’79 Corvette Stretch Limo That Starred In "Mystery Men" For Sale

We vaguely remember the plot of the '99 comedy "Mystery Men" starring Ben Stiller but the 1979 Corvette Limo that we found on e-bay definitely rang a bell. In the movie, the stretched Vette served as the super-villain’s (Casanova Frankenstein played by Geoffrey Rush) personal car.

The Vette’s transformation included extending the frame to over 23 feet (7 meters) total length and modifying the interior by adding two more opposing seats, bar, lights, and rear T-tops. Before its procrustean metamorphosis, the limo started its life as a 1979 3rd-generation Corvette fitted with an 185Hp strong 350c.i. V8 motor and an automatic transmission. Tangentially, did you know that the 1979 Corvette sold 53,807 units, a record number still standing today? -Click “Read More…” below for more images

Via: ebay

Technorati: Chevrolet+Corvette, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

Transformers: Bumblebee Makes A Guest Appearance At The Barcelona Show

Barely a month before the long-awaited Transformers Movie hits the big screen (July 4) and the producers of the film decided to take Bumblebee for a cross Atlantic jaunt over to the 2007 Barcelona Motor Show (June 7-19). In case you’re wondering why we’re not seeing the '09 Chevrolet Camaro, that’s because Bumblebee will start off in the film as ’76 F-Body Camaro that later becomes the '09 version.

Via: buscatuning

Technorati: Transformers, Movie, Chevrolet+Camaro, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

Toyota Worldwide Hybrid Sales Surpass 1 Million Mark

To be exact, as of May 31, 2007, Toyota has sold an amazing 1,047,000 hybrid car units worldwide. In all honestly, who’d believe back in 1997 when Toyota launched the first Prius in Japan, that ToMoCo would manage to pull it off selling over a million hybrid cars in 10 years? We dare to say that this accomplishment is even more astonishing than the fact that ToMoCo is one step away this year from dethroning GM as the world’s largest car manufacturer. Follow the jump for the official press release along with the chronology of Toyota’s Hybrid love affair and an analytical sales chart. -Continued

PRESS RELEASE: Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that global cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles have topped the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,047,000 units sold worldwide as of May 31, 2007.

Toyota launched the Prius—the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle—in Japan in 1997 and began selling it in North America, Europe and elsewhere in 2000.

The second-generation Prius, equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System II, was introduced in 2003 with an emphasis on delivering both environmental performance and power. Over time, Toyota has expanded the use of its hybrid system to minivans, SUVs, rear-wheel-drive sedans and other vehicles. Hybrid vehicles have been enjoying good sales both in Japan and in over 40 countries and regions around the world, particularly North America.

Toyota began overseas production of hybrid vehicles in Changchun, China in 2005 and in Kentucky in the United States in 2006.

Toyota has calculated that as of April 30, 2007, worldwide sales of its hybrid vehicles since 1997 have greatly contributed to reductions in CO₂ emissions, which are considered a cause of global warming, by producing approximately 3.5 million fewer tons of CO₂ compared with the same class gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

Toyota has positioned environmental responses as a priority management issue, and as such has made a concerted effort to popularize hybrid systems. It will actively continue to find ways to utilize the system’s high degree of applicability to double its hybrid lineup and will aim to achieve annual sales of 1 million units in the early part of the 2010s.

Technorati: Toyota, Lexus, Toyota+Prius, Hybrids, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

2008 Saab 9-3: New Images & Video

Captain Carscoop's log, day 541, June 7, 2007

15:34 -Amazingly, 24 hours after the yellow-mellow 9-3 Convertible dropped on our shores we discovered a whole new series of apocalyptic pictures featuring the mysterious 9-3 on the Trollhattansaab site

15:37 -We can't believe our luck! Our vigorous attempts of scrolling down finally paid off as we found a scoop video of the 2008 9-3 Aero SportCombi. From what we heard, the car was caught unguarded at ANA, the main dealership in Trolhattan Sweden. Cap'n Carscoop, over and out

Click “Read More…” below for more pics

Via: Trollhattansaab

Technorati: Saab, Saab+9-3, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

Alfa Romeo Motorcycle With A 4-Cylinder Boxer Engine!

From time to time we like crossing over to the wonderful world of two-wheels. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to stumble upon really weird creations like the 3wheeler Mercedes SLK or the Alfa bike you’re seeing here that attempt to mix characteristics from both worlds -cars and motorcycles. Not always with the same success apparently. While there’s no info on the heavily modified bike, it seems to be wearing a 4cylinder Alfa Romeo boxer motor combined with some parts that look to have come from a BMW motorcycle boxer engine. -More pictures after the jump

Via: Autoblog.it

ΟPEC Threatens To Drive Oil-Prices Through The Roof

This is exactly what we needed now; OPEC warning – threatening (take your pick) through its secretary-general, Abdalla El-Badri, that if the West continues to develop bio-fuels as an alternative energy source to combat climate change, the price of oil could go “through the roof” as the cartel’s members will start cutting investment in new oil production.

OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) which controls about 40 per cent of world oil production, plans to spend about $130bn until 2012 to raise oil output. Iraq production apart, the petrol cartel forecasts a capacity of 39.7m barrels of crude oil per day in 2010, up from today’s 35.7m b/d. El-Badri told FTP that OPEC also plans to invest another $500bn in production development during the period 2013 to 2020. However, always according to El-Badri, that could change depending on the biofuels outlook.

And to think that world production of biofuels were equal to a mere 1 per cent of all road transport fuel in 2005! To make a long story short, what those democratic and anthropocentric fellas at OPEC are telling is, stop trying to find alternative fuels or we’re going to shove a raise so deep up your rass that it’ll take your economies years to recover.

Source: FTP , Via: Edmunds Straightline

Opel Corsa GSi With 150Hp 1.6 Turbo Engine

GM’s European subsidiary has revived the GSi nameplate through a brand new edition of the Opel Corsa that’ll be introduced at the Barcelona Motor Show (June 7 - 17, 2007). Practically, the Corsa GSi is a detuned and toned down version of the Corsa OPC with whom its shares the same engine wear. Available as a three or five-door variant, the GSi is powered by OPC’s 1.6-liter turbo gasoline engine, which now delivers 150Hp @ 5.000 rpm and a maximum torque figure of 210Nm @ 2.100-5.000 rpm (OPC: 192Hp @ 5.850 rpm and 230Nm @ 1.980-5.850 rpm). The new Corsa GSi has a top speed of 210 km/h and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Apparently, there’s no way you’ll ever mistake the GSi with its sinister OPC counterpart as the Corsa GSi’s styling is what we’d call subtly sport. Exterior modifications include a front spoiler lip, rear apron lip and spoiler, colour-keyed side sills, chrome sport tailpipe and 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin’s ambience is emphasized by charcoal/red upholstered sport seats with high side support, a leather steering wheel with red inserts, red safety belts and aluminum-style pedals.

“We’re pleased to launch another model, with the legendary GSi heritage. Opel fans know just what the three letters GSi stand for: plenty of fun, good value for money and no compromises in everyday use or driving conditions,” explains Alain Visser, Executive Director European Marketing Opel. “The Corsa GSi combines the virtues of its compact dimensions with impressive performance over the entire rpm range, which actually positions the model in the next higher car class.”

Technorati: Opel+Corsa+GSi, Opel, cars, autos, vehicles

Honda NSX II Test-Mule Spotted In Nurburgring

Despite what you may think, what you’re looking at the above photo isn’t some sort of a long-wheel base S2000 but, according to the Swedish edition of AMS, a test mule for Honda’s second generation NSX supercar. Caught in action lapping the Nordschleife in Germany, the test car allegedly wears a front mounted V10 engine powering all four wheels -the first generation NSX had a mid-engine (V6), rear-wheel drive layout. As for looks, according to our information, Honda will present a near-to-production concept at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show in October heavily based on the 2007 NAIAS prototype, Acura “Advanced Sports Car Concept” (pics below). Via: AMS

Technorati: Honda, Honda+NSX, cars, autos, vehicles