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As we see it, there’s one major problem with the 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. No, not the $280,000 asking price, or even the give-us-a-break curb weight of 5,269 pounds. We also aren’t talking about the fact that this basic chassis has been around since 2003. Nor are we concerned that there exist very few places on earth where you can even maybe-kinda-sorta properly experience the thrust of the Supersport’s twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12’s profligate output. Get this: 621 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 590 pound-feet of torque available between 2,000-4,500 rpm. Did we mention this one’s a convertible?

Furthermore, the topless Supersports’ problem does not involve the fact that there are very, very few people in its target demographic. You know, the guy that wants to take three members of his family for a ride at 197 mph with the top down (Bentley would like us to point out that with the top up, the Supersports Convertible will hit 202 mph). Thing is, out of the earth’s 6.7 billion inhabitants, there will surely be around 400 folks that fit the bill, coincidentally about the same number of these topless Supersports Bentley intends to build. No, the problem with the Bentley Supersports Convertible is that the preposterously humongous carbon-ceramic brakes feel a bit squishy coming down from 165 mph. Mind you, at 130 mph, the stoppers work like anchors.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible delivers the goods

First Drive: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible delivers the goods

Take a particular slant on supercar history and you’d be forgiven for categorizing Lamborghini as another pretender to Ferrari’s throne. Enzo was, after all, the spiteful impetus for Ferruccio’s branching out from tractors to sportscars, and some might say has been playing catch-up ever since. Whatever way you look at it, that’s certainly the case when it comes to merchandising, an area which – for better or worse – Ferrari’s long been the leader.

As Ferrari has its line of Acer computers, so has Lamborghini teamed up with Asus for a range of laptops. But this is something altogether different. Tonino Lamborghini – Ferruccio’s son with his own line of merchandise – has granted his name and variation on the raging bull badge to be used on this seemingly pedestrian laptop. The specs are rather run-of-the-mill and the design is rather uninspired, as you’ll find in the gallery below and the source links. But at 649 euros, it’s a fair bit cheaper than the four-figure tags on either its namesake’s or its rival’s more upscale offerings.

[Source: Notebook Italia via Engadget]

Tonino Lamborghini does his own branded laptop

First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 breaks the luxo-barge mold

Alpina has made a business out of taking the best vehicles from one marque and making them substantially better than anything rolling off the assembly line. The Alpina B7 is easily the best 7 Series we’ve driven.

Tesla reportedly raises $226 million with IPO of 13.3M shares

Tesla reportedly raised $226 million with its IPO, or 13.3 million shares at $17 per. The $226 mil total went above and beyond the high-end figure of $16 per share. *Update: Shares are now trading some 40% higher than initial price.

Autoblog Long-Term Garage Introduction: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

Welcome the newest entrant to the Autoblog Long-Term Garage: the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition. Follow the TDI’s progress here and follow us at Twitter #ablongterm.

Also of interest:

• Terrafugia Transition flying “car” gets special FAA exemption, sees clear skies ahead?
• PSA: Ford Mustang to make NASCAR Nationwide debut Friday night
• Report: Final PT Cruiser to roll off Chrysler assembly line on July 9
• Spy Shots: Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera Spyder caught testing?
• BMW offering carbon fiber components for M3
• BMW recalls over 15,000 motorcycles

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.29.10

Renault debuted its all new Wind coupe-convertible at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and now that summer is here, it’s time for it to hit the streets. At just over 12.5 feet long, the Wind’s closest competitor is likely to be the upcoming Mini Roadster and Coupe. Like so many other European automakers, Renault has gone with a hardtop, but not the type of complex, folding multi-piece unit found on so many others. Similar to the late Ferrari 575 SuperAmerica, the roof panel simply rotates back 180 degrees and stows flat under the rear deck.

The relatively simple top design allows the Wind to retain 9.5 cubic feet of trunk space, even with the top down. The only real downside is the huge sail panels that mean over-the-shoulder visibility looks to be all but non-existent.

The front wheels are spun by a choice of inline-four cylinder engines. The TCe 100 is a 1.15-liter turbocharged unit that delivers 100 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque while the 1.6-liter normally aspirated mill cranks out 133 hp and 118 lb-ft. The two powerplants (if that isn’t too strong a word in this case) deliver 37.3 and 33.6 miles per gallon (U.S.) respectively. With a mass under 2,500 pounds this could be a fun little machine regardless of the output.

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: 2011 Renault Wind convertible blows in

Pics Aplenty: 2011 Renault Wind convertible blows in

Obvious lengthy name jokes aside, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera is one heck of a performance machine. It’s all about saving weight when it comes to this car (”Superleggera,” after all, means “super light”), so it strikes us as something of a surprise to see this prototype of a Spyder version out testing on the Nürburgring.

Most noticeably, the hardtop Superleggera’s rear wing is gone, but the large front spoiler and rear diffuser make it clear that this Gallardo means business. Besides, Lamborghini has been known to keep weight under control with its Erector Set roof assemblies, so we’d expect the Superleggera Spyder to generate the same sort of super lightweight thrills with a whole lot more wind in your hair.

Expect to see the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera Spyder (now that’s a mouthful) at the Paris Motor Show later this year. For now, click through our gallery below for the full raft of high-res spy shots.

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera Spyder caught testing?

Ah yes, the Ferrari 599 GTO – the sinister odd duck in the Ferrari stable. It goes without saying that any one of us would give any number of appendages for a shot at the flappy paddles in this particular Prancing Horse. You probably already know that the car gets its grunt from a 6.0-liter V12 distilled from the same mill that powers the mighty Enzo, though in the right hands, the 599 GTO is actually quicker than the discontinued Ferrari supercar. You’re likely also aware that the chassis is a whopping 430 pounds lighter than the more pedestrian 599 GTB.

That’s all fine and good, but we’re betting our britches that you don’t know what the car sounds like as it gets flung around the Italian countryside. For that, we turn to the ever-talented Chris Harris at EVO. The guy was lucky enough to get some seat time in the barely road-legal 599 GTO and took along a few cameras to share his experience. You can hop the jump for the full show, but if you’re looking for your own personal moment of Zen, we suggest you skip ahead to around 2:30. You can thank us later. Thanks for the tip, Michael!

[Source: EVO via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 599 GTO reviewed in all its glory by EVO’s Chris Harris

Video: Ferrari 599 GTO reviewed in all its glory by EVO’s Chris Harris

General Motor’s VP of Marketing Joel Ewanick has found a home for the wandering Cadillac account: Fallon. That home, however, wasn’t empty: last December Fallon won the Chrysler account and created the Pentastar’s “Coming Home” ad campaign that aired during the Super Bowl earlier this year. It’s unlikely that Chrysler will want to share a bed with Cadillac, so the seven-month-old account will most likely be the next one to move on.

Fallon held the BMW account until 2005 and oversaw the BMW Films that continue to rule the landscape of extra curricular automotive video marketing. We’re not saying that we want them to do the same thing with Cadillac, but if Fallon can conjure something even half as cool it would be an awesome start for everyone. As for Chrysler, perhaps it could step over to Wieden+Kennedy, who did the new and critically approved 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee ad. Just stay away from the high concept stuff for a little while longer…

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Cadillac ad account goes to Fallon, so Chrysler’s account goes to… ?

	Average American auto expenses: $5,477 (that’s more than food) What do you pay?		Report: Honda to offer Fit Hybrid for $16,570, let the price wars begin Reuters wonders if more competition will kill the hybrid market.
	UK Tesla superfan goes 772 miles from London to Lands End in a Roadster And GM thought the Ampera’s 170 miles was a big deal.	Other news: David Frum: Getting America off oil will require more than magic machines – think higher gas tax Coda tweaks exterior design of electric sedan 2011 Honda Accord ups the ante by increasing mpg rating to 23/34 city/highway

AutoblogGreen for 06.29.10

The record that everyone was talking about at the 2010 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, the overall course record, will remain for at least one more year, but there were plenty of other records broken in 2010. The extra 1.9 miles of pavement at the top of the mountain made for some very fast times, and some of the old times were smashed by a wide margin.

For starters, perhaps the most impressive record was one that was set in the Time Attack 2WD class. The previous record was just set last year by Rhys Millen in his Hyundai Genesis Coupe, but Jeff Zwart smashed Millen’s time of 12:09.40 with a 11:31.095 in his Porsche 911 Cup. Other record-breakers include Clint Vahsholtz in Super Stock (Ford Mustang, 11:33.320), Doug Mockett in Vintage (Oldsmobile Super 88, 13:05.71), and Ikuo Hanawa in Electric (EV Sports Concept HER-02, 13:17.575).

Of course, not all of the records were about time. Colorado Springs native Randy Schranz tied the record for the most completed hill climbs at 36, matching Louie Unser. He also set the propane fuel record at 11:57.098 in his Shelby Cobra (pictured above). In her very first run, Denver resident Savannah Rickli became the youngest female to ever complete the race, finishing third in the Time Attack 2WD class with a time of 13:58.232 in her Mini Cooper S. Finally, Jason Taylor was the first person to complete the hill climb in a rock buggy, finishing with a time of 14:07.620. You can see all of the record-breakers from this year’s Pikes Peak in the high-res gallery below.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Pikes Peak 2010: The record-breakers

The 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance took place this past Sunday and once again found the Monarch Beach Golf Links at the St. Regis Resort to be a perfect venue. As beautiful as the resort is, though, we were a bit perplexed to hear visitors talking so openly and enthusiastically about all of the snakes they had been seeing there.

“Did you see The Snake? There are four snakes up on the hill! The Snake was riding around in a golf cart a few minutes ago, make sure you go see him.”

The well-traveled Reptilia was none other than Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, the honorary chairman of this year’s concours. “The Snake” didn’t come empty-handed to this party either. No, he brought with him a quartet of his funky funny cars from the 1970s, including the sole remaining Mattel Hot Wheels 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Funny Car that became famous during the “Snake vs. Mongoose” match races between Prudhomme and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen. Back in the day, these two warriors famously squared off in match races across the country while also making countless appearances at toy stores, retail outlets and other locations.

The Barracuda was parked atop the same 1967 Dodge D-700 crew cab Hot Wheels Ramp Truck that was used to transport the race car on that promotional tour. The gorgeous yellow duo emerged from frame-off restorations just in time for SEMA last year, and seeing it there instantly transported us back to our youths, when our Hot Wheels checklist included not only this screaming yellow Plymouth, but Prudhomme’s red, white and blue Hot Wheels and ARMY cars as well. Imagine our delight, then, when we saw some of those cars parked right alongside the Baracuda and transport in Dana Point on Sunday.

Front and center sat the white 1972 Hot Wheels sponsored Plymouth ‘Cuda funny car, to its left the 1974 Army sponsored Chevrolet Vega funny car and to the right the 1978 Army Plymouth Arrow funny car which proudly carries the “Number 1,” reflecting Prudhomme’s fourth consecutive NHRA World Championship season. The Snake himself was also part of the attraction on Sunday, recounting old racing tales and signing autographs for the masses. He even took a few minutes to visit with the Cagahys, a couple who happened to bring their own Prudhomme car to the event – a 2009 Shelby Mustang Prudhomme Edition. We took lots of pics, which you can check out in the gallery below.

Photos by Frank Filipponio/ Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

2010 Dana Point Concours: Don “The Snake” Prudhomme tribute

The crew from Crewe just spent some time exercising their newest machine in the mountains of Colorado and came back with a fresh batch of photos and video. Our driving impressions of the Bentley Continental Supersports convertible will be forthcoming, but in the meantime, take a few moments to enjoy the Supersports drop top racing along in the shadow of the Rockies.

Oddly, unlike the Supersports coupe, the convertible retains the rear seats to go along with the more powerful 621 horsepower twin-turbocharged W12. At 202 miles per hour, the Supersports convertible is claimed to be the world’s fastest four seat cabrio. Check out the gallery below and make the jump to see the Supersports in eerily quiet action.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: Bentley visits Colorado with the Supersports convertible [w/video]

Pics Aplenty: Bentley visits Colorado with the Supersports convertible [w/video]

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumblings about the possibility of BMW producing a hybrid sports car based on its Vision EfficientDynamics concept. Now, though, the German magazine Autozeitung report that the new sports car could potentially be named M8, and more importantly, that the plug-in hybrid motor from the concept will be ditched in favor of something sweeter.

Instead of a wholly electric motor, these new rumors suggest that the production M8 will use a version of the E60 M5’s 5.0-liter V10, but with two electric motors added on for good measure. These two electric mills will be mounted at the front and rear, similar to the layout seen in the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, and should produce around 150 horsepower, combined. Add the V10 to those whirring motors and we expect total output to be somewhere between 600-700 hp. If this is the future of hybrid sports cars, we’re okay with it.

The magazine also reports that the M8 will be about five inches longer than the original Vision concept, and that a two-plus-two seating configuration will be offered inside. If the project remains on track, expect to see BMW’s hybrid supercar debut at some point in 2012.

[Source: Autozeitung via TeamSpeed, BMWblog]

Rumormill: BMW developing M8 hybrid sports car

It seems a bit odd calling this the 28th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance when it’s only been in this city for three years and has only had that name officially for one, but after spending a good portion of Sunday at the St. Regis and its Monarch Bay golf course, it really felt like this is where this show was always meant to be. With dramatic views of the ocean, the rolling greenery of the links and the surrounding mansions, the venue feels like it was built solely to play host to Southern California’s premiere concours.

Second only to Pebble Beach in prominence among the California concours, Dana Point has really come of its own. With nearly 200 judged entries and perhaps an equal number of display vehicles, it’s a big show that still manages to feel manageable, and the field of entrants was once again amazing. This year’s show honored 100 years of Alfa Romeo, 80 years of Pininfarina and 20 years of the Ferrari F40, as well as drag racing legend Don “The Snake” Prudhomme. Classes included American Pony & Muscle Cars, Corvettes to 1967, Kustoms & Hot Rods, and the second annual exhibit of Supercars, as well as a new category for vintage motorcycles.

With proceeds going to support the Ocean Institute, the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and other Southern California youth charities, the Dana Point Concours is run as a Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Concours, but with some of those additional classes thrown in to showcase particularly interesting and relevant automobiles. Just take a look at the photo above and you’ll see the wide variety of outstanding vehicles that this show attracts. Click through the rest of the gallery and you’ll see everything from a Bugatti 57SC to the nicest Oldsmobile Starfire you’re ever likely to encounter.

Some favorites this year included just about everything in the gallery, but especially the low mileage original ‘57 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, ‘32 Ford Phaeton Hot Rod, ‘58 Ferrari 250 Tour de France, ‘59 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Pinin Farina Cab, 1980 Kawasaki K2, “Animal House” Death Mobile, that crazy cute 1957 Fiat “Eden Rock” Yacht Tender, and the fantastic ‘52 Muntz Jet Convertible. The Muntz, however, wasn’t our top pick. That honor had to go to the Bugatti among the classics, Don Prudhomme’s funny car collection among the American cars and the Alfa Romeo TZ2 GT Coupe as the car we’d most like to drive. Click below to check out the massive gallery and pick out your favorites.

Photos by Frank Filipponio/ Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

2010 Dana Point Concours d’Elegance at the St. Regis

Pennzoil has launched a new line of products, and they want you to be as happy about it as they are. To assist in that cause, the company has partnered with the RCR Street Performance Group, a newly formed offshoot of Richard Childress Racing, on a special edition 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS that you can win in the “Get Your Key to Clean” promotion.

The Camaro has been kitted and fitted with a Magnussen supercharger, custom headers, Wilwood six-piston big brake kit, carbon fiber aero bits, 22-inch wheels, a reupholstered interior trimmed in Pennzoil colors and a whole lot more. Did we mention the ‘old school’ grille? You can go to Pennzoil’s site to register, but before you do that you’ll want to read the press release after the jump for all the details. Oh, and don’t forget to peruse the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Pennzoil]

Continue reading Pennzoil teams up with RCR Street Performance Group to build 2010 Chevy Camaro retro-racer

Pennzoil teams up with RCR Street Performance Group to build 2010 Chevy Camaro retro-racer

Nobody actually needs image and fashion statements like Bentleys,and Rolls-Royces, but those who choose to buy them anyway naturally want to have the latest and greatest. And we don’t blame them. As such, Bentley reportedly wants to get on a schedule of introducing a new model at least every 18 months, if not sooner. Expect to see further variations on existing models like the Continental SuperSports coupe and convertible in lieu of completely new platforms.

The rapid turnover of model variants goes hand-in-hand with Bentley’s ongoing migration back to performance-oriented luxury and away from the more staid approach that took precedence under Rolls-Royce ownership. Ever since Bentley and Rolls were split up and sold to Volkswagen and BMW respectively, the two brands have developed distinctly different character traits, and you can expect that pattern to continue.

[Source: Auto Observer]

Bentley to shorten product cycles, focus on performance

Toyota will be out in force at next weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The highlight of Toyota’s participation will be a celebration of its success in the World Rally Championship in the 1980s and 1990s with at least three of its winning cars. The Group B Celica Twin Cam TA64 that won numerous rallies including the Safari and Ivory Coast events will be joined by the Group A Celica ST185 from the early 1990s and the later Corolla WRC.

Toyota will bring along the Lexus LFA, a new supercharged edition of the iQ minicar and a Land Cruiser that raced in this year’s Dakar rally. The festival runs July 2-4, 2010.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota to celebrate rally heritage at Goodwood

Toyota to celebrate rally heritage at Goodwood

This big-block ‘70 Plymouth Roadrunner was at SEMA last year, but many readers may better remember it from its appearance as a feature car in Hot Rod magazine, a spot on the television show RIDES, and its big-screen debut in The Fast and the Furious franchise. Vin Diesel’s character, Dom Toretto, showed up in the closing minutes of Tokyo Drift behind the wheel of this malevolent Mopar, and it made enough of an impact that it returned in the 2009 follow-up as well.

Underhood, there’s a supercharged 500-cubic-inch Mopar wedge pumping out 750 horsepower. To those familiar with the car, it’s known simply as Hammer. The bidder who brought home this Plymouth also got a GMP limited edition 1:18-scale die-cast model of the car. Its closing bid of $175,000 made Hammer one of the top sellers at the 2010 Barrett-Jackson Orange County auction. Check out our mini-gallery below.

Barrett-Jackson OC ‘10: 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner “Hammer” has fame, nets fortune

The top seller in Barrett-Jackson’s first Orange County auction on Saturday was a very special Chevy Chevelle. Built by Route 66 Motorsports and chronicled by Super Chevy Magazine, it’s known as the Project American Heroes Chevelle, and it brought a cool quarter of a million bucks for the Armed Forces Foundation. This Chevelle is the third in a series of souped-up muscle cars built for this particular charity, which supports the families of injured veterans.

The car itself is a 1970 Chevelle, with an intercooled, supercharged GM Performance Parts LSA engine where you might expect to see an LS5 or LS6 big block. Detroit Speed & Engineering did the suspension, the binders are Baer’s new “6P” brake system, power is routed through a TCI Automotive 6x 6-speed 4L80E transmission, and the end result of these and about 30 other component contributors is one badass Chevelle that sold for $250,000 on Saturday afternoon. Take a look at the gallery below to see some shots of this very special Chevy, the color guard that escorted it onstage, and the cheerleaders that helped keep the crowd revved up during the auction.

Barrett-Jackson OC ‘10: Project American Heroes Chevelle brings $250,000 for charity

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. has done a stand-up job evangelizing the MG brand with the MG6 and the Zero Concept (the latter slated for production as the MG3). Now, the automaker has added an $8.2 million design center to its Longbridge site.

Antony Williams-Kenny, MG’s design director, says the studio “gives us superb tools and facilities to go further forward on projects such as the MG Zero concept and beyond.” An MG spokesperson adds, “The designing of new cars and the engineering and technical aspects of the cars is all happening here in the UK.”

Along with MG6 production moving back to Longbridge later this year, the forthcoming Zero/MG3 is expected to offer 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines when it’s finalized for retail. That kind of news gives folks in the Midlands (and sporty-car folks everywhere) something to look forward to from The Octagon. Finally.

[Source: BBC, Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

SAIC opens design center at MG’s Longbridge site

Italophiles, take note: Lamborghini has announced it’s built the 10,000th Gallardo. Naturally, the supercar manufacturer is pleased with this performance, pointing out that the now ubiquitous Gallardo is officially the most successful model Lamborghini has ever created. Says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.:

The Lamborghini brand is extreme, uncompromising and Italian, and the Lamborghini Gallardo has played an exemplary role in defining and delivering our brand reputation into our worldwide markets. Today Lamborghini is represented in 45 countries by over 120 dealers, with the strength and presence of the Gallardo product playing a significant role in the growth and recognition of our brand.

We feel obligated to point out that such success in the marketplace is something of a double-edged sword for Lamborghini. One reason exotic machines from manufacturers like Lamborghini have been so revered in the past is due to their rarity and exclusivity. One the flip side, small-scale automakers simply cannot continue to compete on a global scale without runaway success stories like the Gallardo.

That said, feel free to click on past the break as Lamborghini recounts the history of its Gallardo and to find out where lucky number 10,000 is headed.

[Source: Lamborghini]

Continue reading Lamborghini builds 10,000th Gallardo

Lamborghini builds 10,000th Gallardo