Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
The annual hot-hatch gathering at Lake Wörthersee has been packed so far with enticing show cars. Audi came with a , and Skoda rolled in with a . But you didn’t think the VW brand itself would let its sister companies have all the fun, now did you?
Of course not. So feast your eyes on the Golf R Cabriolet concept. The recipe is as simple as can be: take one Golf Cabrio, and one . Put ‘em in a blender to extract the best parts of both, and voilà! The fastest droptop VW ever.
Along with fitting the Golf R’s 265-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four, the show car’s suspension has been dropped by an inch and fitted with 19-inch alloys shrouding massive 17-inch brakes. The interior has likewise been upgraded to Golf R specifications, all decked out in blue and gray with piano black and carbon-fiber trim.
Like the production Golf R tin-top, VW says the Golf R Cabriolet concept can reach 62 mph in under six seconds and power on to a top speed of 155 mph.
While the car you see here is strictly for show for the time being, if public reaction among its most dedicated fans and customers at the Austrian lakeside expo proves sufficient, there’s no telling what might ensue. In the meantime, you can check out the trio of images in our high-resolution gallery below and the official press release .
Ford F-150 Ecoboost – Click above for high-res image gallery
hit a milestone with its pickup last month. According to PickupTrucks.com, the Blue Oval sold more trucks with V6 engines than V8 mills. Forty-one percent of F-150 sales left the lot with the company’s 3.5-liter Ecoboost six-pot under the hood. That number is up four percentage points compared to last month.
Additionally, the base, naturally-aspirated 3.7-liter V6 engine took home a 14 percent slice of the total mix, bringing the grand V6 total to 55 percent of all F-150 sales. The news comes as little surprise to anyone who’s spent time in the full-size truck.
The twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine provides more power and better fuel economy than the 5.0-liter V8 alternative. While it carries a $750 premium over the larger displacement engine, buyers are keenly aware of just how much a few extra mpgs can save at the pump. As PickupTrucks.com points out, fuel prices are currently a dollar higher right now than they were at the same point last year.
The Group’s annual -Treffen festival on the shores of Lake Wörthersee in Austria may be named for VW’s iconic tuned , but by now – in its 30th rendition – it’s turned into a multi-marque celebration of the hot hatch. Case in point: the unveiled there this year by . And now Skoda has joined in on the action with a hatch-based custom of its own.
To create the dramatic Fabia RS 2000 concept you see here, Skoda has taken its existing Fabia RS hot hatch, lopped off the roof and fitted a widebody kit housing 18-inch powder-coated alloys for a stance similar to its counterpart. The brightwork has also been blacked out, the open-air cabin fitted with four individual buckets with racing harnesses and carbon-fiber trim, and the hood louvered to vent the 200+hp 2.0-liter twin-turbo four.
All in all, a rather dramatic take on a bread-and-butter hatchback that blends the best of a road-going rally car with a four-door convertible. But while its occupants may enjoy the wind in their hair, the Wörthersee show stand is about probably as much daylight as this concept will ever see. Have a closer look in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.
Karen Mok finds love on Route 66 with the Cadillac SRX – Click above to watch video
Like just about every other automaker on the planet, is looking to stake out a larger claim of the Chinese automotive industry. Right now, that many in the U.S. see as being on equal ground.
Perhaps, then, Cadillac will look to try something new. In a new short film for the Chinese-market SRX, Cadillac attempts to bridge East with West via Route 66. The ad shows actress and singer-songwriter Karen Mok taking on Will Rogers Highway with a male friend. The Mother Road calls, romance blooms and the is the tool that unites the pair. to view the spot.
Jeri Ellsworth on building a race car – Click above to view video
Jeri Ellsworth is a certified renaissance woman. A high school and college dropout, she’s a self-taught computer programmer and an ace welder and circle track race car builder. She has also started her own race car building business while her peers were at prom and went on to open a chain of computer shops.
More recently, Ellsworth has taken to YouTube to show aspiring NASCAR-types how a street stock racer should be built. Ellsworth is extremely careful and meticulous, knocking out some seriously pretty welds on her way to completing a 1981 racer.
Her work (and plumber’s crack), looks to be enough to impress embarrass all of her male peers, both in the garage and on the race track. To check out Ellsworth’s skill, hit up the video . It’s the first in a series, so if you like what you see, we urge to watch ‘em all.
Mercedes-Benz finally intends for the coupe body to play a much more serious role in its C-Class lineup, despite the next-gen C-Class lurking only a couple of years away.
Subaru is reportedly planning on a longer-than-average lifecycle for the coupe, with multiple packages popping up down the line to keep the car fresh… including an STI model.
Overall, auto sales were down a bit in May, though there certainly were a few bright spots in the industry.
Also of interest:
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2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S China Edition – Click above to enlarge image
To celebrate its tenth anniversary in the ever-hungry, ever-growing Chinese market, is unleashing a special edition version of its . The car comes with the Turbo S’ 530-horsepower, twin-turbo flat-six, mated to Porsche’s PDK sequential gearbox.
Rather than go crazy with mechanical mods, Porsche is sticking with an appearance package for the commemorative . Outside, there’s special Gold Bronze Metallic paint set off with flat black and carbon fiber accents. The car rides on sexy black 19-inch Fuchs-style alloys borrowed from the .
Inside, customers get a gold commemorative plaque, and all the Alcantara you could ever want. Porsche sets off the acres of black fabric with contrasting gold stitching.
If you want one, you’re pretty much out of luck. Porsche is only going to build 10 examples, and they’re all going to China.
KISS and Mini create custom Countryman models for charity – Click above for high-res image gallery
Ready for your garage to rock and roll all night and party every day? Break out your checkbook. has teamed up with legendary rock group KISS to create a quartet of customized crossovers for charity. , , and have applied their trademark style to the exterior of four examples of the 2011 Mini Countryman.
The vehicles, which debuted at the New York Auto Show, each have their own auction listing on eBay Motors, and the proceeds from these auctions will be donated to UNICEF. The organization is working hard to raise money for children affected by the recent disasters in Japan.
These customized CountrymenCountrymanscars aren’t wearing decals. Each vehicle was hand painted by a group of BMW employees who provided the artwork while off the clock. The four vehicles have been named after the members of KISS they mimic; , , and .
The full press release is located after the jump, and you can check out all four Mini Countryman custom cars in the gallery below.
Overall, auto sales were down a bit in May, though there certainly were a few bright spots in the industry. For instance, the Chrysler Group, which consists of , and vehicles, posted a 10-percent sales gain for the month when compared to the same period a year ago, led by strong sales of its Jeep brand. sales were up 192 percent, while the (up 92 percent) and (up 80 percent) also made big gains.
The star of the Chrysler show, however, is undoubtedly the . Sales of the reborn ‘ute shot up 217,800 percent… though that’s not terribly enlightening since Dodge only sold two Durangos in May of 2010.
Chrysler’s strong sales, combined with an extremely poor showing (albeit not entirely its own fault) from allowed the Pentastar brand to slip into the number three sales spot behind and .
The Korean conglomerate of and similarly performed very well, knocking out of the fourth spot. , however, fell short by less than a thousand units.
sales are hitting their stride as well, with the new (16,671) leading the way.
Japanese brands took the brunt of the sales hit in May, due in large part to fallout from the earthquake and tsunami that hit the island nation hard in March. Of the three major Japanese automakers, Toyota was hit the hardest, down over 30 percent. , Toyota’s luxury brand, fared ever worse, down nearly 45 percent from May of last year.
Fuel efficiency continues to sell cars like the (22,303), (22,711) and (20,006). What’s more, Eco editions accounted for about 15 percent of all Cruze sales, and Volkswagen reports that its TDI diesels managed to snag 22.2 percent of its share.
And finally, the earned 13,318 sales, its highest tally in nearly four years, proving what a genuinely good redesign can do for a neglected nameplate.
*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 24 selling days in May 2011 versus 26 selling days in May 2010, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.
Mosler MT900 GTR XX – Click above for high-res image gallery
Ever since Steven Spielberg brought the fiercest of dinosaurs to the silver screen in Jurassic Park, the name Raptor has come to symbolize the most ferocious of creations, from fighter jets and birds of prey to , and even an NBA basketball team. That last example might not exactly live up to the name, but the next supercar from Mosler looks like it very much will.
The niche automaking Floridian known for its racing cars detuned for road use is reportedly working on a new model that will pack a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 650 horsepower, but less than 2,000 lbs to schlepp around. That stratospheric power-to-weight ratio promises blistering performance, particularly when you consider that its previous creations, like the MT900 GTR XX pictured above or the 550-hp Photon just tested by Automobile Magazine – are already faster than most everything else on the road. Couple that with fresh styling to upgrade on the existing model’s dated curves and Mosler (and its clients) could have a real winner on their hands.
There’s no question that needs to sell more cars if it is to survive in an industry rapidly centralizing into major groups. But when CEO Dany Bahar talks about looking for new buyers, he’s not talking about selling cars. He’s talking about selling the company itself.
Of course, Lotus is not Bahar’s to sell, strictly speaking. The company belongs to Proton. But the Malaysian state automaker may not have the necessary resources to provide Lotus with the synergies and shared development which Bahar identifies as crucial to Lotus’ future success.
A new report from Inside Line quotes Bahar as saying that Lotus may need to partner with a larger automaker in order to develop into a serious player in the sportscar business. All eyes are on , the Japanese automaker whose engines and other components Lotus currently uses.
The partnership could emerge as something akin to what is fostering with – that is to say, some sort of an alliance that does not involve selling the company – or could result in the brand being sold, lock stock and barrel, to the auto giant. One way or another, Lotus probably can’t go it alone.
2011Toyota Matrix – Click above for high-res image gallery
may not invest in a next-generation version of the company’s when the arrives. According to Ward’s Auto, the hatchback’s sales have fallen off of a cliff, with just 14,592 deliveries last year. That’s down from a height of 66,836 units in 2002. But that’s just here in the typically hatch-averse United States. In Canada, the Matrix is still kicking in teeth, though the Corolla still outsells its long-roof twin by more than twice the volume.
While there’s been some speculation that the upcoming compact Prius variant will supplant the Matrix in the Toyota family tree, Bob Carter, Toyota’s Group Vice President and General Manager, says that the two vehicles are expected to appeal to vastly different audiences.
Still, we have to think that Toyota would be wise to invest a little coin in the aging Matrix when the Corolla gets a revamp in a few years. American buyers seem to be slowly warming to the idea of hatches and wagons, and competitors from to are all offering five-door variants. As Ward’s Auto points out, 43 percent of sales have been hatchbacks to date.
2012 Jaguar XJ – Click above for high-res image gallery
An automaker can’t make it in the fringe anymore. Everything’s going either upmarket or mainstream, and has opted primarily for the latter. The company that not so long ago offered essentially one sedan and one two-door is rapidly expanding to a full lineup. So what’s the next step? According to the rumormeisters over at Autocar, it’s ditching its current model naming strategy.
According to the UK publication, Jaguar is preparing to jettison nameplates like and in favor of a more conventional alphanumeric system like those employed by its German and Japanese rivals. The thinking is that while the faithful know Coventry’s naming system, it’s not immediately evident to newcomers and outsiders where one model sits in the line-up vis-a-vis the next. Besides, it won’t be the first time Jag has slapped alphanumeric badges like XJ8 on the flanks of its cars.
One model could possibly hold out, though, as the heads down the road to production. Filling the shoes of the iconic XJ220, the company is reportedly toying with the idea of naming the new supercar XJ330. The original was named for the 220 mph top speed it was aimed to reach (but never did), and the new model is targeted to hit a more realistic 205 mph – or 330 km/h on the metric scale.
2011 Toyota Tundra – Click above for high-res image gallery
The product development cycle at can be frustrating. More specifically, the process can be frustrating for North American executives who don’t have total control over vehicles specifically marketed to their country. Engineers, developers and executives all have a say, but the final decisions have been made in Japan. Until now.
According to a report from Automotive News, Toyota has changed its product development process for North American vehicles. An example of such a vehicle is the Toyota Tundra. That pickup caters to the desires and needs of the U.S. car-buying public, and now Toyota USA will be given the leeway needed to make sure it meets those desires and needs.
The Japanese automaker says it has always listened to its U.S. counterparts. However, the process was stifled due to the requirement that decisions be finalized in Japan. Now, this process can flow more freely. Expect to see the effects of this change beginning with the next generation of the Tundra.
Subaru Coupe spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery
Automotive News has dug up a few details on the sports coupe co-developed with . The production version of the two-door is set for an official unveil at the Tokyo Motor Show this December, and when it bows, AN expects it to show up without the company’s trademark all-wheel drive system or a turbocharger. That sound? It’s the lonesome wail of a sad trombone.
The good news is that Subaru is reportedly planning on a longer-than-average lifecycle for the coupe, with multiple packages popping up down the line to keep the car fresh. Those include an STI model, and while those three letters typically signify forced induction, Automotive News suggests that’s not the case for this vehicle. According to their sources at Subaru, the Subiyota was always intended to be all naturally aspirated, all the time. Curiously, Autoblog’s own well-placed sources assure us that isn’t the case, suggesting that turbo power is still very much in the car’s future.
Even with a 2.0-liter, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder behind the headlights, the Subaru coupe should be a blast to fling. The company’s engineers have positioned the engine five inches lower in the chassis compared to the Impreza, which should translate into a better center of gravity and improved handling dynamics. Here’s hoping that all-wheel drive shows up before long.
Even amidst the disastrous situation on their island nation, the Japanese are showing no signs of slowing down. At least, not when it comes to its supercars. was to be forging ahead with on-again, off-again plans to resurrect its NSX supercar, is hard at work on the and now is said to be working on a new version of the .
While the handle being used in the interim might suggest a completely new successor, rumor has it that an LFA II is being developed as a variant of the existing model. Following in the footsteps of the above-pictured Nürburgring package, Japan’s Best Car says that the so-called LFA II is expected to push the performance envelope even further. Just what that will entail – or for that matter, if it will come to fruition at all – remains to be seen, but if there’s any truth to the reports, we certainly applaud the company’s spirit.
Car Entry: Advanced Class – Click above to watch video
You open the door, sit down and go on your way. You’re boring… at least compared to one Caribbean man. He makes getting into his too fast, too furious island cruiser more of an art form.
Based on the car’s license plate, we’re going to guess this video was taken on the island of Montserrat (feel free to prove us wrong in Comments*), and we hope this passenger’s better-than-the-Duke-Boys entry method (he doesn’t even spill his drink!) provides 10 seconds of happiness and inspiration as you trudge through yet another workday.
to watch one man enter his car like a boss.
*Seems like some folks are saying this is Barbados, thanks for the tips!
2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
For those that remember it, the , built on last-generation C-class bits and pieces, was rather embarrassing for . It was a dumpy thing, but at least Daimler was smart enough to not even attempt selling it in the States.
Thankfully, the decidedly easier-on-the-eyes C204 C-Class Coupe has just arrived, and we’re getting this hot toddy. So what took Stuttgart so long to bring us this no-brainer variant of the C-Class? Were they worried about coupe clutter between the CLC- and ? Too many two-doors, too soon? Funnily, we asked, and all we heard back were sheepish “We were waiting for the mothership to come around and give us the go-ahead for this car” comments.
It’s that time of year again, kids. There are no auto shows on the horizon and most automakers have squirreled away all of their big announcements for later in the year in anticipation of the summer vacation season. What’s an enterprising auto journo to do but rustle up some tasty vintage rumors for the web to feast upon? The crew at Motor Authority has taken to citing unnamed sources as saying that a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine is slated to find its way into the engine bay of the .
This, of course, recalls the much-celebrated (but slow-selling) Mustang SVO of the ’80s. It, too, rocked a 2.3-liter forced-induction engine, which makes this particular rumor sound so sweet it makes sugar taste just like salt. MA doesn’t stop with the four-pot, though. The article goes on to say that an EcoBoost V6 will also show up in the pony car around the same time, and that the 5.0-liter V8 currently tucked behind the coupe’s grill will also stay along for the ride.
We hate to be the Debbie Downers of the interwebs, but we don’t necessarily see a turbo four sliding into the Mustang lineup anytime soon. For starters, Ford wouldn’t need to bore out the block to 2.3 liters to make solid power. The EcoBoost 2.0 already spits out 247 horsepower in the – more than enough for a bottom-rung model.
Aside from that little tidbit, MA maintains that the rumored small 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 will power the also oft-rumored next-gen successor in the States, a model we believe to be deader than the current news cycle.
2012 Fiat 500c – Click above for high-res image gallery
dealerships aren’t popping up quite as quickly as the original plans showed they would, but the retail outlets could get a push now that the automaker is looking outside of the family. Automotive News reports that Fiat is now offering franchises to non-Chrysler dealers for the first time. There are currently 59 Fiat dealers nationwide, and the automaker plans to open 130 stores by the end of 2011
At one point, there were reportedly 130 Chrysler dealers that had been approved for a Fiat store, but many deals fell through for various reasons. A Chrysler spokesperson tells AN that letters of intent have already been sent out to seven non-Chrysler dealers.
While opening up the franchising process will likely speed up the pace of adding Fiat stores to the U.S., there are still many hurdles for the Italian make. For starters, the is currently the only Fiat available in the U.S., and it could sit alone on the show floor for at least another year. And so far, Fiat has insisted that new franchises will only be awarded to those with plans to build a standalone store.
Though it doesn’t sound like a great situation to us, we’re guessing there are at least 71 more entrepreneurs willing to sign on the dotted line to gain another foothold in the car business.
Overall, auto sales were down a bit in May, though there certainly were a few bright spots in the industry. For instance, the Chrysler Group, which consists of , and vehicles, posted a 10-percent sales gain for the month when compared to the same period a year ago, led by strong sales of its Jeep brand. sales were up 192 percent, while the (up 92 percent) and (up 80 percent) also made big gains.
