Just-auto [sub] reports that Morgan Stanley's head of automotive research doesn't have anything very nice to say about Chrysler's immediate prospects. But, surprisingly enough, Adam Jonas faced the delegates of an Automotive News European conference and told them that Cerberus will make an obscene amount of money [paraphrasing] when they break up the company and sell its parts. "I am actually bullish on the longer-term outlook for Chrysler. They have what a lot of people want. There is brand – particularly Jeep – and technology, design capability and US-based, dollar-based capacity that can hit the market relatively quickly." Say what? Oh, hang on. Morgan Stanley. That would be the company whose "Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) department… excels in domestic and international transactions including acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, recapitalizations, spin-offs, exchange offers, leveraged buyouts and takeover defenses as well as shareholder relations."

A number of our Best and Brightest have emailed this link to The Wall Street Journal. The article seeks to reposition the American auto industry's most recent go-go years (1999 – 2005) as a bubble: a delusional miscalculation by the industry's movers and shakers that demand would increase, well, forever. In a sense, yes, absolutely. The Big 2.8 inflated their turnover with dodgy deals and bulk sales. And now they're getting hammered by unsustainable excess production capacity. But it should be said that The Big 2.8 have lost market share to their rivals, as well. In other words, their fall from grace is not just a reflection of a down market; it's a reflection of decades of competitive mistakes, misfires and misadventures. They didn't misjudge demand as much as they misjudged everything else. And it's not like they weren't warned. This website has been sounding the alarm for over five years. We predicted the death of SUV and truck sales. We flagged cannibalism. We pointed our fingers at image-bleeding brands. We highlighted hybrids. We rang the alarm on cash burn. We predicted the systematic pillaging of the UAW's multi-billion dollar Health Care VEBA (oh wait…). And TTAC will continue to ring in the changes, no matter how gruesome. The only bright spark in all of this is the fact that a blogger from GMNext has responded to a post. This is the first time Detroit's gone online with us. Perhaps they finally recognize they need strong medicine. But probably not.  

Ah, to live in a country where the powers-that-be can just… be. As Auto-Lenta.ru [via Autobloggreen] reports in its own special way (that's a pretty politically powerful car!), Moscow authorities are saying nyet to passenger vehicles that don't meet Euro-II pollution standards (which is just about everything running made before 2005). These dirty cars are now запрещенный from entering the city center. Autobloggreen pronounces the decision an environmental initiative– but they would, wouldn't they? The ban couldn't possibly have anything to do with stimulating new car sales or giving the commissars more parking spaces or tidying-up the city for tourists or anything other than saving the children. Meanwhile, fans of Borat are immediately ordered to click on this link, for a translated car review called "Good outside, inside the gray." "Volkswagen Touran was not just a car, but also funny toy. Tell me, what machines have officially sold in Russia, may be to amuse a little semi-parking system, which itself steep steering wheel?" True dat.

While Chrysler is busy berating its suppliers to cut costs by setting-up shop overseas, Toyota is about to export U.S.-made vehicles to foreign climes. Asahi Shimbun [via Reuters UK] informs us that "Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, will begin shipping the Sequoia large sport utility vehicle to the Middle East some time this year, and the Sienna minivan as early as 2010 to China and other markets… A Toyota spokesman said the automaker was always looking for ways to best supply vehicles on a global basis but declined to comment on the report." The report is good news for workers at ToMoCo's Indiana plant. And there is precedent here. Last year, Toyota sent some 7k American-made Avalon sedans to the Middle East. With the current slowdown (as in collapse) of the U.S. truck market, how long before Texas-built Tundras (same platform as the Sequoia) apply for a passport? Why we could see a whole new generation of African warlords driving modiified American-made Japanese pickups. 

Why isn't GM's OnStar quaking in its e-boots? The proliferation of portable GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) devices has rendered their telemetry system's navigation service the VHS of sat knavery. Speaking to WardsAuto, OnStar's President says pish-posh [paraphrasing], and reveals himself as a fan of John F. Kennedy's "rising tide equals multiple boat lifting" shtick. Chet Huber claims "the boom in portable navigation systems is good for his business too." Yes, but what's the Unique Selling Point? "There is a lot to be said for the aesthetics of a factory-installed system." Meanwhile, OnStar fights back! "OnStar currently offers turn-by-turn navigation to subscribers and for the ’09 model year will make “Destination Download” available to 80% of all GM vehicles. The feature allows subscribers with screen-based navigation systems to download destinations from an OnStar adviser on the fly. Another feature bowing later this year for screen-based users is 'OnStar e-Nav' which allows a subscriber to plan routes at MapQuest.com and then download up to five destinations to his vehicle." Wait! Do you hear it? Sounds like somebody closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.   

CNET reports that Tesla Motors Chairman (but not founder) Elon Musk sat down with Mike Malone for a little public chinwag. Malone is the author of "Infinite Loop: How Apple, the World's Most Insanely Great Computer Company, Went Insane." So you'd think he'd make Musk squirm. How big is the EV market? How much profit per car? How much are you guys spending? Nope. "During his interview on stage… [Musk] talked about his three long-time passions: the Internet, renewable energy, and space exploration… Clearly a pioneer in these fields, Musk has bold predictions for these markets. One is that he will put a man on Mars by 2030. Though he admitted that might not come true by then." And now, let's follow the money! "Before the IPO.. Musk said he will raise a series E round of financing to bring the company to profitability and begin production on Tesla's luxury electric sedan codenamed White Star, by 2010. The goals will be reached by selling a roughly 10 percent stake in the company in the series E round, and through a Department of Energy loan of between $100 million and $200 million, Musk said. A future IPO would raise on the order of $100 million." If he's successful, settle back and get comfortable; it's going to be a long ride.

Stephan Wilkinson couldn't make his date with the Ford Flex press launch. So the former Car and Driver editor and occasional TTAC contributor graciously ceded his spot to Justin, who graciously ceded his podcast responsibilities to Michael Karesh. Our ace reviewer and truedelta.com partner in crime prevention acquitted himself admirably. And why not? Michael is our kinda guy. He shares our commitment to truth, justice and Steve McGarrret. Actually, knowing Michael (or at least Michael's age), I'm sure the consumer champion has no idea what I'm talking about, or the fact that Jack Lord spent the last two seasons believing he was the head of the Five-0 (itself a fictional agency). Fortunately, TTAC is not delusional. We know we're not perfect or infallible or particularly good at Parcheesi (for that matter). Once again, we thank our loyal readers for pointing-out our mistakes. We will always operate from the principle that we could be wrong, and provide space for those who wish to take a contrary position to our resident contrarians. We eagerly await the day when the playas themselves take those first few hesitant steps into the light. Meanwhile, Karesh.

The mind boggles. What environmental or genetic factors are making parking increasingly difficult? Surely it's not space size. Municipalities have been accommodating gas-guzzling behemoths (a.k.a. full-sized SUVs) since the 70's. Less competent drivers? What about all the millions of teens who can lap the Nurburgring's Nordschleife in under nine minutes, albeit in a videogame? According to VW [via ForbesAutos.com ], the answer is… "As vehicles grow larger and parking lots more crowded, getting in and out of parked vehicles becomes increasingly difficult." Ah, getting in and out! So it is a genetic thing. That's code for more fat people, right? And now that I think about it, maybe VW's talking about the Eurozone, where governments never met a revenue maximizer they couldn't justify with some treehugging spiel (buy a smaller car, you CO2-belching bastard). Anyway, yada yada Lexus' expensive, largely useless and unloved self-parking system trickling down to VW. At least Forbes asks the question: does anybody actually want this shit? Well, no, obviously. Next up, will these kind of toys break and suck the cash right out of your wallet? Well, yes, obviously.

I mean, how much worse can the UK's anti-speeding jihad get? Aside from actually making shit up, oh wait, that's what they did. Kent County's police officers issued speeding tickets to people who weren't speeding. (More than this and the fact that a member of the force was suspended, the police will not reveal.) So how can the Kent County constabulary act even more reprehensibly towards motorists? By not reversing the speeding fines and points illegally "awarded" to drivers. And yet, Pistonhead reports that Kent police "have dropped 200 speeding charges after allegations an officer rigged roadside checks – but do not plan to notify the rest of the motorists caught." You must be joking. Nope. According to Motorcycle News, a serving Kent officer said that not everyone caught by the operator will be notified because "files are only kept for one year and the cost would be very significant." Folks, keep in mind that one speeding conviction in the UK puts you two speeding convictions away from license revocation, with all of the economic hardship that implies. And ANY points on your license translate into higher insurance premiums. Not to mention the erosion of public confidence in/support for the police. What's it going to take to get the UK government to end this self-financing holy war against its own, otherwise law-abiding citizenry?

GMNext "team member" (and former AutoWeek freelancer) Chris Terry "reveals" what we've known since we hung out with Maximum Bob in a small, windowless room at The New York Auto Show: the Camaro is looking at a turbo-four. While the pony car faithful are still choking on their Cheerios, ADD-afflicted GM's echoing hybridcars.com's claim that turbos could well be the "new hybrid." "As Europeans have known for the better part of a decade, turbos are tomorrow’s 'replacement for displacement' (although Europe’s inclination towards the turbo has to do with emissions laws and fuel taxes that favor diesels, almost all of which have turbos)… The enthusiast in me says, 'If this is the future of motoring, I’m all for it.'" It's kind of creepy to know that a PR flack is possessed by a car enthusiast. And you'd think Terry would acknowledge U.S. fuel economy and emissions regulations in his ode to blowers. But most importantly, he doesn't answer his headline writer's question. To fill that gap, we offer: turbo-charged engines' [manufacturer-recommended] preference for premium fuel (currently .25 per gallon more expensive than regular), the fact that turbos are most efficient when you don't actually use them (say, during federal fuel economy testing), the possibility of higher maintenance costs and, well, other stuff. 

Channel 4 reports that GM will unveil their Next Big Thing, the Hail Mary upon which The General's hope for an American ressurrection reside, in Paris. Oui, c'est la vérité! "Chevrolet will also make an announcement in Paris [this autumn] over production of the Volt- another car on the Delta platform. The Volt will be seen in Paris in US production specification, with its electric powertrain and auxiliary petrol engine said to be very similar to that of the original concept. GM is planning also to offer a version with a diesel engine, as in last year's Opel Flextreme concept; this may be sold as a Vauxhall or Opel, with the petrol-electric Volt taking the Chevy badge." So, a diesel Volt avec un peu de badge engineering. More importantly, we'll finally get to see the discrepancy between the chopped show car's heavily advertised look and the production-ready hybrid's design. Frank's money is on a new Malibu-esque retread. Can GM Car Czar Bob Lutz sing? Why or why do I love Paris? Because my love is near. [thanks to Dinu Uscatu for the link]

From TTAC commentator kawaii: New to this forum and found it interesting, however, confusing since I am a “mature” female on the waiting list for an ‘08 Prius. Husband just got a huge Tundra last December. I drive an ‘05 Subaru Outback getting 22 mpg. Now that I’m waiting for the Prius (which I wanted simply because of mpg and because I like to consider myself as “one who considers making small changes to help the environment”), but now I’m really wondering if this is a wise decision. Do I really NEED this vehicle? Will the Yaris ($10,000 less equipped the way I want it) or Corolla be a better choice? Drove the Yaris and liked it; have not driven Corolla. I live on a mountain in northern GA, drive 10 miles to work each day, rarely drive road-trips and go into the city 65 miles occasionaly. This next car will be one that I’ll drive until the wheels fall off. I can afford either car, but which makes better sense? Husband works from home (good thing with the Tundra mpg) and will retire in 5 years. Any advice?

Jackie Gleason and Art Carney. That's a double act. Twitchy and numb. That's a nightmare. But I figured, what the Hell; no one else seemed to notice the Accord's dangerous steering feel and sales are chugging along like The Little Engine That Could after cresting the mountaintop. But now USA Today car reviewer James R. Healey has finally declared that the Emperor is severely under-dressed. Healey says the new Acura TSX' "steering was a big minus in the loaded test car. That could be a deal-breaker for some, especially in a sports sedan where all controls should be excellent. Trying to broaden the car's appeal, Acura has fussed with the steering until it's a bit too boosted at lower speed and has little on-center feel at highway speed, forcing you to make little steering motions constantly to keep the car in its lane." In other words, it sucks– in the loaded test car ('cause God forbid Healey should fail to provide Honda PR with a bit of wiggle room). But wait! That not not all! "Overall, the TSX was relentlessly edgy, which seemed to be the result of a misguided attempt at sportiness… the ride was consistently choppy, even on nearly smooth roads. The suspension simply seemed too stiff. On some bumps, the front failed to absorb the entire impact and made the tail do funny things as it sponged the leftover bump shock." Sounds like a hoot. Unfortunately, Healey just can't bring himself to deliver the coupe de grace, declaring the TSX "Sporty to a fault; incongruously imprecise steering." As opposed to?

What's with Avis' depiction of a Saab as a jilted [male] lover in this version of "Your Other Car" ad campaign? Any pistonhead worth his TTAC bookmark will immediately clock the cuckold as a "classic" Saab 900, produced from 1978 – 1993. (Anyone recognize the locale?) While that makes the ad's "star" a pre-GM model (in development terms), Avis rents GM products. The old Saab's design is not that different than the current models. And if they aren't similar looking enough for instant identification, they should be; when GM killed the hatch, they killed Saab. I digress. My main point: why didn't Avis choose a more generic, non-GM car for this diss, as they do for the other ads in the series? And why didn't Saab's brand managers protect the brand's heritage? What else have they got?