Autoblog

It's usually fun to speculate on what the future might hold, but this is one case where we're not so enthused. First of all, nobody in their right mind really wants to see GM fold (at least they shouldn't), regardless of the fact that it has been mismanaged for a good portion of its 100-year run. There have been some seriously cool machines that have rolled out of GM's various divisions, not the least of which is the iconic American sportscar, the Corvette. The 'Vette has succeeded where others have failed in providing a relatively inexpensive way for Americans to enjoy world class performance, and things have recently taken a turn for the better with the Z06 and ZR1 models. But, what would happen to the American classic if the General were to go bankrupt and couldn't recover? Would the Corvette cease to exist?

This exact question is currently being contemplated by forum members at GM Inside News. One inexplicable suggestion is that Toyota would be the best automaker to take the reigns of the Corvette brand -- a theory that's been met with a fair amount of skepticism. After taking just one look at the latest 'Vette wearing a Toyota badge, we nearly shed a tear. The comments are open -- let the debate rage.

[Source GM Inside News]

American Motors may have lost its way towards the end of its life in the '80s, but the little car company that could created some very cool vintage American iron. When the muscle car era was still in full swing, AMC was a player with its Javelin, which went up against some stiff competition in the form of the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Trans Am. Later, the Mopar boys introduced the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda into the mix, muddying the waters that much more. Though AMC had some success with its pony car, the AMX was quite possibly AMC's coolest production vehicle. Based on a shortened version of the Javelin's platform, the AMX had just two seats and was all about performance. The car turned into something of an icon for the automaker, and the name was subsequently used for a series of concepts throughout the '70s... right up until American Motors died.

AMC devotees have speculated on a possible return of the AMX, and though it seems extremely unlikely, we have no problem indulging in the fantasy. So-Cal AMC Club members commissioned Jeff Teague, a designer who just so happens to be the son of classic AMC designer Dick Teague, to come up with his ideas of Javelin and AMX revivals... and what AMC discussion would be complete without a mention of the Gremlin. See all of the renderings in our gallery below.


[Source: Hemmings Auto Blogs]

Lexus is set to invade the Detroit Auto Show in January with a duo of dedicated hybrid models. One of these machines will be a Lexus-ified version of Toyota's latest third-gen Prius, while the second model is still shrouded in mystery. A Japanese magazine known as Mag-X has rendered what they think the new Lexus hybrid sedan will look like, along with providing a few helpful hints on what we could expect to see underhood. The rumors suggest that the model will be badged the HS250h, which would normally indicate an engine displacing around 2.5-liters, but Lexus has a history of inflating the assumed displacement of its hybrid car's names, so we wonder if the Japanese mag got it right when they metnion a 2.4-liter engine.

Mag-X also suggests that the 2011 Camry hybrid will get a new Hybrid Synergy Drive system inherited from the new 2010 Prius. We're looking forward to a hybrid sedan face-off between the new Ford Fusion and the revised Camry. Early bets?

[Source: VW Vortex]

No, no, NO! The transfer of styling cues from one Focus to another seems to have its polarity reversed. Apparently, we haven't been clear enough when clamoring for Ford's Euro models, as this image of the new Euro Focus certainly looks like it's cribbed some of the weird from the North American car. Check the hood, and its indented midsection -- way to make the grille look like a demented smiley face. That strake down the flanks, while better executed here, reminds us of the very same line on our extra ripe (and still good!) Focus. Huge headlamps with a post-plastic-surgery look further offend the eyes, but we hope that this rendering is a bit off the mark, and the real Focus is a little sharper.

Things aren't rumored to get any better inside, with an iDrive-like interface to "improve ergonomics." Higher quality materials will also fill the cabin, so at least it will be a more hospitable place to pass the hours swearing at the inscrutable electronics. At least it'll carry Ecoboost engines underhood, of which we have nothing snarky to say.

[Source: AutoExpress]

While it can be argued that the current Corvette is the best ever built, there are those who would say the C6 is, well, homogenized. Safe. Boring, even, at least in the looks department.

Christian Cyrulewski would be among those who are visually disinterested in the current Corvette. But instead of grousing about it over a beer or six with the local Corvette club, he's taken matters into his own hands and come up with the C3R. In his words, that stands for "third-generation retro Corvette based on the sixth-generation (C6) platform."

Christian's website is short on details but rife with renderings of a curvaceous custom Corvette based on the latest platform out of Bowling Green. Top Speed says Christian plans to cruise the Woodward Dream Cruise next year in a C3R prototype, and if there's enough interest, could offer a kit version of the car. Like your retro-styled muscle cars with actual muscle? Top Speed says Christian also plans a 427-powered version of the kit complete with side pipes. No word yet on pricing, availability, or, heck, validity of the C3R, but we'll keep ya posted.


[Source: Top Speed]

UPDATE: Image removed at request of owner.

At first we couldn't understand why the BMW X6 was birthed, and then we couldn't figure out why Acura of all companies needed to create something to compete with it. Top Speed has rendered unto us what such an enigma might look like, and, well, it ain't all bad. That's probably because it looks like an MDX with a descending roofline out back. Of course, it's impossible to know how much of any rendering is pure fiction, but The Majestic Shield of Acura matched with those lights and a proper amount of real estate could be the ideal pairing of design features and suitable canvas. Porsche's floating LEDs in the front bumper don't go astray, either. We still can't say it makes sense, but Acura, if you're really going to do this, have a look here first.

[Source: Top Speed]

In case you thought the world needed another supercar that looked like every other supercar, which all look like something Mattel dreamed up years ago for Hot Wheels, CAR magazine has gotten official renderings of the Arash AF-10. CAR says its images came directly from the data used to create the body panels for the actual cars, supplied by Arash Farboud. The AF-10 will be powered by either an LS3 or LS9 V8 plucked from GM's parts bin, either of which should offer exhilarating performance in a car that's targeted to weigh in at 2600 pounds. The first AF-10 chassis, bonded together from 12 pieces, is under construction and the first completed car should emerge around Christmas, with production ramping up further in 2009. If you absolutely must have one of these things, they'll go on sale in Summer 2009 for £170,000.


[Source: CAR]

The up! is primed to be VW's long-awaited encore to the "People's Car," providing consumers abroad with an extremely efficient run-about that can get up to 95 European MPGs. The up! sounds like a vehicle VW should have been building all along, but does it sound like an Audi? The scribes over at Auto Express think so, and their rendering of an Audi up! looks the part. The image is a lightly reworked version of the stylish little up! concept, with body panels and roof lines looking very much like the V-Dub city car from that was first unveiled at Frankfurt.

The headlights are more vertical on the Audi and the open mouth look on the up!'s lower fascia is truncated by Audi's trademark split grille. The C-pillar is more triangular than the up! and the taillamps look like they were ripped from an A4 and stretched vertically.

Auto Express is reporting that an Audi version of the up! will be available in 2012. If that's true, it's unlikely we'll see the micro-Audi in the States in '12 anyway. We colonials aren't usually up (rimshot) for spending a big premium for a really small car that isn't named MINI.

[Source: Auto Express]

Road and Track has taken an early speculative look at what Tesla's Model S sedan may look like. Of course, it's impossible to know for sure how close this rendering may be to the real thing, but it's always fun to guess, right? We can see some clear inspiration taken from the company's first effort, the Tesla Roadster, along with a hint of Nissan GT-R in its flanks. We know for sure that the rear of the car will feature a deeply sloping hatchback, like the Porsche Panamera, and R&T's artists seem to have that feature down, as well.

We've actually gotten an early peek at the Model S from the rear via Tesla's new design chief Franz von Holzhausen, formerly of Mazda fame, which shows a nice carbon fiber rear diffuser and an aerodynamically sound cut-off hind end. Unfortunately, the Model S has been delayed by roughly six months due to the tough economic climate and some massive reorganization taking place at the Silicon Valley automaker. We don't expect to see the fully developed car until next Spring. Thanks for the tip, Kunal!

[Source: Road & Track]

Back in the 1970s when Volkswagen was trying to evolve from The Beetle Company to something more, the Type III was developed to go gunning for the mainstream. VW's Brazilian division was essentially it's own little fiefdom; with the market closed to imports and only Karmann Ghias to offer as sports cars. Even the spiffy and rare Type III Ghia was no longer too impressive by 1971. Division head Rudolf Leiding saw the need for a newer sports car and pushed through Project X, which used the Type III underpinnings and placed an attractive and modern coupe body atop the floorpan. Leiding was called back to run Volkswagen proper, but his modern coupe saw some success, and around 10,000 were produced making VW fans worldwide envious of the Brazilian market.

With the revival of the Scirocco, it seems only natural that interest in other sporty 1970's VWs would be piqued. Designer Marcelo Rosa has whipped up an updated vision of what a new SP2 might look like, and we like it. The idea is much like the upcoming Camaro – paying homage to the past without going completely retro. Some of the detailing is a little slavishly accurate and wouldn't fit with where VW's current style direction is going, but there's always room for a vehicle that pulls on the heartstrings; this is the company that makes the New Beetle, after all.


[Source: Carscoop]