This time last year, was pulling the wraps off the at in Las Vegas. Twelve months later, Ford is slowly beginning production of its first EV at its Michigan Assembly plant and dropped off one early example to the crew at Google.
We’re not sure what the search giant is doing with Dearborn’s inaugural EV, but something involving either Google Street View or its autonomous vehicle program isn’t out of the question. Or maybe just Brin and Page wanted something with a 100-mile range and quick charging to replace their aging pair of .
The December sales numbers are in, most of them anyway, and what we’re seeing is an end to the year that largely mirrors the months that came before.
Our usual players are at the top of the list in green, including , which lead all brands last month with an 82.56-percent increase in monthly sales to end the year. Credit goes to the redesigned sedan, which sold over 760% more units in December than the Sebring did the year before, and the redesigned , which itself enjoyed a 242% increase in sales.
Not far behind are other brands that have been performing well all year long, like with a 42.52-percent gain in sales (the eclipsed the 100,000 annual sales mark in December by selling 9,624 units), and with a 36.18-percent jump.
Last month we also witnessed the last few gasps of breath for , which packed it in by selling just 270 units in December. Other brands that have been operating in the red band of our spectrum all year long finished much the same way. barely eeked out more sales than the year before with a slight 1.9-percent gain, while its luxury division , as well as and , were all behind their 2010 numbers.
*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 27 selling days in December 2011 and 27 selling days in December 2010, so the change in monthly sales volume will be the same as the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.
As the newest member of the Autoblog crew, I got to take my first turn in the just before the holidays. But rather than the early Christmas present I expected it to be, two weeks behind the wheel felt more like hazing the new guy.
Now, I’m a big fan of the , and I had ridden in an before and found its backseat extremely comfortable, so I was excited to pick up this limousine-like from the office in suburban Detroit. I truly wanted to like the car. But by the time I had completed the 55-mile freeway drive back to my house in Ann Arbor, I had already soured. Or to be more accurate, decided that our Equus was broken.
I had been warned about our car’s and was prepared for an uncomfortable experience, but the Equus proved more painful than I had expected. The problem wasn’t just an extreme amount of lumbar support, but that the seat was poking me right in the kidney – reason one to call the dealer.
With the new year in full swing and the now just days away, the new debuts have been rolling in. And here we have Volvo’s centerpiece for the rapidly approaching auto expo: the XC60 Plug-inHybridConcept.
Based, as you might have guessed, on the production crossover, this technological concept packs a similar drivetrain to the that just entered production. While its stouter counterpart utilizes a diesel to fill out the internal-combustion side of the hybrid equation, the XC60 concept packs a gasoline engine: those front wheels are driven by a 280-horsepower turbo four coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with a 70hp electric motor driving the rear wheels for through-the-road all-wheel drive.
The result is what Volvo stretches to claim is a 100 mpg fuel economy rating in hybrid mode, 35 miles on electric propulsion alone, or a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds using the battery as a booster. There’s plenty more to digest in the press release , so click through to delve in, and don’t forget to scope out the high-resolution image gallery for a closer look.
Automakers need halo cars. They bring people into the showroom and demonstrate just what their engineers can do. Typically those range-topping vehicles come in the form of sports cars – think , , et al – but is reportedly taking another direction. That’s because these exotic supercars tend to sell in small numbers (almost by definition), while – for Mercedes-Benz – mid-size luxury sedans like the sell in much bigger numbers. As such, the Silver Star automaker is planning on making its next halo car a four-door sedan (of sorts).
A couple months ago, we brought you of Daimler’s plans to make a super-lightweight, carbon-fiber E-Class, and now further details have found their way into the bloggosphere. Dubbed the E Superlight, the sedan is tipped to share its footprint with the E-Class, its size with the and its price with the . For that, buyers would get a state-of-the-art sedan made from carbon fiber sitting at the very cutting edge of what Stuttgart’s finest are capable of achieving.
That’s right, the E Superlight isn’t a mere concept car: reports from overseas indicate that Daimler is actually planning on building it, with production earmarked to begin in 2015 and to come fully online by 2017. A hydrogen fuel cell is expected to provide the motivation at least in the beginning, but more conventional powertrains are also said to be in the mix. Once it’s made its point, Mercedes can lift the halo back where it usually sits, atop the replacement for the current supercar.
Following on the heels of its stablemate, the smallest model has performed well on the National Highway Safety Administration’s crash tests, earning a coveted five-star overall safety rating. Two months ago, the , while both the five-door and sedan scored five stars in each category except rollover, in which it earned four stars.
Performing well in a crash could also help those whose Sonics . In all seriousness, we’re always happy to see new models earn high scores in crash testing, because it means that they are safer. But it’s even better news when small cars score well, as it helps to dispel the false notion that size is the only thing that matters in a collision.
A Standalone Sleeper Sport Sedan That Still Keeps Us Awake At Night
The always-bustling stand at next month’s figures to be cluttered with a full range of eighth-generation models, all of which arrive in the States sometime between June and July. The line’s real marquee model is, of course, the RS4, but that Rennsport ingredient will not be seen on the stand in Cobo just yet. (So let’s change that to almost full range, and some sources are saying that there will not even be an RS4 this go-round.) The sauciest A4 present will be this model, the new S4, considered by many – this reviewer included – to be the real gem of the range, especially in comparison to the seriously costly RS4.
It’s best to call this the “latest” S4, because it is definitely not all-new. However, it does partake of the mid-cycle changes to the “B8″ eighth-generation, some of which we recently addressed in a first drive of the and . For now, though, we really don’t need big changes – we’ll be happy if the S4 remains our lower-volume secret.
Thanks to our friends over at Road & Track jumping the embargo gun, we received of the . Now the rest of the story has been published, with R&T taking a thorough look at how Toyota’s California-based Calty Design Research facility came up with the look of the racy hybrid 2+2 coupe.
“Only a few written attributes were given as criteria: avant-garde beauty, originality, driving joy and unequaled technology,” according to the story, which says CEO Akio Toyoda himself weighed in with a mandate that the car “have the ‘wow’ factor.”
has been working on the LF-LC Concept for a year and a half, so the concept is no mere auto show roller. That kind of attention-to-detail shows in the new photos, especially inside the car. A finely detailed interior with wave designs stitched into the leather door panels is a nice touch that reinforces the car’s exterior design language, which R&T says Lexus is calling “tumbling ribbon.” The car also has a multi-layered instrument panel that looks like it could have been inspired by any number of sci-fi video games.
One thing missing from the article is any further information about the hybrid drivetrain system in the car. Curiously, while the announcing that it would be unveiling the car mentions “Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive,” that line was omitted from the release on the American site. Apparently we’ll have to wait until the car’s official reveal at the on January 9 to find out what (if anything) is under the hood of the LF-LC.
There’s plenty more to take in, including two new beauty shots from Autocar, so be sure to check out .
After two consecutive years posting losses in its balance book, is back in the black as the figures came in for the close of 2011. But don’t think for one minute that the ultra-luxe British marque is about to stop there. No, Bentley’s new CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer (pictured above, right) has big plans for the company, and having headed product development at for years, that can only mean one thing: more new vehicles. More types of vehicles, more bodystyles and more derivatives.
The biggest potential item in the pipeline is an SUV, a plan which Bentley has had in the making for some time now and which Dürheimer recently indicated in a conference call will be decided on soon. The Bentley of sport-utes would be significantly more upscale than anything currently offered, with a price tag upwards of $140,000, with underpinnings borrowed from the which Dürheimer helped launch himself.
Beyond the SUV, the Bentley chief executive also hinted at a new sportscar range that would include a two-seat coupe, a hardtop convertible and even a racing version. The model would likely take the fight more directly to , against whose smaller GTs the larger range currently competes with.
On the sales front, The Flying B was the first automaker to report its December figures and the 2011 calendar year as a whole, with global sales up 37 percent last year to 7,003 units. Sales for December were also up 69 percent versus 2010 to 1,059 cars, which Bentley claims is its second-best sales month of all time and best since the recession began.
What’s more interesting is how Bentley sales break down geographically. The U.S. remains the brand’s best-selling market with 2,021 cars sold, but sales in China “virtually doubled” last year to 1,839 units. In fact, the Chinese had already bought more Bentleys by last July than they did in all of 2010. With that kind of momentum, China should easily overtake the U.S. as as the automaker’s best customer base in 2012. Even struggling Europeans managed to increase their appetites, buying 53 percent more last year than the year before. Follow the jump for the latest statement on Bentley’s financial health.
Sort of. Saabs United reports that the automaker has announced some of its employees will return to complete the vehicles still standing unfinished on the production line. All told, only around 100 units are likely to be produced and then sold off before the brand goes dark for good.
The Swedish automaker finally filed for bankruptcy in December after a tumultuous year that featured production stoppages, court protection and a variety of foreign suitors with wide-ranging plans to save the brand. In the end, however, the flag .
Here in the U.S., the company is currently investigating ways to continue to in the wake of its implosion.
has of the next profile, but tonight the automaker has released two exceptionally brief videos of its latest ‘ute.
The Pathfinder concept is set to debut at next week’s , and all Nissan is saying is that the seven-seat concept will still be able to haul through the muck with four-wheel drive when it goes on sale this fall.
Beyond that, we’re left with the two videos , the first showing the Pathfinder’s redesigned face and the second giving us a glimpse of its rear. Neither designs are particularly revolutionary, but they’re certainly more handsome than what’s currently on offer. Here’s hoping it delivers when the wraps come off on January 9th.
You know you want another one of Ken Block’s trademark hoonage videos, don’t you? Of course you do. And so we’re glad to oblige. But, Ken Block being Ken Block, “just another” video wouldn’t do. No, he and his crew at the Monster World Rally Team have to make each episode count. And that requires a certain measure of creativity.
For this latest three-minute clip, Block and company headed to the Dirtfish Rally School in Snoqualmie Falls, Washington. That may not mean anything to you now, but do you remember TwinPeaks? Dirtfish is based in the very same location where the popular early-90s TV show was shot. Block and his team headed there to test out the new on gravel for the first time, and were kind enough to bring along a video crew to, um… “document” the process. to go fire walking with Block and crew.
We’re just a week away from the official reveal of the 2013 Cadillac ATS, but the crew is continuing to work through the winter to hone its fighter.
These latest shots of the ATS show a production-spec fascia (albeit obscured by camo), along with road-ready headlamps, tail lamps and a pair of vertical LED fog lamps set low in the front bumper. You can also catch a glimpse of the inset dual exhausts, which we’re assuming will be available on both the V6 and four-pot variants.
The overall exterior effect comes off as a more modern mixed with the subtle refinement of the recently revealed XTS – a good thing to our eyes. Even better is the inclusion of that’s sure to give the revamped a run for its money in the performance and fuel efficiency department. Check the pics above to see a few more details and get ready to see the ATS uncovered and in the buff at next week’s .
may turn to aluminum body panels on the company’s F-Series pickup trucks in an effort to reduce weight. According to Ward’s Auto, the next-generation F-Series is set to debut in 2014 and will likely feature aluminum fenders and door skins. The news comes courtesy of two unnamed sources close to the vehicle’s development. Right now, the next-gen F-Series is rolling through Ford halls under the name P552, and while the automaker is reticent to go on the record about aluminizing its best-selling model, executives have made it clear that weight-savings is a major priority.
Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s Group Vice President of Global Product Development, has previously said the company intends to cut up to 700 pounds per model by 2019. Ditching stamped steel body panels for aluminum would be a good start. Ford has already dabbled in aluminum hoods on both the F-Series and Explorer, and the material is expected to find greater use across automakers in the near future as companies brace for stiffer Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.
The takeover of may look like a slam-dunk, but a group of investment funds is hoping to change that. Bloomberg reports that the investment group has filed a lawsuit in Stuttgart, Germany, seeking $2.6 billion in damages. The group’s issue traces back several years earlier to when Porsche the infinitely larger VW.
The group said in a statement that Porsche “gained control over the price of VW common stock as it secretly built enormous derivative positions covering almost all of VW’s freely traded shares, then triggered a massive short squeeze, and finally released billions of euros worth of shares into the short squeeze for its own profit.”
The group’s version of the VW takeover story is similar to the one we heard about in a , but Porsche apparently denies the accusations. Porsche spokesperson Frank Gaube has reportedly said the automaker will need to receive the suit before it could be closely examined. Bloomberg says that the investment group has also filed an arbitration application against VW.
Chevrolet Volt and Fiat 500 sales flops, 14 million cars in 2012, most popular posts of 2011
Episode #263 of the is here with Chris, Dan, Chris Paukert, and Zach this week. Topics include the perhaps early condemnation of the Chevrolet Volt and Fiat 500 as flops, predictions of a 14 million new car year in 2012, and a little discussion around Autoblog’s most-read posts of 2011. Your questions and comments power the end of the ‘cast, 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 #263:
In the Autoblog Garage
Hosts: , , ,
Runtime: 01:13:39
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The editors from Autoweek have lined up their notes and named their 2011 Best of the Best. The and took the top honors, with editor Wes Raynal saying that the is a vehicle with “few peers” thanks its integration of sedan styling and hatchback functionality. The Evoque, meanwhile, won over the hearts and minds of those at Autoweek thanks to its roots and excellent ride refinement. The publication says the Evoque redefines the brand.
Autoweek isn’t alone in its picks. As you may recall, the editors at our sister site, , chose both the A7 and the Evoque for the website’s first-ever car of the year awards, Motor Trend named the Evoque its SUV of the Year, and we’re rather fond of them both, as well.
In order to qualify for the Autoweek Best of the Best list, a vehicle had to be completely or substantially new for 2011. Click for the full press release.
A7 and Land Rover Evoque ‘Best of the Best’ titles
has a rather unique way of ringing in the new year. Back in 2007, motorcycle freestyle daredevil Robbie Maddison jumped 322 feet over a football field in Las Vegas, setting a world record for the longest motorcycle jump. A year later, the Australian stuntman jumped 96 feet into the air, at Paris Las Vegas… and then he let gravity take over as he jumped his motorcycle back down.
Four-wheeled machinery has taken part in the festivities as well. in his trophy truck in 2008. The perennially insane made history in 2009 when he from one boat-mounted ramp to another on a barge, clearing about 250 feet of open water in the process. Sadly, there was no record-setting feat in 2010 after Levi LaVellee crashed his snowmobile in a practice run, though he did set a 361-foot record before it was all said and done.
Which leads us to 2011, which ended in spectacular fashion as Maddison and LaVellee performed a flawless tandem jump over the water in San Diego, California. Maddison recorded a distance of 378 feet on his motorcycle while LaVellee set a new snowmobile distance record by soaring 412 feet from takeoff to landing. See the feat go down from multiple video angles (including one from LaVellee’s helmet cam) .
The numbers are officially in for 2011, and once again, , General Motors and sold more pickup trucks than any other model. The Ford F-Series was the top-selling vehicle through November of last year with 516,639 units rolling off of dealer lots. That number handily trounces the in second place with 367,343 units sold. The and fell into third and fourth places, respectively, leaving to fill out the top five domestic automaker-built vehicles, with 218,750 units.
All told, GM took five spots on the list while Ford walked away with four. Chrysler only managed to crack the top 10 with its Ram offerings. Overall, American automakers sold over 1 million pickup trucks last year, proving that in the land of (still) cheap fuel, The pickup truck remains king. for the complete top 10 list, complete with sales figures through November.
We have no intention of inviting vehement vehicular debates, but they always seem to pop up when discussing this segment of the market. That’s a good thing, because getting no reaction at all would be terrible when talking about cars that are so vital to driving enthusiasts. Our topic of the day is this refreshed eighth-generation , and while few changes are readily apparent, any packet of modifications to these bread-and-butter premium cars is worth investigating.
It’s been one heck of a year for the entry-level German executive class. Besides the addition of trims and a to the fourth-generation and the all-important launch of the sixth-generation , we’ve just driven the latest Audi A4 2.0 TFSI up, down and over various scenic Portuguese roads, and now more than ever, it is not to be ignored.
The will arrive in mid-2012 at the same time as this revamped A4, and having driven the thing, we can now say that all the mid-cycle touches have been nicely presented. While we were already big fans of the eighth-gen A4, the model’s reworked nose is handsome. Specifically, we note the more pronounced curvature to the hood, as well as a more planted stance. That’s a bit of visual trickery, not a wider track – stylists have emphasized the design’s horizontal lines up front, and they’ve added new head- and fog-light fixtures, along with larger air intakes down low. It appears that Audi has deliberately “nastied up” the sensible A4 a little to better prepare it for the new RS4 range-topper we expect next year. (That is if the rumors of there being no RS4 this time around are just rumors.)
The December sales numbers are in, most of them anyway, and what we’re seeing is an end to the year that largely mirrors the months that came before.
