Dodge Charger 1968

Dodge Charger values have ebbed and flowed somewhat over the years, mirroring the muscle car market, but somehow the 1968 models are still somewhat reasonably priced, at least compared to some other models of the era.

The solution for 1968 was to create a faux fastback of sorts, using C-pillars that were buttressed to create the profile of a sleek, sloping roof, while in reality, the back glass maintained a fairly conventional angle. This "tunnel" window arrangement allowed the interior to retain most of the same components as the rest of the B-body coupes. Dodge went further with the new strategy by offering the new Charger with all the same mechanicals as workaday B-body models, so consumers could drive off in an extra sexy coupe that wasn't really any less practical than Aunt Ethel's Belvedere. 

The revised Charger worked: Chrysler in 1968 built Chargers at maximum plant capacity to fill orders, far exceeding projections and wrapping up with a production total that fell just short of 100,000 units; a full 17,582 of them were R/Ts. Compare that to total 1967 Charger production of 15,788.

MINI Clubvan

The personality and hallmark driving fun of the MINI brand is coming to a whole new group of customers with the launch of the new MINI Clubvan.

Making its global premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the world's first premium compact delivery van has five doors, but only two seats. That means outstanding levels of practicality and storage, making it the perfect new member of the team for any business with an eye for style.

Inside, the cargo area stretches back 115 cm and, even at its narrowest point just behind the rear doors, is 102 cm wide. With the bulkhead to protect the driver and/or passenger, it can be loaded right to the roof which measures 84cm at its highest point. That means 860 litres of space and a maximum payload capacity of 500 kg.

The load floor is completely flat for ease-of-use, and both it and the side walls are trimmed in high-quality upholstery. Above, an anthracite roof liner runs the full length of the vehicle. Six heavy duty attachment loops are recessed into the floor at the sides to help prevent cargo from moving around in transit, while multiple 12-volt sockets can be used to power electrical equipment.

Also standard are MINIMALISM features including Auto Start/Stop, Shift Point Display, Brake Energy Regeneration and on-demand operation of ancillary units. These will help business users keep a tight rein on fuel consumption and offers exceptionally low running costs. For example, the MINI Cooper D Clubvan offers official combined fuel economy of 72.4 mpg, meanwhile CO2 emissions of just 103 g/km put the vehicle into an exceptionally low tax bracket.

Built in Britain at Plant Oxford, the Clubvan is true to the now-familiar MINI design language and features the same classic lines that have become the hallmark of the brand. Based on the Clubman platform, its exterior dimensions are identical to those of its sibling. It's 3,961 mm long, 1,683 mm wide and 1,426 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,547 mm. The Clubvan is the seventh unique member of the MINI family, selling alongside the Clubman, Hatch, Convertible, Countryman, Coupe and Roadster.

The MINI Clubvan is available in four exterior colours - Pepper White, Ice Blue, British Racing Green metallic and Midnight Black metallic. The roof, rear side window area, C-pillars and exterior mirror caps are body-coloured on all versions. The standard 15-inch Delta-spoke alloy wheels, which are exclusive to the MINI Clubvan, can be replaced by alternative 15, 16 or 17-inch alloy wheel designs.

Mercedes Benz’s

 Mercedes Benz’s AMG

Mercedes Benz’s performance division, AMG will be unveiling a new compact sports car at a major auto show later this year. Codenamed SLV (V for variable body styles), the new sports car is a smaller version of the SLS AMG brought in to take on the likes of the Porsche Boxster, the Cayman and the BMW Z4.

Compared to the SLS AMG, a smaller vehicle will conceivably handle better and when paired up with a smaller engine the new sports car from AMG would also go easy on the gas. While the SLS AMG has a 6.3 liter V8 powering the beast, a 3 liter V6 might make it under the hood of the baby SLS AMG, the SLV.

Apart from the basic facts, no other information is available at present including the knowledge of which motor show the new Mercedes Benz SLV AMG will be debuting at. Stay tuned for more updates.

We’ve just learned that the compact AMG sports car we reported about in June 2010 may debut at a major auto show later this year. The car, which at one time used the codename SLV (V for variable body styles), will be branded as an AMG instead of a Mercedes-Benz, in the same way the new Viper will be badged an SRT, not Dodge.

Mercedes Benz'sThe two-door AMG sports car will have just two seats and could do battle dynamically with the third-generation Porsche Boxster and Cayman. A smaller footprint should help improve the AMG model’s handling, and, coupled with a downsized engine, will no doubt lead to better mileage than the 14/20 mpg city/highway EPA ratings of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, which is subject to a $1700 gas-guzzler tax.

At this point, it’s unclear how AMG will price the compact sports car. As we approach the small AMG sports car’s official auto show unveiling, we should start to get more information. Though the justification for this more maneuverable AMG car likely stems from the automaker’s need to amortize the investment in the SLS AMG’s aluminum spaceframe architecture, we can’t help but wonder whether it could be the first of a handful of performance variants. /sportcar.html