Imperia GP struts its retro hybrid stuff in Belgium

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Misc. Auto Shows, MISC

Imperia GP

Imperia GP – Click above for high-res image gallery

The modern automotive era has seen more retro brands revived than we can remember. Marques like Bugatti, Spyker, Abarth and Mini are perhaps the most prominent among them – to say nothing of counteless resurrected model nameplates from the Volkswagen New Beetle to the Dodge Challenger – and each has brought its classic caché back from the dead with a modern take on the original. Imperia, however, plans on doing one better.

Active throughout the first half of the 20th century, Imperia is back with retro styling along the lines of a Morgan or Wiesmann, but with a decidedly modern twist: it’s a hybrid. Propulsion is provided by the combination of a 207-horsepowr 1.6-liter turbo four and a 134-hp electric motor. Such a small package driven only by the electric motor can hit 62 from a standstill in a solid six seconds, or just four with internal combustion kicking in.

The product of some three years of development, the first pre-production prototype was recently unveiled at its home Belgian Auto Show, and is set to hit the market shortly with a 90,000-euro price tag, or 120,000 euros for the first edition. Take a closer look in the gallery below and in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Imperia GP

[Source: Imperia via WorldCarFans]

Continue reading Imperia GP struts its retro hybrid stuff in Belgium

Imperia GP struts its retro hybrid stuff in Belgium originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Gifts for Christmas: Stuff For Under the Tree

Autoblog Car Gifts For Christmas Guide
‘Tis the season once again. We were scratching our heads wondering what to get the car-obsessed men and women in our lives, so we made some lists. This first list contains ideas for stuff that goes under the tree, the kind of car gifts that don’t cost an arm and a leg but go over well with the auto lovers in your family.

See the list…

Continue reading Car Gifts for Christmas: Stuff For Under the Tree

Car Gifts for Christmas: Stuff For Under the Tree originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 struts its stuff

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Videos, Motorcycle

2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200

2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Aprilia just released video of its brand new Dorsoduro 1200 dancing through a set of mountain twisties. Better still, the whole shebang is set to the ever-badass tunes of ZZ Top. It’s our kind of kitsch. If you’re still reading and not watching the video after the jump, we’re not sure if we can still be friends. The big v-twin looks like an absolute blast with its quasi-motard stance. Even with that massive mill saddled down low, the riders in the video don’t seem to have any problem flinging the bike through a series of somewhat technical turns.

The downside, of course, is that as of right now, Aprilia has no plans to bring the big Dorsoduro 1200 to the land of the free. That means that if you like what you see, you better pick up the phone and start hounding your local dealer. There’s always a chance that with enough interest, Aprilia just might change its mind. Hit the jump to see the flick for yourself.

[Source: YouTube via Asphalt and Rubber]

Continue reading Video: 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 struts its stuff

Video: 2011 Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 struts its stuff originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Honda Civic struts its stuff in Europe

Filed under: Spy Photos, Europe, Hatchback, Honda

Euro-spec Honda Civic spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Well, look at what we have here. Back in May, our intrepid spy shooters managed to snap off a series of images showing the next-gen European Honda Civic hiding in plain sight under an amalgam of ill-fitting current-gen bodywork. The latest set of spy photos seen here prove that Honda’s little compact hatchback is progressing along rather nicely.

Unlike previous spy photos, it’s clear that the car being tested is wearing its new bodywork… though it’s obviously obscured as much as possible with funky matte black panels with strategically placed cutouts for doors, lights and glass. In any case, we can see a clear hatchback body design, as you would expect for the European market, along with an overtly wedge-like profile.

We have no way of knowing what’s powering this vehicle at the moment, but previous reports suggest our European friends will get a typical choice of gasoline and diesel four cylinder engines along with a possible hybrid. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 European Honda Civic: Spy Shots

Spy Shots: 2012 Honda Civic struts its stuff in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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