Section: L.A. Auto Show
Written By: Seyth Miersma
May 6th, 2008 12:00 PM
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Detroit’s own D Business magazine featured a recent interview and photo session with Cadillac boss Jim Taylor, in which the executive talks about the CTS Coupe that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this year, as well as a pair of very interesting theme motorcycles.
A motorcycle enthusiast himself, Taylor commissioned the Cadillac chopper in the photo above from Great American Chopper of Clawson, Michigan. More interesting still is a second bike that’s still in the works, which will feature a hybrid engine capable of running on ethanol or in a pure electric mode.
The hybrid Cadillac bike is being built by V20 Consulting of New York City, and has been tasked with displaying “GM’s strength in science and technology.” The bike is purported to be capable of a 0 to 60 sprint of 4.5 seconds, and should be unveiled for the public at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
+ D Business
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 12th, 2008 9:30 AM
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Perhaps coming to the U.S. for an L.A. Auto Show reveal, this early image, scanned from a Japanese magazine, claims to tell us what the new Nissan 370Z will look like.
The upcoming Z looks to be a slightly fussier version of the car we have now, with detailed character lines along the side of the body, and a more complex front fascia. The lines seem to have been softened a bit from the current car as well, giving a curvier overall appearance.
But the most dominating feature on this potential preview of the 370 is the set of triangular LED headlights that look to be an entirely new design. The lamps look a little undersized for the car’s face, and their shape reminds us an awful lot of the Starfleet insignia, perhaps as a nod to the futuristic nature of the new Z. Tell us what you think of this early rendering in comments.
+ Autoblog: Holy Headlights! Nissan 370Z details appear in Japanese mag
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Peter Nunn
February 7th, 2008 2:00 PM
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So now it’s final. Nissan will showcase the next new Z-Car at the L.A. Auto Show this November. This will be the real thing, not a teaser, according to a source, who added that the car looks ‘fantastic.’’
A lot of blurb on the new Z is already out in cyberspace but yes, the new Z will be shorter than now (some four-inches, apparently) but a touch wider, still have two-seats and yes, power will come from the same excellent 3.7-liter V-6 found in the Infiniti G37 Coupe.
So welcome the 370Z and while the new design will be evolutionary, we understand it’s still instantly and unmistakably a Z. Roll on November.
Written By: Phil Floraday
December 30th, 2007 9:00 AM
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Acura is going to let anyone inside the Detroit, Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles Auto Shows have a crack at configuring a 2008 Acura. The mobile displays allow potential customers to spec out a vehicle and select the color of the finished car right inside the Acura display area. Of course the same thing can be done on the Acura website, but perhaps there’s something to specing out a car you’re actually looking at that will convert more of these shoppers into buyers.
Would you prefer to spec out your Acura on the floor of an auto show or from the comfort of your home office? Let us know in comments.
+ Born Rich: Acura Color & Trim interactive touch screen experience
Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 17th, 2007 12:10 PM
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While the hybrid nation is still growing by leaps and bounds, not all drivers are taken with the Toyota-style hybrid that does very well about town, but behaves much like a regular car on the highway.
(Click through the jump to read on about Nissan’s new hybrid.)
continued →
Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 14th, 2007 11:45 AM
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Dodge has released pricing information on the ferocious 2008 Viper SRT10 ACR that made its debut at the L.A. Auto Show last month, keeping its promise to offer the car at less than $100,000.
(Click through the jump to find out exactly how much Dodge demands for this track demon.)
continued →
Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 6th, 2007 3:00 PM
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If you’ll remember, ages ago we promised to bring you the final product of the Mazda Design Challenge, which speculated on the look of the company’s 2018 Mazda3.
Well, the final result is up and available to look at in the Mazda space on Facebook.com, which hosted the contest. We have to say that the concept isn’t half bad. Drawing largely on the flowing shapes and organic inspirations that have been seen in all of Mazda’s recent show cars, the 2018 3 seems a credible, and forward-looking take on the shape of a future small car.
Congratulations are due to the winning designer, industrial design student Mallory McMorrow, who’s earned herself an impressive feather for her portfolio.
+ Facebook
Written By: Seyth Miersma
December 3rd, 2007 11:50 AM
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Designer Fabrizio Giugiaro had to learn the hard way what most Americans who’ve traveled through the narrow streets of Europe could have told him right off; Mustangs are too big for Bulgaria.
Giugiaro, who serves as the styling director for Italdesign-Giugiaro and created the stunning 2006 Giugiaro Mustang concept from the Los Angeles Auto Show, was driving that car on Friday after its appearance at the Lux Only exhibition in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Driving the Mustang to a visit with Sofia mayor Boyko Borissov, Giugiaro inadvertently scratched the alloy rims of the concept, while trying to park in the streets of Sofia. Though no other damage to the car was reported, and the scratches on the rims seem quite minimal from the picture above, the news was still sad for the Bulgarians who saw the concept at the expo and found that “words simply fail to describe the interpretation of the world-class coachbuilder.”
We’re just happy it was Fabrizio and not the world’s unluckiest Bulgarian valet who was parking the concept. Refresh your memories of the Giugiaro concept with our gallery of images from the concept’s reveal last year.
+ Novinite: Ford Mustang by Giugiaro Scratches Rims on Sofia Streets
Written By: Peter Nunn
November 27th, 2007 11:55 AM
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America won’t have to wait long for Nissan’s shapely new Murano. Fresh from its debut at the 2007 L.A. Auto Show, this second-generation Murano will hit U.S. dealers as soon as January 2008.
This Mark II Murano has already had its line-off ceremony at the Kyushu factory in Japan that will build it. Output will start off at 6000-7000 units per month for now, but once production for Japan and Europe comes on stream, it’ll rise to 10,000 units per month.
Nissan had a smash hit with the original Murano and designing a new one was always going to be tough. This new edition, which even Nissan admits is a “super evolution” comes again with a VQ-series 3.5-liter V-6 but on board this time is an improved, second generation Xtronic CVT.
Written By: Seyth Miersma
November 20th, 2007 5:00 PM
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Though the media days are passed at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the show floor remains open to the public throughout the holiday weekend. We thought that with a few days of perusal, live or via the Internet, under the belts of our readers, asking which vehicles tickled your fancy the most might be illuminating.
Be it Lincoln’s MKS, Hyundai’s Genesis Coupe, or even something a little flashier; tell us what your favorite part of the 2007 L.A. Auto Show was in ‘comments’.
Written By: Seyth Miersma
November 19th, 2007 11:31 AM
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Volkswagen and Apple enthusiasts have no doubt been keeping abreast of the news regarding the potential for collaboration between those two companies. One potentially positive sign as to the march towards some kind of iCar, is this video highlighting the display functions in VW’s newest Up! concept, shown at the L.A. Auto Show.Though details are still scanty as to the origins of the display software, what is in evidence is the clearly Apple-like interface of the panel. The movement of the icons within the display, strongly recalls Apple’s “cover flow” movement found in iTunes, on iPhone, et all.
Could this early interface in a concept car be hinting at a bigger automotive role for Apple? Give us your opinion in ‘comments’.
+ Autoblog: Evidence of Apple and VW collaboration on up! dashboards?
Written By: Seyth Miersma
November 16th, 2007 11:55 AM
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Just when you thought that the automotive world was starting to loose a bit of its old fashioned glamour, DUB magazine comes along with an SL600 and a Bedazzler.
Actually we’re not exactly sure that the Bedazzler could handle 300,000 Swarovski crystals, and we know it couldn’t do the Bavarian White mammoth skin seat covers.
What else can really be said about a car that’s had its cup holders replaced with pimp cup holder? Grab your darkest sunglasses and browse our gallery of the Studio 54 of automotive tuning, oh, and don’t forget to leave a detailed reaction in comments.
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