"Whenever Stark hangs up his suit, the technically-adept billionaire can be seen in the film behind the wheel of the all-electric R8 e-tron sports car prototype," reads the Audi press release announcing the brand's partnership with the upcoming Iron Man 3.

Iron Man's alter ego, Tony Stark, was last seen driving an Acura NSX roadster in 2012's The Avengers. In Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010), Stark drove Audi R8s. A spokesman at Acura's parent company, Honda, told Bloomberg that its role as the official vehicle of SHIELD (and the brand's relationship with Marvel) remain "unchanged."

"This is a strategic collaboration for us," said Loren Angelo, a marketing executive with Audi of America. "Similar to the position of the R8 as an innovation leader, Iron Man's character consistently evolved throughout the trilogy as he masterminds new trends."

In addition to swapping Stark's Acura for an Audi S7 in the third installment, Audi's Iron Man 3 deal will go beyond the R8 e-tron.Continue reading...

Are you a tennis fan? Then we don't have to tell you to watch the French Open. Are you a hardcore tennis fan? Then you might consider not only watching the French Open but getting behind the wheel of a French Open special edition Peugeot.

The tie-up between the venerable French brands to create the time-limited Peugeot 207 CC and 308 CC Roland Garros editions makes sense, and celebrates one of the most important tennis tournaments in the sport of tennis. Luxury (and less luxurious) lifestyle brands have a longstanding relationship with automakers, with varying degrees of success (and excess).Continue reading...

Small cars are facing big problems these days.

Mini this week announced a global recall that impacts 89,000 of its cars in the United States, including its Mini Cooper line, and 235,000 worldwide because of faulty water pumps that can malfunction and have caused some engine-compartment fires. Mini parent BMW is trying to reassure consumers that the move is preventative. Indeed, Mini's documented problem — five of the fires reportedly destroyed cars actually being used by their owners — far eclipses the fire problem in the Chevrolet Volt that has so weighed down that brand lately.

Beyond that speed bump, Mini these days is achieving exactly what the BMW-owned brand has wanted to achieve in the American market: reigning as the undisputed champion of the tiny-car segment, holding off the likes of Smart, Scion and even Fiat.Continue reading...

This just-released sneak peek at Sunday's series finale of HBO's polygamy drama Big Love could be mistaken as a commercial for the Mini Cooper — or as almost-empty nester Barb calls her new car, "Honeybee" — a nickname that recalls the nickname for Beyonce in an another post-Thelma & Louise female getaway fantasy, Lady Gaga's Telephone video.

In the scene above, when Nicki complains, "It's cramped back here," Barb replies, "I figured I didn't need the extra space since I'm no longer hauling kids and groceries full-time." 

She then exhorts her perpetually cranky sister-wife to "just relax, enjoy the ride" while the youngest sister-wife, Margene, cries, "All right, everyone — be quiet, let's go!" Even the music sounds like a car commercial. If you watch the finale, let us know what you think of this scene.

You’re a small car company that has never turned a profit, based in the bike-friendly Netherlands. For $74 million, you just purchased Saab – a poorly managed brand that lost a half-billion dollars last year – from General Motors.

So when asked whether it’s really possible for Saab to turn a profit within two years, if you’re Spyker, you reply: No problem! Spyker secured a 400 million euro loan from the government of Sweden, home to 3,400 Saab employees, which, when added to a few other loans from undisclosed sources, means the company no longer needs additional financing. At least that’s what Spyker is saying, as it predicts Saab profitability by 2012.Continue reading...

Sam's Club downsizes by cutting 11,200 employees. [NY Times]

Boeing Co. and Airbus unite despite differences, find new airliner. [WSJ]

BMW designs an SUV for the Mini Cooper. [CNN Money]

Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti hires a new accountant. [CNN Money]

British Holiday Inns give customers an interesting option: pre-warmed beds. [Consumerist]

Sirius XM can no longer afford Howard Stern's $110M contract. [Business Week]Continue reading...

Chrysler's long haul out of bankruptcy continues, and the beleaguered brand needs more than a pick-up truck to emerge from the financial mire. Whether that relief will come in time and get traction remains to be seen.

As part of a restructuring plan to be announced Nov. 4, Fiat will introduce the Alfa Romeo and 500 to the United States market under the Chrysler banner. The “product road map” also calls for the dissolution of several Dodge car lines, the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan and several Jeeps.

As owner, Fiat has secured 20% of Chrysler’s debt and shares technology and management expertise, but provides no other financial support. The partnership is currently working to develop new Chrysler vehicles with Fiat technology.

The brand will have to tread water until 2012, when the Alfa Romeo and in-development vehicles are available on the market. Chrysler will introduce two new vehicles in 2011 besides the Fiat 500, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300 sedan, with plans to increase ad spending on the Jeep brand. Industry experts remain skeptical that Chrysler can maintain market share, let alone yield more with their current product line.Continue reading...