Autoblog: News Thread

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Chery A6 coupe heads into production

Filed under: Coupes, China

View in hi-res courtesy of Autoblog Chinese
If you're still under the impression that Chinese automakers are only building knock-offs of existing cars and small sedans through joint venture with foreign carmakers, think again. The Chery A6, previewed at the Shanghai show by the A6CC concept, is heading into production.
The car recently completed testing, and is scheduled to go on sale sometime in the latter half of 2008. Based on the Chery A6 sedan, the A6 coupe uses the company's front-drive B2 platform. It will come available with a choice of engines - including a 2.0-liter turbo, a 2.4-liter V6 and a 3.0-liter V6 - mated to either a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic.
With the new A6 coupe, Chery apparently wants to slip unnoticed into foreign markets - the styling is a little bland - but if it plans to sell the A6 range outside of China, the company may meet some resistance from Audi, whose mid-range sedan already uses that alphanumeric designation.
[Source: Winding Road]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Top Gear gives Fiat 500 another award, though Captain Slow didn't like it

Filed under: Trends, Euro, Hatchbacks, FIAT, UK

Fiat's undeniably adorable 500 has closed off the year with yet another award. The retro-licious little supermini already won the car award of all car awards when it took the 2008 European Car of the Year award, which it somehow managed to squeeze into its little hatch packed with the Auto Europa 2008 award, EuroCarBody 2007 and the Auto Trophy.
The latest to pile on the praise is Top Gear magazine, which named the Fiat 500 its favorite City Car in the BBC Top Gear Awards 2007. Rival publication CAR also named the 500 its Car of the Year, as did rival television program Fifth Gear. Ironically, though, James May (a.k.a. Captain Slow) didn't like the 500.

That's a lot of accolades for such a small car, which Fiat is hoping will help turn its fortunes around as part of its recent resurgence in the marketplace.
[Source: Italiaspeed]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Force India delays driver announcement until January 11

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings

With the majority of F1 teams gearing up to unveil their new cars, all but two have confirmed their drivers for the upcoming season. The only seats still up for grabs are with Force India and Super Aguri, and while the former was expected to confirm its drivers before the end of the year, that date has now been pushed off until January 11.
Adrian Sutil is all but completely confirmed to take one of the seats at the team formerly known as Spyker and before that as Jordan since its founding in 1991. But a number of drivers remain hopeful to take the second seat, including Renault refugee Giancarlo Fisichella, former Toro Rosso driver Vitantonio Liuzzi, former Jaguar/Red Bull/Honda pilot Christian Klien and Rold&aacute;n Rodr&iacute;guez, currently slated as Force India's test driver. Veteran racer Ralf Schumacher, as we previously reported, tested for the seat, but previous reports that the German driver would have to sit out the 2008 season have now been confirmed.
Once Force India confirms its drivers in two weeks, only Super Aguri, recently confirmed by Honda for another season, will be left to announce its roster. Takuma Sato is expected to take one seat and the second remains a wild card likely to be contested by whoever doesn't get the second Force India seat.
Follow the jump to view the confirmed drivers for the 2008 Formula One World Championship.
[Source: F1-Live, Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty]
Continue reading Force India delays driver announcement until January 11

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Pony down! Man pushes his Mustang off a mountain and reports it stolen

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Etc., Ford

We can't figure out what was going on in the mind of Richard Way Jr. as his Ford Mustang careened down a mountain. The Claysburg, PA man is suspected of pushing his pony down an embankment and then reporting it stolen. A cousin of Way told police he saw him removing stereo equipment from the car and had been asked to help in the scheme. So much for trusting family. Way has since been arraigned on charges of filing false police reports as well as theft and insurance fraud. And by the way, no Mustangs were injured in the reporting of this story; the above pic is fake in case you couldn't tell.

[Source: Yahoo]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Business as Usual: Nanjing will continue building Fiats post-divorce

Filed under: China, Plants/Manufacturing, FIAT

Fiat and Nanjing may have divorced their marriage on passenger cars, but that shouldn't affect their offspring. Following Fiat's withdrawal from its joint venture with the Chinese automaker, production of three current Fiat models at the Nanjing plant is expected to continue.
With demand for the Sino-Italian cars slowly dwindling, Nanjing Fiat Auto was expected to continue production in the short term only to satisfy orders placed, and the manufacturing of spare parts to support the service of the cars already sold will also continue for years to come. However, recent reports indicate that as part of its divorce with Fiat, Nanjing acquired the rights to continue building the Palio Weekend wagon, Siena sedan and Perla (a larger sedan having been developed in China and based on the Siena platform) under a different badge. Component suppliers in China report that they have received no cancellation on shipments to the assembly plant, so they're expecting to continue on with business as usual.
[Source: Automotive News Europe (sub. req'd) via Italiaspeed]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Happy New Year from Autoblog!

2007 is nearly in the history books so we wanted to take this time to wish you a happy new year and a great 2008. This past year has been very good to us, and since you're directly responsible for that by being a reader, you deserve all the praise.

It's been a year of ups and downs for the auto industry, as well. Chrysler was sold, GM finally started selling world-class product, Toyota's impeccable reputation for quality got tarnished, the UAW negotiated historic contracts with all three domestic automakers, and the list goes on...

We want to know: what's the biggest auto-related story of 2007? Put your nominations in the comments and include a link to the Autoblog post we wrote about it. Let's relive the good times and the bad in the hope that 2008 is just as exciting and interesting.
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: "Blue" the new "Green" in automotive environmentalism

Filed under: Green, Marketing/Advertising, Lifestyle
Blue is, among other things, the color of the doldrums (the blues), the unknown (out of the blue), the cold or airless (turning blue), the ocean (the big blue), Democrats (blue states), and racy films (blue movies). According to ad agency JWT, 2008 could see blue take on more meaning: becoming the "color of environmentalism, social conscience, and all-round niceness. JWT notes that blue is the color of the sea and the sky, making it easier for people to identify it with the current hot-button issue of climate change."

It's interesting that JWT thinks blue sea and skies make it "easier for people to identify" with environmental concerns. Like green trees and the green, green grass of home are just to damned abstract to really understand what this whole saving-the-Earth thing is all about. It's not like we need anything else clouding the environmental debate -- like Bluetec and Bluemotion, which both utilize green diesel technology. So instead of trying to figure out if you're a blue-greenie or a green-greenie, why don't we just call it teal and get on with being good to the Earth?

[Source: AutoblogGreen]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Russian man lets activists throw rotten food at his H3

Filed under: SUVs, Etc., Green, HUMMER
An intriguingly-named group of Russian environmental activists, "Peter Antiglobalism," wanted to make a statement about the pernicious effects of consumerism. What they needed was something they could pelt with rotten dairy goods and vegetables. What they got was a Russian man who agreed to let them throw the aforementioned foodstuffs at his HUMMER H3.

The unidentified H3 owner has said he'll auction the vehicle and give the proceeds to charity. He gave no indication if this in any way signifies how he feels about his H3, HUMMERs in general, or consumerism -- but hey, it's a good deed for charity, so it can't be all bad. And if you're looking for a bargain on a HUMMER needing nothing more than a good detailing, you'll want to head Moscow way.

[Source: Yahoo!]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring

Filed under: Garage, Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Hatchbacks, Toyota

Click image for high-res gallery of the 2007 Toyota Prius Touring

Regarding Toyota's poster child for "green" motoring, I had never really been a fan and I'm as guilty as anyone of taking the occasional swipe at the petro-lectro hatch. Hey, it's an easy target. With some followers who see it as a kind of four-wheeled Messiah capable of preventing the sky from falling, it's easy to look at the Prius, roll your eyes, and scoff at the hyperbolic ridiculousness that is "Prius Culture." I had done all these things. Call me a hater. I don't mind. To top things off, I had never even driven a Prius. So I asked Toyota for one, figuring that if I was going to continue being a smartass, I might as well be an informed one.
Gallery: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring


All photos Copyright (C)2007 Alex N&uacute;&ntilde;ez / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: Biggest auto news story of the year for only $150k

Filed under: Auction Action, Etc., Safety


Fame and fortune has a purchase price: $150,000, on eBay. How can you get it? There's an automobile design flaw that's killing massive numbers of people. When it is revealed, "billions of dollars worth of personal injury and wrongful death litigation" will commence. Want to know what it is? Then head over to eBay and pay someone called "topshopper" $150,000 for the rights to the story.
This has got to be the most interesting auto-related auction we've seen all year -- which is saying something, with all that's flopped over the transom of eBay over the last twelve months. There's a even solution for this mystery mass-death-causing flaw, for which a (supposed) patent is pending. No word on whether topshopper holds the key to that as well. And topshopper, you'll be glad to know, has a 100% feedback rating for his or her two transactions over the last seven years.
We have no idea what it could be, but if you do buy the rights, please let us know first. We promise to give you credit. And when you're finished spreading the word on that story, we here at Autoblog have a map that can tell you where monsters and leprechauns live. We have a picture of a unicorn to prove it. Make your checks payable to Autoblog...
Thanks for the tip, John!
[Source: eBay]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: VIDEO: BMW M1

Filed under: Time Warp, Videos, Supercars, BMW

BMW's performance division has made such a name for itself that the letter M has become synonymous with high-performance German sedans and coupes. But the vehicle that started it all was about as Italian as any Teutonic sports car could ever be: a low-slung, mid-engined machine designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign and built in cooperation with Lamborghini as a homologation special.
The only mid-engine BMW ever made, the roadgoing M1 featured the naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter 279hp twin-cam six later used in the 635CSi and M5. Like a great many short-lived supercars, we have homologation regulations to thank for the M1's existence: 456 examples were built between 1978 and 1981 in order to qualify for Group 5 competition.
Although the turbocharged 850-horsepower version was never a great success in Group 5 racing, it was later entered in the Procar series in support of Formula One races in the late seventies, in which a Marlboro-sponsored Niki Lauda took the title in 1979. The M1 went on to win the IMSA GTO title in 1981.
Follow the jump to check out the video action.
[Source: Carscoop]
Continue reading VIDEO: BMW M1

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Zagato designs for Wyler Genève

Filed under: Gadgets

click above image to view in high resolution
The name Zagato might as well be Italian for "exclusive"; that's exactly what their designs are. Although the carrozzeria has been designing cars since 1919, their most recent designs have all been extremely limited editions. Creations like the Maserati GS Zagato and Ferrari 575 GTZ had just one example made of each. The Spyker C12 Zagato was planned for 24 copies, but those plans have since been shelved. The design house recently announced that the Diatto GT Ottovu would be produced in a limited run of 99, like the 2002 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato, which seems like mass-production by comparison. So it makes sense that when the Milanese design atelier turned their attention to creating a wristwatch, they would only make 25 examples.
The striking timepiece you see here is the result of a new long-term collaboration between Zagato and Swiss watchmakers Wyler Gen&egrave;ve, forged out of the childhood friendship between the heads of both companies. Zagato designed the titanium case which houses the mechanical "manufacture" - i.e., built completely in-house - movement suspended in a carbon fiber and resin frame on shock absorbers. The dial features an F-E power reserve indicator like a fuel gauge on a car, and like Chopard's Mille Miglia and Pirelli's P.Zero watches, is strapped to the wrist with a rubber tire-tread strap.
You can bet the pricing is on a "if you have to ask" basis, but if you have the means and missed the 25 Zagato watches being offered, don't fret - let your bank manager do that for you. The same case design is being used on Wyler's new tourbillon, a complicated rotating form of watch movement that typically sells well into a likewise very automotive five-figure range.
Click on the image gallery below to see more. Complete press release after the jump.
[Source: Wyler Gen&egrave;ve]
Gallery: Wyler Geneve Zagato


Continue reading Zagato designs for Wyler Genève

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Chinese man crashes Mercedes S350, vows to only drive Chinese-built cars

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, China, Etc., Safety, Mercedes Benz


Car accidents inspiring bouts of nationalism aren't all that new. However, this could be the shakiest case of it that we've heard of recently. Wang Zhan, the Chinese owner of a Mercedes S350, rear-ended a DongFeng van. In spite of the rather severe damage done to the car, the airbags didn't deploy, and Zhan and his daughter had to make a trip to the hospital. When the medication wore off, Mr. Zhan knew immediately what he needed to do: hold a press conference and announce that he'd only be buying Chinese goods for the rest of his life.

Based on the damage, it looks like he was doing some serious speed when it happened, and it's clear that the airbags should have deployed. Mr. Zhan said Mercedes never gave him a satisfactory answer as to why they didn't. Still, it happens, and we can imagine a number of other vehicles in which such an accident would have prevented Zhan from doing anything else, ever -- like, oh, some models from China. And we wouldn't mind knowing how the DongFeng van fared. Yet while we all know this never would have happened in a Geely, we might recommend that Zhan perhaps try something from Sweden first...

[Source: Winding Road]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Rolling over car loans could signal disaster for car sales

Filed under: Etc.

As bad as the whole sub-prime loan fiasco has been in the mortgage industry, there was at least some rationale to it. Over time the value of real estate generally increases and if someone buys a house they have a reasonable expectation of being able to sell it for more than they paid. Of course that presumes you don't ridiculously over-pay in the first place. However, aside from some rare classic cars, no car ever goes up in value. In fact, many people refuse to buy new cars for the very reason that they depreciate as soon as you drive them off the lot.

Given that, how could anyone who owes more on a car loan than the car is worth ever expect to rollover the extra debt to a new loan and ever get ahead? How could any bank or credit company ever expect such a deal to be a good idea? Apparently, such deals where people apply the upside down difference on a loan toward a subsequent loan have become common in recent years. Even if the real estate market weren't in the process of imploding such deals would inevitably lead to a situation where the buyer could no longer afford to keep buying. If carmakers have kept their sales volumes going on this kind of financing, sales that have already been sagging could go into complete free fall.

[Source: Detroit News]
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[Stuart]

Seems quite clear to me.
The dodgy Chinese van he hit had no rear bumper bar.
So the car has gone under the back of the van.
It has peeled back the bonnet and then ridden up the windsceen pillars.

The damage looks severe. but the deceleration was not. So the airbags did not deploy.
He seems to be suffering from a complete lack of facial injuries, which shows the car did what it was supposed to do.

Maybe he ought to consider looking where he was going.
Traffic in China is bloody dangerous.

In Taiwan it looks a bit chaotic, but you can see after a while that there are clear rules. In China it seems at times that there are no rules.

 

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Thanks to CAFE, Detroit three (finally) embrace diesels

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Green
Diesel vehicles have nearly a 50-percent market share in Europe, thanks to tax incentives and diesel-friendly legislation across the EU. Diesels are so pass&eacute; there that you can buy a BMW 730d and no one will think it odd that your luxury car burns oil. Pull up in a diesel 7-Series in America and people would leer at you like you've alighted from an amphibious vehicle reeking of saltwater and dead trout.
But now, thanks to the oft-reported combo of newly-raised CAFE standards, not-so-newly-raised gas prices, and the 50-state diesel engine, GM, Ford, and Chrysler are about to dip more than a hesitant toe into the diesel game. Chrysler offers a diesel in the Grand Cherokee, but soon all three automakers will offer diesels in their best-selling lineups of light trucks -- the Dodge Ram 1500 is expected to offer a 50-state diesel after 2009. Light trucks are being used to lead the charge since those buyers stand to gain the most with the least amount of (perceived) sacrifice.
Diesels currently have 3.2-percent of the American market. Some estimates put them at 15-percent by 2015. That's a huge leap, and diesel still has plenty of hurdles. Diesels will come with a cost premium over gasoline-engined cars. That should be easy enough to conquer -- incentives and some quick cost and longevity calculations should convince people of the benefit. The real hurdle is the nagging issue of perception. The plan will probably be to attack that with a price that makes the proposition unbeatable. Said Chrysler's director of environmental affairs, "If it's priced right, we can sell diesel here. Diesel can give you an immediate poke in fuel economy -- 20 to 40 percent. Not many technologies can deliver that today."
[Source: Detroit News]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Spy Shots: streamlined new Renault Megane

Filed under: Spy Photos, Euro, Hatchbacks, Renault
With the Clio and Laguna having recently undergone complete replacement, Renault is now turning its attention to its middle range, and the automotive paparazzi have caught camouflaged mules undergoing testing on the open road.
Scheduled to bow at next September's Paris show, the third-generation Megane is expected to do away with the current model's sharp creases in favor of a smoother silhouette. The spy shots show that the current Megane's distinctive upright curved rear glass will give way to a more streamlined greenhouse, drawing on the lines of the new Laguna sedan. The range is anticipated to include three-door and five-door hatches, an estate wagon, a two-door coupe and a hardtop convertible. The new Megane's normally-aspirated 1.4-liter base engine is expected to be replaced by the Clio's 1.2-liter turbo, but otherwise the engines should carry over from the current model's, ranging all the way to the 225-horsepower turbo Renaultsport version.
[Source: Auto Express]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: AutoblogGreen for 01.02.08

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green


The new year is here and that means countless Top Ten lists have recently come and gone. We have one question: how come a list of the ten best concept cars of 2007 does not include the Chevy Volt? Is AutoblogGreen a little too certain that this car deserves a place on a list like that? Looking towards the future, we've been seeing reports that oil prices are set to continue their upward climb. Happy New Year!

• Is that your final answer? Chevy Volt missing from AN's Top Ten Concepts of 2007 list
• Oil prices set for highest annual gain this decade
• What's the plural of Prius?
• Citigroup: New energy bill will push ethanol prices higher
• Petrochina plans to install new biofuel facilities
• Japanese rail company to build $45 billion MagLev train
• Video interview with the winners of Robocar 2057
• REA takes an "unbiased approach" to comparing transportation fuels
• Exclusive video of DaimlerChrysler's hybrid engine
• Continental plans to start series production of LiIon batteries in 2008
• A view of the 21st Century: Bjorn Lomborg's "Cool It"
• How better to power the underwater sQuba car than on batteries?
• In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring
• Volvo could develop a robot that plugs in your car

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Own the first Mustang ever sold for only $42,064.26/month

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Ford


As the Baby Boomer generation ages, classic muscle cars are going for astounding prices at auction. While a simple authentic restoration can fetch a pretty penny, the most desirable models usually hold some unique title as well. One such vehicle is this 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Convertible found listed on ClassicMuscleCars.com. The listing claims the pony is the first Mustang Convertible to roll off the production line intended for public consumption. Apparently it is also the first Mustang ever sold as it was pre-ordered and delivered the day before the car was officially unveiled at dealerships. Documentation is included that verifies the vehicle's status. As expected the price of this coveted 'Stang doesn't come cheap, but there are financial options. It can be added to your collection for $42,064.26, but that is only a monthly payment with $1,000,000 down. Got deeper pockets? You can drive it home (or flatbed it, more likely) by handing over a lump sum of $5,500,000. Get a better view of the five million dollar 'Stang in the gallery below.

[Source: Classic Muscle Cars]
Gallery: 1964.5 Ford Mustang Convertible


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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: VIDEO: Honda's Rose Parade float leaves Pasadena speechless

Filed under: Etc., Videos


Honda's Rose Parade floats have always been ambitious. Just witness the fire-breathing dragons from 2007. As we reported earlier, this year Honda decided to pimp out its own product by creating a larger-than-life Ridgeline truck entirely from organic material per the rules of the Tournament of Roses parade. This was no ordinary Ridgeline, however, as were told it would transform into a flying spaceship piloted by Honda's own robot ambassador and future oppressor of man, Asimo. We have to admit that even we were impressed with the float when it idled by in between the stands of silenced parade goers. You'll see in the videos after the jump that those present were eerily quiet as Honda's Passport to the Future float transformed into a flying space ship and then shot some fire from its afterburners. Listen closely and you'll even hear that trademark Transformers sound. You can also check out the official parade footage, complete with voiceover from two very annoying announcers, by clicking here.

[Source: YouTube, Jalopnik]
Gallery: Honda Rose Bowl float

Continue reading VIDEO: Honda's Rose Parade float leaves Pasadena speechless

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