While we at TTAC aren’t big fans of the “anonymous source” reporting method, there are times when it’s that or nothing. Especially when we’re not reporting on “real” news of theoretical upcoming events (i.e. NY Times claiming that all major hurdles for the Chrysler-GM merger had been cleared a few weeks ago). So in this case, I have to cite an anonymous source. But I have it on very credible authority that Ferrari brass in Maranello have procured a ZR1 – not necessarily a purchase, possibly a car on loan from a Ferrari customer. The car is being shipped from New York out to Italy so they can have a look at Chevy’s $100,000 wondercar. Considering that it – at the very least – runs neck and neck with most of Ferrari’s finest cars, it seems like a wise choice. That being said, I’m not entirely sure what Ferrari hopes to learn from scoping out the ZR1. But hey, maybe Ferrari just wants to have one for collector purposes.

People have been sticking cheesy Bentley knock-off grilles on their 300s since the day they went on sale (my favorite one has a probably copyright-infringing “B” at the top). But what you really need, if you want to trick the half-blind into believing you have a Roller and not a mere rapper’s Chrysler, are suicide doors. The seller tells us it’s a replica of the as-yet unreleased Rolls-Royce RR4. It’s missing some of the fine details of the Bentley TowncArnage, like the hood logo, seat covers, and “Rolls-Royce of Beverly Hills” license plate frame. You can read the seriously hilarious description after the jump.

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Sure, it was 1925. But do you ever see even slightly similar ads anymore?

Might be growing on me. How scary. It’s still “sacrilege,” and overpriced, and I still think the 300 horsepower 3.6 liter V6 is inappropriate, and I’d still contend it weighs too much for a Porsche, whatever that’s supposed to be. Anyway, more pictures for your enjoyment.

Also, we now know that AWD will be optional on all models, that there are at least three engine options (the V6, a V8, and a turbocharged V8), and that a six speed stick or seven speed dual-clutch auto will be available.

And Lieberman is right, brown is the new black.

While the Mazda3 hatch will officially debut in Bologna in about a week, they’ve released some oddly-angled and useless shots of the car already. Like the current generation Mazda3 sedan and hatch, the 2010 5-door Mazda3 looks quite a lot like the 2010 Mazda3 sedan that we saw in LA. Which is fine. Hey, we all appreciate more hatches, right? No word yet from Mazda if the 5-door car will have both the 2.0 and 2.5 liter engines available in the U.S., or if like the present Mazda3 5-door only the bigger engine will be offered.

[UPDATE: Gallery fixed. Darn computermajigs]

In a post I wrote today for Autofiends, I mentioned that I am so tired of hearing a car described as “handling like it’s on rails.” In part, it’s often because the people that use this term have no idea what they’re talking about, or in other cases are just wrong. Very, very few cars are level in turns and have enough grip to have no under or oversteer in moderate-speed driving. Still, the term is out there, and I’ve heard it (ab)used to describe everything from a Dodge Challenger to an E39 BMW 528i to the Mitsubishi Lancer.  My runners up include: dubs, bling, concerns about a regular street car’s top speed, and “car guys.” When it comes to automotive journalism – or just chatting with people that really swear they are “gearheads” – what gives you the red ass?

With things, erm, being as they are right now (economy in the toilet, SUVs being hugely unpopular, nobody buying cars, GM on the verge of evaporating and floating to China), Hummers are about as desirable as herpes. Although the Red Tag sale price of the H3 5-cylinder is floating around $26,000, there’s still a sub-basement. Some highlights from around the sales (or no sales) on FleaBay, Swapalease, and AutoTrader:

—2009 Hummer H3 – $22,985.00 – 13 miles – Optimistically want a 100% cash payment. eBay Motors

–2008 Hummer H3 Alpha – V8 engine – $34,900 – 1854 miles – Oh come on. eBay Motors

–2008 Hummer H3 – $322/month – 4000 miles so far, 30 months remaining, 28500 miles remaining. Swapalease

–2008 Hummer H3 – $18,717 – 15,048 miles – Listed as new – might never have been titled. Autotrader

–2008 Hummer H3 – $22,291 – 4143 miles – stick shift is actually marginally cool. Autotrader

–2009 Hummer H3 – $21,995 – Brand new – classic “one at this price.” Team Chevrolet Hummer, Pasadena

The night before the LA Auto Show, Mazda had a select group of journalists drive the new Mazda3. We from TTAC were not among them. But digital buff book (buff site?) Edmunds’ InsideLine was, and so were the very graphic-saavy guys at Motive Magazine. Overall they both seem to like the car, though in all honesty the assessment is predictable. Bigger, better MPGs, not as sharp as the original. I’m more troubled that an “economy” car has a 2.5 liter engine. Yes, the 2.0 is still standard, but seriously 2.5? Mazda3? I mistakenly presumed that Japan’s engineers believed there is a replacement for displacement. In any case, check out the reviews if you dare at Edmunds and Motive.

Mining of Ford’s microsite (MICROSITE!) extravaganza – which gave us substantial info about the 2010 Fusion – has proven useful again. Now Ford has released what are at least preliminary data for the 2011 Fiesta – which should be on sale some time in the next 12 months (but when? and why not in the last 12 months?). The microsite (MICROSITE!) says “on the pavement in early 2010”

Engine will be the 1.6 liter Ti-VCT 4-banger. In Europe this engine has 118 horsepower. Ti-VCT apparently indicates twin independent variable cam timing. I assume some of TTAC’s engineering oriented readers will tell the rest of us if that’s significant or something that Yugo has been doing since 1959.

Transmission to be a Ford “Powershift” automatic – that’s a dual clutch gearbox. We blogged about this transmission in the Focus here. No word if a traditional stick will come to North America. Cue frustration, comments about “no stick no buy.” For the record, I love my DSG.

Stuff – Microsoft SYNC, Bluetooth, leather seats, standard electronic stability control. Also the Fiesta will offer “up to” seven airbags (dual front, thorax, curtain, and driver’s knee), and the use of the “up to” phrase means the value stripped out cars on dealer lots won’t have ’em.

Courtesy of Ford’s Fusion microsite (MICROSITE!) and other reliable sources (Dick Cheney), we can report the pricing on Ford’s updated 2010 Fusion:

Fusion S – $19,270 – 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, 175 hp, six speed manual (6-speed auto optional)
Fusion SE – $20,545 – 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, 175 hp, six speed manual (Options: 6-speed auto, 3.0 V6, AWD only with the V6)
Fusion SEL – $23,975 – 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, 175 hp, six speed automatic (Options: 3.0 V6, AWD only with the V6)
Fusion Sport – $25,825 – 3.5 liter V6, 263 hp, six speed automatic (Options: AWD)
Fusion Hybrid – $27,270 – 2.5 liter I4, voodoo electronics

Standard Equipment:
All models include A/C, the full complement of six airbags, aluminum or painted steel wheels, tire pressure monitoring system, antilock brakes, and electronic stability control.

Option Pricing:
3.0 liter V6 (240hp, 6-speed auto transmission with manumatic feature) – $1610
AWD – $1900 (this is an educated estimate; waiting for more info from Ford)

Waiting for more info from Ford:
Cost of AWD, cost of the automatic transmission

When there’s less to do, it’s harder to get things done. This is a rule. The same as the one about peanut butter and dogs. Anyway, Robert and I spoke about all things bailout on Wednesday. And in other news, the V8 version of the Pontiac G8 gets better pricing with every day – 2008 model year cars with under 10,000 miles are going for the mid $20k range on eBay Motors. This particular one, with 8900 miles, is marginally even broken in and it’s only $23,900. Beats the heck out of the $32,000 MSRP this thing originally had. Imagine how cheap these beasts will be in a year.

At today’s LA Auto Show, Ford revealed its refreshed Fusion. In large part, the midsize sedan’s in synch with one of TTAC’s core philosophies: evolution before revolution. Manufacturers should continue to improve existing decent products rather than swing for the fences– especially when it’s the bottom of the seventh. That said, plenty of pistonheads reckon the Fusion isn’t a patch (or is) on the Euro-Mondeo. In Fantasyland, that’s the Blue Oval mid-sizer on dealer lots. And if there’s still a Ford America in 2013, we’ll have our Mondeo and drive it too. In the meantime, good is good enough. Or is it?

I’m not the only online automotive writer that got the pink slip this month. Forbes Autos has been shut down. Not to speak ill of the dead, but the site was mostly “Buyers Guide” fluff with the occasional top ten list. With manufacturers pulling their advertising dollars (likely to be spent on perks for the executives), sites like Forbes are taking a major league revenue hit. As such, their scribes are welcome to join me in the land of unemployment.

With my private jet finally out of fuel, we decided to crash land in North Korea. It turns out to have been a wise choice, because aside from the fact that it’s a tyrannical dictatorship with millions of starving people, there are no “Saved by Zero” ads from Toyota. So that’s a hint of silver lining. Also, while my Gulfstream had poor cell phone reception, I’m able to make all the phone calls I want from Kim Jong Il’s pool house, which he has been kind enough to lend to me. All he wanted in return, oddly enough, was a box of Ray Bans and an the newest DVDs. So, after surrendering my copy of “Employee of the Month” to the Dear Leader, I’m now able to podcast freely.

Ray Wert, of “A GM-Chrysler merger makes good financial sense” fame has announced that via CafePress, Jalopnik is selling “Save GM” t-shirts. Even if it’s meant ironically, I find this so blindingly stupid that I’m commentless. Help yourselves.