Autoblog

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Volvo is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. As part of the company's observance, it brought over a restored 1927 PV4, nicknamed the Jakob for the Volvo display at the New York Auto Show. Volvo offered two versions of this sedan, an open-bodied model in plain steel and a covered model wrapped with fabric. This particular PV4 was registered in November, 1927, by a school inspector. The changed hands only a few times in the next seven decades before Volvo purchased it in 2001 to have it restored. One of the owners did store it a barn for an extended length. Weighing 2,425 pounds, the PV4 is powered by a 1.95-liter 4-cylinder that pumped out 20 horsepower. It cost 5,800 krona in 1927, or a little more than $800 by today's exchange rate.

click above image to view more images of the red Audi S5 at the NY Auto Show

Showing its performance side first, Audi unveiled the S5 ahead of the A5 in North America at the New York Auto Show. Both vehicles, however, had already made their world debut in Geneva.

Looking very intense in blazing red, the S5 styling complements the unique powertrain that includes a 324354-horsepower V8, 6-speed manual gearbox and quattro all-wheel-drive. Bigger than most of its competition, the S5 is seeking an edge in interior comfort while maintaining as high a level of performance as its coupé competition. A few of the key exterior features include a grille with S-model influences, aggressive bumper outlines, 18-inch wheels, aluminum-style mirror housings and four oval exhaust tips.

Even more performance is expected for the upcoming RS5; meanwhile the S5 should keep Audi enthusiasts happy.

The World Car of the Year Awards has just concluded with the Lexus LS460 earning the honor of being called the planet's best auto for 2007. The LS460 beat out the Audi TT and new MINI Cooper, which were also finalists. The Audi TT, however, did not walk away empty handed, earning a trophy for World Car Design of the Year. Audi earned yet another honor for World Performance Car of the Year, with the RS4 being handed that honor. The RS4 won out over such heavyweights in world performance as the BMW 335i and Porsche 911 Turbo. Finally, the Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC won the award for World Green Car of the Year, earning bragging rights over rival BMW and its Hydrogen 7, as well as the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion.

Update: We just added a gallery of high-res photos of the Polly Wheels collection.



There is an exhibit area at the New York Auto Show with a staggering 1,190 vehicles on display. And it's "manned" by a trio of vivacious pre-teens playing "Race to the Mall" with a new line of die-cast toy cars made just for girls.

Polly Wheels, the latest offering from Mattel based off the Polly Pocket line of dolls, made its official debut at the New York Auto Show today. Fifty different models will be released in all this year, and about 20 are already out. The unique toys were designed with heavy input from girls, based on their insights and play patterns. The cars are heavy into candy colors and glitter, as a result. And in a switch from Mattel's boy-based line of cars, the Polly Wheels feature a removable "friend" in the driver's seat.

The 2-inch cars, which retail for just under $3 each, are a little more generic if not cartoonish than the faithful representations found in the Mattel Hot Wheels and Matchbox lines. In fact, only the chassis is die-cast; the bodies are plastic so the wild colors, such as "Splashin' Pink" and "Glitter Peach", can stand out. The "Race to the Mall" raceset retails for $34.99 and will be available in June.

UPDATE: Video of live reveal added after jump

click on image above to view high-res shots of the 2008 Subaru Tribeca

The Tribeca has the lowest consumer awareness of any Subaru product. You have to admit, the first edition, which came out in 2005, was rather odd looking. So Subaru has given the Tribeca a facelift and added more horsepower for 2008 model year. The newest version was shown for the first time today at the New York Auto Show.

The new Tribeca has a much less polarizing design than the first edition. Gone is the isolated grille design, in favor of a grille that is integrated into the front bumper. In fact, all of the sheetmetal forward of the A-pillar is new. There's a more prominent hood line, sleeker headlamps and more aggressive front valance. The rear end was also freshened with restyled three-quarter windows, wider taillamps and new rear valance.

A new 3.6-liter engine that runs on unleaded fuel will power the 2008 Tribeca. Horsepower is increased from 245 to 256, and torque jumps from 215 lb-ft to 247 lb-ft. The features highly valued by Tribeca loyalists, such as the graceful interior and the all-wheel-drive system, will carry over. Subaru did improve access to the third-row seat.

Subaru officials say the new Trifecta will go on sale this summer, with a starting price less than $30,000.

Catch the complete Subaru news release following the jump, as well as a high-res photo gallery by clicking below. You can review all of today's debut by visiting the master post of debuts and galleries, as well.

While acknowledging that losing a third of the salaried workforce has been an "upheaval" for employees, Ford CEO and president Alan Mulally said the company restructuring is "generally going well".

In somewhat of a fireside chat with the press to open the 2007 New York International Auto Show this morning, Mulally was charming and entertaining while asserting that Ford is in a strong position to reverse its financial and product slump.

"If you want to be in the automotive business, this is the best time to be at Ford," he said when asked about company morale following a large force reduction. At the same time, he instructed his posse, including North American boss Mark Fields, to stand up. "Look at the smiles on their faces," he quipped.

Mulally's keynote address to open press days at the show was really a few minutes of off-the-cuff remarks about his decision to join Ford, and he gave a 4-point rundown on the automaker's restructuring goals. Mulally had no pre-written speech, didn't use a teleprompter and walked casually around stage as he talked to the large gathering. He didn't make any announcements, either; although he did offer a hint about a future luxury hybrid. When asked about luxury hybrids, Mulally looked at Fields, then said, "Nothing I can talk about right now."

While wrestling superstar Bill Goldberg is showcased as the front man for Spike TV's new automotive reality series "Bullrun," he's not on camera enough to hold this fractured show together. If the producers had let the vehicles and driving be the stars, then the show might not be crying out for more of Goldberg's participation. Instead, "Bullrun" gets a flat tire coming out of first gear, at least in the opening episode.

The one-hour show debuts Tuesday, March 13, at 10:00 PM. It's based on the international auto rally of the same name, a cross country event designed for exotic cars which costs the entrants nearly $20,000 to participate. The Spike TV reality version runs between the Canadian and Mexican borders, covering 4,100 miles through nine states and 21 cities in 18 days. The competition pits 12 teams of ordinary, mostly likable characters in a variety of cool vehicles. About the only common denominator between the teams appears to be the inability to read a map or find road signs.

More of the review and information on the teams following the break

With all the news surrounding the death of Anna Nicole Smith, the car junkies over at Jalopnik were smart enough to write a headline that no doubt go many search engines to look their way, although it took a couple degrees of separation to find the link. Apparently the lawyer for Anna Nicole's mom has an impressive car collection.

Well, we can boast a one-time direct connection to the blonde bombshell herself, and also her direct connection to cool cars. Then named Vickie Smith, she appeared at the Hot Rod Nationals in Canfield, Ohio. I was there covering the show for an enthusiast magazine. I talked to her a few times in the hospitality area during the weekend. Even though she had roots in the Texas plains, I could tell she was bored with all Midwest yokels and their stupid giggles, sneers and proposals. At that time, she had not learned of either the Guess modeling job or the Playmate of the Year honors, but obviously she had higher aspirations than listening to some pimply kid from Indiana brag about his 327 El Camino.

Instead of dumping a boatload of money in a high-profile racing series, Mazda has chosen to focus on the little guy in sportsman categories. In doing so, Mazda is funding its own program with parts sold to grassroots racers throughout the country.

For example, Mazda makes up about 2 percent of the overall new-vehicle market in the United States, yet its cars account for 50 percent of SCCA club racers.

Mazda also promotes its drivers. Whenever there's an open seat in a professional class, Mazda drivers in the lower classes get the first shot. Last year, the automaker also rewarded Star Mazda champ Adrian Carrio with a $100,000 scholarship in the hope of securing a seat in the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic series. And SCCA Spec Miata champ Andrew Caddell was given a new MX-5 and MazdaSpeed parts to build an MX-5 Cup car for 2007.

Now the company wants to expand its motorsports effort by offering even more competitions so drivers can move up through the ranks.

The LA Times reports that Julio Ochoa Ruelas, who founded the Dukes So. Cal. car club with his three brothers, passed away last month. The Dukes is the oldest lowrider car club still in existence, now with 29 chapters.

Julio and his brothers were long recognized as the spark that ignited the lowriding trend in Los Angeles. Working on old cars out of their uncle's shop, the brothers cruised local boulevards before starting the Dukes in 1962. After Vietnam, one of the brothers, Fernando, opened Ruelas Custom while Julio, who worked at a grocery store, scrounged parts. His favorite trick to source hand-to-find items was convincing telephone-pole workers or home inspectors to tell him when they spotted something of interest in a backyard.

Julio's best-known car was part of the most popular exhibition at the Petersen Automotive Museum, according to director Dick Messer. Julio and the Dukes were also featured in the documentary "Low and Slow." Observers said Julio's funeral procession looked more like a car show than a memorial. There are photos and memories of Julio also listed in a forum at layitlow.com.

[Source: Jocelyn Y. Stewart / Los Angeles Times]