Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and Other Auto Shows

2010 Mazda3 5-Door Released in Bologna

By Colin MathewsColin Mathews, November 25th, 2008

Proving that Americans are in love with neither 5-door hatches nor diesel engines, Mazda chose the Bologna Auto Show (Motor Show di Bologna for those of you fluent in Italian) to introduce the cheeky five-door hatchback version of its new Mazda3. The vehicle is powered by, among other engine choices, 1.6-liter and 2.2-liter turbodiesel four cylinders. On the heels of the L.A. Auto Show intro for the four-door sedan version of Mazda's second-gen Mazda3, the European-market car offers all the benefits of a versatile hatch design and reaps the rewards of its fuel-sipping diesels that meet stringent European Stage5 emissions regs. Gasoline... Proving that Americans are in love with neither 5-door hatches nor diesel engines, Mazda chose the Bologna Auto Show (Motor Show di Bologna for those of you fluent in Italian) to introduce the cheeky five-door hatchback version of its new Mazda3. The vehicle is powered by, among other engine choices, 1.6-liter and 2.2-liter turbodiesel four cylinders. On the heels of the L.A. Auto Show intro for the four-door sedan version of Mazda's second-gen Mazda3, the European-market car offers all the benefits of a versatile hatch design and reaps the rewards of its fuel-sipping diesels that meet stringent European Stage5 emissions regs. Gasoline... Read More

Tags: Europe, Marketing, Industry, New Products, Styling, Other Auto Shows, Cars We Love

Posted in: 2010, Mazda, Green, Diesel, MAZDA3

Auto Market Woes Dim Auto Show Glimmer

By Colin MathewsColin Mathews, November 17th, 2008

Market realities are forcing automakers to pull back or pull out of their crowning events: the beloved auto show. The Los Angeles Times reports that GM has nixed plans to introduce its new Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac CTS Coupe at the LA Auto Show next week; that Chrysler is forcing local dealers to pay for its presence at the show and will be revealing no new vehicles; and that Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, and Suzuki are withdrawing from North America's premiere auto show--Detroit's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) held this coming January. Only one automaker has sold more cars in '08 than it did in '07, according to the... Market realities are forcing automakers to pull back or pull out of their crowning events: the beloved auto show. The Los Angeles Times reports that GM has nixed plans to introduce its new Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac CTS Coupe at the LA Auto Show next week; that Chrysler is forcing local dealers to pay for its presence at the show and will be revealing no new vehicles; and that Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, and Suzuki are withdrawing from North America's premiere auto show--Detroit's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) held this coming January. Only one automaker has sold more cars in '08 than it did in '07, according to the... Read More

Tags: North America, Marketing, Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Other Auto Shows

Posted in: 2008

The 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Gets Speed, Too

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, July 22nd, 2008

Introduced here at the London motor show today, the new 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed edition is the most powerful four-door car the company has ever produced, according to the Crewe-based automaker.

The Speed's 12-cylinder engine turns out 600 horsepower, good for a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph.

It's also ever so slightly updated from the 2008 version of Bentley's flying sedan, as is the entire four-door lineup. For 2009, Bentley's changed the front and rear ends of the Flying Spur. There's a new, more vertical grille and a more prominent air intake beneath it, while the back end gets a little...

Introduced here at the London motor show today, the new 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed edition is the most powerful four-door car the company has ever produced, according to the Crewe-based automaker. The Speed's 12-cylinder engine turns out 600 horsepower, good for a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph. It's also ever so slightly updated from the 2008 version of Bentley's flying sedan, as is the entire four-door lineup. For 2009, Bentley's changed the front and rear ends of the Flying Spur. There's a new, more vertical grille and a more prominent air intake beneath it, while the back end gets a little... Read More

Tags: Other Auto Shows

Posted in: 2009, Bentley, Sedans, Luxury, Continental Flying Spur