It may be aging and unrefined, but a week with the 300C SRT8 reveals that if you’re in the market for a Challenger but want four doors, this behemoth fits the bill.
While Nissan is going head-long into the EV world, its crosstown rivals at Honda are far more skeptical about the long-term viability of electric vehicles.
Pebble Beach will once again play host to new product from Infiniti, and this year’s auto extravaganza includes two new production models set to go on sale this fall.
Also of interest:
website reveals U.S. pricing for 2011 Cayenne, MSRP starts at $46,700
Infiniti M Coupe Sketches – Click above for high-res image
For the past two years, has been growing its presence in Pebble Beach. The week-long auto extravaganza in August plays host to a number of automaker events, but recently, Infiniti has been taking center stage. For 2010, Nissan’s premium channel isn’t letting up, bringing two M-based models to the party in Pebble, both of which are slated for production.
We don’t have specifics on either model, but in addition to the image above, our sources within Infiniti tell us that the new coupe variants will be extensions of its current lineup, lending credence .
More interestingly, we’ve been told that both models will “extend Infiniti into an area we haven’t been before” and that one of those models will be more “performance oriented.” If that means we can expect some kind of powertrain similar to the that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last year – a twin-turbo, direct injected V6 putting out over 450 horsepower – consider our interest incredibly piqued.
Both models are set to go on sale in October or November of this year, with the arriving sometime toward the end of 2011.
We know firsthand that both the 2011 and aren’t just plenty quick – they’re downright scary fast compared to their predecessors. It should follow, that the king of the heap should be similarly faster than the 2010 model. Let’s just go ahead and call that one an understatement. Ford just dropped a tasty video on the interwebs showing the car lapping one of our favorite tracks – Virginia International Speedway.
Ford’s engineers had it in their minds that the new with its 120-pound weight savings should help the car click off the 4.1-mile Grand West portion of the track about three seconds quicker than the outgoing car. Thing is, the 2011 GT500 managed to lap the track in 2:58.5 – a full nine seconds faster than last year’s version.
Progress is most definitely a good thing. to see the car do the dance.
Gallery:
Gallery:
[Source: Ford]
GT500 spanks last year’s model by nine seconds at VIR
Audi S7 spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery
Even though we won’t see the production version of the standard Audi A7 until this year’s Paris Motor Show, the men and women in Ingolstadt are already prepping a hotted-up version of the swoopy four-door coupe (we still aren’t used to typing that), as seen here in this latest set of spy shots. Rumors have stated that a might debut alongside the A7 in Paris, complete with a 580-horsepower V10, and it would certainly be show-stopping if Audi could pull off having all three variants of the A7 range on hand.
As for the car spied here, we spot larger air intakes, a more robust wheel/tire package, bigger brakes and quad exhaust pipes, seemingly proving that this A7 will definitely arrive wearing an S badge. However, the camouflaged beast isn’t as muscular as Audi’s RS models, which leads us to believe that the mid-range S7 is what’s under all of the swirly paper. As for what’s housed beneath the hood, your guess is as good as ours, but something along the lines of Audi’s new supercharged 3.0-liter V6 or the free-breathing 4.2-liter V8 could be in order. Scroll through the gallery below to see the S7 prototype from all angles.
2011Chevrolet Silverado HD – Click above for high-res image gallery
has just announced the hauling capacities for the 2011 HD and GMC Sierra HD pickups. The new trucks can now pull up to 21,700 pounds in fifth-wheel configuration and lug around 6,635 pounds worth of payload, thereby making them the new best-in class champions. The traditional tow rating sits at 17,000 pounds. What did GM change to give the trucks their new credentials? The company says that it extensively tested the trucks’ systems, including the engine, transmission and brakes at the new gross combined vehicle weight and found that the thing could handle the abuse.
Both the Silverado HD and the Sierra HD now come with tougher bed rails, though. GM specified a new high-strength steel that can take more of a beating compared to last year’s pieces. The new tow ratings best the next closest competitor, the 2011 , by 1,000 pounds on the conventional towing front and a more modest 100 pounds under fifth-wheel conditions.
How did we ever live in a world where pickup trucks couldn’t tow three coupes and a gooseneck car trailer? for the press release.
With its upgraded V6, the 2011 Ford Mustang could easily be considered a sports car. So we pit it against the 370Z and Genesis Coupe to see which coupe reigns supreme.
This past weekend’s 24-hour race at the Nurburgring provided plenty of thrills and chills, with one unlikely team taking the top spot from Audi and Porsche.
Hidden beneath that psychedelic camouflage is the 2011 LRX, and to our surprise and delight, the three-door ‘ute from Land Rover looks exactly like its conceptual predecessor.
Also of interest:
CEO demands 10-percent stake in company and a Roadster in divorce
: Alfa Romeo testing GTA versions of 8C, MiTo for centenary launch
Say what you will about Alfa Romeo’s latest 8C-derived styling direction, but we’re going to miss the angular beauty of the current Brera and its drop-top Spider sibling. But before the achingly gorgeous two-doors sail off into the sunset – never having made it to American shores – Alfa has released an updated version.
The beneficiary of the latest from Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the Brera and Spider have now been made available with the 1750 TBi and 2.0 JTDM engines. The former is a turbocharged, direct-injection gas-burning four with 1742 cubic centimeters of displacement, 197 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque and propelling the Brera and Spider to 62 mph in 7.7 and 7.8 seconds, respectively, and a 146 mph top end. The latter is a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with 168 horses and 265 lb-ft of torque, capable of 8.8- and 9-second sprints to 62 for the coupe and convertible en route to a 135 mph terminal velocity.
In addition to the new engines, which you can read more about in the press release after the jump, Alfa is also making the Italia Indepenent trim level – previously a – available across the range, with matte titanium paint, 18-inch black alloys hiding red brake calipers and special interior trim. Have a closer look in the gallery below to see what we’re missing on the Atlantic’s Western shores.
These kind of conversations go on all the time. An automaker will consider variations on the theme of a particular model, and the rabid media will occasionally pick up a snippet of that chatter and blow it way out of proportion. We can’t say whether rumors of a two-door M coupe are reality or just spitballing, though many would argue that such a model is a necessity for success.
A two-door M could be offered in both V6 M37 form, and with a V8 as the M56. InsideLine has a rendering that shows a pretty spiffy premium coupe with a unique roof pillar treatment. It’s a nice rendering, but we can posit that the production version won’t be wearing a piece of C-pillar finery to make a ‘61 Valiant jealous.
V6 Sports Car Comparison – Click above for high-res image gallery
This comparison test couldn’t have happened just a few short months ago. Sure, the has been around since 2008. And not counting a seven-year walkabout, the has been with us in one form or another since the first moon landing. Want to talk old? The dates back to the invention of the wheel. At least it seems that way.
So why no comparison until now? Because until quite recently, Ford’s entry level V6-powered Mustang was never really a sports car. The heavy, near impotent Cologne iron-block V6 was a joke, fit for little more than rental car duty, and it wasn’t even terribly adept at that. But the non-V8 pony car has undergone some significant changes for 2011 – the biggest being its all-aluminum V6 producing 305 horsepower and 280 pound feet of torque – allowing it to finally hang with these two V6-powered competitors from across the Pacific.
At least on paper.
to find out which V6-powered sports car reigns supreme. If you can’t wait, skip right to .
Gallery:
Photos by / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
V6 takes on Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 and Nissan 370Z
Historics auction at Brooklands – Click above for high-res image gallery
Between the likes of RM, Barrett-Jackson and Bonhams, there’s no shortage of auction houses for owners and buyers of classic cars to turn to for their next sale or purchase. Now we can count another among them.
Historics is a new British auction house dealing strictly with, you guessed it, classic cars, securing the exclusive rights to run its operation and events at Brooklands, the historic home of British motor racing. The upstart’s first auction is set to take place on June 2 at the Brooklands Museum, featuring some £2.5 million ($3.7m) in consignments.
Among the classics crossing the block at the upcoming event will be a million-dollar 1930 4.5-liter Vanden Plas Tourer, a rare DB2/4 Drophead Coupe and a flawless ‘68 Cooper S. 65 vehicles in all – from Camaros to Rolls-Royces – will be part of the docket early next month, but in the meantime you can check out the images in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.
Audi RS5 Shooting Brake – Click above for high-res image gallery
We just spent the last few days bouncing around Germany and the (review next week), and between bouts on the autobahn and a few factory tours, we pestered our hosts about some of their Euro-only products and what we can expect in the future.
We dropped a few not-so-subtle hints in an attempt to score some seat time in the RS6 (denied) and the (achieved, and yes, it’s awesome), but the was something we were aching to drive. Unfortunately, we were short on time and didn’t get a crack at the 450-hp coupe, but on more than one occasion we mentioned that a shooting brake version would be the bee’s knees. As you’d expect, that’s probably not gonna happen, but the rendering wizard has answered our prayers in digital form.
Chin, who mocked up the three-door for a Photoshop contest, took some inspiration from past Audi coupes – including the GT – to create a two-door fastback version of the RS5 that’s loaded with win. The sloping roofline matches perfectly to the RS5’s widened haunches, and while the roof rails wouldn’t have been our first choice, we dig how they tie into the brushed aluminum front splitter, rear diffuser, side mirrors and five-spoke wheels. Too bad it probably won’t happen, but there’s a good chance those of us in the States will get a crack at the standard two-door RS5 in 2012.
In 1964 a special effects designer used an DB4 as a practice prop for the real DB4 used in the movie Goldfinger. In 1974 he put it in a garage, where it sat until recently. Now it’s being put up for sale at , held at Newport Pagnell and run by Bonhams.
The pre-sale estimate for the red coupe is £50,000 ($74,640 U.S.). That number is boosted by what is seen to be a recent trend: investors placing their money in hard assets, as opposed to currency, until the markets regain some stability. Last year’s take of £3 million ($4.36M U.S.) is expected to jump to around £5 ($7.27M million) for the , including a 1950 DB2 Team Car and a 1976 V8 Coupe. Hat tip to Alex!
[Source: ]
from Goldfinger reportedly found in UK barn, set for auction
executives have been talking openly about adding a front-wheel drive model to the range and the first example are due to arrive in 2013. A new model to slot in below the is expected to share its platform with the next generation , while the 1 series is expected to continue with rear-wheel drive and be available in both the current hatchback and coupe body styles.
Autocar reports the new FWD model will also be badged as a 1 series, giving customers multiple options to choose from. Similar to how and share platforms at different price points, BMW is expected to pitch its car as more premium than the Mini.
What is unknown at this time is whether the new entry BMW/Mini will also share its platform with BMW’s upcoming electric Megacity vehicle.
The is expected to carry some serious track cred. The extremely limited edition packs 450 horsepower from a 4.4-liter V8 engine, while weight is cut by 419 lbs compared to a typical . Sounds like a dream come true. But if you planned on picking up one of the 90 M3 GTS models costing 115,000 Euro ($145,000 in U.S. funds), you’re too late. The most capable E92 M3 is already sold out, but you can at least hit the jump to see video of a bright orange GTS as its takes on the famed Nürburgring.
In the BMW-produced video, M3 test engineer Günter Sillinger takes the GTS for a spin around the ‘Ring, then tells us just how great the high-strung coupe handles. Sillinger may be biased, but since we may never get behind the wheel of one of the select GTS coupes, we’ll have to take his word for it when he says, “It’s the most uncompromising, fastest and thrilling M3 ever.” to watch the 2:19 video for yourself.
Imagine this: You’re in a public restroom, tidying up in front of the mirror, and you notice a message (written in red lipstick, of course) that says, “I’ll make your heart pound,” or, “My body is absolutely stunning.” You’d want to learn more, right? of Canada is hoping that men between the ages of 25 and 45 will agree, as the automaker will be launching a new ad campaign for the using AddMirror technology that will display these risqué messages in public restroom mirrors across the country.
So, how does it work? As a patron approaches the mirror, motion detectors sense the person’s movement and displays a sequence of messages urging readers to send text messages for photos of the subject leaving the flirtatious notes. When BMW receives the text, a link is sent back, leading readers to a landing page with downloadable beauty shots of the 3 Series Coupe, under the headline, “We were made for each other.” Ooh la la!
The marketing campaign runs until May 16th in different venues throughout Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. For the full listing, BMW’s press release is available after the jump, as is a video that shows the AddMirror technology at work.
Not long after announced that it would be building the car that ultimately became the , rumors of a revival of the 928 began. Porsche’s last front-engine GT went out of production in 1995, and it certainly would certainly make sense to reuse the new front-engine car platform for a coupe. If the car, which could be called the Panamera GT, does come to fruition, it will likely go on a shorter wheelbase and perhaps be lighter than the four door.
Hopefully, if the coupe is built Porsche’s designers will decide that it’s no longer necessary to accommodate six-foot-three-inch former CEO Wendelin Weideking in the back seat. That would allow for a far more graceful roof-line than the humpbacked Panamera. Now would be the time to start crossing all those fingers and toes.
2010 Audi A5 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The all-new and won’t be the only vehicles in line-up to benefit from the automaker’s new eight-speed gearbox. According to dealer order guides released for the 2011 model year, the octo-cog-swapper is set to proliferate throughout the Audi line-up in the next year, with the automaker aiming for around 70% of it U.S. sales volume to come equipped with the new gearbox.
For the 2011 model year, the 2.0 TFSI quattro sedan and will come packing the eight-speed tranny, along with the 2.0 TFSI quattro coupe and cabriolet (the manual six-speed will only be available on the coupe). In addition, the revised Q7, with its new high- and low-output 3.0-liter supercharged V6s (cribbed from the and ), will replace the 3.6-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 for the 2011 model year. Both engines, along with the new 3.0-liter TDI, will come equipped with the eight-speed auto.
Finally, Audi quietly revealed the 2.0 TFSI inline-four-equipped Q5 at the New York Auto Show, and part of the new package will also include the eight-speed ‘box.
Sales of the eight-speed automatic-equipped models will begin this fall, each delivering improved fuel economy, quicker downshifts and, thanks to its compact packaging, no additional weight gain over the standard six-speed tiptronic.
The genesis of the BMW Gran Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
We didn’t get a production version of the , but it looks like things are going to go a little less disappointingly with the recently unveiled . Elements from the rakish four-door are will first appear on the 6 Series coupe and convertible, and the Gran Coupé’s cues are expected to “turn up all over the range in the next few years.”
BMW Blog has a behind the creation of the Gran Coupé, which looks to have been designed by Nader Faghihzadeh, the man behind the new 7 Series interior. You can have a look at some of the Making Of in the gallery of photos below, or follow the link for more while we wait for it to appear at the Paris Motor Show this fall. But BMW, even if you don’t make it, can we at least talk about Transporter 4 or a new round of BMW Films with this?
Mercedes-Benz B-Class – Click above for high-res image gallery
Almost since the day that introduced the A-Class and then B-Blass models over a decade ago, the company has been hemming and hawing about whether to offer the cars in the U.S. market. A combination of factors, including unfavorable exchange rates and limited American demand for hatchbacks, conspired to keep both models out of this market – although they have been available in Canada.
With a new generation B-Blass set to debut in 2011, Mercedes-Benz has been taking another look at offering the car here and has been holding consumer clinics to determine whether to sell the car and with what body style. A crossover, sedan and a sporty coupe are being shown, but the hatchback apparently is not. If a B-Class variant does arrive we probably won’t see it until at least 2012.
