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Ambient interior lighting – a feature once reserved for the top-dollar models in many automakers’ ranges – is now becoming standard kit on a host of new vehicles. Ford, for example, offers ambient lighting on nearly its entire range of products, as do higher-end manufacturers like Audi and BMW. We’ve always found this to be a cool feature, if only as a nifty party trick to show your friends, but new studies show that ambient lighting actually enhances the perceived quality of interior materials and even makes drivers feel safer.

In a study conducted by the Lighting Research and Technology journal, drivers were put in a car simulator and were asked to give feedback on their overall spacial perception within the car. Researchers found that each driver’s visual senses were improved with the use of interior light – drivers said that the design and finish appeared more attractive, controls were easier to use and that overall, they felt safer. Interestingly, increasing the brightness of the ambient lighting had a negative effect on the test group – instances of distracting glare were reported.

It’s no secret that ambient lighting can improve the overall attractiveness of a vehicle’s interior, but with the added benefits of improved spacial sense and a subconscious feeling of heightened safety, it’s no wonder that more and more new cars are being fitted with extra LEDs inside the cabin. And to think, Meatloaf had it right all this time.

[Sources: Wired, YouTube]

Study: Ambient interior lighting makes drivers feel safer

It’s entirely possible. The crowd at the Mopar Nationals last weekend noticed something odd about the T-shirts handed out for the event. Parked among the usual suspects of Plymouth/Chrysler/Dodge lore sat a car that few folk recognized. It just might be the next-generation Dodge Charger. The internets have been aflame for awhile with word that the company’s big four-door would get a version of the rear light bar seen on the Challenger, and if the drawing on the shirt is any indication, it looks like those rumors might be true.

We’re not exactly sure who was behind penning the design for the T-shirt, but it seems unlikely that the gurus at Dodge would be so absent minded as to feed the Mopar hungry crowd at the Nationals a snippet of future product design. Even if the car in on the shirt is a figment of someone’s imagination, it looks plenty sharp to us – and that’s parked next to a Superbird. Thanks for the tip, FuzzyFish!

[Source: Allpar]

2011 Dodge Charger’s rump revealed on a t-shirt?

Heads up, pony fans; Ford has just released the details on its new graphic program for the 2011 Mustang. Just like with the pint-sized Fiesta, the company will let you slather the muscle car in any number of graphics packages to suit your tastes. The designs vary from tasteful stripes and accents to some cringetastic pieces like the “clear hood” 5.0 shown above and various tribal decals. Jersey Shore, here we come.

Ford has priced the most of the vinyl packages at $299, though prices vary depending on how complicated the design is and how much vinyl is used in the process. Near as we can tell, the priciest of the lot are the reverse stripes that cover the majority of the top of the car in the sticky stuf. That package will set you back close to $1,000.

You can even pick from a number of colors to suit your vehicle, including a carbon-fiber look material. Please, for the love of the ponies, stay away from that one. You can play around with the configurator yourself at the Ford site. Word has it that the next vehicle to get the vinyl treatment will be the Taurus starting next month. Stay tuned.

[Source: Ford]

Ford now offering custom graphics for Mustang, Taurus is next

After a bevy of leaked product images and spy shots, official confirmation of an updated 2011 Jeep Wrangler can hardly be considered a surprise, but it’s still a welcome development. For its next model year, the venerable four-wheeler will receive a comprehensive (and much needed) interior update, along with a body-color removable hardtop available on the Sahara trim.

The new Wrangler, which has just gone into production this week at Chrysler’s Toledo Assembly Complex, gets a new steering wheel, instrument panel, reworked center stack, and even larger rear windows. Other changes include a lockable console, gooshier armrests and upgraded materials all around.

On the creature-feature front, there’s a new USB interface for keeping those top-down tunes flowing, as well as Bluetooth streaming audio. You’ll be able to hear your music of choice even better in the 2011 model, too, as the company has splashed out for a new ‘acoustical treatment’ designed to cut the Jeep’s (in)famous cabin din. Of course, if you’re buying a Wrangler, you’re probably not looking for the ultimate in refinement, but at first blush, these measured updates strike a nice balance with us.

Finally, a brace of new paint colors make the scene for the new model year, including Bright White, Cosmos Blue, Deep Cherry Red, Detonator Yellow, and Sahara Tan.

Check out the revised Wrangler in our high-res gallery below and see the rest of the story in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Jeep]

Continue reading Officially Official: Updated 2011 Jeep Wrangler now in production

Officially Official: Updated 2011 Jeep Wrangler now in production

Lotus is considering offering up its latest sports car platforms to other automakers, and this isn’t the first time. When the Elise debuted in the mid-90s, Lotus sold the chassis to form the basis of new lightweight coupes with different powertrains, the most notable of which included the Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220 and, of course, the Tesla Roadster.

According to recent reports, Lotus has received inquiries from several automakers about using the new Evora in similar ways. While the Evora is all-new, the chassis is built using similar, Elise-like aluminum extrusions riveted and bonded together for a light, strong structure. Since the Evora has been designed around a V6, automakers have the potential to fit a range of larger, more powerful engines. The upsized chassis could also provide a better platform for electric motors, with far less modifications than those required to turn an Elise into a Tesla. However, if any automaker does develop something off the Evora, it’s likely to be a few years away.

Us? We’re thinking about a 3.5-liter Ecoboost-powered, mid-engine mini-Ford GT. How about you?

Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autocar]

Lotus willing to build Evora-based sportscars for other automakers?

One of the things we like most about Jay Leno, aside from being a hugely knowledgeable car guy, of course, is his access. Who else would Porsche pick for some private time in a hangar with its forthcoming hybrid supercar, the 918 Spyder, during last week’s festivities in Pebble Beach? Certainly not us. We waited by the phone, but sadly Porsche never rang.

Jay did get the call, however, and in addition to being allowed to place his all-denim outfit within inches of the 918 Spyder, he also got face time with Michael Mauer, Head of Design for Porsche. Jay didn’t have total access, however, as Mauer shot down his request to open the hood and view the car’s high-tech secret powertrain. Ah, well.

Follow the jump to hang with Leno as he learns more about the 918 Spyder straight from the designer’s mouth.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/AOL

[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder

Video: Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder

Review: 2011 Jaguar XJL

In a world where luxury is measured by the ton, the all-new Jaguar XJL stands apart.

Reader Spy: Are you the next Dodge Charger SRT8?

The new Dodge Charger is set to arrive this fall, and one of our readers caught what could be the SRT8 version out and about, complete with a massive rear wing.

General Motors files for IPO

GM has officially filed for its Initial Public Offering. But are you ready to invest?

Also of interest:

• Kia adding fizz to Paris Motor Show with Pop Concept
• Wrecked Ferrari Enzo reborn as Bonneville Salt Flats racer?
• Jaguar unleashes XJ Sentinel for all your armored needs
• Redesigned Bentley Continental GT teased in video
• Suzuki Kizashi topples 200 mph at Bonneville for new Land Speed Record

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 8.18.10

After a slew of special editions and the recent spate of spy shots, the new Bentley Continental GT is finally getting ready for its big reveal at the Paris Motor Show, and the flying B has set up a microsite with a brief teaser video to whet our appetites for the big day.

As seen previously, the exterior revisions appear to be limited to a revised front fascia with a more aggressive air damn and a set of Mulsanne-inspired LED headlamps, partnered with a more sloping rear window and reworked taillights out back.

One feature sure to get attention is the navigation and infotainment system – a constant thorn in many buyer’s sides – and a subtle redesign of the GT’s interior. We don’t have intel on powertrain upgrades yet, but expect a few more ponies to be pulled out of the twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine and a overhauled gearbox to be part of the package. Full details should be revealed in the run-up to the show this September, but until then, check the video after the jump and the gallery of screen caps below.

Continue reading Redesigned Bentley Continental GT teased in video

Redesigned Bentley Continental GT teased in video

Lightweight Luxury with Style

There’s a sect of motoring nihilists out there who would have us all believe there isn’t a single thing in the automotive universe that hasn’t been done before. It’s the “Simpsons did it” meme on methamphetamines, though instead of a yellow animated family, our cast is populated by the likes of Plymouth, Cord, Studebaker, Hudson and any number of other equally innovative yet forgotten brands. Think adaptive headlights are a trick piece of tech? Think again – Willys-Knight employed a third directional headlight as early as 1928 on its 70A, and Citroën made use of similar methodology on cars like the DS and SM way back when.

Few segments seem to have accepted this grim reality quite like the luxury sedan world. Automakers that once strove to create unique products now seem to be operating from the same design template. Line up the profiles of the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the vast majority of the car-buying public would have no idea which car was which. Each vehicle is attractive in its own right, but we wouldn’t accuse any of them possessing the same kind of gravitas as, say, a ‘38 Mercedes-Benz 770.

Which is one of the big reasons we’re smitten with the 2011 Jaguar XJL. Whereas the only way you’re going to stop traffic with a 7 Series is to put the drivers around you to sleep, the newest interpretation of the stately Jaguar flagship is the kind of beauty that sends jaws clattering across the concrete.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Jaguar XJL

Review: 2011 Jaguar XJL

It’s no secret that Chrysler is unleashing redesigned versions of the 300 and Dodge Charger sedans this Fall and we’ve seen numerous images of them prowling the streets of suburban Detroit in recent months. Now another of Autoblog’s eagle-eyed readers, Marty M., has dropped us a note to let us know that he had captured what appears to be the new SRT8 version of the Charger.

We’re assuming this is the high-output Charger based on the size of the wheels and rear deck appendage, along with the depth of the front air dam. The freshly contoured flanks are visible under the camo, but we can’t quite tell if there is a new piece of glass at the trailing edge of the rear doors. The new SRT8 engine is expected to grow from the current 6.1-liters to 6.4-liters with at least 450 horsepower, and shooter Marty tells us it sounds very much how a big V8 ought to. It isn’t known if the high-performance SRT version of the next Charger will debut alongside its lesser linemates for model year 2011, or if it will hang out until it can earn a 2012 designation. Either way, it’s time to get excited.

Reader Spy: Are you the next Dodge Charger SRT8?

When the Paris Motor Show opens up next month, Kia will roll out a new battery powered commuter concept.

Thus far, Kia has only released a few details about its door-stop-shaped Pop Concept, including its sub-10-foot length and its three-seat layout. Interestingly, Kia has gone with a bench with the driver on the left rather than a central driver layout like the Gordon Murray-designed T.25. For a tiny car like this, it would seem like putting the driver in the middle would be more space efficient, allowing the driver to be shifted forward between the front wheels for better legroom. Perhaps Kia is going for a more traditional motoring experience, however, or they may have some other spacial tricks up their sleeves.

Either way, it’s too early to tell if the Pop EV concept is a precursor of Kia’s future styling, but this is certainly a different look. Check out the images in our high-res gallery below and visit the jump for the Korean automaker’s official press release.

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Kia adding fizz to Paris Motor Show with Pop Concept

Kia adding fizz to Paris Motor Show with Pop Concept

The automotive history books may remember Jensen for the FF – the first all-wheel drive car on the market – but it was the rear-drive Interceptor on which it was based that won its fan base. With only 6,400 examples made over the course of its 10-year production run, the Interceptor remains a highly coveted automobile among the faithful, who saw the Carrozzeria Touring-designed GT as the epitome of the British sportscar.

Naturally its 60s/70s construction left a little to be desired in the long run, but one company is dedicated to giving the Interceptor a new lease on life. Jensen International Automotive – previously known as V Eight Ltd and relaunched with new financial backing – is “producing” a limited number of Interceptor S models in the UK. And by producing, we mean modifying. JIA takes an existing Interceptor and fits it with a lighter and more powerful General Motors LS3 V8 (in the place of the original Chrysler engine), AP Racing disc brakes and an independent rear suspension.

The result is an 800-pound weight reduction to yield a 4.5-second 0-60 run and a top speed upwards of 160 miles per hour. Not bad for a car four decades old. But with prices for the finished product – of which JIA will only churn out 18 per year – coming in at upwards of £105,000 ($164k), you’d have to really love the old Jensen to justify the value.

[Source: JIA via PistonHeads]

Jensen Interceptor S keeps the classic alive

	Overweight and overfueled – fat America uses more gas Excuse us, we’re going out for a job.		Pint-sized Buddy electric vehicle stops 80-ton freight train in its tracks Old EV, new tricks.
	Study: Hybrid insurance rates will rise It’s to be expected.	Other news: Cheers! Scottish researchers turn whiskey into butanol (sort of) LA 2010: Annual design challenge asks to see the 1,000 pound car Price War! Second Nissan dealer commits to beating “$1,000 below MSRP” Leaf deal

AutoblogGreen for 08.18.10

Anyone familiar with Porsche’s options catalog knows that a nearly endless list of custom extras are available for the automaker’s entire model range. However, Porsche is now offering something extra special for customers of its new four-door sedan. Dubbed the Porsche Panamera personalization program – try saying that three times fast – the PPPP incorporates styling and performance tweaks, depending on your taste (and budget).

The top-rung Panamera Turbo can now be had with a Powerkit package that uses two new turbochargers and revised engine mapping to offer 40 more horsepower and 37 more pound-feet of torque over the standard Turbo, totaling 540 and 553, respectively. What’s more, the Powerkit treatment includes Porsche’s Sport Chrono Turbo Package, and if the car is driven in Sport Plus mode, torque output is further increased to 590 lb-ft. That’s a whole lot of twist. This Holy Grail of Panameras will sprint to 62 miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 190 mph, yet it still manages to keep the Turbo’s EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 15/23 miles per gallon.

Available on the full Panamera range, however, is the Porsche’s new Sport Design Package which includes a unique front fascia with wider air intakes, a new rear underbody apron incorporating a new diffuser and fins, different side skirts and 20-inch Panamera Sport wheels available in a range of colors. It certainly does a lot to beef up the sedan’s appearance, and we’re quite fond of the overall treatment.

In true Porsche fashion, these upgrades do come at quite a cost. The Panamera Turbo Powerkit retails for $21,730 (or, you know, the cost of a well-equipped Mazda3), and the Sport Design collection will set you back an additional $4,590. It’s a pretty penny to pay for some added exclusivity, but for people in the Porsche-buying tax bracket, it’s probably more affordable than you think. Hit the jump for the full details in Porsche’s release and check out the highlights in our high-res gallery below.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche rolls out new Panamera personalization program, includes 40-hp boost for Turbo

Porsche rolls out new Panamera personalization program, includes 40-hp boost for Turbo

The New Lancia Stratos project has made itself even more legitimate by getting a full-blown presence on the web. Well… kinda. While there is a fresh website for the New Stratos, much of the car’s precious details are blacked-out. We assume that will change leading up to the car’s official debut, which the website confirms will take place in November.

We also learn that the Stratos revival is a private project by Michael Stoschek, a successful businessman who heads the fifth-largest auto parts supplier in Germany and campaigned as a vintage rally car driver, along with his son Maximilian. As rumored, the New Stratos is indeed based on the guts of a Ferrari F430 and its bodywork is crafted completely from carbon fiber, allowing for a power-to-weight ratio of less than five pounds per horsepower and a 50:50 weight distribution.

Confirmation also comes that Jason Castriota was in charge of the design at Pininfarina until he left for Stile Bertone. Pininfarina’s Luca Borgogno apparently completed the project, including its interior. It’s not yet decided if this car will be a one-off (there is currently only one in existence) or if a small production run of 25 units will be completed. We supposed that would depend on demand for the car and by how much it would cost to reproduce. We vote yes, obviously.

[Source: New-Stratos.com]

New Stratos project gets itself a website, confirms Ferrari F430-based

Whoops! The men and women in Stuttgart weren’t planning to unveil the new Mercedes-Benz CLS just yet, but the crew from eMercedesBenz snagged these leaked images showing the new four-door coupe in all its production-ready glory.

As expected, the new CLS takes a lot of its styling cues from Benz’s Shooting Break concept (they’re name, not ours) notably the upright grille and more aggressive front fascia. The sectioned-off headlamp design has also remained intact, and from these photo-realistic renderings, it looks like someone shot the CLS in the eyes with lemon juice. Still, we’re eager to see how this mix of LEDs looks out on the road at dusk. The CLS also uses the more shapely rear hips of the Shooting Break concept, rounding out the revised rear end. It’s certainly more stylish than the outgoing CLS, which says a lot.

Inside, the CLS continues to use its four-seat arrangement with a center console that extends the full length of the cabin, and we fully expect the overall refinement to fall somewhere between the E-Class and S-Class sedans. Plush stuff, we’re sure.

When the CLS launches, eMercedesBenz reports that a new 3.5-liter direct-injected V6 will be offered, as well as a twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter V8 good for around 430 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Of course, an AMG version won’t be far behind with the all-new 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 underhood.

Now that these leaked shots have hit the web, don’t be surprised if the official images and details are published in the very near future. Stay tuned for the full smattering, and in the meantime, scroll through the attached gallery to see the high-res leaked images.

[Source: eMercedesBenz]

Leaked! 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS peeks out before official debut

While most of the major mechanical systems of the Ford Taurus were unchanged from the 2009 to 2010 models, the all-new styling and interior has inspired people to more people to buy the shapelier four-door than its bland predecessor. Through the first seven months of 2010, sales of the Taurus have jumped by 116 percent, and apparently that newfound enthusiasm also extends to early secondhand sales of the big sedan.

According to Ford, average auction prices on used 2010 Tauruses are now 39 percent higher than comparable 2009 models. That’s a jump of $7,100 and, as the Blue Oval dutifully points out, a $2,500 premium over a Toyota Avalon of the same vintage. The Taurus, like its crosstown rival, the Buick LaCrosse, clearly demonstrates the benefits of injecting a healthy dose of style and substance to a mainstream sedan. The volumes may not match the Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords of the world, but the design has inspired people to pay more, generating profits for their manufacturers. Check out Ford’s official press release after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford says 2010 Taurus resale value up by whopping 39%

Ford says 2010 Taurus resale value up by whopping 39%

It’s not easy to build a car without an engine. Shocking news, we know, but it has major ramifications for small boutique automakers that don’t have the resources to design and manufacture powerplants of their own. One such company is Wiesmann, which has historically relied on engines from German automaker BMW.

As you may know, Wiesmann’s top-level MF5 borrows the same V10 engine that BMW uses in its M5 and M6. As good a choice as any other, no? Problem is, those models are currently being phased out and production has just come to an end… and that includes those V10 engines we were just talking about.

And without an engine… well, you know the rest. It’s not entirely clear what Wiesmann is going to do moving forward – and our trusty Google Translator is having a hard time deciphering exactly what our German source is trying to say – but it seems the specialty car company may either cancel its MF5 entirely or attempt to switch over to BMW’s new twin-turbo V8. We’ll see.

*Update: Wiesmann reports back the following: Yes we stop producing the MF5 with the V10 engine but we will not stop the MF5 model. We are currently in discussion which engine we will take. It will surely be BMW but the details have not been decided yet.

[Source: Focus.de]

Report: Wiesmann MF5 exiting production as BMW V10 supply dries up *UPDATE

It’s not easy to build a car without an engine. Shocking news, we know, but it has major ramifications for small boutique automakers that don’t have the resources to design and manufacture powerplants of their own. One such company is Wiesmann, which has historically relied on engines from German automaker BMW.

As you may know, Wiesmann’s top-level MF5 borrows the same V10 engine that BMW uses in its M5 and M6. As good a choice as any other, no? Problem is, those models are currently being phased out and production has just come to an end… and that includes those V10 engines we were just talking about.

And without an engine… well, you know the rest. It’s not entirely clear what Wiesmann is going to do moving forward – and our trusty Google Translator is having a hard time deciphering exactly what our German source is trying to say – but it seems the specialty car company may either cancel its MF5 entirely or attempt to switch over to BMW’s new twin-turbo V8. We’ll see.

[Source: Focus.de]

Report: Wiesmann MF5 exiting production as BMW V10 supply dries up

The cover of the latest issue of Auto Express in the UK features one of the first renderings of the next-generation Ford Mondeo, which as we all know will be basically the same as Ford’s future replacement for the Fusion in the States. If this drawing proves accurate, it looks like the new midsize models will combine a lot of what we see in the 2012 Focus at the front end with a greenhouse and rear stance that actually looks more like the current Taurus.

The Fusion was Ford’s first model to adopt the automaker’s now ubiquitous three-bar grille design, but this rendering finally dispenses with that look in favor of something a little more Kinetic. We don’t know if the production model will go this way or perhaps use the modified perforated version adopted by the latest Taurus and Explorer.

The new Mondeo and Fusion will probably debut sometime later in 2011 and come to market early in 2012 as a 2013 model.

[Source: Auto Express]

Rendered Speculation: 2013 Ford Mondeo/Fusion looks more Kinetic