2011Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
A lot of ink is being spilled over the . There are arguments over whether it is worth even the $33,500 it costs after the Federal tax credit kicks in, or the $350.00 per month lease price (after $2,500 downpayment). There are debates over its real fuel economy, and range. There are debates about whether any vehicle should get a $7,500 rebate to make it decently affordable. The market should decide, the argument goes.
We know the market will decide in the end. Even as the federal government has imposed “Corporate Average Fuel Economy” rules in the hopes of forcing manufacturers to make more fuel efficient vehicles, new vehicle sales show that consumers in the U.S. still like their pickups and SUVs.
What most of the arguments over the Volt don’t take into consideration is what I call “The Vision Thing.”
What most of the arguments over the Volt don’t take into consideration is what I call “The Vision Thing.”
board member Steve Girsky, who is a former Wall Street analyst and consigliere to the United Auto Workers, says he has been a voice arguing inside the automaker to make a greater commitment to Volt and extended-range electrics. He also says that CEO Daniel Akerson is another voice pushing for the vehicle and technology despite its high cost.
“GM hasn’t had a leadership vehicle like this in a long time. And Ackerson is insistent that we have that,” says Girsky.
Hennessey channels Top Gun with its Venom GT – Click above to watch video
The Hennessey Venom GT is a beastly two-seater that produces as much power as a small sun. An LS9, taken from the , is massaged to produce an astonishing 933 horsepower and 874 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels. If those numbers don’t scare you, we’re guessing you’re probably a naval aviator who is used to seeing the bright flash of afterburners coming to life. If so, you’re in luck because the Venom GT also spits hot fire.
We’ve and we’ve also seen it . Now we have video of Hennessey upping the ante by combining the two. While at full song scream, the Hennessey Venom GT belches a massive jet of fire out of its twin-exhaust outlets. Neato. Grab a stick, some marshmallows and .
2011 Jeep Compass – Click above for high-res image gallery
is looking at a diesel version of the , or its replacement due in 2013 for the States, according to company officials.
The newly refreshed Jeep Compass (which we ), which goes on sale in early 2011 in the U.S., Europe and other markets, will be offered in some places with a 122kW/320Nm 2.2-liter turbo-diesel (164 horsepower/236 pound-feet) that has a claimed average of 6.6 liters/100km (around 43 mpg).
The diesel for the U.S., though would be a Fiat engine, according to officials who spoke to us on background. If the company decided to do it, it would likely show up in the Compass/ replacement, due two years from now, built off a modified engineering platform derived from the .
The interest in diesels for the U.S. is always controversial. sells close to 40,000 and TDI models per year. European automakers always try and make a case for diesels in the U.S. to extend their investments made for EU markets and to boost sales, but it isn’t clear if VW is making any money on these sales in the States.
Despite the fact that diesel prices can run higher in the U.S. than regular gas, a reverse of the situation in Europe, there is a dedicated and slowly growing base of enthusiasts for clean diesel in America.
The price of a diesel Compass would be close to $28,000, including the upmarket all-wheel drive package.
has garnered quite a bit of praise with its all-new sedan, with its most recent accolade being . In addition to the naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions, the Korean automaker is offering up the eco-friendly with tweaked styling and the ability to achieve up to 35/40 miles per gallon, city/highway. The first Sonata Hybrids will go on sale this January, and the automaker has just announced that the car will carry a base price of $25,795 (*not including $750 in destination charges).
In addition to the more efficient powertrain, the Sonata Hybrid comes standard with things like LED headlight accents, LED taillamps, fog lights, iPod/USB connectivity, Bluetooth and automatic headlamp control. Adding the $5,000 premium package adds things like a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation, a rear backup camera, HD radio, leather seats and an Infinity premium sound system.
Compared to its American rival, the , the Sonata undercuts the ’s price by just over $3,000, though the Blue Oval’s claim to fame is its 41-mpg city fuel economy number. Still, we’re big fans of the Sonata Hybrid’s styling and refinement and we suspect it will make a big splash within the mid-size hybrid sedan segment. for Hyundai’s official release.
Lamborghini LP700-4 order guide – Click above for high-res image gallery
We’ve heard plenty of speculation about ’s upcoming replacement, the , and now a leaked dealer order guide gives us a glimpse of exactly what we can expect from the new flagship Raging Bull.
The LP700-4 (or Aventador, or , as it’s been known) is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 with 690 horsepower and 509 pound-feet of torque on tap, routed to the ground via all-wheel drive. Lamborghini’s new seven-speed independent shifting rod (ISR, ) transmission is fitted to the new supercar, and the automaker is claiming super-quick shift times of just 50 milliseconds. That, combined with a dry weight of only 3,472 pounds, means that the LP700-4 will sprint to 62 miles per hour in just 2.9 seconds. That, friends, is fast.
In the leaked dealer order guide, which you can see for yourself in our , Lamborghini details out the whole host of standard and optional equipment for the new LP700-4. New colors like Grigio Estoque and Arancio Argos are available for the exterior, and many different color choices can be had for the Sportivo interior, with or without Alcantara. Of course, high-tech goodies like sat-nav, iPod and USB connectivity and Bluetooth are standard fare, not to mention a giant heaping of street cred.
eBay Find of the Day: Shelby GT500KR golf cart – Click above for image gallery
Don’t worry folks… this one is fully licensed, so expect no unwanted lawsuits. What you see before you is said to be one example of three Shelby Mustang GT500KR golf carts produced, and this one happens to be Numero Uno. This particular electric transportation device is modeled after the , which is itself an homage to the 1968 original, and .
Of the three produced, this is the only one with a more powerful engine capable of pushing the golf cart to 60 miles per hour. According to the sell,er it was created for Amy Bolan, former president of Shelby Automobiles. The stitching on the driver’s seat reads “Mustang Amy” and the seller advises keeping it that way to preserve the “collector’s value.” However, they will stitch something else in that spot if desired.
The auction listing states that this GT500KR golf cart cost more than $50,000 to build. Currently there are 18 bids, with the top dollar offering sitting $9,900 and an unmet reserve. There’s not much time left on this auction, so interested golfers buyers are advised to bid soon.
It’s hard to believe that 10 whole years have passed since the only Brit crazier than Amy Winehouse hit the world stage. We are, of course, referring to the , but you already knew that, didn’t you? And, like any good anniversary celebration, AutoExpress reports that Ariel is celebrating its tenth by releasing a special edition, which sure beats the traditional anniversary gift of tin…
As befitting the celebration, Ariel plans to create just 10 special editions, the first of which will make its debut at the Autosport Show in the UK in January. The big news is that Ariel has partnered up with – a company that specializes in adding more power and finesse to wares – to boost the power of its Honda-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from 245 to 270 horsepower.
Further frippery will include a special coat of paint and a plaque proclaiming its special place in the order along with the signatures of the Mugen and Ariel technicians who built it (just one of each will have their hands on the machine). Check out a larger version of the rendering by clicking on the image above.
2011 Chevrolet Equinox – Click above for high-res image gallery
has issued a recall on its Theta crossover triplets, the , and over safety belt buckle anchors that may fracture and separate in the event of a crash. A total of 97,843 vehicles are affected, all from the 2011 model year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued an official statement, saying that a fractured seatbelt buckle may not properly restrain the vehicle’s occupants during an accident, thus increasing the risk of injuries sustained during a crash. In all three of the affected crossovers, both the driver and front passenger seatbelts are apparently subject to this sort of breaking.
GM will begin notifying owners in the next few weeks, as the recall is expected to ramp up on or before January 18, 2011. , and dealerships will modify one or both of the safety belt anchors as necessary, and of course, all maintenance will be performed free of charge. NHTSA’s official release is available .
The needle is finally pointed in the right direction.
The original 2007 was the first production Jeep that wasn’t. Beyond its “” badge and trademark seven-bar grille, the Compass was a compact crossover derived from the front-wheel-drive Dodge Caliber, a product that lacked the hardware and personality to provide the foundation for a genuine Jeep.
Hampered by ungainly styling, modest power and no transfer case, the Compass never achieved much success on trails or in showrooms. Compass sales always lagged behind the Caliber and its closer platform relative, the . In short, the Compass didn’t accomplish its mission of being an attractive entry-level Jeep for shoppers who aspired to own a but couldn’t afford a real Jeep.
improved the Compass’s interior for 2009, but given the national economic climate and the company’s bankruptcy, it’s likely that even more substantial product changes wouldn’t have moved the sales needle. Things should be a bit different for the 2011 model year.
Mission Motors Mission R – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Mission R cut in a teaser shot from that presaged its arrival. Now, with its public debut scheduled for later today at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show, the lights have come up and the bike is rather awe-inspiring. As we take it in details, from its front Brembo brakes to its rear single-sided swingarm, we are indeed smitten.
Newly developed components have been intelligently integrated into a compact James Parker-conceived chassis, then dressed in a design of grace and aggression by Tim Prentice of Motonium. The result is an electric race bike that’s smaller than a typical 600cc MotoGP machine, yet it holds a massive 14.4 kWh battery beneath its carbon fiber skin. You might not guess this creature weighs a significant 545 pounds (247.2 kg), and though we’ve yet to see it dance through the esses, we’re hoping its movements will conceal this fact as well.
To push the package along, the liquid-cooled AC motor pumps out 141 horses with 115 pound-feet of twist on tap from 0 to 6500 RPM. Top speed hasn’t been determined yet (it will only visit the track sometime after the calender flips to 2011), but the company expects it will easily see 160 miles per hour.
We will have the opportunity to see how the Mission R compares with its peers later in the new year when it competes in the TTXGP North American Championship. The factory team has a lot to prove after sitting out the 2010 season, but this certainly looks promising. The official press release and complete specifications await past the break.
Grand Opening of the Ferrari Pit Store store at Vulcano Buono – Click above for high-res image gallery
Another day, another Store opening somewhere in the world. Right? Maybe so – the company has proven particularly adept at capitalizing on its brand identity with a staggering array of merchandise and the retail locations at which to peddle them. But this one is a little different, and we’ll tell you why.
First is the nature of the store itself. Called the Pit Stop, it eschews the leather briefcases and fancy pens with the prancing horse logos and sticks with the motorsport paraphernalia. In other words, this store is for racing fans, less so for car owners, be they wannabe or actual. Besides the inventory though, it also features a different design from the store you might have seen in an airport terminal while traveling overseas.
Instead of lacquered red eveything, the Pit Stop store is designed to emulate the pit lane garages the team uses at grands prix, complete with perforated plates covering the wall and furniture styled after those industrial-strength travel cases the teams use to transport their equipment from race to race. There’s also a replica pit wall where visitors can try their hand at the race simulator and other attractions in the 900-square-meter retail space.
The second reason this store is different is its location. Ferrari chose to launch the first of this new kind of retail space at in Nola. The innovative commercial complex sits at the foothills of Mount Vesuvius and imitates its form in a 40-meter tall structure covering 500,000 square meters, insulated by acres of sloping vegetation fields in a unique green initiative. A telling location to launch a new concept store, and Ferrari has many more planned for the future. Details in the press release , along with photos from the store’s opening in the gallery below.
BYD e6 electric MPV - Click above for high-res image gallery
When Chinese automaker ’s hit the stage at the in January, the ambitious automaker announced that the vehicle’s production schedule was on track and that . Well, plans frequently change and BYD’s dreams of delivering the E6 to American buyers by the end of 2010 isn’t going to happen. Even though the E6 has been delayed, there appears to be some indication that the automaker could launch the electric crossover in the U.S. in 2011.
The Wall Street Journal prodded Stella Li, BYD’s senior vice president and head of U.S. operations, for info on the E6’s delay and reports that:
The holdup was caused by BYD’s efforts to make the car roomier, especially its rear-seat area that was cramped thanks to a beefy battery pack that needs to be stored under the seat.
Li provided the WSJ with an updated launch schedule, telling the news outlet that 50 E6 electric cars – all destined for fleet duty – should hit U.S. turf sometime in 2011. Furthermore, Li declared that private buyers interested in the E6 will get a crack at owning one in 2012. We’re not going to take bets that BYD’s plans won’t get derailed again.
PorscheDesign composite bobsled – Click above for high-res image gallery
Traditionally, hasn’t been a name commonly associated with snow. That was before the German automaker got into the SUV game, though, and maybe just as important for the impending winter season, the downhill sled market, too.
A couple of years ago, Porsche Design rolled slid out its award-winning for kids, and has now followed up with an advanced composite bobsled. The design takes its cues from parabolic skis, with a slight bend in the runners for better steerability. Porsche Design also toiled over the optimal camber angle, kept the weight down to just 8.8 lbs, and got it certified to TÜV safety standards – all that for around $225 (hey, we never said Porsche ever did anything on the cheap). for the full press release and the images in the gallery below for a closer look.
Chevrolet creates a cost-effective billboard advertisement – Click above to watch video
An affordable car should get an ad campaign to match. Following that logic, Middle Eastern advertising team put together a spot to highlight the low price of the all-new . Rather than slapping some highly-stylized photography work or clean studio images onto the side of a billboard, Chevy had an artist set to work on the blank canvas with a blue marker. For over eight hours.
Amelia Island is the place to be this coming March for collectors and lovers of classic British sportscars. Last year Gooding & Company auctioned off over $16 million in classic automobiles at the annual event, including a $2.75 million 1931 Voisin and a $1.7 million ‘61 RS61 Spyder formerly owned by Sir Stirling Moss.
This year’s consignments have already begun coming in, starting off with a rare 1949 XK120. The alloy-bodied roadster – the only one made in Blue Sheen paint – was the first XK120 to come to the United States, and is expected to fetch as much as half a million at auction. Next up is one of only four ‘33 Phantom II Continental Sedanca Drop Head Coupes (got all that?) with Gurney Nutting coachwork, likewise estimated around the half-million mark. Finally Gooding has a ‘62 23B on the docket with considerable racing pedigree projected at around $200k.
The auction will take place on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation. Details in the press release , with high-res images in the gallery below.
Gallery:
[Source: Gooding & Company Image: Scott Nidermaier/Gooding]
GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you think the is too hot yet the is too cold, ‘ latest concept might strike you as “just right.” This, the Sierra All Terrain HD concept, looks to bridge the gap between the two hardcore pickups from GM’s crosstown rivals, while still offering top-notch levels of power, refinement and technology.
The four-door underpins the All Terrain concept, and power comes from The General’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8. A six-speed automatic sends the 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. Versus a normal Sierra HD, ground clearance has been increased by about three inches, width has been bumped up to 73 inches (four more than normal) and the whole package rides on 20-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 35-inch BFGoodrich KM2 mud terrain tires. Off-road performance is enhanced with the addition of Fox off-road shocks (just like the Ford Raptor).
Inside, GM has fitted the All Terrain concept with a Denali-spec interior with additional satin metal finishes and a leather-wrapped dash. What’s more, a next-generation stereo system with an 80-gigabyte hard drive has been fitted inside this concept, and we’ll soon be seeing this new system across the full GM product range.
Currently, there are no plans to create a production version of the All Terrain concept, though GM tells us that if a road-ready version of this ultra-tough Sierra is produced, it will likely be crafted with the assistance of an aftermarket company. We’ll be seeing the All Terrain concept in person at the Detroit Auto Show in just a few weeks, but for now, click through our high-res image gallery below, or for the official release.
Automobile has compiled a list of the 2011 model year vehicles deserving of all-star recognition. To show off each choice, the buff book has enlisted illustrator . The list of 2011 Automobile All-Stars features:
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It’s hard to argue with that rundown and you can head over to to be honored.
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics prototype – Click above for high-res image gallery
is set to change the way we think about supercars with its concept. This swoopy economical machine is estimated to produce around 328 horsepower from its three-cylinder diesel hybrid powertrain, and fuel economy is claimed to be a lofty 62.5 miles per gallon.
While speaking to Inside Line recently, the automaker’s sales and marketing director, Ian Robertson, announced that the car will cost roughly €150,000, or about $200,000 USD when it goes on sale. That’s indeed a pretty penny, but it’s put into perspective when you consider that ’s upcoming efficient supercar, the , is rumored to cost around $250,000.
No official timeframe has been given as to when we’ll see the debut of the production-ready EfficientDynamics supercar, but Inside Line states that BMW is sponsoring the 2012 London Olympics, so we should look for the car to debut at that time. It’s indeed a vast change from the eight-, ten- and twelve-cylinder hotties that currently make up the supercar segment, but with the changing times putting a larger emphasis on efficiency, BMW’s end result should still be pretty sweet.
Volkswagen Navi Lock – Click above for high-res image gallery
has come up with an unconventional solution for a rash of navigation thefts afflicting Dutch vehicle owners. From what we can gather, thieves are particularly fond of the company’s RNS 310 and RNS 510 navigation systems, resulting in an apparent break-in epidemic. To help get the situation under control, VW is now offering its customers an RNS Navi Lock. The system locks a large metal plate over the entire navigation system, theoretically obscuring the hardware and making it more difficult to steal in the process. When owners are ready to use their nav screen, they simply unlock the plate using a key and go about their business.
The system is available for the , and in Europe, but it’s not exactly cheap. Buyers hoping to protect their precious navigation systems can expect to shell out around 219 euro for the armor plating. Pricey? Sure, but it’s likely less than the cost of repairing break-in damage and replacing the whole system.
1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta chassis # 0024 M – Click above for high-res image gallery
As far as go, it doesn’t get more authentic than this. What you’re looking at is a 1949 – the first model made by Enzo Ferrari after setting up shop under his own name – with custom Barchetta coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. And it’s going up for auction.
Chassis number 0024 M – the 10th of only 25 examples made – was originally displayed at the 1949 Paris Motor Show in Argentina’s official racing colors, yellow and blue, before being sent off to South America to win the 1950 Mar del Plata. True to its name, it was also campaigned in the 1951 Mille Miglia rally, and has since undergone a thorough restoration – including the red paint job you see here.
This authentic piece of Ferrari history is set to cross the block at on January 20th, where it is expected to fetch upwards of $2 million. Details in the press release after the jump.
Newly developed components have been intelligently integrated into a compact James Parker-conceived chassis, then dressed in a 
