Automotive News

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupes, Chrysler

From the fertile mind that brought you such varied hits as the Clenet and premixed coolant, we present to you the Dimora JX Coupe. Done up the old-world way — with real metal and skill — and the results for all that effort are decidedly weird. They can call it a coupe all they want, but its certainly more El Camino than sleek GT. The JX moniker is a little strange too, as the Chrysler Concorde that this car began life as was an LH model. The JX is the designation for the Sebring convertible from ‘96-00.

No matter, this metallic tangerine wonder has had old school bodywork techniques applied to make it a landaulet-looking contraption. The car was built as a movie car, though Dimora is cagey about where we might ultimately see the JX’s film debut. The write up at the Dimora website is filled with hyperbolic nuggets. Our favorite gem is this one, regarding the fitting of a 3.2-liter V6: “We replaced the stock engine with a 260 HP 3.2 liter V6 from ATK, which is backed by a three-year unlimited mileage warranty. We added a “Tornado” vortex component to the air intake. MPG was increased 10% and horsepower grew by 10%. We have not had a dyno test on the engine…” Uhh, what?! We’re not sure how you can measure a 10% horsepower increase (from an intake restriction, no less) without, you know, measuring it. Ah well, at least the rest of the world continues to have vehicular reasons to ridicule us.

[Source: Dimora via Jalopnik]

 

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, PSA, Toyota

For at about the last six months there have been at least four Peugeot 107s running around in the vicinity of Livonia and Ann Arbor, MI with manufacturer plates. Since Peugeot doesn’t sell their products in the United States, it was unclear why they were here. It turns out the 107, along with its stablemate the Citroen C1, are built as part of a joint venture between Puegeot/Citroen parent PSA and Toyota, which also yields the Toyota Aygo. Head over to AutoblogGreen to get the story on what may be going on with this car.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

 

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Tech, BMW

It’s nothing new that torque addicted, diesel junkies abroad get all the cool stuff, and now this. BMW just released details on its new 2.0-liter, variable twin turbo diesel engine that is making 204 HP and almost 300 ft.-lbs. of torque. The two-stage turbo system, initially introduced on the 535d, all but eliminates any amount of lag by utilizing a smaller turbo at low engine speeds and a larger snail higher up in the rev range. The result: 147 ft.-lbs. at 1200 RPM and 295 ft.-lbs. of twist at 2000 RPM. Coupled with a lighter aluminum engine block, BMW maintains that a significant increase in fuel efficiency over the outgoing model has been realized.

We liked the 535d when we took it for a spin in LA, and we’re sure that this new engine, whether in a 1-series or a 3-series, will be just as entertaining.

Click on the dyno chart to the right to see an enlarged version of the graph.

[Source: Motor Authority]

 

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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

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Filed under: Etc., BMW

Our friends abroad were able to procure a duo of audio samples that give the full aural range of the new V8 powering BMW’s upcoming M3. The two tracks, which are available here through the PistonHeads website, include one sample of all eight cylinders working their way to crescendo and on to a theoretical road speed of 200 KM/H (124 MPH). The other track is a nine-minute run of the Nurburgring, which with the right imagination and good set of headphones will give you the perfect respite from you Saturday monotony. Enjoy.

 

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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

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Mitsubishi

The purveyors of camo’d cars over at KGP were smart enough to bring along a video camera when they got word that the new Evolution X was undergoing testing at “The Fastest Road in the West.” The Streets of Willow Springs has served as the testing grounds for dozens of shoot outs in our favorite mags, along with providing a suitable playground to shoot Best Motoring’s American Togue series. So when Mitsubishi’s engineers wanted to test some of the new EVO’s complex systems, they decided that “The Streets” would serve the purpose beautifully.

Unfortunately, the video isn’t the tire squealing hot lap session that you’d expect, but according to InsideLine and KGP, that was because the propeller heads were more interested in testing individual components rather than wringing out Mitsubishi’s newest hotness. Regardless, it’s still worth a few moments to check out the be-winged prototype making the rounds in its natural habitat.

[Source: InsideLine]

 

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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

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Subaru

Subaru is getting hyped up about the unveiling of something at the New York Auto Show. It doesn’t take any amount of automotive detective work to figure out that the “legend” to be “reborn” in the Big Apple is the new Impreza, but unfortunately, their little site doesn’t give up any more information, nor does it say that the event will be webcast. Still, you can sign up for email and mobile alerts, or just wait for our extensive coverage coming up next month.

In the meantime…

• Subaru confirms Impreza WRX and sedan are safe
• Yet even more a the Subaru Impreza’s new look
• More on the Subaru Impreza’s new look
• Sporthatch Illustrated: 2008 Subaru Impreza STI
• Subaru unveiling new Impreza in New York

 

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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

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Filed under: Tech, Porsche

According to the folks at BorgWarner, the number of turbocharged, direct-injection engines will increase four-fold by 2011. In 2006, approximately 500,000 vehicles were equipped with the technological duo, and based on their market projections, over two million such engines will be on the road in the next four years. A good chunk of this expansion will occur in Europe, however, Japan, China and those of us in North America stand to benefit from the highly efficient, power-producing setup.

The report also goes on to say that the variable turbine geometry employed in the new Porsche 911 Turbo, and developed by BorgWarner, will come down in cost, allowing the cash-strapped among us to ditch our wastegate, all the while gaining power throughout the RPM range.

[Source: SEMA/BorgWarner 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

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Robert E. Peterson passed away today after a short battle with neuroendocrine cancer at the age of 80. Automotive journalists everywhere owe a good degree of gratitude to Peterson, who founded such magazines as Motor Trend, Hot Rod and Car Craft with his company, Petersen Publishing Inc. In fact, many of the titles published by Petersen reflected the man’s own interests beyond the realm of autos, for instance Guns & Ammo. Peterson also realized his dream (and many of ours) of building a museum honoring the automobile, and in 1994 the seminal Petersen Automotive Museum was opened in Los Angeles.

To learn more about Robert E. Petersen and his life, check out the press release we received after the jump, as well as this interesting interview recently published by Motor Trend Classic.

Petersen is survived by his wife, Margie. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Petersen Automotive Museum or the charity of the person’s choice in his honor.

Continue reading Influential publisher Robert E. Petersen passes on at 80

 

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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

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My 1998 Mazda passed 200,000 miles last Friday.

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Filed under: Videos

click above image to view video

This is just the video we were looking to end the week with. It reminds us that whatever’s going wrong in our lives, at least we’re not this guy. According to this video’s description on YouTube (which you’ll have to visit to view the video since the uploader disabled the ability to embed it), two guys from Manchester, England drove their BMW 525 all the way to Germany’s famous Nürburgring just to run it on the Nordschleife. Their adventure lasted just seven seconds before the driver lost control of the car on the damp track and crashed.

The Nordschleife is opened up to the public on weekends for a fee, and any road worthy car is allowed to answer the Ring’s call. Unfortunately, while the car may be worthy of the track, often the driver isn’t. Note the muffin and Snickers bar on this guy’s dash.

[Source: YouTube]

 

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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

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