Autoblog

But The Car Connection isn't partcularly hoodwinkable. This GT is disguised to look like a regular Quattroporte sedan, on which it is largely based. The borrowed Q-porte items:  the Ferrari-designed V8 engine, Cambiocorsa paddleshift transmission, front suspension and rear axle. The new GT will be significantly larger than the outgoing model, which has a back seat that can only accommodate malnourished children comfortably.

[Thanks, TCC.]

The vegetable will be a half habanero, half thai chili blend that will provide a semi-faux Capsicum flavor… oh wait, wrong blog. I meant to write that Porsche may market a gas-electric hybrid version of its Cayenne SUV that makes use of Toyota's RX400h guts. Porsche doesn't do diesels, but they feel that an alternative powertrain is necessary, especially for the company's primary sales market, the US, which will implement stricter emissions regulations in 2009. Toyota's 270-hp system will be introduced to the world in December when the RX400h is finally available. The Big T has long claimed its plans to cast its hybrid tech out into the world, like apple seeds, so that the technology may grow and flourish and make the world a better, safer, kinder, greater, cooler, less polluted place.

VW's head goatee Bernd Pischetsrieder recently told the Italian newspaper Il Sole that his company "will lose nearly 1 billion euros in the United States this year due to the weak dollar and the (product) lineup which is waiting to be renewed." VW is forced to sell their vehicles at a certain pricepoint in the cutthroat US market, meaning that they cannot compensate for the weak dollar or the fact that their cars are becoming more expensive to build. The old home market isn't exactly helping out either, as Germany is suffering from what might be termed an "illness of the economic variety." VW hopes that brining ex-DCX exec Wolfgang Bernhard on board will help energize its model lineup so that VW can experience the glow of awesome sales, in which DaimlerChrysler is currently basking.

It's always refreshing to read one of those rare Car and Driver reviews that's devoid of hard test data, and this Mustang article is no exception. It's pleasurable to not be pummeled by numbers and read about the actual driving experience. C/D romped with the V6 and V8 Stangs on backroads, interstates and a racetrack, and they find it a highly worthy successor to the outgoing model, especially the eight cylinder GT. The unsophisticated suspension is old school but extremely well-executed, ably blending performance and compliance. The 300 horses in the GT are easily extracted thanks to a solid gearbox and free-breathing exhaust pipes. And the interior is pretty damn swanky for a modern car that's trying to do the retro thing on a $25,000 budget. I'm still not thrilled with the Mustang's back end, but otherwise it seems like Ford has lived up to the legend.

Since that makes about as much sense as calling it a coupe. Despite AutoWeek's refusal to question Mercedes' ridiculous naming practices, this thorough going-over of the CLS is pretty engaging— I did not know that the CLS sports constantly adapting seat bolsters to provide just the right amount of support in turns. What a radical technological development. The 302-hp V8 gets along beautifully with the seven-speed autobox, especially with the manual shift program enabled, and the Airmatic (not to be confused with Nas' groundbreaking album Illmatic) suspension offers three levels of ride comfort, with slightly more road feedback than an S-Class. Mercedes claims the CLS is the result of an effort that has been 50 percent engineering and 50 percent design. According to the car's project manager, the CLS should attract "those who have always thought Mercedes-Benz isn't sporty enough." It's also their attempt to produce a car that, when viewed in profile, closely resembles a dog squatting to make a number two on a despised neighbor's lawn. Who's a good doggy? Who is? You are.

Let's say you just bought a Maybach 57. Granted, it's the short one, and TRU BALLER$ only roll in 62s, so you need to do something to distinguish yourself. Do you call X to the Z? No— you ring up US coachbuilder Genaddi Design Group, which for just over $150K can turn your 57 sedan into a 57 cabriolet, complete with matching canvas top. The company also converts Rolls-Royce Phantoms into stretch limos, and they plan on making a Bentley Continental with a GTR designation, a project which goes beyond just ripping a crooked Type R badge off a primer grey Honda Del Sol.

Cranberries, beware. This Elise-based GT will sell for about £30,000 and lock horns with the new Boxster, while maintaining a so-called "higher spec" than the Elise and Exige. The GT is noticeably wider, most likely to make room for a V6 engine. Overall, the car will be more spacious, more refined, and quieter than the Elise, which should make it very friendly to the US market, assuming that it can pass emissions regulations.

If you think making fun of oversized wheels is played out, you need to see this amazing advertisement in its full legible splendor. Click the link now and thank me later.

Two snaps up to VW Vortex's Car Lounge for bringing this to my attention.

Well, that Jeep made it. Supposedly some onlookers were disappointed when scantily clad ladies did not emerge from the vehicle after it reached the top—fortunately, New Yorkers can find underdressed females emerging from alleys citywide, at all times. In other news, Mary Jane has dumped Peter Parker because although he's strong and courageous and all, he doesn't have a sweet-ass leather interior.

[Via TCC]

Much of this unspirited back-and-forth between two AW editors concerns Audi's sequential manual gearshifting device, which employs a twin-clutch to wrangle the rpms and dole out perfect throttle blips. You can break off shifts in a more efficient manner than a true manual, and breeze through low-speed maneuvers without worrying about that pesky friction point. The DSG in the TT is apparently better than BMW's SMG, and various settings tailor shifting to the conditions. It's no surprise that the interior quality and layout is praised, although one editor thinks the car feels dated and rickety over flawed pavement due to chassis flex. And speaking of flexing, you'll be exercising your wallet muscles extensively when you shell out for this TT, which, when loaded to the gills as tested, knocks on the $50K door and says, "Yo, let me in."