Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstacy Centenary Drive – Click above for high-res image gallery
may sell as many motor cars in Hong Kong and Dubai as they do in their own domestic market, but if you had to pick one city that embodies the Spirit of Ecstasy, that’d be London. So to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic Rolls-Royce mascot, the company rolled out a parade of 100 of its vehicles around the sites and streets of the English capital.
The latest and models lead the procession that included shining examples from the company’s history – including Silver Ghosts, Clouds, Shadows and Spurs – past such local landmarks as Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Full details in the press release after the jump.
Things tend to get out of hand with . Whether you’re driving one and just can’t resist pushing the pedal to the floor, or buying one and end up laying down an extra five figures on options. The same goes for Lamborghini electronics, too. Sant’Agata teams up with Asus for that bit, and for better or worse, the Taiwanese computer company has given us some as a result.
Of course, like a Lambo supercar, Asus’ line of Lambo circuit-boxes don’t come cheap. And now they’ve launched a suitably Lamborghini peripheral. Imbued with lines inspired by the company’s sportscars, this external hard drive looks the part, and with available USB 3.0 connectivity, stands to live up to the promise of performance. Unfortunately the price tag is suitably Lambo-like as well: the starting price of $120 for a 500GB drive with the slower USB 2.0 connection makes it almost twice as expensive as an ordinary hard drive.
2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Green With Envy – Click above for high-res image gallery
Dodge is spicing up the line with a new eye-searing paint color. The hue is called Green With Envy, and it’s supposed to pay homage to some of the wilder colors from the company’s past, including Sublime and Green Go. Buyers will be able to grab their new green Challenger in one of two configurations, including a new R/T Classic that serves up the company’s 372-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine with two A-line body stripes. The accents are available in either matte black or white.
For those who need a little more bite with their bark, Chrysler is also serving up the Challenger SRT8 in the new paint. In that trim, owners can enjoy the same 470-horsepower 6.4-liter V8 engine found in the Challenger SRT8 392, and the muscle bruisers will be differentiated by full-body black stripes. Likewise, the interior will enjoy Green With Envy accented seats.
Look to pony up around $35,785 for the Challenger R/T Classic Green With Envy and $44,875 for the SRT8 iteration. Both prices include destination. for the full press blast.
2011 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T – Click above for high-res image gallery
As part of ’s giant product onslaught for the 2011 model year, The Pentastar has released new R/T trim levels of both the and crossover. Both models make their debut at the this week, and while there aren’t any big power boosts, the spruced up exterior and interior designs speak of sportiness.
Both the Grand Caravan and Journey R/T use Chrysler’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, pumping out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission. The minivan is only available with front-wheel drive, though an all-wheel-drive variant of the Journey R/T is available.
Outside, the Grand Caravan R/T gets new appearance tweaks like a “dipped” body-colored grille, body-colored side moldings and a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels. Likewise, the Journey R/T features the same sort of exterior treatment, but rides on larger 19-inch aluminum wheels with a satin carbon finish. Inside, both vehicles benefit from upgrades like black seats with red contrast stitching throughout, as well as the latest in Chrysler connectivity and infotainment.
The 2011 Grand Caravan R/T and Journey R/T will arrive at dealerships this Spring, priced from $30,595 and $28,995, respectively. Opting for the all-wheel-drive Journey R/T will set you back $30,695, and you can read the full suite of details in the automaker’s press release, .
is lighting a figurative fire under its entire lineup of vehicles these days, and one vehicle that’s igniting the match is the redesigned-for-. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that the automaker has just announced the new Heat package for the 2011 Durango, which is basically an R/T minus the Hemi V8 engine.
In place of the brawny V8 beast is a version of the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine boasting 295 horsepower (up five ponies from other V6 Durangos) and 260 pound-feet of torque. Naturally, the main benefit is improved fuel efficiency, with the Heat earning EPA ratings of 16/23 (city/highway) for the rear-wheel-drive model and 16/22 for the all-wheel-drive model. That’s up from 14/20 with the more powerful V8.
Besides the engine, most everything about the Heat matches that of the R/T. Included among the changes over less sporting models is a body kit that includes a monochromatic front fascia with a lower air dam, suspension lowered by 20 millimeters, 20-inch wheels with all-season performance tires and a dual exhaust system. Dodge saves a bit of weight by ejecting the third row; the Heat is available as a five-passenger model only.
Pricing for the 2011 Durango Heat begins at $30,295 ($32,295 with all-wheel drive). Want to know more? for the full press release.
has dropped the Street and Racing Technology motherlode on the eve of the Chicago Auto Show and first out of the gate is the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 – what Eminem should’ve rolled in during the Super Bowl.
As with anything birthed from in-house tuning division, the Charger SRT8 is all about the engine, so the transformation begins with the new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 putting out 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque – a boost of some 80 lb-ft over the old 6.1-liter mill. That torquey wave comes on at 2,900 rpm and Dodge claims that with the fitment of its Fuel Saver tech, allowing the engine to run on four cylinders when its not under load, fuel economy will improve, although Dodge isn’t saying how much.
Chrysler’s W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission backs up the HEMI, and you can select your own gears by either slapping the AutoStick or thumbing the steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters.
All that adds up to an estimated top speed of 175 mph, a 0-60 mph time in the high fours and a quarter-mile run deep into the 12s.
In addition to the five-spoke, 20-inch forged aluminum and polished wheels, the SRT crew saw fit to equip the SRT8 with an adaptive damping suspension with Auto and Sport settings that process speed, steering angle, brake pressure, throttle application and lateral acceleration. Brakes are sized 14.2-inches up front and 13.8-inches in the rear, with a new front fascia, LED taillamps and four-inch dual exhausts rounding out the exterior mods. And naturally, the interior isn’t left out in the cold, with a flat-bottom steering wheel, heavily bolstered seats and a 900-watt, 19-speaker audio system courtesy of Harmon Kardon.
We’ll be on the floor tomorrow to snag live pics of all the SRT-fettled goodies, but in the meantime, peep the gallery below and get all the details in the press release after the jump.
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI – Click above for high-res image gallery
When first debuted the new-for-2011 sedan, we were told that a total of four engine choices would be available. The standard Jetta makes use of the naturally aspirated 2.0- and 2.5-liter mills, as well as the much-loved 2.0-liter TDI powerplant. The final engine in this set – Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four – now makes its debut under the hood of the 2012 Jetta GLI, which gets its official reveal at this week’s .
Think of the Jetta GLI as a bigger, fatter . Just like in the smaller hatchback, the 2.0-liter turbo-four produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or VW’s DSG automatic. The Jetta GLI uses the same XDS cross differential system that debuted in the GTI, which assists in controlling wheel spin and understeer during cornering.
The Jetta GLI is available in three trim levels – GLI, GLI Autobahn and GLI Autobahn Navigation – priced from $23,495, $25,545 and $26,445, respectively. The base GLI comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, smoked taillights and a revised front fascia, not to mention enhanced suspension geometry for better engagement out on the road. The GLI Autobahn ups the ante with a set of 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, heated leatherette seats and a new Fender premium audio system. The top-trim GLI Autobahn Navigation adds, well, navigation, as well as push-button start.
Look for the 2012 Jetta GLI to hit dealerships in the coming months. For the full details, for Volkswagen’s press release, and stay tuned for live impressions direct from the Chicago show floor.
Jay Leno takes a look at the Hennessey Venom GT – Click above to watch the video
Well, lookie what’s rolled into Jay Leno’s Garage: the . John Hennessey, the man with his signature on the back of the comely supercar has even stopped by the talk show host’s hallowed precincts to discuss his latest project.
Despite being what amounts to a ground-up rethink of the /, the twin-turbo LS9-powered creation manages to weigh-in under 2,700 pounds. This, despite the fact that with 1,200 horsepower on tap, all of the ancilliary systems had to be beefed up substantially.
There’s good dialogue between the two gearheads about everything from the car’s specifications to philosophical discussions about car handling, along with on-track footage and the chance to hear the car fire-up indoors, which is itself worth the price of admission. .
2011 Zero S pulls a stoppie on a pier – Click above to watch video
has just unveiled its lineup for 2011, and while the model names remain the same, the changes in each are striking. The company seems to have done a good job of listening to customer feedback and have rethought and reengineered their entire range. The bikes that begin shipping in March will not only have upgraded brakes, wheels and other components, they will also all be capable of charging in half the time with an optional J1772 connecter that is now the public charging station standard. And that’s just for starters.
Both the 2011 trail-riding X and its more hardcore brother, the MX, are now available in fully-homolugated street versions with lights, mirrors and different gearing for higher speeds. The MX has been given a beefier Agni motor and is good for 57 miles per hour in full road-going dress. Both still retain the same quick acceleration as their dirt-bound brothers.
The dual-sport and street machines from Zero have their own surprises. Both the DS and S are now quieter and require less maintenance, having traded in their chains for a belt drive set up. As well, their batteries have gained 12.5 per cent more capacity and both have an range of 43 miles with maximum distance listed as 58 miles. The S has also been lowered two inches to enhance its handling.
Don’t forget to to watch each bike’s own (music-free, thank you) video along with three more high-res image galleries and the official press release. If that’s not enough to satisfy your curiosty, there is lots more info over at .
Cher·o·kee-itis: A disease that infects the minds, hearts and wallets of Jeep buyers who cannot accept that there was, is, or ever could be a replacement for the Cherokee, sometimes referred to as the XJ.
VW’s Darth Vader commercial was a Super Bowl favorite. Here are some bloopers and deleted scenes featuring six-year-old actor Max Page.
Ken Block, the Ford Fiesta RS WRC and the Monster Girls. Need we say more?
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2011 Ford Explorer – Click above for high-res image gallery
According to Bloomberg, the can thank Alan Mulally for its stay of execution. When the former Boeing executive took the helm at FoMoCo, the powers that be urged him to make a decision on the then-ancient SUV. Mulally said that the nameplate could live on, but only if the company’s engineers could find a way to seriously cut weight and increase fuel economy at the same time. The new vehicle was not only able to meet those demands, but was able to offer a larger package with much of the same off-road ability as well.
That meant sacrificing the body-on-frame blue print for a unibody design and exploring alternative engine solutions – engines like the upcoming Ecoboost four-cylinder. In the end, the Blue Oval boys were able to shed 100 pounds off the platform.
Ford has since interpreted that same quest for svelteness into a company-wide strategy, and Bloomberg says that the Dearborn automaker is now on par with automakers like BMW when it comes down to aggressively stripping weight from a vehicle. You can read the full story on how Mulally’s obsession with reducing weight changed Ford for the better . Thanks for the tip, Andrew!
We received the about ’s new earlier today, but we’ve just returned from seeing the car in person before the officially kicks off tomorrow. Visually, the more fuel-efficient looks no different than the standard car, save the addition of eco-friendly 17-inch alloy wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires.
What’s most important about this car is what’s under the hood – a 15-kilowatt electric motor that offers 15 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque for initial acceleration thrust, matched with Buick’s 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four. Combine that with regenerative braking and a start/stop system for the engine, and the end result is a Regal that’s capable of achieving 26 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg highway.
Buick’s new eAssist system first debuted on the larger sedan, where it will serve as the base powertrain for 2012 model year vehicles. With the Regal, however, the eAssist model will slot just above the base 2.4-liter car and below the Regal Turbo, which uses the automaker’s 220-horsepower 2.0-liter Ecotec inline-four. Pricing will be announced closer to the eAssist’s official launch later this year.
Typically, when an automaker is preparing to unveil a new car, we get a look at the styling and then the technical details. But is used to doing things backwards. It was, after all, one of the first automakers to build a mid-engine sportscar, and was also the one that got its start reverse-engineering with tractor parts. And the backwards tradition continues with the highly anticipated successor.
Though Sant’Agata has been gradually releasing details of the supercar’s mechanicals – including the , – glimpses at the car’s design have been few and far between. This swirly job “spy shot”, ostensibly leaked from the factory, has been circulating the internet like a viral video, and gives us one of our best looks yet at the car’s shape.
Though the does a good job of breaking up the body’s lines, you can still discern a healthy dose of Reventón-like fighter jet-inspired design cues in the beast expected to be called the Aventador LP700-4. With less than a month to go before it makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, there’ll undoubtedly be more to come soon, so watch this space.
Robert Kubica arrives at Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure, Italy
The Lotus Renault GP team has issued another update on the progress of its star pilot Robert Kubica. The Polish driver, for those who haven’t been following, crashed during the Ronde di Andorra in Italy on Sunday – just weeks before the start of the F1 season – and was airlifted to a local hospital where doctors treated him for multiple fractures and severed tendons in his right limbs.
With the bulk of the procedures now behind him, Kubica is conscious (some reports state that he was revived from a medically-induced coma), and conversing with his doctors as well as visiting relatives and colleagues. Later this week, Kubica will have to undergo additional surgery (for his right shoulder and foot), to be followed by another procedure a few days later. He’s expected to stay at the Santa Corona Hospital where he has been since the crash for another two or three weeks, after which he’ll likely be transfered to another location to rehabilitate, likely for between five months and a full year.
With his recovery underway but a long road ahead, Renault will need to find someone to temporarily take his place for the impending season. Although the team has both Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean – both recent F1 drivers – on contract, the team is reportedly examining all of its options. Among them are , both of which raced last season and have proven themselves competitive drivers. Liuzzi lost his seat this year at Force India, while Hulkenberg took a test-driver role with the team when he lost his seat at Williams.
[Source: Lotus Renault GP, Image: Silvio Fasano/AP]
Intermarine 55 by BMW DesignworksUSA – Click above for high-res image gallery
Head down to the local yacht club and you’re likely to see as many in the parking lot as anything else. It’s not that Bimmers are any more nautical than any other car, but they seem to attract the same sort of clientele that are drawn to the open water – and they have the means to get there. But over the past few years, the company’s design house has been bridging that gap by dabbling its proverbial toes in the waters of naval architecture (read: boat design).
Following their partnership with the Bavaria shipyard (which has yielded both and styled by BMW’s pens), BMW DesignworksUSA has teamed up with Brazilian company Intermarine to launch a new 57-foot cockpit motoryacht.
BMW Designworks USA focused their design of the Intermarine 55 on creating an open environment, emphasizing big windows to let the sunshine in and the occupants see out, as well as an open-plan interior and plenty of deck space for enjoying the good life on the water. Similar to other vessels of this size, the Intermarine 55 features three cabins, two bathrooms and a large salon.
The Intermarine 55 also highlights the expanding business which the German automaker’s American design studio has pursued in Brazil and across South America, most notably in but also branching into a wide variety of disciplines, from medical equipment and metal hardware to computers and cameras. Follow the jump to read all about it, and check it the high-resolution images in the gallery below.
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Autoblog Podcast #216 is a retrospective of Superbowl Ads, rumination on the Kubica crash (yes, we know we mispronounced his name) and rumors of restarted effort on Honda’s new supercar, picking up where the NSX left off. Chris and Dan are joined by Chris Paukert and AOL Autos/Autoblog contributor David Kiley for the hour and nineteen minute extravaganza. We wrap with your questions and comments, as always, and we’ll see you next week. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #216: Superbowl ads, Kubica crash and Honda NSX with Dave Kiley
2011Toyota Matrix – Click above for high-res image gallery
will not be having a formal press conference at this week’s , but the automaker will still have something fresh on its stand. The 2011 hatchback has officially bowed, with a slightly retouched exterior (new wheels, different paint choices, etc.), a touched-up interior with a new steering wheel and seat fabrics, and a new standard brake-override system called Smart Stop.
The 2011 Matrix is only available in two trim levels – base and S – and is powered by either a 132-horsepower 1.8-liter or 158-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Transmission choices include a four- or five-speed automatic, as well as a five-speed manual, and all-wheel drive is available on the Matrix S when paired with the 2.4-liter powerplant.
New sport packages are available for both Matrix trims, with the S Sport Package incorporating things like 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear underbody spoilers, a roof-mounted rear spoiler and, of course, ‘S’ badging. Pricing has not been released for the 2011 Matrix as of this writing, but we expect the starting MSRP to be just under $17,000. for the official details.
VW Darth Vader commercial deleted scenes and bloopers – Click above to
There are only two car commercials from the Super Bowl that we’re still talking about two days later. The first is from Detroit to the rest of the country starring rapper Eminem, and the other is . Searches on Autoblog for the , which the commercial happens to be advertising, jumped 270 percent on the day after it aired.
VW wants to make sure we’re still talking about its new brand ambassador, six-year-old actor , a little while longer, so the company has released this cute video of bloopers from the commercial shoot and deleted scenes that didn’t make the final cut. to see Max slip and fall, be interrupted by a Roomba and finally worshipped by his parents who now fully understand his power.
2011 Ford Territory – Click above for high-res image gallery
has finally unleashed information on the production version of the 2011 Territory, giving us all the skinny on what Australian buyers can look forward to when the crossover hits showrooms this May. The party gets started with an all-new exterior that makes use of Ford’s kudzu-like kinetic design language. The Territory now wears a fascia that’s reminiscent of the new global Focus and more than a few Aston Martin products, and the rear produces a cohesive look thanks to integrated glass in the rear quarters and hatch.
The Territory will be available in three configurations when it lands: TX, TS and Titanium and while there’s preciously little information available about what will power those machines, we do know that a diesel mill will find its way under the hood. There’s also some indication that the CUV won’t be available with a manual transmission no matter what engine you opt for.
Inside, Ford has graced the new Territory with an interior that borrows a bit from the Falcon. A large LCD touch screen dominates the dash, and the center stack looks to be cleanly designed. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Ken Block, the Ford Fiesta RS WRC and the Monster Girls – Click above to watch the video
Gentlemen, start your engines. The Monster World Rally Team has announced its full schedule for the 2011 season, and there’s plenty of impending action to drool over.
Speaking of drooling, there’s a video of the the all-new Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC that Ken Block will be using to contest the World Rally Championship along with Summer X Games, Gymkhana GRID, and select RallyCar rallies and RallyCross events in the United States. Oh yeah, and there’s more than just automotive eye candy in the video you’ll find after the break, if you know what we mean… nudge nudge, wink wink.
Says Block, “We even have a few top-secret projects in the works. I’m a lucky bastard to be doing all this, it’s going to be an amazing year!” Lucky indeed.
For those interested in more, this is said to be the first video in a three-part series. Part two is scheduled to be released on February 9th, so stay tuned for that. to watch this first video and to see the full slate of appearances for 2011.
