By Greg Kachadurian
Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. I just throw in a little opinion of mine because I can. This week:
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Aston Martin finally makes a full-fledged Bond Edition car
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Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet returns
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Ford Explorer Platinum is the nicest way to do a Ford SUV
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Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo hints at an exciting future
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Rolls Royce Dawn to debut next week
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Jaguar aims to move units with lower prices and better warranties
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Jaguar’s F-Pace crossover teased one last time (maybe)
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What’s your automotive news?
Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition
They were bound to do this eventually, right?
Aston Martin is giving you the chance to be the coolest rich kid at the premiere of Spectre, the upcoming James Bond movie, by building a car named after the most famous spy in movie history. The Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition is a limited edition model built to celebrate 50 years of Aston Martin and James Bond.
In that time, Aston Martin has been the sports car of choice for James Bond (excluding that Toyota he drove… and the Lotuses, and the Mustang, and the AMC, and the BMWs). Even though he’s driving the super-limited DB10 that Aston Martin built exclusively for the movie in Spectre, they figured the recently released DB9 GT would be an appropriate car to celebrate with.
Limited to 150 examples worldwide, the DB9 GT Bond Edition adds greater levels of exclusivity with “carefully considered” trim, equipment, and accessories to highlight the history between the two British icons. Starting with the exterior, the DB9 GT’s gorgeous bodywork is coated in unique Spectre Silver paint and has sterling Aston Martin badges along with subtle ‘007 Bond Edition’ badging. The grand tourer tours on unique twenty-inch alloy wheels with a gloss black, diamond turned ten-spoke design. The car also wears bright aluminum bonnet vents, side strakes, and grille plus carbon fiber splitters and diffusers.
The interior features MOAR BADGING, unique fluted leather, Alcantara-wrapped wheel, satin carbon fiber center console surround, gun barrel embroidery on the rear seat divider, and a special Bond Edition start up screen on the new AMi II infotainment system.
The one area they didn’t touch with the Bond Edition is the engine, which is fine because that means a 540 horsepower 6.0-liter V12 is armed and ready.
And because you can’t drive Bond’s Aston Martin without wearing his watch, the car also comes with an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m James Bond Limited Edition watch, complete with an Aston Martin strap and a 21″ Globe-Trotter trolley case for transportation… you know, for when it’s not being worn like a watch.
The Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition is available to order now in markets around the world, priced at $237,007. Cheeky.
[Source: Aston Martin]
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet
Continuing with the “things I can’t afford to breathe on” theme, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet has broken cover before its official debut at the Frankfurt motor show later this month. This is the first time since 1971 that they’ve built a car like this, that being a drop-top four-seat flagship – interpret that as being ungodly expensive. It is an S-Class after all…
There isn’t too much different about this model besides the folding roof and new features that go with it, so this will be quick. Pretty much all of the styling is the same, the engines are the same, it has the same tech, and the interior looks the same.
Unlimited headroom is provided by a multi-layer top which provides superb noise reduction and can be fully controlled from the key. Cabin noise levels with the top up are about the same as its hard-top counterpart due in part to the cloth top’s thickness. To account for the inevitable chassis flex of a cabriolet, engineers stiffened the car with an aluminum/magnesium compartment bulkhead and aluminum rear floor. And because Mercedes-Benz wants to take away most of the fun, they’ve included wind deflectors to keep that pesky wind out of your cabriolet. There comes a point when one should just buy the Coupe if they need more wind deflectors to enjoy a Cabriolet, but I guess I’m not the rich one.
Even though I just said engines haven’t changed on the Cabriolet, I’ll mention that an AMG version is coming with a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 577 horsepower and 664 lb.-ft. of torque – just because that’s worth repeating.
No pricing info has been released yet.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz via Autoweek]
Ford Explorer Platinum
The 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum can partake in various SUV activities, such as being caught by high tide.
Helping to continue the “things I can’t afford to breathe on” trend in a way, the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum is coming to redefine how much you pay for an Explorer. The Platinum is the new range-topping Explorer which builds upon the Sport model with new levels of comfort and features never seen on a Ford SUV before (assuming you still consider the Explorer an SUV).
Or maybe that’s just what they’re saying to make you feel better about spending $53,000 on an Explorer. Either way, it does have a lot to offer. Since it’s built on the Explorer Sport it comes with a 350 horsepower EcoBoost V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels. The Platinum trim then adds premium interior features like “Nirvana leather” seating with micro-perforation, aluminum and ash wood trim pieces, and a wood and leather-wrapped heated steering wheel.
The Platinum trim also comes with several new tech features including a ten-inch digital gauge cluster supported by analog displays – a first for a Ford product – and a new 500-watt Sony sound system which recreates concert hall acoustics and reduces sound dispersion throughout the vehicle. Ford partnered with Sony to get exclusive rights this system and they’re going to use it even more now.
The exterior of the Platinum features LED lighting with fancy running lights, dual-panel moonroof, silver-painted front and rear skid plate elements, and unique 20″ wheels.
The 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum will be available in dealers starting later this month.
[Source: Ford]
Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo
Bugatti first announced their participation in Gran Turismo 6‘s Vision Gran Turismo program a few weeks ago and they’ve followed up this week with the finished product. For the uninitiated, the Vision Gran Turismo program is a pretty cool program put on by the creators of Gran Turismo 6 that lets the world’s top automakers and design studios create a virtual concept car to show what they’re capable of. Each car ends up being available to anyone with a PS3, a copy of GT6, and enough disk space to hold the game’s 78 million updates.
Bugatti’s Vision Gran Turismo is thought to be sort of a preview of the upcoming successor to the Veyron. It doesn’t have a name other than the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo and its all important powertrain specs aren’t finalized, but it looks like something that could definitely follow up to the Veyron. An aerial view shows a familiar W engine layout not unlike the Veyron’s W16 power plant, so expect power to be somewhere north of batshit crazy.
This car is clearly decked out in race trim with a huge splitter and all sorts of trailing aero elements, but at the core is a car that we could see on the road fairly soon. The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is important enough to even be built as a show car and brought to the Frankfurt motor show for all to see, so they’ve definitely got plans for this car.
Gamers can start downloading the latest updates for Gran Turismo 6 and maybe the game will be ready to play by the time this car is added to the game.
[Source: Bugatti via GTPlanet]
BLIPS
The Rolls-Royce Dawn will be making its global debut next Tuesday the 8th. I don’t personally know anything about it other than that there’s a media launch I’m “attending” to “see it” for the first time, but other esteemed media are saying it’ll be a convertible (fitting name for one) based on the Wraith. If that’s true, it’ll be gorgeous and insanely classy. Even if that’s not true, it’ll still be gorgeous and insanely classy. I’ll be sure to share everything I learn about it when the time is right.
[Source: Rolls-Royce]
Jaguar is preparing to debut the P-Face F-Pace, their first crossover, at Frankfurt. To build hype among suburbanites everywhere, they’ve revealed a new teaser image which gives us the clearest picture yet as to what it’ll look like. Yep, it looks just about how we all expected it to look. The launch event at the show will also celebrate 80 years of Jaguar not building crossovers and will ultimately end with the global debut of their first crossover. The F-Pace will be a luxurious five-seat crossover featuring aluminum construction and styling that basically makes it look like a taller XF Sportbrake.
[Source: Jaguar]
Jaguar is reworking how it sells cars, starting with price cuts and adding better warranties. The new strategy aims to move more units and get more buyers into a Jaguar for the first time. Starting this new pricing trend is the 2016 XF which now starts at $52,895, a some $5,000 cut from before. Even the all-new XE, Jaguar’s 3-Series fighter, is very competitively priced at $35,895. The F-Type isn’t being offered at a discount but it will instead come with an extra $12,000 in standard equipment. And to top it all off, Jaguar is adding a new warranty program called EliteCare which includes a five-year/60,000-mile scheduled maintenance warranty on all new cars. If you were thinking of buying a Jaguar soon, good call on waiting.
[Source: Jaguar]
What’s your automotive news?
The nicest Supra I’ve ever seen.
Now it’s your turn to give us some news. If you saw anything, drove something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything newsworthy that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
[Image © 2015 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]
Ross Ballot
A teaser image with the rear bumper being painted in a slightly mismatched colour?
http://i1.wp.com/hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/jagpface.jpg?resize=720%2C306
Maybe it’s a CGI?
It doesn’t look like a normal photo at all, I agree. Even less of a reason to accept a paint mismatch, if you ask me.
Safely predicting that all those historic Jaguar quality woes will be reintroduced as part of a heritage reclaiming push. First, mismatching paint, second uneven panel gaps?
And it’ll come with an in-car fireplace! Sure, that’ll really be an electrical fire in the wood veneered dashboard, but that traditional Jag feeling is there…
I finally put my (employer’s) money where my mouth is and so joined the Brown Wagon Drivers Society, if there is such a thing. My brown VW wagon is non-diesel, non-manual, though. DSG & flappy paddles.
There probably is a group like that if you look hard enough. If not, Brad will make one soon I’m sure. Congrats!
I think I found my mom’s next car, there’s an Escape near her house that I believe will work, and will be easier to get in and out of than a Caravan. Here’s hoping it works.
Watch out for close Escapes. Next time might not be as lucky.
COTD!
The wiper motor of the P-car died, and NOS is EUR500. I believed the german Porsche Fahrer Forum that a Golf 2 motor (EUR25) would fit after filing off a bit of the mounting bracket. So far so good, it’s mounted and turning (the 2nd speed finally is faster than the low speed, wow!)
Now the hub is too low: the driving arm hits the mounting screws, and then lifts itself up. After thinking a bit I wonder how it’s done in the Golf,the driving arm must be crooked in order to avoid hitting the screw heads.
Either I’ll grind down the screw heads, or need to tack a spacer to the arm, which would be easy but I can’t weld…slightly frustrated, but still substantially cheaper. Substantially.
Bingo, this is a picture from a Golf 2. Now how to explain Mrs. Nanoop that a 200EUR parts car still is cheaper than a wiper motor…
My daughter was hanging on the rear wiper of my Honda, playing with it, the other day. It hasn’t worked since. The only junkyard having a motor on offer wants 450 NOK + postal fees…this is not going to happen. Currently driving with a dirty rear window.
I really like that S-Class convertible. Not in an “I want to own it” way, just in an “I’m glad such a beast exists” way.
The ’74 Honda is thiiiiiis close to being startup-ready. Tires are on, exhaust brackets are finished and the pipe is ready for final installation. There is still lots to do in the week before the big ride, (mainly lighting issues, legal hurdles and a new shift shaft seal) but actually dumping some fuel in it will be a milestone.
I also bought a GoPro Chesty in case I actually get to ride in the Giro.
Re: the S-Class Cabriolet, those rear seats are positively vestigial. Might as well just pull them for extra luggage space or let your young children chauffeur you around town.
Re: the Supra, going by looks alone I’d rather have any A40, A60, or A70 iteration than that A80. Toyota did submit an application to renew the Supra trademark about 18 months ago so that lends renewed hope.
Re: the Saab (mine), the Summer Simoleons Saga continues. After having the car realigned following the new wheel bearings being installed ($442) I was told the motor mounts needed replacing ($640 estimate by a place near me but not my Saab specialist). I took it to my specialist for a second opinion since, in the past, I have had just the transmission mount replaced for the particular problem that was discovered (thumping when accelerating in first gear). They put it on the lift and discovered that not only was the transmission mount bad but the right front motor mount (there are 3 forming a triangle on the 9-3) was so shot that the engine was resting on the frame! In addition, the inner tie rods need replacing as well as a sway bar end link. I’m pretty sure they mentioned another suspension component as well but I wasn’t really hearing anything but cash register sounds by this point. Of course, taking the suspension apart and putting it back together will require…you guessed it, another alignment. That will bring the total to roughly $3500 put into the Saab just this summer with none of that going toward cosmetics. On the plus side, that’s “only” about 10 car payments versus the 60 or more that would be spent to replace it with something proper. Also on the plus side, the exhaust leak that I suspected in the vicinity of the manifold/downpipe exists only in my mind.
The lovely spousal unit shared this with me in honor of Force Friday, the first day Star Wars toys are available. Help me out with the car: Dodge Dart? Is that an SRT badge on the grille?
Really? Those are Chargers.
Hence my confusion. Thanks for straightening that out. I couldn’t get any sense of scale from the video.
I busted the passenger mirror on the SHO…
I was backing out, and the wind blew one of the old style carriage doors towards the car door. The mirror caught on the lip of the door.
Results:
-The metal the mirror housing is attached to got pulled out (like a reverse dent)
-The reflective piece and the rim that surrounds became projectiles, and got launched a full car length.
Surprisingly, nothing cracked, or snapped, and I should be able to fix it by taking off the housing, pounding in the metal, re-attaching the housing, and then gluing the mirror and rim back on.
Not that big of a deal, but still an unnecessary pain in the ass.