Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Sacha Baron Cohen is currently working up his next contribution to cinema. The Dictator is a spoof flick built around a persona very similar to Saddam Hussein, the former ruler of Iraq. Cohen has turned to Russian SUV manufacturer Dartz to supply a few vehicles for his motorcade, and the automaker responded with a set of gold-plated Kombat wagon models. A few shots of the vehicles have made their way to the web, and we have to say that they wouldn’t look out of line cruising through the oil-rich sands of pre-invasion Iraq.

The Dictator is set to land in movie theaters in May 2012 with director Larry Charles behind the wheel. Word has it celebrities like Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley and Megan Fox will all make appearances in the flick, though it’s unclear what part they’ll play in the action. Head over to GT Spirit for a closer look at the gold-plated Kombat wagons.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s gold-plated Dartz spied originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here
Powered by SmartRSS

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Lincoln, Luxury

Automotive News is reporting that Lincoln is still planning to unleash a volley of seven new or substantially improved vehicles by 2014. Those of you with a calendar will note that the date is barely more than two years away, and so far, we haven’t heard word one about the company’s new product offensive. That is, until now. The Ford luxury brand has tipped its hand, explaining that its vehicles will receive significant revisions that include new sheet metal, altered wheel bases and new front and rear overhangs to differentiate the pack from the rest of the Dearborn family tree.

The aging Navigator will receive a light warm-over with the addition of a slight restyle for 2012 along with a range of new engines borrowed from the F-150. That means that buyers will be able to plop the new 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 engine behind the headlights if they so choose.
Additionally, the Ford Kuga CUV (or rather, its replacement, previewed by the Vertrek concept) is likely to show up on Lincoln lots sometime in 2013.

UPDATE: Lincoln Communications Manager Christian Bokich says that while the Navigator will receive the EcoBoost V6 in the near future, the engine won’t be available for 2012.

2012 Lincoln Navigator getting 3.5L EcoBoost V6 [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

The National Executive Director of Liberia Industrial Opportunity Center (LOIC), Solomon D. King, Sr., said the center is facing grim financial problems.

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

This Sunday September 4 2011, at the Banquet Hall of the State House, one of Ghana’s most recognizable icons would be honoured in a dinner dance. Organized by the Royal Protocol Services under the auspices of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, the event would be in support of the National Loom Heritage Project.

More: continued here
Powered by SmartRSS

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Technology, Ford, Design/Style

In the past few years, Ford hasn’t done too many high-style concepts. Most of its design studies have generally been previews of a future production model, with a fewrecent and distantexceptions. But the Ford Evos Concept stands apart.

Unveiled last evening and previewed here in Berlin, Germany ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Evos is the next step in the One Ford strategy, creating a new global styling language to go along with its new global architectures. Whereas the outgoing Kinetic design was a stylistic turning point for Ford, debuting in Europe and then slowly making its way to the States in the form of the Fiesta and Focus, the Evos is a clear picture of the future face of a global Ford. And while we won’t see a production model based on this 2+2, Ford’s head of design, J Mays, says we’ll be seeing the first roadgoing example of this new styling not in four years, but in a scant four months.

Continue reading Detailed: Evos Concept foretells Ford’s future [w/video]

Detailed: Evos Concept foretells Ford’s future [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Performance, Europe, MISC

The thing about retro styling is that, since it’s anchored not in the contemporary but in the classical, it doesn’t age. So you may be as surprised as we were to discover that the Wiesmann Roadster has been on the market for 18 years now.

The first version of the retro German sportscar was the MF3, the six-cylinder model that is now being discontinued in favor of bigger engines after nearly two decades of service. But before bidding goodbye to the car that put it on the map, Wiesmann has teamed up with luxury brand Sieger to send it off with a special run of eighteen unique models.

Each of the blogger’s dozen (yeah, we just made up that term) gets a completely unique color scheme both inside and out, and only one of each will be made, bearing names like Panther, Rocket and Chocolat.

One will be displayed at the rapidly approaching Frankfurt show, and we’ll have more for you then, but in the meantime you can delve into the press release after the jump for more details and check out the full spectrum by clicking the quartet above.

Continue reading Wiesmann gives the MF3 a colorful goodbye

Wiesmann gives the MF3 a colorful goodbye originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, BMW, Diesel

Our love for all things diesel is tempered this morning with the news of a recall affecting a certain oil-burning German SUV. BMW is recalling the 2009 X5 xDrive35d due to a problem with the vehicle’s diesel fuel pre-heater, the issue being that it’s not working as it should, and it could experience an electrical overload that would put it in a permanent “on” state.

Its job is to pre-heat, so if it were forced to always-heat it could become quite unhappy and cause damage to various parts of the X5. One part being the battery, which could die out quickly. The other part being the entire vehicle, which could catch on fire. Either scenario would surely prove to be a negative experience for owner’s of the vehicle, and BMW will repair the faulty unit free of charge.

Continue reading BMW recalling 2,120 diesel X5 models

BMW recalling 2,120 diesel X5 models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Saif al-Islam, son of fallen Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, has said in an audiotape that he was still in Tripoli and the fight against rebels goes on. He told the Damascus-based Al-Rai …

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Plants/Manufacturing, Work, Canada

Call it a Caravan, call it a Voyager, call it whatever you want – just don’t call it a Dodge. Because while it may look exactly like a Dodge, it’s actually a Ram. And as the suits in Auburn Hills will point out, the Ram truck brand is no longer under Dodge’s purview.

What it’s actually called is the Ram C/V, which doesn’t stand for Commercial Vehicle but for Cargo Van. It’s the panel-wagon version of the Dodge Grand Caravan, and it’s just entered production in Windsor, Ontario.

The Class 1 commercial vehicle offers 1,800 pounds of cargo capacity and 3,600 pounds of towing capability for a Gross Combined Weight Rating of 8,750 pounds, all the while delivering up to 25 miles per gallon on the highway. It also gets a heavy-duty radiator and transmission oil cooler over the family-hauling version. It’s ready to order now from your local Ram dealership.

Continue reading 2012 Ram Cargo Van starts rolling in Windsor

2012 Ram Cargo Van starts rolling in Windsor originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: Hatchback, Volkswagen

If you’ve been sitting at home or work wondering how much your dream 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will cost, today is the day you can stop guessing. Volkswagen has added its new Beetle configurator to its retal website, and the new-age Bug can be had for as little as just under $20,000, all the way up to $30,000 with a full suite of options.

The base Beetle, which comes with a 170-horsepower five-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission, will set you back $20,565. That’s over $2,000 more than the 2010 New Beetle, but we’re thinking the substantial upgrades makes the extra coin worthwhile. The base Beetle comes equipped with 17-inch wheels, Bluetooth hands-free calling, a media interface with iPod cable and Electronic Stability Control. The six-speed automatic transmission is a $1,100 option.

Other trim levels include the $23,065 Sunroof model, which includes a panoramic sunroof (go figure), leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant controls and push-button start. Step up to the Sunroof, Sound and Navigation model, and the price of entry jumps to $24,865. This package also adds 18-inch wheels and a multi-function trip computer.

If forced induction is your thing, the 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged Beetle Turbo with six-speed manual can be yours for $24,165. The Beetle Turbo also a number of sunroof/sound trim packages, as well, which start at $27,165 and $28,765, respectively. Option out the top Beetle Turbo with 19-inch wheels and an automatic transmission, and you’re looking at an MSRP of $30,865.

All quoted prices include $770 for destination. Head over to the VW website to price out a 2012 Beetle for yourself.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle configurator bubbles up originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]