Our pals over at Autobloggreen have a full gallery of photos of Tesla’s new Model S which seats seven (Volvo-like rear-facing child seats). True to form, the the new EV makes it debut with a wide range of unsubstantiated claims about range (300 miles), recharge time (four hours), features, everything. Oh, wait. Tesla will fit the $50K “entry level” Whitestar sedan—I mean Model S—with a 160-mile (including limp home mode) battery pack. Owners of the”Tesla for the rest of us” have to pay $? to upgrade for a 300-mile (including limp home mode) battery pack. And the timeline for this Roadster redux? The third quarter of 2011. Something tells me it’ll be later, and they’ll take your money sooner.

OK, yes. All you folks who believe that we must free the country from its dependence on foreign oil and stop the planet from over-heating need an electric vehicle (EV). Well, you want one. I mean, it’s not like you’re walking at the moment is it? And if you are, chances are you can’t afford or don’t want a car, whether it sucks oil from the desert or burns coal through a cord. The problem– for me– is the link between “we” and “need.” Whenever people start telling me what I need, I get the sneaking suspicion that I’m about to lose something I’d like to keep. I reckon most people who drive gas-powered cars are just as skeptical of EVs as I am of demagoguery. Question: does that matter?

“Some help” equals $22 billion of additional federal “loans” for Chrysler and GM. The Detroit News reports that President Obama has joined his Presidential Task Force on Autos (PTFOA) in signaling that his administration ain’t gonna enforce the “get your NSFW together by March 31” conditions for Motown’s second seating at the federal bailout buffet. Apparently, those conditions are so last year. The Chief Executive and his minions are more concerned (i.e., only concerned) with the NEW conditions. “If they’re not willing to make the changes and the restructurings that are necessary, then I’m not willing to have taxpayer money chase after bad money. And so a lot of it’s going to depend on their willingness to make some pretty drastic changes.” That’s because “there’s been a lot of mismanagement of the auto industry over the last several years. But they’ve all been replaced now.” Just kidding. About the replacement bit. “Everybody is going to have to recognize that the current model, economic model of the U.S. auto industry is unsustainable.” How about we start with somebody and work our way forward from there?

As the National Enquirer used to say, Lyle Dennis and GM are closerthanthis. On his gm-volt.com website, the doctor turned propagandist reports on a conversation with Jon Lauckner, VP Global Product Development (a.k.a. “Mr Volt”). Much like GM PR, Dennis has made the psychological leap from proof of concept (for Chevy’s plug-in electric/gas hybrid) to real world logistics—without actually completing the first step. Down the rabbit hole we go, with gm-volt.com’s “GM Close to Launch Plan for the Chevy Volt.” Oh, before I share the spin, I’d like to point out that GM was really close to being close to having a launch plan for the Volt long before they were close to having a launch plan for the Volt. Right. So. Lauckner. (Read More…)

You’d kinda hope that the Presidential Task Force on Automobiles (PTFOA) would negotiate with Chrysler, GM, the United Auto Workers and GM’s bondholders down to the wire. After all, the actual deadline for the yes/no decision on the next round of bailout billions is March 31. So it kinda makes sense to hold their feet to the fire until the very last minute, forcing them to satisfy the conditions laid down by the first, $17.4b federal bailout. But nooooooo. Six days out from the deadline, the leaky ass quango known as the PTFOA has let slip the fact that they will, indeed, bless (a.k.a. “loan”) Chrysler and GM with $22B of your hard-earned tax dollars. Maybe more! But that’s OK, ’cause THIS TIME there will be strings! Timelines! Deadlines! The Wall Street Journal reports . . .

GM-volt.com‘s Lyle Dennis has pinged me with his story on the Chevrolet plug-in electric/gas hybrid Volt’s development timeline. So, we learn that . . .

Andrew Farah, the Volt’s lead engineer actually has a countdown clock in his office revealing that 63 days from today, assembly of the first true Volt will start.  All the parts will be lined up at the low volume assembly facility and will begin to come together that day. Andrew notes the first one will take longer to produce, but for all intents and purposes will come to life on June 1st. They will then be built at a rate of roughly 10 per week until a total fleet of over 80 is completed.

“All intents and purposes” is like “Not to insult you, but . . . ” In other words, wiggle room. Anyway, let’s follow this through.

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The FT has some valuable perspective on Chrysler owners, Cerberus, the private equity firm that accepted multiple billions in taxpayer “loans” yet refuses to list the automaker’s backers. Hey, does owner Steven Feinberg hold any paper personally? Anyway, Mr. F is nonplussed by the fact that Chrysler is now on federally-funded life support begging for more. “We always try to hang in—but not at the expense of being commercial. As far as GMAC and Chrysler are concerned, we will hang in there as long as it takes. There is the feeling of a greater calling.” When did running a once-proud American company into the ground become a sacred ceremony? Anyway, there’s only so much spiritual elevation an investor can take. Know what I mean? No? Make the jump.

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The dilemma: should the MSM and autoblogosphere highlight the fact that FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally earned $13.6 million in 2008, a year where the automaker’s sales cratered and their profits evaporated, or should they focus on the fact that the number represents a 37 percent cut from his previous take-home? The Detroit News headline splits the difference: “Mulally’s pay cut; still gets $13.6M.” Maybe someone should point out that Big Al’s compensation was front-loaded; he banked $28.2M in the first four months of his employ. OK, now, Mulally’s 2008 pay and financial future isn’t quite as . . . bounteous these days.

Most of that — $8.7 million — represents stock options that are worthless at the current share price. The automaker said Mulally has yet to receive any stock options that he could cash. Ford said it will reduce Mulally’s salary by another 30 percent for 2009 and 2010, and eliminate merit pay increases and bonuses for U.S. salaried workers because of the challenges facing the company and the auto industry.

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There’s only one thing worse than realizing you’re a cynical bastard: realizing you’re a cynical bastard and the world really IS that corrupt. Oh well. The truth hurts, both giving and receiving. In this case, I had high hopes for the Tata Nano. As the son of a Romanian immigrant for whom car ownership was proof positive that America is the world’s greatest country, I believe that the motorization of the world’s largest democracy would unleash that nation’s creativity, productivity and prosperity. But when Tata “launched” the Nano two days ago, without a factory to produce it, I smelled a rat[tan]. The next day, there it was: Tata’s in not-so “secret negotiations” for a billion dollar UK bailout for their ill-advised—not to say hubristic—purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover. So, there’s your timing then. Oh, and the announcement on Autobloggreen this morning that the NSFA (Not Safe For America) Tata will export the micro-car to America (with a few mods, ’natch) in 2011 or 2012 (or 2020) is not to be taken seriously. The argument that Tata’s pie-in-the-sky promise to do the same for Europe actually weakens the case, not strengthens it. Or maybe that’s just me being cynical again. One can only hope.

boredlawstudent writes:

OK best and Brightest, I really need your help! My car was totaled last week by a DUI driver and I’m in need of a car. I’m trying to decide which car to buy. A NEW Altima Coupe or a 2007-2008 CPO [Certified Pre-Owned] G35. My top concerns are reliability and material quality (and comfort). I’ve see a number of 2007 CPO G35’s with low miles (17K) on dealer sites requesting $24-26K. I’ve seen some 2008 CPO’s for $25K, but they seem to be off rental which I obviously don’t want. Some questions…

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Cars.about.com‘s Aaron Gold is what I’d call a pushover. So Chevrolet pushed him over. 

I know a lot of people are going to fall in love with the Camaro, and I’m glad — this is a gorgeous car, and I can’t wait to see it on the road and listen to it go by. I’d even like to try a second date, if Chevrolet will let me borrow another one (not that they’re likely to after reading this review). But a long-term love connection with me and the Camaro? I’m afraid it ain’t gonna happen. So much for getting everything you want. — Aaron Gold

UPDATE: Chevy’s response:

“You’re right, you definitely won’t be getting a ‘second date’ with the Camaro.”

In 1979, Chrysler was staring down the barrel of bankruptcy. ChryCo’s charismatic CEO stepped forward, publicly lobbying for $1.5b worth of federal loan guarantees. Lee Iacocca captured the American taxpayer’s respect and trust– to the point where the automaker’s ad folk made Lee the company’s pitchman. “If you can find a better car, buy it!” he dared. They did and they didn’t. Either way, Iacocca’s communication skills were beyond reproach. Contrast that with today’s mumbling, bumbling Motown CEOs, who’ve managed to alienate well over half of the American public, who no longer want to buy Detroit’s cars OR provide them with a second (third) chance. And no wonder. The CEOs have demonstrated an abject inability to call a spade a spade, or sell the spadework that must be done (which is largely grave digging by now). Wagoner, Nardelli and Mulally’s failure is what it is. But what about the little guy in all this? Who speaks for them?

TTAC spoke and Nissan listened. Or something like that. In any case, Pistonheads reports that the Japanese automaker has heard complaints that their 911-slayer is harder riding than a tea tray down a gravel ski trail. Nissan will offer a more comfortable version of their GT-R. “The GT-R Spec-V firm suspension will get replaced by a softer, more refined setup and will include ripple control shock absorbers to help iron out the bumps. There’ll also be a wider choice of interior trims to help entice a more upmarket clientele, with aluminium and wood grain finishes both options on the new Spec-M.” So the scream “OH, NO! GODZILLA!” will now become “I say, isn’t that the Japanese sports car that lapped the Nurburgring rather quickly?”

It seems straightforward enough: federal vouchers for old clunkers. Takes old heaps off the road. Stimulates new car sales. Done. Of course, we are talking about a government program here. And that means that H.R. 1550, the “Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009,” has quickly become a cat fight amongst interested parties (manufacturers, dealers, dismantlers, after-market parts makers, trade protectionists, etc.). If passed, 1550 will surely evoke the law of unintended consequences. At the moment, the bill’s been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, so that august body can breathe their magic upon it. Ahead of that joyful event, 1550 contains some HIGHLY contentious sections. How about a stricture for the new car purchase that stipulates different minimum levels of highway fuel economy depending on whether the vehicle was manufactured in the United States or “North America” (i.e. Canada or Mexico)? Yes way.