Official: Aston Martin makes the Vanquish official

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Aston Martin, Luxury

After what started with a puzzlingly innocuous 'reveal' at Villa d'Este, the debutante known as the Aston Martin Vanquish has now been officially and formally introduced. With the DBS having nearly cashed its chips - it carries on with special editions for now - this is the new ultimate Aston.

Yes it sits on the VH platform - albeit one that's 25-percent stiffer, yes it's powered by the 6.0-liter V12 we know well, yes it's an evolution of Aston Martin's already polished language, but we don't see how any of those truths are cause for complaint when they look like this. The influence of the One-77 is apparent outside in the carbon-fiber bodied Vanquish's stretched lines and rear lights, and that's not a wing on the back, it's an "Aero Duct." Ahem.

However, it's the interior that cribs shamelessly from the halo car with the center console treatment of etched and LED-ringed inputs. If it's as nice to use as it looks, it could set the standard. The reshaped, twin-material steering wheel is also a nice touch. Other interior tweaks include a larger cabin and larger trunk (hallelujah) that can swallow 368 liters, which makes it more capacious than the boot of the Volkswagen Golf.

Underhood there's a 55-horsepower bump over the DBS, to 565 hp, assisted by an unchanged 420 pound-feet of torque. Gear changes are handled by the Touchtronic 2 six-speed auto, the combination said to be good for a 0-to-62 mph sprint in 4.1 seconds and a 183-mph terminal speed. You can scroll down for press release info, but we'd recommend starting with the video and high-res gallery of images.

Continue reading Aston Martin makes the Vanquish official

Aston Martin makes the Vanquish official originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Ferrari restoring Steve McQueen's 275 GTB/4 to factory condition

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Celebrities

Even 32 years since his death, Steve McQueen captures the imagination of driving enthusiasts. The actor's cars continue to fetch big bucks at auction. Last summer at Pebble Beach, McQueen's personal 1970 Porsche 911S, driven in the opening scene of Le Mans, sold for $1,375,000 - a figure nearly matched by the racing suit he donned for the same movie. His metallic brown 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso sold at Christies a few years back for $2.3 million, and now another Ferrari from McQueen's past has returned home to Maranello.

The car in question is a 275 GTB/4 that the King of Cool acquired in San Francisco while filming Bullitt. Sometime after McQueen sold the car, its subsequent owner had its roof chopped off, transforming it into a de facto Spyder (there are only 10 real 275 GTB/4 NART Spyders). The car's new owner, however, has sent it back to Ferrari to have its roof rebuilt and the car returned to original factory specification.

The conversion is being undertaken by the Ferrari Classiche division, which will certify its authenticity once the process is completed. The unit was established in 2006 specifically for that purpose, and has since then dealt with some 3,300 classic Ferraris.

Continue reading Ferrari restoring Steve McQueen's 275 GTB/4 to factory condition

Ferrari restoring Steve McQueen's 275 GTB/4 to factory condition originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford wants you to give the gift of "some assembly required" for Father's Day

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Etc., Ford

Father's Day lands this weekend, and if you're anything like us, you're doing your best to put off trying to find a gift. Ford has an idea for those of us too lazy to pull up dad's Amazon list and click purchase. The automaker says it takes roughly two years for a hobbyist to complete a classic vehicle restoration from the ground up over nights and weekends. That means that a project Mustang started this summer will be ready just in time for the car's 50th anniversary in a couple of years.

How's that for clever? The company says roughly 95 percent of all Mustang parts are available brand new as reproductions right now through FordRestorationParts.com, including full body shells like the one seen above. Besides, what's your old man doing with his time now that he doesn't have to worry about you choking to death on your hand anymore? Check out the press release for more information.

Continue reading Ford wants you to give the gift of "some assembly required" for Father's Day

Ford wants you to give the gift of "some assembly required" for Father's Day originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche finds way around $1.9B tax bill tied to VW deal

Filed under: Europe, Porsche, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials

After five months of finessing the deal, Volkswagen and Porsche Holding SE have figured out how to sidestep the tax man: VW's €4.5 billion purchase of the remaining 50.1-percent stake in Porsche's sports car unit was going to mean a tax liability of €1.5 billion ($1.9B U.S.) due to the Baden-Württemberg Finance Ministry. Volkswagen was going to be on the hook for that, and the amount threatened to scuttle the deal.

Previously, the two companies planned to create a holding company to control the remaining share until 2014, at which time it could be transferred to VW without paying a tax. Beyond the two-year wait just to close the deal, that plan also meant that VW couldn't fully integrate Porsche into its operations and so be forced to deal with Porsche for two years at an inefficient, arm's-length distance.

Th new plan, still awaiting final approval from the state authorities, is simple. The Porsche Holding SE empire, which isn't small, owns Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, the unit that makes the sports cars. If VW purchases the unit outright from the holding company, the purchase is taxed. Instead, VW plans to give Porsche Holding SE the €4.5 billion purchase price as well as one voting share of VW stock. By 'giving' Porsche Holding a stake in VW, even if it is just one single share, it turns an outright purchase into a corporate restructuring. A tax-free corporate restructuring, specifically. What's German for "Voilà!"?

According to a story in Reuters, Porsche Holding has been given legally binding notice from the state that is will not need to pay any taxes on such a transaction. VW said it's still looking at its options for ingesting the 50.1-percent stake, but it looks like the end of that deal just got a lot closer. Now about that $2.6 billion investor lawsuit...

Porsche finds way around $1.9B tax bill tied to VW deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelisz to make Superstars bow

Norbert Michelisz will make his International Superstars Series debut at the Hungaroring later this month. The Hungarian will drive a BMW M3 for Scuderia Giudici at his local race, dovetailing the one-off drive with his World Touring Car Championship programme. "I'm excited to join the Superstars world," said Michelisz.

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Official: Toyota displays family-oriented Camatte concept at toy show [w/video]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Budget, Etc., Japan, Videos, Toyota, Design/Style

Toyota is out to spur a passion for cars in young families with its new Camatte Concept. Unveiled at the 2012 International Tokyo Toy Show, the vehicle features a number of interchangeable body panels that can easily be swapped for different colors or styles.

The concept seats three in a unique triangular configuration that Toyota says is designed to facilitate communication between parents behind the wheel and children in the back. But that's not the only kid-friendly aspect. The Camatte also features configurable pedals, which can allow a child to develop driving skills while a parent takes care of important tasks like steering and braking.

Clearly, this sucker isn't headed to production, and that's a shame. We love the bare-bones utilitarianism of the design, and the open-wheel front is enough to garner a smile from us as well. It's almost as if Toyota decided to bring the Volkswagen Kubelwagen into the modern age. Check out the quick breakdown video below for yourself.

Continue reading Toyota displays family-oriented Camatte concept at toy show [w/video]

Toyota displays family-oriented Camatte concept at toy show [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perez says podium unexpected

Sergio Perez admitted that he had absolutely no expectation of finishing on the podium after only qualifying 15th for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Helmuth Koinigg nascar news Bruce Kessler Jacky Ickx Alan Jones Al Herman

Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 139

Hit play for an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note, and then share your guesses or get a few hints from other visitors in the comments below. Be sure to check back on Thursday for the answer!

Peter de Klerk Cars Gimax Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Peter Hirt

Sauber eyeing qualifying improvement

Sauber's Monisha Kaltenborn says one of the main priorities for the Swiss squad is to try to improve its qualifying form.

Rupert Keegan Carl Michael Edwards III Kevin Harvick François Hesnault Miguel Ángel Guerra Mark Anthony Martin

AF Corse wins for Ferrari in Slovakia

Toni Vilander and Flip Salaquarda gave Ferrari its first victory in the FIA GT1 World Championship in Saturday's qualifying race at the Slovakia Ring. Both drivers starred at the wheel of the AF Corse-run 458 Italia in damp conditions at the beginning and end of an event that started under the safety car.

Bobby Grim Ernst Klodwig Clint Bowyer Motorsport Armour Vienna Sausage Kroger Chevrolet Gene Hartley

Jeff Burton, 2012 NSCS Quicken Loans 400 Pre-Race Notes & Quotes

Jeff Burton - Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty ImagesJeff Burton No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Event Preview Fact Sheet This Weekend’s No. 31 Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway … Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 393 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend. This No. 31 Chevrolet, built new for the 2012...more»

James Hunt Trevor Bayne Racing news Piercarlo Ghinzani Jimmy Jackson Jason Leffler

Gordon hopes Busch learns lessons

Jeff Gordon believes Kurt Busch's suspension is a step backwards in the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion's career but still hopes he can bounce back and show his best on the track again. Busch is currently serving a suspension after NASCAR ruled he violated a probation status by verbally abusing a journalist last week at Dover. Previous pitroad incidents at Darlington had prompted action from the sanctioning body but officials deemed the Phoenix driver's behaviour last weekend deserved further reprimand

Divina Galica Peter Gethin Bill Homeier André Guelfi Carl Edwards Ryan Joseph Newman

Michelisz to make Superstars bow

Norbert Michelisz will make his International Superstars Series debut at the Hungaroring later this month. The Hungarian will drive a BMW M3 for Scuderia Giudici at his local race, dovetailing the one-off drive with his World Touring Car Championship programme. "I'm excited to join the Superstars world," said Michelisz.

Jason Leffler Kyle Eugene Petty Paul Goldsmith Eddie Irvine Hiroshi Fushida Ukyo Katayama

HAYDEN INJURED IN TRAINING ACCIDENT

DUCATI HAYDEN INJURED IN TRAINING ACCIDENT Thursday Dec 29 2011 Nicky Hayden's winter vacation was marred on Tuesday, December 27, when he broke his left scapula and fractured two ribs while training near his home in Owensboro, Kentucky. Hayden was...

Patrick Gaillard Beppe Gabbiani Jeffrey Tyler Burton Hans Heyer Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Carel Godin de Beaufort

NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE CONFERENCE FINALS RETURNING TO DENVER, BRISTOL FOR 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2012

NHRA GLENDORA, Calif. Dec. 20, 2011 To help kick off the 20th Anniversary celebration of the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA announced today that the Western Conference Finals and Eastern Conference Finals will once again return to Bandimere Speedway...

Alan Dennis Kulwicki Christian Goethals Jean Pierre Jabouille Billy Garrett Scott Russell Riggs David Carl Allison

Today’s Headlines

To NYC Police and Prosecutors, Fare-Beating a More Serious Offense Than Killing With a Car (NY1)
NYPD Charges Westchester-Bronx Chase Driver With Manslaughter for Passenger Death (Patch, NYT)
L Train Service Is About to Get a Big Boost (Second Ave Sagas)
Transit Union Report Says Bad Bank Deals Partly to Blame for MTA Woes (WNYC)
NYPD Occupy Barricades Forcing [...]

Paul Hawkins Kerry Dale Earnhardt Duncan Hamilton Tom Jones Christian Klien Kyle Busch

Button regrets running in Q3

Jenson Button reckons it was a mistake to run at all in Q3 of Canadian Grand Prix qualifying, as he will now have to start the Montreal race on slightly worn soft tyres.

Leo Kinnunen Parker Kligerman Paco Godia Hubert Hahne Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Nicolas Kiesa

Husband Sues NYPD for Botched Investigation Into Death of Clara Heyworth

Jacob Stevens with attorney Steve Vaccaro (speaking), and TA's Paul Steely White (left). Behind Stevens, to his right: Council Member Tish James. Photo: Brad Aaron
The husband of Clara Heyworth, the woman killed by a suspected drunk driver in Fort Greene last summer, filed a lawsuit today against NYPD and called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to [...]

Jacky Ickx Alan Jones Al Herman Floyd Anthony Raines Mike Hawthorn Walt Hansgen

Today’s Headlines

Cab Plan Injunction Could Cost City $1 Billion (Capital, News)
Lhota Says Pension and Health Care Costs 100 Percent to Blame for Fare Hikes … (News)
… And Is Echoed by Daily News Editorial Writers, Letting Albany Deadbeats Off the Hook
Cuomo Appoints Campaign Donor to Port Authority Board (Transpo Nation)
Lower East Side Underground Park Approved by Community [...]

Floyd Anthony Raines Mike Hawthorn Walt Hansgen Kevin Michael Harvick Copart Ford Zaxby s Chevrolet