Automotive News

Filed under: Car Buying, Sports/GTs, Etc., Euro, Ferrari

Remember those Harlequin VW Golfs? You know, the ones where all the body panels were different colors? Well, this is the same thing, only it’s a Ferrari 348, and it’s for sale in the UK. According to the seller, the car draws stares (gee, big surprise) and is finished to a high standard. Whether or not the Technicolor bodywork meets your standards is another question entirely. We know it’s all in good fun, but seriously, brown doors? Yuck.

Thanks for the tip, Marsh.

[Source: PistonHeads]

 

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Etc., Audi

Step into an Audi dealer or visit its stands at car shows from next week onwards and you’ll notice something common among all the staff. Audi will be issuing a new corporate look for all its personnel at public events, teaming up with German fashion designer Michael Michalsky to create an ensemble that best represents the firm. In this case, it’s a plain black figure-hugging suit on top of a white blouse or shirt.

Staff at next week’s Frankfurt Auto Show will be donning the new outfit for the first time and eventually, it will be worn by Audi personnel in international markets as well. Michalsky is no stranger to Audi, he currently owns a Q7 SUV, and with several major design awards under his belt, selecting him was an easy decision for Audi.

Sure, the simple black-and-white office look matches Audi’s understated and professional image, but we think a return to traditional German outfits are in order. A salesman trying to talk you into buying a luxo sedan in a pair of traditional German Lederhosen and knee-high socks would be something unforgettable.

[Source: Audi]

 

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, Driving

According to the makers of the Sprint Booster, in ten minutes you can halve the throttle response time at low revs if your car has drive-by-wire. They don’t say exactly how it does it, except to reveal that once you’ve plugged the gadget in, it monitors the signal from the accelerator and provides the ECM “with a new and altered signal.” Mid-range acceleration lag is said to drop to “almost zero.”

The device will fit Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and VW, among other cars. Sold in England, it’s claimed not to affect your insurance or MOT, but it doesn’t say anything about your manufacturer warranty. Although with a 10-minute install time, it shouldn’t be the least bit difficult to remove if necessary. If those milliseconds you’ve been losing at stop lights have really been eating at you, the surge you need will run you $330 plus tax.

[Source: Winding Road]

 

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Filed under: Time Warp, Etc., Toys

It’s been an exciting start, mainly because I get to dig out all my old model building tools and skills. That’s also why it’s been a little slow since the initial post went up, because I’ve had to find all those model building tools. The last model I built was a ‘67 Belvidere GTX over ten years ago and 100 miles from here. I haven’t been able to find my X-Acto knife set, but I’ve made do so far with my home-improvement scarred Stanley 99E razor knife.

I’ve had an airbrush for years, my uncle generously got it as a gift way back when I was seriously into fine arts. I haven’t actually taken the opportunity to use the setup, but it was always comforting knowing that I had it at the ready should I want to become one of those guys in malls doing terrible recreations of scenes from Scarface on t-shirts. The time has come for me to learn how to use it, so I’ve been doing a bit of research, and finally stopped at a hobby store the other day and picked up some paints and other goodies.

Continue reading Autoblog Project Edsel: Paint and Body

 

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Filed under: Etc., Safety, Driving

I pretty much hate riding instead of driving. I like to think I keep my cool and don’t betray my distress over someone’s lack of attention or skill. I must not be alone, since AOL Autos has offered up five useful tips for when you must occupy a seat other than the driver’s chair. The suggestions are good ones, in fact, it’s stuff I already do, but not everyone has my exquisitely tuned sense of decorum. Mainly, what it boils down to is chill out when you’re a passenger in someone else’s car. Being polite, even to the point of holding your tongue, is the key to wheeled bliss. Sometimes its hard, though, when the driver does that gasbrakegasbrakegasgasbrakegas thing that makes me feel like I’m gonna hurl.

Hit the read link or click the picture for AOL’s sage advice.

 

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Filed under: Etc.

Click image for photo gallery

Back in July, we brought you a series of videos showing the making of the latest TV commercial for the upcoming XBOX 360 title, Project Gotham Racing 4. As you might recall, a Ferrari F430 was harmed during filming. Its closed-course playmates were a Tesla Roadster, SLR McLaren, a ‘63 ‘Vette and a sportbike (looks like it could be a Yamaha, but someone can correct me if I’m wrong). Well, today we get news that the final commercial is done. No surprise: it’s cool. In other news, I really need to get an XBOX 360.

Thanks to Kardax for the tip. The commercial’s embedded after the jump. Go and enjoy.

[Source: DailyMotion]

Continue reading VIDEO: Project Gotham 4 hits the airwaves

 

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Etc., Ford

Despite being derided by all and sundry for the restyled Focus, Ford invited some the model’s biggest fans to tour the plant and sample the new coupe’s wares. Members of both Focaljet.com and Focus Fanatics made up the dozen or so enthusiasts that were able to watch the Focus’ production from start to finish, as well as driving the new coupe around a Ford test track.

Reading over the article in the Detroit News, you might get the sense that these die-hard Focus fiends aren’t particularly thrilled with Ford’s newest compact offering, citing everything from a lack of tunable powerplants to nixing the hatchback model from the lineup. Brian DePietro may have summed it up best in three short words: “It’s not bad.” Not a stellar endorsement from a guy that lives for the marque.

Naturally, the assembled Focus group had questions about the lack of SVT offerings in the compact range. No dice yet, according to John Zaremba, the Focus’ marketing manager, who said that. “We’re always looking at [the] performance division to enhance our vehicles, but currently there are no plans for SVTs.”

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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Filed under: Time Warp, Trucks/Pickups, Auction Action

While Ford was first to market with the pickup-cum-car Ranchero, and El Camino has attained universal descriptor status, like Kleenex, it looks like Kaiser presaged the idea in 1954 with this one-off. Kaiser was one of many smaller independents that had yet to die off in the early 1950s. The independents were often more creative than the big three, pushing innovation with limited resources. This extra-special Special-based vehicle is sporting “Barris Kustom” badges on the B-Pillars, glossy light yellow paint on the flanks, and a iron-irrific Continental L-head 6 underhood. You may not be torching the wide whites off the Kelsey Hayes wires with the 118 horsepower, but it’s definitely adequate, even on today’s roads. Current bids stand at $7,300 for what looks like a driveable classic. It’d be an interesting vehicle to poke around at and uncover the provenance, and the story would be way more entertaining than “It came down the line in Arlington one day.”

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

 

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Filed under: Motorsports, Honda

Marco Andretti’s crew swapping gears, click for more

During the Detroit Grand Prix weekend, we got a backstage tour of the IRL paddock area and learned about some of what goes on. The tour kicked off in the tech inspection area, where every car has to go before and after each on-track session. As the cars are rolled up the ramps to the inspection platform an inspector actually lies on the floor under the ramps to check out the bottom of the car. They look for anything that should be there that isn’t, things that are there that shouldn’t and signs of damage.

Once the car is on the platform, it sits on four scales that check to see whether the car meets the minimum weight. At this point, ground clearances and wing heights and positions can be checked. Once that’s done, the scales are actually lowered and inspectors verify that the car’s floor is flat where it should be. Only after a car has passed the tech inspection is it allowed on track.

Continue the backstage tour after the jump.

Continue reading Detroit Grand Prix 2007 Wrap: IRL Behind the scenes

 

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Saab

click above image to view gallery

Though scheduled to debut next Tuesday at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, the special edition Saab Turbo X has arrived a bit early courtesy of one particular Swede-o-phile over at Trollhattansaab.net. Actually, only three more images have arrived, but in addition to the front teaser shot that Saab had already released, the new pics show the car from the rear, as well as its exclusive blacked-out interior.

To refresh, the Saab Turbo X will debut the automaker’s new XWD all-wheel drive system from Haldex. It’s capable of dividing power between the front and rear wheels, but also from side to side in the rear thanks to a new electronic slip differential. Saab’s 2.8L turbocharged V6 has been worked over for duty in the Turbo X and now produces 280 hp, up from 255, and 295 ft-lbs. of torque. Trollhattan reports that it will be good for a 5.7 second sprint to 62 mph, which makes it one of the fastest Saabs we’ve ever heard of.

[Source: Trollhattansaab.net]

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Saab Turbo X (turbo)charges in

 

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