Autoblog

Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari, Rumormill

Ferrari 599XX - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari often uses its World Finals event to unveil exclusive new versions of its most enticing road cars. The FXX Evoluzione was unveiled there a couple of years ago, and the 16M Scuderia Spider made its debut at the event last year. But aside from a mishap involving Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Luca di Montezemolo in a California convertible, this year's event at Valencia came and went with nothing new to offer. However, the latest churns from the rumormill indicate Maranello could be working on an exciting new project.

Supposedly leaked pre-order sheets reportedly refer to a "599 GTO Limited Edition", named in deference to the iconic 250 GTO (to say nothing of the ground-pounding 288 GTO). Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the GTO could be Maranello's answer to arch-rival Lamborghini's Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.

Incorporating design cues and technologies from the 599XX program, the 599 GTO could benefit from a weight-reduction program to cut some 100-150 pound off the curb weight thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, while squeezing out as much as 700 horsepower from the Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12. Pricing would be expected to jump by as much as a quarter to nearly $400,000, and if the reports prove accurate, the 599 GTO could be ready for debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March with the first of just 500 examples slated for delivery by this time next year.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ferrari 599xx

[Source: Autogespot]

Rumormill: Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jim Wangers back in the business of selling the Pontiac GTO?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:38:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Pontiac, Specialty

The Pontiac GTO is a muscle car legend. As the car that's most often credited with kicking off the trend of putting the biggest available engine in the smallest available body, the praise and adoration are well-deserved. Despite the reality that the Goat wasn't always the fastest ride available, Pontiac's performer was an instant hit and it carried that momentum through the early 1970s.

A good portion of Pontiac's success with the GTO can be attributed to Jim Wangers, who served as the brand's chief marketing manager when the GTO was first released in 1964. It comes as no surprise, then, that Wangers' name and endorsement was sought by Big 3 Performance, which is launching a new restomod based on the 1969 Pontiac GTO.

Changes to the original Goat's cosmetic appearance are minor, including wider hood scoops and a Trans Am-style ducktail spoiler. Inside, a custom dash and audio system join embroidered Recaro seats and GPS navigation. Holding it all up is a custom chassis fitted with Corvette bits up front and a tried-and-true Ford 9-inch rear end. Revised Pontiac Rally II wheels round out the visual package.

The car's powertrain gets a complete workover with a Butler Performance 505 cubic inch Pontiac V8 that's expected to put out around 700 horsepower. Shifting duties are handled by the same six-speed manual transmission used in the Dodge Viper. It's not yet clear when the Wangers GTO will be available and how much it'll cost, but early projections put the car at around $130,000 to $140,000.

[Source: Big 3 Performance via Detroit News]

Jim Wangers back in the business of selling the Pontiac GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant

Noah Joseph — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Ferrari, Canada

2009 Ferrari Challenge at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've always found the idea of going on safari or a diving expedition rather intriguing. But while we can appreciate those willing to spend their precious vacation time and hard-earned cash to see nature's most beautiful creatures in their natural habitats, most of us here at Autoblog aren't exactly the nature-adventure types. We're car guys. The Ferrari Challenge... now that's more like it.

Like a lion in the Sahara or a bear in the forest, Ferraris belong on the race track. But the unfortunate reality is most end up sitting in tiled garages adjoining big mansions in prestigious locations. We get to see more than most, but more often than not they're perched on an auto show stand under floodlights and flash bulbs. So when Ferrari invited us to join them at the legendary Circuit Mont Tremblant for a round of wheel-to-wheel racing, we could hardly resist. Follow the jump for more.

Gallery: 2009 Ferrari F430 Challenge at Mont Tremblant

Gallery: 2009 Ferrari Historic Challenge at Mont Tremblant

Continue reading The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant

The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MT claims Holden Coupe 60 is really 3-year-old Pontiac GTO replacement

Dan Roth — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:54:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Coupe, GM, Pontiac, Misc. Auto Shows, Holden

Spot any similarities? Holden surprised and delighted when it rolled out the Coupe 60 at the Melbourne Auto Show this past week. Motor Trend put two and two together and dug up some three-year-old photos that show off essentially the same car wearing a Pontiac suit, instead. The nose on the original concept shows what GM was planning for the next-gen GTO at the time. We're glad the prototype styling was deemed too expensive for production; the world wasn't ready for a modern interpretation of the 1982 J2000.

The Coupe 60 started life as Pontiac's replacement for the sales-proof GTO, but Motor Trend reports that development stopped when GM went full bore at getting its next-gen full-size GMT900 trucks to market early. The reappropriation of this past work to create the stunning new Holden show car could signal a return of the Monaro, which could trickle down to North America as another page in the G8 brochure, or a new GTO, but don't start holding your breath yet.

Gallery: Holden Coupe 60

[Source: Motor Trend, Photo: Motor Trend]

MT claims Holden Coupe 60 is really 3-year-old Pontiac GTO replacement originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Pontiac GTO from "XXX State of the Union"

Drew Phillips — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Pontiac, Lifestyle

Click image above to view in high resolution

What's the best way to ruin a classic muscle car? Just slap on some gaudy 22-inch chrome wheels and give it a colorful chameleon paint job. While we'd much rather have a pristine example in showroom condition, you have to admit this 1967 Pontiac GTO is... unique. After all, Samuel L. Jackson himself has been behind the wheel in the movie "XXX State of the Union" (we think Ice Cube, too) and it even has functional rocket launchers. We're not sure when you'd ever be able to use them, but they would still be cool to have, you know, in case. The car also comes with a custom interior and more gauges than you'll know what to do with, an Air Ride suspension, V8, and automatic transmission. That's good, because we doubt whoever buys this car will know how to drive stick.

Thanks for the tip, Jordan!

[Source: eBay Motors]

Gallery: XXX State of the Union Pontiac GTO

eBay Find of the Day: Pontiac GTO from "XXX State of the Union" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goat or Chicken: Will 2010 Pontiac be a Firebird or GTO?

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Pontiac

We visited this issue in February, when Winding Road speculated Pontiac would get a Camaro spinoff, but now Car and Driver is weighing in. With the imminent return of the Chevy Camaro, many Poncho fans have wondered about a possible return of the screaming chicken, as well. Pontiac's last attempt at reviving a storied model (GTO) met with mixed results. The GTO was supposed to be a slam dunk for Pontiac. Take an existing rear drive muscular platform, add a few Pontiac trim pieces and a GTO badge, and voilà, instant success. Well, it didn't quite go as planned and GTO sales were rather tepid. Not that it wasn't a good car, especially in 6.0 form, but it didn't really set hearts aflutter, especially compared to the wildly successful retro Mustang.

So will Pontiac get a new GTO, or maybe a Firebird instead? With the G8 coming to replace the Bonneville and Grand Prix, a suitable RWD platform is already approved for US consumption. And of course, it's also underpinning that hot new Camaro. So if Pontiac gets a new muscle coupe, will it show up as a goat or a chicken? That's what Car and Driver asked Pontiac. After a long silence, C and D finally got some answers. Surprisingly, they seem to point towards a new GTO. They based this on Bob Lutz's own words: "No carbon copy of the Camaro will make it into any other GM-brand showroom" is how they put it. They also point out that while a Firebird would have to be essentially the same as a Camaro, a GTO from the same platform could be bigger and different enough to claim its own place in the market, maybe more of a G8 coupe. Whichever badge this future Pontiac sport coupe wears, it should get the same 261-hp 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 or 362-hp LS2 6.0-liter V-8 options as the G8. They would be offered with five or six-speed automatics, respectively, but six-speed manuals should be available, as well. Tough choice, really - a Firebird that would be a restyled Camaro, or a GTO that could go its own way. Which would you choose?

[Source: Car and Driver]

Goat or Chicken: Will 2010 Pontiac be a Firebird or GTO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Replica mutt: Nissan 280Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO, with a BMW V12

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:23:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

When you read about gearhead guys -- like the kind who put two engines in an Integra -- it's like, "What else is new?" But when you read about gearhead gals, especially the kind who have created the car you see above, it's like, "Uh ... call me."

Michelle bought a 1977 280Z on eBay that had been turned into a Ferrari 250 GTO replica with an Alpha1 kit. She and her best friend Haley then turned it into a replica unlike any other. They changed every single body panel, made a lot of the cosmetic parts functional like the vents in the rear and the trap door on the nose, and fashioned completely new parts like the rear trunk. Deeper fabrication efforts include stretching the wheelbase, moving the firewall back, and making the car RHD so it's not like other American replicas. Then, not happy with the 5-speed V6, they grabbed a V12 lump from a BMW 850 CSI, made it dry sump and installed manual Dellorto throttles, then put it in the engine bay they revised for better balance and a lower center of gravity. They've done a lot more as well -- click the "Read" link to check out all the details and pics. If you want to know the way to an Autoblogger's heart, this is a great start.

[Source: Carscoop]

Replica mutt: Nissan 280Z-based Ferrari 250 GTO, with a BMW V12 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Costume: Audi 90 Quattro becomes Audi 90 IMSA GTO

Dan Roth — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:08:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Europe, Audi

Old Audis are cool, and old racing Audis are even cooler. A Swedish Audi fanatic seems to think so, too, and has gone to extreme lengths to transform a workaday Audi 90 into the IMSA GTO version of that car. Not wanting to go the stripe-and-bodykit route, this Audi's flares were painstakingly constructed from many pieces of metal, intricately tacked into place. Replica body pieces like splitters were created in composite after measurements of an original car were taken, and the authentically nutty looking rims are custom-modified VW pieces. The doors still open, despite 8 additional inches of width, and the amount of work that went into the body modifications is truly incredible. It looks like a scale model was built first, and once the form was perfected, it was "blown up" to the actual car - we don't know Svenska, and translators aren't terribly useful. Motivation is provided by an A8's 4.2 liter V8, which must make the replica pretty zippy, but probably not as fast as those IMSA cars were. Still, though, it's a hell of a thing to see lurking in your rearview, and the handiwork is truly impressive. We see the most insane stuff coming out of Sweden - must be something in the ~~water~~ aquavit. AudiMotorSport's got galleries of the build here.

[Source: AudiMotorSport.se via German Car Scene]

Car Costume: Audi 90 Quattro becomes Audi 90 IMSA GTO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2007 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First glimpse of Pininfarina's Ferrari 600 GTO NART

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 06 May 2007 10:54:00 EST

Filed under: Ferrari

Hot on the heels of last year's unique Ferrari P4/5, built for James Glickenhaus, comes this year's Specially Built Ferrari for a North American Customer. The above is a rendering of what will eventually be dubbed the Ferrari 600 GTO. There has never been a car for which the letters 'GTO' signified anything other than automotive happiness. When those letters follow anything with a Ferrari badge, they are all the sweeter. The 600 GTO will keep its mod-cons inside, but wear nothing other than carbon fiber outside. In addition to the 285 kg in lost weight, it also gets a lowered suspension, aero modifications, and almost 25% more downforce front and rear at 200 kph. ~~Hope~~ Rumor has it that the person behind the commission wants to revive the Ferrari North American Race Team (NART). Founded by Ferrari dealer Luigi Chinetti in 1958, the team raced until 1982 with some of the finest Ferraris and drivers the world has known.

Three 600 GTO's were commissioned nine months ago. Its coming out party will be at the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 12. Fingers. Crossed. Now.

Thanks for the tip, Serge!

[Source: StreetFire]

First glimpse of Pininfarina's Ferrari 600 GTO NART originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 May 2007 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Tiger underhood! '65 GTO commercial

Dan Roth — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 12:21:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Pontiac

Back before engine bays were tightly packed, feline friends would sometimes hop up on a warm engine in the cooler weather. Proximity to the cooling fan would occasionally lead to ah, colorful results. We're sure that no tigers were harmed in the filming of this '65 GTO commercial that the guys at WheelsTV dug up. The Pontiac line was sold with the "Wide-Track Tiger" descriptor. The advertising guys did a nice job getting the Poncho to eat the tiger, though, and it's always fun to waste a little time watching vintage advertising. We can just imagine all the pointless ass-covering fig leaves that'd be supered at the bottom of the picture were this ad to play today.

[Source: WheelsTV]

Continue reading VIDEO: Tiger underhood! '65 GTO commercial

VIDEO: Tiger underhood! '65 GTO commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: '70 Pontiac GTO - "The Humbler"

Alex Nunez — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 18:16:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Videos, Pontiac

Not only were the musclecars of the 70's relentlessly cool, but the TV commercials for them were super-entertaining . We showed you the killer GTO Judge spot featuring Paul Revere and the Raiders already, but this one's even more significant. It's for the 1970 GTO featuring the optional Vacuum Operated Exhaust (VOE), a.k.a. The Humbler. The option was briefly available from November '69 to January 1970.

The way it worked was simple: the driver pulled a lever on the dash that relieved backpressure and increased horsepower while adding a delightfully vicious exhaust note. The commercial you see above is the only one created for the Humbler, and it aired just once -- during Super Bowl IV. In it, an unnamed John Q. Badass rolls into the local drive-in, unleashes The Humbler, and becomes The Man instantaneously.

The car sounds spectacular, and it's all set to a special "Humbler" song that was obviously written just for the spot. Sadly, after it aired, GM brass ordered Pontiac to kill the option immediately and pull the commercial off the air. Thankfully, the miracle known as YouTube lets us give the old-school brass the finger and watch it over and over again, which is exactly what we've been doing since we found it. Enjoy.

[Source: YouTube]

VIDEO: '70 Pontiac GTO - "The Humbler" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Dec 2006 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Proof of evolution: Pontiac announces next gen GXP.R racer for GT racing

Dan Roth — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., GM, Pontiac

Pontiac will continue it's GT class racing efforts with the new GXP.R, a car that replaces the successful GTO.R (pictured). The GXP.R is being tested today for the very first time in Florida. Pontiac is looking to rack up wins, so it's decided to continue its development partnership with Pratt & Miller Engineering who spent most of last season working on the new car. The GXP.R, photos of which GM has yet to release, is set to bow at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona carrying primary sponsorship from Leighton Reese's Banner Engineering. We're not sure on what production car the GXP.R will be based, if it will remain the GTO despite that car's last year of production being 2006, or if it will change to a new vehicle entirely.

The number 06 GXP.R is the result of Pontiac's GT class championship program evolving after campaigning the GTO.R in 2005 and 2006. Leighton Reese Racing will be campaigning a pair of GXP.R cars from track to track in an effort to bring home checkered flags for itself and GM. Reese has been loyal to GM since forming his racing enterprise in 1986, and will drive one of the two GXP.Rs, along wilth factory aces Kelly Collins and Paul Edwards.

Press release after the jump.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Proof of evolution: Pontiac announces next gen GXP.R racer for GT racing

Proof of evolution: Pontiac announces next gen GXP.R racer for GT racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RR of the Day: Holden the Goat in high esteem

John Neff — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:50:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, GM, Pontiac, RR of the Day

The idea of refitting your set of North American wheels to resemble its domestic market counterpart is not new. One of the more popular conversions has been transforming the Nissan 240SX back into the JDM-spec Silvia from which it sprung. Until the SEMA show last week, however, we were unaware one could do this to car other than those that came from the East. A company called JHP Vehicle Enhancements, however, had a Pontiac GTO on display that, besides the incorrect location of the steering wheel, was a dead ringer for the Holden Monaro.

We took a week off from featuring a RR of the Day to focus on SEMA, so imagine our shock when we return to find a privately owned Goat-turned-Monaro in the Autoblog Flickr Pool. Owned by Flickr member Julius C., this late model GTO suffered an unfortunate up-close encounter with a guard rail one rainy day that created the perfect opportunity to practice some Aussie-inspired rhinoplasty. The damaged front end was swapped for a Holden Monaro look-a-like from JHP and a Gravana hood with two scoops was added for good measure. Check out Julius C.'s own Flickr account for a journal of the car's transmogrification.

When the GTO arrived back in the U.S. it was harpooned for being too vanilla in the looks department. While the Holden Monaro isn't exactly the Rocky Road of vehicle design, driving a GTO that looks like one will surely turn the heads of those in the know. To everyone else, the badge re-reengineered Goat will continue to be the same 6.0-liter sleeper it's always been.

We're back with the RR of the Day feature after a week-long hiatus for SEMA. All this week we'll feature unrelated rides that catch our eye, but we're returning with a theme next week and that theme is "Best Autocross Car". If you've got a hot AutoXer, join the Autoblog Flickr Pool and submit your ride for consideration. More detailed instructions can be found after the jump.

Continue reading RR of the Day: Holden the Goat in high esteem

RR of the Day: Holden the Goat in high esteem originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA: Hot Wheels brings hot rods

Chris Tutor — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Etc., Chevrolet, Pontiac

John Neff checked in from SEMA all excited about Mattel's Hot Wheels booth and we totally understand. We'd be willing to bet that many regular Autoblog readers have 1:64 scale hot rods doing 360s on their desks.

Mattel knows their market, and sent not only hundreds of their beloved miniature cars, but also flew in three full-sized hot rods.

Hot Wheels fans from the 1960s might remember their toy cars being vibrant, metallic colors. Those hues went away in the 1970s due to the large amount of lead used in their Spectraflame paint. Mattel has now teamed up with PPG to produce a new (hopefully lead-free) Spectraflame paint for adult-sized rides.

Photos of the SEMA Hot Wheels display including the three hot rods after the jump.

Continue reading SEMA: Hot Wheels brings hot rods

SEMA: Hot Wheels brings hot rods originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vandenbrink GTO may see production

Noah Joseph — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:39:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Performance, Europe, Supercars, Ferrari

Many dedicated Ferrari fans have been less than satisfied with the designs rolling out of Maranello. (Taking the 612 Scaglietti as an example, we couldn't blame them, especially when compared to the sumptuous GTs of the past.) Some complain from the sidelines, while others refuse: One customer had design house Pininfarina re-body an Enzo to emulate the classic 330 P4. Another had Zagato rebody a 575 M Maranello on the inspiration of the unique 250 GTZ. Now a small Dutch design firm is announcing plans to build the Vandenbrink GTO.

While little information is available at this point, any Ferrari fan would recognize the sumptuous lines as a modern interpretation of the iconic early-sixties Ferrari 250 GTO. The designer is currently evaluating both the 575M and the new 599 GTB as possible chassis donors. Vandenbrink says they have received enough interest from potential customers to put the GTO into limited production, either as a one-off custom for one lucky customer, or potentially as a very limited edition of five.

No timeframe has been set at this point, as Vandenbrink tells us, "It's never good to rush any design, especially not an exclusive one-off like this." We couldn't agree more, though we're looking forward to providing updates as this exciting project takes shape. Even at this early stage, one thing is already clear: The days of custom coachbuilt Ferraris are coming back, and coming back strong. Stay tuned.

(Follow the jump for more pics of the Vandenbrink GTO from various angles and in a number of color schemes)

[Source: Vandenbrink Design]

Continue reading Vandenbrink GTO may see production

Vandenbrink GTO may see production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trademark dumpster diving reveals a few gems

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 08:54:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, GM, Lexus

The news that is not 'right' has uncovered some interesting automotive tidbits while scouring through obscure trademark filings.

First, General Motors has patented the term "8 speed" for use with what is presumed to be an eight-speed transmission. Logical, no? That would put their premium brands, Buick and Cadillac, on par with Lexus' newest tranny int their flagship the LS460.

Second up, LLN says that on October 6th, 2006 (whaaa?), GM filed a 'published for opposition' writ through the trademark office for the word 'Firebird.' We have no idea what the designation 'published for opposition' means (is there a patent lawyer in the house?), but LLN contends that it's a necessary step when reregistering a title. This may be what Bob Lutz has been mentioning under the name 'GTO,' but what's more interesting is the 'Fiero' moniker has also been re-applied for. This may be the first step in the General's plan of offering a small, hard-top coupe, but if it's just a Solstice with a fixed lid, our interest is only mildly piqued. Doesn't the name Fiero imply a mid-ship layout? We think so.

Finally, Lexus may not be pursuing the whole perfection thing soon, as they've applied for two new slogans: "The Passionate Pursuit of Potential" and "The Pursuit of Potential." We think it may be best to let our readers do the analysis on those.

Ready, set, speculate!

[Source: LeftLaneNews]

Trademark dumpster diving reveals a few gems originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pontiac may get a G8 RWD sedan

Eric Bryant — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, GM, Pontiac

General Motors' announcement last week to build the Camaro and other rear-wheel-drive product at its soon-revamped Oshawa facility is a perfect ignition source for all sorts of RWD product rumors, so let's get things started with talk about the Pontiac G8. The cancellation of the Bonneville has left the Poncho brand without a full-size vehicle, and the end of the GTO's run means that a combination of RWD and a V8 can no longer be found at a Pontiac dealer. So much for being the "excitement" division, huh?

Well, that may quickly change, as Pontiac wants to build a full-size RWD vehicle on the Camaro's Zeta platform. This would provide a flagship vehicle for the faltering brand, and would likely be the sportiest RWD GM sedan this side of Cadillac's V-series (Buick and Chevrolet are also likely to be receiving Zeta-based four-doors). Such a vehicle would likely follow the Camaro's showroom appearance in late 2008.

To us, this seems like a no-brainer. SUV buyers seem to be looking to migrate to a car without giving up much in the way of size or performance, and of course vehicles like the Chrysler 300C are doing well because of this market trend. Such a vehicle would give GM a way to flex its V8 powertrain prowess, would help Pontiac live up to its billing, and should be a strong contender in that oh-so-densely-packed $35-40K near-luxury segment.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

Pontiac may get a G8 RWD sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CNN reports Top 10 Muscle Car Stars

Alex Nunez — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM

CNN Money has published a list of the "Top 10 Muscle Car Stars" as compiled by Kelley Blue Book. Some of the picks are obvious, such as the Hemi 'Cuda convertible, GTO Judge convertible, and the venerable Plymouth Superbird. More of a surprise is the presence of the Ford Torino Talladega, which is labeled as an up-and-comer in the muscle car marketplace. With values currently in the $30,000 range, the Torino is still attainable by those who don't have six-figure budgets to work with.

Also, despite lists like this one, it's always good to remember that one doesn't need a paddle at Barrett-Jackson to get into the game. Local newspapers and weeklies are always a great place to start. Sure, you may not find a concours-level, numbers-matching, rare-engined stunner, but you can find great bargains that are as much or more fun to work on and to drive.

All that said, here's the top 10 list as reported by CNN:

1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible - $2,000,000
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS-454/LS-6 convertible - $369,000
1969 Pontiac GTO "Judge" convertible - $205,200
1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster - $329,100
1969 Dodge Charger R/T-440 hardtop - $170,000
1968 Shelby GT-500-KR convertible - $191,000
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28/SS coupe - $91,700
1970 Oldsmobile 442/W-30 hardtop -$85,960
1970 Plymouth Superbird-440 hardtop - $107,500
1969 Ford Torino-Talladega hardtop - $37,100

Read the whole story for photos and expanded descriptions of the cars listed.

Agree? Disagree? Let's hear what your favorites are in the comments section.

Photo: Alex Nunez

[Source: CNN Money]

CNN reports Top 10 Muscle Car Stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A family reunion for the Holden Efijy Concept

Alex Nunez — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Etc., Misc. Auto Shows

The stunning Holden Efijy Concept recently got the chance to meet its forebears at an event staged outside Holden's headquarters in Port Melbourne, Australia. The Efijy was joined by a fleet of old-school FJ and FX Holdens, the very cars that served as the inspiration for the Aussie concept in the first place. Efijy made its debut at the 2005 Australian Motor Show and since then has been featured in just about every automotive publication imaginable. It was recently profiled in North America's Hot Rod magazine -- not bad for a car wearing a nameplate the average American is not familiar with (though they unwittingly see one every time a Pontiac GTO cruises by).

Looking like some kind of Boyd Coddington creation and not an in-house factory concept, the Efijy seemed right at home next to all the rodded-up Holdens that took part in the event. It's fun when automakers go out of their way to acknowledge their heritage like this. General Motors wouldn't happen to have something stateside it could host a similar type of event around now, would it?

(Click to read Holden's press release and see more pics after the jump.)

[Source: GM Holden]

Continue reading A family reunion for the Holden Efijy Concept

A family reunion for the Holden Efijy Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pontiac's new identity: RWD?

Stuart Waterman — Mon, 29 May 2006 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, GM, GMC, Pontiac

It's no secret that General Motors' one-time "performance" brand has lost its way in recent years, to the point where product czar Bob Lutz singled out Pontiac as one of GM's "damaged brands" in a widely-quoted speech. Now rumors are circulating that GM may revive Pontiac's performance focus by dumping FWD models in favor of an exclusively RWD lineup.

Autoweek reports that a plan may be in the works to phase out the FWD models after the next round of model revisions already in the works. Also rumored to be on the way out are any truck models, with the Torrent SUV possibly destined to receive a GMC badge. A new RWD sedan would replace the Grand Prix.

This would be a big change for Pontiac, which currently carries only two RWD models, the Solstice and the soon to be discontinued GTO. Needless to say, the RWD plans would include the new GTO already making the rounds of the rumor circuit, but it seems unlikely that a new Firebird will join the pony car revival any time soon.

Look for a forthcoming Pontiac RWD concept car as a trial balloon for the new brand strategy.

[Source: Autoweek]

Pontiac's new identity: RWD? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 May 2006 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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