The Week in Reverse: December 22, 2006

The year 2007 will be a year of change. Toyota may become the world’s biggest automaker, Ford may sink to number three in U.S. sales, and we’re finally going to do something with that screenplay we started in ’96. Should be fresh, right?

We can pretty much predict what the Camaro Convertible Concept will look like when it hits Detroit next month. We’ll mime it for our French readers anyway.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz is casting its image back into the ether with this dramatic four-door Concept Ocean Drive. How rich would you have to be to own one? Let’s put it this way: unless your last name starts with Zetsche, it ain’t happening.

Even more news from the coming Detroit auto show: Ford’s Interceptor concept probably has a Lincoln buddy tagging along with it. Badge engineering is no bad thing when it’s rear-driven and has twin turbos, but you didn’t hear that from us.

Diesels? No, not yet, rasps Jerry Flint. Yep, the same Jerry Flint that told Fred Flintstone that foot-propelled power would never cut it.

Our milkshake doesn’t do anything to the boys in the yard. We wish Ford better luck than we had. Maybe next time we should try adding

Our spies have spoken – and you don’t have to buy them TiVo to make them happy this season. A brake rotor dinner plate will do just fine – although we’re concerned about the effects of Caesar dressing on the cross-drilling.

Finally this week, maybe you’ve noticed our jazzy new look? TheCarConnection doffs our hat to BGT Partners for a perfect launch. Champagne is on the way once you put on some pants and get out of Denver.