Ferrari FF unveil video – Click above to watch video
has dropped the introduction video for the company’s new FF onto the YouTubes and the short flick shows off the extensive testing that the four-seater underwent on its way toward becoming a full-fledged production model. Engineers flogged prototypes of the FF in nearly every corner of the globe, from dirt roads and frozen paths in Argentina to tracks in France and Italy. The Prancing Horse even spent some time in Sweden to iron out any kinks that might arise during severe cold weather. The result of all that abuse is the company’s first four-wheel drive, V12, four-seat sports car.
Ferrari says that its 4RM part-time all-wheel drive system is lighter than standard units, helping give the FF its 47:53 weight balance. Speaking of weight, the newest horse in the Ferrari stable weighs in at less than 4,000 pounds and packs a start/stop system help conserve fuel. Somehow we’re guessing that fuel consumption isn’t on the top of your priority list if you’re itching to park one of these things in the garage. to see the full video.
Is this Nissan’s idea of a hot hatch? We were more than a little intrigued by this automotive condundrum, and this is what we found.
The Ford Excursion lives, despite being canceled back in 2005… though not through any fault of Ford. Custom Autos by Tim can build you one baesd on a 2010 or 2011 Super Dutypickup.
The has an all new available engine under the hood. Canadian Kia fans can soon head over to dealers and pick up the which features a directly-injected 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. We’d expect the U.S. to follow suit in very short order.
Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the turbo mill has a relatively flat torque curve with peak power occurring between 1,800 and 3,000 rpm. When bolted into the , the 2.0T is rated at 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. We expect the Sportage SX to produce similar numbers, including the 30+ miles per gallon highway fuel economy figures.
The car will show up in Canadian dealer showrooms by the end of winter. Priced at $36,995, it comes loaded with standard features including the new UVO entertainment system, which is similar to Ford’s Sync. Check out the full press release .
Gallery:
Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL
The Group has got big plans for the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The Italian automaker will, first of all, be unveiling rebadged versions of existing group products for the European market, with a rebadged as a Fiat and several as well. But what of ? According to reports, the hottest of Fiat’s core family will roll in with an all-new concept car.
Tentatively dubbeed the 4C GTA, the show car is tipped to pack a 265-horsepower 1.7-liter turbo four into a svelte coupe package. Like the MiTo and Giulietta, the 4C will likely take its design cues after the 8C Competizione (and hopefully a little from the pictured above) only slotting in below the eight-cylinder supercar in the company’s line-up.
Of course it would have to be approved for production first, and right now all we’ve got are rumors from our unrelated Hellenic compatriots, so stay tuned.
Hollister and Facebook have teamed up to take social media to new and lofty heights. The clothing company just wrapped up a contest in which users were invited to submit photos of their derrières in Hollister jeans. Both guys and girls could enter for a chance to take home one very awesome, custom 1978 Microbus, complete with all the surf gear you’d need to at least pretend like you’re a beach bum. Facebook users were invited to judge the competing rears and vote on their favorites, and one rump stood above the rest.
Lizzy Marola entered the contest at a Hollister store on a whim and wound up winning the eyes of enough voters to take home the bus of her dreams. Marola is a freshman at Coastal Carolina University, so there’s at least some chance that those long boards will hit the water in the near future.
The Microbus was delivered to Marola at her home in Torrington College, Connecticut recently on a trailer before being inspected and registered. If you’re interested to see the image that won it for her, .
James May rocks the Ariel Atom V8 – Click above to watch the video
The latest Ariel Atom sports 500 horsepower from its supercharged 3.0-liter V8, yet it only weighs 1,200 pounds. That adds up to about 900 horsepower per ton; a ratio that shames anything from a to a . Sounds riveting, and Top Gear’s James May had the honor of exercising the super-fast machine in a very thorough manner.
Beyond the jump is 12 minutes of TG goodness featuring the Ariel Atom 500. Not only did May have his way with the Atom, he then put the track day superstar against a and a in a race from zero to 100 and back to zero. The super Atom then thundered around the TG test track in a one-on-one battle against the BMW S1000 RR, and of course, was handed over to The Stig for a proper power lap. to gaze upon the marriage of Top Gear and the Ariel Atom 500.
2011 Nissan Juke – Click above for high-res image gallery
seems to be on a war path to fill every last ounce of white space in the automotive spectrum. The company has unleashed a barrage of vehicles that range from playful to downright confusing. At first blush, the would seem to fit into the latter category. With styling that’s two shakes away from robo-reptilian, the small crossover packs plenty of power, a tall ride height and a small footprint into one sub-$20,000 package. If you can avoid pigeonholing the Juke, you’ll find that the engineers at Nissan secretly managed to bring their own interpretation of the hot hatch to market without raising the ire of the company’s accountants.
We wouldn’t blame you for thinking we’re one stud short of a lug pattern on this one, but point your peepers to a few specs and you’ll see what we mean. The Juke weighs in at less than 3,000 pounds in front-wheel-drive guise and packs a turbocharged, direct-injection 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that’s good for 188 horsepower. For reference, the company’s own hits the scales with an extra 88 pounds on its waist and 11 fewer ponies at its command. Opt for the manual gearbox in the Juke, and things get even lighter. Intrigued? We were too.
Rubens Barrichello tests the Williams FW32 with new Pirelli tires at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi
What’s the best way to make a small fortune in Formula One? Arrive with a large one. Williams has another idea though, and it’s a radical one in the field of motor racing: The British outfit may float shares on the stock market.
Williams insists the idea is being considered in order to secure a long-term future (as its team principals are some of the oldest on the grid) and not as an effort to raise funds in the short term. After part of the team to Austrian investor Toto Wollf, it suffered from the departure of a number of sponsors at the end of last season. But the team insists its budget is secure for the coming championship, having recently announced a deal with Venezuelan oil company PDVSA that followed the of Venezuelan driver and reigning GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado to replace Nico Hülkenberg for next season.
The Williams group consists of more than just the F1 team, encompassing Williams Grand Prix Engineering as well as the hybrid development business used for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, the development and construction of the and separate operations in Qatar, which would ostensibly all be part of the IPO if the company decides to go ahead with the move. At the moment, however, Frank Williams and company appear to be dipping their proverbial toes in the water. for the official statement.
[Source: Williams Image: Glenn Dunbar/LAT/Williams]
Test Drive Unlimited 2 features character customization – Click above to watch video
Can you think of something missing from the current crop of automotive video games? If you said cosmetic surgery then you must work for Atari. The upcoming is going to let you customize more than you car. Your on-screen avatar can appear exactly how you want it to thanks to numerous facial and clothing options. to see what we’re talking about.
Infiniti EX30d Black Premium – Click above for high-res image gallery
Buying a luxury automobile these days is as much about the “customer experience” as it is about the actual vehicle. has shown its aptitude in delivering that experience as well as its rivals have – arguably better – particularly in Europe, where Nissan’s luxury division is a relative newcomer.
Its latest offering comes in the form of the Black Premium. Based on the diesel-powered EX30d GT Premium trim, the Black edition features (you guessed it) black paint (metalic Malbec, in Infiniti parlance) with graphite leather interior plus 19-inch alloys, a sunroof, aluminum roof rails and a Bose sound system.
That covers the vehicle. As for the experience, Infiniti has thrown in a night for two – fine dining included – at any of the hundreds of luxury hotels associated with the Relais & Château group, as well as membership in its exclusive Club 5C. Only 500 examples of the Infiniti EX30d Black Premium edition will be offered across Europe, at about a $5,000 premium over the standard top-spec model. Full details are in the press release after the jump.
1963 ChevroletCorvette Custom Coupe at Barrett-Jackson 2011 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette is an iconic American sports car. The split-window coupe is instantly recognizable and serves as one of the symbols of Zora Arkus-Duntov’s legacy with . Up for auction at is a re-imagining of classic , and it’s been brought to the modern era while keeping its memorable lines.
Described as “the car Duntov would have built to win Le Mans”, this 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe has a secret hidden under its bodywork. The engine isn’t in the front but rather it’s been relocated to the middle of the car. Actually, that’s not accurate… the original engine could be on a shelf somewhere because it’s been replaced with a twin-turbo LS V8. This eight-cylinder monster has been tested on the dyno and the numbers are staggering. Producing 1,000 horsepower and 915 pound-feet of torque, this ‘63 Vette runs from 0-60 miles per hour in under three seconds and probably goes through tires like fire through paper.
Also, be sure to get a load of those crazy doors, which open kind of like drawers with an ingenious scissor mechanism.
This will be one to watch as it rolls across the stage (you can ) because the crowd is now “properly medicated” and winning bids are climbing. Plus, it’s one of , and you can join us in making an estimation on what this custom mid-engine ‘Vette will finally sell for. We know it’ll be triple digits…
Big Toe Monster Bike – Click above for high-res image gallery
Here we have another one of Speed’s Fantasy Bidding Game machines. if you’d like to test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what this monster motorcycle will end up bringing at the auction block – you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad.
Tom Wilberg, the Swedish creator of this machine, named it Big Toe, and it is indeed a chip off the old block… that is to say, Bigfoot, the most famous monster truck known to man. Clever, no?
We’re not going to argue with Wilberg or The Guinness Book of World Records when they claim that Big Toe is the World’s Tallest Rideable Motorcycle, but we do have to wonder if our definition of the word rideable differs with theirs.
In any case, this larger-than-life, tractor-tired, 5.3-liter V12-powered motorcycle is getting ready to roll across the auction block here at the in Scottsdale, and you can . Check out our high-res image gallery of the machine below.
*Update: Check out the video of the Monster Bike being auctioned .
Big Toe Monster Bike – Click above for high-res image gallery
Here we have another one of Speed’s Fantasy Bidding Game machines. if you’d like to test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what this monster motorcycle will end up bringing at the auction block – you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad.
Tom Wilberg, the Swedish creator of this machine, named it Big Toe, and it is indeed a chip off the old block… that is to say, Bigfoot, the most famous monster truck known to man. Clever, no?
We’re not going to argue with Wilberg or The Guinness Book of World Records when they claim that Big Toe is the World’s Tallest Rideable Motorcycle, but we do have to wonder if our definition of the word rideable differs with theirs.
In any case, this larger-than-life, tractor-tired, 5.3-liter V12-powered motorcycle is getting ready to roll across the auction block here at the in Scottsdale, and you can . Check out our high-res image gallery of the machine below.
1971 Plymouth Barracuda from Furious 5 at Barrett-Jackson 2011 – Click above for high-res image gallery
A 1971 Plymouth Barracuda is a wonderful sight to behold. However, for the producers of (the upcoming installment in the Fast and Furious franchise), it’s apparently not quite furious enough. How do they solve the problem? By stuffing a 636 Hemi under the hood and attaching a blower larger than Vin Diesel’s impression of himself.
The car features five-point harnesses, leather-lined race seats and a custom dash signed by Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Justin Lin. Based on the “Frankencuda” Muscle Machine diecast toy, this custom ‘Cuda is a fantasy car come to life.
Check out both the , and watch . Are you playing ? 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!
2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible Indy 500 Pace Car at Barrett-Jackson – Click above for high-res image gallery
Chevrolet is taking to the Scottsdale stage to auction off a special drop-top. The first of 50 limited-edition cars, this will cross the stage before heading to lead the field at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The orange and white color combination matches that of the Indy-fied 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, which has since become a collectors item of its own. As far as we know, the Camaro ‘Vert will be a 2012 model, but everything here at Barrett-Jackson is listing this as a 2011.
Proceeds from the sale of this limited-edition will go the David Foster Foundation, which supports families with children in need of live-saving organ transplants. Charity cars have gone through the roof at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction and we would expect nothing different from this one.
The Camaro Convertible doesn’t have an official listing page, as it was something of a surprise for bidders, but you can watch . Are you playing ? 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:The final gavel price? $225,000.
Gallery:
Photos copyright 2011 Jeff Glucker and Jeremy Korzeniewski/AOL
JFK’s 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance? Could be – Click above for high-res image gallery
Normally, events such as 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 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 . 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 and be sure to keep an eye on .
Are you playing ? 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:The ambulance ended up selling for $120,000… which we’d say means the bidders weren’t convinced of its authenticity. Or, it means someone just scored an amazingly significant car at a major discount.
JFK’s 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance? Could be – Click above for high-res image gallery
Normally, events such as 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 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 . 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 and be sure to keep an eye on .
Are you playing ? 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!
2002 Ford F-150 Evel Knievel Gladiator – Click above for high-res image gallery
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 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 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 . 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 on Barrett-Jackson, and watch . Are you playing ? 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 .
Gallery:
Photos copyright Jeff Glucker and Jeremy Korzeniewski (C)2011 /AOL
1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Mercia Special Roadster – Click above for high-res image gallery
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 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 . Also, make sure to stay on top of what’s crossing the block by .
Are you playing ? 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!
2009 Cuda Convertible by Mr. Norm’s at Barrett-Jackson – Click above for high-res image gallery
You’ve … Mr. Norm’s 426 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible is a modern 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 and be sure to keep an eye on .
Are you playing ? 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!
