It looks like things will be getting a lot less exciting at Pontiac, as some reports indicate that the erstwhile performance brand will be losing its best performers. Despite the fact that the G8 sedan has seen nothing but positive press from the media, including your humble scribes here at Autoblog, the realities of fuel economy and the global economy appear set to kill off the rear-wheel drive performance sedan in the prime of its short life. GM will reportedly not renew the G8 after its Holden-sourced chassis architecture is redesigned following a planned five-year run.

The Pontiac Solstice in both coupe and convertible forms is also unlikely to see a second generation. Unfortunately, the Solstice, Saturn Sky and their Opel spin-off don’t generate enough sales to support another go-round, which could leave Pontiac with exactly zero vehicles with overtly sporting pretensions. While the G6 may be a decent car, it and a Cobalt derivative in the form of the G5 and a rebadged Aveo known as the G3 do not a BMW competitor make. What does this mean for the future of Pontiac as a brand? We’ll see.

Clint Eastwood’s Changeling has all the Oscar buzz going for it at the moment, but we’re stoked for the other movie he has coming out this year, Gran Torino. And yes, the title has everything to do with the car, as you can see from the poster above, which was just released.

The plot summary, via IMDB: “Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski’s prized possesion: his 1972 Gran Torino.” USA Today has a longer piece out that fleshes out the story some more.

Messing with someone’s Gran Torino is wrong. Messing with Clint’s… well, you asked for it, dummy. We’ll drop the 10 bucks to see this one at the multiplex when it opens in December.

Some new cars are predictable; others catch us by surprise. This one we could see from a mile away, and not just because it’s enormous. But after Bentley rolled out Speed versions of the Continental GT coupe (which we’ve sampled) and Flying Spur sedan, it was only a matter of time before the same treatment would be applied to the GTC convertible variant. And now we’re seeing the spy shots to prove it. The Bentley Continental GTC Speed, as it’s certain to be called, will feature all of the same upgrades we’ve seen on the Speed versions of its fixed-head counterparts. That means a power bump for its W12 engine to 602 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, suspension and aero tweaks and bigger wheels. All of it will add up to one fast-moving warm weather front that should hit U.S. shores in the near future as Hurricane Bentley.

Those looking for a little bit more punch from their microcars are in luck as smart will begin offering the BRABUS-tuned version of its fortwo in the U.S. beginning in February 2009. News of its impending arrival was apparently emailed to potential smart owners who have already placed reservation deposits but have not yet configured their new fortwo. These people in line for a regular smart fortwo will have the option of changing their reservation to the limited edition BRABUS model beginning 8PM EST tonight. The American-ized version should feature the same 98-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine as the BRABUS fortwo in Europe, as well as the same styling tweaks and handling package. Even with the increase in power, the European BRABUS fortwo is still able to achieve 45 miles per U.S. gallon. While it’s 10-second run to 60 won’t break any records, that’s a precious few ticks quicker that the standard model and would surely make the microcar a lot more fun to drive. Still, we’ll take what we can get.

UPDATE: Sources on the forum indicate the U.S.-spec fortwo BRABUS will not get the turbocharged version of the microcar’s three-cylinder engine (probably because it’s not certified in the U.S.), though a BRABUS Sport model may arrive later with the turbo. The BRABUS package will reportedly include a sport exhaust with dual center tips, sport suspension, 15- front and 17-inch rear wheels, power steering and all the BRABUS visual cues.

Our spy photographers have noticed a test mule running around Detroit, and we agree with their guess that it’s the upcoming reinvention of the Ford Explorer on a unibody platform. Since its inception, the Explorer has been a true SUV built on a sturdy truck frame, but the market has turned its back on traditional SUVs, so Ford came up with the Explorer America concept that debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. The concept previews the vehicle you see here, though current mules for the production version are cobbled together with bits of Taurus X and Flex body panels.

The new Explorer will be ditching its truckish roots and climbing onboard a new car-based platform that’s shared with the Flex. The new unibody structure will effectively make the next Explorer a large CUV rather than an SUV. The mules are wearing a Flex front end with a modified lower grille to allow more cooling air to reach the engine, but after the more steeply raked A-pillar we find the body of a Ford Taurus X. Our spies note that the wheelbase of these mules appears to be shorter than that of the Flex, though we expect the new Explorer to sport a third row of seats regardless. The mules also appear to be wider than a Taurus X or Flex, which is fitting with the SUV image the new Explorer must project. Click the gallery below for more spy shots of the next-gen Explorer, that should be arriving sometime in 2010.

Source:autoblog

Some cars just don’t get the love they deserve. Case in point: this burgundy BMW M6 sitting under what appears to be months worth of silt. Judging from the plates, the lonely 500-hp coupe is parked in Dubai where it has seen more than its share of days (and dust clouds), but nary a wet soapy sponge. Appearing in perfect mechanical condition, the filthy deposits on the metallic paint have attracted a handful of witty passersby, many of whom have written their comments in the grime. Our personal favorite? The classic, “I wish my wife was this dirty.”

In today’s chaotic automotive industry, if you’re not merging, divesting, or collaborating, then you’re just not trying. Both Aston Martin and Mercedes are only about 18 months removed from their respective divorces from Ford and Chrysler, and now the two luxury automakers are looking to shack up with one another. This time, though, they’ll skip wedded bliss in favor of a limited agreement between two consensual companies. CAR gave us some details in on the limited partnership in its September issue, and now the British rag is making with the details.

Make the jump for the skinny.

Aston Martin has terrific brand value, but the independent British marquee can’t touch Daimler’s vast cash and engineering might. For that reason, Aston is reportedly interested in Mercedes for its engineering prowess. The next generation S-Class will feature a choice of mild, full, and plug-in hybrid variants, as well as smaller petrol engines to increase efficiency. Those powertrain combos will reportedly end up under the bonnet of the 2010 Rapide sedan, as well as the rumored Lagonda lineup. Aston is also looking to swap out its Ford-derived V12 engine in favor of Merc’s M275 twin-turbo twelve-banger. Dr. Z has reportedly already given the thumbs-up on the V12, along with hybrid powertrains, which in total could be worth €150 million or more. Aston may also utilize Daimler’s next generation CL platform on a successor to the DB9.

To receive all this wonderful technology that a niche automaker wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford, Aston will be charged with the monumental task of overhauling Maybach. The ultra-expensive Rolls Royce competitor has been less than a sales success, and the brand is a sore spot with Daimler execs. The German automaker is hoping the flexibility, speed, and absence of bureaucracy will enable Aston to design a better Maybach inside and out. After looking at some of the things Aston has pulled off since it left the Ford umbrella, we’re guessing Mercedes will get the distinctive styling the current model lacks. Aston has plenty of incentive to do the Maybach right, because a future Lagonda saloon could effectively be a sporty version of the next 57 or 62. We’re guessing this won’t be a badge engineering job, either, so stop imagining a Maybach with a carbon fiber splitter and a Cobalt SS spoiler bolted to the trunk.

A €300 million Aston/Daimler collaboration could wind up being yet another bad idea, but there’s also a good chance this Euro luxury hook-up could result in some good-looking offspring. We may find out sooner than later, too, as the first Lagonda concept is rumored to be unveiled next year, and under that beautiful Aston sheet metal may well be some fine German engineering.