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Auto Loud - July 2009

Finally! The sleeping giant may well have woken up!

The brand new shiny GM, not the old tarnished one, have actually used their brains and decided that the Pontiac G8 was too good a car to kill off, so it will now wear Chevy badges! This makes sense, it made sense three years ago when the VE first arrived on the scene.

new chevy



This will open a huge door for Chevrolet, in that it gives them a rear wheel drive car to sell to Police departments all over the USA! The Holden Commodore is already sold in a Police pack in Australia and the changeover to left hand drive is already done. With a huge market like that on tap, it will be interesting to see what Chevy can do with the car.

The Commodore – which may wear Caprice badges – is already badged as a Chevy Lumina for the South American, South African and Middle east markets, this leaves the Caprice badge for the Statesman / Caprice version.

Chevrolet caprice


It that isn’t enough, then don’t forget the ute/pick up which has to be called the El Camino. It was already certified for sale as a Pontiac, so change the badges!

Chevy El camino



Get on it with GM! You do have bills to pay!
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What! A new pussycat?!

July 11th 2009 13:07
Thanks to American car nut Jay Leno and possibly the yummiest mummy of them all, Elle McPherson, the world has finally been privy to the all new Jaguar XJ series!

Jaguar xj


Just launched in Charles Saatchi’s gallery to an invited audience of beautiful people, what does it do for the rest of us who didn’t get the free bubbly? Let’s forget all the glitz and the undoubted glamour of Ms McPherson for a minute, what exactly is the new Jag, is it a giant step forward or has TATA just pussy footed around?

To start with, I do admire Jags, from afar mostly, because any experiences I have been involved with has normally been associated with very LARGE expenditure!

To me, the older style XJ, like, pick one (any one!) from the last forty years, was unique. There was no other sedan that looked or felt like a Jaguar. Cosy cosseting interiors went hand in hand with that classic low slung shape to provide a car unlike any other. Compare one to an Mercedes Benz E or S Class from a similar time and it is like parking the Bismarck next to a Wally speedboat!

jaguar xj


Anyway the all new shiny one is different. On initially viewing, it is a far more modern design than the outgoing model, which if you squinted still bore an amazing resemblance to the 1968 original, not that heritage is a bad thing, but growing old is!

Influenced by the XF, the big Cat is unlike previous XJs in that it lacks visual links to older models. The roof treatment is unusual in that it has a full length glass panel, I hope the air conditioning is up to the task, as rush hour on a summer’s day in say Sydney or Los Angeles will become a test of man and machinery! Bring hats, sunscreen and drinks folks!

Due for release early next year, the XJ will be available in two wheelbase lengths and will be available with the super economical V6 diesel engine and the choice of three V8’s! The top of the range has lost the coveted R designation and will henceforth be known as “Supersport” which is fitting for a limo with 470hp under the bonnet!

British racing green please!

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In an effort to find new sales “niches” and increase sales, motor manufacturers continually move into new market segments. Some of these experiments work, some others simply don’t.

Several lately have caught the attention of AUTOLOUD.

Obviously the Porsche Cayenne is old news but an SUV with a twin turbo V8 and a Porsche badge? Call me a traditionalist if you like but the engine in a Porsche should be placed behind the driver, not in front! I also remain similarly unconvinced about the new Panamera sedan.

The Estoque concept shown by Lamborghini is, well ugly! Sorry but it is, Lamborghinis have an uncanny ability to look menacing or even positively evil. The Countach, Diablo, Murcielago and especially the LM002 all looked wicked. Apart from the copycat nose on the Estoque, this thing looks like the offspring of a late night rendezvous between a Nissan and an LP640!

In a move that will have members of the Aston Martin owners club choking on their gin and tonics, Aston Martin is to offer a Toyota iQ as an Aston Martin!

toyota iQ


This diminutive Japanese thrift-ster will receive an Aston Martin style nose, an interior befitting of the AM badge but sadly no V8 or V12, the Cygnet as it is called has to make do with a three cylinder engine. The whole point of this exercise is to tap into the market that Aston is currently missing out on. You see Aston owners tend to drive much smaller vehicles on a daily basis, keeping the Aston for special occasions.

Aston Martin Cygnet


Interestingly AM will only offer the Cygnet to current Aston owners, No doubt 007 will pass on this opportunity! if you really, really want a rebadged Toyota hatchback buy a DBS now!
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