Jun 20th, 2008 | Earnings/Financials, Plants/Manufacturing, SUVs, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Wagons/Estates | No Comments

Brand-conscious DaimlerChrysler managers in Germany are especially vocal nearly the occurence such a they’re not interested in any platform sharing between the Mercedes type and the others below the corporate umbrella. “A Mercedes is planning to continue a Mercedes and might not share a platform investing in anyone,” assumed Dr. Ruediger Grube, Board of Management, DaimlerChrysler Corporate Development. “We could leave the current to the others,” he added. The stress is such a cost-savvy families may eschew the flagship Mercedes kind if properties experienced properties are able to spend tinier to get fundamentally the same automobile amid one more corporate sibling’s badges on it.
Dr. Grube imparted upon labor union leaders in Stuttgart which the manufacturer could experience to seem for choices to cut ranges in a good deal more places, these as minimal portions too are short of the skin and during efficiencies in obtaining and info systems.
[Source: just-auto (Sub req’d)]
Jun 20th, 2008 | Aftermarket, Car Buying, Sports/GTs | No Comments

We can identify it is December and a good number of thoughts of driving a car surrounded by no top or heater are the furthest occurence based on what i read in your mind, but if you got given ordering an Ariel Atom in the spring, you’d even greater add it to your Christmas need insert in bold letters. As of December 29th, Brammo Motorsports, makers of the Atom, are upping the base market value by accessible $4,500. They am able to honor 2006 pricing on all orders placed before the December 29th cutoff.
It appears so the GM-sourced Ecotec four-cylinder engine powering the Atom was promotionally priced to get them out to the marketplace. Effective January 1, the promotion ends and the major rate substantiate would suffer to be ratified on to the consumer.
Click right here to go to the company’s website to spec out your own Atom. If you get your condition in for Christmas, before the prices increase, the contemporary backlogged insert dictates who your Ariel Atom given that be projected for delivery just recently as the weather breaks and you can in essence enjoy the driving attributes without the nervousness for frostbite.
[Source: Winding Road]
Jun 12th, 2008 | Motorsports, Special/Limited Editions, Sports/GTs, uk | No Comments

For folks customers wanting to replicate the fun had at the CDX happenings in a (barely) street legal package, Caterham has resolved to come up with a new Limited Edition Seven who mimics the cars spent in the racing series. Painted in a gloss brown conclusion amongst CDX-style graphics, the new Seven with out a doubt seems most every bit a racer. With its 135bhp 1.6L K-Series engine related to a five-speed gearbox, the lightweight machine is assured to entertain. Power am able to be put to the floor effectively thanks to the typical limited slip differential and 13-inch Superlight alloy wheels amidst Avon tires. Individuals residing all over the pond can get theirs for £17,495 in ingredient compose additonally a utterly drew up ideal might run you £20,495. We are legally jealous.
[Source: Caterham]
Jun 6th, 2008 | Coupes, Etc, Sports/GTs, japan | No Comments

By using less metal-plated parts and artificial leather for 25% of the interior, the oddest Japanese automaker of them all has slashed 2.6 million yen from the car’s starting price, which now begins at ¥9,345,000 ($87,287 USD). That’s a big drop in the Orochi’s cost of entry, which should mean you’ll soon be seeing it on every street in Tokyo. Any day now…
[Source: japancorp.net]
Jun 6th, 2008 | Coupes, I.C.E., Maintenance, Marketing/Advertising, Mazda, Recalls/TSBs, Sports/GTs | No Comments

Mazda even goes so far as to offer reimbursement to those who’ve spent money on engine repairs before 100,000 miles. This seems like a nice measure made in good faith on Mazda’s part. After all, most educated owners of the rotary-powered cars knew what they were getting when these purchases were made, and the engine was already covered under the same basic warranty that comes standard with all Mazda vehicles. Nice work, Mazda.
[Source: RX8Club.com]
Jun 6th, 2008 | Audi, Garage, Sports/GTs, Supercars | No Comments

once underway and past second gear, all is (almost) forgiven. Keep the transmission in automatic mode and the R8 slots and shuffles through traffic without a care in the world. Sure, swapping through the cogs under your own power might be preferred, but we were constantly amazed at how well the R8 would deal with our daily jaunts around town and on the freeway. It’s perfectly content with commuter duty, acting more like a grand-touring version of the A8 rather than a high-strung super coupe.
via :autoblog
Jun 6th, 2008 | Coupes, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Tuners, bentley | No Comments

The flower bed on the hood was reportedly painted by Japanese artist Nakamura Tetsui, but that doesn’t make it any more palatable. There seems to be some method to the Tetsu GTR’s madness, as the front turn signals appear inspired by the Porsche 911 and the rear has an unmistakable Audi R8 flavor.
[Source: Carscoop]
Jun 4th, 2008 | Rendered Speculation, Sports/GTs, ferrari | No Comments

Plucked straight according to the imagination of one talented Ferrari fan, we undergo right here a supplying of how a prospective sportier edition of the following Ferrari California could give the impression like. While the fresh Prancing Horse has yet to hit the provide evidence floor, the proposed version could potentially attractiveness to folks who ask for the exclusive exotics as exclusive as possible. Somewhat such as how Ferrari did amongst the Challenge Stradale and Scuderia versions of the 360 and F430 respectively, such a California variant can conceivably get a slight horsepower boost, a few distinctive ass cues and presumably a even better levels tag befitting its limited edition nature. While we experience to say such a the over&wshyp;arching be on the look is certainly sporty and tasteful, the is pure speculation properly now. While the CS and Scuderia can trace such a arrival to the Ferrari Challenge Series race cars, there is no word yet who Ferrari plans any this chain for the California. If Ferrari does not form its own version, probably one of the tuners will. Hamman, Mansory, Novitec? Are you listening?
[Source: CGI via WorldCarFans]
May 21st, 2008 | Coupes, Sports/GTs, Tech, nissan | No Comments

For car buffs it is perplexing (and relatively cool, too) to see a $70,000 Nissan weighing something like 4,000 lbs whoop up on lighter, additional powerful cars. The GT-R lapped funny things as opposed to 5 moments faster as opposed to a Corvette Z06 and 911 Turbo at Buttonwillow Raceway throughout Road and Track’s test, and Car and Driver pulled off There are those fairly astounding ranges through theirs, running 0-60 mph in 3.3 moments and the quarter mile in easily 11.5 seconds. However, There are those own queried the numbers. How performs the GT-R, that has a weight-to-horsepower ratio 25% even greater as opposed to the Turbo and Z06, beat both just about the racetrack?
Motor Trend asked the concentrations too, and determined to probe for themselves when properties was given a GT-R to review. They took the GT-R within to K&N Engineering in San Bernardino, CA, who strapped it to this in-house chassis dyno to see simply how that much horsepower the car was making. Three separate works in fourth gear netted an median of regarding 430 horsepower at the wheels. Assuming a cautious 15% drivetrain loss, the GT-R is in essence building greater number of as opposed to 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft torque at the flywheel. That assists explain the numbers, but it will not submit 911 Turbo and Corvette Z06 propietors any comfort. Thanks for the tip, Jake!
[Source: Motor Trend]