The Detroit Free Press reports that Chrysler has extended its short-term agreement with bankrupt supplier Plastech. The deal was expected by industry observers after Chrysler lost a court battle to strip Plastech of the toolings required to manufacture many of the plastic components in Chrysler's vehicles. The previous interim agreement was scheduled to lapse tonight, potentially stopping production at other Chrysler plants, but the extension will keep factories open through at least March third. This incredibly short-term measure keeps the prospect of further wrangling between Chrysler and its troubled supplier on the front burner. Between Plastech's reputed quality issues, Chrysler's clearly adversarial attitude towards its supplier and the ongoing resolution of Plastechs $488m in debts, this story is just starting to get interesting. Watch this space. 

Edmunds' Inside Line (EIL) is reporting that fewer and fewer consumers are opting for V8 engines. True dat. Despite gains in efficiency and weight, less folks aren't flocking to the fat lady. EIL blames the V8's lower fuel economy. The other, unexplored reason: four and six cylinder engines are larger in displacement than they were ten or fifteen years ago, and they're cranking out levels of power formerly reserved for V8s. (The gearbox revolution– that's taken everybody from four-speed autos to five, six, seven, eight or infinite gears– has certainly helped.) The numbers tell the tale: the 1998 Mercedes E320 had a 3.2-liter engine with 215 horsepower. The larger alternative: a 4.3-liter V8 with 275 horses. For the upcoming model year, the E350 will have 3.5-liters offering a whopping 300+ horsepower. The "our six now makes more than the V8 of a decade ago" philosophy also applies at BMW (305 hp I6 vs. 282 hp V8), Infiniti (330 hp V6 vs. 266 hp V8), GM (304 hp V6, 290 hp I6 vs. 250 hp V8s), and pretty much everyone else. Let's face it: in cars weighing between 3000 to 4000 lbs, the common folks don't have much use for engines with more than about 300 horsepower. Why would they pay to upgrade to a V8 when basic acceleration is so good? Why indeed.

Allstate can't sell new auto insurance insurance policies in Florida. The Chicago Tribune reports that the Florida Insurance Commission has revoked their certificate of authority to write new business because The Good Hands People refused to hand over documents on how they set rates in light of the company's relationships with trade groups and risk-modeling and insurance-rating firms. Allstate faced the same situation in Missouri and opted to pay fines rather than submit similar documents to a court. In the near term, industry experts don't expect Florida's actions to have much effect on the company. But Allstate's strained relationship with the state's regulators could impact them over time. Allstate said it was "surprised" by Florida's actions and is "evaluating its options."

Money.net reports that various U.K. authorities have destroyed some 45k uninsured vehicles during the first nine months of '07. Which is OK with Nick Starling, director of general insurance at the Association of British Insurers. "These figures show that the determination of the insurance industry and the police to drive them [uninsured motorists] from our roads is beginning to bear fruit." The Manchester Evening News says their local constabulary can claim 10k of that total. "Since January 2006 we have seized more than 25,000 vehicles," boasts Sgt Mark Beales of the Greater Manchester Police's traffic section. "We will continue to ensure there is no hiding place for those who break the law." While the Association of British Drivers (ABD) doesn't dispute the police's right to confiscate uninsured motorists' vehicles, ABD Environment spokesman Ben Adams argues "This government is so venomously anti-car, that confiscated vehicles are thoughtlessly crushed out of sheer spite. They claim the environment to be their top priority yet it appears they are encouraging the mindless destruction of huge resources of used parts that could be recycled and destroying serviceable cars." Fair dues?

The American Family Association (AFA) has sent out an "action alert" to its members informing them that Ford's health care policy covers the medical expense of workers who undergo a sex change operation. Apparently, a full page Volvo ad in The Advocate's transgender issue got someone within Donald E. Wildmon's organization thinking about Ford's medical plans for employees suffering from gender dysmorphia. The AFA report claims "Ford offers medical benefits to help pay expenses of those who choose to undergo sex change operations. Ford pays for mental health counseling, hormone therapy, medical visits, and short-term disability after surgical procedures for employees who desire to change their sex." The AFA hopes the alert will help add adherents to their petition declaring its signatories' intention to "boycott Ford Motor Company automobiles until Ford stops supporting homosexual groups which are pushing homosexual marriage." The AFA claims the e-document has attracted 777,833 signatures. Given that the organization also claims its campaign has been the "driving force" behind Ford's dropping sales and Bill Ford's decision to step aside for CEO Alan Mulally, a grain (though not a column) of salt may be in order.

According to Tecnoride, Safeco Insurance is prototyping a black box which will rat out young drivers who run afoul of their parents driving rules. Safeco's "Safety Beacon" contains a GPS unit to clock speed and location, and a phone system to alert concerned parents. If the driver operates the car outside of several preset boundaries, the gadget can trigger an email notification to parents, along with a text message to the offending party. An Instant Locate feature allows parents to find a Beacon-equipped car (via phone or the ‘net), but it’s “not a breadcrumb-tracking device”. Safeco spokesperson Jim Havens says Beta tests indicate that teens become "better drivers" and transgressions "quickly fall off.” So, can parents expect lower insurance rates as an incentive to sign-up for a $15 a month subscription? “Lower rates, like raising rates, is typically the province of state insurance departments” says Havens. As 007 would say, you must be joking.