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Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video]

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Government/Legal, Hatchback, Tesla, Electric

Tesla vs. Top Gear

Tesla vs. Top Gear – Click above to view Top Gear’s review after the jump

Tesla has gone to great lengths to publicize its libel suit against Top Gear for the program’s 2008 review of the Tesla Roadster. The suit claims that TG‘s review of the car was rigged, and its assertion that the car doesn’t work in the real world had been decided even before Clarkson drove the car.

Until now, there had been no response from the BBC or Top Gear, other than to say they would defend themselves. According to Top Gear producer Andy Wilman, it’s their policy to hold back any comment until the matter goes to court. Since Tesla has been so vocal about the case, though, Wilman decided to issue a response.

Wilman responds to Tesla’s claims that the show lied about the car’s brakes being broken, that its range is only 55 miles and that an overheated motor immobilized the car. Top Gear says the 55-mile range claim came from Tesla engineers who studied data gathered from the car after the test day. Wilman stands by his show’s claim that the brakes broke, saying a blown fuse in the vacuum pump made pedal effort abnormally high, and that Tesla wouldn’t let them continue the test until the problem was solved.

Whatever side of the matter you stand on, the facts of the case will have to shake out in court. The only thing that seems certain at this point is that the case will likely be long and messy. Click past the jump to see Top Gear‘s original review and draw your own conclusions.

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video]

Top Gear presents its side of story about Tesla Roadster [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1965 Ford GT40 Roadster crossing the block at Villa d’Este

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Europe, Ford, Racing

1965 Ford GT Roadster

1965 Ford GT Roadster – Click above for high-res image gallery

A one-of-five 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster will be auctioned off at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, Italy on May 21. The car was built in 1965 as a prototype by Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations center in England, and is one of four surviving examples.

The Linden Green example crossing the block was raced by John Whitmore and Bob Bondurant in the 1965 Targa Florio, running as high as third before it was forced to quit after being damaged. The car, chassis GT/111 was lost after the Targa Florio, waiting to resurface until 2006.

The car was authenticated and restored in 2007, and has made vintage race appearances around the world, starting with the 2007 Goodwood Revival. Given the car’s rarity, blue-chip name and Whitmore/Bondurant prestige, the GT Roadster will no doubt fetch some serious bank when it rolls across the block.

Gallery: 1965 Ford GT Roadster

1965 Ford GT Roadster

[Source: Top Gear | Images: Top Gear]

1965 Ford GT40 Roadster crossing the block at Villa d’Este originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAC Mono: Another Ariel Atom-fighting roadster in the UK

Filed under: Performance, UK, MISC

BAC Mono

Sick and tired of getting pushed around by Ariel Atoms at your local track day? Briggs Automotive Company, who prefer the acronym BAC, are getting ready to produce the Mono. It’s a carbon-fiber shell wrapped around a single-passenger steel cell.

The BAC Mono’s 2.3-liter Cosworth four-cylinder engine makes 280-horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, and it’s mated to a Hewland six-speed sequential gearbox. Those power figures put it right in line with all non-V8-equipped Atoms. However, the BAC Mono weighs in at just 1,190 pounds – 160 pounds less than the Atom.

BAC plans to build just 35 examples of the Mono, and the first 10 are already spoken for. You better start saving your cash if you’re interested because the Mono will cost you £67,000, or about $108,000 USD, before tax.

[Source: Jalopnik]

BAC Mono: Another Ariel Atom-fighting roadster in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Luxury

2012 Ferrari FF

2012 Ferrari FF – Click above for high-res image gallery

Are you a mega-wealthy car enthusiast that’s always eager to be first in line when it comes to supercars? Here’s a tip for you: Buy a plane ticket (or fuel up the jet) and head on down to Florida for the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance.

Now in its fifth year, this upper-crust car show has been gaining momentum in the concours community, in part by scoring a lot of “firsts” for the auction portion of its event. Auctiongoers in past years have had a shot to buy the first U.S. examples of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 and Spyder R8, Ferrari California and 458 Italia and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

On the docket for this year’s festivities? How does the 2012 Ferrari FF, 2012 Audi R8 GT and 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. According to The DuPont Registry, each car will be the first of its kind sold in the United States. If you need to pick up something for your kids or the wife, Mercedes has also supplied a 2012 CLS63 Limited Edition, of which only 30 are to be made – and, of course, this is also the very first one sold.

*UPDATE: If you were booking travel arrangements to Florida with the goal of winning yourself the first example of Ferrari’s FF shooting brake… don’t. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County (the organization for whom the concours auction is to benefit) has issued a formal retraction – the Ferrari FF will not be available for auction. Please read the official press release after the jump for more details.

Gallery: 2012 Ferrari FF

[Sources: DuPont Registry, Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County]

Continue reading Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE

Boca Raton Concours scores ‘first’ sales: Ferrari FF, Benz SLS Roadster, Audi R8 GT, etc. *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz Ad

Mercedes-Benz reveals new models in Super Bowl ad – click above to watch the video

Mercedes-Benz is throwing its hat into the Super Bowl advertising fray with a pretty new 60-second spot designed to celebrate the company’s 125th anniversary by heralding in a wave of five new models. The spot marks the very first time that the company has ever advertised during the NFL’s ultimate game. In the spot, Mercedes-Benz features four new vehicles, including a very quick peek at the upcoming C-Class Coupe and the SLS AMG Roadster.

The spot features many of the company’s past and current models escaping their owners in a bid to pay homage to the newborn Benz fleet. There are plenty of fantastic vintage Silver Arrows in the spot, along with a soundtrack by Janis Joplin and at least one celebrity cameo (we won’t spoil the surprise on that one). Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz via Facebook]

Continue reading Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster

Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coyote Cobra: Superformance MKIII roadster powered by the Mustang’s 5.0L V8 [w/video]

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Convertible, Performance

Coyote 5.0L V8 Superformance MKIII Roadste

Coyote 5.0L V8 Superformance MKIII Roadster – Click above for a high-res image gallery

We were smitten with the Coyote 5.0-liter V8 the second we got behind the wheel of the 2011 Ford Mustang GT. We described the 412 horsepower engine as “a pot of pure honey” as well as “intoxicating,” and said that the “5.0-liter V8 pulls like a jet airliner.” With a curb weight of just over 3,600 pounds, the Mustang GT is not as bloated as the Camaro, but by no means a lightweight. Would we like the 5.0L even more if it had less mass to push around?

That’s what Superformance had in mind with its latest creation. The maker of Shelby-licensed Cobra replicas has installed a Coyote 5.0-liter crate motor into one of its MKIII Roadsters, creating a combination of classic styling with the best of Ford’s modern powertrains. The engine wedges snugly into the front of the car, and only a custom air intake and headers are all that are needed to make everything fit.

We stopped by Superformance to get a closer look at the car, and came away with some photos and even some video of it in action. Check out the high-res gallery of the car below, and follow the jump to watch the video and hear what the Coyote 5.0-liter V8 sounds like without mufflers.

Gallery: Coyota 5.0L V8 Superformance MKIII Roadster

Continue reading Coyote Cobra: Superformance MKIII roadster powered by the Mustang’s 5.0L V8 [w/video]

Coyote Cobra: Superformance MKIII roadster powered by the Mustang’s 5.0L V8 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler reportedly patents new Smart roadster design

Filed under: Convertible, Smart

Smart Roadster Patent

Smart roadster patent drawings – Click above for high-res image gallery

We aren’t quite sure what Daimler is working on here, but these patent drawings of what appear to be a Smart Fortwo-based roadster were submitted for trademark approval on November 16, 2010. The folks at Carscoop suggest that this could be a redux of the automaker’s Crossblade cabriolet, sold in the early 2000s with very limited production (just 2,000 were made). Us? We aren’t so sure.

While the design of this recent patent submission looks like it could preview the next-generation design of the Smart family, we doubt that any sort of roadster is in the works for the immediate future. Could this show up as a concept at one of the 2011 auto shows? We won’t rule it out, but for now, we won’t be holding our breath for any sort of Smart-branded roadster in the not-too-distant future.

Gallery: Smart Roadster Patents

Smart Roadster Patent

[Source: Carscoop]

Daimler reportedly patents new Smart roadster design originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car

Filed under: Convertible, Tesla, Design/Style, Electric

Laurence Gartel Tesla art car

Laurence Gartel’s Tesla Roadster art car – Click above for high-res image gallery

We love ourselves some art cars. Be it a Warhol-liveried BMW M1 or a crochet-covered Morris Minor, few things flip our collective switch quite like the melding of art and automobiles. Tesla has introduced its first foray into the scene with a Roadster worked up by Laurence Gartel. The artist covered each and every one of the electric sports car’s body panels in a vinyl wrap with a trippy digital swirl design. Gartel has a history of working in digital art having begun experimenting in the medium in the ’70s, and Tesla is a company that identifies with individuals with a technology bent.

Tesla showed its Art Roadster at the Miami Art Basel Festival over the weekend, and the company spent some time motoring around the southern-Florida city during the event. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Laurence Gartel Telsa Art Car

[Source: Tesla]

Continue reading Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car

Tesla takes a tip from BMW, creates psychedelic Roadster art car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Roding Roadster hopes to be faster than the speed of ugly

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance

Roding Roadster spy shots

Roding Roadster spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Yikes. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never heard of Roding, the company responsible for this lightweight ‘Ring-runner, there’s no getting around the fact it’s quite unattractive. Our trusty spy photographers recently spotted a prototype for Roding’s next track-ready creation, and while its performance specs make us raise an eyebrow of intrigue, its appearance makes us want to wash our eyes with heavy-duty soap.

You don’t have to look at it while you drive, though, and what the roadster lacks in beauty it certainly makes up for in performance. Underneath the 2,100-pound carbon fiber shell lies a turbocharged six-cylinder engine good for around 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque running through a six-speed manual transmission. Not only will this little hellion be ultra quick off the line, it’s said to be able to reach 1.4 gs in the corners.

The production version of this car will reportedly be unveiled sometime in early 2011, with a limited-production run of 23 cars going on sale in June. Scroll through our high-res gallery of spy shots below, if you dare.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Roding Roadster

Roding Roadster spy shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Roding Roadster hopes to be faster than the speed of ugly originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Boy receives shock and awe from Tesla Roadster

Filed under: Videos, Tesla

Click above to watch video after the jump

Do you remember the exact moment when you discovered that you loved the automobile? We’re not so sure we can pin down that exact moment ourselves, but this video shows the precise second that one young man earns his wheels.

A camera fixed on the face of a youngster taking his first ride in a Tesla Roadster 2.5 shows that internal combustion isn’t required for the automobile to dig its claws into our hearts. The post-jump video starts out slowly enough as the young fella chats it up with who appears to be a family friend or relative, but about 22 seconds in said driver slams the Tesla’s go pedal, producing one of the most genuine expressions of fear and excitement we’ve ever seen.

We knew the Tesla Roadster packed a serious battery-powered punch, but we didn’t know it could make you call out for your mommy. Hit the jump to watch this boy receive the call and reminisce about your own induction to the class of auto fandom in the comments. Hat tip to Robinson!

Gallery: Review: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Boy receives shock and awe from Tesla Roadster

Video: Boy receives shock and awe from Tesla Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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