We’re big fans of Porsche’s and , and it appears we’re not alone. is celebrating 300,000 Cayman and Boxster models sold, almost exactly 15 years after the first roadster left the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen plant in Germany. The lion’s share of those sports cars have been convertibles – the hard-hatted Cayman didn’t join the party until 2005 as a 2006 model.
To put an exclamation point on production vehicle number 300,000, Porsche went all-out by building a Boxster Spyder with Platinum Silver paint and Carrera red leather interior. The undoubtedly hot ride will go to a lucky customer in Germany.
With a classy design and peerless handling, we’re not at all surprised that Porsche has sold 300,000 copies of its mid-engined Boxster and Cayman. Hit the jump to read over Porsche’s press release.
Aston Martin V12 Zagato at the Nürburgring – Click above for high-res image gallery
Sure, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato may have won top honors upon its unveiling at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. But it’s not just a pretty face. is keen to highlight that point, taking the V12 Zagato straight from the shores of Lake Como to the tarmac of the Nürburgring.
The racing version of the show car has already had two outings on the Ring in the past month or so, but those campaigns were merely in preparation for what’s in store this weekend, when a pair of Zagatos – dubbed “Zig” and “Zag” – will take on the grueling ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours.
A red example (Zag) will be piloted by the company’s CEO and Nürburgring test center director along with a pair of European automotive journalists, joining the previously-seen green car (Zig) driven by one of Aston’s top engineers, a pair of experienced race car drivers and another British fourth-estatesman. Both can be seen in the video .
We’re not clear on where that leaves the rather more attractive white and red livery depicted in the high-resolution photographs, then, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking it out in the gallery, along with the full press release .
2012 Jaguar XKR-S – Click above for high-res image gallery
While readies a slate of new vehicles to broaden its product portfolio, it’s doing a -esque job of making the most of the vehicles it currently has. If there’s any surprise in the XK getting more new outfits than a Ken doll, it’s that we didn’t realize there was so much that could be done with it.
Donning its latest new costume, the XK is transformed – via the – into the XKR-S. The fastest and most powerful U.S. legal road car Jaguar has ever made, the brief was to create a coupe that could be hellacious around a track yet remain gracious around town. Our question was whether the XK’s six-year-old underpinnings could carry that kind of load, or whether the platform is approaching a point at which cracks would begin to show? It was to the bright white daylight of Portugal for the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve and the roads around Portimao and Faro that we went for our answer…
Nissan GT-R vs. Aprilia RS4 Factory APRC SE – Click above to watch video
Car versus motorcycle is a never-ending debate, which can leave both sides of the room shouting and pointing (middle) fingers. certainly sits on one side of the debate, but the crew also knows a thing or two about four-wheeled modes of transportation. Aprilia came to the HFL team to showing what the new 2011 RSV4 Factory APRC SE can do against an automobile on a track.
Monticello’s Mushroom track would be the place for the showdown, and the opponent is none other than a . Since these are two-wheel-loving folks, you can excuse them for stating that the 2010 GT-R produces 530 horsepower. It doesn’t. The 2012 version certainly does, but the 2010 car “gets by” with 485. Still, the coupe is a track assassin, and a worthy opponent .
What We Like: It’s getting pretty hard to stand out. Seriously… another crossover? Kia has established a signature sound, look and feel for its ads. This ad, in fact, is a sequel to a , and scored well with consumers. And anyone who knows anything about advertising will tell you that establishing a recognizable ad signature is very important if a brand wants to have an ongoing dialogue with car shoppers. Agency David & Goliath has done a really nice job the last two years of creating a presence on the airwaves for Kia. The ads are silly, of course. But they are fun to watch, and give you the idea that this is a premium outfitted vehicle with a decent interior and all the connectivity you really need. Lots of brands struggle with what they want to say and be. Kia is not one of them.
What We Don’t Like: It’s guilty pleasure, like actually opening the link of the kitten video one of your friends posted on Facebook.
Strategy: Over here! Over here! Notice me! Pay attention! When I come on the screen, pause and watch. Don’t get a soda, or go to the john! Kia’s vehicles have come a long way. The Optima, for example, is a huge surprise and for our money is actually better fitted out than its Korean cousin – the Hyundai Sonata. Kia’s problems are two-fold: It still lags in third party quality rankings from outfits like J.D. Power and Associates, and it is not getting enough serious consideration from people who have decent credit scores.
Seriously, why else would you turn to hamsters and stuffed animals in commercials? It’s to be remembered, and liked, especially by female buyers. After these ads run, online searches for Kia go up, and that’s exactly the point of the exercise.
Grade: A-
Watch the commercial and give it your own grade below.
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo M Sport spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery
You may think that adding an M Sport pack to the is the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig, but let’s be honest: has to do something to broaden the 5GT’s appeal and try to boost sales. BMW had projected that it would sell between 4,000 and 8,000 of its Gran Turismo range annually in the United States. Yet in 2010, the company . Ouch.
Our spy photographers caught this prototype of a 5 Series GT out in Germany, dressed up in what appears to be traditional M Sport kit. Notice the revised front fascia, larger M-style wheels, revised side skirts and ever-so-slightly touched-up rear bumper. Like all other M Sport models, don’t expect a boost in power output, and that’s just fine – one thing we’ve always enjoyed about the 550i model is its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8.
Look for the 5 Series Gran Turismo M Sport to debut at this fall’s .
The United Auto Workers are working with to address a grievance signed by nearly 35,000 hourly workers. The employees are upset that merit pay and 401(k) matches were reinstated for salary workers in 2010, but they weren’t for their hourly counterparts. The Detroit Free Press reports that members of the UAW would like to have the issue resolved before national labor talks kick off next month, but leaders within the organization have said that the dispute only needs to be taken care of by the time the new labor contract is put before members for a vote.
The union points out that its Ford workers haven’t had a pay increase since 2003. The automaker, meanwhile, contends that its wages are $8 an hour higher than foreign-owned plants in the States. Ford recently paid out profit-sharing checks that averaged $5,000 last year, but the UAW maintains that those checks aren’t the same as a permanent merit-pay increase.
Gullwings at the Golden Gate – Click above for high-res image
They don’t build ‘em like they used to. The unofficial slogan of classic car owner’s clubs around the world may just as well apply to Fort Point, the U.S. military installation at the foot of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Fifty years ago, the Gull Wing Group – a club for owners of ’s iconic 300 SL – gathered at the fortress for a group photo. And fifty years later they’ve come back for a reunion.
With a little help from Mercedes-Benz USA, the Gull Wing Group assembled nearly 100 Gullwings and 300 SL Roadsters at the site where the original photo was taken. And to mark the occasion, MBUSA is donating 125 scholarships for local kids to participate in the San Francisco Recreation and Parks department’s summer camp programs. It’s as nice a way to mark a milestone as we’ve seen. Read more about it in the press release and scope out the reunion photo in full resolution by clicking above.
-Benz recreates famous photos with Gull Wings and Golden Gate Bridge
The BBC is facing some financial difficulties, and its Formula One coverage could end up being one of the victims, as reports from the UK suggest that the government-owned network could be forced to drop the premier racing series from its schedule.
Unlike private networks, which are free to raise capital from advertisements or pretty much any other initiative they can think of, the British Broadcasting Corporation gets its operating budget from British taxpayers – specifically, a fee which the government collects from its viewers. The government having reportedly frozen the licensing fee amount at its current level for several more years, the BBC may have to cut its budget by as much as 20 percent over the coming few years.
The public broadcasting company only re-acquired the license from Bernie Ecclestone and his Formula One Management in 2009, and its contract is up for renewal in 2013. If the reports prove accurate, the BBC could opt to pass on renewing its costly contract. Coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament could also be on the butcher’s block, although (thankfully) no mention was made of potential cuts to Top Gear, which remains a big cash cow for the Beeb.
For its part, the BBC has refused to comment on the reports, however, media pundits in the motorsport press were quick to point out that The Sunday Times which ran the story is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation – the same outfit that’s been widely reported to be trying to get its hands on F1’s commercial rights.
Canuck mob takes out frustration on hapless BMW M5 – Click above to watch videos
Sure, Canadians might seem tame and pacifist. But not when it comes to hockey. Once the skates go on, the gloves come off. And that combative attitude has been known to spill over into the streets, particularly when the local team has been handed a tough defeat in a pivotal game. Like last week’s seventh-round decider in the Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks.
After the Bruins (belated spoiler alert!) nabbed the title in the last game at Vancouver’s home-turf Rogers Arena, local fans spilled into the streets in a riot you’d more likely expect to see in south-central LA. Disappointment turned into mob mentality as fans broke windows and lit dumpsters on fire. Which is a shame enough for the storefronts and sanitation workers, but for the love of God, people, leave cars out of it. Only they didn’t.
As you’ll see from the , rioters started overturning cars and lighting them on fire, leaving one girl to defend a (presumably her own) against the menacing hoards. She and a friend appear to have fought valiantly on behalf of one of Europe’s finest pieces of engineering, but there’s unfortunately little to be done in the face of disheartened – and inebriated – Canadian hockey fans.
for a pair of videos – the first a shorter report from the local news affiliate and another slightly longer depicting various scenes from the riots.
2012 Mini Cooper Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
is a brand that’s all about having fun. The people that drive them tend to prize motoring enjoyment and the company’s cheeky styling, and now they’ll have a new model that might just twist their fun dial to 11. We present to you the , which is the automaker’s first production two-passenger automobile and also .
The exterior of the Coupe is undeniably Mini, yet very new at the same time. This is the first Mini to be built with a “three-box” design concept, which means the body, wraparound glass and roof are three boxes built upon a horizontal plane. The face is familiar, and looks aggressive in John Cooper Works guise (shown here) thanks to the chin spoiler that flows into the large fenders. The posterior, along with its bubbled-up roof, are where the spots where observers will quickly tell Coupe from standard Cooper. The stepped rear end hides a bit of active aero in the form of a wing that automatically deploys at 50 miles per hour. The spoiler goes back into hiding when speeds dips below 37 mph, and the technology is not just a first for Mini, but for the BMW family as a whole.
Mini will offer the 2012 Cooper Coupe in three flavors; base Cooper Coupe, Cooper S Coupe and the John Cooper Works Coupe. All three employ a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, and come paired with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is also available for the Cooper S Coupe and Cooper Coupe. The entry-level mill produces 121 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 118 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm, which helps it run from 0-60 miles per hour in 8.3 seconds, and on to a top speed of 127 mph. The EU standard lists fuel economy at 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers, which translates to nearly 44 miles per gallon, but official U.S. EPA estimates are not yet available.
The two spicier variants, the S Coupe and JCW Coupe, add a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct-injection to the 1.6-liter four-pot. Power for the S is rated at 181 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 177 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm through 5,000 rpm. A temporary overboost function allows for a jump to 192 pound-feet from 1,700 rpm through 4,500 rpm. In JCW trim, the Coupe takes advantage of 208 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 pound-feet of torque from 1,850 rpm to 5,600 rpm. Overboost is also available here, and pushes torque to 207 lb-ft from 1,700 through 4,500 rpm. The S coupe runs from 0-60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds, and the JCW Coupe needs just 6.1 seconds for the same trip. Each will crest 140 miles per hour, with the S Coupe capable of 142 and the JCW able to nick 149 mph.
For more on the entire 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe lineup, to dive into the full press release, but not before checking out our massive high-res gallery.
2012 Ford FocusNASCAR pace car – Click above for high-res image gallery
Most pace cars (commonly known as safety cars overseas) are pretty fast road cars. F1 uses a . The American Le Mans Series, a . DTM alternates between an and a . MotoGP uses . Indy has used a the last of years. Noticing a pattern here?
Of course, as is true in many other areas, NASCAR does things differently. While other racing disciplines pit the latest technologies against each other on challenging road courses, NASCAR still uses old-school pushrod V8s on big ol’ speedways. So it should come as little surprise that the American stock-car racing series goes a different route with its pace cars, too.
This weekend’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 (we don’t name the races) at the Michigan International Speedway saw the make its debut appearance as the official pace car, complete with race livery and light bar but little in the way of other modifications over stock. Which means, as is quick to point out, that while the stock cars behind it would have to pit a number of times over the 400-mile race distance, the Focus could go the whole way if it needed to… and if the driver – Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas – were milking the throttle, undaunted by the grid of rip-roarin’ race cars filling his mirrors.
For what it’s worth, the Focus is hardly the slowest vehicle to pace a NASCAR race. Ford alone has provided Hybrids and SUVs to set the pace at previous races as well. for the full press release, including information on Ford’s latest online sweepstakes that will hand out 40 Foci to contest participants if it wins the NASCAR, NHRA or World Rally Championship titles this year.
Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC SE w/ Performance Ride Control – Click above to watch video
Electronic driver aids in cars? Commonplace. We take them for granted, whether they’re enhancing performance, convenience, or safety. But what about motorcycles? Those of us who don’t ride may be surprised to see how technology is now making bikes better, too. Case in point: Aprilia, which features a suite of aids dubbed Performance Ride Control in the 2011 RSV4 Factory APRC SE.
Aprilia USA went to our friends at and to produce a video that demonstrates and explains the significance of Performance Ride Control. to watch the video, where you’ll see launch control, wheelie control, traction control and quickshift come together to help riders push the performance envelope. This stuff’s not just for cars anymore, and the benefits are equally remarkable.
Lotus Esprit Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
A few days ago, we received word that was ditching the -sourced V8 and . Now we get a few pointed remarks from the automaker, intent on clarifying its future position in the supercar segment, and a bit more insight into the powerplant.
Lotus CEO Dany Bahar told a recent press conference audience that its upcoming flagship will offer a more “authentic” driving experience than the targeted Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren MP4-12C. Those are fighting words, directed at very lofty rivals. Furthermore, according to Bahar, any injection of KERS-style (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) technology in the new Esprit will be to add to the driving experience, not detract from it.
In other engine-related news, the in-house V8 is rumored to be both lighter and smaller than the reportedly dropped Toyota 5.0-liter (currently found under the hood of the ). The new eight should debut with a power rating of about 570 horsepower. That’s potent, and it’s necessary to be a genuine contender in this segment. As a reminder, when the last Esprit ended production in early 2004 its twin-turbo 3.5-liter V8 was rated at “only” 350 horsepower.
Lexus declares itself Future Proof – Click above to watch the video
Company: Motor Sales
Brand:
Medium: TV
Ad Agency: Team One
Product: Lexus Brand
Campaign: “Engineering Amazing.”
What We Like: There is a swagger in the ads, and a tone and creative quality that hearkens back to when Lexus was launching as a new luxury brand in 1989 and 90. Call us car geeks, but we like the stories of how Lexus had to invent new processes, like that is strong enough for its intended purpose. Innovating plastic that can be recycled infinitely sounds pretty cool, too, though we would discourage the company from using the stuff over and over again in its interiors, some of which lately seem to look like they were designed at the Igloo Cooler company. The close of one ad just released, titled “A New Era of Lexus Innovation,” finishes on the track, and gives the brand a youthful energy – not unimportant since the vast majority of Lexus buyers lately also reap AARP discounts. In “Wall,” a crashes a wall of beakers and vials each holding a different “alternative” fuel, such as bio-diesel, algae, liquid hydrogen, and so on. Lexus makes the point that its Hybrid Drive technology will optimize any fuel system on the planet, and that its technology is “future-proof.” That’s swagger.
What We Don’t Like: Lexus has a way of making its ads sound like the brand is the last word in innovation. We guess that’s what they were shooting for. It is, after all, advertising. But it’s hard not to react with a bit of a jaundiced eye when we stop to consider just how pointless the hybrid system actually is in big cars like the Lexus LS. The fuel economy gain is negligible, and at a lot of extra cost. Seriously, $112,250 for the LS600h, about $45K more than an LS460? Want to impress us? Start mating your bigger vehicles to a diesel engine, which would be far more appropriate to the vehicles than hybrids. Also, you could work on the plastics aesthetics on the lower-priced Lexus models.
Strategy: Lexus has a well-known age problem. The age of its buyers has crept consistently over 60, and it muffed its cycle plans by having too many new core models come out at the same time. Some of the vehicles are long in the tooth. This campaign is filled with tech, messages about sustainability, race-track footage. We aren’t saying Toyota is trying to out the brand on roller skates, but it is clearly using story-telling techniques to give fresh life to its innovations. That’s a good idea, and they should keep at it.
“This isn’t just a campaign, it’s a statement that, for Lexus, the best is yet to come,” says Dave Nordstrom, vice president of marketing for Lexus. “It’s not about simply making incremental strides and improvements, but about taking giant leaps in innovation.” These ads and this approach is slated to run through January, so it is a major push to super-charge the way customers think of Lexus.
Grade: B+
Watch five of the commercials and give the campaign your own grade below.
Chevrolet Cobalt Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
The lives. Well, not here in the United States, where the has thankfully banished all memories of GM’s last uncompetitive compact, but at least in Argentina. Alongside the , is displaying the Cobalt Concept you see here at the Buenos Aires International Motor Show.
We’re pretty sure this new Cobalt is a Cobalt in name only, as it doesn’t appear to share anything with the previous model that is no longer in production and, though no dimensional details are provided, seems smaller than the Delta platform used by its erstwhile namesake. Perhaps it uses the Gamma architecture used by the new and global ?
In any case, this Cobalt, though officially a concept, seems destined for production in South America and possibly other emerging markets around the world. The automaker says it will offer a range of engines from 1.3 to 1.8 liters that will run on either ethanol, gasoline or diesel.
As far as the styling goes, we can see the current Chevrolet design language front and center, with a two-tier grille up front flanked by sweeping headlamps. The flanks are highlighted by downward-pointing swage lines front and rear. Out back, LED lights punctuate some questionably large, chrome-surrounded lamps.
Inside, this Cobalt Concept is impressively finished with leather seating surfaces and door panels. A unique woodgrain accent highlights the steering wheel. LED lighting in a soft blue is a welcome touch, as is the in-dash navigation system and twin seven-inch LCD screens in the headrests, which we doubt would make it into production.
Check out our high-res image gallery for all the pics.
Ford Fiesta ST spy shot – Click above for high-res image gallery
Our sneaky spy shooters have once again trained their lenses on the upcoming testing at the ‘Ring, only this time, the culprit was caught in a full five-door suit instead of the spied before.
Besides the additional bodystyle, the new hatch is sporting a new set of wheels that should be the standard hoops fitted to the Fiesta ST when it makes its official debut in late 2011. We also note some alterations to the fascia – instead of the large round lamps at the bottom corners, the ST prototype is wearing the same shapely chrome units as the standard Fiesta and a deeper chin spoiler with some camo-obscured ducting. Out back, the rear bumper’s aero bits also seem to be reworked.
According to the latest rumors, a 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four is mounted under the hood, routing 180 horsepower to the front wheels. If we were betting men, we’d wager this mule was caught without all its ST-spec clothes on. Have a look for yourself in the included image gallery.
Chevrolet Colorado Rally Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
The production version of the next-generation ChevroletColorado has yet to be revealed, but auto show crowds in Argentina got a peak at the possible lines of the upcoming pickup. picked the Buenos Aires International Motor Show as the stage on show off the new Colorado Rally Concept.
An aggressive and strong style are the immediate visual cues given off by the Rally Concept, which is meant to handle some serious off-road driving. A pair of integrated winches, one up front and one out back, will help should you actually manage to get the Colorado Rally Concept stuck. That should prove to be a difficult task, thanks to the 305/60R18 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires, long-travel suspension and 2.8-liter diesel engine.
Keeping up the aggression, the interior of the Chevy Colorado Rally Concept is equipped with racing seats and five-point harnesses. The driver or co-driver can adjust tire pressure and suspension settings from the cabin, while either can also enjoy some fresh air from the vents cut into the acrylic side windows.
To say that this truck is built to run off-road is an understatement.
It would be an understatement of biblical proportions to say that is having a bad year. Near daily accounts of the automaker’s financial issues roll in like a rash of plagues, while . Now comes word that a consortium of businesses are preparing to turn the screws and, quite possibly, push the Swedish automaker into bankruptcy.
, a group of 48 business entities have joined up with the Swedish Collections Agency known as the Kronofogden. Owed debts among those joining together range from $198 up to $774,083. The total amount owed to all 48 in the consortium rings the registers at $3,672,944.
That figure is solely comprised of those appealing to Kronofogden for assistance. Others are waiting on payment from Saab, and that $3.6 million is only a fraction of the automaker’s tota debt load. A Chinese cash infusion can’t arrive fast enough at this point.
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG WhiteStorm by Romeo Ferraris – Click above for high-res image gallery
Italian tuning house Romeo Ferraris is best known for tuning Italian cars – its got the name of two famous examples right there in its own moniker – the especially. But RF has also brought us and . And this time, the tuner turned its attention to the .
Called the WhiteStorm (we’d prefer Storm Trooper, but nobody asked…), this custom C63 packs an extra 79 horsepower for a total of 536 from its remapped and re-piped 6.2-liter V8. The package also includes a full aero kit with front spoiler and five-spoke alloys in black, complimenting the blacked-out brightwork and carbon-fiber roof and spoiler, and contrasting nicely with the matte white paint job. The high-contrast approach takes a different tack on the interior, where two-tone red and black leather upgrades the stock. Check it out in the high-res image gallery for a closer look.
