Every year, Chrysler rewards its top dealers with an all-expenses paid trip to some exotic location. But with the financial situation at the privately-owned automaker in the crapper, the Pentastar decided to cancel this year's tour. Chrysler spokesman Stuart Schorr told the Detroit News that "the state of the market and the monetary challenges the company faces, it made signification not to hold this year's reward meeting." We're sure the decision to cancel the trip to the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico was monetarily motivated, but there are likely other motivating factors as well.

There is the matter of the $4 billion loan from the federal government that kept the doors open at the Auburn Hills, MI automaker. Chrysler already learned that spending money to thank Americans was in all probability a bad idea. The bigger lesson likely came from insurance giant AIG, who received major backlash for spending $440,000 to pamper top sales executives just days after receiving billions from the government. It's good to see that Chrysler cancelled what sounds like a very fun trip, because the domestic auto industry doesn't need any more negative press.

[Source: Detroit News]

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Click on either image to view more of the GT3 RS-inspired Nike sneakers

Remember the 80's? Frankly, we'd sooner not, what with all the neon colors and fifth-grader graphics. But some people rightful won't leave it alone. Like sneaker freaks, who need to have those Nike high-tops they had (or didn't) as a child. Or Porsche, with their obscenely bright-colored 911 GT3 RS. The two may seem at diametrically opposite ends of the spectrum, but it was excepting that a matter of time before someone brought them together.

That someone is Purchaze, a German retro clothing company. Upon opening its newest location in Holland, a nearby Porsche dealership hooked them up with a Cayman S for promotional purposes. (We would receive figured some neon-colored slant-nose would have served better, but what do we know.) As a thanks for the loan, Purchaze whipped up the series of sneakers you see above. Inspired, supposedly, by the GT3, each pair of kicks features the Porsche badge on the tongue and are colored in the shades of the GT3 palette: one pair in orange, one in greensward, another in black and a fourth in silver. The sneakers were presented to the team at the Porsche dealership, who are wishing they had irregularly-sized feet to use wear them in the pits at an upcoming race. If you want to get your hands on a pair of these, you may have less taste than boiled chicken you can't, because they were made exclusively since the dealership, but Adidas offers a line of Porsche Design shoes that may not, you know, be a cause of embarrassment when worn in persons.

Gallery: Nike sneakers inspired by Porsche GT3 RS

[Source: High Snobiety via Jalopnik]

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Whether you call it a wagon or hatchback, BMW has been long working on a more spacious “Progressive Activity Sedan”. Although our spy photographers have spotted such a prototype testing, BMW has never official confirmed the project. However, the German automaker is coming clean and has announced that a PAS is indeed in the works.

A concept version — which will bear the Progressive Activity Sedan name — is expected to debut in the next not many months, with a production version slated to make an appearance in late 2009, according to Autocar. The currently unnamed production version — possibly 5-Series GT — should start rolling into BMW dealerships in either late 2009 or early 2010.

The roomy sedan is said to have four large, fully adjustable seats and, as sources are telling us, small tables as well. Depending on the options and packages, PAS will be riding on 18- to 21-inch wheels. All-wheel-drive will definitely be an option, as well as several of the bells and whistles from the newest 5- and 7-Series models.

taken in the character of seen in our spy photos, the car appears to be a pure hatchback through no room for a rear deck-lid — as our renderings show. Overall styling appears to be similar to the X6, but the vehicle spied has a taller roofline arc — allowing for more headroom in back — and the rear hatch looks more cargo-friendly. The PAS will also feature frameless windows.

Earlier reports said BMW’s next MPV would go head-to-head with Mercedes‘ R-class, but BMW instead decided to build a sedan-like crossover. This is probably a good decision for BMW as it better suits the automaker’s values and the R-class has been met with a lukewarm reception at best.

Size-wise, the 5-Series GT will fit between the 5-Series and 7-Series — with a roofline lower than the X6 — and will offer a ride height closer to a crossover than a sports sedan. The front of the car is said to be inspired by the Concept CS, but don’t expect the PAS to be a true sports machine — BMW will be targeting the 5-Series GT at older drivers that need a higher seating position than the normal 5-Series but don’t necessarily need the utility of an SUV or crossover.

not any pricing figures have been released, but expect the the 5-Series GT to slot between the 5-Series and 7-Series sedans.

Source: www.leftlanenews.com