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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Plants/Manufacturing , MINI Click above for high-res gallery of the MINI Cooper Convertible Sidewalk Fans of the MINI Cooper Convertible take note: the last of the first-generation R52 models has now rolled off the assembly line. The last of the breed was a Cooper S with the Sidewalk package , painted metallic White Silver. If you were hoping to get your hands on this climactic machine, don't get your hopes up -- it's already been sold. Don't fret, though, there is a good side to this story. This stoppage was all planned, of course, and it means that the line will begin retooling for the second-generation R57 model. The next MINI convertible will be powered by the newer BMW/PSA/Peugeot-Citroen 1.6-liter four cylinder engine that should make it a little more frugal than before. Also of note are the new pop-up roll bars that replace the fixed units from the older model. Lastly, the R57 convertible will come in a few new colors, including...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Coupes , Sedans/Saloons , Supercars , Lexus , Toyota Sales of the bulbous Lexus SC 430, one of the vehicles that kick-started the current hardtop convertible fad in the U.S., have slowed so significantly that Toyota's luxury brand has reportedly canceled its replacement. The four-place, V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive vehicle never fit well into any specific niche, as it boasted neither the sportiness of the ragtop Jaguar XK and Porsche 911, nor the snob appeal of the BMW 6 Series. Through the first six months of this year, Lexus sold only 1,230 SC's, down 40% from last year. What fans the Lexus sport coupes/convertible does have need not worry, however, as the brand will be launching the much more potent (and substantially more impressive) LF-A supercar at some point in the future. According to Inside Line , the SC isnt the only Toyota product without a future. The Avalon entry-level Buick luxury sedan is also on the chopping block. Fans of...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Minivans/MPVs , Wagons/Estates , Crossovers/CUVs , Hatchbacks , Ford , Toyota , Volkswagen , Carsumer Advocacy As the self-appointed family car reviewer for Autoblog, I have some opinions on the topic. If money were no object, my nomination for the ultimate family car would be split between the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and the BMW 5 Series wagon . But the R-Class entry price is $42k, and the Bimmer's is close to $50k -- not exactly family-friendly. Forbes Magazine , however, is a bit more realistic in its quest for the perfect family car, and considers price a deciding factor, like the majority of families. I agree with its Compact Car pick. The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit is a good deal for your $16k entry price (though Forbes says $19k). On paper, its 15 cu. ft. of cargo space doesn't sound like much, but in reality, it's bigger than it sounds. The Rabbit also averages about 25 mpg, and these days, that's a big deal. Still, there are some...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Supercars , Lexus Click above for high-res gallery of the Lexus LF-A Roadster The last time we talked about the price of the Lexus LF-A , we had only the car's price in China and a whole lot of speculation to go on. The car's retail in China was set at $264,700, and based on that a Lexus fan site did it's best guestimation to arrive at a US price of approximately $130,000. Say it with us now: oh boy, was that wrong. Lexus has said the first number of the car's price will be a "2," and Inside Line has word that the car might run $225,000. That is more than either a Gallardo or an F430 Spider, including European delivery and two weeks of vacation in Via Reggio. The LF-A convertible will cost even more . Inside Line says "Lexus is gunning for the Italians." With that kind of price, we actually believe Lexus is sidestepping the Italians and has simply declared, "Your comparisons are futile...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Sedans/Saloons , Maybach Click above to view the Maybach 62 Landaulet in hi-res Okay, it just hit us: eccentric. That's what the Maybach 62 Landaulet is, in a word. In fact, you could apply that to the whole Maybach venture. Like Dennis Hopper said in the Keanu-tastic action flick Speed , "Poor people are crazy, Jack. I'm eccentric." Daimler is evidently hoping that there are enough "eccentric" people in the United States to warrant bringing over the head-scratchingly-strange Maybach 62 Landaulet to the American market. With trepidation and a considerable measure of revulsion, we've covered the emergence of the Landaulet from the initial rumor , through the preview before the car's unveiling in Dubai (where else), the first video footage, its North American debut and its eventual production confirmation . It's been a long and crazy wind-tousled process, and now comes confirmation that it's coming our way...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Auction Action , Chevrolet , Ford We've covered the scandal involving Unique Performance from the very beginning , and it now looks as if this sordid tale finally might get a bookend. If the idea of scraping off 13 gallons of bondo doesn't scare you, maybe you'd be interested in bidding on one (or more) of the 44 leftover Mustang body shells that are available for viewing here . Mustang not your thing? Prefer the Camaro ? How 'bout the Chevelle ? Even if you're not interested in any of its cars, Unique Performance owned plenty of other stuff, too. Take a look at these automotive lifts , for instance. There is some good stuff here, and you'll be helping to pay off the company's assorted debts in the process. If you find yourself interested in anything on the Unique Performance fire sale auction list , you can inspect the works on Tuesday, March 25 from 9AM to 4PM. Lets hope that these classics end...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Garage , Convertibles , Chrysler , Driving click for more images of the 2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible On paper, the Sebring seems to have what it takes, including three engine choices, an optional six-speed automatic, a sedan and convertible, and nifty cup holders that keep your drink hot or cold. We gave a top of the line Limited Sebring Convertible one week in the Autoblog Garage win us over, but things didn't go as planned. Read about what happened after the jump . Gallery: 2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible All photos Copyright (C)2007 Chris Shunk / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Ford , Shelby Click image to enlarge It has come to this. A special edition of a special edition, named for the made-for-TV cash tsunami at which many of the first editions of the aforementioned special editions are auctioned off at eye-watering prices. It is the (we are not making any of this up, by the way) Barrett-Jackson Shelby GT. There will be 100 of them in total (coupes and convertibles), they will be black with (again, not making it up) "Barrett-Jackson Red" stripes, Barrett-Jackson sill plates, all the expected Shelby badging, and they'll start at a smidge under $39K, $250 of which goes to the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation . Ironically, the first one of these will not be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson. The B-J/GT is an Arizona-region Ford dealer exclusive, and it officially went on sale today. In addition to the car itself, buyers get an autographed family photo featuring Carroll Shelby and...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Coupes , BMW Click the image above for a gallery of high-res pics of the 2008 BMW 6-series. BMW released the details on the 2008 6-series today, and after wading through the lengthy press release, the only exterior changes we could come up with is a mildly revised fascia and LED taillamps. On the engineering side, BMW added a lane-departure warning system and a new electronic shifter with an optional Sport Automatic that blips the throttle when you grab the "-" paddle on the steering wheel. The new cost of entry for the 650i coupe is $76,375, while the 650i convertible comes in at a cool $83,475. BMW's exceeding long-winded press release is posted after the jump. Gallery: 2008 BMW 650i - Coupe and Convertible Continue reading BMW slaps a refreshed nose on the 6, plus new prices Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Coupes , Wagons/Estates , Marketing/Advertising , Chrysler , Dodge It looks like Chrysler is going to give car shoppers a holiday gift as incentive to signing on the dotted line. After a rough year that saw the automaker break away from its Daimler overlords, Chrysler wants to end 2007 on a high note. To that end it will be offering rebates on virtually every vehicle in the lineup during December. Though there's no word on specific amounts, according to The Wall Street Journal the campaign will begin with a series of ads on Nov. 20 and cover Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles. The biggest discounts will likely be offered on the four models about to be discontinued : the Chrysler Pacifica, PT Cruiser convertible, Crossfire, and the Dodge Magnum. If any of those has been on your short list, it looks like a great time to get one. [Source: Automotive News, sub. req.] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Car Buying , Garage , Convertibles , Coupes , Volkswagen , Driving click above image to view gallery of 2007 Volkswagen EOS Even though Volkswagen has one of the fullest lineups in its history of selling cars in the U.S., these aren't the...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Plants/Manufacturing , Pontiac , Saturn When the Pontiac Solstice hit the market last year, there was enough electricity surrounding the new model in GM's "Excitement" division to power a small mid-western town...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Convertibles , Coupes , MINI 2007 model shown Pricing for the 2008 MINI Cooper convertible has been leaked, and it looks like there be no price changes for the current model's last year of production. The standard convertible...
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