Mini is suspending work on the Rocketman, the United Kingdom’s Car magazine reports. The company has a load of new products debuting, but the mini Mini won’t be one of them.

This isn’t too much of a surprise. Last June, Mini told Automotive News that it feared that a Smart competitor wouldn’t be profitable.

Combine that with the fact that the mini Mini would require some investment from parent company BMW to meet current regulations. Crash performance in particular was a challenge. Stability and handling problems also played a part.

Auctions America by RM enjoyed a successful debut in Las Vegas this past  weekend, selling more than $4.1 million worth of vintage motorcycles, with an  impressive 82 percent sell-through rate of all lots offered.

The event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Jan. 12-14 had strong  attendance, with thousands of enthusiasts gathering to see 490 motorcycles and a  range of bike-related memorabilia cross the auction block.

The top seller of the weekend was a beautifully restored 1910 Flying Merkel,  resplendent in the company’s bright orange coloring, that garnered $86,800.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120118/CARNEWS/120119827#ixzz1jqahs3i0

My dad used to live in Merkel, Texas. Thought I would to this post in tribute to him. He passed away over a year ago in Abeliene.

Found this site on Ebay. Sorry for the wee photos. Go to the sight for the real deals!

http://stores.ebay.com/TheCuriosityShop524

The Acura NSX took on an aura of immortality the moment it died in 2005. Its legend only grew when a potential replacement was killed in 2008 amid the global financial crisis, dashing the hopes of enthusiasts everywhere. Finally, the return of the NSX was confirmed last year, and it will become production reality sometime in the next three years.

The Detroit auto show marks the coming-out party for the NSX, which was revealed in concept form with a number of many true-to-life features—some of which stand in stark contrast its forerunner. Namely, the concept is all-wheel drive, unlike the iconic rear-wheel original. This employs Acura‘s latest technology, using a two-motor electric-drive unit that can vary torque to the front wheels during cornering. There’s also a dual-clutch transmission with a built-in electric motor that’s said to aid acceleration.

The Mini Cooper  coupe is still fresh–it hasn’t been out for more than a year. Now, German tuner  AC Schnitzer has taken it into the shop for some upgrades.

The company is working on performance upgrades for both the diesel- and  gasoline-powered cars, starting with a front limited-slip differential. The AC  Schnitzer diff can lock up to 75 percent, making corner exits both faster and  more accurate.

Schnitzer offers a high-performance brake system with four-piston calipers,  slotted discs, new brake pads, new  caliper holder and steel flexible brake lines. Elsewhere underneath, a  height-adjustable racing suspension is offered, or just a spring kit. The  company also will have an aluminum strut brace and antiroll bar to keep the  coupe even more planted in the corners.

Exterior and interior upgrades are available. Schnitzer offers a décor set  with different designs. They come with a sticker reading, “Technology &  Design.” Inside, the company will upgrade the pedals, gearshift, foot rests and  floormats with brushed versions or versions with logos applied. Bigger wheels  are also available with corresponding tires.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120105/CARNEWS/120109948#ixzz1icfApOLK

Fresh photos of the stunning Lexus LF-LC  sports car were released on Wednesday ahead of the live debut next week at  the Detroit auto show.

Clad in a blazing shade of blood red, the LF-LC suggests a future sports car  for the luxury brand.  The concept has a 2+2 configuration and a hybrid powertrain. It was designed at  the company’s Calty studio in Newport Beach, Calif.

The shots show an angled, angry grille evidenced on the LF-GH concept at the  2011 New York auto show, which closely previewed the 2013 GS sedan.

The LF-LC concept also has blinged-out wheels, futuristic three-bulb  headlights and curvy fenders. More details will be revealed on Monday.

The Detroit auto show promises to be a sports-car shootout, as Acura has  confirmed that the NSX will bow there and Chevrolet is bringing two athletic  design concepts.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120104/DETROIT/120109973#ixzz1icWe2icj

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120104/DETROIT/120109973#ixzz1icQeilBp

http://castleqwayr.wordpress.com/

Lexus had given us the heads-up that it was bringing a sports-coupe concept to the Detroit auto show. A teaser photo was released, but a full reveal was supposed to wait until the show in January.

That plan is toast, courtesy of the Internet. Road & Track magazine touted its next issue with a video on YouTube–since pulled–that revealed the Lexus LF-LC. Another photo of the car has shown up on the Web site of the U.K.’s Car magazine.

The LF-LC is another salvo in Lexus’s bid to boost the excitement level of its styling. The grille builds upon the nose that debuted on the LF-Gh concept that previewed the redesigned Lexus GS sedan. And the coupe styling makes us believe that Lexus is thinking that it might be possible to release a successor to the now-departed SC coupe, which was based on the platform used for the LS sedan.

The 2013 BMW 6-series Gran Coupe, pictured here in production guise for the first time, arrives just 20 months after it was previewed as a concept car at the 2010 Beijing motor show. It joins the existing coupe and convertible in an expanded range of 6-series models aiming to attract buyers who place greater emphasis on outright style than sheer practicality. It will make its public debut at the 2012 Geneva motor show.

Stylistically, the Gran Coupe is identical to the second-generation 6-series coupe and convertible, from its forward-leaning kidney grille to the upper trailing edge of its windscreen. However, the car adopts a longer roof structure, shorter front doors, more substantial B-pillars and two conventionally front-hinged rear doors, providing it with added levels of everyday practicality. But to maintain a degree of coupelike style, all four doors are frameless.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111211/GENEVA/312119999#ixzz1gMKBngEl

Likely Not, Unless You Request

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/50-unexplainable-black-white-photos

http://www.etsy.com/shop/eweniquecreations

This amazing digital creation measures 8"x 10" (centered for easiest matting and framing) and comes to you on an 8.5 x 11 high resolution, heavyweighted textured canvas cloth.

This dark grey bag was created from an upcycled sweater. The handle measures 35 inches, the bag is 6 1/2 by 5 1/5 inches. Fun fringe, wool trim and a large button, makes this an eye catcher.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/eweniquecreations

Koenigsegg, our favorite hard-to-pronounce Swedish supercar manufacturer, got  the word on Wednesday that its latest car has  broken six world records.

The Agera R, which uses a twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 engine, sprinted  from 0 to 300 kph (186.4 mph) in a Stephen Hawking-impressing 14.53 seconds. For  us nonmetric types, the Agera R also went from 0 to 200 mph in  17.68 seconds; both runs were verified with a Racelogic VBox recorder. The best  part is, they’ve got video.

Other records broken by the 1,100-hp supercar include 300 to 0 kph in 6.66  seconds, 200 to 0 mph in 7.28 seconds, 0 to 300 to 0 kph in 21.19 seconds and 0  to 200 to 0 mph in just 24.96 seconds. Not a bad way to spend half a minute.

Koenigsegg provides 811 lb-ft of torque to move the 3,164-pound beast, which  seems to be plenty–especially since all of that twist is on tap from 2,700 rpm.  The car reportedly has a top speed of 275 mph, a few clicks faster than the  Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111130/CARNEWS/111139971#ixzz1fJjzeCUK

http://www.facebook.com/LotusCars

The 86 hits a top speed of 142 mph and can do a 0-to-62-mph run in six seconds. But raw speed is not the goal, says chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. The model’s true mission is multifold:

– Achieve a low price point that can lure recent college graduates.

– Strive for fun-to-drive handling with a low center of gravity.

– Strip out fancy electronic-control systems and turbochargers.

– Deliver a ride that can be easily customized and tuned by car buffs.

Toyota hasn’t disclosed a price or gas-mileage estimates. But the company has said it is targeting a sticker around 2 million yen ($26,000). Tada said the goal is to price the car in a range that would be affordable to recent college graduates.

Porsche has developed an innovative fabric and composite-plastic folding roof for the 911 cabriolet as part of a push to give it a cleaner appearance, improved aerodynamic efficiency and greater levels of refinement than its strong-selling predecessor.

Pictured here officially for the first time ahead of its world premiere in January at the Detroit auto show, the new open-top 911 is planned to go on sale in North America in 2012 in Carrera cabriolet and Carrera S models.

Eschewing the traditional multilayered fabric structure of the 997 series 911 cabriolet, the next model (991 series) adopts a specially developed lightweight roof that uses two fabric-skinned composite plastic panels for the upper and rear part of the structure, giving it a more uniform shape together with a tauter fit that is claimed to make it more resistant than before to buffeting at high speeds
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111122/CARNEWS/111129982#ixzz1eTNbBkI3

The IPL package was introduced on the 2011 G37 coupe, bringing a small horsepower upgrade, suspension tuning, a body kit, IPL-exclusive seven-spoke wheels and a $5,500 premium.

Like the IPL coupe, the IPL convertible will get an increase of 18 hp over the non-IPL version, making 343 hp and 6 lb-ft more torque (to 273 lb-ft). Pricing for the convertible has not been announced.

Exterior modifications include a new front bumper/fascia design with integrated fog lights, sculpted side sills and chrome exhaust tips. The car comes in Moonlight white and Malbec black. Interior color options are also limited to two: Stone and Monaco red, with red-stitched leather-appointed seats and steering wheel.

The convertible gets a three-piece power-retractable hardtop.

Related articles

• Infiniti shows off performance G convertible concept (content.usatoday.com)

Previous BRZ-themed concepts didn’t include bodywork, so now you know–kinda sorta–what this highly anticipated coupe will look like.

Underneath the taut WR Blue Pearl II paint is a new normally aspirated 2.0-liter boxer engine fueled by Toyota‘s gasoline direct injection. No output figures from the engine were released.

Subaru said the chassis has an STI-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes and BRZ-specific 18-inch wheels. Inside is a 2+2 seating layout.

The engine sits 4.7 inches lower and 9.4 inches further rearward than the engine in an Impreza. All of which suggests that the production BRZ will be pretty fun to drive. But we’ll have to wait a bit longer to find that out.

Related articles

• Los Angeles: Subaru BRZ Concept STI looks fast, furious (autoblog.com)
• Subaru BRZ Concept STI Breaks Loose From All-Wheel-Drive Template (wheels.blogs.nytimes.com)