Saleen announces plans to stop building vehicles by end of 2011

Revstone Industries, the parent company of Saleen Performance Vehicles, announced today that it will no longer produce vehicles under the Saleen name, although it will continue to produce aftermarket parts through the Saleen Speedlab brand and honor warranties for all existing vehicles. The company cited the confusion and controversy with Steve Saleen’s company, SMS Supercars, as the main reason for stopping production of Saleen-branded vehicles.

In a letter to their customers and dealers, SPV said the following:

Over the past several years, we have witnessed a lot of confusion around the Saleen brand, due to a number of financial ups and downs and accompanying changes in ownership. The name itself has become the center of countless conversations and debates, detracting from the cars themselves, and from the culture of performance that they both embody and serve.

The statement continues…

Through our conversations with Ford Motor Company and one another, we have come to feel that those things have become overshadowed by questions surrounding the name. So we want to wipe the slate clean, and usher in a new era of American Muscle. We are confident that, in time, you will agree this was the right decision.

A representative for Saleen said that Revstone will continue to build performance Mustangs in the future, but the brand under which those vehicles will be produced is yet to be determined and will be announced at a later date.

[Source: Saleen Performance Vehicles]

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Rumormill: Volkswagen greenlights Bulli for production

What did you think of Volkswagen's Bulli concept, which was just shown for the first time at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show? VW is apparently hoping you liked it, because rumor (via Autocar in the UK) has it that it's going into production.

The concept version is powered by a 113-horsepower electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, which can reportedly be charged in less than an hour. We don't know if the electric powertrain will make it into the production vehicle (our guess would be no, but who knows?), and there is no word on pricing. Still, how cool would it be to once again see a modern Volkswagen Microbus prowling the streets of America? The mind reels at the possibility.

[Source: Autocar]

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KIT SPARES IS ADDING NEW PRODUCTS EVERY DAY......

Kit Spares is adding new products everyday to the website, we are pleased to now be stocking a full range of Gaz Shock Absorbers and Gulf Oil as well as AT Power products. Please visit www.kitspares.co.uk and for more information about the Zero range please visit our website www.greatbritishsportscars.co.uk or call 01623 860 990.

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Tesla Model S Update: Pricing to start from $57,000 before credits

Tesla recently held a celebration in honor of its newest store, located in Milan, Italy. At the event, customers and company-folk mingled while chatting about their favorite electric car company. One of the key talking points was the upcoming Model S, and Tesla took the opportunity to answer a few questions.

Deliveries of the North American-market Tesla Model S are scheduled to begin in the mid-2012. The first 1,000 vehicles peeled off the assembly line will be Signature Series cars, which means they’re fitted with 300-mile range batteries and identifying options. Once the Signature Series run has been sold, Tesla will continue to produce 300-mile range cars while optional 230-mile and 160-mile Model S sedans will follow later in the year.

The base 160-mile range Tesla Model S will start at $57,000, but a $7,500 tax credit will cut that price to $49,500. Stepping up to the 230-mile range Model S will add $10,000 to the bottom line. The range-topping 300-mile Model S adds $20,000 to the base price. Tesla plans to produce 5,000 units in 2012 before going full-tilt in 2013 with a 20,000 vehicle production run.

Not limited to just the North American market, Tesla will being selling the Model S in Europe during the latter half of 2012. By the middle of 2013, the company will have a right-hand-drive version for the rest of Europe and Asia. Those launches will also features the Signature Series edition.

[Source: Tesla]

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Report: Jaguar passes on Bertone’s B99 concept

Italian design studio Bertone came to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show with the B99 concept, a design study for a prospective Jaguar rival to the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The sleek show car fostered rumors that perhaps Jaguar itself, which has been considering a successor to the discontinued X-Type, had commissioned Bertone to design the purple machine that graced the Geneva stage. According to new reports, however, Bertone was apparently on its own with this one.

Speaking with Jaguar’s global brand director Adrian Hallmark, Automotive News reports that the British automaker is passing on the concept car. “We appreciate the fact that Jaguar is interesting enough for people to do a concept around,” says Hallmark. “It is just not for us.”

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

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Veritas RSIII Hybrid does the electric slide

Vermot AG is on the cusp of unleashing a hail of all-new models, including a fully-electric vehicle and a coupe version of the delicious Veritas RSIII. But before we get a taste of those, the company is dipping a pinky toe into electric waters with the introduction of the Veritas RSIII Hybrid. The vehicle basically throws a 105 kilowatt electric motor into the already delectable mix that makes up the standard RSIII. That means that you still get the sounds and feel of the 507-horsepower BMW-built V10 engine in the standard RSIII, but with a little extra electron punch.

Even with the additional drivetrain components and a stack of lithium-ion batteries, the Veritas RSIII Hybrid tips the scales at 2,821 pounds, which is around 500 pounds heavier than the standard version. Even so, Vermot says its battery-operated speedster can do away with the 0-62 mph sprint in a skinny 3.1 seconds thanks in part to the fact that the electric motor kicks power to the front wheels, effectively making the machine an all-wheel drive terror. For reference, that's .1 seconds faster than its predecessor.

[Source: Translogic]

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Volvo Ocean Race limited edition models get nautical by nature

Volvo is celebrating the start of its fourth Ocean Race by releasing special edition models of its V60, XC60 and XC70 in the UK. The cars will be available to order starting in April, with the first deliveries expected to take place in July.

Engine options are yet to be determined, but the cars will have special interiors in sail-reminiscent off-black or beige, and the seatbacks come embossed with the Volvo Ocean Race logo. There will also be two special exterior colors available, dubbed “Volvo Ocean Blue II” and “Electric Silver.”

Along with the seats, the door panels and cargo covers get the Ocean Race treatment, with special script and stitching. If that isn’t enough Nautical madness for you, you can rest your Sperrys on a set of textile sail-inspired floor mats to cap it all off.

Volvo is expecting to move about 7,500 of the special editions per year, targeting England, Germany and Italy in particular. No word yet on pricing or whether the cars come with a stuffed parrot for full-on pirate effect.

[Source: Volvo]

PRESS RELEASE:

VOLVO OCEAN RACE LIMITED EDITIONS - THREE MODELS INSPIRED BY THE WORLD’S MOST CHALLENGING SAILING RACE

The Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s most grueling sailing adventure, testing the sailing prowess and human endeavour of its participants and competing in all four corners of the globe. To celebrate the start of the fourth Volvo Ocean Race, Volvo Cars have launched three limited edition models specifically designed with the sailing adventure in mind. Design details inspired by life on board a boat help distinguish these models from their standard counterparts with unique interior and exterior refinements.

Launched at the Geneva Motorshow, three of Volvo’s models will be available in the UK with this special Ocean Race inspired specification, allowing customers to own a piece of Volvo’s involvement in the world’s most challenging of sailing events.

The Volvo Ocean Race Editions will be available to order in the new Volvo V60, XC60 and XC70 from April 2011 with customer cars expected to be delivered in July 2011. Engine availability and pricing have yet to be confirmed in the UK.

Customers can choose between two luxurious exterior colours, Volvo Ocean Blue II or Electric Silver, in conjunction with the sail-inspired leather upholstery in off-black and soft beige with embossed Volvo Ocean Race Logo on the backrest of the front seats.

Other features are the uniquely designed aluminium wheels, chromed detailing and the Volvo Ocean Race emblem on the front wings.

Inside the car, the seats and door panels feature an added level of craftsmanship. The load cover displays the Volvo Ocean Race logo in print with stitching and sheet detailing, there are textile floor mats with clew-inspired (lower corner of a sail) details in aluminium and the tread plate in aluminium is embossed with the text “Volvo Ocean Race”. In addition, the Human Machine Interface start-up display shows the Volvo Ocean Race logo and text.

Volvo Cars estimates to sell about 7,500 cars globally. The four largest markets are expected to be Germany, Sweden, Great Britain and Italy. Other markets outside Europe that will be involved in the race will also sell the Ocean Race Editions.

Facts about the race:

The Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s most gruelling ocean adventure. An extreme race that consists of 9 legs. The Volvo Ocean Race starts in Alicante on October 29 and finishes in Galway, Ireland, on July 7, 2012. The Volvo Ocean Race will also stop in Cape Town (South Africa,Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Miami (the USA), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France). The event also includes exciting inshore races in all the ports.

For more detailed information about the Volvo Ocean Race, visit http://www.volvooceanrace.com/

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