The Interwebs were recently aflutter with rumors that Lexus had with its . The Japanese automaker has stepped forward to lend credence those rumors… by producing an official video of the record-breaking 7:14.64 run. That figure represents a mighty quick 20.6-kilometer jaunt, besting efforts put forth by a , and even a Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
used an even more limited-edition version of its already limited LFA known as the Nürburgring Edition. Only 50 examples are to be built, which represents 1/10th of total planned LFA production. The differences on this limited, limited-edition car can be found in the added aero bits, track-tuned suspension, custom wheels and an extra 11 horsepower. That extra oomph brings total power up to 563 horses, compared to the “standard” car’s 552.
That power boost is clearly enough to push the LFA around the track more quickly than any production car has gone before. However, the inquisitive minds at set on the ‘Ring. Lexus only built 500 examples of the LFA, and just 50 of those are Nürburgring Edition cars. Should we consider that small production run enough for the car to qualify? If so, why can’t we consider the times produced by a and a as part of the production class? If we do, then the LFA’s time would actually fall to fourth. None of the aforementioned vehicles are mass-market units, but they are sold in the States, if in very limited numbers.
Still, we don’t want to take anything away from Lexus on a truly amazing blast around this famed German circuit. Click to watch the video ride-along for yourself.
Even though ’s light vehicle sales were up seven percent in August of this year versus last, the company is running low on a very popular product: there simply aren’t enough of the to go around. The company’s sales analyst, George Pipas, said it’s because there isn’t enough inventory, with 5,500 Focuses in stock at the end of July.
It’s a good problem to have if that’s the real cause, but it’s still a problem. Focus sales declined more than 12 percent last month, year-on-year, and it was outsold by the by more than 7,000 units. Pipas cited the process and supplier issues at the truck factory that was refitted to build the Focus, but said that inventory levels were expected to return to normal in Q4. Then we’ll find out if the the summer slump after May’s high of 22,303 sales is due to supply.
The Focus is doing Ford well in other ways, though, with Ford’s VP of marketing, sales and service saying that the average age of Focus buyers has dropped by eight years, California customers are leading the pack and they are trading in imports to go domestic.
Five drivers invited to meet President Barack Obama at the White House aren’t going to show, citing “scheduling conflicts.” Nobody’s sure whether “scheduling conflicts” means “political views,” but thanks to stereotypes associated with NASCAR, nobody’s ruling that out.
The president invited 12 drivers from the 2010 Chase to celebrate their successes. The drivers bailing include Greg Biffle, , Kevin Harvick, and Carl Edwards. , Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch (who had initially declined), Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth all plan to attend.
While the absentees may indeed have scheduling conflicts, we’d expect that if that were the case, it’d hold true for the majority of those invited. Also, passing on the chance to meet the sitting U.S. president, regardless of one’s views, seems like an odd move.
Five drivers invited to meet President Barack Obama at the White House aren’t going to show, citing “scheduling conflicts.” Nobody’s sure whether “scheduling conflicts” means “political views,” but thanks to stereotypes associated with NASCAR, nobody’s ruling that out.
The president invited 12 drivers from the 2010 Chase to celebrate their successes. The drivers bailing include Greg Biffle, , Kevin Harvick, and Carl Edwards. , Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch (who had initially declined), Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth all plan to attend.
While the absentees may indeed have scheduling conflicts, we’d expect that if that were the case, it’d hold true for the majority of those invited. Also, passing on the chance to meet the sitting U.S. president, regardless of one’s views, seems like an odd move.
plans to do more with its NASCAR pace car than merely slow the field down. For the next two races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway, a Camaro doused in pink to support breast cancer research will lead the field. As if the hue weren’t enough, when the safety car comes out, Chevrolet will donate $200 per lap to the American Cancer Society.
The tie-in is part of the Bowtie’s lead-up to Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and its November 3 birthday. Not that we’re hoping for any crashes during the next two Sprint Cup rounds, if they happen, at least they’ll be more than just screeching spectacle. Follow the jump for the press release, and check out the pink muscle car in the high-res gallery below.
General Motors execs say production of the will not hit a level capable of satisfying demand until the second-quarter of 2012. Despite dismal , GM insists it’s not a lack of demand that’s holding the Volt back.
While The General continues to blame the Volt’s lack of sales on limited availability – thanks in part to a recent – data compiled by Ward’s Auto shows the supply of Volts now stands at 1,361 units, up from the 226 reported at the end of July. GM says that some 700 to 800 of the 1,361 plug-in hybrids are dealer demonstration units that, at least for now, can’t be sold. If Ward’s numbers are correct, that leaves almost a two-month supply of Volts sitting on dealer lots.
Later this year, the . Don Johnson, GM’s U.S. sales chief, told Ward’s Auto that since dealers must stock a demo Volt before receiving salable units, retail sales of the plug-in sedan won’t increase significantly anytime soon. During a conference call on Friday, Johnson added, “It’s going to take us a month or two to really fill up the retail inventory for those dealers.” It looks like that the will continue its electrifying reign over the Volt for the next couple of months will hold true.
General Motors has been fairly tight-lipped about whether or not we’ll see the next-generation here in the Land Of The Free. Right now, most signs point to “no.” That’s a real shame, too, given that the new mid-sized pickup packs what appears to be an efficient and powerful 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine and some snappy styling. That’s the kind of combination that could make us miss the new global all the less. Regardless of whether or not the new Colorado makes it to our back yard, the truck promises to bring buyers elsewhere in the world the capability they want in a convenient package.
A keen-eyed member of Asian forum t has managed to snap a few quick shots of what appears to be a production version of the pickup. The vehicle has lost the integrated rear bumper of the concept as well as its large 20-inch wheels, but remains fairly true to the original design otherwise. for more photos.
General Motors is set to give its “Chevy Runs Deep” ad campaign some tweaking a little less than a year after the slogan was adopted. According to Bloomberg, GM has found that while the campaign has helped steady sales, it hasn’t exactly pushed potential buyers into the driver’s seat. adopted the slogan shortly after GM Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick joined the company last September, though the campaign’s slow momentum has spurred the company to re-evaluate its creative strategy.
Bloomberg reports that GM is set to continue to air the “Chevy Runs Deep” ads that have performed the best with consumers throughout the fall. The slogan was originally intended to underscore the lengthy heritage behind the Chevrolet brand in America, but some of the spots failed to make the connection.
Cadillac is also set to receive similar advertising attention. Advertising will focus more on specific product attributes than blanket statements in the near future.
There’s some good news and some not-so-good news when dissecting sales figures for August of 2011. For one, posted notable gains for all of its brands, especially , which managed to score an impressive 58-percent sales rise over the same period a year ago.
also impressed with its figures, with Cadillac’s four-percent gain the only one of its brands not to post a double-digit rise.
Of the Japanese brands, only , with a 19-percent overall gain in sales, was able to adequately recover from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that have been plaguing all automakers for the past several months. That said, both and managed to post smaller losses than what were recorded a month ago.
Further, the (30,185 total sales) was again the best-selling automobile (behind the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks, naturally) in August, as it was in July, after briefly to the in June. Have a gander at the complete set of August sales results in our handy-dandy chart below.
*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in August 2011 versus 25 selling days in August 2010, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than 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.
What We Like: GM is showing viewers how its trucks should be used with regards to recreational pursuits. Hunting and fishing are activities that suit the full-size Silverado and Tahoe, and the soft-spoken ads help create the feeling that you’re there with the guys and gals who enjoy these sports. The other team member on these excursions? Your Chevy truck.
We also enjoy the fact that these ads aren’t working too hard to get in your face or cram a message down your throat. Hunting and fishing are generally relaxing activities spent in quiet environments, and tone of the spots mirrors that perfectly. We can almost feel the damp morning air, and hear nature waking up around us as we prepare for the day.
What We Don’t Like: Your author isn’t much of a hunter, but that won’t temper our opinion here. In fact, we’re having trouble finding anything wrong with the spots besides the fact that the duck hunters place their decoys right next to a boat ramp.
Strategy: GM is going after a segment of the country that loves trucks and full-size SUVs. These ads air on The Outdoor Channel during a block of shows called Silverado Sundays. Occasionally, the spots will also show up during other outdoor shows. The commercials show Chevrolet trucks being used in a manner that the viewer can relate to, and it’s being done in a simple manner that manages to convey a subtly powerful message.
Grade: A
Watch the videos and give it your own grade below.
2012 Toyota Camry, Frankfurt Motor Show, Russia to Alaska tunnel, Bentley SUV and hybrid
Episode #245 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. This week, Chris, Dan, and Zach are joined by Drew Phillips, just back from Monterey. Topics we cover include the 2012 Toyota Camry, concepts we’ll see at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, the tunnel from Russia to Alaska and Bentley hybrids and SUVs. Your questions and comments power the last third of the podcast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our , thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #244:
Frankfurt concepts
In the Autoblog Garage 2011 Ford Fiesta SES Hatchback
2011 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ
Long-Term 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Hosts: , , , Runtime: 01:14:27
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We’ve given a fair amount of flack for the – and justifiably so. All the things we held dear in previous generations – high-end materials, solid driving dynamics and that general sense of premium the Germans do so well – were all nixed in the name of market share.
But as we suspected, it’s working. Jetta sales in the U.S. are up 74 percent over last year as consumers view the redesigned, cut-priced sedan as an upmarket contender to the , and . And honestly, more power to them.
What we’ve really been waiting for is this, the 2012 Jetta GLI. Packing VW’s ubiquitous turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a six-speed manual or optional DSG and an independent rear suspension, the GLI is here to assuage enthusiasts’ fears that VW has lost the plot in its relentless pursuit of global market dominance. Just as hasn’t given up on sports cars as it expands into un-Porsche-like segments, neither has VW in its efforts to appeal to more people. But unlike Ferdinand’s second child, we still have the nagging sense that Volkswagen is leaving something on the table – despite the GLI’s potential on paper.
Whenever cottage industry supercars come up, Lee Noble’s name at least gets a mention. Noble is the man behind the unbelievable Noble M12 and M400; part supercars, part kit cars that Noble designed, built and marketed from a garage in England.
Now, Noble has teamed up with Polish firm Arrinera to bring its supercar to life. Featuring acres of carbon fiber and a ZR1-sourced mill, the car is should hit 60 in just 3.2 seconds, and can reportedly do the 0-124-0 sprint in 14.3 seconds. That’s fast by anyone’s measure.
No word on what kind of pricing you can expect yet, but the car should be available as a 2013 model. Though Lee Noble only owns five percent of the company, his expertise in getting boutique rockets to market certainly can’t hurt Arrinera’s chances.
Get ready for some head scratching, movie fans. decided to mark the brand’s 100th anniversary with a custom called the Cruzer. The four-door was worked up as a tribute to the Bluesmobile from The Blues Brothers and was unveiled at a special party at the Ace Café just outside of London. The company even hired a pair of blues artists called the Cruze Brothers to be on hand to entertain the crowd. The whole shindig sounds like plenty of good fun… except we don’t know what the Cruze or Chevrolet has to do with the comedy classic.
The original Bluesmobile was crafted from a retired Monaco police cruiser, complete with all of the upgraded hardware necessary to leap drawbridges and outwit scores of frustrated law enforcement, while the Bluesbrothers 2000 remake featured a Ford LTD. Unless General Motors is planning to farm the Cruze into police service, we fail to see the connection.
Chevrolet, meanwhile, says that the move was simply designed to celebrate an icon of American culture alongside the brand’s birthday. Any excuse for a party… to check out the press blast.
Allow us a moment to revisit a … Sonic, boom! Our Guile moment is inspired by , which has released video of the compact undergoing crash testing. The diminutive hatchback is loaded up with a healthy heaping of safety technology that ranges from a plethora of sensors to high-strength steel.
The body of the Sonic utilizes the heavy-duty steel in the frame rails, around the door openings and roof supports. In fact, high-strength steel is used throughout 60 percent of the body structure. Couple that with ten airbags, and the interior of the Sonic is a relatively safe place to be in the event of an accident. All of those airbags are controlled by a system of sensors that also monitor the angle of travel, speed and points of impact.
to see how the Sonic handles an offset frontal impact at 40 miles per hour. Note that the videos look small, but there’s an option to view them in full screen. Enjoy!
General Motors has quietly rolled out a mild refresh for the . Buyers who lay down the cash for the new pickup will enjoy a slightly reworked nose complete with a chrome mesh grille with a chrome surround on LS and LT trims, and two-wheel drive trucks will feature an aerodynamic front bumper without tow hooks. LTZ trim level pickups will boast a body-color surround, and 20-inch wheels are now available, as well. For 2012, every Silverado with the exception of the Hybrid will come standard with trailer sway control and hill-start assist for a little more functionality and safety.
GM is also throwing in a new optional hard-drive based navigation radio with updated graphics. We’ll be interested to see how that new tech stacks up against the somewhat dated system in the 2011 model, though the new optional WiFi system will go a long way with those who use their truck as a mobile office. Unfortunately, it looks like the Silverado will continue on with its long-in-the-tooth interior for at least another year, though GM is offering a White Diamond equipment package on LT and LTZ trim trucks to class up the exterior.
The package includes tri-coat exterior paint, a smattering of chrome all over the exterior as well as Z60 high-performance suspension bits on LTZ trims. Those big 20-inch rollers are also part of the party. for the full press release.
Silverado gets slight redesign, WiFi and White Diamond Edition
Not everyone has the stuff it takes to be a firefighter. Take the gent you see holding the hose in the image above: as point-man on the water jet, he strides up to the burning to put out the fire. While performing what appears to be a routine hose-down right next to the sedan, something inside the car explodes with enough force to jolt the cameraman in the nearby apartment.
What’s the fireman do? You can see for yourself in the vid , but it looks a lot like a shrug of the shoulders and getting on with business. Masked firefighter, we salute you.
Even in the vehicle-hungry Chinese automobile market, there are winners and losers. has seen its passenger vehicle sales fall to just under 91,000 units for the first seven months of 2011. That’s a two-percent drop versus 2010, and the company is making several moves to reverse that trend. Forty-five billion Yuan will be poured into research and development over the next four years, and the sales figure are also likely to get a shot in the arm from the July showroom debut of the , the first SUV for SAIC.
On the heels of the new W5 SUV, and joining other SAIC models like the Roewe sedans and several MG models will be a new midsize sedan that’s based on the . Codenamed BP31, the new Roewe sedan will be yet another model to employ the widely-used General Motors Epsilon architecture. General Motors already works with SAIC building , and vehicles, as well as vans. It’s not going to stop with this sedan, either; there will be a total of nine new or redesigned vehicles rolling out between now and 2015.
Back in July, thought it would have enough demand for new full-size and heavy-dutypickup trucks to add a Saturday overtime shift at the Flint, MI truck plant. A contingent of 700 extra workers were brought on for the extra shift, which GM predicted would last for at least five weeks when it announced the move back in July. It began on August 7th, and now it’s over.
On Wednesday, August 24th, the extra shift at the truck plant was cancelled to avoid unsold trucks piling up in storage lots. A weak economic recovery and swings in fuel prices kept the damper on the anticipated sales. Businesses and truck-dependent individuals may want and need new trucks, but economic uncertainty has kept them skittish.
Even with these moves, there’s more than the 60 day supply of vehicles that’s recommended just hanging around. With the recent accolades earned by the new and , which just started rolling out the door at Flint on Monday, August 22nd, General Motors is understandably proud of its product, and we’d bet it would be even prouder if it could connect more of these trucks with buyers.
Quick: What’s the world’s most practical supercar? We’re sure some and fanatics would answer otherwise, but we’re going to go with the , in one of its many fantastic iterations. Narrowing it down a little further, we’ll go with the , which offers at least vestigial rear seats, all-wheel drive and several hundred horsepower, all lined in a sumptuously luxurious leather-clad cabin.
Plus, as demonstrated in the video after the break, the 911 Turbo can also pull part-time duty as a small pickup truck. Don’t believe us? .
There’s some good news and some not-so-good news when dissecting sales figures for August of 2011. For one, posted notable gains for all of its brands, especially , which managed to score an impressive 58-percent sales rise over the same period a year ago.
