New Auto Cars
New Auto Cars, World Cars, World Automotive Catalog, Trucks, Motors, Video, Pictures, Reviews
Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Earnings/Financials, Canada
2009 Ford F-150 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Given the state of the market, the Ford Motor Company is on a bit of a roll right now. The Blue Oval posted an 11% decline in volume for June versus the same month in 2008; a far better number than nearly every competitor from Japan or Detroit. Ford also flat-out dominated the market in the Great White North, as the Dearborn, MI-based automaker ranked number one in sales volume for the first time in 50 years.
Ford outpaced perennial market leader General Motors by a substantial (for Canada) 5,000 units. Ford posted 27,408 sales for the month; a 24.6% increase over June 2008. Toyota and Honda also were in the rear view mirror, as the Japanese stalwarts managed sales declines of 17%. Chrysler was a distant fifth place, as bankruptcy and an outdated product lineup conspired to sink sales by 58% verses June 2008. Overall sales in Canada were down 13% on the month.
Ford's increase in sales was due in part to a surprising 41% increase in CUV and SUV sales. The F-150 also posted a healthy 59% increase, with Ford's Edge was up 23%.
[Source: London Free Press]
Ford reportedly tops sales charts in Canada for first time in 50 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Time Warp, Auction Action, Lifestyle, Motorcycles, Celebrities
1966 Batcycle - Click above for high-res image gallery
Where does Batman get those wonderful toys? We may finally have an answer for the Joker: Batman shops on eBay, just like the rest of us, and he apparently also sells off his unwanted bits and pieces after they've served their purpose. Such is the case with the classic 1966 Batcycle, which was ably replaced a few years back by the far more menacing Batpod.The Caped Crusader must have finally decided the Batcycle would be better served fighting crime in the hands of a new hero than collecting dust in a remote corner of the Batcave, as it's just been sold on eBay with a final winning bid of $29,500. It seems that Batman had put just 8,245 miles on his Batcycle before retiring it for more advanced machinery.
According to the auction, the bike itself was designed and assembled by Kustomotive for the original 1966 Batman feature film and made subsequent appearances in the television series from the '60s. The seller notes that this Batcycle was based on a 250cc Yamaha Catalina with a custom sidecar featuring a removable go kart for Robin that was powered by its own 50cc engine. While it's clear that the Batcycle wasn't exactly a barnburner, it sure makes up for its lack of power with style.
Gallery: eBay Find of the Day: 1966 Batcycle
[Source: eBay via Tilted Horizons]
eBay Find of the Day: 1966 Batcycle with sidecar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, China, Plants/Manufacturing
Geely GE - Click above for high-res image gallery
We've been hearing Chinese officials say for quite some time now that there are far too many automakers in the country for a healthy market in the long-term, but we didn't realize until today just how out-of-hand it may be. According to state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua, China has seen an unprecedented 89 new automobile launches so far this year.
That's surely a big number, but it doesn't really hit home until you consider that 89 vehicles in the first half of 2009 averages out to a new or heavily revised vehicle appearing in China once every two days. Of those new designs, 73 were cars, nine were SUVs, six were MPVs and - in contrast to typical American vehicle launches over the same period - only one was a crossover.
As you're surely aware, 2009 is only half over, and there are reportedly some 50 new vehicles still slated for introduction before the end of the year, equaling about 140 new models introduced in 2009. The good news, at least as far the bottom line goes, is that the new releases have translated into sales. The 4.96 million vehicles sold between January and May of this year represent a 14.29-percent increase over the same period in 2008. Still, considering the glut of new models hitting the market, one has to figure that a goodly number of those vehicles will go begging.
Gallery: Geely GE
[Source: Gasgoo]
REPORT: China rolls out 89 new models in six months - that's one every two days originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Hatchbacks, Ford, Australia
2011 Ford Verve spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery
Eagle-eyed spy shooters for Car Advice in Australia have managed to snap off a series of photos of a new entry-level Ford hatchback that's likely headed to emerging markets like India, Brazil and some areas in Europe. The car seen in these spy shots is clearly disguised as the previous-generation Ford Fiesta, but it's believed that this new machine may actually be a production version of the Ford Verve concept that was first introduced back in 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
If it ever reaches production, it's likely that the Verve will feature a range of gasoline and diesel engines varying in size from 1.2- to 1.5-liters. According to Car Advice, this new hatchback is expected to get a formal green-light from Ford sometime in mid-2010 en-route to production a few months later. For what it's worth, we don't expect to see this car come Stateside, as America will already have the new Fiesta subcompact followed by a new global Focus. Click here for the rest of the shots.
Gallery: 2011 Ford Verve - spy shots
[Source: caradvice.com.au]
Spy Shots: Ford Verve mule spotted banging around in Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Euro, Porsche
2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Porsche plans to expand its Panamera line-up to include three new powerplants - a Volkswagen-sourced V6, a diesel and some manner of hybrid - but in addition to offering new engines, the automaker may offer a harder, more performance-oriented model to slot in above the Turbo.
Similar to the strategy Porsche employed with the Cayenne, this new model - which could be dubbed the Turbo S or GTS - would nix the Turbo model's standard air suspension and instead fit a set of performance-tuned springs and shocks to maximize grip and on-track prowess.
As for future powertrains, a senior Porsche executive told Autocar that VAG's V6 and V8 diesels could be fitted to future Panameras, and we wouldn't be surprised to find the new Audi S4's supercharged, petrol-powered 3.0-liter V6 in Porsche's first production sedan in the coming years.
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera
[Source: Autocar]
REPORT: Porsche working on harder Panamera originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Bentley
Bentleys may be as large and luxurious as yachts, but that doesn't mean the premium automaker's factory in Crewe is without leaks. Although Bentley is keen on metering out glimpses at a snail's pace, British auto mag CAR managed to get a hold of a batch of photos of the highly anticipated new "Grand Bentley".Under development with the code-name Project Kimberley, the new Bentley is slated to replace the aging Arnage sedan at the top of the company's line-up and do battle with the Rolls-Royce Phantom. With technological input from its sister companies under the Volkswagen auto umbrella, the as-yet unnamed Grand Bentley promises to take a big step forward from the Arnage, which still carries its mechanicals and platform from the days when the automaker was under the same roof as Rolls -- not in direct competition. The spy shots reveal mesh grilles, LED lights, a retractable hood ornament (like the Phantom's) and a swooping roofline reminiscent of the classic 50's-era R-Type Continental. Looks pretty sweet, and we'll probably get an even better glimpse as the car's unveiling later this summer approaches with the pace of...well, a speeding Bentley.
[Source: CAR]
Spy Shots: New Grand Bentley pics smuggled out of Crewe factory originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Tech
Is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about to add some more safety measures to your next new car? According to The Detroit News, they might be. The Motown daily says that government officials are pondering whether or not they should require new vehicles to be fitted with lane-departure warning systems and automatic braking systems that trigger upon warning of an impending accident. Both systems are currently available only in very small percentage of new passenger cars - primarily luxury vehicles. According to the DetNews report, safety experts believe that the systems "show significant promise" in their ability to reduce traffic accident-related fatalities and injuries.
NHTSA will decide whether to require such systems in 2011 after further cost-benefit analysis, including looking at insurance company data and estimated manufacturing costs. It has already added new components to its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for 2011 vehicles, including a test that measures the effectiveness of lane-departure warning systems and a different frontal-crash program.
NHTSA hopes to announce its findings by the end of the year.
[Source: The Detroit News]
REPORT: NHTSA to mandate lane departure warning and auto-brake systems? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Etc., Japan
Ever roll through some sleepy burg and notice the townsfolk have painted each fire hydrant, recycling bin or park bench as its own work of art? That's one thing... but how about a whole country? Only in Japan, where the same famously zany locals fascinated with sailor costumes and neon lights on dump trucks have done it yet again. Only this time, their attention has shifted to manhole covers. Yes, manhole covers.We don't know anything about this fad, how it began or how pervasive it is - we'd be glad to hear from you in our comment section below if you do - but from the look of the pinpointed map available at the link, it seems the craft has grown quite pervasive across the whimsical island nation. Check out a slew of our favorite examples in the gallery below, and try not to wonder how the artists didn't get run down by oncoming traffic while painstakingly completing their masterpieces.
Gallery: Japan's Manhole-Cover Art
[Source: ittemia.jp]
The wacky, wonderful world of Japanese manhole cover art originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Time Warp, Safety, Videos, Celebrities
Click above to watch video after the jump
Most know how James Dean died; driving his Porsche 550 Spyder on Highway 466 in California. Dean even received a ticket earlier in the day, prompting many to assume that he was driving recklessly when the accident occurred. Later examination of the crash showed that the Hollywood icon was likely driving around 55 mph at the time of the crash; which was the legal limit at the time.
While Dean was shooting the film Giant (released posthumously in 1956), the Hollywood superstar shot a quick public service video for the program Warner Bros. Parents. The short was about the dangers of speeding on the highway, and Dean insisted that speeding was for the race track and not for public roads. Chillingly, he ends the interview saying "Take it easy drivin'... the life you might save might be mine." As Dean died soon after filming the short segment, it reportedly never aired. Hit the jump to view the two minute interview.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading VIDEO: Tragic Irony - Vintage James Dean driving safety video
VIDEO: Tragic Irony - Vintage James Dean driving safety video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Economy, Hatchbacks, SMART
2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Smart ForTwo isn't for shy people. Even though Smart USA has sold about 30,000 of these tiny two-seaters in the U.S., the little rollerskate attracts a lot of attention. On the road or in America's parking lots, the ForTwo is a conversation piece, and people don't hesitate to come up and talk to you. Some will tell you about the Smart they saw in Europe. Others will ask if it has the guts to make it onto the highway. Most will assume it gets great gas mileage (it doesn't). But one thing's for certain, during our week with the ForTwo, there was a 100-percent conversation rate wherever we went. Anthropophobes, be warned.
Follow the jump to see what it's like to spend wheel time with a Smart ForTwo Cabriolet.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Smart ForTwo
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Review: 2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet undone by tricky transmission
Review: 2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet undone by tricky transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Etc., Videos, Dodge
Click above to watch video after the jump
If you're a big fan of fully automatic machine guns, then there is a good chance that you've heard of the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot & Trade Show. The O.F.A.S.T.S. trade show features some serious hardware for purchase, including WWII anti-tank guns and Russian units used buy the bad guys in Afghanistan.
G4 contributor Alison Haislip of Attack of the Show attended the gathering to test out some guns, and she brought a tan Dodge Intrepid along for a little target practice. Hit the jump to watch Haislip rip the hapless sedan to shreds with a Browning 1917 machine gun capable of shooting 750 8-mm rounds per minute. We normally don't get too excited about tank-stopping machine guns, but as we're jonesin' to kick off the Fourth of July festivities, well... we'll start off with an altogether different sort of pyrotechnics. Thanks for the tip, Kelly!
[Source: G4]
Continue reading VIDEO: Happy Fourth of July... now let's blow up some cars!
VIDEO: Happy Fourth of July... now let's blow up some cars! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Opinion/Editorial
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
Just in time for the July 4th holiday roadtrip, it's Episode #134 of the Autoblog Podcast! We've had a couple delays this week getting together to chat about recent events, but hopefully we're hitting your media player before you depart for this weekend's festivities.
Once seated around our digital roundtable, Chris, Sam, and Dan take a quick spin through June's sales numbers, and specifically, the Camaro's Mustang-topping numbers, official BMW X1 imagery, the demise of diesel programs, Consumer Reports' Honda Insight displeasure, BMW's challenge to Lexus as America's #1 luxury brand, and then we hit up your questions for the rest of the show. Thanks for listening, we appreciate your efforts to keep communication rolling in to Podcast at autoblog dot com, as well as all the responses to our survey, which you can still fill out to add your data in our quest for 'cast sponsorship.
Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #134
Autoblog Podcast #134 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
How many barrels of oil do you think you could steal in a month, y'know, if you were into that sort of thing? Ten people in West Texas have been arrested recently for stealing about $2 million worth of oil and gas condensate, and a local sheriff said that the thieves were able to steal 8,000 barrels of oil during a single month. That's good for a lot of trips to the grocery store.
Actually, the thieves were not stealing the fuel to use themselves. Instead, the men stole the barrels and then sold them the "oil and gas to buyers who didn't know of the theft," according to The Associated Press. What, did they say the barrels just happened to fall off the back of a truck? We'll probably learn more soon, as the men were arrested following a seven-month investigation. There's got to be some good information in upcoming court filings, right?
[Source: The Associated Press | Image: AFP/Getty]
REPORT: Thieves make off with $2 million worth of oil and gas in Texas originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Convertibles, Supercars
2010 Pagani Cinque Roadster - click above for high-res image gallery
Small-volume manufacturers like Pagani have to build all the variants they possibly can on what few platforms they have in order to continue to squeeze money and public interest out of their models. Thankfully, the company's Zonda is so spectacular that we hardly tire of the seemingly endless number of riffs the Italian automaker is developing on the theme. Their latest is the Cinque Roadster, a decidedly draftier version of the already-released Coupe, itself a street-legal version of the track-only Zonda R.The carbon fiber/titanium Roadster is expected to run to about 217 mph thanks to its 678 horsepower Mercedes-Benz/AMG V12 - a terminal velocity that's the same as its hard-hatted brethren. Because the fixed-head coupe's structure is so robust, Pagani hasn't gone crazy with buttresses and braces, meaning that like the Coupe, the Roadster weighs 1210 kg (2,662 pounds) - a figure that Pagani says should help get the car to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.4 seconds.
As the story goes, just five examples of the Roadster will be built at a tidy £1.1 million (about $1.8M USD) per copy. We'll take two.
Gallery: Pagani Cinque Roadster
[Source: Pagani]
Continue reading Droolworthy: Pagani rips the lid off its Cinque for new Roadster model
Droolworthy: Pagani rips the lid off its Cinque for new Roadster model originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Audi
It may not be pretty - eye of the beholder and all that - but the Gumpert Apollo is one serious ride. But as hardcore as the Apollo is, the eponymous former Audi Sport director behind the niche German automaker apparently wasn't satisfied leaving fast enough alone, so the company unveiled the Apollo Speed at this year's Geneva auto show. But that was just about the last we heard of it, until now, as spy shots of the super-Gumpert lapping the Nurburgring have surfaced online.The (ahem) stock Apollo already packs a range of Audi V8 engines producing 650, 700 or 800 horsepower depending on customer specification, so clearly there's nothing wrong there. The Apollo Speed spied, however, carries an adjustable rear wing, a more streamlined overhead induction system, revised front fenders and updated tail-lights. And while the focus is clearly on performance here, right down to the racing buckets and competition-spec removable steering wheel, the Apollo Speed is still tipped to carry air-con and DVD info-tainment system. The Stig will undoubtedly be pleased.
[Source: Motor Trend]
Spy Shots: Gumpert Apollo Speed caught circling the 'Ring? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
He has long been revered as one of the many legends surrounding the world’s most uncompromising sports car brand – Valentino Balboni, a remarkable test driver with his own personal cult status. Automobili Lamborghini now presents a model in his honour and bearing his name – the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.
The history of GEMBALLA Automobiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG is inseparably connected with the AVALANCHE. It was the first AVALANCHE generation in the mid 80s with its trendsetting body- and interior design which became a world-wide bestseller and laid the foundations of success for the Leonberg-based company.
The Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG and S 65 AMG, the powerful
top-of-the-line S-Class models, are now even more appealing: thanks to a series
of subtle yet extremely effective fine-tuning measures, the two performance
saloons are even more striking and priceless than ever before.
The Ferrari 599, 612 and 430 have had offspring. The open two-seater, dubbed the California Spider, with its retractable aluminum hard top is the new entry level model among the sports car offerings from Maranello. Having been introduced to the world at the Paris Motor Show last October, the California Spider can now be admired on our roads, too.
With its new Convertible (R57), MINI has now produced the next body variant of the cult car. The AC Schnitzer designers and engineers have already developed a range of special accessories for the new MINI. In keeping with the history of the MINI, the Aachen-based tuning specialists have concentrated on developments in the field of performance upgrades, sports rear silencer, sports suspension, alloy wheels, exterior components and interior details.
More power, great design and a sporty heart: NOVITEC presents the exclusive tuning program for the Alfa Romeo MiTo. Engine tuning for the two Diesel models and the gasoline-powered 1.4 TB model is complemented by a strikingly styled aerodynamic-enhancement package.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-400 is the fastest and most extreme version of Mitsubishi’s motorsport derived machine. With 403bhp and 387lb.ft of torque the FQ-400 is able to reach 62mph from standstill in an estimated 3.8 seconds before reaching an electronically limited 155mph.
It is certainly the perfect venue for the world premiere of a new sports car: the Nürburgring. On May 23, at the legendary 24 hour race held there – the toughest in the world – Volkswagen presented the new Scirocco R.
Sportiness and elegant design are not mutually exclusive – at least when the designers at ABT Sportsline are involved. “It is important to capture the character of the car and emphasise its uniqueness”, says Hans-Juergen Abt, the General Manager of ABT Sportsline explaining the demands which are made on the creative department.
The new Mercedes E-Class Coupe just went on sale and BRABUS already presents an extensive tuning program for the new two-door. The pinnacle of the available performance tuning is the BRABUS 6.1 displacement engine. It has a rated power output of 462 hp / 340 kW and propels the E 500 to an impressive top speed of 315 km/h.
Using 11 months of design and development, the bavarian design house „Unique Sportcars“ has completed their first design concept: A Super Sports Car for the streets. Limiting the series to the number of 11, the unique „Calavera“ design is based on the Ferrari F430, collaborating exclusively with Ferrari Specialist Novitec Rosso and Airbrush Artist Knud Tiroch.
Individualisation on the highest level – this is the motto under which HAMANN presents its refining programme for the new BMW 7-series of the model range F01 and F02. Already since 1986, the Laupheim-based company develops and produces products for the individualisation of BMW automobiles.
Integrating German engineering excellence, fluid sculptural design and accessible innovative technologies, the new Opel Astra captures the philosophy which quickly made the Insignia Europe’s best-selling mid-sized sedan.
Even after its facelift Mercedes Tuner Kicherer
saw sufficient hidden, sports potential in the
Mercedes SL 63 AMG which it then brought to
the fore in the Kicherer SL 63 RS.
NOVITEC TRIDENTE now also refines the Maserati GranTurismo S: The newly developed supercharged engine represents a jump in rated power output of the V8 engine from standard 440 hp to 600 hp / 442 kW. With it, the 2+2-seater sprints to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 315 km/h.