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Last time we talked about the next-generation Volkswagen Touareg R it was to relay rumors that the high-performance SUV might drop the automaker’s venerable 5.0-liter diesel V10 TDI engine in favor of a V8 hybrid powertrain. Car and Driver is kicking the ball the other way with a report that the next version of the Toureg R will indeed still be a diesel, although carrying over the V10 probably isn’t in the cards.

Instead, C/D reports that VW will be using its new 4.2-liter diesel V8 already available in the European Touareg. For Touareg R duty, the oil burner will likely be pumped up from its current 340-horsepower output to 380, along with delivering enough torque to move the SUV with irresponsible abandon. That’s more power than the V10 TDI produced in the old Touareg R at 350, and probably enough for the new Touareg R to keep pace with other high-performance SUVs in the segment.

The bigger news is that C/D claims the next-gen Touareg R will actually be available for sale in the U.S in 2012 as a 2013 model. The new 4.2-liter diesel V8 will apparently meet current U.S. emissions standards, at least when installed under the hood of a Touareg R.

To date, the only R model ever offered by VW in the States was the Golf-based R32. We’ve never had a shot at a Touareg R, though VW did intermittently sell a version of the last-generation Touareg here with the same diesel V10 TDI as the R model in Europe (also called the R50), though tuned for less power and minus the performance goodies.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Volkswagen Touareg R will be sold in U.S. with a diesel by 2012

The Stig has taken another step toward shrugging off the shackles of the BBC. As you may recall, Top Gear’s tame racing driver recently locked horns with the Beeb after he made it clear he wanted to publish his memoirs. The show’s producers found issue with text, saying that revealing his identity would not only be a disservice to the fans of the show, but that it would also violate the terms of his contract. Thing is, a judge has struck down the BBC’s injunction to keep The Stig from publishing his book. That means publisher HarperCollins can move forward on bringing the book to life without fear of any further legal action from the BBC.

Interestingly enough, Ben Collins, the man who has long-been rumored to be the Stig, was spotted leaving the courthouse shortly after the ruling was issued. Collins was evasive when asked by reporters if he was the man in white, though we have a hard time thinking of any other reason why he would be at the hearing.

[Source: The Guardian]

BBC loses court battle to block the Stig book

EPA Fuel Economy Sample Grades – Click above to view entire list

Twenty years ago, the federal government made it mandatory for most food products to carry nutrition information based on a 2,000 calorie diet in the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Information Act. In doing so, the feds simultaneously ensured that graphic designers the world over would run into the headache of squeezing the now-familiar Nutrition Facts chart onto food packages and that the public at large would have at least some clue as to what they were shoving down their pie-hole. Now the EPA and the DOT are in the process of pulling a similar maneuver for vehicle fuel economy.

Needless to say, this has made us a little curious as to how the current fleet of vehicles being sold here in the states would fare in the new rating system. Fortunately, the EPA has answered that very question. Buried deep in the 242-page explanation of the label is a table that breaks down a handful of vehicles by grade. At the very top of the list, earning an A+ are EVs, followed quickly by plug-in hybrids. A little bit lower on the list in the A- category are cars like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius.

As you might expect, larger vehicles and those with gargantuan engines fall lower down the grading scale. The lowest example on the list? That would be the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti at a lowly D.

[Source: EPA]

How EPA’s new fuel economy label would grade current cars

Here it is. Race promoter Tavo Hellmund has pulled back the sheets on the Austin formula one track, and the course looks damn impressive at first glance. The 3.4-mile course packs in 20 turns, a total change in elevation to 133 feet and a back straight that’s a full three-quarters of a mile long. What’s more, the circuit is designed to promote passing for American fans with short attention spans thanks to plenty of long straights followed by tight, 45-degree turns. Hellmund said that the cars should be able to click off a 200 mph top speed, and will sail by the grand stands at 180 mph or more.

Interestingly enough, the course’s designers have borrowed heavily from other tracks from around the world. Turns 3-6 are nearly carbon copies of a series of apexes at Silverstone, while 12-15 pay homage to Hockenheim. One section that’s guaranteed to generate plenty of action is turns 16-18, a multi-apex monster cut from the same cloth as Istanbul’s turn 8.

The Austin F1 course is slated to bare its first race by 2012, and there’s some word that construction will get under way this December.

[Source: Formula 1, The Statesman]

Austin’s F1 track gets laid out

We aren’t quite sure why the Aston Martin Cygnet exists. What was once an economical Toyota iQ is now a fuel-sipping Aston Martin (weird) with a lavish interior and a price tag that will make your heart skip a beat. We understand that vehicles like this work well in the congested, small-car-friendly cities of Europe, but it remains to be seen if microcars have a place here in the United States. The Smart ForTwo has proved to be a flop in the States, though we’ll chalk most of that up to its unimpressive fuel economy and downright awful driving dynamics.

The U.S. is set to get a Scion-badged version of the Toyota iQ in early 2011, but a report from Automotive News states that Aston Martin could import its angry-looking Cygnet counterpart to our shores as early as 2012. It would share the same 1.3-liter gasoline powerplant as the Scion, though an electric-only version with a 60-mile range could arrive in 2013.

We’ll wait until Aston Martin gives us the official word before we start jumping to any conclusions, but consider our outlook on a U.S.-spec Cygnet similar to that of a half-empty glass.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Aston Martin Cygnet could come to the States

General Motors confirmed this morning that November 11, 2010 has been set as the official Job 1 date for the Chevrolet Volt. The news initially reported by Translogic was verified to AutoblogGreen by GM spokesman Rob Peterson. November 2010 has always been the targeted production launch timing for the Volt, but a specific day couldn’t be set until other development milestones were met.

Now that development and testing is virtually complete and certification testing is underway, production and customer deliveries will soon start unless there are any showstopping issues. Generally, dealer deliveries start about three to four weeks after Job 1, so those early models should be rolling off trucks and onto dealer lots in early December.

However, with California being one of the launch markets for the Volt, we would be surprised if GM doesn’t hold some kind of event to deliver the first customer car in conjunction with the press days for the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 17-18. Between now and November, the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant will continue building the pre-production units that are going into GM’s captured test fleet for use by employees for real-world evaluation.

[Sources: Translogic, General Motors]

Official: Chevrolet Volt production begins November 11

It’s only a matter of days before Bentley officially debuts the 2012 Continental GT coupe on the internet. We’ve already seen two sets of spy shots and a teaser video, and now our trusty spy photographers have caught the big Conti out testing one last time. So much for keeping us in suspense.

Yes, by now we already have a very good idea of what the final Continental GT will look like, but we’re still curious as to what changes lie under that shapely sheetmetal. What’s more, we’re sure that Bentley has a few tricks up its sleeve for new interior refinement (not that the current Conti has third-world accommodations, or anything).

ContinentalGT.com is the place to be at 10:00 AM EST on Tuesday, September 7 – that’s where we’ll see the official reveal and get full details on the new Conti. For now, scroll through the final set of spy shots, below.

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Last look at 2012 Bentley Continental GT before internet reveal

Hollywood movies are chock full of kick-ass superhero cars. There are radical vehicles, like the Batmobile and Mach 5, and then there are the gussied-up street cars like Eleanor, Greased Lightning and Austin Powers’ Shaguar. Aside from the extreme styling, most of the mechanized celebrities from Hollywood are only capable of conjuring their supernatural performance on-screen. Step aside Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and make room for FireBreather.

Getting a jump on Jinn, a film due to be released next year by Exxodus Pictures, Classic Design Concepts is introducing its own superhero car. Unlike the aforementioned movie props, relegated to static displays in museums or car shows, the satin-black hero in the upcoming supernatural thriller will make it into limited production and offer enough performance to back up its enhanced persona.

Autoblog caught up with the wickedly-styled Camaro coupe at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance a couple weeks ago. While the venue is hardly an ideal setting for putting any car through its paces, there was plenty of time to take in the FireBreather aura and persuade its supercharged 600-horsepower engine to remove more than a few layers of rubber from the rear tires.

As expected, there were many questions in need of answering. How was it transformed? Who’s behind the styling and what’s the logic behind the name? Most importantly, what’s it like to drive this real-life superhero car? These answers and more, after the jump.

Continue reading Quick Spin: FireBreather Camaro

Quick Spin: FireBreather Camaro

There have been plenty of murmurings about how Fiat’s partnership with Chrysler will impact the Jeep brand. Exactly how much platform sharing will occur between the Italian automaker and the Pentastar’s globe-roaming purveyor of SUVs has been a hot topic amongst the Jeep faithful for some time. Now it appears that a video posted on YouTube by user thejeepchannel has given the world its first glance at a new Fiat-based crossover set to wear the famous seven-slot grille. In the video, a Jeep intern learns a bit about the company’s design process, all while hovering around a clay model of one very CUV-looking creation.

Chrysler has made no qualms about the fact that it will produce an SUV on the C-Evo platform, and has even made noise about which of the company’s manufacturing facilities will build the vehicle.

Our guess is that the clay model in the video is none other than that very high-rider. Judging by the clay, the CUV will wear a host of typical Jeep design cues, including squared-off fender arches and overhangs. Follow the jump to see for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Jeep accidently shows off Fiat-based CUV

Video: Jeep accidently shows off Fiat-based CUV

California commuters will either celebrate or curse SB 535, a new law that extends hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles’ usage of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the Golden State.

Introduced by Sen. Leland Yee and signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the new law expands the ability for hybrid, electric and natural-gas powered vehicles fitted with the ubiquitous yellow bumper stickers to drive solo in the carpool lanes during designated hours. Additionally, it increases the number of permits to 40,000 and widens the eligible vehicles to include the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and the Nissan Leaf EV.

Some lawmakers opposed the bill, citing that California’s carpool lanes are already congested with alt-fuel vehicles and additional permits will exacerbate the issue. And this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but General Motors sponsored the bill.

[Source: LA Times]

Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf allowed to use California HOV lanes

With the Paris Motor Show a mere month away, automakers from around the globe are unleashing a barrage of teasers and rumors that hint to what will be on display. According to Auto Express, Jaguar is the latest company to let slip what it has planned. The murky report says the Leaping Cat will pull the covers off of an XK-sized sports car inspired by the Porsche 918. While that likely means the concept will boast a fantastical hybrid drivetrain with more torque than sense, it doesn’t mean that Tata is going to fast-track this car for production. Auto Express says the car is more to flex the company’s styling muscles than anything else.

While that means we likely won’t be seeing another sultry two-door in the Jaguar stable any time soon, the new concept will give us some insight into what’s coming down the pike in terms of Jaguar design. That may include some new, oblong grille language to replace the slinky oval of the E-Types of old. Supposedly the company’s designers are having a hard time maintaining the oval grille’s proportions on the company’s new widebody platforms.

[Source: Auto Express Image: Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL]

Report: Jaguar sports car concept bound for Paris

While Irv Gordon is already retired, he’s taken to accruing miles on his already impressively well-traveled Volvo 1800 like it’s his job. It took a while to rack up the first million miles, but the second million came more quickly, rolling the odometer over in Times Square back in 2002. Now Gordon is headed for 3 million a mere eight years later. Only big rigs put on a million miles more quickly, and even that might be debatable.

“Who would have thought such a decision, to buy a Volvo, would have created so many opportunities?” Gordon tells Autoblog. Some of his favorite miles out of the 2.8 million currently showing on the odometer (he was at 2.6 million the last time we checked) were his first trip across the United States and a trip to Europe where the 1800 and its intrepid driver drove from the United Kingdom into Sweden to see the car’s original birthplace before rolling on to other continental hamlets and accruing 5,000 miles in a month.

Irv’s 70 years old now, and he wouldn’t mind selling his beloved red Volvo coupe. Asking price? “A dollar per mile,” says Gordon. Despite what Irv calls “some very interesting offers,” nobody has offered him his asking price. That’s okay with Gordon, who acknowledges that his Volvo is the star. “Once I sell the car, no one will invite me anywhere any longer,” he quips.

Should the right buyer for the trusty red 1800 come along, Gordon knows what he’ll do. “It’d be nice to have a car with all the new creature comforts to travel in, and who knows, should I live another 10-15 years, I could put a million miles on my next vehicle and start the cycle all over again.”

While unlikely, putting three million dollars in his bank account would make those long treks more comfortable, affording fine hotels and gourmet dining versus at times sleeping in the 1800 to save some bucks. Gordon’s not complaining, “I have indeed been a very fortunate fellow,” he says. You have to respect his commitment to the little Volvo coupe that was originally purchased as a refuge from a pair of demonically unreliable Chevrolets, too. A retirement lifestyle that would allow one to travel in style and worry less about finances is a nearly universal goal, too. Gordon’s got a leg up on all of us, having put in the seat time to earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records and turn a stolid, stylish Swede into a wheeled pension plan.

[Source: AOL Autos Photos: Josh Max - Irv Gordon]

Irv Gordon’s Volvo P1800 closing in on 3 million miles

After a recent spate of engine fires, Ferrari has officially issued a recall of the 458 Italia.

According to the automaker, an adhesive used to attach a heat shield under the rear fender can ignite under high temperatures, leading to a larger fire in the engine bay. We’ve seen at least four cases on the internet of flaming 458s like this one, and while we can’t say for certain, it would seem this adhesive is the likely cause.

Ferrari has designed a new heat shield that attaches with rivets, negating the need for the adhesive. Naturally, 458 owners are urged to call a dealer to schedule an appointment for the free fix.

Ferrari 458 Italia recalled over fire risk

Tanner Foust took the top spot in the first-ever Rallycross competition in the United States this past weekend, piloting an all-wheel-drive Rockstar Engergy/Etnies Ford Fiesta.

Rallycross has existed around the world for years, but the sport officially debuted in America at the 2010 X Games, where it was called Super Rally. Foust just happened to win gold in the inaugural X Games competition, too. Rallycross mixes circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition on a short course, featuring jumps, hills, unbanked turns and quick transitions between different road surfaces. Two more Rallycross events are scheduled to take place this year, all of which will be held at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Foust has been participating in European Rallycross events for quite some time, and he’s also gained exposure by competing in Formula Drift and previous X Games competitions. What’s more, Foust is one of the hosts for the U.S. version of Top Gear. Somebody get this guy a vacation.

Look for the next U.S. Rallycross event to take place on October 2-3 and follow the jump for the full release about Foust’s win along with a brief video of Tanner ripping down the front straight with his rear bumper flapping in the wind.

[Source: Tanner Foust]

Continue reading Tanner Foust wins first RallyCar Rallycross event in U.S. [w/video]

Tanner Foust wins first RallyCar Rallycross event in U.S. [w/video]

It is only fitting that NASCAR has as history of cheating that’s as cunning and varied as the methods of the original, moonshine-running racers skirting the law. Popular Mechanics has detailed 11 great moments in the bending and breaking of NASCAR rules, which include a cheating incident and ejection in the very first series race in 1949, an inflated basketball to circumvent gas tank capacity and frame rails loaded with BBs to get around weight restrictions.

And although a stricter rule book and the Car of Tomorrow might make “rules violations” harder ever year, it certainly hasn’t stopped: a site that keeps track of NASCAR penalties shows the series has docked five teams five teams already this year. Perhaps that’s because, as Darryl Waltrip said after getting busted in 1976, “If you don’t cheat, you look like an idiot.”

[Source: Popular Mechanics Image: Jason Smith/Getty Images]

NASCAR’s greatest cheats detailed

When Ford took the wraps off of its Taurus-based Police Interceptor sedan earlier this year, we were told that a second, utility-oriented police pursuit vehicle would be coming down the pipeline. Enter the Police Interceptor Utility, based off the 2011 Explorer crossover. A Flex-styled paddy wagon would have been cool, but the Explorer’s higher ground clearance makes it more versatile for law enforcement officials who require all-terrain capability.

Unlike the sedan, which will be available with two different powertrains, the Explorer Interceptor only comes with Ford’s 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6, delivering “at least 280″ horsepower and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations are available, and it appears that the Explorer’s terrain management system will not be offered on the Police Interceptor. The latest host of driver aids like curve control and Ford’s AdvanceTrac Roll Stability Control are standard on the Interceptor Utility, as are larger brakes, a tougher suspension and 18-inch steel wheels.

Inside, new seats have been fitted up front with reductions in side bolstering to accommodate an officer’s utility belt, and the gear shifter is now mounted on the column in order to provide space for computer equipment in the center console. Much like the Taurus Interceptor, Ford specifically designed the spacing between the seats to ensure that existing police equipment can be carried over to the new vehicles without issue. Things aren’t exactly luxurious in the rear seats (duh), but occupants out back do get their own climate control system (Ford says this is ideal for K9 units) as well as stab plates in the front seat backs to keep the driver and passenger safe.

Ford has also gone the extra step to rework some of the Explorer’s interior functions to better suit police needs. The steering wheel buttons, for example, are remappable and can be programmed to operate a host of auxiliary functions (lights, sirens, etc.). What’s more, Ford’s SYNC system is on hand and can be used to voice-activate the different police communication and audio equipment.

Don’t expect to see the Police Interceptor Utility out on the road until 2012 at the earliest. Ford says that production will begin in late 2011 alongside the sedan at the automaker’s Chicago assembly plant. For now, check out our high-res galleries of both live and official images, and follow the jump for the presser.

Live photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to serve and protect

Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to serve and protect

	LA Auto Show preview: Infiniti to launch 2012 M35 hybrid Perhaps you’ve met its cousin, the Nissan Fuga hybrid?		Smart’s problems mean sales will likely be under 100,000 units for 2010 Next-gen and EV models can’t get here soon enough.
	Toyota considers hybrid version of subcompact Etios for Indian market It’s still highly unlikely that the subcompact will ever come to the U.S.	Other news: Automakers, suppliers lobby Washington to promote green efforts Demand for ethanol-free gas still growing Has hybrid demand peaked? Probably not and here’s why

AutoblogGreen for 09.01.10

When it comes to a German-American face-off, you could do a lot worse than pitting the BMW M3 against Ford’s 5.0-liter V8 powered Mustang. How much worse? How about a comparison test between a base Porsche Boxster and Ford’s turbocharged, torque-steering Focus RS.

Granted, the rationale for the shoot-out came down to cost. Across the pond both the Boxster and the Focus sticker for about the same amount. But that’s about where the similarities end. Almost.

While the Focus channels over 300 horsepower to the front wheels, it also tips the scales 3,200 pounds. Compared to the 2,900-pound, 255-hp, rear-driven Boxster, Ford’s hottest hatch comes off as rather portly, although both manage to run to 60 mph in under six seconds.

But beyond the stats and the all-too-important lap time, the real question is how best to spend your sports car money and which vehicle is the most entertaining to drive. For that, you’ve got to jump.

Continue reading Video: AutoExpress pits Ford Focus RS against Porsche Boxster

Video: AutoExpress pits Ford Focus RS against Porsche Boxster

If you’ve never heard of Argentina-based Donto Motors before, you’re not alone. However, just because this company has remained out of the spotlight doesn’t mean they don’t have big things in the works – how about a hardcore track day racer designed to compete with the likes of the Ariel Atom and KTM X-Bow? If it ever sees production, Donto Motors’ P1 should easily fit right in with these odd/awesome track toys.

The rear-mounted engine is a Volkswagen/Audi-sourced 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 180 horsepower, and it looks like Donto took visual cues from Audi, as well. The front end’s large side vents are reminiscent of a certain supercar that we’ve grown quite fond of, and the rest of the body work is made up of a split construction, in which it’s designed to look as if the body is floating on the FIA-approved chassis. The whole thing weighs just over 1,500 pounds, too, so we imagine that the end result will be a spirited little whip for track day fun.

Donto is hoping to keep the P1 priced around $55,000, and the United States is one of the countries that could receive the lightweight roadster if it goes into production. Emphasis on the word “if.” Head over to Diseno-art.com for more.

[Source: Diseno-art.com]

Donto Motors P1 to take on Ariel Atom, KTM X-Bow

Review: 2011 Honda CR-Z

It may not be the CRX redux we’d hoped for, but the CR-Z is one version of the future, and it isn’t so bad.

Ferrari 599 Roadster preview in Pebble

Sources confirm that Ferrari did reveal the 599 Roadster in Pebble Beach and we’ve got the details.

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Taming the Mt. Washington Auto Road

One Mountain. One man. One Subaru. We take our long-term Legacy up Mt. Washington and tell the tale.

Also of interest:

• LA Preview: Infiniti to launch 2012 M35 hybrid
• NHTSA looking at 2009 VW Jetta stalling issues
• Fiat wants to sell 50,000 500s in the U.S. through 165 dealers
• NHTSA investigating steering issues on 2011 Hyundai Sonata

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