Autoblog: News Thread

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: 1998 Bondurant SVT Contour

Filed under: Time Warp, Sedans/Saloons, Auction Action, Ford

click above image for gallery

If by chance I wait too long and there are no cherry 1991 Ford Taurus SHOs around when I'm ready to buy, I hope I can find a mint Ford SVT Contour instead. Of all the SVT Contours on the road, this one is perhaps most special. Only five of these Bondurant SVT Contours were created by ROUSH to be used by the driving school's instructors for ferrying students around the track. The list of upgrades alone is too long to detail here, but the description on the eBay Motors auction page claims that their worth amounts to at least $8,000 in additional parts. Magazines at the time estimated the 2.5L V6 produces around 20 to 30 more horsepower than stock, putting its power figure at around 220 to 230 horsepower. That's SHO territory in a significantly smaller and lighter package. This particular example is in fair condition, though there's a scrape here, a small crack there and the paint and stickers have faded - nothing a body man and a good paint job couldn't fix, though. Jack Roush himself even signed the underside of the hood! Plus, it only has 7,500 miles and appears street legal. Bidding ends on December 3rd, and after 10 bids is up to only $4,050. Should I do it?!?!?!

Thanks for the tip, Resh!

[Source: eBay Motors]

Gallery: 1998 Ford SVT Contour Bondurant


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: On-Ground Ferry saves Russians from the mud

Filed under: Etc.


There are some parts of the world where asphalt, whether ribbon smooth or marred by potholes, is not a given. In Russia, for example, some roads pass right through swamps of squishy mud that normal vehicles would drown in before they got too far. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say, and some Russians have created an ingenious though not entirely elegant solution for traversing these mud pits. Called an On-Ground Ferry, these large 4x4 trucks towing a flat bed trailer can ferry lesser vehicles across these muddy impasses. The ferried vehicles never have to touch tire to terra firma. From the pics over at English Russia, however, it appears that these "roads" can sometimes be too much for even the On-Ground Ferry to handle, which begs the question, who ferries the ferry when it gets stuck?

[Source: English Russia]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Mitsubishi assembles Dream Team of drivers for Dakar

Filed under: Motorsports, SUVs, Mitsubishi

click above image for high-res gallery

The 2008 Dakar Rally, a rigorous off-road endurance test, begins on January 5th in Lisbon, Portugal. The event will end on January 20th in Dakar, Sengal. That is a distance of 9,273 km (or 5,762 miles) full of sand dunes, rocks, mud, camel grass, etc., and an increase of more than 1,000 km (621 miles) over the 2007 race. Since 2001, Mitsubishi and its Pajero/Montero entries have dominated the automobile class of the event. Mitsubishi Motorsports recently announced its 2008 lineup of four Pajero/Montero entries. Three of the Diamond Star Motors' driver match-ups have previously won the event. The pair of Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret won in 2007. Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard won in 2006, while Hiroshi Masuoka and Pascal Maimon took the title in 2002. The final entry of Joan (Nani) Roma and Lucas Cruz Senra have yet to see the top of the podium on four wheels, but driver Roma previously won the event's motorcycle class in 2004. The Ralliart group has quite a team to say the least, and its chances for an 8th consecutive title are looking rather good. The big question is, which pair will get the win?

[Source: Mitsubishi Motors]

Gallery: 2008 Dakar Rally Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero Evolution

Continue reading Mitsubishi assembles Dream Team of drivers for Dakar

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[Jack]

Crazy Ruskians...

 

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Golden Gate bridge accident averted by selfless driver

Filed under: Etc.
We don't particularly enjoy posting about auto accidents, as totaled cars and injured humans is never a good conversation starter. Every once in a while, though, we get an opportunity to post about a crash that didn't happen thanks to the quick thinking and selfless nature of a good samaritan. Such a near miss happened yesterday in San Francisco when a driver on the Golden Gate became unconscious and her Jeep Grand Cherokee came to a stop in the second lane from the center divide. John Beatty almost rammed his Ford F-350 into the back of the Jeep, but stopped just in time. The 50-year-old man from Mill Valley, CA then noticed the Jeep began to creep forward and to the left. Realizing it was headed towards the divide and into oncoming traffic, Beatty positioned his truck in front of the SUV so that it would hit him instead of crossing over. He then guided the Jeep across two lanes of road, which had fortunately been cleared of traffic when other drivers began to realize what Beatty was doing. Unfortunately, there is a sad ending to this story, as the unconscious driver of the Jeep eventually died at the hospital. If it hadn't been for Beatty, however, you would've heard about a fatal multi-car accident on the Golden Gate bridge last night.

Thanks for the tip, Patrick!

[Source: sfgate.com]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Audi A3 Cabriolet unveiled in Bologna

Filed under: Convertibles, Euro, Audi, Misc. Auto Shows

click above image for high-res gallery of the Audi A3 Cabriolet

The Bologna Motor Show kicks off today, and Audi has unveiled the A3 Cabriolet for all to see. Based on what we can glean from the released info, the A3 Cabriolet is a Euro-only machine. As such, there are two TDI powerplants available at launch -- a 105-hp 1.9L and a 140-hp 2.0L. Both offer combined-cycle fuel economy better than 44 mpg. There are also a pair of gasoline engines on offer. The 1.8 TFSI makes 160 hp while the 2.0TFSI we're all familiar with produces another 40 on top of that. The 2.0 TDI and both TFSI engines can be had with optional S Tronic dual-clutch gearboxes instead of their standard manual units. All A3 Cabriolets are front-wheel-drive.

Appearance-wise, it looks pretty much how you'd expect an Audi to look. The shield grille dominates the front end and makes it instantly recognizable.The compact four-seater has a typically well-executed Audi interior, which can be dressed up beyond its standard "Ambition" and "Attraction" trims with S-Line and Audi exclusive packages. The four-seater's soft top is power-operated and can be had as either a semi-automatic or fully-automatic unit. The latter receives an extra layer of sound insulation in its construction to make for a quieter closed-roof ride. When folded, it impacts trunkspace minimally, according to Audi, and can also be operated while the car's moving at speeds up to 30 km/h. Speaking of the trunk, it's available room can be expanded by flipping down the back seats regardless of the roof position.

Sales begin in Europe in early 2008, and like we said, there's no mention made of a US version. That doesn't mean we won't eventually get one, however. Remember that Audi showed off the Cabriolet Quattro Concept in L.A. earlier this month, which is essentially this car with AWD and a bigger, more powerful engine. Maybe Audi still has the U.S. on its radar screen for this one.

[Source: Audi]

Gallery: Audi A3 Cabriolet

Continue reading Audi A3 Cabriolet unveiled in Bologna

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Shelby cancels license for 33-year-old SAAC car club

Filed under: Coupes, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Shelby

In the eyes of many automotive enthusiasts, Caroll Shelby is a legend with few peers. His breathed upon Mustangs are so coveted, they routinely sell at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Shelby Cobras are truly special icons of the muscle car era, but when Caroll and Ford parted ways, he left the keys to the Shelby Mustang kingdom to the throngs of enthusiasts and car clubs across North America.

[Source: Mustang Evolution]Continue reading Shelby cancels license for 33-year-old SAAC car club

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: AutoblogGreen for 11.30.07

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green


Green car news from Exxon Mobil and Coca-Cola in the same day? Are those two of the four hybrids of the apocalypse?

• Detroit 2008 Preview: 2009 Ford F-150 could add hydraulic launch assist
• Bike sex case sparks privacy debate. Yes, as in sex with a bike (NSFW)
• Coke to add 120 hybrid trucks to its US fleet in 2008
• Who's behind a better lithium-ion hybrid/EV battery? Why, it's Exxon Mobil
• New Mapquest gas price interactive map launches, also finds local alternative fuels
• Chrysler starts harvesting soy grown at proving ground for biodiesel
• Hybrids now approved for taxi service in Sydney, Australia
• First Th!nk rolls off the line in Norway
• Chrysler adds to the ranks of the California Fuel Cell Partnership
• Detroit 2008 Preview: BYD to show plug-in hybrid and battery electric cars
• Video: Toyota racing series the first to use cars powered by E85
• PG&E donates a million USD and two CNG cars to UC Merced
• Video: GM sponsors high-mpg contest
• Italian magazine verifies Smart ForTwo CDi mileage figures
• CSIRO: Yes to biofuels, no to palm oil biodiesel
• VeraSun Energy and US BioEnergy ethanol producers to merge

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: SEMA Concept 'Cuda to be sold at Barrett-Jackson

Filed under: Concept Cars, SEMA, Auction Action, Chrysler

click above image for more pics of the Concept 'Cuda
It appears that whoever took the trouble to have Metalcrafters build the one-off Concept 'Cuda got tired of it pretty quickly. Just a month after the 'Cuda made its first appearance at the SEMA show, Barrett-Jackson has announced that the car will be offered to the highest bidder come January. The winner will essentially be getting a modified Dodge Charger chassis with custom 2-door carbon fiber bodywork covered in Lamborghini Pearl Orange paint, a functional shaker hood feeding air to a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 and 22-inch Zenetti wheels wrapped with Pirelli P Zero tires. Before potential buyers plunk down hundreds of thousands of dollars for the car, they might want to see if Metalcrafters would build a second, and if so, how much it would cost.
[Source: Barrett-Jackson via Motortrend]
Gallery: Chrysler Cuda Concept


Continue reading SEMA Concept 'Cuda to be sold at Barrett-Jackson

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Koenigsegg unveils limited Edition CCX and CCXR models

Filed under: Car Buying, Supercars

click above image for high-res gallery of the Koenigsegg Edition CCXR

Koenigsegg claims that customer demand has led them to produce a limited edition version of its CCX and CCXR supercars. They'll be called - get this - the Koenigsegg Edition CCX and CCXR. Pretty creative, huh? Regardless, we all know Koeni cars have the goods to defend their funny names with peerless performance. What makes these Edition models truly special is, of course, more power thanks to a bump in displacement for Koenigsegg's V8 from 4.7L to 5.0L. When fitted with its pair of superchargers, the Edition CCX produces 888 horsepower (up from 806 HP) and the CCXR that can also run on E85 ethanol produces the same 1,018 horsepower as the standard model. Both the Edition CCX and CCXR actually have similar performance figures according to Koenigsegg, each running to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Keep the pedal to the floor, however, and the CCXR with its higher octane fuel will begin to pull away from the CCX, eventually topping out at 250+ mph.

Price of entry for these two limited edition models is steep, with the Edition CCX starting at 1,330,000 Euro and the Edition CCXR at 1,500,000 Euro. Only 14 of the former and six of the latter will be made, and two of each are already spoken for.

[Source: Koenigsegg]

Gallery: Koenigsegg Edition CCXR

Continue reading Koenigsegg unveils limited Edition CCX and CCXR models

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: [SPOILER ALERT] Car and Driver 10Best list revealed

Filed under: Etc.
Earlier this week we got a tip from a reader who had already received his January 2008 issue of Car and Driver in the mail. The January issue is, of course, the 10Best issue, and while we had no reason not to trust this reader that the ten cars he listed were in fact all winners, we decided to wait until a second source could corroborate the information. Well, Car and Driver has released the 2008 10Best article on its website, which is all the corroboration we need.

Without further ado, you'll find this year's Car and Driver 10Best list after the jump. You can also click the Read link below to read the full article on CarandDriver.com.

[Source: Car and Driver]Continue reading [SPOILER ALERT] Car and Driver 10Best list revealed

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Jaguar moves XF onto iPhone

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Marketing/Advertising, Jaguar

The Apple iPhone has been on everyone's wish list since it hit the streets this summer. Jaguar is using its web marketing savvy to piggy-back Apple's success by offering a new XF magazine made specifically for its touch-screen devices (don't forget the iPod Touch). Owners can go to jxfphone.com (it works for PC and MAC also) to view pics, rich-looking videos, and plenty of marketing info on the new four-wheeled feline. It works great on the iPhone, and with lots of new touch-enabled mobile phones on the way, Jaguar is smart to create a touch-friendly marketing site to feed the ever-growing population of mobile surfers.

[Source:Jaguar]Continue reading Jaguar moves XF onto iPhone

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Changing of the guard at Jalopnik

Filed under: Etc.
If you're into automotive blogs on the internet, you know that Autoblog and Jalopnik are like Ford and Chevy, Coke and Pepsi, or any other great pair of products that divides our desires. There was a time when Autobloggers and Jalops didn't talk to each other and no link love flowed between the two sites, but things have changed since those dark days, mostly thanks to Mike Spinelli, who announced today that he's stepping down as Editor in Chief of Jalopnik.

Typical of Spin and the type of entertaining posts you'll find at Jalopnik, his announcement is posted from the back hills of rural Italy, features prominently his dog Zoe (and a Renault 5 Turbo), and is as engaging as every post he's published over the past few years.

Spinelli will remain at Jalopnik as Editor at Large, though the mantle of EIC will be handed over to Ray Wert. We owe Spin a lot for not only helping our two sites help themselves, but also for playing a major role in legitimizing this little thing we do called blogging.

We'll miss racing you back to the media center too, Mike. Especially because Ray's legs are longer and he can run faster.

[Source: Jalopnik]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Nissan releases new interior sketch of Forum Concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Minivans/MPVs, Nissan

click above image to view high-res version

Back in October, Nissan released an exterior sketch of the Forum Concept, which will debut in January at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. The Forum Concept is basically a combination wagon, minivan, hatchback and CUV. To be more precise, it's a "family hauler" or "people mover". Following up on the exterior sketch, Nissan released a new sketch today of the concept's interior. It's a typical concept interior, about halfway between total pie-in-the-sky feasibility and possible production. Nissan tells us in its press release that the inner sanctum of the Forum will include a Bose Media System that's operated with a proximity sensor-based controller, which we take to mean that you can wave your hand in front of the stereo and Neil Diamond will begin playing on queue. There are also 2nd- and 3rd-row cameras so moms and pops can keep a digital eye on their yungins, as well as individual seat-mounted speakers for each row. We're not sure whether or not the Forum itself portends a future Nissan product, or possibly a replacement or redesign for the Quest minivan, though it sure could use it.

[Source: Nissan]

Gallery: Nissan FORUM Concept

Continue reading Nissan releases new interior sketch of Forum Concept

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Saab XWD Haldex 4.0 all-wheel-drive system up close

Filed under: Tech, Saab


All-wheel drive system supplier Haldex has introduced its latest iteration in the new Saab Turbo X and 9-3 Aero XWD vehicles. XWD strands for Cross-Wheel-Drive and is technically called Haldex version 4.0. Its introduction has generated some excitement amongst general consumers and tuning enthusiasts. Haldex has been riding the high wave with their XWD release as it was recently reported that they won a contract to develop a system for Hyundai. We have yet to see the new all-wheel-drive offering hit consumers in order to better understand its potential under extensive abuse though. However, the wonder that is YouTube has provided us with video of the Saab Aero XWD in action during a Saab comparison test drive event. Haldex has also supplied a wealth of information detailing the elements of their 4.0 system.

The main components of the new Haldex system are the Power Take-Off Unit (PTU), Limited Slip Coupling (LSC) and eLSD (Electronic Limited Slip Differential). The PTU is the final drive unit at the front of the vehicle that transmits power to the front wheels and sends power down the driveshaft to the rear wheels. It is not a Haldex design, but is required to adapt the system to a front-wheel drive vehicle. The LSC sits at the rear of the vehicle in-line with the driveshaft. It controls the torque split between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle. The LSC sends torque to the eLSD that sits between the rear wheels. The eLSD transfers torque to the two rear wheels. Follow the jump to continue reading more about the system.

Gallery: Haldex 4.0 All-Wheel Drive

Continue reading Saab XWD Haldex 4.0 all-wheel-drive system up close

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: No El Camino for you! Pontiac pickup will be named G8 ST

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Pontiac, Australia


Mike Levine over at Pickuptruck.com has managed to scoop a tasty nugget of info about the Pontiac-branded ute that will soon be for sale in the U.S. The Aussie-import based on the same platform as the rear-wheel-drive G8 sedan will be called the G8 ST, as in "Sport Truck".

That pang of disappointment you feel is the missed opportunity of paying homage to GM's most well known car-based pickups and their colorful names: the Chevy El Camino and GMC Caballero. Rather than dubbing Pontiac's ute the "Tamale" or "El Camino Redux", we get a measly little two-letter suffix. Sigh.

Also of note is that the pickup will only be available with a 6.0L V8 and is likely to start around $31,000.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Gallery: Holden VE Ute


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Former GM CEO Roger Smith dies at 82

Filed under: GM

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/business_finance/Roger_Smith_former_GM_CEO_and_subject_of_film_Roger_and_Me_dead_at_82'; Roger Smith, former chairman and CEO of General Motors from 1981 to 1990, has died at the age of 82. I was still drawing cars with crayons when Smith lead the General, so I first became aware of him after watching the film Roger and Me by Michael Moore. While that documentary does not paint a rosy picture of Smith, he was at the helm of GM during a time when NUMMI, GM's joint-venture manufacturing facility with Toyota, was formed, and the creation of the Saturn brand. Regardless of how you view Smith's tenure at the top of GM, he is still a significant figure in the history of the world's largest automaker.

GM has detailed the life and accomplishments of Roger Smith in its press release posted after the jump.

[Source: GM]Continue reading Former GM CEO Roger Smith dies at 82

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Essen 2007: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster by Brabus

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Supercars, Mercedes Benz, Misc. Auto Shows

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

Of all the products in Mercedes' stable that could benefit from a thorough tweaking, the McLaren SLR isn't one of them. But Brabus has built its name on taking things to the illogical extreme, and its modification of the new SLR Roadster is no different.

Equipped with a new set of cams, exhaust and a system to cool the fuel, the blown V8 now produces an additional 23 HP that's sent through the stock transmission and down to a clutch-type LSD. 0-to-60 times drop down to 3.6 seconds and the top speed has been increased to 209 mph.

A new carbon fiber front spoiler and rear diffuser, tuned by Brabus in the wind tunnel, reduces lift at speed, while the factory rolling stock has been ditched in favor of 9.5x20-inch wheels in front and 11.5x20-inch hoops in the rear. Inside, the Teutonic tuners offer well-to-do buyers nearly unlimited upholstery designs, along with a flat-bottom steering wheel with integrated paddles to swap cogs on the McMerc's automatic gearbox.

The full rundown on Brabus' tweaks can be viewed in the press release after the jump, and naturally, there's a corresponding gallery below.

Gallery: Brabus Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Roadster

Continue reading Essen 2007: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster by Brabus

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Corvette boat updated to C6-spec

Filed under: Etc., Chevrolet, Lifestyle
Once you've got a Corvette, what's left? Why, a boat, of course! You're not going to want to step out of your C6 into some aluminum row boat with a 5-horsepower Evinrude hung off the back. A 2-stroke buzz can't hold a candle to the barrel-chested rumble of an LS V8. Malibu Boats has introduced its latest Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V speedboat to solve your problem. The Corvette's most prominent styling cues have been lifted from the car and rendered in V-hull form. There's authentic Corvette seats, a dashboard that emulates the four-wheeled version, and even roll-down windows.

There are two different versions of the Sport-V, the Coupe and the Z06. The Coupe isn't lacking in anything, with 400 horsepower from its own V8, but the Z06 is just that much more over the top. There's not only 105 more horsepower on tap, but it also includes a lexan engine hatch to show off the LS7 engine and a two-tone interior and dash. To haul the Z06 around, it comes with a trailer that even uses Z06 wheels. General Motors approves, and the Sport-V speedboat will ease the pain of separation when you leave your 'Vette in the parking lot at the marina.

[Source: 4wheelsblog]

Gallery: Malibu Boats Sport-V speedboat


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: MINI Monte to be built Stateside?

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossovers/CUVs, BMW, MINI


The MINI Monte (as in "Carlo") might not be arriving on our shores in 2009. Instead, it could actually be built on our shores. Most MINIs are made at BMW's plant in Oxford, but that factory is already at capacity. It has been rumored before that Magna might be contracted to build the MINI SUV at its plant in Austria, but the latest top secret word has BMW looking at the Spartanburg, SC plant where the X5 is built.

Of course, if the MINI's fabrication costs were dollar denominated, and if the dollar/euro exchange rate continues to go where predicted, a U.S. build would make sense for BMW's coffers and could make purchasing one a little easier for U.S. buyers.

[Source: Auto Express]

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