*The International Carwash Association (betcha didn't know that existed, did ya?) did a survey that found that, while 62 percent of car owners believe a good-looking car is "essential," 61 percent admitted to leaving garbage in their cars, and 27 percent said their car stinks because of it. Some 16 percent said they never wash their cars.
*We like the sound of this: Suzuki is the co-sponsor of something called the Dirty Girls Dirt Bike School. Turns out it really is a school to "teach female beginners how to ride safely and develop confidence in their riding abilities," said the press release. Dang!
*GM is shooting holes in the NHTSA plan to increase fuel economy standards for pickups, SUVs, and minivans from the current 20.7-mpg level to 22.2 in 2007. According to the General's 127-page filing, the NHTSA plan is full of problems, not the least of which is its recommendation of a technology it said was the "easiest to introduce by 2005," but that GM says it doesn't yet have a working version of. GM feels it would cost nearly $1 billion to meet the new regulations, if they're put into effect.
*In more news from the National Automobile Dealers Association convention, Automotive News reports big changes in Isuzu's plans for future products. The next-generation Rodeo, scheduled for an '06 launch, is out. Gone. History. Instead, Isuzu will bring in a seven-passenger SUV that will be built in Thailand, and may revive the Trooper badge for it. Isuzu will also sell a short-wheelbase version of the Envoy-based Ascender.
The Saga Of The New StudebakerAt this year's Chicago Auto Show, Avanti Motor Corporation re-introduced the Studebaker nameplate on a big, boxy SUV it called the Studebaker XUV, for Extreme Utility Vehicle. Powered by a choice of Ford engines-either the 6.0L Power Stroke diesel or Triton V-10 gas engine-the Studebaker also featured power sliding rear doors, a sliding rear roof panel (like the Studebaker Wagonaire from the early '60s), and the option of a supercharger for the V-10.
It also looked a lot like the Hummer H2, at least from the rear, as you can see from the photo. The front end is definitely derived from the Ford Super Duty.
GM was not amused. During the auto show, it sought an injunction that would prohibit Avanti from making, advertising, or selling the XUV. It also wanted the Studebaker pulled from the show.
"It is clear that Avanti Motor Corporation is attempting to profit from and capitalize upon the enormous popularity and goodwill that GM has developed in the wildly successful H2 by knocking off the H2," said Charles Ellerbrock, a GM trademark lawyer. "GM will not allow its world-famous trademark rights to be violated."
Avanti's side of the argument: There was no way anyone would mistake the Studebaker for the Hummer. Yes, it's a big, boxy SUV, but so are the Land Rover 110, the Mercedes G-wagen, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and many others. The Studebaker is larger than the Hummer, rounder than the Hummer and Ford, powered, has those power sliding doors in back, and will sell for significantly more: $75,000 versus the H2's $50,000 price range.
Avanti won the first round in the battle. A judge delayed the initial hearing because of "jurisdictional concerns," so the XUV stayed on display in Chicago. Avanti Chairman and CEO Michael Kelly said he was committed to producing the big truck, and he was actually happy about the incident, as he figures his XUV wouldn't have gotten as much publicity were it not for GM's legal wrangling.
Knowing GM's legal department, though, we'd guess this is far from over. We'll keep you posted.