2010 Jaguar XKR

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It has classic lines and a "Gen III" engine. The XKR convertible is a blend of Jaguar legend and some serious modern performance. See what Bumper2Bumpertv has to say about it!!

Transformers Linkfest

All is quiet on the Transformers 3 production front so seems like a good time for another linkfest. This week's edition covers more Masterpiece toy news, possible military application of TF concept, galleries and reviews.

Masterpiece Rodimus Prime Details
The first real Masterpiece toy in years is supposed to be released sometime by the end of the year and new details have shown this could be one of the coolest yet. It seems the toy has been designed to transform not only into Rodimus Prime with trailer/battle station but also into Hot Rod. Click the link above to view a few more pics of what just might be one of the best Transformers yet. Of note is the toy is rumored to possibly be released stateside sometime next year but oddly Hasbro will replace the trailer with a Targetmaster figure. I guess this is to keep the toy in the $50 or so price range.

Power Core Combiner Video Reviews
Peaugh is back with five new reviews of various Power Core combiners. I remain indifferent to this sub-line but for those that enjoy them be sure to hit the links below as may help in deciding which sets to buy and what to avoid.
Double Clutch w/ Rallybots 5-pk | Mudslinger w/ Destructicons 5-pk
Icepick w/ Chainclaw 2-pk | Leadfoot w/ Pinpoint 2-pk | Sledge w/ Throttle 2-pkRead More »

2010 Jaguar Cars XJ75 Platinum Concept Car Luxury Sports Salon

The new 2010 Jaguar XJ Luxury Sports Saloon Platinum Concept Car celebrates Jaguar's 75th Anniversary, and highlights the uniqueness of the XJ. Jaguar design team has created the Jaguar Luxury Sports Saloon XJ75 Platinum Concept, a one-of-a-kind design project on display at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance Concept Car Lawn.

2010 Jaguar Cars XJ75 Platinum Concept Car Luxury Sports Salon

The XJ75 Platinum Concept Car is the company's first demonstration of the design customisation potential of the striking new XJ luxury salon, emphasising the Jaguar's dramatic interior and exterior styling themes. "The XJ Luxury Sports Saloon is thoroughly modern, and captures the innovative and daring character that our founder Sir William Lyons built into every Jaguar. And the design team clearly had some fun making their first one-of-a-kind XJ design concept car in that spirit."

The XJ75 Luxury Sports Saloon Platinum Concept centre console houses a bespoke clock developed and designed in partnership with the Bremont Watch Company.

An independent British company, Bremont creates beautifully engineered and designed mechanical watches hand assembled in Switzerland.

2010 Jaguar Cars XJ75 Platinum Concept Car Luxury Sports Salon 

"From a pure design perspective, the XJ75 Luxury Sports Saloon Platinum Concept is foremost about emphasising the striking proportion and presence of the new XJ, with a distilled black and white theme, which conjures up the sense of precious platinum," said Jaguar XJ Chief Designer Giles Taylor. "At the same time, the pure sporting character of XJ is brought to the fore by keeping the car's clean graphic approach and further lowering its stance."

Dominated by striking white and black contrast precious metals platinum theme suggests, the Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept is a high-performance 470-hp supercharged engine 2011 Jaguar XJL with new ground-hugging front, rear and rocker panel is fitted.

Performance on the XJ75 Platinum Concept is derived from its 5.0-litre Supercharged direct-injection V8 with 470 horsepower and 424 lb.-ft of torque. Entertainment is provided by a 1,200-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system with 20 speakers powered through 15 channels and state-of-the-art sound processing technology.

This XJ75 Platinum Concept Car was designed to both celebrate the marque’s past and acknowledge the increasingly personal nature of today’s luxury cars.

2012 Morgan Sports Cars EvaGT

Morgan was one of the first car companies to see the advantage of a bonded aluminium chassis to give rigidity but also to save weight. The 2012 Morgan Sport Car EvaGT uses a further developed version of the bonded aluminium chassis of the Morgan Aero SuperSports, a chassis that successfully competes in International GT3 Sports Car Racing. Compliant with European and US safety approvals.

2012 Morgan Sports Cars EvaGT

The Morgan Motor Company  has been making new cars all along. Morgan used the unveiling of the EvaGT sports car to again commit to releasing a brand new model every two years, with new niche markets in mind. It says the EvaGT is a four-seater coupe with a bit of “automotive theatre” aimed at young sporting families, while it also has plans for “a fun weekend vehicle” and, most intriguingly, an “electric sports car”.

The Morgan Motor Company is the last survivor of these British sports car manufacturers. Morgan sports car has a history of successful collaborations with German suppliers BMW, Siemens and Bosch. But Morgan also works with a number of young engineering companies in the United Kingdom and with world class British university research departments.

2012 Morgan Sports Cars EvaGT 

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is one of the most prestigious automotive events of the year, and is drawing the attention of more and more high-end manufacturers. Count Morgan among them, as the company has just debuted the stunning Morgan EvaGT 2+2.

The Morgan Motor Company is in a good position to respond to this challenge because the company is small and flexible with a proven track record of fast development cycles. It currently manufactures one of the greenest sports cars in the world, the Morgan Four Four Sport. Morgan sports cars achieves this result with the use of the new Ford 1.6 Sigma engine coupled with a light chassis. Morgan currently has a young well qualified technical team working towards a potential 5 engineering PHD's, who will make full use of research departments at the University of Oxford, Cranfield and Birmingham City to tap into a technical knowledge network to make more efficient cars. This team is helping to develop a high torque electric motor twice as powerful as others of the same weight and size and a powerful lithium phosphate battery with a higher charge density to achieve the most efficient performance for weight so far.

The turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six from the BMW 335i sits under the sculpted hood and produces a healthy 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual. Morgan sports cars expects a scamper to 62 miles per hour to take 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 170 miles per hour. With its top speed at 170mph, Morgan sports cars Eva GT returns an impressive fuel economy of 40mpg UK, equals to 7.0lt/100km and 33.3mpg US, and has CO2 emissions of 200g/km.

The first public view of the 2012 Morgan sports cars EvaGT will be at the 60th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, California, USA on the 15th August 2010. The Morgan Motor Company will be taking orders worldwide with a request for a deposit of £5000 from prospective clients for an allocated build slot. The first 100 cars of a limited run are planned to begin production mid 2012 and the "on-road" price will be competitive for a car of this class.

More Video from Chicago and Sentinel Prime?

As Transformers 3 production winds down in Chicago, new video and images from the production have popped up online. The first set of images, including this rather odd choice in pajamas for Sam's father aka Kevin Dunn, were taken around Wednesday or so, at about the same times as the photos with John Turturro and Rosie's tight blue dress. The rest can be found here. Speaking of that, the first three videos below are from that same time period. The first is a look at John Turturro along with Alan Tudyk as they follow Shia and Rosie for a scene. The second video is the same moment but looking straight down, while the third video show Sam's parent in green outfits (at least I think its them). Thanks to Mike G. for the links.

After those videos are more from zztopeurope from a few weeks ago as the Transformers parking lot was packing up. Of note is the two black Decepeticon SUVs have been identified as Suburbans (but modified judging by the wheels). Also the security guard at the site (4th video) said the name of the Autobot fire truck is not Rodimus Prime but Sentinel Prime, as the father of Optimus. Sentinel Prime was a creation of the TF comics as the predecessor of Optimus Prime as leader of the Autobots. In War for Cybertron, he was leader when the Cybertronian civil war started and killed by Megatron leading to Prime's ascension. Like most of the TF names, this one will probably not be confirmed until next year. Thanks to zztopeurope and DJ BigTymeBeats for the links.Read More »

Detroit Pulls Out the Big Guns, Turturro in House and Street Closures

Three blurbs of Transformers 3 production news from Chicago and Detroit. To start, if had hopes that cast and crew were going to remain in Chicago past September 1st, might as well dash as Jalopnik has posted a small gallery of images that show that crew is in town prepping the Packard Plant for filming. If the big gun/jet engine/beats me is any indication, it looks like the site will be involved in more action pack filming. However, I think the site is considered private property so not expecting quite the view that we occasional got in Chicago. Click here to the other images from the plant.

Back in Chicago, it seems Shia LaBeouf continues to film at "work" as he was spotted yesterday on set in his suit again and flirting with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Carly for some scenes as she was wearing a tiny and tight blue dress. The more significant piece of news is John Turturro is finally spotted on set. Considering what is currently being filmed is probably closer to the beginning of the film then the end, it’s unclear if this proves he will be part of the big finale action sequences of the film or not. Click here for rest of the Daily Mail's gallery but ignore the text as it focuses on pointless gossip and identifies Turturro as "crew". Thanks to Phil for the link.

Last but not least, another street closure notice for today as filming returns to the Old Post Office Building along Van Buren Street.

The movie is using the Old Main Post Office, 433 W. Van Buren Street, for shooting today, and Van Buren is closed between Wacker Drive and Canal Street until 11 p.m. Lanes will be open during rush hour, however, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

Meanwhile, parking restrictions are in effect until 2 a.m. Saturday to facilitate filming of 'Transformers 3" in the area near Wabash Avenue and Washington Street.

The restrictions are:

• Both sides of Wabash from Randolph to Monroe
• The north side of Randolph from Garland to Wabash
• The south side of Washington from Michigan to Wabash
• The north side of Madison from Michigan to Wabash

Set Report, Shia Dresses Up Again

Capone over at Ain't It Cool News was lucky enough to visit the Transformers 3 set at the Lake and Wabash parking lot while Michael Bay and company was flipping a bus last week. The article describes some of the action that was filmed, meeting the producers and crew that are involved in making the film and more. To compound the jealous rage I might be feeling, Capone was able to see a "sizzle reel" that shows off footage from the 1st three weeks in Chicago. Click here for the full article.

...the man knows how to make explosions and action look about as badass as anyone. And this sizzle reel was unstoppable, even without a single robot to be seen. Chicago hasn't looked this stunning on film, maybe ever. But watching it get totaled was just too wonderful for words. Bay showed me this reel personally and stood right next to me while we watched it. He knew it looked great, and it absolutely did. The footage also revealed a few things about plot and characters that I'm not going to spoil, and Bay was pretty open about story details that probably shouldn't be shared, including showing me the entire anamatic on his iPad for the sequence he was shooting that day.

Another, shorter sizzle reel Bay played for me later on a 3D monitor featured footage shot in 3D from the entirety of the shoot (not just Chicago scenes), and that looked insane. The man took the time and figured out how to use 3D to better this film.

Pop Sugar also posted the right image from the set, this time from yesterday with Shia LaBeouf wearing a suit so it seems the street closures along with Sam's parents visiting probably has something to do with his job (I guess at Hotchkiss Gould Investments). So it seems the next day or two may be low key filming as establish his non-Transformers life for the film.

Transformers Linkfest

Since news has slowed a bit for Transformers 3 in Chicago, seemed like a good time to catch up on other Transformers toy and other news. Links include the usual gallery of images of upcoming toys including W4C Soundwave, a look at cartoon art, official Transformers: Prime images, five toy reviews and Sideshow Optimus Prime collectible price.

Transformers Artwork
Hit the link to view a gallery of artwork that was shown at Auto Assembly 2010. The art is previous unseen works created for G1, Beast Wars Neo, Robots in Disguise and more. Pretty cool way to see some familiar and unfamiliar designs that helped craft our favorite TF stuff. The "official planetary scale guide" is probably the coolest piece which was used for Transformers: The Movie.Read More »

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One

South Africa is quickly becoming a hotbed for sports car development, with two new performance machines being announced in the country in just as many weeks. Built through collaboration between Zagato, the Milanese coachbuilders, and Perana Performance Group, the Z-One features a tubular and box section chassis with room for two passengers. Tucked among the exotica at Concorso Italiano  was the new Zagato-styled, Hi-Tech-built and Superfomance-sold, Perana Z-One sports/GT.

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One

The Perana sports car Z-One is designed in Italy, powered by American muscle and manufactured in South Africa. The "Z" stands for Zagato, Chief Designer Norihiko Harada using the Italian design house's DNA to form a dynamic supercar.

The sports car Perana Z-One will go on sale in the U.S. through Superformance after its Concorso Italiano debut in August. American buyers will get an allocation of just 99 units, so you probably won’t be seeing one parked outside of your local trattoria any time soon.

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One is beautiful. And the build quality is exquisite. The panel gaps put all the high-priced Italian vehicles surrounding it to shame. The styling is definitely that of a European GT.

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One 

The 6.2L V8 engine generates 440hp (328kW) and 430lb-ft of torque (583Nm) of torque, and redlines at 6,600rpm. That's enough to scoot the 2,630lb (1,195kg) car to 62mph (100km/h) in an estimated sub-4 second time. Big brakes - 325mm up front, 305mm in the rear - slow things down again, while unequal length A-arms, Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs at all four corners handle the curves.

The drivetrain comes from Chevy, the Corvette's 6.2-liter V-8 delivering 440 bhp to the rear wheels. The Z-One also uses the Vette's 6-speed manual gearbox, but the tubular space frame has been engineered in South Africa. Perana claims 0–60 mph in just 4 seconds.

2011 Perana Sports Car Z-One is the limited production, because the gorgeous body of each Perana Z-One will be handbuilt in Italy by coachbuilder Zagato and then shipped in pieces to South Africa where there are attached to the vehicle’s chassis. The Z-One's chassis has been completely conceived and designed by Perana engineers in South Africa, despite the engine sourced from General Motors.

2011 Jaguar Cars XJ Sentinel Luxury Sports Saloon

2011 Jaguar has announced that it will debut its XJ Sentinel armored car version of the new XJ – Jaguar XJ Sentinel, the armoured version of the new XJ luxury sports saloon which will make its official debut at the 2010 Moscow International Motor Show from August 25-29. The XJ Sentinel luxury sports saloon has armor plating that it’s earned B7 levels of ballistics protection, which the new XJ Sentinel luxury sports saloon is promised stop attacks ranging from .9mm guns to explosives.

2011 Jaguar Sports Cars XJ Sentinel Luxury Sports Saloon

Constructed from specialised high strength steels with Kevlar backing, the armoured inner cell was engineered in partnership with Centigon, a leading global specialist in vehicle armouring. The Jaguar XJ Sentinel offers ballistic protection up to B7 level (BS EN 1522 level FB7 and BS EN 1063 BR7-), blast protection against 15kg TNT equivalent detonated within close proximity of the vehicle, and substantial under floor grenade protection.

The 2011 Jaguar Luxury Sports Saloon XJ’s aerospace-inspired lightweight aluminium body structure also makes it possible to offer a very generous 500kg payload for passengers and luggage without compromising vehicle performance. The 2011 Jaguar Luxury Sports Saloon XJ Sentinel is the ultimate armoured luxury limousine. It offers governments, security organisations and private individuals, the highest level of security, with advanced design, refined performance and a beautifully-crafted cabin.

Despite being equipped with so much anti-weapon systems, Jaguar says the Sentinel is “virtually indistinguishable” from the base XJ luxury sports saloon mode. Long wheelbase of the XJ Luxury Sports Saloon forms the basis of this unique Jaguar too. 245/45 19? Dunlop Self Supporting Technology Run on Flat tires supported 19-inch Aleutian Alloy Wheels make the car highly competitive for the role it is designed. The weight of the car has been seriously increased, and Jaguar XJ luxury sports saloon decided to put its most powerful engine available in this baby, the 5.0-litre 385PS AJ-V8 Gen III naturally aspirated direct-injection V8 petrol engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. As a result, the car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 9.7 seconds while the top speed achieved is 195 km/h or 122 mph.

2011 Jaguar Sports Cars XJ Sentinel Luxury Sports Saloon

“The Luxury Sports Saloon XJ Sentinel was designed and developed in partnership with industry leaders, and incorporates the very latest armoured vehicle systems to deliver extremely impressive levels of protection, while maintaining a very discreet appearance,” said Mike O’Driscoll, Managing Director, Jaguar Sports Cars. The Luxury Sports Saloon XJ Sentinel comes with a three-year/50,000-mile warranty and can be serviced at any Jaguar dealership. So it’s a practical choice, too. To enhance passive safety, the Sentinel retains full functionality of the standard XJ luxury sports saloon restraint system, including dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, side thorax airbags and side curtain airbags.

Transformers 3 Related Parking Restrictions, End Date (Updated)

Two new articles from Chicago Breaking News provide official information on when production will wrap and where they will be filming in the city for the next few days. Transformers franchise producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura spoke with the website and said that September 1st is the current last day for production.

"It's funny, we keep extending it here because we're having such a good time, to tell you the truth," Di Bonaventura said. "We were supposed to leave a few days ago, actually, and we kept extending it. Right now, around Sept. 1, but if we have any say in it, we'll keep staying here."

"Last night, I tried to think to myself 'How many cities have I shot in the last seven or eight years,' and I got up to about 118," Di Bonaventura said. "The reason I thought about it was because all of us have felt this was the best city we've ever shot in."

The other article Breaking News reports that parking restrictions will now in effect for filming around Wabash Avenue and Washington Street. It ends on Saturday morning so I guess production will be in that area for the next three days. Thanks to Colin Hinkle for the links.Read More »

TF3 Chicago: Hotel 71 Set Prep

All seems quiet on the Transformers 3 production front in Chicago. It does seem that filming in the city is winding down as not much is reported to be going on outside. Tomorrow might bring filming around Millennium Park but no guarantees. Yesterday, production was at the Hotel 71 on Upper Wacker but it seems filming was mostly interior with only the usual set stuff giving any hint they were there. The below pictures are thanks to Colin Hinkle as the lights and crew do prep work around Hotel 71.

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