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Rankings in this business usually revolve around cars themselves, but every year our friends over at Motor Trend put together a Top 50 list of another kind: MT’s annual Power List ranks the people behind the cars. Their placement reflects not only their actions in the past and vision for the future, but also the success of the companies they lead.

This year’s list has just hit the interwebs, and while some of its contents (and the order in which they appear) may come as expected, others hold some surprises. At the top of the list: one Sergio Marchionne, CEO of the Fiat and Chrysler groups and architect of their increasing synergization. Right behind him is Hyundai chairman Chung Mong Koo. But while Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn may not have advanced from last year’s fourth place ranking, that his chairman and design chief are up there in the top ten along with him speak volumes about the company’s success.

A few other notables: Even in semi-retirement, Bob Lutz still holds a place on the list, albeit at the bottom. Energy drink guru Dietrich Mateschitz is up at 18th place for steering the Red Bull Racing team to consecutive World Championships. And those searching for gender equity in a largely male-dominated industry will find just two women on the list: Ford’s European VP Barb Samarszich at 33rd place, and General Motors product development vice president Mary Barra at 41. Follow the link to scope out the rest.

Motor Trend ranks the industry’s best and brightest with annual Power List

Christmas just came a few days early for Audi fans with the announcement of the A1 Quattro, a high-performance, limited-edition version of Audi’s subcompact hatch.

As its name would imply, the A1 Quattro comes equipped with the automaker’s legendary all-wheel-drive system, with power provided by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder used in the S3. The reworked mill puts out 252 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm – a boost of more than 70 hp and 74 lb-ft over the standard 1.4-liter A1.

A six-speed manual shuttles that power to a Haldex AWD setup and on to center-locking 17-inch wheels that ape the original 80s-era Quattro’s style. There’s no word on weight, but Audi claims the hi-po A1 will match the S3’s 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds and top out at 152 mph.

In addition to grippy 225/35 R18 rubber, the wheel wells are filled with a modified MacPherson strut suspension in front and a multi-link setup out back, while the braking hardware has been upgraded with larger discs at all four corners with black painted calipers. The electromechanical steering has also been tweaked to provide a 14.8:1 ratio, the ESP has been modified for high-performance duty and a new electronically controlled differential lock will keep wheelspin at bay. Although Audi decided to keep the rear seats in place, the AWD components have reduced trunk space to 7.4 cubic feet – or 2.1 cubes less than the standard model. Not that you care.

The exterior speaks for itself, drawing cues from past Audi concepts and a few bits from the S and RS lines, while the interior receives a new instrument panel, aluminum pedals, seriously bolstered buckets and black leather with red contrast stitching.

The A1 Quattro is an S1 in everything but name, and it’s set to go on sale later next year with only 333 units on offer. And naturally, the U.S. is left out. We’re as irritated as you. Get even more disappointed by reading all the details in the press blast below the fold.

Continue reading Audi creates limited edition, 252-hp A1 Quattro

Audi creates limited edition, 252-hp A1 Quattro

If you ever find yourself needing to talk someone out of purchasing a motorcycle, we suggest turning their eyes toward the interminable mire that is YouTube. For every clip of an amazing stunt or beautiful ride through the country, there’s 15 videos of motorcycle riders on the raw end of a collision with another vehicle.

Take the brief video after the jump for example. A group of riders are rolling through the relatively empty streets of St. Louis, and while one of the guys engages in a quick wheelie, the group doesn’t seem to be maintaining outrageous speed through the city center.

That’s when an inattentive driver in a Ford Ranger casually rolls right through a red light and straight into our camera man. The collision sends bike and rider spilling through the intersection. Fortunately, no one seems permanently injured in the dust up.

The clip is an excellent reminder of just how invisible bikes can be, especially when other drivers aren’t paying attention. Would the Ranger have rolled the stop light if it were a full-size sedan driving down the street? It’s hard telling, but the video makes a solid case for wearing brighter leathers. Hit the jump to check it out for yourself. Just be wary of the substantial cursing that comes post crash.

Continue reading The case of the invisible motorcycle

The case of the invisible motorcycle

“The president is going to go after me. I’ll go after him.” That pretty much sums up every presidential race in recent memory, where it seems attacking the opposing side is just as important as proving your own personal worth. And the 2012 U.S. presidential election, unsurprisingly, is shaping up much the same.

The words above came from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is in the running for the Republican nomination. According to a Romney interview conducted by Fox News, President Obama is responsible for closing factories and laying off workers during the government-backed bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors. Detractors would argue that factory closings and a shrinking workforce were unavoidable at the automakers and that the plans were effectively put in motion on former President George Bush’s watch.

This new line of reasoning from Romney comes as he himself is under attack for his role in Bain Capital, a highly profitable Boston-based private equity firm. Depending on who you’re asking, Bain was either a creator of jobs and a savior of broken companies or a group of rich investors whose sole goal was to make money at the expense of everything else. Either way, there’s no denying that many facilities were closed and many jobs were lost under the ownership of Bain Capital.

As for President Obama’s reaction, The Detroit News quotes Michigan spokesman for the Obama campaign, Clark Pettig, as saying:

“We know what Mitt Romney did when 1.4 million jobs were on the line – he opposed the rescue loan the president extended to avoid liquidation, and made clear he would let Detroit go bankrupt. It’s no wonder he did that, because when he was a corporate buyout specialist, he laid off thousands of workers, closed factories and outsourced jobs solely in order to create profits for himself and his partners.”

Welcome to election season, folks.

Romney blames Obama for GM layoffs

We know it doesn’t look like the rallying Honda Civic hatchback above is doing anything special, but trust us, this is a case of “Oh, I wasn’t expecting that at all.”

After barreling across the ridiculously long run-up to the crest, the pilot even lets off the gas before launch, yet still manages to look like he’s qualifying for the 2014 Winter Olympic ski jump in Sochi. He might want to work on his pre-running notes before the next outing.

You’ll find the mighty leap in the video after the jump. You can start preparing your “VTEC just kicked in yo!” now.

Continue reading Is this the highest-flying Honda ever?

Is this the highest-flying Honda ever?

In just a few weeks, we’ll be feasting our eyes on the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe under the bright lights of the Detroit Auto Show. And while the endless spy shots and leaked images have done a good job of showing us exactly what the new coupe looks like, this in-person video gives us a glimpse of what the new Hyundai sports cars looks like in the wild – inside and out.

We’re slowly warming to the new Veloster-inspired front fascia, and the other visual changes for 2013 have been easier to appreciate. The revised taillamps look nice, and we dig the wheel design of the 3.8 R-Spec model shown in this video. V6-equipped Genesis Coupes will now be good for 345 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, routed to the ground via a six-speed manual or optional eight-speed automatic. Turbocharged four-cylinder models will still produce a more than respectable 271 hp and 275 lb-ft with the same transmission choices.

The videos, available after the jump, give us a glimpse inside the new Genesis Coupe, and though we can’t see much more than the gauge cluster and steering wheel, it doesn’t appear that too much has changed inside. More interesting is a brief second video clip with a first-person acceleration run, though in truth, it doesn’t reveal much more than the engine sound because of the way it’s shot.

We’ll be sure to give you a closer look when the Hyundai makes its debut in Detroit next month, so stay tuned.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe gets the real-life walkaround treatment

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe gets the real-life walkaround treatment

Toyota is bringing a new concept to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. The company calls its NS4 showcar an “advanced” plug-in hybrid, though it hasn’t shared any more information beyond the vehicle’s name. While we can’t say for certain, odds are the concept will give us a glimpse of what the company has planned for future hybrid design instead of boasting any tangible next-generation technology. As you may recall, Toyota and BMW recently partnered up to create a new lithium-ion battery pack, so it may be some time before we see the tech debut, even in a concept vehicle.

Toyota has also made it clear the company will bring along the Prius C, which will make its North American debut at the Detroit show (see gallery below). The Prius C rides on a platform about the same size as the Yaris, but comes packing a hybrid drivetrain. Word has it the vehicle will come with Prius-besting EPA fuel economy figures, too. Hit the jump for the brief press release, and stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the Detroit show.

Continue reading Toyota confirms NS4 plug-in hybrid concept and production Prius C for Detroit

Toyota confirms NS4 plug-in hybrid concept and production Prius C for Detroit

Eagle-eyed Autoblog readers may remember the Banksy-inspired street art of Xander Walker (Facebook, Twitter) that we featured back in February. Since then, nearly every writer and editor on the Autoblog team has picked out his own favorite prints and added them to his Christmas list. What we didn’t realize is that Xander’s been busy since February and has expanded his offerings with more prints as well as apparel that includes T-shirts, ties and even sunglasses.

Fortunately for you, Xander’s as much a fan of Autoblog as we are of him, and he was more generous than we could’ve hoped when we asked him to participate in our Six Days of Giveaways. Not only does today’s prize pack include two of our favorite prints, Anatomy of a Car Crash and BMW 3.0 CSL ‘batmobile,’ but Xander also included two T-shirts, two ties and two pairs of sunglasses.

Altogether the prize pack is worth over $350, though it’s hard to put a price on artwork this beautiful. It could all be yours if you follow the simple instructions below to enter.

HOW TO ENTER

• Leave a single comment on this post (if you leave two or more, all of your entries will be disqualified)
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
• Limit 1 entry per person during entry period
• The entry period ends at 1:00 PM EST on Wednesday, December 21th, 2011. We’ll randomly select 1 winner at that time to receive the Xander Walker prize pack valued at $358.60.
• For a list of complete rules, click here.

Six Days of Giveaways – Day 3: The Artwork of Xander Walker

For at least two years, BMW has been teasing the idea of making a supercar, the kind that would glare with laser headlights at the Audi R8 and say, “Yeah, I’m lookin’ at you.” Way back in early 2008, the car was rumored to be a twin-turbo V10 with 625 horsepower. A year later, it was going to be the gentler, greener two-seat Z10 ED with a twin-turbo six cylinder and 400 hp. A year later still, the 1.5-liter, three-cylinder, hybrid i8 inherited the green supercar mantle.

But just two months ago, the head of product development at BMW’s M division said he wanted a car to fight the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a pure M-car developed totally in-house (as was the case with the AMG). But an interview given by M’s North American product manager Matthew Russell points to the door having closed on that when he said, “We’ve discussed these possibilities. But ultimately, we didn’t feel the need to make a very exclusive high-end supercar and we still don’t.” So there.

Perhaps more importantly, in reference to the M3 and M5, Russell believes that M already makes supercars, albeit of a certain type: “we like to build two cars in one: this is what M does. Nobody offers that perfect combination of a driver’s car and an executive car that you can use everyday. So technically, we already build supercars.” As fellow Autoblog contributor Matt Davis noted, however, we’re of the mind that while those are super cars, they’re not supercars.

Click the link for the rest of Russell’s thoughts, though not before sparing a moment to say auf wiedersehen to the M1 Hommage. It will always live on in our high-res image gallery…

Remember the BMW supercar that M Division wanted to build? Not gonna happen

Democracy, said Winston Churchill, is the worst form of government…except for all the others. You might say the same of the Nürburging. Not the track itself, but the ultimate bragging rights that have emerged from comparing lap times on it. Because while there are countless factors that can affect a car’s lap time over such a long circuit, it’s still one of the best ways to measure a car’s overall performance.

And so the comparisons carry on, especially for German cars that call the Nordschleife their backyard. This time we’re looking at the latest slice of awesome wearing the Three Pointed Star, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series coupe, which has reportedly posted a 7:46 lap time at the hands of local publication Sport Auto.

Breaking the eight-minute barrier is an achievement unto itself – one which the standard C63 AMG coupe just barely missed with an 8:01 – but stands up better to comparison: In the same group test, the new Porsche 911 Carrera S barely edged it out at 7:44, while the BMW M3 GTS hit it in 7:48, placing the Black Series right in the middle of the two.

Of course, another test under different conditions, with different drivers on a different day would surely come away with different results. But in an imperfect world, these are as close as we’ll get to perfect figures.

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series turns in 7:46 lap on the ‘Ring

Our spy photographers have manged to lay lenses on the new Volvo V40 as engineers put the vehicle through a little cold-weather testing. Until just recently, we’d heard that the five-door version of the C30 would be called the V30, but Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby has confirmed that the model will actually come wearing V40 badges.

Whatever they call it, Volvo is hoping the new machine will be capable of giving the Audi A3 Sportback and BMW X1 a run for their respective Euros. Details are understandably scarce at the moment, though we feel safe assuming the V40 will debut with a range of gasoline and diesel engine options.

The most potent of that bunch will likely be a 240-horspeower turbocharged four-cylinder that puts power to the front wheels… which certainly sounds like a good time to us. So far, Volvo hasn’t said word one about an all-wheel-drive variant, though there’s some indication that a plug-in hybrid may show its face in the near future.

Volvo V40 caught testing in winter wonderland

Assuming the Mayans were not correct and there will still be a world in 2013 where people buy cars, Lincoln plans to be there commencing its rebirth: the 2013 MKZ overseen by Max Wolff will be the first model to reset the Lincoln brand. When there’s a new story to be told, one often finds a new storyteller, so it’s no surprise that Ford is setting up a “luxury-oriented boutique agency” in New York to handle Lincoln exclusively.

The unnamed firm is being assembled in conjunction with Team Detroit, the agency currently overseeing Ford and Lincoln. Heading it will be luxury-car consultant Cameron McNaughton as president with creative duties spearheaded by Chief Creative Officer Jon Pearce, a veteran of ad firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

Intriguingly, the New York branch will be a small ship, just 45 people running account management, creative development, media and strategic planning. Other disciplines like creative production will remain with Team Detroit in Dearborn. From this far out, it looks like they could have a team with right backgrounds; we’ll find out soon enough if they can put it all together in the right way – perhaps they can start practicing by lowering the average age of the current MKZ buyer…

Follow the jump for a press release regarding the new agency.

Continue reading Lincoln getting its own ad agency?

Lincoln getting its own ad agency?

After 103 years of stratospheric heights and immeasurable lows, General Motors Corp. has died. Motors Liquidation Co., or “Old GM,” as it became known during the 2009 bankruptcy reorganization, was quietly dissolved on Thursday, Dec. 15, taking the company’s bad debts and liabilities along with it.

The dissolution leaves the newly formed General Motors. Co. to live on as the company’s fitter and better-financed replacement. The latter, as you’ll recall, benefited from a massive government bailout of nearly $50 billion and the ability to restructure contracts with its suppliers, dealership bodies and unions. The surprisingly expedient reorganization saw GM shed its Hummer, Pontiac and Saturn nameplates, along with Swedish automaker Saab (whose own efforts to find footing as an independent automaker sputtered into bankruptcy earlier today). A far healthier company today, “New GM” is turning a profit with just four U.S. nameplates – Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC… and it’s enjoying a newfound run of competitiveness.

For a quick refresher on the history of Old GM, check out a eulogy of sorts by The Detroit News.

“Old GM” quietly dead and buried

Jeremy Clarkson has finally taken on the row that’s erupted over his comments about striking public workers. As you may recall, Clarkson jokingly said the workers should be shot in the head for refusing to go back to work. The Daily Mail ran with those comments, portraying Clarkson as staunchly anti-labor instead of the loveable blowhard that he is. The BBC has since received a landslide of complaints and parliamentary badgering over the Top Gear host’s often controversial comments. Now Clarkson has shot back in his Sunday Times column, comparing The Daily Mail to the Terminator, incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.

Clarkson really rolled up his sleeves and let loose on the paper, saying he felt the wrong publication was shut down in the aftermath of the phone hacking scandal in the UK. We can hardly blame Clarkson for baring his teeth. The Daily Mail went so far as to drag Clarkson’s mother into the mess, calling the matriarch extremely right-wing. Remember, Daily Mail, even bad men love their mommas.

Angry Jeremy Clarkson fires back at Daily Mail

While we’re gearing up for the 2012 Detroit Auto Show next month, Ford is getting read to take on the Delhi Auto Expo with a gamut of production and concept vehicles. The company has released a teaser for what is likely the company’s next EcoSport CUV to stir up interest.

The second-generation production vehicle is likely based on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta (the outgoing EcoSport is based on Ford’s foreign market Fusion crossover) and will make its way around the globe in select markets as part of the automaker’s “One Ford” strategy. That means European buyers will get a shot at taking home an EcoSport of their own, though we don’t expect the model to show up on our shores anytime soon.

Ford will also show off the company’s Figo, Fiesta, Ford Classic and Endeavour to the Indian market. The Delhi Auto Expo kicks off on January 7 and runs through January 11. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford teases next EcoSport ahead of New Delhi

Ford teases next EcoSport ahead of New Delhi

Vicki Butler-Henderson of Fifth Gear has taken the 2012 BMW M5 into her deft hands and massaged it oh-so-gently through the corners and curbing of southern France. All right, quite the opposite of “gently,” instead preferring to put a billowing white chokehold on every single one of the M5’s 560 horsepower and 502 pound-feet.

Check out the video after the jump for VBH’s detailed take – and plenty of powerslides. Her conclusion? Much the same as ours – BMW’s new super saloon is almost perfect.

Continue reading Vicki from Fifth Gear wrings out BMW’s new M5

Vicki from Fifth Gear wrings out BMW’s new M5

Day 2 of our Six Days of Giveaways brings a familiar sight to long-time readers of Autoblog. Our friends at Automoblox (Facebook) always want to be included in any sweepstakes we do, and we’re not inclined to argue.

This year, Automoblox founder and designer Patrick Calello set aside one of his most popular products for us. It’s the full-size Limited Edition Highcroft Truck and Trailer set that includes the T900 truck pulling a C9-R on a special open trailer, all done up in the fetching livery of Highcroft Racing. Automoblox only made 350 of these $120 sets and they sold out quickly, so you can’t get them in stores anymore.

You might be able to get one right here, though, if you simply leave a comment on this post. See below for the complete rules and come back tomorrow at 1 PM EST for the next giveaway.

HOW TO ENTER

• Leave a single comment on this post (if you leave two or more, all of your entries will be disqualified)
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
• Limit 1 entry per person during entry period
• The entry period ends at 1:00 PM EST on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011. We’ll randomly select 1 winner at that time to receive an Automoblox Limited Edition Highcroft Truck and Trailer set valued at $120.00.
• For a list of complete rules, click here.

Six Days of Giveaways – Day 2: Automoblox Limited Edition Highcroft Truck and Trailer Set

Meeting The Next-Generation Chevrolet Mid-Size

It’s been a very long time since the midsize market went easy on American automakers, and recent years have conspired to make an uphill sales slog even steeper with a rash of new and redesigned models. Kia and Hyundai have taken up arms by offering buyers the stylish and efficient Optima and Sonata in an effort to dethrone longtime D-segment stalwarts like the Honda Accord and the freshly redesigned Toyota Camry. Not one to back away from a fray, Nissan has been busily sharpening the next-generation Altima to do battle with the rest of the war horses on the field, and Volkswagen has just recently unleashed a new Americanized Passat to riotous praise from the automotive press.

The barbarians aren’t just at the gates for automakers like Ford and General Motors. They’re picnicking on the front lawn.

Ford has turned to its global operations for help designing a new Fusion fit to beat back the invading hordes while General Motors has focused on transforming the aging Chevrolet Malibu into a weapon capable of carving out a more sizable market share. Built on new bones borrowed from the company’s Global Mid-Size architecture, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will boast an all-new direct-injection 2.5-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine by mid-2012 and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder version will debut shortly thereafter.

But buyers who flock to Chevrolet dealers in the first quarter of 2012 won’t find those vehicles waiting for them on the show room floor. Instead, GM has moved to launch the new 2013 Malibu with just one engine option – it’s most efficient. Meet the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco.

Continue reading 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

General Motors has released the third installment of the company’s mini web series on the Cadillac ATS and its development at the Nürburgring. The latest video takes us around the infamous German track with Adam Dean, Cadillac ride and handling engineer, behind the wheel. Dean gives us an in-depth look at what’s like to sling the new baby Cadillac around one of the world’s most challenging road courses at speed. We can’t imagine too many ATS buyers will be caning their sedan around a race track, but it’s good to know the vehicle can hold its own just the same.

Will GM’s efforts on Green Hell help the ATS take on hardware from BMW and Mercedes-Benz? We’ll just have to wait to find out. Word has it the vehicle will debut with the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that will eventually show up in the likes of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and next-generation Chevrolet Impala. The lump should produce somewhere between 270 and 280 horsepower. That should be plenty for a small luxury sedan. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Cadillac ATS gets tuned at the ‘Ring

Cadillac ATS gets tuned at the ‘Ring

Chevrolet has pulled the wraps off of a hotter version of its Sonic. The 2013 Sonic RS is headed for an international debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show next month, and onlookers can expect to see the hatch curtsey with the same 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in uplevel Sonics, tuned to yield 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Speaking from experience, we can say that those figures are good enough to slather a grin over even the most hardened cynic’s face. The RS also brings along a few exterior treatments, including a new front and rear fascia, rear spoiler, side sills and five-spoke alloy wheels.

More importantly, the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS packs a lower, stiffer suspension for improved handling. General Motors isn’t saying just how much lower or stiffer the pieces are over the base Sonic, which leads us to believe the changes aren’t large enough to raise any eyebrows.

Inside, the Sonic RS features sport seats and a sport steering wheel along with aluminum sport pedals and a new gauge cluster treatment. So far, there’s no word on how much the Sonic RS will cost. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS bows before Detroit Auto Show debut

2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS bows before Detroit Auto Show debut