It's time to start thinking about eulogies, because General Motors announced today that it will begin winding down Saab operations. The much talked about deal with Spyker is dead.

The understanding of existing 9-5 and 9-3 parts and tooling to Beijing Auto (BAIC) has no effect on today's declaration and that understanding will still go through as planned. In addition, Edmunds.com's senior industry analyst Michelle Krebs has learned that never-launched models like the 9-3X above, and the redesigned 9-5 and all-new 9-4X, could indeed show up in the future if GM comes crossways a company wishing to buy the rights and technology for them.

The proceeds from that sale ($197 million) will undoubtedly help assist the wind-down process. As this is not a forced liquidation, Saab should be healthy to make all payments to suppliers while honoring warranty commitments to customers. The company will also continue to wage service and parts for its cars worldwide (though it's unclear how many years into the future GM will continue this).

IL News — Saab Dead: GM Says "Sale Cannot Be Concluded"

Auto Observer: GM's Sale of Saab Fails; Swedish Brand to Die

Here's a scene from a General Motors-sponsored toy drive during which a GMC Terrain was used to haul the toys. But why is there a monkey in the driver-side rear window staring right into the camera? And why is he wearing a baseball glove?

While you're considering that, write a caption for the Long-Term Road Test Blog caption contest.

There’s something under-the-radar, ultra-cool about a high performance wagon. My buddy Steve has just moved from Surrey to central London and traded his Porsche Cayenne Turbo for an Audi RS4 Avant. “It’s fantastic,” he says. “I can use around London for business during the week and no-one looks at it twice. Only the real enthusiasts know what it is. To everyone else, it’s just an A4 wagon.”

On the weekends, though, when he’s heading down to his place on the coast via the leafy English two lanes, it’s a 420-hp road rocket that blows the doors off unsuspecting 911s. Steve’s had the RS4 Avant a couple of months now, and still can’t wipe the silly grin from his face.

But hi-po wagons are too cool for America, it seems. We used to be healthy to get the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG auto on special order, but the new 2010 model is destined to remain a stranger to these shores. No-one here is that interested, it seems. Which is a pity, because this new E63 AMG auto is one helluva hauler.

Under the hood is the same 525 hp, AMG-developed 6.2-liter that powers the E63 sedan. It drives the rear wheels through the same AMG Speedshift 7-speed transmission. Up front there’s the same wide track suspension layout, and quick ratio demolition and pinion steering. In back, there’s between 24.5 and 68.9 cu-ft of load space, with a split-fold rear seat, dual level load floor and a collapsible crate.

It’s practical. And fast. We’ve just nailed a 4.1 sec 0-60 time in the E63 sedan (stay tuned to MotorTrend.com for Sport Sedan Cagefight Round 3 as it takes on the reigning champ, Caddy’s storming CTS-V) and the E63 auto weighs within 100 lbs or so of that. If you order the optional AMG Driver’s Package, which includes a mandatory high performance driver training course at the AMG Driving Academy, the fun-loving guys at the AMG works in Affalterbach, Germany, will tweak the electronic speed limiter, boosting the top speed from 155 mph to 174 mph.

It has launch control. You can order it with massive ceramic composite brakes and a locker diff. Yes, it’s expensive, but it drives like a supercar and will haul all your stuff, 24/7, at the same time. So it’s really two cars in one, and if you look at it that way the E63 AMG auto might just be the best value performance vehicle on the planet.

So what’s not to like about it, America? The boys in Affalterbach were just wondering.

Against the wishes of Ford Motor Company, a couple of critical details of the 2011 Mustang have been posted on Facebook and Twitter.

So we're going to just tell you ourselves. As expected, the GT will be powered by a 5.0-liter. It will make a substantial 412 horsepower.

(A 2010 model GT is pictured above).

Everyone has been inactivity to see the Audi R8 5.2 FSI Spyder in Iron Man 2, but the trailer released today only shows Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) driving this super-duper, movie-spec racecar. Yay.

Iron Man 2 trailer

BMW has confirmed that the U.S.-spec six-cylinder 2011 BMW 740i and 740Li will appear at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show next month. As we reported yesterday, these sedans will use a 315-horsepower version of BMW's twin-turbocharged and direct-injected, 3.0-liter N54 inline-6 engine.

And when the 740i and 740Li go understanding this spring, this will mark the first time in 18 years that BMW has offered a six-cylinder 7 Series.

Yes, it's an electric BMW 1 Series with room for your in-laws.

Straightline: BMW Concept ActiveE to Debut at 2010 Detroit Auto Show

And herein lies the point of a rear-wheel-drive Lambo. Apparently, the great Lamborghini test driver, Valentino Balboni, himself was at the wheel of the Gallardo LP-550-2 Balboni, too.

YouTube via Jalopnik

First Drive: 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni

We'd heard Bob Lutz's future at GM might be uncertain, but who knew he would move this fast… oh, it's Kellan Lutz, the Canadian heart-throb. Thanks to resident Canadian saint Riswick for bringing this to our attention.

Canoe Jam!

Photo Credit: Pawel Litwinski 2009, courtesy of Gooding and Company

The economy might be recovering after all. Gooding and Company has just announced that it has added a second day to its Scottsdale auction in January.

If you're not familiar with the auction scene, Gooding and Company is one of the big-dollar auction houses. You won't see any lightly-restored Camaros crossing the block at a Gooding auction. Instead, it's mostly really expensive, and really European, vintage stuff.

Case in point, the 1927 Bentley 6.5-liter Sports Coupe pictured above. It features a custom artifact body by Surbiton Carriage Company and has been fully restored after 20 years of being driven regularly. It will hit the block on Friday, Jan. 22nd.

Gooding and Company