Market Cars

Cool Cars: Motor City Maidens Detroit 2010

This year's 2010 Detroit Auto Show is over, at least for the press, and while some significant vehicles were unveiled, the overall impression we got is that the industry has scaled back. Less debuts combined with smaller and less elaborate displays made the whole affair feel significantly downsized compared to previous years.

There is one area, however, where automakers seemingly didn't skimp: models. No, not car models, models as in paid spokespeople who stand next to the cars and trucks we came to see. The Motor City maidens who graced displays at this year's show were a cut above the crop of models used at other auto shows we covered this year.

And in case you think us sexist, check out Sirens of Chrome, an entire book celebrating the culture of car models and their history on the auto show circuit. See? We're not sexist, but rather consumers of a valuable service. Check out the gallery below to consume for yourself.

[Source: Autoblog]

Posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 / 0 nhận xét / Read More

Jaguar Leaping Cat motorcycle now a runner

Happen to be a Jaguar lover with a hankering for unique motorcycles? If not, we can't imagine that you'd want to ride around on a massive Leaping Cat sculpture capable of hitting speeds of 50 miles per hour, but that hasn't stopped Massow Concept Motorcycles from creating just such a beast. Called the NightShadow, the foundation of the motorcycle is an air-cooled Buell S3's 1200cc V-twin powerplant.

We first saw the Jaguar-shaped motorcycle back in August of 2008, and it seems as if the bike is now completely operational. We like to think of Autoblog as a family-friendly site, so we won't say what it looks like to ride. Regardless, if Jaguar isn't your cup of tea, Massow has designed a slew of other concepts that take well-known logos and turns them into something resembling a motorcycle. Check a few of them out in our gallery below and click past the break to see the Jaguar Leaper motorcycle in action.

[Source: Massow Design via Two Wheels Blog]

Posted on Thursday, January 07, 2010 / 0 nhận xét / Read More

Ducati prepare plans for India

Ducati inaugurated its second showroom in Gurgaon yesterday and Associate Editor Shakti was at hand to bring you this report. Shakti interacted with Ducati’s management, and brand ambassador and motorcycle racer Nicky Hayden who was specially flown to entertain guests at the event to bring you all the following details.

Following are some key points from yesterday’s meet:

Dealership

* This is Ducati’s 2nd Indian showroom in just 45 days
* The new dealership is built in accordance to global standard and parameters
* Dealership handles sales, service & spares
* It also sells accessories and branded life style gear
* By June 2010, Ducati will be present in all metros across India
* The management claims lots of inquiries and interest amongst enthusiasts has shown the way to the company

Nicky Hayden & MotoGP

* New and significant changes to the engine for the new season to make it more friendly, platform remains the same
* Favorite tracks is home track in California

Plans for future

* No plans for local assembly line
* No plans for JV or tie-ups
* No plans to build smaller bikes for India
* The company wants to maintain itself as a niche brand and sell niche products
* It target to sell 150 bikes in India

Bikes and Variants

* Complete line up is offered in India
* All 7 models & their 15 variants can be bought at the Ducati store
* Exactly same bikes + Exactly same bikes variants + Exactly same specifications on the bikes sold here

We will be keeping a close track on Ducati’s activities in India and observe how they tackle the Japanese competition.

[Source: indianautosblog ]

Posted on Monday, December 28, 2009 / 0 nhận xét / Read More

Moto Guzzi Griso 8V SE refines performance cruiser

It's unlikely that Moto Guzzi is the first brand you think of when talk turns to Italian motorcycles, but the manufacturer has a long history of producing desirable V-twin-powered machines and still offers a number of interesting models to consider. Chief among them is the latest version of the Griso, seen above.

The most noticeable feature that sets Guzzi's new Griso 8V SE apart from its standard siblings are the classically Italian paint colors: either Tenni green or Rosso Mandello red with a blacked-out powertrain. A nicely-stitched leather seat and wire-spoked wheels round out the visual modifications.

Just as importantly, though, the Griso 8V SE manages to boost torque output by five lb-ft to 85, though horsepower remains steady at 110. That extra power comes courtesy of revised cam profiles and fuel injectors, along with a larger airbox that helps Moto Guzzi's eight-valve Quattrovalvole breathe a bit better. Check out our high-res gallery below and make the jump for the official press release.