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In 1958, a 2CV was so luxurious that it had a radio. (Photo courtesy of Citroen)

PARIS — With characteristic Gallic passion, Citro?n is proclaiming the 60th anniversary of the legendary 2CV…a car the company doesn’t make anymore, but no matter. The tinny little car that “revolutionized the auto industry” in a war-ravaged Europe is the French equivalent of the Model T, and collectors are celebrating it at the R?tromobile show in Paris all this week.

The 2CV, designed to suit the agricultural economy and bad roads of mid-20th-century France, was notable for its all-independent suspension, lightweight body that even included a roll-top soft canvas roof on some models, and air-cooled two-cylinder engine. Gas mileage went well beyond 50 mpg on average.

The 2CV, with a name (“Deux Chevaux,” or “two horses”) that makes its low potency clear, was first displayed at the Paris… Read the rest of this entry

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Pro-Kit spices up the BMW 1 Series’ suspension, lowering it by 1.2 inches. (Photo courtesy of Eibach)

FINNENTROP, Germany — Eibach, the long-time provider of affordable and reliable suspension components, is now offering its Pro-Kit and Pro-Spacer for the 2008 BMW 1 Series, which is due this spring in the U.S.

The Pro-Kit springs bring the vehicle’s center of gravity approximately 1.2 inches closer to the ground, which enhances performance without compromising the comfort and practicality of a stock suspension.

Also available for the 1 Series are the Pro-Spacer aluminum alloy wheel spacers. These further enhance the ride by cutting weight and adding high-grade corrosion protection.

What this means to you: These would be a great first mod after driving a brand-new 1 Series off the lot. — Mike Lysaght, Correspondent

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Tony Stewart’s Home Depot-sponsored Toyota Camry. (Photo courtesy of NASCAR)

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — On a windy afternoon in Florida this past Sunday, Michael Waltrip qualified his Toyota Camry for the Daytona 500 at 186.734 mph, second only to the 187.075-mph speed of Jimmie Johnson’s Chevrolet Impala SS. This means Waltrip is guaranteed to start on the front row for the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500, which takes place Sunday, February 17.

Of course Waltrip has been here before. After accomplishing a similar feat last year, Waltrip’s car was found by technical inspectors to have some kind of illegal goo in the fuel system, so the two-time winner of the Daytona 500 had to use a teammate’s car (and some serious internal fortitude) to… Read the rest of this entry

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Rolls-Royce RR4 test mule cozies up to BMW 7 Series. (Photo by KGP Photography)

MONTEREY, California — At a media gathering Monday night, Rolls-Royce executives confirmed details of the new, small Rolls officially called the RR4. Priced in the $250,000-$280,000 range, the 2010 RR4 will not share an engine with the Rolls-Royce Phantom or any existing BMW product.

Executives wouldn’t specify which existing chassis will be the donor car, but it is expected to be the new BMW 7 Series, which also shares a chassis with the Phantom. Officials did confirm that the RR4 will use BMW components in the areas the customer does not see, including electronics and suspension.

The 2010 Rolls will be built in Goodwood, and working prototypes are already undergoing testing, as evidenced by spy photos taken earlier this year. The Goodwood factory has been retooled to build the RR4, and… Read the rest of this entry

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Bob Lutz poses proudly with the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, which he points out is selling well despite massive losses GM reported for 2007. (Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)

DETROIT — General Motors said it lost a record $38.7 billion in 2007, including a $722 million loss in the fourth quarter. It was the largest annual loss ever reported in the global auto industry’s 100-plus years.

Excluding one-time charges and other special items, GM said it lost an adjusted $23 million for the full year, compared with an adjusted profit in 2006 of $2.2 billion. Although global sales volume climbed to 9.4 million units in 2007, GM’s automotive operations posted a loss of $1.6 billion, including $1.3 billion in the fourth quarter.

The automaker continues to stumble in its core market in North America, where GM lost $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter.… Read the rest of this entry

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A camouflaged version still lies in wait. (Photo by KGP Photography)

DETROIT — The 2009 Camaro’s arrival in the Motor City seems long overdue, especially after being teased for weeks with sightings from Australia, Los Angeles and even Sweden.

One of the two Camaro prototypes spotted in Michigan was running completely camouflage-free, clad in nothing more than a sinister black-on-black paint scheme. The other prototype was fresh off the transport truck, still sporting the black-and-white camo cover and red-and-orange Aussie-spec taillights.

Specifications have not yet been released, but the Chevrolet Camaro concept used a 400-horsepower all-aluminum 6.0-liter V8 mated to a six-speed manual transmission, plus an independent rear suspension.

What this means to you: Expect to see even more Camaro spy photos as the hot new Chevy heats up the Motor City. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor

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Spy photographers from KGP Photography have finally caught the Camaro in the automotive industry\’s epicenter. In the past, the General has only tested Camaro mules wearing heavily modified Holden Commodore bodies in the U.S. These pics, however, show a pair of Camaro prototypes, one festooned with camouflage and one completely bare (the way Bob Lutz likes it) in Detroit City. We\’re of course interested in the prototype that\’s sans camo. Aside from a few details like the grille and headlights, you\’re looking at the Camaro that will go into production next February. The other vehicle, meanwhile, was reportedly fresh off the boat from Australia, which is why it\’s still wearing camo and features Aussie-spec red and amber taillights. Take a look at the many spy shots in our gallery below and wait patiently like the rest of us for the Camaro… Read the rest of this entry

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Most of us on the Autoblog team never restored a classic with our dads in the family garage, thus our connection to aftermarket parts manufacturer Holley is somewhat limited. But we can appreciate the mark that this 100+ year old company and its many brands including Hooker Headers, Earl\’s, Weiand, NOS and Flowtech have left on the performance aftermarket scene. That\’s why we\’re sad to report that the company has recently filed for bankruptcy, citing its rapid expansion in the late \’90s as the cause for its downfall.

Not all is lost, as bankruptcy for a company in the U.S. just means you get some time to reorganize and pay off your debts, hopefully reemerging as a stronger company in the end. As such, Holley wlll continue to operate as normal for the time being and none of its 390 employees… Read the rest of this entry

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Since the original was introduced, the Ford Focus – at least the American version – has gone downhill. The second-generation was as staid and boring as the first one was revolutionary, and the new third-generation model went off in the wrong direction, at least styling-wise. Meanwhile, the European versions have had us longing for inclusion. Fortunately, Ford announced that the next iteration would be a global car like the first, although speculation suggests that the US could get trunked versions while markets abroad go with the hatchback.

What you see above is said to be another rendering of what the next Focus five-door hatch could look like. As with the previous sketches we brought you a few days ago, this rendering draws heavily on the theme set forth by the Ford Verve concept. Though considerably less aggressive than the previous… Read the rest of this entry

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The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile may be the most unique and recognizable vehicle on American roads, but even a 7,000-pound hot dog can spin out of control on a patch of ice. The 27-foot-long rolling tribute to pig lips and chicken necks lost its footing and spun into an embankment on highway 15 in Pennsylvania on its way to Penn State for a recruiting visit. Neither of the two women riding in the flailing frankfurter were hurt in the incident, and a tow truck was able to get the over-sized sausage back onto the road.

We\’re not sure how fast the two women were driving the Wienermobile when the spin-out occured, but this incident only proves that even giant wieners can benefit from stability control. Click the read link below for a lot more bad hot dog humor.

Thanks for the tip, bakerlaw67!

[Source: Star-Gazette]