Latest News         No comments

Photos

Its maker, Nanjing MG, says the new MG 7 “retains the character” of the former MG ZT from England, and indeed there is a whiff of the Old World about it. (Photo courtesy of Nanjing-MG)

NANJING, China — Chinese automaker Nanjing MG has formally launched its new MG 7 luxury sedan in the home market, priced from around $25,500.

The MG 7 competes head to head with the Roewe 750 sedan built by rival — and suitor — Shanghai Auto. Both models are based on the original and now-defunct Rover 75 sedan; Shanghai bought the blueprints and Nanjing bought the tooling.

The central government has been trying to broker a marriage between the two state-owned companies, but so far both sides seem to be resisting a forced merger.

In bringing the MG 7 to market, Nanjing observes that the design “retains… Read the rest of this entry

 Latest News         No comments

Photos

Having a recurring dream about a design for the 2018 Mazda 3? Now you can enter a design contest through Facebook that could get your design idea drawn up by Mazda designers. Pictured: the current Mazdaspeed 3. (Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operation)

IRVINE, Calif. — If you have a clear vision for what a Mazda 3 should look like in 2018 and you are a Facebook member, Mazda wants to hear from you.

The Japanese automaker has launched a hands-on contest that will culminate in the unveiling of your futuristic Mazda 3 at the upcoming 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. Contestants must submit a 150-word description of their concept of the 2018 Mazda 3, including an optional sketch. The Mazda Design team makes… Read the rest of this entry

 Latest News         No comments

Photos

Lorinser’s L35GS is notable on the exterior for its large air intakes and lowered suspension. (Photo courtesy of Lorinser)

WINNENDEN, Germany — Lorinser, the Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist, is offering a comprehensive upgrade of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Lorinser’s L35GS has modified the stock DOHC 3.5-liter V6 with new camshafts, a revised engine control module and a stainless-steel exhaust system. Output climbs from 268 to 305 horsepower, and torque rises from 258 to 280 pound-feet. Power is transmitted to the wheels through a modified seven-speed automatic transmission.

Large air intakes are a hallmark of the L35GS body kit, which includes a new front spoiler, large foglamps, mesh grille, side skirts and rear diffuser.

A suspension-lowering kit is also part of the L35GS… Read the rest of this entry

 Latest News         No comments

STUTTGART, Germany — To further round out the slate of high-tech safety features on the CL-Class and S-Class models, Mercedes-Benz has introduced its newly developed Blind Spot Assist system.

The feature rolls out first in Germany, where it is priced at the equivalent of $3,700-$4,825.

The system uses six short-range radar sensors mounted in the front and rear bumpers. They monitor the zone to the side and rear of the car on both sides. If another vehicle is detected in the danger zone, a red warning symbol appears in the exterior mirror glass, indicating that it may be dangerous to change lanes.

If the driver ignores the warning, he or she gets an audible warning and the symbol in the mirror will flash.

What this means to you: Blind-spot warning systems are becoming mandatory items on high-end vehicles.

 Latest News         No comments

Photos

Hamann Victory (Photo courtesy of Hamann)

LAUPHEIM, Germany — Hamann, the German tuning house best known for its “wing” doors, is offering a new Victory body kit for the Lamborghini Gallardo.

For some reason, the Germans think the stock Gallardo is a tad too plain. Seriously. (This, of course, has nothing to do with the fact that Lamborghini is owned by Volkswagen and controlled by Audi.)

Enter Hamann with its styling sensibility. The wide-body Victory aero kit bundles a new front apron with an integral lip spoiler, plus wheel-arch extensions, side sills and a rear apron with integral diffuser. Adding to the car’s aggressive appearance are a roof-mounted air scoop and a four-piece rear wing.

The tuner also offers a variety of tuning upgrades for customers who desire more muscle than the stock 520-horsepower 5.0-liter V10 provides.

What this means to… Read the rest of this entry

 Latest News         No comments

Photos

The Dodge Challenger production car will also gain a B-pillar. (Photo by Marc Urbano)

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — GM product guru Bob Lutz has confirmed that unlike the Camaro concept car and the 1969 Camaro it emulates, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will not be a true hardtop when it reaches production.

Despite the fact that GM Chairman Rick Wagoner originally said the 2010 Camaro would be “virtually identical” to designer Sangyup Lee’s concept that debuted at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, Lutz confirmed that the production Camaro will in fact have a B-pillar, making it a standard coupe instead of a traditional hardtop coupe.

Lutz said the standard coupe structure is necessary to keep production costs down and ensure the Camaro’s frame is as light and tight and possible.

The same fate is true for the Dodge Challenger. The Challenger concept was… Read the rest of this entry

 Latest News         No comments

Photos

Hummer H3s wearing the Calvin Klein logo are part of the tie-in. (Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Harley-Davidson promoted its storied masculine brand by selling leather undies. So it’s no surprise that Hummer has hooked up with Calvin Klein Underwear to sell the designer’s new “steel collection” of briefs, bras and panties.

The promotion includes a fleet of steel gray Hummer H3s emblazoned with the Calvin Klein steel logo. It’s about as far from off-road as you can get, with corporate-issue photos of fully clothed female models in a variety of come-hither poses on top of and around the specialty Hummers. The Hummers are positioned in front of Calvin Klein stores with underwear-clad mannequins in the background. Talk about surrealistic. And just to be clear, the collection does not include designer bras for the Hummer H3.

“In an effort to… Read the rest of this entry

 Latest News         No comments

Photos

Saleen’s S331 Sport Truck gets an optional moonroof and a four-door cab option for 2008. (Photo courtesy of Saleen)

IRVINE, Calif. — Saleen is taking a bit of a turn toward the practical by adding a new SuperCrew four-door cab option to its 2008 Saleen S331 Sport Truck. It also announced that it has decided to discontinue the non-supercharged three-valve S331 Sport Truck for the new model year.

“This is due to the high percentage of supercharged truck sales in comparison to the lower-horsepower model,” the company explained in a statement. The Ford F-150 based 2007 Saleen S331 Sport Truck used a slightly modified version of Ford’s 5.4-liter three-valve V8 that delivers 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The supercharged version churns out 450 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. It is linked to a four-speed automatic transmission.

Also new for 2008 is an… Read the rest of this entry

 Latest News         No comments

Photos

The new Rolls-Royce coupe will round out the Phantom lineup and will be based on the 101EX concept that was shown at Geneva in 2006. (Photo courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motorcars)

GOODWOOD, England — Rolls-Royce confirmed that it will round out its Phantom series with a production version of the 101EX concept in summer 2008.

The new coupe will join the Phantom standard and long-wheelbase sedans and the Phantom Drophead Coupe, which despite its whimsical British name is actually a convertible.

The 101EX concept was unveiled at the 2006 Geneva Auto Show.

The four-seat Phantom coupe will go into production at the Goodwood factory in summer 2008, the company said. The car will employ all-aluminum construction, similar to its siblings, and will share the sedan’s 453-horsepower 6.75-liter V12.

The coupe body will be shorter than that of the Phantom sedan, and the two-door will… Read the rest of this entry

 Latest News         No comments

Photos

Toyota FCHV-5. (Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.)

TOKYO — It’s another milestone in the race to get fuel-cell hybrid vehicles into the mainstream. Toyota on Friday said “an improved version” of its Toyota FCHV fuel-cell hybrid vehicle successfully finished a long-distance road test from Osaka to Tokyo on a single fueling of hydrogen.

Toyota bragged that the “entire trip was completed with the air-conditioner on and with no need to stop for refueling,” thus addressing two bugaboos when it comes to hybrid vehicles. They are notorious for having a limited range and for the air-conditioner draining power.

Toyota said the five-passenger FCHV on this road trip is 25 percent more fuel-efficient than earlier versions, due to improvements in the high-performance fuel cell and to improvements in the control system for managing fuel-cell output and battery charging/discharging. It also is able to store… Read the rest of this entry