Like two ships passing in the night, our long-term and briefly met in person last Saturday morning before their driver – myself and Senior Editor Lavrinc – swapped keys, turned around and headed back to our respective ends of the country.
The Great Long-Term Vehicle Swap of 2010 went off without a hitch, and because we know more than a few of you are curious, you’ll find a table after the jump that shows fuel consumption results for each vehicle on my own portion of the trip. But first, here are some other interesting factoids.
Miles Traveled: 4,938 total for both vehicles Days: 4 Hours Driven: 10+ per day, per person Starting Points: Cleveland, OH (Neff in Legacy), San Francisco, CA (Lavrinc in Jetta) States Neff Traveled Through: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming States Lavrinc Traveled Through: California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming Meeting Point: Cheyenne, WY
Ferrari 458 Challenge testing at Monza – Click above to
The curves. The Power. The… Ferrariness. It’s hard to get too much of the , and, luckily, we’ve come across some video of the race-ready testing at Monza. The four-minute flick only shows a few angles of the pride of Maranello, but what we can guarantee is crisp images, ridiculously perfect exhaust melodies and a powerful desire to drive a 458 on track. At a few points it looks like the 458 Challenge isn’t being pushed too hard, but every now and again we would catch a glimpse of the glowing red front brake rotors, assuring us that the driver is giving the lighter, lower 458 a considerable workout. to enjoy the video for yourself, if only to hear just how wonderful the Challenge sounds.
Inframe interviews Chris Bangle – Click above to watch video
If you’ve ever wondered how former design guru Chris Bangle’s mind works, you’re in luck. has rolled out a special documentary on the man behind some of the more controversial design elements in the BMW stable, and the site has even been so kind as to roll out a teaser video to give us an idea of what to expect from its documentary on Bangle.
Over the course of the quick five-minute clip, the designer touches on everything from his time with to the inner workings of the separate companies under the BMW banner when he arrived at the German manufacturer at age 35. Bangle also shares what he has tucked away in his own personal garage at the moment, including one very special classic. We won’t spoil it for you. to see the video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Chris A!
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
The has finally, successfully, made the leap from science fiction to fact. Quite a bit has changed in the nearly four-year journey from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show to last week, when let us drive a production-spec car. The Volt may not be the stuff of Blade Runner, but it’s a technologically advanced showpiece for GM, and the first widely practical electric vehicle, ready and waiting for mainstream acceptance.
Give GM credit for building the Volt during the most miserable turn of events in the company’s long and storied history.
But first some basics: The Volt is a four-passenger, compact hatchback. While there’s considerable controversy over whether or not to call it a plug-inhybrid, that’s how we’ll be referring to it, following the lead of the . GM prefers “extended-range electric vehicle,” which is somewhat misleading, since the Volt is only an electric vehicle for the first 25-50 miles. In EV mode, the Volt’s electric drive system draws power exclusively from a 16 kilowatt-hour battery pack, at all speeds up to its 100-mph maximum. Once the battery gets drawn down to 35 percent of its capacity, the Volt’s gasoline engine fires up, spinning a generator to produce more electricity.
Of all the changes GM’s engineers have wrought since the first Volt concept, the most controversial has to be the design of the transmission, which GM kept a secret until last week. GM has been saying all along that the Volt was driven purely electrically, but as it turns out, this is not exactly the case. At highway speeds in extended range mode, the Volt’s gasoline engine is actually clutched together with the electric drive system inside the vehicle’s transaxle. There’s no point in belaboring the controversy beyond saying that the design is 10-15 percent more efficient, according to GM. Since efficiency is pretty much the whole point of the vehicle, we’re satisfied, even if we’re not happy that we (along with the rest of the media) were misled. However, it’s time to move on and focus on evaluating the Volt as a vehicle, and to that end, it’s an amazing piece of machinery.
Earlier this year, Adrian Hallmark was appointed to the position of executive director of global sales efforts. After just seven months on the job, reports are that he has resigned to take a position with as the Global Brand Director, effective December 1. Hallmark had taken his position at Saab just two months after the company was purchased by Spyker Cars, from . Hallmark had held top management positions with , and prior to joining Saab.
The news comes as a bit of a surprise, and while it’s likely that Tata-owned Jaguar was able to offer Hallmark a bigger compensation package, it may also be a red flag about what is going on behind the scenes at Saab. The Swedish automaker is rebuilding its image and its finances after a few down years with GM, and unless Hallmark just wasn’t working out in his still-new seat, this move can’t bode well for Saab.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli Chronograph – Click above for high-res image gallery
Audemars Piguet has a long history of sponsoring F1 drivers. Rubens Barrichello and Juan Pablo Montoya – race-winning drivers for top teams both – have acted as the brand’s ambassadors. As has Jarno Trulli. But the Swiss watchmaker has chosen a heck of a year to honor the Italian driver with his own timepiece.
A former Formula Three national champion, Trulli’s been in F1 since 1997. Although he’s only won one Formula One grand prix, there are only 102 people in the whole world – living or dead – who could say that. Jarno’s also landed on pole position four times, the podium 11 times and scored over 246 points in his career so far. And that’s nothing to cough at. But this season has by far been his worst yet.
After several seasons driving for such teams as Minardi, Prost, Jordan, Renault and , this year he’s driving for the struggling newcomers at Racing. As a result, he was unable to start one race, unable to finish another six, and of those he has finished, he’s been unable to score a single championship point this year. Some season to mark with a commemorative special edition, but does that make this timepiece any less of a jewel? Hardly.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli Chronograph, though long-winded in name, is about as slick as they come. It’s got a forged carbon-fiber case, a ceramic bezel, titanium fixtures, red luminous indices and hands… the works. Inside is a 59-jewel automatic movement with no fewer than 365 parts, a 60-hour power reserve and a 22-carat gold oscillating weight that’s been covered in anthracite to numb the bling factor. In other words, as dark a horse as the driver it’s named after. Only 500 examples will be made, offered initially at the company’s boutique in Tokyo where it was launched during this year’s Japanese Grand Prix before it goes global.
Toyota Tacoma RTR Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
At this point, SEMA is so close we can almost smell the tire shine. has rolled out a gaggle of officialphotos and information on the company’s mighty , saying it wanted to build the quarter-mile king to demonstrate what exactly is possible with off-the-shelf parts. For those that don’t recall, the company’s engineers managed to snug a supercharged 5.7-liter V8 borrowed from the into the engine bay. The final concoction is good for 504 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, and it all gets funneled to the rear axle via a six-speed automatic gearbox.
While we’re on the subject of the rear axle, Toyota says the piece is a narrowed version of what’s found in the stock Tundra, though a TRD limited-slip has been plopped in to get both wheels pulling from get go. The whole concoction should be good for quarter mile passes in the 11-second range. for the full details.
Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo 5 won’t be hitting the shelves next month as originally recently scheduled, but that isn’t stopping from hosting a 24-hour Playstation 3GT5 endurance race at this year’s Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The Japanese manufacturer has announced that a total of 48 drivers split into two teams – red and white after the company’s corporate colors – will race virtual interpretations of the for a full day and night.
That doesn’t mean that the same 48 guys will be planted in front of television screens for 24 hours, though. Toyota says that the 24 members of each team will race for one hour each starting at 3:00 PM. today and wrapping up at 3:00 PM. the next day. Toyota has chosen the epic Nürburgring as the field of battle.
Interestingly enough, neither Toyota nor Polyphony Digital are saying exactly what spoils will go to the winning team. We’re hoping it’s more than bragging rights.
Motor Trend has announced its pick for Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year, and the honor has fallen on the . The fact that the has received the award is not necessarily a surprise, it’s how the award was announced. M/T decided to eschew the standard required wait time for readers to find out via its monthly magazine. The announcement was made at 12:01am via and they’ve since followed up the Facebook notification with a proper .
According to Angus MacKenzie, Editor-In-Chief, the Porsche Cayenne was top notch across the criteria board. M/T uses six key points to evaluate its contenders; Advancement in Design, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value and Performance of Intended Function.
“With strong showings in the engineering and efficiency areas, an attractive exterior, a thoughtful interior design, a full roster of active and passive safety gear and a high value rating on its opening price, the Cayenne was quite obviously the winner. The fact that the Cayenne’s driving experience eclipsed that of every other contender, was just a bonus.”
For a reminder of how we felt about the 2011 Porsche Cayenne, check out on the Turbo and subsequent . For more insight into Motor Trend’s decision, take a look at video highlighting the editors’ deliberation process and a video of the winning Cayenne itself right .
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Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Eduard Gray’s Saab 92010 Sixten concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
When we think of the most capable sporting chassis manufacturers in the auto industry, sits near the top of the list. So it makes sense that would be interested in forming a partnership with the German automaker to produce a front-wheel drive platform for the 9-2 supermini.
Saab boss Victor Muller told Reuters it was searching for a partner to provide hardware, adding that he can’t say which automaker he’d prefer to work with. Having said that, Muller added “BMW would make a wonderful partner.” And Muller would know a thing or two about partnering with the boys and girls at the Bavarian Motor Werks since the two automakers just on engine development.
At this point we don’t know for sure whether the 9-2 will ever see the light of day. But if the supermini does materialize it makes quite a bit of sense to us that a BMW chassis will accompany it’s powertrain. If we’re lucky the 9-2 will look as good as the above concept.
Renntech C74 Konzept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Captured here auditioning for the role of World’s Angriest C-Class is the Renntech C74 Konzept. Starting with a , the tuner added a body kit comprised of an aggressive carbon fiber front lip, spoiler and rear diffuser, along with 19- and 20-inch wheels. Under the hood the 6.2-liter AMG engine is goosed to 605 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque thanks to a upgraded internals, larger throttle bodies and a tweaked ECU, while carbon fiber stabilizer braces are fitted front and rear. And the “74″? That refers to the width of the rear track, where 11-inch, 305-series tires reside. The whole package will run you $11,950, and you can get the details after the jump.
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Proving that the power of hometown heroics should never be underestimated, not only put on a great show for his fellow countrymen but once again proved to be dominant at the Australian GP. The starting grid at Phillip Island was the last time Stoner would be seen by competitors, as he converted pole-position to victory with a gap of nearly nine seconds. But was this really a fair fight?
With the and little left to prove, we wondered if Jorge Lorenzo would merely cruise through the remainder of the season uninspired, leaving the risk to those who were still applying for a job for next season. In reality, the new champ didn’t just sit back. Lorenzo rode rode well in Australia, claiming a lonely second place position almost ten seconds ahead of his teammate Valentino Rossi, who closed out the podium in style.
Nicky Hayden surely thought he had sewn up the final podium position when he made the move for third stick late in the race, but he did not count on the Rossi Factor, and his future teammate returned the favor on the last lap taking third by a very slim .038-second margin. If the rumors are true, we may even see the before the end of the season, as it seems Ducati just can’t wait for this whole “perfect Italian thing” to happen. Ben Spies rounded out the top five, marking the eighth time this season the young American has finished fifth or better, which secured him the Rookie of the Year title for 2010.
for the top ten, and don’t forget to check out the final two rounds, as the best things usually happen when we least expect it!
2011 Nissan GT-R – Click above for high-res image mega-gallery
What makes a sportscar like the the dynamic wonder it is today? Relentless development and fine-tuning. With the introduction of the 2011 model, is doing the same with the , boosting performance and adding amenities while tacking on two new variants to its ever-expanding line up.
For 2011 the entire GT-R range – and due to hit North American dealers around February – the upgrades come from a range of enhancements outside, inside and underneath. Although the 2011 model may look almost identical to the outgoing version, Nissan has labored arduously to improve aerodynamics – increasing downforce by 10% while reducing drag by a hundredth of a G – with new bumpers front and rear, larger vents and an enlarged diffuser. LED running lights are most notably integrated into those strakes on the front corners, while inside the cabin gets a new instrument panel and carbon fiber trim.
But it’s the 2011 GT-R’s guts that set it apart: the boost has been increased, the valve timing adjusted and the ECU recalibrated to bump output up to 523 horsepower and 451 pound-feet of torque – an increase from the outgoing model’s 485 hp and 434 lb-ft. The engine also gets a glowing red cover to set it apart, along with a strut brace links the suspension towers. The suspension has also been retuned, and mounted to new 20-inch Rays wheels barely hiding the redesigned brake discs that promise to fade less and last longer.
All those improvements are fitted to the standard GT-R and to the SpecV, which otherwise carries on pretty much unchanged. New to the family are the and the version. The former has been developed specifically for driver training and specially-organized track events, though few details have been released as to what those competition-oriented modifications entail. The Egoist model, meanwhile, (previously thought to be called the SpecM) gets a unique quilted leather interior (pictured at right) crafted by Germany’s from a choice of 20 colors, further set apart on the exterior by the carbon spoiler, wheels and titanium exhaust from the SpecV. There’s a whole load of fine details to assimilate, so for the full press release, and don’t forget to have a stroll through the brand-spankin’-new gallery of 48 high-resolution images showing the new GT-R family from every angle.
At some point, the minds at got serious about the company’s mid-sized sedan game. Seemingly in a heartbeat, the Korean manufacturer went from being completely under the radar of the average American family sedan buyer to a viable alternative to default buys like the and . That jump fell solely on the shoulders of the , a sedan that has so far delivered the kind of styling, efficiency and low MSRP that sends consumers scrambling for their checkbook. But if you want to go the full distance in this segment, you had better come to the fight packing more than just a competent base model.
That’s something you don’t need to tell Hyundai. The company has shored up its Sonata line with a potent designed to tango with V6-equipped competitors as well as the car you see above – a hybrid model that comes loaded with nearly all of the latest and greatest tech to keep fuel consumption at a minimum. Is it enough to put the ahead of the electrified versions of the heavy hitters already prowling the scene? We took the wheel to find out.
2011Mazda BT-50 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Any casual observer of the automotive industry today could tell you that American automakers have been shedding entangled divisions like a dog in the springtime. While teamed up with Fiat, got rid of , , and , and over the past few years, has all but entirely eliminated its overseas properties, selling , , and to the highest bidders. So what’s next? According to emerging reports, looks to be up on the butcher block in Dearborn.
As it is, Ford’s current stake in Mazda is not anywhere as big as it was in JLR, AML or Volvo. But even its modest 11 percent interest in the Japanese automaker is set to drop to just a few lingering shares according to Reuters.
Word of the impending split has sent Mazda shares falling, but the outlook for the Zoom-Zoom carmaker could be a lot better going forward. Although Mazda may need a new partner at some point in the future in order to remain competitive in a rapidly centralizing industry, the Japanese automaker could wait it out for a while as an independent, capitalizing on its own technologies while fending off takeover bids from overseas.
From a product lineup standpoint, models developed using Ford components and technologies – like just-introduced pictured above – will likely continue until they’ve outlived their life-cycles (if not long thereafter), but the future looks to be wide-open for new vehicles after that.
Thinking of buying a 2011 ? If so, you’ll soon have the ability to watch it come together before your eyes; Saab is installing cameras in its Trollhättan factory. Customers will receive text messages with photos of their cars as they reach certain points in the assembly line. Eventually, Saab plans to add a real-timevideo feed of the cars being built. This sounds way more interesting than most reality television shows.
In addition to the cameras going in, Saab will soon offer customers the opportunity to take delivery of their cars right from the factory. The automaker says it is moving back towards building cars with a more personal touch, by manufacturing cars to order rather than churning out a steady stream of vehicles.
We’re living in the future, and it’s a place stocked with a blazingly-quick, fully capable and quasi-efficient SUV from Germany with love.
Subaru Forester S-Edition concept previews what the automaker says is “an exciting development in our Forester range” set to debut early next year. Consider our interest piqued.
“Conan” premieres November 8th at 11pm on TBS. Watch the funnyman drive a ‘69 Dodge Dart off a cliff. Oh yeah: Dynamite, fireworks and popcorn… oh my!
Conan O’Brien does his own stunts – Click above to watch video
Conan O’Brien is getting ready to launch his new late-night talk show. “Conan” premieres November 8th at 11pm on TBS. He wants to show everyone just how bad-ass this new television show will be. Ditching , O’Brien jumps behind the wheel of a ‘69 Dodge Dart that is pointed straight at a cliff. He ups the stunt-ante by packing the car with C4 explosives, fireworks from New Hampshire (which technically are not illegal if you fire them off in the Granite state) and un-popped popcorn kernels.
Having the Dart loaded with stuff that explodes and ceremoniously removing his stunt man from the equation, Conan nails the accelerator towards the cliff then Thelma and Louises it over the edge. The result is a loud, explosion-filled wreck that O’Brien walks away from while putting out his flaming hair and leather jacket. It’s epic.
Are you still here? Seriously already, check it out .
2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Rumor has it that Fiat is looking to push the Chrysler 200 into a handful of markets around the globe. According to Automotive News, the Italian automaker has its sight set on reworking the car into Lancia and introducing it in mainland Europe. At the same time, the standard Chrysler 200 may debut in the UK and Ireland. Interestingly enough, Fiat isn’t mulling the move because it thinks that the 200 can go head to head with the rest of the small car. Instead, the company is hoping to bolster its fleet sales in various European markets.
That’s not to say that the deal is set in stone at this point. The Chrysler 200 has a major chink in its armor when it comes to doing battle in Europe – it doesn’t come with a diesel option. With only two gasoline engine options, Fiat would have to source its own oil-burning powerplant to make the ploy work. Throw in the fact that the car is set to be replaced in three years and the likelihood of seeing the 200 in Europe is slimmer yet. Still, the company says that it’s currently looking at the numbers to see if there’s a solid business case for the move.
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