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Each year, the scribes at Car and Driver go through every new vehicle on sale and pick the ten best cars available here in the United States. And while some major automotive awards are only shelled out to vehicles that are all-new or significantly updated for a certain model year, C/D’s approach is to look at the full scope of cars currently on sale. After all, there are some cars that are simply perennial favorites, even if they haven’t changed year over year.

For 2012, the Chevrolet Volt and Hyundai Sonata have fallen off the list to make room for the Audi A6/A7 and Ford Focus. The other eight vehicles that round out the 10Best list have carried over from the 2011 winners, but we can’t say we’re surprised. These ten cars indeed represent some of the best vehicles on sale today.

The 2012 Car and Driver 10Best winners are:

• Audi A6/A7
• BMW 3 Series / M3
• Cadillac CTS-V
• Ford Focus
• Ford Mustang GT / Boss 302
• Honda Accord
• Honda Fit
• Mazda MX-5
• Porsche Boxster / Cayman
• Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Head over to Car and Driver to read the full 10Best roundup, and follow the jump to see a video of this year’s winning fleet, then check in to Comments to share your thoughts on C/D’s list.

Continue reading Car and Driver reveals its 2012 10Best cars [w/video]

Car and Driver reveals its 2012 10Best cars [w/video]

Don’t call it a Hornet. Dodge has released a slew of shadowy teasers for its new compact sedan, the 2013 Dodge Dart. The company is planning a slow reveal, with snippets of the four-door’s exterior and interior trickling out between now and the vehicle’s full unveil at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Specifics are still murky at the moment, though we do know Dodge will grace the 2013 Dart with a variety of engine options, including a turbocharged version of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder Multiair engine found in the Fiat 500. If the Fiat 500 Abarth is any indication, that means we’re looking at somewhere around 160 horsepower.

The 2013 Dodge Dart makes use of the same bones as the beautiful Alfa Romeo Giulietta, though the chassis has been both stretched and widened to accommodate the wider britches of American buyers. Chrysler says that a full 68 percent of the vehicle’s architecture is comprised of high-strength steel, which means the 2013 Dart should retain much of the rigidity that’s made the Giulietta a favorite among buyers and critics alike in the EU.

We’re plenty excited to get our hands on the 2013 Dodge Dart to see how it stacks up against the likes of the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra among other winners in the segment. Hit the jump for the full press release and then mosey on over to the car’s official teaser site.

Continue reading 2013 Dodge Dart aims for center of compact sedan segment

2013 Dodge Dart aims for center of compact sedan segment

There are two types of bad luck; the kind that finds you and the kind you find for yourself. Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh seems to have wandered straight into a run of the latter. NFL fans may recall that Suh is on a two-game suspension after stomping on a Green Bay Packer player during a game on Thanksgiving Day. Now the Detroit Free Press is reporting that Suh was involved in an accident in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. According to the report, Suh lost control of his 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS while passing a taxi at 1:15 a.m., whereupon he slid into a light pole, a tree and a drinking fountain.

Despite the carnage, neither Suh nor his two passengers were injured in the ordeal. Portland Police Sgt. Peter Simpson has said that the Lions player wasn’t drunk or “driving crazy.” We’re not saying we’re speaking from personal experience, but the last time we checked, law enforcement tends to have sharper words to say about failing to maintain control of a vehicle and damaging public property.

The real curiosity here is that Suh wasn’t piloting a vehicle from the automaker he advertises for, Chrysler (click through to the jump to refresh your memory). Then again, if you had the choice between a ‘70 Chevelle and a 2011 Chrysler 300, which would you chose?

Continue reading Chrysler spokesman and NFL star Ndamukong Suh crashes his… Chevy?

Chrysler spokesman and NFL star Ndamukong Suh crashes his… Chevy?

Right when it looks like Hyundai can do no wrong, we have this: A consumer protection group is asking the United States Environmental Protection Agency to look into claims that the Elantra has exaggerated fuel economy numbers.

Consumer Watchdog sent the EPA a letter citing a litany of public criticism of the compact Elantra’s real-world fuel economy, and asking the EPA to “re-test the 2011 and 2012 Elantra models in its own facility, to seek an explanation for the MPG disappointments of so many Elantra buyers.”

Except that many Elantra buyers are actually satisfied with their mileage. When we asked Hyundai for a response to the allegations, its public relations staff pointed us to a J.D. Power APEAL study showing that, “Elantra owners are the happiest in the entire compact segment competitive set in terms of fuel economy.”

Hyundai did note that real-world fuel economy results often differ from EPA label values, but stopped short of writing the whole thing off as “your mileage may vary.” According to Hyundai, when Consumer Reports put the Elantra through its tough city cycle test regimen, the results were consistent with other compact cars, all of which underperformed compared to the EPA test. Hyundai said the Elantra achieved 20 mpg, which was higher than Honda Civic at 19, Ford Focus at 18, and Chevrolet Cruze at 17. “These results show rank-order consistency with the EPA results of Elantra (29), Civic (28), Focus (28), and Cruze (22),” said Hyundai.

The Elantra was redesigned for the 2011 model year, and when we tested one, we averaged 31 mpg over a week of mixed driving, compared to EPA numbers of 29/40/33 city/highway/combined. For 2012, Hyundai has actually added its ActiveECO system that it says can improve fuel economy by up to seven percent. Sales of the Elantra were up 44 percent in November.

Click past the jump to read the full press release.

Continue reading Consumer group cries foul on Hyundai’s 40-mpg claim

Consumer group cries foul on Hyundai’s 40-mpg claim

Ford kicked off its turn-key drag racing program with the debut of the Mustang Cobra Jet in 2008, and since then both Dodge and Chevrolet have joined the party with the Mopar Challenger Drag Pak and the recently-introduced COPO Camaro Concept. With the competition from its American counterparts Ford hasn’t been able to rest on their laurels, updating the Cobra Jet in both 2010 and for 2012. Now, Ford has revealed yet another revised Cobra Jet for 2013, with the car being unveiled at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Florida.

The biggest change for the 2013 Cobra Jet is the availability of two 5.0-liter V8 options that come in either naturally aspirated or supercharged variants, allowing competitors to compete in the NHRA Stock Eliminator category. Further updates to the 2013 Cobra Jet include a lighter body, electric power steering, a new roll cage and new suspension geometry that allows for quicker launches.

As in previous years, just 50 Cobra Jets will be produced for 2013 at the AAI assembly plant alongside road-going Mustangs, with customers being chosen on a first come first served basis. With the new 5.0-liter engine options the base price has dropped to $86,000, and the optional supercharger puts that number closer to the six figure mark. You can read Ford’s official press release after the jump, and live photos of the 2013 Cobra Jet at the PRI show can be found in the gallery above.

Continue reading Ford Racing continues the Mustang Cobra Jet program for 2013 with new engine options

Ford Racing continues the Mustang Cobra Jet program for 2013 with new engine options

According to the Associated Press, GM CEO Dan Akerson has said General Motors will buy back any Chevrolet Volt from owners who are concerned about the vehicle’s fire risk. Akerson said that his company isn’t making the move because the plug-in hybrids are unsafe, but because GM is committed to keeping its customers happy. The CEO also said that GM is prepared to recall the 6,000 Volt models currently on the road if the federal government deems such an action necessary. As you may recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that the Volt could catch fire several days after a severe side-impact crash and rollover.

NHTSA found that the vehicles could ignite anywhere from seven days to three weeks after the initial impact. GM believes the fires are a result of a failure in the battery pack’s cooling system because the NHTSA test involved an intrusion of four-to-five inches into the vehicle’s battery pack. Current testing standards call for no more than two inches of intrusion.

GM initially promised free loaner vehicles to any customer concerned with the safety of their Volt, and later said that the battery pack could be redesigned to better guard against this type of failure.

GM now willing to buy back Volts from worried owners

Suzuki hit the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show with a small flotilla of green-minded vehicles, including the Swift EV Hybrid. According to the company, most Swift buyers travel between 12 and 18 miles per day, so engineers designed this range-extended EV to cover that distance on pure electric power. A small-displacement internal combustion engine remains on hand to take over charging duties should the driver deplete the vehicle’s batteries, just like in the Chevrolet Volt. Suzuki says that the design has several advantages over a traditional electric vehicle.

For starters, the system uses a significantly smaller battery than a full EV, which means the Swift EV Hybrid uses fewer resources and costs less. It also takes less time to charge than a full EV as well. While we don’t expect to see this doorless wonder on the streets any time soon, Suzuki may apply the range-extender technology to production models in the future.

Suzuki debuts range-extended Swift EV Hybrid

U.S. auto sales during the month November were up on the backs of companies like Chrysler, Volkswagen and Kia, all three of which reported major gains for their respective brands. The Chrysler Group in particular posted positive numbers for all four of its brands, including a spectacular 92.23-percent rise in sales for the Chrysler brand itself. Volkswagen and Kia didn’t perform quite as well, but each managed gains of around 40 percent.

This time, Honda stands alone as the only major automaker to post a sales decline in November. The Japanese automaker’s brands (Honda and Acura) together posted a drop of 6.35 percent. Toyota, which had been keeping Honda company they each struggled with restoring production after this year’s series of natural disasters, had a relatively decent November with identical gains of 6.68 percent for both Toyota and Lexus.

Being the second-last month of the year, you may be interested to know how some close model-to-model sales races are shaping up. Here are the year-to-date sales races that will be decided in the last month of sales, as well as always-interesting Camaro versus Mustang numbers.

• Best-Selling Minivan: Toyota Sienna (99,865) vs. Dodge Caravan (98,983)
• Best-Selling Pony Car: Chevrolet Camaro (81,495) vs. Ford Mustang (65,381)
• Best-Selling Small Car: Toyota Corolla (219,250) vs. Chevy Cruze (215,057)
• #3 Best-Selling Mid-Size (behind Camry and Altima): Ford Fusion (226,445) vs. Honda Accord (217,958)

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 25 selling days in November 2011 and 24 selling days in November 2010, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

November 2011: Black Friday Edition

Automotive News reports General Motors may redesign the battery pack found in the Chevrolet Volt in response to an investigation by federal authorities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that in certain crash situations in which the Volt suffered a side impact, the battery pack could catch fire after sitting for several days. In response, GM has offered around 5,500 Volt customers a loaner vehicle until a solution to the issue can be determined. Now, CEO Dan Akerson has said that the battery pack may receive a redesign.

In addition, GM won’t sell the Volt’s European corporate cousin, the Opel Ampera, until the issue can be resolved. Akerson reiterated that the Volt is a safe car, pointing to the vehicle’s excellent crash test ratings. Those buyers who have brought the Volt home have been plenty satisfied with the vehicle as well, with Consumer Reports reporting 93 percent of Volt owners would purchase the vehicle again.

GM may redesign Chevy Volt battery

“Considering all factors (price, reliability, comfort, enjoyment, etc.), would you get this car if you had it to do all over again?”

Perhaps no other question could produce a result as indicative of overall vehicle satisfaction, and so it’s no surprise that’s the query Consumer Reports poses to its subscribers every year, and for 2011, the Chevrolet Volt scored highest of all with 93 percent of respondents indicating they definitely would buy GM’s plug-in hatchback again.

It’s not all lollipops and rainbows with the Volt these days, though, as Consumer Reports points out in the press release pasted after the break. For one thing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not yet opened its investigation into the Volt and other plug-in cars for spontaneous combustion after an accident. Plus, owners of the Volt had only been in possession of the keys to their PHEVs for a few months when the survey was sent out.

Second and third place went to the V8-powered Dodge Challenger and Porsche 911, respectively, each with a rating of 91 percent. Somewhat paradoxically, CR says its readers tend to give higher scores both to cars with fuel-saving powertrain technology and those with high-powered engines, which helps explain the top three finishers.

Audi, Chevrolet, and Ford each had four models earning scores of 80 percent or higher. A total of 27 vehicles scored in that 80th-percentile group. Cars receiving the lowest scores were the Chevrolet Aveo (37 percent), all-wheel-drive Toyota Matrix (43 percent), and Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck (47 percent). Read more in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Chevy Volt tops Consumer Reports latest Owner Satisfaction Survey

Chevy Volt tops Consumer Reports latest Owner Satisfaction Survey

Now more than ever, there’s a good chance a camera is watching you when you’re doing something stupid. Whether it’s dumping your Bugatti Veyron in a Texas marsh or crashing your Chevrolet Corvette during an impromptu street race, you may have to answer the unblinking eye of YouTube the next time things go squirrely behind the wheel.

Police in Montgomery County, Texas have reopened an investigation into a crash involving two Chevrolet Corvette drivers on Thanksgiving day. Officers on the scene originally called the crash an accident but decided to take a second look after a video of the two sports cars racing from light to light surfaced on the web.

As of right now, the clip has garnered more than 2.3 million views since it was uploaded on November 24. While no charges have been filed as of yet, there’s a good chance that these drivers may get slapped with a street racing offense in the coming days. Remember kids, keep it on the track and off the streets. Hit the jump to watch the video again.

Continue reading Turkey Day Corvette crash may result in charges [w/video]

Turkey Day Corvette crash may result in charges [w/video]

Toyota FT86 and Subaru BRZ, Chevrolet Volt fires, Maybach done, Jaguar XF Sportbrake, Cadillac diesel

Episode #258 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris, Dan and Zach this week. Topics include the Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ coupes, the investigation into Chevrolet Volt fires, Mercedes-Benz winding down Maybach, the Jaguar XF Sportbrake, and the possibility of diesel-powered Cadillacs. Your questions and comments power the end of the ‘cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #258:

• Toyota GT-86
• Chevrolet Volt crash test fires
• Maybach dead
• Jaguar XF Sportbrake
• Cadillac diesel coming?

In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5 SEL
2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Coupe

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #258

Autoblog Podcast #258

A lot has happened in the last 56 years… mankind landed on the moon, the Cold War ended and General Motors managed to build 100 million small-block V8 engines.

First launched in 1955 with 265 cubic inches of displacement, the small block V8 has seen duty in nearly every memorable machine produced by Chevrolet in the last five decades. In addition to being the bread-and-butter engine in GM’s bread-and-butter brand, the small block has also been widely seen in the engine bays of various Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models in the States, as well as in Vauxhalls in the UK, Opels in the rest of Europe and Holdens in Australia.

While the current fourth-generation small-black V8 engine from GM doesn’t share much at all in common with its forebears, it’s still a tribute to a solid basic design architecture (4.4-inch bore centers, eight cylinders and overhead valves) that has remained a stalwart in power, affordability and efficiency.

The actual 100,000,000 engine will be a supercharged LS9 V8 that would normally be found in the engine bay of a Chevy Corvette ZR1, but this milestone powerplant will be kept and preserved by GM as part of its historical collection. Fittingly, the LS9, with 638 horsepower, is the most powerful engine ever offered by the automaker in a production vehicle.

In related news, GM has announced that its fifth-generation small block, due in the “near future” (perhaps the C7 Corvette?), will be blessed with a new direct-injection combustion system for enhanced efficiency. Naturally, it will still have 4.4-inch bore centers.

There’s plenty of cool statistical information in the press release and video after the break, so we suggest you check it out for yourself… especially if you belong to the camp that believes pushrods automatically equal antiquated technology.

Continue reading GM marks 100-millionth small-block engine built [w/video]

GM marks 100-millionth small-block engine built [w/video]

If you ask us, this 25 Hottest Products for 2011 list in Advertising Age isn’t exactly packed with automotive excitement. But with Dove soap, Malt-O-Meal, and Goldfish crackers also claiming spots, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that it’s a Chevrolet Cruze, rather than a Camaro headlining the “America’s Hottest Brands” issue.

Besides the Cruze, the venerable sister pub to Automotive News points out the Kia Soul and Jeep Wrangler, seemingly more for their marketing campaigns than anything else. Kia’s hamster ads are legendary, while Jeep’s marketing deal with the Call of Duty video game franchise has proven successful.

The Cruze, on the other hand, is an actual hit for General Motors – topping 200,000 sales through October, and ranking as the company’s top-selling car. While that certainly makes the Cruze worthy of recognition, sales have begun to cool now that its newness is wearing off. While GM’s marketers can give themselves a brief pat on the back for making the list, clearly they still have work to do if they want to land on the 2012 version of the Ad Age list.

Cruze, Soul and Wrangler among America’s 25 Hottest Products for 2011

We’re almost ready to record Episode #258 of the Autoblog Podcast. Check out the topics below and you can join us live via UStream, as well, and we’ve embedded our UStream player after the jump. Thanks for listening!

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #258

• Toyota GT-86
• Chevrolet Volt crash test fires
• Maybach dead
• Jaguar XF Sportbrake
• Cadillac diesel coming?

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #258 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern

Autoblog Podcast #258 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern

We record Episode #258 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #258

• Toyota GT-86
• Chevrolet Volt crash test fires
• Maybach dead
• Jaguar XF Sportbrake
• Cadillac diesel coming?

[UStream] Interact LIVE at UStream – 10PM Eastern on Monday, November 28, 2011
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #258 LIVE

GM may have designed the Chevrolet Volt to cancel out potential “range anxiety,” but the company is responding to a new type of worry today: fear that the Volt’s battery will catch fire.

• The problem? A Volt that had been crash tested in May caught fire three weeks after the crash conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This was revealed in early November.
• The cause? A ruptured coolant line in the battery, which prompted a new safety investigation that was announced this past Friday.
• The solution? GM’s just-announced free vehicle loaner program and more tests.

Here are the preliminary details: Until the “resolution of the issue,” any Volt owner who suffers from fire anxiety can get a free GM vehicle loan. Complete details of this “Volt owner satisfaction program” were not immediately available, but GM North America president Mark Reuss said in a statement that, “A vehicle loan program of this nature is well beyond the norm for a preliminary investigation, and it underlines our commitment to the vehicle and its owners. These steps are the right ones to take regardless of any immediate impact on our operations.”

On the investigation front, GM said it would set up a senior engineering team to “develop changes to eliminate concern of potential post-crash electrical fires and work with industry to ensure appropriate electric vehicle protocols were in place.” As reasonable voices have pointed out recently, the situation that happened at NHTSA has not been replicated in the real world and is unlikely to happen to any Volts out in the wild. In fact, NHTSA’s official statement said that “Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles have not been in a serious crash do not have reason for concern.” Still, Reuss said that, “Our customers’ peace of mind is too important to us for there to be any concern or any worry. This technology should inspire confidence and pride, not raise any concern or doubt. The question is about how to deal with the battery days and weeks after a severe crash, making it a matter of interest not just for the Volt, but for our industry as we continue to advance the pursuit of electric vehicles.”

Continue reading GM will loan free cars to Chevy Volt owners who have “fire anxiety”

GM will loan free cars to Chevy Volt owners who have “fire anxiety”

Two years ago, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by taping the offset frontal crash of a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air into a 2009 Chevy Malibu. The Bel Air did not handle it well. The Speed TV show Stuntbusters, which airs on Tuesdays and “explores motoring myths behind the latest automotive technology,” did the same with two Cadillacs.

The show parked a 1962 Cadillac Sedan de Ville a mile from a 2002 Deville and ran them into each other, head-on, at 50 miles per hour. Enthusiasts are constantly complaining about how big and heavy cars have become, but you do not want to be in a crash while driving a car that predates modern passive safety innovations. For a reminder why, there’s a video after the jump.

Continue reading 1962 Cadillac vs. 2002 Cadillac in head-on collision

1962 Cadillac vs. 2002 Cadillac in head-on collision

General Motors continues to celebrate Chevy’s 100th anniversary with a new tribute video to the company’s long truck lineage. Chevrolet started producing pickups in 1918 with the 490 Light Delivery and hasn’t stopped since. We’re a little disappointed to see that the video glosses over tasty hardware like the 1956 Chevrolet Apache and the ever-attractive 1967 Chevrolet Suburban, but beggars can’t be choosers. The clip does spend some time with the Blazer, including some fantastic vintage footage of the utility bouncing along a dusty trail with its top off.

Unfortunately, the video is served up with the dryness of a middle-school health documentary, so don’t expect too much in terms of entertainment. Fans of the brand and truck geeks will likely find plenty to salivate over, however. Click past the jump to check the video out for yourself.

Continue reading Chevrolet waxes nostalgic about a century of trucks

Chevrolet waxes nostalgic about a century of trucks

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a statement on its investigation into a Chevrolet Volt fire that occurred at the organization’s facilities. NHTSA had done a side-impact test on a Volt then parked it outside, and three weeks later Chevy’s plug-in hybrid caught fire. The battery was determined to be the cause, after its coolant line was ruptured during the side-impact test. That led the NHTSA to consider a ruling forcing hybrid and electric-car batteries to be drained after a wreck.

On Friday, NHTSA said it is opening “a formal safety defect investigation” to study the risks of fire in Chevy Volts that have been in major accidents. To be clear, though, the larger story is that this isn’t just about the Volt, this is about any vehicle with a battery pack, with NHTSA gathering “additional information about the potential for fire in electric vehicles involved in a crash….”

NHTSA conducted three more tests on the Volt’s battery packs over three days, each test involving damaging the pack and rotating the car to simulate an accident and rollover. The battery pack in the third test began to smoke and spark almost immediately, the pack in the second test caught fire a week later. It is due to these results that the formal investigation has been opened. Follow the jump for NHTSA’s complete statement.

Continue reading NHTSA releases Chevy Volt fire investigation details

NHTSA releases Chevy Volt fire investigation details