ON THE TABLE

September 30, 2009

 Saturn. (Posted 9/30, 5:30PM). Roger Penske abruptly pulled out of talks to buy Saturn from General Motors Co. over concerns about the availability of future GM-made vehicles. Unless something changes and an agreement can be reached, Saturn will be eliminated. The following is from the Penske Automotive Group press release released this afternoon: "Since announcing its discussions with GM on June 5, 2009, the company has been in the due diligence process to determine the feasibility of developing an independent distribution model for Saturn-branded products and service parts in the United States, including the sourcing of vehicles from GM and other potential suppliers. The company had negotiated a definitive agreement with GM to source vehicles on a contract-manufactured basis for a period of time. After this period, the company would have been required to source vehicles from another third party under a similar contract-manufacturing agreement. Penske Automotive Group negotiated the terms and conditions of an agreement with another manufacturer; however, that agreement was rejected by that manufacturer’s board of directors. Without that agreement, the company has determined that the risks and uncertainties related to the availability of future products prohibit the company from moving forward with this transaction." For the record, that "other" manufacturer is Renault-Nissan.

 
 Toyota Owners. It never occurred to any of you that a wadded-up floor mat on the driver's side in your car might just not be a good thing? Really? How about - for once - taking a little personal responsibility in a situation? Does our government really need to tell you to either fix or remove a floor mat that's impeding your ability to drive the car? Really? Oh, and by the way? That coffee that you just picked up in the drive-through might be too damn hot to drink at first.  Yes, really. Or do you need a government recall to tell you that too? Get a grip, folks. Publisher's Note: I'm well aware of the tragic fatal crash that triggered the latest frenzy about this situation. But I stand by this item. Shift the vehicle into neutral, stomp on the brake pedal, do whatever you have to do to get the thing stopped, but in the end the driver is responsible. I get the fact that we live in a sue me-sue you society and that personal accountability has taken a permanent backseat to the blame game - and that it's always someone else's fault - but operating a motor vehicle involves awareness and responsibility and at some point both will come into play. - PMD

 GM. The Detroit News is reporting that Bob Kruse, executive director for global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries, and the man who led a critical Chevrolet Volt development team and was instrumental in devising GM's long-term electric vehicle strategy, has resigned. Kruse is leaving - effective today - to start his own consulting company, E V Consulting LLC, to "provide automotive and vehicle electrification expertise for companies looking to seize a piece of more than $1.3 billion in federal grants available to Detroit's Big Three automakers and the state," according to the News. "My departure from General Motors has nothing to do with my view of the future success for the Volt," Kruse told the News yesterday. "I've left on very good terms. I have a lot of respect for the leadership of General Motors. I'm not going to lie. Are they happy about my departure? Probably not." Uh, altogether now: Not Good.

  Car and Driver. Our "Masters of the Obvious" award goes to our friends over in Ann Arbor this week. Hey, guys, one down arrow for taking great pains to explain to us as to why you were testing the new Corvette Grand Sport vs. the new Shelby Mustang GT500 for your November cover, even though you admitted right up front that it's a total apple vs. oranges comparison. And guess what? That's exactly what you guys proved, again. They're both very cool cars for very, very different buyers, and both machines have a right to exist in their own space. But please, don't do it again, okay? The Corvette will spank the Mustang - any Mustang - from now until the cows come home, and there's no amount of cajoling or hand-wringing that will elicit a different outcome. The up arrow? For at least wringing the living shit out of 'em at Grattan Raceway Park, something that most of your enthusiast readers will never get to do. Publisher's Note: Attention all of you irate Mustang loyalists who wrote in about this item. When the production Mustang loses 500 pounds then you might have something for this discussion, but until that time comes, a Corvette will continue spanking the Pony. - PMD

 The Auto Manufacturers. The post-clunker hangover as predicted for September auto sales will be ugly. Expect sales to return to the miserable 9.0-9.3 million annual sales rate seen before the program.

 National Geographic Channel. The upcoming episodes of the series, ULTIMATE FACTORIES, will be of interest to AE readers. Starting this Thursday, October 1, the channel will be airing a series of one-hour specials on the behind-the-scenes look at the making of Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Camaro and Porsche. This week's show will focus on Lamborghini's factory in SantAgata Bolognese, Italy. The company is building its fastest car ever - the Murcielago SV - of which just 350 will be made. The $450,000 Murcielago SV goes from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 3.2 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 212 miles per hour. The factory builds the car almost entirely by hand including its engine and body. The car is also painted and assembled by hand, including installation of the famous Lamborghini scissor doors. Every car is custom-built to order, and only 2.7 cars are completed per day. Check it out here.

Publisher's Note: Our friend Casey Shain (aka "art and colour") is at it again this week with more of his visionary and at times wonderfully whimsical digital illustrations. Given all of the hand-wringing going on with the latest (and hideous) design fad raging through the industry - the "tall" wagon masquerading as four-door coupe (BMW 5 GT & X6, the Honda Crosstourer & Acura ZDX, etc.), Casey mashed together the Acura and the Aztek for "Pontiac's Last Hurrah" as he calls it. Casey also presents his ideas for a Lynx-based on a stretched Fiesta, a Milan Coupe called the San Marino, and a Mercury entry aimed at the China market. Enjoy! - PMD

 

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AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, October 1, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

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