Autoblog brings us a great gallery of images of the 991 Porsche 911 coupé and convertible. Based on these pics, which show development cars mostly free of camouflage, the next-generation 911 is going to be a very nice looking car. A better looking 997, really. Which is just what we have come to expect from Porsche.
With any luck we’ll see the 991 revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (3–13 March).
[Source: Autoblog | Pic: KGP Photography]
The Motor Report brings word that Volkswagen has confirmed production for a Golf VI-based cabrio. They’ve even come up with this rendering to show how such a car could look. The soft-top Golf will be built in Osnabrück at the former Karmann factory, which Volkswagen picked up after the body specialists filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
Production should commence in 2011 with deliveries for late that year or possibly beginning in 2012. Following a near decade-long hiatus the re-introduction of the Golf Cabrio would likely signal the end of the Eos convertible. Check out the source link below for more.
[Source: The Motor Report]
UPDATE 4 November: A press release from Volkswagen AG has been added below, which confirms a new Golf Cabrio will be built at Osnabrück.
This gorgeous 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina recently sold at auction for a cool €2.8 million. That’s around four million bucks in Australian money. We’re being told the result is well beyond the pre-auction estimate of AU$3.4m, even though in January we were told it could sell for AU$5m.
The sale took place at the RM Auctions ‘Sporting Classics of Monaco’ auction held last weekend In total almost AU$48m in sales were achieved. What financial crisis?
More after the jump.
Ever wondered what happens if you drive your car over a mattress and just keep on driving? Well, wonder no more, as a thoughtful MINI Cooper S Cabrio owner has done the experiment for you.
As you can see from the pictures the result is not pretty (there’s two more pics after the jump). The owner had not long collected the car from a western Sydney dealer when she reportedly drove over a mattress of some description. Not realising something was wrong she kept on motoring. Soon enough, though, there was a distinct smell of smoke. The driver pulled to the side of the road and within minutes her new car was in flames and just as quickly it was a smouldering wreck.
An eyewitness speaking to ninemsn said, “She was agitated, bewildered and very, very emotional. Everyone thought someone was dead. She was pretty lucky. I told her she should go buy a lottery ticket.”
Audi has lifted the lid on its S5 and A5 models. From Audi’s press blurb, is this rather quaint opening line: “Dynamic and wonderful to look at, the new A5 Cabriolet is a real Audi, and an especially exciting one at that.”
What is exciting is the new 3-litre supercharged V6 in the S5, which offers 245kW of power and 440Nm of torque to the driver. Oddly enough, this new engine is badged as a V6T. The blown V6 takes the roofless S5 from rest to 100.km/h in 5.6 seconds, but, amazingly, when driven conservatively, can achieve fuel consumption of 9.6l/100km. At least, that’s the claim.
The new Cabriolet models conform to Audi’s softtop philosophy, and are able to open in 15 seconds. Closing the roof takes 17 seconds. A basic animated GIF of the roof opening on the S5 Cabriolet is shown after jump (not time accurate). Audi say the benefits of the lighter softop help improve handling over hardtop designs through a lower centre of gravity. They also reckon their use of foam inside the roof lining makes interior noise almost on par with a folding metal roof.
The use of high strength steel and strategic reinforcements in the chassis are said to complete the strengthening required after removing the roof. Rollover bars pop up from behind the rear seat in the event of an accident and there are also head and chest air bags mounted in the doors to aid side impact protection.
A full complement of engines and transmissions are on offer for the A5, including a new seven speed S-tronic on selected models. The S-tronic box is standard on the S5.
Audi’s full international press statement in shown below.
Even though the R56 MINI has been on sale for some time, the R52 Cabriolet models currently on sale were still based on the first gen MINI platform. In readiness for the all new R57 model, Cabrio production has come to a temporary close after 164,000 R52s rolled off the line at MINI’s Plant Oxford. The MINI Cooper Cabrio accounted for 79,500 of the total sales with the MINI Cooper S Cabrio (and John Cooper Works versions) selling around 56,500 units. The remaining 28,000 were MINI One Cabrio models, not sold in Australia. The very last R52 Cabrio rolled off the line last week. It was a MINI Cooper S Cabrio Sidewalk finished in metallic White Silver, sold to a keen MINI fan from the USA.
News of the last R52 Cabrio came just days before MINI announced its one millionth MINI for export. Oliver Zipse, Managing Director MINI Plant Oxford said, “Export is a key factor for the success and stability of our MINI Plant in Oxford. Since MINI was launched we have seen a significant increase in export from less than 60 per cent in 2001 to over 80 per cent this year. The high customer demand in almost 80 countries around the world, from Chile to China, has driven MINI’s success over the last seven years.â€
Audi Australia has just launched its newest addition to the A3 range—the all-new A3 Cabriolet—and they’re pretty chuffed, by the looks.
Audi Australia’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, says “The A3 Cabriolet clearly reflects Audi’s brand values of sporty, progressive and sophisticated—with two dynamic turbocharged direct injection engines, Audi achieves the seemingly opposite goals of excellent performance combined with fuel efficiency, matched with an elegant design which is equally attractive in roof-up or roof-down modes. We expect the A3 Cabriolet to be extremely successful in Australia because it offers a multitude of flexible features—from the fun of driving with the roof down, to space for four people, excellent safety features, plenty of luggage space and genuine good looks.”
Well, he has to say all those nice things doesn’t he. I do agree, however, that the A3 Cabrio looks great—it is a stunning car—although I’m not sure how well it will sell down under. Though, I expect Audi Australia has realistic expectations on that front.
At launch, the A3 Cabriolet is available with two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. Pricing starts at $49,900 for the 118kW 1.8 TFSI Attraction, fitted with Audi’s 6-speed double clutch S tronic transmission. The Ambition models, featuring the 147kW 2.0 TFSI, start at $54,900 for the 6-speed manual and $57,500 for the S tronic. The first sign of cost saving with the A3 Cabriolet is evident with the roof being soft top only. The second, and most likely the last, is that the standard roof is semi-automatic only, although it does open in an impressive 9 seconds. However, for an extra $1300 a fully automatic soft top is available, and your extra cash also gets you a bit more sound proofing.