We once spent 30 hours living like Tom Hanks in The Terminal at Frankfurt International when we would've rather been tooling around the city in a Lancia Fulvia with Katarina Witt, Goethe or Felix Frankfurter. According to the boys at the road with minimal straightaways, Lancia may be debuting a new, production Fulvia at Frankfurt later this year. Is Fiat on a tear? They just might be. – Davey G. Johnson

Production Fulvia To Grace Lancia's Frankfurt Stand? [Winding Road]

Related:
Luscious Lancia: The Fulvia HF [Internal]

Autoblog noted it. PickupTruck.com noted it. So we're not gonna note that the Sterling Bullet didn't debut at Geneva today, but rather at the National Truck Equipment Association Work Truck Show in Indy. A division of Freightliner (itself, of course, part of the German-American Hybrid) with a history that dates back a century, the resurrected Sterling brand's new Bullet shares many parts with the Dodge Ram 4500/5500 that bowed at Chicago. The key difference between the Dodges and the Sterling, besides cosmetics, is the standard Power Take Off package on the Bullet, which allows all manner of worksite doodads to be run by the stonking Cummins diesel. Sterling also touts its commercial-truck-specialist dealer network as a plus. Will it fly? – Davey G. Johnson

Sterling Bullet Debuts at NTEA Show [PickupTruck.com]

Related:
Chicago Auto Show: Dodge Rolls Heavy Duty in 2008 [Internal]

Cue the Fred Willard "Wha' happen'?" sample. Have Chrysler's problems engendered some sort of mass psychosis within the company's walls? Seems so, since they've decided to build the Imperial, which given the company's situation, seems like a case of throwing dumb after dumb, with an extra-large side of dumb garnished with more dumb. And a 44-oz cup of dumb to wash it down. On the other hand, the CAW ladies and gents at DCX's Brampton, ON plant, where the car would be built alongside the Charger, Magnum, Challenger and 300, rejected concessions that would allow the Imp to be constructed there. However, Chrysler's apparently still got the ungainly beast scheduled for '09. We're frightened. What's become of you, Ma Mopar? – Davey G. Johnson

Chrysler Imperial Gets Royal Flush From CAW Plant [Ward's via Autoblog]

Related:
Chrysler Mulling Imperial Production: Build it or Bag It? [Internal]

Ah, the wascally wags of AvtoVAZ. Hewing to some Marxist hangover dictate to give the people what they want, they've brought back an updated, all-new version of the dubiously-classic, yet highly symbolic Lada 2107. Now that you've done that, VAZzers, how 'bout a new Niva? Please? Pretty-as-you-please, please? – Davey G. Johnson

New Lada [English Russia]

Related:
Partition Number One! Retro Russian Lada Ad [Internal]

Those zany Germans over at Autobild couldn't wait to test the new Smart ForTwo, so they decided to craft their own Bruce-infused microcar. In two living dimensions!. The cardboard/foamcore/whatever new-model Smarty took on parking challenges, slalom challenges and child-impressing challenges, although at no time did it take on a Sapporo-derived Dodge Challenger. [Thanks to Phunkshon for the tip.] – Davey G. Johnson

"Fahrbericht" Smart fortwo [AutoBild via German Car Scene]

Related:
Detroit Auto Show Preview: The Smart Cars Are Coming...Still [Internal]

Don' you know Daihatsu's loco? Oh man, this thing is amazing. We don't know if it's quite as crazy-stupendous as the Boon X4, but anything called an "Esse Custom" that vaguely resembles a Lilliput-built modern-day Le Car pretty much requires our vote. Daihatsu may very well be the coolest division of Toyota. In any event, they're at least tied with Hino. You can have your Lexuses and Scions. We'll be perfectly pleased with a Boon and his attendant Esse with a dekotora Ranger FT Dakar truck to cary them around on. – Davey G. Johnson

Daihatsu's Esse Custom channels a little Renault along the way [Autoblog]

Related:
No Prize, Just Cred: Why Would Johnson Drive this Car [Internal]

Jill Lajdziak, who onstage at the LA Auto Show came off the very epitome of a graduate of Uncle Chuck's Graduate Course in Public Speaking of Des Moines, IA, LLC, has confirmed that the Opel/Vauxhall Astra will indeed be joining the ranks of the Saturn lineup come 2008. Lajdziak claims, "The Astra is a great fit for Saturn, with its European style and driving dynamics," a statement we'd be hard-pressed to dispute. It also seems as if the Astra won't be rebranded as an Ion, unlike the rest of the Opelurns (see Opel Astra gallery below).

We're also confident that if James May showed up in a Urraco, we could likely beat him around a track. On one final note, we still think Lajdziak should lay off on the weird pseudo-prom-queen smile between sentences. We know it's supposed to be ingratiating, but it really kind of creeps us out. Just our two cents. – Davey G. Johnson

2007 Chicago Auto Show: Saturn Astra To Join Lineup In Late 2007 [Dubspeed Driven]

Related:
Opel Astra Will be New Saturn Ion [Internal]

We swung back by the Audi booth wearing our investigative earmuffs and wrassled up a product planner from the Artists Formerly Known as DKW, Horch, Wanderer, and by the name the Auto Union is still known, Audi. The question? Just what is the gearbox in the new R8? The answer? It's a modified version of the Gallardo's eGear DSG SMG transmission, the news of which put a pucker on Paukert's face the likes of which we haven't seen since Wert switched lemon juice for Spinelli's morning pampelmousse beverage. However, according to Audi, the evolved eGear will be smoother, which led us to ask, "Will it be more precise?"
"Yes, it will be more precise."

Related:
More from Audi Builds a Car for Our Wives: More From the R8 Reveal [Internal]

While on the Bullrun, we met a man named Peter Kolb, a man whose obsession with German precision knew no boundaries and brooked no imprecise nonsense. Peter's vehicle of choice? A white GT3RS with red trim. But now, there's a new GT3RS, available in orange or green. Undoubtedly, each individual horsepower is precisely tuned for laserlike corner carving, and altogether, the 3.6L flat six contains four hundred fifteen precision-lubed equines. Peter is undoubtedly giggling like a schulm dchen. [Gallery]

Related:
One of the Rarest: Porsche 916 on eBay [Internal]

Dacia unveiled a new vehicle of some sort at the Paris Auto Show a short time ago. It is blue. That is all.

Related:
More from Paris

The Smarty McSmartersons over in Smartsville have just introduced the replacement for their O.G. Modern Isetta, smartly coming up with a chic, cute, smart cartoon, wherein the smart little Smart smartly travels through an urban landscape rife with pitfalls that would stymie larger vehicles. Inverse, much DCX? Doktor Dieter Zetsche showed up and talked about the CL63 AMG. All we could think is, "Dear Doctor Z. Is it true that my 6.3-litre engine isn't really 6.3 litres?" More pics after the jump.

Related:
Smart Went Crazy? Er, Uh MG [Internal]

While we've got two of Los Jalopniks out on the floor, we need a third to hold down our hard-fought spot in the Third World media center which has us reliving our time in Indochina. Luckily, we've got a TV screen behind us to cover unveilings we couldn't get to. And ashtrays. Ashtrays are important. As for the Cee'd? Drops in December. USB and iPod on some models. It was unveiled by sexy, sexy dancers who ripped their way out of some manner of inflated parachute. 7-year/50,000-mile warranty, from what we could hear over the din, which is apparently the best in Europe. We'll correct it if we hear different. France is strange. More pics of the reveal after the jump.

Related:
Cee'd! New Kia Concept; More
More from the Paris Auto Show

Exalted Mother of the Sultan of Brunei! The new Gallardo stuff is coming fastly and furiously, and the kids over at Supercars.net have some more info/speculation. Apparently, this sucker's fitted with a couple of turbos, boosting output to 600hp, blasting it handily past the F430, while keepiing it respectfully below its LP640 big brother. What's not known is if the car's an R8 test mule or a preview of the baby bull's most insane-o incarnation to date. [UPDATE: An Autoblog writer who's been to that dealership adds perspective: "I think this is a dealer specific model that is N/A and has a few tweaks to go along with the new bodywork. This same dealership where this one was parked offered a limited run of MOMO special edition models last year, iirc."]

2007 Lamborghini Gallardo GT [Supercars.net]

Related:
Spy Photos: Lamborghini Gallardo Facelift? [Internal]

According to the Germans who blog about cars, Austrian bike firm KTM has solidified some details on their joint venture with Audi. Scheduled to go public in the spring of '07 (Geneva, perhaps?) the vehicle will be built in Mattighofen or Graz, and Dallara (who, of course, build the R10 chassis) is apparently one of the contractors involved. Sales will be aimed for 1,000 per year, which makes the vehicle super-nichey, and if KTM and Dallara are involved, probably superleggera as well.

Some News About The KTM Car [The German Car Blog]

Related:
Audi, KTM Partnering On New Vehicle [Internal]

Gro e Schloss und Schnitzel! The kids over at Carster randomly captured what seems to be an entirely nekkid example of Audi's new R8 supercar in Santa Monica yesterday afternoon. It's definitely a bit different than the LeMans concept that the car is purportedly the production successor to. Plus, given the included story of how the shoot went down, we love the thought of two Germans in polo shirts yelling "Nein! Keine fotos! KEINE FOTOS! Raus, dummkopf Ami mit Kamera! Raus!" But, y'know, said Ami busted out with the surreptitious shots anyway.

08/14/2006 : Captured Photo : Audi R8 : Santa Monica, CA [Carster]

Related:
Spy Photos: More of the Audi R8 Supercar [Internal]

New Cayenne model—created especially for the North American market—to
offer exclusive colors, and comprehensive option package as standard equipment

Porsche today announced a new model for the Cayenne lineup designed
specifically for the U.S. and Canadian markets. The V-8 powered Cayenne S
Titanium Edition will be available beginning in mid-July. This sharp new
addition to the Porsche Cayenne lineup of sporting SUVs features
titanium-colored trim, exclusive exterior and interior finishes, and the
Cayenne's most popular options as standard equipment. The Cayenne S Titanium
Edition will provide this additional content at a price point approximately 10
percent lower than a comparably equipped Cayenne S.
The newest Porsche SUV draws it moniker from the "Titanium Metallic" trim
which is exclusive to the model. The exterior trim pieces which receive a
finish in this subtle metallic hue include the roof spoiler, the frame and
lower portion of the side mirrors, the front air inlets, window frames
including the B- and C-pillars, door handles (with a body-color inlay),
door-sill trim and the Cayenne S logo.
The Cayenne S Titanium Edition is available in four distinct exterior
colors, including two which are exclusive to the new model: "Pure Red" is a
vibrant and overtly sporting shade, and "Iceland Silver Metallic" is a classic
light silver tinged with cool blue. The Cayenne S Titanium Edition will also
be available in "Black" and "Marine Blue Metallic." Along with the door handle
inlays, each Cayenne S Titanium Edition features body-colored rocker-panel
extensions, helping frame the standard 19-inch wheels coated in a Titanium
Metallic finish. Also standard are four-pipe-look chrome exhaust tips, and
20-inch SportTechno wheels with a titanium-color finish are optional.
The interior receives equal attention, as the cabin of each Cayenne S
Titanium Edition features an exclusive two-tone design. The two color
combinations are "Black/Sand Beige" and "Black/Steel Grey," with the dark
finish covering the center sections of the seats and headrests, the floormats,
the upper dashboard and door trim panels, the steering wheel rim and steering
column, the front of the center console and the luggage compartment cover. In
keeping with the model's metallic theme, the instrument cluster dials have a
metal-look finish, and the stainless-steel door-entry guards are embossed with
the "Cayenne S titanium" logo.
Contributing to its stylish-value theme, the Cayenne S Titanium Edition
provides as standard equipment the most popular options fitted to vehicles in
the North American market. These include Bi-Xenon headlights with dynamically
controlled cornering lights, Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with
DVD/GPS based navigation, and an electric tilting/sliding glass moonroof.
Like the Cayenne S, the Cayenne S Titanium Edition is propelled by a
340-horsepower, 4.5-liter V-8. Mated to the standard six-speed Tiptronic S
automatic transmission, the Cayenne S Titanium Edition can sprint from a
standstill to 60 mph (96 km/h) in only 6.8 seconds. The Cayenne S Titanium
Edition can reach 99 mph (160 km/h) in just 16.8 seconds, and has a top track
speed of 150 mph (242 km/h).
Like all of Porsche's vehicles, the Cayenne possesses amazingly athletic
capabilities, and thanks to the standard all-wheel-drive and Porsche Traction
Management, these capabilities are not limited to paved roads. While many SUVs
have an inherent tendency towards nose-heavy handling characteristics, Porsche
engineers direct the majority of the V-8 engine's torque (62 percent) to the
rear wheels. This provides all Cayenne models with handling dynamics more in
line with Porsche's rear-drive sports cars, setting it apart in the SUV
marketplace. These traits are so sought after by enthusiast drivers that the
Cayenne has become the best selling of all Porsche models.
The Porsche Cayenne Titanium Edition goes on sale in the U.S. and Canada
in mid-July. Pricing for the new model in Canada is $89,800 (CAD).
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, GA, and its
subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche
sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and
Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG,
PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts,
service, marketing and training for its 213 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They,
in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.

Porsche Cayenne S: Titanium Edition! [German Car Blog]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2007 Porsche Cayenne [internal]

A quick list of cars I drove on the track include the BMW Z4 M, Jaguar XK, Mazda MX-5, Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Edition, Civic Si, VW GTI, Mazdaspeed 6 and Pontiac Solstice. I was also shuttled around the track by some professional drivers in the BMW M5 and Cadillac XLR-V. Then I road tested (they don't let everything on the track) a ton of new models like the FJ Mr. Farago is reviewing, the new Lexus ES 350, Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, and some others I'm forgetting. Let me know what cars you want to hear about most and I'll try to post in order.

BTW I have no idea who came up with the Reverend reference for me and why they use it. It doesn't even fit my religion.

Related:
Edmunds: New Chevrolet Camaro Coming in 2010 [internal]

Mercedes-Benz USA is offering 750 Signature Edition R-Class models for sale to help out Saks Fifth Avenue's Key to the Cure women's cancer research fundraising initiative. Now there's a much better brand-positioning strategy than using Tony Hawk as a spokesman. Skaters don't buy R-Classes; Saks-shopping women do (or most likely will when the crossover-wagon-suburban-luxo-car/van-utility vehicle drops in September). Which reminds us, we've gotta get to Saks, as we're running low on Prada lip balm. Seriously, that stuff does wonders.

Mercedes-Benz Designs Signature Edition R-class For Saks Fifth Avenue s Key To The Cure [Dubspeed Racing]

Related:
Empty Nest on Wheels: Automakers' new "Adult Social Vehicles" [Internal]

Clio Renaultsport Concept [Dubspeed Racing]

Related:
The Look of Fast [Internal]