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You may know Mansory more for doing terrible things to supercars like the Bugatti Veyron than for motorcycles, but it turns out their gold plating and leather cladding skills know no bounds. To keep things interesting, Mansory has just rolled out a bespoke motorcycle developed with customizer Thomas M. George, and it actually looks pretty good.

The Mansory Zapico has been swathed generously in carbon fiber, as any custom anything must be these days. From the bug shield to the gas tank to the exhaust silencers, no surface has been left untouched. According to the company, the carbon pieces and the wheels of the bike are all hand built in Mansory’s factory in Bavaria.

While the Zapico plays up the carbon fiber rather than the company’s normal trademark leather work, the seat, while thin, is a one-off leather concoction.

As with any self-respecting chopper, the 124 c.i. V-twin mill comes from famed American engine builder S&S packing 160 horsepower. That’s enough grunt to get the big bike to 60 in 3.3 seconds, despite its 750-pound heft. Check it out in our high-res gallery below and read more about it in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Mansory]

Continue reading Mansory gets into the custom bike game with Zapico

Mansory gets into the custom bike game with Zapico

Building A Better Box For Your Budding Business

Nissan has been a player in the world’s commercial vehicle market for a long time. In fact, 2011 marks the company’s 75th year in the industry, and these workhorses represent 20 percent of Nissan’s total annual sales volume. Nissan’s commerical trucks and vans are used around the world, with over 700,000 units sold in 2010 alone. Yet, it’s highly unlikely that you’ve ever even seen a Nissan commercial vehicle.

Nissan doesn’t sell its commercial vehicles in the United States and Canada – instead, General Motors and Ford own the market. Things could change very quickly, however, because the 2012 NV commercial van has just arrived on U.S. shores. The Japanese automaker set out to build a commercial van to the exacting needs of this country’s small business owners. It asked them questions and incorporated the thousands of answers it received. GM, Ford and even Mercedes-Benz should pay close attention, because the NV could be just what this country’s blue-collar workforce ordered.

Continue reading First Drive: 2012 Nissan NV…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeff Glucker / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2012 Nissan NV

First Drive: 2012 Nissan NV

Holden has unveiled the Holden Series II Cruze, the latest edition of its locally-built compact car. If the name and face look familiar, that’s because the Holden is nearly identical to our good ol’ American Chevrolet Cruze.

The Aussie version, however, gets a wider range of options, and some interesting versions we won’t see Stateside. In particular, Australia will get two performance variants of its locally-built small car, the SRi and the SRi-V. There’s also a 2.0-liter turbodiesel version available, which joins the 1.4-liter turbo and 1.8-liter naturally aspirated gas engines. Holden claims the diesel mill is good for 42 mpg, making the diesel Cruze the most fuel-efficient car built in Australia. The entire range meets strict Euro5 emissions standards.

The SRi-V is the top-dog Cruze in Australia. While it doesn’t carry a much bigger punch than the others under the hood, it’s loaded down gadgets and an complex infotainment system. The SRi-V sports keyless entry and start and remote key technology. The stereo has a 10-gig internal hard-drive, which Holden says will hang on to 2,000 of your favorite tracks.

Power is up across the range, starting with the 2.0-liter diesel, which now churns out a more impressive 160 horsepower and 265 pound feet of torque. The 1.4 turbo, which powers both the SRi and the SRi-V puts out just 138 horsepower, but has 147 pound-feet of torque available between 1,850 and 4,900 rpm.

Check out the differences for yourself in our massive high-res gallery below, or check out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Holden]

Continue reading Holden Series II Cruze checks in Down Under

Holden Series II Cruze checks in Down Under

As part of its 2011 Geneva Motor Show festivities, Volkswagen is letting us loose behind the wheel of its range-topping Golf R, set to arrive in United States as a 2012 model. Production of the Stadeside-spec car begins at the automaker’s Wolfsburg plant this November, and we’ve just learned how different our version of the Golf R will be from the model that’s already on sale in Europe.

Don’t worry – we’re still getting the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to the company’s fourth-generation Haldex 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. But while the European car cranks out 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, Volkswagen tells us that the U.S. car will produce something closer to 256 hp and 243 lb-ft (not yet confirmed). Still, that’s 56 hp and 36 lb-ft more than the standard GTI, and since the Golf R is estimated to weigh around 3,300 pounds – 250 pounds lighter than the most recent R32 – the end result should be quite lively. Volkswagen is estimating that 0-62 mile-per-hour times will fall somewhere in the 5.7- to 5.9-second range.

As we reported earlier, the Golf R will only be offered with a six-speed manual transmission when it hits our shores. European cars can be had with Volkswagen’s slick-shifting DSG unit, and we must admit, not offering the twin-clutch setup in the States seems like a curious omission, especially when you consider that the take rate on DSG in the less powerful GTI is around 50 percent. Still, Volkswagen says that its research with different enthusiast groups and dealers suggests that the vast majority of U.S. consumers have been clamoring for a row-your-own Golf R, and since the automaker had to keep the number of build options to a minimum in order to get the vehicle approved for American consumption, manual-only was the way they decided to go.

Follow the jump for more details on the U.S.-spec version of Volkswagen’s Golf R hot hatch.

Continue reading 2012 Volkswagen Golf R loses power and choice of tranny on way to U.S.

2012 Volkswagen Golf R loses power and choice of tranny on way to U.S.

Opel is bringing the Ampera to Geneva, and the extended-range electric hybrid is finally arriving in production form. This ready-for-public-consumption Ampera stays remarkably true to the concept we’ve been eyeballing since 2009.

The Opel Ampera wears more aggressive body panels than its more conservative Chevrolet Volt cousin. The headlights flow down into the running lights, while the front and rear fascias appear downright sporty. Tucked into the rubber, the production-ready flower-pattern wheels mirror the design of the concept vehicle, yet they aren’t quite as show car exotic.

Opel notes that it has taken in over 1,000 reservations for the Ampera across Europe. The automaker put out a call to the public and around 400 “ePioneers” raised their hands to test early versions of the Ampera. When it goes on sale later this year, it will be priced at €42,900 in most European markets (that’s just shy of $60,000 USD, but it includes Europe’s costly Value Added Tax, which adds about 20 percent to the purchase price).

The Opel Ampera will take the stage under the Geneva Motor Show lights and we’ll be on hand to give you a deeper visual dive. For now, click on the above image to view a high-res version, and click past the jump to read the press release.

[Source: Opel]

Continue reading Production Opel Ampera revealed ahead of Geneva

Production Opel Ampera revealed ahead of Geneva

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 615 complaints so far about the 2007 and 2008 Jeep Wrangler over issues of fuel spillage. The complaints say that when the Wrangler is being refueled, there’s nothing that stops the fuel from spilling over onto the ground, all over the car or even on the person doing the refueling once the tank is full. NHTSA received so many complaints that the agency opened up its own investigation in August, 2010 to look into the matter.

After more than seven months of testing, though, NHTSA hasn’t uncovered an issue that would require a recall. That is, of course, exactly what Chrysler has said all along. The Auburn Hills-based automaker contends that the issue only presents itself when the plastic o-ring on the inlet check valve swells from being exposed to fuel with a concentration of ethanol greater than 10 percent.

In the end, the big question is how so many complaints made it to NHTSA’s desk when this really isn’t such a wide-spread problem. NHTSA claims that the buzz surrounding this issue came from the Internet, which could explain why the number of complaints was so high. The agency claims on its website that “ODI suspects that the NHTSA safety complaints submitted by subject vehicles owners may have been influenced by Internet-related publicity both before and during this investigation.” Don’t look at us. Follow the jump to read over the over NHTSA investigation results.

[Source: NHTSA, MyFoxDC via The Car Connection]

Continue reading NHTSA rules Wrangler doesn’t need recall for fuel spillage problems

NHTSA rules Wrangler doesn’t need recall for fuel spillage problems

In keeping with the times and the fact that most of its customers are using their iPhones and iPads and Blackberries like it’s their job, Bentley has released a line of leather cases for these devices in conjunction with its hide supplier, Ettinger. The cases come in your choice of Bentley’s Hotspur or Beluga – colors familiar to buyers of the Benley Continental Supersports. The cases are cut from the same material as Bentley’s famous interiors, for which Ettinger is also responsible.

Ettinger has been spitting out hand-crafted leather pieces for 70 years now, so it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing. In addition to the line of mobile telecom holders, Ettinger makes Bentley wallets, passport holders, luggage tags, purses and the brand’s keyholders.

All of Ettinger’s accessories are handmade in the company’s Birmingham, England factory. As expected, the Ettinger line is pretty dear, with the iPad case commanding $146. If you don’t have an iPad but rock an iPhone or Blackberry, you’re in luck, as Ettinger’s smartphone cases command a more reasonable $73. Want more details? Check out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley launches line of branded leather smartphone, iPad cases

Bentley launches line of branded leather smartphone, iPad cases

Xenatec is using the Geneva Motor Show to unveil its one-off Cruiserio Coupe, a customer-ordered hyper-luxury car based on the Maybach 57S. The coupe was designed by Fredrik Burchhardt to a customer’s exact specs, then hand-built by the Xenatec team.

Outside, the Xenatec Cruiserio Coupe is swathed in a two-tone matte finish that’s designed to give a brassy shimmer in the light. Xenatec says the paint was hand-applied in several stages to get the look just so.

The big coupe’s interior is another Xenatec one-off, featuring hand-stitched natural, undyed buffalo leather and espresso-colored Nappa hides. To take things to the next level of ludicrous opulence, Xenatec lined the footwells of the car with blackberry Alcantara.

Xenatec says the whole package is set off by the car’s panorama roof, which is accented with a Nappa leather headliner.

No word yet (or ever, we assume) on what this level of exclusivity costs, but we’re ok with that. If you have to ask… Hop the jump for a full press release.

[Source: Xenatec]

Continue reading Xenatec reveals Maybach Cruiserio Coupe ahead of Geneva debut

Xenatec reveals Maybach Cruiserio Coupe ahead of Geneva debut

There’s a strong possibility that German tuning house MTM’s booth at the Geneva Motor Show will be visibile from space. The boys from Wettstetten are bringing their paint-free polished-aluminum Audi R8 BiTurbo to Hall 5 at Geneva. The company is mum on exactly how they removed all that paint, but they do allow that it took 700 hours of polishing to get the car where it is now.

If the gleaming bodywork isn’t enough to snag your gaze, MTM packed its latest R8 with 777 twin-turbocharged horsepower just to let everyone know they weren’t fooling around. The result is good for a claimed top speed of more than 217 mph, making this the fastest R8 on the block.

If the turbo R8 doesn’t whet your appetite, MTM is also hauling its 472-hp, 195-mph Audi TT RS to the show. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: MTM]

Continue reading 777-horsepower MTM Audi R8 making Geneva debut

777-horsepower MTM Audi R8 making Geneva debut

Remember the proposed Kia K9 luxury sedan? Apparently, it’s a reality, as spy shots of the Kia flagship have hit a web forum in Korea. As you can see, the K9’s camouflage (which sneakily includes Hyundai Genesis wheels) doesn’t obscure a set of Maserati Quattroporte-style fender ports. Just how upmarket is Kia shooting with this? Well, according to the tipster who sent them to us, the K9 is expected to slot into the market space between the Hyundai Genesis and Equus sedans.

If those two are anything to go on, Kia might be on to something. From these photos, it looks like the K9 will not only sport Quttroporte-referencing vents along its fenders, but long, angular headlights and a protruding grille, leaving impressions of the BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XJ – lofty benchmarks, indeed. Thanks for the tip, K7!

[Source: Bobaedream.co.kr]

Kia K9 sedan spied, upscale cues include Maserati-style side vents

We mentioned last weekend that German niche sports car manufacturer Wiesmann was bringing a new concept to Geneva to gauge interest in a possible production version, and here it is. Color us very interested. Full details on the Wiesmann Spyder are yet to be released, but judging by the photos, it should impress.

Our team in Geneva will have more details and plenty of live photos of the Spyder concept once the exposition officially gets underway. Until then, head over to Autogespot check out one more angle of Wiesmann’s sports car.

[Source: Autogespot.com]

Wiesmann Spyder concept spied on the floor in Geneva

If you like the Morgan Three Wheeler but have the need to traverse expanses of open water on your daily commute, Gibbs Technologies has just the thing for you. According to Visor Down, Gibbs has secured patents for a new amphibious trike. Gibbs Technologies has made a name for itself producing vehicles that equally at home on land and water, and it looks like this new creation works much like the other hardware in the company’s stable.

The trike’s engine sends power to its single rear wheel on land, but when things get aquatic, the power is diverted to a pair of water jets. Like Gibbs’s amphibious ATV, the three-wheeler’s front wheels fold up and away once the vehicle takes to the water, creating a WaveRunner-style contraption. Sounds like a cool idea to us.

[Source: Visor Down]

Gibbs Technologies developing an amphibious trike?

Car dealers do the strangest things to their vehicles. Just think about how many cars are out there with awful vinyl and fabric roof add-ons, a generation after manufacturers nearly swore them off entirely. Manchester Subaru in Manchester, New Hampshire isn’t content to create some sticker-and-tape fake trim level on a top-dog 2011 Subaru WRX STI. Instead, the dealer has gone all Chainsaw Massacre on the rally-bred performance sedan. The result is a picnic basket of automotive woe.

At least the “handle” left after all the chop-shopping maintains a fleeting semblance of rigidity. The rest? Awful. There’s an ill-fitting tonneau, chopped door pillars and the STI’s trademark enormous wing still hangs off the trunklid. The worst part? This poor Subaru’s price is purportedly $75,000. Not kidding. Sure, there’s an “exclusivity” factor, but 75 large buys an awful lot of real high performance convertible; the kind that won’t corner like an overcooked noodle. The dealership reportedly commissioned five of these abominations, which is likely five more than anyone wants. Thanks for the tip, Jason!

[Source: Manchester Subaru]

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI convertible: Worst idea ever?

Endras BMW in Ajax, Ontario has a sweet blogging gig open. The winner of the dealership’s Ultimate Blogger contest gets a free condo for a year, a new Bimmer every six months and a $65K a year starting salary.

Endras is looking for someone to represent it online, a job that includes attending press events, junkets and auto shows, as well as handling the outfit’s social media efforts.

To enter, write and submit a 200-word blog post on anything BMW-related. After Endras BMW management weeds out the entries that fail to impress, 20 semifinalists be asked to produce a video proving their obsession with performance.

In the last round of eliminations, the 10 finalists will get face-to-face interviews at Endras. After that, someone’s got a new job. If you want a shot at it, hop over to EndrasBMW.com and fire up your writing skills.

[Source: EndrasBMW]

Canadian BMW dealer holding contest to find ultimate blogger, $65K job up for grabs

Koenigsegg Agera R – Click above for high-res image gallery

When the Geneva Motor Show kicks off this week, the Lamborghini Aventador won’t be the only exotic sucking in journos like a tractor beam. The Koenigsegg Agera R is also making its global debut, wearing in a Speed Racer-inspired paint scheme (per the owner’s request) and packing so much power that you’d think an R2 unit would be a better co-pilot than, say, Chim-Chim.

Now, about that power – the Agera R’s 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes a ridiculous 1,115 horsepower and 885 lb-ft of torque on E85. Fill the tank with 95-octane gasoline instead of the biofuel, and figure on “only” around 940 horses and 811 lb-ft. The V8’s connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The driver harnesses that power from a lavishly appointed cockpit that meets all the hypercar techno-fantasy criteria.

The Agera R’s body panels are draped over a carbon fiber monocoque whose rigidity is such that a roof is not required. Hence, it’s a removable panel that can be stowed inside the car. The owner of the example being displayed in Geneva is a skier, so the car is outfitted with a custom carbon fiber roof box developed in conjunction with Thule. It’s a single-piece system that replaces the Agera R’s standard roof entirely; when you get to the mountain, you simply swap the ski-box roof for the standard roof (which is tucked away in the cargo compartment).

Other highlights of the Koenigsegg Agera R include Vortex Generating Rim (VGR) wheels whose spokes act as turbine vanes that help maximize downforce. They’re wrapped in Michelin rubber developed specifically for the Agera. Said tires are rated up to 260 mph, making them the highest-speed-rated tires in the world, according to Koenigsegg. As always, we’ll have a full team in Geneva next week to bring you full details and a live look at the Agera R. In the meantime, check out the high-res image gallery below.

[Source: Koenigsegg]

Koenigsegg Agera R heads to Geneva packing up to 1,115 hp… and a ski box

To help commemorate the 60th anniversary of Jeep, vineyard Jeeper has teamed up with Delta 4×4, a company well-known in Europe for aftermarket wheels, tires and other offroad accessories, to produce a limited-edition champagne.

The history of Jeeper, a high-end vineyard in the middle of the champagne region, gives it some pretty cool credo with the offroad crowd. Turns out vintner Armand Goutorbe came home from WWII to his old job with some fairly serious inuries. Handicapped by his wounds, he couldn’t navigate the rough terrain of the vineyard on his own, so he bought a U.S. Army Jeep to help him get around.

As time went on, the Jeep became so much a part of him that his friends nicknamed him “Jeeper,” and he eventually re-named the vineyard in honor of his trusted vehicle.

The commemorative drink is officially dubbed “Delta Jeeper Grande Reserve Brut Jeep 60-year anniversary.” Talk about a mouthful. Speaking of mouthfuls, Jeeper says the champagne is marked by “the long-lasting scent of flowers with a honeyed fruit bouquet that gently lingers on the close.” Uh, ok. We’re sure it’s delicious.

Save your pennies if you want some; a half case (six bottles) will run you just shy of $360. You can read more in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Jeeper]

Continue reading Jeeper Champagne combines off-roading with life’s finer things

Jeeper Champagne combines off-roading with life’s finer things

Bentley isn’t the only company that’s been busy on the ice lately. Mazda just wrapped up a four-hour race in Åre, Sweden, that brought 20 MX-5 roadsters out on the open ice for a little fender-to-fender action.

Teams faced temperatures that dipped as low as -24 degrees Fahrenheit and stiff competition from racers from around the world. Spiked tires were standard equipment for all of the vehicles, though it’s worth noting that the talent behind the wheel wasn’t professional by any stretch of the imagination. Mazda invited fans and automotive journalists from a total of 26 countries to participate in the event.

While early on it looked as if a team from Australia would take home the checkered flag, a late-race spin allowed a Russian team to pull ahead and complete the most laps around the three-mile circuit within the four-hour time frame. Hit the jump to check out video from the event as well as the full press blast.

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Video: Mazda takes the MX-5 to the ice

Video: Mazda takes the MX-5 to the ice

Here we are, just days before the doors open at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and De Tomaso has unleashed a series of images along with a few more salient details of its new SLC concept car. Well, actually, De Tomaso is now referring to the machine as the SLS (and no, it has nothing to do with the Mercedes-Benz of the same name), which stands for Sport Luxury Sedan, as opposed to SLC, or Sport Luxury Crossover.

Fret not, Benz fans (and trademark lawyers). De Tomaso says it will give its future production model a new name that will be announced in Geneva.

Irrational naming conventions aside, what we have here is a somewhat high-riding humpback machine not unlike the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. According to the company, two engines are planned at launch, a 300-horsepower V6 and a 550-horsepower V8. Power is sent to all four wheels, and a diesel engine option is planned for a later time.

De Tomaso plans to build two more vehicles on the same architecture with the goal of selling a total of 8,000 units per year. We’re hoping to hear more about the marque’s future plans after we hit the ground in Geneva. In the meantime, feel free to peruse our high-res image gallery below and read the awkwardly translated press release after the break.

[Source: De Tomaso via All Car Index]

Continue reading De Tomaso SLC SLS images come online ahead of Geneva

De Tomaso SLC SLS images come online ahead of Geneva

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is selling like hotcakes here in the States, with sales of the new crossover up 130 percent in January. Chrysler hopes the Grand Cherokee will find similar success overseas, with Automotive News reporting that the automaker is hoping the new Jeep will help boost sales by 21 percent in Japan.

By the numbers, this means that Chrysler is counting on the Grand Cherokee to bump sales up from 2,350 units in 2010 to something closer to 3,000 in 2011, with the Jeep accounting for anywhere between 500 and 1,000 of those transactions. That’s only a few days worth of sales here in the United States, but considering the fact that Jeep sold only 88 units in all of 2009 in Japan, being able to move 1,000 units is indeed a big step forward.

We can see how Japanese car buyers would be interested in the Grand Cherokee, but the attractive and capable ‘ute isn’t the most popular vehicle in Japan. That honor goes to the Jeep Patriot, with 760 sales in 2010.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Chrysler looking to boost Japanese sales by 21% with launch of new Grand Cherokee

The Mini Rocketman Concept is set to make its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and we’re eager to get a look at this funky thing the flesh. Until that happens, we’ll have to be content with the slew of views Mini has provided.

Ready for your viewing pleasure after the jump are videos of b-roll footage, exterior and interior walkarounds and a clip showing the action of the cool dual-hinged doors. Additionally, Anders Warming, head of Mini design, stepped in to provide some insight into the development of the Rocketman concept. If you’re hungry for Rocketman information, this plethora of video footage will indeed satiate you.

[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Videos: Mini Rocketman Concept detailed from every angle

Videos: Mini Rocketman Concept detailed from every angle