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Leaked: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
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Autoblog published this image of the forthcoming 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe.
STUTTGART, Germany — Mercedes-Benz\’s 2010 E-Class coupe was not supposed to be introduced until at least March, where it was expected to debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. Instead, Internet sites around the globe are revealing leaked images of the new model.
The E-Class coupe, which will take the place of Mercedes\’ current CLK coupe, looks similar inside to the sedan unveiled earlier this month, which goes on sale in the U.S. this summer. Leather, wood and metallic trim are plentiful and there are four tall bucket seats in the coupe.
Engines should be the same as the sedan: a broad lineup of V6 and V8 gasoline and turbodiesel choices, plus an AMG model. Speculation has it that the coupe, followed shortly by a convertible version, will go on sale later in 2009.
New Porsche 911 Exhaust Changes Sound at the Touch of a Button
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Industrial light and magic: Porsche\’s new exhaust system lets you change the exhaust note of certain 911s. (Photo courtesy of Porsche Cars North America, Inc.)
STUTTGART, Germany — Porsche has developed an optional exhaust system for its 911 models that allows drivers to alter the exhaust note at the touch of a button.
The stainless steel system uses an electronic control activated from the dashboard to tune the exhaust note for a more aggressive and sporty sound. Activating the sport mode opens flaps in the exhaust silencers to shift the note.
The quad-tip sport exhaust will be offered as a $2,500 option on Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and Targa 4 models beginning in February. Porsche will also sell the system as a retrofit accessory to existing 911 owners.
Geneva Auto Show: Opel Ampera
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The Chevrolet Volt gets a European cousin: the Opel Ampera, set for a debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. (Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
RUSSELSHEIM, Germany — General Motors\’ Opel subsidiary will unveil the Ampera, its version of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show in early March.
Like the Volt, the Ampera is a five-door hatchback. It sits on the same Delta 2 global compact architecture. The production version of the Ampera is due in late 2010 or early 2011 and is expected be marketed in Europe under the Opel and Vauxhall brands.
The Ampera concept is a four-seater, but the production model will seat five.… Read the rest of this entry
Senor President: Formula 1 Retiree Carlos Reutemann Running for Argentine Presidency
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Once a Formula 1 star, Carlos Reutemann of Argentina is now in the midst of a political career that will culminate in a run for the country\’s presidency in 2011. (Photo courtesy of Carlos Reutemann.ar)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Carlos Reutemann had an enviable career in Formula 1 with the Ferrari and Williams teams, as well as Brabham and Lotus, over a decade of racing. In retirement, he turned to politics in his native land of Argentina. Now the South American country\’s media says Reutemann is going for the gold ring by announcing he\’ll contest the presidency in the 2011 election.
Reutemann is a 12-time Grand Prix winner whose career spanned from 1972-\’82. During that time he held six pole positions, made it to the podium 45 times and contested 146 races. His fan… Read the rest of this entry
Mexico: Used Cars Coming In from U.S. Are Hot Political Football
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Mexico\’s auto dealers association, AMDA, says most of the vehicles coming in illegally from the U.S. to Mexico are junk. The group is asking for stricter controls on incoming cars. (Photo courtesy of AMDA)
MEXICO CITY — The debate over U.S. clunkers imported into Mexico continues to burn here, 15 years after Mexico came into the North American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. and Canada. On January 1, 2009, NAFTA says used cars coming into Mexico have to be 10 years old or older. Every two years, starting in 2011, that age will be cut by two years until, supposedly, used vehicles will be allowed to flow freely across the borders in 2019. If you\’re counting, that\’s a mere quarter-century after the agreement was originally signed.
NAFTA was considered to be a… Read the rest of this entry
Electrifying Seat Leon Twin Drive Ecomotive Makes Debut
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Seat says it is targeting the eventual phase-out of the internal combustion engine in future Ecomotive models. (Photo courtesy of Seat)
MARTORELL, Spain — Saying it wants to eventually phase out the internal-combustion engine in future Ecomotive models, Seat is showing off a new gas/electric hybrid that it said could be produced by 2014.
The Seat Leon Twin Drive Ecomotive prototype underscores Seat\’s aim to develop a viable plug-in electric vehicle, according to Volkswagen\’s Spanish affiliate.
\”The initial aim is for Twin Drive-equipped Seats to run on electricity in urban areas, switching seamlessly to conventional petrol… Read the rest of this entry
Obama Favors Letting States Set Auto Emission Rules as Rust Belt Howls
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Workers on layoff from the GM plant in Delta Township this spring will be joined by 800 laid-off workers at the Lordstown, Ohio, GM facility. (Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
WASHINGTON — In a move that could put even more pressure on faltering automakers to quickly produce higher-mileage vehicles, President Barack Obama on Monday ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to review whether states should enforce their own greenhouse gas emissions rules for vehicles.
Such a move could allow California and 13 other states to set their own emissions standards — well over what is required under the current national standard. Obama also ordered the U.S. Transportation Department to work with automakers to make more fuel-efficient… Read the rest of this entry
2009 Geneva Auto Show: Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air Bound for Global Debut
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A production i MiEV goes on sale in Japan by year\’s end. (Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.)
TOKYO — Mitsubishi is ratcheting up the performance quotient on its latest i MiEV offering, the Sport Air, which is set for a global debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show in March.
Few details were forthcoming in the Japanese automaker\’s teaser of the i MiEV Sport Air, which was released on Monday. But the jelly-beany vehicle features a \”beefed-up electric motor\” and a \”clear cutaway top,\” which Mitsubishi… Read the rest of this entry
Honda Kills Off S2000
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Farewell to a sports car that was uncompromising, but unpopular with buyers: Honda\’s S2000. Pictured is the 2009 S2000 CR. (Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Company, Inc.)
TORRANCE, California — After reporting a drop in sales of 65.7 percent in December 2008 for its S2000 compared with the previous December, Honda on Monday announced that 2009 will be the final year of production for the roadster.
The Japanese automaker spun the announcement of the death of the roadster as a somewhat natural evolution, saying the car was \”originally envisioned as a limited-edition tribute to Honda\’s 50th anniversary.\”
But the automaker\’s earlier report on 2008 annual and December monthly sales told a different story. Honda sold just 72 S2000s in December 2008 versus 210 in December 2007. Honda said it sold a… Read the rest of this entry
Cadillac Killing XLR
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(Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
DETROIT — The Cadillac XLR, the most expensive vehicle in the luxury brand\’s lineup, has been killed,
Inside Line has confirmed with the automaker. The final XLR, Cadillac\’s retractable hardtop roadster, will roll off the line in Bowling Green, Kentucky sometime this spring, making 2009 its final model year.
\”A specialty sports car like this has a limited life cycle,\” Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell told
Inside Line on Monday. \”It is not unusual for them to… Read the rest of this entry
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