Autoblog

Click above for a gallery of screen shots.

BMW is gearing up for the online unveiling of its latest design study, the GINA Light Visionary Model. Unlike the BMW M1 Homage concept, this one's actually a runner, as evidenced by the video posted below the fold, showing the concept being driven from the studio into a car carrier then unloaded at the BMW Museum in Munich.

No details about the roadster are available from the BMW-web.tv site, but judging by the open cockpit and massive width, we're expecting something akin the M1, sans roof and sporting many of the design cues found on the homage. Check back for more when the BMW GINA Light Visionary Concept is unveiled on June 10th.

Click above for a gallery of the Webasto LiGHT concept.

Webasto's LiGHT concept isn't due to be unveiled for another week, but the convertible and sunroof manufacturer from Deutschland has released the first image of its drop-top, two-seater.

Webasto tasked IED Automotive, associated with Istituto Europeo di Design, to create the concept and its pseudo-Italian flare is supposed to be inspired by the Fiat 124 Spider. While the design is attractive enough, the major party piece of the LiGHT concept is its frameless soft-top that features a heated glass rear window and is made from a polyurethane material that's both strong and lightweight. From an aesthetic point of view, when the roof is stowed away, it sits flush with the LiGHT's haunches, something that maintains the concept's lines while reducing wind disturbance and not detracting from boot space.

Check the gallery below for more angles of the LiGHT concept.


[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Finally, someone's fighting back against the fleecing of the general populace. Famous for liking things big, Texas lawmakers have laid the smackdown on red light and speed cameras in a large manner. HB.922 states "A municipality may not implement or operate an automated traffic control system with respect to a highway under its jurisdiction," which means that cameras, automated radar or laser, or anything else designed to snag an image of a car, driver, or license plate and record its speed is now forbidden. The even larger racket of red-light cameras have had the brakes applied by HB.1052, which requires giving motorists notice of the devices at least 100 feet out.

These bills have passed through the legislature and are awaiting Governor Rick Perry's inscription. If the measures do make it into law, we hope that other states follow suit. Ticketing egregious speeders and actual red-light scofflaws is one thing, but the systems have been calibrated in a cynical manner to generate loads of revenue (and kickbacks) for the companies that sell and administrate the systems for municipalities. Rather than keeping people safe, random ticketing amounts to a tax, and that really sticks in our craw. We're pleased beyond words that Texas has taken up the motorists' cause, and we hope that the new legislation can stand as a precedent.

Thanks for the tip, Dylan!

[Source: caradvice]

It's been a period of big changes for Fiat's commercial truck division recently. First the brand gained independent incorporation in the restructuring of the Fiat Group, and now the division is getting a new name and image. What was incorporated just a few months ago as Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles is now being re-named Fiat Professional.

Along with the more serious moniker, Fiat Professional is getting a new badge. The logo pictured above is based on the Fiat badge revealed on the new Bravo, spruced up for the commercial division by Robilant Associati, the same marketing consultants that collaborated with the Italian industrial giant on the creation of the new Fiat logo revealed last October.

The name change and new logo aren't likely to change anything concrete for Fiat's light truck and van division, aside from giving it a more professional image with which to stand up to the competition. Nor is the image shift expected to have any implications for Iveco, Fiat's more heavy-duty truck subsidiary.

[Source: Just Autos]

Excess weight is the enemy of every automobile. Extra pounds will make a car slower at the top end, more sluggish off the line, wobblier in the corners, more lethargic under braking, guzzle more gas and expel more toxic fumes...among other problems. It can render an otherwise great car imperfect. Case in point: the US-bound Italian beauty, the Alfa Romeo 159.

The 159 is, as we've said time and time again, one of – if not the – most beautiful sedans on the market. Unfortunately its performance has not been quite up to par with its drop-dead gorgeous looks. And the more powerful V6-powered all-wheel-drive Q4 version only adds another 200kg to the problem. But Alfa's working on it, announcing a two-stage weight-loss program for the 159. The first stage will take some extra pounds off the body, chassis and suspension using lightweight construction materials such as aluminum. The second stage will be marked in 2008 with the introduction of a new lightweight five-cylinder turbodiesel.

Of course the same problems plague the 159's sisters, the Brera and Spider, but while the lightweight diesel is almost certain to find its way into the shapely two-doors, there's no word yet on whether the first stage weight loss will hit them, too. Now, nobody wanted to resort to taking the 159 off of pasta and pizza, so next time, Alfa, just watch the weight from the start, alright?

[Source: Motor Authority]

Fiat and PSA Peugeot-Citroen have taken the wraps off their new jointly-produced compact utility vans this week. The new Peugeot Expert, Citroen Dispatch and Fiat Scudo will be officially launched in January to replace the three vans of the same names currently on the market.

As you can see from the picture, the vans are essentially identical, with only a slightly different nose to make them identifiable as belonging to their respective brands, making this joint venture an obvious exercise in badge engineering. The lightweight vans are available in a variety of configurations with various body styles and payload capacities. Although they're mainly commercial vehicles, a "combi-van" nine-passenger configuration is also available, which is likely to be popular with taxi and shuttle-bus services in Europe and elsewhere.

The vans are being built at the Sevel Nord plant in the north of France. Sevel is an acronym for Société Européenne de Véhicules Légers SpA (European Society of Lightweight Vehicles); the plant also builds a range of MPVs for Fiat and PSA, sold as the Citroën C8, Peugeot 807, Fiat Ulysse and Lancia Phedra.

The vans were unveiled at Sevel Nord together by Jean-Martin Folz and Sergio Marchionne, chief executives of PSA and Fiat respectively, both of whom recently revealed are leaving their posts.

Follow the jump for more pics and the full press release

[Source: PSA Peugeot Citroen]

Weismann is gearing up for expansion. The German niche sportscar maker is preparing to enter the US market by the end of the decade, increasing production threefold and possibly adding additional engine options.

Featuring curvaceous retro styling reminiscent of classic British sportscars, the Weismann Roadster and Weismann GT employ BMW-sourced engines coupled with lightweight chassis to offer exceptional performance. The 2600-pound Roadster is available with a choice of Bavarian in-line six engines, at either 231 hp from 3 liters or the previous-generation M3's 3.2-liter unit pumping out 343 horses, while the larger GT is motivated by BMW's 4.8-liter 367-hp V8. Weismann insists that their cars are designed to accommodate the entire range of Beemer powerplants, including the M5's V10, a V12 or even a diesel.

Weismann also hopes to cut down on customer waiting times, as orders for the Roadster currently take six months to fill, or 18 months for the GT.

Given the beauty and performance offered by the small German firm, we think they'll find many eager American customers willing to pony up for their unique creations.

[Source: AutoWeek