Sean Edwards
Ring Warrior
Hope they all burn to dust! Fokin red things!
Not envious in any way about there speed, being in a Porsche and all :finger
Not envious in any way about there speed, being in a Porsche and all :finger
Autoblog: News Thread
- Thread starter monkeyboy
- Start date
Autoblog: A-Team movie in the works, fool
Filed under: Etc.
A post on Jalopnik about a new A-Team movie led us to our sister-site Cinematical, where we found a treasure trove of info on the upcoming gift to cinema. First, the movie's existence has been confirmed by its director John Singleton, who you may recall directed a little movie called Boyz n the Hood. He also directed 2 Fast 2 Furious, so don't get your hopes up just yet. Second, the working script had already been posted online, but unfortunately the studio had it removed. Nevertheless, some interesting, or rather frightening, details have emerged. In the script, the character of B.A. Baracas that was originally played by Mr. T in the TV series is described as "22-year-old walking steel with two-percent body fat." Damn. Variety reports that Ice Cube has been rumored as a possibility, but the script would call for Mr. Cube to get some serious liposuction before filming starts. No word on how far casting's progressed for the other characters, but sound off in the comments about which actors you think would fit.
The plot itself, unfortunately, sounds as if it will rival the Knight Rider two-hour television event in February as the most shallow and contrived of the year, with the entire A-Team being cast as Iraq War vets who've been wrongly framed by the government for a crime they didn't committ.
OK, all that said, what's this got to do with cars? Well, the A-Team van is an iconic automobile right up there with KITT, the General Lee, and Lee Major's two-tone beige truck in The Fall Guy (maybe that last one's just me). Will a modern full-size van play the part, or will the movie stay true to its root and use an exact recreation of the 1983 G-series used in the show? There's one already available to do weddings, we here.
[Source: Cinematical, Variety via Jalopnik]
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Filed under: Etc.
A post on Jalopnik about a new A-Team movie led us to our sister-site Cinematical, where we found a treasure trove of info on the upcoming gift to cinema. First, the movie's existence has been confirmed by its director John Singleton, who you may recall directed a little movie called Boyz n the Hood. He also directed 2 Fast 2 Furious, so don't get your hopes up just yet. Second, the working script had already been posted online, but unfortunately the studio had it removed. Nevertheless, some interesting, or rather frightening, details have emerged. In the script, the character of B.A. Baracas that was originally played by Mr. T in the TV series is described as "22-year-old walking steel with two-percent body fat." Damn. Variety reports that Ice Cube has been rumored as a possibility, but the script would call for Mr. Cube to get some serious liposuction before filming starts. No word on how far casting's progressed for the other characters, but sound off in the comments about which actors you think would fit.
The plot itself, unfortunately, sounds as if it will rival the Knight Rider two-hour television event in February as the most shallow and contrived of the year, with the entire A-Team being cast as Iraq War vets who've been wrongly framed by the government for a crime they didn't committ.
OK, all that said, what's this got to do with cars? Well, the A-Team van is an iconic automobile right up there with KITT, the General Lee, and Lee Major's two-tone beige truck in The Fall Guy (maybe that last one's just me). Will a modern full-size van play the part, or will the movie stay true to its root and use an exact recreation of the 1983 G-series used in the show? There's one already available to do weddings, we here.
[Source: Cinematical, Variety via Jalopnik]
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Autoblog: Mitsubishi releases "official" details on Lancer Ralliart
Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Euro, Mitsubishi
Apologies to our friends at Carscoop, but we must qualify the details we're about to share with you on the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart because we haven't seen the actual press release for ourselves. Perhaps they're privy to some long-lead info over there, however, that we're not, as the details are specific enough as to sound convincing.
Regardless, Carscoop is reporting that the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart will be a 5-door hatchback model in Europe and be based on the sedan in the U.S. Power will reportedly come from a detuned version of the EVO X's 2.0L turbo-four producing 240 PS, or about 236 horsepower if you want to be stickler about conversions. Surprisingly, the Lancer Ralliart is also pegged to come with Mitsubishi's 6-speed Twin-Clutch SST transmission, a piece of kit only available on the top level Lancer EVO MR. The EVO GSR makes do with a simple 5-speed. Of course, the Ralliart model will also be aided by the same Super-All Wheel Control all-wheel-drive system used by the EVO X, as well Active Yaw Control and Active Center Differential. Other notable features include an aluminum hood, Recaro front seats, a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters and a special Ralliart radiator grille.
If these facts hold true, then the Ralliart will be the weapon used by Mitsubishi to take on the Subaru WRX around the world. In the past, Mitsubishi has allowed the Subaru WRX free reign, choosing to field a much less potent version of the Lancer Ralliart. No more.
[Source: Carscoop]
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Euro, Mitsubishi
Apologies to our friends at Carscoop, but we must qualify the details we're about to share with you on the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart because we haven't seen the actual press release for ourselves. Perhaps they're privy to some long-lead info over there, however, that we're not, as the details are specific enough as to sound convincing.
Regardless, Carscoop is reporting that the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart will be a 5-door hatchback model in Europe and be based on the sedan in the U.S. Power will reportedly come from a detuned version of the EVO X's 2.0L turbo-four producing 240 PS, or about 236 horsepower if you want to be stickler about conversions. Surprisingly, the Lancer Ralliart is also pegged to come with Mitsubishi's 6-speed Twin-Clutch SST transmission, a piece of kit only available on the top level Lancer EVO MR. The EVO GSR makes do with a simple 5-speed. Of course, the Ralliart model will also be aided by the same Super-All Wheel Control all-wheel-drive system used by the EVO X, as well Active Yaw Control and Active Center Differential. Other notable features include an aluminum hood, Recaro front seats, a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters and a special Ralliart radiator grille.
If these facts hold true, then the Ralliart will be the weapon used by Mitsubishi to take on the Subaru WRX around the world. In the past, Mitsubishi has allowed the Subaru WRX free reign, choosing to field a much less potent version of the Lancer Ralliart. No more.
[Source: Carscoop]
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Autoblog: Creventic CR-8 takes Audi supercar to the track
Filed under: Motorsports, Supercars, Audi
Click on the image above to view additional images
It was only a matter of time. Audi unveils the R8 supercar, and somebody wants to take it racing. Leave it to the Dutch to pick up the slack, as Netherlands-based Creventic BV is preparing the "CR-8" for an assault on endurance sportscar racing.
Thus far, Creventic has been cautious with its modifications. The current CR-8 benefits from a remapped engine management system to produce 430 hp (ten horses over the stock 420) and the removal of the factory-installed low-gear restrictor, as well as a host of baubles and bolt-ons to the body to bring it up to race spec. 18-inch BBS competition rims wrapped in Toyo racing slicks are put in place, a 90-liter racing fuel tank installed and AST suspension components mounted at all four corners. Creventic is also working on squeezing more power out of the RS4-derived V8 engine, a race-spec sequential gearbox and carbon fiber body panels, among other competition modifications.
The first pair of CR-8s will be shown next month at the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates for a race-track shakedown and public unveiling, with the first customer cars to be delivered shortly thereafter.
Check out CR-8.com for more details, and the gallery below for a whole mess of pics.
[Source: CR-8.com via Le Blog Auto]
Gallery: Creventic BV CR-8
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Filed under: Motorsports, Supercars, Audi
Click on the image above to view additional images
It was only a matter of time. Audi unveils the R8 supercar, and somebody wants to take it racing. Leave it to the Dutch to pick up the slack, as Netherlands-based Creventic BV is preparing the "CR-8" for an assault on endurance sportscar racing.
Thus far, Creventic has been cautious with its modifications. The current CR-8 benefits from a remapped engine management system to produce 430 hp (ten horses over the stock 420) and the removal of the factory-installed low-gear restrictor, as well as a host of baubles and bolt-ons to the body to bring it up to race spec. 18-inch BBS competition rims wrapped in Toyo racing slicks are put in place, a 90-liter racing fuel tank installed and AST suspension components mounted at all four corners. Creventic is also working on squeezing more power out of the RS4-derived V8 engine, a race-spec sequential gearbox and carbon fiber body panels, among other competition modifications.
The first pair of CR-8s will be shown next month at the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates for a race-track shakedown and public unveiling, with the first customer cars to be delivered shortly thereafter.
Check out CR-8.com for more details, and the gallery below for a whole mess of pics.
[Source: CR-8.com via Le Blog Auto]
Gallery: Creventic BV CR-8
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Autoblog: Congestion charge could make it to New York this spring
Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Green
Everyone knows it's going to be done, no one knows yet how: the "congestion charge" is coming to Manhattan. Mike Bloomberg finally won the capitulation of the plan's most ardent foe, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and with him out of the way, there doesn't appear to be any other obstacles.
All that's left now is the shouting, and there promises to be plenty of that. The question is how to charge everyone equitably, since people can arrive in Manhattan south of 86th Street (where the toll would take effect) in ways that already require them to pay a toll (like the Battery Tunnel, which is $8 round-trip with E-Z Pass). Refunding the congestion charge was an idea, but that was deemed too complicated. (However -- and not to throw our New York friends under the bridge, as it were -- bridge and tunnel tolls weren't created to cut down on traffic into the city, so would a bridge/tunnel toll and a congestion toll really overlap?) Any solution will take a fine mix of fairness, technology, PR, all of Bloomberg's negotiating savvy, and, frankly, somebody taking some lumps.
The plan still needs final approval from the City Council and State Legislature, which is projected to go Bloomberg's way on March 31, 2008. But with 31 of 50 City Council members hailing from Brooklyn and Queens, all with a multitude of constituents who will have to pony up the ducats, the fine points of who pays what, when, and where, is still quite some ways off.
[Source: The New York Sun via Winding Road, Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty]
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Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Green
Everyone knows it's going to be done, no one knows yet how: the "congestion charge" is coming to Manhattan. Mike Bloomberg finally won the capitulation of the plan's most ardent foe, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and with him out of the way, there doesn't appear to be any other obstacles.
All that's left now is the shouting, and there promises to be plenty of that. The question is how to charge everyone equitably, since people can arrive in Manhattan south of 86th Street (where the toll would take effect) in ways that already require them to pay a toll (like the Battery Tunnel, which is $8 round-trip with E-Z Pass). Refunding the congestion charge was an idea, but that was deemed too complicated. (However -- and not to throw our New York friends under the bridge, as it were -- bridge and tunnel tolls weren't created to cut down on traffic into the city, so would a bridge/tunnel toll and a congestion toll really overlap?) Any solution will take a fine mix of fairness, technology, PR, all of Bloomberg's negotiating savvy, and, frankly, somebody taking some lumps.
The plan still needs final approval from the City Council and State Legislature, which is projected to go Bloomberg's way on March 31, 2008. But with 31 of 50 City Council members hailing from Brooklyn and Queens, all with a multitude of constituents who will have to pony up the ducats, the fine points of who pays what, when, and where, is still quite some ways off.
[Source: The New York Sun via Winding Road, Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty]
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Autoblog: FIA spins its wheels with even more F1 regulations
Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal
The World Motor Sport Council of the FIA has approved yet another array of restrictions on Formula One development in a bid to further reduce costs in the top-level racing series. Following the imposition of a 10-year freeze on engine development and restrictions on aerodynamic testing, the new regulations cover a broad spectrum of areas, including design, manufacturing, testing, development of suspension, brakes and hydraulics, bodywork, weight distribution, on-track testing and personnel. More details are expected to be revealed after discussions take place with the teams at a meeting scheduled for mid-January.Although the stated aim of the tighter regulations is to reduce enormous costs of operating a Formula One racing team, the restrictions put F1 in danger of losing its status as the pinnacle of motor racing and further reduce the already-debatable benefit F1 development has on production road cars.
As this writer expressed in a recent discussion with an FIA official, the goal of reducing costs would be better served if the FIA took a page out of the playbooks of other top-level sports: In order to cap spending in the sport, actually cap spending. The FIA should impose a cap on spending, not unlike a major-league salary cap, rather than searching for more round-about ways of restricting development in which the engineers will invariably find new loop-holes.
[Source: AutoWeek]
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Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal
The World Motor Sport Council of the FIA has approved yet another array of restrictions on Formula One development in a bid to further reduce costs in the top-level racing series. Following the imposition of a 10-year freeze on engine development and restrictions on aerodynamic testing, the new regulations cover a broad spectrum of areas, including design, manufacturing, testing, development of suspension, brakes and hydraulics, bodywork, weight distribution, on-track testing and personnel. More details are expected to be revealed after discussions take place with the teams at a meeting scheduled for mid-January.Although the stated aim of the tighter regulations is to reduce enormous costs of operating a Formula One racing team, the restrictions put F1 in danger of losing its status as the pinnacle of motor racing and further reduce the already-debatable benefit F1 development has on production road cars. As this writer expressed in a recent discussion with an FIA official, the goal of reducing costs would be better served if the FIA took a page out of the playbooks of other top-level sports: In order to cap spending in the sport, actually cap spending. The FIA should impose a cap on spending, not unlike a major-league salary cap, rather than searching for more round-about ways of restricting development in which the engineers will invariably find new loop-holes.
[Source: AutoWeek]
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Autoblog: First Ford, now GM brings back merit-based raises
Filed under: Etc., Chrysler, Ford, GM
Ford and General Motors froze merit pay raises for white collar workers for one year, and as we reported last week, Ford is set to reinstate them next year. GM has just announced similar plans to bring back the merit-based raise for its salaried employees, as well. The raises will be paid starting next year, contingent on continued overall (global) rosiness in the business, but any increases will be "based on employee performance." The General, however, has also set up a merit fund from which to dole out the money.
Merit pay seems to be an on-again-off-again thing. GM and Ford did not give out merit pay this year, but Chrysler did. Chrysler did not pay merit raises in 2006, but GM and Ford did. And Chrysler doesn't know if it will hand out merit pay next year. The raises don't affect hourly employees, whose pay is determined by mutually agreed upon UAW contracts.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Filed under: Etc., Chrysler, Ford, GM
Ford and General Motors froze merit pay raises for white collar workers for one year, and as we reported last week, Ford is set to reinstate them next year. GM has just announced similar plans to bring back the merit-based raise for its salaried employees, as well. The raises will be paid starting next year, contingent on continued overall (global) rosiness in the business, but any increases will be "based on employee performance." The General, however, has also set up a merit fund from which to dole out the money. Merit pay seems to be an on-again-off-again thing. GM and Ford did not give out merit pay this year, but Chrysler did. Chrysler did not pay merit raises in 2006, but GM and Ford did. And Chrysler doesn't know if it will hand out merit pay next year. The raises don't affect hourly employees, whose pay is determined by mutually agreed upon UAW contracts.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Autoblog: Holland gets special-edition Land Rover to benefit Malaria
Filed under: SUVs, Euro, Land Rover
Click on the image above to view in high resolution
Close your eyes, we're going to play a little automotive word association. Just one round. Think of "malaria" - now what vehicle are you associating with the unfortunate disease? It could only be the Land Rover Defender, the go-anywhere, no-nonsense sport-ute that has probably traveled more malarial swamps and barren deserts than any other vehicle in history. Granted most marketing firms would not recommend that their clients associating their product with a debilitating disease, but this marketing association is geared towards raising funds to eliminate the disease. That's good.
Land Rover Netherlands has teamed up with designer Piet Boon to produce a limited edition Defender. The Dutch designer has added some minimalist details to the truck, equipped with LR's 2.4-liter turbodiesel, in return for €56,900, a portion of which goes towards the Drive Against Malaria foundation. Like the previous Piet Boon Edition of the Range Rover Sport, only 15 will be made available, so if malaria is your cause, you live in Holland, and you're in the market for a new truck, we'd like to meet you better get yours now.
[Source: Piet Boon Design via Land Rover Owner International]
Gallery: Land Rover Defender 90 Piet Boon Edition
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Filed under: SUVs, Euro, Land Rover
Click on the image above to view in high resolution
Close your eyes, we're going to play a little automotive word association. Just one round. Think of "malaria" - now what vehicle are you associating with the unfortunate disease? It could only be the Land Rover Defender, the go-anywhere, no-nonsense sport-ute that has probably traveled more malarial swamps and barren deserts than any other vehicle in history. Granted most marketing firms would not recommend that their clients associating their product with a debilitating disease, but this marketing association is geared towards raising funds to eliminate the disease. That's good.
Land Rover Netherlands has teamed up with designer Piet Boon to produce a limited edition Defender. The Dutch designer has added some minimalist details to the truck, equipped with LR's 2.4-liter turbodiesel, in return for €56,900, a portion of which goes towards the Drive Against Malaria foundation. Like the previous Piet Boon Edition of the Range Rover Sport, only 15 will be made available, so if malaria is your cause, you live in Holland, and you're in the market for a new truck, we'd like to meet you better get yours now.[Source: Piet Boon Design via Land Rover Owner International]
Gallery: Land Rover Defender 90 Piet Boon Edition
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Autoblog: Fiat chief: Alfa Romeo could benefit from Tata-Jaguar acquisition
Filed under: Jaguar, Land Rover, Earnings/Financials, Alfa Romeo, FIAT
The upcoming Alfa Romeo 169 flagship sedan is slated to be based on a modified platform from sister-company Maserati, but a potential tie-in with Jaguar could provide an interesting alternative.
A report from British magazine Autocar recalls that Alfa's parent company Fiat initially expressed interest in acquiring Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford, but decided to pass in favor of focusing on the rejuvenation of its own divisions instead. However, Indian automaker Tata, which is tipped to have placed the winning bid for the English marques, shares close relations with the Fiat Group. The Italian auto giant advised Tata on its acquisition bid, and the partnership could stand to benefit the Alfa Romeo division.
Borrowing a platform and powertrain from Jaguar could, according to Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne, lead to a "stunning" rear-drive Alfa 169, while optimizing the cost to benefit ratio for the Italian automaker. As Autocar points out, Land Rover's existing American dealership could also prove an irresistible asset for Alfa Romeo's imminent return to the US market.
[Source: Autocar]
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Filed under: Jaguar, Land Rover, Earnings/Financials, Alfa Romeo, FIAT
The upcoming Alfa Romeo 169 flagship sedan is slated to be based on a modified platform from sister-company Maserati, but a potential tie-in with Jaguar could provide an interesting alternative.
A report from British magazine Autocar recalls that Alfa's parent company Fiat initially expressed interest in acquiring Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford, but decided to pass in favor of focusing on the rejuvenation of its own divisions instead. However, Indian automaker Tata, which is tipped to have placed the winning bid for the English marques, shares close relations with the Fiat Group. The Italian auto giant advised Tata on its acquisition bid, and the partnership could stand to benefit the Alfa Romeo division.
Borrowing a platform and powertrain from Jaguar could, according to Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne, lead to a "stunning" rear-drive Alfa 169, while optimizing the cost to benefit ratio for the Italian automaker. As Autocar points out, Land Rover's existing American dealership could also prove an irresistible asset for Alfa Romeo's imminent return to the US market.
[Source: Autocar]
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Autoblog: Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota Venza Crossover Sedan coming to NAIAS
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Crossovers/CUVs, Toyota
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/Toyota_bringing_Venza_cross_over_sedan_to_Detroit'; Toyota's presence at the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) will be punctuated by what the automaker is calling a "crossover sedan" that incorporates elements of both a sedan and an SUV. The U.S.-designed and engineered 2009 Toyota Venza will seat five and be built alongside the Camry, Avalon and Solara at ToMoCo's plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. That pretty much means it's a go for production despite never having been glimpsed by the public.
The idea of a "crossover sedan" may just mean that the Venza is a jacked-up Camry, but we'd suspect that this new model would take aim at Ford's Edge and possibly GM's line of Lambda-based CUVs, with car underpinnings and a hatch. In fact, it sounds similar in form to the upcoming BMW X6. Failing that, we're picturing a Toyota version of the AMC Eagle (shown above), which would certainly open up yet another niche into the market.
[Source: Toyota]Continue reading Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota Venza Crossover Sedan coming to NAIAS
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Crossovers/CUVs, Toyota
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/Toyota_bringing_Venza_cross_over_sedan_to_Detroit'; Toyota's presence at the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) will be punctuated by what the automaker is calling a "crossover sedan" that incorporates elements of both a sedan and an SUV. The U.S.-designed and engineered 2009 Toyota Venza will seat five and be built alongside the Camry, Avalon and Solara at ToMoCo's plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. That pretty much means it's a go for production despite never having been glimpsed by the public.
The idea of a "crossover sedan" may just mean that the Venza is a jacked-up Camry, but we'd suspect that this new model would take aim at Ford's Edge and possibly GM's line of Lambda-based CUVs, with car underpinnings and a hatch. In fact, it sounds similar in form to the upcoming BMW X6. Failing that, we're picturing a Toyota version of the AMC Eagle (shown above), which would certainly open up yet another niche into the market.
[Source: Toyota]Continue reading Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota Venza Crossover Sedan coming to NAIAS
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Autoblog: Meet the Fiat 500, Holland's newest junior detective
Filed under: Euro, Hatchbacks, FIAT, Police/Emergency
We already know that overseas, police cars are not the full-size cruisers we have patrolling our highways in America. But come on, there's a limit.
This Fiat 500, all decked out in police striping and with a little flashing light on the roof, was snapped while parading around Amsterdam with the Dutch police. Unfortunately, the text that came out of the online translator was about as intelligible as a tourist swaggering out of an Amsterdam "coffee shop", but as far as we can tell the car was used purely for demonstration purposes, much like Scotland Yard has displayed constabulary-striped supercars and F1 racers, before the law-enforcement markings were removed and the car went back to civilian duty.
It's a far cry from the Spyker C8 or the BMW M3 that the Dutch police showed recently, but this 500 just looks so darned eager to serve and protect, doesn't it?
[Source: AutoWeek.nl]
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Filed under: Euro, Hatchbacks, FIAT, Police/Emergency
We already know that overseas, police cars are not the full-size cruisers we have patrolling our highways in America. But come on, there's a limit.
It's a far cry from the Spyker C8 or the BMW M3 that the Dutch police showed recently, but this 500 just looks so darned eager to serve and protect, doesn't it?
[Source: AutoWeek.nl]
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Autoblog: BMW Gran Turismo development gets serious
Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedans/Saloons, Euro, BMW
click above image for more high-res pics of the BMW CS Concept
We already knew that a production version of the CS Concept BMW debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show was in the automaker's product plans. Dubbed 'Gran Turismo', the four-door technological tour de force took a serious step toward reality today when BMW announced that Gerhard Richter, a manager at BMW M GmbH, is taking over control of the car's development. While he's adding that little bit of M flair to the Gran Turismo, Albert Biermann will be taking his place developing M models for the rest of us to enjoy.
While BMW didn't release any real details about the production version of the Gran Turismo, it did say that the car "will round the BMW product range upward as important technology carriers." That's the broken English of our translation, but you get the point. Like we said before, it'll be a technological tour de force.
[Source: BMW via Zercustoms]
Gallery: BMW Concept CS
Continue reading BMW Gran Turismo development gets serious
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Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedans/Saloons, Euro, BMW
click above image for more high-res pics of the BMW CS Concept
We already knew that a production version of the CS Concept BMW debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show was in the automaker's product plans. Dubbed 'Gran Turismo', the four-door technological tour de force took a serious step toward reality today when BMW announced that Gerhard Richter, a manager at BMW M GmbH, is taking over control of the car's development. While he's adding that little bit of M flair to the Gran Turismo, Albert Biermann will be taking his place developing M models for the rest of us to enjoy.
While BMW didn't release any real details about the production version of the Gran Turismo, it did say that the car "will round the BMW product range upward as important technology carriers." That's the broken English of our translation, but you get the point. Like we said before, it'll be a technological tour de force.
[Source: BMW via Zercustoms]
Gallery: BMW Concept CS
Continue reading BMW Gran Turismo development gets serious
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Autoblog: Honda confirms new NSX for 2010
Filed under: Sports/GTs, Supercars, Acura, Honda
Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept - click to view in our high-res gallery
Devotees of the late, great Acura NSX - and that's just about everybody, really - have been waiting patiently for the second coming that once reportedly based on the Advanced Sports Car Concept shown above, but Honda keeps on making us wait longer. While there's still more waiting to be done, at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel, as Honda has revealed that the new NSX will make its debut in 2010. Sometime.
The second-generation Japanese supercar was anticipated for a launch this year at the Tokyo show, but we were disappointed when the Honda pavilion was absent of any such high-performance wizardry. Since the cancellation of the original NSX, TSX and Prelude, the aging S2000 roadster has been left all alone to defend Honda's honor on the sportscar front, while Nissan gets all the glory with the new GT-R.
The new timeline is a bit later than the 2008/2009 launch date that was originally set down by Honda CEO Takeo Fukui, but if it manages to live up to its predecessor, we doubt anyone will be grumbling. After all, who recalls at this point how far behind schedule the Bugatti Veyron fell before its eventual debut?
[Source: Wards Auto via eGMCarTech]
Gallery: Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept
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Filed under: Sports/GTs, Supercars, Acura, Honda
Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept - click to view in our high-res gallery
Devotees of the late, great Acura NSX - and that's just about everybody, really - have been waiting patiently for the second coming that once reportedly based on the Advanced Sports Car Concept shown above, but Honda keeps on making us wait longer. While there's still more waiting to be done, at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel, as Honda has revealed that the new NSX will make its debut in 2010. Sometime.
The second-generation Japanese supercar was anticipated for a launch this year at the Tokyo show, but we were disappointed when the Honda pavilion was absent of any such high-performance wizardry. Since the cancellation of the original NSX, TSX and Prelude, the aging S2000 roadster has been left all alone to defend Honda's honor on the sportscar front, while Nissan gets all the glory with the new GT-R.
The new timeline is a bit later than the 2008/2009 launch date that was originally set down by Honda CEO Takeo Fukui, but if it manages to live up to its predecessor, we doubt anyone will be grumbling. After all, who recalls at this point how far behind schedule the Bugatti Veyron fell before its eventual debut?
[Source: Wards Auto via eGMCarTech]
Gallery: Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept
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Autoblog: Detroit 2008: The King is back atop the hill - 2009 Corvette ZR1
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Supercars, Chevrolet
Click the ZR1 for a high-res photo gallery of the new King of the Hill
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/autos/2009_Corvette_ZR1_first_official_photos_and_details'; The King of the Hill has returned! The new Corvette that has been variously known as the "Blue Devil" and SS for at least the past five years has now been officially designated as the ZR1. The new monster from Bowling Green has revived the ZR1 designation for the first time since the C4-based original faded away in 1995. Stories and spy photos of this mythical machine have been circulating the web and print media since well before the current C6 generation Corvette debuted in 2005.
The program has reportedly been killed and revived several times, but it is now very much alive and we have all the details of the fastest, most expensive production 'Vette of all time. Given the recent developments with fuel economy regulations (35 mpg fleet average by 2020) this new King may well turn out to be last and greatest member of this blood-line. The Corvette will no doubt live on with a C7 set to debut in the next few years. But like the descendants of the Porsche 917/30 Can-Am car of the early 70s, nothing may reach the heights of this ZR1. Of course, the same has been said many times before and look at where we are today. For now just follow the jump to find out what $100,000 will soon be able to buy you.
Related: Detroit 2008: The Heart of the King, the LS9 is born!
[Source: General Motors]
Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Continue reading Detroit 2008: The King is back atop the hill - 2009 Corvette ZR1
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Supercars, Chevrolet
Click the ZR1 for a high-res photo gallery of the new King of the Hill
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/autos/2009_Corvette_ZR1_first_official_photos_and_details'; The King of the Hill has returned! The new Corvette that has been variously known as the "Blue Devil" and SS for at least the past five years has now been officially designated as the ZR1. The new monster from Bowling Green has revived the ZR1 designation for the first time since the C4-based original faded away in 1995. Stories and spy photos of this mythical machine have been circulating the web and print media since well before the current C6 generation Corvette debuted in 2005.
The program has reportedly been killed and revived several times, but it is now very much alive and we have all the details of the fastest, most expensive production 'Vette of all time. Given the recent developments with fuel economy regulations (35 mpg fleet average by 2020) this new King may well turn out to be last and greatest member of this blood-line. The Corvette will no doubt live on with a C7 set to debut in the next few years. But like the descendants of the Porsche 917/30 Can-Am car of the early 70s, nothing may reach the heights of this ZR1. Of course, the same has been said many times before and look at where we are today. For now just follow the jump to find out what $100,000 will soon be able to buy you.
Related: Detroit 2008: The Heart of the King, the LS9 is born!
[Source: General Motors]
Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Continue reading Detroit 2008: The King is back atop the hill - 2009 Corvette ZR1
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Autoblog: Detroit 2008: The Heart of the King, the LS9 is born!
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Tech, Supercars, Chevrolet, GM
Every great king needs a great heart. Given the competition out there, if a car intends to claim the mantle of "King of the Hill", it better have a mighty heart. We haven't driven the new Corvette ZR1 yet, but based on what we know so far of its heart, it can surely make a plausible claim to the throne. Beating in the engine compartment of every ZR1 will be the most powerful series production edition of the Chevrolet small block V-8 ever created.
While the new LS9 shares the important dimensional characteristics that define the small block, that being the 4.4-inch bore spacing and the cam-shaft embedded in the valley between the two banks of four cylinders, it is in essence a new engine. With a minimum output of 100 hp/L and forced induction, this machine can climb to some serious altitude. Read on to learn all about what makes the LS9 so special.
[Source: General Motors]
Gallery: Detroit 2008: The Chevrolet LS9 V-8
Continue reading Detroit 2008: The Heart of the King, the LS9 is born!
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Tech, Supercars, Chevrolet, GM
Every great king needs a great heart. Given the competition out there, if a car intends to claim the mantle of "King of the Hill", it better have a mighty heart. We haven't driven the new Corvette ZR1 yet, but based on what we know so far of its heart, it can surely make a plausible claim to the throne. Beating in the engine compartment of every ZR1 will be the most powerful series production edition of the Chevrolet small block V-8 ever created.
While the new LS9 shares the important dimensional characteristics that define the small block, that being the 4.4-inch bore spacing and the cam-shaft embedded in the valley between the two banks of four cylinders, it is in essence a new engine. With a minimum output of 100 hp/L and forced induction, this machine can climb to some serious altitude. Read on to learn all about what makes the LS9 so special.
[Source: General Motors]
Gallery: Detroit 2008: The Chevrolet LS9 V-8
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Autoblog: Tesla clarifies report of "temporary transmissions"
Filed under: Convertibles, Green
Tesla held a town hall meeting last week to give its customers the skinny on how development of the all-electric Tesla Roadster is progressing. As we reported, an attendee revealed that since development of the transmission was holding up the works, Tesla was considering delivering cars to its customers with a temporary transmission that to be replaced with the proper gearbox after it had been developed to spec. It turns out that there were a few important details omitted from this report that Tesla wanted to clear up, so they called Sam at AutoblogGreen and set the record straight.
For one, Tesla has no plans to deliver cars with transmissions that it knows will fail. Instead, the plan is to deliver some cars with a simpler, single-speed transmission rather than the two-speed gearbox being developed. Tesla assured ABG that this single-speed tranny will meet all durability requirements and not leave owners stranded on the side of the road. So these transmission are temporary in the sense that they'll eventually be replaced, not that they'll fail.
The single-speed trannies, however, won't allow the cars to go as fast as promised. The two-speed gearbox allows the Tesla Roadster to meet its goals of a 4-second run to 60 mph and a top speed of around 125 mph at the same time. The single-speed gearbox, however, will be trading off some low-end acceleration so that the car's can be delivered on time.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
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Filed under: Convertibles, Green
Tesla held a town hall meeting last week to give its customers the skinny on how development of the all-electric Tesla Roadster is progressing. As we reported, an attendee revealed that since development of the transmission was holding up the works, Tesla was considering delivering cars to its customers with a temporary transmission that to be replaced with the proper gearbox after it had been developed to spec. It turns out that there were a few important details omitted from this report that Tesla wanted to clear up, so they called Sam at AutoblogGreen and set the record straight.
For one, Tesla has no plans to deliver cars with transmissions that it knows will fail. Instead, the plan is to deliver some cars with a simpler, single-speed transmission rather than the two-speed gearbox being developed. Tesla assured ABG that this single-speed tranny will meet all durability requirements and not leave owners stranded on the side of the road. So these transmission are temporary in the sense that they'll eventually be replaced, not that they'll fail.
The single-speed trannies, however, won't allow the cars to go as fast as promised. The two-speed gearbox allows the Tesla Roadster to meet its goals of a 4-second run to 60 mph and a top speed of around 125 mph at the same time. The single-speed gearbox, however, will be trading off some low-end acceleration so that the car's can be delivered on time.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
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Autoblog: Presentation is Everything: gift-wrapping a car
Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.
You would think that giving someone a new car would be enough of a surprise for the holidays, but there's always someone looking to go the extra mile and, literally, wrap it up with a ribbon on top. We'd suggest raiding Toyota's warehouse of big red bows, or putting the keys in a box and wrapping that might be a perfectly reasonable approach. But if you're looking for the full gift-giving treatment, and live in the UK, Creative FX could provide the service you're looking for.
The company usually deals with promotional signage for cars, but this holiday season it went into the gift-wrapping business for a local Hyundai dealership. It took some 54 meters of wrapping paper, but workers managed to gift-wrap an entire Santa Fe, leaving only the tires, grille badge and front license plate frame exposed for effect. The service would cost between £400 and £500, but the Hyundai dealer pointed out that he'd be glad to throw it in for free on the cost of a new car - or maybe he'd factor it in to the delivery charge.
[Source: AutoExpress]
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Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.
You would think that giving someone a new car would be enough of a surprise for the holidays, but there's always someone looking to go the extra mile and, literally, wrap it up with a ribbon on top. We'd suggest raiding Toyota's warehouse of big red bows, or putting the keys in a box and wrapping that might be a perfectly reasonable approach. But if you're looking for the full gift-giving treatment, and live in the UK, Creative FX could provide the service you're looking for.
The company usually deals with promotional signage for cars, but this holiday season it went into the gift-wrapping business for a local Hyundai dealership. It took some 54 meters of wrapping paper, but workers managed to gift-wrap an entire Santa Fe, leaving only the tires, grille badge and front license plate frame exposed for effect. The service would cost between £400 and £500, but the Hyundai dealer pointed out that he'd be glad to throw it in for free on the cost of a new car - or maybe he'd factor it in to the delivery charge.
[Source: AutoExpress]
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Autoblog: The Luna Desk by Pininfarina
Filed under: Etc.
If - and we'll stress the word "if" - you've spent a couple hundred grand for a beautifully-crafted Pininfarina-designed work of functional aluminum art to sit parked outside your office, what's another thirteen grand for one to sit in your office?
The Pininfarina Luna Desk has a base from varnished aluminum and is topped with a curved tempered glass surface. It's available in either black or red leather trim. At $12,885, it's not cheap, but it's bound to look equally impressive in your office or on the command deck of your intergalactic space ship.
[Source: Spacify via acquire]
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Filed under: Etc.
If - and we'll stress the word "if" - you've spent a couple hundred grand for a beautifully-crafted Pininfarina-designed work of functional aluminum art to sit parked outside your office, what's another thirteen grand for one to sit in your office?
The Pininfarina Luna Desk has a base from varnished aluminum and is topped with a curved tempered glass surface. It's available in either black or red leather trim. At $12,885, it's not cheap, but it's bound to look equally impressive in your office or on the command deck of your intergalactic space ship.
[Source: Spacify via acquire]
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Autoblog: Sorry CARB: EPA says states can't regulate their own emissions
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Government/Legal, Green, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota
If you found it slightly strange that automakers went from being ardently opposed to any new EPA legislation to 100-percent behind the new proposal, you're not alone. Now the picture appears clearer, as the EPA has deemed any new CARB legislation an unnecessary evil. The significance of the new ruling is so far-reaching that the OEM savings can be heard all across our great land. In short, it means that California and the 17 other states vying for independent CO2 regulations are completely helpless in enforcing automakers to be held to a separate standard. Of course California is now threatening to sue the EPA, which will provide interesting headlines but likely no alternative outcome.
While we will never know if automakers were tipped by the EPA of this eventuality, we can definitely say that every exec in the auto industry is today dancing the jig over this news. Besides, we've been keeping tabs on this situation for some time, so we knew it was a possibility. Having multiple regulations would set back R&D spending for years, as automakers would be chasing their own tails to try to comply with multiple regulations. With no separate standard for green states like California, automakers can now build one car for all 50 states, which will save billions every year. Lets hope that the saved cash will be funneled back into green tech research and development. And lets hope that lawmakers spend more time paving the way for plug-in spots for electric cars, more gas stations with E85, and a proper fuel cell infrastructure, and less time trying to beat on OEMs in an effort to look good for voters.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Government/Legal, Green, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota
While we will never know if automakers were tipped by the EPA of this eventuality, we can definitely say that every exec in the auto industry is today dancing the jig over this news. Besides, we've been keeping tabs on this situation for some time, so we knew it was a possibility. Having multiple regulations would set back R&D spending for years, as automakers would be chasing their own tails to try to comply with multiple regulations. With no separate standard for green states like California, automakers can now build one car for all 50 states, which will save billions every year. Lets hope that the saved cash will be funneled back into green tech research and development. And lets hope that lawmakers spend more time paving the way for plug-in spots for electric cars, more gas stations with E85, and a proper fuel cell infrastructure, and less time trying to beat on OEMs in an effort to look good for voters.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
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