Barbara Woodhouse Car Blog

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Rolls-Royce, First Drive

Click the image above for a hi-res gallery of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

We were lucky enough to ride in the concept car two years ago, when the now Phantom Coupe was called the 101EX. Our words that day were "You have to build this car." And we've been waiting ever since the end of that sentence for this day to come. It was evident even as a concept that no other coupé -- with two syllables, please -- promised such a return to Jazz Age glamor, when a gentleman motored from Antibbes to Monaco in a Hooper bodied Phantom II to visit that Polish countess he'd had his eye on. So, when Rolls-Royce called with the invite to Goodwood to drive the new Phantom Coupe from England to Crozet, in the South of France, it would be our chance to see if the promise was delivered. Follow the jump to find out.




All photos copyright Jonathan Ramsey / Weblogs Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

 

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Filed under: Coupes, Supercars, Nissan

Click above to view our massive gallery of the 2009 Nissan GT-R.

Back in the late sixties, automakers sometimes purposely under-reported the true horsepower that their solid-lifter, over-cammed and over-carburetor'd monster V8 engines actually delivered. More recently, some manufacturers have overestimated the real power of their vehicles, which has led some to distrust factory horsepower numbers. Owners of the uber-impressive Nissan GT-R have been wondering if they've been lied to regarding real horsepower figures too. But in this case they may actually be getting more than the 480 horses that they had bargained for. In fact, after considering that the coupe is capable of hitting 123 miles per hour in the quarter mile and the fact that it weighs roughly four-thousand pounds, the New York Times Wheels blog estimates that the GT-R really makes 550-580 horsepower at the crank.

While we are certain that the rabid horsepower wars and the debate over the GT-R's true power as compared to its rivals will rage on, NYT's estimates are actually pretty much in line with what Motor Trend got after putting the Nissan supercar on the dyno, and that's a figure that really can't be argued with. Thanks for the tip, Pete!


[Source: NY Times Wheels]

 

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Filed under: Ford, Volvo, Renault

As Ford reportedly prepares to offload Volvo and dismantle the last remaining vestiges of its once proud Premier Automotive Group, reports indicate that discussions were, once again, held with Renault.

The French automaker was tipped as a potential buyer when Jaguar was on the table, expressing interest in acquiring a luxury brand (and evidently forgetting it had Infiniti up its sleeve). Along with Chinese automakers, Renault has reportedly been in on-again, off-again discussions with Ford over the sale of Volvo as well, though Ford insists that its Swedish subsidiary is not for sale.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

 

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen

Many actors loan out their famous faces to make some extra coin in foreign markets without over saturating their image here in the States. Big screen tough guy Sylvester Stallone is no different, and since he hasn't had a good financially successful picture since Demolition Man, he was probably pretty excited when Volkswagen of Brazil came calling. Following the jump are two VW commercials for the VW Gol hatchback. The first one is a minute and a half long, and features a Rambo-style helicopter vs. sub-Polo Gol battle royale. And the second one involves a group of curious onlookers honing in on the Gol as it sits parked on the side of the road. Both ads feature a rough-looking Stallone showing up at the end, and even though he only utters a few words, a Portuguese-speaking dub is needed. Hillarious, and kind of sad at the same time. Thanks for the tip, Carlos!

[Source: Argentina Autoblog]

Continue reading VIDEO: Sylvester Stallone shilling for VW in Brazil

 

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Filed under: Motorsports, Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, Audi

Audi has announced that its superlative R8 sportscar will serve as the safety car for the ever-popular DTM touring car championship, having also served in the same capacity for the recently-concluded 24 Hours of Le Mans. Audi's performance division quattro GmbH prepared a pair of R8s for the German racing series - with the second serving as a "racing taxi" - but noted that, "because the R8 possesses the genes of a perfect sports car", little in the way of modification for duty was required.

The pair of R8 support vehicles made its debut at the Norisring Speed Weekend yesterday, where Mercedes-Benz beat out the new Audi A4 DTM with a 1-2 finish. Follow the jump for the press release and click on the thumbnails below for our high-resolution image gallery.

[Source: Audi Motorsport]

Continue reading Audi R8 debuts as DTM safety car

 

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Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, BMW

BMW has announced that the legendary M1 Procar series will return for a one-time curtain call in support of the upcoming German Grand Prix at Hockenheim on July 19-20. The series originally ran in fields of 20 in support of the 1979 and 1980 European Grands Prix. Fifteen young aspiring drivers would face off against the five fastest F1 drivers from that Friday's practice session in homologated M1s. The only mid-engined BMW sportscar was originally unveiled thirty years ago and retains a cult status among enthusiasts, to which BMW recently paid tribute to with the M1 Homage.

According to BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen - also head of the BMW Sauber F1 team - "Just a mention of the M1 Procar series today still triggers an enthusiastic reaction. This revival serves as a thank you to the fans." This year's revival will feature many of the original drivers who campaigned the M1s in the original Procar series, including Jacques Laffite, Christian Danner, Marc Surer, Dieter Quester, Harald Grohs, Prince Leopold of Bavaria, Jochen Neerpasch, and Frank Stella. Follow the jump for the full press release, and check out the images in the galleries below for a trip down memory pit-lane.

[Source: BMW Motorsport]

Continue reading BMW to revive M1 Procar series for one last hurrah

 

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Filed under: Trends, Minivans/MPVs, SUVs, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, Jeep, Earnings/Financials

Click above high-res gallery of the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT

Now that General Motors and Ford have completely abandoned the minivan market for good, the American originator of the species faces only Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Kia and soon Volkswagen as manufacturers that also offer competitive choices. Perhaps you'd think that Chrysler would be benefiting as the only domestic automaker currently playing in the segment, but it seems that sales are down this year by 13 percent for the Chrysler Town and Country while the Dodge Grand Caravan is down an alarming 35 percent. High gas prices are the obvious reason why the minivan market is seeing such a harsh downward trend, and likely the culprit behind Chrysler's impending move to idle its St. Louis South minivan plant as early as December, which would leave some 1,500 employees jobless.

Utility vehicles have been the biggest gas-price casualties, and slow sales are said to be forcing the Jefferson Avenue assembly plant in Detroit where the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander are assembled and the Toledo, Ohio North assembly plant which builds the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro into extended shut-downs, as well.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

 

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Aston Martin

Aston Martin shocked the industry when it took the wraps off of the baby-blue V12 Vantage RS concept back in December. The idea was revolutionary yet stunningly simple at the same time: take the lowest car in the line-up and turn it into the highest. Would Aston build it? We all hoped so, and our hopes were vindicated with spy shots of test mules running developmental laps around the race track.

From the latest batch, it appears that all those louvers on the hood will remain - a necessity for cooling the 600-hp V12 that is sitting where a 380-hp V8 usually resides - but the rear wing seems to have been reduced, with a big carbon-fiber diffuser taking over the balance (literally) of the downforce requirements. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the test mule is also wearing the carbon-ceramic disc brakes from the current top-of-the-line DBS, while insiders expect the imminently desirable supercar to bear an equally breathtaking pricetag at double that of the base V8 version. Worth it? We're betting yes.

[Source: NextAutos]

 

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Filed under: Motorsports, Tuners, Etc., Tech, ROUSH

Click above to view high-res gallery of the ROUSH trainer

We wind up behind horse's asses every day on the interstate, but ROUSH has developed a vehicle with a rear-mounted cabin for the express purpose of towing a crew of three around while staring at the business end of an actual Equus caballus. ROUSH Technologies is more than just mechanical Mustangs, and the company has proved it by developing an equine training vehicle for Kurt Systems, a Turkish racehorse and camel training equipment company. The vehicle has an open front stall where the animal can run, and a rear mounted cabin that allows a driver, a vetiranarian and a trainer to keep a keen eye on vital signs. The suspension is partially F-150 based, while power is provided by Volvo's 2.4-liter five-cylinder engine hooked up to an automatic transmission and driving through some reduction hardware. The vehicle will start serial production soon; in an odd sort of irony, ROUSH is even further tied to fast horses now. Press release after the jump.


[Source: ROUSH]

Continue reading ROUSH develops vehicle to increase horse power

 

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Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Green

As of January 1, 2009, all vehicles sold in California will be required to display a window sticker that rates the "environmental performance" of the new car or truck. Initiated by the California EPA Air Resources Board (CARB), the label is designed to "...arm consumers with the information they need to choose a vehicle that saves gas, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps fight smog all at once." Each vehicle will receive two different scores. The first will be a "Global Warming Score" based on greenhouse gas emissions from operating the vehicle and fuel production. The second score will be a "Smog Score" that is determined by the smog-forming emissions from operating the vehicle. The scale, based on a 1-10 rating, allows consumers to see how their vehicle fares when compared to other vehicles in the class. Like the new governmental crash test data now displayed on new car windows, the disclosure will be effective on two fronts: it will educate concerned buyers, and unofficially call-out those manufacturers that fall below the average. In this environmentally-conscience environment, there is nothing quite as effective as public shame...

[Source: The Detroit News]

 

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Filed under: Sports/GTs, Trucks/Pickups, Dodge

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram R/T

While our guys were out autocrossing the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Viper ACR last week, Mike Levine (Yes, the same Mike Levine who tried to stuff himself into a RamBox) was doing his pickup thing over in another area of Chrysler's proving grounds in Chelsea, MI. On hand was the new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 R/T, which we haven't had a chance to see until now. The '09 Ram R/T will pull up to the line with a 5.7L HEMI V8 tuned to 390 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque and a 5-speed AutoStick transmission, as well as a host of exterior upgrades including a new front bumper, blacked out grille, dual exhaust, chrome 5-spoke wheels and body-color everything. The amazing thing is that the engine will scoot this short-box, two-wheel drive truck to 60 mph in less than six seconds, according to Chrysler. If that sounds a little too good to be true for a pickup with less than 400 horsepower, credit should go to the "loose" torque converter that allows less slip compared to a normal automatic. The shifts are more aggressive than in a normal Ram and the unique torque converter does degrade fuel economy a bit, but that should be none of your concern by nature of the fact that you're interested in a sport truck to begin with. Check out source link for a more detailed explanation of the "loose" torque converter from Mike Levine at Pickuptrucks.com, and view all the visual upgrades worn by the 2009 Ram R/T in our gallery below.


[Source: Pickuptrucks.com, photos courtesy of Ian Merritt, Cars.com]

 

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Tuners, Nissan

Nissan's motorsports arm, NISMO, will bring a race-prepared GT-R to the Tokachi 24-hour race on July 20th and 21st equipped with NISMO tuning parts that will be available to consumers later this summer. The car is being prepped by both NISMO and MOTUL, the Japanese specialty oil manufacturer, and the modified GT-R will benefit from a special blend of the brand's high-performance oil.

The GT-R won't be packing additional ponies, with power still pegged at 480 PS (473 hp) and 434 lb.-ft. of torque. However, the curb weight of the racer has dropped from over 3,800 pounds to 3,527 pounds. Masami Kageyama (former Formula Nippon racer and SuperGT pilot) and Tetsuya Tanaka (2008 Super GT GT300 driver) will be handling the tuned GT-R around the track at Tokachi.

The team's director, Taro Kumagai, points out that this is the first time a production-based GT-R has been raced, and that the aim of the campaign "is to complete the race distance, testing both the performance and reliability of the car." There's no word yet on what performance parts will be released and whether they'll find their way into NISMO-certified dealers in the U.S. We'll let you know.

[Source: NISMO via GTR-World]

 

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Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Supercars, Aston Martin, Lifestyle, Celebrities

We have to admit, when we heard the next Bond film was going to be called "Quantum of Solace," we kind of scrunched our faces a little bit. Still, Casino Royale was so good that we figured we'd give it the old innocent-until-proven-guilty treatment. Well, now we've seen the trailer, and it looks so bloody good we're all verklempt. We clapped at the end. And then we watched it again.

There's so much action in the trailer that we don't know how there's going to be room for story unless it's as long as Ben Hur, but right now we don't much care. There's only a brief glimpse of the DBS in the trailer at the very end, but whatever it's doing it looks suitably Bond-ish. We'll even admit that the 2-minute clip is good enough to forgive wrecking this Aston DBS, this Alfa, and another Aston DBS during filming. Now you'll have to excuse us while we go watch the trailer a third time. Come on, November 7. Check out the Quantum of Solace trailer for yourself after the jump.

[Source: Moviefone]

Continue reading Quantum of Solace trailer shows little bit of Aston, lot of movie

 

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Government/Legal, Green

California Governator and (soon-to-be) Tesla Roadster owner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, addressed the seething throngs of media types at Tesla's San Carlos, California facility. The topics of conversation centered on new incentives for Tesla to continue its production of vehicles in the Golden State, specifically the start-up's second vehicle, codenamed the Model S, which according to Tesla, get 225 miles on a single charge and cost $60,000. Tesla did not officially announce when the new model would go on sale, nor would it say where in California the "multi-use sport sedan" would be produced.

The incentive for Tesla to remain in California, rather than move production of the sedan to New Mexico (discussed last year), is part of the CAEATFA program that was approved last Wednesday. The initiative exempts automakers from paying sales and use tax when they purchase manufacturing equipment to build electric vehicles. That's expected to save automakers - and Tesla specifically - millions of dollars when the company invests in building a new plant in California. A Schwarzenegger press conference wouldn't be complete without a lame quote from his erstwhile movie career, and the Governor didn't let us down, saying that he was disappointed by the initial announcement that Tesla was considering a manufacturing center in New Mexico, but that "They'll be back." And they are.

 

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Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chrysler, LLC., Earnings/Financials, Rumormill

Despite the fact that Chrysler shares are no longer sold on the stock market, rumors regarding the company's financial standing continue to haunt the number three domestic auto manufacturer in America. Last week, rumors regarding the negative cash flow were so rampant, a company spokesperson went out of his way to deny that the automaker was headed towards bankruptcy. Now, despite constant assurance from Chrysler that it's hitting all of its internal goals, the lack of announced future product and credit warnings from major firms such as Merrill Lynch and Fitch Ratings are causing some industry insiders to predict major changes from the automaker. Some analysts even believe that Cerberus is looking to offload or break up the company, allegations that Chrysler vehemently denies.

Because the automaker is privately held, the world will just need to sit back and wait to see how Cerberus' so-called "buy, fix and hold" strategy will work out. Despite what took place back in the '70s, Chrysler shouldn't get its hopes up for much federal assistance. It goes without saying, though, that Chrysler is going to need some major revamped products if it plans to make it in the tough U.S. market much longer.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

 

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