Anyone that’s ever done their own oil changes is familiar with the joys (or, ya know, not) of trying to access and then remove the filters on their engines. If you do manage to get it loose, there is the inevitable mess of oil dripping down your arm as you spin the filter off.
When the goes on sale later this year, both engines for the first time will feature a cartridge type filter that can be removed from above with almost no muss or fuss. Cartridge filters are basically just the internal paper element from traditional filters and they drop into a housing that’s integrated into the cylinder block. GM has been using the same type of filter on the 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4-liter Ecotec engines for several years.
Besides being easier to change and tidier, they are also more environmentally friendly. There is less material from the filter itself to dispose of or recycle and any oil that spills with old-fashion filters often ends up in the local water supply. Also, having the cover with its seal on the top of the filter makes it far less prone to leaks that mess up your driveway. All hail the cartridge filter!
Mahindra pickup – Click above for hi-res image gallery
Plagued by a series of setbacks, , and that little thing called “,” Mahindra has EPA federal emissions certification for its TR20 and TR40 pickups. But man, they must be getting really close. Right?
John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles USA, Mahindra’s exclusive U.S. distributor, says that all the emissions testing on the trucks has been completed and the paperwork is being submitted to the EPA for final approval. Approval itself is expected to take about 30 days. At that point, Global Vehicles could begin importing the trucks to the United States. They’d arrive on our shores 30 to 60 days later.
By our math, that sounds like we could have Mahindra pickup trucks on U.S. roads before the end of August, but neither Perez nor Mahindra’s corporate offices are talking sale dates yet. Experience has probably taught them not to make predictions, but with 330 dealers signed up and raring to go, we’re sure that official sales date can’t come soon enough for any of the parties involved.
When they eventually go on sale, Mahindra pickups will be offered in two configurations: a two-door regular cab, the TR20, and a four-door crew cab, the TR40. Both will offer Mahindra’s slightly modified version of the mHawk 2.2-liter inline-four-cylinder diesel engine. Official EPA numbers obviously haven’t been determined yet, but the trucks are expected to have fuel economy ratings around 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Not too shabby considering their 1.3-ton hauling capability. Pricing is expected to start around $22,000.
The Williamson Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic – Click above to enlarge
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful automobiles ever created, it’s not every day that a Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic changes hands. Only four of examples were ever made, and only two or three of them are still around today. One is , and another belonged to the late Dr. Peter Williamson. Californian auction house Gooding & Company has now announced that the Williamson Bugatti has changed hands for a record sum, and though the buyer and exact amount paid remain undisclosed, reports place it between $30-40 million, easily eclipsing the $12.2 million paid for a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa this time last year.
Until his recent passing, Dr. Williamson had amassed a considerable collection of classic Bugattis. Gooding had helped assemble the collection, and since his passing has helped his estate sell them off. But the Atlantic – the crown jewel of the collection and winner of the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – was saved for last. According to reports, the car was acquired through Gooding by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, where we recently went to check out the , so with a little luck we might have the opportunity to bring you the Atlantic in due course. Follow the jump for the press release from Gooding.
One Lap of America 2010: Day One – click above for high-res image gallery
Spring has sprung and we’re at the in South Bend, Indiana, which can only mean one thing: the start of another One Lap Of America.
Every year we tell ourselves we’re crazy for embarking on another one of these eight-day ’round-the-country exploits, and for over ten years now we’ve been signing on to help run the event on the timing and scoring crew. And could you blame us? Every year, a great bunch of people gather together at the behest of none other than , and they bring with them all manner of machinery to compete on race tracks across the nation.
This year’s event starts off as usual, with a wet skidpad event at the Tire Rack, with the racers moving on to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for stints around , one of the country’s most historic and challenging roadcourses. After the time trials at RA, it’s off to , a fine 2.2-mile long roadcourse off in the middle of nowhere Pacific Junction, Iowa. On Monday, the racers will visit the surprisingly quick and engaging in Oklahoma, followed by some drag racing at . The next day will find the competitors at near St. Louis for a 1.6-mile road circuit. From there, it’s on to on Wednesday, a circuit that needs no introduction. The increasingly bedraggled competitors will then make the drive to on Thursday and then jog back to Ohio’s for the last roadcourse events on Friday. After that, the teams will filter back to the Tire Rack in South Bend for the final event, a dry skid pad (weather permitting) and to unwind at the awards banquet on Saturday.
Got all that? Said another way, it’s another action-packed week that’s sure to test the racers’ mechanical, mental and intestinal fortitude.
It’s not terribly uncommon for famous people to insure a body part (or, ya know, a pair of ‘em) that’s necessary for them to continue moving forward with their career. For instance, we have no qualms whatsoever with Heidi Klum’s policy that insures her priceless legs for $2.2 million. On the other hand, we’re not so sure Michael Flatley’s kickers are worth their reported $39 million policy.
Sports figures are also keen to keep their body parts in good working order; David Beckham’s legs and feet are insured for the princely sum of $70 million. Apparently, we can add Formula One racing star Fernando Alonso to the aforementioned list, as his thumbs are now protected with a £9 million (nearly $14 million U.S.) policy from Ferrari F1 sponsor Santander.
Says a spokesperson for Alonso, who is currently tied with Lewis Hamilton for third place in the F1 Driver’s Championship:
Alonso’s thumbs are a big symbol as, apart from being essential when driving a Formula One car, they represent a sign of victory and that everything is under control and well protected.
There’s $77 billion owed to the pension plans contributed to by auto industry manufacturers and partner companies and we’re to assume that at least seven billion of that is ’s Voluntary Employment Benefit Association. The way is going, it looks likely to pay that off without needing unsavory assistance. When it comes to ‘ and ’s obligations over the next five years, though, the Government Accountability Office has warned that Uncle Sam still needs to keep a close eye on whether both automaker’s debts will be paid on time.
GM has $12.2 billion in pension liabilities, while Chrysler has $2.62 billion due merely to keep up with obligations over the next five years. Even though they came out of bankruptcy and trimmed their workforces, both are still on the hook for to pay white- and blue-collar pensions. The GAO’s concern is whether they will be profitable enough in the next five years to keep up with those payments. If not, the hook gets transferred to the government to the order of $14.5 billion.
GM appears to be slowly turning its ship, but we’re still in the dark about Chrysler. However, we know the Pentastar has big plans and one figures Marchionne didn’t buy the company just to go bust. That means that at the moment, this is only bell-ringing on the part of the GAO. But don’t take your eyes off the ball, guys.
Ferrari F1 Cars at the 2004 Monterey Historics – Click above for high-res image gallery
Although Laguna Seca has never hosted a Formula 1 race, the storied race track has still seen plenty of F1 cars go around its 2.2 miles of tarmac. Dozens of vintage F1 racers can be seen at the historic races every August, and even a handful of modern F1 cars have even made .
Come this August, however, there will be an unusual amount of Formula 1 race cars at Laguna Seca. The newly renamed Monterey Motorsports Reunion plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the world’s greatest racing series by hosting some of the most legendary race cars of all time. The 1976 Tyrrell P34 “six-wheeler,” a 1967 Lotus 49, a 1969 Ferrari 312 and a 1980 Ferrari 312T5 will be among those on track. Hit the jump for full details or check out the bonus gallery below of Ferrari F1 cars at the 2004 Monterey Historics.
Gallery:
Photos by / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]
When first introduced the here in the States, no one batted an eye when the car only came in V8 flavors. After all, a luxury sedan demands eight cylinders, right? Sort of. Skip across the Atlantic, and buyers have less interest in a fuel-swilling eight pot. Instead, the luxo-barges of the old country typically run smaller, more efficient diesel mills. Except in Jaguar’s case, the company only offers a V6 oilburner in the XF line.
Word has it that the big cat is out to fix the issue. Starting this fall, Europeans are likely to start seeing a twin-turbo 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine crop up on the option sheet. The powerplant is being refitted from Freelander () duty, but will feature quite a bit more power and a new start/stop system to help keep fuel consumption low. Will they bring it to the States? Sure, right after Michael Jackson rises from the grave to run as Sarah Palin’s VP candidate for 2012.
2010 Mzda CX-7 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Two years ago, introduced an advanced new 2.2-liter four cylinder diesel engine in the European market. Since then, we’ve asked Mazda officials on several occasions whether they would offer that engine in the U.S. market. The company has never ruled out bringing a diesel here, but it has also never said it would. Instead, Mazda has always said that it’s watching the market and if there was demand for a diesel in the U.S., it would look at offering the efficient engines. Perhaps the success of ’s diesel offerings in the U.S. has convinced Mazda to look more seriously at oil-burners.
Mazda also offers a higher revving, more powerful 2.3-liter diesel which would be better suited to U.S. tastes. Mazda already offers the CX-7 with an SCR after-treatment system that would go a long way to meeting American emissions standards. However, at last fall’s , the company also showed a next-generation diesel dubbed Sky-D, which is 20 percent more efficient. According to Road & Track, Mazda has acknowledged that the Sky-D diesel could be part of the lineup for the next generation CX-7 and CX-9, but the obvious question is: When?
Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery
Interest in, and “, the remains high, but a report from the Japanese newspaper the Mainichi Shimbun might put a damper on things. Apparently, the price for the all-electric car in Japan will be somewhere between 3.5 million and 4 million yen, which is about $38,667 to $44,191 U.S. at today’s exchange rates. Granted, even if these prices are accurate, they certainly don’t automatically equal the MSRP for the U.S. market, but they are higher than what we’ve been expecting – i.e., . We went and looked at the prices for a couple of other cars in Japan, to see how the Leaf’s 3.5 million compares. The runs between 2.0 and 3.27 million yen ($22k-36k USD). The ? From 1.89 to 2.2 million ($21k-24.4k USD).
We suspect that Nissan’s going to have to do better than this to beat the . Yes, yes, we know the powertrains are quite different, but a lot of people are going to learn about these cars at the same time (late this year), and we believe that the pure electric will need to be quite a bit cheaper than the plug-inhybrid to hold its own.
Of course, all of these numbers should be taken with several grains of salt. We reached out to Nissan, and they reminded us that “the article out of Japan is speculative, and we have no comment. As you know, we have yet to disclose Nissan Leaf pricing in the U.S. or in any global market.” Thanks to Scott W. for the tip!
AOL Autos iPhone app – Click above to learn more and download
Our brethren over at are having a big day today. They’ve just launched the official AOL Autos iPhone app, which you can download for your iPhone or iPod Touch by . The cost of the app is zero pesos, so there’s nothing to lose by trying it out.
You’ll want this app if shopping for a new car is in your future. Why? It basically takes all of that research you did at home on your computer and crams it into a mobile app that goes with you. That way you can visit a dealership armed with all of that information about pricing and options at your finger tips.
The app allows you to narrow down your new vehicle search by price, type and style, or you can directly hit the vehicle you want by make and model. Once you’ve found a model, you can pick a trim level and select options, and the app will keep a running tally of what the vehicle costs as you go.
There are also photo galleries for each vehicle, expert opinions, user reviews and the ability to save models that you’ve built and send them to your friends and family. We’ve talked with the AOL Autos folk and are encouraged to hear that this won’t be an app that gets forgotten in the App Store. Their team is already working on updates to improve functionality and add new futures, which will debut in the coming months.
We know what you’re thinking: Where’s an Autoblog app for the iPhone? Good question. First, do us a favor and . The more popular their app is, the more incentive our bosses have to unleash the Autoblog news flow in an iPhone app for your portable pleasure.
has been getting hammered and on the , but the Japanese automaker isn’t going to take the punishment sitting down. To spur sales during this time of crisis, Toyota is betting big on incentives that included 0 percent financing and leases under $200 on its most popular products.
Effective immediately, Toyota is offering 0 percent financing for up to 60 months for the , , Matrix, , Avalon, , Tundra and . If you’re not looking to buy, the embattled automaker is offering lease specials of $179 on the Corolla and $199 for the perennially top-selling midsize Camry. To sweeten the pot, Toyota is also offering two years of free maintenance for all customers who purchase a new Toyota and have proof of current ownership of a Scion, Lexus or Toyota in the household.
With sales down in February versus the same month in 2009, Toyota needed to do something to get foot traffic into its dealerships. Since these are some of the best incentives we’ve ever seen Toyota dole out, we’re thinking it just may work. But if these generous incentives don’t spur a rush to local Toyota dealers, we’re not sure what more Toyota will be able to do to regain lost momentum. The new rebates are good through April 5, 2010. Hit the jump to read over the Toyota press release.
A number of things transpired last month to paint most of our By the Numbers table below green. A minor contribution can be credited to and its , the effect of which has been that many other automakers are grabbing conquest sales from the wounded Japanese automaker.
The for instance, long the best-selling car in the U.S., moved 16,552 units last month compared to 20,634 the year before, a drop of almost 20 percent. The , which has been gaining sales on the back of positive reviews and a mantel full of awards, sold 16,459 units last month. That’s a 117-percent sales increase compared to last year, some of which we have to believe is directly attributable to customers turning away from Toyota and the Camry. (Note: The Honda Accord beat them both with 22,456 sales, though the new Crosstour accounts for 2,432 of those sales, and the fell below the Fusion with 16,198 sales.)
The major contributing factor to so many brands and companies reporting positive sales results in February is the fact that sales in February of last year were so dismal. It’s easy to be in the green when the bar has been reset so low. That said, Motor Company’s performance in particular has to be noted, as it now stands as the largest domestic U.S. automaker after selling more vehicles last month than (142,285 vs. 141,951), a feat that hasn’t happened for 12 years. Expect it to happen a lot more as GM’s non-core brands wind down into non-existence.
*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 24 selling days in February 2010 and 24 selling days in February 2009, so the change in monthly sales volume will be the same as the change in the average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.
Can a Lexus hybrid actually be an entertaining steer? We flog the GS450h for a week and come back with an answer. Yes.
Don’t mess with perfection. That’s the mantra of the new Koenigsegg Agera, a 910-hp, 250+ mph supercar that takes all the right bits from the CCX and distills them into a more attractive package.
Exodus Pictures has made a modern Firebird out of the 2010 Camaro and 50 examples are up for grabs in the ramp up to the company’s new movie.
The all-new A8 is another technological tour de force from Audi, but does it have the requiste grandeur to compete with the BMW 7 Series and M-B S-Class?
General Motors may have announced that Hummer is winding down, but before the SUV manufacturer is shuttered, the General is pursuing two more bidders to save the brand.
The 2011 Porsche Cayenne has arrived, and not only does the Turbo S return, but the sportiest sport-ute gets a hybrid option.
Anyone that’s ever done their own oil changes is familiar with the joys (or, ya know, not) of trying to access and then remove the filters on their engines. If you do manage to get it loose, there is the inevitable mess of oil dripping down your arm as you spin the filter off.
A number of things transpired last month to paint most of our By the Numbers table below green. A minor contribution can be credited to and its , the effect of which has been that many other automakers are grabbing conquest sales from the wounded Japanese automaker. 
