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To call this Italian-inspired Chinese project car a Ferrari replica would do it a kindness that it probably doesn’t deserve, but we’re nonetheless fascinated with this creation which would seem to ape some of the classic lines from the exotic’s racing heritage.

Looking mildly like the unholy spawn of a Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa and a Fiat Panda 4x4, this far eastern amalgam of fibreglass and donor parts is actually used by a Chinese wedding photographer. It seems that many freshly wed couple are tickled to have their nuptial poses captured in the preening mock-up, and with the lovely coastal mountain scene in the background, who can blame them?

The pseudo sports car doesn’t run at all, and is in fact rooted to the ground on a sort of swivelling pole. We don’t begrudge the builders this lack of mechanical completeness in their prop car, but do wonder if they could’ve studied the source photographs just a little closer. Have a look for yourself in our gallery above.

+ China Car Times: Ferrari spotted in China - Not really, its fake.

There’s just no getting around the fact that cars are damaged, sometimes irrevocably, everyday in the U.S. New data suggests that, in the first part of 2008, more than 1.3 million vehicles were tagged as being damaged in accidents or as the result of severe weather. When such damage occurs, a vehicle’s official title is required to be “branded” with such designations as Salvaged, Lemon, Flood, etc, to protect used car buyers from unwittingly purchasing a substandard product. 

Shockingly then, automotive information specialist Experian Automotive claims that over 15 percent of 2008’s damaged vehicles – some 185,00 in total – have been re-titled in other states with the offending brands removed from their paperwork. This type of “title-washing” can blind buyers to vehicles that they would otherwise pass up (or at least expect a healthy bargain on), and can lead to a far higher level of unsafe cars on the road.

It’s certainly no secret that the purchase of a pre-owned vehicle can be fraught with pitfalls and unsavory experiences, but with today’s levels of access to vehicle records offering customers more information than ever before, some dangers can be mitigated with just a bit of due diligence.  Check out Experian’s press release below for more information.

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We knew the Apple iPhone would allow for some really great automotive applications. Our pal Marty Padgett at The Car Connection even rounded up the best of the apps a few weeks ago, which we republished here . But what we were hoping for was something that completely leveraged the iPhone’s accelerometers to effectively create a VBox , just cheaper and smaller.

Perhaps because their Darth Vader appearance and epic performance came with the unlikeliest of badges, we have always had a soft spot for the Buick Regal GNX. But that isn’t what you’re looking at.

According to the folks at Diesel Power, what you’re actually drooling over is a GM Duramax diesel-powered 1981 Oldsmobile. Sort of. As the story goes, owner David Morad loved his Duramax-equipped truck, but he wanted to swap the monstrous 6.6-liter turbodiesel into something lighter. Enter the Buick Regal.

Do you have over $100,000 to spend on a Corvette but don't want to give in to the hype of the fantastic new ZR1? Katech has the car for you. Based out of Clinton Township, Michigan, Katech has long been known for its high-performance engines and professional racing developments and Winding Road has had the opportunity to test one of its previous creations, the Street Attack Corvette Z06.

The new Corvette Z06 ClubSport incorporates an array of products in order to reduce the curb weight of the Z06 to a minimum of 2825 pounds (a reduction of over 260 pounds) while improving grip, cornering, braking, and downforce. All of this is done with the addition of a Brembo Gran Turismo brake kit, a double-adjustable Clubsport suspension, special wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, carbon-fiber air intake, performance exhaust, and twin-disc clutch.

Katech boasts this Z06 as a "Scuderia" or "Superleggera" variant even though engine output has not been tweaked. For a price of $109,000, we'd rather have the new ZR1, but this Z06 ClubSport is still a unique transformation for track-day Corvette enthusiasts.

Click through the post to read Katech's full press release.

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For those who believed that $4 gasoline and a teetering Michigan economy would put a damper on the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise, we can safely say: Wrong!

http://www.chinacartimes.com/2008/08/14/2008-hover-limo-290800rmb/

Built to stifle the very best technology law enforcement officers have at their disposal, the non-lethal kind anyway, this Audi R8 “Blackbird” attempts to be the motoring equivalent of its ultimate spy plane namesake. The Blackbird’s owner, who wishes to remain nameless for reasons of a legal nature we’d guess, recently allowed famed coast-to-coaster Alex Roy to interview him about his land-bound stealth bomber. Roy records the such mad scientist additions as a rear light kill switch, four GPS units, broadband wireless internet, takedown lights, and of course a liquid-cooled infrasonic wave pulse generator for roasting hot dogs when you get tired of driving (but seriously, what the hell is a liquid-cooled infrasonic wave pulse generator?) Check out the full madness in the video above.

+ YouTube: Alex Roy Reviews Top Secret Audi R8 "Blackbird" (via Autoblog )

New reports indicate that Nissan is preparing to add a convertible version of its popular Murano crossover to its lineup. Strange as it may sound, insider sources seem to believe that Nissan plans to target empty-nesters who are looking for a fun drive that still has room for a grandkid or three. The company is reportedly not targeting the only other vehicle to compete in this segment (if you can even call it that), the far more rough-and-ready Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

The Murano convertible will eschew the popular folding hard top option for a more traditional soft top, most likely as a means of weight saving and in attempts to keep the standard car’s mileage ratings. The current Murano’s 265 horsepower V-6 and CTV will stay, and both front- and all-wheel-drive options should be on the spec sheet. Look for the model year 2011 convertible to start above the current top-of-the-line LE’s price of $39,080.
 
Inside Line has put together a conceptual rendering of what the Murano vert could look like and the result is, to say the least, strange. Should this strange vehicle come to light we’d hope that the Nissan designers could come up with something better than cribbing the “Easter basket” look from the PT Cruiser convertible. Here’s hoping anyway.

+ Edmunds Inside Line: Future Drop Top: 2011 Nissan Murano Convertible

Only two of our very favorite memories from the 1980s in this YouTube video; building cars from Lego bricks, and the do-it-all A-Team. While we’re positive that scenes similar to these have played themselves out in basements and rec rooms all across America over the years, it’s nice to see the dream given life. Enjoy.

+ YouTube: The A-Team (Lego Style)

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Working to capitalize on the massive media spotlight now focused on China thanks to the 2008 Olympic Games, the creative types over at Beijing Mini have created quite a stir with their take on a Chinese classic.

In an effort to highlight the release of the Mini Clubman wagon in the PRC, Mini has hacked the unique rear section from its newest offering, using it to create a very distinct rickshaw. The conversion of the attention grabbing Clubman rickshaw was apparently carried out in Honk Kong, and then shipped to Beijing just in time for to opening ceremonies.

The idea may sound fairly harmless in the abstract, but we send our dearest sympathies for whichever rickshaw driver drew this duty. The Clubman rear isn’t likely to be light itself, even without a pair of smiling tourists in the back.

+ China Car Times

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/batmobile.htm

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Most of the time our crack team of spy shooters is crisscrossing the globe in search of undiscovered automotive treasures, but it seems that hunt doesn’t occupy all of their time.

Our loyal man over at CarPix sent over these images of his friend’s well-modified garden tractor, one that has a distinct Porsche theme. This 911-inspired mower has got small but thoughtful touches like a tachometer housed in an old Porsche oil filter, a free-breathing exhaust, and a fire-extinguisher in case things get a little out of hand in the backyard.

There’s no word about whether the small tractor is any faster than a normally equipped one, but it definitely will grab the neighbour’s attention. Schneller!

While using a car to advertise a sports outfitter isn't anything new (the Puma Ferrari below for instance), Nike's new giant urban assault vehicle is rather unique. A 1959 amphibious assault truck was modified by the people at Hub Strategy for the Nike to tackle the Mountain Dew's Action Sports Tour.

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Member deedle 1.8T over at internet Volkswagen hotspot VW Vortex wasn’t initially a huge fan of the retro plaid seats in his fifth generation GTI. While both the VW’s exterior styling and sparkling performance were big hits, the tartan-covered chairs were very nearly a deal-breaker.

One year of ownership later and deedle seems to have come full circle with his taste. The GTI driver decided to bring the plaid pattern out of the driver’s compartment and onto a very large exterior surface for all the world to see. Taking a page from Mini’s option catalogue the GTI owner, who claims to have always loved black-roofed cars, has topped off his baby with Volkswagen’s “Interlagos” plaid pattern. The fresh design statement is carried over into the engine bay, where the engine cover has received the same Interlagos treatment as the roof.

Have a look at the custom-striped GTI in the gallery above and then tell us what you think, in comments.

+ VWVortex

Inspired by the pure badness (in the bad way) of both the gold-wearing Camry and what could be the world’s most foolish Corvette , we’ve been wondering about wrong choices today. While most cars can absorb some modifications and come out all right, others are better off left alone. Which cars are the very worst for modifying? Give us your answers, in comments.

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Now touring the art house screens across the country, Made In Queens is a stylish documentary about a group of Trinidadians living in New York. The startlingly imaginative group creates massive movable sound systems on the frames of BMX bikes, cruising around the neighborhood to the gawking wonder of the populace.

These kids use their improbable conveyances to set the streets roiling with music and energy, stirring impromptu small parties where ever they ride.

The bikes themselves are clearly quite impressive; managing to disperse massive speaker loads and battery power while remaining streetable (mostly). Have a look at some examples in our gallery above, or take a minute to watch the official Made In Queens trailer below.

+ Made In Queens

Some have speculated that Mark Hamill’s lack of silver screen success after the Star Wars movies was a classic case of the actor’s being pigeon-holed as the tow-headed Jedi Hero, Luke Skywalker. We propose that it had more to do with role choices like the one in Corvette Summer. Thank the Hollywood gods that this duffer of a film wasn’t enough to burry Annie Potts though, we love us some Designing Women.

On a slightly more serious note though, we’d like to challenge our readers to come up with a worse looking Corvette body kit than the one seen in this movie. No mean feat, to be sure. Post an image of the worst Vette you can find, and we’ll pick a winner tomorrow. Happy hunting.

+ YouTube: Corvette Summer - trailer

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While covering a car like a Porsche 911 in gold leaf makes a certain kind of very decadent sense, gold-plating the wheels and brightwork on a late model Toyota Camry seems downright foolish.

No one should be terribly surprised to learn that this trick-out Toyota, which has been decked from stem to stern in 24 Karat gold plating, is for sale in that hotbed of automotive silliness, Dubai. The car’s owner is asking the equivalent of roughly $37,000 for his B.A. Baracus-spec 2007 Camry GLX, a bargain at twice the price for something this eternally tacky. Bids away.

+ Souq: Toyota Camry in 24 karats gold

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The Stark Elise R from the UK-based Stark Automotive offers supercar-like abilities packaged in a Lotus Elise at rather un-supercar prices. With a Series 1 or Series 2 donor Elise supplied by either the buyer or through Stark, the company first starts by striping the car completely down to its chassis. The Elise is then rebuilt and restored to the buyer's specifications using completely new fasteners of course.