Buried within recent announcement regarding its , the company openly confirmed that the launch of the Panamera S Hybrid is on track for 2011. Though perhaps not as innovative or as those racy electric vehicles, the Panamera S Hybrid still hails from Stuttgart and, therefore, is bound to be one exhilarating ride.
The upcoming Panamera will borrow the hybrid hardware found in the current . That means it will sport a 329-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engine mated to a 46 hp electric motor. Like the Cayenne S Hybrid, the Panamera’s parallel hybrid setup . When the production Panamera S Hybrid takes to the streets in 2011, it will become the company’s second model to sport a hybrid powertrain, a remarkable achievement considering that few people associate Porsche with fuel efficiency. Follow the jump for more info on Porsche’s fuel-saving plans.
1995 McLaren F1 to be auctioned by Gooding & Company – Click above for high-res image gallery
Gooding & Company’s auction coinciding with this year’s Pebble Beach Concours is coming up in a few short weeks, and the lineup of available cars is shaping up to be quite impressive. Already dozens of incredibly compelling and valuable collector cars are scheduled to make their way across the block, but the car that has caught our attention the most so far is a 1995 McLaren F1.
The F1 is singularly special in its own right, but this particular car is even more attractive to buyers in the United States since it’s one of the few examples actually registered in the country. The car was sold originally to Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle, who was one of the sponsors of McLaren’s race team back in the mid-1990s. This F1 comes finished in classic Magnesium Silver paint with a black interior and comes with its factory-delivered luggage and tools. The estimated price? A mere $2.5 to $3.5 million. Follow the jump for full details in the press release from Gooding, and be sure to check out the images below.
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Photos by Paul Litwinski (C) 2010 Courtesy of Gooding & Company
Inside Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji tech center – Click above for high-res image gallery
Sitting in the shadow of Mount Fuji, is part proving grounds and part engineering center. But unlike most facilities, Higashi-Fuji includes an array of engineering and research offices employing over 3,000 employees, and an assortment of non-track test facilities.
The Higashi-Fuji campus opened back in 1966 and has grown to encompass nearly 2.7 millionsquare feet of facility floor space. We were given the rare opportunity to visit the facility where we witnessed one unique crash test, tried out one of the world’s most advanced driving simulators and sampled an assortment of new safety features, including a brake override system, enhanced pre-collision braking, pedestrian detection and updated ABS calibrations for the . Make the jump for the full report.
Have you’ve been watching car prices lately? They seem to go up every month. Forget everything you’ve been reading about sales incentives, bargain leases or low-cost financing. They just mask the fact that automakers are quietly bumping up MSRP’s every chance they get.
In other words, they quietly raise the price of a car and then loudly announce the deals they’re offering. Sure, you get a discount. But that discount comes off an ever-higher price.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say again. By 2015, the average new car in the American market is going to cost about $35,000. I’m not talking about the MSRP, which is already at an average of $33,000. I’m talking about the transaction price, what people actually pay for a car.
There are a variety of reasons why this is happening. But it basically comes down to this: even though car sales are very weak, we’re actually in a seller’s market. The planets are in alignment for automakers to raise their prices, especially for , and . And it’s only going to get worse.
John McElroy is host of the TV program and daily web video . Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.
2011 Infiniti QX56 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Finally, after years and years of stagnation and painfully slow sales, small cars are starting to take a foothold in the United States. Or are they? While conventional wisdom makes us believe that Americans are ready to take the downsizing plunge in the face of – or at least the threat of – high fuel prices and environmental concerns (we’re all still watching the Gulf Coast, right?), it seems that reality may once again set us straight.
Automotive sales watchdog Autodata has found that the gas-swilling large SUV segment is growing at a faster pace than the America’s small car segment. Like statistics? Here we go: With a 19-percent jump over the first six months of 2010, large SUV sales have outpaced small cars (14 percent). Critically, they’ve also outpaced the overall market (17 percent).
Now, before we get our feathers riled up too much, realize that sales of large SUVs still lag way behind small cars – 974,000 to 121,000 through the first half of the year. Further, large crossovers like the , , , GMC Acadia and are included in those figures right alongside traditional behemoths like the , , and .
We also expect that small car sales will continue to climb with new models coming to market, such as the upcoming , and and Elantra. That said, there’s always going to be a demand for large and powerful SUVs that can haul people and stuff while towing a boat or camper in cool, air-conditioned comfort, and automakers will be only too happy to provide the thick-margined vehicles for their consumption. For better or for worse.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin – Click above for high-res image gallery
When it comes to a new Explorer Sport Trac for 2011, the only real surprise would have been if Ford had actually opted to build one. With the standard Explorer moving to a unit-body architecture, there are no plans for a new pickup truck version, a vehicle that probably would have been something akin to the Honda Ridgeline.
Since the Ridgeline hasn’t exactly been flying off dealer’s lots, Ford has wisely decided to focus on its full-bodied version, the Explorer. The Blue Oval hasn’t made a habit of breaking out Sport Trac sales from its SUV kin, but the Explorer only totaled 52,190 in 2009, so the pickup’s volume probably wasn’t a huge seller. According to Automotive News’ sources, Sport Trac sales usually totaled about 20 to 25 percent of Explorer sales over the last decade, but that number strikes us as curiously high. Over its entire life, we never saw a ton of them – even on the roads around Michigan where domestic pickups are commonplace.
X Games 16 Subaru Practice Session – Click above for high-res image gallery
It was just a short time ago – five years, to be exact – that rallying was introduced as a competition in the X Games. The first event started out in spectacular fashion, with Travis Pastrana beating out the late Colin McRae after the former World Rally Championship winner rolled his car with just a few turns to go.
Since then, the competition has become stronger and car manufacturers have increased their involvement as interest in the sport has increased thanks to ESPN’s mainstream audience. This year looks to be one of the most exciting events yet with a host of new cars, new drivers, new rules and even a new event. Follow the jump to learn about what to expect for this year’s X Games 16 and what it’s like to ride shotgun in a 500-horsepower rally car.
President Obama toured the ‘ where the automaker will build (can we say “is building” yet?) the today, and as any good PR person will surely agree, you can’t let an opportunity like that go by without making an announcement of some sort. So, GM has something to say and it’s big news, too: GM will increase Volt production capacity by 50 percent in 2012.
Details are as follows: Instead of making 30,000 Volts in the U.S. in 2012, GM will now make 45,000. These numbers are lower than , but they’re good news for fans of plug-in vehicles. Is the increase a response to positive reaction to ? Maybe, GM said in a statement that, “In the past few weeks, more than 25,000 people have joined the Chevrolet Volt enthusiast list.”
The news is good for the President, too, since the White House is pushing message this week. Part of that is an interactive version of the White House map showing places where the government has supported automakers, which you can find .
As much as we were hoping that it was nothing more than an elaborate internet hoax by a talented Photoshopper, we’re getting closer and closer to slotting this one away in the Silly But Apparently True file. According to Inside Line, the oft-rumored is indeed coming to an auto show near you, starting late this year at the LA Auto Show.
Yes, we’re serious. No, we’re not sure we get it either.
If there’s any truth to this rumor, we can expect the droptop crossover to hit the market as a 2012 model equipped with the same 3.5-liter V6 engine and continuously variable automatic transmission as the standard-issue . The switchover to convertible status will reportedly include the removal of the rear doors and may even come with a -esque hoop that’s ostensibly there to boost rigidity and act as some sort of roll bar in the unlikely event of a tipover. We’re sure it’ll be just the thing for unstable homecoming queens come parade duty.
Gluttons for punishment are free to see the complete retina-roasting rendering . Hey, don’t blame us… we warned you.
Engine downsizing has now come to the almost top-of-the-line with the adoption of AMG’s new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8. The new direct-injected V8 bumps output up from a mere 518 horsepower to 571 horsepower along with generating 663 pound-feet of torque between 2,250 and 3,750 rpm. That’s sufficient to propel this behemoth to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds in normal trim or 4.4 seconds if you opt for the AMG sports package.
The 2011 S63 also swaps out its previous torque converter automatic transmission for the multi-clutch unit from the SL63, a move which should lend it a more sporting feel. Just as other automakers get both performance and efficiency benefits from boosted direct-injected engines, the S63’s combine fuel economy numbers have jumped from 16.3 miles per gallon (U.S.) to 22.4 mpg on the EU test cycle. The EPA numbers aren’t yet available, but we would expect a similar real-world increase from the 2010 model’s 14 mpg, though perhaps a bit smaller since the EPA’s testing methodology won’t show any benefits from the S63’s new automatic start-stop feature. Official press release and driving footage video , spanking new high-res gallery below.
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[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
-Benz unveils 2011 S63 AMG with twin-turbo 5.5L V8 [w/video]
2010 Lexus ES 350 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The entry-level luxury sedan segment doesn’t command the enthusiast attention of, say, the ultra-premium luxury sports sedan. But if you ask automakers to choose between the two, we’d wager that most would rather have a best-in-class $35,000 sedan than a world-beating $70,000 sports tourer.
The reason? Very few fortunes are made selling a few thousand highfalutin’ rocket launchers, but bottom lines can easily be bolstered or crippled based on the success or failure of a plush, high-volume cruiser. Luxury marques from to have experienced varied levels of success at the low end of the luxury market, but few have enjoyed the consistent sales dominance of the Lexus ES. In the past decade, has cranked out over 600,000 copies in the U.S. alone, with another 650,000 units shipped around the world. And those sales have traditionally been overwhelmingly of the retail variety with little or no incentives. Not bad for what many consider a glorified .
Enthusiasts take note: Lexus didn’t reach such lofty sales levels with a rear-wheel-drive architecture or pavement-punishing quantities of horsepower. The road map to success for the ES has been simple: a soft, compliant ride; a pampering interior; and unmatched quality. The fifth-generation ES350 has built nicely on those attributes with smoother power, a quieter cabin and more technology. But the competition is still striving to overtake the ES in sales, so Lexus has gone and given its top-selling sedan a mid-cycle refresh for 2010. We spent a week in a Starfire Pearl ES350 to see if it still had the goods to remain a top option in the entry-level luxury segment.
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Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
: 2010 Lexus ES 350 is soft-riding royalty that’s lost its crown
2011 Toyota Tacoma TRD TX Pro – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’re like us, you’d probably do all manner of unspeakable acts to be able to call the your very own. Unfortunately, FoMoCo isn’t in the business of accepting black market kidneys as payment, which has left us without a desert stomping pickup in the driveway. Fortunately, has come out of left field with a stopgap savior in the form of its new 2011 Tacoma TX and TX Pro models. The packages are built around the TX concept from the 2009 SEMA show, and pack much of the hardware we saw on that particular show truck.
Both packages are available on the Tacoma V6 Access Cab or Double Cab Prerunner models that are equipped with the TRD off-road package. In addition to the sweet electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks and Rugged Trail rubber, the TX package throws in 16-inch blacked-out beadlock wheels and black tube side steps among other good-looking pieces. Step it up to the TX Pro, and you’re also rewarded with a TRD cat-back exhaust.
Both trims cost $1,699 and represent a savings of over $700 compared to if you’d simply raided the TRD catalog yourself. The TX and TX Pro packages may not put you on the same level as Ford’s mad hatter, but it’s a start. for the press release and check out our massive gallery below.
2010 Toyota 4Runner – Click above for high-res image gallery
Cars and trucks here in the U.S. are being invaded by more efficient four-cylinder engines. Both the and , for example, feature four-pot-only lineups. Even the 4,800-pound has an entry-level 2.7-liter four. Well, at least the off-road-ready Toyota did offer a four-banger for one model year.
Motor Trend is reporting that will discontinue the four-cylinder model from the 2011 4Runner lineup due to an anemic take rate of less than 10 percent. That’s pretty amazing given the fact that the V6 option costs nearly $4,000 more than the four-cylinder model, but the power and fuel economy stats tell the whole story. The downsized engine option only provides 157-horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. That’s down a whopping 113 ponies and 100 lb-ft compared to the optional 4.0-liter V6, while combined fuel economy is within one mile-per-gallon of the more powerful engine.
If taking away 1.3-liters and 113-horsepower only nets you a fuel economy gain of one measly mpg, we can’t blame customers for overwhelmingly opting for the far more powerful V6. And we really with a 4.0-liter equipped 4Runner, too, so we’re thinking the extra money is well-spent.
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Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
2011Nissan Rogue – Click above for high-res image gallery
The 2011 Nissan Rogue is a getting a slight efresh when it goes on sale in mid-August. The most obvious external changes are a nose job that brings with it an eggcrate grille shaped more like the one on its bigger Murano sibling, along with new pockets around the foglamps that give the front a more sculpted appearance and revised front and rear spoilers. 18-inch wheels are also newly available for the SL and S Krōm Edition models. The exterior alterations strike us as subtle but handsome, particularly the new grille, which minimizes the odd ‘chrome bucktooth’ look of the 2010 model.
Perhaps the more important changes outside the vehicle are of the type that only James May would be likely to notice: spats in front of the wheels and a new underbody tray cut the aerodynamic drag and contribute to 1 mpg improvements in both the city and highway fuel economy numbers. The front-wheel-drive model is now EPA rated at 22/28 mpg while the all-wheel-drive variant manages 22/26 mpg. Inside, the Rogue doesn’t look much different but does get upgraded entertainment systems.
The 2011 gets its first public showing this weekend at the annual Z Car Convention in Nashville, TN.
Toyota FT-HS Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
What’s in a name? Well now, that’d depend on the name, wouldn’t it? For instance, while both are sporty cars from , there’s a big difference to Blue Oval fans when discussing the merits of the Ford versus the Ford Probe. When talk turns to , the name that conjures up the most memories in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts is ‘Supra.’
Despite all this, the Japanese automaker inexplicably let its trademark for the iconic Supra moniker pass by in 2006. Luckily, nobody tried to punish Toyota by trying to snap up the name, and now the chance is over. According to Car and Driver, Toyota has reapplied for the trademark on the Supra name, and now has three years to make use of it.
This revelation just so happens to coincide with reports that Toyota president Akio Toyoda wants “to see the next Supra tested in the near future.” Kinda makes you wonder, doesn’t it? We’re thinking that it’s unlikely that Toyota would use the Supra name for its long-anticipated FT-86 revival, so we’ll of course be keeping our ears to the ground for any coming out of Japan.
Retired Ferrari F1 cars take to the Nurburgring – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’re lucky wealthy enough to own one of retired works Formula One machines, the automaker’s F1 Client department takes care of maintenance and preparation of your historic racer, whether it be Nigel Mansell’s ex-F190, Michael Schumacher’s championship-winning F2001 or any number of pedigreed prancing ponies.
This week, the crew brought 10 of its most prized possessions out to the Nürburgring so current owners could spend some quality time behind the wheel. And the open wheelers weren’t the only exotic wares in Germany. Four of the Enzo-based FXXs and 15 of the newer 599XXs were on hand, each track-only variant equipped with cutting-edge technologies that the Maranello boffins are experimenting with for future products. The “owners” of these XX models are essentially paying for the privilege of being Ferrari beta testers, but to our eyes, there are worse ways to spend a few days at the Green Hell.
If you reside or frequent a large metropolitan area, you’re probably all too aware of the cost to park your vehicle. In cities like New York or Chicago, you can pay upwards of $30 or more for a full day of parking. To make matters worse, even with astronomical costs many drivers can’t even find an open spot.
San Francisco is looking for a permanent solution to its parking problems by going high tech and paying big bucks to do it. Frisco is investing $25 million on a new electronic parking system that will constantly gauge demand for spots and raise or lower pricing accordingly. So why go to all this expense and trouble to set parking prices?
Parking that’s too cheap may lead to spots getting filled too quickly, which will lead to cars circling around waiting for spots, clogging streets with unnecessary congestion. The goal of the $25 million project is to make parking cheap enough for people to afford it while at the same time expensive enough to ensure spots are always available.
The electronic parking system will work as a network, setting prices between a quarter and $6 per hour depending on demand. The high-tech solution will start with 190 new meters in the Hayes Valley area of San Francisco and in two years end with 6,000 metered spaces and 12,250 spots at the city’s 15 parking garages. The system will eventually make it possible for advanced planners to go online to find where the most spots are located. Distracted driving aficionados will be able to search for spots on their smartphone, making it easier for multi-taskers to park and harder for pedestrians and other drivers to avoid getting hit.
Sure enough, the upcoming Carfax 400 will be paced by none other than the Blue Oval’s tiny 2011 Sedan. With less than a third of the displacement of the tube-frame beasts lapping Michigan International Speedway, we wouldn’t quite expect lightning-quick pace laps, but hey – safety first. While pace cars are typically some sort of performance product, manufacturers aren’t past parading less than muscular new hardware in front of the captive audiences of the raceway.
If was looking for a way to bring its marketing for the Fiesta out of the social media realm and into a more mainstream American venue, they could have hardly done better than the Sprint Cup. On average, the series races net 7.9 million viewers. On Sunday, August 15, each and every one of those souls will get to watch a maroon four door fiesta lead the pack, complete with a massive Blue Oval decal down the side. Talk about cheap advertising. Check out the gallery for a few shots from the car’s unveiling.
Nissan object detection and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist Concept – click above for high-res image gallery
Vehicles from an increasing number of automakers are becoming more aware of their surroundings than the drivers that operate them. The latest is , which has announced several new safety technologies set to be added to its lineup, including a Forward Collision Avoidance Assist Concept. The system works like similar systems from other manufacturers including , , and , but evolves the concept even further.
A front-mounted radar sensor detects when the vehicle is closing too quickly and first warns the driver and then applies the brakes automatically to avoid or minimize the effects of a crash.
Additionally, the moving object detection uses the surround-view camera system to determine if there are pedestrians or other objects moving in proximity of the vehicle. Unlike pedestrian detection systems from and Lexus, this system only functions at very low speeds and doesn’t apply the brakes. Instead, the driver gets an audible and visual warning of anything moving around them. No specific vehicle applications or timing have been announced, but it’s safe to assume we’ll be seeing this tech featured on Infiniti’s wares sometime next year.
2010 BMW X6M – Click above for high-res image gallery
The good people at AutoExpress are doing their best to fan the flames of the X4 rumors. The site claims to have snagged a bevy of information on the Bavarian brand’s product plans, including a more detailed account of what we can expect out of the much-rumored . Supposedly the new high-rider will borrow a heaping helping of design cues from the , so if you aren’t a fan of that brute, odds are you won’t like the new model, either. Unlike the big boy, the site claims that the X4 will make use of a double-gated hatch in the rear similar to what’s found in the – a smart choice to help load and unload parcels.
AutoExpress also lays out drivetrain possibilities, including the likelihood of one very thrifty 2.0-liter turbo diesel mill that promises around 50 mpg. The site says that in that configuration, 0-60 is likely to click off in a somewhat loping 8.6 seconds, though there will be more potent variations available, including one powered by a turbo 3.0-liter inline-six with north of 300 horsepower.
It all sounds good, but BMW itself hasn’t said word one about seriously mulling a new ‘ute.
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Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.
