| Top Gear producer talks about foreign editions
June 6, 2008 13:59:00Filed under: Trends, Etc., Lifestyle 
Top Gear Executive Producer Andy Wilman is aware of the acrimony that surrounds the apparently not-dead-yet U.S. edition of the show, and makes a case on the Top Gear blog for both the Yankee and Australian spinoffs that are marching their way towards prime time audiences soon. Wilman points out that Top Gears success is not formulaic like other shows that have been churned in different locations all over the world. May, Clarkson, Hammond and the Stig arent generic slots on the show that can be easily filled. Plugging people into positions like "heres the guy who used to play in Journey, sitting next to the pop star, whos seated next to the jaded British record executive whos clearly having his time wasted while making enough to purchase a Veyron," wont hold water.
Not only can the hosts not be duplicated in a Dick Sargent/Dick York fashion, the shows themselves have to be aware of each other and find ways to fit around what the other is doing. So, the uphill battle facing the localized versions of Top Gear is finding the proper personalities (the Australians already have) who will genuinely fit together and have chemistry, while also getting those people to do and say things that are compelling without just repeating the schtick of the original in a different location.
Wilman acknowledges that those who know about the original Top Gear in North America are fanatics who wont stand for a watered down retooling. Just because there may someday be a homegrown version of TG doesnt mean theyll stop watching the original. One thing thats skirted by Wilmans post is the writing. Its been said many times that the unvarnished opinion that flies on the original wont work on an advertising-dependent network like NBC in the U.S. If the presenters arent given good material or allowed to riff with leeway, the U.S. Top Gear is dead in the water regardless of the personalities on camera.
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| Mercedes-Benz shows off 2009 G 55 AMG
June 6, 2008 13:32:00Filed under: Car Buying, SUVs, Mercedes Benz 
click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG
Hot on the heels of its revisions to the uber-brick known as the G-Class for 2009, Mercedes-Benz has released the first batch of pics showing the hotted-up AMG version, the G 55 AMG. Like its lesser brick siblings, the big box on wheels benefits from the same upgrades in convenience, comfort and safety, but also gets a host of styling tweaks. The lipstick on this particular pig is comprised of a new chromed, three-bar grille, the requisite fender flairs, body-color bumpers, chrome trim, stainless steel tube running boards and 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels painted grey. The 5.5L V8 engine has received a modest bump from 500 hp to 507, while torque remains put at 516 pound-feet. All this adds up to an incredible 5.5 second run to 62 MPH for what is perhaps the most unaerodynamic vehicle on sale today. The starting price is 121,618 euro. We hear Britneys already ordered three.
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| Lamborghini prices Gallardo LP560-4 for UK, releases new pics
June 6, 2008 12:56:00Filed under: Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, Lamborghini 
Click above for high-res gallery of new pics of the LP560-4
Lamborghini just released pricing info on the new Gallardo LP560-4, at least for the UK. Not too thrilling to those of us on this side of the puddle maybe, but there was more to the release. Along with the price information, you see, Lamborghini released a bunch of new high-res pics of its refreshed supercar in action (previous pics were only studio shots). We have been smitten with the new Gallardo since seeing it in person at the Geneva Motor Show. It takes the basic Gallardo shape and adds just the right tweaks to make it instantly sharper and more modern, especially at the rear where the vertical tail has been lowered and widened to make the car look much more capable of tackling the twisties. And that isnt an optical illusion, either.
With its 50% new chassis, all-new suspension and engine, it should be a world-beater. Horsepower has jumped to 560 and its slightly lower weight means that the 0-100 km/h sprint is now just 3.7 seconds. Top speed has also crept up over 200 MPH for the first time, as well. If that sounds like your cup of tea, be prepared to shell out £147,330 ($288,943 USD) in the UK. It should start appearing in dealerships at the end of June. Check out the full press release after the jump and dont forget to click on the gallery to see those new pics! There should be a new desktop wallpaper in there somewhere for you.
[Source: Lamborghini]
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| 2009 Cadillac XLR Roadster, Revealed! [2009 Cadillac XLR]
June 6, 2008 12:25:00 Theres a lot of metal getting the official reveal this morning, isnt there? After showing off the new 2009 Porsche 911 just a few minutes ago, were now seeing the upgraded 2009 Cadillac XLR taking its first baby steps into the morning sun. The Generals luxe brands taking the Art & Science design to new, more powerful heights with this brand new Caddy-vette with an all-new front fascia, rear tail treatment and side venting. The 2009 XLR will get two different editions to choose — the "base model" 2009 XLR Platinum and the high-performance 2009 Cadillac XLR-V. The XLR Platinum is equipped with a 320 HP (239 kW) 4.6-liter Northstar V8 engine. The XLR-V, part of Cadillacs V-Series of high-performance models, is powered with a 443 HP (330 kW) 4.4-liter Supercharged Northstar V8 engine. Oh, baby, were very happy this morning. Full press release below the jump.
Detroit, Mich. - Since its inception in 2004, Cadillacs XLR has been a fresh face in the elite club of the worlds finest luxury roadsters. Today Cadillac revealed the new 2009 edition of the XLR Roadster, featuring styling and model enhancements providing more dramatic design and technology.
Only the finest editions of Cadillacs retractable hardtop roadster will be offered in 2009: The luxurious XLR Platinum and the high-performance XLR-V. The XLR Platinum is equipped with a 320-horsepower (239 kW) 4.6L Northstar V-8 engine. The XLR-V, part of Cadillacs V-Series of high-performance models, is powered with a 443-horsepower (330 kW) 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine.
The 2009 XLR includes a new front fascia, new rear fascia and new side fender vents. The revised design is inspired by the award-winning CTS sport sedan, delivering more detail and aggressiveness to Cadillacs roadster. The front fascia includes new fog lamps and specific upper and lower grilles for the Platinum and V-Series models. Also, both 09 models feature the distinctive hood with a raised center section that was previously exclusive to the V-Series.
"XLR has been a catalyst for the dramatic design and technology driving Cadillacs ongoing renaissance," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "The enhanced 2009 model exemplifies the continued development of Cadillacs approach to design, performance and craftsmanship."
The ultra-luxury XLR Platinum model receives additional exterior identifiers, including a revised rear fascia with more pronounced new exhaust tips and a new 18-inch wheel design (painted wheel finish is standard; chrome is optional).
Inside, the 09 XLR lineup delivers more luxury and technology. Alcantaraâ„¢ - a suede-like microfiber material - is used for the headliner material, in either Ebony or Cashmere color. Also new is hand-cut and sewn leather used on the upper instrument panel. This hand-stitched and wrapped leather lends tailored elegance to the cabin, representing Cadillacs new approach to modern and elegant interior craftsmanship.
The updated cabin includes new instrument cluster trim rings and graphics, new wood grain trims (Natural Olive Ash Burl for XLR Platinum and Black Olive Ash Burl for XLR-V) and new metal trims (Quartz for XLR Platinum and Bermuda for XLR-V.)
Advanced technology has always been a trademark of XLR, and that legacy continues in 2009. This includes Cadillacs acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control system and amenities such as Keyless Access with push-button start, DVD navigation and entertainment, heated and cooled seats, head-up display and heated steering wheel. XLRs advanced technologies also include Adaptive Forward Lighting that enables the headlamps to swivel in concert with vehicle steering, and Adaptive Cruise Control.
XLR is factory-equipped with OnStar 8.0 with Bluetooth capability. The next-generation OnStar 8.0 system (OnStar subscription is not required for Bluetooth) features enhanced hands-free voice commands, Turn by Turn navigation and Emap powered by MapQuest. This includes the industry-first Destination Download feature, in which directions can be downloaded from OnStar directly to the cars navigation system - eliminating the need to stop the car to manually enter a destination.
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| 2009 Porsche 911 Revealed With Direct Injection, Dual-Clutch [2009 Porsche 911]
June 6, 2008 12:18:47 Not only do we get news this morning of a whole host of upgrades for the 2009 Porsche 911 lineup, we now finally get a look at the facelift that goes along with em. Just as we saw in the leaked information from last month, the newly refreshed Porsches get power bumps across the range, thanks to a direct injection system itll get 20 HP more in the regular old 911 (345 HP) and 30 HP in the Carrera S (385 HP). To go along with that added grunt, the cars get the new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission able to shift itself without removing power from the wheels — whoa. It seems you can teach an old Bruce a new trick. Full press release after the jump.
Porsche today disclosed photos and details for the next generation 911 model series. Four new 911 models go on sale in September in North America - the 911 Carrera Coupe, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Coupe, and 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. All offer a higher level of performance thanks to their all-new flat-six engines displacing 3.6 and 3.8 liters respectively. And for the first time in a Porsche sports car, engines utilize direct fuel injection (DFI) and can be coupled with the new optional 7-speed double-clutch gearbox Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), racing inspired technology and a Porsche first. The result of these new technologies allows Porsche to once again boost performance of the 911, yet improve fuel efficiency by up to 13 percent as measured in the European driving cycle.
Maximum output of the 911 Carrera with its 3.6-liter engine is up by 20 horsepower to 345. The 911 Carrera S with its 3.8-liter engine is equally impressive, up by 30 horsepower to 385. With this extra power, the Carrera S now offers a top speed of 188 mph.The new generation 911 is available for the first time with the new Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK), Porsches double-clutch gearbox. The seven speed gearbox combines the driving comfort of an automatic transmission with the gearshift capacity of a sequential gearbox used in race cars. Since Porsches double-clutch also boasts an automatic gearshift function, it replaces the former Porsche Tiptronic S automatic transmission on both the Carrera and Carrera S. PDK improves acceleration while reducing fuel consumption over the previous generation of Tiptronic S equipped 911s through optimized and adaptive gearshifts.
Porsche developed this gearshift principle for racing no less than 25 years ago. It features two parallel clutches to eliminate any interruption in power delivery and eliminates even the slightest break between gears. Porsche factory drivers benefiting from this technology were able to accelerate faster than their competitors and keep both hands on the wheel while shifting gears, thus avoiding even the slightest distraction. This pioneering achievement from Porsches racing efforts now gives the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S even better performance. The Carrera equipped with PDK covers 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and the Carrera S reaches the same speed in 4.3 which is 0.2 seconds faster than with a manual six-speed gearbox. The customer in search of optimum driving dynamics even has the option to combine PDK with Porsches optional Sport Chrono Plus including Launch Control. The result is high-speed acceleration free of wheel spin from a standstill and a racing shift pattern to further boost performance. The Carrera equipped with the Sport Chrono Plus accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds while the Carrera S sprints to 60 mph in an outstanding 4.1.
Exterior enhancements of the new 911 stand out clearly through innovations in design and technology. The refined front bumper has larger air intakes which signal an increase in power and the newly designed dual-arm exterior mirrors give a larger field of vision to the rear of the car. LED daytime driving lights and bi-xenon headlights will be standard on all new models, as well as LED tail and brake lights. This gives the 911 an even more distinctive style and a truly unique look from the front and rear. As a further option, Porsche now also offers Dynamic Cornering Lights on all models. In Porsche fashion, these new refinements do not change the drag coefficient of the 911 as it stays at a remarkable 0.29.
The latest Porsche Communication Management system, PCM 3.0, which includes a new touchscreen feature, will be standard on all new 911s. Along with this upgraded system, options such as a hard disk drive navigation system, XM radio with XM NavTraffic capability, Bluetooth® connectivity, iPOD® port, USB port, and aux jack will be available.
2009 911 U.S. pricing starts at $75,600 for the Carrera Coupe, $86,200 for the Carrera Cabriolet and the Carrera S Coupe, and the Carrera S Cabriolet is $96,800.
 
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| Chrysler is just as good as Toyota, at building cars that is
June 5, 2008 19:07:43Chrysler's sales numbers may be in the tank, but the Michigan-based automaker has at least one thing to be proud of. A new report has found that Chrysler is tied with Toyota for production efficiency, and the Auburn Hills-based automaker even snagged the title of most productive North American plant for its Toledo, Ohio [...] - [Read more] |
| More Old Cars Than You Ever Believed Possible Down On The Tampa Street [Down On The Street Bonus Edi
June 5, 2008 18:00:00 Were mighty pleased with the vast quantities of DOTS Bonus shots from our readers these days, and some readers are going the extra mile and shooting multiple cars found street-parked in their towns. We saw Warpigs Oslo-O-Rama last week, and now its NiceNurseRatcheds turn. NiceNurseRatched lives in Tampa and shes photographed a bunch of Florida-style cool machinery, ranging from a Nash Ambassador to a Mercedes-Benz 600. Make the jump for the full 146 50-shot gallery.
Weve just discovered that our server hamsters now refuse to run on their wheels when a gallery has more than 50 images, so heres the complete set of photos in the old format:
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| Lotus Clark Type-25 Elise SC Special Edition
June 5, 2008 16:32:00Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Lotus, UK 
Click above for a high-res pic of the Lotus Clark Type-25 Elise SC
Lotus is releasing its first special edition supercharged Elise, the Clark Type 25 Elise SC, to honor legendary F1 driver Jim Clark who died four decades ago at the Hockenheim circuit. The British Racing Green and yellow color combo was inspired by Clarks Type 25 F1 car in which he won the world championship in 1963, and aside from the standard hardtop, black and silver Lotus racing wheels, black leather seats, red trim and wooden shift knob, this is the same Elise SC available abroad. No mechanical changes have been made, so its still putting out 218 hp and 156 lb.-ft. of torque from its supercharged 1.8-liter mounted amidships. In tribute to Clarks racing number, Lotus is limiting production of the special edition Elise SC to 25 units and will only make the £35,995 coupe available in the UK and Ireland. Hit the jump for Lotus press release.
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| 2008 Mazdaspeed3, Part Three [Jalopnik Reviews]
June 5, 2008 16:00:00 Why you should buy the 2008 Mazdaspeed3:
You want a fast car, but have to pick up your children from school. You want a WRX STI, but cant quite afford the running costs and you dont need the AWD anyways. You got a bunch of tickets a few years ago; you still like driving fast, but want to preserve what little credibility is left of your driving record. Youve seen the light, and understand that hot hatches are the most practical, best value all-round vehicles for an enthusiast, but you think the WRX is too soft, the GTI needs more power, the Caliber SRT-4 is too loud, and the other 3-doors are too small.
Why you shouldnt buy this car:
You need a dope ride to pick up some shorties. You think "Tokyo Drift" was the most awesome racing movie ever. You dont consider chrome racing rims to be oxymoronic. You want a roof scoop on your car, but have no idea what theyre for. When someone says, "driving dynamics," you think theyre talking about a tuning company. You like hatchbacks because they have more room in the back for a system.
Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: Yes
Fashion Victims: No
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: No
Tuner Crowd: Yes
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: No
Euro Snobs: No
Working Stiffs: No
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: No
Golfing Grandparents: No
Also Consider:
• Audi A3 2.0T
• Dodge Caliber SRT4
• Mini Cooper S Clubman
• Subaru Impreza WRX 5-door
• VW GTI 5-door
• BMW 135i and massive debt
• Moving to France, buying the greatest of all hot hatches, the Peugeot 205 Gti 1.9 and taking up smoking
Vitals:
• Manufacturer: Mazda
• Model year: 2008
• Base Price: $23,090
• Price as Tested: $24,805
• Engine type: 2.3-Liter Turbocharged DOHC I4
• Horsepower: 263 @ 5,500 RPM
• Torque: 280 @ 3,000 RPM
• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
• Curb Weight: 3,180 lbs
• LxWxH: 177.8" x 69.5" x 57.7"
• Wheelbase: 103.9"
• Tires: P215/45R18
• 0 - 60 mph: 5.8 Seconds
• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: 18/26 MPG
• NHTSA crash test rating: NA
Also see:
• 2008 Mazdaspeed3, Part One
• 2008 Mazdaspeed3, Part Two
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| ASI Tetsu GTR created from one unlucky Bentley Continental GT
June 5, 2008 15:57:00Filed under: Tuners, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Bentley 
Click above for high-res gallery of the ASI Tetsu GTR
Most Bentley Continental GTs leaving the Crewe factory in England are bound for lives of leisure in the climate-controlled garages of the fiscally fortunate. Sure, a few end up in music videos or the movies, but were certain none ever expect to be bastardized the way this one was. Created by Japanese tuner ASI, the Tetsu GTR takes one Bentley Continental GT and adds a new front and rear apron; exposed carbon fiber hood, trunk and spoiler; a set of oversized wheels and a custom paint job that plasters said carbon fiber hood with... flowers. The flower bed on the hood was reportedly painted by Japanese artist Nakamura Tetsui, but that doesnt make it any more palatable. There seems to be some method to the Tetsu GTRs madness, as the front turn signals appear inspired by the Porsche 911 and the rear has an unmistakable Audi R8 flavor. The car has been upgraded with unspecified mechanical components that boost the twin-turbo W12 up to 800 horsepower, which just makes driving away from all those confused stares in public a faster affair. We hope you join us in pouring a 40 out on the sidewalk for this particular Bentley Continental GT, because its so hard to say goodbye.
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| BMW Partially Reveals The GINA Light Visionary Model Concept In Web Video [BMW GINA Light Visionary
June 5, 2008 15:40:00 Though it isnt set to be revealed to the motoring press until tomorrow, we have this exclusive video of a new concept car from Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. Its called the GINA Light Visionary Model, and its being transported to the BMW Museum in Munich. You can just see the edges of the new concept in the footage, as well as a Knight Rider-esque lightbar in the tail. Were gathering details on what it actually is, other than a two-seater roadster (or maybe even a one-seater, who can tell with all that camouflage?) were told is both visionary and light. Also, itll be fully revealed on June 10th. Well be watching, if only to see BMWs GINA first-hand and up close and to see if its as tight as other BMW concepts weve come to know and love.
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