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The debut of the mid-engined Volkswagen Roadster — with design based on the above shot of the Volkswagen Concept R — was reportedly planned for the LA Auto Show later this month. Automotive News is reporting it's skipping out on fun in sunny So-Cal and it's now heading straight for the Detroit Auto Show early next year. A spokesman for VW claims it's to attract more attention to the debut of the vehicle, which is likely to see production as early as 2011. This makes perfect sense because when we think of convertibles, we think Detroit in the middle of winter. A brief rundown of what we think we know about the Roadster below the jump. Following on the heels of the Volkswagen Concept R , the mid-engined Roadster should be set to compete with cars like the Lotus Elise and Porsche Boxster but at a lower cost. The appearance is said to be borrowed from the Scirocco while engine choices will likely include a small diesel option and a turbocharged, direct-injection gas...
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As a nod towards successful design mixed with an automaker willing to give 'em way all willy-nilly, this year's SEMA show will be chock-full of Dodge Challengers . We've already seen the Coach Builders 560 HP drop-top Challenger . Now we've got Group Five Limited bringing us this Challenger Roadster for two. The heavily chopped windscreen plus a sleek tonneau cover over the rear seats are both essential modifications in making this roadster one bad lad of a speedster. More below the jump plus another shot of the chopped-up Challenger. Noticeable cuts include the new front spoiler, nasally shaker hood, a fresh rear fascia with pass-through dual exhaust and a set of LED tail lamps. We're shocked they didn't go all the way and weld up a custom widebody . Keep your browsers glued here for our continuing coverage of SEMA 2008 . [ Carscoop ]
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Daimler has dropped the details on a new version of their top of the-top of the line sports car, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S. With a name that long you have to expect some intense upgrades, and the pointy-star brand comes through with a 650 HP version of the supercharged 5.5 liter V8 (same as the non-S 722 ), delivering an eye watering 627 lb-ft of torque (also the same). All that power is channeled through a five speed automatic with selectable shifting characteristics. All that adds up to a zero to 62 MPH time of 3.7 seconds, with 124 MPH comes in 10.6 seconds and maximum velocity is 208 MPH — all in a car you can fold the soft top down in. Better hurry if you want a copy for yourself as production is limited to a mere 150 of these beasts, we'll take ours in plaid with an orange top. So basically, it's everything the 722 was, and — umm — we're not sure. See if you can suss it out in the press release below the jump. galleryPost('mclaren722s'...
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Daimler has dropped the details on a new version of their top of the-top of the line sports car, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S. With a name that long you have to expect some intense upgrades, and the pointy-star brand comes through with a 650 HP version of the supercharged 5.5 liter V8 (same as the non-S 722 ), delivering an eye watering 627 lb-ft of torque (also the same). All that power is channeled through a five speed automatic with selectable shifting characteristics. All that adds up to a zero to 62 MPH time of 3.7 seconds, with 124 MPH comes in 10.6 seconds and maximum velocity is 208 MPH — all in a car you can fold the soft top down in. Better hurry if you want a copy for yourself as production is limited to a mere 150 of these beasts, we'll take ours in plaid with an orange top. So basically, it's everything the 722 was, and — umm — we're not sure. See if you can suss it out in the press release below the jump. galleryPost('mclaren722s'...
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The thorn in Tesla's side, the troubled single-speed transmission for its all-electric Tesla Roadster , has finally been approved for production, and with it comes an announcement of more power and better range. After durability problems with the original single-speed transmission, Telsa was forced to used a two-speed cog swapper for production. But now, after re-sourcing the business to transmission mega-star Borg Warner, the redesigned single-speed is ready to go and offers big benefits. Because of the additional capability in the transmission, the peak torque has been raised from 211 lb-ft to 280 lb-ft; a heady number considering peak torque arrives at zero rpm with an electric motor. Despite the higher output, the EPA estimates show a 10% increase in range. That's a pretty neat trick. Complete details below. Tesla Motors Selects BorgWarner for Production of New Gearbox for Tesla Roadster Deliveries of 27 Roadsters Completed to Date, Production and Delivery of Roadsters To Accelerate...
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Ever been curious what takes place under the Tesla Roadster ’s hood in the absence of internal combustion? Well, here’s an explanation of what the parts are and and what they do, conveniently numbered so you can follow along at home. Make the jump to see why "Tesla mechanic" would be a totally cush job. galleryPost('teslaroadsterinsides', 2, 'Inside the Tesla Roadster'); Number 1: This is the electric motor. Running on AC power, it can rev up to 13,000 RPM while producing 248 HP and 200 lb-ft. Maximum torque is available all the way from 0-6,000 RPM Number 2: The one-speed transmission. After reliability problems with a two-speed design, Tesla settled for this stronger, simpler one-speed. The 8.27:1 drive ratio allows for a 0-60 time of around 4 seconds and a top speed of 125 MPH. Number 3: The Power Electronics Module. In addition to capturing the power from regenerative braking and using it to recharge the batteries, it also smooths out power delivery under hard...
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We've told you about the planned Tesla Model S , an aluminum-intensive four-door electric sedan. Now Autocar reports the Model S isn't just a single vehicle, but actually a platform expected to yield a variety of different cars and even an SUV. Aside from the use of aluminum instead of the Tesla Roadster 's carbon fiber, a new, flatter battery pack mounted at the base of the chassis is said to provide the flexibility needed for a comprehensive vehicle family. Now the question becomes, "when are we going to see these new vehicles?" Jalopnik Snap Judgment: According to Autocar , we should expect to see the Model S sedan in 2010, with the SUV and a four-door coupe arriving around 2015. The word from Tesla is less encouraging, however: The company is hoping to launch the sedan after construction of its new California factory is completed, and they describe the design as “ninety percent” complete. Knowing that the "devil is in the details" — details being...
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When you're looking for things remarkable at an event like the 2008 Meadow Brook Concours D'Elegance , it doesn't take much to stick out from the myriad four-ton Packards and stately Rolls Royces. This 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl'mat Roadster practically beckoned to us from across the greens with its stylish French siren song. This 402 is actually underpinned by a 302 chassis equipped with the larger 2-liter engine from the 402. And, would you believe it, that handsome design was actually penned by a fellow trained as a dental technician? galleryPost('darlmat', 6, '1938 Peugeot 402 Darlmat Roadster'); Despite its good looks, the Peugeot 402 Darl'mat was intended as a race car which would herald the return of Peugeot to serious Grand Prix racing. While great success was not had at the race track, a hundred of these road cars were sold in roadster, cabriolet and coupe bodystyles. The roadster is by far the best of the bunch. There are about 30 examples of these...
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The fanboys over at Autogespot were awfully excited to spot this Brabus SLR McLaren Roadster in London; apparently, it's the first of its kind. Power is up from 626 to 650 HP, dropping the 0-62 mph time to 3.6 seconds and raising the top speed to 209 mph. While we're not that impressed by the limited performance boost, we're relieved to see that the owner had enough taste to keep the standard propeller-like 19-inch rims instead of opting for the 20-inch Brabus Monoblocks. We also find the white paint paired with the red top and interior strangely alluring, somehow lending the SLR's bulbous, awkward body a touch of class. [via Autogespot ] galleryPost('brabusslrlondon', 3, 'Brabus SLR Roadster');
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newVideoPlayer("/V12_MiataMX5.flv", 494, 400,""); If you think a V8 in a Miata is an ambitious swap, just check out this guy's project. Yes, that's a 5.3-liter Jaguar V12, and if that wasn't enough, its fuel-injection system has been replaced with a project-car hell-worthy six-carburetor intake! Just listen to that baby purr. galleryPost('v12miata', 3, 'Needs More Power'); OK, well, you would be able to listen to it purr if it actually stayed running. But isn't that why we take on projects like this, just to suffer the pain of anticipation? We can't wait 'till he gets it out on the street. Sure it may not be as powerful or reliable as a well-built Ford V8, but who cares? It's a V12! [ Miata.net via VWvortex ]
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It's hard to tell from the angle...and the perspective, but we think this is a little hot-rod go-kart with a five-horse Briggs & Stratton behind the seat. Or it could be a kid's pedal toy. Either way, with its patriot paint it's ready for parade duty anywhere with white picket fences. [ American Legion Post 207 ] See the rest of our Jalopnik Auto Flag-Elation here and check out our pre-Fourth Jalopnik Automotive Amerigasm here .
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Tesla, makers of the Tesla Roadster that hasn't yet seemed able to make it to market, have just announced plans for the Model S, a five passenger, all-electric "sports" sedan capable of 225 miles in a charge and a starting price in the range of $60,000. We have yet to see images of the car or details on the date, but the Governator himself was on hand to announce the Model S will be built in a new manufacturing facility somewhere in California. This was rolled out amidst new plans created by the California Air Resources Board to encourage zero emissions vehicle adoption. We'll pass on additional news as we get it, but for now the full press release is after the jump. Governor Schwarzenegger Celebrates Clean Technology Investment in California, Welcomes Tesla Motors Production to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined with State Treasurer Bill Lockyer and Tesla Motors representatives to announce Tesla's decision to locate its new manufacturing facility...
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Those of us who have been waiting to judge the styling of the new 2009 Ferrari California until we had non-studio photos to look at are in luck: Judgement day has arrived. These are the first shots we've seen of the brand new folding-hardtop Ferrari outside of the studio and not wrapped up in camo. But we're still not sure what we think about the styling. galleryPost('2009FerrariCaliforniaoutside', 6, 'It Is So Choice'); The California definitely looks like it fits in with the rest of the current Ferrari range. But depending on who you ask, that's not necessarily a good thing. Now that we can see real-life lighting on the red-painted surface, the lines don't look quite as exaggerated as they did in the studio...but we're just not sure if we like those lines or not. The car's certainly not as subtle as a Aston Martin V8 Vantage, but you'd be hard-pressed to call it downright ugly. Perhaps just a bit over-styled. But that's just us; what do...
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Everyone's favorite Film Actors Guild member, Matt Damon , was spotted yesterday driving a baby blue Tesla Roadster . Just like the common people, Damon's been unable to purchase a Tesla yet, the company is still sorting out nagging quality issues and ramping up for full production. Tellingly, Damon's tester was only capable of operating in high gear, leaving the actor a bit nonplussed with its off-the-line performance, but says, "the 30-60 acceleration is like nothing else." galleryPost('mattdamontesla', 6, 'Matt Damon'); [via Autofiends ]
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We've seen the 2010 BMW Z4 testing all over Germany, including the Nürburgring where we saw it ripping up the track. Or at least ripping up a track as much as a plastic camo-ed car can. But now the new Z4 's traded in the racing cleats for some dainty little city shoes, at least according to these up-close shots of the Bavarian cream-roadster cruising the streets of Munich. galleryPost('z4munichspy', 2, '2010 BMW Z4 Is A Bavarian Cream Pastry'); Though there's still quite a few layers of camo on this tester, we're expecting the new Z4 to be quite the looker when it comes out, drawing styling cues from the CS Concept which should give it the new BMW family look we'll see in the upcoming 2009 BMW 7-Series . It actually doesn't seem so bad, at least not compared to the 2010 F3 . Hat Tip to Mark! (not me, different Mark) [ 248am.com ]
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