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4:09 AM
Mr EX
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4:05 AM
Mr EX
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Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk says he wants to shift 5,000 examples of the new Model S electric saloon this year and four times that in 2013. It's a very ambitious target so, naturally, any endorsement is more than welcome; especially if it comes from the nation’s largest auto retailer. Labeling it, “a first-rate car” and “the best electric car I've ever driven", does the job nicely, thank you. That’s exactly what AutoNation Inc. CEO Mike Jackson said after driving the car during his visit to a showroom near Tesla’s HQ on August 15, according to a Bloomberg News report. “The Model S has very good design, fit and finish is good, driving dynamics are good”, said Jackson. He did point out, though, that as with all EVs, price will be the limiting factor in the sales front. “Electric vehicles, all-in, when we’re sitting here three years from now, are still less than 1 percent of the market. They’re very expensive,” he added. The base model, which starts at US$57,400, has a 160-mile (257 km) range, while the price skyrockets to US$105,400 for the “Signature” variant that can do 300 miles (480 km) on a single charge. Any way you slice it, even throwing in the US$7,500 federal tax rebate that brings the base price just below the $50k mark, that’s a lot of cash. Musk must be smiling smugly, though, as Jackson added that the Model S is better than the Fisker Karma: “Some people love the styling, some people think it’s a bit baroque, but the dynamics are not as good (as the Model S)”, said Jackson who also drove the Karma last week. Fisker, which has to deal with a new recall due to a fire hazard as well as to unfreeze the Energy Department loan allocated to building its new Delaware factory, probably won't be cheering. You can also watch a video from Inside Line testing the Tesla Model S right after the jump.
4:00 AM
Mr EX
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Norwich-based firm Trident Performance Vehicles isn't your usual car manufacturer and its new Iceni Grand Tourer is far from being a normal sports car, not only because of its strange looks but mostly due to the company's decision to pack a 6.6-litre turbo-diesel under its hood. The Iceni Grand Tourer is a newer development of the regular Iceni and it will make its debut at the UK's Salon Privé 2012, which is held at West London’s Syon Park from September 5 to 7. This open-top model sports a mid-front mounted 6.6-litre V8 turbo-diesel sourced from one of GM's commercial trucks. The eight-cylinder unit is capable of running on mineral diesel, bio diesel, palm oil and linseed oil, with Trident claiming that it generates an output of 430bhp and a staggering 950 lb-ft (1,287Nm) of peak torque at under 3,250rpm. And if that's not enough power, Trident also offers an upgrade package that lifts output to 660bhp and maximum torque to 1,050 lb-ft (1,422Nm)! The British automaker quotes a zero to 60mph sprint time of just 3.7 seconds and a top speed nearing 200mph (320km/h). As impressive as these performance numbers may be, the Iceni Grand Tourer really shines when it comes to fuel efficiency, as according to Trident, "at a constant 70mph (113km/h) the specially tuned engine runs at just 980rpm, produces 700lbs ft of torque, is capable of 68.9mpg UK (57.4 mpg US or 4.1lt/100km) and will keep going for over 2000miles (3,218km) on one full tank of diesel". Trident Sports Cars managing director, Phillip Bevan, commented on the forthcoming presentation of the car at the London car show: “We are very pleased to be at Salon Privé which this year is a great celebration of all things British and home grown talent - something we feel very strongly about at Trident. It is also a place where sports cars and super cars of this calibre are sold, and we look forward to taking new orders for the Iceni at Syon Park this September.” The Iceni Grand Tourer is built to order in Norfolk with prices in the UK starting from £75,000, equal to €94,900 and US$118,700 at the current exchange rates.
Via: carscoop.blogspot.com
Before we let you check out Williams' well-executed renderings in the gallery below, we'll remind you that the new F70 is slated to debut before the end of the year and go on sale in 2013. 
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