MK III Austin Healey 3000 Improved due to engine modifications.

The Austin Healey 3000

The Austin Healey 3000 was the replacement car for the Austin Healey 100/6. The Austin Healey 3000 was a superior car to its predecessor, equipped with many improved features and updated parts. During its production lifetime the Austin Healey 3000 went through three different versions, the MK I, MK II and MK III.
The Austin Healey 3000 MK I (1959 - 1961) was fitted with a 3.0 litre inline six cylinder engine developing 124 horsepower. The engine was equipped with twin SU carburetors. And the car featured disc brakes at the front.
The Austin Healey 3000 MK II (1961 - 1963) introduced several improvements and design changes. The engine was enhanced by the fitment of triple SU carburettors which bumped the power up to 132 horsepower. In 1962 the BT7 2+2 version was introduced. This seating layout became the only option from 1962 onwards. The Austin Healey 3000 MK IIa introduced wind-up windows, a curved windscreen, and a convertible hood.

The Austin Healey 3000

The Austin Healey 3000 MK III (1963 - 1967) was the final version of the 3000 model. The performance was improved due to engine modifications. Peak power was raised to 148 horsepower, giving the 3000 MK III a top speed of 120 mph. The brakes were also enhanced with the fitment of a servo.
In 1967, due to new safety regulations in the cars biggest market - America, the Austin Healey 3000 was discontinued. It's replacement, the MGC, was nowhere near as popular as the Austin Healey 3000.
During its lifetime the Austin Healey 3000 proved to be a capable racing car. And it competed successfully in rally and road races around the world.

Audi wants a new Murcielago competitor?

Audi R8 is a pretty impressive car, it’s only been in production since 2006, and it is already a future classic. So while the dust hasn’t even begun to settle on the V10 version we’re surprised to hear that Audi isn’t satisfied.

According to Inside Line, Audi officials confirmed that they are working on a car that car take on the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640. That’s impressive for two reason. First, Audi controls Lamborghini, so using a corporate sibling as a competitor is a little odd. Second, the V10 in the 5.2 R8 is plucked from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, so to get a car to compete with the next Lambo up the ladder is going to take a lot of work.

A natural starting starting point for this car might be the Audi R8 V12 TDI diesel concept car, but as it turns out that’s been officially killed off. Instead Audi is working an even faster supercar. We don’t have any real details on this car. Plus the current economy and potential for cannibalization of a corporate sibling make this car a little hard to understand. The one thing that we do know is that there can never be enough supercars in this world...Bring it on Audi.

[Source:Inside Line]

BMW considering five possible variants of next 1-series, turbocharging galore

A report by AutoBild states that BMW's designers are hard at work on the next iteration of the 1 series and that five different body styles are under review, with only one headed for production.

The variations include a three-door shooting brake, a five-door wagon, a "Progressive Activity Sedan" smaller than the X1, a lifted "Sports Activity Coupe" with a glass roof and, coinciding with an earlier report, a more traditional "sports tourer" that could be the spiritual successor to the 2002.

According to AutoBild, no matter which model makes the cut, BMW plans to downsize the displacement of its engines and begin the wide-scale implementation of turbocharging and direct injection across the 1 series range. The 116i model will make use of a 136 hp, 1.3-liter turbo, the 118i will use a 1.3-liter turbo tweaked to produce 177 hp, the 120i will get a 218 hp 2.0-liter turbo and the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six will put out an estimated 326 hp. Both new diesel engines and mild hybrid variants are also planned, and BMW's dual-clutch gearbox will be available on more sport-oriented models, while a standard slushbox will be employed on the rest of the range.

The new 1 series is expected to hit Europe in 2011, with a the Super Sport model debuting in 2012 and a convertible variant arriving a year later.

[Source: AutoBild]

Pagani's R-rated swansong debuts

While the closest that most of us will ever get to driving one of Horatio Pagani's creations will be via a Playstation or xBox controller, that doesn't mean we didn't nearly puddle ourselves at the mere sight of the new Zonda R. As we somehow missed out on an invitation when the car debuted in Vienna a few weeks ago, we are nonetheless happy to bring you these first official photos.

Although the Zonda R's sexy self is a sendoff for the current model range, the exoticmaker reports that the car is in fact 90% new. Built using a spendy carbon-fiber/titanium mix (reportedly an industry first) and being at once longer, wider and lower than the Zonda F, the R figures to have real presence to go along with its 739-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 engine. Zonda says the supercar was inspired by Group C racers, and street legality was not a consideration.

Thanks in part to its light weight (1,070 kilograms, or about 2,360 pounds) and Pagani's first-ever paddleshift gearbox, the rear-drive R will launch to 60 mph in three seconds dead and run up to a 233 mph top speed, provided Sir has paid the help to make sure the adjustable aero bits are properly tweaked.

A total of 16 Zonda Rs are planned, with 15 being offered to the public (the 'extra' model will stay in company hands) at a tidy €1.4M – about $1.8 million Yankee bucks. That's a shedload of cash to be sure, but given that the carbon-titanium work alone is said to have cost more than four times that of the Zonda F, it might actually be a small bargain.

[Source: iMotor]

Aston Martin V12 Vantage won't make it Stateside

Dropping big engines into small sportscars is as American as apple pie, but the British are equally adept. Proof came yesterday in the form of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, revealed ahead of its pre-production debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Only 1000 examples will be made, but unfortunately none of them will be making the transatlantic voyage to these shores (not legally, anyway). After speaking with a member of the U.S. Aston team last night, we discovered there are some problems with the overstuffed front end passing U.S. crash tests, and the airbag-less optional Alcantara-wrapped carbon-Kevlar bucket seats are completely out of the question, making the Nardo-verified 190-mph supercar persona non grata on these shores.

Disappointing though that may be, the V12 Vantage is only one of four anticipated new launches from Aston Martin this year. We've already seen the first official shots of the Rapide four-door coupe, the DBS convertible is tipped to bow at Geneva alongside the V12 Vantage, and despite economic conditions, Aston is still said to be going ahead with the launch of the first model in its revived Lagonda line (to say nothing of the full reveal of the One-77.)

Report: - January 2009

All the numbers are in for the first month of sales in 2009... and they aren't pretty. Chrysler LLC and General Motors continue to lead the pack with sales drops of 54.8% and 48.8%, respectively. While the overall economy is weak and access to credit limited, the fact that Americans watched both domestic automakers plead for and receive federal aid in December may have contributed to their particularly poor sales performance in January. Adding support to that theory is Ford Motor Company, which saw its sales fall only 40.2% last month, while Honda (-27.9%), Nissan (29.7%) and Toyota (-31.7%) all fared better though still experienced significantly lower sales.

Despite dismal sales results from nearly the entire industry, there were two brands that did manage to post positive numbers. Kia sales were up 3% by volume, though its daily sales rate fell by 0.5%. Subaru also reported an impressive 8% gain in sales by volume, which makes it this month's Biggest Winner. The Biggest Loser this month, however, was the Chrysler brand, which reported a 68.9% fall in sales by volume (-70.1% DSR).

UPDATE: Corrected sales numbers for Hyundai, which actually reported a 14.3% rise in sales volume.

BY THE NUMBERS - January 2009
Brand	Vol. % Change	Total Sales 1/09	Total Sales 1/08	DSR % Change	Daily Avg. 1/09	Daily Avg. 1/08
Acura	-29.7%	7,856	11,168	-32.4%	302	447
Audi	-26.4%	4,722	6,418	-29.3%	182	257
BMW	-15.5%	12,232	14,475	-18.7%	470	579
Buick	-45.3%	6,969	12,749	-47.4%	268	510
Cadillac	-42.5%	8,499	14,792	-44.8%	327	592
Chevrolet	-48.4%	77,186	149,548	-50.4%	2,969	5,982
Chrysler	-68.9%	10,685	34,372	-70.1%	411	1,375
Dodge	-50.4%	34,638	69,884	-52.3%	1,332	2,795
Ford	-39.5%	79,322	131,074	-41.8%	3,051	5,243
GMC	-40.8%	19,120	32,270	-43%	735	1,291
Honda	-27.7%	63,175	87,343	-30.5%	2,430	3,494
HUMMER	-59.9%	1,222	3,050	-61.5%	47	122
Hyundai	14.3%	24,512	21,452	9.9%	943	858
Infiniti	-17.7%	7,115	8,644	-20.1%	274	346
Jeep	-49.2%	16,834	33,136	-51.2%	647	1,325
Kia	3.5%	22,096	21,355	-0.5%	850	854
Lexus	-27.5%	14,722	20,299	-30.3%	566	812
Lincoln	-23.7%	6,091	7,985	-26.7%	234	319
Mazda	-27.3%	15,420	21,212	-30.1%	593	848
Mercedes	-42.9%	10,433	18,275	-45.1%	401	731
Mercury	-44.2%	5,183	9,296	-46.4%	199	372
MINI	-15.4%	2,082	2,460	-18.6%	80	98
Mitsubishi	-34.5%	4,730	7,226	-37.0%	182	289
Nissan	-31.2%	46,769	67,961	-33.8%	1,799	2,718
Pontiac	-60.5%	9,104	23,025	-62%	350	921
Porsche	-36.1%	1,658	2,595	-38.6%	64	104
Saab	-46.1%	955	1,772	-48.2%	37	71
Saturn	-59.8%	6,172	15,359	-61.4%	237	614
Subaru	8.0%	12,194	11,289	3.9%	469	452
Suzuki	-48.7%	3,655	7,120	-50.6%	141	285
Toyota	-32.3%	102,565	151,550	-34.9%	3,945	6,062
VW	-11.6%	12,744	14,412	-15.0%	490	576
Volvo	-63.8%	2,910	8,036	-65.2%	112	321
COMPANIES
BMW Group	-15.5%	14,314	16,935	-18.7%	551	677
Chrysler LLC	-54.8%	62,157	137,392	-56.5%	2,391	5,496
FoMoCo	-40.2%	93,506	156,391	-42.5%	3,596	6,256
General Motors	-48.8%	129,227	252,565	-50.8%	4,970	10,102
Honda America	-27.9%	71,031	98,511	-30.7%	2,732	3,940
Nissan NA	-29.7%	53,884	76,605	-32.4%	2,072	3,064
Toyota Mo Co	-31.7%	117,287	171,849	-34.4%	4,511	6,874

January 2009 had 26 selling days versus 25 selling days for January 2008

First Bentley Zagato GTZ available at $1.7M

There will be nine examples of the Bentley Zagato GTZ manufactured for discerning plutocrats. As of now, one of them is ready for an owner, and it is for sale on JamesList.com from a broker in Villorba, Italy for €1.3 million, or about $1.7 million USD. Purportedly the only one ready for delivery, this particular GTZ has just 10k (6.1 miles) on its odometer.

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last March, the GTZ leaves the engineered perfection of the Bentley Continental GT as is, merely clothing it in a Zagato treatment consisting of two-tone coachwork, a twin-bubble roof that glides into a sculpted rear window, and more added creases you could shake a Picasso at.

[Source: JamesList via Luxist]