Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (November 19-25 2011) Automotive News

Auto Central Louisville KY, November 27, 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. Plus if you are a car nut like we all are here you can easily "catch up" on the past 16 years 657,000 automotive news articles found in The Auto Channel Automotive News Archive...have fun.

* A slightly slow news week but we hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving.

* We can't wait to see the new styling language Chrysler and Fiat will share in the near future. Italian design and styling stands out in clothing, art and automobiles. Fiat S.p.A. has brought out of retirement the 63-year-young designer of the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Lorenzo Ramaciotti, to oversee a new common design theme for the US and Italian brands. Go Lorenzo!

* GM announced pricing for the "Eco" version of the new, freshened 2013 Malibu - just under $26,000, including destination charge. Assisting the 2.4-liter engine is GM's e-Assist, comprised of an electric motor with lithium ion batteries, stop-start and other systems to improve mileage about 20% to 28-city/36-highway - still a bit below competing hybrids from Ford and Toyota. The price is also somewhat below those competing hybrids. The Malibu Eco will also be the first to get the new infotainment system called MyLink.

* Automotive News Europe reports that Ferrari is creating a collector's club, with membership exclusive to those who own 5 or more of this classic marque, to give them a better opportunity to buy any of the company's limited edition cars. With perhaps about 300 potential members worldwide this is likely to be one of the most exclusive clubs ever. We expect some of our TheAutoChannel readers will be among this select group.

* Mitsubishi's i EV has been declared the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the latest Environmental Protection Agency summary. The 2012 Mitsubishi i all-electric sedan has been rated at a 126 miles per gallon equivalent in city driving, 99 mpg equivalent on the highway -- or 112 mpg-e combined. That's better than Nissan's all-electric Leaf and better than the Chevy Volt that has a range-extender gas engine.

* In the world of NASCAR, Tony Stewart outraced Carl Edwards to win the season championship. Edwards entered the race three points ahead of Stewart but Stewart's bold driving put him in the lead to win the championship-deciding race.

* Ferrari designer Sergio Scaglietti, the man responsible for the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, the 500 Mondial, the 750 Monza and other great cars, died on Nov. 20. He was 91 years old.

* Reports coming out of the L.A. auto show suggest that Cadillac may offer a Diesel engine in vehicles sold outside the U.S. Of course that means, they could easily offer it in the U.S., too.

* The auto industry has a lot of problems. It has to worry about workers' pension and health care costs, too-frequent recalls and the rising cost of gas. Here's something else that should concern the automakers. The iPhone. "The iPhone is the Ford Mustang of today", said Thilo Koslowski, lead automotive analyst for Gartner.

* Word is circulating that Consumer Reports is about to give the all-new 2012 Toyota Camry a thumbs-up based on its many significant improvements.

* In case you were wondering, Saab is still hanging. The Swedish court, scheduled to hear arguments over the company's reorganization, has temporarily put off a decision and not set a new date.