Autoblog

Bertone has landed in some very hot water and is facing Italian bankruptcy court within a week. The courts in Turin seem to think that the best thing for the company's 1,300 employees would be for it to shut down and go into bankruptcy protection. But before it draws its last breath, the famous Italian carrozzeria has one last trick up its sleeve, which is expected to be revealed later today.

The coachbuilder has long since evolved from being the small design house it once was into a major manufacturing facility, with capacity to produce 70,000 cars each year. But in order to break even, it needs to build at least 30,000 per year. It was building a special-edition MINI, but that ended over a year ago, and production of the Astra convertible ended two years ago. Over the last three years, according to reports, Bertone has lost €37.3 million ($55.4 million).

Industry insiders are speculating as to what Bertone's plan of action might entail, fueled by a release from chairman, CEO and owner Lili Bertone, which stated that the company received "a letter of intent from an industrial group with a strong track record in the automotive field." That hardly narrows it down, but speculation points towards former Fiat and Telecom Italia exec Gianmario Rossignolo, who is tipped to be preparing to produce a new SUV in Italy. We'll just have to wait and see.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - subscription required]

Responsible drivers usually keep the same few things in their trunk in case of an emergency: a set of jumper cables, a flashlight and some road flares. (What, you don't?) The trouble is, for the style-conscious motorist, that the cardboard box or egg crate in which this emergency equipment is held is an unsightly presence in the boot of a high-end luxury, performance or classic automobile.

Enter Dunhill with the solution. The company makes all manner of motoring accessory, its founder Alfred Dunhill having been quoted as declaring that his company offers "everything for the car but the motor". That might be a bit of a stretch, but Dunhill's emergency equipment kits puts those essential pieces together in one stylish yet durable canvas bag, trimmed in leather, that would look at home even in the trunk of your pristine Aston or Benz. Likewise, it's price is proportionately higher than your local Wal-Mart's car repair kit at €850.

[Source: Sybarites]

We've never had the pleasure of being stranded in our cars, relying on our dormant Order of the Arrow skills. Turns out, though, you only need $25 to ensure your co-pilot doesn't turn into a giant pot roast before your eyes. The resourceful folks over at Backwoods Home have given considerable thought to the possibility of riding out a stranding and coming out of it well-fed, clear eyed, and rested.

You'll only need to spend $25 at your local grocery store on foodstuffs to hold you ten days , and a few extra dollars on ancillary supplies. You could go nuts and head to your local camping supply store and get some fancier survival gear, but you can find everything you will need at more common shopping locations. You'll be eating a lot of reconstituted "just add water" meals, but that doesn't mean it won't be yummy. Packing ten days worth of food that will stay stable in your car isn't that tough -- it all fits in a small cooler, along with your Sterno heat source, matches, cup and a few extras like plastic, the ever-handy duct tape, and seasonings to make those MSG-laden delights more palatable. The plan has been laid out really well, and the supplies don't take up much room in the trunk of a car or behind the seat of a pickup truck. Even if you never use it, it's cheap insurance to have a few gallons of water, some food and a sleeping bag (government surplus mummy bags rock) to help you weather a bad situation by merely keeping your wits about you and chilling for a while. Plus, it's small enough that you can bring it with you should you need to leave the shelter of your car. It almost makes us want to go camping. Almost.

[Source: Backwoods Home]