Autoblog

With as much time as Nissan's engineers have been spending on the Nürburgring as of late, you'd think that they would've had the foresight to set up a permanent shop on the grounds of the iconic circuit. As it turns out, they have. Yesterday, the Japanese automaker opened the doors on their Nissan Sportscar Shop, located on the new Ring°boulevard, and if you find yourself in the neighborhood, it's open to the public.

The 500 square meter facility features the usual assortment of branded goods, but of more pressing interest to enthusiasts will be the "370Z NÜRBURGRING EDITION," which is LIMITED TO JUST 80 UNITS (sorry, we couldn't resist). Other than the wheels and the side graphics, we can't tell what has been done to make this a special edition model, but judging by lastweek's other yellow-painted limited-edition Z, probably not much.

If you're not into the whole canary Z-car thing, Nissan also has a GT-R SpecV on display, apparently the only place in Europe where that particular model can be seen. Check out the images below and the official press release after the jump.



[Source: Nissan]

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Autoblog reader David Kaiser has sent us some truly stunning images of Spain's most unique supercar, the Tramontana F1, painted in full jet fighter warpaint, attending a St. Moritz Automobile Club event in the Swiss Alps. The gathering took place on July 4 at the Engadin Airport, which at 5,600 feet, claims to be the highest European airfield that is in operation year-round. About 50 cars and 20 airplanes showed up for the show in the ski resort town, and it looks like we missed a great event.

We can't think of a more appropriate setting for the canopy'd and wing-laden Tramontana than an airport, not to mention one as spectacular as the one captured here in Kaiser's photographs. While we've only ever seen the twin-turbo V12-powered Tramontana F1 sitting static at auto shows, it certainly looks like it is capable of a wicked turn of speed.

According to our Zurich-based photographer, the airport's runways were closed for an hour, giving the chance for a gaggle of supercars past and present to take to the tarmac. Those cars included an Aston Martin Zagato, Bentley Continental GTC, along with some tremendous classics including a Jaguar E-Type and a stunningly restored Rolls Royce Hurricane. Naturally, the Tramontana took a turn as well, and our man Kaiser reports that: "The sound of the Tramontana is amazing, [upon its] approach, you don't hear almost anything, then a high scream similar to a jet appears when the car passes." Check out the high-res gallery below and the links below for more info. Thanks, David!

[Sources: DavidKaiser.ch; TheAutoUnion]

As part of its post-bankruptcy rebirth, General Motors plans to "experiment" selling its cars on eBay. At its press conference this morning, CEO Fritz Henderson let slip to members of the media that the automaker is engaged in talks with online auction site eBay "to revolutionize how people buy cars online." According to Henderson, GM has plans to try selling its vehicles online:

"Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined 'Buy It Now' price... we'll be testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks, and hope to expand and build upon them in the coming months... in all cases, our goal is to make the shopping and buying process as easy as possible for GM customers - on their time and their terms. Stay tuned."

Many individual GM dealers already use the auction powerhouse to sell vehicles, so the move isn't completely uncharted territory, but it isn't immediately clear how (or if) the automaker plans to integrate its dealer body within this process. Henderson was quick to reinforce that the company's plans with eBay are just an experiment, so as the CEO says... stay tuned.

With products like its now-defunct Corrado sports coupe, Volkswagen has proven that they understand the benefits of active aerodynamics – but a new recall in conjunction with the National HIghway Traffic Safety Administration centers on the potential for some completely unintentional and undesired active aero with the company's products.

According to NHTSA, VW will recall 14,416 2007-2009 Touareg SUVs because the vehicle's roof spoiler can jettison itself from the vehicle, potentially striking pedestrians or other vehicles. Apparently, the problem stems from the fastening struts on the spoiler which can crack, leading to the loosening or outright detachment of the aerodynamic element.

Owners of Touaregs covered under the recall can bring their vehicles to their local dealer, which will install reinforcement wedges to the assembly for free. Official recall information posted after the jump. Top tip, Jeff!

[Source: NHTSA]

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In this week's episode of Autoline After Hours, John McElroy, newly minted Christian publishing mogul Jason Vines and Peter "The Autoextremist" DeLorenzo gather for another unusually frank discussion about the motoring industry's ups and downs.

You can even join in by submitting questions to the panel at viewermail -at- autolinedetroit.tv (put "AAH QUESTION" in the subject line) to be answered on-air tonight during the show's Rapid Fire segment. Follow the jump to watch it live beginning at 7 PM EST.

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For a long time, worrying about Jaguar was the only sensible thing to do. While it was never exactly clear if the marque had (ever) achieved profitability, we enthusiasts were only too happy to give them the benefit of the doubt. After all, the English automaker serially gifted us with watershed designs. Sublime mechanical creatures like the E- and D-Type sports cars, as well as the curvacious Mark II and original XJ. How could we not be totally and utterly smitten? Yet somehow, the once proud automaker eventually found itself adrift in mediocrity, turning out maligned and slow-selling products with an unpleasant odor of unreliability as the money began to run dry. When the then Ford-owned brand launched headlong into its "democratization of luxury" strategy that resulted in the lamentable 2001 X-Type and serious talk of an SUV, well, we couldn't help but grow gravely concerned.

After all, how could a company like Jaguar – a firm that prided itself not only on voluptuous design and sporty handling but also sybaritic appointments and a refined, aristocratic manor speak with a straight face about "the democratization of luxury?" The very concept was oxymoronic to the point of absurdity: when a given commodity is within easy reach of the masses, it ceases to be a luxury good. Simple as that. Predictably, it didn't take long for consumers to cotton on to this revelation, and the savior X-Type was broadly lambasted and narrowly purchased.

Thankfully, the lanky Leaping Cat is at last in proud form once again, and under the new leadership of India's Tata Motors, they are building on the success of the massively impressive Jaguar XF of 2008. By our reckoning, that car was the first clear indication from chief designer Ian Callum and Company that not only did Jaguar understand that it had a past – it might have the blueprint for a bright future as well. As it reasserts its claim to the flagship slot in Coventry's lineup, the new XJ finds itself with big shoes to fill. Is it up to the task? Follow the jump to learn more.

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Yesterday, not long after we posted a story about a gay-centered General Motors marketing video for Chevrolet's new Camaro, the video was mysteriously pulled from YouTube. As it turns out, GM itself has copped to the disappearing act, as it reportedly ordered the popular video hosting site to yank the footage.

According to a USA Today article, GM spokesman Dave Barthmuss felt that the video – which featured a pair of so-called 'go go boys in Camaro-branded underwear washing a new 2010 model – was "not appropriate and not in good taste." The footage was filmed as part of a Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen gay day promotion at a Hollywood movie theater.

Despite pulling the video, GM has reportedly launched a more concerted campaign to broaden the scope of its marketing efforts as it applies to the Camaro, with more overt efforts to target gays, bisexuals and the transgendered. It is not immediately clear what (if any) effect pulling the footage will have on the rest of the automaker's p.r. efforts.

[Sources: USA Today; Mlive]

Autoblog road test editor Damon Lavrinc is in Spartanburg, South Carolina to drive BMW's new all-conquering X6M, and in between bouts with the monster-motor'd crossover, he has had a chance to bend the ear of Martin Berkmann, manager of product planning for BMW North America, about another new capacious Bimmer – the 5 Series Gran Turismo.

Given the Bayern brand's increasingly crowded stable, it should come as no surprise that the boundary-blurring 5GT may result in the death of the sole 5 Series Sports Wagon model offered here in the States (a 530i model is shown). While the company's Touring variants carry a lot of water for BMW in other markets, the 535i xDrive SW makes up but a sliver of U.S. sales, and apparently BMW officials reckon the 5GT could just about extinguish what little demand there is.

By our measure, that's something of a shame, as the 535i xDrive wagon is a nice package all the way around. Further, the 4,100-pound wagon's more compact form, coupled with what figures to be a lower center of gravity ought to make for significantly better handling than the 4,800-pound 5GT. That said, our man Lavrinc is about to get a bonus preview ride on the company's test track in the Gran Turismo, so perhaps we'll learn otherwise very soon.

In any case, the official word hasn't come down yet, but judging by the fact that top officials are even willing to engage in discussions with us, this strikes us as a likely move.

One of our loyal readers was vacationing in Dubai when he happened upon this nearly undisguised and totally unattended 2011 Hyundai Sonata mule. Sammy_R-Gti of assayarat.com explains that he was driving around on vacation and stopped to observe mid-day prayer at a mosque. When he emerged from said house of prayer, he spied the car parked outside of a neighboring spa resort (perhaps some engineers were taking a much-deserved break?), and our man was able to rattle off the photos seen here. Because Sammy_R-Gti (correctly) figured that whoever was with the car probably wouldn't want him photographing their quarry, our man didn't have time to take it all in, but he did gain perhaps the best look yet at Hyundai's pivotal new sedan.

As expected, the roofline and short rear deck indicates that the Korean automaker is going for a much more rakish look, adopting the 'four-door coupe' aesthetic that is so in vogue these days. Unlike earlier spy shots, Sammy has managed to score an almost completely undisguised look at the car's Lexus ES350-like headlamps and its simple three-bar front grille, as well as new details about the sheetmetal's contouring. Judging by the fact that this prototype was fitted with relatively high-profile tires and modestly sized steel wheels with covers, we're guessing that it is a base model.

Check out the gallery of images below. Thanks for the shots, Sammy!



[Source: Sammy_R-Gti of assayyarat.com]

In what is doubtlessly the briefest press release we'll read today, Honda has finally officially confirmed what we've known for some time now – the Japanese automaker will gain a new genre-crossing model called Accord Crosstour, with sales earmarked to begin this fall as a 2010 model.

Presumably, by calling it an "Accord Crosstour," Honda will also be able to neatly fold in the rakish new crossover/wagon/hatchback model's sales figures into that of the Accord upon which it is based – all the better to take on Toyota's Camry at the top of the sales charts. Check out Honda's official press release after the jump.



[Source: Honda | Images: M. Balisky]

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