Mazda to cut fuel consumption 30 percent by 2015 - TOP 10



Mazda has announced plans to increase the fuel efficiency of its vehicles by 30 percent in the next seven years through the use of new engine technology and lighter materials. By 2015, Mazda's entire range of vehicles will roll off the assembly line some 220 pounds lighter compared to the vehicles it offers today, with a diet that includes a new three-layer wet paint system, along with more innovative materials, including carbon neutral bioplastics due to arrive in 2013.

[ source : autoblog ]

Damn $4 Gas! Ford kills Boss engine for F-150, Mustang - TOP 9



The tremendous pressure on the auto industry is rapidly unraveling even the most carefully laid out plans. Fuel economy is king right now, and trucks and SUVs have gone from cash cows to the 6,000-pound albatross around the necks of automakers. Ford has been giving us a steady flow of news regarding its plans to weather this wicked storm, including the decision to switch truck and SUV plants into facilities that can produce fuel efficient cars and the delayed launch of the 2009 F-150. Now we're hearing from Mike Levine at Pickuptrucks.com that the Blue Oval has all but killed the once promising Boss V8 engine program.

[ source : pickuptrucks.com ]

Audi R8 V10 at the 'Ring - TOP 8



To the untrained eye this might appear to be just another run-of-the-mill Audi R8 lapping the vaunted Nurburgring Nordschleife. But a closer look at the details reveal that this may just be the production-ready V10-powered version of the supercar from Ingolstadt.

[ source : bridgetogantry.com ]

VW considering speedster, SUV variants of new New Beetle - TOP 7



With retro rides – from the Fiat 500 to the Dodge Challenger – popping up left, right and center, it would be all to easy to forget the vehicle that started the trend: Volkswagen's New Beetle. Now with ten years on the road since introduction in 1998, the New Beetle is getting a little long in the tooth, but VW is preparing to launch its successor. However, while the current version is available only in two versions (coupe and cabrio), the next iteration may come with a few new twists in the lineup, mirroring the steadily-evolving range of variants of the MINI. That is, if the latest reports are to be believed.

[ source : channel4.com ]

SHO monster on Craigslist - TOP 6



It is time for Neff to put up or shut up. There's a '93 Ford Taurus SHO on Craigslist that will provide him with both the car of his dreams and the ability to handle the extreme driving conditions he faces during Cleveland winters. It's been slightly modified by the current owner, who retained the original bodywork and interior, but then chose to mate them with a '76 Ford F-150 underpinnings. The high-zoot Yamaha motor? Also jettisoned. In its stead, a 460 cubic-inch V8 from a '78 Lincoln takes up residence underhood. Ride height is elevated somewhat over stock, but this should help Neff when it snows, and the new wheel/tire package allows him to avoid traffic by simply driving over it. All this for a paltry $800. This is what we call a complete win-win situation for El Jefe Neff. Commence peer-pressuring Autoblog's Editor in Chief below.

[ source : craigslist.org ]

HUMMER dealer anticipates doom, pre-emptively downsizes - TOP 5



There's no official obituary for GM's HUMMER  H2 brand yet, but haters are lacing up their dancing shoes while lovers wring their hands. Dealers with HUMMER franchises have a lot of skin in the game, so the uncertain future is bound to give business officers ulcers. Not willing to wait around to the bitter end, Milwaukee's Bergstrom HUMMER is planning to move into the same space as the group's Chevrolet store. The HUMMER-specific Quonset hut style dealership building will be toned down and pressed into service as an outlet for Certified used GM vehicles. Other HUMMER dealers across the nation are staring down the same conundrum, being on the hook for that big, rugged showroom, test track, inventory, and staff, while the parent company looks to clamp off bleeders. Some might follow Bergstrom's lead and shove the big trucks into a corner of a showroom dominated by a more stable brand, while others are shipping inventory as fast as they can.

[ source : edmunds.com ]

Corvette concept, Bumblebee Z28 in the buff - TOP 4



So a couple of weeks ago we asked you to help us identify a mystery car on the set of Transformers 2. Quite a few of you guessed it was some sort of Corvette concept, or the C7 Corvette due in 2010. For those of you who guessed Corvette concept, you were right. The picture above is that concept, and according to speculation it is getting some paint work done in the house of Chip Foose. We don't know if these pics were taken before or after the car's closeup, but we hope it was afterward and that GM is getting ready to actually show us the car. Jalopnik's also got pics of Bumblebee getting paint work done in the same shop. It's a much yellower Bumblebee than the orange one seen on the TF2 set, and word is it could be a Z/28... or it could be a package you'd order from... Saleen? Click the link for the photos and gossip.

[ source : jalopnik ]

Camaro SS spied on set - TOP 3



Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at your 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. It wasn't found on the set of Transformers2, but on location for a Christian Slater television show that'll debut this Fall on NBC. It's a very tastefully done brawn job. The SS badge takes its place in the lower right corner of the grille, with another small badge on the rear bumper. The front spoiler that a number of commenters took issue with on the Bumblebee mod looks to be, if anything, an aftermarket piece. But there's still a nice lip at the bottom -- though we did like the black version -- and another body-colored spoiler out back. There is also an LED-looking third brake light, which we hope makes it to production. Click the link to see the rest of the photos, and anyone want to start guessing what the Z/28 is going to look like?

[ source : camaro5.com ]

NHRA driver Scott Kalitta killed in NHRA qualifying - TOP 2



It is never pleasant to report auto-related tragedies. Thats why it's particularly saddening to report the death of NHRA driver Scott Kalitta, who suffered a horrific crash during Funny Car qualifying at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ on Saturday. Witnesses pegged his speed to be in the range of 300 mph when his engine exploded, engulfing the car in flames. Kalitta was the '94 and '95 Top Fueled champion and his presence will certainly be missed in the NHRA. He is survived by his wife and two sons. We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Kalitta's family and friends.

[ source : nj.com ]

Harley buys U.S. rights to XR1200 name, rumormill turns - TOP 1



Last year, the collective hearts of dirt track Harley lovers all across the United States dropped when The Motor Company announced that its XR1200 model was destined only for markets outside the states. It's not that a dirt track Harley couldn't be done, it's that the conversion was priced way out of the market for many riders. One company which offered just such a conversion is Storz Performance. According to Motorcycle.com, Harley-Davidson has just purchased the rights from Storz to the XR1200 name in America, which offers more than a glimmer of hope to the HD faithful.

[ source : motorcycle.com ]

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