Five for Friday: Five Thoughts About the Auto Industry for July 29, 2011

No, you don’t have to sign up for a reality show to take advantage of this bit of oddball auto financing news. Even if you already thought that the economy was headed in an unpredictable direction, chances are you didn’t foresee that some vehicle owners who have been delinquent on their car payments have actually started getting checks in the mail from their lenders after their automobiles are repossessed. The Automotive News is reporting that this is exactly what is happening in a small percentage of repossession cases where skyrocketing used car prices have driven the value of repo’d vehicles higher than the initial loan that they were purchased with.

When an automobile is repossessed and then sold to recover the lender’s loan exposure, if there is any cash left over state law requires that those funds be returned to the consumer. This puts banks and credit unions in the awkward position of paying someone for the car that they just repo’d. Unsurprisingly, it is often difficult for lenders to get back in touch with the people whose vehicles have been spirited away in the night, as most fear that they will be on the hook for more fees - not the recipients of a refund.

Lexus made a mark on the personal luxury industry in the early 1990’s with the SC coupe, a vehicle that unfortunately presided over the death of the large two-door market and one whose design was eventually commuted into the much smaller SC roadster. Now that premium coupes are back in fashion rumor has it that Lexus could introduce a version of its upcoming GS sedan minus its rear doors.

The vehicle would offer a 3.5-liter V-6, and it wouldn’t be targeted so much at the performance crowd as it would appeal to Lexus’ bread and butter customers who enjoy the quiet ride and reputation for reliability that are part of the Japanese brand’s identity. Theoretically, the addition of a V-8 engine could also allow the Lexus GS coupe to steal potential Mercedes-Benz E-Class buyers

Regardless of its “love it or hate it” appearance, vehicles like the BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe have found enough of a sales niche that other luxury companies are beginning to take notice. Mercedes-Benz, while discussing plans to invest billions of dollars into its American production facility, revealed that it will be adding a sloped-roof four-door “coupe” M-Class model to the list of vehicles it builds there. The factory is already home to the R-Class, G-Class and the standard M-Class, which will be all-new for 2012.

An M-Class coupe most likely won’t set the world on fire, but in the battle for market share amongst the most well-heeled buyers in North America every inch counts. Mercedes-Benz has a product lineup that is large enough to absorb a failed SUV-coupe, and given that the automaker has shown a willingness to take risks with other unusual crossovers – such as the minivan-esque R-Class – it would seem that the M-Class coupe will get a fair shake in terms of promotion and lifespan before its success is judged one way or another by management.

The next-generation Chrysler 300 SRT8 and Dodge Charger SRT8 full-size sedans have been making the press fleet rounds for a few weeks now, and will be going on sale as 2012 models in the near future. With 470 horsepower already on tap from the 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engines installed under the hoods of these beasts, one would think that even the most jaded gearhead would be happy with the acceleration that they offer. Just in case a few people find the go-pedal rush to be lacking, however, Chrysler’s SRT division is considering the production of a supercharger kit that would add as much as 100 more ponies to the Charger SRT8 and 300 SRT8 equation.

The kit, which would theoretically be a dealer-installed option, would elevate each SRT sedan to near-supercar territory in terms of engine output. According to Motor Authority, Chrysler also plans to beef up other aspects of each vehicle’s driveline in order to better manage the increased brawn. If the plan comes to fruition, look for the pair of supercharged SRT sedans to become available late next year.

MINI continues to get bigger, and not just in terms of expanding its product lineup. The next potential MINI vehicle, labeled the Traveller, would offer a mini-MINI-minivan, or what the company refers to as an “Activity Tourer.” A tall greenhouse, suicide doors and an interior that pushes out to each corner as much as possible in order to maximize interior room are all part of the MINI Traveller formula, according to MotoringFile. The publication also quotes sources inside of BMW as saying that the vehicle will share its front-wheel drive platform with several other vehicles slated to begin filling out the lower levels of the German car company’s own catalog of models.

The MINI Traveller is a long ways away from prime time, with 2014 marking the earliest possible debut for the automobile. No images of the vehicle are currently available, but in all likelihood the vehicle will not stray too far from the current MINI styling language.