Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (September 10-16 2012) Automotive News

Auto Central Louisville, KY September 16, 2012 Each week Larry Nutson, The Auto Channel's Chicago Bureau Chief, along with Steve Purdy and Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau give you easy to digest nuggets of the past week's automotive news you may have missed.

If you are a car nut like we all are, you can easily "catch up" on these stories as well as the past 16 years 1,351,002 automotive stories, articles, reviews, rants and raves by just searching for the subject you are interested in The Auto Channel's Automotive News Archive. Hey South Florida TV viewers, I know you are enjoying watching The Auto Channel's TACH-TV on channel 44 WHDT-TV Palm Beach (Cable 17 and 438, channel 9 Miami and channel 32 Fort Meyers-Naples, and thanks for the positive feedback...See you next week, LN

Automotive News September 10-16, 2012

* Eight carmakers are on pace to set all-time North American production records, according to a study by LMC Automotive, but none are of the Detroit Three. They are Toyota, Nissan, VW, Hyundai-Kia, BMW, Daimler and Subaru. LMC's prediction for total N.A. auto production is higher than most at 14.9 million units and they say these production numbers reflect an increase in capacity utilization of 10% to a healthy 85%.

* Along those lines Nissan plans to bring production of its Murano midsize crossover to the U.S. building it in their Smyrna, Tennessee plant along side the Altima and Maxima with which it shares a platform. Since 70% of Murano sales are in the U.S. and since the Yen is expected to strengthen, Tennessee becomes the best place to build these cars. Rogue production is expected to start there for the 2014 model as well.

* The new Toyota RAV4 EV, full electric CUV, goes on sale this week in California. It has garnered an EPA mileage rating of 103 mile range, with 76 MPGe (equivalent) combined highway/city. Priced at $49,800 customers will also have an option of a 36/month lease at about $600/month.

* Porsche's product line is expected to expand soon with the introduction of the "Macan" smaller crossover to compliment the popular Cayenne larger crossover. We saw the first drawings of the Macan, based on the Audi Q5 platform, this week with styling cues much like Cayenne. Macan is expected to become 40% of total Porsche sales.

* In an attempt to set a new record for entry into the Guinness Book of Records more than 1,000 Ferraris will parade around the famous Silverstone racing circuit this weekend. In collaboration with the British Ferrari Owners Club a donation of 5 Pounds each will be made by Ferrari to a charity focused on charity works for those in the auto industry. We wonder how many of those Ferraris will be red.

* Former CART racing champion, Alex Zanardi, wants to race in the Indy 500 next year and is working on passing some qualifying tests. Zanardi lost both legs in a 2001 crash during a Champ Car race in Germany and won two individual gold medals during the recent Paralympics in London. Since his accident he has been racing touring cars in Europe.

* GM sold a record number of Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid sedans in August but an industry report says they may be losing $49,000 on each one. Estimates provided to Reuters by industry analysts and manufacturing experts created the buzz. GM says the estimates are not correct but acknowledges they are losing money. Bob Lutz in an opinion published in Forbes had his own thoughts disputing the issue. But, it is well known in the industry that EVs are money losers, at least for the present.

* Canada has become one of the most expensive countries in which to build cars. The Detroit Three are looking for concessions from the Canadian auto workers (CAW) similar to those they received from the UAW in the last bargaining session. The Canadians are saying no way, but if the Detroit Three cave, then the UAW will certainly look for more give-backs. Larry Nutson Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau, The Auto Channel Treasurer, Midwest Automotive Media Association Director, Individual Communicators Network (ICN)