With the all the news coming out of , it’s obvious its Indian parents are intent on making the leaping cat a credible competitor to the world’s luxury automakers. To wit: not only has – a next-generation XK-based competitor to the – it ready to take the fight to the in the form of a reborn X-Type.
While the previous Mondeo-based X-Type fared poorly during its run, Tata Motor’s chief executive, Carl-Peter Forster, told Automobilwoche that in order for the British brand to compete on a global scale, a smaller sedan is a requirement. To that end, a new sedan is under development to slot in below the , likely utilizing a new aluminum architecture based on its next-generation sedan.
In addition to X-Type replacement and the new, smaller coupe – rumored to arrive in 2012 – Forster says that work is underway on a long-wheelbase version of the XF for the Chinese market and a wagon version of Jag’s mid-size sedan is slated for sale in Europe ( estate, anyone?).
On the front, the is the first of three new products to debut in the next five years, including an all-new Freelander with seating for seven and a revised Defender which is set to arrive in 2015.
Don’t count out the good old internal combustion engine just yet. A number of companies are working on new engine designs that can help pick up the slack until other alternatives, like electric motors, better batteries and a hydrogen infrastructure, are ready for mass consumption. One such venture is , which just got a rather large investment from none other than Bill Gates.
A total of $23.5 million was invested by the aforementioned Chairman of Microsoft along with Silicon Valley investor Vinod Khosla, who’s Khosla Ventures firm reportedly owns 47 percent of EcoMotors. According to the company, its opposed piston and cylinder Opoc engine technology was developed by Peter Hofbauer, who previously headed powertrain development at and designed the German automaker’s clean diesel technology.
EcoMotors claims that its new mill weighs 50 percent less than other internal combustion engines while using 50 percent less fuel. Planned for applications include cars, trucks and any other machine utilizing an engine. Get all the details in the press release after the break.
And even the least of them shall not be forgotten. After catching the and parading around in camouflage last week, our shooters have caught the next-generation AMG out and about. The roadster appears set to receive the upright, -inspired projecting grille being spread throughout the family, and there will undoubtedly be some LEDs in those headlight clusters. The mirror stalks move to the doors and there are quad pipes out back, but based upon what we see here, that’s a pretty tame sill skirt for an AMG model.
Under the hood, our shooter said he heard what sounded like a naturally aspirated V8, that’s been rumored before. Either way, word still persists that there will be a jump of 100-plus horsepower, from the current 330 to a possible 476. Inside will be more touches from the SLS for an overdue lifting of the SLK’s cabin game. We should see it naked and roaring some time next year. Have a look at it for now in our gallery of high-res photos below.
The wears many hats. It masquerades as both the automaker’s entry-level vehicle and as its flagship turbocharged SUV. Broad-shouldered in stature, one variant can blast to 60 mph in less than five seconds and top 170 mph, while another may be propelled quietly under the emissions-free power of electricity. Regardless of where they rank in the hierarchy, multi-talented Cayenne models are capable of traversing deep streams, towing 7,700-pound trailers and carrying five passengers and their luggage into the hands of waiting luxury hotel valets.
The six-cylinder Porsche Cayenne is hardly the automaker’s crown jewel, but it’s frequently one of the best-selling models in the lineup. Following on the heels of its more powerful siblings, the entry-level SUV can’t hide behind its engine displacement – it must prove itself through luxury, improved performance, fuel efficiency and value.
We just spent a couple days driving the all-new Cayenne in Germany, and unlike , when we put the flagship Cayenne Turbo and the eight-cylinder Cayenne S to the test at the beautiful circuit and off-road course at Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park, the European venue gave us the opportunity to drive the entry-level Cayenne in crowded city streets and on the wide-open Autobahn. What’s under the hood of the six-cylinder Cayenne, and why is it unique? How does it drive compared to its eight-cylinder siblings? Most importantly, how does it compare to its competition? Find out after the jump.
Gallery:
Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
2011 Chevrolet Caprice Delective Package – Click above for high-res gallery
A new generation of police cruisers is afoot. We’ve already seen the likes of ’s Taurus-based up close, and we’ve even seen opens the floodgates with a full raft of images of its . While Ford has opted to use its EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 for high-powered police action, has taken a more traditional approach, fitting the Caprice with a 6.0-liter V8 cranking out 355 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
We already knew what to expect for the standard police-spec Caprice, but we’ve been extra curious about the special “Detective package” that adds some plainclothes stealthiness to the Caprice, especially as it seems to hint at what the oft-rumored civilian version of this car might look like. It’s available in seven different colors (we’ll just stick with black, thanks), uses all the same mechanical underpinnings as the standard Police PPV, and for the moment at least, remains unavailable in a retail model for John Q. Public.
Be sure to scroll through the gallery below to check out the entire PDF of the Caprice PPV’s features.
For such a simple act of humanity, parking a car can sometimes be the single most horrendous act of your morning commute or that late night trip to Taco Bell the local mall. If only there was an easier way to know exactly where you’d be able to locate the perfect spot ahead of time, right?
Google hears your cries for help. The search giant has created a new application for its Android-powered phones (running OS version 2.0 or higher) that lets you know where people are leaving their parking spots. Google even makes a game out of it:
Start helping others find parking, and together we’ll all save time, save gas, and reduce pollution. Like to keep score? The more open spots you mark, the more parking ‘karma points’ you’ll get.
See? Not only can you find yourself that elusive parking spot, you can also save the planet in the process. Score one two for technology!
You’ve got questions and Google’s got answers. Hit the source link below for all the details and to download the app.
Hyundai has had the largest jump in transaction prices so far this year, but the Detroit Three have made the kinds of gains they haven’t seen in years. Overall, consumers spent $29,217 on a car through the first five months of this year, with the domestics all meeting or exceeding that number. Only fell a hair short, with an average transaction price just seven dollars below the industry average. However, all three Detroit companies posted percentage increases that beat the industry.
While the popularity of full-sized pickups, crossovers and SUVs has made a difference for , and Chrysler, the “more disciplined approach” to running their business, caused by the recession, is also credited for reducing inventory and incentives. As well, buyers with good credit make up more of the consumer pool now, and they’re choosing more technology and options for their cars. If they keep this up they might one day be The Big Three again. Eventually…
2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT – click above for high-res gallery
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is recalling 74,000 2010 and models built between February 16, 2009 and April 12, 2010. It seems that a bundle of wires located behind the steering wheel can develop stress cracks and eventually break. If this happens, some vehicle functions with controls on the steering wheel – such as the horn, cruise and radio controls, paddle shifters and even the driver’s airbag – could fail.
Owners of affected vehicles are urged to contact their local dealerships to see if their cars are equipped with a possibly defective steering roll connector. If so, the dealership will replace the component free of charge. Earlier this year, Subaru recalled roughly 30,000 Outback and Legacy models for a .
Full details on this latest recall can be found after the break.
Another piece of ‘ IPO puzzle has been solved: in spite of CEO Ed Whitacre’s to GM’s operations, the company looks set to go without. Acquiring in-house financing always stuck out in Whitacre’s aggressive battle plan for getting an IPO done later this year and the hurdles of getting back in with GMAC required untangling enough knots to make King Gordius say, “Skip it…”
Instead, GM will partner with banks that would make the loans to GM customers. Some of those banks are the same ones that GM is working with on a , and the idea would be that the banks offering financing would be presented as doing so under the GM banner.
At heart is that in order for GM to unlock its potential, and the potential of the new products it has rolling into showrooms, it needs to be able to finance more customers. Being at the mercy of banks who can choose their own risks means customers leave GM showrooms because they can’t get financing or can get a better deal on another car. Also, GMAC won’t lend to subprime borrowers. Although they only make up seven percent of GM’s target borrowers, in line with other automakers, a seven percent of sales isn’t a number you want to leave on the table.
Peugeot has signed an agreement to expand its production relationship with the NAZA Group in Malaysia. NAZA started assembling the previous generation B-segment 206 hatchback in 2006 and will be adding a sedan version of the current 207 late this year. In the second quarter of 2011, Peugeot and NAZA will add a sedan version of the larger C-segment 308 to the production schedule.
Because of Malaysia’s membership in Association of South East Asiatic Nations (ASEAN), Peugeot and NAZA will be able to export vehicles to other member countries without paying exorbitant tariffs. Production will take place at NAZA’s factory in Gurun, 250 miles north of the capital of Kuala Lampur.
DieHard battery ad with Gary Numan – Click above to watch the video
How could we forget about the fantastic 1980’s synthesizer-heavy hit “Cars” by Gary Numan? Not only is it an infectious tune, it acts as a sort of an ironic new-wave theme song for automobile enthusiasts. Now, some two decades later, Numan has paired up with the DieHard battery folks for a new ad showing just how powerful their car batteries are – a single one is apparently enough to handle Mr. Numan (who is looking moderately creepy in his old age) playing his oddly dispassionate hit on the horns of a whole fleet of cars.
See the commercial for yourself in the video , and if you’ve never heard the original song (or seen the ), it’s available for your viewing and listening pleasure. Good luck not getting it stuck in your head. Thanks for the tip, Chris!
The 599 GTO being the fastest road-going ever to roll out of Maranello, you don’t stand much chance of seeing one sitting still. Of course, the limited run of 599 examples doesn’t help. But as if an excuse were needed, that does give us a reason to bring you the latest batch of high-resolution images showing the Prancing Goat in all its glory.
You can check ‘em all out in the gallery below. That is, assuming you haven’t seen enough from the of that have circulated since the supercar’s debut. Yeah, we didn’t think so.
Porsche Club’s 24th Annual Dana Point Concours – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Club of Southern California held their 24th Annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance this past Sunday, with nearly 300 examples of Ferry’s handiwork taking their place on the grassy bluff overlooking Dana Point Harbour. Although the gloomy skies kept temps bearable, it was a great relief when the sun finally broke through and quashed any chance of rain.
The puts on this annual Porsche fest, so it’s not surprising that those models made up more than half the field, but they let others play in their sandbox too, so there were plenty of 911s to join the iconic overturned bathtubs, and even a few non-Porsches were allowed into the park. Check out the gallery we put together and you’ll see some of our favorites: , , , , , , , , , , , …the , , a pair of , and even an . It’s a pretty amazing show every year, especially for a regional club, attracting several cars from out of state and a couple of celebrities too. Where else can you have those beautiful views, so many amazing cars and enjoy Porsche tractor rides too? Check out the gallery below.
has several fingers in a few electric pies. There’s the , in conjunction with Panasonic, using proprietary technology. Then there are two mash-up prototypes , which according to Bloomberg include an electric and . According to the report, the crossovers were chosen because they’re the best fit for the weight of Tesla’s battery pack, which uses 6,831 lithium-ion batteries.
Even though the Elon Musk says he expects, “range and acceleration exceeding that of other announced electric vehicles of this class,” we wonder if he’s including a crossover like the . The electric SUV from China is currently testing in the Shenzhen taxi fleet and claimed to have a range of 186 miles. If that’s his target, then the numbers would exceed the figures Toyota has for the joint project, with an ideal cost of “about $40,000 with 150 miles (240 kilometers) of driving range per charge.”
’s electrified RAV4 and Lexus RX are predicted to be delivered to Toyota this month, so expect a barrage of news to be forthcoming.
is following by introducing a mechanism to with gasoline. It’s generally not possible to put diesel into a gasoline-powered vehicle as the larger diesel nozzles won’t fit in the filler neck. However, the smaller gas nozzles will fit in the diesel neck. Audi’s system, similar to the one used by BMW, adds a flap in the neck to prevent fuel flow. The flap only opens if the nozzle presses on contact points just below the cap. The smaller gasoline nozzle won’t be be able to hit all of the contacts at once and the flap will prevent fuel from getting into the tank. Apparently, the improved refinement of modern diesel engines has led to an increase in misfueling in recent years, prompting both BMW and Audi to add the new feature. BMW has had this mechanism in all of its diesel vehicles since early 2009 and Audi’s system is set to appear next year.
Chrysler has found a defect with certain 2010 Dodge Nitro, Dodge Ram 1500, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Wrangler models that could hinder braking. An improper flare on a brake tube that connects the master cylinder to the hydraulic control unit is being blamed for the problem. The HCU is part of the anti-lock braking system, and the faulty flare may leak and lead to a loss of brake fluid, which could lead to reduced braking performance and heighten the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will replace the tubes on 22,118 vehicles at its own cost under safety recall starting in August. Concerned owners can also phone in at 800-853-1403 or visit The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. NHTSA is tracking this effort under campaign ID number 10V315000.
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton doing the Magic Bus thing to Silverstone – Click above to watch video
Now that the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team has two World Championship Winning drivers who don’t hiss and break into hives when they hear each others’ names, principal sponsor Vodafone is making the most of it. – and we use that word loosely – one of their own cars. More recently, for a spot of fun before Silverstone, Hamilton and Button hopped into a 1966 VW Camper and drove from the McLaren Technical Center to the track, stopping at a gas station along the way to hand out race tickets. You’ll find the shenanigans in the video . Great tip, Focus!
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Mitsubishi i-MiEV – Click above for high-res image gallery
When launched the production version of the electric car in Japan last year, it came in at a frighteningly high price – almost $50,000 before tax incentives. That’s a lot of coin for a small car with a limited range, but Mitsubishi has said repeatedly that it wants to bring the home-market price down to about $22,000 by 2012.
Before that happens, the i-MiEV is due to arrive in the U.S. market in 2011 and Nissan has already moved aggressively to price the at under $33,000. With that in mind, Mitsubishi is aiming for a sticker price of under $30,000 for its EV before the $7,500 federal tax credit. The real world range of the i-MiEV is likely to be as low as 50-60 miles, with no range extension capability. And for such a low range, the diminutive EV will need an appropriate price to get any traction in the market.
