For all of eternity, or at least modern eternity (since the birth of 8-Bit Nintendo), Ford has sold various iterations of the Duratec V6 engine. For the past umpteen years, the company used a 3.0-liter engine making about 200 horsepower. Using premium go-juice and variable valve timing, the six-pot produced in the realm of 227 horses in the Jag X-Type or 220 in the Mazda6 (the latter on 87 octane). This engine was supposed to be retired with the introduction of Ford's excellent new Duratec 35 engine. That mill currently motivates the new Ford Edge. In bored-out form– to 3.7 liters– it provides power for the Mazda CX-9 and upcoming Lincoln MKS. So far, so good. Old engine (Duratec 30) out, new engine (Duratec 35/37) in. But Ford has announced a major overhaul of the older 3.0-liter engine for duty in the coming years. The new 3.0-liter mill will now make some 240 horsepower in the 2009 Ford Escape (previously, it was rated at 200 ponies). Now the 35 is a truly modern engine, can accept direct injection and turbocharging. But even in naturally aspirated form, it makes 250+ horses. So it really begs the question: why is the 3.0-liter engine still on the table? And if I can beg a little more even, why isn't the 3.5/3.7 liter V6 available in the Mustang instead of the crotchety old 4.0 liter V6? Oh, you forgot that one, didn't you? One more: wasn't CEO Alan Mulally all about eliminating production complexity? I'm sure there are good reasons why this hasn't happened here (and I love to hear 'em), but the Duratec 35 is all you need from this point onward. Let economies of scale bring the costs of the 35 down, and dump the old 3.0 and 4.0-liter engines. KISS, baby.

GM's Vice-Chairman has (characteristically) been all over the map about the Volt's price. The Winner of TTAC's Bob Lutz Award has pegged the plug-in electric – gas hybrid's eventual sticker at everything from "around $30k" to $48k to $2.99 plus tax (just kidding; what's the bet there won't be any tax). And now Maximum Bob's boss has finally added his two bits on the Volt's msrp. In an interview with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine, GM Chairman Rick Wagoner threw down the gauntlet. "GM has a clear goal: we want to bring the Volt to the market in 2010 at a price of less than $30,000." Want. Not will. But wait there's more! Wagoner also says that "unlike Toyota, we want to make money on the Volt from the beginning. And the obstacles to that are reducing the price of the batteries and convincing the consumer of the advantages of the Volt." Profit? As in sell the Volt for more than it costs to make, from the get-go? Toyota didn't make a dime on the Prius for many years (the exact margins are unknown). Will Wagoner even be around to eat his words? Place your bets here.

The internets are abuzz with Fiatitude. Motor Authority reports that CEO Sergio Marchionne fingers distribution, rather than manufacturing, as Fiat's greatest hurdle to selling cars in the U.S. True dat. Setting-up a factory in Mexico wouldn't be impossible. But setting-up dealers and warranty service departments (which Fiat will need to convince people their cars aren't the unreliable rust buckets of yore) will cost serious dough. Wth U.S. car sales on the wane, who wants to buy a franchise from a risky manufacturer? Marchionne says he's shopping for an American partner. You just know it's going to be Chrysler. Maserati TC redux? Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the Italians (who already own the Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati names) are considering an additional brand to sell extremely low-cost vehicles in developing countries. Come again? The Fiat name has a lot of equity in the developing world (including Brazil, where the brand is popular). And besides, building cheap and cheerful cars is Fiat's forte. Anyway, my suggestion for a name for the automaker's low cost brand: Fiat.

Honda has long played second fiddle to Toyota in the hybrid powertrain department, especially from a public relations standpoint, but also in terms of technology, sales volume, and fuel economy. At least they've redoubled their efforts: Automotive News [sub]  reports a push to increase sales tenfold to 500k per year with four different models: the current Civic Hybrid, an upcoming dedicated sub-$20k model, a sporty hybrid previewed last fall as the CR-Z, and now an upcoming Fit hybrid in a few years' time. Although that's only half the annual sales that Toyota is projecting early in the next decade, all will be affordable and fuel efficient, unlike the short-lived V6 Accord Hybrid.

Edmunds' Inside Line quotes Lexus's corporate product planning manager as saying the price of the new Lexus LS-F price will "begin with a 2." We're guessing the V10 supercar won't be $29,995. In honor of this news, I've hit up the thesaurus: brainsick, off, daft, absurd and whack. See also: dismal failure, stillborn. Newsflash to Lexus. You're not Ferrari. This won't be a performance halo car (reference Acura's NSX and the amazing effects it had on making people think the RL was sporty). Also, people buying summer Sunday cars for $200k aren't motivated by factors like "reliability," especially when this hand built carbon fiber monster will likely not maintain the brand's hallmark reputation for non-breakage and low maintenance. And, because I especially don't care for this LF-A supercar, here's a list of cars that cost half as much with better looks (extrapolating), heritage or fun: Porsche 911 Turbo ($135k), Nissan GT-R ($70k +  ?), Corvette Z06 ($77k), Corvette ZR1 (estimated $100k), Ford GT (slightly used, $150k), Ferrari F430 ($175k), Aston Martin DB9 ($175k), and BMW M6 ($100k).

While FoMoCo puts lipstick on Volvo in hopes of a quick sale, it's quietly bringing several Ford Europe models to the U.S. in the hopes of reinvigorating small car and crossover sales. The Ford Fiesta imminent arrival is no secret, but Automotive News [sub] is reporting that Ford's next U.S. Focus will be European engineered on the global C1 platform. Ford's C-Max and Kuga– a pair of C1-based crossovers reflecting minivan and SUV influences (respectively) in the segment– will join their Euro brethren on this side of the pond. AN Europe [sub] spoke with Ford America President Mark Fields, who confirmed the importation schedule. "We really have to have the right cadence (and) marry up the cadence of freshenings between Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America," says Fields. "Leveraging scale by using common suppliers, you can't have one part of the world freshening a vehicle and assuming a year later another part of the world will do that." The range of FoMoCo's "Kinetic Design" kids heralds the demise of the current, lamentable Ameri-Focus and aged Escape. And not a moment too soon. But is it soon enough?

TTAC's general policy on press embargoes: no. RF believes that any media outlet that agrees to keep their mouth shut on behalf of a manufacturer is colluding with that manufacturer against the consumer's best interest. And yet, this morning, that's exactly what I did. I signed a piece of paper at the press launch for Ford Flex crossover– without reading the fine print. Which committed me to hanging fire until mid-June. And so I must honor that agreement. (For this I went to law school?) I have re-written my previous post to exclude any and all driving impressions gleaned during the Flex launch. The full review will appear as Ford desires: on June 12. I apologize without reservation to Ford for violating our agreement, and to any of my colleagues who may feel aggrieved by TTAC's "premature" post. 

Unless you don't live, breathe and sleep auto industry goss, you know high gas prices and a construction industry slowdown have killed sales of full-size pickups. Not a moment too soon, Ford is developing a new, more efficient pickup to fit between the F150 and the Ranger. Dubbed the P525, the lighter vehicle's based on the F150 frame, likely powered by one of Ford's new Ecoboost turbocharged V6s. "Sources" tell Automotive News [sub] that the pickup (which could carry the old F100 nameplate) is in Ford's product cycle plan, awaiting final approval. Will this new pickup will replace the Ranger, which could go out of production when Ford's Twin Cities plant shuts down in 2009? Hell if I know. But with revised CAFE regs looming, the new pickup is more likely to replace the F150 as Ford's volume truck (the current F150 returns between 13 and 20 mpg depending on trim). If the P525 graduates from development, expect "unique sheet metal and innovative storage space." We'll be a little more concerned with the weight and miles per gallon.

Since winning Le Mans with a diesel R10, Audi has been surprisingly shy about emphasizing diesel motorsports as part of its brand. That's starting to change; Audi's been showing versions of its R8 supercar with a 6.0-liter diesel V12 at auto shows. Und now… the A3 TDI Clubsport. This oil burning trackmeister is set to debut at the Lake Warther tour in Austria. Powered by an uprated version Audi's 2.0-liter TDI four-banger– making mit ze 224-hp and 332 lb-ft of torque– the hot hatch should scoot to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Quattro all wheel drive, a six-speed transmission and six-piston ceramic brakes round out the formidable platform. The usual boy-racer accoutrements adorn the exterior, from giant bolt-on wheel arches to a DTM-style spoiler, to 20" rims and a custom paint scheme. You want to buy one? Dream on– although Audi is prepping a roofless TT Clubsport for sale in 2010. With a TDI TT on sale now in Europe, there's a chance the TT Clubsport will offer the breathed-on diesel as an option. Or better yet, Audi may actually build the A3 TDI Clubsport as part of a whole line of Clubsport models. Normal, S-line, S and Clubsport. You pays you money, you take your depreciation…

The AP [via The Auto Channel] reports that Nissan is teaming-up with electronics giant NEC to mass produce lithium-ion batteries for the "next-generation of green cars." The Automotive Energy Supply Corporation is charged with making advanced li-ions for electric vehicles, hybrids and fuel cell thingamabobs. The plant should be up and running by 2009, producing 13k batteries annually. Eventually, AESC hopes to crank-out 65k batteries per year. Nissan's Executive VP Carlos Tavares says the Franco-tinged Japanese automaker wants to be a global leader in zero-emission vehicles. (Hey, who doesn't?) The man whose last name reminds us of the song "That's the sound the loneliness makes" insists that Nissan will introduce an electric vehicle in the U.S. and Japan, as well as its own hybrid, in 2010 [yes, there's that date again]. Nissan also plans to produce a zero-emission vehicles in Israel and Denmark by 2011, and market electric vehicles on a global scale by the year 2012. We would like to take this moment to remind Nissan of "Crazy" Henry Ford's maxim "you can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." Thank you.

Those are poster texmin's thoughts on AutoblogGreen's report on the latest update from our friends at Tesla Motors. (BTW Daryl, we seem to have been inadvertently omitted from your email list.) The letter reveals Tesla's revised production schedule (surprise!): a 600-car 2008 model run by April 2009, followed by the 2009 models. Reader Chris H isn't impressed. "Three cars in 9 weeks…. Three weeks to build one car? At this rate it will take over five years just to get through the Founders Series and the Signature 100." In other news, Tesla's testing a new electronics module in preparation for the yet-to-see-daylight one-speed gearbox; both will be a "running production change." The standard 3 year/36k mile warranty can now be extended to 4 years/50k miles– at a price (the 2008 Roadster Club members get free extended coverage). Tesla Roadster owners living more than 100 miles from a service center no longer have to pay $8k up front to cover service transportation. They just pay for as few (or as many) trips as needed. By this time next year, Tesla plans on having stores in L.A. (done), Menlo Park New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Miami and Seattle. And finally, if you want a 2009 Roadster, the base price has risen from $98k to $109. To which leroy replied, "Save yourself $90,000 and just buy a used Lotus Elise. 90 grand will buy a hell of a lot of gasoline." 

I'm the first to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of drag racing. Yes, I intellectually understand how powerful, nifty and skilled everyone involved in the sport is. But I'm just not a fan. However — and a big however — I do love the technology that goes into and comes out of drag racing. More power, stronger components and lighter weight. Guess what? Chrysler is about to make all my dreams come true. Motor Authority is describing the Challenger drag racing kit as a throwback to the Hemi Dart and Barracuda packages of decades gone by. Specifically, what do you get? A lighter chassis. This is the big one, as the Challenger SRT-8 weighs more than a 1970 New Yorker. No, really. Internet speculation is claiming the chassis will be 800 pounds less fat. Which is (or isn't) huge. Draggers will also get lots of engine choices (duh), the possibility of a manual transmission, better brakes, seats, cooling, a working hood scoop and a lift off composite hood. The drag racing package is aimed at both pros and amateurs, is currently being vetted by the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) to sanction the kit for competition use. I can smell the top fuel now. And the pomade.

VW's announced a new North American factory and whittled down the short list of locations in Alabama, Tennessee and (yeah right) Michigan. Volkswagen has only one problem with its U.S. market strategy, which calls for sales of 1m units per year: "we need models for the US market." Yes there is that. In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, VW works council boss Bernd Osterloh says that picking the right models for the American market is a far more important (undecided?) issue than the American factory's location (yes way). That said, Osterloh claims the decision is not urgent; VW's Mexican facilities can begin production of the new, as-yet-undecided American models before the new factory is online. Osterloh calls the U.S. market a herausforderung (loosely translated as a pain in the ass) for the entire industry. Apparently VW doesn't even have a coherent diesel strategy for their deeply respected American consumers. For a German firm, that's saying a lot. Machts schnell burschen!

Autospies reports a probable reason for Audi's recently revealed R8 incenttives: an engine upgrade. The dons of Ingolstadt are looking to drop the Lamborghini Gallardo's V10 under the R8's freshly-minted hood. Sure, Sant'Agata may be embarrassed by all of the Audi-sourced components in its exotic whips, but that's not stopping Audi from raiding its corporate cousin's engine bin for a little go-fast. No one seems sure if the V10 will fully replace the V8, or if it will be offered as a higher performance trim (SR8? R8S?). But you can (supposedly) hear the extra cylinders by watching the video which seems to have sparked all this speculation here. Audi has yet to comment on the cylinder count speculation, so, caveat gawker. Meanwhile, the Pagani Zonda is "downgrading" from its AMG-sourced V12 to the McLaren-Mercedes SLR AMG SVP ASAP STAT's kompressor V8. AMG is phasing out its V12s, and the V8 in question ups the ante-matter from 540hp to 680hp (as well as improving fuel efficiency). Check out the prototype next-gen Zonda here.

Car Magazine reports that Infiniti will be building a convertible version of its G37 coupe as part of Nissan's planned new model blitz. To give its new boulevardier the coupe-cabriolet look that's launched a hundred thousand SLKs, Infiniti will fit the drop top with a folding hardtop. As for drivetrain and handling, I got nothing. The usual rendered speculation is typically conservative, and given Infiniti's rep for, um, restrained styling, it's probably not far off the mark. Look for the G37 convertible to hit the mistress' hot button in February of next year. Meanwhile, Motor Authority reveals that Cadillac has axed plans for a CTS convertible. While noting that the two-door CTS coupe is still FAB, GM has refused to officially comment on the rumored stillbirth. While it's tempting to lambast GM for skipping an opportunity to build a vehicle which could boost The General's image, a half-baked convertible with an insufficient development budget would be disastrous for its premium brand. (Just ask Pontiac how it likes its drop-top G6.) Not as disastrous as, say, an entry-level model below the CTS, but bad. No word on whether there'll be a CTS-V Coupe, but we're reasonably optimistic Caddy's fascination for the Green Hell will continue apace. Literally.