Autoblog: News Thread

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Auto Art: little cars meet their little ends at little trees

Filed under: Etc., Toys, Lifestyle


So we've told you about slow motion car crashes, a Warhol painting of pictures of a car crash that sold for $71 million, and of course there's always Lindsay Lohan creating her own life-sized crash-themed art. Now we present John Rooney, a Boston artist who creates set pieces of small, intricately detailed cars that have met their ends at the trunks of Bonsai trees.

It's called Crash Bonsai (or "art," take your pick), and Rooney doesn't spare any time in their creation. The cars aren't simply hurtled into Bonsais -- oh no -- "each model is unique, and individually disassembled, cut, melted, filed, smash, then reassembled to replicate a real fender bender." What's also cool is their versatility, as the little vehicles also "look great on coffee tables, kitchen counters, smashing into lamps and toasters." (However, as a Bostonite, Rooney should know what a "fender bender" is... and he should know a car plowing into a tree doesn't really qualify.)

There's a variety of cars to choose from, from a 1940 BMW 328 to a PT Cruiser, or you can commission your own. Prices start at $50 (minus the Bonsai or other immovable object of your choice). As much as we want to raise our eyebrows, we have to admit that it's... kinda like watching... a car crash... and we just can't turn away. Remember when they used to show these kinds of things in driver's ed videos as something you wanted to avoid? Yeah. Now it's merchandise. Vive la revolucion.

[Source: Winding Road]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: GM exceeds Malibu sales expections in the first month by, oh, 2,500 cars

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedans/Saloons, Chevrolet, GM

GM spent $150 million on the ad campaign for the new Malibu. Intriguingly, though -- and after all the work that went into the car, all the hype, all the ads (we dig the one with the jogger running into the car, even though it's not a new Malibu), and all the great reviews -- GM only expected to sell 500 of them in November, the car's first full retail month. That's right: GM sent 3,500 of them to dealers. And they only expected 500 of them to get off the lot, down the road burning gas.
Well, as George W. Bush said, GM "misunderestimated." GM's on track to sell nearly the entire allotment, with 3,000 cars looking to be on the move. Lutz said dealers don't have any because they keep selling out of them. The same phenomenon is being reported for the Buick Enclave. which is not only exceeding sales expectations, but swiping the expected younger buyers from the Saturn Outlook. Hey Mr. Lutz: that's because the Enclave looks curvy and cool, and the Saturn, uh, doesn't.
In a Wall Street Journal article about the perception gap between American cars and imports, GM chief Rick Wagoner said "Building a better car and assuming people will buy it doesn't work." To you, Mr. Wagoner, we would like to present the Malibu and Enclave as Exhibits A and B, and retort: wanna bet? If they prove to be as reliable as we know you can make them, then you shouldn't have any problem selling them. Now, get us a Camaro that looks like the concept, a CTS Coupe, a hot Solstice coupe, and a Volt by 2010, and you might be able to shift your concerns to building inventory as opposed to moving it.
[Source: Reuters]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: Pimp My Ride AMC Pacer

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Auction Action


It's this kind of thing that makes it hard to keep Thanksgiving dinner down. We aren't frequent viewers of Pimp My Ride, so we really only catch the show's work via the occasional eBay auction. Frankly, in the few cars we've caught we thought we had seen everything. But no. Not in the least. Latest challenger in the Heavyweight Pimp of the World competition is this: a 1976 Pacer X with a starry-orange-fade-to-yellow paint job and yellow and white shag interior.

Channeling the spirit of Austin Powers, but without his superb taste, the transformation includes a custom 8-track player and the requisite multiple LCD screens. The buyer did at least pull the white shag carpeting off the headliner and replaced it with the stock headliner. (But the shag is included if you want to put it back.) Nevertheless, he left the yellow wing on the car. We'd rather not say anything else about the car right now, because we're starting to feel a little nauseous.

Check out more pics and get the complete skinny at eBay. And proving that the spirit of salesmanship never dies, the listing begins with the words, "Here's your chance to own..." A fine chance, indeed.

Thanks for the tip, Peter!

[Source: eBay]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Who's faster? Lamborghini Reventon vs. Tornado jet fighter

Filed under: Ask Autoblog, Sports/GTs, Etc., Euro, Supercars, Lamborghini, Military

Click image for photo gallery

Car vs. jet stunts are kind of ridiculous, but they're entertaining nonetheless. The more exotic the hardware, the better the entertainment, and Lamborghini's Revent&oacute;n is about as exotic as it gets these days. In a made-for-TV showcase (no, we haven't found video yet), a Lambo test driver and an Italian fighter pilot lined up one of the jet-inspired supercars and a Panavia Tornado combat plane on a 3000-meter runway to see which vehicle could accelerate faster. Long story short, while it probably made for great TV, the Lambo lost in the end. Hey, the 650-horsepower Revent&oacute;n may be badder than both John Shaft and Truck Turner combined, but when matched against a fighter jet whose twin Turbo-Union RB199 engines combine to make 39,332 horsepower at sea level, it's bound to come up a little shy. We'd take one, anyway.

[Source: Lamborghini]

Gallery: Lamborghini Reventon vs. Panavia Tornado

Continue reading Who's faster? Lamborghini Reventon vs. Tornado jet fighter

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: How much of a market is there for $1 Million+ supercars?

Filed under: Car Buying, Supercars, Bugatti


Even with more billionaires around then ever, there still appears to be a very limited demand for cars priced upwards of $1 million. The almighty McLaren F1 was originally planned for a run of 300 cars, but production ultimately ceased after only about 100, including more than two dozen racing models. The current high-dollar, high-speed champion Bugatti Veyron seems to be having a similarly hard time finding the necessarily well-heeled customers it needs. Although only 300 units are slated for production, so far, less than half that many have found committed purchasers. Given the limitations of driving on public roads, is it necessary for that many examples to be built? People who want to cover long distances at a high rate of speed are more likely to have a plane, and we're sure they've got the cash to have it fueled up and ready on a moments notice. Others who want to actually experience that kind of speed on a closed course would probably be just as satisfied with something more track-friendly. The Veyron is perhaps the ultimate answer to a question only a few have asked.

[Source: International Herald Tribune]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Two bidders left for Jag and Land Rover, and unions support India's Tata

Filed under: Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, UK

Folks might have snickered and sneered before -- and still might be -- but India's Tata appears to be in the catbird seat for the chance to gobble up Jaguar and Land Rover. After the other Indian bidder, Mahindra & Mahindra, dropped out because of a questions over the Ford parts supply, the two bidders left are Tata and One Equity Partners. Tata is being advised by Fiat in the bid, and One Equity is the private investment firm whose bid is led by former Ford exec Jac Nasser.
The British trade union Unite, which represents workers from both brands, met with the bidders and -- while it still opposes the sale entirely -- declared that "based on serving the best interests of the union members at Jaguar-Land Rover, the stewards agreed that Tata best fits these criteria." Tata has apparently agreed to keeping top management in place, as well as keeping jobs in England.
The position, while at one time surprising, makes sense. Tata is looking for European expertise and development, and the kind of knowledge that Nasser surely believes he already has. The unions, though, also said that Tata had a better cash and resource position in their opinion than did One Equity. That could be very important, if true, because Ford will have no part of the companies after they are sold, so whoever buys will need to be able to pay for or develop new parts. The question now is: if it comes down to a choice, does Ford do what's best for Jag and Rover, or what's best for Ford?
[Source: Auto Industry UK]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: Tim Allen's 2006 Corvette Z06

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Auction Action, Chevrolet, Celebrities


Tim Allen appears to be thinning the herd a little as far as his personal auto fleet's concerned. As a result, you now have the opportunity to own a lightly-used 2006 Corvette Z06 with a legit celebrity connection for what amounts to fair market value. The car's basically stock save for its powder-coated wheels and has a "Buy It Now" option set at $60K. More interesting than the Z06, however, are some of the other cars in Tim's garage, as you can see above. The old Bronco's cool for sure. Ditto the Road Runner and the matte black Nova next to it. In one of the shots, it looks like he's got a GT350H in his stash, along with a couple of Ferraris of diverse vintage, too. But the one that's got us really interested is that white RS200. That'd make in-person pickup of the Vette (or the A8 W12 Tim's also selling) a must if we were the auction winners. Heck, we'd pay a little extra on the Vette just for a ride in the super-rare Ford.

Thanks for the tip, Ryan!

[Source: eBay via Celebrity Cars Blog]

Gallery: Tim Allen's 2006 Corvette Z06


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Lamborghini exploring ways to reduce CO2 without sacrificing the sound and

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Euro, Green, Supercars, Lamborghini


Both Ferrari and Lamborghini's CO2 emissions right now exceed 400 g/km. The EU has set a goal of 120 g/km for a carmakers' fleet average by 2012. Last week, Ferrari said it planned to at least get down to 280-300 g/km by 2012, which, while still more than double the target, represents a 30% decrease. It said it would do that by exploring more efficient engines and different body panels to make cars lighter.

Lamborghini's response to the same issue, from CEO Stephan Winkelmann, came to a similar conclusion but in a slightly different way. Winkelmann said that the DNA of the brand -- "the design of the car, the sound of the engine, the top speed and the sprint from zero to 100 kilometers per hour" -- cannot be sacrificed, else they aren't really making supercars any more, which means they're not really making Lamborghinis. And that can't happen.

Also echoing Ferrari, Winkelmann said that Lamborghini owners really only drive their cars on the weekends, and they only sell a handful of them, so "If we look at the real impact, it is close to zero." From the sounds of it, Lamborghini has no intention of messing with the sounds or sizes of its engines, suggesting only (so far) that it will look at using lighter construction techniques, such as more carbon fiber. Take that, EU.

[Source: Motor Authority]

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[Stuart]

Just shows how far Porsche are ahead.
Even the turbo is only just over 300 g/km.

 

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: VIDEO: Maybach 62 S Landaulet

Filed under: Videos, Maybach


The rumors, the announcement, the official photos...none of it was enough to believe a once sensible company like Daimler-Benz could have created something so outrageously, ridiculously impractical as a six-figure, all-white, high-performance, partial-convertible, super-luxury limousine. Seeing it on video doesn't quite make it believable either. (It's kinda like the Moon Landing to conspiracy theorists that way). But short of seeing it up close and in person - which we hope won't be necessary - this is just about as close as we'd want to get. Okay, we believe, we believe. Just make it stop.

[Source: YouTube]Continue reading VIDEO: Maybach 62 S Landaulet

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Haldex developing AWD system for Hyundai

Filed under: Etc., Hyundai


The Swedish engineers at Haldex can finally add an Asian automaker to the ever-expanding list of companies using the firm's all-wheel-drive systems. Haldex currently supplies systems to the entire Volkswagen consortium (from Audi to Bugatti), as well as Land Rover and Volvo. Additionally, the Haldex XWD system that's finding its way into Saabs will likely spread across much of the GM range in the future. That same AWD setup is the basis for a system that will be employed on some Hyundai models in the coming years.

Haldex announced the partnership late last week when it received a prototype order from Hyundai, which includes the development and installation of the fourth generation "Limited Slip Coupling" and electronic LSD. The XWD system has the ability to sense a loss of traction and then distribute power to either the front or rear axle and on to an individual wheel.

There's no word on what vehicle will be used as a drivetrain guinea pig during testing, but the smart money is on some form of SUV or large sedan.

[Source: Trading Markets]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: 0-60 in 2.9 sec: The production 1018-HP CCXR is here

Filed under: Coupes, Etc., Supercars

Click on the image above to see more images of the Koenigsegg CCXR

Koenigsegg has released some full-on shots of the production CCXR -- probably a new one, and not the 1-of-a-kind CCXR crashed by Top Gear. The biofuel-powered car has a twin supercharged 4.8-liter V8, and will put out 1,018-HP at 7,200 RPM, and you'll get 740 lb-ft of torque out of it.

And if you want to break those numbers down, you'll get from the stoplight to 60 in 2.9 seconds, and the good Swedes claim you can take it past 248 MPH. However, in order to make any use of those numbers you need to first get past this one: &euro;1,575,000, plus taxes and fees, to take it home. Check out the gallery of pics below, and check out the full specs on the car after the jump.

[Source: Autoblog NL via Motor Authority]

Gallery: Production Koenigsegg CCXR

Continue reading 0-60 in 2.9 sec: The production 1018-HP CCXR is here

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: AutoblogGreen for 11.26.07

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green


The Smart car made two headlines on AutoblogGreen over the weekend. First with an update on the U.S. launch of the car, which could see a micro-hybrid version arrive here within two years and, second, with news of some all-electric Smart ForTwos that will be tested in London next month. More small car news regarding the 2009 Ford Fiesta/Verve and the Fiat 500. I like thinking small in the U.S. after looking at bellies stuffed big with Thanksgiving meals.

• Micro-hybrid Smart should arrive Stateside in the next two years
• Field testing of electric Smart ForTwo to start in London mid-December
• Popular Fiat 500 not likely to make it to America, Fiat boss says
• Spy Shots: 2009 Ford Fiesta/Verve, the clearest shots yet!
• Magnetic Power Inc.'s GENIE technology is supposed to do eight great things
• VW: if every car was a hybrid, the car industry would go bankrupt
• Subaru's Justy supermini now on sale in the UK
• BMW 123d gets another rave review, and we still can't get it!
• Remembering Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV)

More headlines after the break.

Continue reading AutoblogGreen for 11.26.07

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Diesel claims another category: BMW building a diesel engine for the WTCC

Filed under: Motorsports, BMW


In only its second WTCC race, the diesel-engined Seat Leon TDI came in first -- in front of its gas-powered Leon sibling. The diesel car only entered the series in July, yet it won three races and the driver was in championship contention up until the final race. BMW didn't need any more impetus than that to start planning its own turbocharged diesel engine program for the race series.

Surprisingly, though, BMW's head of motorsport, Mario Thiessen, doesn't think diesel is the way to go, citing the time it takes to really develop an engine and sort it out. But what's really at issue for him is the lack of clear parity in the WTCC, with different chassis, engine sizes and outputs, and now, different fuel types. He would rather see a situation more like Formula 1, with regulations that mandate more equalization.

Nevertheless, BMW has a very highly regarded diesel engine to start with. And if the WTCC engineers have decided to work on a diesel engine in spite of the boss' hesitations, then they'll want to do a very good job of it. We've seen Le Mans conquered by oil burners -- is the WTCC next?

[Source: Auto Racing Daily]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Land Rover Defender 110 SVX earmarked for Australia

Filed under: SUVs, Land Rover, Australia

Click image to enlarge

So, that UK-only Land Rover Defender SVX? Turns out it's not UK-only. Well, the Defender 90 version is, but Blighty is not the only market getting an SVX to celebrate LR's 60th borthday. The Australians will blow out the candles with the Defender 110 SVX. The longer-wheelbase Outback stormer gets the same visual treatment as its shorter Brit-market brother, meaning a new grille surround, upgraded lighting, the spiffy five-spoke wheels, and a Recaro-adorned upgraded interior, among other things. 36 copies of the dressed-up yet rough-and-tumble Defender 110 SVX will arrive in Land Rover showrooms Down Under next year.

[Source: Land Rover]
Gallery: 2008 Land Rover Defender SVX

Continue reading Land Rover Defender 110 SVX earmarked for Australia

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Volkswagen's plan for expansion includes four all-new architectures

Filed under: Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Volkswagen, SEAT

Volkswagen's plan for the next ten years includes streamlining production, cutting development costs and creating four new platforms so it can boost sales to 10 million units a year and give Toyota a run for its money. Architecture development is key to that strategy.Continue reading Volkswagen's plan for expansion includes four all-new architectures

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: The 15 most expensive cars of 2007; #1 could buy you 5 Veyrons

Filed under: Auction Action


BusinessWeek put together a list of the 15 most expensive cars of 2007, and if you think your car is expensive now, wait until you've owned it for 35 years. The above 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM raced Le Mans in 1962, was crashed there in 1963, and then driven every day as a commuter car in New York City from 1965 to 1974 (back when the city that never sleeps was the city that just didn't give a damn). It surely cost a good looking penny when it was made, but this year it topped the auction sales sheets, going for $9.3 million dollars.

Perhaps it was due to this year being Ferrari's 60th anniversary, or rich folk just decided to put some of the best examples in play: eight of the top fifteen cars on the list are of the marque from Maranello. No other maker had even two cars on the list, although there were three cars that start with "D": Duesenberg, Delage and DeDion. Even the least expensive car on the list would get you a Veyron, a Murcielago, a down payment on a house, a Bentley GT as a winter beater, and an around-the-world vacation by private jet with spending money to spare: a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto that sold for $2.82 million.

[Source: BusinessWeek via Carscoop]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: In the Autoblog Garage: BMW 335i Convertible

Filed under: Garage, Convertibles, BMW

click above image for high-res gallery of the BMW 335i Convertible

Thanksgiving is when I put the snow tires back on the cars. Here in New England, you never know what's going to happen; we've had our first snowfall already. Freezing temperatures also tend to herald the end of convertible season, though there still may be one or two Indian Summer days where dropping the top without freezing your earlobes is possible. Sadly, the BMW 335i convertible left our driveway long before the first frost, leaving us only memories.

The Thanksgiving holiday also heralds the beginning of the special hell that is the holiday shopping season. Don't know what to get that special someone? Drawing a blank when composing your wish list? Pencil this in: BMW 335i Convertible. Done and done.

Gallery: BMW 335i Convertible

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: BMW 335i Convertible

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Ford RS200 caught in the wild, almost

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Ford

Click above for a gallery of high-res images

Only 200 Ford RS200s were produced from 1984 through 1986. That makes them an extremely rare find, though apparently funny man Tim Allen owns one, as seen in pictures of his garage. Ford's only intention with the small number of cars was to meet FIA regulations in order to homologate the model to race Group B rally. The original RS200s were powered by 1.8L turbocharged Cosworth engines. Ford later converted 24 to the Evolution version utilizing 2.1L turbocharged Cosworth engines that accelerated the cars to 60 mph at reported times of 2.1 seconds.

While not quite one of the original 200 RS200s, we spotted a replica recently at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California that got our blood pumping. The owner said that he had a Lotus Europa but desired an RS200, so he shipped the chassis off to a buddy in England who worked with Ford Motorsport. The Europa was converted to RS200 spec using spare parts that Ford Motorsport had maintained and salvaged. The rear was fitted with a 2.0L turbocharged engine from a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. Replica or not, this experience was about as close to an RS200 as we'll ever get.

Gallery: Ford RS200 Replica


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: 2009 Subaru Forester brochure finds way onto web

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossovers/CUVs, Subaru


Remember that unconfirmed sketch of the 2009 Subaru Forester we brought you a couple of weeks ago? It appears those scribblings will be very close to the actual tall wagon/CUV-thingy that Subaru eventually unveils. What appear to be scans of an actual brochure for the redesigned Forester (albeit a JDM version) have popped up on the NASIOC forums, as well as what looks like a scan of a Japanese auto rag cover. Though these scans are extremely tiny, we can make out a grille similar to the Tribeca's flanked by new swoopy headlights that soften up the Forester's famously blunt visage. Will the car completely lose its boxy character in favor of a Matrix/Vibe profile and swept back D-pillar as the sketch suggested? Unfortunately, these scans don't offer much enlightenment and their validity is difficult to confirm. While this scan of the Japanese auto rag's cover does show the whole vehicle, it's almost certainly a rendering and therefore doesn't necessarily show us the final version of Subaru's next Forester. Looks like we'll just have to wait until it pops up on the auto show circuit, though all signs are pointing towards a radical design departure for Subie's little CUV.

[Source: NASIOC via Straightline Blog]
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