Monday, 31 December 2007
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year readers. We want to thank all of our loyal readers and wish them all a Happy New Year. 2007 was an interesting year for the automotive industry. 2008 will be an exciting year as well. Our humble site has only been around for about 3 months now, and you have all helped to push the site to over 1,000 visits. We will bring you exciting news all through 2008 and beyond.
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Spied: Facelift Mercedes Benz CLS
These shots are fresh from someone inside Mercedes. They were able to snap these two pictures of the upcoming facelift for the ultra sexy Mercedes Benz CLS 4 door coupe. And to make this eye candy even better. The pictures are of the top of the line CLS 63 AMG.
No word yet as to the performance or mechanical upgrades to the new car. Though the bodywork is still just as stunning. Even more so. Noticeable changes include a new grille. New 19 inch wheels. Carbon fiber rear spoiler and bumper diffuser. And lastly LED tail lights.
Source: Motor Authority.
VW TDI Cup gearing up for 2008 season
Are you between the age of 16 and 26? Do you like legal track racing? Do love VWs? If you answered yes, then the VW TDI Cup is for you.VW announced the TDI Cup at the SEMA show in October along with showing off the new Jetta TDI Cup Car. The jetta is powered by a specially prepared 2.0liter Turbo by Volkswagen Motorsport. Capable of 170 horsepower.
Interested drivers will begin a series of qualifying events beginning in March. The entire series will be limited to thirty drivers. Qualifying drivers will be required to come up with $35,000 to cover the race season. VW will provide the Jetta TDI Cup Cars complete with all the safety equipment, tires, etc for the season. Each race is worth $1,500 to the first place driver with a $100,000 purse at the end of the season for the championship winner. As a bonus, if the winning series driver can score him or herself a pro ride within six months within winning. They will be awarded an additional $250,000 bonus.
Interested drivers should contact Volkswagen directly via the VW Motorsports website below.
Source: VW
2008 Barrett Jackson will auction first Challenger, ZR & GT 500KR
Every year the Barrett Jackson classic car auction fills our heads with dream cars that we all wish to someday own. In recent years we have seen many modern day and future classics roll across the auction block. Though not just any special cars. First production cars. Usually it results as the first actual production or retailable car. The most notable was the first 06 Shelby GT 500 Mustang, and 07 Shelby GT Mustangs. Both times these cars fetched WELL over their original sticker prices. And as with just about everything Carroll Shelby does, the proceeds go to charity.
At the 2008 auction in a few weeks. We will see not one, but three first production future classics be made available. Shelby will of course off the first 2008 GT 500KR(King of the Road). But new comers Chevrolet and Dodge will auction the first production Corvette ZR1 and Challenger SRT-8s to roll off the assembly lines. Both the Vette and the Challenger will/should be fresh off their introductions at Detroit. Just before the auction begins.The best part is that like the Shelbys of the past few years, all proceeds from all three lots will go to auction. Sales will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JD
RF), The United Way, and the notMYkid charity.
RF), The United Way, and the notMYkid charity. We're sure that these cars will command the high dollar value as they have in the past with auctions of this type. So we expect to see at the very least 7 figure dollars amounts for these future classics. And we also expect that at least one, if not all three will end up in the collection of Arizona business tycoon Ron Pratte. See you in Scottsdale!
Source: Barrett Jackson.
Friday, 28 December 2007
Pick your poison. 2009 Camaro Color Chart
Now first off, these are not official from GM. A diligent reader of autoblog.com, who just happens to work in the body shop of a Chevy dealer found these. So a Thank You goes out to this anonymous reader. Known only as Chris.What we have is a list of 8 "possible" colors and the names of two others, sans the color chip. Those colors are Switchblade Silver Metallic and Aqua blue Metallic. We did notice that there is also a lack of white or green shades for the Camaro. I don't know about green, but it would look good in white. So we'll take this for what it is, and hope to hear something from Chevrolet soon. Here is the list.
*Victory Red
*Yellow
*Red Jewel Metallic
*Imperial Blue Metallic
*Ink Slate Metallic
*Mocha Bronze Metallic
*Black
*Dark Tarnished Silver Metallic
*Switchblade Silver Metallic
*Aqua Blue Metallic
We'll take ours in Mocha Bronze Metallic wit silver stripes.
Source: autoblog.com
4 States to insert RFID chips in drivers license
If you live in Arizona, Michigan, Vermont, or Washington. You will soon be able to "Voluntarily" have a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip inserted in your next drivers license. These chips can be monitored within a 30 foot radius of the monitor. And will display items like Name, Date of Birth, Description, etc.
"The Department of Homeland Security is in favor of the program, promoting it under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Said a DHS fact sheet, "Multiple cards can be read at a distance and simultaneously with vicinity RFID technology, allowing an entire car full of people to be processed at once." Motorists won't be compelled to use an enhanced ID, however -- in the beginning, it will be by voluntary issue only."
On a plus side, it will eliminate the need to have a passport to cross the border starting January 2009. Now as to which border, we don't know. More than likely it would be for Canada and Mexico.
Remember, Big Brother is watching......
Source: The Newspaper via Autoblog.
"The Department of Homeland Security is in favor of the program, promoting it under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Said a DHS fact sheet, "Multiple cards can be read at a distance and simultaneously with vicinity RFID technology, allowing an entire car full of people to be processed at once." Motorists won't be compelled to use an enhanced ID, however -- in the beginning, it will be by voluntary issue only."
On a plus side, it will eliminate the need to have a passport to cross the border starting January 2009. Now as to which border, we don't know. More than likely it would be for Canada and Mexico.
Remember, Big Brother is watching......
Source: The Newspaper via Autoblog.
Saturday, 22 December 2007
General Motors the first global automaker to sell 1 Million cars in China in one year
The General has turned the emerging Chineese market into the glordy days of the U.S. market of old. GM has announced today that they have become the first global automaker to sell one million, yes 6 zeros. One million cars in China for 2007. The one millionth car was a Buick Park Avenue.
Source: GM
Press Release:
Shanghai – General Motors became the first global automaker to sell 1 million vehicles in China in a single year today when GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale handed the keys to a Buick Park Avenue to Mr. Zhang Jianping at Shanghai GM's corporate showroom in Shanghai.
"Becoming the first global manufacturer to sell 1 million vehicles in China is a demonstration of the strength of our product, our people and our partnerships," said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. "China is a very important market, and we're extremely proud of the contribution we have been able to make to the growth and development of its automotive industry. It's been an extremely beneficial relationship for both sides."
GM sales in China first surpassed 100,000 units annually back in 2002. Since then, GM sales have enjoyed steady growth, topping 500,000 annual sales in 2005, thanks to its growing lineup of brands and vehicles. The milestone million mark featured GM's best-known and strongest brand in China, Buick.
"I'm extremely honored to be the one millionth customer in 2007 for General Motors," Mr. Zhang said. "This is my second Buick and I appreciate the performance, safety and durability of Buick. In addition, I was very satisfied with the fuel economy of my first car. After comparing other products in the premium segment for my next car, it made perfect sense to choose the Park Avenue."
"From day one, GM and our partners have been committed to continually rolling out new and upgraded models, with specific engineering done in China for China to satisfy the needs of Chinese vehicle buyers across the country," Wagoner added.
This year, GM and its joint venture partners have begun offering several new products, including the Cadillac SLS luxury business sedan, Buick Park Avenue premium sedan, Chevrolet Captiva SUV, all-new Chevrolet Epica intermediate sedan and Wuling Hong Tu minivan.
According to Wagoner, reaching the new sales mark in 2007 is especially significant as it is taking place in a year in which GM has celebrated several milestones in China. Both Shanghai GM, the automaker's flagship manufacturing joint venture, and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), GM's engineering and design joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), marked their 10th anniversaries earlier this year. SAIC-GM-Wuling, GM's mini-vehicle joint venture, also celebrated its fifth anniversary.
Source: GM
Press Release:
General Motors Achieves New Milestone in China
First Global Automaker to Sell 1 Million Vehicles in Single Year
Shanghai – General Motors became the first global automaker to sell 1 million vehicles in China in a single year today when GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale handed the keys to a Buick Park Avenue to Mr. Zhang Jianping at Shanghai GM's corporate showroom in Shanghai.
"Becoming the first global manufacturer to sell 1 million vehicles in China is a demonstration of the strength of our product, our people and our partnerships," said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. "China is a very important market, and we're extremely proud of the contribution we have been able to make to the growth and development of its automotive industry. It's been an extremely beneficial relationship for both sides."
GM sales in China first surpassed 100,000 units annually back in 2002. Since then, GM sales have enjoyed steady growth, topping 500,000 annual sales in 2005, thanks to its growing lineup of brands and vehicles. The milestone million mark featured GM's best-known and strongest brand in China, Buick.
"I'm extremely honored to be the one millionth customer in 2007 for General Motors," Mr. Zhang said. "This is my second Buick and I appreciate the performance, safety and durability of Buick. In addition, I was very satisfied with the fuel economy of my first car. After comparing other products in the premium segment for my next car, it made perfect sense to choose the Park Avenue."
"From day one, GM and our partners have been committed to continually rolling out new and upgraded models, with specific engineering done in China for China to satisfy the needs of Chinese vehicle buyers across the country," Wagoner added.
This year, GM and its joint venture partners have begun offering several new products, including the Cadillac SLS luxury business sedan, Buick Park Avenue premium sedan, Chevrolet Captiva SUV, all-new Chevrolet Epica intermediate sedan and Wuling Hong Tu minivan.
According to Wagoner, reaching the new sales mark in 2007 is especially significant as it is taking place in a year in which GM has celebrated several milestones in China. Both Shanghai GM, the automaker's flagship manufacturing joint venture, and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), GM's engineering and design joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), marked their 10th anniversaries earlier this year. SAIC-GM-Wuling, GM's mini-vehicle joint venture, also celebrated its fifth anniversary.
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