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Spy Shots: Honda's hybrid Prius-fighter caught

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/spy-shots-hondas-hybrid-prius-fighter-caught/ Filed under: Spy Photos, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Paris Motor Show, HondaClick above for a high-res gallery of Honda's new hybrid.Honda's oft-discussed, yet never spied Prius-fighter has been caught by the merry minions at KGP. A parade of three cars were shot in the desert, including the prototype you see above, a facelifted Civic Hybrid and the new model's arch rival, the Toyota Prius.While the cloaked mule's shape could be easily mistaken as a Prius, the two-tier instrument cluster is a dead giveaway of the prototype's Honda origins. The nose is notably lower than its Toyota competition and although the hatch is an obvious rip on the Prius' aerodynamic rear, the fenders have a discernibly steeper angle, along with a trunk lid sporting a small spoiler.The unnamed hybrid from Honda will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year, and will adopt many of the design cues found on the big H's hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity sedan.Gallery: Spy Shots: Honda Hybrid Permalink | Email this | Comments

French auto-journo hauled off for espionage

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/17/french-auto-journo-hauled-off-for-espionage/ Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Euro, Government/Legal, Paris Motor Show, Hatchbacks, RenaultIf you're in France, the phrase caveat emptor can probably be joined by caveat reporter after police raided the French magazine Auto Plus. The po-po were called last August to begin an investigation because the magazine published detailed photos of the coming Renault Megane, which Renault said wasn't supposed to hit showrooms for another three years. The raid was the next step in the Sherlock Holmes treatment.Renault, of course, says that it is not after the press, it's simply trying to protect its intellectual property. The shots are so clear, and there are so many of them -- including the interior -- that it's obviously an inside job. The press, of course, feels that this is an attack on its freedom. The French press and the French government are engaged in a complicate dance, and this doesn't help things. The police removed one reporter and a passel of computers. They don't want the reporter, though, they want the source. Auto Plus will have to wait to find out how much of that ever gets returned. But since the photos are out, we might as well take the time to say it's a nifty looking little car.[Source: Reuters] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang sells out in less than 24 hours

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/15/bugatti-veyron-pur-sang-sells-out-in-less-than-24-hours/ Filed under: Car Buying, Frankfurt Auto Show, Supercars, BugattiThe Bugatti Veyron may be limited to a run of only 300 lifetime units, but there is little doubt the 1001 HP supercar is the king of the automotive kingdom. To keep the $1.4 million rolling sculpture hotter than a cattle prod, Bugatti unveiled the Pur Sang at Frankfurt, with beautifully exposed carbon fiber and aluminum saving about 220 lbs. The Pur Sang is so exclusive, Bugatti only showed it once, and not even at the official Frankfurt show. With a production run of five, the Pur Sang promises to be among the most exclusive Veyrons ever, but none of us can have one, even if we had €1.4 million to blow on a supercar, because all five copies sold out in only 24 hours. It's amazing that VW won't make any money off their king of cars, it seems they can sell them as fast as they want, and at whatever price they please. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2007: The camera shy Wiesmann GT MF 5

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/15/frankfurt-2007-the-camera-shy-wiesmann-gt-mf-5/ Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, SupercarsClick the image above for more shots of the Wiesmann GT MF5.While we never did see the official premier of the Wiesmann GT MF5, we were able to catch a sneak peak of the V10-powered blue beastie during an exclusive party held in the bespoke coupe's honor. Finally, Wiesmann was kind enough to provide some detailed shots of the MF5 along with a press release (after the jump), and it turns out that it's as brutishly awesome as we expected.Made up of an aluminum monocoque and composite body panels, the GT MF5 has been dropped, widened and lengthened compared to its MF4 sibling. As we already knew, power is provided by a BMW-sourced five-liter V10 producing 507 HP. But with the MF's new diet and a seven-speed sequential gearbox, the trip to sixty will take a click under four seconds and on to a top speed of 193 MPH. Nineteen-inch wheels are fitted at all four corners, with 245/40ZR19 tires up front and 275/30ZR19s out back, while customer-fitted carbon fiber seats find their way into the cabin. Although we were only able to adore the Wiesmann GT MF5 from afar (and through a pane of glass), it's probably better off that way. At a cost of $250k, we'd gladly sell off a few unnecessary organs and move abroad to take delivery when it goes on sale this spring.Gallery: Wiesmann GT MF5: Pre-previewContinue reading Frankfurt 2007: The camera shy Wiesmann GT MF 5 Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2007: Carlsson Aigner CK65 Eau Rouge

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/15/frankfurt-2007-carlsson-aigner-ck65-eau-rouge/ Filed under: Aftermarket, Frankfurt Auto Show, Tuners, Sports/GTs, Mercedes-BenzClick the image above for more shots of the Carlsson Aigner CK65 Eau Rouge.Random Benz tunage? Frankfurt's got more than you can shake a schnitzel at. But the only reason we snapped off a few shots of this particular CK was because of its two-tone hue, even though it is a subtle rip on the Veyron. Only after we got back and started going through some of our overlooked photos did we realized that this particular M-B was something a bit more special.The Carlsson Aigner CK65 Eau Rouge is the product of a collaborative effort between the German tuning house and Etienne Aigner, a high-end leather purveyor. As you can imagine, the interior appointments are luxurious to a fault, with acres of dyed dead cow, Alcantara and wood lining every conceivable surface. What lies beneath though is far more compelling.A turbocharged V12, aided by everything from new intercoolers to some heavy ECU tuning, produces over 700 HP and 800 lb.-ft. of torque, making the CL capable of a blast to 60 in 3.9 seconds. Ultra-light aluminum wheels, sized 21x9-inches in front and 21x10.5-inches in the rear, are wrapped in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ZR 21 tires, reducing unsprung mass by a full 50-percent at all four corners.There are more mods than we can mention, so Carlsson's press release is posted after the jump. And you can check out a gallery of live and press pics below.Gallery: Carlsson Aigner CK65 Eau RougeContinue reading Frankfurt 2007: Carlsson Aigner CK65 Eau Rouge Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2007: Huffenpuff Edition (Random, funny and cool stuff)

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/16/frankfurt-2007-huffenpuff-edition-random-funny-and-cool-stuff/ Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Etc.click the above image to view more random, funny and cool stuff from FrankfurtWe're still not finished with our posts from Frankfurt, but thought we would end this weekend with a collection of our most random, funny and cool shots from the show floor. We call it the Huffenpuff Edition, named after Frankfurt's central train station, or Hauptbahnhof in German, past which we rode on our way to the show every day and whose name we could never pronounce. We've got a nice sized gallery chock full of the back of Bob Lutz's head, a pewter Lexus LS460, the world's biggest Fiat 500, a Mercedes CLS Wagon, smart car rollerskates, and more. Check out all the Huffenpuff Edition pics in our gallery below, complete with captions to help explain the insanity.Gallery: Frankfurt 2007: Funny, Cool and Misc. Stuff Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2007: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/frankfurt-2007-mazda-rx-8-special-edition/ Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Coupes, MazdaMazda is celebrating 40 years of putting engines inspired by pony kegs in their cars by rolling out a special version of the RX-8 2+2. Mazda's official hyperbole about the RX-8 brags that the car changed customer expectations of what an affordable sports car should be when they launched the four-place coupe in 2003. It sure did; we've now come to expect less than the stated power output from the Renesis Wankel, which also swills oil like a... well, like a Wankel. Now that we've ensured that every single Rotary fan on Autoblog will lambaste us, let's go on to say that we really do like them. Any engine you can mercilessly spin out to 10,000 RPM without aerating the block has significant entertainment value. The fact that there's about three major moving parts is cool, too. The Special Edition RX-8 has two new colors for its sinewy sheetmetal, Metropolitan Grey and Crystal White Pearl. There's also new ten-spoke wheels, blue tinged foglamps, and the obligatory emblems to dress up the exterior. Open the clamshell doors and the Special Edition greets you with a specially outfitted interior, full of Alcantara, contrast stitching, leather, and silver bits. It's not all just prettying up, either. The suspension crossmembers get shot full of foam for quieter operation, and there are new springs that are held in check by Bilstein dampers. So, while there's been no massive power upgrade to the RX-8, the Special Edition is more than just a glamorization of an affordable, entertaining coupe. Press release after the jump.Gallery: Mazda RX-8 Special EditionContinue reading Frankfurt 2007: Mazda RX-8 Special Edition Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Lamborghini shows off its Reventón

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/18/video-lamborghini-shows-off-its-reventon/ Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Videos, Supercars, LamborghiniClick the image above for more high-res shots of the Lamborghini ReventónIt's fast, it's rare, and it costs one million euros to own. The Reventón may well be the Lamborghini to end all Lamborghini's, but with only 20 copies ever scheduled to see their way through the assembly process, it may be too exclusive for its own good. Either way, 650 HP and 0-60 in 3.4, and slap you in the face styling are enough to keep enthusiasts of all ages up at night. The Reventón may be 20 copies exclusive, and none of us may ever see one on public roads, but that doesn't mean it isn't all over YouTube. Hit the jump to see 1:41 of a fast cut montage all about Lamborghini's one million euro baby.Continue reading VIDEO: Lamborghini shows off its Reventón Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog Podcast #77

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/20/autoblog-podcast-77/ Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Podcasts, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Crossovers/CUVs, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Dodge, Ford, GM, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, PSA, Volkswagen, Volvo, Renault, BrabusWe're back with Autoblog Podcast #77, and it's a Frankfurt-recap extravaganza. We discuss our favorite picks, as well as touching on some of the numerous highlights from the monster-sized show. We got a glimpse of the Jaguar XF in person, and it's better in person, but can it save Jaguar? BMW unveiled the X6, it's own AMC Spirit ripoff, not to be left behind by the Audi Cross Coupe Quattro from Shanghai. We continue on about exotic sheetmetal from Brabus, Schnitzer, Bentley, and Aston Martin, to name a few. On the more mundane tip, the Mazda 6 rocked, the Aveo was ugly, the Journey landed on its face, and could we please, please knock it off with the front quarter panel vents? After Alex's speed-round wrapup, we discuss a solitary piece of non-Frankfurt news, the Jeep J8. Yes, it's awesome, no, you can't buy one. Damn, that's stupid, Chrysler. Onward!SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunesLISTEN to the show nowADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: MINI Clubman ad banned in Frankfurt

- posted: 20.07.08
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/22/video-mini-clubman-ad-banned-in-frankfurt/ Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Marketing/Advertising, MINIBMW's MINI brand has been responsible for some unique ad campaigns in recent years, so when we first read that their latest ad had been banned in Frankfurt, our imaginations went wild. What'd they do this time? Nudity? Vulgarity? Drugs? Rock and roll? Boy were we disappointed to find out the only thing offensive about MINI's Frankfurt ad was its not-so-mini size. To emphasize the Clubman's bigger dimensions, the ad was a bit larger than normal. A 10-story-tall video proclaiming the introduction of the new MINI Clubman was projected onto the side of a downtown Frankfurt building for three days as part of the auto show. A MySpace page dedicated to the banned ad claims the ad was pulled after other automakers complained, but there's no official word on the decision. If that's true, then behold the power of controversy on the Internet. Watch the video after the jump to see the ad you can no longer view in Frankfurt.[Source: Motoring File]Continue reading VIDEO: MINI Clubman ad banned in Frankfurt Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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