BMW wins big in this year's International Engine of the Year Awards, garnering six first places. Winners in all categories are:

International Engine of the Year:
BMW 3-LITRE TWIN TURBO (135, 335, X6

Best New Engine of the Year:
BMW 2-LITRE DIESEL TWIN TURBO (123D)

Green Engine of the Year:
TOYOTA 1.5-LITRE HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE (PRIUS)

Best Performance Engine:
PORSCHE 3.6-LITRE TURBO (911 TURBO, 911 GT2)

Sub 1-litre:
TOYOTA 1-LITRE

1-litre to 1.4-litre:
VOLKSWAGEN 1.4-LITRE TSI TWINCHARGER

1.4-litre to 1.8-litre:
BMW-PSA 1.6-LITRE TURBO

1.8-litre to 2-litre:
VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI 2-LITRE TURBO FSI

2-litre to 2.5-litre:
SUBARU 2.5-LITRE TURBO (FORESTER, IMPREZA, LEGACY, OUTBACK)

2.5-litre to 3-litre:
BMW 3-LITRE TWIN TURBO (135, 335, X6)

3-litre to 4-litre:
BMW 4-LITRE V8 (M3)

Above 4-litre:
BMW 5-LITRE V10 (M5, M6)

Full story here.

Here's Inside Line's take: BMW 3.0-Liter Twin-Turbo Dominates 2008 International Engine of the Year Competition

Early in March Straightline reported that Toyota and Mitsubishi would team up on a new jet airplane (Toyota considering Mitsubishi jet invitation).

Now the latest word is that this is not going to be a small jet, like the HondaJet, but rather a large passenger jet capable of transporting 70 to 90 people. To help this project along, Toyota has announced that it would invest up to ¥10 billion ($96 million) to get this project off the ground (pun intended). It's hoped that this new jet will go on sale by 2013.

Full story here.

In talking with Mike Levine of PickupTruck.com yesterday about the F-150 diesel, some interesting tidbits—actually nothing more than rumors at this point—came to light about Toyota's upcoming diesel plans.

As I'm sure you're aware, Toyota recently introduced a new DOHC 4V 4.5L V8 twin-turbo diesel in Australia in the Land Cruiser 200 (here). Well that engine, or a variation of it, is coming here. That's not a surprise. What is a surprise is that it likely will be offered with three transmission choices.

The current 6-speed automatic is pretty much a given, that's tranny # 1. Tranny # 2 is likely a 6-speed manual. The big question is what is tranny #3? We're guessing it's a CVT, and likely based on the very powerful Lexus LS 600h, which uses a CVT—but beefed up for truck-duty.

So, if the Tundra gets this diesel I think it's safe to assume that it will also find a home in the Toyota Sequoia, Land Cruiser and the Lexus LX560 (probably to be re-named the LX450d).

Again, this is all rumor and speculation at this point—but check back in a year or two, and see if we're right!

While Honda and others are reaping the benefits from selling loads of smaller cars, the makers of big trucks an SUVs are taking it it on the chin. In it's latest move GM will cutting one shift in all four of their factories that make full-size pickups and SUVs. The cuts will occur at Pontiac, Flint, MI;  Janesville, Wis; and Oshawa, Ontario.

States GM North America President Troy Clarke: “With rising fuel prices, a softening economy and a downward trend on current and future market demand for full-sized trucks, a significant adjustment was needed to align our production with market realities.”

Full story here and here.

Dodge Ram hurting too
AutoObserver points out that Chrysler LLC is spending more than anyone on truck incentives in order to move Ram trucks off dealer lots.

Dodge Ram: Spending Most for Incentives

Same with Toyota
High inventories of Tundras and Sequoias are hurting the "Big T."

Image: Patricia Beck / Detroit Free Press

Many within FHI (Subaru) worry that a RWD Subaru coupe could dilute brand's AWD image. Well, duh... Of course it will—and I've been saying this from the very moment I got wind of this news...

"We may lose our longstanding territory, or we may lose the great niche brand image. The potential risk is there. We have to be very smart on marketing strategy," states Mat Nagato, chief of overseas sales at Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries. He goes on to also say, "a potential question could be cannibalization."

It's a bad idea. No, make that an awful idea, that being a RWD Subaru coupe. I'll go even further: It's the stupidest marketing idea I've yet heard from Subaru—and that going some, as they have long history of making bonehead marketing decisions—and this is coming from a diehard Subaru fan (we've got three in the family, one being a WRX).

Can you imagine this dynamic duo—a Toyota and Subaru that are identical except for a different grille and taillights? Think Pontiac Solstice/Saturn/Sky clones; or better yet, the ill-fated Saab 9-2x/Subara Impreza fiasco.

That's what they'll end up with; two virtually identical cars fighting each other for customers. I say give the Toyota version RWD and keep the Subaru version AWD. That way the vehicles will be distinct from one another, and will appeal to different customers.

But you say you want a RWD Subaru because it will be cheaper, lighter, slightly more fuel-efficient and simpler than any AWD version?

I say go buy the Toyota then—and leave the Subaru AWD for those of us who want and appreciate that configuration. And hey, Subaru will make money regardless which one you buy, as they both will be built using the Subaru boxer engine, and will be built in a Subaru factory.

Finally, if you're wondering why I'm even mentioning the possibility of AWD being offered, my understanding is that has not yet been finally determined. So an AWD possibility is on the table, at least for now it is.

Full story here. And for those who can't log on to AN, you can find the article here.

UPDATE: In a related story (here). Nick Senior, Subaru of Australia's managing director says no to this coupe, as Subaru Australia won't import it. Here are a few quotes from Senior on this topic:

“From my understanding of it, it doesn’t fit within our brand strategy.”

“But more realistically and more credibly, our DNA is boxer engines and all-wheel drive. I haven’t seen that lose impetus in the last 10 years, so why should we stray from that strategy?”

On the subject of the similar Toyota model, Senior stated: “It gets back to the whole debate about badge engineering and we aren’t interested in that."

Gary Convis, 65, who recently retired as chairman of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc., is the first non-Japanese to lead a Toyota division. Besides his stint at Toyota, he's worked for GM and Ford, so he's been around and knows the auto industry inside and out.

He was in Baltimore recently to speak at the Maryland World Class Consortia, and was interviewed by the Baltimore Sun. Much of what he had to say we pretty much knew, except for this—which blew me away:

"...Also, I believe there is an amazing statistic that Toyota spends about $1 million per hour on research and development. ... So, they very deeply invest money to provide the type of technology that will be successful in the next century..."

Full story here.

OK, that Ford neo-Thunderbird image was posted to get your attention. Guess what... it's one on the list.

So David Kinney, a guy who follows old cars, and who's the publisher of Cars That Matter Price Guide, has listed six now-cheap cars that he guarantees will raise in value over the years.

"I will guarantee that every one of these cars have done better than the stock market has since the beginning of the year," states Kinney.

Curious? Read on.

Ivan "Ironman" Stewart has long been associated with Toyota Baja race trucks. In fact Stewart has won a record 17 Baja 500 races. In addition he's the only driver to have earned both the SCORE and Unlimited Class series championships in the same year.

This new signature edition Tundra is modeled after Stewart's own personal Tundra, and will be available in two stages.  Stage 1 will have 20-inch Alcoa forged alloy wheels, General Tire AT2 All-Terrains, 5100 Series Bilstein shocks, a Magnaflow cat-back exhaust, a Hurst billet and carbon-fiber shifter, and a sequentially numbered dash plate. Stage 2 adds Toyota Racing Development's new supercharger, which pushes the horsepower up to 504.

The trucks will be available this summer. No word yet on pricing.

Full story here.

The rumored Toyota and Subaru "new deal" has been announced, with Toyota increasing their ownership of FHI from 8.7 percent to 16.5 percent. Also part of the package is the announcement that Daihatsu will be involved.

The Daihatsu tie-in is somewhat of a surprise, but it really shouldn't be. They've been involved with Toyota for quite some time, and have recently supplied Subaru with a new 1.3L Justy for the European market.

Here's FHI's press release.

Here's AutoObserver's take: Toyota, Daihatsu and Subaru Join Forces on Product Development, Vehicle Sharing

Sketches of the upcoming RWD Subaru coupe are posted along with some info on UK's Autocar.com.

It's been known for some time that Toyota and Subaru are doing a joint coupe, using the Subaru boxer engine, and that the Toyota version would be RWD. Now this article is stating that the Subie version would also be RWD.

As comedian Redd Foxx used to say on his TV show, Sanford and Son: "This is the big one! You hear that, Elizabeth? I’m coming to join ya!..." and then fake a heart attack. Well, if this comes to pass, that being a RWD Subie coupe, I too expect to have a heart attack...

Full story here.