The fabulously wealthy face all sorts of dilemmas that the rest of us never have to bother with. If you can afford a , for example, what color do you opt for? Red is clearly for the in your stable. Black belongs on your hearse, and… ? Well, that’s best left for your . What you want is something that makes a statement. A color that kicks puppies and steals candy from kids on Halloween. Green. You want the kind of green that will make owners look tasteful by comparison.
That’s exactly what the buyer of LFA number 250 went with. We aren’t entirely sure what the color is called, but our retinas won’t be the same for a week. The hue is almost a more violent version of the Emerald Green found on early ’70s models. The paint might not look quite as at home as it does on vintage Porsche sheetmetal, but we still love it (something tells tells us there will be plenty of you who fall on the other side of the fence). What do you think? Have your say in Comments.
When 2011 ticked over to become 2012, something changed with the dynamic that had been in place nearly all of last year. We had become so used to the domestics seeing increased sales month after month while and struggled to keep their heads above water while fixing disaster-related production issues. No more.
January saw both Toyota and Honda report strong positive sales figures (up 9.00 and 9.25 percent, respectively). That’s good enough to out-trend (up 8.29 percent) and General Motors (down 6.11 percent), the latter of which saw its new year kick off with a decline after finishing 2011 with 11 out of 12 monthly sales gains. Conversely, Honda kicked off its new year right after posting eight straight months of sales declines to end 2011.
The Chrysler Group was King of the Hill in January, posting a 44.26-percent increase in sales.
Both Toyota and Honda should especially be pleased with how their traditional top sellers performed. The redesigned entered the market without skipping a beat and posted a 55.9-percent increase on 28,295 units sold. Likewise, the , which received a harshly criticized redesign in 2011, bounced back in January with a 49.5-percent increase on sales of 21,883 units. It replaces the aging at the top of Honda’s sales heap, which remained flat in January with just 13,659 units sold.
What about ? Shockingly, the Chrysler Group was King of the Hill in January, posting a 44.26-percent increase in sales compared to 2011, led by an indomitable Chrysler brand that reported an 81.39-percent increase in sales on the back of strong performances by its and sedans. (41.86 percent), (37.40 percent) and (29.37 percent) all reported strong sales, as well.
Additional mentions should be made for (up 68.19 percent) and (up 47.87 percent). Mazda enjoyed a 532.6-percent in sales to 3,032 units, as well as a 118-percent increase in sales to 4,929 units. Meanwhile, the went from selling just 108 units last year to moving 6,318 last month.
Check out the rest of last month’s sales numbers in the table below.
*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 24 selling days in January 2012 versus 24 selling days in January 2011, so the change in monthly sales volume will be the same as the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.
Race cars are going hybrid these days. Formula One racers store regenerated brake energy. packs a flywheel into the 911 GT3 R. Just the other day, unveiled its new TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype. And now even Jim Glickenhaus’ one-off -powered, Pininfarina-designed P4/5 Competizione is said to be getting a hybrid powertrain.
Emerging reports from Europe indicate that the GT prototype is preparing to return to the Nürburgring-based VLN series, but this time, it’ll be packing some electric boost. That bit is tipped to come from a system provided by Magneti Marelli that’s similar to the Kinetic Energy Recovery System it developed for Scuderia Ferrari for use in F1. The 4.0-liter V8 will continue providing principal motivation, but the added jolt of power could be just what the team needs to conquer the Green Hell with green(er) propulsion.
It may not be a World Rally Championship event, but is celebrating its first win at an international rally (at least its first such win of the modern era).
The event in question was the Qatar International Rally, a fully FIA-sanctioned event that kicks off the 2012 Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (with his brother Nasser as co-driver) edged out the competition by an impressive margin of 2:24.9 in the Mini JCW Super Production Car – the same vehicle that Prodrive fields in the WRC but with a smaller wing and restrictor plate, and similar to the X-Raid vehicle that recently won at Dakar.
Victory at the event was particularly meaningful for Prodrive, which got its start at the Qatar International Rally way back in 1984 to kick off the first MERC in the Rothmans Porsche 911 SC RS (pictured in the high-res image gallery below).
Perhaps the biggest reveal of 2012 for fans of luxury performance all-electric vehicles (or, perhaps, anyone automotively inclined with a pulse) is when pulls the shroud from its crossover at its new Los Angeles design studio. And now, we have been given a strong hint of what to expect.
The upstart California startup has just sent out a new version of its invitation to customers, and included on the summons is a partially silhouetted image of something seemingly very sleek and very sexy. Indeed, it must be the Model X. While there is some of the same design language used in the sedan, the teaser suggests a vehicle with a shorter hood, a taller roof and less-pronounced creases in its sheet metal.
We’ll have a presence at the event, but you can witness the unveiling in real time from the comfort of your own home. CEO has that the reveal will be shown live on the at 8:00 PM (we presume that’s Pacific Standard Time). He also adds, “Most cars are pretty blah. This is not.”
After seeing the image above and adding the “Quicker than a Porsche 911 and roomier than an Audi Q7″ statement we’ve heard previously to the equation, we’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt. For now.
The roads winding from the southernmost coast of Spain up to Ascari Race Resort near the town of Ronda are enough to bring telling tales out of any car that professes to have high performance intentions. What talented few acquit themselves well on these roads are then exposed to the 3.4-mile Ascari circuit, and that’s usually enough to send most of them home in a huff of brake dust and blow-by.
This time in the crucible, it’s the , a car first shown under the hard lights of November’s . Despite not being the most powerful in the range, this naturally aspirated GTS is tipped to offer the most race-like dynamics of the entire Panamera portfolio. And after 100 or so miles on public amusement park roads and 20 or so on the track, this plus-size GT showed us it’s capable of dicing it up like a or while delivering an understandably different experience from behind the wheel.
The world would be considerably less entertaining if we could all predict the future. Even so, the classic car gurus at Hagerty Insurance have cast a few chicken bones in an attempt to figure out which vehicles produced today might eventually turn collectible.
The company restricted entrants to hardware with a price tag of less than $100,000, so the list isn’t populated with too many wild exotics. While vehicles like the , , and are low-hanging fruit, the list also featured a few surprises.
For starters, it begins with none other than the mighty . Hagerty says the vehicle is a win because it’s the first Buick with a manual transmission since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The also makes an appearance alongside an even hotter hatch, the . Of course, we’re simply thrilled to see the sinister make a showing. for the full list or view each vehicle in our gallery above.
We’ve driven the new 991-series , and now the next chapter of the new 911 story – the 2013 Turbo – has been caught proving itself in the wintertide climate. Its most important details – the front and rear bumpers and side intakes – remain behind camo, but we now get a look at how the tail sits across the wider rump, and we think it looks quite good.
When it’s finally revealed, the new 911 Turbo is expected to put out more than 500 horsepower – numbers from 520 hp to 550 hp have been mentioned – from it’s tri-turboed (yes, three turbos) 3.6-liter flat six. Both the seven-speed PDK and seven-speed manual transmissions should be on offer, and the lighter-than-the-last-Turbo package should be screamingly fast. Have a look at the high-res gallery to see it from just about every angle.
is recalling has issued a recall of the 2001- and 2002-model-year crossover for a possible brake fluid leak. It’s been found that fluid leaking from the reservoir cap on the master cylinder might come into contact with the ABS wiring harness connector, leading to potential corrosion and/or fire.
We’ve been waiting on this action for the better part of a month, as its mechanical twin, the , was the subject of a similar NHTSA recall . The Blue Oval recall covered some 244,000 units for the same problem.
There are 52,390 Tributes affected in total, and Mazda is taking the unusual step of advising that if you have one, you should park it outside until a dealer has made the necessary repairs. You can find a release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the matter .
If we could summarize the with just one word, it would be “evolution.” For decades, Porsche has methodically improved its rear-engined sports car. The design changes are subtle, and power has risen steadily.
To illustrate this, Porsche made a video that plays off the 911’s rich history. If you lie awake at night thinking about how great it would be to own a 911, for some more inspiration.
Most, if not all, know the story of the 1948 sedan. Yes, there was a movie, and it’s well worth watching. But even if you’ve never seen or heard of a the machine, one look at Preston Tucker’s Torpedo is all it takes for you to realize it’s something special.
Just 51 Tucker Torpedo sedans were built before the company went out of business. Those were 51 special machines, though, with a rear engine (like the iconic and ), disc brakes and fuel injection – a combination practically unheard of at the time.
Perhaps it’s the so-called Cyclops Eye, though, that is most interesting about the Tucker Torpedo. This third headlight moves with the car’s steering wheel, helping the driver see around turns. Such technology may not be uncommon today, but in 1948, it was revolutionary.
The final bid came in at an impressive $2,650,000. That means the new owner will pay $2,915,000 to drive this Tucker home. Check out our high-res image gallery of live photos from the 2012 Barrett-Jackson auction, and watch a video of the auction or read more about the car .
We all know what happens when and social media collide; the world gets another art car. As you may recall, the German sportscar manufacturer created a special version of its when it crested one million fans on Facebook last February. Now, one year later, Porsche has garnered a staggering two million fans, and the company has taken it upon itself to slather a in the faces of each an every one of its adoring supporters. With its red-tinted images on a white field, the design gives the Cayman S more than a passing resemblance to the famous Porsche 917 that garnered the company its first Le Mans win.
Porsche plans to display its Facebook Cayman S at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart until January 27. For those of us who can’t make the jump to Germany, Porsche has created a special site that provides 360-degree views of the car as well as search function to help you find your face on the Cayman. to check it out.
You think the prom limo market in America has a propensity for stretching anything with wheels? Just look at China. Instead of buying larger sedans there, wealthy Chinese buyers have a taste for stretching smaller ones. So while , for example, already offers a larger , they’ve developed a stretched for the Chinese market. We thought that a little strange at first, but this one takes the cake.
Since the has one of the nicest interiors on the market, one aftermarket tuner of note has developed a stretched version specifically for China. That tuning firm is no less noteworthy than Ruf, the outfit that has made a name for itself by turning ordinary models into supercar-beating, fire-breathing monsters.
The resulting Ruf Panamera XL is a good 40 centimeters longer than stock, giving it an extra measure of legroom in the back. And while this type of stretch job would normally make an exotic performance automobile like a Porsche look more than a little odd, given the almost universal derision of the Panamera’s roofline, we’d venture to say this – to some eyes, anyway – might be considered an improvement. So much so, in fact, that Porsche is rumored to be considering developing one on its own – let’s just hope that if Stuttgart tackles one on its own that they do a cleaner job of the resolving the B-pillar.
Back in October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration certain turbocharged Mini models for vehicle fires. The investigation came after reports of at least 12 vehicles lighting up, and now the investigation has officially lead to a recall.
NHTSA has announced on its website that will recall 88,911 turbocharged models built between November 2006 and January 2011 for a water pump problem that could result in a fire. The government agency says on its website that “the electronic auxiliary water pump that cools the turbocharger has an electronic circuit board that can malfunction and overheat.” If that happens, the board could smolder and result in a vehicle fire.
Affected models include the 2007-2011 , the 2008-2011 , the 2009-2011 Cooper S Convertible, the and John Cooper Works models from 2009 to 2011.
Owners of recalled vehicles will be asked to bring their Mini model to the nearest dealer for a free water pump replacement. to read over the official NHTSA release.
QNX – now owned by Blackberry – ripped the guts out of a 997 Cabrio to showcase its latest blend of infotainment, navigation and connectivity solutions. If nothing else, it’s one of the better looking interfaces we found at .
The system integrates the standard music, nav and telephony functionality with one-touch Bluetooth pairing over NFC, a sweet-sounding VOIP system and the potential – in theory, at least – to run Android apps thanks to its Blackberry Playbook roots. Get a feel for it in the video .
Our elite squad of spy photographers have managed to take a few quick photos of the , and from the looks of things, the luxury sedan may have one very special trick up its sleeve when it hits the market: a large, retractable glass roof. Taking a close look at the vehicle’s rear glass, we can clearly see a very squared-off window with visible tracks down both sides. That may indicate a mechanism capable of retracting and supporting the roof section as it moves back.
If that turns out to be the case, the 2013 Lincoln MKZ will boast a roof similar to what’s found on the . Unfortunately, the spy shots don’t show the roof in the retracted position, which means we’ll have to use our imagination until the vehicle gets closer to an official unveil at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
may have just unveiled its new at the earlier this week, but the German automaker is wasting no time before showing off its next bit of overhauled hotness, the . The mid-engine roadster won’t make its official debut until the in March, but we’ve been given some preliminary details ahead of the new Box’s primetime unveiling.
Much like the 911, the new Boxster’s design is more evolution than revolution, and that’s a-okay with us. The redesigned roadster is extremely handsome, and most of us on the Autoblog staff think it’s the best-looking Boxster yet. We like the revised headlamps and more svelte running lamp/air intake setup, and the wider stance and longer wheelbase are nicely masked in the new design. The 2013 Boxster’s all-aluminum skin also helps the new model shed a few pounds compared to its predecessor, which will not only make it that much more engaging out on the road, but also improve fuel economy.
But really, the Boxster is all about performance, and under the hood behind the seats are two flat-six engines with direct injection, thermal management and start/stop functionality. The base Boxster uses a 2.7-liter flat six, good for 265 horsepower (10 hp more than its predecessor) while the Boxster S is powered by a 3.4-liter six that produces 315 hp (an increase of 5 hp versus the 2012 model). The standard Boxster will run to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds with the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, while the Boxster S will do the same jaunt in just 4.7 seconds. A six-speed manual gearbox (what, no seven-speed?) is also available with either engine. Porsche will offer a Sport Chrono package that further enhances performance, adding things like dynamic transmission mounts and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV).
Look for the 2013 Boxster to hit United States showrooms this summer, priced from $49,500 for the base car or $60,900 for the Boxster S (not including $950 for destination). Now, about that …
unveiled with more efficiency, performance and maturity
Automakers have been integrating wind deflectors into convertibles for years now, though in many cases, they’re a do-it-yourself, manual affair. The idea is to disrupt the wind enough to eliminate that obnoxious swirling effect that kills conversations and hairstyles in equal measure.
That said, we’re not surprised that has fitted its with just such a device, but we like the car’s unique power execution here (manually erecting or folding a wind deflector can be a chore and eat into storage space). The 911 Cabrio’s new assembly is massive, which might not do the car’s aesthetics any favors, but the size should help it be more functional.
to watch the 911 Cabriolet drop its top in only 12 seconds, followed by the big wind deflector that arrives on the scene in the blink of an eye.
Carrera Cabriolet gets unique power wind deflector
The last two days for us auto-obsessive types have been a blur of press conferences and vehicle debuts in what has been a typically hectic . As the final day of the press preview comes to an end, though, we’ve been able to walk around the show floor and take a closer look at the various production and concept cars that have been unveiled.
That also means we have been able to get better photographs of some of our favorite vehicles of the show, like the and concepts, Porsche’s new , the , and Chevrolet’s intriguing . We have put them all into a desktop wallpaper gallery, and you can see them all in the high-res gallery above. We’ve even uploaded each of them in 1920×1275 for those of you with extra large computer monitors. Enjoy!
Press days for the have now officially ended, and a quick survey of our yield reveals more highly anticipated production vehicles and concepts than we’ve seen since the days when The heyday of press conference theatrics may be behind us, but the vehicles themselves have begun to return. Check out the lot of them from this year’s Detroit show below.
When 2011 ticked over to become 2012, something changed with the dynamic that had been in place nearly all of last year. We had become so used to the domestics seeing increased sales month after month while and struggled to keep their heads above water while fixing disaster-related production issues. No more.
