Autoweek 's Richard Truett reports that General Motors, feeling squeezed by ever-tightening fuel economy standards and ever-rising gas prices, is considering offering a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine for the base trim of its upcoming 2010 (for this week, anyway) Camaro. Speaking at the NY Autoshow, GM Vice-Chairman and daily TTAC newsblog fodderman Bob Lutz said he feels that the RWD drivetrains available from the Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line would make an excellent fit in a Camaro. Of course, the last time GM tried the i4/Camaro recipe, we ended up with the "Iron Duke" in slower-than-molasses 1982 Camaro. It's not so much the number of cylinders or the power output that bothers me – indeed, a 260 HP Ecotec is more powerful than some V8's of yore – but the turbocharging. To me, American muscle means a big, lazy, rumbling naturally-aspirated torque bomber with even power and torque-curves. I don't think I could ever get used to a Camaro with the exhaust note of a Cobalt SS.

At a special session for bloggers– accessed by TTAC after RF's personal appeal to Maximum Bob– GM Car Czar Bob Lutz said he's "given up on a thirty-thousand dollar Volt." In fact, even priced closer to $40k "we're not going to make a dime on the Volt for years." Lutz dismissed any concerns about profitability, labelling the electric – gas hybrid "an eco-flagship." The new pricing strategy: a tax credit or rebate to get the consumer's out-of-pocket expenses in the "lower thirties." While millionaire bankers and movie stars have flocked to the Prius for its earth-saving cred, the real reason for its strong sales numbers: the price starts in the low twenties. So Lutz' dream– that consumers will pay $35k+ for a grocery-getting Volt– seems a little… futuristic.

The nice thing about security guards at auto shows is that they know very little about security and can't guard shit. As Justin and I were looking for the aforementioned free lunch (which indeed there is no such thing as), we headed into a conference room. "Are you with Toyota?" the guard demanded (in the sense of idly inquired). A simple "yes" and there it was: the new Scion Haku concept. The California sunset (TM) orange car looked like a chopped xB, with bells on. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me. So… then I met Matt Hardigree of Jalopnik, who'd been given a magenta-colored press pass (PR) by mistake. I sent Matt back into the room to grab some shots of the top secret Scion, with the understanding that we'd post them simultaneously. Done. TTAC. Making friends wherever we go. 

Kind of an ugly sucker, no? And before you start groaning, Motor Authority reports the proposed Raptor can also run on regular gasoline. Obviously, Saleen already has the manic, monstrous S7 hypercar (which creates so much downforce it can be driven upside down) in its stable. Only problem there is, the massively scalloped S7 retails for $600,000. The S56 Raptor however, should it see the light of day, will sticker for "just" $190,000. And what does the monetary equivalent of a five-bedroom house in Albuquerque get you? A mid-engined, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 than can summon 650 horses and 630 lb-ft of twist. That will equate to a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed in the 200 mph 'hood. Our favorite part? It's getting a six-speed manual instead of some high-falutin' flappy paddle misnomer. Will they build it? Don't know. But you can never have too many supercars, now can you?

Land Rover has announced that its LRX concept "cute ute" will be available in showrooms sometime in 2010. Auto Express tells us (over the sounds of retching from the Berkowitz household) that the name "Freelander Sport" is likely to grace the road-oriented, strangely-styled ute. Why would a firm which built its rep for utter capability off-road bring out such a compromised interpretation of its brand vision? It's the ecology, stupid. We're told that both the 2.2-liter diesel and the 3.2-liter V6 will be equipped with stop-start technology as the brand struggles to prepare itself for new EU CO2 average emissions standards which go into effect in 2012. There's even talk of a hybrid powertrain down the road. So, think of this as Landie's answer to Ken Livingstone's crusade against "Chelsea Tractors." Actually, it's more of a "Chelsea Riding Mower."

Green Car Congress  reports that Subaru will announce testing of its R1e electric vehicle (EV) tomorrow, 20 March 2008, and will subsequently display a prototype at the New York International Auto Show. They will also provide two R1e's to the New York Power Authority for evaluation. Subaru claims that the 40kW drive motor will give the two-seater R1e a top speed of 65 mph and range up to 50 miles. NEC, NEC TOKIN and Nissan have formed a joint-venture, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), to provide automotive lithium-ion batteries. AESC's 346V battery pack uses lithium manganese oxide spinel (LiMn2O4) as the cathode's active material. Besides recharging to 80 percent capacity in 15 minutes, the battery should be resistant to overcharging and thermal instability. At least that's what they say.

Back in July, we brought you news of Honda's plans to build a new V8 engine for its passenger cars. Once again the rumor mills are milling away, with Edmunds' Inside Line reporting that Acura will be bringing a 400+ horsepower V8 luxury sedan to market, with a speculative price tag of $70k. Acura's image problems aren't just that they don't sell a car that's truly competitive with the E-Classes and 5-Series of the world. It's that they aren't viewed as a truly top-tier luxury brand. Just because they price a car in that category, it doesn't mean they'll become part of the German trifecta overnight (see: Cadillac). The near luxury gig works well for Acura, and I argue that there's no shame in topping-out your model line at $45k (other than a future NSX)– and making money while doing it. Rather than another BMW pretender, most enthusiasts would probably prefer the return of truly enjoyable, affordable, and maintainable cars like the Integra and Legend.

Hyundai sales executive Young-Key Koo revealed to China Daily (via MotorAuthority) that the Korean carmaker will be spinning off a new luxury brand. The new nameplate caps Hyundai's steady upmarket climb, and could well compete with Acura, Infiniti and Lexus in the not-too-distant but not-anytime-soon future. The brand will be officially launched in 2010. New luxury models will hit China first. A sportscar and V8-powered "flagship sedan" are set to arrive in the Middle Kingdom next year, with a CUV to follow. News of a new name and logo has our hopes high for something hilariously generic, yet totally inappropriate. "The all new Smegma V8" sounds good to me, as does "The European-Inspired Ennui Roadster." So we put it to you, TTAC's Best and Brightest. What should Hyundai call its new luxury brand?

In my recent review of the ZAP Xebra  I stuck my neck out and said: "The Xebra probably costs $3k to make. It's certainly not worth much more than that." Turns out I was being (uncharacteristically) conservative. According to newlaunches.com, a four-wheel version of the Xebra is to be sold in India as the Tara Tiny for $2450. A joint venture between India's Tara and China's Aucma, a manufacturer of electric vehicles, will result in the "the world's cheapest car;" undercutting the Tata Nano by a whopping $50. The Xebra sedan is being sold here for up to $16k. BTW, battery life for the Xebra is 4k miles, according to a poll of owners. And how do I know it's the Xebra? That fourth wheel is a good disguise, but I'd recognize that god-awful hard-shell one-piece dashboard anywhere, even half-way around the world.

Another day, another leak. Pontiac's PR "accidentally" posted a preview of the NY Auto Show's debut on Pontiac's website, and it "accidentally" contains a picture of the Solstice coupe that's headed for production. The coupe will do away with the convertible's biggest flaw: being a convertible. Then again, it also means giving up the Solstice's biggest redeeming quality: when the top is down, it's a pleasant roadster. That said, it should be a hoot when set up with the 2.0-liter, 260-horse turbo. Camaro cannibalization? Of course not. We'll have pictures from the NY show in a few days. In the meantime, when are we going to stop these blatant attempts at media manipulation "leaks?"

For whatever reason (to please Hannibal Lecter fans?), Ford's product planners have decided to produce an upmarket version of the new Flex. Ford spokesman Mark Schirmer told the Detroit News that Ford "is actively pursuing a luxury crossover for Lincoln." By offering a new vehicle based on the so-not-a-minivan Flex, plus discontinuing the Mark LT pickup, The Blue Oval Boyz hope to "refocus the Lincoln brand and make it a serious contender again in the luxury space." The MOU812 is based on the whale baleen-snouted Lincoln MKT concept unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. It's now due to hit the streets in 2009, bolstering sales and destroying what little brand equity Lincoln may have left. Oh, and no word on a Mercury variant, despite FoMoCo's promises not to leave Jill Wagner high and dry.

Today's "internet-broken embargo" brings you pictures of Hyundai's new Genesis coupe. Genesis is also the name of Hyundai's new big RWD luxury sedan. While the coupe shares its name, it shares none of the sedan's handsome sheetmetal. I think it's scary, early 1990s ugly. The coupe will get a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a V6 (probably with ~300 horsepower); making it sound like it could be either a Mustang/Camaro competitor in the mid $20ks. Or it could attempt to do to the Infiniti G37 coupe what the Infiniti G37 coupe does to the BMW 335i. More for less. To make matters worse, the pictures come courtesy of forums at "New Tiburon," even though previous rumors were that the RWD Genesis coupe would be a separate model from an upcoming all-new FWD Tiburon. So, which is it? Affordable muscle car competing with the Mustang? Luxury sports coupe going head to head with BMW and Infiniti? A new Tiburon? And willthe coupe ever offer Hyundai's new 380 horsepower V8? Only time will tell. And by time, I mean four days, which is when this car is properly unveiled at the NY Auto Show.

Click here for a Pixamo gallery of the Genesis coupe 

That's right, Nissan is "heavily" refreshing the Maxima that's been in service since 2004. And what are they doing with car made obsolete by the V6 Altima and Infiniti G35? Your guess is as good as mine. Torque steer is already an issue on the Maxima, so more power may not be welcome. At least now there are 4DSC stickers on the side windows. But is that any different than VW trying to channel the spirit of the original, lovable Rabbit into the new one with a chrome rabbit logo on the trunk? The only thing we know is that we'll know on Wednesday the 19th. Autoblog claims it's "completely redesigned" but if you look at the teaser pics, there seems to still be funk in the trunk (lid) like the current car. So will it be what we all want, a light fun car in keeping with the original 4DSC? I'm guessing no, it'll be fat and sorta fun and not have much space in the market, like the current Maxima.

C/Net reports that Zap, failed smart importer and provider of the TTAC one-star Xebra electric vehicle, has big plans. Again. Still. Two years ago, Zap was trash talking about a luxury, all-electric SUV called the Zap-X. It was due, uh, now. Anyway, forget about that, for now (Zap says later, Dude). Zap is now busy hyping the three-wheeled Alias, supposedly set for production in 2009. Following the Tesla template for over-promising and under-delivering, Zap says the $30k Alias will top-out at 100mph and travel 150 miles on a single charge (or less, obviously). The Alias will "likely" come with a hybrid range extender: a small gas motor that can power the car or charge the battery. And just in case that doesn't sound totally Tesla-like, "Zap and China's Youngman Automotive Group [the same carmaker responsible for the execrable Xebra], through a joint venture called Detroit Electric, will then follow up with an economy car, roughly coming out in 2010 or 2011, then a four-seater sedan similar in size and price to a Honda Civic. Subsequently, it will come out with a four-seater sedan that will compete in the Audi class." As if.

The Financial Times reports that VW CEO Martin Winterkorn is dissing the darling of Dearborn and the apple of GM's eye: the "world car." "The days of a 'world car' are dead and buried," Herr Winterkorn pronounced. "Our customers in China or India expect us, as a global player, to offer entirely different solutions than we do in the US or western Europe." To that end, VW will be rolling out no fewer than 20 new models in the next three years– as it tries to oust Toyota from the top global sales spot. But Wolfsburg's ambitious sales goals may not have unequivocal support from its new owners, Porsche SE. According to the FT, there's division on the Porsche board about Vee-Dub's global strategy. Wolfgang Porsche, recently voted onto the VW board, is said to head a faction which wants an emphasis on profits, rather than record sales. This might explain the recent unpleasantness between the two grandsons of Ferry Porsche.