Sleuth: The Week of March 2

Hot off the press!

Prepare for BMW hybrid assault: Just like a lot of other automakers trying to ride the green tide, one of Germany’s premium brands is joining the fray. The Sleuth has word that BMW will offer a gas/electric hybrid version of its all-new 7-series sedan in two or three years. The next generation of BMW’s premium four-door is expected to launch later this year, but the hybrid version will take another two to three years of development to finish. Sources indicate the car will use a “mild” hybrid system that was co-devolved with Daimler, which makes Mercedes-Benz. Unlike a dual-mode system, a mild hybrid isn’t capable of powering the vehicle in an all-electric mode. BMW’s development appears to be in full swing as spy photographers recently spotted a prototype of the new X6 tall wagon while the automaker plans to show a twin-turbocharged diesel hybrid X5 sport utility vehicle at March’s Geneva, Switzerland, Motor Show.

Audi TT strives for serious street cred: The cute little car that first turned heads in early 2000 will continue to turn them but at a much faster pace this time around. The Audi TTS made its official debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., earlier this year, but the Sleuth hears an even more powerful model is undergoing the final stages of testing: the TT-RS. Output is expected between 340 and 365 horsepower from a turbocharged 3.2-liter V6. A conventional manual transmission as well as a seven-speed paddle-shifted manual with automatic mode will also be available. Although the exterior of the TT-RS appears similar to that of the TTS, the RS does sport bigger wheels and brakes. Out back is a set of oval exhaust outlets, which is a signature design cue for Audi’s performance range of vehicles. Expect it to go on sale in 2009.

Aston looks for a new ad-Vantage: The Sleuth hears that Aston Martin will take the wraps off of an updated V8 Vantage two-door, two-seat coupe at March’s Geneva, Switzerland, Motor Show. The current car hit the market in 2005 and is ready for a mid-life cycle refresh that will include tweaks to its mechanicals. According to the Sleuth’s spies, the revised Vantage will have more powerful V8, which currently makes 375 horsepower, and the cabin will reportedly also see a heavy dose of updating and. Overall, the improvements should give Aston a true Porsche-fighter, which the Vantage was always intended to be. Look for the updated model to hit the market in mid-2008.

Saturn expected to grow, despite economic storm: Although the North American car market is expected to take a downturn in 2008, parent General Motors is confident that its Saturn brand will continue to see growth. In fact, GM thinks that Saturn’s momentum should carry the brand through at least five years of continual growth, the Sleuth’s insiders report. While Saturn’s 2008 sales goal is only slightly higher than that for 2007, the brand increased sales by 12.6 percent and transaction prices by $7,000 last year. The expansion is expected to be fueled by sales of the Aura sedan, Outlook tall wagon and the Astra hatchback. Saturn will launch a two-mode gas/electric hybrid version of the Vue wagon by the end of the year, a model that can operate with under full electric or a combination of gas engine and electric motor. Saturn plans to have a plug-in hybrid version by 2010. This model would charge its battery pack overnight via a wall plug for short-range electric-only use.

Ford to go on Alert: The company has announced it will begin offering a new stolen-vehicle tracking service to rival that offered by General Motors’ OnStar. Dubbed SmartAlert, it will be a dealer-installed option and will complement Ford’s Sync infotainment system that allows voice activation of many vehicle systems, including consumer electronics that you bring along for the ride. SmartAlert will be available on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles and will use cellular networks to send the stolen vehicle’s location to police. As with OnStar, SmartAlert will be able to unlock the vehicle’s doors through a call center or online interface. In the future, the technology will allow the car’s owners to unlock the vehicle’s doors via a cell phone.

Market indicators

In-car Internet access: Ford, Audi and General Motors have been loading up their cars with Bluetooth short-range wireless technology and Apple iPod portable music player compatibility. BMW is taking things even further and has announced that it will launch ConnectedDrive technology at March’s Geneva, Switzerland, Motor Show. The new system will allow BMW owners to access the Internet via the car’s iDrive console dial and center-mounted LCD screen. Initially, ConnectedDrive will only be available in Europe, but it will come to North America. Transfer speeds are said to be a bit slower than that of the typical wireless connection. For safety reasons, ConnectedDrive will only be accessible at speeds slower than about three miles per hour. However, vehicles equipped with a rear-seat DVD player will allow passengers to use the Internet while driving at any speed.

Glass act: Some premium automakers are learning that glass has a nice touch when it covers the entire roofline. The Audi A5 two-door coupe is one example and there’s more on the way. Mercedes-Benz currently offers a panoramic roof option on its SL hardtop convertible and it appears as though the smaller SLK will soon receive the same option. Mercedes-Benz just launched its all-new 2009 SLK, so look for the glass-roof option to bow as a 2010 or later model-year option. General Motors is also considering glass roofs as is Lexus and Infiniti.