When Nissan first released the performance figures for their new GT-R, many scoffed at the unbelievably quick times Nissan were toting - 3.5 seconds to 100km/h and an 11.6 second run down the quarter mile off the showroom floor, right.

However as journalists the world over get their hands on the new GT-R, it seems Nissan have actually been conservative with their performance figures, with auto-magazine Edmunds recording a 3.3 second sprint to 100km/h and matching the blisteringly quick 11.6 second quarter mile at 196km/h - and from only two attempts.

This puts the GT-R well into supercar territory, at less than a quarter of the price.

Source: Nissan GT-R outperforms expectations

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Greg Overton writes: Elkport was a city in Clayton County, Iowa, The population was 88 at the 2000 census. The town was severely damaged by floods in May of 2004. After the floods, all residents of the town chose federal buyout, selling their homes to the United States federal government for demolition. In September 2006, nearly all of the buildings of Elkport were demolished.

Source: After the flood: Cruisers in Elkport, Iowa

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Ralph Kalal
Filed in: Ford | classic cars

He’s largely forgotten today. His name brings to mind an unsuccessful car, a shorthand for business failure in the car industry. But, he deserved better. He was the man that kept the Ford Motor Company alive, even as his father tried to run it into the ground.
 
His name was Edsel Ford, and he was the man who forced the company to produce the Model A. He was also the man who brought styling and style to the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln was his laboratory, but his sense of style, proportion, and line was the equal to the best in the car business, here or abroad. But, he died young – some say he was the victim of his own father’s jealousy.
 
The Lincoln Continental is perhaps his best known car, built originally to give him a fashionable car for wintering in Florida. But his interests were more eclectic than that, and two of the results are going on the auction block of RM Auctions at the Amelia Island Concours in Florida this coming March 8th. 
 
One is a one-off 1934 Ford Model 40 Speedster, specifically built to Edsel Ford’s order and retained by him until his death in 1943. The vehicle was restored from deteriorated original condition in 1999 and this is the first time since that it has been offered for sale.
 
The second Edsel Ford car is another 1934 Ford, this one a Brewster-bodied town car. There were several of these built. Brewster, at the time, was a company building custom bodies, a trade that was rapidly expiring in the depths of the depression. Ford commissioned them to build a limited number of luxury vehicles on the Ford chassis. The car on the block is Edsel Ford’s personal vehicle, the first of the Brewster-bodied Fords. It, too, has only had one owner since leaving the Ford family fleet.
 
www.rmauctions.com will give you more information, should you want to add either to your fleet.

Source:Octane Magazine

Source: Edsel Ford’s hot rod goes on the block

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Xavier Navarro
Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Germany

The Parque Móvil del Estado is Spain’s official fleet of cars. The fleet has a distinctive license plate (PME) and includes all sort of vehicles from all ministries. Their most recent additions, replacing 80 old gasoline vehicles, are flex-fuel units able to run burn E85. The Schwarzenegger-like problem is that Spain hasn’t got many E85 fuelling stations (up to date, only three in the Basque Country), so the Ministry of Public Administrations has installed an E85 pump in Madrid in the gas station which serves these vehicles. The PME already has 272 diesel vehicles running on B10 blends, and these are expected to run on B30 in a few weeks time.

The biofuel plan falls under PME’s plans to obtain a few ISO standards certifications: ISO 9001:2000, OSHAS 18001:1999 and the environmental ISO 14001:2004 which falls under Spain’s Plans on “Urgent Measures towards Climate Change and Clean Energy” (EECCEL). Pictured above is Spain’s first E85 station opening in Vitoria.

[Source: Agroinformación]

Source: Spain adding flex-fuel capability to official fleet

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Sam Abuelsamid
Filed under: Etc.

For a long time now green has been the unofficial color of environmentalists. Anything environmentally friendly has been considered green. But that may be about to change. Advertising agency JWT (formerly known as J Walter Thompson) is predicting a shift from green to blue in 2008. If that happens they will be following the likes Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. Those two companies use the BlueTec and BlueMotion branding on their clean diesels and most efficient models, respectively. As VW spokesman Keith Price explained at the launch of the Dieselution tour earlier this year the Blue refers the earth and sky that make up this pale blue dot when seen from space. The big question will we have to rename this site AutoblogBlue?

[Source: GreenDaily]

Source: Big Ad Agency predicts “Blue” will replace “Green” as the color of environmentalism

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Simona Alina
Filed in: Audi | Europe | sedan | luxury cars | Audi A4

The new Audi A4 sedan has been available for test driving at Audi dealerships for just a few days now – in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.

“At the time of market launch in the first European countries we already counted 33,000 customer orders,” said Ralph Weyler, Member of the Board of Management at AUDI AG for Marketing and Sales. “The orders received and the impressive response from customers and the media have exceeded all our expectations. From our perspective, this is an extremely positive sign. As our most-sold model, the Audi A4 holds a special significance with respect to our ambitious goals.”

Although the new A4 sedan is just now being launched, it has already won some major awards. The new A4 was honored with the “Golden Steering Wheel” as best midsize car by Bild am Sonntag newspaper, and also received the Auto Trophy 2007 from Auto Zeitung magazine. The sedan outdid its competitors handily in the numerous comparison tests performed by Auto Zeitung and auto motor und sport magazines. In the individual test carried out by auto motor und sport, it achieved the top five-star rating.

With these honors, the new A4 moves seamlessly into the successful footsteps of its predecessor. As the eighth generation of the midsize sedan, the new model replaces a highly successful generation that rolled off the line for the last time in November of 2007, and one that sold about 2.2 million units worldwide.

In January 2008 the new Audi A4 will also be launched onto the market in France and Spain, and will then gradually be introduced in the remaining European countries. In the United Kingdom, Audi’s strongest export market in terms of sales, the A4 will start selling at the end of February 2008.

Source: Internal

Source: In Europe Audi already received 33.000 orders for the A4

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

var s1 = new SWFObject(”http://www.topspeed.com/images/flash/flvplayer_article.swf”,”playlist”,”460″,”360″,”7″); s1.addParam(”allowfullscreen”,”true”); s1.addVariable(”file”,”http://www.topspeed.com/bloc_flash_article_playlist-ar49728-doc222229.xml”); s1.addVariable(”bgcolor”,”#FFFFFF”); s1.addVariable(”displayheight”,”345″); s1.addVariable(”lightcolor”,”0xff8400″); s1.addVariable(”backcolor”,”0×000000″); s1.addVariable(”frontcolor”,”0xCCCCCC”); s1.addVariable(”autoscroll”,”true”); s1.addVariable(”thumbsinplaylist”,”true”); s1.addVariable(”logo”,”/images/ts/_ts_watermark_150.png”); s1.addVariable(”overstretch”,”fit”); s1.addVariable(”fsreturnpage”,”mediaplayer_article.html”); s1.addVariable(”autostart”,”false”); s1.addVariable(”link”,”http://www.topspeed.com”); s1.addVariable(”linkfromdisplay”,”false”); s1.addVariable(”shuffle”,”false”); s1.addVariable(”repeat”,”list”); s1.addVariable(”rotatetime”,”4″); s1.addVariable(”link”,”http://www.topspeed.com”); s1.addVariable(”linktarget”,”_blank”); s1.addVariable(”fullscreenpage”,”http://www.topspeed.com/images/flash/flvplayer_article_fullscreen.html”); s1.addVariable(”fsreturnpage”,”http://www.topspeed.com/2008-triumph-thruxton-ar49728.html”); s1.write(”player1″);

Maxx Biker
Filed in: Triumph | sportsbikes | Triumph Thruxton

  Article summary:
Page 1 :  Triumph Thruxton

Page 2 :  Test Drive

Page 3 :  SPECIFICATIONS

Page 3 :  Features

If things in motorcycling had gone the way that Triumph anticipated to, this is what we would be on today, and still going strong. In fact, the Thruxton is many people’s option and I can understand why. The bike captures the very essence of an era long gone and brings it back for us to enjoy its wonders once again.

Introduction

The 2008 Triumph Thruxton is a modern day representation of how racing Triumphs would have looked back in the sixties when they dominated the tracks. In order to achieve that, Triumph made it look like it sited all its life in a museum or its restoration was finished yesterday. Many will be amazed to find out that this true work of art had just rolled out the production line because it simply reminds of the times when nothing else but a powerful engine and a courageous rider were needed for a first place on the podium.

History

1974 Triumph Bonnville T140

Starting with the new millennium, riders could enjoy the revived Bonneville which was a motorcycle standing as the starting point for all Triumph models featuring two cylinders.

After the Bonneville, Triumph played its other aces that it kept hidden in its sleeve, the America model in 2002 and the Speedmaster only a year later. But none of these motorcycles were more powerful than the Bonneville and the motorcycling public together with their voice, the motorcycle press, started wondering when the acclaimed café racer from Triumph would see the production line.

All the models before it were very successful, but when the Triumph Thruxton was launched in 2004, riders simply couldn’t believe their eyes. It was exactly what their senses told them they needed and their consciences required.

Triumph had taken the Bonneville engine, increase the bore and fit larger pistons while keeping the 360 degree firing interval (instead of 270 degree on the America and Speedmaster) and it ended up with a parallel-twin that developed 69bhp, 7bhp more than the one found on the Bonneville.

The latest Triumph at that time was marketed either Red or Black painted, but who cared? We had a café racer back in our hands and we wore more willing to enjoy it than ever before.

Exterior

2008 Triumph Thruxton

Back in the early days when it came to café racing bikes people would imagine an engine, two wheels, a seat and the handlebars, all strategically positioned so that they will set the rider in an uncomfortable, but aerodynamic riding position. Today, with the Thruxton things aren’t very different as the bike is called a café racer mostly thanks to the way it is perfectly proportioned so that it would look like an incursion in Britain’s sixties.

People who are attracted to this style find the Thruxton overwhelmingly good looking. Defining for this category is the way the fuel tank (individualized with the help of the Triumph badge and rubber knee grippers), seat, and rear end are practically lined up as well as the stylish handlebars and mirrors which are placed in order to give the sporty riding position that the Thruxton features. I’ve always thought that Thruxton’s rear end looks like the one of a bee as this modern day replica of the early-days machines is impressively finished.

The exhaust system exits on both sides of the bike making it look the same, no matter on what side you’re on while admiring it. It will shine beautifully in front of the coffee shop, as well as the spoke wheels, a must at that time.

Colors available for 2008 are meant to give it a nice, distinctive look (not that the bike is hard to identify). Whether you prefer it Jet Black with Gold Stripe, Tornado Red with White Stripe, or Aluminum Silver with Red Stripe, it won’t let the admiring eye to be taken off of it.

 1  2 3
Next pageTest Drive

Source: Internal

Source: Triumph Thruxton

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

msheena
Filed in: | USA | funny

Rolls-Royce has the flying lady and Toledo, Ohio has the flying bra. Read on to find out how a single bra has caused such a commotion.

Two buddies are driving down the road when suddenly something comes flying right at them! What is it? Rather than running into the UFO, driver James Campbell swerves to avoid it. This turns out to be a bad move as the UFO is actually a bra and Campbell’s emergency maneuver causes his car to flip several times. Both Campbell and his longtime friend Jeff Long sustained injuries in the crash.

That was back in 2006. Now fast forward to 2007 and there has been a flurry of lawsuits and settlement stemming from the accident. Naturally, the girls who released the bra are being sued, but the interesting twist is that Long is suing his buddy Campbell. According to Long, all of his medical bills have not been taken care of and his attorney believes that Campbell is at least partly responsible for the accident. Campbell bears no ill will towards his friend, as he stated, "I don’t take it as he’s suing me. I take it as he’s suing my insurance company. We’ve been friends an awful long time, and for something like this to break up our friendship is ridiculous. He just wants his bills paid."   The girls’ attorneys are taking the position that the two guys were encouraging the girls and that they tried to catch the bra. Both Campbell and Long deny this version of the events.   Stay tuned in 2008 for what will undoubtedly be an exciting conclusion.*   * Please note that if any number of events take place in 2008, say for example a new car is introduced, Top Speed reserves the right to bury this story and never speak of it again.   Photo by The Toledo Blade / Andy Morrison

Source:source: toledoblade.com

Source: Flying Bra Results In Lawsuits Galore

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Jonathon Ramsey
Euro, Plants/Manufacturing, Tech, BMW, Mercedes Benz

Reports out of Munich are that BMW and Mercedes will be getting very cozy when it comes to cooperation. Earlier this year, Mercedes said “nein” to some sort of tie-up with BMW, even as Daimler was eying MINI motors for its upcoming A- and B-Class cars. Unnamed sources, though, have told the Financial Times Deutschland that BMW and Mercedes are not only looking at cooperating on engines, but they could also be open to developing assemblies like “axles, steering gear or drive systems.”

BMW is being driven by the desire to cut costs. One can only assume that Mercedes, for all of its protestations, has the same thing in mind. Every carmaker is coming out with a raft of smaller cars to serve multiple purposes, among them: meet CO2 emissions and CAFE standards, put on a green face on for the public, and, of course, increase volume by selling more inexpensive vehicles.

While we’re sure consumers would like to imagine each maker bringing its own technology — and specifically, intangible brand feel — to its vehicles, the business case cries out for closer cooperation for economies of scale. We aren’t sure yet how BMW and Mercedes will be joining up, but we’re pretty sure that they’ll be doing so in some substantial way soon enough.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Source: Mercedes/BMW collaboration gaining steam

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...