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2009 BMW 7-series
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2009 BMW 7-Series Thinks It's KITT, Has Human-Detecting Night Vision
Although we showed you the new 2009 BMW 7-Series in all of its unofficial glory on Thursday. Well, now we've got the official details from BMW, and we've included the full press release for the new 7-Series after the jump. Sure, focus all you want on the horsepower (407 HP in the 750i and 750Li, 326 HP in the 740i and 740Li) or the torque (600 Nm of torque in the 750i and 750Li, 450 Nm of torque in the 740i and 740Li) or even the 155 MPH electronically-limited top speed, but the one thing that's sticking out in our minds is the new "individual pedestrian recognition" night vision system. That's right, the new BMW 7 will tell you when there's a person walking in front of the car, even at mid-double-digit speeds. See, there's a little icon of a person and everything. We're just wondering whether there's a similar icon for moose, deer or other woodland creatures. We'll have to see once we get behind the wheel ourselves in rural Michigan.More »
Top Gear
The UK's Telegraph is telling us today James May and Richard Hammond, two of Top Gear's threesome of hosts, have yet to sign new contracts recently presented to them by the BBC. According to the UK daily, they're holding out for the same multi-million pound deal received last month by Clarkson in his new contract. The Telegraph even goes so far as to say the two "may leave" the show if their contract demands aren't met. However, the only source they've been able to get a quote from on the record is none other than James May, who very clearly states
Telegraph: James May, Richard Hammond "May Leave" Top Gear Unless BBC Meets Salary Demands
The UK's Telegraph is telling us today James May and Richard Hammond, two of Top Gear's threesome of hosts, have yet to sign new contracts recently presented to them by the BBC. According to the UK daily, they're holding out for the same multi-million pound deal received last month by Clarkson in his new contract. The Telegraph even goes so far as to say the two "may leave" the show if their contract demands aren't met. However, the only source they've been able to get a quote from on the record is none other than James May, who very clearly states "The only reason I haven't signed my contract yet is because it has not yet been finalized. The current one doesn't expire until the end of July. I'm sure a new one will be sorted out soon. I'm not stomping around about Jeremy's contract with BBC Worldwide. Quite frankly, I couldn't give a **** about it."But, the Telegraph's sources say different. More »
Ford Mustang SVO
We've now heard from a second source that Ford is readying a return to the 2010 Ford Mustang of a badge familiar to malaise-era muscle car fan-boys — the Mustang SVO. Just like the original limited edition mid-eighties Mustang was all about merging power performance with fuel efficiency — we're hearing similar rumblings on this new 'stang. We'd already heard Ford's plans for the Boss engine lineup and we already understood the new Mustang would be less V8-focused than the current Mustang's muscular lineup. We'd also heard the pony car would be receiving Ford's new silver bullet, a twin-turbocharged engine equipped with their new EcoBoost technology. What we hadn't heard was what the boys over at Garage419 today claim — that it'll be a four-banger capable of hitting 300 HP and this newly-badged 'stang will be lighter than the GT by 500 lbs. Holy game-changer, Batman!
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Ford To Bring Mustang SVO Badge Back For 2010 With 300 HP Eco-Boosted Four-Cylinder
We've now heard from a second source that Ford is readying a return to the 2010 Ford Mustang of a badge familiar to malaise-era muscle car fan-boys — the Mustang SVO. Just like the original limited edition mid-eighties Mustang was all about merging power performance with fuel efficiency — we're hearing similar rumblings on this new 'stang. We'd already heard Ford's plans for the Boss engine lineup and we already understood the new Mustang would be less V8-focused than the current Mustang's muscular lineup. We'd also heard the pony car would be receiving Ford's new silver bullet, a twin-turbocharged engine equipped with their new EcoBoost technology. What we hadn't heard was what the boys over at Garage419 today claim — that it'll be a four-banger capable of hitting 300 HP and this newly-badged 'stang will be lighter than the GT by 500 lbs. Holy game-changer, Batman!
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Spy Photos
Ferrari California Caught Topless Out-Of-Doors
The enterprising spy photographers of Auto Express have caught the new drop-top 2009 Ferrari California with said top, dropped. While we're expecting to see the California go topless in the privacy of the exhibit halls of the Paris Motor Show to show off that beautiful leather interior, we didn't expect to see it do the same out in the open. Jeez, you'd think the California would have a bit more shame — especially considering the nude-friendly Bassona Beach is merely an hour and a half East of Maranello. Some Italian GT super cars, right? [Auto Express]
7:20 AM on Thu Jul 3 2008
By Ray Wert
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2009 Pontiac G8 El Camino
"El Camino" Name Is Still Alive For The Pontiac G8 Sport Truck
Despite a report from KickingTires.com two months ago that "El Camino" was officially out as a name for the new ute from Pontiac, we're now being told by Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson the name is still very much in the mix. What reason there may have been for this change? Unknown. But all we do know is if the chance still exists to bring back the "El Cam" — to any GM brand — we're in full support of it. What we're not in support of — dropping a V6 between the rails. More on that below the jump.More »
Industry News
Merrill Lynch: GM Bankruptcy Is "Not An Impossibility," Stock Price Plummets
GM stock is down over 14% today to a price of about ten bucks a share — lowest point in decades. Why? Well, according to the research-boys at Merrill Lynch, GM's got $27 billion in cash on hand and the automaker needs $10 billion to run the business on a day-to-day basis. To deal with the shortfalls involved with rebuilding the company, they'll apparently need to raise $10-$15 billion in the next year or two. How are they to do that? No one really knows. And that answer caused the usually bullish boys at Merrill to say "Bankruptcy? Yeah, it could happen." More »
2009 Kia Forte
Here it is folks. Apparently the speculation's now over and we've no more need for silly teaser shots — here's the official press shots of the new replacement for the Kia Spectra/Cerato, the 2009 Kia Forte sedan. Our snap judgement? It's not too shabby looking. In fact, in comparison to the Spectra, it's downright hot. Want one? You'll have to wait, the sedan model will supposedly enter the U.S. market by mid-2009 — for now, it goes on sale on August 22nd in Korea. We'll have more info as we get it. For the moment, soak up the silver images we've got below.
[Kia via The Car Blogger]
2009 Kia Forte Sheet Metal Meets Web, Web Likey
Here it is folks. Apparently the speculation's now over and we've no more need for silly teaser shots — here's the official press shots of the new replacement for the Kia Spectra/Cerato, the 2009 Kia Forte sedan. Our snap judgement? It's not too shabby looking. In fact, in comparison to the Spectra, it's downright hot. Want one? You'll have to wait, the sedan model will supposedly enter the U.S. market by mid-2009 — for now, it goes on sale on August 22nd in Korea. We'll have more info as we get it. For the moment, soak up the silver images we've got below.[Kia via The Car Blogger]
Industry News
June U.S. Auto Sales Will Seriously Suck For Every Automaker Except Honda
Today's the first of the month, the day the world finds out what sales numbers look like for the US market for June. With Automotive News using words like "carnage" to describe what those numbers will look like, we probably shouldn't expect a whole lot of happy faces in the boardrooms of automakers. So what are the stories to watch for this month? There's two. First, we're hearing Toyota might pass GM in US market share for June. Second, Chrysler may see sales fall below 10% of the market and Honda might even pass them to become the #4 sales leader in the United States. We doubt the Honda piece will happen, but the 10% part? That could happen — especially given their over-reliance on sales of pickup trucks and SUVs. Want to know the bloody numbers? We've got the projections from JD Power and all of his many Associates below the jump on year over year sales through June. More »
Over The Back Fence
GMI: GMC Acadia, Lambda SUT Cut Like Bad Fraternity Pledges
We'd heard earlier this month GM was considering the possibility of cutting a brand — and Pontiac and GMC were the two we were told had the greatest possibility of seeing their head hit the chopping block. While apparently that's still being debated, the GM forum fan-boys over at GMInsideNews have come across news that two planned products in the GMC portfolio of platform prostitutes — the next GMC Acadia and a possible Acadia SUT — may be asked to leave the bunny ranch. What GMI's heard, after the jump. More »
Question of the Day
What's Your Favorite Dealer Brochure?
The 2009 Dodge Challenger brochure got us thinking about the past today. And not just because we wished we'd made a stronger play at our uncle's '70 Challenger when he sold it. The only problem was we were nine years old and he wouldn't accept Transformers as payment. No, it also brought to mind thoughts of when we were younger and how we used to love going to car dealerships. As a child, we could peruse the aisle of dealer brochures for the new model year, safe and secure from the horrifying dealer/buyer experience, and dream about getting — a Jeep Comanche — of our own. Those were the days. We wish we'd kept those brochures. We mean, do you realize how much we could get for a Comanche brochure on eBay these days? More »
Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir
Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir Production To Be Limited To 15
We already assumed when we saw the new Sang Noir special edition of the Bugatti Veyron first-hand at the Frankfurt Auto Show it would be an extremely limited edition run of the world's most exclusive super car. We just didn't realize how limited. Evo magazine's reporting this month that the new Veyron dressed in black will be limited to a mere 15 units when it goes on sale. Expect the competition for those 15 pieces of polished perfection to be simply staggering. We're half expecting to see a new game show hit CNBC pitting 10 of the top .0001% having at each other for a chance to buy one. Now that's reality TV we'd like to see. [via evo]
2009 Corvette ZR1
