Mercedes Shows Off Gorgeous New SLR Variant

Mercedes, keeping with the tradition of producing limited editions of its SLR McLaren supercar, has released concept photos of what will be the final variants of the SLR. Dubbed the SLR Stirling Moss, it is a continuation of the heritage line of SLRs that pay respect to Mercedes' 1955 win at the Mille Miglia endurance race. The first special editions of the SLR were the 722, the number and start time of the 300 SLR that won the event (pictured below), and Stirling Moss was the driver for the event.









It has a sort of Dodge Viper shape, with exhaust pipes jetting out to the side just in front of the drivers seat, but the similarities to that supercar end there. Concept drawing show the car with Lamborghini-style lifting doors, and there are no windshields for the car. It also carries over the same engine from the 722 edition, with 641 horsepower.
The price for these cars will run a hefty $1 million each, although they will only be sold in Europe.

Read the full caranddriver.com article here.

White House Warns Against Hopes of Bailout by Monday

It's something I've been avoiding: writing about the desperate cries for help from the U.S. auto industry. Everyone knows by now that the 3 American auto manufacturers, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, have been pleading with Congress for at least $14 billion to keep themselves operating. Ford has enough cash to keep going through 2009 but is seeking help in case the financial markets do not improve in order to lend money in the future. GM and Chrysler are dangerously close to running to of funds, and will do so in a few weeks if emergency legislation is not passed.
The downturn in sales can likely be attributed to the rising gas prices of the last few years and the reliance of U.S. auto manufacturers on sport utility vehicles, which usually offer piss-poor gas mileage. The SUVs carried high profit margins and demand was high when gas was less than $2/gallon, but rising gas prices have seen consumers fleeing to fuel efficient vehicles from Japan and Germany. Because cars take years from drawings to production, automakers were unable to respond quickly enough to push new models into the marketplace. Competitors were able to release cheap, fuel efficient, fun to drive cars like the new generation Honda Civic and Mini Cooper, as well as fuel misers like the Toyota Prius, while the Big 3 produced cars that were too plain,didnt have interior materials that were not up to par with foregein rivals, or rides deemed to harsh for daily commutes (Ford Focus and Dodge Caliber, I am looking at you).
If these guys begged for money a year ago, I would say, let them go. Restructuring is greatly needed, and consolidation of too many brands is greatly needed. Some brands are dated and neeed to go (Hummer is dead in the water, too many are produced for such a niche market; GMC is a bunch of rebadged SUVs and trucks from other GM offerings; the Mercury brand is a money sink).
However, unemployment just hit 6.7%, and the last thing we need is a whole lot of people out of work. There are a lot of jobs at stake in Detroit and the surrounding areas, and a significant amount of layoffs could exacerbate the current economic crisis. Not to mention Wall Street's reaction to such news, which has been optimistic in the last couple of weeks due to anticipated passing of a bailout bill.
A lot of lawmakers in Congress have been hesitant of handing out money to the auto industry, after the debacle that was the financial bailout, a hastily dispersed trove of cash that has been handed out to many financial institutions without any real provisions as to how the money must be spent. Congress will be more thourough this time around, but the bill needs to pass soon, if only not to escalate the crumbling economy.

Feel free to comment on this article, and we will be back to reporting regular new model information soon!

Posted by: Cameron

Audi's R8 Finally Gets a V-10

Audi announced a few days ago that its first supercar, the R8, will be fitted with a 5.2 liter V-10, a more powerful version of the engines in the S6 and S8 sedans. It will output 518 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque, compared with the 420 hp and 317 lb-ft of the normal R8. Fuel economy is expected to plummet, but it will get a bit less than 17 mpg, which is respectable for such a large engine. The increase in power leads to a 3.9 second sprint to 60 from a standstill for the V-10, whereas the V-8 hits it in 4.6 seconds, according to Audi. The R8, when it was still being conceived as a concept car, was rumored to have a detuned version of Lamborghini's V-10 but Audi claimed that such an engine would not fit into the R8.
The exterior will stay similar to the normal model, although the Front headlights will be composed entirely of LEDs. It will also feature the mascara-like LEDs that run along underneath the main lights that Audi has incorporated into all of its 2009 models, originally seen on the V-8 R8. It will also keep its controversial side blades fore of the rear wheels.
The V-10 will also bring up the price tag over the already expensive supercar, which currently suffers from obscene dealer mark ups. It is going on sale in Germany to the tune of $182,000, but when it comes to the U.S., don't expect it to fetch anywhere near the MSRP. At this price level it will compete with the Ferrari F430 and the Porsche GT2.

Read the roadandtrack.com preview here

Posted by: Cameron

2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

I'll admit right now that I am a Honda guy. I've driven all kinds of other cars, and other than my dad's old GMC Diablo, I just have not been impressed. That said, I have a thing for Corvettes. I know a lot of people like to talk about how they are overrated, too expensive, or a sign of a midlife crisis. While the latter may be true, to the former, I don't say a word...


I like to let the pictures do the talking, and if these don't change your mind, nothing will. Chevy is re-introducing the ZR1 late in the model year (It was recently produced from 1990 to 1995). The ZR1 boasts a 6.2L V8 with a ridiculous 638 horsepower and 604 lb/ft of torque. According to the New York Times, the ZR1's 0-60 time is even faster than the Ferrari Enzo! What's more, the car actually hits 20 mpg on the highway ("Hey! You spilled your gas mileage on my sports car!" - my first thought). Inside Line has a video that compares Nissan's GT-R to the Chevy's Corvette ZR1.



-Frank

My Favorite SUV

The 2008 Land Rover Range Rover.

HSE or Supercharged trims
Engine: Normally-aspirated 4.4L V-8; Supercharged 4.2L V-8
Horsepower: (@ rpm) 305 @ 5,750; 400 @ 5,750
Torque: (lbs.-ft. @ rpm) 325 @ 4,000; 420 @ 3,500
Transmission: 6-speed automatic or 6-speed automatic
EPA gas mileage: 12/18; 12/18
Recommended fuel: Premium; Premium

0 to 60 mph times of 7.1 seconds for the Supercharged and 8.3 seconds for the HSE


Price:
HSE: $77,175
Supercharged: $92,825

The unique aspect of the vehicle is it's Response Terrain Technology: it has five terrain settings which suits its driving conditions; dry pavement, snow, mud, sand, and rock. The interior is equipped with luxury leather seats, excellent sound system, touch screen navigation screen, with a nice DVD entertainment system. The vehicle is equipped with nine airbags for maximum protection. The ride a smooth comfortable ride for a car that was built for extreme outdoor conditions.

Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson taking on a Tank with the Range Rover Sport


Posted by: Peter

Porsche Finally Releases Pictures of Long-Rumored Sports Sedan

Porsche has recently released photos of its forthcoming Panamera sedan, and boy, is it going to piss off Porsche fans. The exterior styling combines a classic 911 front end with a stretched out Chrysler Crossfire back end, complete with Ford Focus-style accents in front of the front doors, with the same awkward rear-sloping hatchback.
The engine will be placed in the front of the car, similar to the Volkswagen Tour- err, Porsche Cayenne, and it is rumored to carry the same engine combinations as that car, from the lowly V-6 to the turbocharged V-8 that gulps gas like $5/gallon was a distant memory.
Porsche has been is a company known for bucking the trend, and that philosophy lives on in the Panamera, as it shares none on the sexy looks of the Lamborghini Estoque concept sedan or the Aston Martin Rapide concept. Still, It may prove to be a wise business move to those looking for something more exciting than a mega-luxury yacht like the Lexus LS or BMW 7 series.

Read the caranddriver.com article here.

Posted by: Cameron

2010 Mustang Revealed to Public: Mild Upgrades

This week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford will show the public a slightly redesigned Mustang that includes some cool new exterior bits, as well as a slightly pumped up engine. The car, more a refresh than a completely new version, will feature an engine similar to that in the limited-edition Bullit variant that was released in early 2008. The size of the V-8 will remain 4.6 liters, but thanks to a new cold air intake, the power will rise slightly to 315HP.
The interior will supposedly be a bit more refined, with the addition of softer plastics, and interior shots of the car hint at more comfortable seats. Not that the seats will offer that much protection from bumpy roads, as the redesign will also carry over the live rear axle suspension that the models have become notorious for in the days of independent rear suspension. Well, that's the trade-off for a low price, I suppose.
The exterior looks much better than the current car, with the front end getting GT-500 style diagonal arms next to the lights, and the rear end gets curvier taillights. Expect the redesign to keep the masses full until an all-new Mustang arrives in a few years.

Read the automobilemag.com article here

Posted by: Cameron