Sleuth: The Week of September 28

Hot off the press!

GM works on divorcing itself from “badge engineering”: Even before General Motors officially announced it was bringing the Chevrolet Aveo-based Pontiac G3 to North America, there were grumblings about GM going back to its old ways of badge engineering, where a model that the company already makes gets a style makeover and a badge from one of its other divisions. (GM operates Chevy and Pontiac). But the Sleuth hears that company designers have ensured that each vehicle gets its own unique brand identity, both inside and out. That means the G3 will share components under the skin but on the outside will get revised front styling, different color gauges, unique interior trim and a different range of sporty features. However, look for GM to do more platform and architecture sharing as belts tighten around the world.

Lexus IS convertible is another volley at BMW: Lexus has announced that it will show a convertible IS at the Paris, France, Motor Show, Oct. 2. There, Lexus will finally take the wraps of its IS 250 C. The IS is Lexus’s direct competitor to BMW’s 3-series. Details about the new IS are scarce but it is believed that the drop top will hit the North American market in calendar 2009. As is the case with the SC 430, which the Sleuth hears is on the way out, look for the IS 250 C to use a retractable hard top. Although the IS will be represented at the Paris show, there’s no word on when Lexus plans to unveil the IS 350 C, which uses a bigger engine than the 250. Earlier reports suggested that both models would be available here in 2009, so it’s possible that Lexus is saving the 350 for a later show, such as November’s Los Angeles, Calif., event.

Ironed-out Z4 will offer a folding hard top: One of the Sleuth’s hot tips this week is for lovers of German convertibles. Spies are reporting back to your trusty gumshoe that the 2010 BMW Z4 will appear with both a standard canvass roof and an optional folding hardtop. Also, it appears the hand brake is gone (probably in favor of an electronic setup), an automatic gearshift is added and the Z4 will get iDrive, a knob/selector/interface that controls most of the vehicle’s functions. Many of the polarizing features of the current Z4’s design have been toned down for what will likely be a much more elegant look. There is no 2009 Z4.

BMW’s new four-cylinder will have more power, better economy than current six-cylinder models: Porsche is apparently moving forward with its four-cylinder engine plans, but the Sleuth hears the company is not the only German automaker thinking that way. Jim O’Donnell, BMW’s North American CEO, confirmed to Business Week that the premium automaker is developing a new four-cylinder. “It will deliver stronger performance in terms of acceleration than the current six-cylinder, it will deliver lower emissions and will give you better fuel economy; so it is a win, win, win situation,” he said. “This will be a high tech four-cylinder engine; obviously turbocharged.” Look for it within two years.

Porsche plans a new entry model to come in under the Boxster/Cayman: Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has already confirmed that his company will show a mid-engine roadster at this November’s Los Angeles, Calif., Auto Show, but the Sleuth hears that the new model might not be solely reserved for the VW brand. Thanks to Porsche’s close ties with VW (VW supervisory board chairman Ferdinand Piech’s family controls Porsche), Porsche is reportedly eyeing a return of the 914, at least in spirit. According to Motor Trend Magazine, Porsche might head down that road, even using the 914 name. As did the original 914, the new model would serve as Porsche’s entry-level car, slotting in below the Boxster and Cayman.

Market indicators

Ripple effect from sagging sales: Talk about a sign of the times. Tire giant Bridgestone is cutting production of tires at some of its North American plants because of softening market demand. With sales of new cars in a slump, all sorts of original-equipment manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers are also taking a hit in sales. Bridgestone says that the production cuts will affect its plants in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Quebec, Canada, according to a company spokesman. Many companies are cutting back production of sport-utility vehicles — which means few tires are needed — and the impact of this market shift appears to be having a ripple effect.

Power surge at Chrysler: Since being purchased by a private company, Chrysler has been pretty much silent about its direction and its plans to offer new and relevant product at a time when high fuel costs and increasing environmental concerns have, almost overnight, turned the industry on its ear. So, it was with some relief that Chrysler LLC made public, Sept. 23, a new initiative that’s intended to put an all-electric car in the company’s lineup some time in 2010, although the plan is to actually put several models on the street, including an all-electric four-wheel-drive Jeep Wrangler. One of the more exciting vehicles undergoing evaluation is the Dodge EV, a two-passenger sports car with the equivalent of about 270 horsepower and nearly 500 pound-feet of torque. At the moment, the car has a range of about 150-200 miles at which point a “fill-up” necessitates an eight-hour recharge when hooked to standard wall plug. You can read all about it at a new Chrysler Web site: www.Chryslergoeselectric.com.