The Most Fun You Can Have In A Full-Size, All-Weather American
The American full-size segment isn’t an overly welcoming place for those of us who worship at the altar of skinny-pedal antics. While European automakers are happy to deliver their customers a raft of monolithic luxury barges with Saturn V levels of thrust, We The People have been largely left with coma-inducing hardware like the , and . Meanwhile, bruisers like the , and all boast all-wheel drive capability with sports-car besting performance cocooned in the threads of a tailored three-piece suit. These days, if you want serious big-car, bad-weather go with a domestic badge on the hood, you have just a few options, including the .
So far, says it hasn’t had any trouble convincing buyers to abandon traditional big-boned performance vehicles for the SHO resurrection. Around 10 percent of all Taurus sales leave the showroom with a SHO badge on the fender, and half of the performance sedan’s sales have been conquest buyers sniped from brands like and . For 2013, this D-class athlete boasts a slew of mid-cycle changes to keep the model fresh. If, like us, you have a hard time imagining a buyer skipping the 5 Series for a Taurus, a few new exterior tweaks, a more aggressive brake system, a reworked version of MyFord Touch and a new track performance package are all designed to help change your mind.
The second coming is finally here, and it goes by the title of the 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS. Porsche has put 20 more horses under the hood to bring matters to 420 horsepower, and to get more out of them it has lowered the chassis a further 20 mm and installed a lower final-drive ratio. The one unkind note: whereas the first GTS was available with a six-speed manual, this one is fitted exclusively with Porsche’s eight-speed Tiptronic S paddleshift gearbox.
In the search for improved fuel economy, stop-start is standard, and when things get underway, the extra go-fast means a 5.4-second roar from zero to 60 mph. Along with unique side skirts and wheel arches, features only on the GTS include new Peridot Metallic (as shown) and Carmine Red paint, unique 20-inch wheels and eight-way GTS seats inside. There’s an available Sport Chrono package to keep tabs on your 162-mph SUV, but that won’t be included in the $82,050 base price (which includes $975 in delivery fees).
The GTS will be revealed at the later this month, but you can find out more in the video and press release and get few choice glimpses in the gallery of high-res photos.
A sale is a sale, right? Well, at least in the automotive world, that’s not entirely true. A sale to a regular consumer is, generally speaking and for a number of reasons, much more attractive to an automaker than a sale to a fleet company (sales to companies or the government, for instance).
With that in mind, it’s not surprising to hear America CEO John Krafcik tell Automotive News that his company is looking to cut its fleet sales in half to about 32,000 units while simultaneously increasing retail sales by 100,000. If Hyundai manages to achieve those goals, it would post a 10-percent sales increase in 2012.
Well, now we’ve seen everything. Meet Hangover Heaven: A bus service offering hydrating, vitamin-enriched IVs that will apparently take you from “I feel like death” to “Let’s do some shots!” in a scant 45 minutes. Where can you find this rolling cure-all? Las Vegas, of course.
Assuming you make it back to your hotel after a long night of partying hard on the Vegas strip, the Hangover Heaven bus will gladly pick you up from a number of big name casino/hotels, including the Hard Rock, Paris, Bellagio and Cosmopolitan. Too floored to make the trek down the elevator? Hangover Heaven will send someone up to your room, IV in hand, with services starting at $150. That’s certainly more expensive than the usual Vitamin Water and Extra Strength Tylenol regimen, but if it’ll take you from zero to hero in under an hour, hardcore party animals could certainly make a case for the added cost.
According to Hangover Heaven, all of the medication and equipment is FDA-approved. Of course, drinking in moderation is always recommended, with the company stating, “Our buses can work magic, but they cannot bring you back from the dead.” for a high-production-value video testimonial.
If you fancy a new but are looking for some added muscle, few places will give you what you want and what you need like Roush. The veteran tuning house has just released its latest range of customized pony cars, and at the top of the line sits its most powerful model yet.
In full-fat spec, the Stage 3 Roush Mustang supercharges the 5.0-liter V8 up to a whopping 565 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque. But the Roush kit isn’t all about power: it also features an upgraded suspension riding on 18-inch cast aluminum wheels with Cooper rubber that help it pull a full g on the skid pad, an enhanced aero kit and a choice of four different brake packages.
There’s also plenty of optional equipment to make the Roush Mustang your own – all covered under Roush’s bumper-to-bumper warranty – but if the Stage 3 model proves too much car, buyers can also opt for the Stage 1 body kit or the Stage 2 suspension upgrade without the supercharged engine. to read the press release.
Traxxas has done a smart job of establishing itself as a toymaker for grownups. With radio-controlled iterations of and , the company has something for everyone.
Or at least it does now. Traxxas is now producing R/C funny cars for straight-line antics. The cars are capable of over 70 miles per hour, come with an adjustable wheelie bar and a TQi 2.4GHz controller with all sorts of fun modes. Launch control, race, burnout and staging mode are all part of the programming. A 1/8th scale Christmas tree is also available.
So far, there are only four funny car models. Buyers may choose between Courtney Force’s , John Force’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, Mike Neff’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang or Robert Hight’s AAA Auto Club Ford Mustang. to see a quick video of the cars in action.
So a new front-drive will now set you back $40,185, but that’s really not the most interesting pricing news from . That would be the RX 350 F Sport, which debuts for the 2013 model year in July, carrying a base sticker of $47,875.
While all versions of the RX get the new spindle grille, the F Sport packs Lexus’ eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a performance-tuned suspension that employs Lexus Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, akin to what’s available on the line. Cosmetic enhancements include a mesh grille and F Sport badges, aluminum pedals and black leather seats with contrasting white stitching. A unique set of 19-inch wheels completes the package, which we look forward to getting our hands on.
Lexus has also announced the base price of its hybrid RX, which will start at $46,805, and the hybrid GS. When the goes on sale in May, it will be priced from $59,845. Additionally, the 2012 will see the price bumped $200 across the board. Scroll down to read the full press release.
There are many names you could associate with tuning, but few are as iconic as Steve Saleen. The American tuner extraordinaire made a name for himself tweaking the muscle coupe under the Saleen brand until he left his own company to start SMS Supercars. But now that the two have been , word has it that Saleen is moving ahead with plans to produce a new mid-engine exotic to follow in the footsteps of the famed S7.
Saleen, as you may recall, branched out of tuning pony cars with the S7 in 2000. The car packed a 7.0-liter V8 that was later twin-turbocharged up to 750 horsepower to make it good for a 0-60 run in under three seconds and a top speed of nearly 250 mph. The car endures as an American performance icon, but while an S5S Raptor concept (pictured above) was showcased four years ago at the , the schism between the two Saleen companies kept it from ever seeing the light of day.
With that ugliness now behind us, however, Autoweek reports that Steve Saleen is intent on picking up where the S7 and S5S left off. Getting to that point is expected to take Saleen a while, but in the meantime, he’s working at integrating the two operations. The SMS facility in California will continue building the cars – White Label for mild upgrades, Yellow Label for supercharged models and Black Label for the works – while his Saleen facility in Michigan will distribute the parts. Look for a tuned to come rumbling around the corner in the near future.
You don’t build a chassis as superbly balanced and capable as that which underpins the , Toyota GT 86 and without taking it racing. Fortunately the Japanese auto marques involved have plenty of competition spirit coursing through their veins, and are already gearing up to take the nimble little sportscar racing at events around the world.
recently unveiled the which it will be fielding in Japan’s SuperGT series, and now is following suit with the announcement that it will be bringing not one, but two examples of its GT 86 to the Nürburgring to compete in the grueling 24-hour race there next month. The pair of cars – whose level of modification remains unclear – will be fielded by the company’s own Gazoo Racing team alongside one .
Toyota’s racing plans for the GT 86 extend beyond the ‘Ring, however, as it has revealed a program to support privateer teams fielding the car domestically in both the Super Taikyu Endurance Series and All-Japan Rally Championship. The latter announcement crucially comes at a time when rumors have resurfaced of Toyota preparing to re-enter the World Rally Championship – a series which the Japanese automaker dominated in the 1990s with four Drivers’ Championships and three Constructors’ Championships.
The company shut down its WRC operation to branch into Formula One, but now that its F1 program is long gone, could the time be right for Toyota’s return to the pinnacle of rallying? Only time will tell, but for now you can scope out the press release and video footage to see what Toyota has in store in the short run.
and got you excited? Well, it appears the new Toyobaru twins might be moving the needle at other automakers, too. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the pair may have challenged Nissan to once again reinvestigate its on-again, off-again plans for an affordable, lightweight sports coupe of its own. Nissan’s Chief Creative Officer, Shiro Nakamura, says his employer is looking at downsizing its Z sports car, though it isn’t clear if that would mean the Japanese automaker would field two separate Z models or just replace the current 370Z with a smaller, less costly model.
“I much prefer smaller sports car,” Nakamura tells the Herald. “It is the time to look at that. With 370Z, we still don’t know next generation will have a larger or smaller engine.”
If Nissan were to reduce the size of the 370’s powerplant, it would be the first time that model’s displacement has dropped. Since the Z gets its model designation from the size of its engine (3.7 liter V6), Nissan could have a problem marketing a smaller Z called the 300Z, since the last time a new 300Z was sold in the States was way back in 1986.
More likely would be the revival of long-forgotten nameplates like 200SX or 240SX. Either would almost certainly be direct competition for the and rear-drive coupes.
Nakamura reminded fans that even if the 370Z loses some cubic inches, Nissan will still have the young but already legendary . When asked if Nissan would be willing to support three sports cars, Nakamura says, “If there is a market, we will do it.”
has once again partnered up with Rhys Millen, this time to create a new fit to take on Formula Drift. The specially prepared two-door boasts more then 600 horsepower thanks to careful tweaking by the minds at RMR. That’s a far cry from the 274 hp served up by the stock 2.0-liter turbo four, and so far, Millen is keeping the secret of how he pulled that much grunt from the four-pot to himself. We’re guessing this machine has been touched by the gods of forced-induction in all the right ways.
While Millen and his track-bred heathen are out vaporizing tires, Hyundai fans will have a chance to pour over the company’s other wares and compete for race gifts while at the track. This marks the fourth consecutive year Hyundai and Millen have partnered up, and this year, he’ll be the exclusive driver for the company at all Formula Drift events. Last year, the RMR team took first place in Las Vegas and runner up at Irwindale. for the full press release.
The Official Car Of Beverly Hills Gets A Dramatic Rework
Generally speaking, I’m a pretty measured sort of guy. But when it comes to convertibles, I’m a bit of a lunatic. I’ve been known to motor with the top down in all conditions – including light rain and snow – much to the bewilderment of other drivers (and quite often the chagrin of my passengers). For the most part, it doesn’t matter if I’m driving in a bare-bones roadster or a lux-lined GT. Thankfully for my hapless guests, however, advances in technology have done much to assuage discomfort in poor weather. These days, there are far fewer tradeoffs associated with top-down motoring: improved aerodynamics, wind blockers, enhanced ventilation, sun-reflecting leather and, of course, seat heating and cooling – all features that have done much to make me better company. What’s more, modern underlying structures are stiffer and there’s little in the way of the noise, vibration and harshness penalties that there used to be.
In terms of innovation, nobody has done more to advance the everyday livability of the convertible than . They kept the faith back in the early 80s when nearly everyone had gotten out of the convertible business. They brought back the folding hardtop. They came up with the pyrotechnic roll hoop to augment rollover safety. They created Airscarf. , too. Hell, with this , they’ve even invented a new windshield wiper fluid delivery system to prevent errant schvitzing when driving with the top down (more on that in a minute).
On its face, a typically sober German engineering approach would seem to be at odds with the very idea of a top-down bauble, but Mercedes has taken a very logical approach to building something so frivolous. Amazingly, this philosophy works in the SL’s favor… most of the time.
How much do hybrid drivers really, truly like their cars? According to R.L. Polk, not all that much – at least not in 2011.
Polk has released a new hybrid loyalty analysis that concludes that only 35 percent of people who bought a hybrid bought another one last year. The data comes from car purchases made in 2011, and Polk found that drivers are the most loyal, both to the gas-electric technology and to itself. Sixty percent of Toyota hybrid owners bought another vehicle from the automaker, even if it wasn’t a hybrid. A recent J.D. Power Customer Retention Study found that the was 49 percent, but that doesn’t take powertrains into account.
According to Polk, forty-one percent of Toyota hybrid drivers choose to buy another hybrid (from any brand). Interestingly, when Polk took out these Toyota buyers from their results, hybrid loyalty rates dropped to “under 25 percent. However, in our book that’s kind of skewing the numbers, since most hybrids sold in the U.S. are built by Toyota. When looking only at hybrid drivers, for example, 52 percent bought another Honda and “just under 20 percent” purchased another hybrid (from any brand). The in-brand loyalty, says Brad Smith, director of Polk’s Loyalty Management Practice, shows that hybrids “can certainly give a brand a competitive edge when it comes to attracting new customers.”
What’s perhaps most interesting is that changes in gas prices, “had little impact on hybrid segment loyalty,” according to Polk. In the company’s quarterly hybrid analysis from 2008 through 2011, loyalty rates ranged from 26.4 to 41.8 percent, but spent most of the time in the 30s. See more details of the study in the official Polk press release by .
We already had reason to believe that the next generation of the is poised to add a few new variants, including a diesel model, thanks to recent . But now our spy shooters have caught some development mules out in the wild, cars they say sounded like diesels.
There’s not too much that can be seen in these photos, as the mule uses a modified current-gen body. But the car definitely looks like it has a wider track, which could point to the next G being a bit larger (or at least meaning it’s not going to shrink). We can also see two extra air intakes in the front bumper, just under the grille.
The photographers tell us that the cars were snapped near a test facility in Northern Sweden, leading us to assume that a diesel G is likely to be powered by an engine developed out of the Daimler-Renault-Nissan partnership that was .
In a tire manufacturing landscape thick with companies that are over a century old, the world’s biggest tire maker is a relative upstart with just fifty years under its belt. , yes, Lego, makes more rolling stock than anyone, molding 381 million wheels each year, with sizes as small as a half inch and going up to 4.2 inches in diameter.
It turns out tires are an integral part of the Lego success story. Lego had been producing kits for more than a decade before the 1962 debut of . That kit included the and quickly became a best-seller, accounting for 820,400 sales all on its own in 1967. Before the Lego wheel arrived on the scene and kicked off its revolution, cars in the Lego realm were , and some clever children created 8-bit-looking wheels with the Lego bricks themselves.
With such a long history of building beloved toys, you’d think Lego would tie up with a manufacturer of car tires and put the Lego brand on tires we can put on our daily drivers. Make ours Z-Rated, please.
Tesla Motors is close to rolling out the first electric five-doors from the company’s Fremont, California plant, and customers who reserved the Model S Signature Series are already sending in their specification requests, indicating that the company will likely hit its July deadline for first deliveries.
Tesla has also added three colors – Piano Black, Lacewood and Banana Leaf – to its interior options and Internet connectivity will be an option on all cars, the company said in a letter to prospective customers that was posted on its blog last week. Tesla also said it would personally deliver the cars to the location of the customer’s choice.
The Model S, the second model from Tesla after the , will be priced starting at $57,400 for a version with a 160-mile single-charge range before the $7,500 tax credit goes into effect. A 300-mile-range version goes for about $77,000. Read for Autoblog’s “First Ride” impressions.
Earlier this year, Tesla said of $204.2 million and forecast Model S sales at 5,000 units for this year. That’s more than double the 2,100 of the $109,000 Roadsters that Tesla sold over the past four years.
Canada’s likes to take a car, any car, and make it wilder. The they did looks intriguingly evil. The wheels they’ve created for the are amazing.
Their latest canvas is the , which became Project Pryzm. “The objective behind Project Pryzm was to create a car that would leave you speechless,” says SR Auto. Let’s just say they’re getting really close, but we still have a few things to say about it.
These guys apparently took inspiration from the and one of the pigs from , and we think they’ve come up with mixed results. We like the idea of a more aggressive iQ, we’re just not sure we’re fans of one with this much going on. Passengers are treated to an upgraded interior with leather seats and diamond-stitched suede inserts on the seat centers and door panels.
Check out our gallery for more images, then let us know what you think of this pint-sized mouth-breather.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association announced on its website that is recalling 140,000 models built between August 1, 2010 and October 18, 2011. The defect in question is a seal in the wiring harness connector to the passenger side wiper motor that may be missing.
If the seal is AWOL, water could build up in the connector, which could over time render the passenger-side wiper useless. And if that happens, visibility could of course be altered, resulting in a higher probability of a crash.
To fix the issue, affected Focus owners need to take their vehicles to a Ford dealer for a free inspection of the wiper connector. A technician will clean and seal any connector that needs it, and any wiper motor that no longer works will be replaced free of charge. Hit the jump to read over the NHTSA press release.
Fisker Automotive may drop plans to use a Delaware factory to build its upcoming sedan and is looking at “other options,” Automotive News reports, citing an interview with company CEO Tom LaSorda. The company, in an online meeting with owners of the extended-range plug-in sedan, spelled out some of the issues that have been plaguing the car.
Fisker will hold off on deciding on the Atlantic’s production site until the end of summer, which will delay the model’s debut. LaSorda maintains that Fisker will be able to produce the Atlantic with or without Department of Energy funding, according to Automotive News. Fisker’s director of corporate communications, Russell Datz, tells AutoblogGreen that the company remains “committed to Delaware” but admits that if the rest of the company’s DOE loan money does not come through, the plan to build the Atlantic in Delaware could change.
It’s always interesting to see what the guys who make and sell speed parts will build to show off their wares. Heck, that’s the appeal of the show in a nutshell. So we’re intrigued by this new project from Ford Racing, despite its unfortunate color, “Gotta Have It Green,” a hue that doesn’t exist in the natural world. (Outside of 1980’s album covers, that is.)
As reported on , the project starts with everyone’s favorite V8, the Coyote five-liter, but adds a whole bunch of stuff from the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog, including a 2.3-liter, intercooled, twin-screw Whipple supercharger. The car has a six-speed manual, of course, and there’s an 8.8-inch axle out back. It’s been lowered an inch, thanks to new FRPP springs paired with matching shocks. Stopping power comes courtesy of a 14-inch, four-piston Brembo setup and Laguna Seca brake duct kit. This project ‘Stang is also equipped with a Mustang GT Side Exhaust System, 19-by-9-inch wheels with massive 255/40/ZR19 Pirelli PZero tires, and the Laguna Seca Adjustable Front Splitter.
While we don’t see any performance specs for the car, we know .
You can check out all the images of the Ford Racing Mustang project car in our .
