Obama's New Cadillac Limo Officially Unveiled

President-Elect Barack Obama's getting a new Cadillac Limousine in time for his inauguration on January 20th. Here are the first official photos. The new limo’s a rolling symbol of the President’s power and GM’s marketing.

While the new Cadillac One may look like a stretched Cadillac DTS, it’s in fact based on the gigantic GMC Topkick truck platform. Security tech likely includes five-inch thick bulletproof glass, ultra high strength ceramic armor and cellphone jammers, but the Secret Service is putting the kibosh on official details for security reasons. One tech item they are talking about are the LED spotlights that’ll illuminate the fender-mounted flags at night.

The press release follows:

2009 NAIAS Preview: Audi Sportback concept

Audi will unveil the Sportback concept show car at the 2009 North American International Automobile Show.
With systematic refinements to the brand’s characteristic design elements, the five-door model offers a glimpse at the Audi's future design vocabulary. With its pronounced coupé-like silhouette and large rear hatch, the 4.95 m long (16.24 ft), 1.93 m wide (6.33 ft) and only 1.40 m high (4.59 ft) vehicle is boldly progressive for the luxury class. The technology of the Audi Sportback concept is markedly futuristic. Power is provided by the world’s cleanest diesel technology: the 3.0-liter V6 TDI clean diesel almost completely eliminates nitrogen oxides. This engine already meets the emissions limits of all 50 U.S. states and the EU6 standard scheduled to take effect in 2014. And numerous measures to ensure top efficiency mean that the Audi Sportback concept is expected to achieve impressive fuel consumption figures of 5.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (39.87 US mpg).

Source: Audi

Mercedes Mounts Dodge Neon, We Giggle

This forcible humping of a Mercedes and Neon resulted when a woman was trying to perform a three-point turn. Looks to us like the Mercedes was trying to pull off the coveted Eiffel Tower instead.

A woman in the UK decided instead of gently pressing the brake pedal, she jammed down on the accelerator while attempting a three-point turn, causing her Mercedes to mount the front end of a little Neon. The owner of the car was awoken by a loud crashing sound and rushed out to make sure that the driver was okay. It turned out it was his neighbor's wife, so they all had a laugh over some tea and crumpets - all so British, wouldn't you say?

All involved did not feel so jolly as the house was reported saying that it was not happy with the unexpected mounting and therefore would not complete the necessary steps to complete the Eiffel Tower maneuver. The Neon was heard mumbling "Hi!" Another steamy shot of the car-on-car duo below.

We're big fans of crazy drivers and we've provided another great attempt at parking below.

[via dailymail.uk, YouTube]

Audi A4 is Germany’s most successful premium model in 2008

The latest vehicle registration numbers verify that the Audi A4 is Germany’s most successful premium automobile. No other model in the premium segment surpassed the 98,714 A4 models registered last year. The Audi A6 also topped its segment with 45,304 registrations. The second generation of the Audi TT design icon was registered 10,630 times in Germany – making it the most successful sports car in Germany in 2008.
AUDI AG was able to expand its market share on the domestic German market to 8.1 percent – an increase of 0.8 percent. In Western Europe, Audi boosted its market share by 0.4 points to 4.8 percent: No other premium brand succeeded in strengthening its market position this significantly.

“Audi is presently experiencing stronger growth than any other premium brand in the region – and thanks to new models we will maintain this dynamism,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “In a difficult market environment, we want to further expand our market share in Germany and Western Europe.”

The Audi A4 is presently undergoing further upgrading: The top versions of the model line – the S4 Sedan and Avant – are now arriving in Europe’s showrooms. The new A4 Avant was just launched in April 2008. In addition to the fleet award from Auto-Flotte magazine, Audi’s best-selling model has already won countless accolades and has beaten the competition in all relevant comparison tests.

The product improvement of the A6 was launched in September 2008. Also the winner of the fleet award in its class, today the A6 is Germany’s most successful business sedan.

With the Audi TTS, the top version of the TT line, Audi introduced the first S model in this class. The Audi TT TDI debuted as the first production sports car powered by a diesel engine.

Source: Audi AG

First 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, SVT Raptor to Join First Camaro at Barrett-Jackson

Despite the dire state of the automotive industry, automakers, collectors and celebrities are donating a record 14 vehicles to the 38th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction held January 11-18, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Proceeds from the donated vehicles will go directly to a variety of charities. Highlighted in the bunch are the first retail production 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 (whose First Look can be seen here) and 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Joining the Fords will be the first 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, which had already been announced as going on the block.

General Motors' contribution will benefit the American Heart Association and comes complete with certified VIN No. 100001. Added to the package is the lucky Camaro buyer's option to spec out the car to their exact wishes once the sale is finalized.

The pair of firsts from Ford -- the 540-HP Shelby GT500 and Baja-tested F-150 SVT Raptor -- will come with equal prestige and are slated to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Also among the lot of donated rides are a 1970 Plymouth Superbird by YearOne, a 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR driven by Tony Stewart, a 2008 Ford Mustang GT Roush P-51A, and a 1957 Ford Thunderbird.

Source: Barrett-Jackson

Rumormill: Nissan GT-R-based sedan and SUV in the works, LF-A on track, Supra planning comeback

InsideLine's correspondent in Japan says that despite the global economic crisis that has caused the demise of the Acura NSX, there are plenty of good things on the way from Japan's top automakers.

Adding fuel to the rumormill fire, Peter Lyon reports that Nissan is hard at work developing two models based off the Nissan GT-R: the oft-rumored four-door Infiniti and a Porsche Cayenne-fighting SUV, a vehicle that has already been denied by Nissan. Naturally, he doesn't disclose his sources, nor does he go into detail about the automakers efforts, but both models are expected to be released sometime in 2011.

The rumored demise of the Lexus LF-A is also open to debate – yet again – and according to Lyon's logic, after Toyota made the decision to continue its Formula One campaign, the automaker "still wants to bring its first true supercar to market." The V10-powered luxo-coupe is supposedly 12 to 18 months off and pricing is expected to retail for close to $340,000.

Two other vehicles on the chopping block that Lyon says have been spared are the Honda S2000 replacement, which could debut in late 2011 or early 2012, as well as Toyota's plans to bring back the Supra with V6 power in 2011. The all-new Subaru Legacy which debuted in Detroit is also slated to arrive in production form this May, with sales beginning sometime in the fall.

We are not entirely convinced that any of these projects are sure things, so until we get confirmation from the individual automakers, we'll remain comfortably numb to the news.

[Source: InsideLine]

Making Canada a Better Place: Ontario Jumps on EV Infrastructure Band Wagon

Ontario, Canada, is the latest to jump on the Better Place electric wagon. The California-based project aims to eliminate gasoline dependence and emissions by establishing a network of battery exchange stations for electric vehicles. Israel, Denmark, Australia, California and Hawaii have already pledged support to the idea.

That idea is to create a network that supports emissions-free transportation. Better Place attempts to accomplish this by powering its network with renewable sources of energy. Under the planned system, subscribers could charge vehicles at home or at the office. During a longer drive, the depleted batteries would be exchanged with new, charged ones at service stations. As of now, the project utilizes electric versions of the Nissan Rogues and Renault Megane.

In Canada, Better Place will partner with Bullfrog Power to charge the Ontario infrastructure and Macquarie Group to devise a network roll out. Although launched just two years ago, Better Place claims it will start activating networks country-by-country by 2010.

Source: Better Place