Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (Sept 2-Sept 9) Automotive Factoids - In Case You Were Not Paying Attention

Each week Larry Nutson, The Auto Channel Chicago Bureau Chief will give you last weeks automotive news highlights you may have missed, or you can catch up on the past 15 years of automotive news HERE in our news archive.

• As the Labor Day weekend arrived we received word that GM had rehired the legendary "Car Guy" Bob Lutz as a part-time consultant and advisor to GM management. Before leaving GM in 2009, Mr. Lutz had done a great job of getting the pre-bankruptcy GM to focus on the product and get its focus off of the process. Let's hope he continues to help and doesn't let his bigger than life persona stiffle the young and creative new blood at GM.
Bob Lutz talks about the future for GM

• In spite of Hurricane Irene, August auto sales exceeded forecasts. The Detroit-3 reported strong sales, especially for the higher MPG cars. Japan's No. 2 Nissan did well but Toyota and Honda are still suffering from shortages in supply due to Japan's earthquake and tsunami.

• The annual month of motorsports finales started off with a roar in the streets of downtown Baltimore. The Inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix, featuring Indycars, the Mazda Road to Indy, and American Le Mans sports cars was a big hit. A large crowd of enthusiast fans enjoyed three days of great weather and great racing.
Watch amazing crash video

• Honda will recall 80,000 model year 2006 CR-V crossovers in the U.S. to fix power windows. It will also recall 5,600 model year 2011 CR-Z compact hybrids with manual transmission due to a programming flaw with the engine control unit.

• VW has joined the cylinder deactivation crowd, introducing the fuel efficient technology in a tiny 1.4-liter European engine. Like GM and Chrysler, who introduced cylinder deactivation for large V-8 engines, the technology disables cylinders when demand is low-medium as in steady cruising. The company says that adding Stop-Start results in fuel saving of about 1-3 mpg. Though that sounds small, it is increments like this that all auto makers are pursuing. VW's cylinder shut-off will debut in 2012 model European cars and only applies between 1,400-4,000 RPM. Further, when being driven with a non-steady accelerator pedal position the system is suppressed

• The Buick Verano, the brand's first compact in decades, will be priced starting at $23,470, including shipping charges. The Verano will be offered in three models. The top model will have an MSRP of $26,850 including shipping. A 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine combined with a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers 180 hp will power all three models. Sales begin at year end.

• Jaguar released photos and a video of the all-new C-X16 concept that is to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto show. The C-X16 is a bold statement of Jaguar's future design and technological intent. The C-X16 takes the traditional front-engined, rear-wheeldrive formula that Jaguar defined over the decades and reinvents it for the 21st Century in a performance-oriented hybrid drivetrain with 50:50 weight distribution. The latest iteration of Jaguar's 'Redefining Performance' ethos, the system is based around a prototype supercharged all-alloy V6 which produces 375HP (280kW) and 332lb-ft of torque from 3.0-liter V6. Supplementing this is an electric motor producing up to 94HP and 173lb ft of torque, available to the driver at the push of a steering-wheel boost button.
Watch the video and see the photos

• Ford will introduce a high performance version of the Focus next week at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Focus ST will use the 2.0L 4-cylinder Ecoboost engine with an output of 247 HP and will go on sale in the U.S. next year.

• Saab story. Swedish Automobile NV the owner of Saab Automobile AB sought out Swedish court approval for a voluntary reorganization. However that request was rejected by the Swedish courts since no clear picture was evident as to how or when funding from Chinese investors would be forthcoming. Saab CEO, Victor Muller, promised to appeal the court's decision. Saab Cars North America management reportedly remains optimistic.

• Next week's Frankfurt Motor Show promises reveals of a multitude of tiny cars with a variety of personalities. Audi's Urban Concept compliments BMW's first offering for their new i sub-brand and VW shows a high-tech little car called Up. We'll also see plenty of more conventional new cars as those who stayed away from the last biennial Frankfort show because of the crisis in the auto business come back to take advantage of improved conditions.
The dedicated Frankfurt Show page is already loaded with stories and videos

• The Historic Vehicle Association, founded by collector car specialist Hagerty Insurance, is proposing a scheme to protect historic cars, much the way historic buildings are protected. It may become important to protect significant old cars in the face of future Cash of Clunkers-type programs or other regulatory assaults on old automobiles.

• We barely noticed the end of an era this week as the last Ford "Panther" car came off the assembly line in Canada. Not familiar with that nomenclature? It's Ford's code name for the long-lived Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Maquis, introduced in essentially present rear-wheel drive form in 1978.