The Demo Site

So now that HUMMER is going to be owned by a Chinese company, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., what type of vehicles are we going to see in the future? The folks over at The Detroit Bureau recently sat down with Hummer’s boss Jim Taylor to discuss just that and much more.

According to Taylor, Hummer is going to head towards CAFE compliance, meaning you’re going to see smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles from the gas-guzzling brand.

“Think of the smaller H4 we were showing at the auto show and it could safely conjectured we would enter into that space,” Taylor said.

When asked about Hummer’s hybrid future and the recent 100 mpg Hummer plug-on prototype built by a supplier, Taylor said: “It’s a big number to take on, a ground-up hybrid or electric vehicle, but it’d make a lot of sense for the Hummer brand.”

Given about 5 years, Hummer plans on incorporating various forms of alternative propulsion including diesels, hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

“It’s a little-known fact we’re just launching a diesel in the H3 in South Africa,” said Taylor. “When we bring it back to Shreveport, our intent is to make a version for the U.S., but right now, it’s not (emission law) compliant and we have to decide whether to invest the money.”

As for the H2, Taylor said that the model will live one since it sets a strong brand image in Russia and China.

He said that Tengzhong’s control over where Hummer will be very hands-off. Hummer is expected to continue its ties with GM and will continue to contract manufacturing and other services from GM until a scheduled time period.

“They aren’t in the car business, so they won’t come and pretend they’re smarter than us, which is the risk when you’re acquired by another car company.”

You can read more if Taylor’s interview over at The Detroit Bureau.

Source: The Detroit Bureau

We’re about a month away from July 9th when Jaguar will unveil the much-anticipated Jaguar XJ for the very first time. So far, we’ve seen a teaser image that doesn’t reveal much and a boring video from Jaguar’s design head, Ian Callum.

The folks at Car Magazine now bring is some more details on the XJ and a couple of renderings on how the 2010 XJ will look like.

Known internally at Jaguar as the X351, the new XJ is out to set a new stylistic benchmark for Jaguar. In fact, the only thing we can remember Callum saying from his one-minute video is: “It certainly meets the expectations of people who understand design with a capital D,” says Callum.

Sources say that along with its good looks, the new XJ is all about performance, handling and economy. The new diesel spec models, which will be powered by a 237-hp and the 275-hp AJ-V6D found in the XF Diesel, will help the XJ achieve the lowest CO2 of any luxury sedan - including the Lexus LS600h hybrid.

While the XJ will be launched with a line of gasoline and diesel units, Jaguar is set to develop a hybrid powertrain of its own alongside Land Rover. Of course, you can expect Jaguar will be taking on the luxury hybrid sedans with its own ‘green’ models.

Source: CAR

So Hummer is going to China and Saturn allegedly has 16 interested buyers - but what about Saab? According to two top executives at the Swedish brand, GM has narrowed down talks with potential buyers of the brand to two.

“Now we are negotiating with just two parties,” Saab’s CEO, Jan-Ake Jonsson, said in an interview with Dagens Industri.

He said that final negotiations with either one of the two potential buyers could start as early as this week.

“This can go fast now and should absolutely be wrapped up in a maximum of two weeks,” said Jonsson.

So far, we have seen interest in Saab from Fiat, Koenigsegg and a U.S. financier, Ira Rennert and his Renco Group. Geely has denied reports of it bidding for the Swedish brand. How will win Saab at the end of this battle? Stay tuned to find out.

Source: Reuters

The state of Indiana has a big problem with Chrysler's bankruptcy proceedings. Indiana state treasurer Richard Mourdock explained that "Indiana retirees and Indiana taxpayers have suffered losses because of unprecedented and illegal acts of the federal government." The home of the Indianapolis 500 has $42 million worth of retirement funds invested in the Pentastar; less than 1% of the $6.9 billion in secured debt owed by Chrysler. Indiana's appeal of the Fiat sale officially puts any deal with the Italian automaker on hold until a resolution has been made.
Veteran bankruptcy judge Arthur Gonzalez couldn't disagree with Mr. Mourdock more, saying ""the Court finds that all relevant standards have been established to grant the relief requested." By "relief," Judge Gonzalez is likely talking about Fiat and its ability to take ownership of Chrysler.
Though $42 million doesn't buy a lot these days, the state has the right to fight the bankruptcy. Whether the midwestern state wins its case is another matter all together.The New York Court of Appeals hearing of the state of Indiana's objection to the Chrysler bankruptcy hearing is widely viewed as little more than a formality. Chrysler's bankruptcy has gone very smoothly thus far, and with the backing of plenty of rock-solid legal types in the White House, it is now looking more and more likely that Chrysler will indeed exit bankruptcy in around 60 days.
[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen incoming CEO Philippe Varin (left) and chairman Thierry Peugeot (right)

It's buddy-up time in the European auto industry, and French automaker PSA/Peugeot-Citroen does not want to be left all by itself. With Fiat gobbling up automakers large and small, and General Motors poised to sell off its European assets, the Peugeot family, which owns a controlling interest in parent company PSA, wants to pursue a merger. And towards that end, the family has stated its willingness to dilute its own interest in Europe's second-largest automaker.
Currently, the Peugeot family - headed by the normally reclusive Thierry Peugeot (above, right), chairman of the company's supervisory board - holds 30% of PSA's shares, and controls 45% of its voting rights. The Peugeots would be willing to give up some of its shares, as long as it remained the largest shareholder. The announcement came the day before the company's annual shareholders meeting, at which Philippe Varin (above, left) was presented as PSA's new chief executive to replace the ousted Christian Streiff.
[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]