9/2 Autoblog

Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. Autoblog Exclusive: Hennessey shows off CFD drawings of Venom GT supercar September 1, 2009 at 8:58 pm Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Design/Style Hennessey Venom GT CFD renderings - Click above for a high-res image gallery At the Quail Motorsports Gathering in Monterey, CA we happened to run into a Mr. John Hennessey admiring the same Lamborghini LP670-4 SV we were drooling over. With the Venom GT set to debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, we asked how the project was going. He promptly produced an iPhone and gave us a sneak preview of dozens of CFD (computer fluid dynamics) renderings. At the time, we had no way to show you the photos, but John was kind enough to send a few our way. As you can see by the renderings, the Venom GT features an adjustable rear wing that also acts as an air brake. We were informed that the Venom GT should be capable of 1.5 negative g's under braking, and that with the carbon ceramic brakes it will be able to stop from 200 mph in seven seconds flat. We also learned the Venom GT is actually based on a stretched Lotus Exige chassis, making sense of the visual similarities between the two cars. Hennessey told us that he wanted to keep the car as light as possible, and the Exige was the best platform available to help him achieve that goal. The switch from the Viper V10 to the LS9 V8 was done for the same reason, and John liked the idea of an American V8 in an English car -- the same formula that was so successful for Carroll Shelby back in the 1960s. Expect more details to be revealed in the run-up to the Venom's Geneva unveiling, but until then, check out the high-res gallery of CFD renderings below. Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT CFD renderings Exclusive: Hennessey shows off CFD drawings of Venom GT supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy September 1, 2009 at 8:26 pm Filed under: Autoline on Autoblog Cash For Clunkers Conspiracy? To hear the government tell it, foreign automakers and compact cars were the big winners in the Cash for Clunkers program. The Department of Transportation makes it look like consumers all wanted small fuel-efficient cars, particularly from the import brands. But an analysis by Edmunds.com tells a very different story. It found that a fair number of Clunker buyers bought pickups and Ford came out as the clear winner in the Top Ten list. Indeed, Edmunds' analysis shows that the government came up with a bizarre way to count Clunker sales and we know now that the DOT counted sales based on the drivetrain in a vehicle, not by its nameplate. For example, the front-wheel drive version of the Ford Escape was counted separately from the all-wheel drive version. As a result, vehicles that only offer one drivetrain came out on the top of the list. No one in the history of the auto industry has ever counted sales this way, and it's mighty peculiar why the government would choose to do so. Is there some other agenda at work? ____________________________________________________________________________________ John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Abt Sportline offers 600 horsepower, new look for the Audi R8 V10 September 1, 2009 at 7:58 pm Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Audi Abt Audi R8 V10 - Click above for a high-res image gallery After sampling the V10 version of Audi's R8, we can't imagine changing much of Audi's mid-engine road rocket if one happened to find its way into our garage. Still, there some owners will want to mess with perfection and Abt Sportline is offering a performance package that delivers an extra 75 horsepower, rounding out the total to an even 600 horsepower from the 5.2-liter V10. If those same owners deem the R8's beautiful lines lacking, they can also choose to purchase Abt's carbon fiber exterior components consisting of a new front spoiler, side sills, rear apron, rear wing, along with quad exhaust tips and BR-type five-spoke wheels. We've got to commend Abt for providing the option, but we'll pass. Gallery: Abt Audi R8 V10 Continue reading Abt Sportline offers 600 horsepower, new look for the Audi R8 V10 Abt Sportline offers 600 horsepower, new look for the Audi R8 V10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Lexus celebrates 20th birthday, has to wait until next year to have a drink September 1, 2009 at 7:35 pm Filed under: Lexus, Luxury With apologies to the Beatles, it was 20 years ago today Toyota taught the luxury auto establishment how to play. According to a message posted to Twitter from @Toyota, today is the day we all wish Lexus a Happy 20th Anniversary. Make a wish and blow out the candles - let's all party like its 1989! It's hard to believe that 20 years have gone by since Toyota shocked the automotive world by unleashing the Lexus LS 400. That machine was born out of a project that began in 1983 to create a flagship automobile that could challenge the best the rest of the world had to offer. Needless to say, Toyota did just that when it launched the Lexus brand six years later, establishing itself as one of the "big three" luxury automakers in the U.S. Congrats Lexus! And here's to the next twenty. Lexus celebrates 20th birthday, has to wait until next year to have a drink originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments By the Numbers - August 2009: Cash for Clunkers Edition September 1, 2009 at 6:59 pm Filed under: By the Numbers FoMoCo sales up 17%, GM and Chrysler improve but still losing sales After reviewing the U.S. auto industry's sales numbers for August 2009, the true effect of the government's Cash for Clunkers program has come into crystal clear focus. There are those automakers that were prepared for this promotion, having at the right time and place a lineup that was eminently attractive to the hoards of shoppers with a clunker to trade. Then there are those other automakers that either by the very nature of their products or the fact that they spent the last few years twiddling their thumbs (or going bankrupt) were unable to take full advantage of the U.S. government's open pockets. Despite having sold fewer C4C vehicles than Honda and Toyota, Ford was clearly the bigger winner last month with an increase of 16.99% for all of Ford Motor Company and a 21.25-percent jump for the Ford brand itself. Those numbers include big gains for the Fusion (up 131.6 percent), Focus (up 55.9 percent) and Flex (up 106.5 percent). Even the Mercury Milan was up 111.7 percent. Toyota Motors Sales and American Honda did post positive gains as well, up 6.41 and 9.93 percent respectively, while Nissan North America improved to a slight decline of 2.93 percent. Then there's Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors, down 15.43 and 20.19 percent respectively. While the C4C program no doubt improved what might otherwise have been an even more dismal month for these two automakers, they were clearly unable to take full advantage of the program with the baggage of recent bankruptcy around their necks and lineups, at least in Chrysler's case, that offered little incentive to upgrade one's clunker. The trio of brands that has continually outpaced the rest of the industry this year - Subaru (up 51.51 percent), Kia (up 60.38 percent) and Hyundai (up 47.01 percent) - continued their winning ways and then some, each reporting all-time sales records last month thanks to a boost from the C4C program. To put their success in perspective, Hyundai and Kia together outsold Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler and Subaru outsold rivals Mazda and Volkswagen. Brands and companies are both displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in August 2009 and 27 selling days in August 2008, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in the average daily sales rate for each brand/company. Brand Volume % 8/09 8/08 DSR*% DSR 8/09 DSR 8/08 Kia 60.38 40,198 25,065 66.54 1,546 928 Subaru 51.51 28,683 18,932 57.33 1,103 701 Hyundai 47.01 60,467 41,130 52.67 2,326 1,523 Audi 25.77 8,057 6,406 30.61 310 237 Volvo 24.78 5,826 4,669 29.58 224 173 Pontiac 23.35 29,921 24,257 28.09 1,151 898 Ford 21.25 161,369 133,088 25.91 6,207 4,929 Honda 15.21 151,814 131,766 19.65 5,839 4,880 Mazda 12.09 26,542 23,680 16.40 1,021 877 Volkswagen 11.35 24,823 22,292 15.64 955 826 Toyota 10.94 202,196 182,252 15.21 7,777 6,750 Porsche 8.69 1,526 1,404 12.87 59 52 Mercury 8.19 9,080 8,393 12.35 349 311 Nissan 0.17 97,580 97,417 4.02 3,753 3,608 Suzuki -5.46 5,749 6,081 -1.82 221 225 Jeep -6.11 22,041 23,476 -2.50 848 869 Mini -6.55 5,111 5,469 -2.95 197 203 Mercedes-Benz -7.54 17,112 18,507 -3.98 658 685 Chevrolet -9.16 168,130 185,080 -5.66 6,467 6,855 Dodge -15.80 52,562 62,422 -12.56 2,022 2,312 BMW Group -21.30 24,343 30,931 -18.27 936 1,146 Lexus -21.82 22,892 29,281 -18.81 880 1,084 Chrysler -23.50 18,619 24,337 -20.55 716 901 BMW -24.47 19,232 25,462 -21.56 740 943 Mitsubishi -25.95 6,813 9,200 -23.10 262 341 Infiniti -30.19 7,732 11,076 -27.51 297 410 Acura -36.21 9,625 15,089 -33.76 370 559 Lincoln -38.43 5,874 9,540 -36.06 226 353 Smart -44.59 1,418 2,559 -42.46 55 95 GMC -45.15 23,145 42,194 -43.04 890 1,563 Buick -51.71 8,612 17,833 -49.85 331 660 Cadillac -55.01 6,931 15,405 -53.28 267 571 Saturn -58.41 8,479 20,385 -56.81 326 755 Hummer -64.03 777 2,160 -62.64 30 80 Saab -67.80 484 1,503 -66.56 19 56 COMPANIES Ford Motor Company 16.99 182,149 155,690 21.49 7006 5766 American Honda 9.93 161,439 146,855 14.16 6209 5439 Toyota Mo Co 6.41 225,088 211,533 10.50 8657 7835 Nissan North America -2.93 105,312 108,493 0.80 4050 4018 Chrysler Group LLC -15.43 93,222 110,235 -12.18 3585 4083 General Motors -20.19 246,479 308,817 -17.12 9480 11438 By the Numbers - August 2009: Cash for Clunkers Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Broken Record: Camaro outsells Mustang for third straight month September 1, 2009 at 6:30 pm Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ford We'll have our monthly By the Numbers post ready in a jiffy, but one thing that stood out after glancing at the monthly automotive sales figures is that the Chevy Camaro has outsold the Ford Mustang for the third month in a row. While it's still a bit too early to call this an official trend, it's clear that there was a significant backlog of demand for GM's latest muscle car. That much was a given with The General reporting over 10,000 advance orders for the car before it even hit dealer lots. We're not exactly shocked that the Camaro - with 8,680 total sales vs 6,289 for the Stang - is selling at a healthy clip, but it is a bit surprising to see the Mustang drop over 23 percent over the previous year. After all, Ford's pony car was heavily refreshed for the 2010 model year and has received excellent reviews from the motoring press, ourselves included. Perhaps some Mustang intenders are holding out for the expected 400+ horsepower 5.0-liter, 32-valve DOHC Coyote engine or turbocharged EcoBoost V6? Time will tell... Broken Record: Camaro outsells Mustang for third straight month originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Event Alert: September Calendar of Automotive Events September 1, 2009 at 5:58 pm Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Motorcycle, Event Alert September brings a whole bunch of Labor Day and end-of-summer cruises, meets and concours. It also kicks off the international auto show season with the Frankfurt Motor Show. For those of you missing our coverage of Meadowbrook, Woodward and Monterey, there are tons of classic car events in September, including include the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, Lime Rock Vintage Festival, Charlotte Autofair, All AMC Classic Car Show & Beach Cruise 2009, Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance, Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance, The Colorado Grand, 20th Annual Route 66 Rendezvous, Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles, Goodwood Revival, Colorado English Motoring Conclave, Sunriver Festival of Cars, Thunderbolt Historics (and vintage airshow), Brits on the Beach British Car Day, 16th Annual Fall Classic Car Show, Buckingham Concours, Dayton Concours d'Elegance, East Coast Boardwalk Classic Car Show, Southeastern Fall MG Gathering of the Faithful Mk XV, St. Michael's Concours, 12th Annual Coronado Speed Festival, 10th Annual Cruisin' for a Cure, Autumn in the Mountains, Bonhams Vintage New England Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia, Ironstone Concours d'Elegance, RM Auctions: Icons of Speed and Style Auction, SWEETPORT Antique & Classic Car Show, and VIVA ITALIA: Concours D'Elegance. Whew. On the racing front, the ALMS series visits Detroit before packing up and hitting Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans. The Formula 1 circus stops in Italy and then Singapore as the series heads down the home stretch, IndyCar has races scheduled at Detroit and Motegi, Japan, and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races towards the Chase, with action in Atlanta, Richmond, New Hampshire and Dover. If none of those events appeal to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. Please use the comments section to add or modify listings. Continue reading Event Alert: September Calendar of Automotive Events Event Alert: September Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Rumormill: Acura planning to take on BMW 1, Audi A3 with new RSX? September 1, 2009 at 5:25 pm Filed under: Coupe, Hatchback, Acura, Rumormill, Luxury Remember back in the day when Honda was all about building two-doors? At various times between its own badge and its premium Acura division, the Japanese automaker had the Prelude, CRX, RSX, NSX, Legend, CL and S2000 - in addition to coupe versions of the Civic and Accord. A few years down the line and the S2000 is on its way out, leaving the Civic and Accord coupes to hold down the fort by themselves until the new NSX arrives in whatever form it takes. According to new reports, however, the Japanese automaker is keen to bridge that gap once again with a successor to the RSX coupe. Based on the next-gen Civic, due in 2011, the new RSX (or whatever it would be labeled) is rumored to, like the upcoming CT hatchback from arch-rival Lexus, take on the likes of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 in the premium compact segment. If it happens, expect a front-drive layout with probable four-cylinder propulsion (if not a hybrid setup like the forthcoming CR-Z), but beyond that your guess is as good as ours, so stay tuned. [Source: eGMCarTech] Rumormill: Acura planning to take on BMW 1, Audi A3 with new RSX? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments DetNews: Will Lexus become Toyota's Buick? Is it already? September 1, 2009 at 4:58 pm Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Buick, Lexus 2010 Lexus HS250h - Click above for high-res image gallery With a median buyer age of 56 years old and its reputation for longevity, today's Lexus ES350 may be the very last car many of the brand's buyers purchase. It's not like Lexus hasn't tried to attract younger buyers - those who may actually buy another car before being planted. Since its inception, the IS sedan has been a calculated shot at capturing the fancy of BMW buyers, especially the high performing IS-F. Youthful, eco-minded buyers will soon find the hybrid HS250h, but the marque's biggest seller is the RX350 crossover, something of an acknowledged yuppie mommy mobile. An entry-level crossover slotting under the RX would give Lexus something to lob at the GLK, X3, and Q5, but that's not yet in the pipeline, says Mark Phelan of The Detroit Free Press. There's nothing wrong with selling cars to people who care most about reputation, quietude, and comfort instead of the car person's holy trinity of acceleration, handling, and styling. Lexus cars are fussed-over and the brand's buyers care about quality, so Lexus has that angle sewn up, but attracting younger buyers seems to be an increasingly important item on the punch list. Perhaps a leather-lined Sienna variant with a Mark Levinson entertainment system to grab the parent dollar? Gallery: 2010 Lexus HS250h [Source: Detroit Free Press] DetNews: Will Lexus become Toyota's Buick? Is it already? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Forget the AMC Gremlin Levi's Edition, we want the Alfa Romeo MiTo denim collection! September 1, 2009 at 4:35 pm Filed under: Design/Style We'll take the one in the middle - click above image for hi-res gallery Yes, this is a less-we-say-the-better type of situation Very quickly then: the Alfa Romeo MiTo looks something like the 8C Competizione and so Alfa teamed up with TV fashion designer Louise Roe and two unknown designers named Bjork and McElligott and decided to see if they could make ladies jeans that are as desirable as Alfa's genes. Get it? Who cares. Full press release with a lengthier explanation after the jump. Now, go ogle the hi-res section of the gallery. Gallery: Alfa Romeo MiTo Jeans [Source: MiTo Jeans] Continue reading Forget the AMC Gremlin Levi's Edition, we want the Alfa Romeo MiTo denim collection! Forget the AMC Gremlin Levi's Edition, we want the Alfa Romeo MiTo denim collection! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments eBay Find Of the Day: 2006 Maserati MC12 Corsa track machine, chassis #3/12 September 1, 2009 at 3:57 pm Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Auctions, Maserati Mserati MC12 Corsa #3 - Click above for high-res image gallery When Ferrari unveiled the Enzo supercar in 2002, it was the fastest, most expensive roadgoing vehicle ever to roll out of the gates in Maranello. But the exotic automaker - and its sister company Maserati - soon found that its wealthiest customers were willing and eager to pay even bigger money for the chance to get behind the wheel of even more extreme versions on the race track. So to meet that demand, the Enzo gave birth to two track-bound seven-figure beasts: the Ferrari FXX and the Maserati MC12 Corsa. Only twelve of the latter were made available for the Trident marque's most loyal customers. We reported on one example - the only one that managed to get onto the street - going up for sale a little over a year ago, and now another has popped up on eBay, this time right outta Miami. The MC12 Corsa is an extended derivative of Maserati's racing program. Rather than field a competition-spec version of the Enzo itself, Ferrari lent the platform to Maserati - which was then under its wing following acquisition by Fiat - to create the MC12 GT1 racer. Homologation requirements in the FIA GT championship required Maserati to build a small run of street-legal versions, of which 50 were built and sold to select customers. But some wanted more. So Modena cranked out the Corsa, a sort of mid-way point between the street-legal and full-on racing version, packing an upgraded 744 horsepower V12 engine in a competition-spec body, with everything kept in check by carbon metallic brakes sans ABS. It's got a full racing cockpit, complete with five-point harnesses, wheel-mounted digital display and everything else the make-believe racer could desire. Having originally sold from the factory for €1 million (US$1.47 million), bidding for chassis #3 starts at $879,000. Check out the listing after the link and the images in the gallery below. Gallery: Maserati MC12 Corsa #3 on eBay [Source: eBay] eBay Find Of the Day: 2006 Maserati MC12 Corsa track machine, chassis #3/12 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 2010 Hurst Mustang to serve pace duties for Ford Racing Mustang Challenge September 1, 2009 at 3:28 pm Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Ford 2010 Hurst Ford Mustang Pace Car - Click above for high-res image It's been a busy year for Hurst Performance Vehicles. They launched their limited-edition Dodge Challenger at SEMA last November, followed by the 50th Anniversary Dodge Viper, and most recently, they announced the addition of the Pontiac G8 to their lineup. Come mid-September, though, you can add one more to that list. Hurst and BFGoodrich tires have teamed up to create a one-off 2010 Mustang GT Convertible that will serve as the pace car for the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge race at Miller Motorsports Park on September 19. Afterward, the car will attend various events including SEMA, and will eventually be auctioned off for charity at the start of 2010. Following the same themes as other Hurst vehicles, the Mustang has a spec sheet that reads nearly identical to the Challenger. The exterior gets a white and gold paint scheme accented by Hurst 20-inch forged wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich KDW tires. A supercharger lies underneath the hood (although it's a Roush roots-type rather than a Vortech centrifugal blower), that pushes the 4.6-liter V8 to 435 horsepower and 400 lb-ft torque. Eibach suspension components, a Magnaflow exhaust system, Hurst Competition/Plus short throw shifter, and Katzkin leather interior round out the list of modifications. Read more about the Hurst Ford Mustang Pace Car in the press release after the jump. [Source: Hurst Performance Vehicles] Continue reading 2010 Hurst Mustang to serve pace duties for Ford Racing Mustang Challenge 2010 Hurst Mustang to serve pace duties for Ford Racing Mustang Challenge originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments REPORT: GM tells dealers to think small to sell big September 1, 2009 at 2:58 pm Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Earnings/Financials 2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Click above for high-res image gallery After decades of pushing heavy iron, General Motors executives are telling the company's dealers to think "beyond our dominance in trucks" and prepare to start selling small cars (vehicles like the forthcoming Chevrolet Cruze, above). The message was broadcast late last week at the Rock Financial Showplace in Michigan, as representatives from about 430 GM dealers gathered to hear the automaker's latest plans as they emerge from bankruptcy. Brent Dewar, the new vice president of Chevrolet Global, added that dealers, "have to think slightly different... about how to sell the value of the vehicle on content and that small doesn't mean less." Other news to emerge from the event included the announcement that GM had appointed an executive tasked with retaining the three million GM customers who will lose their vehicle model, GM brand, or dealership to the restructuring, and that Buick is planning a new mid-size sedan for 2010 followed by a compact car in late 2011. GM also said that strong Pontiac sales this summer will allow the brand to exhaust its inventory by the end of the year, ahead of earlier projections. Gallery: 2011 Chevy Cruze [Source: The Detroit Free Press] REPORT: GM tells dealers to think small to sell big originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments European design students team up to dream up future Aston Martins [w/VIDEO] September 1, 2009 at 2:31 pm Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Videos, Aston Martin, Design/Style Aston Martin 2025 Libido: Amore e Psiche design study - Click above for high-res image gallery Were you impressed by the Aston Martin Volare design study? Then you should get a load of this: Turin's European Design Institute (known by its Italian initials IED) tasked its third-year graduate design students with imagining what Astons will look like in the year 2025. The students went to Aston's headquarters in Gaydon, England, met with the company's designers, then headed back to Turin where they came up with eight original concepts. The only restriction the instructors gave their students in their brief was that they had to use technologies that would be emerging onto the scene in the next five years. Otherwise, the sky was the limit, and the students came up with some intriguing and captivating designs. The IED pupils named their projects Luxury Cocoon Concept, Libido: Amore e Psiche, Gotha Concept, Pt220609, Symbiosis, Aston Martin Vestige, Aston Martin Sattva and Elate, and you can check them all out in the gallery below and in the videos posted after the jump. Gallery: IED Turin Aston Martin 2025 Project [Source: IED via eurocarblog] Continue reading European design students team up to dream up future Aston Martins [w/VIDEO] European design students team up to dream up future Aston Martins [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger better than Ford's Mustang? Consumer Reports says 'neigh' September 1, 2009 at 1:57 pm Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford 2010 Ford Mustang GT - Click above for high-res image gallery Sorry Transformers fans, but your precious Bumblebee just got his butt whooped. Color us not surprised. Because for anyone that's ever driven the Detroit Three's nouveau muscle cars (and seriously evaluated them), the 2010 Mustang GT is clearly Best of Show material. It's just too refined, too capable and let's be honest, too good. Especially when compared to the cetacean Dodge Challenger R/T. How obvious? Even Consumer Reports says so. True, it used to be getting your sports car endorsed by Consumer Reports was kinda like Tipper Gore and Joe Lieberman banging their heads and flashing approving devil signs at your band. But somewhere about ten years back, the ad-free, subscriber-funded mag began testing cars that enthusiasts might actually want to buy. And then they began factoring in metrics like acceleration, handling and braking, while still lowering eyelids with stats on mileage and reliability (we kid, we kid). So yeah - straight up, the 315 horsepower Ford Mustang GT got a rating of "Very Good" and 78 points, whereas the 426 hp Chevrolet Camaro SS got "Very Good" but only 71 points, whereas the 370 hp Challenger R/T received a rating of merely "Good" and just 53 points. But wait, there's more! CR also tested the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8, Subaru WRX and Nissan 370Z. How did the evolved-but-not-revolved 'Stang stack up? Funny you should ask. Consumer Reports' press release doesn't say. Specifically, it doesn't give numeric scores for the sporty Asian cars. However, all three non-domestics got the (apparently) coveted "Very Good" rating, meaning they all finished ahead of the Challenger. And yes, the big Dodge had the six-speed manual. Part of the Challenger's problem is no doubt this sentence: "Braking is mediocre and it has a big car feel rather than a sports car." But the real question is, which car won the competition outright? All we know is that the new issue comes out today. PR posted after the jump. Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Mustang GT [Source: Consumer Reports] Continue reading Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger better than Ford's Mustang? Consumer Reports says 'neigh' Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger better than Ford's Mustang? Consumer Reports says 'neigh' originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments VIDEO: KDM Hyundai Tucson iX is a Sexy Utility Vehicle... just ask Britney Spears?! September 1, 2009 at 1:29 pm Filed under: SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Hyundai, South Korea Hyundai Tucson iX commercial from Korea - Click above to watch the video after the jump It doesn't seem that long ago that Beck was singing about picking up his date in a Hyundai. (Check out "Debra" - best song ever). Only he was kidding. And it was funny. Damn funny, actually. But guess who's laughing now? The Korean automaker has gone from punchline to the fourth largest automaker in the world in just a few years, backed by some seriously improved products. And they're keen to point out their newfound appeal with the new iX35/Tucson, the crossover which the capital of Seoul has dubbed the "Sexy Utility Vehicle." Not convinced? Just check out the music video/television commercial after the jump featuring the latest Britney Spears hit, "If U Seek Amy" (it's not quite as good as Beck, but at least it's got a beat) - who apparently thinks all of the boys and all of the girls want to do naughty things to the latest Hyundai - and a voiceover at the end that we could swear sounds just like Tom Cruise. Oh, and if you're up on your Korean and care to tell us what the text is on about, feel free in the comments section below. Gallery: KDM 2010 Hyundai Tucson [Source: YouTube] Continue reading VIDEO: KDM Hyundai Tucson iX is a Sexy Utility Vehicle... just ask Britney Spears?! VIDEO: KDM Hyundai Tucson iX is a Sexy Utility Vehicle... just ask Britney Spears?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Review: 2009 Honda S2000 is a champ to the end September 1, 2009 at 12:56 pm Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Honda, Reviews 2009 Honda S2000 - Click above for high-res image gallery It's been ten years since Honda released the S2000 to celebrate its golden anniversary, but since Autoblog's inception, we have somehow never managed to publish a proper review of the high-revving roadster. With the final S2000 having rolled off the line on August 7, we figured it was time to make amends and get some serious seat time in one of the few pure sports cars left in existence. Gallery: Review: 2009 Honda S2000 Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading Review: 2009 Honda S2000 is a champ to the end Review: 2009 Honda S2000 is a champ to the end originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Frankfurt Preview: Lexus LF-Ch joins Toyota Auris Hybrid, plug-in Prius and two iQ concepts September 1, 2009 at 12:25 pm Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Hybrid, Hatchback, Lexus, Toyota Lexus LF-Ch concept - Click above for high-res image gallery With just a few weeks left before the Frankfurt Motor Show kicks off in high gear, Lexus has decided its high time to let loose a single teaser image of its hotly anticipated hybrid hatchback concept. The C-Segment model carries the LF-Ch designation and not the recently trademarked CT nameplate as first thought, making us wonder if there's something else up the automaker's corporate sleeve in the near future. "Think BMW 1 Series, but hybrid." That's how Lexus describes the LF-Ch, and you could easily add the Audi A3 and Volvo C30 to that list of competitors. Underhood will be some form of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, though the Japanese automaker has yet to release any actual powertrain details beyond that. Expect a more detailed explanation of the car's finer points in the run up to Frankfurt. Across the showroom floor in Toyota's display will be the Auris HSD concept - which Toyota says is the first application of its hybrid technology in a mainstream model... other than the Prius, we presume - along with a plug-in version of its third-generation 2010 Prius and two separate concepts based on the diminutive iQ. Click past the break for the official press release and see the whole shebang in our gallery below. Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lexus and Toyota preview Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Lexus LF-Ch joins Toyota Auris Hybrid, plug-in Prius and two iQ concepts Frankfurt Preview: Lexus LF-Ch joins Toyota Auris Hybrid, plug-in Prius and two iQ concepts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 2010 Dodge Caliber gets new interior, Europe gets new diesel September 1, 2009 at 12:05 pm Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Dodge, Diesel 2010 Dodge Caliber interior - Click above for high-res image gallery Chrysler doesn't really have anything in the way of all-new vehicles for the 2010 model year as it works out how to get Fiat derived cars onto American roads as soon as possible. That doesn't mean the engineers and designers in Auburn Hills have been sitting on their hands, however. They have attacked at least one major sore point by giving the Caliber a much-needed interior makeover. We haven't seen it in person yet, but at least in these photos it certainly looks much better than the one it replaces. We'll have to wait to get our hands on for final judgment. The inside isn't the only thing that changes. Under the hood, European Caliber buyers will be able to opt for a new 2.2-liter diesel engine with 163 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. That version gets a combined mileage rating of 40.6 mpg (U.S.). Back here in the home country, we are still stuck with the much unloved 2.0- and 2.4-liter gasoline World engines. Come on, Chrysler give Americans a chance at an affordable diesel - and not just in the (overpriced) Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Caliber will be on the Chrysler/Fiat stand in Frankfurt later this month - in the meantime, check out the press release after the jump and our high-res gallery below. Gallery: 2010 Dodge Caliber [Source: Chrysler] Continue reading 2010 Dodge Caliber gets new interior, Europe gets new diesel 2010 Dodge Caliber gets new interior, Europe gets new diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Drip, Drip, Drip - More 2010 Hyundai Sonata images find their way onto the interwebs [*UPDATED] September 1, 2009 at 11:38 am Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, Hyundai, South Korea 2010 Hyundai Sonata -- Click above for image gallery Hyundai isn't happy about it, but the 2010 Hyundai Sonata has been caught in the Internet's voracious maw eight days before its official launch in South Korea. Hyundai then released designer's sketches of the new car... but the pics of the actual car are better because they're the realness. Apparently caught during an ad or photo shoot, it's immediately clear that this Sonata is - as with every recent Hyundai - a break from the current competent but safe-as-houses Sonata. That long nose and greenhouse, the hood ridges, the bevels, swoops, and that serious gash down the side of the car are not the Hyundai of old. From what we can tell, it looks quite expressive and it doesn't appear to be a bad looking car, but we'll wait for next week's launch to get definitive. You can have a look at the pics in the gallery below, but we will leave the dissection of its design to you in the comments section. Hat tip to everybody and their mothers! *UPDATE: Hyundai has released an official press release (available after the jump) and a pair of renderings available in the gallery below. Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Sonata [Source: Bobaedream (translated) via Carscoop] Continue reading Drip, Drip, Drip - More 2010 Hyundai Sonata images find their way onto the interwebs [*UPDATED] Drip, Drip, Drip - More 2010 Hyundai Sonata images find their way onto the interwebs [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Officially Official: This is your 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour September 1, 2009 at 11:05 am Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Honda 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour -- Click above for high-res image gallery Honda has released two highly brushed up photos of the Accord Crosstour, and we can finally see its snout in full view. As the test car spy shots have migrated from altered Accord wagon to final Crosstour, the car has gotten ever funkier. This picture, though, is the funkiest of all. We have a feeling it is down to the excess effects, but the Crosstour looks a tad bit ungainly. It's almost as if the front and rear of the car are in a different scale - the grille and front wheel look exceedingly large compared to the tail. Since we've already seen the car in the flesh, except for its nose, we're pretty sure it'll be another mellow piece of Honda kit when it's revealed in 35 days. Until then, feel free to check out the official shots we have in the high-res gallery below. Hat tip to Sean! Gallery: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour [Source: Honda] Officially Official: This is your 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 2010 Volvo C70 drops its guard ahead of Frankfurt unveiling September 1, 2009 at 10:58 am Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Europe, Volvo, Design/Style, Luxury 2010 Volvo C70 - Click above for high-res image gallery Volvo still hasn't released an official press release to accompany them, but it would appear that genuine pics of the facelifted C70 have hit the streets regardless. Set to debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, the reskinned convertible hardtop seems as if it has been spending some late evenings with the S60 Concept that debuted in Detroit earlier this year. The fresh new look, including swept-back headlights and a larger trademark iron mask, is a further departure from the automaker's (now long ago) boxy past. At the back, a new rear lamp design includes today's obligatory stylish LED lighting, a reshaped bumper, and more pronounced "Volvo" badging on the trunk decklid. While the exterior has taken a giant leap forward, the single interior shot inexplicably fails to reveal any changes whatsoever. What we don't know is what resides under the hood, so Volvo may still have a few secrets to reveal in the next couple weeks. Gallery: 2010 Volvo C70 [Source: Carscoop] 2010 Volvo C70 drops its guard ahead of Frankfurt unveiling originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments First month of 2010 Ford Transit Connect sales top 2,000 units September 1, 2009 at 10:29 am Filed under: Car Buying, Minivan/Van, Work, Ford Ford Transit Connect in Los Angeles -- click above image for high-res gallery Things that don't surprise us Late August, 2009 Edition: Brett Favre acting like a spoiled seven-year-old, devastating fires threatening huge chunks of drought-plagued Los Angeles and the fact that Ford sold over 2,000 Transit Connect vans in its first month here in the States. Why? Because Ford's little van is not only a smart product, but it fills a much needed and until now empty niche. For more than a decade, Ford has been selling smart but small little panel vans (starting with the Escort Van) all over Europe. Small businesses in need of a right-sized, practical work truck flock to them and are rewarded with a low initial cost, low total cost and good mileage. Especially the diesels. But here in the U.S., no such vehicle existed. Until last month. To quote Ford, "Around the country, small business operators and fleet customers are quickly adding Ford Transit Connect vehicles as an efficient mobility solution for their respective enterprises." Sure, these same businesses and fleets could have chosen something like a Chevy HHR Panel, but those were designed first and foremost as passenger cars and the lack of cargo space proves it. Whereas the Transit Connect was a work vehicle from the start, featuring useful items like dual-sliding rear doors and a low load-in height. What types of businesses are buying the Transit Connects? "Laundry mats, caterers, door and lock companies, painters, electricians, restaurant suppliers, satellite dish installers, carpet installers and commercial carpet cleaners." Again, companies that have traditionally been underserved by large platforms like F-150s or Econolines. Full press release below the fold. Gallery: Ford Transit connect in Los Angeles Continue reading First month of 2010 Ford Transit Connect sales top 2,000 units First month of 2010 Ford Transit Connect sales top 2,000 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Rumormill: VW to axe Porsche Cayenne and Panamera after merger September 1, 2009 at 9:56 am Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Porsche, Rumormill, Luxury 2010 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery The past couple years have been a whirlwind for Porsche. The German luxury sportscar maker tried in vein to buy out the much larger Volkswagen only to come within a $700 million VW loan of bankruptcy. During that time, Porsche managed to hatch the all-new four door Panamera while refining much of the rest of its product lineup. Nobody really knows what's going to happen to Porsche product lineup once VW takes over the mighty little sports car manufacturer, but CAR Magazine in the U.K. seems to think that the change will be dramatic. Namely, the British site says the cash-printing Cayenne SUV and the fresh on the market Panamera will be on the outs when the vehicles' product cycles end in seven years. CAR says VW chairman Ferdinand Piech is planning to take a more brand-specific approach to Porsche by focusing on the two seat sportscars that make the Stuttgart, Germany-based sports car maker great. One vehicle often rumored is a roadster that could slot below the Boxster in the Porsche lineup. The entry Porsche could be based on VW's Modular Sportscar Structure (MSS), giving Porsche an entry level mid-engine sports car for the rest of us (who have at least $35-40k). While it makes sense for Porsche to focus on core products like the 911 and Boxster, it also makes abundant sense to keep profits coming. The Cayenne sells in relatively high numbers here in the U.S., and the Panamera could well end up being a success story in spite of its controversial aesthetics. Seven years is a long time, and we could easily see one or both vehicles surviving beyond 2016. [Source: Auto Observer] Rumormill: VW to axe Porsche Cayenne and Panamera after merger originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Ferrari to sign Fisichella to replace Badoer? September 1, 2009 at 9:28 am Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari Ferrari has had plenty of time to get its hands on Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian driver has been on the grid since 1995 when he started as a test driver for Minardi, and later driving for Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault and now Force India. But the Scuderia wasn't interested. Not until its fortunes were down, and Fisico's were up. The 36-year-old driver pulled off a shocking command performance at this past weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, grabbing pole position and a relentless second place behind Ferrari's own Kimi Raikkonen. All the while, Ferrari itself has been struggling with its veteran test driver Luca Badoer, who has been suffering from a difficult time readjusting to the competition. The team's test driver, promoted to the race seat after ten years of developmental duties when Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher were both knocked out of commission by head-eye injuries (as has now been revealed), has finished the two races he started so far in 17th and 14th positions. Ferrari is plainly disappointed and embarrassed, but with no junior driver in place for a rainy day, Maranello has been left with little choice. For his part, Ferrari's outspoken former triple world champion Niki Lauda has called on the team to poach Fisichella from Force India, which is experiencing financial troubles and would surely take the money and run. One way or another, Fisichella's in for a hero's welcome at his home race at Monza into two weeks. And Ferrari will have an experienced Italian driver behind the wheel for the Italian Grand Prix. Exactly which one that will be, however, remains to be seen. [Source: F1-Live | Image: Fred DuFour/AFP/Getty] Ferrari to sign Fisichella to replace Badoer? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments SAE launches new bookstore and e-Books for on-the-go engineers September 1, 2009 at 9:01 am Filed under: Etc. The Society of Automotive Engineers has decided to apply the same forward thinking to its web site it has to its information. Borrowing ideas from the iTunes Store and Amazon, the SAE has revamped its bookstore for easier navigation and added an eBook store for engineers on the go. Navigation is broken down by subject on the left, and you can scroll through, album style, on the main page. Electronic books are searchable and compatible with PCs, hand-helds, and proprietary readers like the Kindle, Sony Reader, and iPhone. Best of all, SAE archives your eBook library for your own virtual library. That way you can always download Brake Design and Safety, Second Edition when you need to impress the gal in the seat next to you on the subway. [Source: SAE via The Auto Channel] SAE launches new bookstore and e-Books for on-the-go engineers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments AutoblogGreen for 09.01.09 September 1, 2009 at 6:59 am U.S. military considering Moller Skycar in Afghanistan? Wake us if this really happens. El(ectric) Camino takes to the road in Wisconsin From eBay to EV for just $30,000. Oil age celebrates 150th birthday, death urged If not now, when? Other news: GM's Britta Gross promotes both sides of the hydrogen, EV fence Tesla looking at Long Beach and Downey for Model S electric vehicle plant Tesla hires ex-Audi exec, YouTube director for sales and communications jobs AutoblogGreen for 09.01.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments   This email was sent to motortradeinsider.in51der@blogger.com.  Create Your Account Don't want to receive this feed any longer? Unsubscribe here.