The Canadian government is currently examining if it will pass a cash-for-clunkers bill that could see consumers get up to $3,500 (CDN) towards a new car when they trade in their older and less fuel-efficient model.

Environment Minister Jim Prentice said a decision on the matter will be made within the next 60 days, as the government continues to be pressured by automakers. The government has also received added pressure after U.S. President Barack Obama signed off on a similar program last month that would see U.S. consumers get as much as $4,500 (USD) towards a new car when they trade in an old one with poor fuel economy.

Automakers are pressuring the government to help out in an effort to boost auto sales. Vehicle sales in Canada, however, are not suffering to the same extent that they are in the U.S. According to the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (AIAMC), vehicle sales were down just 13.2 percent in June with year to date sales down 18.3 percent. Passenger vehicle sales were down 22.9 percent, while light duty truck sales were actually up 1.5 percent.

[Source: The Vancouver Sun]

The MINI brand continues to be a huge success for BMW and just yesterday the sporty small car maker celebrated its 1.5 millionth vehicle. The car is a Chili red Clubman built for the U.K. market.

The milestone comes at an important time for MINI as this year it is celebrating 50 years as an automaker. The 1.5 million new MINI models have all been built at the company’s plant in Oxford since 2001. The new MINI still has a long way to go, however, to catch up with the original, which sold 5.3 million units between 1959 and 2000.

In total MINI has built 6.8 million cars. And when it comes to the new MINI, the standard hard top is the people’s choice, accounting for 1.24 million of the 1.5 million sold.

“This is a great day for the plant and a wonderful milestone to reach in the 50th birthday year of MINI,” said BMW Sales and Marketing boss Ian Robertson. “This is a tough time for the car industry and no business is immune from its challenges, but MINI is an extremely resilient brand with huge customer appeal and we have seen a strengthening order bank in recent months. We will launch a wealth of new models in the coming years and the future is looking extremely bright.”

MINI hasn’t said much officially, but the future product lineup is expected to include a crossover model and possibly a speedster. As a brand, MINI has also expanded its global reach and is now sold in 80 countries.

The car that has generated the most publicity out of the Fiat/Chrysler deal is the Italian automaker’s 500 model and now word comes from Fiat’s CEO that four different versions of the subcompact will be offered in the U.S.

Sergio Marchionne told Bloomberg that the four trim levels will include the standard 500, a convertible version, a wagon and a sporty Abarth model. While the 500 is slated to go on sale in 2010, Marchionne did not say if the additional three models would be offered concurrently or if they would be introduced in succession.

Marchionne also said that while additional Fiat models will make their way to the U.S. (like the Fiat Panda, presumably as a Jeep model) only the 500 will be branded as a Fiat.

In Europe the Fiat 500 is offered with a 1.2-liter or 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine or a 1.3-liter turbo diesel. We are only likely to see the 1.4-liter in North America, a model that makes just 85 horsepower and gets an average of 36 miles per gallon.

As for the Abarth 500 (pictured above) it gets a 1.4-liter four-cylinder with a sophisticated variable geometry turbocharger (similar to the ones used in modern Porsches) to make 135hp and 133 ft-lbs of torque.

GALLERY: Abarth 500

[Source: Bloomberg via Fiat2America]

To help boost sales Suzuki is offering a simple incentive plan – free gas for the summer, when you buy an SX4 sedan or hatchback. Here’s how it works: when you buy an SX4 sedan or hatch your local Suzuki dealer will throw in a gas card. The card is valued at $270 for the sedan and $290 for the hatchback, which is what Suzuki estimates SX4 owners will spend on gas over the course of three months.

Suzuki is hoping this added bonus will be enough to attract owners, although when stacked up against the price of a car, $270 doesn’t sound all that enticing. And Suzuki is a company that should be working hard to attract customers as it has been one of the hardest-hit automakers during the current recession.

Sales for June were down 78 percent over the same month in 2008, and while some of the drop can be attributed to the elimination of three models from the company’s lineup (XL-7, Forenza and Reno), both the Grand Vitara and SX4 have struggled with sales down last month 69.1 and 53.2 percent.

[Source: LeftLaneNews]

The folks at U.K.’s CAR magazine have managed a few spy photos of Bentley’s upcoming Arnage successor, but there’s more to the story than just that.

The photo above, as well as several others, were taken inside Bentley’s Crewe headquarters last week and show a finished body, but an interior that is still being worked on.

As for the engine, CAR says to expect the usual 6.75-liter V8 with 550hp and 800 ft-lbs of torque and a top speed around 200 mph. When it debuts the Arnage successor will likely be E85 compliant to help improve fuel-economy. A hybrid version is to be expected down the line.

A permanent all-wheel drive system will be used, a sign that Volkswagen/Audi folks had a lot to do with the ground-up creation of this regal sedan.

As for a name, that continues to be a secret but the car currently goes by the code name Project Kimberley.

Expect pricing to be in the range of £220,000 or $360,000.

[Source: CAR]

For 2010 MINI will increase its product lineup by offering a more entry-level diesel model in Europe – the One D. Currently MINI already offers a diesel option in Europe, as well as the MINI One – a fuel-economy-minded gasoline version. The One D will combine these two traits to deliver a reasonably priced model with exceptional fuel economy.

In fact, the MINI One D will get 60.3 mpg on average (3.9 liters/100km).

The One D will be powered by a detuned version of the Cooper’s 1.6-liter diesel engine with 90hp and 159 ft-lbs of torque, down from the Cooper D’s 110hp and 177 ft-lbs. When combined with a six-speed manual gearbox the One D will hit 62 mph in 11.5 seconds.

Other fuel-economy technologies on the car include a start-stop system as well as a regenerative braking system that will re-use electric energy generated to power on-board electronics.

Like the One, the One D will be more stripped down, with a roof painted to match the body as well as mirrors and a trunk handle in black.

The MINI One D will go on sale in September.

[Source: CarScoop]

According to a report in Japan’s Nikkei business paper, Toyota expects to sell as many as 30,000 plug-in Prius models annually once production begins in 2012. This would put the PHEV Prius on the market almost two years after General Motors has said its plug-in hybrid, the Volt, will be launched.

The paper is also reporting that pricing will be close to the $50,000 mark (4.59 million yen) in Japan. That is roughly twice the price of the current Prius hybrid.

Toyota is working with Panasonic Energy Co. which is supplying the lithium-ion batteries that will help to run the Prius PHEV. The battery packs will allow the Prius PHEV to run on just battery power from 12.4 to 18.6 miles (20 to 30 km).

A limited number of plug-in Prius models are due to hit the roads on three continents by the end of this year with 200 in Japan and 150 each in Europe and the U.S. These vehicles will be leased to corporations and governments.

[Source: Automotive News]

Late Sunday a judge approved the sale of GM’s assets to a group comprised of the U.S. government, the UAW and the Canadian and Ontario governments under the name NGMCO, Inc. The decision will see GM exit bankruptcy court quickly with the ‘New GM’ assets going to NGMCO, while the ‘Old GM’ assets will be sold off to the highest bidder.

Judge Robert Gerber then placed a stay on the proceedings to for four days to hear objections or appeals, but as most of those have already been dealt with, GM is expected to reemerge as a new government-owner company by Thursday.

In a statement Judge Robert Gerber said that he would, “prevent the death of the patient on the operating table.”

Gerber pointed out the seriousness of the matter and the alternative, stating that, “The only alternative to an immediate sale is liquidation – a disastrous result for GM’s creditors, its employees, the suppliers who depend on GM for their own existence, and the communities in which GM operates.”

The New GM will be majority owned by the U.S. government with a 60 percent stake in the automaker. The UAW will get 17.5 percent, while the Canadian and Ontario governments will get 12 percent.

In response to the news GM’s CEO Fritz Henderson released a statement saying that, “A healthy domestic auto industry remains vital to the global economy and we deeply appreciate the support the U.S., Canadian and Ontario governments and taxpayers have given GM, and the sacrifices that have been made by so many. This has been an especially challenging period, and we’ve had to make very difficult decisions to address some of the issues that have plagued our business for decades. Now it’s our responsibility to fix this business and place the company on a clear path to success without delay.”

The Obama Administration’s auto task force has said that sale of GM back to the private sector could begin as early as next year.

[Source: Automotive News]

The product offering for Porsche’s new Panamera looks to mimic that of the Cayenne SUV as news surfaces that the German sports car maker is looking at a high performance model of the sedan, as well as diesel offerings.

All that we know about this new Panamera is that it will do away with the air suspension offer on the current models in favor of more traditional coil springs. What isn’t clear is if the even sportier Panamera will be a Turbo S model with power closer to the 550hp mark, or if it will be a GTS model, with less power but a more track-ready focus. And if it is a GTS model, will Porsche offer it with orange-painted wheels?

As for the diesel engine, Porsche is reportedly looking into equipping the Panamera with a choice of two diesels – both of which will come from the Volkswagen Group. The first is the 240hp, 3.0-liter V6 unit from cars like the Audi A6, which can currently be found in Porsche’s Cayenne SUV. The other is a 322hp 4.2-liter V8 from the Audi A8.

[Source: AutoCar]

General Motors can barely keep up with demand for the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, but that won’t stop the American automaker from bringing the car to less traditional markets. According to German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport, which cites and executive at Chevrolet Germany, the Camaro will go on sale in Europe in the near future

We don’t know how soon Europeans will be able to buy a Camaro, which models will be offered or what pricing will be.

Currently the Camaro is priced at $23,040 for the 306hp V6 model and $35,425 for th3 425hp SS. This works out to roughly 16,400 and 25,215 Euros, but due to shipping and importing costs (as well as numerous other factors), we expect pricing to be above that.

Presumably the European Camaro will be available as a 2011 model as some changes will be required to meet European regulations.

Currently GM has the Camaro’s Oshawa, Canada assembly plant running overtime to try and keep up with demand on this side of the Atlantic.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via WorldCarFans]