by Chris Tutor

While we had few problems with how Lamborghini’s Gallardo looked, 22-year-old Urgur Sahin apparently thought it needed improving. Several hours of 3D modeling produced Sahin’s Lamborghini Spiga Concept. While many CGI improvement projects go overboard and barely resemble the original vehicle, Sahin has taken the Gallardo and smoothed out its less than graceful rear cooling vents and has better integrated the fender vents into the body lines. The greatest improvement, however, could be the rear bumper. Where blocky taillights originally matched shape and size with equally blocky vents, the Spiga utilizes a more curvaceous rear panel with Vanquish-style lamps. The Spiga’s exhaust is reminiscent of recent Ford concepts that have almost hidden the pipes within chrome-ringed outlets. Check out the rear shot after the jump.

Spiga, according to Sahin’s website, means spike in Italian (though Google translated it to mean “ear,” go figure). The moniker refers to the new design’s roof, which comes to a spike-like point. That part we can take or leave, but we’re digging those Countach-style wheels.

Sahin’s website has even more high-res photos of his concept as well as additional samples from his 3D modeling portfolio.

[Source: CarBodyDesign]

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by Noah Joseph

Quebec is probably the last place in North America where some businesses are still forbidden to open on weekends. Although the practice has long since dissipated in other retail sectors, car dealerships in Montreal still adhere to an archaic 35-year-old policy that dates back to when the Catholic church still had a strong hold on French Canadian society.

One dealership in this writer’s home town is departing from that policy, and he’s facing tough opposition. Pie IX Dodge Chrysler (pronounced pee nuf, on the street named after Pope Pius the 9th) is a dealership on the island’s predominantly French east end, next to the Olympic stadium that once hosted the Montreal auto salon before it moved to the convention center downtown. They decided to open on weekends, selling cars on Saturday and Sunday, a move opposed by other area dealerships and their association (which also organizes the annual car show). Pie IX’s sales have gone up, despite the protests outside. The demonstrators include salesmen from other dealerships (which remain closed on the weekend) and from nearby used car lots (which are open on the weekend). If new car dealerships were to open on weekends, the association says the salesmen will be overworked, while the used car lots will lose business. One protestor even went so far as to hit the manager at Pie IX Dodge Chrysler in the head with a block of ice and was arrested for assault. Demonstrators were also thought to have jammed the dealership’s phone lines.

Despite the opposition, and with support from DaimlerChrysler, owner Claude Leclair says he plans to keep his dealership open on weekends, quoting sales figures of over a dozen cars each weekend, while competing dealerships are suspected to be operating in the red. Kinda gives new meaning to the old Quebec separatist slogan “Vive la Quebec Libre” – long live a free Quebec.

[Source: The Montreal Gazette via Jalopnik]

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by John Neff

The Kia ex_cee’d convertible (they call ‘em “cabrios” across the pond) concept has been announced as a bonofide debut for the Korean automaker at the Geneva Motor Show early next month. This puppy’s more important than a normal concept car from Kia because it was the first one produced under the stewardship of Peter Schreyer, Kia’s new design chief. As the name implies, the ex-cee’d is based on the three-door cee’d hatchback that’s scheduled to go on sale late 2007 or early next year. Schreyer makes a point to note that his concept doesn’t sport a folding metal roof like so many cabrios of the day, but rather adopts a traditional “romantic” soft top to protect its occupants from the elements. The 19-inch wheels feature “hubless” spokes finished in chrome, and bright metal trimwork is used around the exterior to add highlights to the vehicle’s surface. We especially like the chrome strip located beneath the doors that ensures the complex surfacing doesn’t get lost in the ‘meringue white’ paint job. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you what sort of engine powers the ex_cee’d because Kia didn’t tell us. Regardless, this concept is a coming out party for Kia design, which has matured so much in just a few short years.

Joining the ex_cee’d on the Kia stage in Geneva wil be the cee’d station wagon and the Kia Rio Hybrid. We’ll report back on all three from the show floor in early March.

[Source: Kia]

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by Chris Shunk

The new buzzword in Detroit is “common” — as in common components or common architectures. That’s the foundation for everything GM is doing right now, and the Zeta RWD platform is the newest poster child.Engineered in Australia for global use, the Holden VE Commodore was the first Zeta vehicle, and the ‘08 Pontiac G8 (a rebadged Commodore) is next in line. Beginning in 2009 and beyond, we’ll see Zeta appear under the new Camaro and the next Impala. The architecture is special because it can be used for anything from a ponycar to a station wagon and everything in between. GM is estimating global units of Zeta at between 500,000 and 750,000 annually. When compared with a different-chassis-for-different-regions approach, the savings generated will be between $500 and $1000 per vehicle. These savings, which can range between $250 million and $750 million annually, result from engineering efficiencies, materials cost savings, plant tooling, and vendor tooling.

Japanese automakers have leveraged common resources for a long time now, which in turn has helped contribute to their cost advantages over the domestics. With a RWD platform that works anywhere on the globe, GM is finally starting to show that they’re as serious about ‘common’ as the competition.

[Source: AutoWeek]

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by John Neff

Galpin Auto Sports is known for its custom tuning packages that transform all sorts of Fords into limited edition rides that would make Xzibit proud. Their latest offering is the Navigator LUX, which ups the luxury quotient of Lincoln’s largest offering. The model it’s based on is a Navigator 4×4, which is only available with a 300-hp 5.4L V8 and six-speed auto. To become a LUX, the Navi gets 27-inch Lexani wheels with accents that match the new Oxblood Red paint job. Much of the chrome trim has been muted by the rich red color, which makes the one-off Custom Strut grille stand out that much more.

The real deal is on the inside where a $10,000 5.5 carat Lex Diamond clock is embedded in the dash, a classy touch that should help this big SUV retain its resale value just fine. What are diamonds without champagne, though, so Galpin modified the rear center console with auto-rising champagne and flutes. Most of the interior trim has been replaced with finer leather, better wood and a custom fiberglass enclosure in the rear. In-car entertainment is more than taken care of by a custom-installed laptop, 10.4-inch touchscreen LCD, another 23-inch screen in the rear and an Xbox 360. The press release after the jump doesn’t give up the goods on price, but we imagine the Galpin Auto Sports Lincoln Navigator LUX lives up to its name in every way, including its pricetag.

[Source: Galpin Auto Sports]

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