Autoblog: News Thread

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Merry Christmas from Autoblog!


Click to enlarge

We know a lot of you are probably busy spending time with friends and family, and so are we. We just wanted to take a moment to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas. Be safe in your travels today and above all, enjoy yourselves. Hopefully, Santa left one of these bad boys in your garage with a big red bow on it. Or does that only happen in TV commercials?

Those of you who do stop in throughout the day will find that yes, we have some posts scheduled for you, too!

Go have some fun, and again, Merry Christmas from all of us here at Autoblog.
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Don't forget Daddy: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

Filed under: Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Mercedes Benz

click above image to view high-res gallery

Mercedes recently rolled out a facelift for the SLK-Class roadster, along with a few mechanical changes to the line-up's supercharged four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6. But while the spec sheet for top-of-the-line SLK 55 AMG carries on largely unchanged, the 2008 model has also been treated to a few cosmetic changes.
The first thing to go when AMG gets its hands on a Mercedes is the front bumper, so while the more pedestrian four- and six-cylinder SLK models get a new, more F1-esque front end treatment, the V8 version throws that out the window. In its place is a wider mouth with a blacked-out lower lip, flanked by side vents and capped by smoked headlamps. The SLK's new taillights carry over onto the AMG model, but again the clear section is smoked, underneath which is found a different rear bumper than the standard version's integrating quad round tailpipes in place of the standard square twins. Otherwise, the same sweet AMG-tuned 5.5-liter V8 carries over unchanged, which we think is a good thing.
As with the first images of the 2008 SLK, pictures of the AMG model have surfaced online before Mercedes has made them available, so we'll have to get back to you when the official pics are released, along with the AMG aero kits for the standard SLK range. In the meantime, enjoy these courtesy of our friends at CarScoop.
[Source: CarScoop]
Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG



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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: Vampire jet car that almost killed the Hamster

Filed under: Auction Action, Etc., Euro, Celebrities

Click the image above for more pics of the Vampire jet car
Talk about a project car. For sale on eBay UK, for approved UK-only bidders, is the actual Vampire jet car crashed by Richard Hammond. The Hamster was doing nearly 300-MPH when things went pear-shaped and he ended up in a coma. It appears the owner of the car hasn't been doing so well himself, and needs to sell the Vampire, and Britain's fastest electric car, to pay for health care costs.
The car, however, looks like it's been in a high-speed crash -- it's essentially a gutted, truncated fuselage and a junkyard of spares. Oh, the car doesn't come with a rollcage. It was cut off to extract Hammond and never returned. So if you'd like a heinously fast jet car that you'll need a a great deal of money to rebuild but might never be able to drive again, call a friend in the UK to place a bid for you. As of now, you'll need 18,000 pounds to join the party. Click on the gallery of images below to see more pics of the car.
[Source: eBay UK via Jalopnik]
Gallery: Vampire Jet Car



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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Ferrari F2008 to kick off F1 launches

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari

Ferrari F2007
After 60 years, Scuderia Ferrari still hasn't gotten tired of getting a head start over its rivals. This time, the team has confirmed that the car it will be campaigning next season will be unveiled within a couple weeks' time on January 6.
The early launch date, which was leaked first by Kimi Raikkonen and then confirmed by president Luca di Montezemolo and CEO Jean Todt, places Ferrari as the first F1 team to unveil its car in the new year. Toyota will be unveiling its car on January 10, BMW Sauber on January 14, Honda on January 29 and Renault on January 31. The remaining teams, including Williams, Red Bull, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Force India and Super Aguri, are expected to show their cars later on. Following the much hyped spy scandal, McLaren is opting to forego the festivities of a glitzy unveiling for its 2008 car.
With the F2008, Ferrari is hoping to repeat this past year's performance by reclaiming the driver's and constructor's titles. The car is expected to be an evolution of the F2007 (pictured above), which was hailed as a revolutionary design.
[Source: Inside Line]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: CarDomain Find of the Day: V8, mid-engined Ford Festiva

Filed under: Time Warp, Etc., Ford

click above image for gallery

Festiva, mid-mounted V8 - okay, we're with you. Front wheel drive? Uh, sounds like a fine way to blow a lot of dollars adapting components in order to send the power to the wrong pair of 13-inch tires. No Festiva conversion will ever top the SHOgun, which planted the Taurus SHO's Yamaha V6 where the rear seat used to be in the diminutive Kia derivative. CarDomain member TheOne-Originals has exceeded the SHOgun's cylinder count by squeezing a small-block Chevy V8 behind the front seats. The power runs forward, with a Turbo Hydramatic transmission coupled to a BMW limited slip differential. Customized Audi driveshafts are responsible for transmitting torque to the teeny tiny tires.

We like the exhaust stacks that stick through the roof, as well as the Mad-Max patina the whole project wears. The SHOgun may have been more finely finished, but this car wouldn't have a problem drawing at least as large a crowd. It might not be tremendously amusing in a torrential downpour, but being able to crack that four-barrel open and instantly boil the front tires has its own charm. Our favorite quote from the car's description? "The stock brakes definitely need upgrading, but I'll get to that later." Or not. The car might kill its builder first. We can only imagine how evil the torque steer might be, and mid-engined cars are notorious for being wicked near their moment of polar inertia. A sleeper econobox with twice the cylinder count with which it came, mercenary unmuffled exhaust, and the pending addition of a flamethrower system for the exhaust? Yeah, that would definitely entertain us.

Thanks for the tip, Rob!

[Source: CarDomain]

Gallery: V8, mid-engine Ford Festiva


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: VIDEO: 240Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO replica

Filed under: Aftermarket, Time Warp, Videos, Nissan, Ferrari

click above image to view video
With far more people wanting Ferraris than those who can actually afford one, replicas based on lesser donor cars are nothing new. Some are more convincing than others, and while we'd recommend a nice Corvette over a faux-rarri, once in a while there's an example that catches our attention, for better or worse.
If you're in love with the 250 GTO and don't have the millions it takes to buy one, this car might be the closest you can get. Follow the jump to find footage - nicely edited footage, actually - of a 250 GTO replica based on a Datsun 240Z that's set to the rather apt soundtrack of The Who's "Won't get Fooled Again", which you may recognize from CSI.
[Source: Busca Tuning via Motorpasion]
Continue reading VIDEO: 240Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO replica

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Scarlet Slopes: Ferrari ski equipment by Dynastar-Lange

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Ferrari

If you're looking to inject some octane into your winter-time outdoor activities and the Saab/Salomon Aero X skis are just too Scandinavian for your tastes, there's good news from the front. The latest in the war on "ordinary" products from the central command in Maranello: Ferrari skis from winter-sport equipment manufacturer Dynastar-Lange.
While some of Ferrari's branding exercises have amounted to little more than a coat of red paint, Dynastar's special downhill planks offer a little more in the way of street cred. They're designed by Pininfarina, the same Italian styling house that pens the Ferrari road cars. They're also made of carbon fiber and employ Dynastar's Autodrive Fluid ski and binding system. (And they're painted red.)
Because image-conscious skiers know the shame of their boots not matching their skis, Dynastar-Lange offers Ferrari boots to boot. No word on pricing, but the limited edition Race Carve GS skis they effectively replace sold for a hair under three grand. The Dynastars come with carbon fiber ski poles and a special ski bag to let everyone know how special your skis are on your way to the slopes.
[Source: Dynastar-Lange and Sybarites]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: AutoblogGreen for 12.26.07

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green


If you got stuck in a traffic jam this holiday, wouldn't it be terrible to come to the end of it and realize that there's no obvious cause? Just nothing there? Some mathematicians now think they understand why. If you were wondering why your favorite Christmas beer was more expensive, some say to blame ethanol.

• A Christmas with pricier beer? Blame ethanol
• Cracking the physics of traffic jams
• Hungry for a snack? How about a Prius?
• Ford puts eco-driving tutorial on its Driving Skills for Life website
• Europeans get a new diesel hot hatch from Toyota
• Ricardo sees opportunity in new fuel economy regulations
• Lexus thinks "eco-luxury" makes sense at Sundance
• The Other Green

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Officially Official: Bridgestone signs exclusive deal with F1

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Earnings/Financials

Japanese tire-maker Bridgestone has been supplying every team on the Formula One grid since rival rubber company Michelin pulled out of the sport at the end of the 2006 season. But whereas Bridgestone had gone through 2007 as the exclusive tire supplier by default, the ink has now dried on the contract that makes them the exclusive tire supplier by design.
The deal secures Bridgestone's monopoly in the pinnacle motorsport series from 2008 through 2010. Although the deal was reportedly secured in 2006, but it just became official.
While many other racing series around the world have similar arrangements with various tire suppliers, Formula One has traditionally been a bastion of pure competition. The tire deal, however, prevents companies like Goodyear, Pirelli and Michelin from returning to F1, joining the institution of a common engine control module, the recent freeze on engine development and drastic restrictions on testing in "leveling the playing field" and thereby reducing the degree of competition in F1.
Full press release after the jump.
[Source: Bridgestone via Autosport]
Continue reading Officially Official: Bridgestone signs exclusive deal with F1

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Toyota's New Year's Resolution: sell 9.85 million cars in 2008

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Green, Toyota
If it were poker, Toyota would have looked at GM, pushed all its chips into the pot and said, "You know what that means." The other marque in the battle for worldwide supremacy has raised its projection for 2008 sales by 5-percent over this year, expecting to sell 9.85 million cars around the world on production of 9.95 million cars. This year, 2007, GM is estimated to have sold 9.3 million cars, compared to Toyota's estimated sales of 9.36 million.

Even with quite a few analysts and outlets predicting fewer vehicle sales in the US next year, Toyota is predicting a 1-percent increase in sales to 2.64 million units. The bulk of the sales growth will, as with every other global player, comes largely from emerging markets: China, Russia, India, and South America. This, of course, means Toyota will be leaning on its smaller models and hybrids to lead the way.

There's no way GM has given up the fight, having held the #1 spot for 76 years, and still holding the record for most cars sold: 9.55 million in 1978. You can be sure they don't want to give up both top slots in one year. To do so, they'll need to deliver on the design, the efficiency, the reliability and promises they've been making to the public for a while. As Big John McCarthy says at the beginning of an Ultimate Fighting match, "Let's get it on!"

[Source: Detroit News]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Rhys Millen injured while practicing truck flip

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Etc.


There's probably a good reason why nobody has launched a truck off a ramp to execute a backflip. Despite that, Rhys Millen wants to be the first to pull it off. However, the dangers are very real and sometimes one's health is more important than the glory. While recently practicing for his Red Bull Experiment, Rhys Millen suffered an unfortunate accident leaving him with five fractured vertebrae. The incident took place after Millen successfully completed the flip three times into a cushion of cardboard boxes. It was the fourth and final jump test that landed him in the hospital. The truck apparently overshot the landing area and hit the ground -- hard. Thankfully, Rhys's injuries are non-threatening and although he won't be performing the trick in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve, he'll be back in action in due time. We wish him well and hope for a full and speedy recovery.

​

Thanks for the tip.Ray!

[Source: Red Bull]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

Filed under: Garage, Mitsubishi

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

As any kid learns on Christmas morning, expectations are a bitch. And once you've made the transition to adulthood, things don't change. It's widely accepted that most of us who pray at the altar of the car Gods are simply eight-year olds with a bit more expendable income... and for the most part, that's true. There are a few synapses that get fired when we overcook a particular corner in our daily rides, the same ones that were triggered when we yanked up on the makeshift e-brake of our Big Wheels. So when we took delivery of a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer ES, we were expecting handling and motivation to match the new Lancer's aggressive styling, even in this just-better-than-base model. After seven days of merciless flogging, we were left with a sport compact-sized hole in our hearts, just like when Santa didn't leave the Super Nintendo underneath our tree.

Gallery: Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Lutz tells Forbes: the car business "ain't for sissies."

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Etc., GM


In a two part interview with Forbes magazine during the run-up to that NAIAS, Bob Lutz had a great deal to say about all things GM. The first part centered on CAFE and the costs of energy efficiency, the Volt, and what Mr. Bob would rather have lead consumer choice in the mileage debate. Hint: instead of politicians making laws, his suggestion rhymes with "tas gax." He also says the Volt "probably won't be a flawless launch."

The second part focuses global sales, the truck market collapse, and design, with Bob claiming that "Everything we're doing is to meet this new standard of [being the] absolute winner in its class in exterior design and interior design. When we put the vehicles against the competition in the clinics, they must win by a wide margin on exterior appeal as well as reach." But don't take our word for it. Bobus Maximus is always better in his own words, so click the link to check them out. For those of you hoping for a new RWD Impala, you might not want to read this if you're in a good mood.

[Source: Forbes]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Swiss Army Porsche? Matte olive-green 911 (video)

Filed under: Aftermarket, Trends, Tuners, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Porsche

Looking at this custom Porsche, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Swiss army had ordered up a fleet of military-spec 911s. Then you'd quickly realize that while it may be a versatile sports car, the 911 would not be the Porsche most utile for military applications, compared with, say, the Cayenne.
In reality what you're looking at is a "civilian" 911 tuned by aftermarket specialist, Sportec. Never mind the 800-horsepower engine this brat is packin', the real highlight is the original paint job. This 911 Sportec SPR1 is decked out in matte green, with dark wheels and a Swiss flag painted on the roof. The paramilitary hue might make it even harder to spot as it sprints to sixty in three seconds flat, that is assuming the Swiss machine can shift out of neutral.
Follow the jump to watch the video of the Porsche 911 Sportec SPR1 undergoing high-speed testing at Nardo.
[Source: The German Car Blog]
Continue reading Swiss Army Porsche? Matte olive-green 911 (video)

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Mitsubishi kei cars "Bloom" for Japan's ladies

Filed under: Economy, Japan, Mitsubishi

Click image for photo gallery

When you boil away everything else, the core elements of the new "Bloom Edition" Mitsubishi kei car is its Sakura Pink paint; light-colored, water-resistant seat fabrics; and makeup mirrors. Yes, there are other colors available, and we're sure some of the Japanese shoppers (women, specifically) who Mitsu is targeting might also appreciate the cars' UV glass with water-repellent coating (think "factory Rain-X" here). But the real package centers on the Hello Kitty-look that the pink brings.

The Bloom Edition package is available on the "i" and eK Wagon kei cars. It's not uncommon to see keis marketed in pastels with an eye toward female buyers anyway, but these Bloom Editions are about as direct as you can get. Who knew vanity mirrors could actually be promoted as a selling point?

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Gallery: Mitsubishi i and eK Wagon "Bloom Edition"


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Chevy Tahoe LTZ gets 6.2L V8

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet

Click image for gallery

You'll soon be able to get General Motors' 6.2-liter V8 in all three flavors of GMT900 truckness. GM announced today that the 380-horsepower/417 lb-ft eight cylinder will be available in the Tahoe LTZ beginning in 2008. If you're like us (and by "us" I mean "me") and you think that the Tahoe is the best-looking of the 900s, this is good news, as you'll be able to get Denali power (this is the exact same engine found in the top-of-the-line GMC) at a presumably lower price. This engine also powers the Escalade, where it's tuned to produce upwards of 400 horses. Like its GMC and Cadillac brethren, the Tahoe LTZ's 6.2 is hooked up to a six-speed automatic with manumatic tapshift buttons mounted on the column shifter. And yes, using said feature is about as awkward as it sounds.

[Source: GM]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Rock photographer Jim Marshall turns his lens towards the Nissan GT-R

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Etc., Japan, Supercars, Nissan

click above image for gallery of Jim Marshall's Nissan GT-R shots

The Nissan GT-R is undoubtedly the rock star of the auto industry at the moment. So it makes since that Nissan hired noted rock and roll photographer Jim Marshall to capture the GT-R's gestation over the past year. The series of images released by Nissan are quite unlike the official images we've seen so far, as well as the shots taken by enthusiast mags. Those are all perfectly staged shots of the GT-R being posed like a super model.

Marshall's collection dives deep into the background of the GT-R's development, showing scenes like a pair of GT-R engineers on a smoke break, a hanging map of the Nurburgring that taunts from the wall, and Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn in a full racing suit sitting in front of two towers of worn tires. Indeed, these are much more thoughtful and telling pics than we're used to seeing of the GT-R, and in fact, most don't even feature the car. Nevertheless, each deserves examination for what they can tell us about the super car's development and the good people responsible for seeing it through.

[Source: Nissan via Winding Road]

Gallery: Jim Marshall - Nissan GT-R


Gallery: Nissan GT-R (US-spec)


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Clarkson considers the MINI Clubman "a toilet"

Filed under: Wagons/Estates, Etc., MINI, Lifestyle


For all of his popularity and sceptered isle wit, it's probable that Jeremy Clarkson hasn't kept anyone from buying a car they really wanted. Which is a good thing for MINI and those folks looking at a Clubman, because Jezza has this to say about it: "About as desirable as a packet of dung or a can of worms."

Most of his issues with the car are sensible: the third door is on the wrong side for the Brits, no rear visibility due to the split rear doors, massive torque steer, tramlining, and a (still) tiny boot. His other problem with the car doesn't really strike us as a problem: according to Clarkson, the car's natural cruising speed is 110-MPH. Um... that's what cruise control is for... or paying attention to the flow of traffic... because it's not like you could need a larger speedo to keep better track of your progress.

As always, it's an entertaining read, if full of digressions. But as we said, we don't think it will keep even one MINI Clubman from finding a good, private home. For all of its perceived and/or actual shortcomings, MINI is practically the entire reason that the noun "lifestyle" became an adjective, and lifestyle purchases operate on principles that have nothing to do with torque steer and boot volume.

[Source: London Times]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: DiMora Natalia SLS 2: spec list shapes up for $2 million super sedan

Filed under: Concept Cars, Gadgets, Sedans/Saloons, Supercars

click above image to view gallery
As development moves ahead on the Natalia SLS 2, DiMora Motorcar is building an extensive list of equipment from OEMs for the anticipated $2 million super-sedan. The latest: DiMora has announced that the car will come equipped with the HeatFlexx electrically-heated frameless windshield wiper. (It's exciting, we know.) The HeatFlexx system, designed by Von Stach Products, is just one of the many innovations expected to form part of the multi-million-dollar package, the spec sheet of which is starting to shape up. Starting with the windshield wipers.
The more interesting centerpiece of the DiMora Natalia is the Volcano engine, a variable-cylinder aluminum V16 with an output pegged at 1200 horsepower. A four-wheel steering system is also slated, directing the 24-inch rims coated in special run-flat tires. Inside, more than 50 computer will coordinate the engine management, infotainment and climate control systems. Each passenger will have his or her own zoned climate controls, and a deployable front passenger seat will be built in to ease access for the (obscenely wealthy) handicapped.
The DiMora Natalia is a project of Automotive Hall of Famer Alfred J. DiMora , who ambitiously claims "The Natalia will set the standard for 21st Century automotive excellence." As we reported earlier, Luxury Resort Villas placed an early order for 10 Natalias, but without so much as a prototype shown to date, they may have to wait awhile after the expected 2008 delivery.
If you're the type interested in things like frameless windshield wipers, it's your lucky day: we've got the press release for you after the jump.
[Source: DiMora Motorcar]
Gallery: DiMora Motorcar Natalia SLS 2



Continue reading DiMora Natalia SLS 2: spec list shapes up for $2 million super sedan

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Automobile names Audi R8 top car for '08; GM wins for hybrid tech

Filed under: Trends, Sports/GTs, Etc., Tech, Audi, GM

It's that time of year where everyone's prognosticating like Nostradamus about what the coming year will hold. The authoritative ink slingers at Automobile magazine have decided that Audi's R8 deserves the dual honors of 2008 Automobile Of The Year and Design Of The Year, as well. While infused with the generous spirit, Automobile named General Motor's Two-Mode Hybrid rig Technology Of The Year.

The R8 is Audi's sports/GT that looks like a supercar and radiates a glow across the entire Audi model line. Not only does it have neck-snapping visual presence, with a 420 horsepower V8 between the axles, there's a deep well of accelerative force to go along with a finely-tuned AWD chassis that doesn't scramble the occupants. Park the R8 next to some rosso italiano, and the lithe German with its metal side blades, straked vents front and rear, and muscular stance might just steal all the thunder.

Big trucks that return 20mpg in the city have been about as realistic as Tinkerbell, until now. General Motors partnered with BMW and the artist formerly known as DaimlerChrysler to develop a flexible hybrid architecture for a wide variety of applications. The second-generation system, with lots more transmission trickery added to the bag of fuel-saving techniques, is allowing the GMT900 platform to post city EPA mileage numbers not far behind four-cylinder midsizers. Because of the system's joint development, we should start seeing this hardware popping up in a variety of different vehicles soon. We're sure that not everyone will agree with Automobile's picks, so fire away with your own suggestions.

Press release after the jump.Continue reading Automobile names Audi R8 top car for '08; GM wins for hybrid tech

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