The opinion-splitting Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept, unveiled at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, will not go into production according to the UK’sCar and Driver magazine.
While local officials will neither confirm nor deny the rumours, it’s being reported Land Rover will instead opt for a large panoramic roof instead of doing a full convertible.
Love it or hate it, Land Rover Design Director Gerry McGovern was initially confident about the rather surprising notion of premium convertible SUV, saying at the time: “The Range Rover Evoque lends itself beautifully to the idea of a convertible. This study is not a traditional convertible design execution – instead we have worked with the balance of the Range Rover Evoque’s lines to retain its distinctive shape and create something that is unique and, we believe, highly desirable.”
Remember Peter Weir’s The Cars That Ate Paris? Evidently VW doesn’t.
At the latest model’s local launch, the presentation included a menagerie of Beetle movie montages … without a single reference to the 1974 Aussie classic.
For those not into low-budget camp horror, an early Bug brandishing spiky armour sets out for Vee Dub The Impaler-style revenge on the eponymous NSW town’s murderous residents.
Now, VW’s oversight is ironic, because butching up the modern Beetle’s twee image was priority die nummer eins for this, only the third in 75 years.
To that end, VW has fashioned a longer, lower, and proportionally truer post post-modern Beetle to the rear-engined Type-1 original.
Minus the spikes, of course. Full story here.
Maserati’s new compact sedan, the Ghibli, has broken cover before its official debut at this month’s Shanghai Motor Show.
Sitting under its big brother Quattroporte, the sleek, rear-wheel drive, four-seater is scheduled to launch due in Australia and New Zealand in early 2014, with a choice of two turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines, as well as a V6 turbo-diesel.
An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, and in selected markets, the new ‘Q4’ all-wheel drive system will be offered.
Holden’s decision to cut 500 jobs has seen it make headlines around the world – with many outlets focusing strongly on the brand’s hefty government funding.
New information has revealed Holden has received almost $2 billion in government funding since 2001 – almost twice that of other manufacturers.
But with so many figures being thrown around, we thought it’d be helpful to share a breakdown of Holden’s funding as printed by News Limited.
From the Federal Government
$1.5bn – Automotive Assistance 2001 to 2010 Automotive Competitive and Investment Scheme
$12.5m – 2001 Strategic Investment Incentive for the training of automotive industry employees and the development of industry relevant technology (Engine Plant)
$6.7m – 2006 Safety Enhancement Project
$150m – 2011 to 2012 Automotive Transformation Scheme
$189m – 2008 to 2012 Green Car Innovation Fund Grants
$3m – 2010 to 2011 Automotive Supply Chain Development Program
$1,864,107,018 – Subtotal automotive programs assistance
$215m – Not yet paid. 2012 New Generation Co-Investment Grant.
$2,079,107,018 – Total Automotive Programs Assistance
$78,640,619 – General assistance 2001 to 2012 under Tradex scheme where importers gain exemption on customs duties and GST on goods to be re-exported.
$17,199,894 – Vocational education training programs.
$2,174,947,53 – Total of benefits paid, gained or pledged January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2012.
From the South Australian Government
$30 million – Attracting production of Holden Cruze to Elizabeth.
$5 million – Labour adjustment following the downsizing of vehicle operations (closure of third shift).
$1 million – GM Holden secondary employment activity to assist workers to find employment while on reduced shifts.
$2.2 million – Safety enhancement project.
$38.2m – Total grants paid
$50 million – pledged but not paid for the new generation vehicle. Due in 2016-17 and 2017-18 financial years.
$88.2m – Total paid or pledged
Forget scooters. Forget Segways.
The future of personal transportation is here. And it’s called an ‘egg car’.
Developed by Korean giant Hyundai, the ‘egg car’ – which is actually called the ‘E4U’ – is a new mobility concept unveiled at last week’s Seoul Motor Show.
Basically it’s a Segway on steroids – a one-person mobility device that can easily travel in any direction thanks to a revolutionary ‘rotating semi-spherical part’.
The lower half of the vehicle, which looks like a ball, is constantly rotating, providing propulsion and allowing the driver to change direction by tilting it so different parts of the sphere touch the ground.
Propulsion is controlled by foot pedals, which cause the spherical front to tilt, while two rear training-wheel-like supports provide additional stability.
Power is supplied by a 24 volt, 500-watt battery, with top speed projected at a modest 30km/h.
The mechanical star of the 2000 feature filmGone in 60 Seconds, ‘Eleanor’, a heavily modified 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback is being offered for sale at the Mecum Spring Classic Auction, in Indianapolis, Indiana (May 14-19).
Much copied since the movie’s release, the original ‘hero’ car was built with the help of US custom car legend Chip Foose, and is powered by a 300kW, 5.7-litre (351ci) V8 engine.
The owner of a Lamborghini Miura P400 SV was forced to watch helplessly as his classic supercar went up in flames on a London street.
The owner, reported to be a wealthy London property investor, posted a five-minute-long video of the blaze on YouTube two days ago and it has since notched up more than 100,000 views.
He does not explain how the Lamborghini caught fire — but you can hear his voice in the video explaining that the firefighters are stuck in traffic.
When they do arrive, they promptly extinguish the flames — leaving an unsalvageable, blackened wreck.
The Miura is regarded as the world’s first supercar.
Only 150 were built by the Italian automaker between 1966 and 1972 and they are regarded as a highly-desired item for serious collectors.
Renault has unveiled a new concept car so ‘out there’ it’s not even on display at a car show.
Nope, the new Twin-Z concept has instead been unveiled at a…design expo in Europe.
That’s because this car is a model that Renault says bridges the gap between cars and, wait for it…furniture.
The aim, according to Renault, was to “break down the boundaries between the world of an object whose calling is to be in movement – the automobile – and that of furniture.”
But don’t panic. The Twin-Z isn’t something you park in your living room and cover in clear plastic.
You can actually use it as a car.
Four battery packs stored in the floor – to improve centre of gravity – provide 50kW/226Nm to the rear-wheels, with Renault claiming a top speed of 130kmh.
Range is tipped at 160km, but as with most concept cars, the Twin-Z is more about design than performance.
Inside, a spacious nightclub-like interior cacoons passengers, with Renault creating extra space by ditching the dashboard for a centrally mounted tabled.
Don’t expect to see the Twin-Z on the road anytime soon, but Renault could use many of the design cues on its future models.
Ferrari fans take notice – this is what the Prancing Horse’s halo car could look like in 2025.
It’s called the Ferrari ‘Getto’ (that means ‘Jet’ in Italian, not a rough neighbourhood) and is the brain child of design student Christophe Jourd’hui.
Sadly, it’s not officially condoned by Ferrari, but if the images are anything to go by, we reckon Ferrari should take notice.
Sporting a futuristic ‘floating cockpit’, the Getto takes styling cues from past Ferrari classics including the P4, 288 GTO, 250 GTO and the F40.
Love the looks and performance of the BMW M6 Coupe, but need the practicality of four doors?
Think the iconic M5 super saloon is just too cheap?
BMW has the answer.
The brand from Munich has just released a third variant to its tyre-shredding M6 range – the M6 Gran Coupe.
Weighing in at a hefty $299,500, the four-door Gran Coupe sits in the middle of the M6 range (the coupe is 292,500 and the convertible is $308,500) and sports an extra set of doors, rear sunblinds for the rear windscreen and windows, plus unique 20-inch M alloy wheels.
The 412kW twin-turbo V8 engine remains the same, boasting enough grunt to propel the Gran Coupe from 0-100km/h in just 4.2 seconds.
