RSS MAD

IDEA ERA concept built in 30 days to celebrate 30th anniversary

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Sports/GTs

Click on the image for more shots of the IDEA ERA Concept

The term Barchetta, which literally means 'little boat' in Italian, is applied to a small, two-seat open-air sports car called the ERA concept introduced by the Italian styling firm IDEA Institute. Like many past barchettas, the ERA is doorless, meaning drivers and passengers get to do their best Bo Duke impression as they enter the roadster over the doors. What's especially impressive is that such a cool design was drawn up, rendered and molded into reality in just 30 days. Conceived at a meeting on April 8, the vehicle is meant to commemorate IDEA's 30th anniversary and the initial design was approved on the same day. Feverishly working around-the-clock, the vehicle's team pounded out a very nicely designed model, which at this time features no powertrain. With its curvy body and peaked fenders all around, the ERA has a hint of the old Birdcage racer in its profile. Suggested layouts include both a transversely mounted four-banger driving the front wheels or a longitudinal V6 providing the proper rear-wheel-drive layout.


[Source: IDEA Institute via Automotive News - sub. req'd]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

VIDEO: Another Pontiac G8 ad that goes after our childhood

Filed under: Car Buying, Time Warp, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Pontiac

Click above to view the video after the jump.

If the ad campaign is any indication, those of us born in the late 1970s are the demographic Pontiac's aiming at with the G8. First, there was the Spy Hunter themed TV spot, and now this one, which pays homage to the seminal car-guy experience of zooming around on a carpet in 1/64 scale. Hey, we're cool with that. The G8 GT does induce heart palpitations in many of us who still cling to our battle-scarred collection of now-vintage Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars with our initials etched into the underside. Like many of the other tiny cars we racked up miles on, a miniature G8 would have made us wish for either a shrink-ray, or a personal fortune by the time we hit 16 so we could buy a real one. Video embedded after the jump.

[Source: AdGabber]

Continue reading VIDEO: Another Pontiac G8 ad that goes after our childhood

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Michael Schumacher to race a Honda CBR1000RR in German Superbike

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Motorcycles, Celebrities

Seven-time Formula 1 racing champion Michael Schumacher will be racing this weekend on a Honda CBR1000RR at the IDM International German Motorbike Championship. There are rumors that he'll be racing under a false name, Marcel Niederhausen. Now that the cat is officially out of the bag, so to speak, he may as well skip the alias. Schumacher will race alongside current champion Martin Bauer for Holzhauer Racing.

With this announcement, all of the previous events which Schumacher took part in start to make more sense. Superbike racing is very hotly contested, and the bikes feature nearly two-hundred horsepower in race trim. Therefore, it would have been an exceedingly bad idea to race in this series without a few warm-up runs. According to event organizers, the thirty-seven year old Schumacher has been testing for the last few weeks with members of his new team and "he surprised many experts with fast times." We can only hope that our "retirements" will be so enjoyable.

[Source: Motorcycle News]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hatchbacks, Audi

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro.

Audi has released the first official images of its newest concept before the wraps are taken off at the Lake Wörther Tour in Austria later this month. Think of the Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept as a smaller, racier, more attainable version of the Audi R8 V12 TDI concept shown in Detroit, with power provided by the highest specific output diesel in the world.

Look past the DTM-inspired bodywork and you'll get an aluminum-enhanced glimpse of the oilburning jewel that lies beneath. The 1,968cc turbodiesel produces 221 hp and 332 lb.-ft. of torque available at an oh-so-low 1,750 rpm. Power is sent through a six-speed manual transmission before it reaches the ground through Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi claims that the A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro can reach 62 mph in 6.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 149 mph. We believe it.

While the body work might be a bit over the top, the tuned A3 sits 26mm lower than stock and rides on 20-inch wheels that fit cleanly into blistered wheel arches, widening the A3's track by 33 mm in front and 46 mm in the rear. Stopping power in the front is provided by six piston calipers clamping 356mm carbon ceramic discs, while standard steel brakes are fitted out back. Inside, it's all business with a bit of show car flare, including a flat-bottom steering wheel, bolstered buckets, aluminum trim, toggle switches and a red starter button to get the party underway. Audi has also fitted the concept with a its Drive Select system, which can change throttle response, exhaust sound, power steering assist, ESP settings and magnetic ride damping on the fly.

Audi isn't saying that the A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro is destined for production, but it would make an excellent runabout for the times when rolling the R8 V12 TDI to the store would be overkill.

Make the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

How do you plan to spend you tax rebate? Enthusiasts already know.

Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, Trends

The team over at SEMA, you know them as the group that supplies the automotive industry with aftermarket performance and cosmetic accessories, have asked more than 1,000 automotive enthusiasts how they intend to spend their federal tax rebate checks. Of course, we know what SEMA wants the answer to be...

Interestingly enough, most surveyed (21%) said they would use the money to pay down credit cards. Another large chunk (20%) said they'd bank the cash for now. Of those who said they'd spend the money on specialty automotive equipment, most intend to buy wheels, exhaust kits, cold air intakes, and engine performance accessories. From survey results, SEMA was able to determine most enthusiasts have altered, and delayed, buying specialty equipment due to the high cost of fuel. In fact, some of the hottest aftermarket performance parts right now are specifically designed to enhance fuel economy. We think you just found an excuse for that new CAI. Check out the press release after the jump.

[Source: SEMA]

Continue reading How do you plan to spend you tax rebate? Enthusiasts already know.

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

GM Europe launches two new fuel-sipping engines

Filed under: Economy, Euro, Green, Chevrolet, GM

General Motors' European division has announced the development of three new engines that will provide the power consumers crave while returning higher fuel economy and lower emissions. Two turbocharged engines, ranging in output from 1.0- to 1.4-liters will between 120 hp and 129 lb.-ft. of torque, and 140 hp and 148 lb.-ft. of torque, while returning an eight-percent increase in fuel efficiency compared to their larger displacement counterparts. The duo of new engines will find their way into the new Astra and some European-market Chevys in 2010, although there's no word if either engine will make the trek across the Atlantic.

Hit the jump to read up on both engines and a new, 1.6-liter CNG-powered mill that GM plans to market in Germany and Italy.

Continue reading GM Europe launches two new fuel-sipping engines

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Jensen Interceptor returns with LS2 V8

Filed under: Aftermarket, Time Warp, Sports/GTs

Click above for high-res gallery of the V Eight Jenson Interceptor

Any automotive enthusiast can quote you the story of the Cobra; the British AC Ace stuffed with a Ford V8, a strategy that was equally successful for Sunbeam with its Tiger - right down to the Ford small-block V8 - though the Cobra later got the FE big block. Perhaps less well known are the GTs to come out of Jensen. We even featured one of these more obscure English muscle-machines as a Reader Ride a while back. The original Jensen Interceptor sported a body designed by Italy's Touring, and various flavors of Mopar V8 were nestled in the nose. Nearly 40 years on, V Eight LTD is engaging in some revisionist history.

The Jensen Interceptor S by V Eight is essentially a total rebuilding of an original Interceptor, with many key areas upgraded with modern components. A General Motors LS2 sends 414 horsepower to the independently sprung rear wheels through a modern five-speed automatic transmission. The stock chassis calibration has been upgraded as well, and 17-inch wheels couple tire to tarmac. £75,000 pounds will get you a hand-rebuilt and upgraded Jensen that's a significant improvement in quality over the original, while also benefitting from decades of advancement in engine management. Some might yawn at the small block and its virtual hotrodding ubiquity, and a more esoteric powertrain swap would be equally exciting. We'd be just as puppy-dog waggy over a twin-turbo VQ V6 smashed in there, but who can argue with a vintage sports car that never fails to light off instantly, idles demurely, and can snap the tendons in your neck when you flatten the pedal, all wrapped in an uncommon body shell? Any chance we could get one to sample for the Autoblog Garage? Thanks for the tip, Pottz!


[Source: jensen-cars.co.uk]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Scion xD Limited Edition Release Series 1.0 starting at $16,549

Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchbacks, Scion

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Scion xD Release Series 1.0.

Scion seems to release more limited-edition models than we have fingers and toes to count, and it's continuing that tradition this June with the xD Release Series 1.0.

Scion's attempt to differentiate the xD RS 1.0 from its staid siblings includes a Hot Lava paint job, a DAMD four-piece body kit and a rear spoiler. The magma-themed exterior works its way inside with color-matching trim and seat inserts, while a RAZO shift knob, TRD lowering springs and model-specific wheel covers (wheel covers, really?) round out the poser package.

Scion is limiting production of the xD RS 1.0 to 2,000 units with an MSRP set at $1,999 over the standard xD's $14,550 base price (not including the $640 destination charge).

Continue reading Scion xD Limited Edition Release Series 1.0 starting at $16,549

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

VIDEO: No [BLEEP]! That's a [BLEEP] Saturn?

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Saturn

Click above to view video after the jump

Way back in September 2006, Saturn ran a commercial in which a bunch of people saw the brand's cars out in the real world and exclaimed, "That's a Saturn?" Obviously meant to communicate that you would be surprised to see the new Saturns of the day and how far they had come, the commercial really just got annoying fast to the point where the word 'Saturn' started sounding weird because it was said so many times.

The commercial apparently wasn't much for the actors to make, either. Steve Hall at AdGabber found a different version of the commercial, which we'll call "That's a f@#$% Saturn!". It seems after they had gotten the footage that Saturn's ad agency requested, the actors, director and production crew had some fun and made a different, rated R version of the commercial that probably more closely resembles reality than the canned responses in the original commercial. Check it out for yourself after the jump along with the original commercial, and don't worry, the BLEEPS hide anything that would offend your boss, spouse or kids. Thanks for the tip, Mark!

[Source: AdGabber]

Continue reading VIDEO: No [BLEEP]! That's a [BLEEP] Saturn?

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

More info on NBC's plans for Top Gear USA

We reported yesterday that both NBC's Fall 2008 and Summer 2009 lineups will not include the U.S. version of Top Gear, but that doesn't mean the peacock network isn't keeping the show as a feather in its multicolor plume. There's a section on NBC's website for primetime shows being developed for the 2008-2009 season, and one page is devoted to Top Gear USA. We found its description intriguing. The show is described as three friends performing outrageous challenges and stunts through the "crazy transformations" they make to their cars. Sure, that's one aspect of the show that Clarkson, Mays and Hammond built, but what about the new car reviews that are hilarious, real and informative, as well as featuring the best cinematography on television anywhere in the world? Also, we find it funny that the U.S. cast of hosts, whoever they may be, are described as being "friends". The British hosts are of course BFF, having done the show together for years now, but we doubt the American hosts will have the same rapport right out of the gate. Regardless, if a U.S. version of Top Gear does happen, it won't air anytime soon. Thanks for the tip, Joe!

UPDATE: Here's a great roundup of all the Top Gear USA news to date from Alex Roy.

[Source: NBC]

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Rare 1957 Chrysler Diablo Concept up for auction

Filed under: Time Warp, Convertibles, Auction Action, Chrysler, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above for high-res gallery of the 1957 Chrysler Diablo Concept

When we think of the words 'Chrysler' and 'Diablo' together, memories come to mind of a time when the American automaker owned Lamborghini and unveiled a successor to the iconic Countach model. But that's not what this is. The Chrysler Diablo Concept actually dates back to 1957 when it was the star of the U.S. auto show circuit. Most of the Autoblog staff wasn't alive back then, but they tell us it was like when the Dodge Viper Concept first debuted in 1989. The car was originally conceived by Chrysler's renowned design head, Virgil Exner, and is an example of aerodynamic design study in the '50s. It's said that the car's shape was inspired by watching ink blots blown by 200 mph winds across the surface of plastic models, which we don't really see in the svelte shape but we'll take their word for it. The 22-foot-long car is built on a shortened 1955 Chrysler 300 series chassis and features a soft convertible top that was added by the Italian styling firm Ghia, who tweaked the car's design by reworking the fins and painting it red (it was originally black) before the car debuted on the 1957 U.S. auto show circuit. The Diablo reportedly cost Chrysler over $250,000 to develop, and we imagine that it will sell for a lot more when it goes up for auction at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the RM Auctions' Sports & Classics of Monterey event. Check out some gorgeous high-res photogrophy of the Chrysler Diablo Concept in the gallery below because, like us, that's probably as close as you'll ever get to it.


[Source: RM Auctions]

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

In the bag: CAW reaches deal with Big 3 four months early

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, GM, UAW/Unions, Canada

Shortly after reaching an agreement with Ford, the Canadian Auto Workers union announced the rather surprising news that it had reached tentative agreements with both General Motors and Chrysler. These deals come about four months before the deadline for a deal was to be hit and stand in stark contrast to the protracted negotiations that recently took place between the Big Three and the CAW's American counterpart, the UAW. Under the new deal, GM promises to keep its Oshawa, Ontario plant open until 2012 and offers buyouts worth up to $125,000 to workers at the Windsor transmission plant, which will soon be shut down. Chrysler, for its part, agreed to continue producing minivans at its Windsor assembly site, continue producing the 300C in Brampton, Ontario and keep its Toronto casting plant open until 2011.

CAW President Buzz Hargrove calls the tentative deals "a win-win" for both the union workers and the automakers. Union workers in Canada will get the chance to vote on the contracts later this month. A GM vote is planned for Friday, May 16. Chrysler's contract vote will follow on Saturday, May 17.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Next Audi A6 to feature new lightweight construction inspired by TT

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Audi

A new Audi A6 is expected to hit showrooms in 2010, and aside from an A4/A5-inspired facelift, the automaker's new 5-series competitor will be underpinned by an evolution of the chassis technology originally developed for the Audi TT. According to Car, the next iteration of Audi's Aluminum and Steel Spaceframe (ASF II) technology will be utilized on all future models, and uses half the steel of the outgoing platforms while providing 50-percent more torsional rigidity. The passenger cell will be made up entirely of aluminum, with steel and foam reinforcements if needed, and the front and rear subframes will be beefed up units integrated into the structures of the nose and tail. The ASF II system will finds its way into other vehicles, including Audi's CUVs, where it has the potential to shave off over 650 pounds from the Q7's curb weight.

Naturally, Audi will continue to offer front- and all-wheel-drive on the next A6, but the combination of more potent mills mounted further back into the engine bay will lessen its rival's lead in the handling department. Car's sources suggest that a variety of V6 engines, ranging from 2.8- to 3.2-liters will be offered, along with a pair of diesels, the 4.2-liter FSI V8 found in the RS4/R8, the 5.2-liter V10 (S6) and a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V10 for the RS6.

[Source: Car]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Geo Metros going for big money on high gas prices

Filed under: Time Warp, Auction Action, Green, Hatchbacks, Ford

We got a tip yesterday that Geo Metros were being auctioned on eBay Motors for prices above what the tiny cars cost new. This auction for a 1993 Geo Metro XFI with just 22,501 miles ended yesterday with a winning bid of $7,200! Why has the resale value of the Metro and other tiny econocrap cars gone through the roof? The simple answer: gas prices. Vehicles like the Metro, the Suzuki Swift on which it's based, Ford Aspire and Festiva, and Hyundai Excel were around before federal safety regulations and public pressure demanded that every car survive an impact from any angle with five stars. That kind of safety adds weight, and modern econocars are therefore much heavier and therefore less fuel efficient than they were in the early '90s.

The aforementioned Metro XFI is powered by an anemic 1.0L three-cylinder engine producing just 49 hp, but it returns between 55 and 60 mpg. Cars like this defined the phrase 'fuel-sipping' and made passing on the highway a strategic maneuver involving lots of planning. But the XFI is now apparently the holy grail for used car shoppers willing to sacrifice modern amenities and a bit of safety to save a buck on fuel. The trick is finding an example with low miles that hasn't rusted to pieces or been abused by an angry teenager who wanted a Mustang instead. If you do find one, you'll have what automakers are now just unable to offer: a cheap small car that doesn't use expensive technology to achieve incredible fuel economy. But you better willing to pay for it. Thanks for the tip, Lynn!

[Source: eBay Motors, U.S. News]

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Get in, sit down and shut up! Chrysler confirms drag package for Challenger

Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Coupes, Dodge, Special/Limited Editions

Dodge Challenger Super Stock shown from 2006 SEMA Show

Fans of going as fast as possible in a straight line, which includes some of us at Autoblog, have reason to rejoice. Chrysler has officially announced that the drag package for its upcoming Challenger, initially shown at SEMA in late 2006, will be released on an unsuspecting public. Previous rumors have the drag pack getting hi-po versions of the 5.9-liter Magnum and Hemi V8's, while jettisoning around eight-hundred pounds of dead weight unnecessary for mass-acceleration. The National Hot Rod Association is said to be going through the package as we speak in order to certify it for racing duty. After all of the necessary paperwork is complete, the Challenger is expected to race in the Stock Eliminator class. According to Chrysler spokeswoman Patricia Georgevich, Chrysler is looking at a possible introduction in July.

[Source: Inside Line]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Rumormill: Nissan's new RWD sports coupe could be hybrid-powered

Filed under: Coupes, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Nissan, Rumormill

We've been obsessively following the developments surrounding Nissan's rumored re-entry into the compact, RWD market, and up until now, it's been assumed that a small-displacement engine would be mounted up front, possibly fitted with a turbocharger. But according to a report by Drive.com.au, Nissan is actively considering a hybrid drivetrain to power its Silvia replacement.

The Aussie automotive news outlet spoke with Junichi Endo, Nissan's senior vice president of global marketing, who said that the automaker is trying to strike a balance between "fuel economy and driving pleasure," and that a hybrid-powered sports car has a "50-50" shot at production. However, the fate of such a vehicle hinges on the hybrid sports coupe's marketability.

While the idea certainly isn't original - Toyota is considering a gasoline-electric hybrid sports car inspired by the FT-HS concept and Honda has confirmed that the hybrid CR-Z is on its way - the move by Nissan would be a significant departure for an automaker that's kept hybrids and hybrid development at arms length, save the Altima hybrid. Additionally, Nissan maintains that if such a vehicle gains the affection of consumers, an all-electric sports car is the next logical step.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

VIDEO: More turbine excellence -- this time, it's a Z car

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Etc., Videos, Nissan

Follow the jump for video of the 280Z Turbine

This video was uploaded to YouTube in 2006, so yes, we know it's old. Make a snide "SLOW NEWS DAY? THIS IS OLD!" comment at your own risk. As for us, we saw it for the first time Tuesday night as a "related video" on the Turbine Porsche 928 clip. Chances are, this'll be a first viewing for a good number of you, too. You're in for a treat, because not only do you get the full 280ZX Turbine aural extravaganza, you get a nicely-edited video with desert road fly-bys and a sweet interior shot of the instrumentation while underway. We're starting to think that our lives are incomplete without a turbine car in the Autoblog permanent garage. We nominate Neff's Alero for a transplant. The video's embedded after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: More turbine excellence -- this time, it's a Z car

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

First Drive: 2009 Ford Escapes, more of almost everything

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford, Driving

Click on the 2009 Ford Escape for a high res gallery

The 2008 redesign of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner wasn't the clean-sheet redesign Ford would like people to believe. In fact, only the parts visible to the naked eye were "all new." Aside from the body and interior, the working bits that make the badge-engineered duo go were almost entirely carried over from the 2007 models. Fortunately for Ford, that oversight didn't seem to hurt sales, which increased by about ten-percent over their predecessors in a market that's down overall. For 2009, all the hardware under the skin has been either replaced or significantly refreshed. And that's a good thing.

The old 2.3-liter four-pot has been superseded by a 2.5-liter unit, while the classic 3.0-liter Duratec V6 gets a major overhaul. Both engines receive a substantial boost in power and an all new six-speed gearbox to transmit it to the wheels. The driver's working environment also becomes a more pleasant place thanks to structural improvements to the body and Ford's next-generation navigation system with Sirius Travel Link. We got a chance to play with all of the 2009 Escape variants on a rainy spring morning, so read on after the jump for our impressions.


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Ford Escapes, more of almost everything

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

5.4L V8 power ratings revealed for 2009 Ford F-150

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

The new 2009 Ford F-150 will get an updated version of its venerable 5.4L V8, and thanks to a sneaky dealer with a camera phone, we have some details on exactly what the updates will be. A new process of fuel injection called 'open valve technology' will give the 5.4L V8 a bump in horsepower from 300 to 320 and increase torque from 365 pound-feet to 390. The technology does exactly what it says: injects fuel into the cylinders while the intakes valves are open (normally they're closed). In addition to the updated 5.4L V8, we also expect some Eco-boost powerplants to drop in the F-150 soon, though whether or not they debut with the new 2009 model isn't known.


[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---