Saab boss Victor Muller: BMW would make “wonderful partner” for chassis development

When we think of the most capable sporting chassis manufacturers in the auto industry, BMW sits near the top of the list. So it makes sense that Saab would be interested in forming a partnership with the German automaker to produce a front-wheel drive platform for the 9-2 supermini.

Saab boss Victor Muller told Reuters it was searching for a partner to provide hardware, adding that he can’t say which automaker he’d prefer to work with. Having said that, Muller added “BMW would make a wonderful partner.” And Muller would know a thing or two about partnering with the boys and girls at the Bavarian Motor Werks since the two automakers just consummated a tie-up on engine development.

At this point we don’t know for sure whether the 9-2 will ever see the light of day. But if the supermini does materialize it makes quite a bit of sense to us that a BMW chassis will accompany it’s powertrain. If we’re lucky the 9-2 will look as good as the above concept.

eBay Find of the Day: 2000 Ford SVT Cobra R still in the wrapper

In the world of Hot Wheels collecting, there are two types of people: those who open and those who don’t. We tend to fall into the third, more populous category of those who demolition derby.

Clearly, we could never have demonstrated the kind of self-restraint it takes to purchase a brand-new 2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra R and leave it in its original factory wrapping. Fortunately, there are people out there like the seller of this particular machine. According to the eBay Motors listing, there are a mere 11 miles on the odometer, and the plastic you see on the hood and fenders is the same garb that the meanMustang wore off the production line.

Even the front splitter and brake cooling ducts are in their original bubble wrap in the trunk, and the interior is swaddled in plenty of FoMoCo plastic. That means that this pony is as close to a factory-new Cobra R that you could possibly buy today.

Ford famously minted a mere 300 examples of the Cobra R in 2000. The cars were bare bones, street-legal racers, and while the 5.4-liter V8 under the hood was supposed to churn out 385 ponies, owners typically found the engine to return those numbers at the wheels, not the crank. When launched, Motor Trend found the car capable of 0-60 mph runs in the 4.4 second range and a skid pad effort of over 1.0 g.

So, what’s it worth? Hard to say, but the auction has a Buy it Now price of $70,000, though the seller is also entertaining offers.

Source:Autoblog

Marchionne confirms 7-seat Jeep Grand Wagoneer in 2013

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler, has reportedly just announced his plans to bring an old American nameplate back to life. According to Automotive News, in two years time, Jeep will roll out a seven-seat SUV and its badge will read: Grand Wagoneer. According to Marchionne, it will be an upscale, seven-seat sport utility vehicle built on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango.

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is slated to make its first appearance in January 2013, though whether that will be in conceptual or production form, we’re not yet sure.

Lexus bombards SEMA with six custom hybrids, one giant wing

Lexus is descending on Las Vegas with a host of custom-built show cars just for SEMA. A total of six models will be on hand for the aftermarket shindig, including an F Sport version of the all-new CT200h. The hybrid rolls on 18×8-inch wheels and sports a high-performance big-brake kit straight from the company’s go-fast catalog.

But the CT200h isn’t the only hybrid Lexus will be bringing to the party. In fact, all of the customized rides that the company plans to display rock a battery pack and an electric motor. VIP Auto Salon worked up anHS250h with custom wheel, exhaust and interior work as well as a trick LS600h L, and 0-60 Magazine spun a few wrenches on a GS450h. That particular sedan rocks one of the wildest carbon-fiber body kits we’ve ever laid eyes on, as you can see above.

Meanwhile, Lexus set Fox Marketing loose on another LS600h L, resulting in a slightly more subdued vehicle with custom paint and a unique bumper. Finally, Paul Tolson of EST will be bringing along an RX450h with a full wide-body treatment. Hit the jump for the full press release and check out all the vehicles in high-res glory below.

Mooted Cadillac flagship could be mid-engined sports car

Car and Driver is reporting that the often-reported Cadillac flagship is at a crossroads. There have been many rumors that the planned range-topper will wind up as a rear-wheel drive, high-end luxury sedan slotting above the production version of the XTS Platinum (the concept version of which is shown above). Now C/D has apparently been hearing whispers that it may in fact show up as a mid-engined sports car.

While the thought of a luxurious, mid-engined ZR1 sounds appealing, we’ll file this in the don’t-hold-your-breath category. Although, if the company is brassy enough to build the ultra low-volume CTS-V Sport Wagon, then perhaps anything is possible.

Xenatec Maybach Cruiserio coupe enters production with Saudi investment

Want to get your hands on a Maybach coupe? You’ve got two options. First would be to commission a replica of the Exelero concept car on the chassis of a Dodge Viper. That’ll set you back €550,000, or about $730k at today’s conversion rates. Your other choice is to have Xenatec convert a Maybach 57 S limo into a coupe for €675,000 ($894k).

We brought you initial news of the project back in May, followed by details in October. For a quick refresher, the German coachbuilder brought in Fredrik Burchhardt, designer of the original Exelero, to pen the modified shape for the coupe. The result keeps most of the saloon’s mechanicals in place – including the 600+ horsepower twin-turbo V12 – only with modified bodywork, cabin and (of course) two longer doors instead of four.

Seen until now only in sketches, the Xenatec Maybach coupe has been (awkwardly) dubbed the Cruiserio, and it has just made its debut at Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart. The project is now being underwritten by a €70 million ($93M) investment from AutoKingdom of Saudi Arabia. Over the course of three years, Xenatec and AutoKingdom ambitiously anticipate building 100 examples, and say they’ve already got enough orders to keep them busy for the next year or so. Can’t wait that long? The first example is up for sale out of Riyadh, with a price tag of just under a cool million.

Chevrolet Volt, Ford Explorer named Detroit Free Press Car and Truck of the Year

As more and more Car and Truck of the Year awards pour in from a variety of major publications, it’s no shock that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt continues to take home top honors as the best car of 2011. Both Motor Trend and Automobile have deemed the Volt their Car of the Year, and General Motors’ high-profile EV is even a finalist for the prestigious North American Car of the Year award. (Our readers, however, would apparently rather see that honor go to the 2011 Hyundai Sonata). Thus, it’s no surprise that the Volt was just named Car of the Year by The Detroit Free Press.

Similarly, the 2011 Ford Explorer is in the running for North American Truck of the Year, and the Detroit Free Press is honoring it as the best ‘truck’ of 2011. Freep auto critic Mark Phelan states that in the road ahead, automakers must choose the “right shade of green” for each type of vehicle. Phelan explains:

“The Volt allows most owners to go weeks or months without stopping at a gas pump. The Explorer recasts America’s best-selling SUV in a fuel-efficient new form based on the same chassis as the Ford Taurus large sedan.”

Going Back to the Future in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

No matter how happy our childhoods were, most of us have ended up with at least a few regrets that stick out in our mind. For whatever reason, random happenings tend to stick out as pivotal events in our life’s chronology. Swinging at that ninth inning pitch in the dirt in little league. Not having the nerve to ask Suzy Creamcheese to prom. Being the last to the party with the Flock of Seagulls haircut. 

Sometimes, things that shouldn’t be significant at all become just that – lodging in our cranial craws like grains of sand in an oyster. All of which explains how I came to find myself sheepishly appealing to the Mercedes-Benz PR team for an SLS AMG to drive to the 25th Anniversary showing of Back to the Future.

Chevrolet Cruze hatchback design submitted for trademark

Most cars never look quite as cool as their conceptual and pre-production versions, and it would appear that the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback will be no exception. Carscoop was able to get its hands on design drawings of the car used for trademark filings with the European patent office.

The good news is that the Cruze hatchback manages to stay fairly faithful to the version shown off at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The predictable bad news is that the front fascia looks less aggressive and ditches the LED light strips for standard fog lamps. What’s more, the wheels will be smaller than the oversized auto show setup seen in Paris, and the rear taillamps will most likely be toned down a notch. The design and the show car are actually very similar looking. However, you can’t have the sweet without the sour, so the really bad news is that the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback has not been greenlit for U.S. roads.