is reportedly working on a refresh for its mid-size pickup, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The refreshed Taco will debut in October, as part of the automaker’s plan to debut many all-new or refreshed vehicles this year. In addition to the Tacoma, the and will also receive substantial overhauls for the new model year.
Bob Carter, group vice president and brand manager for Toyota, says that the 2012 Tacoma will keep the same engine and frame, but will have a new exterior design, as well as an updated interior. Currently, the Tacoma is powered by a 4.0-liter V6 that produces 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque.
Additionally, Carter states that the Tacoma will receive new entertainment functions, and as we , the automaker’s new infotainment system will be part of the offerings. We’ll have more details come October.
The Chinese like long-wheelbase versions of sedans, because execs like to be able to stretch out while the drivers ferry them about – and the country, if you didn’t know, has a whole lot of executives. sells a stretched there, and evidently feels the market looks robust enough for a long-wheelbase 3 Series Li. Why not just get a , you ask? Because the man says he wants a longer , and he’s got cash…
Reports indicate this is a China-only model that will bow at the 2012 . Its platform, though, is also expected to underpin the . That car might come to America, and if so it will offer some extra rear legroom for us and certainly be just as interesting to look at as this long-wheelbase model.
Click on the links below to get more looks at the extended 3, which offers clues to the front of the next-generation car.
wants you to appreciate how much work they did to make the 2012 Picanto not just another small car, but a maximized small car. So their advertising team did something that involved a month of work and 1,200 bottles of nail polish to paint animations on 900 press-on nails. The Picanto in the image above didn’t happen with CG keystrokes, but with a tiny brush strokes, and there are 899 others to keep it company.
While we still aren’t earmarked to get get the tiny hatchback in the U.S., we can certainly appreciate the creativity that has gone into this spot. for the video, and as Roy Campanella used to ask, “What will they think of next?”
A 61-year-old pedestrian has died in Vancouver as a result of being struck by a fake taxi owned by the Canadian version of the popular reality game show Cash Cab. According to Forbes, the incident occurred on Friday night after filming. The fake cab was returning from a shoot and celebrity host Adam Growe (above) was not behind the wheel at the time. The vehicle was being driven by one of the show’s producers. The victim was transported to a local hospital before dying of his injuries. According to the Vancouver Sun, the victim was a resident of Surrey, though no other details have been released at the request of the man’s family.
Those reports also indicate that there were no witnesses in the incident and that local law enforcement have yet to file charges.
Castlewood Productions films Cash Cab for the Discovery Channel. President Andrew Burnstein said that the company’s thoughts and prayers are with the deceased’s family and friends as well as the driver of the cab.
“Did you know that it was never supposed to be called a Charger?”
The man posing the question is Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of Chrysler’s SRT group. According to Gilles, the modern was styled to have been branded differently, but the suits wanted a sporty full-size four-door. The design team delivered what was asked and the marketers went ahead and applied the name. Much to the chagrin of many a Mopar fanboy on the planet.
Thankfully, our time with the the affable Mr. Gilles wasn’t spent pondering the last generation LX’s branding issues. Or refinement issues. Or interior gaffes. Instead, rounded up its newest factory-fettled performance superstars in Southern California so we could get some quality time with the latest generation of SRT machines, including the .
This updated model provides a welcome change compared to its predecessor. Some may still feel that the last-gen Charger may not have deserved to wear the badge, but Chrysler’s latest is clearly closer to its B-Body brethren. To find out just how close, we strapped in and ran down some of California’s finest roads on our way out to Willow Springs for some track time.
Some might associated with speed. Others might equate the brand and its products a feeling of ecstasy. Of course, if the boys at Top Gear bought a used one from the ’80s, they’d probably claim to find a certain powdery residue left on the dashboard. But the latest offering from the company’s product design division, is a, um… well, it’s a water pipe.
The Porsche Design Shisha is the latest addition to the brand’s World Collection, which already includes such items as chopsticks and tea sets. The slick hookah pipe is made in Germany and stands nearly two feet tall with a hose made of TecFlex – the same material Porsche Design uses on a range of pens.
This decidedly Teutonic take on an age-old Middle Eastern device is available exclusively at the company’s new shop at Harrods department store in London. The store was sold last year to the Qatari royal family, which in turn just happens to own 10 percent of Porsche. So if the production of the didn’t speak loudly enough as to which developing market Porsche was banking on, well… you can put that in your pipe and smoke it. Details in the press release after the jump.
The big news which touring car racing fans were waiting for this weekend came when unveiled its new that will spearhead the marque’s return to the series next year. But don’t think for one minute that returning manufacturers and are about to let their Bavarian rival simply waltz in unchallenged.
Audi, for one, is planning to switch from its current to a new -based touring car, previewed in the renderings you see here. Like the stock cars we see racing around American super-speedways, DTM racers are only loosely based on their production counterparts, so the change in body shell – adopting the revised face of the – is more aesthetic than anything.
But while the existing DTM drivetrain – consisting of a 460-horsepower V8 and six-speed transmission – is set to carry over largely unchanged, Audi’s new racer (internally dubbed R17) is expected to herald some significant changes over the car it replaces, complying to new lower-cost regulations and side-impact stringencies that will see the fuel cells integrated into the carbon-fiber monocoque.
Rival manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, for its part, has yet to announce any prospective changes to its four-door , but likely will before the start of next season. In the meantime you can check out the renderings of the A5 DTM in our high-res image gallery and the press release .
originally appeared on on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our .
UPDATE: The new site will take a few minutes to appear and operate correctly for everyone. Unfortunately, it really isn’t as simple as flipping a switch, but be patient and keep reloading.
Autoblog is celebrating the debut of its latest redesign today, the fifth complete overhaul of the site since it launched way back in July of 2004. Since then, Autoblog has grown to become the largest enthusiast website for automotive news, reviews and event coverage in the world, with over 6 million unique visitors every month.
The latest Autoblog redesign is an evolution of the same blog format that has made the site so appealing to its millions of regular readers, while updates to the design, simplified navigation and a slew of new features have been added. One new feature is called Quick Scan View, which lets readers view 30 articles at a time in an easily browsable tile format – great for when you’ve been away from the site for a day or two and need to catch up on what you missed.
Other new features include:
“Lazy loading” of images for quicker loading times
Automaker sections with pages for every model
Research new vehicles with info powered by AOL Autos
Download gallery images with one click
Attach images and videos to tips
Play the podcast in a separate window while browsing the site
Check out our all-new Long-Term Garage section
Share, Tweet, Email or Print any article
Autoblog readers themselves played a significant role in shaping the new site. A beta version went live months before today’s launch, and readers have been providing the Autoblog team, its developers and designers valuable feedback to ensure the finished product is what they wanted.
Today has been the culmination of months of work, but is by no means the end. We will continue to listen to reader feedback, incorporate suggestions and fix any bugs found in the weeks and months to come. We’ll also launch a completely new AutoblogGreen soon.
This redesign would not have been possible without an extremely talented and dedicated group of designers, developers and project managers. The entire Autoblog team would like to thank the following people for their hard work: Jay Moore, Brandon Goode, Tom Pitts, Debra Anderson, Ray Dorman, Apollo Nguyen, Andy Kahn, Sameer Patel, Katy Collins, Ryan Gatewood, Suhale Malang Khader, Pranav Butala, Ginger Lindberg, Margaret Porteus, Sae Kim, Mitch Hazam, Justin Wolf and Rudi Thun.
originally appeared on on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our .
Chrysler employees caught drinking on lunch break – Click above to watch the video
If this story sounds familiar to you, it’s because something very similar happened just ten months ago. employees at the Jefferson North Plant in Detroit were busted for , and the automaker subsequently .
Now, the same behavior has been observed at Chrysler’s Trenton Engine Plant. The news crew at FOX 2 Detroit investigated many tips sent in from workers at the Trenton, MI plant, citing that employees were spending their lunch breaks drinking and smoking (and we aren’t talking about cigarettes) at a nearby park.
When FOX 2 showed the investigation to Chrysler, Scott Garberding, the automaker’s Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, said that he was “both hurt and angered” over what the cameras captured, adding:
“The employees that we identify, as soon as we understand who they are, will be suspended indefinitely without pay and anybody else involved will be dealt with swiftly. It’s very frustrating to us, we take it very seriously.”
Perhaps it’s time that insurance companies start taking a closer look the policies they dole out. San Francisco-based Quality Planning agrees, and that’s why the company works with insurers to help cut down on some of the fraud found throughout the industry. One area that’s a bit surprising? The amount of luxury cars that .
Auto insurance companies typically offer discounts for vehicles that are exclusively used on or near farmland. There’s less traffic, and therefore it’s less likely that the vehicle will be involved in an accident. Quality Planning took a look at approximately 80,000 vehicles insured as farm equipment, and found that nearly eight percent might not be sowing any oats.
One enterprising “farmer” listed their Audi A4 as farm equipment, despite the fact that his or her slice of land was located in Brooklyn, New York. Checking the farm equipment box netted the owner a savings of $389 per year. Another “farmer” classified their Seville for special use, despite living in Los Angeles. The Caddy owner was saving $61 per year.
Those figures don’t sound like a lot in an age of expensive car insurance. That’s not the case, however, when you step back and examine the fraud as a whole. All told, people reportedly scam the auto insurance industry out of $150 million per year. We know you don’t feel too bad for them, but you’ll probably get a little ticked off when you realize that money is recouped on the backs of honest car-insurance-paying folks like yourself.
Mitsubishi i – Click above for high-res image gallery
is nearly ready to join North America’s nascent all-electric parade. The 2012 Mitsubishi i will be available sometime early next year, and the automotive world has been speculating on the type of electron-powered economy one can expect to achieve when behind the wheel. The speculators can take a break because the EPA has finally released its ratings for the i.
How does a mile per gallon equivalent of 126 city and 99 highway sound? That’s a combined MPGe rating of 112. The EPA also subjected the 2012 i to its LA4 driving test, also known as the city test. This subjects the vehicle to numerous starts and stops, as one would encounter when cruising through town. The electric four-door achieved a max cycle range of 98 miles.
From an efficiency standpoint, the 2012 Mitsubishi i stacks up nicely against its electricity-drinking competition. The while the .
Check out our photos of the Mitsubishi i in the gallery below, and be sure to for the full press release.
Those in the market for a might not worry about insurance costs, but that doesn’t mean other folks shopping in the catalog of vehicles aren’t concerned about their premiums. GM has decided to lend a helping hand on that front, by offering one free year (or 15,000 miles) of car insurance through MetLife.
GM’s brass has decided to test out the program with car shoppers located in Oregon and Washington. Anyone who buys a 2010, 2011 or 2012 General Motors vehicle in either of those states is eligible to participate in the program, with the exception of of those folks adding vehicles to their commercial fleets. The program includes all vehicles in the , , and lineups.
Sound like a sweet deal? It should certainly save new car shoppers a bundle of cash over the course of that first year of ownership. If you’re lucky enough to live in one of those two states, you have until September 6 to pick up a new insurance-paid ride. for the full press release with more information.
The frequent customer logic goes something like, “It’s small and expensive, so why wouldn’t I just buy the bigger Q5 or maybe an A4?” Hence most of the reason why Audi North America hesitates on bringing the Q3 over to us.
Chattanooga plant is committed to being perhaps the best facility in VW’s fold, something that couldn’t be said of company’s last U.S. plant in New Stanton, Pennsylvania.
A bright orange Toyota Celica, piloted by rally champion Jonny Milner, blazed up the 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb course in 48.07 seconds.
Also of interest:
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2011 Audi Q3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The idea of a small premium crossover like the new , while certainly not lost on North Americans, does seem to face both corporate and public resistance Stateside. The frequent customer logic goes something like, “It’s small and expensive, so why wouldn’t I just buy the bigger or maybe an ?” Hence most of the reason why Audi North America hesitates on bringing the Q3 over to us.
This sporty, tall sort-of-A3 is considered an “A-SUV” in Europe, belonging to the smallest A-segment of the market there. Built at the underutilized yet state-of-the-art Seat factory in Martorell, Spain, on a spanking new production line, projects annual sales in a full year of 100,000 units. Chief stated competition for the Q3 includes the , and the forthcoming currently in prototype testing.
“If you buy this truck, I’ll come deliver it,” Ford President and CEO told his friend Rob Johnston. Proving that his pledge was more than just an empty sales tactic, Mulally stayed true to his word and dropped in at Satcher Ford in Aiken, South Carolina to personally hand over the keys to Johnston’s 2011 Ford F-150. Johnston’s likely still marveling at the luck that comes from having friends in high places, chuckling that “the CEO of Ford brought my little truck down to me” while taking delivery last Friday.
Maybe it’s a new type of sales perk Ford could offer. Who wouldn’t want, say, a dropped off by ? There’s a rich tapestry of Ford drivers in available for buyers, too. It could even be a line-item on the order form. Pay a little more for personal celebrity delivery, and the public figure of your choosing gets a vacation in an unlikely spot, like the overnight Mr. Mulally spent at Aiken’s . If anything, it’s a way for Mr. Mulally to spend time outside of Dearborn and speak with the public that buys his company’s products.
There’s a problem with some 2006 and 2007 model year and vehicles. Today, Toyota announced that it will voluntarily recall 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h vehicles that were sold in the States. What’s the problem? Toyota says there is a control board with transistors inside the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) in the Hybrid System Inverter and that, “Certain transistors on the control boards in some of the subject vehicles were inadequately soldered and could be damaged from heat caused by a large current flow during high-load driving.” Whoops.
Toyota says that the worst-case scenario is that the vehicles will either go into a fail-safe mode or the fuse will blow and the vehicle will coast to a stop. In order to fix the problem, Toyota needs to get the required replacement parts and will notify owners by mid-July when and how they can get the vehicles repaired for free. If you’re curious about your own vehicle, you can call Toyota or Lexus directly. Phone numbers and more details are available in the press release after the jump. Information about other Toyota company recalls .
Pikes Peak Fan Fest 2011 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Before the official Pikes Peak Hill Climb racing action hits the mountain, the fans command attention in Colorado Springs. The appropriately named , packing it with rows of high-speed vehicles, throngs of Pikes enthusiasts, and excited race teams.
Everything ranging from the mighty Unlimited Class vehicles to dirt bikes and line the street. sits near while and the are both a few blocks away.
, and his 300-horsepower RZR side-by-side is running even faster than he thought it would. Siddens believes he may end up finishing with a time in the 11-minute range, which is simply blistering in his vehicle.
This isn’t just about the familiar faces and vehicles, however, as relatively unknown drivers get to chat about their cars, trucks and two-wheeled hill-climbers with anyone who’s interested. Fan Fest is the ultimate chance for Pikes Peak lovers to meet an old hero, or introduce themselves to a brand new one.
Top Gear series 17 preview – Click above to watch the video
We’re just days away from the start of the new series of Top Gear, and we’re all excited to see what Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have in store for us this summer. Last week we brought you the commercial, and now the BBC has released a second to tantalize us with what’s to come.
So what have we learned? James will be showing us the new , the McLaren MP4-12C which Jezza was driving is pitted against the Ferrari 458 Italia, the 8-Series is up against the Mercedes-Benz CL, a is for cowboys, and Richard really appears to like the Fiat Abarth 500C. to watch the brief 30-second video for yourself.
Ken Block’s DiRT 3 promo in tilt shift – Click above to watch video
We don’t know when tilt-shift video will be old and busted, but it isn’t today. Ken Block’s recent at the Battersea power station rocked hard enough in full scale. It looks even cooler – or perhaps it’s just wackier and funnier – shot with a tilt-shift lens so that it looks like a tiny Ken Block is piloting a tiny Escort knocking over tiny boxes. The only thing stranger than the images is the music, which kept us wondering when the Harajuku girls were going to appear. They don’t, but the still-awesome Harajuku-free video is .
When first started taking over , word on the street was that the VW Group would take Porsche back to its roots as a sportscar marque exclusively, canceling the and that compete in territory already covered by other brands in the group. But that approach appears to have long since been ditched in favor of further increasing Porsche’s line-up, starting with the Cajun.
The smaller counterpart to the larger Cayenne SUV, the Cajun is expected to arrive around 2014. And with development now underway, Car and Driver claims to have the inside line on what we can expect.
For starters, the Cajun will be based heavily on the , but while its four-ringed counterpart may ride on a principally front-wheel-drive platform, the Porsche will be exclusively all-wheel drive. Because, while people may have learned to accept a four-door Porsche, a Porsche SUV or even a diesel or hybrid Porsche, the notion of a Porsche driven exclusively by the front wheels would undoubtedly be one step too far.
Hybrids and diesels could be in the mix for the Cajun as well, while conventional power is tipped to range from a 220-horsepower TFSI four up to a 350-hp supercharged V6, with six-speed manuals, seven-speed DSGs and eight-speed automatics driving through a rebranded version of Audi’s Quattro drivetrain to all four wheels.
Styling would need to be sufficiently Porsche-like to differentiate the Cajun from its Q5 counterpart, with reports once again anticipating a three-door model to follow the initial five-door and take up arms against the Range Rover Evoque.
