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Filed under: Convertibles , Paris Motor Show , Mazda Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Mazda MX-5 We finally had the opportunity to check out the 2009 Mazda MX-5 in person, and despite the tweaks being minor, we like what we see. This is one of those instances where the press pics don't do it justice. It's difficult to see the RX-8-inspired revisions to the front end, but on closer inspection, the new headlamps, five-point air dam and blistered arches all flow effortlessly into its predecessors lines. Out back, the redesigned taillamps are easy to miss, but we'll be the first to say we prefer the outgoing models red lenses. More importantly, the 2009 model gets an extra 500 rpm before redline, new 16- and 17-inch aluminum wheels and an upgraded gearbox that has new carbon-coated synchronizers for easier, smoother shifts. Additionally, the front suspension knuckles and roll center have been revised to provide even more steering feel and a more confident ride. Sales...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Paris Motor Show , Lexus Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Lexus IS250C Lexus has chopped off two doors and the roof from the IS250 to create the IS250C, due to arrive in Europe in the summer of 2009, and the U.S. shortly thereafter. The 2009 Lexus IS250C features a three-piece aluminum roof that retracts in a "world's fastest" 20 seconds, and features revised overhangs 15mm (front) and 55mm (rear) longer than the sedan, a new fog lamp design and a rising beltline that integrates into the revised haunches. The IS250C's rear end leaves a lot to be desired, with an odd assortment of angles terminating into a set of awkwardly placed LED taillights. With the top up, nothing seems to seamlessly blend together, looking like an ill-advised amalgamation of the outgoing SC430 and BMW 335i. Inside, thing get mildly better - in typical staid Lexus tradition - with a set of rollover hoops for the rear seat passengers, a 12-speaker Mark Levinson...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Paris Motor Show , Mazda Click either image for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Mazda MX-5 The 2009 Mazda MX-5 leakage continues courtesy of km77, with a host of new images showing the facelifted roadster in both soft- and hard-top guise. These newest shots show the already revealed and revised front end , pulling a few cues from the RX-8, along with a set of new taillights and a slightly redesigned rear bumper. Engine selections remain unchanged, with buyers abroad able to choose between a 126 hp, 1.8-liter or a 160 hp, 2.0-liter. Inside the 2.0-liter four-pot, the pistons and valve springs have been replaced with lower friction parts and the intake has been revised to provide a slight increase in power along with a more aggressive note. The six-speed manual is still standard and features new synchronizers to smooth shifts, while a six-speed auto 'box with manumatic shifting will be made available in Europe for the first time. The front suspension geometry...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Coupes , Sedans/Saloons , Infiniti , Misc. Auto Shows Click above for a high-res gallery of Infiniti in Monterey. Infiniti ramped up its presence in Monterey this year with the new G37 sedan and G37x coupe , the latter equipped with the automaker's advanced ATESSA E-TSO all-wheel-drive system and seven-speed automatic gearbox (a close-ratio, six-speed manual is still an option). We're looking forward to seeing if the AWD coupe can retain the engaging driving characteristics of its RWD counterpart, while providing the security of all-wheel-drive for those of us that like to make a run into the mountains during the snow season. Infiniti also used its time on the peninsula to show off the first image of the G37 convertible (we curbed our urge to take a picture of the picture), along with the release of the revised M35 and M35x. The 2009 model benefits from the automaker's scratch shield paint, new seven-speed auto 'box and an increase in output to...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Coupes , BMW , Rendered Speculation AutoExpress ' artists worked their magic on the next generation BMW Z4 and even though the exterior is more appealing than its predecessor, what lies beneath the evolved flame-surfacing has us aching to get behind the wheel. As reported before , the next Z4 will feature a retractable hard top, but a cloth roof will continue to be offered on entry-level models. Motivation will come in several different flavors, beginning with naturally aspirated four- and six-cylinder powerplants. A diesel is also being considered - a first for the Z4 - and there's no doubt that the 3-series-based roadster will come packing the twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline six that's proliferated throughout BMW's lineup. More importantly, rumors are beginning to swirl that the M version will be equipped with the 4.0-liter V8 currently found in the M3. If that happens, it's all but guaranteed that the twin-clutch gearbox will find a...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Coupes , Sedans/Saloons , Paris Motor Show , BMW The 2009 BMW 3-series will be revealed in all its facelifted glory at the Paris Motor Show and sales will begin across North America this October. The only discernible differences up front are a new fascia that apes the recently unveiled 7-series , new headlamps with "altered graphics," a contoured hood and modified mirror housings. Out back, the subtle changes continue, with a new taillight design that integrates more cleanly into the trunk lid and a reworked bumper that will join a one-inch wider track on high end version of the 3-series. Inside, you'll find a revised armrest on the driver's side door, an updated iDrive controller and software, a high-resolution 8.8-inch screen, with options for an 80-gig hard drive that can store MP3s and the sat nav software. The 335i's (claimed) 300 hp, 3.0-liter twin-turbo six will remain, as will the 328i's 230 hp, 3.0-liter inline-six. The new...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Cadillac click above for more high-res images of the 2009 Cadillac XLR and XLR-V While Cadillac released information on the freshened XLR roadster last week, all we had to look at was a single photo. Well, now we can see the rest of it. XLR.net has gotten hold of several more shots of the halo Caddy in both the standard Platinum trim and in rodded-up V-Series form (above). We were most curious to see the updated interior, but one look is all it takes to see that it's fundamentally unchanged. The gauges simply trade their rounder, Bulgari-designed numerals for a look that's in keeping with what you'll find in other Caddys. The steering wheel is also switched out, and the XLR gets the same unit you'll find in the current CTS. Everything else? It's pretty much the same -- nice, but not done up to the level of the less expensive CTS. For that, we'll have to wait for the next XLR, assuming there is a next XLR. We already covered the new grille...
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Filed under: Convertibles , BMW , UK Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 BMW M3 convertible. To signal the beginning of sales of the M3 convertible in the UK, BMW decided to release two-dozen more photos of its drop-top super coupe , and that's enough of a reason for us to include them in a gallery with its white counterpart. Everything remains the same, including the choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed DCT gearbox , all without that pesky roof to keep you from enjoying the 420 hp, 4.0-liter V8 when your sending it up into its 8.400-rpm redline. BMW's UK press release is posted after the jump. Gallery: 2009 BMW M3 Convertible Continue reading Pics Aplenty: BMW M3 Convertible Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Convertibles , BMW They've got it really well disguised, with extra padding down virtually every inch of the flanks hiding what lies underneath, but there's a new crop of spy shots of the 2009 BMW Z4 from Swedish website Sportbilen . The Svensk site for sports car enthusiasts jumped on three shots from Tommy Kristiansen of a passel of Bimmers in Goth costumes at a fuel stop. Not much is discernible, other than the fact that the long hood/short deck profile remains, and the on-again, off-again cloth top seems to have been replaced by a hard top. Perhaps someone who understands Swedish could shed some light about what the page actually says, too. The resolution of the shots isn't good enough to really make out whether it's a removeable hardtop or a folding unit, and whatever flame surfacing might run down the sides of this car have been hidden under totally faux quarter panels front and rear, and a door with a intentionally confusing bowl in the middle...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Sports/GTs , Euro , Mercedes Benz click above for more images of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG We brought you a single pic of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG on Christmas Day, but Merc has released everything it's got on the über roadster and it looks like what we reported then was correct. The car doesn't receive nearly as thorough a refreshening as its slower siblings , but does get smoked headlamps and a different chin treatment, opting for the single blacked-out lower air intake rather than the F1-inspired split front apron on lesser SLK models. Out back the faux diffuser and dual quadrezoidal (we just made up that word) tailpipes are gone, replaced by a set of dual oval pipes flanking what looks like a skid plate of some sort. Performance-wise the SLK 55 AMG carries over largely unchanged, which means you'll still find AMG's 5.5L V8 underhood producing 360 hp and 376 ft-lbs. of torque. The AMG Speedshift 7G-TRONIC transmission...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Mercedes Benz click above image for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK The image we showed you yesterday of the facelifted 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK has been proven to be the real deal as the German automaker has officially unveiled the new roadster this morning. As we reported yesterday, the tweaks to the SLK's front end bring it even more in line with the style of an F1 car's nose, for better or worse, while the rear actually gets a cleaner, smoother look with a faux diffuser affixed between the trapezoidal tailpipes. In addition to exterior enhancements, the 2009 model also gets an updated interior with an instrument panel design we actually find appealing and a new three-spoke steering wheel. The availability of "gullwing red" leather for the seats and interior trim that harkens back to the appointments of the original 300 SL is also a nice touch. Two new heavily revised engines join the familiar 5.5L V8 of the AMG model that carries...
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Convertibles , Euro , Mercedes Benz A design update for the Mercedes-Benz SL is on its way for 2009, and Lehmann managed to snag a very lightly disguised prototype running around while testing. Images in hand, they further disrobed the Merc coupe with the use of Photoshop, so what we're left with is a very clear picture of what's coming. The revision boils down to a new nose and tail, with powertrain changes, as well. The SL's front end gets a grille treatment that's more in keeping with the rest of Mercedes line, and the extractors on the front quarter panels mimic the SLR's gills. Headlamps have taken on the "hockey stick" look, sure to confound styling critics. They hardly touched the back end (not that there was anything wrong with it), as a new lower valance looks to be the most major change we can spot there. Engine choices are likely to remain largely unchanged, but the SL55 AMG will be replaced by an SL63 AMG, banishing supercharger...
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