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Report: Geely to be dissolved by 2012

09/08/2010   [Original: China Car Times via Autoblog]
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Filed under: China, GeelyGeely Automotive Holdings, one of the four largest automakers in China, has announced that it will dissolve the Geely brand by 2012. The other brands under the Geely umbrella are Gleagle, Emgrand, Englon and now Volvo. The goal is to let the sub-brands emerge and strengthen sales while the Geely models fade away.Gleagle, short for Global Eagle, is the automakers global brand, while Emgrand offers luxury options. The Englon division is responsible for the London Taxi-esqu TXN and TX4. The existing Geely Freedom Ship and Yuan Jing are going to be turned into Gleagles while the King Kong and Golden Eagle models will become Englons. If this all sounds terribly confusing to you, don't be alarmed this just means you're normal.As the Geely brand dissolves, the company will focus on assisting their existing dealerships achieve greater levels of profitability and service. Also, they will begin to increase the number of Emgrand dealerships from 200 up to 250.Gallery: Beijing 2010: Geely Emgrand GTGallery: Geely Englon TXN TaxiReport: Geely to be dissolved by 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Video: 2011 Lexus IS lives out Keith Moon fantasies

09/08/2010   [Original: Autoblog]
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Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Lexus, Luxury2011 Lexus IS sport sedan in "Music Track" - Click above to watch the video after the jumpFor 2011, the Lexus IS sport sedan is getting a mild exterior styling update. Up front, the grille and bumper are all new, while a new taillamp cover and tailpipe design update the posterior. Not one to be left out of a trend, the Lexus IS is also adding HID headlamps paired with LED daytime running lights. The upgraded lights are standard on the 2011 IS350 and are an option on the IS250. New color choices and wheel styles round out the exterior changes, but the most interesting update happens under the skin with the availability of all-wheel drive on the IS350. Thirty percent of customers opt for the all-wheel drive IS250, but now they can get the added traction along with an extra 102 horsepower.Enthused about the updates, Lexus created a video of the IS sport sedan performing... a drum solo? In an apparent bid to highlight the precision handling of their IS sedan, fitted with F-sport parts, they pulled together a team which includes composers, a mathematician and a stunt driver. Music and driving go hand in hand and the beat this Ultrasonic Blue Lexus IS lays down is surprisingly good. See (and hear) for yourself after the jump.Gallery: 2011 Lexus ISContinue reading Video: 2011 Lexus IS lives out Keith Moon fantasiesVideo: 2011 Lexus IS lives out Keith Moon fantasies originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | 
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MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER]

09/08/2010   [Original: MotoGP.com | Image: Mirco Lazzari GP/Getty Images via Autoblog]
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Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Celebrities, RacingWhen Dani Pedrosa left Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week, there's little doubt he was the envy of his fellow MotoGP contenders. The Spaniard clinched victory, proving that he possessed not only the speed, but also the fortitude to truly challenge Jorge Lorenzo. The question on everyone's mind was this: Could Pedrosa and Repsol Honda really mount a solid comeback? Make the jump to find out.Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER]MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Pagani Zonda HH commissioner revealed as 30-year-old Chicago software mogul

09/08/2010   [Original: SecretEntourage.com via WCF via Autoblog]
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Filed under: Convertible, Performance, EuropePagani Zonda HH - Click above for image galleryEven with the new model around the corner, Pagani has no problem putting out special editions of the current Zonda faster than Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's. The latest came in the form of the Zonda HH, a one-off blending the best bits from the Zonda Cinque edition and the Zonda F Roadster in a delicious blue package that looks about as drool-worthy as they come.The big question on enthusiasts' minds, though, was just who commissioned the latest unique Zonda. Initial speculation based on the name had it that Hugh Heffner had ordered the special supercar, but those rumors can now be put to rest as the real buyer has been revealed as David Heinemeier Hansson. The 30-year-old software guru is the brains behind such programs as the Ruby on Rails web-dev platform and the 37signals software firm. Heinemeier Hansson is based in Chicago, but since the Zonda was never homologated to U.S. specifications, reports indicate that the owner bought a vacation home in Italy just so he could drive the thing. Now that's dedication.Gallery: Pagani Zonda HHPagani Zonda HH commissioner revealed as 30-year-old Chicago software mogul originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | 
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Harrington's half-size classics to start pint-sized car nuts early

09/08/2010   [Original: Harrington Group via Autoblog]
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Filed under: Classics, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Toys/GamesHarrington Group's replica Mercedes-Benz 300SL - Click above for image galleryWant your little car nut to stand out from the neighborhood pack of wheeled terrors? Go for one of these fantastic looking half-scale classics from the Vietnam-headquartered Harrington Group, and wave goodbye to mediocre renditions of roadgoing vehicles as little Bobby (or Bobbie) cruises in style. These replicas use composite for both the body and chassis, and the detailing is good enough that they look convincingly like the real thing. Until, that is, someone steps into the picture and you get a scale reference. The company claims to have distributors in the U.S. and U.K., as well as Canada and the Netherlands.A range of gasoline engines brings real internal combustion thunder and the sweet smell of exhaust to the party. Engines start at 50cc and can go all the way up to a terrifyingly irresponsible racing kart unit. Automatic and manual transmissions are available and there is enough room for adults to ride along with their six-year-old and up progeny. Seats and pedals adjust, too, so when Junior is asleep, you can sneak out for a spin without feeling like a circus bear riding a tricycle. Interestingly, Harrington Group also makes restoration products for real classic cars, including stainless steel reproduction bumpers and interiors for the Volkswagen Beetle, Citroen 2CV and BMW Isetta. Fisher Price's Power Wheels are extravagant enough that there's a healthy trade in used battery-powered backyard buggies. Harrington has yet to respond to an Autoblog request for pricing information, but these cars are likely to be significantly north of the $250-$400 you'll spend on a tricked out Power Wheels at the local big box store. Available models are Porsche 356, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Jaguar E-Type, Willys Jeep, and Bugatti T35, along with mini scooters that ape Vespas of yore. Put one of these under the tree this (fast approaching) Christmas, and you'll see what the face of bliss looks like. Thanks for the tips, all!Gallery: Harrington Group's Children's CarsHarrington's half-size classics to start pint-sized car nuts early originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | 
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Audi won't build you an RS5 Cabrio, but Senner will sell you the next best thing

09/08/2010   [Original: Senner AG via Autoblog]
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Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Europe, AudiSenner Tuning Audi A5 Cabriolet - Click above for high-res image galleryAudi's full-bore RS5 treatment may only be available in coupe form, but that doesn't mean droptop enthusiasts can't join in on some of the fun. Senner AG, a company known for its Audi upgrades, now offers its RS design package for the A5 Cabriolet, and while it doesn't boast the outrageous power numbers of the RS5, it certainly has the look, with a couple of eccentric one-off touches, to boot.Starting with an A5 2.0T Cabriolet, Senner has bumped engine output from 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque up to a more palatable 275 hp and 317 lb-ft through the use of sport air filters and ECU recalibration. An all-new exhaust system has also been fitted, as well, giving the A5 a louder, angrier sound - something even the S5 Cabriolet could benefit from.Visually, Senner has added larger front air intakes similar to those on the RS5, though the A5's foglamps have been kept intact. Filling out the wheel wells are silver-chrome 20-inch wheels, wrapped in low-profile tires (245/30 in front, 295/25 out back), and a new rear diffuser has been added to round off the host of exterior upgrades. The interior has largely been left alone, save the addition of carbon fiber trim throughout the cabin.Senner's kit retails for a healthy €19,900 (roughly $25k USD), and when added to the €55,000 cost of a new A5 Cabriolet, that brings the whole package to €74,900, or $95,150 USD based on current exchange rates. Scroll through the gallery below to see the handsome Senner A5 from all angles, and hit the jump for the full details in the press release.Gallery: Senner Tuning Audi A5 CabrioletContinue reading Audi won't build you an RS5 Cabrio, but Senner will sell you the next best thingAudi won't build you an RS5 Cabrio, but Senner will sell you the next best thing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Maserati to base upcoming junior Quattroporte on next Chrysler 300?

09/08/2010   [Original: autoblog.it via PistonHeads via Autoblog]
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Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chrysler, Maserati, Rumormill, Luxury1989 Chrysler TC by MaseratiAs excitement and anticipation mount for the arrival of a new "entry-level" sedan from Maserati, so do the rumors. The new model, expected to slot in below the current Quattroporte, has been the subject of much conjecture and speculation, but the latest hits a little closer to home. According to reports, the junior QP could share its underpinnings with the next Chrysler 300C. This in contrast with previous reports that the Trident marque was looking to develop a new platform for the model, a move that would be decidedly more expensive for a Fiat/Chrysler empire already spread too thin. (Closer collaboration is expected between the Chrysler and Lancia divisions, which could also lead to a next-gen 300-based successor to the discontinued Lancia Thesis.)As sources point out, this wouldn't be the first time that Maserati and Chrysler have gotten into bed with each other. Close ties between onetime Chrysler chief Lee Iacocca and Alejandro de Tomaso (of the eponymous sportscar company that once owned Maserati) led to the disastrous badge-whoring exercise known as the Chrysler TC by Maserati (pictured above). If the latest reports come to fruition, we'd certainly hope the outcome would be in a different league altogether.Maserati to base upcoming junior Quattroporte on next Chrysler 300? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | 
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Rumormill: Nissan GT-R 'Egotist' coming soon?

09/08/2010   [Original: Autocar via Autoblog]
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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Nissan, Rumormill2010 Nissan GT-R - Click above for high-res image galleryDon't call it the Spec M. According to Autocar, the suits at Nissan have decided to sail a new luxury version of the mighty GT-R under the Egoist banner. The car will supposedly wear a completely new front fascia, and will debut alongside the facelifted version of the GT-R later this year. Other changes include a pair of special Recaro thrones, massive front brakes and unique 10-spoke wheels. All of that kit will set you back a lofty $166,740 at current conversion rates, but so far, it's unclear whether the Egoist will make its way to the States or whether it will be a JDM-only (and possibly Euro-only) piece.Autocar is also serving up a few details on the plain Jane 2011 GT-R. If the report has hit its mark, we can look forward to a significant weight reduction along with a few mechanical tweaks that should up the horsepower. A new oil cooler, exhaust system and slightly larger turbos should help the car churn out a grand total of 506 horsepower and 448 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers are awfully specific without any official word from Nissan, but right now, this estimate is as good as anyone's. Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan GT-RPhotos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 AOLRumormill: Nissan GT-R 'Egotist' coming soon? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Video: Audi channels '50s street racing scene for A1 photo shoot?

09/07/2010   [Original: Audi via YouTube via Autoblog]
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Filed under: Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, AudiAudi A1 meets '50s cool - Click above to watch video after the jumpWe'll be honest: we have no idea what's going on in the video after the jump. Near as we can tell, Audi wanted to work up a photo shoot for its new A1 subcompact, so the company dialed up two members of the band Tokio Hotel, packed a warehouse with 22 pieces of classic iron and went to town. Yeah, we don't quite get it ourselves. There's a '50s drag-race flavor about the whole affair thanks to a tatted-up blonde bombshell playing flag girl, which only furthers our befuddlement. At least the song isn't half bad.It's true that the Audi A1 is a pretty cool piece of machinery. And, yes, we dig on pre-'60s hardware as much as the next auto-obsessed site, but the two aren't quite the same kind of awesome. Maybe Audi is looking to flex the customizable side of the A1, or maybe the ad department was just looking for an excuse to meet a couple of members of Tokio Hotel. Who knows? Hit the jump to try to solve this mystery for yourself.Gallery: 2011 Audi A1Continue reading Video: Audi channels '50s street racing scene for A1 photo shoot?Video: Audi channels '50s street racing scene for A1 photo shoot? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Consumer Reports picks side in V6 pony car wars

09/07/2010   [Original: Consumer Reports via Autoblog]
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Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ford2011 Ford Mustang V6 - Click above for high-res image galleryIf you've found yourself stuck on the fence between the sultry styling of the Chevrolet Camaro V6 and the downright impressive sports car performance of the Ford Mustang V6, Consumer Reports may just have something to help you make up your mind one way or the other. Those responsible for some of the most aggressive consumer testing in the industry have awarded the Blue Oval a 'Very Good' road test score while the Bowtie was saddled with a mere 'Good' rating. The testers went so far as to say that picking the six-pot in the Mustang didn't take too much away from the car's fun factor, while doing the same in the Camaro did.That's no surprise to us. We felt the six-cylinder Mustang was fit enough to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Nissan 370Z and Hyundai Genesis Coupe in our recent Battle of the Sixes - something we wouldn't have even bothered to try with the Camaro, let alone the Dodge Challenger.Consumer Reports also said that the Mustang is 'Recommended' by the company, but the Camaro is too new to have accurate reliability data. Hit the jump for the press release.Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford Mustang V6Gallery: The Joy of Six: 2010 Chevy Camaro V6 RSPhotos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips and Alex Núñez / AOLContinue reading Consumer Reports picks side in V6 pony car warsConsumer Reports picks side in V6 pony car wars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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