Name That Shifter, No. 31: 1998 Volvo C70

Name That Shifter, No. 31: 1998 Volvo C70: "

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On Tuesday we presented this week’s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence it came. Almost everyone who commented surmised that the shifter came from a ‘90s Volvo. The first commenter to correctly identify it as a first-generation Volvo C70 was Bruce A., who will receive a Save the Manuals button and sticker as a reward.

The C70 pictured here is from our May 1997 issue, the cover of which read: “Volvo turns Voluptuous!” on account of the car’s softer lines. The coupe was based on the Volvo 850 platform and was powered by a turbocharged inline-five engine making 236 hp.

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Bentley Continental GT Convertible to Debut at Frankfurt Auto Show in September

Bentley Continental GT Convertible to Debut at Frankfurt Auto Show in September: "

Last fall, Bentley unveiled its all-new Continental GT, which is simultaneously lighter, more powerful, and slightly more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. The next-generation GTC convertible and Flying Spur sedan—both of which we hope will offer the same advantages—are up next, and we now have on good authority that the GTC is scheduled to debut this fall at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show.

Of course, you don’t have to wait until then to see what it will look like; we ran an artist’s rendering of the GTC in our printed publication back in March and some spy shots appeared on our blog in May. By next summer, we expect the juiced-up “Speed” models to appear, one of which was nabbed by our spies out on a run just this week.

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Can’t Get Volkswagen’s Edition 35 GTI? Console Yourself With This Commemorative Watch

Can’t Get Volkswagen’s Edition 35 GTI? Console Yourself With This Commemorative Watch: "

Volkswagen has regrettably decided not to bring us its very cool, 235-hp GTI Edition 35, built to commemorate 35 years of the breed. But no one says we can’t join the celebration by wearing this wristwatch from GTI35.com, a site which isn’t affiliated with VW. (Despite celebrating the GTI’s 35th European anniversary, GTI35.com is somewhat ironically operated by a marketing agency here in the U.S., where the GTI didn’t go on sale until 1983.) Featuring white graphics on a black face, a Citizen quartz movement, five-meter water resistance, a black leather strap, and, of course, a lap timer, the GTI35.com Chronograph—that’s the official name—is highlighted by the site’s 35 Years of Thunder badge stamped at the 12:00 position. And it can be yours for just €129, plus whatever it costs to ship it here. Such a deal!

Other than the indecipherable graphic, though, we see nothing about the GTI35.com Chronograph that either makes it terribly distinct from other timepieces or worth €129. For us here in the States, it would just be a reminder that we’re not getting the actual GTI Edition 35 whenever we checked the time—and how much of a bummer would that be? (GTI35.com also offers a route to purchasing a tuned, be-stickered 260-hp GTI, although that’s also limited to Euro types.) Still, it’s classier than a decal, dogtag, or a T-shirt with the logo, which—you guessed it—also are available at GTI35.com.

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Infiniti Gives First Glimpse at 2013 JX Three-Row Crossover

Infiniti Gives First Glimpse at 2013 JX Three-Row Crossover: "

Our spy shooters have already captured camouflaged examples of Infiniti’s upcoming seven-seat JX crossover plodding about in the open, but until now, we didn’t have anything official from the company. Today, Infiniti released the first of what will be a series of teaser images of the JX; the rest of the pics will be revealed on its Facebook page during the next seven weeks.

This first photo shows us the JX’s front-left headlight, left flank, and a portion of its front wheel. The headlight is very much like those you’d find on the Infiniti FX, and even from this little picture, we can tell that the JX won’t eschew the company’s bulge-friendly design philosophy. The wheels appear to be the same ones that adorned the camo’d tester we recently photographed, although from the awkward angle in this single shot, they look a bit small for a modern car.

Infiniti will reveal the JX crossover in a lightly differentiated concept form at the Pebble Beach concours in August, and the production version will debut at November’s Los Angeles auto show. The automaker says it’ll go on sale in early 2012 as a 2013 model.

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Mitsubishi and Jim Russell Offer Level II Program to Grads of Lancer Evolution Experience

Mitsubishi and Jim Russell Offer Level II Program to Grads of Lancer Evolution Experience: "

If you have attended the Lancer Evolution Experience I presented by Mitsubishi and Jim Russell Racing Drivers School at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, you probably went sideways a lot, and even if you didn’t, you surely had a riotous time. Well, here’s some good news, go-fast grad: Mitsubishi and JRRDS have just announced a follow-up program especially for you, cleverly called the Lancer Evolution Experience II.

For $1295—$300 more than the starter program—the Lancer Evolution Experience II curriculum focuses on timed competition, starting with a review of the driving exercises covered in the first program followed by multiple laps of Infineon’s 12-turn, 2.5-mile track with instructors riding shotgun. The event culminates in a timed-lap competition between the attendees, who by the end of the program will have had plenty of time to shoot dirty looks at each other and accuse each others’ mommas of driving Subaru STIs. Speaking of cars, as the name of the program suggests, the Lancer Evolutions used are Evo X models outfitted with Sparco racing seats, safety harnesses, and roll cages.

So if you’ve had a hankering to go back to school—back to the Lancer Evolution Experience school, that is—click over to www.jimrussellusa.com and get ready to take your driving skills to the next level.

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Lincoln Shuffles MKT Lineup for 2012, Drops Price of 355-hp EcoBoost Model by $3005

Lincoln Shuffles MKT Lineup for 2012, Drops Price of 355-hp EcoBoost Model by $3005: "

For the 2012 model year, Lincoln is dropping one of the MKT’s trim levels and lowering the price of the 355-hp EcoBoost version. The 2011 Lincoln MKT came in three flavors, the lowest of which was equipped with Ford’s 3.7-liter V-6 engine powering the front wheels. Although that model continues, and maintains its $45,175 base price, all-wheel drive will no longer be available as an option for MKTs with that engine. As a consolation prize, shoppers for three-row crossovers with baleen-whale-inspired styling can now get the MKT with the EcoBoost twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive for $47,170, a drop of $3005 compared to last year’s price. The 2012 Lincoln MKT will hit dealerships later this summer.

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2012 Audi Q3 First Drive: You’ll Want to Get the Turbo Five-Cylinder

2012 Audi Q3 First Drive: You’ll Want to Get the Turbo Five-Cylinder: "

Audi launches a compact crossover—and dumps the TT RS engine into it.

Not content with the success of the Q5, Audi is launching an even smaller crossover to compete with the BMW X1 and the Acura RDX. While the Q3’s underpinnings started with the VW Tiguan platform, the architecture was significantly altered to be considered worthy of Audi’s four interconnected rings. “We have taken the most suitable parts from the components bin, and its architecture is basically a mix of the PQ46 [Passat, CC] and the PQ35 [Tiguan, MkVI Golf] platforms,” says development coordinator Thomas Soppa.

Keep Reading: 2012 Audi Q3 – First Drive Review

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2013 Aston Martin DB9 Spy Photos: The Biggest Little Change to the DB Yet

2013 Aston Martin DB9 Spy Photos: The Biggest Little Change to the DB Yet: "

Or maybe it’s a DBS.

It’s often pointed out that Aston Martins all pretty much look alike. We know that, you know that, and the people who make them must know, too. But an Aston also looks like a Jaguar, a concept with which the team who cloaked this DB prototype appears to have had some fun.

Keep Reading: 2013 Aston Martin DB9 Spy Photos – Future Cars

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Just $57,725 Will Buy You an Insane, 360-hp 2012 Audi TT RS

Just $57,725 Will Buy You an Insane, 360-hp 2012 Audi TT RS: "

It’s astonishing that Audi and Porsche are, on a corporate level, parts of the same entity. When ordering a 911, shoppers can specify that the center tunnel—not the dash, mind you, but the trim on top of the transmission tunnel—be painted black. It costs more than $1100. So it’s a bit of a shock, then, that Audi has just priced the 360-hp TT RS at a mere $57,725.

While that’s more than twice the cost of the Volkswagen GTI on which the TT RS is loosely based, it represents a fantastic value for car that offers such performance—and it’s several thousand dollars cheaper than the rough estimate of $60,000–$65,000 that Audi had given us in the past. The TT RS does, after all, include the company’s maniacal turbocharged five-cylinder engine, with the requisite warble at low speeds and erogenous bleating at full throttle.

Equipped with a dual-clutch automatic and standard launch control, we were able to harness the violence of a full-power takeoff and hit 60 from a standstill in a paltry 3.6 seconds. Audi will offer only the six-speed manual (which does not include launch control) in the States; Audi estimates a TT RS so equipped will hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

For some context, the 320-hp Porsche Cayman S starts at $63,050, while the newly introduced 302-hp Mercedes-Benz SLK350 will sting you for $55,675; at least the latter boasts a folding metal roof.

The TT RS is the first RS model offered in the U.S. since the RS4 based on the last-gen A4 was discontinued several years ago. Audi typically rolls out RS versions of cars at the end of their life cycles, and in the case of the TT RS we can confidently say the company saved the best for last.

You can read a stand-alone review of the TT RS here and its comparison-test appearance here, and for further five-cylinder madness, check out our first drive of the Audi Q3 equipped with the same engine.

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2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV EPA Ratings Announced

2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV EPA Ratings Announced: "

Mitsubishi’s little i-MiEV electric car has been rated by the EPA: 126 city MPGe and 99 highway. Those numbers beat the Nissan Leaf’s 106/92 ratings. Because of its smaller battery pack, the i-MiEV’s projected range of 62 miles trails the Leaf’s by 11 miles. (Our semi-long-term Leaf has been averaging 58 miles to a charge, so YMMV.) In the more optimistic LA4 cycle, the i-MiEV can travel 98 miles on a full battery. When it goes on sale in November, the $28,840 i-MiEV will also beat the $33,630 Leaf on price (both are eligible for a $7500 federal tax credit), making it the least-expensive electric on the market.

In anticipation of the i-MiEV’s launch and to display its commitment to EV technology, Mitsubishi Motors teamed with Mitsubishi Electric to build a solar-powered car-charging station at its North American headquarters in Cypress, California. The station can accommodate four vehicles and is equipped with three types of chargers: 110-volt, 220-volt, and a high-voltage quick charger. The i-MiEV needs 22 hours to fully charge on 110 volts or six hours on 220-volt power, and the quick charger can get it to an 80-percent charge in 25 minutes. Mitsubishi hopes the charging station’s central location between Los Angeles and Orange counties will attract EV commuters and will allow owners of any EVs and plug-ins to use the station.

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