Neuwerks Media, Bringing you the latest in European Automotive news! http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:44:04 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/images/M_images/neuwerks.jpg http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite Neuwerks Media, Bringing you the latest in European Automotive news! http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=55 Inside (or next to) the Ford booth at NAIAS, exists a small, little known division of Ford Motor company, known as Mercury. A brand most of us relate to our grandparents or older neighbors, more than the live youthful image they attempted with models like the ill-fated Cougar sport coupe. Feeling like somewhat of an afterthought next to Ford, Volvo, and Lincoln, Mercury featured only three of their current models. Present at NAIAS 2010, are the Milan, Mariner, and Mountaineer. Sadly for those interested in their full size RWD car, the Grand Marquis, it was not present. Could this be the last time we see of Mercury at NAIAS? Time will tell, but at least we got a small taste! NAIAS 2010 - NAIAS 2010 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:19:01 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=141&Itemid=55 Mercedes, partering with Ziploc have replicated the technology to encase items in carbonite . The first successful test happened with a Mercedes SLS, Ziploc and Mercedes are currently looking for a suitable bounty hunter to find the next test subject . NAIAS 2010 - NAIAS 2010 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:35:59 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=140&Itemid=55 If NAIAS 2010 is remember for a theme in the European community, it will definitely be remembered as the year of the electric car concept. As with years past, general themes start to emerge. In 2009 we saw a lot of green cars, literally green cars. Painted green to signify their green effort, many manufactures apparently had the same idea. This year, for ze Germans at least, the appearance of an emerging trend is no different; electric drive. Full Article (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=140 Itemid=55) NAIAS 2010 - NAIAS 2010 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:11:51 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=139&Itemid=55 Audi has recently taken to the idea of going electric, and is making a point to show just how much fun it can be. During late 2009 Audi introduced the e-tron concept at the Frankfurt Auto show. A car that was loosely based on the current Audi R8. This car featured a slightly more sculpted design, and an electric motor with an output of 313hp, and 3,319 pound feet of torque. The car unveiled at Detroit was not an other version of the e-tron, and should be addressed formally as the 'Detroit showcar Audi e-tron' (not to be confused with e-tron), and is a completely new design and powertrain. This car features muscular shoulders, and a more compact design that houses a powertrain putting out a respectable 204 hp, and 1,900 lb-ft of torque. NAIAS 2010 - NAIAS 2010 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:52:32 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=55 Ever since VW brought us the Eos, many in the VW community had thoughts of how much they have missed a proper coupe in their lineup. In the US, we really only had the Scirocco, Corrado, and Jetta Coupe to keep 2-Door drivers happy (ok the New Beetle too). Unfortunately this concept is a Hybrid, which I find both annoying, and somewhat disrespectful to those in the automotive community who know that Hybrids are not the right answer to the Eco question. My hope is that they drop the Hybrid technology, and make it either a Diesel, Hydrogen, or proper electric vehicle. More likely, we will see a production version with a TDI, and a few tasty petrol engines for us to drool over. As usual, VW's event was full of their typical choreographed pantomime celebration. NAIAS 2010 - NAIAS 2010 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:45:20 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=55 Hitting the show floor for the first time at NAIAS is always a great experience. One of the most terrifying things about it though, is the scope of work that lays before us during the show. Now after I have made my first step out onto the floor I have to say that I am a bit taken back by the overall vacancies in show space, and the overall improvements of some manufacturers who chose to remain. The biggest and most uniform space on the floor still appears to belong to Ford Motor company, with GM feeling a bit too disconnected while attempting to differentiate their specific brands. It feels like comparing a model home to one that is still under construction. Much more to come from the show, as we begin to cover various aspects of it for both Neuwerks.com, Cardomain.com (http://blog.cardomain.com) , and Bimmerforums.com (http://www.bimmerforums.com) . NAIAS 2010 - NAIAS 2010 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:08:38 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=136&Itemid=55 Matt Wellumson and Michael Vann have once again arrived at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). 2010 marks Neuwerks' 6th year in attendance at NAIAS, and once again we will be working with other sites such as cardomain.com and bimmerforums.com to bring you expanded coverage of the show.The show floor is set to open soon, so stay tuned to the homepage and to the gallery for updates. NAIAS 2010 - NAIAS 2010 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:09:13 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=135 Interior work on any car can be an intimidating prospect for almost anyone who dares to tread into that territory. This is especially true for me when dealing with anything relating to electrical systems. With that in mind, having been annoyed by the lack of consistent gauge lighting, and the persistent glow of my airbag light, I decided to pull out the gauge cluster to resolve these problems. News - Latest Fri, 01 May 2009 11:15:44 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=134 Hi all, Sorry for the lack of updates recently! I have some stuff in the works, including a couple of road tests that I want to get blogged up. In the mean time, take a look at some images we took for CarDomain at the Chicago Auto show 2009! Chicago Auto Show gallery on CarDomain News - Latest Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:25:22 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=133 Volkswagen was displaying one copy of their Jetta TDI cup sedan at CAS. This car participated in a race series that is growing in popularity for many reasons. For VW it showcases their clean diesel technology, while also giving up and coming race drivers the opportunity to make a name for themselves on the track. The cars are fully race prepped, and feature some awesome touches to give any driver in the program a professional racing experience! News - Latest Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:27:34 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=132 Additional images have been posted up on the Neuwerks Gallery from the Chicago Auto Show. We plan on posting up many more, however we are only planning on being here a part day today, and need to keep gathering as much aspossible! Take a look at the Spyker, and VW galleries as they are mostly complete! Chicago gallery link News - Latest Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:57:46 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131 Day 2 at the Chicago Auto Show is pretty quiet. There was only one automaker press conference today, Subaru, and then the rest were some awards and a how to blog conference. We didn't cover any of those, hope you don't mind. We've spent our time instead getting some seat time in different cars, recording some new Neucasts that will be posted within the next week or so, and getting caught up on miscellania. We're very grateful to Audi for their hospitality by providing a nice cafe area for us to use, and keeping us fed and caffinated. If you're planning on attending the Chicago Auto Show in person, the European makes are all represented in the large hall on the north side of the Grand Concourse, with the exception of Saab which is behind Cadillac and Hummer in the South Hall. Sadly Porsche is not displaying anything here. The Spyker is worth a look, it's got a really cool interior and is just an awesome car. Audi, BMW, VW, and Mercedes all have a strong presence here. Other European makes here are Volvo which is tucked back near Mazda and Lexus while Smart, Mini, Land Rover, and Jaguar are near Lexus and Mercedes. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Rolls Royce, Spyker, and Bentley are right across the aisle from VW (which is right by the concouse entrance). Overall the displays are more subdued than in year's past, but that's actually a positive in many ways, there is more open space around the cars themselves which should make it easier to get around and check out the cars in person. News - Latest Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:28:25 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130 While Mercedes did bring the Black to Chicago (the car that Mike and I fell in love with at Detroit), it was tucked away in the back of the show, away and not prominently displayed. Instead, Mercedes put this pinkish full race RennTech GLK350 Spec R Hybrid. This vehicle was fully prepped for the track, and featured some impressive downforce. Too bad they picked a darkish shade of lipstick pink for the primary color! Mercedes Gallery News - Latest Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:52:59 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=129 Ok, so you want to do your part to stop global warming, be part of the solution to problems with humanity's impact on the environment, and do the right thing. But given the keys to a fun car, your inner race car driver leads you to find twisty roads so you can hit the apexes, enjoy the pleasure of perfect rev matched downshifts, and do your best to fully heat up the brakes and the tires while cleaning carbon buildup from the valves. So there you are, on one shoulder you have a little angel espousing the virtues of hypermiling, and on the other, the little devil who knows why there is no replacement for displacement, and lives for a tight switchback filled mountain road. So which one wins? It's no longer socially acceptable to consume petroleum at alarming rates, but all hypermiling and no play makes you a very dull person. I've struggled with this issue personally for some time. I've gone so far as to start commuting by bus and bicycle to work to reduce my car use, sold off all my race cars, and reduced annual mileage to under 12,000 miles per year for the whole household. And yet, what has this accomplished? A serious longing for a fun car, a warm day and a curvy road. News - Latest Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:33:48 +0100 http://www.neuwerks.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128 As I started to type this, Fellow Neuwerks member Brian Hjelt is piloting the Audi we are riding in through some insanely dense fog in northern Illinois. For me this is somewhat fitting as I haven't been paying attention to the media surrounding the show this year. In a sense, there is a dense fog with regards to my expectations but not in my hopes for the auto industry in 2009. Traditionally, the Chicago Auto show is a less visited event when compared to Detroit. With that said, some automakers have started to withdraw from attending the Detroit show during these tough economic times, meanwhile focusing more on markets they traditionally sell well to. While new automobiles are becoming a luxury that many are deciding to live without, it is going to be interesting to see how marketing in the auto industry has progressed since the Detroit show in January. We are now at the show and actually sitting at Ford's Press event waiting to have the newest news from this maker unveiled to the automotive media. Ford is expected to unveil the Transit in a special event, and since the Transitt is actually a European model that is highly praised! Stay tuned for more from Neuwerks Media, and CarDomain.com, also keep tuned for special pictures and previews! First impressions Gallery News - Latest Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:34:45 +0100