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" 10. Honda Delivers The FCX Clarity  Technically speaking, the Honda FCX Clarity, delivered to customers starting in July, is the second generation of the company&amp;#039;s hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. But those first dinky, two-door FCXs went mostly to government agencies, and each was essentially hand-built. The new FCX Clarity four-door sedans, on the other hand, are put together on an assembly line of sorts, are fully finished as production cars and have been delivered into the hands of actual civilians. That&amp;#039;s right, it&amp;#039;s now possible for you--if you live in Southern California near the three dealers Honda has authorized to service the FCX and are somewhat in proximity to a hydrogen fueling station--to drive around in a fully functional, street-legal hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that burns no petroleum products and emits nothing from its tailpipe except water vapor. The future may not be generally available, but there&amp;#039;s a good chance that it&amp;#039;s already here. Honda plans on putting about 200 FCXs into hands of customers through 2010--all as leases. And that could be the start of changing everything about how cars operate. PM Predicts: For decades it&amp;#039;s seemed that fuel cell vehicles were a decade away. Well, now they&amp;#039;re here. And they may become widespread in, oh, about a decade.      &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   9. GM Builds Its Best Car Ever  In a year of nearly ceaseless bad news for General Motors, the corporation somehow managed to introduce what may well be its best car ever: the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. It&amp;#039;s not just that, with 638 hp available from its supercharged 6.2-liter V8, the new ZR1 is the most powerful, quickest and fastest Corvette ever. Yes, that&amp;#039;s a big part of its appeal, but it delivers in so many other ways too. It rides well, it handles spectacularly well, it&amp;#039;s shockingly comfortable, it looks as good as it drives, its brakes could stop Jupiter from orbiting the sun, and, if driven gently, it will return decent fuel economy. Of course, it&amp;#039;s not cheap, with a list price that starts at $103,970. But every other car that comes close to matching its performance costs at least twice that. In fact GM has been on a product roll of late, introducing well-conceived, well-executed vehicles like the Cobalt SS Turbocharged, GMC Acadia, Buick Rendezvous, Cadillac CTS (especially the supercharged 556-hp CTS-V) all the while that its very existence was in question. If only GM had been this well-stocked for the last 20 years. The new ZR1 is the Corvette that takes on Ferrari and Porsche and, even on their supercar terms, bests them.  PM Predicts: GM may never build any car this powerful again. If you&amp;#039;ve just gotta have a new ZR1, don&amp;#039;t hesitate.      &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   8. Ford Sells Jaguar and Land Rover  Back in June 2007, Ford admitted that it was looking to sell Jaguar and Land Rover. As hard as Ford had tried to make the storied British brands economically viable, there was scant hope for the near future. And, well, it was pretty obvious that Ford could use the cash. But few predicted the sale would go through so quickly. On the very first day of 2008, Ford officially announced it would sell Jag and Rover to Tata Motors of India for a reported $2.3 billion. The sale closed as the second quarter of the year ended and a cat that long roared for the British Empire is now property of what was once a far-off colonial outpost. And it follows Ford&amp;#039;s sale of Aston Martin to a group of investors during 2007. Ford has made no great secret of the fact that it wants to off-load Volvo Cars too as it continues to concentrate on its core brand. Buyers are scarce at the moment, but don&amp;#039;t be surprised if a sale is announced early in 2009.  PM Predicts: Ford may be the strongest of the Detroit-based manufacturers, but it can&amp;#039;t afford distractions any more. The corporation is likely to rise or fall solely based on cars wearing the blue oval. &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES \u2022 PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  \u2022 FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  \u2022 TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  \u2022 EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  \u2022 GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  \u2022 COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   7. Porsche Buys Volkswagen  Every once in a while a minnow swallows a whale. And we saw just this with tiny Porsche AG taking over the Volkswagen Group when it acquired enough stock in September to take effective control of the larger company. As of December, Porsche controlled about half the Volkswagen voting stock. Porsche has been phenomenally profitable for years, and its CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking, is on just about everyone&amp;#039;s short list for the title of best auto executive on earth. But the sheer audacity of Porsche taking over VW is breathtaking, and it&amp;#039;s not clear what all this portends for either of the iconic German companies. After all, while it&amp;#039;s the American companies that are at the greatest risk of survival, car sales have cratered worldwide. Will Wiedeking be the man to get VW through tough times? Or has he used up all his magic with Porsche? PM Predicts: There&amp;#039;s no smooth sailing for anyone in the car business any more. But if one person can kick VW forward, it&amp;#039;s Wiedeking. Now let&amp;#039;s hope he also gets Porsche back into racing in an aggressively ambitious way. &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   6. GM and Toyota Battle for Global No. 1  For as long as almost everyone reading this has been alive, General Motors has been the world&amp;#039;s largest carmaker. It was something you could take for granted, like the sun rising in the east and the Detroit Lions being the worst team in professional football. At least you could until 2008.  During the first quarter of 2008, Toyota surpassed GM when it sold 2.41 million vehicles worldwide compared to GM&amp;#039;s 2.25 million. Toyota had outsold GM for a quarter before, but it hasn&amp;#039;t given up the lead throughout the year and when the final numbers come in next month, virtually all observers expect Toyota to be No. 1. That breaks GM&amp;#039;s 77-year run as the world&amp;#039;s largest maker of cars. In the big business scheme of things, being No. 1 doesn&amp;#039;t mean that much. After all, what matters most to the stockholders is profitability (Toyota is doing better on that front as well). But it does signal a change in world culture and GM&amp;#039;s and Toyota&amp;#039;s place in it. The automotive world doesn&amp;#039;t center around Detroit or GM any more. PM Predicts: While Toyota is likely to remain No. 1 into the foreseeable future, it&amp;#039;s not necessarily a permanent condition. GM is having it tough now, particularly in North America, but it&amp;#039;s growing rapidly in emerging markets like Russia, India and China. &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   5. Gas Prices Go Nuts, Americans Drive Less  (Photograph by Tetra Images/Getty Images) For the record, there was not a gasoline shortage in North America in 2008. Sure, there were a few hiccups in getting the right blend of fuel to the right regions at times, but it was nothing like the long lines at stations that were part of the fuel crises in the 1970s. Still, that didn&amp;#039;t mean that fuel prices didn&amp;#039;t fluctuate like the world&amp;#039;s oil was evaporating. Throughout the first half of 2008 gasoline and diesel prices marched steadily upward. The peak came on July 11th, when a gallon of regular averaged $4.11 in the United States. Oil was selling for more than $140 a barrel, politicians were threatening to impose windfall profits taxes on oil companies, there was talk of dark collusion in the markets between traders and producers, and predictions of $200 a barrel oil and gas approaching $6 a gallon by Christmas were something like conventional wisdom. But it didn&amp;#039;t work out that way. The worldwide recession has cut demand for oil around the globe and Americans have found they can get along fine while driving less. In short, demand for oil collapsed, and prices have dropped precipitously. During some trading sessions in December oil has traded for less than $40 a barrel. So far, however, Americans have not gone back to their old, profligate driving habits. Even with gas prices down to a level not seen in five years, the memory of $4 a gallon fuel has been enough to temper driving behavior. According to the Department of Transportation, Americans drove 100 billion fewer miles between November 2007 and October 2008--about a 3.5 percent drop nationwide. Truck sales have risen a bit since gas prices shrank, but the few car buyers out there still seem intent on buying high-mileage vehicles. Meanwhile Amtrak and other public transportation systems are reporting increased numbers of passengers. PM Predicts: One year doesn&amp;#039;t make for a permanent trend. Still, no one seems to think cheap gas will last or that buying a gas guzzler is a good long-term bet. &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   4. Retreat of the American V8  Back on Jan. 4, 2008, GM announced that it was dropping the development of a replacement DOHC V8 for Cadillac&amp;#039;s Northstar V8. The move, GM said, wasn&amp;#039;t merely in response to revised CAFE fuel economy regulations announced in December 2007 but in response to a &amp;quot;decline in demand for the V8.&amp;quot; Today customers see the direct-injection V6 in the Cadillac CTS is rated at 304 hp while the Northstar in the larger DTS is rated at only 275 hp. And they are asking themselves: Why go for the larger engine? Meanwhile, at Ford, with the notable exception of the performance-minded Mustangs, the V8-powered car is dying. The venerable V8-powered Ford Crown Victoria sedan is now available only as a fleet purchase (cop cars and cabs mostly), while its near twin the Mercury Grand Marquis can be bought at retail only through special order. And although the V8-powered Town Car soldiers on into 2009, it&amp;#039;s been effectively replaced by the V6-powered, front- or all-wheel-drive MKZ, as far as retail sales at Lincoln dealers are concerned. Ford&amp;#039;s future powertrains will be built around a new family of &amp;quot;EcoBoost&amp;quot; four- and six-cylinder engines featuring direct injection and turbocharging. In fact, the first car to get an EcoBoost engine will be the Lincoln MKZ which during 2009 will be offered with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 rated at a robust 340 hp. And in a January 2008 press release, Ford promised that by 2013 it will be putting up to half a million EcoBoost-powered vehicles on the road annually. Chrysler is still putting its Hemi V8 into Dodge Chargers and Challengers and the Chrysler 300C does not show, yet, that there are any immediate plans to change that. It&amp;#039;s way too early to pronounce the American V8 dead, but the retreat has begun. PM Predicts: Four and six-cylinder engines are the future and that&amp;#039;s no bad thing considering how well the newest ones work. Watch for V8s to increasingly be restricted to trucks and performance cars. &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   3. The IRL and Champ Car Come Together  (Photograph by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) In a racing year that included Toyota&amp;#039;s first win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the youngest champion ever in Formula One, and drag racing drop from a quarter-mile to 1000 ft for the NHRA&amp;#039;s Top Fuel and Funny Car classes (after the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta), no story was more satisfying than the Champ Car World Series and Indy Racing League finally joining together for the good of open wheel racing in America. It was about time. For 12 years, the IRL and Champ Car fought over a dying sport. While the Champ Car series concentrated on road and street courses using turbocharged engines, the IRL mostly stuck to oval racing with naturally aspirated engines. But the driving talent pools in both series was thin, fans resented having to choose sides over minor issues, and television ratings--for the races that managed to be televised--were on par with pre-season hockey games and shopping networks. Even the IRL-controlled Indianapolis 500 was suffering with smaller crowds making their way to the speedway. Meanwhile NASCAR and stock car racing just grew bigger and bigger. If either side can be said to have &amp;quot;won&amp;quot; in this debacle, it&amp;#039;s the IRL. It simply outlasted ChampCar, and its rules and organization were the ones that went forward during 2008&amp;#039;s combined schedule. The biggest on-track news of the year was when the IRL&amp;#039;s Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy Car race at Japan&amp;#039;s Twin Ring Motegi circuit in April. The series, now named &amp;quot;IndyCar,&amp;quot; has an ambitious 17-race schedule planned for 2009. But it still has a long way to go to bring the fans back to open wheel racing. PM Predicts: IndyCar still needs a decent TV package to break through the media clutter and succeed. But the quality of the racing last year was excellent--and it will only be better in 2009.      Danica Patrick Wins! &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   2. Turmoil and Real Cars at Tesla  No startup car company has ever received the sort of media attention that Tesla Motors has. After all, this is the company that was going to use Silicon Valley money and brain power to finally build a practical battery-powered electric car. And despite unceasing management turmoil, that&amp;#039;s exactly what the company managed to do during 2008. To go through all the backbiting and Internet-based infighting involved in Tesla&amp;#039;s gestation is a bit beyond the point, but indulge us for a moment: Back in August 2007, founder Martin Eberhard was displaced from his position as CEO when he got into a conflict with major financial backer (and PayPal founder) Elon Musk and was replaced by &amp;quot;interim CEO&amp;quot; Michael Marks. By December 2007 Ze&amp;#039;ev Drori was the new CEO and in a January 2008 housecleaning many of the company&amp;#039;s original engineers and other employees were shown the door. By October of 2008, Drori himself left the CEO slot (he remains on the company&amp;#039;s board) and Elon Musk was named CEO while keeping his position as Chairman of the Board.  Still, amidst the turmoil, the first Tesla Roadsters were delivered to their buyers in March, and they&amp;#039;ve turned out to be exceptional cars. Loosely based on the Lotus Elise, the Tesla Roadster is slightly bigger than that car and stores electricity in 6831 lithium-ion battery cells. The three-phase, four-pole electric motor delivers up to 248 hp at speeds up to 14,000 rpm. The car is quick, screaming (quietly) to 60 mph in about 5.7 seconds. Development problems with a two-speed gearbox have kept Tesla from delivering the performance originally promised (0 to 60 in under 4 seconds), but buyers have been getting up to 200 miles out of a single charge. As this is written, just over 100 of the $109,000 Tesla Roadsters are out on public roads. And there&amp;#039;s no way that doesn&amp;#039;t represent a notable achievement. PM Predicts: Tesla has big product plans for the future, including a sedan. The odds were against the company when it decided to go forward with the Roadster. But we wouldn&amp;#039;t bet against them now.      Tesla Owner Mark Templeton Takes Delivery &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   1. Detroit Goes Begging  On Aug. 1, 2008, General Motors announced that it had lost a staggering $15.5 billion during the previous quarter. And suddenly what would have been inconceivable a few years ago seemed a very real possibility: GM could go bankrupt. To avoid that, on Aug. 22, GM was ready to petition the United States government for financial help in ensuring its corporate survival. For the last five months, following how the federal government was going to bailout Detroit automakers  has become the most closely followed soap opera since Luke and Laura got married on General Hospital. The bottom line after all the political posturing is that thanks to the announcement on Dec. 19 by President George W. Bush, GM has received about $9.4 billion and Chrysler about $4 billion as loans from the $700 billion in funds previously allocated to bail out the financial sector. And if things go well, there could be another $4 billion made available to the automakers later. The loans should ensure that both companies survive intact until at least mid-2009 when President-elect Barack Obama&amp;#039;s administration can figure out what it wants to do about them. Whether these loans will be enough to see Detroit through some dark days and help them find their way back to profitability is still an open question.  PM Predicts: GM will survive. Chrysler, maybe not.      GM&amp;#039;s Rick Wagoner Says Thanks For The Bucks &amp;amp;gt; CLICK FOR MORE  Automotive Industry Year in Review   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;padding:1px; background-color:#333333; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold;&amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  RELATED STORIES * PLUS: Inside Tesla&amp;#039;s First Electric Roadster Dealership  * FIRST LOOK: The 2009 Corvette ZR1  * TEST DRIVE: The Honda FCX Clarity Hybrid  * EARLIER: 5 Reasons GM Teeters on the Edge  * GALLERY: The Auto Bailout, In Pictures  * COMPLETE COVERAGE: All PM&amp;#039;s Coverage of the Big Three Bailout   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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