Europe Auto News

Lamborghini announced the European prices on the new Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder will start from €273,142. That’s about $370,000 at the direct current rates, but we expect Lambo to be a little more friendly to the dollar crowd when actual U.S. pricing is announced.Just in case you have any spare change left over, there are plenty of option boxes to check with the Spyder. This includes ceramic brake discs for €19,356, painted calipers (yellow, orange or gray) for €1,129 and power heated front seats for €4,839.The Gallardo Spyder will be powered by a the same 5.2 liter V10 engine that is in the coupe version. It delivers 560 hp and over 380 lb ft. of torque to all four wheels. (Read the full post about ‘Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder European pricing announced’…)

Share This

If you want to be notified the next time I write something, subscribe to the RSS feed. Thanks for reading.

Hyundai’s actually got something bigger than the Genesis. It’s called the Equus, and it’s been for sale in select markets (not the U.S.) for almost a decade. In this short time its already up for its fourth restyle, and Hyundai has released some official sketches of what can be expected. Just like the its smaller siblings the Azera and the Genesis, the next Equus will trade in boxy looks for some shapely curves.

The car should receive a 400+ hp 5.0-liter version of Hyundai’s Tau V8 engine, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the largest of Hyundais is set to go on sale in February of 2010, there is no word yet if that will also mean in U.S.

(Read the full post about ‘2010 Hyundai Equus first renderings’…)

Share This

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Jaunary 5, 2009: The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company will sell 14 vehicles to benefit various charities at No Reserve during the 38^th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jan. 11-18, 2009. The total marks the most charity vehicles ever sold during a single Barrett-Jackson event, with U.S. automakers General Motors and Ford Motor Company, as well as NASCAR icons Tony Stewart and Rick Hendrick, among the generous donors. Barrett-Jackson, which does not collect commissions on vehicles sold entirely for charity, helped raise a combined $6.7 million for charities during the Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Fla., and Las Vegas auctions in 2008.

(Read the full post about ‘Barrett-Jackson to Auction a Record 14 Charity Vehicles During the 2009 Scottsdale Event’…)

Share This

by Sam Abuelsamid on Jan 5th 2009 at 12:58PM Click above to watch video after the jump The BMW X6 remains something of an enigma, specifically, why does it exist? Nonetheless, it does and BMW is working on additional variants including a two-mode hybrid for release later this year and an M version. We don’t have much detail yet on the X6 M, but BMW has put a video up on YouTube with Bernd Limmer from M GmbH demonstrating a prototype. The X6 M will evidently have a higher output version of the current twin turbo V8, probably hitting the magic 500 hp mark. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system is also being re-jiggered to send more torque to the rear axle. That should help reduce the understeer that the nose heavy V8 X6’s are prone to. (Read the full post about ‘VIDEO: BMW gives sneak preview of new X6 M’…)

Share This

by Alex Nunez on Jan 5th 2009 at 8:24AMThe streets will run red with ink today as automakers announce their December and year-end U.S. sales numbers. Projections for the Detroit 3, two-thirds of which are presently on taxpayer-funded life support, are pretty much a horror show, and it’s not exactly a trip to Disneyland for the import automakers, either. They’re exiting the ring battered and bloodied as well, with Bloomberg analysts projecting a 36% drop for Honda and a 40% slide for Toyota. As has been previously reported, mighty Toyota expects to post its first operating loss in 71 years once FY 2008 comes to a close at the end of March.Still, while Toyota licks its wounds alongside its rivals following a brutal 2008 sales year, it’s ready to grab a consolation prize in Canada. (Read the full post about ‘Toyota set to become Canada’s #2 automaker’…)

Share This

MELBOURNE, Australia – January 5, 2009: Despite price rises by several competitors, Subaru has reduced the cost on some popular variants in its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive range.

The entry-level Impreza R sedan and hatch have reduced by $1500, now starting at $22,990 for manual variants.

Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan and wagon have both reduced by $2000 to $32,990 for the sedan and $34,990 for the wagon.

Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic has reduced by $2000 to $36,990.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “Our currency hedging has enabled us to pursue this aggressive tactical pricing policy.

“While other brands are increasing prices, we have a window of opportunity because of our hedging strategy.

“Obviously with the dramatic drop in the exchange rate of the Australian dollar versus the Yen, we will inevitably have to review prices in the future, but just now we are passing on our good fortune to our customers.

“Combined with our five-star rating for occupant safety, great resale value, durability and whole-of-life costs, Impreza represents remarkable value.

“Impreza achieved record sales in 2008 and these latest changes can only expand its appeal to a broader audience.”

Revised Impreza R pricing:

These are retail recommended prices and do not include dealer and statutory charges.

Impreza R manual $22,990 (-$1500) Impreza R SPORTSHIFT automatic $24,990 (-$1500)

Revised Liberty 2.5i pricing:

Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan $32,990 (-$2000 ) Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic wagon $34,990 (-$2000 )

Revised Outback 2.5i pricing:

Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic $36,990 (-$2000)

Tags: Mercedes, concept cars, exotic cars, BMW

Share This

SLOUGH, United Kingdom - January 5, 2009: The Citroën Dispatch 1200 XTR+ enhanced traction van is the latest addition to the Company’s LCV range. The 1200 kg payload, three seat Dispatch XTR+ provides an effective solution to a wide range of on/off-road transport requirements – without the significant operational limitations and increased costs of a conventional 4×4 vehicle.

Citroën has launched the Dispatch 1200 XTR+ van to meet the requirements of public utility companies as well as those involved in forestry and agriculture. Customers in these sectors require a certain degree of off-road capability from their light vans.

(Read the full post about ‘New Citroen Dispatch XTR+ - Enhanced Traction Without 4×4 Costs’…)

Share This

NORTH RYDE, Australia – January 5, 2009: Volvo Car Australia has announced pricing for its groundbreaking new XC60 which is due to be launched in March.

The svelte new Volvo will come in petrol and turbodiesel form and will be priced competitively in the premium SUV segment with an opening recommended retail price of less than $60,000.

The technology-packed XC60 is also the safest Volvo ever. It comes to Australia to redefine expectations of medium-size SUVs with new levels of handling and roadholding, as well as a large, cleverly designed interior that caters brilliantly for customers seeking an all-purpose luxury lifestyle vehicle.

The Volvo XC60 will enter the Australian market with the choice of two powerful and efficient engines.

(Read the full post about ‘Volvo Australia Announces Pricing for New XC60′…)

Share This

by Noah Joseph on Jan 4th 2009 at 7:03PM2008 was a good year for Lewis Hamitlon. In taking the Formula One drivers’ title, he became the youngest champion in F1 history, and the first British champion in twelve years. To cap off his victorious season and start the new one on the right foot, after commissioning Bentley to convert her limos to run on bio-fuel, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has named Hamilton a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.Sounds pretty impressive, doesn’t it? Well for starters, Lewis can add the letters MBE to his name, but unlike his predecessor Jackie Stewart, it does not entitle Hamilton to knighthood. (Read the full post about ‘Hamilton “honoured” by the Queen’…)

Share This

MULGRAVE, Australia – January 5, 2009: BMW Group Australia will bring the BMW M1 Homage show car to Melbourne in February 2009, to form the centrepiece of its stand at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

The BMW M1 Homage was created in 2008 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1 road and race car programme, the car developed by the highly successful BMW M GmbH division.

The BMW M1 Homage will sit alongside the all-new BMW 7 Series Sedan which makes its Australian public debut at Melbourne, and the just-released BMW X6 xDrive50i, both of which are powered by the first ever BMW Twin Turbo V8 engines.

The link is apt, given the BMW M1 Group 5 race version was powered by an 850 bhp twin-turbo six-cylinder engine.

“For BMW, heritage is always also a living heritage.

(Read the full post about ‘BMW To Stop The Show With The BMW M1 Homage’…)

Share This