JCCS ‘09 Teasers

The fifth annual Japanese Classic Car Show is now in the books, and what a show it was. I thought I’d throw up a few teaser shots to hold you guys over until I can organize all my photos from today’s show (there are a lot of them this time!). Beautiful weather, tons of down to earth enthusiasts, and a fantastic selection of vintage Japanese iron. Does it get any better? Naturally I kept my eyes open for cars with aggressive stance, and there were countless examples of the wide ‘n low sitting under the warm Orange County sun. …but none as extreme as this. More on the shakotan Z soon! Continue reading at Speedhunters

Related posts:

• Mercedes-Benz: Circling The Wagons
• Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz E Class Coupe pops up in Finland
• Hot Wheels Honda V10 Racer
• Hydrogen-Powered Honda Clarity Stopped For Speeding, We Admit To Being Heavily Skeptical
• Subaru Releases a Third Teaser Image of the WRX STi!

Related posts:

• 2010 Acura NSX Caught Testing in Germany?
• Acura’s NSX is completed, rwd platform to spawn more Acura sports cars
• Acura’s NSX is completed, rwd platform to spawn more Acura sports cars
• Filed under: Coupes , Sports/GTs , Tech , Tokyo Motor Show , Supercars ...
• Banzai burned? Honda reportedly kills confirms NSX is DOA

Pagani Zonda R officially unveiled in Vienna

Filed under: Supercars

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Pagani Zonda R

The Pagani Zonda did something incredible. It proved that the supercar world did not revolve around Ferrari and Lamborghini. So to commemorate Horacio Pagani's achievement, the hypercarmaker has created one last version of the Zonda before its replacement arrives next year.

After 24 months of development, and at the urging of an unnamed Italo-American customer that already owns three Zondas, the Pagani Zonda R was created as a lightweight, track-only variant of the iconic coupe. Production is limited to ten examples with a price tag of 1.4-million euro.

Although the carbon fiber exterior is deceiving, the Pagani Zonda R only carries over 10% of its structure from its predecessors. The wheelbase has grown by 47mm, the overall length is 394mm longer and the track has been widened by 50mm. An all-new carbon fiber monocoque resides underneath the wind-tunnel tested body, along with a forged aluminum suspension, new six-speed sequential gearbox and four aero-spec fuel pumps that feed a Mercedes-Benz AMG-sourced 6.0-liter V12. Pagani claims the new heart - nestled into the 2,425-pound R - will produce 750 hp at 8,000 rpm and 524 lb-ft of torque, for a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 248.54 mph. Air is fed into the bent-twelve through a carbon fiber air intake system, while an Inconel manifold and "F1-style" exhaust releases spent hydrocarbons and keeps engine temps in check.

Pagani makes it clear that the Zonda R is a not street legal, and one owner is taking that to the illogical extreme. One of the first Zonda Rs to be delivered will be installed in the customer's living room and fitted with a bespoke stereo system to play the R's swan song as it rips around the Nurburgring and LeMans. Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Pagani Zonda R

[Source: Pagani | Image: Argentina Auto Blog]

Continue reading Pagani Zonda R officially unveiled in Vienna

Pagani Zonda R officially unveiled in Vienna originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 |  | 

Related posts:

• Mercedes-Benz and McLaren will end collaboration next year
• Geneva 09' Preview: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Unveiled
• Video: InsideLine’s 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG test drive
• Mercedes-Benz: Circling The Wagons
• 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK breaks cover

Related posts:

• Mercedes-Benz to buy Chrysler Pacifica Advance Design Center
• Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Unveiled...The Replacement for the SLR
• 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 and SL65 AMG Officially Unveiled
• Carlsson tunes the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 500
• Video: First Mercedes-Benz GLK spot gets sexy in the city

More Photos of the 2010 Kia Sorento Hit the Web

Kia World has managed to get some more photos of the 2010 Kia Sorento.

The all-new Sorento ditches its old body-on-frame design for a unit-body platform. In the US engine choices should include a 2.4L 4-cyl and a 3.8L V6 mated to six-speed transmissions.

The all-new Sorento is expected to have its world debut at the Seoul Motor Show and its official US debut will be at the New York Auto Show shortly after.

Related posts:

• NISMO 370Z S-Tune: An Angry Catfish [NISMO 370Z S-Tune]
• STUDY: Detroit bankruptcy would cost four times more than bailout
• Six Degrees of Automotive Separation: Yugo and DeLorean
• 2010 Kia Sorento Teaser Released
• Kia Denim Soul: Mysterious

Related posts:

• BMW Increases Pricing for 2009 Models by 2.1 Percent
• 2009 Honda Civic Sedan and Hybrid Officially Unveiled
• Top Gear Russia 01×07
• 2011 Chevy Volt Unofficially Unveiled!
• Hyundai Recalls 65,000 Elantras

Mint Comanche

Douglas just picked up this mint Comanche and is looking to swap in a bigger engine. If you have any suggestions, leave a comment on his ride page.

I love these things. I still don’t get why Jeep doesn’t continue to offer a pickup.

Related posts:

• Four-Links – Kaiser dream cars, Star Trek Cadillac, Duesenberg racer, Steamin’ Demon
• New Muscle at Palooza X
• Study says U.S. sales will fall to 11.5 million in 2009
• A real Bob Evans hot rod – down on the farm grain truck becomes most unexpected hot rod
• Ralph Gilles Is Bringing Sexy Back To Chrysler LLC, From The Inside Out

Related posts:

• Fiat 500 May Make it to the U.S. in 2010...Thanks to Chrysler
• The New Chrysler
• PCH, Ceauşescu Versus Krushchev Edition: Three ARO 244s or One GAZ 69-M? [Project Car Hell]
• 2009 Tokyo Motor Show May be Cancelled
• American history read in dealership nameplates, part 2: The junkyard crawl

Oil Prices Drop 10% After House Rejects $700 Billion Bailout Bill

Yesterday, after the House of Representatives rejected the $700 billion dollar bailout plan designed to rescue the U.S. finance industry, the Dow Jones plunged a record 700 points - the biggest single-digit loss in history. There was, however, an unexpected bonus to the defeat that went largely unnoticed amid the chaos: the price of crude oil dropped an entire 10%. Following a trend sparked last week when U.S. November crude dropped 11.8%, yesterday November crude reached a session low of $95.04 a barrel, the second biggest drop since April 23, 2003.

The price of crude oil began taking a [relative] nose dive last week, and within the past seven days has fallen a total of $25 per barrel, or 20% overall. Today, however, the New York Mercantile Exchange recorded a $1.31 increase for November crude, elevating it to $97.68 a barrel. Market analysts don’t believe the slight upswing is indicative of a growing trend, and actually predict that crude oil will fall to $80 a barrel through the course of the next six months - possibly even falling as low as $60 a barrel.

What this means to you: Now, it won’t be quite so costly to refuel the vehicle you and your family will be living out of shortly.

[News Sources: CNNMoney.com & AutoNews.com]

Related posts:

• There Are Supercars and There Are Supercars
• Vintage Imagery
• REPORT: Suzuki's Kizashi program stillborn
• I’m a Clunker-holic

Related posts:

• Christchurch Chevette Gears Up To Conquer Antarctica [Down On The Street Bonus Edition]
• Nuts. Cash for clunkers passes Senate.
• Have You Seen Bumper Stickers Funnier than These?
• Cabrio Pickup Leisure Car! First Kia Soulster photo, info leaked
• Too Late: CfC Money’s Almost Gone. Buying This Weekend? C’mon In!

Corporate espionage, lawsuits, public outcry – the dark side of private traffic enforcement

Posted by Autoblog

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

No one likes parking tickets. We would go so far as to say that everyone hates parking tickets. Well, everyone except for city governments and certain companies in the private sector that profit handsomely from…

Related posts:

• N. American Sales of Cars Falling Except For Some Imports
• Rumor Has it That Subaru May Build a New Toyota Celica
• 2009 Hyundai Genesis Exposed...Would you Buy this Over a Lexus?
• Detroit 09' Preview: Scion Announces the 2009 xB Release Series 6.0
• Toyota Releases 13 New Low-End Versions of the Tundra

Related posts:

• 2010 Lexus LS 460 SZ
• Lexus’ red bow returns for the holidays
• 2008 Lexus GS450h Unveiled...Lexus Adds Another Hybrid to its Lineup
• The Hyundai Genesis Is Officially 5-Star Safe, Still 5-Star Boring
• Solstice Christmas Continues To Provide A December To Forget [Pontiac Solstice]

10 WTF Bumper Stickers

After eliminating stickers that were politically biased to the point of being pestiferous, as well as those that appeared to be from Spencer Gifts’ “Unfunny Asshole” division, it wasn’t difficult to trim the final selection down to 10. So, without further ado, I present to you the 10 bumper stickers that are most likely to induce a chortled “wtf?”

1. The Municipal Worker’s Creed

Who thinks it’s funny: Anyone residing in a state with a major roadway that’s been under construction since approximately the Regan Administration.

2. Mothers Against Drunk Fondling

Who thinks it’s funny: Anyone who ever listened to The Loaf’s Paradise By The Dashboard Light/Parents routinely overheard describing cherubic toddler as their “Happy little surprise.”

3. Truth In Stereotypes

Who thinks it’s funny: Men in general/women who can be routinely found performing small engine repairs while their male counterparts relax, sipping their frappuccino gingerly while thumbing through the new L.L. Bean catalog.

4. The Good Ol’ Days

Who doesn’t think it’s funny: Jimmy “Designer Board” Jitbag and his roving band of spoiled socialites.

5. Kill The [Bike] Messenger

Who thinks it’s funny: People who live in large metropolitan areas densely populated with “hipster” bike messengers and their loathsome elitist “underground” culture.

6. College Rivalry

Who think it’s funny: Michigan State University alums/anyone who doesn’t know jackshit about college sports, but finds the obscurity of the question humorously appealing.

7. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Homemade Beer

Who think it’s funny: Hardcore fans of the Miami Herald’s Pulitzer Prize winning humor columnist Dave Barry, who daily mourn his retirement.

8. Rules of the Road

Who thinks its funny: Veteran road warriors/anyone whose ever shaken their head and muttered “Idiot” while watching a newly-licensed 16 year-old barrel balls-to-the-wall down the right hand lane.

9. Smith Family Update

Who think it’s funny: Regular recipients of those smarmy “family brag sheets” often sent at Christmas time that describe in excruciating detail the epic achievements of a family who probably spends Saturday evenings listening to Lake Woebegone together.

10. 01011011

Who think it’s funny: Your office tech support guy/Windows Vista users/The kid you ridiculed mercilessly in high school who is now worth more than the gross national product of many small countries.

Related posts:

• FIA-GT1 Nissan GT-R spied, LeMans specs rumored
• Government to Push For Tougher Safety Ratings
• 2007 Detroit Auto Show: Last Round of Day 1
• Rumors: Porsche 928 Successor Under Development
• Mazda Prices CX-9 Crossover

Related posts:

• 2010 Ford Fusion Revealed With New Face, Engine And Six-Speed Transmission [2010 Ford Fusion]
• Ford SmartGauge LCD Instrument Panel Brings Futuristic Look, Green Leaves To 2010 Hybrids [2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid]
• Will We Have a Rescue or a Miscue?
• Fiat to resurrect the 1936 Topolino
• Portugal looking to improve, joins Project Better Place

Old Land Rovers Benefit From New TDi Engine

Even though we seem to be entering a new “Golden Age” of automotive advances in technology, savvy auto-philes have been using their own ingenuity for quite some time to do the very things that the major manufacturers are just now getting around to, such as EV and Hybrid vehicles.  Some of those cars have even been highlighted here on RideLust.  For those of us without the time or know-how to start taking out our car’s power plant or installing solar panels on our roofs, there are less extreme ways in which to retrofit your older vehicle to improve on the original and enjoy the benefits of some of the advances made in fuel efficiency. 

Land Rover TDi Engine

Perhaps the most significant upgrade that many SUV owners are looking towards is a swap of their gas engine for diesel.  Unfortunately, here in the States we have only recently begun to really embrace the diesel engine that Europeans have enjoyed for years.  One shop that has set out to rectify the diesel’s neglect is East Coast Rovers located in Maine.  This shop specializes in taking US-Spec Land Rover V8s and swapping in a TDi engine.  Though certainly not a cheap proposition, this sort of engine transplant job has many advantages, the biggest being fuel efficiency.  Over the long term, the benefits of the TDi include the diesel engines proven durability (especially valuable in off-roading) and almost double the fuel efficiency.  While the original V8 Defenders average between 12-15 mpg, a turbo diesel increases that number to 26 mpg.  Also, because diesels are inherently simpler in construction and devoid of most of the electronics present in new engines, they also typically require less service and last longer than the original Rover’s V8.  Forgetting all of the efficiency and repair headaches that an owner may alleviate with a diesel, most would agree that as an offroading vehicle, diesels out perform their gas counterparts by a wide margin.  According to East Coast Rovers, the low end torque of the Tdi which produces 195 ft. lbs. at just 1800 rpms, means that a driver has the ability to negotiate nearly any terrain it can get their tires on.  The Tdi has so much torque at idle that it will just keep going even without your foot on the clutch or the throttle.  Another benefit of the Tdi off road  is the fact that is doesn’t overheat or generate an increasing amount of heat while idling. 

While those that drive hybrids and soon, electric cars, can bask in the righteousness reserved for those that take climate change and energy problems seriously, the upgrades made to an expensive car like the Defender could surely be adopted in a wider range of vehicles already on the road.  Meaning there really are increasingly few reasons why most everyone can’t take an active part in addressing these issues.

Related posts:

• Jaguar upgrades European XF diesel: 443 lb-ft and 35 MPG!
• Ridelust Examines Car Logos
• Random Brit Tech Writer Claims UK Drivers Are Terrible [Media]
• The 2009 H.A.M.B. Drags
• Spy Video: Tata Nano - $2,500 city car in action

Related posts:

• The eBay find of the week is a Fire Breathing 1927 Dodge Custom
• Summing up the U.S. auto industry: Lose $30 billion, get nearly $15 million!
• What a Lotus Sees During Nightmares
• BREAKING: More Porsche Panamera pics surface
• EurObserv'ER publishes report on 2007 European biofuel use

Random Brit Tech Writer Claims UK Drivers Are Terrible [Media]

The article piqued our interest by starting:

Britain may not have an empire any more, but one thing we still rule the world at is bad driving."

but bored us with the tech talk. [techradar]

Related posts:

• Jaguar upgrades European XF diesel: 443 lb-ft and 35 MPG!
• Ridelust Examines Car Logos
• Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3 Engine and Drive Train CC: ...
• Scanning the Auto Blogosphere
• Tata Wastes No Time: Land Rover LRX and Jaguar Sportscar Get the Go-Ahead!

Related posts:

• Jaguar To Re-Enter Le-Mans
• Toyota and Scion Inventories Increase to Record Levels
• Ford is Going to Increase Focus Production by 30 Percent to Keep up With Demand
• 2010 Ford Mustang Could See the Return of the 5.0L V8
• Kamala Devi

2010 Kia Sorento Teaser Released

Kia has released an official teaser image of the 2010 Kia Sorento that is going to be officially unveiled at the Seoul Auto Show.

The all-new Sorento ditches its old body-on-frame design for a more up to date unibody platform, which will improve the Sorento's ride and handling. The Sorento will be powered by a variety engines including a 2.2L diesel, and a 2.4L and 3.8L gas powered engines. A a 2.7L LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injection) engine is also expected for the Korean market. A new six-speed automatic transmission is also going to be offered.

The 2010 Kia Sorento will be unveiled in April with sales starting in the US by the end of the year.

Related posts:

• NISMO 370Z S-Tune: An Angry Catfish [NISMO 370Z S-Tune]
• STUDY: Detroit bankruptcy would cost four times more than bailout
• Six Degrees of Automotive Separation: Yugo and DeLorean
• First “Entry Level” Ferrari California Sold For $500k
• Kia Denim Soul: Mysterious

Related posts:

• The Ten Small Cars Of The Future [Size Does Matter]
• Kia Rondo On Sale Now; Prices Announced
• Who has 5000+ cars in his garage?
• The Top 10 Most Toxic Cars
• Top 10 Cheapest New Cars To Own

Geneva 09' Preview: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Unveiled

Mercedes is going to officially unveil the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show next month. We've seen several spy photos of the new coupe, but here's our first official look at the successor to the CLK.

The E-Class coupe features many of the same design elements as the equally new E-Class sedan combined with a roofline that is similar to the current CLK. It also features no B-pillars and fully retractable side windows. All of these elements help the coupe achieve a Cd of just 0.24, which Mercedes claims makes it the most aerodynamically efficient production car on the market.

The engines range from the diesel E 250 CDI, which is 36 percent more powerful than the previous model while also consuming 17 percent less fuel. The range topping engine is in the E500 with its 388 hp V8 engine.

Related posts:

• Mercedes-Benz and McLaren will end collaboration next year
• Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG: Details Inside and Out
• Video: InsideLine’s 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG test drive
• 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK breaks cover
• Mitsubishi Soldiers On With Lancer Evolution MR

Related posts:

• Volkswagen Releases Teaser Images of the Four-Door Passat Coupe
• Performance World Models of 2008 [Part 1] 20 Photos
• Audi R8 Wins the Title of "SportsCar 2007" from Autobild
• Third-gen Audi A8 to be "stronger, sharper, more precise"
• 2009 Volkswagen CC: First Drive [Jalopnik Reviews]

Chicago 09': 2010 Ford Taurus SHO Unveiled with 365 HP

All the months of speculation can now end...Ford has officially unveiled the 2010 Taurus SHO at the Chicago Auto Show.

The first Taurus SHO debuted in 1989 and after three generations it was killed 10 years later, but now its back and better than ever. The new Taurus SHO builds upon the recently unveiled Taurus, but features much more power thanks to the 365 horsepower EcoBoost V6 under the hood. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and all-wheel-drive is standard.

The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO will be available this summer wit a starting price of $37,995.

Related posts:

• Black Metal V8olvo Hits Wall In Practice, Sawzall And Come-Along Save The Day [24 Hours Of Lemons]
• The Official Not-So-Big Three Congressional Hearing Drinking Game! [Carpocalypse Now]
• The best of Detroit’s auto show… so far!
• Hands-Free and Brain-Free Driving
• Auto Rescue/Bailout Bill ready to go, GOP could still block in Senate

Related posts:

• Pininfarina C.E.O. Dies in Crash
• From the looks to the exhaust note of the new Maserati Quattroporte Sport ...
• The world’s oldest running car up for auction
• 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Announced As 2009 Green Car Of The Year [La Auto Show]
• Epic Roadtrip

Detroit 2009: Ford demos MyKey

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Safety, Tech, Videos, Ford

Few people in favor of government-mandated speed limiters, but the public at large has less of a problem if the limits are set on teenage drivers (apparently, that Orwellian pill goes down a lot smoother -Ed.). Ford is adding a new technology called MyKey to new 2010 model vehicles beginning with the Focus coupe. The new key tech enables parents to place limits on the family car, but only for those that use the MyKey fob. Parents can set the speed limit to 80 mph, add chimes at 45, 55, or 65 mph, limit radio loudness, and and turn off the radio when seat belts aren't fastened. Teenagers won't like this system, but it's designed for parent's peace of mind.

We got a chance to demo the system with Ford MyKey chief engineer Tom Miller, and we've prepared a short video for your perusal. It shows how to program a key, what settings can be chosen, and how some of the features work. MyKey may not be a big hit with the 16-21 crowd, but we've got a good feeling that parents will love it.

Detroit 2009: Ford demos MyKey originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 |  | 

Related posts:

• Honda + Linux = Awesome
• 2009 Ferrari California: Beautiful “Baby”
• Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3 Engine and Drive Train CC: ...
• Was This the Inspiration for the New Camaro?
• Mitsubishi Soldiers On With Lancer Evolution MR

Related posts:

• Peugeot 107: Smart Urban Companion
• 2009 Dodge Journey Hits Dealer Lots, Destined To Become The Attention-Starved Middle Child
• RideLust Exclusive Test Drive: Wendy’s 2008 Smart ForTwo
• Spy Shots: Peugeot 3008
• Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni

Ricardo Montalban Says It Blows Away The BMW 528e: 1985 Chrysler LeBaron GTS [Classic Ad Watch]

What we really want to know here is: does "available leather-fitted cabin" mean the '85 LeBaron GTS has Soft Corinthian Leather? Or did you actually get basketball leather?

Related posts:

• Lamborghini: Getting their own stamp in Italy
• CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot: The 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix
• Volvo C30 EV Concept

Related posts:

• CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot: 2006 – 08 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS and Impala SS V8
• Historic Stock Car Racing believes cars matter
• 1956 Ford Club Sedan 1976 Ford F-250 Piaggio P125X I’m sure there are ...
• Can the Enclave make Buick relevant in America again?
• PCH, Ticket To The Afterlife Edition: WRX-Powered Beetle or Granada Hearse? [Project Car Hell]

Detroit 2009: Revenge Designs builds you a supercar for $145K

Filed under: Aftermarket, Detroit Auto Show, Supercars

Click above for gallery of pics of the Revenge GTM-R from Detroit

Up until now, Indiana-based Revenge Designs focused on body kits for the Honda Ridgeline, Pontiac Solstice and the Pontiac GTO, but here in Detroit, the company unveiled its first complete vehicle: the Revenge GTM-R. If the car looks familiar that's because you've seen something similar badged as the Factory Five Racing (FFR) GTM. Since Factory Five offers the car in kit form only, Revenge seems to have spotted a niche and exploited it by offering a fully built turnkey example and has teamed with FFR to develop bespoke components for their version of the fully-built supercar.

Where the Factory Five kit allows a range of GM engine options, Revenge has focused on just the LS7 V8 from the Z06 Corvette. Not a bad mill to settle on, but it comes at a hefty price. While the kit will cost you around $20,000 (although there's a $2K off special right now), Revenge is asking $145,000 for their GTM-R. Granted, there are a lot of other parts you need to supply for the FFR kit (engine, trans, suspension, etc.), and you have to have the skill, patience and tools to build it yourself, but a $125,000 markup might seem steep to some. Still, the car looks well-built and at 2,550 lbs., it's bound to be a rocketship. Even at $145,000, this could be one of the performance bargains of 2009.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Revenge Designs GTM-R

Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc

Detroit 2009: Revenge Designs builds you a supercar for $145K originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 |  | 

Related posts:

• 2009 Hyundai Genesis Beats the Lexus ES350 as Consumer Reports’ Top-Rated “Upscale Sedan”
• More XFE models in GM's pipeline?
• 2009 BMW 335d BluePerformance Starts at $44,725
• They Come From a Land Down Under: Australian V8 Supercars join in on the Forza 3 action
• Triumph Trans-AmeriCan Charity Drive hits the Garden State

Related posts:

• Rumormill: Lamborghini to unveil Reventón Roadster at Frankfurt show
• Audi TT Roadster: Comparison against Opel GT
• Chevrolet to get 4-cylinder turbocharged compact car in 2009
• Tons More Bonneville Pics
• 24 Hours of LeMons 2008: Part II - The teardown

Detroit 2009: Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S is a mouthful

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Maserati

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

Maserati says that its new Quattroporte Sport GT S "sets another milestone in terms of sportiness in the high performance luxury sedan segment," and it also appears to be trying to set a record for one car's syllable allotment. Suitable then that it takes more than just a couple of changes to be able to append that "S" to the regular Quattroporte Sport GT.

Torque remains the same, but the 4.8-liter V8 is cranks out 433 hp, eight ponies over the regular model. And you get that horsepower a tad later - the engine's rev limit is 7,200 rpm, but you won't get every one of those ponies in action until 7,000 rpm. The transmission software has also been recalibrated for more engaging shifts in three different modes. The suspension has been lowered, stiffened, and imbued with passive damping for higher cornering speeds and improved response. And the sport exhaust has pneumatic valves that render a "deep, throaty, and captivating sound" through large, twin-oval tailpipes.

Aesthetically, the Maser's big black snout gets concave vertical fins and a trident with red trim, the headlights are finished in metallic titanium, and the door handles are body-colored. Inside, new M-design seats come in perforated leather paired with Alcantara, and a standard trim called Titantex, which must have come from the marketing department. Slightly cheesy, but definitely beautiful. The entire package sits on 20-inch wheels. You can read all about it in the press release after the jump, and check out the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S is a mouthful

Detroit 2009: Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S is a mouthful originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 |  | 

Related posts:

• 2009 Ferrari California: Beautiful “Baby”
• Hot Deals: New Mazda CX-9, Ford Edge Get Incentives
• Jerry Hathaway’s Wicked Citroen SMs
• Hot Wheels Honda V10 Racer
• Why Chrysler’s bankruptcy is a good thing

Related posts:

• Toyota Yaris 5-door rolls into U.S. for '09
• Ford F-250 Car Profile
• The eBay find of the week is a Fire Breathing 1927 Dodge Custom
• Veritas RS III: Back To Basics
• Starving for a VW Golf GTI W12? Then Link this to all your friends