Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period.
Chery is looking at dropping its Pininfarina-styled M14 on the US market soon. Chinese news agency Xinhua is all like "later this year," but this year is like "see ya," so maybe by "this year" they really mean "next year." Either way, we'll be happy to take one for a spin while bearing in mind the convenient fold-up design we've seen from Chinese cars being crash tested recently. They've made some improvements, and they'll continue to get better on the safety front. With the M14, Chery actually has an attractive car on its hands, even if the lines are derivative of other vehicles. Powertrains are either a 1.6L or 2.0L engine with the choice of manual or CVT transmission. While we're not holding our breath for this car under the Christmas tree, it'll stir some interest whenever it does arrive in the U.S.
Having healthy fascination with the SHO is one thing; that car was kick-ass, so the lust is understandable. This, on the otherhand, is just... wrong. Not even the novelty of a Taurus convertible can redeem this car from being anything more than a wrong-headed bucket of, um, fertilizer. Sawz-All roof treatment aside, there's still the paintwork to contend with. There's obviously a lot of time put into the design, but the color choice and odd striping work look more like someone did donuts in a bunch of spilled pigment than any kind of concerted effort to make the car look good. Then again, if you're chopping the roof off a first-gen Taurus (already made of wet spaghetti), affixing a big, stupid wing to the back and frenching the antennas (let's repeat that, dual frenched antennas. WTF? It's an '88 Taurus, not a '58 Skyliner), you're not much concerned with the way the end result actually looks. We're tempted to buy it just to burn it to the ground, it's only $3500, though apparently an appraiser saw $15,000 worth of value here. We beg to differ, though it'd be a sweet ride for next year's LeMons effort, which would also ultimately assure its destruction.
Cyberspace is rife with speculation about a new small Alfa Romeo convertible, which could be an indicator of one of two things: either the quintessential Italian automaker has got one such spider in the works, or it's just plain old wishful thinking.
Rumors suggest a revival of the Alfa Romeo Duetto, popularized by Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, which could feature a retractable hard-top for motoring al fresco under the Tuscan sun or closed again for parking in Rome and winding through the Alps.
Along the road to rehabilitation, Alfa's return to the American market will include two unspeakably beautiful convertibles: the Brera-based Spider, and the recently-confirmed convertible version of the 8C Competizione. A third convertible in the line-up would be likely to come in significantly under the price of either (not hard to do in the 8C's case considering the anticipated €185,000 sticker price that's guaranteed to climb with speculation) in the effort to attract a younger clientele. If the upcoming "Alfa Junior" can serve as any indication, we could be looking at an Italian rival to the likes of the Mazda MX-5 and Pontiac Solctice, which again could be just wishful thinking.
Click on above image for the hi-res gallery of the 2007 BMW 1-Series Convertible
Though the 1-Series will be BMW's smallest and cheapest model, the Bavarian brand isn't skimping on the car that huge numbers of people are anticipating. A portion of those people can't wait for a drop top version, and BMW has just released all the pics and info of its newest cabriolet.
Just like the coupe, it will come in 128i and 135i flavors, the former offering 215 HP and the latter 306 HP and 300 lb-ft. The drop top descends in just 22 seconds, and to make sure you stay just as comfy when it's down, the climate control system comes with a convertible mode. Plenty more innovations await in the car slated to arrive early next year, follow the jump to read all about them in the full press release. And be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res images, as well.
Where do BMW fans go on vacation? The 'Ring, of course. If you're taking that type of jaunt, you'd be forgiven for leaving your pants at home, but should you neglect to pack the zoom lens, woe unto you. With the E92 M3 arriving in the hungry driveways of customers, the Bayerische wizards are readying sedan and cabriolet versions of the M3, and a quick New Jersey BMW enthusiast snapped the cars near the Eifel mountain's most famous attraction. The sedan's looks don't improve, and the 3-series cabrio is already the best looking car they've currently got, so there's nothing outwardly earth-shattering about the new flavors of M3. Performance-wise, though, the four door and floptop flavors of the M3 will share the palpitation-inducing abilities of the coupe, and let's not forget about the upcoming CSL, which sheds weight and ups the ante. More variants of the uber-3 equals more fun for everyone. We're holding out for a wagon, so the whole family can don helmets and go rippin' around.
Auto Express seems to have the inside scoop on a convertible variant of the upcoming Volkswagen Scirocco coupe, likely to go on sale sometime in 2009. The standard fixed-roof Scirocco is expected to take cues from the IROC concept that debuted back in Paris in 2006 and be built off the same architecture that underpins the Volkswagen Eos convertible. That will allow the convertible version of the Scirocco to benefit from a retractable hardtop mechanism inspired by the Eos, although VW's engineers will probably ditch the rear seats in an effort to maximize storage space. With the top up, parcels can be stowed with room to spare in the trunk, and when the urge to enjoy open-air motoring strikes, there'll be an ample amount of space to throw a murse and a few other amenities behind the front seats. Naturally, rollover hoops will be mounted to score points in the safety department.
During Ferrari's press conference in Detroit this January, the Italian stallions will be pulling the wraps of a new 2+2 coupe-cabriolet, complete with a folding hardtop.
Built off a stretched version of the next generation F430's aluminum architecture, the "F149" 430 GT California will have a 450 HP direct-injected 4.3-liter V8 mounted up front, sending power to the rear wheels via Fezza's F1 "Superfast" sequential gearbox. A six-speed manual will also be an option when sales begin in late 2008.
The setup is designed to take aim at Aston Martin's V8 Vantage, making it the least expensive Ferrari in the exotic automaker's stable – around €130,000.
This is not, however, the rumored "Dino" model, as that particular coupe will have a 3.5-liter V6 mounted amidships and will be priced around €100,000 when it goes on sale in 2009.
The expansion of BMW's M3 lineup is expected to take place sooner than we anticipated, and a new version of the Bavarian bomber will finally put the oft-maligned sequential gearbox to rest. According to Auto Telegraaf, BMW will be debuting the M3 sedan at a major Stateside auto show, likely L.A. or Detroit, and along with an extra set of doors, it'll be sporting the automaker's new dual-clutch gearbox. Rumored to be dubbed "M DCT," the new 'box will get seven forward gears that can be controlled by either a new shift lever, much like the one found in the new X5, or steering-wheel mounted paddles shifters. BMW also plans to offer a traditional six-speed manual for those who prefer to row their own gears.
The regularly spied convertible version of the M3 is also on its way, which is proving to be an engineering challenge for the M-division due to the extra tonnage the retractable hardtop tacks onto the curb weight. We've heard that a track-bred CSL is also under development, and that its debut is likely to take place some time in 2009.
While the new Volkswagen Eos may have filled a hole left by the recently discontinued Cabrio, there is likely a market for a smaller drop-top in Volkswagen's lineup. A convertible version of the Polo may appeal to buyers looking at the Peugeot 206 CC or the Opel Tigra TwinTop, so Bild.de commissioned an artist to lop the roof off the Polo GTI, giving us an idea of what to expect.
While Volkswagen hasn't mentioned the possibility of a cabrio Polo, it wouldn't be hard to make a case for it, particularly if if cost was kept down by utilizing a canvas roof instead of a more complex, and expensive, folding hard-top.
Bild.de predicts that the VW Polo GTI Cabriolet could come to market as early as 2009, with a price of around 16,000 to 18,000 euro.
It's no secret that Audi is attempting to be all things to all people, and with its sights set on becoming the preeminent automaker in Deutschland, that means bringing more product to the market in quick order. So say "Hello" to the A3 convertible.
Caught while undergoing testing, the cabrio version of Audi's two-door hatch sports a revised taillight arrangement, along with a new MINIscule boot that looks like it would have a hard time fitting much more than a duffle and a few bags of groceries. The rear-seat passengers apparently will get rollover protection in the form of two hoops behind their heads, and while retractable hardtops are all the rage, previous reports, and these new shots, reveal that Audi will be sticking with a soft-top. No surprise, considering the A3's diminutive footprint and price point.
Follow the 'Read' link below for more, and expect the A3 cabriolet to debut in Geneva next year.
Rumblings that Citroen would be unveiling a new cabrio concept at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show have been confirmed after a series of images leaked out from a Citroen-specific forum. The pictures of the C-Airscape look authentic enough, with a highly stylized front clip, expansive windshield and what we're assuming is a soft-top tucked beneath a toneau cover. We're particularly partial to the swage-line that incorporates the door handles into one elongated piece of chrome.
The cabrio version will likely foretell the future of the C5 sedan, which is expected to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Pricing for the 2008 MINI Cooper convertible has been leaked, and it looks like there be no price changes for the current model's last year of production. The standard convertible will come in at $22,600, and the supercharged S-edition will tally in at $26,050 (including destination). MINI "base" prices typically have little to do with the bottom line of the vehicle at the dealership, as few vehicles have more options than this little gem. There are 48 stand-alone options from which to choose, though quite a few of them come at no charge. The folks at MINI also provide six different option packages to make your life easier, ranging from the $6,000 John Cooper Works kit for the S to the Sport and Premium packages for $1,500 each. You'd need a degree from MIT to fully understand the restrictions and caveats of the $4,000 Sidewalk package (seriously, if you went to MIT, let us know if you really get it), but suffice to say you get a lot of extra amenities for the cash.
The MINI is both fashionable and fun to drive, and demand is such that BMW's little experiment can charge such high prices for such a small vehicle. And since every owner wants their own unique little work of art, we get more packages than a Union buyout.
Double sacrilege, or sincere tribute? We sincerely love Mazda's RX-7, yet we've also got a place in our hearts for E-Type Jaguars. We're a little sad to see that a 1985 RX-7 was sacrificed to create this very convincing E-Type replica, but maybe we can console ourselves by thinking back to Mazda's own Wankel-powered pseudo E. The pictures really are quite convincing, and unless you parked it next to a real Jaguar, only the engine note would give it away. On the plus side, you could double-dip on enthusiast events, Jaguar and Mazda fans alike would embrace this car. The replica sold for $16,000 on eBay recently, and we hope the new owner is out enjoying the raspy whine of the 13B and the way light clings to the curvy hood panel as you motor about town, turning heads.
Although it came as a surprise to most (okay, all), Volkswagen plans to revive the Phaeton nameplate and possibly make a play for buyers of more high-budget coupes like the Mercedes SL. A few spy shots surfaced last month showing a test mule of VW's intentions, and although little was gleaned from the misshapen two-door, artists contracted by Automobile decided to take a whack at styling the Phaeton coupe in the virtual realm.
Looking more like an Eos hopped up on a Barry Bonds cocktail, the stretched wheelbase and bulging fenders make an attempt to convey more luxurious pretenses. We say it fails to excite. But then again, neither did the original sedan, so it's keeping with tradition. What say you?
You might not have known from looking at it, but even after the second-generation new MINI came out, the convertible version carried on from the previous incarnation. But the BMW subsidiary has been hard at work on its replacement, set to join the standard hatchback and the upcoming Clubman wagon in the lineup ahead of the crossover version.
Opting for a soft top instead of a folding metal roof, the new MINI cabrio's is fully automatic and features an intriguing half-fold mechanism that allows the driver to open just the top instead of the entire roof to expose just the front two seats to the open air, targa-style. Reports also suggest that the fixed chrome roll-over hoops behind the rear seat headrests on the outgoing model will be ditched in favor of deployable emergency units.
The rear-angle spy shot, meanwhile, shows that with the roof up or halfway open, rearward visibility will be severely compromised, with enormous C-pillars creating large blind spots. Guess that means drivers will just have to keep the top down altogether. Oh well.
Sydney 2007: Aussie-only 281 HP Mazda3 MPS Extreme
Sydney 2007: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X - LIVE PICS
Sydney 2007: FPV crosses over, unveils F6 X
Sydney 2007: Holden debuts VE Commodore Sportwagon
Sydney 2007: Holden HSV Maloo R8 a "coupe with a damn big boot!"
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
In The Autoblog Garage: 2007 Subaru Forester Sports 2.5X
Walkaround: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
By the Numbers: September 2007
In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Rolls-Royce Phantom
