Internet Ready Blaupunkt to Debut at 2009 CES
By Michael J. DeWane | January 5, 2009
To many it may be an answer to a question they think no one is asking, but ready or not here it comes. It’s the Blaupunk New Jersey 600i. The idea is that the 600i will connect to the interwebs via Bluetooth on your data enabled cell phone. This is potentially the satellite radio killer, it’s access to nearly unlimited content. Furthermore, it’s the type of technology that could render a rumored return of the fairness doctrine meaningless.
Topics: Automotive Electronics | No Comments »
BMW Reveals New MINI Cooper Convertible
By Michael J. DeWane | November 30, 2008
BMW has released details and photos of their new MINI Cooper and Cooper S convertibles. Photos and the full press release from BMW follow, but some items of particular interest
- Top can be lowered or deployed at up to 20 MPH
- Openometer records top down time
- Standard sliding sunroof feature is standard allowing a partial open air experience
- Orders are being taken now with deliver beginning on March 28th 2009. Just in time for early spring. Take note however, prices have jumped noticeably. Cooper convertibles now start at $24,550, while the S starts at $27,450 including destination charge.
Continue for Press Release from BMW followed by photo gallery.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
MINI E at Los Angeles Auto Show
By Michael J. DeWane | November 18, 2008
Even with fuel prices plummeting, electric cars are of great interest while we look for ways to get the oil monkey off our national back. BMW group shares this desire as they prepare to officially premiere their all electric MINI E at the Los Angeles Auto Show on the 19th and 20th of November.
(read more plus additional photos and BMW’s press release after the jump)
Topics: Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
Nissan’s New Z Car Revealed
By Michael J. DeWane | October 29, 2008
Ahead of the LA Auto Show scheduled for November 19th. Nissan is revealing the first official images of its new 370Z Coupe. An obvious relative of the 350Z, the new model more effectively recalls the original Z cars of the early 70s without doing the modern retro thing.
Look for the Nissans new Z car in dealers early next year.
More photos after the jump.
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Mazda Kiyora to Debut at Paris Motor Show
By Michael J. DeWane | September 4, 2008
Don’t ask me how they do it, but Mazda is is getting ready to unveil the latest of their concept vehicles expressing their flowing Nagare design language. This time it’s the Kiyora meaning “Clean and Pure” in Japanese. The Kiyora is the Urban Compact variation ever growing range of concepts being shown by Mazda. They say water is the design theme, but in more than a few of these latest concepts from Mazda, this one most of all, I’m seeing a bit of Bruce the shark from Finding Nemo. Call me crazy, but I’m telling you, this car is Bruce
Bruce, er Kiyora is equipped with a direct injection 4 cylinder and Mazda’s Smart Idle Stop System. It all adds up to something like a Mini Cooper that looks more like a shark than a bulldog.
Of course few of these Nagare concepts look very buildable as production cars, but it we can hold out hope that something as interesting as the Kiyora may find its way into show rooms in the years to come. Even now we’re seeing Nagare design language creep into Mazda’s existing line as seen in the latest version of Mazda’s 6. Also to be seen at the Paris show will be a refreshed version of the third generation MX-5 (Miata) More pictures and Mazda’s full press release after the jump.
Topics: Mazda, concept | No Comments »
More Radical MX-5 in the Pipeline?
By Michael J. DeWane | August 27, 2008
Multiple sources are taking a recent quote from Mazda Design Chief, Laurens Van den Acker, to indicate something bold and new in the works for Mazda’s little roadster. Commenting to Autocar he said the following: “The last one was too conservative and we can’t do another car like that. We need to make it more dramatic and give it some balls.”
This must be, at least in part, due to the impact of GM’s Solstice and Sky roadsters. Sure both cars are heavier and not as well thought out as the MX-5, but styling and excellent power options have set them apart. No doubt, the MX-5 is the one most people would rather spend time driving, but 260HP in the Solstice GXP is hard to ignore compared to the MX-5’s 160HP. It’s worth noting however that the Honda S2000 appears to have been the first casualty of the new roadster offerings from GM. Mazda soldiers on in the segment they reinvented with their first MX-5 in the summer of ‘89.
Expect some styling cues that may look as if they came from one of 
the recent concepts from Mazda. Mix that with a bit of direct injection power/economy and Mazda will be back in the fight for 2012 when the new model bows. Let’s hope they shave a bit of weight off too. Although lighter than all its competitors the current MX-5 has gained a bit of weight over its previous iterations.
Topics: Mazda | No Comments »
Chrysler (Cerberus) Considers Sale of Viper
By Michael J. DeWane | August 27, 2008
Chrysler is reporting that it may be considering a sale of its Dodge Viper business. This may be the death knell for Chrysler, but more likely it’s a trimming of unprofitable fat from the ailing automaker. Who knows what Chrysler will look like in the not too distant future, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them as primarily a clearinghouse for Renault/Nissan and maybe throw in a few China-come-lately products for good measure.
I’ve taken to calling the Big 3 the big 2.5 lately. It may be time to start calling them the Big 2.2. Here’s to hoping there are brighter days ahead for Chrysler. Still, it’s not hard to imagine the Viper in a fate similar that which befell the Studebaker Avanti in its various post Studebaker iterations.
Chrysler CEO, Bob Nardelli’s comments follow.
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Chrysler, Rumormill | No Comments »
2.7 Million Mile Man Names Favorite Small Towns
By Michael J. DeWane | July 30, 2008
Irv Gordon. You may not know who he is, but Irv caught my eye some twenty years ago when I read about him in the magazine section of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The story got my attention for a couple reasons. First, there was a nice color picture of Irv standing in front of what I considered to be one of the coolest looking cars of the then previous twenty years, a 1966 Volvo P1800. Add to this the fact that Irv wasn’t keeping his old Volvo in the garage, he was driving it EVERY DAY, and driving it a lot. He had just broken the million mile mark. See the list of Irv’s favorite small towns by clicking below to continue.
Topics: Road Trips, Volvo | 3 Comments »
Chevrolet Unveils the 2010 Camaro
By Michael J. DeWane | July 22, 2008
One of These Things is Not Like the Others (click pic for larger image)
So Chevy unveiled the 2010 Camaro yesterday in it’s production form. Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s a modern classic, but to call Chevrolet’s newly unveiled Camaro retro is unfair. Sure the styling is inspired by the classic 67 shape and it’s a classic front engine rear wheel drive pony car but the comparison ends there.
More plus pics and all the specs from GM after the jump.
Topics: Chevy | 2 Comments »
Indy Car Catfight? Not Quite.
By Michael J. DeWane | July 21, 2008
Let’s face it, Indy Car racing is pretty boring. But finally we have story living up to the Mondo part of Mondo Motoring. Seems there was a bit of a spat between Danica Patrick and Milka Duno. Milka who you ask? I never heard of her either, but now thanks to pissing off Danica on video I’m sure that she too will become a household name. Now I may be jaded, but is this how desperate Indy Car has gotten? It seems like a while ago F1 was littered with childish rich brats bickering like pro wrestlers, heck maybe it still is, I quit watching. Anyway, I’m pretty sure this will mark the beginning of the end of Indy Car. Danica, better make a run to NASCAR while they’ll still have ya.
Topics: Auto Racing, Indy Car, Uncategorized | No Comments »