SEMA Preview: 2009 Dodge Ram TRXtreme

Playing up the off-road capabilities of the 2009 Ram with the TRX package, the Mopar Underground Design Team is readying an upgraded version of Dodge's full-size pickup truck for the SEMA Show. The Ram TRXtreme gains an extra 4.5-inches of ground clearance allowing the use of 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in chunky BFG 37X12.50's. -Continued

The modified pickup truck also gets a two-tone paint job that incorporates a mud splash theme, a Mopar tuned dual exhaust system, tube steps, telescoping mirrors, a bed accessory system, a neat one-off steel hood with cooling louvers and larger grille. Changes in the interior include a Mopar navigation system, DVD headrests and Mopar leather seats by Katzkin.

Honda Moves V6 Accords to Alabama, Increases Production of 4-Cylinder Versions

As North American consumers rapidly change their tastes moving towards passenger cars with smaller displacement and more fuel efficient engines, automakers are forced to alter their plans shifting production to help keep factories busy. Honda on its behalf announced that it will move the majority of V6 Accord production to Lincoln, Alabama from Marysville, Ohio by mid-2009 and trim scheduled output of Odyssey minivans and Pilot sport-utility vehicles in Lincoln by an additional 22,000 units. -Continued

Simultaneously, Honda's Marysville plant will boost output of four-cylinder Accords in mid-2009 thus decreasing imports of Accord to the U.S. In an earlier announcement, the Japanese automaker had revealed that production of the Honda Ridgeline pickup will be moved from Canada to Alabama in early 2009.

"We are leveraging our flexible manufacturing network to meet the needs of our customers for more fuel-efficient products," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co.. "We will continue to guide our business based on strategic and careful management tied to our core values," he added.

Ford's 21st Century Model-T Contest Winners Announced

In celebration of the Model T's 100th anniversary, Ford challenged students at six universities from around the world to create a modern day Tin Lizzie that is simple, lightweight, practical and priced below $7,000. The winners of the competition were the student teams from Aachen University in Cologne, Germany and Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, which each earned their schools $25,000 in scholarship funds. -Continued

The other universities that participated in the four-month competition were Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, Calif.; Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Mich.; University of Michigan-Dearborn, and West Philadelphia High School, Philadelphia, Pa.

The students from Germany's Aachen University created the “2015 Ford Model T” concept made of a basic structure that would be available in various derivatives including a compact pick-up, a sedan, and a mini city car. The students supported that the vehicle’s steel body was designed in a simple way and as a result, most of the car could be built using standard tools.

Australia's Deakin University students created a more impressive-looking three-wheel concept car code named Model T2 that featured a novel steering system and compressed air rotary hub motors.

Dodge Challenger Targa with 540HP Heads for SEMA Show

Among the many 2008 Dodge Challengers (see the Super Challenger and Cuda here) that will make their way to next month's SEMA Show in Las Vegas is the 'snakeskin green' Challenger Targa, a full-blown competition car that raced and completed the notorious Targa Newfoundland race this year. The vehicle that started out as a Mopar Challenger drag race package car is equipped with 540HP, 490 lb. ft. of torque, 392 HEMI V8 Mopar crate motor mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox. -Continued

Other mechanical upgrades include the KW race suspension and Stop-Tech brakes with six-piston calipers and 380-millimetre rotors up front and four-pot calipers with 355-mm rotors at the rear that came straight from the barely street-legal Dodge Viper ACR. According to the Chrysler folks, with only a few exceptions, the Dodge Challenger Targa was built using parts exclusively available through its Mopar division.

Indian Firm Confirms Talks with Chrysler for Outsourcing SUV Production

In a few years time, your "All-American Jeep" maybe manufactured in India if Chrysler LLC gets its way and finishes a deal with Indian contract auto manufacturing firm, Argentum Motors. But unlike this past weekend's reports about a possible merger between Chrysler LLC and GM that were never actually ratified (see details here), this story has been officially confirmed by the head of corporate communications for Argentum Motors, Colonel Bhagwati Prasad Suman. -Continued

Suman told Just-Auto that Argentum Motors is currently in negotiations with the Chrysler Group about an outsourced manufacturing deal adding that the Indian firm is busy retooling its plant to assemble larger vehicles.

"Right now the work is going on to augment the assembly lines which were made to manufacture small cars," said Suman. "Soon they would be big enough to handle an SUV. Any foreign car company would save at least 15% in the production cost if we manufacture their vehicles. Early birds would have the best deal as we are ready to work on a cost-to-cost basis," he added.

Chrysler has yet to issue a statement on the matter.

Via: Just-Auto (sub. Req.)

New Nissan 370Z: First Photos to be Revealed on October 29

The countdown for the revelation of the much hyped Z car has begun. According to the folks over at Edmunds' Insideline who were invited by Nissan to take a "fair-play" sneak-peek at the all-new 370Z sports coupe, we won't have to wait until the Los Angeles Auto Show opening on November 21 to get our first glimpse of the 350Z's successor as the Japanese automaker will release official photos on October 29 followed by technical information on November 11.

The guys at Insideline who in their own words, "were allowed to look - as long as they didn't look too closely", not only managed to take a bunch of pictures of a lightly camouflaged 370Z (in and out) but they also got behind the wheel of one of the final stage prototypes. Apparently Nissan's decision to offer them a pair of blinkers didn't quite work out...

Link: Edmunds

Suzuki offers GT Sport Package for Splash

Buyers of the Suzuki Splash in The Netherlands who are looking to spice up the appearance of the Japanese automaker's city car are now able to opt for a new GT styling package. It consists of two front bumper pieces, side skirts, door moldings, a roof spoiler, a faux diffuser for the rear bumper, wheel arch extensions and a panel over the rear license plate. All pieces of the styling kit are in matte black. The basic GT package costs €1,199. In addition, Suzuki also offers a set of lightweight 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 195/50 R16 Yokohama tires priced at €1,000. -Continued

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X GSR Premium Edition Introduced in Japan

Mitsubishi has refreshed its 2009 Lancer Evolution X line-up with the introduction of a new top-of-the-line GSR Premium edition that sits above the RS and GSR models. No different mechanically from the other EVO Xs, the Premium edition is distinguished on the outside by the 18-inch BBS alloy wheels, the front fog lights and the body colored hood and fender scoops while it also features a set of Bilstein shocks. -Continued

Inside the GSR Premium gets Recaro leather bucket seats, a satellite navigation system, side and curtain airbags as well as a Rockford Fosgate audio system with nine-speakers. For the 2009MY, the Japanese-market Lancer EVO X range also benefits from minor revisions to the instrument panel and a new floor console.

Prices for the 009 Mitsubishi Lancer EXO X GSR Premium edition are set in Japan at 4,798,500 Yen ($48,250 US) for the version equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox 5,050,000 Yen ($50,785 US) for the Twin Clutch-SST model.

Lancer EVO X GSR Premium Edition

Lancer EVO X GSR

Lancer EVO X RS

SEMA Preview: Super Challenger and Super Cuda with up to 900HP

This year's SEMA Show will see MOPAR tuner Mr.Norm debut a pair of highly modified 2008 Dodge Challengers called Super Challenger and Super Cuda. Both show cars are based on the Challenger SRT8 and sport a 900HP Kenne Bell supercharged and intercooled 6.1 Hemi V8 engine. Buyers will be able to choose among various performance packages that start from 600HP. Other mechanical improvements include the updated suspension and brake components. -Continued

The styling difference between the two modified Challengers concern the Super Cuda's modern interpretation of the classic 1970s Cuda grille and tail panel. Both Challengers are offered with a styling kit that consists of a front and rear spoiler, hood scoop, contrasting decals, newloy styled alloy wheels and in the case of the Super Challenger, side scoops. Inside, Mr Norm offers a variety of accessories such as a Hurst shifter, special carpet mats and a custom leather interior.

Via: Jalopnik

2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Pricing Announced

Even though the new 370Z Coupe will be introduced at next month's LA Auto Show with sales scheduled to begin early next year, the roadster version of the current 350Z will continue to be available for an undetermined period of time. The only noteworthy change for the 2009MY 350Z Roadster concerns the addition of a new Moonlight White exterior color. The 2009 model is offered in three trims, Enthusiast, Touring and Grand Touring with prices set at $36,870, $39,220 and $41,570 respectively for models equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox. -Continued

If you happen to prefer an auto box, in which case we'd advise you to look for a less sporty vehicle but if you insist, Nissan charges an extra $1,000 for the 5-speed automatic transmission.

GM's Financial Arm GMAC Tightens New Car Loans

Adding to the gloomy economic atmosphere, GMAC, General Motors' consumer financial arm announced on Monday that is implementing a tighter policy for auto loans. The changes include limiting purchases to vehicle buyers with a credit score of 700 or above while the company will also restrict contracts with higher advance rates and longer terms. GMAC officials attributed the more conservative purchase policy for consumer auto loans to the lack of stability in the global capital and credit markets. -Continued

"These changes in pricing and underwriting are related to the current market environment, which has reduced access to funds and increased the cost of funds. The company currently expects these actions to remain in place until the credit markets stabilize and accessibility improves," said GMAC in an official statement.

Notably, last week GMAC also raised by 0.75 percentage points the rate it charges dealers for providing loans to consumers for vehicles that aren't part of any special incentive programs.

Maserati MC12 Sets New Nurburgring Lap Record at 7:24.29

Continuing the never-ending 'I'm faster than you' game, Maserati has announced that its Ferrari Enzo-derived MC12 supercar has set a new production car record on the Nurburgring race track as it managed to lap the 12.8 mile long circuit in just 7:24.29.

What's more intriguing however is the fact that the Maserati MC12 belongs to one lucky son of a gun who also owns -get this- a Ferrari Enzo, a Koenigsegg CCX, a Pagani Zonda F Clubsport and a Porsche Carrera GT. The unnamed owner brought all five supercars to the 'Ring to have them tested by American Le Mans Series racer Marc Basseng while EVO magazine was on hand to record the results. -Continued

Despite being the most powerful supercar of the bunch, the 901HP Koenigsegg CCX finished last in this high-end comparo completing a full lap in 7:33.6. Next up was the Porsche Carrera GT, with the lap in 7:28.71 while third quickest was the Enzo Ferrari, with an impressive 7:25.21. The Pagani Zonda F Roadster finished second with a lap time of just 7:24.65.

Just to set things straight, we must note that the brutal 2009 Dodge Viper ACR holds the unofficial production car record on the famed German race track as according to Motortrend, on August 18, 2008, FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) driver Tom Coronel managed to turn the ‘Ring in his fourth attempt in a remarkable 7:22.10 -see details here. Oddly enough, Dodge has yet to release an official statement on the Viper ACR's awesome accomplishment.