Graf Weckerle answers all questions with Comte Noir edition Ferrari 599

We’re not saying we’re psychic or anything, but after years of bringing you the best – and the worst – from the automotive industry, we’re getting a bit of a handle on what you, our dedicated readers, are thinking. So here goes: you were thinking that what the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano really needed was a set of fleur-de-lis wheels.

Okay, so maybe we’re a little off. But those pentagram alloys on the original 599 didn’t do it any favors. And these? They take 20 days to build. They’re forged from aluminum and titanium and have a two-tone anthracite and black finish. But the Comte Noir (French for “black count”) edition Fiorano is about more than those fancy wheels.

German tuner Graf Weckerle has also upped the 6-liter V12′s output from 620 horsepower to a whopping 835. No word on exactly how they did that, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they turned to an experienced Ferrari tuner like Edo Competition or Novitec Rosso for assistance. They’ve also mounted a new coil-over suspension and adjustable shocks, and hopefully upgraded the brakes to go with the extra power. Otherwise those pretty flowery wheels won’t do you any good as the apex approaches.

Ahmadinejad’s tired 1977 Peugeot 504 draws $1M bid

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently put his 1977 Peugeot 504 on the auction block. The original price for a ’77 504 was in the neighborhood of $9,000, and a used one like Ahmadinejad’s could fetch $2,000 in its local market. The bidding just got a massive shot in the arm, however, because someone thinks the car is worth a million bucks.

The million-dollar bid came from an Arab country but further details have not been released. Proceeds from the sale of the 504 will be used to build a low-income housing project.

Price dropped on Cameron’s home from

Highland Park, Illinois is home to a very special house. Architecture buffs will recognize 370 Beech Street as a steel and glass building designed by notable architects A. James Speyer and David Haid. To auto enthusiasts, however, 370 Beech is where one unforgettable movie Ferrari met its tragic demise at the hands of Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It’s also for sale. Still.

We first told you about this house last year, when it was listed with an asking price of $2.3 million. Guess what? It never sold and the price has come way down. Today, the so-called “Ferris Bueller house” could be yours for just $1.65 million. If we had the means, we’d love to park Zach Bowman’s International Pickup in view of nature and nosy neighbors… so he could kick it through the glass when he finally loses his mind.

What say you, Autoblog reader – Is the house is worth the dough or is it just “something d-o-o economics?”

Film Noir: Peugeot RCZ gets matte black for special Asphalt edition

We weren’t looking for more reasons to pine after the Peugeot RCZ. Initially categorized as a French knock-off of the Audi TT, it seems the slinky coupe from French auto giant PSA has come into its own. But now we’ve got another reason to want one, and its name is the Asphalt edition.

The blacked-out special features a unique Noir Telluric exterior shade with black 19-inch alloys and a black leather interior to match. The 200-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo four co-developed with BMW does the pulling duties overseas, while we’re stuck over here wishing we could get our hands on one.

Peugeot to ditch numbered nameplates for actual names?

Some automakers call their cars by name. Others give them alphanumeric designations. The trouble with the latter is that, if you follow a formula, sooner or later the sequence is going to either run out or repeat itself. That’s the issue that Peugeot is looking at with the next generation of its popular hatchback range.

The current model is called the 308, so it would follow logically that its successor be called the 309. After that the French automaker would have to either abandon the traditional _0_ naming scheme that identifies all its products (and the _00_ for minivans and crossovers) and dip into the _1_ range, but even before that comes up, Peugeot’s facing the issue that it already produced a model called the 309 between 1985 and 1993.

Rather than reuse the same nameplate, sources speculate that Peugeot could go for a name designation like it did with the RCZ coupe. The formula would likely follow across the range, leaving sister-company Citroën to stick with its alphanumeric C_ and DS_ naming scheme.

Paris Preview: Peugeot celebrates bicentennial with EX1 electric roadster

Automotive history is riddled with examples of crossovers between cars and motorcycles. Some are made by automakers, others by motorcycle manufacturers. But if you’re going to make a go of it, it probably helps to have a company that makes both. A company like Honda, Suzuki or BMW. Or Peugeot.

Gearing up for its home expo, the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the French automaker has unveiled a unique take on the formula called the Peugeot EX1. Of course, what you’re looking at is a show car, a concept for how the company’s two core competences can be melded together in one vehicle.

The EX1 celebrates the marque’s 200th anniversary in the form of a lightweight, all-electric two-seat roadster which Peugeot claims “has already broken several world records for acceleration from a standing start.” To that end, the equivalent of 340 horsepower is channeled from a pair of electric motors to all four wheels, mounted at the rear as if on a trike, but with enough track to maintain the stability of a conventional car.

It’s an intriguing concept that reminds us of the nearly produced Volkswagen GX3 trike concept of 2006. While you’re waiting to get our firsthand snapshots and commentary from the Port de Versailles show floor, you can check out the massive high-res image gallery below and the full details in the press release after the jump.

Peugeot UK offering Fuel Incentives on 308 Range

If they’re doing it here in the States where gasoline is still relatively cheap, it’s only logical that companies will offer fuel incentives to car buyers in Europe and especially in the UK where gas costs a pocket pinching £1.197 for a liter of petrol and £1.3325 for diesel. Peugeot UK on its behalf is offering £308 of free fuel for those who buy any model in the 308 range in August and September. According to the French carmaker, if the chosen version is a diesel HDi 90 model then it could mean that more than the first 3,000 miles are free while petrol versions would travel up to 2,500 miles.

Peugeot ‘RC…’ Concept with 308 HP Hybrid Powertrain Coming to Paris

The ‘RC…’ is a new four-door coupe concept equipped with a hybrid powerplant from Peugeot that will be fully uncovered at the forthcoming Paris Auto Show in early October. The French automaker supports that the ‘RC…’, whose full name will be revealed at the show, is the missing link between the RC ‘Diamond’ and RC ‘Spade’ concept cars revealed in 2002 and the 2006 908 RC. Compared to the latter, the new RC looks sportier and better proportioned.

Although Peugeot has yet to reveal all the details, the French automaker said that the ‘RC…’ is equipped with a hybrid drivetrain that delivers a potent 308 HP (230 kW) and emissions of just of 109 g/km in the combined cycle or ZERO in electric mode. Even if the ‘RC…’ with its low-slung coupe-like stance is purely a study, many of its design elements like the new fascia and grille will most probably find their way into Peugeot’s next generation production models, including the new 407 and 607. 

Peugeot 407 Facelift: UK Pricing Announced

Peugeot 407 will arrive in UK dealerships in September with prices starting from £17,295. Subtle external visual improvements include the new grille treatment and revised air intake up front along with body-colored rubbing strips and a new rear bumper that now incorporates a diffuser style number-plate surround. Peugeot has also updated the 2.0-litre HDi 140 diesel engine which develops an output of 140 HP – an increase of 4 HP over the outgoing 2.0-liter HDi 136. A new 2.0-litre ‘Bioflex’ engine operating on E85 fuel will also be available from November. 

New Exterior Colours

Moondust

Thorium Grey

Abyss Blue

Moroccan Red

Hurricane Grey

Model Range – 407 Saloon / SW

Standard specification by trim level.

The standard specification of the ‘S’ model – key features include:

HDi 110 or new HDi 140 (Euro 5) diesel engines

ESP

Driver, passenger, side, curtain and steering column airbags

Trip computer

Remote central locking with deadlocks

Electric front and rear windows

RD4 Radio / CD player with MP3 playback

Body coloured bumpers, body side mouldings, door mirrors and door handles

Fog lights front and rear

Leather steering wheel

Opening rear tailgate (SW models only)

Climate control

Ultrasonic alarm

New SR

Added standard equipment over the ‘S’ model:

HDi 110 or new HDi 140 (Euro 5) diesel engines

16” alloy wheels

Smartnav satellite navigation system

Bluetooth handsfree telephone equipment

SE

Added standard equipment over the ‘S’ model:

HDi 110 or new HDi 140 (Euro 5) diesel engines with manual transmission, or HDi 136 with automatic

16” alloy wheels

RT5 Multi Media system with colour satellite navigation, GSM phone and MP3 music storage

Front and rear parking aid

Panoramic glass roof (SW models only)

Electrically folding door mirrors

Automatic windscreen wipers / Automatic headlamps on

Rear centre armrest

Dual zone climate control

GT

Added standard equipment over the ‘SE’ model:

Choice of HDi 170 manual or HDi V6 auto diesel engines

Full leather upholstery

Heated front seats

Electric seat adjustment

17” alloy wheels on HDi 170 and 18” Soleil alloy wheels on HDi V6 models

Peugeot 207 SW production version caught out in the open

Pug lovers at Forum-Peugeot have managed to capture the upcoming 207 SW with its pants down. As anticipated, the 207 SW is nothing more than a 207 SW Outdoor concept without the SUV outfit –although we might see a crossover version going into production in the near future. Like its hatchback siblings, the 207 SW will be equipped with 1.4 90Hp & 1.6 120Hp petrol engines and 1.4HDI 75Hp, 1.6HDi 90Hp & 1.6HDi 110Hp diesel motors. The 207 SW will most probably make its debut at the Frankfurt Show in September

Peugeot 308: Reader snaps Peugeot’s upcoming Golf rival

If you’re a spy shot “freak”, then you’ll know that French carmakers are among the most punctilious chaps in the industry when it comes to camouflaging cars. Not this time though as a reader of Wheels24 named Francois Malan managed to scoop the best images yet of the upcoming 308 with very little camouflage during a photo or advertisement shoot outside the city Stellenbosch in South Africa. Despite the verbal and… finger threats Malan managed to get away safe and sound along with the pics. 

From we made from the images, the 308 looks like a blown up 207 with a 407 front end. Scheduled to make its debut at this years Frankfurt Auto Show in September, the 308 will be offered among others with the BMW-PSA Peugeot-Citroen developed, 1.6 & 1.6 Turbo engines delivering between 120 and 170 HP. Via: Wheels24 , Photos: Francois Malan

Peugeot 207 SW: Leak, La Partie II…

What was it; a week ago (late March) that we showed you the first leaked official images of the 207 SW? Well, here we are it again with a bunch of new images. Just to spice things up we also obtained some preliminary info on the 207 SW that’s expected to be officially unveiled in the next 48 hours. First of all, let us say once again that we dig the SW’s appearance. Now to the specs. Measuring in at 4.160 mm, the SW is 130 mm longer than its hatchback sibling with whom it shares the same wheelbase (2.540mm) thus meaning that all the extra length has gone into the trunk which can fit 337-litres of luggage. Comparatively, the 207 hatch boasts a capacity of 270-litres while the outgoing, 4.028 mm long, 206 SW, 313-litres.

Engine wise the production version of the 207 SW Outdoor will be initially offered with a choice of three petrol motors 1.4-litres 75Hp, 1.4-litres 95Hp and 1.6-litres 120Hp and two diesels, 1.6HDI with 90 and 100 Hp.

Peugeot Begins Accepting Pre-Orders for All-Electric i0n Mini

Even though we’re still a full year away from the European market launch of the iOn, Peugeot has already started to take pre-reservations for the all-electric car in the UK. Revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the i0n is actually a rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV. As part of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen and Mitsubishi deal, Citroen will also launch its own version of the i-MiEV called the C-Zero.

With four doors and four seats, and a compact length of 3.48 m, the i0n is powered by a 64bhp electric motor that allows it to reach a top speed of 80mph or 129 km/h.

The small city car has a driving range of 80 miles (129 km) on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries which can be recharged in six hours through a conventional mains power supply or recharged to 80% capacity within thirty minutes with a fast charging system.

Peugeot has not disclosed prices for the i0n. However, we do know that in Japan, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is priced from 4,599,000 Yen (that’s €34,500 or $51,300 at today’s exchange rates), which is more than twice the cost of a Toyota Prius.