Struggling to make ends meet, it looked as if it was only a matter of time before Saab would have crumbled under the mounting debts it had incurred over the past couple of years. Fortunately for them, there’s finally a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel.
On the heels of reports that said that Saab was on the market for anyone willing to take a stab at restoring the company to its glory days, it appears that someone has taken up that challenge. Swedish supercar makers Koenigsigg, together with a group of Norwegian investors, has ironed out a lot of the details involved in the company’s imminent purchase of Saab. While there are still a few kinks left to iron out, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Saab has found new life under the Koenigsigg brand.
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Infiniti Europe has just announced pricing for the new G37 Convertible. The cost will vary from country to country, meaning that the customers in France, Italy, and Spain will pay €52,600, €53,900, and €56,100 respectively. The top of the line, GT premium package adds an extra €3,600. Prices for the U.K. will be announced at a later date.
The Infiniti G37 Convertible is powered by a 3.7 Liter V6 that sends 320 HP straight to the rear wheels. The drop top Infiniti will sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.2 seconds (for the manual version) and reach a top speed of a limited 155 MPH.
Standard equipment for the G37 Convertible includes: 19 inch alloy wheels with sport brakes to slow down the new V6, a wind deflector to keep your hair from getting tangled, luxurious leather seats, active cornering Bi-Xenon headlamps and LED rears, dual-zone adaptive climate control with automatic air recirculation, Infiniti Intelligent Key. The GT Premium package adds a 30Gb HDD navigation system.
Press release after the jump.
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Certain automotive enthusiasts have a particular lust for certain makes and models that can lead them to do crazy things. Some spend ridiculous amounts of money, some dedicate a little too much elbow grease and other do both. Their quest to obtain the vehicle of their dreams often ends with half built cars, clutter garages and broken marriages; but for some reason they strive on. Fortunately there are a few instances where all of the benefits can be had with none of the nasty drawbacks. One suck lucky car builder is Coen Donkers from Holland. Donkers was a fan of a particular Audi race car, but being that the real thing is over twenty years old and in limited supply, Coen decided to build himself an Audi Sport Quattro.
When Donkers picked up the car that would eventually become what you see before you, it was a wrecked shell of its current self, but luckily for Coen, he runs an Audi parts shop in Veghel, Holland. So he already had garage space for the project and a team of mechanics that could work on it in their down time. Coen decided to keep things simple, replacing the bent bodywork and work out pieces with all new OEM parts. Despite the Audi Sport Quattro replica’s wild appearance, the exterior is stock, it is just covered in graphics inspired by the rally car from the 1980s that make it look so radical.
Continued after the jump.
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Audi has just announced the European pricing for their latest addition to the TT line-up of compact sports cars, the TT-RS. Available as both a coupe and a roadster, the new Audi TT-RS will be available for sale from European dealerships starting this summer for around 55,800 Euros for the coupe and at 58,650 Euros for the open air roadster.
Standard on the TT-RS will be: Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, 18 inch alloys, xenon plus headlamps with LED daytime running lights and for the Roadster, an electrohydraulic convertible top with power assisted wind deflector.
The German sports coupe will be powered by a 2.5 Liter engine with FSI direct injection producing 340 HP and 332 lb-ft of torque. The potent five-cylinder will provide outstanding performance, giving the RS a 0 to 60 MPH time of just 4.6 seconds and a top speed of around 175 MPH.
According to Audi’s plans, the TT-RS should hit U.S. showrooms by the end of this year, giving the TT-S enough time to enjoy its days in the sun as the top of the line TT.
Could Renault finally be coming out with the Twingo C+C? "We are working on a small convertible for 2010," said Renault executive Yves-Eric Morel. If so, this €15,000 roadster may give the U.S. a new reason to want Renault back. We’ll have to wait for the Frankfurt show in September to find out.
Mercedes must really know the European market. The new E-Class sedan went on sale less than a month ago in Europe and they’ve already taken 50,000 orders. Not bad for a car that starts at €41,590 (about $55K at direct rates) in slowing economy.
Seat revealed today the first official images of the Ibiza SportCoupe that will make its world debut at the London Motor Show in July.
The Ibiza SportCoupe will be powered by 105 hp 1.6 liter engine mated by the new seven-speed DSG gearbox. This new, twin-clutch automatic transmission provides the Ibiza with greater acceleration. Besides, this system produces remarkable fuel consumption, since the seventh gear is ideal for long motoring trips.
The new three-door Ibiza has a length of 4.034 meters and mere 1.428 meter height to match its temperament, lending the car agility and comfort both in the city and on the motorway.
The new Ibiza SportCoupe will be manufactured exclusively at SEAT’s Martorell factory near Barcelona and will be available in three trim levels – Reference, Stylance and Sport, with an outstanding standard equipment list from the entry-level model. In the near future, the model’s ecological ECOMOTIVE, FR and Cupra versions will also make their appearance.
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Opel is introducing its third body type to the 2009 Insigna line-up, a wagon. Known as the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer, this wagon is an important car for Opel considering the popularity of wagons in Europe. While this will be considered a lager family car in Europe, it would be consider a mid-sized wagon in the U.S. There is no confirmation yet that this model will also make the trip to these shores when its sedan sibling replaces the Saturn Aura possibly in 2010.
There are nine total engines expected for the Insigna family. Choices include five gasoline — naturally aspired and turbo charged four cylinders as well as naturally aspired V6s. Also expected are four turbo-diesels. Power over the entire range should be from 110 to 260 hp. The wagon will also get the same optional all-wheel drive system as the rest of the Insignia line.
The Sports Tourer is expected to make its official debut at the Paris Auto Show in October, and it should be in European showrooms along the sedan and hatchback variations by early 2009.
Press release after the jump.
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Lotus announced today pricing on the 2010 Evora that will go on sale this May. For 450 very luck clients Lotus prepared a surprise: the Evora Launch Edition. It will be offered in 2+2 configuration and clients will have the possibility to choose from: Tech Pack, Premium Pack or Sport Pack.
The Launch Edition also features: Hi-power silver cast alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon Headlamps, Alpine Imprint Audio System, Reversing Camera and Electric Powerfold Mirrors. The car is being offered in either Ardent Red or British Racing Green as standard.
Prices for the Evora as as follows (for the German market): Evora 2+0 € 59.990, Evora 2+2 € 63.500, Tech Pack € 3.490, Sport Pack € 1.490 and Premium Pack € 2.990. Other options include: Metallic Paint € 990, Lifestyle Paint € 1.850, Premium Paint € 2.737, Powerfold Door Mirrors € 290, Bi-Xenon Headlamps € 990, Alpine/Lotus IMPRINT Sound € 1.490, Alpine Reversing camera € 590, Stealth Grey cast alloy wheels € 550, Silver forged alloy wheels € 1.990, Gloss Anthracite forged alloy wheels € 2.750 and Sports ratio 6-speed manual transmission € 1.800.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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Renault announced today a new limited edition Laguna. Available for Expression and Carminat version, the new Laguna Black Edition adds a price of only 200 euro to a standard model.
Black Edition adds: GT Look Pack (front bumper, black headlamp masks, tinted rear lights), Comfort Pack (Renault hands-free card, rear parking proximity sensor), metallic paint (Pearlescent Black, Ardoise Grey, Eclipse Grey or Platine Grey) and 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels.
Prices in France start from €25,800 for the dCi 110 saloon version (add €1,200 for the estate version) and the offer is especially expected to appeal to private owners drawn by its reassuring ride and inherent qualities. Customers, meanwhile, are likely to prefer the dCi 130-powered for €27,350. Available only with the dCi 110, Renault Laguna Carminat Black Edition starts at €26,500. It incorporates integrated Carminat CD Bluetooth® navigation as standard for an additional cost of just €700. There is no need to convert the price into dollars because Renault doesn’t sell to the U.S.
Press release after the jump.
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