Autoblog

Essen 2009: AC Schnitzer gives BMW 123d the police package treatment [w/VIDEO]

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Coupe, Europe, BMW, Misc. Auto Shows, Police/Emergency, Design/Style, Diesel

AC Schnitzer BMW 123d Tune It Safe! police concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

High performance vehicles like Porsche 911s being used for pursuit duty on Germany's autobahn is nothing new. As such, in order order to grab the attention of Essen Motor Show attendees, the Tune It Safe! program's annual police-liveried show car needs to go a step further. Past efforts have included rides such as a police-liveried Brabus Rocket and a TechArt-prepared Porsche 911. This year, AC Schnitzer got the call and it has unwrapped (or perhaps wrapped is the better term, given the side graphics) a police car concept based on the BMW 123d coupe.

Naturally, Schnitzer couldn't leave the stock, 40 mpg 204-horsepower twin-turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel alone, and so it has boosted the show car's engine to 241 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. They've also applied an array of their appearance upgrades including a front splitter, rear spoiler, and a bigger wheel/tire package. The body has been dropped 30 millimeters, which should help compensate a bit for the extra drag of the light bar on the roof. Inside, racing seats and carbon fiber trim are accompanied by a cover for the iDrive knob that matches the wheel design.

We'll pass on the light bar and the graphics, but take the rest of the car, please. Not sure about it yourself? Take a look at the high-res gallery below and a video available after the jump.

Gallery: AC Schnitzer BMW 123d police package

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

Continue reading Essen 2009: AC Schnitzer gives BMW 123d the police package treatment [w/VIDEO]

Essen 2009: AC Schnitzer gives BMW 123d the police package treatment [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Pinkee's ignites lust for a Pontiac Firebird

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Pontiac

1977 Pontiac FireBird by Pinkee's Rod Shop - Click above for high-res image gallery

This year's SEMA show might have been a bit smaller than in years past, but there were certainly some heavy hitters in the crowd that proved the old "quality, not quantity" adage. Take, for instance, this super-clean, super-fine 1977 Pontiac Firebird. Like the Ringbrothers "Afterburner" Fairlane and the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year 1962 Corvette C1-RS, the look is modern, yet definitely retro. Dreamed up by hot rod artist Jimmy Smith, it was crafted to life by Pinkee's Rod Shop of Windsor, Colorado.

It has a smooth-as-glass appearance with its gloss black paint dripping off its shaved and streamlined form. Elegantly simple billet wheels, naked headlamps and a restyled rear complete the exterior look. The interior hasn't been forgotten either, as it is fully custom and equally straightforward. The same can be said for the engine bay, which looks like a surgical O.R., with its LS7 engine resting neatly in a fully customized bay. It was easily one of our favorite cars at this year's show.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Pinkee's FireBird

SEMA 2009: Pinkee's ignites lust for a Pontiac Firebird originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Finds of the Day: Pontiac Vibe GT-R and G6 GXP SEMA showcars

Noah Joseph — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Auctions, Pontiac

Pontiac G6 GXP (above) and Vibe GT-R (below right) SEMA show cars - Click either image to view in high resolution

Pontiac fans are undoubtedly going to miss the role-out of new concept cars from the not-long-for-this-world GM division. But for a lucky two, that thrill can be experienced every day on their own driveway as two past Pontiac show cars have popped up on eBay Motors for sale.

First up is the Pontiac Vibe GT-R that debuted at the 2002 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Boasting a unique Opera Red Metallic paint job, ram-air induction hood scoop, special body-kit, PIAA driving lights, 19-inch rims, custom suspension, Kenwood hi-fi, a full Momo interior... oh, and a 190hp 1.8-liter DOHC four, the Vibe GT-R was created as a rolling showcase of aftermarket possibilities for the Toyota-based tall hatch -- without focusing on the pesky performance end of things.

Joining the unique Vibe is the Pontiac G6 GXP show car which debuted at the same show two years later. GM's Performance Division built the show car for SEMA to test public reaction for a performance-oriented G6. Reaction was good, and the car went into production, but the show car maintained a more stunning visual appearance. The show-quality orange hue is offset by the dark grey splitter up front and diffuser around back, and the engine and suspension were tweaked to show the Pontiac's performance potential.

With GM forced to sell off its collection of past concept cars and Pontiac going the way of the Oldsmobile, both these low-mileage cars present unique opportunities for enthusiasts and collectors to get their hands on a piece of soon-to-be-history. Follow the links to view the auctions, which both end at 6pm Pacific time on May 3, or click on the thumbnails below to see the images in our high-res mega galleries. Props to Berto for the tip!

Gallery: Pontiac Vibe GT-R SEMA 2002 show car on eBay

Gallery: Pontiac G6 GXP SEMA 2004 show car on eBay

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Finds of the Day: Pontiac Vibe GT-R and G6 GXP SEMA showcars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1995 Lincoln Sentinel Concept

Dan Roth — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Auctions, Lincoln

1995 Lincoln Sentinel Concept - Click above for image gallery

Looking like a 1961 Continental reimagined thirty years on, the Lincoln Sentinel concept caused quite a stir on the show circuit back in the mid-'90s.

Eventually, the not-quite-a-runner sedan somehow wound up in Hardeeville, South Carolina, where a dealer is now looking to unload it for $80,000. O.C. Welch Ford Lincoln-Mercury has apparently held the vehicle in its private collection, and while it's nothing more than a non-functional showpiece, there are possibilities. It would at least be a conversation piece, but one also pictures the bodywork picked up and laid atop a Panther chassis to make the best looking Town Car in ages. $80k is kind of steep for something that even lacks functioning doors (it has a half-interior beneath the smoked glass), but this was a fairly significant showcar at the time, and even now, it arguably has far more presence than anything in the Ford Motor Company's premium portfolio. Thanks for the tip, Clint!

Gallery: Sentinel Auction

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1995 Lincoln Sentinel Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Mopar bringing Dodge Ram R/T concept

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Tuners, Truck, Chrysler, Dodge

With gas prices still leaving people numb, the Dodge Ram R/T probably won't get the reception Chrysler wants - but that doesn't mean the automaker won't give it some good car show loving: Mopar is bringing a 'roided up version of the truck to this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The blue bruiser gets the 5.7-liter HEMI with 390 horsepower, good for enough giddy up to shoot to the truck to 60 mph in under six seconds. The body gets more of the Mr. Olympia treatment: a bulging hood with dual intakes over a deep air dam, a bed cover with a spoiler, a lowered suspension over 22-inch wheels for that "Don't mess!" aggression, and obligatory racing stripes. We like the sound of all that. Come November 4, let the posedown begin.

[Source: 4 Wheels Blog]

SEMA Preview: Mopar bringing Dodge Ram R/T concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Suzuki Kizashi concepts in the round and on the road

Dan Roth — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:26:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, New York Auto Show, Sedan, Videos, Crossover, Suzuki, Tokyo Auto Salon

Click above to view videos

Suzuki is said to be unveiling the Kizashi 3 at next week's New York Auto Show, so we thought we'd refresh our memories about the Manga-styled Kizashi 1 and 2 concepts we saw at the Frankfurt Motor Show and Tokyo Motor Show. There's still no information about what powertrain (we've heard talk of a V8) or platform any car derived from the Kizashi concepts would ride upon, but we like where Suzuki's going with the idea. We expect that the Kizashi 3 may be nearly production-feasible, from what Suzuki has to say. Does this mean there's a sports sedan in the offing for Suzuki? Possibly. Or not. For a taste of what it might be like to see one of these cars actually out in the wild, we've turned up some videos of the concepts riding around in a digital world, posted after the jump.

Gallery: Suzuki Kizashi Concept

Gallery: Suzuki Kizashi 2 Concept

Continue reading VIDEO: Suzuki Kizashi concepts in the round and on the road

VIDEO: Suzuki Kizashi concepts in the round and on the road originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Ferrari Conciso concept

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:34:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Supercars, Ferrari

Click above to view more images

Red and rare. Save for a few vegetarians among us, that's how we like our steaks, and that's how we like our Ferraris. But some are so rare, even the bloodlust-driven connoisseurs among us don't know what to do with it. Take this one-off Ferrari Conciso. It's absolute carpaccio. But nobody seems to be biting.

The Conciso was built by German studio Michalak Design based on the mechanicals of a 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS (s/n 80962). As the name implies, the idea was to trim the chassis down to its bare essentials. The car has no doors and little in the way of a windshield to speak of. The driver and passenger hop over the sides like an F1 driver, hunker down into the racing buckets, buckle the competition harnesses and strap on the helmets, stored in special compartments inside the cabin.

The concept was shown at the 1993 Frankfurt show and in Geneva the following year, and was awarded second place in the Eurosign Design Awards behind the Bertone Blitz electric vehicle concept and ahead of the Italdesign Nazca C2. The design theme would later pop up in subsequent concept cars like the 1996 Ford Indigo and 2000 Pininfarina Rossa. Although Michalak was ready to take orders to produce additional copies of the Conciso, only one was reported to have been built. That single vehicle is now available for sale on eBay, but with one day to go and a starting bid of $160,000, the Conciso has yet to receive a single bid. Perhaps the market for custom Ferraris that look like droopy-eyed platypuses isn't so strong right now. If you missed the auction and have the mint, get in touch with Mechanic Import.

[Sources: eBay, Le Blog Auto and Michalak Design]

Thanks for the tip Roman!

Gallery: Ferrari Conciso by Michalak Design

eBay Find of the Day: Ferrari Conciso concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TCC lists 10 concepts Detroit should have built

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:05:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Jaguar, Lincoln, Pontiac

Show cars, dream cars and concept cars have long been a staple of the auto show circuit. Ever since Harley Earl dropped the 1938 Buick Y-Job on the unsuspecting public, automakers have been teasing us with concepts that more often than not fail to make it to production. Sometimes certain design elements or powerplants or nametags make it to showrooms, even whole vehicles occasionally slip through with minor changes, but there are always cars we wish automakers would have built but didn't. That's what The Car Connection addresses in its newest top ten list. "Ten Concepts Detroit Should Have Built," as you may guess, focuses on concepts American manufacturers should have made.

TCC gives a thorough description of each choice and an explanation of its merits, and also invites readers to weigh in on which they would choose as the pick of the litter. We encourage you to click over and check them out for yourself, but here's the list:

Chrysler Norseman, 1956
Chevrolet Astro II, 1967
Chevrolet Corvette Four-Rotor, 1972
Chrysler Phaeton, 1997
Pontiac Aztek, 1999
Jaguar F-Type, 2000
Chevrolet Nomad 1999 and 2003
Lincoln Continental, 2002
Cadillac Sixteen, 2003
Ford Reflex, 2006

Add our votes for the Astro II (pictured), the Nomads and Cadillac's Sixteen concept, though ourl list would have also included the Dodge M80, Ford 427 and Buick Velite.

[Source: TheCarConnection]

TCC lists 10 concepts Detroit should have built originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why the world rips on us: Dimora's JX Coupe Concept

Dan Roth — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:08:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Chrysler

From the fertile mind that brought you such varied hits as the Clenet and premixed coolant, we present to you the Dimora JX Coupe. Done up the old-world way -- with real metal and skill -- and the results for all that effort are decidedly weird. They can call it a coupe all they want, but its certainly more El Camino than sleek GT. The JX moniker is a little strange too, as the Chrysler Concorde that this car began life as was an LH model. The JX is the designation for the Sebring convertible from '96-00.

No matter, this metallic tangerine wonder has had old school bodywork techniques applied to make it a landaulet-looking contraption. The car was built as a movie car, though Dimora is cagey about where we might ultimately see the JX's film debut. The write up at the Dimora website is filled with hyperbolic nuggets. Our favorite gem is this one, regarding the fitting of a 3.2-liter V6: "We replaced the stock engine with a 260 HP 3.2 liter V6 from ATK, which is backed by a three-year unlimited mileage warranty. We added a "Tornado" vortex component to the air intake. MPG was increased 10% and horsepower grew by 10%. We have not had a dyno test on the engine..." Uhh, what?! We're not sure how you can measure a 10% horsepower increase (from an intake restriction, no less) without, you know, measuring it. Ah well, at least the rest of the world continues to have vehicular reasons to ridicule us.

Gallery: Dimora JX Coupe

[Source: Dimora via Jalopnik]

Why the world rips on us: Dimora's JX Coupe Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Motor Show: Mazda Hakaze in the rippled metal

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:07:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Mazda

We have already seen media pics of the Mazda Hakaze. We even have all of the details about the mechanicals. What we didn't have until today are live shots and personal impressions of what it's really like in the "flesh." Well, thanks to our own Damon Lavrinc in Geneva, we do now. He describes it as "ambitious," "beautifully fluid", and, when referring to all of Mazda's recent concepts, a "modern Pininfarina with a Japanese flare." It brings some cohesion to recent Mazda offerings like the CX-7 and CX-9.

Following on the heels of the Nagare and Ryuga concepts Mazda has shown over the past year, the Hakaze adds a "flying leaf" motif to the mix. The body surface mimics its predecessors with the ripples, this time looking like flowing sand dunes, which Mazda's designers are calling the "flop" technique of color manipulation.

Whatever. Besides giving us the emotional embodiment of "kite-surfing," the important thing to note about the Hakaze is the fact that Mazda has said it is the one concept of the three that has the best chance of seeing production.Ready for a CX-5, everybody?

Click away for our high-res gallery from Geneva with all of the media pics still available as well.

Gallery: Mazda Hakaze Concept

Geneva Motor Show: Mazda Hakaze in the rippled metal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2007 Barrett-Jackson: The Dream Cars

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:29:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions

click on image above to view the high-resolution gallery of Barrett-Jackson dream cars

A few more concepts from the Barrett-Jackson catalog should prove to be interesting lots. Nobody really expects these to draw the same kind of money as the F-88 or Bonneville from years past, but you never know. Heck, they probably won't even approach the value of the Dodge Firearrows we previewed earlier. But these are pretty interesting vehicles in their own right, starting with a concept for one of America's most iconic limos, carrying through to a GM mixed moniker model, to an early electric dream car. A rundown of each is available after the jump and as usual, a high-res gallery of my own and Drew Phillips' pics are available by clicking the above image.

Gallery: 2007 Barrett-Jackson: The Dream Cars

Continue reading 2007 Barrett-Jackson: The Dream Cars

2007 Barrett-Jackson: The Dream Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barrett-Jackson: The Dodge Firearrow Concept Cars

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions

click on the image above to view our full high-resolution gallery of the Firearrow concepts

Now these are the cars that make Barrett-Jackson otherworldly. The cars that bring 2, 3, 4, or even more million dollars and create that surreal atmosphere of "How high will this kook go for this car?" The last few years have seen the Olds F-88 concept crack the $3.2 mil mark, and then the Pontiac Bonneville Special and GM Futurliner follow that up with $3 and $4 mil respectively. This year's crop of concepts is perhaps a bit light compared to those, but there are some fun ones in the group this year: The Dodge Firearrow II (pale yellow) and Firearrow IV (red) Hemi convertibles from 1954 should be the big ticket items.

[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

Gallery: Barrett-Jackson: Dodge Firearrows

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson: The Dodge Firearrow Concept Cars

Barrett-Jackson: The Dodge Firearrow Concept Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the curtain: Building the Ford Interceptor Concept

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:06:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Ford

One of the cars we are most interested in seeing at the Detroit show is the new Ford Interceptor Concept. Although we've seen pictures already, this Mustang platform-mate has the potential to challenge the Mopar 300/Charger duo in the rear-drive large American sedan segment. We hope it makes it to production because by bringing its 427-esque styling to market, Ford will also win some street cred for not letting this bold design die on the vine.

Now we have a unique chance to see how the actual Interceptor show car was put together courtesy of USA Today. They stopped in at Aria in Irvine, California to get an inside look at how a show car is built. Aria is one of those concept builders that crafts million-dollar show cars mostly by hand and usually in total secrecy. They are also responsible for other Ford projects like the aluminum-bodied Ford Shelby GR-1 as well.

USA Today follows the Interceptor project over a couple of weeks from when it resembled nothing more than a giant pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces to the final days when the car was finished just in time for its shipping deadline. Pretty interesting read with some additional glimpses at the Mazda Nagare concept mishap that had the Aria team scrambling minutes before the debut. Check it out for yourself by clicking the read link.

[Source: USA Today via Kicking Tires]

Behind the curtain: Building the Ford Interceptor Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GeigerCars builds Mustang GT520

John Neff — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:41:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford

UPDATE: high resolution image gallery added after jump

click on image to enlarge

GeigerCars.de is beginning to put some tuners in the U.S. to shame with its highly modified versions of American muscle. While working on its supercharger kit for the Mustang GT, it decided to go one (or 20) steps further and build a complete show car to show off their work. The stock 4.6-liter V8 of the Mustang GT has been enlarged to 5.2 liters, and with the aid of a belt-driven supercharger and an ample intercooler now develops 520 horsepower and 415 ft-lbs. of torque. The 520GT routes all those new ponies to the rear tires through a modified six-speed manual and can snap off a run to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds on its way to a 178 mph top speed. The suspension and brakes were also upgraded and a set of 20-inch GeigerCars chrome wheels was also added (gotta have the bling).

Since it is a show car, the 520GT has to look the part and achieves this with a specially developed aero-enhancing body kit that can fit on both coupes and convertibles. A deeper chin spoiler scoops up air and shovels it into the big oval air dam that feeds the intercooler, while an integrated diffuser in the rear fascia and large rear wing keep things steady at speed. The 520GT would also feel right at home in an IASCA event thanks to a 10,000-watt JBL sound system.

GeigerCars will be taking the 520GT on tour around the globe next year, so hopefully it will show up in the U.S. and teach our American Mustang tuners that there's no monopoly on pony power.

(Press release, more photos after the jump)

[Source: GeigerCars.de]

Continue reading GeigerCars builds Mustang GT520

GeigerCars builds Mustang GT520 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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