-- Engineers from Mercedes-Benz AMG are developing a plug-in electric version of the upcoming SLS supercar tentatively planned for production in 2015. Autoweek

-- Previous rumors of GM changing blue logo to green are denied. Edmunds

-- GM launches pilot program with EBay and will allow consumers to "bid on vehicles, including a predetermined buy-it-now price." Edmunds

-- Shelby unveils Super Snake package on Ford Shelby GT500 that can produce up to 725 horsepower. Leftlanenews.com 

-- Joni Gray

The Viper will stay in the Chrysler family.

Chrysler Group said today that it is no longer trying to sell its Viper sports car business, which it put on the block last summer in an attempt to raise cash and stave off bankruptcy.

Industry-watchers had speculated in recent weeks that Chrysler’s new owners, Fiat of Italy, would opt to keep the hand-built super-car in its lineup, at least for the time being. That, and the fact that no viable buyer emerged, may have pushed Chrysler to hang on to the Viper.

That’s good news for fans of the distinctive growler, which, according to one press report, holds the unofficial sports car lap record at the Nurburgring course in Germany of 7 minutes, 22 seconds.

Viper sales slumped badly in 2007 but rebounded strongly last year after Dodge put a new 8.4 liter V-10 engine under the hood. Last year, Dodge sold 1,172 Vipers, which have a starting sticker price of around $88,500, although sales slumped 48% in the first half of this year amid a general collapse in auto sales.

“The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, head of Dodge. “We’re extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand.”

-- Martin Zimmerman

Photo: Chrysler Group

According to an article in Automotive News, the average wholesale price of a used vehicle in June was $10,167, which was the first time since 2008 that the monthly average price exceeded $10,000.

The chief economist at auto dealer auction house Manheim, Tom Webb, said that the wholesale used-vehicle price increases are a result of a shortage of vehicles at auto auctions in the beginning of 2009.

One industry analyst said the prices for used vehicles are rising due to “universally bad” causes: fewer retired rental cars and fewer trade-ins due to weak new-car sales.

For consumers, however, the higher prices could be an early sign of a perk in the economy. The strong price increases are also “universally good” because they give consumers more equity in their trade-ins, Webb said. Buyers and sellers of wholesale used vehicles are also benefiting from the rising prices.

Vehicles auctioned by dealers and those retired from rental fleets both declined more than 15% through June, Webb said.

"The changes, given the normal stability in this industry, were big," Webb said. "They definitely had an impact on pricing in the wholesale market."

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Ken Hively, Los Angeles Times

The week of Aug. 9-16 is looking to be a busy one for lovers of expensive new and vintage automobiles. Hot on the heels of Porsche’s announcement of showing its new four-door Panamera at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, comes the news that Bentley will be showing its expensive new Grand Bentley, the replacement for the aging Arnage. The teaser photo the company provided is not enough to judge the design of the car, but by the looks of it, it will be a decidedly different Bentley.

Not letting its British competitors have all the California fun, Aston Martin announced that its $2-million One-77 will also debut at the event.

As for the Bentley, the company says “The all-new Grand Bentley captures the 1920s ‘grand touring’ spirit of the Bentley Boys, delivering the effortless driving, exclusivity and adventure desired by the real motoring enthusiast. A unique fusion of elegant design, hand craftsmanship and technological innovation, the new model embodies the potent yet luxuriously refined driving experience that is ‘pure Bentley’. These have been the hallmarks of a Bentley since that first test drive in 1920.”

With the economy in a 1920s-like tailspin, what better time than now to give the automotive world more cake to eat?

-- Jon Alain Guzik

Jon Alain Guzik is editor in chief at DriverSide.com

Photo credit: Bentley and Aston Martin

-- Dealer closure battle rages as legislation is introduced that would "force Chrysler and GM to restore franchise agreements." Detroit News

-- China passes the United States as the world's largest auto market in the first half of 2009 vehicle sales. Edmunds

-- Study Shows L.A. as the most congested area for traffic with an average of 70 hours spent in traffic per commuter. Kickingtires.com

-- GM officials pull a Camaro marketing video targeting gay consumers because it was "not appropriate and not in good taste." Autoblog

-- Unveiled: 2010 Jaguar XJ flagship sedan. Leftlanenews.com

-- Joni Gray

However, the more gentle folk tooling around Sioux Falls, S.D., are reveling in their superiority as safe drivers as they top the list for the fourth consecutive year. Also, Eugene, Ore., and Boise, Idaho, have broken into the national top 10.

So how are these places so different from L.A.? Dare we guess that their less-stressful lifestyle and the resulting lack of traffic jams in these charming, Willoughby-esque towns may give them a huge advantage in this contest of 'niceness' and aid in the resulting lack of collisions reported by the Allstate actuaries?

The rankings are based on in-depth analysis to determine the likelihood that drivers in America's 200 largest cities will experience a vehicle collision compared with the national average. A weighted average of the two-year numbers determined the annual percentages. The report defines an auto crash as any collision resulting in a property damage claim.

Nationwide city and overall rankings ...    

              
  1.   Sioux Falls, S.D.     
  2.   Fort Collins, Colo.   
  3.   Chattanooga, Tenn.
  4.   Cedar Rapids, Iowa  
  5.   Knoxville, Tenn.  
  6.   Fort Wayne, Ind.
  7.   Lexington-Fayette, Ky.
  8.   Eugene, Ore.        
  9.   Boise, Idaho    
  10.  Colorado Springs, Colo

Ranking for cities with more than 1 million residents...

                                         
1. Phoenix                 
2. San Diego            
3. New York     
4. Houston        
5. San Antonio   
6. Chicago
7. Dallas   
8. Los Angeles    
9. Philadelphia       

But let's not forget "most improved." The Allstate folks narrowed down the most-improved ranking for lack of collisions over a two-year period in the metro Los Angeles area only, and there are some interesting results. Regardless of population, Pomona topped the most-improved ranking in metro Los Angeles, improving the average time between accidents by 0.2 of a year, capturing the 41st spot, as compared with 115th in 2005.

City and overall ranking (2005 rank)     

1) Pomona -- ranking: 41 (was 115)
2) Palmdale -- ranking: 44 (was 92) 
3) San Bernardino -- ranking: 54 (was 112)
4) Huntington Beach -- ranking: 62 (was 81) 

What can we do to compete in this ongoing race for improved driving attributes? Allstate offers the following tips that I think we Angelenos should take to heart. Not to make excuses for our bad behavior, but some of the suggestions may be more difficult than others to remedy:

No. 1 driving tip: Minimize distractions. Engaging in any other activity while driving -- talking on your cellphone, text messaging, changing a radio station, putting on makeup -- is a distraction.

Our challenge: This is L.A. We have distractions. Car time is cellphone time and cellphones are not only phones, they are also e-mails, movies, GPS systems, restaurant locaters, etc. Plus, we know we're going to be sitting in traffic, so we have to have something to do. One of the biggest temptations we face in L.A. traffic is the downtime we experience when we're inching forward for hours. In this situation, we tend to bring activities to amuse ourselves.

No. 2 driving tip: Be aware of road conditions.  Ice, snow, fog, rain -- all of these weather conditions require extra caution and slower speeds.

Our challenge: This is the one advantage we have in L.A. weather. Well, until it rains, then we fall apart. Fortunately that's a rare occasion, right?

No. 3 driving tip: Leave a safe distance between your car and others around you. Maintain at least one car length of space between your car and the vehicle in front of you for every 10 miles per hour of speed.

Our challenge: OK, we in the greater L.A. area know that if we leave a lot of space, people will fill it -- and not in a nice way either. This instruction will take a lot of work on our part.

No. 4 driving tip: Steer clear of road rage. Reduce stress on the road by allowing plenty of time for travel, planning your route in advance and altering your schedule or route to avoid congested roads. Remember not to challenge aggressive drivers, and stay as far away from them as possible.

Our challenge: I think we invented road rage in L.A. This is problematic, because our traffic conditions seem to get us in the right mood for rage when someone finally pushes us over the emotional edge. No doubt we need work on this one.

No. 5 driving tip: Maintenance matters. Ultimately, safety also depends on the maintenance of one's car. Ensure that brakes, exhaust system, tires, lights, battery and hoses are in good working order.

Our challenge: This is good advice, and here's wishing everyone could heed it. The reality, however, is that in a major metro area such as ours where public transportation is at a minimum, folks who can barely afford to buy a car, along with the required insurance, can hardly afford regular maintenance on their clunker.

-- Joni Gray

Photo of L.A. freeway accident aftermath. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

-- Solemn Michael Jackson motorcade includes Range Rovers and Rolls Royce Phantoms. Edmunds

-- Google phone designers plot "The End of Driving" with what's being called the autonomobile concept. Autoblog

-- Researchers study "personality traits" of cars and say each car has a "face." Detroit News

-- General Motors pitches Chevrolet Camaro to gay men with beefcake video. USA Today

-- Autoblog reader spies the next-gen Hyundai Sonata in Dubai. Autoblog

-- Joni Gray

The week of Aug. 9-16 is ground zero for the automobile and classic car nut and features such events as the sold-out Quail, a massive outdoor gathering for all things fast and expensive, the Monterey Historic races at Laguna Seca, where Porsche is the featured marquee, and, of course, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Lollapalooza of rich guys, trophy wives and multimillion dollar Italian and French cars you’ve never heard of -- Talbot-Lago, anyone?

The all-new Panamera is Porsche’s first-ever four-door production sedan and Porsche claims this "unique four-seater was conceived and designed as a grand touring car, combining numerous talents in typical Porsche style: sporting driving dynamics, a spacious interior, and the supreme comfort of a gran turismo." 

Sounds like a mouthful, but oh, those lines, which we think looks a lot like a feral panther ready to pounce, or a gussied up 911 with a Botoxed mouth and silicon implants, or, better yet, what we think an Italian Gran Turismo would look like if Italy was still an Axis power. 

That said, the Panamera, from what we have read, looks and drives like a Porsche, just not a 911. And we want one.

The Panamera goes on sale Oct. 17 in the U.S. and prices will range from $89,800 for the base Panamera S up to $93,800 for the all-wheel-drive 4S and a whopping $132,600 for the Turbo model. With options – this being a Porsche, expect to add another 10k to 15k.  Be the boss and opt for the Porsche crests on the seats.

-- Jon Alain Guzik

Jon Alain Guzik is editor-in-chief at DriverSide.com

Photo: Porsche Panamera  Credit: PR Newswire

-- GM and Ford major parts supplier Lear files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. AP

-- Former Ford executive and architect of the Vietnam War Robert McNamara dies at 93. Autoweek / LAT

-- Honda confirms rumors that a new 2010 Accord called the Crosstour is coming this fall. Car and Driver

-- Mini set to launch a 60 mpg Cooper called the 'One D' in Europe: a diesel with regenerative braking and start-stop engine. Leftlanenews.com

-- Audi to begin an online pro-diesel movement with the motto "Diesel: It's no longer a dirty word." Wall Street Journal

-- Joni Gray

-- That muscular symbol of Americana, the Chevrolet Camaro, is headed to Europe in 2010. Leftlanenews.com

-- Japan’s Nikkei reported Saturday that Toyota plans to build up to 30,000 plug-in hybrids by 2012. Leftlanenews.com

-- A Facebook user and Alfa Romeo enthusiast has published in-factory spy photos of the Milano possibly slated for sale in the U.S. Carmagazine

-- A Smart car "Cash for Clunkers" lease for $99/month sounds good, but lessor beware, there's a $6,667 payment due after 36 months. Autoblog

-- Not willing to wait three more weeks for "Cash for Clunkers" to take affect, Hyundai offers $4,500 incentive on trade-ins now. Leftlanenews.com

-- New Navigation from Magellan Maestro 4700 touts 4.7-inch display and lane assist. Digitaltrends.com

-- Joni Gray

Ford has been building cars in Canada for 105 years and currently operates two assembly plants there, yet has been an also-ran to GM for decades. Not surprisingly, executives in the company's Oakville, Ontario, headquarters reveled in the victory.

"This is a historic day for Ford in Canada," David Mondragon, Ford Canada's president and Chief Executive. Just yesterday (Canada Day, by the way), Ford reported that its U.S. sales in June declined only 11%, by far the best result posted by any major automaker and sufficient for it to fend off Toyota for the No. 2 slot in sales here for the third month in a row, behind GM.

Particularly cheering for Ford executives in the land of Tim Horton's was the fact that much of the sales lift came from trucks, about the most profitable thing a car company makes.

While GM's truck sales declined nearly 20%, Ford saw a 36% rise in truck sales, including a 50% rise in sales of the Ranger light pickup and a whopping 59% uptick for the F-150 pickup.

And now, a gratuitous joke about Canada:

Q. What does a Canadian say when you step on his foot?

Q. "Sorry."

--Ken Bensinger

Photo: Wayne Gretzky endorsing Ford in 2002. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

-- CEO Elon Musk says he's obligated to stay at Tesla until the Model S launch. Reuters

-- Fiat is considering co-branding Dodge and Alfa Romeo when product comes to U.S. LeftLaneNews

-- Mazda reportedly working on a smaller Miata: the MX-2 Roadster. Motor Authority

-- Toyota has entered into talks with Daimler about a potential partnership. LeftLaneNews

-- Joni Gray

If silicon-based gadgets are to fly off the shelves, they had better be great, and the same goes for cars. That said, Volkswagen recently announced that last month it sold 19,027 units, an 18% decrease over June 2008 sales, but the drop was to be expected in today’s "new economy."

There is a bright side to those numbers. Ladies and gentleman, may I present Volkswagen's version of the Apple iPhone 3GS, the TDI turbo diesel line-up of cars.

Volkswagen's clean diesels posted their best sales month ever since their re-introduction to the American market earlier this year, with 5,072 units sold last month alone. That represents a whopping 26% of Volkswagen sales, which is an amazing number for American diesel sales, but not so much for Europe, where in some countries diesel sales hover around 60%.

Jetta SportWagen TDI sales lead the pack with 1,982 units sold in June. Clean-diesel TDI models, according to Volkswagen, accounted for 81% of Jetta SportWagen sales, 40% of Jetta sedan sales and 29% of Touareg sales.

We’ve driven all three models and have to say that compared with the anemic Toyota Prius, we’d take a torque-heavy and fuel-sipping TDI any day of the week over a gas-electric hybrid. 

Perhaps Southern California will soon equate diesel with automobiles instead of overpriced, cheesy Euro denim.

-- Jon Alain Guzik

Guzik is editor-in-chief at DriverSide.com.

Photo credit: Volkswagen

-- Hundreds of 2005-2008 Prius owners are using social networking to complain about defective HID headlights that Toyota won't cover. Autoblog

-- The Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni is unveiled, named after its legendary, recently retired, test driver. Edmunds

-- R.L. Polk study says states that vote Republican buy more American cars, and sates that vote Democratic buy more imports. Autoblog

-- Joni Gray

To promote its latest car-buying spiff, Hyundai is running a $1.49 gas promotion at one gas station in Los Angeles, one in New York and one in Chicago -- for two hours only.

Because we aren't allowed to announce this until 11 a.m. today, your proximity to the location, or your willingness to use your existing tank of gas to travel there, will save you more than half the current cost of regular gasoline.

Where?
Hollywood 76 gas station
5890 Hollywood Blvd. (southeast corner of Hollywood and Bronson)
Los Angeles, CA 90028

When?
Today, July 1, from noon to 2 p.m.

How much?
Regular-grade gasoline: $1.49 a gallon (a savings of $1.58)
Mid-grade gasoline: $1.64 (a savings of $1.55)
Premium gasoline: $1.79 (a savings of $1.48)

Why is Hyundai doing it?
What Hyundai hopes is that you will now be aware of its summer incentive program called Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock, which begins today and runs through Aug. 31. All new Hyundais purchased during that time qualify to receive a special credit card that Hyundai helps to pay at most major gas stations, keeping your regular gas prices at $1.49 a gallon for one year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.

John Krafcik, chief executive and president of Hyundai Motor America, is convinced that this promotion, in conjunction with other Hyundai programs, will help stimulate new car buying this summer. “Our research shows that nearly 40% of potential new car buyers are staying out of the market specifically due to uncertainty around future gas prices.”

-- Joni Gray

Photo credit: Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times

-- Popularity of "Transformers" movie creates bigger wait list for 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. Edmunds

-- Aston Martin teams up with Toyota to create a new baby luxury car -- the Cygnet. Edmunds

-- Consumer Reports takes a shot at the Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested. AutoBlog

-- "Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock: Buy a New Car, Get One Year of $1.49 Gas." Jalopnik

-- Another luxury car coming from Hyundai -- the Equus is U.S.-bound in 2010. LeftLaneNews.com

-- Joni Gray

-- Jaguar and Land Rover will now sell in India. Edmunds

-- Confirmed -- four versions of Fiat 500 in the U.S. by 2011, including Abarth. Autoblog

-- RM launches its first online car auction. Autoblog

-- Photos leaked of the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2. Leftlanenews.com

-- Joni Gray

Like most forms of transportation in 2009, scooter sales are down this year after seeing their biggest sales ever in 2008. One in four on-road two-wheelers sold last year was a scooter, aided by $4-a-gallon gas and an economy that had yet to implode.

With gas a buck short of the scooter-buying tipping point and accessible credit an increasingly distant memory, scooter sales have declined more than other categories so far in 2009, but that isn’t stopping Honda from bringing two new models to the U.S. this summer, the first being the immensely practical SH150i.

I had the chance to spend a morning on Honda’s newest scoot, which was designed to appeal to new riders of all ages, about a quarter of whom are expected to be women. I’d say the SH150i has hit its mark with a user-friendly scooter that has enough juice off the line that it isn’t likely to be roadkill for surrounding four-wheeled traffic, even if its uppermost speed is only about 70 mph.

Lightweight and easy to throw around, the SH150i seems to have been designed to be as non-intimidating as possible. Its seat is a confidence-inspiring 30.9 inches, and its wheels are a stability-conscious 16 inches instead of the more characteristic 12- to 14-inchers found on most other mid-size scooters. The brakes are also responsive without being so powerful that new riders will get in trouble by over-braking.

The SH150i uses Honda’s combined braking system, which links the front disc and rear drum brakes when squeezing the left lever but also allows riders to use the front brake only (by squeezing just the right lever). That said, the fastest braking happens when the two are squeezed together.

In a sea of wannabe Vespas, it’s refreshing that Honda’s new scooter looks like, well, a Honda. Its body work is windswept rather than bulbous with a profile that’s more Silver Wing (its 600-cc maxi) than Metropolitan (its 50-cc bestseller).

The SH150i splits the difference in terms of performance, price and carrying capacity. Commuter- rather than performance-oriented, it’s got satisfying pep but still gets 80 miles per gallon. It can also carry a passenger. Just don’t expect to haul major groceries -- the under-seat storage compartment can carry only a couple loaves of bread. While a fairly wide footboard and grocery hook expand this scoot’s use as a pack mule, riders who want to use it as such may need to spring the extra $270 for the 9-gallon rear trunk so their bags won’t shift and slide in corners.

The SH150i is new only to the U.S. It’s been available in Europe for the last three years, where it is currently the best-selling scooter in Italy, according to Honda reps. American Honda chose to import the SH150i to fill a major gap in its scooter lineup: a middleweight. The company axed its 250-cc Big Ruckus after the 2007 model year for reasons that aren’t entirely clear; one year later, it discontinued its remaining 250-cc scoots, the Reflex and Helix models, which were considered dated.

In August, Honda will introduce a second, slightly smaller midsize scoot: the 110-cc Elite, which will sell for $1,500 less than the SH150i. The benefit to the 150 is that -- in California, at least -- it’s freeway legal, even if such use is inadvisable, especially for new riders, in multi-lane traffic that often flies at 90 mph.

2010 Honda SH150i
Base price: $4,499
Powertrain: fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, SOHC, two-valve single cylinder, four stroke, automatic transmission
Displacement: 153 cc
Seat height: 30.9 inches
Curb weight: 302 pounds
Road test mpg: 80 (based on 61 miles traveled)

-- Susan Carpenter

Photo: Honda SH150i. Credit: Honda

As many potential car buyers across America take a break from impulse buying, Rolls-Royce saw the opportunity to get people dreaming big -- err, virtually at least.

With the launch of their new RR4 model, named "The Ghost," RR put together an online "dream machine" to give everyone a chance to create and customize the Rolls that best suits their discriminating taste.

And why not, since all of us are dreaming of driving something that costs about as much as an ocean-view condo, med school tuition for two people, or, to put it in perspective, 1,450 3GS iPhones?

The 200EX itself is an experimental car designed to carry over to the production RR4 model, which will debut in Frankfurt, Germany, in September. The Ghost is set to go on sale in North America in 2010.

In the real world, this latest offering from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is far from a bargain at its estimated price of $280,000 to $300,000 (which is still cheaper than the big Phantom’s $382,000 price tag), but the interactive website gives you some luxurious fun for absolutely no money.

As you tool around the site, you'll see features that simply don't exist on more affordable vehicles: folding  picnic tables for your backseat passengers to enjoy a meal en route, a panoramic sunroof covering two-thirds of the roof, and rear-hinged coach doors that swing open 83 degrees for a movie-star exit.

The “visualiser” feature allows you to create your customized Ghost, with palettes to change the exterior paint colors, interior leather trims, dashboard wood veneers, and an option to hide or show the satin silver front bonnet trim.

The 200EX micro-site also includes an “explore” option, which, once you click on the little blue blinking bubbles, highlights the car’s luxurious details: an elongated bonnet coated in a silver satin finish, a clock in the front dash faced with not just glass, but fancy green glass, and the iconic Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament that even retracts into the hood for its own protection.

No expense is spared, with chrome door handles, frosted lamps, violin-key switches, and an ergonomic roller-ball for controlling the car’s systems.

Though your paycheck may be shrinking, RR wants you to design your own Ghost and dream big - $280,000 big ones, at that.

-- Kelsey Ramos

Photo: Rolls Royce EX200 via Rolls Royce

-- Tata Motors loses $520 million after purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover. Bloomberg

-- Michael Jackson's death could create a boom for memorabilia hunters and sellers. Edmunds

-- Ford to boost production as sales stabilize. Leftlanenews.com

-- Joni Gray