On or off the track, Roger Penske is a force to be reckoned with. His team has taken the victory lap 15 times at the Indianapolis 500 and his business ventures have made him one of America’s richest and most powerful entrepreneurs.
Sure, the dapper, silver-haired septuagenarian has had his failures, but they’re few and far between – so it came as a stunning surprise when word came that, just days after officials from the expressed their commitment to stand by the struggling , they were by Daimler AG, which produces the minicar brand.
Apparently, the person most surprised may have been Roger Penske himself, as all indications suggest he may have been blindsided by the decision to pull the Smart franchise.
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Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of , and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.
Mazda Miata suspension – Click above to watch the video
…If this video captures your attention to the end. This unusually captivating video comes to us from an Autoblog reader, who identifies the mystery car as a .
The video is shot from an unlikely, but ultimately cool angle, capturing just how hard the suspension has to work to keep everything pointed straight. Keeping tabs on your suspension is just another way of figuring out what minor tweaks you need to shave precious time of your runs.
to watch the 57-second video in its entirety. Trust us, you’ll want to. Thanks for the tip, Tyler!
Motocross, rally and extreme sports superstar recently made his NASCAR debut, taking the wheel in Irwindale, California in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series race. In his debut, the fountain-leaping X-Games champ finished a none-too-shabby sixth place overall.
His second race was Thursday, February 24th at Phoenix International Raceway, and this time, however, he didn’t fare so well. Pastrana was running in the top 10 when he crashed his number 99 , falling back a few positions, but staying in the top 15.
Pastrana then wrecked again with three laps to go, and ended up finishing three laps down in 25th. Pastrana hopes to make his next-level Nationwide Series debut next season, but by the looks of things, he’s much closer to leaping the fountain at Caesar’s Palace than he is to Victory Lane.
The is selling like hotcakes here in the States, with sales of the new crossover up 130 percent in January. hopes the Grand Cherokee will find similar success overseas, with Automotive News reporting that the automaker is hoping the new Jeep will help boost sales by 21 percent in Japan.
By the numbers, this means that Chrysler is counting on the Grand Cherokee to bump sales up from 2,350 units in 2010 to something closer to 3,000 in 2011, with the Jeep accounting for anywhere between 500 and 1,000 of those transactions. That’s only a few days worth of sales here in the United States, but considering the fact that Jeep sold only 88 units in all of 2009 in Japan, being able to move 1,000 units is indeed a big step forward.
We can see how Japanese car buyers would be interested in the Grand Cherokee, but the attractive and capable ‘ute isn’t the most popular vehicle in Japan. That honor goes to the , with 760 sales in 2010.
boss Dr. Ulrich Bez let the cat out of the bag this week, revealing that the automaker is seriously contemplating bringing back the straight-six engine. Up through the most recent DB7, Aston’s silky inline-sixes defined the brand.
According to Bez, if Aston decides to go back to its old standby, the engine would likely be a 2.5-liter unit sporting direct injection and a turbocharger. Dr. Bez’s thoughts have turned to engines since Aston’s universal VH platform won’t need updating for a few more years. According to Bez, getting a six-pot in the current architecture won’t be an issue, since V12s already slide in nicely.
We wouldn’t look for a six-cylinder Aston for at least another five years, but the idea of a turbocharged, six-cylinder -style baby Aston does pique our interest.
Mini Rocketman Concept detailed from all angles – Click above to watch the videos
The is set to make its debut at the , and we’re eager to get a look at this funky thing the flesh. Until that happens, we’ll have to be content with the slew of views has provided.
Ready for your viewing pleasure are videos of b-roll footage, exterior and interior walkarounds and a clip showing the action of the cool dual-hinged doors. Additionally, Anders Warming, head of Mini design, stepped in to provide some insight into the development of the Rocketman concept. If you’re hungry for Rocketman information, this plethora of video footage will indeed satiate you.
It looks like isn’t wasting any time when it comes to capitalizing on the company’s latest . According to Cars UK, the automaker is planning to roll out 100 special-edition models to commemorate Juha Kankkunen’s recent record-breaking ice-speed run. Officially called the Bentley Continental Supersports Ice-Speed Record Convertible, the special-edition cars will be available with one of three unique paint colors; Beluga, Quartzite and Arctic White. Red detail accents will be found all over the vehicle, and a special dark gray soft top caps off the whole shebang.
Under the hood, buyers won’t be disappointed to find a 6.0-liter W12 engine with a galactic 631 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque on tap. Those numbers are identical to the standard edition, though given that Kankkunen’s record-breaking vehicle was powered by the same lump, we can’t exactly fault Bently for not turning up the heat.
Bentley isn’t saying exactly how much the new special-edition vehicle will set you back, but we do know that the drophead is supposed to show its face at this year’s Geneva Motor Show next month. Expect to hear more then.
According to The Detroit News, the United States Treasury Department is planning on quickly eliminating its shares of stock rather than trying to maximize the government’s return on its investment. The news comes from Austan Goolsbee, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, who said that the government is interested in quickly shedding its 33 percent stake in the automaker due to the fact that it never wanted to be a shareholder in the automaker to begin with. The Detroit News reports that if the Treasury Department decided to sell its stake in GM at its current trading price, the government would lose something on the order of $10 billion.
That’s out of the $49.5 billion bailout that GM received from the government.
GM shares are currently trading at their lowest levels since the company went public, thanks largely to an overall market dip. The drop came even with GM reporting its first profit since 2004.
The Detroit News reports that so far, the federal government has reclaimed $23.1 billion of its investment in GM, and that in order to recuperate the $26.4 billion, GM stock would need to trade at $53 per share. The company is trading at $33.02 at the time of this writing.
TechArt Magnum Porsche Cayenne Turbo – Click above for high-res image gallery
TechArt continues to assault the senses, producing cars capable of violent bursts of speed and sound. But at the same time, its creations either cause your eyes to sparkle with lust or bleed from hate, and this, the TechArt is… stomachable at best.
The only thing helping us keep our breakfast down are the power numbers. Thanks to TechArt’s TA 058/T1 Power Kit, output on the Cayenne has been raised from 500 horsepower up to 560 hp and torque climbs up from 516 pound-feet to 575 lb-ft. That might be enough oomph to outrun a BMW X5 M, but even so, you can’t outrun ugly.
The TechArt Magnum will debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. for the company’s official press blast.
Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback – Click above for high-res image gallery
Meet the Hatchback. This five-door Cruze will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, which officially kicks off on Tuesday, March 1st. The that generated excitement at last year’s Paris Motor Show is the inspiration for this production model, which has a sloping roofline that’s more sleek than geek. Cargo space is improved, of course, and doubly weep-inducing for North American hatchback fans, this one will only be available in Europe, with a delicious 161-horsepower diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission available.
The Cruze Hatchback will be in UK Chevrolet showrooms next to the latest , and models starting in the summer. With the Cruze recently winning the and the , there’s a possibility that a Cruze Hatchback could be campaigned in motorsport, as well. Check the press release for the official Chevy announcement.
The NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone. As usual, the big story from basketball’s all-star break comes from the dunk contest. Depending on who you talk to, it was either a showcase of creative new stuff or an overload of weak-sauce prop dunks. Regardless, is surely thrilled with the attention it’s own all-star Optima received. In fact, the automaker is so thrilled that footage of the dunk will be used in an upcoming commercial.
For those readers not following the NBA, Blake Griffin, LA Clipper and jumper extraordinaire, pulled a on to the court for his final dunk. Hiding in the cabin was Baron Davis, who provided an alley-oop pass through the open sunroof. Griffin lept over the hood, caught the ball and brought the already-standing crowd to a new level of excitement.
Upon intial viewing of the dunk, it seemed pretty amazing. However, upon subsequent review, we find the dunk to be fairly tame. We have a clip of the dunk for you to examine ; sound off on its merits in the Comments.
Despite the rise of the crossover, there’s still a market for traditoinal SUVs. Moreover, some buyers don’t want to sacrifice luxury to get the capability that a full-frame, truck-based sport utility offers. makes the for consumers who want a blend of opulence and a sure-footed, full-frame, locking-transfer-case 4×4 architecture that’s not afraid to pull a substantial trailer and won’t roar loudly enough to cause permanent hearing damage.
While the grabs the hearts of buyers looking for an L-Finesse crossover, the GX 460 is an alternative choice if you’re considering an or , the most direct competitors in terms of architecture and market segment. Taking price and mission into account, a disparate field of rivals ranges from the and to the GMC Yukon Denali or even the Ford Expedition King Ranch. The GX 460s footprint and price puts it in between larger crossovers and even bigger SUVs, perhaps an awkward place to be, but sales goals are modest.
So does the GX 460’s tinge of uniqueness help it stand out from the herd? Have the changes made since been effective?
2012 Ford Focus – Click above for high-res image gallery
has confirmed that the achieves an EPA-rated 40 miles per gallon on the highway, besting many of the competitors in its class. Only the and manage to reach the much-heralded 40-mpg mark. The Focus is also rated at 28 mpg in the city.
Not to rain on Ford’s parade here, but we must make something perfectly clear: The 40-mpg rating only applies to the Focus SE sedan with SFE (super fuel economy) package and the six-speed automatic transmission. In order to achieve 40 mpg, the SFE package adds unique 16-inch steel wheels with aero-enhanced wheel covers, active grille shutters, a rear spoiler and high-efficiency tires.
That might not seem like a big deal, especially when a car as stylish and well-built as the Focus puts down 40 mpg highway. However, we can’t overlook the fact that Hyundai’s Elantra nets that 40-mpg figure on all models with either transmission, and if you spec a Cruze Eco with a manual box, you’ll be running at 42 mpg on the highway.
In any case, by adding the 2012 Focus SE SFE to its portfolio, Ford is only further expanding its lineup of vehicles that achieve 40 mpg or better. for the official press release.
1955 Jaguar XKD – Click above for high-res image gallery
The public is getting a chance to slather its eyeballs all over a few choice gems from fashion designer Ralph Lauren’s personal automotive collection. The Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris is planning to exhibit some of the more shining examples of automotive history and design from the Lauren collection from April 28 to August 28, and the crew over at Luxist have managed to get a sneak peek at what exactly will be on display. Visitors to the museum can look forward to seeing a quartet of luscious metal that includes a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, a 1960 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti, a 1956/1958 XKS and a 1931 Alfa Romeo Monza 8C 2300.
Deep breath.
In addition to those lovely ladies, a total of 13 other Lauren vehicles will be on display as a part of the exhibit, titled The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection. Those include two of the world’s most expensive vehicles: a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and a 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coupe. Both of those pieces are worth an estimated $30-$40 million each.
Ferrari FF in snow, sand and rain – Click above to
“ urges you to obey all traffic signs and laws” says the disclaimer at the end of this three-and-a-half-minute video used as part of the recent for the Ferrari FF. For the internet coming-out of the FF, Ferrari showed off its capabilities with a video of the car being driven in a manner that no one in their right mind would ever attempt (check it out ). We’ll get to see the FF in the metal ourselves when it makes its show-stand debut at the Geneva Motor Show next Tuesday.
Ferrari also shared some important numbers about the FF with the assembled crowd and internet viewers. The first number is 660, the horsepower developed by the direct-injected V12. 3.7 is the number of seconds that elapse between 0 and 62 miles per hour, and four carries a double meaning with the FF, denoting the number of seating positions and driven wheels. It’s not just a Rosso Corsa haze, either. Ferrari underscores its commitment to reducing fuel consumption by revealing the FF’s 360 g/km CO2 emissions figure, which is 25-percent lower than the previous V12 used in the automaker’s .
The FF is a Ferrari that’s intent on changing things, from its breadvan looks to its all-terrain floggability. It also makes one heck of a video star, and we encourage you to check it out .
Mini Cooper S Turbine – Click above to watch the video
Every once in a while, a car comes along that really gives us pause. This is one of those times. On the one hand, a jet-powered anything is cool. On the other, this is a that utlizes its original, turbocharged inline-four and an old /Allison 250-C20B helicopter turbine to make a combined 650 horsepower that can’t dust a on the drag strip. It seems a little… anti-climactic.
Still, we must tip our hat to the Floridian hoon who ordered up this beastly Mini Cooper S from BMP Design out of Tyler, Texas. His heart is in the right place, and he’s sure to surprise anyone he lines up next to.
We’re especially fond of the custom-made roof, which is designed to let the turbines burp their fiery exhaust without roasting the fool sitting behind you in traffic. The throttle for the twin jets, which require their own separate fuel tank, is a handle next to the driver’s seat – a feature lifted directly from the chopper the engines were born in.
Regardless of our misgivings about the this jet-propelled bomb is based on, hoonage on this level deserves some serious credit. Check out the videos , and try not to mind the lame soundtrack.
Xander Walker turns Ayrton Senna’s McLaren into Street Art – Click above for high-res image gallery
In the film ““, we get an inside look at the world of street art as told to us by and Thierry Guetta (aka Mr. Brainwash or MBW). This film has received rave reviews and is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It also serves as the inspiration for Xander Walker’s Straßenversion (street version) art work.
Mr. Walker combines graffiti art with his love for motorsports. The result is affordable street art depicting vehicles that hold a special place in the heart of many racing enthusiasts. We’ll let Xander explain how he does it:
Creating the stencils themselves can take a few hours. after that I spray paint the different layers onto 50lb acid free paper (14 x 17″). I paint them in my garage allowing about 15 minutes for the paint to dry before painting the next layer.
I started making these in late November. I have long been a fan of street art, and the idea came to me after a long McLaren MP4/4 photo and info Internet binge which coincided with my seeing the film “Exit Through the Gift Shop”. I initially thought they would look great painted around parking lots of race tracks around the world. I made a stencil and tried out a test print on paper. I thought it looked good, and I put it up for sale at a low price just to see what would happen. Someone bought one almost immediately.
Street art and is inherently anti establishment. Auto racing to me is also inherently anti establishment. People get killed, and it can be a generally wayward, thrill seeking lifestyle. I find the stencil medium to be well suited to capturing the ‘outlaw’ spirit of Ayrton Senna and motorsport in general.
The pieces range from $25 up to $50, and each is a hand-signed, limited-edition example. You can check out the rest of , and view high-res images in the gallery below. We’ll be sure to save some of these for Autoblog’s 2012 Holiday Gift Guide…
The good people of Road & Track have gone through the trouble of rendering the next-generation for everyone’s viewing pleasure, and if their take on the vehicle is anything close to the mark, we can expect a much more streamlined appearance from the sports car in the near future. In addition to the more aerodynamic look, R&T reports that may equip the future Z with a hybrid drivetrain to both increase performance and reduce fuel consumption at the same time. A battery pack would also go a long way toward curbing the vehicle’s emissions.
If the engineers behind the 2013 Z decide to go that route, R&T says that we can likely expect to see the same running gear under the hood as currently found in the . That means a 3.5-liter V6 working in concert with an electric motor to produce a combined 360 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. That line of thought is bolstered by rumor of a hybrid-drivetrain Z test mule buzzing around the U.S. at the moment, and in that configuration, the publication says that the Z should be good for close to 30 mpg. We’re guessing it won’t have any trouble getting out of its own way, either.
When an automaker wants a flagship halo model, what form does it usually take? A sportscar or a luxury sedan most of the time. But Peugeot is planning neither. For its new flagship, the French automaker is reportedly going with a crossover.
Based on the existing SW (pictured above), the new top-of-the-line Peugeot would follow a similar formula to the Allroad Quattro. That would mean taller form, with raised ride height and a proportion of fresh bodywork to differentiate it from the rest of the 508 range, which itself replaced both the 407 and 607 sedans, leaving room for the range to grow up-market.
The as-yet unnamed model would likely, according to reports, employ the company’s Hybrid4 diesel-electric through-the-road all-wheel-drive powertrain that mates a 163-horsepower 2.0-liter turbodiesel with a 37-hp electric motor.
2012 Daihatsu Charade – Click above for high-res image
Buyers in Europe who can’t stand the thought of going on without the current generation need not fret. According to AutoEvolution, the vehicle will soldier on under the Daihatsu banner. While has made it clear that the vehicle is being replaced with a next-generation interpretation, Daihatsu will continue to sell the Yaris under the Charade banner.
The jokes almost write themselves.
Don’t expect to see the full Yaris family cruising the streets of Stuttgart, though. Daihatsu only plans to offer the vehicle in five-door configuration, though there will be two trim levels to pick from. A 99-horsepower 1.3-liter gasoline engine will be the only available power plant, though the company will offer either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The news comes after Daihatsu announced that the company was retreating from the European auto market in 2013. Despite this fact, the automaker says that it plans on working toward the success of the brand with products like the Charade. The vehicle is set to touch down in May of this year.
Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of , and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.
