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Filed under: Convertibles , Coupes , Hybrids/Alternative , Sedans/Saloons , Sports/GTs , Euro , Plants/Manufacturing , Acura , Honda Honda's attempt to right-size its development schedule and cope with the economic downturn apparently extends beyond the cancellation of the next NSX . According to Autocar , HoMoCo is right-sizing its plans for the next two years, and that includes rethinking the development of a range of rear-wheel-drive Acuras, a new V8, a convertible based on the CR-Z and the S2000's successor. Acura seems to be carrying the weight of the bad news, with its RWD 7-series rival, originally due out in 2015, cancelled indefinitely, along with development of a V8 engine that would allow the brand to compete with the best and brightest from Germany. The Euro-market Legend could also be on the block and there's a chance that Honda will stop developing two separate Accord models for sale in the U.S. and abroad, instead opting for one mid-size sedan to be sold worldwide...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Hyundai , Rendered Speculation While Hyundai's 2010 Genesis Coupe is going to square off against Ford's muscular selling Mustang , Dearborn's pony will still have the convertible corner of its segment all to itself. Despite early reports to the contrary , Hyundai is insistent that going alfresco was never part of the plan for the GenCoupe. Company spokesman Miles Johnson went on to tell Inside Line that there aren't any convertibles in the works for any of Hyundai's offerings, and that the U.S. market doesn't support the sales numbers Hyundai would require to de-roof the Genesis. At least everyone got to gawk at some nice PhotoChops for a while, and there's always the aftermarket... [Source: Inside Line , Photo: Nick Wilcox] Big duh: Hyundai won't build Genesis convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Convertibles , Sports/GTs , Bentley Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bentley GTC Speed The Bentley GTC has only been out for two years and a bit, but you might not know that; the car is so popular in some parts that it has become something like Ugg Boots for the monied-up automotive fashionista. Like its other Continental stablemates, Bentley has finally taken the drophead into their Speed garage for the transformation from really fast to "Egads!" fast. It emerges from said garage with its twin-turbo W12 producing 553 lb-ft. of torque and 600 horsepower - 100 ponies more than the Azure T , making it the most powerful convertible Bentley has ever made. The Speed treatment alters the front end, with a more upright, dark-tinted matrix grille flanked by chrome bezels around the headlights, and the face is framed by firmer lines sweeping up from the lower air dam. While it is still not - and isn't mean to be - a sports car, the handling...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Convertibles , Coupes , Ford Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 When Ford introduced the new 2010 Mustang at the LA Auto Show in November, marketing boss Jim Farley promised the next chapter in the Mustang story would be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Well that time has arrived and to anyone who has been following the Mustang pattern over the last several years, it should come as no surprise that it's the Shelby GT500. Just like the last iteration, the new GT500 is the most powerful factory production Mustang ever. Like the more prosaic Mustangs, the GT500 is mechanically an evolution of the older model. Just as Ford used the current-gen Bullitt model as the starting point for the 2010 Mustang GT, the lessons learned from developing the limited edition GT500 KR fed directly into the latest Shelby-badged variant. Output of the supercharged 5.4L V8 has now been cranked up to 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Convertibles , Coupes , Ford Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 When Ford introduced the new 2010 Mustang at the LA Auto Show in November, marketing boss Jim Farley promised the next chapter in the Mustang story would be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Well that time has arrived and to anyone who has been following the Mustang pattern over the last several years, it should come as no surprise that it's the Shelby GT500. Just like the last iteration, the new GT500 is the most powerful factory production Mustang ever. Like the more prosaic Mustangs, the GT500 is mechanically an evolution of the older model. Just as Ford used the current-gen Bullitt model as the starting point for the 2010 Mustang GT, the lessons learned from developing the limited edition GT500 KR fed directly into the latest Shelby-badged variant. Output of the supercharged 5.4L V8 has now been cranked up to 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Coupes , Auction Action , BMW Click above the view a gallery of this custom convertible BMW 850i Long before the retro-licious Z8 and the modern 6 Series, BMW's range-topping sport coupe was the 8-Series. Characterized by its distinctive shark nose and available with a choice of eight- or 12-cylinder engines, the 8-Series was sadly never offered as a convertible. But it would have made a smart-looking roadster, as one customer was evidently determined to discover. Commissioned by Erik Williams, offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys back in their glory days, this one-of-a-kind 1991 BMW 850i convertible is now up for sale by a dealer in New Braunfels, Texas. Craftsmanship of the folding soft-top, as you can see from the images in the gallery below, may not be up to world-class standards, but for a unique V12-powered German cabrio, the $25,900 asking price is at least accessible. Gallery: Custom 1991 BMW 850Ci [Source: Automaniacs via CarScoop ] Ex-Cowboys'...
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Filed under: Aftermarket , Tuners , Convertibles , Auction Action , BMW Click above for image gallery of Hartge's V10-powered BMW Z4 Here at Autoblog, we cherish the simple things in life. Like a cold beer on a hot afternoon, spending the holidays with family or stuffing an oversized engine into a little sportscar. It's a time-honored tradition, and this example is no less worthy than any that has come before. Evidently unsatisfied with the S54B32 inline-six powering the top-of-the-line Z4 M, one European enthusiast dropped in the 5.0-liter V10 from the M5 and M6 into his little Z4. But even the stock 507 horses from the high-revving ten wasn't enough for this Bimmerphile, so he went with Hartge's 550-hp version, complemented by the tuner's own 20-inch rims, but, worryingly, no sign of upgraded brakes to go with the 200+ extra horsepower. The converted roadster cost €170k new, but is now on the market for under €98k (tax in), or about $138,000 in American greenbacks...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Frankfurt Auto Show , Convertibles , Coupes , Sedans/Saloons , SUVs , Geneva Motor Show , Tokyo Motor Show , Crossovers/CUVs , BMW , MINI , Rolls-Royce BMW Blog has trained its spyglass on what it says is a list of BMW rollouts for 2009, and it will begin next month with the brand spankin' new Z4 showcased at the Detroit Auto Show. It is March, though, that will bring year's first real bounty. At Geneva, BMW will be showing off a concept version of the Passive Activity Vehicle (half 5 Series, half X6), the Concept eDrive (an electric 1 Series or 3 Series), a Z4 Individual , and the Rolls-Royce 102EX (otherwise known as the RR4 ). Then in April, BMW's taking the show to Shanghai with the 760Li. Post-Shanghai, you'll get a few months to digest. Then at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, BMW is expected to have the production-ready Passive Activity Vehicle on display and the MINI Crossover . It is there, perhaps, that they'll also trot...
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Filed under: Aftermarket , Tuners , Convertibles , Sedans/Saloons , Wagons/Estates , Saab Click above for a gallery of the Hirsch Performance kit for the Saab 9-3 Aero Swiss tuner Hirsch has created a full body kit in carbon for the Saab 9-3 Aero sedan, convertible, and SportCombi. To do the best job of improving aerodynamics, reducing drag, and making the car look good, they enlisted the help of Saab's "master aerodynamicist" Håkan Danielsson and his team, as well as Taras Czornyj, who was the lead exterior designer on the 9-3 SportCombi. What they came up with out front was a 3-piece upper mesh grille, a larger front spoiler with integrated splitters, and a lower mesh grille that increases airflow to the intercooler. Shaped side skirts lead the way to a rear diffuser and a larger rear spoiler on the sedan and convertible. For the SportCombi, Hirsch designed a hatch spoiler almost good enough for the WRC. The hand-laminated carbon fiber parts are UV-coated, have been...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Coupes , Etc. , Marketing/Advertising , BMW , Australia Click above for a high-res gallery of the Z4 painting "An Expression of Joy" Normally the models in BMW's art car line -- sixteen and counting -- get their body panels splashed up with designs by the who's who of the art world. BMW has decided to switch up the concept for a commercial for the new Z4 ; instead of the car being the canvas, the Z4 paints a canvas. Guided by modern artist Robin Rhode and a team of technicians, the Z4 is rigged up with machines that spray paint from the wheels, with everything captured on film by director Jake Scott, Ridley's son. The tire prints in all kinds of hues are laid down on an enormous white canvas, and the result is called "An Expression of Joy." You can check out the press release after the jump, the high-res gallery of images below, and Wallpaper magazine has behind the scenes video . If you like what you see, you might even be able...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Convertibles , Supercars , Mercedes-Benz Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Sterling Moss Things got just a bit brighter for the Detroit Auto Show . Mercedes-Benz will officially unveil what will surely be one of the most attention-grabbing cars in Cobo Hall, the 2009 McLaren SLR Stirling Moss. The boldly styled Merc will be the last vehicle built under the partnership with McLaren, and even at a cost of €750,000 Mercedes should have no trouble finding buyers for the 75-car allotment. Each will feature full carbon fiber bodywork wrapped over the standard version, a 650-hp supercharged 5.5-liter V8 and the five-speed automatic transplanted from the SLR 722 . Despite lacking any sort of roof or proper windscreen, the Stirling Moss can still achieve a top speed of 217 mph and can reach 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. Other unique features include "swing-wing" doors , a retractable air brake that can be operated...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Supercars , Mercedes-Benz Click above for a gallery of the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss We've seen quite a few spy photos of a lightweight speedster variant of the McLaren SLR supercar, but up until now we didn't know exactly what Mercedes-Benz had in store for us. Thanks to Dutch magazine AutoVisie and a scanner-wielding member of GermanCarZone.com , we now have a few more rendering and a possible name: Stirling Moss. The legendary British racecar driver won his first F1 Grand Prix in a Mercedes-Benz, and famously won the 1955 Mille Miglia in record time piloting a 300 SLR. The car to bear his name features a nearly identical version of the supercharged V8 in the standard SLR, although output is nearly on par with the SL65 AMG Black Series at 650 horsepower. That should allow the Stirling Moss SLR to hit 62 mph in under 3.5 seconds and on to a face-contorting top-speed of 205 mph. Beginning in June of 2009, 75 examples will be produced, with...
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Filed under: Aftermarket , Tuners , Convertibles , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Auction Action , Special/Limited Editions Hurst is at it again, breathing their 50th anniversary magic on a Dodge Viper. Fifty cars will be made, each featuring a number of details already seen on the Hurst Hemi Challenger , including the Hurst pistol-grip shifter and Hurst wheels . The interior will be stitched up by Katzkin leather, and sound effects will come via a Corsa exhaust. As for colors, you will be offered the usual two: black with gold stripes, and white with gold stripes. The car you see peeking through in the picture above is a 1-of-a-kind that will go under the gavel at next month's Barret-Jackson auction. That one is matte gold with matte black racing stripe and black chrome wheels. But we have a feeling that if you don't get the car at Barrett and you really want one just like it, Hurst will be happy to exchange some of your green for some of their gold. Check out the press release after the...
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Filed under: Tuners , Convertibles , Coupes , Etc. , Rolls-Royce Click above for full gallery of this Rolls-Royce Camargue Custom Falconry Sporting Vehicle This unholy marriage of a Rolls-Royce and possibly a Jeepster is the product of Swiss mad-scientist Franco Sbarro. Apparently, it was commissioned by an Arab sheik (natch) who was a huge fan of falconry. While the chassis and amenities remain, the doors have been removed, the windshield drops down to give a clear view of the road ahead, and a special falconer's platform has been built into the trunk area that extends out to provide an elevated place to stand on. What started out as a 1978 Rolls-Royce Camargue, has turned into a butch Fiat Jolly in 1980. Dubbed the "Rolls-Royce Camargue Custom Falconry Sporting Vehicle," it is also referred to as "Hunting Car of His Royal High Ness," or just "Hunting Car" or "Falconry sporting vehicle." The price of the conversion was about twice what it cost...
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show , Convertibles , BMW Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 BMW Z4 After releasing photos and information on its new Z4 roadster yesterday, we now have a pair of videos showing the Z4 in action. In the first clip BMW Automobile design head Adrian van Hooydonk and exterior design head Anders Warming discuss the new design. The operative word in the new Z4's design appears to be "Joy" although how joyous we'll be this car remains to be seen. Certainly the new look should make observers a lot happier than old one but ultimately any car is about the driving experience. Here the second video demonstrates how you can use the Z4 for the automotive equivalent of finger painting. The videos are after the jump. Thanks to Alberto for the tip! Gallery: 2010 BMW Z4 [Source: BMW] Continue reading VIDEO: 2010 BMW Z4 hits the road VIDEO: 2010 BMW Z4 hits the road originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:59:00 EST. Please see our...
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