Nutson's Nuggets: In Case You Were Sleeping - Last Week's (December 12-17 2011) Automotive News

Auto Central Louisville KY, December 18, 2011; Each week Larry Nutson, The Auto Channel's Chicago Bureau Chief, along with Steve Purdy and Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Detroit Bureau give you the past week's automotive news highlights you may have missed. If you are a car nut like we all are here you can easily "catch up" on not only this past weeks automotive news but the past 16 years 876,342 automotive stories, articles, reviews, rants and raves by just searching for the subject you are interested in The Auto Channel's Automotive News Archive...get smart, have fun see ya next week LN.

* As we get closer to the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, more and more new product news is streaming into the media. Various reports say that Honda's Acura luxury brand will unveil an unprecedented three new vehicles -- including the long-awaited successor to its legendary NSX exotic sports car -- on Jan. 9 at the show. Acura also will reveal its new ILX compact sport sedan and the 2013 model of its RDX crossover SUV at the show.

* We also got a look at the sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz SL roadster scheduled to be unveiled next month at the Detroit auto show. The 2013 SL will have a new, all-aluminum body shell that will weigh 275 pounds less.

* The Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat are finalists for the 2012 North American Car of the Year, and the BMW X3, Honda CR-V and Range Rover Evoque are finalist for the Truck of the Year. Three fuel-sipper cars and no "real truck".

* Ford Motor Co. will tap about 1,000 employees to test a software upgrade to MyFordTouch before it rolls out the latest version of the infotainment system on 2013 model vehicles. This week employees received a USB flash drive with the new software to conduct a month-long beta test of the system that addresses concerns consumers have expressed with the current system. Ford said the upgrade will make the system simpler, faster and more reliable.

* Motor Trend has named the 2012 Ford F-150 the winner of its Truck of the Year Award.

* The National Traffic Safety Board called for a nationwide ban on the use of all cellphones and other electronic devices by all drivers. The sweeping proposal goes far beyond what any state currently prohibits. It could force automakers to make major changes to in-vehicle technology systems that now allow drivers to link cellphones to their vehicles. The safety board, which makes nonbinding recommendations, wants states to ban all cellphone use — hands-free or hand-held — behind the wheel. This won't fly!

* Saab has received a $5 million first payment from China's Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile as it struggles to stay in business and faces a crucial court hearing on its future this week. Youngman will pay a further 20 million euros ($26.43 million) to Saab on Wednesday to cover unpaid salaries and 10 million euros more before the end of December.

* We reported last week that the Fiat 500 received an overall safety score of three stars from the N.H.T.S.A. The 500 received high scores for frontal-impact and rollover protection, but the side impact test two-star rating pulled down the average. Chrysler Group issued a statement noting that the model tested by the federal agency was produced before improvements were made to the driver’s seat assembly.

* The list of winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award was announced and it is longer than ever this year. A total of 115 vehicles in nearly every size category the Institute evaluates earned accolades. From minicars to sedans to pickups, consumers have a record number of choices among 2012 models. In all, 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earn Top Safety Pick. The winners' circle includes 18 new recipients for 2012.

* And, NASCAR's Kurt Busch who was fired from his job driving for Penske Racing may be going to work for Richard Petty Motorsports to drive the No. 43 Ford.

* Ford Motor Co. said that the 2012 Ford Focus Electric will be the first five-passenger electric vehicle to get the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon. The figures were released prior to an event at the Michigan Assembly Plant to mark the start of production of the electric compact car that will lead the field of electric vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt extended-range hybrid.

* Chrysler Group LLC said that it is reopening its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant to produce the next generation of its vaunted hand-built American supercar, the Viper. The Auburn Hills automaker plans to employ about 150 people — both hourly and salaried — at the site, which has been closed since production of the previous-generation Dodge-branded Viper ended in July 2010. The next-generation, now-branded SRT Viper will make its return to the product lineup in late 2012 as a 2013 model.