click above for 31 high-res images of the BMW M3 Convertible
BMW wasn't planning on releasing the M3 convertible just yet. It had its hands full with the production X6 crossover and those new-fangled turbodiesels the company unveiled at the Detroit show. The M3 drop-top wasn't supposed to debut until March at the Geneva show. But the Bavarian automaker evidently took a decidedly un-German "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude when initial images and details leaked out. Rather than trying to hold the dam together, BMW has decided to join us for a swim and let the floodgates open on its new V8 hard-top convertible.
As exciting and versatile package it is, the real news here is BMW's new M DCT twin-clutch gearbox that stands in for the previous SMG transmission, which had its fair share of haters. The rest we already know from the M3 coupe and the more plebian 3-Series convertible. Unfortunately, the glorious M-tuned V8 is bogged down by an extra 450 lbs. of folding metal and electric motors, but that's the price you pay (on top of what promises to be a heart-attack-inducing sticker price) for the option of taking in the sunshine and that delicious exhaust note without sacrificing the security of a tin top. Swapping cogs at lightning speed, though, should help mitigate the half second the convertible loses on the coupe.
Check out the images in the gallery below and the full press release after the jump.
click above image to view all the new high-res images of the Maserati GS Zagato
What's better than pictures of a coachbuilt Italian exotic? Why, more pictures of a coachbuilt Italian exotic, of course! And in that vein, the sheet-metal masters at Zagato have graced us with a slew of additional images of their latest creation, based on the Maserati GranSport.
These images come direct to you from the grounds of the Villa d'Este, the glitzy annual concours d'elegance where Zagato has unveiled previous specials like the Ferrari 575 GTZ – so don't be surprised if the picturesque scenery is a familiar backdrop.
Click to jump to our high-resolution Koenigsegg image gallery from Geneva
Those Super-Swedes over at Koenigsegg serve up a potent reminder that not all supercars come from Italy. In fact, some of the fastest don't, as evidenced by the Koenigsegg CCX, whose level of performance ranks among the top of the supercar realm.
At the Geneva show, Koenigsegg was in full force, displaying three glorious examples: an "ordinary" orange CCX (as if it could be considered "ordinary" by any conceivable standard), plus a black ethanol-converted CCXR and a white FIA GT1-spec CCGT.
As we previously reported, the Koenigsegg CCX is so potent that it had to be de-tuned and "censored" to meet race regulations to make the CCGT. Power was reduced from 806 to 600 horsepower, and aerodynamic elements had to be replaced to meet specifications. The CCXR, meanwhile, produces more power running on ethanol than on gasoline, making a mind-blowing 1018 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque.
We've just learned that EMO TRANS, the shipping company that was hired by General Motors to transport a Corvette SS mule to Germany for testing on the Nurburgring, has fired the employee who took pictures of the vehicle and posted them on the internet. In addition, the unnamed employee has been taken to jail, though we don't know what charges have been filed against him. For our part, we've removed the pics from Autoblog for fear of GM's wrath. The automaker has been reportedly approaching various sites all day requesting the images be removed, so rather than waiting for the phone to ring we've gone ahead and taken them down.
This clearly illustrates how seriously GM is taking the development of the Corvette SS, as well as how utterly embarrased and apologetic EMO TRANS must be for the actions of its employee. It's all fun and games on our side of the fence because we got to see some real, informative shots of this very special Vette, but it reminds us that there's a lot of money on the line. We're sure that GM didn't appreciate pics of this powerplant were available for every other automaker to peruse. Lesson learned, though harder for some than others.
We'll keep you updates as more concrete and verifiable info becomes available. UPDATE: Josh over at The GM Source is reporting that the SShutterbug in question has not been placed under arrest, nor is he in police custody. GM has filed a civil complaint with the Romulus PD, and the matter remains under investigation. Whether or not the individual in question will be charged with a crime depends on the outcome of said investigation. Stay tuned. Full report here.
click on above image to view all 33 high-resolution pics in our Ultimate Wallpaper Gallery
The 2007 Detroit Auto Show was probably not the best place to test our new photo gallery feature considering the significance of the event. What if they crashed? What if readers didn't like it? What if we suck at taking pictures? Well, the system was as stable as a rock and everyone seemed to greatly enjoy the thousands of high-resolution images we pumped out from the show floor, but we'll be the first to admit that great photography skills have never been a prerequisite for blogging before. However, amidst the standard 3/4 front shots and blurry pics of sheets being pulled off of concepts, there were definitely a few gems. We've assembled a gallery of what we think are our best shots from the 2007 Detroit show, some of which you've seen and some you haven't. They're all 1,280 pixels wide, so they should be suitable for use as desktop wallpaper on some very large screens. We decided not to put a watermark of our logo on any of these because, quite frankly, we hate it when sites do that. If one of your favorite vehicles didn't make the list of best pics, you can still find pics of it by browsing our complete coverage.
That said, we've realized that we need to step up our photography game, so rest assured that we're upgrading our cameras and going over what aperture and ISO mean again. By the time we arrive in the Windy City for the 2007 Chicago Auto Show in early February, we want every pic we snap to be a gem.
click on above image to view all the new high-resolution live shots
Mazda's press conference isn't until tomorrow, but when we heard the Ryuga Concept was already spinning on a pedestal in the brand's booth, we grabbed our gear and ran down for an impromptu photo shoot. This car truly loves the camera; every side is its good side. Upon examing the car closer, we appreciate it more now for its details than overall shape. The wheels in particular with their torque-twisted spokes and dab of body color paint are one of the car's finest features. While the head and taillights are years away from production, the concept's face doesn't look far off from what could sold in showrooms. The interior, however, is a product of pure imagination, and while certainly striking and creative, lacks any connection with reality.
After 20 minutes of shooting we found ourselves in possession of another 29 fantastic pics of this beauty. Check them out in all their high-resolution glory by viewing the gallery.
For our comprehensive listing of everything from Detroit, click here.
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.
We all went ga-ga last week over surreptitiously snapped shots of the new Ford Mondeo sedan that were taken while the car was filming scenes for the upcoming James Bond film, Casino Royale, in which it has a cameo. Well here are the first official shots of Mondeo sedan, although they weren't officially released from Ford according to Motor Authority. Now, we know this isn't actually the production version of the next Mondeo, it's really a one-off built especially for use in the film. We know this because of a few details that would never make it to market like the body-colored rear diffuser and large, Gallardo-like wheels, among others. And technically this car isn't even a sedan, as the rear glass lifts with the deck lid to make it a five-door hatch. But whatev, The look of the next generation Mondeo sits before you, mark our words. Of course, the closest we'll ever get to it is the front row of our local cinemaplex at the premier of Casino Royale. Damn you, Ford!
In addition to classic, exotic, and muscle cars inching up and down Woodward Avenue this weekend, there were also vehicles that defy discription and brought a smile to the face of everyone they passed. Take this one, for instance. We saw the Metro hot-rod cruising the avenue and finally caught it parked, but sans owner. The Geo Metro's stock three-cylinder motor has been replaced with a more potent mill and rear-wheel drive drivetrain.
Follow the jump for a full gallery of funny cars and shots from the 2006 Woodward Dream Cruise, along with our own commentary in some cases. We expect your commentary and captions to fill up the comments section soon after. Enjoy.
There were so many sights that caught our eye this weekend at the Woodward Dream Cruise, so we've assembled a gallery of our favorite detail shots for you. We wanted to show off some of the impeccable craftsmanship on the vehicles we came across, as well as show you what it's like to traverse Woodward Ave. amidst 1.5 million other car enthusiasts. If you've never attended the Woodward Dream Cruise, we hope these pictures will convince you to add it to your calendar for next year. A full gallery of detail shots from the Woodward Dream Cruise can be found after the jump.
Officially Official: 2010 Ford Mustang!
2010 Ford Mustang revealed early on Ford's own website!
2009 Nissan 370Z rolls out early in So. Cal
VIDEO: 2009 Nissan 370Z revealed early in So. Cal.
BRABUS begins business of tuning the Tesla Roadster
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 HUMMER H3T Alpha
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Mercedes Benz C63 AMG
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Hyundai Genesis
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse LT
