Mazda2 news

Not content with shaving every gram of extra weight off the Mazda2 to make it one of the lightest cars around, the Mazda engineers have gone even further and lobbed the two rear doors off their featherweight supermini.

Yes, this is the three-door Mazda2, due to debut at the Geneva motor show in early March. It retains the same swoopy shape as its five-door brother, but with a slightly sleeker profile thanks to that narrower blacked-out B-pillar.

The overall dimensions remain the same as the five-door, as do the engine choices: 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol units and a 1.4-litre turbodiesel.

Although Mazda is yet to put the three-door model on the scales, it says that the loss of the two rear doors may help to tip the 2 under the 1,000kg mark: an impressive achievement for a car with enough safety kit on board to get a five-star Euro-NCAP rating.

Still no word on a hotter MPS version Mazda2, though, but we rather like the idea of a flyweight supermini with a warmed-up engine. We'll be trying to convince Mazda of the wisdom of our plans in Geneva soon.

© Source: topgear
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Volvo Loses Big for Ford, While Jag and Land Rover Profit

Ford’s Premier Auto Group was profitable in 2007 as Jaguar and Land Rover, which are now on the auction block, ended the year in the black. The small profit offset losses at Volvo, which was badly hurt by the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar.

Don Leclair, Ford’s chief financial officer, disclosed the information about Ford’s three European brands Thursday as the company reported a net loss of $2.7 billion for 2007. Ford’s losses for the past two years now exceed $15.3 billion and the company does not expect to be profitable in 2008, Ford executives said, citing the continuing pressure from slow economic growth in the U.S.

Leclair and Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally reiterated while Ford will proceed with the sale of Land Rover and Jaguar, it is planning hang on to Volvo despite the new operating loss and a one-time write-off of $2.4 billion linked to the sliding dollar. Ford didn’t disclose the size of the operating loss. The red ink is certain to increase pressure on Volvo’s management to reduce costs or find a way to build vehicles in the U.S.

Mulally, however, also emphasized Ford was making steady progress towards returning Ford to profitability in 2009 despite the economic difficulties in the United States, which has already forced the company to trim first quarter production.

Mulally said Ford’s market share in the U.S. dropped to 12.8 percent in 2007 when it wound up trailing Toyota Motor Corp. in total sales in the U.S. for the first time ever.The company also is finalizing a new “global product plan” that will feature more crossovers and passenger cars, he said.

Leclair said the blue-collar buyout offers will be very similar to the early retirement package Ford offered in 2006 when it was starting its restructuring. Some 12,000 Ford employees or about 22 percent of the company’s hourly workforce was now “retirement eligible,” meaning they had worked for Ford for 30 years or more, Leclair said.

© Source: thecarconnection
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1988 CHEVROLET C-1500 SILVERADO SLE

Seller: castrol101
Address: WISE
City: BALTIMORE
State: Maryland
Country: USA
Price: $3,500.00
Expiration: May 25, 2008
Views: 83

Description:
$3500.00 OR BEST OFFER!!!
THIS IS A 1988 CHEVROLET C-1500 SILVERADO SLE. THE OPTIONS ARE AC, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, POWER LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, CRUISE CONTROL, TILT WHEEL, 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND 350 V8 ENGINE. IT IS A 1988 BODY STYLE THAT LOOKS THE SAME AS A 1998, AND AS CLEAN AS A 1998. THE INTERIOR IS AS CLEAN AS THE EXTERIOR. EVEN THE HEADLINER IS STILL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT ALSO HAS NEW IDLER ARM, PITMAN ARM, AND BALL JOINTS. ALL THE GLASS IS GOOD AND ALL THE LIGHTS WORK. THIS TRUCK CAN BE HISTORIC TAGED IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WITH NO INSPECTION NEEDED, AND NO EMMISSIONS.

FOR MORE INFO OR PICS CALL!!!
410-477-0160 OR 443-527-9941

© Source: seriouswheels
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2008 Obsidian SG-One Ford Mustang

(from Obsidian Press Information) What would you build if you had finances without limitations, a love for classic Mustangs and a passion for hot rodding? Forget everything you know and believe about classic Mustangs because were talking about something that's never existed before. Something that says, You've achieved the highest levels success and perfectly reflects who you are. It must exceed the wildest dreams of even the most discerning enthusiast without disappointment or delay. It must redefine the standards by which all others are judged. It must be the absolute pinnacle of achievement. All of this requires the finest coach level craftsmanship, ingenious engineering, seamless integration of only the best components and several years to complete. So, we proudly introduce you to the Obsidian SG-One Mustang.

Classic styling meticulously blended with sophisticated technology. A Twin supercharged and intercooled EFI engine with more horsepower than any factory Shelby Mustang , a new Corvette ZR-1 or a new Dodge Viper. They'll know you're coming with the beautiful but subtle supercharger whine, a camshaft idle you'll love and a muscular exhaust sound thats not too loud on the inside yet intimidating on the outside. A fully integrated tube chassis with roll bar easily handles the power while a NASCAR style belly pan provides high speed aerodynamics.

The body has been extended 7 over stock to comfortably sit virtually anyone up to 7 feet tall. Formula One style paddle shifters enable lightning fast and consistent gear changes. Enormous Brembo four wheel disc brakes with hydro boost provide fade-free stopping power in a hurry. A fully adjustable coil over suspension system is tuned for carving out corners while providing excellent ride characteristics. A performance rack and pinion steering system gives the utmost in road feel and goes precisely where you point it. Custom 18 front and 20 rear aluminum wheels and BF Goodrich KDW tires provide a nose down appearance with superior dry and wet weather traction and razor sharp handling and braking.

Powerful, graceful and elegant, she's one of a kind. In fact, there's only one available and it will never be reproduced. That should come as no surprise though. After all, its just like you are: in a class all by itself. We suggest acquiring the Obsidian SG-One now before its gone!

© Source: seriouswheels
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PontiacG8 Definitely Not Lost in Translation

We’re still waiting for some seat time in the much-anticipated, rear-wheel-drive Pontiac G8 sport sedan, but the details continue to trickle in regarding exactly how the G8 differs from Australia’s home-grown muscle car, the Holden Commodore SS, which the G8 will be assembled alongside.

Fortunately, it’s sounding like what’s soon arriving to Pontiac dealerships is remarkably similar mechanically to Australia’s muscle car icon.According to Pontiac’s marketing director, Craig Bierly, there are relatively few chassis differences between the Commodore SS and the sporty G8 GT model. Bierly verified that the so-called FE2 suspension, standard on the G8 GT and optional on the G8 V6, is identical to that used in the Aussie Commodore SS. On the other hand, the FE1 suspension, standard on the V6 model, is a U.S.-exclusive tune.

Prices and equipment for the G8 were announced last year. The G8 V6, with a 256-hp, 3.6-liter V-6, will start at $27,595, while the G8 GT, with a 361-hp, 6.0-liter V-8, teases at $29,995 — both significantly lower than the Commodore’s translated sticker price.

One thing that the U.S.-market Commodore..ehem, G8 GT…will have on the big 6.0-liter V-8 that the Down Under car doesn’t is Active Fuel Management, which brings the V-8’s EPA highway estimate up to 24 mpg. The 25-mpg figure for the V-6 model isn’t much better, and is significantly lower than that of the Grand Prix, which the G8 is replacing. Performance is a strength though for both models; the V-8 can get to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, and the car has a near-ideal weight distribution.

GM’s Australian division, Holden, also built the GTO coupe, which was sold in the U.S. through the 2006 model year. It was closely related to the Australian-market Holden Monaro and was eventually discontinued due to slow sales. GM had been hoping to sell 20,000 GTOs per year, but sales struggled to reach that rate in any of its model years; the company is hoping to move about 50 percent more than the original GTO target, according to Bierly, or about 30,000 G8s annually.

The first 888 G8s to be sold in the U.S. will be brought over as a group and given a special instrument-panel plaque featuring a VIN-related number sequence from 001 to 888. There are well over twice that number of Pontiac dealerships in the U.S.

© Source: thecarconnection
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HUMMER Web Site Nabs New H3T Truck

It’s embargo time again for Chicago’s auto show - and the new HUMMER H3T is the latest victim to fall. HUMMERguy.net’s Web site says this photo was taken in anticipation of a Detroit show debut, but of course HUMMER had an HX concept for the ongoing Cobo affair earlier this month.

The new HUMMER truck has a short bed and lots of nifty cargo features, like a built-in lunchbox, according to the Web site. No specs are produced, but GM’s 3.5-liter in-line five and the palindromic 5.3-liter V-8 are expected to be options. The new truck will be built alongside the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon twins in the GM plant in Shreveport, La., starting this year.

© Source: thecarconnection
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Spied! New Benz ML Gets Frosty Reception

Recently we’ve got a batch of Spied photos of Mercedes’ facelifted ML as it paused during a fuel stop in some snowbound place we’re glad to be far from.

The latest shots clear up some details that older spy shots haven’t revealed, and shows a distinctly different front end than the redesigned ML-Class brought to market a few years back. The front bumper gets a bit more butch, with protrusions which flare out at the corners, beneath the headlights. The flares lead into a larger lower grille-opening, resulting in an ML with a more pronounced “jaw line” than the current model. The tweaked ML also showcases a new hood, with a taller central bulge further augmented by two chiseled strips flanking the Mercedes star. The new ML’s fog lamp clusters have also been reshaped and fitted with some revised mesh trim. Some tape on the headlights suggests that some minor changes will also be made to the headlights.

Changes to the rear are more subtle, but it appears that the rear bumper has also been slightly redesigned. The tail-lights look unchanged, although the internal lighting elements may employ brighter LED technology which would up the safety quotient, but do nothing to enhance styling.

All in all, this facelifted ML is typical for Mercedes — a cautious update halfway through a car’s life cycle. Can we expect a new M-Class in 2012, then? We’ll keep you posted.

© Source: thecarconnection
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