Autoblog

Corvette Stingray Convertible images mysteriously appear on web, so we add our own

Chris Tutor — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Chevrolet, GM, Design/Style

It was inevitable that we'd see the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray topless at some point, but that didn't make us any less interested when a pair of supposedly leaked official images showed up on theautoinsiderblog.com last week. We posted them on our Facebook page, but held off reporting on them here until we could get a little more information.

Those images, which feature a dark red car on a sterile black studio background, supposedly first appeared on the website of diecast model maker Maisto. A Chevrolet spokesman has been reported saying that they are "not official images released by Chevrolet PR," which isn't a denial they're the real deal, but neither is it a confirmation.

Close examination of the photos suggest they could be official shots of the Corvette Stingray Convertible, and while some have doubted their authenticity due to a lack of vents (which were seen on the C7s that debuted in Detroit last week), it could be that the images are of a base model car without the Z51 package that doesn't require the extra venting and cooling.

While we've waited to learn more, we had some artist friends of ours work up our own exclusive renderings that place a silver 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible in a more natural, wind-in-you-hair (or not, in the case of our cue-balled driver) outdoor setting. Now in addition to imagining the topless C7 sitting in your all-black garage, you can visualize yourself blasting down a country road with the wind whipping through your, uh, eyebrows.

Corvette Stingray Convertible images mysteriously appear on web, so we add our own originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin makes the Vanquish official

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Aston Martin, Luxury

After what started with a puzzlingly innocuous 'reveal' at Villa d'Este, the debutante known as the Aston Martin Vanquish has now been officially and formally introduced. With the DBS having nearly cashed its chips - it carries on with special editions for now - this is the new ultimate Aston.

Yes it sits on the VH platform - albeit one that's 25-percent stiffer, yes it's powered by the 6.0-liter V12 we know well, yes it's an evolution of Aston Martin's already polished language, but we don't see how any of those truths are cause for complaint when they look like this. The influence of the One-77 is apparent outside in the carbon-fiber bodied Vanquish's stretched lines and rear lights, and that's not a wing on the back, it's an "Aero Duct." Ahem.

However, it's the interior that cribs shamelessly from the halo car with the center console treatment of etched and LED-ringed inputs. If it's as nice to use as it looks, it could set the standard. The reshaped, twin-material steering wheel is also a nice touch. Other interior tweaks include a larger cabin and larger trunk (hallelujah) that can swallow 368 liters, which makes it more capacious than the boot of the Volkswagen Golf.

Underhood there's a 55-horsepower bump over the DBS, to 565 hp, assisted by an unchanged 420 pound-feet of torque. Gear changes are handled by the Touchtronic 2 six-speed auto, the combination said to be good for a 0-to-62 mph sprint in 4.1 seconds and a 183-mph terminal speed. You can scroll down for press release info, but we'd recommend starting with the video and high-res gallery of images.

Continue reading Aston Martin makes the Vanquish official

Aston Martin makes the Vanquish official originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: New official shots of the BMW 135i

Dan Roth — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Etc., BMW

click above for more high-res pics of the BMW 135i

If you're still frothing at the mouth for anything having to do with the new BMW 1-Series coupe, some new photos have found their way onto the internet. It's still a 3-series that was left in the dryer too long, but the new shots show the car off in its best possible light. There's been a lot of talk about the 135 being a return to the roots of what propelled BMW to such greatness, with alphanumerics like E30 M3 and 2002tii flying about. The 135i certainly holds its own stylistically, even if it is not possessed of the same delicacy of line as its forebears. The 135i appears hefty, like a block of dense marble carved by a skilled artisan, and when you get right down to it, that's what it is. We've babbled enough, check out the gallery. Thanks for the tip, Horatiu!

[Source: edbmw]

Gallery: BMW 135i Official Shots

Pics Aplenty: New official shots of the BMW 135i originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Dodge Challenger romping in the desert

Dan Roth — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupe, Videos, Chrysler, Dodge

Chrysler has released some video of the Challenger zooming around on some desert tarmac. We think that this video is from the same shoot that produced the teaser pics we all salivated over before the Challenger was officially unveiled. With that, on to the video, after the jump. Hit the gallery for more stills, while you're at it.

[Source: Chrysler]

Gallery: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Continue reading VIDEO: Dodge Challenger romping in the desert

VIDEO: Dodge Challenger romping in the desert originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Bridgestone signs exclusive deal with F1

Noah Joseph — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:26:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Earnings/Financials

Japanese tire-maker Bridgestone has been supplying every team on the Formula One grid since rival rubber company Michelin pulled out of the sport at the end of the 2006 season. But whereas Bridgestone had gone through 2007 as the exclusive tire supplier by default, the ink has now dried on the contract that makes them the exclusive tire supplier by design.

The deal secures Bridgestone's monopoly in the pinnacle motorsport series from 2008 through 2010. Although the deal was reportedly secured in 2006, but it just became official.

While many other racing series around the world have similar arrangements with various tire suppliers, Formula One has traditionally been a bastion of pure competition. The tire deal, however, prevents companies like Goodyear, Pirelli and Michelin from returning to F1, joining the institution of a common engine control module, the recent freeze on engine development and drastic restrictions on testing in "leveling the playing field" and thereby reducing the degree of competition in F1.

Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Bridgestone via Autosport]

Continue reading Officially Official: Bridgestone signs exclusive deal with F1

Officially Official: Bridgestone signs exclusive deal with F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSC Ultimate Aero TT closes in on record with 241 mph run

John Neff — Wed, 30 May 2007 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Supercars

click on above image for more high-res pics of the SSC Ultimate Aero TT

Back in March, SSC went for the mantle of World's Fastest Production Car with its Ultimate Aero TT. The attempt failed due to a number of factors, one of which was bad weather, but SSC is still determined to take the title away from the Koenigsegg CCR, which is the current record holder with an official run up to 242 mph. (The Bugatti Veyron has reportedly gone 253 mph in an unofficial run.)

Winding Road recently spoke with Junus Khan, SSC's marketing director, who claims that the Ultimate Aero TT hit 241.4 mph during a transmission temperature test on May 22. At the time, the driver was reportedly using only 71 percent of the car's available throttle, which implies it's got plenty of reserve to break the official record of 242 mph. With 1,183 bhp on tap behind the driver's head, we're sure the SSC Ultimate Aero TT will shatter the record soon once the company organizes another official attempt. Khan says they'll be going for it in the "very near future."

[Source: Winding Road]

Gallery: SSC Ultimate Aero TT

SSC Ultimate Aero TT closes in on record with 241 mph run originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 May 2007 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Holden confirms G8 export (duh) and hints at return of El Camino

Dan Roth — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:36:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Pontiac

It's official, Holden's Denny Mooney has confirmed that the Commodore is heading to the US to join the Excitement division. To cop a phrase from my mother in law - no kidding, Dick Tracy. Bob Lutz let slip, and then owned up to the fact that the car is coming here as the Pontiac G8 during the Detroit show. Looking at the red G8 that posed with Mooney, our knees are all jiggly - we can hardly wait to get our mitts on one. Hopefully, it'll be outfitted with the 6-liter V8, but even the 3.6-liter V6 would be fine. What we're really interested in sampling is the fit and finish, ride quality, and road manners. We suspect that even the six will have adequate power to pull the G8/Commodore around with authority, and the V8 will be ridiculous icing on the cake, and extremely delicious at that.

Continued after the jump...

[Source: drive.com.au]

Continue reading Holden confirms G8 export (duh) and hints at return of El Camino

Holden confirms G8 export (duh) and hints at return of El Camino originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class brochure leaked on web

John Neff — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Mercedes-Benz

click above image to view entire high-res gallery of brochure

The official brochure for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has surfaced over on the German Car Zone forums, and it reveals in full production glory the car that we've seen countless times in spy shots over the past year. The first thing that jumps out at you is the ginormous three-pointed star emblem that dominates the front grille on the Avant Garde and AMG Sport Package models. A trim called Elegance will apparently make do with a standard Mercedes grille. We dig the big badge, which was also previewed on the Vision GL420 Concept at the Detroit Auto Show. This indicates we should expect more MB models to sport the large three-pointed star on various trim levels over the next few years. Otherwise, the sedan's exterior lines are a little meatier, a little chunkier and more filling, like Campbell's soup. M'm, m'm, good.

The interior of the 2008 C-Class impresses us less, however, with a wonky steering wheel and old-school nav setup that has the screen popping up vertically from a hidden slot on the dash. We didn't like that feature in the first Infinitis with nav systems and we don't like it here. There does, however, appear to be a large information screen centered in speedomater reminiscent of what Chrysler uses in the Pacifica. Let us know what you think in the comments.

Check out the rest of the brochure in our high-resolution gallery.

[Source: German Car Zone via Jalopnik]

Official 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class brochure leaked on web originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's official! Pontiac to get RWD platform, likely in G8

Dan Roth — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 07:49:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Pontiac

Perhaps riding a contact high from all the heady presentations at the NAIAS, GM product Czar Bob Lutz let fly that the Holden Commodore SS will be coming to the US as a Pontiac. Lutz went on to say that the car will be known as the G8, and that GM is looking at an official amount of "a lot." In this case, a lot adds up to about 30,000 per year, with reserve capacity in case they nail it with price and features, and demand is high.

We hope that's the case, as the Commodore/G8 would certainly fill a hole in Pontiac's offerings and could really shake things up in the sports sedan segment if executed well. We expect that the execution will be near spot-on, judging from the performance we've seen out of the General lately. The GTO nee Monaro paved the way for sourcing the G8 from Holden. The Commodore was developed with export in mind, and Holden has the export game figured out already. They send more Statesman luxury models out of Australia then they sell locally. Lots more, in fact. Since the GTO broke the ice and let GM know what their subsidiary is capable of in the land where toilets flush backwards (not true), GM sounds excited to give the Excitement division a shot of, uh, excitement.

[Source: drive.com.au]

It's official! Pontiac to get RWD platform, likely in G8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SMART fortwo officially unveiled in Stuttgart: highrez shots and video

John Neff — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Smart

UPDATE: Sorry to republish this post, but all official highrez shots, video and SMART's press release have been added after jump.

After a few sneak peeks of the new SMART fortwo, we have here the full catalogue of official shots showing the U.S.-bound city car for 2007. The changes made to the car are actually substantial, though extremely subtle. The fortwo has grown in all dimensions and now sits at 2.69 meters (8.82 feet) long. It will also be powered by a bigger, three-cylinder motor that's a full liter in size and available with 61, 71 or 84 bhp. A diesel option will be offered that generates 45 bhp, and the only tranny choice for any engine is a five-speed manual. SMART is also fitting the new fortwo with a "stop & go" system that cuts the engine at red lights much like a hybrid. Safety will be a big priority as well, with each fortwo stocked with front airbargs, ABS and ESP.

We also get to see the interior in this batch of photos and, aside from a steering wheel that looks like it was lifted right out of the '80s, the diminutive domicile looks pleasant enough and not as cramped as one might expect.

Check out a full gallery of shots after the jump.

[Source: Autoblog Spanish - translated]

Continue reading SMART fortwo officially unveiled in Stuttgart: highrez shots and video

SMART fortwo officially unveiled in Stuttgart: highrez shots and video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Nov 2006 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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