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Ladies and gentlemen, this is the 2013 Lincoln MKZ, which Ford hopes will turn around its stagnant luxury brand. Based on the MKZ concept vehicle that was revealed in January at the Detroit Auto Show, the production version looks largely unchanged except for practical concessions like visible door handles and larger side mirrors. Whether or not the new look, described by Lincoln Design director Max Wolff as “elegant simplicity,” will resonate with buyers remains to be seen, but it has the Autoblog team split right down the middle.

Where the 2013 MKZ sets itself apart most from rivals are its suite of driving and safety technologies.

We’re all in agreement, however, about the improved interior design, especially the Push Button Shift gear selector that makes for a smooth, uncluttered center console. The MKZ will of course be available with SYNC and MyLincoln Touch, which are complemented by a large 10.1-inch LCD instrument cluster and 8-inch center touchscreen. The interior is covered wall-to-wall in leather, real wood trim and metal accents, and Active Noise Control, which cancels out offending audibles, is standard equipment. Optional is a unique 15.2-foot Retractable Panoramic Roof that takes sunroofs to the extreme.

Three powertrains will be available for the MKZ at launch. Standard is a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 240 horsepower (on premium fuel) and 270 lb-ft of torque while returning 22 mpg city / 33 mpg highway. More power is available via a 3.7-liter V6 generating 300 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, which returns 18 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy. The MKZ Hybrid is also back offering a combined output of 188 hp from its 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric drivetrain. EPA estimates aren’t available for the MKZ Hybrid, but Lincoln says it should remain America’s most fuel-efficient premium sedan. All-wheel drive is an option for both non-hybrid models, which also receive six-speed automatic transmissions and paddle shifters, while the MKZ Hybrid is front-wheel-drive only with a CVT.

Where the 2013 MKZ will set itself apart most from rivals are its suite of driving and safety technologies. First up is Lincoln Drive Control, which effectively coordinates every system on the car to continually refine the ride and handling in real time. The most interesting of these systems is the Continually Controlled Damping suspension system, which offers normal, comfort and sport modes and activately adjusts the dampers up to 50 times per second.

As for safety, the MKZ may set a new benchmark for the number of sensors onboard. There’s a mono-vision camera integrated into the rearview mirror to read lane markers on the road, radar sensors for the adaptive cruise control and active Collision Warning with Brake Support, and more short-range wide-angle radar sensors for help with parking and backing up. The MKZ will also class-exclusive inflatable second-row seatbelts that compliment the eight airbags located elsewhere around the vehicle.

We’re very eager to see the 2013 Lincoln MKZ in person at the New York Auto Show this week, so until we can bring you our own in-person live shots, take a look at the gallery above and scroll down for Lincoln’s official press release.

Continue reading 2013 Lincoln MKZ shows final form for production

2013 Lincoln MKZ shows final form for production

Ford put nine of its own engineers inside of a new car they helped create, the 2013 Ford Taurus SHO, so they could experience its capabilities for themselves. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but Ford also thoughtfully put NASCAR driver Carl Edwards in the driver’s seat, and it turns out that the boffins didn’t realize how capable their car was until the Sprint Cup driver showed them.

In a new series of TV and internet spots called “Rocket Science,” Edwards spends most of his time going tire-smoking sideways while engineers discuss the features of the hotted-up all-wheel drive Taurus, like the blind-spot assistance system and its 475-mile range. There’s a press release with the particulars, but you’ll want to click past to jump to check out the vids showing a string of very nervous engineers in the hands of a very professional driver on a very closed course.

Continue reading Ford straps engineers in 2013 Taurus SHO with Carl Edwards, hilarity ensues

Ford straps engineers in 2013 Taurus SHO with Carl Edwards, hilarity ensues

It’s that time of year again. April Fools’ came and went over the weekend, and a handful of the world’s automakers joined in on a little Spring time fun. From intelligent anti-theft devices and TSA-inspired driver aids to automated NASCAR racers and high-performance hybrids, this year’s raft of pranks were as good as any we’ve seen in past years. With April 1 falling on a Sunday, we saw fewer wise-cracking creations than before, but that didn’t spoil the fun, so we thought we’d recap them for your enjoyment.

Mini took the cake this year with the company’s Cowley Caravan and Swindon Roof Top Tent. The automaker went through the trouble of working up a full press release, complete with 20 photos and translations into a wide range of languages. We’ll admit to being a little disappointed when we discovered the add-ons were a clever rouse. We’ll just have to scrap our plans for a Mini safari. For now.

Hit the jump to see more April foolishness.

Continue reading Automotive April Fools’ joke roundup [w/video]

Automotive April Fools’ joke roundup [w/video]

It’s April 2 today, which means we’ve made it through all the April Fools’ Day gags (stay tuned for more on that front…) and it’s time to turn to more serious stuff. And nothing is more serious than the 2013 SRT Viper that debuts on April 4 at the New York Auto Show.

While we’ve seen teasers and spy shots, renderings and some other assorted approximations of what the first Viper without a Dodge badge will look like, we think this latest one really kills it. Courtesy of artist Jon Sibel, this is one of those images that looks good enough to be the real thing. If it were, we’d be pleased with the new Snake. We imagine everyone at Chrysler would too.

Besides this great rear three-quarter shot, Sibel has done up a nice Viper roadster that you can see in our gallery.

One more rendered speculation of the new Viper before the big reveal

Toyota has just wrapped up another impressive Antarctic expedition, this time traversing over 43,500 miles in the span of four months. In the process, the company says it snagged a new world record with three specially-prepared Hilux pickup trucks with each covering 5,903 miles of the frozen continent. Iceland-based Arctic Trucks handled converting the pickups for their stint in the cold, and while the alterations included creating at least two 6×6 versions, the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engines had to be reworked to consume Jet A-1 fuel. In the low temperatures of the Antarctic, standard diesel would simply turn to jelly.

The trucks were also outfitted with large tires running just 2-3 psi of air pressure, resulting in a contact patch around 17 times larger than a standard tire. Toyota reports the trucks ran incredibly well throughout the expedition and required no major repairs.

Starting last November, Toyota sent a team of 10 Hilux trucks to the far south to establish fuel depots, a weather station and to support scientific expeditions along the way. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Toyota conquers Antarctic in jet-fueled Hilux pickups

Toyota conquers Antarctic in jet-fueled Hilux pickups

We had a feeling this was coming. The otherworldly curvy sheetmetal of the Nissan Juke has always seemed so far off the map as to appear more French than Japanese. After all, Gallic designers have a long history of creating bold and polarizing forms. So it comes as little surprise that AutoExpress is reporting that Nissan will let its corporate siblings at Renault borrow the fun-to-drive Juke crossover for a model of their own.

At least in the UK, the unnamed model will replace the slow-selling Koleos CUV. AutoExpress has worked up some renderings, and notably, they swap out the Juke’s unusual front lighting for something a bit more traditional and more along the lines of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show Captur showcar.

Earlier speculation had the Captur coming to market riding atop Renault’s Clio architecture, but if this new report is accurate, Renault probably won’t have to invest as much to bring the vehicle to market. Check out the full renderings at the link below, and sit tight, because AE doesn’t expect the subcompact ute to arrive until sometime next year.

Renault to get own version of Nissan Juke

Bucking The Downsizing Trend For All The Right Reasons

Sometimes in life, you hit the nail right on the head, sink a hole-in-one or strike a perfect bullseye. It happens in all walks of life – from the original Star Wars trilogy to the Apple iPod. It even happens from time to time in the automotive realm. Take, for instance, the 1965 Ford Mustang or the original Acura Legend.

Other times, we’re not so lucky. Like the ill-begotten Star Wars prequel trilogy, the automotive world has played host to a long line of underwhelming encores. The Mustang II comes to mind, and so does the Acura RL.

Of course, every so often, automakers release a car to market that’s just isn’t quite fully baked, like the ill-timed and poorly received Edsel from Ford. Though not nearly as obvious, the first-generation Acura RDX falls into this unfortunate camp.

Originally marketed to the upwardly mobile male Gen-X population – a guy Acura named Jason back in 2006 – it turns out that well-to-do, tech-savvy men aren’t actually all that interested in an entry-level premium crossover from Honda’s luxury division. And that’s why, for 2013, the Acura RDX is being re-aimed at the heart of the market: namely, baby boomers and young couples – defined by Acura as DINKS – “Dual-Income, No Kids” – who prefer quiet, comfortable and composed to quick, nimble and raucous.

Continue reading 2013 Acura RDX

2013 Acura RDX

The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR currently holds the unofficial production car record for a Nürburgring lap with a time of 7:12.13. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S is the first four-door to show up on the list of lap times with a 7:52.00. The Audi RS6 Avant is the quickest wagon with a time of 8:09.00, and the first thing resembling a sport utility vehicle is the BMW X6 M at 8:24.00. That right there would be the target for a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 were someone to bring one to Germany for a ‘Ring run. Last September, somebody did.

Piloted by the eminently qualified Sabine Schmitz, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 did the deed in 8:49.00. Ouch. That’s 25 seconds behind the X6 M and slower than even the front-wheel-drive Chevrolet HHR SS (8:43.52). Still, you can’t be taken seriously as a performance machine these days until you pay tribute at the Green Hell. And watching something attempt a high-speed ‘Ring run that was originally designed to rock crawl is always fun. Scroll down to watch the official lap vid from SRT.

Continue reading And the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8’s ‘Ring time is…

And the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8’s ‘Ring time is…

Ford must be expecting the 2013 Fusion to be a hit when it arrives in showrooms this fall. As a way to make sure that demand won’t outstrip production, Ford is investing $1.3 billion in its Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly facility. Hermosillo currently employs over 3,300 workers, and as part of its investment, Ford will be adding 1,000 new jobs in order to handle production of the 2013 Fusion and its Lincoln MKZ twin.

The Fusion, with its wide range of powertrains and exceptional fuel economy, has mainstream sedan-watchers eager for seat time, and the Lincoln MKZ will be a direct beneficiary of the work done on the Fusion. Ford isn’t saying what its production capacity will be rising to after the upgrades are completed, but the company clearly wants to have enough available for every interested buyer. Scroll down for the official press release.

Continue reading Ford investing $1.3B in Mexican plant that builds Fusion, MKZ

Ford investing $1.3B in Mexican plant that builds Fusion, MKZ

Garmin, a company known largely for its aftermarket navigation systems, will officially debut its first factory-installed in-car infotainment system at this week’s New York Auto Show. In the past, Garmin has partnered with some automakers to offer pop-up navi systems as an affordable solution to buyers who want the functionality in their vehicles. This new system, which will be available in most 2013 model year Suzukis, now offers a full suite of infotainment tech.

The Garmin interface uses a 6.1-inch touch-screen display that fully incorporates all audio functions, as well as Bluetooth, backup camera support and, of course, navigation. There’s even a way to operate Pandora, though the app will run via a connected smartphone. The system also has full voice control functionality for all of its applications.

Additionally, this new infotainment system can provide real-time information such as traffic, weather, dynamic parking and fuel prices via the Android-based Garmin Smartphone Link app. The company says that Smartphone Link works off of the customer’s existing data plan, so users don’t have to shell out any extra money for additional data.

We’ll be checking out the new Garmin infotainment system this week at the New York Auto Show, so stay tuned for more impressions. For the full details, scroll down to read Garmin’s official press release.

Continue reading Garmin’s first factory-installed nav units will be offered by Suzuki

Garmin’s first factory-installed nav units will be offered by Suzuki

This week, the racing yacht VOR70 Maserati finished its run from Miami to New York City. Intended as a record attempt, skipper Giovanni Soldini elected not to have the final time of the transit ratified because he didn’t feel it was reflective of the real speed Maserati is capable of. (The boat had to deal with several weather systems on its way up from Florida, which slowed it. Another attempt at a better time will be made in the future.)

With the boat spending a few days at Manhattan’s North Cove marina, just outside the World Financial Center, Maserati invited us down to take a look in person. Maserati, a 70-foot, carbon-fiber monohull, contested the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race under a different moniker. It was subsequently overhauled, had its weight distribution adjusted, and made 10 percent lighter, after which it was reintroduced in its current form, with Maserati as its primary sponsor.

It’s capable of traveling at an incredible 40 knots under sail (hence the 46 mph reference in the headline), and what’s striking about Maserati in person is that in addition to the hull itself, almost everything else on board is made of carbon fiber: the wheels at the helm, the mast, the grinders and winches, and so on. I pointed at one of the big winches on deck and asked watch leader Brad Van Liew, “How much is that?”

“Around $80,000,” he answered. The whole boat apparently cost around $8,000,000. It’s the state of the art, and if you’re in Manhattan, you might still be able to check it out in person. It’s due to head out on another speed record attempt (destination: Cape Lizard, UK) in the coming days.

If you want to follow the ongoing exploits of VOR70 Maserati, bookmark Maserati.Soldini.it for news, blogs, video, the crew’s Twitter feeds, and more.

An $8 million “Maserati” that goes 46 mph

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

We pity the fool who don’t think this is cool. Put aside the celebrity provenance of this “authentic replica,” allegedly “certified” by George Barris, for now and just take a look at the thing. It appears to be a spot-on knock-off of B.A. Baracus’ bad attitude van, the perfect midlife-crisis toy for anyone who grew up watching The A-Team. Imagine how cool it would be to drop the kids off at school in this?

Okay, the traffic snarl during drop-off time won’t clear out any faster, but when it comes to “manly vans,” you can’t top this custom 1983 Chevrolet G10. Wait, what’s that you say? B.A. drove a GMC? Of course he did. But this is a replica, and one that seems to have been built from a nearly identical Chevy donor.

The seller claims the van was built for none other than Mike Myers, he of Wayne’s World and Austin Powers fame. We’d like to see some documentation of this celebrity provenance, though it’s not the sort of thing that we’d see too much value in, regardless. We’re also curious about the last line of the sale ad: “Movie coming out in June!” It was back in June 2010 that the A-Team feature film debuted, which makes us think the seller might be willing to deal on his $20,000 price.

Find of the Day: “Authentic” A-Team van replica commissioned by Mike Myers

Nobody packs it in like the Geneva Motor Show. Every spring, the exposition boasts more debuts than we could count on all the fingers on all our hands combined.

It’s a mind-boggling venture to cover it all, but with this year’s show now behind us, it’s time to look back on all there was. And for that reason, CarBuzz.com has put together this nifty infographic that catalogs all the new cars unveiled at the Swiss expo this year and arranges them all by color. This year’s predominant colors? Silver and white. Check out the rainbow in all its colorful, expandable glory after the jump.

Continue reading Infographic colorizes the Geneva Motor Show

Infographic colorizes the Geneva Motor Show

If you’re Alan Mulally’s gardener, it’s probably a good time to ask the boss for a raise. The Ford Chief Executive Officer just pocketed $58.3 million in stock earlier in the month, and now his 2011 compensation has been made public – and it’s increased some 11 percent.

Mulally received $29.5 million in 2011, according to The Detroit News, more than twice the next-highest-paid Ford officer cited in the report, Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr., whose total compensation was $14.46 million. While Mulally’s salary amounts to a paltry $2 million, he was paid a $5.46 million bonus, with the rest coming in “stock and option awards as well as personal expenses, which can entail personal use of private aircraft, cell phone use, security, and fuel and car washes,” according to the report.

The News says Ford surpassed its profit targets in 2011, but missed other internal benchmarks.

Doing some quick math, Ford sold 5.7 million vehicles globally in 2011, meaning that Mulally pocketed $5.17 for each one.

Mulally receives nearly $30M in compensation for 2011

Arguably more than any other mainstream automaker, Volkswagen is serious about its heritage. So much so that it appointed Franz-Josef Paefgen – former chief executive of Audi, Bentley and Bugatti – to head up its classics program. In this capacity, Paefgen oversees the heritage departments of each of the group’s brands, but while its commercial vehicles operation may seem the least likely to preserve its past, today’s announcement proves that assumption wrong.

The Oldtimers department of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles just recently moved into a new 7,000 square-meter facility in Hannover, Germany, where its staff of 13 dedicates itself to the restoration and preservation of old VW Buses. Although the garage has been active for several years, working on the company’s own vehicles, the Oldtimer department has now opened its doors for private owners to bring in their vehicles for any degree of service.

Have an old Bus in need of some TLC? Click through the jump for the press release for further details and check out the gallery of high-resolution images for a closer look inside the workshop.

Continue reading Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles opens Oldtimer division for the classic Bus

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles opens Oldtimer division for the classic Bus

When a McLaren hits the race track, the competition had better watch out. The British outfit is, after all, one of the most successful in Formula One, having won 176 grands prix, a dozen drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ titles. But McLaren’s prowess extends beyond F1. The Woking firm was a force to be reckoned with in Can-Am in the late 60s, and the last time it built an endurance racing sportscar – the famed F1 GTR back in 1995 – it trounced even the advanced prototype racers to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Now, McLaren is back in the sportscar racing game with the new MP4-12C GT3. Based on the MP4-12C road car, the GT3 racing version took only a year to develop, and McLaren GT has delivered 25 examples of its racing car to independent racing teams around the world. Included in the purchase price are test sessions organized by McLaren and access to the team’s advanced driving simulator and deep expertise in all things motorsport.

The cars are set to compete in the Blancpain Endurance Series (where the MP4-12C also serves as safety car), the VLN series at the Nürburgring, German’y ADAC GT Masters, the International GT Open and the FIA GT1 World Championship. The first of these are set to take place in Germany this weekend at the Nordschleife and Oschersleben, where the MP4-12C will be making its parallel race debuts. Can’t wait that long? We’ve got two high-quality video clips of the car undergoing testing for your viewing pleasure (together with the full press release) after the jump and a fresh crop of high-resolution images added to the gallery above.

Continue reading McLaren delivers 25 MP4-12C GT3s to customer racing teams for 2012 racing season [w/videos]

McLaren delivers 25 MP4-12C GT3s to customer racing teams for 2012 racing season [w/videos]

By now you’ve probably heard about “Batman” getting pulled over by the cops in his Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. The story has been all over the Internet this week, thanks to the in-car video from the local Maryland police department that stopped the caped crusader. But now we’ve got the real scoop on this would-be Bruce Wayne, thanks to the Washington Post.

His name is Lenny B. Robinson, and being Batman is only a part-time gig for the wealthy philanthropist. Robinson visits sick children in hospitals around the Baltimore area, decked out in a $5,000 neoprene-and-leather Batman suit, according to the report. He hands out Batman toys, signs autographs and gives the kids some much-needed fun, while boosting the morale of the parents, as well.

The Lamborghini is just part of the fun, though Robinson told the Post that he’s having a “real” Batmobile built. (Which of the various movie cars he’s having replicated was not specified.) While this episode marked Robinson’s first time in a national spotlight, it wasn’t his first encounter with the police while in costume. Patch reported on a distress call made by “Batman” back in November 2011, when Robinson’s Gallardo had a flat.

Scroll down to see video of the police stopping Batman.

Continue reading The real story behind the speeding Batman

The real story behind the speeding Batman