Archive for June 2006
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 30th, 2006 5:04 PM
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Can’t wait for Porsche’s official stab at a Bugatti beater? German übertuner Gemballa appears to be further along with plans to rework the company’s already spectacular Carrera GT.
Normally, we’re particularly wary of tuners messing with ultra-rare, high-dollar supercars. One only need look back at a 1980’s Strosek Porsche 928 or Koenig-fettled 911 to comprehend our trepidation. Simply put, time has generally not been kind to those who traffic in body kits.
Of course, to suggest that Gemballa’s Mirage GTR is simply the result of monkeying about with a box of sill extensions and wings would be hugely ignorant, but still, you can understand our worries. Either way, the styling of Gemballa’s latest looks fantastically convincing, if only with our 2006 glasses on.
Timeless look or no, the tuning haus has ambitious goals for the GTR, including a 1,000 horsepower drivetrain good for 0-61 mph in 3.5 seconds and a massive top speed of 251 mph. Integral to achieving those impressive bogeys? Copious quantities of carbon fiber bodywork, and .cd improvements like replacing the side mirrors for a camera system.
+ Gemballa
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 30th, 2006 3:32 PM
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Renault and Nissan are apparently interested in purchasing a ’significant stake’ in ailing automaker General Motors. This, according to a missive sent by investor Kirk Kerkorian’s Trancinda Corp. In the letter, Trancida implored GM’s board to investigate the possibilities quickly and completely, noting that Kerkorian’s company has already been in contact with Louis Schweitzer and Carolos Ghosn, chairmen of Renault and Nissan, respectively.
General Motors’ stock shares rocketed on the news, and were seen up about eight percent by mid day.
+ Reuters: Investor advocates deal with Nissan (via CNNMoney.com)
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 30th, 2006 2:58 PM
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According to the Wall Street Journal, Chrysler is expected to use this weekend’s NASCAR Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup race in Daytona Beach, Florida to announce that it will build the new Dodge Challenger.
The expected announcement for the muscle car throwback has reportedly been bumped ahead by several months in an effort to drive dealer traffic, in part for a new employee-pricing plan just approved for all consumers. The incentive campaign will include zero-percent financing for up to 36 months, along with a novel 30-day money-back guarantee.
+ Reuters: Chrysler to announce plans for new Challenger: report
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 30th, 2006 2:22 PM
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Nissan has let loose some of its boffins at its Technical Centre in Europe, and they’ve come up with the 350Z GT-S seen here. Set to debut at Britain’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the augmented coupe benefits from Novidem forced induction, which raises the Z’s stakes to 377 horsepower and 313 lb-ft. of torque. Other mod-by-numbers features include a new wheel and tire package, body kit from eurotuner Strosek, suspension tweaks and lower-restriction pipework.
No word on whether the GT-S will see production.
+ Autoblog: Nissan UK shows off the 350Z GT-S concept
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 30th, 2006 12:03 PM
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‘The Way Forward’ is not paved with 250,000 hybrids. The Ford Motor Company is backing away from its bid to produce a quarter-million gas-electric by decade’s end.
Instead, the Blue Oval’s alternate plan is to build more flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on E-85.
In a new interview with the New York Times, CEO Bill Ford pointed out that “The goal all along is a sustainability goal. It is not a hybrid goal.”
Although Ford is likely to draw some ire from environmental groups for defaulting on its hybrid goal, the move is likely to appeal to Wall Street, as ethanol-fuelled vehicles are significantly cheaper to develop and manufacture, and the company’s struggle to sell its existing lineup of Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids has been well publicized.
Click through to the article for more on Ford’s alternative plans.
+ The New York Times: Ford Shifts Its Focus Away From Hybrid Vehicles
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 30th, 2006 10:24 AM
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Here’s an odd one — a young woman in Germany is apparently not only offering up the keys to her red Ferrari Enzo, she’s throwing in the set that unlocks her heart, too.
A 26-year old woman known only as ‘Leila’ claims to have worked as a singer in Syria, and is now hoping to auction off her Enzo on eBay Deutschland. The rationale for her bonus self-gifting? “‘Only a millionaire could afford such a car… I want a man who doesn’t like me just for my money.’”
Funny thing, Leila - we can’t stand it when people cozy up to us because of our Enzos.
+ Reuters: Woman auctions herself with her Ferrari (via 4Car)
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 30th, 2006 7:05 AM
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‘Mazda 3s’ a user on the popular Volkswagen enthusiast website VW Vortex, has captured these shots of an undisguised 2007 Honda CR-V out plying public roads. The brand’s smallest crossover receives a pugnacious (and controversial) new schnoz, a radical new greenhouse form, and taillamps that appear to be cribbed from a Saab 9-3 SportCombi.
While there is some conjecture among the forum’s users as to whether the design represents the pur sang production vehicle, there’s good reason to believe it does— some journalists we know just returned from the CR-V’s long-lead ride-and-drive up in Canada earlier this week.
+ VW Vortex: Next Gen Honda CR-V Unmasked
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 29th, 2006 4:07 PM
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Most Chevrolet Corvette owners are probably completely unaware that they missed out by not ticking the box for Option R8C. No, it isn’t a trick bit of go-faster or corner-tighter hardware. In fact, it doesn’t really add anything to the vehiclel itself, but it does enhance ownership experience. So what is R8C? It’s a neat factory direct allows buyers to pick up their new sports car at the National Corvette Museum.
By specifying Option R8C (circa $500), buyers receive a tour of the Bowling Green, Kentucky plant and are allowed to watch their baby being born, then drive it off the assembly line personally. In addition to the full V.I.P tour treatment at the museum and a range of plaques and photographs, buyers’ new rides are installed in the Corvette Nursery and owners are given a hands-on orientation of their new vehicle.
While ‘Kentucky pickup’ may not have the same ring to it as ‘European delivery,’ the experience of watching your car being minted is one everyone should get to experience at least once. By that measure, Option R8C is something of a bargain.
+ GM FYI Blog: The National Corvette Museum and Option R8C
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 29th, 2006 12:01 PM
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In a recent discussion over dinner with auto journalists and various p.r. folk, the topic of consumer recognition of brand linkages came up. More to the point, the question was raised as to whether average Americans are cognizant of the linkages between, say, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche (nevermind Bentley and Bugatti). Not the intricacies of the arrangements, mind… just their existence.
Literally hours after that conversation, a new Associated Press piece came across the wire, indicating that DaimlerChrysler has been doing some research as to how much Joe Customer recognizes that Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler Corp. have merged. The answer, it would appear, is not as much as one might think.
As such, as part of a new marketing initiative, Chrysler will launch a new ad campaign which will feature Chairman Dieter Zetsche drawing linkages between the Three-Pointed Star and the Pentastar. The aim, according to company officials, is to make customers aware that Benz technology and engineering lurk inside Chrysler products.
+ AP via Mlive: Chrysler finds few know it’s associated with Mercedes
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 29th, 2006 10:17 AM
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The price of city parking may be about to ratchet up a notch, but at least convenience is likely to go along with it. A new company named SpotScout has announced plans to affix a price tag to those friendly (if rare) moments when fellow motorists wave you into a parking spot they’ve just vacated.
The company’s business plan is predicated on selling “information about intentionality.” In other words, registered users post the time and location of the parking space they’re are expecting to leave, and the price for the privilege of following them. New parkers are still obligated to pay any other charges (read: parking meters), of course.
In either case, parking and pricing data is entered into portable electronic devices, at which point buyer and seller agree on the transaction, and monies are electronically exchanged from accounts once the transaction is consummated. Down the road, the service may be integrated into sat-nav systems.
So… what’s SpotScout’s interest in the process? 15-percent of every successful park.
+ CNN/Money: Leaving that parking space? Auction it off
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 29th, 2006 7:49 AM
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Photographs of the coming Jaguar XKR convertible have apparently been leaked to the internet, as a few sites now have now got their digital mitts on them.
As seen here, the XKR Cabrio benefits from a mesh grille and intake treatment that’s likely to be repeated with the fixed-head coupe model. Underhood, a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 is expected to be matched with a six-speed gearbox, generating a reported 416 horsepower.
Both the XKR coupe and convertible are expected to debut on July 18 at the British International Motor Show in London, with a U.S. debut at August’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
+ Jalopnik: 2007 Jaguar XKR Convertible Revealed!
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 28th, 2006 5:25 PM
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Caparo’s outrageous T1 is set to grace Goodwood in July. The UK-built supercar is slated to make its home-soil debut at the legendary Festival of Speed on July 7.
The T1’s UK unveiling will sadly be a static one, pending a proper assault on the event’s storied hill climb in 2007. Until then, potential customers and performance-quoting types will have to sate themselves with the knowledge that the Caparo is set to be the first production vehicle to deliver 1,000 bhp-per-ton. With a supercharged 2.4-liter V8 putting out about 500 horsepower (and possessing a 10,500 RPM redline), the ultra-light T1 is expected to go from 0-60mph in just 2.5 seconds.
The company’s first customer deliveries are expected later this year.
+ Caparo via Autoblog
Next >
Nissan Confirms Upcoming G37 Convertible, 'Mini SUV' 
Ford Readies 2009 Focus Coupe for American Idol Reveal
Ford Planning to Revive F-100?
Ferrari California Revealed!
Lamborghini Picks L.A. for U.S. Headquarters
