The Automotive News Week in Review - October 9, 2009

Mazda to Invest Heavily in Green Technologies

Although the Japanese company currently shares some of corporate parent Ford’s hybrid drivetrain technology in the form of the very limited edition Tribute SUV hybrid, Mazda does not currently offer a hybrid passenger car. Aware of its competitive limitations in this area, Mazda has decided to offload $1.1 billion in stock in order to raise funds for its own internal alternative fuels development effort. The funds will be part of a $3.3 billion dollar research and development effort, with at least $700 million of that amount being slated for the exploration of ecologically friendly vehicles. In the past, Mazda has produced several hydrogen-powered concept cars, but has yet to unveil any homegrown gasoline / electric platforms.

Jeep Owners Facing Possible Safety Recall

A contentious recommendation by the Center for Auto Safety could see up to 2.3 million Jeeps recalled due to a risk of fire after accidental impact. The Center claims that Jeep Grand Cherokees manufactured for the model years 1993 to 2004 have demonstrated a much higher rate of fire hazard than any other SUV on the market. In fact, they would appear to be four times as likely to be set ablaze when hit from the rear, as comparedto sport-utility vehicles from other manufacturers.

Chrysler, for its part, maintains that the Center’s data analysis is incorrect, and in a public statement labeled it “simplistic” and “flawed.” The company contends that there are a number of factors involved in the accidents examined by the Center that were completely ignored for the purposes of the recall recommendation. The 172 fatal fires cited by the Center for Auto Safety are being blamed on what the organization calls a dangerous and unshielded plastic fuel tank.

Pontiac Solstice to be Possible Revived as a…Delorean?

In a strange twistof fate that has seen one extinct automotive brand embraced by another, a Texas-based company bearing the Delorean name has made noises regarding possibly taking over production of the doomed Pontiac Solstice coupe. The current iteration of the Delorean Motor Company serves mainly to provide stainless steel bodies for replica kits and restorations of John Delorean’s ill-fated DMC-12, made famous by the “Back to the Future” movie series. However, Delorean’s ties with Pontiac are legendary, and the current DMC management are performing an engineering study on the Solstice GXP coupe to determine the feasibility of producing it in low numbers as a 2011 model. No word has been given on whether the new version would ditch its targa top for the trademark Delorean gull-wing doors.

Chevrolet Caprice – This Time, For Sure

After previously confirming, then denying that the vaunted Caprice badge would be revived by Chevrolet in order to maintain the viability of the abandoned Pontiac G8 platform, General Motors have once again set hearts aflutter with a new confirmation of the Chevrolet Caprice’s eventual production. However, unless one is wearing a badge and a gun, it is unlikely that any Chevy fans will be able to get behind the wheel of a Caprice any time soon. That is because the new Caprice is being introduced as a fleet-only vehicle for 2011, aimed specifically at law enforcement agencies. Given that the Ford Crown Victoria, that diehard police stalwart for the past 50 years or so, is destined to be retired inthe near future, GM felt that the time was now to offer an inexpensive solution to the men and women in blue.

The Caprice will be based on the large rear-wheel drive platform shared with the Holden Statesmen, built by GM’s Australian partner and also sold in the Middle East as the Caprice. The vehicle is slated to offer both a powerful V8 suitable for highway interception duties, and a more efficient V6 for urban peacekeeping. Although it is inevitable that these sedans will eventually make it into civilian hands through auctions, it would appear as though the only current way to get a ride in the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice is in the backseat – handcuffs included, of course.

Toyota Releases Details of FT-86 “Toyobaru” Concept

After teasing sports car fans for more than a year with “will they or won’t they” build it announcements, the FT-86 coupe has finally been revealed to the public. Dubbed the “Toyobaru” by the press thanks to its co-development with Japanese brand Subaru, the FT-86’s body work resembles almost nothing in the oeuvre of either manufacturer. With a front end as wide as a previous-generation Celica, and a rear hatch strongly reminiscent of the Nissan 350Z, the FT-86 appears to through enough curves and swoopy lines into the mix to keep the hearts of enthusiasts beating at an elevated rate.

This cardiac assist is continued under the hood, where the FT-86 Concept boasts a 150 horsepower, 4-cylinder engine. While that number might at first seem underwhelming, given that it is a boxer design lifted directly from Subaru it no doubt offers great potential from a turbocharging perspective. This ready-made canvas – much like the Hyundai Genesis Coupe – will certainly prove popular with the tuner crowd, and perhaps gain Toyota back some of the respect it has lost among performance fans after years of producing excellent yet dull vehicular appliances. The rear-wheel drive FT-86 is scheduled to appear as a 2011 model, and pricing is said to be skewed towards the more affordable end of the $20,000 range.