Superminis are big business for European automakers, and Peugeot has just released its latest salvo in the form of its new 208.
Available in both three- and five-door body-styles, the 208 represents a complete overhaul of the French carmaker’s core model. Its wheelbase is the same as the 207 it replaces, but while overall exterior dimensions have shrunken, Peugeot says interior volume has increased.
Meanwhile, weight has decreased, and the new 208 range is motivated by a pair of 1.0- and 1.2-liter gasoline engines with about 75 and 100 horsepower, respectively, designed to replace the 207’s 1.4 and 1.6 models, with a range of five diesel engines paired with stop-start ignition and hybrid assist on most models to return exceptional fuel economy and emissions figures.
The new Pug range is certainly distinctively styled, particularly the three-door shown above, with its sculpted doors and unusual chrome trim flourish at the rear of the windowline (a treatment not shown on the family-oriented five-door). The interior is no less interesting, with on select models and a .
Peugeot is also expected to roll out a 208 GTI based on the three-door that promises to channel much of the beloved 205 GTI hot hatch’s sporting characteristics in the new form. That may still be a year away, but for now, you can check out the standard models in the high-res image gallery and the press release and video .
If there’s a vehicle segment where safety matters most, it’s the minivan. So the good news for soccer moms and dads is that the best selling minivan in the U.S. has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award. By virtue of acing its roof strength test, the 2012 joins the and at the top of IIHS’s rankings. The and doppelgangers get included, as well.
The bad news, however, is that the brand new minivan didn’t do as well, receiving only an “acceptable” rating in roof strength, which kept it from being named a Top Safety Pick. The , which was last redesigned for the 2006 model year, was given a “poor” rating in roof strength, the worst score possible.
IIHS started requiring good results in its for the 2010 Top Safety Pick. The tests are designed to predict performance in a rollover accident. IIHS says that its research indicates that a higher strength to weight ratio than the government mandated minimum of 1.5:1 helps reduce the risk of injury. Its recommended ratio is 4:1, which will earn a vehicle a “good” rating and make it eligible for the Top Safety Pick award if it also scores well in front, side and rear impact crash tests.
The minivans scored 4.51:1 on the roof strength test, while the Quest managed 3.36:1, and the Sedona’s, only 2.3:1. The strongest minivan roof on the market belongs to the Honda Odyssey, at 5.15:1. Toyota’s Sienna scored 4.12:1.
Maybe there was a time when a car was unveiled and that was that. But we can’t quite recall such a time. Especially not when dealing with a vehicle as hotly anticipated as the sportscar developed jointly by and . The car alternately known as the FT-86, the Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ has been the source of a seemingly endless run-up that’s included concept cars, spy shots and more leaks than a colander. And now we have one more.
Subaru just gave us its first official glimpse of what to expect with the that’s headed for the later this month, but before that, we brought you a couple of leaks from the Toyota side of things: one showing the , and another dolled up with accessories catalog. Now we can add one more as images have surfaced on FT86Club.com of the FT-86 accessorized with parts from Toyota Racing Development (TRD).
We have to say we’re more enthused by the standard model without the extra baubles, but this latest leak serves to further demonstrate the endless possibilities in store for customizing what is bound to become a popular model among enthusiasts.
The first telephone call was placed in 1876 – and we imagine people have been getting ticked off about phone nuisances ever since. While telemarketers and robocalls have replaced wrong numbers and people eavesdropping on the party line, now we have a new menace: “violators of the sanctity of the cockpit.”
At least that’s how an OnStar spokesman described an unwanted phone call a journalist received in an OnStar-equipped vehicle. John Voelcker writes about receiving a robocall while test-driving a , posing the question for his Car Connection readers, “Is this a common problem?”
Apparently not, at least according to what the OnStar spokesman says, describing the number of complaints the company receives as only “handfuls.”
Perhaps the bigger question is whether such undesirable calls pose any real threat? As is often the case when dealing with telemarketers, the answer is not really, save for the nuisance factor. OnStar merely suggests owners of OnStar-equipped cars add their OnStar phone number to the and says it will credit any phone minutes wasted by robocallers.
Yes, we’ve . But this is the machine’s official debut to the public, and, since it’s just as awesome here in Las Vegas as it was in Southern California at the company’s headquarters, we’ve decided to grab another set of live photos for your viewing pleasure.
As a refresher, this rough-and-tumble ride is based on the shell of a classic from 1966 to 1977 (not the full-size one most famous for its low-speed car “chase”), and is powered by one of the Blue Oval’s latest 5.0-liter V8 engines that puts out 412 horsepower and 390 lb-ft torque. Those horses are transferred through a five-speed manual gearbox to an Atlas II transfer case and finally to stout custom-built Dana 60 and 44 solid axle assemblies.
We suggest you read all about our , but first, check out our live image gallery of the rethought and rebuilt classic at .
Ford and Consumer Reports, Honda Civic refresh, Toyota FT-86 details, Saab’s latest sale and new 9-3 rumors
Episode #254 of the is here, with Chris, Dan and Autoblog Executive Editor Chris Paukert crewing the show this week. Topics include Ford and its response to criticism about its PowerShift transmission and MyFordTouch. We also cover the Toyota FT-86 now that specs have been leaked, rumors of an accelerated refresh program for the much-criticized 2012 Honda Civic and the latest in the ongoing saga of Saab. Your questions and comments power the end of the ‘cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our , thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #254:
In the Autoblog Garage
2011 Infiniti QX56
2012 Chevrolet Sonic
2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
2012 Toyota Camry
Hosts: , , Runtime: 01:09:21
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will officially debut the next-generation at the later this month, but ahead of the crossover’s official debut, we’re getting our first look at one of the vehicle’s new features: a hands-free power liftgate. How does it work? Simply kick your foot under the Escape’s rear bumper (as long as the key fob is in your pocket) and the liftgate will open. When you’re done, wave your foot under the bumper again, and the hatch automatically closes.
It’s a neat-o-nifty feature, no doubt, but this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this technology. In fact, Ford on the , and the folks at debuted this feature on the . Regardless, it’s a bit of added convenience that other vehicles in the segment don’t yet offer. to see a video demonstration of the hands-free liftgate, and be sure to check out our latest batch of Escape spy shots if you missed them earlier this week.
Please note: This is your one and only warning to set your DVR. You have until Monday, November 28, at 8:00 pm. That’s when BBC America will air the world premiere of the newest Top Gear spin-off: Top Gear Top 40.
Now we might normally be a bit critical of a television series that advertises itself as a greatest hits pastiche. In some ways, it kind of reminds us of those terrible sitcom episodes they used to slap together all the time back in the ’80s, with characters “remembering” bits from old episodes. But this is different. This is Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond doing what they do best. This is Top Gear.
How can you not get excited about re-watching clips like “Ferrari Daytona vs. Powerboat” and “Commie Cars” from Season 12? Or “Top Gear vs. Germans” from Season 11? Or “Veyron vs. Eurofighter” from Season 10?
Trust us, we’ve peeked at the 40 segments the show plans to feature, and nobody should be disappointed. In fact, the list of 40 clips comes from voting suggestions made by the general public, so there’s even less reason to fear. Read the entire press release .
It’s not every day that comes out with a new . The roadster that anchors the top of the company’s non-AMG production range tends to enjoy an unusually long lifecycle. The iconic first-generation Gullwing was on the market for ten years. The second-gen model lasted just eight years, but the third iteration was around for a whopping eighteen. The boxy fourth version was around for fourteen years, and the current model that replaced it has been on the market since 2003, with a facelift that came in 2008.
Fortunately, a new model is on its way and should put the MkV out to pasture after ten long years of service. Due sometime next year as a 2013 model, these are the clearest shots we’ve seen yet of what to expect.
Now stripped of all but a bare minimum of disguising, the 2013 SL looks a bit more svelte than the model it replaces, though that doesn’t tell us if it’ll be any lighter: the current two-seat folding hardtop convertible weights as much as some SUVs. The more upright front grille is both a nod to the and likely a measure to comply with pedestrian-impact regulations enacted in Europe.
It looks as though LEDs are lurking in the lower front intakes on either side, with what seems like it could house a side intake behind the front wheels. The test mule is draped in a new shade of copper we haven’t seen before, and we suspect that those unflattering wheels are temporary. Take a gander yourself in our high-res gallery.
Hemmings reports that Craig Breedlove is preparing to jump back into the land speed record game in an attempt to break through the 800 mph barrier. Breedlove made a name for himself while vying with Art Arfons for the world land speed record back in the ’60s. His efforts eventually landed him the title in his jet-powered Sonic 1, and he would later set a total of 23 FIA speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in a 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe. Breedlove was recently named the recipient of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Spirit of Competition Award, becoming only the third individual to receive the award since its inception.
During the ceremony, the racer announced that he intends to return to Bonneville in 2013 – the 50th anniversary of his first record on the salt flats – with someone else at the controls. Breedlove already has a pair of GE jet engines lying around as well as some of the engineering necessary to put the power units to work in a LSR car. At this point, it’s unclear exactly who will pilot Breedlove’s new machine or what the design will look like, but a motorsports legend returning to the scene of his greatest triumph is something worth keeping tabs on, even if he isn’t in the driver’s seat.
For a quick refresher on Breedlove in his glory days, watch the excellent in-period video of a 1963 record-breaking effort .
We haven’t seen the forthcoming up close since last March when our spy photographers caught it . Until now, that is.
New shots of the small crossover reveal plenty of details, from its -like front fascia and vents on the front fenders to the sleek rear profile and small back window. Narrow headlamps and taillamps recall the , as does the upturned D-pillar. In fact, the Vertrek’s styling looks to be carried over almost completely, with even the strong character lines on the new Escape’s hood visible under the adhesive mask.
Our photographers have caught more than one Escape out in the wild, and we notice that both single and dual exhaust versions are being tested. The white Escape with single exhaust appears to be a base trim, as it is riding on steel wheels, while the black, dual exhaust prototype is wearing larger alloys with shorter sidewall tires.
We’ve that Ford will offer the new Escape with three engine options: A base 2.5-liter four cylinder that’s a carryover from the current model, and turbocharged fours in 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter displacements. We can only hope that the rumored 247-horsepower EcoBoost is what’s hiding under the hood of that black Escape.
Ford is expected to introduce the 2013 Escape at the in November, so shouldn’t be long before we find out.
“The watch industry is a very interesting parallel in that none of us need watches anymore,” Jonathon Ward, founder of , offers as a metaphor for his latest project. “The secret to them succeeding and prospering and furthering their design efforts in the modern market is in the execution – making the execution distinct and purposeful and bespoke. We are trying to take that unnecessary ethic from other industries and evolve it into niche transportation.”
In other words, Ward knows that his custom creations are superfluous, but like timepieces, people appreciate them for more than just their practical use. We count ourselves in that group, as we’ve previously sampled the and found it to be more than the sum of its parts.
The company’s latest project is the Icon Bronco. After completing the development of the FJ series and the aforementioned CJ3B, Ward has turned his unique perspective to Ford’s legendary off-roader from the 1960s and 70s. Icon will officially debut this Bronco at in Las Vegas later this week, but when Ward called us up earlier this month and asked if we wanted a sneak preview, we jumped at the chance. With the Bronco needing to maintain its like-new condition for the show, however, we would be limited to a short jaunt around the city streets of his facility in Van Nuys, CA. That would have to do, though, as we were eager to see what sort of unique details and materials Ward’s team has implemented into the Bronco’s design.
may have finally been saved last week when Chinese companies Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. , thus providing some much-needed short- and long-term financing. Pang Da and Youngman purchased Saab for 100 million euros ($142M USD) and they are offering up a €50 million ($70M) bridge loan. Most importantly, the Chinese companies have now pledged €600 million ($854M) in long-term funding. That’s assuming, of course, that the Chinese government gives this deal its seal of approval – a very big “if.”
According to Saab’s restructuring plan, vehicle production will once again resume in Sweden and Mexico, though vehicles may be built in China in the future. Saab is keen to get its latest products – the and – out to its key markets, and hopes to sell up to 55,000 units in 2012, with an even larger goal of moving 205,000 units per year in the long-term. That’s very optimistic, especially considering that in 2010, Saab sold just under 32,000 vehicles.
Even so, Pang Da and Yougman are confident that Saab can become a profitable company in the very near future. The restructuring plan states that 2012 and 2013 will be “financial transition years,” with full profitability expected in 2014. Follow the jump to read the full release.
Martin Winterkorn is a happy man: is putting up big numbers in North America, its latest field of dreams, , is breaking records every month, there are exciting cars in the pipeline – from down to the XL1, Porsche’s digestion continues, and now Skoda and especially Seat are turning in no-questions performance.
It seems Skoda has been on the ups for years, making the most of keen pricing and modern redesigns of the chassis and tech it gets handed down from big brothers VW and Audi. Winterkorn predicts the Czech brand will just about double its 2010 sales by 2018, going from 762,000 to 1.5 million.
Seat, on the other hand, wasn’t just a year-and-a-half ago, phrases like “uncertain future” – code for “possible demise” – were rumbling in the background. A new CEO was brought in, new money and new models were thrown against the wall, and the efforts have stuck. The Spanish brand has hit three strong chords with Winterkorn, with increased sales, strong performance in China and anticipated models due. If this keeps up there won’t be much left for him to do but, a la Alexander the Great, break down and cry with no worlds left to conquer.
When an animal makes its way onto a freeway, the result could be a significant accident with the real possibility for casualties. But while your local Interstate could see speeds of 80 miles per hour, it’s nothing like Formula 1.
During testing at the Indian Grand Prix, a dog with a death wish made its way onto the track. Luckily, the dog was unharmed, and a potentially serious accident was avoided. The incident comes three years after driver Bruno Senna actually hit a dog during a GP2 race in Turkey. Senna reportedly told ESPN that he saw the very same dog around the entrance to the paddock, adding that it was “difficult to believe” that the dog actually made it onto the track.
Officials at the track were quick to respond to the incident by red flagging the session. Senna was quick to point out that while waving the red flag was the right thing to do, the circuit must be more vigilant in keeping animals off the track.
Ladies and gentleman, this is what SEMA should be about. Behold the latest Icon Derelict; a 1952 Deluxe Business Coupe hiding a full arsenal of modern engineering beneath over half a century of patina.
The vehicle uses a complete powder-coated Art Morrison chassis with a front independent suspension and a four-link rear. An all-aluminum, fuel-injected 6.2-liter General Motors LS3 V8 sits between the frame rails and cranks out 430 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 4L65E automatic transmission and a full set of six-piston brakes with anti-lock control ensures that the whole party can come to a stop in a timely fashion. Despite looking like junkyard relics, the wheels are actually custom CNC-machined pieces shod in ZR-rated BF Goodrich rubber.
If the Coupe’s mechanicals and exterior aren’t enough to flip your switches, take a peek indoors. Both seats have been recovered in a combination of wild-caught alligator and buffalo hides(!) that have been dyed to the same Hermes hue as John F. Kennedy’s briefcase. The carpet is Wilton wool bound in buffalo as well, and an vintage mohair headliner finishes out the indoors. An array of tech is also tastefully hidden away as well, including Focal and Parrot audio components with Bluetooth capability.
This sort of execution is so far above and beyond the typical restomod and tuner fodder we typically see from the SEMA crowd that it serves as a breath of fresh air. If you like what you see, Icon says that the company can do the same for nearly any vehicle from the ’30s to the ’70s.
Gentlemen, start your imaginations. The Icon Derelict 1952 Chevrolet Business Coupe will be on display at this year’s SEMA show.
Motorcycle manufacturers are on the teaser warpath as we get closer to the annual EICMA show in Milan. MV Agusta is the latest company to roll out a quick clip celebrating its latest effort; the 2012 Brutale 675. The machine is the naked sister to the wicked , and with a three-cylinder configuration and a €9,000 price tag, the Brutale 675 is expected to square off against bikes like the Triumph Speed Triple and the Ducati Street Fighter 848. What sort of hardware will it bring to the fight beyond its three pot mill? MV Agusta isn’t saying for certain.
The teaser shows off a few quick, shadowy glimpses of the bike, but we are treated to a solid view of the wild exhaust on the Brutale 675 as well as clear shots of the machine’s front end. Stay tuned for full details once MV Agusta pulls the sheets off at EICMA 2011, but in the meantime, to check out the video for yourself.
Jeep pickup trucks are griffins. Amalgamated kings of all automotive beasts that combine the friendly puppy vibe of a Wrangler with the utility of a cargo box. Ten years ago, American Expedition Vehicles gave the public the original TJ-based Brute at that year’s SEMA show, and now the company is reprising that performance and introducing the Brute Double Cab.
Based on the latest JK Wrangler Unlimited, the Brute Double Cab offers more interior space thanks to the extra doors and the larger overall dimensions of the JK-series Wrangler. AEV stretches the frame to a 139-inch wheelbase, and the Brute Double Cab has an overall length of 216 inches – 30 inches more than a regular JK Unlimited. The bed is nearly square, with dimensions of 61 inches long by 60 inches wide (and 44 inches between the wheelhouses), but it’s not intended to make a pickup truck replacement out of a Jeep.
AEV thinks the Brute Double Cab is an off-roader with better chops than a 4×4 pickup, and enhanced cargo capacity over what you can get from stock Jeeps. Unlike the kit you can buy from Mopar, the Brute Double Cab isn’t something you assemble yourself – AEV puts more into its four-door Brute Double Cab than it takes to build the two-door JK-8 kit. The stretched-chassis AEV Brute Double Cab will be available first to current AEV owners as a turn-key vehicle. Once production ramps up, availability will be opened to the public at large. Get the full scoop in the release .
Truth be told, we find most concepts to simply be gaudy aftermarket overkill. These two models, however – now these are something we’d like to sink our teeth into.
Let’s start with the Spyderconcept. The most obvious alteration here is the removal of the stock MX-5’s folding soft top (or hard top) for the sake of a stretched canvas roof, similar to the rakish and flying buttressed . That, combined with larger wheels, a lowered stance, aero kit and a revised front fascia make this a Miata we’d definitely want to spend a lot of quality time with. We’re already madly in love with the standard car, so making it lighter and improving the dynamics promises to be nothing short of motoring bliss.
The second concept is something we’ve been begging Mazda to create for quite some time, too. The Turbo2 is, according to Mazda, “one of our most powerful turbocharged engines in our lightest platform.” That’s a recipe for success if we’ve ever heard one. We can do without the ground effects kit and graphics package, but the thought of a turbocharged engine under the hood of a better-tuned (read: Mazdaspeed2) is a project we’re more than willing to get behind.
We’ll see both concepts live from Las Vegas next week. For now, feast your eyes on the hotness in our .
This isn’t the first time we’ve reported . Get a few more stories like this latest report from Edmund’s , and it will mark an ongoing positive trend for GM. Edmunds.com crunched the numbers to see how well the General is hanging on to customers after shutting out the lights at , and it found that nearly 40 percent of Pontiac owners stayed with a vehicle from a General Motors brand.
The numbers are a little lower than an earlier R.L. Polk & Company study, but Edmunds says General Motors is keeping more former Pontiac buyers than it has since 2007. Most are turning to vehicles from , especially during January and February of 2011, when GM incentivized Pontiac owners to stay under the umbrella. Those moves seem to have worked, and 28.1 percent of Pontiac owners trading up made the jump into a Bowtie.
Buyers that have gone elsewhere have largely stayed loyal to Domestic automakers, with Ford picking up the most conquests from Pontiac, with 9.4 percent switching. Toyota and Honda picked up 7.4 percent of the pool of former Pontiac drivers. The numbers are defying any predictions that Pontiac buyers would completely exit the General Motors fold, and have climbed up closer to parity with the retention figures of other GM brands from a 2009 low of only 16 percent retention.
