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| Mater's Tall Tales: Rescue Squad Mater Checklist
July 21, 2009 at 10:00 pm
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Carded Mater’s Tall Tales have started to hit eBay. So I thought it would be good to release a checklist for the first series, Rescue Squad Mater, now that we know which ones will see normal release at retail. We have singles, 4 packs and Mega Size. Singles Burnt Lightning McQueen
Nurse GTO
Nurse Kori
Orderly Pittys
Rescue Squad Trooper Rescue Squad 4 packs Rescue Squad Mater, Dalmatian Mia and Tia and Rescue Squad Chopper
Burnt Lightning McQueen, Dr. Mater and Nurse Mia and Tia Mega Size Rescue Squad Ambulance
Rescue Squad Helicopter
Rescue Squad Mater  | 
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| Reiter debuts new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 GT3
July 20, 2009 at 8:58 pm
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| Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Lamborghini
To some casual observers, Ferrari and Lamborghini may seem like peas in a pod: exotic Italian supercars with aggressive styling and superlative performance capabilities. But how they arrive at that point is far from similar. While Ferraris are bred from racing technology, Lamborghini, for the most part, doesn't compete in motor sports. For that, they've got Reiter Engineering. The German motorsport garage has decades of experience turning Lamborghini's road cars into racing cars, and not with an immodest level of success. Especially in the GT3 racing class, where Reiter-prepped Lambos have taken titles and continue to lead championships around the world. The latest Reiter GT3 car is now emerging from the development phase and the order books are open.
Based on the Gallardo LP560-4, the Reiter LP560 GT3 is a lightweight road-course rocket. The 5.2-liter V10 has been revised to GT3 specifications, while lightweight aluminum chassis components draped in carbon fiber bodywork keeps weight down to just 2,624 pounds. Downforce has been optimized, shift times have been halved and weight distribution has been balanced. But one of the most intriguing elements of the LP560's design is that it can be easily upgraded to compete in the higher level GT2 class, giving privateer teams a wider variety of titles to contest. Reiter will sell your team a turn-key GT3-spec model for 265,000 euros (about $375k), and upgrade it to GT2 spec for another 30,000 euros ($43k). Details in the press release after the jump.
Continue reading Reiter debuts new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 GT3 Reiter debuts new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Ten-minute mark remains untouched as Monster Tajima wins Pikes Peak with 870hp Suzuki SX4
July 20, 2009 at 8:26 pm
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| Filed under: Motorsports, Suzuki 
Monster's Suzuki SX4 Sport - Click above for a high-res image gallery
They came. They saw. They were conquered. That pretty much sums up a thrilling Pikes Peak International Hillclimb for 2009 as Suzuki's legendary Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima took overall victory yet again, fending off a formidable paddock of rivals, while difficult weather conditions dictated that the mythical ten-minute mark - as well as Monster's own 10:15 personal best - remained untouched.
This year the Suzuki team replaced its existing XL7-bodied challenger in with a purpose-built SX4 packing a 2.7-liter V6 with a massive 873 horsepower on tap. But among those eager to strip the Japanese champions of their domination were two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm driving a specially prepared Ford Fiesta and an 1150hp Ford RS200. Along with all the other pretenders to the crown, they were fed a heaping dose of humble pie by the Monster. Meanwhile drift champ Rhys Millen took the 2WD class victory in his Hyundai Genesis, pledging to return to the peak in the top-spec Unlimited class in an effort to reclaim the title which Monster took from his father Rod Millen, whose record stood from 1994 through 2007 when Suzuki bested the time. The books were just closed on this year's run up the mountain, but the competition's already heating up for next year.
Continue reading Ten-minute mark remains untouched as Monster Tajima wins Pikes Peak with 870hp Suzuki SX4 Ten-minute mark remains untouched as Monster Tajima wins Pikes Peak with 870hp Suzuki SX4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.20.09
July 20, 2009 at 8:20 pm
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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.20.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Spy Shots: 2010 Jaguar XJ shows new sheet metal in Death Valley
July 20, 2009 at 7:58 pm
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| Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury 
2010 Jaguar XJ - Click above for a high-res image gallery
We've already seen the 2010 Jaguar XJ in the sheet metal - once during our hands on introduction, and shortly followed by its online premier and a brief jaunt around London. Now, the intrepid shooters from KGP have caught both a prototype and a near production version weathering the summer sun in Death Valley, and we're still evenly split on its styling.
Shown here for the first time in Frost Blue Metallic, the front end remains the most attractive iteration of Jaguar's new design direction, but the back - particularly the chrome accent the bisects the darkened D-pillar - is going to take some getting used to, particularly in such a light hue. Check out the gallery below for more real-world shots of the XJ rolling through California, and if you're in the area, keep your eyes peeled for Jag's newest cat.
Spy Shots: 2010 Jaguar XJ shows new sheet metal in Death Valley originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| REPORT: Aston Martin puts the Lagonda on hold
July 20, 2009 at 7:25 pm
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| Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin 
Aston Martin Lagonda Concept - Click above for high-res gallery
Aston Martin has grown accustomed to success. Since the DB7, its sports cars have only gotten better, while on the track the British automaker continues to rack up trophies. The Lagonda SUV concept which the company unveiled this past March in Geneva, however, was another story. The awkwardly-shaped crossover got a cold reception at its unveiling, and Aston pulled it off the show stand before the public even got there. Now reports indicate that the entire project has been put on hold.
Chief executive Ulrich Bez reportedly proclaims that the decision to axe the Lagonda venture was purely financial. And in this economic climate, that's a reasonable claim. But other sources suggest that the automotive media's reaction to the concept dictated its demise. Will Aston give it another shot? Aston Martin Lagonda chairman David Richards reportedly wants to get a new concept on the stands before the end of the year. We wouldn't be surprised if he gets his way.
[Source: Inside Line]REPORT: Aston Martin puts the Lagonda on hold originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Spy Shots: New Grand Bentley test mule out in public
July 20, 2009 at 6:58 pm
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| Filed under: Spy Photos, Bentley  Time is ticking away until the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Bentley will be taking the wraps off its new flagship limousine, tentatively known as the Grand Bentley or by its internal code-name Project Kimberley. But while Crewe has released a pair of teaser shots to keep our mouths watering and some grainy camera-phone images leaked out of the factory, nothing could give us the impression of just how big this behemoth will be until these spy shots surfaced.
Expected to measure some 30 centimeters (that's about a foot) longer than the jurassic Arnage that it replaces, the new Grand Bentley should be just about the right size to compete with the Rolls-Royce Phantom - itself about the size of a truck. That shouldn't stop it from reaching close to 200 mph in true Bentley style, though. With such gargantuan proportions, nobody should be too surprised by the projected lack of a long-wheelbase version straight from the factory... really, how much longer would you expect?
[Source: Auto Express]Spy Shots: New Grand Bentley test mule out in public originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| VIDEO: Top Gear pits Jaguar XFR against BMW M5
July 20, 2009 at 6:31 pm
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| Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW, Jaguar 
While the BMW M5 has topped Top Gear's list of four door sports sedans for what seems like forever, the Bavarian bombshell suddenly has plenty of competition, the newest of which is the Jaguar XFR. TG wanted to see which vehicle was better on the track and around town, and naturally, Jeremy Clarkson volunteered to work as judge and jury.
Clarkson spent all of his time behind the wheel of a right hand drive XFR, and he seemed surprised and delighted at the Leaping Cat's power and handling. Clarkson calls the cushy ride of the XFR "so soft and it's so absorbent, it's like sitting on a fat dog." But this plump puppy has 503 hp, and "80 more torques" than the BMW, while both vehicles' weight is about the same. Hit the jump to check out the comparo, and try to guess which sedan finished the Top Gear lap faster.
[Source: YouTube]Continue reading VIDEO: Top Gear pits Jaguar XFR against BMW M5 VIDEO: Top Gear pits Jaguar XFR against BMW M5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Bob Lutz unhappy with new Buick campaign?
July 20, 2009 at 5:58 pm
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| Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Buick, GM, Lexus 
Buick LaCrosse "Photo Shoot" ad - Click the image above to view the video after the jump
Looks like there could be too many cooks in the Buick PR kitchen, and the soup is looking worried. For the new GM to get on its feet, Buick has to find its feet. To do that, Buick has created a number of ad campaigns meant to showcase its new product and bring new, younger buyers to the brand. One of the commercials in the campaign is called "Photo Shoot," and according to a report, the recently empowered VP of marketing, Bob Lutz, isn't particularly pleased with the spot.
Both Lutz and GM CEO Fritz Henderson don't believe the commercial positions Buick as a luxury brand that competes with Lexus. They have told GM's ad agency, Leo Burnett, that it needs to do better. However -- and here's where it gets convoluted -- the ad was created by an independent shop that Leo Burnett was told to hire to do the work. Mark LaNeve, GM's head of marketing, allegedly instructed Burnett to hire Gary Topolewski, a former creative director at Burnett who worked with LaNeve on Cadillac's Break Through ad campaign, and who now runs another ad agency.
The other character in the middle of all of this is Buick VP Susan Docherty, who defended the commercial. She said it fulfills its role of promoting a revamped Buick brand, adding that she looks "forward to working with Bob and sharing spots two through six with him." Follow the jump to watch the commercial, and you can decide if it makes you put the word "Buick" in the same sentence with "Lexus."
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]Continue reading Bob Lutz unhappy with new Buick campaign? Bob Lutz unhappy with new Buick campaign? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| REPORT: Alfa Romeo cancels MiTo GTA hot hatch
July 20, 2009 at 5:31 pm
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| Filed under: Hatchback, Alfa Romeo  Alfa MiTo GTA concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Oh, Alfa. We had such high hopes for you. The stoic Italian marque, it seemed, had wandered too far from its roots as a performance-oriented automaker anchored by decades of racing dominance. Heart-pumping roadsters gave way to mushy econo-boxes. And then came the 8C Competizione, whose dynamics may not be as inspiring as its looks (how could it?), but it signaled what we hoped was a new dawn for the resurgent automaker, even if it remained entirely out of reach for the common man.
Then Alfa followed up with the MiTo GTA, a positively drool-inducing hot hatch that debuted in concept form a few months ago at the Geneva Motor Show. Packing a 230-hp turbo four in an aggressive carbon fiber shell, the MiTo GTA looked nothing less than menacing. It was just a show car at the time, but Alfa said it would go into production by the end of the year. Well, according to emerging reports, that may not happen any time soon, if ever. Due to the financial crisis, Alfa has reportedly put the MiTo GTA on an indefinite hold. Does that mean it's been killed? Well, not necessarily, but we wouldn't recommend holding your breath. We'd save that for a hot lap behind the wheel... which may never come.
[Source: iMotor]REPORT: Alfa Romeo cancels MiTo GTA hot hatch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| VIDEO: Kate Walsh returns for new Cadillac CTS Sportwagon spot
July 20, 2009 at 4:58 pm
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| Filed under: Wagon, Videos 
The Cadillac CTS Sportwagon represents a whole new direction for the Cadillac brand, as the Wreath and Crest begins selling its first production wagon in the U.S. General Motors is crossing its fingers and hoping for the best with the CTS Sportwagon, since Americans have shunned wagons over the past couple decades. But with good looking proportions and the soul of a CTS, it has a fighting chance to make a name for itself.
Cadillac is readying the marketing blitz for the CTS Sportwagon as we speak, and the beautiful Kate Walsh is back behind the wheel, hawking Caddys in high heels. Hit the jump to view the first commercial for the CTS Sportwagon where Walsh compares the newest Caddy to the perfect dress. We'll leave the rest to your imagination...
Continue reading VIDEO: Kate Walsh returns for new Cadillac CTS Sportwagon spot VIDEO: Kate Walsh returns for new Cadillac CTS Sportwagon spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Cadillac flagship to use stretched CTS platform, two new Buicks on the way?
July 20, 2009 at 4:32 pm
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| Filed under: Sedan, Buick, Cadillac, GM, Rumormill 
Cadillac's on-again, off-again plan to replace the aging DTS and STS with one flagship product - which may or may not be known as the XTS - is reportedly back on track. According to Motor Trend, the original plan to use the Zeta platform of the Holden Commodore and Pontiac G8 has been shelved in favor a stretched version of Cadillac's own Sigma chassis that underpins the smaller CTS. If there's any truth to these rumors, we should expect to see the new Caddy for the 2012 model year.
The demise of the DTS also spells impending doom for the Buick Lucerne since the two vehicles are built atop the same platform at the Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant. MT reports that Buick will get two new models to replace the Lucerne, one of which may revive the old Invicta name from the 1960s. That mid-size sedan would replace the canceled Saturn Aura and be based on the Opel Insignia, which uses the same Epsilon II platform that's used by the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.
The second new Buick will reportedly be a notch smaller and will share its compact Delta guts with the Chevrolet Cruze but be fitted with the suspension adjustments pioneered on the Opel Astra. We'll just have to wait and see how that car goes along with Fritz Henderson's proclamation that he's 'not a fan of rebadging' if it ever sees the light of day.
[Source: Motor Trend]Cadillac flagship to use stretched CTS platform, two new Buicks on the way? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Officially Official: Acura releases 2010 ZDX crossover
July 20, 2009 at 3:58 pm
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| Filed under: Acura 
2010 Acura ZDX - Click above for a high-res image gallery
After its conceptual debut at the New York Auto Show in April, the 2010 Acura ZDX officially joins the coupe-like crossover fray this winter. Acura has dropped a brief release and a trio of photos of the production variant, and like recent Honda and Acura concepts, the ZDX was nearly production ready when it debuted in NY. The only notable changes over the concept are the headlights, tail lamps and a few details in the lower front fascia.
Under the hood, the ZDX gets the same 300 hp 3.7-liter V6 as the RL and TL, paired up with Acura's first six-speed automatic transmission, along with torque vectoring Super Handling-All Wheel Drive as standard equipment. While the ZDX seems similar to the BMW X6, the production versions looks significantly more compact, making Acura's new swoppy crossover more of a competitor to BMW's new 5-series GT. The ZDX should slot in nicely between the RDX and the larger MDX and appeal to those who like the dynamics of the TL in a slightly taller package. So far there has been no word from Acura on pricing, so expect all the details to be released when the ZDX goes on sale later this year.
Continue reading Officially Official: Acura releases 2010 ZDX crossover Officially Official: Acura releases 2010 ZDX crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| New Honda president says we don't need V8s, rear-wheel drive
July 20, 2009 at 3:29 pm
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| Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Acura, Honda 
2009 Acura TL - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Honda Motor Co.'s new president, Takanubo Ito, has said in no uncertain terms that V8 power and rear-wheel drive motivation aren't in the automaker's future.
Ito, who took the reigns from Takeo Fukui last month, said during his first press conference, "I don't think we need a classic front-engine, rear-drive car. It would be meaningless to emulate what other companies have done for more than five decades."
Honda's new president went on to say that, "We are considering incorporating new engines, motors, transmissions and chassis into mid- to large-sized hybrid vehicles," and confirmed that his predecessor's plan to create a V8 and a new rear-wheel drive architecture have been killed after Honda reassessed its priorities amidst the tanking economy. Instead, expect Honda's future premium offerings - primarily those from Acura - to adopt fuel-efficient inline-four and V6 engines, equipped with hybrid motors, and all-wheel drive.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]New Honda president says we don't need V8s, rear-wheel drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| VIDEO: Castrol's Flossie the robot is the ultimate motorcycle tester
July 20, 2009 at 3:01 pm
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| Filed under: Technology, Motorcycles Castrol Flossie robotic motorcycle rider - Click above to watch the video after the break
Just what the world needed: A real-live Moto-Terminator. Flossie, the robotic motorcycle rider seen above, was created by the engineering boffins at Cyberdyne Systems Castrol as a way to test its synthetic oils in the kinds of harsh conditions difficult to endure for flesh-and-blood test subjects.
According to Castrol, Flossie can adapt to any kind of motorcycle or scooter, learning the proper way to use the clutch, throttle and shifting patterns of its specific testing mount for the day. Best of all, Flossie will replicate any desired testing procedure over and over again with nary a complaint and deliver predictable, consistent results each time.
At this time, Flossie isn't able to balance the bike without assistance, but we'd guess that capability can't be far away. Next stop: Judgement Day. Hit the jump to watch the video. Hat tip to Alex!
[Source: Castrol via Engadget]Continue reading VIDEO: Castrol's Flossie the robot is the ultimate motorcycle tester VIDEO: Castrol's Flossie the robot is the ultimate motorcycle tester originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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