From the Creative minds at the British show 5th Gear comes the idea of stacking two two seaters to make a four seater. Four bolts, a small lift and some iron… uh… nerves gives us the worlds first double-decker Smart ForTwo. But how will we know of its capabilities without some very thorough testing? Well they are steps ahead and have acquired a new Mitsubishi “I” car with its 4-doors and room for four seating to provide some “scientific” comparisons.
Just as everything that glitters is not gold… Not everything on four wheels is destined to stay on them. Check out the video below for a taste of what makes the British so Brilliant!
The BMW 1-Series has been admired, mulled over and coveted for so long now that its final arrival onto U.S. soil has almost gone unheralded. Some advertising has made its way onto American TV, magazines and internet, but has the hype overshadowed the entrance? And is the car we had hoped to find the same as the car we have finally received?
Coming onto the local BMW dealership it was interesting to find the new 128i Coupe in its BMW Red Metallic finished buddied up to a 2008 328i Coupe. This positioning (by convenience, by chance or by intention… What do you think?) made easy an eye-ball comparison of the two coupes with their matching powertrains.
It was interesting to see how much bulkier the 128i actually is when seated next to the 328i. Further inspection reveals the 128i to be a bit narrower, noticeably taller and only a slight bit shorter than its 3-Series counterpart; which may explain their performance similarities. The fatter snout and bonnet of the 1-Series makes for a bold, if not chunky, comparison to the sleek and sexy leanness of the 328i, and yet still the two models share more than enough design cues that lay evidence to their similar gene pools.
…Read on for more details and a large Gallery of photos…
Aston Martin is a symbol of British sport-luxury automotive prowess as both their street cars and racing designs are evidence. However, that was not always quite the case. Aston Martin Chairman David Richards summed it up best when he said, “Just three years ago we didn’t have a single Aston Martin racing car, so if you look at how far we have come in that short space of time it’s quite incredible.” Filling in the roll of the GT2 Le Mans car is the recently tested Aston Martin Vantage GT2 that is pictured above and shown in greater detail in the photo gallery and video below. The web is gushing over what has become available on the Vantage GT2, and we are gushing too. Based off their street version of the Vantage the Aston Martin GT2 gives the impression of a sleek catfish across the grill with horsepower fangs and well focused eyes that appear to hone-in on the competition.
Adding to the specialty of the racer and joining its sibling, the DBRS GT3 racer by Aston Martin, the Vantage GT2 is capable of running on regular unleaded fuel as well as E85 ethanol blends; which is permitted in the American Le Mans Racing Series. Filling out the remainder of the Le Mans GT stages are the DBR9 for GT1 and the Vantage N24 for GT4.
Check out the photos and video after the leap for a further glimpse of what the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 promises to bring to Le Mans racing. All I can tell you from what I see in the Vantage GT2 is that I wish I was a race car driver.
For some new car buyers as the decision is nearing a conclusion on what car to purchase that is when the real shopping begins. With some selective accessories and aftermarket pieces you can either turn your car into a one-of-a-kind show piece or a hideous mobile catalog that piles on accessories like my aunt piles rings onto her little ten fingers (thumbs included).
What you are in-store for below are some photos of the new 2010 Camaro dawning some of the GM Accessories being prepared in anticipation of the cars launch next year. As with any accessories catalog some things may strike you with an immediate “Yes!” while other option choices may curdle your milk if it is sitting too close to the screen. But that is an aesthetic choice that each car owner makes and thus may receive or suffer the praise or ridicule of their friends for.
While we make no claims on the legitimacy of these photos (Adobe Photoshop leaves us all as skeptics), they do provide further teasers to fuel the imagination of what can be with the 2010 Camaro.
Take a look at the Gallery after the leap and then check out the video from GM’s Accessories division for more information about how they come up with their products.
The Chinese auto maker Greely has released some teaser picks onto the web for their Greely GT Concept that is headed for the 2008 Bejing Auto Show. Other than the two picks assembled below not many other details have escaped to give anyone a clue as to what to expect of the car. However, the two snapshots available reveal some very smooth lines and some exaggerated rear tail-lights.
The grill of the Greely GT Concept is reminiscent of the Suzuki Kizashi 1 concept in that it is both grand in size and gives the impression of a super-hero crest. The long hood and open grill gives room for speculation of a stout engine package, but that is purely the mind filling in where no information is available.
Check out the photos after the leap and judge for yourself.
What some people can achieve with some spare time and a lot of creativity is sometimes worthy of some headlines. One such creative achievement built and exposed onto the web under the handle Crowkillers is the 2009 LEGO Camaro you see in the photo above. Using the famed toy, some painstaking adjustments and a good bit of engineering the LEGO Camaro comes complete with an LS2 Engine replica and a 6-speed transmission with reverse.
Like many collectors Crowkillers was not content to only have one of the new model Camaro’s in his stable. Instead, he built two: one orange and one black with orange stripes.
Check out the large gallery of pics after the leap to observe in full-detail what goes into a LEGO Camaro.
The speculation and waiting is finally over as Ford is set to officially announce the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to the Indian motor company Tata. Despite reports of a higher closing bid, as high as $2.65 billion, the final closing amount to be paid by Tata has been revealed by Ford at $2.3 billion.
The news was released Tuesday afternoon on the news wire, but Ford wished to wait until Wednesday morning to make their statement to the public. That was to give them at least a day to break the news to all their employees who may not have access to a radio, TV or the internet.
While some analysts and bloggers express concern for the future of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands under Tata, the sale will surely prove another step toward someday finding the books in the black for Ford. The empire building performed by Ford and GM done in the 90’s and early 2000’s have proven to be too costly and not nearly as profitable as they had hoped. With the conclusion of this sale by Ford there will only remain Mazda and Volvo tagging along with the Ford/Lincoln/Mercury brands.
Tata is a builder of small passenger cars and heavy duty trucks, and happens to be the largest automotive company in India. They have been looking for ways to expand their company outside of their country and may be eyeing Jaguar and Land Rover for that purpose. Their want for Land Rover would also give them the luxury SUV’s to go along with their trucks and that may be an easier marriage into the brand than Jaguar. There are many that worry about Tata’s vision for Jaguar and that the British coach builder might suffer as being forced into the sale as a package deal.
The S5S Raptor is the latest supercar concept to come from the designers at Saleen and it is sure to stop most auto enthusiasts in their tracks at this years New York Auto Show. The first thought that comes to mind is that Saleen must have lured over some Hot Wheels designers to come work in their design department. The look of the S5S Raptor has toy written all over it, but this conceptual gem is a toy aimed at a completely different crowd. Plus, instead of arriving in a cardboard and plastic box for about $3 this super toy would run up to $185,000. …I think the kid in me just fainted.
Following in the lead of some Le Mans racing teams and some other rare concept supercars the Saleen S5S Raptor runs on ethanol fuel. The bio-fuel allows them to avoid the high-octane blends while giving the supercar a slightly Green flavor. And if the S5S Raptor makes it into production in the two years Saleen said it would take I am sure the well connected supercar aficionado on the East Coast would be able to truck in that ever elusive bio-fuel.
The S5S Raptor is driven by a 5.0 liter twin-screw supercharged engine producing 650-hp and 630-ft lbs of torque. That is sufficient power to give the Raptor a top speed of 200 mph and a 0-to-60 time of 3.2 seconds. As the Official Press Release says below the S5S Raptor is “mean and clean” with its road prowess and clean burning ethanol fuel.
There are sure to be complaints and comparisons on the S5S Raptors design elements as many critical observers of the supercar class typically do. So here is your chance to be heard as Saleen is looking for the media and general publics response to their S5S Raptor Concept to determine if it will make it into production. The vote coming out of these offices is a firm “yes,” but then again the one yes-vote is the best these offices can do. The 185,000 dollar votes it would take to own one is not quite in our possession yet.
Check out the Full Gallery of photos, video and the official Saleen Press Release for more details on the S5S Raptor Concept.
Following its official debut in Geneva the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 has given its next stage performance at the New York Auto Show. While using the original 5-year old, and top selling, design of the Gallardo as an influencing template Lamborghini set off to make an all new car that would result in an all improved Gallardo LP560-4. The wider rear and lowered snout combining with the minimalist lines of the shell of the Gallardo LP560-4 do nothing to reveal the new chassis, new engine and all new 4 wheel drive transmission.
The number signature of the Gallardo LP560-4 seem a bit odd for Lamborghini but they are directly derived from the specs. from the car. The “LP” comes from the “Longitudinal Posterior” of the rear engine. The “560″ comes directly from the number of horses being produced by the new 5.2 liter V10 engine. The “-4″ represents the number of wheels being turned by the four-wheel drive transmission of the car. Rather than change the name from a model that has sold 7100 vehicles from the Lamborghini factories, and since Gallardo-2 or Gallardo “The Next Generation” are a bit cheeky, the designation LP560-4 must have seemed simple enough.
However, tucked within the details provided by Lamborghini in their Official Press Release is the secret detail that will be sending this Gallardo LP560-4 flying out of the factories. With their new V10 and despite a 3.2 second zero-to-sixty-two rating, the Gallardo LP560-4 has reduced its Carbon emissions by 18% from its prior model. That gives the Gallardo LP560-4 a CO2 rating of 327 g/km with the paddle shifters or 351 g/km with the manual transmission. ….Okay, so they are not Prius numbers, but what could you expect?
For more details on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 check out the full photo gallery, the marketing video and the very lengthy and extensive Official Press Release provided by Lamborghini that follows.
Wait, wait, wait… Do not turn away just yet! This is not your typical little Kia submission for concept consideration. For once less dismiss the hyperbole and cut straight to the numbers. Beneath the tiny candy-coated shell of this singular little Koup would be Kia’s new 2.0 liter Thetta II turbo-charged engine, with direct injection and built in cooled intake, that pumps out an impressive 290-hp and 289-ft lbs of torque. No, those are not big power numbers in the grand scheme of things, but for a small, two-door Kia that kind of output is an aggressive statement.
Whether or not Kia’s intent for the wedge-shaped design was to inditacate their intention to insert themselves into the small-car market by force, their Koup appears poised to go head-to-head with any other cars in the destined segment. The large grill opening and extra two air-ports on both sides of the grill is meant to indicate that the Koup’s powerful engine needs room to breath. And Kia’s race inspired interior gives the indication that this car is built for spirited driving, while also looking production ready.
The best compliment for the Kia Koupe concept’s design is that it appears complete from front to back. The headlights and taillights carry a similar form and wrap around appearance, and the sleek curves of the body carry from front to back without losing their liquid-like flow. While the exhaust port-holes emerging from a carbon-fiber surround with its row of air fins seems unlikely to make it clear to production, we would recommend that Kia maintain that appearance with at least black plastic if this car survives its concept stage. This car looks road ready and if the mechanics and engineering are there to support the appearance what a great challenger to the Honda Civic Si you could have here. …Check out the full gallery of photos and official Press Release from Kia after the leap…
