Super Parked » Dan Roth

eBay Find of the Day: Great Scott! It’s a twin-engined 1982 DeLorean

Dan Roth — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:20:00 +0000

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions, Etc.

Twin-engine DeLorean - click above for high-res gallery

Why is it that people feel compelled to do silly things to DeLoreans? At least this one hasn't been totally ruined by making it another "Back To The Future" tribute car to manifest its owner's fawning lack of originality. This particular DMC-12 doesn't want for ingenuity, just pop the hood. No, not the rear engine hatch, where you'd expect to find an underwhelming PRV V6, but the compartment up front that used to be the trunk.

Why is there a 2.0-liter Honda engine stuck in front? Well, it teams with the 8.2-liter Cadillac engine out back, of course. The Caddy motor isn't included in the auction, curiously, but it is available for an extra sum. Reading through the seller's comprehensive information clearly points out that the car wasn't a concours example before the swap, and settling for a simple restoration wasn't going to happen. So you end up with a DeLorean with an aggregate of twelve cylinders, none in stock form. The car isn't perfect, but hey, what do you want for a current bid price of $6,100? Thanks for the tip, flyingaero!

Gallery: Twin Engine DeLorean

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Great Scott! It's a twin-engined 1982 DeLorean originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Great Scott! It’s a twin-engined “V12″ 1982 DeLorean

Dan Roth — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:20:00 +0000

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Etc.

Twin-engine DeLorean - click above for high-res gallery

Gallery: Twin Engine DeLorean

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Great Scott! It's a twin-engined "V12" 1982 DeLorean originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #174 – AOL Autos’ Reilly Brennan stops by

Dan Roth — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:21:00 +0000

Filed under: Podcasts, Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Ferrari

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth are joined by Reilly Brennan of AOL Autos. After discussing what's in the Autoblog Garage, attention turns to the Ferrari 599 GTO, the ongoing Chevrolet Camaro-Ford Mustang V6 cage match, wacky interior awards from Ward's Auto, Audi beating Mercedes in the most recent sales numbers, and the Daimler-Renault/Nissan tie-up. We hit some questions and then skedaddle just under the hour and twenty mark.

Autoblog Podcast #174: with Reilly Brennan from AOL Autos

In the Autoblog Garage:

Audi A4 Avant
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Mini John Cooper Works Cabrio
Ford Escape Hybrid
Mercedes CL550 4Matic

News:

Ferrari 599 GTO
Mustang/Camaro V6 smackdown
Ward's Auto interior awards
Audi outsells Mercedes
Daimler and Renault/Nissan deal

Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid

Guest:
Reilly Brennan of AOL Autos

Runtime: 1:18:02

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #174 - AOL Autos' Reilly Brennan stops by originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Volkswagen Phaeton’s third facelift spotted nearly undisguised

Dan Roth — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:42:00 +0000

Filed under: Spy Photos, Volkswagen, Luxury

You thought the Volkswagen Phaeton went away, did you? Oh no, Volkswagen has continued to fiddle with its range-topper in Europe, which has been snagged by spy photographers while the as-yet-unannounced third-generation was on a late-night photo shoot.

Volkswagen's chutzpah is admiriable, and the Phaeton is certainly one heck of a car, but extending its lengthy tenure of could be a refusal to admit past mistakes. It's likely that Phaeton owners tell people of the car's mechanical similarities to the Bentley Continental GT, while the uninitiated will shrug and see a Passat. AutoExpress reports that there are rumors of a diesel V10 as one of the panoply of possible engines, and all will probably be revealed in September at the Paris Motor Show.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Spy Shots: Volkswagen Phaeton's third facelift spotted nearly undisguised originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevrolet tries to Spark up some interest with World’s Largest Record Player

Dan Roth — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:57:00 +0000

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet, UK, Design/Style

Chevrolet Spark DJ booth - click above to watch the video

Wherever feral youths congregate, it's pretty much a given that there'll be a car on its side. Now Chevrolet has gone and made that a certainty by creating a Spark that's intended to be rotated 90 degrees to rock the party. The car powers the DJ gear, though we're curious about modifications to the oil sump to keep the engine happy when on its side.

A special Chevrolet Spark DJ car that can pull off the Batmobile-like trick of transforming from a road-going automobile to a DJ platform with turntables on the wheels will be joining the haircut-wanting "indie" band The Mystery Jets (you're not an indie if you've got Chris Thomas producing your record. Just sayin') on some gigs starting today, April 8. The location of the Spark's roll-over-and-play-music demonstration will be determined by public vote, though the idea of a mustard factory in Birmingham sound like a tasty locale. Press release and video posted after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 Chevy Spark

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Video: Chevrolet tries to Spark up some interest with World's Largest Record Player

Video: Chevrolet tries to Spark up some interest with World's Largest Record Player originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #173 – with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports

Dan Roth — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:45:00 +0000

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Audi, Chrysler, Infiniti, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports joins Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth to talk about the New York Auto Show, offer insight into how CR rates autos, touch on the possible 16.4 million dollar fine for Toyota and consider the Renault/Nissan deal with Daimler that may happen this week. It's an hour and a half before we run out of steam. Enjoy!

Autoblog Podcast #173: with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports

In the Autoblog Garage:

Nissan Cube
Subaru Legacy 2.5GT (long-term intro)
Volkswagen GTI
Infiniti G37
Jeep Patriot
Mercedes CL550 4Matic

News:
New York Auto Show
$16.4 million fine possible for Toyota
Renault/Nissan and Daimler lash-up

Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Dan Roth

Guest:
Jon Linkov of Consumer Reports

Runtime: 1:28:45

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #173 - with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wi-Drive: Luxury commuter buses popping up in California

Dan Roth — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:39:00 +0000

Filed under: Etc., Work, Specialty, Luxury

Lots of things about commuting are aggravating. High on that list is the productivity that gets smothered while you're snarled in traffic. You can only bang along on the steering wheel to Clyde Stubblefield for so long before you start getting antsy to convert the stop-and-go into some forward momentum on a project. Now, what if the whole commute could be as comfortable as the leather seats in an Infiniti G37 while you spent the entire ride with your nose buried in your laptop?

Bay Area commuters can park the car, pay a bit more for a luxuriously-outfitted bus, and recapture that formerly lost commute time. It's more efficient and has a smaller carbon footprint than 52 individual cars with just a single occupant idling away, too. Bauer's Limousine Service, a company that already zips Silicon Valley worker bees from hive to hive, has added four first-class-only buses to its fleet, and it calls the idea Wi-Drive. There's Wi-Fi, power, TV, even meals and coffee on the Wi-Drive buses. A one-way ride will put the hurt on a ten-dollar bill, and there's still some coordination to work out with pick-up and drop-off points, but it could be worthwhile for the increase in productivity and the better disposition you'll have after spending that hour and a half working, or just surfing Bring A Trailer, instead of pounding your head against the wheel in frustration while you sit in traffic.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Wi-Drive: Luxury commuter buses popping up in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stuck in Park: Smart trying to rejuvenate brand with… foil stickers

Dan Roth — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:32:00 +0000

Filed under: Aftermarket, Smart, Specialty

Smart ForTwo with accessory stickers - click above for high-res image gallery

Any press release dated April 1 is a potential disinformation landmine, but news of Smart's latest attempt to make the ForTwo enticing seems legit. The diminutive Smart ForTwo has fallen on its face in the North American market, down 61 percent this March versus last year, and judging from the latest bit of groundbreaking marketing from Smart's UK outpost, the word is out that there's not much "there" there.

Adding stickers and interior customization options to a car that's having a tough time in the marketplace is the auto sales equivalent of adding a cute kid to the cast of a failing sitcom. Smart has gone there by collaborating with Germany's Timo Wuerz to design new foil stickers for the ForTwo's Tridion safety cell. Patterns include skylines, stars, and flowers. Everybody w00t as you tweet the news. Brabus has been sucked into it, too, affixing its name to a carbon fiber-look applique package for the interior. There's a Brabus LED daytime running light package as well, that's actually a functional option.

Stickers can't do a thing about the dismal driving experience the thing exhibits in U.S. trim, though. At least it'll look extra trendy parked nose-in to the curb somewhere. Press release posted after the jump.

Gallery: Smart stickers

[Source: Smart]

Continue reading Stuck in Park: Smart trying to rejuvenate brand with... foil stickers

Stuck in Park: Smart trying to rejuvenate brand with... foil stickers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ruff Ride: Ford Edge named Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year

Dan Roth — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:29:00 +0000

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Etc., Safety, Ford

2011 Ford Edge - Click above for high-res image gallery

When is a dog a 2,700 pound projectile? When little Muffy is riding shotgun, big old fuzzy head stuck out the window, tongue lolling in the breeze and all of a sudden master crashes the darn thing into some unforseen obstacle. In the interest of keeping pets safe, Bark Buckle UP, a pet travel safety organization, has some recommendations. Among endorsement of the Doggie Seat Belt and exhortations to take steps toward pet safety in the car, are some vehicular mentions. While pet safety is a laudable goal, this announcement leaves us feeling a little dirty, like it's mostly a thinly-veiled ploy to sell stuff.

In any case, Bark Buckle UP gave its Top Dog awards away at the New York Auto Show, and the Ford Edge has trotted away with the Pet Safe Vehicle of Choice Top Dog award. "The Ford Edge is perfect for those traveling with pets," says Ford Edge marketing manager Brett Burin upon the Edge's crowning. Bark Buckle UP agrees, citing the vehicle's combination of space, ease of ingress and egress for Fifi and Fido, rear ventilation and adaptability to pet gear as reasons for the win. Ford vehicles took four of the award's 'choice' slots for 2010, with the Transit Connect, Flex, and Lincoln MKT also making the list. The other alternative is to avoid either having a dog altogether (they're smelly, and they lick their butts) or don't chauffeur your pooch around if you have opened your home to canis domesticus. If you're a dog lover, though, you might want to check out the official press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge

[Source: Bark Buckle UP]

Continue reading Ruff Ride: Ford Edge named Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year

Ruff Ride: Ford Edge named Pet Safe Vehicle of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WSJ: Daimler and Renault-Nissan in “final stages” of alliance talk

Dan Roth — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Etc., Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Electric, Diesel

Daimler is looking for a new kind of Renault Alliance, one that includes Nissan. According to a new report in The Wall Street Journal, there is a deal pending between Renault-Nissan and Daimler to partner on things like engines and platforms, as well as further development on matters that could help increase fuel efficiency. The two companies feel that partnering in those areas would help develop the technology more effectively while keeping the costs more manageable.

Right off the bat, Daimler will get the key to the Renault-Nissan small-car and small-engine toybox. When was the last time you heard of a cheap, frugal Mercedes-Benz... even a Smart? Renault-Nissan would get the opportunity to fiddle around with Daimler's hybrid goodies, as well as possibly the German company's diesels. Any sort of Nissan-Renault alliance with Daimler could fail horribly - after all, these are the raiders that flogged Chrysler badly enough to land it on the heart/lung machine. On the other hand, a vehicle as inexpensive as a Versa that's as solidly screwed together as an E Class has a certain allure. An announcement may come as soon as early next week.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

WSJ: Daimler and Renault-Nissan in "final stages" of alliance talk originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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