eBay: Cool Go-Kart Replicating A 1939 Hot Rod

It might not look like one, but under those retro bodylines, there’s a Go-Kart hiding and it's equipped with an 8Hp strong Briggs & Stratton engine. The Go-Kart's owner says that the outer-shell is inspired from a 1939 Ford/Chevy Hot Rod. I don’t know why but to me it looks more like something that jumped out of a Batman movie. Either way, if you’re a 10-year-old kid this is one ride that will certainly raise your score in the neighbourhood stock-market. -More pictures after the jump

Sellers Description: You are viewing one of the coolest go cart 1939 roadster replicas you will ever see for sale on ebay. This little cart has been carefully brought to its current great condition with a brand new 8 horse power briggs and stratton motor that was about $800. I am told it will propel this little roadster to over 50 miles per hour.

The paint is a high gloss black enamel that has been colored sanded and buffed out to a better shine than most classic cars ever get and at a cost of over $1,500. The mags are painted steel with brand new multi ply tires and look fantastic as does the brand new upholstered seat with red racing stripes on it to match the custom red pin stripping. This little go cart also has a electronic push button starter and push button stop too… It also has a disc brake, working head lights and tail lights, plexy glass windshield and removable convertible top.

Via: ebay

Chrysler Recalling 80,000 Wranglers and Nitros - One Accident Linked To The Issue

Chrysler Group announced on Tuesday, July 3 that it was recalling more than 80.000 or to be exact, 80.894 2007 Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Nitro SUV models in the States due to a defect that could cause power interruptions leading to a short engine stall. According to the American carmaker, there was one accident linked to the engine stall issue; however, no injuries have been reported. On its behalf, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that it opened an investigation in May after receiving about 180 complaints of engine stalling in Wrangler and Nitro vehicles. As with all recalls, Chrysler Group said that it will notify owners of the vehicles affected in a weeks time with the work completed of course free of charge.

Via: usatoday

Japan Car Sales Plummet 10,5% In First Half, Lowest Level Since 1975

According to a report conducted by Bloomberg, Japan's regular vehicle sales fell in the first half of the year to their lowest point since 1975. Excluding minicars, the sales of trucks, buses and cars have fell 10.5% to 1.8 million in the first six months of 2007 from a year ago. What’s even more interesting is the fact that the report blames the continuing sales slump to Japans rapidly aging population and having the lowest birth rate in the world. It’s said that Japan’s work force will shrink as much as 33% by 2050 due to this factor that will most likely effect the production of the Japanese cars. Consequently, if we got it right, they had better start making some looove over at the “Land of the Rising Sun” or find new markets to sell their cars. Guess the second option sounds a lot much easier…

Posted by Dani

Via: Bloomberg

Toyota Auris 3door Version Launched In Europe

Toyota is broadening its C-Segment hatch line-up in Europe with the addition of a 3door version of the Auris. Like most of the competition in Europe, Toyota preferred the easy way when it came to designing the Auris 3d meaning it simply threw out the rear doors from the 5door version and presto; a “sporty” 3d hatch

As expected, there’s no change in dimensions compared to the Auris 5d. Same goes for the engine range with the 3d being offered with two petrol units (97Hp 1.4-litre & 124Hp 1.6-litre) and two diesels (126Hp 2.0-litre & 177Hp 2.2-litre). Unfortunately Toyota hasn’t issued an official European press release yet so well sit tight with what we found on Toyota’s German site. So in Germany at least, the Auris 3d costs €700 ($954) less than its equivalent 5door version. -More images and the German price list after the jump

Video: GPS Mistake Leads Audi A4 To Tram Rails

Here’s another poor soul who fell victim to the preciseness of a GPS system. This time in Milan Italy, an Audi A4 took a “wrong turn” and ended up on tram tracks holding up the line for hours. The driver claimed he was just following directions on his navigation system. Evidently, this is something that happens quite often. A few months back we had posted a story about a woman who followed her GPS into a river and sunk her car. I guess there is no such thing as a bad GPS system, just a bad driver. My dad once drove our rental car onto a tram track on a European vacation a few years back. Instead of making a scene, he just made his way over a 6 inch border surrounding the tracks and destroyed the car. Ces la vie! -Follow the jump for the video

Posted by Dani

Via: 02blog

Chrysler / Dodge Crew CUV Concept To Debut At Frankfurt Show

Chrysler Group is planning to unveil a concept version of its forthcoming mid-size CUV, better known in the US as the Chrysler and Dodge crossovers coded JC49 and JZ49 (pic above from AMS), at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. How do we know? Well, according to an off-the-record conversation we had with a Chrysler Group Europe source of ours and even though this hasn’t been officially announced, it’s 99% certain that the American carmaker will debut the MPV/Crossover concept dubbed “Crew” at the German car Show. What our source couldn’t tell us is whether the Crew will wear a Dodge or Chrysler badge –though we’ve heard that the Crew nameplate will be used for the Dodge model. -Continued after the jump

Smaller than the recently introduced Chrysler Town & Country or as Europeans know it, Voyager, the Crew will make use of the Chrysler Sebring / Dodge Avenger platform with production scheduled for January 2008 meaning that the production version will debut either at the L.A. Show in November or at NAIAS in January ’08.

Picture via: Automotorsport

Renault’s Smoke & Sex Ad

Sex sells! So Renault is using most of people’s 2 favorite activities to sell the 7 passenger Renault Grand Scenic: Sex and Smoking. As our friends over at Jalopnik said, this commercial would never fly in the U.S. I mean come on, they banned the TV ad with Paris Hilton eating a cheeseburger and washing a car. Put it this way, the Renault commercial does not appeal to the soccer moms. Unless you’re planning on having an orgy, we wouldn’t recommend this Grand Scenic. It’s too Windstarish!

Posted by Dani

Via: Jalopnik

Scoop: 2008 Toyota Auris TS?

Here’s a set of “scoop” images that we discovered at our Italian buds at Autoblog.it that will certainly raise a few question marks. The most obvious one is whether what we’re looking here is the forthcoming Toyota Auris TS or just a privately supped-up version with a bodykit and a pair of bucket seats? If we had to choose, we’d probably pick the first scenario. Why?

Well, first of all the images seem to have been taken inside a Toyota repair shop –see the Yaris and the WRC (?) Toyota in the above shot. Then there’s the car itself. If it’s a bodykit, then it’s a damn good one. Everything looks factory-made: sporty bumpers, alloy rims, roof spoiler and twin exhaust pipes. In the interior the featured Auris gets a set of bi-colour bucket seats and sporty pedals -or at least that’s all we can see. The bucket seats probably eliminate the chance that this is a Toyota made sport pack for the Auris. But the detail that made us say that it’s official is the German license plate: AUR @ IS 924. That’s something you’d only see on an official car. With the Frankfurt Show just around the corner, we’ll find out soon enough. -Follow the jump for more images

UPDATE: According to a comment we received, these pictures originated from the Spanish site, "ClubCorolla". Members of the forum snatched the Auris during a visit to TTE's (Toyota Team Europe) headquarters in Cologne, Germany.

Pics via: Autoblog.it