Sleuth: The Week of March 16

Hot off the press!

Tata also interested in Ferrari purchase: It’s tough to find a bigger name in the headlines these days than Ratan Tata, the businessman from India who will most likely purchase Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford. And then, of course, there’s his company’s $2,500 bare-bones car. Well, the Sleuth also hears that Tata has expressed an interest in buying a stake in exotic carmaker Ferrari. Luca di Montezemolo, chairman of Fiat and Ferrari, has invited Tata to Italy to explore the possibilities. Tata is no stranger to diversifying his portfolio. “I have two passions in my life: cars and aircraft. I’ve always dreamed of being a fighter pilot and I confirm the desire to participate as a shareholder in Ferrari,” Tata said in an interview in Italy’s L’Espresso weekly newspaper.

CTS Coupe will closely resemble the concept: Back in January, everyone got a first look at the two-door CTS Coupe that Cadillac was going to produce. Well, the ol’ Sleuth has dug up a few more details. Thankfully, it appears that the majority of the CTS Coupe concept’s lines have been faithfully duplicated on the production model, which might have a slightly more pronounced rear deck than the concept, but the CTS Coupe separates itself from its sedan counterpart thanks to the elimination of a conventional door handle, adopting instead the concept’s Chevrolet-Corvette-style design that hides the door trigger behind the door edge. Cost and feasibility studies have killed the concept’s glass-to-glass side windows. The CTS Coupe and sedan will share identical front fenders and front fascia designs. From there, back, however, the cars could scarcely be more different.

Volkswagen to add standard stability control: Not many non-luxury cars are going this route just yet, but Volkswagen will make its Electronics Stabilization Program (ESP) standard fare on all of its vehicles beginning in the 2009 model year, the Sleuth hears. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires all vehicles to be equipped with a similar system by no later than 2012 and VW is the first non-luxury maker to do so. The ESP system in VW’s cars helps keep the driver in control in slippery conditions by braking individual wheels and by regulating engine power. It’s a big move for a brand that wants to be a bigger mover here.

Hardtop Pontiac Solstice to join the auto-show circuit: General Motors has had a pretty good hit on its hands with the Pontiac Solstice, a two-seat summer screamer that has left plenty of folks with a smile. Well, the Sleuth knows now that GM, Pontiac’s parent, is planning to launch a hardtop “targa” version the Solstice at the upcoming New York auto show. Production will begin in January of 2009 at GM’s Wilmington, Del. plant and might be limited to as few as 10,000 units a year. The Solstice will have a traditional targa setup with the panels directly over the driver and passenger’s head being removable. Buyers might even have the choice of hard or soft removable panels. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said any possible Solstice Coupe would look “exactly” like the Solstice Coupe Concept shown in 2002.

A baby “Roller” in the family: Back in January, the Sleuth’s spies spotted the first prototypes of the “baby” Rolls-Royce at BMW’s test center in the Arctic. It seems the new car is expected to share a platform with the next-generation 7-Series to help build a less expensive luxury car. Despite the baby Rolls’ close connection with the 7-Series, the two car’s won’t share any visible interior designs or parts. Sources also say that Rolls-Royce is considering offering the new car with a diesel option. Look for the Baby Rolls to hit dealer showrooms in late 2009.

Market indicators

Battery technology: The one hitch with creating better gas/electric hybrid cars is having the battery power to back it up. We aren’t talking Double-A batteries, here, folks. Well, the race for the perfect battery is getting pretty intense. A more powerful lithium-ion unit is the centerpiece of General Motors’ next-generation hybrid system. The high-volume system will make its North American debut in 2010 before expanding to the rest of the world. Improvements in fuel economy are expected to amount up to 20 percent. Now you know just how important the batteries are. Toyota also announced a better battery system for its Prius gas/electric.

Four-person minivan hatches: Flying under the radar at the recent Geneva, Switzerland, auto show was introduction of the Opel Meriva concept that will replace the current top-selling Meriva in Europe. While parent General Motors released no official word of the four-seat hatchback joining the Saturn lineup in North America, insiders say the car is under consideration. Executives familiar with Saturn’s product plan said the Meriva is being assessed for North America. But GM first must assess whether a business case can be made to bring such a vehicle to the United States, where hatchbacks typically have not been big sellers. But GM isn’t alone looking at this type of vehicle. BMW’s X6 is a hot hatch in a big form. And Mercedes’ new GLK is basically a four-seater with a hatch. Will North Americans go for the four-person minivan? We will soon find out.