When you buy beef jerky, some Bridgestones or a Bulgari, you don’t spend six hours researching how much the retailer paid for the product. For that matter, when you buy a building, you don’t ask how much the builder put into it. When it comes to cars, though, consumers can never be deterred from scrutinizing the dealer’s actual costs. Hence the spotlight shined on dealer ‘holdback,’ which is a sum of money paid to a dealer by the manufacturer after a car is sold.
, holdback makes up anywhere from one to three percent of the price of a car. In the most nefarious interpretation, holdback is a built-in rebate that spikes the dealer’s invoice price. If a manufacturer wanted $20,000 from a dealer for a car, knowing that it might need to pay a two-percent holdback once the car is sold, the manufacturer makes the dealer pay $20,400 for the car. That $20,400 is now the official invoice price that appears on the breakdown. Once the car is sold, the dealer gets a check for $400.
Holdback is an inexact number. It could be pegged to the base MSRP or the configured invoice or the configured MSRP, for instance. But it can allow the dealer a number of follow-on benefits, including being able to sell a car at invoice price and still make money. Not that a dealer would let it go for invoice, and $400 isn’t much on a $20K transaction, but you get the point. TrueCar has a table of holdback percentages for various manufacturers, but be as wary of having too much information as too little.
Steve Haywood with the Bowler Nemesis – Click above for high-res images
Bowler is not a well-known automaker, and with good reason. Its vehicles, based on mechanicals, aren’t street legal. They’re rally-raid off-road racing machines; Defenders with an attitude. But Bowler has big plans, ushered in by new ownership and management.
The company was recently up by CPP – the same Coventry-based coachbuilder that now owns as well. Bowler’s new managing director Steve Haywood comes to the company from his previous position as chief engineer at Land Rover, so he knows a thing or two about producing capable off-roaders.
Company founder Drew Bowler will remain responsible for the motorsports division, but the arrival of Haywood means Bowler will mount an assault on the street-legal performance SUV market.
His first responsibility will be launching the new Bowler Nemesis, which will bring the company to the road-legal consumer market for the first time. The Nemesis prototype will be on hand at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend.
Ford Cobra Snakehead concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Andrus Cipriani is known for spitting out some slick concepts via his computer. His latest effort? This new Cobra Snakehead. It’s inspired by the original Cobra’s big engine/small car philosophy, but it has a hardtop and updated bodywork.
Cipriani doesn’t say which Ford lump would be called upon to power this beast, but we think the would do nicely. Of course, this car is entirely theoretical; it’s just a design study from Cipriani. But we sure hope Ford’s paying attention.
Ford Cobra Snakehead concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Andrus Cipriani is known for spitting out some slick concepts via his computer. His latest effort? This new Cobra Snakehead. It’s inspired by the original Cobra’s big engine/small car philosophy, but it has a hardtop and updated bodywork.
Cipriani doesn’t say which Ford lump would be called upon to power this beast, but we think the would do nicely. Of course, this car is entirely theoretical; it’s just a design study from Cipriani. But we sure hope Ford’s paying attention.
Husqvarna Nuda 900R – Click above for high-res image gallery
Husqvarna has taken all there is to love about the beating heart in the BMW F800GS, stripped it naked, cranked up the heat and stuck it in a new super moto. Meet the 2012 Nuda 900R. The 900cc parallel twin now turns out a heady 100 horsepower, and at 385 pounds dry, the bike is guaranteed to the kind of machine momma warned you about. Solid details beyond those scant specs are still scarce at the moment. It’s unclear exactly which markets will get the joy of calling the Nuda 900R their very own or how much the bike will cost when lands.
Chances are this creation will have an easy time locking horns with the likes of the Ducati Multistrada in the canyons and on quick commutes. Like the Italian, this Husky rocks few fairings and plenty of suspension travel – just our cup of tea.
We’ll get to see the next , codenamed 991, during September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and among the things we have already discovered is the possibility of . brought a few folks down to South Africa for rides in some pre-production cars, and Car and Driver has shared some of the tidbits, among which are confirmation of that seven-speed manual in a 400-horsepower Carrera S, as well as a hybrid drivetrain to be fitted in 2016.
The base Carrera will receive 350 hp from a 3.4-liter engine that C/D claims it will share with the S. That engine would be a drop of 0.2 liters from the current Carrera, but would have five more horsepower than the current car. The S engine stays at 3.8 liters but adds 15 more horses to its output. Both transmissions – PDK dual-clutch and manual – will get launch control, and the 991 range will have electronic parking brakes.
Being a 911, don’t expect the overall design to change too much, but the 991 will be 2.5 inches longer and its wheelbase will be stretched by a whopping four inches. Front and rear tracks are also said to be beefier. That could help explain that Inside Line, who was also in South Africa, describes feeling in the passenger seat during some hard driving. The application of electric steering, though, will have everyone wondering if Porsche can maintain its lock on the world’s best steering feel. And if you want to know what the interior looks like, head over to for a couple of shots. Think . Naturally.
Jaguar E-type sculpture for 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed – Click above for high-res gallery
Every year, the Goodwood Festival of Speed selects one automaker as its featured marque and commissions a in its honor. With the iconic Jaguar E-Type celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Goodwood has picked for the seat of prestige at this year’s event, and this is the installation that will do the job.
Inspired by the E-Type’s shape, rather than crafted from it as other sculptures have been in years past, this installation is made from half a kilometer of steel tubing made for gas pipelines. The material was supplied by Jaguar’s sister company, Tata Steel, with each tube measuring nearly four feet in diameter with walls half an inch thick.
Like the pieces that preceded it, it was crafted by Goodwood’s sculptor-in-residence Gerry Judah. All in all the piece stands over 90 feet tall and weighs 150 metric tons, took 10 days for a team of bridge-builders to install and will be displayed along with Jaguar’s current range as well as the C-X75 turbine-hybridconcept car at the event. Full press release after the jump.
A handful of trucks and sport utility vehicles need to head on in to their local dealerships. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just issued a pair of recall notice for 7,507 vehicles as part of two separate safety actions.
The first covers 6,768 and 2011 model year pickup trucks. According to NHTSA, an ornery transmission adjustment clip might not keep the shift cable in the correct position. This could cause drivers to think there truck is in park, when in fact it’s just waiting to roll away in neutral.
A smaller recall notice has been issued for 739 trucks and SUVs due to a steering shaft bolt that’s been improperly tightened. If loose, it could make for rather difficult steering and cause an accident. This recall affects the , Escalade ESV, , Suburban, , GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.
2012 BMW 3 Series M Sport Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery
has released information on a pair of new special-edition models available in Europe. The 2012 3 Series Exclusive Edition will offer buyers new 18-inch, lightweight V-Spoke wheels as well as a unique Mineral Grey exterior paint. Inside, the cabin is wrapped in Dakota leather in either Pearl Grey with contrast stitching or black. Bamboo grain anthracite wood trim adds a bit of specialness as well.
Of greater interest to enthusiasts is news that BMW will also offer customers a new 2012 3 Series M Sport Edition with a slightly sharper performance edge. BMW turned its M engineers lose on the vehicle’s suspension and a host of exterior and interior tweaks help set both the coupe and convertible models apart from the rest of their pack.
The M Sport Edition features a set of 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels of its very own, and shadow line window finishers join a body-color rear diffuser. Indoors, an M Sport steering wheel and stainless pedals are standard equipment, as are Dakota leather seats with blue contrast stitching. Let’s hope these two specials make it to North America. for the full press blast and check ‘em out in the gallery.
During a recent dealer meeting held by in Las Vegas, the Japanese automaker reconfirmed that the launch of the is still on track for this fall, that the Prius C will be headed our way in early 2012 and that the , along with the , are coming sometime next year, as well.
But it was Toyota’s confirmation that the electric Scion iQ will hit U.S. dealerships in 2012 that caught us by surprise. Why’s that? Prior to this announcement, Toyota had not officially committed to a launch date for the electrified iQ. Now, it seems, the all-electric Scion iQ will be America-bound in less than 18 month’s time.
Toyota’s electrified minicar, with its estimated range of 50 miles, will face fierce competition from vehicles like the , ” , and, if , its 100-mile rated electric. With electric vehicles already having been condemned for not hitting advertised range ratings, one has to wonder if Scion’s electric will be a success in the States. Of course, the battery-powered Scion iQ’s MSRP has yet to be announced and the vehicle’s price is sure to influence potential buyers one way or the other.
Car bomb explodes in Thailand – Click above to watch videos
A squad of explosive experts were called on to a dangerous scene in Thailand’s Narathiwat province near Bangkok today. According to MSNBC, a trio of roadside bombs detonated, killing two and wounding 13. A group of explosive experts were called in to defuse the third of those bombs, but it exploded, injuring seven officers.
The horrific incident was caught with both still photography and video. The footage shows a bomb expert cautiously approaching the suspected when an explosive device – believed to have been planted there by Islamic insurgents – was triggered.
The videos are graphic, but they also show the protective ability of the bomb squad’s gear. The bomb squad expert who approached the vehicle was injured, but survived. to watch the pair of video clips.
2012 BMW 6 Series variants – Click above for high-res image gallery
is expanding its line. The automaker has just announced information on the 2012 640d Coupe and 640d Convertible. The two-door oil-burners aren’t expected to make it Stateside, and that’s a pity, as they make use of a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six with 313 horsepower and a hefty 464 pound-feet of torque. All that twist helps the coupe hit 60 mph in around 5.5 seconds while returning 51.4 mpg on the Imperial scale. BMW is also offering the 6 Series with xDrive for the first time as well, but only on 650i models. Thankfully, buyers can expect to see the all-wheel-drive coupe in North American dealers later this year.
If chugging along with a diesel under your hood isn’t quite your speed, you’ll be happy to know that BMW is also offering a 6 Series M Sport for 2012. The package includes special aerodynamic additions as well as LED fog lamps and 19-inch, double-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. Inside, sport seats are trimmed in Alcantara and leather as well as an M Sport steering wheel. We think the more aggressive M Sport look helps mitigate the 6 Series’ somewhat unfortunate nose… what say you? Check it out in the gallery, to read the official verbiage and then weigh in with your thoughts in Comments.
We back in January and, despite a couple of BMW’s “I’m a niche car” choices for the model that are open to debate, largely enjoyed the 6 Series Convertible. Despite a serious keys-in-hand base price of $91,375 for the skybox 650i, the 6 Series is perhaps the best overall package in this small segment of near-millionaire large convertibles and coupes (i.e. sub-/).
Just considering sheer finish and accommodation for four real-sized adults, this new 2+2 BMW fairly well beats the Jaguar XK, , and , whether with or without a metal roof. The lineup suffers by comparison in total-packageness, though its discount pricing will convince some, and none of the premium Japanese brands currently offer anything even close in ambition to this latest 6 Series.
McLaren MP4-12C GT3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Goodwood Festival of Speed kicks off this weekend, and it promises to be a veritable smorgasbord of high-performance machinery. Not the least of them will be the new MP4-12C GT3, which McLaren has been fine-tuning since its debut barely two months ago.
Following extensive ongoing development work, McLaren has given the 12C GT3 a new radiator and gearbox cooler, as well as a retuned aerodynamics package with a new front splitter, rear wing and diffuser, louvered fenders and door blade, all of which promise to help the first GT racer produced by McLaren since the F1 GTR running fast and running long ahead of the pack.
To support the field of 20 cars that will be fielded by privateers starting next season, the Woking-based outfit has also launched the new McLaren GT division in conjunction with the CRS Racing Team.
The updated GT3 will run in its latest form up the hill at the Goodwood estate this weekend, and to mark the occasion, McLaren has released a fresh batch of high-resolution images which we’ve added to the launch photos. Check ‘em out along with the press release .
2012 Holden Colorado – Click above for high-res image gallery
It’s winter time in the land down under, and has arrived at the 2011 Melbourne Motor Show with a handful of new Holden models. Australians will soon see the 2012 Holden Colorado, 2012 Barina and 2011 Cruze Hatch arriving on dealer lots.
The Australian Colorado gets buff body lines and stylish LED running lamps in the bumper (at least on premium trims). Holden’s Sonic, known in Oz as the Barina, is powered by the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine we get here, which can be paired with a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Finally, the 2011 Holden Cruze Hatch is the five-door we would love to see arrive stateside wearing a Bowtie.
The Holden Cruze Hatch has already hit UK and Korean showrooms in its Chevrolet guise. The diesel-powered Holden Colorado goes on sale next year. Expect the Barina to arrive towards the end of 2011.
Dive into all three Holden vehicles by clicking past the jump for the full press release on each. Also, be sure to look through the galleries below.
2011 Chevrolet Impala interior – Click above for a high-res image gallery
The six-place sedan is coming very close to joining the Passenger Pigeon. Anyone younger than about thirty years old isn’t likely to have memories of straddling the transmission tunnel in the middle of the front seat, trying to keep knees out of the hungry teeth of radio pushbuttons or HVAC controls.
In an opinion piece for the Detroit Free Press, Mark Phelan ponders this phenomenon, and notes that big coupes have already gone extinct, with seemingly providing the last gasp of each format. There are several reasons for this; most mainstream sedans have transverse-mounted powertrains and front-wheel drive, which means no hump to straddle. And with the death of Ford’s , there’s only the 2011 Chevrolet Impala available for buyers seeking a front bench seat and six-passenger capacity in a sedan.
The attrition is mostly due to changing consumer tastes. While bench-seated sedans were once the kings of the road, car buyers have found better solutions for moving a sextuplet of people. Jim Hall of Michigan’s 2953 Analytics notes that baby boomers “didn’t embrace their parents’ sedans,” preferring instead to go for crossovers and minivans.
The change in buyer preferences, and the fact that a sedan is about the most uncomfortable way to transport six people, may spell permanent doom for the six-seat sedan. It’s not going to surprise anyone if the 2013 Chevrolet Impala has a center console and no optional bench seat… and it’s not likely anyone will miss it.
AC Schnitzer BMW X3 – Click above for high-res image gallery.
If you’re one of the tens of people eagerly awaiting the arrival of the , there may be an alternative that’s ready to go right away. AC Schnitzer has gotten hold of the and applied its custom touches to the compact crossover. A body kit, wheels, rear spoiler and custom exhaust help the up-fitted fat wagon stand out in the crossover sea of similarity. AC Schnitzer’s engine gurus have also bumped power from 184 horsepower up to 218. That’s for the 20d, and an upgrade for the 30d is also in the works.
AC Schnitzer has taken an extra step with this particular X3. Rather than wait for a spoiled teenager to pilot the front end into tree, AC Schnitzer has subjected the car to a series of “crash tests.” to watch a cylindrical projectile repeatedly fired at the nose of this X3, and turn up the speakers to enjoy some How It’s Made-grade background music.
1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider chassis #0492M – Click above for high-res image gallery
Classic cars change hands all the time. What brings them to the spotlight is usually one of several factors. It might have a track record distinguished by race wins. It might be in particularly good shape. It might have had a starring role in a major motion picture. It might be a particular rarity from a small production run, or maybe it served to showcase the manufacturer’s offerings at a major auto show. Having all these factors come together on one specific automobile is a rarity, but that’s what we’re looking at with this stunning 1955 750 Monza Spider.
One of only 35 built, Ferrari displayed this Spider at the 1955 Brussels Motor Show, after which it was brought to America by famed importer Luigi Chinetti who sold it to his rival importer John von Neumann in Los Angeles. Neumann set the Monza on an aggressive race program up and down the West Coast that saw it win twice and score another nine podiums at various sportscar racing events, bringing on board, among others, no less a talent than Phil Hill to man the wheel.
Most notably, the car was driven by Fred Astair in a fictionalized post-apocalyptic grand prix in the movie On The Beach. Since then, chassis 0492M has been part of several prestigious collections, but after a comprehensive two-year restoration is now heading to the auction block at Pebble Beach, where RM Auctions will be putting it up for grabs with prices reportedly expected to top $3 million. With a 260-horsepower 3.0-liter DOHC four similar to that found in the that RM , this Monza Spider is described by one noted Ferrari expert as the best she’s ever seen.
for more details in the auction listing and scope out the spectacular high-resolution images in the gallery for a closer look.
Lotus Exige Cup 260 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The ambition in the Hethel offices of appears to know no bounds, its road car program rivaled only by its expanding racing operations.
The British automaker already participates, in one manner or another, in Formula 1, IndyCar, GP3 and GT racing. The company is also said to be working on a new LMP2 program to challenge for the second-tier Le Mans category. But before that comes around, reports indicate that Lotus is working on an in-house rally project.
Rather than compete in the top-tier WRC or IRC classes, reports suggest that a production-based is in the works for privateer entries, presumably for tarmac rallies, set to debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Despite the fact that the Exige has gone out of production, it remains a popular choice among privateers who have Lotus road cars converted to rally specifications by independent outfitters, a slice of whose pie Lotus apparently is keen to take.
The growing motorsport division at Lotus is headed by one , who followed CEO Dany Behar over from , where he was once the F1 team’s manager. And, like his former boss Jean Todt, Berro comes from a background as a rally co-pilot, navigating a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus through the Group 2 Italian Rally Championship in the early ’80s.
Forza 4 is set to hit stores on October 11th, and Turn 10 Studios wants you ordering the game before the leaves start to change color. A limited collector’s edition has been announced, which is chock full of goodies, both virtual and real. For $79.99, Xboxers will receive a special tin that contains the game, a 96-page photo book titled Cars of Forza Motorsport 4 presented by Top Gear, vinyl stickers and a slew of downloadable content.
Those who opt for the limited collector’s edition will be able to download the VIP Car Pack and Ship Bonus Car Pack. The former includes the , Ferrari 458 Challenge, , Noble M600 and . The Cars of the Ship Pack are a , Koenigsegg Agera, 1997 Lexus SC300, and Tesla Roadster. A pack of 10 muscles cars will also be available, as well the winning cars in a Forza-sponsored design challenge contest.
Speaking of BMW, the serves as the cover car for the limited collector’s edition version of the game. The furious four-door is, of course, also available within the game.
The Australian Colorado gets buff body lines and stylish LED running lamps in the bumper (at least on premium trims). Holden’s Sonic, known in Oz as the Barina, is powered by the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine we get here, which can be paired with a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Finally, the 2011 Holden Cruze Hatch is the five-door we would love to see arrive stateside wearing a Bowtie.
