Simona Alina
Filed in: Dodge | dodge Challenger | car tuning

Who said that you need a production car to can customized it? No, I am serious! The Dodge Challenger is not revealed yet, but HXC is already working on a customized version, and even more, they are taking orders for it.

The 2009 HXC Cuda will be powered by a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with output between 350-370 hp. It will be available in four different colors: orange, green, purple and red and will also feature: 20″ black alloy wheels, a shaker hood, coilover suspension, Brembo brakes, revised grill and fender inserts.

Pricing will start under $50.000.

Source: Internal

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Source: 2009 HXC Cuda

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Simona Alina
Filed in: Subaru | UK | Subaru Impreza | special editions

Subaru’s special edition Impreza RB320, commissioned in memory of World Rally Champion, Richard Burns – who lost his brave battle with cancer in 2005 – proved so successful the limited run of 320 units sold out in weeks.

One of the buyers was Richard’s father Alex who bought RB320 (117) for the Richard Burns Collection which is regularly used by the Richard Burns Foundation, set up in his honour to help inspire and support people with serious injuries and illness.
The first unit, however, RB320 (001) subsequently found its way back onto the market and eagle-eyed dealer, Paul Flitton, Managing Director of Slipend Subaru of Luton, snapped it up.

Paul, a huge supporter of the Foundation, contacted Alex and they agreed to swap cars. Paul took RB320 (117) to this year’s prestigious ‘Festival of Speed’ at Goodwood where he managed to get many famous rally drivers to sign the car. This significantly increased its value and the car was sold to the highest bidder with the profit of £10,000 going to the Foundation.

A special presentation was held at Subaru (UK) Limited’s new headquarters in Coleshill, near Birmingham, not only to mark the occasion but to officially open a commemorative ‘Richard Burns’ room.

Source: Internal

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Source: Subaru Impreza RB320

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Ralph Kalal
Filed in: Chrysler | Chrysler Pacifica | chrysler crossfire

At least for now, the PT Cruiser is safe, provided you don’t want a convertible. Chrysler will announce today that it is discontinuing the soft top version of the PT Cruiser, along with dropping the Crossfire, the Pacifica, and the Dodge Magnum, as previously rumored. The Jeep Commander survives.
 
The Canadian Auto Workers union’s not thrilled to see two brands made in Canada bite the dust. The Magnum is made in Brampton, Ontario and the Pacifica is made in Windsor, Ontario. However, Chrysler will pick up some of the lost production as it begins assembling the new Dodge Challenger and takes over construction of the right-hand drive 300 from Magna, a Canadian-based supplier.
 

Source:TheGlobeAndMail

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Source: Pacifica, Crossfire & others officially dead

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Xavier Navarro
Filed under: Legislation and Policy, Carbon Capture

Carbon capture is here and the EU is trying hard to push it forward. In an article published by economy newspaper Cinco Días, it’s explained that the big problem is overcoming the high costs associated with the process. It’s estimated that reducing 80 to 90 percent of the CO2 emissions from a power plant increases the price of energy 35 to 85 percent. Experts mentioned by the newspaper state that a reasonable target for 2020 is making carbon capture affordable at 20 to 30 EUR per ton.

According to this article, the message is clear. Without carbon capturing, the EU can’t meet its ambitious emissions targets: cutting CO2 emissions in half by 2050. There are about a dozen of projects which might show positive progress using technologies such as precombustion, oxicombustion and postcombustion, but these results won’t be ready at least until 2015.

Nevertheless the European Commission has decided to take a step forward in this direction and is planning legislation in early 2008 to back up these technologies legally, technically and financially. However, don’t expect this to be mandatory legislation, which is something environmental groups would like it to be. The bill will ban these technologies from being used outside the boundaries of the EU and under 3,000 meters (9,000 ft) from the surface of the sea. Carbon capture won’t be considered either for carbon trading schemes.

In a few words: expect CO2 capturing to arrive soon in Europe, but only at power plants and/or big industries. This CO2 will be somehow extracted from the combustion processes and will be transported like natural gas and stored in old gas or oil wells, salty aquifers or coal mines.

Related:

• Pioneering European CO2 capture plant coming to Spain in 2009
• Austrailian lawmakers argue global warming and sequestration
• First carbon capture facility in Florida

[Source: Cinco Días via Econoticias (link is in Spanish)]

Source: Europe decides to push forward with carbon capture

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In all honesty, when a friend pointed out this video, we were not only convinced that it was a hoax, but a badly edited one too. However, before we made a fool of ourselves, we checked it out repeatedly comparing still images of the interior with the Lamborghini Reventon pictures (click here). To our surprise, we didn’t find any flaws or details supporting that what we were seeing here wasn’t the Reventon.

But seriously now; a big magazine like Popular Science gets the chance to drive an extremely rare (20 examples) and expensive ($1.5 million) supercar like the Lamborghini Reventon and this is what they come up with – an amateur taped and edited video that most people think it’s fake? Think it’s time we started asking for test drives here at Carscoop…

Link: Popular Science

Source: Lamborghini Reventon Test Drive by Popular Science Mag

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Featuring an all-new paint scheme, extensive carbon fiber racing parts and a rally-prepped 2.0-liter Boxer engine developing approximately 325 HP and 425 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2008 Impreza WRX 5-door Rally prototype was created by Subaru Rally Team USA. According to Subaru USA, the rally-ready WRX will be campaigned in the 2008 season by SRTUSA rally driver Ken Block and 2006 and 2007 Rally America National Champion, Travis Pastrana.

Source: Subaru Rally Team USA Impreza WRX Prototype At SEMA

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Simona Alina
Filed in: Alfa-Romeo | Alfa-Romeo Spider | car tuning

Autodelta unveiled the Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C, at the MPH07 Motor Show. The Spider J6 3.2 C will be unveiled at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London (1-4 November) and then displayed at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham (8-11 November).

The new Spider J6 3.2 C is Autodelta’s no-compromise interpretation of the stunning Alfa Spider, which collected the prestigious accolade of ‘Cabrio of the Year’ upon its launch at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. It is Autodelta’s second bespoke model to be based on the exciting new generation of Alfa Romeo models, and its market arrival follows the very successful launch of the Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C just over a year ago.

The Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C once again redefines the company’s pursuit of the maximum performance and driving pleasure to be drawn from Alfa Romeo’s production models, and is the culmination of more than a year’s intense research and development as well as engineering innovation. The Alfa Spider becomes the first model to be designated “J6”, following on from the Brera’s “J5” coding.

Twenty years experience developing Alfa Romeos has enabled our engineers to utilise a carefully developed integral supercharging system which allows the Spider J6’s Alfa 3.2 V6 engine to now turn out 348 bhp and 430 Nm of torque, all delivered in a useable and responsive smoothly manner. The integrated supercharging system is a unit supplied by Rotrex to Autodelta; in fact the Rotrex C30-94 which we use on this car is considered to be the most responsive supercharging unit available today and is noted for its durability, light weight and compact format. The Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C achieves 0-100 km/h in an impressive 5.4 seconds, while it hits a top speed of 260 km/h.

The “J6” tag denotes a bespoke Autodelta sports car: hand crafted in the finest Autodelta tradition and uniquely personalised to the individual customer’s tastes and requirements. Each Autodelta car is ingrained with our overwhelming desire to create the ultimate driving experience for the Alfisti. The Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C offers an accomplished and carefully refined chassis to maximise delivery of its new superior power advantage and performance upgrades have been wrought to the transmission, suspension, electronics and braking capability.

Any Autodelta product must of course be distinctive, building carefully on Alfa Romeo’s sensuous styling, complimenting the Italian designers’ masterpiece in a unique yet discreet manner, to evoke fashion a product that is embedded with Autodelta’s own DNA. The Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C features a new integrated front bumper which carries the familiar Autodelta visual stamp and which has been designed to increase airflow to feed the new intercooler. Down each side new full length skirts provide an aerodynamic enhancement, while at the rear a new bumper section incorporates a ‘diffuser’ set between the quad exhaust tail pipes which feature the oval profile first seen on the Brera J5. An entirely new bespoke stainless steel exhaust has been developed in conjunction with technical partner Ragazzon to maximise exhaust gas flow.

Jano Djelalian, Managing Director, Autodelta says: “We’re delighted to be back at MPH with another new product after a very hectic year, during which we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. The demand for the Brera J5 has been overwhelming and as such we have had to step back from our promotional activities in recent months to focus on restructuring to meet the demand. The Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C now extends our bespoke range further still, and we hope that Alfa Romeo enthusiasts’ will find the J6 meets their expectations. I look forward to seeing our customers and new faces at both Earls Court and the NEC.”

Source: Internal

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Source: Autodelta Spider J6 3.2 C

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Simona Alina
Filed in: Ford | Ford Mondeo | car tuning

The just released new styled edition of the elegant Ford Mondeo is already available in a snazzy version. An early prototype of the Ford Mondeo inspired Loder1899 to create this artwork for the slick Ford. It was the car of choice for James Bond on his last mission in “Casino Royale”.

Equally suave and sophisticated is the real carbon Body Styling Kit from Loder1899.The discreet front lip and the lowering kit (35mm) underline the sportive keynote of the new Ford allowing the car to glide closer to the road surface. The elegant roof spoiler, the rear diffuser and the two branch stainless steel sport exhaust system (75×105mm) lends a powerful finish.

The real secret agent highlights are the 9×20” alloy wheels “Jacky” in polished shiny black or silver.

The standard 220 hp Ford Mondeo gains an extra 50hp due to Loder1899`s motor management and the sport exhaust system.

The Loder1899 suspension system for the front and rear axles with adjustable vehicle height, gradient, pressure level and strut compression ensures luxury limousine comfort.

Source: Internal

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Source: Ford Mondeo by Loder1899

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Ralph Kalal
Filed in: | industry news

Bernie Ecclestone, effectively the owner of Formula 1 and a very, very rich man, made a tidy profit yesterday on a used car.
 
A used Mercedes-Benz, to be specific: a 540K Special Roadster. It was sold at the RM Auction in London for $8.1 million.
 
Ecclestone is trimming his collection, selling several other cars, and is expected to reap a total of about $30 million by the time the auction is done.
 
But he could do better. After 15 minutes of bidding, the 540K went for more than twice the pre-auction estimate. In fact, the car came close to a record. The top price paid for a car is about $11.8 million in 1987 for a Type 41 Bugatti Royale.

Source: Internal

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Source: The rich get richer

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John Neff
Hirings/Firings, Ford, UAW/Unions

You know what they say: third time’s a charm. After the United Auto Workers union was forced to strike against both General Motors and Chrysler LLC., it somehow found a way to come to terms with Ford Motor Co. after two marathon days of negotiations this past week. Ford’s press release contains no details about the tentative four-year contract itself, except to say that it applies to all 54,000 UAW workers who have their checks signed by Ford.

The contract will remain tentative until those 54,000 rank and file workers vote on it. All it needs is a majority vote from Ford’s hourly workforce, but as we learned with the UAW-Chrysler contract that was almost defeated in a popular vote, that’s easier said than done. When the details of this contract emerge, it will become more apparent whether it favors the union or the automaker, and thus whether or not the average worker will be likely vote for it.

Check out the official statement from Ford after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

STATEMENT: UAW-FORD REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON NEW NATIONAL LABOR AGREEMENT

Note: The following statement is attributable to Joe Laymon, group vice president, Human Resources and Labor Affairs, Ford Motor Company.

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 3 — The United Auto Workers union (UAW) and Ford have reached a tentative agreement on a four-year national labor contract covering approximately 54,000 represented employees in the United States.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, UAW Vice President Bob King and the entire UAW national bargaining committee for all of their hard work and professionalism over the past several months. I would also like to thank the Ford bargaining team for its skill and dedication during this complex and challenging set of negotiations.

The agreement is subject to ratification by UAW members. It includes a memorandum of understanding to establish an independent retiree health care trust. Following ratification, implementation of the memorandum of understanding is subject to approval by the courts and satisfactory review of accounting treatment with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Though we will not discuss the specifics of the tentative agreement until after it becomes final, we believe it is fair to our employees and retirees, and paves the way for Ford to increase its competitiveness in the United States.

Source: BREAKING: UAW and Ford reach tentative agreement

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