Yes, after months of working out the details of the Saturn exchange from GM to Penske Automotive Group, the deal is now dead. The thought was that Penske would continue to use rebadged GM vehicles over the next couple years and then open their repertoire to overseas brands. However, with GM still in bankruptcy limbo and the future/direction of the company in question, Penske saw the light and backed out of the deal. Coincidentally, Penske Automotive Group’s stock shortly there after got bumped up to “a good buy”.

To produce the next Tata Nano of course. In an age where most manufactures are cramming as much tech as humanly possible in to every price segment to satisfy new safety laws, fuel economy regulations, and the consumers insatiable demand for more and more modern amenities, it seems as if GM is racing to produce a car that seems to be heading in the wrong direction.

That is if you only look at the American and European markets as we are used to doing. It’s when you consider the eastern half of the world that this product begins to make a measure of sense.

“When Tata Motors in India came out with their $2500 Nano vehicle, it put a lot of automakers on the spot,” said GM executive vice president of international operations, Nick Reilly, at a recent press conference in Brazil

…”So we are looking at lower-cost vehicles, but do not know yet where it will be made or where will it be sold, though most likely in Asia.”

- MotorTrend

Take this into account along with GM’s decision to keep Buick, which is very popular in China, but not so much so in the States, and is appears as if GM is setting themselves up to be a major player in the Far East, going head to head with Honda, Toyota and Hyundai / Kia on their home turf so to speak.

This week on Burnout Radio, we start with a new format which hopefully over the next few weeks will be hammered into something glorious, but knowing us, probably not. Obama states that he wants nothing to do with GM. GM files bankruptcy, and they managed to sell both Hummer and Saturn. We found some nifty spy photos of the new Ford Fiesta sedan. Devon motors releases a trickle of info about the new GTX super car and let’s not forget the Scorpion and the Bewerp. We also found out that the U.S. Airforce tried to top the National Guard for the “who has the cooler car award” with the Mustang X1 and the Challenger Vapor. Speaking of custom cars, we also try and figure out if American Muscle can be green. Then we ask the question, “What have we come to as a society when thieves don’t have the common curtosy to at least put your car on blocks when they steal your wheels?”

I found an intresting article over at www.rpmgo.com. Turns out that if you do the math Tesla Motors is now worth more that General Motors. Say what?! Yup you see it works like this. Daimler paid a cool $50 million for a 9% stake in Tesla Motors. If you multiply that you get $550 million dollars. And seeing as GM’s stock prices are still hovering around the dollar bill mark (as in one George Washington) that means Tesla is worth more. So that means one of two things, either GM is at an all time low or Daimler is pretty dumb. But I think I shall take a third option. GM is at an all time low, and Daimler is dumb. We all know why GM is sucking it up right now, but the Daimler thing takes a bit of explaining. Daimler paid $50 million dollars, for a company that has sold todat around 450 cars. Each at around $100K. So if I whip out my handy calculator we can see that Tesla Motors has done a total of 45 million dollars in revenue and they just managed to sell 9% of their company to Daimler for 5 million dollars more than their entire revenue. Talk about getting to wool pulled over your eyes. Poor Daimler never saw it comming.

Ok so last week Vauxhall announced that they have been in colaboration with some famous shoe designer in Brittan (Jonathan Kelsey) to come up with a line of designer accessories for their cars, including a silk steering wheel cover. And GM wonders why it’s going out of business? I mean seriously. Silk steering wheel covers? How about building a better steering wheel instead of covering a crap one with more crap!

But not to be out done, Hyundai anounced than it was partnering with Parda to make special edition Genesis Sedan. We now have definitive proof that Korean cars are the devil, because we all know that the devil wears Prada. Although I have to say I do like the matt finish on the paint.

The American Le Mons Series opened at Sebring  last weekend, and GM took home a victory in the GT1class with it’s race ready C6 Corvette. probably the easiest victory ever since they were the only entrants in the class. Still in honor of it’s victory GM will sell you your very own GT1 racing package

GT1 Racing Package

“The package will reportedly be available on Coupe, Convertible and Z06 models. They will include your choice of either 45U Velocity Yellow with Black Stripes or 41U Black with Yellow Stripes. Both colors feature the now familiar “Jake” mascot as well as other graphics inspired by the Corvette Racing C6.Rs like the distinctive yellow windshield banner.

“Another unique feature will include graphics that will have the driver’s names on the roof just like the C6.R. The championships that the Corvette Racing C6.R team has won will be displayed on a lower door script graphic. Other features include black headlamps on the Velocity Yellow models and Genuine Corvette Accessories (GCA) body colored door handles and carbon fiber patterned engine covers.

All GT-1 Championship models include the ZR1′s full width spoiler in body color and Q9V Forged Chrome Wheels. The Coupe and Convertible models will come equipped with the Z51 Performance Package and NPP Performance Exhaust.

Each of the GT-1 Edition interiors will receive exclusive GT-1 embroidery on the seats and console lid. Ebony 4LT (Coupe and Convertible) and 3LZ (Z06) interiors and shifter will be accentuated with yellow stitching. Included will be a Special Console Trim Plate with specific VIN sequencing and a Certificate of Authenticity.

Pricing and availability are expected sometime in February.

With 2009 being the end of Corvette Racing’s reign of the GT-1 class in the ALMS and Le Mans, collectors and Corvette Racing fans alike will have the opportunity to show their support when driving this unique tribute to the C6.R team to a Corvette corral later this year and beyond. ”

- CorvetteBlogger.com

Wow! I just realized we hadn’t released any of the episodes recorded during December… I blame Nick. It’s usually his fault. Anyway my depest apologies for Nick not incesnatly reminding me to upload the podcasts unitl I got them up. The recording quality on this episode is horrid because of some hard ware issues we were having. But should you choose to listen though the bad quality you’ll find out what Popular Mechanics says GM did to ruin their reputation, and how much we love cheep bar-b-q and our local driving roads.

This episode’s all about our trip to the drag races, GM and Chrysler loosing their big suv’s, and the birth of the V6 muscle car.

Our weekly podcast seems to be turning in to a bi weekly ordeal. But this time we have a really good excuse. We spent last Friday at the drag races down in Enis Texas! It totally rocked. They had the guys from Flo-Master and Garret Turbos there in the pits and a crap ton of bad ass dragsters. If you’ve never been to a drag race, you’re missing out. TV just doesn’t convey the roar of a thousand plus horspower screaming down the quarter mile in under 4 seconds! You feel it in your chest when they launch. Don’t forget to check out the image gallery on the read more link!

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We didn’t get around to recording a podcast last week becuase Nick would not leave the fair. He was too busy trying to complete his list of fried food he had to eat while we were there. However since we’ve been off the interweb for two weeks, you guys get a a full hour long show this week! Can’t rember exactly what we talked about in the episode, but I’m pretty sure alot of it had to do with my new found hatred of Kia, and I think the news consisted of GM’s giving away 50 shares stock with each car purchase, some leaked Prius photos, and AMG’s hybrid stuff. And of course Nick had to mention the Dodge Challenger the requisite minimum of 20 times. Then we get into the best cars at the show and how we meet a really cool guy named Scott that took this pic of us!