It’s only a matter of days before officially debuts the coupe on the internet. We’ve already seen of and a , and now our trusty spy photographers have caught the big Conti out testing one last time. So much for keeping us in suspense.
Yes, by now we already have a very good idea of what the final Continental GT will look like, but we’re still curious as to what changes lie under that shapely sheetmetal. What’s more, we’re sure that Bentley has a few tricks up its sleeve for new interior refinement (not that the current Conti has third-world accommodations, or anything).
is the place to be at 10:00 AM EST on Tuesday, September 7 – that’s where we’ll see the official reveal and get full details on the new Conti. For now, scroll through the final set of spy shots, below.
FireBreather Camaro – Click above for high-res image gallery
Hollywood movies are chock full of kick-ass superhero cars. There are radical vehicles, like the and , and then there are the gussied-up street cars like , Greased Lightning and Austin Powers’ . Aside from the extreme styling, most of the mechanized celebrities from Hollywood are only capable of conjuring their supernatural performance on-screen. Step aside Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and make room for .
Getting a jump on , a film due to be released next year by Exxodus Pictures, is introducing its own superhero car. Unlike the aforementioned movie props, relegated to static displays in museums or car shows, the satin-black hero in the upcoming supernatural thriller will make it into limited production and offer enough performance to back up its enhanced persona.
Autoblog caught up with the wickedly-styled Camaro coupe at the a couple weeks ago. While the venue is hardly an ideal setting for putting any car through its paces, there was plenty of time to take in the FireBreather aura and persuade its supercharged 600-horsepower engine to remove more than a few layers of rubber from the rear tires.
As expected, there were many questions in need of answering. How was it transformed? Who’s behind the styling and what’s the logic behind the name? Most importantly, what’s it like to drive this real-life superhero car? These answers and more, after the jump.
Jeep shows off Fiat-based CUV – Click above to watch video
There have been plenty of murmurings about how will impact the brand. Exactly how much platform sharing will occur between the Italian automaker and the Pentastar’s globe-roaming purveyor of SUVs has been a hot topic amongst the Jeep faithful for some time. Now it appears that a video posted on YouTube by user thejeepchannel has given the world its first glance at a new Fiat-based crossover set to wear the famous seven-slot grille. In the video, a Jeep intern learns a bit about the company’s design process, all while hovering around a clay model of one very CUV-looking creation.
Chrysler has made no qualms about the fact that it will produce an SUV on the , and has even made noise about which of the company’s manufacturing facilities will build the vehicle.
Our guess is that the clay model in the video is none other than that very high-rider. Judging by the clay, the CUV will wear a host of typical Jeep design cues, including squared-off fender arches and overhangs. to see for yourself.
California commuters will either celebrate or curse SB 535, a new law that extends hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles’ usage of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the Golden State.
Introduced by Sen. Leland Yee and signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the new law expands the ability for hybrid, electric and natural-gas powered vehicles fitted with the ubiquitous yellow bumper stickers to drive solo in the carpool lanes during designated hours. Additionally, it increases the number of permits to 40,000 and widens the eligible vehicles to include the plug-in hybrid and the EV.
Some lawmakers opposed the bill, citing that California’s carpool lanes are already congested with alt-fuel vehicles and additional permits will exacerbate the issue. And this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but sponsored the bill.
With the Paris Motor Show a mere month away, automakers from around the globe are unleashing a barrage of teasers and rumors that hint to what will be on display. According to Auto Express, is the latest company to let slip what it has planned. The murky report says the Leaping Cat will pull the covers off of an XK-sized sports car inspired by the Porsche 918. While that likely means the concept will boast a fantastical hybrid drivetrain with more torque than sense, it doesn’t mean that Tata is going to fast-track this car for production. Auto Express says the car is more to flex the company’s styling muscles than anything else.
While that means we likely won’t be seeing another sultry two-door in the Jaguar stable any time soon, the new concept will give us some insight into what’s coming down the pike in terms of Jaguar design. That may include some new, oblong grille language to replace the slinky oval of the E-Types of old. Supposedly the company’s designers are having a hard time maintaining the oval grille’s proportions on the company’s new widebody platforms.
Irv Gordon and his Volvo P1800 – Click above for high-res image gallery
While Irv Gordon is already retired, he’s taken to accruing miles on his already impressively well-traveled Volvo 1800 like it’s his job. It took a while to rack up the first million miles, but the second million came more quickly, rolling the odometer over in Times Square back in 2002. Now Gordon is headed for 3 million a mere eight years later. Only big rigs put on a million miles more quickly, and even that might be debatable.
“Who would have thought such a decision, to buy a Volvo, would have created so many opportunities?” Gordon tells Autoblog. Some of his favorite miles out of the 2.8 million currently showing on the odometer (he was at 2.6 million the ) were his first trip across the United States and a trip to Europe where the 1800 and its intrepid driver drove from the United Kingdom into Sweden to see the car’s original birthplace before rolling on to other continental hamlets and accruing 5,000 miles in a month.
Irv’s 70 years old now, and he wouldn’t mind selling his beloved red Volvo coupe. Asking price? “A dollar per mile,” says Gordon. Despite what Irv calls “some very interesting offers,” nobody has offered him his asking price. That’s okay with Gordon, who acknowledges that his Volvo is the star. “Once I sell the car, no one will invite me anywhere any longer,” he quips.
Should the right buyer for the trusty red 1800 come along, Gordon knows what he’ll do. “It’d be nice to have a car with all the new creature comforts to travel in, and who knows, should I live another 10-15 years, I could put a million miles on my next vehicle and start the cycle all over again.”
While unlikely, putting three million dollars in his bank account would make those long treks more comfortable, affording fine hotels and gourmet dining versus at times sleeping in the 1800 to save some bucks. Gordon’s not complaining, “I have indeed been a very fortunate fellow,” he says. You have to respect his commitment to the little Volvo coupe that was originally purchased as a refuge from a pair of demonically unreliable Chevrolets, too. A retirement lifestyle that would allow one to travel in style and worry less about finances is a nearly universal goal, too. Gordon’s got a leg up on all of us, having put in the seat time to earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records and turn a stolid, stylish Swede into a wheeled pension plan.
Ferrari 458 Italia – Click above for high-res image gallery
After a recent spate of engine fires, has officially issued a recall of the 458 Italia.
According to the automaker, an adhesive used to attach a heat shield under the rear fender can ignite under high temperatures, leading to a larger fire in the engine bay. We’ve seen at least four cases on the internet of flaming 458s like , and while we can’t say for certain, it would seem this adhesive is the likely cause.
Ferrari has designed a new heat shield that attaches with rivets, negating the need for the adhesive. Naturally, 458 owners are urged to call a dealer to schedule an appointment for the free fix.
RallyCar Rallycross at New Jersey Motorsports Park – Click above for high-res image gallery
took the top spot in the first-ever Rallycross competition in the United States this past weekend, piloting an all-wheel-drive Rockstar Engergy/Etnies .
Rallycross has existed around the world for years, but the sport officially , where it was called Super Rally. Foust just happened to win gold in the inaugural X Games competition, too. Rallycross mixes circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition on a short course, featuring jumps, hills, unbanked turns and quick transitions between different road surfaces. Two more Rallycross events are scheduled to take place this year, all of which will be held at .
Foust has been participating in European Rallycross events for quite some time, and he’s also gained exposure by competing in Formula Drift and previous X Games competitions. What’s more, Foust is one of the hosts for the . Somebody get this guy a vacation.
Look for the next U.S. Rallycross event to take place on October 2-3 and for the full release about Foust’s win along with a brief video of Tanner ripping down the front straight with his rear bumper flapping in the wind.
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[Source: Tanner Foust]
wins first RallyCar Rallycross event in U.S. [w/video]
It is only fitting that NASCAR has as history of cheating that’s as cunning and varied as the methods of the original, moonshine-running racers skirting the law. in the bending and breaking of NASCAR rules, which include a cheating incident and ejection in the very first series race in 1949, an inflated basketball to circumvent gas tank capacity and frame rails loaded with BBs to get around weight restrictions.
And although a stricter rule book and the Car of Tomorrow might make “rules violations” harder ever year, it certainly hasn’t stopped: a site that shows the series has docked five teams five teams already this year. Perhaps that’s because, as Darryl Waltrip said after getting busted in 1976, “If you don’t cheat, you look like an idiot.”
Ford Police Interceptor Utility – Click above for high-res image gallery
When took the wraps off of its -based earlier this year, we were told that a second, utility-oriented police pursuit vehicle would be coming down the pipeline. Enter the Police Interceptor Utility, based off the crossover. A -styled paddy wagon would have been cool, but the Explorer’s higher ground clearance makes it more versatile for law enforcement officials who require all-terrain capability.
Unlike the sedan, which will be available with two different powertrains, the Explorer Interceptor only comes with Ford’s 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6, delivering “at least 280″ horsepower and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations are available, and it appears that the Explorer’s terrain management system will not be offered on the Police Interceptor. The latest host of driver aids like curve control and Ford’s AdvanceTrac Roll Stability Control are standard on the Interceptor Utility, as are larger brakes, a tougher suspension and 18-inch steel wheels.
Inside, new seats have been fitted up front with reductions in side bolstering to accommodate an officer’s utility belt, and the gear shifter is now mounted on the column in order to provide space for computer equipment in the center console. Much like the Taurus Interceptor, Ford specifically designed the spacing between the seats to ensure that existing police equipment can be carried over to the new vehicles without issue. Things aren’t exactly luxurious in the rear seats (duh), but occupants out back do get their own climate control system (Ford says this is ideal for K9 units) as well as stab plates in the front seat backs to keep the driver and passenger safe.
Ford has also gone the extra step to rework some of the Explorer’s interior functions to better suit police needs. The steering wheel buttons, for example, are remappable and can be programmed to operate a host of auxiliary functions (lights, sirens, etc.). What’s more, Ford’s SYNC system is on hand and can be used to voice-activate the different police communication and audio equipment.
Don’t expect to see the Police Interceptor Utility out on the road until 2012 at the earliest. Ford says that production will begin in late 2011 alongside the sedan at the automaker’s Chicago assembly plant. For now, check out our high-res galleries of both live and official images, and follow the jump for the presser.
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Live photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL
When it comes to a German-American face-off, you could do a lot worse than . How much worse? How about a comparison test between a base and Ford’s turbocharged, torque-steering Focus RS.
Granted, the rationale for the shoot-out came down to cost. Across the pond both the Boxster and the Focus sticker for about the same amount. But that’s about where the similarities end. Almost.
While the Focus channels over 300 horsepower to the front wheels, it also tips the scales 3,200 pounds. Compared to the 2,900-pound, 255-hp, rear-driven Boxster, Ford’s hottest hatch comes off as rather portly, although both manage to run to 60 mph in under six seconds.
But beyond the stats and the all-too-important lap time, the real question is how best to spend your sports car money and which vehicle is the most entertaining to drive. For that, .
Donto Motors P1 – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’ve never heard of Argentina-based Donto Motors before, you’re not alone. However, just because this company has remained out of the spotlight doesn’t mean they don’t have big things in the works – how about a hardcore track day racer designed to compete with the likes of the and ? If it ever sees production, Donto Motors’ P1 should easily fit right in with these odd/awesome track toys.
The rear-mounted engine is a /-sourced 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 180 horsepower, and it looks like Donto took visual cues from Audi, as well. The front end’s large side vents are reminiscent of a that we’ve grown quite fond of, and the rest of the body work is made up of a split construction, in which it’s designed to look as if the body is floating on the FIA-approved chassis. The whole thing weighs just over 1,500 pounds, too, so we imagine that the end result will be a spirited little whip for track day fun.
Donto is hoping to keep the P1 priced around $55,000, and the United States is one of the countries that could receive the lightweight roadster if it goes into production. Emphasis on the word “if.” Head over to for more.
Straight from the “No Surprise” department comes word from GMInsideNews that all of mid-size offerings will come equipped with four-cylinder engines as the only available powerplant.
GM has made it clear for the last few years that a large part of its future product strategy is to downsize its engine line-up in preparation for the new 2015 CAFE standards. The shift has already begun with the introduction of the , available with either a 182-horsepower direct injected 2.4-liter or a turbocharged 2.0-liter putting out 220 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque.
The next model to go all-four-banger will be the next generation Chevrolet Malibu, slated to arrive late next year and likely packing – to begin with – the same 2.4-liter four. A range of direct injected engines, both naturally aspirated and turbocharged, are in the works, so the General won’t be hurting for options, but expect the V6 to stick around for GM’s larger offerings, including the next Impala.
That didn’t take long. As soon as the went live this afternoon we started hearing from multiple sources that did indeed preview a 599 “Roadster” in a few weeks ago and that the letter posted on is authentic. It shouldn’t be that surprising, after all, we did a predicting the unveiling a while back.
Apparently the invitees had to negotiate a tricky path after clearing a security gate to get to the venue. They all had to sign NDAs and their phones and cameras were confiscated. The car that was presented to them was a 599 convertible with a part-time fabric roof that included a removable glass panel for the back window. It was described as an occasional use roof, making this more of a barchetta than a spider in Ferrari parlance. Actually one person described it as nothing more than a piece of fabric that connected to both sides of the body. We’re thinking a -type arrangement.
This particular 599 roadster was rosso fuoco – a rare and expensive multi-layer red – and had silver buttresses. It also had a new wheel design. The best news about this new model was that the engine will come from the recently unveiled 599 GTO and that the convertible will weigh no more than the current 599 GTB coupe. It will be priced at a premium over the GTO and will be limited to just 100 units. There was no indication of what this new model will be called, but Barchetta and SuperAmerica were used on the 550 and 575 convertibles, so maybe one of those will be resurrected…or possibly another name from Ferrari’s past, like Monza. Sales were tentatively promised for Summer 2011.
A week from today, will take the wraps off the refreshed and restyled ahead of its public debut at the Paris Motor Show, and like other automakers trying to cut through the auto show cruft, Bentley is leveraging the power of the Interwebs to make the unveiling a unique experience.
Beginning at 10 AM EST on Tuesday, September 7, Bentley will host a continuous, week-long online showcase of the GT, allowing visitors to to take virtual tours in and around the new coupe, in addition to viewing a traditional “unveiling.”
To bone up before the big day, check out out below and check out and presser .
Toyota Verso-S – Click above for high-res image gallery
Small MPVs might not be the hottest commodities here in the United States, but these little functional wonders sell like hotcakes in other markets, especially Europe. To keep up with the growing segment, has given its Verso hatch a rather substantial makeover, and we’ll see the all-new Verso-S debut at the in just a few weeks.
Upon its launch in the UK in early 2011, the Verso-S will be the shortest B-segment MPV in Europe – the car is less than four meters (157 inches) long. It’s a sharp little hatch, too, looking like the lovechild of a and a , the latter of which supplies many of the visual cues seen here on the new Verso-S.
Toyota is still keeping quiet about the full specifications, but expect the floodgates to open at the end of September closer to the little MPV’s official debut. Read more in Toyota’s press release, after the jump.
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Chris, Sam, Alex and Dan convene for Episode #193 of the Autoblog Podcast. We cover the Ford Boss Mustang and Roush supercharger package, the latest Chevrolet Volt fuel economy dust-up, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, Mazda’s apparent new design language and the Lotus Evora S and Evora IPS. We finish it off by , that most summery of topics. It’s an a quick 51 minutes, See you next week!
Autoblog Podcast #193 – Hot Mustangs, Volt Mileage, 1 Series M, Mazda design and Lotus Evoras
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2011 Maybach Range – Click above for high-res image gallery
We’ve all but assumed was a goner. With the economic downturn and sales hovering around the 300-unit mark annually, ‘ rebadged uber-lux brand makes a hard business case for itself. However, Automobile reports that Maybach may be down, but it’s not out, and a range of new products are on the way.
With the due to be replaced in 2012, the range-topping Benz will offer up its revised platform for five new Maybach models. The standard 57 and 62 will benefit from upgraded sheet metal, interiors and electronics, while a CLS-like four-door “coupe” will be added to the line-up along with the oft-rumored long-wheelbase convertible – a sort of mash-up between the 62 Laundaulet and concept from 2007.
Despite M-B’s ongoing issues with CAFE standards, motivation will continue to be provided by the same 6.0-liter V12 powering current Maybachs, although horsepower is expected to rise, torque output could crest 850 pound-feet and Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic will be part of the package.
More intriguingly, Automobile says that with the new transmission, an electric motor could be fitted, boosting output by 20 hp and allowing the massive sled to drive in full electric mode for up to 10 miles. There’s also talk of a new nine-speed automatic transmission being fitted and fuel economy rising by around 25% – so figure around a 2-3 mpg improvement for both the 545-hp and 630-hp versions.
In order for Maybach to survive, it has to be more than just a reworked S-Class and to that end, an insider told Automobile that future models will be “jewels on wheels and at last worthy of the brand.” We shall see…
With the Paris Motor Show a mere month away, automakers from around the globe are unleashing a barrage of teasers and rumors that hint to what will be on display. According to Auto Express, is the latest company to let slip what it has planned. The murky report says the Leaping Cat will pull the covers off of an XK-sized sports car inspired by the 
