And now for some good news from : it is doubling the run of its limited edition Spirit R, adding 1,000 more units to production due to demand. Announced late last year, this Japan-only model celebrates the end of the RX-8’s nine-year existence. The final Wankel-engined four-door is scheduled to roll off the line in June.
The Spirit R doesn’t skimp on the extra trim bits inside and out, with larger brakes clamped by red calipers, piano-black transmission tunnel trim, Recaro Sprint R bucket seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and an enhanced traction control system among the bonus features.
Both automatic and manual transmissions are offered, but takers have gone decisively for the row-your-own cogswapper, making up 66 percent of orders. Compared to the automatic, they receive larger 19-inch wheels on lower profile tires, a “hard suspension,” alloy pedals and aero bits. for the press release with more details.
What a difference a few years make. Back in 2009, Ford Motor Company’s North American operations were dragging down its earnings. The company reported a net loss of $1.4 billion in that year’s first quarter when market share in the U.S. was falling but rising overseas. The situation today, however, is the mirror opposite.
Today reported a first-quarter net income for 2012 of $1.4 billion on the strength of sales in the States. While that’s a 180-degree turnaround compared to the same quarter in 2009, it’s still a decline in earnings compared to the $2.6 billion earned just last year. This time, however, the blame for the fall lies with Ford’s operations in Europe and Asia.
In Europe, Ford reported an operating loss this quarter of $149 million, blaming the continent’s shrinking markets and weaker demand for parts and accessories. The company’s Asian operations reported an operating loss of $95 million, which can be attributed more to investments in new plants for increased production than shrinking sales. Ford attributes the rest of its losses during the first quarter to higher tax expenses and special charges.
Fortunately, Ford’s North American operations were able to offset most of the company’s losses elsewhere. The region reported a pre-tax operating profit of $2.1 billion, up from $1.8 billion last year and the highest quarterly profit here since 2000. Revenue in this region alone was $18.6 billion, up $700 million from the same quarter last year and the largest chunk of the automaker’s global quarterly revenue of $32.4 billion, which was down $700 million.
Remember that Ferrari Enzo that is still sitting in a Dubai police impound lot for ““? It was meant to be auctioned this week, but it wasn’t, and the Dubai authorities added some information to the Enzo’s backstory that boils down one word: Interpol.
Unpaid traffic fines are thought to have lead to a British businessman abandoning the seven-figure almost two years ago. After numerous reports of the Enzo being headed to auction – which lead to numerous calls from big spenders trying to buy it outright, Dubai police said the Prancing Horse is on the notice list at the International Criminal Police Organization. Vehicles flagged by Interpol are said to usually be the subject of theft investigations, and according to Emirates 247, the police commander says the Enzo and nine other flashy rides were “seized as they were part of thefts.”
That means that the next time you see pictures of the mummified Ferrari, you’ll know why it’s still there and not up for auction. And seeing how long international criminal cases can take to resolve, you’ll know why it’s probably going to be there for a while.
The breadth and scope of the Chinese car market has ballooned to such an extent that it makes sense for many foreign automakers to design cars specifically for China. Case in point: the new Renault Talisman.
Instead of building the Talisman in China through a joint venture, manufacturing is handled in nearby Korea by Renault Samsung Motors – the same division that has already brought Renault eight awards and sales increasing fourfold since 2009 due to the success of the Koleos crossover.
As for the Talisman itself, Renault has releases suspiciously little information, and even less photos. It’s billed as a “casual luxury” sedan, whatever that means, but more than that we couldn’t tell you. Which is just fine, because unless you live in China, you’ll probably never see one. Feel free to peruse the press release .
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration head-honcho David Strickland is big on emerging vehicle-to-vehicle communication, according to The Detroit Free Press. As a keynote speaker at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit this week, Strickland lauded the technology, saying it could eliminate up to 80 percent of crashes.
We’ve recently heard General Motors speaking enthusiastically about , using portable devices like smartphones to share information about traffic conditions and what’s going on in nearby vehicles to alert drivers and even pedestrians and cyclists. GM has been talking about vehicle-to-vehicle communications for a few years now, incorporating the idea into its like the one pictured above, “cars” that promise a future in which autonomous driving is a reality.
More immediately, Strickland said NHTSA will be “finalizing a rule to improve rear visibility in passenger vehicles,” and that the agency is “beyond proof of concept” for a system to prevent an intoxicated person from driving, according to the report.
When the all-new recently, was still awaiting official EPA certification for fuel economy. Now, though, the numbers are in, and the Blue Oval can confidently state that it offers the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the small crossover segment… with an automatic transmission, that is.
The hero engine for the new Escape is Ford’s new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, offering up 178 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine is good for 23 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg highway, besting the highway numbers of the , , and others. At 33 mpg, this means the new Escape is not only more efficient than the outgoing four-cylinder model, but it bests the numbers of the old , too.
But again, this only pertains to automatic transmission-equipped vehicles (the Escape does not offer a manual transmission with any of its powertrains). The with its 2.0-liter Skyactiv inline-four and six-speed manual ‘box is rated at 35 mpg highway, but opting for the six-speed auto drops that number to 32 mpg.
The other powertrains offered in the Escape are returning some pretty impressive fuel economy numbers, too. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter base engine is rated at 22/31 mpg, and the range-topping 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 240 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque is good for 22/30 mpg. for the full details in Ford’s press release.
Looks like is finally getting a handle on this YouTube phenomenon. The French supercar firm has uploaded a trio of videos showing off its current and future cars; namely, the coupe and the 16C Galibier.
What Bugatti has clearly not figured out, on the other hand, is the definition of a teaser. While the slowly drawn out shots showing the upcoming super sedan from just about every angle are pretty impressive, aren’t teasers just supposed to whet the appetite? And if we’re honest, the narrative that goes with it is a bit… disarming. Finally, while most teaser videos are done and over with in a minute or less, this one is more than four times that length.
Oh well… nobody ever accused Bugatti of being subtle.
You can see the new Galibier teaser video by below, and if that’s not enough, we’ve also included two new videos showcasing the Bugatti Veyron and its most impressive bits and pieces.
It was only a matter of time, folks. As soon as finalized its of the brand, we knew to expect a slew of comparison tests pitting the German automaker’s finest wares against the two-wheeled exotica rolling out of Italy’s .
The scribes from Germany’s Auto Bild have indeed taken up the challenge. But what machinery to choose? Naturally, the mind first turns to the supercar and its -derived V10 engine, but, in reality, Audi officials have conceded to us that its 360-horsepower is actually quicker around most race tracks. So, the all-wheel-drive it is.
Holding the mantle for Ducati is none other than the 1199 Panigale – an easy choice, as this is the marque’s premier superbike for 2012. Sure, there was a replica MotoGP machine a few years back called the Desmosedici RR, but that bike is sold out and the Panigale is likely faster in the hands of all but the most talented riders anyway.
So, who wins? You’ll have to and watch the video to find out, but suffice it to say that it wasn’t even close.
Say goodbye to the Maserati Kubang, and say hello to…well, we don’t know what it’ll be called yet, but we’ll be seeing it come January 2014.
According to Automotive News Europe, will unveil the production version of its SUV – complete with a new name – at the 2014 , a little over a year and a half from now. In the meantime, however, the Kubang concept (pictured above) that previews its form will be put into retirement.
This after the concept has made the rounds on the international circuit including the (where it was first unveiled back in September), in Dubai (where it was shown to a large portion of its target market), at the (near where it will be built alongside the on which it is based, with engines shipped in from Italy) and at the , where it is currently on display for what is reportedly the last time.
One day, someone will make a list of all the unique special-edition Pagani Zonda models and all the one-off one-offs produced over the past few years. It’ll be a gargantuan task, because there have been many of each, and we suspect that we only hear about some of them. And you can bet that most of the buyers ordering them have little to no idea how to get the most out of their new rides. However, if new reports prove accurate, the Modenese atelier’s latest customer sure will.
That customer, according to reports, is one Lewis Hamilton. The 2008 Formula One World Champion has reportedly ordered his Zonda (dubbed 760 LH) with 760 horsepower – the same output as the we reported on a couple of weeks ago – 20 more than the track-spec Zonda R and 90 than the Zonda Cinque. And what else did Lewis ask for on his? A manual transmission. Apparently he has enough time with paddle-shift gearboxes at work. Solid.
In addition to the McLaren grand prix cars he drives “at the office,” Hamilton’s also got a very rare upon clinching the World Championship, and something tells us that he’s got a new MP4-12C waiting for him at home, too. Bringing a Zonda home, then, to park beside them would be high praise indeed.
SpeedTV has piped Le Mans racing action to American television sets since 1995, and with the signing of a new multi-year television deal, the annual Frankish displays of 24-hour madness will continue to have a home on the cable network. The length of the deal wasn’t disclosed, but it does include expanded digital rights, which we’ll hope is network code for “live streaming.” Now you know where to turn on June 16.
And in case you didn’t know, the channel also for 30-minute recaps of each day’s action this year, starting with this weekend’s Rally Argentina. It will also be covering the MotoGP race in Spain this weekend and live-streaming qualifying on Speed2. So double hurray and yay for SpeedTV emerging yet further from its NASCAR shell.
A few members of the Autoblog team have been grappling with the issue of our ages recently. Yes, some of us are feeling old. Given that a primary motivation for getting into this automotive journalism racket in the first place was a desire to avoid growing up by spending our whole lives playing with cars, it is frustrating to find out that having Peter Pan Syndrome does not prevent man from turning 40.
So how’s this for some much needed perspective: Carroll Shelby will be 90 in January.
His exploits on the track made him an American hero and his success as a car designer and businessman only reinforced his status as one of the great ones. But it’s no secret that the octogenarian racer and legend has not been in the best health lately. It’s the sort of thing you have to expect when you start pushing nine decades on this planet, especially when you have lived the sort of life that Carroll Shelby has, pushing the limits in a way that most of us will never experience. He’s even got his fair share of aftermarket parts, having had both heart and kidney transplants.
Shelby shared this message concerning his health on Facebook yesterday:
There have been some rumors about my health lately. So I wanted to clear them up.
I’ve been in the hospital over the last several months with pneumonia. But I’m resting comfortably with my family and working on getting better. My kids are taking good care of me.
I am sorry that I can’t make any appearances right now. If you want someone from Shelby at an event in my place, contact Scott Black at TimePiece PR in Dallas. He’ll give those requests to my team, who will determine the right person to represent me.
I also have asked them to post on my behalf to keep you up to date.
Thanks for the all good wishes and thoughts.
Here’s another: Let’s hope he has a great party on January 11, 2013.
Watching television news can be depressing. Between the political rancor of election season and the “if it bleeds, it leads” mentality of most news directors, positive stories are scarce. But here’s one that should make any lover of fine automobiles pleased.
The story, as reported by CBS This Morning, starts when the owner of a Los Angeles-based rental car company that specializes in exotics and luxury cars noticed that one of his vehicles was uncharacteristically sitting still for a few days after being rented. The $2,000-per-day 2010 was equipped with a GPS tracking system, and the Italian Stallion’s lack of use made Eric Blumberg suspicious. So he notified the police, who eventually found the car – in Hong Kong. It had been shipped through the Port of Los Angeles, labeled as “used fitness equipment,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
It seems that the would-be joyrider who had “rented” the was part of an international crime syndicate worthy of a screenplay, according to the CBS report. When the police investigated further, they found between 15 and 20 other vehicles that were being loaded into shipping containers and exported to Asia, a total of $1.5 million worth of four-wheeled loot.
The investigators told CBS that the vehicles can command up to twice their value overseas. While no arrests have yet been made in the case, at least these cars now have a chance of being returned to their rightful owners.
Whenever Consumer Reports weighs in on the automotive landscape, we’re always eager to hear what its editors have to say. We value their opinions, not because we necessarily agree or disagree, but because CR plays it straight. And sometimes, amidst all the folderol spewed about new models in the pages of car magazines and on the myriad websites devoted to automotive minutiae, it helps to read someone write things like this:
Overall, CR’s testers found the is functional and easy to live with, if not particularly exciting to drive. The Touring… is more athletic and engaging to drive, thanks to its agile handling, taut cornering, and responsive steering.
Now this may strike most of you as nothing more than CR displaying its usually astute command of the obvious. But it reads that way for a reason – call it art imitating life. So when the mainstreamers read that the CR-V narrowly beat out the CX-5, it will not just reflect the reality of a market in which the brand lags well behind , but confirm their worldview. The Honda CR-V will continue to appear on the magazine’s “Recommended” list, while the jury will await reliability reports before nominating the Mazda CX-5.
The sun will rise in the east and set in the west.
To read CR’s full press release, which also spills the beans on the June issue’s head-to-head test between the and , as well as road tests of the hatchback and , . We also have the magazine’s video reviews of the crossover pair in video form, so .
You’ve never seen a 1981 Yenko Camaro? Maybe that’s because only 19 were made and they usually sell for well north of what a new will cost you from your local dealer.
One gorgeously restored, matching numbers example is on eBay Motors for the eye-watering Buy-It-Now price of $180k. But please consider the car’s claimed history and stat sheet before passing judgement.
As the legend goes, in 1969, of Murray, Pennsylvania took a 12-year break from modding Camaros. But low compression ’80s engines got under the skin of , and in 1981, the tuning legend proceeded to cram a turbocharged, four-barrel, 350 V8 under the hood of the second-generation car. Horsepower on the rare Yenko is unclear, but it should definitely be way more than the stock Z-28’s meager 175 hp. Reports suggest this was to be , and the owner of this eBay find says this one is the very last 1981 Yenko produced.
On top of all that, the Charlotte, North Carolina seller says that the car has fewer than 30k miles, some of which were supposedly put there by curious automotive journalists. The winning bidder will get the original build sheet, window sticker and a production intent letter signed by Don Yenko.
In the high-stakes world of performance cars, horsepower is king. It’s the first stat bragged about by owners trying to explain why their , or is better than their foes’, and it’s the headline figure promoted by the automakers themselves year after year.
When announced that the would be punishing the pavement with , the world stood up and took notice. Remember, though, these were just estimated figures, as the car had not yet been SAE certified. If reports from the Team Shelby message board prove accurate, the 2013 GT500 has finally gotten its official figures.
How’s about 662 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque?
Yep, that’ll do. It’s notable that these figures represent increases of 12 horsepower and 30 lb-ft over the earlier estimates, and they also put even more distance between Ford’s top-performing Mustang and Chevy’s 580-horsepower . It also means the Shelby lays down considerably more ponies that the and its 638 horsepower and 604 lb-ft.
Now, will we see a corresponding horsepower-addled response from or ? Only time will tell.
Zombies are more like us than you’d imagine – although they have different reasons, they hate flossing as much as many humans. That’s one of the insights gleaned from a new web commercial for the in which one of our “zombie overlords” shares his feelings on various topics, including The Bowtie’s small car.
It’s too soon for to have done this, and we know giving the thumbs up to an ad is a matter of opinion, but as far as we’re concerned, to the agency that’s responsible for this, we offer our kudos. to check it out.
We’ve had the chance to sample Mercedes-Benz’s so-called technology in both the and roadsters, and it’s a pretty clever party trick. The technology can turn the overhead roof panel in either of the two-seaters from transparent to opaque by energizing the light-blocking crystals sandwiched in the glass. By electrifying the crystals, they reorder themselves, varying the amount of light that’s let through the glass roof panel.
We’ve seen similar electrochromic glass technology before in the 575 Superamerica, but that appears to have been a one-and-done effort in Maranello, whereas is reportedly keen to spread the technology around to more of its lineup. And not only are Benz engineers looking at more models, they’re apparently shifting their focus to side glass – in particular, rear side glass. In fact, Benz’s concept van debuted with the technology at this week’s . We can see Hollywood lining up already – this technology has real merit for keeping the paparazzi at bay.
But blocking out TMZ’s long-lenses isn’t the only issue – there’s not-inconsiderable concern of law enforcement. Window tinting standards vary wildly from state to state here in the U.S., as well as country to country globally, something that could prove to be a major hurdle for the German automaker’s legal team.
Hey look! A red version of the Acura NSX Concept for the . Because it’s China, you know. Get it? Red. As in “Red China.”
And if that doesn’t prove is too clever by half, take a good look at the new photos of the red car in the , then check out our , which has the first series of official images Acura PR released for the car’s debut in January at .
If you’re thinking that all that happened here was that someone clicked a few buttons in Photoshop, well… they wouldn’t do that, would they? Well, yes, they probably would, but the NSX is , too. Nifty.
The No. 1 car purchased by men was the Porsche 911, while the car with the highest percentage of women buyers was the Volvo S40.
Some stereotypes are true. Men like V8s. Women like I4s. According to the third annual demographic study by on the car buying habits of the sexes, men continue to fixate on size while women care about efficiency and price.
The No. 1 brand for women – the brand with the highest percentage of female buyers – was at 46.2 percent. was No. 2 with 45.7 percent and third with 45.6 percent.
Men, as expected, dominated the exotic brands with sales being fueled by the most testosterone – 92.5 percent of buyers being male. was the No. 2 brand with 83.4 percent of its buyers being male and having 82.8 percent male buyers.
“The price point for many of the cars and crossovers women buyers wanted started at or below $25,000, while men tended to spend more money for their vehicles,” said Kristen Andersson, TrueCar.com senior analyst in a news release. Furthermore, women focused on smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles while men gravitated toward fast exotic cars, big pickups or SUVs.
Indeed. The No. 1 car purchased by the highest majority of men was the . The car with the highest percentage of women buyers was the , with 57.9 percent of the customers buying it being female.
