I will be traveling to rural New Mexico for the next week, and my access to the internet will be spotty at best. I will do my best to post in this time, but if I'm unable to, I'll make up for it starting on the 4th.
When are they going to offering free wi-fi in the desert?
Not much info, but here's a few spy shots of BMW's foray into the bigger SUV market - the X6. This one was spotted near the factory where it's going to be built in Spartenberg, SC. BMW says this model should be available to the public in 2009. We think it looks pretty cool and are looking forward to seeing it on the road.
Needless to say, we're really excite about the concepts being shown at the NAIAS this year. In previous years, there's been some disappointing concepts being displayed, but this year, it looks all good. Adding to the list is this concept from Toyota: The FT-HS. Toyota designers system which spits out a serious 400hp. From a Needless to say, we here at AutoZealot.com are really excited to go to the NAIASaparently thought, "what can we do, that no one else can?" Well, the answer is build a true high-performance hybrid, and that's what they did. It's powered by a 3.5 liter V6 with a new-generation hybrid system. To tame all those earth friendly ponys, they went with their parts bin and matched it up to a planatary CVT tranny with close ratios. We'd normally object to re-using old parts on a concept car, but they added a paddle shifter, so we'll forgive them. The only performance numbers Toyota is releasing is a 0-60 time which is 4 seconds. And the mileage is reported to be in the mid-20s. Not to shabby! Besides the obvious hindrance of a heavy battery pack, Toyota is also claiming that this car is road and track worthy due to its more potent regenerative breaking system which captures a lot more energy than it's current Synergy Drive system. This concept is supposedly not far from production which is nice, but Toyota hasn't released an estimated price yet. Based on say the Supra, which during its last days was going for $40,000, this ride probably isn't going to be cheap. Yet, we think it'll still be in the grasp of somewhat normal humans when compared to the prices of the marques Toyota is claiming to go after with this: Porsche 911, Ferrari F430, and the Corvette (probably the closest competitor as far as cost goes.) Looks wise, we love this thing. Almost the exact size as the Nissan 300Z, has really cool flying buttress style c-pillars, and it's got a really interesting roof. The large roof is opaque and retractable like a 911 Targa, but tilts back further to allow for a good view out the back window. The only draw back to this is it's a 2+2 with the top up, but turns into a two+zero with the top down. Other features of note are functional vents that force cool air over the batter pack and a hood with a viewing window of the engine. In theory, it sort of reminds us of the engine cover of a Ferrari. Yet instead of seeing a gleaming red and aluminum v12, you see...a battery pack. Sign of the times for sure, but still pretty cool in our books.
Word on the grapevine is Mercedes-Benz has just registered the "CLC-Class" name as a trademark. Or, more accurately applied for the trademark. Rumor has it that the "C" in CLC might be a coupe version of the awesome CLS four-door. This CLC when it comes out could be a based on the ultra cool "Ocean Drive" concept and will more than likely share the same V12 engine that's also in the S600. Maybe there'll be some info on the CLC when we get the first official look at the "Ocean Drive Concept" at the NAIS?
First of all, we have to warn you. This is AWESOME! Here's the concept. Take a Honda powered Formula 4-Stroke race boat, a Honda Works Fireblade motorcyle, and a Honda F1 car. Pit them all against each other on a single quarter mile track at London City Airport. I love the way the English think.
I don't want to spoil it for you, but if you guessed the F1 car beat the other two by a significant margin, you're right. The motorcycle was close, sort of, due to it's pretty good weight to power ratio. Motorcyles are for the most part by design, an engine with a seat on it. Yet it was still no match for the F1 car and its V10 engine and even better power to weight ratio.
All in all, a really fun segment to watch. I won't give you any more details, just watch, and enjoy. [Source: Firth Gear London]
Mazda announced today that they're building a Special Edition roadster called the "Roadster Blaze Edition." What makes it different? Mazda says it will come with an updated black and tan leather interior and some exterior accents. It all seems like pretty subtle changes, barely warranting a "Special Edition" moniker, but you do get BBS wheels which is probably the hottest part of this package. It only comes in one color: "Radiant Ebony Mica" which looks like a shade of deep red wine.
It's going to cost around 3,135,000 yen (which is $26,394 USD) for the RHT Retractable Hard Top and 3,040,000 yen ($25,558 USD) for regular soft top.
You may wonder why we're quoting the prices in yen? Unfortunately, it's only being released in Japan right now. US version to follow?
Even if you didn't catch last week's episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live, chances are if you work in any type of office environment, you've seen the "D--- in a Box" skit. It's got guest host Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg doing a spoof of an 1980s/1990s boy band number. They both croon about giving their girlfriends "something special" for Christmas. Check it out here: http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/ If you haven't seen it yet, you'll thank us for the laugh.
So, you may be asking, what does all this have to do with the auto industry? Well, on NBC.com they offer two versions of the clip, the censored version and the uncensored version (which you must admit to being 18 before watching). Look up at the photo and check out he banner ad to the right. The good news here in our opinion is while you're watching both versions, you'll see ads from Ford, Cadillac, and Hummer running. Maybe not such a big deal for Hummer, but this shows a Cadillac and Ford straying away from the ultra conservative marketing theologies. It's probably a smart move since this little "SNL Digital Short" was viewed more than 3 million times last week and it's still going strong. Not to bad of an investment in our opinion.
I will be traveling to rural New Mexico for the next week, and my access to the internet will be spotty at best. I will do my best to post in this time, but if I'm unable to, I'll make up for it starting on the 4th.
Even if you didn't catch last week's episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live, chances are if you work in any type of office environment, you've seen the "D--- in a Box" skit. It's got guest host Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg doing a spoof of an 1980s/1990s boy band number. They both croon about giving their girlfriends "something special" for Christmas. Check it out here: http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/