2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 – Click above for high-res image gallery
has yet to announce production numbers for the , but you can bet that the car will be in high demand no matter how many are produced. The automaker has declared its new special edition Pony Car as the best-handling ever built, and fully expects its loyal customers to be eagerly awaiting the car’s arrival next year.
With that in mind, Ford is being very particular about how many Boss 302s each of its dealerships will get, and in many cases, a dealer might not receive any inventory at all. According to , the allocation of cars will be decided in two ways. First, the large-volume dealers that make up 75 percent of sales will receive 75 percent of the Boss 302 allocation. The actual number of cars each dealership receives will depend on the last 12 months of sales ending in September of 2010, although each dealer is guaranteed at least one Boss 302. The distribution of the remaining 25 percent will be determined via a lottery, with each of the remaining dealers receiving one chip simply for being a dealer, and an additional chip for every Mustang it has sold within the last 12 months. Each of these dealers will not receive more than one Boss 302.
So what does this mean for those interested in buying a 2012 Mustang Boss 302? The likely outcome is that dealers will try and make the most of the limited supply and slap on outrageous “market adjustments” to the price tag. Just like with the in 2007, customers should expect to pay a premium for the most desirable ‘Stang on the market.
It’s time for and to get excited – the is one-step closer to being in your driveway. If you head over to , you can play with their online configurator and create the new WRX that appeals to you.
Available as a sedan or five-door hatchback, the Impreza WRX is offered with either six or seven colors to choose from. This is dependent on which engine you want under the hood. The 265-horsepower WRX gets the standard set of color options while the 305-hp gets more than a power boost – you can also add Plasma Blue Pearl to the available palette.
Our virtual 2011Subaru Impreza WRX STI wears Obsidian Black Pearl and is going to cost us $39,130 (we know, we know – it ). There are plenty of ways to make that dollar figure go way up or way down, so . Thanks for the tip, Peter!
Nissan Leaf “Polar Bear” spot – Click above to watch video
As subtle as a box of hammers to the face, global warming’s most iconic animal has taken a starring role in the latest advertisement for the . Called, simply, “Polar Bear,” the one-minute spot follows a polar bear on a trek from watching glaciers calve into the sea down south through a city and into a residential neighborhood to find a man about to start his commute. Then, well, you’ll see. Check it out
.
For comparison, we’ve also pasted ’s ad from June about the “New Car,” which highlights the changes the Leaf will bring to the industry, below. This ad shows off the ways the Leaf is different from othercars, including the tidbit that it will be made of at least 30 percent post-consumer material. While “New Car” is all about smartphones and batteries and other tech, the polar bear ad is all emotion. Still, the new spot does miss a chance to show the driver unplugging the Leaf before getting in, which would help get a little bit of that “new car” messaging across. Watch both .
Premium hatchbacks are all the rage these days. But in case the diminutive city cars weren’t fashionable enough already, their manufacturers have teamed up with an endless array of fashion houses to create even more stylish versions. Previous examples have included the , the and the successive annual Lifeball edition Minis created by the likes of , Versace and .
Citroën, for its part, recently for a special one such collaboration, and having already launched the , the French automaker has now brought Japanese fashion house Kenzo on board for another.
The Citroën DS3 by Kenzo features a unique multicolor retro pattern on both the roof and the interior upholstery, giving the stylish micro-hatch a distinctive design flourish. For better or worse, though, the Kenzo edition DS3 remains a unique one-off for the time being.
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It’s Episode #194 of the Autoblog Podcast, and Chris, Sam and Dan talk about the 2011 Bentley Continental, what Lamborghini has in store for the Paris Motor Show, Mexico’s Mastretta MXT and budget sports cars from Toyota. Two questions cap it at just over an hour this week. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #194 – Bentley Continental, Lamborghini teaser, Mexico’s Mastretta and budget Toyota sports cars
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SSC recently teased us with and Shelby Supercars has allowed Top Gear to provide the world a new angle with which to view their exotic road warrior.
The SSC Ultimate Aero II is designed by skilled artisan Jason Castriota, who his now putting his pen to paper for . The design of the front is a beautiful mix of flowing lines with subtle, hard creases. The rear end seems much more alien, but equally stunning. The previous SSC vehicle, the , bested the in the all-out speed competition at 256 miles per hour. This all-new Ultimate Aero II looks like it already beat that mark while simply posing for pictures. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if someone handed us the keys then told us “where we’re going… we don’t need roads.”
Our one nitpick? The eventual damage to the exhaust area. It already looks like that rear pod is sitting on the deck so it’s unlikely the SSC will make it through the local Wal-Mart parking lot. Oh well, time to put the checkbook back in the drawer. We’ll just wait for the equivalent.
Mazda Shinari Concept – Click above to watch video
We’re going to go ahead and say it: of all of the companies out there, few demonstrate a command of the concept car quite like . While most manufacturers seem to be eschewing the concept in favor of thinly-veiled production vehicles, Mazda continues to tantalize the imaginations of onlookers with cars like the Furai. Now, it looks like the company is planning to turn away from its somewhat controversial (read: smiley) Nagare design language in favor of a new theme. Mazda is calling it Kodo, meaning “soul of motion,” and if the Shanari Concept is any indication of what we can expect from future models, we’re sold.
Mazda has just rolled out a couple of videos that show off the company’s new look. The first features a CG Shanari rolling through crowded city streets, tunnels and the rolling tarmac of what we assume to be the Japanese countryside. The second gives us an idea of what a Kodo-fied might look like. for a quick look see.
Vauxhall has beaten the speculating voices of the Internet to the Paris Motor Show punch by pulling the covers off of its GTC Concept well ahead of the main event. According to the company, what you see above is likely to have more than a little influence on the next Astra Sport Hatch. In classic concept style, the GTC rolls on epic 21-inch wheels that aren’t likely to find their way to the production version of the car any time soon. That’s not to say that this creation is pure fantasy, though.
For one thing, there’s a direct-injection, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine snugged under the hood, complete with a functioning start/stop system and a six-speed manual gearbox. That choice of powerplant seems a little too realistic to just be a show-circuit folly, so our guess is that the Astra Sport Hatch will likely boast similar hardware when it hits the road to take on cars like the Scirocco. for the full press release and check out the gallery for a closer look. Vauxhall will show off the GTC Concept in Paris starting on September 30, and we’ll be on-hand to give you live shots and impressions of its reveal.
The Ford Model T was a game-changer, allowing middle-class America to finally afford a horseless carriage. As the public began taking to the roads in greater numbers, our nation began its transformation into a modern motoring society.
The Model T was first produced in 1908 and enjoyed a successful sales through 1927. In 1925, production hit its peak and was turning out 9,000 to 10,000 carsper day. That adds up to an annual run of around two million cars.
One of the first assembly locations for the Ford Model T is the Highland Park plant, which is located steps from Woodward Avenue. It’s a building with a rich history and it may get another shot at life.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Woodward Avenue Action Association has nominated the Highland Park building in a national online competition. The National Trust for Historic Preservation runs a competition where they provide $25,000 in grant money to help preserve buildings of historical significance. The WAAA, if they win, plan to use the cash as seed money for an interesting project. Their goal is to turn the Highland Park assembly plant into an area Welcome Center. Visitors would have the opportunity to learn past and present information about Woodward, Detroit, and Michigan. To further entice visitors, the Henry Ford Museum has expressed interest in supplying exhibits for a small display.
If you think the Highland Park factory should win the contest, head over to the.
Shelby Mustang Concepts – Click above for image gallery
Earlier this year, Shelby announced it would , and that transition began when the company brought much of its manufacturing in-house and created a new speed shop to customize at its Las Vegas facility.
Looking to the future, Shelby has now posted a query online asking its customers what they want to see from the company, and in the process it’s proposed four Mustang aftermarket packages ranging from a V6 model to a twin-turbo .
While probably the least likely to appeal to the everyday enthusiast because of its cost ($100,000 not including the car), the twin-turbo obviously caught our attention. The concept, codenamed 2010-04a, would be based off the 2007-2009 and would feature a twin-turbo system with variable boost good for 1000+ horsepower at the rear wheels in addition to an adjustable suspension, widebody kit, 10-point roll cage and more.
On the other end of the spectrum, Shelby is considering offering a package for 2010+ V6 models carrying the Shelby GTS moniker. This seems more likely to make it to production, especially since Shelby has already produced a working prototype. The GTS would feature various visual and performance upgrades and the package would retail for somewhere between $9,000 to $12,000. Finally, the last two concepts are based on the new and would feature the same styling upgrades as the V6 version. for a full list of proposed features for both the twin-turbo and the GTS model, and let us know which packages you think Shelby should offer.
Want your little car nut to stand out from the neighborhood pack of wheeled terrors? Go for one of these fantastic looking half-scale classics from the Vietnam-headquartered , and wave goodbye to mediocre renditions of roadgoing vehicles as little Bobby (or Bobbie) cruises in style. These replicas use composite for both the body and chassis, and the detailing is good enough that they look convincingly like the real thing. Until, that is, someone steps into the picture and you get a scale reference. The company claims to have distributors in the U.S. and U.K., as well as Canada and the Netherlands.
A range of gasoline engines brings real internal combustion thunder and the sweet smell of exhaust to the party. Engines start at 50cc and can go all the way up to a terrifyingly irresponsible racing kart unit. Automatic and manual transmissions are available and there is enough room for adults to ride along with their six-year-old and up progeny. Seats and pedals adjust, too, so when Junior is asleep, you can sneak out for a spin without feeling like a circus bear riding a tricycle.
Interestingly, Harrington Group also makes restoration products for real classic cars, including stainless steel reproduction bumpers and interiors for the Volkswagen Beetle, Citroen 2CV and BMW Isetta.
are extravagant enough that there’s a healthy trade in used battery-powered backyard buggies. Harrington has yet to respond to an Autoblog request for pricing information, but these cars are likely to be significantly north of the $250-$400 you’ll spend on a tricked out Power Wheels at the local big box store. Available models are , , , , and , along with mini scooters that ape of yore. Put one of these under the tree this (fast approaching) Christmas, and you’ll see what the face of bliss looks like. Thanks for the tips, all!
Audi A1 meets ’50s cool – Click above to watch video
We’ll be honest: we have no idea what’s going on in the video after the jump. Near as we can tell, wanted to work up a photo shoot for its new A1 subcompact, so the company dialed up two members of the band Tokio Hotel, packed a warehouse with 22 pieces of classic iron and went to town. Yeah, we don’t quite get it ourselves. There’s a ’50s drag-race flavor about the whole affair thanks to a tatted-up blonde bombshell playing flag girl, which only furthers our befuddlement.
At least the song isn’t half bad.
It’s true that the Audi A1 is a pretty cool piece of machinery. And, yes, we dig on pre-’60s hardware as much as the next auto-obsessed site, but the two aren’t quite the same kind of awesome. Maybe Audi is looking to flex the customizable side of the A1, or maybe the ad department was just looking for an excuse to meet a couple of members of Tokio Hotel. Who knows? to try to solve this mystery for yourself.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV – Click above for high-res image gallery
is getting ready to roll out its electric i-MiEV in the United States, which is expected to arrive in late 2011. When it does land on our shores, it will be larger than its Japanese- and Euro-spec cousins. Gregory Adams, head of marketing and product planning for Mitsubishi Motors North America, states that the changes were required to meet U.S. crash regulations and to conform to our super-sized tastes.
In addition to a roomier i-MiEV, U.S.-spec cars will feature an upgraded interior and a greater number of standard features. The electric egg-bus is expected to ring the register for , without the deduction of $7,500 for the electric vehicle federal tax credit.
The European-spec i-MiEV will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month and is expected to be sized and outfitted exactly like the version currently on sale in Japan.
If there’s another place on Earth where they love V8 sedans and coupes as much as Americans, surely it’s Australia. It’s the land of the V8 Supercars series, Holden Commodores, FPV Falcons, and the country that gave us back the Pontiac GTO and the underpinnings for the latest . And with the Germans leading the charge these days with the likes of the and , it’s only fitting that the Land Down Under should get its own special edition.
Following the release of the and word of the upcoming comes news of a special M3 just for Australia. Called the Pure Edition, it packs some unique touches, including glossy black 19-inch split-spoke alloys, dark chrome trim and an Anthracite cloth and black leather interior. That’s about the extent of the special touches fitted to either the coupe or sedan – of which only 50 examples will be made. The Pure Edition comes standard in the metallic white pictured here, though a raft of optional metallic color choices are available, including – appropriately enough – Melbourne Red.
It’s been a few years since single-seaters roared through America’s Playground, but they could be back before we know it. And back in a big way, if the latest reports from the world of motorsport materialize.
The Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted IRL races from 1996 to 2000 and Champ Cars from 2003 to 2005, and continues to hold NASCAR races, along with a handful of racing schools and other events. The circuit’s chief Bruton Smith, however, is now reportedly campaigning to get the joint open-wheel series back on track (so to speak) for next year. If successful, the Vegas oval could play host to the season finale, a slot currently held by Miami-Homestead.
The IRL is expected to announce next year’s calendar on September 10 (just a few days from now), so one way or another, we’ll be finding out shortly.
2010 Kentucky Indy 300 from Kentucky Speedway – Click above for high-res image gallery
For the IRL IndyCar Series, the 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 was all about the number “200.” It was the 200th race in IRL history. The drivers would be running 200 laps around the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway. And the speeds would be well above 200 mph as the field of 27 cars ran inches away from each other under the lights of Kentucky. Among those 27 drivers was last year’s runner-up, Ed Carpenter, who still hasn’t scored a full-time ride, and Paul Tracy, the fan favorite who seems to never get rusty. Maybe we’ll have to start calling him Platinum Paul.
Last week’s winner Dario Franchitti was making things interesting in the race for the championship by closing the gap to points leader Will Power who hasn’t done as well as some of the others – including Franchitti – on ovals. Kentucky is an oval, of course, and so are Motegi and Miami, the final two races of the season. Would Power be able to get that monkey off his back? Would Franchitti take the win and close the gap even further? Would the talented and hard luck Ed Carpenter finally head to Victory Lane? to see how the 2010 Kentucky Indy 300 went down.
Gallery:
[Images: Chris Graythen, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Ed Reinke, James Crisp/AP]
Akio Toyoda may want to bring driving excitement back to , but he and his team have two major hurdles to overcome: The brands’s limited enthusiast base and the fact that Japan’s youth have very little interest in cars.
To combat both fronts, Toyota plans to launch a new line of budget-oriented vehicles that offer a modicum of sport. But so far, things don’t look too promising.
Despite debuting an FT-86-based concept at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, line of products have mainly focused on the Voxy and Noah minivans, while a “sports” version of the is apparently in the works.
More interestingly, the Mainichi Daily News reports that a version of the has been given the greenlight, meaning a mid-engined hybrid successor to the MR2 is in the works.
All these developments come after Toyota established a sports vehicle management division in January, which now has a hand in the brand’s overall product planning. We should get a look at the fruits of their labors during next year’s auto show season and could see this new breed of budget sports vehicles on the market – at least in Japan – within the next few years.
SSC Ultimate Aero II – Watch the “unveiling” teaser video
Shelby Supercars’ used to be the fastest production car in the world, its 256-mph record speed eclipsing even the mighty . Then, as of a few weeks ago, got its act together and topped SSC’s number with the new Veyron Super Sport – to the tune of .
In August at Monterey, the Ultimate Aero successor, the Ultimate Aero II – penned by new Saab design chief Jason Castriota (he of Bertone Mantide / fame) – was unveiled in a private ceremony captured on YouTube. It was all a tease; the car was never actually shown in the “unveiling” video, only the attendees’ reaction to it. Suffice it to say, the car was well-received.
And now we know why. slated to appear in Top Gear magazine in conjunction with the car’s official launch next week. As you can see, Castriota’s influence is plainly visible in the Ultimate Aero II’s detailing. It’s got an edgier, more assertive appearance than its predecessor, and we can only assume that it has the power to back up its menacing new looks. We can’t wait to get the scoop on September 8 when SSC releases full details.
In the meantime, to see the second leaked photo and to watch the teaser video filmed at the Ultimate Aero II’s private Monterey unveiling.
Nitrous oxide – the preferred go-fast gas of many speed freaks – delivers its substantial power boost , which in turn becomes denser. The denser air’s higher oxygen volume feeds the hungry engine, which can now produce more power. Nitrous oxide is also widely used in the healthcare industry as an anesthetic and analgesic. You can find nitrous canisters in hospitals, dentists’ offices, Paul Walker’s local speed shop, and ambulance stations. British street racers have apparently been paying close attention to the last one.
A number of UK ambulance stations have reported missing giggle gas canisters, and they’re pointing the finger at local “boy racers.” The Daily Mail highlights the ways nitrous oxide is used by the enthusiast crowd, but fails to mention any specific proof that these recent crimes were committed by folks addicted to going faster. Perhaps a little more evidence is called for before conveniently condemning the English Fast and Furious set, no?
