Toyota prepares new Verso MPV for Geneva debut

There is another small multipurpose vehicle set to make its debut at the Geneva motor show.

Toyota is planning to show an all-new Verso. The automaker is promising improved interior accommodations for second- and third-row passengers and simpler and quicker folding of the rear seats with an improved Easy Flat-7 system.

The Verso will be available at launch with two gasoline- and one diesel-engine options. The gasoline range consists of 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter four-cylinders that both come standard with a six-speed manual. A continuously variable transmission is available with the 1.8-liter. For diesel fans, the Verso is available with a 2.0-liter unit and will be joined later by a 2.2-liter unit mated to new six-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota implements its Optimal Driver technology across the entire engine range. It consists of lighter-weight engines with low friction, more compact and smoother shifting transmissions and a start/stop system. According to Toyota, the changes yield up to a 20 percent increase in power, while improving fuel economy by up to 12 percent.

Standard features include side-curtain airbags, intelligent steering assist and stability control.

The Verso goes on sale in Europe this spring and is not destined for the United States.

Magna shows flexible electric car at Geneva motor show

Magna Steyr will debut an electric car at the Geneva motor show that highlights the company's prowess in future technologies.

The four-door concept is built on a flexible platform, which can be used for different drivetrains such as full and mild hybrids or full-electric vehicles.

Called the Mila EV, the concept will be equipped with a 67-hp electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged in 2.5 hours. The concept has a range of 93 miles.

Magna Steyr said the Mila will not go into production, but the supplier hopes to find customers for some of the components used in the concept.

Magna Steyr is the Austrian unit of Canadian supplier Magna International. Magna is developing components and systems for the emerging market for electric and hybrid vehicles. The supplier plans to start production of lithium-ion batteries by 2010.

At the Detroit auto show in January, Ford and Magna announced a partnership to introduce a zero-emission lithium-ion battery electric vehicle to go on sale in 2011.

Magna will develop and build much of the vehicle's powertrain, including its battery pack, motor, transmission and control units.

To read more visit the AutoWeek Geneva Motor Show News and Photos section.

Mobile Multimedia

Mobile Multimedia: A New Peak For The Alpine Car Stereo

We all know that brand names matter when purchasing Car audio hardware. There are brands that are surely more reputable than others. When you are at the store and they offer choice after choice after choice, suddenly you feel overwhelmed on what really to buy. But you can be assured of one thing, if they offer you an Alpine Car stereo you can’t go wrong with it.

Alpine Car stereo and electronics, founded in 1978, is a world leader in the industry of high performance mobile electronics. They specialize in mobile multimedia, an integrated system approach incorporating digital entertainment, security and navigation products for the mobile entertainment.

Alpine Car stereos are a new breed of units which feature the convergence of high performance audio, video, navigation and telematics in the form of Mobile Multimedia. Navigation systems act as the resource center of the Alpine Car stereo Mobile Multimedia lineup. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), DVD players, Dolby Digital systems, satellite digital audio radio, mobile data linking and communication through telematics devices will be fused with navigation systems to create a platform of products. Mobile Multimedia integrates Alpine's innovative audio, video, security and navigation products, as well as its new GUI for Drivers, human interface and information communications technology.

To grasp what the Alpine Car stereo Mobile Multimedia is, take a look at the IVA-D901 Alpine Car stereo Mobile Multimedia Station/CD/DVD Receiver/Ai-NET Controller.

The IVA-D901 has 400% more pixels than a conventional in-vehicle display, meaning that it has 1.15 million pixel elements. It has 50W x 4 built-in power and 3 PreOuts (4 volt), SAT Radio ready, a Hard Disc Drive (HDD), and Alpine Car stereo Navigation. Key features include:


- 7" Fully Motorized Wide Screen Monitor
- 18W x 4 MOSFET Amplifier
- Built-in Dolby Digital/DTS Decoder
- Bass Engineฎ Plus
- Subwoofer Level Control
- Bass Center Frequency Control
- Bass Band Width Adjustment
- Treble Center Frequency Control
- Subwoofer Phase Selector
- Bass Type Control
- 4-Ch Digital Time Correction
- 3 Position 12 dB/Oct Crossover
- MediaXpander™
- SAT Radio Ready
- MP3 Text Information Display
- Quick Search Function
- CD/CD-R Playback
- CD Text, Text Display, Text Scroll
- M DAC
- MaxTune SQ Tuner
- 3 Auxilliary A/V Inputs with Remote Control Input
- Dedicated Navigation Input
- Dedicated Camera Input
- 2 Auxilliary Monitor A/V Outputs
- Navigation Audio Mix
- 3 PreOuts (4 volt)
- MM Driver (Hard Disc Drive) Ready
- MobileHub Ready
- Ai-NET Control Center DVD/CD/MP3 Changer Controller
- "Digital Art" Spectrum Analyzer Display
- RUE-4190 Universal Wireless Remote Control Included

If these all seems too much for you, Alpine Car stereos also have more conventional head units to offer. The CDA-9835 Alpine Car stereo In-Dash CD Player/Ai-Changer Controller lets you fully customize both illumination and sound, with a range of 512 colors and super-versatile Bass Engine functions like digital time correction and parametric EQ. You can download audio parameter settings and connect and control as many as eight amps. The BioLite display, Menu key and rotary knob make operation extremely easy.

Like most Alpine Car stereo units, it is also SAT Radio Ready, giving you a much greater choice of listening options than ordinary local AM/FM radio. You can select from among a wide range of music genres, news, sports, and talk programs with digital quality anywhere.

Obama vows to help rebuild industry to compete, win

By HARRY STOFFER, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

A picture of Obama: Committed to an auto industry "that can compete and win."

Obama: Committed to an auto industry "that can compete and win."

President Barack Obama on Tuesday vowed to hold U.S. automakers accountable for "bad practices" but promised to help create a "retooled, re-imagined auto industry."

In remarks to a joint session of Congress, Obama gave a sobering assessment of the nation's ills--mainly economic--but said: "We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before."

About midway through the speech, the president said:

"As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices.

"But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it."
Task force taking action

The pointed reference to the automobile industry was not unexpected.

Obama backed President George W. Bush's decision last December to approve $17.4 billion in emergency loans for General Motors and Chrysler LLC.

Obama has created a multi-agency task force to consider restructuring plans from the two automakers and their requests for $21.6 billion in additional loans. The panel also is expected to consider requests from suppliers for $18.5 billion in aid.

The government has moved on other fronts to provide support to automotive lenders and to free up credit for vehicle purchases and dealership inventory.

Obama's speech, his first appearance as president before Congress, also provided a preview of his first budget proposal, to be outlined Thursday, and of his legislative agenda for the early part of his administration.

Obama, a Democrat, was elected the nation's 44th president in November.

He said his budget would not attempt to solve every problem but would focus on three critical areas: energy, health care and education.

On the first, he called for a market-based cap on carbon emissions, which would support the production of more renewable energy.

He said: "We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century. And yet, it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient. We invented solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in producing it. New plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea."
Striking a balance

Throughout the address, Obama struck a balance between grim economic reality and a more hopeful outlook to try to reassure worried Americans their country will emerge from crisis "stronger than before."

Obama included a sober assessment of the economic emergency , seeking to temper expectations that his administration's rescue efforts would yield quick fixes.

"While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover," Obama said.

"And the United States of America will emerge stronger than before," he told a chamber packed with lawmakers, cabinet members and invited guests.

Five weeks after taking office, Obama pressed the case for his economic plans while laying out a broad agenda.

The address to the Senate and House of Representatives came against a backdrop of growing anxiety across the country in the face of the worst financial meltdown in decades.

While his public support is strong, Wall Street remains skeptical of his economic remedies.

Jittery investors sent U.S. stocks to a 12-year low on Monday, but the markets rallied on Tuesday on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's assurances that the country's troubled banks should be able to weather the downturn without being nationalized.

Trying to show he would make good on his promise of fiscal responsibility, Obama said he had identified $2 trillion in budget cuts over the next decade. Obama has also vowed to halve the annual deficit by the end of his term.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

High-performance Cadillac CTS-V coupe spied on the road

By GREG MIGLIORE

A picture of A piece of tape covers what looks like the CTS-V badge on the door.

A piece of tape covers what looks like the CTS-V badge on the door.

CHRIS DOANE/BRENDA PRIDDY & CO.

Spied: Cadillac CTS-V coupe



PHOTO GALLERY

Despite the rash of bad news coming from General Motors over the past several months, the engineering corps is still hard at work. And we've got a glimpse of a car we would love to have in our garage--the Cadillac CTS-V coupe.

Cadillac's redesigned CTS coupe is set to launch in fall 2010, and it would add some Eldorado-esq panache to the Caddy stable.

Despite news that GM has reassigned its swat team of go-fast engineers, it looks as if a V-Series version of the CTS coupe is alive and well.

Here's why: In these recent spy shots, look at the lower door panels--there's tape covering up exactly where the performance badge goes. And the grille looks like the mesh setup found on the V-Series. And the back exhaust pipes are rather large.

This evidence is more than enough to convince us that GM still has a need for speed.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

GM posts wider loss, burns through $5.2 billion in cash

By JESSE SNYDER, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

A picture of General Motors lost money for the sixth straight quarter. Shown is it's world headquarters in Detroit.

General Motors lost money for the sixth straight quarter. Shown is it's world headquarters in Detroit.

Roger Hart

General Motors, battered by a global economic collapse and buoyed by U.S. rescue loans, posted its sixth straight quarterly loss and burned through $5.2 billion in cash as revenue shrank by more than a third.

The net loss of $9.6 billion in the fourth quarter compares with a loss of $1.5 billion a year earlier. The operating loss was $5.9 billion. GM said it expects auditors to cast doubt on the company's ability to survive as a "going concern."

The loss sealed CEO Rick Wagoner's fourth straight year without a profit and reflects the distress that GM showed last week when it asked the U.S. Treasury for as much as $16.6 billion in additional U.S. aid. GM, which has received $13.4 billion so far, said the request reflected a market that was deteriorating more rapidly than anticipated.

"2008 was an extremely difficult year for the U.S. and global auto markets," Wagoner said in a statement. "We expected these challenging conditions will continue through 2009, and so we are accelerating our restructuring actions."

GM ended the year with $14 billion in cash, including its initial installment of $4 billion in U.S. loans. In its previous quarterly report in early November, GM said it was close to exhausting its cash supply. The automaker then petitioned Congress for help, was rejected by the Senate and bailed out by lame-duck President George W. Bush.

This year, GM has officially yielded the global sales title to Toyota Motor Corp., which itself is about to post its first annual operating loss in 70 years. GM recorded a 49 percent sales decline in January U.S. sales, as demand sank to its lowest mark since 1981.

GM's fate now rests with a task force appointed by President Barack Obama, who told Congress this week that the Detroit 3's ills were largely self-inflicted as he pledged to help create an industry that "can compete and win."

Wagoner was scheduled to meet later today with the task force, headed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House economic adviser Larry Summers.

Regional results

GM lost money in each of its four regions last quarter.

North America had the steepest deficit, with an adjusted net loss before taxes of $2.1 billion, almost double the year-earlier total. On that same basis, GM Europe had a $956 million loss, more than four times as much as in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The figure was $879 million in the GM Asia Pacific region $154 million and in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Both regions were profitable a year ago.

GM, like smaller rival Chrysler LLC, faces pressure to wrap up concession talks with the UAW on how to cut funding promised to a health-care trust fund. Chrysler has received $4 billion in U.S. loans and seeks $5 billion more.

GM's has offered the UAW up to $10.2 billion in new equity in order to give up a cash claim on half of the $20.4 billion it is owed for the trust fund.

The UAW reached a deal with Ford Motor Co. this week on terms to restructure its own retiree health-are debt to the union on similar terms.

But GM's parallel negotiations with its bondholders have been more difficult because debtholders have been asked to make a deeper concession than the UAW.

Under the terms of GM's bailout, bondholders representing some $27 billion in debt face pressure to swap into equity in a deal intended to cut remaining bond debt to about $9 billion.

But bondholders have objected to both GM's remaining debt load and the higher payout ratio for the UAW.

GM's shares have plunged by 89 percent over the past year partly in recognition of the risk that either the government-brokered restructuring or a bankruptcy would wipe out most of the automaker's current equity.

"We continue to believe the government will support GM outside of a bankruptcy," J.P. Morgan credit analyst Eric Selle said in a note for clients this week.

GM could win a deal with bondholders to reduce its $27 billion in bond debt by 60 percent, he said, if the government were willing to offer a debt guarantee.

Reuters contributed to this report.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

On display at the Petersen museum, the best of the worst!

By MARK VAUGHN
The sleek 1974 Fascination was originally supposed be propelled by a propeller, but there was this accident, see, so it got a rear-mounted Renault engine.
A picture of The sleek 1974 Fascination was originally supposed be propelled by a propeller, but there was this accident, see, so it got a rear-mounted Renault engine.
The sleek 1974 Fascination was originally supposed be propelled by a propeller, but there was this accident, see, so it got a rear-mounted Renault engine.
MARK VAUGHN

They're so bad they're good, these cars, good enough to warrant a museum exhibit.

Starting Feb. 28 and running through the end of September, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles celebrates all that is good about bad car ideas in an exhibit titled "What Were They Thinking?"

Sure, there are Edsels and Amphicars. There's even a Pacer and a Prowler. But the Petersen exhibit brings you truly awful cars from throughout automotive history.
The three-seat, two-wheeled Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo.
A picture of The three-seat, two-wheeled Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo.
MARK VAUGHN

The three-seat, two-wheeled Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo.

Consider the massive, repulsive 1913 Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo, a three-seat motorcycle with outriggers. That's right, three people sit in this Dr. Seussian eyesore and they all lean into the turns. The outriggers swing out at stoplights to keep the whole enchilada from rolling over on its side and breaching.

Then there's the Fantasia, a rear-engined submarine-looking jet pod originally planned with a propeller to chop its way through the air. But after someone ended up in the hospital and subsequently sued the maker, the builders went with a wheezy Renault engine in back.

The 1957 Liberty Mutual Safety Car was an early stab at features we all demand on safe cars now, but packaged in a slab-sided bloater that only a whale mother could love.
The 1947 Gregory features a rear-mounted engine driving the front wheel. Imagine trying to go up a hill.
A picture of The 1947 Gregory features a rear-mounted engine driving the front wheel. Imagine trying to go up a hill.
MARK VAUGHN

The 1947 Gregory features a rear-mounted engine driving the front wheel. Imagine trying to go up a hill.

General Motors made more than 500 Copper-Cooled Chevrolets, with copper fins instead of a conventional radiator, and recalled every single one of them--except the one in the museum.

Then there is the seed pod-like 1947 Gregory, whose ugliness is surpassed only by its ridiculous drivetrain--a rear-mounted engine powering the front wheels. What?

For more on the exhibit, visit www.petersen.org.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

Audi R8 V10 sells for $500,000 at charity auction

By DALE JEWETT

A picture of An Audi R8 V10 sold for $500,000 at a charity auction in Florida.

An Audi R8 V10 sold for $500,000 at a charity auction in Florida.

Which would you pay more for--a V10-powered Audi R8 or the new Ferrari California?

At the third annual Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance in Florida last weekend, the Audi R8--the first one in the United States equipped with the 5.2-liter V10--was the winner in a charity auction, selling for $500,000, well above the car's sticker price of $180,000.http://www.dsl-kredit.info
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Meanwhile, the Ferrari California was snapped up for $350,000, a bit more than the $225,000 sticker price.

Overall, the event raised more than $1 million for the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Race driver and team owner Bobby Rahal was given the Automotive Lifetime Achievement award during the weekend event.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

2009 Nissan Cube to start at $14,685; full-line pricing announced

By GREG MIGLIORE

A picture of The Cube Krom (shown) is $20,065.

The Cube Krom (shown) is $20,065.

Nissan

The sales success of Nissan’s quirky Cube ultimately will determine whether the old adage “hip to be square” bears out. But based on initial pricing, it will be affordable.

The 2009 Cube is launching in May with a starting price of $14,685, including shipping charges. The base package comes with a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 122 hp and a six-speed manual transmission.

At the other end of the spectrum is the factory-customized Krom model, which is $20,065. It includes a three-bar grille, integrated front and rear fascia and 16-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the cabin gets a leather steering wheel, titanium and aluminum trims and a six-speaker sound system with a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer.

The Cube is the latest in a line of boxy, offbeat vehicles aimed at younger consumers. Nissan is hawking it as being highly customizable, with up to 40 different accessories, including a shag-carpet insert for the dash, aero kits and a 20-color interior illumination package.

The other main trim levels are:

-- The S, which adds body-colored mirrors, cruise control and a cargo cover for $15,385 with a manual gear box. With a CVT, the S is $16,385.

-- The SL, which offers a standard CVT, 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, automatic headlights and temperature control, an iPod interface and a six-speaker system for $17,485.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

2008 Toyota 4Runner Sport

A picture of The ride of the Toyota 4Runner Sport is a bit stiff, but it handles snow storms with ease.

The ride of the Toyota 4Runner Sport is a bit stiff, but it handles snow storms with ease.

As-tested price: $36,062
Drivetrain: 4.0-liter V6; 4wd, five-speed automatic
Output: 236 hp @ 5200 rpm, 266 lb-ft @ 3800 rpm
Curb weight: 4530 lb
Fuel economy (EPA/AW): 18/16.2 mpg
Options: Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade ($900); satellite radio ($449); weight-carrying tow hitch and ball mount ($430); alarm system ($359); premium sound ($200); spoiler with high-mounted stop lamp ($200); floor and cargo mats ($199); daytime running lights ($40)

Editor's note: Today's Drive has become Short Stint, but the information is still the same--a brief impression of a vehicle that's been in our test fleet.

OUR TAKE: Our Sport-trim test vehicle, with its upgraded suspension, is quite the handler. While the ride does get a bit rough when encountering big bumps, the 4Runner takes turns nicely with the meaty off-road tires. Steering has a nice weight, and response is good.

The 4.0-liter V6 is plenty potent, with quick pickup and smooth operation mated to the auto gearbox. Unless you tow often, there's little need to upgrade to the V8. The brakes are strong and grabby--almost too grabby, but we'll take that over the mushy pedal feel of many similar midsize utes.

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The interior is nice and simple, with plenty of spots to hold belongings, though we find the climate controls a bit annoying, with separate buttons for each fan setting. Note to Toyota: There's nothing wrong with a knob.

We're also reminded of what's so great about having an SUV during a snowstorm. A quick click of the dashboard dial puts the 4Runner into 4wd, and this puppy is unstoppable.

To read more visit the AutoWeek Car Reviews for new cars, trucks, SUVs, vans and crossovers section.

Porsche Cayenne S hybrid: More techs and specs released

By GREG MIGLIORE

A picture of The Porsche Cayenne S hybrid

The Porsche Cayenne S hybrid

Porsche

Porsche is serving up a few more details on the Cayenne S hybrid, which is expected to arrive in 2010.

It should be green--and mean to the tune of 385 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque. And carbon-dioxide emissions are expected to be reduced by 20 percent over a comparable combustion engine.

The gaudy output comes from adding the elements of the parallel hybrid system. Here’s how it breaks down: The supercharged, direct-injection 3.0-liter V6 is borrowed from Audi, and it makes 333 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque. That works with a three-phase, 52-hp, 221-lb-ft electric motor.

All of this makes for a still-respectable 0-to-62-mph time of 6.8 seconds.

It will be fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which has a new electrical drive pump to smoothly shift gears when the vehicle is running on electric power.

Speed peaks in sixth gear, and the last two gears reduce engine speed to bolster fuel economy, Porsche said.

The system also uses a 154-pound nickel-metal-hydride battery stored in the spare tire well. The ute will be able to cruise completely on electric power at 86 mph, though it will only be able to maintain this for 1.2 miles, a spokesman said.

A similar hybrid system will show up in the Porsche Panamera sometime after the sedan’s launch this summer.

Porsche showed hybrid prototypes at the 2007 Los Angeles auto show and in Europe.

Separately, Porsche confirmed that it will show the Cayenne diesel and the 911 GT3 at the Geneva motor show. The Cayenne diesel goes on sale in some markets this month but initially won’t be sold in the United States.

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To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

GT1 Championship Edition Chevrolet Corvette released

By JONATHAN WONG

A picture of The GT1 Championship Edition Chevrolet Corvette

The GT1 Championship Edition Chevrolet Corvette

GM

With the factory Corvettes bowing out of GT1 endurance racing in 2009, Chevrolet sees the program off with the Corvette GT1 Championship Edition.

The limited-edition road cars begin production in the spring and include C6.R-style graphics with the “Jake” Corvette Racing mascot on the hood, a Corvette windshield decal and labeling across the lower rocker panels. Rounding out the exterior changes are a ZR1 rear spoiler and chrome wheels. A faux carbon-fiber engine cover with yellow Corvette lettering dresses the engine compartment.

Inside, the black leather interior features yellow stitching and GT1 embroidering on the seats, dash and center armrest.

The GT1 Championship Edition Corvette will be available in black or yellow on the base coupe, convertible and Z06 models. One hundred examples of each version in each color will be produced for total of 600 cars. Coupe and convertibles are standard with the Z51 performance package, which includes stiffer suspension tuning and larger brakes with cross-drilled rotors. The six-speed automatic transmission is optional for base cars.

The new limited-edition package is a $7,480 option to push base coupe prices to start at $65,310, and $71,815 for convertibles. Z06 versions begin at $86,385. The Corvette GT1 Championship Edition makes its public debut during the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend in March.

During its successful competition run, the Corvette GT1 program collected eight GT1 championships in the American Le Mans series and five class championships at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For its final GT1 outing, the C6.R will go for a sixth class championship at Le Mans in June.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

Audi TT RS roadster to roar into Geneva motor show

By DALE JEWETT

A picture of A glimpse of the Audi TT RS

A glimpse of the Audi TT RS

Audi's TT roadster is mighty sporty inside and out. But for some, that's not enough. Those enthusiasts will want the Audi TT RS, which will make its debut at the Geneva motor show. Audi is giving us a peek ahead of the show.

But here's the bad news: This bad-ass TT has not gotten the OK from Audi honchos to be sold in the United States--at least not yet.

A picture of CARNEWS

Under the hood of the Audi TT RS is a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine with direct injection and a turbocharger. That's right--Audi is dipping into its heritage with a new five-cylinder engine.

All that powertrain hardware is good for plenty more than 300 hp, Audi says. Top speed is limited to 155 mph--but it would go faster if the electronic leash was removed. The quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard.

Oh, and it sounds mighty fast. How do we know? Because Audi has put out a digital recording of the car. Give a listen.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

Ford asks Web-savvy Americans to test the Fiesta

By JOHN REVILL AND AMY WILSON, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

A picture of What to have a chance to be an early driver of the Ford Fiesta? Raise your hand at www.fiestamovement.com.

What to have a chance to be an early driver of the Ford Fiesta? Raise your hand at www.fiestamovement.com.

Ford Motor Co. wants to use social networking sites such as Facebook to generate buzz for its new Fiesta subcompact. But it will rely on company outsiders to get the early word out.

Even though the Fiesta doesn't go on sale in the United States until early next year, Ford is putting the car in the hands of 100 Internet-savvy consumers for long-term test drives beginning in April.

The consumers, who will be chosen after applying at www.fiestamovement.com, will then relate their experiences through social networking sites such as Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.

"It's one thing to talk about the vehicle, but it's another to put people into it and let them experience it," Connie Fontaine, Ford's brand content and alliances manager, said in a statement on Friday.

Ford is betting that people who get an early hands-on opportunity to drive the car will promote excitement about the Fiesta while also providing feedback to Ford's engineering team, Fontaine said. Fiesta "agents" will be asked to complete monthly missions, capture their experiences digitally and share them with Ford and other consumers.

Ford marketing chief Jim Farley has said that the automaker needs time to prepare U.S. customers for the Fiesta, which will be Ford's smallest vehicle sold in North America since the Aspire was discontinued in 1997. The Fiesta, which is smaller than a Ford Focus, will be sold in both sedan and hatchback variants.

One-time drives

In addition to the long-term testers, Ford has said it also intends to put 100,000 people nationwide behind the wheel of a Fiesta for one-time drives by the end of this year.

Ford isn't yet revealing a sales target for the U.S. Fiesta. Farley has said demand could be anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 units annually, but that sales volume largely will be determined by the price of gasoline.

The Fiesta is a much bigger seller in Europe, where the sixth-generation edition went on sale last August. Since then, Ford has sold more than 89,000 units in its main 19 European markets.

The 100 five-door Fiesta hatchbacks being used for the long-term testing program were built in Ford's factory in Cologne, Germany. The cars are powered by a 120 hp, 1.6-liter gasoline engine.

Ford will build Fiestas for North American sale in its Cuautitlan plant in central Mexico.

The Fiesta is the first assault in Ford CEO Alan Mulally's plan to sell global cars. By 2010, the Fiesta will be produced at plants in Germany, Spain, Mexico, Thailand and China.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

Saab files for reorganization, seeks $1 billion to survive

By JOHN REVILL, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE

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Saab is seeking $1 billion (793 million euros) to be self-financing, the company said on Friday after it filed for reorganization under a self-managed Swedish court process.

The General Motors-owned Swedish brand said it will work "to create an independent business entity" and will concentrate production, design and engineering in Sweden.

Saab said it would continue to operate as normal during the reorganization process, with GM and the Swedish government providing some support.

Saab Managing Director Jan-Ake Jonsson said: "We explored and will continue to explore all available options for funding and/or selling Saab. It was determined a formal reorganization would be the best way to create a truly independent entity that is ready for investment."

Saab's application for reorganization was filed with the Swedish district court in Vanersborg. Under the procedures, the court appoints an administrator to review Saab and its business plans.

The application was approved Friday by a Swedish district court in Vanersborg, Reuters said. The court has appointed an administrator as a first step in a legal process under which an insolvent company can restructure its business and renegotiate terms with creditors.

In documents submitted to the Swedish court Friday, Saab estimates that it lost about $340 million (3 billion crowns) last year.

"The current outlook for 2009 suggests a similar level of losses and associated funding requirements," Saab said in the documents.

GM's role

The company said GM had notified the company that it would not fund further projected losses at Saab, but that it would provide liquidity for the company to pursue a reorganization.

GM Europe's head of communications, Chris Preuss, said GM was prepared to provide some funding for Saab but the brand needed outside money as well.

He said: "GM has put a substantial amount of money on the table to sustain Saab's operations and to launch the products that are in the pipeline. We have asked the Swedish government for loan guarantees for $600 million to give Saab a balance sheet as an independent unit which will allow it to continue."

Preuss said funding for Saab is still intact. "We just need to see how funding can be secured from either government or private sources during the restructuring process," Preuss told Automotive News Europe.

GM's support would also extend to the development costs and tooling for the new 9-5, 9-4X and 9-3X, which will launch in the next 18 months.

GM will also continue to provide technical support to Saab in the future and provide parts through licensing agreements, Preuss said, but there were limits to the support GM would provide.

Preuss said: "(GM President) Fritz Henderson made it very clear that GM will be out of Saab one way or another by the end of this year."

Loans sought

Saab has applied for $628.4 million (500 million euros) from the European Investment Bank, which is the long-term lending arm of the European Union. The company also is trying to raise more funds from GM as well as from public and private sources.

Jonsson said reorganization will allow Saab to launch new models while minimizing the brand's liquidity impact on GM.

"With a new 9-5, 9-3X and 9-4X all ready for launch over the next year and a half, Saab has an excellent foundation for strong growth, assuming we can get the funding to complete engineering, tooling and manage launch costs," he said in a statement.

Earlier this week, the Swedish government said it is not prepared to take over Saab after GM said it planned to shed the brand quickly as part of its restructuring efforts.

GM bought half of Saab in 1990 and took full control in 2000. The brand has made a profit only in one year during GM's ownership.

Last year, Saab's global sales fell 25.5 percent to 93,338 units

Industry insiders said there has been a greater interest from outside investors in Saab since GM's announcement that it was looking to offload the brand.

Saab employs some 4,000 people in Sweden, mainly at its plant in Trollhättan in the southwest of the country. Another 25,000 jobs at suppliers depend on Saab.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

2010 Ford Mustang to start at $21,845

By GREG MIGLIORE

A picture of The 2010 Ford Mustang

The 2010 Ford Mustang

Ford

The modern pony-car wars are heating up again, and Ford is looking to undercut its Detroit rivals in the price department.

The 2010 Mustang with a V6 engine starts at $21,845. That’s a bit cheaper than the entry-level 2010 Chevy Camaro ($22,995) and the 2009 Dodge Challenger ($22,545). All of the prices include destination charges. The Mustang also is less than a nontraditional rival, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis coupe, which starts at $22,750.

The 2010 Mustang has been redesigned, with a thinner front end, new sequential taillights in the back, an upgraded interior and buffer sheetmetal. It was unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show and arrives at dealers this spring.

Though the V6 edition costs less than comparable versions from its crosstown rivals, the Mustang still trails in a crucial area--under the hood. The V6 Stang makes 210 hp from a four-liter unit. That’s well behind the Challenger’s 250 hp from a 3.5-liter unit shared with big brother Charger, and it’s less than the Camaro’s impressive 304 hp from a 3.6-liter unit borrowed from the Cadillac CTS line. The Genesis coupe also makes 210 hp from a turbo four banger.

Ford also announced pricing for the rest of the Mustang stable:

-- The V6 convertible starts at $26,845.

-- To break the magical 300 hp-barrier--which the Mustang does nicely with a 4.6-liter V8 in GT form--costs $28,845 for the 315-hp unit.

-- The convertible GT is $33,845.

-- The GT500 is $47,175.

-- The drop-top GT500 is $52,075.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

Hyundai previews small SUV with Geneva show concept

A picture of Hyundai ix-onic concept

Hyundai ix-onic concept

For an idea of what Hyundai's next small SUV will look like, pay attention to the concept that debuts at the Geneva motor show next month.

We previously knew it as the HED-6, according to the recently released sketch. But Hyundai announced that it is now calling the vehicle the ix-onic (pronounced "ik-sonnik").

Penned with European consumers in mind by Hyundai's design team in Russelsheim, Germany, the ix-onic shows off a sculpted design language. The hexagonal grille first seen on the 2006 Genus concept and massaged for last year's HED-5 i-MODE Geneva concept appears again with small alterations.

Additional elements include a sleek roofline, lightly flared wheel arches, contrasting concave sills that stretch out to the rear bumper and 21-inch polished wheels. For a clean look, the polished dual exhaust pipes are integrated into the rear bumper.

Also out back, to achieve the three-dimensional appearance designers were going for, a Lexan plastic rear window was molded in place of regular glass. To reduce aerodynamic drag, vertical spoilers are used on both sides of the window.

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For more visual pop, Hyundai had a high-contrast paint developed with an advanced-effect pigment to give the sheetmetal an unrivaled shine.

The five-passenger interior features an x-shaped theme throughout, magnesium accents and ice-blue trimmed seats and floor mats to carry in the exterior paint color.

Power comes from a next-generation 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder with 168 hp mated to a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. A four-wheel-drive system gives the ix-onic maximum on-road stability and respectable off-road capabilities.

As for the United States, some are speculating that the ix-onic is the next Tucson.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

GM disbands unit that creates high-performance vehicles

A picture of GM's High Performance Vehicle Operations, which created vehicles such as the Chevrolet HHR SS, has been disbanded.

GM's High Performance Vehicle Operations, which created vehicles such as the Chevrolet HHR SS, has been disbanded.

General Motors, focusing on mainstream products in a battle to survive, has scrapped a unit that produced high-performance vehicles.

GM on Wednesday disbanded High Performance Vehicle Operations, which is based at the company's suburban Detroit technical center, and redeployed its engineers, spokesman Vince Muniga said.

"All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold," Muniga said. "The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs."

The unit created low-volume vehicles for GM's divisions designed to appeal to enthusiasts and bolster the company's image. Products included V-series Cadillacs and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, HHR SS and a V-8 version of the Colorado.

Muniga said there are no plans for high-performance versions of upcoming cars.

The move is in the spirit of GM's viability plan delivered to the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday. In the plan, GM said its future-product focus is on fuel- efficient cars and crossovers. It also pledged to increase its current offering of six hybrids to 14 by 2012 and to 26 by 2014. GM also boosted its request for federal aid by as much as $16.6 billion.

The High Performance Vehicle Operations unit could be reinstated once GM regains its financial health, GM's Muniga said.

"These guys are pretty good at what they do," Muniga said, "They are moving into different areas to work on core products."

Mercedes-Benz replaces CLK with E-class coupe

A picture of Mercedes-Benz E-class coupe

Mercedes-Benz E-class coupe

After a 12-year run and more than 460,000 sales across two generations, Mercedes-Benz has replaced the CLK with the 2010 E-class coupe.

Debuting at next month's Geneva motor show and with U.S. sales slated to begin in June, the upmarket two-door represents a departure from its predecessor not only in name but also on a technical basis, switching from the old C-class platform to a modified version of the structure that underpins the recently revealed E-class sedan.

The change is part of a broader plan to take the E-class coupe farther upmarket from the position held by the outgoing CLK, in the process providing room at the lower end of the Mercedes line for the introduction of a C-class coupe. That car is expected to boast a four-door layout like the CLS's when it arrives in 2012 as a replacement for the underachieving European-market CLC entry-level luxury coupe.

In keeping with the name change, the tautly drawn exterior design of the new coupe is heavily influenced by the E-class sedan. Traditional flourishes include a prominent grille, frameless doors and a pillarless greenhouse. They are offset by distinctive twin trapezoidal-shaped headlamps, a clamshell hood and almost comically overwrought rear-wheel arch flares, which Mercedes says are intended to echo a styling cue from the famous 1953 Ponton Mercedes. It is an odd combination; the E-class coupe is more distinctive than its predecessor, but it has also lost some of its classical elegance in the process.

It is 1.8 inches longer and wider but almost an inch lower than the outgoing second-generation CLK, with a nearly 2-inch-longer wheelbase. The increase in exterior dimensions makes for greater interior accommodation--legroom and shoulder room have increased both front and rear, Mercedes says.

The E-class coupe will be the basis for a new E-class convertible as well, replacing the CLK droptop. It will debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September and go on sale in the United States in early 2010. It will come with a traditional fabric roof, even though prototypes of a folding hardtop version have been spied in recent months.

Inside, the E-class coupe's cabin and dashboard layout are similar to the E-class sedan's. The emphasis is on re-establishing the Mercedes reputation for quality, with plush materials and all of the latest gadgetry, including its rotary COMAND controller. The front seats boast a full-length backrest with integral headrests, while the individual rear seats can be folded away to extend the volume of the trunk, which is larger than the trunk on the CLK.

For more detail on the new Mercedes-Benz E-class coupe, get the Feb. 23 issue of AutoWee

New Mazda 3

A picture of 2010 Mazda 3

2010 Mazda 3

When the second-generation Mazda 3 hits dealerships in the spring, it will wear a base price of $15,715 (including $670 destination), which represents a $355 increase over its predecessor. Entry-level "i" models remain powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 148 hp and 135 lb-ft of torque.

For the premium "s" trims, a new 2.5-liter four borrowed from the Mazda 6 produces 167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. This replaces 156 hp and 150 lb-ft from the outgoing 2.3-liter unit. Base pricing for the Mazda 3 s is $20,210 for the sedan and $20,700 for the five-door hatchback when equipped with the available five-speed automatic transmission.

Range-topping Mazda 3 s Grand Touring models with the optional automatic gearbox begin at $22,970 for both body styles. The Grand Touring package adds an eight-way power driver's seat, heated leather seats, automatic dual-zone climate control and xenon headlamps with adaptive lighting system.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

LONG-TERM WRAP-UP: 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

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After 12 months and 18,602 miles in the saddle of our long-term 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser sport/utility vehicle, it's clear that while the Japanese automaker may have captured the concept of the much-loved FJ40 from the past, something was lost in translation.

Bringing old favorites into the 21st century is never an easy task. Some of the nostalgic styling cues that give the FJ its retro-cool looks also get in the way of making the vehicle a more functional tool. In addition, buyers are much more demanding nowadays-they want air conditioning, power windows, easy rear-seat access, the kinds of little things that engineers designing FJs back in the 1960s didn't have to worry about.

Our logbook was peppered with commentary on the form-over-function theme. "The FJ does a great job looking the part of a rugged, practical, active-lifestyle vehicle" was the sideways compliment from one editor.

While kudos went to the properly propped, wide-opening, side-hinged tailgate, everyone panned Toyota's attempt to maintain the FJ40's two-door styling by using rear-hinged side-access doors in an unsuccessful attempt to ease entry into the back seat. Better solutions might have been to make the front doors longer (no suicide doors) or simply build a four-door vehicle.

"Whoever decided to make these suicide doors swing out and down should be fired," wrote an editor. "You can't close them while sitting in the back seat. The rear doors are laughable and worthless."

It wasn't just the back seat that was a pain. We also found it hard getting into the driver's seat, and it wasn't terribly comfortable once we got there. Styling also blocked sightlines in virtually every direction except straight ahead, prompting calls for a backup camera as standard equipment.

"The blind spots in this sucker are just scary," wrote one editor. "No matter how many times I experience it, I always have an unsettling feeling when I look over my shoulder to check my blind spots and see a giant pillar."

Enough carping. On the plus side, the FJ was a soldier in the field, never missing a day of service with us. Maintenance was impeccable, quick and painless throughout our year of regular visits for oil changes, tire rotations and other checkups. Other than routine service, the only work our FJ required during the year was a four-wheel alignment and a nail-hole repair in a tire.

That's quite a tribute, considering we didn't put on the kid gloves to drive the FJ. Besides regular commuting duty, the Cruiser towed trailers, hauled heavy truck parts and even spent some time off-road. Our resident Jeep enthusiast observed that better off-road tires would have made a huge difference in the FJ's hill-climbing prowess, but the vehicle's biggest drawback was its lack of a locking differential, which we failed to check off on the options list, and the lack of a 4:1 transfer case, which isn't even offered as an option. Despite those complaints and the universal concerns about lack of visibility (hey, even off-road you have to be able to see where you're going), the FJ won high praise for its trail-tackling long-travel suspension, high ground clearance, respectable approach and departure angles and strong 4.0-liter V6.

While we generally felt the powerplant was as smooth as a sewing machine, plenty strong, and well matched to the ratios attainable via the slapstick five-speed automatic, we universally decried the FJ's premium (91 octane) fuel requirement. Toyota later issued a bulletin stating that while the FJ's fuel-door sticker says "Premium Unleaded Fuel Only," the owner's manual notes that premium is required only for optimum performance-and all 239 rated horses-but that the vehicle will run just fine on regular unleaded (87 octane). While this wouldn't have affected our fuel choice-AutoWeek policy calls for using the manufacturer-recommended fuel to obtain top performance in our test vehicles-with premium tipping the scales at $3 per gallon or better, a typical consumer might opt for saving the money over achieving the maximum horsepower.

One option, the truck's bare-bones, black-painted, hubcap-less wheels, summed up our love/hate relationship with the FJ. Our road test editor asserted that the basic look put us on the leading edge of a future styling wave, and the simple wheels never suffered from a single scuff mark. But most editors hated the appearance, commenting that they made the truck look unfinished, almost as if someone had stolen our real wheels and hubcaps and replaced them with junkyard castoffs.

The FJ, like its wheels, proved too true to form to be as functional as we might have liked. But on the style scale, our long-term FJ Cruiser was an SUV without peer.
Wrap-up

Miles driven (quarter/year): 2866/18,602

Fuel economy (quarter/year): 17.3/18.0 mpg

Fuel cost (quarter/year): $459.69/$2,786.34

Days out of service (quarter/year): None/none

Maintenance: Scheduled service visits, including 5,000-mile, 10,000-mile, 15,000-mile ($186.02); four-wheel alignment ($95.65); tire repair ($18)

Original sticker price: $27,936

Trade-in value: $25,050 (www.kbb.com)

NASCAR: Matt Kenseth wins rain-shortened Daytona 500

With rain closing in and the Daytona 500 almost certain to become the Daytona Less-Than-500, Matt Kenseth knew he had to make his move while he still had time. So with a good shove from Kevin Harvick, he powered his Ford past the Dodge of Elliott Sadler in the waning laps of the season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Sunday.

When the rain did, indeed, come five laps later, Kenseth simply rode around until officials red-flagged the race, then made it official a half-hour later. It was the first Daytona International Speedway win for the Roush Fenway Racing driver and the first Daytona 500 win for team owner Jack Roush.

“I don’t know that it’s set in yet,” Kenseth said an hour after the finish. “It’s just awesome, though, I know that. This is definitely a dream moment, an unbelievable moment. You knew it was down to crunch time, but you’re almost more careful with your moves with the rain coming. You don’t want to make the wrong move and get hung out and finish in the back, either.”

Kenseth led only the final seven laps to win ahead of 2007 winner Kevin Harvick, ex-Champ Car World Series star A. J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer and a disconsolate Sadler. Kenseth was in a Roush Fenway Ford, Harvick and Bowyer in Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets, and Allmendinger and Sadler in Dodges from Richard Petty Motorsports. The rest of the top 10: David Ragan, two-time 500 winner Michael Waltrip, Tony Stewart, Reed Sorenson and pole winner Martin Truex Jr.

Kenseth and the weather conspired to keep Sadler from the win he felt he deserved. He took the lead on lap 122 when previous leader Bobby Labonte pitted. He stayed out front--and thus avoided a nine-car crash in turn three--until Kenseth passed on lap 146. Once passed, Sadler couldn’t hold back Harvick, Allmendinger and Bowyer, and settled into fifth. After a brief caution for Aric Almirola’s spin in turn four, rain moved in and caused officials to stop the race on lap 152. They waited less than a half-hour before calling it official. The last seven laps were the only ones Kenseth led.

Sadler could only lament what could have been.

“On one hand, I’m very happy and on the other, I’m really disappointed,” he said. “We got a top five for Stanley Tools, Dodge and Richard Petty Motorsports and that’s great. On the other hand, I was one lap away from winning the Daytona 500 and that’s hard to swallow. With the off-season I had, I feel like I deserved to win more than anyone. I really wanted to go to victory lane. I just needed to hang on for one more lap to win the 500.”

The final laps were compelling, but overall the race was not. Kyle Busch dominated, leading twice for 88 laps before crashing out. Sadler led 24, Stewart 15 and Jeff Gordon 14. The other 11 laps were divided among Kenseth (seven) and Truex, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Bobby Labonte (one each). Busch led his 88 laps in 50- and 38-lap segments. Sadler led his 24 in one segment, Stewart led his 15 in one segment and Gordon led his 15 in one.
TOP 10 FINISHERS

1. Matt Kenseth, Ford

2. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet

3. A. J. Allmendinger, Dodge

4. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet

5. Elliott Sadler, Dodge

6. David Ragan, Ford

7. Michael Waltrip, Toyota

8. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet

9. Reed Sorenson, Dodge

10. Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet
POINTS LEADERS

1. Kenseth, 190

2. Harvick, -20

3. Allmendinger, -25

4. (Tie) Bowyer, Sadler, -30

6. Ragan, -40

7. Stewart, -43

8. Waltrip, -44

9. Sorenson, -52

10. Truex, -55

11. Kurt Busch, -56

12. Jeff Gordon, -61

BMW 5-series GT: Don't call this concept an MPV

BMW's desire to compete in every conceivable luxury-market niche has moved up a gear with the unveiling of the 5-series GT, a car known until now by its working title, the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS).

Although BMW will be billing the five-door liftback as a concept at its public showing at the Geneva motor show in early March, little about its bold design is expected to change before it reaches showrooms.

In fact, the official photographs reveal the new car in its production-based glory. Only the trim will be altered before it sees the showroom, BMW says.

By insisting that it is called a GT, for Grand Turismo, BMW is attempting to avoid its latest model being described as an MPV. In reality, it is a combination of both, with a dash of sport-utility vehicle thrown in for good measure.

One of the primary reasons for the existence of the 5-series GT, according to BMW's outgoing design boss Chris Bangle, is an internal study that reveals an aging customer base that finds the traditional seating position of the 5-series sedan too sporting but at the same time considers the elevated seating in the X6 too imposing.

"This is the most customer-centered car we've ever done," Bangle said. "We discovered a group of BMW buyers we were failing to reach out to at a sales level. We wanted to build a car to suit their everyday needs. There were no preconceived ideas. Everything you see is customer driven."

The 5-series GT, which will be shown in production trim at the Frankfurt motor show in September (North American sales begin in 2010), is based on BMW's new large-car platform, first used by the redesigned 7-series. It rides on a unique 120.9-inch wheelbase that is expected to be shared with a long-wheelbase version of the next 5-series to be sold in the Chinese market.

At launch, the 5-series GT will be offered only with rear-wheel drive, although the xDrive four-wheel-drive system is planned to be offered as an option in the future.

The exterior styling is credited to young BMW designer Christopher Weil.

Below the 5-series GT's waistline, the appearance and body surfacing resembles that of the next-generation 5-series sedan due out next year. Above it, the roofline and corresponding window graphic mimics the X6. Weil also integrated elements of BMW's CS concept into the design, as seen by the shape of the headlamps.

The biggest exterior innovation is the 5-series GT's two-mode hatch opening mechanism. In the first mode, the vertical tailgate hinges upward, porthole style, to create a rectangular-shaped opening. In the second mode, the entire rear window and tailgate lift together to provide a large opening that is further aided by a parcel shelf that automatically folds away to provide unimpeded loading.

BMW dealerships will have to find precious real estate to accommodate the new car when it arrives in North American showrooms early next year. At 196.8 inches long and 61.2 inches tall, the 5-series GT is about six inches longer and 3.7 inches taller than today's 5-series sedan, which will be replaced by an all-new within the next year.

It is inside the car where BMW has directed much of its attention.

"We spent a long time developing the interior, with particular attention given to everyday use," says Oliver Heilner, who is credited with the cabin layout. "We wanted a car you could enter without difficulty and feel comfortable in over long journeys."

Among the steps to ensure a large door opening is the adoption of frameless doors.

"There was a compromise with conventional doors because the frame robbed valuable space along the top edge," Heilner said.

Inside, there's a luxuriously trimmed interior that draws heavily on the architectural look established on the new 7-series. The tall, 10-window greenhouse provides ample headroom, even in back where the roofline plunges dramatically. There's sufficient legroom in back to allow the 5-series GT to be used as a chauffeur-driven limousine.

The front seats have been elevated by 2.4 inches over those in the 5-sereis sedan, with the crucial H-point (the height of the hip above the ground) put at 22.6 inches. Still, it's a good 6.2 inches lower than the X6.

The concept bound for Geneva boasts a businesslike interior with four seats. However, production versions of the new BMW will get a bench rear seat to hold three people.

To help improve cabin refinement, BMW has provided the 5-series GT with a partition between the rear seat and the trunk.

"This helps isolate any noise emanating from the rear," says Heilner.

The rear seats fold flat to increase cargo space.

Early 5-series GT models are likely to offer a choice between the 272-hp naturally aspirated and an updated 326-hp twin-turbo version of BMW's 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, along with a 407-hp turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. Also planned are 245-hp single turbo and 286-hp twin-turbo versions of its 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder common-rail diesel. Gearbox choices will include a standard six-speed manual on the base gasoline and diesel engines, with a newly developed eight-speed automatic on the others. Other engines will follow. Just don't expect a 507-hp 5.0-liter V10 GT-M5 version anytime soon.

As part of BMW's EfficientDynamics program, features such as start/stop and regenerative braking will come standard. Also being readied for the 5-series GT is the first stage in BMW's new thermal-electric generator technology.

Expect a standard steel spring setup on lower-end models, with an air suspension on high-end models. Active damping control will be standard.

Both active front steering and BMW's new active rear steering--introduced on the 7-series--will be available.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.

Mini electric test delayed by surge of applicants

A picture of About 1,800 applicants signed up to lease 450 Mini E electric cars. Delivery is expected in April.

About 1,800 applicants signed up to lease 450 Mini E electric cars. Delivery is expected in April.

Mini USA is taking longer than expected to select 450 lessees for its electric car because of the deluge of about 1,800 applicants.

Drivers who are chosen are expected to get cars in April. The program originally had been expected to begin at the start of the year.

An additional 30 vehicles will be given to fleets and municipalities for the yearlong trial to determine whether the Mini E is commercially viable. New York will get 10 Mini E's for a unit that patrols city streets looking for potholes and graffiti. Five cars also will go to Los Angeles. The trial is being run in metropolitan New York and Los Angeles.

Mini USA has whittled the applicant list to about 1,000 people. Applications are being vetted by 16 dealers--five in New York, three in New Jersey and eight in Los Angeles. The dealers will lease and service the cars during the trial, said Jim McDowell, vice president of Mini USA.

"We have to make sure their driving style fits with what we want," he said. "If you drive 200 miles a day, that's a longer daily drive than our range."

Mini also required applicants to have a lockable garage so the company can install an electrical charge box. The monthly lease for a Mini E is $850.

The U.S. trial originally involved 500 Mini E's. But Mini reallocated 50 to Berlin, where they will be part of an energy supplier's fleet.

Parent company BMW AG wants to determine whether a market exists for an electric city car. The Mini E is the first vehicle made by BMW's Munich-based Project i, which has been charged with developing alternative powertrains for urban use.

To read more visit the AutoWeek New car news, road tests, blogs, pix and expert insight section.