Hiho! The people at Geely have nailed down a contract with former ZIL unit Automobile and Motors of Ural to assemble semi-knocked-down examples of their CK sedan for sale on the Russian market. While we'd rather have a Niva or a vintage Volga than a CK, we do find it a bit humorous that analyist Kirill Chuiko expressed skepticism over the Chinese vehicles' potential in the market in saying, "Nobody knows what those cars are like." Right. Because the Fiat-based cars made of Russian steel are the most reliable machines ever. – Davey G. Johnson

Geely Declares Plans to Start Assembling Its Cars in Russia [Moscow Times]

Related:
Geely Will Go With You for a Happy Life [Internal]

Chery, always mindful of the the-dictator-on-a-budget demographic, has teamed up with Uruguay-based Bognor Automotive Manufacture and Assembly based on the Chinese automaker's Eastar midsizer. Uruguay's most famous vehicle, of course, was the Hillman Avengermino, sold as the Dodge 1500 pickup, which reputedly had a tendency to fall apart. We don't know. If we're planning to get shot at, we might prefer something a bit more substantial. Like an Abrams. – Davey G. Johnson

China's Chery forms jv for bullet-proof car [Reuters]

Related:
Avengermino! The Dodge 1500 Pickup! [Internal]

The autophiles over at the UK's CAR tracked down Jean Michel Santacrue and Adam Burdette, TVR's new overlords, as well as teenage Russian baznillionaire Nikolai Smolenski who is expected to soon cut all ties with TVR and head back to Austria. Smolenski accepts responsibility for workers' ire at the Blackpool shutdown, but lays the demise of British-built TVRs squarely at the feet of the British government. Meanwhile, Santacrue and Burdette are planning to go with either Pininfarina or Bertone for manufacturing purposes (previous reports generally revolved around the latter), while retaining a crew of 20 engineers and designers in the UK.

The duo claims to be working with American authorities on crash and emissions standards. Will TVR return to American shores? Will TVR survive? This whole may seem more brain-melting than the ins and outs of the Chrysler situation...except TVR actually seems to have some semblance of a plan at this point. Which is more than we can say for the cats out in Auburn Hills or over in Stuttgart. – Davey G. Johnson

TVR interview exclusive [CAR]

Related:
TVR Out of the Terlet and Into the Florida? [Internal]

Apparently, teenage Russian Billionaire has tired of running a sports car company again. After buying TVR back out of receivership a week ago, he's now sold it to Sunshine State bidnessmen Adam Burdette and Jean Michel Santacreu. Santracreu, as his French last name may suggest, is an event planner, while Burdette runs Evolution Imports, known for bringing in gray-market vehicles. According to Paukert the Exclaimer, Ricardo's been tapped for powertrain development, while the cars will apparently be built by Bertone. England + Italy + Florida? Dear God, it's quite possible the stars have now aligned in such a way that TVR may well be capable of producing the most Eurotrash car in history. – Davey G. Johnson

Surrender: Smolenski sells TVR [Hemmings via Autoblog via Winding Road]

Related:
Will Boy Billionaire Say Yes to Wakeman/Melling TVR Buyout? [Internal]

The Milo Minderbinders over at Winderbinder Road report that a new CRX is under serious consideration in the hallowed halls of Honda. Many of Los Jalops have gone on record expressing their love for the wee two-seater, which was unceremoniously dumped like sympathy prom date in favor of the resolutely feminine Del Sol. But with the success of the Mini and other conveyances of its ilk, the powerful dreamers think the time might just be right for a Fit-based revision of the classic mighty mite. – Davey G. Johnson

Japan Report: CRX Successor In The Mix At Honda [Winding Road]

Related:
Classic Ad Watch: The Ballade Sports CR-X [Internal]

The Car Company of the People will be sending out recall notices in April to 790,000 American purchasers of their product. The reason? A brake-light switch that may either leave the lights on or never illuminate them in the first place upon depression of the wide pedal. Affected? Glad you asked. Follow along and see if you won the lottery: 1999-2005 Golf and GTI; 1999-2005 Jettas and '02-05 Jetta wagons on the Mark IV platform; 1998-2007 New Beetles and '03-07 New Beetle convertibles, plus the '04 R32. Dang ol' dang, that sure is a mess o' switches. – Davey G. Johnson

Volkswagen recalls 790,000 U.S. cars [Monsters and Critics]

Related:
Recall Party! VW Brake Lights, Corvette Roofs [Internal]

Apparently tired of importing engines utilizing Mitsubishi's Silent Shaft technology from Japan, Chrysler's upcoming models will feature a balance-shaft-enabled motor of the company's own design, based on the proven 2.2L four. This new 2.5L unit is substantially different than the Japanese-sourced motors, featuring an add on carrier for the two shafts, designed to cut down on vibration at idle. Some of the models to receive the new engine include The Dodge Lancer, Plymouth Caravelle, Chrysler LeBaron GTS, Dodge 600 and Chrysler New Yorker. With this kind of forward-thinking powertrain advancement, we're not quite sure why DCX may want to divest itself of Chrysler Group. – Davey G. Johnson

New Chrysler balance-shaft engine regarded as industry trend-setter [American Metal Market]

Related:
Lost On The Trail of Parts [Internal]

For the first time in the history of either company, both Peugeot and Renault have built more vehicles outside of France than in the glorious land of Bardot, Depardieu, Clouseau, Cousteau and Trust. The automakers reduced construction at home by fifteen percent, while foreign production has doubled in the past eight years. Analysts blame a sharp dip in the French market for the drop, although both companies sold fewer vehicles worldwide last year, as well. – Davey G. Johnson

Renault, Peugeot made more cars abroad than in France last year [ABC Money, UK]

Related:
In Russia, Logan Demands YOU! [Internal]

Ivan looked over Jordan, and what did he see? A place to call a Lada plant home. Ol' King Abdullah was agreein' with he, a Lada plant will call Jordan home. Swing low, sweet AvtoVaz, you'll have a place to call a Lada plant home. Swing low, sweet AvtoVaz, you a place to call a Lada plant home. – Davey G. Johnson

Jordan: Agreement signed for the assembly of Lada cars [Automotive World (sub. req.)

Related:
10 Years' Reform? In Russia, 15 Years Reforms YOU! [Internal]

No, this tale does not come from the Topographic Ocean, but rather the UK. A consortium headed by British sports car guy Al Melling and Yes keyman Rick Wakeman is reportedly looking to buy TVR from Little Nicky Smolenski. The group plans to keep production in Blackpool and use the facility to build some of Melling's cars as well. And beyond that, they're looking to bring TVR back to America. – Davey G. Johnson

TVR cars may be on verge of sale [Preston Today Business]

Related:
TVR in the Terlet? [Internal]

Former exec in Irvine says he was fired over religion [LA Times]

Related:
Breaking! GM Goes Biblical On Accounting Staff; Peter Bible ResignsOne Down: Wolfgang Exits Stage Left At VW, Will Chrysler Group's LaSorda Be Next? [Internal]

In 2006, Skoda's Czech plants turned out a record 556,443 cars, a 12.5% jump over last year. Somewhere in Paris, Milan Kundera is dreaming up a story of two forlorn, lovelorn Beethoven-consumed factory workers who respectively install valvestems on Fabias and steering-column stalks on Octavias, obsessing over Stalin and feminine scents while dreaming of a Black Sea road-trip vacation in a Felicia Fun with only a pirated cassingle of the Shins' "Phantom Limb" stuck in the tape deck and a Vaclav Havel anthology to keep them company. We shit you not. – Davey G. Johnson

Skoda Auto turns out record 556,443 cars at Czech plants in 2006 [Prague Daily Mirror]

Related:
Skoda Felicia Fun Spotted Alongside Porta-Loo in Budapest [Internal]

Dammit! The Boon has us surrounded and we are powerless to resist. Our favorite keicar is headed to Europe to be sold as a Subaru. Of course, this opens up potential for an STi version of the fully-awesome Boon X4. It's enough for us to consider closing up our Pedro office and founding a Jalopnik Paris bureau. The as-yet-unnamed Subaru variant could see showroom floors on the Continent as soon as later this year. No word on whether the R5-shrinky-dink Esse will follow. – Davey G. Johnson

Subaru to Sell Re-Badged Daihatsus in Europe [Autoblog]

Related:
No Prize, Just Cred: Why Would Johnson Drive This Car?; Who You Tryin' to Get Crazy Wit, Esse? [Internal]

Shock of shocks! After being passed over for the HMIC/Lord of All He Surveys at Volkswagen in favor of Herr Doktor Martin "Your vife, my vife" Winterkorn, it looks more and more like Wolfgang Bernhard will be bailing on the boys from Wolfsburg, making him a prime candidate to replace Tom LaSorda at Chrysler. However, there is the little issue of the two-year noncompete clause in Bernhard's contract. Does this mean that one of the brightest minds in autoexecudom will be sidelined while Pi ch continues to assert his capricious will via VW's supervisory board and Auburn Hills proves that it seemingly has no idea what it's doing without the firm hand of a German at the helm? Dr. Z, Wendelin, do something! – Davey G. Johnson

Volkswagen's Bernhard Is Poised To Leave Over Planned Shake-Up [Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)]

Related:
Wolfgang & Winterkorn Get Kicked Up a Notch at VW [Internal]

Sent to us by an operative embedded deep in the R sselsheim offices of Schloss, Schnitzel, Aluminum und Schteel — Opel's Werbungsb ro of record — the piece follows the joy of a young man named Egon, der einen neuen Wagen hast. Said automobile? None other than the 1970 Opel Manta, which we just showed you for the first time less than an hour ago. Truly, this is a great day for Jalopnik, and no doubt, portends a great future for European motoring. Remember, you saw it here first. – Davey G. Johnson

Related:
Jalopnik Breaks the Opel Manta Embargo! [Internal]

We generally have a policy here at Jalopnik that we're not to be the guys with the Bangalore torpedo up against an embargo's wall, although we'll leap through the gaping maw as quickly as possible; sometimes even before the smoke clears, dodging falling concrete and hot, twisted rebar as we hustle through. However, we're here to tell you that for 1970, Opel is launching an Ascona-based sport coupe called the Manta that we predict will be culturally significant for decades to come in Europe. In fact, it may even follow the Kadett onto American shores. Sorry, GM. Your veil of secrecy is no match for tha Mighty Jalop — to wit, we've uncovered this supersecret PR photo illustrating the vehicle's sporting nature and bikini-girl-attracting potential. Consider yourselves on notice. – Davey G. Johnson

Related:
Christmas In February: Chrysler Hands Buff Books an Embargo Loophole [Internal]

Citing a doubling of aluminum prices over the last four years, the heads at Fuji Heavy Industries have decided to get a little heavier, declaring their intention discontinue the use of aluminum body panels on the Impreza, Legacy and Forester, replacing them with steel units as redesigned models roll out. Apparently, they've decided to leave the combination of all-wheel drive, ALUMINUM UND SHTEEL(!) to the purveyors of precision over at Audi. – Davey G. Johnson

Fuji Heavy to discontinue use of aluminum panels on Subaru cars [Forbes]

Related:
Subaru Says: Boxer Turbodiesel Coming to Geneva [Internal]

We don't know how to say "Vorsprung durch Technik" auf Hindi , but we're sure the boys in Ingolstadt have that covered. Utilizing excess capacity in the Indian Skoda facility in Aurangabad, they plan to send knocked-down A6s from Deutschland and assemble them on the subcontinent. Right now, they're only planning about 300 Indian-built cars for '08, but assuming the market demands it and the Germans find the assembly precise enough, we wouldn't be surprised to see more Indian Audis on the roads as the country's affulent classes grow. – Davey G. Johnson

Audi to start making cars in India in autumn 2007 [Forbes]

Related:
Italian Tatas: Fiat and Indian Automaker to produce 100,000 Cars a Year [Internal]

While Fiat could be suing Great Wall, one can't say that they're ignoring the Asian market. The company has entered into a joint venture with Indian outfit Tata to produce 100,000 cars and 200,000 engines at its new plant at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra. The cars will be branded as both Fiat and Tata models and sold through the Fiat-Tata dealer network. For some reason, though we keep thinking of that ridiculously hot brunette in the Cinquecento in Paris. Yeesh. – Davey G. Johnson

Tata-Fiate JV to Produce 100,000 Cars per Year [RXPG News]

Related:
Bodacious Tata: The Cliffrider Concept [Internal]

The Westfield shopping-mall people annoy us. Every property they acquire has to become a "Westfield Shopping Town," which may work for some podunk palace of crap whose most notable feature is one of the only Chik-fil-A franchises in Northern California, but why would one feel the desire to brand a gilded monument to consumerism as elegant as San Francisco Centre with the declass "Shopping Town" moniker?

Thankfully, there is another Westfield, and they make sports cars that could be subtly referred to as "rather quick." Somewhat the inverse of a shopping town, in fact. And founder Chris Smith has just sold the marque to Potenza Sports Cars Ltd., which is a company we've never heard of. Will Bridgestone sue? I sure did like those RE090s on my Legend... – Davey G. Johnson

Westfield Sportscars sold to Potenza [AutoIndustry, UK]

Related:
Think Global, Drive Local: Westfield's Recycled Mazda Kit Car [Internal]