Ultimate Car Blog

Renault: Screw China, we'd rather sell cars in Iran!

In what may be the world's stupidest move ever (or at least a tacit admission that Renault cars simply don't cut it), Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn says that Renault will stop manufacturing cars in China and instead focus on the Middle East.  To this we say, "WTF?"  In a few short years, China will be the world's largest automobile market, and Iran will still be...Iran.  So what gives?  This makes two bonehead moves for the previously infallible Nissan/Renault CEO: first the move of Nissan HQ from California to Tennessee, and now this.  Amazing.

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Computer rendering of next-gen BMW 7-series

AutoBild has released some new computer renderings of the next-gen BMW 7 series.  Supposedly it will be smaller and sleeker than the current gen, and have an easier-to-use iDrive system.  Click for the picture.

Click for picture (copyrighted)

China McDonalds to open first drive thru

Via Edmunds comes news that Mickey D's is opening their first of many drive-thru restaurants in China.  I'm all for this, although truthfully, I shall never be at peace with McDonalds until they bring back the McDLT!  Btw, did you know that in China, a Big Mac is actually called a Royale with Cheese? ;)

Encouraged by the growing number of motorists on Chinese roads, especially in the major urban centers, McDonald's, the American fast-food chain, has opened its first drive-through here in southern Guangdong province. The company, which plans to have 1,000 outlets in China by 2008, said it expects to open additional drive-throughs in other big cities.

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Car buried in 1957 to be unearthed in 2007

Interesting that there was speculation that the internal combustion engine would be obsolete in 50 years!

TULSA, Okla. - A Plymouth Belvedere that was buried in a concrete vault nearly 50 years ago as part of the state's golden anniversary celebration will be unearthed in 2007 as part of the Oklahoma centennial festivities.

The 1957 Belvedere is underground next to the Tulsa County Courthouse. Also buried with it were five gallons of gas and a case of beer.

Old news reports indicate the gas was buried in case internal combustion engines became obsolete by 2007 and no fuel was available.

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NAIAS: Mazda Kabura concept sketch!

Mazda KABURA, a compact sports coupe, is a concept car designed at Mazda’s design center in California. KABURA is the third design concept vehicle from Mazda following Mazda SASSOU (designed at Mazda’s European Design Center) and Mazda SENKU (designed at Mazda’s Yokohama R&D Center near Tokyo), each reflecting the global influences that Mazda chief designers can draw from.

With a compact body, the Mazda KABURA sports coupe is a vehicle that combines the pleasures of sports car driving with functionality. With a rear-drive powertrain that elicits dynamic styling and a wide range of utilities on board, it was designed for first new car buyers who love to drive. KABURA is a concept car that embodies the highest elements of Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom ethos.

“KABURA” is a Japanese term taken from “Kabura-ya”, an arrow that makes a sound when fired and was used to signal the start of a battle. The “first arrow into battle” depicts Mazda’s spirit of pursuing unique and exciting ventures.

Mazda CX-7 production pictures

Finally, production pics of the new Mazda CX-7 SUV!  Specs include turbocharged, intercooled 2.3L 4-cylinder from the Mazdaspeed 6 producing 244 hp and 258 lb/ft torque!  Full press release after the jump.

Auto industry is world's biggest ad buyer

Interesting tidbits from Advertising Age:

-The auto industry is the world's biggest advertiser. 

-Automakers spent $22.69 billion to advertise in global media last year, 12.8 percent more than the year before.

-Worldwide, GM was the auto industry's biggest advertising buyer last year, at $3.92 billion.

That's some serious cash!

CNET.com utterly clueless about cars

CNET.com is a very nice site if you want to buy a new computer or digital camera.  But they weren't happy leaving well-enough alone.  Nope, they decided they had to start reviewing cars.  Their recent "face-off" between the Audi S4 and BMW 750, two cars that have absolutely nothing in common other than being made in Germany, demonstrates that it might be best to just stick to what they know!

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Canadian importer of Japanese Kei-cars

Kei cars, not hybrids or diesels, are the O.G. fuel sipping cars.  In Japan, where streets are narrow and car ownership is expensive, they are very popular.  If you live in Canada, you can buy your own!  Via Treehugger:

Japanoid is a Canadian importer of K-Cars (also called Keicars, keijidōsha) and other extremely compact Japanese cars. . ."Japan is a country with very few natural resources. So the Japanese government created very smart laws that give special tax breaks to cars of certain size and efficiency. [...] K-Cars must be under 4.4 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. Their engines are also regulated to be less than 660cc - no more than 64 horsepower." Some have more powerful engines than the K-Cars specifications yet keep the extremely compact proportions.

Read at TreeHugger

GM to advertise newfull-size SUVs by emphasizing....fuel economy?

According to inside sources, GM plans to market its new line of full-size SUVs by emphasizing....wait for it.....fuel economy!  Chevrolet says the four-wheel-drive version of the 2007 Tahoe will get 21 mpg in highway driving, up from the current model's 19 mpg. Both models get 15 mpg in city driving.  Apparently, that's sufficiently greater than its competitors to be worth bragging about.

And in other news, the makers of Twinkies and Ho-Hos announced a new ad campaign today that will emphasize the healthfulness and nutrition of their tasty snacks...yeah.