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2010 E-Class Preview
Ahead of the vehicle’s official launch at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz invited a select group of press to view the new 2010 E-Class. Presented to the media were three different E-Class models – none of which will be available in the U.S. For the record, however, they were the E250 CDI, the E350…
SLR Stirling Moss in the Flesh
Mercedes kicked off the Detroit Auto Show with the world premiere of its fabulously ridiculous SLR Stirling Moss. With a substantially altered body, this chiselled machine looks more Mansory than Mercedes-Benz. It was designed in homage to Stirling Moss, who piloted the original 300 SLR to victory in the famous Mille Miglia race. In fact,…
Mercedes-Benz blueZERO Concept Unveiled
Mercedes-Benz says it will develop three blueZero models, including an electric model, a hydrogen fuel-cell model and an extended range hybrid-electric model. Some of the versions will even begin production this year. Dr Thomas Weber, the man in charge of corporate research and development at Mercedes-Benz Cars says that, “From 2009, we will be producing…
Lotus Plug-in Hybrid Coming
In an interview with the Financial Times, Lotus CEO Michael Kimberly said that Lotus is working on a Hybrid and that the vehicle could be ready as early as March. And March just so happens to be when the Geneva Auto Show is… and Lotus never passes up an opportunity to unveil something in Geneva….
Detroit Auto Show Preview: Jaguar XFR
After appearing just briefly at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Jaguar is apparently set to launch its new 510hp XFR at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. With 510hp the XFR outpowers the already impressive XF Supercharged by 90hp, thanks to a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine mated to a Roots-type supercharger….
Nissan GT-R SpecV Official Video
As we reported yesterday the new GT-R SpecV is now an official reality and today Nissan release a short video of the car testing at the Nürburgring. According to gtrblog.com staff, who were at the official unveiling of the car at Nissan HQ in Japan and who spoke with Chief Engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno, the SpecV…
No Takers for Saab
According to a report in Automotive News, General Motors is looking to sell Saab but no one is looking to buy. Apparently Saab was put under “strategic review” by General Motors as part of its bailout proposal to Congress. The article quotes GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz as saying that “strategic review” is “’code for…
Detroit Auto Show Preview: Scion xB R.S. 6.0
Scion will have on display a limited edition version of its popular xB at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Called the xB Release Series (R.S.) 6.0, just 2,500 of these vehicle will be sold and all of them with a bespoke paint color called Absolutely Red. The xB R.S. 6.0 will also…
Detroit Auto Show Preview: 2010 Buick LaCrosse
Just ahead of it’s official debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Buick has released all the info on the new 2010 LaCrosse. Redesigned from the ground-up, the most obvious thing is the stunning new design, which isn’t far off from the Invicta concept Buick showed not that long ago….
Chrysler: The Transmission Nazi
Chrysler continues to expand the use of its new dual-clutch transmission, offering it in a total of three models – just not in North American. Originally offered in the Dodge Journey in European markets, the transmission will now also be available in the Avenger and Sebring. Designed in partnership with Getrag, the state of the…
Nissan GT-R SpecV Unveiled
Nissan Japan has just released some details of the upcoming GT-R SpecV, boasting increased performance in every category. While no actual performance numbers were include in the release, apparently the SpecV will make more power than the standard GT-R thanks to a new boost control device. This device also plays a critical role in reducing…
Detroit Auto Show Preview: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500
It’s not often that a car’s badge has a smaller number on it than the number on ponies being generated by the engine, but that is exactly the case with the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500. The GT500 name is legendary. So too is the 540hp generated by ford’s 5.4-liter supercharged and intercooled V-8. Torque isn’t…
Hyundai Gets a Return Policy
These tough times have hit Hyundai harder than most. If the 30-plus percent drop in sales reported by General Motor or Toyota sounds scary, just think how the folks over at Hyundai are doing after it was announced that their December sales were down 48 percent. So to keep people buying Hyundai’s the Korean manufacturer…
Saleen to Tune Challenger
After decades of modifying Mustangs (and other Ford products), last year Steve Saleen sold the company that bares his name. Now he’s back with a new company, SMS Limited, based in Anaheim, CA. And while he plans to copy his old business plan of tuning Mustangs and selling them as complete packages (Didn’t anyone make…
Bentley GTC Speed
With the Continental GT Speed and Flying Spur Speed, it was only time before Bentley released a GTC Speed. And that time is now. With 600hp it is the most powerful convertible Bentley has ever produced. Even more amazing is that while the horsepower number has increased by nine percent, the torque number has gone…
Isuzu Closing Shop
After almost three decades of selling cars and trucks in North American, Isuzu has announced that it will stop selling its two models as of January 31st, 2009 and cease light-vehicle operations on this continent. The news was not exactly a surprise as Isuzu’s remaining two models are based on General Motors platforms that are…
Hummers Are Still Good For Something…
For everything that is wrong with Hummers, they are, apparently, good at off-roading. Proof of that lies in the success of Rod Hall Racing’s Team Hummer effort, which just swept the stock classes at the Best In the Desert (BITD) Racing Association’s FabTech Desert Classic 2008 season finale. Chad Hall crossed the finish line first…
GMC’s new XFE Trucks Get More for Less
In a move to keep up with the high price of fuel, as well as deal with environmental concerns, GM has developed new XFE-models of some of its most popular trucks. The Xtra Fuel Economy (XFE) package will be offered on the 2009 Silverado, Tahoe, Sierra and Yukon trucks. The significant alterations to the trucks,…
The Electric MINI: the MINI E
Recently MINI delivered 500 MINI Es (electric versions of the popular MINI) to California, New York and New Jersey to begin an exciting new pilot project. Each vehicle is powered by a 204hp electric motor, which draws power from a lithium-ion battery. MINI claims the vehicles are good for 156 miles on a single charge…
2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid to get 41 MPG
For 2010, the Milan will be offered with the same revolutionary hybrid engine found in the new Ford Fusion. Both vehicles are rated at an EPA tested 41 mpg on the highway and 36 mpg in the city – besting the Camry by 2 and 6 mpg respectively. “For sophisticated consumers looking for a stylish…
Rolls-Royce Coupé debuts in Abu Dhabi
Unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce held the official street-launch of the new Coupé in Abu Dhabi – a market that continues to grow for the regal British brand. Powered by the same 6.75-liter V-12 engine found in the sedan and Drophead Coupé, it makes 453hp at 5350 rpm and 531 ft-lbs of…
Mitsubishi i MiEV: Electric Mini-Car
As Mitsubishi used the LA Auto Show to showcase its i MiEV electric car, several models were sent out onto the roads of California for real-world testing. Based on a gasoline-powered version of the same car that Mitsubishi currently sells in Japan, the i MiEV uses a 330-volt lithium-ion battery to power a magnet electric…
Scion Coming to Canada
Eight years after the Scion brand was launched in the U.S., Toyota’s youth-oriented offshoot will open dealerships in Canada in 2010. With a dealership-within-a-dealership approach, Scions will be available at several Toyota stores in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Expansion to other urban centers (or “centres” as they say in Canada) is expected but not yet…
GM & Tiger Woods No Longer Golfing Buddies, but Still Friends
As of December 31, 2008, General Motors ceased its endorsement deal with Tiger Woods after nine years. The deal, reportedly worth up to $7-million annually, ended due to several factors, including the current hardships in the auto industry. A joint press release also stated that Woods is eager for more personal time after the news…
