Rumors of BMW's Lexus-rivaling eight-speed automatic transmission surfaced over a year ago. Since then, the electronic grapevines have been quiet, leading some to suspect the octo-cog-swapper was merely vaporware. But rest assured, it's the real deal; it's in testing now. The blokes over at AutoExpress [UK] snagged some serious seat time in BMW's upcoming X6. The German automaker's crossover coupe thingamajig does, in fact, feature an eight gear slushbox. It's not totally clear why BMW is developing both this eight-speed auto AND a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (soon to be slotted into the new M3), especially when the DSG transmission has "wave of the future" written all over it. Still, we'll never complain about more choice in transmissions. Or gears. But it's strange to think of downshifting into seventh.

Look in Hyundai’s high school yearbook and you’ll see “most improved.” Almost every model the Korean automaker has sent stateside has been a quantum leap forward from its predecessor. The Elantra's roots stretch back to the Excel, which excelled at falling apart. The Elantra name survived; the model went from crap, to cheap, to "say that's not bad." Now we've got the fourth generation Elantra. Does the all-new iteration follow the Sonata and Santa Fe in Hyundai's relentless march from cars you buy because they're dirt cheap to cars you buy because why the Hell should I pay more?

Those of us who lust after automotive products from afar are already pining for the Ford Mondeo and S-Max, Buick Park Avenue (China), Alfa Romeo 159 and Fiat 500. Mazda joins America's automotive unrequited love list with the new Mazda2. Mazda's subcompact car (B-segment, if that's your language) sells below the grand slam home run Mazda3. The Zoom-Zoomers are introducing an America-friendly variant to the Chinese market. Where most subcompact sedans look stubby, waving their metaphorical ass in the air, this is one sharp-looking wee beastie. It's also, purportedly, fun to drive. Fantastic mileage is a given. Subcompacts (which are actually compact size but who's counting) are making a comeback stateside: Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Chevy Aveo, Suzuki SX4. Mazda's entry would be a perfect fit for the U.S., and it snaps into Mazda's brand portfolio very well. But the daunting prospects of U.S. crash tests and limited profitability assures American pistonheads more long distance love.

Ever sit around on a Sunday around noon with your buddies and say "I could go for some Domino's or Papa John's." You know that obviously neither of the two is up to Michelin guide standards, and in fact neither one of them is even real pizza. But damn man, they really hit the spot. Well that's the new Cadillac CTS. It's snazzy looking, it's fun to drive, it's got all the toppings you could ask for. It's just not a Cadillac.

Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Cadillac, Lincoln. Any automaker with dreams of glory in the upscale midsize sports sedan market has tried to beat the BMW 3-Series– and lost. Too big, too small, too crude, too expensive, too front-wheel drive, too ugly, no stick. Of all the contenders, only Infiniti has mounted a credible challenge. Some say the last G35 [more or less] usurped the 3-Series’ throne. And then BMW dropped the turbo bomb: the sublime 330-horse 335i. Infiniti has countered, sending us the normally aspirated, equally-horsed G37 coupe. Does the new car hit the G-spot?

The car that's got American propellerheads in a spin just got a bit more desirable. BMW's announced that the 230-horse 128i will start at a modest $29,375. The 300-horse money-shot 135i will begin at $35,675. For reference, the base price of a 328i sedan is $32,400 and the 335i sedan starts at $38,900. Most of BMW's base prices are deceiving since you have to pay extra just to look at them for leather seats, metallic paint and automatic transmissions. Interweb rumors say the 135i may come with lots of standard sports kit (suspension, brakes, etc), so the baby Bimmer could turn out to be a better value than it seems. Still, comparing the 1 to the 3, who's gonna complain about saving $3000? Rich sorority girls and penny-counting petrolheads will be able to get their hands on their own 1-Series in the spring.

Release of Volkswagen's highly anticipated, 50-state, four-cylinder clean diesel engine is being pushed back. Again. Brandweek reports that the German automaker's now saying their new oil burner will arrive stateside next summer. You know what's awesome about that? Nothing. Keep in mind that VW doesn't offer a single naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine to its American customers, eroding VW's once-famous econo-cred. VW's turbocharged 2.0T engine, spectacular as it may be, delivers modest mileage in exchange for premium fuel. Many automotive customers associate "diesel" with "VW" (Volkswagen sold more than 815k diesel-powered vehicles in the U.S. since 1977) and  "reliable" (another facet to VW's brand image that disappeared down the reality rathole). In short, VW needs a 50-state clear diesel to recover their premier position in the minds of the holy trinity of America's European (Mexican?) car buyers: efficiency nerds, torque snobs and Euro-lusters. Even with diesel costing 15 percent more than regular petrol, we reckon the TDI would have been a hit. Now, we wait.

With $150m in their pockets, Chevy's ad men are touting the new Malibu as "The Car You Can't Ignore." Apparently the dealers can ignore it, though. I went to not one, not two, but three dealers in search of the new 'Bu. At the first, Performance Chevrolet in East Meadow, NY, they don't have any in stock. "We will have more by the end of the month." Uh, that's almost a month away. At dealer two, Robert Chevrolet in Hicksville, NY, neither the front space facing the street nor the showroom had a new Malibu (although they did have a Corvette sitting next to an Aveo). Around back they had a Malibu LS tucked away from public view. But the salesman couldn't find the keys to unlock it. "You can look in the window though." Gee, thanks. The third dealership was the charm. Charm as in lucky; the dusty dealership has all the charm of the DMV. East Hills Chevrolet Oldsmobile, in Roslyn, NY, had several Malibus in stock. I was even allowed to sit in one (Egad!). Just goes to show: it doesn't really matter how good the car is when the dealers bite.

BMW’s next big thing is the 1-Series coupe and convertible. Propellerheads are positively dizzy at the prospect of a new, small-ish, rear wheel-drive BMW offering a modicum of practicality, brand-faithful weight distribution and one of the company’s legendary in-line six-cylinder engines. Why it’s the 2002 reborn! Hello? Has the entire enthusiast community been neuralized? They seem to have forgotten the fact that BMW already sells a model answering to this description: the Z4 Coupe. Or, in fact, doesn’t, much. And for good reason: the Z4 is a rolling condemnation of BMW’s evolutionary commitment to ultimate driving, a four-wheeled cautionary tale for anyone blinded by the BMW badge. 

Someone go get my Clonazepam. MINI has announced that it's building an SUV-type product, and cyber-mag Winding Road has the shots to prove it. Forget market share, ignore the ever-present push to increase sales numbers at any cost. The MINI Cooper was specifically, consistently and persistently sold as the anti-SUV– not the ante-SUV. This type of "every brand, every niche" mindset is killing the car industry, one BMW SAV, Mercedes hearse, Bentley hybrid, Audi city car, Lexus hypersport sedan and $29k Cadillac at a time. While most of those propositions are merely Three Stooges ridiculous, the MINI SUV (a.k.a. "Monte") has a major problem. It's not mini. It has to be quite a bit bigger, quite a bit heavier. It'll probably need (in some sense of that word) all wheel-drive. Oh, and a larger engine. At best, all that changes MINI from Mini to "Regular." Unless the new MINI SUV has Suzuki Sidekick off-road abilities, PASS.

Audi has let slip that its bonkers super-sedan is getting the axe. Working to a strict one-model-at-a-time policy, Ingolstadt's extreme engineers are now focusing their energies on amping-up the horsepower in Audi's overpriced Golf TT to create the TT-RS. According to South Africa's Cartoday,com, Q-ship lovers can turn to the S6, which offers almost as much oomph as the RS4– with a lot more weight in tow and about $25k more sucked out of your bank account. A forthcoming RS6 will eventually replace the S6 and RS4 as Audi's top tunermobile. Next up (maybe): the NEW RS6. And THEN we get the new A4, sitting on the new A5's platform, that [finally] repositions the engine back in the body a bit, adding a little mid-engine-esque magic to Audi's otherwise nose-heavy driving experience. All of which means that as good as the current RS4 is– and it's sell your kidney [shaped grill] good– the next gen should be a home run. Actually, the ball will leave the park, circumnavigate the globe, and return to smack the pitcher straight in the nose. To further whet your automotive appetite, our resident photochopper Andrei Avarvarii has prepared a little vision of the thunder to come.

The BMW 1-Series enthusiast site, 1addicts.com, has over 13k posts dissecting BMW's upcoming compact coupe and convertible. That's some serious devotion for enthusiasts "addicted" to a car they haven't driven or even seen in person. To recap, the 1-Series coupe heading stateside is mechanically closely related to the 3-Series, but a bit cheaper (how much cheaper remains to be seen) and a bit smaller. It'll come with the 3-Series' engine lineup, offering a 3.0-liter six with 230 horses and the sublime twin turbo I6 with more than 300 ponies. Magazines have heralded the 1-Series as the second coming of the legendary 2002, but considering its porky 3600+ lb curb weight, this ain't no compact sportster. Oh, and from the photos, it's sorta ugly. Yes, it's got all the up-to-the-second BMW styling, but it's a stubby looking little car. And the back seat is useless. So why all the rabid anticipation? Is it because it's going to be a slightly more affordable 3-Series? (If you can call a $35,000 car affordable.) Or is it because motoring enthusiasts lust for the good old days of quick, small, light cars that don't so much exist anymore? Your thoughts?

In accordance with standard industry practice, the Mercury brand's website lists whatever promotions and rebates are ongoing. They are, of course, only telling buyers part of the sales story. The "Ford for Sexy Urban Professional Ladies with Style" brand is also sending out rebates via email called "private cash." It's not clear who is receiving the $500 coupons and why, but several have gone to people that don't have Ford family vehicles. They are more than just a standard incentive; each coupon has a recipient-specific code that's not transferrable outside of the household. This kind of targeted rebate has some benefits for the company. For one thing, the offer stays outside the general news stream (at least, it did until right now). For another, it's been reported as "making recipients feel really special and sort of warm inside." Not surprisingly, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid (a.k.a. the only Merc with a modicum of interest from the public) is excluded from the under-the-table incentive. If I was shopping for a car, I'd definitely take one of these golden tickets down to the Mercury dealership and test drive a Milan V6 (wait, already did that).

"Oh, the poor unions!" says Max Fraser, a "2006 Intern" now scribing full time at The Nation. The budding curmudgeon supposes that The Big 2.8 will be the death of the unions (not the more likely murder-suicide). That's because Detroit's robber barons just keep squeezing those wages and benefits. Unfortunately, his explanation of how this is happening, and why we all should be worried is… well, let's just say Mr. Fraser has penned the Chrysler Sebring of rants. In a sweeping example of internally-inconsistent analysis, Fraser manages to blame Toyota and Honda for paying their workers more than UAW guys make– and then urges the UAW, for the good of the workers, to get into Toyota and Honda's factories as soon as possible. Fraser also manages to insult and put down outsourcing, insourcing, rural areas, and the "Third Worldization of the American South." Gee, with all those corporate headquarters in the South (Coca Cola, Nissan, Wal-Mart, Saks Department Stores, Home Depot, UPS, Bank of America, Lowe's, Wachovia, Sprint-Nextel, just to name a few), a $3b biotech industry in North Carolina's world-class research triangle, and the busiest airport in the world, the "Third World American South" sounds like a pretty productive place to me.

It's not such horrible news dear boy. It's not as if Bentley's sticking that frightfully underpowered Prius' Synergy Drive into the Arnage. Leftlane News tells me The Bentley Boys plan to hybridize their Eisenhower-era 6.75-liter V8 engine to keep the old girl kosher under the European Union's more stringent emissions laws. The historic powerplant stays. Huzzah! (I'll be sending the boffins some fine port when I get a minute.) While I'm thrilled– thrilled I tell you– that Bentley will use battery power to keep its rolling cathedrals motive, it's a shame they have to meet green laws. I mean, the idea that Bentley's limited production could somehow impact global temperatures is as preposterous as asking their owners to join the Peace Corps. If it was in this writer's hands, so long as Bentley makes cars with more torque than a Peterbilt, they're good to go. Shove a Bugatti Veyron's quad-turbo W16 in there? Why not old bean; why not?