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Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Toyota

Toyota Belgium has just launched a new campaign for the Toyota RAV4 Black Edition that allows participants to earn discounts for the vehicle based on their location. Smartphone users download the RAV4 Adventure Discount App, travel to a so-called adventurous location within Belgium and sign in with the application. The app then calculates a discount based on just how daring you are. While far-flung wilderness locations are an obvious choice for big discounts, Toyota has hinted there are plenty of adventurous spots in city locales as well.

The campaign seems pretty brilliant to us, though we have to wonder how many RAV4 buyers will be willing to cover hill and dale in pursuit of a few extra hundred euros off of their bottom line. So far, it appears the app and the discounts are only good in Belgium, though it wouldn't surprise us if Toyota used a similar marketing ploy in other markets. Hit the jump to check out an ad for the app after the jump, complete with a mustachioed woodsman.

Continue reading Toyota Belgium offering adventurous location-based RAV4 discounts

Toyota Belgium offering adventurous location-based RAV4 discounts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Technology, Honda, Hyundai, Porsche, Subaru, Volkswagen, Fisker

Porsche Macan, Fisker finances, DOT guidelines



Episode #270 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris, Dan, and Autoblog Executive Editor Chris Paukert. Topics include the announcement of the Porsche Macan, the state of Fisker's finances, the DOT proposal for distracted driving guidelines, and in-dash smartphone integration tech. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #270:

• Porsche Macan
• Fisker on the ropes?
• DOT proposes distracted-driving guidelines
• Could smartphone integration be the solution for the DOT?

In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
2012 Honda Civic CNG
2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
2012 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert
Runtime: 01:18:08 Get the podcast
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

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Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #270

Autoblog Podcast #270 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Jaguar, UK, Luxury

Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, few automobile shapes are as imitated as the legendary Jaguar E-Type. Of course, Jaguar itself has drawn inspiration from its most iconic sportscar with the contemporary XK and the more recent C-X16 concept. Eagle has reinterpreted the classic with modern accoutrements. And about a year ago a Swedish designer by the name of Bo Zolland rendered a sumptuously retro re-imagination of the form with the Growler E.

That design was slated to go into limited production by a firm called Visualtech, but now the design has resurfaced under a new moniker: Lyonheart. Based on a tweaked version of Zolland's renderings, designer Robert Palm has given the retro E a slightly more aggressive look, with more catlike headlamps and retro touches that are somehow even more pronounced.

The new Anglo-Swiss outfit intends to render the shape in carbon fiber, stainless steel, brushed aluminum, chrome, leather and wood veneer and put it into limited production in England for 495,000 euros a pop - equivalent to about $650K. Power is slated to come from a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 550 metric horsepower (542 by our standards) and 500 pound-feet of torque, which - coupled with a curb weight targeted under 3,500 lbs - aims to propel the Lyonheart K from 0-62 mph in under four seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 300 kph (186 mph).

Follow the jump for the press release and scope out the fresh renderings in the high-res image gallery above for a closer look.

Continue reading Lyonheart K aims to rekindle British sporting tradition with E-Type homage

Lyonheart K aims to rekindle British sporting tradition with E-Type homage originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC

Exclusive can be an overused word in the automotive industry, but if anyone can claim the description, it's Mosler. The Florida-based supercar manufacturer recently announced that it will be limiting production of its MT900S Photon supercar to a single unit for 2012. Having that sort of exclusivity comes at a cost, though, and the customer that decides to pick up Mosler's 2012 allocation will have to shell out upwards of $479,000.

So what's so special about the Mosler MT900S Photon? For starters, it's one of the lightest supercars on the market, weighing in at just under 2,500 pounds thanks to a composite chassis and carbon fiber body panels. Motivation comes from a 7.0-liter V8 borrowed from Chevrolet tuned to deliver 535 horsepower, allowing the Mosler to reach 60 mph in less than three seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph. Despite having a design that's more than a decade old, the Mosler still looks somewhat modern (if kit-car like), particularly with in Proton guise that adds additional aerodynamic modications.

Hit the jump for the brief press release from Mosler Automotive, or have a look at the car in more detail in the gallery above.

Continue reading Mosler MT900S Photon limited to one car per year

Mosler MT900S Photon limited to one car per year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury, Racing

Any outfit with the cash can buy a Formula One team. Integrating it into an existing automaker, however, isn't an overnight proposition. Both Lotus and Caterham are currently undergoing that process, but so is Mercedes-Benz.

The German automaker bought out what was then the World Champion Brawn GP team (previously known as Honda and before that, as British American Racing) a couple of years ago as a standalone racing team, and has been bringing it into the corporate fold ever since. This year, the team previously known as Mercedes GP has been rebranded as Mercedes AMG (as was the division that produces its F1 engines). To drive the point home, the company's broadened performance arm launched two very different cars under the same banner in Barcelona this week.

The main event is W03, the new single-seater that Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will be driving in the 2012 Formula One World Championship. Bound to the same new set of regulations as the other teams, the new Mercedes AMG W03 shares some of the same traits as the rest of the field - most notably the stepped nose section that Mercedes' PR team cleverly calls "distinctive." Since engine development remains frozen pending the launch of the new turbo six, the W03 is powered by the same FO108Z engine - all 2.4 liters and eight cylinders of it - as last year's car, and for that matter the latest McLaren and Force India challengers are, too.

While Daimler was at it, though, it has taken the opportunity to show off its new Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Roadster for the first time. Based on the SL-Class that debuted just two months ago at the Detroit Auto Show, the SL63 packs AMG's fast-becoming-ubiquitous M157 twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 with 529 horsepower, but unburdened of 242 pounds of excess weight from the outgoing model (thanks primarily to the widespread use of aluminum and magnesium where the last model was made of steel), the new SL63 AMG can rocket from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds (4.2 with the optional AMG Performance Package) while returning 30 percent better fuel economy.

Check out our high-res galleries of both open-top Three-Pointed Stars and hop through to the jump to see some videos.

Continue reading Mercedes AMG launches new SL63 with W03 F1 car in Barcelona [w/videos]

Mercedes AMG launches new SL63 with W03 F1 car in Barcelona [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Videos, Porsche, Humor

Yes, that is a Porsche 911. Yes, that is fresh concrete. No, this is not some uber-powerful aftermarket-tuned car that just liquified the San Francisco pavement underneath - the Porsche was driven into this predicament.

Now before we start passing judgment on this poor soul, a driver who has so obviously burned more than his share of karmic bridges, let's just pause to thank him or her, both for providing us the enjoyment of this video and also for upholding certain reputations.

And let us also remember that the next time we're stuck in traffic because of road construction, to just put some Michael McDonald on the stereo and chill out, rather than trying to pass everyone by driving through the construction lane and getting stuck in fresh concrete.

To watch the whole video, which does contain some NSFW language, click past the jump.

Continue reading Watch this hapless Porsche 911 get extracted from wet cement

Watch this hapless Porsche 911 get extracted from wet cement originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Etc., Ferrari

There are any of a number of places you'd expect to find a Ferrari: at the race track, on the auction block, in the showroom, parked in front of the swankiest restaurants in town... To see one in the water usually spells trouble, but history is not without its exceptions.

Back in the 1980s, Italian boatbuilder Riva collaborated with Ferrari for a rather Testarossa-inspired speedboat, but long before that, the House that Enzo Built lent its expertise and 4.5-liter V12 engine to Achille Castoldi to build the hydroplane power boat you see here.

Castoldi was bent on setting a new speed record on the water, and with this spectacular watercraft - dubbed Arno XI - he did just that. The Ferrari-powered vessel hit an astonishing 150.19 miles per hour at Lake Iseo in northern Italy on October 15, 1953. That's mighty impressive in its own right, but what's even more astounding is that the record stands in the 800kg category to this day.

To get there, Ferrari and Castoldi took the same Type 375 4.5-liter V12 engine that powered José Florian Gonzalez to his first grand prix victory at Silverstone, marinized it and fitted two superchargers to crank out more than 600 horsepower.

Now Arno XI is heading to the auction block in Monaco, where RM Auctions expects it will fetch around $1.5 million. Whether you've got that kind of cash or not - and whether or not Monte Carlo is in your travel plans for May - you can pull up alongside it in the gallery of high-resolution studio and archival images above.

1950s Ferrari-powered world record hydroplane heading to auction in Monaco originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, BMW, Saab

On this episode of As the Saab Turns: Bankruptcy administrators have bidders, and one of them might be a German carmaker!

According to a post on Saabs United, "6-7 serious bidders" are trying to snag the remains of Saab. One European company "is German and located in Munich," according to the report, which notes that whatever company wins the Saab deal won't necessarily be the high bidder, but the package that looks the most capable getting Saab back in the car building business.

For its part, Germany's AutoBild suggests that the actual number of interested parties numbers around 14, though it isn't immediately clear how serious all of those parties are, though the Chinese are said to remain in the mix, as is an Indian concern.

It's no secret that BMW plans to expand its product portfolio, including building more fuel-efficient, front-drive cars. Could a joint BMW-Saab ( or Mini-Saab) platform - shades of the Cadillac BLS (albeit hopefully better!) - come out of such a deal? Or will the Swedish bankruptcy court reveal that it has a Chinese mistress, one that's trying to blackmail General Motors? Tune in next week...

At least 6-7 parties bidding on Saab... could BMW be one of them? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, BMW, Design/Style

Slowly but surely, we're becoming quite smitten with the F30 BMW 3 Series. The four-cylinder 328i and six-pot 335i sedans have officially launched here in the United States, and now, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the 3er body styles get the F30 treatment. First up is the wagon Touring (F31, internally), which our spies recently caught testing out in the snow.

Let's start with some good news: We have no reason to believe that BMW won't offer its capacious 3 Series here in the United States. The Touring has been a part of the 3's lineup in the U.S. for decades, and BMW executives have already confirmed that the wagon will be offered here in the States.

Like the outgoing 3 Series, expect just a 328i model in rear- and (forthcoming) xDrive all-wheel-drive formats. Of course, other markets will get some tasty diesel options, but since the wagon doesn't account for a huge percentage of 3 Series sales in the U.S., having one engine option will likely have to suffice.

Look for the 3 Series Touring to launch in the near future (Geneva Motor Show?) with the first cars hitting the ground in Europe this fall.

BMW 3 Series Touring shakes its roomy rump originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Japan, Videos, Porsche, Specialty, Luxury

Akira Nakai is the man behind the tuner RWB - Rauh-Welt Begriff, which is loosely translated as "Rough World Concept," and he doesn't often climb out from under one of the 930 or 964 Porsches he's working on. His original shop in Japan is now 20 years old and he still works in the same building, even though his tuning ethos has caught on hot enough to provide other shops around the world.

He's a car nut, simply, and he makes nutty - in a good way - cars. The guys at eGarage got him away from a project long enough to say a few words about what he does, what he thinks, and what he'll be doing until he dies. Even though he speaks a different language, he sums all of us up nicely. Check him out in the video premiering exclusively on Autoblog after the jump.

Continue reading eGarage interviews Akira Nakai of RWB in latest video

eGarage interviews Akira Nakai of RWB in latest video originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Videos, The List

Every year in November, the Specialty Equipment Market Association hosts a trade show out in the desert. You know it as the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Held in the sprawling square footage of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the SEMA Show is where just about every automotive aftermarket company and supplier comes to share its wares. About 1,500 new products debut there each year, and even automakers brave the crowds to show off their most wild and custom concept and performance vehicles.

Despite being a trade-only event and technically not open to the public, we've included it on The List because so many enthusiasts have told us they want to attend and, based on our experience, many of them find a way in. We got Jessi and Patrick passes for this past year's SEMA Show to experience the chaos, and they filed this report.

Follow the jump to watch them check off "Attend SEMA" from The List.

• Have an RSS feed? Click here to add The List.
• Do you have an idea for The List? Click here to tell us what would be on yours.
• You can also click here to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick.

Continue reading The List #0777: Attend SEMA

The List #0777: Attend SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hyundai, First Drives, New Car Reviews

It's What's Inside That Counts



Long before we saw the Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the flesh, word of the vehicle's arrival flittered around the web with tantalizing persistence. Few rumors manage to get the enthusiast world licking its chops quite as well as one with a potent V6 in the nose of a rear-wheel-drive two-door. Editors began salivating at the thought of a performance coupe renaissance, complete with all of the associated front-page comparos, while forums lit up with threads detailing hypothetical grudge matches between the would-be Korean prize fighter and hardware from the Nissan 370Z to the then-upcoming Chevrolet Camaro V6. Hyundai had clearly rustled up some snakes.

Then the Genesis Coupe debuted, and while ingredients like available Brembo brakes and a limited-slip rear differential pointed to the possibility of a genuine contender, it's fair to say the coupe never really became a top-flight prospect for many enthusiasts. A vague gearbox and similarly detached brakes sapped precision from the platform, consigning it to a mid-pack finish in our three-way Battle of the Sixes comparison test back in 2010.

None of this is news to Hyundai. The company began planning ways to sharpen its first genuine sports car nearly as soon as the vehicle debuted at the 2008 New York Auto Show. For 2013, the two-door receives a dose of the automaker's patented love-it-or-hate-it styling as well as a host of mechanical improvements tucked behind the polarizing aesthetics. Are the changes enough to give the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe the fangs it needs to thrive in the cutthroat performance coupe world?

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe [w/video]

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities

As Danica Patrick prepares for her first NASCAR Sprint Cup race next weekend in the Daytona 500, she's apparently taking advantage of the publicity to try to remediate her image. After seven years of promoting her attractiveness with nearly equal billing to her race driving acumen, Patrick has asked the media to quit calling her "sexy."

According to USA Today, Patrick said "If there is a pretty girl, (reporters) don't know how to describe her other than being sexy. It has such a negative connotation to it ... Why can't there be other words for it? Why does it have to be somewhat negatively twisted?"

Patrick was featured in the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and has appeared in racy ads for her sponsor GoDaddy.com that also played up her looks. She has also made several "sexiest" lists, including one compiled by Victoria's Secret and two by FHM magazine.

Patrick's big break came in her first Indy 500 appearance, when she became the first woman to lead the race. She finished fourth that year, in the same position she qualified. Patrick raced in the Indy Racing League for seven years, while also competing in ARCA and NASCAR's Nationwide Series in 2010 and 2011 in preparation for this year's transition to Sprint Cup.

PSA: Danica Patrick prefers being called "pretty" rather than "sexy" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Infiniti, Luxury

The first example of a given model to roll of the production line is called "Job One," and the Infiniti is celebrating just that for its 2013 JX: A seven-seater crossover in Emerald Green - mated with its 265-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 from Decherd, TN - has rolled off the production line. Infiniti expects numerous JXs behind it to be the second most popular model in the company's lineup, bested only by the G sedan, coupe and convertible range.

The $41,400 (including $950 destination) three-row crossover and its liberal suite of configurations and technologies goes on sale in March, but you can register your interest or play with the configurator right now. There's also a press release after the jump with more details.

Continue reading 2013 Infiniti JX production underway

2013 Infiniti JX production underway originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Luxury

With dozens of major automakers competing to separate us from our hard-earned cash in return for the newest, greatest development in motorized transportation, there are new cars making their debut just about every day. But the vast majority of them are not, of course, from Ferrari. Even with four production model lines, the purveyor of exotic performance machinery doesn't have a new model to roll out every day. But that rare occurrence is coming up, and in typical Maranello style, it's coming up fast.

We're talking, of course, about the F620 GT, a new front-engined, rear-drive V12 supercar designed to succeed the 599. We've brought you spy shots of the prototype undergoing testing at Fiorano and seemingly countless rumors of its composition, but soon we won't have to squint at spy shots and speculate at details as the car's unveiling is just around the corner.

Although the supercar's public debut is expected to take place at the Geneva Motor Show in just a couple of weeks from now, Ferrari will reveal the car it calls its most powerful to date in all its glory a little before that, on February 29. In the meantime, you're invited to crank up the speakers, strap on a bib and click past the jump for a teaser video where a camouflaged prototype clears its throat in spectacular fashion.

Continue reading Ferrari clears its throat and announces new F620 GT to debut on February 29

Ferrari clears its throat and announces new F620 GT to debut on February 29 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal, Technology, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota

With all the news coming out recently about the small claims lawsuit over the Honda Civic Hybrid, readers may have forgotten the name behind a long-running legal issue over Toyota's hybrid system: Paice. The latest development is that Paice and the Abell Foundation (an investor in Paice) have sued Hyundai and Kia over the gas-electric technology used in the Optima and Sonata hybrids (pictured), which shares some parts with Paice says infringes its patents, just as it says Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive does. Read up on the details of Alex Severinsky's story here.

According to Automotive News, Paice claims that Hyundai and Kia should have known that Toyota was dealing with legal issues - especially since Paice has been contacting Hyundai about the issue - and says that the Korean automakers are infringing upon three patents that Paice owns. Toyota and Paice settled their long-looming hybrid patent infringement case in 2010 after eight years, during which time the courts routinely rejected Toyota's request to dismiss the case. Toyota eventually paid royalties to Paice for the Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h models it sold.

Paice drags Hyundai, Kia into long-running hybrid patent fight with Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials

Automotive industry analysts are projecting sales of over 14.4 million units this year, a lofty figure we originally reported late last year. Unfortunately, it seems that those paid visionaries may be an overly optimistic bunch as the actual sales figures - calculated by outside experts - are expected to be significantly lower.

American Honda expects sales growth of 25 percent over last year, while Nissan is estimating an 18-percent growth. Toyota Motor Sales, Chrysler Group and General Motors are all aiming for a 15-percent bump. All of those numbers exceed outside calculations, which say industry growth will be at about eight percent in 2012.

Industry experts at J.D. Power and Associates say many automakers have been simply too aggressive with forecasts. "There are painful decisions to be made," the company said. "Companies need to maintain discipline with realistic forecasts. The recovery is taking longer than expected. Getting too aggressive can lead to bad practices like pushing inventory." In layman's terms, production plans are based on sales goals (factories are tasked with producing enough cars to keep the showrooms stocked). If volume estimates are too high, hundreds of thousands of new cars could be sitting unsold at dealerships later this year, leading to an industry-wide incentives war.

In defense of the automakers, the optimism isn't completely unfounded. Natural disasters rocked the Japanese manufacturers last year, and they expect to use 2012 to reclaim much of their market. In addition, nearly every automaker is introducing new products in high-volume segments. Nevertheless, J.D. Power projects a 13.8 million market in 2012, followed by 15.4 million in 2013 and 16.2 million in 2014.

Automakers' sales goals add up to optimistic forecast originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Maserati, Fiat

The Fiat group has a knack for (or a habit of) dressing up its most affordable hatchbacks in tribute to its most expensive exotics. Alfa Romeo did a special MiTo and Giulietta for Maserati dealers, and Abarth did a special 500 to honor Ferrari. But since the latter has run its production run, the Scorpion marque is celebrating Maserati with this latest version.

Destined for unveiling at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the new Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati features the same 180 horsepower 1.4-liter turbo four as the aforementioned Tributo Ferrari, but with different 17-inch alloys. The Maserati version also adopts the 500C's retracting roof panel and a more elegant design approach than the previous Ferrari edition, topped by a three-layer burgundy paint job and sand beige Pontrona Frau leather.

Only 499 examples will be offered, and probably spoken for in quick order. But whether you think this gussied-up Cinquecento is any more worthwhile than the Mini Goodwood edition or the Aston Martin Cygnet will probably depend mostly on whether you've ever tried to drive a GranTurismo or Quattroporte through Europe's notoriously crowded city streets. Check it out in the trio of high-res images below and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Abarth pays homage to Maserati with Geneva-bound 695 cabrio special

Abarth pays homage to Maserati with Geneva-bound 695 cabrio special originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Aston Martin

The name Zagato may be most closely associated in the minds of many with other Italian marques - names like Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari. But the truest of connoisseurs wouldn't make the mistake of excluding Aston Martin from the list.

When the two stoic names teamed up for the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, it came as only the latest fruits of a collaboration that stretches back for decades. The classically curvaceous DB4 GT Zagato started it all in 1960, followed by the pugnacious V8 Vantage Zagato and V8 Volante Zagato of the mid-80s and the DB7 V12 Zagato and DB AR1 of the new millennium.

To highlight the lineage, Zagato released the renderings pictured above and a brief history of the bonds that tie it to Aston Martin. Click above to view in extra high resolution and follow the jump to delve into the text.

Continue reading Zagato sketches out its history with Aston Martin

Zagato sketches out its history with Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Bentley, Luxury

With co-branding arrangements in place with an increasing array of luxury labels, Bentley doesn't limit its brand just to cars these days. But of all the sunglasses, wallets, pens, skis and cashmere scarves licensed by the British purveyor of super-luxury automobiles, few are as well established as its partnership with Breitling.

The Swiss watchmaker has been with Bentley for years, and has celebrated every milestone along the way. So with the introduction of the new V8-powered Continental GT, Breitling wasn't about to miss the opportunity to dazzle us with another piece of shiny wrist candy.

Limited to just 250 examples, the Breitling for Bentley GMT V8 chronograph features an additional hour hand that displays the time in a second time zone, and a rotating red inner bezel displaying major cities in time zones around the world. It's powered by a COSC-certified chronometer mechanism with a 30-second sweep, encased in steel and affixed to the wrist with either a metal bracelet or unique rubber strap.

We wouldn't dare ask how the timepiece sells for, but considering the Bentley customers they're selling to, we'd expect suitably Bentley-like prices.

Breitling celebrates new Continental GT with GMT V8 chronograph originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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