Automobile News

Official details on the Mansory Vincero Bugatti Veyron

>> Saturday, January 10, 2009

Customized Bugatti Veyrons are almost as common as the cars themselves, which is to say not common at all. But this particular car, modified by Mansory, is less common than even most other custom Veyrons. Today official information about the car was revealed, including it's massive 1,109hp (827kW) power output. To accompany the huge power figure is an equally whopping torque number: 967lb-ft (1,310Nm). That should be enough to erase a few tenths off the already-world-class mid-2 second 0-60mph (96km/h) time.

Mansory Vincero custom Bugatti Veyron

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First specs for Barak Obama's Cadillac One

>> Friday, January 9, 2009

With president-elect Barak Obama soon to be sworn in as the nation's leader, a new presidential limousine was in call for and once again General Motors was assigned the task of building it. Nicknamed 'The Beast', the limo is based on a number of GM platforms and shares components with several different vehicles. Its exterior is styled around the Cadillac DTS but underneath the sheet-metal the vehicle is built on a medium-duty truck chassis. The limo has recently been seen testing in prototype form alongside several GMC Topkick pickups, and according to onlookers the wheels and tires on the limo are almost identical to those on the trucks – 19.5in Goodyear Regional RHS tires. The rest of the exterior includes parts from several Cadillac models, such as headlights from an Escalade, and the grille and taillights from an STS.

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Report: Mitsubishi to supply PSA Peugeot Citroen with electric vehicles

Back in June of last year, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi announced that both companies were to start a feasibility study in the field of electric powertrains. The project, which was to run over several months, related to the development, the manufacture and the use of an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles. Japan's Nikkei daily is now reporting that Mitsubishi will actually supply its i-Miev electric vehicle to PSA Peugeot Citroen as early as next year. Up to 10,000 of the compact electric cars may be supplied to the French carmaker by 2011, with most of the cars expected to be sold in France as well as several other European nations.

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Mercedes-Benz hit with second-largest fuel efficiency fine ever by NHTSA

Mercedes-Benz has been fined $28.9 million for failure to meet federal fuel efficiency standards by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week. The amount is the second-largest in the history of agency. Part of the U.S. CAFE standards, enforced by the NHTSA includes a provision for fines when the requisite levels of efficiency aren't met. That power of enforcement also saw Porsche Cars North America, Maserati Automobiles and Ferrari North America pay fines of $1.1-1.2 million apiece, reports the Detroit Free Press.

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Corvette ZR-1 rolling chassis to be auctioned from GM Heritage Collection

The fund-raising process of auctioning off much of the contents of General Motors' historic Heritage Collection of cars hits a potential high-note, at least to a do-it-your-selfer's eye, with the sale of a Corvette ZR-1 rolling chassis. Though the exact state of the chassis isn't known, it does appear to be complete with a 6.2L supercharged LS9 engine. Full suspension, wheels and tires and a very minimalist amount of interior elements sum up the remainder of the included equipment, but that won't stop hotrodders and customizers the world over from heading to the Barrett-Jackson auction where the chassis will be sold. The auction materials indicate the car may not be titled or licensed, however, hinting that it may be a pre-production vehicle or even a display-only model built for use at the 2008 Detroit Show as part of a technology showcase.

Corvette ZR-1

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Chevy Beat Concept headed to Detroit, U.S. production possible

Despite adamant statements to the contrary, the production verion of the Chevrolet Beat could be made available for sale in the U.S. On this morning's Today Show, General Motors product guru Ed Welburn talked with Matt Lauer about the car, which will be on display at the Detroit Auto Show. Rumors of North American availability have persisted despite GM's statement that the car couldn't be made to meet federal safety standards without significant re-design. The car was always intended as an entry in Asian and other markets, however.

2011 Chevrolet Beat spy shots

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Zolfe Orange sports car enters production

The Zolfe Orange is a compact British sports car designed and built for racing enthusiasts looking for a fun and relatively low-cost entry into the world of weekend motorsports. The car was spawned from a collaboration between Midlands business entrepreneur Nic Strong and former Caterham Technical Director, Jez Coates, and has just entered limited production. It features a spaceframe chassis and composite body, and tips the scales at just over 700kg. Power of 185hp (138kW) comes from a 2.3L Ford Duratec engine and is sent to the rear wheels via a Mazda-sourced five-speed gearbox and an optional limited slip differential.

Zolfe Orange sports car