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Monterey 2009: 2010 Devon GTX

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:51:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty

2010 Devon GTX - Click above for a high-res image gallery

After speculation, spy shots and renderings, the 2010 Devon GTX finally made its debut on the 18th hole of Pebble Beach, with the hope of ushering in a new era of American supercar dominance.

The California-based design studio and upstart automaker created the GTX as an American answer to the ultra-exclusive sports cars hailing from Europe. Housed within the steel structure and carbon fiber body lies an 8.4-liter V10 putting 650 hp (at 6,100 rpm) to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

When the GTX goes on sale early next year, the coupe will be available in two flavors - a standard version and a more track-focused variant - each equipped with a fully independent suspension (a real-time damping and ride-height adjustment system will be available in late 2010), obscured by 18x10-inch (front) and 19x13-inch (rear) wheels (19s and 20s are an available upgrade), wrapped in Z-rated Michelin Pilot Sport 2 rubber. Six piston brakes clamp onto 380mm discs in front, while four piston calipers grapple with 355mm rotors in the rear.

Devon plans to produce 36 cars each year, carrying a price tag of $500,000, with a racing package commanding another $25,000. Get all the details in the press release below the fold, and check out both galleries of the GTX below.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: 2010 Devon GTX

Gallery: 2010 Devon GTX

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Monterey 2009: 2010 Devon GTX originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder debuts

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Luxury

Spkyer C8 Aileron Spyder - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Spyker deals in the ultimate four-wheeled fashion accessories, so it's fitting that the automaker debuted its next-generation droptop - the C8 Aileron Spyder - to the primped and bedazzled throngs in Monterey.

Based off the all-new Aileron that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year (replacing the original C8 after a successful nine-year run), the Spyder version stays true to its predecessor with a frameless windshield and a flowing profile that doesn't disrupt the more angular, aircraft-inspired theme of the coupe.

Ahead of the CNC-machined aluminum luggage rack and integrated roll-bars, a tonneau cover houses a soft-top (available in eight colors) and glass window that's deployed using an electric/hydraulic system and latched with a single mechanism.

Like the original C8, Spyker developed the Aileron to be a convertible from the onset, so little if any modifications have been made to ready the Spyder for drop-top duty. The chassis carries over unchanged, as does the drivetrain - an Audi-sourced 400+ hp 4.2-liter with a choice of either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox (with paddle shifters) - along with the massive AP brakes and 19-inch Aeroblade wheels. And if the inside of the Aileron wasn't enough of a masterpiece to begin with, Spyker has teamed up with ultra-high-end stereo purveyors Kharma to offer a new infotainment system that will add another level of excess to the already excessive interior. Expect sales to begin later this, with around 50 percent of all Spyders winding up on U.S. shores.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder

Monterey 2009: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: First Annual Concours d'LeMons

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Misc. Auto Shows

2009 Concours d'LeMons - Click above for a high-res image gallery

We never tire of cars. But we do tire of trailer queens. So before sampling some drop-top British hotness here in Monterey, we headed down to the first annual Concours d'LeMons, for some daily-driven obscurities and eye-sores.

Broken up into categories covering everything from "Rust Belt American Junk" to "Der Self-Satisfied Krautwagen," the automotive detritus spanned decades and tastes - Pintos to Pacers, Hudsons to Datsuns - a little sumpin' for everyone. Our favorite? Too many to count, but the Boss Pinto and Radio Flyer (above) are at the top of their list. Find your own in the gallery below.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: Concours d'LeMons

Monterey 2009: First Annual Concours d'LeMons originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: 2011 Infiniti M makes virtual reveal in Pebble

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Infiniti, Misc. Auto Shows, Luxury

2011 Infiniti M - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you distill Monterey's week-long extravaganza into a single word, it's "luxury." Sybaritic pleasures are the order du jour in and around Pebble, so Infiniti's decision to reveal the 2011 M on the Monterey Peninsula is a clear indication of the brand's interminable pursuit of recognition and respect in the world of up-market automobiles.

Infiniti is well aware that becoming a major player in the segment doesn't begin and end with creating a dynamically engaging and aesthetically pleasing entry-level luxury sedan and coupe. It's got to go big - or at least bigger - filling a niche that falls somewhere between the BMW 5 Series/Mercedes-Benz E-Class and 7 Series/S-Class.

Taking all the right cues from the Essence concept, the all-new M successfully distills the organic shapes and angular creases of its conceptual forbearer into a traditional sports sedan shape. The front fascia's engorged maw blends well with the aggressive headlamps and curvaceous lower valence, and while things are somewhat subdued in profile, the real action starts with the shapely swage line beginning in the middle of the rear door and sweeping back into the Jaguar-esque tail lamps and pinched rump. The exterior's sinuous lines carry over to the inside, with a duo of convex interior compartments accentuated by a smattering of wood and aluminum. There's also some new technology, including a unique take on the blind spot intervention system that actually helps the driver back into his original lane if another car is detected alongside.

We're hoping to snag more details when we take a look at Infiniti's "virtual M" tonight, where the automaker is employing a bespoke "video mapping" system to display the M's details and colors onto a full-scale model of the sedan. Infiniti's third-generation flagship is set to go on sale in 32 markets in the spring of 2010 and will be available in either V6 M37 trim or a 400-hp V8-powered M56 variant. Full details in the press release below the fold.

UPDATE: Click here to watch a live stream of the 2011 Infiniti M being unveiled in Monterey.

Gallery: 2011 Infiniti M

Continue reading Monterey 2009: 2011 Infiniti M makes virtual reveal in Pebble

Monterey 2009: 2011 Infiniti M makes virtual reveal in Pebble originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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