Ultimate Car Blogtag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-2628612005-12-13T19:45:41-09:00The Ultimate Blogging Machine: Car News, Pictures, Discussion, and More!TypePadRenault: Screw China, we'd rather sell cars in Iran!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-79218242005-12-13T19:45:41-09:002005-12-13T19:45:41-09:00In 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...qweewq11Computer rendering of next-gen BMW 7-seriestag:typepad.com,2003:post-79217822005-12-13T19:41:07-09:002005-12-13T19:41:07-09:00AutoBild 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)qweewq11China McDonalds to open first drive thrutag:typepad.com,2003:post-79217622005-12-13T19:38:55-09:002005-12-13T19:38:55-09:00Via 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...qweewq11Car buried in 1957 to be unearthed in 2007tag:typepad.com,2003:post-79068172005-12-13T04:07:06-09:002005-12-13T04:07:06-09:00Interesting 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...qweewq11NAIAS: Mazda Kabura concept sketch!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-79065992005-12-13T03:44:02-09:002005-12-13T03:44:02-09:00Mazda 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...qweewq11Mazda CX-7 production picturestag:typepad.com,2003:post-79065532005-12-13T03:38:57-09:002005-12-13T03:38:57-09:00Finally, 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. December 13, 2005 2007 MAZDA CX-7: A HIGH-STYLED...qweewq11Auto industry is world's biggest ad buyertag:typepad.com,2003:post-78874092005-12-12T14:14:00-09:002005-12-12T14:14:00-09:00Interesting 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...qweewq11CNET.com utterly clueless about carstag:typepad.com,2003:post-78876512005-12-12T10:51:00-09:002005-12-12T10:51:00-09:00CNET.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...qweewq11Canadian importer of Japanese Kei-carstag:typepad.com,2003:post-78801202005-12-12T07:44:00-09:002005-12-12T07:44:00-09:00Kei 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...qweewq11GM to advertise newfull-size SUVs by emphasizing....fuel economy?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-78874752005-12-12T01:24:00-09:002005-12-12T01:24:00-09:00According 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...qweewq11Buick Enclave to replace Rendezvous and Ranier SUVtag:typepad.com,2003:post-78875192005-12-11T22:30:08-09:002005-12-11T22:30:08-09:00Here's the early scoop on the replacement for the Buick Rendezvous and Buick Ranier SUVs. We can only hope that it will be more attractive than the current Rendezvous. Expect to be seeing a lot more of Tiger Woods when...qweewq11Cut-rate Chrysler Crossfire selling on Overstock.comtag:typepad.com,2003:post-78873582005-12-11T22:07:55-09:002005-12-11T22:07:55-09:00The Chrysler Crossfire has never gotten much love from the buying public, and Chrysler has taken to hawking the sporty coupe/convertible on Overstock.com, with discounts from MSRP of up to $8,900. The Chrysler Crossfire was conceived as a brand image...qweewq11Playboy's Cars of the Yeartag:typepad.com,2003:post-78832402005-12-11T14:30:14-09:002005-12-11T14:30:14-09:00Via Autoblog comes Playboy's cars of the year! Although these sound like interesting choices, my nominations for Playboy cars of the year include any SUV, van, or wagon big enough to hold a good-sized mattress. Any does anyone else find...qweewq11Jeopardy players don't know much about carstag:typepad.com,2003:post-78799652005-12-11T09:56:57-09:002005-12-11T09:56:57-09:00This can't be good for Pontiac's PR. From the Detroit News: Just when you thought things couldn't get much worse for money-losing General Motors Corp., there's this: Contestants on a recent installment of the "Jeopardy!" quiz show couldn't name the...qweewq11Ducati Hypermotard concept motorcycletag:typepad.com,2003:post-78765262005-12-11T08:03:00-09:002005-12-11T08:03:00-09:00Silly name, gorgeous bike. Press release after the jump, or read via Luxist THE DUCATI HYPERMOTARD CONCEPT BIKE The Ducati Hypermotard – a radical concept bike – takes power, aggressiveness, versatility, and sport performance to a new extreme. Taking advantage...qweewq11Car sharing programs coming to a city near you!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-78764382005-12-11T04:44:00-09:002005-12-11T04:44:00-09:00According to the NY Times, car sharing programs like Zipcar are thriving in several big cities, and are on track to expand into more cities in the coming year: ZipCar plans to start service in Chicago and Philadelphia in 2006...qweewq11Gran Turismo on motorcycles?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-78712182005-12-10T16:12:00-09:002005-12-10T16:12:00-09:00With video games looking more and more realistic each day, many of us choose to get our high-speed thrills in the virtual world. There's certainly less of a chance that we'll get a ticket! The maker of Gran Turismo, the...qweewq11Funny Mini Cooper Adtag:typepad.com,2003:post-78713622005-12-10T14:30:50-09:002005-12-10T14:30:50-09:00Although this counterfeit Mini ad isn't new, watching it again today reminded me how funny and well-done this Mini ad is. To watch, click the link, then click the "View our latest public service announcement" link at the bottom of...qweewq11Chinese automaker Geely to be in Detroit Auto Showtag:typepad.com,2003:post-78710652005-12-10T13:53:20-09:002005-12-10T13:53:20-09:00The Chinese are coming! Chinese automaker Geely will be the first Chinese automaker to exhibit cars at the Detroit auto show next month. We expect this to be the first of many Chinese automakers to strut their stuff in Detroit....qweewq11tag:typepad.com,2003:post-78136612005-12-10T12:09:00-09:002005-12-10T12:09:00-09:00qweewq11Brake rotors with built-in wear indicatortag:typepad.com,2003:post-78634802005-12-10T07:37:00-09:002005-12-10T07:37:00-09:00Could these be the rotors of the future? Continental Teves, one of the world's 15 largest automotive suppliers, recently launched its ATE PremiumOne brake rotors and pads in North America, giving vehicles a distinctive look and drivers a new way...qweewq11The 10 most expensive vehicles to owntag:typepad.com,2003:post-78634672005-12-10T03:35:00-09:002005-12-10T03:35:00-09:00Forbes (who should know!) list the 10 most expensive cars to own with regard to full cost of ownership. The cars are: • Mercedes-Benz CL-Class • Mercedes-Benz SL-Class • Porsche 911 • Mercedes-Benz S-Class • BMW 7 Series • Mercedes-Benz...qweewq11Would you rather buy a car from a woman?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-78633032005-12-09T21:07:36-09:002005-12-09T21:07:36-09:00Would you rather buy a car from a woman? Nissan Japan thinks so, which is why they are increasing the number of women in their car dealerships in Japan. But how 'bout over here? Do women make better salesmen salespeople...qweewq11Wards Auto 10 Best Engines Awardstag:typepad.com,2003:post-78632452005-12-09T20:55:22-09:002005-12-09T20:55:22-09:00Ward's Automotive has published their annual list of the world's 10 best engines. The winners include engines from Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Mazda, Nissan, and Toyota. Click the article for the full list of specific engines! Read articleqweewq112007 Toyota Camry pics in the Wild!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-78618132005-12-09T17:29:55-09:002005-12-09T17:29:55-09:00Finally, pics of the 2007 Camry in the wild! Way more pics after the jump! Click on the link below! .qweewq11USA Today review of new Lexus IStag:typepad.com,2003:post-78473422005-12-09T15:32:00-09:002005-12-09T15:32:00-09:00And if you want a second opinion for the below posts, here is James Healey's USA Today post on the American version of the vehicle. Healey's conclusion? Overall: Wonderful piece of work for those who don't need much of a...qweewq11Britain's 4Car reviews new Lexus IStag:typepad.com,2003:post-78471532005-12-09T03:16:00-09:002005-12-09T03:16:00-09:00Here at the Ultimate Car Blog, we love to get the international perspective on things when we can. England's 4Car magazine just released their review of the new Lexus IS. The verdict? "A hugely competent follow up to the original,...qweewq11