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Wednesday, November 4, 2009
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- Magna issues statement about failed Opel purchase after GM’s decission
- No-brainer: Mercedes-Benz preparing Black Series version of SLS AMG supercar
- 2010 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet to be revealed at SEMA
- Ferrari organizes parade of models through the Emirates, video included
- GM decides it will keep Opel, turns back on Magna deal
- Renault introduces the Twingo RS Light, the base for future racing packages
- Toyota says it will improve quality, shift focus from trucks to hybrids in the US
- Volvo purchase will make Geely a worldwide brand, says Chinese executive
- Nissan wants to small a cheap car in the vein of the Tata Nano
- Tips on getting your car ready for the winter season
| Magna issues statement about failed Opel purchase after GM’s decission Posted: 04 Nov 2009 02:03 AM PST  As you heard earlier today, General Motors has announced that after all that effort, it will keep German carmaker Opel, and said that the deal it had with Canadian partsmaker Magna and its partner, Russian bank Sberbank, is off. Even though it’s sure that the decision didn’t go so well with either Magna or Sberbank (perhaps some Canadian or Russian spies will pay a visit to Fritz Henderson, GM’s CEO), the partsmaker issued a statement, through the voice of its Co-CEO, Siegfried Wolf, in which it says it understands GM’s decision and thanks everyone involved.
Well it seems that Magna was prepared for such a decision on behalf of GM. As I’ve said, hopefully the decision of the US corporation will be the best for Opel and for everyone involved. Source: AutoEvolution Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| No-brainer: Mercedes-Benz preparing Black Series version of SLS AMG supercar Posted: 04 Nov 2009 01:52 AM PST  Although it was pretty clear, given the regular trend in recent supercars, that an upgraded version of the recently revealed Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG would appear at one point in time, rumors are now revealingfacts about the power output as well as a few other details of the future Black Series SLS AMG from the German company. This new model, pegged for arrival around 2013, will use the same 6.2-liter V8 engine, but will see its power upgraded from the current 563 HP to well over 600 horses and its torque from 479 lb-ft to over 500. The gearbox will stay the same though, a seven-speed dual-clutch one, but expect the suspension as well as the braking system to be tweaked. Also, the Black Series SLS AMG will go on an extreme diet, so many of the luxuries in the standard model won’t make it in this hardcore, track-oriented version. For better or for worse, it is certain that this future model will appeal to quite a few rich people, as it is estimated that it will cost 50% more than the current SLS AMG ($263,999 or €177,310), fighting models like the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2010 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet to be revealed at SEMA Posted: 04 Nov 2009 01:23 AM PST  If there’s one thing Americans love, its drag racing. This was highlighted by the massive success that Ford’s Mustand Cobra Jet enjoyed last year, as all of the 50 units set to be made were sold before they could get it off the assembly line. Now, in order to celebrate the 2010 model, the company decided to build another limited 50-unit run of the Cobra Jet, codenamed FR500CJ, which debuts at this week’s SEMA show. Set to be built at the Auto Alliance plant, it will receive the engines from the Romeo plant. But don’t go thinking this is just another attempt to squeeze profit from those who didn’t manage to get one last year, as the new model doesn’t only brag with its updated body, but also many tweaks and fine touches, which came from the people who bought the models last year.  Already found on the show floor in Las Vegas, you can still enjoy this pictures if you couldn’t make it (like us). Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Ferrari organizes parade of models through the Emirates, video included Posted: 04 Nov 2009 01:17 AM PST  Ferrari definitely knows how to take care of its Arab customers, as it has just organized a special event, in collaboration with Ferrari Middle East, the local Emirates Ferrari dealer the Ferrari owners’ club from the Arab country. The whole pack was constituted of almost 100 Ferrari models, both old and new, with the lead vehicle being the recently revealed Ferrari California. Between the drivers who were in the parade were Michael Schumacher, as well as Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa or Giancarlo Fisichela, but also the president of the Italian supercar maker, Luca di Montezemolo and the Italian ambassador in the country, Claudio Doniosi Hit the jump to see the video of the beautiful Ferrari models parading through the United Arab Emirates.
Source: WorldCarFans Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| GM decides it will keep Opel, turns back on Magna deal Posted: 04 Nov 2009 12:49 AM PST  In a move more likely to Fritz Henderson waking up one night and saying “eh, I love those Germans at Opel, that’s it, the deal’s off”, the GM board, with Henderson in the first line, has announced that it will keep German carmaker Opel and said that the deal with Canadian parts supplier Magna and its Russian partner Sberbank is off. The large company said that Opel, or Vauxhall as it is known in a few territories, is quite important (many of its other brands like Buick are essentially rebadged versions of the European models), and that it will collaborate with the European Union and German government so that it can restructure and make it profitable once again.
Hopefully this move will prove to be a good one for both GM but especially for Opel in the long run. What do you think? Was it better for the German carmaker to be bought by Magna-Sberbank? Leave a comment with your thoughts. Source: Jalopnik Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Renault introduces the Twingo RS Light, the base for future racing packages Posted: 04 Nov 2009 12:33 AM PST  Renault doesn’t only focus on its main hot hatchback, the Megane, but also has high hopes for its compact car, the Twingo. We’ve already seen what tuners could do to the old generation, but now the company has revealed that Twingo RS Light, which will be the base model for any tuner and for its special performance division. Besides offering the 1.6-liter 133HP engine standard to the RS, the company will modify this version by removing any “luxuries” like the A/C unit, side airbags and other accessories. All of this will cost performance enthusiasts €14,500. But in case you really want a Twingo for your track days, you’d better have some extra money lying around in the next few months, as Renault also divulged that the R1 and R2 performance packages will be appearing shortly. The first one will be the R2, which will take the overall output to 160 HP, and add a sequential Sadev five-speed gearbox, a ZF differential and a new Marelli ECU. Add a set of Ohlins suspensions and a performance braking one and it will cost you around €30,000.  For those of you who don’t have that money but still want a bit of an extra “oomph” with your compact hatchback, the R1 package will appear in March 2010, taking the output to 140 HP and also feature a new performance gearbox as well as a few other modifications, like a roll cage. This package will only cost you €10,000. While I’m not sure how many people will be interested in this small rocket, you can be sure that Renault wouldn’t have gone through the effort if there wasn’t profit to be made. Source: Automarket Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Toyota says it will improve quality, shift focus from trucks to hybrids in the US Posted: 04 Nov 2009 12:16 AM PST  We’ve heard quite a bit of rumors recently about the future plans from Toyota, but now its executive vice president for North America and global manufacturing, Atsushi Niimi, has stepped forward to reveal some hard facts about where the Japanese company will go. The first topic was build quality, which he says will improve and match the older times when people could count on a Toyota through thick and thin, no matter what. He also revealed that new safety functions will be implemented, in order to minimize “tragic accidents”, like the recent one caused by the faulty floor mat. Addressing the North American market, the Toyota exec says US engineers will play a bigger role in redesigning models from Japan and deciding which models make the jump across the ocean and which don’t. In terms of its current lineup, Niimi said that mid-cycle facelifts won’t appear that often, as the corporation will focus on bigger changes. But one of the most important aspects was that it will start trimming from its truck and pick-up range, as many models contradict each other, and focusing, at least in North America, on other hybrid models, possibly different body versions for the Prius. Source: Automotive News via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Volvo purchase will make Geely a worldwide brand, says Chinese executive Posted: 03 Nov 2009 11:58 PM PST  You probably read last week that Ford has announced that its preferred bidder in the sale of Swedish carmaker Volvo will be Chinese automaker Geely. The company has big plans for the Scandinavian brand but is still taking its time with the contract and the necessary research before putting its money where its mouth is, at least according to its chairman Li Shufu.
Rumors are pegging the deal between Ford and Geely to cost the Chinese company around $2 billion, which in hindsight, is much better than the $6.45 billion Ford paid for the Swedish brand back in 1999. Needless to say, the technology pioneered by Volvo will most certainly make up for the financial effort for the Chinese company. Don’t forget though that the deal isn’t done and there are plenty of things which can change before the contract is signed. Source: Gasgoo via Automarket Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Nissan wants to small a cheap car in the vein of the Tata Nano Posted: 03 Nov 2009 11:46 PM PST  It seems that one of the newest trends in the automotive industry is the introduction of small cheap cars, targeted at nations which are still in development, with the prime example being the Tata Nano, coming from India. The popularity that the tiny model is enjoying has now sparked the interest of many other big carmakers, one of them being Nissan, which reportedly is preparing to launch its own small vehicle platform, dubbed V (think Versatile). This new car, which is in development for quite some time, will use fewer parts than current compact Nissan models, and will target countries like Thailand, India or China, at the middle of 2010. Nissan also has high hopes for the small model, hoping to sell over one million vehicles per year as early as 2013. This also means that it will launch the V in other territories besides the Asian countries, like Europe or the US, around 2011. Do you think that such small, cheap vehicles are the future? Leave a comment with your thoughts. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Tips on getting your car ready for the winter season Posted: 03 Nov 2009 06:03 AM PST  In most countries, the winter season is rapidly approaching, meaning that your precious car will be subjected to some serious wear and tear. In order to prevent it from breaking down or becoming seriously damaged, there are a few things you need to keep in mind and inspect, preferably before the snow starts falling or you’ll find yourself in the emergency lane of any road. So in case you can’t borrow Ken Block’s TRAX STI Subaru-based snow cat, you might want to hit the jump and find out all of the tips on getting your car ready for the upcoming winter season.
First off, you need to check the level of the fluids in your car. During the winter, all of them are important: the anti-freeze (for obvious reasons), the oil, the windshield wiper fluid (make sure you have the proper dilution or one especially for the winter season), the power steering liquid and, the most obvious one, the fuel. Don’t go hoping that your little car will survive with fumes until the next fueling station, as with the heating turned up, the revving of the engine and the tough driving conditions, expect worse fuel average than normal. Another very important thing is the set of tires you currently have on the car. We all know the smoother summer ones are great for when you want to do mini-burnouts around the city, but opt for a new set (including the spare) of winter tires, which have more grooves and provide a better grip, which in some cases can make the difference. In case you’re strapped for cash, you can fit your driving wheels with winter ones, that is if you don’t have and AWD vehicle, or can opt for chains which you can strap onto the tires when the snow covers the road. In terms of mechanics, you might want to service it, but in case you want to save a few bucks, then you need to check the battery first, and in case it has been failing until now, consider getting it replaced, as the A/C, windshield wipers and other systems will take a toll on it. You might also throw a pair of jumper cables in the boot, to be on the safe side. Other components of the engine, like the spark plugs or drive belts, might also be checked out, but only if you have experience working with them. The brakes are also very important, and, in case you have been experiencing some sideways slides in the wet or on the snow, then you need to get to a service station and have them resynchronize the whole system, so as to now spin out of control on the road. Other things you might want to have in the boot, in the winter season only, after that you can throw back in everything plus the kitchen sink, are a shovel, a bag of sand, a pair of blankets, some matches, a flash light and, of course, a medical kit, for extreme emergencies. This is what we could think of; do you have any other tips about getting ready for winter that we might have missed? Don’t be shy and drop a comment below. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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