Autoblog: News Thread

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: 2007 Holiday Sweepstakes: Conclusion

Filed under: Contests

The final winner has been randomly selected from among some 2,300 entries to win a DashDAW Series II car computer and is being notified as we speak. We'd like to thank all the companies that generously donated prizes this year, including Ownersite.com, Univeral Studios, Automoblox, Kumho Tires and Drew Technologies, Inc., the makers of the DashDAQ Series II. Without them, Autoblog would not have had a Christmas this year. If we don't get a chance to say it later, Happy Holidays from your friendly neighborhood Autoblog.

You can check out the screen names of all the winners after the jump.Continue reading 2007 Holiday Sweepstakes: Conclusion

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Rinspeed sQuba Concept to make a splash at Geneva

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Tech

Click above to view a high resolution image
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/World_s_first_amphibious_car_that_dives_underwater_PICS'; Swiss design company Rinspeed is known for its eccentric concepts, including last year's translucent eXasis Concept and the "Splash" hydrofoil car that set a speed record crossing the English Channel. Rinspeed is once again turning to the water for its latest concept, although this time they will be heading below the surface instead of skimming above it. Set to debut at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the sQuba concept is the world's first diving car, according to the company, and can be submerged up to 10 meters below the surface. An electric motor provides power to the rear wheels as well as two propellers and dual jet drives, and a futuristic cockpit comes with its own supply of oxygen. Like many of Rinspeed's other unique creations, the sQuba will only remain a one-off and there are no plans for production. The press release from Rinspeed can be seen after the jump, and two not-so-real photos can be viewed in the gallery.
[Source: Rinspeed via WorldCarFans.com]
Gallery: Rinspeed sQuba Concept


Continue reading Rinspeed sQuba Concept to make a splash at Geneva

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: UAW members ratify new contract with International Truck and Engine Corp.

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Commercial Trucks, UAW/Unions


After a seven week strike UAW workers will be returning to their posts at International Truck and Engine Corporation plants. UAW members originally began their strike on October 23rd citing unfair labor practices as their basis. However, International has remained relatively unaffected by the strike and has continued to meet its delivery schedules through carefully restructured organization. That has to have been a factor in its negotiations with the UAW as it displays a lack of necessity of the union's service. Rather than have no company to return to, the majority of UAW members have voted to ratify the contract on the table. It has also dropped the unfair labor practice charges. The agreement allows for operational flexibility and cost improvement, one specific being the ability to close a facility to in order meet business needs. The contract will be valid through Oct. 1, 2010.

[Source: Navistar]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: SPOILER ALERT: 2007 Race of Champions results

Filed under: Motorsports

click on any image to view high-res gallery

The premise of the Race of Champions is simple: take the best drivers in the world and have them compete on equal terms. Drivers from Formula 1, DTM, WRC and more go head-to-head in the same cars on the same track with personal and national pride at stake. Drivers face off in a trio of different vehicles per round, with the best-of-three winner moving on to the next round. Recent winners include 2004 DTM champion Mattias Ekstr&ouml;m, 2004-2006 WRC champ Sebastien Loeb, and Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen. Results from this year's Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium in England can be found after the jump, and plenty of action photos can be viewed in the gallery below.
[Source: Race of Champions]
Gallery: 2007 Race of Champions

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: 2007 Race of Champions results

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: New shot of 2008 Dodge Challenger found

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Chrysler, Dodge

click above image to view more teaser shots of the 2008 Dodge Challenger

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/New_image_of_2008_Dodge_Challenger_found_on_web'; Are we that hard up for news on the 2008 Dodge Challenger that we'll do a post on one measly new photo of a part of the car we've already seen? Uh, yeah, in fact we are, so credit Autoblog reader Glenn who found this new shot on Dodge's website for the Challenger. It's slid in there with the rest ofo the teaser shots we've seen and shows the same grille we've seen before but from another angle. In fact, from this perspective it appears that the housing for the headlights is silver rather than black, but it could just as easily be crappy lighting messing with our heads. Check out the actual shape of the headlights, though, that give the impression they're peering out from beneath the hood even though they're not. Regardless, we now have one more teaser shot of the 2008 Dodge Challenger to add to our gallery. It's not long now until the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit when we'll have dozens and dozens of images of the new Dodge Challenger to add.

UPDATE: We discovered that we first saw this image in leaked scans of an official brochure for the 2008 Dodge Challenger, but this is the first time we've seen the actual color-corrected version.

[Source: Dodge]

Gallery: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: POLL RESULTS: 2008 North American Car and Truck OTY

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Buick, Cadillac, GM, Mazda

Last week after learning that General Motors is fielding four out of the six finalists for the 2008 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, we decided to let you loose on which two vehicles you thought would be driving home with with a trophy.

We can't say we're surprised with your choice of the Cadillac CTS as 2008 North American Car of the Year. We've driven it a number of times and each time further supports our hypothesis that the new CTS is simply the best car built by an American automaker and one of the best sport/luxury mid-size models in the world. Hence, we think nearly 50% of the vote is deserved.

The race for 2008 North American Truck of the Year, however, appears much closer, with the Buick Enclave narrowly beating out the new Mazda CX-9 in our unofficial poll, 38.3% to 37.6%, or a difference of just 36 votes. While these two vehicles are both large CUVs with three rows of seating, we're pretty sure few will be cross shopping the Enclave that coddles with the CX-9 that goes Zoom.

Will our straw poll turn out to be accurate? We'll find out in January when the awards are officially handed out at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: REPORT: Volvo XC90 replacement cancelled

Filed under: SUVs, Volvo

If you're on the list of OEM component suppliers for the planned replacement of the Volvo XC90 sport-ute, don't read this article, because you haven't been informed yet. For everyone else, however, reports are emerging that Ford PAG has pulled the plug on the Swedish subsidiary's flagship SUV.
The reports come from the Swedish edition of Auto Motor & Sport , which cites the lack of environmentally-friendly powertrain alternatives as the main factor that influenced Ford to trash plans for the second-generation XC90, despite an anticipated launch in two years' time. Volvo has no hybrid powertain to put in the large SUV, slated to share a Ford platform, and no start/stop engine function. Rather than developing such systems, and with an eye on dropping sales of the rival BMW X5, PAG has reportedly opted to cancel the program altogether.
While the XC60, XC50 and possibly upcoming XC30 are expected to continue on without their bigger brother, the current XC90 model will receive a facelift in 2009 and stay on the market until 2012.
[Source: Auto Motor & Sport via World Car Fans]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: The new skinny on the McLaren P11 supercar

Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Mercedes Benz

McLaren is one of the most successful race teams in Formula One, but unlike rival Ferrari, it doesn't make many road cars. Its current supercar, the Mercedes SLR McLaren, was a relative disappointment, particularly when judged against the impossibly high yardstick of its predecessor, the McLaren F1, which remains one of the quickest, fastest and all-around best-performing supercars of all time. So when the Woking, England-based firm announced the development of the P11, potential customers began calling the factory, which has already taken dozens of orders long before the car has even been unveiled.
British magazine CAR claims to have the inside line on the supercar, having spoken with some of the engineers working on the project - McLaren is said to be in the process of hiring more -and have put together an educated guess on the car's spec sheet. While the F1 diced it with the likes of the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959, and the SLR took on the Enzo and Carrera GT, the car tentatively code-named P11 is expected to go down-market (that being a relative term, of course) to target the likes of the 430 Scuderia and 911 GT2. Power is anticipated to come from sibling-company AMG's 6.3-liter V8, putting some 500 horsepower down through the rear wheels for a sub-4-second run to sixty and a top speed over 200 mph. Expect carbon-ceramic brakes to figure into an aluminum and carbon-fiber package sized in between Audi's TT and R8.
CAR claims its renderings are fairly close to the mark for the supercar that will launch in 2010 and be produced in annual runs of less than 5,000. Don't expect the car to be dipped in chrome like its grand prix stable-mates, though.

Thanks for the tip, Alex!

[Source: CAR Online]



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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: 1-Series on BMW website with official pricing

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, BMW

The 1-Series has officially joined BMW's line up in the United States, having finally been added to the brand's official website. Along with its place among the Ultimate Driving Machines online, the 1-Series also gets officially pricing, which turns out to be exactly what we thought it would be. The 135i will have an MSRP of $34,900 plus a $775 charge for delivery and all the whatnots involved with a purchasing a car. The 128i, meanwhile, will start at $28,600 and carry an identical $775 charge for destination and delivery.

The 128i is powered by BMW's 3.0L inline-six producing 230 horsepower, while the top shelf 135i is motivated by the superlative twin-turbo 3.0L inline-six producing 300 HP. Both are, of course, rear-wheel drive, small, and relatively light weight at around 3,200 lbs. - the purest coupes from BMW we've seen in a while. We optioned up a 135i with everything and arrived at an MSRP of $48,995 (that's it above - how you like the Cashmere Silver Metallic?). Frankly, that's ridiculously expensive for a car this size, regardless of what wheels are being driven or the engine under the hood. Do you think they're worth the high asking price? Answer in our poll below.

View Poll

Thanks for the tip, Boris!

[Source: BMW]

Gallery: BMW 1-Series Coupe


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Inside Line drives and loves the 2009 Jaguar XF

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Jaguar


The Jaguar XF will soon be upon us, and if we're to believe Inside Line executive editor Michael Jordan's "First Drive" report, this is indeed a good thing. He speaks of an attractive car that's inviting, engaging to drive, and downright fast when you get to the bottom of it. The XF runs to 60 in 5.1 seconds when equipped with the raucous 4.2L supercharged V8. Frankly, it sounds like it's as fun to drive as either the XJR or XKR, but it does its thing in a more modern-looking package than the big XJ and a more practical one than the admittedly breathtaking XK. We won't steal Jordan's thunder by rehashing his review here. Read it in full over at Inside Line. What we can say is that after reading it, we're eager to get our mitts on Jaguar's new four-door feline as soon as possible. We can feel the shift paddles at our fingertips already. S-Type? What's that?

[Source: Inside Line]

Gallery: 2009 Jaguar XF


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Nissan releases another new interior sketch of Forum Concept

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

click image to enlarge and view more sketches of the Nissan Forum Concept

We bring you the third sketch of the Forum Concept to be officially released by Nissan ahead of the vehicle's debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. As we've reported previously, the Forum is a futuristic people mover that may or may not contain styling cues destined for production. It could forecast a replacement for the Nissan Quest minivan, or it could herald an altogether new vehicle, or it could be a designer's flight of fancy. Regardless, this is the second interior sketch released by Nissan, this time showing a pretty neat trick: the second row bench, the entire second-row bench, can swivel 90-degrees either way or 180-degress to face the third-row seats. Sure, you don't get the center aisle that two captains chairs would provide, but getting in the way back seats should be a lot easier with second-row turned 90-degrees. Nissan calls it "Turntable Seating", a name that sounds warmed over by marketing types, which is evidence enough that it's being considered for production. We would've called it "Centrifugal Seating" or the "Whirly Doo". Alas, that's probably why Japan's #3 automaker doesn't sign our checks.

Nissan also tells us that the Forum Concept includes a "console-mounted microwave oven." Hot-Pocket, anyone?

[Source: Nissan]

Gallery: Nissan FORUM Concept

Continue reading Nissan releases another new interior sketch of Forum Concept

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: It never ends: More new pics of 2009 Subaru Forester

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossovers/CUVs, Subaru

click above image for 11 new pics of the 2009 Subaru Forester

We now have 22 unofficial images of the 2009 Subaru Forester in this gallery, which could be more pics than what Subaru plans to officially release on December 25th when the new CUV actually debuts. We found these on the Forester Owners Forum, page 104 of a long thread relating to 2009 Forester news and rumors. We don't know who took them or where they were taken and we don't want to know - we just want to look at them, as they are the clearest and largest images yet that have crossed our desks. The batch also includes a view of the new Forester's interior, which, well, isn't all that interesting or groundbreaking, kind of like the exterior. It may suit your needs just fine, though.

[Source: SubaruForester.org via Carscoop]

Gallery: 2009 Subaru Forester - unofficial images


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Out of This World: Goodyear and NASA collaborate on airless tire

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

click above image for more views of the NASA Chariot rover
Any good article about space exploration starts with "when I was a kid...". So, when I was a kid, my older brother was working on his college thesis. He cooperated with NASA on designing various devices for use in space, the basic premise being that few of the things we take for granted here on Earth would work in a zero-gravity environment. Everything needed for use in space needs to be redesigned.

Recently Goodyear and NASA announced a collaboration in developing a special non-pneumatic tire to be used by vehicles on the Moon, and potentially, on Mars, in support of a 2004 presidential mandate to further exploration on the celestial bodies. This isn't the first time Goodyear has collaborated with NASA to develop special moon-tires, having spent over ten years developing a piano-wire-mesh tire for the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle in the 1960s. However, the new Chariot vehicle (pictured above) is expected to support ten times more weight and travel 100 times longer than the Apollo, so Goodyear's Akron Technical Center and NASA's Glenn Research Center are developing a stronger version by testing and re-testing the Apollo's wheel and tire set-up to determine where they break down. Better here than out there, because as big a pain as it is to change a tire down here, imagine mounting a spare in space.
The researchers expect to demonstrate the Chariot, with its special tires, a year from now at the Johnson Space Center in Texas, after which, they say, the findings could be applied towards the development of new tires for use here on Earth.
[Source: Goodyear]
Gallery: NASA Chariot



Continue reading Out of This World: Goodyear and NASA collaborate on airless tire

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Coulthard the next to defect to NASCAR?

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings

It's been all the rage in motorsports recently: Formula One refugees hopping the trans-Atlantic to race in NASCAR. Juan Pablo Montoya has found considerably more success than Jacques Villeneuve (even Michael Schumacher was offered a drive), but they could have some company soon.

Recently interviewed by ESPN, F1's elder helmsman David Coulthard said he would consider racing in NASCAR in the future. The Scottish driver is now entering his 15th season in F1, having started with Williams and driven nine seasons for McLaren before brokering Red Bull's purchase of Jaguar Racing from Ford. If DC did decide to make the switch, Red Bull's NASCAR team (pictured, right) could potentially provide him with an "in".
Although once a competitive driver, Coulthard has slipped to back-marker status over the past few seasons, and may soon have to face retirement from F1. If he does, NASCAR could offer a challenging alternative - joining his long-time friend Jacques in stock cars - because DC stated he was less keen on the idea of racing in IndyCars.
[Source: F1-Live, photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images for Puma]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Dream into Reality: PF1 formula driver's club

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Euro

Not just anyone can get behind the wheel of a modern F1 car and drive it, you know (Witness Richard Hammond trying to drive a Renault F1 car). But PF1 is aiming to change that.
The new company buys recent Formula One racing cars and retunes them for usability before selling them to wealthy - although not necessarily super-rich - customers who receive instruction and have the opportunity to drive them at dedicated track days around Europe. The service is offered by Cars International Kensington Ltd., a showroom in London that deals in racing cars and exotics. (Despite the similarity in name, PF1 appears to have no affiliation with the P1 supercar club, also based in London.)
The first three cars acquired for the launch are late-model Jordan, Jaguar and Super Aguri F1 cars, refitted with Avon slicks and Cosworth V10s that turn out 875 hp. Instruction is provided behind the wheel of a Lola Formula 3000 car at the hands of Marc Hynes, who used to train the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. The cost of admission: &pound;300,000 for the car, plus &pound;2,500 for membership in Club PF1, which organizes the track events. Not chump change, to be sure, but it's a far cry from the millions it costs to independently own and operate a contemporary F1 car. Closer to the price of a supercar, actually... and that's exactly the idea.
[Source: ITV via Motor Authority]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Porsche Cayenne Hybrid delayed until at least 2010

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, SUVs, Green, Porsche


Porsche came out swinging at the LA Auto Show with a Cayenne Hybrid it said could do 75 MPH on battery power alone. Now the carmaker isn't sure it wants to fight that fight any more. Speaking of hybrid market share, Porsche's head of distribution said, "The most optimistic forecast still only calls for a market share of 5 percent." And in that case, Porsche feels it might not be worth it to bring out a Cayenne Hybrid until the introduction of the next generation in 2010.

They would then use that model as the litmus test for other hybrids. The Panamera might get a hybrid variant in 2011 -- two years after its introduction -- or it might not happen until 2013. In fact, since Porsche still has no firm date set for getting a hybrid to market, all of these dates could be pushed back indefinitely. Contrast that with Audi, which wants to introduce a hybrid Q7 by the end of 2008.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Toyota to be named sponsor of "Holiday Cheer"

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Toyota


Following in the fine tradition set by the likes of Lowes Motor Speedway (formerly Charlotte Motor Speedway) and the DTE Energy Music Theater (formerly Pine Knob), Holiday Cheer now has an official name sponsor. For this season of merriment, Toyota has signed on as the official sponsor of good will during the holidays. The $30 million deal will include promotions of the season's first snow fall and 15-second Toyota pre-roll ads before visions of sugar plum fairies start dancing in your head. Toyota will also be mailing out 100 million greeting cards as part of the program. If Toyota Presents: Yuletide Spirit proves to be successful in boosting holiday sales of Toyota vehicles, the automaker may continue the sponsorship of all things merry and anything ending with the suffix -nog in future years.

NOTE: Click the Read link or look at the source to get the joke.

[Source: The Onion]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Spied HUMMER H2T actually a diesel?

Filed under: SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, GM, HUMMER
At least one person has lamented the lack of diesel options for the H2 SUT. In case that's you, PickupTruck.Com speculates that the coming H2T (the new name for the H2 SUT, to bring it in line with H3T naming) could be offered with a diesel. The clue is in the big-bore tailpipe seen in the spy shots, which could indicate the use of a 'venturi-effect' tailpipe. It's the kind of setup GM uses on its Silverado and Sierra HDs to keep the oil burners from spewing black smoke.

PickupTruck also wonders if this is the first truck we'll see with GM's 4.5-liter light-duty diesel. Sure, it's all guesswork right now, but we're betting GM would make more than one person happy by offering diesels in its revamped H2 line -- especially if, as some people are saying, it's going to get even larger in its next iteration.

[Source: PickupTruck.Com]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Grad students create Splinter, the wooden supercar

Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc.

click above image for more renderings of the Splinter supercar

We're not sure what sort of beneficial impact one would get from making a supercar out of wood composites, but if there is one, the students behind the Splinter supercar will find out. The Splinter will be a 600-hp, 2,500-pound goer with wood used for the chassis, body, and parts of the suspension and wheels.

The car is powered by a twin-supercharged Northstar V8. To keep all that heat from doing bad things to the wood, the exhaust exits from the top of the block and out through mufflers in the wing -- which, as you might guess, makes the non-wooden wing quite hot. Other oddities innovations include Osage Orange leaf springs, and seating that puts passengers' legs between the upper and lower A-arms of the suspension. And those multi-colored spokes you see on the wheel? Yep, made of wood.

The Splinter is a graduate project for some students at NC State. They say "we aren't trying to sell anything, we aren't trying to save the world, and we aren't advocating that everyone should drive a wooden car. This project is a scholastic endeavor in which we are simply trying to explore materials, learn, share ideas, and stimulate creativity." We support that no matter what you make your supercar out of. But for the chance to do 190 MPH in what is essentially a motorized tree, hey, sign us up.

[Source: Joe Harmon Design via Winding Road]

Gallery: Splinter Wooden Supercar

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: Pontiac GTO from "XXX State of the Union"

Filed under: Auction Action, Pontiac, Lifestyle

Click image above to view in high resolution
What's the best way to ruin a classic muscle car? Just slap on some gaudy 22-inch chrome wheels and give it a colorful chameleon paint job. While we'd much rather have a pristine example in showroom condition, you have to admit this 1967 Pontiac GTO is... unique. After all, Samuel L. Jackson himself has been behind the wheel in the movie "XXX State of the Union" (we think Ice Cube, too) and it even has functional rocket launchers. We're not sure when you'd ever be able to use them, but they would still be cool to have, you know, in case. The car also comes with a custom interior and more gauges than you'll know what to do with, an Air Ride suspension, V8, and automatic transmission. That's good, because we doubt whoever buys this car will know how to drive stick.

Thanks for the tip, Jordan!
[Source: eBay Motors]
Gallery: XXX State of the Union Pontiac GTO



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