Autoblog Specialty http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog Specialty http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/favicon-v5.png Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[Only one Aston Martin One-77 left to purchase new]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/only-one-aston-marton-one-77-left-to-purchase-new/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/only-one-aston-marton-one-77-left-to-purchase-new/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/only-one-aston-marton-one-77-left-to-purchase-new/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

Aston Martin One-77

Bound and determined to get your hands on an Aston Martin One-77? If so, now's the time to get serious. According to duPont Registry, the very last factory-built One-77 is finally up for sale.

The car is located in Tampa Bay, Florida, and its exact build number is not known. According to the report, the first and last One-77, build numbers one and 77, were pre-sold to wealthy buyers expecting them to appreciate in value faster than the other 75 One-77 models created.

In any case, duPont Registry claims there are between five and eight One-77 supercars roaming the streets in the United States, making this one rare Aston Martin. Interested? Better get a move on... and bring along something in the neighborhood of $2 million.

Only one Aston Martin One-77 left to purchase new originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> aston martinaston martin one-77one-77 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169216/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/10/only-one-aston-marton-one-77-left-to-purchase-new/20169216/article-detail.xml 20169216 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/aston-martin-one-77_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/aston-martin-one-77.jpg <![CDATA[Bertone releases sketches of Nuccio Concept ahead of Geneva]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/bertone-releases-sketches-of-nuccio-concept-ahead-of-geneva/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/bertone-releases-sketches-of-nuccio-concept-ahead-of-geneva/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/bertone-releases-sketches-of-nuccio-concept-ahead-of-geneva/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Bertone Nuccio teaser sketch

Turin-based styling house Bertone has released a couple of sketches teasing its upcoming Nuccio Concept car. To be debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March, the Nuccio will reportedly be based on a mid-engine platform and is meant to commemorate the company's 100-year anniversary.

The Nuccio is named after founder Giovanni Bertone's son, who took over the company and separated it into two divisions, one for building cars and one for designing them for clients. Giuseppe "Nuccio" Bertone died in 1997 and was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit in 2006, having led his eponymous company through its most successful years.

The Nuccio Concept will be a berlinetta (Italian for little saloon) of classic Bertone design, sporting a pronounced wedge shape that sits very low to the ground. No real details were provided with the two sketches, so we'll have to wait until the Geneva festivities kick off for any hints on the powertrain or seating configuration.

Bertone releases sketches of Nuccio Concept ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bertonebertone nucciogenevageneva 2012geneva motor shownuccionuccio bertone Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169156/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/10/bertone-releases-sketches-of-nuccio-concept-ahead-of-geneva/20169156/article-detail.xml 20169156 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/bertone-nuccio_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/bertone-nuccio.jpg <![CDATA[Mini drums up yet another special edition, the Highgate]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/mini-drums-up-yet-another-special-edition-the-highgate/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/mini-drums-up-yet-another-special-edition-the-highgate/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/mini-drums-up-yet-another-special-edition-the-highgate/#comments Filed under: , , ,



We are more used to seeing this in the six-figure realm of the automotive world: a carmaker putting out one special edition after another. But both Mini and UK buyers love their specializations, so Mini has provided another one called the Highgate. It follows the Baker Street and Baywater editions as the new hotness for 2012.

This one will be for the Cooper convertible (Baker Street and Bayswater were for the hardtops). The standard treatment is an Iced Chocolate exterior coat with Truffle stripes on the hood and a Silvertouched Truffle roof, but metallic options in Midnight Black and White Silver are also available.

Insid,e Dark Truffle Lounge Leather seats with blue piping meet a host of standard features such as Mini's cold-weather and Chrome Line Interior packages. It rides on 17-inch Double Cross wheels and gets a range of four engine options from that in the 122-horsepower Cooper to the 143-horsepower motor from the Cooper SD.

Prices start at £21,300 ($33,693 U.S., not that we'd ever get it here) on-the-road for the manual-transmission Cooper Highgate Convertible, to £26,050 ($41,206 U.S.) OTR for the Cooper SD Highgate Convertible with an auto. More information is in the press release after the jump and plenty of eye candy in the gallery of high-res photos.

Continue reading Mini drums up yet another special edition, the Highgate

Mini drums up yet another special edition, the Highgate originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2012 mini2012 mini highgate2012 mini highgate special editionhighgatemini highgatespecial edition Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20164793/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/06/mini-drums-up-yet-another-special-edition-the-highgate/20164793/article-detail.xml 20164793 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/minihighgateunv_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/minihighgateunv.jpg <![CDATA[Cadillac to show XTS town car at Vegas LCT show [w/poll]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/cadillac-to-show-xts-town-car-at-vegas-lct-show-w-poll/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/cadillac-to-show-xts-town-car-at-vegas-lct-show-w-poll/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/cadillac-to-show-xts-town-car-at-vegas-lct-show-w-poll/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

Cadillac XTS

Town Car may be a nameplate still associated with Lincoln, but as any New Yorker will tell you, it's also a class of car and its application: large domestic luxury sedans used as chartered taxi cabs preferred by executives and highly valued professionals to get from one meeting to the next through Manhattan's notorious traffic. It's a market Lincoln itself is keen to retain, but with the demise of the Town Car as a model, it's pitching the MKT crossover for the application. Cadillac, however, is going with the XTS.

The top-end GM marque's new flagship sedan will be presented on February 13 at the upcoming International LCT (Limousine, Charter and Tour) Show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. There, Cadillac will showcase the XTS W20 Livery Sedan Package, paving the way for extended-wheelbase and even sedan chassis to be made available sometime later this year.

So will Cadillac finally be able to leapfrog past longtime rival Lincoln in this vital market? Will the XTS prove the ultimate successor to the Town Car? Follow the jump for the full press release and cast your vote in the poll below.

View Poll

Continue reading Cadillac to show XTS town car at Vegas LCT show [w/poll]

Cadillac to show XTS town car at Vegas LCT show [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> black carcadillaccadillac xtsinternational lctinternational lct showlctlimolimousinelimousine charter tourtown carxts Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20160435/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/31/cadillac-to-show-xts-town-car-at-vegas-lct-show-w-poll/20160435/article-detail.xml 20160435 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/0001-2013-cadillac-xts_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/0001-2013-cadillac-xts.jpg <![CDATA[Production Aston Martin V12 Zagato headed for Kuwait reveal]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/production-aston-martin-v12-zagato-headed-for-kuwait-reveal/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/production-aston-martin-v12-zagato-headed-for-kuwait-reveal/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/production-aston-martin-v12-zagato-headed-for-kuwait-reveal/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,



A howling red prototype of the Aston Martin's V12 Zagato made the international rounds last year, and now the first production example is headed for a Middle East reveal at the Kuwait Concours d' Elegance (running February 15-18). Only 150 of the super-exclusive Astons will be made for worldwide consumption.

Aston Martin hasn't released any new photos so we don't know how the 510-horsepower, £330,000 (that's $550,000 U.S., before taxes), aluminum-and-carbon-bodied coupe will differ from its progenitor. If the model on display at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show is an indicator, though, future owners have much to look forward to.

We'll know more in a few weeks, so until then, feast your eyes on the attached photo galleries and read the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Production Aston Martin V12 Zagato headed for Kuwait reveal

Production Aston Martin V12 Zagato headed for Kuwait reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> aston martin v12 zagatokuwaitkuwait concoursv12 zagatozagato Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159073/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/29/production-aston-martin-v12-zagato-headed-for-kuwait-reveal/20159073/article-detail.xml 20159073 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/02aston-martin-v12-zagatoiaa11628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/02aston-martin-v12-zagatoiaa11628.jpg <![CDATA[British limo company eager to show its chops with stretched Audi R8 [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/british-limo-company-eager-to-show-its-chops-with-stretched-audi/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/british-limo-company-eager-to-show-its-chops-with-stretched-audi/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/british-limo-company-eager-to-show-its-chops-with-stretched-audi/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Some vehicles are made to be stretched. Others, less so. A Lincoln Town Car, for example, is a good platform for a limo. A Mercedes-Benz S-Class, sure. A Rolls-Royce Phantom. We could even see the attraction behind a Cadillac Escalade limo, if we had to. But not an exotic supercar.

The folks over at Carbonyte would beg to differ, though. The British coachbuilder made its reputation, such as it is, by helping Mercedes-Benz and McLaren develop the chassis for the SLR. But after that, things took a drastic turn for the worse.

Following the SLR project, Carbonyte turned its attention to unusual stretch jobs that usually involve supercars we'd rather not see chopped up and lengthened. Among its first projects was a stretched Ferrari 360 Modena that did not please the people in Maranello. Then the firm turned a Smart ForTwo into a giant rolling Red Bull can, before setting its sights on the Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg CCX.

We're glad we never saw those projects come to fruition, but the company is now reportedly preparing to do the same with an Audi R8. Whereas the Ferrari job incorporated two giant gullwing doors to give access to all the rear buckets at once, the R8 project - commissioned by the same company that owns the Ferrari limo - appears to feature individual gullwing doors for each of the passenger seats.

The vehicle is reportedly tipped to be completed by this coming summer, and will retain the donor car's 5.2-liter V10 - but we'd guess not its all-wheel drive system, and none of its handling dynamics. Check out the renderings in the image gallery above and the ludicrously dramatic video after the jump.

Continue reading British limo company eager to show its chops with stretched Audi R8 [w/video]

British limo company eager to show its chops with stretched Audi R8 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> audiaudi r8audi r8 5.2 fsiaudi r8 v10carbonytelimolimo brokerlimobrokerlimousiner8stretch Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20151585/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/24/british-limo-company-eager-to-show-its-chops-with-stretched-audi/20151585/article-detail.xml 20151585 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/webr8-limo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/webr8-limo.jpg <![CDATA[PG Elektrus is yet another crack at electrifying a Lotus Elise]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/pg-elektrus-is-yet-another-crack-at-electrifying-a-lotus-elise/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/pg-elektrus-is-yet-another-crack-at-electrifying-a-lotus-elise/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/24/pg-elektrus-is-yet-another-crack-at-electrifying-a-lotus-elise/#comments Filed under: , , , , , , ,

PG Elektrus - front view

We have good news for you if you're missing the Tesla Roadster already. German manufacturer PG has unveiled the company's new Elektrus, a Lotus-based sports EV with some very wild styling. While the company has made a name for itself producing carbon-fiber electric bicycles, the Elektrus is its first crack at the automotive market. The Randall Boggs-inspired coupe uses a Lotus Elise chassis with bodywork comprised of carbon fiber and composite, though the company is keeping powertrain details to itself for the time being. We do know the vehicle's battery pack will afford Elektrus buyers a claimed range of around 215 miles and the whole package is said to weigh under 2,000 pounds.

The company also says the cells can be topped off in around eight hours from of a standard household outlet. With around 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the Elektrus should be very quick on its feet. PG claims the vehicle can dash to 62 mph in under three seconds on its way to a top speed of 155 mph. Look for the vehicle to land with a gasp-inducing price tag of $367,700 at current conversion rates (including VAT) when it hits the market in Germany. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading PG Elektrus is yet another crack at electrifying a Lotus Elise

PG Elektrus is yet another crack at electrifying a Lotus Elise originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> electricelectric sports carelektruseliseevlotuslotus elisepgpg elektrus Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20155293/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/24/pg-elektrus-is-yet-another-crack-at-electrifying-a-lotus-elise/20155293/article-detail.xml 20155293 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/pg-elektrus-front-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/pg-elektrus-front-628.jpg <![CDATA[One-off Mercedes 500K barn find discovered in South Central, LA salvage yard]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/one-off-mercedes-550k-barn-find-discovered-in-south-central-la/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/one-off-mercedes-550k-barn-find-discovered-in-south-central-la/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/one-off-mercedes-550k-barn-find-discovered-in-south-central-la/#comments Filed under: , , , ,



Being agriculturally inclined to build barns in the country, we don't expect barn finds to turn up in the middle of a high-turnover metropolis. Yet that's been happening more regularly of late, and writer Michael Mraz has found another example in South Central, Los Angeles: a one-of-one Mercedes-Benz 1935 Caracciola 500K built especially for Silver Arrows race driver Rudolph Caraccioloa. It is pictured above in better days, after having been restored and displayed on the lawn at the Pebble Beach concours in the late 1970s.

What's amazing about the Caracciola 500K, and tragic for car lovers, is that it has a good deal of company: in a piece called "Wheels of Fortune" in the February issue of Town & Country magazine, Mraz found scaffolds full of vintage metal in awful condition, rusting outside in a parts yard called Porche Foreign Auto. They include:

...a pair of one-off prewar Maybachs; one of two Iso Grifo Spyders (designed and engineered by Giotto Bizzarrini, who also has the Ferrari 250 GTO on his résumé); one of 29 alloy-bodied Mercedes Gullwings...; a couple of BMW 502s and 507s; a half-dozen or so Lamborghini Miuras, with their mighty V12 engines; and the last surviving example of the seven Horch 855 Spezial Roadsters ever built, a specimen once owned by Eva Braun that was for a time on loan to the Audi Museum in Germany. (Audi was founded by August Horch.) Parked one on top of the other are dozens upon dozens of Porsche Carrera carcasses....

Porche Foreign Auto was started in 1967 by a German butcher named Rudi Klein, who bought the Caracciola 500K after it was shown at Pebble in 1978. He took it to a Mercedes show in Newport Beach in 1980, and when it wouldn't start he loaded it on a trailer and took it home. It hasn't been seen since, outside of the parts yard.

Klein passed away, and his salvage yard is overseen by his sons, who won't let any gawkers into to view the cars. Even Mraz was denied entry. But he spoke to folks who have seen the collection, and one said that there are vehicles people have sought for decades and thought had been destroyed. The head of the Mercedes Classic Center in Irvine believes the Caracciola 500K could be worth more than the 1937 540K Spezial Roadster that was auctioned for nearly $10 million at last year's RM Auctions at Pebble. But we might never know.

Town & Country doesn't have a proper website, so pick up the magazine to read the piece and see what the automotive world is missing. There's a sample of it in the attached gallery, but be warned, it's not pleasant to see.

One-off Mercedes 500K barn find discovered in South Central, LA salvage yard originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1935 mercedes-benz 500kbarn findcaracciola 500 klos angelesmercedes-benz 500 kmike mrazporche foreign autorudolph caracciolatown and country Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20153928/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/22/one-off-mercedes-550k-barn-find-discovered-in-south-central-la/20153928/article-detail.xml 20153928 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/mrazcaracciola500k_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/mrazcaracciola500k.jpg <![CDATA[Barrett-Jackson 2012: One of two Devon GTX supercars reaches bid of $200,000 [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/barrett-jackson-2012-one-of-two-devon-gtx-supercars-reaches-bid/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/barrett-jackson-2012-one-of-two-devon-gtx-supercars-reaches-bid/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/barrett-jackson-2012-one-of-two-devon-gtx-supercars-reaches-bid/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Way back in 2009, a small but hopeful automaker called Devon Motorworks came to life with a somewhat shocking vehicle that it planned to sell as a true bespoke American supercar. Sadly, and for a number of reasons (not the least of which was the bankruptcy of its major parts donor), the Devon GTX never made it into the hands of the public.

That doesn't mean Devon never assembled any cars. As you can see, there's at least one Devon GTX thundering down the road. The first Devon GTX, serial number one, went up for auction at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale. Powered by the engine and running gear of a 2008 Dodge Viper, this car is completely street legal with a 2012 special construction title.

And now it has a new owner, bought for the sum of $220,000 after a final gavel price of $200,000. We don't know if that's a steal or an overpayment, but either way, we think the GTX is pretty cool. See the car in all its chrome and black glory in our high-res gallery of live images below, plus the video after the break, where you'll also see its official auction description.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: One of two Devon GTX supercars reaches bid of $200,000 [w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: One of two Devon GTX supercars reaches bid of $200,000 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> barrett-jacksonbarrett-jackson 2012devondevon gtxgtx Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:40:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20153902/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/21/barrett-jackson-2012-one-of-two-devon-gtx-supercars-reaches-bid/20153902/article-detail.xml 20153902 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/devon-gtx-bj_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/devon-gtx-bj.jpg <![CDATA[SMS Supercars unveils 620 Camaro, auctions first example for charity at Barrett-Jackson]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/sms-supercars-unveils-620-camaro-auctions-off-first-example-for/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/sms-supercars-unveils-620-camaro-auctions-off-first-example-for/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/sms-supercars-unveils-620-camaro-auctions-off-first-example-for/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,



When Steve Saleen launched his new company, SMS Supercars, back in 2008, he announced that he would be expanding his portfolio of vehicles to include the muscle car offerings from Chevrolet and Dodge. First up was the 570 and 570X Challenger, followed soon after by the 302 Mustang.

Now, Steve Saleen's muscle car trifecta is finally complete, as SMS officially unveiled the 620 Camaro at Barrett-Jackson this week. The car maintains the styling cues featured on both the Challenger and Mustang with an aggressive front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, butterfly hood and chrome 20-inch wheels. Inside is a custom leather interior, and under the hood, the 6.2-liter V8 has been supercharged to 620 horsepower and 570 pound-feet torque.

In addition to unveiling the car at Barrett-Jackson this week, SMS actually auctioned off the first production example last night. This particular car was also a special "Bondurant Edition" in honor of Steve Saleen's former racing teammate, Bob Bondurant, and the two decided to donate the proceeds from the sale to two charities: Cox Charities and the Make A Wish Foundation of Arizona.

So, how did the car do? Bidding for the SMS 620 Camaro eventually reached the $100,000 mark, meaning the two charities will be getting a significant donation and the lucky new owner just got a nice tax write-off. Did we mention a Bondurant three-day performance driving school is included with the car?

You can see photos of the 2012 SMS 620 Camaro in the gallery above, and check out a video of the car being auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson in the video after the jump.

Continue reading SMS Supercars unveils 620 Camaro, auctions first example for charity at Barrett-Jackson

SMS Supercars unveils 620 Camaro, auctions first example for charity at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> auctionsbarrett-jacksonbarrett-jackson 2012camarochevroletsaleenscottsdalesms supercarssms supercars 620 camarosteve saleen Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20152800/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/20/sms-supercars-unveils-620-camaro-auctions-off-first-example-for/20152800/article-detail.xml 20152800 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/sms-620-camaro-bj_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/sms-620-camaro-bj.jpg <![CDATA[17-year-old Zach Veach shows us around Infineon]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/17-year-old-zach-veach-shows-us-around-infineon/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/17-year-old-zach-veach-shows-us-around-infineon/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/17-year-old-zach-veach-shows-us-around-infineon/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Zach Veach at Infineon

We're not sure what you were into at 17, but if you're anything like us, odds are it wasn't bombing around Infineon Raceway in a Renesis-powered race car. This would be the primary difference between young hot-shot driver Zach Veach and the rest of us goons. Despite his tender young age, Veach has made a name for himself as one of the more talented personalities in the current Formula Car Challenge. The series pits cars in multiple classes against one another as drivers vie for their respective wins. Veach campaigns in the Pro Formula Mazda class, and took home wins during both races at Infineon last year.

Now the team has partnered with our friends at Replay XD to work up a quick video of the young racer's exploits. Veach doesn't mess around on track, and his clean passes and tidy lines make short work of the competition. Hit the jump to check out the action for yourself. Just make sure you've got a hand on the volume as the screaming rotaries can be a bit much.

Continue reading 17-year-old Zach Veach shows us around Infineon

17-year-old Zach Veach shows us around Infineon originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> formula car challengeinfineionmazdapro forumula mazdarenesisrotaryveachzach veach Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20152421/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/19/17-year-old-zach-veach-shows-us-around-infineon/20152421/article-detail.xml 20152421 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/zach-veach-at-infineon-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/zach-veach-at-infineon-628.jpg <![CDATA[Teens build mini TVN Dominator tornado chase vehicle]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/teens-build-mini-tvn-dominator-tornado-chase-vehicle/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/teens-build-mini-tvn-dominator-tornado-chase-vehicle/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/teens-build-mini-tvn-dominator-tornado-chase-vehicle/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Mini Dominator tornado chase vehicle

There are few things that can't be accomplished with a little PVC pipe, some chicken wire, cardboard boxes and spray paint. Just ask the innovative chaps in the videos after the jump. As part of a Halloween celebration last year, the quartet of youths took it up on themselves to recreate a scale version of the tornado-chasing Dominator from TVN. The finished product looks pretty good given its humble roots, and since the project uses a Honda Recon ATV for a chassis, it gets down the road with a quickness.

The guys behind the project nailed all of the relevant details, right down to a mock Bosch sponsorship and a plethora of wiper blades. Well played, sirs. The troupe plans to roll out a mini Dominator 2 in coming months alongside a slew of skits inspired by the reality TV show Storm Chasers. We can't wait. Hit the jump to check out the four-part series on the Dominator's creation after the jump.

Continue reading Teens build mini TVN Dominator tornado chase vehicle

Teens build mini TVN Dominator tornado chase vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> atvdominatorhalloweenhondahonda reconstorm chaserstornadotornado chase trucktornado chasertvnvideo Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20151008/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/18/teens-build-mini-tvn-dominator-tornado-chase-vehicle/20151008/article-detail.xml 20151008 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/mini-dominator-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/mini-dominator-628.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota Prius camper conversion has us charging for the woods]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/toyota-prius-camper-conversion-has-us-charging-for-the-woods/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/toyota-prius-camper-conversion-has-us-charging-for-the-woods/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/toyota-prius-camper-conversion-has-us-charging-for-the-woods/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

Toyota Prius by Campinn

Love it or hate it, Toyota has done an impressive job with the Prius. What started as a single model has grown to a whole family, including the versatile new Prius V minivan. But for some even that won't prove enough space, so Japanese conversion outfit Campinn has developed this rather bizarre appendage for the standard Prius hatchback.

Unveiled this weekend at the Tokyo Auto Salon, this conversion turns the current Prius into a camping van of sorts, complete with convertible sofa-bed and overhead sleeping area. It's made of fiber-reinforced plastic and boosts the car's length to 196 inches and its height to 81.1, and comes complete with a skylight and a back door for slipping out un-noticed when people are gathered around the front gawking and laughing at what looks like a hybrid with a tumor.

Toyota Prius camper conversion has us charging for the woods originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2012 toyota priuscampercamper conversioncamper vancampingcampinnpriusprius camperprius camper vanprius rvtoyota priustoyota prius camper van Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20149644/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/17/toyota-prius-camper-conversion-has-us-charging-for-the-woods/20149644/article-detail.xml 20149644 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/web02-prius-camper_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/web02-prius-camper.jpg <![CDATA[1938 Cadillac V16 convertible parades from White House to auction house]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/15/1938-cadillac-v16-convertible-parades-from-white-house-to-auctio/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/15/1938-cadillac-v16-convertible-parades-from-white-house-to-auctio/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/15/1938-cadillac-v16-convertible-parades-from-white-house-to-auctio/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

1938 Cadillac V-16 President Convertible Parade Limousine

The unfortunate reality of a post-JFK, post-9/11 America means that our president needs to be hidden away from public view, and the details of his high-security transportation are just as hidden. But there was a time when the leader of the free world was paraded around for all to see, and for three presidents of these United States, this was the car in which they met their constituents.

Nicknamed the Queen Mary, this 1938 Cadillac V-16 President Convertible Parade Limousine was one of only two specially made for the White House (the other dubbed Queen Elizabeth), and was used by FDR, Truman and Eisenhower during their presidencies. Delivered on special order shortly after the introduction of Cadillac's second-generation sixteen-cylinder engine (which was smaller and lighter than its predecessor but delivered the same output), the Presidential Limousine's 165-inch wheelbase made it eleven inches longer than the already gargantuan production model.

After the end of WWII, as part of its routine maintenance, Cadillac replaced the sixteen-cylinder engines with V8s that were both more economical and easier to maintain. The cars were last used by President Eisenhower during his re-election campaign, after which longtime Cadillac dealer Jack Tallman, who witnessed the pair being rebuilt several times while visiting the factory, was offered the chance to purchase both cars. Tallman selected the Queen Mary for his collection, where it stayed for four decades. In 1999, the car was sold to one Al Wiseman, who showed it at Amelia Island in 2002 where it was awarded as the best original, unrestored vehicle.

It is now being offered for auction by the estate of John O'Quinn, its last owner, at the upcoming RM Auctions event in Arizona next week, where it is expected to fetch between $300,000 and $400,000. Have a closer look in the high-res image gallery and the detailed listing after the jump.

Continue reading 1938 Cadillac V16 convertible parades from White House to auction house

1938 Cadillac V16 convertible parades from White House to auction house originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1938 cadillac v-161938 cadillac v-16 presidential convertible parade limousine1938 cadillac v16arizonacadillaceisenhowerfdrparade carpotuspresidentpresidentialrmrm auctionsrooseveltscottsdaletrumanwhite house Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:09:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20147642/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/15/1938-cadillac-v16-convertible-parades-from-white-house-to-auctio/20147642/article-detail.xml 20147642 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/web01-cadillac-v16-presidential_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/web01-cadillac-v16-presidential.jpg <![CDATA[Lexus LFA Roadster makes appearance at Japanese drift event]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/lexus-lfa-roadster-makes-apperance-at-japanese-drift-event/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/lexus-lfa-roadster-makes-apperance-at-japanese-drift-event/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/lexus-lfa-roadster-makes-apperance-at-japanese-drift-event/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

Lexus LFA Roadster drifting

If top-down motoring is your cup of tea, there are few droptops that could elicit as many smiles per sun-drenched hour than the long-rumored Lexus LFA Roadster. We first saw the V10-powered 552-horsepower machine at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, but the automaker has kept its lips firmly sealed on the potential of a production version since that showing.

Interestingly enough, though, it appears that Toyota's luxury division may not be done trotting proproduction LFA Roadsters around the auto show circuit. As can be seen in the video after the break, the Lexus droptop stunner made an appearance at the most recent Tokyo Auto Salon, where it took part in an exhibition run for the D1GP Kick Off Drift event.

Here's where things get a little murky. We have no idea if this is a factory-made LFA Roadster - it could be a custom job, or it could be the same exact car Lexus showed off in Detroit four years ago, albeit wearing a new coat of white paint and an unfortunate rollbar. Whatever the case, you can see exactly how easily the V10-powered machine can smoke its rear tires after the break.

Special Bonus: Watch now and you'll see extra drifting footage of a Toyota GT 86!

Continue reading Lexus LFA Roadster makes appearance at Japanese drift event

Lexus LFA Roadster makes appearance at Japanese drift event originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> lexuslexus lfalexus lfa convertiblelexus lfa roadsterlf-alfalfa convertiblelfa roadstertokyo auto salonvideo Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20148658/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/13/lexus-lfa-roadster-makes-apperance-at-japanese-drift-event/20148658/article-detail.xml 20148658 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/lexus-lfa-convert-drift_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/lexus-lfa-convert-drift.jpg <![CDATA[Missouri rolls out mother of all snow removal equipment, the TowPlow]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/missouri-rolls-out-mother-of-all-snow-removal-equipment-the-tow/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/missouri-rolls-out-mother-of-all-snow-removal-equipment-the-tow/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/missouri-rolls-out-mother-of-all-snow-removal-equipment-the-tow/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

TowPlow video screen capture

If you happen to call the East Coast home, there's a good chance you recently woke up to plenty of winter weather. Given that we're facing down a few long months of snow and ice ahead, we thought we'd take the time to explore one of the more interesting innovations in snow removal.

Behold the TowPlow: a steerable trailer that allows one truck to clear up to two and a half lanes of roadway in a single pass. The machinery effectively doubles the efficiency of a truck and driver, but it comes with a heady price tag. The TowPlow will set your local department of transportation back around $100,000 a pop.

The TowPlow can also be fitted to disperse sand, salt or liquid calcium chloride, which makes it a triple threat when it comes to keeping roadways free of the slippery stuff. The machine was pioneered in Missouri, but states like Pennsylvania have also taken to using the TowPlow when the worst winter weather hits. Click past the jump for a few videos of the mega plow in action.

Continue reading Missouri rolls out mother of all snow removal equipment, the TowPlow

Missouri rolls out mother of all snow removal equipment, the TowPlow originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> snowsnow plowtowplowvideowinter weather Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20148353/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/13/missouri-rolls-out-mother-of-all-snow-removal-equipment-the-tow/20148353/article-detail.xml 20148353 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/towplow-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/towplow-628.jpg <![CDATA[Watch a twin-turbo Lamborghini Gallardo race an Aventador]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/12/watch-a-twin-turbo-lamborghini-gallardo-race-an-aventador/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/12/watch-a-twin-turbo-lamborghini-gallardo-race-an-aventador/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/12/watch-a-twin-turbo-lamborghini-gallardo-race-an-aventador/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Heffner Lamborghini Gallardo race

There's no doubt a stock Lamborghini Gallardo doesn't have the guts to go toe-to-toe with its more powerful sibling, the Aventador. But make no mistake: That's nothing a couple massive turbochargers can't fix.

The twin turbos come courtesy of Heffner Performance, and they turn the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera into a monster with more than 600 horsepower force fed through the V10 engine and to all four wheels. For the sake of comparison, the naturally aspirated Aventador offers up 691 horsepower straight from the factory.

There's no data on which Heffner kit this Gallardo has been fitted with, so we can't say exactly how many horses it's hiding underhood - it could be as many as 1200. At any rate, after watching the video, all we know is that it's more than 691. See for yourself... and keep the racing confined to the racetrack, please.

Continue reading Watch a twin-turbo Lamborghini Gallardo race an Aventador

Watch a twin-turbo Lamborghini Gallardo race an Aventador originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2012 lamborghini aventador lp700-4aventadorgallardogallardo aventador racegallardo twin turboheffner lamborghiniheffner performancelamborghinilamborghini race Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20147688/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/12/watch-a-twin-turbo-lamborghini-gallardo-race-an-aventador/20147688/article-detail.xml 20147688 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/heffner-gallardo-aventador-race_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/heffner-gallardo-aventador-race.jpg <![CDATA[Tim Cameron's ShowTime is our kind of commuter car for the apocalypse]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/tim-camerons-showtime-is-our-kind-of-commuter-car-for-the-apoca/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/tim-camerons-showtime-is-our-kind-of-commuter-car-for-the-apoca/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/tim-camerons-showtime-is-our-kind-of-commuter-car-for-the-apoca/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Tim Cameron ShowTime buggy

It's amazing what a little good old-fashioned ingenuity can create. Well, that and about 200 feet of thick steel tubing, 16-inch Fox coil-over suspenders, an LSX 454 crate engine from General Motors hooked to a Powerglide automatic transmission, and a custom-built pair of axles and a set of four 43-inch tires...

Of course, none of those components would do a lick of good if it weren't for a talented builder and driver, and Tim Cameron apparently is both. Cameron has been building this unique type of rock-climbing off-road buggy for years, and his latest creation, which is called ShowTime, is his most impressive yet.

There aren't many obstacles that can't be tackled when you've got endless supplies of horsepower and articulation, even if traction is limited. That point will be driven home if you check out the video after the break, which is a compilation of tricky situations ably conquered by Cameron and his ShowTime rig. Well, almost all of them were conquered... See for yourself.

Continue reading Tim Cameron's ShowTime is our kind of commuter car for the apocalypse

Tim Cameron's ShowTime is our kind of commuter car for the apocalypse originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> hill climboff-road buggyrock bouncerock bounce rigshowtimeshowtime buggytim cameronyoutube hero Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20146686/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/11/tim-camerons-showtime-is-our-kind-of-commuter-car-for-the-apoca/20146686/article-detail.xml 20146686 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/tim-cameron-showtime_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/tim-cameron-showtime.jpg <![CDATA[Jet-powered motorcycle headed for land speed record]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/jet-powered-motorcycle-headed-for-land-speed-record/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/jet-powered-motorcycle-headed-for-land-speed-record/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/jet-powered-motorcycle-headed-for-land-speed-record/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

Jet Reaction

Richard Brown is our kind of guy. Back in 1999, he set the one-way record for the top speed on a motorcycle at 362 mph, and he's spent the years since working on a sub-orbital rocket and a gas turbine jet pack. Surprisingly enough, those two projects haven't been enough to occupy Brown's time, and he's now turned his attentions back toward the motorcycle land speed record. Now the mad scientist aims to stroll past 450 mph on a jet-powered bike. Brown has dug up a 1,250 horsepower jet engine from a helicopter, and he plans to bump up the thrust to be able to use the afterburner while he's soaring down the salt.

The machine is called Jet Reaction, and Brown has already sourced the engine and fabricated a metal skeleton. Judging by the rendering, the jet bike will feature plenty of aerodynamic bodywork to help it reach its lofty speed goal. We wish Brown all the best in his quest. Head over to Visor Down for a look at his progress so far.

Jet-powered motorcycle headed for land speed record originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> jet bikeland speed motorcycleland speed motorcycle recordland speed recordmotorcyclerichard brown Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20140523/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/06/jet-powered-motorcycle-headed-for-land-speed-record/20140523/article-detail.xml 20140523 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/jet-reaction-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/jet-reaction-628.jpg <![CDATA[Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/watch-a-volvo-amazon-wagon-race-a-ferrari-599-and-win/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/watch-a-volvo-amazon-wagon-race-a-ferrari-599-and-win/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/watch-a-volvo-amazon-wagon-race-a-ferrari-599-and-win/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

Volvo Amazon vs Ferrari 599

We're more than happy to admit we have an intense fondness for the classic Volvo Amazon, especially in wagon form. Among its many virtues are its timeless styling, rugged Swedish structure and, with its range of four-cylinder engines, reliability and economy.

Fast, however, it was not.

At least, not in stock form. But at least one enterprising man named Mattias Vöcks, who works for none other than Koenigsegg, decided to build an Amazon that was debuted back in 2006 at the SEMA Show in Vegas with a bit more power. As in 600 horsepower, courtesy of a turbocharged 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine. Yep, that ought to do it, eh?

In fact, it's enough power to embarrass a Ferrari 599 in a straight line. Don't believe us? Check out the video after the break for some terrifyingly fast turbo brick action.

Continue reading Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win

Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1967 volvo amazonamazonamazon wagonMattias VöcksMattias Vocksvolvovolvo amazonvoxvox volvo Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20142256/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/06/watch-a-volvo-amazon-wagon-race-a-ferrari-599-and-win/20142256/article-detail.xml 20142256 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/volvo-amazon-vs-ferrari_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/volvo-amazon-vs-ferrari.jpg -1 2