Mitsubish Evo dyno disaster – Click above to watch video
Under the right conditions, testing a vehicle on a dyno is a safe way to get a good idea of how much power your engine is producing. It’s also an excellent tool for precision tuning, so if you’re into squeezing all you can out of your car’s beating heart, chance are you’re going to be ponying up for time on the rollers. Just make sure that the shop that’s doing your dyno work knows how to properly secure your vehicle. If they don’t, you could end up like owner of the poor in the video after the jump.
Apparently not long after laying down a 450-horsepower run, the all-wheel drive monster set about launching itself from the platform, bouncing off of a support post. Something tells us it’s going to take a fair bit of buffing to smooth out the Mitsu’s sheetmetal, and maybe a bit longer for the dyno operators to smooth things over with the boss. to check out the carnage for yourself.
2011Chevrolet Cruze 1LT – Click above for high-res image gallery
The has the potential to succeed for two key reasons: 1) The and are nearing the end of their product life cycles, showing some crow’s feet around the eyes, and 2) now has the wherewithal to create a small car that shows its actually understands small cars.
If you consider this rare moment in time, it’s the perfect opportunity to pull a few hundred thousand buyers into GM showrooms for a closer look. Is the Cruze the car that will finally establish a strong relationship with entry-level buyers, or is it just another joker card in GM’s deck?
According to Automotive News, Lancia is planning to unveil a new vehicle based on the architecture at next year’s Geneva Motor Show. Called the Thema, the new sedan will bow alongside the five-door Ypsilon on the Lancia stage in March. So far, details are slim, though it’s clear that the Italian automaker isn’t planning to sell the vehicles by the bushel load. Early projections say that the company is hoping to move somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 Thema units per year.
Lancia has a rough history when it comes to the company’s flagship. The last Thema, built between 1984 and 1994 was fairly popular, but the vehicle’s subsequent successors failed to impress buyers. Lancia’s latest effort in the large sedan segment, the Thesis, was killed off after just 16,000 units managed to make their way from the show room floor between 2002 and early 2009.
With the proven success of the Chrysler 300 here in the U.S., it’s possible that Lancia is hoping to see a repeat performance. Keep your eyes open for more information as we get closer to the 2011Geneva Motor Show.
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
Many eco-friendly car buyers have been patiently awaiting the arrival of the at their local dealer since the extended-range juggernaut was unveiled in concept form nearly four years ago, and now the wait is almost over. To be more precise, the wait is nearly over if you ordered one of the first 160 retail examples of halo car and you live in one of the battery-powered sedan’s initial launch markets. The first batch of Volts have left the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant and are en-route to California, Texas, Washington D.C and New York.
Volt marketing director Tony DiSalle says that the first batch of Volts represents a milestone for Chevrolet, adding that customers will soon “experience gas-free commuting with the freedom to take an extended trip whenever or wherever they want.”
The Volt finally hits prime time with an range of 35 miles on a single charge, and with the ability to travel up to 379 miles when also using its 1.4-liter gas engine generator. The Volt also enters the Chevy showroom with the and Car of the Year awards. Hit the jump to read over GM’s official press release.
2011Hyundai Sonata 2.0T – Click above for high-res image gallery
It should hardly come as news to anyone reading Autoblog that is in the midst of a hot streak. New models are coming out left and right, the automaker’s quality is reaching new heights and there are no signs of slowing down. So while the automaker’s momentum isn’t news, its sales numbers are: For the first time in its history, the Korean manufacturer has broken the 500,000 unit sales barrier in the States.
The hottest item for Hyundai this year? The aforementioned Sonata, of which 183,102 have been sold. The Sonata is followed by the and Sante Fe with sales of 120,924 and 70,082 respectively.
This is Hyundai’s 25th year in the United States and its sales are way up for the year. Sonata sales are up 64 percent over last year while the has exploded – up 145 percent – and the has gained 37 percent over its prior year sales.
Ferrari 599 test mule lapping Fiorano – Click above to watch the video
Introduced in 2006, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano has earned its place as one of the top GTs on the road today. And it’s spawned its fair share of derivatives along the way, but with the new year around the corner, the 599 is about to turn five years old. Which isn’t a very long product lifecycle if its replacement were launched tomorrow, but it’s apparently enough to have Maranello preparing for a successor – or at the very least, an update – in due course.
Spied lapping the test track of the same name, this Fiorano test mule could be our first look at the 599’s eventual successor, or perhaps a higher performance derivative. And as you’ll see for yourself in the video , it sounds very sweet indeed. Thanks for the footage, Marco!
For most racing drivers, landing a deal with an outfit like Red Bull would be a dream. The energy drink company has one of the most advanced driver development programs in the world, and is responsible for (among countless other feeder series champs) newly crowned Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel’s ascension. Scott Speed, however, apparently doesn’t feel the love.
The F1 and NASCAR driver has been with Red Bull for seven years, entering F1 as the first American driver in years before returning Stateside to race stock cars, still under Red Bull’s auspices. And now, according to SceneDaily, he’s suing his patron and employer to the tune of $6.5 million.
The reason? Breach of contract. According to the suit filed in North Carolina Superior Court, Red Bull significantly cut Speed’s salary – by some half-million bucks, according to the complaint – and further failed to provide the budget his team needed to mount a competitive challenge.
Range Rover Evoque five-door – Click above for high-res image gallery
Despite the fact that has gone out of its way to promote its new as an environmentally friendly alternative to its normal brand of behemoth globetrotting earth movers, Auto Express reports that the front-wheel drive (optional all-wheel drive, naturally) unibody Rover won’t be getting a hybrid powertrain option.
Instead, Land Rover’s global product director John Edwards suggests that any future electrically assisted powertrains will likely be featured in the larger Discovery ( in the States) and . Edwards points out that the Evoque was designed as a lightweight machine, and a small four-cylinder diesel engine can provide the kind of fuel mileage targeted for the model.
While it’s certainly true that hybrid componentry adds complexity and weight, American and Japanese automakers have proven that it’s certainly possible to put the fuel-saving bits and pieces in smaller-sized vehicles. What’s more, diesel vehicles aren’t exactly commonplace on American roads or dealerships, leaving us to wonder if the U.S. market will be left out of the high-mpg loop yet again.
If there’s one rumor that’s rounded the mill more than any other, it’s the notion of getting into Formula One. After all, it is one of the largest automakers (certainly the largest European one) that isn’t in the sport now or didn’t recently shutter its program. But while reports over the past year speculated on the possibility, we ran with seemed to have put the issue to rest as the German automaker ruled out the possibility. Or did it?
According to reports coming in from the paddock, Volkswagen is encouraged by approved by the FIA for 2013 that will replace the current V8 engines with a new breed of turbo fours joined again with KERS hybrid braking systems.
The company’s racing chief Hans-Joachim Stuck (pictured above) stopped short of committing, but domestic publications have quoted the former grand prix driver as saying things like “The engine rules are a good starting point for Volkswagen in Formula One”, and “The conditions for a possible entrance of the Volkswagen group have been created”. If that isn’t opening the door again, we don’t know what is.
2011 Volkswagen Jetta – Click above for high-res image gallery
Oprah may have on her TV show, but now is partnering with to offer its 2011 Jetta sedan up at a very, very low price. The new has just landed at dealerships around the country, priced from $15,995, but Volkswagen will be giving away three Jettas to members of the Gilt flash sale site for $10,000 less than the normal starting price. That’s right, a brand new Jetta for under $6,000.
A total of three Jettas will be given away, starting on Wednesday of this week (one car per day). On December 15 this special offer will only be available to Gilt members with the mobile application (iPad, iPhone, Android, etc.), and the remaining two Jettas can be had by the full raft of Gilt members.
If you’ve ever thought about joining Gilt, now’s the time – there could be a 2011 Jetta in your future. For the full details, to read Volkswagen’s press release.
New Stratos in Alitalia livery – Click above to view in slightly higher resolution
The New Stratos has been drumming up a world of enthusiasm. And with good reason: the original was one of the most iconic rally machines ever devised, and the modern tribute looks to be living up to the legend in the grandest of style. That hasn’t stopped some from saying the design doesn’t look enough like the original, but that could very well come down to the paint scheme.
No, what we really need is to see it in the same livery displayed on the original in its heyday. Fortunately that’s just what they brought out (as a mock-up from the looks of things) at the car’s debut at Paul Ricard HTTT in the South of France. Want to see more from the unveiling? Follow the jump and feast your eyes on the video footage there to be viewed.
It was only a matter of time before some inventive soul set about curing what ails the ; namely, the anemic hybrid drivetrain. It looks like the crew at LHT Performance have gutted the electrified bits and swapped in an honest all-star from the stable – the K20. If you recall, these guys were among some of the first to pull a similar stunt with the first-generation Honda Insight. According to LHT, their creation is the first successful K-Series CR-Z swap to have every vehicle system work as it should, including power steering, air-conditioning and cruise control, along with stability control and the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system.
Well, nearly every vehicle system. The integrated motor assist didn’t quite survive the transplant, but something tells us we won’t be hearing any sobs over that loss. Right now, the shop has only served up a quick video, and there’s no footage of the car actually tearing up the street or a track, but we’re told more photos are on the way soon. Now, would you rather have this beast or the much rumored 1.6-liter that Honda is supposedly cooking up? to check it out and decide for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Steven.
At least a few eyebrows were raised when Ford first let on that it was bringing the Explorer back in a radically different form for 2011. Have Alan Mullaly and Co. made the right call?
Here’s our first official glimpse at the face of the next-generation Honda Civic. The automaker will display the Civic show car at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
Ideas for stuff that goes under the tree… the kind of car gifts that don’t cost too much but go over well with your family.
Tom Wilkinshaw, a former racer and Formula One team owner, passed away this weekend after a long fight with cancer at the age of 64. Wilkinshaw began making a name for himself in the racing world when he took the 1969 Formula Ford title, though he didn’t stop at the open-wheel leagues. After taking the European Touring Car Championship in 1984 with a XJS, the sportsman took the Bathurst 1000 in the same car with co-drivers John Goss and German Armin. Wilkinshaw also snagged the Le Mans and Sportscar titles before jumping out of the cockpit to lend a hand with the legendary Benetton F1 team as an engineering director.
While there, Wilkinshaw helped usher Michael Schumacher to the first F1 wins of his career. After his time with Benetton, the Scot worked under the Ligier and Arrows banners before leaving F1 for Australian Supercars. to see the man in action behind the wheel of a Jaguar V12 XJS.
is preparing to launch a new European D-segment model at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March that will compete against such vehicles as the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat, and it’s released a slew of advance renderings of what we might expect.
Filling the slot in the Korean automaker’s European line-up that’s filled in North America by the (with which it is a very close twin), the i40 has been designed and developed in Germany by the company’s European R&D center in Rüsselsheim. The design closely follows those of recent Hyundai design studies, the concept most closely.
The i40 is slated to go on sale shortly after its debut in Geneva in wagon form, with a sedan version expected to follow. The engine range is expected to include a 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and a 1.7-liter turbodiesel with outputs ranging from 115 horsepower to 136, with more powerful versions to follow. In the meantime, take a stroll through the image gallery below for a closer look, as the i40 is almost certainly what a Sonata wagon would look like were Hyundai ever to launch it in the States.
Camilo Pardo creates his limited-edition “Her Targets” – Click above for high-res image gallery
Camilo Pardo is a name many of you will recognize. He’s the man responsible for bringing the Ford GT40 back to life in its modern Ford GT form. Besides penning beautiful automobiles, Pardo also works in other art mediums. The designer has created a very limited-edition run of prints, and the hand-signed work is available at a surprisingly affordable price. Each of the 45 prints is up on 1xRUN.com, a site dedicated to providing limited-edition artwork at low prices. The cost for each print is $80 – often commands over a thousand dollars, so this is something of a bargain.
If you’re interested, you might want to act quickly because all 45 prints ought to move quickly at that price. You can see Pardo’s racy take on Chip Ganassi Target Racing’s team racing suit in our gallery below or to grab an example for yourself.
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2011Toyota Sienna – Click above for high-res image gallery
has issued a voluntary recall for approximately 94,000 minivans produced before the beginning of November 2010. The recall is a result of a Stop Lamp Switch Bracket placed near the parking brake. When the parking brake is fully applied it may deform the switch bracket. This could result in the brake lights remaining lit or even partial engagement of the brakes resulting in a reduction of brake effectiveness over time.
No other vehicles have been affected by the issue and no accidents or injuries have been reported as of a result. Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notice in the mail by the middle of January, which contains instructions on how to handle any affects they might feel if their switch bracket has been deformed. A second notice will be sent out in February to inform customers that replacement parts are now available and appointments can be made with local Toyota service departments. for the full details.
2010 VW Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start – Click above to watch video
The 2.0-liter turbo diesel in our is a very modern mill, so we were curious how it would handle starting in the frigid clime of northeastern Ohio this time of year.
Diesel engines typically have three vulnerabilities when it comes to cold weather starts: the fuel, the battery and their glow plugs. First, the new Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel we all use begins to gel at a higher temperature than the old fuel. Sulfur is also a lubricant, and with less of it, the fuel pump has to work harder in cold temperatures to keep the thicker diesel fuel flowing. Fortunately, most diesel fuel sold in colder areas has ant-gelling additives mixed in already.
Batteries are also less efficient when cold, while at the same time having to work much harder to crank the engine more times. Finally, diesel engines use glow plugs to heat the point of combustion in each cylinder, which is a much tougher job when the mercury drops below freezing. Optional block heaters can help a diesel engine start in cold weather, but Volkswagen has enough faith in its 2.0-liter TDI that it doesn’t even offer one.
So how did our Jetta TDI Cup Edition do when being started in 25-degree weather after sitting for over 24 hours? to see for yourself.
