Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton doing the Magic Bus thing to Silverstone – Click above to watch video
Now that the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team has two World Championship Winning drivers who don’t hiss and break into hives when they hear each others’ names, principal sponsor Vodafone is making the most of it. – and we use that word loosely – one of their own cars. More recently, for a spot of fun before Silverstone, Hamilton and Button hopped into a 1966 VW Camper and drove from the McLaren Technical Center to the track, stopping at a gas station along the way to hand out race tickets. You’ll find the shenanigans in the video . Great tip, Focus!
Of all the names and model designations used by in its illustrious history, there are two that stand out more than others: the and Speedster. And it’s easy to see why. The Porsche 911 has become the de facto sportscar since its introduction in 1963 and many people simply refer to the seminal 356 convertible as the Porsche Speedster.
Might Porsche be working on a new machine that would combine these two icons? According Auto Express, the answer is yes. Take it all with an appropriately sized grain of salt for now, but the rumormill would have Porsche building exactly 100 911 Speedsters for roughly $300,000 (£200,000) each.
That princely sum will reportedly buy a 911 boasting a cut-down windshield and racing-style sloping rear humps behind each passenger headrest. The German automaker’s well-known 3.8-liter flat six would provide power, boosted 17 horses over the mill found in the for a total of 402 horsepower.
Rear-wheel drive over all-wheel drive should make traditionalists happy, and a supposed 0 to 60 times of about 4.5 seconds and top speed of 190 miles per hour ought to please everyone else. Also, Porsche is reportedly cooking up wide-body non-Speedsters that will use the same engine and be available in either coupe or cabriolet forms with a much more reasonable price tag.
Exclusive image of the Motus MST-01 – Click above for high-res image gallery
America has quite a heritage of classic motorcycles. Interestingly enough, though, just about all of America’s great motorcycles share a remarkably similar ethos. From , undoubtedly the standard bearer of American motorcycledesign, to Indian and even to new players like Victory, bikes coming from The Land of the Free have historically been designed to cruise along in a straight line in style.
There have been exceptions to the rule – most notably being the recently deceased Buell – and another new motorcycle manufacturer is looking to add its name to America’s storied past on two wheels: . Motus is doing things drastically different from all other American motorcycle brands currently in existence by starting out with a completely new and innovative engine design… except that it’s not entirely new at all.
In fact, the powerplant currently going through the finishing stages of its development was designed by Katech and Pratt and Miller of Racing fame and would look much more familiar inside the engine bay of an American muscle car than a motorcycle. Intriguing, to say the least. As is the wrapper for this exciting powerplant, a sport tourer unlike anything else seen on American roads.
And there’s more. Lots more. to find out what else Motus has in store for its new engine and motorcycle platform and to see the KMV4 engine in action.
Peugeot 508 – Click above for high-res image gallery
While some automakers are diversifying, others are consolidating. Like Peugeot, for example, which is preparing to replace both the 407 and 607 with an all-new 508. The big sedan is set to debut in a couple of months at the biennial Paris Motor Show, but after found their way to our desks a couple of weeks ago, this first batch of official-looking images have already leaked their way out and are circulating the interwebs as you read these words.
Previewed by the at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and based on sister-company Citroën’s C5 sedan, the new 508 has appeared in both sedan and wagon formats. Full details will undoubtedly be released sometime in the next couple of months as the Paris salon approaches, but in the meantime Francophiles can check out the images in the gallery below for a closer look. Thanks for the tip, Mono!
Fiat 500 gathering at Biltmore Estate – Click above for high-res image gallery
There was undoubtedly some freaking out at the annual Fiat Freakout held at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC this year. The Freakout is more respectably referred to as the annual gathering of Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited, where owners and fans show their vintage love. This year, Fiat North America CEO Laura Soave personally rewarded the assembly with news that they would get first dibs on the first five hundred Fiat 500s to come to America, called the “Prima Edizione.”
The special allotment will come in White, Red and Gray, get manual transmissions and special badging, and buyers will be able to choose their build number. Assuming the club members don’t sponge up every one of Prima Edizione models, Fiat says it will give others a chance to get hold of one at “a later date” at . More details in the press release after the jump.
If Automotive News is correct – and they usually are – it looks like won’t make it to Thanksgiving this year. Heck, they won’t even make it through Halloween according to a new report. AN is saying that three dealers have come with forward with news of the automaker’s plans. What they’re saying is that the 71-year-old brand will start winding down production at the end of September. The ancient Grand Marquis gets the axe on Sept. 30, the Mountaineer on Oct. 1, the Milan on Oct. 2, and the Mariner on Oct. 3.
Since announcing on June 2, hasn’t given any firm dates on when any action would be taken. Dealers did submit their final factory orders last month and those orders will be filled and delivered to dealerships in about 30 days. After that, it’s all dealer trades if a particular establishment needs more cars or SUVs. All 1,712 Mercury dealerships carry at least one other brand, so it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will close, but some are certainly going to get out of the game. We’ll be sure to hasten any message we get from Ford to you as more news becomes available.
PSA Peugeot-Citroën already sells its wares in China and has a joint-venture with Dongfeng, but has now added another joint venture partner in a €395 million ($499M U.S.) 50-50 tie-up with Chang’an Automobile Group. The union will eventually have cars like the Citroën DS3 and the company’s engines and light trucks built in the country, using two current Chang’an factories, renovating one more and building another.
The difference in the two joint ventures is that Dongfeng makes and markets cars under the Peugeot and Citroën brands. Peugeot-Citroën and Chang’an, however, are creating a third brand together. What kind of vehicles that third brand will sell hasn’t been disclosed. With Dongfeng and Chang’an, Peugeot-Citroën will have 650,000-vehicle production capacity in China, but Peugeot is considering raising it’s 450,000-unit capacity with Dongfeng. The French company sold 176,000 cars in China through June, a 49% jump over last year.
Big Brother really wants to get into your future vehicle. Intel is currently hard at work on the next generation of vehicle , the infamous that has clamored for since dominated headlines earlier this year. , these new black boxes may do a lot more than just record things like vehicle speed and whether you’re wearing your seatbelt. Intel’s prototype will incorporate GPS and all of a vehicle’s onboard cameras for real-time mapping of the road conditions.
As if that’s not intrusive enough, Intel proposes that the EDRs record up to 30 seconds of interior video as well. While this level of information would likely prove helpful in determining who’s at fault in an accident, there’s the prickly question of who owns that information once it’s stored in the vehicle. Does it belong to vehicle manufacturers as it does now? Should the government be able to lay claim to it without a warrant? Will insurance companies be able to use EDR data any way they see fit, or does it belong to the owner of the vehicle? This could get ugly, and it probably will before all’s said and done.
Virginia Tech takes on the Blind Driver Challenge – Click above to watch video
Researchers at Virginia Tech are teaming with the National Federation of the Blind to build two Ford Escape test vehicles designed specifically for visually-impaired drivers. After building a small buggy last year equipped with an audio steering wheel and various other “non-visual interfaces,” the team decided to take a stab at going full-size. Drivers will use a vibrating vest and gloves, as well as a tablet-type device that shoots puffs of compressed air to represent the road course.
If you’re skeptical about allowing the , you’re not alone. Researchers say the end goal of the project isn’t to start a blind-driving movement, but to explore and further develop blind-interface technology. The work could lead to innovations that could in turn be applied to other aspects of visually-impaired life.
Virginia Tech’s Ford Escape test vehicles will head to the International Speedway next January, where they’re scheduled to put on a full demonstration. to see a quick video on the Blind Driver Challenge.
Kia’s UK Soul Echo, Picanto and Rio special editions – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Kia Soul has another set of special-edition duds to wear in the UK. This time it’s called the Soul Echo, latest in the Soul Originals line, following such others as the , , Samba and Shaker. The Echo is offered in Clear White or Quartz Black Metallic, with stripes and accents that make them mirror images; e.g., the white Echo gets black alloys, the black Echo gets white alloys. Interior kit has been upgraded to black leather throughout, along with a beefier audio system; Bluetooth and iPod compatibility; and reversing sensors, in addition to a few other electro-gizmo add-ons. It’s priced at on the road.
A little further down the food chain are Domino editions of the Kia Picanto and Rio. Both superminis are bathed in white or black domino paint jobs and add a few options such as air conditioning. The Picanto Domino goes for OTR , the Rio Domino for OTR. Follow the jump fo Kia’s press release, and view the cars’ metallic monochrome goodness in the high-res gallery below.
Battered yet again by a series of embarrassing recalls, accusations of a cover-up and its collapse in a widely-watched quality survey, is taking an unusual step it hopes will bring things back under control.
The Japanese automaker has long prided itself on having arguably the quickest product development system in the industry, something that it claims can result in vehicles that are more in tune with fast-shifting consumer tastes. But the downside is that this approach – which can bring a car to market in barely a year – may also be resulting in cut corners when it comes to quality.
Some warn the focus on speed has created a sort of see-no/hear-no/speak-no-evil climate in which program managers are under pressure to deliver on time, no matter what, and subordinates fear the wrath of God if they report a problem that could cause a delay.
Now, says Toyota, it is stretching out its development cycle by an extra four weeks to make more quality checks. Whether it will encourage employees to take risks by reporting problems is another matter. If they can’t feel safe revealing, say, a faulty engine valve spring, what use is the new policy?
Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of , and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.
1986 BMW M3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
It’s been 25 years since the first hit the scene. During that time, the car has evolved from a bantamweight fighter capable of taking on heavy hitters of the sports car world to the yardstick that the rest of the segment is measured. In the process, it has shed its bulging, steroid-riddled fenders for smoother sheet metal and abandoned its four cylinder engine for an out of this world aluminum mill with twice the pots, but its essence as a well-balanced sports coupe remains.
The transformation wasn’t easy. sent the car through innumerable trials on the tracks and trails of the motorsports world, and the mean little quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with on the grid.
BMW has commemorated its wicked child’s birthday by recounting the tale of the car’s conception. Don’t worry: it’s a lot less repulsive than listening to your parents yak on about how you came around. The tale is filled with the origins of the car’s 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, including where the engineers managed to source parts and the like. It’s well worth your time if you’ve got a second. Check for the full tale.
The car universe isn’t without its irony. For instance, it’s something of a tragedy that just after the sun has officially set on the , finally manages to get the ball rolling on its Viper Cup. The race series will feature a total of 10 events held at five tracks across the country, starting this weekend. The rules are pretty simple: entrants must take to the field in more or less identical 2010 models. The winner walks away with $6,500 in cold hard cash, plus another $1,000 in Mopar Vouchers for parts and the like. Prizes trickle down from there.
Interestingly enough, the cable network Versus will be broadcasting each event in a 30-minute show format, so while the action won’t be live, we’ll still be able to enjoy it from the comfort of our air-conditioned living rooms. Dodge has also thrown in a few “celebrity” wildcards into the fray, including Shaun Bailey, the associate engineering editor at Road & Track, and Sergent Michael Kohn, of Olympic bobsled renown. Hey, we didn’t say they were exactly A-listers, did we? for the press release.
Sha Na Na tribute to the Chrysler PT Cruiser – Click above to watch video
Hear that? It’s the lid on the dustbin of history about to close on Chrysler’s , which . In case you don’t remember how popular the retro hatch used to be, in 2006, none other than composed a song about “The Cat in the PT Cruiser,” ’cause “he’s where it’s at.”
That, and the fact that the final example being made today looks almost exactly like the ones featured in this video might just answer all of your questions about why the once maniacally popular PT Cruiser has a date with Charon this evening. for a look at history.
Gallery:
Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Classic Recreations Ford Mustang GT500CR – Click above for high-res image gallery
The crew from is in hot water. The shop has been cranking out amazingly clean reproductions of the Gone in 60 Seconds and other sharp ponies for years now, but according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the company may also be guilty of VIN fraud. According to the city’s KOCO TV station, officials are charging that the shop has been pulling VIN numbers from older cars and then attaching them to new chassis. That process is illegal to begin with, but investigators claim that Classic Recreations then presented the new cars as the original articles – something that amounts to fraud.
The owner of the shop has admitted to knowing that the VIN swapping was going on, but claims that he didn’t know that the move was illegal. Either way, the OSBI has begun towing certain vehicles from the shop in order to discern which ones are shady. No one has been arrested just yet, but we’re guessing it won’t be too long before charges, civil or otherwise, are filed against the company.
Classic Recreations has been turning plain fastback into updated versions of their most high-strung iterations for a good while and charging heady figures for the work – up to $200,000 in some instances.
Paul Newman’s 1987 Nissan 300ZX IMSA GTO Racecar – Click above for image gallery
Chances are, you’ve probably thought about what exactly you would buy if you had money bleeding out of every bodily orifice. Allow us to add another candidate to the list: 1987 300ZX IMSA racecar. Yes, that Paul Newman – the 24 Hours of Le Mans finisher and champion. Now, we know past ownership isn’t reason enough to hand over $300,000, but that’s just fine. This car packs a walloping 750 horsepower from a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. The stock gearbox has been abandoned in favor of a Weismann five-speed, and the rear differential was replaced with a Stock Car Products piece. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Newman’s Own Z, this car was campaigned throughout 1987, landing a best place finish of third place at the same time. The following year, it was handed over to Scott Sharp, in whose capable hands it managed to rack up a multitude of wins. The car has been restored since then, and has only competed in a total of four vintage races since work was completed. Of those, Newman’s wicked Nissan managed to pull off three wins. Not too shabby. If you want it as badly as we do and have the means to procure it, the car is up for grabs on . Top tip, Ramin!
2011Nissan X-Trail 20GT – Click above for high-res image gallery
Our neighbors to the north may recall the X-Trail a little better than the rest of us. The Japanese manufacturer recently stopped sale of the SUV in , which a shame considering what’s on offer for 2011. Next year, buyers in other parts of the world will be able to snap up their X-Trail with an efficient clean-diesel engine bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. Power figures for the engine and auto trans combo are still MIA, but Nissan claims that the mill will be capable of power on par with a 3.5-liter V6.
The rest of the changes to the globe-wandering SUV are mostly aesthetic. Outside, the truck gets a slightly reworked front fascia, including the headlights, bumper and grille, along with LED tail lights. Inside, the driver is treated to larger gauges and a new vehicle information display, while passengers get to play with an all-new heated or cooled glove box. Looks like a little bundle of SUV joy to us. for the press release.
2011 Ford Explorer Teaser – Click above for high-res image gallery
is continuing to milk the social marketing cow for all its worth. The company has announced it an all-new 2011 Explorer to one lucky fan and slipped the web another teaser of the unibody ute. We say might because the whole shindig is dependent on whether or not the company can rustle up a total of 30,000 “likes” for the model. If the online community makes it happen, the company will pick one person who “likes” the new unibody ‘ute and hand over the keys. Something tells us they’ll have no problem finding that kind of participation.
The campaign is a lighter version of the company’s Movement, which managed to put 100 Fiestas into the hands of the movers and shakers of the social media universe for six months in order to build buzz about the car. We aren’t exactly market researchers, but we’d say the ploy was pretty successful. While the new scheme with the 2011 Explorer isn’t likely to see the same kind of attention, it will likely build interest in the SUV just the same.
1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery
Britain has produced more than its fair share of memorable classics, but arguably few as seductive as the classic of the 1960s. Introduced in 1963, the DB5 benefited from several generations of DB4 development, largely retaining the Touring bodywork but replacing the old 3.6-liter engine with a new 4.0-liter unit and several other advancements.
Over two years of production, over a thousand DB5s were built, the vast majority of coupes outselling the 12 Radford coachbuilt shooting brakes and the 23 convertibles. Of those few roadsters, only nine were outfitted with the more powerful Vantage engine, and one of them has just sold for a record £551,500 ($833k) at the Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The example in question, with original “VDB 5″ license plates, had three previous owners who saw it through two comprehensive restorations (one at the Aston Martin Works Service in 1992 and another at Aston Service Hamburg in 2004), and was displayed last year at Villa d’Este.
Along with the DB5 Vantage Convertible (the Volante name only coming into use on the subsequent DB6), Bonhams also auctioned off the 1937 featured in the Bond film “Never Say Never Again” for £221,500 ($335k), a rare Lister- for £232,500 ($351k) and several more, totaling £3,707,687 ($5.6m) in sales. Details in the press release after the jump, with photos of the beautiful Aston in the gallery below.
Battered yet again by a series of embarrassing recalls, accusations of a cover-up and its collapse in a widely-watched quality survey, is taking an unusual step it hopes will bring things back under control.
