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| VIDEO: Hear the angels sing: revving the Aston Martin One-77
August 23, 2009 at 9:01 pm
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| Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Aston Martin, UK, Luxury 
On Friday we brought you our gushing reaction to the $1.8 million Aston Martin One-77. We were able to stick our snouts over, under and inside the vehicle and it's simply bonkers. Bonkers in the very best way possible. Just a reminder -- the carbon fiber frame also doubles as a feeder for the intake plenums. Ridiculous. Almost as cool: the way the 7.3-liter V12 rockets up its rev range. It's something you simply have to hear to understand. Luckily, we found some video of the reveal party that includes the sound and the fury. After the jump, fast forward to about the 5:00 mark. trust us, you won't believe your ears. There's also a second video, so you can check out some more 360-degree shots of the ultimate Aston.
[Source: Motorator.com]
Continue reading VIDEO: Hear the angels sing: revving the Aston Martin One-77 VIDEO: Hear the angels sing: revving the Aston Martin One-77 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Concours d'LeMons Worst of Show: stone driven 1980 KV Mini 1
August 23, 2009 at 8:04 pm
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| Filed under: Classics, Europe, Humor  Worst of Show 1980 KV Mini 1 - click above image to see the stone drivetrain
Man, talk about an honor. We knew going in how special the first annual Concours d'LeMons would be (just check out the classes). What we didn't know exactly was just how horrible the cars would be. Turns out, pretty dang horrible. This weekend at Cars and Coffee we spotted a fairly awful (and filthy) Volvo 245 wagon parked near a pristine Ferrari 275 GTB and some drool-inducing TR6s. Why? Because it had received some sort of trophy at Concours d'LeMons.
Nothing can prepare you, however, for the wretchedness of the Worst of Show-winning KV Mini 1. It's actually hard to describe how amazingly terrible this hunk of French junk is, but we'll try. First of all, there are 125 cubic-centimeters of fury under the rear hood. That kind of muscle, or lack thereof, is good for a top speed of 43 mph. Second, like a Fuldamobil, putting the KV Mini 1 in reverse is only made possible by spinning the engine backwards. Hey, why not? But the topper here has to be the car's drive stones. Literally, stones. They are fitted atop the rear wheels and yes, traction in the rain is as unimaginably terrible as you're imagining.
For the full technical rundown, check out the great write-up at Clunkbucket.com. We've included a photo of the stony drivetrain after the jump, but you faint-of-heart types might as well consider it NSFW. One more thing -- the owner towed the KV Mini 1 to Monterey from Seattle behind his MGB. Beat that.
[Source: Concours d'Lemons via Clunkbucket | Photos: Mike Bumbeck]Continue reading Concours d'LeMons Worst of Show: stone driven 1980 KV Mini 1 Concours d'LeMons Worst of Show: stone driven 1980 KV Mini 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Renault Mégane Sport Tourer launches in no fewer than 21 flavors
August 23, 2009 at 7:16 pm
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| Filed under: Wagon, Renault, UK, Diesel 
2010 Renault Mégane Sport Tourer -- Click above for high-res image gallery
Renault has introduced its new Mégane Sport Tourer, which might rightfully called "Blackjack," because there are twenty-one different versions in the range. That's one car available with four different engines in five different trim levels. It's the antidote to the kind of economic rationalization we've been seeing, but hey, it means you win -- if you're in a country where you can buy one.
The Mégane Sport Tourer starts from £15,485 ($25,553 U.S.) for the Expression 1.6 -- which appears to have a 1.4-liter engine -- to £22,785 ($37,599 U.S.) for a kitted out Privilège model. There's even a TomTom edition if that's how you roll, and you can get all the info on them after the jump.
[Source: Renault]Continue reading Renault Mégane Sport Tourer launches in no fewer than 21 flavors Renault Mégane Sport Tourer launches in no fewer than 21 flavors originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| 2010 VW Golf TDI starts at $21,990, rated at 29/40 mpg city/hwy or maybe 30/42?
August 23, 2009 at 6:17 pm
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| Filed under: Volkswagen 
2010 Volkswagen Golf - click above for a high-res image gallery
For 2010, Volkswagen is again discarding the Rabbit badge in favor of the Golf nameplate used globally. The new cars will begin arriving in the coming weeks, starting with the GTI. The standard Golf models will again be available with diesel power, the same 2.0-liter TDI that arrived last year in the Jetta. Although it isn't linked from the main VW site, the new GTI and Golf pages are now live and include the TDI information with pricing.
The base 2-door, 2.5-liter gas engine Golf starts at $17,490 while the 4-door starts at $19,190. Like the Jetta, the TDIs come with a higher level of equipment than the base Golf and start at $21,990 (2-door) and $22,590 (4-door) with a 6-speed manual. The new GTI starts $23,290.
Of greater interest are the fuel economy numbers for the TDI. The Volkswagen site lists both the manual and DSG versions of the Golf TDI as getting 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. However a quick check of the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov site shows the Golf TDI rated even higher, at 30 mpg city and 42 highway. Similarly, the EPA also lists the 2010 Jetta TDI with DSG at the same level an improvement from the 2009 model's 29/40. Assuming the EPA numbers are correct, VW must have done some recalibration work on the DSG model. Thanks to Jay for the tip!
[Source: Volkswagen]2010 VW Golf TDI starts at $21,990, rated at 29/40 mpg city/hwy or maybe 30/42? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| REPORT: Tengzhong deal for Hummer expected to close in Q3
August 23, 2009 at 5:15 pm
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| Filed under: China, Hummer, Off-Road 
Slowly clearing one obstacle after another, Tengzhong is closer to sealing the deal to buy Hummer from General Motors. Chinese reports have come almost completely around, from the nearly certain "No" of a few months ago to "the Chinese government has little to lose giving the green light."
Chinese government officials didn't comment on the story, but the Chinese commerce ministry, one of the two bodies overseeing approval of the purchase, is now saying that it's only natural for Tengzhong to want Hummer. And with Tengzhong issuing pronouncements about mantaining Hummer's dealer network, it looks like the company is confident it will achieve its end. Final price is expected to be less than half of what GM wanted, coming in at around $200 million.
Meanwhile, the vehicles like nothing else keep on trucking, taking part in this weekend's TSCO Vegas to Reno race. Chad Hall and Emily Miller are each piloting H3s -- hopefully through to Sunday's finish. If you're a desert racer, you can keep up with action at Best in the Desert or Sopwith Racing.
[Source: Reuters]REPORT: Tengzhong deal for Hummer expected to close in Q3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| It ain't easy bein' green: traffic din could be ruining the sex lives of frogs
August 23, 2009 at 4:17 pm
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| Filed under: Etc., Australia 
While the automobile's total impact on the environment remains up for discussion, it's apparently pretty clear that cars and frogs don't really mix. Well, not if you're a male frog trying to get your croak on, at least. Scientists in Melbourne have found that due to traffic and machinery, a male frog's call can't be heard at great distances by female frogs. That's cutting down on the amount of frog sex to be had, and that, in turn, is cutting down on the number of frogs.
In the worst case cited, the popplebonk frog can normally be heard more than a half a mile away when there's no noise. But around busy roads you can't hear the popplebonk more than 46 feet away. Scientists said that animals are adapting to the noise of traffic, such as British birds that sing at night instead of the day. Don't ever doubt what Kermit said: it ain't easy being green.
[Source: Google | Image: moffoys | Image License: CC 2.0]It ain't easy bein' green: traffic din could be ruining the sex lives of frogs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| SPOILER ALERT: Getting Back to Work at the 2009 European Grand Prix
August 23, 2009 at 3:14 pm
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| Filed under: Motorsports, Europe  2009 European Grand Prix at Valencia - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ever come back from vacation only to feel like you need another vacation? We've all been there, so we can all empathize with the performers in the Formula One circus. After the last grand prix in Hungary, the premier racing series took a much-needed break for nearly a month, ostensibly to regain their energy and regroup for the final rounds.
But for most parties, the would-be vacation proved to be anything but restful. On top of all the usual off-track posturing that typically occurs between races, two teams had to replace their drivers, a former multiple world champion nearly came back out of retirement, a major automaker announced its withdrawal from the sport, a whole slew of legal battles were fought, and all the parties ratified a new comprehensive commercial agreement for the years ahead. So much for a vacation.
Recuperated or not, however, it was back to work this weekend for the 2009 European Grand Prix, held for only the second time at the Valencia circuit on Spain's sun-drenched Mediterranean coast, where everybody had something to prove. Follow the jump to read how it unfolded.
Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Getting Back to Work at the 2009 European Grand Prix SPOILER ALERT: Getting Back to Work at the 2009 European Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| REPORT: BYD pushes American EV launch ahead to 2010
August 23, 2009 at 2:16 pm
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| Filed under: Minivan/Van, China, Crossover, Alternative Fuel 
BYD e6 electric MPV - Click above for high-res image gallery
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Warren Buffet-backed Chinese automaker BYD has moved up its schedule and plans to sell a fully electric car here in the United States next year. Interestingly, the automaker's original plans were to sell its first products here in the U.S. in 2010, but it then delayed that projection by a year. The new announcement puts BYD back on track for its original 2010 target -- perhaps not coincidentally in line with the launch of the new Nissan Leaf.
BYD's e6 five-seatcrossover is the first vehicle exected to hit the U.S. market, with a price of just over $40,000. Details on the car's launch are still slim at this point, but WSJ indicates it will be a limited to a few hundred vehicles in select markets. Expect the initial vehicles to go to "government agencies, utilities and maybe some celebrities," according to BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu.
Last we heard, the all-electric e6 was capable of accelerating to 100 km/h (62 mph) in ten seconds with a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). Perhaps more importantly, the car's range has been quoted at 300km (186 miles) on a full charge of its lithium ion battery pack.
[Source: The Wall Street Journal]
REPORT: BYD pushes American EV launch ahead to 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| VIDEO: Presenting the Kustom Kar photography of George Barris
August 23, 2009 at 1:13 pm
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| Filed under: Classics, Videos
If you look up the name George Barris, you'll find two famous individuals from the same era. One snapped iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe and Dwight Eisenhower, while the other took shots of hot-rodded Chevys and Buicks. While we're sure George Barris the celebrity photographer was great, our attention is, as always, drawn to the car guy with the same name. Barris, as you well know, was one of the pioneers of the multi-billion-dollar custom car industry, and he took as much pride in the pictures he took to show off his work as he did the custom jobs that made him famous. Barris's photos eventually landed in popular magazines like Hot Rod and Rod & Custom. Follow the jump to look at some of the photography that helped make George Barris a household name... at least in the car world.
[Source: YouTube via The Garage Blog]Continue reading VIDEO: Presenting the Kustom Kar photography of George Barris VIDEO: Presenting the Kustom Kar photography of George Barris originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| REPORT: TMZ, KABC erroneously link tuner's custom Benz to VH1 murder case
August 23, 2009 at 12:17 pm
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| Filed under: Etc. 
As has been extensively reported, VH1 "Megan Wants a Millionaire" reality show contestant Ryan Jenkins has been charged with murdering his wife, Jasmine Fiore. As the news story spread, celebrity gossip site TMZ reported that Jasmine Fiore's "2007 white Mercedes, with very large black rims (24") and a black roof" could contain crucial clues to the case. (Note: TMZ is also owned by Autoblog's parent, AOL. Trust us: there's no editorial affiliation.)
To illustrate the car, TMZ didn't use a picture of Fiore's Mercedes, however. The ever-careful gossip mongers instead used a picture of tuner R.J. DeVera's Brabus CLS, shod with his own RO-JA wheels. Then KABC-TV Los Angeles ran with the story as well -- apparently without fact-checking TMZ's photo source. The network ran a photo of R.J.'s CLS as well -- the same car you can see on R.J.'s Facebook and MySpace pages. GT Channel's Taro Koki saw what happened and documented it all, including screenshots of both TMZ's original post and from the KABC Eyewitness News broadcast that subsequently reused the photo of DeVera's car.
Meanwhile, Ryan Jenkins is still a murder suspect, still on the run, and the object of a manhunt in Canada. Until Jenkins is apprehended, it looks as if DeVera's going to have a hard time going anywhere in his Mercedes, since driving the car that's been plastered all over the news related to a murder case is no way to spend a couple of weeks in August...
[Source: GT Channel]
REPORT: TMZ, KABC erroneously link tuner's custom Benz to VH1 murder case originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Monterey 2009: 2010 Jaguar XJ has North American debut at Pebble
August 23, 2009 at 11:14 am
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| Filed under: Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury 
2010 Jaguar XJ - Click above for high-res image gallery
The XJ was, for the longest time, the model most commonly associated with the Jaguar brand. Like Porsche's iconic 911, the XJ's basic shape had soldiered on for decades with significant platform changes hidden behind an all-too-familiar face. When Jaguar switched things up by introducing the forward-looking midsize XF a couple of years ago, people started to take notice that it wasn't going to be business-as-usual anymore in Coventry - or Mumbai for that matter. Heritage and tradition were one thing, but Jaguar needed something radical to reclaim its place at the top of the luxury sedan class. Enter the 2010 XJ, an all-new vehicle with an all-new look that should help Jaguar capture some all-new customers.
Borrowing heavily from the XF playbook, the new ultra sedan offers tastefully modern styling with a dash of traditional elegance and a healthy dose of British class. Sure, the tail lamps might look like they were borrowed from a Citroen, but in person this car has genuine presence. It is a large vehicle compared to the previous XJ, but not as big as, say, an S-Class Benz. The proportions remind us of the BMW 7 Series and the new Porsche Panamera.
As we've told you from our first encounter with the car a month ago, the new 2010 Jaguar XJ will be available in regular or extended wheelbase form, with one of three variations of the company's direct-injected 5.0 liter V8 underhood. The base models get a 385-horsepower normally-aspirated version; the XJ Supercharged gets boosted to 470 hp; and the top-of-the-line Supersport gets the XFR's 510-hp mill. Prices will range from a base of $72,500 to $115,000, making this one dear kitty. No matter the price, it's one striking sedan, and we can't wait to get some seat time soon. Until then, check out our high-res gallery from Pebble Beach below.
Live photos from Pebble Beach copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.Monterey 2009: 2010 Jaguar XJ has North American debut at Pebble originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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