Car tech blog

Auto spy Hans Lehmann and his p-shop jockeys at Hidden Image released a spec image of the next roadster from BMW, dubbed Z6. Winding Road speculates the larger, sleeker droptop will replace the weak-selling Z4, while Germany’s AutoBild talks of wider expansion throughout the Z universe to include an entry-level Z2 and high-end Z8 supercar. There’s no doubt the spec has a more pleasing line than the current Z, but maybe Hans and his minions should rethink that headlight assembly, which may have been cribbed from a Hyundai minivan concept. – Mike Spinelli

Will BMW’s Next Z4 Look Like This? [Winding Road]

Related:
Eine Kleine Roadstermusik: 2009 BMW Z2, Z4, Z6, Z8? [internal]

Yes kids, safety training is important whenever you’re dealing with a truck fitted with a 8.3 L Viper V10 — pushing out an output of 500 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque. Or, you can find out the hard way — like this guy here in his first outing in the truck lookin’ to be a supercar. – Ray Wert

Related:
Dodge Ram SRT-10 Least Green Vehicle [internal]

Autoblog had the scoop early this am: The next-generation Pacifica was rumored to be set for cancellation and the vannish model dropped from the Chrysler line. Now, The Detroit Free Press reports three suppliers have been ordered to stop work on the new Pacifica, with one indicating it was forced to lay off contract workers hired specifically to work on the new model. Chrysler isn’t talking, but sales of the Pacifier are off 10 percent this year, and the reductive move could be part of an ambitious plan to lop $1,000 off the cost of every vehicle. But why Chrysler might be pulling the plug before the great crossover race begins is a mystery of Holmsean proportion. – Mike Spinelli

Chrysler halts work on Pacifica replacement [Detroit Free Press]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2007 Chrysler Pacifica [internal]

A new spy video shows what looks to be BMW’s rumored 2-Series cabrio being flogged on the Nürburgring in fine form. If you weren’t yet aware, loose talk going back to 2004 indicates the Bayerische boys are working up the new model range, which will include both coupe and cabrio models, for the US market. Word is they’ll be stateside (read: non-hatchback) variants of the 1-Series, designed to compete with the Volvo S40. Starting in the $25,000 range, the 2s will allegedly come with a range of fours and sixes, with a possible M2 version sporting the 335i’s turbo six. Could those pleading for a new 2002 from BMW finally be getting their wish? Keep an eye out. – Mike Spinelli

[via Motor Authority]

Related:
Spy Photos: BMW 1-Series Cabrio [internal]

Start the countdown kids, Cadillac announced today it would take the wraps off the long-awaited new CTS at the Detroit show in January. If you’ll recall, GM’s chairman of vice, Bob Lutz, showed “60 Minutes” reporter William Howard Taft Steve Kroft a portion of the CTS’s rearward quarter. That sharply defined taillight assembly sparked a landslide of speculation that the brand’s Art and Science design language was set to become additionally radical, with more surfaces than a dungeon master’s dice set. Following the Detroit coming-out, the CTS will hit dealerships in late-summer of 2007 in the US, with worldwide exports to follow in the fall, according to Uncle Caddy. No word on the CTS-V. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Spy Video: 2008 Cadillac CTS-V; New Cadillac Partially Revealed in 60 Minutes Spot [internal]

This week at TreeHugger: General Motors is opening up China to hybrids and hydrogen; surely a welcome addition to their daily road situation. Out of Argentina comes the Nexo, a modular, adaptable, natural-gas vehicle for the modern city. This year’s European GreenFleet award puts Citroen at the top of the list, not for their hybrids, but for their diesels. Toyota’s Prius lineage could be growing to include smaller city cars and larger utility brethren. Biodiesel earns its commodity status, car washing in Toronto goes solar, and Yahoo! offers green guidance on car buying.

[TreeHugger’s Perspective Shift roundup appears every Wednesday]

More pics of Toyota’s 2008 Land Cruiser have emerged, again by way of southern Europe, where the favored ride of loose-nukes warlords and Connecticut bond traders alike was spotted during on-road tests. According to spies, engineers were reportedly comparing the new Cruiser — which will get a more luxurious interior and a more squared-off shape — to the current Mercedes ML-Class. A range of V6s and diesels will power Toyota’s flagship SUV, including the same 5.7-liter V8 available in the 2007 Tacoma Tundra pickup. Available machine-gun turret and 100-kilo underfloor storage remain high-cost options. – Mike Spinelli

SPIED: Next Toyota Landcruiser [Wheels 24 via Motor Authority]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LX 470 [internal]

Lost among other news yesterday — something about voting machines or some such nonsense — was news that the General was handing out presents to shareholders. The present came in the form of a quarter per share dividend, same as last quarter, to the good men, women and investment banks who’ve stuck with the big n’ bad automaker through thick and thin — well ok, that’s a lie — it’s also going to the folks who bought the stock in the recent Kerkorian-engineered up-tick — and even those who haven’t yet bought any. So feel free to pick some up now, you’ve got until November 17th for it to count. Damn you, you bandwagon fans. – Ray Wert

Related:
GM Halves Dividend, Cuts Exec Salaries [internal]

Good Mr. Farago disagrees with us about the upcoming mo’ bigga Tundra. We don’t think Detroit has too much to worry about when it comes to pick-up sales. General Motors Death Watch 98: The Last Redoubt. It’s a hard point to argue against — Japan did come in and win over (and is still currently winning over) U.S. customers in the car market. Why wouldn’t trucks be next?

What do you think? Is Mr. Farago right? Will the new Tundra grab sales from Detroit?

No blower or other speed-shop tweaks come standard with the production Foose Stallion Mustangs; the partnership between Sir Chip and the hammerheads at Unique Performance comprises mainly body cosmetics, wheels and brakes. The latter tweak involves adding Baer two-pot calipers in the front and cross-drilled “Decelarotors” at all four corners, which add bite to the anemic stoppers on the Mustang GT donor cars. Body mods include reshaped hood and side moldings, revised grille, new fascia, custom side marker lights and side scoops, along with custom graphics and DuPont Hot Hues paint. A performance exhaust comes special delivery from Ford Racing Performance. Options include two-tone paint, racing stripes, chrome wheels and a “power pack” from Ford Racing that includes cold air induction and ECM recalibrated for premium fuel for an estimated 335 hp. No word on price, but AutoWeek once predicted the cars would go for around $40,000 each, with a production capacity of up to 3,000. With such mass merchandising becoming the norm for ol’ Chip, can “Fooseical the Musical” be far behind? [Gallery]

Related:
More On the Foose Stallion Mustang [internal]