Infiniti’s mid-size sedan, the M, has been around for quite some time, but it’s still one of our favorite luxury sport sedans. We lived with an M45 for a full year, and not once did it require repairs. Even those in the office who didn’t initially understand the M45’s place in the automotive world came away from the test in awe of how good this Japanese BMW-fighter really is.
As I drove home in the CLS last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jaguar’s XF. The Mercedes has a dramatic presence that the XF is missing. I don’t find the CLS gorgeous - especially the headlights - but it does stand out in the crowd. What a great concept Mercedes has. Build the E-Class for the more traditional Benz buyer and the CLS for the person who wants a bit more style. Unfortunately, the CLS doesn’t drive as well as the Jaguar. The Mercedes V-8 is very strong but the seven-speed automatic is slow to downshift. I also find the air suspension really disconnects the driver from road. It is too floaty and I don’t like constantly having to toggle the suspension switch to try to contain body motions. In the end, I wish the XF was more dramatic like the CLS but that the Mercedes drove as well as the Jaguar.
For all those who thought the BMW X6 SUV/Coupe was brilliant, here’s the next step. With the help of some customization from LSE Design, an U.K. based tuner, the Range Rover Sport was transformed from a 4-door SUV into a coupe. The 2009 LSE Range Rover Sport Coupe will be built in a limited edition of just 200 units, each priced at $250,000. According to the manufacturer only 50 units will be produced for the U.S. so you’d better start saving some money.
The Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RS is already a fast car, but when the guys over at 9ff decided to transform it in a 9ff GTurbo1000, the results are pretty cool.
Obviously, that’s Neil Young.
To me, Neil Young is one of these guys that’s cool because he skirts the edge of disaster in a lot of ways. He’s Canadian, for one … and a Canadian MUSICIAN for two (I don’t need to go into the sonic & thematic failings of Canadian bands like Loverboy, do I?) … and folk music? That stuff was scary - it almost caught on!
Anyway, despite all these handicaps, he somehow manages to make it work.
Chevrolet will unveil four customized Camaro at the SEMA Show: the Camaro LS7 Concept powered by the GM’s Performance Parts LS7 crate engine that delivers more than 500 hp; Camaro Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept – customized to Dale Jr.’s style; Camaro Black Concept – a sinister-looking exercise in bold design and the Camaro GS Racecar Concept – an homage to a road racing legend.
Uh-oh! Big time UH-OH!!!:
Report: GM Turned down by Government
From the NY Times: U.S. Rejects G.M.’s Call for Help in a Merger
With every increase in the price of gas, up goes the sales numbers for smaller SUVs, small trucks, crossovers, and sedans. Naturally, every automaker tries to cater to the market in need, so we’ve seen countless concepts and production versions of these small “crossover” SUV coming to market.
Low-volume specialty automaker Breckland (the same guys that made the awesome Tommy Kaira ZZ) are beginning to deliver their new Biera this month. Starting with the GM Kappa platform used in the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, Breckland dropped in the 400 horsepower 6 liter V8 used in the Chevy Corvette.
The handbuilt-in-UK roadster was redesigned all over, and amplifies the aggressive styling of the Solstice and Sky. I can even see a little bit of Ferrari 355 meets Tesla Roadster in the rear styling:
A halo car is one that will revive a brand. It gives new direction, and while it may not be the car that was sold to the consumer, it’s the reason he/she came into the dealership. It goes with the idea that while you may not be able to afford an Audi R8, it may remind you that an A4 is in your price range. Bob Lutz calls it “shock therapy” for an automotive brand.
In times of slower auto sales, a budget-minded halo car is a great thing to have. Companies want a car that’s cool enough to be a poster is on a kid’s wall and affordable enough to be in dad and mom’s driveway. Great examples are cars such as Honda’s S2000 or the reborn Fiat 500.
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