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Assuming the Mayans were not correct and there will still be a world in 2013 where people buy cars, Lincoln plans to be there commencing its rebirth: the 2013 MKZ overseen by Max Wolff will be the first model to reset the Lincoln brand. When there’s a new story to be told, one often finds a new storyteller, so it’s no surprise that Ford is setting up a “luxury-oriented boutique agency” in New York to handle Lincoln exclusively.

The unnamed firm is being assembled in conjunction with Team Detroit, the agency currently overseeing Ford and Lincoln. Heading it will be luxury-car consultant Cameron McNaughton as president with creative duties spearheaded by Chief Creative Officer Jon Pearce, a veteran of ad firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

Intriguingly, the New York branch will be a small ship, just 45 people running account management, creative development, media and strategic planning. Other disciplines like creative production will remain with Team Detroit in Dearborn. From this far out, it looks like they could have a team with right backgrounds; we’ll find out soon enough if they can put it all together in the right way – perhaps they can start practicing by lowering the average age of the current MKZ buyer…

Follow the jump for a press release regarding the new agency.

Continue reading Lincoln getting its own ad agency?

Lincoln getting its own ad agency?

While rummaging through the wares on offer at an estate sale, Bobby Goins, a “picker” in Grand Blanc, Michigan, found the car pictured above: a 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Ghia Cabriolet. Hidden under a tarp and lots of detritus in a garage, once it was revealed Goins discovered that the car was almost completely intact. The only thing missing was the engine, and that was found in Wisconsin not long after the discovery of the car.

Without a serial number, it’s difficult to place this car exactly, even though the 212 Inter was only made for three years. It came early in Ferrari’s move to production cars, but was one of the most numerous models with the widest variety of bodystyles – no less than eight coachbuilders contributed designs and variations on those designs. For instance, this one has a Ghia grille used on another body, but a different hood treatment. No matter, it’s been rescued from oblivion and sold to a good home: it was bought by a Ferrari collector for just $150,000.

Follow the jump to see local news footage of Goins’ discovery.

Continue reading Barn Find: 1952 Ferrari 212 Ghia Cabriolet found collecting dust

Barn Find: 1952 Ferrari 212 Ghia Cabriolet found collecting dust

As you likely know by now, Lexus is planning to pull the curtains off a new concept car at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Besides the fact that it’s red and appears to be a sporty coupe of some sort, we have no real details on what to expect.

What we do know, however, is that the concept will be sporting a rather inviting interior, thanks to the second teaser image that you see above (click here to enlarge). We note lots of attractive waves of stitching and a plethora of different leather colors and textures.

We also spy some genuine wood trim and what appears to be a mighty large sweeping information center making up most of the dash. And finally, judging by the serious plunging roofline, we’re pretty sure this will be a two-seater. Looks like Detroit is shaping up to be an interesting show, with stunning coupe concepts promised from both Lexus and Acura.

Continue reading Lexus offers interior glimpse of new Detroit-bound concept

Lexus offers interior glimpse of new Detroit-bound concept

Day 2 of our Six Days of Giveaways brings a familiar sight to long-time readers of Autoblog. Our friends at Automoblox (Facebook) always want to be included in any sweepstakes we do, and we’re not inclined to argue.

This year, Automoblox founder and designer Patrick Calello set aside one of his most popular products for us. It’s the full-size Limited Edition Highcroft Truck and Trailer set that includes the T900 truck pulling a C9-R on a special open trailer, all done up in the fetching livery of Highcroft Racing. Automoblox only made 350 of these $120 sets and they sold out quickly, so you can’t get them in stores anymore.

You might be able to get one right here, though, if you simply leave a comment on this post. See below for the complete rules and come back tomorrow at 1 PM EST for the next giveaway.

HOW TO ENTER

• Leave a single comment on this post (if you leave two or more, all of your entries will be disqualified)
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
• Limit 1 entry per person during entry period
• The entry period ends at 1:00 PM EST on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011. We’ll randomly select 1 winner at that time to receive an Automoblox Limited Edition Highcroft Truck and Trailer set valued at $120.00.
• For a list of complete rules, click here.

Six Days of Giveaways – Day 2: Automoblox Limited Edition Highcroft Truck and Trailer Set

Meeting The Next-Generation Chevrolet Mid-Size

It’s been a very long time since the midsize market went easy on American automakers, and recent years have conspired to make an uphill sales slog even steeper with a rash of new and redesigned models. Kia and Hyundai have taken up arms by offering buyers the stylish and efficient Optima and Sonata in an effort to dethrone longtime D-segment stalwarts like the Honda Accord and the freshly redesigned Toyota Camry. Not one to back away from a fray, Nissan has been busily sharpening the next-generation Altima to do battle with the rest of the war horses on the field, and Volkswagen has just recently unleashed a new Americanized Passat to riotous praise from the automotive press.

The barbarians aren’t just at the gates for automakers like Ford and General Motors. They’re picnicking on the front lawn.

Ford has turned to its global operations for help designing a new Fusion fit to beat back the invading hordes while General Motors has focused on transforming the aging Chevrolet Malibu into a weapon capable of carving out a more sizable market share. Built on new bones borrowed from the company’s Global Mid-Size architecture, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will boast an all-new direct-injection 2.5-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine by mid-2012 and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder version will debut shortly thereafter.

But buyers who flock to Chevrolet dealers in the first quarter of 2012 won’t find those vehicles waiting for them on the show room floor. Instead, GM has moved to launch the new 2013 Malibu with just one engine option – it’s most efficient. Meet the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco.

Continue reading 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

Kraft Foods wants to bring you more Velveeta, more efficiently. According to Bloomberg, the food giant says it needs to pack its 97,000-pound trucks full of processed deliciousness in order to combat high diesel prices. Problem is, interstate highways have an 80,000-pound weight limit.

But Kraft (along with other big corporations like Home Depot, MillerCoors, and Archer-Daniels-Midland) thinks it can get the law changed. Congress just extended a one-year pilot program to allow 100,000-pound trucks on interstates in Maine and Vermont for an additional 20 years, and a new bill would let every state decide whether they would allow the heavier trucks on their interstate highways.

Advocates of the “Safe and Efficient Transportation Act” say that the proposal is an economic necessity, and point out that states are already allowing heavier trucks to travel their secondary roads. But others have raised concerns about increased wear-and-tear on roads, and the questionable state of repair of the nation’s interstate bridges, which were only designed for 80,000-pound trucks, according to the report.

There’s also the potential for more highway fatalities. Though highway deaths have been on the decline, commercial truck-related deaths were up last year, according to the report. John Lannen, executive director of The Truck Safety Coalition, told Bloomberg that if the weight limits go up, “The entire country’s motoring public will be put in grave danger.”

Big Cheese: Kraft pushing for 97,000-pound “bridge wrecker” trucks

We like Volvo, from the old boxy but good designs straight on through to the latest S60 mid-sizer. But there’s no denying the fact that the swoopier designs – let’s call it New Volvo – it’s been producing the last several years are more appealing to the masses than its historic bricks. The C30, to our eyes at least, is still an interesting machine. It has, however, been on the market for the better part of six years now years now, prompting the Swedish automaker to prepare its replacement.

Rather than stick with the three-door body-style, however, Volvo is apparently preparing to kill two (make that three) birds with one proverbial stone: standing in for the C30, S40 and V50 will be an all-new V40.

The five-door hatch/sportwagon is tipped to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, but discounting some spy shots of a heavily disguised prototype, this is the first official glimpse Gothenburg has given us. The likes of the Audi A3 and Lexus CT 200h will undoubtedly be watching to see if they’ve got anything to worry about, but from what we’ve seen so far, it looks like this will be one of those New Volvo products worth waiting for.

Volvo to unveil new V40 in Geneva

Most vehicles stay on the market for a good six or more years before they’re replaced. But Kia isn’t most automakers. The Korean brand has a lot to prove, and as it turns out they’re intent on doing just that by keeping their product portfolio fresh.

That’s why, though the current Forte sedan has only been on the market since 2009, Kia is already planning on replacing it in the new year with a 2013 model. And this could be our first look at it.

Reportedly leaked in four-door guise, this trio of renderings shows a rather svelte-looking design that borrows some of the dynamic approach of its big brothers at Hyundai, with a steeply raked windshield and the new family grille already familiar from the Optima.

It’ll be a while before the new model debuts, but for now this will just have to keep our interests piqued.

2013 Kia Forte sketch leaks out?

Starting a new automaker from scratch is no easy feat. Henrik Fisker is a visionary designer, but to get his Karma luxury hybrid on the road, he knew he’d need a good management team behind him. So he brought in BMW and Ford native Bernhard Koehler as Chief Operating Officer, General Motors number cruncher Joe DaMour as Chief Financial Officer and former Jaguar marketing chief Richard Beattie as the company’s new Chief Commercial Officer. And now Fisker Automotive has added another name to the roster: Tom LaSorda.

No, we’re not talking about the Los Angeles Dodgers coach here. We’re talking about the former Chrysler chief who managed Detroit’s No. 3 automaker starting in the Daimler days, through the Cerberus period and helped broker the sale to Fiat. Prior to that, the Canadian-born auto exec spent years working for GM, but in his new role at Fisker, he’ll be acting primarily in an advisor capacity as Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chairman of its Strategic Council.

LaSorda will undoubtedly have some experience to impart on the upstart automaker, and since his role will be principally to provide advice, hopefully the Karma’s build quality and panel gaps will be a bit better than a Sebring’s. Follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Fisker names former Chrysler chief Tom LaSorda its vice chairman

Fisker names former Chrysler chief Tom LaSorda its vice chairman

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today that 2012 model year vehicles set a record for the number of highly valued Top Safety Pick awards earned: 115 total winners with 18 of those being brand new recipients.

The break down includes 69 cars, 38 SUVs, five minivans and three pickups, so if owning a Top Safety Pick award-winning vehicle is important to you, there are options available in every category.

As for which automakers earned the most awards, Toyota and its band of merry brands, which includes Lexus and Scion, racked up 15, while GM was next with 14, VW/Audi with 13, and Ford/Lincoln and Honda/Acura both with 12 awards each. Speaking of Honda and Acura, they win the award for most improved, as 10 of the 18 new models to receive the award come from their lineups. No automaker, however, was able to match Subaru’s repeat performance of earning a Top Safety Pick award for every vehicle in its lineup.

The IIHS notes that automakers have come a long way since it began giving out Top Safety Pick awards back in 2005. At that time, only 11 models qualified. In fact, last year only 66 vehicles qualified because of less-than-stellar rollover ratings, but automakers apparently responded, addressing the issue in new models or redesigning roofs throughout the year.

The IIHS Top Safety Pick award stands as the private sector’s counterpart to the government’s own five-star rating system for vehicle safety conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Both litmus tests for safety have grown increasingly difficult for automakers to ace in recent years, but today’s announcement shows that they’re clearly up to the task.

Continue reading IIHS reports record year for Top Safety Picks, 18 new 2012 models added

IIHS reports record year for Top Safety Picks, 18 new 2012 models added

The Lamborghini Countach remains the Kleenex of supercars. Its bombastic wedgy shape was so overexposed in the 1980s, it’s a wonder it didn’t wind up in therapy. As the decade wore on, the Countach picked up more and more plastic surgery, but even so, mid-1980s examples have an unmatched blend of swagger and silliness. And if you’re going for a car transported straight out of Tony Montana’s seething dreams, don’t you want to find the best one?

This black beauty offered for auction is a 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole with just 1,200 miles on the odometer. Countach 5000 QVs benefitted from the car’s characteristic V12 being bored and stroked to 5.2-liters, along with the addition of four valves per cylinder (hence the name).

U.S. market cars were unfortunately marred by federal bumpers, which this car also sports. Swing that scissor door up, and you suddenly forget about the silly appendages. Besides, the period-perfect gold phone-dial wheels and tan Connolly leather interior draw your eyes, and a little time with a socket wrench would net you a sleeker, bumperette-free silhouette, anyway.

Current bidding on eBay Motors sits at $130,000, which means this Countach is about the same price now as it was when it first left Sant’Agata – fitting for a car that presents as new as this one. Of course, the reserve price isn’t met, so who knows what the seller is hoping to get out of the sale. While we might prefer the design purity (and comparative rarity) of earlier LP400 models, even Countach detractors have to step back and admire this car. It’d be hard to fight the urge to drive this thing everywhere – even milk runs would become an experience.

eBay Find of the Day: 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV is a 1,200-mile time warp

We’ll admit, it feels like a typo whenever we write “4 Series,” but if BMW is as insistent upon further breaking out its coupes and convertibles from its sedan ranges as we’ve been hearing, we’ll just have to get used to it. The BMW 4 Series is expected to officially kick off when the two-door versions of the new 3 Series are launched, and our spies recently caught a prototype of the new droptop 4 testing in the rain.

There’s still lots of cladding under all that swirly paper, but we expect the 4er Convertible’s design to mimic that of the new 3 Series, complete with the more squared off headlamps that pinch in toward the dual-kidney grille. Like the outgoing droptop, the 4 Series cabriolet will use a folding hardtop configuration, and engine choices will almost certainly be exactly the same as what’s offered in the 3 Series sedan. (428i and 435i – weird.) An M version is also said to be in the cards.

Look for the 4 Series range to debut sometime in 2012.

BMW 4 Series Convertible spotted testing

We’ve seen Romeo Ferraris tune all manner of vehicles, but oddly none from the automaker with which it shares the first part of its name. That’s all changing, but not with a current Alfa Romeo model. For their latest project, RF has turned its attention to the recently discontinued Alfa Romeo Brera.

Long considered one of the most beautiful designs mired by a substandard chassis, the Brera went out of production over a year ago. But to give it one last swan song, Romeo Ferraris has teamed up with venerable Alfa tuning firm Autodelta. Together, they’ve given the Brera’s 3.2-liter V6 a supercharger, intercooler, custom exhaust and remapped ECU to boost power up by 97 horsepower for a more substantial 353 hp. That’s tipped to drop the 0-62 time down to five seconds and the top end up to 162 mph.

Naturally a full body kit is also part of the package, as is an adjustable suspension and (we would hope) upgraded brakes as well. A fitting goodbye to one of the best-looking cars ever to grace the roads – and one that will hopefully keep it on them for years to come.

Romeo Ferraris and Autodelta team up for a supercharged goodbye to the Alfa Romeo Brera

Corroborating long-held suspicions and spy shots, General Motors has confirmed that its surging Buick marque will shortly receive a second crossover. Dubbed “Encore” (apparently GM is hoping consumers have short memories), the five-seat CUV will be revealed at next month’s 2012 Detroit Auto Show and carry a 2013 model year designation.

This is the first photo of a promised strip tease(r) series, clearly showing a characterful headlight and a vertical element grille similar to that of the Encore’s big brother, the popular Enclave three-row. We like what we see here, particularly the horizontal slat vent snugged into the headlamp assembly, even if the whole thing looks markedly less aggressive than Buick’s Envision crossover concept from April’s Shanghai Motor Show.

GM isn’t saying much about the vehicle at this point, other than to note that the Encore will bring “contemporary styling, signature QuietTuning technology, and a host of features and amenities customers expect from Buicks today.” Fair enough.

Buick promises that a new tab will go live on its Facebook page this week showing a covered photo of the Encore so that you can make out its silhouette, and each week between now and its January 10 reveal, the automaker will digitally reveal a bit more of its new baby.

Continue reading Buick names new small CUV Encore, promises Detroit debut

Buick names new small CUV Encore, promises Detroit debut

Jeep enthusiasts have been asking for a Wrangler pickup for years, and 2011 is the year they finally got their wish – at least in kit form. The only thing that could keep the JK-8 Independence kit from being a success is the $5,499 price, which doesn’t include assembly. But it appears that the serious Jeep fans are all-in, and Mopar is stepping up to meet demand.

Wards Auto reports that Mopar’s original estimate of 200-300 kit sales was trumped by 400 dealer orders. Team Mopar is reportedly stepping up to meet the demand, as President Pietro Gorlier tells WA that more kits are on the way. Gorlier adds that Mopar continues to be cautious about sales expectations in part because the kits are so large and difficult for dealers to store in any real numbers.

Early demand for the kits, which is also available for the Wrangler Unlimited, also shows Chrysler that a next-generation Wrangler truck could take the market by storm. Gorlier points out that Jeep President Mike Manley has gone on record as saying that the next redesign of the Wrangler could include a pickup option, though no definite plans have been announced.

Mopar pickup kit for Jeep Wrangler a hot seller, coming early

Infiniti is hard at work engineering a luxury hatchback for 2014, and it appears that the Japanese automaker is close to picking a final design. Dutch site Autoweek.nl reports that there are three designs on the table, and one will be chosen in January. That likely means that we won’t see the production hatch any time soon, but a fall showing in Paris or Los Angeles is a possibility.

The January time frame doesn’t leave a lot of time for engineering Etherea-based hatch, but keep in mind that the compact Infiniti will be based on the front-drive Mercedes-Benz A-Class platform. This engineering partnership will enable Infiniti to focus its collective energy on creating a unique design inside and out.

Information about the powertrains of the Infiniti hatch are scarce, but reports that a hybrid could be part of the equation. We’re guessing that a diesel is out of the question for the U.S., but a turbo-four or maybe even the 2.5-liter V6 from the G25 could be in the works.

Infiniti to sign off on hatchback model’s design in January

According to French blog Caradisiac, Volkswagen will show a brand new electric-car concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Pitched as VW demonstrating its intention to field a competitor for the hot-selling Nissan Leaf and the most-excellent Mitsubishi i-MiEV, word is the VW offering isn’t based on any current car, nor is it destined for production.

According to the report, the EV’s design is inspired by the new Beetle “in order to evoke hallmarks of the brand.” We’ve heard similar things from inside VW directly, but no one is being specific. It’s almost like they’re trying to keep it a surprise or something.

Whatever it ends up being, the electrified people’s car will be sharing floor space with the coming Jetta Hybrid. That sedan will utilize a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a lithium-ion-powered electric motor, shooting for an EPA fuel economy rating of 44 city, 44 highway and 44 combined miles per gallon.

Volkswagen planning EV for Detroit?

There are some basic automotive shapes that we’re trained to admire. The Ford Model T, for the impact an inexpensive car had on the American populace. The Volkswagen Beetle, for the way its revolutionary design rebuilt an industry in Germany. And the classic wedge-shaped Lamborghini, for the way it looks fast even while standing completely still.

One such Raging Bull is the Reventon. Produced in limited quantities at a cost of a million euros ($1.3 million at today’s rates), the Reventon is a real-deal supercar capable of hitting speeds of over 220 miles per hour. But, like any proper Lambo, it doesn’t need to be moving to get our blood pumping.

A group of specialists called The Media Merchants took one flat black Reventon into its studio for a session of projection mapping. We don’t know what that means, but you can read plenty more about it here. What we do know, on the other hand, is that projection mapping can result in some beautiful images captured on video. See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Watch a Lamborghini Reventon look fast without moving

Watch a Lamborghini Reventon look fast without moving

Chrysler made a huge splash when it put the Viper into production way back in 1992. But over the course of some eighteen years and 22,000 units of production, we all became used to the idea of having the Viper around. Then it was discontinued about a year and a half ago, and we started missing America’s gnarliest of sports cars.

Fortunately the Viper is coming back, and coming back to the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant. The factory had been home to Viper assembly since it was moved there in 1995, but has laid dormant since July 2010. Now that the next-generation Viper is coming ’round the mountain, Chrysler is re-opening Conner Avenue to the tune of some 150 jobs. The re-opening of the facility makes Chrysler, in its own words, the only automaker with multiple assembly plants in Detroit proper.

Intriguingly, the press release after the jump refers to the upcoming new Viper not as a Dodge, but rather as an SRT product. The performance division was recently spun off by Chrysler into its own unit (much like the Ram truck brand was separated from Dodge), with Chrysler’s chief designer and former Dodge chief Ralph Gilles at its helm, and the language seems to indicate that the new Viper could be the brand’s first product. Color us officially excited.

Continue reading Chrysler confirms next-gen SRT Viper for Conner Avenue assembly

Chrysler confirms next-gen SRT Viper for Conner Avenue assembly

Every year, each Formula One team on the grid designs a brand-new car and builds a handful of them for use at grands prix around the world. So what happens to the old ones? Well, the less important ones might get scrapped, unfortunately. The more important ones might find their way into museum collections. But then there’s a whole class of collectors who buy them for use at historic racing events or private track days.

Those collectors lust after opportunities like this one: to own a grand prix-winning car driven by a World Champion for a team no less celebrated than Scuderia Ferrari. This 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 was the very same that Niki Lauda drove to the checkered flag at the Dutch Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix that year. And while it would have been worth more if those races had helped Lauda secure the championship that year, unfortunately, a series of DNFs relegated him to fourth place in the standings, returning the following year to win his first title.

Just the same, the car is now based in California, has been fully backed and certified by the factory, and is on sale now on eBay Motors with a starting bid of $1.25 million. Check it out in the image gallery and follow the link to the auction page for a closer look. Thinking of bidding? Be quick about it – there’s mere hours left on the auction.

eBay Find of the Day: Niki Lauda’s race-winning 1974 Ferrari 312 B3