Today’s most important news is, no doubt about that, the announcement of Chrysler and Fiat’s merger, a move which might have a lot of influence on the auto market. Chrysler, faced with serious financial problems, still managed to sell about 2 million vehicles last year (most of them in the United States), while Fiat, whose main markets were Europe and Latin America, sold around 2.5 million units. So the result of the merger will be one very important company.
Fiat, who will receive an initial 35 percent equity interest in Chrysler (with an option to raise it to 55 percent at a later date), won’t make a cash investment or funding in Chrysler instead it will share platforms with the Detroit carmaker, including city and compact segment vehicles, fuel efficient powertrain technologies and will also help Chrysler expand their market outside of the United States.
“A Chrysler/Fiat partnership is a great fit as it creates the potential for a powerful, new global competitor, offering Chrysler a number of strategic benefits, including access to products that compliment our current portfolio; a distribution network outside North America; and cost savings in design, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing and sales and marketing,” said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO of Chrysler LLC.
Source: Chrysler
Friday
Chrysler and Fiat announce merger
BMW 320d Winter Concept by Miranda-Series
BMW 320d Winter Concept by Miranda-Series :
Though there’s not much left of this winter, German tuner Miranda-Series announced a very good looking winter sport package for the BMW 320d (the current generation, but the version before the facelift). By optimizing the ECU, the tuner managed to increase the 2.0 liter turbo diesel’s power output up to 199 hp. Handling was improved by equipping the car with Eibach Pro-Street-S coilover suspension and Stop-Tech brakes. Other changes include new 19-inch black alloy wheels wrapped in Dunlop winter tires and new Recaro seats. However, there’s one small setback. The package, though it looks good, it’s not that impressive, but instead is priced at €13,544 (almost $18,000), which is a lot.
Check out more photo after the jump.
Volvo pulls out of the Tokyo Motor Show
Last week Ford, along with GM and Chrysler, announced that it would skip this year’s Tokyo Motor Show and now, Volvo management has decided to follows it’s parent company and drop out of this year’s edition of the Japanese show. The reason behind the decision was the costs cut, the Swedish carmaker having better things to do with it’s money that to have a stand in Tokyo.
Fearing a lack of participants, JAMA (Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association) even considered, last week, to cancel this year’s edition of the Tokyo Motor Show. However, the decision was that “the show must go on”, especially with the association receiving support from the Japanese companies, who announced they’ll be at the show, scheduled to take place between October 23 and November 8
Source: Automotive News Europe
First Dodge Viper Special Hurst
First Dodge Viper special Hurst edition sold for $275,000
In order to celebrate their 50th anniversary, Hurst Performance Vehicles released a special 50 units limited edition of the Dodge Viper, and the first car was auctioned two days ago at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction for $275,000. The anniversary Hurst/Viper features an unique gold paint finish with gloss black stripes and black chrome Hurst wheels. Also, the car is fitted with the new Hurst HARD-DRIVE gold anodized pistol-grip shifter, 19- and 20-inch Hurst polished aluminum wheels, Corsa exhaust and Moton Club Sport adjustable coil-over suspension with Eibach springs.
The interior was also customized with special Katzkin charcoal leather with Hurst embroided logos, gold thread detailing and perforated leather inserts. For the exterior there are two color combinations available: black with gold stripes and white with gold stripes (the gold with black stripes combination was specially created only for the first auctioned unit).
Check out more photos after the jump.
BS3 based on the Audi S3
O.CT Boehler Concept BS3 based on the Audi S3
German tuning company O.CT Tuning released the first details and photos of another package for the Audi S3. Called Boehler concept BS3, the car is based on the quattro version of the S3, powered by an upgraded engine that delivers 328 hp (241 kW) and a maximum torque of 425 Nm. The power upgrade was made by fitting a a specially developed Engine control unit, deep thorated Sportexhaust with integrated Controlfolds and improved Air Intake System. According to O.CT, the BS3 has a top speed of 265 km/h (165 mph) and it goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) “almost a full second quicker than the Stock S3″ (which does the sprint in 5.5 seconds).
Other upgrades include a fully adjustable O.CT Coilover Suspension, 8-piston braking system with 372 mm discs/rotors and O.CT Carbon Fiber Add-ons for the engine, battery and air intake. Last, but not least, the body kit looks very good, with widened fenders and redesigned rear bumper, finished in white and black paint, plus a set of 20 inch MÖZ alloy wheels.
The only downside of this package is its pricing, around 67,000 Euros, but the fact that the car will only be built in a limited run of 100 units, O.CT hopes to find customers for it.
Check out more photos after the jump.
Photo Audi S3 tuning by O.CT
The 505 hp Chevrolet
If you ask someone to name a Chevrolet car that delivers more than 500 hp, we bet they’ll tell you “Corvette!”. But oh boy, they sure would be wrong! Because a team from Fourdin Auto Sport, led by Yves Fourdin, have created this monster, a Chevrolet Matiz powered by a 505 hp 7.0 liter V8 engine from the Corvette Z06 (come to think about it, those people saying Corvette wouldn’t be so wrong). We have no idea how they managed to fit the V8 into the little Matiz or how the car doesn’t take off, but one thing’s for sure, the Matizilla goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 10.94 seconds and up to a top speed of 260 km/h (162 mph).
The racing car, which was finished in August 2008, has been homologated and is currently on display at the International Racing Show Liège in Belgium. One more photo and a short video of the car unleashed on the Monza race track in Italy, after the jump.
Photo 505 hp Chevrolet Matiz
Sunday
Biofuel powered Bentley
Biofuel powered Bentley to debut in Geneva, With a little more than a month left until the Geneva Motor Show starts, Bentley has announced today that one of their stand’s starts will be what they call their fastest and most powerful production car ever. Of course, that’s interesting, but not that interesting, you might say. But that’s not all. The car, named “Extreme Bentley” so far, will run on biofuel. That’s about all the details the British company has released, but considering the current most powerful Bentley is a 600 hp beast, we can only dream about what the Geneva car will be like. And about the biofuel part, the guys from Autoblog expect to see an ethanol adapted version of the twin-turbocharged W12 that powers the most powerful Bentley in production.
And for all our US readers who won’t probably make it to Switzerland to the Geneva Motor Show, don’t worry, the car will be on display at April’s New York Auto Show, so you too will be able to admire the beauty.
Source : Autoblog
Mercedes Benz E Class Coupe
Mercedes Benz E Class Coupe spied in Spain, A couple of days ago we showed you a few leaked photos of the new E Class Coupe, Mercedes’ replacement for the current CLK and now we’ve got the first photos showing the car on the street. The vehicle was photographed in Mallorca, Spain during an internal event for employees, by the guys from Motorpasion and it has minimal camouflage; except for the headlights and tail lights, which are covered, the car is completely undisguised. So, what do you think, will Mercedes be able to compete with the other German luxury coupes, like the 3 Series Coupe or the Audi A5/S5? I think they can, because, like any other Mercedes model, they’ve decided to go for more stylish and less aggressive, which I think will appeal to a lot of customers.
For more photos of the car, check out the complete photo gallery on Motorpasion.
Source: Motorpasion
