Could it be true? The rumormill is running overtime with reports of a potential merger between a pair of our favorite two-wheeled giants: Ducati and Piaggio.
Piaggio has no comment on the matter, refusing to either confirm or deny the supposed Ducati deal. Still, we can’t help but run through the what-ifs, assuming there’s a shred [...]
This is what we mean when we say that the future of alternative fuels isn’t anywhere close to being decided. A team from the BBC program Bang Goes the Theory has rigged an older Volkswagen Scirocco to run on coffee pellets. It’s a bit complex, with the coffee grounds needing to be heated to 1,292 [...]
Aston Martin Rapide Silver Blonde – click above image for high-res image gallery
To many of us here gathered around Autoblog’s virtual water cooler, the star of the Geneva Motor Show wasn’t the electrified Porsche 918 Spyder, but rather the Touring Superleggera Flying Star, better known as the Bentley Continental Shooting Brake. Disagree? We say to [...]
Spyker-Saab is reportedly passing “Go” and collecting $547 million while they’re at. According to Automotive News, the €400 million loan courtesy of the European Investment Bank (EIB) has received final approval. There’s even more good Saab-related news (that almost feels weird to type) – Spyker shareholders have approved the “we’re buying Saab” deal. The large [...]
1991 Lancia Delta HF Integrale stretched limousine – Click above for image gallery
With the popularity of the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo, it’d be easy to dismiss the likes of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale as a relic of the past. But make no mistake about it: The roadgoing version of this Italian rally machine [...]
What is thought to be one of the last remaining hurdles for the acquisition of Saab Automobile by Spyker Cars from General Motors has reportedly been cleared – the Swedish government’s endorsement of a pivotal European Investment Bank loan has been okayed by the European Union. Bloomberg indicates that the 400 million-euro ($546 million) loan [...]
The prodigal son returns. As with the Biblical parable, a well-loved son (ably played in real life by Wolfgang Bernhard) leaves the comfort of home (Bernhard previously served as Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche’s second in command) and embarks on a journey away from his family.
Unlike our age-old story, though, Bernhard didn’t exactly fall on hard [...]
We’re not entirely sure what keeping Fiat jobs in Italy has to do with the Catholic Church – other than the fact that the Pope was given a Ducato van from the automaker last year – but we guess that’s not really any of our business, right? Whatever the case, Pope Benedict XVI has urged [...]
Grace and pace and something else – click above for high-res image gallery
Grace and pace. One cannot properly talk Jaguar without mentioning the brand’s calling car. For the last 75 years those two attributes have separated Jag from the rest of the pack. After all, not only did the E-Type look that good, but when [...]
2011 Chevrolet Cruze – click above for high-res image gallery
Back in 2005, General Motors’ Chevrolet brand wasn’t much of a player in Europe. With the help of some re-badged Daewoo models and a bit of marketing effort, the Bowtie doubled its sales volume by 2008. That’s no small feat in any market, much less a [...]
2010 Infiniti FX Limited Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery
Miffed at having missed out on the Infiniti FX Millionaire Edition? The special run was unveiled in Amsterdam a couple of months back at a price roughly twice that of a stock FX. Only 100 were made, and they weren’t even available on this [...]
The massive Toyota sticking-accelerator pedal recall has spread from the United States to Europe and even beyond Toyota-branded vehicles. Approximately 90,000 Peugeot 107 and Citro?n C1 minicars have been added to the list of afflicted models. PSA, the parent of Peugeot and Citro?n, has a joint venture with Toyota in the Czech Republic that produces [...]
As expected, Toyota Europe announced details today surrounding the recall of cars for defective accelerator pedal mechanisms that began in the U.S. Like the U.S. recall that involves 2.3 million vehicles across eight model lines, the European recall also involves eight models: the Auris, Avensis, Aygo, Corolla, iQ, RAV4 Verso and Yaris. All told, about [...]
Just as we reported yesterday, Toyota has confirmed the recall announced last week for sticking accelerator pedals will be expanded beyond the U.S. and soon include Europe.
Up until now, the recall had affected only eight models built in North America at plants that were supplied defective accelerator pedal mechanisms by Indiana-based CTS Corp. Certain [...]
With the unification of Fiat and Chrysler, we’re been expecting major changes in the corporate structure of the two automakers and their various brands. Most recently, Lancia chief executive Olivier Francois was named head of the Chrysler division, leading to reports that the two brands – similarly positioned in the sub-luxury premium segment – will [...]
