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The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is already earning high praise in its standard form, and now Chrysler’s Mopar division has released a host of accessories to beef up the new sport-ute’s style and functionality.

Grand Cherokees can now be fitted with the usual collection of exterior bolt-ons, including a range of new wheel options, skid plates, and side steps. What’s more interesting, however, is the stuff available for the Grand Cherokee’s interior. Mopar is offering FLO TV, a live, mobile television streaming service, making the big Jeep the first SUV available with this feature. That sure beats listening to the same episode of Yo Gabba Gabba over and over. Additionally, the latest version of Chrysler’s UConnect infotainment software is available, which can turn the SUV into a mobile wi-fi hotspot.

See the full list of available Mopar goodies in the press release after the jump, and scroll through our attached gallery to see high-res shots of Grand Cherokees fitted with these add-ons.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Jeep shows off 2011 Grand Cherokee decked out with Mopar bits

Jeep shows off 2011 Grand Cherokee decked out with Mopar bits

Acura is planning a host of product updates in the very near future, and along with the launch of the TSX Wagon, two new models could come down the pike. According to Autoweek, Acura is considering a coupe built atop the TSX platform and a compact sedan to capitalize on the States’ newfound love of smaller vehicles.

A TSX-based coupe would fill the gap left by the CL after its demise in 2003, and while Acura already produces a compact sedan for the Canadian market – the Acura CSX pictured above – it’s simply a re-badged Civic with an upgraded interior. Obviously, Acura would need to do more to woo buyers into a smaller vehicle, and its best bet is to leverage one of Honda’s other platforms for the task. An Acura Fit? Not so much…

[Source: Autoweek]

Acura mulling TSX coupe, Civic-based sedan?

Hyundai’s ever-expanding Sonata lineup will soon include the delectable 2.0T model, packing a turbocharged and direct injected 2.0-liter (Theta II) four-cylinder. You’ve probably already memorized the most important figures – 274 horsepower, 269 pound-feet of torque, 33 mpg on the highway, all on 87 octane fuel – but here’s a new one for you: $24,145. That’s what the 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T will set you back, and there’s a lot more on offer than just a hot engine.

Mated to the blown 2.0 is a six-speed automatic that can be manipulated through a set of steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, while a (modestly) sport-tuned suspension holds up 18-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance summer rubber. A host of standard features are included in the kit, while two packages – Navigation and Sunroof and Limited – are available when sales begin later this year. Get all the details in the press blast after the jump and read our impressions from behind the wheel.

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo priced at $24,145

2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo priced at $24,145

Less than a week after complaining about the A1’s lack of a U.S. visa comes word that Audi is considering bringing the second generation entry-level hatch to the States. Speaking with Automotive News at the Paris Motor Show, Audi AG board member Peter Schwarzenbauer said the chances of the next A1 coming to the U.S. are “quite high,” although a decision wouldn’t be made for at least another year and a half.

When development of the current A1 was underway several years ago, Audi decided that fuel prices and consumer demand were too low to justify bringing the A1 into North America. However, sales of the A3 combined with strong consumer interest in diesels – not to mention the warm reception of the Mini Cooper – have Audi reconsidering the A1’s business case in the U.S. And if Audi wants to achieve its goal of becoming the world’s largest luxury automaker by 2015, it will need all the sales it can get in the States.

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Second generation Audi A1 could come to the U.S.

Roger Daltrey has gone on record as saying that in the Who’s early days, they were paid ₤75 to ₤150 a show, yet they would bust-up around ₤250-300 worth of gear every time they took to the stage. That’s bad math. Similarly, Mercedes-Benz asks those willing to pay $57,350 for its least expensive AMG model – the C63 AMG – to pony up a further $5,950 for the new-for-2010 P31 AMG Development Package that adds 30 horsepower, uprated brakes and a passel of miscellaneous hi-po gear.

From the perspective of a rational consumer, this too, fails to add up, as the standard-issue C63 is already a hooligan’s hooligan, a car from which no sane individual would walk away wishing for bigger stones. But as with Daltrey’s Who, the C63 is a fantastically overachieving beast of rather pedestrian roots, and when it comes down to it, adding the Dev Pack promises to be like dropping off Pete Townshend in the brand-new lobby of a mid-’60s Holiday Inn. With a set of Marshall stacks. Drunk and fresh off a painful breakup. In other words, it might not make a whole lot of sense or be a particularly wise financial decision, but it’s also a brave call with the glorious potential for unbridled mayhem.

Continue reading…

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package

Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package

Toyota has announced it has resolved issues with over five million vehicles involved in the three main recalls of the company’s products this year. A total of 1.8 million fixes have been performed on vehicles with sticking accelerator pedals and another 3.1 million vehicles have had their lose or interfering floor mats repaired or replaced. A final 128,000 Prius and Lexus models have had their anti-lock brake system software updated as well. The news comes as part of the Japanese automaker’s new safety and quality offensive.

Toyota says that as of 2011, all of its vehicles now come with a new “Smart Stop” system – essentially brake override protection – as standard equipment. The automaker says that it has also opened a new North American facility to train workers in how to handle customer complaints and that new quality control checks will ensure that no faulty hardware makes it into Toyota products in the future. As a result of its efforts, the Toyota says that issues involving unintended acceleration have fallen off by 80 percent. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota gives recall update, over 5 million cars fixed

Toyota gives recall update, over 5 million cars fixed

It looks like Kia may be jumping into the sports car fray sometime soon. According to Drive, the Korean automaker has its sights set on building a model to lock horns with the poster child for cheap driving fun, the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The head honcho of Kia design, Peter Schreyer, has said that he’s behind the idea of his company building a low-budget, rear-wheel-drive drop top. When Drive asked the designer how work was coming along on the Kia sports car, Schreyer was plenty evasive, and the site is taking that to mean that there’s a passel of workers chiseling away on a new fun-to-fling model right now.

Schreyer is widely known as a fan of the Miata, and has been quoted pontificating on the benefits that Mazda has reaped from that particular car. With Hyundai already enjoying some success with its sports-oriented Genesis Coupe, it’s possible that the suits at Kia could find a case for a smaller, more playful sports car in that company’s stable. Hey, we can hope.

[Source: Drive]

Rumormill: Kia considering Mazda MX-5 Miata competitor?

Ford recently unloaded details surrounding its all-new 2012 Focus as part of this year’s Paris Motor Show festivities. The car won’t officially go on sale until early next year, but when it does, the cost of entry in the U.S. will be $16,270 for the base S sedan (*not including a $725 destination charge).

While the Blue Oval hasn’t officially announced pricing for every trim level, some snooping around on its website has revealed preliminary pricing figures for the whole model line (excluding the all-important Focus ST). Moving up the sedan model range, four-door SE models will likely start at $17,270, while the SEL, which comes standard with things like Sync, ambient interior lighting and 16-inch alloy wheels, begins at $20,270. The high-zoot Titanium rings in at $22,270, featuring the whole smorgasbord of options, including MyFord Touch, a premium Sony audio system, sport seats and 17-inch sport alloy wheels.

Ford is only offering the five-door hatchback model in SE, SEL and Titanium trims, with prices starting at $18,065, $21,065 and $22,765, respectively. Tick the box for the $1,295 Titanium Premium Package (rain-sensing wipers, leather seats, reverse sensing system and more) and your loaded-up Focus hatch will sticker for $24,060 before destination, tax and so on.

Pricing has increased quite a bit over last Focus, but Ford points out that the 2012 model is packed to the brim with technology and safety features not found on other cars. The Mazda3 sedan and hatchback sell at similar price points, and FoMoCo is even offering a $500 Focus Technology Rebate for pre-orders placed before February 28, 2011. A full online configurator should be up and running later this month where you’ll be able to build and price the 2012 Focus of your dreams. Thanks for the tip, Matt!

[Source: Ford]

2012 Ford Focus pricing revealed, starting at $16,270*

Numbers like maximum horsepower, torque and tow ratings are the heart and soul of the full-size heavy duty pickup truck segment. No shocker there. But how much reliance can consumers actually put on figures provided by the manufacturer? And, keeping in mind that the average test drive doesn’t include hooking up a ten-ton trailer, how might we all get a proper frame of reference when judging one massive diesel beast with another?

Such questions may soon get an answer… other than this one, decided upon just a few weeks back. It seems that General Motors has issued a pretty straightforward challenge to Ford: a towing duel up mountain grades, followed by a comparison of factory-issued exhaust brakes on the way back down. (Sorry, Ram… guess you’re not invited out to play.) Seems simple enough, no?

Here are some relevant statistics: Ford’s (reflashed) 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8 engine punishes the tarmac with an even 400 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. That’s class-leading, as GM’s 6.6-liter Duramax pumps out 397 horses and 765 pound-feet. Looking at those numbers, Ford wins… right?

Not so fast, says Chevrolet Silverado Marketing Manager Tony Truelove, “Numbers on paper are fine,” he said. “Let’s go work these trucks in the mountains, and may the best truck win.” To which Ford Trucks spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari replied, “We challenge our trucks against the competition in grueling prove-out tests continually, and the customer gives us the results – sales leadership year after year.”

That’s right, The Blue Oval plainly and unsurprisingly declined Chevrolet’s invitation. But the show must go on, and our friends at Pickuptrucks.com promise to be on hand in their very best black-and-white-striped shirts to serve as referees for the main event. Let’s get ready to rumble!

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Chevy challenges Ford to HD towing contest, gets turned down

We think the 304 horsepower Cadillac CTS Coupe is pretty cool and the 556 hp CTS-V Coupe is an outright badass. The power pundits at Hennessey think any car or truck could use a little more oomph than it leaves the factory with. John Hennessey’s crew has massaged the blown LSA motor under the two-door Caddy’s bulging hood and the results scream for themselves. The 2011 Hennessey V700 Coupe pushes out 700 hp to the rear wheels and makes nearly 740 pound-feet of torque.

How does that all that power do when the car is launched down the dragstrip? The trip from tree to finish takes just over 11 seconds. Hop the jump to see the action for yourself.

Photos by Steven J. Ewing and Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey runs its “Coupe DeThrill” down the quarter-mile

Video: Hennessey runs its “Coupe DeThrill” down the quarter-mile

Lincoln wants everyone in TV land to know about its freshened model lineup. To grab their attention, they’ve gone with a heavy hitter from a pretty popular ad agency to shill the 2011 MKX: Roger Sterling, from Sterling Cooper Draper Price. OK, fine… not Roger Sterling, but John Slattery, the actor who portrays him on AMC’s Mad Men.

Slattery will plug the new “Smarter than Luxury” campaign, which launches during coverage of the Ryder Cup golf tournament. The focus of the ads is to highlight the technology and craftsmanship that are put into each new Lincoln vehicle. The TV spots will be backed up by a full print campaign as well, highlighting the 2011 Lincoln MKX and the MKZ hybrid.

Mad Men is a huge hit, so it’s a no-brainer for Lincoln to tap into that popularity. Mercedes-Benz has already signed Jon Hamm (a.k.a. Mad Men’s Don Draper) as the new voice-man for its commercials. Hop the jump to see Slattery pitch the latest from Lincoln.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Video: Lincoln hires a Mad Man for new commercials

Video: Lincoln hires a Mad Man for new commercials

Now that Volvo is no longer a part of Ford Motor Company, change is inevitable. The Swedish automaker can no longer rely on Ford to supply low-cost global platforms or new powertrains in the future, so that future may include fewer platforms and better model distinction. AutoWeek reports that Volvo will soon go from three platforms to two by adding some new models and taking away some others. On the chopping block are the S40 sedan and V50 wagon. Both have sold reasonably well, but they are reportedly too close in size to the new S60 to be retained. The V70 station wagon will cease to exist after the 2011 model year.

Doug Speck, CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, tells AW that a new vehicle is being considered that will be smaller than the S40. It would do battle against heavy hitters like the BMW 1 Series. The small sedan’s all-new platform could also spawn a compact crossover to take on the likes of the BMW X1. Speck cites the feverish growth of the small luxury crossover segment as the main motivating factor to adding a smaller stablemate to the XC60 and XC90. In the short term, the larger S80 and XC90 will also be redone, better positioning Volvo to win sales in China, where large luxury rides are in high demand.

Speck also set expectations for S60 sales in the U.S. Volvo hopes to sell 15,000 to 25,000 copies of the attractive new sedan annually. Volvo sold only 5,895 copies of the outgoing S60 in 2009, though the last-gen model, which first sold way back in 2001, was very long in the tooth.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Volvo mulling sub-S40 sedan, BMW X1 rival

General Motors is just about ready to start offering in-house financing once again. Its acquisition of AmeriCredit is complete, pending approval by AmeriCredit’s shareholders. The merger is officially effective as of October 1st, 2010 and is an all-cash transaction valued at $3.5 billion.

The company will be renamed GM Financial. Having a captive finance arm allows GM and its dealers to expand finance and lease options, which is good news for both The General and its customers. GM Financial has targeted first quarter of 2011 to begin its initial leasing program.

You can read the full press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM completes buy of AmeriCredit, to be called GM Financial

GM completes buy of AmeriCredit, to be called GM Financial

Say hullo to this little truck: It’s the 2011 Chevrolet Montana and it might just make its way up from South America into U.S. dealer showrooms. It’s a small two-door, two-passenger ute that rides on the same platform as the Brazilian Chevy Agile, a hatchback city car.

According to Mike Levine over at PickupTrucks.com, General Motors has no successor planned for the U.S.-version of the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon twins. This car-based, front-wheel-drive trucklet could provide a nice stepping stone into its family of larger pickups. The engine would likely have to be beefed up for this market, since potential truck shoppers might be scared off by the Montana’s 1.4-liter four-cylinder (it’s good for 97 horsepower, 95 pound-feet of torque, and 30 miles per gallon on the highway). Despite its modest power numbers, the Chevy Montana is capable of hauling 1,671 pounds in the rear cargo area – a number comparable to the payload ratings of several full-size pickups.

Is North America ready for a pint-sized, front-wheel drive truck? That’s a tough call, especially one with such Aveo-like unique styling. The 2011 Chevrolet Montana might not arrive in the form you see above (and in the gallery), but it could provide a glimpse at what’s waiting down the road.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

2011 Chevrolet Montana compact truck unveiled in South America

GM’s Lordstown plant builds the Chevrolet Cruze, but when plant management needed the cars coming off the line repaired, it didn’t use plant workers; it sent the cars to an outside repair shop. That didn’t make UAW leadership happy. The union’s response was to draw up a leaflet telling workers that “management is not your friend,” and to take their discontent to the press with the message that things haven’t really changed.

Local 112 president said the issue was resolved the next day. For its part, General Motors says it has met with the UAW and a “resolution [is] expected soon.” The situation was blamed on the pressure that management and labor are under to get the Cruze right. From the outside, this doesn’t look like a productive way to achieve that end.

[Source: Automotive News - sub req'd]

Report: GM, UAW clash over Chevy Cruze repairs

One theme we have seen so far at this years Paris Motor Show, is automakers showing off vehicles which don’t seem to flow with past company history. Ferrari just added a vehicle to the growing list. Have a look at the Ferrari Calfornia fitted with the HELE System. HELE stands for High Emotion Low Emissions and is a system designed to reduce C02 emissions without taking away from the joy of driving a Ferrari.

The HELE System works by utilizing a variety of technical measures including a start/stop function that can restart the car in 230 milliseconds, intelligent engine fan and fuel pump control, electronically controlled variable displacement air-conditioning technology and adaptive gear shifts. The result is a 23 percent reduction in C02 emissions.

We joke about automakers moving away from their traditional vehicles, but it’s these types of cars that allow them to continue to build the ones we love. There probably would be no Porsche GT2 RS without the Cayenne, for example. The Ferrari California fitted with the HELE System shows that the purveyor of the Prancing Horse understands the world is constantly changing – and Ferrari is doing its best to continue to build the cars it’s known for while staying in tune with the current climate of the world.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Paris 2010: Ferrari California featuring HELE system

2011 Ford C-Max – Click above for high-res image gallery

Following the second press day at the Paris Motor Show at a drive event in Southern France, Ford’s global vice president of marketing, Jim Farley, let slip to Autoblog that Dearborn decisionmakers are mulling over whether to import the C-Max to the U.S. As you’ll recall, Ford has already committed to bringing over the C-Max’s larger line mate, the seven-seat Grand C-Max, a vehicle that Farley tells us won’t hit American soil until early in calendar 2012 (likely as a 2013 model).

Unlike its bigger brother, the C-Max has conventional front-hinged rear doors (the Grand has a pair of sliders) along with a more aggressive roofline and rear graphic to complement its shorter wheelbase. Think of it as more of a pent-roof Focus wagon and less of a smallish minivan in the mold of the Mazda5 and you’ve got it.

Interestingly, Farley maintains that Ford won’t necessarily wait until the Grand C-Max goes on sale in the U.S. to determine whether or not to bring the model to America, and it will actively solicit feedback from both journalists and consumers to see if there’s a business case to be made. While such language is common among PR folks looking to assuage media members always clamoring for the importation of forbidden automotive fruit, Farley sounded quite optimistic. Further, he reminded us that there was “absolutely no plan” initially to market the next-gen five-door Focus in the States, but that all changed after the 2007 Verve concept was met with an enthusiastic response from media members and show goers. A few years ago, we probably would have discounted such talk, but with CEO Alan Mulally and product chief Derrick Kuzak pushing the One Ford agenda globally, who knows? It might just make it Stateside after all.

If Ford does decide to bring the C-Max to America, it may have a minor naming conundrum to deal with. At the moment, the Grand C-Max moniker is expected to be shortened to just ‘C-Max’ when it goes on sale in the U.S., or the MPV might take on the name ‘Focus C-Max,’ though a final decision has not yet been made. As the Blue Oval won’t sell both models with the same name, the five-door model would ostensibly need a different name.

Do you think the short-wheelbase C-Max would sell? Check out our high-resolution galleries of both models and then be sure to vote in our poll below. We’ll have firsthand drive impressions of the European-spec C-Max range to share with you next week, so stay tuned.

View Poll

Paris 2010: Ford pondering bringing five-door C-Max to U.S. [w/poll]

If you like the Fiat Punto, you’ll love the Punto Evo. And if you love the Evo, the Abarth Punto Evo will make you quiver. So we’re not exactly sure what this Abarth Punto Evo EsseEsse is going to do to you – you may just faint. First shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the Abarth-tuned version of the Punto Evo debuted, offering a bit more oomph, more aggressive styling and even better handling and braking. At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Scorpion brand brought us even hotter versions of both, and we’re very glad it did.

Wearing a Campovolo Gray paint scheme with white accents – and carrying that EsseEsse tag – this Punto gets a slight boost in power and a variety of upgrades to match. Output is now a full 180 horsepower, which is enough for a 7.5-second dash to 62 miles per hour. Additionally, top speed rises to 134 miles per hour.

That gray color might look familiar to you if you’ve ever seen an Italian warplane. The color is named after the airfield across the road from the company’s historic headquarters in Turin. Inside, the EsseEsse gets “Abarth Corse by Sabelt” seats in black leather and Blue&Me sat-nav. The Punto also features an array of upgrades to the suspension, brakes, rolling stock and more. Full details can be found in the press release after the jump.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Paris 2010: 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth EsseEsse is one fierce Scorpion

Paris 2010: 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth EsseEsse is one fierce Scorpion

Earlier this year, the 2011 Renault Latitude was unveiled at the Moscow International Auto Show. The European version has now made its debut in front of the crowd at the Paris Motor Show. The Latitude is considered a business-class saloon and Renault is positioning it to become the automaker’s flagship vehicle.

The styling of the Renault Latitude somehow evokes images of the Chyrsler Sebring, new Volkswagen Jetta and any Lexus vehicle – yet it’s done in a stylish manner. When it launches in Russia, the Latitude will be available with either a 139-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT or a 2.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic that’s good for 177 hp. The four-cylinder unit is rated at 34 miles per gallon while the V6 gets just under 30 mpg. As the car expands into other markets, it will feature an expanding lineup of engine and gearbox choices.

Inside, the Renault Latitude is all about comfort. The power-adjustable driver’s seat features a massaging function with five pneumatic rollers and four different settings. In order to keep everyone else happy, the Latitude has a climate control system with triple-zone adjustability.

The 2011 Renault Latitude hit dealer showrooms in September 2010, in Morocco and Algeria. It then starts popping up in Russia and the Ukraine before being made available throughout Africa. The European model will follow after that.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Paris 2010: Renault Latitude ready to carry the flag for French automaker