 30 – 60 acceleration is like light speed. Range? Unknown. Recharge time? Unknown? Is Damon going to buy one? Well, of course. But is it even on sale yet? That's hard to say. But if even Damon gets an unfinished prototype to tool around in, it's not sounding good for Tesla. So was the end of the Tesla Birthwatch premature? It seems like it might have been. Then again, this is a functional (mostly) prototype. You know what the take away lesson here is? Even Matt Damon, with all his money, has questionable taste in cars.

It used to be that Europeans could get diesel for a lot less Euros than regular petrol/gas. Combined with increased fuel economy, consumers had every incentive to pony-up for the oil burning engine. Now that the cost of diesel has increased substantially, and thanks to direct injection, turbocharging, and other high tech features; gas engines are regaining lost territory. (TTAC's Paul Neidermeyer is on record saying gas, not diesel, is the future.) A sign of the times: the hot Skoda Fabia– currently a 1.9 liter 130 horsepower turbodiesel praised by no less than Jeremy Clarkson— is ditching diesel. The next gen vRS model will shelter VW's twincharger turbo and supercharged 1.4-liter unit, with an estimated 174 horses. Unfortunately, it likely cannot match the old model's 228 lb ft of torque at 1900 rpm. For European buyers, this is really small news (though good small news). The bigger message: even European brands selling cars in Europe are moving away from diesel. (source: Škoda)

City cars are absolutely crucial to European manufacturers. Since 1997, Ford has been a significant player with its very small Ka model. And I don't mean that Ford has been using the Ka nameplate since 1997. I mean the car has been, in large part, the same since 1997. Warmed, rewarmed, dried out, reheated… It was, at times, extremely popular thanks to an insanely low price and being one of the first very small cars (thanks to Richard Parry Jones) to actually handle well– really well in models like the SportKa. But after 11 years of the same old same old, Ford is finally bringing out a new version. It was co-developed with small-car expert Fiat, alongside their new 500; both of cars are based on Fiat's Panda platform. This raises a few eyebrows. While the Panda is exceptionally packaged and the 500 is painfully cute, neither are reported to be astonishing to drive. And considering driving fun and feel is Ford's European trump card, this is reason to be at least a little concerned. Interior and exterior are absolutely fine, but can't hold a candle to the new 500's retro sex appeal or adorable interior. There will no doubt be a range of engines, including small diesel and gas versions, and a hot ST model with some 150 horses. It makes its debut in Paris in the fall and its US debut never.

The Detroit News' Scott Burgess has released specs on Dodge's new 2009 Ram Pickup. For the first time, The Dodge Boys are offering a functional crew cab, rather than micro-sized rear doors or the enormous (and laughably expensive) Mega Cab. I'm sure Goldilocks would be thrilled. The interior is also revised, with more plastiwood and a bigger attempt to knock-off the F-150's design. And of course, there's more power. Because that's what all buyers want. The Hemi is now up to 380 horses (from about 345) and torque is now 404 lb ft. Efficiency is supposedly improved, and Allpar reports that highway mileage on smaller 2WD models will "approach" 23 mpg. Other stats: weight is down 80 lbs, 0 – 60 takes 7 seconds, and Dodge's Ram sales are down the toilet and in the cesspool. Ram sales are down 24 percent, Ram market share is down to 16.2 percent. I know improving the efficiency of the Hemi is a good thing, and the cost is nothing close to developing an all new vehicle. But you know what? The market is still screaming for a compact pickup truck. Just sayin'.

After Farago's good news yesterday from Ford corporate, we can bounce to even more good Blue Oval news today and I'm pretty much about to stroke with excitement. Ford has confirmed that the US will get its Fiesta compact car as a hatchback, not just the American-friendly and eye-unfriendly sedan. Since importing anything from Europe (cars, wine, cheese, deodorant) is currently cost-prohibitive, Ford will build the Fiesta in Mexico at – get this – a factory that previously built Ford F-Series for the Mexican market. Since pickup truck sales there are in the toilet as much as they are in the US, the factory is being converted to build the Fiesta and new Ford I-4 engines. That's right, they stopped overproducing a truck because sales weren't too hot and instead will be using it to make fuel-efficient cars and engines. Ford hasn't confirmed whether the hatchback Fiesta will be the three- or five-door version, but I'd bet dollars to donuts (really what does that mean) that it'll be the three-door. The biggest downside? It's coming in the proverbial "year 2010" as a 2011 model. That's two years away; Honda and Toyota will continue to chow down on Fit and Yaris sales (up 1.2 gazillion percent this year). This Fiesta is a car Ford needed in America yesterday last year two years ago and whether the ever-facelifted Focus can keep them afloat for that long, I don't know. But hey, if we make it to 2010, a Ford showroom with a Fiesta hatch and European-style Focus (also to be built in Mexico), and 350 horsepower Taurus will be hotter than Tricia Helfer. In Vegas. Meanwhile, hero of the day award to Alan Mulally. (source: Ford)

You read that right. Ford's 350hp turbocharged 3.5-liter Ford V6 (a.k.a. "EcoBoost") will appear under the hood of the 2010 Taurus. Scoop snapper Chris Doane (formerly of Brenda Priddy now of LeftLaneNews) provides the inside dope on the dope Taurus. The new model will put the power to the ground with all wheel-drive with appropriately upgraded suspension and wheels. Ford reckons that this special "SHO" or "ST" trim level will account for 12 to 15 percent of Taurii sales. So call it five percent. The heavy performance-oriented Mondeo will go head-to-head with such jewels as the Chevy Impala SS and maybe the Chrysler 300. While a blown Mondeo might be an exciting sounding car for domestic-leaning pistonheads who like affordable stealth speed, G8. Meanwhile, most civilians shopping for big family cars want good mileage and just enough power not to have to think about it. You can bet your mortgage money that the turbocharged six will appear in an upcoming Lincoln or three, where it belongs. Yes, even the D472 (Lincoln Flex). 

The rear wheel-drive Genesis sedan is Hyundai's first foray into the luxury car market. We brought you in-person pictures back in March at the NY Auto Show. Now, Hyundai has released the pricing info. For $33k you can get yourself a V6 model with a very healthy 290 horses and six speed autobox packing the usual luxury toys like dual climate control and heated leather seats (ahem, BMW, leatherette). Jumping to the big boy 4.6-liter V8 will cost you another $5k. In addition to the 375 horsepower monster up front, you get a better six speed autobox (ZF this time around), "ultra-premium" leather seats, leather all over the dash, a higher end sound system, and more useless but marketing-necessary toys. Three ways to look at these prices: first, the V6 model is right on point with cars like the Infiniti G35, although you can guarantee they will drive 100 percent differently. And we can't leave out the $32k completely unluxury Pontiac G8 GT. Alternatively, consider the value of the Genesis over a BMW 5-Series, whose 230 hp 528i starts at over $44k. Finally, just for kicks, let's look at things in historical perspective: in 1990, the Lexus LS400 had a sticker of $35k. 

"Pontiac is … car." And car is rebadging. Ipso facto. The Pontiac Torrent, G5, and G8 are blatant dirty rebadges. The G6 is a bit more unique looking, but same deal. And now… the Chevy Aveo! I mean Pontiac G3! The 2009 Pontiac G3 is listed on the fed's fueleconomy.gov site. Judging from its 1.6-liter engine, four-speed automatic, interior dimensions and 25/34 mpg, a rose by any other name will smell vaguely Korean (you might also say like dead dog, but I couldn't possibly comment). In Canada, the Pontiac version of the Aveo is called the Wave. but we're getting the G3– which raises a [relatively insignificant] question as to whether Pontiac is pursuing odd numbers or even numbers for its alphanumeric model names. Yes, this new model rounds out Pontiac's car collection as G3, G5, G6, and G8. Are we getting a G4 or G7? If I said yes, would you be interested? Meanwhile, the former excitement division will offer the G3 in sedan and hatchback versions. So is it going to suck? Why yes, thank you for asking. 

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X just got a 5-star rating from Mr. Michael Karesh. The regular Lancer ES "earned" a whopping 2 stars when this writer reviewed it last year. All versions of the Lancer look great on the outside, but the engine, transmission, and suspension make all the differences in the world (or at least in the 7-11 parking lot). So what about the space between the extremes? We're still waiting on an announcement from Mitsubishi about a 220-horse, Ralliart badged, turbocharged, AWD version of the Lancer, meant to go head-to-head with the Subaru WRX. Meanwhile, the 2009 Lancer GTS will replace its 2.0-liter lump of crap with a 2.4-liter 168 hp engine from the Galant. The GTS redux gains 16 horses and 21 ft.-lbs. of twist, and loses a single mpg. You're looking a not quite wallet-thrilling 21 city/27 highway (with life-sucking CVT transmission), significantly less when driven hard and put away wet. Look for a full road test of the new 2009 GTS on TTAC soon.

The Aston Vantage is, for many junkies of the petrol, just pure car porn. Or car strip club, if you go to the dealer. Or car hooker, if you hit up an exotic car rental company for a day. It's just so sexy it hurts (I blame the jeans). In any case, Aston has set to update the engine in the V8 Vantage which was, in a commentary on our horsepower times, underpowered compared to competition. The former 4.3 liter engine (which some real goons claimed ran out of puff at times) is enlarged to 4.7 liters. Horsepower jumps from 380 to 420, and torque goes from 302 lb ft to 347 lb ft. Aston also claims there will be modest efficiency gains, since the war on cars is firing on all cylinders. The interior, which Jonny Lieberman told me is unsatisfactory considering the car's price, is also significantly upgraded (we'll bring you pictures the moment they surface). But if the power still isn't enough for you, you'll just have to wait for the V12 Vantage with the honking 12 pot from the DB9. Probably will sound great, but no need to cut into the car's balance like that.

For all of eternity, or at least modern eternity (since the birth of 8-Bit Nintendo), Ford has sold various iterations of the Duratec V6 engine. For the past umpteen years, the company used a 3.0-liter engine making about 200 horsepower using premium go-juice and variable valve timing. The six-pot produced in the realm of 227 horses in the Jag X-Type or 220 in the Mazda6 (the latter on 87 octane). This engine was supposed to be retired with the introduction of Ford's excellent new Duratec 35 engine. That mill currently motivates the new Ford Edge. In bored-out form– to 3.7 liters– it provides power for the Mazda CX-9 and upcoming Lincoln MKS. So far, so good. Old engine (Duratec 30) out, new engine (Duratec 35/37) in. But Ford has announced a major overhaul of the older 3.0-liter engine for duty in the coming years. The new 3.0-liter mill will now make some 240 horsepower in the 2009 Ford Escape (previously, it was rated at 200 ponies). Now the 35 is a truly modern engine, can accept direct injection and turbocharging. But even in naturally aspirated form, it makes 250+ horses. So it really begs the question: why is the 3.0-liter engine still on the table? And if I can beg a little more even, why isn't the 3.5/3.7 liter V6 available in the Mustang instead of the crotchety old 4.0 liter V6? Oh, you forgot that one, didn't you? One more: wasn't CEO Alan Mulally all about eliminating production complexity? I'm sure there are good reasons why this hasn't happened here (and I love to hear 'em), but the Duratec 35 is all you need from this point onward. Let economies of scale bring the costs of the 35 down, and dump the old 3.0 and 4.0-liter engines. KISS, baby.

It seems like just yesterday that we brought you pictures of Kia's concept car, the Soul. And it actually was just yesterday that commenter Russell noted that Kia doesn't have an "it" car. What a difference a day makes. Kia [via www.kia-buzz.com] has revealed the official production version of its newest compact hatch, the Soul. It's meant to compete in the smaller segments of the car population– although whether it's a B-segment car (Honda Fit/Jazz, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta) or a city car (Fiat Panda) remains to be seen. What we do know: it retains most of the concept car's somewhat distinctive styling, and that Kia will do the reveal thing at the Paris Auto Show [RF: you are sending me, right?] in October. Considering Kia's optimistic goal of doubling non-Korean sales by 2010, you can bet your Rio that the Soul train's coming to North America as fast as they can crank 'em out.

The internets are abuzz with Fiatitude. Motor Authority reports that CEO Sergio Marchionne fingers distribution, rather than manufacturing, as Fiat's greatest hurdle to selling cars in the U.S. True dat. Setting-up a factory in Mexico wouldn't be impossible. But setting-up dealers and warranty service departments (which Fiat will need to convince people their cars aren't the unreliable rust buckets of yore) will cost serious dough. Wth U.S. car sales on the wane, who wants to buy a franchise from a risky manufacturer? Marchionne says he's shopping for an American partner. You just know it's going to be Chrysler. Maserati TC redux? Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the Italians (who already own the Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati names) are considering an additional brand to sell extremely low-cost vehicles in developing countries. Come again? The Fiat name has a lot of equity in the developing world (including Brazil, where the brand is popular). And besides, building cheap and cheerful cars is Fiat's forte. Anyway, my suggestion for a name for the automaker's low cost brand: Fiat.

Kia, Hyundai's neglected smaller brother, plans  to double their non-Korean sales by 2010 (!) to 1.9 million. How? Good question (I'm glad I asked). The Cee'd– a Golf competitor with a daft, sexually ambiguous name– has received solid reviews in Europe. Stateside sales continue to be… adequate. Plans for a Kia pickup truck were recently, wisely, cancelled. Fortunately for Kia, their Georgia (the y'all state, not the Central Asian country) manufacturing facility comes on line soon, Kia can then expand beyond America's import cap and take advantage of our not-so-hot currency. In truth, Kia is a brand in search of identity. While the Koup concept was a nice try at sportiness, Hyundai is the company that gets to do smoke-filled donuts on stage at the NY Auto Show. And the Optima sedan is still underpowered compared to the Sonata. But hey, whatever. Considering the affordability and relative fuel efficiency of their American lineup, Kia's continued growth is a possibility. Probably. Maybe. Eventually. Later soon.

Edmunds' Inside Line quotes Lexus' corporate product planning manager as saying the price of the new Lexus' LS-F price will "begin with a 2." We're guessing the V10 supercar won't be $29,995. In honor of this news, I've hit up the thesaurus: brainsick, off, daft, absurd and whack. See also: dismal failure, stillborn. Newsflash to Lexus. You're not Ferrari. This won't be a performance halo car (reference Acura's NSX and the amazing effects it had on making people think the RL was sporty). Also, people buying summer Sunday cars for $200k aren't motivated by factors like "reliability," especially when this hand built carbon fiber monster will likely not maintain the brand's hallmark reputation for non-breakage and low maintenance. And, because I especially don't care for this LF-A supercar, here's a list of cars that cost half as much with better looks (extrapolating), heritage or fun: Porsche 911 Turbo ($135k), Nissan GT-R ($70k +  ?), Corvette Z06 ($77k), Corvette ZR1 (estimated $100k), Ford GT (slightly used, $150k), Ferrari F430 ($175k), Aston Martin DB9 ($175k), and BMW M6 ($100k).