Tag: edition

Graf Weckerle answers all questions with Comte Noir edition Ferrari 599

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Comte Noir Edition Ferrari 599

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Comte Noir by Graf Weckerle – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re not saying we’re psychic or anything, but after years of bringing you the best – and the worst – from the automotive industry, we’re getting a bit of a handle on what you, our dedicated readers, are thinking. So here goes: you were thinking that what the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano really needed was a set of fleur-de-lis wheels.

Okay, so maybe we’re a little off. But those pentagram alloys on the original 599 didn’t do it any favors. And these? They take 20 days to build. They’re forged from aluminum and titanium and have a two-tone anthracite and black finish. But the Comte Noir (French for “black count”) edition Fiorano is about more than those fancy wheels.

German tuner Graf Weckerle has also upped the 6-liter V12’s output from 620 horsepower to a whopping 835. No word on exactly how they did that, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they turned to an experienced Ferrari tuner like Edo Competition or Novitec Rosso for assistance. They’ve also mounted a new coil-over suspension and adjustable shocks, and hopefully upgraded the brakes to go with the extra power. Otherwise those pretty flowery wheels won’t do you any good as the apex approaches.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Comte Noir by Graf Weckerle

[Source: Graf Weckerle]

Graf Weckerle answers all questions with Comte Noir edition Ferrari 599 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By the Numbers – 2010: The Year After That Really Bad Year Edition

Filed under: By the Numbers

2010 will be forever known as the year after that really bad year. 2009 was a horrible string of days for just about everyone who had two pennies to rub together, but automakers were hit particularly hard.

The only good thing for automakers about such a bad 2009 is that it made every month in 2010 look good in comparison. And so it is that those green bills earned from all those extra car sales is represented by the preponderance of green-shaded cells in our By the Numbers table. Here’s the crib sheet of noteworthy news to be gleaned from our wall of numerals below. If you spot more noteworthy items, call them out in the Comments.

  • The four remaining “Core” brands of General Motors sold more in 2010 than the eight brands of Old GM sold in 2009: 2,202,927 to 2,084,492.
  • Ford Motor Company outsold Toyota Motor Company to regain its No. 2 sales position by General Motors.
  • If Hyundai and Kia were counted together in the U.S., their combined sales of 894,496 units would make them the seventh largest automaker in the U.S.. Separately they are the seventh and eighth largest and the largest single-brand automakers in the U.S.
  • Subaru, one of the best performing brands of the past two years, sold more vehicles in 2010 than Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automaker: 263,820 to 256,830.
  • Buick sales increased the most in 2010 with a 51.89-percent increase, while Smart sales fell the farthest with a 59.39-percent decline.
  • The three best performing brands of 2010 are from General Motors (Buick, Cadillac and GMC)
  • Audi sold over 100,000 vehicles in the U.S. for the first time ever.
Brand/Company Vol. % Volume 2010 Volume 2009 DSR*% DSR% 2010 DSR% 2009
Buick 51.89 155,389 102,306 52.88 508 332
Cadillac 34.68 146,925 109,092 35.56 480 354
GMC 28.95 334,981 259,779 29.79 1,095 843
Porsche 28.55 25,320 19,696 29.39 83 64
Infiniti 27.53 103,411 81,089 28.36 338 263
Acura 26.37 133,606 105,723 27.20 437 343
Jeep 25.65 291,138 231,701 26.47 951 752
Hyundai 23.71 538,228 435,064 24.52 1,759 1,413
Audi 22.86 101,629 82,716 23.67 332 269
Subaru 21.77 263,820 216,652 22.57 862 703
Ford 21.49 1,756,439 1,445,742 22.28 5,740 4,694
Land Rover 21.13 31,864 26,306 21.92 104 85
Volkswagen 20.32 256,830 213,454 21.11 839 693
Kia 18.73 356,268 300,063 19.51 1,164 974
Mercedes-Benz 18.05 225,007 190,604 18.82 735 619
Dodge 17.13 383,675 327,574 17.89 1,254 1,064
Nissan 16.86 805,159 689,014 17.62 2,631 2,237
Chevrolet 16.44 1,565,632 1,344,629 17.20 5,116 4,366
BMW 12.02 220,113 196,502 12.75 719 638
Jaguar 11.59 13,340 11,955 12.31 44 39
Chrysler 11.54 197,446 177,015 12.27 645 575
Mazda 10.49 229,566 207,767 11.21 750 675
Ram 9.14 212,952 195,112 9.86 696 633
Lexus 6.18 229,329 215,975 6.88 749 701
Honda 4.96 1,096,874 1,045,061 5.64 3,585 3,393
Mitsubishi 3.82 55,683 53,636 4.50 182 174
Lincoln 3.60 85,828 82,847 4.28 280 269
Mercury 0.97 93,195 92,299 1.63 305 300
Mini 0.93 45,644 45,225 1.59 149 147
Toyota -1.28 1,534,266 1,554,174 -0.64 5,014 5,046
Volvo -12.19 53,948 61,435 -11.61 176 199
Saab -37.26 5,446 8,680 -36.85 18 28
Suzuki -37.98 23,994 38,689 -37.58 78 126
(Hummer) -57.86 3,812 9,046 -57.58 12 29
Smart -59.39 5,927 14,595 -59.12 19 47
(Saturn) -95.42 12,300 268,686 -95.39 40 872
(Pontiac) -99.34 1,182 178,300 -99.33 4 579
COMPANIES
GM (Core) 21.32 2,202,927 1,815,806 22.11 7,199 5,895
Ford Mo Co 19.41 1,935,462 1,620,888 20.19 6,325 5,263
Jaguar Land Rover 18.15 45,204 38,261 18.92 148 124
Nissan NA 17.98 908,570 770,103 18.75 2,969 2,500
Chrysler Group 16.51 1,085,211 931,402 17.28 3,546 3,024
BMW Group 9.94 265,757 241,727 10.66 868 785
American Honda 6.93 1,230,480 1,150,784 7.62 4,021 3,736
GM 6.27 2,215,227 2,084,492 6.97 7,239 6,768
Toyota Mo Co -0.37 1,763,595 1,770,149 0.28 5,763 5,747

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 306 selling days in 2010 versus 308 selling days in 2009, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.

By the Numbers – 2010: The Year After That Really Bad Year Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By the Numbers – December 2010: Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot Edition

Filed under: By the Numbers

December sales ended 2010 on a largely positive note for most manufacturers. You’re probably more interested, however, in how these brands and companies performed for the entire year of 2010. Hold on to your Sirius satellite radios, because those numbers are on their way, but first we have to dispense with December.

There’s actually nothing too shocking in the sales numbers for December, as most manufacturers finished strongly, with an increase in sales versus December 2009, and those that were down were either not down by very much (Lexus, Jaguar, Toyota and Dodge) or are the usual suspects (Mercury, Lincoln, Volvo, Chrysler and Smart).

Dodge and Chrysler are looking forward to selling significantly updated hardware in 2011, while Toyota will continue to work its way out of the dog house with those consumers that lost some faith in the Japanese juggernaut during its recall debacle in 2010. With that in mind, we expect even more brands to be bragging about the blockbuster year of sales they just had when the next new year rolls around.

Brand/Company Vol. % Volume
December 2010		 Volume
December 2009		 DSR*% DSR December 2010 DSR
December 2009
Ram 87.01 24,270 12,978 93.94 899 464
Jeep 48.53 30,910 20,810 54.04 1,145 743
Acura 46.47 15,489 10,575 51.89 574 378
Kia 44.64 30,444 21,048 50.00 1,128 752
Suzuki 40.42 2,647 1,885 45.63 98 67
Buick 39.70 17,095 12,237 44.87 633 437
Infiniti 37.26 12,502 9,108 42.35 463 325
GMC 35.04 42,159 31,220 40.04 1,561 1,115
Hyundai 32.56 44,802 33,797 37.47 1,659 1,207
Nissan 26.33 81,228 64,296 31.01 3,008 2,296
Mini 23.82 4,320 3,489 28.40 160 125
Saab 23.73 1,074 868 28.32 40 31
Porsche 21.20 2,567 2,118 25.69 95 76
Honda 18.18 114,127 96,568 22.56 4,227 3,449
Mazda 17.66 21,479 18,255 22.02 796 652
Volkswagen 17.07 23,867 20,387 21.41 884 728
Audi 16.79 10,546 9,030 21.11 391 323
Subaru 15.69 26,694 23,074 19.97 989 824
BMW 15.66 23,280 20,128 19.94 862 719
Cadillac 13.38 16,718 14,745 17.58 619 527
Mitsubishi 11.92 4,874 4,355 16.06 181 156
Ford 9.65 174,523 159,169 13.71 6,464 5,685
Chevrolet 9.10 147,960 135,622 13.14 5,480 4,844
Mercedes-Benz 7.21 21,469 20,025 11.18 795 715
Land Rover 2.78 3,695 3,595 6.59 137 128
Lexus -3.52 27,560 28,565 0.06 1,021 1,020
Jaguar -5.30 1,180 1,246 -1.79 44 45
Toyota -5.88 149,928 159,295 -2.39 5,553 5,689
Dodge -6.42 32,390 34,613 -2.96 1,200 1,236
Mercury -10.53 8,393 9,381 -7.22 311 335
Volvo -15.64 4,756 5,638 -12.52 176 201
Lincoln -23.00 8,060 10,467 -20.14 299 374
Chrysler -27.54 13,132 18,122 -24.85 486 647
Smart -34.03 570 864 -31.58 21 31
(Hummer) -88.31 38 325 -87.87 1 12
(Saturn) -98.33 85 5,084 -98.27 3 182
(Pontiac) -98.45 130 8,410 -98.40 5 300
COMPANIES
Nissan NA 27.69 93,730 73,404 32.42 3,471 2,622
American Honda 20.97 129,616 107,143 25.46 4,801 3,827
BMW Group 16.86 27,600 23,617 21.19 1,022 843
Chrysler Group 16.39 100,702 86,523 20.70 3,730 3,090
GM (Core) 15.53 223,932 193,824 19.81 8,294 6,922
GM 7.52 224,185 208,511 11.50 8,303 7,447
Ford Mo Co 6.68 190,976 179,017 10.63 7,073 6,393
Jaguar Land Rover 0.70 4,875 4,841 4.43 181 173
Toyota Mo Co -5.52 177,488 187,860 -2.02 6,574 6,709

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 27 selling days in December 2010 versus 28 selling days in November 2009, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are only combined and reported as companies if their sales numbers are released together.

By the Numbers – December 2010: Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda so excited about winning Japan Car of the Year that CR-Z gets special edition

Filed under: Hybrid, Japan, Hatchback, Honda

2011 Honda CR-Z Japan Car of the Year Edition

The 2011 Honda CR-Z may not exactly be sailing to success here in the U.S., but it has managed to walk away with the coveted Japan Car of the Year title. In order to celebrate, Honda has decided to work up a new special edition version of its tiny sport hybrid. Only available in a special “Pearl Dipusafaiaburu” blue paint, the hatch makes use of unique 16-inch alloy wheels and premium metal pedal pads inside. If the color and the wheels don’t make this one easy enough to spot, Honda has also gone through the extra effort of placing a “Japan Car of the Year” commemorative sticker on the rear quarter glass behind the driver’s side door.

Otherwise, the Japan Car of the Year Edition CR-Z will remain completely stock. Neither fuel economy nor power has been upped in any way. Not surprisingly, it looks like this one will remain a Japanese-only offering. Still, if you like what you see, chances are you could recreate the special edition CR-Z without breaking a sweat – or your bank account for that matter.

[Source: Honda]

Honda so excited about winning Japan Car of the Year that CR-Z gets special edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Grand Edition is a private jet sans the wings

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Grand Edition – Click above for high-res image

Here in North America we know Mercedes-Benz as purveyors of luxury automobiles. But overseas, the Silver Star is known just as much for its commercial trucks. In between exists a huge chasm, but if one vehicle is capable of single-handedly bridging that gap, it’s surely the Sprinter Grand Edition.

Now you may have seen the Sprinter delivering your packages or taking you to the airport, but this is no cargo van or mini bus. Offered exclusively by Mercedes-Benz Manhattan – the manufacturer-owned dealership on Park Avenue – the Sprinter Grand Edition is everything an upscale buyer would expect from a Mercedes and then some.

It’s referred to as a “stand-up Maybach” for a reason, and that reason is what it packs inside: DVD players hooked up to pair of 32-inch flat-panel televisions, reclining power massage arm chairs, sofa bed, refrigerator, 30,000-BTU HVAC system, satellite radio, wireless internet… it’s essentially a private jet inside, only installed into a van.

The privilege of ownership will cost you though: instead of the $40,000 your average working-grade Sprinter sells for, the fully-equipped Grand Edition goes for a hair under $190,000. That makes it marginally more expensive than the SLS AMG supercar and chump change cheaper than the S65 AMG performance sedan… but still around half the price of a Maybach. Want to know more? Follow the jump for a full list of features.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz via The New York Times]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Grand Edition is a private jet sans the wings

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Grand Edition is a private jet sans the wings originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Jeep Extreme Trail Edition Camper

Filed under: Chrysler, Jeep, Specialty, Reviews, Off-Road

Treads Where No Pop-Up Has Tread Before

Jeep Extreme Trail Edition Camper

Jeep Extreme Trail Edition Camper – Click above for high-res image gallery

All that stood between us and our chosen camping spot was 100 yards of loose rock – Precambrian granite that formed slippery masses of pebbles and shards, which ranged in size from as small as a quarter to larger hunks resembling a freshly sharpened axe head. It’s difficult to walk on with hiking boots, let alone drive across.

Did we mention we had no intentions of pitching a tent? No, what we had in mind was a fire, a few hot dogs and a nice warm bed with a roof over our heads. There are only a few vehicles in the world that we would trust with the success or failure of our weekend getaway, and the Jeep Wrangler happens to be one of them.

Better still, we were piloting one of Jeep’s shiny new Trail Edition Campers, which was firmly attached to the trailer hitch of a Deep Water Blue 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. This, boys and girls, is how camping is done properly.

Continue reading…

Gallery: Jeep Extreme Trail Edition Camper: Review

Jeep Extreme Trail Edition CamperJeep Extreme Trail Edition CamperJeep Extreme Trail Edition CamperJeep Extreme Trail Edition CamperJeep Extreme Trail Edition Camper

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

Continue reading Review: Jeep Extreme Trail Edition Camper

Review: Jeep Extreme Trail Edition Camper originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Gifts for Christmas: Ultimate Edition

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Autoblog Car Gifts For Christmas Guide
Our third and final list of car gifts for Christmas is made up of things we sadly can’t afford ourselves. These are top-notch gift ideas for those who happen to fall into the very highest tax brackets, and we are officially envious of anyone who receives anything on this list. Too rich for your blood? No problem, check out some less expensive gift ideas here and here.

See the list…

Continue reading Car Gifts for Christmas: Ultimate Edition

Car Gifts for Christmas: Ultimate Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ariel Atom celebrates turning 10 with special Mugen edition

Filed under: Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty, MISC

Ariel Atom Mugen Special Edition

Ariel Atom Mugen Special Edition – Click above to enlarge

It’s hard to believe that 10 whole years have passed since the only Brit crazier than Amy Winehouse hit the world stage. We are, of course, referring to the Ariel Atom, but you already knew that, didn’t you? And, like any good anniversary celebration, AutoExpress reports that Ariel is celebrating its tenth by releasing a special edition, which sure beats the traditional anniversary gift of tin…

As befitting the celebration, Ariel plans to create just 10 special editions, the first of which will make its debut at the Autosport Show in the UK in January. The big news is that Ariel has partnered up with Mugen – a company that specializes in adding more power and finesse to Honda’s wares – to boost the power of its Honda-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from 245 to 270 horsepower.

Further frippery will include a special coat of paint and a plaque proclaiming its special place in the order along with the signatures of the Mugen and Ariel technicians who built it (just one of each will have their hands on the machine). Check out a larger version of the rendering by clicking on the image above.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Ariel Atom celebrates turning 10 with special Mugen edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini to celebrate Italy with Tricolore edition Gallardo?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini, Rumormill

Image above for illustrative purposes only

Two weeks ago reports began to surface that Lamborghini could be preparing to launch a new two-tone Bicolore edition of the Gallardo at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. But since the pace of the automotive industry is unrelenting, this week’s reports indicate that a Tricolore edition could be in the works, too.

So… a two-tone special followed by a three-tone one? We must have lost something in the translation here. And we almost did. Word has it that the second special-edition Gallardo will not be a three-tone model, but a Tricolore in the sense of the Italian flag. The country, you see, is preparing to celebrate 150 years of unification, a national milestone which Lamborghini very well might celebrate with a commemorative patriotic edition featuring the red, white and green.

Then again, it could just be a three-tone paint job. We’ll have to wait and see, with sources tipping the Tricolore edition’s launch to take place in Geneva in March.

[Source: autoblog.it via eurocarblog]

Lamborghini to celebrate Italy with Tricolore edition Gallardo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Volkswagen, Design/Style, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start

2010 VW Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start – Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2.0-liter turbo diesel in our long-term 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition is a very modern mill, so we were curious how it would handle starting in the frigid clime of northeastern Ohio this time of year.

Diesel engines typically have three vulnerabilities when it comes to cold weather starts: the fuel, the battery and their glow plugs. First, the new Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel we all use begins to gel at a higher temperature than the old fuel. Sulfur is also a lubricant, and with less of it, the fuel pump has to work harder in cold temperatures to keep the thicker diesel fuel flowing. Fortunately, most diesel fuel sold in colder areas has ant-gelling additives mixed in already.

Batteries are also less efficient when cold, while at the same time having to work much harder to crank the engine more times. Finally, diesel engines use glow plugs to heat the point of combustion in each cylinder, which is a much tougher job when the mercury drops below freezing. Optional block heaters can help a diesel engine start in cold weather, but Volkswagen has enough faith in its 2.0-liter TDI that it doesn’t even offer one.

So how did our Jetta TDI Cup Edition do when being started in 25-degree weather after sitting for over 24 hours? Follow the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video]

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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