Lexus LF-Ch preview

Following on from a front three-quarter sketch released to the press last week, Lexus has given us a good view of its Premium Compact Concept from the rear - along with its proper name: LF-Ch. Equipped with Lexus's Hybrid Drive system, this BMW 1 Series rival will be able to run on both electric and gasoline when it goes on sale in 2010. The car's full volumes, raked-back windscreen and aggressive new variation on Lexus's corporate nose are visible from the sketch, while the new rear image confirms that the newcomer will combine the looks of a coupe with the practicality of four doors.

Pontiac G8 may get a second life as the Chevrolet Caprice, Lutz says

The Pontiac G8 may get a new life as the Chevrolet Caprice. General Motors is studying the feasibility of reusing the rear-wheel-drive performance sedan for law enforcement and the general public, vice chairman Bob Lutz said in an online chat Monday. “The G8 has finally been discovered by a broader percentage of the buying public,” Lutz said on GM's FastLane blog.

Decision is near on Maybach

Daimler AG will decide the fate of Maybach by July 1. The two options: Kill the slow-selling superluxury sedan or partner with British carmaker Aston Martin on a second-generation car. At a Daimler event in Stuttgart, Germany, last week, CEO Dieter Zetsche said "there is a higher likelihood to come to a positive decision" for a second-generation Maybach if a partner is involved.