This is the Morning Shift, our one-stop daily roundup of all the auto news that's actually important — all in one place at 9:00 AM. Or, you could spend all day waiting for other sites to parcel it out to you one story at a time. Isn't your time more important?
1st Gear: Chevy Volt Highest-Rated In Consumer Reports' Owner-Satisfaction Survey
GM's Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid is the highest-rated vehicle in Consumer Reports' latest owner-satisfaction survey. In the annual survey, 93% of Volt owners who responded said they would buy the car again. The Volt finished ahead of the Dodge Challenger and Porsche 911 sports cars, each of which had 91% owner-satisfaction scores, the publication said in an e-mailed statement. Not too shabby, eh? Of course you'd expect the early adopter fan-boys would be all about the car, right?
2nd Gear: November Auto Sales Seen Best In Two Years
Bloomberg reports this morning that U.S. consumers may have helped boost U.S. auto sales in November to its fastest pace in more than two years. Light-vehicle deliveries in November, set to be released tomorrow, may have run at an astonishing 13.4 million seasonally adjusted annual rate, at least according to the average of 14 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. That would top the 12.3 million pace of a year earlier and October's 13.3 million rate — the best month since sales were helped by that whole "cash for clunkers" boondoggle back in August 2009. Reuters agrees, finding the same pace in their own survey of analysts.
3rd Gear: This Is The Alpina B6 Biturbo Coupe
The Alpina B6 Biturbo Convertible may have already been presented but now it's been followed up with this — the B6 Biturbo Coupe. Again, just as with the convertible, the coupe gets a 4.4-liter V8 engine mit turbochargers. The tuning and turbos help deliver 540 hp and a maximum torque of 516 lb-ft. Thus, the Alpina B6 Biturbo coupe sprints from zero to 62 MPH in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h. Daddy like.
4th Gear: 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Day Two
Today's Day Two of the Tokyo Motor Show. Which means, you know, that there's absolutely nothing going on there. That said, whatever little dribs and drabs seep out from the Tokyo Big Sight, you know you'll find it here on our tag page.
5th Gear: BMW, Toyota To Officially Swap Engines
BMW and Toyota confirmed they'll be collaborating on engine technology. The two automotive giants will supply engines to each other. BMW will offer its 1.6 and 2.0-liter diesel engines to Toyota of Europe. Toyota will give BMW its hybrid technology and expertise. Ebony and ivory, live together in perfect harmony. Side by side...
6th Gear: Yup, Saab's Screwed
Swedish Automobile, the Dutch owner of Swedish automaker Saab, posted a third-quarter net loss of EUR 142.7 million. Late yesterday it also claimed it'd see a "substantial net loss" for the full year, following production stoppages and a tight liquidity situation during the third quarter. Also, you know, not selling any cars. That's right, a total of 130 cars were produced between July 1st and Sept. 30th and 1,235 cars were sold. That's a decrease of 86% compared with the same period last year. Death rattle, thy name is Saab.
Reverse:
⏎ Predicting a Red-Light Runner? M.I.T. Has an Algorithm for That. [New York Times]
⏎ NYPD's Handling Of Traffic Crash Investigations Will Be Investigated. [Gothamist]
⏎ Lotus USA names former Ferrari NA chief Parlato as CEO. [Automotive News]
⏎ Audi to Build Second Plant in China for Production of the Next A3. [CarScoop]
⏎ Renault cuts production at Spanish plants. [Automotive News]
⏎ Cruising through Christmas film classics. [Detroit News]
⏎ Jeep Wrangler's $34,000 Convertible Plows Snow, Digs Dirt. [Bloomberg]
⏎ Honda takes a jab at Lexus holiday ads. [Automotive News]
⏎ GM names Susan Docherty as new Chevrolet Europe boss. [Automotive News]
Today in Automotive History:
On this day in 1913, Henry Ford installs the first moving assembly line for the mass production of an entire automobile. His innovation reduced the time it took to build a car from more than 12 hours to two hours and 30 minutes. [History]
Show us your tips!
Got tips for our editors? Want to anonymously dish some dirt on a competitor? Know something about a secret car? Email us at tips@jalopnik.com.
Lost in our new layout?
Click here for the Opposite Lock or Tips forums. Want a more "blog-like" look? Click the button up top next to "Top Stories."
Get more Jalopnik!
Want even more Jalopnik? Want to know which of your friends read us? "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
You can keep up with Ray Wert, the author of this post, on Google+, Twitter or Facebook.