Automotive News

Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, MINI

click above image to view 3 high-res shots of MINI Clubman, more to come

Although the MINI Clubman has been spied in a variety of guises over the past year, we’ve yet to get a full, unadulterated view of this new, more versatile hatch. InsideLine decided to let the Clubman’s specs and a few pics out into the open before the embargo imposed by MINI officially lifts sometime on Friday (we think), and although it’s what we’ve come to expect, the details are worth noting.

The Clubman rides on a stretched version of the traditional model’s platform, with the addition of a suicide-style door on the passenger side to aid ingress and egress. Power delivery will come courtesy of the 1.6-liter four, producing 120 hp and 118 ft-lbs. of torque, while the ‘S’-badged variant will benefit from a turbo huffing compressed air and allowing the 1.6-liter mill to produce 175 hp and 117 ft-lbs. of torque. European customers will also have their choice of a 110 HP, 177 ft-lbs. 1.6-liter common rail diesel, while everyone the world over will be able to get either a six-speed manual or optional automatic gearbox.

Sale dates and pricing have yet to be announced, but we’d expect something official soon, hopefully before the Clubman’s debut in Frankfurt. In the meantime, check out the three images shown by InsideLine below, except know that ours are high-res and we have an additional 18 on their way once the embargo lifts.

[Source: InsideLine]

 

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Audi

The latest entry in the “What will the new A4 look like?” derby comes via MotorAuthority. Similar to other renderings we’ve shown you before, it shows an ‘09 A4 that looks much like a 4-door A5. Things like the headlights, hood, and side character line look just like the A5’s details.

Based on the newest generation of Audi’s modular-length platform, the A4 mechanicals should have a lot in common with the A5, as well. Besides getting the A5 engines and transmissions, the new A4 should also get the more rearward engine position that should help reduce the noseheavy nature of the current model. Not that the current A4 handles poorly, but shifting that engine behind the front axle should make it perform even better. Other than that we shouldn’t see many changes.

Still front-wheel drive in base models with Quattro all-wheel drive available, there’s also likely to be an RS4 model available some time in ‘09. It should still feature the 4.2-liter V8, but horsepower is likely to go up to better compete with Mercedes’ new C63. Rumor has it we’ll be seeing the real deal in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

[Source: MotorAuthority]

 

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Filed under: Time Warp, Auction Action, Supercars, Bugatti

Don’t go quoting us on this, but this has got to be one of the most expensive barn finds we’ve ever seen. Christie’s sold this 1938 Bugatti for a staggering $852,500, more than twice the highest pre-sale estimate and close to the price of a new Bugatti.

The car was admitted to the Pebble Beach preservation class, and when its new owner gets it up to spec, it’ll undoubtedly be the beauty it once was. The 1938 Type 57C you see here is actually a bit of an amalgamation of two Bugattis that were both owned by the same pre-war collector. The chassis itself belonged to a Type 57 Stelvio cabriolet with bodywork by Gangloff, a coachbuilder based in Colmar near the Bugatti factory in Molsheim in the French region of Alsace. In time for display at the French pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, the body was switched for that of the Type 57C Atalante (not to be confused with the more rare and iconic Atlantic).

Now of course there’s value in classics, but as far as vintage motorcarriages go, this one’s in pretty bad shape. Having sat in storage since 1962, the paint is chipped and faded, the chrome is rusty, the tires are history, the engine’s grimy and the leather is worn out. A handyman’s dream, let’s call it. An $850k handyman’s dream.

[Source: AutoWeek]

 

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Filed under: Tuner Tuesdays, Convertibles, BMW

First, let’s get a few things straight. The U69 is an American muscle car modified by an Italian tuner and vehicle importer that goes by the name UK Garage and is based in Milan.

Under the hood, this tuned pony car packs a supercharged version of Ford’s quadcam 4.6L V8 that develops 490hp and is mated to a five speed manual gearbox. Top speed is a claimed 174mph, while the 0-62mph is done in just 4.3 seconds. If all this seems too much, a less powerful naturally aspirated version with 330hp is also available, as is an automatic transmission, but the less powerful motor reduces 0-62mph times to 5.4s. The car also comes with an Eibach lowering kit and a Borla Superflow exhaust.

Interested buyers will have to scrounge up the equivalent of $74,000 for the Italian Mustang, and then make the tough decision of what color to pick from a choice of either yellow, red, white, orange, or silver.

[Source: Autoblog.it]

 

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Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings, Ferrari

In our rush to get the Mid-Ohio post completed, we forgot about one of the biggest news items to come out of the weekend. One of the ALMS GT2 drivers was actually let go, as in fired, during the race. About 45 minutes into the 2-hour, 45-minute race, Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing driver Tomas Enge got into it with another car on track, and was penalized by IMSA. Already on probation for some other vehicular altercations, Enge was called in by his team and told his services would no longer be needed. Or something to that effect, we’re sure.

The team is the two-time defending GT2 champions and want to make it three in a row. They used teammate Dirk Müller to bring the damaged Ferrari F430 GT home in the top five and will find a new number two driver by Road Atlanta if all goes as planned. While a dramatic end to his stint with the team, we’re sure Enge will end up in the cockpit with another team soon enough.

Thanks for the reminder, Eric! Check out Eric’s gallery of high-res shots from the racing action last weekend at Mid-Ohio by clicking the thumbs below.

[Source: The Race Site]

 

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Filed under: Sports/GTs, Etc., Audi

Don’t tell Toyota, but Iron Man drives an Audi - at least in the movies. Not to be confused with longtime Toyota off-road truck racer Ivan “Iron Man” Stewart, we’re talking about Tony “Iron Man” Stark here. Word from Variety is that the newest big screen superhero will be piloting Audi’s latest supercar, the R8. The Ingolstadt flyer was chosen by Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures to be the personal wheels of billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. At least when he’s not donning his armor as Iron Man, he’ll be tooling around in this mid-engine stunner. And from the sound of it, the movie will be a family affair with the A6, Q7 and the upcoming S5 playing supporting roles. Expect a huge movie tie-in campaign for the film’s release that’s scheduled for May 2 of next year.

Thanks for the tip, Jay!

[Source: Variety]

 

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Mercedes Benz

Though the SL range was updated less than a year ago with the addition of several new engines and some minor mods to the car’s exterior, the stylish coupe will be coming in again for an upgrade that should carry it out until the all-new model arrives in 2012. A number of prototypes have been spotted testing both in the icy temps of Scandinavia and more recently at the world’s highest paved road at Mt. Evens in Colorado.

Until now, heavy camouflage had hidden most of the changes that were planned for the facelifted model, but these latest images partially lift the veil of secrecy giving us the best look yet of the car’s new face. Clearly seen are the car’s CLS-style headlights and pronounced grille, which leads to a more chiseled front bumper. Other changes planned for the car include slightly revised taillights and rear bumper, while the AMG prepped version will likely pick up the hand-built 6.2L V8. You can check out spy shots of the SL facelift, as well as the C63 AMG Wagon, here.

[Source: World Car Fans]

 

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Filed under: Sports/GTs, Auction Action, Nissan

The car above is indeed the same Tommykaira R that graced the pages of Sport Compact Car a couple of years back, and if you want it, it’s yours for $93,000. The owner has listed Tommykaira R #357 on eBay. It’s one of 400 total R33 Skyline GT-R-badged Tommykaira Rs, which were sold as complete vehicles through Tommykaira. This one doesn’t sport the optional widebody kit that was available (and widely purchased, according to Sport Compact Car), making it even more of a rarity. It’s fully federalized and recently laid down 401 AWHP at a dyno session. This Tommykaira Skyline is is the only one of its kind in the US, and it’s a complete street banshee. There isn’t one of us here at Autoblog who doesn’t wish he had an extra $93K lying around. You can view the auction listing here, and if you’d like to read the original Sport Compact Car piece, click here. (The owner reprinted the SCC article in the eBay listing to use as a vehicle description). If we had this car, we’d never have to play Gran Turismo again.

Thanks to Johnnyichiban for the tip!

[Source: eBay]

 

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Filed under: Etc., Driving

Holy cow! This is going to be one fine looking game if it can come even close to half the realism of these trailers. The newest one we found on YouTube shows a few new vehicles and another dimension of realistic rendering. Sun and shade and even color shifting paint, all look so much like the real thing that it’s hard to imagine it’s not HD video you’re watching. As we told you recently, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue should be in stores later this year. This latest GT game will also include Ferraris, as evidenced by the F430s shown in the trailers, though it turns out this is not the first time Ferraris have appeared in a Gran Turismo game. That small honor goes to Gran Turismo HD, which was released as a free download on The Playstation Store last year. The full version of GT5 won’t be coming until at least the spring of 2008, however, so Sony is taking the interim step of releasing this smaller Gran Turismo 5 Prologue game to keep us interested. Although likely limited to a small stable of cars and limited track options, Prologue will reportedly allow online racing, which is another feature the GT series has gone without for too long.

See the YouTube video after the jump or the original at the read link.

[Source: Polyphony Digital]

Continue reading Another stunning GT5 Prologue trailer surfaces

 

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Filed under: Sports/GTs, Euro, Green, Porsche

Greenpeace staged a protest (what a surprise) outside Porsche’s Zuffenhausen plant today, carrying on about how the company’s vehicles are “Climate Pigs,” complete with a pink Cayenne Turbo dressed up in pig ears and a porker’s nose. (We wonder, did the Greenpeaceniks drive their Porcine Cayenne to the protest? Because if they did, helloooo hypocrisy.) The argument is nothing new, with the organization upset because Porsche is (in their eyes) an enemy of Gaia. You see, it has the temerity to build thrilling cars that aren’t ultralights in terms of consumption. Greenpeace must be on tour through Germany this week, as they pulled the same stunt at BMW on Monday. Porsche welcomed the protesters with the snarky banner shown above.

Follow the jump for more info and commentary.

[Sources: Greenpeace, Porsche]

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Continue reading Greenpeace vs. Porsche

 

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