Sport

How GM Killed The Crossover: The Brief Life Of The Chevy XT-2 Concept Truck

In 1989, it was increasingly clear a new revolution was coming to the truck market, but what shape it would take was still a mystery. With the staggering success of large body-on-frame SUVs and light trucks just a gleam in the eyes of automakers, GMs design team continued down the path of car-based pickups with the Chevy XT-2 Concept Truck. Although we now know car-based pickups and SUVs lost the battle to large SUVs shortly thereafter, it appears the XT-2, an essentially ignored concept here in the United States, may end up winning the design war.

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12:05 PM on Tue Jul 22 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,021 views, 61 comments

Latest by LandofMinos, I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it: @TRAMS_AM: Riker. get me a status report on the ionic warp drive. more »

2009 mitsubishi pajero sport

New Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUV Coming To Moscow

Mitsubishi will introduce its latest Pajero Sport SUV next month at the annual Moscow International Auto Salon. The new Mitsu bruiser, known on the South side of the Americas as the Mitsubishi Montero, will feature 2- or 3-row seating along with water-repellent seats and a waterproof luggage compartment floor. They're features Mitsubishi claims to be "ideal for leisure use." We suppose that depends upon your idea of leisure. Two diesels along with a gas V6 will power the Pajero Sport, which, coupled with its Russian introduction, should tell you it's not coming here. Full release and a shot from the rear after the jump. More »

8:40 AM on Thu Jul 17 2008
By Andrew Stoy
1,247 views, 7 comments

Latest by 5cents: Old Pajeros, 80 to the 90s, were as legendary as Land Cruisers in the desert I lived in. Rugged, truck body, clumsy handling but invincible off-road. This new one looks like a city boy with soft skin and gelled hair. more »

2009 ford fiesta

2009 Ford Fiesta Engine Specs Announced, Top-Of-The-Line Duratec Hits 118 HP

This morning, Ford continued their excruciatingly slow release of details on the 2009 Ford Fiesta. Today's morsel is the top-of-the-line new Fiesta's Duratec gas engine will be rated at just over 118 HP, good for a 0-to-62 MPH jog in just under 10 seconds, yet still providing a combined fuel economy of 47.9 MPG (That'd be 38.9 MPG for us colonials). Not too shabby. More details below.

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10:40 AM on Fri Jul 11 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,452 views, 54 comments

2009 ford focus rs

2009 Ford Focus RS Details Officially Official, Green Machine Lives

Turns out the Electric Green Ford Focus RS we saw last week is more than just a show car. Ford has admitted the little green hulk is essentially the finished vehicle, minus some fine tuning. Now, depending on which side of the fencepost you sit on, an inline-five with 275 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed in a car the size of a Focus RS, along with all kinds of fancy suspension trickery, is either a magical, amazing thing OR the obnoxious boy-racer bodywork rubs you the wrong way and totally ruins whatever genius lies underneath. Either way, our Euro brethren will soon have another magnificent compact car to dangle in our faces. Damned forbidden fruit. Full details below.

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9:40 AM on Mon Jul 7 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
3,104 views, 51 comments

Latest by LandofMinos, a p' p' piece from here and a p' p' piece from there: I love Kermit Green. Is there something wrong with me? more »

mg sv-r convertible

MG Sport And Racing Planning SV-R Convertible And "Green" SV-R, To Launch At Tea Time

Despite Nanjing Motors currently owning the MG and Rover brands, MG Sport and Racing still operates independently within the Queen's kingdom. It seems they're preparing something new to entice niche sports car consumers: This MG SV-R with the top lopped off was discovered in the corner of the Sport and Racing workshops, and is the development prototype planned for use this summer. The new, properly British MG will be equipped with a manual soft top and the same 520 HP Ford V8 found in the regular SV-R. But that's not all they have planned. More »

10:00 AM on Thu Jul 3 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,457 views, 19 comments

Latest by mr.chophoppers: @amblito: LJK Setright would most likely not approve. It's too wide. more »

2009 pontiac g8 el camino

"El Camino" Name Is Still Alive For The Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

Despite a report from KickingTires.com two months ago that "El Camino" was officially out as a name for the new ute from Pontiac, we're now being told by Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson the name is still very much in the mix. What reason there may have been for this change? Unknown. But all we do know is if the chance still exists to bring back the "El Cam" — to any GM brand — we're in full support of it. What we're not in support of — dropping a V6 between the rails. More on that below the jump.

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5:55 PM on Wed Jul 2 2008
By Ray Wert
1,891 views, 54 comments

Latest by saeble: @Garb: the FX/FJ was a pile of poo, a rejected US design, for good reason. the only reason why it has a warm place in AU history is because it was AUs first real shot at making a car... my more »

2010 cadillac cts sport wagon

Unsurprisingly, The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Is Coming

Here's the lede off a story today atop Crain's breaking news daily auto rag, Automotive News:

"General Motors will unveil a Cadillac CTS wagon this fall in an effort to compete with BMW's 3 series and Mercedes C-class wagons. Cadillac intends to start production in 2009 for global sale. GM has shown a CTS coupe concept to be produced next year."

Really? So GM's really going to build a 2010 Cadillac CTS wagon? Who knew? Wait, we did. Also — a 3-series? Our sources tell us the CTS wagon will more likely be a direct competitor to the 5-Series and E-Class wagon rather than a 3-Series. OK Automotive News, what else ya got? More »

12:00 PM on Mon Jun 23 2008
By Ray Wert
1,791 views, 27 comments

Latest by n/a: @theeastbaykid: sorry 'bout that, but it was a low res picture before I did the screen dump...Wally more »

industry news

Used Truck Dealers Reporting Pickup Prices Plunging 25% Over Past Three Months

Not surprisingly, the implosion of the new pickup/SUV market now means that your '06 Silverado doubles in value every time you fill the tank. Large retail groups such as CarMax are reporting wholesale prices for big pickups have plunged 25% in the last three months alone. With trade-in values making up a significant factor in many new car transactions, dealers are finding themselves squeezed by more truck owners "upside-down" in their loans. With dealers unable to finance new purchases, they've resorted to desperate tactics — like leaving truck owners sitting their with their manhood replacements hanging out, unable to trade it in. More »

9:20 AM on Mon Jun 23 2008
By Andrew Stoy
2,646 views, 52 comments

Latest by n/a: Come to think of it, shouldn't this give a boost to the part of the economy that needs it, mainly the farmers and ranchers and the people who actually, you know... NEED vehicles like these? They can now pick more »

2009 audi a7

2009 Audi A7 Debuts Hilarious New Concept In Camouflage

Looking like your Great Aunt Edna in a flowing muumuu, the 2009 Audi A7 camouflaging strategy has taken a turn for the hilarious. Instead of the traditional "tape and blocks," or "crazy looking vinyl decals," Audi has decided on "giant brown tarp with holes cut in it" as the easiest way to keep prying eyes off its new coupe/saloon. It may be good camo, but we can still glean a couple of details. More »

8:30 AM on Tue Jun 17 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
4,317 views, 56 comments

down on the street bonus edition

DOTS-O-Rama Sunday: 1967 Plymouth Sport Fury III

We're still in lovely Costa Mesa, California, where Tomsk photographed this '67 Plymouth Fury for us. The hood ornament and "Commando V8" badging indicate that the car shipped with a 270- or 325-horsepower 383 under the hood (although there's no telling what sort of powerplant lives there now, what with the ready availability of so many flavors of Mopar engines over the decades). Jump like the cost of filling this thing up with high-octane to read Tomsk's observations.

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5:30 PM on Sun Jun 15 2008
By Murilee Martin
965 views, 25 comments

Latest by n/a: "The new Plymouth Fury! The car that thinks it's a house!" more »

novelties

Transvertible: Because You Need A Convertible Pontiac Trans Sport

Many of us have taken a hopeless beater and applied Sawzall to make a very affordable convertible... but a homemade minivan convertible takes some ambition. Not that it can't be done- hey, even the tool-challenged hosts at Top Gear have done it- but it's not as common as, say, a convertible Achieva. Paul Niedermeyer found this gem in his Pacific Northwest haunts and was kind enough to share with us: "Saw it sitting in my neighborhood. Guy next door said the owner had to move it due to a divorce. What a beaut." Check out the plaque!

3:00 PM on Wed Jun 11 2008
By Murilee Martin
2,794 views, 62 comments

Latest by Stuntdriver: trasvestible....... more »

custom cars

$500,000 Range Stormer Replica For Sale, Perfect For When You Ain't Found Shit In The Desert

Range Rover Sport too dull for you? Too many doors? Not in line with your posh Dubai lifestyle? Need something to comb the desert in? Good news friend, West Coast Customs Dubai is reproducing the Range Stormer concept in street legal form. Better news is there's one on sale at Alwan's used cars for a cool $500,000. It seems a member of the Dubai royal family thought the concept was so fly he had West Coast Customs US build him one out of a regular old boring Range Rover Sport. WCC decided maybe there'd be a few more so why not task the Dubai branch to make a couple more. Head down to crazy Al's if you can't live without a two door Stormer of your own.

[AutoTrader Dubai (no, really) via LandRoverChronicles]

3:40 PM on Wed Jun 4 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
2,413 views, 30 comments

Latest by layabout: A chav would buy this after a lotto win,that or a footballer,they both have the same poor taste. more »

2009 jetta sportwagen

2009 Jetta SportWagen Pricing, Specs Announced

While we've been waiting for an official announcement of prices and specs for the 2009 Jetta SportWagen, someone noticed that the prices are actually now up on the VeeDub website. Works for us. The base price, sans destination, is $18,999 for the S mode with the 2.5-Liter I5 and a five-speed manual (which we reviewed). That's a reasonable price for a fairly refined, fun wagon without too many obnoxious features. Add $2K to that price if you want a 6-speed tiptronic tranny. Drop another $1,350 and you can upgrade to the SE model, which includes a much better sound system and faux leather seating. If you want the 2.0T I4, and trust us you do, it's going to cost you a little more.

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10:20 AM on Wed Jun 4 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,154 views, 38 comments

Latest by n/a: Fail. Jetta Passat $25,990 > $25,200 32.8 < 35.8 cu ft Mexico < Germany more »

2010 cadillac cts sport wagon

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Pictures, Details Leaked?

We've seen the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon but that was masked up with black camo as it was being tested on the road . Now we've got some un-camoed pictures of the newest member to the 2010 CTS family as it's apparently being tested online for opinions. The CTS family already includes the sedan and the 2010 CTS Coupe, and with this new Wagon der Sport, it'll be a threesome. Thanks to tipster Wally, this screen capture from what's purportedly a Harris Poll opinion survey (Cadillac PR would neither confirm nor deny the veracity) not only shows us exactly what the wagon will look like, but what specifications we can expect under the "Art & Science" skin. We'll take ours with the 304 HP 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 connected to the 6-speed automatic, but apparently a 260 HP 3.0-liter V6 and all-wheel-drive will also be available. Evidently, pricing will be in the $37,500 to $42,500 range. For that coin, you'll reportedly get equipment like full-time traction control, electronic stability control, side curtain airbags, and UltraView double-size sunroof, 8-speaker Bose stereo, available 5.1 Surround Sound with hard drive music storage and live radio pause/re-play, available pop-up touch-screen navigation system, and of course OnStar. All sound familiar to you? That's because it's the same options list on the CTS. More info and Cadillac CTS Wagon spy photos below the jump.

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10:30 AM on Sat May 31 2008
By Mark Arnold
13,686 views, 60 comments

Latest by Jones91: woops, i meant to say CTS (whatever they call the wagon) but this is just a testimony to how little i care about Cadillacs more »

2009 subaru exiga

Subaru Exiga STi?

It's got a sleek aero-kit, bronze-colored wheels, and a scoop on the hood. But, is this an STi version of the forthcoming Subaru Exiga? Have our cries been heard? Does mommy have a new rally-rocket? More »

9:40 AM on Thu May 22 2008
By Mark Arnold
3,238 views, 13 comments

spada ts codatronca

Spada TS Codatronca Production Announced, Tie Fighters No Longer Cool

Mr. Vader, the latest in your ever expanding fleet has arrived. We thought the Spadaconcept Codatronica was but a glimmer in the eye of some crazy Italians. After months of development work and the creation of a production company, Spadavetturesport has announced production readiness for the Spada TS Codatronca. The car is a masterwork of stealth combined with aerodynamics, menace with purpose. Clad in black with an aluminum V8 sporting 630 HP and 492 lb.ft. of torque, the terror from Torino can top out at 211 MPH.

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6:20 PM on Wed May 14 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
4,203 views, 74 comments

Latest by n/a: I'm not digging the headlights, but damn... more cars need exhausts like the Spada. Its gonna be a bitch to keep that area clean though... more »

motorcycles

BMW Motorrad Does Cross Promotion, Military Discounts

You can tell it's getting into riding season now as BMW Motorrad is picking up steam in its promo activities. They're dropping BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld onto a spankin' new BMW HP2 Megamoto for some cross corporate shilling. We've been enjoying the twin delights of two-wheeled transport and 50+ MPG fuel consumption since the snow cleared from the streets. Despite the fun had on an old bike, there's nothing quite like a new one, and above that, there's nothing quite like a BMW. While they are great bikes, they're quite spendy, so if you're a member of the armed services, we've got some good news for you. More »

9:20 AM on Tue May 13 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,501 views, 24 comments

Latest by volksdragon: anyone else perturbed by that jacket's "nazi armband" appearance? more »

2009 mazda6

2009 Mazda6 Pricing Revealed In Online Survey, Starts Under $20,000

Looks like Mazda is shopping around pricing and package options among its most die hard fans (like Zach at Mazda6club.com) and there is quite a range of trim and options. Spread across seven different option levels, the Mazda6 looks like it will start in the neighborhood of $19,850 for the Mazda6 i SV with the 170 HP four, and an array of options and will go all the way up to $29,150 for the gee-whiz Mazda6 s Grand Touring with a 272 HP 3.7L V6 and nearly every gadget and gee-gaw you can think of. Complete breakdown with all known options below — keep in mind this is still subject to change, but we're pretty impressed with what they've put together at this point

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9:40 AM on Thu May 8 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
5,115 views, 35 comments

Latest by BlownOring: I hoep my V6 with a manual will stop depreciating like an SOB now. more »

Jalopnik

Ten Worst Things Automakers Do To Make Their Cars Seem Cheap

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