The Detroit News reports that the isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Sage Marie, manager of truck product planning at , has said that the rumors of the vehicle’s demise have been greatly exaggerated, and he says that the Ridgeline serves a key role in the company’s product line. Marie also said that the truck will continue on into the foreseeable future. That’s despite the fact that the model has seen its sales implode over the past few months. According to The Detroit News, Honda only managed to sell 6,500 Ridgeline models through the first nine months of this year.
Last year, the company sold 12,700 units during the same period.
While some of that drop can be attributed to production delays tied to the earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan earlier this year, it’s difficult to discern how much of the blame lies on a tired product or the continued improvement of fuel economy numbers on full-size trucks. Marie confirms that 2012 will see new aesthetic updates added to the Ridgeline along with the addition of the new Sport model pictured above.
When Daimler started selling its van in North America – first as a Freightliner, then as a and even a – it found companies on this side of the Atlantic were as keen to get their hands on a European-style van as, well, European companies are. But the Sprinter is about to get some European competition from… an American automaker.
That makes certain products for overseas markets is nothing new, but as part of its drive to standardize its lineup around the world, the Blue Oval automaker is apparently planning on bringing its full-size Transit van Stateside.
Not only is it bringing the Transit to the American market, but it will also be building it here, too. The news is confirmed by a recent United Auto Workers announcement that reveals that, with production of the next-generation Escape moving to Louisville, Kentucky, the Transit will be assembled for local consumption alongside the pickup truck at the Kansas City plant.
According to Car and Driver sources, in order to avoid confusion with the smaller , the big van will be badged as a T-Series in this market, with nameplates like T-250, T-450 and T-550 – similar to the F-Series trucks, and more pertinently, the E-Series vans that used to be known as the Econoline. They can call it whatever they want; we just hope we get a version of the UK-market limited-edition SportVan pictured above.
has officially released pricing on the . The Japanese automaker has dropped the price on the Mazda3 i SV sedan, which now carries a price tag of $15,200 (*plus a $795 destination fee). That vehicle comes equipped with the previous-generation 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood, so if you want to sample the company’s new SkyActiv-G 2.0-liter four cylinder, you’ll need to setp up to the Mazda3 i Touring at $18,450. With an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 40 mpg and 155 horsepower, the engine is both more efficient and more powerful than its predecessor.
Mazda is also offering the Mazda3 i Touring in hatchback guise, and the added functionality will set you back $18,950, plus destination. That extra door will cost you 1 mpg highway, however. The EPA says the Mazda3 i Touring hatchback is good for 39 mpg highway. Both the hatch and the sedan may be had with either a new six-speed manual or, for an additional $850, a new six-speed automatic transmission.
Of course, we’re just as interested in the Mazdaspeed3. The 263-horsepower machine will set you back $24,000, plus destination next year. for the full press blast.
WardsAuto.com is that Ford’s will be built at the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock, MI, 25 miles southwest of downtown Detroit. The news comes out of the . Ford has said it will add 12,000 hourly manufacturing jobs in the U.S. by 2015, including some jobs that are returning to the U.S. from Mexico, China, and Japan.
AutoAlliance is a joint-venture plant owned with Mazda, where Ford builds the alongside the . The current is assembled at Ford’s Hermosillo Stamping & Assembly plant in Mexico, though it shares a platform with the Mazda sedan. The move to Flat Rock all but insures that the forthcoming Fusion will continue to maintain that close connection. Speculation has the new Fusion dropping at the 2012 .
saw another unfortunate month of sales in September. The automaker saw its sales figures fall by 18 percent compared to the same time last year, thanks largely to lower-than-average dealer inventory brought on by this year’s earthquake and tsunami disasters. Toyota sold 121,451 vehicles in the U.S. last month across its three brands. The company moved 147,162 vehicles during the month of September last year.
Even so, the automaker says that October will show sales improvements, according to Automotive News. Bob Carter, group vice president of Toyota Motor Sales, said that right now, U.S. dealers have a 30-day supply of vehicles, and that inventory will continue to grow in the coming months.
Carter also underscored the fact that his company would reverse a five-month trend of sales losses in October and once again post gains. That’s likely to be true given that the and Camry Hybrid are likely to bring in buyers as well as the company’s . In addition, the is slated to show up in the fourth quarter alongside the Scion iQ.
It’s not often that the series crosses these pages, but there’s no getting around the fact that UK racing fans have enjoyed an unprecedented level of competition in the British Touring Car Championship this year. No season in BTCC history has had a bigger or more varied field of entries, the lead in the standings has changed hands a head-spinning eleven times this season, and with one last stop on the calendar at England’s storied Silverstone circuit, it’s down to a whopping five-car showdown for the title.
Still in contention for the championship this late in the season are Jason Plato (the Fifth Gear host who drives the touring car), Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden (both in ), Mat Jackson () and James Nash (Vauxhall Vectra). Although Neal, Plato and Shedden are very much in the lead (with 225, 220 and 220 points, respectively), Jackson and Nash (189 and 181) are both still in the running as domination at Silverstone could still catapult either to the crown.
The contest was left open after an exciting stop at Brands Hatch, where Plato took the checkered flag in both the first two races. The Civics were relegated further behind in the record 29-car field in those first two, but returned for a 1-2 finish in the third and final race of the weekend. for more details and start crossing off squares on your calendar until the championship wraps up with three races at Silverstone two weeks from now.
had a big weekend. Some 1,500 hand-raisers and their +1s descended on the recently acquired NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA to see where their $5,000 deposits have gone. The event, which served as both a product extravaganza and a subtle reassurance, sought to prove that the Model S is well on its way to production. And part of the program included rides in three Model S betas.
As Tesla was keen to point out, showing off a prototype – even one that’s 80% complete – is relatively unheard of in the industry. Regardless, the EV upstart invited a handful of journalists to go for a brief spin in the passenger seat of the betas. How brief? Less than five minutes.
So… don’t expect to find any mind blowing revelations, 10/10ths impressions or thorough interior dissections. Here’s all you need to know: It drives, it steers, it stops, it’s practically – and predictably – silent and the interior tech is enough to make gadget nerds forget about the lack of an iPhone 5.
At the heart of every dyed-in-the-wool car nut is someone who loves gadgetry. Lately, automakers like have been fueling that symbiotic passion with a host of incredible on-board technology integrations. The SLS AMG Roadster is the latest model to flex its technical muscles with the AMG Performance Media telemetry system. The kit uses the central Command display to serve up a variety of information, from G-force load on the vehicle to power data and, most importantly, track times. It’s all very impressive, and Mercedes-Benz says that the tech will spread to the for 2012. The rest of the AMG line won’t be far behind.
Now, as much as we like our toys, we have to say that the only thing we’re interested in on the instrument cluster while we’re banging out a few hard laps is whether or not the engine is going to vomit out its guts before we make it to pit lane. Anything beyond a quick glance at oil pressure and coolant temp is time we’re spending not lining up the next apex. Maybe things are different in a Mercedes-Benz supercar, but we doubt it. to check out the tech in action.
Conventional wisdom dictates that if you set out to make a MacGyver video to post on YouTube, you must have a roll of duct tape. Or a pack of chewing gum. At the very least, a pocket knife.
We’re not sure if these Russian guys had any of the aforementioned items – heck, we’re not even sure if they’re Russian – but they did have an E34 . Which is exactly the car we’d choose for a winter expedition flying giant kites. Or whatever it was they were doing with several hundred feet of spooled nylon cord. to watch the brief video clip.
AutoExpress reports that plans to bring a GT2 version of the to market next year. The word comes straight from Bentley head-honcho Wolfgang Durheimer, and while it’s unclear at this point whether the machine will make use of the same W12 engine at the heart of the current Continental, the story suggests that buyers can expect to enjoy up to 650 horsepower. That’s a 100 horse jump over the base model. In addition, the Continental GT2 is expected to tip the scales at a full 441 pounds lighter than its tamer sibling.
As a result, the high-strung coupe may be able to turn out 0-60 mph sprints in the sub-four-second range. Even more impressive is the fact that the model may abandon its all-wheel drive system for the feat. AutoExpress reports that Bentley may abandon the tried-and-true W12 for a forced-induction V8. Whatever shows up under the hood, we can’t wait to see the machine in action.
The is set to bow at the next month, but we don’t have to wait several weeks for engine options. The Ford Story (a Ford-run blog) reports that the next Escape (Ford Vertrek concept from shown above) will feature three four-cylinder engine options, with two of those four-pots being of the turbocharged kind.
The base engine will be the carryover 2.5-liter four-cylinder model, but the two EcoBoost mills will likely garner the most attention. The turbocharged 1.6-liter model, which is in Europe, will fill out the middle of the range. With the EcoBoost 1.6 under the hood, the 2013 Escape will best the current Escape Hybrid’s 31 highway miles per gallon, while still producing . That couldn’t come as much of a surprise, since even the larger and more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost manages under the hood of the much heavier .
Speaking of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost, you can expect this 247-horsepower mill at the top of the 2013 Escape food chain. With all that horsepower and usable (275 pound-feet) torque, we’re guessing Escape buyers won’t miss the 3.0-liter V6 and it’s measly 223 lb-ft one bit. And like we said, if the Edge can manage 30 mpg, we’re guessing that engineers can eek out a bit more efficiency under the hood of the next Escape.
This season marks the end of an era for DTM. Next year the German touring car series switches to new regulations, the new cars will all be coupe-based (or at least look like coupes) and joins in on the action. And with this chapter in DTM history closing, has gone down in history as the undisputed champions. Or at least one of its drivers has.
With one round still to go, Martin Tomczyk holds such an unassailable lead in the standings as to be crowned champion a race early. The death blow was dealt to his rivals when Tomczyk came in third place this past weekend at the penultimate round in Valencia – one of a handful of DTM races held outside Germany – as part of an Audi-dominated 1-2-3-4-5-6 finish that relegated drivers Bruno Spengler and Gary Paffett to seventh and eighth place.
Perhaps most surprising is that Tomczyk – 29 years old from Bavaria – was not even driving the latest car which two-time former champion, Audi poster boy and winner of the race in Valencia, Mattias Ekstrom, has at his disposal. No, Tomczyk managed to beat out everyone else with .
Tomczyk will presumably be driving the new next season, and it’ll be worth watching to see him defend his title against the returning challengers from Mercedes and the new contenders from BMW, not to mention his own Audi-driving rivals. for the pair of press releases.
Our made its way back into my garage for the month of September, and despite cresting the 16,000-mile mark, appears no worse for the wear. Or so I thought.
I hadn’t seen the Equus since its odometer showed just a few thousand miles, and in that time it’s been the vehicle of choice for many of our Detroit-based team members’ summer vacations. It’s easy to see why: The Equus is ideal for covering long distances in comfort. That piled on the miles quick, though, and sitting in my driveway in early September, the effects of this hard use became apparent.
Lamborghini Crossover, Four-cylinder small Porsche, Google autonomous cars, Tire scanners in roads
Episode #250 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. This week Chris, Zach, and Dan are joined by Autoblog Executive Editor Chris Paukert. Topics include the rumor of an upcoming Lamborghini Crossover vehicle, a small Porsche with a 1.9-liter four cylinder, Google’s autonomous cars, and an effort to embed tire scanners in road surfaces to rat you out to Big Brother. Your questions and comments power the last third of the podcast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our , thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #250:
In the Autoblog Garage
2011 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8
2012 Kia Sorento SX 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Coupe
Hosts: , , , Runtime: 01:10:35
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The city of Frankfurt has banned two chapters of the Hells Angels motorcycle club and confiscated their assets, according to Reuters. The city pointed to a history of offenses as the reason behind the move, saying that many members are known to authorities to have violent, drug- or weapon-related offenses on their records. In fact, Germany’s federal criminal office recently released a report saying that one in every 10 investigations into organized crime had revealed ties to a motorcycle club. Germany’s interior ministry says that it has the authority to ban clubs if their activities break the law.
While the Hells Angels were originally formed in California nearly 60 years ago, the club has been active in Germany since 1970. The group has chapters all around the world.
Boris Rhine, Germany’s state interior minister, said that authorities are closely monitoring other motorcycle clubs in the area, and that his department has a zero-tolerance policy towards violence.
The Fiat/Chrysler relationship has yet to spawn any post-marital offspring, but that will soon change. Automotive News reports that one of those vehicles could come in the size and shape of a “baby” that will be sold in Europe.
The B-segment Jeep, which back in August, will also be badged as a model. Two Fiat sources told AN that the vehicles will be built in Fiat’s Minafiori plant in Turin, Italy, and there is a chance the vehicle could also be sold in the U.S.
Minafiori was originally pegged as the Euro plant of choice to build the successor to the Jeep and models, but the Fiat sources say those plans have changed. The new plan reportedly calls for the Patriot/Compass replacement and an Alfa Romeo sibling to be built in the U.S.
A recent Fiat release revealed that the Minafiori plant will be rebuilt starting in 2012, and that a Jeep SUV will begin production in the second half of 2013.
The world is filled with curious questions. Why are we here? Why do we hate tomatoes but love ketchup? Why do Americans love crossovers? Why are there 150 brand-new 1997 Dodge Neon models with zero miles on the odometer up for sale in Singapore? That last one is particularly perplexing. Arete Trading Pte Ltd. has somehow managed to get its hands on a small flotilla of pristine Neon models and is currently in the process of parceling them out for the lowly sum of $1,350 each. That means, if you had $202,500 laying around, you could live the dream of driving a brand-new 14-year-old car every day for 150 days straight.
Or at least you could once you had the necessary vehicle systems straightened out. We’re guessing that each of these Neons could use some fuel and brake system work in order to be even quasi viable. Still, as the good people at Motor Authority point out, get enough friends together and you could have one hell of a one-make race. Check out the sale .
Need For Speed and Sports Illustrated have paired up to melt the minds of our nation’s amorous and adrenaline-addicted young men. Need For Speed: The Run will feature a number of notable characters, including a pair of ladies based on genuine Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. Irina Shayk and Chrissy Teigen have lent their computer-generated effigies to the latest chapter in the Need For Speed saga. Shayk will play a rough-and-tumble girl who grew up in her father’s mechanic shop while Teigen’s character is cast as a wealthy, adrenaline-seeking party girl.
Shakespeare, it is not.
As Shayk so aptly puts it, the game is like stepping into a Michael Bay film. We’ll reserve any retching until we actually get our hands on the game for a spell. In any case, the premise pits racers against one another in an illegal cross-country race from San Francisco to New York. High-speed shenanigans ensue, the law arrives and everyone has a good old fashioned dirty time. to check out the teaser trailer as well as a quick making-of video.
It’s not every day that conceptcars go up for grabs. The automakers and design studios that craft them typically hold on to their show cars for posterity, putting them away in archives that we’d imagine resemble the end scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark or else putting them in their own museums for visitors to their headquarters to see. That’s what makes this particular item such a rare opportunity.
Bertone unveiled this Spicup concept at the 1969 . But unlike some of today’s concept cars, this one was actually made to be driven, taking its chassis from a BMW 2000 CS, complete with its 2.5-liter inline-six engine. Sometime after the show, it was acquired by a Dutch individual who drove it regularly, but then the car disappeared into obscurity for a couple of decades.
Now restored to concours condition, the Spicup concept has been showcased at Villa d’Este and at the BMW Museum in Munich. That’s where Bonhams just auctioned it off at its POWER by BMW event, where it sold for a high bid of €460,000 (~$600k). Other highlights of the event included a Le Mans and Spa-winning ‘75 3.0 CSL (est. €350,000/$460k), a ‘79 M1 Pro-Car (€500k/$660k), a ‘37 328 Roadster (€500k/$660k) and even a BMW-powered Abbatte wooden speedboat (€150k/$200k).
Follow the jump for more info on the Spicup show car, for more on the POWER by BMW event and for more images.
has announced that it will cease production at the company’s joint-venture plant with Pininfarina Sverige in Uddevalla, Sweden, according to Ward’s Auto. That means manufacturing of the convertible is without a home.
As of right now, Volvo isn’t saying where, if anywhere, production of the C70 will head next. In the meantime, the 600 workers currently employed at the Uddevalla plant are being offered positions elsewhere in the company. If the C70 doesn’t find a new production home, it will as another discontinued Volvo for 2012.
So why shut down the plant? According to Volvo, it all boils down to economics. The automaker says that under its current configuration, the facility is only operating at 65 percent capacity, and at its current volume levels, it simply doesn’t make financial sense to keep the lights on at a plant that only produces one vehicle.
Volvo and Pininfarina have jointly produced vehicles at the Uddevalla plant since 2005, but agreed to in March of this year. At the termination of the joint venture, Volvo gained sole possession of the plant.
