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Andea Pininfaina killed in motorcycle accident 
We're saddened to convey the latest reports from Italy on the untimely passing of Andrea Pininfarina. Andrea Pininfarina, head of the eponymous design studio, was the son of Sergio Pininfarina and grandson of the carrozzeria's founder Battista "Pinin" Farina.
According to the announcement by Confindustria, the industrial association over which Sergio once presided and of which Andrea served as vice-president, Andrea was killed in a motorcycle accident in Turin, not far from the company's headquarters. He was only 51 years old. Our condolences to the entire Pininfarina family, and our appreciation to Guy for alerting us to the sad news.
[Source: International Herald-Tribune via theCarfanatic.com] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Owners refute rumors of firing Ecclestone and selling F1 Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Earnings/Financials, Rumormill 
Rumors have been circulating that CVC, the commercial rights holders to Formula One, have considered selling the series. But before that could happen, they would have to give Bernie Ecclestone the boot.
The reports were fueled by comments made by Max Mosley, the embattled president of the FIA, who related to reporters that conversations about the subject had taken place with executives at CVC. According to Mosley's conclusion, CVC would consider selling Formula One if a huge offer were made - possibly by an Arab consortium - but Ecclestone would need to be replaced because "the whole business depends on a man who is 78 years old". However, CVC issued a strong statement at this past weekend's race in Hungary that it had no immediate plans to sell F1 and was pleased with its performance as well as that of Bernie Ecclestone.
[Source: Autosport, Photo by Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Daimler considering cancelling hybrid 'ute Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, SUVs, Government/Legal, Green, Mercedes-Benz 
Click above to enlarge the Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid
Batteries are an integral part of any hybrid automobile. No batteries means no electric assist, which means no point in lugging around all that extra hardware. So Mercedes-Benz is in a world of hurt as it alleges that Cobasys, the chosen battery supplier for the upcoming ML 450 hybrid SUV, has decided not to fulfill its obligation to the German automaker. You might recall that General Motors had problems with leaky batteries from Cobasys, reportedly leading the automaker to consider purchasing the supplier outright from its current parents, Chevron and Energy Conversion Devices.
For its part, Mercedes-Benz has sued Cobasys and petitioned the court to order Cobasys to supply the batteries in had committed to. Cobasys CEO Thomas Neslage has denied that his company ever agreed to supply the batteries in the first place. If this situation isn't resolved in a timely manner, Mercedes-Benz may be forced to delay the introduction of its first-ever hybrid vehicle.
[Source: Tuscaloosa News, Automotive News - sub. req'd] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
AutoblogGreen for 08.07.08 Filed under: Green 
Mitsubishi has apparently seen the writing on the wall for battery powered cars and has already decided ramp up production with its battery partner Yuasa in advance of next years launch of the iMiEV. Meanwhile Mazda plans to take advantage of the unique characteristics of its Wankel rotary engines with a hydrogen fueled version of its next gen RX-8. Jamie Lee Curtis and hubby Christopher Guest got the keys to a new Honda FCX Clarity.
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Shelby Distribution to offer aluminum-bodied Daytona Coupe Filed under: Time Warp, Shelby 
The Shelby Daytona Coupe is the embodiment of classic American motorsports. The only problem is that putting a genuine Daytona Coupe in the garage is nearly impossible. There are only a handful in the world, and the price tag would be in the millions of dollars (if you could find an owner willing to part with one). A few years ago, Superformance and Peter Brock, the original designer of the Daytona Coupe, created a modern replica version that made owning the legendary race car much more affordable. Now, Shelby Distribution has announced it will offer an aluminum-bodied version of that same coupe. Like the Shelby CSX4000 and Commemorative GT40 continuation vehicles, the Daytona Coupe will be listed in the Shelby Registry. In addition to the new skin, the Daytona Coupe also features an updated suspension system that will be shared with the upcoming MkII version of the Superformance Coupe. You can check out a gallery of the aluminum bodied prototype under construction below, as well as the current Superformance Shelby Daytona Coupe.
[Source: Shelby Distribution] Permalink | Email this | Comments
Local Motors Rally Fighter concept Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Etc., Special/Limited Editions 
We criticize the idea of design by committee when it comes from a major automaker, but Local Motors touts its open, inclusive process of collaboration as a deep strength. LM has decided to put Sangho Kim's Rally Fighter concept into production. Just like a proper automaker, lots of words bloom on the webpage -- most of them the etymological equivalent of weeds. The Rally Fighter is intended to scream across a variety of surfaces in glorious four-wheel drifts. Watching the progression of Kim's styling from sketch to metal will be intriguing. The drawings show a vehicle with the typical bombastic proportions of a concept, but if this thing ends up in production with its outlandishly large wheels, impossibly low roof, and exoskeleton-inspired body sculpting, we'll definitely be clamoring around the auto show stand to check it out.
[Source: carbodydesign.com] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Volkswagen considers joining World Rally Championship Filed under: Motorsports, Volkswagen 
Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Scirocco GT24
Ever since 2006, when Peugeot, Skoda and Mitsubishi pulled their factory works teams out of the World Rally Championship, the WRC has been desperate to attract another major automaker back to reinvigorate the series. Emerging reports suggest that Volkswagen has been inquiring about joining the championship after the company's motorsport chief Kris Nissen visited the Finnish rally to meet with series officials and team leaders.
Despite being one of the largest automakers in the world, the Volkswagen Group's racing division is proportionately very small. Audi's programs in Le Mans-class prototype racing and German touring cars (DTM) stand out as the biggest exceptions, while SEAT campaigns Leons in both the British and World Touring Car Championships and Skoda in the production-car-based Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Nothing in Formula One, NASCAR or the WRC. The Volkswagen division itself only dabbles in racing periodically, with the Touareg in Dakar and the Scirocco at the Nurburgring 24-hour enduro, in addition to its low-level Formula 3 program. However, the top-tier World Rally Championship would give Volkswagen a chance to claim honors against Ford, Subaru, Citroen and newcomers Suzuki, as well as the privateer teams. Fiat and Renault have also been touted as potential additions to the WRC roster. However, only time will tell which automakers will take the big step up.
[Source: Rallye-Magazin via Stage Times] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Project Track Slut Update: Prepping for the big day days Filed under: Etc., BMW 
Click either image for a gallery.
As I type this, our BMW 318is is up on the rack, sans transmission, to replace the clutch and all the assorted bits that go along with the job. The last-minute clutch work, along with fitting a set of Hawk HPS brake pads and replacing the brake fluid with Castrol GTLMA synthetic, is all in preparation for our two-day track assault this weekend at Buttonwillow raceway.
 We'll be running configuration 13 on Friday and Saturday, and plan to keep you updated over the weekend on how the Slut is holding up to our relentless flogging in 100-degree heat. Along with the upgraded pads and fluids (not to mention the H&R cup kit we installed in our previous post), we've managed to score a set of Kosei K1 wheels (+42mm offset), sized 16x7-inches and weighing 15 pounds from the TireRack for the bargain-basement price of $129 a piece. Needless to say, closeout sales rock, and with the TireRack offering Advan A048s (medium-hard compound) sized 225/50ZR16 on special for $149 per tire, we snatched up four new gumballs for track duty. They've been heat-cycled and mounted, and after a spending a few days on the Bimmer, we're convinced that our nerves will give out before the tires do... for the first few laps, at least.
Check back on Saturday for pictures from the track, a run-down of how things went on Friday and updates between our sessions on Saturday.
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Arial vs. KTM vs. Lotus 211 comparo in progress at the 'Ring Filed under: Etc., Lotus 
Back in April, fellow Autoblogger Chris Tutor caught the Veritas RS3 heading out onto the Nurburgring for a photoshoot. Today, Chris took a brief break from his day-job to see what he could spy on the 'Ring's webcam and found the same trio of lightweight, track-tools that dance in our minds when we hit REM sleep. A Lotus 211, a KTM X-Bow and an Ariel Atom were all getting ready for their close-ups at the entrance to the Green Hell, likely a feature story for a European buff. There's no way to tell who's doing the shooting, but don't be surprised if a video begins floating around YouTube of the three track toys in the next couple of months. We'll keep an eye out. Permalink | Email this | Comments
BMW considering a 3-wheeler, large scooters Filed under: Safety, BMW, Motorcycles, Rumormill 
Rumors from various European motorcycle mags indicate that BMW is considering getting back into the scooter game. The Bavarian company's last foray into scooterdom resulted in the C1. Being that this was BMW Motorrad, its scooter would need to be different from everyone else, and indeed it was. Featuring a full roof, roll bars and seat belts along with ABS brakes, BMW claimed that C1 riders were safe enough that they did not need to wear a helmet. Unfortunately, though, not everyone agreed and low sales numbers resulted in the innovative machine's cancellation in 2002. Now, BMW is said to be considering a three-wheeled machine, which could allay some of the safety fears which ultimately led to the demise of the C1.
Rotax is also rumored to be involved, offering an 80 degree, four-valve per cylinder, liquid-cooled, V-Twin engine in three different sizes and ranging from 33 to 75 horsepower. The machine is said to retain the C1's windshield and roof and add BMW's paralever rear suspension design. BMW: You've got our attention, now please don't disappoint.
[Source: Visor Down] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Reborn Citroën 2CV is weird as original Filed under: Time Warp, Citroen, Rendered Speculation 
Click above for more renderings of this Citroën 2CV concept
Wondering what the heck you are looking at above? It's a concept by French designer David Portela of what a revised and reintroduced Citroën C2V could look like. Although the original design couldn't really be described as pretty, it's the personification of Megan Fox compared to this unfortunate conglomeration of Picasso-esque designs. Portela describes his creation's shapes as being "inspired by the original car, but also by the aeronautical world. They are a blend of the 1940-1950 style and futurism." We think it's more like a combination between an old steam locomotive and a submarine, but what do we know?
Amazingly, Citroën has never contacted Portela. We can't imagine why. In any case, we'd love to see a 2CV revival to commemorate its 60th anniversary. If that does happen, hopefully the result won't look anything like the concept you see here.
[Source: David Portela via World Car Fans] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
2010 Pagani Zonda spied undisguised in America Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars  Following the previous shot alongside the Mercedes SL65 Black test mule in Colorado, the developmental next-generation Pagani Zonda has shown up again in the lenses of spy photographers right here in the good old U.S. of A. The undisguised test mule of the upcoming AMG-powered supercar has sent the online automotive community scrounging for speculation over the nature of the new Zonda, and we'll throw our ten-gallon hat into the ring.
The test mule is all but completely undisguised, giving us what's being touted as an accurate look at the second iteration of the Zonda. The front airdam is slightly enlarged, the flanks resculpted and there are some new vents added to the rear. There'll likely be a transparent engine cover to give onlookers a good view of the engine - be it the SLR's supercharged V8, the SL65 Black's twin-turbo V12 or another power plant entirely - however, the decklid window was taped over to prevent prying eyes from getting a premature glimpse. By and large this Zonda test mule, which reportedly carried a Zonda F badge, looks like the model it will replace, leaving us to wonder if Horracio Pagani might not be playing a little game with us, putting slightly revised body panels from the existing model onto the test mule to throw us off from a more radical restyling when the second-generation Zonda - if indeed it will even be called that - is finally unveiled about a year from now.
[Source: CarZi and World Car Fans] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Rumormill: Lotus considering a Carlton successor Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Euro, Lotus, Holden, Vauxhall, Rumormill 
Click above for a gallery off the original Lotus Carlton.
Of all the sleepers in automobiledom, the Lotus Carlton holds a special place in our hearts. Based off the Vauxhall Carlton sold in Europe, Lotus stroked out the 3.0-liter inline-six of the standard car to displace 3615 cc, added a couple of Garrett turbos and sent the resulting 382 hp and 419 lb.-ft. of torque through a six-speed ZF transmission pulled from the original Corvette ZR-1. In short, it was the ultimate low-flying aircraft, with room for four, a 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of over 175 mph - in 1990.
Lotus head Michael Kimberley told Autocar, that he would "like the company to build another car in the mould of the Lotus Carlton." What could form the basis of the sleeper sedan's revival? The recently unveiled Vauxhall Insignia is the modern equivalent of the Carlton, and with a modified 2.8-liter V6 packing a set of turbos and sending power to all four wheels, GM could have a serious performance package on its hands. And if the General decides to bring over the Insignia to the U.S... Lotus Aura has a nice ring to it.
Check the gallery below for more shots of the original Lotus Carlton and make the jump to watch Tiff Needell work his magic with the boosted sedan.
[Source: Autocar]Continue reading Rumormill: Lotus considering a Carlton successor Permalink | Email this | Comments
Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad Filed under: Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Nissan 
Click above to watch the video
Saudis may be known for a lot of things, but let's face it - comedy is not one of them. Israelis on the other hand... have you seen The Zohan? In any event, it's not surprising that people in Saudi Arabia are outraged at something from Israel, but this time it has nothing to do with military actions or residential construction, and to be fair, while talk of boycotts is filling the air once again, they're not actually blaming Israel itself for anything. Instead, Nissan is the boycott target.
The spate was started by a commercial Israeli TV that depicts Arabian oil sheikhs getting medieval on a Nissan Tiida. The implication is that the car's fuel efficiency is harming the sheikhs' business interests. The Saudi regime, along with other oil-producing Gulf states, is threatening to boycott Nissan - which itself is collaborating on the development of the Project Better Place electric car system in Israel - if the automaker doesn't apologize.
Follow the jump to watch the commercial - which, strangely, we could only find in Arabic with Russian subtitles - and leave your thoughts in the comments section below (just please keep it tasteful).
[Source: Haaretz] Continue reading Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
2009 RAV4 gets refreshened, bigger base engine Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Toyota 
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Toyota RAV4
Toyota has revealed the 2009 RAV4, and while the changes to its smallest CUV are modest, they are worth noting. Foremost is a refreshening of the exterior with a new grille, front bumper and restyled rear. New wheels, mirrors and fender flares round out upgrades. A new Sport Appearance Package is also available on the top level 4WD V6 RAV4 that gets a unique rear door with no spare tire and a set of run-flat tires. The SAP also gets you color-keyed exterior molding, extra interior upgrades and a new rear spoiler.
Toyota has also found a way to both increase the size and power of the RAV4's base four-cylinder engine while also squeezing out a bit better fuel economy. At an estimated 22 city and 28 highway, the new front-wheel-drive base model scores one mile per gallon higher than the '08 edition. The enlarged 2.5-liter four cylinder engine produces 179 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque, an improvement of 13 horses and 7 lb-ft over the previous 2.4-liter. We have to wonder though why Toyota placed a brand new automatic tranny in the '09 RAV4 with only four ratios from which to choose.
The optional 3.5-liter V6 soldiers on unchanged and offers EPA fuel mileage ratings of 19 city/27 highway for front-wheel drive models and 19 city/26 highway on models equipped with four-wheel drive. The six is mated to a standard, and again unaltered, five speed auto. Pricing for the base RAV4 remains the same at $21,500 while the rest of the range gets price increases and a 4WD RAV4 LTD V6 will start at $27,810.
Check out Toyota's full press release after the jump and images of the 2009 RAV4 in the gallery below.
[Source: Toyota]Continue reading 2009 RAV4 gets refreshened, bigger base engine Permalink | Email this | Comments
Toyota prices 5-door Yaris hatchback from $13,305 Filed under: Car Buying, Economy, Hatchbacks, Toyota 
Click above for more high-res shots of the 2009 Yaris 5-door
Last month, Toyota announced that its Yaris five-door hatchback would finally make its U.S. debut in 2009. Perfect timing, as escalating gas prices are making small cars like the Yaris increasingly popular; especially when they can be had for a song... which brings us to the real news here. The '09 Yaris five-door will begin at just $13,305 for the base model, with the upper-level S model coming in at $15,125. Also new for '09 are standard anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, driver and front passenger front side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags. Fuel mileage remains a strong point, with 29 mpg city and 35 mpg highway when equipped with an automatic transmission and 29 city, 36 highway with the manual transmission models. Now, if only Toyota could find a way to move the gauges in front of the driver where they should be, we'd be all set.
[Source: Toyota]Continue reading Toyota prices 5-door Yaris hatchback from $13,305 Permalink | Email this | Comments
Ford debuts Blind Spot Mirror on '09 Edge Filed under: Safety, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford 
Click above for high-res gallery of 2009 Ford Edge
The blind spot has been a consistent safety issue for automobiles since before the invention of the C-pillar. Some automakers have recently tackled the problem with complicated warning systems that beep when your blind spot is about to cause an accident. Ford is taking a different but no less effective low-tech route with the introduction of its Blind Spot Mirror on the 2009 Edge. The technology behind the Blind Spot Mirror is simple; it's little more than a secondary convex mirror in the top right corner of the traditional side mirror that gives a clear view of what before was only visible by craning your neck left and right. We've seen this type of tech used before on aftermarket mirrors for towing applications, but it makes just as much sense on an unencumbered passenger vehicle.
Ford came up with the mirror in response to its own customer research that showed drivers were 76% more confident behind the wheel when using the mirror. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has led the Blue Oval to introduce the Blind Spot Mirror across its lineup as quickly as possible, starting with the 2009 Edge. Check out Ford's official presser after the jump and view the '09 Edge in our gallery below.
[Source: Ford]Continue reading Ford debuts Blind Spot Mirror on '09 Edge Permalink | Email this | Comments
CAR reveals Project Alligator as big Mercedes/Aston Martin collaboration Filed under: Aston Martin, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz 
Project Alligator. That's the internal code-name for a potential collaboration between Mercedes and Aston Martin on everything from drivetrains to platforms. CAR's September issue gets into all the details, which includes such tasty nuggest as the possible use of AMG's 6.2-liter V8 in the next Vantage, porting over Mercedes' future eight-speed auto 'box into Astons, sharing platforms between both automaker's high-end models (think SL and beyond), cooperating on the development of diesels and hybrids, and using Aston's future products to keep Maybach alive and maybe even help the wayward ultra-luxury brand thrive with up to five new models. But it gets even bigger. A collaboration between the two could place M-B in a good position to buy Aston Martin if its new owners, including Prodrive's David Richards, decide to exit the automaking biz. As CAR points out, however, the only potential loser from Project Alligator coming to fruition is Mercedes' other partner, McLaren.
[Source: CAR] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Details emerge on Gullwing SLC, but no Mercedes badge? Filed under: Supercars, Mercedes-Benz, AMG 
Fans of the classic Gullwing Mercedes 300 SL have been eagerly awaiting the new Gullwing SLC supercar, which Mercedes' tuning house AMG has been spied working on over the last year. But if emerging reports are to be believed, the SLC won't wear a Mercedes badge at all. The true successor to SLR McLaren will reportedly be the first vehicle to be badged exclusively as an AMG product, forgoing the vaunted three-pointed star altogether.
Reports also indicate that with dimensions of 4650mm long, 2700mm wheelbase, 1950mm wide, and 1250mm high, the SLC will be similar in proportions to a Ferrari F430. Project C197, as the Gullwing SLC is internally known, is expected to make its debut at the 2010 Geneva show, with a cloth-roofed convertible R197 version to follow a year later.
[Source: Car via eurocarblog]
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Spy Shots: Chevy Beat finally hits the road Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Euro, Hatchbacks, Chevrolet  Testing of the Chevy Beat is officially underway, and our friends at NextAutos have procured the first set of spy shots. The camo'd mule is still sporting the short overhangs and upright silhouette of the concept, but GM decided to equip the squat city car with another set of doors to make ingress and egress easier for rear-seat passengers.
Initial reports suggest that power will be provided by a 1.2-liter 16-valve DOHC inline-four, mated to either a manual or automatic gearbox. The Beat will make its production debut sometime in 2010 and will go on sale in Europe in early 2011. As previously reported, the Beat won't be making the trek to the U.S. until it meets the fed's crash-test standards, so we won't get a shot at the Beat until the next generation arrives - whenever that is.
[Source: NextAutos] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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