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Like the vast majority of humanity, we were never able to lay our hands on one of the 20 Lamborghini Reventón models the company built for the fabulously wealthy. We had neither the $1.27 million it took to call the car your very own nor the connections to be one of the few to even have the chance to purchase said Raging Bull. That’s just fine, though, because Lamborghini has partnered up with De Agostini to build a 1:10 scale R/C replica of the car for the masses. Well, maybe not the masses per-se – the company is only building 65 examples, so this ain’t your garden-variety Nikko or Tamiya.

Each one of the cars is crafted with impressive detail and features a 3cc gasoline engine mated to a two-speed transmission, a fully-independent suspension with hydraulic shocks and four-wheel disc brakes – all on an R/C car. Insane? Sure, but it’s our kind of crazy. Unfortunately, with so few of the cars being produced, we’re guessing they won’t be cheap enough for anyone we know to afford. History repeats itself. You can head over to the R/C car’s site for a closer look.

[Source: Lamborghini]

Lamborghini licenses insane limited-edition Reventón R/C car

Even though Volkswagen won’t be offering a gasoline-powered version of its exclamatory little Up! city car here in the United States, we’re still slated to get its E-Up! electric counterpart. Earlier reports stated that a larger version of the E-Up! could come Stateside as early as 2013, and we now have spy shots of a pair of Up! prototypes out testing in the Death Valley heat.

Our keen-eyed spy photographers pointed out that while these two prototypes appear to be very similar, the one with its grille closed off could actually be the all-electric E-Up! model. Thus, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more spy shots of the VW prototypes as they go through their hot weather testing. For now, have a look at these initial spy shots for yourself in our high-res gallery below.

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: Volkswagen Up! caught in Death Valley

The folks at Brabus have always been known for fitting ridiculously high-powered engines into the full line of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but this new creation has more than just staggering performance to offer. The latest products from Apple, including the iPad, have all been integrated into a Mercedes-Benz S-Class to create the Brabus iBusiness. Not only does it promise to be exciting to drive, but the rear passenger compartment is fitted with enough tech to make an Apple junkie’s head explode. John Neff Steve Jobs, your stupid-fast luxury sedan has arrived.

Under the hood, Brabus has shoehorned in a twin-turbocharged 6.3-liter V12 that produces 750 horsepower and 995 pound-feet of torque, though the torque output has been electronically limited to only (only!) 811 lb-ft. Hitting 62 miles per hour takes just four seconds, and with your pedal pressed firmly to the floor, you’ll hit 211 mph when all is said and done. Power is routed to the rear wheels by a five-speed automatic transmission and Brabus offers a custom limited-slip differential to maximize overall traction. It’s staggeringly quick, this iBusiness.

The most unique thing about this car, however, is its interior – mainly, the rear accommodations. In addition to the cushy leather seats and Alcantara headliner, the rear compartment is stocked with two Apple iPads, two seat-mounted multimedia screens, a 64GB iPod Touch and a 15.2-inch headliner-mounted Mac display. Not only can these products be used for personal use, but the two iPads also control the car’s Command system, encompassing the radio, navigation and telephone systems. The whole Apple setup is powered by an ultra-small Mac Mini in the trunk that is housed in an electronically deployed drawer.

We think we’ve found our new mobile office.

Hit the jump to read the whole list of details in Brabus’ press release, and scroll through the high-res photos below to see the iBusiness for yourself.

[Source: Brabus]

Continue reading Brabus hearts Apple, launches iBusiness luxury sedan

Brabus hearts Apple, launches iBusiness luxury sedan

Toyota has been in the hot seat this year for its high-volume safety recalls, has issued yet another action that covers its 2005-2008 model year Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks. Approximately 1.13 million vehicles are affected by a problem which could cause the 1ZZ-FE 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine to stall. Three accidents have been reported thus far, though Toyota hasn’t confirmed that these incidents were indeed caused by this engine stalling issue.

To fix this problem, Toyota will replace the engine control modules on the recalled vehicles starting in mid-September. Owners will be notified by mail in the coming weeks and the service will be provided at no charge.

This is not the first time this year that the Corolla and Matrix have been the subject of safety issues. In early 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated almost 750,000 2009 and 2010 model year vehicles for a potential steering issue, and Toyota provided a free fix for customers. An official recall was not issued, though, as Toyota maintains that this problem is not a safety concern.

Follow the jump to read Toyota’s official press release.

*UPDATE: We mustn’t forget that the Pontiac Vibe is built on the same architecture as the Corolla/Matrix, and General Motors has just issued a press release (available after the jump) stating that certain 2005-2008 model year Vibes are being recalled for this same issue.

[Sources: Toyota, AOL Autos, General Motors]

Continue reading Official: Toyota recalling 1.1M Corolla and Matrix models over stalling fears *UPDATE

Official: Toyota recalling 1.1M Corolla and Matrix models over stalling fears *UPDATE

According to The Detroit News, Ford officials met with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty yesterday to discuss the future of the automaker’s St. Paul assembly plant. The facility, which builds Ford’s Ranger compact pickup has been earmarked for closure for some time, but despite the roundtable session, the Blue Oval says it still plans to shutter its operations.

Pawlenty’s administration had been hoping that the signing of a new state law in April allowing the government to offer Ford a series of tax breaks would be enough to keep the Twin Cities operations open, but apparently it wasn’t enough – the plant will close, although an end-date remains uncertain.

Closing the plant will also close the book on the aging Ranger, though Ford has confirmed that the model name will live on with other, larger models in foreign markets. Thus far, rumors of a new North American Ranger (and even an on-air slip by Ford president Alan Mulally) have amounted to nothing, and with Ford committed introducing more economical engines to its F-150 full-size pickup, it appears highly unlikely that a U.S. Ranger will receive an encore any time soon.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: Despite meeting with governor, Ford set to close Minnesota Ranger plant

Quick, what’s the longest-running nameplate in the car business?

If you said Honda Civic, you deserve to be smacked upside the head with a four-inch exhaust tip – it’s merely 37 model years old. The vehicle we’re talking about is positively prehistoric by comparison. The Porsche 911? Wrong again, as it only predates the Civic by a decade. You’re getting closer if you said the Ford F-Series, but still, FoMoCo didn’t launch its best-selling pickup until 1948.

You’ve got to go all the way back to 1935 for the launch of the auto industry’s Methuselah, the Chevrolet Suburban. That makes 2010 the 75th anniversary of the full-size SUV archetype. To celebrate, Chevy opened its vault on one of the Dog Days of August to let journalists drive a handful of vintage models.

It was something of a belated party, as GM stopped building 2010 model year Suburbans in June, including the special Diamond Edition model. But we’re not going to complain about being given the opportunity to get seat time in eight of the ten historic “Caryall” generations. Model years 1936, 1946, 1951, 1966, 1972, 1990, 1999 and 2002 were on hand, most thanks to GM’s Heritage Center.

We decided that the only proper way to approach the task was to drive back in history. This served well to highlight not just how much the Suburban has changed in recent model years, but how much the auto industry has evolved since the pre-war era. But it also showed how consistent the Suburban has been over all these years, offering eight-passenger capability in a roomy wagon body mounted on a heavy truck frame since its inception. History has shown this formula’s a winner; Chevy estimates it has built between 2.25-2.4 million Suburbans in total.

Follow the jump for a taste of our experience driving the Suburban back in time to its beginning.

Continue reading Chevrolet Suburban celebrates 75 years, Autoblog drives every generation

Chevrolet Suburban celebrates 75 years, Autoblog drives every generation

Unlikely Baby Crossover Confounds and Delights

Remember the Nissan NX of the mid-’90s? The tiny, econobox-based sportster was as cute as a bug and spent its brief lifespan mixing it up with other long-gone, sporty front-wheel drive affordables like the Mazda MX-3, Honda Civic CRX, Toyota Paseo and even the Hyundai Scoupe. While there were a lot of inexpensive, racy looking coupes back then, most automakers just don’t see any money in that segment anymore. Instead, when they look to spin something off of their entry-level B-class chassis, most veer toward the white-hot crossover segment.

Consider the latest example, Nissan’s 2011 Juke. Come to think of it, this in-your-face city slicker has some startling similarities to the NX. For one, at 162.8 inches long, it’s deceptively small – just 0.4 inches longer than the ’90s coupe. Further, both the Juke and the NX1600 rely on 1.6-liter four-cylinder power. And like the Sentra-based NX, the more emotional Juke is based on the same humble underpinnings that give structure to Nissan’s workaday offerings, in this case, the Versa and Cube. And while the Juke may not be cute as a bug, there’s something downright insectian about its Predator-like mug.

Despite not being a traditional sporty car, Nissan has been talking up its controversially styled mini-ute with many of the same descriptors, so we hopped a plane to Vancouver to see if the Juke could bob and weave its way into our hearts. Follow the jump to find out how it fared.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Nissan Juke

First Drive: 2011 Nissan Juke

Right on cue, Toyota has debuted the 2011 Highlander at this year’s Moscow Motor Show. As we first showed you earlier this month, the refreshed crossover now wears a slightly reworked nose, complete with hood, front fenders, fascia, grille and headlights as well as a mildly massaged rear end. Look for new taillights and a new bumper cover to help differentiate the 2011’s rump from its predecessors. Buyers in the motherland can look forward to a single engine – a 3.5-liter gasoline V6 delivering 273 horsepower through a five-speed automatic transmission.

Can we expect a similar treatment when the 2011 Highlander hits our shores? Perhaps. We’re currently awaiting a response from Toyota as to whether this is the face of things to come for the U.S.-spec CUV, but we’d be surprised if our version was terribly different from what you see above, as the Highlander is only built in three factories – China, Japan, and Indiana, making a Russia-specific model unlikely. Chances are that our Highlander will continue to soldier on with the same engine choices available right now. That means that buyers can have their choice between a 3.5-liter V6 with 270 horsepower, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower or a hybrid drivetrain.

[Source: Toyota]

2011 Toyota Highlander debuts in Moscow

One of the last big technical questions about the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is how much gasoline it will consume when the engine starts up to sustain the charge of the battery. Since the beginning of the development program back in 2007, General Motors has remained extremely reluctant to discuss details about the Volt’s fuel efficiency, but a few days ago, the world got its first hint from an outsider.

Previous media drives with the Volt were done with 65 percent calibration level prototypes and we didn’t get to see any of the mileage data on the displays. A team from our sister publication, Translogic, recently tried out a newer pilot production car at GM’s Milford Proving Ground during a video shoot. Once they ran the battery down, the car continued for another 16.1 miles and apparently used 0.59 gallons of fuel for an average of just 27.3 miles per gallon. Needless to say, that’s nowhere near the 50+ mpg that had been surmised from the big 230 mpg announcement a year ago. Read on after the jump for an analysis of what the video crew experienced, as well as the video itself.

[Sources: Plug In Cars, GM-Volt, Translogic]

Continue reading Why the sub-30 MPG claim for Chevrolet Volt is misleading [w/video]

Why the sub-30 MPG claim for Chevrolet Volt is misleading [w/video]

The Ford Fiesta launch was supposed to be smooth as glass, but few complex plans go off without a hitch. The first samples of Ford’s hot subcompact were stalled due to hazardous weather near the Mexico assembly plant where it’s produced. Ford mailed out $50 MasterCard gift certificates to stave off its increasingly impatient order holders, but unfortunately the delays aren’t over. The Fiesta had more problems in the last week, but this time Mother Nature had little to do with the delay.

Automotive News is reporting that a quality problem has further postponed some Fiesta shipments, which means already waiting buyers will have to wait a bit longer. Ford President of the Americas Mark Fields declined to say which part caused the delay, but sources at AN say that a faulty seat lever is the culprit. The Blue Oval claims that the issue is now fixed and production has ramped back up in an effort to meet demand. Ford further says that it is unlikely that any defective parts have made it to customers.

While we’re sure that Ford management is less than thrilled with the hiccups in the Fiesta launch, Fields summed up the situation by saying, “The great news is that we have a product that is in really high demand.”

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Ford Fiesta shipments flowing again after faulty part fixed

How many prototypes Lotus builds of the Evora 414E will depend on whether it gets money from the British government’s Technology Strategy Board. The TSB funds and supports forays into a broad range of initiatives, including working with Peugeot on fuel cells and Ford on electric vehicles. Lotus, in partnership with three other companies, created the 47-horsepower range-extending engine in the Evora 414E as part of a winning project for the TSB’s Limo-Green initiative.

Reports indicate that Lotus awaits a £23 million ($35.5M U.S.) disbursement for that project and another, part of which will go to fund development of the 407-horsepower concept car. If it gets the money it will be able to build two cars, otherwise there will only be one. That’s good because this sounds more like a matter of timeline and not a risk to the project itself – the possibilities of Lotus adding its expertise to the pool of electric-car engineering is too good to let die.

[Source: Autocar]

Lotus Evora Hybrid waiting on UK government funds

One of our favorite events from the Monterey car week earlier this month was watching the field of 44 Trans-Am race cars tear it up at the Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The sights and sounds of classic Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers battling it out on the track just like they did in the late ’60s and early ’70s was something we’ll never forget.

The eventual winner of that race was a 1969 Boss 302 Mustang (which is now up for sale) owned and driven by Laguna Seca veteran Bruce Canepa, who has put up a video of his victory. The video shows that the win wasn’t easy, as he traded places with a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A and a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 multiple times. You can watch the entire race in the embedded video after the jump, and be sure to turn up your speakers.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Trans-Am race cars battle it out at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Video: Trans-Am race cars battle it out at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion

We’ve already seen the new Lancia Stratos from various angles, just never enough of them at one go. Finally, we’ve got a complete picture of the retro racer made new. Knowing there’s a 483-horsepower engine from a Ferrari F430 underneath all that carbon fiber bodywork, and a shortened chassis, the remaining mysteries concern the interior and how the Stratos performs.

So now that we’ve come to the bittersweet end of the striptease, someone cue up the video and let’s see her shimmy. In the meantime, have a fuller gander at the Lancia Stratos in the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Carscoop]

New Lancia Stratos continues slow striptease

The shop behind the beautiful convertible Dodge Challenger that stole the spotlight at last year’s SEMA show is at it again. Drop Top Customs has announced that it will set about creating a topless version of the ever-sexy Cadillac CTS Coupe for this year’s aftermarket shindig. We’re not entirely sold on the thought of hacking the razor-sharp roof line from the coupe and replacing it with a folding soft top, but we’ll reserve judgment until after we see the final product in the flesh, er, sheetmetal.

DTC has been cranking out convertible versions of production hardtops for around 30 years, so the company knows what it’s doing when it sets to taking the plasma cutter to an otherwise unsullied vehicle. Last year, that infamous convertible Challenger actually walked away from SEMA with a design award from Chrysler itself, so chances are the new drophead CTS will have the fit and finish of a factory effort. Still, we’ve got to wonder just how many people are clamoring for a convertible Caddy these days. After all, there didn’t seem to be much pent-up demand for the XLR…

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Drop Top Customs to unveil convertible Cadillac CTS at SEMA

Like a Viper With Rear Seats and a Proper Trunk

We’ve seen how Hurst Hemi Challengers are put together, but the last time we tried to drive one we couldn’t get above 25 mph because of the prototype wheels. To correct that hideous oversight, Hurst slapped a couple of production wheels on a black and a white version of their Challenger, and we took both out for their yearly physicals. Just like the song went, it was ebony and ivory living in perfect harmony. Like King Kong and the Abominable Snowman. Follow the jump for the story.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Quick Spin: Hurst Hemi Challenger Series 5

Quick Spin: Hurst Hemi Challenger Series 5

We have mountains of respect for the men and women who work at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. After being invited to the institute’s Charlottesville, Virginia facility for a front-row seat to the 2011 Ford Fiesta’s frontal-offset test, we can honestly say that if we had their job, we’d have a hard time getting into just any old car ever again. While the Blue Oval’s new sub-compact passed its battery of evaluations with flying colors (being the first and only minicar to earn a Top Safety Pick nod since the institute added a rollover test), we were also treated to a tour of some of the more poorly engineered models from the recent past.

Manufacturers have made an impressive amount progress on the safety front in the last decade, thanks largely to a close partnership with the IIHS. The institute has worked to revise crash tests to more accurately reflect the composition of vehicles on the road. One of its primary functions is to identify crashes where people die in otherwise well-rated vehicles and to adjust crash tests accordingly. While the public identifies the institute with bouncing perfectly good cars off of chunks of aluminum and concrete, the truth is that crash testing is only a small part of the IIHS mission. Of course, it’s also the most fun part. Follow the jump to take a look at a video of the Fiesta’s frontal-offset test.

Some photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

Continue reading Video: 2011 Ford Fiesta nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick, Autoblog watches

Video: 2011 Ford Fiesta nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick, Autoblog watches

General Motors has released official details on the production 2011 Chevrolet Orlando MPV, which will make its first public appearance at this year’s Paris Motor Show. As we reported earlier and confirmed again today, GM has no plans to offer the Orlando in the United States – a shame, too, since this would indeed be a fitting replacement for the aging, less-attractive Chevrolet HHR.

Inside, the Orlando offers seating for seven, though we imagine it’s a bit cramped when fully loaded with people since this new MPV shares a platform with the smaller Chevrolet Cruze sedan. Nevertheless, GM says that there will be plenty of family-friendly interior amenities, including a hidden storage area behind the audio system’s front fascia, first seen on the Orlando concept back in 2008.

European customers will be able to choose from three different powertrains – a 1.8-liter gasoline four-cylinder that produces 141 horsepower, and two 2.0-liter diesel units that offer 131 and 163 horsepower. We don’t have official word yet but suspect that all of these powertrains will be coupled to six-speed automatic transmissions and that power will only be delivered to the front two wheels. Speaking of wheels, customers will be able to choose from a variety of alloy options, ranging from 16 to 18 inches in diameter.

As we’ve said before, it’s easy to understand why GM wouldn’t want to offer the Orlando in the States. The HHR is hanging in there in terms of sales, and folks looking for something larger are easily stepping up into the Chevrolet Equinox crossover. That said, neither of those vehicles are able to seat seven. You can read GM’s own words about the Orlando in the press release, available after the jump.

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Chevrolet Orlando production version unveiled ahead of Paris

Chevrolet Orlando production version unveiled ahead of Paris

The Japanese and European market Jazz Hybrid has been officially unveiled by Honda. The visual alterations from the standard model are slight, apparently down to tweaked bumpers and headlight glass and a unique Lime Green metallic color. The price premium, however, isn’t. We’re hearing a $4,700 premium over the standard Jazz. Still, that would be the low price baseline in the segment as far as hybrids are concerned in Japan.

The Jazz Hybrid features the same IMA hybrid drivetrain as the CR-Z and Insight, so don’t expect Prius-slaying fuel economy numbers, though Honda claims they will be comparable to the smaller CR-Z.

Earlier this month Honda reiterated the fact that there were no U.S. plans for a Fit Hybrid. However, with the Insight and Civic Hybrid in obvious trouble, Honda devoted to hybrid powertrains and the Fit still a popular option on our shores, we wouldn’t be surprised if that changed. After all, in December 2006 Honda said there wouldn’t be a Fit Hybrid at all. The Fit Hybrid will make its formal debut at the Paris Motor Show next month, but you can have a look at it and the European Jazz Hybrid in the gallery of photos below.

[Source: Honda, Carscoop]

Continue reading Honda Jazz Hybrid officially unveiled, not fit for U.S.

Honda Jazz Hybrid officially unveiled, not fit for U.S.

If you want a BMW M3 GTS, you’d better be ready to part with about $170,000 of your hard-earned greenbacks. That’s nearly three times the cost of the base M3, but the extra $100,000 will net you a 4.4-liter V8 capable of 450 horsepower, tons of racing add-ons and, perhaps most importantly, 419 fewer pounds to lug around. And the M3 GTS manages to improve its stats while at the same time looking mighty fine, if you ask us.

Those are some impressive stats, but how do they translate into track time? If the September issue of Sport Auto (via the M3 Post forums) is to believed, the GTS ‘Ring laptimes are less than earth shattering. The German rag reportedly claims that the GTS achieved a less than headline-grabbing 7:48 lap time on the Nürburgring. Okay, that’s a pretty impressive time considering the Lamborgini Gallardo Superleggera was reported to hit 7:46 for twice the cost, but at the same time we’re talking about an uber-upgraded M3 with a very fat price tag. Consider the fact that the Nissan GT-R can hit 7:29 for half the cost and the GTS appears to be a bit behind the (track) times.

The M3 GTS performed a bit better at Hockenheim, as its reported lap time of 1:12.5 was faster than an Audi R8 V10 Spyder by .2 seconds. The base E92 M3 finished a lap in 1:14.3. So is the M3 ready to take on all comers at The Green Hell? Apparently not, but still, at seven minutes and 48 seconds, we’re pretty sure the M3 GTS isn’t exactly ready for the slow lane, either.

[Source: M3 Post]

Report: BMW M3 GTS posts somewhat lackluster ‘Ring time

While Epic Electric Vehicles have said they will reveal more about their somewhat eccentric lineup this autumn, they must have felt a little sorry for those of us impatiently waiting because they have just dropped a big fat juicy photo bomb. While (obviously) lacking in hard numbers, the pics do reveal a certain amount of interesting details about the vehicles.

The Torq images confirm our first impressions – this is a bare bones racy three-wheel roadster that, despite a few rough edges, looks like a whole lot of fun. The power appears to go to the front wheels, limiting concerns about traction, with disc brakes at all four three corners providing stopping ability. The Flux Power battery packs make a line down the center of the car, forming a “T” with modules behind the seats.

The interior is spartan, save for two cup holders separated by an iPhone stand. The flat-bottomed Momo racing wheel is devoid of buttons while controls for turn signals and lights are in a module to the drivers left. Of course, having no windshield means no need for wipers or their switches. Speed and other necessary info is located on a small screen straight ahead of the driver. Ironically, the unit in the prototype has a vestigial light to warn if your engine oil is low. Another display is located in the center of the dash that appears to give readings from the battery pack and motor. Hit the jump for more.

[Source: Epic Electric Vehicles]

Continue reading Epic Torq and Amp photo bomb yields revealing details

Epic Torq and Amp photo bomb yields revealing details