Sleuth: The week of August 24

Hot off the press!

No takers for Hummer . . .yet: Although General Motors boss Rick Wagoner says the automaker has received “significant interest” in the sale of more than US $4 billion worth of assets, apparently the company’s Hummer brand isn’t quite making the phone ring off the hook. Although previous reports had India’s Mahindra & Mahindra pegged as the leading candidate to buy GM’s off-road brand, the automaker now reveals that it is not interested. “There has been a lot of speculation. I want to say categorically we are not pursuing Hummer,” Mahindra Vice Chairman Anand Mahindra told trade paper Automotive News. The Sleuth also hears that China’s Hunan Changfeng Motor Co. has shied away from buying Hummer. GM might have a harder time than it first thought about unloading Hummer in an environment where fuel economy seems to be a sign of the future.

Next stop? Your Alfa Romeo dealership: Talk about timing. North Americans are interested in fuel economy but still want to drive something fun. OK, how about an Alfa Romeo? The Italian automaker is primed for a successful reintroduction into the market in 2010 or 2011. Fiat-owned Alfa Romeo stopped selling vehicles in the United States in 1995. The 8C sports car is already earmarked to be the first Alfa vehicle available here, but it remains unclear which models will round out the company’s offerings, although several small cars and a full-size luxury car are possible.

Lincoln MKT on the way: The Sleuth’s insiders around Ford’s Dearborn, Mich., headquarters have heard that the Flex-wagon-based Lincoln MKT is headed for production in 2009. Lincoln is Ford’s luxury brand. The vehicle will be branded with the division’s signature waterfall grille and is expected to largely mirror the styling of the MKT Concept. Ford product boss Mark Fields described that vehicle as “...full-size premium utility that offers the comfort of a luxury sedan, the spaciousness and flexibility of a full-size utility and the performance of a sporty roadster...,” and Ford will stay rather close to the concept for this production luxury-utility vehicle. Look for the base model to be powered by a 270-horsepower 3.7-liter V6. The MKT should hit the market in the fall of 2009, with yearly production in the mid-20,000-unit range, according to industry trade paper Automotive News. The MKT will be produced along side the Flex at Ford’s Canadian plant.

When you think of this new Hyundai, think of a Mercedes R-Class . . . at least in terms of looks: Interesting products are being dreamed up at South Korea’s largest automaker. Hyundai wanted to go upscale with a new ride and it appears it will be the all-new Portico sport-utility vehicle. Or is it really a sport-ute? The Sleuth hears that the Portico will be more along the lines of a tall wagon — something like a Mercedes-Benz R-Class. With six passengers in two rows, the Portico will supposedly offer more cargo area than similarly sized vehicles. It’s expected to be offered with a V6 as well as with a gas/electric hybrid powertrain, and will be built in Alabama.

CTS coupe “concept” is reality: Although General Motors added the word “concept” to the end of the CTS Coupe’s nameplate at the 2008 Detroit, Mich., Auto Show, there was no question that the stylish two-door was headed to production. The Sleuth has since learned that the CTS Coupe will be launched at November’s Los Angeles, Calif., Auto Show. Codenamed GMX226, the stylish two-door will debut at the L.A. show and will be built alongside the sedan. Production will begin in May. Interesting touches include a touch-pad entry system rather than conventional door handles, a la Corvette. Thankfully, it appears that the majority of the CTS Coupe concept’s lines have been faithfully duplicated for production.

Market indicators

Small-car surge: First, the Smart ForTwo made its way finally to the United States. Chevrolet is looking to import its own minicar based on the Beat concept shown on the auto show circuit. Now Hyundai says it is watching sales of the diminutive ForTwo before making an official decision to bring its small i10 to the North American market. The i10 is larger than the ForTwo, but smaller than anything Hyundai or sells in North America. The car went on sale last fall in more than 70 countries and is assembled in Chennai, India. Hey, does anyone have a problem with more choice?

Hydrogen possibilities: General Motors is giving the United States Post Office a batch of hydrogen-powered cars to drive in California. Now Nissan says its first hydrogen fuel-cell-vehicle offering will likely be a sports car. In such an application, hydrogen is used to create electricity to run the electric motor(s) that actually move the vehicle. The decision to produce a hydrogen sports car is linked to the costs associated with a fuel-cell powertrain: the vehicle will likely retail for about $100,000. By blending the cost of the fuel cell into the pricetag of high-end vehicle — which will probably wear an Infiniti badge — Nissan will be able to put hydrogen technology into production while simultaneously working to get the price down. Development of hydrogen power systems seems to be in full swing. Now if we just had word on some hydrogen filling stations we would be all set.