So far in 2011, has been riding a ragged roller-coaster filled with major and . Just recently, however, things have been trending more positively. that will pump in millions of dollars, and open up major inroads to the vastly expanding auto industry in China. The Swedish automaker is understandably excited by this new deal, and has decided to embark on a global tour to highlight its new partnerships.
Besides discussing its new manufacturing teammate Hawtai, , once his deals have gone through. Victor Muller, Saab Chairman, wants the world to meet Saab’s newest partners. All involved parties will be hitting the road to reach out to the world-wide media, once all respective deals have been finalized and approved.
The guys and gals in advertising have proven to be a clever bunch, as commercials like the have garnered as many copycats as any spot in recent memory. The Das Auto team appears to have pulled off more cleverness with a spanking new spot for the , and we can see the spoofs in our heads already.
to watch as a young man with some serious anger management issues takes out his angst on an SUV-shaped Piñata. The little guy hammering away is funny enough (we wonder how many times the bat ricocheted off the Piñata and onto his head), but then the candy-packing vault turns to reveal… you’ll have to to see for yourself. Very clever, VW ad team.
Alfa Romeo 4C Concept – Click above to watch the video
If this story sounds familiar, that’s because we’ve seen it before: Alfa Romeo will arrive in the United States with a sportscar that will spearhead the arrival of a broader range of models. That was the line with the 8C Competizione, but that model has come and gone without its junior stablemates. And when a couple of months ago, that was the story once again: not only would it see production, but it would headline the marque’s return to the North American market.
Now we’ve got a few more details, though. Rather than bringing over existing models like the MiTo and Giulietta, Alfa Romeo is hard at work preparing new models specifically for American tastes. One model is expected to be an SUV based on the – leaving us to wonder if this will come instead of, or in addition to Maserati’s rumored version. But beyond that is the new Giulia sedan that will replace the 159.
The project was reportedly well under way until the design landed on / CEO Sergio Marchionne’s desk, prompting him to order a full redesign. Apparently the styling was rather derivative and lackluster. For his part, the company’s experienced styling chief says he and his team are doing the best they can with what they’re given: the company’s Compact Wide architecture based on the Giulietta’s platform, which Ramaciotti says is like designing a suit for a fat lady instead of a model.
The literal “back to the drawing board” order from Marchionne’s office may lead to further setbacks, so to keep your interest piqued we’ve dug up this rather intriguing video of the 4C Concept heading from the studio to the show floor in high speed. At this point, we thought we’d seen concept cars from just about every angle, but this is something different, so why not to watch the brief clip for yourself.
Exor/Fiat CEO John Elkann with Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo trackside
It may have seemed far-fetched when the , and it will never amount to anything, but the reports of a plan to buy-out Formula 1 have proven factual.
The initial reports indicated that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, together with an unnamed second investor (speculated to be connected to ), were looking into acquiring the commercial rights to the premier motor racing series, which are currently held by CVC Capital and directed by Ecclestone. That second party turns out the be Exor, the investment company owned by the Agnelli family and chaired by its scion John Elkann, who also heads up the Group… which in turn owns Ferrari.
Exor has confirmed that it and News Corp are interested in buying all or part of the F1 business, although it admits that its interest alone won’t necessarily lead to the deal’s completion. After all, CVC would have to be willing to sell, and sources don’t expect that to come any time soon. But then, everything has its price.
The notion of Ferrari’s owners also owning F1, of course, will lead to much speculation, particularly since the team’s former chief executive Jean Todt already presides over the FIA, the body which governs everything about the sport that Formula One Management doesn’t. for the brief announcement from Exor.
It’s never a good idea to return a rental car with less than a full tank of gas. The reason? The rental car companies usually charge a fee if you don’t fill up before dropping off. And according to a report in USA Today, that fee has, in some cases, gotten a lot steeper.
The national newspaper polled 102 rental companies at 13 major airports to gauge how much is being charged per gallon for renters who don’t fill up before returning their loaner. Surprisingly, 54 of those airports were charging less than the average fuel price at local stations, likely because many companies haven’t adjusted their per-gallon charge to reflect rising gas prices. Another 43 rental stores were charging more than the average gas station.
Meanwhile, the Hertz rental company is in a league of its own. The USA Today poll shows that the rental giant was charging $9.29 per gallon of petrol at 13 locations. Dollar and Thrifty weren’t far behind at a pair of locations, with a price of $8.99/gal. For perspective, at $9/gal, it would take around $275 to fill up the typical full-size pickup, and about $110 to top off a .
While those are some ridiculous pump prices, this is one instance when the punishment is nearly 100 percent avoidable. After all, if you don’t want to get slapped with a $9.29/gal bill, all you need to do is fill up before dropping off the vehicle. Unfortunately, you’re still going to pay well over $4/gal in most areas.
Most automakers have already reported earnings for the first quarter of 2011, but is still busy counting its loot. We don’t know how well the largest automaker in the United States fared, but Bloomberg reports that GM could post a profit of $1.74 billion for the quarter. That would be a 63 percent improvement versus Q1 2010 and the best first quarter for GM in 11 years. A first quarter profit would also be the fifth consecutive quarterly profit for The General – a significant task given the fact that the automaker exited bankruptcy protection less than two years ago.
GM’s profit is expected because of the automaker’s successful quarter in the U.S. and China. The automaker sold 26 percent more vehicles in the U.S. during Q1 2011 than it did in the first quarter of 2010, while car buyers in China appear to be picking up as many GM products as they can.
In the short term, analysts are questioning whether a solid profit statement will affect the company’s stock. GM is still trading at levels close to the same $33/share when the company’s IPO was released. The stock briefly climbed to nearly $39/share before dropping back down into the low $30 range. Analysts claim that GM stocks could take a turn for the better due to supply chain issues for Japanese automakers. The General is reportedly in a good position to reap additional sales as the result of its competitors’ issues.
McLaren MP4-12C GT3 hits the racetrack – Click above to watch video
McLaren is clearly excited to test the racing version of its MP4-12C supercar. Called the MP4-12C GT3, this track-focused racer is equipped to do battle in the 2011 and 2012 GT3 championship series, and McLaren has just released a slew of videos that show off the car from all angles. This thing is perfectly equipped to make beautiful noises and hug the road like a tween meeting Justin Bieber.
One example of the GT3 will make its debut this year, however, McLaren reports that 20 cars are being prepared for the 2012 season. McLaren is also planning to bring the MP4-12C GT3 to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In the meantime, you can for a handful of videos showing the car in action.
It was fun to own a truck for a while, but fuel prices and a global recession eventually caught up to the recreational truck owner. Sales of the Ford F-Series came in at 413,000 units in 2009, while 2010 improved to 528,000. Combined that adds up to roughly the same amount of trucks sold in ‘05 alone. Does the precipitous drop in truck sales mean that high-dollar pickups of the past are on the outs? Not even close.
The lineup now features Lariat, Platinum, King Ranch and particularly awesome variants, each with their own hefty price tag. The Raptor is an off-roading beast of epic proportions, while the Lariat, Platinum and King Ranch offer plush accommodations and equipment that are matched by great looks and supreme capability. And if none of those options appeal to the $50,000 truck buyer, Ford continues to offer the F-150 Harley-Davidson edition.
For 2011, Ford’s brand-borrowing super truck now boasts more power, new looks and an even fancier (for better or worse) cabin. We took the reins of a fully loaded Harley-Davidson-branded F-150 to see if this pricey pickup has the right mix of luxury and performance to bring back the low impact luxury truck owner.
2011 Dodge Charger – Click above for high-res image gallery
is fresh off the introduction of 16 new or refreshed models, but Team Pentastar isn’t out of breath just yet. According to Inside Line, CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters and analysts that there will be more changes throughout 2011.
For starters, the will reportedly add a Super Bee variant. The familiar badge will likely be a mostly cosmetic upgrade, though Chrysler hasn’t yet announced any specifics. Meanwhile, the will finally – finally – receive a new engine. The ancient 3.8-liter six will be replaced by the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which boasts 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in most applications. The far more powerful 3.6-liter will also come with a reported 10 percent increase in fuel economy, though the Wrangler won’t get the eight-speed auto transmission that should arrive from Getrag later in the year.
One of the Chrysler brands will also receive a rebadged version of the before the end of 2011. The efficient little runt, which could be badged as a Dodge, must hit at least 40 miles per gallon to satisfy a requirement necessary for Fiat to receive another five percent ownership of Chrysler. If and when that happens, Fiat will own a 51 percent majority of the American automaker.
Team Pentastar is also looking to add more diesel models to its lineup. The oil burners will reportedly make up 14 percent of the automaker’s model mix by 2014. We know that the Jeep is getting Chrysler’s in the coming years, and we’re crossing our fingers for an oil-burning Wrangler, as well.
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 number 0001 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Second chances are like ; not everybody gets one. If you’re still kicking yourself for not forking over the cash necessary to take home the very first ever created, it’s your lucky day. That very vehicle has shown up on eBay motors, and if you’ve got the means, you’ve got a second chance at calling this particular car your own. Why is the seller sending this piece of history on its way? Simple: the guy says he bought a Boss 302, not a museum piece.
He didn’t know that his car was the very first production model until all of the appropriate lines were dotted. He says that he has neither the interest nor the space for some low-mile queen, and that instead, he wants a Boss 302 to use as his daily driver and a regular track rat. The bidding has risen to $65,100 as of the time of writing with reserve not met. Head over to to have a look-see. Thanks for the tip, Antonio!
Polestar Volvo C30 WTCC at Zolder – Click above for high-res image
Last year, ’s factory-backed Polestar Racing team clinched the title in the Swedish Touring Car Championship. Based on that success, the Swedish outfit to bump up its efforts to challenge for the World Touring Car Championship, all the while fighting to defend its national title back home where the Swedish series has merged with the Danish one to form the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship.
This week saw the debuts of both the World and Scandinavian series, the former kicking off at Belgium’s Zolder circuit and the latter at the Jyllands-Ringen in nearby Denmark. Volvo Polestar made a strong showing in both with its competition-spec .
At Zolder, Polestar/Volvo landed 13th place in the first race and 7th in the second, scoring its first points in front of 27,000 spectators and a television audience of 45 million. Meanwhile, in Denmark, the team finished on the podium in 2nd and 3rd in the first race but 8th and 13th for the second when the starting grid was reversed, putting the team second in the standings so far.
Polestar continues working on a new turbocharged engine that it figures will account for the difference between its position at Zolder and the leader’s. The WTCC heads to Monza in three weeks for the next round, as the STCC heads back to Sweden in one week. for the official press releases.
Emerging from a tumultuous transition period, is intent on breaking out of the fringe and into the mainstream. But doing so with its current line-up would be a challenge. So the British automakers are planning a whole slew of new products – 40 in all – including new models, derivatives of existing ones and new powertrain technologies.
According to The Detroit Bureau, among Jaguar’s plans is a new model to target the and the rest of the entry-level luxury set. The model will represent a significant departure from the ill-fated X-Type, striving to embody the look and feel of larger Jaguars into a smaller package. What we didn’t know until now, however, was that Jaguar is planning several body-style derivatives of its new small sedan. The X-Type included the first wagon ever offered by Jaguar, so a hatch could be among the offerings, along with a two-door coupe, four-door “coupe,” convertible and others. As the Germans have shown, there’s no limit to how many derivatives a model line can spawn, and it’s precisely the Germans which Jaguar has in its sights.
Another new model on the horizon is a large crossover, a project on which we recently . While Jaguar has been careful not to step on sister-company Land Rover’s feet, the feeling now is that there’s enough territory in street-focused crossovers to stay clear of Land Rover’s go-anywhere SUVs. While Jaguar’s first crossover will target the and , a smaller model could also be in the works.
Beyond that, Jaguar is reportedly looking at further expanding the diversity of its powertrains with new diesels, hybrids and other propulsion technologies. Unfortunately, a production version of the turbine-hybrid supercarconcept doesn’t appear in the cards. Plans are underway, however, to further separate the two brands from each other by implementing separate showrooms. Our own Jonathon Ramsey has more details on Jaguar Land Rover’s plans for the future, so watch this space for more.
Emerging from a tumultuous transition period, is intent on breaking out of the fringe and into the mainstream. But doing so with its current line-up would be a challenge. So the British automakers are planning a whole slew of new products – 40 in all – including new models, derivatives of existing ones and new powertrain technologies.
According to The Detroit Bureau, among Jaguar’s plans is a new model to target the and the rest of the entry-level luxury set. The model will represent a significant departure from the ill-fated X-Type, striving to embody the look and feel of larger Jaguars into a smaller package. What we didn’t know until now, however, was that Jaguar is planning several body-style derivatives of its new small sedan. The X-Type included the first wagon ever offered by Jaguar, so a hatch could be among the offerings, along with a two-door coupe, four-door “coupe,” convertible and others. As the Germans have shown, there’s no limit to how many derivatives a model line can spawn, and it’s precisely the Germans which Jaguar has in its sights.
Another new model on the horizon is a large crossover, a project on which we recently . While Jaguar has been careful not to step on sister-company Land Rover’s feet, the feeling now is that there’s enough territory in street-focused crossovers to stay clear of Land Rover’s go-anywhere SUVs. While Jaguar’s first crossover will target the and , a smaller model could also be in the works.
Beyond that, Jaguar is reportedly looking at further expanding the diversity of its powertrains with new diesels, hybrids and other propulsion technologies. Unfortunately, a production version of the turbine-hybrid supercarconcept doesn’t appear in the cards. Plans are underway, however, to further separate the two brands from each other by implementing separate showrooms. Our own Jonathon Ramsey has more details on Jaguar Land Rover’s plans for the future, so watch this space for more.
At long last, we bring you the official ! There’s not much else to say besides , and since it’s free, you can pay us back with a positive rating in the App Store.
The is by far the best way to consume Autoblog on the go. But wait, there’s more! In addition to Autoblog, you also get AutoblogGreen and Translogic in the same app. No, we’re not done. You even get our favorite part of AOL Autos, the Best Deals configurator that lets you build your favorite vehicle and get the best price before you go to the dealer. That’s like four apps in one for the low low price of free!
to download the app.
PS: Yes, an Android version is in the works! And we’re already working on more features for the app’s first update.
2012 Volvo S80 Executive (above) and V70 R-Design (below right) – Click for high-res image galleries
Hot on the heels of the upgraded models, has announced two new editions of its top-of-the-line sedan and station wagon.
First up is the S80 Executive, which enhances the Swedish flagship’s interior with such touches as ventilated, massaging leather seats, an analog clock, plush carpeting and leather on the door panels and instrument cluster – the latter a first for Volvo. In a particularly aspirational touch, Volvo is also offering an optional mini fridge in the back with a pair of crystal drinking glasses.
Meanwhile the V70 R-Design doesn’t get the upgraded engine from its aforementioned stablemates – buyers can choose from a range of powertrain options – but does benefit from a number of cosmetic enhancements. Satin-finish door mirrors house LED turning indicators, new 18-inch wheels are installed, while the interior is swaddled in two-tone, high-contrast black and white leather.
Both models come equipped with Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system, which places the touchscreen display high up on the dashboard to help the driver keep his or her eyes on the road. Follow the jump for the full press release and check out the high-res images in the galleries below.
Mini by DSQUARED2 for Life Ball 2011 – Click above for high-res image gallery
For the past 11 years has supported Life Ball, the biggest HIV/AIDS fundraiser event in Europe, teaming up with world-renowned designers to come up with a special one-off auctioned for the cause.
Previous collaborations have been realized by such fashion labels as Gianfranco Ferré, Versace, Diesel, Agent Provocateur, Kenneth Cole and Calvin Klein. This year’s brings on board the talents of Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten of DSQUARED². And while the event is still three weeks away, Mini and DSQUARED² have released a couple of renderings showing us what to expect.
Based on the Mini Cooper S, the design is apparently inspired by , and features rugged off-road gear and a Canadian flag motif for the designers’ home country. Don’t ask us what the deal is with those raccoons holding on to the roof yelling “Yuuuppy!”, but we suspect those furry little bandits won’t be part of the finished product. Have a closer look in the gallery below and follow the jump for the full press release.
The ebb and flow of Formula One teams typically works in a cyclical fashion. Teams rise and fall like so many world powers across the course of history. But while Williams was once a championship front-running team, it’s been years since they’ve been on the top.
Against that backdrop, the British racing outfit has announced some major changes in its senior staff. Both technical director Sam Michael (pictured above at left) and chief aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson have resigned from their positions and are leaving the team to regroup in an effort to regain its former glory.
In their place, Williams has hired Mike Coughlan as chief engineer. The former McLaren technical chief left the sport in disgrace in the wake of the “spygate” scandal of 2007 and was banned from the sport for two years. But with that period long since expired, Williams is apparently glad to bring him and his years of top-level experience into its fold.
Coughlan will join the team this coming June, while Michael and Tomlinson will depart upon the expiration of their contracts at the end of the season, at which point Coughlan could very well be appointed technical director. Follow the jump for the pair of press releases on the announcements.
In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, is expanding the GM military discount to include spouses and retirees. The discounts, which range between $500 and $4,000, will be valid for the month of May to the spouses and retirees of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard.
The discounts will no-doubt help GM move some metal, but The General also pledges to donate $100 to Cell Phones for Soldiers for every model sold. GM says that the company has already collected 50,000 cell phones and donated 114 million phone card minutes to the charity, which equates to roughly 200 years of call minutes.
Military family Chevy buyers will also have the option of adding an Honor Badge, which has a yellow ribbon in honor of military personnel. To sweeten the pot, GM offering an additional $750 rebate for eligible members of USAA, a financial service provider for the military community.
GM is also unveiling 99 “Honor & Valor” Limited Edition vehicles as part of the promotion. The low volume release will debut during the Indianapolis 500 military personnel parade on May 28. Hit the jump to read over the GM press release.
All-wheel-drive continues to infiltrated a range of new vehicles as the added traction and improved capability now appeals to more than just crossover and SUV buyers.
The Detroit Free Press reports that AWD is growing exponentially in the U.S., as buyers are increasingly associating the system as both a performance enhancer and a safety technology. In fact, Paul Lacy of IHS Automotive contends that AWD cars and crossovers will occupy 30 percent of vehicle sales by 2015. That’s an amazing statistic if it turns out to be true, as AWD is pricey and at the same time cuts down on fuel efficiency.
Most crossovers already offer the technology, and the luxury automakers have embraced AWD with open arms. The system currently accounts for 50 percent of all sales, while offers AWD in each of its models. The far more established Quattro system now accounts for 80 percent of all new models sold.
Adding AWD to luxury vehicles makes sense because customers who are paying $35,000 or more for a new vehicle are more likely to be able to afford a $1,000 to $3,000 option. At the same time, AWD is becoming more common on mainstream vehicles like the and . And it may not be a coincidence that sales have skyrocketed over the past couple years, since every Subie comes standard with symmetrical all-wheel-drive.
Suppliers are also working on AWD systems that can still deliver terrific traction along with improved fuel economy. Future systems will be lighter and more efficient, and Haldex is developing an hybrid AWD system that delivers power to the rear axle electrically.
Jeep JK-8 conversion kit from Mopar – Click above to watch the video
The folks over at a with Mopar’s , and they got a Mopar engineer on camera to talk about it. To refresh your memory, one kit will be offered for the at-home “weekend warrior” tinkerer, a second kit will be offered for body shops to make the conversion look like it came from the factory. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but the engineer said it would be “competitive,” although we have no idea what he could be comparing the price too, it should be less than the “two arms, two legs and a testicle” suggested by a PickupTrucks.com commenter.
Finally, the JK-8 package will be available in every color offered on the Wrangler, meaning you won’t get it in the concept car yellow. to see it in action and hear more about it.
In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, is expanding the GM military discount to include spouses and retirees. The discounts, which range between $500 and $4,000, will be valid for the month of May to the spouses and retirees of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard.
