This look at the Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept is still relatively new, since the actual concept itself was only recently revealed at Tokyo’s forty first annual motor show. It is actually a proposal for what the automaker hopes will be a grand touring vehicle in the future. The primary aim of the innovative concept — which looks like it might take wing and fly away at any given minute — is to combine driving performance with safety and a high level of eco and environmental friendliness.

As a matter of fact, as it applies to the exterior, wings were the central inspiration for the vehicle. Why? Because they make for an air of confidence and total freedom. The gullwing doors are naturally a more phyisical interpretation of that feeling.

Well, folks, I have got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that this little beauty, the Maruti Suzuki Concept R3, will soon be unveiled at the 2010 Auto Expo in New Delhi, India, the product of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., which is the leading car manufacturer in India.

The bad news? Well, we might not be able to see it anywhere else, which is really kind of a shame. One can only hope that Suzuki will come up with a similar concept or will bring the car into product stateside and in Europe.

The point of this car is to fulfill any needs a family might have, but by keeping it compact, not bulky and large, as some other family vehicles.

Alright, now that we have talked a little bit about what Ford is planning on doing, let’s go ahead and move on into the thick of things regarding the actual buyout.  If you have at least one year of experience, you can take a payout of $50,000 dollars plus a new car voucher worth about $25,000 or you can just take an additional cash payment of about $20,000.

If you are of retirement age, you can take your pension plus the $25,000 new car voucher or the cash payment.  Finally, if you are a skilled-trade worker, you can take a $40,000 payout plus your pension.

The workers who are going to accept the buyout will need to leave sometime in February of 2010 and any new hires will start then … at a wage of about $14.00 per hour.

Ford – oh Ford, you survived the recession and now … even though you are doing really good on the forefront of your sales, you have decided that you are going to reduce your employees and offer them a buyout.  The point?  Well, they have a surplus of employees and are looking to get the unionized employees out and hire in some non-unionized employees.

Is this a smart business decision? Well of course it is – the new wage for the new hires would be half of what the old wage is, however how many people are actually going to take the buy out?

In the next blog, we will explore exactly what Ford is offering up to these folks.  You do not want to miss this one!