who were pushing for a new album and tour but Ocasek said no thanks (his own album and a tour were coming up). Since they were the musicians whose "sound"
made The Cars I can see why they wanted to remain The Cars and went looking for a new lineup. And, from what he says below, I think Todd is pretty happy to have gotten this gig. :)
The New Cars
In 2005, rumors began circulating that Easton and Hawkes would be teaming with Todd Rundgren in a new Cars lineup. As preposterous as the rumor seemed, it turned out to be true, with the revamped lineup calling itself The New Cars. Two regular Rundgren collaborators, bassist Kasim Sulton and drummer Prairie Prince, are replacing Orr and Robinson in the new lineup.
The band's first single, "Not Tonight," released on March 20, 2006, sounds uncannily like the original group.
According to a March 14, 2006 press release announcing The New Cars, a greatest hits collection, The New Cars: It's Alive, will be released May 9 on Eleven Seven Music. The album will include classic Cars songs recorded live plus never-before-released studio tracks.
A summer tour with Blondie kicks off May 12 in Mississippi.
Rundgren has referred to the project as "an opportunity ... for me to pay my bills, play to a larger audience, work with musicians I know and like, and ideally have some fun for a year." Ocasek --who has opted out of any possibilities of a reunion -- has reportedly given his blessing to Hawkes and Easton, saying, "I want Elliot and Greg to be happy."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cars