BMW is considering pouring its high-performance ambitions into a “breakthrough green supercar,” according to a company insider. These latest rumors follow a report from late October of a similar nature. The vehicle being described would purportedly be based on the M1 Homage Concept that was considered for production as a conventional supercar but eventually cancelled.

The first official photo of the 2010 Porsche Panamera leaked onto the Web Friday evening. More images are expected shortly, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated. The sedan is expected to compete with the more expensive Aston Martin Rapide and Lamborghini Estoque models. Its narest rival in terms of price point, the BMW CS, was recently canceled.

While GM CEO Rick Wagoner was on Capitol Hill this week fighting for his company’s financial survival, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz was occupied with a wholly different mission. The product czar was tasked with evaluating the progress of GM’s latest Chevrolet Volt prototypes. The Volt is, of course, a plug-in hybrid that promises to restore GM’s relevancy as a forward-thinking automobile company. Lutz took the opportunity to write a report about his experience.

The Mazda is trying to build buzz around its forthcoming redesigned Mazda3 Hatchback model. The automaker released 26 “spy” photos of a Mazda3 prototype being tested in Europe. Yes, that’s right, these are “official” spy shots.

The forthcoming Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid sports car will be able to drive 50 miles on the electricity it gets from your home outlet, but after the batteries are depleted it will use a 2.0-liter Ecotec engine from General Motors to recharge the cells, the company has announced.

U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama is said to be considering a ‘prepackaged bankruptcy’ plan for the Detroit Three automakers. Prepackaged bankruptcy is a strategy whereby a detailed plan for restructuring and creditor settlements are established before a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is initiated. Settlements with creditors and renegotiation of contracts takes place out of court, ahead of the actual proceedings.

Better Place, a company that aims to build a worldwide electric car charging infrastructure, has announced an agreement with the state of California to build a $1 billion network in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says his company is looking at rapid charge technology, and the possibility of swappable batteries.

General Motors will extend its holiday shutdown at as many as 10 factories in an attempt to conserve cash amid uncertainty over a make or break government bailout. Workers at several plants were told Friday morning the shutdown will be extended until January 20th.

The press days at the Los Angeles auto show have come to a conclusion and our sights are now set on the Detroit Auto show coming in January. In case you missed any of the LA debuts, here’s the roundup:

• 2010 Mazda3
• 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible
• Honda FC Sport Concept
• 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder
• 2010 Ford Mustang
• 2010 Ford Fusion
• 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
• 2010 Ford Fiesta Sedan
• 2009 Nissan 370Z
• 2009 Nissan Cube
• 2010 Lincoln MKZ
• 2010 Mercury Milan
• 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
• 2010 Porsche Boxster
• 2010 Porsche Cayman
• 2010 Lexus RX 450h
• 2010 Lexus RX 350
• 2009.5 Pontiac G6
• Toyota Camry CNG Concept
• MINI Cooper E
• 2009 Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85
• 2009 Bentley Azure T
• 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI

Amidst the excitement of the LA Auto Show, Porsche quietly unveiled its 2010 Cayenne Diesel in Europe, where it will go on sale in February. The fuel-efficient model won’t be offered in North America initially, but the company said in a press release “preparations for market introduction in other countries are underway.”

Mitsubishi has cancelled plans for an exhibit at the Detroit auto show in January, citing the need to cut costs in these tough financial times. The Japanese carmaker is the fifth company to withdraw from the event, following in the footsteps of Ferrari, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, and Suzuki.

Electric cars are nothing new. Once the horseless chariots of upper class society women, they are now back en vogue thanks to a renewed interest in achieving zero-emissions, minimal-compromise driving. Enter the 2010 Mini E, an electrified Mini Cooper that will go on limited lease availability to select customers early next year.

Following the debut of the 2010 Fusion sedan, Ford has already announced pricing for the entire range. The 2.5-liter Fusion S starts at $19,270, positioning it below the Chevrolet Malibu but above the Toyota Camry. The ‘S’ has basic features like air-conditioning, power windows, mirrors, and locks, capless refueling, traction control, ABS, and 16-inch wheels.

Ford has announced a base price of $27,270 for its new 2010 Fusion Hybrid sedan. Basic features like dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights, keyless entry, power windows, mirrors, and locks, capless refueling, traction control, and ABS are all standard equipment. Also included is a six-speaker stereo, eco-responsible seats, 17-inch wheels, traction control, and a reverse sensor.

Following the release of some teaser photos in October, Mazda today full revealed its 2010 Mazda3 sedan, which has been completely redesigned for the coming model year. On display the the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, the car is perhaps the most daring example yet of the Japanese automaker’s new design language. The new Mazda3 showcases a styling direction that will eventually spread to the entire Mazda lineup, Laurens van den Acker, Mazda’s design chief, said recently.

Mercedes-Benz on Thursday announced U.S. pricing for its new GLK-Class crossover, which is aimed squarely at the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Infiniti EX35. On sale for the past several months in Europe, American car shoppers can now count it among their compact luxury crossover choices. Customers will be able to buy the rear-wheel-drive GLK350 model for $33,900, and the all-wheel-drive variant from $35,900. That positions the GLK below the X3, but above the EX. Options packages have not yet been announced.

It’s not often that a built-in feature can void a product’s warranty — even if it’s an undocumented one. But for some Nissan GT-R owners, that’s exactly what using the Launch Control mode did. Of course, many owners who inadvertently blew up their transmissions were none too happy, and Nissan was stuck fixing many of the cars to avoid a PR catastrophe. The end result? Nissan has removed the Launch Control feature entirely from the 2010 GT-R.

Jaguar parent company Tata Motors has given the green light to plans for a two-door XF coupe and a ragtop XF convertible, according to a British media report. The new models will make Jag increasingly competitive with the wide range of cars offered by BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Mechanical reliability is a big factor in automobile satisfaction, but there’s another important piece to the equation. A new study by J.D. Power and Associates attempts to measure the quality of the customer experience — particularly the buying process. Looking at everything from showroom aesthetics to the paperwork, customers ranked Jaguar number one.

It’s no secret the 2010 Nissan Maxima will have a U.S. diesel engine option, but it turns out the Infiniti range will also get the new motor. Unfortunately for those of us in North America, it looks like the dCi powerplant will only be offered to Infiniti customers in Europe.