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Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation has opened a new North American headquarters in Birmingham, Michigan. The Chinese automaker says the facility will help build a stronger connection and further cooperation between U.S. manufacturers and their Chinese counterparts.

SAIC refurbished a 30,000-square-foot building for its new HQ, which should employ around 100 people. Specifically, the location will help SAIC purchase the parts it needs from the strong base of local suppliers in the area while also coordinating import and export operations. The Chinese automaker says the facility will also house some technology and engineering research development, as well.

SAIC said the company chose Birmingham for the city's proximity to partners like General Motors as well as numerous parts suppliers. Michigan's pro-business environment didn't hurt the decision either. SAIC is the largest automaker on the Chinese stock market. Take a look at the full press release below for more information.

This story is irritating on so many levels. It involves a dreaded police speed trap, a good samaritan warning motorists of the potential fine and a 12-hour stint in a Texas jail cell.

Houston-area resident Natalie Plummer, who was riding her bike on the way home from the grocery store, noticed that cops were pulling over speeders with what looked like a speed trap, so she decided to turn her bag into a make-shift warning sign. That sort of action seems to be covered by the Constitution, but Plummer was still arrested for allegedly standing in the street when there was a sidewalk present. For the record, Plummer tells KRTK that she never left the sidewalk, and she claims that the arresting officer threatened her with an arrest for obstructing justice, which is a felony offense.

Scroll down to watch the ABC News report. We can see the cops being irritated with Ms. Plummer's sign-holding activity, but a 12-hour jail term seems more than a little excessive. Heck, even a fine of $1 seems a bit heavy handed, but then many feel the same way about speed traps.

Dan Neil, he of the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism fame, has made a decent living peddling his automotive snark, and for good reason, as Neil is unquestionably one of the best and funniest at what we do. Tesla CEO Elon Musk – also an outspoken salesman of some merit – differs from Neil in one primary respect, which is that Musk is worth some $2 billion and thus doesn't have to drive someone else's cars around.

When these two agreed to resolve their disagreement over Tesla's seemingly pie-in-the-sky production plans by means of a wager, those of us familiar with both affable egos were deeply amused. Neil most certainly did not expect to lose his end of the bet: That Tesla would fail in its promise to deliver its second model on time. What with the prevailing view at the time being that Tesla's game plan was merely to get bought out by some larger entity and that the Model S was just vaporware, a means to that end, we probably would have gone with Neil had someone forced us to take sides. Of course, we can all learn a lesson here, which is that you don't bet against the guy who owns the casino.

Musk and Tesla clearly kept up their end of the bargain, so Neil's public mea culpa ran in Friday's Wall Street Journal. He states that he's made his $1,000 contribution to Doctors Without Borders, the penalty for the loss being far less than Musk's promised $1 million debit. Neil's pride is likely hurting more from the comeuppance than the cash outlay dented his savings account, but as he writes, "I lost, and happily so. As a proponent of electric mobility, I have said many times that I wanted to lose the bet... As a critic, I'll reserve judgment on the Model S until I get a chance to drive it."

Why No One Quality Report Tells The Whole Story

Quality remains one of the most significant factors for folks buying a new car.

There's no question that fuel economy has become a critical consideration for most folks looking to buy a new car. But quality remains one of the single most significant factors in closing the deal.

Once upon a time, word of mouth was the only way to differentiate between one brand and another, an important yet oftentimes unreliable approach. Then, back in the 1970s, a one-time Ford analyst by the name of J. David Power revolutionized the industry with his first quantitative studies of vehicle quality and reliability. Today, J.D. Power and Associates is the quality field heavyweight, with all sorts of wannabes chasing for a piece of its multi-million-dollar consulting business.

Earlier this month, Power released its 26th annual Initial Quality Study, perhaps the single-most widely quoted survey of its kind, which tallies up the results of a lengthy questionnaire filled out by tens of thousands of recent vehicle buyers. To understand the significance of the IQS, consider that Ford held a separate news conference a day earlier to address the likelihood of its downward slide in the survey. Makers who did well blitzed the media with news releases trumpeting their performance.

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We've been anxiously waiting for the wraps to officially come off the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake, and by golly, the wait is finally over. Our excitement, though, is tempered by Mercedes-Benz Manager of Product & Technology Public Relations Christian Bokich, who tells us, "Currently, there are no plans to bring the CLS Shooting Brake to the United States." To which we reply, "Boo!"

While we may take a bit of issue with Mercedes-Benz's assertion that "The proportions of the CLS Shooting Brake are surprising but clearly those of a coupé... but with five doors and a roof which continues through to the rear," we're still pretty keen on the exterior look. "In essence it represents an unprecedented version of a sports car with five seats and a large tailgate," adds M-B, and that much we can mostly agree with.

In reality, this is a low-slung station wagon, similar in execution to the Cadillac CTS Wagon, and it looks great. Based on our observations about the CLS four-door coupe sedan that the Shooting Brake is based on, we expect it to be a great car to drive, as well. Europeans will get two gasoline engines – a 3.5-liter V6 making 306 horsepower in the CLS350 and a 408-hp twin-turbo 4.6-liter V8 in the CLS500 – as well as two diesels – a 2.1-liter four cylinder in the CLS250 CDI and a 3.0-liter V6 in the CLS350 CDI.

All but the four-cylinder are available with either rear- or 4Matic all-wheel drive, the smallest engine making use of the rear wheels only. Acceleration comes in at 7.8 seconds to 62 miles per hour for the CLS250 CDI, 6.7 seconds for the CLS350 and 5.3 for the CLS500. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.

Emphasizing the increased utility over its four-door sibling, Mercedes has fitted the CLS Shooting Brake with optional aluminum loading rails and a wooden load compartment floor. Up to 1,550 liters (54.7 cubic feet) are available behind the standard power liftgate, and an automatically adjustable air suspension ensures proper ride and handling even with a load in place. There's even an optional towing kit.

We suggest you peruse the press release below for all the details, as well as a handy explanation of how the Shooting Brake got its name.

The run-up to an honest introduction to the Jaguar F-Type continues with this: footage of the 380-horsepower, supercharged convertible on the automaker's test track. Martin Brundle hosts the 'spot' and gets a ride-along with Mike Cross, chief engineer for Jaguar, but naturally, we don't get any more hard information than we already have on the car.

What we do get, though, is sound. No matter how the F-Type looks – and it looks good on the run here, even in camo – with that exhaust it won't be creeping up on anyone. Those of you attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed, this is your appetizer to the F-Type's run up the hill. Have a listen to the video below.

Remember the giant Toyota pedal entrapment recalls that all started in late 2009? Well, it's not over yet. No, we aren't just talking about the various lawsuits that the automaker still faces in connection with the recalls, we're talking about yet another set of vehicles that are being added to the list. Welcome to the gang, 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h.

Toyota states that the duo of Lexus crossovers are being recalled for "unsecured or incompatible floor mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal." In total, 154,000 RX models are affected by this latest addendum to the recall – 131,800 RX 350 and 22,200 RX 450h vehicles.

Between the two different pedal entrapment cases, Toyota has now recalled around 7.8 million vehicles.

The automaker will notify customers via first class mail beginning in August. Concerned owners can contact the manufacturer directly at 1.800.255.3987 or visit lexus.com/recall for more information. Scroll down to read the official press release.

UPDATE: According to the International Business Times, the National Highway Traffic Safety administration may consider launching an investigation on Toyota "regarding delays in notifying the agency about the problem." The government agency released a statement saying, "NHTSA is requesting additional documentation from the manufacturer and is considering opening an investigation into whether Toyota met its obligation to notify the agency and conduct a recall in a timely manner."

New car sales have been on the upswing, and few vehicles have experienced more success than the Jeep Wrangler. The iconic off-roader set an all-time May sales record with 14,454 units sold, and its total sales are up 34 percent on the year.

That's good news for Chrysler, and it could lead to more high-wage manufacturing jobs in northern Ohio. Automotive News reports that Team Pentastar plans to add an unspecified number of jobs to its Toledo Jeep plant in the fourth quarter of 2012. The move should help Chrysler satiate demand for the perpetually hot Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, and it could help international sales, as well. CEO Sergio Marchionne is on record saying that he'd like the Wrangler to spur Jeep sales across the pond.

That said, there is a chance that this decision won't lead to many new hires in the near term. The Toledo, Ohio complex also builds the Jeep Liberty until August, when the plant will receive a makeover that will result in an additional 300,000 square feet of production space. It seems likely that the Wrangler jobs could come from the neighboring plant (the whole complex uses two facilities), but when production picks up at the renovated building, new jobs would have to be added. Chrysler has previously announced that up to 1,100 new positions will be available at the complex by the end of 2013.

The Triumph Spitfire is an interesting piece of engineering. There's plenty to love about the pint-sized convertible. It weighs so little, an enraged internet writer can pick it up enough to scoot it sideways in the garage with his bare hands. Early examples were drop dead gorgeous and foolishly simple to work on, and parts are perfectly easy to find. But there are drawbacks, though. For one, the machines are about as safe as trying to tie your shoe laces with a rusty blender, and reliability is a term we can confidently say was never muttered in the Triumph offices of the day.

Then there's the power problem. Four-cylinder models were propelled by an anemic 1.3-liter engine with around 75 horsepower when equipped with dual SU carbs. This isn't a machine we'd call quick.

Still, the cars command a surprising loyalty from fans, and one die-hard Spit owner recently went through the headache of completely tearing down and rebuilding the tiny four-pot. He was also kind enough to film the whole process in stop motion. The toil took 11 months, and the quick film features over 3,000 images. Check out the video for yourself below.

Reminding Us That EVs Are Becoming Less Of A Compromise



The 2013 Honda Fit EV, the Japanese automaker's highly anticipated answer to the Nissan Leaf, is quick, agile and actually quite fun to drive. Its cabin is roomy, outward visibility good and its styling is anything but odd. The platform is impressively safe, it has decent range and Honda says it is the most efficient vehicle the EPA has ever tested.

So, what's the problem? Let's call it a lack of volume.

Honda is only releasing 1,100 of these little blue hatchbacks over the next two model years in the States, and all of them will be delivered on contracted three-year leases. Making matters more frustrating for those who want to forget about internal combustion, only California and Oregon are in the launch plans with five other preselected East Coast markets opening shortly thereafter.

Statistically speaking, the Honda Fit EV will initially be scarcer than a Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 (the Italians are estimating a production run of approximately 4,000 worldwide). But thankfully, Honda brought a handful of pre-production Fit EVs to Southern California and offered us a drive. We ran acceleration tests, dodged cones on a slalom course and then did some real-world driving. Dwelling on its pending shortage, it was almost frustrating that we enjoyed ourselves so much.

Well this is all kinds of surprising: a brief report in German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, citing unnamed Mercedes-Benz sources, says the SLC sports car has been put on indefinite hold by the company board. The baby gullwing was supposedly deemed too expensive, so it has been placed "under observation." That gives the engineers a chance to redesign the car to fulfill its required niche and profit motives, but the report says there's no way we'll see it before 2014.

Not that we figured on seeing it before 2014 anyway: the SLC, reportedly greenlit seven months ago and charged with being a Porsche 911 fighter, had been scheduled to appear around the time the SLS AMG was ending its life in 2015. It was just caught testing a couple of weeks ago, with rumors being that it would use a twin-turbo V8 and eight-speed DCT, and possibly offer a V6 as well. It would be startling to think that after the success Mercedes has had with the SLS and the sportification of its lineup that it would just completely walk way from a car with a broader appeal and more accessible price. But if and when the SLC does arrive, it looks like those gullwing doors are almost certainly toast.

Nissan has announced that it will build the 2013 Sentra at its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Canton, Mississippi. The Japanese automaker had already committed to moving both its Frontier and Xterra SUVs to Mississippi from Nissan's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. The manufacturer says it will hire 1,000 workers to keep pace with the three new models in the Canton plant, pushing the facility's total workforce to 4,500. The location also builds the 2013 Altima, Armada, Titan and NV commercial trucks. Sentra production is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

Nissan will also build the 2013 Sentra at its Aguascalientes, Mexico plant, where the company builds the current sedan. The company says the two-front approach will allow it to produce more Sentra models than before in order to better keep up with demand. Scroll down to read the official press release and to watch a Nissan-produced faux news report.

July 3 is going to be a bad day to be a Ferrari 458 Spider or a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. That's because on that day one week from now, McLaren will be releasing a Spider of its own.

Seeing as how McLaren Automotive currently only makes on model, you have doubtlessly surmised by now that we're speaking of a MP4-12C convertible. The long-anticipated Spider version is coming fast around the bend – but it's a good thing the Woking-based racing-team-turned-exotic-automaker didn't opt to release it at Goodwood, seeing as how the entire country is flush with rain at the moment.

McLaren isn't saying much about its new roadster, only that it's essentially the same as the coupe, albeit with an open roof. We're expecting a rather innovative take on the folding hard-top when the 12C Spider takes its first bow on the third, but in the meantime, you can check out the high-resolution image above and the video with Formula One ace Jenson Button and the press release below.

If you are any other carmaker, this is really not what you want to hear on a Friday morning: The industry's 800-pound gorilla and one of its most profitable brands are joining forces. If you are an enthusiast (or environmentalist), however, the would-be products of this collaboration may have you cheering like a Miami Heat fan.

While details are admittedly scarce, the notion of BMW and Toyota throwing in on a sports car has us tickled, especially considering how well the Japanese giant's liaison with Subaru to produce the BRZ and Scion FR-S has turned out. The other aspects of this just-announced BMW-Toyota agreement – a fuel cell system, powertrain electrification and lightweighting technology – make the project sound even more like the stuff of dreams. The expansive partnership builds on a deal between the two automakers brokered in March to collaborate on next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Count us among those waiting with bated breath to see whether they come true.

For more details, scroll down to read BMW's official press release.