If you believe it’s time you learned more about the , you’re in luck. The gateway to knowledge has opened via a microsite for the FIA-spec racer.
Detailed specs still haven’t been released, but with the reduced weight it’s apparent that the 6.3-liter V8 will get the growler up to sixty miles per hour in well less than 3.8 seconds, and, depending on the final drive ratio, we’re told the top speed could exceed 180 miles and hour.
There’s plenty more info at the link, so get to studying – seconds count, you know… Hat tip to Dictator!
Bentley merchandise collection – Click above for high-res image gallery
We’re certainly looking forward to laying our eyes on when its veil is lifted in Paris. But these days when an automaker is a brand as much as it is a producer of motor vehicles, the new car isn’t the only thing will have on display at the Port de Versailles this year.
Along with its rolling wares, the British automaker will be displaying its full range of branded merchandise. And while it may not have big torquey engines, the collection is one of the most exquisite out there and has grown into a business in its own right.
Among those partnerships on which Bentley has embarked with merchandising partners are timepieces by Breitling, writing instruments by Tibaldi, sunglasses by Estede, , and, for the first time – wait for it – scarves by Heritage Cashmere. We know you’re stoked, and you can read more about the collection in the press release and have a closer look in the extensive high-resolution image gallery below.
eBay Find of the Day: 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder – Click above for high-res image gallery
One of our favorite cars on the planet, and perhaps in the known galaxy, is the 250 GT California Spyder. This love affair is easily traced back to one Mr. Ferris Bueller and his Most Excellent Day Off. Sure, the car used in that movie was a V8-powered kit car (oh, the delicious irony of that!) but the looks were there and they seared a lasting impression on our retinas and in our hearts. If one were to pop up on eBay, we would surely be ready to buy it – wait, scratch that because one IS on eBay with a current bid of $600,000 and an unmet reserve. This one’s a little rich for our blood but a steal for anyone out there…with the means.
This particular example is not your standard one-of-50-or-so-produced classic Ferrari 250 GT dream machines. This happens to be one of the nine aluminum-bodied competition cars. It also features the Tipo 508 D frame, which was an improvement over the less-stiff Tipo 508 C. The car has an interesting history as well. The son of the second owner was driving it home from a fishing trip in Florida when he was run off the road and landed between two bridge abutments. The body of the car was lightly damaged and some side body panels were fixed using steel instead of the original alloy material.
Since the car is not a perfect specimen, it just might be ripe for the picking. It certainly looks amazing, is original with the exception of the repaired panels and it represents an amazing period in the Ferrari timeline. The mileage is listed at 52,000 and we would love to help someone put a few more on the clock. We’ll even bring our copy of . Check out the and then a look through the gallery below. Finally, don’t forget to for a clip of some Ferris Bueller Ferrari action highlights.
PS: anyone who posts video of the car being destroyed will be banned (no, not really) – it’s been years since we watched that scene but our hearts simply cannot take another viewing.
How can a gearhead tread a little lighter and still get their kicks? We matched the 2011 Honda CR-Z against the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Street Cup Edition to find out.
Listen along as we cover the newly expanded powertrain selections for the Ford F-150, a potential diesel-powered car from GM, America’s apparent love of hatchbacks, the just-out-of-reach Mahindra Pik-Up, the definitely unattainable Bugatti Galibier and the rush to pre-order the Nissan Leaf.
“Sorry, fellas, Americans just don’t buy hatchbacks.” Typically, that chestnut is trotted out whenever an automaker is compelled to explain why a particularly desirable new hatchback won’t be sold in U.S. showrooms. Thing is, this commonly accepted bit of wisdom isn’t as true as we’ve been led to believe.
Even though we’ve been hearing various rumblings across the interwebs for quite some time now that was hard at work crafting a mini-minivan version of its popular Pruis hybrid hatchback, it always helps assuage the skeptics when spy shots start to show up. And that’s exactly what we have here.
Toyota’s next appears to share its basic aerodynamic wedge-like profile with the well-known , but the entire greenhouse seems to have been moved up and forward a few inches, taking on an airier feeling in the process. We don’t see any evidence of sliding doors, so we’ll have to assume (for now) that the Prius minivan will use four normal swinging portals.
Rumors indicate this machine, which may be called the Prius Alpha, will sport three rows and offer seating for seven. The spy shooter suggests that the MPV is roughly the size of a Mazda5, which we’d guess is just about right. Power will likely come from a version of the Prius hatchback’s four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, possibly with the addition of lithium ion batteries to improve mileage and may even allow for more electric-only propulsion opportunities. Look for it to hit the market around 2012.
Mopar, the motor parts division of , has enjoyed a nice long run providing parts and accessories for the entire Pentastar family. Whether you own or , the Mopar catalog has you covered. Now it’s venturing into a new arena with the launch of the Mopar Electronic Vehicle Tracking System, or EVTS.
A vehicle is not an inexpensive asset and it’s smart to want to protect it. The EVTS allows you to do just that. There are three plans available – Base, Silver and Gold. Each offers an increasing level of protection and service. The Base plan features a GPS vehicle locator, real-time tracking if your vehicle is stolen and a $1,000 theft-protection warranty. Silver ups the ante by including text-based alerts for parents. If a set speed limit or distance cap is exceeded, the owner gets a text message (”OMG, Billy juz hit 107 mph! Hez gonna get spanked, LOL!!!”). In addition to the warning alerts, the Silver plan provides arrival and departure notices, a map of locations visited, an available 24/7 emergency service contact, automatic theft notification and an on-board panic button. The top-tier Gold plan has all of those features but adds unlimited online tracking and a concierge service. The concierge allows the owner to call for directions, make reservations and assistance for other personal queries.
The Mopar Electronic Vehicle Tracking System starts at $495, not including installation. The Silver and Gold plans require an additional yearly subscription priced at $149 and $249, respectively. Quite wisely, Mopar built the system to be transferable and upgradeable. Check out the press release after the jump for more details.
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
. . . . What do these people have in common, besides being featured at one time or another on ? They are all members of the new Customer Advisory Board that announced today (disclosure: AutoblogGreen columnist is also on the panel).
So, what will the 15 people who make up the board actually do? Basically, they’re getting a Volt before you do and will tell GM what’s working and what isn’t. More specifically, they will be the first people who get to, “experience the Volt every day under real-world conditions during a three-month vehicle and charging evaluation program starting in late October.”
The 15 (see all the names after the jump, and note the number of electric vehicle enthusiasts included) volunteered for the position and Chevy picked people who knew the most about electric vehicles and also happen to live in one of the initial markets where the Volt will be available. Besides getting a three-month test vehicle, board members will get a free 240-volt charging station, “for the duration of the vehicle evaluation program.” Sexton is excited about the group, and said in a statement that:
It’s great to see Chevrolet tap into both experienced and new electric vehicle enthusiasts for real-world feedback. This is a great opportunity to not only provide meaningful input to the Volt team, but also to raise awareness using a real, available electric vehicle instead of a PowerPoint slide.
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
Steven Ewing joins podcast regulars Dan and Chris for Episode #197 of the Autoblog Podcast. Items we cover are the newly expanded powertrain selections for the Ford F-150, a potential diesel-powered car from General Motors, the apparently heating-up American love affair with hatchbacks, the just-out-of-reach Mahindra Pik-Up, the definitely unattainable Bugatti Galibier and the rush to pre-order the Nissan Leaf. At one hour, twenty-two minutes, it’s not quite as epic as last week’s extravaganza, and we wrap up by responding to some of your feedback. Thanks for listening!
Get the podcast:
[] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[] Download the MP3 directly
Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)
Review the show in iTunes and take our
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released new findings related to texting-while-driving laws and their effectiveness – the results of which are quite surprising. The Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of the IIHS, compiled claim data for four states; California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington. Each state has enacted a ban on texting while driving, and this study examines data for the months before and after the laws went into effect. Earlier this year, the and how those laws had zero effect on crash rates. Its new research refines that study to show that texting bans have produced a more alarming result. In three of the four states examined, crashes increased by three to four percent after the laws were enabled.
Adrian Lund, President of the IIHS and the HLDI, believes the laws do not take into account the overall problem of driving while distracted but merely focus on one aspect of it. Lund states people texted before the laws came into effect and they’re likely doing so after. Drivers may now be texting in ways so as not to get caught doing do, such as lowering their phones and thus drawing their eyes down away from the road. Lund also states that he knows texting while driving is dangerous and there is a crash risk associated with it, but the bans are clearly not reducing that risk.
Not everyone agrees with the IIHS study, however. that states, “It is not realistic to expect that simply enacting a law to ban texting while driving will have a large, immediate impact on crash totals in a state in the first months.” The release goes on to add that in addition to laws, public outreach, high-visibility enforcement, substantial penalties and, most importantly, adequate time are needed before a positive effect can be seen. In other words, holds your horses, IIHS. Likewise, The Detroit News D.C. Bureau Chief David Strickland reported live via Twitter from a Senate Commerce meeting today that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief David Strickland said he has questions about the IIHS study and that NHTSA still wants to get at the worst kinds of distracted driving, not just texting, adding that a bee or insect in the car has been shown to be the most dangerous kind.
So are drivers in these states merely making texting while driving more dangerous by lowering their phones out of view? The IIHS research indicates this might be the case, or the uptick in accidents might just be a correlation and not causal. Either way, automakers are developing more complex systems to take these tasks out of the equation eventually. The Ford Sync system and the upcoming UVO unit from will answer and read your texts for you. OnStar is also working on a way to . These ideas sound silly but they may help reduce our need to grab that phone so we can keep our eyes on the road.
Ariel Atomtime-lapse build – Click above to watch the video
Are time-lapse build videos the new trend in online automotive clips? It sure seems that way as more and more of them keep squeezing out of the ‘tubes. If you go back to 2008, you can see a .
Last fall, the in under three minutes. Earlier this year we got to see the from production vehicle to World Touring Car Championship contender in under two minutes.
Earlier in the month a and now a new vehicle is ready to show you how its made. Top Gear has footage of an moving quickly from inert to insanely-capable. The actual build took 24 hours but you can see the action unfold in under two minutes.
Make the leap to see the video .
Gallery:
Photos by Jeremy Korzeniewski / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: ]
When Alan Mulally took charge of four years ago, the Blue Oval had nearly 100 models. There are fewer than half that now, and the CEO wants to trim the number down to “less than 30, on our way to 20 to 25.” His goal of simplification appears to be driven by the desire to cut costs for everyone – distributors, suppliers, dealerships, as well as Ford itself. That will not only help the brand in the present as it makes do in lean times, but can compound the rewards when markets – especially in Asia – go nuts again.
Mulally says the returns can be put into research and development, along with engineering for the remaining models. To put this in perspective, on Ford’s U.S. site alone, there are 18 vehicles, not including the soon-to-die Explorer Sport Trac, which of course leaves out cars like the Falcon, Territory, and , among others. So the natural question is: Which vehicles would or should get the axe?
While Pagani continues to roll out special editions of the outgoing Zonda, we’ve been seeing just as many spy shots of its replacement undergoing development testing coming in. This latest batch, however, just might be the best look we’ve had at the new C9 yet.
Expected to launch sometime next year, the highly anticipated new Pagani supercar is expected to feature a 6.0-liter V12 custom built for the niche Italian automaker by ‘ AMG performance division, packing some 700 horsepower. This batch of spy shots was snapped while the test prototype – camouflaged with duct tape but wearing its own gull-winged sheetmetal – was undergoing high-altitude testing somewhere in Southern Europe. Have a closer look in the high-resolution image gallery below.
2011 Citroën C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso – click above for high-res image gallery
The 2010 Paris Motor Show is a croissant’s throw away and automakers all over the globe are showing off their latest and greatest products. Now, Citroën is jumping into the fray by releasing information and images of its redesigned 2011 C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso before the cars make their official debut later this week.
The Grand C4 Picasso was originally launched in 2006 with the smaller C4 Picasso following in early 2007. Both people-movers feature upgrades inside and out. The sleekly styled C4 dives into the LED club by adding the showy daytime running light treatment to its VTR+ and Exclusive models. Also available on the Exclusive model is a Black Top option which covers the roof and A-pillars in a glossy Onyx black finish. Inside, the pair of Picassos receive a long list of standard equipment upgrades including Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port.
The real news lies under the hood – the Grand and standard C4 Picasso will be fitted with Citroën’s new e-HDi micro-hybrid technology. The fuel economy rating climbs way up to nearly 60 miles per gallon (in the EU cycle) for both models when fitted with this powertrain.
Both cars will make their debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and we’ll be on hand to give you an up close look when they roll out. For now, satiate your French automotive needs by reading the full press release .
Morning commute in Russia on a Yamaha R1 – Click above to watch video
Driving to work in the morning can be a tedious and annoying affair. At least, we imagine it is, since we are chained to the wall of a basement staring at a computer screen for 23.5 hours per day. One vehicle that can make any commute quicker is a motorcycle… perhaps even a stupid-fast literbike like the Yamaha R1.
Combine a rider with a need for death speed, a 25-mile commute through Russian traffic and a powerful two-wheeled samurai sword, and you get a showing the “quick” way to work. Sometimes this two-wheeler even becomes a one-wheeler as rare empty stretches of road disappear when the nose goes skyward.
According to our tipster Andy (Thanks!), the title translates to “A couple minutes of my life could be more interesting than the whole life of the other people.” It’s certainly interesting, but we prefer pushing vehicles to our limit on a track. Regardless, the music choice is excellent and the riding would make Trinity jealous. We don’t condone this type of action, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all enjoy the video, which you can watch .
2008 Bugatti Veyron at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas – Click above to
It’s not very often you see a going up for auction…especially at Barrett-Jackson. Perhaps better known for their muscle cars and classics, the occasional late-model sportscar will sometimes pop up, but we can’t ever remember a Veyron crossing the block. Well, on Saturday night, a on the clock did indeed cross the block at B-J…but things didn’t go quite as planned.
The one-time fastest production car on the planet (it’s been trumped by Bugatti’s own ) might have sold for over $1.8 million new, but was struggling to break the 1 mil mark in Vegas. Heck, it barely got to $700,000. Now, that’s still a lot of money for a car, but it should have brought much more – we’ve never heard of a non-wrecked example going for anywhere near that little. In the end, the Bug went to a guy seated near the stage who outbid a couple of phone bidders – but that’s when it got weird.
Saying that he hadn’t actually bid and then that he was only trying to help, the would-be buyer rescinded his bid… and was promptly escorted from the premises. Barrett-Jackson didn’t want to lose any credibility – so CEO Craig Jackson stepped up and bought the car himself. Just as he was announcing what had happened, he got a phone call from one of the other phone bidders who was saying he’d take the car off Craig’s hands. Quite the little soap opera, but good theater nonetheless. to see the video and take a look at the gallery below as well. Hat tip to Larry!
To say we were impressed by Ford’s latest pickup engines would be an understatement. As of today, Ford officially offers the very best range of powertrain packages in the half-ton pickup truck marketplace.
Exagon Motors’ 340-horsepower, extended-range Furtive e-GT is said to hit 60 in 3.5 seconds with a 248.5-mile electric-only range. The French manufacturer wants to begin production as soon as 2012.
Volvo’s new Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is under scrutiny after a series of demonstrations for journalists in Australia went awry when an inflatable test dummy was mowed down after the system failed to detect its presence in time to stop.
A group of employees have been in the news lately, causing a bit of a black eye for the automaker. Originally, a Detroit Fox affiliate – by smoking weed and drinking beer. , by identifying and suspending 15 employees who were ID’d in the clip. Now, after taking time to investigate the entire incident, Chrysler has put the hammer down – 13 of the Jefferson North Plant employees have been fired and the other two get an unpaid, one-month “vacation.”
It’s a shame that this happened, but it’s good to see Chrysler respond so quickly. The automaker has issued a brief statement on the matter, which you can read .
2011 KTM X-Bow R – Click above for high-res image gallery
The KTM X-Bow may not be the prettiest ride on the track, but looks don’t help you win races. With 240 horsepower motivating a mere 1,742 pounds, the X-Bow has plenty of punch to dice through a track with relative ease. And if 240 ponies can help you win at the track or the next stop light, then 300 horsepower ought to be even better. We back in July that KTM was prepping just such a beast, with the ability to hit 60 miles per hour in a scant three seconds, and it looks like those rumors were based in fact.
KTM has that the new X-Bow R is, in fact, the real deal, with a 300 horsepower version of the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine sourced from the . The X-Bow R will also sit lower with a lower engine mounting to increase cornering speeds and impress your friends at the same time. The R model will reportedly come in two forms; a “Sport” variant for the street and a “Race” pack for the track.
If you’re already one of the 500 existing X-Bow owners, don’t worry about your sudden case of horsepower envy. KTM is said to be prepared to offer many of the parts that add up to an R designation through X-Bow PowerParts, giving owners the opportunity to tune their four-wheeled motorcycle to Sport or Race specifications. Additional details and pricing information will be available after the first of the year.
Sources (i.e., email tips and ) are telling us that Vice Chairman Tom Stephens told attendees at the in Detroit today that a diesel-engined passenger car is coming to the U.S. sometime in the future. Nothing has been officially decided, but Stephens indicated that GM has a portfolio of diesels to draw from, noting that it’s up to the marketing department to define what engine and platform might be used, let alone what brand it would be marketed under. What might we see? Maybe something along the line of a GM ?
GM has been , but oil-burning powertrains haven’t gotten quite the attention that the plug-in Voltec in the forthcoming has (how could it?). Now that the cat is at least poking its head out of the bag, we wonder if the German automakers, who are having , are worried. Unlikely, but at least we could get more options – and would it kill GM to make the new car officially B100-capable from the start?
Exagon Furtive e-GT – Click above to watch the video
Born of Exagon Engineering, constructor of many a race car (including the eight ice-melting machines that contested the last season), Exagon Motors has uncloaked a new street machine for a handful of French journalists, and the car’s performance numbers will probably raise more eyebrows than its looks.
The 2+2 is said to achieve a -beating 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds with twin Siemens motors producing 340 horsepower. The all-important, all-electric range is similar to the Silicon Valley speedster as well, with 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) claimed as the distance possible before the need for its on-board gasoline motor to kick in to take you the next 400 kms.
It appears the French manufacturer could begin production as soon as 2012. As far as the price goes, we’re going to guess this is is one of those, “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” type of deals. Still, we’ll ask anyway when we check it out for ourselves in the metal. Or carbon fiber. Or whatever it is. In the meantime, you can get a great look, inside and out, in the video reveal awaiting you .
Gallery:
[Sources: , ]
: Exagon Furtive e-GT is a range-extended super-electric coupe [w/video]
