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This week, the racing yacht VOR70 Maserati finished its run from Miami to New York City. Intended as a record attempt, skipper Giovanni Soldini elected not to have the final time of the transit ratified because he didn’t feel it was reflective of the real speed Maserati is capable of. (The boat had to deal with several weather systems on its way up from Florida, which slowed it. Another attempt at a better time will be made in the future.)

With the boat spending a few days at Manhattan’s North Cove marina, just outside the World Financial Center, Maserati invited us down to take a look in person. Maserati, a 70-foot, carbon-fiber monohull, contested the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race under a different moniker. It was subsequently overhauled, had its weight distribution adjusted, and made 10 percent lighter, after which it was reintroduced in its current form, with Maserati as its primary sponsor.

It’s capable of traveling at an incredible 40 knots under sail (hence the 46 mph reference in the headline), and what’s striking about Maserati in person is that in addition to the hull itself, almost everything else on board is made of carbon fiber: the wheels at the helm, the mast, the grinders and winches, and so on. I pointed at one of the big winches on deck and asked watch leader Brad Van Liew, “How much is that?”

“Around $80,000,” he answered. The whole boat apparently cost around $8,000,000. It’s the state of the art, and if you’re in Manhattan, you might still be able to check it out in person. It’s due to head out on another speed record attempt (destination: Cape Lizard, UK) in the coming days.

If you want to follow the ongoing exploits of VOR70 Maserati, bookmark Maserati.Soldini.it for news, blogs, video, the crew’s Twitter feeds, and more.

An $8 million “Maserati” that goes 46 mph

Here it is, folks. This is the car that was under cover in the spy shots we showed you a few days ago, and it’s going to be called the Fisker Atlantic when it debuts this week at the New York Auto Show. These two images of the car appeared today on a Czech website, and the rear shot clearly shows a license plate bearing the name “Atlantic.”

Previously called Project Nina, the Atlantic will slot in Fisker’s fledgeling lineup below the Karma, and reportedly cost considerably less. While any talk of pricing is just a guess at this point, rumor has it the Atlantic will be about half the price of the Karma, putting it squarely in the $45,000-$55,000 range. It’s a plug-in series hybrid, just like its big brother, but the Atlantic will reportedly use a turbocharged four-cylinder from BMW as its range-extending generator.

We’ll have more detailed information about the Atlantic when it officially debuts at the New York Auto Show this week, so come back for our live show coverage on Wednesday and Thursday, April 4-5.

Project Nina revealed as Fisker Atlantic, images leak early

It appears the right-wing wall against the Chevrolet Volt is starting to crumble. Following months of beating on the Volt, Fox News aired a puff piece on how great the Volt is earlier this week. Now we hear that former president George H.W. Bush has purchased a Volt for his son Neil as a birthday present. As our friend Chelsea Sexton said on Twitter, “Can’t wait to see what Fox News makes of that!”

In a sense, the Bush family should be among the first to buy one of GM’s plug-in hybrids, since the $7,500 federal tax credit that the car qualifies for was put into place during President George W. Bush’s second term. Since President Obama has also promised to buy a Volt when he gets out of office, that makes the Volt a vehicle that presidents from both major American parties can agree on.

Happy Birthday! President George H.W. Bush buys son Neil a Chevy Volt

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

Soon Ferrari will disocntinue the 599 as it ushers the new F12 Berlinetta into production, but until then the GTO holds its place as king of the hill. So before the ultimate incarnation of the 599 is swept off into retirement, Romeo Ferraris has developed a series of enhancements to the Ferrari flagship.

Given that Maranello has put just about everything it has into the 599 GTO, there wasn’t a lot of room to play around. So the tuner has released two small upgrades. Stage 1 encompasses a new air filter and exhaust for a 15-horsepower boost, while the Stage 2 kit remaps the ECU as well for 40-horsepower upgrade to bring overall output up to 710 hp – putting the final iteration of the 599 within spitting distance of its replacement’s 740 hp.

A series of extra carbon fiber components are also offered, but Romeo Ferraris apparently holds enough reverence for the donor cars to keep the modifications to a minimum.

Romeo Ferraris tweaks the Ferrari 599 GTO

We pity the fool who don’t think this is cool. Put aside the celebrity provenance of this “authentic replica,” allegedly “certified” by George Barris, for now and just take a look at the thing. It appears to be a spot-on knock-off of B.A. Baracus’ bad attitude van, the perfect midlife-crisis toy for anyone who grew up watching The A-Team. Imagine how cool it would be to drop the kids off at school in this?

Okay, the traffic snarl during drop-off time won’t clear out any faster, but when it comes to “manly vans,” you can’t top this custom 1983 Chevrolet G10. Wait, what’s that you say? B.A. drove a GMC? Of course he did. But this is a replica, and one that seems to have been built from a nearly identical Chevy donor.

The seller claims the van was built for none other than Mike Myers, he of Wayne’s World and Austin Powers fame. We’d like to see some documentation of this celebrity provenance, though it’s not the sort of thing that we’d see too much value in, regardless. We’re also curious about the last line of the sale ad: “Movie coming out in June!” It was back in June 2010 that the A-Team feature film debuted, which makes us think the seller might be willing to deal on his $20,000 price.

Find of the Day: “Authentic” A-Team van replica commissioned by Mike Myers

BMW i, the sub-brand within BMW with its eye towards the future of mobility, has unveiled its third concept, the i8 Spyder. Based on the i8 coupe that debuted last year alongside the i3 city car, the i8 Spyder is at once an obvious followup, but also appears to be a couple of steps closer to the production models that will eventually go on sale to the public.

Like the coupe, the i8 Spyder is a plug-in through-the-road hybrid with a 96 kW (131 horsepower) electric motor up front powering the front axle and a mid-mounted turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine (presumably with a displacement of 1.5 liters like the coupe) producing 223 hp that powers the rear. A pack of lithium-ion batteries are located in a center tunnel between the two power sources, which together can produce a total system output of 354 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. On electricity alone, the i8 Spyder can travel about 19 miles before the gas engine turns on to recharge the batteries. BMW says the system is good for 94 miles per gallon on the Imperial cycle, which converts to upwards of 78 miles per gallon on our own EPA cycle.

The beauty of the i8 Spyder’s drivetrain is the car can be front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive depending on whether efficiency, performance or all-weather traction is called for. Like the coupe, the i8 Spyder also features a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, and BMW claims to have completely cancelled out the extra weight of the hybrid drivetrain through extensive use of lightweight materials like carbon fiber and aluminum. Performance is also impressive, with 0-62 mph happening in five seconds and a top speed governed at 155 mph.

Not everything between the coupe and spyder is the same, though. The i8 Spyder has a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length. Its upward-swiveling, windowless doors are also different. The car’s developers have also whimsically included a pair of electric scooters underneath a glass panel in the rear. Aside from a few more exterior tweaks to accommodate the open air design, which can be closed again with a two-section folding roof, the rest of the i8 Spyder is identical to the coupe, including the interior that features a slightly warmer choice of colors.

Scroll down for the official specs and info from BMW, and stay tuned while we hunt down the i8 Spyder for some in-person impressions. Though BMW makes no mention of its appearance at next week’s New York Auto Show, the timing of this debut suggests it will be there.

Continue reading BMW i8 Spyder pops the top on future mobility

BMW i8 Spyder pops the top on future mobility

We’re big fans of the Volkswagen bus, from the original Type 2 and its descendants, to the Vanagon that replaced it, and even the front-drive Eurovan. While VW hasn’t sold one of these in the U.S. since it discontinued the Eurovan in 2003, the rest of the world has enjoyed the Transporter T5 for the past decade. The VWs are immensely popular camper vans in Europe (especially those with pop-top roofs), and the novel Doubleback conversion shown above takes the formula to another level.

With an electric, slide-out rear pod similar to what you find on many modern RVs, the Doubleback can extend a Transporter by an additional six-and-a-half feet, offering an entire rear bedroom. The company says the extra room adds only 286 pounds to the vehicle’s curb weight and extends in under 45 seconds. The conversion eliminates any rear seating, so your camper will be a two-seater, or you can get a front bench installed to fit an extra passenger in the middle.

At today’s exchange rates, the Doubleback sells for about $87,975, including British taxes, or the company can convert your vehicle. Be sure to check out the photo gallery to see more of this cool bus.

The Doubleback fits a big RV into a small space

Arguably more than any other mainstream automaker, Volkswagen is serious about its heritage. So much so that it appointed Franz-Josef Paefgen – former chief executive of Audi, Bentley and Bugatti – to head up its classics program. In this capacity, Paefgen oversees the heritage departments of each of the group’s brands, but while its commercial vehicles operation may seem the least likely to preserve its past, today’s announcement proves that assumption wrong.

The Oldtimers department of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles just recently moved into a new 7,000 square-meter facility in Hannover, Germany, where its staff of 13 dedicates itself to the restoration and preservation of old VW Buses. Although the garage has been active for several years, working on the company’s own vehicles, the Oldtimer department has now opened its doors for private owners to bring in their vehicles for any degree of service.

Have an old Bus in need of some TLC? Click through the jump for the press release for further details and check out the gallery of high-resolution images for a closer look inside the workshop.

Continue reading Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles opens Oldtimer division for the classic Bus

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles opens Oldtimer division for the classic Bus

When a McLaren hits the race track, the competition had better watch out. The British outfit is, after all, one of the most successful in Formula One, having won 176 grands prix, a dozen drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ titles. But McLaren’s prowess extends beyond F1. The Woking firm was a force to be reckoned with in Can-Am in the late 60s, and the last time it built an endurance racing sportscar – the famed F1 GTR back in 1995 – it trounced even the advanced prototype racers to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Now, McLaren is back in the sportscar racing game with the new MP4-12C GT3. Based on the MP4-12C road car, the GT3 racing version took only a year to develop, and McLaren GT has delivered 25 examples of its racing car to independent racing teams around the world. Included in the purchase price are test sessions organized by McLaren and access to the team’s advanced driving simulator and deep expertise in all things motorsport.

The cars are set to compete in the Blancpain Endurance Series (where the MP4-12C also serves as safety car), the VLN series at the Nürburgring, German’y ADAC GT Masters, the International GT Open and the FIA GT1 World Championship. The first of these are set to take place in Germany this weekend at the Nordschleife and Oschersleben, where the MP4-12C will be making its parallel race debuts. Can’t wait that long? We’ve got two high-quality video clips of the car undergoing testing for your viewing pleasure (together with the full press release) after the jump and a fresh crop of high-resolution images added to the gallery above.

Continue reading McLaren delivers 25 MP4-12C GT3s to customer racing teams for 2012 racing season [w/videos]

McLaren delivers 25 MP4-12C GT3s to customer racing teams for 2012 racing season [w/videos]

By now you’ve probably heard about “Batman” getting pulled over by the cops in his Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. The story has been all over the Internet this week, thanks to the in-car video from the local Maryland police department that stopped the caped crusader. But now we’ve got the real scoop on this would-be Bruce Wayne, thanks to the Washington Post.

His name is Lenny B. Robinson, and being Batman is only a part-time gig for the wealthy philanthropist. Robinson visits sick children in hospitals around the Baltimore area, decked out in a $5,000 neoprene-and-leather Batman suit, according to the report. He hands out Batman toys, signs autographs and gives the kids some much-needed fun, while boosting the morale of the parents, as well.

The Lamborghini is just part of the fun, though Robinson told the Post that he’s having a “real” Batmobile built. (Which of the various movie cars he’s having replicated was not specified.) While this episode marked Robinson’s first time in a national spotlight, it wasn’t his first encounter with the police while in costume. Patch reported on a distress call made by “Batman” back in November 2011, when Robinson’s Gallardo had a flat.

Scroll down to see video of the police stopping Batman.

Continue reading The real story behind the speeding Batman

The real story behind the speeding Batman

We’ve been showing you spy photos of a prototype 2013 Lincoln MKZ sporting a very large retractable roof for months now, and today, the automaker has pulled back the curtain on this very unique feature.

While giant sunroofs are nothing new, the retractable panoramic roof that will be available for the 2013 Lincoln MKZ covers 15.2 square feet, which Lincoln says makes it one of the largest retractable glass roof panels in a production sedan. We can’t think of any larger than that, though manufacturers usually don’t supply the square footage of their sunroofs. Bonus points, then, for whoever can name a larger one in the comments.

Lincoln says it takes two motors just ten seconds to either open or close the roof, which rides along parallel rails located on the outer edges of the roof and along each side of the rear window. When fully retracted, Lincoln says the opening is about two-feet deep and two and a half feet wide.

That’s all we know until the production 2013 Lincoln MKZ debuts next week at the New York Auto Show, but we’re fairly certain this special roof will be optional equipment and likely pricey. We’d also be surprised if the automaker’s marketing team didn’t give it a more catchy name like “PanoScreen” or “MyLincoln See.”

Scroll down to see video of the MKZ’s retractable panoramic roof in action.

Continue reading 2013 Lincoln MKZ reveals its extra large panoramic roof

2013 Lincoln MKZ reveals its extra large panoramic roof

Honda is recalling 554,000 crossovers to repair the low-beam headlights. The models affected are the 2002-2004 Honda CR-V (pictured above) and 2003 Pilot. A possible fault with in the headlight switch wiring could cause the low beams not to work.

We don’t need to tell you why that’s hazardous.

Honda will notify owners beginning in late April, at which time they can take their vehicles to dealers for repairs free of charge. The company has set up a website where owners can check if their vehicle is part of the recall, and customers can reach out to Honda directly by calling 1-800-999-1009 (select option 4), as well. Follow the jump for a press release with more details.

Continue reading Honda recalls 554,000 CR-V and Pilot crossovers over lighting issue

Honda recalls 554,000 CR-V and Pilot crossovers over lighting issue

The strength of the Yen is forcing many Japanese automakers to consider building cars for export markets outside their home country. Honda is no different, and has confirmed that it will build the Fit hatchback at its new plant in Mexico starting in the spring of 2014.

The plant in Mexico is not the only location where Honda will build the Fit, but it will be used to supply the small hatchback to the large United States, Mexican and Canadian markets. Honda expects to build up to 200,000 subcompact vehicles per year at its plant near Celaya, Guanajuato.

Honda already builds a huge number of vehicles in North America. In fact, as pointed out in the press release after the break, more than 85 percent of the Honda and Acura models sold in America were built in the United States, Canada or Mexico. What’s more, the addition of the Fit to the Accord, Civic, and CR-V means that all four of Honda’s global nameplates will be produced in North America.

Continue reading Honda announces Fit production moving to Mexico

Honda announces Fit production moving to Mexico

For The Enthusiast Who Isn’t Ready To Embrace The Future

The 328i is better than the 335i.

We are not the only ones claiming that the entry-level BMW 3 Series, fitted with a clamorous lightweight turbocharged four-cylinder engine, is more agile and tossable than its turbocharged six-cylinder sibling – it appears to many that the segment leader has been displaced by its weaker brother.

Well, maybe.

That big ‘maybe,’ and a whole bunch of its little ‘maybe’ associates, are what convinced us to grab the keys to a brand-new six-cylinder BMW and take it home for a week. Our objective was to determine why the muscular 335i, long the performance benchmark of compact sport sedans, was getting its tailpipes handed to it by its four-banger kin.

To solve the riddle, we put more than 1,500 miles on a brand-new 335i Sport configured with a six-speed manual transmission. Of course, we liked much of what we experienced, as the redesign fits the 3 Series very well. But we also exposed a few holes in its once-impenetrable armor – some big enough to let two fewer cylinders slip by. Has the quickest and highest-performing of the non-M 3 Series models really lost its top spot on the palace throne? If so, why would someone still want a 335i?

Continue reading 2012 BMW 335i [w/video]

2012 BMW 335i [w/video]

We will now know the “baby CLS” – the small four-door “coupe” built on the MFA platform supporting the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (pictured above) and B-Class – as the CLA. It will debut at April’s Beijing Motor Show, and it’s just one of the five variants that Mercedes has planned for its MFA underpinnings.

When it hits the streets in 2013, advance reports indicate that both front- and all-wheel-drive versions will be available. Power will come from a range of gas and diesel engines with anywhere from 110 to 150 horsepower (there’s even a potential AMG model with more than 300 hp on the way), mated to seven-speed dual-clutch and six-speed manual transmissions.

Of note, though, over its long gestation, the CLA has been referred to as the CLC, but the CLA and CLC are different cars. The CLC is the Concept Style Coupe, said to be based on the A-Class concept, which was a two-door hatchback, yet also said to be an evolution of the F800 concept, which was a sedan. The CLA will make its debut in China, but the CLC will be unveiled in Los Angeles at an Mercedes-sponsored art festival called “Transmission LA: AV Club.” The Beijing show and the art festival overlap, so we’ll find out which car is which and what they both look like soon enough.

Mercedes-Benz CLA is official name of small four-door coupe debuting in Beijing

Azure Dynamics, which develops electric-drive powertrains for automakers such as Ford, said this week that it will file for financial protection from its creditors under Canadian law and will cancel its plans to sell shares in what may be a precursor to a bankruptcy filing.

Azure is the company that adds the all-electric powertrain to Ford’s practical little Transit Connect Electric. For now, no new TCEs will be made. Azure’s Mike Elwood told AutoblogGreen that production of the Transit Connect Electric has stopped as a result of the restructuring and that, “While we go through our restructuring there will be no TCE activity until we present an approved plan.” We’re told that warranty issues for those who have already purchased a Transit Connect Electric will be a part of this plan.

Ford’s Wes Sherwood told AutoblogGreen that Azure’s filing does not affect Ford’s overall EV and green-vehicle strategy. “Our priority is to ensure that Azure’s Transit Connect Electric customers continue to have support throughout their ownership experience,” he said. “Our Ford electric vehicle product plans remain on track, as part of our commitment to provide customers the power of choice for fuel economy solutions across our lineup – from EcoBoost-powered vehicles and hybrids to plug-in hybrids and full electrics.”

Azure Dynamics joins a list of companies that were looking to capitalize on an increase in demand for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles but have had problems staying afloat. Extended-range plug-in utility vehicle maker Bright Automotive folded last month amid its claims that the federal government took too long to process the $400 million in loans promised to the company, while Fisker Automotive, which makes the extended-range plug-in Karma, has faced questions about its own future and most of the federal government loans earmarked for the company have been delayed.

Continue reading Azure Dynamics files for protection, Transit Connect Electric production halted

Azure Dynamics files for protection, Transit Connect Electric production halted

Instead of letting everyone else leak shots and scale models of the 2013 Viper, SRT has gone insider trading and released its own teaser shot of the upcoming snake’s interior. What we can see of the overall layout appears familiar from the second-generation car, but the materials look to have been significantly upgraded: ornately bezeled vents, soft-touch trim, cross-stitching and aggressive two-tone accents.

There’s been some bother about the evolutionary exterior design of the 2013 Viper, but for a car that had just two generations in 20 years, it can still stand up to anything from Italy for badass presence. What it really needed was an interior and chassis that could deliver on its looks, and it appears the new 2013 model will be getting just that.

We’ll continue to wait on its official appearance at the New York Auto Show next week to judge, but based on this shot, we like the look of where things are headed. Click on the photo above for a high-res version and stay tuned for the full debut live from New York next week.

SRT teases 2013 Viper interior on Facebook