Tunage: Edo Shark 911 Turbo

Not long ago Edo unveiled its 996 Turbo conversion kit. A couple of months later, and they've realized that that was so ... 996. Now it's time for their 997 Turbo package, called simply, "Shark." Horsepower goes from 480 to 550, and torque gets twisted up to 460 lb-ft to 583. Top speed is claimed to be around 210 mph. Outside, the package is rather understated, but of course we're talking about a car that looks half aftermarket when it leaves the factory. An altered front valance and front lip, a revised rear spoiler, and quad pipes are about it. If you don't include "edo competition" written on the sides, that is. We don't know how much the upgrade costs, but if you're spending what we're sure is "that kind of money," you could always get 20 more hp and 8 more lb-ft with Rinspeed's white Turbo number.

Audi RS6 making 561 HP

"Thanks God for traction control," was the first thought that ran through our minds when we came across the reported power figures of the new Audi RS6. Floating around the tubes of the Internets are the chassis codes for the new RS6, which look something like this: Audi AG 47 7967 21 AAJ N31 N30 579 426 5002. What does all that mean? Well, the 579 figure is the metric horsepower rating, which is equivalent to about 571 HP, while 426 refers to the kilowatts, and 5002 is a reference to the cubic centimeters of displacement.According to Auto Motor und Sport, purveyors of only the finest rumors, over 730 lb.-ft. of torque will be sent to all four wheels via a six-speed ZF automatic gearbox, with the possibility of a DSG transmission later on. In order to tame all those units of energy, carbon ceramic disks will be an option over the standard rotors – a good call if you ask us.Beyond the jaw-dropping potential of the 'standard' RS6, the German rag also reports that a 'Plus' version may become available with additional power – somewhere in the neighborhood of 620 to 625 HP – with the twin-turbo'd mill potentially finding a home within the RS R8.

Dodge Caliber SRT-4 finally coming this fall

It's taken about a year and a half to get the Dodge Caliber SRT-4 to market, but by September the newest and smallest SRT vehicle will be available for purchase. Chrysler's turbocharged 2.4-liter world engine will still boast a best-in-class 280 HP and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. All that power to the front wheels will be kept under control by an electronically-tuned brake lock differential that controls throttle, spark advance, and boost, while a Getrag six-speed manual transmission will round out the powertrain. To make sure the Caliber SRT-4 holds the same value quotient of the Neon SRT-4, Dodge is working hard to deliver a stripped-down model at just under $20,000.
When we heard that the Caliber would be FWD and have 300 HP, we were skeptical that such a light vehicle would be able to handle that much grunt being sent to the front wheels. 280 HP isn't a drastically lower number, but Dodge engineers are at least trying to keep the prodigious understeer in check. If Dodge can deliver a budget hot rod under $20,000 that boasts 280 useful horsepower and a road-holding suspension (plus those trick 19" SRT wheels), then the Mazdaspeed3 and VW R32 are going to be in for some stiff competition.

What an Abarth roadster might look like

The Abarth name was only retrieved from the dustbin of history a few months ago, and already Fiat is showing off funky concepts for it. Created by the European Institute of Design, sitting on a Fiat Panda platform, and powered by a 100 bhp 1.4-liter motor, the Abarth roadster could sell for £12,000 if it were ever produced. True, 100 bhp isn't much, but the roadster's weight wouldn't be much, either. The two-tone paint job and black hood would signify an SS edition, and a turbo could be fitted to the 1.4-liter for a 50 hp jump. Right now, though, there are no plans for such a car. For the time being there will be no dedicated Abarth model. The name will only be used for hotted-up versions of Fiat cars.

2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed: The Supercars

The Goodwood Festival of Speed has given us a great chance to see some supercars and exotics that haven't been very plentiful in the States. Several soon-to-be-released models or Euro-only offerings were in the supercar paddock, and most would later be seen making the run up the hill. Even the rain didn't seem to discourage them. A veritable who's who of the mega-exotics has made the run up the hill so far -- Caparo, Bugatti Veyron, Aston DBS, Lotus 2-Eleven, GB Roadster, SLR roadster, the one-off Ferrari 612 P4/5 (above), the Giugiaro Mustang, Audi R8, Lambo Superleggera, Roush 600 RE, Maserati Gran Turismo, Invicta S1, Marcos, Morgan, a Ferrari 599 and the 612 Police car, the Tesla Roadster, a Mosler, and many more. Around the grounds you can find additional cars that are on display only, like a couple of Zondas, a Koenigsegg, a Carrera GT, an F40, the Peugeot 908 RC concept, a Diablo GT, the SLK 63 AMG Black Series, an Alfa 8C, KTM's X-Bow, and others. Supercars are just about everywhere you go here at Goodwood. Click through for tons of high-res photos of some of them on display or in action.

Stolen T-Bird recovered after three decades

In 1976, the Palo Alto, California owner of a 1956 Ford Thunderbird had his car stolen from him. In an unwitting stroke of fortune, he still lives not far from where his baby was taken. This week, he got a call -- thirty-one years later -- that his 51-year-old car has been found in Southern California. Turns out a SoCal woman bought it from a seller in Ohio, but had to get help with the VIN number from the California Highway Patrol. When they ran the mismatching VIN numbers, they realized it was stolen, and then tracked down the records of the owner. Even better for the now-restored owner: the car is still in "cherry" condition, and has only 24,979 miles on it.

Badass, Optimized: Edo Competion's Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

The Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 is a rolling monument to automotive badassedness. It's as if the Italians captured the mojos of Darth Vader, John Shaft, Jules from Pulp Fiction, Chow Yun Fat, Snake Plissken, Lawrence Taylor, Boba Fett and Dirty Harry Callahan and somehow turned them into a car. Edo Competition found a way to make it better badder. Think of it as adding a little Lee Van Cleef to the mixture, coaxing out an additional 23 horses for a grand total of 663. Zero to 60 mph runs should should take 3.4 seconds or less, and the Lambo tops out at 216 mph. The boost comes as a result of a reprogrammed ECU, high-flow air filters, performance cats, a new muffler with a stainless tip, and an exhaust butterfly valve that can be controlled remotely by the driver. The Murci's menacing bodywork is left largely undisturbed, save for a new rear wing with an adjustable lip on its trailing edge. Perhaps the best modification is the simplest: a Calvin sticker, shown at right, that communicates how the car's owner feels about the raging bull's competition from Maranello. And you thought those things only came in Ford and Chevy versions...

Live from the Chrysler proving grounds: The Concepts

Every time there is a special "concept first drive" from one of the major automotive rags, the same rules seem to apply: you can't drive it past 25 or 30mph, none of the components are functional, etc. Well, that pretty much sums up what we encountered at Chrysler's proving grounds, where we hit the pavement with some of the Pentistar's best concept hardware. The concept vehicles were the Dodge Demon, the Jeep Trailhawk, Chrysler Nassau, the Jeep Wrangler Ultimate, a rally-prepped Caliber, and the souped-up SEMA Sebring.
The road course was flat and short with absolutely no hairpin turns, but the opportunity to drive a car that most will never get to experience is a rush in and of itself. Not surprisingly, we chose the Demon as our first test car, and it was quite a challenge to get from gear to gear with its strange and unpredictable slanted shifter. The sporty two-seater definitely looked the part of a cool roadster, though. The Nassau was probably the most fun vehicle to drive because it felt very production-ready. The interior was not very functional other than the funky push-button gear selector, but in the spirit of the concept it looked very cool.
We'll go over each of the concept vehicles in depth as soon as we can, so stay tuned to Autoblog for further updates on Chrysler's ride-and-drive event. Also, be sure to check out some of the high-resolution concept car photos we snapped from the event in the gallery below.

Best looking Ferrari Dino guess yet

You have Turkish designer Ugur Sahin to thank for the Ferrari Dino Concept you see above. Sahin has nothing to do with Ferrari, and the car above is sprung from his imagination ... but if the actual Dino unveiled in Frankfurt happened to look just like this, we wouldn't be at all disappointed. His goal was to update the Dino while keeping the rounded styling language of and trademark rear window of the original. From our view, it's mission accomplished. The most interesting thing about the concept is that Sahin is actually studying international hotel management -- he only designs on the side. May we suggest a change of major, Mr. Sahin?

Art Lebedev's Finger Folder flash drive

We know, either you're waiting impatiently for December to roll around or figuring out odd jobs to raise upwards of $1,500, but here's a gem from Art that'll take your mind off (momentarily, at least) that other creation. The Finger Folder flash drive describes itself fairly well without any help from us, as the brilliantly simplistic USB drive resides in a manila folder that you're free to label at will. Sure, you could get all fancy and buy a drive with a programmable BCD, but there's just something magical about doing things the old way.

The UUCTOP Xeno: embarrass yourself on the Internets

Got 10 grand and a burning desire for Internet fame? Then grab that lightsaber son and prepare to dance, Xeno is ready to make all your dreams come true. In addition to sportin' a fine Soviet-era name, the UUCTOP Xeno is a full production studio come broadcast server stuffed into a chubby laptop form factor. The device is apparently equipped with all the mixing and editing tools you'll need for its supported 4-channel video and 6-channel audio. Better yet, keep it real and just stream yourself live -- we won't laugh... promise.

Icon of design: A brief look back at the Studebaker Avanti

During a recent excursion back east, we had the opportunity to be in the presence of one of the most iconic automobile designs of the 20th century: the Studebaker Avanti. Worshiped by some and derided by others, Raymond Loewy's masterpiece was two-and-half steps beyond anything produced in the '60s. The coupe's name itself means "forward" or "advance" in Italian, and whether you're smitten by the Avanti's aerodynamic styling or its innovative approach to safety, there's a little something for any purebred pistonhead.
This particular 1964 supercharged R2 example currently resides outside Pittsburgh, PA, under the watchful gaze of its owner, John Kudravy, who is a family friend, architect, design snob and devout worshiper at the altar of power and poise. He's owned the Avanti for going on two decades and after showing it at several events across the U.S., it's likely to be the best-kept Avanti in North America.
For a brief rundown on the Avanti, you can check out Wikipedia's entry here, along with a bio of Raymond Loewy here. And be sure to check out our 40-image-strong gallery below.
A special thanks to John for his time, expertise and patience, along with his early contribution to our obsession with all-things automotive.

Ferrari breaks speed records ... on water

So the prancing horse is having a little trouble on the track, but its engines aren't having any problems at all on the water. Speedboat designer Eugenio Molinari, using a production engine from an F430, broke the running kilometer world records in two categories on Lake Como, Italy. At 1,100 kg, he ran the kilo at 123.3 km/h, and at 1,450 kg, he did 122 km/h. The feats were dedicated by Molinari to Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari CEO, and the marque during its 60th anniversary year. A bit of trivia: 35 years ago, Molinari designed the first boat to house a Lamborghini engine taken from an Espada.

Creative Zen Stone Plus lobbed at consumers

It was barely a month ago that Creative pelted the market with its Zen Stone, and now they're rolling out a re-upped and revamped version known as the Zen Stone Plus. While pretty much keeping the form factor the same, Creative has added a blue OLED screen, FM tuner, karaoke mode, and a stopwatch. The capacity has been increased to 2GB, doubling the original Stone's, but the color choices remain the same. Price and release date haven't been mentioned, but you'll know as soon as we do.

Smart-er parking enforcement in Toronto

In a pilot program to reduce its environmental (and physical) footprint on the streets of Toronto, the city's police department has added a quartet of new vehicles to its fleet. A pair of Honda Civic Hybrids are joined by a pair of smart fortwo diesels, which will be used for parking enforcement purposes in lieu of larger cars that drink more fuel and are more difficult to maneuver and park in the urban environment. The Toronto Police Services' smarts, as seen above, may well be the least intimidating police-liveried vehicles...ever. And that includes the Cushman golf carts NYPD uses (or used) in some situations.

YouTube hits Apple TV today, headed for the iPhone as well

The wait is over, and you can finally train that Apple Remote of yours on videos of passable karaoke, mind numbing video blog confessions and the genius that is Daxflame. That's right, YouTube is hitting the Apple TV today, an announcement that is totally overshadowed by a little surprise Apple packed into the press release: YouTube is the iPhone mystery app. Sure, it might not be GPS or anything useful like that, but Apple seems to be aware of our addiction and is happy to oblige. YouTube videos can be viewed through an Apple-built application on the phone, and will be encoded in H.264 by YouTube to improve video quality and battery life on mobile devices. They'll have 10,000 videos ready by June 29th, and should complete transcoding the collection by this fall. Videos can be viewed over WiFi or EDGE, we don't want to even imagine the painful load times of the latter.

Top 9 Emergency Service Vehicles from around the world

For would-be criminals, the police supercar is a bit of a paradox. Unless you have some serious get-away hardware, there is no freaking chance that you're going to outrun, say, a Lamborghini Gallardo "fuzz edition." On the Yang side, an officer would have to have some serious fortitude to cut you off or bump or your back end, and it's not likley he or she will haul you off to the slammer in a two-seater.
The folks over at Deputy Dog have compiled a list of their nine favorite emergency service vehicles, and we think they've done a bang up job. The Italians and Germans dominate this list, and with good reason. The two countries stamp some of the hottest metal on the world market, and it only makes sense that their police departments have a shot in hell of catching suspects with like power. One of our favorite models is the Porsche Cayenne ambulance. If you required emergency medical attention, wouldn't you want to get to the hospital as fast as possible. Check out the entire list of top emergency service vehicles by clicking the Read link. Just one question though, why the Top 9 instead of 10?

Volvo S80, Scion xB score 'good' on IIHS crash tests

"Good" is such a broad term. When we go looking at crash test data, "good" is not the word that grabs us by the earlobes and says "Hey! I'll save your tail!" "Good" indicates a level of competence perhaps elevated from average levels of acheivement, but the word doesn't connote stellar performance upon first glance. When you realize that "good" is where the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) ratings top out, the word has more gravity when shopping for a safe vehicle.
Today, the IIHS announced the two newest members of the "good" club. The Volvo S80, now in its second generation and based off the EUCD platform that will soon be ushering the P2's out the door entirely, has scored a good rating for frontal collisions. Another vehicle entering its second generation, the Scion xB, has also managed to rack up a green box on the test.
Both models' predecessors also earned "good" scores on the IIHS frontal collision test. The S80 hasn't been tested for side impacts by the Institute, but we'd safely bet on Volvo's mature SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) technology to keep us intact. The xB on the other hand, received a "Poor" score in its previous guise, and the new model hasn't been tested yet. The IIHS data, when combined with the Euro NCAP results and NHTSA results, provide a pretty complete picture of how all-around safe a car is, and good scores with the IIHS usually translate to safer ratings with the other agencies, as well.

Can Hummer go green?

Since shortly after it's introduction in 2003, the Hummer H2 has been a lightning rod for people critical of General Motors' environmental policies.
Although the H2 had a hefty thirst for fuel it was by no means the worst. However the militaristic styling that caused it to stand out from the crowd drew the kind of attention GM was not keen on in the wake of the EV1 shutdown.
After sales peaked in the first two years of production, it has been in a downward spiral ever since. GM subsequently introduced a smaller H3 model but its excess weight and underpowered engine meant that it got only marginally better fuel economy than the larger H2.
Toward the end of this decade GM will be adding some new engine options to the H2 and H3 that will help a bit, but until these vehicles are completely redesigned on lighter platforms, it probably won't be enough to turn most people around.
GM will be adding flex-fuel capability to the H2 in 2009 with the H3 getting it in 2010, but why isn't it there now? The newly announced 4.5L diesel will also go into the H2 at the same time. If the H2 does continue into the future, and that is by no means a given at this point, it may inherit the two-mode hybrid system coming later this year starting on the Tahoe/Yukon.
Most likely the only way that Hummer will be transformed from an environmental pariah to at least respectable would be to follow Jeep's lead and come out with smaller lighter vehicles like the Compass and Patriot.
However, Compass sales haven't been anything to write home about so far and there is no guarantee that something similar to the Compass would have any appeal at all as a Hummer. GM's best bet might be to just let the H2 and H3 live out their lifespan and then let the brand die.

Samsung unleashes SGH-E950, SGH-E840, and SGH-J600

In a refreshing change of pace from Samsung's traditional black-slab design, we bring you this trio of hotness: the SGH-E950, SGH-E840, and SGH-J600 pictured above left-to-right. All are on display right now at ComnunicAsia and ready to ship in Southeast Asia before July is up. Of the three, only the E840 has a shot of making it Stateside with its quadband GSM, EDGE radios packed into the world's slimmest 10.6-mm slider. It features a 2 megapixel camera and up to 2GB of MicroSD to store your media. Nice and all but we'd love to get out hands on the tri-band GSM E950 instead. That black box on the face is actually a touch-sensitive display which fills itself with a variety of icons depending upon how the phone is being used. Interestingly, the FCC approved J600's main claim to fame is its "intense hues" of "mystical colors" like, say "dark gray" -- riiight, and dreary office cubicles are just tiny magical kingdoms for gifted marketing drones. Be sure to check the full gallery over at Engadget Mobile.

Spy Shot: 2008 C-Class Estate

World Car Fans has a new round of C-Class Estate spy shots, this time with even less camo. This batch of photos reveals almost the entire car except for the rear, where plastic obscures the details. Mercedes engineers even seem to have cooperated with the photographer, parking a C-Class sedan next to the Estate for comparison. As you might expect, the Estate looks much like the sedan with the addition of a rear hatch and luggage rack.
As we reported before, the C-Class Estate isn't currently sold in the U.S., and the 2008 model isn't likely to be either. We sure would like to see it available in the States, especially with its choice of three diesel engines.

DigiMedia's 4 port HDMI 1.3 switcher

We've seen an HDMI switch or two 'round here before but this is one of the first to promise full HDMI 1.3 compatibility. The DigiMedia HDMI switcher features a single HDMI-out with either 4 (HSG-401) or 2 (HSG-201) input configurations at cable runs of up to 10-meters. Unfortunately, it looks like you'll have to manually switch between sources unlike other autosensing HDMI switches we've seen. Fortunately, the included remote control will keep your azz firmly planted in the sofa. Hitting Japan in July, the HSG-401 will set you back ¥18,800 or about $152, the HSG-201 for just ¥13,800 or $112 -- not bad.

Enter the rumormill: Apple developing navi for Benz?

Oh, how the Apple faithful love a good rumor. Car folks are not so different. Some of us at Autoblog live in both camps, so imagine our joy when our two favorite rumor mills got together to whisper about a possible tie-up between Apple and Mercedes.
Foursprung is where we first saw the rumor that Apple is working with the Germans to develop an in-car navigation system based on Google maps. Despite Apple's penchant for super-secrecy, so the rumor goes, it can't plug all the German-speaking leaks. Focus magazine, a German publication, first broke the story, and says Apple plans not only GPS for Mercedes, but also a sound system. Supposedly the deal would be exclusive to Mercedes for the first six months of 2009, at which time the technology would be offered to other manufacturers.
Knowing Apple CEO Steve Jobs' preference for Mercedes, and Apple's new push into consumer electronics, a GPS system is at least somewhat believable. Add the audio system element, and we got to thinking. What if Apple wasn't working on two projects with Mercedes, but instead just one? It seems plausible that Apple's next step after in-car iPod integration would be in-car iPhone integration. Music, movies, Internet and GPS all from one pocket-sized gadget on your dashboard? Now that sounds like Apple. Unfortunately, there has been much gnashing of teeth over the fact the iPhone does not include GPS. But could it by 2009? Steve only knows.
Can we hope Apple and BMW are working on a new iDrive? Hey, the name's already there.

Now R8 Supercar Goes Diesel - Audi R8

Audi is planning the world’s first ever diesel-engined supercar as it celebrates its recent diesel Le Mans 24 Hour-winning racers

The firm will make the R8 available with its new 4.2-litre V8 TDI unit late next year. Currently powering the Q7 SUV, the oil-burner produces 322bhp and 760Nm of torque. How-ever, it is likely to be tuned further for the R8, pumping out more than 350bhp and 800Nm of torque.
Hooked up to either the R8’s six-speed manual or six-speed R tronic transmissions, the four-wheel-drive supercar should be capable of going from 0-60mph in around five seconds, with a top speed of 160mph. And it will return around 30mpg.

The engine will be the final unit to go in the R8, after the 5.0-litre V10 model arrives in early 2008, priced around £85,000. The diesel version should cost about £70,000.

Sirius Echo Home Repeater System now available

Sirius's Echo Home Repeater System, which boosts the quality of Sirius satellite radios by redirecting a signal from an external antenna to units based inside the house, has gone on sale. For $100, you get the transmitter and one receiver module, with extra receiver modules (for extra cash) also available. At the very least, this kit means you don't have to have a bunch of antenna extension cables running all over your house, and at its best it will probably increase the quality of the signal. If you've got multiple radios in your house, then we're sure you'll agree that this is pretty much a must buy: for single Sirius radio owners, notsomuch.

Mazdaspeed3 aims to beat track record at the 'Ring

Mazda's been putting a considerable amount of stock into its newest entrant to the hot hatch segment, the Mazdaspeed3, or, as it's known in Europe, the Mazda3 MPS. With 260 HP and a 280 lb.-ft. of torque being sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual, you'd assume that it would be a torque-steering mess. A brief jaunt a few months back quelled that notion immediately, but Mazda has its sights set on more than just electromechanical problem solving.
In an effort to solidify its place as the most powerful, agile and competent competitor, Mazda brought three MS3s to Germany and let them loose under the capable hands of a few racing drivers. The goal was to show off the MS3's capabilities and make an attempt at the Nurburgring's track record for whatever class the hatch fits into.
Mark Ticehurst, a 'Ring virgin, was able to come within about four seconds of the lap record, posting a time of 8 minutes 39.66 seconds around the circuit. More shocking than the fact that Ticehurst came that close to the record without any previous experience in either the car or the track, is the considerable amount of traffic he encountered along the way. Our Gran Turismo fantasies of a clean track were promptly quashed after seeing how many bikers Ticehurst was forced to avoid during his laps.
Mazda released an account of the attempt, which is posted after the jump, along with three videos showing the MS3 in action.

Panhard revival? Peugeot considers Lexus-like premium brand

1930s Panhard Dynamic - look closely to see center-mounted steering wheel
According to industry mag Automotive News, the appearance of new French President Nicolas Sarkozy in a stretched Peugeot 607 has ignites speculation that PSA could revive the defunct Panhard marque as a premium/luxury automobile division that follows the Lexus formula of sharing components with existing PSA/Peugeot-Citroen products.
Panhard was sold to Auverland, a French military vehicle manufacturer, in 2005, and the brand is now used on said machinery. We assume that PSA would have to arrive at some agreement with that entity if it were ever to resurrect the name on passenger vehicles.
PSA, for its part, has no comment on the matter other than to say that a premium division is one of the many things under consideration by its new leadership. Our friends at Motor Authority question whether or not PSA has the technology and resources to make a luxury Panhard brand a success. They also point to Maybach as an example of how hard it is to revive an old marque, but we think Maybach's issues are more than a lack of initial name recognition. Those cars just don't look different enough than their Mercedes brethren. If the Exelero was ever built, it would be an instant sellout. But we digress.
PSA's future direction will be announced in September, at which point we'll presumably find out if a premium division -- Panhard or otherwise -- is planned.

KTM X-Bow: 1000 pre-orders and counting...

The funky-minimalist-cool KTM X-Bow is proving to be a roaring sales success, and it's not even out yet. On Thursday, KTM announced that it has eclipsed the 1000-car mark in pre-orders, and that more continue to flow in, surpassing the company's expectations. And why not? The Audi TFSI-powered X-Bow is mean-looking, fast, and exclusive. After the initial pilot series of 100 Dallara-built cars is complete, the regular production run at Magna Steyr in Germany will begin. With a projected maximum annual capacity of 1000 cars, it would appear that the entire first-year run is spoken for already. Plans announced back in April stated that subsequent years will likely see annual production of around 500 cars. If the demand for the X-Bow remains this hot, one wonders if KTM will try and boost that number to meet it.
Cars can be reserved via the X-Bow website or at KTM motorcycle dealers. The press release after the jump has all the details.

Ford Taurus safety ads set to go live

While Ford seemingly let its large front-wheel-drive sedan languish in obscurity when it was called the Five-Hundred, it doesn't intend to make the same mistake now that it's called the Taurus. We told you at the beginning of the month that the Taurus' new tagline will be "Rated Safest Car In America", and now we've got some advertisements to go along with the new marketing babble. Above you'll find one of the two print ads developed, we assume, by longtime Ford ad agency JWT Detroit. The ad features a highly photoshopped shot of the new Taurus wearing its Sunday best, which is comprised of super shiny chrome trim and 18-inch chromed 7-spoke wheels. The color appears to be Light Ice Blue Clearcoat Metallic, although it looks much better in the ad than it does when building the car on Ford's website. Besides the gussied up Taurus on the left, consumers will also notice the new tagline and references to the stellar crash test scores the Taurus received from both the NHTSA and IIHS.
After the jump you'll find Ford's new commercial for the Taurus that debuts on June 18th. Playing off of Father's Day, it shows that heartwarming moment we've all experience when Dad hands you the keys for the first time and says, "You drive." We thought this would be a perfect set up for a demonstration of how safe the Taurus is when the son blows a stop light and introduces Dad's new car to the business end of a fire hydrant, but alas, the 2008 Taurus just accelerates away.

Toyota Next Prius Delay Launch At Least Six Months

For some time now the third generation Toyota Prius was expected to debut in the fall of 2008 carrying a lithium ion battery pack and and very possibly plug-in capability.
In the past week it has been reported that neither the lithium energy storage or the plug-in capability would be there and now it looks the timeline has slipped as well.
Of course, since Toyota never officially announced a launch date they are refusing to call the slip to a spring 2009 debut a program slip or even acknowledge the new or old date.
By the time the new Prius hits the market there will be several new competitors available including the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan hybrids and the plug-in version of the two-mode Saturn Vue is due that same year.
It looks like Toyota's decision to stick with their local supplier might have come back to haunt them. Panasonic currently supplies the NiMH hydride batteries that Toyota uses and they have been focusing on LiNiCoAlO2 cathodes which are considered to be the least thermally stable of the currently available lithium chemistries.
Other companies like A123 use materials such as doped iron phosphate and other materials that have better thermal stability. At this stage of the program Toyota might actually better off going to a new source for lithium batteries rather than reverting to NiMH.

Samwell shows off Ruggedbook PC657 UMPC

Joining the slew of other handhelds computers that surfaced at Computex is the Ruggedbook PC657 from Samwell, which does indeed pack a beefy shell to protect the innards from whatever comes its way. The seven-inch UMPC includes a 800 x 600 resolution touchscreen, a 1.2GHz VIA C7M processor, Windows XP Professional, a PCMCIA slot, SDIO / MMC slots, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, a fingerprint scanner, and an integrated camera. Additionally, it'll handle up to 1GB of RAM, offers up your choice of 30, 60, or 80GB 1.8-inch hard drives if you're not kosher with the built-in 2GB/4GB/8GB flash storage option, and allows you the luxury of slipping a DVB-H tuner or GPS module into the PC Card slot if you so desire. We hope you weren't counting on a price or release date directly from the show floor, but do click on for a few more hands-on pictures.

QSTARZ BT-Q1000 GPS data logger syncs with Google Earth

QSTARZ is taking its familiarity with GPS receivers and integrating a data logger to form the newfangled BT-Q1000. This two-faced device doubles as a Bluetooth GPS receiver to navigate your course and allows you to "record your routes" in order to plot points on Google Earth and disseminate the map to your envious pals. Moreover, you can use the device to more accurately tag where your travel photos were snapped along the way, and if you're in the fleet management biz, this here tool can keep your motorists from straying too far off the beaten path. Designed to last a whopping 32-hours without a recharge, the BT-Q1000 can make your next journey a whole lot more memorable for $119 when it lands later this month.

Shelby GT500 Super Snake snagged in the wild

The massively-powerful Shelby GT500 Super Snake isn't going to officially debut until later this weekend at the Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet, but that hasn't stopped Mustang Evolution from snagging and posting the first real shots of the ride ahead of its big reveal. Its GT500KR looks are further augmented with Super Snake badging and blacked-out head and taillamps -- the whole package looks just menacing. Appropriate, when you consider it'll be available with up to 725 supercharged horses underhood. Daddy wants a pony for Father's Day...

Nissan hasn't learned from Ford: Navistar-powered diesel Titan in 2009

All indications are that Ford will be dumping the Navistar diesels it's used in its Super Duty pickups almost forever in favor of an in-house-developed diesel sometime around the end of the decade. Apparently undaunted by the quality issues that Ford has repeatedly experienced with the Navistar engines, Nissan appears ready to step into the breach and pick up the supply for the Titan pickup.
Since it appears that Nissan won't be developing a heavy duty version of the Titan, it's not clear at this point if it will use the current 6.4L V-8 that Ford uses or the smaller engine that Navistar had developed for the light-duty Fords. Most likely it will be the latter engine, and it may be available for 2009. Nissan, as expected, won't comment on future products -- except when they do (they previously announced a diesel Maxima for 2010).
[Source: Pickuptruck.com]
UPDATE: Mike Levine at Pickuptruck.com spoke with Nissan spokesperson John Schilling who told him, "We haven't announced anything about a diesel engine for the Titan. This news is speculation at this point, but we are continuing to study this technology for potential future use. The only vehicle we've said that will have a diesel engine is the Maxima in 2010."

Garmin launches nuvi 200W, 250W

No surprise here, but Garmin's launching those two new nuvis, the widescreen 200W and 250W. Both feature the same 4.3-inch 480x272 touchscreen display and the usual turn-by-turn voice directions, POIs, and extras like currency converter, world clock, etc. The only real differences are in name, price, and maps; the 200W will run you $500 and comes bundled with maps of the contiguous 48 + Hawaii and Puerto Rico, the 250W will run you $550 and has the same, but also includes Alaska and Canada as well. Expect 'em in July.

Archos 605 and 405 details, hands-on

We were on Archos's side of town today so we popped by to check out the 605 WiFi and 405 media players. (We were bummed there wasn't a 105 or 705 around, but 705 was no big deal -- according to Archos it's the same device, just made thinner.) We've also got some additional details for you on these devices.
605 will launch for $230 (4GB), $300 (30GB), and $400 (160GB) 405 will launch for $170, not including SD Both are available this summer The 605 is 9.2 ounces, and 4.8 x 3.2 x 0.6-inches on the 4GB (flash) and 30GB model, 0.75-inches thick on the 160GB model The 405 is 4.2 ounces, and 3.9 x 3.1 x 0.5-inches Both 605 and 405 will have 5 hours video, 16 hours audio playback The 605 not only streams video from the internet, it also downloads from a variety of paid and free channels (like CinemaNow, YouTube, BurnLounge, and Archos's own Content Portal, etc.) 605 also features an EPG for recording video

Ok, now we can cut to the chase and tell you that the units are definitely smaller (and feel it). The buttons on both units are more intuitively laid out (finally volume has its own rocker), with an interesting wavy surface (peep the pics to see what we mean); it's far clickier and an all around more enjoyable experience fooling around with these things. The menus are also a bit more refined and a step up from the 4 series. Some of it was disabled, though, like the widgets area on the 605 WiFi (it uses Opera widgets, as Opera is its browser), as well as many of the content streaming / acquisition channels. However, almost everything interesting in this device costs money:
The browser on the 605 WiFi is $30 (includes Adobe Flash plugin) Opera widgets cost $20 to enable The Real video plugin costs $20 The internet radio plugin costs $20 The HD (720p) video output plugin costs $20 The H.264 plugin costs $20, as does "cinema" video, which supports VOB + 5.1-surround So yeah, Archos totally loves to nickel and dime their customers. Still, browsing the web worked fairly well, although the unit were fooling around with had a pretty early firmware, we understand. The interesting thing is the unit's ability to play back FLV files (raw flash video), so when you visit a site like YouTube you're prompted to play the video embedded in the page, or expand to full-screen. (Playing embedded video was unbearably bad, like 0.5fps, but we'll give it the benefit of the doubt since it's pre-release hardware.) The 200ppi 800 x 480 display on the 605 was out of control, totally capable of showing off a relatively proper browsing experience. Assuming they can get some kinks worked out, the 605 WiFi could become the mid-size screen media device to beat.

Anynote's 15.4-inch AL5600G packs NVIDIA's GeForce 8600M

It looks like Anynote is hopping on the DirectX 10 bandwagon as well, as the company's 15.4-inch AL5600G stuffs a potent 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M under the hood alongside a few other respectable components. Beyond the widescreen WXGA display and GPU, users will find Intel's 965PM chipset, a 2GHz T7300 processor, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 120GB of SATA hard drive space, a DVD burner, Ethernet, WiFi, and a six-cell battery to boot. Furthermore, the port assortment includes DVI output, four USB connectors, S-Video, a four-in-one multicard reader, ExpressCard slot, S/PDIF output, and a built-in subwoofer for hints of bass here and there. Anynote's above-average AL5600G should hit South Koreans outlets anytime at a price of ₩1,199,500 ($1,289).

Officially Official: 2008 Ford Shelby GT

Last week, the info leaked onto the web. Today, Ford made it official, announcing the 2008 Shelby GT, which will indeed me available as a convertible. Also, as reported previously, the only color available will be Vista Blue with GT Silver stripes. Convertibles get a light bar with supplemental bracing, and on all cars, the 18" polished Bullitt wheels complement things nicely.
A coupe will also be available, and total Shelby GT production for 2008 will be capped at 2,300 cars (over 6,000 '07s were produced). Everything else having to do with the car is a known commodity. The lower bumper is grabbed from the California Special, and the Shelby also gets an aluminum grille, hood pins, a (non-functional) scoop, Shelby badging outside, a number plate inside, and a cue-ball-topped Hurst shifter for cars with the 5-speed manual transmission. A 5-speed auto is also available. Horsepower is raised to 319 ponies and 330 lb-ft of torque thanks to the Ford Racing Performance Upgrade Package plus a revised exhaust, and the Ford Racing Handling Pack delivers a more sporting ride.
The Shelby GT will be formally introduced today at the Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet in Tulsa. Production at Carroll Shelby's Las Vegas facility begins in August, and pricing won't be announced until they begin showing up at dealers, who will gleefully slap a surcharge on them. Hang on to your wallets, kids.
DEARBORN, Mich., June 13, 2007 – The magic duo of Ford Mustang and Carroll Shelby bring open-air excitement to the road for the 2008 model year as the Ford Shelby GT returns with a new convertible body style and a new standard color combination. Like all Shelby Mustang models, production will be limited to assure exclusivity for collectors. The 2008 Shelby GT coupe and convertible will be available from select Ford dealers beginning in August 2007.
The 2008 Ford Shelby GT convertible is being formally introduced to Shelby and Ford enthusiasts at the annual Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet, which opens today in Tulsa, Okla.
"The Shelby GT was engineered for people that put performance first," said Carroll Shelby. "Working with Ford Racing, we created this Shelby to be an everyday driver that's tuned for fun at the track. Those who value a well-balanced package will appreciate it. Those who don't will be left behind staring at its tailpipes."
In 2007, Ford Division, Carroll Shelby and Ford Racing joined forces to create a retail version of The Hertz Corporation Shelby GT-H coupe called the Ford Shelby GT. Fewer than 6,000 2007 models were built and all were available only in Performance White or Black.
For 2008, the highly-coveted Shelby GT is available in a new paint combination of Vista Blue with Silver stripes and the choice of two body styles, coupe or convertible.
"The Mustang convertible is the number one selling convertible in the U.S.," states Robert Parker, Ford Division Car Marketing Manager. "Since t he Mustang program never stands still, we wanted to continue offering consumers what they want, and they told us it was a Ford Mustang Shelby GT convertible. "
Shelby GT models begin life as a specially-equipped Mustang GT assembled at the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock, Mich. The cars are then shipped to the Shelby Automobiles facility in Las Vegas for transformation before delivery to Ford dealerships nationwide.

Kohjinsha's K600 gets an Intel A100 and DMB TV

There was a time (about 3 months) when these 7-inch ultraportables from Kohjinsha were all the rage in ultra-portable circles. Now however, we've got a $600 VIA's NanoBook coming out in an endless stream of OEM offerings on top of that supposed $200 Eee PC from ASUS. Hell, even Samsung slapped a decent keyboard onto their Q1 Ultra UMPC for thumbing around. Still, Kohjinsha's back with a second generation K600 model which gets a big bump to Intel's new A100 processor for XP/Vista and adds T-DMB television while remaining true to its ₩800,000 (about $859) price tag. Not bad. Read-on for more pics.

UK: Honda adds Accord Sport GT to range

Honda UK has added a new mode to its range with the introduction of the Accord Sport GT, a new trim/equipment package based on the existing Euro Accord (Acura TSX here). It gets a sport suspension, Graphite-finish alloys (17" for the sedan, 16" for the wagon -- a.k.a. Tourer -- is chosen) and several appearance and convenience upgrades. Those include the Premium White Pear finish shown above, dark chrome grille and door handles, red gauges, carbon fiber-look inlays on the dash and center console, a decklid spoiler, premium audio, nav, Bluetooth, and a few other items, all of which are detailed in the release after the jump.
Power comes from Honda's 2.2L i-CDTi turbodiesel, which delivers 140 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 250 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. Combined cycle fuel economy is right around 42.8 mpg (US). If this was available from Acura right now, how many of you would sign up? Those looks mixed with 42mpg would certainly have us interested.
It goes on sale September 1 at £20,767. A budget-oriented Accord SE with the same powertrain was also announced.
[Source: Honda UK]
PRESS RELEASE:WHITE HOT GT JOINS ACCORD RANGE
High spec sporty model unveiled alongside 'Price Fighter' SE
Two new versions of the Accord will be launched in September to help Honda battle for honours in the competitive D-sector saloon market.
Sales of the Accord are on the increase in 2007, with fleet sales already up by 68 per cent – and the car continues to win industry awards for its refinement, handling and practicality. But customer feedback has urged Honda to launch two new grades of the model in the UK.
"The Accord always finishes near the top of owner surveys, which shows that its drivers love the car," says Bernard Bradley, Head of Sales for Honda (UK). "But our dealers tell us new buyers – especially those from the corporate sector – want a version that combines the advanced technology offered by high-end models, with more of the sporting features from other Accords in the range."
The result is the new Sport GT, an Accord that delivers sharp, nimble handling with performance car styling and high-grade equipment.
The new Accord Sport GT 2.2 i-CTDi features as standard:
Dark Chrome door handles and front grille 17-inch (Saloon) or 16-inch (Tourer) alloy wheels in Dark Graphite finish Premium White Pearl paint option – exclusive to this model Sports suspension Rear boot spoiler, smoked headlights, and foglights Carbon-effect inlay fitted within the dashboard and centre console Red illuminated dials Voice-activated Satellite Navigation system Premium Audio system that includes a 6CD changer Cruise control Bluetooth Hands Free Telephone Tourer fitted with rear section privacy glass
The Sport GT is on sale from 1 September, priced from: £20,767 (OTR).
'Price Fighter' SE
The new diesel-engined Accord SE – powered by Honda's much-lauded2.2-litre i-CTDi engine – has been developed as an entry-level diesel Accord, specifically to act as a 'Price Fighter'.
Bernard Bradley continues: "This new keenly-priced car continues the theme of Accord, which has always been to offer a high-spec saloon with the quality you'd expect from a Honda – but at an extremely competitive price, with low running costs. If you're talking about value for money, the Accord SE beats most cars in the sector, even the new arrivals."
The diesel SE may be priced at a highly competitive £18,600 (OTR), but it's remarkably well-equipped – with 16-inch alloys, stability assist, 6-speed gearbox and Bluetooth Hands Free Telephone all fitted as standard.
Not only that, but with the cleaner, low-consumption 2.2-litre i-CTDi engine on board and the low list price, benefit in kind is reduced – meaning lower costs for company car users.
Model / Price (OTR)
Accord 2.2 i-CTDi SE (saloon) / £18,600 VW Passat 2.0 TDI SE / £18,967 Audi A4 1.9 TDI SE / £21,075 Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTi Life (hatch) / £18,235 New Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Zetec / £18,695

IIHS gives SantaFe Top Pick status

Hyundai has been on a mission to turn their fortunes around with hard work, smart engineering and a dogged determination to improve. The 2007 Santa Fe has just gone from the dubious rating of "poor" to a trifecta of "good" in front, side, and rear collisions by the IIHS. The '07 Santa Fe owes its dramatic and positive swing in the IIHS ratings to standard Stability Control and several improvements to the seats and head rest. The IIHS "good" trophy will look terrific on Hyundai's mantel alongside the Santa Fe's five-star NHTSA rating for front and side impact.
This is more good news for Hyundai that's on a bit of a roll. The Veracruz just beat out the Lexus RX350 in a Motor Trend comparison, RWD luxury vehicles with V8 engines will soon be in the lineup, and quality scores have improved dramatically. If we were Toyota, we'd be sweating the sleeper company from South Korea right about now. Check out the full press release after the jump.
[Source: IIHS]Hyundai Santa Fe earns 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award
ARLINGTON, VA - The 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, a midsize SUV, meets the criteria to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's TOP SAFETY PICK designation. The Santa Fe earned the top rating of good for front, side, and rear crash protection and is equipped with electronic stability control. Now 21 cars, SUVs, and minivans earn TOP SAFETY PICK status.
"The performance of the Santa Fe makes good on Hyundai's promise to provide the highest level of safety to its customers," says Institute president Adrian Lund. The Hyundai Entourage and twin Kia Sedona also earned TOP SAFETY PICK for minivans. The Institute recognizes vehicles with this award to help consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple crash test results.
"Criteria to win are tough because they're intended to drive continued safety improvements such as high crash test ratings and rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard equipment on the Santa Fe," Lund says. The Santa Fe also is equipped with side airbags as standard equipment to protect the heads of people in all three rows of seats.
Redesign improves rear crash performance: Hyundai engineers redesigned the Santa Fe's seat/head restraints to improve performance in rear impacts. The seats and head restraints in this vehicle's predecessor model were rated poor overall. The new seats include head restraints designed to automatically move up and toward the heads of people in the front seats during a rear impact. These new seat/head restraints are rated good overall.
How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.
Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on two instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact. Injury measures obtained from the two dummies, one in the driver seat and the other in the back seat behind the driver, are used to determine the likelihood that a driver and/or passenger in a similar real-world crash would sustain serious injury to various parts of the body. The movements and contacts of the dummies' heads during the test also are evaluated. Structural performance is based on measurements indicating the amount of B-pillar intrusion into the occupant compartment.
Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry - the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man. Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck.

South Korea Car Unions to Strike to Protest Trade Pact

SEOUL (Reuters) -- Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor Co. and other automakers said today they planned work stoppages for later this month as part of protests against a U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement.
Last year, Hyundai's union members staged strikes for a total of 33 days as they called for higher wages and better working conditions. Some of the protests were made in opposition to new labor laws and free-trade talks with the United States.
Those actions cost 115,683 units in lost output, or 1.6 trillion won ($1.72 billion), Hyundai estimated.
Members of the Korean Metal Workers' group, which include the auto industry unions, will take turns by region in staging two-hour strikes daily from June 25-27.
All members will hold a four-hour strike on June 28 and a six-hour stoppage on June 29, the metal workers' union said.
"We, as a member, will follow the group's decision," a Hyundai Motor union official said, asking not to be identified.
Workers at Hyundai affiliate Kia Motors Corp., GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. and Ssangyong Motor Co. will join the action, union officials at the companies said. Renault Samsung Motors Inc. does not have a union.
Last year, South Korean automakers' unionized workers voted to bring their company unions under one industry group to strengthening their bargaining power.
Poor labor relations are seen as a major hurdle to Hyundai's target of becoming the world's No.5 automaker by sales volume along with Kia, from the current No. 6.
In January, Hyundai's unionized workers held a partial strike and refused overtime over a bonus dispute.

Samsung's Yepp T9+ digital audio player

Various flavors of Samsung's T9 music player have been floating around for a good while now, but the Yepp T9+ version packs a little something extra for those not content with just listening to jams. Design wise, not much has changed, as users will still notice a 1.8-inch 220 x 176 resolution display and capacities up to 8GB in size, but this rendition reportedly includes multi-player gaming via built-in Bluetooth. It looks like a good five or so titles will be included, and while we've no doubt that Korean users will find one without issue, getting one over here in North America probably won't be as easy as it should be.

New Subaru Impreza WRX Goes on Sale in Japan, 2008 WRX STI Details Emerge

TOKYO — The new Subaru Impreza WRX goes on sale in Japan this week as a late 2007 model, and already a few details have emerged about the high-performance STI version, which won't be officially revealed until the Tokyo auto show in October.
The Subaru Impreza WRX five-door hatchback (known as the Impreza S-GT in Japan) features a turbocharged 2.0-liter version of the Subaru boxer-4, and it produces 248 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. When this car is introduced to the U.S. this fall as a 2008 model, it will have a 2.5-liter iteration of this engine that produces about 225 hp and 226 pound-feet of torque.
The high-performance 2008 Subaru WRX STI is expected to remain under cover until the Tokyo auto show, but already a few key facts have been leaked.
As expected, the STI engine will be calibrated for about 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It will be available only with Subaru's current six-speed manual transmission. Subaru is giving up a slight edge in technological wonderment to the 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X, which will feature an optional twin-clutch sequential-manual gearbox with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.
Apparently the STI will have to wait for a trick transmission until a new twin-clutch design from Aisin arrives in time for a mildly updated Impreza in 2009.
Meanwhile, Inside Line has learned that the WRX STI will look slightly different from the new WRX shown here, featuring a hood scoop, grille and front airdam that will improve airflow to the high-output engine. Fender flares will accentuate 18-inch wheels, while the current Brembo brakes will be carried over. You can also expect some performance tuning of Subaru's all-wheel-drive system, and naturally the suspension setup will be calibrated for more extreme speed.
Finally, a set of high-bolstered sport seats will keynote an upgraded interior treatment.
What it means to you: As different as the new Impreza looks, the WRX package is pretty familiar, and apparently the same can be said of the STI. Does this mean there's a hot-rod diesel in the Impreza's future?

Eizo's 24.1-inch FlexScan HD2441W LCD does Full HD

Eizo's HD2451W not good enough for you? Looks like the firm is cranking out yet another widescreen monitor, but the differences aren't all that substantial. Nevertheless, the FlexScan HD2441W sports a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 cd/m2 brightness, 178-degree viewing angles, HDCP-compliant DVI port, VGA, twin HDMI inputs, OutlineEnhancer filtering, audio out, several USB ports, picture-in-picture, and a touch sensitive slide bar to access the on-screen display adjusters. Thie device will be arriving in black, a white-silver combination, and titanium silver color schemes, and will include a five year warranty to help you rest easier. No word yet on price, but it should be filtering onto select shelves any minute.

2007 Hyundai Sonata: Mid-size Sedan of High Value

2007 Hyundai Sonata: Mid-size sedan offers high valueThere's a new player in the mid-size sedan market, and it's from Hyundai. Yes, Hyundai.

The Hyundai Sonata was showered with media awards last year, when it was redesigned and launched as an all-new model for 2006. MotorWeek called the Sonata the "Best Family Sedan," Kiplinger's Personal Finance named it "Best in Class," Consumers Digest called it a "Best Buy," and Popular Mechanics gave it a "Safety Excellence" award. Meanwhile, the Sonata finished among the top three mid-size cars in the 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. And the Sonata earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's five-star crash test rating for front and side impacts, the highest rating given.

For the 2007 model year, the Sonata promises more content for less money. Retail prices have been lowered on the entry GLS models. A new Sonata SE comes standard with the 234-hp V6 engine and 17-inch wheels and tires, and a new top-of-the-line Limited model features a new chrome grille and an optional Infinity premium audio system.

This second-generation Sonata is bigger, better equipped, more technologically advanced and sharper looking than the previous-generation (pre-2006) model. Exterior-wise, it competes primarily against the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima; and secondarily against the Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima and Ford Fusion. On the inside, however, the Sonata has moved up a class. Sonata is now a large car, with a full-size edge in creature comfort. It's roomier in almost every dimension than its mid-size competitors. Fit and finish are on a par with most others in the class.

In terms of performance, Sonata now equals or bests comparably featured cars. The Hyundai Sonata is a four-door, five-passenger sedan, and comes with a choice of four-cylinder and V6 engines. As you'd expect, the Sonata is aggressively priced, positioned smack in the middle of the range of mid-size sedans.

Darfon's Bluetooth keypad is bigger than your cellphone

Computex is over but we couldn't just walk away without giving you a peep at this Bluetooth keypad from Darfon. The idea here is simple yet blissfully absurd: wear the device as a lanyard to dial calls while your cellphone remains tucked away in your man-bag or she-sack. We're apparently supposed to overlook the fact that it's about the same size as your cellphone. Hey Darfon, meet Palm -- we hear that they share your interest in superfluous "companion" devices.

HWA to Build Super Sports Car for Mercedes

A concept of the HWA-built model is expected to be shown at the 2008 Geneva auto show as the sales of Mercedes' McLaren SLR super sports car, below, have been disappointing.
AFFALTERBACH, Germany -- Mercedes-Benz will turn to a new partner to build its next super sports car.
Mercedes has commissioned HWA AG, a spinoff of its AMG performance arm, to develop and produce the car. It will compete with Audi's new premium sports car, the R8.
A concept car offering the first glimpse of the production model is expected to be shown at the Geneva auto show in March. Initially, an existing 6.2-liter V-8 engine will power the car. The street-legal version is expected to carry the Mercedes-AMG badge, but HWA will build it.
Sales of Mercedes' limited-edition SLR McLaren super sports car have been disappointing. Last year, Mercedes sold 141 units of the $455,000 SLR McLaren in the United States. The SLR is built at McLaren Group's factory in Woking, England.
HWA, based in this city near Stuttgart, is spending about $7 million to expand production capacity for the vehicle.
"We plan to press ahead with our road sports car activities, and we will expand our capacity in production and logistics," says Hans-Juergen Matheis, spokesman for HWA.
HWA went public in April. It was launched in 1999 by AMG founder Hans-Werner Aufrecht.
Says an HWA insider: "Aufrecht has always had the ambition of proving to Mercedes that he could build better road and racing sports cars than McLaren."

Carry more in your convertible ... in a bag on your trunk

The English take their convertibles seriously. They also take their road tripping seriously. Put the two together and, as far as luggage room goes, you usually come up with a very short short jaunt or heading to a destination that doesn't require much clothing. Well, as Darwin found, there is no end to the craftiness that takes place on an island. Antony Dixon, tired of driving from Britain to Le Mans in his Miata with a garbage bag full of items tied to a trunk-mounted rack ... has created a waterproof PVC bag that you can tie directly to your trunk. It's called The Boot Bag, and it gives you 50 liters of additional space (about two cubic feet). It sits on a non-slip membrane and has no sharp edges, so it won't nick your car. We do believe it will, however, make you look like you've been kicked out of your house. But if you really need the room, it's yours for $120.
[Source: Piston Heads]

Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - The Parking Lot

One of the fun side benefits of going to the Greenwich Concours was being able to walk through the public parking lot across the street from Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, where the the event was taking place. There's no shortage of exotica in Greenwich and in New York's Westchester County (which is next door), and many of the Concours patrons drove some neat stuff machinery to the show. The eye candy outside included a Ford Lotus Cortina that I stupidly didn't photograph (someone I spoke to inside the show said it was probably Jamie Kitman's), a Renault 5 Turbo 2, an actual off-road-worthy Escalade (I did a double-take when I saw it), and a seemingly limitless number of Ferrari 360 Modenas. One of my favorites had to be the the Ford GT you see above, though. I mean, I like the GT anyway, but that 'LEMANS3X' vanity plate put it over the top. Plenty more to see in the gallery below. And that, my friends, concludes coverage of the 2007 Greenwich Concours. We'll do it again next year.

MSI's Luxium external graphics solution spotted

Although external graphics on a laptop were once a pipe dream, things are starting to come together for those yearning for desktop-style graphics processing on a mobile machine. MSI's first shot at the solution is apparently dubbed Luxium, and our Chinese brethren were able to steal a few shots from the display kiosk at Computex. Details are a bit scant at the moment, but the device will apparently provide a PCI-e to ExpressCard interface to get your desktop GPU interfacing with your lappie, several USB ports, a "USB to LAN" connector, S/PDIF in / out, optical audio input, and 7.1-channel Dolby Digital support. Yeah, we can't wait to see the benchmarks on this one either, but for now you'll have to be content with tapping the read link and taking a good first look at this promising product.

PQI shows off JoyTone U820 digital audio player

Looks like ginormous SSDs aren't the only products PQI's been cranking out of late, as the firm's latest DAP was showing off its sparkle at Computex. The JoyTone U820 features a glossy black exterior, 1.5-inch 128 x 128 resolution LCD, ID3 tag support, MP3, WMA, and SMV playback, a photo viewer, digital voice recorder, and USB connectivity. Unsurprisingly, there was no word as to when the U820 would find its way from the show floor onto store shelves, but as you already know, more pictorial delight awaits you after the break

New F1 Star: Hamilton,Lead the F1 Championship after Spanish GP

FELIPE Massa held off a first corner charge from Fernando Alonso to cruise to victory in the Spanish Grand Prix, but it is Lewis Hamilton who now has sole possession of the championship lead.
At the end of 65 laps at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, Massa claimed his second successive race win, and fourth of his career with Ferrari to move up to third in the drivers' standings. However, in claiming the runner-up spot for the third race in a row, Britain's rookie is now the man at the top of Formula 1's championship standings.
The Englishman is just four races into a career that has already produced a record run of podium finishes for a rookie, and the eight points he collected yesterday lifted the McLaren driver clear at the top of the standings with 30 points, two ahead of Spanish team-mate and double world champion Alonso and three clear of Massa.
At 22 years, four months and six days old, Hamilton replaced late team founder Bruce McLaren as the youngest championship leader by a month and two days. The New Zealander led in 1960 at the wheel of a Cooper Climax after winning the season-opening Argentine Grand Prix in Buenos Aires.
"We didn't particularly have the pace of Felipe, but I think we came another step closer and, as I said to him just now, we'll get him soon," said Hamilton, who has led all four of his races. "I've been working so many years for this, me and my family, and to be finally in this position is a dream and it really is now just getting bigger. It is quite amazing to be leading after only my fourth grand prix, but it's good and I'm enjoying it and I need to keep on enjoying it and really just building on the points that I have. Even from the last race we knew that there was a possibility of winning the championship. But again, we have to be realistic. It is only my first season so it's going to be ups and downs."
Alonso accused Massa of being "aggressive" and "risky" as their first corner duel later erupted into a war of words. Massa effectively clinched his second successive win, and fourth of his career, after fending off a charging Alonso at turn one. From second on the grid, the Spaniard - in front of a record home crowd of 140,000 - slipstreamed the Ferrari of pole-man Massa before pulling out to overtake on the outside.
Alonso cut in, resulting in the two cars touching and the McLaren taking a brief journey onto the gravel, allowing Hamilton and the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen to pass. The reigning double world champion maintains his car was damaged in the incident, compromising his race.
"Sometimes these kind of things are dangerous," said Alonso "When you are fighting for the championship, it's very risky to be so aggressive in the first corner. I had put myself behind Felipe, and thanks to the slipstream I was a little quicker. I went to the outside, braked later and I was much in front of him at the first corner. Unfortunately, he didn't think so, we touched each other, and we were lucky to both finish the race."
That brought a dismissive shake of the head from Massa, and as he countered: "I was inside, so I don't understand his point. As long as I am inside, I will stay there. I won't move. If anybody was aggressive, it was Fernando, not me."
BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica claimed fourth, with Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard a superb fifth for the Scot's best finish since August's Hungarian Grand Prix.