And while all the big Western players unveiled new models or announced new production or joint ventures expansion deals at this year's Beijing show, Fiat keeps missing the boat on the largest new car market in the world.

Of the almost 14 million new vehicles made in China last year, Fiat manufactured zero, zilch, none. The Italian automaker hasn’t made a car in China since it stopped production there nearly two years ago, after it withdrew from its joint venture with local Nanjing Automotive following  years of sluggish sales.

Funnily enough, observers there cited many of Fiat’s China-market problems resemble those that have plagued troubled Chrysler: a slow response to customer need and lack of competitive product. In the eight-year relationship with nanjing, it only offered three aging models, changed presidents four times and replaced its sales and marketing chief seven times.

Just to be clear: Fiat still sells cars in China. It exports the Linea, Grande Punto and Bravo. But the numbers are downright microscopic. In 2009, sales were down 62.5 per cent, to just 454 units.

Compare that to General Motors and its joint ventures. They sold a record over-1.8 million vehicles in China in 2009. Volkswagen, over-1.4 million.

On the surface Fiat hasn’t given up on China. Although construction of a new plant started in November, there’s been no work since. And Fiat is still negotiating range of issues including new model introductions and the internal management.

If the Italian automaker can’t get its act together in China—a market that can balance out weaker sales in Europe and the U.S.—how can Fiat survive as a truly global automaker?

The uninitiated are stunned by the telepathic confluence of cars, trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles, rickshaws and bicycles, where traffic lights and lane markings are mere suggestions on the jam-packed streets

True story: On the way to the show on Friday, I saw a car drive towards our bus the wrong way on a four-lane boulevard. Right by a police car. No one blinked.

So it’s no wonder that chauffeur-driven cars are the cat’s pajamas here. Status symbols, too. It seems like every executive car is a black Audi A6 stretch sedan of some vintage or another. That’s why almost every Western automaker shilling here in China here offers a lengthened version of a standard sedan.

Stretched versions of BMW (535Li), Mercedes-Benz (E Class) and Volkswagen (Phaeton) sedans, all made world debuts at this year’s Beijing show. But the most impressive may have been Audi’s new stretched version of its new-this-year flagship A8.

As I wrote in this week’s Autonews, the long-wheelbase A8L is about 150 mm longer than the regular-length A8 that debuted earlier this year, and 500 hp W12 will be the sole engine at launch.

Audi Canada’s Cort Nielsen says, expect the long wheelbase A8 to arrive in Canada before Christmas this year, about three months after the regular length version goes on sale at the end of the summer.

If you haven’t guessed already, it's a near-production version of Concept CS show car that was shown at the Shanghai show three years ago (designed by Canadian Karim Habib, who has moved on to rival Mercedes and recently penned the F800, a precursor to a C Class four-door coupé that look eerily similar to the CS) and allegedly a thinly-veiled version of the four-door 2012 BMW 6 Series.

If you think the Gran Coupé looks like a Mercedes CLS by BMW, get in line.

Just as Mercedes started this trend by giving the 2005 CLS the oxymoronic “four-coupé” label (hey, it has four-doors and a B-pillar, but it isn’t a coupé!) BMW has followed suit.

BMW’s product ideology seems to be changing as well.

From a 2008 article in U.S. Automobile magazine, then BMW head pen, Chris Bangle, vehemently denied calling the CS concept a “four-door coupé”.

"With this car, we wanted to shy away from the idea that anything that is sporty automatically has to be labeled a coupe. That's not the case. Coupes are, by the nature of the word, a derivative of something. You take something and you coupe-ify it. The word means 'cut' in French. That's why, if you look back to the 1960s, a lot of the GTs were never called a coupe—they were called a GT. Because in doing them, you didn't take a big car and make it smaller."

But in the Concept Gran Coupé release, BMW has no problem going there: ”The aspiration of the BMW brand to build four-door high-performance coupés with the sportiest proportions and the most elegant design.”

The Concept Gran Coupé is also another indication that the days of controversially-styled BMWs seem to be over. It’s back to "the same sausage, different links" approach that was the BMW norm before departed Bangle started shaking things up in the late 1990s. As you can see, the new 6—which I can only assume will continue to be sold as a “real” two-door coupé and convertible—is yet another conservatively-styled BMW, losing its distinctive looks that date back to 199’s Z9 Gran Turismo.

Do you think a four-door 6 makes sense for BMW?

Is there a big enough market for a Mercedes (CLS), Audi (A7) and BMW “four-door coupes”?

Or is this yet another example of a German automaker trying to fill every single product niche known to man?

[Sources: BMW, Automobile]

As most Saabistas already know, China's Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. (BAIC) bought the old Saab 9-3 and 9-5 tooling for about $200 million U.S. late last year from General Motors, after a it couldn’t to reach a deal to buy Saab outright from the U.S. automaker. Eventually, GM would sell Saab to Dutch super car maker Spyker.

Now, it’s not an uncommon story for Chinese automakers to buy older tooling from out-of-date Western models and then do a bit of a styling makeover to at least give the pretense that the car isn’t past its due date.

But if you thought the last 9-5 facelift left something to be desired, check out the rhinoplasty BAIC’s pens have conjured up, above, now known as the C71. I guess BAIC is counting on its Sino customers not to care that the new/old 9-5/C71 will run on 11-year-old hardware.

The old Saab story, though, doesn’t end there. BAIC has big plans for the stale 9-5 and 9-3. It’s going to build a Chinese factory to make 300,000 examples a year of these old war horses.

As Spyker moves forward with the plans to introduce  the new 9-5, 9-3X and eventual 9-4X crossover to Europe and U.S., there’s still no official word if Saab will return to Canada.

But now, at least, if you’re still hankering for a new/old 9-5, a trip to China looks like your only option.

General Motors car czar and current vice chairman, Bob Lutz will receive a brand new Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon as a parting gift when he leaves GM for a second shot at retirement on May 1.

The new model debuted this week at the New York International Auto Show and is definitely not your parents’ wood-paneled family truckster. It adds depth to the V-Series portfolio now consisting of CTS-V Sedan. A coupe variant will round out the trio when it hits dealerships this summer.

“If I had to pick one car to drive for the rest of my life it would be a CTS-V Sport Wagon,” Lutz told Wired.com. “When you look at the styling, there is nothing rational that speaks against having a wagon versus a sedan. It’s got more convenience, better aerodynamics … a lot more room. Personally, I think the design is even more exciting than it is in the sedan. Now coupled with the V-Series power train, why would you pick anything else?”

Just like its V-Series brethren, this Caddy does a little more than zig with magnetic ride control, Brembo brakes and a 556 hp 6.2L supercharged V-8 that drastically out ponies and undercuts the Audi S6, Mercedes E63 AMG, BMW M5 and Jaguar XFR.

The family resemblance is clearest from the front, where the Eaton supercharger makes for a bulge in the hood and the gaping black mesh grille doubles as an intimidator and an XL air vent for better engine cooling. The pre-production model you see here is finished in Midnight Silver, a color GM tells us was first seen on the 2003 Cadillac Sixteen Concept.

“From a performance standpoint, and a dynamic standpoint and also a styling standpoint, the CTS-V Sport Wagon is more than a match for the German vehicles, excellent though they may be,” Lutz said. “When you couple the experience of a V-Series CTS with the convenience of a wagon and the absolute unique design of this wagon, especially with the price difference, I don’t think the Germans can lay a glove on it.”

We know what you’re thinking. Why didn’t Maximum Bob go for the 638-hp Corvette ZR-1? The short answer: He already has one.

More photos of the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon on the next page.

Images: Stuart Schwartzapfel, Man on the Move

Here at Autopia, we have long been smitten by Volkswagen’s BlueMotion equipped models. Whether they’ve been BlueMotion Golfs or diesel hybrids or BlueMotion VWs making it into Green Car of The Year finalists, it has always seemed like a really good engine to us.

It seems that it’s not just the crew at Autopia that feel that way, but so does the World Car of The Year organization, who have just awarded Volkswagen’s BlueMotion brand the 2010 World Green Car of the Year Award.

Volkswagen’s BlueMotion cars are comprised of the Golf, Passat, and Polo models fitted with ultra efficient and relatively clean burning diesel engines.

The award for Green Car of The Year was given by 59 World Car jurors representing 25 countries throughout the world. The jury gave the top award to the BlueMotion brand over the two other finalists in the 2010 World Green Car award, the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius.

“It is not necessary to add an electric motor and a heavy battery pack to achieve class-leading efficiency. Based on Volkswagen’s common-rail diesel engines, the BlueMotion models are among the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. In fact, the Passat BlueMotion can travel just about 1,000 miles on one tank of fuel in the European cycle. As far as internal combustion engines go today, these models are the ultimate you can get,” said the juror’s award statement.

Volkswagen was, naturally, quite proud of receiving this accolade: “BlueMotion is one of the most successful efficiency brands worldwide. It stands for tremendous competence in efficient and economical drive trains at Volkswagen,” Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, said.

The trophy was picked up at this year’s New York International Auto Show on Thursday morning by Walter de’Silva, head of design for Volkswagen Group.

Photo: Volkswagen

There was no shortage of news surrounding reduced energy consumption during the press conferences at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. Even Infiniti’s new 8-passenger QX56 SUV gets 20 mpg on the highway. Among the many product introductions and company announcements, Ford, Hyundai and Chevy stood out with notable strides in vehicle efficiency and forward thinking technology partnerships.

Ford

We sat down to a packed press conference thinking that FoMoCo was simply going to unveil their new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, tell us how it’s not the same as Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids, and call it a day. Sure the new Lincoln promises to be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America, with 41 mpg in the city (6 mpg more than 2010 Lexus HS 250h), but we knew bigger news was on deck when the turnaround king himself, Alan Mulally, walked out onto the stage. The former Boeing CEO and cost-cutter extraordinaire was there to announce Ford’s new tie-in with Microsoft’s Hohm software application.

“Ford and Microsoft both share a strong commitment to contributing to a better world. Today, we begin the next major step in our working together and leading the way for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability,” said Mulally. “For Ford, this is a needed step in the development of the infrastructure that will make electric vehicles viable.”

Hohm is a free web-based service Mircosoft currently offers to consumers. It was designed to reduce energy costs and increase conservation by providing homeowners with insight into energy-use patterns. When Ford breaks cover on their Focus EV next year, an adapted version of Hohm will allow customers to connect with local utility providers to optimize vehicle charging.

They even piped Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer onto the big screen by satellite to chime in on the future impact of EVs. If you recall, Ford formally worked with Microsoft on SYNC, an in-car wireless connectivity platform that allows drivers to voice activate phone calls and MP3 tracks. It has been installed on more than 2 million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles since its launch in 2007. Just like SYNC, Ford was not able to secure exclusive rights to the technology.

Hyundai

On the heels of Hyundai’s sixth generation Sonata mid-size sedan launch at last year’s L.A. Auto Show, the Korean automaker showed off new hybrid electric and turbocharged sport variants that add frugality, variety and performance to the Sonata family.

A palpable level of energy and eagerness emanated from the crowd as president and CEO of Hyundai America John Krafcik introduced the sleek new Toyota killers to flashing lights and high-energy music. As Krafcik pointed out, Hyundai and their Hybrid Blue Drive technology are a little late to the hybrid party (Toyota has been making hybrids for more than 10 years) but aren’t without a laundry list of best in class specs and industry first technologies.

According to the EPA, Hyundai has led the in fuel economy for the last two years and is currently the only automaker with average fleet fuel economy of more than 30 MPG. Not bad considering that Sonata is the company’s first hybrid.

“The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is the new kid on the block, but it’s not a follower,” says Krafcik. “Its full parallel hybrid configuration and breakthrough lithium polymer batteries offer a new take on traditional hybrid design, while its unique design sets it apart from the mid-size hybrid pack.”

As we have previously reported, Hyundai is breaking the mold by using lithium-polymer battery technology from LG Chem instead of the nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion applications used by competitors. Lithium polymer offers a whole bunch of advantages next to lithium-ion batteries — higher energy density, lower manufacturing costs, higher resistance to physical damage and significant advantages in thermal robustness and safety. Compared with nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium polymer delivers the same power with 20 to 30 percent less weight, 40 percent less volume and 10 percent greater efficiency.

Lithium-polymer batteries also hold their charge 1.25 times longer and offer 1.7 times more energy density than nickel-metal, allowing engineers to devote less space and weight to the battery pack. The Sonata Hybrid’s battery pack weighs just 95.9 pounds versus the Camry Hybrid’s 123.9 pounds. Not surprisingly, Sonata Hybrid is the lightest vehicle in the segment, weighing 263 pounds less than the Fusion Hybrid.

Sonata’s full parallel hybrid-drive system uses regenerative braking and can run on the 30-kilowatt (151 pound-foot) electric motor, 2.4-L Atkinson Cycle gasoline engine, and a combination of the two, depending on driving conditions and driver demands. The electric and gas motors develop a total output of 209 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, besting all mid-size competitors.

Different from the power-split system used by competitors, Hyundai decided against a CVT in favor the company’s new 6-speed auto stick, which has been modified with hybrid starter-generator, electric motor and low-friction oil pump that together allow the elimination of the traditional torque converter. Not only does the transmission utilize electric power more efficiently, it allows it to be operated at significantly higher EV-only speeds (62 mph) than the competition and is also a key enabler of Sonata Hybrid’s best-in-class highway fuel economy of 39 mpg. Hyundai also made a point of mentioning that it’s more fun to shift, albeit automatically, than to drone along using a fixed gear CVT.

In the looks department, Sonata Hybrid is visually differentiated from other, less green Sonatas thanks to a heavily redesigned front end that more efficiently channels air around the body. Other exterior design elements that make the sleek Sonata even more slippery in the wind tunnel include an aerodynamically enhanced front/rear fascia, rocker panels and Eco-spoke wheels. These enhancements will help Sonata Hybrid achieve a best in class coefficient of drag (.25 Cd target) when it goes on sale.

And let’s not forget about the Sonata 2.0T introduced alongside Sonata Hybrid that adds sportiness to the family without compromising fuel economy. In fact, Hyundai’s first four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engine manages to out-power all competitive V-6 engines while still achieving best in class highway fuel economy of 34 mpg, and a respectable 22 mpg in the city. Similar to BMW’s twin scroll turbo engine, the Hyundai design minimizes turbo lag while maximizing combustion efficiency and power output. The best part is that all 274 ponies and 269 pound-feet of torque are available across a broad range of 1,800 rpm to 4,500 rpm, and the engine does not require premium fuel despite the use of turbo charging.

While other automakers were going out of business, Hyundai had a 2009 for the record books that included massive sales gains under their Assurance vehicle return program, North American Car of the Year honors for the Genesis luxury sedan and KBB owner-loyalty rankings that bested both Toyota and Honda. Considering the growing number of consumers who have become disillusioned with Toyota, it seems Hyundai is in prime position to lure them into the fold.

Chevrolet

Following up on the production debut in Los Angeles last year, Chevy also rolled out sport (RS) and eco-minded (Eco) variants of their Cruze compact sedan slated to hit market this fall. Cruze is set to replace Cobalt in Chevy’s lineup, and will sit alongside other current and future fuel-sipping Chevy compacts like Aveo, Beat and Volt PHEV. Both RS and Eco variants will use Chevy’s new 1.4-liter VVT turbo engine, while the base model is fitted with naturally aspirated 1.8-L engine. In fact, Chevy says 70 percent of all Cruzes will be equipped with the turbo four.

“The Cruze Eco delivers hybrid-like efficiency without the price tag,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president Chevrolet marketing. “Along with the Volt electric vehicle, it demonstrates how Chevrolet is working to bring new products to market that range from gas-friendly to gas-free.”

The Cruze RS is essentially a sporty appearance package available for the LT and LTZ models that adds bigger aluminum wheels, more aggressive front and rear fascias and rocker panels, and fog lights with a tacky chrome bezel surrounding them. The Cruze Eco is a bit more substantial in that it provides an impressive 40 mpg, thanks to lightweight wheels, low-rolling resistance tires, lowered ride height and a redesigned front end that improves aerodynamics by splitting air differently at city and highway speeds. It is expected to deliver the best fuel economy in the compact segment when it hits the market shortly after the 1.8-L Cruze in the fourth quarter.

Images: 1) Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Microsoft Chief executive Steve Ballmer at the New York International Auto Show./Stuart Schwartzapfel, Man on the Move. 2) Hyundai CEO John Krafcik introduces the Sonata Hybrid./Hyundai. 3) The Chevy Cruze Eco./Chevrolet.

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• Detroit Auto Show a Leaner, Greener Affair
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