Straightline

Mustang-Lamborghini Mash-Up Proves that Just Because You Can...

2010-02-09T17:39:49Z

Can't decide whether you want to buy a Lamborghini Gallardo or a 2007 Ford Mustang? We feel you. But thanks to handy hands and obviously demented soul of one John Haugh of Cleveland, Ohio, you needn't make that choice. You can instead buy the Gallardo V10-powered, Mustang-bodied, um, thing that Haugh built for reasons that may never be fully understood.

Tearing the V10 out of a Gallardo to implant in the back seat of a 2007 Mustang is a lot like, um, taking something of great value and appeal and putting it into something else of considerably lesser value and appeal. Actually, come to think of it a Lambo-motored Mustang is not actually like anything else at all.

Anyway, Haugh built the car for the SEMA show, the only venue where such a thing would make any kind of sense to anyone -- almost. The disappointingly named the Tractorri is now up for sale.
So for the low, low price of, well, no price is listed. Considering that Haugh once was quoted saying, "If someone were to take the amount of money I put into the Tractorri and doubled it, I still don't think I'd sell," we anticipate he's going to want quite a lot of money for what amounts to the antithesis of one of those fake-Ferraris built on a Fiero chassis.

JamesList via Jalopnik

Touring to unveil Bentley Flying Star wagon at 2010 Geneva Show

2010-02-09T16:17:27Z

Looking for a nicer way to transport your lawnmower? Us too. Touring Superleggera, a Milan, Italy-based design house/coach-builder, has just the thing for you: The Bentley Continental Flying Star.

The company will unveil the station wagon-ized Continental GT at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in early March. It anticipates building 20 Flying Star shooting brakes for sale. Predictably, each of these will feature "unique specifications and details to the owner's desire." Our desires call for built-in child-safety seats and a cargo area with tie downs and rubber mats.

All Flying Stars get an alloy power tailgate, hand-crafted steel rear fenders and aluminum door skins. They can be had with either the standard 6.0-liter W12 making 560 horsepower or a GTC Speed version which delivers 610 horsepower. We're going to need the 610. Judging by the teaser image, all Flying Stars will be black and have no wheels.

Touring would like to point out that shooting brake conversions are part of its "genetic heritage" that includes the Lamborghini-based 1966 Flying Star II prototype (pictured here). We think the Bentley Flying Star will look better.

No Mas, No Mas: Toyota Hybrids Recalled; Corolla Steering Investigation Considered

2010-02-09T15:58:55Z

And the hits just keep on coming for Toyota. The company announced today that it will recall 437,000 hybrid models worldwide for faulty brakes.

In the U.S., Toyota is voluntarily recalling about 133,000 units of the 2010 Toyota Prius and 14,500 units of the 2010 Lexus HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle's anti-lock brake system.

Oh wait...what's this? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now saying that it's considering opening a formal investigation of alleged defects in the electric power steering of 2009 and 2010 Corollas. Oh boy! Trade journal Automotive News found that the model has been the subject of 83 power-steering complaints since April 2008, most of which report the car veering left or right at up to 40 mph.

Anyone care to guess which model is implicated next in this Toyota Recall-athon? Which are left?

AutoObserver

Automotive News (sub. required)

Videos: 2011 Volvo S60

2010-02-09T15:02:52Z

Volvo is finally giving its S60 sedan a redesign, and the production 2011 S60 debuts in a few weeks at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. The new S60 goes on sale in the U.S. later this fall, and it will start out with a 300-hp version of the T6 powerplant (a 3.0-liter inline-6 with a twin-scroll turbo), plus all-wheel drive. Later on, there will be front-drive and five-cylinder-turbo models as well.

You can read full details and see 4 dozen pics in our auto show write-up. Here we bring you three videos. You can see the 2011 Volvo S60 on the move, then watch it crash into a barrier and then see a demo of Volvo's leading-edge Pedestrian Detection technology that debuts on the car.

2010 Geneva Auto Show: 2011 Volvo S60

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The 550-hp 2011 Shelby GT500 Sounds Like Goodness

2010-02-09T14:05:13Z

So you say you've heard enough already about the 550-hp 2011 Ford Shelby GT500? What are you, a communist? Either way, you haven't actually heard the GT500.

Well now you have. Or rather, you've heard a recording of the nasty GT500 through what are, let's face it, probably pretty crappy speakers. Even so you get a sense of the rip and burble of the new exhaust system overlaid with the positively toddler-level whine of the supercharger.

It's worth making the jump just to see some poor sap driving the convertible 2011 GT500, top down, in the middle of a Michigan winter.

2010 Chicago Auto Show: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500

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2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric Revealed Before 2010 Chicago Auto Show

2010-02-09T07:18:34Z

Ford decided it couldn't wait until the actual start of the 2010 Chicago Auto Show to reveal its two new variations of the 2011 Transit Connect utility van. One is a pure electric version of the standard model while the other is a taxi conversion.

The 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric is designed as a short-errand hauler that doesn't give up any cargo capacity in return for clean running electric motor. The 2011 Transit Connect taxi is exactly what you would expect, a striped down people hauler with vinyl seats and extra wiring for a sign on the roof. The taxi version of the Transit Connect does introduce a natural gas or propane conversion for the standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder, however, and that conversion will be available for all Transit Connects, not just the taxi version.

IL News: 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric
IL News: 2011 Ford Transit Connect Taxi

Notes from the 2011 Shelby GT500 Introduction

2010-02-08T23:19:49Z

In addition to the specifications laid out in the press kit, Ford officials made the following claims about the 2011 Shelby GT500 at today's press conference in Detroit:

- It will be one tenth quicker to 60mph and two tenths quicker in the quarter-mile than the 2010 model.
- The Performance Pack will add 18% more downforce.
- The exhaust has 32% less backpressure.

That's about it, which is clearly isn't much, but in the land of Mustang, no detail is too small to rub in the face of the bowtie boys.

2010 Chicago Auto Show: 2011 Shelby GT500

Spy Photo: 2011 Chevrolet Aveo Revealed During Test Run

2010-02-08T22:32:14Z

We already saw a near-production version of the next-generation Chevrolet Aveo at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Now our spies have managed to catch a nearly undisguised prototype during testing in Detroit.

As you can see, the production Aveo looks as though it will carryover almost unchanged. And that my friends is probably a good thing as this Aveo looks like a pretty sharp little hatchback. You can argue about the nose all you want, but the rest of the car has nice short overhangs, a decent-sized greenhouse and nice proportions. Could be a decent alternative to the Honda Fit if the suspension is well sorted.

2010 Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept

2011 Shelby GT500 Gets Official Unveil Before 2010 Chicago Auto Show

2010-02-08T18:30:00Z

There wasn't much revealed today about the 2011 Shelby GT500 that we didn't already know from previous leaks. Yes, it's new aluminum block 5.4-liter V8 makes 550 horsepower. Yes, you can get a glass-roof coupe and yes there's a new SVT Performance package that adds a few extra mechanical bits to the big-buck Mustang.

For all the details, check out our full story on the 2011 Shelby GT500

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S Headed to the 2010 Geneva Auto Show

2010-02-08T15:57:31Z

The latest installment in the never-ending story of the sportscar that will never die, the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S is exactly what you might expect. It's essentially a slightly higher spec version of the standard 911 Turbo for those buyers who think the "standard" Turbo just isn't enough.

This time around, the 911 Turbo S features a 530-horsepower version of Porsche's 3.8-liter flat six. Not impressed? Then consider that it also puts out 516 pound-feet of torque and does so without any decrease in mileage, or so says Porsche.

The Turbo S will come with Porsche's PDK dual clutch transmission only which shouldn't be a problem as Porsche says it's good for a 0-60mph sprint of 3.3 seconds so equipped. It also comes standard with carbon ceramic brake discs, so stopping should be much of a problem either. Top speed is 195mph if you're into that sort of thing.

Available in either coupe of convertible bodystyle, the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S goes on sale in May. If you have to ask the price, it's not for you.

2010 Geneva Auto Show

Is the Tesla Model S Any Closer to Production?

2010-02-07T11:55:00Z

We've been following development of the Tesla Model S sedan ever since it was officially unveiled in March of last year. The car shown that day was a slick-looking concept, one that would surely draw plenty of attention, and money, to the project.

On the flip side, the car didn't reveal much about the actual development of the Model S. Sure it could drive around and all, but it was clearly for show as most of the car's engineering was still to be done. Where it would be built was also up in the air, but Tesla officials promised they had a site in mind and would announce it soon.

Well, here we are almost a year later and how is the Model S progressing?

]]> It's still hard to tell. The company has been showing off the concept vehicle at various auto shows since then, but there's been no sign of a more fully developed prototype. Tesla's recent IPO filing tells us why:

"We face significant barriers as we attempt to produce our first mass produced vehicle, our Model S. We currently have a drivable early prototype of the Model S, but do not have a full production intent prototype, a final design, a manufacturing facility or a manufacturing process."

It's possible that Tesla was intentionally playing down its progress to investors so as not to promise too much. But it's also possible that Tesla is way behind on a car that's supposed to enter production in 2012, not to mention provide the company's sole source of revenue given that the Roadster is slated to end production in 2011.

The IPO filing also shows that Tesla's expenditures for research and development in 2009 were relatively modest. Of course, Tesla did recently secure a government loan for $465M, so spending is guaranteed to skyrocket. Still, Tesla has to not only develop the car, it has to build a plant to manufacture the Model S, a car that Tesla says will be made mostly of aluminum, a very tricky process. There's a reason only a handful of manufacturers build aluminum cars today.

Look for the IPO soon, it's guaranteed to attract a lot of attention just like the Model S. Whether this will translate into a real car remains to be seen. We'll be watching, and probably waiting for some time.

2011 BMW X5 Gets New Engines, 8-Speed Transmission, Revised Styling

2010-02-07T00:08:11Z

Information on the refreshed 2011 BMW X5 came out today. There are no big surprises, just a mild exterior update along with a couple new engines and additional features.

As expected, the top-of-the-line X5 now offers the same 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 found in the X6 and it's rated at 400-horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Base models get the new N55 3.0-liter single turbo inline-six cylinder. The new 3.0-liter is being rolled out as a replacement for the previous twin-turbo inline-six cylinder and offers a similar 300 horsepower while improving emissions and mileage. Both engines get BMW's latest 8-speed automatic transmission first introduced in the 5 Series Gran Turismo. The diesel X5 remains in the lineup with no mechanical changes.

New features for the 2011 X5 includes active cruise control and a lane departure warning system.

Spy Photos: 2011 Audi A1 Nearing Production

2010-02-06T11:29:42Z

The camouflage is starting to thin out as the 2011 Audi A1 gets closer to its official debut. Like the Mercedes-Benz B-Class we showed you yesterday, the Audi A1 is a small hatchback that has been considered for the U.S. market but will likely remain in Europe.

Like Mercedes-Benz, Audi is wary of getting spread too thin in the American market. If the A1 were to come in at the bottom around say $24-25K, the brand would stretch from there all the way to $155K for the R8 V10. That's quite a spread.

It begs the question: Do you consider Audi and Mercedes-Benz to be pure luxury brands only? Or would you consider an Audi or Mercedes that was priced more like a mainstream brand like Ford or Honda?

Caption Contest: The Winner

2010-02-06T00:00:50Z

Yep, ol' Ed is just a regular guy.

Honorable Mentions:

"So, how YOU doin?

"What brand should I kill next?"

"What a coincidence- I don't know anything about building cars either!"

Video: Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V V700 Runs Claimed 11.17 Quarter-Mile

2010-02-05T22:23:10Z

C'mon now, you haven't truly gotten your fill of Hennessey, yet, have you? Here's Hennessey Performance Engineering's Cadillac CTS-V V700, essentially a ZR1-powered CTS-V, with a supercharged LS9 V8 making an alleged 700 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of torque.

HPE claims a 10.9-second quarter-mile is possible, though in this video it manages only an 11.14 at 129.95 mph. (Yep, 11.14 instead of 11.17 if the timer at the dragstrip is to be believed.)