Friday night, I was invited to witness the unveiling hosted by Goodings at Pebble Beach of the latest bespoke car from Pininfarina, the Hyperion.  Based on a Rolls-Royce, it’s an enormous two-seat convertible. Body lines definitely find some common inspiration with those found on Pininfarina-designed 612 and 599 Ferraris. Interesting touches include two opening teak doors directly in front of the windscreen (for cargo storage).

Without seeing it in person, it is hard to grasp the scale of the vehicle. It has a 128-inch wheelbase and is about six inches longer overall than a BMW 750Li. The driver appears to be sitting where rear-seats would be in a normal car, delivering the classic long-hood, short-rear proportions of Rolls-Royces of the 1920s and 1930s. Reception of the car was quite positive, indicating Pininfarina’s team, led by Special Project Director Paolo Garella, did a superlative job. I stood with BMW design boss Chris Bangle when the sheet was pulled, and asked the good-humored guru of style if it "passed the Bangle test." With a big smile, Chris replied "it’s good… for Pininfarina," then proceeded to point out the best viewing angle (front 3/4) and nice touches on the car. Two more pics after the jump.

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It’s Monday, but that’s ok. I know, from experience, that I’m lucky to have a job I enjoy. Anyway, here’s the news:

• The General has seemed to weather the American Axle strike pretty well, but now the UAW has called a strike at a Kansas plant which makes the Malibu. It’s unclear if the motivation for the strike is based on actual grievances or just being used to make the GM help solve the AA fiasco. Automotive News
• Pininfarina has announced that it will dedicate one of its factories to electric car production. The car  hasn’t debuted yet, but the Italian coach builder has said that it will be available in the United States in 2010, and will have 155 miles range. Sounds cool, but I’ll believe it when I see it. AutoWeek
• Most of the time, when you hear a Lada mentioned, it’s as a punchline, or it’s being somehow compromised in a photo lifted from English Russia. But this one is designed to campaign in the WTCC series. Who knew? Jalopnik
• Looks like the shot of the M1 Prototype which was making the rounds on the internet is just a PhotoChop. Kind of a shame, as it’s a really sexy looking car. Hopefully BMW is taking notes. CarScoop

Since both places have drive-up windows, I’m going to go out on a limb and call the fact that Arby’s just bought Wendy’s car-related. Founder Dave Thomas opened the first restaurant in Ohio forty years ago, and one of his daughters described her family as "devastated" by the sale. All I’m saying is that Arby’s better not mess with the menu at Wendy’s—it’s the best fast food out there. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Don’t be surprised if you hear some execs in Dearborn humming AC/DC today, as Ford just announced that—for the fiscal quarter at least—the company is back in the black. Given most analysts expected the Blue Oval to still be hemorrhaging cash, this is big news. Auto Observer
• Ferrari will open its first retail store in the UK later this year, which should come as a real relief to all the blokes looking for a great way to drop $50 on a ball cap. CarScoop
• Pininfarina has announced it plans to open a design center in India. Something tells me that in the next decade, India will be a major player in the automotive world. Stay tuned. World Car Fans
• VW is looking to build cars in the US, and the company has narrowed its search to three states. Who says having a devalued currency is so bad? Freep
• The American Axle strike is beginning to feel a lot like the Democratic primary. It’s going on and on, with no end in site. Will we have a new President before those AA and the UAW reach a deal? Detroit  News

I guess I’ve just been asleep at the wheel—or not watching enough TV—but I had no idea one of my favorite songwriters is doing music for Volvo. Stephin Merritt is the uber-genius behind the Magnetic Fields, and he sings an interpretation of "Wheels on the Bus" in this ad for the XC. While there are plenty of idiots out there howling about how terrible this is, personally, I like it when musicians make money. Here’s the news:

• Due to mounting debts, the Pininfarina family could lose control of the design house which bears their name. Now, I acknowledge that even really rich people can go broke, but I still can’t say I understand it. Any way you cut it, this is sad. World Car Fans
• The credit crunch happening across the country is starting to have an effect on classic car prices. Of course, whether this is tragic or great depends on whether you want to buy or sell. Winding Road
• A fire at a Chrysler plant in Ontario has temporarily stopped production. Ok, first a fire at Porsche, and now this? Wow. It’s only a matter of time before the Ferrari and Lambo factories go off like Roman candles. Automotive News
• The American Family Association has ended its boycott of Ford. But don’t worry, I’m sure the group will find another way to promote its agenda of intolerance and bigotry. Detroit News

Every January, the Barrett-Jackson auction makes Scottsdale the temporary epicenter of the car universe—and these shots make it easy to see why. The Corvette "Rondine" below was designed by Pininfarina for the 1963 Paris Auto Show, and it was just one of the amazing rides on the block. As an added treat, we also have shots from the nearby Russo-Steele auction. What are you waiting for? Go check them out!