Geneva '08 Preview: Castagna gives Fiat 500 and MINI Clubman a big Woody

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Wagons/Estates, Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Hatchbacks, MINI, FIAT

Click on the images to view in high resolution

Carrozzeria Castagna loves tinkering with little retro hatches. The Milanese design house has brought us wave after wave of unique creations - including MINI pickups and custom 500s - and is looking to continue its grand tradition of peculiarity at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

The MINI Woody Passion Kit (try saying that three times fast) is fairly straightforward because MINI already makes a wagon, so Castagna has put together a package of trim pieces for the Clubman in contrasting dark and light woodgrain effects. For the 500 WoodyWagon, however, Castagna had to take things a step further. About 50-60mm further, actually, as the coachbuilder has stretched the Cinquecento - only the rear overhang, it seems, with the wheelbase left intact) to create its interpretation of how a 500 wagon would look. The reports suggest that the 500 WoodyWagon will also come equipped with Castagna's supercharger kit, boosting power from 100 up to 155hp. Equally intriguing, however, is the suggestion that this is only a preview, as Fiat itself reportedly plans on making a 500 wagon by 2010 to be called the Giardiniera, which is news to us.

Gallery: Geneva '08: Castagna WoodyWagon

[Source: Italiaspeed]

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Geneva '08 Preview: Castagna gives Fiat 500 and MINI Clubman a big Woody

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Wagons/Estates, Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Hatchbacks, MINI, FIAT

Click on the images to view in high resolution

Carrozzeria Castagna loves tinkering with little retro hatches. The Milanese design house has brought us wave after wave of unique creations - including MINI pickups and custom 500s - and is looking to continue its grand tradition of peculiarity at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

The MINI Woody Passion Kit (try saying that three times fast) is fairly straightforward because MINI already makes a wagon, so Castagna has put together a package of trim pieces for the Clubman in contrasting dark and light woodgrain effects. For the 500 WoodyWagon, however, Castagna had to take things a step further. About 50-60mm further, actually, as the coachbuilder has stretched the Cinquecento - only the rear overhang, it seems, with the wheelbase left intact) to create its interpretation of how a 500 wagon would look. The reports suggest that the 500 WoodyWagon will also come equipped with Castagna's supercharger kit, boosting power from 100 up to 155hp. Equally intriguing, however, is the suggestion that this is only a preview, as Fiat itself reportedly plans on making a 500 wagon by 2010 to be called the Giardiniera, which is news to us.

Gallery: Geneva '08: Castagna WoodyWagon

[Source: Italiaspeed]

 

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Automakers win: Canada dropping ecoAUTO rebate program

Filed under: Green, Honda, Toyota, Canada

After a controversial two-year run, the Canadian government has announced their ecoAUTO rebate program will be ended next year. The ecoAUTO plan offered a $1000 to $2000 CDN rebate to owners of new cars that consumed gas at a rate less than 6.5 l/100 km. Although the ambitious plan sounded like an excellent way to reward drivers of frugal transportation, the mathematical line in the sand snuffed those whose vehicles were still very efficient, yet just under the threshold.

One of the most vocal protests came from Honda. Unfortunately for them, their Canadian-market Fit was "unfit" for the rebate, yet the competing Toyota Yaris was approved. It didn't take long for the Japanese automaker to call out the Ottawa government in protest. Honda took their message public, and even offered their own version of the rebate to match the government's offer.

To mend the wounds of this green-rebate-gone-awry, the Canadian government has pledged $250 million to the auto industry for the development and research of environmentally-friendly technologies.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

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Automakers win: Canada dropping ecoAUTO rebate program

Filed under: Green, Honda, Toyota, Canada

After a controversial two-year run, the Canadian government has announced their ecoAUTO rebate program will be ended next year. The ecoAUTO plan offered a $1000 to $2000 CDN rebate to owners of new cars that consumed gas at a rate less than 6.5 l/100 km. Although the ambitious plan sounded like an excellent way to reward drivers of frugal transportation, the mathematical line in the sand snuffed those whose vehicles were still very efficient, yet just under the threshold.

One of the most vocal protests came from Honda. Unfortunately for them, their Canadian-market Fit was "unfit" for the rebate, yet the competing Toyota Yaris was approved. It didn't take long for the Japanese automaker to call out the Ottawa government in protest. Honda took their message public, and even offered their own version of the rebate to match the government's offer.

To mend the wounds of this green-rebate-gone-awry, the Canadian government has pledged $250 million to the auto industry for the development and research of environmentally-friendly technologies.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

 

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Melbourne 2008: Mitsubishi Panther concepts claw at good taste

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Minivans/MPVs, Sedans/Saloons, SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, Hatchbacks, Mitsubishi, Misc. Auto Shows, Australia

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Mitsubishi "Panther" Concepts

In addition to bringing the good stuff (Lancer Evo, Ralliart) to Melbourne, Mitsubishi has some schlock on hand to counterbalance the awesome. We're talking about the automaker's "Panther" concepts, which leverage bling, decals, and that whole "dealer-installed accessory" vibe to create all-show/no-go machines of questionable taste. We find those "panther scratch" stickers to be particularly egregious -- they'd look right at home on a busted-up Paseo with 15-inch spinner hubcaps. Check out the attached gallery to see what you like most or least about the five Panther concepts. We think the Pajero fares the best of the bunch, and while we'd love to have the Triton pickup in general, we could do without the 22-inch cartoon wheels and graphics. The other three victims are the Colt (not too bad), Grandis minivan (above) and Lancer ES, whose Panther makeover begs the question, why do this when you can simply buy a GTS? They may wear the name of a predator, but these "Panthers" look like they'd be happier noshing on Friskies than fresh meat. Mitsubishi's excuse explanation for them follows after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Mitsuishi "Panther" Concepts

[Source: Mitsubishi]

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Melbourne 2008: Mitsubishi Panther concepts claw at good taste

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Minivans/MPVs, Sedans/Saloons, SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, Hatchbacks, Mitsubishi, Misc. Auto Shows, Australia

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Mitsubishi "Panther" Concepts

In addition to bringing the good stuff (Lancer Evo, Ralliart) to Melbourne, Mitsubishi has some schlock on hand to counterbalance the awesome. We're talking about the automaker's "Panther" concepts, which leverage bling, decals, and that whole "dealer-installed accessory" vibe to create all-show/no-go machines of questionable taste. We find those "panther scratch" stickers to be particularly egregious -- they'd look right at home on a busted-up Paseo with 15-inch spinner hubcaps. Check out the attached gallery to see what you like most or least about the five Panther concepts. We think the Pajero fares the best of the bunch, and while we'd love to have the Triton pickup in general, we could do without the 22-inch cartoon wheels and graphics. The other three victims are the Colt (not too bad), Grandis minivan (above) and Lancer ES, whose Panther makeover begs the question, why do this when you can simply buy a GTS? They may wear the name of a predator, but these "Panthers" look like they'd be happier noshing on Friskies than fresh meat. Mitsubishi's excuse explanation for them follows after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Mitsuishi "Panther" Concepts

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading Melbourne 2008: Mitsubishi Panther concepts claw at good taste

 

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Spy Shots: Jaguar XFR getting ready to bite

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Jaguar

In nature, only the lion and tiger are bigger cats than the jaguar, and the spotted feline is quite the predator, as prey learns when the cat's fangs penetrate their skulls. The wild jaguar is also diminishing in number. When you think about it, you can draw a parallel between the beast and the brand named after it.

After all, there are bigger luxury marques with more notoriety, such as Mercedes and BMW, and it's no secret that Jaguar (especially in the United States) has been fading from the sales charts, as a peek at our By The Numbers posts will demonstrate. Like the feline predator, however, Jaguar is still no slouch at what it does.

Which brings us to the XF. The XF is The Next Big Step for Jaguar, blending modernity with big sedan proportions and dollops of luxury. Curiously, the blown mill that powers the other "R" cars is available on a standard-grade XF, so the XFR has to be better, and Auto Express has spotted it out testing. Bigger intakes in front, bigger wheels and brakes at the corners, and big power underhood are all on tap. An stout 500 horsepower is expected from the car's supercharged 5.0L V8. Out back, a spoiler and quad tips are the other telltale signs that the XFR is the most serious predator of its immediate family. Assuming it's as good as the XJR and XKR, this is one cat we're eager to tame.

[Source: Auto Express]

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