, but the is now history. While is still building out the model run, it has closed ordering and “all cars are spoken for,” according to Car and Driver.
The report comes from the magazine’s European correspondent, so we assume any remaining cars are destined to remain in Europe, meaning that our friends across the Atlantic are just now catching up to our situation here. Perhaps this news should come as no surprise, as the 1 Series M Coupe was sold in the U.S. for just a single model year, 2011.
Of course, if your heart is set on owning one of fewer than 1,000 1 Series M Coupes that were offered in the States, the only thing standing between you and your dream is money. We imagine values of these cars will not depreciate much (the at the moment has been essentially bid up to MSRP), though whether the 1 Series M Coupe will achieve the cult status of the remains to be seen.
Toyota has been teasing us with of the redesigned 2013 over the last month, and now we get to see its modest makeover just before the vehicle’s debut.
The new, less fussy grille is the first thing you’ll notice. Fewer horizontal bars above the bumper and a chrome accent goes some way toward below classing up the crossutilitywagon thing. The headlamps are new, and the fog lights have also been blacked out with chrome accent ring. Finishing off the new light fixtures are reworked door mirrors fitted with the obligatory built-in turn signals.
In back, the taillights have been slightly updated, but everything else seems to be much the same as the 2012 model. Venzas can now be ordered in Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl and Cosmic Gray Mica.
Interior changes also seem to be minimal except for updated steering wheel buttons and the option of adding Toyota’s package that integrates your smart phone with the vehicle’s dashboard display. The interior is also available in black for 2013.
Engine choices stay the same, with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6 on offer.
Check the for more photos and to the press release for more details.
We’ve long maintained that we live in the best era of automotive history to date. Today’s vehicles are safer, more efficient, faster, more powerful and more controllable than ever before.
Need proof? In an age dominated by talk of ever tighter fuel economy regulations, buyers now have access to a staggering number of vehicles with more than 500 horsepower. Just 10 years ago, if you wanted to bring home a showroom stock vehicle with that kind of power, your options were limited to either the or the Lamborghini Murcielago. Now there are over 70 models with that kind of grunt on tap.
All told, there are over eighteen brands with at least one 500+hp model for sale in their ranks right now. Even better, those dyno numbers are being accomplished with smaller, more fuel-efficient engines. While most of the big-power vehicles come from European brands like , and , General Motors and have also entered the fray lately. will do the same with the company’s soon-to-be-unveiled SRT Viper.
Interestingly enough, buyers have an even loftier horsepower goal to look toward these days. Of every car sold in the U.S., just 13 produce more than 600 horsepower.
The has been a boon for since it arrived in 2007, with impressive sales complemented by profitable transaction prices. And even though the big Buick has gone without a refresh since its debut, the Enclave managed its best year ever in 2011, with a segment-leading 58,000 units sold.
Buick is hoping to stretch that streak with the Enclave’s first refresh for 2013. The tweaked three-row crossover will receive several updates, starting with a new front fascia that includes a black chrome waterfall grille and redesigned hood. The front also includes a new headlight design with standard Xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights. Out back, the 2013 Enclave features new LED taillights and a fresh design with integrated exhaust outlets.
Overall, the exterior redesign is evolutionary, but more dramatic changes await inside. The Enclave’s cabin was fast becoming outdated, but Buick upped its game with a fresh dash that includes more modern-looking materials and contemporary center stack. There are also tasteful wood treatments, a smattering of chrome accents and attractive stitching throughout. The cabin also features blue LED ambient lighting that accentuates the size of this voluminous crossover.
The 2013 Enclave will also inherit Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system, which offers a brilliant LCD and interactivity with smart phones via Bluetooth and USB connections. The Enclave also features tri-zone climate control and an industry-first front center airbag for additional crash protection.
Buick engineers hasn’t made any changes to the tried-and-true 3.6-liter V6 or the six-speed automatic, but the ride and handling setup has been given a bit of love. The front and rear dampers were revised for a smoother ride, with adjustments that also ensure big bumps don’t loosen your fillings. The ride has also received more “Quiet Tuning,” (read: insulation) which keeps even more unwanted road noise out of the re-imagined cabin than before.
The 2013 Buick Enclave will make its official debut at the tomorrow. Scroll down to read over the press release from Buick and peruse official high-resolution images in the gallery above.
is getting in on the diesel craze with its first diesel-powered vehicle ever offered in the U.S. The 2013 will be available with a turbo-diesel V6 option pumping out 240 horsepower, permanent all-wheel drive and a staggering 406 lb-ft of trailer-towing torque. That’s enough power to propel the super-SUV to 60 in 7.2 seconds and 135 miles per hour on the track. That’ll outrun your neighbor’s base Cayenne by .2 seconds, but don’t try to take on a Cayenne Turbo (0-60 in 4.4 seconds).
Porsche says the diesel’s estimated fuel economy numbers are 20 city / 28 highway. The offers the same diesel engine but with 15 fewer horses and EPA estimates of 19/28 mpg. Bad news, however, for anyone who likes shifting their own gears. Looks like only the 8-speed Tiptronic will be available with the diesel.
While the least-expensive Cayenne will set you back at least $48,850, adding the diesel engine runs the base price up to $55,750. That’s not too bad when you consider the platform-sharing Touareg TDI starts at just below $47k and runs all the way up to $59k for the Executive level VW.
Car spotters can ID the latest Cayenne variant by the “Diesel” badges behind the front wheel wells.
Check out the gallery above for more pics and for the official details from Porsche.
It takes but six months to crown a new American Idol, but the search for a replacement New York City taxi has taken five years, and is finally ready to collect its flowers and contract.
The production taxi version of the NV200 is, except for its looks, just about all a cabbie and his passenger could want from their voyages together: more room, more lighting, a panoramic roof, airbags front and rear, climate control for back-seaters, charging ports and an active carbon headliner to absorb odors are just the start.
We’ve seen , but the is where locals will get a chance to meet their lemony carriages before they enter service next year. A mobility version for disabled passengers is being developed with Braun and will go on sale next year as well. for the full skinny on the Taxi of Tomorrow, and click the image above to enlarge.
debuts production NV200 “Taxi of Tomorrow” for New Yorkers
We’re almost ready to record Episode #276 of the Autoblog Podcast, and you can check out the topics below, add your own to the and join us live via , as well, and we’ve embedded our UStream player . Thanks for listening!
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #276
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 2013 Lincoln MKZ, which Ford hopes will turn around its stagnant luxury brand. Based on the that was at the , the production version looks largely unchanged except for practical concessions like visible door handles and larger side mirrors. Whether or not the new look, described by Lincoln Design director Max Wolff as “elegant simplicity,” will resonate with buyers remains to be seen, but it has the Autoblog team split right down the middle.
Where the 2013 MKZ sets itself apart most from rivals are its suite of driving and safety technologies.
We’re all in agreement, however, about the improved interior design, especially the Push Button Shift gear selector that makes for a smooth, uncluttered center console. The MKZ will of course be available with SYNC and MyLincoln Touch, which are complemented by a large 10.1-inch LCD instrument cluster and 8-inch center touchscreen. The interior is covered wall-to-wall in leather, real wood trim and metal accents, and Active Noise Control, which cancels out offending audibles, is standard equipment. Optional is a unique 15.2-foot Retractable Panoramic Roof that takes sunroofs to the extreme.
Three powertrains will be available for the MKZ at launch. Standard is a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 240 horsepower (on premium fuel) and 270 lb-ft of torque while returning 22 mpg city / 33 mpg highway. More power is available via a 3.7-liter V6 generating 300 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, which returns 18 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy. The MKZ Hybrid is also back offering a combined output of 188 hp from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric drivetrain. EPA estimates aren’t available for the MKZ Hybrid, but Lincoln says it should remain America’s most fuel-efficient premium sedan. All-wheel drive is an option for both non-hybrid models, which also receive six-speed automatic transmissions and paddle shifters, while the MKZ Hybrid is front-wheel-drive only with a CVT.
Where the 2013 MKZ will set itself apart most from rivals are its suite of driving and safety technologies. First up is Lincoln Drive Control, which effectively coordinates every system on the car to continually refine the ride and handling in real time. The most interesting of these systems is the Continually Controlled Damping suspension system, which offers normal, comfort and sport modes and activately adjusts the dampers up to 50 times per second.
As for safety, the MKZ may set a new benchmark for the number of sensors onboard. There’s a mono-vision camera integrated into the rearview mirror to read lane markers on the road, radar sensors for the adaptive cruise control and active Collision Warning with Brake Support, and more short-range wide-angle radar sensors for help with parking and backing up. The MKZ will also class-exclusive inflatable second-row seatbelts that compliment the eight airbags located elsewhere around the vehicle.
We’re very eager to see the 2013 Lincoln MKZ in person at the New York Auto Show this week, so until we can bring you our own in-person live shots, take a look at the gallery above and scroll down for Lincoln’s official press release.
put nine of its own engineers inside of a new car they helped create, the , so they could experience its capabilities for themselves. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but Ford also thoughtfully put NASCAR driver Carl Edwards in the driver’s seat, and it turns out that the boffins didn’t realize how capable their car was until the Sprint Cup driver showed them.
In a new series of TV and internet spots called “Rocket Science,” Edwards spends most of his time going tire-smoking sideways while engineers discuss the features of the hotted-up all-wheel drive Taurus, like the blind-spot assistance system and its 475-mile range. There’s a press release with the particulars, but you’ll want to click to check out the vids showing a string of very nervous engineers in the hands of a very professional driver on a very closed course.
It’s that time of year again. April Fools’ came and went over the weekend, and a handful of the world’s automakers joined in on a little Spring time fun. From intelligent anti-theft devices and TSA-inspired driver aids to automated NASCAR racers and high-performance hybrids, this year’s raft of pranks were as good as any we’ve seen in past years. With April 1 falling on a Sunday, we saw fewer wise-cracking creations than before, but that didn’t spoil the fun, so we thought we’d recap them for your enjoyment.
took the cake this year with the company’s Cowley Caravan and Swindon Roof Top Tent. The automaker went through the trouble of working up a full press release, complete with 20 photos and translations into a wide range of languages. We’ll admit to being a little disappointed when we discovered the add-ons were a clever rouse. We’ll just have to scrap our plans for a Mini safari. For now.
The has been leaked ahead of its official announcement at the , and it seems to boasts a fresh face and a reasonable price tag. The smallest of crossovers will feature a revised front fascia that includes tweaked headlights and a new bumper with silver-painted accents. The LED highlights and light rings are available only as part of the optional xenon light package.
The same silver accents can be found on the side body sills, and BMW has penned new side-view mirrors. The rear also received a revamped bumper, plus fresh taillights. Inside changes include a shallower center console that has been tilted towards the driver, while chrome touches have been added for a more premium feel.
Under the hood, U.S. buyers will have a choice of turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines. The X1 28i will feature the powerful 2.0-liter turbo four, boasting 240 horsepower. The X1 xDrive35i will up the ante with BMW’s tried-and-true turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, which will be good for 300 horsepower.
Those well-regarded powertrains should provide enough punch to make the X1 a blast to drive, and luckily we won’t have to wait long to find out for sure. The X1 will arrive Stateside beginning in September with a palatable $31,545 price tag that includes the $895 destination charge. The xDrive28i tips the sales at $33,245 and the xDrive35i will start at $39,345. Not bad for an attractive little BMW, though we’re sure a few options will send the MSRP to $50,000 and beyond. to read over the BMW press release.
The United Auto Workers has seen an increase in membership for the second straight year, according to Bloomberg. Last year, the union saw its ranks grow by 1.1 percent to 380,719 members, thanks in part to increased hiring by domestic automakers. In 2010, the UAW grew by six percent, but today’s total is still a fraction of the 1.5 million members the union boasted in 1979. General Motors, and are expected to hire around 14,750 union workers by 2015, according to the report. That number is likely far below what the UAW will need to be able to secure significant bargaining leverage.
To that end, the UAW has made it clear that organizing a foreign-owned manufacturing facility is crucial to its survival. UAW president Bob King vowed to unionize one such plant last year but failed to do so. Now the UAW is reportedly handing out at the new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Workers there have reportedly had mixed-reactions to the prospect of unionization.
As and , the Environmental Protection Agency today approved the first applications to make E15, a blend of gasoline with 15 percent in it. This means that E15 is now a “significant step” closer to production and sale in America.
For decades, gasoline in the U.S. has had up to 10 percent ethanol in it, but the extra five points were enough to generate resistance. The and the both took steps to prevent E15 from entering the national supply. Even the EPA admits not every vehicle should use the new blend, saying it is approved only for Model Year 2001 vehicles and newer.
Many automakers have been hesitant about E15, fearing fuel system and engine damage, so a number of them through the Auto Alliance. Some have even gone so far as to say that . The EPA’s rules say that any pump dispensing E15 must be clearly labeled. The EPA is not requiring any station to sell E15 in any way, but the Obama Administration does want to encourage its use, and thus wants to help get 10,000 blender pumps installed in the U.S. over the next 5 years.
In late 2011, the U.S. Congress ended a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol while also stopping tariffs on ethanol imported from Brazil. Since 1980, the ethanol industry has received an estimated $45 billion in subsidies. Check out the official EPA press release for further details .
We record Episode #276 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below, check out our discussion topics, or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast if you haven’t already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #276
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It’s April 2 today, which means we’ve made it through all the April Fools’ Day gags (stay tuned for more on that front…) and it’s time to turn to more serious stuff. And nothing is more serious than the 2013 SRT that debuts on April 4 at the .
While we’ve seen and , and some other of what the first Viper without a badge will look like, we think this latest one really kills it. Courtesy of artist Jon Sibel, this is one of those images that looks good enough to be the real thing. If it were, we’d be pleased with the new Snake. We imagine everyone at would too.
Besides this great rear three-quarter shot, Sibel has done up a nice Viper roadster that you can see in our .
is updating its best-seller for the 2013 model year, with the crossover getting several technology enhancements, including CUE, the luxury brand’s new infotainment system.
The acronym stands for Cadillac User Experience, which uses a capacitive touchscreen for control of numerous functions, including interfacing with a driver’s smartphone. While other systems like CUE already exist, none offer proximity sensing and haptic feedback such that the display changes as a driver’s hand nears it and gives feedback to his selection. We’ve already posted a deep dive with CUE .
The other big upgrade is the availability of new safety technology in conjunction with Cadillac’s Safety Alert Seat, which we wrote about . Two packages will be offered, one called “Driver Awareness” and the other “Driver Assist.” The former is focused on crash prevention by way of providing driver alerts, while the latter will also include vehicle intervention.
Cadillac has also added active noise cancellation to the SRX for 2013, along with redesigning the steering wheel and shifter and updating the instrument cluster to accommodate CUE. Some new USB and SD card ports, minor rear-seat entertainment upgrades, standard HD radio, and new interior color combinations round out the changes.
is updating its best-seller for the 2013 model year, with the crossover getting several technology enhancements, including CUE, the luxury brand’s new infotainment system.
The acronym stands for Cadillac User Experience, which uses a capacitive touchscreen for control of numerous functions, including interfacing with a driver’s smartphone. While other systems like CUE already exist, none offer proximity sensing and haptic feedback such that the display changes as a driver’s hand nears it and gives feedback to his selection. We’ve already posted a deep dive with CUE .
The other big upgrade is the availability of new safety technology in conjunction with Cadillac’s Safety Alert Seat, which we wrote about . Two packages will be offered, one called “Driver Awareness” and the other “Driver Assist.” The former is focused on crash prevention by way of providing driver alerts, while the latter will also include vehicle intervention.
Cadillac has also added active noise cancellation to the SRX for 2013, along with redesigning the steering wheel and shifter and updating the instrument cluster to accommodate CUE. Some new USB and SD card ports, minor rear-seat entertainment upgrades, standard HD radio, and new interior color combinations round out the changes.
has just wrapped up another impressive Antarctic expedition, this time traversing over 43,500 miles in the span of four months. In the process, the company says it snagged a new world record with three specially-prepared Hilux pickup trucks with each covering 5,903 miles of the frozen continent. Iceland-based Arctic Trucks handled converting the pickups for their stint in the cold, and while the alterations included creating at least two 6×6 versions, the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engines had to be reworked to consume Jet A-1 fuel. In the low temperatures of the Antarctic, standard diesel would simply turn to jelly.
The trucks were also outfitted with large tires running just 2-3 psi of air pressure, resulting in a contact patch around 17 times larger than a standard tire. Toyota reports the trucks ran incredibly well throughout the expedition and required no major repairs.
Starting last November, Toyota sent a team of 10 Hilux trucks to the far south to establish fuel depots, a weather station and to support scientific expeditions along the way. for the full press release.
We had a feeling this was coming. The otherworldly curvy sheetmetal of the has always seemed so far off the map as to appear more French than Japanese. After all, Gallic designers have a long history of creating bold and polarizing forms. So it comes as little surprise that AutoExpress is reporting that will let its corporate siblings at Renault borrow the fun-to-drive Juke crossover for a model of their own.
At least in the UK, the unnamed model will replace the slow-selling Koleos CUV. AutoExpress has worked up some renderings, and notably, they swap out the Juke’s unusual front lighting for something a bit more traditional and more along the lines of the 2011 Captur showcar.
had the Captur coming to market riding atop Renault’s Clio architecture, but if this new report is accurate, Renault probably won’t have to invest as much to bring the vehicle to market. Check out the full renderings at the link below, and sit tight, because AE doesn’t expect the subcompact ute to arrive until sometime next year.
Automotive News reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun two separate investigations following reports of engine fires in both and models. The government agency received two complaints about fires in Cruze sedans and eight in Wrangler models, with some reporting their vehicles were completely destroyed. In both Cruze cases, the compact sedans were being driven when the fires occurred. One Cruze Eco owner reported seeing smoke emanating from the engine bay, and the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames five minutes after coming to a stop.
In seven of the Wrangler cases, the engine was running when the fires started. One owner reported seeing burning liquid pouring onto the ground that couldn’t be extinguished with water. In 2010, recalled certain Wrangler models to address automatic transmission fluid that could overheat and expel onto hot surfaces, causing fires.
Both General Motors and Chrysler are cooperating with their respective NHTSA investigations and say they are unaware of any injuries or fatalities stemming from the fires.
