Posts Tagged ‘Convertible’

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Report: SV Motors head indicted for investment fraud

August 4th, 2010

SV Motors 9 Competizione – Click above for high-res image gallery

Exactly a year ago today, we got our first real-life glimpse of the SV Motors 9 Competizione, an American/Italian mash-up built atop the C6 Chevrolet Corvette and coated in custom carbon fiber coachwork. 365 days later and the dream has turned into a nightmare.

Joseph Viloa (aka Giuseppe Viola), a 58-year-old investment consultant based in San Francisco, CA and the man behind SV Motors, has reportedly been indicted by a federal grand jury on aggravated identity theft, mail and wire fraud. In the process, he allegedly bilked victims for around $7 million – two million of which went into the design and production of the SV 9. And this wasn’t the first time he’s run afoul of the law.

Viloa was previous convicted of fraud, serving five years in Arizona, and is currently behind bars in Maricopa County where he’s awaiting trial for another fraud case from 1990. His latest round of illegal escapades reportedly ran from 2004 to 2010, during which he may have defrauded at least 60 investors.

From what we can gather, only a handful of SV 9s were produced, so assuming the Feds get their conviction, the only time you’ll see a Competizione is at the occasional auto show and – yes – as Lafayette’s ride in True Blood re-runs. Top tippage Brian!

[Source: SFGate]

Report: SV Motors head indicted for investment fraud originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:23:00 EST.

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Pagani Zonda HH fully revealed

August 2nd, 2010

Pagani Zonda HH – Click above for image gallery

The latest special edition Zonda to come from Pagani is set to be delivered to one ludicrously wealthy American later this year, but before the official wraps come off, a sneak peek of the Zonda HH has arrived online.

There’s still no word on who the one-off convertible is being built for, but the proud poppa has detailed his commissioned creation over at TeamSpeed and, as reported previously, it’s a keen amalgamation of the Zonda F and Cinque.

The HH starts with the Zonda’s carbon-titanium tub, and from there the owner has picked the best bits from the Pagani parts bin. Carbon ceramic brakes hide behind center-locking wheels, while the Cinque’s 680-horsepower AMG-sourced V12 resides out back, with spent hydrocarbons shuttled out a titanium exhaust system and sending power to a proper manual gearbox.

While the Monterey Blue exterior and yellow accenting is a go, the design is still be fleshed out and the man behind the HH hopes to have it in his possession by year’s end, complete with the F’s front clip but minus the massive rear-mounted air intake. In the mystery buyer’s own words, “that was a little much.”

Gallery: Pagani Zonda HH

[Source: TeamSpeed, Autoblog.it]

Pagani Zonda HH fully revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:58:00 EST.

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Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units

July 15th, 2010

2011 Ford Shelby GT500 – click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve just gotten off the horn with Ford‘s SVT performance division, and we’ve learned that the Blue Oval’s hot-rod arm is going to limit production of the 2011 Shelby GT500 to 5,500 units for this model year. According to Ford spokesman Henry Platts, the move is not the result of slow sales, but rather a desire to maintain exclusivity. In fact, sales of Ford’s king of the Mustang range have “exceeded expectations,” with in excess of 3,300 orders already placed.

The 550-horsepower GT500 has not only been performing surprisingly well in a down economy, it’s been going out the door loaded-to-the sills with options. According to Platts, there have been three times as many GT500 coupes ordered with the $1995 glass roof option as compared to the regular Mustang. In the “News That Makes Us Happy” category comes word that a full 68 percent have been spec’d out with the $3,495 performance package (includes 19- and 20-inch painted forged alloys, 3.73 limited-slip, tuned suspension, Gurney flap rear spoiler, etc.), and additionally, 70 percent of all GT500s have been ordered with the $2,340 electronics package (navi, dual-zone HVAC and Sirius/HD radio). With the GT500 starting at an out-the-door price of $49,495 before options, we’re guessing that the GT500 is more than carrying its weight for Dearborn’s bottom line.

While Ford is limiting total output of the GT500 to 5,500 units for 2011, Platts says the automaker has no plans to dictate how that shakes out in the coupe/convertible bodystyle mix. That said, if you’ve been fence-sitting on whether to pick up a GT500 of your very own this year, might we suggest that you make up your mind… quickly.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units

Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST.

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Report: Jaguar X-Type replacement aims to fight the 3 Series

July 13th, 2010

With the all the news coming out of Jaguar, it’s obvious its Indian parents are intent on making the leaping cat a credible competitor to the world’s luxury automakers. To wit: not only has Jag green-lit the XE – a next-generation XK-based competitor to the Porsche Boxster – it ready to take the fight to the BMW 3 Series in the form of a reborn X-Type.

While the previous Mondeo-based X-Type fared poorly during its run, Tata Motor’s chief executive, Carl-Peter Forster, told Automobilwoche that in order for the British brand to compete on a global scale, a smaller sedan is a requirement. To that end, a new sedan is under development to slot in below the XF, likely utilizing a new aluminum architecture based on its next-generation sedan.

In addition to X-Type replacement and the new, smaller coupe – rumored to arrive in 2012 – Forster says that work is underway on a long-wheelbase version of the XF for the Chinese market and a wagon version of Jag’s mid-size sedan is slated for sale in Europe (XFR estate, anyone?).

On the Land Rover front, the recently revealed Evoque is the first of three new products to debut in the next five years, including an all-new Freelander with seating for seven and a revised Defender which is set to arrive in 2015.

[Source: Automobilwoche]

Report: Jaguar X-Type replacement aims to fight the 3 Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST.

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2013 Tesla Roadster to be completely built in-house

June 29th, 2010

Tesla Roadster Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve been poring over Tesla’s IPO filing with the SEC and hidden within the indecipherable legalese is a little gem for those of us more interested in product then federal oversight.

As reported previously, the Roadster’s reign is set to end in December of 2011, although Tesla will continue to take orders for the current Roadster into 2012 if its supply of “gliders” – the rolling chassis provided by Lotus and built on the same platform as the Elise/Exige – isn’t exhausted.

Tesla has contracted Lotus for a total of 2,400 gliders and if the price is right, it could extend that contract to meet demand.

More importantly, Tesla confirms that the next Roadster won’t arrive until production of the Model S begins in 2012, so a revised Roadster isn’t in the cards until 2013 – at the earliest. Interestingly, the upstart EV automaker says that it intends to build the “next generation Tesla Roadster entirely in our own facilities.” Which leads us to believe that an all-new platform could underpin the next generation model, possibly based on the Model S’ architecture and shared by a range of new products. How much of the current Roadster carries over remains to be seen, but if Tesla wants to continue to assert its independence, it’s fair to assume that it won’t be sourcing its next chassis from another automaker.

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: SEC]

2013 Tesla Roadster to be completely built in-house originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST.

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Recap: 2010 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

June 13th, 2010

1957 Corvette

2010 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance – Click above for high-res image gallery

The first weekend in June is always circled on our calendar, because that’s when the annual Greenwich Concours d’Elegance goes down in tony Greenwich, CT. So, instead of catching some rays at the beach, or mowing the lawn, or tending to the vegetable garden, we drop the top and head down Interstate 95 to spend the better part of two days gawking at cars exotic and otherwise, always ready for whatever surprises are on hand to add a little variety. Follow the jump for a quick recap of this year’s show, after which you can hit the galleries to ogle the staggering variety of metal that the organizers assembled.

Continue reading Recap: 2010 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

Recap: 2010 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:20:00 EST.

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Report: BMW 1 Series sales halted pending recall for fire risk

June 12th, 2010

2011 BMW 135i – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to dealer documents obtained by Consumer Reports, BMW has instructed dealers to stop delivery of 1 Series models built between January and May of 2010 due to a fire risk.

The documents cites insufficient clearance between the B-pillar and the seat belt tensioners, which, in the event of a crash, could result in friction, leading to overheating and a potential fire.

In addition to the aforementioned 2010 models, certain 2008-2011 1 Series coupes could be affected by the issue. Owners can contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 for more details and to see if their vehicle falls under the recall.

Gallery: 2010 BMW 135i

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Report: BMW 1 Series sales halted pending recall for fire risk originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST.

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Adios! Lexus SC430 to be euthanized in July

June 11th, 2010

2009 Lexus SC430 Pebble Beach Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

It was rumored in January and now it’s been confirmed by Automobile Magazine: Lexus will kill its slow-selling SC430 this July and it will reportedly return in 2014 packing a hybrid electric drivetrain and a new V8.

Aside from a handful of special edition models, the SC430 has soldiered on largely unchanged for the better part of a decade, and with less the 1,000 SCs sold last year and a final run of around 300 slated to be built in 2010, its demise will likely go unnoticed save a few octogenarians that pick up a new Pebble Beach Edition each summer.

According to Automobile, the next generation SC is slated to arrive sometime in 2014, packing a 5.0-liter V8 and a hybrid drivetrain that should be good for 400-500 horsepower. The Lexus SC600h – as it’s tentatively dubbed – would be a fitting replacement to the SuperGT racer that’s been running in the Japanese touring car series for the last several years – unless Lexus decides the LFA is a more worthy combatant.

[Source: Automobile]

Adios! Lexus SC430 to be euthanized in July originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:33:00 EST.

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TPC Racing to turbocharge Porsche Boxster Spyder

June 3rd, 2010

TPC Racing Porsche Boxster Spyder – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Boxster Spyder may be one of the purest Porsches to date, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. However, unlike the majority of tuning firms, TPC Racing is different. They take a holistic approach to the project at hand and in the case of their white-on-black Spyder, they’re not just looking to improve the Porsche’s performance, they’re out to build a supercar.

We’ve spent time with the company’s Cayman S Turbo and there’s no doubt they’ve got the skills to accomplish the task (20+ years of motorsports knowledge helps), but how do you improve on something that’s damn-near perfect right out of the box? In this case, the answer (predictably for TPC) comes in the form of forced induction.

Although they’ve already increased the output of the flat-six to 321 horsepower with a few ECU tweaks, the planned turbo upgrade will boost the power to 470 hp… at the wheels. In a 2,811-pound roadster.

But if you only want the power upgrade, look elsewhere. TPC won’t offer the engine work alone, opting instead for a comprehensive upgrade package that includes a round of suspension mods that won’t just make the Spyder stick harder, but offer infinite adjustability through Porsche’s two-mode shock system. The whole kit-and-caboodle will set you back around $16,000 ($10k for the engine mods and $6k for the suspension), but once it’s completed, the $80,000 entry price should be enough to shame some of the world’s most high-powered exotics.

Kilometer Magazine will be following the build, so expect more updates to come in the following weeks.

[Source: Kilometer Magazine]

TPC Racing to turbocharge Porsche Boxster Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:25:00 EST.

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Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) is coming this year

May 24th, 2010

Infiniti Performance Line teaser – Click above for high-res image

Hot on the heels of the recent revelation that Infiniti is working on a duo of new G-based vehicles slated to debut at this year’s Pebble Beach extravaganza, we’ve come across a trademark filing by Nissan North America for “IPL.” What’s IPL you ask? Infiniti Performance Line, a new catalog of in-house developed upgrades which – according to the filing – will include everything from air filters to cat-back exhaust systems, and – more intriguingly – “automotive engine parts, namely turbochargers and superchargers.”

The approach is likely to be similar to how NISMO develops and markets parts for Nissan or, more accurately, Lexus’ launch of its F-Sport performance line.

This new line of performance parts will likely be unveiled this August in Pebble Beach and be fitted to the G37 coupe. How extensive the modifications are remains to be seen, but as previously reported, one of the models set to debut will be “performance oriented,” and if forced induction is part of the package, we’re anxiously awaiting our rendezvous with the modded coupe this summer.

Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) is coming this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 19:23:00 EST.

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