Federal Government’s offer of amnesty to Niger Delta militants has suffered yet another setback as the Joint Task Force (JTF), the military body responsible for security in the oil-producing region, has stopped attempts by displaced persons to return to their villages.
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Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Jaguar, Misc. Auto Shows, Special/Limited Editions
In a press release announcing the cars it would be taking to this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Jaguar’s own Mike Cross has officially confirmed the coming of the Jaguar XKR Goodwood Special. We noted before that it would be louder and faster and detailed in satin graphite, but now we find out it will get a lower ride height over 21-inch wheels and – are you ready? – “a unique Lime Green paint scheme and XKR exterior graphic” as shown above. Alrighty, then.
That hard-to-miss car will join a few more trailers of Jaguar goodies, including the 225 mph Bonneville XFR, a 1957 Long Nose D-Type, a Le Mans winning C-Type, and the one-of-a-kind Jaguar XJ13. Goodwood is just around the corner (July 3-5), and you can read all about Jaguar’s plans in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Jaguar]
Continue reading Jaguar officially announces XKR Goodwood Special… in lime green
Jaguar officially announces XKR Goodwood Special… in lime green originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Audi’s Multi-Media Interface, which is arguably the best of the various all-in-one graphical user interface systems favored, has just got better.
According to Audi, resolution on the system’s 6.5-inch screen is getting bumped up to 800 x 400, route calculation will happen faster with a 600 MHz processor, and you can scroll along the route – not just vertically and horizontally – and get speed limit data on highways.
Additionally, the system will also finally charge external MP3 players that are plugged in to the system, song titles will be displayed,
The new A3, TT, and R8 will be the first to benefit from next-step MMI when they arrive in Stateside dealerships in the autumn. U.S. pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but you can read about all of the next-gen system’s new bells and whistles in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Audi]
Continue reading Audi updates MMI system for 2010 A3, TT and R8
Audi updates MMI system for 2010 A3, TT and R8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials, UK
The final days of MG were disastrous and disastrously expensive. The British government finally has an accounting of what happened, but it only adds to both sides of the disaster: the report took four years and £16 million ($26 million U.S.) for CPA firm BDO Stoy Howard to compile.
For now, various government figures are upset about the delay and the cost. BDO is reported to have spent more than £130,000 ($214,000 U.S.) on hotels and expenses, leading to charges of the firm “living like kings” while MG’s workers were living on government support. The report hasn’t been released yet, so no one knows what it says. When it is made public, if the MG story continues as it has, what’s actually in the report will probably be just as hard to swallow as the lead-up to it.
[Source: Sunday Mercury]
Findings from inquiry into demise of MG Rover finished… only took 4 years and $26M originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Green
When President Obama signed the Cash-for-Clunkers bill into law back on June 24, the Transportation Department was given 30 days to set the official rules and regulations for the program that will put the plan into motion. According to the official CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) site, NHTSA intends to get the deed done a day early by July 23. Although the paper the President signed stipulated that consumers may be eligible for the program starting on Wednesday, July 1, the Transportation Department is warning dealers not the jump the gun:
Interested dealers and consumers may want to wait until all of the detailed issues that must be addressed in the implementing regulations are resolved. If a dealer chooses to structure a transaction before the final rule is issued, they will bear the risks associated with later demonstrating that the transaction meets all of the specifications of the final rule.
Dealerships who violate the official rules and regulations may be subject to fines of up to $15,000. Still have questions? Click here to see the complete list of FAQs straight from the NHTSA.
[Source: CARS | Image: kudzuplanet under C.C. 2.0]
Cash for Clunkers to officially begin July 23 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The US imposes sanctions on an Iranian firm accused of helping North Korea develop its nuclear weapons programme.
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Autoblog Comparo: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T The Wrangler Unlimited and H3T live on the fatter part of the buying curve, but any time a Jeep is summoned to the ring, the other vehicle is inevitably the challenger. Even though the H3T is still relatively new to the world, it came time to find out if it was ready to stand up and fight for its place. |
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Consumer Reports lambasts Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested Calling it “the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time,” America’s most influential product testing magazine has given extremely poor marks to the Japanese automaker’s new Insight hybrid. |
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Officially Official: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni Few names resonate more with the Lamborghini faithful than Valentino Balboni, Lambo’s long-term test driver who’s honed every model to roll off the line since 1973. In an ultimate tribute to Balboni, the Italian supercar manufacturer has created this: the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni. |
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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.30.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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President Barack Obama says US troops have withdrawn from Iraqi towns on schedule, but warns of “difficult days” ahead.
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Filed under: Porsche, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials
Porsche is profitable and it owns a big chunk of the far larger Volkswagen, yet cash seems to be in short supply. Automotive News is reporting that the world-renowned luxury sports car maker’s 1.75 billion euro ($2.45 billion USD) loan request from German state bank KFW has been rejected, leaving Porsche to search elsewhere for funding. Porsche secured 10.75 billion euros ($15.1B) in financing from banks in March to feed its 9 billion euro debt ($12.6B) mountain, but it’s looking for alternative means for financing its cash crunch.
Porsche has already looked outside of Europe for funding to handle its mounting debt, as it worked with the Arab emirate of Qatar to secure a sizable stake in the company. VW, smelling blood in the water, reportedly gave Porsche an ultimatum, offering up 3-4 billion euro ($4.2-$5.6B) for 49% of the sports car maker in exchange for not forcing the repayment of a 700 million euro loan ($983M) in September. Porsche responded by saying that ultimatums don’t belong in the 21st century. Unfortunately, bankruptcies are all too common in the new economy, so the proud German company may have to dig a bit deeper to keep themselves from falling into the financial abyss.
[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd) | Image: Michael Latz/Getty]
Porsche loan request rejected by Germany’s state bank originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Toys, Motorcycles, UK
Further proof that you can literally fashion anything if given access to enough interconnecting Lego bricks is this Triumph Daytona 1200 motorcycle. The machine has apparently been on display for quite some time at Legoland Windsor in Berkshire, England and is obviously assembled from thousands of individual pieces. We especially like the detailed engine, which is complete with linkages for the carbs and throttle cables.
As cool as this creation is, how much better would it be with a fully functional Lego engine? Of course, having a full-scale building-block motorcycle would also require a matching helmet. May we suggest this one? Click past the break for a video of the LEGO Triumph Daytona on its display stand and click here for more automotive-themed Lego madness.
[Source: Asphalt and Rubber]
Continue reading VIDEO: Triumph Daytona motorcycle assembled from Lego bricks
VIDEO: Triumph Daytona motorcycle assembled from Lego bricks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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