Drive trailer gets our right foot all twitchy

Once in a while, in between the Fast and Furious movies, we pine for some real old-school car chases on film--whether they involve police, murderers or other race-car drivers. Le Mans comes to mind, along with Bullitt, or anything by John Frankenheimer. And if a car-centric movie wins a few indie awards, that's all the better.
Next month, a car-guy film called Drive is set to hit theaters, starring Ryan Gosling as the wheelman. It's the classic story--he's a stunt driver with some pro racing experience by day and an illegal wheelman at night.
Drive won at the Cannes Film Festival for best director and was nominated for the Palme d'Or, which is sort of a "best in show" award.
The first trailer gives a glimpse of the basic story of the movie and Gosling's character, before he shows off some fancy moves in a 5.0 Ford Mustang. He makes it clear that he doesn't participate in the dirty part of the job, only the getaway. There's also a part where he dons a lifelike mask for a movie role, which is sure to be foreshadowing.
The second trailer has the wheelman waiting in the getaway car for some thugs to finish their job. Once they're in, police swarm while Gosling's character tries to slip out of the net. The scene gets tense when the criminals creep in right behind the police before making an escape.
The movie heads to theaters on Sept. 16.

Ferrari future products: Replacements due for the 430 Spider, the 599 GTB Fiorano

Ferrari will replace two of its five core models, the 430 Spider and the 599 GTB Fiorano, in the next two years, while adding a sportier variant to its best-selling model, the 458 Italia.

Here is a look at Ferrari's future product plans:

458 Italia: U.S. shipments of Ferrari's best-selling model began in June last year. A freshening is planned in 2014. Ferrari is adding a sportier variant, the 458 Scuderia, in 2013.

458 Spider: At the Frankfurt show in September, Ferrari will debut the 458 Spider, which will replace the 430 Spider. The powertrain will be unchanged, while a retractable hard top will replace the canvas top offered on the 430. Sales in Europe begin in September. U.S. shipments follow in the first quarter of 2012.

California: A freshening for the Ferrari California is planned for 2013.

599 GTB Fiorano: In 2012 Ferrari will replace the 599 GTB Fiorano with a redesigned model still known by its code-name, F152. The new car will remain a two-seat coupe with rear drive and a direct-injection V12 longitudinal engine mounted in the front. The model will debut in March at the Geneva auto show, with European sales to begin in the summer and U.S. shipments by year end.

FF: The first all-wheel-drive Ferrari debuted in March at the Geneva show, went on sale in July in Europe and will arrive by year end in the States. Ferrari is building 800 units a year of the four-seat FF coupe; production is sold out until the end of 2012.

The FF, which stands for Ferrari Four, replaced the company's 612 Scaglietti flagship. The FF is marginally bigger and roomier but at 3,946 pounds weighs the same as the Scaglietti despite adding awd.

The FF is powered by a new 660-hp, 6.3-liter V12 direct-injection engine that takes the car to 208 mph.

Limited-edition car: The successor to the Enzo limited-edition supercar is set to go on sale in 2012. The all-carbon fiber model will be powered with a new, normally aspirated V-12 and will herald weight-reduction and fuel-saving technologies that Ferrari plans to adapt to its entire range by the end of decade.

It is unclear how many units Ferrari plans to build. The company built 399 units of the Enzo, launched in 2002, and 349 units of predecessor, the 1995 F50.

U.S. turns down airbag exemption for the Pagani Huayra

U.S. safety officials have shot down Italian supercar maker Pagani's request that the Huayra coupe be exempted from needing advanced airbags--a move that means Pagani can't legally sell the car in the States.

Safety rules require that all new cars sold in the United States be equipped with airbags that can automatically adjust deployment force based on the height and weight of the seat occupant. Sensors in the seat help tailor the airbag's force.

Tesla and Lamborghini are among brands that have been granted waivers based on financial hardship over the past five years. Lamborghini's exemption expired in February, and Tesla's is almost up.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said earlier this year that it would stop giving such exemptions.

In February, Pagani said it hoped to sell five copies of the $1.1 million Huayra in the States this year. The company said it wouldn't sell cars in the United States until 2015 without a waiver. The denial of the petition would cost it $4.5 million in net income from 2011 to 2014, Pagani said

 

Alfa Romeo future products: 4C, Giulia lead return to U.S. market

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler Group, says Alfa Romeo will return to the United States in late 2012. But if he makes the deadline, just a few units of the 4C limited-edition coupe would be on sale.
Alfa's full return is now planned in mid-2013, about a half-year later than Marchionne's most recent timetable, with a compact crossover. A crucial mid-sized sedan, the Giulia, will follow, by the end of 2013 at the earliest.
Technically, Alfa is in the United States: It sold a few of limited-edition 8C models at Maserati dealerships.
Marchionne's original plan called for North America to account for 85,000 of Alfa's 500,000 sales by 2014. That target looks doubtful in part because of delays in the redesign of the Giulia sedan and delays to larger vehicles. Last year Alfa sold 112,000 vehicles globally.
Subcompact: The car originally was intended as a five-door variant of the Europe-only three-door MiTo (pronounced Me-To). It is now expected to be a new model, which could be imported to North America from Italy beginning in 2013.
4C: Marchionne calls it "the first Alfa Romeo car to re-enter the U.S. market." His wish is to respect the end-of-2012 deadline, but the first units could be shipped to U.S. dealers in early 2013.
The 4C is a "baby" 8C, with a carbon-fiber body and a 250-hp, turbocharged, 1.8-liter direct-injection gasoline inline four-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels.
Alfa plans a total production of about 5,000 units a year of the 4C two-seat coupe, whose target price is below 40,000 euros (about $57,000) in Europe. The 4C will go on sale in Europe at the end of 2012 under current plans.
Giulietta: Alfa's compact hatchback would come to North America when it's refreshed in 2013. The Giulietta, launched in Europe in July 2010, was the first vehicle on Fiat's new Compact platform. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and some Alfa models will use a longer, wider version of the platform, called CUSW, for Compact U.S. Wide.
Giulia: In the past 18 months, Marchionne first approved but then killed three styling proposals for the mid-sized Giulia sedan. The styling work is still far from a design freeze, thus the Giulia sedan would debut at the end of 2013 at the earliest. The wagon likely would come in 2014.
The Giulia sedan and wagon are set to be built in the United States and exported to Europe. They will replace the slow-selling 159 sedan and Sportwagon models, which Alfa discontinued at the end of May.
The two Giulias, which are based on the CUSW platform, will have transverse engines and front- or all-wheel drive.
Roadster: Alfa is still considering a two-seat roadster to go into production in 2013. The company has yet to choose a platform and factory for the car. One option is Chrysler's LX rear-drive platform, used for the Chrysler 300, and the Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant.
Compact crossover: At the end of 2012, Fiat will begin building a compact crossover for Alfa based on the CUSW platform at its Mirafiori plant in Turin. Shipments to the United States are expected to begin in the spring of 2013.

Mid-sized SUV: Fiat seems to have abandoned a plan to develop an Alfa sibling with the replacement for the Jeep Liberty. Also killed was an Alfa sibling of the Jeep Grand Cherokee large SUV.

Large sedan: Marchionne's most recent Alfa product plan calls for a large sedan that Chrysler could build in the United States using a stretched variant of the CUSW compact platform. The model could appear in 2014.

 

Video: Living room gets a Cobra makeover

Has someone been watching too many home-renovation TV shows? We're not sure how else to explain this YouTube video from Germany.

In it, the driver takes a Cobra or a Cobra replica that has found its way into an empty living room and proceeds to paint the wood floor with rubber in a nice circular pattern.

Why ? We don't know--but that's the Internet for you.

 

Richard Hammond to get his own car show in America

Some will argue that Top Gear will only go as far as Jeremy Clarkson takes it, and to a certain extent, there’s some truth to that. But that’s not to say that his co-hosts, Richard Hammond and James May, are scrubs by any stretch of the imagination. As a matter of fact, one of them is going to get his own show in, of all places, America.

That’s right. The Hamster himself is crossing over to the other side of the pond. As BBC continues to expand its line-up in our neck of the woods, one of the shows that has already been confirmed will feature Richie Boy in a show called ’Hard Drive with Richard Hammond.’

The show is being being pegged as something along the lines of the World’s Toughest Driving Tests. Hammond will be traveling across the vast expanses of our wondrous land in search of the weirdest machines that he can get to move faster than Captain Slow ever could. We don’t know what kind of contraptions are going to be in store for us, but we’re definitely digging the concept of the show.

Let’s hope that the show more than lives up to the pretty awesome concept.

Ferrari launches seven-year free maintenance plan

Need another reason to buy a Ferrari, if you have the means? The Prancing Horse is now offering a free, seven-year scheduled-maintenance program for those who put a 2012 California, 458 Italia or FF in their driveway.

Ferrari announced the program this week for North America, and it will roll out in global markets over the next few months. The program includes regular maintenance at 12,500 miles, or once a year.

Meanwhile, the Prancing Horse also revealed financial results for the first six months of the year, and net profits grew 23.5 percent, to $131.86 million, on the strength of revenue that increased 19.6 percent. The supercar maker also delivered 3,577 cars in that time, an upswing of 11.8 percent compared with 2011.

Ferrari pointed to strong sales of its two 12-cylinders--the 599 GTO and the SA Aperta--for strong volume. The California and the 458 also reported solid figures, the company said.

In North America, sales jumped 23.2 percent to 939 vehicles in the first half, and it remains the No. 1 market for the brand.

Interestingly, Ferrari said all of its cars were personalized in some way by customers. Look for similar results when the "tailor made" program launches in September.

Additionally, 176 copies of the 458 were sold for GT competition around the world.

Ferrari said the FF, the first all-wheel-drive car from the Prancing Horse, has not made an impact yet on the financial results, as it is just now reaching the market after a reveal at the Geneva motor show.

In other news, Ferrari signed a deal with shoemaker Puma. The Formula One team stands third in the World Championship with 192 points, trailing McLaren (243) and Red Bull (355). Its next race is this weekend in Hungary.

Maserati banks on Chrysler to boost global sales

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has bold plans for the automaker's Maserati luxury sports car unit: to boost annual sales almost tenfold to 50,000 units from 5,675 last year.

Three new models are key to this midterm goal and all are based on systems and components from Chrysler Group.

Maserati will introduce two new sedans to replace its Quattroporte flagship model using technology from Chrysler's large sedans such as the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Avenger.

The third new Maserati will be the company's first SUV. Chrysler will build it alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the Jefferson North plant in Detroit.

Maserati officials say the new models will not be rebadged Chryslers. They will have different bodies and interiors, as well as new front and rear suspensions and dedicated powertrains. The parts to be shared will be where the customer does not see it, the same as in the Bentley Continental, which is a rebodied Volkswagen Phaeton.

Quattroporte's size problem

Maserati's two new sedans will be produced at the Officine Automobilistiche Grugliasco (OAG), the new name Fiat gave to the former Carrozzeria Bertone factory it bought in 2009. Maserati will invest 550 million euros ($774 million) to refurbish the plant and launch the models.

The sedans will solve the current Quattroporte's size problem. The car is too big to be a compelling driver's car but too small--particularly in terms of rear legroom--to serve as a good chauffeur's car.

The problem will be resolved by offering two cars: a "baby" Quattroporte, code-named M157 and a larger Quattroporte, code-named M156.

The "baby" Quattroporte will launch next year and is designed to be a driver's car and compete with rivals such as the Audi A6, the BMW 5 series and the Mercedes E class.

The project was initially conceived as a flagship model for the Alfa Romeo brand but was switched to Maserati because this brand could win a higher pricing point and already has a global distribution network.

The new model keeps Maserati's traditional layout of a front longitudinal engine and rear-wheel drive.

The car will use a heavily revised, high performance version of the Chrysler V6 Pentastar engine. With capacity reduced to 3.0 liters, the addition of Fiat's fuel-saving MultiAir air management system, twin turbocharging and direct injection, this variant will deliver more than 400 hp and good fuel economy. The most powerful version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar currently delivers 305 hp on the Dodge Challenger.

Europe would also get a diesel variant of the baby Quattroporte with a beefed-up version of VM Motori's 3.0-liter V6 engine currently offered on the Jeep Grand Cherokee for export.

Maserati says the new car will fit a price range between 55,000 euros to 70,000 euros in Europe ($78,000 to $99,000).

Mercedes S class rival

The large Quattroporte will be considerably bigger than the current model to compete better with chauffeur-driven, long-wheelbase versions of German flagship sedans such as the Audi A8, BMW 7 series and Mercedes-Benz S class.

With overall length at about 203.5 inches, the new model would be 2.8 inches longer than the current Quattroporte and 8.7 inches longer than the "baby" Quattroporte.

Maserati's new flagship will use a revised version of the Ferrari-built 4.7-liter V8, switching to direct injection and delivering about 475 hp, coupled with ZF Group's eight-speed automatic transmission. This sporty, fuel-saving transmission is already available on large Audi and BMW models, while Chrysler will begin offering it on the 2012 model year on the 300 sedan and its Dodge Charger sibling.

Maserati will add all-wheel drive and stop-start technology, aiming to reduce fuel consumption by 25 percent from the current Quattroporte.

Maserati said the new Quattroporte should increase the brand's share in the global superluxury sedan segment to 8 percent from the current 3 percent. The company counts superluxury sedans as models priced between $180,000 and $215,000 (125,000 euros and 150,000 euros) in Europe.

The sedans will account for about 30,000 to 35,000 units of Maserati's 50,000 annual sales target and the SUV for about 10,000 to 15,000. The remaining 5,000 units would come from Maserati's current core products, the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible.

The new Maseratis were designed by the Maserati Styling Center in Turin, under the direction of Marco Tencone and the supervision of Fiat group design supremo Lorenzo Ramaciotti. For the past two decades, Maseratis have been styled either by Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A. or Pininfarina S.p.A.

Frankfurt SUV debut

Maserati will debut a concept at the Frankfurt auto show in September that hints at its Jeep Grand Cherokee-based large SUV set to hit the market in 2013. The Maserati variant features specific body panels and a new interior.

The engine would be Maserati's 4.7-liter V8 unit capable of about 450 hp, coupled with ZF's eight-speed automatic transmission.

Possibly only for Europe, the Maserati SUV could also get a diesel variant using VM Motori's 3.0-liter V6, with power increased to more than 300 hp from 241 hp the engine currently delivers on the Grand Cherokee exported to Europe.

Maserati declined to give a price target for its large SUV, but in Europe it would cost considerably more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7-liter V8 Overland that in Italy starts at $92,000 (63,800 euros).

Ken Block: Gymkhana Four is best yet

Ken Block and DC Shoes have started production for Gymkhana Four, which is slated for video launch late this summer.

Block said he never thought he'd outdo Gymkhana Three but that he's fully confident the fourth installment will blow it out of the water.

"The locations we visited and action we documented are absolutely wild," Block said. "Fans are going to be floored when they see the finished clip."

DC President Anton Nistl credits Block's Gymkhana video content for a spike in Facebook followers--from 1 million last October to 5.6 million to date. Block's Gymkhana franchise has brought in more than 110 million global views, and Gymkhana Three made YouTube's list of Top-10 Videos of 2010.

According to DC, Block fans can expect a whole new level of tire-smoking and precision driving in this next video. Block said the new race car he drives is "an absolute beast."

Block's Monster World Rally Team just finished building the car--a modified 2011 Ford Fiesta--in time for its public debut on Saturday at the Gymkhana World Tour event in Los Angeles. Block will use it again later this week at the X Games 17 in a rally-car racing event and a RallyCross competition.

The reworked Fiesta is dubbed the HFHV, or Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle. "Hybrid" is meant to denote a capacity for quick changes, as the Fiesta can be set up in different modes to be used for gymkhana driving, RallyCross racing or U.S. Rally America racing. External changes let the audience know which setup the car is operating in: white for gymkhana, green for RallyCross and black for Rally America.

Internally, the radiator moves between the front and rear for different setups, depending on cooling needs. Each mode also has individual suspension setups, engine programs, turbos, restrictors and more.

A new livery accompanies the new build, but retains the drip element from Block's Gymkhana Three car. It incorporates vertical pin stripes and a tonal repeat pattern from his 2011 Ford Fiesta RS WRC car.

And, yes, a new pair of updated-livery-inspired kicks will be premiere in Gymkhana Four, and DC Shoes will start selling them when the video launches.

To keep up with the making of Gymkhana Four, go to www.dcshoes.com/auto.

2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC stickers at $143,400

Pushing 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, the newest member of the Maserati lineup is now the brand's fastest production vehicle in North America.

The 2012 GranTurismo MC gets a base price of $143,400--which includes $1,800 in shipping charges and $1,700 in gas guzzler tax. For full wind-in-your-hair accelerative exposure, the convertible-sport variant starts at $146,300, including the shipping and gas guzzler charges.

The limited-production MC is the brainchild of the Maserati Corse racing team--crafted for those craving a more powerful four-seater for everyday driving. The 2012 MC offers handling and aerodynamics on par with the Stradale on sale in Europe.

The MC gets a 4.7-liter V8 that punches 444 hp and kicks out 376 lb-ft of torque. A shift-controlled ZF six-speed automatic matches revs upon downshifting and offers a top speed of 185 mph.

The combination of friction reduction on engine parts and a lighter exhaust system contribute to a 6 percent improvement in fuel economy. The MC has a shortened exhaust path with two large-diameter outlets--similar to the Trofeo race car and European Stradale.

The MC comes with an Aerodynamic Racing package that increases downforce up to 50 percent at high speeds without creating more drag.

The 2012 GranTurismo MC is expected to go on sale in late August.

Porsche , to the next generation with the new 911

Porsche’s next 911, known internally as the 991, marks a big change for the iconic model. Big, that is, in terms of size. While it rides on a thoroughly reworked version of the current 996/997 platform, it will be visibly larger. Set to be unveiled this fall at the Frankfurt auto show and go on sale as a 2012 model, the 991 gets a longer wheelbase to accommodate its airier interior. The cabin’s materials and console layout will be nicer, too, with more than a passing resemblance to the Panamera’s.

Porsche started work on the 991 under former R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer, now at Bentley and Bugatti, and the former CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking. After Volkswagen assumed control of  Porsche, styling changes were reportedly incorporated at the “request” of  Ferdinand Piëch.

Given the next 911’s longer wheelbase, we expect a more supple ride without a corresponding sacrifice in dynamic competence. Like every 911 before, the new model will remain rear-engined. Rear-wheel drive will, of course, be standard, and all-wheel drive—an option since the 1989 Carrera 4—will be available. The standard engine will be the naturally aspirated flat-six, likely in two displacements, as is currently the case. We don’t expect huge power increases, but Porsche will employ electric-assist steering to aid efficiency and some weight-saving measures such as more aluminum body panels.

The Turbo will remain at the top of the portfolio, and there are even plans for a hybrid version. More unexpectedly, Porsche might also offer a turbocharged flat-four. Such a model would be easy to justify historically—the 356 was a four, as was the 912. But a turbocharged four could get awfully close to the naturally aspirated six and dilute the “Turbo” moniker, which is still associated with the top-hole 911s.

Predictably, there will be a coupe and a convertible body as well as numerous variations, such as future GT2 and GT3 models. Their successive launches mean that the current 997 and the new 991 will be built alongside each other for a while.

Porsche knows the Cayman’s mid-engine arrangement is dynamically superior to the 911’s, but the latter’s rear-engine layout enables usable rear seats. Plus, it helps to create those classic proportions. With Porsche venturing off into formerly unknown territory such as the small-SUV and sedan markets, the classic look provides a tether to Porsche’s past. And heritage is becoming an ever-larger part of the 911’s selling proposition as it faces fierce new competition, including everything from the Audi R8 and the Nissan GT-R to boulevard cruisers such as the BMW 6-series and the Mercedes-Benz SL.

Million Dollar Fiat: 1953 Zagato Fiat 8V Elaborata

Fiat's first, and only, V8 engine debuted at the 1952 Geneva Auto Show powering a sleek two-seater intended to dominate Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia in two-liter sports-car racing.

The car was designated the 8V, or Otto Vu in Italian, because Fiat had mistakenly thought that Ford held a trademark on V8.

Fiat's legendary design engineer Dante Giacosa mounted the upper portions of a pair of 70-degree V4 engines on a single crankcase to make the 1996-cc, OHV V8. Topped with a pair of twin-choke Weber 36 DCZ3 carburetors, the tiny eight put out 110 hp at 6,000 rpm.

A four-speed, nonsynchro first-gear, manual transmission sent power to the rear wheels via a differential that was the only part shared with other Fiats. Other features included worm-and-roller steering, four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel drum brakes.

For homologation purposes, Fiat intended to build 200 8Vs, but only 114 chassis were produced from 1952 to 1954. To rev up interest, Fiat sent chassis to various coachbuilders, including Carrozzeria Zagato, famed for its stunning lightweight-bodied Fiats. Zagato took delivery of 32 8V chassis; including five with Fiat-design bodywork that were destined to become the most famous and collectible.

Called Elaboratas because Zagato “elaborated” on what was done by Fiat, they distinguished themselves in racing competition and by being the first cars to bear the iconic Zagato double-bubble roof, intended to add rigidity and also allow headroom for racing helmets.

The Elaborata we drove bears chassis No. 106.000022. Despite having the earliest number, it was the third 8V to be customized by Zagato. Although the Elaboratas were distinguished by lowered rooflines bearing the double-bubble and single headlamps, no two are exactly alike.

No. 0022 was sold new in April 1953 and then turned over to Zagato. Its race history includes being driven by Anna Maria Peduzzi, one of Italy's most successful female racers.

The car's owner acquired the car in 1998, had it restored to its original Zagato green, and installed a five-speed Alfa Romeo gearbox for use in classic-car rallies. The car has also been shown at Pebble Beach.

Entry requires yogalike flexibility for taller drivers, but once inside, legroom is generous and the pedals well spaced.

The green-painted dash presents a classic array of toggle switches and knobs. An oval-shaped instrument panel is dominated by a speedometer and tach that read upward in opposing directions.

A slight pull of the knob that activates the fuel pumps, followed by an equally gentle twist of the ignition key brings the V8 to life. Ease on the throttle for a slow but smooth getaway, then add force as power builds from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm.

The steering feels vague on-center but, as the independent rear suspension plants itself in the corners, becomes very communicative to maintain handling balance. The drum brakes, like the suspension, quickly build your confidence. Exotic but no diva, the Elaborata is a well-mannered “momentum” machine that loves to charge through corners with the revs up.

The car is expected to draw more than $1 million at the Gooding & Co. Pebble Beach auction Aug. 20-21.

Lotus Evora does special duty for Italian Carabinieri

In a tip of the hat to Britain, the Italian Arma dei Carabinieri, a division of the army charged with civilian police duties, accepted two new Lotus Evora S models for special duty. The headquarters of the Carabinieri in Rome hosted a ceremony culminating in the Evora twins being turned over by Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar.

“Everyone knows that Italy has more than its fair share of high-profile sports-car manufacturers, so it’s a real honor for a relatively small British brand to be in this position,” Bahar said. “The feedback from the driver training on the Evora S at our test track was very positive.”

Both police Evora models are equipped with enhanced vehicle automation, including voice-recognition software. Additionally, a special refrigerated compartment is installed behind the front seats for transport of vital organs or blood in case of an emergency.

The Italian army sent some members to Norfolk, England, to train in the cars.

“Our special Lotus Evoras combine the very best of our technology with excellent British engineering from Lotus,” said Carabinieri spokesman Colonel Marco Minicucci. “We carefully selected some of our team to attend a driver-training session at the new test track, where they learned all about the very special characteristics and incredible potential of the cars.”

The Lotus Evora S has a supercharged V6 under the hood, producing 345 hp and capable of a 0-to-60-mph time of 4.6 seconds.

They could've had a V8--but more opt for 4

Four is the new six.

Four-cylinders have replaced sixes as America's most popular engine choice, powering 43 percent of U.S. light vehicles sold in the first half of this year, according to IHS Automotive.

In 2005, V6s were in an identical 43 percent of vehicles sold. But over six years, four-cylinder engines rose while six-bangers fell, with fours overtaking sixes in 2009. That American icon, the V8, has lost favor even faster. It now is under one of every six hoods versus almost one of three in 2005.

The reduction in cylinders is even starker if you exclude fleet sales, which include batches of contractor pickups and vans for rug-cleaning franchisees. So far this year, more than half the vehicles sold to retail consumers had four cylinders, up sharply from a third in 2006, says J.D. Power and Associates.

Two factors are driving the shift. Buyers beset by high fuel prices are downsizing vehicles or opting for the smaller of two engine choices. And manufacturers are shrinking vehicles and engines to meet tougher 2016 federal fuel economy rules.

The automaker push and consumer pull are reshaping the American automotive market. Sales of smaller vehicles are growing: Small and mid-sized vehicles account for 44 percent of sales this year versus 36 percent in 2005. And the changes are remaking engines, as technology-laden powertrains provide more punch per piston.

"We're offering a continuous rollout of technologies," said Greg Johnson, Lincoln powertrain integration manager, in part because consumers now expect fuel prices to keep rising over time and "are going to continue to vote with their pocketbooks."

Ford Motor Co. is introducing downsized and turbocharged EcoBoost engines in several vehicles and six-speed transmissions across its entire U.S. lineup.

The added technologies mean consumers aren't giving up power. Ford's current naturally aspirated engines typically deliver 80 hp per liter, while its EcoBoost engines deliver 120 hp per liter. And, Johnson adds, "Ours are not a trade-off on the road. You have the torque for 0-to-60, passing, merging onto freeways."

Or consider the Chevrolet Cruze. The Eco version of the compact is rated at 42 mpg on the highway. But even the standard version includes a variable-displacement oil pump that pumps only what's needed as a way to improve engine efficiency.

For consumers, the obvious upside of lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles is in the lower operating costs, especially at the fuel pump. The downside: The cost of all that technology used to tweak engines and reduce weight adds up.

Making engines simultaneously smaller, more powerful and more fuel efficient costs a bundle because manufacturers must combine multiple technologies such as turbocharging, gasoline direct injection and variable valve timing, said Michael Omotoso, J.D. Power's senior manager of global powertrain forecasting.

But manufacturers and ultimately consumers are willing to "pay more because conventional gas engines are much cheaper than hybrids and electrical vehicles," Omotoso said. "If you can get 40 mpg from a sub-$20,000 car, why buy a hybrid for a lot more money?"

He estimates that gasoline-electric hybrids are priced $4,000 to $6,000 higher than comparable four-cylinder gasoline vehicles, with pure electrics $10,000 to $15,000 more.

Automakers are even preparing to test demand for three-cylinder engines.

At the 2010 Beijing auto show, Ford unveiled a 1-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. It will be used in the Ford Fiesta in the United States. Ford hasn't released the engine's output.

The automaker hasn't identified the turbo supplier, but Continental AG and BorgWarner Inc. both have developed three-cylinder turbochargers.

A BorgWarner turbocharger will be used on a three-cylinder gasoline engine to be installed in BMW's Mini, said BorgWarner spokeswoman Erica Nielsen in an e-mailed statement.

Kregg Wiggins, senior vice president of Continental's North American powertrain division, expects engine sizes to shrink, with the percentage of engines that are under 2 liters doubling over the next six or seven years.

In 2017, Continental forecasts, 3.4 million engines installed in North American-built vehicles will have a displacement of less than 2 liters, up from 1.2 million in 2010. With sales forecast to grow, that would mean one in five vehicles would have a 2.0-liter or smaller engine in 2017, up from one in 10 in 2010.

The U.S. market for three-cylinder engines will remain a niche, Wiggins predicts. Still, it's indicative of the lengths to which automakers will go in altering engines.

"Automakers have to--mileage rules are more and more stringent," J.D. Power's Omotoso said. "The industry needs fleet improvements of 4 percent a year to reach the 2016 rules."

V6s now trump V8s in Ford F-150

For the first time since 1985, Ford Motor Co.'s F-150 pickups equipped with V6 engines are outselling those with V8 engines. And Ford is struggling to keep up with demand for the V6s.

Dealers are clamoring for Ford to ramp up production of the 3.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine because of its popularity.

"It's an impressive engine," says Martin Gubbels, owner of Big Sky Ford-Lincoln in Torrington, Wyo. "Now Ford just has to build enough of them."

Gubbels has sold seven F-150s with the EcoBoost V6 since March. He has one in stock but wants four.

Through Tuesday, July 19, the EcoBoost V6 engine accounted for about 41 percent of July F-150 sales in North America. The 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine accounted for 15 percent, Doug Scott, Ford's manager of truck group marketing, told Automotive News.

The two V6 engines made up 57 percent of F-150 sales in April and May, and 56 percent in June.

"We haven't been able to match the demand for EcoBoost," Scott says.

A Ford spokesman says Ford's two engine plants in Ohio are running on overtime to catch up to demand.

5.0 L V10 in a Lexus GS ? It's absolutly the new GS-F

 More Power, Style in Store for Lexus GS

Plans to drop the Lexus LFA's 552-horsepower, 4.8-liter V-10 into the engine bay of the new Lexus GS-F are off, though the F variant is not. The LFA's engine, we hear, would have cost "far more than half the price" of the GS-F, which we expect to launch about a year after the '12 GS line's late 2011 introduction. The most likely scenario is that the GS-F will get the IS-F's thoroughly competent 416-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8, instead, and provide an extra slab of meat to Lexus' F performance lineup, which now consists only of the IS-F.


Like BMW with its 3, 5 and 7 Series, the GS is on a longer version of a rear-drive platform that's shared with the IS.


 Lexus chose not to preview the '12 GS with a performance version, but with the hybrid LF-Gh concept, unveiled at the New York show, instead. While the LF-Gh is laden with concept-car nonsense, the basic look, including the Bangle-esque flame surfacing, is not. It portends more stylish future Lexi, as the brand tries to shed its bland, Japanese design image. Cues like the flame surfacing and the nose have already appeared on the production Lexus CT hybrid. The concept's nose reflects Lexus' move away from traditional grilles in favor of graphic design.


Look for Lexus to continue to offer V-6 and V-8 power in non-F GS models, and to expand all-wheel drive as an option throughout the model's lineup.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series revealed!

There is Mercedes-Benz, there is AMG, and then there is the Mercedes-Benz AMG Black Series. The last mentioned are so highly tuned and rare that AMG has slapped the Black label on only four models so far: the SLK55, the CLK63, the SL65 and now this, the C63 AMG Black Series coupe.

We did not get to drive a C63 Black Series--but AMG did let us stand next to one and look at it. The coupe starts with the already formidable C63 AMG and goes up from there. With forged pistons, con rods and crankshaft from the SLS AMG, the car's naturally aspirated output rises from 480 hp to 510 hp, while torque goes from 433 lb-ft to 457 lb-ft.

This car does not make the leap to the higher-efficiency 5.5-liter turbo found in some AMG models, staying instead with the tried and true 6.2-liter V8. Granted, the chrome signage on the sidepod says “6.3,” a branding moniker inspired by an early AMG race car. You may recall the semifamous picture of the 300SEL 6.3 AMG at Spa 40 years ago.

Torque is routed through AMG's Speedshift MCT seven-speed, with the same four modes as on other AMG models: sport, sport-plus, manual and race start. Using race start, 0 to 60 mph comes up in 4.0 seconds, according to AMG.

The track on the car is widened one and a half inches in front and three inches in back. Overall width is up an inch in front and an inch and a half in back. There are no ceramic brakes available, but the steel rotors are bigger, measuring 390 millimeters front and 360 millimeters rear, with six pistons grabbing them. About 24 pounds of the car's 44 pounds of weight reduction compared with the AMG model comes from the Black Series' forged alloy wheels, which are wrapped in 255/35 front and 285/30 rear Dunlops.

Inside are two racing seats. Two rear seats are optional, in case you need to bring three riding mechanics.

The body tries hard to convey all of that power, perhaps a little too hard, depending on your tastes, with extremely wide fender flares, meaty hood scoops and slats and vents seemingly everywhere. The optional Aero package includes a rear wing. The tarted-up exterior may work for you or it may remind you of something you'd see at the SEMA show on a Ford Mustang, not in the main hall but off in one of the more remote locations. Forgo anonymity, all ye who enter here. Personally, we'd like a sleeper version with less of the bodywork and just as much horsepower.

All 510 hp are coming to the U.S. market in March 2012. Pricing will be released closer to that date. We are supposed to get to drive it sometime in November. Look for a (very fast) driving impression around that time.

The quest for eights in a Nissan GT-R

Eight seconds can seem either like an instant or an eternity.

For SP Engineering, however, eight seconds is the threshold it aims to cross in its highly modified Nissan GT-R shop car for the standing quarter-mile.

“This car will run eights,” said Will Wong, wholesale manager at SP Engineering. “The problem is traction, getting the power to the ground.” But SP continues to try a variety of suspension settings and tires in an effort to reach its goal.

Even with a full interior and ice-cold air conditioning, the street-legal GT-R pumps out more than 1,150 all-wheel horsepower through the Mickey Thompson drag-radial tires.

Having broken the previously long-held dyno horsepower records, SP went on to hold the world record for GT-R quarter-mile time with the SPE900 GT-R in April 2010--9.62 seconds at 149.8 mph. A stock 2012 Nissan GT-R will run the quarter-mile time in the low-11-second range.

Rival tuner shop AMS Performance of Chicago in May 2011 took the current record with a 9.1-second run at 163 mph with its flagship Alpha 10 GT-R.

Since then, SP has consistently been hitting the 9.2-second mark with its SPE1000 setup, inching closer to the ever-elusive eight-second barrier.

“With the right [elevation] and a good 60-foot launch, the SPE1000 can do very high eights, we believe,” Wong said.

SP plans to debut its top-of-the-line Godzilla package on track in the next month in another attempt to break the eight-second barrier. Piloting the SP Godzilla GT-R will be longtime customer and hot shoe Hing Yim.

If you have deep enough pockets and a strong stomach, you can have your own Godzilla GT-R for just less than $100,000. More than 20 kits have been ordered.

BMW adds performance edition for 3-series

In politics, power comes with privilege. In the car world, power comes with a price. And in the case of the 2011 BMW 3-series, it can be specified for $550.

BMW announced pricing for the performance edition of the 335i this week, and it will be offered on a limited basis through the end of the year. It is available for the rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive models.

The pack increases output from 300 hp to 320 hp, and it pushes torque from 300 lb-ft to 317 lb-ft with the manual gearbox and to 332 lb-ft with the automatic. BMW is quick to note that the horsepower is now the same as that of the 335is.

The power boost comes from modifying the engine-tuning software—while not adding any new hardware. It also shaves 0.2 second off of the sprint to 60 mph and is 0.5 second faster when blitzing from 50 mph to 70 mph. Emissions are unaffected by the power jump, BMW said.

The pack also includes a black kidney grille and special badging.

BMW also announced that the pack will be offered to existing 335i and 135i customers for retrofitting, with pricing to be announced in August.

Porsche previews the new 911

The lineup of debuts expected for this year's Frankfurt motor show include a redesign for the venerable Porsche 911.

Now, Porsche has treated us to a little preview, courtesy of a video posted on its YouTube channel that chronicles some final validation and hot-weather testing of the next-generation 911 in Africa. You can catch glimpses of the new car's exterior and interior, as well as some driving footage.

Video will be uploaded on our facebook page

Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG gets a new V8 engine

Enthusiasts have been drooling over the 5.5-liter biturbo V8 making its way under the hood and across the lineup of some of the most menacing Mercedes-Benz vehicles on the road. Now comes a naturally aspirated variant that will be offered only in the SLK55 AMG, to be revealed in September at the Frankfurt motor show.

Power comes on to the tune of 422 hp at 6,800 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. The mill weighs 412 pounds.

The engine is based on the turbo version, used in the AMG models of the E63, CLS63, CL63 and S63. Mercedes says many of the internals and basics--including the distance between cylinders, direct injection and automatic start/stop systems--are identical.

The mill measures 5,461 cc and is code-named M152 in Mercedes vernacular, indicating its close relationship with the M157 force-induction engine. There's also a cylinder-shutoff system that improves fuel economy.

Mercedes has been working on the engine for more than three years.

Some hybrids are not a green as they seem, interest group says

Car buyers who think they are helping the planet by choosing a hybrid vehicle to aid in cutting emissions don't always get the biggest bang for their buck, according to an environmental interest group.

A report from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that some hybrids come at a much higher price tag than their similarly equipped, conventional-powertrain counterparts, yet offer little in the way of environmental gain.

These not-so-green hybrids compromise their value or eco-friendliness in a variety of ways.

For example, rarely is the hybrid powertrian offered on a vehicle's base model. That forces customers to take premium features that are packed with the hybrid version, adding to hybrid's price disadvantage.

Other times, a hybrid might not be built to achieve fuel-saving performance in the most cost-effective manner.

A UCS-released hybrid scorecard rates the green credentials of some popular hybrid models from "superior" to "very poor." According to the group, the biggest green offenders are:

-- Volkswagen Touareg hybrid

-- BMW X6 ActiveHybrid

-- Chevrolet Silverado 2WD hybrid

-- BMW 750i ActiveHybrid

-- Lexus LS 600h L


The vehicles that score highest in hybrid value are:

-- Lexus CT 200 h

-- Lincoln MKZ hybrid

-- Mercedes-Benz S500 hybrid

-- Toyota Prius

-- Ford Fusion hybrid

-- Honda Civic hybrid

-- HondaCR-Z


Have a hybrid vehicle in mind? Check out the full scorecard.

2013 Dodge Viper Spied!

Freshly-minted SRT chief and avowed Dodge Viper aficionado Ralph Gilles has said there are Vipers running around testing a variety of components. And now, spy shooters appear to have caught one in the (snake) skin.

Yes, this is a previous-generation car being used as a mule. But, is there a better test-bed to use for future Viper technology? These photos also showcase the interior, which has a Bilstein sport button.

Dodge has been coy about the next iteration of its supercar, though the company has said the new Viper will have stability control and remains on track for the 2012 calendar year.

“We're in development,” Gilles said. “I think it's clear that it's on the way,” he told AutoWeek in June at Chrysler's proving grounds. He said that everything, from sound systems to stress braces, is undergoing testing (“Supercar Olympics,” July 11). Watch our exclusive interview here.

Meanwhile, the next generation Viper is expected to be run in international GT racing, and Chrysler has signed Riley Technologies to analyze the potential.

The future Viper is expected to incorporate technology from Chrysler partner Fiat, and dealers have said a prototype shown last year had Italian styling cues. A V10 powerplant was perhaps the signature trait of the old Viper, but Chrysler has not spoken publicly as to what the car will employ under the hood.

Dodge sold 392 Vipers in 2010--a fitting number for the brand, no?--its last year of production, which featured a slew of special models. The company moved 482 units in 2009.

The Viper, a halo car for Dodge since then-president Bob Lutz showed a concept at the 1989 Detroit auto show, has been on a bit of a roller-coaster ride since Chrysler's historic 2009 bankruptcy. Initially, Chrysler planned to sell the division, though a deal never came to fruition, and Viper was taken off the market shortly after Chrysler emerged from reorganization. In fact, the Viper plant in Detroit was the first to restart production after bankruptcy.

Clearly, Dodge's iconic snake has nine lives--or at least more than one.

VW: 'More masculine' Beetle will appeal to guys

Volkswagen expects many more men will buy the 2012 Beetle when U.S. sales of the redesigned version begin in September. And it wants younger customers, too.


Rainer Michel, Volkswagen of America's vice president of product marketing and strategy, says a "more masculine" appearance, including a higher beltline, and 20 more horsepower for the Beetle's base model should do the trick.


For the outgoing New Beetle, more than 65 percent of U.S. buyers were women. But for the new version, that percentage will be closer to 50, Michel says. He predicts that the average age of Beetle buyers will fall from 58 to 36.


Michel also expects the styling to give the Beetle more appeal outside the United States. The previous generation, introduced in 1998, relied on the United States for 72 percent of sales. That should drop to 50 percent for the new version, he says.


"The new style tested well in North America as well as in Europe, and China is a growing market," Michel says.


VW executives would not disclose sales targets but said the Beetle won't reach its 1999 peak of 83,434 cars in the United States.


"There are now many more competitors in the market, but we'll sell many more than in the last few years," said Andres Valbuena, VWoA's manager of Beetle product marketing and strategy.


He cited the Mini, Scion tC, Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro as competitors.


Sales of the outgoing New Beetle fell to 16,537 cars last year.


Michel said VW hopes to drive showroom traffic with the new version. "It is an icon, and we brought it back to the iconic style."


VW builds the Beetle in Puebla, Mexico. The engines, platform and underpinnings are taken from the Jetta sedan, which is made in Puebla. The outgoing New Beetle is based on the Golf hatchback that went out of production in 2005.


Initially, the Beetle will be available in the United States with a 170-hp, 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine, and a 200-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Pricing starts at $19,765 for the base model and $24,165 for the turbo. The prices include shipping.


A turbodiesel version goes on sale next spring, and a convertible in early summer. Prices for those versions haven't been released.

Chrysler prices SRT 2012 models

Chrysler Group, which is reviving its SRT performance brand, has set prices on the first four SRT vehicles it is selling: the Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.


Chrysler will start building the vehicles at the end of July and they will arrive in dealerships before the end of the third quarter.


Prices, including $825 shipping, are as follows:


-- 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 -- $46,660


• 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 -- $47,995


• 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 -- $55,295


• 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 -- $44,077 (price does not include a $1,300 gas guzzler tax on the automatic transmission and $1,000 for the six-speed manual.)


The 2012 Challenger is largely a carryover from the 2011 model. But the 300, Charger and Grand Cherokee are new.


At the heart of the performance cars is a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine that cranks out 470 hp at 6,000 rpm and 470 lb. ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm in the Challenger, Charger and 300.


The horsepower is the same for the Grand Cherokee, but the torque is slightly different: 465 lb. ft. at 4,200 rpm. It is the most powerful Hemi V-8 Chrysler has ever made.


Speaking at the media launch of the vehicles here, Ralph Gilles, CEO of the newly created SRT brand, said one of the critical questions Chrysler had to answer was: "How are you going to sell these cars in this day and age?"


To overcome that hurdle, Chrysler has made them not only more powerful but more efficient. For the first time ever, the SRT engines offer Chrysler's cylinder deactivation technology, which shuts down four of the eight cylinders at freeway speeds to maximize fuel economy.


Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne recently put Gilles in charge of the newly created SRT brand to revive the automaker's performance aspirations that had gone dormant during what Gilles refers to as the "dark ages of private equity" ownership by Cerberus Capital Management from 2007-2009.


Gilles said he is hiring staffers for his SRT team and will have a dedicated team of SRT engineers. He will also have his own marketing budget. Gilles says he will not rely so much on traditional marketing but will utilize the Internet, motorsports and special events. He says he will work particularly hard to build a bond with SRT owner groups.


The SRT lineup serve as a showcase for technology within Chrysler. Featured on the new cars is an 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system supplied by Harman/Becker Automotive Systems.


Gilles says the SRT brand's flagship vehicle - the Dodge Viper - is on track to come to market in 2012.


SRT, which stands for Street and Racing Technologies, was founded in 2002 during the DaimlerChrysler era. SRT sales peaked in 2006 when there were ten Chrysler vehicles wearing the SRT badge. Gilles promises to be more selective about what cars get the SRT treatment.

Audi A1 E-tron takes the win at the Silvretta Electric Car Rally

Audi and its electrified A1 E-tron took an overall win at the Silvretta Electric Car Rally in Austria on July 9. It was the second year in a row the company won the contest. Last year's event was won by the company's R8 E-tron electric car.

The three-day rally covers about 190 miles of Austria's Montafon region. The name "Silvretta" refers to a group of mountains in the eastern part of the Alps. The course has continuous altitude changes including inclines of up to 15 percent. The race saw 32 alternative-powered cars, among them an Audi Q5 HFC with a fuel cell. Audi's second car placed sixth but led among fuel-cell-equipped vehicles.

The A1 was driven by the head of electromobility strategy at Audi AG, Franciscus van Meel, and co-driven by employee Gerhard Gruber.

On day one, the team drove cautiously, according to van Meel, and finished with power to spare. The team won the second day overall and came in second on day three, which was enough to take the overall victory.

The event is basically a design and technology exercise for Audi. The company is studying mobility requirements for a future concept. The A1 has a 75-kilowatt electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. It can be quick-charged in 30 minutes and fully charged in three hours on a standard outlet. The range, according to Audi, is 31 miles.

The trick part is the one-disc, 254-cc rotary engine located under the trunk. It adds 15 kilowatts of output solely to charge the battery.

Pandora invades car stereos across the brands

Pandora, the Internet radio service many of us know from our desktops and smartphones, is coming to your car stereo. Pandora is launching a relationship with Scion and further expanding its deal with Ford, the company said on Tuesday. The service will now be available in 10 Ford vehicles and two Lincolns.

Drivers can now get Pandora in their BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Mini cars. Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Hyundai and Toyota have also announced plans to integrate the system into their vehicles.

The radio service is free on the Internet and plays music from a genre of the listener's choosing. Audiophiles rate the music, helping the software hone in on what the listener likes. The service has been integrated in aftermarket car stereos made by Alpine, JVC, Kenwood and Pioneer, with additional radios from Sony coming soon.

"Our goal is to allow people to personalize their radio experience anytime, anywhere," said Jessica Steel, executive vice president of business development for Pandora. "Nearly 50 percent of radio consumption happens in the car, so it's a natural for Pandora."

Mercedes adds equipment, holds prices on 2012 M-class

Mercedes-Benz USA is holding prices steady on the first two models of the new generation M-class crossover.


The 2012 ML350 4Matic starts at $49,865, unchanged from the 2011 model. The ML350 BlueTec 4Matic diesel starts at $51,365, also unchanged. Prices include an $875 destination charge.


"The positioning for this vehicle is 'more of everything.' The new exterior is more distinctive and aggressive, and the new interior is also really impressive," said Steve Cannon, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA, of Montvale, N.J.


Bernhard Glaser, general manager of product management for Mercedes-Benz USA, said new standard equipment such as a drowsiness warning system represents a 3 percent price-value improvement over 2011 models.


Through June, M-class sales are up 15 percent from a year ago, to 14,189 units.


Cannon said the company will stress high-tech safety features in ads that will break closer to the September launch.


"We've got an ad that's in development. It isn't all finished yet, but it's going to say something like, 'The new M class, with its lane-departure warning, its drowsiness monitor, etc. etc. makes more decisions in a mile than other cars make in their whole lifetime.'"


"That's really going to set it apart," Cannon said at a press introduction here for the new M class.


The 2012 ML350 4Matic has a 3.5-liter, gasoline direct-injected V-6 that produces 302 hp and 273 pounds-feet of torque. That's 13 percent more horsepower and 6 percent more torque than the model it replaces, with improved fuel economy.


The 2012 model gets an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city/22 highway. The 2011 model gets an EPA-estimated 15 city/20 highway.


The 2012 ML350 BlueTec diesel produces 240 hp and 455 pounds-feet of torque, up from 210 hp and 400 pounds-feet of torque. The 2011 model gets an EPA-estimated 18 city/25 highway. Fuel economy estimates aren't final for the 2012 model, the automaker said.


Mercedes-Benz USA expects to add V-8 powered models in the first quarter of 2012.

Stirling Moss adds an Aston Martin Cygnet to his wife's garage

For those of you who thought the tiny Aston Martin Cygnet--a reworked Toyota iQ city car--was blasphemous for the company, Sir Stirling Moss disagrees. He surprised his wife with one at the Royal Automobile Club in London on Monday.

The Mosses had planned a private dinner on the eve of Lady Moss's birthday at the century-old club. When they arrived, a new Cygnet--painted Aston Martin racing green--was on display in the central rotunda. It was the culmination of six months of planning, including secret phone calls and meetings between Moss and Aston Martin.

“Since seeing a preproduction Cygnet in January, I knew it was the perfect car for Susie,” said Moss, “a proper little piece of British luxury and perfect for our life in town.”

The color of Lady Moss's car is a nod to Stirling Moss's racing days in the 1950s. The interior is obsidian black.

The Cygnet was supplied through HWM Aston Martin, which holds a long-standing relationship with the club. It's the oldest of the company's 134 global dealerships. It was started 60 years ago by former Aston Martin driver George Abecassis, who actually gave Moss his first Grand Prix drives in HWM-built cars.


Full Aston Martin press release below:


SIR STIRLING MOSS BECOMES ONE OF FIRST ASTON MARTIN CYGNET CUSTOMERS


12 July 2011 Gaydon: At the prestigious Royal Automobile Club last night, international motorsport legend, Sir Stirling Moss took delivery of his newly purchased Aston Martin Cygnet; a surprise birthday present for wife, Lady Moss.


One of the closest teams in motorsport for many years, Sir Stirling and Lady Moss planned a private celebratory dinner on the eve of her birthday at the Royal Automobile Club in its clubhouse the century old, 'palace on Pall Mall' in London. On arrival they were met with the sight of the new Aston Martin Cygnet on display in the magnificent central rotunda – the culmination of six months planning and 'secret' correspondence between Sir Stirling and Aston Martin to plan a surprise birthday present for Lady Moss.


Sir Stirling Moss said: "My greatest partner in everything that I do, Susie is an amazing person and frankly the best wife a man could have. Since seeing a pre-production Cygnet in January I knew that it was the perfect car for Susie; a proper little piece of British luxury and perfect for our life in town."


Hand-crafted at Aston Martin's headquarters in Gaydon, taking 150 hours to complete, the Aston Martin Cygnet shares much in terms of design and craftsmanship with the company's sports cars. Elegant and distinctive, individual and practical, the Aston Martin Cygnet is the ultimate Tailor-Fit solution for city living. Launched in May 2011 with first customer orders arriving at European dealers now, Cygnet is hand-crafted for the city and like every Aston Martin it can be uniquely personalised to suit individual taste and style, bringing a new level of luxury and bespoke capability to city cars.


Specifications for Lady Moss's car include Sir Stirling's choice of Aston Martin Racing Green, harking back to the company's sports cars that Sir Stirling raced in the 1950s, as the paint colour. This iconic exterior has been complemented by a simple and elegant interior hand crafted in Obsidian Black leather with a contrasting coarse silver stitch, forming a typically understated combination.


Adding to the occasion and its ongoing theme of long standing relationships with the marque, the Cygnet has been supplied through HWM Aston Martin, based in Walton-on- Thames, who were appointed as an official Aston Martin dealer in 1951. The longest serving of the company's global network of 134 dealers, HWM Aston Martin was started 60 years ago by fellow Aston Martin Works Driver George Abecassis who actually gave Sir Stirling his first Grand Prix drives in 1951/52 in HWM-built cars.


Sir Stirling's own driving career with Aston Martin saw him drive a number of the company's racing cars including the famous DB3S and DBR1 models with great success. This culminated in being part of the factory team that in 1959 secured the company the World Sportscar Championship following victories in the DBR1 at such prestigious races as the Le Mans 24-hour.

Mercedes-Benz backs Smart with ads, deals

Smart USA will launch a TV, print and digital marketing campaign by year end to jump-start the struggling microcar brand that Mercedes-Benz USA took over on July 1.

"People are not avoiding the brand or the product, but there is a great majority of people who are not aware of the brand," said Tracey Matura, the new general manager of Smart USA.

Mercedes is also offering lease and finance deals for the Smart brand through its Mercedes-Benz Financial Services captive finance arm. Leases starting at $179 per month for 24 months and 0.9 percent interest for 36 months and 1.9 percent for up to 60 months were launched last week.

The TV and print advertising and competitive finance programs will be a first for Smart in the United States, Matura said. She would not say now much the programs will cost.

"We will do things the same way as we do on the Mercedes-Benz side--that is the benefit of having an organization like Mercedes-Benz USA behind you," Matura said in an interview last week.

"Leasing and APR programs are especially important when you are trying to attract new customers to the brand," Matura said.

Mercedes-Benz took over the distribution, sales and marketing of the ailing Smart brand from Penske Automotive Group. Smart is owned and produced by Mercedes' parent, Daimler AG, but the U.S. distribution was given to Penske in 2008.

Penske Automotive Group relied primarily on social media and event marketing to promote the Smart brand. Sales of the ForTwo microcar soared to 24,622 cars in 2008 as gasoline prices reached record highs. But as gasoline prices fell and the recession took its grip, Smart sales tumbled, falling to 5,927 cars last year. Through June this year, Smart sold 2,556 cars.

"The guerrilla and alternative marketing were great for the first one-and-a-half years, but then the world changed and Smart not being a fully established brand was one of the first to suffer," said Jay Agresta, president of Benzel-Busch Motor Car Corp. in Englewood, N.J., and one of the first Smart dealers in the United States. "What we need now is the marketing muscle of Mercedes-Benz."

Agresta said he's convinced that Mercedes-Benz Financial Services also will make it easier to finance first-time buyers: "That was one of the big pieces for us. We lost access to the first-time buyer, and now we have lots of access to credit."

Matura won't forecast how many more Smart cars Mercedes-Benz will sell, but said she's convinced the brand's potential hadn't been tapped. For starters, Mercedes-Benz can pitch Smart to young and urban buyers--the audience Penske Automotive Group initially targeted. Today, most Smart buyers are 45- to 50-year-old men living in the suburbs, Matura said.

Only 75 Mercedes-Benz dealers are selling Smart, 53 appointed by Penske Automotive Group and 22 new dealers, Matura said. By year end, 100 Mercedes-Benz dealers will be selling Smart, she said.

The next-generation Smart car being developed by Renault SA and Daimler AG won't come to market until 2014. The redesigned ForTwo and the third-generation Renault Twingo will be built on a Renault platform.

'Blue Angels' Mustang celebrates 100 years of naval aviation

Ford Motor Co. teamed with U.S. Naval Aviation to produce a single-edition "Blue Angels" 2012 Ford Mustang GT, to be auctioned in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Navy's air presence.

The design of the centennial-edition GT was inspired by the F-18 Hornet aircraft used in the Blue Angels aviation team's performance demonstrations. It will cross the auction block at the Gathering of Eagles charity event, held the week of the Experimental Aircraft Association's 2011 AirVenture on July 28 in Oshkosh, Wis.

Auction proceeds will go to the EAA Young Eagles organization to finance education for young pilots. The organization has offered free introductory flights to more than 1.6 million pilots-in-training since 1992.

The Blue Angels Mustang features a Ford Racing supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine, rated at 624 hp, backed by a performance exhaust system, handling pack and upgraded brakes.

The exterior was custom-painted chrome blue with loud yellow accents used for the Blue Angels script and crest. For added effect, the Blue Angels script is illuminated in the sill plates, and puddle lamps project jet images when the door opens. Matching yellow stitching is used in the interior to outline the leather Recaro seats.

"The high interest among aviators in the U.S. Navy and the Blue Angels Mustang team will make this a very sought-after item," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman, "and ensure EAA's ability to do some amazing things for our future aviation enthusiasts."

For more about the AirVenture event, visit its Web site, www.airventure.org/gathering.