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As automotive enthusiasts by profession, there’s nothing we love here at Autoblog quite as much as cars. But a distant second for many of us comes watches. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of automotive-inspired timepieces out on the market, but the unfortunate reality for many is that the correlation is just too forced. That’s what we love about Officine Autodromo.

Rather than amp up their octane count with branding associations or glossy carbon-fiber components, Autodromo takes a deliciously understated approach with minimalist designs that take their inspiration from the tachometers on Italian racing cars from the 1960s and 70s and their names from famous Italian racing circuits.

We reported on Autodromo’s first collection upon its launch back in November, and now the upstart has followed up with a chronograph version of its slick Vallelunga timepiece. Upgrading on the simplicity of its lug-less case design, the Vallelunga Chronograph features the stopwatch and 30-minute counter sought by many drivers looking for more timing functions out of their wristwatch. It’s powered by a a Swiss-made Ronda quartz movement, housed under K1 anti-glare crystal, affixed to the wrist by a perforated leather strap and available with either a white face and brushed stainless steel case or in black on black.

You can find further details in the press release below, but the high-res image gallery is worth checking out just for the photo shoot orchestrated in France behind the wheel of four classic Alfa Romeos and a vintage Lotus Eleven.

Continue reading Autodromo enhances its functional simplicity with Vallelunga Chronograph

Autodromo enhances its functional simplicity with Vallelunga Chronograph

Bloggers we may be, but we’re still fans of good old fashioned long-form journalism – or what passes for it in this day and age. Yes, digital attention deficit disorder and the failing fortunes of print publishing have combined to largely neuter the art form, but there are still some publications willing to think high concept and go out and spend some shoe-leather on stories.

Here’s a good one: Car and Driver buys a used-up car to take to the auto recyclers, then traces the derelict vehicle’s progression through the process of being reduced to its elements.

The magazine’s choice, a 210,000-mile 1993 BMW 3 Series, is a brilliant way get us emotionally involved. The E36 is one of those cars that is just so likable, a product that was head and shoulders better than anything else in its time, that we can’t help but care what happens to it once it’s cast into the clutches of the salvage yard.

The story is fascinating in the way it focuses our attention on things we rarely think of when we ogle sheet metal and obsess over the performance profiles of new models. The numbers are all there too – who knew that a scrap BMW catalytic converter was worth $250?

But enough with that, just go read it for yourself at C/D’s website.

Car and Driver chronicles the death of a car

It seems like we’ve been hearing about the Tesla Model S for a decade, but a report in Yahoo! states that the electric sedan is only a month away from production. That’s about one month ahead of schedule, as Tesla is reportedly wrapping up crash testing fast enough to start making the hotly anticipated EV.

The Model S couldn’t come at a much better time for Tesla, as the automaker just announced a first quarter loss of $89.9 million. The prospects aren’t any better for Q2, but the second half of the year should be an entirely different story. Q1 revenue was only $30 million, and the first half revenue is expected to come in around $60 million. With the Model S around for the second half of the year, sales are expected to skyrocket into the $600 million range. Tesla plans to move about 5,000 units in 2012, even though the automaker currently has 10,000 orders in-hand.

Some of those 10,000 hand-raisers might have something more to get excited about, as Tesla announced that the top range Signature model, which features a 85-kWh battery pack, will be able to travel 320 miles on a two-cycle charge. That’s 20 miles more than Tesla previously announced. The first 1,200 copies of the Model S will be Signature models with the largest-possible battery pack.

Tesla posts $89.9M Q1 loss, Model S coming sooner than expected

Get ready. The hype machine is revving up for the 2013 Ford Fusion. And it’s not going to slow down in the coming months, as Ford prepares to launch it’s most important midsize entry in 30 years.

Even with no pricing available, Ford has launched its Build Your Own Fusion website. The configurator will walk a curious customer through all of the variations of the new Fusion from a base S model to the fully loaded Titanium to the gas-electric Hybrid. (The only model missing is the plug-in hybrid Fusion Energi.)

The configurator, which Ford says on the website is for “survey purposes only,” will allow you to see the Fusion S in eight different colors (the Titanium model comes in nine – click through our attached gallery to see them all), list out each model’s engine choices, features and options, as well continue the buzz the Fusion created at the Detroit Auto Show.

After building the Fusion of your dreams, you can also sign up for email updates, which, over the summer, will be many.

2013 Ford Fusion configurator powers up

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall concerning 2011-2012 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger models. A fuse controlling the power distribution unit for the ABS and ESC system can overheat, causing both features to fail.

Charger Pursuit vehicles were recalled a couple of months ago over the same issue and it was thought that severe usage was the culprit. However, a number of civilian reports convinced Chrysler to recall all of the vehicles in question.

Chrysler will begin notifying the 119,072 owners this month. Affected vehicles can be taken to the dealer to have the fuse in question relocated, free of charge. Scroll down for the official NHTSA bulletin.

Continue reading 120,000 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger models recalled over electrical issue

120,000 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger models recalled over electrical issue

Mini has been involved with Life Ball, one of Europe’s largest charity events, since the brand first bowed in 2001. This year, the automaker turned a brand-new Mini Roadster over to Franca Sozzani, chief editor of Italian Vogue, for a complete makeover. Sozzani dipped the convertible two door in matte Deepest Purple paint with contrasting rally stripes and added steel accents on the side mirrors and wheels to help set the machine apart from the standard model. The charity car also sports a unique floral design on the roof. Mini will auction off the special Roadster at the Hall of Ceremonies at Vienna’s Hofburg palace.

Life Ball highlights the fight against AIDS. The celebrity-studded event features live music and a fashion show, and Mini says that sales of its past Life Ball models have raised over $654,000 for AIDS research. Scroll past the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Mini previews 2012 Life Ball Roadster

Mini previews 2012 Life Ball Roadster

We are currently barreling toward the end of the week, which means there’s a good chance you’re looking for ways to chip away at the time card. Allow us to lend you a hand. Chris Harris recently took it up on himself to line up a three very expensive, very powerful German track-bred machines for a little showdown. With names like the Porsche GT3 RS 4.0, BMW M3 GTS and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series, the half-hour clip all but guarantees some giggles. Since these are all coupes that are supposed to be able to pull double duty on the street and on track, Harris puts one and all through a two-day drive.

Day One features plenty of time on the street, where things like how quickly the dual-clutch transmission in the M3 GTS don’t matter nearly as much as a functional Bluetooth phone pairing system. Of course, Day Two is the fun stuff. That’s when all three sports cars are pressed around a track to see which can return the best lap time. How does it turn out? We won’t spoil it for you. You’ve got time to waste. Scroll down to check out the clip for yourself.

Continue reading Chris Harris pits C63 AMG Black Series against 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and M3 GTS

Chris Harris pits C63 AMG Black Series against 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and M3 GTS

We’ve been desperately trying to put our finger on what makes the idea of a supermoto so attractive, and we may have finally figured it out. The bikes are perfect all-purpose machines, equally at home dismantling stretches of mountain tarmac as they are bashing through the woods.

Wildly controllable, lightweight and even fuel-efficient, the bikes are the perfect two-wheeled mode of transportation for the impending apocalypse. Don’t believe us? Take a look at the quick video after the jump. The clip features plenty of supermoto goodness, all shot at 120 and 300 frames per second.

That means we get to watch the bikes kick sideways in beautiful slow motion, both on dry pavement and wet mud. The video is four and a half minutes of two-wheeled goodness, and a welcome break for the middle of the week. Scroll down to enjoy the show for yourself.

Continue reading All the slow-motion supermoto action you can stand

All the slow-motion supermoto action you can stand

We so wanted to lead this post with a Jim Belushi joke. Alas, the Kia press release announcing the launch of its rear-drive flagship in Korea today specifically clarifies that the K9 will be renamed for other markets.

While Kia says the large sedan rides on “its own platform,” we know enough about the auto industry to posit that much of that platform is shared with the underpinnings of corporate cousin Hyundai’s Genesis Sedan and Equus. Like the Hyundai pair, Kia is clearly hoping the not-called-K9-here will help the brand move upmarket, positioning the car as a premium product designed, in the words of Kia’s head of design Peter Schreyer, “to compete head-to-head with the European luxury brands.”

The Kia sedan will split the difference between the Genesis and the Equus, matching the 120-inch wheelbase of the latter, but with an overall length of 200 inches that’s three inches shorter than Equus and almost four inches longer than the Genesis. The Kia sedan will have the same 0.27 coefficient of drag as both the Hyundai models.

Kia says its luxury sedan will be powered by two distinct versions of the corporate 3.8-liter Lambda V6, one making 286 horsepower and the direct-injection version rated at 329. The more powerful engine is said to be “joining the global engine line-up next year,” which we’d expect would coincide with the flagship sedan’s U.S. launch. Both engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Kia says the car will be available with a number of safety features including a lane-departure warning system and blind sport detection. A reclining rear seat with leg rest will also be available, just like in the Equus.

Today’s announcement raises an interesting possibility. While we wouldn’t expect Kia to send its flagship stateside with the less-powerful V6 – indeed, a V8 engine option is surely bound to accompany an official statement of the car’s U.S. sales plan – doing so would certainly allow Kia to bring the car to market at a more attractive entry-level price. Kia has a scant resume when it comes launching anything other than budget models here in the U.S., and the brand certainly has considerable work to do if it aims to catch up to Hyundai in pricier segments.

It will certainly be interesting to see where Kia tries to position its unnamed sedan – and whether its (*ahem*) dogged pursuit of the luxury dollar will succeed. Scroll down to read the full press release and check out our gallery of K9 images.

Continue reading Kia K9 launches in Korea, export model to get new name

Kia K9 launches in Korea, export model to get new name

And now for some good news from Mazda: it is doubling the run of its limited edition RX-8 Spirit R, adding 1,000 more units to production due to demand. Announced late last year, this Japan-only model celebrates the end of the RX-8’s nine-year existence. The final Wankel-engined four-door is scheduled to roll off the line in June.

The Spirit R doesn’t skimp on the extra trim bits inside and out, with larger brakes clamped by red calipers, piano-black transmission tunnel trim, Recaro Sprint R bucket seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and an enhanced traction control system among the bonus features.

Both automatic and manual transmissions are offered, but takers have gone decisively for the row-your-own cogswapper, making up 66 percent of orders. Compared to the automatic, they receive larger 19-inch wheels on lower profile tires, a “hard suspension,” alloy pedals and aero bits. Hit the jump for the press release with more details.

Continue reading Reprieve! End of Mazda RX-8 pushed back by extra 1,000 units

Reprieve! End of Mazda RX-8 pushed back by extra 1,000 units

Say what you will, but in this business you’re nobody until you have your own watch line. Ferrari has several, Bentley teams up with Breitling, Aston Martin partners with Jaeger-LeCoultre, Bugatti with Parmigiani Fleurier… the list goes on and on, and now includes one more: Carroll Shelby and David Yurman.

The collaboration was forged over the timepiece you see here, created to accompany the 950-horsepower Shelby 1000 unveiled at the New York Auto Show just last month. The David Yurman Limited Edition Shelby 1000 timepiece features a Swiss-made Valjoux 7753 automatic chronograph in a 43.5mm stainless steel and rubber case with tachymeter bezel and guilloche racing stripes on the galvanized steel dial.

It’s affixed to the wrist by a rubber strap with snakeskin texture, and only 300 examples will be made: 150 in bare stainless steel and 150 with a black PVD coating. It’s the first of many Shelby-branded wristwatches that the David Yurman brand will be making for Shelby, and you can check it out in high-resolution by clicking the image above and scrolling down below for the full press release.

Continue reading Shelby teams up with David Yurman for wristwatch line

Shelby teams up with David Yurman for wristwatch line

Limousines? That’s so last millennium. These days the pampered and rich in the know get chauffeured around in the back of pimped-out vans. Sure, they may look utilitarian on the outside, but inside, they’re as luxe as a private jet. Mercedes-Benz has been at the forefront of the scene with its much-modified Sprinter vans, but that’s not the only big box in its portfolio. And to drive that point home, the German automaker has just rolled in to Beijing with this tricked-out Viano.

Called the Viano Vision Diamond, the custom Benz wagon has a two-tone paint job that only hints at the Maybach-grade cabin that awaits inside. The windows (including the partition inside) have the same Magic Sky Control tinting technology as the roof on the new SL, the cabin is done up in Nappa leather (black for the chauffeur, white for the passengers), and the rear features reclining, temperature-controlled massage chairs, a champagne cooler with flutes, lighting, 40-inch flat screen and Bang & Olufsen sound system (all controlled by a specially-designed iOS app), wireless internet and diamond trim.

Drive us to the airport in one of these and we’d be inclined to just stay in the back, lapping up the luxury of it all. Instead, we’ll just admire from afar in the high-res image gallery and press release after the jump.

Mercedes-Benz rolls in to Beijing in tricked-out Viano Vision Diamond

Audi has just unveiled a special concept version of the company’s Q3 at this week’s 2012 Beijing Motor Show to commemorate the year of the dragon. The 2012 Q3 Jinlong Yufeng, or “Golden Dragon In The Wind,” caters to the kite surfers of the world thanks to its two roof-mounted carbon-fiber reinforced polymer boards and a clever kite pouch that can also be used to hold wet articles of clothing or serve as a beach umbrella. Designers have also thrown in a set of removable, wireless video cameras that can easily be attached to a sail bar or helmet.

The Q3 Jinlong Yufeng wears Liuli Yellow paint outside as well as a few special off-road body components based on production pieces. Brushed stainless steel running boards, LED spotlights mounted in the grille and integrated dual-exit exhaust are all part of the package. Indoors, designers have stitched the vehicle’s surfaces with yellow contrasting thread. The seats use woven leather covers and each door panel features a yellow leather insert.

A turbocharged 2.5-liter direct-injection five-cylinder engine delivers 310 horsepower through a seven-speed transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive – enough, Audi says,to power the Q3 Jinlong Yufeng to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Audi unveils Q3 Jinlong Yufeng in Beijing

Audi unveils Q3 Jinlong Yufeng in Beijing

The Jaguar engine lineup is about to get a lot more interesting with the addition of a pair of forced-induction powerplants. The engines, announced in time for this week’s Beijing Motor Show, will be mated to efficient eight-speed ZF transmissions.

The more powerful of the two is a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 making 340 horsepower or 380 hp, depending on the configuration. The all-aluminum V6 is derived from Jaguar’s 5.0-liter V8 and it features quad cams, direct injection and a Roots-type twin vortex supercharger with a water-cooled intercooler. The 3.0-liter boasts a 10.5:1 compression ratio, up significantly from the 9.5:1 ratio of the supercharged 5.0-liter.

Jaguar also notes in its press release that the 380-horsepower version of the supercharged 3.0-liter will rest under the hood of a high-output variant of the upcoming F-Type roadster (pictured above) when it arrives sometime in 2013.

Jaguar will also offer the 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four that’s already available in the Range Rover Evoque. Jaguar hasn’t announced which vehicles will receive the efficient 2.0 turbo, but the new F-Type seems a good bet. Scroll down to read over Jaguar’s press release.

Continue reading Jaguar announces new supercharged V6 and turbo four-cylinder

Jaguar announces new supercharged V6 and turbo four-cylinder

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That age-old adage is once again proven by the video you’ll see below. In a classic battle of Chevy versus Ford, the 1981 Blazer SUV is pitted against the Ford Bronco in a dealer training video designed to give sales staff all the information they needed to sway customers toward the Bowtie and away from the Blue Oval.

The checklist sounds familiar. Horsepower and torque, fuel economy, standard features versus optional equipment, payload and cargo space – each of these categories are compared. Seems the issues that matter most to car-buying consumers haven’t changed much in 30 years. Scroll down and watch the video to take a stroll down memory lane.

Continue reading Chevrolet training video extols the virtues of the 1981 Blazer

Chevrolet training video extols the virtues of the 1981 Blazer

In the wake of images leaking earlier this week, Mercedes-Benz rolled out its Concept Style Coupe at the Transmission LA:AV CLUB at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), yesterday. The “CSC” is expected to officially make its world debut at the Beijing Motor Show next week, but the sneak preview gave us an early look at the four-door in the flesh.

Expected to ride atop Mercedes’ new MFA platform, the CSC is a close-to-production glimpse at the automaker’s long-awaited compact sedan (expected to be called CLA when it arrives). Styled like a smaller version of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the CSC features sleek and aggressive bodywork over 20-inch turbine-style wheels. The roof features a large panoramic glass panel allowing plenty of light to spill into the four-place cabin. Under the hood of the concept is a turbocharged four-cylinder, rated at 211 horsepower, sending its power to the automaker’s 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

The art exhibit, open free of charge through May 6, is an interesting audio visual experience curated by Mike D of the Beastie Boys. The Mercedes-Benz CSC is shown in a dark room under banks of halogen lights that are choreographed to illuminate to the music (only audible by wearing headsets hung from the rafters). It was nearly impossible to take pictures, but we have updated our gallery with some supplied photography. Don’t forget to check out the press release below.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe shows up at Transmission LA: AV Club

Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe shows up at Transmission LA: AV Club

Commercials are a great way to learn about culture; since a seller has maybe 30 seconds to get something across, you see what people think is the most important thing to convey and the best way to convey it.

Having said that, we have no clue what’s going on with some of the South Korean ads for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. In a couple of them, a genteel pair – we’ll call them Run CUV and Jam Master Hyundai – lays down some mad lyrics, presumably about the Santa Fe. When they’re not rapping, they’re set in short episodic dramas to demonstrate the crossover’s features. We’re not sure if the pair are famous in Korea and frankly, we have no idea what they’re talking about, but they look fun while they’re doing it.

Scroll down for your Asian commercial fix for the day. You won’t be disappointed.

Continue reading Hyundai raps rhapsodic about new Santa Fe in Korean ads

Hyundai raps rhapsodic about new Santa Fe in Korean ads

In the market for an entry-level sedan from a premium automaker? Your choices are few and far between, it seems. There’s the Lexus CT 200h and Audi A3, but those are both hatchbacks. That leaves the Buick Verano, which, by all accounts, is a credible entry into the segment. If that’s not quite your style, Acura hopes to tempt you with its new 2013 ILX, and it has announced that the base model will start at $25,900 (*plus $895 destination fee for all models).

For that starting price, buyers will get standard features like Bluetooth connectivity, keyless access with push-button start, Pandora internet radio interface and a moonroof. If you want a leather interior, 17-inch alloy wheels, upgraded audio and Acura’s excellent multi-view backup camera system, your ILX will start at $29,200 with the base 150-horsepower 2.0-liter engine and five-speed automatic transmission.

Acura has two more engine offerings for the ILX, including a 1.5-liter hybrid model that achieves estimated fuel economy ratings of 39 city and 38 highway for $28,900. On the other end of the spectrum is a 2.4-liter model, which pumps out 201 horsepower and is available only with a six-speed manual gearbox. A fully loaded ILX with the Technology package, which includes navigation and an internal hard drive for music storage, will cost $31,400 with the 2.0 or $34,400 with the hybrid drivetrain. Sadly, it’s not possible to order the 2.4-liter engine with the top-level Technology kit.

See the complete pricing breakdown in Acura’s official press release by scrolling below, and stay tuned for our complete first drive review of the ILX early next week.

Continue reading Acura prices 2013 ILX from $25,900*

Acura prices 2013 ILX from $25,900*

We last saw the Aston Martin V12 Zagato on the floor at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It was hardly an opportune moment to relish the automaker’s stunning new two-seater, however, as we were forced to dodge the crowds while shooting images for our live gallery. Wanting to get a closer second look at the exceedingly rare exotic and shoot a more detailed photo montage, we visited Galpin Aston Martin in Southern California for a private viewing (astute readers may recall that several years ago we visted Galpin’s exclusive “vault room” to check out the Aston Martin One-77).

Beneath this example’s glossy Diavolo Red paint, mounted within the all-alloy aluminum monocoque platform, is the powerful running gear of a V12 Vantage (a car we called “an intoxicating machine masterfully engineered to gratify every emotion in a car enthusiast’s soul” in our V12 Vantage review). In a nutshell, the rear-wheel drive V12 Zagato features a naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12 (rated at 510 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque), a rear mid-mounted transaxle and a traditional six-speed manual gearbox. Ever so slightly lighter than the V12 Vantage, the V12 Zagato will crack the 60 mph benchmark in about four seconds and not run out of steam until about 190 mph. Scroll down to continue reading.

Continue reading Private showing gives us a closer look at the Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Private showing gives us a closer look at the Aston Martin V12 Zagato

“It’s time to say goodbye,” said AvtoVAZ spokesman Igor Burenkov to Russia’s RIA Novosti about the end of Lada 2107 production, which happened this week. The Lada 2107, also called the Lada Riva, has been plying Russian roads since before Ronald Reagan started redesigning walls. It’s one of the cars you’re most likely to see in grainy film and video clips from the days before Glastnost.

As you might suspect, the Lada 2107 has Fiat origins that go back to the early 1970s. This old comrade has been wound down to make room for the cars Lada is calling “new” classics. Newer Lada models like the Granta, Priora and Kalina are going to move into the Izhavto production facility that had been building the “Seven,” and Lada is expecting demand for the newer cars to continue rising as more features and body style variations continue to be rolled out. До свидания, друг.

Lada 2107 reaches the end of its road