A couple of weeks ago, we reported that GM would be building a new small car at the Lordstown OH plant where they now build Cobalts and Pontiac G5s. Wards reveals the mystery car: the next-gen Chevy Optra, replacing the Cobalt/G5. The Optra (AKA Daewoo Lacetti, Suzuki Forenza and Buick Excelle) will be produced at GM-Daewoo's plant in Gunsan, Korea starting toward the end of this year. Production will expand to Ohio in 2010 "pending conclusion of GM's negotiations to obtain state and local investment incentives from Ohio authorities." The U.S.-spec Optra will feature a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with "considerably upscale" and "sporty" styling. It'll be joined by a redesigned Aveo (Daewoo Gentra) in an "entirely new portfolio of Chevrolet small and compact vehicles." In a move akin to the "Chevy Classic," "Malibu Classic" and "Silverado Classic" games GM's played in the past, the Gunsan plant will continue to produce the current Optra "for certain export markets" along with the "dramatically different" new model. That "dramatic difference" better include dramatic improvements in materials and build quality if Chevy expects to sell it in what's becoming a highly competitive small car market. 

Tesla Chairman Elon Musk recently told Fox Business Network [via just-auto.com, sub] that the EV startup has inked a deal with Daimler. With its Roadster safely at "good-enough" status (says them), the California firm is turning its attention to its planned WhiteStar sedan. With full-EV and serial hybrid versions of WhiteStar planned, Tesla needs some help with the various technical elements– such as an internal combustion engine. "We have a deal right now with Daimler," boasts Musk. But like much of Tesla's efforts (transmission, batteries, deliveries), the details haven't quite been ironed-out. "[The deal is] still in the early stages," Musk admits. "We have a small deal that could potentially lead to a very big deal." Autoblog speculates that WhiteStar's serial-hybrid ICE could use a Daimler-sourced SMART three-banger. But just as there are no Roadsters available for delivery at Tesla dealerships (or anywhere else), there's no firm info on this hook-up, including its actual existence. 

Okay, so the rumors were wrong and the UK's car magazine was right. The European Focus RS will not have all wheel-drive or 350 horsepower. Ford's officially official announcement: the hot hatch Focus RS will have 278 horses and 295 lb ft of torque from the same turbocharged straight five found in the Focus ST (222 hp), Volvo S40 T5, S-Max, and all manner of other cars. Like the Mazdaspeed3 and Opel Astra OPC, the ponies are harnessed to the front wheels. While this should still be a very entertaining car to drive [for Europeans], it's not the stat-sheet blowing hot hatch we hoped for. And the numbers arrive during the same week as the Lancer Ralliart and Mitsubishi Sportback specs. Ouch. Well not entirely. While the Evo has a high profile in Europe, it's not thought of as the hatchback of choice (until now, it wasn't a hatchback at all, really). The Focus is one of the go-to cars for mainstream buyers. And we conclude this post with the obligatory "it's not coming to America or Canada." Damn!

Mitsubishi has unveiled the Lancer Sportback, which is their fun language for "hatchback version of the Lancer." While it may not be the world's finest execution of a hatch in the history of cars, the Lancer is already a good looking vehicle and the added flexibility is most welcome. Mitsubishi's also announced  the Ralliart version of the Lancer, which we've been waiting on since we realized that the regular Lancer is as much fun as eating glass. The Ralliart retains the 2.0-liter DOHC engine, but turbocharges its way to 236hp and 253 lb ft of torque. All that power is routed through a clever all wheel-drive system. While we can't yet confirm it for the US, the SST dual-clutch transmission IS go for European production. Considering the American love affair with automatic transmissions and Mitsu's desperate need to move metal here, the dual clutch gearbox's entry into the North America market seems highly likely. Sounds like the Evo's little brother will make for a great WRX competitor.

Edmunds Inside Line hears from mysterious "supplier sources" that the Blue Oval won't build new Mercurys after 2012. Why on earth would Ford kill a beloved brand with such a rich heritage? Maybe because Mercury sales are set to drop below Lincoln's for the first time since 1938. The Fusion-based Milan should be the last of its current models manning the ramparts, once the Montego and Grand Marquis hit the dust sometime in 2011 or early 2012. Looking down the road, the Mercury cup hardly runneth over, without even a version of Lincoln's Flexible MKT crossover or the 2010 Ford Taurus. Edmunds rests its case with this quote from Ford Presidente del Americas, Mark Fields: "We've laid out a strategy to focus a lot of our efforts going forward on the Lincoln side of the franchise. That's where a majority of our focus is going to be, and Lincoln will become the dominant portion of the Lincoln-Mercury franchise, which is a flip from the history." But if that sounds too grim, note that Fields told Automotive News [sub] that "[Mercury] is an important part of the stable of brands." In fact, FoMoCo would continue to invest in the nameplate. Is this a sign of internal divisions over Mercury's fate? All things being equal, it's probably just a ruse to generate faith in the brand, while it's being taken out back to be shot.

The automotive industry has long borrowed technology from the aerospace industry. Head-up displays, space frame construction, "drive by wire" controls and lightweight materials all first showed up on modern aircraft. Now BMW is turning back the clock a century or so. Just like a WWW I-era biplane, the BMW GINA Light Visionary concept car is fabric-skinned. The water-resistant material is stretched over a lightweight frame that can change its shape as you drive in a process that's visually akin to Bruce Banner's transformation into the Hulk. There are no visible gaps in the car's "body" except the door openings, the headlight covers open like cat's eyes, the taillights shine through the fabric and the engine is accessed through what looks like a surgical incision in the "hood."  In the video, designer Chris Bangle babbles on waxes eloquent about "a philosophy that says 'let's do things differently'" and "context over dogma" (whatever that means).  It's a cool concept, Chris, but enough is enough.  Why not just shut up for once and  (as you suggest) "let the material do the talking?"

There's an interesting juxtaposition in today's news about the forthcoming VW Golf. Motor Authority reports that Volkswagens sixth-generation Golf will offer standard stop-start technology in its efficiency-oriented Bluemotion versions. VW director of powertrain research Wolfgang Steiger reveals that the the Bluemotion is shooting for a 30 percent gain in efficiency, begging the question of whether Bluemotion trim will bring a hybrid drivetrain to the table. VW has reportedly ditched diesel-hybrid plans for a cheaper gas-electric unit. But Steiger only mentions a new range of 1.0 and 1.2-liter compact gas engines, with a possible forced-induction three-cylinder in the works. Either way, it's all a bit academic. Future US-market Rabbits will be developed separately, on cheaper platforms. Which is funny, because Auto Motor und Sport reports that the new "too-pricy-for-the-states" Golf costs nearly $2k less to produce than the outgoing model. Even with rising steel prices and a strong Euro, VW has managed to realize savings by reducing material costs, increasing volume and producing on a four-day work week. So, despite reducing the cost of building the new Golf, VW will be challenging Toyota in the US market with an even cheaper replacement for the Rabbit? With the diesel Jetta already behind the Prius curve, VW should bite the bullet and bring the Euro-Golf stateside, and proliferate stop-start across its US model line. Or give up its goal of taking on Toyota NA for volume sales.

Toyota's iQ is shaping out to be some of the toughest competition in the sure-to-grow city-car class. Winding Road has spy shots of the SMART-fighter road testing in Japan. Photos reveal the model's radical wheel-at-each-corner stance, facilitated by Toyota's newly developed differential, flat underfloor gas tank and angled rear suspension. By maximizing interior space, the Toyota will offer back row seating: room for three adults and one child or bag of groceries. The iQ is nearly two feet longer than the SMART, making it both more commodious AND better-proportioned. The small-but premium Toyota was caught in camouflage, but it's not hard to imagine the Geneva showcar's production-ready sheetmetal on this car. Toyota expects to sell 100k iQs per year, after launching the model into the teeth of the European city car market later this year. If it succeeds there, if gas prices continue their precipitous climb, don't be too surprised if the iQ shows up stateside, possibly in micro-ute Urban Cruiser form. We'll let you know.

Alfa's recently debuted [and far less cute than the] MINI-fighter– the MiTo— will soon get some drop-top glamor, according to promiscuous British car magazine AutoExpress. The cabrio is likely to debut in 2009. It's meant to offer "class leading" handling. For the sake of weight and price, the top will be soft. AutoExpress also reports that Alfa is angling to give the MiTo much, much better reliability than current and former Alfa nightmares– lest they continue to scare-off all remaining customers. While AE's chop looks good, Alfa, Fiat, and forgotten-sibling Lancia all need a rear wheel-drive (RWD) sports car or roadster. While Lancia recently declared that their two-seat Fulvia concept car was headed to production, there are two absolutely critical vehicles to affordable Italian brands: fantastic city cars and RWD roadsters. But as fuel economy and packaging are concerns for everyone, including the Europeans, front wheel drive just makes more sense. Not to mention the cost of developing an all new RWD platform. But really, do you want to live in a world where the Miata has no true Italian or British competitors? In any case, if Alfa's long prophesied return to the U.S. is for real, the MiTo and MiTo cabrio will most likely be part of the entourage.

In response to Honda's upcoming limited release of the FCX Clarity fuel cell car, Toyota has announced plans to start leasing the seductively named "FCHV-adv" in Japan later this year. If this is a beauty contest, FCX kicks FCHV's butt.  FCHV-adv's main claim to fame: a range of 760 – 830 km (472 – 516 miles). Long term durability of the fuel cell unit itself is "subject to ongoing R&D," which means it isn't there yet. Meanwhile, "Honda Motor Co.'s revamped fuel cell vehicle for leasing in California is rolling off a Japanese factory floor later this month." Forget Ford vs. Chevy; the real battle today is Honda vs. Toyota. Which begs the question: what happened to the GM Hy-Wire concept vehicle Wagoner showed off way back in 2002 as the The Answer? And lest we forget, where's the hydrogen for these vehicles going to come from? Oil?

The New York Times reports that the diesel version of the European market Honda Accord is headed for your Acura dealer as a TSX in 2009. Bosch, a key supplier, "sneaked" a demonstration version of the Honda Diesel into The Big Apple, where The Old Gray Lady got her hands on it. With no official EPA test numbers to speak of, the Times achieved "a remarkable 53 miles a gallon on the highway, 34 in the city and 44 in combined driving… including a bumper-to-bumper crawl through Manhattan." My personal TSX clocks-in at around 20 mpg in city driving and the 30s on the open highway; the Times' numbers a big jump in the right direction. Honda might be onto something here. Unlike Mercedes' Cailfornia-compliant oil burner, the Honda's mill doesn't require a urea tank. So much for German Engineering Superiority. If the final US market TSX can hit those fuel economy numbers… the diesel fuel price premium will still kneecap sales. The $5.13/gallon question is, since when is diesel the upmarket alternative to hybrids (including the ill-fated Mercedes 300SD)? The high-end Accord V6 hybrid was a flop. Will the TSX Diesel face the same fate? 

AutoExpress has released details of the next generation Vauxhall Astra (that's our Saturn Astra) VXR. The hot version will go on sale in– you guessed it– 2010. To comply with stricter fuel economy regs, GM's European ops will downsize the engine in the GTI-competitor, from its present 237 hp 2.0-liter to a 1.8-liter turbo, with something around 240 horsepower. Vauxhall claimsthe new powerplant will be more economical and efficient– both of which are probably true. But I'd imagine it's also because the torque steer in the 2.0-liter turbo model is supposedly driver-wrist-destroying. Is it coming to America? Considering how meager the American Astra sales have been– around 1000 a month (Cadillac still shifts 1500 Escalades)– the idea that we'll be getting the next gen Astra is sounding increasingly preposterous. It's too bad, because the car itself (both the regular Astra and hot versions) are credible Golf competitors. You know; in Europe.

This is just prurient, base, vulgar car lust in action. I have no cutting analysis to offer you, no insightful realizations, not even a regurgitated press release from a manufacturer intent on wowing you with numbers. Nope, it's just the sounds of Ferrari's new California model. OK, a couple of stats. The engine giving pistonheads eargasms is a fresh 4.3-liter V8 with direct injection, making 460 horsepower, routed to a seven-speed dual clutch transaxle. I think the Ferrari California is a good looking model but it's not breathtaking, and the folding hardtop is the kind of embarrassing mainstream compromise that should be outside of Ferrari's brand profile. Nevertheless, it's coming. (Make your own damn pun.)

Last week, we told you the EPA had certificated the Aveo-based Pontiac G3. We posited it would hit Pontiac showrooms in the U.S. next year. Now Automotive News [sub]  is thinking the same thing, citing "dealer sources" who say it's true– even though many Pontiac Buick/Pontiac/GMC dealers say they didn't ask for the car. Nor do they want it. Interestingly, several Pontiac executives found out the EPA had certified the G3 over the Memorial Day weekend, about the same time we did. Like it or not, GM needs to raise its CAFE averages in a hurry and adding something small, cheap and based on an existing car is the easiest way to do it. It just isn't the best way.

With the rest of the automotive world downsizing vehicles in the name of high world oil prices, Volvo has decided that the path to salvation for the Swedish American brand is… building their biggest wagon yet. This plan may not actually be as insane as it sounds. Volvo is promising something more along the lines of a wagonish crossover vehicle of some sort (think mini-van/wagon blend) seating five or seven with a selection of five or six cylinder inline gas of diesel engines, a turbo inline six and the Yamaha V8 seeing duty under many Swedish hoods on this side of the pond. FWD will be standard with AWD on the options list. Expect size somewhere between a BMW 5 and 7-Series and expect the Mercedes R class to be the conceptual model for the V100's market. Priced no doubt between Chrysler's most expensive minivans and the overpriced minivan crossover from the Germans, there might be a future for those recovering from a full size SUV's fuel appetite.