Jay Leno spends time with the 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage – Click above to watch video
The 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage sits up near the top of the ‘ole Autoblog must-drive car list. While we wait for the day that someone hands us a crystal ‘Emotion Control Unit’ to fire one up, we can sit back and live vicariously through Jay Leno. Mr. Leno recently got to spend some time with the British sports coupe and was kind enough to capture his experience on camera.
Leno remarks that the V12 Vantage is “almost the perfect combination of hardcore track sports car and GT car.” To prove that, he turns the camera over to his tame racing driver, Justin Bel,l who brings the car to Willow Springs and puts it through its paces. Check out Jay, Justin and the 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage in the video .
2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Click above for high-res image gallery
As many as you think you might see at the golf course, yacht club or shopping mall, that’s nothing compared to the legions regularly running around racing circuits worldwide. Aside from the myriad open GT grids dominated by Stuttgart machinery, the iconic German sportscar is the spec racer of choice for various national Porsche Carrera Cup championships and the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup that supports F1 races around the year. Those series use the versatile 911 GT3 Cup. With over 1,400 sold since 1998, Porsche maintains that it’s the best-selling racing car of all time, and it has just announced a new model for the 2011 season onward.
Whereas was based on the street-going 911 GT3, the new model starts life as the harder, faster and sharper . That means a wider body that can accommodate bigger wheels, tires and brakes. It also carries the larger 3.8-liter flat-six with 450 horsepower – 30 more horses than the outgoing model coming from 200cc of added displacement. It also looks more like the RS, with an aggressive aero package and LED lighting for when tracks go dark and dreary.
The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will make its track debut at the opening round of next season’s Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, but you can delve into the details right now in the press release after the jump and in our high-res image gallery below.
We were curious how a hopped-up SX4 would perform, particularly in 2010 MY guise, which gets a bump to 150 horses and gains a six-speed manual transmission. Can it compete with the world’s best hot hatches?
Chrysler engineers have taken the 2011 Challenger SRT8 up a notch or two with a new 6.4-liter V8 that produces 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque while delivering 15-20 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing 6.1-liter V8.
When the new Focus goes on sale in early 2011, Ford will offer sport packages for both the mid-grade SE and top-end Titanium models, adding things like a more aggressively tuned suspension, larger wheels, better brakes and a host of interior upgrades. Still, only a five-speed manual?
2011 Chevrolet Cruze playing a full-size game of Pac-Man – Click above to watch video
The is a nimble, compact sedan that could potentially turn into a top seller for . Apparently, it’s also a fan of classic video games. Well, at least the Chinese ad agency that dreamed up this interesting ad for it certainly is. A large room serves as the stage for a full-size representation of the Pac-Man universe. A white Chevy Cruze plays the part of Mr. Pac-Man while a series of Black Cruzes represent the ghosts.
The video is well made but could use a little more substance beyond the driving and background music. However, the song will be with you all day. A bit of a warning though, the song has a few swears in it, which is funny because either the ad agency didn’t notice them or just doesn’t care. Also, the ghosts should be multi-colored, and it would have been really hilarious if they were old Cavaliers.
Check out the commercial . If you end up enjoying the music, the name of the band is The League and the song is called “F* RNR”.
Warning: Possible NSFW language.
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Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL [Source: ]
2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur – Click above to for high-res image gallery
Axl Rose, front man for hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, has an appetite for destruction and his latest target is reportedly a . According to celeb dish outlet , Rose is being sued by over a vehicle he leased. The car was given back several months after its scheduled date of return. That is just icing on a sweet cake of disregard however, as the car was allegedly returned with a cracked windshield, two damaged wheels, a broken taillight, a missing key, dents on the doors and damage to the bumper. Axl or his compadres also racked up serious seat time by going 42,000 miles over the lease limit.
The boys from Crewe have little Patience *ahem* for someone mistreating their property like this, and Bentley is suing Mr. Rose for nearly $74,000.
Ford, and Ram have new feathers to stick in their caps. The Texas Auto Writers Association has voted Ford the official Truck Line of Texas, while the has landed the title of SUV of Texas. Despite FoMoCo’s line of top-notch trucks, the 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn was awarded the much-coveted Truck of Texas honor. We expect to see each respective manufacturer tout their new titles in ads any day now.
The Texas Auto Writers Association holds an annual Texas Truck Rodeo every year, giving journalists from the state are given the opportunity to drive nearly every truck on the market over a two-day period. At the end of the event, votes are tallied for each award category and the winners announced. In addition to the categories just mentioned, there were other awards handed out, including Full-Size Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4×4, Mid-Size Pickup Truck: 2011 T Double Cab 4×2 Texas Edition, Luxury Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn, Heavy Duty Pickup Truck: , and Outstanding Feature: Ford/ .
This year’s big winners make plenty of sense to us, as Ford has crammed the F-150 with a slew of excellent drivetrain options and the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a massive step in the right direction for Chrysler. Likewise, the Ram Laramie Longhorn offers one of the best interiors of any pickup available right now, and its supple rear suspension strikes us as just the thing for traversing the Lone Star state.
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Photos by Zach Bowman and Jeremy Korzeniewski / Copyright (C)2010 AOL.
2011 Chevrolet Aveo – Click above for high-res image gallery
According to the blokes over at Autocar, Korean arm is furiously working on turning the latest into a five-door, five-passenger crossover. This CUV version of Chevy’s subcompact, which just recently with sales slated for early 2011, will reportedly sport a stretched version of the platform and will be offered in both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive flavors.
Upscale interior bits and pieces are apparently being borrowed from the European parts bin, which should mean good things for the Gamma II-based cute ‘ute. Other higher-end specs include a next-gen digital display grafted into the dash that is apparently going to filter across the rest of the Chevrolet lineup.
In related news, the British magazine is also reporting that the four-door sedan version of the new Aveo is likely to be shown off at the next Detroit Auto Show in January. Will a crossover join in on the Aveo’s time in the spotlight? We’ll be there in DSLRs in tow either way.
Rossin-Bertin Vorax – Click above for image gallery
Wiesmann may have been from V10 power to the new twin-turbo V8 for their top-of-the-line MF5, but a Brazilian upstart apparently thinks it can secure an adequate supply of ten-cylinder engines even after they’re discontinued. That’s what’s powering the vehicle you see here.
The Rossin-Bertin Vorax is set to debut at the São Paulo Auto Show later this month. It features a carbon fiber body over an aluminum chassis, cradling the Bavarian ten-pot in two states of trim: naturally aspirated with 570 horsepower, or supercharged with 750. The former is said to be good for a 3.8-second 0-62 mph time and a 205 mph top end. The latter marginally improves the acceleration time to 3.6 despite its 180-horse boost, but supposedly raises the top end to 231 mph. Of course, those figures are likely theoretical, as the vehicle appears to exist only in renderings at the moment.
Bankrolled by meat industry scion Natolino Bertin, Jr. and realized by former designer Fharys Rossin, the Vorax coupe is targeted to hit the market late 2011 or early 2012. A convertible version is slated to follow a year later, with overall production targeted at 500-1000 units in all and prices hovering around $400k.
2011Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery
How sweet can incentives make the ? If you’re really lucky and bunch together several rebates and credits, you can drive home this battery powered machine for a mere $12,280. Yep, you read that right. For less than $13,000 you could own one of the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicles – provided you meet some very select criteria. Interested in finding out how? Read on.
Disclaimer: there are a bunch of “ifs” and “buts” included in the quest to receive this bargain price, but the important thing is that it’s actually possible (as discovered). Here’s how it could go down: Starting with the , slash $7,500 off courtesy of the and get down to $25,280. Now, provided that you live in California, you can also lop another $5,000 off the top under the . Simply submit your paperwork to the and the Leaf’s cost almost magically drops to $20,280. But how do we get from here to $12,280?
From here on out, the incentives get much more specific and will begin to seriously reduce the number of people who can get the EV deal of a lifetime. If you reside in one of the eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and portions of Kern), then you are eligible to apply for a (PDF warning) for purchasing a zero-emissions ride. Okay, so that’s $17,280. Here comes the kicker. For this final incentive, you need to work for Sony Pictures Entertainment, which has apparently agreed to offer a $5,000 allowance for purchasing a battery-powered vehicle if you meet certain eligibility requirements.
And there it is – the $12,280 Nissan Leaf, as rare as hen’s teeth. Now… who wants to be the first to give it a try?
2012 Ford Focus – Click above for high-res image gallery
The forthcoming is indeed something for hot hatch enthusiasts to look forward to, but buyers shopping the naturally aspirated volume models will be able to spec a bit of sport on their Focuses, as well. When the new goes on sale in early 2011, will offer sport packages for both the mid-grade SE and top-end Titanium models, adding things like a more aggressively tuned suspension, larger wheels, better brakes and a host of interior upgrades.
Available on both the sedan and hatchback, the SE Sport Package adds four-wheel disc brakes, sport suspension, 16-inch aluminum wheels (with an available set of 17s), piano black grille, sport seats, metallic interior trim accents, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a five-speed manual transmission. On top of that, the Focus SE Sport gets a rear spoiler and is available in the automaker’s Yellow Blaze Metallic paint color.
For the top-shelf Titanium model, which already comes standard with Ford’s sport-tuned spension, the Titanium Handling Package adds optimized suspension components for an even better driving feel and special 18-inch alloys wrapped in summer performance tires.
Pricing for these option packages is not available as of this writing, but Ford says it will be launching its online configurator for the 2012 Focus near the end of October. for the official details in the automaker’s press blast.
made waves when it announced the company would have an armada of 35 vehicles on display at this year’s SEMA show, but the star of the shindig is likely to be the new .
While no one has ever accused the of being light on grunt, Chrysler engineers have taken things up a notch or two with a new 6.4-liter V8 that produces 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, all while delivering 15-20 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing 6.1-liter V8 in the 2010 Challenger SRT8. The big V8 uses variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation to help keep consumption low.
The Challenger SRT8 392 also employs a reworked suspension with even firmer shocks, a quicker steering ratio and more negative camber than before, all of which are supposed to help the hefty muscle bruiser tackle the corners with a little more finesse.
Up front, there’s a unique chin spoiler that helps channel air to the vehicle’s radiator and provide additional downforce at higher speeds. It also just looks pretty dang sharp.
Chrysler says it will build just 1,492 inaugural editions of the Challenger SRT8 392, and that the cars will be available to buy right after Thanksgiving. for the full model-specific press release.
2011Cadillac STS – Click above for high-res image gallery
Soon enough, will pull the wraps off of ’s new flagship sedan, marking the official demise of both the aging and sedans. Until then, however, the two top-end Caddies live on, albeit with fewer options than before.
According to USA Today, the STS sedan will no longer be available with GM’s 4.6-liter Northstar V8 for the 2011 model year. The only mill on hand is The General’s direct-injected 3.6-liter V6, cranking out 302 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque. Power still gets to the ground via rear- or all-wheel drive. V8 power is nice, but since the Northstar only churned out 18 more horses and 43 more pound-feet than the V6, it won’t be too tearful of a goodbye, especially when you consider the six’s better fuel economy. The supercharged, 469-hp STS-V was put out to pasture last year.
GM is fitting the 2011 STS with its ninth-generation technology as standard equipment, meaning better voice recognition and the latest host of safety functions are on hand. What’s more, Cadillac offers the STS in a Platinum trim, which adds 18-inch wheels, an Alcantara headliner and a full leather interior.
Pricing starts at $47,280 (not including the $825 destination charge), and if you tick all of the option boxes, you’ll be spending just over $65,000. We imagine that there are some pretty substantial discounts on the hood with each sale, but will they be enough to move cars off of dealer lots? All we know is, the XTS can’t get here soon enough.
Alfa Romeo Guilietta – Click above for high-res image gallery
According to the latest reports, the will serve as the basis for the Dodge Caliber’s successor, and it’s set to arrive in late 2011 as a 2012 model. USA Today credits Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, with the proclamation that some form of Giulietta will wind up as a Dodge. Considering last year’s that shows the Caliber discontinued after 2011, Chrysler will need something to fill its place in showrooms.
Refreshes will carry the venerable , and the Sebring has been transformed into the more promising , but those moves are mere stopgaps. Without a small car to sell against its domestic rivals, and will be at a significant disadvantage. Fiat has expressed its desire to in Chrysler beyond its 20 percent level, and the only way that’s going to happen is if the automaker succeeds Stateside. Enthusiasts have looked longingly across the Atlantic at the Giulietta, and if the car connects as well with the public at large and carries the right blend of quality and verve, it could be a boon for Chrysler.
has big plans for this year’s SEMA show. The company has worked up a muscle-bound pack of special edition models and concepts slated to be unveiled in Las Vegas. In a live webchat this morning, Ralph Guiles and Pietro Gorlier announced that and Mopar will be pulling the sheets off of the new , complete with a 6.4-liter V8 with 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. In addition, quarter-mile fans can get excited about the new Challenger Drag Pak V10. The car will come with all the goodies you’ll need to dominate the strip, including a V10 borrowed from the mighty , a two-speed transmission, roll cage, fuel cell and unique gauge cluster. Even better, both Challengers are production models.
Of course, what would SEMA be without a few wild concepts thrown into the mix? In that vein, Chrysler will roll out the 2011 Red Line . The car will feature massive 22-inch wheels and a number of unique body treatments geared toward giving the redesigned sedan even more attitude. The company will also show off a different take on the new Durango called the Black and Tan. The truck features a custom interior and wheel package designed to be the most luxurious Durango out there.
Finally, Fiat is getting a taste of Mopar love with a new 500 concept. The pint-sized Italian will wear flared fenders, 18-inch wheels and special interior treatments designed with a sporty flare.
Chrysler says that it will have a total of 35 vehicles on hand for this year’s SEMA show. to take a look at a quick video detailing some of the stars of the company’s show fleet as well as a full press blast.
2011 Ford F-150 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Through the first nine months of 2010, the auto industry is on pace to increase sales by 10 percent versus 2009, and pickup trucks are leading the charge. Bloomberg reports that bedded haulers are up 14 percent on the year, led by increased demand from the farming industry. Farmers have seen their revenues increase by $9 billion over last year, with both prices and demand rising in part because of droughts in Russia and Canada. Farmers are using their new-found dollars to invest in their businesses, and trucks are among the biggest and best tools in the box barn.
Automakers are beneficiaries of this investment, as truck sales climb and profits soar. Analyst Joe Barker of IHS Automotive claims that automakers can make up to $15,000 on each pickup sold, a figure that holds firmest when incentives are down. And with sales up, incentives have dipped. Edmunds shows that trucks have an average MSRP of $34,235, or about $2,000 higher than in 2009. Supply and demand really does work.
The biggest recipient of the increased demand for pickups has so far been , which has seen the pickups jump by 31 percent. sales are up 17 percent as well. Even the Toyota Tundra, which has struggled in the U.S. market, is up 21 percent. The appears to be the only truck suffering through the pickup truck boom, with sales down one percent year over year.
2010 Art Center Car Classic – Click above for high-res image gallery
Pasadena, CA can get particularly hot during the summer, so we thought it was an excellent idea when the Art Center College of Design moved its annual car show from July to the middle of October. While the event, which happened last weekend, did escape the heat, it still couldn’t catch a break from Mother Nature. The inaugural autumn edition of the show was hampered by rain throughout the day.
Still, the Art Center managed to put on an excellent event to celebrate this year’s theme, “Freedom of Motion.” The best part of the show has always been the eclectic selection of cars on display, and this year was no disappointment. Everything from the to the new could be seen on the grass. The Mullin Museum was gracious enough to bring out the famous , and the Petersen brought out a few of its cars as well. You can see all of our photos from the event in the high-res gallery below.
Surprise, surprise. An entire high-resolution image gallery of the has found its way online, and everything is exactly as we suspected. The Tiger is also (surprise, surprise) very reminiscent of the , which will be Triumph’s main competition in this particular segment niche.
Triumph’s hopeful ace in the hole will be its trademark triple engine, measuring 800cc in this case. According to , this mill is a stroked version of the much-loved 675cc inline-three used in Triumph’s small-bore sport bikes. Figure around 100 horsepower and a nice, flat torque curve peaking at about 70 pound-feet.
With an expected weight in the 440-pound range, the Tiger’s power-to-weight ratio should crucially be just a bit better than the aforementioned Beemer. Check out our high-res image gallery below.
It’s no secret CUVs are popular, and Nissan has rolled out a mildly updated version of its Rogue for 2011. Can it compete in a crowded segment? We spent a week with it to find out.
A new ad for the 2011 Subaru WRX STI pits car versus robot spider in sketchbook form. 305 horsepower and symmetrical AWD are clearly useful in fleeing a fate of mechanized death.
Epson Inkjet vs. Ariel Atom. Can the printer produce a track faster than the Atom can make it around one? You’ll just have to watch to find out.
2011 Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery
Back in May, that the could sprint to 60 miles per hour in five seconds. We knew that their report missed the mark, but by how much? Estimates from nine to as much as 12 seconds began to surface, but those seemed a bit out-of-line as well.
Now, thanks to John O’Dell of r who timed a 0-60 mph dash during a recent drive in the Leaf, we have at least one unofficial result: 0-60 mph in seven seconds flat. To put that number in perspective, 0-60 mph runs in the have been clocked at 8.8 seconds, the takes nearly 12 seconds and the accomplishes the feat in a mere 3.7 seconds. Okay, so the Leaf is reasonably quick, but how fast does it really go?
O’Dell, the senior editor of Green Car Advisor, writes:
On an 82-degree Tennessee afternoon, with another writer in the passenger seat, I hit 92 mph on the highway, going up a slight hill all the way. I still felt as though there was a little bit more to go, but lifted my foot at 92 because I thought I spied a state trooper’s patrol car way back down the road.
Mark Perry, ’s director of product planning, confirmed that an undisclosed journalist who recently drove the Leaf in Michigan, hit an even more impressive 94 miles per hour, but as far as we know, these are just indicated speeds, not independently verified and repeated. Still, for the sake of comparison, the apparently tops out at about 62.5 mph, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV calls it quits at 81 mph and the Volt hits the century mark. So, the Leaf is emissions free, accelerates with (relative) vigor and closes in on 100 before returning to more sane, everyday speeds. Sounds like it can offer livable everyday performance – provided the pure EV’s range isn’t an issue.
