HOT SHOTS 007

Hot News: BMW PAS

BMW is set to take a huge risk by pressing ahead with the launch of the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS) executive hatchback, a ‘5-series GT’.
The controversial BMW PAS is due to be unveiled in late 2009. One senior company source has told Autocar that the 5-series GT is “one of the bravest designs ever signed off by BMW”. But insiders describe the car as a ‘modern grand tourer with a luxury cabin and interior flexibility’.
The BMW PAS expected to be priced between the BMW 5-series and BMW 7-series and pitched at drivers who like a higher driving position but are not keen on full-scale SUVs.
One source has suggested that BMW is aware of an ageing population who now find conventional saloons’ seat positions too low for comfort.
Those who have seen the 5-series GT in the metal describe the BMW PAS as more of a ‘tall 7-series hatchback than a low-rise X6’.
The car is based on the latest version of BMW’s large rear-drive platform, first seen under the recently launched BMW 7-series.
Although the precise dimensions are not yet known, the PAS is slightly longer than a 5-series saloon and just shorter than a 7-series. It also rides slightly higher on its wheels than a normal road car.
The car’s overall height is pitched almost exactly between a 5-series and an X6, with higher than normal seating positions.
Insiders say this layout allows the PAS to offer the same rear leg room as a new long-wheelbase 7-series. Despite the sloping roof line, head room is said to be more than adequate.
The cabin is based on the same flowing theme revealed in the new Z4, with a wide centre console. Sources say front passengers get a “relaxing, semi-raised position”.
Although the 5-series GT gets a lower body similar to that of a saloon, the roof line and rear hatch are pure X6.
The car’s front end has more of a ‘nose cone’ look, rather like the recently cancelled CS concept. It also gets frameless doors, though there are no plans for a convertible spin-off.
The gently sloping roof line curves into an X6-style ‘fastback’ tailgate. The rear of the car is also said to be like the X6, with a lip at the base of the hatch window and a flat rear panel underneath it, between the rear light clusters.
Sources say the tailgate works in a similar way to the Skoda Superb’s, either as a hatch or with a saloon-style boot lid. But in the BMW it’s the upright rear panel that flips up, offering a letter box-shaped opening.
No definitive details have emerged about the 5-series GT’s technical specification, but it’s thought most European models will get a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine and most US cars will use a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol.

Thanks to: Autocar

"Happy New Year" in Different Languages

Guys, in a few days we will meet year 2009.

"Happy New Year" in Different Languages

Afgani: Saale Nao Mubbarak
Afrikaans: Gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian: Gezuar Vitin e Ri
Armenian: Snorhavor Nor Tari
Arabic: Antum salimoun
Assyrian: Sheta Brikhta
Azeri: Yeni Iliniz Mubarek!
Bengali: Shuvo Nabo Barsho
Bulgarian: Chestita Nova Godina
Cambodian: Soursdey Chhnam Tmei
Catalan: FELIÇ ANY NOU
Chinese: Xin Nian Kuai Le
Corsican Language: Pace e Salute
Croatian: Sretna Nova godina!
Cymraeg (Welsh): Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Czechoslovakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Denish: Godt Nytår
Dhivehi: Ufaaveri Aa Aharakah Edhen
Dutch: GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR!
Eskimo: Kiortame pivdluaritlo
Esperanto: Felican Novan Jaron
Estonians: Head uut aastat!
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
Gaelic: Bliadhna mhath ur
Galician [NorthWestern Spain]: Bo Nadal e Feliz Aninovo
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Kenourios Chronos
Gujarati: Nutan Varshbhinandan
Hawaiian: Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah
Hindi: Naye Varsha Ki Shubhkamanyen
Hong kong: (Cantonese) Sun Leen Fai Lok
Hungarian: Boldog Ooy Ayvet
Indonesian: Selamat Tahun Baru
Iranian: Saleh now mobarak
Iraqi: Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Felice anno nuovo
Japan: Akimashite Omedetto Gozaimasu
Kabyle: Asegwas Amegaz
Kannada: Hosa Varushadha Shubhashayagalu
Kisii: SOMWAKA OMOYIA OMUYA
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Korea: Saehae Bock Mani ba deu sei yo!
Kurdish: NEWROZ PIROZBE
Lithuanian: Laimingu Naujuju Metu
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Macedonian: Srekjna Nova Godina
Malay: Selamat Tahun Baru
Marathi : Nveen Varshachy Shubhechcha
Malayalam : Puthuvatsara Aashamsakal
Maltese: Is-Sena t- Tajba
Nepal: Nawa Barsha ko Shuvakamana
Norwegian: Godt Nyttår
Papua New Guinea: Nupela yia i go long yu
Pampango (Philippines): Masaganang Bayung Banua
Persian: Saleh now ra tabrik migouyam
Philippines: Manigong Bagong Taon
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Punjabi: Nave sal di mubarak
Romanian AN NOU FERICIT
Russian: S Novim Godom
Samoa: Manuia le Tausaga Fou
Serbo-Croatian: Sretna nova godina
Sindhi: Nayou Saal Mubbarak Hoje
Singhalese: Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Siraiki: Nawan Saal Shala Mubarak Theevay
Slovak: A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovenian: sreèno novo leto
Somali: Iyo Sanad Cusub Oo Fiican!
Spanish: Feliz Ano ~Nuevo
Swahili: Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº
Swedish: GOTT NYTT ÅR! /Gott nytt år!
Sudanese: Warsa Enggal
Tamil: Eniya Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal
Telugu: Noothana samvatsara shubhakankshalu
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubbarak Ho
Uzbek: Yangi Yil Bilan
Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Welsh : Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Hot News: 2010 Audi A8/ 2011 Audi S8

Audi is charging ahead with its third-generation A8, set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show in the fall of 2009. Once released, it will battle a slightly face-lifted Mercedes-Benz S-class, expected to be unveiled next spring, and BMW's all-new 2009 7-series. But unlike the rather conservative 7-series, which backed away from the audacious styling of its predecessor, the next Audi A8 will show a new look and carry the brand forward stylistically.
Audi's chief designer Stefan Sielaff explains: "The first generation was very dogmatic and product-design-like. With the second generation, the theme was 'elegance'—softer, flowing lines. The upcoming third generation will be stronger, sharper, and more precise."

While the design of the current, second-generation car is pleasing to our eyes, you could argue that it doesn’t properly convey the advanced chassis technology under the skin—the A8’s all-aluminum structure is lighter and stronger than those of its steel-intensive competition. The next A8 continues to use an aluminum space frame and aluminum exterior panels, all of which bring weight down compared to a conventional steel design. Sielaff says that the next-gen Audi A8’s styling will play up that distinction. "It will highlight the aluminum aspect, and it will have a strong three-dimensional theme. In that respect, the next A8 will be the first of a new styling language at Audi. We are entering a new phase with a clear top-down strategy."
The A8 will be futuristic, but it will also have enough chrome to please customers in emerging markets such as Russia and China. There will be both short- and long-wheelbase versions, the latter to be launched in mid-2010. The A8 uses Audi's new modular longitudinal architecture, introduced on the A5, A4, and Q5. Compared to the current A8, the front axle is shifted forward.
The A8 will keep the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, but an entry-level front-wheel-drive version is again possible if the market demands it. In Europe, such a model is currently offered as an especially fuel-efficient alternative. Initial engine offerings will likely include a 4.2-liter gasoline V-8 and a 4.2-liter V-8 turbo-diesel, both equipped with an all-new, ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic (a gearbox which will simultaneously go into the BMW 7-series). Audi will also offer its 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel, an extremely popular engine in Europe, and the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 from the A6 and S4. And even though the current W-12 engine is no more than a footnote in the A8's European home market, expect Russia and China to demand a successor of the prestigious powerplant. Audi could also offer a version of the V-12 turbo-diesel introduced in the Q7, although modifications would be required to fit this big and heavy unit into the A8's engine bay.
We expect the next S8 to become available sometime in late 2010 or early 2011, and it will use the turbocharged V-10 found in the high-performance, Euro-only RS6. It will likely be even more powerful than the RS6, though, which could mean 600 hp—or more.

Audi engineers tell us to pay special attention to the interior, which they say represents as much a step forward as does the exterior. A large center screen and a new MMI architecture will be "more innovative" than the current system. We hope Audi won't tinker too much with MMI, a system we’ve always liked.
On the road, we expect the A8 to give the BMW 7-series a fight for the title of sportiest offering in the segment. The A8's all-wheel-drive system will be rear-biased, and it will be available with the same torque-vectoring system ("sport differential") that we found impressive during our drive of the latest S4.
In Europe and China, the current A8 has caught up with the 7-series and S-class in terms of sales and image. With the next generation, Audi may be able to pull off the same trick in North America.

HOT SHOTS 006:

FINALLY

I finally got some clips up from HOT CARS TV SHOWCASE aka THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT CRUISE IN

Sorry about the season finale it was canceled due to circumstances beyond our control.

Hot News: Toyobaru Project Postponed

Toyota and Subaru have postponed production of their jointly developed sports coupe in the wake of the new car sales slump.
The ‘Toyobaru’ - a 2+2 that could become the spiritual successor to the Supra – will not arrive until 2012 at the earliest, according to reports. That’s a delay of at least 18 months.
“We’re discussing with Fuji Heavy the timing for the start of production and other details,” is all Hideaki Homma, a Toyota spokesperson, would tell reporters.
Toyota recently doubled its stake in Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industry to 15 per cent. But Japan’s biggest car maker has posted an unexpected loss for the year and is reluctant to embark on any risky projects.
The plan was for Fuji Heavy Industry to build the coupe for both Toyota and Subaru. Both models would have had different styling and marketing. The designs were thought to be at an advanced stage and test mules have been spotted.
But as Japan’s domestic market continue to contract, analysts are predicting the project will be shelved for some time.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Car: 2010 Jaguar XF Diesel S

The big cat is finally out of the bag! Jaguar has released the first pictures and full details of its new XF Diesel S, an oilburning flagship that combines class-leading performance with impressive fuel economy.Due on sale in March, the newcomer is fitted with a new 3.0-litre V6 engine with 273bhp and a staggering 600nm of torque. Capable of a top speed of 155mph, and a 0-60mph sprint of 5.9 seconds the newcomer also promises to return 42mpg.Meanwhile, CO2 emissions are 179g/km – that’s 10 percent less than the acclaimed 2.7-litre unit that this new engine replaces.Power is transmitted to the road via the rear wheels, through an updated six speed automatic gearbox. Drivers can either select a fully automatic mode, or swap ratios via steering wheel mounted paddles.To complete the package, XF Diesel S also gets 20 inch wheels, an aerodynamic boot lid spoiler and discreet ‘S’ badging.Inside, the S gets sports seats, and a number of specification upgrades to the car’s satellite navigation and air-conditioning systems.However, the new Diesel S is not the only XF to benefit from the company’s latest diesel technology.Jaguar has announced that is also plans to add an entry level 3.0-litre V6 model to the line-up to replace the basic 2.7-litre V6. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Spied Up Date: 2010 Opel/Vauxhall Meriva

HERE are the pictures that prove Vauxhall’s new Meriva is a real smasher!
These spy shots show the aftermath of a controlled side impact test of the forthcoming supermini-MPV. And the little people carrier’s star feature – its rear-hinged back doors – have stood up well to the impact!
Set to debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Meriva will shake up the class with a stylish shape which has changed little from the 2008 Geneva Motor Show concept. The doors are similar to those on the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Mazda RX-8, and are hinged at the rear to allow superb access to the back seats.
In addition, the Meriva will boast a flexible interior with a sliding rear bench seat. And it’s also set to continue the big leaps in cabin quality Vauxhall made with the Insignia. Add in a sleek shape that’s inspired by the Flextreme show car – seen at Frankfurt in 2007 – and it’s sure to turn heads.
As well as conventional petrol and diesel power, there will be an ecoFLEX variant emitting less than 120g/km. And a turbo VXR model is set to top the range. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

CELEB SCOOP: PARIS HILTON'S PINK GT

HOT CARS TV CLASSIC

Spied: 2011 Ferrari Dino

Could Ferrari’s plans to replace the legendary Dino be back on the drawing board?Hot on the heels of the launch of the California comes this spy shot that appears to show that there’s a new supercar on the way from the Famous Italian firm. And this time it looks to be the spiritual successor to the Dino, giving the firm a Porsche 911 rival.it was thought that Ferrari had completed development of ‘entry-level’ small models. However this prototype is based on the 599 GTB, but has a shorter wheelbase and smaller wheels.Should a Porsche 911 rival from Ferrari be given the go ahead, it is likely to use the California’s 450bhp 4.3-litre V8 and seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Spied: 2010 Ford Taurus

You're looking are the latest spy photos of the new 2010 Ford Taurus. Ford is betting big on its updated fullsize Taurus sedan, which will make its world debut at the 2009 Detroit auto show.
The 2010 Taurus will feature updated powertrain options, and Ford will once again refresh the vehicle's styling, the previous iteration of which -- first seen on the Five Hundred and then slightly updated when Ford changed the name back to Taurus -- failed to jumpstart sales of the sedan. From the looks of the spy shots, it is possible new Taurus, which features Ford of Europe styling cues, might attract more buyers in the shrinking fullsize sedan segment.

Judging by the spy shots, the Taurus melds elements of the European Ford Mondeo exterior styling touches with a refined Flex-like interior. Outside, the Taurus eschews the Fusion's three-bar grille and sports lower fascia clearly inspired by the Mondeo -- the same can be said about the wheels, which are probably reserved for a more expensive model. Inside, this particular Taurus appears to have dual-zone climate control, plenty of wood trim, and a Sony audio system. And although we can't see any, we're betting customizable mood lighting is part of the package, as well.
One thing is clear: the blurry 2010 Taurus photo we showed you in April (bottom image) was, in fact, a close-to-production prototype.We don't know much about the Taurus' engines, but with the car riding on the D3 platform that also underpins the recently-released Lincoln MKS, a 3.7L V-6 like the one in the 270-hp MKS should make it to the Taurus, with the 3.5L from the Fusion also likely as an option. The MKS is slated to get a more powerful EcoBoost engine upgrade next spring; it's possible Ford could use that engine as part of a high-performance 2011 Ford Taurus SHO-like vehicle, but whether it's high-output or not, an EcoBoost engine will be coming for the Taurus as well. Ford will more than likely continue to offer front- and all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission as standard in all Taurus models.

With Mercury Sable production stopping sometime in 2009, Ford's Taurus will have slightly more room to move upmarket. Alan Mulally's decision to rename the Five Hundred the Taurus failed to boost sales, but maybe one more push is all the Taurus needs to better compete with the Toyota Avalon, Buick Lucerne, and other fullsize sedans.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hey, today is christmas day!!! I just wanna say Merry Christmas to readers who celebrate it. Hoping you all will be better people. Amen. ^_^

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Hot News: Lexus HS250h

Lexus has launched a new area on its consumer Web site for its upcoming HS 250h Hybrid car that is set to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month. The new car, which we've yet to see any actual pictures of (the rendering above is from a Japanese magazine), will break cover on January 11.
Ever since rumors first surfaced that Lexus would be bringing out a new hybrid, speculation has been rampant about where the vehicle's platform would come from. Most agree that it will use the same Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain found in other Toyota and Lexus models, but the application is a mystery. There have been rumors for some time now that Lexus will get its own version of Toyota's popular Prius hybrid, but in far more luxurious trim in keeping with Lexus' image. To that end, some have speculated that the HS 250h could be that Lexus-ized Prius.That would be all well and good, but during the presentation of the new Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month, Lexus executives told journalists that the HS 250h would be a full-size car. While technology from the 2010 Prius, which will also be debuting at Detroit, could certainly be used in the HS 250h, the platform is likely too small to build a full-size car on. In fact, Japanese car publication Mag-X claims that the HS 250h will share the underpinnings of Toyota's SAI project. That project will use the Prius drivetrain in a larger vehicle and with a larger engine, reportedly the 2.4L engine found in the Camry Hybrid. Of course, the 250 designation is used on the IS line for Toyota's 2.5-liter V-6, so that could also be a remote possibility as the engine for the HS, but best bet is on the 2.4L four as well as its gas engine. The new Toyota-branded hybrid will reportedly slot between the Prius and Camry in size, which means it won't be a fullsize sedan, but Lexus could build a larger car on the same platform. The car is also rumored to have a dual luggage lid system wherein you'll be able to open rear end like a trunk or like a hatch.At this point, all we really know for sure is that the HS 250h will be at Detroit. Will it be Lexified Prius, or something more?

New Car: 2010 Toyota Tundra Work Truck Package

Debuts are rare off the major auto show circuit, but that won't stop Toyota from showing its new 2010 Tundra Work Truck Package at the San Diego Auto Show next week. The package is aimed at commercial truck buyers and will go on sale in the spring of 2009.

The Tundra Work Truck Package will be a stripped down V-6 or V-8 Tundra with almost no options and an MSRP $550 to $650 lower than the MSRP of a similar non-commercial model. With the optional 381-hp 5.7L i-Force V-8, the bare-bones truck will be able to tow a respectable 10,800 lbs.The Tundra Work Truck Package will be available on a variety of models, including the Regular and four-door Double Cabs, standard and long beds and 2WD or 4WD. Work Truck Packages will be easy to spot with black plastic replacing the chrome on the bumpers and grille surround. Inside, though, is where you'll really be able to tell that this is a work truck. Here's what you don't get: power mirrors, map lights, courtesy lights, glove box light, ignition key ring light, cruise control and keyless entry. What you will get are vinyl bench seats and rubber floors for easy cleaning and black plastic trim instead of the standard silver. You also lose your voltage and oil pressure gauges in favor of warning lights. It's not all bad news, though. If you can't live without certain features like your Cruise Control and Keyless Entry, you can get them back in other, more glamorous Work Truck packages.

Exact pricing and options available in the packages isn't known yet and may not be made available at the show next week. All of that information will be available by this spring when the truck goes on sale.

New Car: 2010 Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition

How multifaceted is the noun “griffin”? For some, it refers to a mythical creature that’s part lion, part eagle. For Saab’s aircraft division, it describes the new JAS 39 Griffin fighter jet. And for car buyers, Griffin now means a special edition of the ancient Saab 9-5 to be launched at the 2009 Detroit auto show.
Starting in January, the Griffin package will be available on 9-5 sedans and SportCombi wagons. Though the moniker was inspired by Saab’s aviation heritage, there’s nothing jetlike about this car: propulsion comes from the same 260-hp, 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder as other 9-5s.
In lieu of actual performance upgrades, the 9-5 Griffin sports special 17-inch wheels and a plenary of “Griffin” badges. Sedans receive a trunklid spoiler, while SportCombis score a roof spoiler and matte chrome roof rails. Color choices are up to six, including two new shades of gray for 2009.
Other add-ons include standard backup sensors and heated-and-folding side mirrors. Leather sport seats, like those in Saab Aero models, come in two-tone parchment and black. Other interior changes are shiny interior trim and accent stitching for the steering wheel, shifter, parking brake lever, and seats.
When the Griffins go on sale in January—assuming GM hasn’t axed Saab or gone bankrupt by then—the sedan will sell for $42,775 and the SportCombi will command $44,045.

Hot News: Fiat Plans Low Cost Cars

Fiat has made plans to launch a new line of low-cost cars in western Europe.
Two of the three models are reported to have been developed by Fiat and its Brazilian subsidiary. They had originally been scheduled to replace Fiat’s ageing Palio ‘world car’ and the Uno supermini, which is still made in modified form in Brazil.
Fiat has decided to restyle the cars for western European markets and launch them by 2010 under a new brand. They would be aimed at budget-conscious buyers at the tail end of the global recession.
Fiat could also launch a re-worked version of the Seicento city car in late 2011, sources within the industry have reported.
It will be notably light and is likely to be powered by a new super-frugal, two-cylinder engine.
The car will probably be aimed at the growing market for ultra-compact city cars, but will be much cheaper than either a Smart or Toyota IQ.
The company wants to become one of the main players in the European market for low-cost cars and is keen to launch a second brand name alongside Fiat.
Fiat thinks it can tap the same new market targeted by Renault with the Logan family. Analysts believe that increasingly stringent pollution legislation – some of which will control entry to European city centres – will force drivers who had previously bought secondhand cars into the budget new car market.
There’s no concrete news on prices at this early stage, but the new Seicento could be priced as low as £5500.
The three models are expected to be built in Fiat plants in either Poland, Serbia or Italy.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Subaru Diesel Delayed

The long-awaited diesel Subaru Impreza UK launch has been delayed indefinitely due to the yen exchange rate, which hit its highest level in 13 years last Wednesday.
Sources inside International Motors, Subaru’s official UK importer, admitted that the company had no choice but to delay the vital diesel model until the Yen rate drops.
“At the current rate we would have to charge vastly more than we can justify for the diesel Impreza if we were to make a profit. As a result we can’t guarantee when the car will go on sale as we can’t predict when the economy will change.”
Subaru is not the only company suffering as a result of the poor exchange rate. Takeo Fukui, Honda’s chief executive, called on the Japanese government to ‘move a bit more swiftly’ to stabilise the Yen after the company announced that it could make a second-half loss. Toyota has also posted its first operating loss since 1941.
Though the Japanese government has intervened in its currency rates in the past, there is no guarantee as yet that any action will be taken in the current crisis.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Ssangyong Can't Pay Staff

Korean carmaker Ssangyong cannot afford to pay its December salaries and has confirmed it’s more than £50m in debt.
“Due to lack of operating funds for December, it is impossible for the company to pay salaries any longer,” Ssangyong told workers in a letter last Friday.
Korea’s smallest manufacturer turned to its parent company Shanghai Automotive Industry in China for emergency funds, but the request was refused.
The firm employs about 8000 staff in Korean. Shanghai Automotive bought the majority stake three years ago.
The Ssangyong executive committee now plans a protest rally against its Chinese management, according to Korean newspaper Chosun.
Ssangyong sales in Korea have dropped by more than a third in the last year. It’s already shut 60 dealers in the country.
In the UK Ssangyong has sold 595 cars to date this year, compared with 1299 during the same period last year.

Thanks to: Autocar

Sneak Peek: Toyota FT-EV

Toyota announced today its intention to debut an all-new electric-vehicle concept at January’s Detroit auto show. The vehicle will be called the FT-EV, and the single image released shows only the badge, affixed to a translucent, amber -colored surface. As to the vehicle’s actual identity, FT is simply Toyota shorthand for ‘future,’ so the FT-EV could be anything, really.

To wit, Toyota showed the FT-HS sports-car concept—HS for Hybrid Sports—at the 2007 Detroit auto show. The FT prefix was also applied to the FT-SX concept, which eventually morphed into the production Venza crossover, as well as theFTX concept, which became the current Tundra pickup.

We’ve got our fingers crossed for something sporty, but we’ll have to wait until the show’s press days to find out. Stay tuned for more details.

Toyota will also debut the next-generation 2010 Prius at the Detroit show, where it will battle the 2009 Honda Insight for attention.

GUMBALL 3000 Coverage

Gumball 3000 covergage thanks to BerderP

http://www.berderp.com/2008/08/gumball-rally-2008-in-sf-pt-1.html

HOT SHOTS 005: STUNTIN EARLY

Hot News: GM Holden to Build Small Car

GM Holden will build an all-new small car in Australia alongside the country's best-selling Commodore range.
The second carline will start in the third quarter of 2010 with support from the Federal and South Australian Governments.
The vehicle will be based on General Motors' global Delta small car platform and feature new technologies to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse emissions.
The new front-wheel-drive vehicle will be built as a sedan and hatch at GM Holden's Elizabeth manufacturing facility in South Australia. Design and engineering work will take place at the company's headquarters in Port Melbourne, Victoria.
Start-stop hybrid technology and capacity to run on alternative fuels such as E85, diesel, LPG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are all being considered for the vehicle's development.
It will be GM Holden's first locally produced car beyond its current range of larger vehicles since the Asian economic crisis ended Vectra production in 1998.
The program will require 500 to 600 existing employees at Elizabeth and is estimated to provide 500 to 600 local supplier positions.
GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss said the announcement provided opportunity to take a leading role in developing alternative fuel and fuel saving technologies in Australia for Australians.
Mr Reuss said the program would be a major contributor to the economy, generating an estimated $70 million to $80 million in wages and $30 million in research and development.
"Together with Government, we are extending the scope and consumer appeal of our local manufacturing efforts," Mr Reuss said.
"We have been building Holden cars to suit the needs of Australian motorists for 60 years. These plans build on that tradition.

New Car: 2010 Maserati Quattroporte GTS

With its unique headlamps, new look badges and ultra luxury interior, this is the car Maserati says will finally break BMW and Mercedes grip on the supersaloon class.
These are the first pictures of the new Quattroporte Sport GT S, a BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 AMG rival which will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show this week.Offering a staggering 432bhp from its 4.7-litre V8 engine, the model also gets a quick shift gearbox, and revised suspension.
The car’s ride height has also been lowered, and there a new sports exhaust has been fitted that features a special set of valves that varies the system’s volume and pitch.
To help drivers immediately identify the newcomer, changes have also been made to the front grille – which is now the same design as that fitted to the recently launched Gran Turismo.Door handles get a colour coded finish, while inside, driver and passengers are offered leather and alcantara trimmed bucket seats, plus composite detailing on the doors and dash.
Prices for the newcomer will be announced in the New Year.

New Car: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Amid the dark fog of uncertainty pervading the future of General Motors, the automaker debuts the latest revision to its Chevrolet lineup at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit: a heavily redesigned 2010 Equinox mid-size crossover. Set to go on sale in mid-2009 in LS, LT, and LTZ trims, the new model adopts the brand’s split-grille mug introduced on the 2008 Malibu sedan and will be one of the first GM vehicles to feature all-new and direct-injected inline four-cylinder and V-6 engines.
Dimensionally, the new Equinox rides on the same 112.5-inch wheelbase of the previous model, yet is one inch shorter and wider. A more steeply raked windshield gives a sleeker profile for improved aerodynamics, while available 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels pushed closer to the corners provide greater stability and allow for a more spacious cabin. The Equinox’s overall design is more aggressive than its bigger brother, the Lambda-based Chevrolet Traverse, with a more-sculpted front end, bold wheel arches, and distinct creases in the sheetmetal below the beltline. The rear sports stacked round taillights and dual exhausts, yet is reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz ML-class with its forward-canted C-pillars and flush-fitting, wraparound side glass.

With cross-town rival Ford waving a turbocharged and direct-injected EcoBoost finger in GM’s face, Chevy’s new trucklet will come out of the gate fitted with a pair of efficient DI engines: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 182 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 255 hp and 214 lb-ft. Both powertrains are backed by six-speed automatics and optional all-wheel-drive systems (front-wheel-drive is standard), with the new inline-four developing nearly as much power as the previous Equinox’s 3.4-liter V-6. DI technology also endows the new 3.0-liter V-6, with output almost matching the current Equinox Sport’s 264-hp 3.6-liter V-6.
Combined with electric power steering and better aerodynamics, the new engines help four-cylinder models achieve up to a claimed 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Outfitted with the V-6, GM says fuel economy drops slightly to an estimated city/highway rating of up to 18/25 mpg. However, enlarged fuel tanks allow for more than 500 miles of driving range, regardless of engine choice. And, like the 3.6-liter DI V-6 in the Cadillac CTS and GM’s Lambda large crossovers, both engines are happy with regular unleaded.

HOT SHOTS 004

Convertible 18 Wheeler

YOUNG JEEZY'S WRECKED LAMBO. LIFE'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EXOTIC SPORTS COUPES

PRESIDENT BUSH BAILS THE BIG 3 OUT. WE MIGHT ACTUALLY SEE SOME OF THESE CARS COME TO LIGHT....

2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO



2010 CHRYSLER IMPERIAL



2010 FORD MUSTANG

CELEB SCOOP: LIL BOOSIE'S 09 CHALLENGER

New Car: 2010 Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss

If you’ve ever dreamed of having a grand-prix driving experience on the street—and have pockets as stuffed as Scrooge McDuck’s—the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss is the thing for you. Serving as the final hurrah for the SLR line, the Stirling Moss sheds both its top and windshield and continues the Mille Miglia–centric theme of the previous SLR 722 and Roadster 722 S special-edition SLRs—722 was both the number and start time of the 300 SLR that won the 1955 event. The driver of that car, of course, was Sir Stirling Moss.
This open-cockpit wonder’s 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine will make the same 641 hp as the 722. Zero-to-62-mph sprints are expected to be achieved in less than 3.5 seconds, and top speed is a claimed 217 mph. Imagine 217 mph without the protection of laminated safety glass; the two wind deflectors that stand less than an inch tall likely won’t do much to protect you from the impact of even a large moth at that speed. This car is hard-core.

Even beyond the obvious lack of a roof and windshield, the rest of the Stirling Moss edition's carbon-fiber exterior is radically different from that of other SLRs, beginning with a freshly styled front fascia. Gone are the quad headlights (removed in favor of stacked clusters), as well as the single-slat grille on both sides of the three-pointed star, giving the front a much smoother style. The lower portion of the front now peaks at the center and the larger intake resembles that of the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. Two large hood vents are added near the cowl along with a smaller vent in the front on the passenger side.
The Moss edition features a deep body crease that begins behind the front wheel and extends almost to the back of the door. Dual exhaust outlets now find their exit in the middle of the front quarter panel, rather than down at the rocker, as on conventional SLRs. Smaller and sleeker taillights give the rear a very modern look, while the deck sports two aero humps topped with roll hoops. The rear diffuser is considerably larger than the SLR coupe or roadster’s. There’s a retractable air brake as on the other SLR models, but the Stirling Moss’s air brake differs in that it can be operated manually.

The interior is reduced to what Benz calls the “bare essentials,” although it is still coated in high-zoot materials such as carbon fiber, aluminum, and leather. An aluminum plate around the shift lever will carry the engraved signature of Stirling Moss to remind you which SLR you’re driving, just in case the sparrow you nearly took to the face doesn’t do the trick.
The SLR Stirling Moss will be limited to 75 units, which will be the final SLRs ever built, marking the end of the manufacturing contract between Mercedes and McLaren. Assembly will begin in June of 2009 following the end of SLR roadster production in May. Production of the 75 vehicles will continue through December; each one will carry a price of about $1 million—the official price is 750,000 euros—and will only be made available to existing SLR customers in Europe. Considering the Euro-only sales, it’s strange that Mercedes chose to debut the SLR Stirling Moss at the 2009 Detroit auto show. We’re not sure there really is a perfect venue to unveil a radical, speedster-style supercar, but the Motor City probably isn’t it.

CELEB SCOOP: MIKE JONES PUTS HIS WHIP GAME ON FRONT STREET. SWEET!

SLAB





FLYING SPUR



H2



BENTLEY AZZURE



DRIVING THE JAG

WHAT WILL WE DO WITHOUT THE BIG 3?

CELEB SCOOP: FAT JOE PICKS UP HIS CL600

Project cop car

Project cop car