Suzuki X-Head Concept - 2007 Tokyo Show Preview

The X-Head is one of Suzuki’s many offerings at the forthcoming 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in late October. According to the Japanese carmaker, X-Head is a new type of lifestyle utility vehicle that incorporates the DNA of the Jimny and Grand Vitara. Huh? Looks more like a Jap version of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog if you ask us, but whatev; it’s not as if you’ll ever see one of these going to production. -Translated press release after the jump

Translated Press Release

“X-HEAD” is " the cross utility vehicle " of the new genre which brings the various values which until recently are not. It has high running the whole distance characteristic, the “gym knee”, “the escudo”, it has high loading characteristic, DNA “of [kiyarii]” was succeeded, functional hopefulness was had. The naming, “X-HEAD” adjusting to the life style and sense of value of the person who rides, has meant the possibility this car which corresponds to various uses becoming unknown. Being possible to combine the carrier unit which is adjusted to life style 2 adults sleeps and can stay " the camper " and in the town coolly to ride it handles, " fashion " and so on, the person who rides " you play and stimulate heart and curiosity ". In addition, supposed the rescue rescue in various road circumstances " rescue " and so on, it is possible to answer also social mission, being tough, you propose the pleasant car.

Via: Le Blog Auto , Source: Suzuki

Fiat Nuovo 500 Bi-Colore By Aznom

Can you imagine how many tuners will present customization programmes for the “nuovo” 500 once Fiat begins selling it in all of Europe early next year? We’ve already seen a dozen or so propositions and the 500 is (or rather was since 2007’s production is sold out) available only in Italy and France! This one is the work of Italian custom shop, Aznom who picked out a “bumblebee” paintjob theme for the exterior along with 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, Aznom offers three grades of customization –depending on the depth of your wallet, covering the cabin with wood inserts, bi-colour seats etc. -Follow the jump for more pictures and the translated press release

Via: Autoblog.it , Source: Aznom

Translated Press Release

The rework of the 500 is born from the will to improve and to personalize a icona, sign of the Italian rebirth, the will to change and to render on measure something created one for all. One new challenge for Aznom, only owner of the brand in the field automotive, not only on base 500, but for whichever other your desire on two and four wheels. For our realizations we have established a partnership with Giovanni Novello, of the Nowa Group, whose family is engaged sin from years `50 in the preparation, numerous realization and cure of specially built. The group is distinguished also in the field of the restorations and the handicraft personalizzazioni.

500 Fiat ricarrozzata Topolino by hand from Walter Novello, father of Giovanni, in 1949. In origin it was a giardinetta in wood, after the transformation it it has been lengthened the step and elaborated the motor, and rifared completely the auto body with inner and colors it personalizes to you.

Our first realization on base 500 is been born with the scope to experience new materials, new colors and to risk new cromatismi in order to stimulate the fantasy and the estro of our customers. The plancia totally it is personalized covered from an eccentric essence of wood that donates a touch of originality for who does not want to conform to the aesthetic usuals canoni.

The outside of the 500 by Aznom is bicolored, the particular one of the roof and of the small mirrors pearly cangiante is painted with one ocher tonality, in perfect contrast with the black one of the inferior part.

The inner ones are completely are covered in bicolored skin. Sitting and back are rifiniti to cannelloni style years' 60. The brown and the ocher yellow are alternated wise between several the sitting for giving a sense of elegant mobility to all the nside. Perfect frame is the alcantara that it covers the sky and mounting, without to omit the fins parasol alternated in skin brown and alcantara. Specchiatevi in the lusso.

The circles in alloy from 16 inches of series have been replaced with of the 17 inches in ultralight alloy multirace Mak Passenger XLR with pneumati specific Yokohama “Parada”, thanks to partnership with RS & TA to us the Yokohama and Mak.

Specials on this version: key with same essence of wood used for the plancia, ag in skin with the inner colors of and the manici ones with the same lignea essence of the plancia, trousse for tools in skin with the colors of the inner ones. A singular particularitity of this version 500 is an exclusive device for the sbloccaggio of the door fleeting side through a hidden appropriate push-button in the dashboard. This device was mounted in origin on 130 Fiat Coupè in order to facilitate the climb to edge of the getlteman. We have likeably renamed it “push-button gallant”, an unavailable accessory vintage and. The galanteria returns fashionable…

For the fortunate owners the course of sure guide will be the opportunity to carry out to the special price of 400 € trackznom.

The 500 by Aznom in three declinations…
Aznom redefines style and quality creating with its partner a chosen width of personalizzazioni; in this case we have reassumed in three adjectives, the three ways to be Aznom.

“Amiable” version
External Selleria in skin, particular on ink to your choice
beginning from 4500€
time realization 1 month approximately

“Intriguing” version
Selleria and particular in skin (panels door ant. post. , change and brake by hand) bicolored Auto body, plancia personalizzabile.
beginning from 6500€
time of realization 1 and half approximately

Version “Seducente”
Covering total in skin, bicolored auto body or special color, plancia in valuable materials, tappetini personalizes and vain baggages to you.
Beginning from 8500 €
Time of realization 1 and half months approximately

The prices can vary based on the choice of the skin and valuable materials to use

Video: BMW 3-Series Crashes Into A Water Filled Ditch!

Ouuuuch; We admit, the late 3-Series Compact wasn’t a pretty sight to look at and we’d probably have preferred if BMW had ditched it altogether before it even came into production, but isn’t “ditching” it yourself sort of a overly drastic measure…? -Thanks for the tip Feodosiy!

Ford S-MAX Scooped In Los Angeles!

Motortrend’s senior editor, Ed Loh, scooped a Ford S-MAX this morning on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Interestingly enough, Ford’s “European Car Of The Year” winner (click here) was equipped with Michigan manufacturer plates, so, as Motortrends’ Kirill Ougarov rightfully points out in his article, this aint no foreign diplomat car. Could it be that Ford’s looking into bringing the high-acclaimed Euro MPV to the States? Up until now and despite Ford CEO Alan Mullaly’s interest in European Fords, the American carmaker has denied any such rumours. On our behalf, we’d really like to see Ford offering the S-MAX to U.S. consumers. We’ve had the chance to drive all versions and it’s one hell of an MPV; not only does it look good but it’s spacious and a treat to drive.

Via: Motortrend

Knight Rider Coming Back To TV In 2008

If you’re in your late 20’s – early 30’s like yours truly, you’ve probably spent countless hours as a kid in front of the TV watching Michael Knight (played by David Hasselhoff) and his blacked out K.I.T.T. 2000. Yes, we shamelessly admit that there was a time and a place were we dreamed of driving Knight’s talking Trans-Am –with a handful of chicks in it! But we better stop here before we make a complete “arse” of ourselves… Anyway, what we really wanted to tell you is that NBC is bringing back the 1980s action-drama series. According to Variety, the new "Knight Rider" could air as early as next fall. There’s no word on which car will substitute the Pontiac Trans-Am, but producers are exploring the idea of adding "evil" cars to offset K.I.T.T.

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Variety

2018 Mazda3 Contest: Design It & See It At The LA Show!

Mazda launched a pretty innovative contest today where the winner will have the chance to create a concept that’ll premiere at the 2007 L.A. Show in November. All you have to do is visit Mazda’s dedicated page on Facebook.com (membership required) and submit a 150-word description of your vision on a 2018 MAZDA3 including an optional sketch drawing.

Mazda’s design team will review the entries choosing 10 semi-finalists. Facebook community will then take over picking out five finalists which will be paired with a Mazda designer to hone their concept. Finally, the five projects will be subjected to a vote on Facebook. The winner will see his vision of a 2018 Mazda3 in a full-scale model at the LA Show. The contest, which is open only to U.S. residents, will end on November 7, 2007. -Press release after the jump

WANTED: DESIGNER TO CREATE THE 2018 MAZDA3, LIVE ON STAGE AT THE LA AUTO SHOW IN A WORLD-EXCLUSIVE DESIGN CHALLENGE

IRVINE, Calif., September 27, 2007 – It’s the ultimate assignment: tell Mazda what you think the 2018 MAZDA3 should look like. And better, if your design is chosen, you’ll have the chance to put your talent where your mouth is at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, where you’ll work with Mazda designers to bring your creation to life in front of more than a million anxious show-goers.

The “Mazda Design Challenge,” launched today on Facebook.com (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7602701619), will enlist help from Facebook members across the United States to compete to design a future MAZDA3, Mazda’s best-selling car globally. For the first time ever in the auto industry, the victor will work with Franz von Holzhausen, director of Mazda Design in North America, and his team, to bring the concept to life, live on stage at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show.

To enter, contestants must submit a 150-word description of their vision of the 2018 MAZDA3 including an optional sketch drawing. The Mazda Design team will then judge each entry, choosing 10 semi-finalists. Five finalists will be chosen by the Facebook community. Each of the five finalists will be paired with a Mazda designer to hone their concept, which will then be judged and voted on in a second round by fellow Facebook members.

Voting will take place over the course of a week, with the winning designer traveling to Los Angeles to hone their work with the Mazda Design team. Over the course of the ten-day auto show, the winner will bring their vision to fruition, ending with a full-scale model that represents their view of what the 2018 MAZDA3 will be.

“The ‘Mazda Design Challenge’ is an exciting, interactive competition that capitalizes on the power and influence of social networking,” said David Klan, director of marketing, MNAO. “By inviting young voices into the highly classified and secretive design process, Mazda will prove it’s a company involved in an active partnership with its customers.”

“Usually the design ideas come from inside our studio, but this is a rare opportunity for my team to look at design through our potential customers’ eyes,” added von Holzhausen. “Never before has any other automaker built a concept car on the show stand, in full view of show attendees. The pressure’s really going to be on all of us – especially the contest winner – to get it finished in time for the closing weekend of the show.”

Travel, accommodations, $1,000 spending cash and a new MAZDA3 to drive during their stay awaits the winner. In addition, the winner will have the opportunity to take the microphone to introduce the final concept at its unveiling on the final day of the show.

The contest is open only to residents of the United States, and begins on September 25 and ends on November 7, 2007 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Participants must enter by visiting Facebook.com.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts, accessories and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de México in Mexico City.

GM - UAW Deal: Non-Core Workers To Get Half Pay!

As many insiders predicted when General Motors and the United Auto Workers (UAW) shook hands earlier this week, the shift of $50 billion in health-care obligations to the union fund was just half the story.

Citing people with knowledge of the plan, Bloomberg is reporting today that GM and UAW have agreed to create a new class of jobs that’d pay about half the current rate thus breaking UAW's tradition of equal earnings for union members. Under the agreement, the so-called non-core employees like janitors and maintenance workers would get receive about $28 an hour in pay and benefits, compared with $51 for present employees. -Continued after the jump

While current “non-core” workers wouldn’t be affected by the accord, GM will try to by them out with the new pay structure applying to their replacements. But will this truly help GM? We can’t say for sure since it isn’t clear yet how many of GM's 73,000 current UAW- represented positions will be considered as non-core jobs. Analysts believe however that in order for this to have an substantial impact on GM, it would have to concern more than 5,000 workers.

Commenting on the report, Richard Block, a labor professor at Michigan State University in East Lansing told Bloomberg, “The company likes it because it cuts compensation costs and the union can swallow it because the people affected aren't going to vote because they don't exist yet,''. How true Mr. Block; what the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve...

Via: bloomberg