Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Cash for Clunkers lives on: Senate passes $2B refill of popular program]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/cash-for-clunkers-lives-on-senate-passes-2b-refill-of-popular/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/cash-for-clunkers-lives-on-senate-passes-2b-refill-of-popular/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/06/cash-for-clunkers-lives-on-senate-passes-2b-refill-of-popular/#commentsFiled under:



Cash for Clunkers lives on. The Senate passed a $2 billion extension late tonight with a vote of 60/37, giving customers the opportunity to purchase about 500,000 more vehicles through the program. The Obama administration estimates that most or all of the original $1 billion was spent in a matter of only ten days and it's expected the additional $2 billion will only last through Labor Day.

Before voting on the bill, several amendments to the program were shot down. One amendment, which sought to relegate the program only to lower and middle income families, was denied with a vote of 65/32. Another amendment to make up the $2 billion by cutting from other programs lost by a 51/46 vote.

So far, Detroit automakers have received the majority of C4C deals, with 45.3% of overall sales, followed by Japanese automakers who've amassed 36.5% of the market. General Motors has the highest overall share of C4C transactions, at 18.7%, followed by Toyota at 17.9%. The majority of C4C purchases have received the full $4,500 subsidy, which requires a vehicle to achieve at least ten mpg better fuel economy than the scrapped clunker. The $3,500 subsidy is for vehicles that have a fuel economy improvement of four-to-nine mpg. The Obama administration estimates that the average fuel economy improvement under the C4C program has improved by 61%, saving the average consumer $700 - $1,000 in fuel over the life of the vehicle.

[Source: Associated Press | Image Source: Ethan Miller/Getty]

Cash for Clunkers lives on: Senate passes $2B refill of popular program originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2 billion2Billion34500 subsidy500Subsidycash for clunkersCashForClunkersobama administrationObamaAdministrationsenateThu, 06 Aug 2009 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cash for Clunkers program nets 4,000 sales on first day]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/cash-for-clunkers-program-nets-4-000-sales-on-first-day/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/cash-for-clunkers-program-nets-4-000-sales-on-first-day/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/29/cash-for-clunkers-program-nets-4-000-sales-on-first-day/#commentsFiled under: ,



The government's Cash for Clunkers program only got off the ground on Monday, yet 4,026 eligible vehicles were reportedly swapped out in the program's first day. The program already has 20,564 certified Clunkers dealers, which gives eligible customers plenty of places to to cash in on the federal program. That is, assuming the EPA didn't make your vehicle ineligible in the 11th hour.

Hitting 4,000 Cash for Clunkers-related sales in the first day is impressive, but that's only a small portion of sales that the program is expected to create. The vehicles sold on Monday alone represent $17 million in rebates, which leaves $933 million in program funding after administrative costs are taken out. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood estimates that the program has room for 250,000 rebates total, so it seems that we've just scratched the surface.

But if consumers continue to trade in their vehicles at such a torrid pace, the money allocated for the program will be completely gone in about two months, well ahead of the November deadline to exhaust the program's budget. We've got a feeling, however, that there are more than a few deals struck on Monday that had been in the books for a couple of weeks. After all, some manufacturers have been accepting Cash for Clunkers deals since early July.

[Source: Detroit News, Photo: Will Keown]

Cash for Clunkers program nets 4,000 sales on first day originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>000 sales000Sales026 sales026Sales4cash for clunker salescash for clunkersCashForClunkersCashForClunkerSalesdealershipsjunkersalesWed, 29 Jul 2009 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Obama signs Cash-for-Clunkers bill into law, countdown to start begins]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/obama-signs-cash-for-clunkers-bill-into-law-countdown-to-start/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/obama-signs-cash-for-clunkers-bill-into-law-countdown-to-start/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/obama-signs-cash-for-clunkers-bill-into-law-countdown-to-start/#commentsFiled under: ,



President Obama has taken pen to paper and signed off on Cash-for-Clunkers, a law that could help the auto industry shake its year-long funk. The Transportation Department now has 30 days to determine the rules and regulations for Cash-for-Clunkers, placing the start of the program at the end of July.

The law as it was signed will give the power to decide which vehicles will be eligible for the program to the dealers. The dealers will also be in charge of scrapping the older vehicles, which must be less than 25 years old to be eligible for federal funds. Clunker-eligible cars must be also owned for at least one year to qualify for the program. Those eligible for Cash-for-Clunkers will receive up to $4,500 towards the purchase of a new, more fuel efficient vehicle. To get the full $4,500, those new cars must be at least 10 mpg more fuel efficient than the older model they replace, and trucks must be 5 mpg more efficient. Among the details of the law still being worked out is a plan to ensure that dealers are, in fact, scrapping the vehicles and not reselling them.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd | Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty]

Obama signs Cash-for-Clunkers bill into law, countdown to start begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4500 rebate500Rebatebarack obamaBarackObamaCARScash for clunkerscash-for-clunkersCashForClunkersobamapresident obamaPresidentObamaThu, 25 Jun 2009 11:27:00 EST<![CDATA[4-door Ferrari Pinin to headline RM Auction at Maranello]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/16/4-door-ferrari-pinin-to-headline-rm-auction-at-maranello/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/16/4-door-ferrari-pinin-to-headline-rm-auction-at-maranello/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/16/4-door-ferrari-pinin-to-headline-rm-auction-at-maranello/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

click above to view more images of the 1980 Ferrari Pinin show car

Ferrari won't be building a four-door model now - that's what the Maserati Quattroporte, developed under Ferrari's tutelage, is for. But there was a time when Enzo himself considered the prospect. What spurred his interest was what you see above: the Ferrari Pinin show car, unveiled by Pininfarina on its 50th anniversary at the 1980 Turin auto show.

In the end, the rumored discussions between Enzo Ferrari and Sergio Pininfarina didn't yield a small production run of four-door Pinins, and only this one prototype was ever built. It's been sitting in the private collection of noted Ferrari collector and racer Jacques Swaters, who is putting it up for sale at the upcoming second annual "Leggenda e Passione" event run by Canadian auctioneers RM Auctions. The Ferrari and Maserati auction is scheduled to take place on May 18 at the Fiorano race track in Maranello.

Only a one-off as unique as the Pinin could manage to relegate this pair to "also ran" status: not one, but two Ferrari 250 California Spyders will also be up for auction, each estimated to fetch in the neighborhood of $5 million (give or take a mil). S/N 0923GT, a red 1958 long-wheelbase version (like the one Ferris Bueller crashed), was once owned by Hollywood actor James Coburn, and s/n 2377GT is a black 1961 short-wheelbase model. Only 100 examples of the 250 California Spyder were made, making them one of the most sought-after Ferraris out there.

[Source: Argentina Auto Blog and RM Auctions via Italiaspeed]

Gallery: 1980 Ferrari Pinin


4-door Ferrari Pinin to headline RM Auction at Maranello originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4auctioncarconceptdoorenzofarinaferrarifourpininpininfarinaprototypesedanshowWed, 16 Jan 2008 09:57:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Hangin' with the Glick and his P4/5]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/25/video-hangin-with-the-glick-and-his-p4-5/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/25/video-hangin-with-the-glick-and-his-p4-5/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/25/video-hangin-with-the-glick-and-his-p4-5/#commentsFiled under: , ,



It's what we all aspire to as car guys; to be wealthy enough to indulge any flights of fancy and see our dreams rendered in metal and composite. James Glickenhaus' ultimate custom, the one of a kind Ferrari P 4/5 has earned the right to wear official Ferrari badging, and we don't know of anyone else who's used Pininfarina to carry out the design of their personal ride. In this clip, he expounds a bit on why he actually drives his singular Ferrari, and his reasoning resonates with us -- watch on after the jump to see some great shots of this road-borne flying machine in action.

Continue reading VIDEO: Hangin' with the Glick and his P4/5

VIDEO: Hangin' with the Glick and his P4/5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45customenzoferrariglickp4/5pininfarinavideoMon, 25 Jun 2007 13:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva preview: Hyundai HED-4 crossover concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/geneva-preview-hyundai-hed-4-crossover-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/geneva-preview-hyundai-hed-4-crossover-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/geneva-preview-hyundai-hed-4-crossover-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Looks like Rinspeed won't be the only company going plastic at Geneva this year. Hyundai has released this image and a few details about the HED-4 concept crossover, after we brought you initial info a few weeks ago.

The fourth Hyundai European Design project was realized in conjunction with GE Plastics. The lightweight two-door crossover employs composite construction, including an energy-absorbing "Elastic Front" to meet Euro-NCAP pedestrian impact standards while retaining an aggressive design and a scratch-resistant plastic windscreen that weighs half as much as glass.

In addition to the alternative construction materials, the HED-4 is also tipped to preview the styling of the next Hyundai Tucson. We'll have more for you from the show floor in the coming days.

[Source: Auto Express]

Geneva preview: Hyundai HED-4 crossover concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4autocarconceptcrossoverfourgenevahedhyundaisalonshowtucsonMon, 05 Mar 2007 07:05:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Auto Show: Porsche debuts 911 Targa 4 and 4S]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/30/la-auto-show-porsche-debuts-911-targa-4-and-4s/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/30/la-auto-show-porsche-debuts-911-targa-4-and-4s/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/30/la-auto-show-porsche-debuts-911-targa-4-and-4s/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Porsche has just unveiled the latest Targa variants of the 911, making two engines available on the glass-roofed coupe for the first time. The four-wheel drive Targas will get a choice of either a 3.6-liter boxer six in standard 4 trim or a 3.8-liter six in the 4S model.

Of course both models feature the Targa's namesake, a large sliding glass panel that opens up the 911's occupants to the elements, along with a few choice styling cues, like the brushed metal trim that spans the upper portion of the windows. The Targa 4s also feature the widened rear haunches that are specific to Porsche's AWD-equipped models.

Pricing for the 911 Targa 4 and 4S is set at $85,700 for the former, and $95,900 for the latter. Sales begin this weekend.

Porsche also took a few minutes out of their press conference to highlight their success with the RS Spyder and to debut the 911 GT3 for the first time on US shores.

As always, live and press pics are posted along with the press release after the jump.

Continue reading LA Auto Show: Porsche debuts 911 Targa 4 and 4S

LA Auto Show: Porsche debuts 911 Targa 4 and 4S originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>44sPORSCHEtargaThu, 30 Nov 2006 16:48:00 EST