The Auto Blog .ru

General Motors struck back at the mighty Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with the similarly brawny Camaro ZL1, and now it looks like GM has taken aim at the Mustang Boss 302 as well.

According to posts on the Camaro5.com forums, a dealer reference guide has revealed buyers will be able to opt for a new performance track package for the 2013 Camaro. The 1LE pack includes a number of aerodynamic tweaks, including an aggressive front splitter and unique rear spoiler, both painted in smoke gray. Red Brembo brake calipers, a hood wrapped in matte black vinyl and 20-inch wheels shod in Goodyear Eagle Supercar tires are all part of the party. Those big rollers are actually borrowed from the ZL1.

Larger sway bars front and rear as well as stronger axle half shafts help the vehicle withstand track abuse. A Tremec six-speed manual gearbox with a higher 3.91 final drive and a liquid cooling system is also standard. Finally, the report says the Camaro 1LE will feature an optional dual-mode exhaust similar to what’s found on the Chevrolet Corvette.

Will the hardware be enough to help the Camaro fend off the road-race ready Boss 302? Given the sublime driving experience the tweaked Mustang offers its buyers and the heady 444 horsepower on hand, it seems unlikely. That doesn’t mean we’d be averse to putting the two head to head on a track, however.

UPDATE: General Motors has now released official information on the 1LE. The model will land at under $40,000 and and be able to pull up to 1g on the skid pad. According to Al Oppenheiser, Camaro Chief Engineer, the vehicle was able to best the three-minute lap time at Virginia International Raceway, and GM is currently seeking approval from SCCA to allow the package to be used in the Touring Class competition.

In addition to borrowing the dual-mode exhaust from the ZL1, the 1LE will also feature the same variable-effort power steering. Other changes include a strut tower brace, ZL1 wheel bearings, toe links and shock mounts as well as a ZL1 high-capacity fuel pump and pickups for consistent fuel delivery during hard cornering. Even if the 1LE can’t keep pace with the Boss 302, it should make for an impressive on-track machine. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Chevy Camaro to get Boss 302-rivaling 1LE trim for 2013 [UPDATE]

Chevy Camaro to get Boss 302-rivaling 1LE trim for 2013 [UPDATE]

Whether you fondly remember your prom or are doing your very best to forget it, something tells us it would have been way better had you arrived in the machine you’re about to see in the video after the break. Yes, it’s a limo – and what high schooler wouldn’t want to get dropped off in a stretched machine – but the real draw is that it’s very likely the fastest limo in the lot.

Starting life as a Dodge Challenger SRT8, this blacked-out limo was crafted by LA Custom Coach after four and a half months of bending, stretching and welding. It boasts a completely custom interior done up in a unique black and red scheme along with a 24-inch LED screen and a full bar… but not for those headed to the prom, of course.

Want to procure one for your big day? That might be tricky, as this is said to be the first of its kind. On the upside, though, its owner says it won’t be the last. Check out the stretched Challenger SRT limo in the video after the break, but beware the horrid yet somehow appropriate soundtrack.

Continue reading Stretched Dodge Challenger SRT limo is a prom date’s dream ride

Stretched Dodge Challenger SRT limo is a prom date’s dream ride

The future of the U.S. Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program might be powered by a Ford Motor Co. V-8.

BAE Systems, Northrup Grumman and Meritor Defenses said this afternoon that their proposed light fighting vehicle, which is called the Valanx, will have a Ford Power Stroke 6.7-liter diesel engine under it’s steel hood. (And likely a .50 cal on its roof.)

If it’s good enough for the Super Duty, it’s good enough for a Call of Duty.

“Ford products have a reputation for dependability and performance, even under challenging conditions,” said Ann Hoholick, BAE Systems Vice President of Amphibious & New Programs in the release.

Ford had dropped out of the JLTV program, which is searching for the next fighting machine to replace the venerable Humvee for the U.S. military. Ford is not a partner with the group but did provide a statement this afternoon.

“We’re proud of Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engines and their best-in-class power, durability and fuel economy,” said Ford spokesman Mike Levine. “And we are proud the engines were chosen to be part of BAE’s JLTV entry.”

Let’s just hope that engine is as bullet proof.

Continue reading From Super Duty to Call of Duty: Ford could power U.S. military’s future

From Super Duty to Call of Duty: Ford could power U.S. military’s future

It’s been a little while since we’ve touched on Motus and the company’s all-American MST bikes, but that doesn’t mean it has faded into obscurity. The manufacturer has officially announced pricing on two of its wares. The base MST sports tourer will command a sticker price of $30,975, while the slightly sportier MST-R will set buyers back $36,975. Neither bike will bow with the much-talked about gasoline direct injection system, but that doesn’t mean the in-house V4 engine is any less impressive. The base MST rolls out the door with 165 horsepower, while the MST-R puts 185 hp to the ground.

Make no mistake, these aren’t inexpensive machines. The BMW K1600 GTL lands at a relatively inexpensive $23,200 with just five fewer ponies than the American upstart. Still, the MST-R will offer buyers an impressive list of go-fast hardware, including Ohlins R&T NIX forks, an Ohlins TTX rear shock, Brembo monoblock stoppers and forged aluminum OZ wheels. With a list like that, the MST-R certainly puts the sport in sport tourer.

Both bikes come with removable Givi hard cases as standard equipment as well as a premium Sargent seat and wave rotors. Look for both the MST and the MST-R to begin hitting dealers by the middle of this year. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Motus prices 2013 MST at $30,975

Motus prices 2013 MST at $30,975

It was a big weekend for Sean Kennedy, Mark Heidaker and the team at Hennessey. The trio managed to walk straight past the previous world record for the standing mile with a top speed of 257.7 mph. Kennedy took the wheel of Heidaker’s Hennessey-prepped Ford GT for the feat. The vehicle used to be both twin-turbocharged and supercharged before Heidaker decided he needed a little more thrust. Hennessey then ditched the supercharger for a more efficient twin-turbo setup. The work seems to have paid off. Putting down that sort of speed in the span of a standing mile is nothing short of amazing, and the engineering behind the machine deserves all sorts of respect.

Of course, commanding the roided-out GT to do your bidding is also plenty impressive.

Tucked beneath that wild wrap is a white GT with a blue stripe, one of our favorite color combinations on this iconic shape. Hit the jump to see the run from inside the cockpit.

Continue reading Watch a Hennessey Ford GT set a new standing mile world record

Watch a Hennessey Ford GT set a new standing mile world record

That’s right, the potential Republican Potentate is an AMC muscle car; according to the Secret Service, anyway. The Republican race for the presidential nomination is getting serious, and National Public Radio reports that the the Secret Service is stepping in to offer its protective services to the potential nominees. When this happens, code names are given to the protectees; for example, President Reagan was called “Rawhide” by those watching out for him. Mitt’s new Secret Service handle? Javelin.

The candidates are presented with the list of potential security handles, and Romney apparently thought a nod to the car company his old man ran suited him just fine. Does it say something about the way he sees himself? Kenosha, Wisconsin-based American Motors Corporation was ever the cash-strapped scrapper; a bit of a contrast from Romney’s well-funded election machine, but he won’t be the first person to romanticize the last independent.

The biggest question we have is which one he thinks he is? A Javelin SST with the optional Go-Pack would indicate he thinks he’s a serious performer, while a Pierre Cardin edition might match up more with the tastes of a man accustomed to the finer things. In any case, it will be hard to look at a Javelin from now on and not see Mitt’s well-coiffed, perfect-teeth grin.

This is Mitt Romney

Swedish Model Goes To The Polestar Gym, Comes Back Stronger

BMW has its M Division. Mercedes-Benz has AMG and Audi has a range of S- and RS-badged models. Volvo has… well, what does Volvo have, anyway? Yes, we’re all familiar with the brand’s sterling reputation for safety, and in recent times, for attractive Swedish design. Not long ago, with the introduction of the latest S60 sedan, Volvo even took a stab at injecting some so-called naughtiness into its machinery. And while all those adjectives are welcome, Volvo’s reputation in the United States has never really included performance, despite some credible offerings like the 240 Turbo, 850R and S60R.

Interestingly enough, that’s not necessarily the case in its home market of Sweden, where Volvo has been racing and winning in competition for years, oftentimes with the assistance of a tuning company known as Polestar. Since 1996, Volvo has been working with Polestar in an official capacity, and for 2012, the automaker is introducing its United States customers to a slew of Polestar-infused models.

Volvo’s entire range of five- and six-cylinder models have been bolstered with performance updates from Polestar, and for the purposes of this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the XC60 crossover. As it turns out, this Swedish ‘ute offers up plenty of reasons for consideration, even in the face of stiff opposition from Volvo’s formidable competition in the entry-level luxury segment.

Continue reading 2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design

2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design

Jaguar has let it slip that the company may be working on a new crossover, and Autocar has gone through the trouble of rendering the machine. According to the report, the company is under pressure to expand into niches traditionally outside of its scope, much as sister company Land Rover has done with the Evoque. That may translate into a new high-riding hatchback based off of an upcoming compact sedan. That’s right. Autocar claims Jaguar is out to launch six other “significant” new products over the next two years, and that’s excluding the “radical crossover” seen here.

Needless to say, the project hasn’t gotten the go-ahead from corporate just yet, but if it does, expect to see it built on the company’s new modular aluminum “Premium Lightweight Architecture” originally penned for its large vehicles. Jaguar could also borrow the bones of the previously mentioned Evoque for this little science experiment. Those two options present a disparate view of the would-be utility Jaguar. Of course, the model is a very, very long way from becoming reality. Head over to Autocar to see the full rendering.

Jaguar’s new “radical crossover” rendered

How do you make a 4,300-pound roadster accelerate to 60 miles per hour in under four seconds? Easy, just fit it with a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 that cranks out 621 horsepower and – wait for it – 738 pound-feet of torque. Sounds bonkers, right? Welcome to the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG.

We’re all very familiar with the *63 AMG models, the majority of which are now fitted with a brand new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8, but for those who want the ultimate in high-performance machinery (at an extremely high-dollar price), the *65 AMG cars are simply out of this world. We first feasted our eyes on the new-for-2013 SL63 AMG at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, but the SL will now be taking the stage at next month’s New York Auto Show to debut off its range-topping spec.

The 6.0-liter V12 is hardly a new engine, though there have been a few updates including new turbochargers, manifolds and wastegate channels. The big change for 2013, however, is the pairing of Merc’s seven-speed AMG Speedshift transmission. (Historically, the 65 AMG cars were mated to a five-speed auto, since it was the only transmission in the automaker’s parts bin capable of handling such massive amounts of torque.)

Like the rest of the SL line, the SL65 AMG has lost a bit of weight in its overhaul – 254 pounds versus the 2012 model – mostly thanks to an all-aluminum body-on-white. The full suite of SL goodies are on tap in the 65, including the nifty Magic Sky Roof, Airscarf, speed-sensitive steering and a new sport suspension based on Merc’s Active Body Control. Inside, the cabin is trimmed in only the finest of leather – including the costly Designo options – and features goodies like a Bang & Olufsen surround sound system and the latest version of Mercedes’ Command infotainment software.

Pricing has yet to be revealed for the SL65 AMG, but expect it to be around the $200,000 mark. Hit the jump for the full details in Mercedes-Benz’s press blast, and stay tuned for live impressions direct from New York in just a few weeks.

Continue reading 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG revs up for Big Apple debut

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG revs up for Big Apple debut

Poor-Man’s BMW M3 Is Sharper Than Ever

Ford has been quietly blurring the line between muscle car and sports car since the 2010 Mustang debuted at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. Lighter, smaller and nimbler than rivals like the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, the Mustang established itself early on as being just as happy on a road course as it was tackling the quarter mile.

With the introduction of the 5.0-liter, dual-overhead cam V8 for the 2011 year model, the Mustang found itself armed with the muscle necessary to blacken the eyes of its crosstown rivals after a painful period of trudging along with an antiquated 4.6-liter lump under the hood. Despite the additional brawn on hand, the pony has nonetheless been routinely bested in sales by the larger Camaro.

In an attempt to pull past its big-boned rivals, Ford has opted to continue its strategy of aggressive model improvements, and buyers who put their cash down on a 2013 Mustang can look forward to a new suite of technology, visual improvements, more power and available options aimed at making it an even more capable track machine. The tricks have turned one of the best performance buys on the market into an even more tempting option for buyers who want more than just a boulevard cruiser.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Mustang GT [w/video]

2013 Ford Mustang GT [w/video]

Race #1 of the 2012 Formula 1 season is officially in the books. Along with a talk of a more exciting season after inconclusive winter testing, everyone has had a few words about the way the new cars look, one of the most common being “ugly.”

The stepped noses used on most of the field are how every team, save for McLaren and Marussia, dealt with new regulations. In the video after the jump, Mercedes F1 driver Nico Rosberg explains the look of his car from front to back. With Michael Schumacher putting up a good time in mixed conditions during the first two Free Practice sessions, there just might be a swan in there somewhere.

Continue reading Watch Nico Rosberg explain why F1 cars are so ugly this season

Watch Nico Rosberg explain why F1 cars are so ugly this season

We won’t press it yet, but let’s just say our hand is hovering over the big red “Vaporware!” button we keep armed for just such announcements. DiMora Motorcars still owes us – and LV Resorts – the $2-million SLS 2 sedan with its 1,200-horsepower Volcano V16 engine, Barotex fibers and MP3-enabled horn.

While we wait for it, DiMora has seen fit to announce not just a new car, but a new division with two new cars said to be “nearing completion.” The Neoclassic Automobiles Subsidiary will, depending on your credulity, be producing the Adina Sportster and Vicci 6.2 Super-Coupe. The Adina is a Morgan-like roadster powered by a General Motors LS3 V8 with 431 horsepower.

The Vicci (pictured) gets either the LS3 or the Corvette ZR1’s LS9 with 638 running through a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic or – prepare to step in your Wayback Machine – a four-speed auto. Its faux Talbot-Lago lines hide a carbon fiber dash, paddle-shifters and a stereo that displays engine diagnostics. Assuming it gets made.

Follow the jump for the press release with info on two possible, but unlikely, limited-edition future cars.

Continue reading DiMora sketches out new neoclassic lines

DiMora sketches out new neoclassic lines

BMW has again put filmmakers behind the lens to add some entertainment to the corporate cause, and the results are worth watching. BMW is the official transport provider of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, so its got four directors to profile four British Olympians, tying their stories to BMW’s quest for perfection.

Three of the shorts are Olympics-themed: No Limits (also called Beneath the Surface) about swimmer Rebecca Adlington and the 3 Series, directed by Stevan Riley; Man and Machine about wheelchair racer David Weir and the ultimate connection to your vehicle, directed by Yannakis Jones; and Form and Function about gymnast Louis Smith and the i8, directed by Richard de Aragues.

The fourth film is a retro piece called Power, Speed and Endurance and covers BMW’s return to DTM. It’s subject is British middle-distance runner Steve Cram, who was breaking records on the track in the seventies and eighties, when racing BMWs were breaking other records at different tracks. It was helmed by Asif Kapadia, who proved his abilities with archival footage as the director of Senna.

Follow the jump for the press release from BMW and thirty minutes of good stories.

Continue reading BMW The Ultimate Performance video series profiles four Olympians

BMW The Ultimate Performance video series profiles four Olympians

More Consonants, More Raw

There’s an almost infinite amount to love about the Infiniti G37 line. In sedan or coupe form, X or S guise, the vehicles deliver that difficult-to-attain blend of rear-wheel-biased performance, content and refinement with a manageable price tag. With the excellent VQ37 3.7-liter V6 engine pounding under the hood and the buyer’s choice of manual or automatic gearboxes pushing power to the rear or all four wheels, the G37 family is one of the market’s best arguments against sliding behind the wheel of a BMW 3 Series. That is, unless you wanted a truly serious performance machine.

German titans like BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been lapping European racetracks under their M and AMG banners for decades, honing performance hardware that customers would merrily plop down fat stacks of cash for later. While Japanese luxury automakers have been somewhat slow to embrace performance sub-brands, recent years have seen an explosion of consonant-laced badging stuck to sharper machinery. Among Japanese automakers, Lexus first dipped a toe in those waters with the company’s F-Sport goods, and Infiniti has risen to the challenge with its new Infiniti Performance Line. By gracing the G37 Coupe with more horsepower, a sharper suspension, larger brakes and unique interior appointments, Infiniti has taken a first step into a world dominated by some of the world’s most storied badges.

But is the IPL G37 a serious performance contender or simply a bolt-on queen with delusions of grandeur?

Continue reading 2012 Infiniti G37 IPL

2012 Infiniti G37 IPL

We imagine that many a Russian Lada has been compared to a ticking time bomb – which is not to say that there aren’t any good Ladas out in the wild, of course – but the example you’ll see in the video pasted below takes the cake. It is, quite literally, an Improvised Explosive Device.

If an exploding Lada alone isn’t enough reason for you to watch, perhaps the reaction of the passengers is more of a draw. Their reaction to the impending doom is so quick that it’s almost as if the two occupants were just waiting for the engine of this poor machine to reach its glorious and destructive demise.

See what we’re talking about in the video pasted below.

Continue reading Lada emergency is no mere fire drill

Lada emergency is no mere fire drill

If you have your heart set on picking up a new Subaru BRZ, you better get moving. Car and Driver reports the automaker is only shipping 6,000 of the coupes to the U.S. for the 2013 model year. The news reportedly surfaced via a Subaru dealer. While the automaker hasn’t officially announced exactly how many 2013 BRZ Coupe models will be allocated for American buyers, it has said the vehicle will arrive in “extremely limited quantities” in the past.

The news dovetails with earlier reports, which indicated the company would need to sell somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 units at $25,000 a piece to break even, though at the time, no one mentioned Subaru wouldn’t bump up production if there was demand.

We’ve reached out to the automaker for comment and will keep you posted on any forthcoming information. In the mean time, we’ll leave you to pour over your finances to figure out how to bring one of these fine-handling machines home before there are none left. Word has it Subaru is already accepting pre-orders.

Preorder Now: Subaru only sending 6,000 BRZ Coupes to U.S. in 2013

You’ve seen plenty of motorcycle-versus-car contests that take place on public roads or dedicated race tracks. But you’ve probably never seen one where the two machines are wearing Blizzaks… or even studded tires.

French motorcycle publication Moto Journal has decided to turn the two-wheeled contingent on its head by moving the battleground to the frozen stretches of Lapland on a replica race track of Le Castellet, also known as Circuit Paul Ricard, cut through the snow and ice. In the first round, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS goes up against a 1,000cc Yamaha R1. Up next is a Mitsubishi EVO IX against a Yamaha WR450F. Yes, this is going to be good.

If the idea of watching an R1 hit 160 miles per hour on the ice isn’t enough to make you watch, perhaps we should mention that its rider is donning an Evel-Knievel-style cape, and that this appears to be just a teaser of a longer video or possibly even a series. Enough talking already. Check out the video in its entirety below.

Continue reading Such A Tease: Watch a Porsche 911 GT3 RS take on a Yamaha R1… on ice

Such A Tease: Watch a Porsche 911 GT3 RS take on a Yamaha R1… on ice

The Mini Countryman equipped with the John Cooper Works package is the latest diminutive to be loaded into the brand’s eccentric ad machine. As if a 211-horsepower, all-wheel-drive crossover on 18-inch alloys from a brand called “Mini” weren’t novel enough, we’re admonished to “Expect the unexpected” as the most powerful vehicle it makes is flicked through the desert and the snow.

And that will explain the man on the roof. Well, kinda. See below for the video.

Continue reading Mini Countryman JCW blazes a trail over desert and snowy hinterlands

Mini Countryman JCW blazes a trail over desert and snowy hinterlands

Every form of motorsport requires a certain level of integration between man and machine. Drivers need to be able to quickly and accurately interpret what’s going on with their vehicle and react accordingly, but superbike racing pushes that requirement to new bounds. Overshoot a corner, get too close to a competitor or simply get too greedy and riders can find themselves personally acquainted with the track surface.

Taro Russel recently took the time to attempt to capture the kind of partnership that grows between rider and bike in a new promo for superbike racing. Set to some solid Killers tunes, sketches of bone, muscle and organ grow before our very eyes. The ad is properly innovative, and the clips lifted from various races all but ensure an uptick in pulse by the time the screen goes black. Too cool. The video can be seen below so you can check it out for yourself.

Continue reading British Eurosport superbike teaser gets under our skin

British Eurosport superbike teaser gets under our skin

For sure, the Audi R8 is a striking machine, and even after five years on the market it continues to look sexy in all of its forms. Audi has pushed out several variants as well, including the V10-packing R8 GT 5.2 FSI, the topless Spyder and track-focused R8 GT.

To commemorate five years of the R8, Audi put together a short video, if only to remind us how the range-topping Audi looks even better in motion. And just to keep us thinking about its supercar, Audi finished the video with a sneak peak of the new R8, which bows later this year.

When Audi says “new,” it really means freshened, though, with rumors of a bump in power and a few design tweaks. The bigger changes may not arrive until 2015, when the R8 is rumored to receive a more thorough makeover. See below for the video.

Continue reading Audi teases “new” R8 while celebrating 5 years of current car

Audi teases “new” R8 while celebrating 5 years of current car