In another move that should shock nobody, BMW announces the 1-series convertible will show up at U.S. dealerships starting in the spring of 2008, the same time as the 1-series coupe. Only 128i convertibles will be on sale at first, with the 135i convertible arriving some time later next year.
Thankfully, the 1-series will utilize a cloth top instead of the heavier folding hardtop found on 3-series convertibles. The top can also be opened and closed at speeds up to 25 miles per hour, and it takes 22 seconds to raise or lower the top.
(Click the images below to launch a high-res gallery or follow the jump to read more about the 1-series and to see BMW’s full press release.)
Subaru has released another teaser image of its hotly anticipated new WRX STI.
Marked with the date of its unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show (October 24), this darkened rear view shows off the beefy fenders and hunkered stance that were hinted at with the first teaser shot. Twin exhausts and a cocky roof spoiler are nice, if expected, touches.
WINDING ROAD readers who’ve passionately debated the new Subaru’s merits against those of the upcoming Mitsubishi Evo X, should mark their calendars for our coverage of the STI launch and more, live from Tokyo next month.
(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a gallery of STI images.)
Although they succeed in showing current product, most dealer showrooms don’t serve as a gallery for the latest concept cars. Nor do they offer insight into the company’s history. Citroen’s latest showroom, however, is an exception. The C42, located in the heart of Paris, offers visitors a glimpse at the latest concepts and their favorite Citroens of the past.
Located along the Champs-Elysées, C42 is itself a mixture of Citroen’s past and future. Although technically the first ‘new’ building on the famed avenue since 1975, C42 itself has been owned by the marque since 1928, previously serving as a functioning dealership. The entire facility has been thoroughly re-worked by French architect Manuelle Gautrand to become a modern, airy structure that also links to the brand’s image (we dare you to find all the hidden chevrons).
(Click the photos below to launch a high-res gallery, or follow the jump to read more about C42.)
Ferrari is working with Bosch to develop direct injection for the 2009 F430. Bosch is the supplier for Audi’s direct injection parts, the system Ferrari is benchmarking.
Reduced CO2 emissions and increased performance are the goals for this new injection technology and it’s unlikely anyone will complain about either result. The first application of the system will be on the 2009 F430’s 4.3-liter V8. The engine block is unchanged, but everything bolted to the block, including cylinder heads, manifolds, and the fuel rail, will be completely different.
Although finding an original 1948 Tucker Torpedo is a difficult task, sourcing parts – particularly new-old stock parts – must be close to impossible. We once stumbled upon a steerable center headlamp at a local swap meet, but its rusted condition labeled it as anything but new.
Thus our interest was piqued when we stumbled upon this original Tucker radio on eBay, which the seller purports to be “NOS”. There’s no way to be entirely certain, but given its clean appearance in photos and the inclusion of the original “Tucker Motors” shipping box, this may very well be true - helping justify the $700+ pricetag.
(Follow the jump to read more about this unique radio.)
You might not have a lot in common with the 7-series owner in this Japanese BMW commercial…unless you’re a stone cold playa.
From working, to surfing, to entertaining your mistress on a yacht with your gym socks on, the life of a 7-series owner is a complex existence. Especially in this ad, set to chill out smooth rock, which shows a white-collar life of work, play, and lies. Perhaps this is the dream of aspiring Japanese BMW owners, or perhaps it’s just straight pimping. Play on.
The so-called General Motors strike has ended as quickly as it began. The goose that has laid the golden eggs for generations has decided to withhold its favors. The United Automobile Workers union, which was the most enlightened and influential force in Twentieth Century labor relations, has demonstrated that it is now an empty suit—a suit of armor perhaps, but an empty suit nonetheless. The strike was a bit of labor-relations theater to impress the rank and file. Both sides knew it, and no important part of the proposed contract was altered because of it.
Ron Gettelfinger
If the strike had become a long one, the union would have lost. It doesn’t necessarily follow that GM would have won, but GM would have emerged stronger, meaner, and tougher than the GM that entered the negotiations, and the UAW would have become an historical artifact. With the announcement that the strike had come to an abrupt end, the UAW probably lost some more leverage in its frequent and embarrassing failures to sign up the workers in Japanese plants all over the American south.
If you’re working for winners, you don’t ask losers to come and help.
For those WINDING ROAD readers who also read the acerbic Peter M. DeLorenzo’s autoextremist.com, it is enough for us to tell you that DeLorenzo’s book The United States of Toyota has gone on sale.
For the rest of you, Peter DeLorenzo’s dad was once vice president of public relations for General Motors. His brother, Tony, drove serious racing Corvettes. The DeLorenzos lived down the street from Bill Mitchell, the legendary GM styling boss who Peter knew as a child. Motor oil has coursed through DeLorenzo’s veins for a quarter-century.
He had a distinguished career as an advertising copywriter and creative director on automotive accounts and in those capacities learned how the car business works. And how it doesn’t. And why. DeLorenzo’s book is not about Toyota—though the Japanese automaker plays a prominent role—but rather recounts the grim saga of how the domestic industry fell headlong into every pitfall that Toyota managed to avoid over the past forty years. Or at least didn’t fall into twice, a feat at which the domestics have proved adept.
(Click through to read William Jeanes’ review of The United States of Toyota.)
It seems that Americans aren’t the only people who love pickup trucks of all flavors.
Born out of the need for a small, light, four-wheel drive pickup and aided by a reduced tax on commercial vehicles in Denmark; Michael Muldgaard began to convert Audi TT’s into small trucks. Muldgaard gives credit for the stylish little hauler to his wife Pia, who came up with the idea.
(Click on the photos below to launch a high-res gallery or follow the jump to read more about this Danish delight.)
Amid the speculation of BMW picking up a fourth, Rick Kranz over at Automotive News raised the idea of the automaker reanimating the Triumph name.
Kranz postulates that Triumph has the heritage, the name recognition, and the emotional connection to buyers to make it a winner for BMW. He points out that with such models as the TR6 and Spitfire to draw on, and the very competent, rear-wheel drive 1-series platform to utilize; a modern day Triumph could be beautiful and great to drive.
(Click through to read more about the possibility of Triumph’s return.)
Leather, chrome, and more chrome adorn the 2008 Ford Harley-Davidson F-Series Super Duty, the perfect truck for the hog lover who needs to, well, help his buddy move for instance.
This H-D Ford is the eleventh in a series that began back in 1999 and has churned out more than 60,000 units.
The truck features the usual Harley logos and livery from stem to stern. The interior shows off black and copper captain’s chairs trimmed in leather with H-D emblazoned on the seatbacks and plenty of shiny bits to keep excited eyes dancing. Of course, the H-D bar and shield can be found everywhere, including an enormous example on the rubber bed liner.
Another important piece in the Harley-Davidson branding empire, this F-Series is bound to enrapture its share of truck and bike guys alike.
Does the 2008 H-D F-Series move you to buy? Have your say in ‘comments’.
(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a high resolution gallery of H-D F-Series Super Duty images, or on the jump to read Ford’s official press release.)
Amid a morning of rumors concerning the company’s plans for the near future, BMW chief Norbert Reithofer delivered a speech to the supervisory board outlining company goals for the next five to ten years.
Reithofer confirmed plans for several vehicles that will help the company reach its target of selling two million vehicles per year by 2020. The X1 crossover will join the recently-announced X6 as an addition to BMW’s successful SUV/CUV range, as well as a Mini-based SUV.
The BMW Gran Turismo, a four-door coupe, is being developed based on the CS concept shown at the Shanghai Auto Show. A third variant of the Rolls-Royce Phantom will be developed, as well as a new, sub-Phantom Roller.
Reithofer also mentions exploring a new segment with what he calls a Progressive Activity Sedan, or PAS. Of this, the BMW CEO only tells us to expect the unexpected, calling the concept “its own interpretation of the sedan,” and not a “space functional concept.” Oh Norbert, how you tease.
As far as the rumor of BMW’s acquisition of a fourth brand? Well the short answer is “not yet.” Reithofer doesn’t rule the possibility out, but does say that none of the brands that they have studied met the company’s criteria.
(Click on the jump to read Dr. Reithofer’s speech to the board.)
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