Automotive News

October, 2006 — CYPRESS, Calif. — Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has introduced the new high-performance Galant Ralliart model to lead the restyled and enhanced Galant mid-size sedan line for 2007. Galant Ralliart is powered by a 258-hp 3.8-liter V-6 engine and equipped with a five-speed Sportronic(R) automatic transmission, sport suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and exclusive exterior styling and interior features to challenge leading sport sedans - and to do it with better value.

Originally Syndicated from The Car Blog

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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Audi

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Johnny Green, a director with UK’s Knucklehead Films, has made this 90-second commercial for the Audi A6. The result is something truly out of this world, showing a mysterious object falling from the sky over the American mid-west and plunging into the deep blue ocean.

The mind-boggling numbers quoted at the end reveal that Audi has actually filed more patents than NASA…for the new A6 alone.

The impressive and stylistic commercial is only the director’s second, yet he manages to portray a thoroughly modern automobile in a retro-futuristic space-age style, all while achieving its purpose as a commercial advertisement by projecting a kind of ethereal desirability on the product. (Watch the clip, you’ll see.)

[Source: >Knucklehead via German Car Blog]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

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Filed under: Etc.

The envelope please… Britain’s Most Boring Road award goes to (drumroll…) the M6 Motorway! The country’s longest and busiest motorway was the hands-down choice in a poll of drivers, who were undoubtedly influenced by the M6’s track record as one of the worst roads for accidents and traffic jams.

The 230 mile M6 hits a rush-hour peak of 180,000 vehicles, a significant step up from its initially planned capacity of 72,000.

Runner-up in the Most Boring competition was the A30 (”284 miles of bottlenect traffic”), while the third spot was claimed by Britain’s first motorway, the M1 (”200 miles of congestion”).

A similar survey this summer named the M6 as the road drivers most hate to use.

[Source: Reuters]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

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Filed under: Euro, Supercars

Despite having raised the hopes of workers and proud TVR enthusiasts in the UK, Russian owner Nikolai Smolensky has announced that he will be moving production of the niche sportscars out of the UK to another undisclosed European country. The move will result in 250 workers being laid off at the company’s Blackpool assembly plant. The Transport and General Workers’ Union that represents the TVR workforce said it was “bitterly disappointed” over the decision, especially considering that temporarily laid-off workers were rehired back in July and Smolensky had just moved his operations into a new facility within Blackpool. Smolensky seems to have mastered the art of false hope, having also announced in the past year that he would double TVR’s production with a new lineup and may begin selling cars in the U.S. Pardon us if we don’t get our hopes up.

[Source: BBC]

Related posts:

• TVR coming to the U.S.
• TVR production continues, we hope
• Blackpool makes last ditch bid to keep TVR
• TVR plans to double production with entirely new lineup
• TVR rehires laid off workers

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertibles, Etc., Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler

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More exciting than a rally cap, more powerful than the crack of Brandon Inge’s bat, it’s…

The Tigers Cruiser!!!

Quite possibly the best fanmobile ever, this modified PT Cruiser was created by DaimlerChrysler and Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV-TV Channel 4 in celebration of the Tigers’ success in winning the American League championship series and their advancement to the World Series. Complete with its own stuffed animal tiger, the vehicle sports the Olde English “D” logo on the hood and doors and has been painted with red “stitching” to make the vehicle look similar to one of America’s most famous icons — the baseball. It might be cold in Detroit these days, but you’d better believe that they’re cruising in this thing around town with the top down and music blaring.

[Source: You Tube]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Chevrolet, Misc. Auto Shows

The Sao Paulo auto show in Brazil continues to kick out some interesting concepts below 0° lattitude. Following the Fiat FCC Adventure Concept we showed you prior, Chevy unveiled the Prisma Y Concept yesterday. The vehicle looks decidedly more production ready than the Fiat, and a little bit like a bigger Suzuki SX4. Our Jalopified friends also noticed the similarities the Prisma Y shares with the WTCC Ultra Concept that Chevy unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, mainly the bold new grille treatment up front and the electric blue paint job. We particularly like the fog lights up front that are molded into the front fascia and bumper. It’s not a bad looking little CUV, if you ask us. You can check out more images of the Prisma Y Concept by clicking on the Read link.

[Source: Bestcars.br via Jalopnik]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

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Filed under: Contests

After two days, we have received submissions from 24 readers for the Redesign Our Business Cards Contest, with many submitting multiple entries already. Some people are using the two Pioneer AVIC-D2 satellite navigation systems we’ve put up as prizes for motivation, but many of you have also told us that you’re happy to use your talents to help out Autoblog, which we sincerely appreciate. If it were us, we’d be doing it for the sat nav, but we’re shallow like that.

What really impressed us is how fast the submissions came rolling in after the contest was announced on Monday. Literally within a half hour the first submission was in, and though the author admitted it was a simple design, he told us he was just getting started and would submit more entries in the next few days. Some of you have clearly thought outside the box, which is what we said we were looking for (see comments on original contest post), while others have actually surprised us with some traditional designs that have knocked our socks off. We wish we could show you some, but it wouldn’t be fair so we’ll keep them all under wraps until the contest is over, then we’ll reveal the best and worst submissions along with, of course, the winners.

Also, we want to reiterate that the Autoblog business card and the AutoblogGreen business card will be judged seperately. There’s no benefit at all in designing a matching set for both sites, since there’s no way you can win both Pioneer AVIC-D2 sat navs. We treat Autoblog and AutoblogGreen as two separate, stand-alone sites and their business cards should reflect that, so keep them separate. So far there’s been more submissions for the Autoblog design, so you may have better chances to win if you put more energy into a submission for the AutoblogGreen design. Although there might be more glory in designing the winning submission for the Autoblog business card.

Thanks to everyone who has entered so far! We love watching the submissions roll in and can’t wait to see some more.

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT WITH RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ENTER.

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

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Filed under: Car Buying, Sedans/Saloons, Infiniti

They may live below a country run by a husky dictator who has a thing for BluBlockers and nuclear weapons, but South Koreans can take heart knowing that Infiniti has bestowed upon them the honor of being the first market to receive the new G35 sedan. Infiniti announced the G35’s arrival in South Korea yesterday at the Seoul Trade Exhibition and Convention Center in Hagnyeoul, Seoul. Nissan’s luxury division is keenly interested in presenting itself as a global brand (see Related posts below), which accounts for the decision to give South Korea’s market the nod before selling the sedan in North America. The car’s new generation VQ35HR 3.5-liter V6 now develops 315 horsepower, though the South Korean model will apparently only pair it with a 5-speed automatic and not the 6-speed manual that will also be offered in North America. There’s also no mention of an all-wheel drive model. Instead, South Koreans can choose from a “premium” or “sports” version of the G35 sedan, the former offering a bit more luxury and the latter offering a bit more sport. Prices start at 47.5 million won ($49,780USD) for the “premium” model and 49.8 million won ($52,190USD) for the “sport” model.

[Source: Nissan]

Related posts:

• Infiniti launches in Russia
• Infiniti sales up 183 percent in UAE
• Nissan to launch Infiniti brand in Western Europe

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

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Filed under: Motorsports, Euro

As the epic 2006 Formula One season draws to a close, countries have been lining up to put themselves on the map by preparing bids to host grands prix for future seasons. The latest nation to join the fray is the Czech Republic. While mention of the country may for some still conjure up images of impoverished former Soviet bloc client-states, the capital city Prague, which would host the race, is an increasingly popular and cosmopolitan tourist destination.

The proposal, which would see a privately-funded track designed by circuit design guru Hermann Tilke and built in the Prague 10 district, has the backing of the mayor’s office.

The Czech Republic, of course, borders Germany, which itself just had one of its races taken away. Hungary, another country that hosts a grand prix, is also nearby. Neighboring country Poland has also reportedly been maneuvering to host a grand prix. Plus, as a European Union member-state, the Czech Republic doesn’t offer Bernie Ecclestone the globalization or the escape from the EU tobacco advertising ban he pursues. But while all of these factors may make a race in Prague a tough sell, it may be a bit premature to write it off just yet.

Related posts:

• F1 coming to Korea by 2010
• UPDATE: Grand Prix moves to the Nürburgring for ‘07
• Pole Position: yet another new F1 track?
• Bulgarian Grand Prix? Not likely
• Good Ol’ Boys Grand Prix? Alabama site interested in F1

[Source: F1i.com]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

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Filed under: Videos

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It’s not often that we post video footage from BET, but Jay-Z’s latest music video for “Show Me What You Got” makes us wonder if we haven’t been missing something.

The video puts some hip-hop flava’ on the James Bond theme, set in Monaco with Jay-Z cruisin’ the streets of Monte Carlo, ridin’ the Mediterranean waves in a speed boat, layin’ down some cards and cash at the casino and kickin’ it at a seaside party.

The best part is right up front in the first minute, with Jay-Z riding shotgun in a Ferrari F430 Spider with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at the wheel, racing Danica Patrick in a Pagani Zonda Roadster down Monaco’s unrestricted countryside roads. Whether you like rap music or not, this video’s not to be missed.

[Source: Jalopnik]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Originally Syndicated from Autoblog

Click Here to Advertise on my Blog and Thousands of Other Blogs