Latest Cars News Blog: июля 2009

UofM Doctoral student is driving to California fueled by Ammonia

Amonia Fueled S-10 from U of M As the race to find the ultimate alternative fuel that will save us from big oil and create a safer, cleaner means of driving is under way more and more racers are getting their registration cards in. The most recent applicant is the ammonia fueled S-10 from the University of Michigan. The man responsible for the Ammonia S-10 is Shawn Grannell, a doctoral student who is looking to raise awareness of the advantages of ammonia as a quick and easy fuel source for todays cars. This is also his doctoral thesis, so it is told. So if it does not work does that mean he will be held back a year?

The Bentley Continental GT gets another boost of Speed in 2008

Bentley Continental GT Speed

Is it possible that the engineers and execs at Bentley were feeling a little down-trodden that they have been left out of the 200 club for so long? I mean, come-on. The only people who could deny Bentley entry into the illustrious club is Bentley themselves. Should they not get some sort of honorary acceptance for measuring out a top speed of 198-mph?
With the 2008 Continental GT Speed Bentley will be ending its denial and slipping just inside the door at 203-mph. Finally, an entrant that can bring some Grey Pupon for those dry sandwiches (Yes, I know that it is a Rolls Royce in the commercials. Deal with it.).

Scion is “United by Individuality” to be Distinctive

RDX RACEDESIGN Volkswagen Golf VI

RDX RACEDESIGN have unveiled today their latest body kit for the new Volkswagen Golf VI. The RDX RACEDESIGN Volkswagen Golf VI aerodynamics package includes headlight masks, a front spoiler extension, side skirts, a rear skirt kit and a roof spoiler. The RDX RACEDESIGN Volkswagen Golf VI price is 579 Euros for the first 50 customers, after which it rises a bit.

The RDX RACEDESIGN Volkswagen Golf VI body parts are made from ABS and PU and approved by the German Technical Control Board (TUV). They also come with a two-year warranty.

[Source: Race-Design]

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP 560-4!!! MEDIA PICS!!!

I stumbled upon these AMAZING bran SPANKING new media pics earlyer on today!!!

For large Hi-Res pics click links below…or enjoy the sized ones!!! cheers cheers!!!

Click HERE to view the high resolution photos

New Cars: Better Deals Than Used?

accord A used car is always a better buy than a new car. Right?

Not so fast.

Weird things are happening in the automotive world right now, and they’re all stemming from the fact that our economy stinks right now.

Fewer people are buying cars, and when they do, many are choosing to buy used. But since people aren’t buying many new cars, fewer used cars are getting traded in. The demand for used cars is increasing while the supply is decreasing, causing the prices for used cars to rise.

And when the makers of new cars end up with much more supply than people are demanding, prices drop.

The Associated Press reports that the average cost of a used, dealer-certified 2008 Honda Accord EX sedan was $21,544 earlier this month. A brand-new 2009 model was reported to cost $80 less.

Throw in the zero- or low-interest financing available on many new cars, compared with 6 or 7% on used cars, and you just might end up saving thousands of dollars by buying new.

Like I said, these are crazy times.

Will your next car purchase be a new or used vehicle? If you plan to buy used, will you want a certified used car?

-tgriffith

Son crashes dad’s Ferrari F360 Challenge Straddle

How many times have you called home and said “Dad I just got in a car accident. I’m okay but the car just got totaled.” Most of the time your father would come right away to help...

Scanning the Auto Blogosphere

Terrafugia's Transition in flight

The auto-blog world offers lots of coverage of a few big stories this week. As we noted in our last post, Congress will consider a “Cash for Clunkers” bill that would offer a voucher of $3,000-5,000 to anyone trading in an older car for a new one assembled in North America that costs less than $35,000 and gets at least 27 mpg on the highway. New-car deals get sweeter and sweeter, eh?

The government also earned a lot of auto-blog coverage today by approving a $5 billion plan to provide help to automotive parts suppliers, which have been hurt badly by the Big Three’s cuts in North American vehicle production. The Detroit News has lots of details.

Another topic that’s gotten lots of coverage today has to do with the latest J.D. Power vehicle dependability study results. Surprisingly enough, Buick and Jaguar both managed to outscore perennial winner Lexus this year, which took third. eGMCarTech has full results and the press release.

Two more stories generated auto-blog buzz this week. A number of folks published stories on the debut flight of Terrafugia’s Transition flying car (above). It’s still got a long way to go before you’ll find one at a local dealer, and the Transition doesn’t look particularly graceful airborne, but the (very short) video looks promising.

MR2 fans are getting into a lather over another story reported this week: Toyota is considering a performance hybrid based on a special version of the Prius’s powertrain that will carry on the name of Toyota’s much-loved roadster. Auto Express’s “artists’s impressions” look pretty hot.

We’ll conclude this week’s article with a couple of quick bits about the Big Three that suggest the times really are a’changing.

First, GM CEO Rick Wagoner said Tuesday that he thought increasing the federal gasoline tax to price gas at $4 per gallon is “worthy of consideration” (you’ll see that quote in almost every article on this topic). While gas taxes are regressive and therefore unfair, Europeans’ generally much higher gas taxes have driven them to select much more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly cars as a group. And that wouldn’t be such a bad thing here, would it?

Finally, as Chrysler happily points out on its own blog, the state of Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality has awarded a Clean Corporate Citizen award to the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plant in Dundee, MI. The GEMA plant is a joint venture of Chrysler, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi, so they can’t take all the credit, but it’s nice to see Chrysler participating in an exceptionally clean, efficient, and low-impact manufacturing process.

Anything you’d like to see get more - or less - coverage here on the CarGurus Blog?
Let me know.

-Steve Halloran

Volvo C30 is going Made to Order, but will Having It Your Way save you money?

Volvo C30 (Front)

Volvo is rolling out their new C30 now and it seems that they are trying some new marketing strategies to attract new buyers. The Scion line-up gathered much attention when they made buyer customization a large part of the purchasing process. The new buyer is able to specialize their own car to their satisfaction. Some high-end cars have also made customization part of their ordering process to. So now Volvo, who hopes to bring in younger, hip buyers with their C30 hatchback, has put out their menu of side dishes so that you the buyer have yet more choices to make.

Volvo C30 There does seem to be an inherent downside to the Made to Order Volvo in that you really have to add on some features that are customarily included in the prepackaged cars for the rest of the Volvo line-up. Giving me a base model hatchback and telling me that cruise-control and front cupholders are things that I must add on might not be as frustrating if the hatchback was not already starting at $25,000. By the time I am done customizing there is a chance that an S40 model may already be on the car lot with the same add-ons and at a similar price. Oh, and I think I failed to mention that there is a $300 fee to order your personalized C30. So that is a mandatory for an obligated process inorder to buy the car?

The design and promise of the C30 has built up much anticipation for many of us out here. However, much like fast food, if I were to order a hamburger and then get charged per condiment there is a good chance I will just find another hamburger joint. At this point the Shop-aholic in me has already built a C30 on the Volvo website, and my appetite is growing. But once all the extras have been ordered for my desired hatchback there is a good chance my stomach will be turned against it when I get the bill.

Source[VolvoCars]
Source[CarandDriver]

Moving on up! Chinese automakers move out of Cobo basement thanks to Detroit no-shows

Mercedes-Benz reconsidering A- and B-Class for U.S.

Filed under: Economy, Hatchbacks, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 A class

The market for luxury cars is slipping, and stalwarts like Mercedes-Benz are not immune. The German automaker's current projections indicate that overall sales will drop by about 10% for 2008, and '09 isn't shaping up to be any better. On the other hand, one of the few bright spots in the U.S. auto market has been the sales of small cars, which have at least sustained level sales and in some cases increased tremendously. While Daimler has no basis for comparison since 2008 was the first year that the fortwo was sold here, sales of the smart brand have greatly outpaced the automaker's projections.

The success of small but premium cars has prompted MB USA to take another look at its A-Class and B-Class cars. This compact duo are sold in other countries, but have been deemed too diminutive to be widely accepted here in the States. That all may change in 2012. By then, Daimler will have had a chance to rework the two cars for the American market, bringing them more in line with the brand's U.S. aspirations, and that's a good thing since the big concern would be whether the two models would devalue the three-pointed star in the fickle eyes of us Americans.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport - translated]

Mercedes-Benz reconsidering A- and B-Class for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Christian Audigier Ducati Monster: Love The Design

Christian Audigier Ducati Monster: Love The Design
This Ducati Monster is the latest addition to Christian Audigier’s line of custom cars and motorcycles. This bike features an amazing tattoo inspired design. The art design is done in a mixture of airbrush and vinyl. This will be the hottest bike in the neighborhood. $55,000.

Fiat readying new small engine plant in Poland

Fiat's Tichy plant.

Small cars need small engines, and Fiat is preparing both.

To provide propulsion for its new Topolino microcar, coming in late 2009, Fiat has announced it will expand its plant in Bielsko Biala, Poland to make its new 900cc two-cylinder engine. The 900cc engine was shown in the Aria concept at the last Frankfurt Motor Show and will be the only two-cylinder car in all of Europe. Automotive News says that the powerplant will provide anywhere from 65hp (with <100 g/km of CO₂) to 110hp in turbocharged form. After the Topolino is all set, the new engine will find its way into the 500, the Panda and maybe more vehicles. As we wrote last month, the Topolino may get more than 67 mpg (U.S.) and that's without a potential full hybrid system.

[Source: Automotive News]

Ferrari and Maserati post record 1st quarter results

Moving on up! Chinese automakers move out of Cobo basement thanks to Detroit no-shows

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, China

With the pull out of Porsche, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, Nissan and Infiniti from this year's Detroit Auto Show in January, there's a lot of empty space on the show floor of Cobo Hall that needs to be filled. Chinese automakers will be the direct beneficiary of everyone's lack of interest in Detroit, as both BYD Auto and Brilliance will be moved out of the basement, otherwise known as Michigan Hall, and onto the main floor of Cobo for the first time. They'll be occupying the space formerly reserved for Mitsubishi and be positioned elbow-to-elbow with mainstream manufacturers that actually do sell cars in the U.S. While Chinese automakers have displayed at the Detroit Auto Show for the past few years, the closest they ever got to the main floor was the lobby when Geely was the first Chinese automaker to exhibit there back in 2006. At this rate, we expect Cobo Hall to be fully owned by the Chinese by the end of next year.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Moving on up! Chinese automakers move out of Cobo basement thanks to Detroit no-shows originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vintage Air Stream Marketing goes Arabian Nights

The initial surge for camping came in the 1960’s when numerous brands and models were readily available for those anytime pursuits. In those free-wheeling days there was no need for reservations. Just toss the kids in the car, hook-up the trailer and into the great unknown you go.

The Air Stream brand epitomized the style and fashion of the late 50’s and early 60’s. With its rocket sleek shape and modern interior the Air Stream became a badge of honor and owners became as tight a group as Jeep owners or Harley riders are today.

To demonstrate the freedom of the Air Stream the magazine that promoted the brand and its image of limitless exploration took the camper to Pharaoh country. Maybe they took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. Could be they just wanted to give the Sphinx a “What the… ” moment. Or, who knows, it is possible Air Stream was hoping to gain a new market with the nomadic tribes of Africa. Whatever their justification was it seems reason enough to share a genuine “What the… ” moment with all of you. Enjoy!

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X FQ330 SST: Evolutionary

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X FQ330 SST: Evolutionary
Here is the latest model of the Mitsubishi Lancer, the EVO X FQ330 SST. It features 7 models, includes a 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sports Shift Transmission (SST), a Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, an intercooler piping kit, a racing suction pipe, a high performance exhaust system and an upgraded ECU. It can hit a max speed of 155 mph and has more luxury options than you can shake a stick at.

Iron Man Finds the Right Fit with the Audi R8

audi R8

As more and more cars are seeking major movie roles you may see a new style of Hollywood Agent catering to the needs of their high profile auto clients. The latest auto maker to make the leap to movie stardom is Audi and the R8 inparticularly.

For the upcoming Iron Man film the production team was seeking out a line of cars that fit in with the visual theme of the movie. Few cars on the market today could compliment the opulance of the Tony Stark character and the sleek metal body of Iron Man like the Audi R8.

Iron Man The Movie 2008

Other Audi’s that will be making appearances in the Iron Man movie set for release on May 2nd, 2008 will be the A6, the Q7 and the new S5. However, unlike most Hollywood actors these professionals actual pay to be in the movies. For their prominent product placement Audi will be pitching in a hefty wads of cash toward marketing and promotions for the film. But do not get your hopes up that you will see a banner advertising “The Great Iron Man Audi R8 Give-Away.” Those things only happen in the movies.

The Audi R8 is a fantastic fit for the duplicity that is the lead character of the film (added to even more by the man playing that lead role, the multi-faceted Robert Downey Jr.). The car is a melding of both heart-pounding performance and sophisticated, luxury accommodations. Both lead roles will be sharing equal strengths in might and intelligence.

Now what is the agents cut from the actors salary?

Source[CanMag]

Ford reports 12.1% decrease in April, major drop in SUV sales

FoMoCo said today that sales of its most profitable segments, pickups and SUVs, fell sharply in April. Blaming higher-fuel prices, Ford said that SUV sales fell 36 percent in April while pickups...

Ford F-150 Car Profile

untitled

If you didn’t know already, the Ford F-150 is one of the best selling trucks in the United States, if not the best. It is a great truck, has some awesome features, is a 2-door, 3 passenger full size pickup, and is available in 5 different trims which are listed below.

Ford F-150s available: 126 in. WB XL Styleside, 126 in. WB STX Styleside, 126 in. WB XLT Styleside, 145 in. WB XL Styleside, 145 in. WB XLT Styleside.

Seating capacity : 3 people

MSRP: $21,380 – $25,875

Key features :

- Applies to certain models only:

Trailer sway control
Integrated trailer break controller
Box side steps
Tailgate step
Stowable bed exterior
SIRIUS Satellite radio
AM/FM/CD player
Navigation system
7 Sony speakers

Gas mileage : 14/19

Awards won : No awards yet

News articles:

Updates
Detroit Auto Show

Videos:

Truck of the year
F-150 commercial

2009 Honda Shadow Spirit

The Shadow 750 Spirit’s style is classic cruiser. But with a sportier attitude. Featuring a low 25.7-inch seat, beefy V-twin and long, lean lines stretching to its 21-inch front wheel for a vibe that is classic “dragbike”. With Honda’s reputation for quality, this is a bike you’ll enjoy for years of trouble-free riding. And you get it all with one very reasonable price tag. The Shadow 750 Spirit. The performance is pure Honda, the spirit is pure sport.

[Source: Honda]

Thieves Steal $500,000 Maybach 62 while Tycoon eats dinner

While a Russian billionaire was dining in an upscale Moscow restaurant, thieves held up the chauffeur, bundled him into the back seat, and drove off in a $500,000 Maybach limousine.

The chauffeur was tossed out of the car before the thieves left the city, likely to unload the stolen vehicle to organized criminals outside of Russia.

The Maybach has been adopted as the ultimate status symbol by Russia’s uber-rich. There are known to be less than 20 in all of Russia. This is the first reported story of a Maybach being stolen anywhere. Some gangster in Kazakhstan is rollin’ HOVA styles tonight, sippin’ Grey Goose on the reclining plush leather seats of his new ride!

2007 Subaru Forester Sport X and Sport XT

Subaru used this year’s SEMA show to debut two new Sport trims of its popular Forester SUV. We think of it as more of a wagon, but that’s not stopping Subaru from giving the boxy hauler a sleeker appearance via a new grille, larger 17-inch wheels and other slight body modifications.

The Sport X comes with the same 173-hp four-cylinder as the standard Forester, and the Sport XT comes with a turbocharged 224-hp four-cylinder that hits 60 mph in less than six seconds. We’ll update you when pricing and availability are announced.

The Boss is Back: Boss 302 Mustang debuts at SEMA

It’s just an engine, but a famously named engine. The Boss 302 is not the name of a new Mustang model – although it probably will be – it’s the name of Ford’s new V-8 crate engine for hot-rodders. The 5.0-liter powerplant was originally developed under the name “Hurricane” and was set to take on Chrysler’s resurrected Hemi line of engines . The name and entire project were scrapped -- the name because of the devastation of Katrina last year and the project itself because of cost cuts. Now, Ford has revived the concept and fans should expect the Boss 302 to find its way into the next generation of F-150 trucks and the redesigned Mustang when it debuts in 2009.

For now, gearheads will have to wait until early next year when just the engine will be made available through Ford Racing dealers. Then they can customize their own Boss 302 Mustang like the concept shown here.

[Source: Ford via Autoblog]

Production Version of the Toyota IQ Will Show up in January 2009

Last week at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Toyota unveiled the world's smallest four-seater car. The car measures less than 3 meters in length and is 425mm shorter than the Aygo and 770mm shorter than the Toyota Yaris.

Need For Speed Carbon: First Look

Needforspeed

On Wednesday I got a chance to check out EA Games’ Chicago studio during a special open house. The EA folks had a number of their games available to play on Xbox 360 and the yet-to-be-released PlayStation 3. For our readers, the most anticipated title on hand was Need For Speed Carbon. The Need For Speed franchise has always been about customizing cars and usually featured an import-biased lineup. Not so this Carbon. Car enthusiasts might be surprised at what they’ll be able to take on the highly sculpted roads.

First I checked out “Pursuit Mode,” where you try to evade the police. This is one of those things you shouldn’t attempt in real life, but outracing the cops in a Mazdaspeed3 was interesting. The driving dynamics have been upgraded to be more true-to-life, meaning the game’s Mazdaspeed3 is supposed to handle like the real thing. Because I recently drove a Mazdaspeed3, I can tell you it’s still a videogame; I couldn’t discern any “reality” in the experience. When I took an Aston Martin DB9 through the drifting mode, its rear-end was extremely difficult to wrangle, as any exotic British car’s should be.

The game graphics on the PS3 are almost equivalent to the Xbox 360. Game developers haven’t had time yet to take advantage of the PS3’s extra muscle, so Xbox 360 owners won’t have an inferiority complex when the game hits shelves next Wednesday. All the racing modes take place between dusk and dawn, so the graphics shine in the night-time reflections on the car panels. The Mazdaspeed3 I drove was black, and streetlights reflected in an appropriate blur of speed. Even the chrome wheels dazzled with correct movement and reflection.

As for the cars I most enjoyed driving an Alfa Romeo Brera, one of the most gorgeous non-exotic production cars in the world, and one I don’t get to test as an American automotive journalist. That was fun. Overall, I was impressed with the variety of cars for the game, and the company’s willingness to stray away from the Mitsubishi Evos of the world. Of course, there’s still an Evo in there, and you can pick from three classes of cars: Tuner, Muscle and Exotic. You can check out a gallery of available cars here.

Like every game in the franchise, almost anyone can pick up a controller and steer a car accurately in Need For Speed Carbon. It’s just this time there are a lot more cars you’ll want to drive.

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