I'm just curious, and I the only person who really digs those FreeCreditReport.com commercials? Honestly, I think that "New Car" isn't nearly as funny as "Pirates" or "Dream Girl," but I like all of them. Anyway, here's the news:
- While US motorists are feeling pain at the pump, oil-producing countries are rolling in dough, and some folks over there are paying nearly a million dollars for low-digit license plates. Is this what we get for not becoming energy independent? Sigh. Autoblog
- The Gullwing—the successor to Mercedes' SLR McLaren supercar—has been spotted at the Ring. While it was wearing some Viper sheet metal on its hind quarters, even in this Franken-trim, the car looks pretty sexy. AutoExpress
- Chinese company Brilliance took serious heat after crash tests made its BS6 look about as safe as gator wrestling. But lo and behold, somebody has wrecked one—and lived to tell the tale! World Car Fans
- Microsoft Sync's system has made the Focus has a bright spot in Ford's lineup, but now that Hyundai and Kia will be getting similar technology, will it be able to keep its edge? Time will tell. Freep
It's been a pretty good week for news—but the last entry in today's list? Talk about juicy! Let's hope there's some truth to the rumors. Wow... when did I become such a tabloid-loving hack? Anyway, here's the news:
- Yesterday, I reported about how SUV owners are having trouble unloading their gas-guzzlers. Well, it turns out Mercedes actually saw a rise in sales of its M-Class. Yup, the rich are different. They don't care how much it costs to fill the tank. CarScoop
- Last year, the auto industry spent 70 million dollars lobbying legislators. That's a lot cocktails and fancy dinners. Think the all the palm-greasers on the hill are pissed their representatives didn't put out? Detroit News
- Want some proof that the gas tax holiday John McCain and Hillary Clinton are calling for is pure politics? Even auto industry execs think it's a bad idea. Come election time remember: these are folks who thought they could buy your vote for less than 30 bucks. Freep
- Since the Nazi-orgy video surfaced, it's been pretty obvious that Max Mosley's days as F1 boss are numbered. But exactly why did that video make it into the hands of the tabloids? After last year's record fine, some might think McLaren would have a bone to pick. The head of its race program denies any link, but still... BBC Sport
I read John’s recent story on the homemade Jaguar ute that was up for sale on Craigslist with some interest. This idea is nothing new in Australia, where people have long produced hand-made Utes based on Jags, Mercedes, even Bentleys. And unlike that Craigslist Jag, the homemade utes that I have seen actually looked like they could've come from the factory. Perhaps this is because the Ute rates highly in our national psyche, and is seen more as a cultural icon than as either a workhorse or a fashion statement. In fact, we hold the world record for having the most Utes gathered one site: a total of 6235 of them assembled last year at the annual Deniliquin Ute Muster. This festival is held each year and would not be the same without the many home-built Utes that our country is known for. Check it out.
When I was reading over the headlines this morning, I was a little disappointed to see Toyota hasn't completely freaked out over former employee Jim Press' allegation that the Japanese government paid for development of the Prius. Come on guys, how about some good old fashioned name calling? Here's the news:
- If you were searching for an expensive way to look like a complete tool, look no further—Lamborghini has just released a Bluetooth earpiece emblazoned with the company's famous charging bull. You know, it really says something when even a Lambo badge can't make a gadget look cool. Auto Express
- How much longer can embattled FIA boss Max Mosley—AKA: Nazi orgy dude—last? He's said he won't resign his post, but it's only a matter of time before manufactures start calling for his head. After all, he's going to have to explain his behavior to Mercedes and BMW. AutoWeek
- When I read that a Ferrari F50 had been involved in an accident in Sweden, I assumed the worst. But it looks like the car just spun off the road, and escaped any serious body damage. While that's got to be embarrassing for the owner, at least the car isn't totaled. CarScoop
- In the last six years, the price of parking tickets in the UK has gone up an incredible 500%. Has England declared war on the car? Winding Road
Check out this incredible sunset shot by Patrick Ernzen of Desert-Motors. This particular Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren has had a few tasteful mods, including a reprogrammed ECU, larger intercooler pumps, supercharger pulley and custom iForged wheels. Apparently it dynos at 572hp and runs 11s in the quarter. I have more pics after the jump, or go to Desert-Motors.com to see the full gallery.
Continue reading "Sick Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren " »
Right now, I'm cramming trying to get ready for the New York International Auto Show, and I'm super-stoked. The only bad part? I have to sleep on the plane. Hey, nobody said this was going to be easy. Here's the news:
- Nissan's GTR has a history of winning races where it debuts, so the fact it took the checkered flag at Suzuka yesterday isn't terribly surprising. But the brass still has to be stoked. Autoblog
- Looks like Mercedes-Benz might shut down Maybach. The uber-luxury marque hasn't been performing against chief competitors Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and has sold only 10% of what M-B thought it would. That said, will anyone notice it's gone? World Car Fans
- Tata is almost done buying Jag and Land Rover, and now the company is adding staff in Detroit. Who knew the company would actually have a presence in the Motor City? Freep
- Since everyone in Seattle is pretty clueless about driving in the snow, I've seen some pretty stupid snow-related behavior. But nothing like this. English Russia
Hot on the heels of the Honda Civic to BMW M3 transformation I posted about on Friday, comes this hilarious Nissan Sentra to Mercedes-Benz 190E project. While the end result might not fool the trained eye, or the untrained eye, or a blind person that could actually run their hands along the side of the car, you have to appreciate the amount of work Greg put into this ride, and of course, his awesome sense of humor. But Greg isn't just a novelty act. He's had some pretty cool rides in the past—1970 Chevelle SS, turbo MR2, bitchin' Camaro—and currently owns a '69 Spitfire and a cherry '66 Mercedes Benz 250S. Head over and check out his pages!
February was a rough month for the auto industry. Only four manufacturers managed to improve their daily average sales rate when compared to February 2007. Honda, Mazda and Mercedes-Benz all saw minuscule gains, while MINI went freakin' ballistic, with a 38 % increase over last year. Everyone else saw a decline. Saturn took the biggest dump with a 36 % decrease. Ouch. See all the stats at Autoblog.
Talk about a package deal! For just over a million bucks, German tuner BRABUS will hook you up with both a SLR McLaren Roadster and Smart Ultimate 112. Of course, both are beyond trick, feature matching paint/interior themes and of course, a few more horses. While it seems pretty stupid to even mention the word "practical" when referring to a deal like this, it seems like having the smart to bop around town in is kind of a good idea. If you're dying to see the pair in person, they'll be on display at the Geneva Motor Show. More photos and the press release after the jump.
via CarScoop
Continue reading "BRABUS SLR McLaren Roadster and Smart Ultimate 112 " »
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy—whew, say that three times fast!—just released a list of the greenest and meanest cars in America, and on the green side, Toyota's Prius came up a big, fat loser. Sorry. It actually came in second, behind Honda's greener-than-Kermit-the-Frog-on-a-lilly pad Civic GX, which runs on compressed air. As expected, small cars and hybrids make up the remainder of the green list, and also as expected, the rides on the mean list look way, way more fun. The VW Tourage—with the CFC-belching diesel V10—took the top "honors," while dream machines like Bugatti's Veyron and Lamborghini's Murcielago came in at numbers two and six, respectively. Of course, neither one of those models probably sees 1/10 the annual miles a Ford Focus—number nine on the green list—does, so in reality, they probably pollute a lot less. But whatever, check out the full breakdown over at Wired.
You have to hand it to the Chinese—they know a good thing when they see it. But while their appreciation for cool cars may be above reproach, Western manufacturers aren't really buying the whole "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery" thing. Mercedes-Benz was understandably pissed about the smart car knock-off which crashed the Bologna Auto Show, and over at Ariel's headquarters, they're probably still scraping the engineers who've gotten wind of Feiya's Go Kart off the ceiling. Designed to mimic the company's performance-oriented Atom, this rinky-dink version is more than two feet shorter than the original, and tops out a measly 58 MPH. Of course, what it lacks in power, it more than makes up for in crash-worthiness. Not. Feiya Vehicle Company via Winding Road.
Looking at the old badging is one my favorite parts of car shows, and this site has a cool page documenting how emblems have evolved over the years. While BMW's spinning prop has been essentially unchanged since the '20s, and Aston Martin has used the same winged badge since the '30s, brands like Buick and Mazda have seen dramatic changes, and the story behind the Cadillac logo is pretty fascinating. What's your favorite?
