Automotive News :: October

Walkaround: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

October 5, 2007

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, GM, Pontiac

Click image for photo gallery

At the East Coast edition of the 2008 GM Collection, El General had one of his preproduction Pontiac G8 GT sedans on display for everyone’s inspection. The car on hand was a red GT with an automatic transmission, the revised silver Pontiac badge, black leather seating, and an automatic transmission. Unfortunately, the G8 at the event was eye candy only — no driving allowed. Still, it was unlocked, and I was able to check out the production-spec interior up close. Follow the jump for a quick rundown and first impression of how it all looked

Gallery: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT (Pre-Production)

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NASCAR nabs another: Dario Franchitti joins Chip Ganassi Racing

Filed under: Motorsports

NASCAR is continuing to sample the international flavor of motorsports. The sport that began as moonshine runs in the wilds of the South has, in a short time, raised its profile here in America and is now threatening to do it elsewhere.

Scottish driver Dario Franchitti took the Indy 500 and the IRL championship this year with the Andretti Green team. Now he’s leaving the team and the series to join Juan Pablo Montoya at Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR team.

The move will pair Franchitti with Montoya and Felix Sabates in the Ganassi team, and Jacques Villeneuve with Bill Davis Racing in the new international contingent. The international drivers are also getting attention from international sponsors, with Russian and Spanish companies calling for spots on Ganassi cars.

Dario starts his NASCAR run in the feeder ARCA RE/MAX Series race this weekend at Talledega. From there he’ll graduate to the Busch Series (soon-to-be Nationwide Series), and then do an official Cup race some time before 2008.

Thanks for the tip, Dave!

[Source: ESPN.com]

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From the coffee table to TV: Ralph Lauren collection on Discovery

Filed under: Etc.

Among our top three Christmas gifts from last year was Speed, Style and Beauty, a masterwork of images and text that details some of the many vehicles owned by fashion mogul and car guy-extraordinaire Ralph Lauren. It’s proved to be our defacto time-waster when there’s nothing on the tube and little to report on the site. While static shots of one of the most comprehensive collections is all well and good, Discovery will be upping the ante this Saturday at 8PM EST/PST when it premiers Speed, Style and Beauty: Cars from the Ralph Lauren Collection. Those of you wired for HD will be particularly enthralled, as the whole show was shot in High Definition… lucky bastards.

Included in the collection is a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 prepped for the Mille Miglia, a 1930 M-B SSK, 1955 Jaguar XKD, a ‘96 McLaren F1 and the coup de coupe, a 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. All delectable, and all highly sought after. But then, what would you expect from a man like Lauren?

[Source: Discovery Channel via Winding Road]

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Tokyo 2007 Preview: Honda DN-01 motorcycle features automatic transmission

Filed under: Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Honda, Motorcycles

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Automatic transmissions in motorcycles are not new, with Ridley being one manufacturer currently producing them. In fact, back in the 1970s, Honda and Moto Guzzi both produced motorcycles with automatic transmissions, each with two forward gears. Honda called its system “Hondamatic” and the bikes are still in demand today because of their shiftless nature. That older machine used an automatic transmission quite similar to the one that came with the Civic, complete with a torque converter. Honda has also used an automatic centrifugal clutch on many of its small-bore play-bikes from the 1950s on. So it’s not too big of a surprise that Honda is going to be introducing the DN-01 at the 40th annual Tokyo Motor Show, complete with an automatic of its own called the Human-Friendly Transmission (HFT). After the break, we’ll give a brief description of this new transmission. As you’ll see, it’s a very different animal from what has been offered before.

[Source: Honda]

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Spy Shots: 2009 Mazda3

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Ford, Mazda

Brenda Priddy and her camera-wielding spies caught the new Mazda3 undergoing testing, and although the shots themselves don’t provide much detail, per usual it’s more than meets the eye. The hacked-up front end indicates that a new fascia is on the way, likely to conform with the automaker’s penchant for swooped-back headlamps and larger fender blisters. Out back, a new dual exhaust arrangement will help to expel exhaust gases from either a 148 HP 2.0L four, or an upgraded 2.5L mill that will increase output between 20 and 30 HP over the outgoing 2.3L engine.

What lies beneath the awkwardly assembled body panels is more compelling, as the new Mazda3 is built atop the next-generation Ford Focus C1 platform. So even though Ford still neglects North Americans by not offering the Euro-Focus at home, you can get your hands on the good bits when the new Mazda3 goes on sale here in 2009.

[Source: Inside Line]

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Chrysler recalling Sebring and Avenger yet again

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Recalls/TSBs, Chrysler, Dodge

According to the USAToday, the new Avenger has had its share of engineering issues, something that the publication allowed Chrysler to respond to in depth within its review. As if being publicly humiliated by one of the largest papers in the land wasn’t enough, yesterday’s duo of recalls is being followed by yet another safety issue plaguing both the Dodge Avenger and the Chrysler Sebring.

A fan motor on 102,042 Avengers and Sebrings can apparently catch fire when coming into contact with engine coolant. The recall affects both 2007 and 2008 models, and owners should expect to receive notification next month to replace either the wiring or the motor itself.

[Sources: USA Today, The Truth About Cars, Detroit News]

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New GM CUV planning to take on the Honda Ridgeline

Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Chevrolet, GM

Inside Line has got the, ummm, inside line on Chevrolet’s future CUV offerings, and the big news is that GM’s suppliers are saying a “crossover pickup” is in the cards. A four-door crew cab version in the same vein as the Honda Ridgeline is planned with both a sizable bed and an all-wheel-drive option.

In addition, the Equinox will be redesigned for 2010, receiving a bit more length to accommodate seven passengers atop the Theta-Epsilon platform, while the eight-passenger Chevy Traverse based on the Lambda platform will fill the hole left by the exiting Uplander.

A smaller CUV built off the Gamma platform still hasn’t been approved, but if all goes according to plan, it’ll be built in Lordstown, Ohio or Mexico and should go on sale sometime in 2012.

[Source: Inside Line]

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2008 MINI Challenge Series Clubman safety car, fastest Clubman to date

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchbacks, MINI

Our main-MINI-man Gabe over at MotoringFile procured a handful of shots showing the safety car for the 2008 MINI Challenge, and the series’ organizers have commissioned a one-off Clubman S to be built with a host of modifications to make it track worthy. Although there’s no mention of what changes were made under the hood, according to the site, a John Cooper Works (JCW) exhaust is fitted and the new rear spoiler will be an option for the Clubman come 2008. The obvious changes to ride height would imply that some serious suspension tweaks were in order, while the new front and rear diffuser could foretell the future of JCW-equipped Clubmans.

You can read over our previous posts about the MINI JCW Challenge racer here and here, and check out more shots of the Clubman safety car here.

[Source: MotoringFile]

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Pontiac planning Solstice Targa?

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Coupes, GM, Pontiac, Saturn

According to what are being described as “well placed sources,” General Motors is planning to introduce a Targa version of the Pontiac Solstice in the first half of 2009. Known internally as the GMX627, the Solstice Targa would sport two removable roof sections that will somehow be stored within that diminutive trunk.

The Targa is rumored to begin production in January of 2009 at GM’s Wilmington plant, with about 10,000 units being built annually. The debut would likely happen at either the 2008 SEMA show or soon afterwards at the Los Angeles show that same year, and it will likely coincide with the redesign of both the Solstice and Saturn Sky.

And what about the Solstice Coupe? Reportedly a hardtop Solstice is still being planned. A convertible, targa and coupe model would certainly flesh out the Solstice line nicely and make the RWD hot rod more appealing to a wider audience.

[Source: Left Lane News]

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Mystery supercar may be all-new Lotus codenamed “Project Eagle”

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Lotus

In today’s episode of Fast Lane Daily (watch it after the jump), host Ji Young Min reveals that the mystery car spotted last week by CAR magazine is believed on good authority to be an all-new Lotus model codenamed “Project Eagle”. The new mid-engine sports car is expected to slot in between the Elise and whatever car arrives to replace the much missed Esprit. The car’s design will reportedly be similar to the M250 Concept that Lotus debuted in Frankfurt all the way back in 1999, while it’s power will unsurprisingly come from a Toyota-sourced motor. The “Project Eagle” is meant by Lotus to play predator to the Porsche 911 Carerra’s prey. If produced, it should break cover sometime next year and may be sold in the U.S. around 2009. Lotus would limit production to just 2,000 units a year, however, making this eagle an endangered species.