Posted by Peter on
June 30, 2009
Aston Martin Cygnet: Toyota iQ In Wolf’s Clothing
If ever there were a sheep in wolf’s clothing the Aston Martin Cygnet would be it. You’re looking at a Toyota iQ that will be re-badged and re-branded as a member of the most sporting British carmaker today: Aston Martin. Initially at least, the iQ Cygnet will only be available to current Aston Martin owners sometime in 2010. If sales go well, there is the possibility of availability to the general public. If I were an Aston Martin owner today, the simple idea of having the Dr. Ulrich Bez call me in the next year to ask me if I’d like a luxury version of the iQ would be enough for me to sell my Vantage tomorrow.
I just don’t see this striking a chord with AM owners. Not even they are blind enough to be seduced by the fake fender vents and hood louvres. They might be enticed by the reliability of the littlest Toyota though. As long as Aston doesn’t go fiddling with the mechanical bits and sticks to the cosmetic stuff.
If my some inexplicable reason, you care to read more about this little wolf sheep, follow the jump for the press release. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Peter on
June 30, 2009
2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni
Wait Peter, you’re saying, don’t you mean the LP560-4, not LP550-2? Why did the first number drop by 10, and the second by 2? And who is Valentino Balboni?
Well, Lambo has decided to make a lighter, rear-wheel-drive version of its AWD Gallardo. The “2″ indicates the number of wheels driven, and the 550 is the power output for this new, less expensive model. As for Valentino Balboni, it’s called Google – use it.
Though to call this LP550-2 an entry-level model would be to miss the point. I’ll tell you why and show you some spyshots below.
Posted by Peter on
June 30, 2009
Why Is The Stig Photocopying Himself?
Speaking of the Stig and Michael Schumacher, I’m just watching Episode 2 of Season 13 of Top Gear (get the torrent here). Did anyone else notice the Stig taking photocopies of his face during Richard, James, and Jeremy’s “17 year-old car buyer experience” skit? Do we really need more Stigs? I thought Schumi and Ben whats-his-face were enough. And Hammond, please, enough with the gang signs.
Posted by Janaki on
June 29, 2009
F1 Scuffling: Mad Max Mosley Will See You Out Back After School, FOTA.
A short disclaimer to start out this piece: what will be reported here is mostly not news…at least, not yet. But it’s the furtherance of Ferrari’s previous threat to leave and start their own competing top-tier racing series if the budget caps were to be imposed for 2010.
Posted by Peter on
June 28, 2009
Da Streetz: Datsun Fairlady 2000
Take a good look at the great-great-great-grandpappi of my car. The Fairlady, as it was known in Japan, was Datsun’s first sports car. This 2000 model was actually a member the last Fairlady generation before the introduction of the Z-cars with the 240’s debut in 1969. The first thing I noticed about this car is how “Datsun” it really looked – clearly the design language carried over. I immediately recognized the my favourite early Z-car feature on the 2000, the teardrop headlights.
The original Fairlady started with the 1959 “S211″, which boasted 36 hp from a 1.0L 4-banger, and culminated in the 2.0L 150 hp “SRL311″ with Competition package in 1970. This red example is a 2000, a.k.a. SRL311, but is most likely the 135 hp non-Competition package model. The Fairlady was originally designed to compete against the MGs and Triumphs of the day. Not only was Datsun successful in producing a viable competitor, but it did so at a lower price point than the Brits.
This 2000 that I found was, surprise surprise, at the golf club where I also found the ‘68 Jag E-Type and the extra-ugly BMW X6. A gallery is below. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Peter on
June 27, 2009
Review: Audi A5 S-Line
Get your chauffeur ready. The Audi A5 S-Line is here.
Posted by Jonathan on
June 26, 2009
How Hard Can It Be? 1977 Trabant P601 Wagon
Suppose you were a resident of some former Communist-bloc country any time between 1957 and 1991. You scrimped and saved and put your roubles on the table for a Trabant. Ten or fifteen years pass by in a blink and now you’re stoked; your Trabant is finally finished. Whether or not it was custom-built for you or merely the product of group-think manufacturing is immaterial. You’re rollin’ phat, Commie-style.
Or maybe you’re in a U2 video. That would be awesome; basking in Bono’s shadow and the glow of those pretty painted Trabbis. Because, you know, we’re one but we’re not the same. Maybe that’s all wishful thinking and you’re just trapped in another episode of How Hard Can It Be? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Jonathan on
June 25, 2009
Farrah Fawcett, Car Girl, Dead At 62
Farrah Fawcett died today, and the motoring world has lost a bonafide car girl.
Automobile fans know her best for barreling across the United States in a Dodge Ambulance in 1981’s The Cannonball Run with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise. But even before that Fawcett starred in a television commercial for the mostly forgettable 1975 Mercury Cougar XR7. She also lent her name to George Barris’s “Farrah’s Foxy Vette,” part of his line of Celebrity Cars. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Peter on
June 25, 2009
Wallpaper: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE
I love Ferrari. I love the 599. I think that the HGTE package is interesting. Ferrari has released a 32-image gallery of the 599 GTB HGTE that you can use for wallpaper - for your computer or your room. It’s after the jump. The end. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Janaki on
June 22, 2009
Top Gear’s Stig Revealed…Again?
Last night, the new season of Top Gear started across the pond. It wouldn’t necessarily be much to write about, as it hasn’t aired here yet, except something that happened on the season premiere has had and will continue to have a wide-reaching impact on the automotive enthusiast world.
Yes, indeed…the Stig took off his helmet. If you don’t want to learn what was seen underneath, you don’t have to follow the jump. But if you do, well…you know what to do.
Read the rest of this entry »
