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Normally, events such as Barret-Jackson’s annual soiree out in the desert of Arizona are newsworthy to those of us who obsessively cover the auto industry… and pretty much nobody else. But when the auction house roll out the ambulance that supposedly transported the body of President John F. Kennedy after his assassination, well, the rest of the world stands up and takes notice.

Adding more fuel to the fire of intrigue surounding this one-of-a-kind machine are questions as to whether or not this 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance is legit. Did it really carry JFK? We have no idea, and there are a number of documents and plenty of speculation supporting both sides of the discussion – we’re content to stay out of the debate. And either way, we’re curious to see how it performs after a week’s worth of national news.

In any case, all eyes are now on this controversy-filled auction. Check out the official listing page for the might-be JFK’s ambulance and be sure to keep an eye on the live streaming feed at Speed.

Are you playing Speed’s Online Fantasy Bid Game? If not, test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what a series of featured vehicles will end up bringing at the auction block – you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad. Enjoy!

Photos copyright Jeremy Korzeniewski (C)2011 /AOL

Barrett-Jackson 2011: JFK’s 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance?

Beau Boeckmann is a huge Evel Knieval fan… he also happens to be the president of Galpin Auto Sports, which is tied to the largest Ford dealership in the world. To honor his hero, Boeckmann commissioned a limited run of customized Ford F-150s. Coming across the stage at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction will be the 2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator; the prototype truck built to showcase the entire run and it’s identified as #000 of 2,000.

This 2002 F-150 wears custom Evel Knieval-themed paint complete with the blue and white stars and stripes running the length of the vehicle. Under the hood is the familiar 5.7-liter Triton V8 engine while a set of Boyd Coddington wheels outside and red, white and blue leather seats inside help set this limited-edition pickup apart.

Mr. Knieval used this has his personal vehicle towards the end of his life. All 19,023 miles have been used to shuttle Evel to events around the country, including an appearance together on The Jimmy Kimmel Show.

Check out both the the trucks official auction page on Barrett-Jackson, and watch Speed’s live online coverage here. Are you playing Speed’s Online Fantasy Bid Game? If not, test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what a series of featured vehicles will end up bringing at the auction block – you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad. Enjoy!

*Update: Video of the truck crossing the block is available after the jump.

Photos copyright Jeff Glucker and Jeremy Korzeniewski (C)2011 /AOL

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2011: 2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator *Update: W/Video

Barrett-Jackson 2011: 2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator *Update: W/Video

We’re surrounded by mighty American Muscle here at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale. Faintly in the background, behind the roar of massive V8s and flashy paintjobs, sits a cup of tea amidst a sea of Budweiser. A 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Mercia Special Roadster is patiently waiting to cross the auction block.. and it looks nervous.

In storage for 33 years, this two-passenger convertible may be a blast to the past but it also features a few modern amenities such as a power-adjustable driver’s seat and fiberglass mats in the wheel wheels to prevent chipping.

Originally the car had just 17,000 miles on the odometer. After being completely restored in 2010 it has added just 50 more. We’re not quite sure how the muscle car-happy crowd will react to this fine example of British open-top motoring.

Be sure to check out the official auction listing for this 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Mercia Special Roadster. Also, make sure to stay on top of what’s crossing the block by watching streaming coverage courtesy of Speed.

Are you playing Speed’s Online Fantasy Bid Game? If not, test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what a series of featured vehicles will end up bringing at the auction block – you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad. Enjoy!

Photos copyright 2011 Jeff Glucker/AOL

Barrett-Jackson 2011: Scottsdale gets a taste of British class

You’ve seen the car featured on Autoblog before… Mr. Norm’s 426 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible is a modern Dodge Challenger taken to an extreme level. Under the hood sits a 6.1-liter Hemi that pushes out 650 horsepower at the crank. The steel roof has been replaced with a drop-top and the black and yellow paint scheme screams classic muscle. The large “HEMI” graphic on the rear fenders helps a bit too.

The 426 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible uses actual parts from the classic ‘Cuda. The taillights, rear panel and fender gills are from a 1971 model. Inside, Mr. Norm’s two-door convertible sports all the modern amenities you would expect in a new Challenger, such as Bluetooth connectivity and a Boston Acoustics sound system.

Check out the official listing page for Mr. Norm’s 426 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible and be sure to keep an eye on the live streaming feed at Speed.

Are you playing Speed’s Online Fantasy Bid Game? If not, test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what a series of featured vehicles will end up bringing at the auction block – you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad. Enjoy!

Photos copyright 2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski/AOL

Barrett-Jackson 2011: Mr. Norm Cuda Convertible melds classic style with modern metal

You can have a great product on your hands, but if you don’t sell it right, it ain’t worth jack. That’s why McLaren has hired Greg Levine.

A 15-year industry veteran, Levine comes to McLaren from his position as head of operations for Audi in the UK. Prior to that, he served as head of sales and marketing for Audi in South Africa, where Levine was credited with ushering the R8 to market – critical experience on which McLaren is keen to capitalize.

In his new position as head of global sales and marketing, Levine is responsible for bringing the new McLaren MP4-12C to market and overseeing an upstart network of 35 dealers in 19 countries. Sales are projected to be 1,000 units in the first full year, of which the United States is expected to account for 400 units. Details of the announcement are in the press release after the jump.

[Source: McLaren]

Continue reading McLaren recruits Audi’s Greg Levine to lead sales and marketing

McLaren recruits Audi’s Greg Levine to lead sales and marketing

A 2010 Dodge Challenger would be a wonderful addition to any garage. A limited-edition version painted Furious Fuchsia is an excellent way to pay homage to the Challengers of yore. Another way to pay? Buy lots 1251 and 1251.1 at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction; a 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 listed as #135 out of 400 Furious Fucshia examples and a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A wearing a similar paint scheme.

The two Challengers are being auctioned off together and the winning bidder will have a garage that Mopar fans across the country will drool over. The 2010 Challenger is fully loaded, sports the same pink, black and white color combination as the 1970 example and has just 1 mile on the odomeeter. The 1970 Challenger T/A has a 340 six-pack V8 under the hood and it’s paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The car is a numbers-matching example and comes loaded up with options.

Since the 2011 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction has so far been a middle-finger to the recession, we expect this double-car lot to fetch a handsome sum. Make your guesses in the comment section… we’re hoping to see $200,000… but we may be a little high.

Check out the official auction listing for the 2010 Challenger and the 1970 Challenger T/A, and head on over to Speed to watch live streaming coverage of all the festivities.

*Update: Video of the Challengers crossing the block is available after the jump.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeff Glucker and Jeremy Korzeniewski /AOL

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2011: A tale of two Challengers *Update: W/Video

Barrett-Jackson 2011: A tale of two Challengers *Update: W/Video

A 2010 Dodge Challenger would be a wonderful addition to any garage. A limited-edition version painted Furious Fuchsia is an excellent way to pay homage to the Challengers of yore. Another way to pay? Buy lots 1251 and 1251.1 at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction; a 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 listed as #135 out of 400 Furious Fucshia examples and a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A wearing a similar paint scheme.

The two Challengers are being auctioned off together and the winning bidder will have a garage that Mopar fans across the country will drool over. The 2010 Challenger is fully loaded, sports the same pink, black and white color combination as the 1970 example and has just 1 mile on the odomeeter. The 1970 Challenger T/A has a 340 six-pack V8 under the hood and it’s paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The car is a numbers-matching example and comes loaded up with options.

Since the 2011 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction has so far been a middle-finger to the recession, we expect this double-car lot to fetch a handsome sum. Make your guesses in the comment section… we’re hoping to see $200,000… but we may be a little high.

Check out the official auction listing for the 2010 Challenger and the 1970 Challenger T/A, and head on over to Speed to watch live streaming coverage of all the festivities.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeff Glucker and Jeremy Korzeniewski /AOL

Barrett-Jackson 2011: A tale of two Challengers

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has been testing side-impact crashes since 2003. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been collecting traffic fatality information a lot longer than that. Yet it took until 2011 for IIHS to compare its considerable crash data against NHTSA’s crash mortality data.

As a result, IIHS can now underscore the importance of its crash test scores with credible outside data. Bloomberg reports that the Institute found that drivers of vehicles with an IIHS rating of “Good” for side-impact crashes were 70 percent less likely to die in an accident. That’s the exact type of statistic that can sway shoppers’ purchasing decisions. Further bolstering IIHS’s findings is this nugget: 27 percent of all fatal accidents involved a side-impact collision. For 2011, the Hyundai Accent, two-door Jeep Wrangler and Chevy Colorado all receive “Poor” side impact ratings.

Meanwhile, NHTSA will further regulate vehicle standards beginning in 2018 to include more protection against side impacts as well as occupant ejection in the event of a rollover. Stronger side glass and side-impact airbags are among the available solutions.

[Source: Bloomberg]

IIHS uses NHTSA data to show its crash test results are right on

Nissan has kicked off production of its all-new 2012 NV commercial truck. Scheduled to go on sale this spring, the NV will be available in three variants; NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD. Two different configurations will also be offered: a standard roof or high roof that offers more interior work and/or cargo space.

Power comes from a choice of familiar six or eight-cylinder engines. The 4.0-liter V6 produces 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque while the 5.6-liter V8 delivers 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. Both engines drive the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission.

Body-on-frame construction should help the NV go a long way in the rugged work truck category. Inside, a few trick features will help further set it apart from competitors like the Ford Transit Connect. The passenger seat folds flat to offer up its backside as a workspace. The large, lockable center console offers plenty of storage and 120V outlets are installed front and rear.

The 2012 Nissan NV starts at an MSRP of $24,950. Once the NV configurator comes online, we (and tradesmen in need of a new ride) should be able to elevate that sticker price significantly.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan NV commercial truck production gets underway

Nissan NV commercial truck production gets underway

The speed-hungry fiends at Nismo have taken the time to unveil a new hardcore race version of the Nissan GT-R at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon. This machine is built for tangoing in the world’s most brutal endurance races, and the engineers behind it took the time to rip out every last unnecessary bit of weight and install all the hardware it needs to go fender to fender with other race-bred bruisers. That includes a set of stoppers capable of bringing the globe to a halt, a full roll cage and a more menacing suspension.

There’s even an onboard jack system and a huge 31.67-gallon fuel tank onboard to minimize time in the pits and maximize the number of seconds that the car can stay out on track. Nismo calls this terror the GT-R RC for Racing Competition, and if you like what you see, you better call your CPA. Nissan says that the race-bred GT-R will command a ¥20,790,000 price tag when it goes on sale – a shave over $250,000 at current exchange rates.

[Sources: 0-60, Nismo]

Nissan debuts special track-ready Nismo GT-R RC

Once again, Audi is bringing a sweet-looking electric car to the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany. While this thing is branded with the e-tron name, it’s more toy than car – but the little prototype can get going at speeds up to 18.64 miles per hour.

Called the Auto Union Type C e-tron study with electric drive, the toy is based on the limited-edition pedal car model, the Auto Union Silver Arrow Type C race car, that was shown last year. The new electric version uses a lithium-ion battery that can spin the 1.5-hp rear-wheel-drive electric motor to generate 29.5 pound-feet or torque (peak at 44.25) and has a range of just over 15 miles. Also, it has a reverse gear. Recharging from a 230-volt European socket takes around two hours. The best news: Adults up to 5′11″ can fit inside. Beats the heck out of those silly toy Escalades.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi turns pedal car into another e-tron for German toy fair

Audi turns pedal car into another e-tron for German toy fair

Is Audi going to bring its Tiguan-for-the-country-club Q3 over to the United States? Originally the automaker said nein! to the idea of a subcompact crossover on American soil, but now Audi is reportedly reconsidering offering the Q3 Stateside.

BMW is getting ready to launch the X1 here in the U.S., and Audi wants a cut of the North American subcompact crossover action. Since the American car-buying public is fairly wagon-averse, this move makes sense for Audi and could be a strong move to help it reach the aggressive sales goals it has set for itself.

The Q5 has already been a sales winner for the brand here in the States. In 2010, sales of the compact crossover rose 70 percent, and having a smaller Q3 in Audi showrooms would allow customers to still get in on the quad-rung crossover action for a bit less cash.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Audi reconsidering Q3 for U.S. sales?

Word on The Internets is that the Scion iQ won’t be hitting our shores anytime soon. The pint-sized hatch was originally supposed to arrive here in the United States by March of this year, but GreenCarReports.com has indicated that the city car may not arrive until sometime this summer. The move is thought to be as much about production delays as marketing. Scion has said that it wanted to give the 2011 tC enough time to have the company’s stage all to itself without having the limelight stolen away by its newest sibling.

At the same time, the company said that the first prototypes from Japan were a few months late in arriving and that the delay pushed back the production schedule. Whatever the hold up, buyers clamoring for a competitor to the Smart ForTwo will have to wait a few more months for the pleasure of grabbing the keys to a Scion iQ. As of this writing, there’s no telling whether the car will show up as a 2011 model as first thought or whether it will be labeled a 2012 when it finally shows up.

[Source: GreenCarReports.com]

Report: Scion iQ delayed until Summer

When Volkswagen announced it was teaming up with Suzuki for some joint projects, initial talk centered around small cars for emerging markets and possibly even a spate of two-wheeled ventures. Now, the rumormill is buzzing with speculation that the Japanese automaker might be interested in securing some of Volkswagen’s well-regarded powerplants for its midsize Kizashi sedan.

Prior to its tie-up with VW, Suzuki had enjoyed a partnership with General Motors that had the Japanese automaker using The General’s engines and transmissions. Those contracts died off after the VW deal, and, according to Ward’s, it now appears that any future engines for the Kizashi beyond the 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder (185 horsepower and 170 lb-feet of torque) will be sourced from Volkswagen.

Currently, there’s no indication what powertrains Suzuki is interested in procuring from Volkswagen, but we’d have to guess that a V6 or possibly even a hybrid would be on the menu, if possible.

Photos copyright (C)2011 John Neff / AOL

[Source: Ward's Automotive]

Could Suzuki Kizashi get VW power?

Sorry Formula One fans, it looks like Porsche won’t be throwing its hat into your ring anytime soon. Instead, the German manufacturer is more likely to back a factory team at Le Mans, at least according to ESPN. CEO Matthias Mueller said that while F1 has some attractive aspects, it’s also very expensive. Throw in the fact that success is a good sight less predictable than in other racing theaters and you can begin to understand why Porsche is a little skittish about diving into the deep end of the motorsports pool.

Instead, Mueller says that there’s a stronger possibility that we could see Porsche return to Le Mans. If you’re thinking that Audi just might have a thing or two to say about having to go fender-to-fender with its corporate cousin, you’re probably right. Still, the minds at Porsche seem to think that having two teams parented by Volkswagen gunning for the checkered flag is better than just one. For now, this is all just speculation. Mueller said that he wants all Volkwagen Group companies to come together to discuss a cohesive motorsports plan in the near future.

[Source: ESPN]

Report: Porsche looking to LeMans, not F1

DeNooyer Chevrolet in Albany, New York is in love with the new Camaro. It also loves the history of the model line, especially when dealers and customizers got their hands on the cars. We’ve already seen DeNooyer team up with Redline Motorsports to bring us their COPO HTR Camaro. Now the two have teamed up with Joel Rosen to resurrect the Baldwin-Motion Camaros.

In 1966, Joel Rosen started up his Motion Performance shop and partnered with Baldwin autos to produce a handful of boosted Chevy products. The Baldwin-Motion team offered Novas, Biscaynes, Chevelles, Corvettes and, of course, Camaros. The original Baldwin-Motion cars were available in SS (425 horsepower) or Phase III versions (500 hp and up). Joel Rosen stood so firmly behind his Motion sports cars that he provided a written guarantee stating they were capable of running the quarter-mile in 11.50 seconds and hitting a trap speed of 120 miles per hour. Not one Baldwin-Motion owner ever returned a car.

Now Joel Rosen is partnering up with DeNooyer Chevrolet and Redline Motorsports to usher in a new era of Motion Camaros. Five special edition cars are available with a choice of either an aluminum LS7 427 or LSX 454. The Motion SS-427 and SS-454 make 525 and 550 horsepower, respectively. Both versions wear custom Motion touches like graphics, seat inserts, headrests and special badges. For the Phase III cars, power is upped to 600 hp for the Phase III-427 while the Phase III-454 pumps out 625 hp. Phase III cars get further upgraded intake manifolds, a special engine management system, custom Motion aerodynamic body pieces and more custom touches to the interior. The fifth car in the lineup is the Motion Phase III 427-SC, and that SC stands for supercharged. Output is pushed to a pavement pummeling 800 hp and the 427-SC receives forged internals as well as upgraded Brembo brakes and suspension components.

The 2011 Motion Camaro cars will all be built to order, wear unique VINs and show off Joel Rosen’s signature. Hop the jump to read the full press-release and be sure to get a look at the Motion Camaro in the gallery below.

[Source: Baldwin-Motion]

Continue reading 2011 Chevrolet Camaro sets stage for Baldwin-Motion return

2011 Chevrolet Camaro sets stage for Baldwin-Motion return

Pagani Huayra magazine cover – click above to enlarge

We’ve now seen three teasers of the upcoming Pagani Zonda replacement, dubbed “Huayra,” or “C9″ internally. The official details and images have yet to be released, but it appears that the first uncovered image of the Huayra has appeared on the cover of CAR magazine’s Spanish-language edition.

We still don’t have any details about the new Zonda successor, though the magazine’s cover lines tell us that the car will cost about 1 million Euros and production will be limited to 20 units annually. If this is the production car, we’re certainly not unhappy about the addition of gullwing doors to the Pagani design, though that front end is indeed a bit… mouthy.

We’ll keep our eyes peeled for official images and data as the weeks progress. Your guess is as good as ours at this point for things like power numbers, 0-60 times and interior fittings, but since this car does replace the Zonda, we’d expect nothing short of earth-shattering figures.

[Source: Autoblog Spanish (translated)]

Pagani Huayra leaked on magazine cover?

Sometimes, Less Means More Of Everything

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

Sometimes, luxury isn’t about having more – it’s about having less, albeit artfully architected. Just ask BMW, which lops off a heaping helping of headroom and cargo space to turn its well-conceived X5 into the costlier, less utile X6. Admittedly, the X6 isn’t particularly artful, but its rival, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport is. Both vehicles are more indulgent – and more costly – despite offering reduced lebensraum and less exotic mechanicals.

Perhaps the originator and best practitioner of this less-is-more movement is Mercedes-Benz, whose designers adroitly took the last-generation E-Class, lopped off gobs of headroom and trunk space, added some CLS badges, and then proceeded to give the four-seater a much larger price tag. Given that luxury and practicality are nearly polar opposites, perhaps this trend shouldn’t be that surprising. The ability to fritter away utility in favor of fashion is perhaps the ultimate statement of luxury (”We could be rational, but why be so sensible, dahling?”).

Of course, we needn’t be so cynical – especially when the end result from Mercedes is so striking. The 2006 CLS wasn’t simply a Stuttgart cut-and-shut job – any fool with a pair of working eyes could see that Benz had developed a voluptuous creature that looked downright otherworldly compared to the stodgy E-Class that sired it. Mercedes would go so far as to market the original CLS as a ‘four-door coupe,’ and while pedants broke out in hives upon hearing the term, the reality was that Benz had created something far sexier than an ordinary sedan. The CLS’ sleekly beveled form wasn’t for everyone, but it sparked a rash of imitators in nearly every segment of the industry, from fellow luxury players to workaday sedans. Clearly, Mercedes had no small job when it came to reinventing its style icon.

And this being our first drive of the new-for-2012 CLS family, what better way to start than with the Big Daddy CLS63 AMG range topper?

Continue reading…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Paukert / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG

First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG

New Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby has stated publicly that the Swedish automaker plans to double global sales to 800,000 units per year by 2020. That’s a significant increase by any measure, and the company’s popular XC60 crossover appears to be a big part of those plans. Automobile reports that the Geely-owned automaker plans to increase production of the popular crossover to 100,000 units globally, with quite a few of those extra units reserved for the rebounding U.S. market. Volvo is reportedly optimistic that it can increase XC60 sales by eight percent over 2010 levels.

We guessing Volvo can increase production at its existing plants to nudge XC60 sales beyond the six-figure mark, but to hit 800,000 total units per year, a new plant is likely needed. It just so happens Volvo is planning a new factory in China, and Automobile cites a report by The Wall Street Journal that suggests the idea is being kicked around to build vehicles in the emerging market and ship a portion of them them to our shores.

The plan makes abundant sense from a cost standpoint, but the move would have to be approved by the Chinese government. It should help that Volvo is owned by a Chinese automaker, and we’re thinking it’s only a matter of time before “Made in China” will include cars and trucks ’round these parts before too long.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Automobile]

Report: Volvo boosting XC60 production, ponders bringing China-built cars to U.S.

On June 15, 2009, 79-year-old Andrew Cavanaugh was t-boned on the passenger side of his 2004 Buick Century while driving through an intersection and subsequently died from injuries he sustained in the collision. Both Cavanaugh and the driver of the 2003 Toyota Camry that struck him, 71-year-old Jacqueline Stinson, were travelling at the posted speed limit of 25 mph at the time of the accident. The only problem was that the stoplight on Cavanaugh’s end of the intersection was timed to require a minimum speed of 30 mph for a driver to safely make it through before the light changed from green to red. Investigators found that Cavanaugh had just three seconds to make it across four lanes of traffic. To make matters worse, he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt.

Cavanaugh’s daughter, Shanon Baker, has since filed a lawsuit accusing Pinellas County, Florida as holding the blame for her father’s death. While the light is maintained by the Pinellas County Highway Department, its duration was calibrated by the Florida Department of Transportation when it was first installed in 1998. Since that time, there have been no other reported incidents as a result of the light’s timing, and Pinellas County intends to fight Baker’s lawsuit.

[Source: Tampa Bay Online Image: Horia Varlan, CC 2.0]

Did driving the speed limit cost a 79-year-old man his life?