Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Australian website gets first spin in GTA Spano [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/australian-website-gets-first-spin-in-gta-spano-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/australian-website-gets-first-spin-in-gta-spano-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/australian-website-gets-first-spin-in-gta-spano-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,


GTA Spano - Click above for a high-res image gallery

We're spoiled, us supercar fans. With so many awesome road-munching beasts on the market, we've grown jaded. Which may go some ways towards explaining the general reaction to the GTA Spano. Here's an accomplished racing team unveiling an 840-horsepower, mid-engined V10 supercar and all anyone could say was "ho-hum, another cookie-cutter supercar from a new upstart."

Admittedly, the apathy was mostly centered on the Spano's styling, for which the initial batch of photos didn't do any favors. But a machine as promising as the GTA Spano at least deserves a second glance, and we're glad the good folks over at CarAdvice.com.au got a chance to give us exactly that. (A little jealous, mind you, but glad nonetheless.)

These real-world photos reveal the unique lines in the Spano's design, especially the arc that swirls around the greenhouse and melds into the rear spoiler, giving the Spano a fluid yet aggressive shape. But don't take our word for it, see for yourself in the high-res gallery below.

As if to compound our jealousy, our friends down under also got to spend some time behind the wheel. But though that's on embargo until September when the production-spec model hits the market, they've given us a little teaser video, which we've included after the jump. Oh, and one more thing: Spano also says they're working on a supercharged version, which promises to boost the Dodge Viper-sourced V10 to stratospheric levels of output. The future's looking bright.


Gallery: GTA Spano by CarAdvice.com.au


Gallery: GTA Spano


[Source: CarAdvice.com.au]

Continue reading Australian website gets first spin in GTA Spano [w/VIDEO]

Australian website gets first spin in GTA Spano [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 May 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australian car adviceAustralianCarAdvicecaradvice.com.audodge viperDodgeViperfull throttleFullThrottlegtagta spanoGtaSpanospainspanishspanish supercarSpanishSupercarspanoten cylinderTenCylinderV10Thu, 14 May 2009 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/10/2009-spanish-grand-prix-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-spoiler-ale/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/10/2009-spanish-grand-prix-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-spoiler-ale/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/10/2009-spanish-grand-prix-how-the-mighty-have-fallen-spoiler-ale/#commentsFiled under:

2009 Chinese Grand Prix - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Those who tuned in on Saturday for the qualifying session at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix would not have been surprised by the top three: Brawn's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello took first and third on the starting grid, respectively, sandwiching Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in second. No big surprise there - after dominating the first four rounds of the season, these three drivers hold the top three spots in the standings, after all. But coming in right behind them was a daunting wild card in Felipe Massa, who took fourth place on the grid. Of course only in this topsy-turvy season could Ferrari's golden boy, runner-up in last year's championship, be considered a wild card. Call it a sign of the times. But would Massa be able to turn around his dismal fortunes, take on the erstwhile underdogs and restore the Scuderia to its rightful place in the winner's circle? Follow the jump to find out.


Gallery: 2009 Spanish Grand Prix

Continue reading 2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT]

2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 May 2009 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barcelonabarrichellobrawnbrawn gpBrawnGpbuttoncatalunyafelipe massaFelipeMassagpgrand prixGrandPrixjenson buttonJensonButtonmark webberMarkWebbermassared bullRedBullrubens barrichelloRubensBarrichellosebastian vettelSebastianVettelspanishspanish gpspanish grand prixSpanishGpSpanishGrandPrixvettelwebberSun, 10 May 2009 13:53:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA Spano supercar debuts in Valencia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/30/gta-spano-supercar-debuts-in-valencia/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/30/gta-spano-supercar-debuts-in-valencia/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/30/gta-spano-supercar-debuts-in-valencia/#commentsFiled under:


GTA Spano - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Anything you can do, I can do...also. That seems to be the modus operandi of the Spanish auto industry vis-a-vis the Italians. So while Volkswagen is vying to reshape its Seat subsidiary into an Iberian version of Alfa Romeo, Spanish racing team GTA has been hard at work developing its own supercar to rival the best from Ferrari and Lamborghini. After months of speculation on our part and preparation on theirs, the GTA Spano has finally made its debut in Valencia, the same Mediterranean coastal city that hosts the European Grand Prix. While only limited details were revealed at the Spano's launch, our compadres over at AB Spanish got it covered.

Underneath the rather generic supercar body lies the beating heart of the beast: an 8.3-liter V10, purportedly sourced from the Dodge Viper, and tuned to deliver 780 horsepower. That's said to be good enough to propel the carbon, kevlar and titanium supercar to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it 2.9 seconds. The engine is mated to a choice of seven-speed paddle-shifter, automatic or gated manual transmission, 19" wheels coated in ultra-low-profile rubber grip the road at all fours, and the engine is even designed to burn straight alcohol if so desired. Production will be limited to 99 examples, each available at a price of around $670,000. Given GTA's racing background, a competition version is also expected to be in the works, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the images in the gallery below and the details in the press release after the jump.


Gallery: GTA Spano



[Source: Autoblog Spanish - translated]

Continue reading GTA Spano supercar debuts in Valencia

GTA Spano supercar debuts in Valencia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gtagta spanoGtaSpanoiberianspainspanishspanish supercarSpanishSupercarspanosupercarvalenciaThu, 30 Apr 2009 19:27:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA Concept supercar finishing testing, launching next month]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/06/gta-concept-supercar-finishing-testing-launching-next-month/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/06/gta-concept-supercar-finishing-testing-launching-next-month/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/06/gta-concept-supercar-finishing-testing-launching-next-month/#commentsFiled under:


GTA Concept supercar - Click above for image gallery

Between Ferrari and upcoming new projects from McLaren, there is no shortage of supercars developed by F1 teams. But now, even some Formula 3 teams want to get in on the action, as evidenced by the new GTA Concept. The mid-engined supercar on which we initially reported a little over a year ago is the brainchild of Spanish racing outfit GTA, and while we hadn't heard much out of them for a while now, the car now reportedly finished its testing regimen in preparation for its official launch by the end of this month.

In anticipation, GTA has released some mouthwatering details on the supercar, whose official name will be revealed along with the car itself at an unveiling event in a few weeks. A mid-mounted V10 provides a quoted 780 horsepower and 678 lb-ft of torque, with power rolling through a seven-speed sequential gearbox with optional paddle shifters. All that juice is said to be enough to propel the supercar to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than three seconds, en route to a top speed in excess of 350 km/h (217 mph). Custom wheels measuring 255/35-19 at the front and 335/35-20 at the rear are to be shod shod with Pirelli Pzero tires, beneath which figures to be a set of 380mm carbon-ceramic ventilated discs with six-piston AP Racing calipers and ABS modulation.

GTA says it will only produce 99 examples of the titanium, carbon-fiber and Kevlar supercar, and it says that the advanced design yielded five international patents, including one for the tinting glass roof panel. We'll keep an eye out for the vehicle's debut, so watch this space. In the meantime, we've added a pair of shots of the GTA undergoing testing to the gallery of renderings below, so check 'em out along with the details in the press release after the jump.


Gallery: GTA Motor supercar concept


[Source: GTA]

Continue reading GTA Concept supercar finishing testing, launching next month

GTA Concept supercar finishing testing, launching next month originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f3formula 3formula threeFormula3FormulaThreegtagta conceptgta supercarGtaConceptGtaSupercarspainspanishsupercarMon, 06 Apr 2009 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Hamilton Wiki-attack: the British press fire back]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/17/hamilton-wiki-attack-the-british-press-fire-back/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/17/hamilton-wiki-attack-the-british-press-fire-back/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/17/hamilton-wiki-attack-the-british-press-fire-back/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Okay, this is just getting ridiculous. Remember the story we brought you a couple days ago about the Mercedes employee in Spain who trashed Lewis Hamilton on Wikipedia? Yeah, pretty ridiculous, we know. But the British media, if you can believe it, is actually taking it seriously.

The Daily Telegraph referred to the incident as a "cheap shot" fuelled by "Spanish paranoia", while the Daily Mirror claimed that "Spain's Fernando Alonso has inflamed home fans".

Daimler said they're investigating the matter, the IP address of the *ahem* perpetrator having been traced back to its office in Spain. Wikipedia removed the edits and temporarily locked the entry. That any newspaper worth its ink is even acknowledging what amounts to no more than one person's fanaticism is just ridiculous. Stay tuned to see what the Spanish papers have to say...

[Source: F1i.com]


Hamilton Wiki-attack: the British press fire back originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daimlereditentryhamiltonlewismclarenmercedespostspainspanishwikipediaWed, 17 Oct 2007 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Spanish Mercedes employee Wiki-trashes Hamilton]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/13/spanish-mercedes-employee-wiki-trashes-hamilton/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/13/spanish-mercedes-employee-wiki-trashes-hamilton/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/13/spanish-mercedes-employee-wiki-trashes-hamilton/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mercedes-Benz, which supplies the engines to the McLaren team where British rookie Lewis Hamilton and Spanish champion Fernando Alonso have been battling it out on and off the track all season, is hunting down one of its employees in Spain. The as-yet unidentified employee, evidently an Alonso fan, logged on the Wikipedia and posted some less-than-flattering remarks about Hamilton, who enters the final round of the 2007 F1 season with a commanding lead over his rivals.

The employee modified a quote from Michael Schumacher on the Hamilton Wiki to read "I know he is quite ugly, but if he keeps this up I'm sure he will reach F1." (Modification italicized.) Deep. In his edit, the employee also lambasted Hamilton for a crash with Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel at the Japanese Grand Prix.

In response, site administrators removed the edits and locked the page from further modification until October 20, the day before the final round in Brazil. Meanwhile Mercedes, which confirmed that the IP address originates from its Spanish headquarters, is trying to find out exactly who's culpable, while issuing a reminder to its staff about its internet policy. And we thought NSFW pornographic material was a problem in the workplace.

[Source: Autosport]

Spanish Mercedes employee Wiki-trashes Hamilton originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hamiltonmercedesspainspanishwikiwikipediaSat, 13 Oct 2007 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Did Lamborghini "blow" it with the Reventón?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/12/did-lamborghini-blow-it-with-the-reventon/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/12/did-lamborghini-blow-it-with-the-reventon/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/12/did-lamborghini-blow-it-with-the-reventon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click on the above photo for more hi-res pics of the Blown Tire Reventón

As many commenters have noted, the Spanish name of the million-euro Lambo, Reventón, is a bit of a surprise. The accent over the 'o' changes the stress, but it apparently doesn't change the meaning of the word in Spanish: blown tire. As one reader wrote, not exactly the right name for a car you plan on driving at 300 KPH. Yes, Reventón was the name of a bull that killed a toreador, like Murcielago was the name of a 19th century bull. But "murcielago" also means "bat" in Spanish, and "espada," also Spanish, means "sword."

In fact, Spanish seems to be the language that comes up most frequently in these delicately-named situations. Nissan made a car called the Moco, which means "snot." Chevrolet made the Nova, which, of course, means "no go." Mitsubishi still sells an SUV called -- not in Spain -- the Pajero, which means "wanker" in the, uh, more literal sense. Then there was the Mazda Laputa, which we can't get into on a family web site. Same goes for the Lexus LF-A, which caused one wide-eyed Spaniard we know to say "They need to change that name."

As other commenters have noted, none of this is really going to matter with a million-euro car that only 20 people will get to buy. But the debate is still fun: if there were a car called "blown tire" in your language -- even if it was named after a championship-winning something-or-other -- would you want it?

Thanks to everyone who brought this to our attention in the comments!

Did Lamborghini "blow" it with the Reventón? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blown tireBlownTirefrankfurtfrankfurt auto showFrankfurtAutoShowlamborghinilamborghini reventonLamborghiniReventonnamesreventonspanishWed, 12 Sep 2007 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Volvo's treasure hunt finds real treasure on ocean floor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/volvos-treasure-hunt-finds-real-treasure-on-ocean-floor/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/volvos-treasure-hunt-finds-real-treasure-on-ocean-floor/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/volvos-treasure-hunt-finds-real-treasure-on-ocean-floor/#commentsFiled under: ,



We were wondering whatever happened to Volvo's treasure hunt promotion that coincided with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The prize of $50,000 in gold and the keys to a new Volvo were buried somewhere near Davey Jones' locker on the ocean floor, but until today there was no word on which lucky treasure hunter had navigated the mess of riddles and clues to find it.

23-year-old Alena Zvereva from Ekaterinburg, Russia has been chosen as the winner, but her prize will have to remain wet a little while longer as Odyssey Marine Exploration, the deep-ocean shipwreck exploration company with which Volvo partnered, has found real treasure somewhere in the Atlantic. The real booty consists of $500 million worth of gold and silver coins at a secret deep ocean site that Odyssey has named the 'Black Swan'.

Follow the jump read more about how the Spanish government has gotten involved and delayed the delivery of Zvereva to her prize.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo's treasure hunt finds real treasure on ocean floor

Volvo's treasure hunt finds real treasure on ocean floor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>at world's endAtWorld'sEndgibraltarmediterraneanodysseypirates of the caribbeanPiratesOfTheCaribbeanspainspanishtreasure huntTreasureHuntVolvoFri, 22 Jun 2007 12:53:00 EST