2010 Lexus ES 350 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The -based isn’t exactly the most exciting product in the automaker’s range. The entry-level luxury front-driver just received a slight refresh for the 2010 model year, but based on a filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office discovered byCar and Driver, an electrified ES hybrid may be in the cards for the sedan’s next generation.
Like the rest of Lexus’ hybrids, the numerical part of the ‘ES 300h’ nomenclature doesn’t really hold any sort of significance in terms of engine displacement. We’d hardly be surprised to find the Camry Hybrid’s 2.4-liter mill under the Lexus’ hood, though we won’t rule out the possibility that output numbers could be tweaked for use in the ES 300h.
The move to hybrid-ify the ES sedan makes sense, as Lexus has long said that it wants to broaden its gasoline-electric offerings. The automaker currently has the , , , and LS 600h L, but adding a sixth hybrid car would further strengthen the brand’s appeal to eco-minded luxury customers. Thanks to everyone for the tips!
2012 Ford C-Max shows off its hands-free liftgate – Click above to watch the video
Call us weird, but we’re rather excited for the to launch here in the United States. The majority of today’s minivans are anything but, and as more people look to downsize and seek out the most efficient vehicles to fit their lifestyles, small MPVs have a real chance to succeed here in the U.S.
is bringing the heat by fitting its C-Max with an innovative new hands-free power liftgate, which automatically opens when the driver waves their foot under the rear bumper. Yes, you need to have the vehicle’s key fob within range, and we’re honestly surprised that no one thought of this sooner (okay, so maybe announced that it’s , but shouldn’t the have this by now?) In any case, you can see how easy opening the 2012 C-Max’s liftgate can be by watching the video .
Are the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG’s gullwing doors just giant bunny ears? – Click above for high-res image gallery
We all know the story, and we’ve all used the line: we read Playboy for the articles. Somehow no one ever takes us seriously, but the fact of the matter is that Playboy is a men’s magazine with a wide readership and articles focusing on everything guys want to read about: sex, sports, politics and yes, even cars.
While you might think that with so many Bunnies hopping around the Mansion, the Rabbit would be the car of choice for Heff and company, they’ve actually put together their own comprehensive best-of selections again for 2011. The winner of the coveted Playboy Car of the Year? None other than the seen above. You can check out the other award winners by clicking through the perfectly-safe-for-work gallery below. Think they’ve chosen wisely? Share your thoughts in our Comments section.
2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery
When showed some hardcore fans an early version of the , they apparently received some less-than-favorable feedback. It turns out the Camaro faithful weren’t all that smitten with the old-fashion whip antenna (not to be confused with the shark fin antenna for XM satellite radio and OnStar transmissions) protruding out of the topless muscle car’s boot. The retro antenna was deemed to be a necessary evil due to the fact that, like most new vehicles, the hardtop Camaro hides the antenna in the rear window. And we all know that just won’t work if the rear window can be stowed with the rest of the top, so engineers and designers had no choice, right? Well, as it turns out there was an option B.
The General turned to Antenna Performance Engineer Don Hibbard, a “lifelong Ham radio enthusiast,” to shed the ungainly appendage. This was no easy task, though, as GM insisted that whatever the solution, it needed to perform every bit as well as the unit embedded in the hardtop’s rear glass. To make matters a bit more interesting, Hibbard and his colleague, Gregg Kittinger, didn’t exactly have all the time in the world to get the job done.
In a span of only 10 months, Hibbard was able to work some magic. The new Camaro Convertible will feature an AM/FM antenna that is built into the Camaro’s rear spoiler. The embedded receiver will reportedly work as well as the rear window antenna from the hardtop, but without the retro eyesore. Now, if only they cold solve for the awkward trunklid combo of the CHMSL, satellite radio and lip spoiler…
Hit the jump to check out a video of GM’s clever antenna solution and to check out the official press release.
2012 Nissan Sunny – Click above for high-res image gallery
It’s always sunny in Philadelphia. The sun never sets on the British Empire. Japan is the Land of the Rising Sun. We’ve heard it all before, but the latest unveiling shows it’s sunniest in Guangzhou, China. That’s where has taken the wraps off its latest global compact family sedan.
Called the Sunny in the Chinese market and manufactured there by joint-venture with the Dongfeng Motor Company, the global model will be sold around the world under a variety of different nameplates. (Past iterations have carried names as varied as Almera, Sentra, Laurel, Pulsar and Tsuru and have even worn Datsun, Renault and Samsung badges.)
Whatever it’s called, the Sunny is projected to be a class leader in fuel economy, carrying a 1.5-liter engine mated to a continuously variable transmission with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam rear suspension. If you’re a family man in your mid-30s, as Nissan figures its target market is in China, check out the details in the press release after the jump and the photos in the gallery below.
2011Chrysler 300 – Click above for high-res image gallery
It’s been and , and now it’s official: the 2011 Chrysler 300 has arrived ahead of its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month.
As we’ve seen before, the exterior of the 300 is even more audacious than it’s predecessor, thanks to the liberal application of chrome below the headlamps, on the grille, coating the side mirrors and partially framing the tail lights and trunk. New LEDs are fitted up front, and while hasn’t released interior shots just yet, judging by what we’ve and recently sampled in the automaker’s latest offerings, the insides should be significantly improved.
Power will come from the same engines we’ve been familiarizing ourselves with over the last year, specifically Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6 and 5.7-liter V8, with power sent to either the rear wheels or all four depending on spec. Sales should begin in the first quarter of 2011, and expect pricing to hit closer to the 300’s debut in Detroit.
2011 Kia Optima 2.0T – Click above for high-res image gallery
By this point, you should know all about the excellent new turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine from and, by extension, . We’ve spent plenty of pixels gushing about the engine’s power and efficiency when lodged in the nose of the , and judging from our time behind the wheel of the , the engine is no less at home lighting up the tires of the newest sedan from Kia. Buyers looking for a four-door with a little more edge than the , or even the embiggened Sonata will be happy to see that the newest interpretation of the Optima wears some seriously aggressive sheetmetal outside to go with some of the best power and fuel-efficiency in the mid-sized sedan class.
Kia says that the Optima 2.0T was built to be the Sonata’s more menacing cousin, and in addition to the sedan’s brawny lines and 274-horsepower four-cylinder turbo, the company’s engineers folded in a firmer suspension and reworked power steering system for a more athletic driving experience. The changes may not be enough for us to call the 2011 Optima 2.0T a sport sedan, but they do serve to give the vehicle a significantly different flavor compared to the 2011 Sonata. We jumped into the driver’s seat of the 2011 Kia Optima 2.0T SX to find out just what those changes meant on the road.
It’s becoming harder and harder for manufacturers to hide from the all-seeing eye of the internet. A user with a quick lens over on managed to lay his aperture on a nearly completely uncamo’d example of the new Australian Ford Territory. While the Aussie Blue Oval has been showing off shadowy, stylized photos of the high-rider ahead of its debut, this is probably the best look yet at the new crossover. According to CarAdvice, the next-generation Territory will get its power from a turbo-diesel 2.7-liter V6 engine borrowed from the Land Rover Discovery 3 (a.k.a. ). A six-speed automatic transmission will handle shifting detail.
There’s also some indication that buyers will be able to opt for an inline six-cylinder gasoline mill if the oil burner doesn’t quite suit their wallets. At this point, it’s unclear whether Australian buyers will get to play with the new MyFord Touch system that American buyers have been jockeying with in products like the , but it’s a good possibility.
Australia is the midst of a serious product barrage with 85 percent of the company’s products receiving significant updates over the next 18 months. Head over to to see the full photos. Thanks for the tip, Andrew!
2011Toyota Sienna – Click above for high-res image gallery
is recalling its redesigned minivans due to a potential pedal issue – but this one is altogether unrelated to the automaker’s previous high-profile pedal recalls. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the Sienna minivans in question have been manufactured with a brake stop light switch that’s too close to the parking brake pedal. NHTSA says that in certain circumstances, the driver’s foot may accidentally damage the switch and its mounting bracket, causing interference with the brake pedal that could result in brake drag, noise, vibration and illumination of the brake warning light. If left untreated, NHTSA says that braking capacity could be reduced, potentially increasing the danger of an accident.
A total of 94,126 vehicles are impacted by the recall, and Toyota says that it will, of course, fix the issue free of charge. Owners can expect to receive a letter describing the issue sometime next month. A second letter will then be mailed when parts are available to fix the problem. Hit the jump to see the full recall notice for yourself.
Car and Driver’s German correspondent delivered some bad news to enthusiasts with the revelation that the won’t get a “direct successor” because the RS5 is enough for all-wheel drive performance junkies. How the brass came to that conclusion is beyond us – a fighting four door is just as entertaining and vastly more practical than its coupe counterpart. Just ask . It was smart enough to offer the in both sedan and coupe form.
In related news, C/D’s “Continental” says that the RS6 will live on, likely with a twin-turbocharged V8. Our own sources suggest that engine will displace 4.0 liters and output close to 600 horsepower. So, one out of two ain’t bad…
2012 Ford C-Max – Click above for high-res image gallery
A few days after the , we had the chance to , ’s latest Euro-spec MPV destined for North American soil. Other markets around the world are ripe with these mini-minivans, but here in the States, our only C-segment MPV option is the very likable . The C-Max will drop its “Grand” nomenclature when it arrives here in North America, and the public will get its first taste of the new Ford at the 2011 .
Ford calls the C-Max’s seating configuration a “five-plus-two,” meaning that the interior is best suited for five passengers, and that the two rear seats are best used for small occupants. What’s more, Ford offers a unique storage solution for the middle seat in the second row, allowing it to fold down and is stow underneath the bottom cushion of the rear passenger-side chair, creating a set of two captain’s seats in the process. The rest of the C-Max interior is very much akin to what we’ve seen in the 2012 Focus, and we’re quite impressed with the high-quality craftsmanship that FoMoCo is putting into its latest crop of cabins.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the 2012 C-Max is its hands-free liftgate. Much like a passive entry system for the driver’s door, whoever has the C-Max’s key fob on their person can simply wave their leg under the rear bumper, triggering two sensors that will open the liftgate. It’s pretty slick, and Ford tells us that this technology will me making its way to the vast majority of the company’s hatchback products.
The base powertrain in the C-Max is Ford’s 2.5-liter inline-four also found in the . In its MPV home, this mill produces 168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission. The upmarket engine is an all-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, rated at 180 hp and 173 lb-ft of twist, also mated to a six-speed ‘box. The C-Max is only available with front-wheel drive, and 17-inch wheels are fitted to all three trim levels – S, SE and SEL.
We’re eager to get our mitts on the U.S.-spec C-Max, and we’re crossing our fingers that American car buyers will be more receptive to smaller MPVs than in the past. Check out the 2012 C-Max for yourself in the gallery below, and for the full suite of details.
Gallery:
[Source: Ford]
: 2012 Ford C-Max puts the ‘mini’ back in ‘minivan’
Some cars are unfairly derided as “chick cars,” like the or the . Less so the Renault Twingo. While we’re sure it’s a good car for its class, it doesn’t exactly ooze testosterone. Which is fine, of course, because not every car is targeted at male customers. But Renault takes things a step further.
In a controversial television commercial, the French automaker depicts a little girl-on-girl encounter for Italian audiences. One that we won’t describe here, but invite you to watch (over and over again) in the .
Now Renault’s done some racy spots for the Twingo before – two of which we’ve also posted – so perhaps the more surprising part is that it’s been banned from the airwaves. In Italy, of all places, by the media conglomerate owned by the country’s philanderer-in-chief, Prime Minister .
A political move, perhaps, in light of recent challenges to his tenure made by conservative leaders (reportedly including Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo)? We’ll leave that to the pundits, and invite you to follow us beyond to watch the videos for yourself. Hat tip to Doogie Hauser!
Ducati Diavel in Diamond Black – Click above for high-res images
It doesn’t get much hotter than the . The long-anticipated Italian performance cruiser was unveiled last month at the Milan Motorcycle Show, and now the legendary manufacturer is rolling out a new addition to the lineup.
Following what Ducati describes as “huge interest from enthusiastic show visitors,” it’s added a new Diamond Black color option: black paint over a black frame with black anodized headlamp body and air intakes. In other words, it’s black.
Diamond Black apparently replaces the pearl white color and joins Red Carbon (gloss rosso over matte carbon weave), Black Carbon (contrasting carbon fiber weaves in matte and gloss finish) and traditional Ducati Red in the Diavel’s catalog. It’ll be available starting in February. In the meantime, you can read the announcement after the jump and check out the twin images in the gallery below.
McLaren MP4-12C GT3 rendering – Click above for high-res image
Some automakers also race. Some racing teams also make cars. is one example of the latter, but it’s not alone. With the launch of the MP4-12C, longtime on-track rival McLaren is getting serious about its automotive division. And you know what that means: a racing version.
We’ve seen and of a competition-spec MP4, but this is the first official confirmation to come straight out of Woking. And it comes with a , , and even a .
Rather than develop the MP4-12C racer in-house, McLaren has teamed up with CRS Racing. And while the famous McLaren F1 GTR may have competed in the top tiers of sportscar racing – even beating the prototypes for outright victory at Le Mans – with the MP4, the British outfit has confined its competition (for now, at least) to the GT3 category. Only a limited number of cars will be fielded through privateer entries in the 2012 European FIA GT3 Series before McLaren takes on other championships, so if you run a team interested in getting on board, follow to register your intent.
Mini Paceman concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
How many is too many? Mini’s about to find out as its product portfolio expands faster than a jilted lover’s waistline. The hatchback that (re)started it all and the cabrio that followed shortly thereafter have since been joined by the wagon and the crossover, with and versions, and more in the production pipeline. But that doesn’t even take into account some of the concept derivatives that haven’t (yet) made it to production, and this is the latest.
Called the Paceman, it’s essentially a Countryman minus a couple of doors. It’s set to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January as a concept car, but could very well make it to production as well. Taking a page out of its parent company’s ’s playbook, Mini calls the Paceman a “Sports Activity Coupe” (sort of like the ) and insists it’s the first of its kind in the small premium segment. A “first” is pretty easy to achieve when you define the category yourself, but to our eyes the Paceman, with its sloping white roof, looks set to take on the likes of the three-door , only smaller.
Under the hood, Mini’s fitted the JCW turbo four with 211 horsepower, mated to the same ALL4 all-wheel drive system used in the Countryman. More details are available in the press release after the jump, along with the initial images in the gallery below. We’ll be on hand at Cobo Hall to bring you live impressions from NAIAS, so stay tuned.
Gallery:
[Source: Mini]
: Mini Paceman concept relieves Countryman of extra doors
One thing’s certain: where there’s a car accident, there’s a crowd. The severity is irrelevant; people gawk. To capitalize on this untapped audience a team of marketers has introduced the concept of Crashvertising.
If the Crashvertise team is notified of an accident, head to the scene quickly with posters and roadside emergency triangles highlighting whatever campaign is being promoted. To further draw in onlookers, the Crashvertisers will hand out related swag to further drive home whatever message the advertiser du jour is looking to spread.
A video, , highlights how the Crashvertise concept works. Now, before you go berserk in the comments… be aware that this is satire. That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if someone decides to run with this…
Fiat 500 Art Basel art cars – click above for high-res image gallery
We wouldn’t have taken something like the Art Basel festival in Miami Beach as a typical showcase for automobiles, but after and there, Fiat became the third automaker to strut its stuff at the festival among the 2,000 artists from around the world.
Fiat’s display took place at the four-day Exhibitalia event, where several renowned artists and two student teams from the University of Miami used its tiny 500 as their “inspiration and canvas” in the creation of their works. Some created pieces inspired by the Cinquecento, some used body panels, and one even used the entire vehicle, transforming it into an art car on par with anything could throw at it. Check it out in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.
2011Hyundai Elantra configurator – Click above for high-res image gallery
Have you been itching to build your ? Scratch away, because and running. We went through and built one ourselves… our fully-spec’d black-on-black 2011 Elantra Limited will only cost us $22,830, not too shabby since that includes the Premium Package, carpeted floor mats and an iPod cable.
, we opted for the surprisingly fun automatic transmission instead of the manual gearbox. We know that might be sacrilege to some, but the auto makes for a more enjoyable vehicle. How would you spec ? Sound off in the comments. Thanks for the heads up, Matchbox1966!
In an 8-K filing posted with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, revealed that, by the end of the third quarter, it had already lined up 3,000 buyers, each of whom has coughed up $5,000 required to reserve the automaker’s long-promised Model S. Additional information mentioned in the report suggests that the Model S will eventually obtain a five-star safety rating, feature more cargo room than any other sedan on the market and be designed to accommodate battery-swap technology.
The SEC filing details Tesla’s numerous deals with other automakers, which are briefly outlined below:
Tesla received an initial order for 1,500 lithium-ion battery packs for the ED
Tesla anticipates selling 500 lithium-ion battery packs to Daimler for use in the A-Class electric.
The automaker’s cumulative sales to Daimler topped the $12-million mark earlier this year.
Tesla expects revenue of $60 million for its part in developing components for the .
To read Tesla’s 8-K SEC filing, which is jam-packed with graphics that detail the automaker’s intentions, .
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.
