Download: 3 Sept 2011

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Driven: 2012 BMW Z4

Driven: 2012 BMW Z4:

BMWZ4

Green is the new big. And for BMW, it wants to dispel the notion that more cylinders always equate to more output, and more output must equate to less fuel efficiency. To deliver that message in real terms, it has introduced a new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine into the 2012 Z4 roadster lineup in the US .

Code name the N20, the new 2.0-liter single twin-scroll turbocharged 4-cylinder engine replaces the normally aspirated 6-cylinder in the Z4 lineup. Even though rated at 240 bhp (6 percent less compared to the six’s power), the forced-induction 4-banger comes out on top with 260 lb.-ft. of torque (18 percent more than the six’s). With direct injection and BMW’s Valvetronic on the intake side, the company has attached the moniker TwinPower to this type of engine configuration. Weighing 22 lb. lighter, and with those two cylinders lopped off, the N20 helps make the Z4 more balanced by hanging less weight up front and closer to the car’s center of gravity. Equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, the turbo 4-cylinder Z4 can race to 60 mph from a dead stop in 5.5 seconds, 0.1 sec. faster than the normally-aspirated 6-cylinder. Of note, there is also a no-cost option of ordering BMW’s slick 8-speed automatic with the N20 powerplant.

On our recent drive from Los Angeles up the beautiful California central coast to Monterey , the N20 Z4 was impressive. With many turbo engines, the exhaust note tends to be muffled. But this was not the case for this turbo-4. It had a nice low-end growl that was surprising. And the bump in torque also matched this more aggressive engine sound. Passing 5000 rpm, you can begin to feel and hear the engine’s roughness, due to the 4-cylinder running out of steam and needing to work harder to keep up. (more)

Keep Reading: 2012 BMW Z4 – First Drive >>

Photos: 2012 BMW Z4 >>

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Gordon Murray Joins Lotus

Gordon Murray Joins Lotus:

Gordon Murray Joins Lotus 1

Gordon Murray, former F1 genius, designer of the legendary McLaren F1 and sometime contributor to Road & Track, is the latest automotive luminary to join the Group Lotus Advisory Council.

He will be working alongside Bob Lutz, Tom Purves, Prof. Dr. Burkhard Göschel and Frank Tuch to advise Group Lotus on current and future development.

The purpose of the Lotus Advisory Council is to give advice and guidance on strategic issues such as product strategy, technology, quality, brand, marketing and distribution for Group Lotus.

This announcement comes shortly after I received a baffling release from Lotus about somebody called ‘Swizz Beatz’ as vice president of creative design and global marketing. Whoever he is.

Gordon Murray Joins Lotus

Source: Google Reader

ALMS Racing to Use Less Fuel

ALMS Racing to Use Less Fuel:

2011 ALMS race in Long Beach (Photo by John Rettie)

Historically auto racing has often lead the way in development of new technologies that have improved road cars. Sadly in the past few decades this has rarely happened. Spec race series, such as the current IndyCar and NASCAR, might produce some good racing but the glamour of seeing different cars and technologies compete against each other has disappeared.

There is, though, one exception — the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and, obviously, the 24 hours of Le Mans race itself.

At a press conference in Washington DC today Scott Atherton. ALMS President and CEO told journalists, political leaders and government officials that “ten days ago at Road America, renewable fuel use by our race cars reduced petroleum consumption by 48 percent compared to traditional all-petroleum racing fuel – an ALMS record.” Atherton went on to say that “according to the Department of Energy, if such a result was translated to the U.S. vehicle fleet, the nation could decrease imported oil dependency by half, enabling us to keep $175 billion every year inside our economy.”

2011 ALMS race in Long Beach (Photo by John Rettie)

ALMS, with its auto industry and government partners, says it is pursing development of new standards for what it is calling “Green Racing 2.0”. It says Green Racing is “a unique ”umbrella concept” that provides a real-world, competitive, and reward-based proving ground for many of the technologies being developed to help achieve tomorrow’s automotive efficiency requirements. Green Racing is also a concept that was developed with the direct involvement and contribution from the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International.”

It is covered by an official SAE International protocol, which stipulates that in order for a racing series to qualify as “Green Racing”, it must allow for the use of renewable bio-based fuels, multiple engine, fuel and powertrain configurations, as well as regenerative energy technologies that recover and reuse energy.

ALMS says it is already meeting some of these criteria with the Michelin Green X Challenge, which is a competition within all ALMS races that rewards teams that go the farthest, fastest with the smallest environmental footprint for energy consumed. ALMS says its rules makers are actively working with auto manufacturers and government officials to steadily reduce the total energy consumed by the race cars.

2011 ALMS race in Long Beach (Photo by John Rettie)

Incidentally, the next round in the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Patron is this coming weekend. The Baltimore Grand Prix is one of only two temporary street races in the series – the other being at the Long Beach Grand Prix. You can watch the main race on Sunday on ABC while qualifying and Saturday’s racing will be streamed live on ESPN3.com.

Source: Google Reader

Video: Toyota Sets New EV Record at the Ring

Video: Toyota Sets New EV Record at the Ring:

Toyota Sets New EV Record at the Ring

Although it hasn’t really come as a surprise, the folks at Toyota Motorsport GmbH have set a new electric lap record around the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. The TMG EV P001, with Jochen Krumbach at the wheel, set a new lap record of 7 minutes 47.794 seconds, obliterating the previous record of 9:01.338.

With two electric motors that produce 590 lb.-ft. of torque, the TMG EV P001, based on a Radical chassis with DOT street tires, has a top speed of 162 mph, which helped on the track’s lengthy flat-out sections. TMG says it will begin commercial sales of this EV technology in 2012, stating that it’s ideal for “any future single-make electric motorsport series.”

Pascal Vasselon, TMG’s Technical Director, said: “The goals for this project were twofold: obviously we wanted to set a new EV lap record and I am very pleased we could achieve that so comprehensively. On the other hand, we also wanted to learn more about the operation of our electric powertrain in extreme circumstances; in motorsport there is no more extreme circuit than the Nürburgring. On the record lap the TMG EV P001 performed better than in testing due to the improvement we already could make based on that experience. We have enhanced our electric powertrain development thanks to the information our engineers have gained and our future EV products will benefit from this project.”

Check out this video. It’s worth watching…you’ll hear lots of electric whine and tire noise.

Source: Google Reader

The Shell Smarter Tour: Week Four

The Shell Smarter Tour: Week Four:

chevyEcoShell_001

The Taylors wrap up the fourth and last week of their 48 contiguous state tour. Their mission? Take in the sites while setting a world record for fuel efficiency.

Day 19, Idaho

Day 19

Friday, August 19th: We left Billings, Montana, and headed to Idaho. The panoramas seemed like we were watching a slide show of the world’s best views.

A tip we used to conserve momentum when driving through mountains was leaving our car in the highest, safest gear. When we reached a downward slope, we maintained steady engine revs. If you have a hill to climb, the added momentum helps get the car up efficiently.

Passing through Butte and Missoula in Montana, spasmodic roadwork, not always planned in the safest fashion, devoured every ounce of concentration. Having two pairs of eyes helped.

We reached our 43rd state, Idaho and drove past Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Day 20, Washington

Day 20

Saturday, August 20th: A total change of landscape—we switched from green mountainous terrain to brown, dry plains through Washington, state 45.

We headed through Spokane and then to Kennewick. It seemed we were doomed to catch every red traffic light, bringing us to another tip: Efficient driving is also about having good observation skills. If you are slowing or stopping, decelerate smoothly by releasing the accelerator as early as possible, leaving the car in gear.

We arrived in Oregon, state 46. We drove through Ontario and continued on the same highway to Idaho (a revisit!).

Leaving Oregon

Day 21

Sunday, August 21st: We departed Twin Falls, Idaho, aware of the exciting drive ahead of us. The finish line was getting closer!

There were warning signs of frequent high winds—the blowing dust caused occasional blindness. Mountain climbing was at the fore again and we ascended 5530 feet.

It’s been 9002 miles since we began this mammoth drive and we just reached Utah, state 47. Traffic built as we edged toward Salt Lake City. We continued south through Provo and St. George where the speed limit was 75 mph. We traveled about 5 mph below. We crossed through Arizona once more and headed for Mesquite, Nevada.

We made it to our 48th and FINAL state, Nevada! We have our FINAL refuel tomorrow at the Shell Station on Blue Diamond Road in Las Vegas and we’re excited!

Nevada

Day 22

Monday, August 22nd: We were very close to the finish line and we were deliberately ahead of our driving schedule. This allowed us to spend time reviewing the world record paperwork, an integral part of the project.

By the time we were back in the car, ready to continue our final leg, the sun was blazing and the heat was so intense we burnt our fingers on any part of the Chevy Cruze we touched!

The last of our fuel seals was intact, although there were a couple of bubbles surfacing from the intense heat. We had an independent witness from the local police department verify the final fill-up, which was the last piece of data needed to complete our final numbers for the world record drive.

We went through the official procedures and were eager to retreat to our hotel to complete the final number crunching. The figures were to be double- and triple-checked independently.

When Helen looked for her seatbelt while sitting on the couch at the hotel, we knew that rest was in order!

chevyEcoShell_002

Day 23

Tuesday, August 23rd: We were up early to announce the results at the Shell station and share our Shell Smarter Driving tips with consumers. It was another scorcher in Las Vegas, the hottest day this Summer. This didn’t stop our team, and a great time was had by all.

THE RESULTS

64.424 mpg: Our overall fuel efficiency

$541.24: Total amount spent on fuel

9564.2: Total miles driven

148.457 gallons: Total amount of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasoline consumed

811.29 miles: Average miles driven per tank

11.79: Number of tanks of fuel (each 12.6 gallons) consumed

Commencing on August 1st, from our first state of California to the finish line in Nevada, we mapped our journey with the Shell Smarter Driving Program, creating a new world record for fuel efficiency in the 48 contiguous states.

chevyEcoShell_003

Now that we’ve accomplished our goal, our wish is that motorists would set their own individual records, zeroing their trip meter when they fill up and recording how far they drive on a tank of fuel. By incorporating Shell Smarter Driving tips, we’re sure that people will be astounded at how simple it is and how quickly their savings can accumulate. It’s also important to note that fuel-efficient driving goes hand in hand with safe driving. If you drive in a smooth, relaxed fashion, you also put less strain on your vehicle, meaning unnecessary maintenance costs.

The beauty of the United States never ceases to amaze us. We have had the lasting joy of viewing rolling panoramic postcards as we traveled through each state and are deeply appreciative of Shell for giving us the opportunity to do so.

Source: Google Reader

Frankfurt Preview: Peugeot HX1 Concept

Frankfurt Preview: Peugeot HX1 Concept:

Peugeot HX1 Concept

Peugeot’s Frankfurt concept is a low slung MPV standing just 54 inches tall, 78 inches wide and 195 inches long with four reverse-opening scissor doors, yet its conceived as a luxury four-seater with an additional pair of retractable seats in the center row, based on the same principle used on the HR1 concept first shown at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

Aerodynamics have played a big role in the car’s design: the seven spokes in each wheel rim are fashioned like a turbine blade and open to create a flat disc surface. At the same time, a spoiler and two side skirts located at the top of the tailgate are deployed above 62 mph; overall Cd is just 0.28.

The HX1 continues Peugeot’s latest design identity with a floating front grille, which appears detached from the bodywork and has been designed to harmonize with the car’s tapered lines. While the feline head lamps give it an appearance that is evocative of the marque’s badge and history. This look is refined by an LED lighting signature, easily recognizable in the daytime or at night. This visual signature is repeated in the rear lights, the boomerang shape of which follows the lines of the rear design.

Peugeot HX1 Concept

Inside there’s extensive use of natural oak with inlaid fiber optics, brushed metal, leather and hand milled Carrare marble. While the center console includes a minibar and a coffee machine, a discreet acknowledgement to the extensive history of Peugeot products which include hand coffee grinders as well as salt and pepper mills.

The HX1 integrates HYbrid4 technology, an innovative modular architecture that figures in the Peugeot range on the 3008 HYbrid4, the first diesel hybrid in the world; technology which will also feature on the 508 RXH in 2012.

And just to top it off, Peugeot has commissioned Pierre Hardy to create a concept shoe using materials and technology which echoes the interior of the vehicle, and to quote the press release: “the shoes adapt themselves to the life of their wearer: a slipper ideal for driving slides into a ‘high-heel’ structure to become an elegant shoe for a more glamourous occasion.”

Hmm, quite so…

Source: Google Reader

First Look: Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept

First Look: Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept:

landroverDC100_001

If there was a Land Rover product over the last 20 years that I particularly liked, it was the Defender 90. In 1993 and 1994, the Defender 90 flew in the face of Land Rover’s luxurious Rover Range as an open-air hose-it-out-and-go competitor for the Jeep Wrangler. It was a return to Land Rover’s post-World War II roots, and it was also a blast to drive, thanks in no small part to its V-8 engine, manual transmission and short overhangs.

And now, it appears that Land Rover is keen to capture some of that Defender energy. At the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, the company is introducing the Land Rover DC100 Concept, which is said to investigate the “potential future direction of the iconic Defender.”

We like that idea. Although we don’t know much about the vehicle at this point, Land Rovers says the DC100 demonstrates the future of Land Rover capability and versatility while having a functional and purposeful design, which was created by a design team led by Gerry McGovern. “Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide,” remarked McGovern. “This isn’t a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.” (more)

Keep Reading: Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept – First Look >>

Photos: Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept >>

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Abarth Pumps Up the Fiat 500 for Frankfurt

Abarth Pumps Up the Fiat 500 for Frankfurt:

Abarth 500 “Cabrio Italia”

The Fiat 500 is sharpening its tiny fangs ahead of the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, thanks to a pair of Abarth-tuned models that emphasize the car’s cuteness while giving it a serious performance jolt. The Abarth 500 “Cabrio Italia” is a limited-edition model finished in “Abu Dhabi” bluepaintwork and featuring satin chrome badging. Under the stubby hood is a turbocharged 160-bhp 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that, according to Fiat, hustles the little cabrio to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. A five-speed manual transmission is standard.

Abarth 695 Competizione

Swinging even further into the realm of all-out driving fun is the Abarth 695 Competizione. Abarth calls this a street-legal racing car, and the specs back up the boasts. The rear seat has been entirely removed, turning the 500 into a true 2-seater with a rear roll-bar in its place. Abarth has tweaked the turbo 1.4-liter to produce 180-bhp, and fitted it to an automatic transmission with two operating modes, Street and Track. Street puts the gearbox in full auto mode, while Track allows the drive to select gears via steering wheel-mounted shift controls. Except this hotter powertrain to trim the 0-60 mph time down to 7.0 seconds.

2011 Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari

This is the same engineering setup found in the 2011 Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari, the Fiat 500’s homage to the legendary Italian automaker. Unfortunately, a price-tag of nearly $50,000 meant this pocket rocket was only for the truly committed (or truly crazy, depending on your point of view). Fiat has already promised to bring an Abarth 500 to the U.S. next year. We’re hoping some of these wilder versions – especially the 695 Competizione – also get the go-ahead, albeit at a price point that doesn’t pit this Italian sub-compact against Porsche and BMW.

Source: Google Reader

Spied: 2013 Lotus Exige

Spied: 2013 Lotus Exige:

Photo by Brenda Priddy and Company

Our spy photographers have captured a 2013 Lotus Exige wearing a production body and sporting some significant design differences. Compared to the outgoing model – which along with the Elise is not being sold in the U.S. for 2012 – the new Exige appears wider and bulkier, especially when viewed from behind.

After taking in that large (carbon-fiber?) fixed wing, let your eyes move down to the mammoth, multi-level rear diffuser fitted to this test car. Rear downforce definitely appears to have been a prime consideration when Lotus penned this car. The entire rear looks wider than before, even the taillights have a cleaner and more integrated design. A true rear window has also been fitted, which should greatly improve rear visibility.

The front end is dominated by air intakes, with a single hood vent replacing the split version found on the old Exige. Lotus has also jettisoned the old car’s roof-mounted air scoop.

According to our sources, many of these changes are due to the Exige moving to the same chassis that can be found under the Evora 2+2. There’s almost no chance of the 2-passenger Exige becoming anything less than a hardcore sports car, though the larger platform could provide a welcome boost to cabin comfort. Lotus has never been known for plush interiors, but we expect to find improved plastics, better instrumentation and much less of a kit-car feel throughout. (more)

Keep Reading: 2013 Lotus Exige – Caught Testing >>

Photos: 2013 Lotus Exige >>

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Frankfurt Preview: European Honda Civic

Frankfurt Preview: European Honda Civic:

European 2012 Honda Civic

Honda Motor Europe has released its first official tease photo, showing the rear LED taillights and integrated spoiler on the 2012 Honda Civic that will be unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.

The European version of the ninth generation Civic is different from the U.S. version with suspension tuned to European tastes. Hopefully it will garner better reviews than the U.S. version.

European 2012 Honda Civic

Honda Europe says it has made good use of Honda’s anechoic (echo-free) chamber in its R&D facility in Swindon, UK, where the car is built, to fine-tune the cabin insulation. Apparently one of the results was to modify the design and construction of the roof lining, and how it interacts with the bodywork.

Honda says it used its Formula One experience to help lower the coefficient of drag while giving it excellent high-speed stability. It claims hours of work in the Honda wind tunnel improved performance, reduced fuel consumption and resulted in an exceptionally quiet interior.

European 2012 Honda Civic

“We did not improve the noise and refinement of the new Civic through just one technique,“ commented Kazuo Sunaoshi, Development Leader – Chassis. “It was the accumulation of lots of little details. My big challenge was to match the noise and vibration levels of our European competitors. I am proud to say that we have achieved our goals.”

Honda considers the Ford Focus to be the Civic’s main competitor in Europe.

European 2012 Honda Civic

Although Honda has not yet shown the world exactly what the new Civic will look like several photos of the car in disguise have been shown. These “spy shots” were officially released by Honda, effectively putting real spy photographers, like Brenda Priddy, out of work!

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Don’t You Just Love Tailgaters?

Don’t You Just Love Tailgaters?:

Nissan Leaf

So, I’m cruising down the 91 today in our long-term Mini Countryman—taking the kids to school and minding my own business in the carpool lane—when a Nissan Leaf gets all over my tail and keeps it planted a few feet off my rear bumper. I gaze at the speedo, see that it’s at 65, and decide to bump it up to 70. Does the tailgater back off? Nope. He just keeps it there, all the way until I need to I leave the HOV lane as we approach the exit for the school.

Long-Term Mini Countryman (Photo by Guy Spangenberg)

What was with this guy? Was he a hyper-miler, drafting the Countryman to extract all the mileage (or range) he could out of the electric Leaf? Was he late for work or school, and just didn’t give a damn? Or was he just an ignorant tailgater who had no idea that I’d never consider exiting the carpool lane illegally, which here in California is a fine that costs several hundreds of dollars?

Help me to not hate this guy; is there any scenario in which tailgating is justified?

No related posts.

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Pricing Announced: 2012 Nissan Maxima

Pricing Announced: 2012 Nissan Maxima:

nissanmaxima_01

Nissan is following the lead of many other car companies by resisting the urge to increase prices on its latest models. Despite a number of minor enhancements for the new model year, the 2012 Nissan Maxima S will continue to have a base sticker price of $31,750, plus $760 for shipping and handling, while the SV version will cost $34,450.

Both the Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV feature a standard 290-horsepower 3.5-liter VQ-Series V6 engine and Xtronic CVT transmission. The 2012 Maxima, which Nissan still likes to describe as its flagship model, receives a refreshed exterior with a new front grille design, new rear combination lights, and new 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

nissanmaxima_02

Inside, the Maxima interior’s enhancements include a new meter cluster illumination color (white), new Dark Piano-hairline trim, a new Atlantic Cherry wood tone trim, a new metallic-finish trim, and a new Cafe Latte interior color. There’s also a new audio segment display and new audio/HVAC knob design.

The other news for the 2012 Maxima is the addition of a $710 Limited Edition Package for the 3.5 S model, which features smoked appearance headlights, High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlights, a compass in the rearview mirror, 18-inch aluminum-alloy Dark Hyper Silver finish wheels, a rear spoiler, dark satin chrome front grille, fog lights, outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and metallic trim.

nissanmaxima_03

Years ago I used to regard the Maxima as a desirable sports sedan but this model seems to lack excitement. I guess it’s not surprising as Nissan would rather have customers who are looking for a sporty sedan opt for the Infiniti G25, or even the M37, since they don’t cost that much more.

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Saab’s Struggle Intensifies

Saab’s Struggle Intensifies:

For the first time in its recent troubled history the Amsterdam listed Swedish Automobile that ultimately owns Saab has reported a huge net loss of $319 million for the six months to the end of last June, more than four times the $79.8 million it lost in the same period in 2010.

Sales in the first half of this year amounted to $511.8 million, compared to negative equity of $566 million.

Saab is still searching for funding to keep it afloat as it tries to finalize a $349 million deal with China’s Pang Da Automobile Trade Co and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile to sell cars in China – the trouble is that still requires the approval of the Chinese government.

Saab has been unable to pay its major suppliers for most of the summer and car production ceased on June 9th while last week it stopped paying its employees.

Saab’s chief executive, Victor Muller talked of “rays of light” for short term financing, but a company statement added that “…if adequate funding for the group cannot be secured…a going concern can likely not be maintained.

Source: Google Reader

Best Selling Cars in August

Best Selling Cars in August:

2012-toyota-camry_gallery_image_large

Sales of new cars and trucks in August were higher than many pundits expected. The naysayers expected the gloomy economic news and the hurricane to impact sales. Overall sales of cars and trucks were up by over 7 percent compared to August last year.

The increase in sales was driven mostly by GM and Chrysler. However, despite the cost of gasoline most of the sales increases were for trucks and SUVs.

Sales of import nameplates were down but it was almost entirely due to a decline in sales reported by Honda and Toyota. Nissan continued to buck the trend of its bigger brothers by reporting another increase in sales.

The Nissan Altima is the second best selling car so far this year, behind the Toyota Camry, which despite a model changeover has managed to hold its lead. Last year the Altima was only the fifth best selling car. Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze continue to be impressive as it has been the best selling compact car now for the past four months.

One month’s sales are not necessarily significant, but they do show a trend with former top sellers, like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord, losing steam as the year progresses. The Honda Civic, the fourth best seller last year, fell out of the top ten in August as it goes through a model changeover. It’s actually lying in eighth place for the year to date. Likewise the Ford Focus, which is in tenth place for year-to-date sales, did not do as well as expected in August due to a shortage of cars caused by problems at its factory.

Rank Sales Rank Sales

Aug Model Aug YTD YTD

1 Toyota Camry 30,185 1 204,670

2 Nissan Altima 23,016 2 176,198

3 Chevrolet Cruze 21,807 4 169,427

4 Hyundai Sonata 20,682 9 149,729

5 Honda Accord 18,439 6 162,375

6 Ford Fusion 17,925 5 168,929

7 Chevrolet Malibu 17,840 7 160,152

8 Toyota Corolla 16,420 3 170,744

9 Hyundai Elantra 15,054 12 122,092

10 Volkswagen Jetta 14,500 13 121,965

With another four months of sales for 2011 it’s a sure bet that the Camry will still be the best selling car in the US. Which car, though, will take second place? Judging by the sales trends of the past few months it looks as if it’ll be tough for the Accord to retain second place, a spot it has enjoyed for several years. I bet Toyota will really pump up sales of the Corolla now production is back on stream to give the Altima a run for its money during the remainder of the year.

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Video: How to Start Your Pagani Huayra

Video: How to Start Your Pagani Huayra:

Pagani key

You shouldn’t expect a $1.4 million supercar to have an ordinary ignition key…and Pagani’s Huayra doesn’t. It’s a small, polished replica of the mighty machine and you pull the nose off, almost like a trick USB stick. Push the back half of the replica in the dashboard starter hole, twist and 700-plus horsepower bi-turbo, 6.0-liter Mercedes V-12 out back clears its throat and fires up. Sweet.

Source: Google Reader

First Look: Audi A2 Concept

First Look: Audi A2 Concept:

audi-a2-concept_gallery_image_large

Audi has released sketches of the new A2 Concept, an electric-powered 5-door hatchback that will be officially revealed during the Frankfurt Auto Show. Judging from these images – and the noticeable gap between the existing Audi A1 and Audi A3 – there is no doubt this show car will soon make its way to Audi showrooms. At 149.6 in. long and 58.6 in. high, the A2 Concept is about 6 in. shorter and 3 in. taller than the existing 2011 Audi A1.

These exterior dimensions could neatly position a production version of the A2 as a pint-sized crossover, and a natural competitor to the Mini Countryman and Nissan Juke. In a nod to the A2 being a concept, Audi has fitted it with an electric powertrain. For the moment, the company has not released any details regarding the exact type of motor and battery pack used, or driving range.

Audi has provided a few more hints regarding some of the A2 Concept’s finer design elements. The white-painted show car has a dark glass roof that turns transparent with the push of a button. Intelligent lighting also figures heavily into this concept. The headlights represent Audi’s next generation of LED technology, with a high resolution and “non-glaring” beam.

Depending on how hard the brakes are pressed, the taillights vary in brightness and intensity. In low visibility situations, rear fog-lights project a red triangle onto the road surface as a warning to other drivers. (more)

Keep Reading: Audi A2 Concept – First Look >>

More 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show Previews >>

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A Hot Lap of Laguna in a Cobra

A Hot Lap of Laguna in a Cobra:

FARLEY FOR JEN

Next year Ford Cobras will be the featured car at August’s Monterey Motorsports Reunion, so we thought we’d give you an early look at what to expect. Like a quick lap of curvy Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in a rare USRRC Cobra. The driver? None other than Jim Farley, who happens to be Ford’s Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. If you look closely, you can probably seem Farley grinning inside that helmet.

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Audi S Models at Frankfurt

Audi S Models at Frankfurt:

s6110001-large_gallery_image_large Source: Google Reader

Audi will unveil the 2012 S6 sedan and wagon (Avant in Audi-speak), S7 Sportback and range-topping S8 ultra-luxury performance sedan. At the heart of all three new models—four if you include the S6 Avant—is a new turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine that produces up to 520 bhp.

Audi calls the S6 sedan and S6 Avant “sports cars for everyday use.” Powered by a 420-bhp version of the new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter TFSI V-8 engine, both come with a 7-speed S tronic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. An adaptive air suspension allows the driver to choose from among five different settings. There are seven choices of alloy wheels available, all 19s or 20s. According to Audi, the S6 sedan sprints from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds. The S6 Avant takes only a fraction longer—4.9 sec. Both cars are electronically limited to a top speed of 155 mph.

Externally, the 2012 Audi S6 and S6 Avant are fractionally longer than the standard A6 sedan or wagon. The single-frame grille has aluminum highlights and chromed horizontal double bars. The exterior mirrors have “aluminum-look” housings, and the side sills are unique to each model. The biggest visual giveaways are toward the rear, with the S6 sedan’s trunk-mounted spoiler (roof-mounted on the Avant), four chrome-tipped tailpipes and platinum gray diffuser.

The same powertrain in the S6 also makes its way into the gorgeous S7 Sportback. We’ve already raved about this car’s sleek styling, and upping power from the standard 310-bhp 3.0-liter V-6 will only make this a more appealing package. Some might be turned off by the hatchback design (notice Audi’s clever use of the Sportback name). Yet even with the rear seats not folded, there’s 18.9 cu ft. of luggage space in the back. Drop those seats and you have a cavernous 49 cu ft. of room.

This means you’ll be able to haul more than, well, you get the idea. Audi says the all-wheel-drive S7 Sportback will reach 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, and has a top speed limited to 155 mph. At highway speeds, a subtle rear spoiler extends from the roof for added aero grip. Carbon-ceramic disc brakes are available as an option. And for anyone who really hates stopping (for gasoline), Audi’s “cylinder on demand” technology tempers the twin-turbo V-8’s thirst for fuel, allowing the S7 to average 24.2 mpg. EPA numbers will likely be lower, but this nevertheless is impressive. Like the S6, the S7 Sportback has unique alloy wheels, revised front and rear bumpers, and aluminum-look coverings on the side mirrors. (more)

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