Audi Quattro Concept live debut – Click above for high-res image gallery
Here they are folks, the first live images we’ve managed to snap of the that’s currently being debuted at the Paris Motor Show. We expect to get much more closely acquainted with the machine over the next couple of days, but until then, take a gander at the machine that Audi crafted to celebrate 30 years of Quattro performance.
Keep in mind that this sucker is packing 408 horsepower from its turbocharged five-cylinder engine and routing all those ponies through a six-speed manual gearbox to all four wheels, making for a power-to-weight ratio on par with that of the . See the rest of the details here. A fitting tribute, if we do say so ourselves.
Jet-Powered Scooter vs. Lamborghini Gallardo – Click above to watch video
We love ourselves a good drag race, but sometimes two-equally matched vehicles going head-to-head down a straight gets a bit boring. This is where ingenuity, bravery and a lack of self-preservation come in handy. Apparently, the Swedish have figured out a sure-fire way to spice up your standard 1,320-foot race. Take one Peugeot scooter (the video incorrectly calls it a Vespa), add a small jet-engine to the back and let Charlie Pace from Lost a rider line up next to a .
It’s a jet-powered David versus an Italian Goliath. More importantly, it’s the type of racing we can wholeheartedly get behind… and you can watch the video for yourself . Anybody want to guess the winner? Thanks for the tip, Per Eriksson!
[Source: ]
It’s always a tough road to hoe when it comes time to make wholesale changes to something consumers know and are comfortable with – . But, progress is progress, and sometimes a redesign is necessary in order to keep pace with the times.
Such is the case with today’s fuel economy labels. Although we all understand what miles per gallon means (…) and what kind of figures we should expect from a given type of vehicle, the future has plenty in store that will drastically change all of that; namely, electric cars and plug-in hybrids. That being the case, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation were charged with designing completely revised fuel economy labels for new vehicles at the dealership.
Judging by the response from our , consumers are split on the new stickers’ effectiveness. A new study from Siegel+Gale seems to confirm this suspicion. The full details can be found in the press release and , but the gist is as follows:
Two-thirds of respondents preferred the horizontal option over the vertical option (see here), but 38-percent still found something confusing about the winning label. A resounding 86 percent said that miles per gallon was the most important figure, while 68 percent cared most about greenhouse gas emissions.
As for us, we’re thinking that much of the problem lies with the fact that the public at large still doesn’t understand electric vehicles and, more specifically, extended-range electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Many of the features consumers say they could do without were added to the labels in an attempt to give an accurate representation of electric vehicle mileage benefits.
2011 Scion tC – Click above for high-res image gallery
is a youth-oriented brand that was developed by to capture a younger North American demographic. By “North America,” Scion was referring to the United States – until now. Happy Youth-Oriented Car Day, Canada! Scion has just announced that the brand is hopping the border and ready to be purchased by “young, style-conscious Canadian drivers.”
The initial roll-out is set to take place in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Scions will be available through 45 dealerships spread between those cities. As the brand builds strength in the country, more dealerships and locations will be springing up.
A full list of the original 45 dealers can be found at . The full 2011 lineup is available, including the . Thanks for the tip, Paul!
Gallery:
Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL [Source: Toyota]
Audi Quattro Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
We’ve , and just plain wishing that the rumors were true. They are – is set to debut the Quattro concept car at the Paris Motor Show in celebration of its famous all-wheel-drive system’s 30th anniversary. Drawing its inspiration from the original and using some underpinnings from the current RS5, the Quattro concept features a shortened wheelbase, lower roofline and a sub-3,000 pound curb weight.
The original Ur-Quattro weighed in under 3,000 pounds and featured a turbocharged five-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual. Keeping in line with that spirit, the Quattro concept ditches the V8 and dual-clutch transmission from the RS5 in favor of a turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine and six-speed manual gearbox. Power output for the Quattro concept is rated at 408 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. All that energy is put to the ground through Audi’s famous quattro torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which in this case is setup with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split. The weight savings mixed with the power output create a vehicle with a power-weight ratio on par with that of the .
Since this IS a modern Audi, it features stylish exterior features and a wonderful cabin space. The seats are leather-lined Sparco units that weight in at just 40 pounds apiece. The Quattro concept also makes use of the Audi MMI infotainment system. In this application, MMI includes a slew of screens useful for rally racing like classically-styled round gauges and a page for pace notes. On the outside, the Quattro concept boasts the signature Audi LED treatment, but this time it’s in the form of headlamps that adjust their direction both vertically and horizontally, as well as being able to open fully or close to a slit.
This is an exciting concept that pays homage to a true motoring classic. If Audi doesn’t find a way to put a version of this into production, we’re sure that four-ring fanboys around the world will storm Ingolstadt.
Peugeot HR1 concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
has found a new home for its technology that independently powers the front and rear wheels with two types of powertrains. It’s called through-the-road hybrid technology and it makes its latest appearance in the just-unveiled HR1 concept. According to Peugeot, The HR1 is part small city car, part SUV-ish beast and and part coupé – and it’s an aggressive little thing. To match the crowded city where it’s intended to be used, the HR1 uses scissor doors that open vertically – and the it’s is taller than you might expect, with the driver up high in a “dominant driving position.”
All this steroid-like aggression doesn’t extend to the powertrains, though, since the HR1 concept boasts numbers that are quite kind to the environment: 81 miles per gallon (64 mpg U.S.) and CO2 emissions of just 80 grams per kilometer. The frugality comes from a new, three-cylinder 1.2-liter THP 110 gas engine that is used to power the front wheels. In the back, the HYbrid4’s through-the-road hybrid powertrain uses a 37-bhp electric motor.
What is it about auto show halls that brings out this sort of magic? Yes, we know Peugeot , but that car “only” gets 61.9 miles per gallon (U.S.) and spews a comparatively monstrous 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Full specs and a flowery press release after the jump, and we’ve got lots of high-res pictures in the gallery below.
recently to get your heart pumping a bit. Today the British automaker wants to get your wallet pumping. Pricing has just been announced for the new Conti and the MSRP rises by just under four percent – an increase from $182,800 (2010 Continental GT MSRP) to $189,900.
What does that four percent rate hike get you? A lot actually. The W12 engine produces more power to the tune of 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque; an increase of nearly three and eight percent respectively. The interior has been upgraded and features a welcome-to-the-modern-era-finally navigation system as well as an increase of 46 mm of rear seat legroom. This is good news for any owners looking to date taller supermodels.
What can’t be measured by facts and figures is the updated appearance of this handsome car from Crewe. The new lines on the 2011 Continental GT look downright Muscle Beach without detracting from the overall elegance. The fenders arc and crease beautifully, grabbing the lines started by the nose, flowing into the shoulder and then back out into the tail.
The 2011 Bentley Continental GT may be getting a four percent price increase over the outgoing model, but that $7,100 buys you a whole new ultra-luxe touring experience. Check out all the details in the press release .
2011Volkswagen Passat – Click above for high-res image gallery
is slowly in the process of refreshing its entire product portfolio, and right on the heels of the recently introduced comes the seventh-generation . The automaker’s new corporate design language is in full force here, and observations of the new Passat looking like a big Jetta will not be disagreed with.
A full range of gasoline and diesel engines will be available when the Passat launches later this year. In North America, it’s safe to assume that we’ll receive the 207-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as well as the 296-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6, but we won’t rule out the possibility of Volkswagen offering its well-liked 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine, as well. All engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and like previous Passats, 4Motion all-wheel drive should be available on top-end models.
The Passat will also be available with Volkswagen’s XDS electronic differential, which first debuted on the hatch. This system helps reduce understeer and improve overall traction in slippery conditions, and we imagine that it will quickly make its way to the vast majority of VW products. What’s more, a new optional city emergency braking function automatically stops the car at speeds below 18 miles per hour when an imminent collision is detected, sort of like the self-stopping systems by (which, , don’t always work correctly).
Both the sedan and wagon Estate models go on sale in the UK next month, with North American availability coming shortly thereafter. Hit the jump for the full details in VW’s press blast.
Jaguar C-X75 concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
has this to say about the genesis of the C-X75 Concept, which will be unveiled live tomorrow at the Paris Motor Show: “The aim was to produce not only the most innovative but also one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever; one which hints at an exciting evolution of the marque’s award-winning design language while paying homage to some of its most admired cars of years gone by.”
The result is the car you see above. The 2,970-pound C-X75 is “a range-extended electric supercar” that does the run from zero to 62 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds. That happens courtesy of two 96-horsepower micro gas turbines that pump juice into a plug-in li-ion battery pack. That in turn powers four 195-horsepower electric motors – one at each wheel – for a total of 780 horsepower and 1,187 pound-feet of torque. Top speed is pegged at 205 mph, and the concept can theoretically run on just its batteries for 68 miles before the twin turbines kick in and extend the range to 560 miles. Think of it like the , but with turbines instead of a gas engine and a helluva lot quicker and faster.
The body resting above all those electrons is aluminum, with swan doors allowing entry to the leather-lined cabin. The seats inside are fixed, with the steering wheel, instruments and pedals moving to accommodate the driver. Three high-res TFT screens present driver information, with readouts and displays switchable between all of the screens.
The C-X75 is a pure concept – there are no plans to make it. The point, rather, is to show what kind of Jaguar might exist were such a cat unchained from any production consideration. Yet, although we won’t see the beast in its entirety, we could see its fangs and claws on a production Jag in the future.
Follow the jump for Jaguar’s press release with all of the official info and have a closer look at the C-X75 concept in our high-res gallery of official photos while you wait for us to return with live photos from the show floor of the Paris Motor Show.
The doors still haven’t quite opened up at the and already the leakage has begun in full force. Yesterday we got a sneak peek at the , but the lone photo was small and grainy. Thankfully, the wait for real images is now over mere minutes before the car is officially unveiled at an evening event held by the Volkswagen Group in Paris as we speak. A total of five shots of the carbon-intensive supercar have just hit the interwebs, and they didn’t come from .
To put it mildly, we like what we see. As could be seen in the officially let loose by the boys from Lamborghini, every single bit of the car has been fashioned from carbon fiber. Suitable, then, that the car has been named after the sixth element of the periodic table – Sesto Elemento literally means sixth element in Italian. Even the tailpipes have been fashioned from a sort of composite called Pyrosic that is able to withstand extremely high temperatures.
Those high exhaust temperatures will be exhaled by a V10 engine that’s putting out a stonkin’ 570 horsepower. With just 2,200 pounds of weight to move, the run to 60 will take less than 2.5 seconds. Check out our high-res image gallery below, and stay tuned for live shots of the Sesto Elemento from Paris as soon as we can get them.
2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
announced t in August of 2010. The IPL, or Infiniti Performance Line, seems to be about providing slight visual and performance tweaks to the existing lineup of vehicles. The first vehicle to model the IPL line is the , now reborn as the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe and available with either the seven-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
Things we already knew about it include the power upgrade (up 18 for a total of 348 horsepower), the styling tweaks (exclusive 19-inch IPL wheels, two exterior color choices and aggressive visual cues) and the interior upgrades (new sport seats with thicker bolsters). What we did not know was the price – until now. Infiniti has announced that the MSRP for the IPL G Coupe will start at $47,950 for the manual and $49,850 for the automatic.
That is no small amount of money for a car that is not vastly sportier than the standard G37. A 2010 Infiniti G37 coupe starts at $36,050 while the G37 Sport 6MT pricing begins at $40,400. Both cars are fun to drive thanks to the rear-wheel drive setup and 330 hp 3.7-liter VQ37HR V6. The IPL does offer upgraded suspension, exhaust and steering components so it would be very interesting to line up an IPL and non-IPL G coupe for back-to-back canyon runs. We’ll hold off on making an opinion until our butts get some seat time.
If you’re already thinking the IPL isn’t worth the cost, perhaps there is something else in the 2011 Infiniti G lineup that may pique your interest. The regular-grade coupe and convertible see an increase of just $150 for each available trim, except for the Sport 6MT which climbs $2,000 (Base-$36,200, Journey-$37,650, AWD-$39,300 and Sport 6MT-$42,400) due to the fact that the Navigation Package is now standard equipment.
The new Limited Edition convertible starts at $56,750 and features exclusive content like a Monaco Red leather interior. You’ll find a couple of press releases waiting for you .
Automobile parts supplier Visteon appears to be closer than ever to after 15 long months of proceedings, with the help of the company’s one-time master. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that has agreed to waive $268 million in pension and retiree claims, relieving the troubled supplier of still more debt obligations. Further, The Blue Oval will reportedly commit to another $600 million in contracts, helping the supplier exit bankruptcy with a bit more work in queue.
When Visteon finally exits Chapter 11 proceedings, it will do so with a far healthier balance sheet, production capacity that is more in line with demand and less reliance on Ford Motor Company for business. But while the new Visteon will likely be profitable, the company won’t be nearly as big as Ford’s one-time captive supplier arm was 10 years ago. Visteon has shuttered or sold over 50 plants in the past decade while losing over 50,000 jobs.
2012 Ford Focus – Click above for high-res image gallery
has worked hard over the past few years to completely overhaul its entire model line. Recent product launches like the and show that FoMoCo is committed to making class-leading vehicles, and the larger (ahem) focus on style, quality and packaging is nothing short of impressive.
Perhaps the most important new car launch for Ford, however, is the , which makes its world premiere at the . This is the first product designed from the ground up with the Blue Oval’s “One Ford” product strategy, and Ford’s group vice president of product development says the Focus is the automaker’s “flagship” for global vehicles. The Focus you see here will be sold in both North America and Europe with only very minor tweaks being made for the individual markets. Not even the original Focus that was sold in both markets when it debuted back in 1999 shared so much with its sibling on the other side of the Atlantic.
It certainly looks good, and with a raft of new engineering, safety and infotainment technologies on hand, the 2012 Focus is ready to set the C-segment on fire.
2012 Ford Focus ST – Click above for high-res image gallery
This is the 247-horsepower, turbocharged 2012 ST hatchback. It’s coming to the United States. Watch your back, .
We’ve long lusted after the hot hatch sold in Europe, and while the ST is a slightly tamer version of the pocket-rocket RS, it still has plenty of kit to do battle with hot hatches the world over. The beating heart of the Focus ST is a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that produces 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission. Ford’s new torque-vectoring power control system is on hand, which should keep the front wheels in line, as front-wheel-drive turbo cars are always prone to understeer and torque steer.
The 2012 Focus ST debuts in its new Tangerine Scream color, and we’re quite fond of the way it looks on the bulgier, more aggressive Focus. The wheel wells are fully filled out with attractive 19-inch alloys in the Blue Oval’s signature Y-spoke ST pattern. Additionally, the trapezoidal grille has been raised on the front fascia, making way for additional lower air intakes, and while Ford isn’t keen on offering the base with the LED eyebrow in America, we sincerely hope that it is left intact on the U.S.-spec Focus ST. Out back, the Focus’ rear bumper has been completely reworked to incorporate a diffuser setup with a center-mounted sport exhaust.
Inside, the Focus ST uses all the same goodies found on the top-end Focus Titanium, but adds a set of Recaro seats (for both front and rear passengers) as well as some yellow-gold contrast stitching on many of the interior surfaces. The Focus ST gets a bespoke steering wheel, and we must applaud Ford for creating a hot hatch interior that looks both sporting and high-end at the same time.
Watch for the Focus ST to launch sometime in 2012. We haven’t heard any rumblings about pricing, but if Ford can keep things near the $25,000 mark (fingers crossed!), we’ll be in business. Oh, and consider our hot hatch comparison test planned. for Ford’s press blast and scroll through the gallery below for a raft of high-res images.
Gallery:
[Source: Ford]
ST details released ahead of world premiere in Paris
Lamborghini’s Paris Motor Show teasers – Click above for high-res image gallery
Just yesterday, the news broke that ’s -bound unveiling could be the -inspired, jet-fighter-like . Of course, we won’t know for sure until the Paris show kicks off later this week, and Lamborghini has released one more (hopefully final) teaser of its show-bound concept. You know, just for kicks.
As we reported earlier, the Sesto Elemento concept is constructed almost entirely from carbon fiber, and this sixth teaser image is all the proof we need to back up that claim. The latest Lambo will be seriously lightweight, and if a V10 is, in fact, lurking under the Sesto’s sheetmetal, expect mind-warping acceleration to be on tap.
The full details about Lambo’s Paris-bound concept are just a stone’s throw away, so stay tuned. In the meantime, scroll through the gallery below for high-res versions of all the Lamborghini teasers.
There’s an interesting realization that occurs when you drive an electric car. After all, EVs act just like normal vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine, they’re just a bit quieter and you can’t drive for great distances at a time. But as you travel along in an EV, you pass by gas station after gas station and it finally sets in – your car has rendered the fuel pump obsolete. Gas stations to EV owners are nothing more than places to buy cheap coffee and cigarettes.
As we work to further saturate our automotive landscape with efficient, eco-friendly misers, a few automakers think they’ve found the answer for how to best disguise the EV setup in a car that won’t stick out like a sore thumb. The and take on the shapes of a sedan and a hatchback with very minor touches to let other drivers know that something special lies under the hood. and its forthcoming i-MiEV, however, blows that all out of the water. Driving this car on the road is like parking a on a used car lot – it gets a lot of attention.
The i-MiEV, which is based on the kei car (we still aren’t very fond of the name), has been sold in Japan since mid-2009 and Europe is slated to get the bubbly EV later this year. As for North America, it’s expected that we’ll get the i-MiEV in the Fall of 2011, though it will be slightly updated from the Japanese-spec model you see here. We recently had the opportunity to spend a week with a JDM-spec i-MiEV to see what daily life with the EV is like. Is Mitsubishi’s pint-sized electric car ready for the United States?
Camaro5 is an internet forum that focuses on one specific offering from , namely the fifth-generation . Their hearts (and ours) are a-flutter with images they just got hold of. Sitting under the hood of a not-very-well camouflaged 2012 Camaro Z28 lies the LSA engine in all its supercharged glory. We know it will , now we know which one.
For those not familiar with it, the LSA was originally shoehorned under the hood of the . It’s currently rated at 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque in that application. We have no clue what it will produce under the hood of the Z28, but it will most certainly be a hearty jump over the 425 hp produced in the .
Head over to the to see more detail and gander at some high-res photos. A twirl o’ the bow-tie to Jason!
2010 Mini Cooper 50 Camden Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery
boasts about the go-kart like handling of its popular model. It’s true, – except when the power-steering goes out. According to CNN Money, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into numerous claims by owners that their power steering assistance suddenly disappeared.
So far 54 owners have complained of the issue, which may be blamed on a power steering pump failure. So far it seems that the issue is only showing up in some 2004 and 2005 model year cars. There have been no reported incidents and most drivers were able to maintain control of their vehicle. However, a few did report they struggled to do so.
, which owns Mini, has said it’s aware of the investigation but has yet to receive any formal notice from NHTSA.
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Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Back in 2003, gave us the – a road-going homage to the iconic race car. Ford discontinued the GT when its high-powered debuted for the 2007 model year, but now the word around Dearborn is that there may be another top-end Blue Ovalsupercar coming down the pipeline. This time around, however, things may be a bit greener.
According to Motor Trend, Ford Motor Company executives have suggested that if a GT successor is created, its main focus will be fuel efficiency, citing the possibility of an electric drivetrain. The EV supercar isn’t a new idea, after all – is readying its and has shown us its . Of course, Ford’s plans are simply rumormill fodder at this point, but we’ll keep our eyes peeled for silent supercars roaming around Dearborn in the coming years just the same.
Earlier this week, announced that it was in talks with about future component sharing after indicated that the next-generation could benefit from BMW power.
Now, Saab has announced that from 2012 on, BMW will supply it with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine which we’re told will be adapted to meet Saab’s specific requirements. BMW currently uses 1.6-liter turbo fours in its entire range, so we expect that this new mill is the next-generation version of the engine presently found in the , and . As of this writing, no details were released as to what Saab products will use this new engine, and no output specs have been divulged.
Curiously, it would appear that this new turbo engine may only be slated for duty in Saab’s new small car, contrary to Bloomberg’s report. We won’t rule out the possibility of the 9-3 getting this 1.6-liter engine, but since the upcoming 9-2 is reportedly being built on Mini Countryman groundwork, having a similar powertrain would indeed make sense. Follow the jump to read Saab’s official statement.
[Source: Saab] Photo copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL
