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So where are we at with the 2013 Nissan Altima? We’ve seen an overhead shot teased, along with a peek at its front fascia. We’ve seen a shot of the car leaked in a promotional video, and of course, our spy photographers snapped the car in a conventional disguise, but got a good look at its interior in the process.

Now Nissan comes with this, a brief video that shows off the Altima’s new hind end. Like most every sedan on the market these days, it looks like the fourth-best-selling vehicle of 2011 will be getting a bit of a Bangle butt. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) We do get the first really good view of the Altima’s taillights, which have a bit of Lexus spindle thing going on.

We’ll have to wait until the New York Auto Show on April 4-5 to see the full reveal, though we wouldn’t put it past Nissan to eke out another shot or two of the car before then.

Click on the image above to enlarge, then feel free to see the very brief video yourself below.

Continue reading Nissan reveals latest glimpse at 2013 Altima as NY show approaches [w/video]

Nissan reveals latest glimpse at 2013 Altima as NY show approaches [w/video]

By all accounts, vehicle theft is down to some of the lowest levels in over 25 years. Even so, cars are still getting pilfered every day, and LoJack has gone through the trouble of crafting a detailed infographic displaying some of the more interesting information associated with the 10,251 LoJack-equipped vehicles that were stolen and then recovered last year. The company says that, of all vehicles equipped with the theft recovery system, 92 percent are brought back to their rightful owners. Last year, the most stolen and recovered 2011 model was the ubiquitous 2011 Toyota Camry, while the Honda Accord took the top slot overall.

The oldest model saved from the clutches of thieves in 2011 was a 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline, while the priciest of them all was a 2010 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG worth $116,825. Not too shabby.

Not surprisingly, California led the list of states with the most stolen and recovered vehicles, with Texas, Florida, New York and New Jersey fleshing out the top five. The full, expanded infographic can be seen below.

Continue reading Infographic: LoJack releases 2011 Auto Theft Report

Infographic: LoJack releases 2011 Auto Theft Report

Why Automakers Are Increasingly Entering Alliances

It’s only a question of how deeply the knife will slice as Mazda’s desperate cost-cutting measures take aim at its U.S. workforce this week.

The maker has signaled it will post a $1.2 billion loss when the Japanese fiscal year wraps up on March 31, its worst performance in 11 years, and only by offering more than a billion dollars in new stock is it likely to head off a more serious crisis. For now, anyway.

With long-time partner Ford Motor Company slashing its stake in its Japanese affiliate from 33 to just four percent since Alan Mulally was named CEO, even Mazda’s top executive Takashi Yamanouchi admits it will be difficult to go it alone, Yamanouchi recently acknowledging his company is “actively” looking for new alliance partners.

Of course, Mazda is not alone. General Motors confirmed this month that it would enter into a far-reaching partnership with Paris-based PSA Peugeot Citroen. And Germany’s Daimler AG has repeatedly expanded the coalition it formed two years ago with the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading “It’s partner or die” in today’s automotive world

“It’s partner or die” in today’s automotive world

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Those interested in getting their 650-horsepower kicks in the form of a 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 can now at least partly satiate their longing with an online configurator. And, as you can see above, you are free to deck your favorite ‘Stang in any number of classic racing colors… or even in Superman-spec red and blue.

Outlandish color choices aside, there are plenty of interesting options for the fastest factory Mustang ever created, including the expected Sync infotainment technologies, a voice-activated navigation system and a three-subwoofer Shaker Pro audio system. Those looking for some added sportiness inside the cabin can opt for a color-coordinated pair (black and blue in the case of our config) of front Recaro seats for an extra $1,595. Sounds like money well-spent.

For those wishing to check every option available for the car, including a Shelby-branded car cover, the most-expensive 2013 Shelby GT500 hardtop will waltz off the factory floor with a $66,485 window sticker. On the other side of the equation, even a base $54,200 (*plus $795 for destination) car will come equipped with the supercharged 5.8-liter V8 capable of hurtling the GT500 to a terminal velocity of a bit over 200 miles per hour. Performance bargain, anyone?

Feel free to build your own 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 here, and share your favorite config in the Comments. Ready, set… go!

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 priced from $54,200*, configurator goes live

The replacement for the aging Jeep Liberty is expected to debut at next January’s Detroit Auto Show, and when it does, a brand-new Pentastar powertrain will reportedly be spinning underhood. According to Automotive News, Chrysler will offer a downsized 3.2-liter V6 in the Liberty mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission sourced from ZF. The current Pentastar V6 displaces 3.6 liters and has been well-received by both critics and buyers in everything from the refreshed Dodge Journey to new Chrysler 300.

Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne reiterated to AN that efficient transmissions play a huge role in the development of engines. “If we had known the eight-speed was coming, we could have made the [3.6-liter] Pentastar a 3.2-liter,” he said.

Currently, the Liberty is available with a 3.7-liter SOHC V6 that produces 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque backed by a four-speed automatic transmission. This new 3.2-liter/nine-speed combo will surely improve performance, not to mention overall efficiency, though specific power and fuel economy details are still up in the air at this time.

Next Jeep Liberty to get shrunken Pentastar V6

While the ink has barely dried on our 2013 Porsche Boxster S First Drive, the automaker has reportedly just divulged the roadster’s official lap time around the famed Nürburgring circuit in Germany – the grueling racetrack that serves as a benchmark test for today’s sports cars. According to Porsche, its new two-seat convertible crossed the start/finish line after delivering a 7:58 lap.

That time may seem a bit off the pace when compared to heavy-hitters like the 911 GT2 RS (7:18), Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (7:19) and Nissan GT-R (7:24), but it is plenty quick among its peers in the same horsepower range (the ‘13 Boxster features a 3.4-liter flat-six rated at 315 horsepower) and strong enough to take the checkered flag away from the Cadillac CTS-V and Chevrolet C6 Corvette. Much of the credit goes to Porsche’s commitment to keeping weight off the roadster (its curb weight is just 2,910 pounds), widening its track and fitting the redesigned vehicle with its capable torque-vectoring system.

2013 Porsche Boxster S laps ‘Ring in 7:58

Sorry, Phillips de Pury & Company, but you guys evidently had no business auctioning this car at a sale of contemporary art. Because no matter what the dynamic rap duo of Kanye West and Jay-Z did to it, this 2004 Maybach 57 is, first and foremost, a used car. Clearly the art community has voted with its wallets – and decided that the vehicle’s value is about what you could make if you parted it out. Frankly, that’s sad.

For those that don’t remember, the Maybach was heavily modified for use in the music video for the song “Otis,” the Grammy Award-winning hit from Kanye’s 2011 album Watch The Throne. Despite its overt ugliness, the car certainly has provenance. (Did we mention that the song won a Grammy?) We only hope that whomever ponied up the paltry sum of $60,000 for the “Otis” Maybach is either a real music fan or someone who goes on to resell it at Barrett-Jackson or another car auction where they know how to move the celebrity metal.

Be sure to check out our gallery of the “Otis” Maybach, and click past the jump to watch the music video.

Continue reading Jay-Z and Kanye’s wrecked Maybach fetches just $60,000 at auction [w/video]

Jay-Z and Kanye’s wrecked Maybach fetches just $60,000 at auction [w/video]

More Consonants, More Raw

There’s an almost infinite amount to love about the Infiniti G37 line. In sedan or coupe form, X or S guise, the vehicles deliver that difficult-to-attain blend of rear-wheel-biased performance, content and refinement with a manageable price tag. With the excellent VQ37 3.7-liter V6 engine pounding under the hood and the buyer’s choice of manual or automatic gearboxes pushing power to the rear or all four wheels, the G37 family is one of the market’s best arguments against sliding behind the wheel of a BMW 3 Series. That is, unless you wanted a truly serious performance machine.

German titans like BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been lapping European racetracks under their M and AMG banners for decades, honing performance hardware that customers would merrily plop down fat stacks of cash for later. While Japanese luxury automakers have been somewhat slow to embrace performance sub-brands, recent years have seen an explosion of consonant-laced badging stuck to sharper machinery. Among Japanese automakers, Lexus first dipped a toe in those waters with the company’s F-Sport goods, and Infiniti has risen to the challenge with its new Infiniti Performance Line. By gracing the G37 Coupe with more horsepower, a sharper suspension, larger brakes and unique interior appointments, Infiniti has taken a first step into a world dominated by some of the world’s most storied badges.

But is the IPL G37 a serious performance contender or simply a bolt-on queen with delusions of grandeur?

Continue reading 2012 Infiniti G37 IPL

2012 Infiniti G37 IPL

Subaru is recalling 275,000 Forester crossovers over potentially faulty rear seatbelts that may not properly allow for the secure attachment of a child restraint. The affected models are from the 2009 to 2012 model years, built between November 26, 2007 and March 13, 2012.

According to the recall summary from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the automatic locking retractor in the seatbelt assemblies of the rear center seat are at fault here. Obviously, if a child restraint is not properly secured to the seatbelt anchor, this can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

The recall is expected to kick off in early April, and Subaru dealers will replace the rear center seatbelt assembly free of charge. In the meantime, owners can contact Subaru directly at 1-800-782-2783, and the full summary of the recall can be read in NHTSA’s report after the jump.

Continue reading 275,000 Subaru Forester models recalled over faulty seatbelt fears

275,000 Subaru Forester models recalled over faulty seatbelt fears

Mitsubishi may be one of the smallest auto manufacturers, but it’s on its game when it comes to safety. The Outlander Sport compact crossover joins Mitsubishi’s Lancer on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety list of Top Safety Picks.

The designation applies only to 2012 models, as Mitsubishi made changes to the roof design this year that helped the Outlander Sport score a “Good” rating on the roof strength test. It also earned “Good” marks on frontal offset and side impact tests, and with standard stability control it met all the criteria for the IIHS award.

See below for the full press release.

Continue reading 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport grabs IIHS Top Safety Pick

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport grabs IIHS Top Safety Pick

Automakers are always attempting to show how popular their new vehicle is, but there are only two ways to truly prove a smashing hit. One is to deliver outstanding sales numbers, and the other is to experience demand so strong that new employees must be hired to help assemble them.

Land Rover is experiencing just such a success with its sexy new Evoque line, as evidenced by its latest press release. The Tata Motors owned luxury marque announced that it is hiring an additional 1,000 workers at its Halewood plant to bolster production. The facility, which currently builds the Evoque and the Freelander 2 (a.k.a. LR2), will now employ 4,500 workers, or three times the number it did in 2009.

With those new hires, the Halewood plant will now be running at or near full capacity, with three full eight-hour shifts. Hit the jump to read over the Land Rover press release which includes details of some of the positions needed at the plant.

Continue reading Land Rover to hire 1,000 in attempt to keep up with Evoque demand

Land Rover to hire 1,000 in attempt to keep up with Evoque demand

The Amelia Island Concours may not be as old or have quite the prestige of Pebble Beach, but it still marks an important place on the automotive calendar every spring. For 2012, an incredible selection of cars gathered in the northeast end of Florida for the 17th annual show, with the event celebrating 50 years of the Shelby Cobra, the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO, custom coachwork Cadillacs, experimental Corvettes as well as cars that won the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring.

As with Pebble Beach, the Amelia Island Concours gives out awards to the most outstanding vehicles, but unlike the West Coast show there are two main trophies up for grabs instead of just one. This year a 1938 Bugatti Type 57, one of just three like it in the world, was awarded the Concours d’Elegance award, while a 1962 Ferrari 330 LM, essentially a 4.0-liter version of the 250 GTO, claimed the Concours de Sport award.

You can read more about this year’s Amelia Island Concours and the two best of show winners in the press release below.

Continue reading 1938 Bugatti Type 57, 1962 Ferrari 330 LM take top honors at Amelia Island

1938 Bugatti Type 57, 1962 Ferrari 330 LM take top honors at Amelia Island

GMC has a hit on its hands with the Denali trim, but for some reason the brand’s most popular crossover still hasn’t donned the signature chrome grille. That will change for the 2013 model year with the introduction of the 2013 Terrain Denali.

The freshly minted Terrain Denali will of course feature a chrome front grille, 19-inch wheels (V6 model only), satin chrome accents, body color rocker panels and front and rear fascias, new headlight and taillights and a dual exhaust. The top Terrain will also receive a high-end interior, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mahogany wood accents, a soft-touch instrument panel with French stitching, Denali-embossed leather seats and illuminated Denali sill plates.

The biggest news for the Denali is the introduction of a more powerful 3.6-liter V6, which will replace the 3.0-liter V6 across the Terrain lineup. The larger V6 will output 301 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque, or 37 hp and 50 lb-ft more than the 3.0-liter. And if you’re thinking fuel economy will suffer as a result, think again. The added power will result in the same fuel economy as the torque-deficient 3.0-liter, with 24 miles power gallon on the highway and 17 mpg in the city.

Fuel-thrifty buyers can purchase the Terrain Denali with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder, which outputs 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque and boasts 32 mpg on the highway. The four-cylinder-equipped Denali will feature slightly smaller 18-inch wheels. All-wheel drive will also be available with both engines.

The Terrain Denali will feature a cadre of top tech amenities too, including IntelliLink, Bluetooth, Pandora and Stitcher integration and iPod controls with Gracenote tech. This Denali also utilizes advanced safety features including lane departure and forward collision warnings and blind spot radar tech to look for vehicles the driver may not see.

Pricing will be released later this year, so for now check out the official word from GMC below and additional images in our gallery.

Continue reading GMC reveals 2013 Terrain Denali with 301-horsepower V6

GMC reveals 2013 Terrain Denali with 301-horsepower V6

We imagine that many a Russian Lada has been compared to a ticking time bomb – which is not to say that there aren’t any good Ladas out in the wild, of course – but the example you’ll see in the video pasted below takes the cake. It is, quite literally, an Improvised Explosive Device.

If an exploding Lada alone isn’t enough reason for you to watch, perhaps the reaction of the passengers is more of a draw. Their reaction to the impending doom is so quick that it’s almost as if the two occupants were just waiting for the engine of this poor machine to reach its glorious and destructive demise.

See what we’re talking about in the video pasted below.

Continue reading Lada emergency is no mere fire drill

Lada emergency is no mere fire drill

The British sure love their surveillance cameras, don’t they? As if living in the police state that is modern Great Britain isn’t bad enough for motorists, what with all the speed cameras and the like, there’s a new plan afoot: Keep the uninsured from pumping gas.

According to The Mirror, a new government proposal would have surveillance cameras at gas stations determine whether a vehicle carries valid insurance and registration before turning on the pumps. Automatic license plate recognition is already in place at thousands of British fueling stations, acting as a deterrent to driving off without paying. The new measure would be as simple as allowing the systems to cross-reference databases of the national Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, according to the report.

One in 25 drivers in the UK are uninsured, according to The Mirror - some 1.4 million motorists. While the report calls this rate “one of the worst records in western Europe,” it’s far better than here in the United States.

According to data from 2009, published by USA Today, nearly 14 percent of U.S. drivers, or one in seven, has no insurance. In that report, the south stood atop the list of U.S. states with the highest rates of uninsured drivers, with Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, Florida, Oklahama and Alabama all topping 20 percent.

What do you think about this initiative? Is it it a good idea or a bad one? Would you welcome similar legislation here in the States? Take part in our survey below and feel free to leave your thoughts in Comments.

View Poll

UK to use gas station cameras to automatically stop fueling of uninsured cars? [w/poll]

The Italian city of Modena stands as a veritable mecca for automobile enthusiasts. Not only does it serve as the home of both Maserati and Pagani, but it was also the birthplace of one Enzo Ferrari. While the automaker and racing team that carry his name are situated in nearby Maranello, where the company also operates its own museum, a new foundation has started up in Modena, dedicated to preserving the memory of the legendary industrialist and racer.

That organization is the Fondazione Casa Natale Enzo Ferrari, which has acquired the house where Ferrari was raised, turning it into a museum of its own. Although Enzo himself sold his childhood home to finance his aspirations, the foundation has recently reacquired it, transforming it and the adjacent garage where his father worked into a cultural center and expanding on the original buildings with a modern structure.

Designed by Czech architect Jan Kaplicky and carried to completion after his death by his protege Andrea Morgante, the yellow-roofed building – painted the color of the Ferrari logo and designed to evoke the hood on one of his iconic sportscars – incorporates an art exhibit, a multimedia experience, a rotating display of Ferrari road and race cars borrowed from independent collectors, and a collection of Enzo’s own artifacts.

The grounds also house education and conference centers, a book shop, cafeteria and the offices of the foundation itself. If you’re planning a pilgrimage to the area, it strikes us as an experience not to be missed. But if your travel plans don’t extend to the Modena area, you can check out the gallery of high-resolution images we’ve compiled for your virtual tourism pleasure.

Modena welcomes new museum at birthplace of Enzo Ferrari

The partnership beween Volkswagen and Suzuki is more than two years old, yet in that time, more acrimony and court proceedings have been created than jointly developed products – not hard to do when that product number is zero. Continent-crossing accusations have included Suzuki being upset at how VW has characterized the relationship and that VW hasn’t shared its technology, while the German automaker has been miffed at Suzuki buying diesel engines from Fiat.

Suzuki filed for arbitration in London and hopes to compel VW to sell back the 19.9-percent stake it took in Suzuki in 2009. A line in VW’s annual report, however, reads that it “considers the claims to be unfounded and has itself filed counterclaims.” VW doesn’t expect a court decision on Suzuki’s arbitration to come before 2013. We know they say it’s always darkest before the dawn, but we have a feeling the sun won’t be rising on this union for quite some time.

Court ruling on VW-Suzuki partnership spat not expected until 2013

New car sales have endured all manner of impediments since The Great Recession began in 2008, and for various reasons including everything from restricted lending by banks to strikes and Acts of God. Next up among the bugbears could be a shortage of car haulers, which were pulled from active duty when there simply weren’t cars to haul.

However, with 2012 sales riding a projected wave of 15 million in sales for the year, the opposite has happened: too many new vehicles to be shipped paired with a paucity of tractor-trailers and trains to do the shipping. Estimates put the disparity between demand and supply at 1.7 million vehicles – the kind of number that could make a dent that won’t buff out.

On the other hand, shipping companies are buying all the haulers they can, it’s only March, and no one knows how long the superheated sales will continue. Yet even if the hauler shortage is remedied, there could be a shortage of drivers. According to Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, finding truckers to fill the drivers’ seats will become more difficult since pay hasn’t kept up with the economy.

Follow the jump to see the Autoline Daily report (skip to 1:18 for the car hauler story).

Continue reading Vehicle hauler shortage to threaten new car sales?

Vehicle hauler shortage to threaten new car sales?

It’s a funny thing, being rich and famous. You can afford anything you want, but everything comes to you for free. Just ask Sebastian Vettel, who – as reigning Formula One World Champion two years running now and brand ambassador for Infiniti – can get any luxed-up Datsun he wants. Which may not be quite as exciting as Fernando Alonso having his run of the Ferrari motor pool or Lewis Hamilton getting his hands on the new McLaren MP4-12C, but it’s not without its perks, to be sure. Like the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Version.

Unveiled as a concept vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in September, the Vetteled FX packs a 5.0-liter V8 good for 414 horsepower and an estimated 5.6-second sprint to 62 mph, along with carbon fiber aero bits aplenty, reduced weight and a lowered suspension.

Back in October, we received confirmation that Infiniti was, indeed, planning on offering the special edition performance crossover – based, as it is, on the FX50S Premium model – in limited quantities, and the company has now officially announced its availability.

Only 200 examples will be made at an as-yet undisclosed but assuredly lofty price, with orders being taken now for delivery next year. But before you go racing down to the local Infiniti dealership, know that the model will only be offering in Europe and the Middle East. Which is just as well, because we can’t imagine many American buyers ponying up the kind of cash Infiniti will be asking for the privilege just because it’s named after some kid from Germany, no matter how many grands prix he’s won. Official announcement after the jump.

Continue reading Infiniti opens order book on FX Sebastian Vettel Version

Infiniti opens order book on FX Sebastian Vettel Version

Ford is hard at work on a refresh for the Fiesta, and thanks to our intrepid spy photographers, we’re now getting our first glimpses of the subcompact’s new schnoz. It appears as though the car’s somewhat cutesy face will now have a more aggressive shape, complete with smaller headlamps that integrate LED running lights – which appears to be right in line with the revised design language seen on the all-new 2013 Fusion.

It’s unclear exactly what other changes are in store for the next Fiesta, though reports have suggested that EcoBoost power may soon be found underhood. Ford has long stated that it plans to incorporate EcoBoost powertrains into the vast majority of its vehicles, and the Fiesta would be a seemingly perfect home for the recently launched 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo. In the European-spec Focus, this engine is available with either 99 or 118 horsepower and a respectable 125 pound-feet of torque. For comparison, the current Fiesta’s 1.6-liter inline-four pumps out 120 hp and 112 lb-ft.

Scroll through our attached high-res image gallery to see the facelifted Fiesta blasting through the snow undergoing winter testing and stay tuned for more details.

Ford Fiesta five-door facelift photographed