Latest Auto News Blog: сентября 2009

Chrysler's New Partnership with Fiat will Bring 7 New Models to the US

Chrysler and Fiat's newest agreement, which involves Fiat buying a 35 percent stake in Chrysler is going to lead to seven new fiat based cars making their way to the US.

According to unnamed sources four of the vehicles will be sold under the Chrysler brand and three will either be Alfa Romeos or Fiats. The official plan that will be announced on April 30th involves four Fiat platforms, a minicar, a subcompact, a compact and a mid-sized sedan. Chrysler's plants in the US are being tasked with producing the vehicles. Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant, which currently builds the soon to be killed PT Cruiser is going to produce the Fiat 500.

According to the Automotive News, under the plan its expected that Chrysler dealers will get two minicars, the Fiat 500 and a Dodge or Chrysler branded vehicle based on the Fiat Panda.

The subcompact segment will see the introduction of the Alfa Romeo MiTo and another Chrysler or Dodge branded vehicle.

A new compact car based Fiat’s C-Evo platform will likely replace the Dodge Caliber.

Lastly a replacement for the under performing Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger will be based on a stretched version of the C-Evo platform.

In case you are wondering what Fiat is going to get out of this deal, besides entry into the North American market, Fiat is going to sell the Dodge Journey and Dakota pickup in South America. In addition Fiat is going to use Chrysler's new Phoenix V6 engine in its own products.

Spy Shots: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Caught Naked

Last week a few photos leaked of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe. It wasn't known how real they were or if they were just a good photoshop, well it looks like they are pretty accurate.

The first photos of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe with barely and camouflage have surfaced, giving us our first clear idea of what the new coupe will look like.

The car was caught at a company presentation in Mallorca.

What's Your New Year's Automotive Resolution? [Question Of The Day]

It's New Year's Eve, the time when we start contemplating our resolutions and this contemplation causes us to drink. What's your automotive New Year's resolution?

Other than the annual "never go to Jiffy Lube" resolution, we here at Jalopnik have decided to banish the Top Ten list. It was good while it lasted and we had some fun times but we're entering a new era. Enjoy the last few "Top Ten" lists because here comes the Top Eleven list. It's going to be awesome. Eleven is the new ten and at least one more. Often, it's going to feel like a lot more.

(QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of The Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)

Photo Credit: TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images

Drivers Shamed Into Slowing Down and Driving Right: Moral Blackmail

In the UK, the Highways Agency has set up speed cameras that record the license plate numbers of speeding drivers and flash them up on a screen but do not issue penalties. Trials have shown that drivers get the message quicker when they see their own registration shown below the speed limit.

It’s similar to the mirror effect in psychology, where a person is less likely to do something they think is immoral if they can see themselves doing it in a mirror. Some shops have started using mirrors as a detterent to theft because of that, and it works.

Another similar idea is highlighted in this NY Times article. It talks about a new website called Platewire.com where you can post the license plate number of any dangerous drive you come in contact with.

Just like with any consumer reports or epinions review type website, information starts getting spread around more easily, so reputation becomes more important. People start realizing there is more than just tickets to worry about, there’s public perception.

I think they’re fantastic ideas, using human psychology and incentives instead of just issuing tickets and collecting money.

Detroit 2009: Lamborghini ups the personalization options

Filed under: Aftermarket, Detroit Auto Show, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Lamborghini, Special/Limited Editions

Click above for live images of the Ad Personam Lamborghini's from Detroit

Lamborghini debuted the new Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder in L.A., and the rumored LP670-4 SV is still a ways off, so the Italian supercar manufacturer decided to show off some of their non-automotive offerings in Detroit. Specifically, Lambo brought examples of its Ad Personam personalization program. A white 560 Spyder was flanked by a satin blue LP640-4 and LP560-4 coupe that were both simply mesmerizing. We're huge fans of these new satin paints, because aside from lending an air of understated luxury to the Lambo's lascivious lines, they're remarkably easy to photograph. They reflect light beautifully, while providing translucent reflections that minimize glare and extraneous objects from the car's surface. Lamborghini refers to it as a matte-luster paint finish, we'll just call it matte-sex.

Both of the personalized cars here in Detroit are painted in Lamborghini's new matte blue, although there's no truth to the rumor that anyone showing a birth certificate that says their name is Matt Blue will get a free Lambo. Besides the new blue hue, Lamborghini announced that three more colors are now permanently available in the Ad Personam program: Nero Nemesis (matte-luster black), Bianco Canopus (matte white), and Marrone Apus (matte brown). But don't let that limit you. Lamborghini will do just about anything the customer can dream up. And if you can't get what you want from the factory, you can always go the aftermarket route and get yourself an Ed Hardy special. There's a full press release after the jump and galleries of live and media pics are available by clicking any image below.

Live photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Lamborghini Ad Personam

Gallery: Lamborghini Ad Personam Detroit

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Lamborghini ups the personalization options

Detroit 2009: Lamborghini ups the personalization options originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Death Proof, Street Bike Edition

This was initially supposed to be a video montage, but I couldn’t find any solid stunt footage that wasn’t littered with a DMX soundtrack or gratuitous shout outs to the members of various street bike crews [at least a third of whose names, I noticed, featured both the words "crazy" and "money" in some variation]. Eventually, the crotchety old woman inside of me got sick and tired of the loud music and curse words and went for still shots instead.

In addition to the lack of filthy audio, still shots also provide much more entertaining, “it’s-only-gay-if-balls-touch” Kodak moments.

Enjoy.

[Photo Source:CloseEncounters.com/Freestyle Stunt Event]

View more pics after the jump

Detroit 2009: Volkswagen Concept BlueSport roadster live

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Volkswagen

Click above for a live gallery of the Volkswagen Concept BlueSport

Volkswagen's Concept BlueSport should go a long way towards making the term "diesel performance" a household name. While it might seem to be an oxymoron to some, seeing it at the Detroit Auto Show, we can tell you that if it reaches production, everyone will be a believer. While officially just a concept for now (and the interior is a dead giveaway this isn't production-ready), the two-door roadster sports a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four mounted amidships. It puts out 180 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and pushes just 2,600 pounds via a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Expect a 0-60 of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 140, all while returning about 35 mpg on the European cycle and upwards of 62 mpg in "Eco" mode.

The BlueSport might look a lot like an Audi TT with a Scirocco nose, but unlike its corporate sibling, the mid-engine layout provides a 45:55 front-to-rear weight distribution. It's also a tidy package at just over 13 feet in length, with a 96-inch wheelbase, a front track of 58.5 inches and a rear track of 60 inches. So it's about the same size as the TT, but in reverse. In person it seems much smaller than the Audi and reminds us of the Porsche Boxster more than anything, which isn't a bad thing. Stylist Walter da Silva explained his design inspiration in great detail for the assembled masses, unfortunately he did it in Italian, without subtitles, so we have no idea what he said. We did understand what Volkswagen Chairman Martin Winterkorn said, and that was that VW is officially committed to growth with cars that will continue to offer maximum excitement with minimum consumption, and the BlueSport is a perfect example of that philosophy. We say build it and bring it, ASAP. Hit the jump for all the details in the pres release.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Volkswagen BlueSport Concept

Gallery: Detroit Preview: Volkswagen BlueSport Concept

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Volkswagen Concept BlueSport roadster live

Detroit 2009: Volkswagen Concept BlueSport roadster live originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Chrysler 200C Concept, what the Sebring should have been [w/VIDEO]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Chrysler, LLC.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chrysler 200C Concept

We were beginning to worry that the 300C was all Ralph Gilles had in him. But if the Chrysler 200C Concept is what Chrysler's styling star can bring to the hitherto dull banquet of Chrysler design, then he should have been placed in charge long ago. It is absolutely gorgeous - check out those wheels - and to our eyes, at least, this is what the straked nonsense known as the Sebring should have been (or at least, what it could have looked like).

A range-extended four-passenger sedan, the car is about the size of a BMW 5-Series. A rear-wheel-driver powered by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that includes a "small gasoline engine" - Chrysler didn't say how small - aided by a lithium-ion batteries and an electric generator putting out 55kW (74 horsepower) of continuous power. The system's combined forces are good for 200 kW (268 hp) of peak power. The car can go 40 miles on electric power alone (a number that sounds rather familiar), and has an estimated range of up to 400 miles. The 200C is not a slowpoke, either, with a predicted 7-second blast to sixty, and a top speed north of 120.

Inside, the 200C Concept is crammed with enough tech to guide a starfleet. The interactive dashboard is infinitely changeable, internet enabled (via Chrysler's uConnect), and tied into security cameras and street cameras when you want to see how long the line is out front of the Delta Terminal at Detroit Metro. Even better, you can control everything from the integrated tablet PC in the glovebox or from an iPhone-like controller - even roll down the windows and check on the status of the car. And the technology leaf for the passenger also gets a huge shoutout. You can read all about it in the minutely thorough press releases after the jump, and the live presser video is also available. Also, check out the galleries of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Chrysler 200C Concept