Formula One Czar boss, Bernie Ecclestone is apparently a “big, big” fan of bikes, and partnered with his place in the F1 hierarchy, decided to purchase a controlling stake in Turkey’s Istanbul Park. Continue reading Bernie Ecclestone loves Turkey! Buys Turkish GP track
We’ve known for far too long that the MINI Clubman is on its way, but it’s still nice to get some confirmation from the automaker’s main information outlet that the elongated hatch is on the horizon.
Granted, the teaser page that MINI put up doesn’t reveal any more information than we’re already aware of, but in true-to-MINI fashion, it provides a quirky (dare we even say satisfying?) way of revealing the profile of the new Clubman.
Check it out – if nothing else, it’ll appeal to your inner-six-year old.
[Source: MINI USA]
Over in Shanghai this week, all the local producers are bringing out their latest wares. By now we’ve gotten used to seeing Chinese cars that bear remarkable resemblances to products from non-Chinese manufacturers with slight tweaks to (barely) distinguish them. Our crosstown neighbor, Chris Paukert, spotted this vehicle called the Huanghai Fast NCV with a front end that will be familiar to many Pontiac shoppers. Continue reading Chinese carmakers now doing mashups! Meet the Lexiac RX Torrent
Castagna, the Milanese atelier for cars run by an architect, used the Top Marques Monaco show to debut its new supercar. Known for its work with all things Mini (check out the outlandish Mini Crossup), this is a departure for the coachbuilder that got its start in 1849, and was formerly known for its unique creations during the Jazz Era. Continue reading Supercar ad nauseam: Castagna Aznom
Remember when Audi rolled out the baseball leather interior on the original TT convertible? That was nothing. For the real baseball fans, aftermarket trim specialists Katzkin Leather and sports equipment outfitter Rawlings have teamed up to offer a full, authentic baseball trim package for full-sized Chevy trucks. Continue reading America’s Game, America’s Truck: Rawlings baseball trim for Chevy trucks
What did Chrysler do with its highly publicized production glut? Unloaded them onto fleets. Between September and February, 48.5-percent of Chrysler’s sales were sold in quantities of ten or more. Even more troubling to dealers and consumers, close to 80-percent were bought up by rental car companies, versus GM and Ford whose rental sales are closer to half of their total fleet sales. Continue reading Nearly half of Chrysler’s products go to fleets, Pontiac isn’t doing much better
Reporting on one luxury car hitting the market after another and a seemingly endless race for the latest in technological breakthroughs, it seems hard to believe, but the fiercest competition in the automotive industry is emerging in the ultra-low cost segment. As markets like India and China continue to develop, their billions of citizens are moving up from bicycles and scooters to low-cost cars, and the sticker prices keep getting lower and lower. Continue reading Cheaper by the Dozen: the race for the $3000 car
Oh, we’re keepin’ it short ‘n’ Scandinavian this year, folks. Just two cars. Both from Sweden. What are they? What could they be? Continue reading Bargains to be Found at the 2007 NY Auto Show
The grid in Bahrain looked similar to last week in Malaysia. Two Ferraris and two McLarens, side-by-side, but which McLaren was up front was a surprise. Felipe Massa took his fifth career pole position, with McLaren’s young superstar-in-the-making, Lewis Hamilton, swapping with teammate Fernando Alonso and taking second. Continue reading Spoiler Alert: F1 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix
The festivities from Long Beach are winding down as the Champ Cars just finished their second race of the season. The Long Beach Grand Prix has been a fixture on the open-wheel schedule for more than 20 years and even if the series has lost some of its drawing power, the racing was as good as ever. Continue reading Spoiler Alert: 2007 Champ Car Long Beach Grand Prix
In all of recorded employment history, it has never been a good thing when the boss “requests” that employees talk up the company, especially when non-employees know that those workers are operating under orders. Nevertheless, that is exactly the road Ford appears to have taken as part of the “Way Forward,” asking each employee to become a “walking advertisement” for the blue oval. Continue reading Ford wants workers to ‘become walking advertisements’
Our sibling site from across the Pacific has been covering the Shanghai Auto Show in the same fervent style that you’d expect from Autoblog. If you click on through, you’ll find a listing of the more important concepts to be debuted in the last few days, along with pictures and a translated article detailing the vehicle. Continue reading China Shanghai 2007 autoshow preview