has announced base pricing for the 2013 XTS, its all-new, full-size luxury sedan. The car goes on sale this spring with a starting MSRP of $44,995 (*including destination charges).
The front-drive XTS will be available in four specifications: Base, Luxury, Premium and Platinum. All-wheel-drive will be available with any of the three trim packages. Cadillac will be deploying , its new capacitive touch infotainment system, as standard equipment and every XTS will be equipped with Magnetic Ride Control.
Not mentioned today was the specific availability of Cadillac’s new or any further pricing information about the specific packages. Cadillac did say it will be releasing a CUE Apple iPad app next month that will replicate the XTS’ center screen. Click to read the full press release, then comment on whether you think Caddy’s pricing is a fair shake in Comments.
While it doesn’t even appear as a bad pixel on most enthusiasts’ radar, the serves legions of mainstream consumers perfectly well. To keep the unassuming family hauler from lagging behind its advancing competition, the automaker has introduced a refreshed and tweaked at the .
Look carefully on the exterior and you may notice the freshened fog lamps or redesigned grille on the front fascia. Out back, there are restyled taillamps. Three new colors join the pallete (Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl and Cosmic Gray Mica). Under the hood, the engines are carried over from last year (2.7-liter four-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V6, depending on trim level, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission).
With the exception of the new interior color (black leather or black cloth upholstery) and new buttons on the steering wheel, the cabin appears virtually identical. However, there are more standard features on the LE trim (blind spot mirror, eight-way power-operated driver’s seat, puddle lamps, tilt/telescope steering wheel, and more) and the range-topping Limited receives LED running lights and a premium navigation system with Entune connectivity. Most of the new features are offered across the model range, but at an additional cost. The updated 2013 Toyota Venza goes on sale in late May.
Lacking the fanfare of a flashy press conference, the arrived at the sporting an upgraded interior and new wheel options ( is one of the few automakers still following the actual calendar when it comes to model year introductions, meaning 2012 models are just now flowing into the North American marketplace).
While hardly lacking lavishness, the Evora’s cockpit has been further enhanced with additional leather on the door panels and lower sills. There is a new trim ring around the transmission shifter, the standard Recaro seats have been re-upholstered with upgraded leather (with contrasting piping and woven fabric inserts) and the bright brushed metal dashboard has a new dark finish for better contrast. Rounding up the interior alterations, the loathed Alpine audio/navigation system has been replaced with a superior system from Pioneer.
The standard alloy wheel package remains a staggered 18- and 19-inch setup, but Lotus is also offering a new 19- and 20-inch wheel package with several different finishes including a gorgeous matte anthracite (). The 2012 Lotus Evora / Evora S is rolling into showrooms today.
has announced that Ferdinand Alexander Porsche – grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, son of Ferry Porsche and designer of the iconic – passed away today, April 5, at the age of 76. He died in Salzburg, Austria of unknown causes.
It goes without saying that the 911 is the most important product in the history of Porsche, and it’s a testament to Ferdinand Alexander’s skill as a designer that his original shape has evolved so little since 1963 when it debuted at the F.
The 911, though, isn’t his only achievement. He was also reportedly very proud of another car he designed, the 904, as well as founding the industrial design company in 1972.
Shelby is celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, the performance gurus rolled out the very first Cobra ever constructed.
Assembled by Carol Shelby himself, the roadster is the very first pairing of an AC Ace and V8 engine. Shelby first opted to slide a 221 cubic-inch eight-cylinder under the hood before later switching to a 260 cube engine tuned to around 260 horsepower. He beefed up components like the chassis tubes, spindles, rear differential and springs to build a car capable of handling the uptick in power.
Flash forward 50 years, and the CSX2000 looks surprisingly good. Gentle tears on the seats, a well-worn shifter and flawed paint lend the impression that this beast is in perfectly unmolested condition. Consider us in love. Currently, the first in a long line of snakes is valued at around $20 million, though Shelby himself says he has no intention of selling the vehicle any time soon. We can’t blame the guy.
is out to make both and General Motors sweat with the Auburn Hills automaker’s newest pickup, the . Debuting at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the half-ton pickup bows with less weight, an efficient new 3.6-liter V6 option and an eight-speed automatic transmission. projects the V6 alone should help yield 20 percent better fuel economy over the old 3.7 lump, thanks in part to a start/stop system. While there are no solid EPA numbers as of yet, our estimations put the vehicle at around 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Throw in aerodynamic tweaks like an active shutter system that closes off the engine bay and a standard air-ride suspension that lowers the vehicle by as much as 1.2 inches for better efficiency, easier loading and load leveling and you have a force to be reckoned with.
The Pentastar churns out 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, besting the 3.7-liter V6 in the by around three ponies. Chrysler has also increased the output of the optional 5.7-liter V8, from 390 hp to 395 and 407 lb-ft of torque. Engineers managed to free up the extra grunt by using an electronic power steering system in place of the old belt-driven unit. Interestingly enough, the V8 will also boast 20 percent better fuel economy thanks to an eight-speed automatic.
In addition, the new 1500 features a tweaked interior, complete with the company’s excellent 8.4-inch UConnect touch screen interface. We love the system in vehicles like the Dodge Charger, and the tech should be right at home on the big pickup.
Chrysler also managed to trim a significant amount of weight from the 2013 Ram 1500. In V6 guise, the truck now uses aluminum control arms, an aluminum hood, a new bed and frame design as well as lighter bumpers for a combined weight savings of around 147 pounds over the previous generation. V8 models get away with a more modest trimming. for the full press release.
When we read through the press materials for the new , we had to double-check… had we downloaded the release for the wrong car? Because right here it says, “In Sport mode, throttle response is enhanced and steering effort is weighted… to offer a sportier character.” And what’s this about paddle shifters? This is the Avalon, the car that replaced the Mercury Grand Marquis in the hearts, minds and garages of Florida retirees.
But yes, we had the right car. Apparently is serious about developing more interesting and youthful products, and it’s off to a good start with the Avalon, based on what we have heard and seen at the today. The car was developed, styled and engineered in the United States, and it will be built here too, at Toyota’s Georgetown, KY, plant. While that doesn’t mean much without a product that can deliver the goods, we like most of what we see. From the A-pillar on back, the new Avalon looks long and sleek and seems to have a lot of inspiration in its design. The front grille, however, has way too much in it for our tastes. Inside the Avalon, we see what looks to be a pretty stunning instrument panel design, and we’re intrigued by the capacitive touch controls Toyota has included.
While Toyota is declining to say anything about what powers the new Avalon other the fact that the engine will have six cylinders, we can’t imagine it will be anything other than a version of its corporate 3.5-liter. The big question is how much horsepower this new, sportier Avalon might be packing. The current car has 268 horses, though another derivative of the engine in the Lexus GS boasts 306. The 2013 Avalon goes on sale late this year, and we must admit, this is the first Avalon we might actually be excited to drive. Click past the jump to read the full press release.
Yes, has indeed made a habit of teasing the masses with exotic and eco-friendly concepts at some of the world’s largest auto shows over the past few years, notably with the and Concepts. But, unlike those rolling showcases, the automaker claims its latest reveal, known rather cryptically as the LE Concept, will hit dealerships within the next two years in nearly unchanged form.
According to Infiniti, the LE Concept boasts a 24kWh lithium-ion battery made up of 192 cells, positioned under the passenger compartment floor. For those keeping track, this sounds like the same battery used in the . The 100kw electric motor, however, is upsized for this application. The LE’s 134 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque represent increases of 24 horses and 30 lb-ft over its less powerful sibling.
Infiniti is quick to point out that the LE Concept is not a small car. At 186.4 inches, its length is roughly the same as Infiniti’s . Atop the EV platform sits a highly streamlined body, which pays dividends with a .25 coefficient of drag that ought to help the LE reach its estimated 100-mile range (the latter being the same as the Leaf).
Inside, Infiniti uses words and phrases like double-wave and “Hamon” (ripple) design to describe the LE’s purposeful cabin. Ahead of the driver sits both analog and digital readouts showing speed, distance remaining and even the location of available EV chargers in the vicinity, all powered by an Intel Atom processor.
There’s plenty of technology packed into the LE Concept, including what the automaker calls Infiniti Connection, which includes Infiniti’s Personal Assistant 24-hour concierge service, navigation, and POI search. Also on the menu is a wireless charging system in addition to the standard DC 50 kW quick charger.
Infiniti Americas Vice President Ben Poore says the company expects the LE to “be the first home-based wireless charging system if adapted for the production version.” Yes, we noticed the ‘if,’ too. Guess we’ll have to wait and see about that bit. In any case, feel free to read all about the LE Concept in the press release and to check out our high-res image galleries.
General Motors is taking a big gamble in a little way with its . The Detroit automaker is betting that high fuel prices and an increased awareness of one’s ecological footprint will mean more consumers are willing to entertain a new car with an even smaller err… footprint. The Spark will join other minicars like the , and , none of which have met with significant sales volume. On the other hand, its big brother, the has performed well in the early going. In addition, the Spark offers more physical volume than its peers – as well as a set of rear doors – so practicality appears to be solidly in favor of Camp Chevy.
The five-door Spark will test America’s appetites for small car life with a starting price of just $12,995 (*including delivery) when it arrives in showrooms later this year. Available in a trio of trims, the lineup will start with the well-equipped LS model that includes a whopping 10 airbags, air conditioning, power windows, OnStar and 15-inch alloys.
Stepping up to the 1LT trim will cost $14,495, but it adds an audio system with seven-inch color touchscreen, USB connectivity and satellite radio. Additional features include keyless entry, power mirrors, cruise control, Bluetooth (”for select phones”) and mundane items like visor mirrors and floor mats. The range-topping 2LT ($15,795) will be distinguished by a unique set of 15-inch wheels, sportier body-color fascias, fog lamps and additional exterior brightwork. Inside, heated, leatherette-covered seats and a leather-wrapped wheel spruce up the cabin.
Regardless of which trim spec is selected, buyers will find a 1.2-liter Ecotec four-cylinder underhood, and a five-speed manual is standard equipment, though a four-speed automatic can be substituted for $925.
GM that it will also bring a Spark EV to “select markets” in the U.S. sometime in 2013, though it has yet to announce pricing or an on-sale date for the pure electric runabout.
First , the reborn, all-electric Delorean has made a surprise appearance at the this year. It’s a surprise because not even Delorean Motor Company president Stephen Wynne knew he was going to be here until a few weeks ago, when show organizers called with an invite.
With a prime spot near the EV ride along track – the DMCev is sadly not involved – Wynne said he’s been getting good attention, even though said track is in the basement. We asked Wynne what’s been going on with the car since last fall’s announcement and the short answer is that this is one EV concept that’s going into production.
The target date for fans to buy the DMCev is early 2013, but a lot has to happen between now and then. Right now, all the company has is the converted DMC-12 to show off the technology. To create this, the designers had to add 200 pounds of stuff, and the production version is going to be either the same weight as the gas version, or a few pounds less, in order to improve both performance and range. The car is powered by a 32-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack and has a 125 mile per hour top speed with a range of 100 miles. Published specs claim a 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds, but Wynne said the target is now under six seconds. Price for all this fun? $95,000.
DMC will assemble the car in Houston, TX with a lot of help from Louisiana’s Epic EV, the company working on (not the ). These two companies are testing different motor/inverter combinations for the electric Delorean, and Wynne said they are looking for a “proven product” from a company that has at least “several hundred” units on the road. The current prototype also uses a DC motor, but the production will use AC for better range, performance and regenerative braking ability. The is also due for an upgrade
Those are the details we could glean in New York. Can you believe we made it through this entire post without a Back To The Future reference? The DMCev can’t do it, though, with a license plate that reads “” and a battery that carries the “Flux Power” nickname. For more, you can watch a video of Translogic going for a ride in the DMCev down , where you’ll also find a related press release.
announced today that the starting price of its much anticipated will be $25,495 when it goes on sale. We don’t have an exact date, but Subaru says it will arrive in dealerships “this spring.”
The starting price of $25,495 does include a destination charge of $750* and will get you the BRZ Premium with a six-speed manual transmission. Choosing a six-speed automatic will add $1,100 for a new total of $26,595. That price of admission does, however, include a touchscreennavigation system, Bluetooth connectivity and HID headlamps.
Those who require more pampering can step up to the BRZ Limited with a base price of $27,495 for the manual-equipped model. Adding the automatic again bumps the price by $1,100 to $28,595. Limited models also get heated seats with Alcantara inserts and leather bolsters, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lights, keyless entry/start and a body-color rear spoiler. The last and most expensive configuration comes when opting for seats fully covered in leather, which raises the starting price to $27,495 for the manual model and $28,595 for the automatic.
Even fully loaded, the 2013 Subaru BRZ appears to come in safely under $30,000, thought it is more expensive than its sibling, the , which but doesn’t come with a nav system or leather as an option. Based on our experience driving the car, that’s a reasonable price to pay for such a high level of rear-wheel-drive handling. What do you think? Take our poll and send a Subaru a message about whether or not they have priced the BRZ correctly.
Arguably the biggest news of the for enthusiasts is the debut of the new SRT Viper. But as the high-performance arm of has pointed out, the street-legal Viper “isn’t the only high-performance snake making a triumphant return” here at Javitz.
No, Auburn Hills hasn’t missed a beat in releasing the new super-musclecar’s racing counterpart, the SRT Viper GTS-R, alongside the production version. Picking up where previous competition-spec Vipers left off – including three successive GTS class one-two victories at Le Mans, a landmark win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and numerous international GT championships – the new Viper GTS-R is gearing up to take on the American Le Mans Series already this year.
Two of these bad boys will be fielded in ALMS, driven by Indy race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, German driver and Rolex 24 veteran Dominik Farnbacher, Le Mans vet Marc Goossens of Belgium and Viper racer Kuno Wittmer of the great racing town of Montreal. But before these guys get to turn a wheel in anger, their new ride is on show here in New York, and we’ve got the gallery of high-resolution photos for your viewing pleasure. ( as well for more info in the press release.)
, and now our spy shooters have caught it testing. The good news is that the car still looks stunning. The bad news is that’s because the original design has aged so well.
What we’re seeing in these photos doesn’t indicate much has changed outside of minor tweaks to the front fascia that seem mostly designed to accommodate new headlights with a different LED pattern. The rear fascia and taillights are similarly reconfigured, with round twin tailpipes like the , but without the side ducting.
When they sent us the images, KPG Photography also speculated that this forthcoming R8 update will ditch the R-tronic sequential automatic transmission for a dual-clutch gearbox. That’s in line with , which indicate that the DSG will be the only transmission available.
We’ve got shots of both the coupe R8 and the R8 Spyder, including some taken at night where it’s easier to see the new LED designs. Check out all the high-res images in our .
We’ll be able to share full details on the electric LE Concept from when the embargo lifts later today, but our ace photographer Drew Phillips happened to be on the automaker’s stand when officials uncovered the shiny showcar while conducting a practice run-through of their presentation.
The four-door LE concept is broadly believed to presage an upscale pure electric production model based on mechanicals for the Infiniti marque. Our man on the scene indicates that the LE is a fairly striking bit of work, with a front end that fits in well with the brand (though the chrome-edged pinched grille is a bit much). The hood line incorporates bulges along its edges, presumably for aerodynamic purposes like those on Leaf. Phillips also remarked that the rear three-quarter view looks a bit like the , a similarity we can see but don’t imagine Infiniti designers will necessarily appreciate.
We can’t talk specs yet, but for pointers, the Leaf’s electric powertrain generates 107 horsepower and 208 pound-feet of torque and it features a 100-mile range. Stick with us and we’ll have the full skinny around noon.
As is tradition, Day Two of the kicked off with the annual World Car of the Year awards. Global entries competed for honors in four different categories, and from the initial list of 34 contenders, the final four were selected this morning.
The big winner was the subcompact, which takes home the honor of World Car of the Year, beating out its other finalists, the and . We’ve had a chance to drive VW’s tiny runabout and, while it would be hard for the automaker to justify offering something this small in the United States (right now), we’d gladly welcome its tossable city dynamics and efficiency here on our shores. With a small bump in power, it could certainly show the who’s boss.
But the Up! wasn’t the only car praised in New York this morning. The new 991-series Porsche 911 was named World Performance Car of the Year, besting other nominees like the and . Stiff competition, for sure, but you just can’t match the 911’s razor-sharp precision, not to mention that this new 991 model is easily the best 911 yet.
Moving on to a different sort of performance, the took top honors for its eco-performance, securing the World Green Car of the Year award. In this segment, the other two finalists were the and Peugeot 3008 Hybrid greenlings.
Lastly, the WCOY jury selected the for the World Car Design of the Year – not really a surprise, seeing as how the baby Range Rover has been praised for its styling ever since the day it launched. Our condolences to the Citroën DS5 and Volkswagen Up! – you guys just aren’t pretty enough.
Stay tuned for more details about this year’s awards later today.
Full disclosure: Author is a juror and co-chair of the World Car of the Year Awards.
Not that we don’t like the or anything, but this is the third that has trotted out at an auto show in the space of seven months. (Never mind that it looks like they just repainted the from the .) Forgive us, then, for wishing Land Rover would get on with it and announce that it’s going into production.
But no. Instead, we get this: The Luxury Limited Edition. With a mere 2,000 available worldwide, Land Rover seems serious about the limited part. A long list of unique trim pieces including “HSE Luxury” badging on the tailgate and interior finishes borrowed from the should take care of the rest of the equation.
If you’d like all the details about things like “satin chrome” and “Havana” (that’s a color, by the way), the full press release on the special LR4 is .
Better yet, check out the episode of where our sister site drives the DC100 – also available .
Just the other day, we heard that General Motors might for the . But, after last month, we wonder how the calendar looks in Hamtramck now. We wonder because we are hearing reports that the current shutdown – originally scheduled to , from March 19 to April 23 – will be shortened by a week. GM originally decided on the hold to reduce supply that had grown too large because of soft demand.
Don LaForest, the chairman of the United Auto Workers bargaining committee at the Hamtramck plant where the Volt is made, told Talking Points Memo that GM is “adding a week of production back in.” TheDetroit News reports that GM President of North America Mark Reuss said the same thing Wednesday during the . Reuss said, “We’re doing it because we sold a lot.”
Increasing sales numbers (GM – well over double February’s 1,023-unit total) come at a time when some of the on the plug-inhybrid appear to have . LaForest told TPM that his union workers have been confused about these criticisms. “I don’t think Newt or Mitt have said a single negative thing about the ,” he said. “They’re attacking our car to get at the President. But our car is going to change the way America does business. It’s a breath of fresh air.”
The will receive a significant refresh for the 2013 model year, and the majority of the changes are indeed more than skin-deep. That’s because the 2013 Ram will hit the showroom floor with a host of powertrain upgrades, including features that have never been offered on American pickup trucks until now.
Chrysler promises that the new 3.6 will improve fuel efficiency by “at least 20 percent.”
Many of the Ram’s new technologies speak to its fuel-saving nature, including an eight-speed automatic transmission for both six- and eight-cylinder models, stop-start, improved aerodynamics, electric power steering, grille shutters and an auto-adjusting air suspension. The air suspension is essentially a version of the setup used in the and features an Aero Mode, lowering the ride height by 1.2 inches to help cut through the wind more efficiently. Ram will also offer the Chrysler Group’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 as the base powerplant, delivering 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. For reference, rates the pickup’s naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 at 302 hp and 278 lb-ft.
Chrysler promises that the new 3.6 will improve fuel efficiency by “at least 20 percent” compared to the old 3.7-liter unit. Another 20 percent added to 20 miles per gallon on the highway and 14 mpg in the city equates to a class-leading 24 mpg highway and 17 mpg city.
Of course, V8 power is available, courtesy of Chrysler’s tried-and-true 5.7-liter Hemi, which now delivers 395 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque. That’s five more horsepower compared to the 2012 model, and that improvement comes courtesy of the new electronic power steering system. The most impressive part is that the Hemi-equipped model will also boast 20 percent better fuel economy, thanks largely to the fact that the eight-speed automatic is also fitted to this eight-pot mill. Chrysler will announce official fuel economy numbers closer to the Ram’s on-sale date.
The Ram 1500 can achieve these substantial efficiency gains because of the aforementioned fuel-sipping technologies, but engineers have also cut considerable weight. The V6 powertrain is an amazing 76 pounds lighter than the outgoing 3.7-liter, and the TorqueFlite eight-speed and Hemi combine for a 30-pound reduction in the 5.7-liter model. Other weight savings come from an aluminum hood (26 pounds), chassis with more high-strength steel (up to 30 pounds), new floor cross-members in the bed (seven pounds), new front bumper (four pounds) and the electronic steering system (four pounds).
Additional improvements include upgraded exterior styling, a richer-looking cabin and a stiffer chassis that promises decreased noise, vibration and harshness. The Ram will also feature improved available infotainment tech, including an 8.4-inch navigation screen and a configurable seven-inch thin-film transistor screen that is standard on Sport, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn models.
to read over the Chrysler press release, which includes a ton more information. You can also watch a few videos that highlight some of the new features.
Motor America CEO John Krafcik confirmed Wednesday that the all-new seven passenger will replace the model.
“The Veracruz is going away,” Krafcik told Autoblog. “It ends production around November.” Hyundai debuted the Santa Fe Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show in both five-passenger and seven-passenger configurations.
The seven-passenger Veracruz was a new nameplate for Hyundai when it rolled out in 2007. It never gained much acceptance in the U.S., so Hyundai has found a new way around that problem.
“It’s hard to establish a new brand name,” Krafcik said. “It can take $50 to $100 million dollars. Santa Fe is a golden nameplate for us, it’s a great product, and now it will be much more efficient in my marketing spend.”
Indeed. It will also be more efficient producing a five- and seven-passenger Santa Fe than two different vehicles. From the B-pillar forward, there will only be minor differences between the two Santa Fe models.
Furthermore, the new design of the Santa Fe moves it into Hyundai’s stylized fluidic design theme, something that has been very successful with the compact and midsize . The Veracruz, which still included many of Hyundai’s older design elements, just didn’t fit in with everything else.
Now, or at least in the coming months, it will be no more.
Shortly after announced that the production will be , we sat down with Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Global Brand Director, to discuss some of the finer points of the new sub- sports car. The F-Type is more or less the production version of the that debuted at the , but instead of sticking to the concept’s coupe body style, Jaguar said that the production F-Type will launch as a two-seat roadster. But that doesn’t mean a coupe isn’t coming.
Jaguar “certainly won’t stick to just a convertible. If you get a convertible right, it’s easy to do a coupe.”
“C-X16 was a vision car,” Hallmark stated. The intent of C-X16 was to show off a new design language, and it’s easier to completely realize the full capacity of a new styling direction on a coupe body style rather than on a roadster. But when we asked Hallmark about the possibility of a hardtop F-Type, his response was that Jaguar “certainly won’t stick to just a convertible. If you get a convertible right, it’s easy to do a coupe.”
Jaguar’s director of design, Ian Callum, added that there are no plans to offer a folding hardtop version of the F-Type roadster – it will use a standard soft top. A folding hardtop “would ruin the shape of the car,” Callum told us.
As we reported earlier, the F-Type will use a new powertrain family, possibly previewed by the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and electric motor combination found under the hood of the C-X16 concept. Hallmark stated that in terms of driver involvement and performance, the F-Type “will start where the finishes, even with less power.” In other words, the F-Type will be more of a focused sports car rather than a luxury GT. As for pricing, Hallmark stated that the F-Type will be priced below the XK but above competitors like the /, and .
Moving away from the F-Type, Hallmark spoke briefly about plans to add all-wheel drive into the Jaguar lineup. “We’re very interested in all-wheel drive,” he stated, later adding that the company will likely offer it in its next-generation products rather than fitting it to the vehicles that are currently available. Hallmark assured us that it will be “not more than two years” until we see an all-wheel-drive Jag, and that prototype vehicles are already in the on-road testing phase.
