Volkswagen Giugiaro Go Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Now that is part of the larger Group, the famed design house has worked up a pair of VW-badged concepts for the 2011 . In addition to the smaller hatchback, Giugiaro has created the , giving us a glimpse at what a people-mover for The People could look like in the future.
Like the Tex, the Go! rides on Volkswagen’s new modular transverse architecture which could accommodate a wide range of powertrain options. Here, the Go! is powered by the automaker’s Blue-e-motion EV technology, and according to Volkswagen, the concept can travel about 150 miles on electric power alone.
The Go! is full of interesting design quirks, such as rear doors that push backwards before sliding back parallel to the vehicle, a large glass greenhouse and a high seating position. See for yourself in our gallery of high-resolution live shots below.
Audi A3 sedan concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
As promised, trotted out its sedan concept at the Geneva Motor Show, and it’s a lovely bit of compact, Teutonic hotness. A ton of carbon fiber bits and pieces litter the shapely sheetmetal, all enclosing a very Germanic four-seat interior.
Naturally, we’re just as interested in the five-cylinder engine that uses turbocharging and FSI to pump out 408 horsepower. Peak torque measures 368 pound feet, and all that power is available between 1,600 and 5,300 rpm. Audi claims its A3 concept can hit 62 mph in 4.1 seconds and is electronically governed to a top speed of 155 mph. Impressively fuel mileage is estimated at 25.85 U.S. miles per gallon.
A seven-speed dual clutch gearbox handles shifting duties, and naturally, is naturally sent to all four wheels via Quattro all-wheel-drive. We’re rather intrigued by the 20-inch wheels that are molded from carbon fiber and aluminum, which should save weight in the most crucial area. Full details can be found in the press release , and you can check out live images from the floor in our high-res gallery below.
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Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL
Yannick Sire Priapism – Click above to watch the video
Yannick Sire got his start building muscle cars for the racetrack back before the pro touring craze really got under way. In his younger days, he cut his teeth on the L.A. car scene in a heavily modified 1968 Chevelle while drawing a paycheck from Ted Toki at Westside Performance.
That eventually led to Sire opening his own shop, Sire Custom Performance in Inglewood, CA. It was at this shop that his love of high-revving small blocks met with an imagination too wild to languish in the ever-growing pro touring scene. Sire, having decided that nobody had built anything truly cool in ages, took it upon himself to change that.
Enter the Priapism (yes, it means ). It’s a home-built twin-engined roadster employing a keep-it-simple philosophy. The interior? No nonsense. Seat, steering wheel, seat belts. That’s it. The engines? Chevrolet 350 small-blocks with hydraulic-roller cams and AFR heads which put down about 900 hp between them. That much power is pulling around a scant 2,307 pounds, even with heavy 20-inch wheels borrowed from a X5.
Power goes to the ground via a Dana 60 rear axle holding 3.54 gears. Keeping the power at bay is a set of Z06 brakes and Continental 275/35 R20 tires up front and ludicrous 315/35 R20s out back. If you’re a Hot Rod magazine subscriber, you may recognize this car from a feature a couple years back, but this California beast continues to evolve, and the video after the jump is a newly produced (and wholly spectacular) feature. Check it out.
Yannick Sire Priaprism – Click above to watch the video
Yannick Sire got his start building muscle cars for the racetrack back before the pro touring craze really got under way. In his younger days, he cut his teeth on the L.A. car scene in a heavily modified 1968 Chevelle while drawing a paycheck from Ted Toki at Westside Performance.
That eventually led to Sire opening his own shop, Sire Custom Performance in Inglewood, CA. It was at this shop that his love of high-revving small blocks met with an imagination too wild to languish in the ever-growing pro touring scene. Sire, having decided that nobody had built anything truly cool in ages, took it upon himself to change that.
Enter the Priaprism (yes, it means ). It’s a home-built twin-engined roadster employing a keep-it-simple philosophy. The interior? No nonsense. Seat, steering wheel, seat belts. That’s it. The engines? Chevrolet 350 small-blocks with hydraulic-roller cams and AFR heads which put down about 900 hp between them. That much power is pulling around a scant 2,307 pounds, even with heavy 20-inch wheels borrowed from a X5.
Power goes to the ground via a Dana 60 rear axle holding 3.54 gears. Keeping the power at bay is a set of Z06 brakes and Continental 275/35 R20 tires up front and ludicrous 315/35 R20s out back. If you’re a Hot Rod magazine subscriber, you may recognize this car from a feature a couple years back, but this California beast continues to evolve, and the video after the jump is a newly produced (and wholly spectacular) feature. Check it out.
As if Ken Block’s Gymkhana series weren’t popular enough, the DC Shoes owner/hotshoe has released eight (8) new edits of Gymkhana 3, each focusing on a different aspect of Block’s behind-the-wheel trickery.
The videos, all of which can be viewed after the jump, highlight the more impressive of Block’s tricks, like a rainy-day rolling 360 and a nearly impossible wall tap that leaves just a slight rubber smudge on the white concrete. There’s also an in-depth look at Block’s execution of the famed 51-degree bank wall ride.
Of the eight vids, two are dedicated to a behind-the-scenes look at Gymkhana 3 and the making of a limited-edition Gymkhana 3 drip poster, signed in paint pen by Block himself. According to Block, the videos are meant to celebrate the success of , and and give fans something else to sink their teeth into. Check out all 8 videos .
Says Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of Group, “Italdesign is a figurehead of Italian design and engineering creativity. We have been working together closely in a spirit of partnership for many decades.” In reality, that may be an understatement. After all, Giorgetto Giugiaro is credited with penning the original Volkswagen / and – two classic shapes that went on to define the VW brand for the last few decades.
After a research study to determine what Volkswagen vehicles of the future may look like, Giugiaro (now ) focused on two distinct concepts, one of which is the Go! that you see here (the other is the Tex, ). The design firm thinks of the Go! as a multi-purpose vehicle for urban areas, and as such, it measures just four-meters in length and runs solely on electricity using VW’s proprietary Blue-e-motion EV technology. According to the automaker, the Go! is capable of traveling about 150 miles on electric power alone.
Like the Tex, the Go! concept uses VW’s modular transverse architecture, which was designed to accomade a diverse range of powertrain options, including plug-ins, internal combustion engines and even hydrogen fuel cells. Despite the Go!’s relatively dimunitive exterior dimensions, its 106-inch wheelbase matches that of the larger . The battery pack sits beneath the passenger compartment, covering the areas of both the front and rear-seat passengers.
VW and Giugiaro are keen to highlight the large glass area of the Go! concept. Such a configuration allows for plenty of natural light and offers maximum visibility. Interestingly, though, only the lower part of the glass is actually electrically lowered (have a look at the image gallery below to see what we mean), and the concept relies on video cameras to give the driver a view of his or her surroundings.
Other interesting design details include rear doors that push outwards and pull back parallel to the vehicle, a high seating position that caters to drivers who prefer the visibility of an SUV and the control panel that is placed at the base of the windshield, well back from its normal location behind the steering wheel. Want to know more? Feel free to to read VW’s rather exhaustive press release, and be sure to peruse our high-res image gallery below.
The 2011 edition of Consumer Reports‘ annual Auto Issue will hit newstands on March 8, but we have a sneak peek at what you’ll find inside.
First up is are CR’s Automaker Report Cards, and , and continue to enjoy their three-year run at the head of the class. and , however, are playing catch up fast. In fact, the Blue Oval now has a Recommended rating for 71 percent of its fleet. , however, is sitting near the bottom of the pack, though it’s kept company by former classmate and .
The Consumer Reports 2011 Auto Issue also examines the best and worst values across eight vehicle segments. and both earned a couple of “bests” while General Motors was given a few “worsts.” Beyond the value of a vehicle, CR also names its Top Picks for 2011. For the first time ever, the has made this list thanks to its multitude of engine choices, fuel economy and price.
If used cars are more your speed, Consumer Reports has even compiled a list of its top choices for 2001-2010 model year vehicles. Awards for best-in-class were chosen based on the results of road tests when the vehicle was new combined with ongoing reliability data.
We have a hefty dose of information for you to digest. The Top Picks, Best and Worst Values and Best of the Best Used Cars are all waiting for you .
announced today that it is signing on to be a sponsor of Red Bull’s Formula One racing team.
It is the first time that Infiniti is signing on to a global sponsorship of any kind, previously preferring regional tie-ins in sports such as tennis and sailing. But as the Japanese brand looks to expand globally, says global marketing marketing communications chief Simon Sproule, an expanding F1 series looks like a logical partner to the company.
“Infiniti has launched in Europe and is going into Russia, India and China, just as F1 has done, so it’s a good fit for us,” says Sproule.
The association with Red Bull, says Sproule, sprung from Red Bull’s use of Renault engines. Renault and Nissan are global alliance partners, with the French automaker holding a controlling stake in Nissan. CEO Carlos Ghosn is at the top of both automakers. The Renault engines may even be rebranded “Infiniti.” Red Bull, of course, won the championship title in Formula One last year. “It’s also good to be with a winner, of course,” said Sproule.
Infiniti had a good year in the U.S. last year. Sales were up 27% to crest the 103,000 level. But Nissan is looking for Infiniti to be a bigger player in luxury circles worldwide. F1 attracts a good amount of luxiry car buyers worldwide, and is catching on in important markets for luxury brands like China and Russia.
Red Bull, saus Sproule, has a broad appeal as the biggest energy drink brand in the world. The Austrian beverage company has associated its brand with numerous extreme sports, as well as owning the New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer team. It also has great crossover appeal between rich luxury car buyers, as well as young luxury car aspirers who don’t yet have the incomes to afford big sticker prices.
Earlier this year, famed design house became part of the Group, and the longtime collaborators are are presenting their first joint concepts at the this week.
The Italian design firm calls the Tex an “interpretation of tomorrow’s sporty Volkswagen,” incorporating coupe-like lines into a hatchback shape. In execution, it looks a bit like the current Euro-spec hatch to our eyes – especially up front. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if we’re honest, we expected something a little bolder from the company that has penned some of the most gorgeous designs of all time.
The Tex Concept is powered by Volkswagen’s Twin Drive plug-inhybrid system, which we’re told has a range of 35 kilometers (about 21 miles) with just the battery driving the wheels.
Inside, the Tex uses a driver-focused cockpit, and unlike the vast majority of concept cars that we’ll be seeing in Geneva, the Giugiaro interior looks nearly production-ready. We like the implementation of the flat-bottomed steering wheel, supportive seats and funky new shift knob.
While the Tex is merely a concept right now, there’s no telling if Volkswagen will use this as a basis for a future sports car, perhaps even a or far along down the road. Hit the jump to read the full details in Volkswagen’s press release, and see the Italdesign Giugiaro Tex Concept for yourself in both of our high-res image galleries below.
General Motors and have informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that cars sold to rental companies aren’t getting repairs done on recall for months at a time. NHTSA then started monitoring three million units from the two manufacturers in rental fleets to see how long they went unrepaired.
One month after a recall, NHTSA says that between 10 and 30 percent of cars had been repaired. By 90 days, the average was just 30 percent. According to the administration, it takes a year or more for rental companies to get more than 50 percent of their cars repaired.
According to The Detroit News, there aren’t any laws on the books that say a rental company has to get a car repaired before it rents it to a customer. What’s more, hundreds of recall notices go out a year, and rental cars move around a lot, making it difficult to nail them down for repairs.
According to Bob Barton, president of the American Car Rental Association, most companies place a hold on models that have been recalled, preventing them from being rented until repairs are made. The hitch, according to Barton, is that it can take months for the company to realize a recall has been issued.
NHTSA says its investigation is ongoing, and the administration noted a statement that dealerships aren’t allowed to sell a recalled vehicle until repairs have been made. That said, NHTSA also doesn’t have the authority to legally require that customers – including rental companies – have recall repairs made.
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan – Click above for high-res image
The is getting a makeover for the 2012 model year, and the changes will be on display this week at the Geneva Motor Show. Changes include a refreshed front end that incorporates the automaker’s new sullen yet distinctive aesthetic.
The grille has been remade to mimic that of the new and , with a pair of horizontal chrome strips that blend into the Tiguan’s updated headlamps. Jumping up to the top SEL trim will net you updated peepers with Bi-Xenon lamps and the LED eyeliner treatment that seems to be all the rage these days. still hasn’t released a photo of the Tiguan’s new boot, but the tells us that the taillamps have been updated to reveal a “double L” pattern. SEL buyers will also get new 19-inch “Savannah” wheels designed by R GmbH.
VW made minor enhancements to the Tiguan’s interior as well, including updated material choices and a rash of standard features. All 2012 Tiguan models will receive an eight-speaker sound system and Bluetooth, aux-in and heated side view mirrors.
The Tiguan will retain the excellent 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but fuel economy has been given a serious bump. VW claims the updated engine will fetch 29 miles per gallon in highway driving, up considerably from the 25 mpg of the outgoing model. to read over the the official press release, and click on the photo above for a closer look at the 2012 Tiguan.
Ford B-Max – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Ford S-Max and C-Max have a new little sibling, and its name is B-Max. Making its global debut at the 2011Geneva Motor Show, the very compact minivan rides on the same platform as the and is just 4.3-inches longer than that model’s five-door hatchback. Aiding in the action of ingress/egress, the B-Max ditches B-pillars entirely so occupants can easily glide past the dual sliding rear doors.
The B-pillar appears to be completely removed but are in fact integrated into the front and rear doors. When closed, the two work together and behave in the same manner as a traditional pillar.
Doors closed and occupants protected, forward motivation is provided courtesy of a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine, the latest and smallest of Ford’s EcoBoost engine family. With the aid of Start/Stop technology, the EcoBoost engine should even better fuel economy than a similarly powerful four-cylinder engine.
For more information on the Ford B-Max, and peruse the press release. And stay tuned to our live coverage of the Geneva Motor Show, as we’ll bring back live images of the B-Max just as soon as we can.
Volkswagen Golf R – Click above for high-res image gallery
As part of its festivities, is letting us loose behind the wheel of its range-topping , set to arrive in United States as a 2012 model. Production of the Stadeside-spec car begins at the automaker’s Wolfsburg plant this November, and we’ve just learned how different our version of the Golf R will be from the model that’s already on sale in Europe.
Don’t worry – we’re still getting the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to the company’s fourth-generation Haldex 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. But while the European car cranks out 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, Volkswagen tells us that the U.S. car will produce something closer to 256 hp and 243 lb-ft (not yet confirmed). Still, that’s 56 hp and 36 lb-ft more than the standard , and since the Golf R is estimated to weigh around 3,300 pounds – 250 pounds lighter than the most recent – the end result should be quite lively. Volkswagen is estimating that 0-62 mile-per-hour times will fall somewhere in the 5.7- to 5.9-second range.
As we , the Golf R will only be offered with a six-speed manual transmission when it hits our shores. European cars can be had with Volkswagen’s slick-shifting DSG unit, and we must admit, not offering the twin-clutch setup in the States seems like a curious omission, especially when you consider that the take rate on DSG in the less powerful GTI is around 50 percent. Still, Volkswagen says that its research with different enthusiast groups and dealers suggests that the vast majority of U.S. consumers have been clamoring for a row-your-own Golf R, and since the automaker had to keep the number of build options to a minimum in order to get the vehicle approved for American consumption, manual-only was the way they decided to go.
for more details on the U.S.-spec version of Volkswagen’s Golf R hot hatch.
Xenatec Maybach Cruiserio Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
Xenatec is using the Geneva Motor Show to unveil its one-off Cruiserio Coupe, a customer-ordered hyper-luxury car based on the Maybach 57S. The coupe was designed by Fredrik Burchhardt to a customer’s exact specs, then hand-built by the Xenatec team.
Outside, the Xenatec Cruiserio Coupe is swathed in a two-tone matte finish that’s designed to give a brassy shimmer in the light. Xenatec says the paint was hand-applied in several stages to get the look just so.
The big coupe’s interior is another Xenatec one-off, featuring hand-stitched natural, undyed buffalo leather and espresso-colored Nappa hides. To take things to the next level of ludicrous opulence, Xenatec lined the footwells of the car with blackberry Alcantara.
Xenatec says the whole package is set off by the car’s panorama roof, which is accented with a Nappa leather headliner.
No word yet (or ever, we assume) on what this level of exclusivity costs, but we’re ok with that. If you have to ask… Hop the jump for a full press release.
According to Consumer Reports, researchers have discovered that three simple tests at the doctor’s office can accurately determine whether a stroke victim is fit to begin driving again. These tests take under 15 minutes and can effectively classify 80 to 85 percent of drivers who would have failed an on-road evaluation.
The first test assesses traffic knowledge and visual comprehension via road-sign recognition, while the second measures visual-perceptual and mental speed in a compass test. Finally, a trail-marking test is used to indicate visual-motor tracking and visual scanning abilities. If the individual being evaluated scores below 8.5/12 points on the first evaluation, 25/32 points on the second or takes more than 90 seconds on the trail-marking examination, chances are he or she would fail a road test.
The study was published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology and included information from 30 previous trials. A total of 1,728 stroke victims with an average age of 61 were involved in the research.
Changing tires while moving – Click above to watch video
Can you change a tire quickly? It doesn’t matter, because your skills fail to impress this crew of suicidal Saudi stunt drivers. No need for a jackstand when you have three friends, a long stretch of road and the ability to pilot a vehicle like one of the Duke boys.
While this stunt takes a lot of skill, and cojones far outweighing the curb weight of the vehicle involved, we checked the stupidity meter and it exploded in our hands. to see the most thrilling tire change you may ever witness.
Ducati Diavel on the production line – Click above to watch video
Ducati says it expects the upcoming Diavel to lead the company’s sales in 2011, and with 162 horsepower propelling just 456 pounds, we imagine that the Italian bike maker won’t have trouble finding homes for its latest creation. The Diavel, a performance cruiser, walks a fine line between face-ripping power and beautiful design. Now Ducati has given us all a glimpse into what it takes to put its new motorcycle on the road.
Using time-lapse video, we can follow the birth of a Ducati Diavel from a bare engine all the way to the menacing final product. Ducati says that it’s cranking out around 40 Diavel units per day, though it hopes to increase production by around 50 percent as riding season kicks into gear. to see the full build process for yourself.
1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL – Click above to watch video
It’s rare that someone gets to hold onto a vehicle they love. Often, automotive heartthrobs wind up sold, crushed, crashed or, even worse, fated to land in the ruinous hands of younger siblings. Since spend plenty of time pining for the lost models that once occupied our stable, we greatly admire individuals who have not only kept the keys to their mechanical loves, but actually take the time to dust them off and light the tires on occasion.
Such is the case with this 1964 Galaxie 500 XL. The 2-door was originally a Z code car, meaning it came from the factory with a 390 cubic-inch V8 and a four-speed manual bolted behind it. At some point, that drivetrain was yanked out for R-code bits, including a 427 lump and a four-speed top-loader transmission. If you seek muscle-car divinity, look no further.
The owner says that his big Galaxie was originally owned by an old moonshine runner, and while it’s spent its fair share of time out in the weeds, it now sleeps peacefully indoors. to check out the video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Brad.
Koenigsegg Agera R – Click above for high-res image gallery
When the Geneva Motor Show kicks off this week, the Lamborghini Aventador won’t be the only exotic sucking in journos like a tractor beam. The Koenigsegg Agera R is also making its global debut, wearing in a Speed Racer-inspired paint scheme (per the owner’s request) and packing so much power that you’d think an R2 unit would be a better co-pilot than, say, Chim-Chim.
Now, about that power – the Agera R’s 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes a ridiculous 1,115 horsepower and 885 lb-ft of torque on E85. Fill the tank with 95-octane gasoline instead of the biofuel, and figure on “only” around 940 horses and 811 lb-ft. The V8’s connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The driver harnesses that power from a that meets all the hypercar techno-fantasy criteria.
The Agera R’s body panels are draped over a carbon fiber monocoque whose rigidity is such that a roof is not required. Hence, that can be stowed inside the car. The owner of the example being displayed in Geneva is a skier, so the car is outfitted with a developed in conjunction with Thule. It’s a single-piece system that replaces the Agera R’s standard roof entirely; when you get to the mountain, you simply swap the ski-box roof for the standard roof (which is tucked away in the cargo compartment).
Other highlights of the Koenigsegg Agera R include Vortex Generating Rim (VGR) wheels whose spokes act as turbine vanes that help maximize downforce. They’re wrapped in Michelin rubber developed specifically for the Agera. Said tires are rated up to 260 mph, making them the highest-speed-rated tires in the world, according to Koenigsegg. As always, we’ll have a full team in Geneva next week to bring you full details and a live look at the Agera R. In the meantime, check out the high-res image gallery below.
King Abudallah returns home – Click above to watch video
It’s kind of a big deal when Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz returns home from overseas. Following a massive welcome ceremony at the airport that includes hundreds of men performing a traditional sword dance, the monarch is treated to a vehicle procession that makes the American president’s motorcade look like a couple of VW Buses caravanning to Bonnaroo. In addition to a fleet of armored , King Abdullah is accompanied by a number of assault SUVs just in case anything should go awry.
In the video after the jump, you’ll see that the Saudi ruler’s route is lined with both flag-waving supporters and members of the country’s armed forces. AThe king returned to Saudi Arabia amidst growing unrest in Africa and the Middle East that has seen more than one ruling party ousted amidst calls for democracy. to see the video for yourself.
