Mercedes AMG Rolls out "Ice Luge" Web Game, MT Staff Productivity Levels Drop

What do you get when you put a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG or SL 63 AMG on a virtual ice luge? An even faster, grip-seeking, high performance ride straight from the factory in Affalterbach, Germany, obviously. The Mercedes-Benz in-house tuner has debuted its latest Ice Luge online game just in time for the holidays and is looking to drum up more interest in its bespoke cars. Once logged on, users can saddle up in either model and challenge their driving skills on an unconventional winter racing circuit. The rules are simple: Choose a car, press forward arrow to accelerate, back arrow to brake, and left and right arrows to steer. Hit the ice and see how fast you can go. A warning though, competition is stiff. We found ourselves trying to beat out other lugers from around the world during our workday (keep that on the down low) and sadly, didn't even manage to get on the leader board. Granted, in being a Web-based game, the controls are delayed and the handling a bit tricky to get used to, but we can see it being a game to successfully pass the somewhat slow holiday season days. If only AMG would set up a real world version just to see what would happen. Now that would be a true holiday treat.

General Motors Sues Parts Supplier to Keep 2010 Chevrolet Camaro On Track

In addition to tightening its multibillion-dollar bootstraps, General Motors is making sure everything set in place before the $9.4 billion gift from American taxpayers continues as planned -- especially when it comes to big ticket items such as the upcoming 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. This week, it was revealed by The Wall Street Journal that the struggling automaker is suing one of its bankrupt suppliers in order to ensure production and deliveries of its much needed Camaro muscle car happens next year. The supplier, Troy, Michigan, based Cadence Innovation, was slated to make the Camaro’s consoles and door panels, among numerous other components. It filed for bankruptcy last August and began liquidation of its assets earlier this month. With the demise of one of its main suppliers, GM is facing a drastic ripple effect in production and sales that could cost it tens of millions of dollars. "Even one day's disruption in supply of certain component parts could cause a shutdown of GM assembly operations, disrupting not only GM's business, but the operations of countless suppliers, dealers, customers and other stakeholders," GM stated in the lawsuit filed with the U.S. bankruptcy court. In the suit, GM seeks to acquire Camaro-specific tooling and parts from Cadence in order to provide them to a new supplier by January 12, 2009. It goes without saying, if GM fails to keep its 2010 Camaro production on schedule, it won’t help its case for further federal assistance.