Gallery: Audi R8 Spyder

Audi R8 Spyder gets an early unveiling originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spy Shots: Ferrari 599 GTB Spider? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Maserati GranTurismo S

Maserati Spyder debut pegged for early 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 May 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading REPORT: Maserati GranTurismo Cabriolet headed for Geneva - in 2010 - S Automatic coming next week [*UPDATED]

REPORT: Maserati GranTurismo Cabriolet headed for Geneva - in 2010 - S Automatic coming next week [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

Continue reading Officially Official: Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M to celebrate F1 title

Officially Official: Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M to celebrate F1 title originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo Spider Mille Miglia

Alfa building super-limited Spider Mille Miglia edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

US-market Alfas could be built in Mexico originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

click above to view more high-res images of the gorgeous GranTurismo

Since Maserati unveiled the GranTurismo almost a year ago in Geneva, the question on everybody's mind has been, when is the convertible coming? The Trident marque from Modena has finally answered the call, announcing that, although it has yet to decide which show will feature its debut, the convertible will hit the market in March 2009.

Based on the GranTurismo's platform, itself shortened from the four-door Quattroporte's, the remaining question is what form the convertible will take. Although Maserati is thought to be developing a hardtop convertible, sources suggest the upcoming model will adopt a folding soft top, leaving the door open for a smaller hard-top convertible in the future.

The convertible GranTurismo will fill a void in Maserati's line-up created by the departure of the previous-generation Spyder - which ended production along with the GranSport and Coupe - and will form a vital component to achieving its sales targets. When the final figures come in later this month, Maserati expects to post its first profitable year since being taken over by the Fiat Auto Group some 17 years ago, buoyed by steadily increasing sales: In 2006 Maserati sold 5,714 units, rising to 7,353 units in 2007, anticipated to reach 9,000 in 2008, putting the company on track to reach its target of 12,000 vehicles annually by 2011.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Gallery: 2007 Maserati GranTurismo

Maserati GranTurismo convertible coming in March '09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So here's what you want to get to make the kid forget the conspicuous and disappointing void under the tree: an Alfa Romeo. Okay, not a real one, but everything is relative and to a child, this will seem just as cool - trust us. These downsized rideable Alfa Spiders are available with a choice of body-styles - 8C Competizione or Brera - and powertrain. A hair under three bills will get pedal-power, or an extra two hundred nets the 6-volt electric version. Shipping's extra if you live outside the UK, and the roadsters are made for kids ages 2-5. Oh, and they're available only in red.

If your kid's passion lies elsewhere than with Alfa Romeo, we'd recommend a better education. In the meantime, don't fret: Turbo Toys has a variety of similar ride-ons, including a Maserati, Audi TT, Jag XK, Porsche, and several Ferraris.

You can thank us later.

[Source: Turbo Toys via Carscoop]

Make it up to the kid with an Alfa Spider originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

click to enlarge

Dutch designer Michiel van den Brink doesn't seem to be deterred by adversity. First he set out to pen a modern interpretation of one of the most iconic homologated racing GTs of all time, the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Then he actually decided to build his design, basing it on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, arguably the most dynamically sublime supercar ever to grace tarmac. When the Fiorano's 600-hp Enzo sourced V12 wasn't good enough, he teamed up with tuning house Edo Competition to turn it up to 11 by boring it out to 6.3 liters. The result? 750 horsepower. When Maranello declined to grant him its blessing, he started taking orders anyway from customers seemingly undeterred by the $1.3 million asking price... over the cost of the donor car.

Now that conjecture has begun circulating cyberspace that Ferrari is considering building a small run of convertibles based on the Fiorano, van den Brink has thrown his hat into the ring by unveiling his own design, dubbed the "GT Convertible". A far more convincing and seducing design than the photochops we've seen so far, van den Brink says he'll build it complete with a folding carbon-fiber hard-top for any interested customer.

That's some unfettered ambition, considering we've yet to see an actual copy of the Vandenbrink GTO built, yet despite an undisclosed but undoubtedly high cost for the sublime chop-job, Michiel might start taking orders before you know it.

More details are included in the press release after the jump, where van den Brink alludes to future designs to be based on the Audi R8, Spyker C8 Spyder and Corvette Z06. Oh yes, the future bears promise.

[Source: Vandenbrink Design]

Continue reading Vandenbrink unveils Ferrari 599 GT Convertible design

Vandenbrink unveils Ferrari 599 GT Convertible design originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The internet, as usual, is rife with speculation. Today's source is the FerrariChat message forum, where members claim to have inside information on two new Ferrari models that are anticipated for launch within the next couple of years.

The news concerns a convertible version of the current 599 GTB Fiorano, an illustration of which you see above (courtesy of AutoGespot). FChat member "supraman55" says his local dealer confirmed the upcoming model for a debut at either Detroit or Geneva in 2009. Speculation surrounding the 599 Spider is backed up by an interview with Ferrari's General Director, Amadeo Felisa, which appeared recently in the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport. When asked about a convertible 599, Felisa confirmed that Ferrari is developing such a model for possible production in a limited series like its predecessor, the 575-based SuperAmerica. We'll add our own fuel to the fire by speculating that, based on traditional Ferrari nomenclature revived for the 599 GTB, the roadster will likely carry the 599 GTS designation, perhaps married to another name to replace Fiorano for the open-air version.

[Sources: FerrariChat, Auto Motor und Sport, AutoGespot]

Continue reading Enter the Rumormill: Ferrari 599 roadster and F149

Enter the Rumormill: Ferrari 599 roadster and F149 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bugatti Veyron Targa details coming slowly, unlike car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cyberspace is rife with speculation about a new small Alfa Romeo convertible, which could be an indicator of one of two things: either the quintessential Italian automaker has got one such spider in the works, or it's just plain old wishful thinking.

Rumors suggest a revival of the Alfa Romeo Duetto, popularized by Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, which could feature a retractable hard-top for motoring al fresco under the Tuscan sun or closed again for parking in Rome and winding through the Alps.

Along the road to rehabilitation, Alfa's return to the American market will include two unspeakably beautiful convertibles: the Brera-based Spider, and the recently-confirmed convertible version of the 8C Competizione. A third convertible in the line-up would be likely to come in significantly under the price of either (not hard to do in the 8C's case considering the anticipated €185,000 sticker price that's guaranteed to climb with speculation) in the effort to attract a younger clientele. If the upcoming "Alfa Junior" can serve as any indication, we could be looking at an Italian rival to the likes of the Mazda MX-5 and Pontiac Solctice, which again could be just wishful thinking.

[Sources: World Car Fans and Italiaspeed]

Enter the Rumormill: a new Alfa Romeo Duetto originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Following the initial confirmation from Alfa Romeo that the drop-dead-sell-my-soul-and-both-kidneys-gorgeous 8C Competizione was going into production, however limited, the temporarily satiated hearts and minds of Italian sportscar fans (and really, who isn't a fan of Italian sportscars?) turned to the next obvious question: what about its equally jaw-dropping open-aired sister, the 8C Spider? We've been patiently awaiting any indication from the Milanese automaker, and the latest reports suggest that Alfa will indeed produce a limited run of the rolling piece of alfresco art.

Italian automotive publication Quattroroute claims that the 8C Spider will begin rolling out of the factory at the end of next year. Like the instantly sold-out fixed-roof version, only 500 examples will be produced, with a corresponding price increase to €180,000.

So, seriously...anyone interested in buying a kidney?

[Source: Quattroroute via Motorpasion]

Latest: Alfa Romeo to produce 8C Spider in 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Why do bad things happen to good cars? It seems to us that Ferraris are getting crashed left, right and center, and we're here to say they don't deserve this. We're speaking up for the little red-headed sportscars that can't speak for themselves (except in indiscernible revs and exhaust notes... and in Pixar movies).

The latest, at least, was not an Enzo. The world supply of those rare supercars is being rapidly and dangerously depleted by ostensibly careless drivers who seem to be routinely writing them off. No, this one was "just" a Modena, a 360 Spider to be precise, crashed into a lamp post at an intersection in Perth, Australia. By the looks of things, it was just the front end that was wrapped around the pole, while the rest of the car looks fine. But there's bound to be some structural damage to the 360's aluminum frame, and you can try to fix that, but she'll never be the same.

In response to this latest assault on the Ferrari community, we're marching to the UN to drum up support for a new bill to be passed that mandates the death sentence for anyone who acts so carelessly as to kill an innocent Ferrari. Exceptions will be legislated for official factory drivers, but everyone else is hereby put on notice.

[Source: Le Blog Auto - French]

Another day, another Ferrari crashed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As the reigning world champions - poised to secure one if not both titles for a second straight year - Renault hasn't done much to bank on its Formula One success with its model range. It seems the best it could muster is a special edition of the Megane hatchback. But the createur d'automobiles is looking to change that with a roadster to compete with the Mazda MX-5.

Renaultsport chief Alain Dassas confirmed the roadster will hit the market by 2010 with a £19,570 sticker price in the UK. That should be fairly competitive with the Mazda, which (for comparison's sake) ranges from £15,650 to £20,710 in the British market and was enjoying more elbow room after the cancellation of the Toyota MR2. No more info is available on the upcoming French spider at this point, but it promises to be a more serious contender than the Renault Sport Spider (pictured) from the late 90's with its optional windscreen (!) and complete lack of a roof of any kind.

If the old "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" adage has any truth to it, the new roadster should give the Mazda a good run for its money, and give Renault a sporty model as a practical halo for the entire range.

[Source: Auto Express]

Renaultsport roadster by 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Alfa Romeo Brera is quite possibly the most beautiful car on the market, but reviews have lamented the lack of "go" to accompany the "show". Alfa tuners extraordinaire Autodelta have answered the call with the Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C.

The first Autodelta based on the new generation of Alfas (Brera, Spider, 159), the J5 3.2 C ups the performance ante with modifications to the engine, suspension, exhaust system, upgraded wheels and tires, and improved aerodynamics through revised bumpers front and rear. The "C" designation stands for "Compressore": the supercharger is supplied by Rotrex (who also make the unit for the Koenigsegg CCX). The unique supercharged direct-injection 3.2-liter V6 produces 348 hp (an 88-hp boost over stock), driving through all fours to propel this beauty to sixty in a scant 5.3 seconds.

With Alfa Romeo poised to mount its new attack on the American market, we hope Autodelta makes the trip too.

(More pics and press release after the jump)

[Source: Autodelta via Italiaspeed]

Continue reading Autodelta Alfa Brera

Autodelta Alfa Brera originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spy Shots: Maserati GT Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Bellissima! Alfa Spider launch photos

Bellissima! Alfa Spider launch photos originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jun 2006 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Geneva Motor Show: Alfa Romeo Spider world premiere

Geneva Motor Show: Alfa Romeo Spider world premiere originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.