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We don’t imagine that many new-car buyers are cross-shopping their local Infiniti and Porsche dealerships, but there’s at least one segment of the automotive industry where the two automakers both play ball: high-performance hybrid luxury sedans, which may be the single most conflicted niche of the automotive sphere in the known universe.

In any case, here we are with the Infiniti M35h and Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. Each one is marketed as both a somewhat greener luxury vehicle and a performance sedan. We’d guess it’s the performance side of the equation that would be most interesting to the majority of buyers, leaving fuel efficiency a welcome bonus.

So, which one is faster? That’s an interesting question. Usually, we equate that term with top speed, as “fast” connotes velocity. When acceleration is being contested, we generally ask which machine is quickest. And, if it’s quickness you’re after, Infiniti wants you to know that its M35h will out-accelerate its competitor from Germany. How quick is it? According to Motor Trend, the hybrid M goes from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, but that’s not the stat Infiniti is claiming. According to the post-jump press release, the M35h is “faster” than the hybrid Panamera from 0-100 (11.54 seconds) and in the quarter mile (13.41 seconds).

As for the rest of the relevant statistics, the EPA estimates that the M35h will manage 27 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway, for a combined rating of 29. The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined. Seems the M hybrid takes both the acceleration and economy awards. Check out a video released by Infiniti after the break, where you’ll also find the press release, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Continue reading Followup: Infiniti M35h is world’s “fastest” hybrid

Followup: Infiniti M35h is world’s “fastest” hybrid

Long before the first U.S. soldier laid a boot on Iraq soil in the first Gulf War, General Motors planned to build a manufacturing facility in the country. According to The Detroit News, the years since haven’t been entirely kind to the automaker’s sales efforts in Iraq. That’s no shock given America’s reputation in the Middle East nation, but its prospects are beginning to look up. Whereas GM once trailed even Renault in sales, the company managed to move 35,000 vehicles last year. Not bad considering the entire new vehicle market in Iraq totaled just 115,000 in 2011.

GM’s sales largely consisted of SUVs and pickup trucks (like the locally available version of the Colorado seen above), though The Detroit News notes that some Chevrolet and Cadillac sedans have sold as well, too. That’s particularly impressive given that Iraqi drivers aren’t required to have insurance and kidnappers in the country have been known to favor those who drive high-dollar luxury vehicles.

GM’s business in Iraq is booming

We hope General Motors hasn’t started planning that ticker-tape parade down Jefferson Avenue yet, as Volkswagen has apparently taken issue with the notion that GM might again be the world’s largest automaker.

According to The Wall Street Journal, VW has said it will be adding some 200,000 units to its previously released sales total, contributions from some commercial truck manufacturers that are subsidiaries. Moreover, the WSJ has called into question GM’s practice of counting the vehicles sold by two Chinese partners in which GM does not have a controlling interest. Liuzhou Wuling Motors sold 1.2 million vehicles in China last year, according to the report, which the Journal says some analysts don’t count in tabulating their numbers. If those vehicles were excluded from GM’s nine million vehicle sales total, it would drop behind VW.

Further controversy may cloud third place on the list, as the Nissan-Renault partnership may have passed Toyota in the rankings, according to the report. That is, if you accept the notion that Nissan and Renault are one company and that Renault’s AvtoVAZ subsidiary should have its sales numbers count. Renault has a 25-percent state in the Russian company, notes the report.

Since there’s little agreement about what rules should govern the accounting, until one of the top four really separates itself from the rest and pushes its total sales over 10 million vehicles, we will likely continue to see the annual global sales championship end in argument. VW, for what it’s worth, seems hell-bent on becoming the undisputed largest car company, having repeatedly stated its intention to top 10 million sales.

VW takes issue with claim that GM is world’s largest automaker

The mid-size pickup truck segment should get a much-needed shot in the arm when the global Chevrolet Colorado reaches our shores in the near future. We’re not exactly sure when the Colorado will be built and sold here, but thanks to its 2011 reveal we have a good idea of what it will look like. We also don’t know any specs for the North American model, and we haven’t received confirmation whether a GMC variant will follow to replace the current Canyon model.

Car and Driver reports that General Motors President Mark Reuss still won’t confirm a GMC spinoff, but he does add that if a “Professional Grade” version of the Colorado is built, it will be very different than its Bowtie-wearing counterpart. As the current Canyon is essentially a badge-swap away from being a Chevy, the idea of increased differentiation strikes us as a welcome development. We aren’t exactly sure how much different the would-be pickup might be, but we’re guessing that Reuss is referring to more unique parts than than the front fascia and minor trim enhancements that differentiate the GMC Sierra from the Silverado.

Reuss also tells C/D that the new Colorado is surprisingly large – about 90-95 percent of the size of the Silverado, and he notes the truck will feature different powertrains. We assumed that the Colorado will feature different powertrains, and we hope that a fuel-efficient six-cylinder and a diesel offering will be available under the hood.

GMC version of Chevy Colorado to look “significantly differentiated” – if it gets built

J.D. Power and Associates has released its annual Customer Retention Study, and Hyundai ranks the highest among brands in retaining buyers. Hyundai’s retention rate is up four percentage points to 64 percent in 2012, thanks largely to the Elantra and Sonata models. J.D. Power says that much of the manufacturer’s retention rate can be traced to its growing vehicle offerings and positively changing perceptions about Hyundai quality and market appeal.

Ford and Honda tied for second place with a rate of 60 percent. The report notes that Jeep enjoyed the largest improvement over the previous year with a jump of 17 percentage points to 51 percent in 2012.

The study also evaluated which buyers were more likely to return to an automaker for their next purchase, and the data revealed women and younger buyers had a higher brand retention rate than older consumers and males. Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Mercedes-Benz were all found to be particularly adept at keeping their female customers, while Ford, Kia, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz did a better job of holding onto buyers from Gen X and Y. Hit the jump for the full results of the 2012 Customer Retention Study.

Continue reading Hyundai tops J.D. Power’s Customer Retention Study

Hyundai tops J.D. Power’s Customer Retention Study

We’ve just returned from a Detroit Auto Show media roundtable with Klaus Draeger, member of the Board of BMW AG, Development, and he’s helped shed some light on both some near- and far-term developments for BMW in the States.

Draeger confirmed that BMW has absolutely no plans to expand the 1 Series lineup in the U.S. with a hatchback variant like the new generation F20 range sold in Europe. While Draeger says that the 1 Series has done a “wonderful job” for BMW, he notes that the model is positioned very differently in the U.S. and Europe. In the States, the 1 Series is a car for hardcore driving enthusiasts, but in Europe, with its fuller range of (primarily lower-power) engines and bodystyles, the 1 Series is positioned as more of a family car – an entry point to the brand (70 percent of European 1 Series buyers are new to BMW).

In the short-term, Draeger confirmed that the 740i six-cylinder model will receive the company’s xDrive all-wheel drive system before the end of the year. The system is currently available on the V8-powered 750i, but with the biggest market for the 7 Series being the New York tri-state area, not having the additional foul weather performance of xDrive in the I6 has left a vacuum in the model lineup.

In more general terms, Draeger says we can expect to see electric power steering and start/stop systems in all BMWs, and indeed, a number of models in the company’s portfolio already feature the fuel-saving technologies.

Also on the fuel-saving front, Draeger says that X5 diesel sales are going well in the States, accounting for roughly one-third of sales. Despite that, the X6 will not get a diesel variant, as the current model only has two or three years left in its life and it wouldn’t make sense to introduce one this late in life. However, he wouldn’t rule one out for the next-gen X6, nor was he willing to preclude a diesel’s inclusion in the new X3. The new generation 3 Series and current 5 Series are also likely candidates for oil burning motivation, but they won’t happen this calendar year.

When asked if BMW is happy with X6 sales, Draeger said “Yes. Absolutely.” As a followup question, Draeger was asked if it then made sense to do a similar variant on the X3, and he said “Yes. Yes.” Unfortunately, he wasn’t at liberty to elaborate.

Finally, BMW officially announced yesterday that its smallest crossover, the X1, will go on sale here soon (likely not before a mid-cycle refresh), but Draeger maintains that there is “no real synergy” to justify bringing production to the U.S.

BMW still has “no plans” for 1 Series hatch in States, X6-like X3 variant in the cards

The editors from Autoweek have lined up their notes and named their 2011 Best of the Best. The 2012 Audi A7 and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque took the top honors, with editor Wes Raynal saying that the Audi is a vehicle with “few peers” thanks its integration of sedan styling and hatchback functionality. The Evoque, meanwhile, won over the hearts and minds of those at Autoweek thanks to its Land Rover roots and excellent ride refinement. The publication says the Evoque redefines the brand.

Autoweek isn’t alone in its picks. As you may recall, the editors at our sister site, AOL Autos, chose both the A7 and the Evoque for the website’s first-ever car of the year awards, Motor Trend named the Evoque its SUV of the Year, and we’re rather fond of them both, as well.

In order to qualify for the Autoweek Best of the Best list, a vehicle had to be completely or substantially new for 2011. Click past the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Autoweek awards Audi A7 and Land Rover Evoque ‘Best of the Best’ titles

Autoweek awards Audi A7 and Land Rover Evoque ‘Best of the Best’ titles

Not too long ago, we caught the dramatic finish to the Targa High Country in Australia. The last stage of the event featured one very on fire Lamborghini Gallardo piloted by Jason and John White as the duo sped to the finish line. Why didn’t the team stop and put out the fire? For starters, White notes there were more fire extinguishers at the finish line than there were in the car. Additionally, the teammates beat out their closest competitor by just 10 seconds. That may be a lifetime on a track, but in targa, ten seconds can be come and go in an instant.

Now the Whites have released a video of the events that led up to the race’s dramatic conclusion. The short clip follows the team through the more dramatic moments of the 2011 Targa High Country, including multiple tight passes, wide open driving and tight, technical stages. Check it out after the jump.

Continue reading Watch the story of the flaming Lamborghini that won this year’s Targa High Country

Watch the story of the flaming Lamborghini that won this year’s Targa High Country

We know it doesn’t look like the rallying Honda Civic hatchback above is doing anything special, but trust us, this is a case of “Oh, I wasn’t expecting that at all.”

After barreling across the ridiculously long run-up to the crest, the pilot even lets off the gas before launch, yet still manages to look like he’s qualifying for the 2014 Winter Olympic ski jump in Sochi. He might want to work on his pre-running notes before the next outing.

You’ll find the mighty leap in the video after the jump. You can start preparing your “VTEC just kicked in yo!” now.

Continue reading Is this the highest-flying Honda ever?

Is this the highest-flying Honda ever?

The Thrill Of Victory. The Agony of Defeat. Rarely does one person get to experience such highs and lows within mere hours of each other, but when it happens, the comedown is often all the more painful. Just ask Santaquin, Utah resident David Dopp. The Frito-Lay truck driver won a green Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster, grand prize in the “Joe Schmo To Lambo” contest operated by Maverik gas stations and teamgive.org last month.

Dopp, father of six, was finally presented the car on Saturday afternoon, after which he set about driving it around the neighborhood, giving rides to friends. His elation wouldn’t last. Less than six hours after taking delivery of the Lamborghini, Dopp lost control of the 640-horsepower Italian, hopped a curb and spun it into an embankment 75 feet from the road. A witness, Miles Davis (yes, really), said that skid marks were evident on the road and that the car ended up facing the wrong direction. Neither Dopp nor his friend in the passenger seat were injured.

Police say the accident was likely “speed-related,” although Dopp reportedly says he was only doing 40-50 mph when he lost control of the car on a section of road with a 35-mph speed limit. Dopp maintains he might have hit some black ice or gravel.

While the extent of the damage to the Lamborghini is not immediately clear, local publication Instaquin notes that Dopp has full insurance. To see Dopp’s Murci pre-crash, check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading Murci, Murcy Me: Man wins Lamborghini, wrecks it hours later [w/video]

Murci, Murcy Me: Man wins Lamborghini, wrecks it hours later [w/video]

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today that 2012 model year vehicles set a record for the number of highly valued Top Safety Pick awards earned: 115 total winners with 18 of those being brand new recipients.

The break down includes 69 cars, 38 SUVs, five minivans and three pickups, so if owning a Top Safety Pick award-winning vehicle is important to you, there are options available in every category.

As for which automakers earned the most awards, Toyota and its band of merry brands, which includes Lexus and Scion, racked up 15, while GM was next with 14, VW/Audi with 13, and Ford/Lincoln and Honda/Acura both with 12 awards each. Speaking of Honda and Acura, they win the award for most improved, as 10 of the 18 new models to receive the award come from their lineups. No automaker, however, was able to match Subaru’s repeat performance of earning a Top Safety Pick award for every vehicle in its lineup.

The IIHS notes that automakers have come a long way since it began giving out Top Safety Pick awards back in 2005. At that time, only 11 models qualified. In fact, last year only 66 vehicles qualified because of less-than-stellar rollover ratings, but automakers apparently responded, addressing the issue in new models or redesigning roofs throughout the year.

The IIHS Top Safety Pick award stands as the private sector’s counterpart to the government’s own five-star rating system for vehicle safety conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Both litmus tests for safety have grown increasingly difficult for automakers to ace in recent years, but today’s announcement shows that they’re clearly up to the task.

Continue reading IIHS reports record year for Top Safety Picks, 18 new 2012 models added

IIHS reports record year for Top Safety Picks, 18 new 2012 models added

For years Detroit automakers carped about the low value of the Japanese yen versus the U.S. dollar, but these days, the opposite is true. The yen has rocketed up in value versus the dollar, and Japan’s automakers are taking significant measures to mitigate its bottom-line-killing effects. In October Toyota demanded lower prices from its Japanese supply base, and now the Camry will be built in the U.S. and shipped overseas.

Toyota notes in the post-jump press release that it will build 6,000 Toyota Camry units in Georgetown, Kentucky and ship the units to Korea. The massive Georgetown plant employs nearly 7,000 employees working around the clock. This marks the first time Toyota will export the American-made Camry, yet Toyota isn’t new to U.S. exports. The automaker exports 100,000 vehicles built in the U.S. annually, shipping them to 19 countries.

The announcement is likely an exciting one for workers at the Georgetown plant, and Toyota feels more exports could be forthcoming. Toyota’s North America President, Yoshimi Inaba, states “we look forward to other opportunities to continue growing exports from our American operations.” Hit the jump to read over the press release.

Continue reading Kentucky-built Toyota Camry headed to South Korea

Kentucky-built Toyota Camry headed to South Korea

There are plenty of attributes we associate with Jaguar. Luxurious, powerful and attractive all spring readily to mind, but we’re not sure we’d tie the world “playful” to the brand. Jaguar seems to think otherwise, and has released a new ad showing three of its most sultry models frolicking about in jungles both natural and urban. The spot ends with the tagline “Welcome To Our Jungle,” though Axl Rose and Slash are conspicuously absent.

The XJL Supersport, XFR and XKR-S all share some time on screen set to a little Spanish guitar and the bark of delicious supercharged 5.0-liter V8 exhaust notes. The agency behind the spot, Spark44, says that the goal was to show the vehicles as animate, fun objects.

We can certainly attest to these vehicles’ ability to paint a smile on your face. The ad does still seem plenty conservative, however. While there’s a bit of sideways action here and there, the vehicles mostly seem constrained to speed limits and turn taking. We want to see some sibling rivalry. Hit the jump to check out the full clip for yourself.

Continue reading Jaguar’s jungle looks awfully inviting in new ad

Jaguar’s jungle looks awfully inviting in new ad

It’s been a full year since the General Motors Initial Public Offering, and the company’s stock isn’t performing as well as anyone in Detroit or Washington, D.C. would like. As The Detroit News notes, the stock has dipped by 30 percent from its initial price, thanks in part to troubles in Europe and internal dissatisfaction with the company’s profit margins. As of last Wednesday, the company’s stock fell by 10.9 percent to $22.31 when GM announced that its fourth-quarter earnings wouldn’t make any gains over 2010. That news has prompted the U.S. Treasury, which still holds a 27-percent stake in General Motors, to hold off indefinitely on selling its remaining 500 million shares.

The Detroit News reports that if the government were to sell off its stake in the company at current trading prices, the country would lose around $15 billion on the country’s investment in GM. Even with the indefinite hold on selling off the shares, the federal government has readjusted its projected losses on the automotive bailouts from $14.33 billion to $23.6 billion.

One year after IPO, GM stock is down by a third

If the Mazda2 needs anything, it’s a little more pep in its step. Mazda has moved to address that ail with the SEMA 2011 Turbo2 Concept. Boasting a direct-injection 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the small hatch is crammed with 263 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Those are the kinds of figures that are sure to slather a grin across your face, especially given that Mazda has managed to trim the concept’s weight down to a skinny 2,300 pounds. Mazda also reminds us that this vehicle wears the company’s largest forced-induction four-cylinder engine in its smallest vehicle platform. Zoom-Zoom indeed.

The Turbo2 Concept rocks a set of Brembo brakes to bring the whole party to a stop in a hurry, and the suspension has received its fair share of attention as well. HR coilovers, Corksport sway bars front and rear and Yokohama rubber all help keep the tiny hatch glued to the track. In fact, if this is all looking rather serious for a showcar, that’s because it is – this car was built by the folks at Autobarn for use in One Lap of America with blessings from the Japanese automaker, though it has since been the recipient of a splashy new look.

So, will we see a version of it production? There’s always a chance that Mazda will give the world a Mazdaspeed2 to chew on. In the meantime, if you can’t wait and want this exact car, Autoblog reader Pete L. notes that it’s for sale by the Autobarn folks, though it’s a costly little number: $94,999. Eek.

Mazda Turbo2 Concept promises forced-induction frolicking

Mazda has given SEMA goers something to get excited about with a pair of MX-5 Miata concepts. The MX-5 Miata Spyder Concept has done away with the standard car’s folding soft top or retractable hard top mechanism in favor of a lightweight grenadine-red canvas covering à la Porsche’s Boxster Spyder. The look lends the already lithe roadster an even more svelte appearance, and the Spyder’s 17-inch Advan alloys and Mazdaspeed coilovers ensure that the driver should have plenty of fun when the road turns twisty. Mazda has also rolled in quite a few excellent details, including etched brushed stainless Spyder badging on the front fenders and a clean MX-5 Spyder logo on the passenger-side dash.

While the 2.0-liter MZR four-cylinder underhood looks familiar, Mazda says the MX-5 Spyder runs on isobutanol, the same biofuel that powers in Mazda’s/Dyson Racing ALMS car. To further the company’s “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom” effort, the Spyder also has a lightweight lithium ion battery, among other changes.

Does the Spyder have a chance at production? Well, probably not the isobutanol powertrain, but a lighter model with a similar top configuration might have a shot. As Mazda’s design director, Derek Jenkins, notes “…because the stock models are extraordinarily versatile, who’s to say some elements of these SEMA concepts can’t be ready for public consumption?” Sign us up.

The MX-5 Super 20 – which debuted last year – brings more of a motorsports flavor to the convertible. A fixed hardtop has replaced the standard folding mechanism and the interior has been stripped bare in favor of a full roll cage. Additional power comes courtesy of a DPTUNE ECU reflash, a 304-stainless steel header and exhaust. Racing Beat hollow front and rear sway bars, Mazdaspeed coilovers and a Mazdaspeed shock tower brace help lend sharper handling, too.

Continue reading Mazda MX-5 Miata Spyder and Super 20 Concepts land in Las Vegas

Mazda MX-5 Miata Spyder and Super 20 Concepts land in Las Vegas

Engine notes are a funny thing. They don’t add anything to a car’s performance capabilities. They don’t improve emissions or lower fuel consumption. They don’t contribute to ride quality or overall refinement – in fact you could argue just the opposite, at least indirectly. Yet automakers spend a great deal of time and resources to ensure their cars sound just right.

Few engines emit the kind of throaty, raspy burble that a V8 crafted by AMG does. The Mercedes-Benz performance division just makes some of the best sounding engines around. But you don’t have to take our word for it: follow the jump to watch – and more importantly hear – the new C63 AMG Coupe sliding around a wet track – without any background music, voiceover, or even much color to distract from the sweet, sweet sound – of the 6.2-liter, 450-horsepower V8 revving in all its glory.

Continue reading Hear the glorious 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe all by its lonesome

Hear the glorious 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe all by its lonesome

Chrysler earned a net income of $212 million during the third quarter of 2011. That figure marks a significant improvement over the same period last year, when the company posted a net loss of $84 million. Chrysler notes that its modified operating profit more than doubled compared to the third quarter of last year. The automaker posted a modified operating profit of $483 million for Q3 2011 compared to $239 million in Q3 2010. Chrysler sites an increased demand for the company’s multiple refreshed products as well as increased sales volume, better pricing and more advertising as the reason for the improvements.

In addition, the manufacturer posted net revenue of $13.1 billion, which marks a 19-percent increase over the same period in 2010. Chrysler is optimistic that its new four-year labor contract with the United Auto Workers will allow it to continue to produce strong figures moving forward. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Chrysler reports $212M third quarter earnings

Chrysler reports $212M third quarter earnings

As with any good breakup, the recent split between Saab and its Chinese suitors has birthed a bit of he-said, she-said. Automotive News Europe reports that Pang Da and Youngman have announced that their equity deal with the Swedish automaker is still valid even after Saab said that it was cancelling the arrangement. Saab accused both Chinese companies of failing to confirm or fulfill their commitments of interim funding while the automaker underwent government-protected restructuring.

Pang Da, meanwhile, has said that while it never signed an agreement for bridge funding Saab, the company still fully intends to continue to hold up its end of the bargain, including seeking the approval of the Chinese government for the deal. The company has already paid Saab €45 million (about $62M USD) in a separate vehicle purchase deal.

Youngman, meanwhile, notes that it has already paid an $11 million bridge loan. Both Youngman and Pang Da have indicated that they are still willing and able to help Saab with short and mid-term funding options.

Pang Da, Youngman say original Saab deal still valid

Consumer Reports has released its annual Car Reliability Study, and the results weren’t kind to Ford. The automaker saw its ranking fall from 10th to 20th due to issues with three specific models: the Explorer, Fiesta and Focus. Each of those vehicles ranked below average in reliability during their first year on the market due to issues with MyFord Touch and the dual-clutch transmissions in the Fiesta and Focus.

Meanwhile, Chrysler busily inched its way up the reliability ladder. Jeep managed to jump to the 13th spot to become the most reliable domestic manufacturer while Chrysler jumped 12 spots in the study and Dodge maneuvered up by three places.

According to the study, the Chrysler 200, Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee all performed well in their respective reliability evaluations. Even so, Consumer Reports notes that of the 97 domestic vehicles the publication studied, 35 percent still rate as below average compared to the rest of the field. Head over to Consumer Reports to learn how the rest of the field shook out.

Ford falls, Chrysler jumps in Consumer Reports reliability survey