Yep, it’s that time of the week again: 2010 Ford Mustang teaser day. This time the Blue Oval boys have dribbled off a sheet metal crease apparently endowment to the hood bulge or “powerdome” in marketing parlance. Nice and all, but we’d really rather see what’s underneath, particularly if it’s an engine that says “EcoBoost” on the valve covers or something. We’ll get to accompany the whole works at the LA Auto Show next month, so do all that in one lies to withhold more excitement for then.

Despite his record of Aston satirize, current James Bond actor Daniel Craig has been granted lifetime privileges to swing by the Aston Martin factory any time he likes and take the car of his choice to the end for a spin. Want to borrow the test lines of rails for a bit? No problem. Of course, Craig says he has no interest in actually buying an Aston since parking in London is such a undergo. Best to take the Tube. While we admire AM’s PR gesture, we awe on the supposition that it wouldn’t have been to a greater degree laudable to pick someone lesser from the movie crew, like a key grip or best boy. You know, someone who can’t afford to buy pretty much any Aston Martin he wants even now. [Motor Authority]

If you’ve been delaying patiently for Brabus to “open the door to a newly come dimension for the latest Mercedes S-Class sedan and the CL-Class coupe” by dropping their own 22″ wheels into the sparsely populated big-wheels aftermarket, today is a day for rejoicing. Not only have they unveiled the BRABUS Monoblock VI, Monoblock S, and Monoblock E wheels, they’ve sacred the world with new front fenders with a carbon fiber fender vent and built in LED lights. Sweet sassy molassy! Where’s the nearest Mercedes dealer? We must rush out and corrupt an S-Class just so we have power to drop these tasteful and understated upgrades onto it! Press release complete with not-at-all-trite “size does matter” reference after the jump.

New for the Mercedes S-Class and CL-Class: BRABUS 22-Inch Wheels and BRABUS Aluminum Sport Fenders

Size does matter after all: With the new 22-inch BRABUS Monoblock light-alloy wheels BRABUS opens the door to a new extent for the latest Mercedes S-Class sedan and the CL-Class coupe. The latest BRABUS development offers more than just spectacular looks; the new wheels also make ready sporty handling with large security reserves. BRABUS more distant refines the luxury sedan with strikingly styled sport front fenders.

Discerning automotive enthusiasts can choose from three popular BRABUS Monoblock designs. The most classic of BRABUS wheels, the BRABUS Monoblock VI light-alloy move forward by its six polished double spokes is available in this new king-size format as is the sporty- looking Monoblock S wheel styling with its five burnished double spokes. The third BRABUS option in this size is the 22-inch rendering of the Monoblock E wheel family. It features nine strikingly styled spokes and a polished small quantity center.

The strange 22-inch Monoblock wheels can be mounted on the luxury sedan and the exclusive coupe in size 10Jx22 oppose and in the rear. The German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV) approved high-performance tires in size 275/25 ZR 22 in front combined with size 295/25 ZR 22 tires on the rear axle. Thanks to a special tire design geared specifically towards luxury sedans and high-performance coupes, the new BRABUS tire/wheel combinations offer sporty and agile handling paired with excellent ride comfort.

To give the S-Class sedan an even greater degree of striking appearance the BRABUS designers have developed custom-tailored aluminum sport fenders that replace the production front fenders. The exclusive appearance is characterized by dint of. each air exit made from clear-coated carbon and a horizontal brace that spans the outlet with embossed BRABUS seal and integrated LED lights. The modern are activated just like the ones in the BRABUS rocker panels via the keyless remote or by means of pulling on a door handle.

In addition, BRABUS offers specially calibrated suspension modules for these latest top-of-the-line complete-wheel sets. They are available in custom versions for vehicles with bearing postponement or with ABC active suspension. They give both sedan and coupe a sportier thus far still comfortable ride, and lower the ride height by some 25 millimeters (1.0 inches).

The new large wheels naturally offer ample space for highly efficient fade-free BRABUS high-performance brake systems. Three different versions are suitable including a high-end brake system with 12-piston fixed aluminum calipers and vented and perforated front discs measuring 380 x 36 millimeters (15.0 x 1.4 inches). The rear axle features discs measuring 355 x 28 millimeters (14.0 x 1.1 inches) and six-piston fixed aluminum calipers.

Like all BRABUS light-alloy wheels the new 22-inch wheels are manufactured in OEM temper and represent state-of-the-art production technology.

[Brabus]

Yesterday, reflecting attached Ken Imhoff’s home-built basement Lamborghini, we asked what your greatest automotive achievement was. Today, we’re going to look at the other, not-so-shiny side of that coin and ask what your most abject automotive failure has been. You know, things probably forgetting to tighten up tug nuts after a tire make different. Neglecting to reconnect certain vital hoses after a simple repair. Driving into a lake. Dropping a Torx bit into an intake multiplied. Or, in the same manner with Graverobber mentioned yesterday, smashing the windshield of a parked excipient with your head.

As for us, one of our favorites has to be helping a friend in association fix a Dodge Dart he claimed was overheating. After replacing the water pump and belt, flushing the radiator and compressing testing the system, our friend started the car and pronounced it still overheating. Finally taking a moment to look at the gauge, it sat perfectly between C and H — exactly where it was supposed to have being. Turns out the gauge had never worked before, then suddenly came back to life and convinced our friend the car was overheating because it had finally ventured off the C. Rule number one: Verify the complaint.

So what about you? What’s your biggest automotive FAIL?

(Photo Credit: Chiefrobertownebro wn’s Flickr photostream)

QOTD is your chance to say in reply the day’s most urgent automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you’ve got a suggestion for a good “Question Of The Day” hurl an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)

A newly-formed Russian coach builder named E-Go is apparently hard at work on their leading oblation, and the little Russki brand we’ve never heard of is aiming high. They’re supposedly edifice themselves a sports car and naming it the E-Go Revolt. Precious little is known about the platform they’re basing it off of other than it’s Mitsubishi in origin. But, we’ve deduced from the automaker’s claim that it will diversion a 3.0-liter twin turbocharged V6, the car is likely built off the 1993-1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT. Not a whole lot of other cars from the diamond-triumvirate-branded automaker fit that bill. That agent, E-Go claims, is pumped up to 550 HP and mated to a six speed manual. So when’s it going to be out?

No model, but if when completed, the car wish gambol the handsome and aggressive bodywork you see in these renderings along with an active air delay, 19 inch wheels, six piston caliper brakes up front with four pistons in the rear and a steering wheel-mounted touch screen LCD to act as the control center for the car.

This may not have existence the first sports car from the land of the ice and snow, but it certainly is the most attractive we’ve seen from any automaker this side of the Iron Curtain. It’s most definitely not as bad-looking in the same proportion that it’s name might suggest. [Cardesign.ru (Translated)]

GM’s just announced the assemblage’s looking to part ways by ACDelco, the General’s aftermarket parts business. Don’t worry folks, they’ve hired a good monetary institution to do the deal for them. I mean come on, Merrill Lynch has been around forever — regular like GM. This new news, along with the attempt at selling the Hummer brand and, we’re assuming, the attempt at a GM-Chrysler merger, is all part of the automaker’s attempt to boost liquidity by approximately $15 billion through year-end 2009. Why, you ask? Here’s why. All we want to comprehend is if the next plan is to have Mr. Goodwrench hitting the bachelor auction circuit? Hit the leap for the full press release on GM’s newest garage sale.

General Motors Explores Potential Sale of ACDelco

General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced today that it is exploring a potential sale of ACDelco, its global competent aftermarket districts business, a kind of GM Service & Parts Operations. A sale is expected to promote more rapid growth of ACDelco globally.

As the company announced in July, GM is undertaking a run over of initiatives to bolster its liquidity attitude by approximately $15 billion through year-end 2009, including the sale of estate which are expected to generate near $2-4 billion of liquidness. In addition to the ACDelco business, GM beforehand announced it is exploring the possible vent of its Hummer quality and its technical and manufacturing center in Strasbourg, France.

ACDelco provides light-duty maintenance and repair regions and associated services for both GM and non-GM vehicles in more than 100 countries. Part of GM Service & Parts Operations, ACDelco is headquartered in Grand Blanc, MI, with approximately 600 employees worldwide.

GM has retained Merrill Lynch to assist in this initiative.

About ACDelco

With over 100 years of actual observation in the automotive aftermarket industry, ACDelco is a global leader in automotive replacement parts and related services. Products include maintenance parts commonly replaced during the lifetime of a vehicle (e.g., batteries, oil filters, air filters, wiper blades, shocks and brakes), as well as mending parts (e.g., alternators, radiators, chassis and heating/cooling components).

ACDelco is among the world’s best known comprehensive All Makes, All Models providers, featuring heaven-kissing quality auto intellect for the two GM and non-GM vehicles and services, with the brand’s “genuine OE” reputation signifying high quality replacement parts, support and training in the automotive aftermarket. In the United States, ACDelco offers 37 full product lines with over 100,000 part numbers, comprised of one as well as the other GM original equipment and All Makes, All Models product.

###

About General Motors
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales chief for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More complaint on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

Genuine GM Parts and accessories are sold under the GM, GM Performance Parts, GM Goodwrench and ACDelco brands through GM Service & Parts Operations, which supplies GM dealerships and distributors worldwide. GM engines and transmissions are marketed through GM Powertrain.

###

Forward-Looking Statements:
In this throng release and in related comments by GM’s management, we use words like “explore,” “promote,” “look for,” “pursue,” or “could,” to identify forward-looking statements that exhibit our current judgments about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but GM’s actual results may differ materially due to a variety of prominent factors. Among other items, such factors include possible changes in our strategic plans for ACDelco; the response of potential acquirers, government agencies, suppliers, customers, and other participants in the results to our strategic choices; the availability of credit in the financial market; and general economic conditions. Our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q provide information about more of these factors, that may be revised or supplemented in events to come reports to the SEC on those forms.

For the upcoming Sao Paolo Motor Show in Brazil, Fiat will pull the cloth off their newest toy-to-never-be-made, the Bugster, a concept car designed to excite the imagination of the nine the million still interested in dedicated soft-roaders. It is, of course, an all-electric car — as all concepts these days occur to be — with Earth-friendly and on that account non-scalable technologies like natural fibers serving as the basis for the body panels. Basically it’s got a take back as green as it’s paint. We were while suffering the impression concepts designed on this account that “x-treme lifestylz” with open air designs and t-tops had gone by the wayside when everyone got violently tired of the marketing meme “x-treme.” Wonder how that will turn off for “green?”

[CarScoop]

Given the situation with Tesla Motors of late, you apprehend, Ze’ev Drori getting the boot and Elon Musk taking the reigns as CEO, expression. of firings of “25-30% of their total cane of 300 employees and contractors” and the closing of the Detroit location (more accurately, the Metro Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills, MI) via blog post, it’s no wonder an anonymous reader decided to head out to their Rochester Hills office and need a look. The Rochester Hills facility was opened at the end of January 2007, and was to be the development facility in quest of the Tesla Model S electric sedan, so the closing is a foreboding indicator of the future direction Tesla is title on that device. Let’s take a look in the interior of this essentially doomed location…

To be fair, these pics were taken this above Sunday, so it’s poor evidence the place is in fact a ghost town but let’s just say a tumbleweed rolling through the parking lot wouldn’t be out of place. Aside from the imagination sign out front and the etched glass doors, it looks like every other sparsely decorated suburban office we’ve ever seen.

We love the reading materials in the lobby — all the buff-skin books, more Vanity Fair, a book attached classic cars, The Toyota Way and its wonderful explanation of “lean manufacturing” and the Toyota Production System (may we also recommend Machine That Changed The World and the End of Detroit). TPS, for the reason that you know, is the management performance in which place a company welcomes questions and seeks to solve problems via all manner of available help. Openness and message is key with TPS. Hmm, maybe they only got through the first connect of chapters.

Hilariously, our two favorite books laying around have to be the Tesla bio on the waiting room table sitting across from The Car That Could, a book about the life and death of GM’s EV1. We’ll let you draw your own conclusions from that one.

When you bash the Benz into some unyielding object and the entire left effrontery is a mangled mess, what do you finish? Why, you recognize that the right side is still fine, which means you can appease (sort of) ascendency the car, and you keep going, of course! We’re impressed by the high speed these Euro-hoons horsemanship to sustain here, but it appears that long-term roadworthiness may have been compromised. [Arbroath, via BoingBoing]