is quickly readying its new small crossover, previewed by the shapely that bowed at the in March. The test mule you see here still uses a lot of bits from the larger , but as more of the camouflage comes off, we can start to see the Mazda’s shapely new front end, inspired not only by the Minagi, but by the automaker’s designconcept from 2010.
When it enters production, the CX-5 will replace the CUV in Mazda’s lineup. The Tribute is simply a rebadged version of the , and since the Blue Oval is prepping its new -based global crossover to replace the Escape (and overseas), the Tribute will simply go the way of the dodo.
Look for the production version of the CX-5 to debut at the in September.
In yet another happy chapter of our lives, we’ve been among the first to hop in the year’s most hotly anticipated exotic, the . After the super sport’s debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show in March, plus some previous prototype drives while still in camouflage, all that remained was the tell-all day behind its wheel on a hot circuit. We survived. And the seat of our pants is permanently creased by the Aventador’s electrifying, world-conquering performance.
It’s about time that put its V12 model front-and-center again, and this is what the four-year development of the Aventador has been all about. Only at the very start of its life did the ever garner this type of attention. Once its V10 sibling was launched, the poor old Murc didn’t take it so well and lived deep in the shadows of Lambo’s popstar “people’s car.”
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Photos courtesy Lamborghini, copyright (C)2011 Wolfgang Spaccarelli/ AOL
Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon trailer – Click above to watch video
Summer is right around the corner, and that means theaters will soon be packed with the kind of action-slathered goodness that theater-goers crave. King of explosions Michael Bay has released the latest theatrical trailer for his new boomfest, Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon. Judging by the short clip, the whole crew is in for another sequel-baiting adventure. Bumblebee returns as the world’s most fearsome and Optimus Prime seems to have received a crash course in badassery since the last time we saw him grace the silver screen.
For reasons that remain unclear, the Prime has yet to punt Shia Labeouf into another galaxy, so fans can look forward to enduring him throughout the span of the film. Labeouf’s new co-star Rosie Huntington-Whitley seems to do a smart enough job of looking equal parts damsel and distressed. The film hits theaters on May 1, so you don’t have long to wait before you can sink your teeth into the action. to check out the trailer for yourself.
Automotive News reports that lost $107 million during the first quarter of 2011. The automaker says that it is unlikely to meet its 2011 production target of 80,000 units, which is hardly news when considering that the automaker can’t even make vehicles right now. The automaker sold only 9,674 vehicles in the first quarter of this year.
Saab is still looking for funding to jump-start production, and the company is reportedly in talks with three Chinese automakers in hopes of finding a partner. CEO Victor Muller reportedly said in a statement that Saab is looking for alternatives for funding operations, including “discussions with Chinese car manufacturers.” Bloomberg reports that a deal could be made with one of the companies within the next few days.
It looks as if may be toying with the notion of bringing hybrid technology to the motorcycle world. According to Motorbiker, the Japanese manufacturer filed a patent for a hybrid bike complete with a detailed drawing of the machine. The interesting part is that the line sketch fits pretty well with the profile of the company’s Goldwing; a bike that’s built for sucking up mile after mile of comfortable interstate cruising. As Motorbike points out, most hybrids are happiest off of the highway, which makes the big cruiser an odd platform choice for a battery pack.
We would have thought that the company’s CBR250R would have been a more fitting bike to bestow the glory of electric motivation upon, but that’s just us. The small commuter is built to spend time in stop and go traffic and field quick runs about town, which would be perfect for the fuel-economy optimizing attributes of a hybrid. Of course, all of those battery packs have to fit somewhere and a Goldwing has plenty of space on board. Head over to to check out the patent drawing and the full patent for yourself.
Daimler has announced a very strong pre-tax profit of $3 billion for the first quarter of 2011, up significantly compared to its Q1 2010 profit of $1.76 billion. The hefty earnings come as sales shot up 13 percent, while revenue jumped by 17 percent to $37 billion on the quarter. Post-tax earnings came in at $1.75 billion, nearly doubling 2010 totals.
A sales increase of 13 percent and with revenues up 17 percent, it’s safe to say that Daimler is selling more expensive Mercedes-Benz models these days. The automaker says sales are up by 25 percent, due mainly to demand in China, while overall sales in the People’s Republic are up 78 percent versus Q1 2010.
Daimler is looking to move 1.3 million Mercedes-Benz and models in 2011, up slightly from sales of 1.28 million in 2010. But by 2015 the automaker plans to bump sales to 1.5 million units in part because of A-Class and B-Class variants that will begin hitting the market this year. to read over the Daimler press release.
is letting owners and enthusiasts unleash their creative juices on the with a new app for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The program lets would-be buyers and reams build their very own, fully-customized version of the hyper luxury sedan, complete with a frightening 44,000 exterior color options. If, somehow, you can’t find a shade you like, you can use your device’s camera to take a picture of the exact hue you’re looking for, and the app will apply it to your virtual Phantom.
True, this may not be the most utilitarian app out there, but it could definitely occupy a good portion of a long layover or school play without all the racket of Angry Birds. Once you’ve nailed down the perfect color for your Roller, you can scroll through photo galleries of interior piping choices, wood grains and options to make sure everything matches up just so.
The best part of this virtual Rolls builder is that it’s , which means even street urchins like us can afford to build our dream Roller, however unattainable the car may be in the metal.
Tornadoes are wreaking havoc in the southern United States, causing and to put the brakes on production at each of their respective Alabama manufacturing facilities. Mercedes-Benz builds , M-Class and vehicles in Tuscaloosa, while Toyota’s Huntsville plant produces V6 and V8 engines for the and Tacoma pickup trucks and the sport utility vehicle.
Both facilities are closed at the moment, and power outages are affecting many areas in the South. Reps for Toyota and Mercedes have stated that their plants will remain closed through the weekend.
What happens to former movie cars? If they weren’t turned into a balled-up hunk during the on-screen action then they’ll most likely find their way to a sales lot. A good place to find vehicles for sale is AutoTrader.com, so it’s no surprise that a few star cars have found a home on site’s servers.
With the release of Fast Five (the fifth installment in The Fast and the Furious franchise), the folks at AutoTrader decided to pull out a few fast and curious vehicles that have graced the silver screen. The list ranges from a 1996 Acura Integra GS-R to a replica . to sample the furious machines.
Bentley edition Carte Blanche book – Click above for high-res image gallery
While you might associate James Bond with , it’s been a few years since we’ve seen 007 piloting his on the silver screen. And it’ll be at least another year until the 23rd Bond film makes its debut, if not longer. In between, fans can keep up on the spy’s adventures through the pages of new Bond novels, in which the secret agent drives a . And so to commemorate the launch of the latest volume, Crewe has designed a special edition enclosure for the occasion.
Now Bentley, of course, is in the business of making cars, not books, so you know that when they were brought on board to make this unique edition of the latest Bond novel, , it’d have to be something a little more unique than the paperback you’d find at your local drug store. And indeed it is: the special edition is printed in red and black ink on ivory paper, book-ended, as it were, by red leather endpapers, and covered in white Nappa leather into which the title and logos are embossed.
Very nice and all, but what really sets this edition apart is the polished aluminum case – crafted on a machine specially commissioned for the task – which represents the form of the new that Bond drives in the story. And for one last special touch, the pages are pierced by a “bullet hole”, in which sits an individually-numbered and polished 9mm round. Only 500 examples will be made, each fetching £1,000 (approximately $1,650). Follow the jump for the official press release, and check out the images in the gallery below for a closer look.
2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Click above to watch the video
The certainly has the stats of a kick-ass track car. Who can argue with a naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six with 500 horsepower, an 8,250 rpm redline and a Nürburgring time of 7:27? Just as exciting is the fact that the GT3 RS 4.0 weighs only 2,998 pounds soaking wet, thanks to a host of weight-saving measures like light-weight carpet and scads of carbon fiber. And when was the last time you saw a street-legal production car with front dive plates for added down-force?
You know what else we like? Video of the GT3 RS 4.0 on the track. is video of the 997 final iteration tearing up the Porsche development test track in Germany. While you’re watching, you can also learn more about the 4.0 from GT boss Andreas Preuninger. It’s too bad that we’re only $184,948 short of the GT3 RS 4.0’s starting price of $185k, because we’d sure like to be one of the 600 owners to have this 911 in our long-term garage. to enjoy the sights and sounds.
2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Click above to watch the video
The certainly has the stats of a kick-ass track car. Who can argue with a naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six with 500 horsepower, an 8,250 rpm redline and a Nürburgring time of 7:27? Just as exciting is the fact that the GT3 RS 4.0 weighs only 2,998 pounds soaking wet, thanks to a host of weight-saving measures like light-weight carpet and scads of carbon fiber. And when was the last time you saw a street-legal production car with front dive plates for added down-force?
You know what else we like? Video of the GT3 RS 4.0 on the track. is video of the 997 final iteration tearing up the Porsche development test track in Germany. While you’re watching, you can also learn more about the 4.0 from GT boss Andreas Preuninger. It’s too bad that we’re only $184,948 short of the GT3 RS 4.0’s starting price of $185k, because we’d sure like to be one of the 600 owners to have this 911 in our long-term garage. to enjoy the sights and sounds.
X Games 16 SuperRally – Click above for high-res image gallery
were made for one another, and X Games 17 will feature one of the coolest tracks ever. The games, which will run from July 28 through July 31, will include a first-ever rally street circuit in downtown Los Angeles.
Three-time rally gold medalist and Top Gear U.S. host sounds pretty excited about the development, and we can’t blame him. “Being in the car, ripping through streets, cranking the handbrake through intersections while door-to-door and jumping next to buildings is going to be truly epic! I can’t wait!”
We’re guessing ESPN can’t wait either, as the shots from the competition will likely be awe-inspiring. And the sports news network will have the event very well covered, with 25 hours of high definition coverage and another 18 hours of 3D coverage.
And, of course, the X Games wouldn’t be the X Games without dirt bikes, so you can expect plenty of Enduro X coverage. There will also be eight new Moto X competitions, which will take place inside The STAPLES Center. Sounds like a good time. to read over the ESPN press release, and check out our high-res image galleries below for some of the rally action from last year.
Lexus may be onto something here, if for no other reason that it’s better to drive than most everything else the marque offers, and that it’s the cheapest way to park an L-badge in your driveway.
Wonder what life would be like if you and your significant other managed to fork over the ransom necessary to bring not one, but two examples of the Lamborghini Aventador home?
Why can’t a perfectly capable passenger sitting in the seat next to you operate the nav?
Also of interest:
: 2012 ChevroletCorvette gets upgraded interior, new tires and options [w/video]
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If you have no interest in motorcycles, mechanics or old machinery, it’s probably best you skip this post. You see, the short film is perhaps the best depiction of the highs and lows associated with those three horsemen that we’ve ever seen on screen. The video features plenty of lengthy shots of a motorcycle single dashing across the open country side. It’s exactly what every motorcyclist thinks of when the words “perfect” and “ride” worm their way into conversation. There’s no traffic and no foul weather – just miles of meandering asphalt and nowhere to be.
But our hero rider runs into a bit of a mechanical hiccup when he stops for a spell. Fuel floods the cylinder, and despite his best efforts, he’s reduced to a raving ball of frustration after frantically trying to get the bike to start. As the crew at Visordown accurately point out, the scene is the visual embodiment of Robert M Pirsig’s famous line, “If the machine produces tranquility it’s right. If it disturbs you it’s wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed.”
We won’t spoil the ending for you, but if you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, you know the elation of victory all too well. to check out Blazer for yourself.
Driver: San Francisco – Click above to watch video
Get excited, kids. The Driver franchise is back with a new chapter, and this time the story takes the damage to San Francisco. Our good friends over at Joystiq got to spend a little time behind the controller of the game ahead of its launch. The storyline picks up after the conclusion of Driv3r, which means we’re done playing around in the late ’70s. Ubisoft Reflections has gone through the trouble of rendering a fair portion of down town, Marin County, East Bay and Treasure Island for our tormenting pleasure, though according to Joystiq, that’s not the most interesting part of the gameplay.
Early in the action, our hero Tanner winds up in a coma and spends the rest of the story line haunting San Francisco and possessing random drivers to track down the infamous Jericho. Apparently players can snap up any vehicle they see simply by lining up a reticle and pressing a button. It sounds a little shaky to us, but that doesn’t mean we won’t light a few hours of our life on fire by flopping down on the couch with Driver: San Fracisco when it lands this August. p for a video.
2012 Subaru Impreza – Click above for high-res image gallery
According to , brass are expecting the to sell around 60,000 units a year, or half again as many as the car’s current 40,000-unit total. Subaru executive vice president of North America Tom Doll says the car fills gaps in the company’s lineup that prevented it from being as competitive as it could have been.
Subaru claims the new will return 36 miles per gallon on the highway, a figure that would put the car on the top of the all-wheel-drive pile for fuel economy. The gas mileage figures come courtesy of a new-for-2012 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder reigning in 148 horsepower. The upcoming Impreza will also be lighter than the outgoing model, making fuel-sipping a little easier.
With all the new tweaks, Subaru is hoping Impreza sales can push the brand’s overall total from 264,000 vehicles last year to closer to 300,000. That’s a heady goal to be sure, but the company is confident enough in the new car’s appeal to make a bold prediction. Only time will tell if such hopefulness is well founded.
may be having thoughts of jumping back into the convertible game. Recent history hasn’t been kind to drop heads with a Wreath and Crest in the grille, but rumors kicking up on the web say that the automaker is planning to unveil a new convertible based on the company’s Alpha platform.
Car and Driver reports that the vehicle will slot between the upcoming ATS and the next-generation and that it will borrow very little sheetmetal from either of its siblings. Buyers can expect to find a folding soft top instead of the heavier retractable hard top favored by some competitors.
What’s under the hood? Nothing’s set in stone at the moment, though we’d guess any number of six or eight-cylinder options could pop up behind the headlights. Given that the model isn’t set to debut until 2014, may get really wild and shove a turbocharged four-cylinder into the engine bay.
Regardless of powerplant options, the topless Cadillac will likely find itself squaring off against the and the when it touches down. Stay tuned for more information, if and when it comes.
All this Red Bull racer wants for Christmas is his two front wheels – Click above to watch video
It’s no secret that Formula One exerts high levels of force on both drivers and cars. Case in point: As seen in the video after the break, Red Bull driver Sebastien Buemi experienced catastrophic failure of his front wheels under hard braking. Buemi was setting up for a corner and slowing from around 185 miles per hour when both of his front wheels tore themselves away from his race car.
We shared but this version of the clip has a few more angles from which to take in the carnage. for a terrific show of F1 force.
2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost – Click above for high-res image gallery
When gas prices hit $4 per gallon in the past, pickup sales suffered as a result. We have to wait until April sales are released to know how much truck sales have been hurt by the latest spike at the pump, but it’s clear that the is getting a big boost from its turbocharged V6.
Automotive News reports that 36 percent of all F-150s are equipped with the optional EcoBoost V6, which costs between $750 and $1,750 depending on the model. What’s more, the EcoBoost model is reportedly accounting for 40 percent of all F-150 orders, and there is currently a scant 13-day supply of the boosted trucks.
Traditionally, full-size truck buyers have been more inclined to opt for larger V8 engines, but the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 appears to have changed some minds. The mill’s V8-like 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque means that capability won’t be compromised, while fuel economy rises by up to 20 percent. The Environmental Protection Agency gave the boosted F-150 a 16 mile per gallon city rating and a 22 mpg rating in highway driving.
At the same time, claims a maximum tow rating of 11,300 pounds with an EcoBoost-equipped F-150, depending on the model configuration. For comparison’s sake, F-150s that come with the 411-hp, 6.2-liter V8 can also tow 11,300 pounds, but fuel economy tops out at only 18 mpg in highway driving.
With the EcoBoost F-150 off to a rousing start, the next big question is whether the boosted V6 has staying power in the event gas prices drop back down to more normal levels. We’ll have to wait and see, but with power and capability that matches other trucks in the F-150 lineup and a significant fuel economy savings, we can’t see why not.
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Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL and Ford Motor Company
