Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lexus LF-A concept.

The writing has been on the wall for some time. Although the Lexus flagship graduated from "concept" to "prototype" when it campaigned in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, Toyota has refused to even hint at a production date for the V10 supercar. Then Toyota declined to plonk an LF-A silhouette on their Super GT racer, electing to continue with the doomed SC 430 jello mold.

Then news broke that production cars would cost a whopping $225,000, but the LF-A still wouldn't turn a profit. Needless to say, Toyota doesn't like things that are not profitable.

Finally, members of the testing and development crew who have been putting the car though its paces in Germany, as well as test drivers from rival Honda and Nissan crews, have told Autoblog that the LF-A is not destined for the showroom, and will remain only a development platform.

No reasons were given, but we can think of a couple. How many people are willing to part with nigh on a quarter of a million bucks for a Toyota/Lexus? Also, the world's most prolific car maker may not be willing to join the current Nurburgring pissing contest unless it is 100% sure that they can beat the Viper, ZR-1 and perhaps more importantly, the GT-R and upcoming NSX replacement.

Actually, one 'Ring test driver didn't mind going on the record with his opinion. Former Nissan racer, NSX development driver and Nurburgring legend Motoharu "Gan-san" Kurosawa reckons, "Toyota are good at making money, but they're no good at making sports cars."

Click on the image above for our high-res 2008 Cadillac STS gallery

It may be the end of the Big Cadillac. Not only has General Motors put plans for a DTS/STS replacement on the back burner, but apparently the flame is close to being extinguished as consumers are demanding smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles. Cadillac's banner year was 1954 (the year Elvis was driving a pink '54 model). Back then, the big Caddys represented wealth and success (and gas was only $.25 per gallon). Today, a 4,000-pound super-sized sedan averaging 15 mpg in the city cycle doesn't bode well with anyone. With plans for their replacement on hold, and the rumor that the DTS/STS my be combined into one new vehicle unconfirmed, GM is focusing on coupe and wagon versions of the CTS and smaller and more fuel efficient SUVs. For the record, we don't consider the just-announced $71,000 2009 Escalade Hybrid smaller and more efficient....

[Source: Bloomberg]

With Project Genesis in full swing, new revelations from Steven Landry, Chrysler executive vice president for North American Sales, have shed some more light on the corporate strategy to trim waste and turn the company around. As of now, dealers are under the belief that the automaker intends to cut its lineup by one-third to one-half. Supporting that assumption, Landry told a crowd at Northwood University that "twins" -- vehicles built on the same platform yet are sold under different brand names -- are out (think Jeep Liberty / Dodge Nitro). As Chrysler has more than a handful of twins, sold under several different brands, their dilemma will be in choosing which twin gets the axe, and which gets to survive.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Following the unfortunate cancellation of this year's Dakar rally, race organizers are examining a number of potential alternatives to permanently move the race away from northern Africa. Last year's race had stages canceled due to security considerations, but this year's event, which would have been going on right now, was the first to be cancelled in the rally's history. With reports now suggesting that the French foreign ministry's urging to cancel was based on direct threats from Al Qaeda to the Dakar rally itself, last year's modified race will likely have been the last to run the traditional, if oft-modified, route.

ASO – the French outfit that organizes the event, along with the famous Tour de France bicycle race – has considered a number of alternatives, including Dubai, Australia, and even running the distance from Paris all the way to Beijing, but reports are now suggesting that following the offer from the Chilean tourism minister, a deal has already been signed to hold the rally beginning next year on a route from Argentina to Chile and back.

Although the South American rally likely won't happen this year, when it does it will likely revert to Dakar's traditional January 1 starting gun and take the place of the Pampas Rally in the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.

[Source: Autosport]

If you've got your money on Prodrive making an unprecedented F1 debut next season, we'd recommend calling your bookie and changing your bet. The British racing consultancy was preparing to hit the grand prix circuit using equipment obtained through a deal with McLaren, but the agreement that was all but dotted and crossed has reportedly fallen apart.

Neither Prodrive nor McLaren have yet to comment, but according to Autosport.com, the deal is off. As we'd reported previously, Prodrive were to become an effective second McLaren team by using the same chassis next season, but that all depends on the FIA Court of Appeal's ruling on the legality of such an arrangement. That procedure was, according to Prodrive chief David Richards – also chairman of Aston Martin and former lyteam principal at first Benetton and then BAR-Honda – was the last obstacle standing between the new team and its fight for podiums in 2008. It would appear, however, that McLaren is less than confident that the regulatory body will rubber-stamp the customer-car deal, as they've reportedly told their employees not to prepare the additional Prodrive cars.

Mad props to our reader andybee for the tip!

[Source: Autosport]

Jeremy Clarkson has laid to rest rumors that either he or Top Gear itself would not be returning for another season. During yesterday's show, which is the last for the current series, Clarkson said, "Everyone seems to think the programme is finished or that I've left. Well, sorry to disappoint you all but it isn't and I haven't. Top Gear... will be back in the autumn."

The rumor spread after Clarkson contradicted a BBC announcer's claim that a Top Gear "summer special" was in the works and that the show would return in the fall. Clarkson turned the rumor mill's key when he said in his column, "After last week's Top Gear, the continuity announcer said the show would be back in the summer. Can I just say, here and now, it won't be."

Most are now assuming that Clarkson is simply claiming that there won't be a summer special for the show, but that it will return, with Clarkson in tow, next fall.

Thanks for the tips, all!

[Source: Sundaymirror.co.uk]

A member of the GM Inside News forum posted today that he received an email from General Motors announcing the end of the Monte Carlo. We rang up the General for confirmation and received word that the Monte Carlo is indeed being offed. May 4th will reportedly be the last day you can order a Monte Carlo and production of the car at GM's Oshawa plant in Canada will cease on June 20th. Apparently production of the Monte Carlo is being cancelled to make room for all those extra Malibu orders the automaker is expecting when the new 2008 model sedan begins production in October. This is the sixth generation Monte Carlo, and when asked if we'd see the name return on a new model in the near future, we got the canned answer from GM, "We do not comment on future product." Sigh. Monte Carlo sales were off 64.2% in January of 2007 with only 1,639 units being sold. In 2006, 34,113 units were sold, a slight improvement over 2005.

[Source: GM, GM Inside News]

News of the next generation Pacifica being cancelled and the model dropped from Chrysler's lineup has come to us right out of the rumor mill, albeit from a source we trust. We're told that official word of the Pacifica's fate is forthcoming and could arrive as early as today.

The Pacifica was never the sales success that Chrysler hoped it would be, a fact that could be blamed on its lukewarm launch. Its sales were slow to gain momentum on account of the absence of a lower-priced base model, and when such a model was added it seemed too little too late. Talk to a Pacifica owner, however, and you're likely to find someone who is very satisfied with his or her choice of transportation. The big four-door wagon (oops, Chrysler hates it when you call it that) was a competent crossover before the term was cool, combining the all-wheel drive attributes of an SUV with the slicker shape of a traditional wagon, effectively offering a vehicle as useful as a minivan without the suburban stigma. Sales of the vehicle are off 10% year-to-date, with Chrysler managing to move 60,885 units through October. We'll keep our ears open all day today in case Chrysler makes this rumor an official act.

UPDATE: A piece just posted on the Detroit Free Press website corroborates what our source has told us about the next generation Pacifica, codenamed the CT, being cancelled. The DFP has word from several suppliers who told the paper they have been ordered by Chrysler to stop work on the project and even lay off associated contracted engineers and designers.

While you may be able to successfully argue that station wagons have made a comeback thanks to such hipster sleds as the Dodge Magnum and SUV-inspired Outbacks from Subaru, the love hasn't spread to the Ford Focus Wagon, which has always been the black sheep of the Focus lineup holding down around 8% of the small car's sales. Thus, Ford announced on its fleet website that it will be discontinuing the Focus Wagon in December. While Ford is actually increasing Focus production as a whole to meet the U.S. market's newfound demand for small cars, it's decided to spend its resources on the high volume Focus sedan, 3-door and 5-door hatchback models. Though the Focus lineup will now be down to three models by the end of the year, soon enough the heavily revised 2008 Focus will appear and a two-door coupe will join the ranks in place of the discontinued wagon.

[Source: Ford Fleet via LLN]

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