Saturday, June 4, 2011

Automotive Addicts

Automotive Addicts

New Tesla Model S Premium Electric Sedan Images

Posted: 03 Jun 2011 02:05 PM PDT


The new Tesla Model S is literally shaping up to be electrifyingly beautiful. Touted as the first and only premium electric sedan, the all-new Tesla Model S combines Tesla CEO Elon Musk's dream and company's engineering experience from the popular Tesla Roadster electric car. Recently the Tesla website was updated with new images of the upcoming Tesla Model S in its production skin. We have a few of the images to share with you below. Enjoy!

Tesla Model S and Roadster - Premium Electric Vehicles Model S Alpha-1 Lifestyle1 lifestyle2 lifestyle4 lifestyle6 lifestyle7 lifestyle8 Model S in Red, Front 34 View Model S in Red, Driving Model S in Red, Side Shot Model S in Red rear_3_4_motion_0 Model S Alpha front_3_4_static Tesla Model S Tesla_Model_S_2009_785 _dsc0203 _dsc0208 _dsc0230 _dsc0219 _dsc0306

One of our latest updates on the Tesla Model S here!

[source: Tesla Motors]

Matt Farah Takes Cadillac CTS-V Wagon for Top Speed Run

Posted: 03 Jun 2011 10:37 AM PDT


Not the old Vista Cruiser and certainly nothing like Clark Griswold's family Truckster, the all-new Cadillac CTS-V is “The American Hot Rod Wagon”. Matt Farah of TheSmokingTire.com takes us, and OnStar, for a top speed run in the new 2011 Cadillac CTS-V wagon across the El Mirage dry lake bed in the video below.

For some reason my mind fails me to find any other car or wagon that you can pack full of 58 cubic feet of whatever, spend under $70 grand and still put the smack-down on most sports cars you see on the road today. The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon is a monster just like the sedan and coupe versions only the wagon has a bigger ass and it isn't afraid to literally 'drop it like it's hot'. Check out Matt in his latest TheSmokingTire.com video below!

[source: TheSmokingTire.com]

Report Says Mazda To Halt U.S. Production

Posted: 03 Jun 2011 07:40 AM PDT


The 2011 Mazda 6. Image: Mazda Motor of America

Mazda and Ford used to be like a newlywed couple. Arm in arm, they seemed to do everything together, from collaborating on new cars and trucks to building them on the same production lines. Mazda sold rebadged Ford Escapes and Ford Rangers in their dealerships, and even used Ford engines in Mazda cars. Like a lot of couples, the automakers drifted apart as the years went by, and today the pair are separated if not yet divorced. A recent rumor had Mazda ending production of the Mazda 6 sedan, but the story turned out to be just that. Mazda isn't killing off the 6, but they may well be changing where it's built from Flat Rock, MI to Mexico or Japan.

Japan's Nikkei financial daily has reported that Mazda will end its joint venture with Ford, and will exit the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock. Ford would likely buy out Mazda's part of the operation, which would eliminate production of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Future Mazda vehicles sold here would be built in either Japan or in Mexico.

Mazda issued a short statement on the Nikkei report, stating that, "Mazda and Ford are jointly studying various possibilities for AAI, and we have nothing to announce at this time. We do not comment on speculation."

Building the 6 in Mexico would undoubtedly help Mazda's bottom line, and that's a good thing. The automaker has reported back-to-back losses over the past two fiscal years, made worse by a strong yen and poor sales in their home market.

Source: Detroit News

Good News, V-Dub Fans: We May Be Getting The GTI Edition 35

Posted: 03 Jun 2011 06:06 AM PDT


VW's 35th anniversary GTI. Image: Volkswagen AG

We Americans get cheated out of a lot of cool cars on this side of the pond. We don't get the Ford Focus RS, we're still waiting on the Fiat Abarth 500 and Audi has said, "nein," to importing the RS3. If you want some good news for a change, Car and Driver is reporting that we will get the special edition GTI that VW showed off at this week's Wörthersee Festival.

Dubbed the GTI Edition 35, the car was built to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the GTI's launch in Europe. That number's not relevant for the United States, since we didn't see the GTI on these shores until 1983, and VW isn't going to build a separate "28th anniversary" model just for us. What is relevant is the car's specs, which include a 235 PS (for Pferdestärke, or German horsepower) variant of the 2.0-liter turbo four. That translates into nearly 232 horsepower, which is 32 more than the current GTI, and the motor also puts out 221 ft lb of torque. Buyers can opt for a six speed manual gearbox or VW's superb DSG dual-clutch manual automatic.

The rest of the GTI Edition 35 package is mostly trim items, like new wheels, tinted glass, LED running lights and "35" badging on the seats and door sills. Since VW still hasn't officially confirmed we're getting the car, there's no way to estimate how many Edition 35 cars will be imported. In Europe, pricing for the limited edition GTI starts at around $5,000 more than a base GTI; if we use the same formula for the U.S., that would put the price of the Edition 35 at around $29,000, or on par with their loaded "Autobahn" GTI.

Source: Car and Driver, via Autoblog
Posted by Didik Rg at 6:04 AM

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