Misc. Auto Shows
Misc. Auto Shows, Automotive News, Latest car models, Worldwide Auto News
Filed under: Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows
Click above for more high-res live shots of the Ford Fiesta sedan
Ford's latest Fiesta subcompact is finally coming to America, which is definitely cause for celebration. To get it ready for U.S. consumption, the Blue Oval brand has grafted a trunk onto the ex-hatch's hind end, as we Americans inexplicably nearly always choose a sedan over a more functional hatchback. At least Ford has managed to keep the Fiesta's Kinetic design language intact, and the freshly unveiled Fiesta sedan bears a striking resemblance to the Verve sedan concept from the last Detroit Auto Show. For the record, the sedan body style will not be available in Europe, though we expect Ford to also offer the two- and four-door hatchback version in the U.S.
Ford officially took the wraps off the Fiesta sedan at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China where the new car will soon go on sale. When the Fiesta makes its long-awaited American debut as a 2010 model, it will be built in Mexico and reportedly cost around $15,000. The team from Autoblog China (did you know there's now also an Autoblog UK, Autoblog Germany and Autoblog France, all with teams of local bloggers producing them?) on the floor in Guangzhou managed to snap some live shots of the Fiesta sedan for your viewing enjoyment, so check out the galleries below. Enjoy!
Gallery: Ford Fiesta Sedan
Gallery: Ford Fiesta Sedan LIVE
[Source: Autoblog China, Ford]
Continue reading Ford reveals US-bound Fiesta Sedan in China
Ford reveals US-bound Fiesta Sedan in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Tuners, BMW, Misc. Auto Shows, UK
Click above to view the Brabham BT 92 in high resolution
It's hard to make a BMW M3 any more bad-ass than it already is. Fortunately Brabham Racing is up to the task, as you can see from the image above.
If the name sounds familiar, it could be because it's one of the best known names in racing. Or at least it was. Founded in 1960 by legendary Australian F1 driver Jack Brabham, the racing constructor went bust from financial liabilities in 1992, but not before winning the F1 drivers' title four times and the constructors' crown twice with such noted drivers as Dan Gurney, both Damon and Graham Hill, Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet. Brabham's own 1966 title remains the only championship won in a car bearing its driver's name. Now after a nearly 16-year hiatus, Brabham is back, and it's starting out by modifying BMWs.
Brabham will be offering modded Bimmers for road and track, and will be showcasing a trio of street-legal Bavarian monsters at the upcoming Essen Motor Show in Germany. They will include the M5-based BT 60, the X6-based BT 70 and the M3-based BT 92 you see above. Little else is known at this point, but you can bet we'll be keeping our eyes peeled. Press release after the jump.
[Source: Brabham]
Continue reading Brabham races back into the scene with trio of custom BMWs
Brabham races back into the scene with trio of custom BMWs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Motorsports, Misc. Auto Shows, Event Alert
One of the big changes we made at Autoblog a couple of years ago was adding more live coverage of events with photos and impressions to hopefully make you feel like you were there with us. While we love going to these races, auto shows, concours and cruises to report on them for you, we know there are many of you out there who would like to witness these happenings firsthand. Many of you have commented that although you enjoy our event coverage you'd like more advance warning of the events we are attending so you might be able to check them out yourselves.
Well, as you might imagine, putting together a calendar isn't so simple. Often times we get last minute word of an event, or sometimes the events we cover aren't open to the public. Still, we understand your craving for live automotive events and we are here to help. We've scoured our planners and checked our favorite web links and have compiled a select calendar for November. We'll try to post a new one of these every month and we encourage you to add local events we haven't included in the comments for all to see. Our hope is that you'll scan the list and be able to find something exciting in your neck of the woods.
Don't take it personally if we skip one of your favorites, just know that we are trying to keep it simple for now. Two of our favorite resources for planning what events we are going to attend, btw, are the New York Times automotive calendar for national and international stuff, and for local stuff here in Southern California, our buddy Dave Lindsay's SoCalCarCulture pages. Dave has been photographing and reporting on the local car scene a long time and if we don't make it to one of the events on his calendar, you can be pretty sure that Dave will be posting pics of it before long. Enough talk, check out the select November event calendar we put together for you after the jump.
Continue reading Event Alert: November calendar of automotive events
Event Alert: November calendar of automotive events originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Etc., Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo
Click above for high-res gallery courtesy our friends at Speed and Motion
Long known amongst car people around southern California for its fine dining, upscale boutiques and most importantly its twice-monthly collector car breakfast cruises, the Enderle Center in Tustin, California decided to do something a little different to celebrate its 30th Anniversary: host a Classic European Concours. For this inaugural event they even flew in Pininfarina designer Maurizio Corbi who answered questions and sketched dream cars for the crowd. When someone groaned after hearing Corbi was partly responsible for the new Ferrari California's form, he quickly pointed out he did the front, which brought relieved laughter. Local collector Dick Marconi brought several cars from his nearby Marconi Automotive Museum, which supports the Marconi Foundation for Kids. Several of Dick's artworks were also displayed in the center's Chemers Gallery, but the cars were really all the art we needed to see.
Classics from the '30s, '40s, '50s, and '60s, along with sportscars from the '70s, '80s, and '90s were arranged by country of origin and parked through the central parking lot alongside a pedestrian-friendly red carpet. Ferraris were featured and there was an incredible assortment on hand, everything from Cher's Daytona Spyder to an extremely rare 195S, one of two in existence. The F50 wasn't too bad either. Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and even Pegaso were also well-represented. It was a great first effort and a fun show, small and manageable with some breathtaking classics, all with great stories behind them.
When our camera started acting up we spotted our pals from Speed and Motion, who graciously agreed to let us use their images for our gallery. Click and enjoy, and be sure to check out the Speed and Motion site for a greater selection of photos and videos from this show, as well as dozens of HD clips from other local events.
Gallery: Inaugural Enderle Concours
Photos copyright (C)2008 Speed and Motion
Inaugural Enderle Concours features Pininfarina designer, classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Etc., Misc. Auto Shows, Military, Lifestyle
Click image for huge gallery of cars, planes, copters and blimps from Los Al
This past weekend we found ourselves attending a couple of automotive events, trying desperately to cling onto the last vestiges of summer. After getting a small taste of the wonderful combination of cars and planes last weekend in Chino, we thought it would be fun to throw some helicopters into the mix. We stopped by the seventh annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors Expo, which again took place at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California. As the name implies, the show features not only cars, but airplanes, jets and helicopters, as well. The Goodyear blimp even did a few flybys.
The first cars we saw when we got there were a collection of vehicles that had been Overhauled by Chip Foose on his hit TV series. After spending an hour or two checking out the 500 or so hot rods and muscle cars on display we also got to check out a couple dozen military aircraft. While the C-17 was by far the biggest thing around with a tail several stories tall, we spent more time in the shadows of the F-16, AH-1Cobra and Skyraider. As if that weren't enough, there were also dozens of vendors hawking everything from T-shirts to Tiki Totems. Visitors could even take a spin in one of several planes and copters for hire. It's a pretty incredible show not just for its enormous scope, but for the Fourth-of-July-like atmosphere. Thousands of families, all showing their American pride, reveling in supporting our military and savoring our very American pastime of cars.
Gallery: 7th Annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors Expo
Photos copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs Inc.
Autoblog visits Wings, Wheels and Rotors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Chevrolet, Misc. Auto Shows
Click above for high-res gallery of the Chevy GPiX Concept
General Motors officially debuted the GPiX Concept, which we previewed for you last week, at the Sao Paulo Auto Show in Brazil yesterday. It was designed entirely by GM Design in Brazil but retains those corporate styling cues that make it instantly recognizable as a modern Chevy around the world. This two-door crossover has a bit of ground clearance for what GM calls "the types of roads and conditions found in emerging markets." We think that means no roads and poor conditions. There's no mention of what powers the GPiX concept, though we assume it's either A) not a runner, B) has a fictional super efficient prototype powertrain underhood or C) uses a four-cylinder gas motor capable of running on E100 ethanol. GM also says that the GPiX could be a potential new segment for the automaker in South America, but in these tough times we doubt it's really interested in developing a solo vehicle for a single market. You can check out more high-res pics of the GPiX concept in the gallery below and read GM's official press release after the jump.
Gallery: Chevy GPiX Concept
[Source: GM]
Continue reading Officially Official: GM debuts Chevy GPiX Concept in Sao Paulo
Officially Official: GM debuts Chevy GPiX Concept in Sao Paulo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows
Click above for high-res gallery of the Dodge Trazo C1.8
Early this year Chrysler and Nissan formed a partnership to share products. The big news at the time was that Nissan would be replacing its Titan pickup with a version of the Dodge Ram. But before that deal went down, the two automakers from different continents had already agreed on a partnership that would see the Nissan Versa sold in some South American markets as a Dodge. Today Dodge unveiled that vehicle at the Sao Paulo Auto Show in Brazil as the Trazo C1.8 sedan. It is a direct port of the Nissan Versa we know in the U.S. and the Tiida sold in Japan, though will only be offered as a sedan in South America and not as a five-door hatchback. As far as we can tell, not a body panel or interior appointment has been changed, save for new Trazo badging and slightly different black plastic grille. We couldn't even find a Dodge logo on the car's exterior. The Trazo's engine also appears to be the same 1.8L four-cylinder used in the Versa that's been made E100 ethanol-capable for South American markets. Reading the press release from Dodge after the jump is a bit trippy, as we've never heard one automaker speak so flowery about another automaker's product. If Chrysler thinks the Trazo is so good, should we buy the Versa instead of the Caliber in the U.S.? Gallery: Dodge Trazo C1.8
[Source: Dodge]
Continue reading Chrysler/Nissan partnership bears fruit in South America: the Dodge Trazo C1.8
Chrysler/Nissan partnership bears fruit in South America: the Dodge Trazo C1.8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Coupes, Trucks/Pickups, Misc. Auto Shows, Renault
Click above for high-res gallery of the Renault Sanderos Sand'up Concept
Renault has thankfully brought more to the Sao Paulo Auto Show than just an F1 edition of its inexpensive Dacia Sandero with racy decals and a bodykit. The other car in its display is another Sandero, but this one is much cooler. Called the Sandero Sand'up concept, it's a 2+2 beach runabout that can go from a closed hard-top coupe to a convertible pickup thanks to its modular design. While not the freshest idea to appear on a concept, the Sand'up is charming enough with its big wheel arches, satin nickel roof rail arches and see-through doors. The first concept by Renault to be designed entirely in South America, the Sand'up is not surprisingly powered by a 1.6L Hi-Flex engine that produces 107 hp on gasoline and 112 hp on ethanol, the latter of which is a more popular fuel below the equator than above at the moment.
Gallery: Renault Sandero Sand'up Concept
[Source: Renault]
Renault debuts Sandero Sand'up concept in Sao Paulo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Supercars, Aston Martin, Misc. Auto Shows, Lifestyle, UK
Sigh. Click above for more shots of the gold-plated Aston Martin DB7
Aston Martin makes some of the most beautiful cars in the world. Take, for instance, the critically-acclaimed DB7. Based on the Jaguar XJS platform, styled by Ian Callum and introduced to an extremely excited market in 1994, it was the firm's most successful car ever and it is still recognized as a breathtaking design. So, what do you do to make the DB7 even more stunning? Apparently, if you are the Alchemists, you plate it with 24-carat gold and platinum leaf and embed seven diamonds (for 007 we assume) into its shapely bodywork. Or, if you ask us, you paint it in resplendent British Racing Green and leave it exactly as God and Ian Callum intended. The day after the upcoming James Bond flick Quantum of Solace comes out in the U.K., the car will appear at the MPH Show at London's Earls Court and will be just one of 200 supercars on display. We wish they'd leave it at home, or sell it to an oil sheik... anything to get it out of our sight.
Gallery: Alchemist gold-plated DB7
[Source: Alchemist]
Continue reading Alchemist gold-plates an Aston Martin DB7
Alchemist gold-plates an Aston Martin DB7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Chevrolet, Misc. Auto Shows
Click above for gallery of the Chevy GPiX Concept
The Sao Paulo Auto Show is shaping up to be more interesting than we thought, but that's no surprise considering how important the South American market is to automakers. As such, Chevy will be revealing a new concept in Brazil called the GPiX that will reportedly inspire a new line of vehicles to replace the Corsa on sale there now. The new line will include sedan, hatchback and truck variants, as well as a small crossover not unlike the GPiX concept itself. While the rear end looks something like that of a Suzuki SX4, the front clip of the GPiX is all Chevy with the now familiar split corporate grille. We do, however, really like the vertical stack of LED lights that flank the long air intake on the lower bumper. We should have more details and high-res images of the GPiX concept after its official debut on Monday at the Sao Paulo Auto Show, so stay tuned.
Gallery: Chevy GPiX Concept
[Source: Motor Tips via World Car Fans]
Leakage: Chevrolet GPiX concept to debut in Sao Paulo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Economy, Misc. Auto Shows, Renault
Click above to view more of the Dacia Sandero F1 edition
Oh, this is just precious. We have no problem with Renaultsport rolling out F1-themed versions of its hot hatches because, well, they're pretty hot. Some of the hottest hatches around, actually, it's worth re-iterating. But we can't help but feel this is pushing things a little too far.
Renault's Dacia division is supposed to be a budget-oriented, no frills sub-brand. And while F1 may be working on the budget orientation, spec'ing out some low-cost econo-boxes with go-fast bits is a little much. But that's what they're doing at the Sao Paulo auto show soon to kick off in Brazil. To compound the issue, the pair of F1 Team editions of the Dacia Sandero and Dacia Logan receive no mechanical upgrades whatsoever, just a fresh coat of paint and some decals. So while American driving enthusiasts may look longingly at F1 Team editions of the Clio and Megane, this is one we can do without.
Gallery: Dacia Logan and Sandero F1 editions
[Source: Argentina Auto Blog (no relation)]
Renault rolls out F1 edition Dacias in Brazil originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Misc. Auto Shows, FIAT
Click above to view more of the Fiat Bugster concept
South America is a vital market for Fiat, and with the Sao Paulo International Auto Show coming up, the Italian automaker's Brazilian subsidiary has cooked up an intriguing concept. Called the Bugster, it looks like the love child from a grappa-induced affair between a KTM X-Bow and a Jeep Wrangler.
Few details are known at this point, save to say that its green color isn't accidental. Its undisclosed powertrain is good for zero-emission transportation, and the body panels (if you could call them that) are made out of renewable natural fibers. More details are bound to surface as the Sao Paulo show nears its opening at the end of this month. In the meantime, you can check out the pair of design renderings in the gallery below.
Gallery: Fiat Bugster concept
[Source: CarScoop]
Fiat to unveil Bugster concept in Sao Paulo, Brazil originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Tuners, Sedans/Saloons, Lexus, Misc. Auto Shows, Australia
Click above for high-res gallery of the Lexus IS 250 Sports Concept
At the ongoing Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, the same show where Australian sportscar-maker Elfin took the wraps off its new Type 5 Clubman, Lexus unveiled a new version of its IS 250 sports sedan called the Sports Concept.
So what, you ask is the Lexus IS 250 Sports Concept? Think of it as IS F-light, but not quite as light on substance as appearance packages from its German rivals (think Audi S-line or Mercedes AMG sport packages). The show car has been outfitted with 19" wheels hiding cross-drilled two-piece rotors clamped by six-pot calipers up front and four-pots in the rear, painted trademark Lexus F blue. It also sports Billstein shocks and springs; sway bars and chassis braces; an enlarged air intake and cat-back exhaust; a new clutch and short-shift kit; a carbon fiber engine cover and an assortment of spoilers and skirts.
In short, what we're looking at is an IS F, only without the 5-liter V8. The revised breathing systems squeeze out a modest 1.5 percent increase in output from the 2.5-liter V6 for a total of about 213hp. The add-ons are currently being considered for the Australian market, but we're sure there are plenty of fans of the IS F on this side of the globe who don't need to hit 60 in the fours and wouldn't mind a more affordable alternative given the current economic climate.
Gallery: Lexus IS 250 Sports Concept
[Source: Lexus]
Lexus unveils IS 250 Sports Concept in Sydney originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Sports/GTs, Misc. Auto Shows, Holden, Australia
Click above for high-res gallery of the Elfin Type 5 Clubman
Fans of the original Lotus 7 will undoubtedly be familiar with Elfin. Others who, like Lotus itself, have come to realize that automotive development has advanced in the past few decades, may be less so. The Australian sportscar-maker is right up there with the likes of Caterham and Westfield, only from the land of reverse-flushing toilettes and leaf-eating marsupials. The company is under the care of Tom Walkinshaw, a legend in the motorsports and tuning communities who has leveraged his close ties with GM's Holden subsidiary for the vehicle you see here, called the Type 5 Clubman. Replacing the discontinued Type 3, the new Type 5 joins the line-up alongside the MS8 Streamliner and was recently unveiled at the ongoing Sydney Motor Show.
The new roadster features the same 260-hp turbo four from the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Redline, only in a much lighter frame of just 750kg (about 1,650 lbs). The combination of generous power and low weight means the Type 5 is pegged to hit 100 km/h (62mph) in a rapid 3.7 seconds while commanding a sticker price comparable Down Under to a Nissan 350Z or Mazda RX-8, only without frivolities like a roof or doors.
Gallery: Elfin Type 5 Clubman
[Source: Elfin]
Australia's Eflin debuts Type 5 Clubman in Sydney originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows, Australia, FPV, Special/Limited Editions
Click above for high-res gallery of the FPV 5th Anniversary model
Ford Performance Vehicles, otherwise known as FPV, is celebrating its fifth birthday as being the sharp end of Ford Australia's performance stick. FPV presented itself with a gift at this week's Australian International Motor Show in the form of a special edition FPV 5th Anniversary model. Only 200 units will be produced of the rear-wheel-drive Falcon-based birthday present, ensuring instant collector car status for the discerning Aussie buyer. The car features Alpine Silver 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, 6-piston Brembo brakes, sports seats upholstered in Nudo leather and special "5th Anniversary" decals on the trunk, ahead of the rear wheels, embossed on the front headrests and on the floormats. The FPV 5th Anniversary model will be available in Lightning Strike or Silhouette, both with striping, and starts at $71,890 in Australian dollars, which FPV says equates to $9,600 worth of extra goodies for only $5,300 more than the FPV GT sedan. So happy birthday to FPV, and we hope that Ford invites us to your rear-wheel-drive performance sedan party some time soon.
Gallery: FPV 5th Anniversary Special Edition
[Source: FPV]
Continue reading FPV GT 5th Anniversary edition unveiled in Sydney
FPV GT 5th Anniversary edition unveiled in Sydney originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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