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The Saab brand may be meeting its demise, but that doesn’t mean that its cars won’t live on for years to come. And we aren’t just talking about its passenger cars, either. Take, for instance, the Saab 9-3 TTA touring car we showed you last week. The racer, constructed by Flash Engineering and Team Tidö, is currently preparing to do battle in the Swedish Racing Elite League, with entries from Volvo, BMW and Citroën clearly in its sights.

Recently, the widebody 9-3 TTA completed its first round of testing in France, with Swiss driver Fabian Thuner piloting the car around the country’s Alés track. After a few more tweaks, the car will then be sent to Sweden where it will undergo official testing in Karlskoga and Anderstorp, driven by the actual TTA drivers who will pilot the car during the Swedish Racing Elite League competition.

For now, click past the jump to see (and hear!) this seriously awesome 9-3 racecar for yourself. We’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on this one.

Continue reading Watch and hear Flash Engineering’s awesome new Saab 9-3 touring car

Watch and hear Flash Engineering’s awesome new Saab 9-3 touring car

The 2013 Subaru BRZ is “one of the most rewarding cars we’ve ever driven” says Edmunds after subjecting the new coupe to some track time. This, despite having a 0-60 time that rivals that of some minivans – 7.3 seconds. Inside Line says those numbers are mostly due to an overactive rev limiter that forces a third-gear shift at 59.2 mph. We bet that’s an early tuner fix. Also likely to be improved with an aftermarket reflash is the 15.3-second quarter-mile time.

So you won’t be winning many stoplight drag races in box-stock form, but as we all know, there’s far more to a fun car than just straight-line numbers. According to IL, “the BRZ offers a level of engagement that, until now, has been either too costly or too impractical for the average enthusiast.” They even go so far as to compare the BRZ’s overall character to a Lotus Exige and the beastly Porsche 911 GT3(!).

No, the BRZ can’t hang with either of those hardcore Europeans, but Inside Line says its balanced mixture of handling, cost, every day usability, and practicality make for “a perfect balance between date nights and track days.” Check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading 2013 Subaru BRZ tested at 0-60 in 7.3 seconds, 1/4 mile in 15.3

2013 Subaru BRZ tested at 0-60 in 7.3 seconds, 1/4 mile in 15.3

The United Auto Workers group isn’t backing down on its efforts to unionize the new Volkswagen manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, according to Automotive News. The union is currently asking workers at the facility to sign a petition of support for organization.

The UAW has been meeting informally with workers at the plant for several months, but began handing out authorization cards early this month. Labor laws require a union to submit signature cards from at least 30 percent of the workforce before an election can be held for representation.

Unionizing plants owned by foreign automakers is a necessity for the group’s survival moving forward, the UAW reiterates. The union has seen membership decline for the past 30 years, resulting in a financial crisis that’s been underscored by the United States recession.

Automotive News reports the UAW has not told Volkswagen of its efforts to unionize the Chattanooga plant. An announcement may come about the program in early April. The plant currently employs more than 2,700 workers.

UAW ramping up efforts to organize VW’s Chattanooga plant

The New York Times reports the European Central Bank may have inadvertently helped buyers looking to take home a new Volkswagen Up! secure low-interest loans. Volkswagen Financial Services was one of many institutions that took advantage of the €1 trillion the central bank set aside to be loaned out at just one percent interest. Volkswagen borrowed €2 billion (about $2.6 billion USD) of that money, and plans to offer the cash to buyers in the form of loans with low three to four percent interest. While the goal of the low-interest loans was originally to stabilize uncertain markets, automakers and other industries are taking advantage of the effectively free cash.

Mercedes Bank has already taken advantage of the generous terms, and PSA Financing, a unit of Peugeot and Citroën, has made mention of doing the same in an attempt to stave off looming poor sales. According to The New York Times, the European auto industry may be facing down its second downturn since 2009. Registrations for new vehicles were down 8.3 percent between January and February of this year compared to the same period in 2011.

How European Central Bank loans may have subsidized the Volkswagen Up!

The BMW i8 plug-in-hybrid sports car is just the sort of crazy project that could help redefine the BMW brand – and perhaps even the notion of what makes a car enthusiast – for the 21st Century. It’s the sort of out-of-the-box thinking we’ve been waiting for some automaker to deploy, so these new details are exciting.

To start with, according to Britain’s Car, the i8 will only be available as a plug-in hybrid – no conventional, internal-combustion-only version will be offered. That means no M version will be in the cards, at least not an M product in the way we currently define the BMW performance moniker. But the report says the i8 will have a more powerful gas engine than we’ve previously reported, with its 1.5-liter three-cylinder cranking out 223 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels. The front-drive electric motor is said to be rated at 170 horsepower, giving the i8 a combined 393 hp and 406 lb-ft.

The report claims that the i8 will have a 20-mile all-electric range, a top speed of 156 miles per hour, and sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds. Curb weight is said to be just 3,125 pounds, which is less than most models of the new 2012 3 Series, thanks to the i8’s carbon fiber body and aluminum chassis. Recharge time is said to be six hours, presumably on a 220-volt system. In all, a pretty amazing package.

But here’s the kicker: Car says the i8 will be priced above €100,000, which is $132,600 based on today’s exchange rates. We expect the i8 to hit the market as a 2014 model, and while that price is spendy by plebeian standards, the queue for the car will most certainly be long, at least initially.

Click past the jump if you’ve missed any of BMW’s i8 videos.

Continue reading BMW nixes plan for M version of i8, but production car to have more power? [w/video]

BMW nixes plan for M version of i8, but production car to have more power? [w/video]

Automotive News reports Bentley is staying the course with the company’s EXP 9 F SUV Concept. The ultra-luxury automaker plans to bring the vehicle to the Beijing Motor Show exactly as it appeared at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, despite the fact that the concept didn’t exactly debut to resounding acclaim. Critics described the design as awkward and unbecoming of nameplate like Bentley, but the automaker says it wants to vet the design in as many markets as possible before finalizing the exterior. Here’s hoping the crowds in China are as repulsed as those in Switzerland.

The EXP 9 F has already been green-lit for production, and while we have no qualm with the thought of a high-riding luxury brute with a twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine under the hood, we’d like to see something a little less muddled outside. Bentley says an SUV will give the company a leg up in markets like the Middle East and China, where luxury SUVs remain king. Through the first two months of this year, the company’s sales are up 66 percent in China, putting the country ahead of the United States as the largest market for Bentley products.

Bentley to show SUV concept unaltered in Beijing

Everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes the pickup truck market. The market is so big, in fact, that truck manufacturers regularly unveil new models at the Texas State Fair, and create special models just for the largest of contiguous states in the union. For Chrysler, that means the Ram 1500 Lone Star – a special edition available only in Texas that accounts for 30- to 40-percent of its 1500-series truck sales in the state, or about 80,000 units sold since its introduction ten years ago.

Now that the model has reached that decade milestone, the American truckmaker is keen to get the party started – Texas-style – with an even more special special edition. The Ram Lone Star 10th Anniversary starts out with the Ram 1500 Crew Cab with bucket seats and upholsters them in perforated Katzkin leather with special logos to match those on the dashboard, floormats and the emblems on the outside.

A 5.7-liter Hemi V8 does the pulling duty with 390 horsepower and 407 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, bolstered on the equipment list by 20-inch wheels, an auxiliary power outlet, trailer hitch and more that you can read about in the press release after the jump. The package adds a reasonable $1,500 to the base price for an all-in MSRP of $36,440, with deliveries beginning in the second quarter of the year – but only if you live in Texas.

Continue reading Ram celebrates Texas with special 10th anniversary Lone Star edition

Ram celebrates Texas with special 10th anniversary Lone Star edition

Consumer Reports has just wrapped up an evaluation of subcompact sedans, and the Kia Rio EX has rolled out ahead of the class. The four-door beat out its corporate clone, the Hyundai Accent and the Chevrolet Sonic to take the top spot. Evaluators pointed to the sharp handling and well-optioned interior in the Rio as reasons for the vehicle’s win. The newly redesigned Nissan Versa and unloved Toyota Yaris filled out the top five sedans. And what of the baby hatchbacks? CR once again credited the Honda Fit as leader of the pack, followed closely by the Versa Hatchback and Rio Hatchback.

The organization found fault with the base Chevrolet Sonic’s fuel economy, and found the turbocharged LTZ model to be too expensive. Evaluators also felt the Sonic Turbo “didn’t live up to its sporty aspirations.”

We’ll politely agree to disagree on that one.

All of the vehicles in the evaluation are either too new or scored too low in CR evaluations to earn a coveted Recommended rating. Hit the jump for a look at the full press release and debate amongst yourselves in Comments.

Continue reading Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Chevy Sonic top Consumer Reports subcompact shootout

Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Chevy Sonic top Consumer Reports subcompact shootout

When Ford unveiled the EcoSport Concept at the New Delhi Auto Expo in January, we were smitten. A pint-sized, good-looking CUV with thrifty engines could do well here in the States. Brazil’s Noticias Automotivas has caught what looks like a production EcoSport sans camo before it undergoes crash testing and, as promised, it looks little changed from the showcar.

The sparkly LED-powered headlights are gone but everything else seems to be very close to what design boss J Mays told us about in New Delhi. The final version is expected to come with two engine options: the 1.6-liter Sigma and the 2.0 liter Duratec.

Despite Ford’s plans to expand the EcoSport beyond Brazil, we’re not hopeful it’ll be sold in North America, as we’ve heard Blue Oval executives dismiss the Fiesta-sized CUV as too small. Be sure to check out Noticias Automotivas for additional photos of the new EcoSport.

Brazilians, this is your new Ford EcoSport

Mercedes-Benz has a history of offering performance models that would make any niche supercar manufacturer cower. The latest among them is the SLS AMG, but the gullwing coupe and its roadster counterpart aren’t the extent of what the German automaker’s skunkworks have in store. No, that place of honor at the top of the Mercedes-Benz lineup will soon be taken by an SLS AMG Black Series.

Following in the footsteps of the SLK55 AMG Black Series, CLK63 AMG Black Series, SL65 AMG Black Series and (most recently) the C63 AMG Black Series, the new SLS AMG Black Series promises to eclipse them all with an anticipated 560 horsepower, reduced curb weight and aggressive aerodynamics package.

These spy shots, snapped while the vehicle was undergoing cold-weather testing in the frigid north, also show the tell-tale widened fenders to house the upgraded rolling stock and a new front bumper to feed the over-clocked engine with all the air it needs to breathe.

We’re told to expect the SLS AMG Black Series sometime next year, but you can check out the spy shots now in our high-resolution image gallery.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught braving the cold

Freshly Tweaked For A Second Life

Ford has not been long known for polarizing design. The company’s styling philosophy has read more closely along the lines of “cheap and cheerful.” But when it brought out the Flex in 2008 as a 2009 model, Ford started down a road of trying to be more expressive, emotional and evocative in the design of its crossovers and SUVs, not just with the Mustang.

For Ford, the Flex has been one of those hollow victories. The people who buy it love its Mini-Cooper-on-a-high-protein-diet look, especially with the available two-tone paint jobs, and the comfortable packaging and cruising ride they get without bumping up to a frumpy minivan. The trouble is that there haven’t been enough of those happy buyers taking the plunge.

Ford sold just 27,000 Flex models last year, down 20 percent from the year before – not exactly one of CEO Alan Mulally’s homeruns. Also, its marketing has been confused since its debut. Ford initially pitched it as a cool urban crew wagon – think Funkmaster Flex. The advertising Powerpoint presentation actually said “No dog drool.” No kidding. The high-concept ads were all shot at night on city streets. It bombed. Soon after launch, we saw families and even a dog or two in ads.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Flex

2013 Ford Flex

Replica carmakers take notice: Daimler will not tolerate copies of its signature Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. At all. And if you fail to heed this warning and build a full-size replica of a 300 SL gullwing, justice will come down like three tons of bricks upon your unlicensed creation.

German customs officials recently confiscated what looks to be a very faithful reproduction of a 300 SL from a German company, albeit rendered in fiberglass, and they apparently notified the folks at Daimler, who didn’t take too kindly to the unauthorized likeness of their icon.

In their press release (available after the jump), Daimler says the body of the 300 SL is a “work of applied art” that has been under copyright protection for decades. And to make clear their intent to protect that copyright they also remind us they have “long taken a tough approach to vehicle replicas.”

The recently seized copy found out just how tough when the Mercedes-Benz used parts centre (responsible for scrapping the company’s unwanted prototypes) put the replica SL in a 30-ton industrial press and transformed it from illegal to unrecognizable. It then received the official “confirmation of scrappage” designation.

Continue reading Daimler crushes unauthorized Mercedes-Benz 300 SL body

Daimler crushes unauthorized Mercedes-Benz 300 SL body

Guys never seemed to warm up to the Volkswagen New Beetle, and it doesn’t take a dual master’s degree in psychology and automotive design to figure out why. The outgoing Beetle featured sheetmetal that could only be described as cutesy, and many (most?) men tend to shy away from vehicles that might result in the questioning of their manhood.

Only 29 percent of New Beetle sales went to men, but Bloomberg reports that a more masculine design has put the 2012 Beetle back on dudes’ shopping lists. Since the Beetle went on sale in September, men have accounted for a much more robust 43 percent of overall sales. In general, men also appear to be quite fond of diesel power, as dudes accounted for 70 percent of oil-burning models. This suggests Volkswagen’s announcement of a 2013 Beetle TDI arriving later this summer could boost the VW’s male contingency even further.

The more chiseled redesign is, of course, credited for the Beetle’s newfound male suitors, and commercials geared towards a male audience likely haven’t hurt. But while the Beetle has been more appealing to men while selling better than the old model, we’re guessing Volkswagen would like to see immense improvement from February’s 1,303 units sold.

Butch new Volkswagen Beetle earning more man love

The Detroit News is reporting that General Motors will replace the 120-volt power cords on the majority of Chevrolet Volt models the company has sold since 2010. The new charge cords are said to be more durable than the old hardware and should provide “more consistency in charging,” according to the report. GM has sold around 10,000 Volt units since the plug-in hybrid went on sale two years ago, and while some of those vehicles have already shipped with the new charge cords, most still use the old design.

Volt owners may also contact their Chevrolet dealers to begin scheduling appointments to have additional crash structure added around the vehicle’s battery packs. The additional steel is designed to protect against severe side-impacts. Technicians are also expected to add a new sensor to monitor battery coolant levels. The changes are in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into unlikely vehicle fires. GM will reportedly continue to sell Volt models without the new structure and sensor, saying neither poses a safety issue.

GM replacing Chevrolet Volt power cords

In 2002, the first U.S. Mini dealership opened in San Francisco. With only one model and a gallon of gas selling for an average of $1.25, there were plenty of critics who said the Mini brand didn’t stand a chance in the States.

“Mini launched in the U.S. during the time when gas was cheap and large trucks and SUVs ruled the road,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President of Mini USA in a statement. “Many thought the brand would be a one-hit wonder, and we are extremely proud that we were able to surprise some the toughest critics, and at times, even ourselves.”

Now, ten years later, Mini has six models, gas prices have more than tripled and “small car” doesn’t necessarily mean “cheap car.” It’s safe to say those naysayers in 2002 made a big mistake about the premium small car from BMW.

So, happy birthday, Mini USA, and congrats on convincing an SUV-loving American public that bigger is not always better.

Continue reading Happy 10 year anniversary, Mini

Happy 10 year anniversary, Mini

How well is Volkswagen doing with its new made-in-America Passat? What if we told you that sales in February were up 14,523.2 percent? Okay, perhaps that isn’t the best measure of performance, given that there wasn’t actually a 2011 model year Passat. But VW moved 8,189 of the midsize sedans last month after selling 6,318 in January.

While that’s but a fraction of the 34,543 February sales for the Toyota Camry, it’s enough that VW is adding another 800 jobs at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant that builds the car. That’s the second ramp-up this year – VW already announced the addition of 200 jobs last month.

“Quite plainly, we need more Passats to meet the market demand and I’m glad that we can respond so quickly by adding staff in Chattanooga,” said VW’s U.S. President and CEO, Jonathan Browning.

VW currently employs over 2,700 people at the plant, though 500 actually work for a “staffing partner.” VW says the new jobs will be filled both by those contract employees already working at the plant and by new hires. Positions include production, supervisors, quality engineers, and other professionals roles. Click past the jump to read the full press release.

Continue reading Volkswagen hiring 800 workers in Chattanooga to meet Passat demand

Volkswagen hiring 800 workers in Chattanooga to meet Passat demand

Sure, we think of Chevrolet as an American automaker. One of the most American, at that. But its eponymous founder wasn’t born in these United States. He was born in Switzerland. La Chaux-de-Fonds, to be exact, and so to celebrate the brand’s 100th centenary, it has commissioned a local artist to erect a statue of Louis Chevrolet in his hometown’s Parc de l’Ouest.

The giant polished steel bust was created by budding artist Christian Gonzenbach, whose design was selected by an international jury from among four finalists. Measuring five meters (16.4 feet) tall, the oversize bust was commissioned by General Motors and will remain in the park as a permanent tribute to the man whose name has become an international fixture in the automotive industry and a veritable household name. Press release after the jump.

Continue reading Louis Chevrolet honored with giant chrome bust in Swiss home town

Louis Chevrolet honored with giant chrome bust in Swiss home town

Wait a second… a diesel Ducati? Has the sale to Audi gone through and the TDI engine made its way onto two wheels already? In a word: no. This isn’t diesel with a small D, but Diesel with a capital D – as in the Italian house of denim.

Diesel signed on last year as a sponsor of the Ducati racing team in the MotoGP series, and has now taken the partnership to a new level by giving the Monster 1100EVO the same kind of treatment it’s applied to the Fiat 500. That means a military theme with Diesel’s trademark matte green paint, yellow brake calipers and rear spring, and blacked-out frame, engine covers, exhaust and forks.

The special edition model is, of course, being launched with a range of biker gear including everything from jacket to jeans, all in typical Diesel style but with an added dose of burnt rubber. Follow the jump for the full press blast and check out the trio of images in the gallery for a closer look.

Continue reading Ducati Monster goes Diesel

Ducati Monster goes Diesel

Ah, donuts – one of the automotive world’s purest forms of hooliganism. We’ve all done ‘em, simply because every once in a while, it’s just plain fun to light up a car’s back end and fling it around in a circle.

Fun as they may be, donuts aren’t necessarily all that fun to watch. After all, one car spinning in circles certainly loses its charm after a while. But what about seventy cars spinning in smoke-filled circles? Now that’s something.

Earlier this week, over 70 vehicles showed up at Infineon Raceway in order to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of cars performing donuts successfully. Check out what ensued in the video after the break, complete with epic battle background music.

Continue reading Guinness Book of World Records spin-off shows it’s time to make the donuts

Guinness Book of World Records spin-off shows it’s time to make the donuts

Our spy photographers managed to spot something curious (and decidedly hilarious) recently. General Motors has been busy testing what would appear to be Chevrolet Volt models with massive 20-inch wheels and tires in place of the low-rolling resistance pieces on the stock plug-in.

Why? Guesses are slim at the moment, but one hypothesis is that this is actually our first glimpse at a Cadillac Converj test mule. That vehicle will make use of an altered version of the Voltec drivetrain found in the Chevrolet, albeit bolted to flashier wheels. The luxury hybrid has been an on-again-off-again affair for General Motors since the concept first rolled across the stage at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

Last we heard, the Converj is on track for launch in either 2013 or 2014. If true, now would be the time to begin working out any engineering bugs on the rumored Voltec 1.5 system. With luxury buyers more willing to hand over stacks of cash for new technology, the Converj could make quite a bit more sense to buyers than the Volt. Or bolting chrome dubs to a hybrid, for that matter.

Is this dub-rockin’ Chevrolet Volt actually a Cadillac Converj in disguise?