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As July’s By The Numbers showed us, American buyers are quick to forget the pain of having to fill up a full-size pickup or SUV when gas prices are in the $4-per-gallon range. Without the guiding hand of Uncle Sam pushing the car-buying public towards smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, consumers are all about being large and in charge in the passing lane. But According to Automotive News, General Motors is keen to the fact that fuel won’t stay cheap forever, and to prepare for a returning tide of buyers rushing to small cars when oil goes sky high again, the company is planning a more diminutive product lineup.

If the Automotive News article is on its mark, we can expect to see a new compact Buick called the Verano as well as a hybrid version of the Lacrosse. There’s no telling exactly which architecture the baby Buick will use for its bones, but the Chevrolet Cruze wouldn’t be a bad bet in our eyes. Likewise, GMC will see the introduction of a production version of the Granite concept and Chevrolet should have the all-new Aveo join its ranks along with the Spark city car. Automotive News even says that The General is planning to shrink the Impala. Sounds good to us, but when it comes to Buick, these small-car rumors crop up nearly every year.

[Source: Automotive News]

Report: Buick Verano compact coming in 2012

The post-bankruptcy Chrysler Group is continuing its financial recovery even as the overall economy continues to sputter along. In the April-June quarter, the automaker posted an overall operating profit of $183 million and added $474 million to its cash coffers. After factoring in all the non-operational expenses (everything besides building and selling cars and trucks), the automaker still had a $172 million loss for the quarter. That’s not bad considering the only new product that Chrysler has launched in the past year is the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, and it didn’t start shipping to dealers until late in the quarter.

Chrysler isn’t providing any comparisons to the pre-bankruptcy 2009 results, but second quarter revenues are up 8.2 percent compared to the first quarter of this year. The operating profit was up by $40 from Q1 and the bottom line was cut from the $197 million loss in the first three months.

For the remainder of 2010, Chrysler is projecting to at least break-even as it starts to sell the new Jeep in volume and brings a number of new and revised products to showrooms after a long drought. The revamped Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 will be joined by the Fiat 500 by the end of this year, and several other vehicles get major interior upgrades. Depending on how things go in the current quarter, Chrysler says it expects to probably bump up its projections for the second half of the year.

[Source: Chrysler Image: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading Chrysler reports $183M second quarter operating profit, $172 million loss overall

Chrysler reports $183M second quarter operating profit, $172 million loss overall

When Lotus hinted that its Exos Type 125 track-day car would deliver the ultimate customer track experience, we had no idea they meant this ultimate. The 125 was revealed to a few of Lotus’ friends at the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion, and it’s about as close as many of its buyers will get to a Formula 1 car.

Powered by a 650-horsepower Cosworth V8 that runs up to 10,300 rpm, the 650-kilogram open-wheeler is no doubt awesome fast. With a starter motor and a tear-down interval of 4,000 kilometers, it should go relatively easy on budgets as well. Lotus says it will be offering 25 of them for one million dollars each, and will develop a training and racing program around them.

At least one Autoblogger has wondered if there isn’t more to this car than merely promoting Lotus cars and owner experiences. Ferrari was viewed askance earlier this year when it put Alonso in an F10 for some “promotional” work at Fiorano, since it looked a lot like contravening Formula 1’s testing ban. The Type 125 is so close to this year’s T127 – it’s even named as if it were last year’s F1 car, although Lotus wasn’t in F1 last year – that you should win a prize for spotting the minor differences. Or that could be just some silly tinfoil hat talk right there…

[Source: Teamspeed]

Lotus Exos Type 125 revealed as quasi-F1 car

The waiting game. A new round ensues for enthusiasts every time an automaker like BMW unveils a new product, a four-door sedan, especially. In the case of the 5 Series, what we’re eagerly anticipating is the new M5. In the meantime, BMW has released its own line of M-Sport accessories and Alpina has joined the party with the new B5 Bi-Turbo. Now German tuning house Hamann has entered the fold with its own equipment list for the mid-size Bimmer.

The package consists of a new body kit, complete with a new front bumper incorporating an adjustable front lip spoiler and daytime running LEDs, side skirts, rear apron and diffuser and a pair of spoilers, along with 21-inch matte black alloys with contrasting polished rims, a 35-milimeter dropped suspension and a four-tip exhaust system. Carbon fiber and aluminum accessories are available for the interior, though details on Hamann’s engine upgrade program have yet to be revealed. In the meantime you can check it out in the high-resolution image gallery below.

[Source: Hamann via CarScoop]

Hamann fills the gap to the next M5 with custom BMW 5 Series

Honda Performance Development will continue its involvement in IndyCar through the 2012 season when new engine and chassis rules take effect. The current, normally aspirated 3.5-liter V8s will be replaced after the 2011 season with smaller displacement and lower cost units that are limited to 2.4-liters. Honda announced this weekend at the Mid-Ohio race that it will produce a new twin-turbocharged 2.4-liter V6 available for lease at a price 40-percent below the current engine’s price.

The new formula is open to all manufacturers, but so far Honda has been the only company to commit to the new engines. Honda has been the sole supplier of IndyCar engines since 2006 following Chevrolet’s withdrawal from the series.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda to supply new 2.4L turbo V6 for 2012 Indycars

Honda to supply new 2.4L turbo V6 for 2012 Indycars

	GM’s Larry Nitz: finding buyers for the $41,000 Volt will be easy Confidence has never been GM’s problem with this vehicle.		Elon Musk rips into Nissan Leaf’s “primitive” batteries The quote machine continues the good work.
	Ford claims 2011 Explorer is 85% recyclable – but aren’t most cars? Yes, they are.	Other news: Dung Beetle: This GENeco Bio-Bug runs on gas Auto execs question need for widespread public charging infrastructure High demand for Nissan Leaf pushes back debut in Holland by 6 months

AutoblogGreen for 08.09.10

With just six races left on the schedule, the IndyCar Series moved to its penultimate road course event: Mid-Ohio. While series leader Will Power was in position to wrap up the inaugural Mario Andretti trophy for the series road course champion, he also had a good shot at putting the overall championship out of reach as well. While that was a pretty big deal, everyone was still talking about the crazy ending to the last race at Edmonton.

To recap, Helio Castroneves was black-flagged for taking the inside line while leading into turn 1 on a restart, but he ignored the order and stayed on track just in case. When he drove into the vicinity of victory lane three laps later, he was deflected aside. Helio jumped out of his car, looking for anyone with a headset who might be able to explain why the race leader would have to give up his hard-fought lead so late in the race. He didn’t get much of an answer – at least not right away. Chief Steward Brian Barnhart reviewed the tapes and stuck to his on-field call. For good measure, he fined Castroneves $60,000 for his tantrum.

While that pretty much eliminated Helio from championship contention, there was still a race to run this weekend. Follow the jump to see how things played out at Mid-Ohio.

[Images: Chris Graythen, Rick Dole, Robert Laberge/Getty Images, Jay LaPrete/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: 2010 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio [SPOILERS]

If there’s ever going to be a green-car cage match, we can guarantee that one of the fighters will be Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, who apparently can’t pass up the chance to take on any competitor. His latest target? The lithium-ion battery pack in the Nissan Leaf, about which Musk had some critical things to say in a conference call with investors this week.

Even though Nissan is supremely confident in the ability of its battery pack, Musk said it was a “much more primitive level of technology” than even Tesla’s first prototype. Musk also said that the Leaf pack will have temperatures “all over the place” that will cause it to suffer “huge degradation” in cold environments and basically “shut off” in hot environments, according to Earth2Tech.

Tesla’s battery has a more sophisticated/complicated cooling system than the air-cooled system found in the Leaf pack, but Nissan strongly supports its battery pack with an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty and has been working on lithium-ion battery technology for a long time. We imagine they know what they’re doing, and the proof will be in driveways soon enough.

[Source: Earth2Tech]

Elon Musk rips into Nissan Leaf’s “primitive” batteries

It was a freak accident that almost killed Felipe Massa. During a Formula 1 qualifying lap last year in Hungary, a spring from Reubens Barrichello’s car struck the Ferrari driver in the helmet, knocking him unconscious and fracturing his skull. The Brazilian racer went through surgery to repair his damaged skull and was later brought into a medically-induced coma to help him recover. There was some speculation as to whether Massa would ever drive again.

One year later, Massa is racing for Ferrari again, though with less success than he saw in 2008, when he was the runner-up to Lewis Hamilton for the Drivers Championship. Last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix was Massa’s first trip back to the scene of his accident (he finished in 4th place), and CNN interviewed him to see how the event has changed him. On the track, Massa says that little if anything has changed, but when the helmet is off, he claims to be a very different man.

“It made me value life much more than before, and I appreciate the ordinary things in life 10 times more, and it has put life and my health in perspective, not taking anything for granted and not just for me, but also for life in general and what it means to everyone.” Those are the words of a man happy to be alive, and his recently renewed contract with Ferrari should make him happier still. Head over to CNN to read the interview in full.

[Source: CNN Image: Paul Gilham/Getty]

A year after accident, Felipe Massa has new outlook

The American Le Mans Series was back in action this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and as usual the action was hot and heavy on the track. In the Friday qualifying session Johnny Cocker set a storming pace in the Drayson Racing Lola-Judd. Cocker’s best lap was 0.932 seconds quicker than the isobutanol-fueled Lola-Mazda of Chris Dyson. The current LMP championship leading HPD ARX-01c of Simon Pagenaud was third, another four-tenths of a second back.

In the GT class, it was red leading yellow as the two Risi Ferrari F430 GTs edged out the two Corvette C6.Rs. During practice on Thursday, Greg Pickett had a massive crash in his Cytosports Porsche RS Spyder. Fortunately, he walked away, although he did sustain a back injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. Read on after the jump for race results.

[Source: American Le Mans Series]

Continue reading Spoiler Alert: 2010 ALMS Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge

Spoiler Alert: 2010 ALMS Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge

The Audi TT RS wasn’t meant for U.S. consumption, but the door hasn’t quite closed on that possibility. When Audi of America let us drive the 340-horsepower coupe (it’s faster and cheaper than a Porsche Cayman S), it earned all kinds of thumbs up. Still, Ingolstadt needs to know you really want it, so now you can register your desire via a new Facebook petition.

Audi hasn’t said how many signatures are needed before importing the TT RS is deemed a “go,” but your signature can’t hurt – this one’s all carrot, no stick. If you need a reminder of the possibilities, have a look at the TT RS in the gallery of high-res photos below. Hat tip to Danielle

[Source: Audi on Facebook]

Audi creates petition to bring TT RS to U.S.

Back in August of 1997, Toyota launched its Coaster Hybrid EV minibus, the company’s first hybrid vehicle. Though the Coaster Hybrid is not a common name, it was the vehicle that started the hybrid revolution at Toyota. The Japanese automaker has now announced that cumulative sales of its hybrids have now topped the one-million mark in its home market. In addition, the company’s global hybrid sales now stand at 2.68 million and counting.

In related news, Toyota announced that the Prius topped the sales charts in Japan once again, marking the 14th consecutive month that the Prius outsold all other models in the Japanese market. While Toyota is comfortably leading the way in hybrid sales, the company is committed to bolstering its lead. Toyota plans to introduce hybrid versions of all of its existing models by 2020 and aims to sell more than one million hybrids per year before the end of the decade. Follow the jump for more info on Toyota’s continued dominance of the hybrid segment.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota’s hybrid sales break a million in Japan, Prius still on top

Toyota’s hybrid sales break a million in Japan, Prius still on top

Turns out Italiaspeed had it right: the remade Lancia Stratos spotted on a Fiat test track in Milan is a coachbuilt one-off for a European client, and has nothing to do with Fenomenon. As the story goes, a certain unnamed industrialist asked Pininfarina – not Bertone, the Stratos’ original designer – to pen a body with a traditional front end true to the icon.

Of several tips we’ve received on the car, one stated that the body would fit over a greatly-shortened Ferrari F430 chassis and retain the F430’s V8, “so just like the original car it will try and kill you.” Although this isn’t the best news for anyone hoping for a Stratos revival, we can’t wait to see this bespoke Stratos on display at some future show. Hat tip to Lindz.

Rumormill: Lancia Stratos is a Pininfarina-designed one-off

While traveling the country as part of the 2010 Mini Takes The States road rally, we stopped off at Philadelphia’s Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum to get a closer look at some of the iconic cars that helped shape motorsport as we know it. This museum represents the personal collection of Dr. Frederick Simeone and features over 60 different cars from the full spectrum of automakers.

The museum isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as you might expect, but that’s not to say it’s lackluster, either. There are no spotlights or interactive displays, and there are no one-offs or custom builds. Instead, you get an array of cars that saw actual competition. LeMans, Brooklands, Sebring, the Mille Miglia – it’s all on display. What’s more, the museum regularly takes the cars out to its three-acre parking lot for demonstration days.

Located near Philadelphia International Airport, the Simeone museum is open six days a week, and admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for students and free for children ages eight and under. Group rates are available, and complete details are available over at the museum’s website.

Scroll through our gallery below for a few dozen high-resolution photos of the beautiful cars on display, and if you’re ever in Philadelphia, be sure to stop by and see the collection firsthand.

Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

Autoblog tours the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia

For years, Toyota was seen as an infallible, safe choice for consumers seeking high-quality, reliable and safe vehicles. That may still be the case, but recent events have made it abundantly clear that Toyota is as capable of making major mistakes as any other giant automaker.

Perhaps some of that lost image will be restored after a series of independent investigations into Toyota safety are concluded, assuming of course that the findings are favorable for the automaker. Steve St. Angelo, Toyota’s North American quality chief, believes they will be. At the Council for Automotive Research’s annual Management Briefing Seminars, St. Angelo said, “I can’t find a technician who has found a sticking pedal… I am 100-percent confident that there is nothing wrong with our electronic throttle control system.”

St. Angelo continued, saying that 80 percent of all owners of vehicles recalled for sticky accelerator pedals and bad floor mats have had their vehicles repaired. Interestingly, the quality chief added, “Recall is not a four-letter word,” suggesting that it’s best to admit to issues up front and repair them in a timely fashion – a practice Toyota hopes will keep customers returning to its showrooms.

[Source: Detroit News Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Toyota quality chief: “I still think our electronic throttle system is perfect.”

Range Rover Evoque – Click above to enlarge

According to Autocar, Land Rover isn’t done expanding its Range Rover model lineup now that the Estoque has made its official debut. Citing so-called “well-placed sources,” the UK mag suggests that LR is surprised by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the new entry-level Range Rover – enough that it’s now considering another model to slot in below the Range Rover Sport.

The report goes on to suggest that development of the proposed machine has barely begun and there’s no clear indication of what exactly is in store, though a seven-passenger “lifestyle” (whatever that means…) vehicle has been hinted at. It’s thought that the Range Rover Sport may be moved slightly upmarket from its current £46,000 (just over $60,000 U.S.) starting price to make room for this theoretical new model. In any case, considering that the Evoque is still quite a way off, we don’t expect to see this new rumor fulfilled any time soon.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Range Rover plans fourth model

We can quit wondering where General Motors is heading with Buick. Maybe. If rumors dusting up from GM Inside News are to be believed, company leadership has the Tri-Shield’s sights trained solidly on Lexus. We all know that the 2010 Buick LaCrosse was positioned as the answer to the Lexus ES 350, but supposedly, GM is aiming even higher and cooking up a Zeta-based sedan to go head-to-head with the Lexus LS. If you believe the hype, design work has already been given the go-ahead, but production ihas yet to receive an official OK from up top. Details are predictably scarce, but GM Inside News claims that the styling is sharp as can be.

Interestingly enough, the Zeta platform that would provide the basis for the rumored big Buick isn’t exactly the same as the one underpinning the mega-Holdens prowling Australia (or the Caprice soon to be cruising your local donut shop, or the Buick Park Avenue that’s already sold in China). Instead, GMI says that the luxe Buick will be built upon something called the Premium Zeta Platform, and that the oft-rumored Cadillac flagship will use the same bones. Sounds great, but until we hear something official from The General, we won’t start holding our collective breath.

[Source: GM Inside News]
Photo by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 AOL

Rumormill: GM mulling Zeta-based Buick flagship?

You all know that the long-awaited U.S. version of Top Gear is headed to The History Channel, and now it’s time to get your first taste of the show. The first trailer for the show is online, and if it’s any indication, Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara are going to win over viewers, and the program will not stray from the BBC original’s successful formula of cool tests and zany challenges.

In fact, one of the new show’s challenges is the trailer’s centerpiece. In involves the hosts determining the best $1,000 car by putting a trio of them through a punishing “moonshine run” dirt course. The ride selected for the teaser is Ferrara’s, the airborne 1976 Cadillac Deville Calais seen above (it could be a ‘75, but we’re pretty certain that’s the ‘76 grille pattern). How does a malaise-era Caddy handle a landing after catching that much air? About as well as you’d imagine – this isn’t the make-believe world of ’70s cop shows, after all. It’s hilarious.

Bottom line: The hosts exude great chemistry and the motoring action is pretty much everything you’d want and expect from a program calling itself Top Gear. Still under wraps, however, is the Stig. The suspense is killing us. This looks like a completely fun show. Hit the jump to see for yourselves. Thanks to Chris for the tip!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: First trailer for U.S. Top Gear!

Video: First trailer for U.S. Top Gear!

The people at MSN Money have unearthed a little known stipulation in rental car contracts that allows the manufacturer of speed and red light cameras to directly charge your credit card if you’re caught breaking the law. How? Big name rental agencies like Hertz, Avis, Advantage and Budget have an agreement with a company called ATS Processing Services to share renters’ credit card and personal information. ATS operates a fair portion of the traffic enforcement cameras in the U.S., and when a rental car gets popped running a red light, the company immediately checks to see who was renting it at the time and charges his or her credit card. Oh, and they ding you for a $30 administrative fee.

This presents a few problems. Namely, it does away with that whole “due process of the law” thing on which our entire justice system is based. In their defense, the rental companies say that having ATS directly bill renters is an easier system than what used to happen. Once upon a time, when a rental car snagged a fine from a traffic enforcement camera, the rental car company was expected to pay it and then track down and charge whoever had incurred the infraction. Neither process is exactly reassuring for those who rent cars on a regular basis, but it seems to be the norm. Next time you find yourself at the rental counter, be sure to read the entire contract.

[Source: MSN Money Image: Tim Boyle/Getty]

PSA: Renting a car may result in unexpected speeding ticket charges

Of all the automakers in the United States, perhaps the one with the largest enthusiast following is Mini. Sure, brands like Porsche, BMW and even Subaru have their own clubs and cult followings, but when it comes to eccentricity and personality, no one does it like Mini.

In that spirit, the pint-sized automaker is once again embarking on its Mini Takes The States cross-country road rally, an event that first occurred in 2006 and then again in 2008. This time, Mini is gathering its owners to celebrate the launch of the 2011 Countryman crossover, and we’ve been asked to tag along. We’ll be scoring some seat time in the Countryman as well, so stay tuned for our initial impressions.

Our trip started in New York and will take us to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Columbus and finally Indianapolis before we hop a plane back home. Many of the other participants will head all the way out to Denver, where they will meet up with other groups doing similar drive routes in different parts of the country. Mini has a full host of festivities planned for the Denver crew, and many other local Mini enthusiast clubs are providing some entertainment along the way.

Mini has provided us with a Cooper S Camden Edition for the trip, which means we’ll experience turbocharged small car thrills along the highways of America. We already spent a considerable amount of time with the Camden-ized Cooper, and we’ve been getting many a thumbs-up from Mini owners out on the road. (We’ve opted to leave the Camden’s Mission Control system in the “off” position.)

Keep your eyes peeled for caravans of Coopers and Clubmans, folks. This not-so-mini road rally is taking America by storm. Want to vicariously join in on the fun? Follow the trip’s progress on Mini’s Facebook page.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Autoblog hits the road with Mini Takes The States 2010