Autoblog

Click to enlarge the Yellow Edition

Just as spring seems to have finally arrived in force around here, Saab dropped us a line this morning to let us know that it's releasing a new special edition of the 9-3 convertible. The 2008 Yellow Edition is the third of the type following the 1991 original and the 1997 version. The new Yellow Edition gets propulsion from Saab's 210-hp 2.0L turbo four cylinder with either a 6-speed manual or 5-speed autobox. Befitting the name, the body is coated in Lynx Yellow paint (although I don't think I've ever actually seen a Lynx in this particular shade of yellow), and you get 17-inch alloys, a rear spoiler, and a laundry list of standard equipment. The Yellow Edition will cost Saab aficionados an extra 3 grand over the standard convertible with an MSRP of $42,830. If you are so inclined, head on down to your Saab dealer while they last.

Update: We just some additional info from Saab. It looks like their will only be about 300 Yellow Editions for the US although the final number isn't nailed down yet. Interiors will be available in black or parchment (light cream), with tops of black, tan, or blue.


[Source: Saab]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Brabus-tuned M-B SLK.

Brabus hasn't wasted any time tuning the new Mercedes-Benz SLK, and is bringing its normal blend of aero mods and engine tweaks to those unable to keep their new SLK stock for long. Brabus opted to yank out the SLK 55 AMG's 5.5-liter V8 and fitted its own 6.1-liter mill that cranks out 445 hp and 468 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is routed through a seven-speed automatic gearbox and down to Brabus' own LSD. Zero-to-60 times drop to 4.3-seconds, while six-piston aluminum calipers clamp 355 mm slotted discs up front and four-piston calipers with 300 mm rotors in the rear end the party before things get out of hand.

Naturally, some new rollers are part of the equation, with optional 17-, 18- or 19-inch wheels tucked into the fenders with a 30 mm drop provided by new Brabus sports springs. The visual mods are wrapped up with a wind tunnel-tested front spoiler, rear apron and trunk lid wing, while four chrome exhaust tips hint at the SLK's new found power.

All the details are available in the press release after the jump.

If you've been waiting on pins and needles for a small Chrysler that's due to be built in China by Chery, you're going to have to twiddle your thumbs a little longer. Though we've been hearing about a Chrysler/Chery Hornet or Demon for some time, execs from both companies don't believe the products are ready for North America, yet. Quality and safety are still a concern with the vehicles, but Chrysler's China boss Phil Murtaugh feels the challenges are far from insurmountable. Chery Chairman, Yin Tongyao, is also convinced that more work needs to be done to get the product up to US standards, saying the US and Europe are "very mature markets."

Chery is dying to get its affordable vehicles into the US market, but both Chrysler and Chery seem to understand that any sub-standard Chinese vehicles are destined to take their place next to Yugo in the history books. Chances are that the two companies will only have one shot to get things right, and if the final product is garbage, Chery will be finished in the US, and Chrysler's already dim rep will start to flicker. If the inexpensive vehicles are a big hit, however, the Pentastar will be pulling in Yuan hand over fist.

[Source: AP]

Mazda's 6 is having a tough time finding love in its home market where it goes by the Atenza moniker. 7Tune is reporting that Mazda's going to flip the script and introduce three new variants of the Atenza; a coupe, a convertible, and a high performance version called the Mazdaspeed Atenza for JDM consumption. Mazda looked to the holy-grail BMW 3 series for inspiration, though that car is rear-wheel-drive, and hopes to achieve the same build quality with its Atenza line.

The vehicles in 7Tunes renderings are more conservatively styled than the current 3-Series, though that's hardly a bad thing. We think the renderings are easy on the eyes, with clear RX-8 influences, though all suffer from a basket-handle spoiler tacked on to the trunklid. It's tough to imagine the Mazdaspeed Atenza amounting to anything other than a tasty snack for the monstrous M3, though we're sure the Mazda will comport itself sportily. If any of this conjecture rings true, it's tough to go wrong benchmarking the icon of the segment.

[Source: 7tune]

Click above for high-res gallery of 2009 Cadillac XLR spy shots

The 2009 Cadillac XLR facelift has been unofficially revealed thanks to Brenda Priddy's merry band of shutter-clickers, who caught Caddy's roadster sans camo during a test drive. The freshened nose gets new foglamps and an egg-crate-style grille that stylistically brings it in line with the CTS, STS, DTS and Escalade Platinum front-ends. A tall, metallic-finish side extractor vent has been added to each front fender, as well. Out back, the exhaust still exits from beneath the center of the rear bumper, but on the "base" XLR shown, shapely, integrated widemouth tips now appear to be part of that bumper assembly. We're curious to see whether the XLR's interior also gets an overhaul. While not bad per se, the interior styling of Cadillac's flagship as currently offered falls short of the standard recently set by the entry-level CTS. It would serve GM well to lavish the new-style interior treatment upon the XLR, thus our interest in seeing spy shots of the '09's passenger compartment. (Got that, Brenda?) If the new XLR doesn't do it for you, Cadillac will have the CTS Coupe along in short order.


[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

We've known as much for a while, but according to a Georges Keller, a Bugatti spokesperson quoted by Automotive News, a drop-top Veyron is in the works and is due to launch sometime next year. Details are scarce, but according to an unnamed ex-Bugatti executive, the targa-topped hypercar will feature a removable hardtop, but its overtly wealthy owners will have to plan ahead, since there won't be any room in the Bug to store the roof on the go. According to the anonymous exec, the decision to go with a hard top instead of some kind of cloth piece was due to the design of the Veyron's safety cage. Certainly a good call considering the Veyron's potential.


[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Click above to view the "Black Magic" Focus CC in hi-res

Henry Ford would be proud of Ford Europe's latest special edition. Offered only in black – inside and out – the "Black Magic" edition is based on the new Focus Coupe-Cabriolet launched in this year Geneva. The package includes black powder-coated 17-inch alloys mounted to a sport suspension, plus tinted headlights and fog lamps. The interior is swathed in (you guessed it) black leather, complimented by special floor mats and bundled with an MP3- and Bluetooth-compatible stereo, parking sensors and wind deflector. Only 1500 copies of the Black Magic edition will be made available in Europe with a choice of 2-liter engines running on gasoline (145hp) or diesel (136hp) for Є28,100 or Є30,100 respectively. Check out the images in the gallery below for a closer look.

[Source: Ford]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Caterham R500.

After getting teased and then leaked on, we officially have details on Caterham's new Superlight R500. The stats are as insane as we predicted, with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Ford Durtec sending 263 hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a six-speed sequential gearbox equipped with launch control. With 520 hp per ton (it weighs 506 kg, or 1,116 pounds) the R500 can rocket to 60 in exactly 2.88 seconds, but that's only part of the performance equation.

Caterham fitted the R500 with a "Carbon Induction Airbox," Eibach springs and dampers pulled from the C400 Caterham racer, four-piston calipers in front and two-piston rotors out back, Avon C500 track-day rubber, and replaced many of the components with aluminum and carbon fiber to shed 9 kgs from the chassis. The R500 is also equipped with a new electronic IP nestled into a full carbon fiber dash. If you're in the UK and have £36,995 to spare, you could do worse for you next track-day excursion.

Make the jump for the full press release.

The BMW Blog, which is fast becoming our main resource for news regarding the propellor brand, is reporting that the 2009 Z4 will be offered both as a soft-top convertible and a hard-top. Much like Mazda offers the MX-5 with a traditional softy and a separate model with a folding hard top, BMW will reportedly do the same for the Z4. In this competitive market for the upper middle class dollar, BMW will be able to satisfy traditionalists and performance purists who like the ease-of-use and lighter weight of a soft-top convertible, while also addressing the needs of buyers who want a Z4 that's useable all year round. The Z4's main competition, the Mercedes-Benz SLK, is only offered as a hard-top convertible, which also gives BMW a leg up on its main rival in this segment. It's hard to argue with an automaker offering customers more choice, and we're eager to see how the Z4's unique styling blends with a hard roof. We've already seen spy pics of the car wearing the metal roof, which led many of us to believe that the new hard top would be the only option. We'll have to wait and see whether BMW Blog got it right and the brand it favors will be offering both, but this blog has been right before. Thanks for the tip, Horatiu!

[Source: BMW Blog]

Click above for a gallery of the Caterham R500.

Caterham teased us yesterday, and today we get our first glimpse of its new minimalist masterpiece. While the paltry pics don't do it justice, we've got confirmation that the R500 will be packing a 263-hp, 2.0-liter Duratec four that can spin upwards of 8,500 rpm. Power is shoveled down to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed sequential 'box and launch control is part of the £37,000 package. While we don't think the clear plastic hood will make it to production and there's no word on weight, there's little doubt that the R500 will get you to 60 in under three seconds and do things to your hair only a jet turbine-powered blow drier could.


[Source: CarTribe via Jalopnik]