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Toyota iQ Disco makes us glad we don’t live in Germany… or the Seventies

Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Hatchback, Toyota, Specialty

Toyota iQ Disco – Click above for high-res images

If you thought the recently green-lit Aston Martin Cygnet is little more than an over-glitzed version of the Toyota iQ, then you’ve got another thing coming. Well, to Germany, anyway. And it comes straight from Toyota.

It’s called the iQ Disco, and it’s here to remind us that if you like the latter, the former needn’t apply. Fortunately it’s a promotional one-off. Aside from the disco-ball mirror finish, the show car features Lambo doors, multi-spoke 18-inch alloys and a full DJ booth, complete with a set of Numark NDX 800 turntables and a two-channel mixer pumping through 1000 watts and 130 dB worth of speakers and amplifiers.

Suddenly that gilded Fiat 500 looks decidedly tasteful. The iQ Disco will be hitting the floor at a concert in Cologne and will then tour Toyota’s dealerships across Germany as a promotional tour. Makes us want to put a down-payment on an Avensis, how about you?

Gallery: Toyota iQ Disco

[Source: Toyota]

Toyota iQ Disco makes us glad we don’t live in Germany… or the Seventies originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is the middle child we can live with

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Porsche

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – Click above for high-res image gallery

Nestled in between Porsche’s perennial favorite 911 Carrera S and audacious 911 GT3 is the automaker’s latest creation – the 911 Carrera GTS. It features the slightly wider body of the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 models, but only delivers its power to the rear wheels. Speaking of power, Porsche has upgraded the 3.8-liter flat-six to crank out 408 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and with added visual bits like 19-inch RS Spyder wheels and SportDesign front and rear fascias, this is indeed the middle child 911 that we’d be happy to live with.

The 911 Carrera GTS is making its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show, and we’ve snagged some live shots of both the coupe and cabriolet under the auto show lights. Have a click through our high-res image galleries below to see the latest hotness.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

Gallery: Paris 2010: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet

2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet

Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is the middle child we can live with originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: 2011 Bentley Continental GT, live and in the flesh

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury

2011 Bentley Continental GT live debut – Click above for high-res image gallery

Here is your first glimpse at the redesigned 2011 Bentley Continental GT as it makes its world debut at the Paris Motor Show. Earlier, we mentioned that it will receive a nearly four percent price hike over the previous model, which is nothing compared to the overall improvements the new car has received.

Like any car, it has good and bad angles (obviously, the exception to this rule is the Maserati GranTurisumo which looks beautiful from every angle…) – we’ll hold off final judgment until we can see it outside in natural light, not surrounded by a mob of flash bulbs and clamoring journalists. See for yourself in our high-res gallery of live images below.

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental GT Live Images

2011 Bentley Continental front 3/4 2011 Bentley Continental rear 3/4 2011 Bentley Continental profile

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental GT

Paris 2010: 2011 Bentley Continental GT, live and in the flesh originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1957 Chevrolet NASCAR Black Widow to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson live tonight

Filed under: Car Buying, Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Chevrolet, Specialty, Racing

1957 Chevy Black Widow

1957 Chevrolet NASCAR Black Widow tribute – Click above for high-res image gallery

For most all of its 62-year history, NASCAR has been a battleground for U.S. automakers, each of whom sought superiority on the race track as a way to sell more of their cars.

In 1957, Chevrolet decided to create a race car that would dominate NASCAR and establish Chevrolet as the car to beat in the minds of buyers across the country. Known as the “Black Widow,” the 1957 Chevrolet was one of the most feared race cars of the decade.

Live on SPEED Thursday at 8:30 PM ET, a professionally restored “Black Widow” tribute car will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Collector Car Event. Like all cars at Barrett-Jackson, it will be auctioned at no reserve, meaning the highest bid takes it.

The story behind the Black Widow is an interesting insight into how NASCAR and the automobile manufacturers functioned back in the day. Bone up on your history after the jump.

Gallery: 1957 Chevrolet Black Widow

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1957 Chevrolet NASCAR Black Widow to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson live tonight originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini unveiling new concept on September 23 and you can be in attendance… if you live in the UK

Filed under: Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Mini, UK

Mini concept to be unveiled on September 23

Mini is unveiling a new concept on September 23 in London, and you can win exclusive tickets to join select journalists and BMW Group employees at the live unveiling. All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is e-mail facebook at mini dot co dot uk with the subject line ‘MINI Design Concept Event’ by Monday, September 13. Excited? Ready to enter? Don’t get too jazzed up – Mini is only offering this contest to folks who live in the United Kingdom.

It’s pretty disappointing that the contest is only available to UK residents (we totally want to go), but we are indeed interested in what lies under the skin-tight body wrap seen here. It appears to be some version of the Mini Countryman, but we can distinctly see the bulge of two door handles on the driver’s side, ruling out any chance that this concept will be the rumored coupe version of the Mini crossover. John Cooper Works treatment, perhaps?

If you live on the English Isle and are interested in attending the event, head over to Mini UK’s Facebook page for more info.

[Source: Mini UK Facebook]

Mini unveiling new concept on September 23 and you can be in attendance… if you live in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Cruze configurator goes live

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Configurator

Heads up, compact fans; the configurator for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze has officially gone live. If you’ve got a few hot seconds to spare as your work week comes to a close, you can build up your new Bowtie fuel miser any way you so please. It doesn’t take long to click off enough options to have the Cruze sitting pretty at just shy of $26,800 including destination. Of course, that kind of coin will fetch you a sunroof, spare tire, RS appearance package, navigation and just about everything else your heart could desire in LTZ trim.

Of course, the frugal among you can sink your teeth into a $16,995 LS model, complete with a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, six-speed manual transmission and not much else. If it were us laying down the coin, we’d probably hold off until we got word exactly how much Chevrolet is going to ask for the super-efficient Eco model. Thanks for the tip, Scott!

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: First Drive

[Source: Chevrolet]

Chevrolet Cruze configurator goes live originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: The Ford Focus ST is dead, long live the Focus ST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Ford

Ford Focus ST

Ford Focus ST – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Euro 5 emissions standards have struck again, contributing to the (timely) death of the current generation Ford Focus ST.

The ST is yet another high-powered Euro-only offering to meet its end at the hands of the upgraded emissions regs, joining the ranks of the recently axed Honda Civic Type-R, Mazda RX-8, V6-powered Alfa Brera and the 5.0-liter V10 turbodiesel fitted to the Volkswagen Touareg and a handful of other VAG products.

While the turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder found in the Ford is being retired for duty, fear not. An all-new ST is rumored to debut at the Paris Motor Show this October, likely packing a turbo’d 2.0-liter four mated to a dual-clutch gearbox and sending 200 horsepower to the front wheels. We can’t wait.

Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus ST

[Source: Autocar]

Report: The Ford Focus ST is dead, long live the Focus ST originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302: First live photos!

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 live

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Live Unveiling _ Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Mustang Boss 302 was unveiled this morning at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and we were at the track bright and early to see it take a lap around the famous race course. Due to some early morning rain, the lap actually never happened (we weren’t told and were up at the corkscrew for about an hour waiting in the rain), but we managed to make it down to the pits to catch our first glimpse at the car.

We’ll spare you going over the details again – you can see the official press release, photos and video from our post this morning – but what we can bring you are the first live photos of the Mustang Boss 302, including a few of the “Laguna Seca” edition. Enjoy!

Gallery: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Live Unveiling

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302: First live photos! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Kia Optima configurator goes live with estimated pricing starting at $18,495*

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Kia

The 2011 Kia Optima doesn’t go on sale until sometime this Fall, but the configurator is now live on Kia.com. The new Optima brings Kia design to a whole new level, with a sleek coupe-like profile that should be backed up by some pretty impressive performance when equipped with the new 2.0-liter direct-injected turbo.

Kia hasn’t released official pricing yet for the new Optima, but in an odd move, it is listing estimated prices on the configurator. The base, 200-horsepower 2.4-liter LX model with a six-speed manual is listed at an affordable $18,495 (*sans destination charges, which are likely to add $695), while the least expensive model with the 274-hp 2.0T engine is the $23,895 EX. A maxed-out SX with the premium and technology packages comes in just shy of $30K, which actually strikes us as pretty reasonable based on what we’ve seen so far of the car. That means that the 2011 model is more expensive that the staid but surprisingly competent current model (which starts at $17,995), but we’re thinking the better-looking sheetmetal is worth it alone, not to mention all of the other equipment and material upgrades. Appreciate the tip, Matt!

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima

[Source: Kia]

2011 Kia Optima configurator goes live with estimated pricing starting at $18,495* originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Explorer unveiled live from coast to coast

Filed under: SUV, Ford

2011 Ford Explorer Live Debut in Southern California – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been quite a day for the new 2011 Ford Explorer. After teasing, more teasing, and even more teasing, Ford finally unveiled what it thinks will “reinvent the SUV for the 21st century.” At 12:01 EST this morning, we presented an in-depth look at the new Explorer, providing details on the new exterior and interior as well as some of the safety features, and at noon we went over the new powertrain options, including the 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-4 that will deliver 30 percent better fuel efficiency than the previous V6 model. Ford has even put up a configurator for the 2011 Explorer, allowing you to build your own.

The 2011 Explorer was also introduced live in various parts of the country, from the middle of New York City to Detroit to Los Angeles. We were in attendance on both ends of the coasts to cover the unveilings, each of which had an entirely different feel. The Discovery Channel’s Mike Rowe was on hand with CEO Alan Mulally to make the introductions in the Big Apple, while Ford’s President of the Americas Mark Fields did the honors amidst huge sand sculptures alongside the famous boardwalk in Venice Beach. You can see photos from both unveilings in the galleries below.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer Southern California Live Debut

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer New York City Live Debut

2011 Ford Explorer unveiled live from coast to coast originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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