Archive for July, 2009
Smart’s $99 lease deal has big balloon payment at end
Hoping to benefit from the federal cash-for-guzzlers program, Smart USA has set up a $99 monthly payment for buyers who use their $4,500 rebate. But there’s a catch–and a hefty balloon payment disclosed only as a note to an asterisk in Smart’s press information announcing the offer. The Smart financing is for $99 a month [...]
Oil plunges below $64 on fears recovery may lag
Oil prices plunged nearly $3 to below $64 a barrel Monday as dismal unemployment figures from the U.S. and Europe last week sparked investor doubts about any nascent economic recovery. A significant fall in natural gas prices — a likely sign that industries are still struggling and unlikely to add jobs — as well as [...]
Oil price rebound attributed market operations
VIENNA, July 6 (Xinhua) — The optimistic outlook of the world economic recovery is a major factor driving the rebound of international oil prices in the first half of this year. Experts say, however, that the price boost may be attributed more to current market operations than actual growth in demand. After dramatic ups and [...]
2010 Ferrari California First Test
The California is a car filled with firsts for Ferrari: the first front-engine V-8, the first use of direct injection, the first seven-speed transmission, the first true launch-control system, the first retractable hardtop, and the first stacked exhaust. But fear not, all these firsts have not changed the purity of Ferrari; they’ve just expanded its [...]
Lexus SS550 (LF-A), Mazda RX-7, Scion Drop Top, Toyobaru
If you were like us a few months ago, you were probably a little worried that the fascinating Tokyo Motor Show was defunct until 2011. It was on pace to become the Olympics of the automotive show calendar, happening once every four years. Fortunately, though, organizers pulled it together for 2009 and signed up around [...]
Ford posts best June sales performance in down market
In a month of sandbagged auto sales, Ford was the clear winner. The Blue Oval posted a sales decline of “just” 10.7 percent in June, in a market that fell nearly 27.7 percent. It was by far the best showing of any major carmaker, helped by strong sales of its Fusion sedan and Escape crossover. [...]
BMW X1 confirmed for United States
One of the worst-kept secrets in the car world has been confirmed: The BMW X1 is coming to the United States in 2011. It likely will come with rear-wheel and all-wheel drive and a variety of gasoline and diesel engines. BMW said it would announce the powertrain specifics closer to the launch as it factors [...]
AMG makes a Mercedes-Benz E-class for the racing family man
Say you need a practical, roomy luxury sedan to use as a family car or for hauling business associates to big lunch meetings. But when no one’s in the car with you, or when those present appreciate a nicely sliced apex as much as you do, you would really like something that can rise to [...]
Lamborghini is paying tribute to its longtime test driver
Lamborghini is paying tribute to its longtime test driver, Valentino Balboni, by putting his name on a limited run of rear-wheel-drive Gallardos. It’s called the LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni, which denotes the 550-hp rating. It’s the only current Lamborghini that channels power to just the rear wheels. Lamborghini will make just 250 units. The rear-drive [...]
Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic Concept
The French make the most outrageous modern super car and the current winner of Le Mans. What if they came back from an exile in outer space with an updated Bugatti Atlantic? This might be what it’d look like. Few eras of industrial design have produced objects of such impeccable, futuristic desire as Art Deco. [...]
2010 Jaguar XFR First Test
Now it’s time to get down to the business of Racepaks and VBOXes to answer the question: Just how does Jaguar’s bad little kitty measure up at the test track? First let’s look at what was promised. At launch, Jaguar claimed the XFR could hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and the quarter mile in [...]
Mercedes-Benz Looking to stay at the front of the technology curve
Looking to stay at the front of the technology curve, Daimler revealed today it is working on a next-generation fuel-cell vehicle to be built out of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class and to be known as the B-Class F-Cell. The car will go into limited production next year. Working to create a vehicle with both zero emissions [...]
GM Steams Ahead in China; Half Year Sales Up 38%
Record high sales in this economy? Only in China. General Motors and its joint ventures are reporting a 38% increase in sales for the first half of 2009 compared to last year. The automaker thanked government auto stimulus polices as one of the forces behind its results, which totals 814,442 units sold from January to [...]
2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante First Drive
James Bond’s current motor of choice has gone topless. The DBS, Aston Martin’s high-protein version of the DB9, has heretofore been sold only in coupe form. That changes with the introduction of the DBS Volante. In Aston speak, Volante means convertible, and S stands for Sport. The DBS is best known for its appearance in [...]
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