Travel on cars

Filed under: Motorcycles

We really do love us some V-Max, despite the fact that the bike is well past its prime in this day and age of remaking a motorcycle every two years or so. Just because the bike is older than some of our readers doesn’t diminish the fact that the V-Max packs a heavy dose of power. It’s never easy to remake an icon, so Yamaha is certainly dragging its feet taking its time when it comes to releasing the new Max. The world has seen some hints about what the new bike will look like, but this one is certainly the biggest to date. Weighing a ton and a half, this block of aluminum-plus-V-Max shows how far along in the design process the tuning-fork-company has gotten. According to our source article, the fact that the rear tire is worn might mean that they are testing mules using the new architecture and, most importantly, the new engine. Of course, the heart of Mr. Max has always been the V-Four engine, and we expect that it will continue that way. Still no word on just how powerful the new bike will be, but we would be disappointed if it weren’t the fastest thing on two-wheels down the good ‘ol 1320. (more…)

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Not that we’d have any reason to, but if we had to make a list of the world’s biggest playboys, Flavio Briatore would certainly rank in the top five. Certainly the biggest in the automotive industry. He’s best known as team principal of Renault F1, but the Italian businessman also owns several beach clubs, night clubs and restaurants in Sardinia, Tuscany, Kenya and London, as well as an English football club and, having been a senior director for the Benetton clothing label, has his own fashion line called Billionaire Italian Couture. But business aside, Briatore has dated some of the most famously attractive models in the world, including Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum.

With a little black book like his, it would take some woman to take him off the market, but his latest girlfriend has done just that. Italian lingerie model Elisabetta Gregoraci recently revealed that the couple are engaged to be married at a ceremony - and what’s sure to be the party of the century - next May. Flavio is 57, and his fianc

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, SUVs, Euro, Mercedes Benz

click image to enlarge

Carlsson has applied its tuning magic to the new M-Class with a host of power, visual, and interior upgrades. Starting with the engine, Carlsson’s performance kit for the 320 CDI engine boosts horsepower to 269 and torque to 452 lb-ft, and a new exhaust system with quad tailpipes is also available. The suspension can be upgraded with Carlsson’s C-Tronic system that lowers the vehicle 40mm, and 22″ 11-spoke wheels help fill the wheel wells even more. A subtle front spoiler and a diffuser-look rear skirt are the only exterior modifications. Interior appointments include alcantara and leather seats, a sport steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and illuminated door exit lights. Once again, Carlsson proves that sometimes it doesn’t take much to make a better Benz.

[Source: Carlsson]

Continue reading Carlsson puts some more class in the M-Class

Filed under: Gadgets, Ferrari

From its headquarters in Maranello, Ferrari has traditionally operated two divisions: one that makes exquisite road cars, and another that competes in motorsports. More recently, however, a third division has emerged, with the responsibility of conducting the company’s ever-increasing marketing enterprise. The Global Branding Division itself seems to be following two tracks: licensing products as exclusive as the road cars and targeted towards their owners, and marketing merchandise to the Scuderia’s enormous fan base. (more…)

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

The Chicken Little’s have arrived: even though there is plenty of hope for sweet electric Mustangs and the like, AutoblogGreen readers heard yesterday that CAFE will make muscle cars an “endangered species”. Whatever. How much muscle does the Banks Sidewinder D-Max Type-D have? Plenty, that’s how much. It just doesn’t spew nasty emissions like older vehicles. Perhaps once the Mythbusters bust the electric car myth next season, all will be better.

• Corvette’s chief engineer: CAFE will make muscle cars an “endangered species”
• GM skipped E85 for new LS9 V-8 to preserve low speed drivability
• European automakers are a bunch of whiners over CO₂ rules
• Banks Sidewinder D-Max Type-D runs a 7.96-seconds at 167.34-mph
• Video: President Bush signs the Energy Bill into law
• UN annouces International Conference on Biofuels
• London may abandon plan for CO₂ based congestion charge
• Mythbusters to bust myth electric cars are slow in episode next season
• Volkswagen not too happy about proposed EU CO₂ rules
• VW to add a turbo CNG option to European Passat
• Ford creates “green” labelling for Austrian market: ecosport
• President Bush explains why EPA denied California’s waiver to regulate tailpipe emissions
• Reading tea leaves: Carmax says hybrid searches on the rise
• Nokia lets you monitor the emissions coming in to your car
• SciAm names X Prize Foundation the “Policy Leader of the Year”
• Earthrace captain really, um, “getting into” next biodiesel circumnavigation attempt

Filed under: Etc., Euro

While we get all revved up over the revival of Speed Racer in film form, our funny friends in France are gearing up for the remake of their own children’s classic, Asterix. The new film, which opens in French theaters next month, is slated to feature cameos by a number of sports figures, including Ferrari stars Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt.

Set in the ancient Roman era, Asterix is a classic series of French children’s comic books which has been translated into dozens of languages around the world. The film which, like Speed Racer, is shot with live actors (rather than animated like the original), is called Asterix aux jeux olympiques (”Asterix at the Olympic Games”). Schumacher appears in a seven-minute segment in the movie as a chariot racer called - you guessed it - Schumix, while Todt gives orders from the pit wall…dressed in red, of course. (Hopefully the German authorities won’t give Michael a hard time about driving the chariot this time.)

In addition to the Ferrari champions, several other European sports celebrities make cameos in the movie as well, including French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo, retired French soccer player Zinedine Zidane (of World Cup head-butting infamy) and British footballer David Beckham. This is, of course, the second such cameo Schumacher has made, after his appearance in Disney/Pixar’s Cars.

[Source: F1-Live]

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Saab

It could be their unmistakably Nordic appeal, but if you head to any respectable ski resort, you’re likely to see a fair few Saabs with roof-racks in the parking lots, next to Volvo wagons (but very few Koenigseggs). In partnership with winter-sport equipment giant Salomon, Saab has been sponsoring a number of snow-capped alpine events since 2001. Now the two Scandinavian companies have launched a special set of downhill skis in celebration of both their 60th anniversaries, Saab and Salomon having each been founded in 1947.

The fiberglass and graphite skis pay homage to the Saab Aero X concept car unveiled at the 2006 Geneva show. They feature an innovative “hybrid axle” system that put the power down at the rear and optimize turning control at the front. The Salomon Aero X skis sell for $1000 a pair, and the two companies hope to cooperate further in the future, but somehow we don’t see a 9-3 wagon running on skis instead of wheels seeing production anytime soon.

[Source: Inside Line]

Filed under: Car Buying, SUVs, Lexus, Toyota

Lexus has added its bigger, more powerful 5.7L truck engine to its premium SUV, and as a result, the new LX 570 has a bigger price to go along with it. The upscale ‘ute’s base sticker grows by a knee-wobbling $6,405, starting at a rather monumental $73,800. For those scoring at home, that’s about $18,000 more than the Cadillac Escalade, and within $3,000 of the top-end Mercedes GL550. While the LX 570 surpasses the outgoing LX 470 in both power and luxury, a $73,800 price tag is a substantial pill to swallow, even in this admittedly pricey segment. (more…)

Filed under: Convertibles, Mercedes Benz

click above image for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK

The image we showed you yesterday of the facelifted 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK has been proven to be the real deal as the German automaker has officially unveiled the new roadster this morning. As we reported yesterday, the tweaks to the SLK’s front end bring it even more in line with the style of an F1 car’s nose, for better or worse, while the rear actually gets a cleaner, smoother look with a faux diffuser affixed between the trapezoidal tailpipes. In addition to exterior enhancements, the 2009 model also gets an updated interior with an instrument panel design we actually find appealing and a new three-spoke steering wheel. The availability of “gullwing red” leather for the seats and interior trim that harkens back to the appointments of the original 300 SL is also a nice touch. Two new heavily revised engines join the familiar 5.5L V8 of the AMG model that carries over, including a revised kompressor (supercharged) four-cylinder producing 184 hp/184 lb.-ft of torque and a new 3.5L V6 producing a healthy 305 hp/265 lb.-ft of torque. Both engines also get better fuel economy and emit less CO2 than their predecessors, which is a plus. While a five-speed automatic and six-speed manual are available, we’d opt for the 7G-TRONIC Sport seven-speed automatic to carve up the powerband, and there’s a new all-mechanical direct-steer system that seems pretty trick. Pricing for the new SLK, at least in the European market is below. (more…)

Filed under: Time Warp, Auction Action

With all this talk about the new Knight Rider and KITT returning as a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, we couldn’t ignore this rather bizarre story about an authentic KITT used in the original series that’s up for sale on eBay. The car’s owner was a wealthy real estate developer named Andrew Kissel who was murdered last year. His killer was never caught, and the administrator of his estate has since been selling his assets to pay off debt. After having thought that all of Kissel’s “toys” were sold, the lawyer in charge of his estate found this original 1984 Pontiac Trans Am KITT car used in the TV show. It is literally the last asset of Kissel’s estate, and his lawyer has put the car up for auction on eBay Motors. It began with a starting bid of $20,000 and as of writing this is up to $25,100 with five bids. The eBay Motors auction page, however, has caused some to speculate as to whether or not the car is the real deal. There are no pictures of it, it’s listed as a “Grand Am” and the lawyer claims he can only fax pictures to interested parties. Despite the dubiousness, the auction appears legit to us, and a resourceful Jalopnik reader did a little research on the VIN that seems to back up that this is the car referred to in news reports. Considering that Kissel reportedly paid $69,000 for the car just two years ago, someone could wind up with a killer bargain on a rare car with a crazy bonus story to boot. (more…)