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It’s that time once again for Cars.com to release its annual American Made Index. What constitutes an American-made car, however, is just as debatable now as it ever has been. That being the case, there are a number of notable changes since the last time the crew released its list.

First and foremost, the Toyota Camry is (somewhat ironically) still at the top of the American Made Index. But second place is a bit of a surprise, with the Honda Accord making a debut appearance in the runner-up position. Notably, it takes the place of the Ford F-150, which falls off the list entirely.

Why the sudden change? It seems the Accord now boasts a 75-percent American parts percentage (which is the minimum allowable to make this list) as it is now being assembled in two separate plants based in the United States. Ford’s F-150, however, saw its American parts percentage fall from 80 percent down to just 55 percent – a scenario Ford calls “pretty common.”

Ford does make a good presence on the AMI list, though, with both the Escape (third place) and Focus (fourth place) making a comeback after a brief disappearance the last time around. General Motors earns fifth place with the Chevrolet Malibu, which is GM’s only vehicle on the latest AMI edition. Chrysler nabs number seven with the Dodge Ram 1500 and nine with the Jeep Wrangler.

See the complete American Made Index after the break, and check out additional commentary from Cars.com here.

[Source: Cars.com]

Continue reading Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again

Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again

“No decisions have been made regarding the Routan.” This according to a source from Volkswagen. Unsurprisingly, the re-branded Chrysler minivan is rumored to be receiving less-than-enthusiastic support from Volkswagen’s current management, and the ambivalence might spell doom for the Routan. Volkswagen’s sales are down, though it’s not necessarily the Routan’s fault. The people mover has a consistent four percent of the minivan market and Volkswagen thinks that can be grown.

For now, Volkswagen’s concentrating on launching its latest Jetta and building a factory in Tennessee to assemble the majority of its U.S.-market cars. The Phaeton will also be returning to the U.S. market, indicating an intent to foster growth on the top and bottom of its model offerings. Volkswagen has set a goal for itself of tripling U.S. sales numbers, and the Routan puts the brand in a segment it would not otherwise be in here in the U.S., though its small market share may not make it worth the effort.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Report: Volkswagen Routan might not be back for an encore

Montreal has some great karting tracks. The French-Canadian metropolis, after all, is a veritable motorsport mecca, playing host to Formula One (among other series) on a more regular basis than any other city in North America. So it should come as no surprise that, while Ferrari was in town for the Canadian Grand Prix last week, they took the whole team out to one such facility for some suitable R&R.

Among those participating were the team’s star drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, along with Lance Stroll, the 11-year-old kid the team had signed to a driver development program the day before. So how did the young prodigy fare against the seasoned veterans? Well, after beating out the rest of the team personnel (including, we’d assume, at least one of the Scuderia’s many test drivers), Stroll finished second in the ranks, beating out one of the grand prix drivers.

Ferrari, somewhat understandably, isn’t saying which – Alonso or Massa – Stroll defeated in the friendly competition, but given that Massa is still an avid karter, we’d suspect it was Alonso. It’s worth noting that with his more relevant experience and lower body weight, the young Stroll had a bit of an advantage. But any way you cut it, that’s some fine work. Official announcement after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari’s 11-year-old wunderkind beats F1 driver in karting competition

Ferrari’s 11-year-old wunderkind beats F1 driver in karting competition

We don’t have much in the way of details yet, but according to a report out of Germany, Toyota’s chief test driver has died in a crash on highway 410 near the Nurburgring after veering into the oncoming lane and colliding with two others test drivers driving a BMW.

While the two BMW test drivers survived the crash, the yet-unnamed Toyota driver died behind the wheel of the recently spied LFA Nurburgring Edition he was driving.

The report says that the driver of the LF-A was 67 years old and Toyota’s chief test driver, which leads us to believe that he is Hiromu Naruse, In addition to being the company’s chief test driver, Naruse is also Akio Toyoda’s personal driver and the Godfather of the LFA.

More information should be forthcoming.

UPDATE: The two test drivers in the BMW sustained life-threatening injuries and one is in critical condition.
UPDATE 2: Video of the scene added after the jump.
UPDATE 3: Spiegel is confirming that Naruse was the driver.

[Source: Rhein-Wied, Rhein-Zeitung, Spiegel]

Continue reading BREAKING: Toyota’s chief test driver dies behind wheel of LFA in Germany

BREAKING: Toyota’s chief test driver dies behind wheel of LFA in Germany

We don’t have much in the way of details yet, but according to a report out of Germany, two Toyota test drivers died in a crash on highway 410 after veering into the oncoming lane and colliding with a BMW.

While the BMW driver survived, the two Toyota drivers died while testing the recently spied LFA Nurburgring Edition.

The report says that the driver was 67 years old, which leads us to believe that one of the casualties was Hiromu Naruse, Toyota’s chief test driver, Akio Toyoda’s personal driver and the Godfather of the LFA.

More information should be forthcoming.

[Source: Rhein-Wied]

BREAKING: Two Toyota test drivers die in crash in Germany

According to Auto Express, Mazda Europe’s British design boss Peter Birtwhistle has confirmed that the Japanese automaker will take on a new styling direction. Perhaps the news shouldn’t come as a shocker, considering that former Mazda design head Franz von Holhausen, the man responsible for the previous styling direction of concepts like the Nagare and Furai, left Mazda for Tesla Motors back in 2008.

Further, Laurens van den Acker, who styled the latest Mazda5, left the Japanese automaker for Renault. As such, Birtwhistle told AE, “Nagare is done. After the 5, it’s highly unlikely that there will be another Nagare car. Mazda has moved on.” Apparently, Mazda found it rather difficult to apply the swoopy and flowing conceptual styling direction to production cars, specifically boxier shapes like that of the Mazda5.

We tend to agree with Mazda that the Nagare look is awesome on concepts but tough to translate to production. So, what’s next? Apparently, Mazda will attempt to turn itself into a “Japanese Alfa Romeo,” with an initial concept based on its new “Thrusting Motion” styling direction. We should see the fruits of this early effort at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

[Source: Auto Express]

Nagare no more? Mazda to change styling direction

“Anything you can do, I can do better” might be playing on the loudspeakers in Korea right now, as Hyundai is apparently set to introduce a bored out version of the formerly 4.6-liter Tau V8 for action in the Genesis Sedan and Equus. More interestingly, this new 5.0 may do duty in the Genesis Coupe as well. This new 5.0-liter V8 was mentioned during a media event at Hyundai R&D and if the claimed numbers are legit, this Mustang-challenger will produce a few more ponies than the Blue Oval bruiser. Where Ford is getting 412 horsepower from its five-point-oh in the 2011 Mustang, Hyundai says its 5.0-liter V8 will be packing 429 hp when it reaches production.

No official word from the South Korean automaker yet, but this new direct-injection 5.0 in sure to be fitted to the Genesis Sedan for 2011, reportedly backed by a new eight-speed automatic transmission developed by Hyundai. Chances are it will eventually find its way under the hood of the Genesis Coupe, possibly backed by a proper stick. Hyundai is apparently launching the Equus with the 4.6-liter Tau, but the new flagship sedan will get the upgraded mill soon after, right about the time the upgraded 2011 Genesis Sedan appears. The output figures being reported are 429 hp at 6,500 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm, with an 11.5:1 compression ratio – a healthy jump above the 385 hp, 333 ft-lb for the 4.6 liter V8 currently found in the Genesis Sedan.

If the 5.0 does show up in the Coupe, we will definitely have to revisit our comparison test subjects from last month. These arms races can start so innocently, but never end well, so don’t be surprised to see Ford’s 5.0 get a bump if this comes to fruition.

[Sources: MotorAuthority, Car and Driver]

Hyundai 5.0 to take on Mustang with 429 horsepower?

We like to think of ourselves as a voice of the people – a place for the proletariat of the interwebs who clamor for an honest take on the latest automotive hardware. To that end, we’ve always viewed the constant stream of fawning over BMW with something of a jaundice eye. We get it. The company builds good products, but does it really deserve wave after wave of gushing prose in every car magazine? Even more troubling, does the 3 Series deserve its honored position as the benchmark against which all other mid-sized sports sedans must be measured?

In a word, yes. We say that almost against our plebeian nature, but if you’ve come searching for a scathing tear-down of the bread-and-butter 3, best point your clickers elsewhere. After a full week with the 2010 BMW 335i sedan, we’ve come to understand why the bastions of auto-journodom have spent the last 10 years drinking the BMW Kool-Aid. It’s just that good. Read on to find out why the latest 3 Series continues the tradition.

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 BMW 335i Sedan is what we’ve been missing

Review: 2010 BMW 335i Sedan is what we’ve been missing

Rumors continue to swirl around the MotoGP paddock these days, many surrounding some of the top riders in the sport. Specifically, Australian Casey Stoner, who currently races for Ducati, is said to have already accepted an offer to compete next season for Honda. Naturally, then, there will be a couple of high profile slots open, possibly both for Ducati and for Honda.

One other silly season rumor that seems to have some legs would create a so-called Italian Dream Team, pairing up fan favorite Valentino Rossi with Ducati. Another storied Italian company is also known to be keenly interested in retaining Rossi’s services for the upcoming racing season: Ferrari.

A new and intriguing possibility has reportedly sprung up that could see Rossi racing on both two and four wheels. According to a recent report, Ducati has crafted an offer for Rossi that would see him on the Italian bikes for two years, with dedicated time to test for Ferrari’s Formula One team along with a possible move to rally racing after the contract was up.

We have absolutely no way to verify an of this, so take it all with a suitably large grain of salt for now. If and when we know more, so will you.

[Source: Two Wheels Blog]

Rumormill: Rossi to Ducati… and Ferrari?

Perhaps you’ve heard the one about Audi taking the top three slots at a little race called Le Mans? Well, Audi would like you to make sure that the rest of the world hears about it, and as enticement the Quattro-meisters are offering a chance to win a trip to the Audi Sportscar Experience at Infineon Raceway and a seat in a brand-spanking-new R8.

You’ll need a twitter account and a knowledge of pointing-and-clicking. Once you get that sorted, head to the contest page and follow the absurdly simple instruction of sending a tweet. If you’re really into it, you can re-enter the contest up to 25 more times (for 26 in total), which would make Audi – and maybe your Piloti racing shoes – really happy. Best hurry, though – the contest ends today. After that you’ll have to buy your own R8…

[Source: Audi]

Audi wants to put you – and your Tweet – in an R8

	Report: Nissan considering ER-EVs in addition to battery electric vehicles Options, anyone?		Autocar discovers the Mini E is long-haul capable, provided you aren’t in a hurry Average speed: 8 mph.
	Video: Green Overdrive presents insanely expensive home-brewed eco rides Got cash?	Other news: Soon, you can drive a Chevy Volt without using your hands on the Xbox Kinect Electric vehicles supporters testify on Promoting Electric Vehicles Act of 2010 With efficiency improvements on the way, V8 engine is far from dead

AutoblogGreen for 06.23.10

Look what the spies have caught. Fresh from our time in the nothing-else-looks-like-it Cadillac CTS Coupe, comes these furtive shots of what we think is the upcoming Cadillac ATS. We’ve heard different rumors, but the dedicated BMW 3 Series fighter will either show up in 2013 as a 2014 model, or 2014 for the 2015 model year. Whenever it shows up, the ATS will be riding on a smaller version of GM’s new/upcoming Alpha platform, the same basic RWD chassis that will also underpin the third generation CTS as well as the next Chevy Camaro.

We’ve taken a long, hard look at these spy shots, and have concluded that whatever sits under the CTS shell has had its wheelbase shrunk, leading us to believe this is in fact an ATS mule. The wheels are far too close to the passenger compartment. The other giveaway are the two places to insert fuel. At first we thought perhaps this is an XTS prototype and that the second orifice was (maybe) because of the new big Caddy’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. However, we think the vestigial door in the photographs is actually there because of the shortened chassis of the ATS. Also, GM will be placing PHEV plugs on the driver’s side for convenience. We’ve also heard nothing about an ATS PHEV, though an ATS Hybrid has been rumored.

As for the mule in these pictures, here’s hoping whatever’s under there is worthy of all six ducks.

Spy Shots: Cadillac ATS hits the test track

The next generation Audi RS3 is coming, it’s just a matter of when. But the bigger question is what’s going to power Audi’s hottest hatch when it arrives on European shores.

Considering that the A3 on which it’s based shares the same platform (PQ35) as the TT RS, there’s a good chance that Audi could swap the coupe’s turbocharged 2.5-liter FSI inline-five into the engine bay. Unchanged, the five-pot would put out 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque to either a six-speed manual or S Tronic dual-clutch gearbox, and naturally, power will be delivered to all four wheels with a similar 40:60 front-to-rear torque split.

Our recent batch of spy shots show a slightly modified A3, complete with a RS-ified fascia, lower stance and massive brakes front and rear, although the single, twin-tipped exhaust (and grilled-mounted badge) could be mistaken for a standard S3. More interestingly is the rear wing, which remained fixed during part of the RS3’s ‘Ring run, but was canted upwards around another section. It could be some kind of adaptive air brake or it could’ve just come undone while whipping around the track.

Regardless, since Audi doesn’t offer an S3 in the U.S., there’s little chance of the RS3 making it to the States anytime soon.

Spy Shots: Audi RS3 takes to the ‘Ring (with adjustable wing?)

Across the pond, Ford is continuing to roll out a few tricks to keep the Focus RS tasty before its demise later this year. As such, it’s unveiled five special edition models designed to commemorate its winning history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Each of the hatches wears a unique paint scheme and wheel combo designed to invoke the liveries of storied Blue Oval racers of yore. It’s easy to spot the blue and orange of the Gulf liveried GT 40 racers – those cars famously took the checkers in ‘68 and ‘69 – but more casual fans may not recognize some of the less imitated designs.

The black and silver of the ‘66 Mark II, red and white of the ‘67 Mark IV and the blue and white of the ‘72 RS 2600 are all replicated on one of the hottest hatches to roll out of Ford Europe in a long while. Each carries special interior treatments, including Recaro racing buckets that have been stitched to match the exterior paint. Ready for the real kicker? Ford is only selling the five you see above – no more, no less. Hit the jump for the press blast.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford of France releases 5 special edition Focus RS Le Mans editions

Ford of France releases 5 special edition Focus RS Le Mans editions

It’s hard to believe, but the Mini brand just turned 50. Nevermind the huge gap in new model production until BMW bought the pint-sized automaker in the early 2000s, but the name Mini as we know it has been around for half a century. It’s over the hill, though still looking good for its age.

To celebrate, Mini created two special edition packages for the Cooper hatchback – the Mayfair and Camden – named after two of London’s trendiest boroughs. And while the extra kit doesn’t provide a performance boost or driving enhancements, they do add some extra cheekiness to the already-cute Cooper.

We recently spent some time with the Camden package fitted to a base Cooper hatchback. The most notably addition is the talking Mission Control system, and while we always enjoy spending time with special editions of our favorite cars, our test run in this Cooper did more than provide us with a few gee-whiz features to show our friends. You see, we hadn’t driven a base, non-turbocharged Cooper in a very long time, and while we certainly love the S and John Cooper Works models, there’s a lot to be said about the bottom-rung of the Cooper range. Follow the jump to find out what.

Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Mini Cooper 50 Camden Edition speaks to us – literally

Review: 2010 Mini Cooper 50 Camden Edition speaks to us – literally

Gamervision has saved you the trouble of going on a frame-by-frame clue hunt through Atari’s Test Drive Unlimited 2 trailer. Among its findings, a bunch of hot new cars, jet-setting between stages, day-to-night transitions appear to happen in-game, not just in the trailer, and SUVs are included in a rally mode, but motorcycles and non-player road traffic have been left out. However, we’re thoroughly confused about the possible inclusion of the 2011 Shelby GT350 or the previously unheard of “Aston DB9S…” Follow the jump to see the breakdown and decide for yourself.

[Source: Gamervision]

Continue reading Video: Breaking down Atari’s Test Drive Unlimited 2 trailer

Video: Breaking down Atari’s Test Drive Unlimited 2 trailer

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs the amount of ethanol usedd in gasoline. The current standard blend stands at ten percent (E10). With farmers wielding pitchforks in anger, the EPA agreed to consider raising the ethanol blend to 15 percent (E15), a move that would avoid hitting the blend wall. As Green Car Advisor reports, the time to decide whether to move to E15 has come, but once again, the EPA has postponed, saying that more testing is needed before a final decision can be made.

The agency wants to further test the possible side effects of running an E15 blend in modern vehicles. Reports have surfaced claiming that E15 could ultimately damage engines, and the EPA understandably doesn’t want to make a choice that could potentially leave drivers stranded.

When will the EPA make the final callon E15? The decision was supposed to come last December, then it was moved to this June, but now, who knows?

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

EPA postpones decision on E15 ethanol blend

In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a new crop of superbikes terrorizing the roadways and racetracks of the United States. And more than any other point in recent history, the Big Four Japanese brands aren’t leading the way. Instead, it’s the European brands – Specifically Aprilia, BMW, KTM and MV Agusta – that are encroaching on Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha’s territory.

Team Green isn’t likely to let the newest challengers turn its flagship Ninja into an also-ran, and the latest evidence of such can be seen in a new teaser of the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R. Expect a completely new motorcycle for next year, including a new engine, frame and suspension package. In order to compete with the latest from Europe, we’d also imagine the literbike to get an upgraded electronics package.

While we don’t have any details on those hard bits, we do have one rendering that shows an aggressive new look with a gaping ram air scoop front and center. Want more? Check out an enlarged version of the teaser image above and be sure to click past the break for the accompanying video.

[Source: Kawasaki Challenge via Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading Kawasaki teases 2011 ZX-10R [w/video]

Kawasaki teases 2011 ZX-10R [w/video]

Many car buyers refuse to purchase new cars for one important reason: With a few very rare exceptions, new cars will lose a significant chunk of their initial value the moment you drive them off the lot. The biggest chunk of a cars depreciation typically happens in the first minutes of ownership and companies like Automotive Lease Guide in the United States and Glass’ Guide in the UK specialize in estimating how much value will evaporate to estimate lease priceing.

Glass’ has taken a look at upcoming electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and come away with some very distressing numbers. Based largely on the expected lifespan of the battery, Glass’s expects cars like the Leaf to be worth only 10 percent of its value after five years.

The potential flaw in this analysis is the presumption that the battery will have little or no value after its useful life in the car. Electric vehicle advocates have claimed that even when the batteries no longer have sufficient capacity for use in a car, they could be used by electric utilities as buffers to help balance the grid. While this has yet to be proven, it could potentially tilt the balance back toward EVs. If this idea doesn’t come to fruition, the severe depreciation could kill the nascent EV market before it every really gets going.

Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: AutoCar]

Report: UK valuation experts believe EVs will be ‘worthless’ in just five years

Judging by the latest spy pics, it looks like the Saab 9-4x is fully baked and ready to hit the streets. Saab has stripped the camo off the integration prototypes for the new 9-4x crossover and it doesn’t appear to have changed much since the original concept debuted at the Detroit Auto Show two years ago.

AutoExpress reports that production has begun at the same Ramos Arizpe, Mexico plant that produces the Cadillac SRX, although our sources indicate that production is still a few months off and considering the time frame, it’s safe to assume that the production 9-4X will debut at the Paris Motor Show this September.

Like the concept, the production 9-4x will likely be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, with an optional 2.8-liter turbo V6 from the Turbo-X and the in the Cadillac SRX. AE is also reporting that the Saab will offer a 2.9-liter turbodiesel developed with VM Motori which might be the V6 that was once planned for the European market Cadillac CTS.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Spy Shots: Saab 9-4X caught nearly uncloaked