Autoblog: News Thread

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: 2000 Cobra Mustang R, #186 of 300

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Auction Action, Ford

click above image to view gallery

We often point out the extremely odd vehicles that end up for sale on eBay Motors, but every once in a while a true gem pops up that's worthy of note just to ensure it winds up in the hands of the truly deserved. Such is the case with item #180182185046, a 2000 Ford Mustang Cobra R. This particular example is #186 of only 300 made and has only 4,257 miles under its belt. For those who don't remember the Cobra R pedigree, it was the apex of SVT engineering at the turn of the millennium, powered by a naturally-aspirated 5.4L V8 producing 385 horsepower. Make no mistake, the 2000 Cobra R was a track special model with no radio, A/C, heating or even a back seat. While more powerful Mustangs have come and gone since the 2000 Cobra R, it is arguably one of the best handling 'Stangs ever thanks to the attention paid to weight reduction and its competition-oriented chassis tuning. The car is easily identifiable by its deep chin spoiler and large fixed rear wing, though the only time we've ever come across one is in a video game. The bidding for this mint Mustang ends on November 26th, but currently stands at only 11 bids with an offer of $35,100 leading the pack and the reserve not yet met.

Thanks to all who tipped on this!

[Source: eBay Motors]

Gallery: 2008 Ford Mustang Cobra R


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Bimota releases the new DB7, awesomeness ensues

Filed under: Euro, Motorcycles

Love the idea of an Italian twin but worried you'll see yourself coming and going a little too often? Consider the Bimota DB7, which uses Ducati's 1098 Testastretta Evoluzione engine. The price (if you need to ask...) will likely keep this one from getting into the hands of your riding buddies, so you'll be sure to have the only one at your local hangout; and you'll be the envy of everyone else in attendance.
The chassis is a mix of tubes and machined plates, as is the swingarm. Both are beautiful to behold, as is the bodywork - made up of structural carbon fiber, eliminating the need for separate subframes front and rear. The end result is an extremely lightweight bike at just 375 pounds. Rounding out the package are fully adjustable Marzocchi Corse forks, an advanced Extreme Tech rear shock, forged alloy wheels and radially mounted Brembo brakes. This truly is a beautiful bike, and the price will surely reflect the design and engineering that went into its development. Unfortunately... we're not worthy!
[Source: Bimota]
Gallery: Bimota DB7



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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Spy Shots: 2009 Mercedes CLC Sport Coupe

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Mercedes Benz
New spy shots have emerged of Mercedes' little C-Class 2-door, the newly renamed CLC Sport Coupe according to WorldCarFans. The front looks to get the same face as the new C-Class, but otherwise doesn't appear to bring anything especially exciting to the party. The interior is the same one that's been doing duty for years now, and the car is expected to use innards from the previous C just to keep the price down. We can expect new engines, including a fairly powerful V6 that should get this hatchback up and going with gusto.

We think Mercedes-Benz is missing a big opportunity to take on the BMW 1-Series in the very entry-level luxury sports car class that's just starting to get interesting. Clearly, however, a game of one-on-one with BMW in this segment isn't of interest to the Benz boys and girls, as the investment is this new CLC Sport Coupe appears to be minimal.

[Source: WorldCarFans]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Toyota exec calls Hyundai "strong enemy"

Filed under: Hyundai, Toyota
You know you've arrived when your competitors not only begin acknowledging that you exist, but actually see you as a threat. Hyundai got to enjoy this distinct pleasure today when Toyota's chairman Fujio Cho told a group of Korean journalists that it was a "strong enemy". Not only has Hyundai completely transformed its image in North America from a slinger of bargain basement econo-boxes to a respected purveyor of reasonably priced, well built automobiles, but it's also going after emerging markets like China, Africa and the Middle East as hard as anyone else. Plus, Toyota has directly felt the sting of Hyundai's success, having been forced to rub elbows with the brand at the top of many recent J.D. Power and Associates reports. Still, calling Hyundai a 'strong enemy' is a bit harsh, no? How about "worthy adversary" or "respected competitor"? Toyota really drives home the point that the business of selling cars is like war and that no 'enemy' should be underestimated.

Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

[Source: TradingMarkets.com]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Eco tires: good for the environment, bad for safety?

Filed under: Tech
Continental Tire's head of development, Burkhard Wies, has issued a warning to us all against so-called "eco tires." Europe is considering labeling tires with eco ratings if they have certain attributes like especially low rolling resistance or create minimal noise pollution. But Wies says that tires purposely designed for "extremely low rolling resistance and high mileage are 10-percent worse at wet braking than those with good all-round properties." In one example, the eco friendly tires increased braking distance by more than 24 feet.

The quandary being presented for motorists is that eco tires give them the chance to save the environment and save money with incentives offered for fitting a car with such tires, but perhaps at the cost of personal safety. It's early in the days of eco tires, so there is a great deal more study, work, and refining to be done. And we will have to see what Continental comes out with, since its rival Michelin already has an eco tire (shown) that comes as standard equipment on the Peugeot 308.

[Source: Auto Express]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: VW & DaimlerChrysler put out more CO2 than last year... kind of

Filed under: Euro, Government/Legal, Green
In 1998, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association said that in ten years it wanted cars to put out 140g of CO2 per kilometer. According to the latest report from Transport & Environment, a "green pressure group" according to the BBC, only two makers are close to that, and two out of three German car makers have raised their fleet CO2 levels since 1998.

Along with Suzuki, VW and DaimlerChrysler were the only two automakers in the survey not to have lowered their fleet CO2 levels. BMW lowered its CO2 emissions by 2.5-percent to 184 g(CO2)/km, but VW's increased by .9-percent and DaimlerChrysler's rose by 2.80-percent. Yet even though VW increased its emissions, it is still the best performing German manufacturer, with a fleet average of just 166 g(CO2)/km.

PSA/Citroen is the closest to the target, with a CO2 rating of 142 g/km, followed by Fiat at 144 g/km. For the full report and methodology, click here. And for those of you interested, GM and Ford fall in line just behind Honda, and before VW.

Thanks for the tip, John P!

[Source: BBC.com]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Totally Meta: 2008 Barrett-Jackson Shelby GT unveiled

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertibles, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Ford, Shelby

Click image to enlarge

It has come to this. A special edition of a special edition, named for the made-for-TV cash tsunami at which many of the first editions of the aforementioned special editions are auctioned off at eye-watering prices. It is the (we are not making any of this up, by the way) Barrett-Jackson Shelby GT. There will be 100 of them in total (coupes and convertibles), they will be black with (again, not making it up) "Barrett-Jackson Red" stripes, Barrett-Jackson sill plates, all the expected Shelby badging, and they'll start at a smidge under $39K, $250 of which goes to the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation. Ironically, the first one of these will not be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson. The B-J/GT is an Arizona-region Ford dealer exclusive, and it officially went on sale today. In addition to the car itself, buyers get an autographed family photo featuring Carroll Shelby and Amy Boylan from the Shelby Autos side, and Greg Jackson and Steve Davis from the B-J side. In a glaring omission, Ford mullet hero and perennial Barrett-Jackson special guest star, Mark Fields, is somehow not included in the photo. What a jip.

[Source: Ford/Shelby/Barrett-Jackson]Continue reading Totally Meta: 2008 Barrett-Jackson Shelby GT unveiled

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Delhi Meet: 2010 Indian GP confirmed

Filed under: Motorsports
Formula One has been on the rise in India. First came Narain Karthikeyan, the first Indian F1 driver. Then came the purchase and transformation of Spyker F1 into the Force India team, followed by a second Indian driver, Karun Chandhok, emerging onto the F1 scene. Now comes the official confirmation that India will host its own grand prix starting in 2010.

The track will be constructed 50 km east of the capital New Delhi by JPSK Sports Private Ltd, a division of Indian development company JP Associates. The confirmation comes from the office of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who struck the deal with JP Associates, who together hope to develop F1 as a rival to cricket's standing as the most popular sport in the world's second most populous country.

[Source: itv-F1]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: VIDEO: twin-turbo Ford GT tops 222 mph in the standing mile

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Videos, Supercars, Ford

Click the image to view the embedded video
Anything that can top out above 200 mph is a pretty fast car, but one that can do it from a standing start within a mile is an insanely fast car. This twin-turbo Ford GT modified by Jason Heffner of Heffner's Performance not only does that, but exceeds 222 mph at the one-mile mark. This thankfully wasn't done on public roads, but at the Goliad Industrial Air Park during the bi-annual Texas Mile event.
The driver makes a total of four runs, starting with a 215-mph pass followed up by a 222.2-mph run. The third attempt doesn't go so well as the tires are overwhelmed by the car's torque and it goes off course into the dirt, but the fourth run is a success, and the 222 mph mark is reached again. Follow the jump to see this display of massive horsepower run amok.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading VIDEO: twin-turbo Ford GT tops 222 mph in the standing mile

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Burning rubber has become an art form

Filed under: Etc., Lifestyle


So there's handwriting, skywriting, writing on the wall and writing your name in the snow. Now there's rubber writing -- otherwise known as "skid art" -- which you do with your car and a rapidly spinning set of rear wheels. The video game Project Gotham Racing 4 apparently has an area or level where you can practice your tarmac penmanship, unbeknownst to us.

As you can see in the example above from Auto Express, we don't think it will replace Krylon aerosols any time soon, as efforts appear to be written in the hand of a monstrous 6-year-old. It also lends itself to simpler letters -- you won't be laying down Dante any time soon. And painting a canvas in anything other than black is out of the question for a while. But if you've got some rear-wheel HP lying around, and you really want to get a message across, well, it could be just the thing.

[Source: Auto Express]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Happy Turkey Day from Autoblog

What are we thankful for? The fact we get to write about our favorite subject - cars - and there are people like you who are willing to read. For that, we hope today finds you feasting on that wonderful semi-flightless bird that goes so well with stuffing and those cheesy green beans your mom makes every year. We'll be putting our keyboards down long enough to do the same, but don't expect the flow of posts on Autoblog to stop over this Thanksgiving Weekend. Check back here for some post-gorging auto news throughout the holiday weekend and we'll do our best to make it worth your while. And so, we wish you all a happy T-Day from your friendly neighborhood Autoblog.
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: AutoblogGreen for 11.22.07

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

On the day (or the day after) when millions of Americans travel to visit family, what do we say to the ethanol trade group that claims their biofuel saves us money while we do this? Skepticism, that's what. Another item we view askance is the Green Team's seriously NSFW video. For the rest of the day, we'll talk turkey. Happy Thanksgiving, if that's your thing.

• Big jump in the cost of Thanksgiving travel, ethanol trade group claims to help
• Oh, if only we had those nifty, thrifty European favorites here. Wait....
• Fred Thompson: there are no hybrids in NASCAR
• Daimler is the "most successful participant" in Shanghai Bibendum
• Montana ZENN dealer Eco Auto talks to Electric Cars Are For Girls
• Four-door Zap Xebra approved for UK roads
• Where the US Farm Bill stands as Americans get ready to celebrate harvest fest/Thanksgiving
• Porshce's lightweight technology eyed by VW and Audi
• Interview with author of OECD's "Biofuels: Is the cure worse than the disease?" report
• Fuel makers in Spain call for flexible biofuel blends
• Video: Green Team beats up hybrid driver (NSFW)
• Astucia's SolarLite "road studs" offer 10x road visibility through solar power
• See John Kanzius combust salt water
• Volkswagen improves the Touareg TDI
• Cool videos: BAE's electric tank, MIT's stackable car
• Tata claims $2,500 car will be the cleanest in India

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Saab Aero X designer honored

Filed under: Etc., Euro, GM, Saab, Opel
For a car designer, being honored by ELLE magazine might not be something you rush to append to your Curriculum Vitae. On the other hand, good design is good design, and the difference between the design cognoscenti and lay people is largely an ability to verbalize the pleasing elements of a form. Most people unschooled in the history and theory of design merely say "it's nice, I like it," or the oft-uttered phrase around Autoblog HQ - "that's hot."

GM Europe's Anthony Lo has been bestowed the honor of "Asian Designer of the Year" at the 2007 ELLE Magazine Style Awards. Lo has headed up GM Europe's Advanced Design division since 2004 after holding Advanced Design positions at Saab and Mercedes Benz. Lo's work on the Saab Aero X concept won him the award from ELLE. Lo has also presided over the designs of recent concepts such as the Opel Flextreme and GTC. So we guess if you love/hate the 9-5's chrome-bespectaled beak, he's the man to thank/blame. The Aero X is one fine piece of work, though, so we'll just stare at that and chase away any thoughts of the 9-5, or better yet, the Caddy BLS.

Press release after the jump.

[Source: GM via The Car Blog]Continue reading Saab Aero X designer honored

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Autoblog Podcast #81

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Podcasts, SEMA, Coupes, Hybrids/Alternative, Trucks/Pickups, Green, Tokyo Motor Show, Ford, GM, Honda, Pontiac, Toyota

Now here's something worth giving thanks over. The podcast makes its return in time for you to load it on your iPod for the drive over the river and through the woods. We've been away at shows, so of course we do some recapping of whatever highlights struck our fancy at Tokyo, SEMA, and LA. We start Autoblog Podcast episode #81 by discussing pickups, though. New spy shots of the 2009 F150 have surfaced and that pushes us into a wider ranging discussion about pickemups. From there, we try to send GM the message that messing with the nose of the Solstice is a bad idea, and the very last car they should be worrying about, anyway. No current Pontiac discussion would be complete without mention of the G8, so we make sure to pontificate about that for a while, too. John, Damon, and Alex take a little time out to gloat over discuss what's currently in the Autoblog Garage, touch on the fact that the Scirocco's not coming stateside, and partake in a scorching GM vs. Honda/Toyota green car debate. It's all over in 52 minutes, thanks for waiting so long, we'll do it again soon!

SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
LISTEN to the show now
ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Crazy eights! MTM builds an 888-hp Audi R8

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupes, Supercars, Audi

The Audi R8 is apparently a tempting platform for tuners. We've seen sketches of the Abt Audi R8, we spotted the APR Audi R8 at the 2007 SEMA Show, and we recently took a look at the carbon fiberized PPI Audi R8.
MTM, those crazy Germans who built the twin-engine, 740-hp Audi TT Bimoto, brought their own version of the R8 to the Dubai Motor Show. Although visually subtle, a turbocharger system has been added to the 4.2-liter V8 for a total of 888 bhp and 610 lb-ft torque. 0-60 mph can be achieved in 3.0 seconds flat, and top speed is limited to 223 mph. MTM built the car, fittingly named the R888, as a one-off for a European customer, but they will gladly build more of them for a mere &euro;280,000 each.
[Source: Autoblog.nl]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Lightest Lotus yet: Hot Wheels Lotus concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc., Lotus

Click the image above for a gallery of high-res pics.

With Black Friday a day away and the holiday shopping season about to go full bore, Lotus let loose a bevy of images that are making us revert back to our pre-teen days. The Lotus Hot Wheels concept that originally debuted at SEMA was one of our favorite in the group and the 1:5 scale model, created to celebrate Hot Wheels' 40th anniversary, will likely foretell the future styling direction of our favorite British sports car manufacturer.

The team that's currently working on Project Eagle had their hands in developing the concept, and although the model has a distinctly Elise/Exige feel to it, there are several elements, particularly the exposed center spine, Coke-bottle haunches, air intakes and rear diffuser, that give us hope for Lotus' future.

You can get all the details in the press release after the jump, check the gallery below for a series of detailed pics and buy your own when it goes on sale in the spring of next year.

[Source: Lotus]

Gallery: Lotus Hot Wheels Concept

Continue reading Lightest Lotus yet: Hot Wheels Lotus concept

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Volkswagen to Proton: I'm just not that into you!

Filed under: Etc., Volkswagen

After several months of discussions with the Malaysian government about working with Proton, Volkswagen has decided to call it quits. The Malaysian government is the largest shareholder in the local company that also owns Lotus. Lotus has been doing fairly well of late thanks to their continuing engineering work for many of the worlds automakers, and the ongoing success of the Elise lineup. Proton however has been struggling and was seeking a more well heeled partner to work with. For the foreseeable future Volkswagen appears to be out the picture.

[Source: Volkswagen]Continue reading Volkswagen to Proton: I'm just not that into you!

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: In depth: Acura's 2.3L turbocharged I-4 engine

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Tech, Acura
When Acura designed the RDX, they wanted to give it a lightweight mill that was powerful enough to compete in a class rife with six-cylinder power. A V6 would provide the desired output, but it would add too much mass over the front axle, so instead, Acura decided to slap a turbo onto a four-cylinder and boost output accordingly. Honda, Acura's parent company, has developed some of the best performing four bangers in terms of horsepower-per-liter, so the engineers had a lot of innovation at their fingertips. The package put together for the RDX is a 2.3-liter inline-four, complete with Honda's i-VTEC variable valve timing and creating 240 hp at 6000 rpms and 260 ft-lbs of torque at 4500 rpm. Thanks to the addition of the turbocharger, it makes more torque than any other engine in Acura's lineup -- not a huge feat considering that most of Honda/Acura engines are devoid of any low-end grunt. The engine also features some economical innovations to keep the RDX's price tag from skyrocketing, so when we found this engine on display at the Acura booth at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, we thought a closer look was in order. Follow the jump for an in-depth view with pictures from the display engine and Acura's own renderings.

Gallery: Acura's 2.3L Turbocharged i-VTEC Engine

Continue reading In depth: Acura's 2.3L turbocharged I-4 engine

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Canadian union calls Chrysler's actions "stupid"

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, UAW/Unions
Buzz Hargrove isn't mincing words about his opinion of Chrysler LLC's strategy. Calling the decision to send the Magnum and Pacifica models out to pasture and cut shifts and jobs at the Brampton, Ontario plant "stupid," Hargrove has said the Canadian Auto Workers aren't interested in the type of concessions the UAW recently agreed to. While the UAW is allowing new hires to be given a lower pay level, as well as taking on a health care trust fund, the CAW will be having none of that, according to Hargrove.

Cuts were expected, but Chrysler's recent scaling back is more than necessary, according to Hargrove, who counters that what the company's really trying to do is reduce supply in order to drive up demand and keep prices higher. It sounds like a good way to make the automaker profitable, thinning the lineup and trimming overproduction. The problem, according to The Buzz, is that Chrysler's plan is anathema to the long union tradition of providing jobs that pay well enough to allow a solid middle class life for autoworkers. With the pay cuts, Hargrove says that autoworkers will no longer be able to afford to buy the cars they build. The recent fall of the dollar isn't helping matters, and will likely give Chrysler another point to argue when asking for concessions. The Canadian Auto Workers will begin duking it out with Detroit in July, so expect the rhetoric to become even more heated in the months to come.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Montoya of the Year

Filed under: Motorsports
Those who have followed the post-Talladega Nights stream of Formula One refugees fleeing to NASCAR will be happy to learn that former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has been awarded Rookie of the Year in the Nextel Cup.
The announcement of Montoya's citation comes right after the series' season closer at Homestead, where Jimmie Johnson took the title after a hot season-long showdown with teammate and title rival Jeff Gordon.
Montoya becomes the fourth Rookie of the Year for Texaco/Havoline Racing, who, in their 21 years in NASCAR have also sponsored star newcomers Davey Allison (who got the award in 1987), Kenny Irwin, Jr. (1998) and Jamie McMurray (2003). Montoya's award also calls to memory the Rookie of the Year award which fellow former F1 driver Robert Doornbos took this year in Champ Cars with Team Minardi USA, which likewise crossed the ocean to oval tracks for this past season. They're coming for you, Ricky Bobby.
Press release after the jump.
[Source: Chip Ganassi Racing]
Continue reading Montoya of the Year

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