Jalopnik: "DETROIT AUTO SHOW"

Farewell, Jalopnik Faithful

Travis Hudson — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Much like Michael Jordan or Deion Sanders, I am yet again hanging up my blogging sombrero and ~~riding~~ driving off into the sunset. My time at Jalopnik has been memorable, but unlike most young journalists I am taking a career step backwards by moving to a traditional print publication at The Dallas Morning News.

OK, I won't necessarily be moving to print, but rather I'll be doing editorial and production work for Dallasnews.com the Web site for The Dallas Morning News. So technically I'm still an online guy, but whatever.

What kind of farewell post wouldn't include a reflection? Ray hired me primarily as a technology guy and immediately threw me in with the wolves at the Detroit Auto Show. Prior to my time at Jalopnik I knew a little more than the average bear, but I was far from an enthusiast or gearhead. I was privileged to learn about the industry under the bright minds of Ray, Matt, Ben and the rest of the Jalopnik crew, but what I learned the most from my time here is not about the inner workings of an automobile, but rather, what it is like to be an automotive enthusiast. It's a full time job being an enthusiast and I applaud you folks, the Jalopnik readers and commenters, for being so dedicated.

And with that, I am out. Don't hesitate to click around Dallasnews.com after Monday so I can take credit for the traffic increase.

Best,
Travis Hudson

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, Part One

Ray Wert — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Michigan's M-1 is a state trunk road that starts at downtown Detroit's waterfront drive, Jefferson Avenue, then shoots north in a straight line for 21.4 miles, past some of the poorest and wealthiest neighborhoods of the metro region until it loops back down the other direction in the city of Pontiac. And really, nobody calls it "M-1." Everyone knows it as Woodward Avenue and it's the heart of the Midwestern metropolis dubbed the Motor City. But until this morning, I didn't realize how important this stretch of road was to me. Many of you may not know, but this past month I moved to New York. Until the start of last month, I'd lived my entire life in this corner of Michigan. But this week I'm back in Detroit for one reason, and one reason alone — an entire week of driving the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. It's a car imbued with so much positive energy there's only thing I can think of to do it justice. I plan on running Dodge's muscular old-school revival up and down Woodward Avenue, stoplight-to-stoplight, from downtown Detroit to Pontiac until I pass out from exhaustion or the gas station declines my credit card.

I picked up the Challenger from Chrysler's fleet company in Madison Heights yesterday afternoon. Despite an itch to hit the road immediately, we first needed the obligatory glamour shots taken by Metro Detroit's star photographer Fabrizio Costantini and a quick bite to eat. So it wasn't until late yesterday night when I finally had the chance to take the new Mustang-killer out onto Woodward.

A few hours more doesn't bother someone that's waited three years since their first fleeting glimpse of the Challenger across a crowded Detroit Auto Show press introduction. Still, my excitement was obvious — if anyone had been looking that late at night — as I eased the muscle-bound two-door out on to the road and pointed the LX sedan-sans-two doors onto Northbound Woodward Avenue. I don't even know why I tried to contain my feelings. How can a person not be excited when they're driving a car with sheet metal so brilliantly retrospectively-inspired you're actually able to believe orange can work as a car color again?

Plus there's that power. Despite the Challenger's hefty 4,100 lb. weight, the big 425 HP 6.1-liter Hemi the Challenger SRT8 shares with its bigger, four-doored brother allows it to blast away from stoplights. Each and every time, we were provided with the effortless gratification of squealing performance radials.

But I grew up on Woodward Avenue. I know at night the police lay in wait, watching the stoplights, pens at the ready in eager anticipation of tickets to be signed and handed to unsuspecting hoons careless enough to do burnouts. I had no desire to be stopped tonight. Tonight, the fun for me is cruising my past with a car that's more of a time machine than any DeLorean. I wanted to drive. So I drove.

I drove past the hospital where I was born. Past the Red Coat Tavern, where my mom had once been a bartender and where she'd met my father. Past Vinsetta Garage, Michigan's oldest palace of wrench-turning — and a lot where I'd spent many an evening in my teenage years peering through the chain-link fence, trying to discern the differences between muscle cars by shape under bulky car covers. Past Birmingham, where I'd taken my driver's training and first kissed a girl. Past Cranbrook, my high school arch-rivals. Past Long Lake, and the remnants of the Fox & Hounds grill and across from the Merrill Lynch office my father, now gone, worked at over a decade ago. I drove past old family homes, old restaurants and old memories.

It's a credit to how similarly roomy this new Challenger is to the old early-'70s muscle car that I hardly noticed when I'd pulled around Pontiac and was already heading back to Royal Oak. The strongly side-bolstered seats and comfortable-to-grip steering wheel helped me to pass where I'd begun my trip so effortlessly, I decided to keep going — down all the way to where Woodward Avenue ends at the Detroit River. Not having enough of that low rumbling exhaust, I turned the beast around, rear wheels competently holding on as I steered with my right foot and came right back up Woodward. I did this over and over again last night. Each time, emotions long thought dormant welled up inside of me at every red light and would quickly explode outward on every green.

Gone were any cares of the day. The photos? Meaningless. Writing the review? Means nothing to me. The price of gas and a rating of 18 MPG? Ha! These are little things for little people. I'm a man — a real man driving a brand new meaty Mopar muscle car — something Motor City denizens haven't done in decades. The only thing that matters is continuing to drive.

OK, so it turns out there's one thing that matters more. Exhaustion. I pulled into the garage in the wee hours of this morning feeling emotionally drained, but with a wan smile on my face. Why shouldn't I? I knew I'd get to take it out again this morning. And that's exactly what I did, four hours of sweet sleep later and after waking with that smile from the night before still firmly affixed to my face.

2010 Chevy Cruze To Hit Paris Motor Show Like A Missile

Ray Wert — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:03:07 EDT

The brand all about the 'merican revolution is reporting they'll be revealing an all new car at the Paris Motor Show later this year called the Chevy Cruze. We don't know much other than the 15-foot-long Cruze will seat five, be available in Europe by Spring of next year and have the same global design language as the rest of the bowtied brand. As the Cruze will be just under the size of the Cobalt, we can't help but think this is the car we'd been hearing would be coming to the Lordstown, Ohio plant either as a replacement to, or in addition to, the Chevy Cobalt. We'll have more live from Paris and in the months to come as it shoots out onto the web. For the moment, hit the jump for the press release — and thankfully no more missile references.

Chevrolet Cruze: A new name and a new design for an all-new car
Detroit - Chevrolet announced today that its all-new entry in the compact segment will be called Cruze. The new Chevrolet will make its global debut at the Paris Motor Show in early October.

Cruze was developed by a global design and engineering team and will be built in multiple locations around the world. The Cruze approaches an overall length of 4.6 meters and offers ample interior space and cargo capacity for five passengers, giving it an advantage over competition in the compact segment.

The Cruze features Chevrolet's new global design language that will continue to be a signature element for future vehicles carrying the gold bowtie. Combined with high safety standards and excellent build quality, Chevrolet will again deliver on its promise of offering a very attractive package at an exceptional value.

The new Chevrolet Cruze will be available in European markets in Spring 2009, followed by other global regions.

Ferrari Announces Hybrid Development, World Officially Gone Mad

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:20:00 EDT

If you hadn't already divined it from the tea leaves Ferrari has been sprinkling around lately, hybridization is officially coming to the Ferrari stable. Whether it was the bold proclamation at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show that Ferrari would reduce its emissions by 40% by 2012, or the recent hybridized F1 cars outfitted with the KERS system, we all knew it had to happen. Apparently 2015 is where the blindly thrown dart landed on the wall of time.

Ferrari President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo stressed in an interview with German mag Welt am Sonntag (World on Sunday) it was their goal to reach the emissions targets, but the car that emerges will still need be "fundamentally a Ferrari." We agree, and think that if anyone can pull it off, Ferrari can — when cost is essentially no object, a hybrid can be a fire-breathing, huge-torque road menace. And there's no reason to expect anything less from the prancing pony. [SMH.com]

What Is Down On The Street?

Murilee Martin — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Those of you who have been Jalopnik regulars for a while most likely have a pretty solid grasp of the concept behind the Down On The Street series, but what about newcomers to the site? We don't want DOTS to feel like some sort of in-crowd-only deal, so here's the Down On The Street FAQ:

Q: What is a Down On The Street car?
The original Down On The Street Series features old and/or interesting cars and trucks found parked on public streets in the city of Alameda, California, where I live. Alameda is located (mostly) on an island in the San Francisco Bay, about five miles from San Francisco and a few hundred yards from Oakland. Since the Alameda DOTS series has been so popular, we've expanded the concept with the Down On The Street Bonus Edition (DOTSBE), for vehicles found anywhere else.

Q: So does that mean that the Down On The Street Bonus Edition posts are for cars found outside of Alameda?
Yes, that is correct. If the main tag above the post's title reads "Down On The Street," the vehicle was photographed by me on the street in Alameda. If it reads "Down On The Street Bonus Edition," the vehicle was shot somewhere other than Alameda, generally by Jalopnik readers but sometimes by me.

Q: Wait, what? Does that mean I can send in photographs of cool old cars I find where I live, and you'll post them on the site?
It sure does! And this is as good a time as any for me to share some tips that will make the whole DOTSBE process easier for me... and the easier it is for me to deal with your photos, the more likely I'll be to post 'em:

DOTSBE vehicles must be on public property. That means no driveways or yards, unless you OK it with the owner first. Parked on the street is best, parking lots might be OK, and car shows are out.
Email DOTSBE photos to me, Murilee Martin, not to the Jalopnik tips email. We don't need giant email attachments clogging up the tips inbox.
The maximum useful size for DOTSBE photos is 1280 pixels wide. 1280 is the max width for photos in our galleries, so anything beyond that just makes the email take longer to send/receive (and forces me to resize the images).
When emailing DOTSBE photos, Include "DOTS" in the subject line. I have email filters set up to direct DOTSBE submissions into a super-high-priority mail folder, so an email with a "DOTS" subject ("DOTSBE" and "Down On The Street" also work) makes organizing things that much easier for me.
Include relevant info with your DOTSBE photos. That means the location of the vehicle (city/country), anything interesting you might know about it, and your Jalopnik commenter name (if you have one), so I can give you credit if I use the photos in a post.
Be patient. I get a lot of DOTSBE photos, most of them are great, and I'll get to yours... eventually. Sometimes they'll go up the day after I get them, and sometimes it takes a year.

Q: Where did you get the name "Down On The Street?"

From the song of the same name, found on the 1970 Stooges album, Fun House (see above). In addition to the song's title being well-suited for the concept of street-parked old/interesting cars, I think the song itself- with its Detroit punk rock sound, years before the genre even had a name- just seems right for cars that remain relevant and functional 20, 30, or even 70 years after they were built. Plus: Iggy Pop!

Q: How old does a vehicle have to be to qualify for the series?
There's a lot of gray area here (not to mention the occasional heated debate among our readers) but most American cars or trucks built before 1980 qualify for DOTS. For imports, I've been using a not-very-strict cutoff of 1985. As long as a vehicle is parked on the street in Alameda and seems historically significant, it might get in. DOTS Trivia: The #1 year for DOTS vehicles is 1969, with 23 examples.

Q: What was the very first DOTS car?
Technically, the first DOTS car in the series was this 1966 Datsun 411, but the very first post showing a street-parked Alameda vehicle and bearing the Down On The Street name was this 1984 Cadillac Cimarron D'Oro. Yes, a Cimarron was first!

Q: How many Alameda vehicles have been in the DOTS series so far?
297 as of today, one every weekday morning for over a year. You can see the first 200 here and the next 50 here. Initially, I had nothing more than a vague awareness that my city had more old cars parked on the street- and, in many cases, driving every day- than most places, and the plan was to share maybe a half-dozen or so cars. The '68 Pontiac GTO parked in my neighborhood was the inspiration for the whole thing, and I had no idea DOTS would continue as long as it has.

Q: Are you running out of cars in Alameda?
No. At any given moment I have sufficient photographs of Alameda's street-parked vintage cars and trucks stockpiled to keep the series going for a couple months, even if I stopped searching for new cars. I've given up trying to guess how long Alameda can keep this run going.

Q: Does that mean that every single DOTS vehicle lives full-time on the island?
No. I'd say the majority of DOTS vehicles- let's call it two-thirds- are full-time Alameda residents that I see regularly. Some are vehicles that I see only once; maybe they're just visiting, or maybe they spend most of their time parked in a garage. If a vehicle is parked on the street within the city limits of Alameda, it's fair game.

Q: Why don't you obscure the license plates in the photos?
These cars are parked on public property, with plates in plain view, which implies that their owners accept that the plate numbers may be seen by the general public. I've considered blurring the plates anyway, but the photos look unnatural that way; in any case, since the state of California has anti-stalker laws that make it difficult to trace a car's owner from its plate number, it's extremely unlikely that any badness will befall the cars' owners. I don't give out exact locations, and I don't photograph cars in driveways or yards.

Q: Do car owners ever get upset when they see you photographing their cars?
Never. I'm careful not to touch the cars or even get too close when photographing them, which is why interior shots are uncommon in this series. I've had quite a few owners come out to see what's going on; when I explain, they're usually very happy to have someone who's willing to show their car to the world. I've heard plenty of good stories from car owners while shooting DOTS photos. In at least two cases, the cars have been owned by Jalopnik readers.

Q: Why does such a small city have so many old cars parked on the street?
Good question, and one to which I have no authoritative answer. I have some theories, which are:

Weather: Alameda is an island in the San Francisco Bay, and the weather is quite mild. It doesn't snow here, and rain is very rare between April and November. This means rust isn't much of a problem. The sun isn't as harsh as in the Southwest, so upholstery and paint hold up pretty well.
Limited Off-Street Parking: Most of present-day Alameda was completely built up by the early 20th century, and the 1906 earthquake- which devastated much of the region- barely touched the island. This means most of the houses were built before cars were beyond the novelty Horseless Carriage stage, so garages aren't as common as in other cities. Many houses built in the 1910s and 1920s have semi-basement garages intended for tall, narrow cars with high clearance that can deal with a 30-degree grade. The water table is so close to the surface here that digging a deep garage requires some serious sump-pump hardware, lest you find your ride in four feet of water.
Hot Rod Tradition: Alameda has had a vibrant culture of hoons hopping up their cars since the days of the Model T, and so you have the old guys passing on the virus to the younger guys. Some of the car clubs on the island have unbroken lineages dating back to the 1920s. And that leads straight to...
The Island That Time Forgot: Alameda is a weird place, and I mean that in the best possible way. It's essentially a David Lynch movie set in a sunny California climate, among Victorian and Craftsman architecture and a small-town mentality that belies its urban grid street pattern and very high population density. The island is full of old people who never cross a bridge, whose original-owner classics never drive faster than 25 and are used only for short trips to Ole's Waffles or Lee Auto Supply. It's also full of young people who start to feel that an old car just, you know, make the most sense. You never know what this town will do to you; Jim Morrison arrived on the island as a wholesome Navy kid, and by the time he departed for LA he'd become a dopefiend weirdo poet.

Q: What is Truck Monday?
DOTS started out as a cars-only series, but there are so many cool old trucks on the island that I felt compelled to include them. Starting in late 2007, every Monday's DOTS vehicle has been a truck or van of some sort.

Q: What's your personal favorite DOTS vehicle?
That's a tough question! I think my current favorite is the '62 Chrysler 300, but I really love the '46 Plymouth and '66 Lancia Fulvia as well.

Top Ten American Automotive Pilgrimages

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:00:00 EDT

It wouldn't be a Jalopnik Automotive Amerigasm without a nod to the places that make American automotive history so great. Eddie Izzard may joke that he's from "Europe, where the history comes from," but the relative young age of the auto industry means our automotive history is as old and rich as anyone's...and of course, more American. Whether you have plans for the Fourth of July weekend or not, there's no better way to celebrate our country's freedom than by enjoying the freedom to drive somewhere and overspend at the gift shop. Below is our list of ten great American automotive pilgrimages for those that worship at the altar of wheeled transportation.

10. The National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
Nothing says America like the Corvette, and no place better preserves the spirit and history of the classic American sports car than the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky, near the production site of the Corvette. Get a look at historic Corvette models, learn about the production history and get your own Corvette specially detailed (if you have one). It's like Mecca, but less crowded. [Corvette Museum]

9. Auburn - Cord - Duesenberg Museum (Auburn, Indiana)
Believe it or not, there was once an automotive operation in the U.S that wasn't based in Detroit. The Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana preserves the unique story of these three companies, all important in their day. The museum also remembers the seven other brands of cars produced in Auburn. The Gallery of Classics shows off cars from the "classics era" that competed to be the cream of the cream. [ACD Museum]

8. Jay Leno's Garage (Secret Location, California)
When Jay Leno does something interesting or noble with cars, like rescuing a Duesenberg, the resulting cars end up in the Big Dog Garage, which houses cars powered by turbines, steam and the engine out of a Patton tank. Though not exactly on the map, we totally think it would be worth it to just show up and beg to be let inside (you could also break a window, but then you might damage a car). We hear the Popular Mechanics boys know where it is, go ask them. [Jay Leno's Garage]

7. The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village (Dearborn, Michigan)
What would an American automotive pilgrimage be without a trip to the greater Detroit area and The Henry Ford Museum? Though not everything is car-themed, there's an amazing collection of automotive history, including Rosa Parks' bus, the Lincoln in which JFK was assassinated and the relatively untragic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. If you leave "The" out of the museum's name, they cart you off to the turn-of-the-century jail outside in Greenfield Village, a place of make-believe designed to capture the spirit of the American Industrial Revolution. Also, they have really good pies. [The Henry Ford]

6. Indianapolis Motor Speedway & Museum (Indianapolis, Indiana)
The self-proclaimed "Racing Capital Of The World," the Brickyard has a lot to offer in the way of a journey for racing fans. In addition to the famous track, the accompanying museum includes historic footage, a large trophy collection and timing equipment from the older days. Of course, there's always a collection of dozens of rare vehicles, including the Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250LM and the more American 57' SSI Corvette. If you know who to tip, you may even get a chance to head down into the basement because that's where the real magic is stored. Non-disclosure agreements prevent us from saying anything more. [Indy Motor Speedway]

5. The ArtCar Museum (Houston, Texas)
For those more inclined toward customization and personalization, the ArtCar Museum (a.k.a. The Garage Mahal) contains a large collection of outstanding testaments to our rolling culture. There's also a rotation of cars, sculptures, photos and paintings that chronicle the evolving art of cars. [ArtCar Museum]

4. Petersen Automotive Museum (Los Angeles, California)
Covering over 300,000 square feet and four floors, the history of the automobile is lovingly detailed at the relatively new Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Current exhibits include "The Art of Cars," "Nascar: 60 Years" and the totally meta "From Autocamp to Airstreams: The Early Road to Vactionland." It's like the Library of Alexandria of cars... but without the tragic destruction. Petersen Museum

3. Historic Route 66 (Chicago to Los Angeles)
Though no longer marked as an actual highway, there are plenty of resources to help you make the trip from the Second City to the City of Angels along Route 66, the Mother Road. Whether you do the entire journey or a small historic portion of the road, like Holbrook to Topock, there's plenty to see along the way. If you make it through the Texas panhandle, we recommend the leaning water tower in Groom, Texas, which was built to attract tourists making the journey. [Historic 66]

2. Carhenge (Alliance, Nebraska)
A detailed recreation of Stonehenge made from 38 spray-painted classic American automobiles, Carhenge is an undeniably weird and awesome destination for those with a car-spiritual nature. The stewards of the site have worked with artists to place other car-based sculptures, such as a take on Vivald's "Four Seasons" made with Fords. [Carhenge]

1. Deals Gap (Blount County, Tennessee)
Considered by many to be the best driving in the country, the portion of U.S. Highway 129 in rural Tennessee is a must-visit for those with superior automobiles (or not) and a thirst for spirited transportation. The Tail of the Dragon, in particular, is said to contain more than 300 curves in less than 11 miles. Lacking any serious development, it's mostly uninterrupted driving... with the exception of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Be safe, be quick but be wary of the flashing lights. [This is what it looks like In An Audi TT]

These are the 10 we could come up with, but feel free to add American automotive pilgrimages of your own.

Ex-Intel Chief Andy Grove Using Electric Cars To Achieve Relevance

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:20:00 EDT

Andy Grove, retired CEO of chipmaker Intel, apparently has grown bored of sailing the South Pacific and decided to insert himself into the debate over the future of transportation. A proponent of electric vehicles, Grove wrote, "The beauty of electric power is its ability to be produced through multiple sources...and its 'stickiness' — it can be transported only over land." This statement, showing Grove thinks AA batteries arrive from China over a distant land-bridge, tell us Andy may not have all the facts he needs.

Grove believes the auto industry has reached what he calls a "strategic inflection point," the point at which a business has to either change or die. And he wants change in the direction of electrics; Grove has set up a course teaching about hybrids, plug-ins, and electrics in an attempt to move the discussion toward alternative energy sources. And then there's the fun part.

Mr. Grove is also a proponent of retrofitting current vehicles with the lowest fuel economy — trucks, vans and SUVs — with hybrid powerplants. Envisioning half a million Yukon owners reaching for their toolboxes, GM spokesman Greg Martin said, "We strongly discourage consumers from retrofitting vehicles." Unless they're out of warranty, in which case knock yourself out; the service department is hurting right now too.

All we hope is if Grove next ends up pushing for an Intel chip inside, he goes with an Apple OS to run it. Those Microsoft systems don't seem to be running well enough for even the back seat.[Detroit News; Photo Credit images.vnu.net]

Suzuki Breaks Up With Detroit Auto Show, Needs Some Space

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Suzuki has joined Porsche in abandoning the Detroit Auto Show, though explicitly this time because of a lack of space. Seriously, have you ever driven through Cobo Arena? Tiny place. They have to put cars on the roof it's so small. This is bad news for Detroit, considering the NAIAS already threatened to leave if they didn't get an expanded convention center. Since it's freaking winter and we're covering it, may we suggest somewhere warmer like Miami? And what's more, why does Suzuki need any extra room?

Though the company sells a scant 100K cars in the US now, they've got their eye on the prize with the introduction of the 2010 sedan based on the Kizashi 3 concept. They wanted a bigger, better space for a dynamic display and didn't get it. They're not completely over Detroit, but next year we expect the new Suzuki to make a splash in NYC. [Detroit News via eGMCarTech]

Saab 9-X BioHybrid Wins Specialty Concept Of The Year

Travis Hudson — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:40:00 EDT

The Saab 9-X BioHybrid has been crowned as the coolest car to never actually exist by 25 professional auto journalists at the Automotive Hall of Fame. The award, better known as the "Specialty Concept Car of the Year," was bestowed upon the 9-X BioHybrid due to its ultra-efficient 200 HP 1.4-liter BioPower turbo hybrid engine. Not only were the underhood goods touted, but the panel of journalists also loved how purty the 9-X BioHybrid looks, with its electronic power-sliding floor, ambient light design, instrument panel and more. Click through for the full release.

Saab 9-X BioHybrid Honored at Automotive Hall of Fame
Detroit - Already labeled "Best Concept" by AutoWeek Magazine upon its world debut at the Geneva auto show last March, the Saab 9-X BioHybrid has been voted "Specialty Concept Car of the Year" by a jury of 25 professional North American automotive journalists. The award ceremony took place at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan.

Now in its 7th rendition, the annual Concept Car of the Year Awards recognize those vehicles that are most likely to shape the future of the automobile industry. The winners were selected from 40 concept cars and 12 production preview vehicles that made their North American debut during the 2008 auto show season.

"The Saab 9-X BioHybrid blends organic form with ecologically sound propulsion for both aesthetic and environmental appeal", said jury panel member Arv Voss of Auto Impressions. Added Bob Kroupa of the Automotive Writers Group: "Saab takes center stage with a new design approach for a compact vehicle. With the BioHybrid turbo engine included, we have a winner".

"We are honored by this important recognition from an expert North American media organization," said Saab Automobile USA marketing director Roger McCormack accepting the award. "As we witnessed first hand from public reactions at the New York auto show, the 9-X BioHybrid Concept has exceeded many optimistic expectations. Following in the footsteps of the highly inspirational Aero X, and the 9-4X BioPower crossover concept which also debuted earlier this year, the 9-X BioHybrid demonstrates that Saab is truly on the move."

The 9-X BioHybrid is a vivid vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package.

Exploring design themes from Saab's award-winning Aero X and earlier 9X concepts, the 9-X BioHybrid also demonstrates the potential for ultra-efficient power from a 200 hp (147 kW), 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine backed by GM's next-generation hybrid system. Projected combined cycle CO2 emissions of just 105 g/km on E85 fuel are testimony to the promise of this package.

The interior showcases an entirely new expression of Saab's driver-focused cockpit design, together with innovative, seamless connectivity for personal nomadic devices and a rear cargo deck with a 'low friction' loading system.

"This car is all about efficiency in design and performance," says Anthony Lo, director of Advanced Design at General Motors Europe, who led the 9-X BioHybrid design team in co-operation with the Saab Brand Center in Sweden.

With its 'turbine' wheels placed at all four corners, minimal bodywork overhangs and an extended roof line, the proportions of the three-door Saab 9-X BioHybrid bring a dynamic, new dimension to conventional compact 'hatchback' looks.

The smooth 'fuselage' bodywork, now without any visible handles or door mirrors, the bold 'wraparound' window graphic and deep front grille are all themes inspired by the Aero X coupe concept shown at Geneva two years ago.

The car's distinctive 'shooting brake' silhouette and rear functionality are developed from the 9X multi-role concept shown at Frankfurt in 2001. "You could say we designed this car from back to front," says Lo. "The shape of the 9X is right for a car of this size, and the longer roof line helps the aerodynamics as well as providing more rear headroom and interior space."

Echoing Saab's roots in aircraft design, the 9-X BioHybrid also explores the potential for using active aerodynamics to reduce drag - and fuel consumption - at cruising speeds. Above 70 kph (43 mph), the upper and lower bodywork is reshaped as the roof spoiler automatically extends to further lengthen the roof line and an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper.

The four-seater cabin introduces an entirely new execution of Saab's driver-focused cockpit design. The central, floor-mounted console, with its angled controls and displays, is now eliminated. Instead, the driver-focused layout incorporates a main instrument panel that sweeps out from the top of the door moulding, arching across the driver. The embedded 3-D graphics appear to be 'frozen' in ice, continuing a Scandinavian design theme first seen in the Aero X.

Reflecting the needs of youthful customers, who expect easy access to multi-media both inside and outside the car, Saab has co-operated with Sony Ericsson in providing seamless in-car connectivity for a range of nomadic devices. The result is a wireless interface for streaming data, entertainment and satellite navigation functions for display and use. The interface also allows the simultaneous use of multiple devices when passengers are in the car.

At the rear, the cargo deck features an electrically-powered slide-out floor, which is activated when the bottom half of the split tailgate drops down. The floor, and the back of the folding rear seats, is covered by 'high friction' rubber carpeting, which 'grips' items and holds them securely in place. For easy loading and unloading, aluminum bars automatically rise up and down as the tailgate is opened and closed.

The treatment of light is an important part of Scandinavian design and this is evident in the use of variable, white ambient lighting inside the cabin. The level of suffused illumination can be changed in intensity from bright, cold to warm and soft. It's a personalized feature that could even be programmed, for example, to reflect the pattern of the changing seasons

"This car shows how our concept work can be carried forward into a compact format," adds Anthony Lo. "It has a number of features which we will be developing further, such as the new driver-focused design theme, the importance of clean, uncluttered surfaces and the easy, seamless connectivity inside the car."

Transformers "Corvette Concept," "Z28" Bumblebee Get A Close-Up

Ray Wert — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:50:58 EDT

Last time we saw it from afar, but now we've got the first close-up shot of what we're now told is a Corvette concept shot on the set of the new Transformers 2 movie, Revenge of the Fallen. The latest shot, posted to the Motown Muscle forum, comes with some degree of reliability given it comes with two new shots of the "Bumblebee" version of the 2010 Chevy Camaro Z28. That's right, our e-mail tipster, who also posted the shots on the forum, claims not only that this is a 2010 (or 2012) Corvette concept, but also that this isn't the "SS" Camaro, it's the Z28. Whether this mean we'd not only get a "Super Sport" package, but also a "special performance package" via a Z28 check box remains to be seen. UPDATE: We've also been told it may just be a package we can order from the folks at Saleen. But, we digress — if we're to believe the poster, both vehicles are getting some sort of paint treatment as part of work they're undergoing at the hands of Chip Foose. How the producers of the new Transformers 2 movie got Foose to step away from his work on "Foosical: The Musical" we'll never know. Hit the jump for the Camaro shots and some of our own speculation.

So we're starting to think GM's decided the auto show scene isn't where they're going to capture the next generation of car lovers. Instead, they're decided — why not take the show to the people by way of the silver screen?

Other than the Detroit show, how many other shows really draw the attention of the mainstream international media? So it kind of makes sense with the shows becoming places over-crowded with product and variant reveals and under-crowded with mass media. Why not reveal a concept for the first time at a place like the Detroit Auto Show — then reveal it a few months later for the "rest of the world" on the big screen. Sure, we're speculating here — but the idea itself may actually make some sense. Of course, this could just be some really evil Decepticon — but why sully the American Revolution by making a bad guy a Chevy concept? Just sayin'...

UPDATE 2: That front end really has a very distinctly distended fourth-gen Camaro vibe to it...old Camaro concept perhaps? Does Bumblebee go bad for a short time in the movie? Just some more speculation on my part.

2010 Acura NSX Is Real After All

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:26:55 EDT

Even though we thought the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show was a bit of a stinker when it came to telegraphing the 2010 Acura NSX, it looks like the shape has finally evolved into the real deal. That's right, here is the first look we've gotten at the front-engined successor to the mid-engined supercar. Clad in heavy camo, the scion of the NSX is rumored to be sporting a V10 under that long bonnet, and we wouldn't be surprised to hear of some magical transmission trickery either. We also wouldn't be surprised if they pulled a fast one and released it as a 2009 model, considering how far along this one seems. But all of this has us a bit... confused.

The original NSX was considered the everyday supercar — something you could live with, service, and easily get parts for. Hell, half the engine was straight out of a Honda Accord. With a fancy new engine, and most likely all kinds of crazy tech gizmos, will the new NSX just be an also-ran in a wide field of $100k+ sporting coupes? Guess we'll find out. But we don't want to be Negative Nancys this early in the morning — so yay new NSX! Check out the stacked quad tailpipes, fancy aluminum suspension and shiny LED tail lamps. But let's see what the KGP spy shooters have to say about it:

It appears that Acura has finally settled on a direction for the next-
generation NSX, as evidenced by this prototype that has popped up on
the public roads surrounding the Nürburgring.
Rumors of design dissent have plagued the new NSX program since Acura's
Advanced Sports Car Concept debuted to a lukewarm reception at
Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January 2007. The
resulting uncertainty reportedly delayed the introduction of the
production NSX at last fall's Tokyo Motor Show, while Acura decided on
a true design direction for the supercar. Now that things have
apparently sorted themselves out, we can break down the design
decisions that Acura has made.

It appears that the general layout of Acura's Advanced Sports Car
Concept has survived, but changes have been made to increase the level
of aggresion for the NSX. The prototype's nose shows marked changes
over the concept, with two large, wide-set intakes flanking an even
larger central grille. The result is a less pretty, but more
aggressive face. The concept's straight slit-like headlights have
been ditched in favor of more expressive lights that have an angular,
notchy quality to their shape.

The general shape of the NSX's profile looks very similar to the
concept, although a taller, more production-feasible greenhouse
appears to be in play on the test vehicle. The side sculpting has
also been reworked with the prototype's convex rocker panels jutting
outward, instead of the concept's lower rockers, which tucked
gracefully under the car. Once again, the end result is a more
muscled look for the production model.

The production NSX retains the concept's dual stacked exhaust set-up,
but rest of the rear bumper is completely different, with reconfigured
air ducts now stretching all the way across the back. The aesthetic
result is a more squat, athletic stance for the production NSX. The
prototype's flowing, fastback rear deck also shows significant changes
over the concept's more svelte look. The rear hatch now kicks up
between the tail-lights, which gives the prototype a more broad-
shouldered look to match the likes of the Nissan GT-R. New tail-
lights complete the package, although it's hard to tell if they will
stretch all the way across the tail, or if they'll be confined to the
outer flanks.

Mercury Brand To Die In Blaze Of Ignominious Neglect By 2012

Ray Wert — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:40:00 EDT

The dirty little secret at Ford is that Mercury's already dead, it's just that nobody can actually say it. Ford's in a tough enough fight on the eastern front without having to deal with a rear-attack in the west from legions of Lincoln-Mercury dealers pissed off they'll be losing half their sales channel. We understand that of course, but it doesn't mean we haven't done our damnedest to try to suss out the reality from every executive we've been able to get in front of. Whether it was at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show with Ford CEO Alan Mulally's "Mercury blands" slip-of-the-tongue or Mark Fields being unable to explain to us what Mercury was beyond "a Ford...that's a little different." Even at the Detroit Auto Show this year, we asked where the Mercury product was. We've been asking Ford for over two years about the status of the automaker's close-to-the-sun brand. We even asked you whether Mercury should survive after the Detroit News reported we should hear a gameplan for Mercury by the fourth quarter of this year.

Now it appears even Jill Wagner can't even save the brand, as the folks at Edmunds Inside Line have decided it's time to call time-of-death earlier than Ford. They've gone ahead and declared Mercury to be dead as a doorknob by 2012 — because product still hasn't appeared. Sure, they've got a newly-redesigned Mercury Milan expected for either the 2009 or 2010 model year, but beyond that? Not so much. It'll be sad to see another American brand wither away and die from the AIDS-like disease of poor product planning choices, platform prostitution and a horrifyingly bad economy, but frankly, hardly anyone will notice these days. And if we're really going to be frank, we're thinking there may still be another brand or two moving in the direction of death's doorway to join them. [via Edmunds Inside Line]

Fresh Prince Of Belle Isle?

Andrew Stoy — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:40:00 EDT

ABC has reportedly ordered up a new hour-long drama pilot, based upon the auto industry and set in our very own Motor City. The Prince of Motor City is said to contain "Hamlet overtones" and is set to begin filming at the end of June, airing this winter as a mid-season replacement. According to the casting call on the Michigan Film Office Web site, they're seeking actors for a variety of roles, including at least one apparent Dr. Z lookalike. More details and full release after the jump...

Herr Merkel sounds awfully familiar: "Tall, handsome German man meets with Cora Neel and the other board members about buying Hamilton Motors." And, as if you need more than a drama about the car biz based in the D, apparently Andie MacDowell is already on board. Poor Yorick: We thought that was your head we saw rolling down Jefferson.

THE PRINCE OF MOTOR CITY To be an auto tycoon... or not to be? That's the problem plaguing philosophy lecturer Billy Hamilton.
His father, the legendary William Hamilton III of Hamilton Motor Works, was just killed in a mysterious accident. And when Billy returns home for the funeral, he's shocked to discover that his father left him... everything. The factory. The assets. Detroit's fourth-biggest auto plant. All the power and wealth he can imagine. But Billy's not sure if he wants it. Because the situation back home has gotten strange indeed.

Company CFO and family friend Paul Riley is outraged that he wasn't given the keys to the kingdom. Billy's unfinished romance with Riley's spunky daughter Meg is heating up again. And Billy's mom and his Uncle Charlie seem to be consoling one another in much too cozy a fashion—do they know more about William's death than they're letting on?

But all this pales in comparison to the eerie goings-on around the plant. Billy's being haunted by a song... a moody Elvis song that was his father's favorite. He's getting mysterious, meaningful messages from complete strangers. At a dinner party, he chats with an empty seat next to him—which chats back. Finally, a ghost that could only be his father tells Billy in a croaking voice: "I want revenge."

An epic, Gothic, family melodrama with overtones of Hamlet, The Prince of Motor City injects corporate and familial intrigue with supernatural suspense. Produced by actor Hamish Linklater of The New Adventures of Old Christine, this riveting drama tells the story of a modern-day monarch with method in his madness... and vengeance in his heart.

(Hat tip to Bridget) [The Futon Critic]

NAIAS May Leave Detroit If Organizers Don't Get Cobo Expansion

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EDT

The complaints about the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) staged yearly in January in Detroit fall into three categories A) it's in January B) It's in Detroit and C) Cobo Hall is just too small for the event. Well after the plan was announced to expand Cobo Hall by some 120,000 square feet, the organizers are concerned the politicians in Lansing will be politicians and fail to deliver the goods on the deal. Such fears are leading to statements from show chair Joe Serra like "We want to keep it here, but time has run out."

The Detroit News has an in depth article stating show officials are considering selling the rights for the show to Chicago or just shopping it around to other cities. Perhaps talk like this is only meant to light a fire under Lansing's butt, but the idea of losing the NAIAS sure would be a boot to the neck for the local economy. [DetNews]

2010 Ford Mustang GT, Sketched With Sketchy Speculation

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Oh do we have a treat for any of you lovers of 'merican muscle cars today. We were talking with a Ford insider recently about the 2010 Ford Mustang. Specifically, discussion focused on the partially speculative rendering of the 2010 Mustang GT on the front of Car und Driver this month. More than one person had already told us a number of differences between the production model and the one featured on the cover of the big buff book, and our new source claimed the same thing. The difference between our other sources and this one was this one was willing to show us the money as it were. The shot below the jump is a sketch based on the final design of the next Mustang. We've mapped the differences out as well.

To begin with we're told the design of the side on the C&D sketch is incorrect. The door handle is too high. The official CAD renderings we've seen (don't even ask how we got those — all we can say is many Bothans died to bring us that information) — which verify the sketch provided by our source — indicate the door handle is actually part of the heavy crease running along the side of the new 'stang — and not above it.

The front fascia on the actual 2010 Mustang is also quite different. Our source's sketch — and again, the CAD models —indicates another piece of moulding between the black grille and the front bumper. Additionally, the C&D rendering is missing the turn signals which should be a flush addition to each side of the front bumper. The other minor issue is the double-gilled air vent on the bottom of the 'stang. The sketch — as well as other sources indicates they don't exist. Unfortunately, the area below the front bumper is where we're missing CAD modeling — so C&D very well may be correct on this.

And then there's the rear end — something untouched by the speculative renderers of Car und Driver — which from what we can see is a dramatic departure from the last model. If it turns out looking like this, we like it.

Yes, we could be wrong, and C&D could be too — but our money's on our sources coming through for us on this one. Time will tell wethinks. We're told we'll find out for certain at either the LA Auto Show or the Detroit Auto Show — we guess we'll have to wait until then. For now, answer us this question:

Fisker Karma Hybrid Testing In Southern California

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:20:00 EDT

Despite whispers of vaporware and only a little more than four months since the original concept was debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Fisker has handed out a set of six images of the Fisker Karma testing in Southern California. The prototype looks shockingly similar to the show car and is wearing only the lightest of camouflage, just vinyl stickers which do little to obscure the cars handsome body work.

We can't promise this is anything other than a body and chassis mule, there could be no hybrid power train under that sleek sheetmetal, but we can't help but drool over the idea this thing might actually become reality. Check out Wired for the whole photo set.

2009 Cadillac CTS-V Fastest Production Sedan Around Nürburgring Ever, Laps in 7:59.32

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:20:00 EDT

Sweet baby Blue Devil, everyone knew the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V would be some powerful strong stuff, but it just managed to lap the Nürburgring in 7:59.32 — that makes it the fastest production sedan ever to take the Nordschleife! With a projected 567 HP, tightened suspension, magnetic ride control, fancy-pants electro-mechanical rear end and a bodacious six speed at the ready, John Heinricy, executive with GM Performance Division piloted The Sedan to it's sub-eight-minute bragging rights. With the Japanese and the Americans duking it out for Nordschleife glory, we can't help but wonder how the Germans feel about all this.

[Cadillac drivers Blog]

El Camino Nameplate Probably Dead

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Friend, Romans, Cotomer Sevis Representatives, lend me your ears; I come to bury the El Camino badge, not to praise it. The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their frames; so let it be with the El Camino. The noble Bob Lutz hath told you El Camino hath instant name recognition, if it were so, it was a grievous fault, and grievously hath Lutz answer'd it. Here, under leave of Lutz and the rest — for Lutz is an honorable man. So they are all honorable men.

Come we to speak in El Camino's funeral. It was our friend, faithful and entertaining to us. But Bob Lutz, he was ambitious. He hath brought many vehicles home to Detroit. Whose ransoms did the General's coffers fill. Did this in El Camino seem unlikely? When that the poor hoons have cried, El Camino hath wept: instant name recognition should be made of sterner stuff. Yet Bob Lutz says it had instant name recognition. You all did see that on the New York Auto Show we thrice presented him a Vote El Camino button, which he did thrice refuse: was this because of instant name recognition? I speak not to disapprove what Bob Lutz decided, but here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love El Camino once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for it? O judgment! Though art fled to brutish beasts, and GM has lost their reason. Bear with us, our heart is in the reject bin here with El Camino. and we must pause till it come back to us. [Kicking Tires]

Cadillac Readying Hybrid Chopper For LA Auto Show

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:20:00 EDT

The Cadillac that ain't your father's may be just be two-wheeled. Word of a new Cadillac motorcycle sporting gee whiz ethanol hybrid technology has just surfaced in D Business. The Caddy that leans will be built by V20 Consulting in New York and shown off at the next LA Auto Show. The irony of an outside company building a technology demostrator isn't lost on us, but it isn't the first time the General has collaborated with someone on a motorcycle. Just a couple hundred feet from the Detroit offices lives the first Caddy chopper, built by and currently for sale at Great American Chopper in Clawson, MI.

Knowing it was there, we took a quick jaunt to their shop so you can see what may inform the next motorcycle. According to the folks who work there, reports of Caddy boss Jim Trailer actually buying this bike are greatly exaggerated, so if you want to take a look for yourself and live in the Detroit area, it'll be there for all to see. [MotorAuthority via Hell For Leather]

Chevy Gets A 2009 Corvette ZR1 Right To The Chin Hey, Look, A ZR1

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Looks like Jay Leno is going to be the first journalist with a drive of the 2009 Corvette ZR1 as these pictures — taken by Jalopnik reader Brendan McAleer — show. That is definitely the Chin taking a spin around Detroit. Guess that means that the current store on autojounro ZR1 drives sits as follows: Pop Mechanics 1, rest of Auto Journiverse 0.
Come on Angus and Chubby Checkers, are you going to let Pop Mech get the scoop? To be fair, we don't know who he is doing this for and, quite likely, he's probably just driving it because Ed Welburn gave him the keys to his ZR1 and said "here, take it." (UPDATE: This is apparently not Jay Leno and the photos were not, it seems, taken by our reader. Rather, they're from the Corvette Forums and taken by a nice guy named Jason about a month ago. Still, pics of a ZR1 on the street.)

2009 Corvette ZR1 Power Numbers Finalized: LS9 V8 Hits 638 HP!

Ray Wert — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:20:00 EDT

We got a release from the folks at the General yesterday, and we were told we could run it at midnight-plus-one, but then we forgot about it. These things happen, you know. We mean, who gets excited about something as fait accompli as the 2009 Corvette ZR1 getting just over 620 HP? Well, if your answer is everyone, you're probably right. And why shouldn't we be excited about Zee new Really fast One from Chevy? Especially since they've now got officially certified power ratings on that beautiful Jakegasmic LS9 engine — 638 HP, nearly 103 horses per liter — and 604 lb-ft of torque, which'll let the new supercharged Corvette ZR1 break that all-important 200 MPH speed barrier. We knew there was a reason we liked this from the moment we first exploded the LS9 for all to see. Next question however is whether Wes will be back in the road test saddle in time for what we're expecting will be a summertime drive of the new ZR1 or whether it'll have to be one of us other Jalops jumping behind the wheel of the supercharged new Corvette. This may be the first time we've ever hoped someone wouldn't get better as quickly as possible. We kid. On the square. Anyway, what we do know is we've got the full press release after the jump.

CHEVROLET ANNOUCES CERTIFIED POWER RATINGS FOR THE NEW CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1: 638 HP FROM THE SUPERCHARGED LS9 V-8
PONTIAC, Mich. - When it was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1's power was estimated at 100 horsepower for each of its 6.2 liters of displacement. GM Powertrain has completed SAE certification of the ZR1's supercharged LS9 V-8 and the results exceed the estimate: 638 horsepower (476 kW) and 604 lb.-ft. of torque (819 Nm).

The LS9's output is nearly 103 horses per liter, or just about 1.7 horses for each of the engine's 376 cubic inches. It is unquestionably the most powerful automotive production engine ever manufactured by General Motors and enables the Corvette ZR1 to achieve a top speed of more than 200 mph (322 km/h).

"One of the most amazing things about the Corvette ZR1 is the level of refinement that our designers and engineers have attained. Even with all that power, this car has road manners that will allow our customers to enjoy it on the streets as a daily driver, and on the track," said Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper.

The Corvette ZR1 goes on sale this summer. Its 638-hp supercharged engine is complemented in the chassis by heavy-duty components not offered in any other model, including a six-speed manual transmission with race-hardened gears and dual-disc clutch technology that delivers exceptional clamping power and lower inertia, as well as strengthened axle components.

Fuel economy testing has not been completed, but engineers are confident the ZR1 will be the most fuel-efficient 600-plus-horsepower car on the market.

The LS9 engine is hand-built by specially trained technicians at GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich. It is a unique, small-volume engine production facility that also builds the Chevrolet Corvette Z06's LS7 engine and other high-performance GM production engines.

"Developing the LS9 involved more than simply striving for a great horsepower number. Endurance and reliability testing have shown the engine to be robust and low-maintenance, just like other engines in the small-block family," said Sam Winegarden, executive director, engine engineering for GM Powertrain. "That it is distinguished as the most powerful engine ever from General Motors is a source of immense pride among everyone involved with the LS9."

Supercharged aspiration
The key enabler of the LS9's performance is the industry's first production application of a new, positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger that has a unique four-lobe rotor design. Its design promotes quieter and more efficient performance, while the large, 2.3-liter displacement ensures adequate air volume at high rpm. Maximum boost pressure is 10.5 psi (0.72 bar). It is teamed with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature for maximum performance.

"The combination of large displacement and the new, four-rotor design broadens the effective range of the supercharger, allowing the engine to make more power at lower rpm and sustain it throughout the power band," said Winegarden. "The low-end torque is tremendous and the high-rpm charge from the supercharger is simply amazing."

A raised hood provides adequate clearance for the LS9, while a polycarbonate window in the hood provides a view of the engine beneath it.

LS9 details
The LS9 features many unique design and manufacturing details that support its high-performance nature. They include:
Aluminum cylinder block with iron cylinder liners that are finish-bored and honed with a deck plate installed
Forged steel crankshaft with a nine-bolt flange
Titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons
Stronger, rotocast cylinder heads with 2.16-inch (55 mm) titanium intake valves and 1.59-inch (40.4 mm) hollow-stem, sodium-filled exhaust valves
Camshaft with 0.555-inch (14.1 mm) lift for excellent idle and low-speed driving qualities
A dry-sump oiling system with 10.5-quart (9.9 liters) capacity
Integrated oil cooler and piston-cooling oil squirters
Intercooler cover visible through the hood window that features ZR1-unique blue accents and "LS9 SUPERCHARGED" embossed on the left and right sides

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

# # #

Specifications

LS9 6.2L SUPERCHARGED V-8
Displacement (cu in / cc):
376 / 6162
Bore & stroke (in / mm):
4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92
Block material:
cast aluminum
Cylinder head material:
A356-T6 rotocast aluminum
Valvetrain:
overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel delivery:
SFI (sequential fuel injection)
Compression ratio:
9.1:1
Horsepower / kW:
638 / 476 @ 6500 rpm
Torque (lb-ft / Nm):
604 / 819 @ 3800 rpm
Fuel shut-off (rpm):
6600
Recommended fuel:
premium required
Exhaust manifolds:
stainless steel
Main bearing caps:
forged steel
Crankshaft:
forged steel
Camshaft:
hollow steel; 0.555-in (14.1 mm) lift
Connecting rods:
forged titanium
Valves:
intake: titanium
exhaust: hollow steel
Valve lifters:
hydraulic roller
Supercharger:
R2300, four-lobe "Roots" type (2.3L)
Additional features:
piston oil-spray cooling; direct-mount ignition coils; 11-rib accessory drive

Beijing Auto Show: Is It Bigger Than Detroit?

Ray Wert — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:30:22 EDT

Posted By:Phil LeBeauTalk about coming of age. The Beijing Auto Show and China's auto market are making a statement this week. It's loud and clear: "We are world players!" In fact, it brings up the question about whether this show and the Chinese market are bigger than the Detroit Show and U.S. Market? Read More Topics:Western Europe | China | Marketing | Japan | CEOs and CFOs | Economy (U.S.) | Economy (Global) | Asia | Technology | Automobile IndustrySectors:Technology | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Permalink

2008 Woodward Dream Cruise Expands To Include Nine Days of Unofficially Unsanctioned Events

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:40:00 EDT

The Woodward Dream Cruise is a perennial favorite here at the house of Jalop and we're happy to see the joy of the event is spreading. For the first time in the Cruise's history, the festivities will be extending below 8 mile, though not by way of the official organizers of Woodward Dream Cruise Inc, but through the work of MotorCities National Heritage Area — an affiliation of the National Parks Department. WDC shot down a plan to modify the run from its current route between Pontiac and Ferndale, to Pontiac all the way into Detroit, but this unofficial change thankfully begins to chip away at the suburban-only aspect of the cruise.

As long as we've been going to the Cruise, we've been pining for an expanded course. The route of the cruise has been powerful evidence of the overall impression suburbanites have about Detroit, many of whom haven't been downtown in years. They haven't seen the incredible changes and rejuvenations taking place along the Woodward corridor. Maintaining a route in the northern burbs seemed somehow unfair to the city which was the original source for all we celebrate during those long hot days in the summer. Well, that and Wyandotte. OK, maybe not Wyandotte.

So now, despite the official route remaining between Pontiac and Ferndale, events will be happening throughout the metro area for a total of nine days leading up to the orgasmic happy ending that is the official Dream Cruise on Saturday, August 16th. This is a doubly great thing because despite its official edict of a one day event, the Dream Cruise actually starts about a week in advance. Having shows and events all around the region will hopefully help to spread the madness around instead of concentrating it between Maple road (15 Mile) and 8 Mile. So without further ado, here's the lineup for this years dream cruise:

Schedule of Woodward Dream Cruise Events

August 8 - Hot Latin Nights at Campus Matius, lowriders car show, Latin entertainment and food

August 9 - Jefferson Avenue cool car cruise, Campus Martius to Gross Pointe Shores, including a loop of Belle Isle

August 9 - Green Car Show in Ferndale (which totally fits for Ferndale)

August 10 - Juried Classic Car Show, Campus Martius, motorcycle cruise

August 10 - Motorcycle cruise from Auburn Hills to State Fairground

August 11-13 - Summer Auto Show

August 13-16 - Big Boys Worlds Largest Drive-In, State Fairgrounds

August 14 - Model T rides, Cadillac Square (downtown next to Campus Martius for those unfamiliar)

August 14 - Dream Cruise Downtown, Comerica Park and Opera House start

August 15 - GM's 100th anniversary car show at the RenCen, including a concert by the Blue Oyster Cult

August 16 - Woodward Dream Cruise - The worlds largest single day drive in car show and cruise

So there you have it, a telegraph of what we'll be bringing you — and participating in — come mid-August. A bigger, hopefully better and expanded Dream Cruise. We can barely wait for August. [DetNews]

Audi Q5 Spied Taking Right Turn

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:20:00 EDT

These are absolutely the most exciting shots of the pending Audi Q5 we've ever seen. They've got us sitting right at the edge of our seats. Watch in excitement as the latest pointless utility vehicle makes a dramatic low speed right turn on a road winding lazily through an empty field. Ponder in amazement what reason Audi would ever have for building yet another crossover in an allready over-saturated market. Watch as you become stupified with astonishment as the shrunken Q7 makes it's worldwide debut at the China Motor Show in a couple of days, allowing you...

...to see the midsized suvvie completely unclad of the anti-spy photo cladding. Wonder with wonderment as you remember it's slated to go into production as a 2009 model year product in Europe with a US debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Astound yourself and the other eleven people waiting in anticipation for the new Audi crossover as you force yourself to have to manage with only these shots for the time being. [WorldCarFans]

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Six Speed Caught On Cobo Roof

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Amusing, it's taken a little over two years but the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 has gone from a concept revealed on the show floor of the 2006 Detroit Auto Show to parking on the roof of Cobo during the 2008 SAE World Congress. This shiny red one was parked staring straight at the GM RenCen buildings almost like some bruiser looking for a fight with a Camaro. This one even has a little battle scar on the front passenger side fender to prove it can hang with the tough kids.

2011 Lexus LF-A

Travis Hudson — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:48:34 EDT

The 2011 Lexus LF-A — or maybe it's the 2010, or even 2012, depending on reports — supercar's been shot by the quick to the snap spy photographers at KGP. The speedy little spy shooters caught the supercar-to-be as it appeared to be getting ready to hit the Nürburgring. They're expecting hot laps won't be far behind, but we're wondering what's taking the super number one best awesome automaker from the land of the rising sun from gettin' 'er done with their first entry into the world of super car performance. It's been like, what, almost three years already since the Lexus LF-A first started hitting the auto show circuit? And in that time we've seen more versions of the LF-A concept than we're able to keep track of. We distinctly remember at least, you know, like three — one in 2005, a revised LF-A concept at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show and the roadster concept as well as definitive word we'll be seeing our dreams of a sexy luxe cousin to the son of Supra come true, plus a price point of around $170K. So, we're still talking about something like a six-year development cycle here, aren't we?

Jeez, and people get all pissy when an automaker takes a couple of years to develop a new muscle car. Anyway, despite the development time, we're still excited to see this new Lexus in showrooms in either a V10 or V8-plus-hybrid flavor. And no, it's not just because we want to play with the retractable wing until it breaks off. Though that does sound like fun. Full spy report from KGP below.

The Lexus LF-A has hit the roads around the 'Ring, and some hot laps can't be far behind. The LF-A's retractable rear wing can be seen lowering in this sequence of shots.
This prototype is obviously still wearing some preproduction lighting, and some details are clearly lacking production-finished trim, but the styling looks basically unchanged form last year's prototype. It appears that Lexus may have finally locked-in the bulk of the LF-A's final design.

In a recent interview, Lexus' Australian chief executive confirmed that the LF-A is still being readied for production, although it may not reach showrooms until 2011. Even if that claim refers to the 2010 calendar year as a 2011 model, that still means a lengthy development course ahead. At that point, the LF-A's gestation will be approaching six years. Such a long development process is almost unheard of in today's automotive industry, although the Hyundai's recent entry into the luxury market with its new Genesis is another recent example. The Genesis showcased many design changes right up to its auto show debut, and the Lexus LF-A has been similarly tweaked over the course of its development.

One can't help but sense a whiff of uncertainty in Lexus' entry into the rarefied supercar realm, but they're certainly going to great lengths to see that its right when it finally reaches the market.