CNBC is reporting that four U.S. senators have reached a bipartisan agreement on a bill to help the Big 3 automakers in Detroit. Those senators include Michigan Democrats Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, Ohio Republican George Voinovich and Missouri Republican Christopher Bond. Details of the bill are not yet available, but a news conference is scheduled for 2:30PM EST, at which time we should learn more. It will likely be some compromise between the Democrats’ wish for taking an extra $25 billion out of the $700 billion financial bailout fund and the plan supported by the White House that would allow automakers to use the already approved $25 billion in low interest loans for anything they wanted rather than just investing in green technology.

Still, CNBC says the bill faces some big procedural hurdles, not the least of which is that senators want to go home soon for the Thanksgiving holiday. Trying to squeak in a vote before the break will be tough, and lawmakers may have to reconvene in December to vote on the bill. Plus, there’s no guarantee the House of Representatives will pass it even if the Senate would.

Regardless, Wall Street seems pleased with the news as shares of General Motors and Ford have jumped, with the latter hitting as high as $4 after ending the day yesterday at $2.79.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The designers at Honda’s advanced design studio in Pasadena decided to take advantage of the packaging flexibility afforded by a fuel cell powertrain and mounted it mid-ship driving the rear wheels. Using the vertical flow fuel stack mounted behind the driver and an electric motor between the rear wheels, the FC Sport is a three-seater in the style of the McLaren F1 where the driver sits in the middle of the car with the two passenger seats on either side and further back. The FC Sport is strictly a styling study right now, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a fully functional version at some point.

Continued

Popularity: 1% [?]

Looking pretty much like what everyone has been expecting for months now, the 2010 Nissan 370Z dropped this morning. The company hasn’t released any details, although from the new nomenclature we can surmise that the sports car contains the new 3.7L V6 as used in the Infiniti G37. The new Z goes on sale early in 2009, and we’ll see it live at the LA Auto Show in a few weeks. Continued

Popularity: 1% [?]

We now have just four weeks until the 2010 Ford Mustang is completely unveiled at the LA Auto Show, and to make everyone that much more impatient, Ford has continued its agonizing tease with this newest photo that shows a portion of the hood. The image confirms the cowl design shown by the spied 2010 Mustang hood we reported on earlier in the year. There’s still no official word on whether the new hood design is functional or just for looks, but we did notice that Ford tagged the image file as “powerdome”. Perhaps just a name, but we’re hoping it’s a sign that Ford has given its pony car a boost in power that won’t leave Mustang owners too jealous of the Camaro’s 400 horsepower. Continued

Popularity: 1% [?]

Aston Martin said it would have a “property” here in Paris, and indeed it did. The Aston Martin One-77 made its “debut,” but it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see the British automaker’s $1,000,000+ super coupe.

Judging by the limited upskirt shots in our gallery, the length of the One-77 easily surpasses the DB9 and the stylized front end, with blacked-out headlamps, ensures that the One-77 will spend more time in the comfy confines of heated and carpeted garages then out on the track where it’s 7.3-liter V12, carbon fiber monocoque and massive brakes will be put to good use.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Lexus has chopped off two doors and the roof from the IS250 to create the IS250C, due to arrive in Europe in the summer of 2009, and the U.S. shortly thereafter.

The 2009 Lexus IS250C features a three-piece aluminum roof that retracts in a “world’s fastest” 20 seconds, and features revised overhangs 15mm (front) and 55mm (rear) longer than the sedan, a new fog lamp design and a rising beltline that integrates into the revised haunches. The IS250C’s rear end leaves a lot to be desired, with an odd assortment of angles terminating into a set of awkwardly placed LED taillights. With the top up, nothing seems to seamlessly blend together, looking like an ill-advised amalgamation of the outgoing SC430 and BMW 335i. Inside, thing get mildly better – in typical staid Lexus tradition – with a set of rollover hoops for the rear seat passengers, a 12-speaker Mark Levinson sound system and a speed sensitive climate control system that will boost the heat during open air jaunts. And naturally, you can fit a golf bag in the trunk with the top down. Continued

Popularity: 1% [?]

Marking the end of an era, Bentley will bid farewell to its 10-year-old Arnage flagship sedan with the release of the so-called Final Series at the Paris Motor Show next week. Production of the special edition model will be limited to just 150 units. According to the British automaker, the Arnage Final Series combines the performance of the 507 PS Arnage T with the refinement of the Arnage R and design elements from the Brooklands coupe.

Key elements of the Arnage Final Series’ appearance include a dark-tinted Bentley matrix radiator grille with Flying ‘B’ mascot and dark-tinted lower grille along with 20-inch alloy wheels and Le Mans’ lower front wing air vents from the Brooklands coupe. Additional unique features include body-colored front and rear lamp bezels, ‘jewel’ fuel filler cap (made from billet aluminum) together with ‘Final Series’ wing badges and polished stainless steel tread plates to the front doors.

The engine, transmission, chassis and running gear of the Arnage Final Series are identical to those previously employed in Arnage T. This means that the Final Series gets a 6.34-liter V8 engine that produces 507 PS and 1000 Nm (738lb ft) of torque. The V8 is matted to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission with three different driving modes (Drive, Sport and Semi-Automatic). Acceleration to 60 mph is accomplished in 5.2 secs (0-100km/h in 5.5 secs) with 100 mph reached in 12.1 secs (0-160km/h in 12.0 secs). Top speed of the Final Series is 179 mph or 288 km/h.

Popularity: 1% [?]