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With Autoline Detroit’s John McElroy

Episode #242 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. This week, Chris and Dan are joined by John McElroy, long-time host of Autoline Detroit, Autoblog columnist and a fixture to listeners of WWJ. We start by getting our supercar fix, mulling the Pagani Huyara and its eventual move to the U.S. market. From there, we bring some informed analysis to General Motors regaining the largest automaker crown from Toyota and discuss the newly-confirmed Cadillac XTS and ATS. Your questions and comments power the last third of the podcast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #242:

• Pagani Huayra makes its U.S. Debut
• General Motors back on top as world’s largest carmaker
• Will the confirmed Cadillac XTS and ATS help maintain momentum?

In the Autoblog Garage
2011 Infiniti M56
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
2012 Fiat 500

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #242

Autoblog Podcast #242 originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Jeep product portfolio will undergo some major changes in the next few years, starting with the addition of a new subcompact crossover and a flagship, seven-passenger Grand Wagoneer. Still, Jeep assures the world that even with these changes, the automaker will still stand true to its off-road heritage. That seven-slat grille has to stand for something, after all.

Jeep will debut a new subcompact crossover based on a Fiat platform in late 2013 or early 2014. The B-Jeep will be designed for use in North and Latin America, and will be built alongside the Fiat 500 and Dodge Journey at the automaker’s plant in Toluca, Mexico.

Both the Compass and Patriot will be replaced in one fell swoop with a new vehicle based on Fiat’s CUSW compact crossover platform. The new Jeep will debut in 2013, likely as a 2014 model, and will be built for global markets, including North America. In speaking to Automotive News, Jeep brand CEO Michael Manley said that this vehicle would be available with both front- and all-wheel drive.

The Liberty – a vehicle left untouched in the 2011 model year product onslaught – will get a replacement in 2013. This crossover will be built on a larger version of the Compass/Patriot platform, called CUSW Plus, and will likely remain an all-wheel-drive-only affair.

Lastly, a new Grand Wagoneer is still in the works, stemming from Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s confirmation earlier this year. Its platform will be shared with the Dodge Durango and will be the flagship model in the Jeep lineup. Think Commander, only better. Much better.

Fiat platform to underpin three Jeeps originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Through the end of July, sales of diesel vehicles in the United States were up 38.5 percent, compared to the same seven-month period in 2010. Led by the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and Golf TDI, diesel vehicles appear to have escaped the quake-related supply issues that crippled hybrid vehicle sales for months, though they’re tally of 8,653 vehicles sold in July still only represents 0.82 percent of the total market.

Sales of the segment leader, the Jetta TDI, were 5,206 last month, bringing the diesel sedan’s year-to-date total to 56,717. The oil-burning Golf didn’t enjoy nearly the same level of demand, but its sales of 966 units in July landed the hatchback in second place among all diesel vehicles. In third, with sales ringing in at 562 units was the diesel-fueled BMW X5 xDrive35d.

Looking for more details? Head over to Hybrid Cars for a model-by-model breakdown of diesel vehicle sales for July 2011.

U.S. diesel vehicle sales up 38.5% in 2011, VW Jetta TDI leads pack originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Entering Its Silver Years With A Supercharged Six

Life for us mammals is comparatively finite. Lacking the luxury of a mid-cycle refresh, the average human in the United States can expect to live about 80 years before their clock stops ticking. That isn’t too terrible in the grand scheme of things. After all, the typical mountain lion is lucky to get 20 years as a feared predator while most guinea pigs go quietly after just eight years in the household cage. Mammals don’t have many options when it comes to getting old.

Not so with the automobile. With few exceptions, the average lifecycle of a passenger vehicle is a short five to seven years. However, instead of sitting idle as its beloved machinery ages into senility, manufacturers treat passenger vehicles to mid-cycle makeovers with new fascias, upgraded electronics and more efficient engines. The intent is to breathe new life into models and make them more appealing lest they get lost amid a sea of younger designs.

The Audi Q7 is in the middle of its fifth model year – pushing 60 in human years. And fresh off a facelift just last year, the full-size SUV receives a complete heart transplant for 2011. The new supercharged V6 is not only engineered to make the seven-passenger vehicle more competitive in a difficult market, but to carry Audi’s first crossoffer towards its eventual retirement. Or behind the shed.

Continue reading 2011 Audi Q7 3.0T S line [w/video]

2011 Audi Q7 3.0T S line [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH has announced its intention to smash the existing electric vehicle lap record at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife on August 29.

Some speculate the on-track demonstration by Toyota Motorsport GmbH is a prelude to Toyota’s racing division inking a powertrain deal for an electrified Formula 1 racing series. Whether or not that’s true remains unknown, but Toyota says its lapping of the Nürburgring will prove that “green thinking motorsport” generates emotion, just as fossil fuel racing has done for more than a century.

The current electric vehicle lap record at the ‘Ring stands at 9:01.338, a time that Toyota says it has already beaten during informal testing. On August 29, it will hit the track with a battery-powered two-seater that can reach a claimed top speed of 162 miles per hour, rip from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and is loosely based on the radical Alpha-1 SRF, a vehicle developed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH for the German firm e-Wolf.

Rob Leupen, Toyota Motorsport’s director of business operations, told the Charging Point, “We are extremely confident we can break the record by some distance, which is an indication of how electric vehicle performance is continuously improving.” We’ll let you know if Toyota’s attempt to tame the ‘Ring blows a hole through the existing record, which is held by the spectalur Peugeot EX1.

Continue reading Toyota shooting for electric vehicle ‘Ring record on August 29

Toyota shooting for electric vehicle ‘Ring record on August 29 originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It’s loud, powerful and wears the three-pointed star up front. Sure, that could describe the host of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG cars, but in this case, we’re talking about the latest hotness: the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe. This performance two-door keeps popping up in videos to tantalize our senses, and now, Mercedes has hired a pair of stunt drivers for a trio of new clips that show the sports coupe engaging in fan-approved activities.

The German automaker reached out to its fans on Facebook, who then decided on what stunts they wanted to see the C63 AMG Coupe perform. The first shows how the C63 AMG Coupe can be used to link drifts together to form a figure eight. Said figure eight happens to occur within close proximity to a pair of C63 sedans. In the second clip, a stunt driver threads the needle between a pair of parked sedans, and he does so while moving fairly quickly… in reverse. Lastly, the final clip appears fairly tame at first glance, as both stunt drivers intersect each other at high speeds. However, the timing has to be just right for that maneuver or Mercedes would have to send out a cleaning crew to pick up tiny bits of sports car from the ground.

We’ve got all three clips, idling loudly for you after the jump.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz shows off 2012 C63 AMG Coupe with three stunt videos

Mercedes-Benz shows off 2012 C63 AMG Coupe with three stunt videos originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A Minivan-Shaped SUV Minus The Ground Clearance

The last-gen Nissan Quest minivan was an oddball. It had good power, handled quite well, and was unconventional-looking. The thing is, unconventional isn’t necessarily the best thing for a vehicle as mainstream as a minivan. Nissan pulled the plug on the funky-looking Quest after the 2009 model year, promising to return after skipping 2010.

So here we are with the new 2011 Nissan Quest, which is essentially a less dramatic-looking Nissan Elgrand (as it’s known in Japan). It arrives in a minivan segment that’s as competitive as ever and stacked with new products. The excellent 2011 Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna lead the class. Chrysler punted the gimmicky in-car card tables, banished the trashy interiors, and released the greatly improved Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. We grabbed the keys to a new Quest to see whether it really hangs with the A-listers.

Continue reading 2011 Nissan Quest

2011 Nissan Quest originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation surrounding transmission issues in the 2011-12 Ford Mustang. NHTSA has received 32 complaints citing inability to shift into gears at speed. Around 26,000 Mustangs are being investigated because of these claims.

Regarding the 32 complaints, NHTSA filed this in its report:

Some reports allege incidents occurred while merging into high speed traffic and others allege that incidents occurred while turning left across oncoming traffic. Some complainants allege that the erratic shifting behavior almost caused a collision with adjacent vehicles.

The official investigation was opened on August 3rd. According to The Detroit News, a spokesperson from Ford Motor Company said that the automaker will fully cooperate with NHTSA regarding this matter.

Ford Mustang under investigation for transmission issues originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As much as we’d like to think that Land Rover is still the same rough-and-rugged off-road brand it always was, truth is, the British automaker is becoming more of a style icon these days. Just look at the new Range Rover Evoque – a sleek little crossover that’s been seen posing with Victoria Beckham on more than one occasion. (She was the ‘posh’ Spice Girl, you know.)

Autocar reports that the next-generation of Land Rover’s flagship Range Rover could move away from its signature boxy styling and transform into something a bit more rakish. The British magazine obtained spy photos of an early Range Rover mule that clearly shows a substantially more sloped roofline, pointing towards a dramatic new styling direction.

Speaking to Autocar earlier this year, Land Rover design head, Gerry McGovern, said that “the Evoque will inform the future Range Rover attitude,” adding that, “Range Rovers usually have a level window line and the body’s side and glass areas are equal. We’ve got rid of both on the Evoque, but we’ve still got the signature floating roof.”

The next-generation Range Rover will also have a stronger emphasis on rear legroom, ride, handling and – surprise, surprise – fuel economy. Expect the Range Rover to drop a bit of weight in its redesign, too.

Next Range Rover to get Evoquative styling? originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Conquering Trails And Tarmac In A V8 Monster

It’s no secret that when it comes to off-road capability, nothing quite tops the Jeep Wrangler. This grizzled mainstay continues to be the first choice for people wanting to get down and dirty with the great outdoors, and its success story is decades old. It’s like the Porsche 911 of off-roaders.

Unlike the 911, however, Jeep has long foregone a higher-strength version of the Wrangler straight from the factory. Porsche, for instance, offers the base 911 Carrera alongside more than 20 other variants, all the way up to the hardcore GT2 RS. So where do Jeep enthusiasts go when it comes time to enhance the off-road experience of the Wrangler? The aftermarket. One such company, AEV, has a package that combines superb off-road prowess with all the creature comforts of an everyday driver.

Oh, yeah – and it has a Hemi V8.

Continue reading 2011 AEV Jeep Wrangler Hemi

2011 AEV Jeep Wrangler Hemi originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tesla and Toyota have become rather friendly over the last few years. According to the latest reports, it seems the two automakers are ready to take their relationship to the next level. What initially started as a $60-million deal turned into a $100-million affair earlier this year.

You know what’s cooler than a million-dollar deal? A billion-dollar deal, and that’s reportedly what’s now on the table between the two automakers.

Per Tesla CEO Elon Musk, his company is in talks with Toyota to ink a deal that would see $1 billion trading hands. Any issues about capital could quickly disappear, and Tesla could quickly become a major player in the automotive industry thanks to this serious cash infusion. We’ll just have to wait and see…

Tesla talking billion dollar deal with Toyota? originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With early returns showing that truck buyers are really into boosted V6 engines, it appears that Ford hit the ball out of the park when it comes to the F-150 packing an EcoBoost V6. Truck buyers seem to like the fact that the V6 is as powerful as most V8 engines, and the improved fuel economy is the real deal maker.

The EcoBoost V6 boasts 22 miles-per-gallon on the highway, and 16 mpg in the city. Ford’s 5.0-liter V6, which is down on torque versus the turbo six, can only muster 21 mpg highway and 15 mpg city. That’s all well and good, but what happens in real-life driving conditions?

Consumer Reports put rubber to the road to find out, and the consumer advocacy institution found that the fuel economy numbers were about the same for both engines, though one certainly has a bit more punch than the other.

CR pitted a pair of otherwise identical 2011 F-150 XLT 4×4 Supercrew models against each other in towing and non-towing tests. The non-towing test returned identical fuel economy numbers of 15 mpg, but the EcoBoost Model was a bit faster at passing speeds of 45 mph to 65 mph. CR then put 7,500 pounds on the hitch of each truck, and again both models returned an identical 10 mpg. The EcoBoost was quite a bit more sprightly with a load in tow, taking 1.6 fewer seconds to hit 60 mph, and 1.2 fewer seconds to travel from 45 mph to 65 mph.

So what does this little test tell us? CR says that the 5.0-liter engine is likely a simpler engine than the EcoBoost mill, and it costs $750 less. But if towing is in your future, we’re thinking the EcoBoost engine is still the way to go. Plus, we can say that our experience behind the wheel of both engines was rather pleasant. Hit the jump to watch the video review from Consumer Reports.

Continue reading Consumer Reports: F-150 EcoBoost beats V8 for towing, not efficiency

Consumer Reports: F-150 EcoBoost beats V8 for towing, not efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We’ve already been behind the wheel of the 2012 Lexus GS sedan, and we’ve spied it lapping the Nürburgring under layers of camouflage. All that time, though, we’ve been forced to imagine what the finished product will look like under all those loose-fitting layers of clothing.

The wait is almost over. Lexus will officially unwrap the 2012 GS 350 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Thursday, August 18th at 4:15 PM (PDT). We’ll be there, bringing you the goods live, but in the meantime, the Japanese automaker has decided it’s high time to start teasing.

We know that the car’s styling was foreshadowed by the LF-Gh Concept that was shown off at the 2011 New York Auto Show, and nowhere will that be more evident than in the shape of the car’s grille. Lexus tells us that the new design philosophy that will debut with the 2012 GS will eventually spread through the rest of its lineup, so we’re keenly interested in seeing how this car looks in the flesh.

Check out a high-resolution version of the teaser by clicking on the image above. We’ve also taken the liberty of adding a lightened version of the image for you, which may or may not help you pick out some interesting details. Lastly, feel free to check out the official press release after the break.

Continue reading Lexus teases 2012 GS 350 ahead of Pebble Beach debut

Lexus teases 2012 GS 350 ahead of Pebble Beach debut

When we think Toyota Avalon, phrases like ’social security’, ‘medicare’ and ‘Denny’s Grand Slam’ come to mind. The reason? The majority of Avalons out on the road are driven by old folks and curtain rod salesman, but a report from Automotive News suggests that this could all change in the very near future.

In its report, AN claims that the next Avalon was shown to Toyota dealers in June, and the employees loved what they saw. The large sedan will reportedly undergo a massive redesign that will morph the Avalon from a granny-glider to a curvy stud, with design comparisons already being made to the Audi A7 and the Jaguar XJ.

Sure, Toyota dealers typically spend their work days looking at the Yaris and Corolla, so their design eye could be muddied a bit. But at the very least, the next Avalon should be very different from the model we know and ignore today, and that should be a welcomed change of pace.

Speaking of the Yaris and Corolla, AN states that both models are slated for redesign. The new Yaris will arrive this fall with more aggressive styling and a bit more interior room. The Corolla will also get a heavy refresh for the 2012 model year, though the more thorough overhaul will likely come in the spring of 2014. The Corolla will reportedly evolve into more of a European-inspired design instead of following curvy competitors like the Ford Focus.

Another interesting development could come courtesy of the Sequoia SUV. AN claims that Toyota is looking into dropping the current model for the 2014 model year and using the Sequoia name as an entry trim for the iconic Land Cruiser. In total, Toyota will reportedly unleash 10 new or redesigned vehicles through the end of next year.

Toyota shows next Avalon to dealers, rumors suggest it looks like A7, XJ

Some Things Never Go Out Of Style

The year was 1966. The muscle car era, which arguably began two years earlier with the introduction of the Pontiac GTO, was in full swing. In order to have a chance at attracting the young, affluent buyers so craved by American automakers of the day, a car needed to offer equal doses of style and horsepower. Dodge, with its brand new Charger fastback, offered plenty of both.

But it wasn’t until 1968 that the Dodge Charger truly hit its stride, earning it legendary status in the annals of automotive history. Coke-bottle styling, a full suite of powerful V8 engines – including the 440 Six Pack and 426 Hemi – and plenty of success on the NASCAR circuit meant that the Dodge Boys had a winner on their hands.

Sadly, the heyday of American muscle was nearly over by the time Dodge figured out the formula, and the car was just a shell of its former muscular self by the end of 1974.

The rest of the 1970s were not kind to the Charger, and sales slowly faded away until the model name was canceled altogether after the 1978 model year. We’ll gracefully skip over the front-wheel-drive years from 1983 through 1987 and move straight to the nameplate’s reintroduction in 2006. The Hemi was back in action, the new car’s styling was aggressive and generally well received and sales took off. But by 2010, yet again the reborn Charger was seriously showing its age, having received nothing in the way of significant interior or exterior updates during its five years back on the market and being saddled with a fully uncompetitive line of V6 engines and even an ancient four-speed automatic transmission in base models.

Dodge has finally given the “new” Charger some attention with an update for 2011 that includes new looks, new engines and the complete absence of a four-speed transmission. Does this mean that Dodge is done letting the Charger nameplate wither on the vine? Without spoiling the rest of the review, let’s just say we have some good news to share.

Continue reading 2011 Dodge Charger Rallye V6 [w/video]

2011 Dodge Charger Rallye V6 [w/video]

The documentary SENNA, about the life and racing times of Formula One legend Ayrton Senna is coming to U.S. theaters on August 12. Unfortunately, it’s very a limited initial release – just two theaters, one in L.A. and the other in New York City. The film will have a wider U.S. release in the following weeks, though will still only appear on a fraction of the screens that typical summer blockbusters do.

You can read our review of SENNA in anticipation of the film’s release, and its makers have given us access to an exclusive clip to show you. In this clip, Ayrton and his arch rival Alain Prost are being interviewed. It’s the early days of their driving together for McLaren, and the inherent conflict of having the sport’s two best drivers compete on the same team is clearly evident, even in such a brief clip.

If the clip after the jump whets your appetite, you can check the movie’s official Facebook page for theaters and showtimes to see if SENNA is coming to a town near you. If you’re more the stay-at-home type, you can already pre-order the two-disc documentary set from the Official F1 Store.

Continue reading Exclusive clip from SENNA, opening next week in U.S.

Exclusive clip from SENNA, opening next week in U.S.

Life in the Key of M. Minor.

If you have read the breathless reviews and overwritten comparos, you would assume that the 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is infused with the second coming of Senna. And for BMW to unabashedly draw a line between the M Coupe and the most holy of holies, the 1986-92 E30 M3, smacks of PRified nostalgia stoking. Call me a contrarian, but I refuse to believe the hype.

So as soon as the orange Bimmer landed on my fleet schedule, any and all reading, writing and discussion about the littlest M ceased. I would drive it for a week, live with it as if it were my own and deliver a critical, blatantly unbiased review of Life in the Key of M.

Five minutes into my first drive, I immediately pulled into a turnout, sat there for a second, took a deep breathe and realized – dammit – everyone was right. Brilliance is back in a small package.

Continue reading 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Auto show season seems to arrive earlier each year. We’re not yet fully into the swing of said season, but the rumors are starting to swirl about who is bring what to where. One of the first on our 2011 travel calendar is the Frankfurt Motor Show, whose media days fall in mid-September. Jaguar will be there, and it seems it’s bringing a sporty new concept along as well.

According to Automotive News, representatives for Jaguar remain mum on the details, but rumor has it that the cat-faced car company is prepping a sports car to slot under the XK. Along with the XF wagon, we’re pretty excited to see the British automaker add more Leaping Cats to its lineup.

Perhaps a smaller sports coupe could signal the modern-day return of the E-type? We can only hope as we continue to celebrate that model’s 50th birthday.

Jaguar bringing sports car concept to Frankfurt

There have been few remodels in the compact car segment that have been more eagerly anticipated than the 2012 Honda Civic. And why not? The Civic has been the standard-bearer in the segment for decades, and hopes were high for the new model.

We tested the Civic last month and discovered that while it still offered good fuel economy numbers and the promise of robust reliability and resale value, the 2012 evolution is something of a step back compared to the outgoing model. The interior isn’t quite as good, it certainly isn’t as much fun to drive as it used to be, and this Honda probably won’t turn as many heads as it once did. All while the competition has evolved at a rapid pace.

Consumer Reports was even less kind in expressing its feelings about the 2012 Civic. The consumer advocacy institute removed the Civic from its list of Recommended rides, and Senior Director David Champion went on to say that the refreshed Honda “now ranks near the bottom of its category.”

Losing the Recommended tag will likely sting Honda quite a bit, but just because CR is hating on the Civic doesn’t mean that everyone feels compelled to follow suit. For instance, Cars.com continues to stand by the Civic, citing “its terrific mileage, comfortable cabin, top safety scores, high resale value and a long track record of reliability.” Further, Cars.com adds that the Civic beat out entries like the Ford Focus and Kia Forte in one of its recent comparison tests, and at the same time, the Honda earned a “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

So is the 2012 Civic the star performer Cars.com seems to think it is, or is it closer to the disappointment described by Consumer Reports? The answer to that question will come down to personal choice. That said, for our money, we’d be happier if Honda stuck to the recipe that made the Civic great while leaving more mundane choices to its other competitors.

Cars.com still recommending Honda Civic, doesn’t care what CR says

Drew Phillips photo tips, 2025 CAFE, Suzuki small pickup, Audi future products

Episode #241 of the Autoblog Podcast is ready, and this week Chris, Dan and Zach are joined by Autoblog’s photo maven, Drew Phillips. Our discussion starts with the new CAFE standards and then moves to Audi future products as discussed by Johan DeNysschen before finishing up with the rumor of Suzuki considering a small pickup. Your questions and comments power the last third of the podcast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #241:

• 2025 CAFE target and its impact
• Suzuki thinking about a small pickup truck? For reals?
• Future Audi products from the top

In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Dodge Caliber Heat
2011 Land Rover LR4
2011 Roush Mustang
2011 Mazda2

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #241