Major Revision Includes Available V8 Engine for the First Time in 22-year History
Subaru Tribeca given highest possible safety rating from NHTSA in both the frontal and side-impact NCAP crash tests
Plans have been killed for Lincoln to get a small German-sourced crossover vehicle from Ford in Germany, Automotive News is reporting, and the company is blaming the unfavorable currency exchange rate for the change.
The new small CUV will still be unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show this fall and will hit the European market next year, badged as a Ford. It is reportedly based on Ford's 2006 Paris show concept called the Iosis X.
Importing the small crossover utility vehicle that would have been sourced from Ford's Saarlouis plant in Germany was reportedly a pet project of new Ford chief Alan Mulally. However, it had not been formally given the green light, according to the publication's report.
- 2008 Ford Taurus, 2008 Mercury Sable earn “Top Safety Pick” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for achieving the highest ratings in frontal offset, side and rear impact crash protection.
- Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable are the world's only large family cars to earn both the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating and the U.S. government's highest available five-star ratings in all crash test categories.
- Ford and Volvo engineers worked together to create this innovative vehicle structure featuring crush zones so that energy is transferred around the passenger compartment.
- Class-leading affordability and safety combine to make Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable two of the best choices for safety-conscious consumers looking for full-size family cars.
Sharper Looks Showcase Enhanced Performance
The theme with carmakers across Europe seams to be ‘going small’, with the minicar segment seriously heating up with new entrants due from most of the major labels. Pictured here is the new Opel/Vauxhall Agila five door hatch that’s due to hit showrooms by spring next year. Its versatile design allows users to fold down the back seats to accommodate a class-leading 1150L of storage space.
The next-gen Agila will offer three new engines and an automatic gearbox option will be available for the first time but only for 1.2L versions. The most popular will be the two petrol units, a 1.0L three-cylinder with 65hp and a 1.2L four-cylinder with 86hp. Diesel fans will get an updated 1.3L CDTi, as seen in the Corsa, with 75hp on tap.
The vehicle’s safety package comprises of comprising four airbags as well as an optional Electronic Stability Program. New Agila will make its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September with final pricing expected to be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch in the first half of next year.
Via motorauthority.com
The car is for sale in both turnkey-minus and self-assembly format. Pricing for the self-assembly model starts at $25,000 and is a complete package minus drivetrain and paint.
The key features of this car are its light weight (for a full-bodied car) of only 1,500Lbs, and the capability for the purchaser to utilize virtually any FWD drivetrain they desire. This is due to the modular construction of the engine bay. Of course the lighter the engine package the better balanced the car becomes, and with a turbocharged 1.6L Toyota powerplant (in the current car) making 170Hp, the car does 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and has a F/R weight bias of 35/65. This is a street legal track car that is similar in size to a Lotus Elise. The photos I am sending show the car in full track trim. Length 124", wheelbase 98", track 57", width 67".
Grabercars is based out of Phoenix, Arizona and is only moments from Sky Harbor International Airport. We welcome prospective customers.
The new Project becomes through our amazing performance kit a never seen experience on the roads of Germany. This amazing model is crowned with the name “Eagle II“.
The powerful wings of an eagle which are symbolized by the typical ASMA Design Air Intakes in the front fenders of the car, the perfect body kit with the typical ASMA Design elements and the bi-colour painting are creating this dominating presence.
Promises are promises and we keep our promises because we put another accent on the rear which makes you scared like the dominating front and the exhaust system.
Its body control is just stunning, its combination of comfort and structural integrity masterful. The ASMA Design wheels on the front axle in 9,5 x 21 inch and on the back axle in 11 x 21 are completing the excellent design of the car. The wheels are on the front axle vast 255/30/21 and on the back axle 295/25/21.
Tesla Motors, maker of the hot and hotly anticipated $92,000 electric Roadster, will sell its products through factory-owned stores, not traditional dealerships. The company will put the first cars on sale in Santa Monica, California, in November, then move to major cities including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and eventually Denver, Boston and other major markets.
Automotive News quoted Tesla Marketing Vice President Darryl Siry as saying, "We can't hand over the car to an independent franchiser" who would "spend his time apologizing for the car's shortcomings." Therefore the company plans to run its own sales outlets, which he said would be more like an Apple computer store than a traditional vehicle dealership.
Bloomberg reports 400 orders have already been placed for the first model, the two-seat Tesla Roadster, with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and actor George Clooney on the list.
A second model, the WhiteStar sedan is due in 2010. Whether or not Tesla has the cash to produce the second model is still a question.
40 Years of AMG: From a two-man start-up to a global business
Stuttgart, May 08, 2007 From its beginnings 40 years ago as a specialist motorsport and tuning firm, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has grown into a supplier of exclusive high-performance cars with some 750 employees, an extensive model range comprising 18 different AMG cars, customers across the world and a brand name which has gained a high level of recognition.
The company was founded on June 1, 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and his partner Erhard Melcher (M); the third letter in the company name (G) came from Aufrecht's birthplace, GroЯaspach. The two men officially described themselves as "Engineering, construction and testing specialists in the development of racing engines". The firm was based in an old mill in Burgstall (near Affalterbach).
Breakthrough in 1971 with second place at the 24 Hours of Spa
In the early years of the company, its founders concentrated on building racing cars based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and competing in European touring car races. They did not have to wait long for their breakthrough: a Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG finished a surprising second overall at the 24 Hours of Spa in 1971 in Belgium, winning its class at the same time. The 315-kW/428-hp racing saloon was driven alternately by Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz.
This historic victory was followed by countless successes at all manner of motorsport arenas: AMG took the DTM team title no less than five times. Bernd Schneider, Gary Paffett and Klaus Ludwig collected a total of eight DTM titles, with Schneider also taking the ITC (International Touring Car Championship) title. It was Bernd Schneider again, at the wheel of the Affalterbach team's CLK-GTR, who took the drivers' title in the inaugural FIA GT Championship in 1997, a success repeated by Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta the following year when they also won the constructors' title for Team AMG Mercedes – the CLK-GTR won all eleven races of the season. In the current 2007 DTM season, Bernd Schneider - who already has a record-breaking five titles to his name – is committed to doing everything he can to defend his 2006 championship title in the all-new AMG Mercedes C-Class.
Outstanding technological achievements boost business
AMG's success was to spread far beyond the world of international motorsport. By the 1970s, customers were beginning to acquire a taste for more individuality in their cars, a trend which the Swabian company used to develop its business. The transfer of technology from motorsport to series-production development was already an integral part of the company's philosophy. AMG's ability to deliver outstanding technological achievements and first-class quality as a result of its involvement in motorsport meant that the company quickly made a name for itself and became highly respected. As a result of the aims which it had set itself, AMG soon became one of the pioneers in the refinement and tuning of premium vehicles. The strong demand for refined and tuned Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the 1970s led to a steady increase in the number of orders received by AMG. The company outgrew its base in Burgstall and moved to Affalterbach in 1976. As the first Mercedes-Benz tuning company, AMG developed into a model for an entire branch of the automotive industry. The company's impact was evident at the 1981 Frankfurt Motor Show, where a total of 176 exhibitors were involved in tuning and accessories for the Mercedes-Benz brand. An important event in the history of AMG was the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 190 in 1982. The compact saloon soon became a favourite with German car tuners and helped AMG to tap into a whole new clientele.
AMG opens its second plant and the workforce grows to 100
AMG continued to expand: the company opened its second plant in 1985 and took on its 100th employee. Customers from all over the world began to come to Affalterbach, among them prominent figures from the spheres of motorsport, film, music, sport and business, not to mention royalty. Time and again, the extremely specialised requirements of these highly discerning customers resulted in exceptional projects, which AMG was always able to bring to fruition thanks to its unerring passion and expertise. As an industry pioneer and trendsetter, AMG was able to draw on its ever-expanding wealth of experience to great effect. Ignoring short-lived fads, the company was already committed to its vision of securing – and maintaining – the position of world leader in its sector in terms of technology, design, sales and earnings.
Cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz AG in 1990
One of the key milestones in the history of AMG came in 1990, with the signing of the cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz AG. Demand and customer acceptance were given a tremendous boost now that AMG products could be sold and maintained through Mercedes-Benz' worldwide network of company-owned sales and service outlets and dealerships. Further expansion led to the opening of a third plant in 1990 and an increase in the workforce to 400 employees. In 1993, the company unveiled the Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG, the first jointly developed vehicle to result from the cooperation agreement. In another development the same year, the Patent Office recognised AMG as a trademark as the name was now so well known.
Incorporation into the DaimlerChrysler Group in 1999
Hans Werner Aufrecht transferred a majority stake in the steadily growing company to DaimlerChrysler AG on January 1, 1999. On January 1, 2005 DaimlerChrysler acquired 100 per cent of the shares. This allowed the newly founded Mercedes-AMG GmbH to benefit to an even greater extent from the Group's resources and global standing. Also in 1999, the motorsport department was transferred to company founder Hans Werner Aufrecht's firm H.W.A. GmbH (now H.W.A. AG). Located in close proximity to Mercedes-AMG GmbH, some 200 staff now work there together with Mercedes-Benz Motorsport to manage the two companies' long-standing involvement in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM).
Involvement in Formula 1 with the official F1™ safety car
Mercedes-AMG has been an important part of the safety concept in Formula 1 for over ten years. The official F1 safety car is based on the CLK 63 AMG whilst also providing the technological blueprint for the new CLK 63 AMG Black Series. The C 55 AMG Estate, meanwhile, provides the basis for the official F1™ medical car. The decades of experience acquired in touring car and GT racing played a key role in the development of these two extra-special AMG vehicles.
Opening of the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO in 2006
The opening of the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO in 2006 marked the start of a new initiative to appeal to customers on a most individual level. In addition to the AMG high-performance cars available through the global Mercedes-Benz sales organisation, the PERFORMANCE STUDIO develops and produces special series of AMG vehicles in exclusive numbers. Offered as the Signature Series, Black Series and Editions, these uniquely special models stand out by virtue of their outstanding handling, race-track capability, distinctive technical and visual features or their exclusive equipment details, depending on the particular model in question. Apart from the new CLK 63 AMG Black Series, the latest product from the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO is the SLK 55 AMG Black Series, a purist's lightweight version equipped with an AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine delivering 294 kW/400 hp, plus numerous components from the world of motorsport. As well as focussing on particularly compelling AMG vehicles, the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO also attends to customers' individual requests – a traditional forte of Mercedes-AMG. These special requirements can take the form of specific technical modifications, such as AMG sports suspension systems, AMG high-performance brake systems, AMG wheel/tyre combinations, limited-slip differentials and customised interior appointments, as well as bespoke one-off models.
Like the road car, the 2007 AMG-Mercedes C-Class also represents the third generation of this model. With 54 victories out of 106 races in which it has been entered until the end of 2006 (in 1994 and 1995 and since 2004 in the DTM and also in the 1996 ITC which had been derived from the DTM), the C-Class is not only the most successful Mercedes-Benz in the championship, but the most successful car in the history of the DTM.
Development, design and construction began in March 2006 when the technicians and engineers headed by Gerhard Ungar, technical director of HWA, received the CAD data for the new model. About ten months later – on January 24, 2007 – the new C-Class for the DTM made its debut on the race track. At the roll-out and initial testing in Estoril, Portugal, Bernd Schneider and Bruno Spengler took turns behind the wheel; the two drivers who had finished the 2006 championship in first and second positions respectively.
Ungar and his colleagues started with a 1:2 scale wind tunnel model, because aerodynamic development played an important role. Parts such as doors, front screen and bonnet had to be designed and manufactured completely new to match the car’s new silhouette. The V8 engine with a cylinder angle of 90 degrees, a capacity of four litres and four valves per cylinder has been further optimised, particularly with respect to driveability. Equipped with two air restrictors, each with a diameter of 28 millimetres, as stipulated in the regulations, the engine now develops 350 kW/approx. 476 hp at 7500 rpm and delivers a peak torque of 500 Nm. The engineers also worked on the suspension where the toe-in and camber angles offer great scope for further improving both handling and driving dynamics.
In the 2007 season, Bernd Schneider, Mika Haikkinen, Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green will race the new AMG-Mercedes C-Class. Schneider (42) has been a member of the Mercedes-Benz DTM team since 1991. He achieved 41 race wins, and clinched the DTM Championship titles in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006. Hдkkinen (38) was the 1998 and 1999 Formula One World Champion with Team McLaren Mercedes. In 2001, the Finn retired from Formula One after 161 Grands Prix and 20 wins. Four years later, he came back in the DTM winning only his third race in the AMG-Mercedes C-Class at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. Bruno Spengler (23) is the youngest HWA driver. For the French-Canadian, 2007 is the third year in the DTM. In his first year as a works driver in 2006, he won four races and ended the season as runner-up behind Schneider. Green (24) was the 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion with a Dallara Mercedes. In the DTM, the Englishman collected six pole positions and five podium finishes until now.
Honda says it will put its FCX hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle on the market in small quantities as early as next year. Japanese and U.S. buyers will be the first to be able to lease the car. The company also says it will produce a mass-market hybrid vehicle within two years, promising that it will cost less than $25,000 and be big enough to use as a family transport.
Honda displayed its FCX concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, saying then that it was the concept form of a vehicle "currently under development for release in 2008."
The automaker showed off two prototypes in the capital on Thursday on a test track. Honda said the fuel-cell vehicles get about 68 mpg and can hit a 100-mph top speed. Driving range is 270 miles, which is a 60-mile improvement over the existing Honda FCX model.
There are currently 20 Honda fuel-cell prototypes on the roads in the United States, mainly being used by government fleets. The automaker says it is working on ways to get large numbers of fueling stations set up, collaborating with Air Products, BP, Chevron and Shell. Another project Honda is working on is a form of home energy station that would let vehicle owners refuel using home natural gas supplies.
