One more 'Official' rendering for your perusal: Audi A7

CAR has been releasing what it's called "official sketches" from Audi execs privy to the future of the four-ringed automaker. This latest drawing shows what Ingolstadt plans to pit against the Mercedes CLS in the burgeoning sports sedan segment, likely to be dubbed the A7. Built off the next generation A6 platform, the shapely sedan will get similar styling cues as its cross-town rival, with a steeply raked roof flowing into what looks like a low-slung hatch.

Power is expected to come from either a three-liter V6 or a 4.8-liter V8, with the RS model fitted with a Lamborghini-sourced V10 in either naturally aspirated or twin-turbo'd trim. Expect a 4.2-liter TDI unit to be available in Europe as well.

Pricing will land squarely between the A6 and A8, so its safe to assume that prices abroad will be in the £35,000-£50,000 range, with the possibility of a soft-top model also being offered further down the road.

According to CAR, the A7 will make its debut at the 2008 New York Auto Show, with sales beginning in September 2009.

[Source: CAR]

Reader Ride: 1992 Infiniti G20

Our obsession of all things automotive extends far beyond the latest and greatest that comprises the majority of what you read. That's one of the reasons we've brought back the Reader Ride, so we can showcase what the majority of us roll on a daily basis. Today's ride is exactly the kind of thing we're into; a rather staid means of transport that is well loved by its owner. Flickr member thefultonhow through up three shots of his '92 Infiniti G20, along with a detailed description of life with his 'G,' and after reading his story, we couldn't help but feature it.

Purchased new by his mother back in 1992, the G20 survived the rigors of daily driving at the hands his mom, and also provided of means of learning for both his brother and Mr. Fultonhow. After 169,000 miles of dutiful service, the stock mill decided to liberate a rod while his brother was behind the wheel, and after a series of attempts at selling the G20, he decided to perform a heart transplant in his grandfather's garage. The only catch: he'd never done anything like it before.

Armed with a factory shop manual, endless patience and nearly a month of his life, he replaced the spent motor with a JDM SR20DE, mated to the stock five-speed manual. After a series of fits and starts, the SR finally came to life and after 4,000 miles everything seems to be going strong.

He's kept the upgrades to a minimum in an effort to stay within the bounds of the H-stock autocross class, with plans to install an aftermarket stereo, some new wheels and some R-compound tires mounted on the stock rollers for competition.

We're love this kind of stuff, so make the jump to see a few more pics and learn how to submit your own ride to our Flickr pool.

FULL GALLERY: 2008 MINI Clubman

click above image for 21 high-res pics of the 2008 MINI Clubman

The trail of embargo breaking is long, but apparently the first images of the 2008 MINI Clubman were published by AutoWeek in their actual weekly magazine, which began arriving on some doorsteps yesterday. Since then, more and more pictures have appeared online, to the point that Autocar just let loose with the whole kit and kaboodle. Hence, we've added the rest of the pictures to our own gallery, and unlike most other sites, ours are high-res at 1,280 pixels wide so you can examine closely how odd those rear doors really are.

The actual embargo on the photos was supposed to be lifted this Sunday, so if that holds true, we should expect the official press release from MINI with more details then, and maybe even more pictures. That is, unless the brand realizes it's futile at this point to hold out on us.

Thanks for the massive debt, here's a Jeep: Buy a log cabin, get a Wrangler

Just as the Prius is an essential piece of kit if you desire to wrap yourself in the color green, if being ever-ready is what you'd like to exude, buy a house. Not just any house, mind you - that'd be like a Greenie stripped of their Starbucks intravenous drip, Livestrong bracelet, and Macintosh laptop. If it's backwood rancher/Eagle Scout that you're looking to portray, no domicile will do better than a log cabin. Of course, while the outside says 1885, modern log cabins are a luxury item commonly purchased as a weekend home for the well-heeled, or as a retirement home. Canada-based Pioneer Log Homes has just launched a UK branch, and customers that purchase a model called "The Anchorage" will be rewarded with a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited left in the drive when construction's done.

The two products definitely go together. Both the home and the 4-wheeler look like they could've been hewn with the same axe, offering a certain rugged charm. We like the idea, mainly because a vacation home is a delightful aspiration, as is a Wrangler. Pioneer says you don't have to be a millionaire to afford one of their homes, with a starting point of £650 per square meter. Let's see, multiply by two, divide by nine, hot damn - that's actually not terrible! At today's exchange rate, that square meter cost works out to about $150 per square foot. You could always turn around and sell the Jeep to pay down the mortgage.

press release after the jump

[Source: Pioneer Log Homes]

Chevy HHR SS will have available automatic transmission

Click image for a gallery of leaked HHR SS info

A member of ChevyHHR.net dropped us a line to let us know that his local Chevy dealer had gotten some 2008 Chevy HHRs yesterday. One of his first orders of business was to grab the new owners manual and start flipping through the pages. His perusal bore fruit, as on page 2-47, he found the following passage in the "Cupholder(s)" section (shown at right):

"If your vehicle is an SS model, the automatic transmission vehicles have a cupholder in front of the shifter."

This serves as the first official-ish confirmation (Chevy has not yet made any formal announcements related to the HHR SS) that the 2008 HHR SS will be offered with an automatic in addition to the 5-speed manual that's referenced in the brochure that was leaked earlier in the month. The next question, of course, is which automatic will be offered?

Thanks, Ryan!

[Source: ChevyHHR.net (registration req'd)]

All-new Infiniti FX to debut in Geneva '08

Our friends over at the GT Channel are in the midst of Infiniti's G37 press event, and between shrimp cocktails and the malaise of pandering PR-types, Mark Igo, the general manager and veep of Nissan's luxury arm made the announcement that a new FX is due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next year.

It's a foregone conclusion that the new 3.7-liter VQ-series V6 will be making its way under the hood of many new Infiniti models, including the new G37, M37 and now, the FX37. But aside from powertrain speculation, Igo remained mum on any styling revisions that the long-in-the-tooth FX will undergo. We'll be on the floor in Geneva in March, so for now, the waiting game begins.

[Source: GT Channel]

All-new Infiniti FX to debut in Geneva '08

Our friends over at the GT Channel are in the midst of Infiniti's G37 press event, and between shrimp cocktails and the malaise of pandering PR-types, Mark Igo, the general manager and veep of Nissan's luxury arm made the announcement that a new FX is due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next year.

It's a foregone conclusion that the new 3.7-liter VQ-series V6 will be making its way under the hood of many new Infiniti models, including the new G37, M37 and now, the FX37. But aside from powertrain speculation, Igo remained mum on any styling revisions that the long-in-the-tooth FX will undergo. We'll be on the floor in Geneva in March, so for now, the waiting game begins.

[Source: GT Channel]

Honda Civic MUGEN Si on sale this fall

Ahhh, Autumn. We love it so. The leaves change, football is in full swing, the air gets brisk, and Honda comes clean with a MUGEN for us Yanks. That's right, kids: Americans will finally be able to buy a Mugen-prepared Honda Civic this fall. Following up on the Honda Civic MUGEN Si show car that was displayed at SEMA last year, Honda has announced that the production version will go on sale in October. The Civic MUGEN Si is powered by the same 197-horsepower four-cylinder as the standard-issue Si, but the MUGEN is the beneficiary of a track-tuned suspension, lighter wheels, and a new sport exhaust. It also gets the requisite aero kit with an updated grille, skirting and new spoilers fore and aft. Inside, look for a new shift knob and a plaque. Only 1,000 Civic MUGEN Si sedans will be built for the 2008 model year (sorry, no coupes), and all will be finished in the Fiji Blue Pearl you see here. Full pricing details weren't announced, but Honda did say that the car will go for less than $30,000. Until enthusiasts here in the States are offered a Type-R, this is gonna be the Civic to have. Sure, it's no Civic MUGEN RR, but it's a start.

[Source: Honda]

Start-stop MINI due in September, diesel version to match CO2 emissions of Prius

According to suppliers quoted by Automotive News, soon after the MINI press conference concludes in Frankfurt, buyers will be able to get their iconic runabout complete with regenerative braking and start-stop features.

Both gasoline- and diesel-powered models will be equipped with the new technology, supplied by Bosch, and the oilburning offerings will emit 104 g/km of C02, a 12-percent decrease from the standard model. As a comparison, the 1.5-liter gasoline-electric hybrid Prius produces the same amount of C02, something that should be noted by both consumers and legislators alike. Sales are set to begin this September.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Surprise, surprise: U.S. ranks 42nd out of 48 countries in deaths per capita

When you hear that the US is 42nd out of 48 countries when it comes to number of deaths per capita, it might sound like a good thing. Until you find out that the rankings go from lowest to highest -- which means, yes, that of the measured countries, there are only six places where driving is more deadly than the Land of the Free. (Tip: you might want to avoid driving in Russia and Lithuania for a few more years.)

The posited reasons are varied and numerous, and include the brevity of driver training, lax laws, weak enforcement, no emphasis on public transport, little public awareness, and a lack of Federal legislation. Regardless of the causes, the effect is that it's riskier to get behind the wheel here than it is in the Poland or Estonia. This is despite the fact that cars have gotten exponentially safer, and the US leads the world in the adoption of electronic stability control, said to be "the greatest life-saving technology since the seat belt."

If there's any consolation, it's that the US does considerably better in the number of fatalities per mile driven, where the US comes in at number 11. Before you celebrate, in 1970 the US was number one. Which country has the lowest number of fatalities per capita? Malta.

[Source: New York Times]

Reader Ride: 1972 Datsun 240Z

It's with the greatest pleasure and sincerest honor that we're able to kick-off the return of the Reader Ride with this 1972 Datsun 240Z. Aside from being one of the most handsome vehicles to ever leave Tokyo and its game-changing affect on the perception of Japanese vehicles, this 240Z has a history that was too compelling to pass up.

With only 40,000 miles on the odometer, it was purchased by Victor Vazquez of South Orange County from its previous owner located in San Diego. Originally intended to be a daily driver and perpetual project, Victor found it to be too much of a mechanical handful for daily duty, so it was sent off to a paint shop to restore it to its former glory. Regrettably, the reunion has never taken place, as Mr. Vazquez passed away on November 13th, last year.

The current owner, Victor's brother, has yet to receive the Z back from the shop, but when he does, it's expected to live out its life in the garage as a weekend-cruiser and rolling memorial to his brother.

Our love and regards are being sent out to the Vazquez family, and although this post could never do Victor's memory justice, we're honored that we were able to salute him in one of the only ways we know how.

Rendered speculation: 2009 Audi A5/S5 sportback

Audi's A5 line was supposed to mean "coupe," but the exception to the rule appears to be the Sportback variant. While the renderings give it five doors, the car definitely retains its coupe DNA -- there'll be no chance of confusing it with an A4 Avant. The bog standard Sportback will make do with front wheel drive and common rail diesels producing 140 to 200 hp. Step above that and you'll get gas options that utilize Audi's TFSI engines, as well as quattro and torque vectoring. The star at the top of the Christmas tree goes by the name of RS5, and gets the 4.2-liter FSI V8. If the final version looks as good as the renderings, then we think we need two.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Tuners just can't get enough of the 997 Turbo, with a list so far including SpeedART, TechArt, Edo, Rinspeed, and 9ff. That latter tuner even rings th

Tuners just can't get enough of the 997 Turbo, with a list so far including SpeedART, TechArt, Edo, Rinspeed, and 9ff. That latter tuner even rings three bells by winning the HP competition, the top speed run, and being a convertible. The Swiss modifier fiddles with the ECU, swaps out the stock turbos for its own units, installs a high-flow exhaust, new air filter, and a strengthened clutch. Sportech also adds hi-po brakes with 6-pot calipers, a sports suspension, and a new front spoiler and rear wing -- and some hot wheels. Then it tunes the entire thing in four stages: from a 530-hp Stage 1 package to a 580-hp Stage 4 time-bender that digs holes in the road with 564-lb-ft of torque. Top speed is 210 mph. We never complain about anyone who adds to the already fantastic 997 Turbo, but in such a crowded and nandrolone-infused field, this latest entrant could sound, well, excuse us for saying so, but... tame.

[Source: Motor Authority]

The VR Concept from the man who gave Europe the C-Max

I don't think we've said this since at least yesterday, but when it comes to cars, Europe gets the best stuff. What you see above is only a concept, but it was dreamed up by Daniel Paulin, the gent who created Ford's C-Max -- which is a Europe-only offering -- as well as the original Focus concept and the FAB1 ship from the Thunderbirds film. Paulin left Ford, moved home to Sweden, and started the Paulin Motor Company. Its first product is this, a 2-seater called the VR Concept. Part Speed Racer, part sea creature, it's swoopy and planed at the same time. The lifting canopy is a pretty nifty evolution of Saab's Aero X jet fighter-style raising canopy. With that and the scissor doors, ingress and egress should be simple by even the most supercar-challenged body shapes. It would also make ejector seat installation a snap. Paulin is looking for partners to help put the car into production, and in the mean time will be producing three concepts per year, as well as an actual model for a motor show. As far as the VR goes, Mr. Paulin, we'll take it.

[Source: Auto Express]

BMW name celebrates 90th birthday

July 21 is a very special day for many of us. It marks the release of the last installment in the Harry Potter series. But it is also a special date for lovers of Bavarian wheels. For, 90 years ago on that forthcoming date, the BMW name first appeared. Way back in 1917, BMW was trademarked and soon after the new name was applied to everything built by the firm. Those three little letters that would come to signify sports sedans to so many, were built on the back of a small engine manufacturer. Back then Karl Rapp was building V12 engines for Austro-Daimler. Soon he was joined by Camillo Castiglioni, Cornelius Jagdmann and Max Friz, and Bayerische Motoren Werke was born. We suggested BMW give away 90 M3s to automotive bloggers in honor of the occasion, but they haven't returned our calls.





[Source: MotorAuthority]

Hyundai and Kia open $58M green tech center

Bolstering their green credentials and commitment to the environment, Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia have teamed up on a $50 million green tech R&D center. The purpose of the facility will be to "accelerate the commercialization of fuel-cell electric vehicles," and it is kitted out with a hydrogen filling station, an endurance tester, emissions lab, and dynos. There is also a prototype plant for automated vehicle dismantling that will explore options for bettering the amount of recyclables in the modern car. Even the toilets at the facility are green: they are vacuum units, as on airplanes, that will save 1,500 tons of water per year. Hyundai and Kia have not been considered major players in the hybrid movement, but, depending on what starts to come out of this center, that could change rather soon.

[Source: Inside Line]

Sketch design of KIA’s New Concept Car

KIA Motors has unveiled the sketch design of their new concept car and it’s said to be displayed on the upcoming Frankfurt International Motor Show 2007. It is a 2-door coupe designed and manufactured in Europe.

[Source: Aving]

Ford kills Aussie inline 6-cylinder

High fuel prices have taken another casualty. This time it's the Australian built Ford inline six-cylinder engine, which will be phased out in 2010 to make way for the Blue Oval's new Duratec V6. Up to 600 employees at the Geelong plant in Melbourne, which builds the old six-cylinder, will be losing their jobs, but some staff are expected to be redeployed elsewhere.

Ford cites its new product manufacturing strategy of accessing global economies of scale as the main factor for dropping the engine, but falling demand for Australia's traditional large sedans because of rising fuel prices and impending changes to local emissions standards would also have had a major impact on the decision.

The Aussie division is still on track to complete a new R&D center as part of Ford's $1.8 billion Australian investment program, and significant investment programs in new emissions laboratories and wind tunnel technology will continue.

The new Duratec engine will be sourced from high volume U.S. engine facilities and there's even talk of the addition of new diesel units for the locally built Falcon and Territory models.

[Source: Ford]

eBay Find Of The Day: Terchero

What is it about the front-loaded form factor introduced by the Ford Ranchero in 1957 that the compulsion to modify other cars in its image is so great? Witness this first-generation Toyota Tercel - it's got a "needs to be fixed" list, but the bodywork looks darn good. It's hard to discern from the fuzzy pictures whether the claim of a professional conversion is bogus, or if this is one of those bondo buckets that waves back at you when you sight down the quarter panel. Nevertheless, you could have a lot of fun with this stubby trucklet. It'd be a cheap way to have fun at car shows, and we can't imagine a much less expensive vehicle to maintain. The color scheme looks rather handsome, actually, and the Cadillac taillights look pretty slick in this application. This appears to be a vehicle that was done up a while ago and then put away for some time. Older restorations can be hoary little chestnuts, so if you're going to bid, find a buddy in York, PA who can go take a look.

Thanks to tipster Matt!

Honda's Chinese joint-venture to develop own brand

Foreign car makers have formed partnerships with Chinese auto firms in order to make vehicles sold as one of the existing brands. One of Honda's partnerships builds Honda Fits for the Euro market. Another of Honda's joint ventures is with Guangzhou Automobile, a state-run enterprise, that created Guangzhou Honda. That tie-in is about to do something new, in creating a third brand for the Chinese market. The first step will be establishing an R&D subsidiary to oversee the project. The size of the investment hasn't been disclosed, however, it was asserted by unnamed sources that it would exceed the funding normally allotted to these kinds of ventures by standalone Chinese companies.

[Source: Just-Auto, sub req'd]

2008 Subaru Impreza starts at $16,995, WRX at $24,350

click above image for more pics of the 2008 Subaru Impreza and WRX

Though not officially announced, pricing for the new 2008 Subaru Impreza has leaked out onto the web courtesy of a dealer with loose lips. The complete breakdown of models and packages shows that the redesigned 2008 Impreza will have a base MSRP of $16,995 for a four-door sedan with the 2.5L boxer-four. That's a full $1,000 less expensive than the outgoing 2007 Impreza 2.5i sedan.

At the other end of the spectrum, the WRX model with its turbocharged version of the 2.5L engine producing 224 horsepower will start at $24,350 for the four-door sedan and $24,850 for the five-door hatch. This model year's 2007 WRX TR (Tuner Ready) starts lower at $23,995, but is somewhat of a blank canvas car meant for customers who will immediately begin customizing their WRX. The base 2007 WRX sedan, however, starts at $24,995, meaning the 2008 model with its controversial new skin and upgraded interior will be $645 less expensive than the outgoing model.

It appears that Impreza prices have dropped across the board, which should help satisfy potential defectors who aren't pleased with the new design. If you've got money in your pockets, the most expensive Impreza until the STi appears will be a five-door WRX model with the Satellite Radio and Navigation package that retails for $28,950. There will also be an Outback Sport version of the five-door hatch, though not the sedan, that starts at $19,995. Destination charges, don't forget, will raise the price of any model by $645.


Thanks for the tip, Sam!

[Source: North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club]

Mercedes refuses to activate GPS in suspect's car

A technician friend once opened the hood of a 1994 Topaz to find everything under the hood was covered in aluminum foil. When he asked the lady why she would do such a thing, she said it was because the government was following her. At the time we thought she was crazy, but she just may have been onto something. Lawmakers in California are doing their best to paint Mercedes Benz into a corner by trying to force the luxury automaker to use the GPS in a suspect's S430 to help bring him to justice. The individual in question allegedly struck and killed a jaywalking pedestrian and drove off. So far, Mercedes has flat-out refused to be helpful in the investigation, choosing instead to protect the privacy of one of their valued customers.

We can definitely understand why Mercedes would have trouble using one of its most expensive options against the very customer that shelled out the big bucks to get it. At the same time, law enforcement is looking for any way to get a beat on crime to keep us safe. As you read this, thugs, drug dealers, and bookies across the nation are hitting Google to find ways to disable their navigation systems.

[Source: Engadget]

BREAKING: Chrysler nixes plans for Imperial

Chrysler has shelved plans to build a production version of the Imperial concept it introduced at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. Citing increasing fuel costs and more stringent fuel economy standards expected from Capitol Hill, Chrysler said that the Imperial project was off, as a viable business case could no longer be made for the car.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Chrysler will still invest in the Brampton, Ontario plant that had been earmarked for Imperial production, but that focus will be on the next-gen 300 instead. Regarding the Imperial, Chrysler spokesman David Elshoff said that given the current climate, bringing the Imperial to production would have been "irresponsible." A side benefit of the cancellation is that we will be spared the sight of the "poor man's Phantom's" ghastly front end on American roads.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

SEMA Preview: Toyota to unveil 2009 Corolla, Heavy-Duty Tundra and FJ Cruiser Convertible

The 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas is not for another three and a half months, but Toyota is getting its ducks in a row preparing for what promises to be a big week in Sin City for the Japanese automaker. It's unveiling not one, not two, but three vehicles at SEMA, including the all-new 2009 Corolla. The current Corolla has been around the block a few more times than Toyota had planned, but still remains a popular vehicle for the company. The new model will include the familiar sedan body type, but also mark the return of a coupe/hatchback. We'll no doubt see a TRD version customized to the nines at SEMA, as well. If the fates are on our side, perhaps they'll show something rear-wheel drive (fingers crossed).

Also present at SEMA will reportedly be a heavy duty diesel dually Tundra pickup designed to be a monster tow machine. It's only a concept and yet to be named, but the HD Tundra will be there to gauge crowd reaction to a dedicated heavy hauler from Toyota. The diesel will likely come from Hino, Toyota's commercial truck division, but Popular Mechancs reports that most of its engines are just too big for the Tundra's bay. The size issue could force Toyota to debut a new, smaller 4.5L diesel V8 that it's been working on. We'll have to wait and see what powers the Tundra concept, but we'd bet our last slot token that this particular Toyota will most certainly not be a hybrid.

Finally, Toyota plans to introduce an FJ Cruiser Convertible concept at SEMA. Reportedly sporting a removable hardtop, sources say that the concept is likely a production prototype in disguise since going to all that trouble engineering a removable hardtop for one vehicle would be silly. To get an idea of what the FJ Cruiser Convertible will look like, take a peek at the aftermarket version.

So there you have it – Toyota's 2008 SEMA lineup. Now that the information's out there, hopefully Toyota will start releasing official pics soon, as well.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Random Wackiness: Pretty peculiar Prius

Every once-in-a-while we come across something wacky enough to get us to stop in our tracks, suppress a giggle, and point-and-shoot. While at the Art Center Car Classic this weekend, we had one of those moments. A Prius with a pretty pronounced proboscis caught our eye while we were checking out the parking lot. As strange as it seemed, we remembered seeing it somewhere before. And then we saw Kustom Kar King George Barris at the other end of the lot and it clicked. This Prius was done by Barris and shown at SEMA last year. We even did a post on it way back in 2005.

We did a quick search and found this info about the green (and gold) machine. The wheelwells were stretched by 2 inches and eyebrow-style flares were added to accommodate the American Racing 18-inch chrome wheels. The wheels have green centers and are wrapped in BF Goodrich low-profile tires. The paint is hand detailed with pinstripes and teardrops. There's even a ducktail spoiler out back. Funky and fun, but we'll pass, thanks.

VIDEO: Goodwood - Formula 1 cars

Click above for F1 gallery from Goodwood

While we're the first to admit that we are better with a DSLR than a camcorder, we did have a video camera with us at Goodwood and captured a few passes. This particular clip shows some of the current F1 cars doing their thing and the parade down to the start line. The F1 cars were prohibited from doing full speed runs a few years ago because their terminal velocity is far too great to keep the spectators safe at Goodwood. So rather than going for fast times, the cars and drivers are there to entertain the fans. Even in the rain, they managed to do just that. Follow the jump for the YouTube clip produced, which is also posted by our buddy over at SoCalSpeedZone. And if you haven't seen them yet, don't forget to check out our galleries from this year's Festival of Speed.

Thanks, Duane!

OnStar proliferation at GM

The latest engine of growth in GM's efforts to reclaim its lost crown: OnStar. The 12th floor of the Renaissance Center is the OnStar Command Center where minions gather, mission-control style, to make sure that all is running smoothly for the 4.8 million subscribers to the OnStar empire. Eleven years into its life, OnStar's services now include keeping track of traffic jams, news, missing persons alerts, weather emergencies, giving turn-by-turn directions, and providing monthly diagnostic reports. On a busy day, the center gets 100,000 calls.

GM wants people to start buying its cars specifically because they come with the service. By the end of this year, 95-percent of GM cars sold in the US and Canada will have OnStar standard. The first year of service is free, and the hope is that by the end of 12 months the customer will find it indispensable. In case that isn't enough, in addition to the word-of-mouth advertising by 80 million people who have already been assisted by OnStar, GM is providing dealers with more training and increase its marketing of the service, noted primarily by moving Tiger Woods from the Buick campaign to OnStar.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Forbes lists 10 cars that require a passport to buy

In Ten Cars You Can't Buy in the US, Forbes offers a sampling of tasty metal that US buyers just aren't good enough to put money down on. However, the real title should be Ten Cars You Can't Buy in the US Yet, or Any More, or That You Wouldn't Buy Even if You Could. The article focuses mainly on the Italians and the French, and reaffirms the French makers' intent not to return to the US any time soon. The slide show, though, includes the the Mitsubishi Evo (Forbes shows the Evo X, which we are getting), Smart (again, we're getting the new one), Vanquish S, and Skyline (available here as the G35). The article then goes on to suggest the Infiniti G35 as an alternative to the Skyline, its JDM twin. G35 coupes fully rebadged to replicate their JDM Skyline twins are nothing new, so Forbes isn't exactly offering revolutionary advice here.

[Source: Forbes.com]

VIDEO: DIY rocket-powered Hot Wheels

Show of hands. How many of you used Black Cats and cherry bombs to incinerate large numbers of Hot Wheels as kids? Especially the pink ones, right? Because they were for girls. Do you know how much those cars in their pre-charred, uncrispy state could be worth right now? What were you thinking?

Here's a better use of miniature cars and pyrotechnics not endorsed by Mattel (this we can guarantee): rocket-powered Hot Wheels. Even if you choose not to study the step-by-step instructions (basically, just strap a model rocket motor to a Hot Wheels car) at Instructables, you must watch the video we've embedded after the jump. It's what we as kids were trying to accomplish 20 years ago. We think.
Continue reading VIDEO: DIY rocket-powered Hot Wheels

[Source: Instructables]

Goody's giving away Richard Petty-themed Charger R/T

A little Google surfing spat forth this little nugget. If you're into entering sweepstakes, you can register to win a new Dodge Charger R/T from Goody's Headache Powders. The ride will be finished to replicate a 1971 Richard Petty STP Charger, complete with the #43 on the doors and the Petty/Goody's anniversary logo on it, well, somewhere. Anyway, this might be even cooler to have than one of the modern takes on a "General Lee" Charger. Sadly, it's not an SRT8, but hey, it's free and it's got a HEMI. You can enter here. Be prepared to get all kinds of crap in the mail from GlaxoSmithKline, though.

[Source: Goody's via SceneDaily]

Bob talks about the triplets over at FastLane

In the latest installment in the continuing series of videos being put out GM, the ever quotable "Maximum" Bob Lutz talks about the "Minimum" cars that Chevrolet showed as concepts at the New York Auto Show last April. The Chevy Groove, Beat and Trax are three design concepts off GM's next generation Global Subcompact Architecture. Lutz discusses why they were shown in New York, even though GM didn't have any plans to sell them hear. Just because they didn't have definite plans, it doesn't mean they won't change that at some point. Check out the video after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Honda to bring diesel V6 to U.S.

When diesels first hit the American market after the gas shocks of the 70's, they were unreliable, smelly, loud, and rough. They did get better gas mileage than comparably-sized gasoline engines, but in the eyes of the American public, the negatives of diesel tech far outweighed its positives. Diesel engines have gotten far better in the past 25 years, with Europeans buying more oil-burners than petrol engines. $3.00 per gallon gas (or worse) is helping to usher in a second renaissance for the diesel, and Honda is going all-in with a 3.5L dieselV6 for the US market.

Honda's forthcoming engine, which should be arriving around 2010, should achieve 30% better fuel economy (or more) than a comparably-sized gas engine, which should alleviate some of our pain at the pump. Honda plans on installing this V6 diesel delight on larger vehicles like the Odyssey minivan, the Ridgeline, and the Pilot. We think the new V6 will go along nicely with the planned four-banger in the Accord, and it will certainly help the folks from Tokyo compete with the many diesels the competition has planned for the near future.

[Source: Bloomberg]

VIDEO: Mercedes C63 AMG boogies to the techno beat

A hand-built 6.3-liter V8 pumping 451 horsepower in a compact German sports sedan sounds pretty good, doesn't it? You should see it on video, where you get a better idea of the muscle beneath the skin of Mercedes' newest baby, the C63 AMG.

Sadly, yet again, the exhaust note, on which the Affalterbach engineers spent so much time tuning, is all but completely drowned out by the unfortunate soundtrack, and this time it's trashy trance music. It's still well worth watching, though; the video has some great angles, like the steering-wheel cam focused on the paddle shifter. Sweet.

[Source: vpod.tv via Le Blog Auto]