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Chrysler kills rebadge of Dodge Journey to work on small car Filed under: Car Buying, SUVs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Journey
Making a step towards a more fuel-efficient vehicle lineup, and reducing the number of overlapping vehicles between its brands, the plug has been pulled on a Chrysler-branded version of the 2009 Dodge Journey. Chrysler LLC will instead focus the resources on a Nissan-manufactured compact car.
While the automaker currently captures the bulk of its sales from light trucks and SUVs, Chrysler is trying to pare down its lineup significantly to cut costs. So far, they have cut four models. Moving forward, the Jeep Commander SUV is expected to be dropped next year, and the company has already said they were canceling the PT Cruiser Convertible. While the 2009 Dodge lineup gains the aforementioned Journey, Dodge Challenger, and a redesigned Dodge Ram pickup, Chrysler's product lineup for the next twelve months looks particularly bleak with nothing significantly new in the pipeline. Company officials are holding their breath for 2010, when the new Nissan-built compact, new Jeep Grand Cherokee, and redesigned Chrysler 300 sedans arrive.
[Source: Bloomberg] Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spyker and Lotus sign cooperative agreement Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Supercars, Lotus, Spyker 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Spyker C8 Aileron.
Lotus and Spyker have worked together on a variety of projects over the past four years, but today, they've announced a new partnership that will further solidify both automaker's technical and design prowess. As its name would imply, the "Parts and Platform Commonality Agreement" involves Lotus supplying both elements to Spyker, helping to build the Dutch supercar producer's new C8 Aileron and possible the D12 Peking-to-Paris SSUV. According to AutoCar, that could mean that future Spyker's could be based of the Lotus Esprit and that Lotus will increase its stake in the development of Spyker's cars.
Hit the jump for the Lotus/Spyker press release.
Continue reading Spyker and Lotus sign cooperative agreement Permalink | Email this | Comments
Toyota Alphard gets facelift, Vellfire sibling Filed under: Minivans/MPVs, Japan, Toyota
Click above for a gallery of the new Toyota Alphard and Vellfire
Six years after Toyota's luxury minivan, the Alphard, hit Japanese (and a few SE Asian) showrooms, the company has given its flagship people mover a facelift, and a twin brother. Noting that one in four family cars in Japan are minivans but that the outgoing Alphard appealed more to grandfathers than fathers, the second-gen model remains conservatively styled, while a meaner, more aggressive-looking stablemate, the Vellfire (above), is hoped to grab the attention of Japanese family men in their 30s who have erstwhile bought Nissan Elgrands and Honda Elysions.
 The new Alphard (shown at right) is longer, wider and roomier than the outgoing version. Its slightly lower roofline (by 45mm) is offset by a cabin floor that's been lowered 55 mm, so the new van actually boasts more cabin height even though it's not quite as tall as its predecessor. Power comes from either a 170 PS (167 hp) 2.4L four or a 280 PS (276 hp) 3.5L V6 driving the front wheels. In August, a 4WD variant will join the lineup.
While Toyota's press release acknowledges that the new models are a bit spacier and safer than the old one, it neatly ignores the fact that the Alphard Hybrid has been quietly dropped. This could well be the first such occurrence for the company and given the number of eggs Toyota currently has in the hybrid basket, its no surprise that its PR department is doing its best to gloss over the retirement.
So, how long until Modellista cooks up an ultra-snazzy Royal Lounge package for the new vans?
Hit the jump for a video of the Alphard in action. Thanks for the tip, Paul!
[Source: Toyota]Continue reading Toyota Alphard gets facelift, Vellfire sibling Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Tragedy at LeMons: Send love and a little bit more Filed under: Motorsports 
Photo: Gianna Babb
As the resident LeMons fanatic at Autoblog, it was tough to miss out on this year's first race at the Altamont. I live less than 20 minutes away, but prior commitments took precedence, so the team and I postponed our rat-rod run until later this year. Two of my LeMons teammates and I were driving through the Nevada desert on Sunday when we received word that a fellow racer had lost his life the day before. The mood turned somber in seconds. Details were scarce, but as our trek northward unfolded, we were able to get a few more details.
Court Summerfield, a 47-year-old resident of Alameda who worked with his wife, Vickie, at Ole's Waffle Shop, died of a heart attack while running the race. The preliminary investigation performed by the CHP confirmed that nothing was wrong with #39 Team Cant Am's Volvo 242 Turbo and that Summerfield was unconscious when he hit the wall.
Regardless of the circumstances, it was still an emotional blow to those of us that have followed the series since its inception, but one quote from Court's wife lifted our spirits immediately. Vickie said that, "It was really just something that he was happy doing. I'm sure the way he went, he was happy."
Jay Lamm, the man behind the 24 Hours of LeMons, informed us yesterday that a memorial fund has been set up in Court's honor, with all the proceeds going to his wife. You can make a donation by going to the 24 Hours of LeMons website and clicking the "Donate" button on the home page. I just donated what was left in my PayPal account after selling a few parts from my own track-day beater. It wasn't much, but it felt apropos of everything I'd like to think Court enjoyed. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Rendered Speculation: 2012 Jaguar F-type Filed under: Convertibles, Jaguar, Rendered Speculation  For Jaguar fans, the one car that's been missing from the lineup for far too long is a direct replacement for the legendary E-Type. While Jaguar tried to compete on volume with Mercedes and BMW by producing cars like the S-Type and X-Type, concepts like the 2000 F-Type were left to whither on the vine. Now that Jaguar is under new management from the sub-continent, things are starting to change. A new, smaller sports car along the lines of the F-Type now seems to be set to arrive, perhaps as soon as 2012. Unlike the concept that looked like a smaller version of the previous generation XK, the production roadster is likely to take cues from new Jags, including the recently launched XF and the upcoming XJ. Power is expected to be provided by a variant of the current 3.0-liter Duratec, and while a turbocharged, direct-injected V6 variant of Ford's EcoBoost might not be out the question, it remains highly unlikely. The other question would be the name. Now that Jaguar has a pattern with XF, XK and XJ, it seems unlikely the new roadster will get badged as an F-Type. Do we hear XD, hearkening back to the old D-type?
[Source: Road & Track] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Poorly-translated rumormill: VW to build Porsches in U.S. Filed under: SUVs, Plants/Manufacturing, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Porsche Cayenne GTS.
As much as we enjoy scouring through German newspapers, something inevitably gets lost in translation. However, the title of a story in Germany's Handelsblatt ePaper is clear: Volkswagen is considering building Porsche Cayennes at its new plant in the U.S.
While VW hasn't made a decision on the plant yet, it's been confirmed that the automaker is looking at locations in Alabama, Michigan and Tennessee to produce 150,000 units annually, including the Jetta and an all-new Passat-sized sedan. How the Cayenne fits into that equation remains a mystery, but the idea that VW and Audi could shift production of its Touareg and Q7 Stateside means that building the Cayenne in the U.S. is a distinct possibility.
[Sources: Handelsbatt (Google-translated), Autoweek] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Nissan/Infiniti releases new business plan, confirms G37 convertible Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Crossovers/CUVs, Infiniti, Nissan, Earnings/Financials 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Infiniti G37 coupe.
Carlos Ghosn assembled the press this morning in Japan to announce Nissan/Infiniti's financial results for 2007, and despite sales in Japan dropping by 2.5-percent last year, global sales are up by 8.2-percent, with a 3.0-percent increase in U.S. sales and a massive 17.9-percent bump in Europe. All told, Nissan took in $94.62 billion last year, with a $6.91 billion operating profit. Nissan attributes its successes abroad to the release of 11 new models worldwide, including the Altima Coupe, GT-R, Murano, Infiniti EX CUV and G37 coupe.
The automaker has its sights set firmly on the future, with a five-year plan that focuses on three key commitments: quality leadership, an industry leading zero-emissions vehicle program and a five-percent growth in revenue between 2008 and 2012. The program is called Nissan "GT" 2012, with the "G" standing for "growth" and the "T" for "trust." To achieve those goals, Nissan will be expanding with Infiniti's launch in Europe, along with pushing further into developing markets like India, the Middle East, Brazil, China and Russia. Leading the charge will be 60 all-new models released in the next five years and the debut of 15 new technologies each year from 2009 onwards.
While we're already familiar with most of the vehicles Nissan and Infiniti intends to release in the coming year (Qashqai+2, new Z), two models were officially confirmed: an Infiniti G37 convertible (rumored to sport a retractable hard top) and a "mini SUV." While there's been speculation that a G37 cabrio was on the way, the small 'ute is likely to the rumored 1-series competitor we've reported on before.
Make the jump for Nissan's press release.Continue reading Nissan/Infiniti releases new business plan, confirms G37 convertible Permalink | Email this | Comments
First image of Ferrari's A1GP single-seater released Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari 
Click to view the Ferrari A1GP car in hi-res
What you see above is the first rendering released of the upcoming spec racer that Ferrari is designing for the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. If it looks familiar to racing fans, it should: the new car is based heavily on the Scuderia Ferrari F2004 grand prix car, which is a good place to start. The F2004 took the checkered flag at a dominant 15 out of 18 races in its epynumerous Formula One season, taking both the world championships (drivers and constructors), making it one of the most successful racing cars of all time.
We initially brought you news of the contract back in October '07, when at first it looked like Ferrari would "merely" supply the engines for the cars, later becoming evident that Ferrari was overseeing the entire design process as well, in conjunction with A1GP's own technicians. Instead of the V10 that powered the F2004, the new A1GP car will use a Ferrari-sourced V8 producing around 600 horsepower. The monoposto is scheduled to run its first laps this coming Friday, when we can expect A1GP to release some new images and data on the car that its teams campaign starting next season. Follow the jump for the press release.
[Source: A1GP] Continue reading First image of Ferrari's A1GP single-seater released Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
El Capuccino Volvo 'ute spotted outside museum Filed under: Tuners, Trucks/Pickups, Volvo 
Click above for more images of the Volvo XC70 pickup
Volvo has been known for its safety and practical nature since the company's inception, but what we never expected to see from the Swedish automaker is a sport 'ute. A quick-witted photographer snapped up a few pics of an XC70 outside the Volvo museum in Sweden that has been converted for pickup duty, and it looks pretty damn good. Surprisingly, the Volvo ute looks exceptionally well built, thanks to the efforts of Swedish coachbuilder Dalbo Fordonsteknik. While it won't be confused with an El Camino or Ford Falcon, it has a small but usable bed, a shark fin-like design in profile, and what looks like some covered space behind the front seats.
[Source: Carscoop] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Hertz Shelby GT-Hs going up for auction Filed under: Convertibles, Auction Action, Ford 
The Hertz Shelby GT-H hit the auction scene with a bang back in 2007, as the first black and gold drop-top sold at Barrett Jackson for a hefty $250k . In the past year, the powerful pony cars have had to endure some wear and tear from reckless renters, and what's likely to be a much lower price of ownership. Between 75 and 100 Shelby GT-H Convertibles are scheduled to hit the block at Kruse's 17th Annual Auburn Spring Motorfair from May 29 to June 1, 2008.
The special edition Mustangs will still likely cost a large premium over the average Mustang leaving rental duty, both because of its Shelby origins and limited production run of 500 vehicles. But in return you get a speedy convertible with truly unique looks. If you would like a Shelby GT-H Mustang, but have no plans or desire to head over to Indiana, you can even bid for the weekend racer of your dreams right from the Kruse website. Hit the jump to read the Auburn Spring Motorfair press release.
[Source: Kruse via Jalopnik]Continue reading Hertz Shelby GT-Hs going up for auction Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Kerkorian not likely to be hands-off Ford investor Filed under: Etc., Ford, Earnings/Financials  There's no indication that a leopard has ever changed its spots, so while Kirk Kerkorian and his Tracinda Corporation are making noises like they'll strive to be hands-off Ford shareholders, we'd expect some eventual attempts at steering the automaker from the board. As part of an offer to purchase more shares, Tracinda Corp. stated to the Securities and Exchange Commission that it has no intent to gobble up or influence Ford. The Las Vegas-based investment firm went on to say that it will continue to monitor the performance of its holding, and may suggest business moves to the automaker.
Jerry York apparently took this to heart when he started mouthing off about what Ford should do with Volvo and Mercury, but that statement has since been rescinded as "shooting from the hip." It would not be a surprise, given the past attempts of Kerkorian and his toadies to direct the course of General Motors and Chrysler, that he once again start to make aggressive attempts at directing the moves of Ford. Tracinda is Ford's largest shareholder, though the hierarchy of Ford's board gives the family a lot of voting muscle. Kerkorian's most recent offer to Ford is for an additional 20 million shares at $8.50 per share, as well as the future prospect of a cash infusion to offer the turnaround plan further liquidity and thus, flexibility. Ford is mulling Kerkorian's bid, but the turnaround plan was put together without Tracinda's money, and can proceed without it, though more money on hand would allow Ford to accelerate its plans. Everyone's playing it cool, though meetings between Bill Ford Jr., Alan Mulally, and Kerkorian are ongoing, and the board of directors has promised a response to Kerkorian by May 22nd.
[Source: Detroit News, Photo: Detroit News]
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GM to move Opel upmarket in Europe Filed under: Euro, Chevrolet, GM, Opel
Opel experienced an 8-percent sales dip in Europe in the first quarter, and designers at GM plan to give the storied German brand some of its mojo back by moving design and content upscale. GM says the move upmarket will result in a relatively inexpensive one- to three-percent price hike, but in return customers can expect sexier sheet metal, better packaging and more technology. The move makes sense as GM's value-conscious Chevy brand has steadily increased its presence across the Atlantic, giving the General the opportunity to push Opel up the automotive food chain. GM's plan is already underway, too, as the gorgeous Insignia is due to hit the showroom floor before the end of the year.
The great part about GM's plan to give Opel luxury looks and more inventive interiors is that we'll continue to see better Saturn cars and CUVs here in the States. And that's saying a lot, considering Saturn already looks fresher than most brands on the market today.
[Source: Auto News (subs req'd)] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Officially Official: New Ferrari California exposed! Filed under: Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Paris Motor Show, Supercars, Ferrari 
Click on the Ferrari California for some wallpaper quality high-res shots
Just days after Ferrari launched the teaser site for its new GT, the first full images and details of the Ferrari California have been revealed. Even though the countdown timer on the teaser site still indicates there's a week to go before the next info reveal, the countdown itself is little more than a formality.
Like other modern Ferraris, this one is fabricated from aluminum to keep mass under control. The 460 hp 4.3L V8 is the first from Maranello to use direct injection while following the racing tradition of using a flat-plane crankshaft. This car of firsts also debuts the production application of a dual clutch gearbox from Ferrari. The 7-speed unit is mounted in a rear transaxle configuration and should provide smoother shifting and even better performance than the existing hydraulically-actuated units that Ferrari currently uses. Acceleration to 60 mph should come in under 4.0 seconds.
The California is also Ferrari's first retractable hardtop convertible. From the shape of the hood scoop and headlights to the sweep of the rear fenders and vents behind the front wheels this car obviously draws on the heritage of the original 1960s 250 GT California. At the same time, it's blended with modern Ferrari design elements drawn from the current F430 and 599. We're looking forward to seeing much more of this car over the months leading up to the Paris Motor Show! Thanks to Mobius and Ovidiu for the tip!
[Source: Ferrari]Continue reading Officially Official: New Ferrari California exposed! Permalink | Email this | Comments
Tweaked 2009 Ford Focus Coupe debuts Filed under: Coupes, Ford 
Click above for high-res gallery of 2009 Ford Focus Coupe
We do not consider ourselves experts on the buying habits of small car shoppers anymore, not after watching the redesigned 2008 Ford Focus streak to extremely strong sales despite sporting what we considered to be deal breaker bad looks. You can credit the car's success to good marketing, exclusive availability of SYNC, a big car ride with small car fuel economy, whatever... regardless, the Focus is selling better than it has since the car first debuted in 2000.
 Ford has heard all the criticism thrown at the 2008 Focus for its electric shaver looks, and in a very unusual move has solicited feedback from Focus fans and tweaked only the Coupe for 2009 and not the Sedan. The newish 2009 Focus Coupe features a front end with a larger lower air intake that's supposedly inspired by the new Fiesta, and those garish faux fender vents are now completely gone (hopefully the sedan gets stripped of these, too). The flanking foglamps are also now better integrated into the body and the two-bar grille and other accents feature a dark, almost bronzed look rather than bright chrome. There are also new Dark Chrome 17-inch aluminum wheels and a roof-mounted spoiler, both standard on the top-shelf SES Coupe in addition to electronic stability control and SYNC, that make the Focus look more sporty than before. The overall effect of these changes reminds us of the last-generation SVT Focus Euro package. You can make up your own minds and let us know in the comments.
Though the Focus SVT is surely not returning, Ford did give the new coupe a new freer-breathing exhaust on models equipped with the five-speed manual to free up some horsepower, and also added a new 4.2 final drive ratio to make off-the-line acceleration a bit quicker. The 2009 Ford Focus Coupe will have a base MSRP of $15,920 when it goes on sale in late Summer, and you can check it out later tonight when Ford officially debuts it in a video on American Idol. We want to hear what supercar collector has to say about the new look Focus Coupe. Is it a Clay Aiken or a William Hung?
[Source: Ford]Continue reading Tweaked 2009 Ford Focus Coupe debuts Permalink | Email this | Comments
AutoblogGreen for 05.13.08 Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green 
It's a little hard to make out shrunk down like this, but that diamond on the Mustang plate in the picture above reads "Propane." Just one of many little discoveries AutoblogGreen found at this year's AFVI expo. While all this is going on, we're also tracking Tesla's troubles with production car #2 (or is it?). And two vehicles you might see in large(r) numbers on U.S. roads in the near future are the i MiEV (which recently cruised through NYC) and the venerable Tuk Tuk.
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Brothers by Design: Alfa MiTo joins 8C for family portraits Filed under: Sports/GTs, Hatchbacks, Supercars, Alfa Romeo 
Click above to view the Alfa Romeo brothers in hi-res
When I was a little kid I wanted to be like my big brother. I would dress the same as him, go to the same places as him, do the same things as him... It never really worked because, at the end of the day, I never looked anything like him. So while I doubt I was the only one, I had one eyebrow raised when Alfa Romeo set out to mimic the design of its show-stoppin', range-toppin' 8C Competizione with a new entry-level model. A mass-market hatchback designed to look like an ultra-exclusive supercar? Well Alfa arguably achieved just that with the new MiTo, and to prove that point it's graced us with a whole gallery of new images of the two siblings side by side. The kid brother may look that much more junior in juxtaposition, but the resemblance is uncanny. See for yourself in the gallery by clicking the thumbnails below.
[Source: Alfa Romeo via Fresh Tarmac] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
MCA ALA 50: Monaco's homegrown supercar Filed under: Euro, Supercars 
Monaco is a name and a place synonymous with fast cars. Between the obscenely wealthy residents and high-profile races like the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monte Carlo rally, the tiny Mediterranean principality probably has more horsepower per acre than any other place on earth. The glitz and glamor has left little room for industry, however, so the high performance machinery regularly seen on the boutique and casino-strewn streets of Monte Carlo has all been imported. All those Ferraris and Aston Martins may, however, face some stiff competition soon from a homegrown enterprise launching a Monaco-made supercar of its own.
The Monte Carlo Automobile ALA 50 was unveiled by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco in celebration of his 50th birthday this past March. Not unlike Bugatti or Spyker, the new Monegasque supercar (seriously, that's what you call someone from Monaco) revives the name of the principality's first automaker, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. As expected, the chassis and bodywork (looking something like a cross between a Mosler and a GM EV-1) are constructed entirely of carbon fiber, while motivation comes from a 650hp V8 built by two F1 engine gurus. MCA hopes to campaign the car with three Monegasque drivers at Le Mans in 2010. We'll be watching.
[Source: Supercars.net] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Land Rover 6x4 Puma Concept not one to mess with Filed under: SUVs, Land Rover, Military 
The Land Rover Defender is already a pretty badass vehicle. So how do you make a no-frills, no-nonsense off-roader even more badass? Why, add more wheels, of course! That's the approach taken by Land Rover Malaysia and Sasbilt Technologies Malaysia, which together built the behemoth you see above. While we've seen more than our fair share of stretched Range Rovers and Hummers, this concept truck actually has a purpose beyond prom night.
Targeted towards military applications, the Defender 6x4 Puma features an extra-long wheelbase that not even the jungle camo could disguise. The increased cargo capacity can be used for an electric generator or field telecommunications equipment, and the vehicle can drive through all six wheels or through just four. Unveiled at the Defense Services Asia 2008 show in Malaysia, the concept truck reportedly drew attention from military contractors from around the region.
[Source: paultan.org] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Japanese firms working to make carbon fiber mainstream Filed under: Green, Japan, Tech 
On the surface, carbon fiber sounds like a wonder-product which can replace much of the heavy metal, especially steel, that makes up the vast majority of nearly every automobile's structure. Dig a bit deeper, however, and there are a few flies in CF's ointment that make it very difficult to use in vehicles: price, supply and the time it takes to mold a the weaved material. Japan's big three carbon fiber producers are tackling each of these issues in a number of ways. First, the price of CF is expected to become more competitive as both carbon cloth goes down and rolled sheet steel goes up. What's more, as additional CF producing plants come online in the coming years, both the price and availability should improve. Third, new molding processes are being developed which could reduce the time it takes to produce a CF part from hours to minutes.
Carbon fiber is expected to ease the transition to more fuel efficient vehicles as it weights a fifth of what steel does for a part of roughly the same strength. As Automotive News points out, the overall weight of any given vehicle could be halved by replacing major structural steel components with CF, so expect to see CF move down market from the exotics to more mainstream models in the next decade or so.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Volkswagen to offer three-years of free maintenance on 2009 models Filed under: Volkswagen 
Despite what VW fanbois will tell you, the People's Car people have had some serious reliability issues over the last few years. Volkswagen execs are hoping to change the automaker's expensive to maintain image with a vehicle maintenance program that will provide owners of new, 2009 models with free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, along with regular checkups every 6,000 miles or 90 days. Volkswagen is calling it the "Carefree Maintenance Program" and is touting it as the only program of available among its competitors. Considering that the VW Rabbit just took the top spot away from the Mazda3 in ConsumerReports' hatchback battle, this might be a good time to start specing up a new GTI.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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