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...I'm still not keen on the idea of coachbuilding unless its a pre-stripped car at the start...
 
While Fisker did an amazing job of making the 6-series less hideous (even, dare I say, attractive?), I'll wait and see what will go over with this.
 
Source: 4car

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Frankfurt Preview: Suzuki goes upmarket

Suzuki is to reveal a concept car at the Frankfurt Show next month that'll give a heavily flavoured foretaste of a new Mondeo-sized car.

The sketch of the Kizashi shows an aggressive-looking, low-slung red-painted machine, with shades of the Maybach Excelero, though the real thing's actually going to be a preview of Suzuki's new D-sector range.

Expect relatively conventional hatchbacks, saloons and estates when the final production model hits the road. It will be a replacement for the current GM Daewoo-built Verona (aka the Magnus or Chevrolet Epica/Evanda) and is being developed to be sold in both Europe and North America.

Suzuki says that this car indicates "the important step from compact and four-wheel-drive specialists into a complete product line-up." Kisashi is Japanese for 'prelude' or 'foretaste', alluding to Suzuki's onwards-and-upwards strategy.

Also appearing is the Splash mini-MPV/city car, which will also be sold as the identical Vauxhall Agila and Chevrolet Beat. Suzuki will build all three versions in Hungary, and sales start in spring 2008.

Finally, Suzuki will unveil its World Rally Championship contender, based on the SX4, and announce its team for the next season. The car will enter its first competition at the Rallye de France in mid-October in a campaign headed by Suzuki motorsport chief Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima, himself fresh from his victory in this year's Pike's Peak hillclimb.
 
-> I do like the styling of that Suzuki, but that look recalls me one car:

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-> The artist rendition looks too deceiving, I can't wait to see the actual car on the pics.
 
Am I the only one who doesn't trust Suzuki to make an upscale car that's actually worthy of the title "upscale" or the price upscale usually demands?
Maybe it has to do with Suzuki's image in America but I've never considered them good for much other than cheap jeep-like creations prone to rolling over. :confused:
 
Source: Auto Express

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Ingolstadt is planning a succession of new models - an Audi R8 convertible, a supermini and the A7 Mercedes rival

Meet an exciting trio of new Audis. These exclusive pictures, produced using accurate insider information, reveal for the first time that the firm is planning a new city runabout, a topless version of the R8 supercar and a Mercedes CLS rival.

The Merc challenger, called the A7, will share its underpinnings with the next-generation A6, but feature sleek coupé looks and tuned suspension for
an involving drive. This stylish four-door will fit between the A6 and A8 in the current line-up, which means prices are likely to range from £40,000 to £50,000.

At the other end of the Audi spectrum will be an all-new MINI rival: the A1. Set to debut in 2010, this model will combine desirability with affordability. A range of bodystyles is planned: a three-door hatchback (bottom right), a five-door and a convertible. All will feature the maker’s trademark trapezoidal grille, stubby proportions and LED lights.

The last small Audi was the A2, which was axed in 2005. It was priced from £13,500, and sales were slow as a result. To ensure it’s competitive, the A1 is tipped to cost around £2,000 less.

But before Audi’s cheapest car arrives, the firm will unveil its most expensive model – an open-air version of the R8. Called the Spider, it will keep the coupé’s futuristic looks, but have lift-out targa panels instead of a cumbersome folding roof. It will also gain two speedster-style humps behind the cabin. Prices are likely to start from £85,000 when it arrives in 2009.
 
The R8 is beautiful. But that R8 Convertible (rendering?) is just an abomination which might've come out of a tuner's house. I'm all out for an R8 convertible - but keep the styling the same where you can - don't uglify the front even further!
 
Ugh, what's next? The R8 SE?

I know the car is based heavily off the Gallardo, but it doesn't need a Spyder. The Spyder will only raise the price and put the R8 even closer to the Gallardo. Not a smart move for a company trying to keep the 2 apart.
 
Congraturations on your quarity posts badge *McRaren*!

I think the R8 is a generally bad idea. One of the R8's main selling points over the 911 was it's exclusivity and it's masculine images.

Both are in jepoardy.
 
Danachronism
Congraturations on your quarity posts badge *McRaren*!

I think the R8 is a generally bad idea. One of the R8's main selling points over the 911 was it's exclusivity and it's masculine images.

Both are in jepoardy.
Click to expand...

Thanks. :)

But I don't think the 911 is any real threat here. It has a lot of models ranging from $73,500 to probably around $200,000 when the GT2 comes out. Now, the Targa 4S, 911 Turbo, & GT3 may have conflicting prices, but the Targa 4S is rare to see to begin with, the GT3 seems to be for those who want track-bred cars, not ones that can be driven on the road every so often (The RS models are pretty much in zero conflicts; people who buy a RS' know what they want) which leaves the 911 Turbo. That and the R8 are the only 2 cars I see conflicting, honestly.
 
-> I'm not really looking forward to the R8 Roadster/Spyder/Convertible. It may look pointless in some point, but according to those renderings it looks ugh! :yuck:

-> They should make it a powered retractable targa top, just like the Smart Roadster:



-> What I'm really looking forward is the higher performance version of the R8 (maybe RS8?). ;)
 
Source: AutoCar

China goes Atomic

Ariel Motor Co, Somerset-based builder of the Atom, has set up a joint venture in China to make and sell cars there, and potentially to establish the Atom as China’s "starter" racing car.

A new company, Quingdao Ariel Automotive Ltd, will manufacture cars at a new plant in the east coast city of Quingdao, where Olympic sailing events will be held in the 2008 games. The new company, which already holds 200 orders, aims to complete its first cars, which will be identical to those built in Somerset, by the end of the year.

Ariel founder and MD Simon Saunders says the new lead could eventually lead to the establishment of a proper Ariel test track in China, and believes Ariel could have components like bespoke lights and wheels made by Chinese suppliers.

This is Ariel’s second licensing deal. Over 100 Atoms have been built by a licensee in the US, where demand remains very high. Saunders sees such agreements as a way of satisfying growing demand, while keeping the company small. "There are things you can do when you’re our size which you can’t when you’re bigger," he explained.
 
That's quite smart business work. They're still increasing profits but not having to invest such huge amounts equipment and training.

Lets hope there's some half-decent build quality in the Chinese versions. Though I don't suppose the interior quality can be criticised.
 
A Chinese built tube chassis race car? Yes, St. Peter that's how I really honestly died...can I get into Heaven now?
 
There isn't much out of China I would consider "quality" and as of late, the products coming from China have been showing themselves to be more and more problematic.
If their standards of production for tooth-paste, or their standards of quality for food processing can be used as any indication of what is in the works, I'd have to sadly say that Ariel has made a major mistake in this venture.

Hopefully the Atoms out of China will defy the current trends but for now I'm not expecting the Chinese Atoms to be anything more than coffins with wheels. :ouch:
 
JCE3000GT
A Chinese built tube chassis race car? Yes, St. Peter that's how I really honestly died...can I get into Heaven now?
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Who wants to race a car whose body will probably look and break like a bunch of PVC pipes stuck together?
 
Kent
I'd have to sadly say that Ariel has made a major mistake in this venture.

Hopefully the Atoms out of China will defy the current trends but for now I'm not expecting the Chinese Atoms to be anything more than coffins with wheels.:ouch:
Click to expand...
First off, the cars are supposed to be identical to the ones built in Somersetat least to start off anyway. That means they should be built with the same materials to the same plans. While it doesn't gaurentee the same quality they already have atemplate of what to built and what quality to build to. Secondly, even if it isn't as good quality, these cars are being sold IN China, not here, not the US, China. So they arn't going to be worse than what's already made there and as such they are unlickely going to have a negative effect on Ariels image either way.
 
Nope, Dave:

The Article
Ariel founder and MD Simon Saunders says the new lead could eventually lead to the establishment of a proper Ariel test track in China, and believes Ariel could have components like bespoke lights and wheels made by Chinese suppliers.
Click to expand...

Which I interpret as Chinese suppliers also producing parts for the British and American Ariel branches.
 
Source: Auto Express

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Limited edition Cayman S announced

Porsche has announced a limited edition version of its acclaimed Cayman S mid-engined coupe. Going on sale in November, the "Porsche Design Edition 1" will be a special series of just 777 cars worldwide, dominated by an all-black design motif running through the car, and each identified by a badge on the lid of the glove box.

Cosmetically the influence of the Porsche Design Studio has resulted in a lot of dark materials: there's black leather and Alcantara upholstery, a black centre console, fascia console, and door trims, while the three-spoke sports steering wheel, the gear lever, the handbrake grip, and the roof lining are clothed in non-slip black Alcantara. The Porsche logo crest is embossed on the seat headrests, and the instrument dial layout echoes that of Porsche Design timepieces.

There are a handful of technical changes in the Design Edition 1 too: the body is lowered 10mm, while this Cayman S presents a more purposeful stance courtesy of five-millimetre wide axle spacers, 19-inch ‘Turbo’ wheels, and 235/35 ZR 19 tyres on the front axle and 265/35 ZR 19 tyres at the rear.

The Porsche Design Studio, created by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche 35 years ago, has become an international industrial design house for luxury items, and consumer goods.

Owners will be reminded of this heritage by the package of accessorites included with each Cayman S “Porsche Design Edition 1” model: a briefcase containing the Flat Six Chronograph timepiece, a pocket knife, a pair of sunglasses, a pen, and a key ring – all in black, even the knife blade, in keeping with the vehicle’s styling.

The Cayman S ‘Porsche Design Edition 1’ will be on sale in the UK and Ireland from November 2007, priced from £49,890 including a Porsche Driving Experience course.
 
But many think that they limited the Cayman's performance so as to not infringe on the 911.

It seems unlikely they'd build an RS Cayman.
 
If these things are still on sale by December, hopefully, they'll knock down the leases on Cayman S's. If not, well, here's hoping someone will push one to the limit and then put it back on the market.
 
Hence why this Special Edition Cayman does not get power upgrades, because it would enter 911 territory.
 
Shouldn't the special package include the shoes?
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:dopey:
 
The car: Nice. I like the idea of an all-black Cayman. I can't say the wheels fit the car (something anodised or powercoated black would look better, IMHO). Though I've never known what alcantara is. A type of leather?

The shoes: Want! Where, and how much? Is that an Adidas logo I see on the front?
Daddy needs a new pair of driving shoes.
Edit - Oh dear god, there's a whole line of these shoes!!!!
 
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