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New Bumblebee Camaro For 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' Unveiled at Chicago Auto Show

GM rolled out its new Autobots for ‘Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen” this morning at the Chicago Auto Show, including their new yellow Camaro whose redesign will play a key roll in the story for the new film. Following the events of Michael Bay’s first “Transformers” movie, the Camaro-shaped Autobot Bumblee will be rebuilt in the form of GM’s latest design .
“The actual Autobot is from the first one,” GM Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn told MTV News. “The car that’s on display is the new car for the sequel.”
The design chief, who worked closely with Bay, described how the design updates were worked into the film’s story. “Bumblebee was injured in the first movie,” he said. “When it comes back in the new movie, it’s bulked up; it’s stronger.”
Wellburn oversaw those changes in his role at GM. And his team kept the design close to what “Revenge of the Fallen” demanded for the retooled Autobot.
“The hood is a more powerful hood design,” Welburn explained. “We wanted to make sure that it was clearly linked to the original car—same color, same graphics. We toyed, ‘Well maybe it should be a convertible.’ But no, this is about Bumblebee who has been rebuilt and is back stronger than ever.”
Pointing out the structural adjustments that took place, he explained the cosmetic changes that resulted.
“The front end’s a bit different,” he pointed out. “You can see the aggressive vertical air intakes that are below the headlamps. It’s a different wheel design.”
Asked if GM had Bumblee’s injury in “Transformers” on their minds when the Camaro’s redesign began, Wellburn said no.
“We didn’t,” he said. “But our guys always have great ideas for how to bulk up a Camaro. We had a number of different approaches that we could take.”
As for what Bumblebee will look like on the big screen, Welburn has yet to see extended footage, but GM has a clip of their cars in action ready to premier today.
“You may see it in a few minutes,” Welburn added. In the meantime, he’s still gleaming about a smaller Hasbro-produced version of his Camaro-turned-Autobot, which sits on his desk back in Michigan.

Heico Sportiv to Show Tuned 2011 Volvo C70 in Geneva

For the first time ever, Heico Sportiv will have a place at Volvo's stand at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, where the German tuning company will reveal a new range of styling and performance accessories for the recently facelifted 2011 C70 coupe-convertible.
The Volvo specialist from Germany has prepared several goodies for the most recent version of the C70 including a new front apron, rear diffuser, sport exhaust system with unique tail pipes, lightweight alloy wheels in sizes up to 20'', a sport suspension system that lowers the ride height by 30mm and a bevy of interior upgrades such as custom decorative and leather trims.

SEMA Show: Volvo S80 350Hp Bioethanol Concept

From Frankfurt to Las Vegas; in a fortnight from today, Volvo will travel half the way around the world to present a concept version of its S80 sedan, at the Las Vegas SEMA Show (Speciality Equipment Manufacturers Association). The S80 HP has been co-developed with German tuning and motor sport experts, Heico Sportiv. Apart from the aluminum paint job and the body/chassis mods, it’s most prominent feature is the modified 6cylinder turbocharged engine that can run on E85 (85% bioethanol, 15% petrol).
According to Volvo, the T6 engine produces around 350Hp at 5,500 rpm and 550 Nm or 406 lbs/ft of torque between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h will take around 5.8 sec

MG to Build First All-New Model in 15 Years at its UK Plant

MG Rover's old Longbridge car plant is set to comeback in a big way when SAIC / MG begins building its first all new car in 15 years at the end of the year. The plant will start producing the MG6 mid-size model from knocked-down kits imported from China, preceding the UK relaunch of MG as a "value brand" in 2011.
The all new car will be available initially as a five-door fastback, with a four-door saloon to follow later on. The automaker optimistically told the Financial Times that customer clinics have compared the MG6 with the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia and even with small BMWs. Prices in the UK are said to range between £16,000 to £20,000 (US$25,425 to US$31,780).
Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) bought the intellectual property rights to some of MG's cars and engines after the collapse of parent company MG Rover in 2005. Meanwhile, Nanjing Automobile bought much of the production equipment back in 2007.
The latter's 2007 estimate of selling 50,000 cars a year appears to have been rather optimistic, with actual sales being more of the order of, "hundreds, not thousands". The two companies are now merged under the SAIC name.
MG's Birmingham office employs some 300 engineers and 30 design staff, who provide design and engineering services to parent SAIC. MG Birmingham has previously contributed its extensive knowhow to the development of the Roewe 550 and 350 sedans and the MG Zero concept car that was shown at the Beijing Auto Show earlier this year.
Chinese automakers have had no success exporting cars to Western Europe and the United States in the past. MG Birmingham's input is especially important for SAIC, with the Chinese still struggling to make large cars that are competitive with the Europeans. David Lindley, Head of SAIC's Technical Centre explains:
"There's still a lack of capability in Shanghai, and probably will be for years, to design a new vehicle from a clean sheet of paper."
The success of the MG6 is essential for the future of Longbridge and for MG's European operations. At present, Longbridge only builds small numbers of the outdated MG TF roadster.
Only time will tell if MG can buck the trend and recapture the hearts and minds of British consumers. The MG6 will hopefully be the first step in this difficult process.

Anderson Germany's Lamborghini Gallardo White Edition with 600HP

Anderson Germany’s latest creation, the Lamborghini Gallardo White Edition, is, well, white. What we're trying to say is that the discrete exterior modifications implemented by the Düsseldorf-based tuner got lost in all that snowy paintjob. Otherwise, the 20-inch alloys with shiny black spokes do stand out and 600 ponies sound nice - just as long as you know how to control your hands and feet once you get behind the steering wheel.
According to the tuning firm, the exterior upgrades include tinted windows and tail-lights, carbon trim and a wide bodykit. The latter is comprised of a new front apron, lowered side skirts, diffuser and rear spoiler. There are also LED lights on the sides of the Gallardo and red brake calipers, which may have looked better in white.
The cabin is generously clad in -you guessed it- white carbon trim, while the seats boast a two-tone finish, achieved by combining black Alcantara with white leather.
The engine has been fitted with sport air filter and exhaust system and, after some software optimization, it’s capable of delivering 600 hp, or 40 more ponies than the stock 5.2-liter V10. A sport suspension completes the tuning package.
The Lamborghini Gallardo White Edition is available for purchase, but Anderson didn’t release any information on pricing.

China's SAIC Considering Buying Stake in General Motors

Industry insiders are reporting that China's SAIC has expressed interest in buying a stake of General Motors come its public offering in November, though it has yet to make a solid commitment. GM has declined to comment on the matter.
The U.S. government is eager to unload its 61% stake in GM after taxpayers bailed out / loaned the iconic automaker to the tune of US$50 billion. This comes despite the political ramifications of selling part of the brand to foreign investors or sovereign-wealth funds.
The government has rejected suggestions that the IPO should be limited to domestic investors, however the Treasury has state that no single investor or investor group would receive, "a disproportionate share or unusual treatment."
The Initial Public Offering (IPO) of GM shares will include those held by the U.S. Treasury, a union-managed retiree trust and the Canadian government. The government's plan is to offload their stake in GM in one month, though GM CEO Dan Akerson believes it could in fact take years. The Treasury will wait until after the November midterms in order to keep politics out of the float.
SAIC's bid is not that farfetched, either. Insiders note that SAIC has been building cars with GM in China since the 1990, with its home market a key source of strength for GM. Year-to-date sales were up 19% in August, for instance, even though the U.S. and Europe are still struggling

.Mild Updates for 2012 BMW 1-Series Coupe and Convertible

The recent presentation of the range-topping BMW 1-Series M Coupe has been followed up by the unveiling of the regular 2012 model year 1-Series Coupe and Convertible models. There are no mechanical changes for the updated models (the 135i received the N55 twin-scroll turbo engine in Spring 2010), with BMW turning its attention on some subtle design modifications and improved aerodynamics, as well as on refinements to various controls plus new exterior paint colors, upholstery and interior trim.
New exterior design accents are limited to the reworked headlights and rear lights with LED strips, fresh styles for the 17-inch alloy and 18-inch alloy wheels and the addition of two new paint finishes, Vermilion Red and Marrakesh Brown.
BMW's designers also re-sized the vertical ventilation slits in the front apron to channel air into the wheel arches and create what they describe as an “air curtain” or aerodynamic screening effect across the face of the front wheels. The Bavarian firm claims that the change significantly reduces drag in this area.

Fiat's 500 gets a few but All-Important Tweaks for the American market - Including... Mega Size Cupholders

Auto fans in America have been watching the arrival of the Fiat 500 with a wary eye, unsure of whether or not the adorable city car will be the vehicle to return affordable Italian automobiles to the American market. Finally, the changes deemed necessary for American consumer appeal have been made, and the list isn't exactly surprising.
In order to meet Mini-esque cute-luxury requirements, the car will get a slightly softer ride, stronger engine, and a revised center console to fit 'Murrican cup-holders for those 64-oz. jugs o'cola from KFC. A new set of bumpers and body cladding is also on the menu.
The engine is essentially the same 1.4-liter 4-cylinder found in Europe, equipped with Fiat's MultiAir tech to make it meaner and cleaner. It will be matched to either a new six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission
The car will be built at Fiat's plant in Toluca, Mexico, so I wouldn't advise heading down to the factory to pick it up without a Kevlar vest and armed security detail. Expect to see the US-spec Fiat 500 (doesn't that sound weird?) on dealer lots in December, with official numbers showing up later this week from Los Angeles.

Automotive Flops: Renault’s Quirky 2001 Avantime Coupe-MPV

The automotive industry has seen many flops during its century-long existence, most of them due to poor thinking and execution. Every once in a while, though, some truly innovative vehicles receive the axe simply because they were ahead of their time.
Renault’s Avantime is one such an example. Built in cooperation with Matra, the coupe-MPV was unlike anything else on the road when it was launched in 2001. Unfortunately, buyers weren’t ready to embrace such a radical vehicle. Ironically, a decade later, oddities like the BMW X6 and Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet are on the verge of becoming trendsetters.
The Avantime’s history dates back to the early 1990s, when Philippe Guédon, head of automotive division at Matra, noted an important change in the customer base of the Espace.
He believed that children of Espace owners remained loyal to the brand even after they grew up, but also wanted Renault to give them something new, with a stronger focus on driving pleasure. This how the CoupéSpace concept came to be, a design study that offered the van’s versatility, clad in a 2+2 coupe body.
A partnership between Renault and Matra was signed in 1998 and the Avantime name was adopted. The chassis came from the Matra-built Espace III, while design guru Patrick Le Quément was responsible for the body and interior.
The key word for the coupe-MPV was innovation. In hindsight, this was an understatement, as the French maker boldly went where no one has gone before. The name, which sounds like “ahead of time”, wasn’t just a cheap pun.
The Avantime featured a “one-box” setup, typical for an MPV, but eliminated the B-pillars to obtain the desired coupe look and had two enormous doors, for easy access. Much of the body was built using galvanized steel and polyester panels, while the upper structure was made from exposed aluminum. This lowered the center of gravity and improved rigidity, allowing engineers to fit the Avantime with a large sunroof.
Despite the very long doors, the Avantime could use a normal parking space without any trouble. It had a never before seen double parallel-opening system (dubbed “double-kinematic”), which minimized outswing.
Inside, the second row of seats was positioned higher, giving passengers a theater-like experience. The panoramic roof improved the sensation of space and, at a push of a button, it could be opened, together with all windows, for an “open air” mode.
The cabin featured four individual seats with incorporated seatbelts and clad in upscale leather. The interior design was minimalistic, but the materials and build quality was above average for the time.
Upon sale, the Avantime boasted a 3.0-liter V6 petrol engine, delivering 207 hp. Just like today, the large displacement scared away most European buyers and the smaller 2.0-liter petrol and 2.2-liter diesel powerplants were offered too late. Thus, Renault was simply unable to avoid the disaster that was shaping up.
In 2003, only two years into its lifecycle and with just 8,557 units sold, the futuristic Avantime was discontinued, in what was to become one of the biggest flops that the French maker had to endure.
However, the Avantime was not a bad car and it’s a prized item among collectors these days. A nice example sells for just £4,500 (€5,377 or US $7,127 at today’s exchange rates) on eBay UK, which is pocket change for such a unique car.

Your Taxpayer Dollars at Work: DARPA wants a Roadable Aircraft for the US Military

The roadable aircraft is nothing new. It’s essentially an airplane with folding wings and four wheels, allowing it to be driven like a car. It’s so old, in fact, that working examples have been in existence since 1949 in the form of the eponymous Aerocar. Which begs the question: why haven’t we tried to militarize these things? After all, we’ve successfully militarized the motorcycle, the automobile and the airplane.
As anything is possible when you have a defense budget that rivals the GDP of East Timor, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is providing Terrafugia, builders of the world’s only (in more than one sense of the word) working roadable aircraft with US$65 million of funding to build a four-seat roadable aircraft known as the Transformer / TX.
The Massachusetts based firm is teaming up with AAI, a U.S. DoD contractor and builder of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and its Textron subsidiaries to build the TX, which will have a proposed range of 280 miles on land and air, vertical take-off capability and automated flight controls for operation by non-pilots.
Strangely enough, it sounds to me like the same thing Paul Moller has been working on for the last forty years in the form of his M400 Skycar. Somebody ought to give that man a DoD contract just for trying.
The three phase program expects to produce a working prototype as early as Q1 2015, with the TX being pressed into medivac, remote resupply and Special Forces insertion roles sometime after that (you know, if it doesn’t all fall by the wayside *cough* *cough* X-33 *cough*). Though it has to be said: what part of this can’t be achieved with a Bell UH-60 helicopter and a HumVee?
Terrafugia CEO Carl Dietrich is, as one would expect, very excited about the project:
"This DARPA program effectively leverages Terrafugia's core competencies and enables us to grow from a pure [General Aviation] company to an emerging aerospace company with both general aviation and defense development programs. Our strong team of Terrafugia engineers with recent experience designing and building a dual purpose vehicle will bring a unique perspective to the TX program that is highly valued by DARPA and the other contractors on our TX team."
But don’t think that all this talk about militarization will dissolve the dream of the roadable aircraft for John Q. Public; Terrafugia is still committed to producing its Transition Light Sport Aircraft with an expected launch after Q3 2011.

Subaru Issues Another Recall for 2010 Legacy Sedan and Outback Models

Many owners of the 2010 Subaru Legacy sedan and Outback will soon receive a second recall notification for their cars in a period of a little over two months. In May, the Japanese company recalled both models over a problem with the continuously variable transmission (CVT). This latest recall concerns a "defect in the steering roll connector".
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that Subaru has yet to release full details on the matter. However, it appears that the problem is either identical or similar to the one that recently led Subaru Australia issue a recall on the domestic market versions of the Legacy (Liberty) and Outback. We'll update this story as soon as we have more info.

Hyundai Attaches Price Tag to New ix20 MPV in the UK

Hyundai's all-new ix20 will carry a starting price of £11,595 when it goes on sale in the UK on November 18. The South Korean firm's small MPV, which made its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show earlier this month, will be available with three drivetrain options and three trim levels (Classic, Active and Style.
The engine range includes two petrols, a 90HP 1.4-liter linked to a manual gearbox and a 125HP 1.6-liter hooked up to an automatic transmission, and a 1.4-liter diesel with 90HP.
The entry-level Classic includes a height adjustable driver's seat, ESP, air conditioning, six airbags, active head restraints, radio/CD audio system with six speakers, plus CD, MP3, RDS and USB-/AUX-/iPOD-input capabilities. Prices for the Classic models start at £11,595 for the 1.4L petrol and £12,995 for the 1.4L diesel.
The mid-range Active adds 16-inch alloy wheels, body colored door handles and mirrors (electrically adjustable and heated), reversing sensors, Bluetooth phone connectivity, electric rear windows and audio controls on the leather-trimmed steering wheel
The Active costs £1,100 more than the Classic, starting at £12,695 for the 1.4-litre petrol, £14,095 for the diesel and £14,095 for the 1.6-litre petrol auto.
Finally, moving up to the range-topping Style specification adds a dual-panel panoramic glass sunroof with UV filter, front fog lights and door mirrors that fold electrically and are fitted with integrated side repeater indicators.
The Style range starts at £13,695 for the 1.4-litre petrol, £15,095 for the diesel and £15,095 for the 1.6-litre petrol auto.

Fiat Takes TV Show to Court for Defamatory Statements on Alfa Romeo MiTo

The Fiat Group has decided to take legal actions against the producers of the AnnoZero television show, which is hosted on the Italian state owned public service broadcaster, RAI, for statements made on an episode that aired on December 2.
The company alleges that the show's hosts made comments that were "highly defamatory and damaging to the image and reputation of the company, its products and its employees and based on a fabricated comparison."
Always according to the Turin-based automaker, the broadcasters referred to an article from Italian car magazine Quattroruote, which compared the Alfa Romeo MiTo QV with the Citroën DS3 THP and Mini Cooper S, to state that the MiTo was "technically inferior".
Fiat claims that not only was the magazine's overall evaluation in favor of the Alfa Romeo, but the producers mislead viewers by connecting their assumptions to an earlier test with different vehicles - or so we understood from the slightly confusing press release, which you can read for yourselves below.
Since we haven't seen the TV show, we can't take sides or form an opinion on the matter, but something tells us that Fiat would have accomplished much more if it had issued a simple statement leaving the lawyers out of this.

AC Schnitzer Turns All-Electric MINI E into a Police Car

In support of the German Automobile Tuner Association’s “Tune it! Safe!” campaign, AC Schnitzer built the MINI E Police Look Concept, which is being showcased at the 2010 Essen Motor Show. The idea behind the campaign is to create a car that can satisfy tuning aficionados and also meet safety standards.
The BMW Group's MINI E is powered by an electric motor with 204 hp on tap and plenty of low-down torque (maximum is 220 Nm or 162 lb-ft). It completes the standard sprint from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds and has a limited top speed of 152 km/h (95 mph).
AC Schnitzer’s comprehensive tuning package made it even better while the police livery is an interesting take on the “safety” theme.
Finished in the classic Polizei colors, the concept has the latest signaling system from Hella mounted on the roof and special wraps from Foliatec. Modified front and rear bumpers, plus lowered side skirts, improve the car's looks, while bonnet vents and a large roof spoiler complete the bodykit.
The tuner opted for new alloys, too. The 18-inch MI 2 wheels feature an 8-spoke design and are wrapped in high-performance Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tires. Stopping power is provided by an upgraded brake system, boasting 328mm 4-pot caliper (in front) ventilated disks. There is also a complete suspension kit.
Inside, the boys in blue are greeted by aluminum pedals, footrest and handbrake handle.
AC Schnitzer says that most of the tuning accessories shown on the concept model are either already available or will soon be offered for the production MINIs.

Alfa Romeo Sale to VW Rumors Surface Again

Back in April, the Fiat Group announced yet another round of plans to revive its money-losing Alfa Romeo brand, which included the development of new models and a re-launch in the U.S market. At that time, this seemed possible as the Italian maker intended to make good use of Chrysler and its RWD platforms to expand the model range.
However, at the end of August, Alfa Romeo was rumored to be hemorrhaging about €200 million (US $261 million) annually. The brand-hungry Germans over at Volkswagen felt Fiat's need and offered to take over the historic Milanese company. After much unrest, in October, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne put an end to the rumors and reiterated his turnaround strategy, while Alfa estimated losses climbed to €306 million or about $400 million.
Now, Automotive News [AN] claims that in the past months the two companies have been discussing the sale of Alfa Romeo, but Marchionne is still undecided. So, what will happen next?