Archive for December 2007
Written By: Phil Floraday
December 31st, 2007 5:00 PM
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Most of us aren’t lucky enough to get new vehicles as gifts, so you’ve got to be forking over the money somehow. Do you pay cash (or coin), finance, or lease? Let us know which method you choose and why in comments. Don’t forget to say how long your typical finance term is if you always take out a loan.
Thanks to John Carder for suggesting this Question of the Day!
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Written By: Phil Floraday
December 31st, 2007 4:20 PM
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I can’t help but think Jeep every time I heard the name Willys. Of course ignoring all the other cars, trucks, and wagons that Willys built over the years isn’t fair, so today our eBay pick is a nice Willys two-door sedan.
Overall, the Willys looks like a fairly easy restoration project, but since it hasn’t run in about 10 years there are likely a lot of mechanical bits to be replaced. If you’ve got the time and space for it, this two-door sedan could make a nice project for the new year.
+ eBay: 1953 Willys Aero Eagle
Written By: Evan McCausland
December 31st, 2007 3:30 PM
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Someone better call the plastic surgeon, as it seems Mercedes-Benz can’t keep details of its new facelifts under wraps. After we saw pics of the SLK leak before their unveiling, we’re now seeing what appear to be official photographs of a revised CLS 63 AMG.
Biggest changes (and they’re still somewhat small) are a new grille split into triads up front and larger alloy wheels - possibly around 19″ in size. Out back, we’re seeing some LED lamps, a carbon fiber spoiler and new exhaust tips.
That said, we’re unsure of whether these tweaks are tied to any change in powertrain, so we’ll still have to wait for Benz to fill us in on all the official details. Any bets on how soon afterward we’ll see the real data come forth?
+ Carscoop: 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Facelift Pictures Leak Onto The Net
Written By: Evan McCausland
December 31st, 2007 3:00 PM
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We’ll give UK auto-mag Autocar major props - for its latest series of conceptual renderings, they not only produced exterior sketches, but actually contracted with an engineering firm to speculate on a feasible design.
But what’s it of? The next Lotus supercar? A Jaguar sedan that could actually revive the marque? Nope. Associate editor Hilton Holloway sent artists and engineers at Caporo Design scrambling to revive nothing less of the most iconic London double decker bus - the Routemaster.
(Click through for more on the Routemaster revival)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 31st, 2007 2:31 PM
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Toyota’s Formula One team principal, Tadashi Yamashina, has set a 2010 deadline to turn around the struggling race outfit. Though no consequences have been outlined if the losing continues, it’s becoming clear that pressure is being ramped up back at the home office.
Yamashina said that it will be critical that the organization improve as a whole, and took responsibility for the future by saying, “I have been given two more years. So, we will work and fight to make sure we prove ourselves in the 2008 season.”
(Click through the jump to read on about the Toyota plan for 2008.)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 31st, 2007 1:55 PM
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Women’s driving enthusiast web site EveCars has compiled a list of cars that purports to be ten of the cars that men find the very sexiest on women.
Eve polled “hundreds of men” to find out which ride would be most likely to divert their attention the quickest. The resultant list is somewhat skewed to British tastes (we’re fairly sure that a Caterham wouldn’t make the list for American males), but a nice collection of machinery nonetheless.
(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of cars from Eve’s list.)
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Written By: Evan McCausland
December 31st, 2007 1:30 PM
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Yes, we’ve heard the old adage of the floating Volkswagen time and again, but it seems to only apply to original Beetles - and apparently not the truck carrying new ones. After loading a car carrier full of new VWs at a California port, the truck driver passed out behind the wheel and drove the entire rig into the San Diego Bay.
Authorities claim the driver suffered some form of a “medical emergency,” collapsing behind the wheel and not waking until the truck was well underwater. Fortunately, he was able to escape from the cab and swim up nearly 13 feet, where he was then helped from the dockside.
Thankfully, all that were truly harmed were the truck and three cars that plunged completely into the water, but in the interest of consumer safety, we’re betting VW will follow in the wakes of Mazda’s similar disaster and give all the cars salvage titles. Here’s hoping your special-order R32 wasn’t one of them…
+ 10News: Semitrailer Driver Blacks Out, Drives Off Pier
Written By: Evan McCausland
December 31st, 2007 12:45 PM
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Already planning your purchase of the next-generation Camaro? Take another step towards reality - the list of official production colors has, thanks to an anonymous employee at an anonymous dealership, made its way to the world wide web way before production starts.
Currently, we’re hearing only ten hues will be offered on the car, eight of which currently have samples (pictured). We’re not surprised to see many of them, especially the vibrant “arrest-me” red and yellow paints. Two colors, Switchblade Silver Metallic and Aqua Blue Metallic, are rumored to be new for ‘09; although their name certainly suggests what to expect, we won’t know how they look until closer to the actual launch.
Honestly, it’s hard to know how any of these will look on a real Camaro, so we’ll have to wait a few years to see these in person. That said, what would you think looks good on the F-body revival? Hugger Orange? A blue and yellow Penske throwback? Sound off in the comments below.
+ AutoBlog: In what color would you like your Camaro?
Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 31st, 2007 12:40 PM
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Though these images may look as if they’ve been lifted wholly from the NORAD scenes in the 1980’s classic War Games, they’re actually at the heart of Tokyo’s traffic control center.
This massive traffic nerve center is staffed 24-hours a day, and can show how the city’s traffic is flowing from minute to minute.
(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of Tokyo Traffic Control Center images, or on the jump to read more.)
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Written By: Phil Floraday
December 31st, 2007 12:17 PM
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Toyota is offering a chance to win a new car by dancing at the Washington Auto Show. Contestants will be paired with a professional dancer in an attempt to win a new Prius, Camry Hybrid, or regular Camry, and audience members are eligible to win a Yaris.
The fun begins January 23 if you’re lucky enough to be chosen for the competition. To enter, head to www.dancingfortoyotas.com and submit a video application. Five contestants will be chosen for each age group (18-24, 25-50, and over 50).All entries must be submitted by noon on Friday, January 4th. Good luck.
+ Autoblog: Want a new Toyota? Try “Dancing for Toyotas”
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Written By: Phil Floraday
December 31st, 2007 12:00 PM
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Don’t get too upset, they would be replaced by “blue” cars if JWT ad agency is right. Apparently the marketing world could change gears and sell eco-friendly cars as blue vehicles instead of green vehicles in the new year. Such a move could see the Germans gaining ground with names like Bluetec and Bluemotion.
What do you think? Should blue replace green as the new eco buzzword? Let us know in comments.
+ Green Daily: Ad agency JWT says blue will be the new green (via AutoblogGreen)
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Written By: Evan McCausland
December 31st, 2007 11:45 AM
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Those concerned that Mazda’s newest Demio (or Mazda2, outside of Japan) may be a bit too stale for enthusiasts tastes can rest assured: Mazda hears your complaints. Coming to the Tokyo Auto Salon this January is the Mazdaspeed Demio concept, an attempt at putting more “zoom-zoom” into the sub-compact hatchback.
(Click through for more on Mazda’s conceptual hot hatch)
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Next >
Cadillac CTS-V Laps Nurburgring in Sedan Record 7:59:32
Opel Insignia Hatchback Spied Undisguised 
The Rise of Hyundai: From Mitsubishi Borrower to Possible M-B Supplier
First Look At Possible New MG TF
So Long Super Aguri: Financial Woes Cause Formula One Team to Call it A Day
