2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost – Click above for high-res image gallery
Rich people are different from the rest of us. Their wants and needs involve parameters and details completely foreign to the proletariat. While we use our vehicles for transportation, utility and sport, the rich view their automobiles as a necessary accoutrement to their elevated lifestyles.
For the ultra-wealthy, an appropriate equivalent might be an original Remington bronze or Picasso painting. And just as they need art in their mansions, they need beautiful transportation. The lives up to those lofty requirements by simultaneously being a rolling work of art and a status symbol beyond reproach.
Like access to the Queen, our time with the Ghost was strictly limited, so comprehensive driving impressions will have to wait. But what we did get was a rare glimpse into what the world’s richest inhabitants will enjoy when the Ghost goes on sale this year. And as you’d expect, life is good on this side of the financial Bell Curve.
Gallery:
Photos by Rex Roy / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
2011 Volkswagen Polo Sedan – Click above for high-res image gallery
finally unveiled its new sub-compact Polo sedan in Moscow today, billing it as the first ever VW developed specifically for the Russian market. While Russia may be the first market for the trunked Polo, it isn’t likely to have an exclusive on it for long. The Polo sedan is expected to make its way to North America within the next 12 months as part of VW’s drive to expand its sales here to 800,000 units a year by 2018.
Like Americans, Russians consumers have generally had a preference for notchbacks over hatchbacks despite the sacrifices in utility. In an effort to keep the Polo sedan affordable in Russia, Volkswagen is equipping it with a 103-horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline inline four-cylinder engine with a choice of five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.
When the Polo arrives in the U.S., it will likely offer either this combination or the that we drove in Germany last fall.
IIHS rollover tests for midsized SUVs – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has completed a (though most are technically CUVs, but whatevs), and the results show that some carmakers are exceeding federal rollover standards. Six of the haulers scored a Good rating, led by the 2010 Jeep Liberty, one scored Acceptable, and the remaining five were Marginal. The Good rating means a tested car has a roof that is twice as strong as the current government safety standard.
Five of the top six – the , 2011Jeep Grand Cherokee, and , and – also scored Good marks for front-, side- and rear-occupant protection, and so earn the coveted classification of being an IIHS Top Safety Pick. If your CUV isn’t listed, fear not, as the IIHS is testing them in groups.
Follow the jump for the full release, and you can have a look at the entire batch of tested vehicles in the high-res gallery below.
Fisker Karma – Click above for high-res image gallery
Just a few short days ago, we got word that and a new target date for full production now sits at February 2011. The delay gives ample time to secure even more funding, and that’s exactly what the company is doing. Fisker reports that it just wrapped up its latest round by securing $189 million in additional capital, bringing its total private equity funding thus far to around $339 million.
However, this latest cash campaign is about much more than just money. The additional funds ($115 million of which came in back in January), mean . The loan will be used to re-open a which the company will eventually utilize to develop a line of lower-cost, family oriented . The company estimates that 2,000 new jobs will be created at the site, and that 5,000 more will be saved or created at domestic suppliers and that more plug-in hybrids will be on the roads soon.
Toyota Highlander Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery
has decided to shift production of all non-hybrid crossovers for the North American market to its Princeton, Indiana assembly plant. The move is intended to help shield Toyota from fluctuating exchange rates. When Yoshimi Inaba took over as president and COO of Toyota North America a year ago, was to increase North American production of Toyota and Lexus vehicle above the 60 percent level.
Toyota originally shifted production of the Highlander to Princeton after it consolidated production of its slow-selling pickups in San Antonio and the new Mississippi factory was put on hold. Because most of the hybrid powertrain components are supplied from Japanese factories, the gas-electric Highlanders will continue to be sourced from Toyota’s Kyushu factory. Production of non-hybrid Highlanders for North American export is expected to end in August.
Ford Custom Vinyl Graphics – Click above for high-res image gallery
With the launch of the , put an emphasis on customization, primarily in the form of interior amenities and infotainment. But as we learned during our , the range of modifications won’t be limited to the inside – Ford’s making exterior graphics packages available for its new B-segment player, and the Fiesta won’t be the only model from the Blue Oval to don custom vinyl.
Ford’s added the and to the range of vehicles you can coat in a custom wrap, with over 50 available designs ranging from the predictable flames and matte black racing stripes to the decidedly more feminine flowers and bubbles.
If you click on over to you can start creating your own 3M Scotchprint wraps, and within the next few months the entire Ford line-up can be had with multi-colored vinyl to suit every available taste. So if your black-on-white isn’t standing out from the crowd at the soccer field, you can add a smattering of camo and a dash of “faux diamond plate aluminum look” to spruce things up. All of it will be available at a fraction of the cost of a custom paint job and will carry a three-year/36,000-mile warranty when it’s installed by a certified Ford dealership. Hit the jump for the details and check out the gallery below for a few designs.
Our long-termer has over 4,000 thousand miles on it now, and it’s broken in nicely. The six-speed cable shifter has freed up nominally (it’s still a bit notchy), and the turbocharged flat-four is singing as sweetly as ever.
As we , we’re pleased to note that Subaru has already begun making some nominal tweaks to the 2.5GT to make it a bit more special, particularly in the area of cabin furnishings. We find the interior to be a pretty comfortable – and hugely roomy – place to be, but for the range’s dedicated performance model, the 2010 iteration just isn’t adequately differentiated from other models in the series. Thanks to a slew of minor changes, the 2011 model’s interior promises visuals that are more in keeping with the 2.5GT’s sporting temperament.
Oh – another word about those front seats. We’ve taken a few longer drives over the past month, and while they’re still very comfortable, the lower seat cushions are quite short and we can’t help but wonder if this would become a problem for taller folks. We’re going to try to cajole some of our lankier friends into taking a few long drives with us and see how they come down. Either way, we do wish that the GT would rank model-specific seats with significantly more lateral bolstering for the twisties. No such issues with the rear seats – knee, leg and toe room is epic, as is headroom.
2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: May 2010
There’s a lot to be said for simplicity over unnecessary complication.
Subaru has recognized the opportunity to substitute faux carbon fiber trim
for all updates.
One other thing we’ve noticed is that not only are the Legacy’s seats comfortable, the ride is extremely forgiving, even on 18-inch Bridgestone summer rubber. The 2.5GT has a surprisingly pliant sort of long-travel feel to it, which has proven to be an asset on the broken roads here in the Midwest. There might be a bit more lean in hard cornering as a consequence, but the tuning seems to mesh nicely with the idea of Subaru’s rally heritage – we can see getting our Scandy-flick on and catching air on modest jumps with few issues in this thing. We plan to have the Legacy live out in California for a few months later this year, where our man Lavrinc will tell us if this somewhat softish feeling is a liability on the state’s well-groomed curvy roads. For now, however, it’s a pleasure, making short work of Detroit’s broken streets.
In the meantime, our Subie continues to win friends on the streets and with family members, some of whom haven’t encountered a modern product from Fuji Heavy. We’ve had a surprising number of unsolicited compliments curbside and at gas stations, and we’re growing used to the design ourselves – those big fenders (purportedly to emphasize the car’s all-wheel drive nature) now almost look like they’re part of a sporty body kit to us – in a good way – and the deep maroon paint hides the car’s size, while the finish appears to be of uniformly high quality.
to check out all updates for our long-term 2011 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT.
We’ve driven prototypes in Michigan, flogged it around the ‘Ring and sampled all-new Regal in So. Cal. Is there anything left to learn? Absolutely.
Ford’s powertrain future looks bright, but what about its platforms? Eisenstein takes a hard look at the Blue Oval’s past partnerships and what hurdles the automaker could face in the future.
The 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost is proliferating throughout the Ford lineup, and the latest recipient could be the rough-and-tumble Raptor R.
2011Aston Martin V12 Vantage Carbon Black – Click above for high-res image gallery
has finally put a U.S.-approved sticker onto the V12 Vantage, and if you’re aching to get into the , you’ll need to set aside $179,995 for the “base” model.
Included in the kit is the -sourced V12 powerplant putting out the aforementioned 510 ponies and 420 pound-feet of torque, capable of scooting the svelte coupe to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 190 mph.
If the standard V12 Vantage is just too plebeian for your tastes, you can option up for the – an exclusive trim for the States – which includes black metallic paint, carbon fiber accents, a reworked grille, 10-spoke black wheels and a host of interior appointments.
Pricing for the Carbon Black model comes in at a cool $194,995 (undercutting both the DB9 and ), and both prices include the $3,000 gas guzzler tax and $1,350 destination charge. If that’s too rich for your blood, just enjoy the high-res pics in the gallery below.
2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS – Click above for high-res image gallery
It looks like customers opting for the upper trim levels on the will have to pay a little bit more when the 2011 models roll into showrooms this fall. According to a posting on the from a dealer employee, the 2LT and 2SS models will see a $350 price increase to $28,075 and $35,145, respectively. The LS, 1LT and 1SS models will carry over the 2010 prices so the 2011 will retain a for the V8 models.
The more interesting news is the apparent confirmation from ‘ new VP of Global Vehicle Engineering, Karl Stracke to that the Z/28 will become a reality. Chevrolet officials have declined to comment on the matter, but we’re guessing that it might appear sometime next year as a 2012 model. Motivation will likely be provided by a variant of the supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 found in the , with around 550 horsepower being channeled through a six-speed manual gearbox.
According to a well-placed source at VWVortex, is set to release officialphotos of the new in about two weeks’ time, and while the new compact sedan won’t go on sale until sometime this fall, we’ll be learning all about the new model over the course of the next month.
While the timing of the Jetta’s release isn’t a huge surprise (particularly considering the of ), the real shocker could be the price. For the 2010 model year the cheapest Jetta will set you back $17,735, but word has it that the new model will start at just $14,950.
Volkswagen officials have long lamented how the dollar-to-euro exchange rate affects pricing of its wares, and recently, VW has been working to source more components and systems from dollar-zone suppliers. Hopefully, the drastically reduced price won’t come at the expense of de-contenting and cheapening the interior of the new model. High-quality interiors have long been one of the hallmarks of VW products, so it’s doubtful that V-Dub would go down market at the same time that and are bringing serious competitive products to the segment. Expect more details to follow soon.
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This worked so well that we’ve decided to again solicit questions from Autoblog readers on the site that we can answer during tonight’s taping of The Autoblog Podcast. Below are the list of discussion topics we plan to talk about this evening, and you can enter your questions in the module as well as vote on the best ones. We’ll get to as many as we can, so make sure you subscribe to the podcast (or use the RSS feed in your favorite podcast wrangler).
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #180
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Ford Fixes Powertrains – But Faces Platform Challenges
is betting big on batteries. During a news conference at its Rawsonville assembly plant, the automaker updated plans to put at least five electric vehicles into production over the next couple years, including both battery-electric and plug-inhybrid models.
But there’s a yin to the yang of Ford’s push into green technology, as it’s demonstrating with the return of the new . At 412 horsepower, the eight-banger is pushing into what was, not all that long ago, supercar territory. Perhaps even more impressive is the , especially when you consider it’s rated at over .
Add the array of EcoBoost powertrains – from the up to the – and it’s not out of line to say Ford is in the midst of a serious powertrain renaissance.
That’s all the more significant when you consider where the automaker was, just a few years ago. Says one senior technical executive, “We were building crap.” Long-time auto analyst Maryann Keller was only a bit more polite – even though she sounded almost like Chicken Little, endlessly warning that the sky would fall if Ford didn’t start upgrading its engine line-up.
The old V6 was a great example why: it was slow, not very fuel efficient and sounded like it needed an industrial-size asthma inhaler whenever you tried to goose it into action.
Is Ford’s new powertrain line-up the best in the industry? Probably not. It’s hard to beat the offerings of makers like , , and . But Ford is finally competitive, and here we don’t mean that as faint praise. By the end of 2011, when all its new engine offerings are on the road, Ford will have little to apologize for.
Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of , and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.
Ford is really proud of its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, and while the automaker currently only offers this mill in the , , and , PickupTrucks.com reports that the Baja-blasting will get a version of this powerplant, as well.
Ford will be offering the EcoBoost V6 as a top-range engine on the for the 2011 model year, producing something in the range of 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, but in the , expect output numbers to be significantly higher. Currently, the Raptor R 6.2 produces roughly 500 peak horsepower out of its modified version of the automaker’s latest V8, and we doubt that Ford will want to skimp on power when it comes to a no-holds-barred race truck like the Raptor R.
PickupTrucks.com reports that we could see the Raptor R EcoBoost compete in this year’s Best In The Desert off-road racing series, as well as the Baja 1000 later this year. All we know is, this sounds like one seriously brutal pickup for desert storming.
2011 Citroën C4 – Click above for high-res image gallery
You’d think a term like “all new” would be fairly absolute. But not when it comes to new cars. Take the new Citroën C4, for example. The French automaker calls it “all new”. But it’s still based on the platform of the outgoing model. That said, the sheetmetal is fresh, the dimensions have grown some and the hatch is packed with all manner of gizmos, solidifying the chevron brand’s place as a technological powerhouse.
What sort of tech are we talking about? How about adaptive headlights, lane departure and blind-spot warning systems, user-changeable backlighting in the cabin (along with ringtone-style chimes and alerts) and a new system called eTouch which monitors driving patterns and offers suggestions on how to improve fuel economy. Engine options will likely remain the same, with the addition of the new e-HDi hybrid diesel/electric drivetrain, and we’ll be looking for the new C4 to debut in Paris this Fall before sales begin overseas early next year.
The three-door model isn’t expected to continue into the new generation, leaving the five-door to go it alone against the likes of the and . The is expected to be based on this model, but as a crossover it’ll be further differentiated than the narrow gap between the smaller and hatchbacks. Details in the press release after the jump, with initial images in the gallery below.
2011 Buick Regal – Click above for high-res image gallery
It was cold and rainy last November when of the in Michigan. The weather was lousy, but our short time with the car intrigued us. There were far fewer complaints about conditions last month when in Germany – its home turf. As it moves closer to arrival, Buick’s newest family member once again showed us its moves in the mountains of Southern California.
We spent the better part of a sunny spring day driving both the normally-aspirated and turbocharged models – each with automatic transmissions – in an attempt to see how the imported European challenger runs on clean and dry domestic pavement. How does the four-door sedan perform in this new arena? Is it tough enough to compete in the mid-size segment? Most importantly, is the Buick Regal good enough to accomplish its goal?
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Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Lamborghini “Jota” teaser – Click above for high-res image
Devastatingly fast as it is – particularly in the latest form – the is getting a little . Its has been undergoing testing and , and now Sant’Agata has graced us (or perplexed us, depending on your perspective) with this solitary teaser image.
Now we’ve seen some cryptic teasers in our time, but this one has to take the cake. That the Murcielago’s successor will have a hood of some sort, bear the Raging Bull emblem and is “Coming soon” serve as no great surprises. The rest is a matter of speculation, but we’re expecting the exotic to be built largely from carbon fiber (replacing the archaic steel chassis on the outgoing Murci) and be shorter in length than its predecessor.
Sources also predict a fresh take on the classic Lambo scissor doors – possibly moving out before swinging up, sort of like a – helping below the 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) mark. That could translate to a sub-3-second 0-60 sprint and a top end breeching 370 km/h (230 mph).
The Murcielago replacement – tentatively dubbed Jota – is expected to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this fall. Dealers and VIP customers, however, could get a sneak peek as soon as next month, so stay tuned for leaks.
Opel Ampera – Click above for high-res image gallery
Due to an old-school system used in China that requires automakers to file patents or risk having vehicles copied by others, we’ve learned that the may very well debut in the as a model and not one bearing the Chevy or Opel badge. When filed its patent for China, it submitted the Voltec-powered Opel Ampera and not the Chevy Volt, indicating that the version coming to China will definitely not bear a Golden Bowtie. So why not an Opel then? Well, Opel has virtually no name recognition in China, leaving the obvious choice of branding the Voltec-powered vehicle as a Buick, .
Perhaps it only makes sense that the Ampera will be sold under the Buick name in China as various other Opel products have been rebranded as Buicks once they’ve reached the Chinese mainland. The Opel Astra transformed into the Buick Excelle and the Insignia switched over to the in China. So what will the Opel Ampera become once it reaches China early next year? Will it simply be the Buick Ampera, or something else altogether? Should we start a naming contest on this one?
For what it’s worth, assuming that there will be a Chinese Buick Volt, it will become the fifth Voltec model, joining the 2011 Chevy Volt, Opel/Vauxhall Ampera and Holden Ampera, all of which will initially be produced at . Now we’re just waiting for the Voltec-powered Daewoo model for the Korean market so that GM can call it a done deal.
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Photos Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.
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2011BMW 5 Series M-Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery
For those fans who appreciate the more aggressive looks of the automaker’s M division models but either don’t have the budget or don’t need their full performance capabilities, Bimmer also offers M-Sport packages that take you part way there. With the new now making its way to dealers and customers in Europe and North America, the corresponding M-Sport pack can’t be far behind.
As with previous iterations, this prototype suggests that the new model will receive a deeper front air-dam with larger intakes, side sill extensions and a re-contoured back bumper to accommodate the larger the tailpipes. We don’t have any interior shots but M-Sport packages typically including some trim upgrades like aluminum or carbon-fiber, along with more aggressive sport seats and potentially a different steering wheel.
Mechanical changes with M-Sport packages are typically limited to wheels and tires, brakes and perhaps some suspension bits. Both the M-Sport and M5 are expected to debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.
has confirmed to Autoblog that the won’t remain the only efficiency-minded member of the S-Class family for long. The S350 Bluetec will be coming to the U.S. market for 2011 as the first diesel S-Class since the mid-1990s. The S350 will use the same 3.5-liter turbodiesel V6 already used in Mercedes’ ML, GL and R-Class SUVs. That engine is rated at 210 horsepower and 400 pound-feet and includes a urea injection system to treat the NOx emissions in the exhaust.
We expect the S350 to at least match – if not beat – the we achieved with the S400 gas-electric earlier this year, and it will probably have similar performance thanks to its exceptional torque. There is no word on pricing, but we anticipate it will sticker at or below the S400’s $87,950 base price for 2010.
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Photos Copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
