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Honda does a whole lot more than just cars. They do motorbikes, ATVs, power equipment, outboard marine engines, personal watercraft, business jets… and yes, even robots. In fact its ASIMO humanoid robot (parodied in a rather disturbingly hilarious episode of South Park) is one of the most advanced in the field of robotics, and it’s only getting more so as the Japanese industrial giant has just unveiled its latest iteration.

While ASIMO may look more-or-less the same as he/she/it always has, the new model encompasses several advancements. For starters, ASIMO longer needs to be controlled by a human – it can walk about and do stuff all on its own, taking in its surroundings and making spatial decisions accordingly. Its new arm and hand mechanisms also allow it to perform delicate and intricate tasks like opening a bottle of water and pouring it into a paper cup without crushing it under the might of its own technological superiority.

The long and short of it is that ASIMO – now under the newly-formed Honda Robotics division – will soon be able to do everything a human can, only better. So start stocking the bomb shelter again. Or better yet, let ASIMO do that for you. You’ve had a long day.

Click past the jump to let ASIMO pour you a drink and show off some of its newfound skills.

Continue reading Honda’s new ASIMO robot can now pour you a drink all on its own [w/video]

Honda’s new ASIMO robot can now pour you a drink all on its own [w/video]

Never quite capable of keeping its sales in pace with its German rivals, the Volvo C70 doesn’t appear long for this world. The joint venture with Pininfarina that produced the C70 is shutting down and we’ve yet to receive any word on a potential new production site. So what we could be looking at here is the hardtop convertible’s swan song.

Called the Inscription edition, this special C70 is set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month. It’s distinguished by such special features as a painted grille, polished black 18-inch wheels and an interior decked out in special leather trim and aluminum accents. We think it looks rather fetching.

Available with either a turbocharged five or a pair of diesels (in other markets), the Inscription edition can be had in black, black metallic or white. Have a closer look in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Volvo rolling in to LA with C70 Inscription edition

Volvo rolling in to LA with C70 Inscription edition

Used to be if you wanted a proper full-size van, you were looking at something made in Detroit. But just as the Japanese have taken on the full-size pickup market, so are they going after the big van segment. That currently falls to Nissan and its NV range, and the Japanese automaker is showing no signs of relenting.

After preparing the smaller NV for duty as New York City’s future taxi of choice, Nissan has now launched an even bigger version of the van. The NV3500 HD Passenger Van (that’s heavy duty, not high definition) is being built alongside its chassis-mates right here in the United States at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi, assembly plant, packing all the features and specifications you’d expect from its Big 3 rivals (or, for that matter, from the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter).

That means a flexible twelve-passenger cabin that can, with four rows of seating, be configured in any of 324 arrangements. There are two engine options on offer – a 4.0-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 with 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque and a DOHC 32-valve V8 with 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque – both offering variable valve timing and a 5-speed automatic transmission.

There’s also extensive mobile office capabilities on offer, plus all the electronics you’d expect to find in a smaller passenger vehicle, and class-exclusive side-impact airbags for all four rows of seats. There’s plenty more to digest in the press release after the jump, along with the images in the high-res gallery.

Continue reading Nissan unveils new NV3500 HD passenger van

Nissan unveils new NV3500 HD passenger van

It seems we at Autoblog are not the only group of enthusiasts who are ready to announce to the whole world their love for the Audi A7. The men and women from Automobile Magazine have named Audi’s coupe-like five-door hatchback as their 2012 Automobile of the Year. There’s a whole article worth of reasons why the A7 has won the coveted trophy, so if you’re interested, we suggest clicking here to read all about it yourself.

In related news, Peter Schreyer, chief design officer for Kia, has garnered the magazine’s 2012 Man of the Year award for the contributions he’s made to the Korean company’s overall design aesthetic. We wholeheartedly support that notion. 2012 Technology of the Year laurels go to the “Turbo Tech Trifecta,” that being Automobile-speak for turbocharging, direct injection and variable valve timing. Finally, the 2012 Design of the Year has been awarded to the Fisker Karma. We’re betting that last decision will be the most controversial.

Got an opinion? Feel free to voice your own choices for Automobile, Man, Technology and Design of the Year in Comments.

Automobile names Audi A7 its car of the year

Meaningful Updates Rekindle A Once Top Competitor

If you woke up today hoping to read a minivan review, then it’s your lucky day. We know that sliding doors and third-row seating aren’t the most exciting traits, but the minivan needs love, too. In fact, the entire minivan segment was all but ignored for nearly a decade as automakers responded to our fevered clamoring for more sport utility vehicles and crossovers. The good news is the minivan is back, and every option in the segment has been completely redesigned or updated within the past two years, including the Chrysler Town & Country.

Chrysler is, of course, the company that invented the modern minivan. But while Team Pentastar can lay claim to being the segment’s father, many soccer moms and dads have long since migrated to the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. In fact, while the Town and Country emerged as last year’s best-selling minivan, it won’t repeat that feat this year. Its sales so far this year are behind both the Odyssey and Sienna, the latter of which may be the new best-selling minivan if the Dodge Grand Caravan doesn’t finish up strong.

Why has the Town and Country slipped? The competition’s fresher designs and higher build quality are at the top of the list of reasons. To dig a littler deeper, we got an adequately equipped base model 2011 Town & Country Touring to see if Chrysler’s redesigned mainstay is doing enough to regain its place at the top of the minivan hierarchy.

Continue reading 2011 Chrysler Town & Country Touring

2011 Chrysler Town & Country Touring

Italian automakers have a knack for stretching a two-model line into a full range. Just take a look at what Abarth has done with just the Punto and the 500. Or what Maserati has with the GranTurismo and Quattroporte. And Lamborghini certainly fits the same with the Gallardo and the Aventador (or the Murciélago before it).

The Gallardo itself has spawned a good dozen variants, distinguished by their roofs, drivetrain configurations, states of tune and other parameters. Soon enough they’ll all be replaced by an all-new model, but before they are, word on the street (or chat boards) has it that Lamborghini has one last variant in the works.

That variant is tipped to be the LP550-2 Spyder, a derivative previously mooted but now claimed as confirmed, apparently. So what will make it special? The combination of simplicity and open-air motoring. The powertrain is borrowed from the Balboni edition – meaning slightly less power than the standard model, but lighter in weight and driving just the rear wheels – but with the Spyder’s convertible roof.

More intriguing still would be if Lamborghini were to nix the roof altogether and carry the Gallardo out as a fair-weather purist’s dream, but at this point, we’re just grasping at straws.

Lamborghini to debut Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder for one last hurrah?

Ford is certainly embracing the weirdness of its Flex crossover – at least, in terms of design – for its 2013 model year refresh. Set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week, the 2013 Flex features a restyled front fascia that strikes us as flashier and somehow more robotic than the current model. We’ve seen it in person, and if we’re honest, we’re not sure we love it.

Ford understands the fact that not all shoppers love the Flex’s exterior as a whole, but the automaker maintains that prospective buyers will like the sort of retro-modern look to the new front end. As for the rest of the Flex’s design, things haven’t changed too much, save the addition of some new paint colors and wheel choices, as well as the now-standard Flex badging above the grille – something previously reserved exclusively for the Titanium trim. We’ll have to see what future sales numbers look like before deciding if this new schnoz is a hit or a miss, though.

Behind that new front end, the Flex receives a powertrain update: the base 3.5-liter V6 now packs 20 more horsepower – 285 versus 265 – and even with that extra grunt, fine-tuning to the powerplant has yielded one extra mile per gallon in both city and highway driving modes (18/25 mpg). Of course, customers will still be able to outfit the Flex with Ford’s 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, which carries over unchanged.

Inside, the 2013 Flex receives a refreshed dashboard and instrument cluster that incorporates the latest version of MyFord Touch. Other interior enhancements include pushbutton start, rain sensing wipers and the addition of more safety features including optional rear inflatable seatbelts and a host of collision-avoidance technologies.

We’ll have more on the 2013 Flex live from Los Angeles next week. In the meantime, peruse our gallery and then follow the jump for Ford’s official press blast.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Flex gets funkier with new nose, updated power and tech

2013 Ford Flex gets funkier with new nose, updated power and tech

Law enforcement agencies may now sink their teeth into a specially prepared version of the Ram pickup truck. The Special Services Police Truck is built to take the abuse that only police officers can throw at a vehicle with additional door supports to handle the weight of optional ballistic protection, a 220-amp alternator for added electronic gadgetry and a 390-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine.

Each truck is built with a unique wiring harness specifically engineered to endure the heavy loads of the radar, computer, lighting and radio equipment officers need in the field. Speaking of fields, this is one pursuit vehicle that can chase you anywhere you run thanks to the presence of a four-wheel-drive system.

Ram isn’t saying how much the Special Services Police Truck will cost municipalities or whether or not regular-Joe buyers can tick the right boxes and get their own service truck. We do know that with 407 pound-feet of torque on tap and a 3.92 axle ratio, this vehicle will be plenty quick off of the line when it comes time to give unruly motorists a stern talking to. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Ram Special Services Police Truck gives the Five-O a 5.7

Ram Special Services Police Truck gives the Five-O a 5.7

Ducati holds a special place in the superbike world of melt-your-retinas speed, and the introduction of the company’s new 1199 Panigale ensures that the Italian manufacturer won’t be giving up that spot any time soon. In addition to shedding 22 pounds from the curb weight of the 1198, the new Panigale cranks out 20 more horsepower than the old machine, as well. The Superquadro twin-cylinder engine generates 195 horsepower, which should be enough to propel the 361-pound machine to well past the brink of sanity. Ducati has been kind enough to roll in traction control as standard equipment, though anti-lock brakes are a stand-alone option.

The 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale also benefits from a monocoque frame and the first electronically adjustable suspension on any superbike anywhere. That’s not the only technology on board, though – a GPS-based data acquisition system will track your performance as you kick the Panigale around your favorite track. That little trick is a first for production motorcycles in general.

The package will set you back $17,995 for the base model, while S trim nudges the MSRP to $22,995. The top-of-the-line S Tricolore will fetch a more heart-stopping $27,995. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale range bows at EICMA

2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale range bows at EICMA

Our spy photographers captured the 2013 Ford Mustang GT recently, and not far behind it is this, the V6-flavored pony car. The V6, as with the GT, gets a significant brawny cue from the top-dog Shelby GT500, that protruding grille. Although it receives the same headlight treatment as the GT, the V6 leaves off the front splitter and the running-horse logo remains front and center in the grille, not offset as on the GT prototype.

Things are tamer out back, naturally, but a revised treatment of taillights and bumper will set this one apart from others in the family. It appears to be a mild suite of changes that we’ll have to wait another year for, but perhaps this is all Ford thinks it needs to put the Mustang back on the number-one peg.

2013 Ford Mustang V6 spied nearly camo-free

You just can’t catch a break in this world if your name is Maybach. The superlux Daimler division has had trouble selling enough vehicles to seriously challenge the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce – divisions of arch-rivals Volkswagen and BMW, respectively. It can’t seem to broker a viable deal with Aston Martin to produce a new range. Even that one-off Exelero wasn’t paid for in full after being purchased by a certain hip-hop artist. Now the last ambitious project by the double-M marque appears to have floundered, too.

As you may recall, a German coachbuilder called Xenatec recently launched an initiative, with Maybach’s blessing, to produce a series of hyper-exclusive million-dollar Maybach coupes. The idea stemmed from Xenatec’s existing business producing armored luxury cars for those with the means. Unfortunately, the program doesn’t seem to have attracted enough buyers to make it viable, and the associated costs have reportedly now bankrupted the company.

All-in-all, eight or so Maybach Cruiserio Coupes are reported to have been sold, with another three in various states of build seeking buyers. We’re not sure who would complete them even if they were sold, however, as the bulk of Xenatec’s workforce has apparently either quit or been laid off.

Maybach Cruiserio Coupe bites the dust as Xenatec declares bankruptcy

The Volvo C30 is nearing the end of its lifecycle and that means Volvo can take its compact hatch in one of two directions: plug on with a three-door variant or make a more spacious five-door to compete with the Audi A3.

According to Autobild and based off these previous spy shots, Volvo plans to go the latter route, with a new stretched hatchback to take on the BMW X1, upcoming Mercedes-Benz BLK and Volkswagen Golf abroad. Slated to arrive sometime next year, the so-called V30 would pack a range of gasoline and diesel mills, maxing out with a 240-horsepower four-cylinder driving the front wheels. There’s not talk of an all-wheel-drive version, but an all-electric variant that extends the capabilities and range of the C30 EV prototypes running around Europe is most certainly in the cards.

Volvo nixing C30 in favor of five-door V30?

Walk around most any European city – Germany especially – and you’re bound to see a wealth of showroom-stock German automobiles with factory-installed sport packages. BMWs with M-Sport kits. Audis with S-Line packs. Mercedes-Benz in AMG Sport trim. These are vehicles that don’t include the upgraded engines, brakes or suspensions of their more muscular counterparts, but at least they look the part. Wolfsburg is the latest to join in on the action, as Volkswagen R GmbH continues to roll out sporty body kits for VWs in addition to genuine performance variants like the Golf R and Scirocco R.

The latest offering accessorizes the Tiguan with a range of options to make it look sportier than it actually is. The R-Line exterior pack includes reshaped bumpers front and rear, side sills (in what Volkswagen calls “matt chrome” and we’ll assume means satin finish), a faux-diffuser, 19-inch alloys and a rear spoiler. Inside, customers can also opt for an R-Line interior pack complete with sport seats, multifunction steering wheel, aluminum accents, stainless pedals and black roofliner, with black leather upholstery available to match.

Of course, R-Line badges abound inside and out, but while the package is initially being offered in Germany (where, Volkswagen asserts, the Tiguan reigns as the most successful SUV on the market), we’ve yet to receive word on American availability. Feel free to scope out the full skinny in the press release after the jump and the pair of high-res images in the gallery.

Continue reading Volkswagen rolls out Tiguan with R-Line package

Volkswagen rolls out Tiguan with R-Line package

General Motors is recalling around 38,000 Pontiac G8 sedans from its 2008 and 2009 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the cars may have a passenger-side airbag flaw that might prevent proper deployment in certain scenarios.

According to NHTSA, the airbag might not adequately protect a fifth percentile woman – that is, a woman around four-foot, 11-inches weighing 108 pounds. The New York Times indicates that the anomaly was found during a crash test conducted by GM’s Australian branch, Holden, which was testing the G8’s twin (read: Commodore) for head injuries. According to that report, the test in question is specifically tailored to simulate injuries to females, so the results do not apply to men or children.

The issue has been blamed on a seat position sensor that governs airbag deployment rates. NHTSA indicates that when the front passenger seat is moved all the way forward, the faulty sensor may inappropriately trigger a 30-millisecond delay between airbag stages, potentially leading to greater injuries.

With the Pontiac division closed, other GM dealers will reprogram the sensor module of models covered under the recall at no cost to vehicle owners. GM says that no injuries have been reported as a result of this issue. For more information on the recall, click past the jump for the official notice.

Continue reading 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 recalled over airbag concern

2008-2009 Pontiac G8 recalled over airbag concern

Whether Ferrari ends up building the rumored Fernando Alonso edition or not, the SA Aperta will stand as one of the most exclusive iterations in the production run of the 599. Only 80 examples of the roadster were produced, but for those thinking even that’s not exclusive enough, Novitec Rosso has announced an aftermarket customization package that takes the concept even further.

The German tuning house known for its octane-drenched stallions has fitted Ferrari’s 6.0-liter V12 with a pair of superchargers that boosts output to 876 horsepower and 646 lb-ft of torque – a good 215 hp and 178 lb-ft over stock. With a powder-coated stainless exhaust and riding on 21-inch wheels up front and 22s around back, Novitec says its Aperta will hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.1 seconds and hit a top end of 211 mph.

At those speeds, we wouldn’t expect to see one sitting still for long, so check it out in the high-res image gallery for what’s likely to be your only look at this twin-scroll beast.

Novitec Rosso spools Ferrari SA Aperta up past 800 horsepower

The Discount Choice For Super Ute Shoppers

The idea of a super ute has always been a crazy one. Of all the vehicle types on which to base a high-performance machine, one that was originally intended to go off road and later evolved into the towering family wagons we use today would not be our first choice. And yet, time and again we see that auto enthusiasts – even ones calling the shots at major automakers – will make anything go quicker and faster if given the chance. That’s how the first Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 was born back in 2006, and Chrysler has again seen fit to apply this extreme treatment to its best-selling SUV – despite the fact that its mere existence seemingly violates every facet of Jeep’s rugged off-road image.

But the small segment of super utes to which the Grand Cherokee SRT8 belongs has gotten extremely competitive in the past few years while Chrysler clawed its way out of bankruptcy. Sport utility vehicles from BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz have spawned unholy super utes with enough horsepower to embarrass supercars from just a few years ago.

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 doesn’t play by German rules, though. Despite its well-timed redesign that gives SRT guys and gals an opportunity to leapfrog their rivals, they instead practiced restraint, ignored winning the war on paper and upgraded their entry in the areas requested most by their customers.

Continue reading 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

There’s no question that Nissan has done some radically impressive things with its GT-R, proving beyond the shred of a doubt that Japan’s mainstream automakers can stick it to Europe’s elite. But you don’t get to where Nissan has gotten with the GT-R by sitting back and letting it grow old. Yokohama’s finest spend day and night keeping Godzilla razor-sharp and ready for action. And to that end, they’ve launched a series of improvements for the latest model.

To say that the updated GT-R represents any sort of major step forward would be a gross exaggeration, but it does pack some new features. Among them are a retuned version of the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 that now delivers more power – 542 horsepower instead of 523 – while returning higher efficiency and lower emissions. A recalibrated shift action, new differential lubricants, an even tauter frame, available carbon-ceramic brakes and an available “track pack” for hot-lap enthusiasts are also part of the improvements. Right-hand-drive models get an assymetrical suspension setup to compensate for the weight of the driver and steering column, there’s a new Bose sound system and a rearview camera now comes as standard.

The improvements are said to shave an astonishing eight to ten seconds off the GT-R’s already impressive Nürburgring lap time and drop the 0-60 time to as little as 2.7 seconds. Now that’s what we call progress. Click past the jump for the official video and press release.

Currently, the new model is being rolled out in Japan and Europe – set to debut later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show – but it’s probably only a matter of time until we get the improvements Stateside as well, where we expect it will debut soon as the 2013 model. So stay tuned. In the meantime, you can check out the huge batch of fresh high-resolution images and follow the jump for the video clip and Euro-spec press release.

Continue reading Nissan releases updated 542hp GT-R overseas [w/video]

Nissan releases updated 542hp GT-R overseas [w/video]

Many of us were big fans of the visuals of the previous-generation Subaru Legacy. While it was a little long-in-the-tooth by the time its replacement rolled around, it was a pretty slick little number. The current Legacy may be more advanced than the model it replaced, but we’ve never warmed to its look the way we did with the fourth generation model. That’s why we’re encouraged by these preview images of this new concept.

At the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show later this month, Subaru will unveil the Advanced Tourer Concept seen here, together with its much-anticipated new BRZ coupe. We’re hoping this is a glimpse at the next-gen Legacy wagon, as the Advanced Tourer Concept packs much more aggressive, muscular styling than the current model (we’re also hoping that Subaru brings back the wagon bodystyle to North America). It’s also possible that it will be a standalone model outside of the Legacy range.

The interior has been done up in all manner of luxury features, from lashings of leather and brushed aluminum trim to the panoramic glass sunroof and, intriguingly, an infotainment screen mounted right on the steering wheel.

There’s also a new crash avoidance system based on two cameras mounted to the rearview mirror, but the bigger technological feature is the new in-house hybrid drivetrain that couples an electric motor to a 1.6-liter turbo boxer four to deliver the same output as a 2.0- or 2.5-liter but with better fuel consumption, driving all four wheels through a CVT. Like what you see? Check it out in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept to bow in Tokyo

Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept to bow in Tokyo

Our thirst for details on the upcoming 2012 MV Agusta F3 675 is officially quenched. MV Agusta has rolled out the skinny on the new bike, and in addition to a 126-horsepower, 675cc, three-cylinder engine, the F3 675 packs an astounding amount of technology for the segment.

MV Agusta has rolled in a customizable electronics package called MVICS. The system features the same ride-by-wire engine mapping as the less-expensive Brutale 675, but rolls in eight-levels of adjustable traction control as well. Buyers can also plug in additional sensors and modules to unlock even more functionality.

Two of the most interesting add-ons include a launch-control module that includes anti-wheelie programming and an Electronically Asssited Shift system that provides for quicker cog-swapping.

Even with all of that tech glued to the bike’s frame, the 2012 MV Agusta F3 675 weighs just 381 pounds dry. European buyers can expect to sink their teeth into the machine in January when it arrives in dealer showrooms with a price tag of €11,990. It ought to be headed Stateside shortly thereafter.

2012 MV Agusta F3 675 is a testament to technology

BMW is celebrating 40 years of M with a special edition M3 Competition Edition that is about as rare as they come. BMW is only shipping 40 of the coupes to the U.S., and each will be identical save for a few options.

The M3 Competition Edition will feature Frozen Silver exterior paint, black M3 GTS 19-inch wheels, dark chrome exterior trim and dark exhaust tips. The interior will be complemented with Black Novillo leather upholstery with Palladium Silver accents, an Alcantara M steering wheel and M logos throughout.

This limited edition car will feature the same 414-horsepower V8 engine as other M3s, but the 0-60 time drops from 4.7 seconds to 4.5 seconds. The Competition Edition M3 is 10 mm lower than the standard M3, has wider-offset wheels, and higher-threshold programming for the M mode.

It’s also more expensive than the standard M3. The Competition Edition M3 cost $81,060 with destination and handling, or a hefty $20,000 more than the base car.

Since BMW is has dubbed this M3 the “Competition Edition,” the automaker is also encouraging its U.S. dealer body to compete for the chance to sell one of them. The first 40 dealers to receive M Certified Center certification get first crack at the car. Hit the jump to read over the press release.

Continue reading BMW reveals M3 Competition Edition in Frozen Silver for U.S.

BMW reveals M3 Competition Edition in Frozen Silver for U.S.