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Gentlemen, Start Your Pedals: BMW, Lumma Mountain Bikes
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Lumma Design's first-ever mountain bike was designed in collaboration with former BMX world champion Jordi Miranda. (Photo courtesy of Lumma Design)
MUNICH, Germany — The 2009 BMW Mountain Bike Cross Country looks pretty impressive — until you've compared it with the rival Mountain bike Exclusive Edition from Lumma Design, the German tuning house better known for its muscular conversions of Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Actually, both bikes take your breath away, or at least their sticker prices do. The BMW lists for $4,175, while the Lumma Design fetches $4,635.
The latest BMW Mountain Bike Cross Country comes in a rich pearl white, with such features as full spring suspension with Manitou shocks and air telescope fork, a hydroformed aluminum frame and fully hydraulic disc brakes. More info is… Read the rest of this entry
Porsche Design Unveils New Summer Motorsport-Themed Collection
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Accessories include hats, belts, mugs and other small-ticket items. (Photo courtesy of Porsche Design)
STUTTGART, Germany — Porsche Design Driver's Selection is taking the wraps off its new Motorsport Collection that is inspired by Supercup drivers.
Porsche made an all-weather Gore-Tex jacket in white and gray that is modeled after motorsport racing suits. It provides wind and rain protection. Only 911 of the jackets will be made. The sharp jacket features the Mobil 1 and Michelin logos on the front and a large red Porsche logo across the back. The collection also includes a polo and rugby shirts, a T-shirt and a fleece jacket. The jacket is priced at $649, and the T-shirt is $59.
The women's collection features the white-and-gray theme as well and includes a halter top, polo shirt and T-shirt. There is a child's T-shirt and hat, and accessories for both men… Read the rest of this entry
Honda Rolls Out Driving Simulator Complete With Steering Wheels and Pedals
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The simulator will cost a maximum of just over $3,100 in Japan, Honda says. (Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Company, Inc.)
TOKYO — Honda has introduced a new PC-based auto driving simulator, complete with a steering wheel and pedals, and said it is aiming for a wide audience for the setup in Japan. No word yet on when the hardware will be available in the U.S.
The simulator is designed to help drivers learn fuel-efficient driving techniques and key points of safe driving. Honda said this is the first time it has developed software for an auto simulator, which helps users to learn eco-driving. The simulator is priced at the equivalent of $2,226-$3,160.
“Users learn simply by following the on-screen and audio instructions, making an instructor unnecessary,” Honda said in a statement.
The setup can be customized for beginners or advanced drivers, the automaker said.
Guangzhou Auto Buys Stake in Changfeng
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Hunan-based Changfeng Motor showed its Qiling crossover at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. (Photo courtesy of Changfeng)
GUANGZHOU, China — Guangzhou Automobile Group will buy 29 percent of Hunan-based Changfeng Motor Company as part of an industrial restructuring that the Chinese government is encouraging to create domestic auto powerhouses.
Guangzhou is partnered with Honda and Toyota, while Changfeng has long ties to Mitsubishi and has displayed its sport-utility vehicles in the U.S. at the past two Detroit auto shows.
After buying shares from Changfeng's parent, Guangzhou Auto would become the largest shareholder of Changfeng, the nation's biggest SUV maker, the two companies said. The deal is valued at around $245 million.
In the new Guangqi Changfeng Automobile Co., state-owned Changfeng Group will own 22 percent while Mitsubishi will continue to hold 14.6 percent. Chen Zhengchu, general manager of Changfeng Motor, said it is possible that… Read the rest of this entry
Call Me Animal: Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab Long Bed
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The new long-bed variant of the Mitsubishi L200 pickup provides an additional 7 inches in load length and a new 176-horsepower engine. (Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America)
LONDON — Mitsubishi is offering U.K. buyers a new edition of its popular compact pickup truck, the L200 Double Cab Long Bed, with more power and additional cargo space.
The L200 Double Cab Long Bed provides an extra 7 inches in load length, and the new 176-horsepower engine packs an additional 42 horses over the standard L200.
Trim levels include the 4Work, 4Life and Warrior, while the range-topping version will be marketed as the Mitsubishi L200 Animal Double Cab Long Bed.
The latter model comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, stability and traction control, all-wheel drive, leather seats and steering wheel, chrome rear bar and DVD satellite navigation.
Ariel Wants To Go Green With New Alt-Powered Project
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Before it introduces an all-new, alt-powered design, Ariel plans to launch a 500-horsepower edition of the minimalist Atom. (Photo courtesy of Ariel)
SOMERSET, England — Simon Saunders, the director of the low-volume British carmaker Ariel, has announced that the company is going to expand its lineup with a new alternatively powered vehicle.
Although plans are still in the early stages, Saunders said Ariel wants to move away from gasoline engines and go with an electric or fuel-cell powertrain for the new project.
The model will transition from the exposed-frame structure of the Atom and have a recognizable shape with a roof and doors, although Saunders promises that this won't just be your average midengine sports car. Like the Atom, the vehicle will stay true to Ariel's philosophy of lightweight construction and unparalleled acceleration.
“We don't want to take on the established manufacturers. We will use… Read the rest of this entry
Volkswagen Apprentices Use a Little Sorcery To Create Golf GTI Street
Volkswagen's Golf GTI gets a Street treatment from apprentices at Volkswagen AG. The hotted-up 297-hp GTI made its appearance at the Austrian W?rthersee Tour. (Photo courtesy of Volkswagen of America, Inc.)
W?RTHERSEE, Austria — Four young Volkswagen apprentices rolled out a one-off 297-horsepower Golf GTI Street model at the annual GTI meeting here.
The Golf GTI Street model is tricked out with an exterior kit that includes 19-inch wheels with Pirelli tires, a custom stainless-steel exhaust system, a modified front bumper, a glass roof, darkened side and rear windows and a rear spoiler.
The Street model uses the 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine tweaked to churn out 297 hp. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
The cabin gets such goodies as an Xbox 360 console and a modified sound system.
Report: 2009 Nissan Titan SE 4×4 Crew Cab Is Best American-Made Deal
The Ford Focus had a strong showing on the list as well, grabbing the second and third spots. Both the 2009 Ford Focus SES sedan and 2009 Ford Focus SES coupe have a potential savings of 20 percent off the MSRP of $17,865. (Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company)
YONKERS, New York — The 2009 Nissan Titan SE 4×4 Crew Cab, with a potential savings of 25 percent below its $33,200 MSRP, is the best American-made car deal at the moment, according to a new study by Consumer Reports. The consumer watchdog issued a list of the Top 40 best American-made car deals in time for the Memorial Day weekend shopping period.
Coming in second is the 2009 Ford Focus SES sedan, with a potential savings of 20 percent below its $17,865 MSRP. The 2009 Ford Focus SES coupe came in third, with a potential… Read the rest of this entry
Mini Celebrates 50 Years With Two Special Models
The Mini 50 Mayfair gets Hot Chocolate metallic paint, while the Mini 50 Camden is rendered in silver, white and black. (Photo courtesy of BMW North America, Inc.)
SILVERSTONE, England — Mini paid homage to two London hot spots as it rolled out special models of the car in the UK to mark the 50th anniversary of the brand. The event dovetailed with the Mini United Festival at Silverstone here.
The Mini 50 Mayfair and the Mini 50 Camden are named after two boroughs in London. Mini said the two will be launched in September.
The Mini 50 Mayfair gets “Hot Chocolate” metallic paint combined with a white roof and stripes on the hood. The body can also be ordered in “Pepper White” or “Midnight Black.” The car rides on 17-inch light alloy wheels.
The Mini 50 Camden is done up in silver, white and black,… Read the rest of this entry
Toyota Camry Hybrid To Pace Coca-Cola 600 From Start to Finish
The lucky consumer who finds a special gold can of Coca-Cola will win a copy of this Camry Hybrid pace car. (Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.)
TORRANCE, California — A 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid will make a little bit of history on Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600. The hybrid will be the first to pace a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event from start to finish, according to Toyota.
The pace car will be given away later in a contest sponsored by Coca-Cola. The consumer who finds a golden Coca-Cola can that was randomly inserted into one of about 6 million specially marked 12-packs of Coca-Cola Classic in the southeast U.S. can claim the car.
Before being approved to serve as the pace car for the 600-mile race, the 187-horsepower Camry Hybrid had to pass a NASCAR-mandated performance test.
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