Jailbreak

iPhone 4S Jailbreak Untethered is Growing - Jailbreak 5.1 / 5.0.1 / 5 ...
iPhone 4S untethered jailbreak on iOS 5.0.1 / 5.0 is making a good
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on iPhone 4S ...
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SLP Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Droptop Tested: Seriously Loud and Powerful

SLP Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Droptop Tested: Seriously Loud and Powerful:

The last thing a Camaro needs is 324 more horses, but that didn’t stop SLP (a.k.a. Street Legal Performance) from making a Camaro ZL1. The original, hyphenated ZL-1 was a $4160 option pack in 1969, a box that just 69 customers checked. An underrated 430-hp, aluminum-block 7.0-liter V-8 was the highlight.

Keep Reading: 2012 SLP Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible – Specialty File

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Audi Unveils Limited-Production 256-HP 2012 A1 Quattro

Audi Unveils Limited-Production 256-HP 2012 A1 Quattro:

Audi is launching the ultimate A1, a limited-edition supermini designed to put the Mini John Cooper Works hardtop to shame. Powered by a turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 256 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, the all-wheel-drive A1 Quattro is said to hit 62 mph in 5.7 seconds and top out at 152 mph. The JCW Mini needs another half-second or so to get to 62 and tops out at 147. A six-speed manual is the only available transmission; the estimated fuel consumption is 27 mpg in the optimistic European cycle. The A1 Quattro rides on 225/35 rubber and 18-inch cast-aluminum center-lug wheels. Its suspension setup is much firmer than those of lesser A1 models, and the stability-control system can be switched off entirely.

To make sure this A1 does not go unnoticed, it features a seriously modified exterior, available only in white metallic with a black roof and white spoiler. The lower intakes have been enlarged so that they consume almost the entire front fascia, the wing-shaped elements within the xenon headlights are painted red, and the exhaust system sports twin large-diameter tailpipes. If it looks familiar, that’s because it’s basically a production A1 Clubsport concept—unfortunately with barely half of that car’s 503 hp. The interior is dominated by black leather, red accents, brushed steel, and a small flat-bottomed steering wheel. Unlike the Clubsport, the Quattro retains its rear seat.

This limited-edition A1 comes fully equipped with an MMI navigation system; xenon headlights; LED taillights; a 465-watt, 14-speaker stereo system; leather seats; and Wi-Fi. The price has not yet been announced, but Audi will make just 333 units, available beginning in the second half of 2012. It won’t be coming to the U.S.

The A1 Quattro is a precursor to the slightly more civilized S1, which will be launched in 2013. Don’t look for this one as a consolation prize; it’s not coming to the U.S., either. The S1 might also have a 2.0-liter—detuned from the A1 Quattro’s 256 horses—or possibly an upgraded version of VW/Audi’s turbo- and supercharged “twincharger” engine. Whichever it uses, Audi will be sure the S1 outguns the 208-hp Mini John Cooper Works.

Source : Google Reader

Kia Introduces Ray EV, We Offer Initial Impressions

Kia Introduces Ray EV, We Offer Initial Impressions:

Although Kia calls the Ray EV its first production EV, the car won’t be commercially available. Instead, the company will build 2500 of the electric boxes and distribute them to Korean government fleets. While we’ll probably never see one here, the Ray EV is a precursor to an electric crossover that Kia plans to launch globally in 2014.

The Ray EV is based on the gas-engined Kia Ray, which also is not available here. It trades the standard car’s 1.0-liter engine for a 67-hp electric motor that can produce 123 lb-ft of torque. Energy comes from a 16.4-kWh lithium-ion battery that needs six hours to charge at 220 volts, or 25 minutes using a super-high-voltage quick charger. Kia claims it will have a range of about 86 miles.

Our (Brief) First Drive

On a recent trip to Korea, we had the opportunity to take the Ray EV for a quick spin. Actually, it was more like a half-mile down-and back. The two things we noted were the car’s slowness—Kia estimates the 0-to-62-mph run at 15.9 seconds and says top speed is 81 mph—and poor brake calibration. The odd disconnect between the brake pedal and palpable deceleration is similar to the problem we’ve noted with Kia’s Optima hybrid. We drove a preproduction car, so it’s possible the braking delay has been sorted since then.

Kia will use the limited Korean rollout of the Ray EV as part of its R&D process, which hopefully will see benefits for the global EV crossover the company expects to bring to market for 2014.

Source : Google Reader

Final Jeopardy: BMW M3 vs. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Final Jeopardy: BMW M3 vs. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG:

Remember when that pasty software engineer from Utah kept winning on Jeopardy!? His name is Ken Jennings, and he won 74 times in a row before ignominiously losing to a real-estate agent from Ventura, California. Jennings was smug and a bit annoying. But love him or hate him, he was shockingly good and seemingly genetically engineered to answer in question form.

Keep Reading: 2012 BMW M3 Coupe vs. 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe – Comparison Test

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The Continental: Speaking with Marchionne, Driving the Panda, and Another Lovable Unimog

The Continental: Speaking with Marchionne, Driving the Panda, and Another Lovable Unimog:

Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.

Fiat has chosen the Pomigliano plant near the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius as the launch site for the third generation of its Panda minicar. The car is built there, and Fiat’s entire board showed up for this great corporate event, marked as much by the product as by the revamping of the plant itself, which was on the verge of being closed down a few years ago.

In a Q&A session, Marchionne spoke about the botched launch of the Fiat 500 in North America, which—he has said it before—was “launched a year too early.” He won’t repeat that mistake with Alfa Romeo; that brand’s launch is delayed for a year (again). He vowed he’d never do a car like the recently departed 159 sedan again, which “was a phenomenal car, but weighed 400 kilos too much.” The new cars need to look and feel like an Alfa, said Marchionne. So how does he keep U.S. dealers happy in the meantime, I asked. “They have sold a lot of Chrysler product this year, and therefore I don’t really worry about them a lot,” the refreshingly blunt CEO offered. “They are all happy, they will have a nice Christmas with wine and turkey on the table.”

The Dodge brand’s reach will stay limited to the U.S. and “a few Latin American markets where it has appeal,” said Marchionne, but some Dodge products will be sold under different brands elsewhere (as is already the case with the Fiat-badged Journey). Fiat will make use of the Dodge Dart platform, which is itself based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta but has been significantly tweaked. What about Jeep? The Wrangler and Grand Cherokee models are “incredibly American” and will continue to be built in North America, Marchionne promised, but everything between and aside of these models could be built anywhere. Fiat’s Mirafiori plant will produce several B-segment SUVs, including an Alfa Romeo crossover. The large Alfa SUV, which is based on the Grand Cherokee, has been delayed.

Marchionne told me that the Fiat brand would be expanded with a second model in North America—a van-type vehicle—and possibly a third car. On an even more exciting note, he confirmed that the Abarth sub-brand is working on its own sports car. This model, I learned from other sources, will not be spun off the upcoming mid-engine Alfa 4C, but it will be a front-engine sports car with 200 to 250 hp. A final decision to build it has not been made—but even if it does see production, it likely won’t come to the U.S. The inspiration for the car comes from Abarth’s legendary 1968 Scorpione.

After these insights from the top, we got back to earth to actually drive the Panda: It is a cute, practical, and capable minicar sized almost exactly like the Chevrolet Spark. Power comes from a dull 1.2-liter gas four, a quiet and reassuringly torquey 1.2-liter turbo-diesel four, or a turbocharged 0.9-liter two-banger. The latter was my clear favorite; at city speeds, it virtually rips the Panda forward, and it is a lively engine well beyond 80 mph (top speed is 110 mph). The Panda tends to understeer massively, but the apt ESP system doesn’t shave off too much speed.

Disappointments? The Panda looks like a rounded-off reinterpretation of its predecessor, and I suspect this cautious design is the result of excessive clinicking. Another proposal looked far closer to the Brazilian-market Uno—lower, more distinct, more sporty. The Panda, of course, is a better car, and it will soon see a cool off-road version, as well as more powerful derivatives. In Europe, it competes with the Volkswagen Up/Seat Mii/Skoda Citigo triplets, the Chevrolet Spark, the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10, the Renault Twingo, and the Kolin cars (Citroën C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo). It’s a busy segment. Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne rules out a U.S.-market launch for the car.

The Ultimate Motorhome

Mercedes-Benz has few icons left that haven’t been contaminated by juvenile design experiments, inferior quality, or lackluster engineering. The Unimog all-wheel-drive vehicle is one such unspoiled example. It is engineered and built strictly for the purpose of getting you virtually anywhere even in the most adverse conditions. The Unimog seen here is a 6×6, 215-hp U4000 model, turned into a go-anywhere motorhome by outfitter Unicat. Few vehicles have more off-road ability—or more attitude.

Source : Google Reader

Obituary: Saab Automobile, 1947–2011

Obituary: Saab Automobile, 1947–2011:

Saab Automobile, 64, of Trollhättan, died Monday.

It was born to the late Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, June 10, 1947, in Trollhättan, Sweden. Saab graduated from Project 92 in 1949 and completed its first Sonett in the 1950s. It married the late General Motors in 1990, and they lived together in Detroit, Mi., before separating in 2010. Saab briefly partnered to form Swedish Automobile NV (née Spyker Cars NV) before the two parties amicably parted ways. It succumbed to financial hardship and complications from product starvation.

Saab was a maker of cars and, later, sport-utility and crossover vehicles until it retired earlier this year. During its time in the U.S., Saab began traveling abroad; this led it to the business of importing and reselling Japanese goods. Once back in its native Sweden, Saab continued its Asian travels, this time venturing to China for outreach programs. Ailing health and visa troubles from its previous marriage ultimately kept it from pursuing all of the travel it had planned.

Saab was very fond of the number 9 and anything remotely to do with air travel.

Saab is survived by nearly 3000 unsold children: 9-3 and 9-5 of Trollhättan, Sweden; and 9-4X (SRX) of Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. It also is survived by a worldwide dealership and distribution network.

Saab will be cremated following a formal receivership ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the company is requesting that donations be made out to the 3600 employees soon to be out of work.

A selection of Saab Automobile’s accomplishments can be seen below.

Ursaab – The name says it all. This was the original, prototypical Saab automobile. It was built by a group of aircraft engineers—and it kind of showed.

Saab 92 – This somewhat-odd little car was an obvious evolution of the original prototype. Series production began in 1949. The somewhat-odd name refers to the project having followed that of the Saab 91 Safir, a two-seat prop plane.

Saab Sonett – Designed first as a two-seat roadster—of which six were made—the Sonett was a purpose-built race car. The name was later brought back for a production-ready roadster and then a series of coupes.

Saab 99 – Saab’s first entirely new car since the 92. It was also the first Saab to place the ignition switch between the front seats, something that endured even with badge-engineered Chevys, Subarus, Opels, and Cadillacs that followed years later. The 99 used a Ricardo-designed and Triumph-built 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine.

Saab 900 Turbo – The 900 replaced the 92/93/95/96 family in 1980. A Turbo model, one of the brand’s most iconic offerings, arrived two years later.

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Tesla Model S to Cost $49,900 After $7500 Tax Credit; Performance Model Will Be $79,900

Tesla Model S to Cost $49,900 After $7500 Tax Credit; Performance Model Will Be $79,900:

Tesla has released full pricing information for the 2012 Model S sedan, and as we’ve previously reported, it will start at $57,400, or $49,900 after a $7500 federal tax credit. (All of the prices Tesla quotes are after the tax credit, but since buyers will be paying—or making payments based on—the full price, those are the figures we’ll use here.) There will be a range-topping Performance model, along with three battery choices for the non-Performance models. The base Model S gets a 40-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and an estimated 160-mile range (traveling at 55 mph), but buyers can step up to 60 and 85-kWh versions for an additional $10,000 and $20,000, respectively. The 60-kWh pack drops the Model S’s 0-to-60 time from a claimed 6.5 seconds to 5.9, increases its top speed from 110 mpg to 120, and bumps range to 230 miles. The 85-kWh Model S boasts a 300-mile range, a 125-mph terminal velocity, and is quicker still—Tesla says it reaches 60 in just 5.6 seconds. (Although we have yet to drive the Model S ourselves, we were able to hitch a ride in one; you can read our impressions here.)

The $87,400 Model S Performance comes loaded with the 85-kWh battery, carbon-fiber accents, and a high-performance drive inverter. Nappa leather, active air suspension, “sport-tuned” traction control, and performance wheels and tires can be had for another $5000. Tesla says the Model S Performance has a 300-mile range, a 130-mph top speed, and can rip to 60 in 4.4 seconds. The first 1000 buyers will have to choose between the Signature and Signature Performance models. The special-edition cars come with the 85-kWh battery, active air suspension, and Nappa leather as standard. Pricing starts at $95,400 for the Signature and $105,400 for the Signature Performance.

Complementing the numerous battery choices are a variety of options for charging them. A single 10-kW on-board charger is standard, while a second is available for $1500. A 20-kW home charging station is $1200. When/if Tesla gets its network of so-called “Superchargers,” ultra-fast public chargers, online, 85-kWh models will be compatible; the company is considering compatibility for 60-kWh cars.

Tesla will roll out the Model S from the top down, with the 85-kWh Signature models going on sale midway through 2012. The 60-kWh car will be available about three months later, the 40-kWh model late in the year.



Source : Google Reader

With Saab in Bankruptcy, Here’s How Dealers are Handling Discounts and Warranties

With Saab in Bankruptcy, Here’s How Dealers are Handling Discounts and Warranties:

“OVER $17,000 OFF!” a Boston-area dealer proclaims on its web site. “UP TO $16,000 OFF REMAINING 2011 SAAB MODELS” a Michigan Saab dealer yells in a mass e-mail. Even for folks who watched the mega-discounts roll in during 2009, that’s a shocking number. Glassman Saab of Southfield, Michigan, is hardly unique: Many other remaining Saab dealerships, too, are struggling to unload stocks of unsold cars. Great deals are to be had for savvy customers, and four-wheeled nightmares are just starting for those who don’t know what they’re getting into, as factory warranties have been suspended for many cars already on the road and the situation for those still unsold at dealers is a mess.

Dealers On Their Own

Virtually all auto dealers in the U.S. are individually owned franchises, and as such, all Saab dealers are on their own to decide how to get rid of remaining vehicles in stock. In the Midwest and on the East Coast, a number of dealers have joined Glassman Saab in offering tremendous discounts on current stock. Charles River Saab in Watertown, Massachusetts, is cutting prices by as much as $18,000 on some models. The cars with the greatest discounts are the ones with the highest sticker prices: fully loaded 9-5 Aero models. When they landed on dealer lots, these cars were priced around $50,000; for $32K, it’s a lot of car.

Other dealers are less bullish on the discounts. The sales manager at Dirito Brothers Walnut Creek Saab, located about 20 minutes from the Saab-friendly community of Berkeley, California, told us that it is not advertising big reductions. Discounts “in the five-figure range” are on the table, though. Dirito is in a different situation than Charles River: the former has just nine cars in stock, while the latter has 40.

Regardless of the prices, however, financing will become progressively more difficult for buyers to arrange. Just as it’s harder to get a loan for a used car than for a new one, with Saab going bust, its cars are less appealing for a bank. In large part this is because the cars are on the brink of huge depreciation. That means owners will owe more than the cars are worth; if the bank has to repossess, it is going to lose money.

Warranties and Parts: More Exciting Than They Sound

Warranty payments to dealers, which come from Sweden and pay dealers for working on warranteed cars, have been suspended. This means that dealers won’t get reimbursed for repairs they make on vehicles theoretically covered under warranty. A few dealers we spoke with said they’re taking a haircut on money owed for work they’ve done in the last few weeks.

Vehicles still under the original warranty but sold before January 1, 2010, while General Motors still owned Saab, will be covered by GM. This still leaves thousands of vehicles on the road, though, that were sold after that date—as well as brand-new Saabs sitting on dealer lots with fat discounts on the hood.

The president and COO of Saab North America, Tim Colbeck, says that his company—which is the importer for Saabs in the U.S. and Canada—is looking for ways it can honor the warranties of non-GM–era cars and even unsold Saabs. We’re skeptical that this is possible. There are two options: One would be to buy everyone an aftermarket warranty. While a few dealers are doing this for new cars (more on that in a moment), this is extremely expensive. Saab North America doesn’t have the cash. Alternatively, Saab North America is attempting to convince General Motors to pick up warranty coverage even for cars sold after GM exited. The argument is that because GM owned Saab for decades, many people who own Saab franchises also own the rights to sell one or more GM brands. Ticked-off Saab owners leaving the service bay of Anytown Cadillac GMC Saab will be turned off to the first two brands. While this might be a realistic scenario, we don’t see it convincing GM to take on a ton of liability by assuming warranty payments on cars sold after it exited. A GM spokesperson had no comment, of course.

In addition to leaving many drivers on the road with no warranty, new cars at dealerships now must be sold “as-is,” without a warranty. In Massachusetts, as in many other states, it’s illegal to sell a new car without a warranty. So Charles River Saab is tacking on four-year, 75,000-mile aftermarket warranties to its 40 cars still on the lot. The sales manager says it’s not cheap. Dealerships could also do what Chrysler did with unsold Crossfire stocks many years ago and mark the unsold Saabs as “used.” This just requires a bit of paperwork, and excuses the need to warranty the cars, among a few other legal obligations set for selling new vehicles.

Fortunately, the situation with Saab parts is much less grim. Fearing the worst was coming, many dealers—like Charles River—have stocked up on parts during the past year. Because Saabs are so closely related to many General Motors cars, many parts are useful for both. Saab’s 9-4X crossover is the most extreme example, built in Mexico alongside the Cadillac SRX. Even for Saab-unique parts, there’s good news. Most of the parts manufacturers are not owned by Saab, and will likely remain in business. There are still hundreds of thousands of modern Saabs on the road, and regardless of what happens with the corporate entity of Saab, there’s a great business case for the manufacture and sale of parts to fit these cars.

To Buy or Not to Buy: That’s Not Much of a Question

The very human (and very American) desire for a bargain says that a $20,000 Saab 9-3 or $30,000 9-5 is a decent deal. Maybe it’s what these cars should have cost before their maker went bankrupt; at these prices, they could be reasonable.

In light of the warranty and parts situations, it still may make sense for people to buy them. Unless you’re buying from a dealer that is throwing in an aftermarket warranty, you’ll need to buy one yourself. We were quoted between $2000 and $2500 for a no-deductible, four-year warranty from a major provider that allows service at any certified mechanic. This would include former Saab dealerships, which is where we’d go; most plan to remain in business servicing and supplying parts for Saabs as long as there is demand. Judging by how long former Alfa Romeo and Peugeot shops hung around after their brands exited the U.S., finding a specialist for Saab service shouldn’t be a problem for at least the next decade.

Still, prospective buyers aren’t hugely interested. Many dealerships with whom we spoke are seeing Saab loyalists in the showrooms trying to stock up with one last new car. They seem to outnumber the bargain hunters. We asked Carl Bagnini, a social worker from Port Washington, New York—and the past owner of four Saabs—whether the prices would draw him into the showroom. No, he says. Bagnini ditched his 9-5 wagon last year when he realized he could get as much content for much less money by buying a Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI. Like so many other once-loyal Saabists, he’s moved on from the brand.

The hitch for all of this is that you’d have to be willing to hold on to your Saab for quite a long time. Even before Saab announced plans to go bust, resale values for these Swedish cars were horrendous. We spoke with Eric Lyman of Automotive Leasing Guide, who told us that even before the bankruptcy was announced, a 2011 Saab 9-5 with the turbo four would retain only 34 percent of its value in three years. That means such a car purchased today for $41,000 would be worth just $14,000 in January 2015. If the brand goes out of business for good—as all signs suggest it will—then it’ll lose only another grand.

In other words, Lyman says, Saab going bust isn’t what will slam the value of its products; it’s the company’s huge discounts and unfortunate reputation during the past decade. Historically, cars from orphaned brands don’t take as much of a hit as you might think. Three years after cancellation, Plymouths retained five percentage points less of their original MSRP than did Dodges and Chryslers sold the same year. But three years after their marques were killed, Oldsmobile, Saturn, and Pontiac cars all have done fairly well; they’re worth, on average, just $1000 to $3000 less than surviving Chevrolets and Buicks from the same vintage.

These numbers in particular show the real lesson from Saab’s collapse: It can take a year or two of haranguing in court and bank boardrooms for a car company to go out of business, but the meaningful damage is done long before. Saab’s bed has been made for years.

Source : Google Reader

Saab Is Actually Dead This Time, To Be Sold Off in Pieces

Saab Is Actually Dead This Time, To Be Sold Off in Pieces:

Saab is actually, finally finished. The company filed for bankruptcy in Sweden today—and not the kind that American Airlines currently is using to reorganize and shed some debt. Essentially the Swedish equivalent of what we call Chapter 7 in the U.S., Saab’s filing means that the company will be liquidated so that its creditors get at least a small percentage of the money they’re owed.

Saab was feverishly working to raise money from Chinese investors Youngman and Pang Da, but GM remained unsatisfied with any of the proposals and vetoed the rescue plan this weekend. The crux of Saab’s demise was how to manage General Motors’ intellectual property if the Swedish firm was purchased by one or more of the Chinese companies. A month ago, GM stopped production of the 9-4X, the crossover it built for Saab alongside the Cadillac SRX; execs at the General didn’t want to just hand Chinese companies blueprints and completed products that cost billions to develop.

Saab’s remaining assets will be liquidated by a court-appointed administrator. This includes any production facilities (we expect that the Swedish government or local investors will buy these), tooling, patents, and of course, the rights to the brand itself. In all likelihood, Youngman, Pang Da, or another Chinese company will score the rights to the Saab brand name, and produce new vehicles in China with the Griffin logo. This is similar to what happened with MG and Rover, which live on as Chinese brands.

In the U.S., dealers will have to scramble to sell off remaining stocks before values plummet even further in the next few weeks. The oldest Saab dealer in the U.S., Massachusetts-based Charles River Saab, posted a notice on its website this morning saying. “Even though we are profoundly saddened by Saab’s bankruptcy filing today, we promise that we are not going anywhere.” The dealership says it will continue to service Saabs, supply parts, and sell used models. This is similar to what happened with Alfa Romeo and Peugeot dealerships in the 1990s when their manufacturers left the U.S. market. Fortunately for the dealership’s employees and customers in the area, Charles River Saab is owned by an enormous company that owns seven additional franchises, including more-stable brands like Honda and Nissan. Other Saab dealerships are likely to be less fortunate.

For a look at how Saab ended up here, check out our timeline of its collapse. And check back for any updates, from any other 11th-hour rescue attempts to announcements of who end up with the rights to build 1980s-vintage 900 hatchbacks.

Source : Google Reader

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid Joins Diesel in U.S. Lineup – Car News

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid Joins Diesel in U.S. Lineup – Car News:

Facing hybrid mid-sizers from every major competitor, Mercedes-Benz gets on board.

Mercedes-Benz must like variety. It refuses to adhere to a single way of building fuel-efficient cars. The M- and S-class have both offered buyers a choice of hybrid and diesel powertrains, and now the company is taking that approach with the E-class as well. At the upcoming Detroit auto show, Mercedes will debut the 2013 E400 hybrid, which joins the diesel E350 BlueTec.

Keep Reading: 2013 Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid – Aut0 Shows

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Not-For-U.S. Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec Hybrid Headed to Detroit Auto Show

Not-For-U.S. Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec Hybrid Headed to Detroit Auto Show:

Hybrids are at their best in urban driving, where stop-and-go traffic allows them to maximize their electrical components for fuel-free commuting. On the highway, though, a hybrid’s benefits shrink tremendously. Diesels do their best work in such situations, as their tremendous torque allows them to turn lower rpm. In the alternative-fuel debate, the hybrid-versus-diesel argument frequently leads to the conclusion that if only someone would build a diesel hybrid vehicle, the world would be saved. The problem with that solution is that both diesel engines and hybrid systems are heavy and expensive.

But you know what else is heavy and expensive? A Mercedes-Benz. On such a car, the added heft and cost are as close as they’ll get to negligible. Alongside its new E400 hybrid, Mercedes will debut the new E300 BlueTec diesel hybrid at the Detroit auto show in January. The E400, which has a gas-fired V-6 under its hood, will go on sale in the U.S., but the diesel won’t.

Both use the same hybrid system, a system evolved from what’s found in the S400 hybrid already on sale here. That means that an electric motor is sandwiched between the gas engine and the seven-speed automatic transmission. Fed by a lithium-ion battery pack, the motor contributes 27 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque to locomotion. In the E400, the electric motor is accompanied by Mercedes’ direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6, which makes 302 hp and 273 lb-ft. In the E300, the internal combustion engine is a 2.1-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder with 201 hp and 369 lb-ft.

The combo allows the E300 hybrid—which is available as both a sedan and a wagon—to achieve 56 mpg. Although that’s on the ridiculously inflationary European combined cycle, it’s also 8 mpg—or more than 15 percent—better than this engine alone manages in the European E250. And, as in the S400, Mercedes’ compact hybrid system means there are no intrusions into the interior of the car or the trunk. Unlike the S400, though, the E300—and the E400—will be able to accelerate away from a stop powered by just the electric motor.

Bummed that you can’t get the diesel hybrid Benz in the U.S.? Show your support for at least half the equation and buy either an E350 BlueTec or an E400 hybrid. The E BlueTec has been on sale here since 2007, and the E400 is coming in the second half of 2012.

Source : Google Reader

Ford Teases All-New Global Vehicle, Fiesta-Based Crossover Most Likely Candidate

Ford Teases All-New Global Vehicle, Fiesta-Based Crossover Most Likely Candidate:

While those of us in the U.S. will be tuned in to the goings on at the upcoming 2012 Detroit auto show at the beginning of January, Ford will be conducting additional operations at the concurrent Auto Expo in New Delhi. The company released a teaser image of a new global model debuting at the Indian show. Ford isn’t officially confirming what the vehicle is called or even what market segment the vehicle will occupy. The company does, however, refer to the mystery car as its latest One Ford global offering—so there’s a remote chance it could make it here, although we won’t get our hopes up.

We’re guessing the new model isn’t a sporty car or even a basic hatch; it’s more likely a small, inexpensive Fiesta-based crossover for markets such as India or South America. The headlight design is similar to the latest Escape’s, and the detailing around the windshield is chiseled and tough. We’ll pass along more info on Ford’s mystery debut just as soon as it hits our desks.

Source : Google Reader

Four-Cylinder Models Added to 2012 Honda Crosstour Lineup

Four-Cylinder Models Added to 2012 Honda Crosstour Lineup:

The confused Crosstour car/hatch/crossover is in the middle of an identity crisis. It drops “Accord” from its name for 2012, and now Honda tells us that the not-quite-a-wagon will borrow a four-cylinder engine from its namesake sedan. Make that its former namesake. Since the Accord Crosstour was introduced in 2010, it has only been offered with Honda’s 3.5-liter V-6.

In the Crosstour, the 2.4-liter four will make two additional horsepower (192 total) and the same amount of torque (162 lb-ft) as it does in high-output spec for the Accord. Four-cylinder Crosstours will only be available with a five-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. Fuel economy is improved compared to front-drive V-6 models: 21 mpg city and 29 highway versus 18/27. Increased efficiency will probably be accompanied by increased slowness, so expect the four-banger model’s 0-to-60 times to lag behind those of the V-6 model; we’ve gotten a 7.2-second run out of both the front-drive and all-wheel-drive six-cylinder models.

Like the V-6 car, four-cylinder Crosstours will be available in EX and EX-L (“L” for leather) trim levels. All 2012 models get some additional standard equipment, including a welcome standard rearview camera.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but if stickers on the Sedan Which Shall No Longer Be Named are any indication, the four-pot Crosstour should start around $29K.

Source : Google Reader

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Driven: Looks Great, Less Filling (Up)

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Driven: Looks Great, Less Filling (Up):

Chevy’s mid-size Malibu is all-new for 2013, joining the Buick Regal on the global Epsilon II platform. Loyal readers of Car and Driver may remember that our John Phillips briefly drove and generally liked a 2013 Malibu prototype earlier this year. We recently traveled to Texas to see if our early impressions would hold up following a few more miles in real-world conditions.

Keep Reading: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco – First Drive Review

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Chevrolet Bringing Sportier 2013 Sonic RS to Detroit Auto Show

Chevrolet Bringing Sportier 2013 Sonic RS to Detroit Auto Show:

Chevrolet’s latest B-segment contender, the Sonic, is pretty darn good. It placed second in a recent six-car comparison test, and nifty interior duds won it a place on our 10Best Design Details list. Things are about to get even more interesting with the turbocharged Sonic RS that will debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show.

Keep Reading: 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS – Detroit Auto Shows

Detroit auto show, 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS, compact, hot hatch, turbocharged

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