Have money, need growth: GM to invest $6b in Daewoo

GM has been rapidly expanding in countries outside the US, and South Korea-based Daewoo has been a major contributor to the company's growth in developing markets. GM is redoubling their commitment to Daewoo by investing $6 billion in the once bankrupt automaker over the next few years. President and chief executive of GM DAT Michael Grimaldi says the money will be used to expand design, engineering, and for new plants and products. Among the projects on the table are a mini car and a small car, which could mean that some form of the Beat, Trax, or Groove could be in the pipeline. With relatively low labor costs and a free trade agreement with the US, GM Daewoo could expand their role of providing low-cost economy cars to our shores, but with a Chevy badge.

Will there be anything left? Tulsa Belvedere set to be de-rusted

The SS Belvedere emerged from its not-so-dry-dock almost two months ago, in all its ferrous oxide glory. Apparently the offer of restoration by Boyd Coddington has either been refused or rescinded, but either way, the Mopar is headed to New Jersey for a spa treatment. Safest Rust Remover, a product of the Ultra One Corporation, is going to take a crack at dissolving just the rust, and leaving everything else intact. It makes us wonder, once you dissolve that rust, will there be merely the lacy suggestion of a '57 Plymouth, rendered in mid-century steel?A website has been launched so you can keep an eye on the progress. All reports about the Safest Rust Remover product are positive, and the non-acid mixture is used to clean Manhattan's Holland and Lincoln Tunnels. A vat half the size of an Olympic swimming pool might be needed, but maybe there's hope for the old girl yet. The game plan for the car is to not restore it, just clean it up and get the engine running -- once those goals are met, a re-unveiling back in Tulsa will be planned. They should get those Skoda bakers for the event so there's at least one perfect looking Belvedere there.

RE: buhbye - Zetsche bids farewell to Chrysler employees via e-mail

Looking to exit, stage left on a melodious note, Doc Zee has bid the Chrysler team a semi-farewell via email. The message was a polite "thank you," instead of the possibly more appropriate "thanks for letting us swoop in from Stuttgart, blast through your cash and let your product line languish." Dieter Zetsche and Tom LaSorda dashed off the e-mail to all Daimler and Chrysler workers this morning. The sale of the Chrysler unit to Cerberus Capital Management is wrapping up, and the executives extended thanks to employees for all the hard work they've performed over the past nine years. While they are splitting, the rhetoric in the e-mail indicates that there will be some intertwining of the two businesses going forward. Collaboration will continue on electrical components (we hope Chrysler can teach Mercedes a thing or two about making reliable electrics), platform architectures for unitized SUVs and power units. Those collaborations were likely far underway when the schism occurred, and both companies will benefit from the cross pollination. We bet Dieter can bang out a convincing "Free BIrd" on that axe.

Forbes identifies the commutes that kill

Ever feel like one more day of commuting will kill you? You might be right, especially if you live in Riverside, California. Or Atlanta. Or Los Angeles. Those are the top three cities on Forbes' list of the 25 with the most unhealthy commutes. The combination of dangerous drivers, the stress of dealing with them and high levels of air pollution is apparently taking a serious toll on big-city commuters' health. Forbes quotes one study showing Americans commute an average of 25 minutes every day, but are exposed to 50% of the day's pollution during their drives. One study found diesel particle levels four to eight times greater inside commuters' cars than outside. That's nothing to sneeze at.Southern California gets four spots on the list, with Houston, Miami, Detroit and Washington, D.C., taking some of the others.There are ways to make your drive to and from work healthier, though. Forbes recommends you roll up your windows and set the air to recirculate. That will reduce some of the incoming air, and maybe some of the particulates that clog up your respiratory plumbing. Another health-saving solution is to take the long way home. Taking that curvy road home will not only give your inner F1 driver an outlet, but it will also avoid all those particulates spewed by diesel trucks on the highways.

Volvo recalling 42,000 XC90s

Volvo has revealed that it's recalling 42,000 XC90 SUVs to inspect a suspect battery switch. Only North American vehicles had this switch, which apparently creates the risk of short circuits if the jack handle comes into contact with it. Volvo seems particularly concerned that this could happen on vehicles that were serviced by technicians in such a way that the potential for a short circuit was created. The recall is only for the 2005 Volvo XC90, though. Volvo dealers will check the recalled cars and slap a sticker on them somewhere to instruct future service technicians how to avoid the risk of a short circuit. Apparently it's a preemptive strike by Volvo, as there haven't been any reports of short circuiting so far.

In So. Cal.? Drive the new Impreza WRX on August 11th

Although all the major media outlets have posted their reviews of the new WRX, nothing compares to actually getting some seat-time in Subaru's latest iteration of the Impreza. If you're willing to look beyond the stagnant styling, the new 'Rex still has the potential of being every bit as good as its predecessors (although the plastic intake manifold concerns us), and there's no better place to wring it out than on a closed course under the guidance of professional drivers.Mark your calenders -- on Saturday, August 11th, Subaru is allowing visitors to the Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California to do just that. Beginning at noon and continuing through 8 PM, potential buyers, and anyone willing to put up with DJs from Blender, can head out on a closed course to get a feel for the new Impreza. Not only will you get some track time, but afterwards, you can play WRC co-pilot on a special "rally stage" to see how the pros work the 224-hp 2.5-liter boxer and AWD system to their full potential.You can get all the details in Subaru's press release after the jump. And if you do attend, leave a comment in this post with your Impreza impressions.

Bentley booming in first half of '07

First half sales reports have been rolling in and it looks like things are just peachy for the crew at Crewe. Bentley is reporting increased sales for the fourth year in a row. Sales were up nearly 19 percent compared to first-half '06, meaning 5,600 individuals called themselves new Bentley owners in the past six months. During that time, the company had its best month ever, delivering 1,200 Bentleys in March alone. Thanks in large part to the GTC and the new Brooklands, things are indeed good at Bentley, and its fortunes don't seem to be slowing down any time soon. Being the ride of choice for jewelry thieves and setting ice speed records didn't seem to hurt either. The brief press release is after the jump. Read on to find out about a turnover that was tagged at 739 million Euro, which seems awfully spendy for a pastry, and an operating profit of 85 million Euro.

Aston Martin offering Sirius Radio with lifetime subscription

Beginning this August, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and DB9 buyers will start getting Sirius - as in Sirius Satellite Radio. It will be available as a factory installed option, and better yet - drumroll please - it will come with a lifetime subscription to the service. That would normally run you about $500. Maybe not a huge deal on a six-figure automobile, but every little bit counts, right? And you'll also never worry about that $12.95 monthly bill should your fortunes ever reverse. It's a nice little touch that might push some buyers into pulling the trigger, but will more likely come as a pleasant surprise when they find out about the bonus in the deal.

H&R drops the Audi A5/S5, before you can even buy one

Even though the Audi A5 and S5 won't be available until spring of '08, H&R, purveyors of all things sprung and stiff, have announced the availability of lowering springs for both models. When you do finally get your hands on Audi's newest hotness, you'll be able to choose a drop of 10-35 mm, depending on the package. Additionally, you can push your 18- or 19-inch rolling stock out with a set of aluminum wheel spacers sized between 6mm and 60 mm, and H&R has announced the development of a full coilover setup and anti-roll bars. Can't wait to see the first widebody kit on these cars. You can view all the available options at H&R's site, and click on through for the suspension wizard's press release.

Ford Fiesta Crossroad not for offroad

Does anyone really think the world needs another tiny hatchback posing as a sport-ute? We were hoping nobody did, but apparently some guys over at Ford Europe thought this was a good idea. And so they've rolled out the Fiesta Crossroad.
We'll preemptively answer your first question in the negative: it does not have all-wheel-drive, or any real off-road equipment to speak of over the standard Fiesta. It comes down basically to some body cladding: the very worst kind of product engineering. The Fiesta Crossroad might look taller or higher off the road than its standard counterpart, but alas, it's all an illusion.
For an approximately one-thousand-euro premium, buyers get new bumpers, wheel arches and lower door panels in a contrasting shade, some roofr ails and (ooh, get this) special floor mats. We'd venture that the latter was to prevent getting mud all over the interior when the poseur driver mistakenly tries to tackle a dirt road only to get stuck like any ordinary car.

Bring the Toys! Nissan's new Dualis, Skyline die-cast cars

Nissan's got a good thing going with its official shop, which actually does sell some pretty cool stuff. In addition to all the execu-type items (like leather goods and pens), branded wearables, and miscellaneous tchotchkies, they have a nice selection of die-cast cars. This week, two new ones were added to the roster: the Dualis crossover (Qashquai in Europe), and V36 Skyline sedan (a.k.a. Infiniti G35). Both cars are offered in 1/43 scale in a selection of factory paint colors. The detailing, as you'll see in the attached gallery, is pretty good, too. They're priced at ¥2,900 (around $24 bucks before shipping).They join a raft of other cars in the automaker's die-cast stable, like the Fairlady Z, Cube, and several others. Collectors who browse the website should be sure to click on the Gr.A Skyline GT-R banner/button, as the first three in a series of six 1/18 scale die-cast Group A Skyline GT-R racers are available as well. At ¥13,000 yen (around $108 USD, not including shipping), they're not cheap, but they are cool.

Cadillac offering clear taillamps on 2008 CTS?

We thought we knew almost everything there was to know about the new 2008 Cadillac CTS, but as these latest spy pics reveal GM still has a few tricks up its sleeve for the upcoming sedan. First up, these fresh-off-the-line production cars feature clear taillights for the first time. Look a little closer and you'll also notice the new 'CTS4' badges denoting that these are the new AWD variants.According to the guys who photographed the cars, a second little badge was attached just above the CTS label that said 'Direct-Injection', meaning these new AWD versions were equipped with GM's new all-aluminum 3.6L V6 engine. With the direct-injection feature on board, the new V6 will develop up to 300hp.Full production of the '08 CTS is expected to start by the end of summer with the first cars hitting showrooms by the fourth quarter. The new taillamps certainly look striking in the picture, but we'll have to wait till we see them in real life to pass our judgement.

Be like Tony Soprano. Drive his truck.

Long before Tony Soprano rolled in his Escalade, a red Suburban was his ride of choice. Fans of The Sporanos will remember it very well, of course, and as the truck Tony drives in the opening credits, it lived on even after he traded up to the more boss-worthy Caddy. Two identical cars were acquired for use in the series, and now die-hard fans have a shot at parking one of them in their own garage. Movie Time Cars leased the Suburbans to the production, and now comes word that one of them is being offered in an eBay Live Auction. It's got 53,743 miles on the odometer, and according to the listing, the faint smell of cigar smoke still lingers in the interior. It comes with a certificate of authenticity, and a surprise awaits the new owner when he or she flips open the vanity mirror. A note from James Gandolfini himself is written on the lid in permanent marker. The message? "Be nice to my car." We'd recommend you listen.The auction begins August 3, and the mobbed-up SUV is expected to fetch between $30,000 and $50,000. You'll have to provide your own Paulie, Christopher and Sil.

Hyundai Veracruz gets the full-frontal treatment from IIHS

And you've gotta know Hyundai is thrilled with that line of nothing but green Gs its full-size SUV scored. IIHS said crash results indicated, "... a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity." Which, we would all agree, is a good thing.This shouldn't be a big surprise, though, since the NHTSA found pretty much the same thing when they tested the Veracruz, awarding the SUV five-stars after its frontal crash test for both passenger and driver.In fact, the Veracruz has done pretty well in most safety checks, with a low rollover danger and another full set of NHTSA stars in the side impact event. Its only weak spot so far seems to have been found in the IIHS rear-crash test, where it scored acceptable, one below good. IIHS hasn't put this Hyundai through a side impact test yet, but as we already said, NHTSA gave two thumbs up.

You can read our first opinions of the SUV here.

eBay find of the week, numero novecentosei: Porsche 906 in Italy

We just came across a nice Porsche on eBay Italian. It's an old one, but we think it still looks pretty good. Okay, that has to be the understatement of the century. It's a 906 or Carrera 6, as it's also known. Altogether 65 of the 906 sports prototypes were built as customer race cars to compete against Ferrari's 206 SP Dinos. Of course, they often shared the track with not only those Ferraris but the larger P cars as well as 904 GTS racers and even the Ford GT40s. These mid-'60s endurance racers, along with their baby-brother 904s, bridged the gap between the old Speedsters and Spyders, and the all-conquering 917s and 956/962s in the Porsche legacy of racing dominance. A winner on the track and such a gorgeous car to boot. This particular one is a 1966 that has been offered at auction in Geneva in 1998 and Monte Carlo in '99, but failed to sell on either occasion. The current seller is in Italy and has put an asking price of EUR 550,000.00 on this classic. It's eBay item number 220117102491.

Mitsubishi's new WRX-rival Ralliart caught testing

Everyone's attention so far has been on the Evo, but the AWD turbocharged terror won't be the only hot Lancer model in Mitsubishi's updated fleet. Previous reports suggested that a cheaper WRX-rival was in the works, complete with a turbocharged engine and AWD configuration, and this latest Ralliart prototype spotted in California's Death Valley seems to back up those reports. Like the Evo, this test-mule featured a front mounted intercooler, bonnet scoop and dual exhaust pipes, but missing were the widened fenders, imposing rear wing and the blacked-out bumper insert. During the launch of the new Lancer late last year, one company official revealed that the Ralliart model would be making a return, this time with a greater influence on performance. With the addition of cut-priced performance cars like this and the styling of Subaru's new Impreza range gone sour, Mitsubishi's new Lancer range is poised to become the next cult classic.

USA Today way behind the times on GM Hybrid SUV mileage

Here at Autoblog and especially over at our sister site AutoblogGreen, we've written quite a bit about the new two-mode hybrid system that General Motors is launching this fall on the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. We even got to drive the trucks back in early May. USA Today is just now catching up with the story and reporting as new something we and others reported almost three months ago. Back when we first drove the trucks GM told us that they would be getting about forty-percent better fuel economy in urban driving and twenty-five percent more overall. About the only information USA Today came up with that's new is the volume projection, with GM now saying it hopes to sell 10,000 hybrids in the first year.

Forbes names the 20 Most Dangerous Vehicles for sale today

Tiger, you should be ashamed pushing that beastly Buick Rendezvous on an unsuspecting public. Not only was it little more than a warmed-over minivan trying to look hip, Forbes says it's possibly the most dangerous new vehicle for sale today. Luckily for all the uninformed car shoppers out there, the Rendezvous and several others, like the Ford Ranger, on the list won't be on sale much longer.Forbes took many factors into consideration when deciding what constituted a dangerous vehicle. Instead of using only crash test data or fatality statistics, the magazine also looked at safety equipment and Consumer Reports' accident avoidance ratings.Lots of weight was given to standard safety equipment which is what damned vaunted nameplates like Toyota's Matrix, Chrysler's PT Cruiser and Ford's Focus. But at least those cars have optional side air bags, Suzuki's Reno and Forenza don't even offer them as optional equipment.There were some surprises, though. Forbes praises the Honda S2000 for having admirable crash test results and superior handling that could help in crash avoidance, but puts it on the list anyway for not having standard side air bags.Check out the story and entire list here.

Spy Shots: Audi Q5 barely covered

Audi is looking to get the most out of the modular long platform that underpins the current A5 and the future A4, and the Q5 looks like the obvious next step. The folks over at World Car Fans have published shots of Audi's future crossover with barely any camo, and the general theme looks to be "fancy Tiguan". The wide, low slung SUV look is alive and well with Audi's mini Q7, and the front end looks very much like its big brother. Audi dropped a cool 300 million Euros to update their Ingolstaldt factory to make the five-seat CUV, and there's a good chance that everything from a turbo 2.0 to a 4.2L V8 will provide power. The Q5 will definitely receive a diesel powerplant for Europe, and there's a chance oil power will be utilized here in the States, too. The Q5 is destined to be Audi's next pawn in the chess match to be the world's largest luxury automaker, and if the Q5 can build on the success of the Q7, the X3 and GLK are in for some stiff competition. Look for the Q5 to arrive on the scene in 2008.

Suzuki SX4 WRC takes to the tarmac

Last month, the Suzuki SX4 WRC underwent tarmac testing in Europe, and the consensus is that things are progressing well, but there's room for improvement,. And to be competitive, more improvement is needed. The car's current configuration is said to be very close to what the team will use in the WRC test entries it's scheduled for -- the Rallye de France in October and Rally GB in November.Suzuki Sport's president, Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima (yes, him), said that while the results the group has seen are encouraging, he knows that the European WRC teams are evolving and improving just as quickly, and he and the rest of the team at Suzuki Sport are working very hard to ensure that the SX4 WRC will be a competitive entry when takes part in this season's upcoming test rallies, and more importantly, next year's World Rally Championship season. We hope this WRC effort will ultimately spawn a snazzy, turbocharged SX4 street car to do battle with the WRX in the marketplace. Because, you know, we're selfish like that.