It’s official: the 2010 mustang is out of the corral. After getting to see the myriad of preview pics, there’s now not a whole lot new to see. But it is refreshing to get a look at the full car.
Ford has been stuck with a tough issue: how do you update a retro car? Do you follow the path of the original? If Ford did that then the 2010 Mustang would bloated and on the path to have to be redesigned in 2014 to be replaced by a Focus-based Mustang II. Instead Ford let its retro design mature. In 2005 the current Mustang burst on the scene with a childlike innocence that said to the world, “Hey I’m back!” Now five years later, the car has matured into a teenager. It still looks very much like the happy child you once knew, but now his brow has permanently furrowed, and he’s more aggressive.
Everything on the outside of the car has gotten sleeker. The turn indicators have been incorporated into the design, the fog light fit in the grille better, the tail lamps have more curves, and the interior materials no longer have a shine that makes it look like it came from the dollar store. But these are minor improvements. What makes this a new car worth getting excited about is how it feels.
Ford had put the 2005 Mustang on an all-new platform (it’s first in about 25 years,) and the 2010 Mustang is Ford’s first chance at tweaking the chassis after five years of road development. The car still has an archaic live rear-axle, but now the set up is three-link rear suspension with a panhard bar. It’s not a rocket science leap forward, but it should keep the rear end in line while going fast on the streets.
The interior doesn’t change much in appearance or layout. It’s tough to stray to far from the original in a retro car. But as mentioned before, the materials are significantly upgraded. While it may look nice, the simple feel of sturdy materials makes the Mustang feel less like an economy car.
The 2010 Mustang will be initially offered with a choice of two engines: a 4.0-liter 60-degree V6 (carryover from the 2009 model) that delivers 210 at 5,300 rpm and a peak torque of 240 lb.-ft.; and a 4.6-liter 90-degree V8 (upgraded from the 2009 GT) with cold air induction that delivers 315 @ 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 325 lb.-ft. @ 4,250 rpm. Both engines are mated to a standard 5-speed manual transmission.
Pricing shouldn’t stray too far from the original car, which means sticker prices of a little over $20,000 for the base model and about $28,000 for the Mustang GT.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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Although the 2010 Mustang hasn’t made it’s official debut, the guys from MustangBlog revealed pricing and option package information for the Mustang GT. With premium package, the Mustang GT will be priced at $30,095. That’s a $935 jump in the current base price, and there may not be much to show for it.
It will be powered by a 4.6L OHC 3V V8 Engine, and while there is no mention of horsepower, those are the same specs for the current 300 hp engine that comes with the GT premium. It also comes with shaker 500 audio system, ambient lighting, bright aluminum accent dash, pedal covers, scuff plate & shift knob, and 6-gauge cluster with MyColor (all of which are also standard on the current car.) The only new part to this package is the 18″ aluminum wheels, which were formerly an option.
Customers will have the possibility to choose from five other packages: Security package, Comfort package, GT Track package, Electronics package, and racing stripe package.
Full details after the jump.
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We may not be the only ones excited about the new Nissan 370Z. This car was caught driving in the Los Angeles area possibly by some Nissan employees out for a joyride ahead of the car’s debut at the LA Show. Then again, these weren’t spy shots. It had to be pretty well staged if the GTR World got to pop the hood and the back hatch.
Looking at the completeness of the car and it’s Tennessee manufacture’s plate (Nissan North America’s headquartered out of there,) this is likely a car that will be used as a press demonstrator during the show. From these pics we can see other changes to the Z car besides the head and tail lamps. This shows there are a lot of little improvements on the 370Z like the upgraded interior and a crease in the roof that matches the one in the hood.
As a reminder: the 370Z will be powered by a 3.7-liter version of the Nissan VQ six-cylinder that is currently in use in the G37 coupe and sedan. As reported earlier in the week, the engine will deliver 332 hp.
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We are only a week away for the Los Angeles Auto Show, and Ford still won’t stop with the minor teaser images of the 2010 Mustang. Then again, we’re still suckers enough to post them.
Unlike the interior shots that have been coming from Ford recently, this image is starting to show something somewhat changed from the current Mustang. The taillight is slightly reshaped and there is a more curvaceous rear end.
We also see an optional duck-tail spoiler, which Ford says give it the ability to have a rear-view camera. Since when did Mustangs have the same rear visibility problems as a large SUV?
The current big Bentley, the Arnage family, is taking a final bow. While the premiere of last year’s Brooklands was a car that was more for the English crowd (foul-weather friendly hard top, understated coupe styling, etc.), the 2009 Azure T is more for an American crowd ("hey look me and at what I can afford!")
It’s safe to write that the Azure T is the most elegant convertible at the moment. PETA gets woozy every time it thinks about how many cows had to die so that the ultra-rich can have coddled hands, legs, elbows and butts. Like any good Bentley, there are only understated changes to the exterior. Little things like new 20-inch five-spoke two-piece alloy wheels, ‘Le Mans’ lower front wing air vents, and dark-tinted upper and lower grilles.
Like with most big Bentleys, its no slouch. Under the hood Bentley placed a liter twin-turbocharged version of their older-than-dust 6.75 V8 engine that produces 500bhp (50 hp more than the standard Arnage sedan, but 30 hp less than the Brooklands). The Azure T makes the 0-60 mph sprint in 5.2 seconds, hits 100 mph in 12.1 seconds, and doesn’t stop until it reaches the top speed of 179 mph.
While all Bentleys are extremely exclusive, there was no announced cap on productions as there is with the 550-unit Brooklands. Then again, it’s likely there won’t be too many neighbors picking up the kids from soccer practice in this.
The car is set to debut at the LA Auto Show this month. Why LA? Because although Bentley would not divulge the price of the super-lux ragtop (the Brooklands cost $680,000,) most of those who can afford it have had their names on a few movie posters or at least rapped about how much money they have.
If you want to be reminded of just how much money you don’t make, read the press release after the jump.
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It’s time for us to apologize. We sample factory material, expert analysis, manufacture’s websites, industry rumors and other blogs, but sometimes we still just can’t get it right. Our predictions had the Nissan 370Z rated at 330 hp, and today we got the news that the official rating is 332 hp — we understand if you never want to read this site again.
As part of the specifications for the LA Auto Show lineup, Nissan revealed official details about the car. The new 370Z features a shorter wheelbase, greater use of lightweight body materials, larger engine with 26 more horsepower, a new 7-speed automatic transmission and the world’s first synchronized downshift rev matching system for the 6-speed manual transmission.
The same release revealed the full list of manufacture’s debuts for the 2009 LA Show. The list includes: Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid, 2010 Ford Mustang, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid concept, Infiniti G37 Convertible, Kia Borrego FCEV concept, Lincoln MKZ, Mazda 3, Mercury Milan/Milan Hybrid, MINI E, Nissan 370 Z, Nissan Cube, Porsche Boxster and Cayman, Toyota CNG Camry Hybrid concept and Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI.
n2a Motors has been teasing the auto world with the Anteros since the 2006 SEMA show. But now it seems like the company may have gotten it together as a final version will be at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Anteros is built using a 2009 Corvette platform, and base versions are powered by a LS3 V8 engine that delivers the same 430 hp and 424 lb.-ft. of torque as the standard Corvette coupe. The Anteros based on the Z06 platform gets a little extra sweetening from Lingenfelter with a 630 horsepower performance package. The company will start taking orders for the car in 2009 and will be priced at $149,500 for the coupe version and $154,500 for the convertible version. The Anteros based on the Z06 platform is priced at $176,500.
n2a takes a donor Corvette, strips it down, and then reassembles the body using carbon-composite body panels. This sleeker, lighter body is then matched with new wheels and exhaust system to give this a custom car look outside.
If you already like the Corvette’s interior, then the the Anteros won’t disappoint. For the rest of us (although n2a says that there are new leather seats, leather dash, Italian carpeting, and leather-wrapped interior panels,) the lineage of the donor Corvette is unmistakable.
Press release after the jump
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A couple of weeks ago we saw leaked official images of the refreshed 2010 Porsche Cayman and Boxster. At that time we knew it didn’t mater much because the car would be in the flesh this month at the LA Auto Show. Now we have further proof that Porsche hasn’t shied away from the show, as these Caymans were caught coming out of cargo on the tarmac at LAX airport.
The new Cayman will feature redesigned front bumpers with LED lights and revised rear bumpers with new tail lamps. Like the 2009 911, the 2010 Boxster and Cayman will be offered with the new PDK dual-clutch transmission.
The 370Z will make its official debut later this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the first official images have already hit the press. But those came from a studio, where Nissan got to put the car in whatever light it wanted. Now we’ve got pics from a European press event, so we can confirm the car is just as cool in real life.
As a reminder, one of the biggest differences between the 350Z and the 370Z is the engine. The 370Z get upgraded to a 3.7-liter version of the Nissan VQ six-cylinder that is currently in use in the G37 coupe and sedan. The engine delivers 330 hp and 270 pound-feet of torque.
Although this car may look cool, be careful. When someone asks where you got this special edition Infiniti G37 convertible, you may have to respond, "I got it at Bloomies!" - not very manly.
This limited edition G37 is offered exclusively through Bloomingdale’s annual holiday catalog. The Infiniti Premier Edition G37 convertible features a dark gray Platinum Graphite exterior, exclusive Monaco Red leather-trimmed interior with hand-crafted, red-stained genuine maple wood trim, and a special grille and 19-inch aluminum wheels.
Pricing has not yet been announced, but orders for this special edition will be taken starting at noon on November 10th. Not bad considering the car premieres at the Los Angles Auto Show, which starts November 21st.
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