Dodge Challenger Concept designer leaves Chrysler

Big name designers often skip from one job to another in the automotive world. Chrysler seems to be losing more than its fair share of artistic types, as the Auburn Hills-based automaker has lost two top designers in recent weeks. First, long time design chief Trevor Creed retired. Now Dodge Challenger Concept designer Micheal Castiglione has left for a smaller, more diversified design house. Castiglione has joined Ken Okuyama Design as their chief designer where he will work on everything from eye glasses and furniture to trains and planes. Okuyama also has some automotive interests, including the K.O 7 open wheel and the interesting-looking K.O 8 coupe (above). During his 15-year tenure with the Pentastar, Castiglione's best work came in the form of the Dodge Challenger Concept, but he also worked on the Jeep Compass concept and the Chrysler 300 production car.

[Source: Car Design News]

Top Gear reviews ZR1, hard to get past Corvette looks

Let's not beat around any shrubbery with this: Top Gear magazine has reviewed the Corvette ZR1, and the quotes you need to know are, "The dynamics are better than an Aston DBS...," and "...[M]ake no mistake. What we have here is one of the truly great supercars."

Of course, there are caveats: it looks like a Corvette, the interior doesn't match those of its supercar rivals and the steering could use more feel. The latter quip is why you get other critiques like "...you don't get the precision of a 599." To have a UK magazine critique a Corvette against a 599 is probably the opposite of the insult it might appear to be on the surface. But don't take our word for it, follow the link and read for yourself how the ZR1 has "the performance and the chassis to match an SLR 722." It's not a bad way to start the week...

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Corvette ZR1

[Source: Top Gear]

SEMA Preview: ASI's 800hp Tetsu GTR Bentley Continental GT

What does SEMA mean to you? For most of us, it's a place for the country's top tuners to show their wares to a power-hungry public. But the dark side of SEMA never ceases to rear its ugly head, and further proof will be available at the Toyo booth where the Tetsu GTR Bentley Continental GT will be displayed.

The unholy brainchild of Japanese tuner ASI features a custom carbon fiber wide-body kit that makes ASMA's unfortunate creations look demure in comparison. The two-tone paint scheme... uhhh... compliments the massive haunches, deep side skirts and GT-style wing, while 22-inch blingalicious rollers prove that chrome is still in high demand... unfortunately.

According to Modified Luxury and Exotics, only 29 Tetsu GTRs will be produced, each putting out over 800 hp. We'll be on hand to provide live shots of the other five vehicles featured at the Toyo stand, assuming our camera lens doesn't crack when we zoom in on the GTR's gaudy fascia.

[Source: Modified Luxury and Exotics]

Autoblog playing with KITT, having too much fun

You may have seen our In the Autoblog Garage report from earlier today about a very unique car: the KITT Shelby GT500 KR. When someone offers you the keys to what is essentially a supercharged V8-powered prop, you make the most of your time together. The above video shot and produced by Chris Shunk shows you exactly how we spent our all-too-short time with KITT, which is to say, we peeled out a lot and pretended to be a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, and the powerless.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: KITT Shelby GT500 KR

2009 Porsche Carrera 4

The Porsche released details on the all-wheel-drive versions Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, which are available as Coupe and Cabriolet.

Leaving the aesthetic and engine/gearbox changes aside as they’re the same with the RWD Carrera, the new generation Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S get an electronically controlled PTM Porsche Traction Management which replaces the former all-wheel drive with its viscous multiple-plate clutch. This system was initially developed for the 911 Turbo and modified for the Carrera 4 models.

Porsche promise that depending on the model, the new all-wheel-drive Carrera offers up to 8.5% more power, up to 12.9% more fuel economy, and 15.4% lower CO2 emissions.

The improvements on the 911 Carrera 4S with its 3.8-litre power unit are equally important, with maximum output up by 30 to 385Hp on overall fuel consumption down in the case of Carrera 4S Cabriolet with the PDK gearbox to 10.7 litres/100 km or 26.4 mpg imp. All all-wheel-drive Porsche Carrera models will be available at Porsche dealerships from October 25.

Audi RS4 and RS5 to keep V8s

There have been countless conflicting reports about what will power the next generation Audi RS4 and the forthcoming RS5. Fourtitude had heard the rumors and decided to go straight to its sources for clarification. While the four-ringed obessesives weren't able to divulge the identity of their insiders (neither did CAR, which published of one the first stories about future RS powertrains), Fourtitude may have put to rest the rumblings that the next RS4 would ditch it's V8 in favor of a supercharged six.

According to Fourtitude, the 4.2-liter FSI V8 will soldier on in the RS4, and will also find a home in the RS5, which is currently undergoing testing both in Germany and the U.S. While a boost in output wasn't divulged, engineers will supposedly keep displacement the same, while decreasing frictional losses and possibly incorporating a new version of Audi's Valvelift system. If all goes according to plan, expect at least 450 hp from the direct-injected 4.2 and don't be surprised to find the tweaked V8 in the revised R8 around the same time.

eBay Find of the Day: 1923 Model T powered by Harley V-Twin

Click above for more images of the 1923 V-Twin powered Model T

Ford's ubiquitous Model T has seen its fair share of modifications over the years. Often powered by an engine other than what was originally designed for the large engine bay, countless variations of the hot rod theme have made Henry Ford's original mass-market vehicle a highly desirable machine to customize. Today, we've stumbled across an entirely new way to power the T, and it's just too cool not to share. Behind the custom spiderweb grille of this 1923 Ford Model T is a 1200cc V-Twin engine taken from the frame rails of a Harley-Davidson Sportster. Considering how little this vehicle is likely to weigh, the air-cooled twin cylinder mill with Screaming Eagle mods is probably plenty powerful to get the vehicle out of its own way. The owner used quite a few HD cues in the overall design and as many original parts from the donor bike as was possible. Note the dual rear shocks suspending the rear axle -- those are from the Sportster, as well as the foot pegs which now see duty as the gas and brake pedals. Nice work.

GT-RR.com: Bringing GT-R performance parts to the people

Nissan maintains that the GT-R is mechanized perfection that could never be improved upon (never mind that V-Spec over there), but that's not going to stop owners from attempting to extract every last bit of performance from Nissan's super coupe.

Enter GT-RR.com, an online distributor specializing in the importation of top shelf kit from Japan. Ben Schaffer, president of Bespoke Ventures, one of the men behind Bulletproof Automotive and blogger at The Real JDM, is behind the new site, bringing almost a decade of tuning experience and over 100 aftermarket components to GT-R owners here in the States. The site is currently in BETA testing, but that doesn't mean that GT-R drivers have to leave "good enough" alone.

GT-RR currently offers a nice assortment of parts – from seats to suspension components and exhausts to wheels – and while Schaffer and his team are currently farming out installation work to other reputable shops in the L.A. area, he's not ruling out a dedicated location for work on the GT-R. According to Schaffer, "Our sole focus is on what we do best. Fast and highly accurate logistics and distribution from Japan to both local tuning shops and directly to the end users." Although the aftermarket, along with the rest of the auto industry, is experiencing a downturn, there's little doubt that GT-R owners will be looking for something to turn up the wick on their rides. Thankfully, GT-RR will be there to answer the call.

Audi considering mid-engine layout for next-gen TT?

Not the next-gen model, but click above for Audi TT-S high-res gallery

Audi's next-gen TT may be getting a significant re-design, with a mid-engine placement if the swirling speculation around the interwebs is true. Now in its second-generation, the TT sits on Volkswagen's PQ35 platform (shared with the Volkswagen Eos and Tiguan) meaning customers are offered a front-engine chassis with a front- or all-wheel drive powertrain. When stacked against the front-engine BMW Z4 and mid-engine Porsche Boxster/Cayman, the current Audi TT holds its own... but that isn't keeping Ingolstadt engineers content. They realize that if they switch to a mid-engine design, like the one found on the amazing Audi R8, balance and handling will improve. Plus, Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system can be tailored with even more rearward torque bias. The third-gen TT, however, isn't set to debut until 2013. With Porsche moving closer to purchasing Volkswagen, a long lead may work to Audi's advantage as they'll have to convince the automaker from Stuttgart that a mid-engine TT won't chew into Boxster/Cayman sales.

Audi considering mid-engine layout for next-gen TT?

Not the next-gen model, but click above for Audi TT-S high-res gallery

Audi's next-gen TT may be getting a significant re-design, with a mid-engine placement if the swirling speculation around the interwebs is true. Now in its second-generation, the TT sits on Volkswagen's PQ35 platform (shared with the Volkswagen Eos and Tiguan) meaning customers are offered a front-engine chassis with a front- or all-wheel drive powertrain. When stacked against the front-engine BMW Z4 and mid-engine Porsche Boxster/Cayman, the current Audi TT holds its own... but that isn't keeping Ingolstadt engineers content. They realize that if they switch to a mid-engine design, like the one found on the amazing Audi R8, balance and handling will improve. Plus, Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system can be tailored with even more rearward torque bias. The third-gen TT, however, isn't set to debut until 2013. With Porsche moving closer to purchasing Volkswagen, a long lead may work to Audi's advantage as they'll have to convince the automaker from Stuttgart that a mid-engine TT won't chew into Boxster/Cayman sales.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro revealed!

CarTribe has procured a few shots and the initial details of the production Chevrolet Camaro ahead of its official unveiling this Monday. According to their report, the Camaro will come in LS, LT and SS trim, equipped with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic. Of course, that doesn't account for the very-obviously-marked RS car that is shown in the official photos, so who knows what the whole story is.

Engine choices include either a 296 hp, 3.6-liter V6 or a 416 hp 6.2-liter V8 which will feature cylinder deactivation to boost fuel economy. Underneath the retro sheetmetal is a full independent suspension and StabiliTrak traction control system. Four-pot Brembo brakes are mounted up front on the SS variant, and the 3,700-pound coupe will reportedly have a weight balance of 52/48, front/rear. The neuvo-retro theme is carried inside with a gauge cluster inspired by the 1969 model, along with leather seats and blue LED lighting.

We'll have more specs and images as information becomes available.

Lucky owner takes delivery of his new Foose Coupe

With the complete and utter collapse of Unique Performance, we were wondering who would be taking over the sales and marketing for the Foose Coupe. Not to worry, because Superformance Distribution of Irvine, CA has picked up the reigns and recently delivered its first car through its Hillbank Motor Corporation dealership. This is just the fourth Foose Coupe produced, after the green and black prototypes at the 2006 SEMA show and the first publicly available car that was auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson's Palm Beach auction last year. The owner opted for the 392ci Hemi V8 pumping out around 500 horsepower, and a custom paint scheme featuring carbon fiber spears surrounded by flames hand painted by Chip Foose himself. Check out all the amazing details of this incredible coupe in our huge photo gallery below.

Dodge officially announces Challenger Drag Race Package at Mopar Mile-High Nationals

This weekend, Dodge officially unveiled two Challenger Drag Race Package cars that made their inaugural runs down the 1/4 mile track in front of thousands of race fans at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals near Denver, CO. Based on the standard Challenger SRT8, each of the Drag Race Package cars features a completely stripped body that has the body sealer, sound deadener, and undercoat all removed. Additional components are also left out including the windshield wipers, HVAC system, air bags, rear seats, power steering, exhaust system, side-impact beams, rear bumper beam, and more. Further weight is saved by using composite and poycarbonate components, and overall a total of 1000 pounds has been shaved off the car.

Additional changes include repositioning the engine for a better driveline angle, a slightly shortened wheelbase, a bolt-in crossmember, and solid engine mounts. Engine options include the 6.1L and 5.7L HEMI or the 5.9L Magnum Wedge. Mopar will build at least 100 of the cars to meet NHRA requirement, and they will be eligible to run in Comp, Super Stock, and Stock categories. Pricing will start in the low $30,000 range, and Mopar will begin taking orders in late August or September. Full details can be found in the press release after the jump.

Alas, Z/28, we hardly knew ye

The all-new Camaro we've been waiting on for two years is just a few days from showing its production face, and we've already got some bad news. The General has dumped plans for the Z28. The highly anticipated Camaro variant was rumored to feature the same supercharged 6.2L engine that powers the brawny Cadillac CTS-V with well over 500 ponies. Without the Z28 in the picture, the still powerful SS edition will be the range-topper for now, and we're expecting power to be just under that of the base Corvette's 436 hp.

While this is certainly bad news for Camaro enthusiasts, it does make sense in the face of $4.25 per gallon gas to cancel a supercharged monster that's likely to be eligible for a hefty gas guzzler tax. What doesn't make sense is canceling the Z28 moniker when it means much more to Camaro fans than SS ever will. There goes the aftermarket for louvers and mullet wigs. Thanks for the tip, Doug!

UK to get updated RX-8 starting in late August

Buyers in the U.K. are about to get their first crack at the revised 2009 Mazda RX-8, as the quad-door sportscar officially goes on sale in late August. All RX-8's destined for the U.K. will get the full body-kit that's optional in other markets. We've already seen all the images of the only rotary-powered mass market car in the world that we can stand, so lets move on to what's changed under the skin. Shorter final drive gearing combined with a steeper (numerically lower) sixth gear will allow the high-strung engine to reach its power-band earlier in gears one through five while still maintaining reasonable revs when cruising in sixth. New Recaro sport seats spice up the cabin and 19-inch rims with rotor-shaped spokes add some flair to the exterior.

Though power levels remain unchanged, the Renesis rotary engine sees minor revisions as well, with improved cooling as one main feature. Also updated are the oil metering pump -- all rotary engines ingest oil during normal operation -- and computer software which limits high-speed operation until the velvety-smooth powerplant has reached a proper operating temperature, likely to improve reliability somewhat. All in all, the '09 update of the sports coupe is pretty thorough, though the result is still instantly recognizable as an RX-8.

Web Rides TV pits the Audi R8 against the LS3 Corvette

The LS3 Corvette and the Audi R8 are have a similar purpose, but go about their jobs in completely different ways. The 'Vette is all about a big engine, with big power and pushing the rear wheels. The R8 utilizes a high-revving 4.2L V8 and AWD to keep the rubber firmly planted on the pavement. Both vehicles have over 400 hp, weigh in at under 3,500 lbs and have similar 0-60 times, but for the price of one R8 you could by a LS3 and Z06 Corvette.

The car nuts over at Web Rides TV put the two vehicles through a "Super Lap" consisting of a slalom, a straightaway, and two sharp turns to see which vehicle would come out on top. The result produced an entertaining video, some great sounds and a very clear winner. Hit the jump to see it for yourself.

Saleen Gurney Edition Mustang arrives at dealers

It's been just a few months since Saleen announced its Dan Gurney Signature Series Mustang at the New York Auto Show in April, but the limited edition Mustang has already hit showroom floors. Apparently the car at the show was fairly production ready, although we heard that Gurney spent the last few months helping fine tune the suspension just the way he wanted it. According to Saleen, he still would be if they had let him. In addition to the specially tailored suspension settings, the Gurney Edition also features unique bodywork, graphics and interior as well as lightweight 19-inch wheels and Saleen's supercharged V8 pushing out 465 horsepower. We attended a kick-off party at Galpin Ford in Van Nuys, CA where Dan Gurney was on hand to show off the car and sign autographs. We were also able to take a closer look at the car so we could choose which of the three color schemes we like best, but we're still undecided. A high resolution gallery is below that should help you decide for yourself.

Spy Shots: 2010 Ford Mustang glass-top coupe and base convertible

It seems to be getting easier to take spy shots of the 2010 Ford Mustang, as reader Chris F. chatted up the drivers of these two prototype 'Stangs in Lake Zurich, IL who told him they were both base models with the 4.0L V6. The coupe also features a glass top, which suggests this relatively new feature will carryover to the redesigned '10 Mustang and be available on all models. Unfortunately, the fact that both base models were still powered by the same old 4.0L V6 suggests that, at least when it debuts, the '10 Mustang will not feature the 3.5L V6 that can currently be found in nearly every other Ford product.

We can see all the tell-tale signs of the redesigned Mustangs in these pics, including its new headlights, new grille, new front fascia, new wheels and new taillights. Out back there's only one tailpipe, confirming their base modelness. Unfortunately, the cool drivers Chris met up with asked him not to photograph the interior and weren't willing to give up any other juicy tidbits, but we'll take what we can get.

eBay Find of the Day: 1923 Model T powered by Harley V-Twin

Ford's
ubiquitous Model T has seen its fair share of modifications over the
years. Often powered by an engine other than what was originally
designed for the large engine bay, countless variations of the hot rod
theme have made Henry Ford's original mass-market vehicle a highly
desirable machine to customize. Today, we've stumbled across an
entirely new way to power the T, and it's just too cool not to share.
Behind the custom spiderweb grille of this 1923 Ford Model T
is a 1200cc V-Twin engine taken from the frame rails of a
Harley-Davidson Sportster. Considering how little this vehicle is
likely to weigh, the air-cooled twin cylinder mill with Screaming Eagle
mods is probably plenty powerful to get the vehicle out of its own way.
The owner used quite a few HD cues in the overall design and as many
original parts from the donor bike as was possible. Note the dual rear
shocks suspending the rear axle -- those are from the Sportster, as
well as the foot pegs which now see duty as the gas and brake pedals.
Nice work.

Ugur Sahin Design unveils USD GT-S Passionata concept

You may not remember the name Ugur Sahin, but if you've been reading Autoblog for a while you probably remember his designs. The Turkish designer has dreamed up the Corvette Z03 Concept, and before that brought the world his interpretation of what a modern Ferrari Dino might look like (he was a little off). It turns out that Sahin has been continually evolving his Dino design, however, and today we get our first look at the result of his extra doodling: the USD GT-S Passionata concept. Based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, the Passionata retains the grand sports tourer personality of its host chassis, but adds a body that's much more organic with swoops, bulges and soft curves everywhere the eye falls. The mega hood scoop makes the car look a little insect-like, and we also see some cues inspired by the Corvette, Lotus and even McLaren F1 in the front end, but overall it's a knock out design and the connection to Ferrari's own design language is unmistakable. Truthfully, we just wish that we could draw cars this well. Sahin, however, is hoping to do more than just draw the Passionata, as he claims in his press release after the jump that "production will be arranged" if there's a demand for it. Unfortunately, a brand new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano will have to be sacrificed to build the Passionata, which we think probably violates Ferrari's warranty. Check out a high-res gallery of the Ugur Sahin USD GT-S Passionata below to view the design from every angle and let us know what you think in the comments.