worldwide automotive, auto classifieds, worldwide cars, automotive news online, auto cars

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Paris Motor Show, Supercars, Infiniti, Nissan

According to Car and Driver, a preliminary version of the Nissan GT-R V-Spec — that stands for Victory Specification, mind you — could be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this year and may even be ready for sale by the end of the year. The V-Spec, whose actual specs have not been revealed, is the even better, faster, stronger version of the plain old blindingly fast Nissan GT-R. The V will be lower and more powerful than the regular GT-R, but no one knows yet by exactly how much.

Apparently Nissan has also admitted that the $70,000 GT-R is currently a loss-leader. As the company rolls out more cars on the same platform, like an Infiniti version in a year or so, the GT-R’s balance sheet will begin to show profit. Speaking of that Infiniti version, it will be intriguing to see how they combine Nissan gadgetry with Infiniti luxury. And although the V-Spec could be shown in just a few months and on sale by December, it isn’t expected to go on sale in the U.S. until 2010.

[Source: Car and Driver via Motor Authority]

Concept Cars, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Etc., Supercars, Ferrari, Ferrari Concept 2008 by Sefsdesign

We realize that not everyone will agree with us on this one — passions seem to run highest over the cars that the fewest number of people will drive — but if the Ferrari California looked like this concept, we’d put down a deposit right now. Once someone else gave us the money to do so.

Sure, from the A-pillar forward is pure Maserati, and there’s no way a front intake like that could or should make it onto a Ferrari. Still, it’s a good looking front end, and we don’t mind design elements going up as well as down. Besides, a couple of keystrokes can get a proper Ferrari nose in place.

But from the A-pillar to the rear… those are the kind of aggressive, subtle lines we like in our Ferraris. Which is not to say we don’t like the California — we just like this a little better… A coupe, please. That color.
[Source: Sefsdesign]

Concept Cars, Coupes, China, Misc. Auto Shows

It turns out that the Geely GT didn’t corner the market on coupe concepts at Auto China 2008. Beijing Automotive — whose Wrangler-style B40 you saw earlier — is also on the case with its 700R coupe concept, a clean and attractive design with some interesting details. An accent line angles upward, merging with muscular rear haunches, giving the car a nice, aggressive presence. In front, knifelike headlamps; stylized, outboard air intakes; and a teensy main grille slit come together to give the car a good face. Out back, a similar motif finishes the car off, and the result is very attractive overall.

Of course, it’ll probably never be anything more than vaporware, but generally speaking, it makes you wonder what on Earth goes on in the boardrooms of Chinese car companies. If they have the ability to deliver clean, original designs like this, then why bother copycatting at all? The mind reels. Until originality in this vein is the norm, the phrase “Chinese car” will remain a punchline. Too bad, because stylewise, this 700R concept is no joke.
[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Chicago Auto Show

If you’ve been holding off on a brand new Ford Edge because the styling just wasn’t sporty enough, have we got good news for you. Tonight at a press event in Dearborn, Ford took the wraps from it’s latest trim level of the well received crossover, the 2009 Ford Edge Sport. Featuring some nice design details like perforated alcantera seating surfaces, an 8 piece body kit, smoked headlights, dual exhaust tips, stiffened up performance suspension, and… oh okay, big stinky wheels. The Edge Sport gets polished 20″ wheels standard and 22 incher’s optional, both wrapped in fat Pirelli Scorpion Zeros. And just because you were already thinking it, no, there are no additional ponies riding under that hood. Expect to see the sportier looking Edge at dealers by fall. Keep it parked here for our live Chicago Auto Show coverage as we bring you all the reveals that are fit to print, er, publish.

CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2008 - Ford is providing still more sizzle for America’s best-selling mid-size crossover, introducing a new factory-customized model - the 2009 Edge Sport.
“The new Ford Edge Sport is designed to instantly appeal to crossover customers who want a sportier custom look and feel,” said John Felice, general manager, Ford Division. “This specialty design reflects the growing popularity of personalization and more customers’ interest in industry shows like the annual Hot Import Nights around the country and the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas.”

The Sport model - which joins the SE, SEL and Limited models in the range - makes the Ford Edge the first vehicle in its segment to offer a customized model. Its modern, athletic design, flexible package and unique features like VistaRoof™ and SYNC helped sell 130,125 Edge units in 2007, making it the nation’s top-selling crossover. The new Edge Sport model will further distinguish it from competitors.

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Sports/GTs, Etc., Volkswagen

 the VW GX3

Most of you probably remember the Volkswagen GX3, the German automaker’s sensational three-wheeled sports concept that stunned LA Auto Show attendees in January of 2006. After a roller-coaster ride of will-they-or-won’t-they speculation, including spy shots of a mule undergoing testing, VW canned the project because in today’s litigious society, the risks to the company were deemed too great.

Enter Defiant Motors, an entity that has apparently been set up to gauge public interest in seeing a production version of the GX3 come to fruition. In the email we received from Aaron Mady, the owner of the DefiantMotors.com domain, he states that if there is enough interest, the ultimate goal would be to partner with Volkswagen to market a production GX3 as a Defiant-badged vehicle “so that they will not be liable for consumer education that the GX3 is a motorcycle.” We have no idea what kind of resources Mady and/or Defiant Motors has at its disposal, so the viability of making step 2 happen is completely speculative.

We’re not legal experts, so we’ll have to defer to others more versed in matters such as this to determine whether such a situation would or could work. If you do have experience in this arena, we’d like to hear from you in the comments. And Defiant would like to hear from you if you’re interested in parking a GX3 in your garage. It may be pie-in-the-sky, but it sure is an interesting idea, and it’s just another great example of the kind of grassroots effort you can mount via the Internet. To Mady’s and Defiant Motors’ credit: they’re trying.