The Auto Blog .ru

Ford is making it easier to access tablet devices in its cars, enabling users of iPad, Kindle, Nook and other tablets to control their devices with their voices instead of their hands.

The move is bound to set safety advocates atwitter, who argue there are already too many distractions behind the wheel. Just last month the issue again took front stage after the death of 18-year-old Taylor Sauer, who crashed her car into a tanker truck while texting. Ford, however, said the upgrade of its MyFord Touch system is out of concern for driver safety.

“Drivers are bringing these devices into the car already,” said Alan Hall, a spokesman for Ford. “We’re allowing them to access the content in a safer way.”

Ford began shipping upgrades to its voice-activated MyFord Touch entertainment system on Monday, with the tablet compatibility built in. The automaker has taken a big hit to its quality reputation because of MyFord Touch, which consumers have complained is slow, unreliable and hard to use.

The upgrade to MyFord Touch and its underlying SYNC technology allows more devices to work with voice activation or through controls on the steering wheel, although most still won’t charge. Devices including the iPad, Kindle Fire, HP Touchpad, Nook Color and Sony Tablet S need more electricity than Ford’s outlets provide.

Ford hopes the iPad 3, set to be revealed today, will be compatible with the upgrade, Ostrowski said. He also said that Ford engineers will have to order iPad 3s like everyone else to find out.

Ford makes voice control easier for iPad and other devices

Do you love the notion of the 507-horsepower, twin-tubocharged Alpina B5 Touring, but just can’t get behind a high-performance family wagon? Alpina has good news for you. The company has officially pulled back the curtain on the new B5 Sedan, and the vehicle boasts the same wicked driveline as its long-roof twin. That means there’s a dizzying 516 pound-feet of torque pouring out of the same forced-induction 4.4-liter V8. A ZF eight-speed automatic transmission takes care of gear-swapping duties while a range of subtle aesthetic tweaks set this bruiser apart from its more mundane counterparts.

There is no mistaking the flashy, 20-inch Alpina wheels, however. According to the company, the combined kit allows the B5 Sedan to clip off a 0-62 dash in just 4.5 seconds. That’s plenty quick by our estimation and about on par with the new 2012 BMW M5. Which would you rather have? Hit the jump for the brief press release while you mull it over.

Continue reading Alpina B5 Biturbo sedan looks the M5 square in the eyes

Alpina B5 Biturbo sedan looks the M5 square in the eyes

The 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe may have debuted a full three months ago (time flies, huh?), but we’re just now seeing it in person for the first time here at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The prolonged debut almost makes sense for BMW’s big coupe, since it’s a late entry in a segment that already includes stunners like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Audi A7, Porsche Panamera and even the Aston Martin Rapide (if you’re really reaching).

But that doesn’t make the 6 Series Gran Coupe any less interesting – or stunning. We still don’t 100 percent love the 6er’s new front fascia, but there’s no question that the sloping roofline and squat hind quarters are anything less than sleek and shapely. Oh, and get a load of that interior. The two-tone leather surfaces and two-passenger rear compartment look absolutely stunning.

BMW will launch the 640i Gran Coupe in the United States first, powered by the automaker’s widely popular N55 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, good for 315 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque and mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The eight-cylinder 650i and xDrive models will follow suit in short order, as well.

Cost of entry: $76,895 for the 640i. Get your wallets ready, and see a full brace of live images direct from Geneva in our attached high-res gallery.

Continue reading 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe finally shows up

2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe finally shows up

Around Autoblog HQ, we likey the wagons. And the the latest Hyundai i30 is one of our favorite road-going interpretations of the automaker’s “fluidic sculpture” design language. But while the i30 hatch – a.k.a. the Elantra Touring in the States – fits the bill for most, Hyundai recognizes that some people need more and that’s what the i30 Wagon delivers.

Hyundai’s hexagonal grille, gem-like headlights and restyled taillights take the i30 from ho-hum family-hauling econobox to something boarding on stylish – a challenge for a utilitarian people mover – and the additional cargo space is surely a welcome addition for families with more kit to carry.

The interior gets a generous dose of upgrades as well, including a two-tone IP, creamy leather seats, brushed aluminum accents and a steering wheel full of redundant controls. This new i30 could be the perfect competitor to the Jetta Sportwagen in the U.S., but Hyundai remains mum on its chances of making it across the Atlantic.

2013 Hyundai i30 Wagon hauls in high style

Following in the footsteps of the U.S.-bound A4 Allroad, Audi has unveiled its bigger, stouter brother here at the Geneva Motor Show.

The 2013 Audi A6 Allroad takes the same proven formula of past rough-and-tumble models and applies it to the Avant version of the latest A6, raising the ride height by around 2.5 inches, slapping some plastic cladding around the wheel arches and fascias, flaring the fenders, tucking a few stainless steel trays to the underbody and topping it all off with a pair off roof rails.

Three diesel powerplants will be available ranging from 204 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque to 313 hp and 479 lb-ft of twist. The lone gasoline engine – the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 from the S4 – puts out 310 hp and some 324 lb-ft though a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘box to all four wheels.

However, unlike the A4 Allroad, we likely won’t be seeing the A6 in the U.S., so only one beefed up Audi wagon will have to suffice.

2013 Audi A6 Allroad evolves the formula

BMW is keen to get as much impact from its decision to enter the DTM racing series as possible, and to that end, has decided to showcase its German touring car in full factory racing livery for all the world to see at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Underneath its high-tech composite skin lurks a 480-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 engine that sends power to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. It’ll hit 60 in about three seconds on its way to a top speed of somewhere around 186 miles per hour.

Judging from all the splitters, intakes and wings, we’d say the Bavarian team is more concerned with making the M3 DTM racer stick to the road like glue than hit ludicrous speed on the straights, and if nothing else, make the machine look awfully menacing to its rivals. Check out the full gallery of live images above.

2012 BMW M3 DTM race car looks fast sitting still

It was only a matter of time before Mini spiced up its Countryman crossover with the application of its go-fast John Cooper Works kit, and it’s now made an official debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Boasting 211 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque (up to 221 on overboost), the 2013 JCW Countryman is the most powerful production machine ever to wear the Mini badge. Those ponies are routed to all four wheels through a six-speed gearbox (either manual or automatic) and can propel the upright box to 60 in as little as seven seconds.

We’ll have to wait until the car’s official launch this fall to find out for sure if this latest JCW lives up to its storied name, but in the meantime, check out our live photos above and the press release below.

Continue reading 2013 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman packs an up-sized punch

2013 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman packs an up-sized punch

Sure, you could likely satiate your lust for speed with any number of mind-blowing and reality-bending supercars… but if you really want to break away from the pack with something that’s as fast as it is different, we direct your attention to the matte blue machine above.

For 2013, Koenigsegg has updated the Agera R with more power – a staggering 1,140 when the tank is filled with E85 – one-piece hollow carbon fiber wheels, nano-surfaced cylinder sleeves, a so-called Triplex suspension setup co-developed with Öhlins Racing, standard stability control (which certainly sounds like a good idea considering the number of horses at its disposal…), a new exhaust system and downforce-adding front winglets.

We’d say that counts for a pretty thorough refresh of the Agera R for 2013. Have a look at our high-res image gallery of live photographs from the floor at the Geneva Motor Show to take in the 273-mile-per-hour goodness, and then click past the break for the full rundown from Koenigsegg.

Continue reading Koenigsegg Agera R is a matte blue streak of lightning

Koenigsegg Agera R is a matte blue streak of lightning

Swiss. Winter. X. Cargo.

Those are the names of the four new Up! models that Volkswagen has brought to the Geneva Motor Show, the latest expansion of the supermini that by now has more personalities than the United States of Tara.

You might think the Swiss Up! is named for the its Geneva debut location, but instead it’s all about versatility, like a Swiss Army knife. We couldn’t get a view inside the car, but the name association is taken to the extreme with knife holders on the backs of the front seats. How’s that for practical?

The Cargo version is a bit more self-explanatory, turning the small car into a reasonable delivery vehicle that will carry 49 cubic-feet of goods. The X Up!, on the other hand, is designed for adventure, with searchlights and a roof box. The Winter Up! comes ready for the mountain slopes with snowboards on the roof and a higher ride height to clear icy hurdles.

None of these clever new concepts will be available when the first Up! model goes on sale in Europe this week, but they do show that VW is serious about thinking outside the standard econobox. The Swiss Up! is the snazzy red one pictured above, and you can see all four models in the galleries we’ve included from the show floor.

Continue reading Volkswagen introduces four new Up! concepts, because we didn’t have enough already

Volkswagen introduces four new Up! concepts, because we didn’t have enough already

The 2012 Audi TT RS Plus has officially bowed at the Geneva Motor Show. The stunning little coupe packs the same 360 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque as the TT RS we know and love here in the States, but with around 100 fewer pounds to lug around. Audi still isn’t saying where the weight savings comes from, though we’d wager the coupe boasts lighter seats and less crash garb than its U.S. counterpart. Even with the all-wheel drive coupe’s slimmer curb weight, the TT RS Plus still does the 0-62 mph dash in 4.1 seconds, which is identical to the standard TT RS we played with not too long ago.

Does that make us love the two-door any less? Hell no. The brawny turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine under the hood is a thing of beauty and the two-tone wheels and eye-searing red paint are absolute traffic stoppers. Did we mention it tops out at 174 mph? Job done.

Continue reading 2012 Audi TT RS Plus is a diet we can live with

2012 Audi TT RS Plus is a diet we can live with

We’ve seen plenty of Evora GTE models over the last two years. Some concepts, some production variants and now this, a carbon fiber-bodied Evora to celebrate Lotus’ Formula 1 heritage and christened by none other than Kimi Raikkonen.

Like the rest of the GTE Evoras, this variant is a road-going version of Lotus’ ALMS car currently campaigned by Alex Job Racing. Power is provided by the same 444-horsepower supercharged V6, with overall weight reduced by some 200 pounds, making it the fastest roadworthy Lotus in the company’s history. And it’s only fitting that the F1 edition wears the marque’s storied black and gold livery both inside and out.

Lotus coats Evora GTE in carbon fiber for F1 Edition

A few months back, Ford told us that it had listened to consumers and wanted to cure the ills of the first generation MyFord Touch. Starting today, the Blue Oval will begin shipping out USB drives to owners of 2013 Ford Taurus and Flex models, allowing them to install the latest version of the software from the comfort of their garages.

The update addresses many gripes that both the public and press have had with the MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch interface since its launch in 2010. The graphics have undergone a relatively major overhaul with bolder text and a cleaner, more user friendly UI. Just as important, the touchsceen lag we’ve complained about in the past should be all but eradicated and voice recognition has also improved. No word from Ford on how it’s dealt with the intermittent crashes that users have experienced, but we know that it was a top priority for engineers.

Ford’s wonks have also added more phone support, Audible audiobook integration, a revamped mapping and navigation system and the ability to link a variety of tablet devices to the Sync platform.

Ford is shipping both a USB flash drive that contains the update and an SD card with all-new mapping data. Ford claims the installation should take around an hour, but if you’re hazy on the install process, it can be performed at your local Ford or Lincoln dealer. Make the jump for the official details.

Continue reading MyFord Touch, MyLincoln Touch upgrades shipping this week

MyFord Touch, MyLincoln Touch upgrades shipping this week

We Americans may only be a few calendar flips away from the launch of the 250-horsepower Ford Focus ST, but in Europe, an even more pint-sized hot hatch is about to be unleashed. Here at the Geneva Motor Show, the Blue Oval’s European counterparts have just unveiled the 2013 Fiesta ST, a three-door version of the five-door ST concept that we saw at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show last November. And while Ford executives have said that they’re “open to the idea” of bringing this model to the States, we’ll wait for official confirmation before we get too excited.

Just like the concept, the production Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four delivering 177 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. That grunt runs to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission (no word about an optional dual-clutch unit), and Ford claims that the Fiesta ST will be able to shuffle to 60 miles per hour in less than seven seconds on its way to a top speed somewhere just below the 140-mph mark.

The Fiesta ST will launch in Europe sometime in early 2013. All we can say is, if Ford is going to tease us Americans with ST concepts at U.S. auto shows, it had better be prepared to deliver.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Fiesta ST delivers a pint-sized punch

2013 Ford Fiesta ST delivers a pint-sized punch

While technically still a concept, Volkswagen has rolled out another version of its Cross Coupé that first debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show last November. The handsome compact crossover rides on VW’s new transverse matrix architecture and it’s smaller than you think, which means it should be rather entertaining to drive with this iteration’s TDI diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain boasting a combined 302 horsepower.

Reaching 62 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds and pushing on to a top speed of 137 mph, the Cross Coupé seems to offer a solid amount of entertainment along with impressive thrift. On the European cycle, VW says this vehicle should be good for an impressive 130 miles per gallon equivalent, thanks in part to a pure electric range of 28 miles.

We weren’t able to get inside the Cross Coupé concept this time, but if the Tokyo show star was any indication, this vehicle looks production ready – though perhaps without this showcar’s exotic powertrain. Check it out in our full gallery and look in on the official press release after the jump.

Continue reading Handsome Volkswagen Cross Coupé turns red, gains diesel plug-in tech

Handsome Volkswagen Cross Coupé turns red, gains diesel plug-in tech

Despite staying rather quiet last year product-wise, Mitsubishi actually enjoyed a very strong sales comeback, led by its new Outlander Sport compact crossover. That crossover’s larger cousin, the Outlander, has remained largely under the radar for most consumers, with a modest 2010 facelift eking out a bit of sales life for a model that has been making the rounds since 2006. That will change in 2013 with the introduction of this new Outlander, which moves away from the single-frame grille in favor of a more horizontally oriented look.

It isn’t immediately clear to what extent the Outlander is all-new, as the vehicle appears to have some unusually large overhang that suggests a revision of an older chassis, but we understand that this is a new architecture underneath. Offering a size that’s similar to the outgoing model, the Outlander will continue to offer both five- and seven-seat configurations, with the third row reserved for small children. In addition to a range of gas and diesel models available in various markets paired with a new six-speed automatic or manual gearbox, a plug-in hybrid variant is in the cards as early as later this year.

For more, see our gallery of live shots and the official press release after the jump.

Continue reading 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander lets it all hang out

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander lets it all hang out

It is expected that the BMW 4 Series – which will be what we used to call the 3 Series coupe and convertible – is expected to be revealed sometime later this year. Nevertheless, it still has much to hide, since it’s wearing the same amount of all-sheathing camouflage as when we saw it four months ago.

This is the convertible version, and it is figured to be the new 3 Series with a few tweaks at the front. It is capped by a folding hardtop and presumably uses the same engines offered in the 3. When the camo does come off, we’re anxious to see if the lower front intake really does retain the shape of a Wallace-and-Grommit smile.

BMW 4 Series Convertible spotted buttoned up for winter

Though the Geneva Motor Show doesn’t open until tomorrow morning, automakers have thrown the doors open on their own evening events in order to get a captive audience away from the show. We’ve just returned from the bright lights of Mercedes-Benz and its new A-Class reveal, and we have to say, it looks far more enticing than spy shots had led to us to believe.

Displayed in a trio of uplevel trims, we were particularly taken with the bold surfacing on the car’s two-box profile, as well as the unique and premium-looking “diamond” grille treatments derived from last year’s more radical New York Auto Show concept car. Even the interiors come off as upscale, with convincing carbon fiber-look dashboard treatments and round HVAC vents that riff on those of the SLS AMG gullwing.

Simply put, the loaded interiors we saw put even the updated C-Class cabins to utter shame, and they shade those of the current Audi A3 (a new one is being introduced here in Geneva), Volvo C30 and anything in the Mini portfolio. They even seem to be surprisingly roomy – we observed a journalist who had to be six-foot, six-inches find a comfortable seating position without issue. Said scribe had also driven to the show in a new M-Class and proclaimed the materials in the new A-Class to be “not that far off.”

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatches new level of refinement for its class [w/video]

Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatches new level of refinement for its class [w/video]

The Chevrolet Volt may not be selling well, but it’s one of the most lauded cars in history. Today the plug-in hybrid was named the 2012 European Car of the Year, an award it will share with its European fraternal twin, the Opel Ampera.

The Volt won North American Car of the Year in 2011, while also picking up car of the year accolades from Motor Trend, Automobile, and nabbing Green Car of the Year from Green Car Journal. Britain’s What Car? awarded the Vauxhall Ampera – as the Opel model is called in the U.K. – its Green Car of the Year award, as well.

But the Volt has been at the center of one controversy after another, since even before it was launched. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into a battery fire showed the car was not defective, but it led to the Ampera being delayed. Recent negative publicity among right-leaning political pundits has contributed to making the Volt something of an enigma for General Motors, which just announced it was suspending production of the slow-selling car.

While Europe was never envisioned as the prime market for the Volt/Ampera, GM says it already has 7,000 orders for the Ampera and that the company expects to hit its target of 10,000 sales this year. Certainly, winning this award, presented at the Geneva Motor Show for the first time this year, should help.

The Volt/Ampera finished significantly ahead of the Volkswagen Up! and Ford Focus in the European Car of the Year voting, which included a field of 35 vehicles.

To read the full press release, click past the jump.

Continue reading Chevy Volt and Opel Ampera named 2012 European Car of the Year

Chevy Volt and Opel Ampera named 2012 European Car of the Year

The Aventador J adheres to a pretty simple recipe, namely dispense with everything unnecessary to going fast.

Let’s cut to the chase here: Yes, it’s a real car, and yes, it’s for sale. Lamborghini makes that point clear at the end of its press release, and we imagine the furor among the 1% to get that first spot in the queue will be enough to rival the 99% on iPad 3 launch day.

The Aventador J adheres to a pretty simple recipe, namely dispense with everything unnecessary to going fast, like the climate control and nav systems. Lambo has also given the roof and windshield of the Aventador LP700-4 coupe the Sawzall treatment, fitting small wind deflectors instead. The company says it’s going for a two-seat sport-bike effect, so it’s done some other interesting things to lower the curb weight of the J.

Notable here is the use of a new carbon fiber fabric called “Carbonskin” that Lamborghini claims is soft enough to be used on the seats and interior trim. Carbon fiber is used in more traditional ways throughout the rest of the car – in the bumpers, designed to increase downforce, the front air scoop, complete with winglets, and in the huge rear diffuser.

Powered by the same 700-hp 6.5-liter 12-cylinder as the standard Aventador, the all-wheel-drive J is capable of speeds over 300 kph (186 mph), meaning the driver and passenger had better have their helmets at the ready.

Click the images above to see our full gallery of images and look below for the full press release.

Continue reading Lamborghini Aventador J roadster is a sport bike built for two, and it’s for sale

Lamborghini Aventador J roadster is a sport bike built for two, and it’s for sale

The Volkswagen Cross Coupe is back and headed to the Geneva Motor Show this week, this time with an innovative diesel hybrid drivetrain under the hood.

Details are scarce at the moment, but the company says a TDI engine works in conjunction with not one, but two electric motors to propel the vehicle. All told, the combination is good for fuel economy of 1.8 liters per 100 kilometers on the European cycle, which translates to a staggering 130 miles per gallon. It’s worth remembering, however, that European and domestic testing cycles vary greatly.

Even with the vehicle’s impressive fuel economy, the Cross Coupe has over 300 horsepower on tap and a top speed of 136 mph. We certainly like the sound of that combination. So, is a diesel hybrid from Volkswagen headed to production anytime soon? Hard telling. Odds are we’ll hear more when the Cross Coupe debuts later this week. Hit the jump for the brief press release.

Continue reading Volkswagen revisits Cross Coupé concept for Geneva, now with PHEV drivetrain

Volkswagen revisits Cross Coupé concept for Geneva, now with PHEV drivetrain