Sorry dude, but all 200+ examples of the forthcoming Roller Coupe already have buyers. Pretty nifty when you consider the $400,000 Phantom two-door isn't even at dealers yet. Hell, us auto journo slobs haven't gotten our greasy mitts on the dang things either. Equally flabbergasting, according to Motor Authority the Phantom Drophead Coupe is sold out through the middle of 2009. And they've already moved 250 of those teakwood-decked convertibles. CEO Ian Robinson also wants you to know that two-thirds of the Phantom Coupe's customers are newbies to the ultra-high end car market. Rolls-Royce is therefore poised to smash last year's sales record of 1,010 units sold. How can we account for such growth? Well, either the rich are getting that much richer, or Rolls is building a highly desirable product that consumers in their target demographic actually aspire to. We're thinking a little from column A, a little from column B. We're also dumping all our Maybach stock, post haste.

Not content with redefining built-it-yourself furniture, the Swedes have decided it is time to redefine driving. Since Sweden has the highest car-sourced CO2 emissions in the EU (mostly due to their love of huge Volvo wagons), the Swedish EPA (SEPA) has announced that anyone obtaining a new drivers license in Sweden must take eco-driving lessons. Added to the already lengthy licensing process in Sweden are class-based sessions as well as behind-the-wheel instruction on lugging your engine shifting to the highest gear as soon as possible, coasting whenever possible with the goal to avoid using your brakes. SEPA claims this process reduced fuel consumption by 10 percent (two – three MPG for most cars). According to Emilie Lundros (preparing to take her final test next month), students who don’t ecodrive fail the new tests. Catching ‘em early seems to be the key. “I only drive eco” says Lundros, “That’s the only way I have been taught, it was easy to get the hang of it and feels natural and comfortable… My parents? They think it’s a bit boring really.” So there you go, our future lies in the hands of the young saving 10 percent and having 10 percent less fun in the process. Parking lot hoonage? Det är strikt förbjudet nu.

Chinese firm BYD (better known as an industry leader in NiCad and Lithium Ion batteries) unveiled its second plug-in hybrid at the Geneva Auto Show. Green Car Congress says its unique three-mode hybrid drivetrain starts in full-electric mode, switches to range-extending serial hybrid mode, and finally to Prius-style parallel hybrid setting (with gas and electric motor operating together). Scheduled for 2010 (isn't everything?), the new F3DM is aimed at the European market. BYD is not shy about its chances for success in the hybrid and electric car markets. "Battery technology is our core competency," Chairman Wang Chaunfu boasts. "And we think we are well-placed against GM and Toyota." No surprise then, that the company's 20kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack can go 70 miles on a single (long-ish) nine-hour 220 VAC charge… with a gas engine ready to kick in to extend range or increase power at any time. With a BYD test-fleet of taxis preparing to take to the streets of Shenzhen, the first automaker to sell an out-of-the-box, plug-in hybrid could well be Chinese. 

Britain's Advertising Standard Authority has called-out a Saab ad for its E85-capable, "BioPower" vehicles. The ad claims "bioethanol consumption does not significantly raise atmospheric levels of CO2." The watchdog agency also received complaints about the ad's claim that E85 reduced C02 emissions by 70 percent over normal gasoline– but dismissed them. Saab was able to prove that the assertion is factually true… if you use Brazilian sugar-ethanol. Still, it seems like Saab ad execs could have done the math and discovered that even with a best-case 70 percent reduction in C02 emissions, 30 percent of a gas-powered Saab's emissions still qualify as a "significant contribution" towards atmospheric carbon. Of course they didn't, which is why the ASA ruled that the ad is "misleading" as readers are "likely to infer that bioethanol did not add a significant amount of CO2 to the atmosphere." What a concept: requiring fairness, math skills and even-handedness of people who are just trying to save the world by selling more cars. Now if only we had a watchdog to similarly debunk the pro-E85 falsehoods spewed by America's business and political leaders. Oh wait… you're reading it. 

The demise of the Camaro left the Air Force's U-2 Dragonlady pilots with a problem. The Camaros were used as chase vehicles for the take-offs and landings of the surveillance jet. One Camaro "sees" for the pilot (who literally can't see the runway), and another carries the removable wing landing gear that detach upon take-off. After years of hard abuse, the Camaros finally started to give up, and the USAF needed a very fast, stable platform to chase the jet down the runway. Corvettes were too expensive, and couldn't carry a wing strut. That left the Mustang GT, GTO, Charger R/T or something "ferrin" (other than the GTO). After several trials, they selected the GTO 6.0-liter as the quickest, most reliable chase car. If you're looking for a used GTO and can't find one, blame the Boys in Blue. The GTO of your dreams is probably chasing a U2 down a runway somewhere. No shit.

Jeremy Clarkson is wrong! Top Gear demonstrated the Toyota Hilux survives drowning, fire, a tree, a wrecking ball, and the destruction of a skyscraper. However, the one thing he didn't try was handing it over to the average American Airmen/Soldier. Just like the Nissan Urvan, the Hilux' manual transmission couldn't handle the abuse heaped on it by America's finest and ended up with stripped synchronizers and chipped gears. To rectify the situation, the USAF recently purchased a fleet of Chevrolet Silverado Z71 6.0-liter uber-trucks for several deployed locations, with automatic transmissions, and push-button four-wheel drive. I wonder how those would hold up to Jeremy Clarkson?

Wait, it's worse than that… The Bath Chronicle reports that Ilya Galic drove into the spa town and parked in a pay-as-you-go parking lot. He fed a ticket machine £1.20 ($2.38) for his one-hour stay. The meter only registered £1, missing 20 pence (about 40 cents). Galic complained to the parking attendant, who told him the machines often “went wrong,” and promised to sort out the matter. Just to be sure, Galic phoned the parking office, who told him someone would look it. Last month, Galic received a letter demanding a £353.74 ($701) parking penalty payment. A bailiff turned up at Galic’s house to claim one of the family’s cars as payment for the debt. When Galic asked the bailiff to leave, he called the police. Four policemen arrived at his Newbridge home. The bailiff eventually “settled” for £410.99 ($815.52), around six weeks worth of Galic’s pension income (which covered assorted additional fees). A council spokeswoman was unmoved. The authority had not received any complaints in writing, so that’s that. 

We've heard this somewhere before… but it wasn't Chrysler… Oh, right! Nearly two years ago, Renault-Nissan CEPO Carlos Ghosn was making noise about joining/purchasing/dismantling General Motors (at the behest of the Lion of Las Vegas, investor Kirk Kerkorian). GM CEO Rick Wagoner Wagoner circled his Board of Bystanders' wagons and GM was free to tank on its own. As the Motor Authority reports, it's the same story here kids. Anyway, Renault is hoping to make out like a bandit with its 25 percent ownership of longstanding Russian punchline automaker Lada. As Carlos puts it. "Russian car sales may surpass Germany to become Europe's largest single market this year." Also, they may not. Either way, Renault may start supplying Lada with platforms and drivetrains. Presumably it'll be the same entry level stuff Renault-Nissan is giving Chrysler to sell in South America. Wait, what? Anyone else confused?

When Renault bought a 25 percent stake in Russia's AvtoVAZ late last month, we thought it was just another company chasing the big money in Russia's expanding car market. Having jointly manufactured cars with VAZ for years, GM clearly sees the French incursion in slightly more threatening terms. Speaking in Geneva (via CNN Money), GM Europe president Carl-Peter Forster says "it's too early to tell" exactly how the Renault play will affect the Chevy Niva joint factory in Tolyatti. But he's clearly worried. So worried in fact, that he became downright effusive while describing his company's desire to continue the Tolyatti venture. Calling the factory "a nice little diamond, a gem," Forster unwittingly raised serious concerns about his mental health and/or his local knowledge. Less than a week ago, the head of procurement for AvtoVAZ was found stabbed to death in his Tolyatti apartment. It's hard to decide which is funnier: Renault buying a stake in VAZ within days of the stabbing of one of its executives, or GM's concern that it won't be the only game in a town where gangs are waging a turf war to control the auto industry. As the Brits say, it's six of one, a half dozen of the other.

In inflation-adjusted terms, oil is at its historic peak. The 1980's price of $39.50 a barrel translates to $103.76 in today's money. Many analysts attribute these high oil prices to speculation and increasing demand. And yet the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries  (OPEC) have long fine-tuned their production output to micromanage world markets. So says the International Herald Tribune. The Trib reports that OPEC may forego their usual springtime production cut to spare the reeling US economy even higher oil prices. Deutsche Bank's chief energy economist says it's one of those PR-type deals. "They don't want to be blamed for a recession," claims Adam Sieminski. "That would be bad public relations." U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman is down with that. "It is important that the members of OPEC for their own sake carefully look at supply and demand." OPEC's choice, however, is between cutting production and maintaining the current output. For whatever geo-political/economic reason, increasing production seems to be off the table. Once again, it may be time for someone in Washington to pick-up the bat phone and call our good friends at the Saudi embassy… 

UPDATE: Reuters reports that OPEC has decided to keep oil output steady. That said, Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi claims they’ve been pumping 9.2m barrels per day (bpd), already roughly 300k bpd above their OPEC target.

According to the Financial Times' "Who's who" roundup, relations between the two halves of Porsche's ruling family are chilly– despite joint ownership of what will be the largest automaker in Europe. Apparently, Ferdinand Piech, chairman of Volkswagen, and Wolfgang Porsche, chairman of Porsche, had a bit of a spat at a recent Porsche board meeting. The two ordered everyone out of the room while they hashed out their unspecified difference. When they emerged, Wolfgang was "the surprising winner." According to an unnamed source close to both men (presumably not in a sexual way), the two grandsons of the legendary Ferdinand Porsche "are not scratching out each other's eyes but it is no secret that the Porsches and Piëchs were never really a loving couple." (Then again…) "Who's who" implies that Wolfgang Porsche's power is on the wane. And yet… his close relationship with Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking (is it me?) is said to give him an upper hand in the new power politics at Porsche Automobil Holdings, VW's new master. Supposedly. Anyway, it's good to see the "collegial partnership" is off to such a good start…

For some time we've heard rumors that Ferrari has been considering the possibility of thinking about maybe considering producing an "entry level" model codenamed 4139. Autoweek says si, a $190k fourth model is on its way. The mag isn't naming sources. Nor are they naming its name; "California," " Dino" and "Piccolina" are all in the running. Apparently, the miniature pony will sport a 4.3-liter V8 just like its big brother F430 and cousins Alfa Romeo 8C and Maserati GranTurismo. However, it will only share a block with the F430. The baby gets all new injection rails, intakes, cylinder heads, valvetrains and some sort of never before used throttle body. The steerage class engine will also get direct injection (for improved mileage) and an eco-minded transmission. Even stranger, the latest Maranello product supposedly started life as a Maserati-Pininfarina joint [venture]. Weirder still, the 4139 will feature a Pininfarina-sourced folding steel top. Actually, Pininfarina might built a good chunk of the car as Ferrari's assembly lines are already at (or past) capacity. So, who's excited about a super-expensive, Maserati-derived, Pininfarina-built, 2+2 folding roof Ferrari (or not) that might be called Piccolina? Bueller?

In the past 10 years, more than twenty-five thousand drivers have been caught by a speed camera in Chideock (pronounced ‘Chiddick’). According to the UK's Daily Mail, a location marking one part of the road’s 30mph zone was defined as “Seatown Road.” Problem: there’s no such place. The road’s real name is “Duck Street.” The discrepancy came to light when Alan Dawe appealed his speeding conviction. The judge in the case threw out the ticket, ruling that "We cannot be sure the stretch of road is [speed] restricted.” The Dorset Safety Camera Partnership (DSCP) has admitted that thousands of motorists were fined £60 in error. If all of those drivers appeal, the partnership would owe them £1.5m (U.S. $2.97m). Shouldn't the points be removed from offenders' licenses and the money be refunded automatically? And what about raised insurance premiums? And let me guess where the refunds will come from (now that the money's already spent): taxpayers. Meanwhile, guess what Auto Express discovered when they asked 100 city councils how they were spending the money from a multi-million pound “road safety grant?" Yup, speed cameras.

Reuters reports that Ford is developing a new business plan for Volvo, which would require allow the Swedish subsidiary to operate on a more independent basis. Citing slides posted to the company's website– which will accompany a presentation to analysts at the Geneva Auto Show– the report indicates that Volvo's return to "sustainable profits" is "the top priority." Not a bad plan, considering the persistent rumors that Ford had shopped Volvo around without garnering a single serious purchase offer. Whether the "appropriate business arrangements" can really improve Volvo's lousy recent performance remain to be seen… especially if this moves turns out to be some kind of accounting shell game. Jaguar and Landie sale in trouble. Volvo hung out to dry. Will no one relieve me of these brands?

In news sure to disappoint the stateside fanboys who've waited decades for a replacement to Vee-Dub's Corrado, Wolfsburg announced that the new Portuguese-built Scirocco coupe will not be coming to the U.S. According to Bloomberg (the news agency, not the Mayor of NYC, although he owns the news agency), VW's sales and marketing chief Detlef Wittig told reporters at the Geneva Auto Show that "this car would fit the U.S. market but at the current exchange rate we wouldn't make any money." The currency differential combined with VWs ambitious plans for an American resurgence (1m units per year or… less!) have led the Porsche-controlled company to look at sites for a new American manufacturing plant. (Wittig said VW should be done with its tax break hunt search by June of this year.) No word on whether the Scirocco embargo is part of a scheme to get coupe-loving 20-somethings to buy more savings bonds to prop up the free-falling dollar. But we doubt it.