Bentley Mulsane vs. … Hyundai Equus? – Click above to watch video after the jump
With the launch of the all-new , has taken another step towards the deep end of the luxury car segment. However, has a touch more experience in this arena and its new is decadence on wheels. The two companies sit on opposite ends of the automotive spectrum, but Motor Trend seems to think they warrant a comparison. We suspect Bentley will not be pleased…
Two of MT’s scribes hop into the back of both the Equus and the Mulsanne for a chat about the two luxury sedans, and one of them is none other than Autoblog alum Jonny Lieberman, decked out in his fancy new buff-book duds. Both vehicles pack a fair amount of amenities, but the difference between $70,000 and $330,000 (with $42k in options) is patently obvious. Just check out the cupholders. So, grab some pate and a jar of Grey Poupon and check out the video .
The federal government spent roughly $86 billion in taxpayer money to bail out the auto industry. That’s a lot of Monopoly money, folks, and when the industry we know and love was at its weakest point, early projections suggested that that the U.S. government and American taxpayers would never see of that money. But as the economy slowly crawls back to life and cars and trucks are beginning to move with greater regularity, those forecasts are being adjusted downward.
A few months ago the Treasury Department proclaimed that the industry could, if everything fell just so, by the time the dust settles. We’re now in October, and according to The Detroit News, the DoT is settling on a loss that looks a lot like $17 billion. That figure was revised downward from $24.3 billion due to increased optimism that the bailout of Ally Bank, the Cerberus-owned finance arm for both and , wasn’t going to be as big of a cash drain as was originally expected.
The revised auto industry loss comes out of a 200-page report that details the overall plight of the $700 billion ($475 billion has been spent to date) Troubled Asset Relief Program. The report states that the U.S. government stands to lose a grand total of $29 billion of the $475 billion spent. That $29 billion number is definitely tentative, though, because a lot of the numbers are heavily dependent on the price of stocks at the time the federal government decides to sell.
For example, at the current price of AIG shares, the government would actually book a profit of $21.9 billion. The bank bailouts are said to have produced another $16 billion in profits, while the mortgage securities buys are currently underwater to the tune of $46 billion. The $29 billion figure could go further up or down based upon the price of the initial public offerings at General Motors and Chrysler. The government put $43 billion into The General in exchange for 60.8 percent of the company’s stock, and another $12 billion for a 10 percent stake in Chrysler. GM’s IPO is expected to open next month, though the feds aren’t expected to sell off all of its shares in the first offering. Industry watchers suggest that Chrysler’s IPO could happen in 2011.
range-topping sportbike gets a pretty substantial upgrade for the 2011 model year, gaining a bunch of new standard equipment and seeing the introduction of an SP model as a replacement for the discontinued 1198 R. Perhaps the best news of all, though, is that pricing has pretty much held the line, even with the new features.
At the low end, not that any Ducati 1198 is exactly a stripper, is the standard 1198 for $16,495. For 2011, Ducati graces its superbike with Traction Control, a Ducati Data Analysis computer and a new quick-shifter. Stepping up to the next rung will get you the $21,995 1198 SP, which boasts the same updates as the standard model plus a sexy aluminum tank that weighs less and holds a gallon more fuel than the old steel unit, seven-spoke Marchesini wheels, slipper clutch and finally an Ohlins front fork and TTX rear shock.
Though the SP seems expensive, it’s actually a pretty good deal considering it comes in at just a $100 premium over last year’s S model. Still, if you want to save some coin, we doubt you’ll be disappointed by the new 2011 848 EVO and its 140-horsepower engine for $13,995. See more details on the , and be sure to check out our high-res image galleries below.
Radio Flyer truck – Click above to watch the video
If you’ve ever thought about picking up a yellow and painting the word “Tonka” across the side or building a working replica of your favorite Hot Wheels fantasy car, have we got a story for you. An elderly couple in Alaska has built a jumbo Radio Flyer wagon out of an old truck, and what’s more, they drive it around Anchorage on a regular basis.
The underpinnings were borrowed from a 1976 pickup which Judy Foster (not to be confused with the Silence of the Lambsstar, Jodie) inherited from her father. After they took possession, her husband Fred Keller started an eleven-month project to turn it into an overgrown childhood dream. The result is reportedly fully street legal and gets nothing but smiles wherever it goes. Fred and Judy will just have to watch that eight-foot tall handle clearing any low ceilings in parking garages. to watch the KTUU video segment for yourself.
[Source: ]
pickup is the perfect base for a Radio Flyer wagon. Who knew?
The is getting ready to take the stage at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, but John Hennessey and his band of tuners can’t wait that long. Hennessey Performance has announced plans and specs for its upcoming, limited-edition 2011 Hennessey HPE700 Camaro Convertible.
HPE had a hit on its hands when it announced the . That 725-horsepower coupe was limited to just 24 examples and they were all quickly spoken for. Since is bringing out the droptop Camaro, Hennessey has decided to produce another 24-car limited-edition run with the 2011 model. The 2011 Hennessey HPE700 will be available in both coupe and convertible form, and the cars stats are staggering.
The HPE700 ditches the LS3 mill found in the standard and in its place sticks the supercharged LS9 from the . Hennessey says the motor has been tweaked to produce 755 hp and 763 pound-feet of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 is able to hit those numbers thanks to revised boost levels and a more robust fuel system. Thanks to all that power, Hennessey has listed a 0-60 mph time of just 3.3 seconds. A trip down the quarter-mile happens in 10.9 seconds at 130 miles per hour. Those figures are for the hardtop version when fitted with optional Nitto drag radials.
It’s not just a straight-line shooter though, as Hennessey adds more than power to its HPE700. The car is fitted with lightweight HPE wheels, 15-inch brakes with six-piston front calipers, larger sway bars and an adjustable coilover suspension setup. The exterior is fitted with numerous carbon fiber trim pieces. Inside, the HPE700 Camaro receives Hennessey logos on the headrests and floor mats, an HPE race shift knob and upgraded shifter, a numbered dash and hood plaque and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.
Currently, there is no set allocation plan for the coupe and convertible in the 24-car run. Pricing has been set at a stout $132,500, but that includes the cost of the base vehicle. It also includes a one-day performance driving course at Lonestar Motorsports Park. The quarter-mile dragstrip, which has been , is located next door to the company’s production facility and showroom.
2011 Ford Fiesta – Click above for high-res image gallery
With 3,050 September sales in North America, the is just now beginning to move off dealer lots. And while it’s far too early to declare The Blue Oval’s premium subcompact a success or failure, the folks in Dearborn have to be pleased with one crucial statistic. Car buyers driving off the dealer lot in a new Fiesta are paying a substantial premium over the handsome runt’s $13,999 base price.
Bloomberg reports that the average transaction price of a Fiesta is between $3,000 and $4,000 beyond the base MSRP, or more money than customers are paying for the larger (and soon-to-depart) . Given the fact that the Fiesta is newer, fresher, and more heavily marketed than the Focus, we’re not all that surprised, but perhaps more shocking is the fact that the Fiesta also has a higher average transaction price than the and – both of which are class-above vehicles.
That the Fiesta is selling for premium dollar is no big surprise to Ford, as the automaker decided early on to equip the B-Segment seedling with the same top tech that is typically found in larger, more expensive fare. It helps that Ford has already experienced plenty of Fiesta success in other parts of the world, with 940,000 copies already sold to date. And in those other markets, Ford has achieved strikingly similar model mixes as what is being indicated early on in the States. The top trim Fiesta accounts for 39 percent of U.S. sales, compared to a 42 percent mix in Europe, which accounts for 85 percent of global sales.
Ford is also attracting younger, more affluent customers with an impressive 60 percent buying a Ford product for the first time. We’re thinking the early returns are just about everything Dearborn was hoping for save perhaps for total volume, so we’ll hold off our praise until we see if Fiesta’s overall sales numbers climb now that have been sorted.
Smart/Nissan collaboration sketch – Click above for high-res image gallery
has announced that it, the purveyor of pint-sized conveyances, has partnered up with to build a new vehicle slated to go on sale here in the States. Details are remarkably scarce at the moment, but Smart has been kind enough to roll out a couple of sketches to give us an idea of what’s coming down the pike. From the press release, we’re told that the new creation will be a five-door, B-segment competitor powered by a gasoline engine, and that it will go on sale late 2011.
Given the short lead time, we’re that the car will likely be based on the Nissan Micra, especially since Nissan’s current B-segment car, the , is one of the largest offerings in that class. The sketches don’t exactly reveal too much, other than the fact that the vehicle will retain the Smart penchant for unique design.
As of right now, the two companies have merely signed a Memorandum of Understanding. That means that the final decision still has to go through numerous approvals before getting the go ahead. Still, it’s good to see Smart making moves to get out of the rut the company has been in for the past year or so. to read the official press release.
When PPG started keeping track of cars sales by color back in 1990, the superstar of the car color world has been silver, and according to firm’s latest study, it shows no signs of slowing down. For the tenth year in a row, the silver, charcoal and gray category are numero uno amongst new car shoppers. In 2008, it accounted for 20 percent of vehicles sold and that figure climbed to 25 percent in 2009, reaching its current zenith of a 31 percent.
Slotting in behind silver are black and white, which tied for second with 18 percent apiece. Red garnered 11 percent while blue was close behind with 10 percent. Coming in last, with just four percent of the action, is the color green. Consumer color choices have come full circle from where they were 16 years ago. Back then, green held the top spot and silver came in near the bottom.
Silver is not just the favorite choice for consumers in North America. The Europeans go with the shade 32 percent of the time, while Asian car shoppers opted for it on 33 percent of vehicles sold this past year.
Hasselblad H4D Ferrari Limited Edition – Click above for high-res images
In fields as competitive as automobiles and photography, there can be few absolutes. But if you ask a pro photog or a camera buff who makes the best equipment, you’re likely to hear the name Hasselblad. Ask the same of an automotive enthusiast and stands more than a decent chance of being your answer. The two have undoubtedly met thousands of times before as Maranello’s finest road and race cars have appeared through Hasselblad viewfinders, but now the Italian automaker and Swedish photography outfitters are teaming up in a different way.
The special edition Hasselblad H4D camera you see above is pimped out in Rosso Fuoco – a shade of red considerably more subdued than Rosso Corso or Rosso Scuderia but no less Ferrari – with a Prancing Horse shield to match and a special glass-topped compartmentalized case. Only 499 examples will be produced, following the classic Maranello formula of one less than they think they can sell. No word on pricing, but considering that an “ordinary” Hasselblad H4D fetches in the neighborhood of $20,000, we’re hesitant to ask. Details in the press release after the jump, with further details to be announced later this month.
Looks like is giving the mid-sized sedan segment a good ribbing. The company has unleashed a new viral marketing campaign promoting the 2011 Mediocrity – a four-door that has “figured out a way to blend in more.” Funny, we think we’ve driven a few of those over the past year or two. The company has even gone so far as to rework an aging to stand in as the unfortunate Mediocrity. There are even spy shots, promo videos and complete interviews with designers to try to capture the heart and soul of the world’s most boring personal conveyance.
The whole stunt is aimed at setting the lovely apart from the rest of the four-door crowd. Is it successful? We’ll leave that for you to decide. We will say that the whole project is plenty funny and embodies the kind of lightheartedness we’ve come to enjoy from Subaru. And, fortunately for , the next-generation Optima looks to be about as far from the Mediocrity as possible. to see the videos for yourself.
Infiniti’s first foray into in-house tuning manages to increase performance at a palatable price.
The hotly anticipated 2011 Dodge Charger has beat a path onto the Internet in a million little ways, but this is the first complete, undisguised look that we have of the redesigned muscle sedan after a seemingly endless stream of spy shots and leaks.
The Camaro Z28 is shipped off to Germany to attend the Nurburgring Finishing School.
Also of interest:
Wagon priced from $62,990
performs well [w/video]
Convertible Neiman Marcus edition commands $75,000
2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R – Click above for high-res image gallery
has just officially pulled the wraps off its 2011 ZX-10R literbike, and the specifications are impressive. According to the Japanese company, the 2011 ZX10R will put out 197 horsepower (207 with ram air in full effect) and weigh just 436 pounds. That means it just barely has a better power-to-weight ratio than the previously all-conquering , which makes 193 horses and weighs about 450 pounds. Sadly, the American version of the bike, while still impressive, is expected to put out roughly 10 fewer ponies… dang the EPA!
Equally as important as those raw figures are the high-tech components and electronic bits and pieces that are intended to keep everything in line when the going gets tough. First on that list are an Ohlins steering damper and Showa’s Big Piston Forks up front. At the aft end, a new horizontally mounted rear shock is said to improve mass-centralization and smooth out damper’s rear action. As with most modern bikes, there are three power modes (Full, Middle and Low) intended to match horsepower requirements with riding condition realities.
On the gee-whiz front, Sport Kawasaki TRaction Control, or S-KTRC, is standard on the $13,799 2011 ZX-10R and promises to make the bike both faster and safer by monitoring both the front and rear ends every five milliseconds and allowing some amount of tire slippage and even power-on wheelies. If that weren’t enough, there will also be an optional Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS, seriously, for an extra $1,000) that keeps the tires from locking and also minimizes the rear wheel’s tendency to lift off the pavement.
Now that all the techy bits are covered, take a look at the new Ninja’s styling. Naturally, everything is painted up in Kawasaki’s trademark neon green and black motif, but the overall look is sharper and more aggressive than before. Note the pointy snout with ram-air duct and integrated LED light that matches the new LED-equipped mirror/turn signal assemblies. It’s a pretty slick looking package, we’d say.
See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below and be sure to check out the full press release after the break.
World’s Fastest Lawnmower – Click above to watch video
One minute, you’re the king of going fast on a lawnmower. The next, you’re number two behind a . That’s what happened to Bobby Cleveland, but he didn’t sit idly by on his grass clippings – he went out and brought the title of World’s Fastest Lawnmower back to the United States with a new speed record of 96 miles per hour.
Cleveland set a world record back in 2006, with a speed of 80.792 mph. His mark was then bested by Don Wales whose Project Runningblade mower was clocked going 87.833 mph. Bobby Cleveland wanted to be the first to , but 96 mph is still a mighty leap over Wales’ mark. The way these two are going back and forth it’s only a matter of time before one of them hits that magic number, but until they do, check out Cleveland’s latest run .
Like every other automaker, is always looking to increase the safety of its vehicles, be it through investing millions of dollars towards R&D or incorporating new safety measures as standard equipment. It’s also working hard to fully restore its recently tarnished public image. Hurdles do keep popping up now and again, however, with the latest one has been placed by Allstate. According to the Los Angeles Times, the insurance company is seeking $3 million in compensation as a result of 270 claims of sudden acceleration.
The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on October 1, 2010. Allstate claims that the suit was a last resort as a result of failed out-of-court negotiations. However, a spokesperson for the automakers says “the unfounded allegations in this suit have no basis.”
Toyota recently announced that it has as a result of three main recalls. Nearly two million of the vehicles had stuck accelerator issues while the other three million had their floormats replaced or repaired.
Complaints of sudden acceleration have fallen by 80 percent since April of 2010. At its peak, the claims averaged 800 per week but have since fallen to around 150 per week. Toyota has dispatched safety review teams to examine over 4,000 vehicles and has yet to find an instance of sudden acceleration being caused by anything electrical. Regardless, the automaker is increasing the standard safety features fitted to its vehicles, the latest of which is Smart-Stop, a brake override system that engages when the throttle is open greater than 33 percent, the vehicle speed is over 5 miles per hour and the brakes are pressed firmly. Allstate believes that Toyota vehicles should already have featured this technology.
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
The extended-range EV has . For most Americans who buy one, this can be reduced by $7,500 thanks to a federal tax rebate. Additionally, some buyers will be able to take advantage of state or local government incentives that will drop the after-rebate price below $33,500, like from . The people with the absolute cheapest entry point for a new Volt, though, could be those in Lansing, Michigan.
That’s because the local utility, Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL), will offer incentives that match the $7,500 from the feds. According to the , the incentive is, “a $7,500 cash rebate to the first 25 buyers of the Volt in BWL’s service area and install high-speed charging stations for those who make the list.” The financial assistance comes from a $750,000 grant from the federal government that is meant to promote electric vehicles in mid-Michigan. BWL will also buy two Volts for its own use with the money.
The bad news? This amazing deal is limited to the just 25 people, and it doesn’t seem to include any otherplug-in vehicle (why no love?). If you’re only helping 25 people, why not just buy some Volts to give away? In any case, it’s a pretty sweet deal, and we would be surprised if other local governments are working on similar programs with their own federal grant money. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to go make a phone call.
Nissan Juke on a donut run – Click above to watch the video
Is the a smart tool for doing donuts? It’s a fun whip, but as a front- or front-biased all-wheel driver, we’re leaning very close to ‘No.’ Is the a great tool for getting donuts? After watching new ad for its little crossover, we might just have to say ‘Yes.’
The first Juke ad we saw went , however this new spot plays up the CUV’s sportiness. The Juke squeezes 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque from its 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Pair that with an available six-speed manual transmission and a curb weight that sits on the good side of 3,000 pounds (for the front-wheel drive model), and you have a tiny machine capable of a surprising amount of thrills behind the wheel.
Grab the e-brake and to see the donut-run action, along with a second bonus commercial in which the Juke takes on ‘The Dread.’ Thanks to everyone for the tips!
Gallery:
Photos by Chris Paukert/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Click above for safety ratings of all 30 vehicles tested under NHTSA’s new crash test rating system
Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it would be for 2011 model year vehicles. These new test procedures make it more difficult for manufacturers’ vehicles to achieve the administration’s prestigious five-star safety rating, which they had been doing a bit too easily in recent years. Also, the latest round of new safety technologies – collision warning, lane departure warning, etc. – are now being tested, and a new pole side crash test has been added to the gauntlet that also includes old favorites like the frontal barrier, side barrier and rollover tests. Finally, vehicles are now given an overall rating that combines their star ratings in each of the three major categories (front, side and rollover).
Since the announcement earlier this year, NHTSA has been busy testing some 30 vehicles using the new system and released their results this morning. The full results are available , but it should be noted that these new ratings are not comparable with ratings for any 2010-11 model year vehicles rated using the old system.
Because the new testing regimen is more rigorous than before, most of the 30 vehicles tested have seen their star ratings drop. In fact, the only two 2011 models to retain five-star safety ratings are the and , and the latter only after Hyundai tweaked the sedan and resubmitted it for testing. While most vehicles tested under the new system returned four-star overall ratings, the , which was essentially a five-star vehicle for the 2010 model year (it scored only one four-star rating that year in the rollover test), only managed an overall rating of three stars under the new system. Below that, the compact (at right in the middle of earning just two stars in the side pole test) earned an overall rating of only two stars after the 2010 model had earned four stars across the board.
NHTSA has also redesigned the to make these new ratings easier to research and analyze. Each vehicle’s page is clearly laid out and all of the crash test results are explained clearly and accompanied with video of each particular test.
Check out results for the whole lot of re-tested cars in the official chart released by NHTSA. We’ve also included the agency’s press release for a few more details about the new crash test rating system that automakers are no doubt scrambling to ace as we speak.
What’s the most you’ve ever gotten out of a single tank of gas? 400 miles? Maybe 600 miles if you’re under diesel power? wanted to put its Passat BlueMotion to the test and see just how many miles it can cover on one tank. A team from the UK’s Sunday Times set off from Kent, England with a full tank of diesel – then drove to the south of France and back.
Averaging just over 45 miles per hour, the team watched as 1,527 miles came and went. The 1.6-liter TDI-equipped VW Passat BlueMotion used was a standard production model which features a lower standard ride height, Stop/Start tech, longer gearing and low rolling resistance tires. As two witnesses drove behind them to verify the attempt for the Guinness Book of World Records, the Passat rolled along to the tune of nearly 90 miles per gallon – much higher than the 64.2 mpg rating the vehicle carries.
The past year didn’t look too bright for the World Touring Car Championship. First down from three works teams to one, then reports came in indicating that Seat – fresh from back-to-back titles – was as well. But the latest reports give those behind the premier tin-top series something to smile about as announces its plans to mount an assault on the championship over the next couple of seasons.
The news comes on the back of the Swedish Touring Car Championship which the local automaker – fielded by Polestar and driven by Robert Dahlgren – seized this past weekend at Mantorp Park. With little in the way of an off-season, the 2011 STCC season is set to begin in just a couple of months. But while Volvo and Polestar prepare to defend their title, the two will also be participating in select rounds of the big league championship next season as well.
Polestar and Dahlgren will also be behind the WTCC effort, campaigning the ethanol-powered DRIVe touring car, but while the , Seat and -powered teams fix their eyes on the prize, the Volvo entry will be oriented primarily towards evaluating the series with an eye towards a full Volvo works entry the following season. Details in the press release after the jump.
Lancia Stratos testing teaser – Click above to watch the video
We’ll admit it: The project gets us all hot and bothered. This special -based one-off will make its official debut sometime next month, and the pre-reveal teasers are continuing to pour in.
This time around, we see the Stratos revival team working with former Formula 1 driver Tiago Monteiro to fine-tune the chassis out on Italy’s Balocco test track. The Stratos’ body is constructed out of carbon fiber and with its slim-and-trim curb weight and 50:50 weight distribution, we have no doubts that it will be an absolute hoot out on the track.
See the latest teaser video for yourself, , and stay tuned for the full Stratos details next month.
