Set to debut at next week’s , the fine folks at have given the treatment to the new Touring.
Powered by the same twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 as the sedan, the B5 Touring produces 507 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, running to the rear wheels via an eight-speed sport automatic transmission provided by ZF. 0-60 is handled in just under five seconds, and flat out the Touring will do 187 miles per hour.
Of course, all of this power comes wrapped in the usual Alpina trimmings, including a steroid-enhanced exterior aero kit and the company’s signature 20-spoke wheels. It’s quite a looker, and we’d love to see how it stacks up to ’s own . Get your fix in our high-res gallery below.
Another day, another hot-hatch that the United Kingdom can enjoy while thumbing their nose at our relative lack of hot-hatchitude here in the States. has just announced another limited-edition run of hatchbacks.
In 2010, . A new version for 2011 uses the same engine but ups the power ante to 132 horsepower at 6,700 rpm and 118 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm.
On the outside, the Ford Fiesta S1600 receives a lower front valence, larger side sills, a rear spoiler, rear diffuser and white 17-inch alloy wheels. The car is available in Frozen White or Performance Blue and both color choices get a pair of contrasting center stripes. The S1600 gets upgraded parts on the interior as well. Leather lines the heated sports seats, handbrake cover, gear level and steering wheel.
The Ford Fiesta S1600 will be limited to just 500 units and wears a price tag of £15,895, or nearly $26,000 USD. It doesn’t matter how much it costs in U.S. Dollars though because we can’t buy it here. That said, feel free to read all about what you’ll likely be missing in the press release .
Test Drive Unlimited 2 – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you jumped , you may have been disappointed to find a slew of bugs and server issues. Atari and Eden Games have been working hard to rectify that situation. A new update has been made available and it includes a variety of fixes, as well as a thank-you bonus item. The first batch of downloadable content for TDU2 thrown in the mix for free.
Called the Exploration DLC Pack, the downloadable add-on features new wrecks to find. The two new wrecks, once found, will put a rally-version Lancia Stratos and 1969 Dodge Charger in your garage (or garages, if you are progressing through game more quickly).
In addition to the extra vehicles, this update addresses the following issues:
Casino performance has been improved
Log-in time has been improved
Game is more stable across the board
Saved games are no longer corrupted
Friend lists are now populated
Invites work correctly
Clubs are now online
It’s clear that Eden Games and Atari have been listening to the masses, and are working hard to provide an enjoyable gaming experience. The update is being provided to PC users first, then it will filter over for console gamers.
David Letterman buys a 2011 Ford Fusion on-air – Click above to watch video
If you were David Letterman, what type of car would you purchase? Something German? Italian? Perhaps something that quickly propels you to illegal speeds? You’re all wrong, unless your guess was the … which would be an amazingly accurate answer.
Letterman posed a challenge to local and dealers; get to my set first and I will buy a car from you. Nissan was working to bring down the , while Ford sent over a Fusion. It was clear that Letterman wanted the Ford to arrive first because he mocked the Juke and held up a sign reading “we love Ford.”
Luckily for Dave, a salesman from the Manhattan Ford dealership arrived first. He sat down with Dave, and Letterman successfully haggled him down a bit on the price. to see David Letterman take ownership of a 2011 Ford Fusion and to see the Top Ten Reasons Dave Doesn’t Want A Nissan Juke. Okay, fine. We may have embellished that last bit a little…
The is still bigger and heavier than most of the competition, but there are still a whole slew of notable new features about the updated car. Designers filed off some of the more audacious curves in favor of a bit more subtlety. Power from the 650i’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 now sits at 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque – up 40 hp and a whopping 90 lb-ft from the last-gen 6 Series – and the six-speed gearbox has been replaced with a slick eight-speed unit. All good stuff, and judging by the fact that BMW has launched the online 650i Convertible configurator, it appears this big droptop is ready for prime time.
The price tag begins at $92,375 once $875 is added for destination and the dreaded $1,000 gas guzzler tax is applied. The price only goes up from there, with packages like Driver Assistance ($3,900) and premium sound ($1,800) bringing things over the $100,000 mark. Check off all the options and you’re looking at a MSRP of $110,375, or enough money for a loaded and a nicely optioned . to head over to the 650i configurator to price out some high-zoot open-air motoring for yourself.
Porsche Semper Vivus hybrid – Click above to watch the video
Think the was the first hybrid automobile ever made? Think again. ? Keep guessing. In reality, the world’s first hybrid was designed and built by none other than Ferdinand , founding father of the present-day Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart. That’s right, the same brain that brought us such ingenious machinery as the and the glorious Auto Union racers built the world’s first fully functional hybrid automobile.
Now that the modern-day Porsche brain-trust is once again showing interest in hybrid technology, the German company has decided to bring back the 1900 Semper Vivus, which literally means always alive. Although the technology behind hybrids has come a long way – Porsche’s first hybrid used about 4,000 pounds of lead acid batteries and could barely climb any kind of grade – the basic principles are actually much the same.
To wit, just like that original Semper Vivus, Porsche’s latest hybrid, the , features an engine (in this case a supercharged V6 putting out 333 horsepower), an electric motor (which adds another 47 horses) and a battery pack. All the major bits and pieces are the same, except with massive improvements in power and efficiency.
In celebration of 111 years of hybrid automobiles, Porsche spent the past four years recreating the Semper Vivus, and it will show off the fruits of its labor at the rapidly approaching 2011 Geneva Motor Show. In an effort to whet our appetites, the automaker has released a teaser video that you can see for yourself , along with the requisite press release.
Bugatti Veyron kit car – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’ve got a pulse in your wrist and a snapping brain cell in your head, chances are you wouldn’t mind parking a in your garage. But for most mere mortals, scrounging up the cash for a physics-bending piece of 16-cylinder glory would require all sorts of unpalatable tasks. Fortunately for those who want to look the part without having to participate in human trafficking, the kit car universe has stepped in to save the day. All you need is a 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar, a boat load of fiberglass and a little patience.
Oh, and $89,000.
Is that cheaper than an actual Veyron? Sure. Is it $73,000 more than we’d pay for this car? Absolutely. For that low price you’ll get all the looks of the Bug with a fraction of the actual performance. Buyers can look forward to a blistering 170 horsepower from a 2.5-liter V6 kicking at the front wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission. Don’t expect much else.
This particular machine is up for bid via , with four days left on the auction. Act now.
KTM X-Bow – Click above for high-res image gallery
Long ago, we told you that the was in street-legal form. Now, the magic moment is upon us – the Audi-powered, carbon fiber X-Bow is available now as a special construction vehicle kit car through British Racing Group, LLC.
The X-Bow is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with direct injection, good for 240 horsepower. While 240 hp isn’t exactly astronomical by anyone’s standards, the X-Bow’s Formula 1-style carbon fiber monocoque chassis means it’ll shoot to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds. This lightweight chassis also helps the X-Bow pull 1.5g on a skidpad if you’re running track tires. When you finally manage to terrify yourself and your passenger, as you inevitably will, huge Brembo brakes will bring you to a halt from 60 mph in just 99 feet.
To get the car legal for stateside use, KTM has to import the X-Bow as a kit car, which means supplying the Audi powerplant is up to you. To get your hands on one, contact British Racing Group, where you’ll get an estimated purchase price proposal from one of the customer relations specialists.
Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo – Click above to watch video
While the Nürburgring circuit seems to be today’s venue of choice for sports car bragging rights, the drag strip remains king when it comes to acceleration contests. With that in mind, the folks over at Hennessey Performance have released a video of their latest hopped-up V650 Wagon taking on ’s venerable . As expected, the 650-horsepower “Family Station Wagon” nudges the lighter 480-horsepower “Germany’s Finest” coupe for the win.
Wait a second.
The video clearly states the Porsche has a “Tiptronic” transmission. This means it is an older, pre-2010 model (note the lack of LED brake lights) that’s missing the current lightning-fast dual-clutch PDK gearbox and standard limited-slip rear end. We don’t know for sure, but it could even be an aged . Thanks to launch control, today’s standard 500-horsepower 997 Turbo does 0-60 in less than three seconds… easily. It is also disclosed that the V650 is riding on drag radials – a big advantage over street compounds on a well-used strip.
Nobody’s downplaying the ferociousness of the blown wagon, and we welcome this type of challenge, but let’s be sure to choose our words more carefully and keep the contestants in the same era. to watch the video.
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Trans-Am series of the late 1960s and early 1970s could be considered the golden era of American motorsports. Not only did it showcase the most desirable American cars of the time, but it featured some of the world’s greatest racing drivers engaging in this country’s own brand of fender-banging racing.
It’s why is so proud of the Boss 302, winner of the 1970 Trans-Am season with legendary driver Parnelli Jones behind the wheel, and why the street car has become a legend. But ask Jim Farley, Ford’s head honcho of marketing, about the 2012 Mustang Boss 302, and he’ll tell you that it’s not just about building a remake of the original. “This is not a nostalgia project,” he told us. “This is not in any way trying to bring back the Boss. This project is so much more than that. If we wanted to do that we could take a 5.0-liter, put some stripes and spoilers and other upgrades on it and that would be it. It was not a means to an end. The Boss 302 was originally a means to an end. It was a production car to go racing. This is a completely different project. We were not going to do this project unless we could beat an at this track.” This track being the famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
With Bavaria’s best sportscar in it sights, did achieve its goal of building a modern day legend, or is the 2012 Boss 302 simply another one of the infinite variations of the ? Ford invited us out to Monterey for a full day with the car, including some track time at Laguna Seca, and we have the answer.
Continue reading First Drive: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302…
In mid-October, announced that its would be eligible for a $1,300 tax credit. The electrified midsize sedan was scheduled to hit dealerships in late 2010 and the first 60,000 buyers in line to plop down some cash for the Sonata Hybrid would’ve pocketed that credit. However, there was a hitch: the Sonata Hybrid was delayed, .
What caused the delay? Well, according to Hyundai chief executive officer John Krafcik, a last-minute modification to the vehicle’s “virtual engine sound” system, made “amazingly late in the process” was the culprit. The automaker initially developed the Sonata Hybrid with a feature that would allow drivers to disable the vehicle’s pedestrian warning system, but after the requiring hybrids and plug-in vehicles to automatically emit audible sounds at low speeds, Hyundai’s manual disable functionality had to be axed.
According to , that modification required changes to the vehicle’s wiring harnesses, user-interface software and owner’s manual, which caused the lengthy delay. Hyundai delivered the first 2011 Sonata Hybrid in January.
has officially announced earnings for its first full year of business after its emergence from bankruptcy. The automaker brought in $135.6 billion in revenue with a net income of $4.7 billion, which marks GM’s first profit since 2004. Additionally, that profit was the largest for The General since 1999. Previously, GM had racked up $100 billion in losses.
Being in the black is good news for the automaker’s 50,000 hourly workers who are expected to receive bonuses averaging $4,300 as part of a profit sharing program.
According to CNN Money, the change of pace is thanks largely to three things: strong U.S. sales, a growing auto market in China and a significantly lower cost structure thanks to the automaker’s trip through bankruptcy.
GM Shares have inched up on the news, despite the fact that the stock market as a whole has dropped by five percent on blooming oil prices. CNN Money reports that GM shares are up five percent as a whole since the company’s IPO last November, but that those shares will need to jump by 50 percent in order for tax payers to recoup the government’s investment in the company. for the press release.
StarTech Jaguar XJ – Click above for high-res image gallery
StarTech, a division of the mad tuning company Brabus, offers upgrades for high-end vehicles from the likes of and . Formerly only available if you didn’t live in the US of A, the company has now opened up shop in the States. StarTech now calls Irvine, California home to its U.S. operations.
The StarTech modifications are not as . StarTech focuses more on style enhancements for the British luxury sedans, coupes and SUVs. Wheels, aero upgrades and suspension pieces are typical components of a StarTech package, and it will show off the .
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
How do you determine how environmentally friendly an automobile is? Certainly, fuel efficiency will be factored in rather highly, as will all manner of tailpipe emissions. But that’s only part of the story. Consider that there are many ways to power a vehicle; gasoline, diesel, electricity or any combinations thereof. Plus, you have to determine what actually goes into producing the vehicle and getting it into the hands of the consumer.
As you can see, assigning environmental grades to our current crop of cars and trucks is anything but an exact science, and the results will no doubt be swayed by how much emphasis is put on any given factor. And so it comes as no surprise that there are a number of differing opinions concerning the latest green machines to hit the market, and that may apply to the more than any other.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy publishes a list of green vehicles every year. For the last few, the has parlayed its compressed natural gas running gear into a victory on . We won’t argue with that determination, and we also don’t see any issues with the all-electric earning the silver position… but that’s where things get murkier. The comes in at number three, followed by the , and . The next five slots are filled with compact and subcompact sedans and hatchbacks.
Are you asking yourself where the Volt fits in? So was . Speaking to Forbes, spokesman Rob Peterson had this to say:
Their logic would escape the majority of consumers. If you look at the EPA ratings for the Smart fortwo at 33 city and 41 highway, it’s actually less than the Volt’s after the electric range is exhausted. We’re being penalized against the Smart because our car is a four-seater with a battery pack and therefore weighs more. And we lose against the Leaf because we have a gas engine. But you really have to look at how the car is actually used – their methodology doesn’t add up.
No matter your personal opinion, one thing is for certain: As more and more category-bending vehicles hit the market, this topic isn’t going to be resolved any time soon.
Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Race Car at Sebring – Click above for high-res image gallery
There’s really not a whole lot more we can tell you about the pair of that will be forming a two-pronged attack of the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT starting on March 25 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
That said, we can still all stare at all the pretty pictures that has been so kind as to release upon the masses. Check out our high-res image gallery below, where you’ll see the two cars in all their specially prepared, tire-squealing and exhaust-popping glory. Also note that this is the first time the cars have been displayed wearing the official livery of Andy Pilgrim (the No. 8 car) and teammate Johnny O’Connell (the No. 3 car) and they are lapping Sebring for a .
It looks like will be able to skip out on around $14 billion worth of taxes domestically and another $19 billion in taxes overseas thanks to a deal with the U.S. government. According to Edmunds, 2010 will mark the first year since 2004 that the company has operated in the black, and while most companies are made to pay taxes on their revenue, GM will be able to skip its tax tab due to years of massive losses. Companies are typically forgiven a portion of future taxes due to their past losses, but that benefit is typically stripped after an organization goes through bankruptcy.
That’s not the case with GM, however. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, The General has managed to hang on to its tax breaks despite shedding around $30 billion in debt during bankruptcy proceedings. According to CNN Money, both GM and the Treasury Department deny that the automaker has received any special deal, though Edmunds reports that GM may have gotten the break to help reduce the perceived cost of the auto industry bailout.
EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
EDAG is headed back to the Geneva Motor Show with a new take on car sharing. The company plans to unveil the new Light Car Sharing Concept, a machine that blends lightweight composites, modular pieces and an electric drivetrain to solve many of the woes facing communal autos at the moment. Along with body panels and interior components that can be easily swapped out for new pieces as wear and tear take hold, the concept comes with sophisticated GPS tracking software to allow car sharing companies to know exactly where their vehicles are at all times.
EDAG says that this new technology will help make car sharing more efficient in the future. At the heart of the vehicle is an axle-mounted electric drive system powered by lithium-ion batteries. All told, the gear is good for a range of 62 miles and a top-speed of 62 miles per hour. There are no output or acceleration figures to be had as of this writing, though that might change as we get closer to next week’s show.
Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery
A couple of days after of a special edition surfaced in celebration of the company’s independence from , the automaker has confirmed its particulars and corrected a few details along the way.
The 9-3 Independence Edition celebrates not only ’s liberation out from under the GM umbrella, but also the 25th anniversary of the company’s first convertible. It’s based on the Aero trim model, but while earlier reports suggested it could get the 220-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo from the 9-5, the special edition is actually driven by a 1.9-liter diesel four with 180 horses and a six-speed automatic.
Amber Orange metallic is the dominant color, coating the exterior and highlighting the cabin with trim on the parchment leather sport seats and stitching on the steering wheel. There’s also grey piping on the floor mats and carbon-look leather on the instrument panel, levers and handles. And while those special 18-inch wheels may look like they’ve got five spokes, but actually have twenty.
Only 366 examples of the Independence Edition will be made in all – one for each day of this year and another to kick off the next. for the press release and check out the pair of images in the gallery below.
It’s been a while since we heard anything from Ian McElroy. As you may recall, he’s the twisted mind who came up with the notion of lodging a boxer four-cylinder between the rails of a motorcycle frame. Well, it appears that he’s been a busy bee since showing off his first take on the . McElroy has set about reimagining his creation with a diesel boxer lump at the heart of the action. The engine is still sourced from Fuji Heavy Industries, though it’s both smaller and more efficient than the old gasoline lump.
The newest addition to the Kickboxer family boasts new body work and a different swing arm design along with a new turbo configuration. Not quite mad enough for you? How about sticking an all-wheel drive version of the oil-burning moto in your pipe? McElroy worked up a twin-chain design that works with some help from a jack shaft, idler sprocket and a drive axle.
These aren’t just some random renderings, though. McElroy says that he has all of the CAD files he needs to have the bikes machined and built. All he needs is the coin to do so. Shall we start passing the hat?
