Autoblog

Bond fan buys totaled Aston for $120k over list

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Auction Action, Etc., Supercars, Aston Martin

The people behind the latest Bond films seem to have a knack for destroying perfectly good Aston Martin DBSs. First they rolled one (repeatedly) in shooting Casino Royale. Never missing an opportunity to total a perfectly good Aston, they crashed another one in a rock quarry for the opening sequence of the upcoming Quantum of Solace sequel, but not before a factory test driver tanked another one into Lake Garda in northern Italy. And while you might figure a totaled Aston would, naturally, be worth less than a new one, you've evidently underestimated the clout of the 007 mystique.

Daniel Craig, the latest actor to take up the James Bond mantle, has revealed that the tanked DBS was extracted from the Italian lake and sold to a collector for an outrageous £200,000, some 60,000 thousand pounds sterling more than the £134k price of a brand new (and functional) example of the top-of-the-line British supercar. Somebody evidently needs to explain to said collector that the DBS in question was not a working example of the submersible Lotus from For Your Eyes Only. Rinspeed's got that one covered.

[Source: What Car?]

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Zeydon builds the BMW of yachts

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Euro, BMW, Toys, Lifestyle

Much like its Porsche Design counterpart, there isn't really anything BMW DesignWorks won't try to make better, from an espresso machine to a custom interior for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. So it was only a matter of time before they put pen to paper and created a yacht, this particular example being a 60-foot offshore performance sailboat for the Zeydon boatyard of Belgium.

Meant, as with any BMW, to be just almost everything to almost everyone, the yacht, christened "WYSIWYG," is a regatta-oriented sailer as fast as it is luxurious. And no, your eyes don't deceive you: it's blue. Why? Because according to the heads of Zeydon, "it perfectly communicates the characteristics that determine our corporate identity: progressiveness, originality, courage, strict authenticity and infinite emotion." And it's got wooden racing stripes. Click the image at right for a high-res version and follow the jump for the press release.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Zeydon builds the BMW of yachts

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PSA/Citroen to launch low-cost car for emerging markets

Michael Harley — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:04:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Euro, Renault, Citroen

Following the approach taken by rival Renault, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is working on an entry-level car set to debut in emerging markets in 2011. The Renault Logan has done well in Russia and Romania, which has prodded this interest and action from PSA. The new five-passenger vehicle will be assembled in Turkey or Poland and sold in eastern and central Europe, Russia, Turkey, and North Africa wearing both Citroen and Peugeot badging. If successful, sales would also expand to include China and South America. Even if the vehicle sells well, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen CEO Christian Streiff maintains there are no plans to sell the new car in western Europe - regardless of Renault's strategy.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

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Nissan offers more evidence of GT-R 'Ring run: second video and pic of tires

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Videos, Supercars, Nissan

Photo of stock tires used on the GT-R that tackled the 'Ring in 7:29

Nissan released a second video of the incredible 7:29 lap time achieved by the GT-R earlier this year at the Nürburgring Nordschleife along with a photo of the stock tires that were installed on the car at the time. It did so to dispel accusations that the time might not be 100% authentic. Porsche in particular seemed highly suspicious, and boldly claimed its belief that Nissan wasn't using stock tires at the time. The new video starts with some off-track buildup and shows the 50kg of test equipment that was on-board the car at the time, as well. Although we don't speak Japanese, we think that's what they're talking about along with discussing the fresh stock tires that were fitted to the car. The actual lap starts about 4 minutes in and looks pretty authentic to us. We're sure there will continue to be questions and complaints from all sides in this controversy, and we know that this is starting to turn into a a bit of a melodrama, but we really can't help ourselves. You can catch up on the whole sordid affair by clicking here and check out the video after the jump.

[Source: GTR Blog via Edmunds]

Continue reading Nissan offers more evidence of GT-R 'Ring run: second video and pic of tires

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VIDEO: New Hyundai Genesis Coupe commercial from South Korea

Chris Shunk — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupes, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hyundai

Click above to watch video after the jump

When Hyundai publicly unveiled the Genesis Coupe at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, it did so with a barrage of stunt driving and indoor drifts that made us badly want to get behind the wheel. The marketing team over at Hyundai must have picked up on that vibe, because they've produced a nearly two-minute long commercial for the South Korean market that consists of a gun metal gray Genesis Coupe slip sliding across a baron landscape. The resulting montage of Genesis Coupe clips shows it drifting elegantly through a cloud of its own dust and makes us want the RWD coupe that much more. Good job, Hyundai Marketing Dept. The entire video was shot to look almost completely black and white, which makes the contrast of the Genesis Coupe's curves stand out in a most complementary way. We were somewhat disappointed by one graphic that states a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds, but that's in line with what we've been hearing for the V6 model (keep in a mind a 0-60 mph time would be a smidge quicker). Hit the jump to see the video for yourself, and let us know if you agree that it looks a lot like recent Mazda Zoom Zoom commercials.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: New Hyundai Genesis Coupe commercial from South Korea

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Spy Shots: McLaren P11 already caught on the road

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars

Earlier today we told you the latest news on McLaren's upcoming "F1 Jr." P11 project. We even showed you a glimpse of what is believed to be a styling buck for the new F430/Gallardo fighter. Expected to show up in production trim about 18 months from now, the P11 will certainly be a tough secret for McLaren to keep. The P11 is one of the most highly anticipated sequels in automotive history, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that spy shots of running prototypes have already surfaced. This time it's Auto Express publishing a few pics of the car in the wild. Heavily camo'd, the car was spotted near the McLaren F1 shop in Woking, Surrey. Even in disguise you can see that the car looks like it will be as trim as we hoped it would be. Expected stats include a 6.2L AMG V8 possibly turbocharged to 500 hp, 1,100-kg curb weight, 0-60 in under four seconds and a top end of 200+ mph. AE also thinks pricing should fall into the £150,000-£200,000 range.

[Source: Auto Express]

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2010 Infiniti EX getting more rear leg room

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Infiniti

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Infiniti EX35

The Infiniti EX is a perfectly good little CUV with G37-inspired looks and sharp reflexes that keep it near the front of the cute 'ute segment in most reviews. Apparently that hasn't been enough to attract buyers. Or more precisely, the buyers who have been showing up at Infiniti dealers haven't been the kind of people that the company was actually marketing to. Where the advertising for the EX up to this point has been directed towards sedan buyers, and particularly couples or single women, a lot of families are actually looking considering it and, like ourselves, are complaining about the lack of back seat legroom and cargo room. Infiniti has taken those complaints to heart and is planning a few changes for the 2010 model that will increase room in both of those areas, though it hasn't said exactly how it will squeeze the extra cubic inches out of the vehicle's finite amount of interior space. Additionally, Infiniti will work with its dealers to help better pitch the EX to prospective buyers. An example of that is making content like the family-friendly Around View Monitor available in more trim levels. Hopefully it will help boost EX sales beyond the expected 15,000 units for this year, though we wouldn't get our hopes up in this market.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

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Jaguar "leaper" motorcycle finally finished

John Neff — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Jaguar, Motorcycles

Click above for more pics of the Jaguar "Leaper" bike

Back in August we brought you some build pics of a Jaguar-themed motorcycle with a body made to look like the brand's leaping cat hood ornament. We didn't have any details to go on at the time, but a new article in the UK's Daily Mail has shed some light on the project, as well as who's behind it. The Leaper bike is the brainchild of Barend Hemmes and came about when interior designed-by-trade was doodling in his office and combining corporate logos with motorcycles. He happened to notice how well Jaguar's leaping cat fit the frame of a motorcycle, and so enlisted the help of Polar Cycles in South Yorkshire to build it. The bike is six feet long and cobbled together with parts from a 1,200cc Buell 97 S3 Thunderbolt that was bought off eBay. It can only reach speeds of 50 mph, but that makes it easier for bystanders to check out the meticulously sculpted fiberglass body that pay's tribute to Jaguar's official mascot. The finished product is a pretty spectacular piece of rolling art, so we think its dynamic shortcomings can be forgiven.

Gallery: Jaguar "Leaper" bike

[Source: Daily Mail via Next Autos]

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Hyundai Genesis Coupe tested... in Korea

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupes, Hyundai

Hyundai is currently holding the first round of press drives featuring the Korean-spec Genesis Coupe and CAR's Middle-Eastern arm has released the first ever review of the automaker's entrant into the realm of rear-wheel-drive performance.

CAR's test was apparently limited to the 310-hp, 3.8-liter V6 model equipped with the six-speed automatic gearbox, allowing the 3,500-pound coupe to sprint to 62 in 5.9-seconds. With more torsional rigidity than the E46 BMW M3, the imported British pub reports that tail-out antics are easily achieved and the exhaust note is "thoroughly enjoyable." The list of gripes is brief, including steering that's a bit too light for the tester's taste, some less-than-savory plastics, the lack of paddle shifters on the steering wheel and compromised trunk space on account of the hatch's odd shape. But overall, CAR seems suitably pleased with the Genesis Coupe, impressed with the bang-for-the-buck quotient and the fact that the new two-door delivers something the Koreans have lacked up until now: soul and emotion.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

[Source: CAR Middle East]

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VIDEO: Skyline R32-amino, wait... wha?

Chris Shunk — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Trucks/Pickups, Videos, Supercars, Nissan

Click above to view video after the jump

The Nissan Skyline R32 is a legend on the track and in the eyes of tuners around the world. There are legions of fans who have tweaked their R32s to go faster and move with more agility, but we don't think many have turned their precious Skylines into a Ute to obtain optimal drifts. Following the jump is video of a race-ready R32 that looks more Ford Falcon from Down Under than it does a super-tuned Nissan from the land of the rising sun. It may look beaten with an ugly stick, but it could be the only R32 that can hot lap a track and help a friend move in the same day. And it's a hella-good drifter, too. The video after the jump is English free, so if you have any Japanese language skills, let us know what they're saying in the comments section.

[Source: Carscoop]

Continue reading VIDEO: Skyline R32-amino, wait... wha?

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Carsumer Advocacy? Nissan refuses to replace GT-R owner's busted transmission

John Neff — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupes, Supercars, Nissan, Carsumer Advocacy

Click above for high-res gallery of the Nissan GT-R

A member of the North American GT-R Owner's Club forums started a thread recently in which he tells about dropping off his Nissan GT-R at the dealership when he began hearing loud noises coming from the rear of the car. The dealership told him that his transmission was toast as a direct result of him turning off the car's VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) too much, which you have to do in order to use the Launch Control function. The cost to repair the tranny is $20,000 and Nissan won't cover it under warranty since the GT-R owner's manual states that damage to the transmission is not covered if it is proven to be the result of using Launch Control with the VDC turned off. In fact, the manual states that the only reason you should turn off VDC is for when you're rocking the vehicle because it's stuck in mud or snow. That's kind of like Nissan saying you should never use the Launch Control function despite the fact it's there.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Nissan GT-R

Continue reading Carsumer Advocacy? Nissan refuses to replace GT-R owner's busted transmission

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Spy Shots: BMW Z4 caught practically naked

John Neff — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:26:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertibles, BMW

We haven't shown you new spy shots of the upcoming redesigned BMW Z4 for, oh, at least a couple of weeks, but the latest pics reveal the hardtop convertible's final shape with only minimal covering. That psychedelic applique aside, we can easily see now that the new Z4 will be an evolutionary step for the design of this little roadster. What it will do is wipe clean the Bangle-inspired design elements that made the current car such a visual mess from every angle. It will get the clean, sculpted sides of current BMWs like the 3 Series, and an even larger twin-kidney grille. And unlike the current car, the proportions are now much more balanced with a reasonably sized front end flowing into a tidy cockpit and tapered rear. As mentioned, BMW will be ditching the soft top for a retractable hard top, which may take away some of the car's open air flavor but is largely a necessity in this class nowadays.

[Source: Next Autos]

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GM closing Wisconsin SUV plant early, doors closed by end of year

Chris Shunk — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUVs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

General Motors has announced that it wil close its SUV plant in Janesville, Wisconsin by the end of this year in response to the woeful market for utility vehicles. The plant produces the GMC Yukon and Chevy Suburban and employs 1,200 UAW workers. GM was originally planning to shutter the plant sometime before 2010, but deteriorating market conditions have expedited the plant's demise. The news comes only one week after the General announced that it would be closing its Moraine, OH SUV plant early, as well.

Some analysts think GM could pull the plug on its Oshawa truck plant and Mexico facility in Toluca early too since truck sales are down as well, as GM has already announced that those plants are slated for closure. GM top dog Rick Wagoner stated last week that some stamping facilities could also face closure to help align production capabilities to demand.

[Source: CNN Money]

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Rumored and Rendered Speculation: Honda S3000

Dan Roth — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Honda, Rendered Speculation

Honda's S2000 may not be the newest thing on the market, but that doesn't mean it'll be easy to improve upon. The balance is sublime, the driving environment is nearly perfect, and it really comes alive after 6,000 rpm. Fashion probably drives the automotive landscape more than technical superiority, so Honda's been working on a replacement for its S2000. While the Open Study Model that broke cover in London is officially a design study, conjecture holds that it may portend the direction of Honda design language, even though Honda insists that the OSM is not the successor to the S2000.

Road and Track has whipped up a rendering that doesn't look any better than the current S2000's purity of line, but seems a credible stab at how an S3000 may appear. There's a bit too much Acura TL in the lines for our tastes, and the thought of a V6 from the same car thrumming under the coupe's hood doesn't set our enthusiast hearts a-beating. Much of the fun in an S2000 is keeping the high-output four cylinder on boil. A wealth of low-end torque would drastically change the car's character, likely not for the better. Since it's all conjecture anyway, we'll also throw out the chatter about possible hybrid powertrain for this model, too. While reality will answer all of this speculation eventually, we're just going to have to spend the ensuing days getting as much seat time as we can in the S2000.

[Source: Road and Track]

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VIDEO: Nissan 370Z partially revealed in Need for Speed teaser

John Neff — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Nissan, Toys

Click above to view gallery of 370Z screen caps from NFS: Undercover

Recently published spy shots of the upcoming 370Z have largely revealed the overall shape of Nissan's iconic Z car. But there's certainly more to see, and thanks to an official movie trailer for the upcoming Need for Speed: Undercover driving game, we've got a few glimpses of the final product. The 370Z will apparently be a drivable car in the game, which features a more theatrical story-line than most driving titles. The character you see above is Hector Maio, one of the game's criminals who pals around with his brother Zack. We've got screen captures from the video below, as well as the video itself after the jump. There are only glimpses of the 370Z throughout most of the video, particularly the car's headlights on in the dark, but near the end we see Hector greeting his, ahem, associates around it.

Gallery: Nissan 370Z in Need For Speed Undercover

[Source: Carscoop]

Continue reading VIDEO: Nissan 370Z partially revealed in Need for Speed teaser

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Spy Shots: 2010 Mazda3 interior snapped

Chris Shunk — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Hatchbacks, Mazda

Judging from exterior shots of the 2010 Mazda3 that were released last week, Mazda is looking to be more than a bit player in the small car market. The styling of the new Mazda3 looks more expensive than the current model, and is perhaps a better example of the brand's new design language than the also recently redesigned Mazda6. We've been looking forward to seeing pics of the Mazda3 on the inside, and judging from this one spy shot we've seen so far, the Zoom Zoom designers didn't go cheap on the interior.

The first thing that draws attention in the Mazda3 cabin is the Civic-esque two-tier dashboard. We're not huge fans of this style, but Mazda designers did a nice job of integrating the top deck with the lower level and center stack. Judging from the sole pic, some buttons on the center stack look to be a bit small, but main knobs for HVAC and volume are nice and big. The interior in this example is two-toned with what looks to be an aluminum-finished applique above the glove box, and more contrasting colors on the seats and doors. One thing that didn't change from the current generation Mazda3 is the red back-lighting on all the gauges, buttons, and knobs that we've come to expect from Mazda.

Gallery: 2010 Mazda3

[Source: TTAC]

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In the Autobog Garage: 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo

John Neff — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupes, Sports/GTs

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo

The first-gen Cobalt SS failed to deliver with a supercharged 2.0L Ecotec four-cylinder producing 205 horsepower and a cast of supporting components that did little to hide the Cobalt's rental car roots. But then something entirely unexpected happened. The GM Performance Division completely reworked the Cobalt SS for 2008, swapping in a more powerful turbocharged engine, upgrading the rest of the mechanicals, and tweaking the entire package on the world's most demanding race tracks, including the famed Nürburgring in Germany.

The result is - and we're not kidding here - the most impressive performance car to wear a bow-tie badge on sale today*. Exactly how General Motors turned a bottom-of-the-pack, front-wheel-drive econocar into a class-leading sport compact is revealed after the jump.

*My colleagues thought it best to explain this statement. There's not a bow-tie badge to be found on the Corvette and you can't find a Camaro SS on a dealer lot anywhere yet.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo

Continue reading In the Autobog Garage: 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo

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Japanese GP: Wheel to Wheel Action at Fuji [SPOILER ALERT]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan

Click above for high-res gallery of the Japanese F1 GP

Wildcards. That's what racing fans want, isn't it? Yet so many seasons in the recent history of grand prix racing have been down to just a handful of drivers - just one or two, in many cases - contending for race victories and ultimately the championship. Last year's four-way face-off between Kimi Raikkonnen, Felipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso put the racing world on notice. But even that free-for-all is paling by comparison to this season, with no fewer than seven drivers (Hamilton, Raikkonen, Massa, BMW's Robert Kubica, McLaren's number two Heikki Kovalainen, double world champion Fernando Alonso and even perennial back-marker Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel) taking turns on the top step of the podium, turning the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship into a heated battle the likes of which we haven't seen for a long time. This weekend's Japanese Grand Prix was no exception. And if you don't have it recorded for future enjoyment, follow the jump to read why.

Gallery: 2008 Japanese Formula One Grand Prix

Continue reading Japanese GP: Wheel to Wheel Action at Fuji [SPOILER ALERT]

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Tanner Foust captures second straight Formula Drift championship

Drew Phillips — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Click above for high-res gallery of the Formula Drift Series at Irwindale

Our never-ending interest in the upcoming U.S. Top Gear has us usually thinking of Tanner Foust as a television host, so we often forget that he has another day job sliding a Nissan 350Z around racetracks in the Formula Drift series. Tanner came into the final round this weekend at Irwindale Speedway at the top of the points race, and he needed to stay ahead of Sam Hubinette in his Dodge Viper and Rhys Millen in his Pontiac Solstice to capture his second straight championship. He did just that, finishing in second place behind Vaughn Gitten Jr., who captured his first win in the series in his Falken Tire Ford Mustang. The top 16 drivers from the event also qualified for the upcoming Red Bull Drifting World Championship next month in Long Beach. We braved the flying chunks of rubber (no, really - there's a reason Formula Drift has more tire sponsors than any other motorsports series) to bring you a gallery of high resolution photographs from the event, which can be seen in the gallery below. Full details of the event can also be found in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Formula Drift at Irwindale Speedway

Continue reading Tanner Foust captures second straight Formula Drift championship

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GM unveils Chevrolet Cruze WTCC racer

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Chevrolet Cruze WTCC

For the past few years General Motors has been competing in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) with a car based on the Daewoo-built Chevrolet Lacetti. Top Gear fans will of course recognize the Lacetti as the current Reasonably Priced Car for Stars to demonstrate their track abilities. As the road-going version of the Lacetti grows long in the tooth, the General will be supplanting the budget people mover with the new Chevrolet Cruze. And that means in 2009, GM will replace the Lacetti with a new, Cruze-based WTCC challenger. The WTCC Cruze is already being tested in preparation for its debut in Brazil next spring. Cars running in the WTCC are based on compact and midsized cars with 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines. Touring car racing has been popular in other parts of the world, but has never caught on in the U.S. in spite of being more closely related to stock cars than the ones that run around in circles under the banner of NASCAR.

Gallery: Chevy Cruze WTCC

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM unveils Chevrolet Cruze WTCC racer

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