Teased! 2010 Ford Mustang detail shots

Teased! 2010 Ford Mustang detail shots

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertibles, Coupes, Ford

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Ford Mustang teasers

We've gotten our hands on five new pics of the 2010 Ford Mustang GT and, although the tweaks are subtle and the images obscured, these shots give us a few hints about what to expect when the new 'Stang arrives at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show.

The teaser above shows a more steeply raked hood accompanied by a new headlamp and bumper design, while the profile shot of the convertible previews a slight upkick in the beltline aft of the B-pillar. The Ford GT badge has undergone a slight revision, along with the new five-spoke wheels and a new steering wheel fitted with tweaked buttons for the cruise control.

We're only a couple months away from the 2010 Mustang's official unveiling, but more teasers and spy shots are inevitably on the way. Thanks to Brad for the heads-up.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang Teased

[Source: 2010Mustang]

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Confirmed: Lexus to bring IS 250 C convertible to Paris

Filed under: Convertibles, Paris Motor Show, Lexus

It's been rumored for months, but now it's confirmed: Lexus will unveil the IS 250 convertible in Paris this October. The Lexus IS 250 C will be the third derivative of the IS range and will go into production early next year. IS 250 and 350 variants are planned, but in order to capitalize on the gotta-have-it crowd's penchant for The New - and the demise of the SC 430 - Lexus will likely roll out the 350 variant further down the line. Expect an IS F version to follow sometime in late 2009 or early 2010.

Make the jump for the press release.

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Tesla ends development of Drivetrain 1.5, ready to ramp up production

Filed under: Convertibles, Hybrids/Alternative, Green

Click above for high-res gallery of the Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster launch has been anything but silky-smooth, but the upstart EV automaker hopes its problems are in the rear view mirror with the completion of Drivetrain 1.5, which includes an upgraded electric motor and swapping the original two-speed automatic transmission for a Borg Warner-sourced one speed. The changes will improve the Tesla Roadster's instant torque from 211 to 280 lb-ft while also improving its range by 10% to a shockingly impressive 244 miles.

Drivetrain 1.5 also means Tesla can finally ramp up production of its well-publicized roadster. Within the next few weeks, Tesla will begin producing 10 Roadsters per week. By next March, that number will increase to 40 samples per week, which will go a long way toward satisfying demand for the sexy EV. The new, upgraded Drivetrain 1.5 is so much better than the mechanicals it replaces, Tesla will keeps its promise and retrofit the 38 models already produced and delivered with the new equipment. Hit the jump to view Tesla's official press release.

Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster

[Source: Autoblog Green]

Continue reading Tesla ends development of Drivetrain 1.5, ready to ramp up production

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Baby Maserati Spyder to slot in below GranTurismo

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Maserati, Rendered Speculation

Spy shots have been circulating the web of an upcoming hard-top convertible from Maserati. But while the Trident marque is known to be developing a convertible version of the big GranTurismo, reports now suggest that the vehicle spied is actually the smaller Porsche-rivaling sportscar previously rumored and spied.

Like the Ferrari California, the new model positioned below the GranTurismo is tipped to come only in hard-top convertible form. If that's the case, expect a fast-action retractable roof lighter in weight than a comparable soft-top mechanism but with the added benefits of a solid lid. Again, like the Ferrari, the new small Maserati is expected to have a 2+2 cabin layout, although the rear seats are anticipated to be removable. Power is tipped to come from a smaller version of the 4.2-liter V8 in the base GranTurismo, producing about 350hp and driving the rear wheels through a revised version of the DuoSelect clutchless manual transmission still used in the GranTurismo S instead of the newer ZF six-speed auto in the rest of the Maserati range. Competitive pricing would pit it against the Jaguar XK, BMW 6 Series and Porsche 911. Hard to say at this point if the new model will appear before or after the convertible GranTurismo, but sources suggest it could be ready for unveiling sometime next year, so stay tuned.

[Source: Auto Express]

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3M makes a clay-mazing difference in the appearance of my 1967 MGB

3M makes a clay-mazing difference in the appearance of my 1967 MGBThe last time I played with clay was during art class in elementary school. I remember it clearly, because I smooshed a big chunk of yellow clay in Heidi BeGole’s hair, Mrs. Alford made me sit out in the hallway, and I thought I’d be sent to jail.So you can’t blame me for staying away from the stuff until a few weeks ago. That’s when the folks from 3M invited me to check out their Car Care Auto Fair that they’d set up at Michigan International Speedway during the 3M Performance 400 NASCAR weekend. I jumped at the opportunity, because I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to spruce up the appearance of my, uh, weathered 1967 MGB/GT. When I bought my MG in San Francisco last fall, it was very solid but came with a paint job fairly typical of vintage California cars: sun-faded, chipped, and altogether tired. Since I was already planning on driving the MG to MIS (where I moonlight for the track’s media center staff), the 3M people said I could have one of their experts take a look at it.Enter 3M’s resident car-appearance guru, Dan Wittek, who took one look at my MG and grabbed a clay bar and a couple bottles of wax before I even had a chance to park the car. By the time he was finished, the car looked completely refreshed, better than I thought it could look without a fresh paint job.3M currently offers eleven consumer Car Care appearance products, in addition to a huge number of products for professional body shops and the like. All those products can be a bit overwhelming (and pricey), but the results proved to me that the investment can be well worth it. Here’s a summary of how Dan and I revitalized my Grampian gray MG:1. First up was 3M’s Quick Wax, which we used as a lube for the 3M Cleaner Clay, which--like an extremely fine sandpaper--quickly and easily removed the slightly rough-feeling finish of the paint, “surface contaminants,” as Dan calls them. Instead of the Quick Wax, Dan points outs, “a soapy water solution would work well, also.”2. Applying the clay makes your hands and your sheetmetal stickier than the business end of a 3M Post-it note. 3M One Step Cleaner Wax on a cloth rag was Dan’s prescription to clear away the stickiness: “This product has a small amount of mineral that will remove light oxidation but also leaves a protective waxed finish,” he says. “It’s designed to be used by hand.”My dad always taught me to apply wax in a tight, circular pattern (wax on, wax off), but Dan suggests supplementing this roundabout approach with up/down and left/right attacking motions to reduce streaking.On the most basic shadetree, Saturday afternoon level, that was it--3M’s near-miracle-working products transformed my MG’s grungy finish into a much smoother feel and shinier look. (Thankfully, from my perspective, the car still retains its charming patina--it’s just significantly cleaner-looking.)Dan wasn’t satisfied, though. For some extra zing, he used a more aggressive approach on the hood to create the requisite Before & After look to impress the Sunday pre-race MIS crowds. Dan explains: “We used masking tape to split the MG’s hood and give a bigger WOW for the difference in finish. We started by using 3M Cleaner Clay again, followed by 3M Rubbing Compound in combination with a wool pad attached to a high speed buffer running at 1500 rpm. This process quickly removes surface imperfections like oxidation, stains & water-spots. The gritty cut of this compound, in conjunction with the wool pad leaves a courser finish than the One Step Cleaner Wax though, and it must be followed up with a refining step to remove any swirls that may be in the finish. We used 3M Scratch Remover with a black foam polishing pad to tackle those swirls.“The best way to finish the job,” Dan continues, “is to apply 3M Performance Finish, a synthetic wax that gives class-leading results in gloss and durability. This product improves gloss slightly and helps get rid of any remaining fine swirls from the second buffing step.Of course, there are numerous other quality car care products (Armor All, Lexol, Meguiar’s, Mother’s, NuFinish, etc.) on the market that can give you great results. You might be surprised how much better your car can look if you invest a bit of money and part of your weekendâ€"just try to stay out of the direct sunlight on a 90-degree day, as we had to do. “Shaded areas are a must!” says Dan.My MG’s paint wasn’t the hottest thing at MIS, though. While Dan and I polished my car, automotive babe and former cohost of Overhaulin’ Courtney Hansen stopped by to compliment me on my ride. If you visit www.3mcarcare.com, Courtney Hansen will talk to you, too. For more nitty-gritty details on 3M’s products and videos on how to use them, you can log on to www.3M.com/automotive.Photos courtesy of Lorin Robinson, 3MRead More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us