Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Confirmed: Fiat 500 Cattiva on the way]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/19/fiat-500-cattiva-on-the-way/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/19/fiat-500-cattiva-on-the-way/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/19/fiat-500-cattiva-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fiat 500 Cattiva concept live at 2013 Detroit Auto Show - front three-quarter view

While its dealer body has been clamoring for new and larger models, Fiat has actually done a pretty good trade selling all manner of 500 variants, from the standard hatchback and 500C cabriolet to its Abarth models, 500e electric runabout and special editions like the Gucci.

Fiat USA was a little slow out of the gates as it built up brand awareness and its dealer network, but it's now chugging along, with combined 500 model sales outselling that of its arch rival Mini (provided you subtract the Countryman crossover, a model for which Fiat has had no direct competitor up until this point). Franchisees are finally about to get the bigger, broader-appeal model they've been seeking in the form of the five-door 500L, but Fiat is still going to be devoting a lot of attention to their whisker-faced icon, the Cinquecento.

As proof, at the first drive event of the 500L in Baltimore, Fiat North America boss Jason Stoicevich confirmed that his company will produce a production version of the 500 Cattiva concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Stoicevich wouldn't divulge the model's pricepoint or availability timeframe, but he told us, "I can guarantee you it will happen. I just can't tell you when."

The Cattiva is based on the middle-child 500 Turbo, and is essentially a trim-and-tape package, albeit a very attractive one. It includes rich 'Rame' (read: copper) paint with black trim, including 'Nero' gloss black light housings front and rear and a matching roof-mounted spoiler along with unique charcoal 16-inch alloys. Inside, changes are limited to a 'Matte Nero' instrument panel and trim, along with silver stitching on the black sport wheel and shift knob. No word on any improvements to the Turbo's 135-horsepower, 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder, but at least that should keep the price from rising much above the standard 500T's $19,500 MSRP. As far as timing goes, we're thinking that this model won't be too far down the line after the company launches the 500L.

Back when it revealed the 500 Cattiva concept, Fiat also showed a matte gray Tenebra showcar that builds upon the even hotter 500 Abarth, but Stoichevich declined to comment on that concept's chances for production.

Fiat 500 Cattiva on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 fiat 500 cattivacattivacinquecentofiatfiat 500fiat 500 cattivafiat 500 tenebrajason stoicevichWed, 19 Jun 2013 08:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Audi readying 650-hp Sport Quattro Concept for Frankfurt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/audi-readying-650-hp-sport-quattro-concept-for-frankfurt/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/audi-readying-650-hp-sport-quattro-concept-for-frankfurt/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/audi-readying-650-hp-sport-quattro-concept-for-frankfurt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Audi Quattro Coupe Concept - front three-quarter view

Remember Audi's perfectly lovely Quattro Concept from the 2010 Paris Motor Show? Of course you do. The latter-day Ur-Quattro is laser-etched in our brains as well - and not just because Audi was kind enough to offer our man Michael Harley a mountain drive of its seven-figure showcar. At the time, Audi hinted that the coupe might have a showroom future, but the gossip pipeline has long since gone dry, leading us to believe that the car's production hopes had soured.

That 2010 concept was powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine yielding 380 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, a relatively modest but appropriate engine configuration in light of the Ur-Quattro's five-banger. Given the Quattro Concept's size and specs, it wasn't clear exactly where such a vehicle might fit into the company's lineup, though, as it already already offers the successful A5/S5/RS5 lineup.

Apparently, Audi might have a solution to that conundrum. A new report from Germany's AutoZeitung suggest that the automaker is posed to reveal a production version of the concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September - on the Ur-Quattro's 30th anniversary, no less. Word is that Audi is taking the Quattro Concept upmarket in a big way, with a tuned version of the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 from the RS7 churning up in the neighborhood of 650 horsepower. Naturally, all-wheel drive will get all that power to the ground, and new bodywork is expected as well. In addition to the powertrain switch-up, there is talk of extensive use of lightweight materials, including magnesium, carbon fiber and aluminum, with a target weight of under 2,900 pounds. Magnetic ride control suspension and carbon-ceramic brakes are also expected to find their way onto the model. Unsurprisingly, all of that extra equipment is likely to impact the car's bottom line - reports suggest its sticker price could crowd that of the mighty R8 at around $150,000.

Audi readying 650-hp Sport Quattro Concept for Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 frankfurt motor show2015 audi quattro coupeaudiaudi quattro conceptfrankfurt 2013frankfurt motor showquattro conceptMon, 17 Jun 2013 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/2014-aston-martin-vanquish-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/2014-aston-martin-vanquish-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/17/2014-aston-martin-vanquish-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Squirrelling Away In Motown With British Royalty

2014 Aston Martin Vanquish - front three-quarter view

As far as unexpected encounters with wild animals go, squirrels don't normally rate. The furry little nut-smugglers are omnipresent fixtures in my neck of the woods - literally - so a chance meeting doesn't warrant caution the way a bear or even an ornery raccoon might. But one's list of priorities can't help but change a bit at 175 miles per hour. That was exactly the case when I drove this Aston Martin's predecessor, the DBS, a few years ago.

I was hammering around a closed course - Ford's Romeo proving grounds - on the company's high-banked 5-mile long track, 25 mph shy of the double ton, when a little red dot appeared on the surface of the track, far up the straight. It was a squirrel, which, lacking the good sense not to be on the track at that particular moment, was at least smart enough to flatten itself into a pancake (perhaps it heard the Aston's mighty V12 closing in). I prayed it wouldn't dart from its adjacent lane into mine, because at my closing speed, I figured I wouldn't have time to retaliate. Naturally, the kamikaze rodent skittered on its stomach directly into my trajectory at the last minute, leaving me no choice but to issue a critical hair's breadth correction at the wheel. Roadkill manufacturing is normally a momentary wince-inducing affair - a grimace, a quick appeal for the universe's forgiveness - and then on with one's day. Yet in a car as low as an Aston Martin, at the velocity I was traveling, a bit of fur flying and battered karma would've been the least of my concerns.

The squirrel, the DBS and I all survived to fight another day, and that 175-mph run still stands as my own personal v-max. The Aston's high-speed stability and steering saved my bacon that morning, but in truth, I wasn't that impressed with the car overall. So it was with some consternation that I took possession of this 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish, its replacement killer.

Continue reading 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish

2014 Aston Martin Vanquish originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 aston martin vanquishaston martinaston martin vanquishfeaturedreviewreviewsv12Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Pickup prices rising at 2x industry average]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/pickup-prices-rising-at-2x-industry-average/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/pickup-prices-rising-at-2x-industry-average/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/pickup-prices-rising-at-2x-industry-average/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country - on a snow-covered mountaintop

We've said it before, but bears repeating: Pickup trucks are the financial engines of America's automakers. Good thing, then, that the segment is in rude health - in fact, Automotive News is suggesting that pickup truck sales are arguably healthier than they were pre-recession, even though the segment's volume is still significantly down from where it was before the bottom fell out of the US economy. That's because per-unit profits on full-size trucks are skyrocketing, outpacing the industry's average price increases by more than double since 2005. According to data from Edmunds, the average transaction price of a full-size pickup is now $39,915 - a heady increase over the $31,059 average price in 2005 - a gain of over 8 percent after inflation is factored in.

Just how important are trucks to automakers' bottom lines? Automotive News quotes a Morgan Stanley analyst as saying the Ford F-Series is responsible for 90 percent of the company's 2012 profits, and General Motors isn't far behind, with the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra twins chipping in about two-thirds of the automaker's earnings.

Automotive News points out that Detroit's automakers now have the money to invest in modernizing their full-size truck offerings, in part because they don't have the same overhead and legacy costs that pushed General Motors and Chrysler into bankruptcy. Certainly, the pickup segment has seen a lot of innovations as of late, including turbocharged V6s, coil-spring rear suspensions and active aero. Those improvements in important areas like fuel economy and ride comfort have given existing pickup buyers new reasons to upgrade. In addition, automakers are piling on the tech and luxury goodies, creating more and more high-content, high-profit models like the Ford F-150 King Ranch, Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn and Chevrolet Silverado High Country (shown).

The near-term picture for pickup sales looks rosy, too - much of the segment's recent gains have come without a commensurate boost in new housing increases, traditionally one of the key indicators for pickup sales. With the economy's slow but upward trajectory, analysts are predicting a rebound in the housing market that could drive pickup sales levels to volumes unseen since 2004 and 2005.

Pickup prices rising at 2x industry average originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevychryslerfordgeneral motorsnew car salespickup salespickupsprofit marginsramTue, 11 Jun 2013 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[2013 Dodge Dart faces recall over stalling issue]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/2013-dodge-dart-faces-recall-over-stalling-issue/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/2013-dodge-dart-faces-recall-over-stalling-issue/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/11/2013-dodge-dart-faces-recall-over-stalling-issue/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Dodge Dart - front three-quarter view at sunset

Chrysler has announced that it will recall some 14,800 Dodge Dart compacts due to a potential stalling issue. The Auburn Hills-based automaker says that select 2013 model year sedans equipped with its 1.4-liter Multiair four-cylinder engine and dual-clutch transmission may need to have their engine control modules remapped.

According to Chrysler, the problem was uncovered during routine cold weather testing. Apparently, engineers parked a Dart inside of a 20-degree climate chamber for eight hours, only to have it stall after startup and driving "a short distance." Dealers have reported similar issues in customer cars, prompting the recall, but Chrysler says it knows of no accidents or injuries that have been reported as a result of the problem.

The action covers around 12,900 vehicles in the US and its territories, as well as 1,900 units in Canada, five in Mexico and 16 examples that have ventured beyond the NAFTA region. No word yet on when customers will be notified to bring their vehicles in for service, but the ECM retuning will be performed at no cost.

Continue reading 2013 Dodge Dart faces recall over stalling issue

2013 Dodge Dart faces recall over stalling issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 dodge dartdodgedodge dartdodge dart recalldodge recallmultiairTue, 11 Jun 2013 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Nissan Juke-R pitted against Bugatti Veyron in brilliantly odd drag race]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/nissan-juke-r-pitted-against-bugatti-veyron-in-brilliantly-odd-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/nissan-juke-r-pitted-against-bugatti-veyron-in-brilliantly-odd-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/10/nissan-juke-r-pitted-against-bugatti-veyron-in-brilliantly-odd-d/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bugatti Veyron faces off against Nissan Juke R in drag race - video screencap

The Nissan Juke-R must've been a tough car to build a business case for, yet the madcap little crossover with the heart of a GT-R is now a production reality. Admittedly, we should probably assign some quotes around "production," since the vehicle is being built on a one-by-one on-demand basis at extraordinary cost - at an estimated price of well over $600,000, it has little in common with the already bonkers everyday Juke. We're just happy it exists at all.

With 545 horsepower, we also didn't figure it needed more power. But that apparently hasn't stopped the tuning community, which probably only had to adapt performance adders designed for the GT-R to the mechanically similar CUV. Thus, we end up with this mile-long drag race, which pits a Bugatti Veyron against a Juke-R prepared by an outfit called Shpilli Villi Engineering with a claimed 700 horsepower. That's still well down on horsepower versus the legendary quad-turbo supercar, but the much smaller Nissan also figures to be a lot lighter while boasting similar all-wheel-drive traction. We don't have much more information to go on other than this video, and it doesn't appear that both drivers necessarily got their best runs in, but it certainly makes for jaw-dropping watching. Check it out by scrolling below.

Continue reading Nissan Juke-R pitted against Bugatti Veyron in brilliantly odd drag race

Nissan Juke-R pitted against Bugatti Veyron in brilliantly odd drag race originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan juke2013 nissan juke-rbugatti veyrondrag racedrag racingdragtimesnissannissan jukenissan juke r vs bugattinissan juke-rnissanjukervsbugattishpilli villivideoMon, 10 Jun 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Dacia Duster to spawn inexpensive Nissan Terrano, will we get it?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/08/dacia-duster-to-spawn-inexpensive-nissan-terrano-will-we-get-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/08/dacia-duster-to-spawn-inexpensive-nissan-terrano-will-we-get-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/08/dacia-duster-to-spawn-inexpensive-nissan-terrano-will-we-get-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dacia Duster - front three-quarter view

When going to overseas auto shows, one can't help but spend an inordinate amount of time eyeballing forbidden automotive fruit. It's often of the seriously rare, criminally powerful and six- or seven-digit variety. But more often than one might think, the genuinely affordable overseas hero makes us swoon, too. So it is with the Dacia/Renault Duster, the cheap-as-chips, hard-wearing utility vehicle. We've often thought that its basic, rugged charms would play well in the US if saddled with a low enough price tag, but we've never seen much of a window for that to actually come true.

But now, Autocar India is reporting that Nissan will flex its alliance with Renault to spin off a Duster of its own, one that exhumes the Terrano nameplate, a moniker once used for overseas versions of the first- and second-generation Pathfinder. The new model will feature unique sheetmetal to give it a familial look, but the interior will be the same, and we expect the same goes for the powertrain, meaning there will be a range of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines with both manual and automatic gearboxes and front- or all-wheel drive.

So, does that mean we'll get a Nissan version of the Duster-based Terrano to call our own? Sadly, almost certainly not. Company spokesman Dan Bedore tells Autoblog flatly, "There are no plans to bring this model to the US." Bummer. Even if it isn't ultimately as capable as the larger, long-in-the-tooth Xterra (it's more on par with the now departed Canadian-market X-Trail), we think the Duster's archetypal SUV looks and low cost barrier would win it plenty of fans in our market. Our guess is that redesigning the model to meet US regulations (crash, emissions, lighting, etc.) would be prohibitively expensive, and the Dacia/Renault model is built in some pretty distant facilities - Brazil, India, Romania and Russia among them - making the business case harder still.


Having said all that, if CEO Carlos Ghosn and friends are still considering the project, please mark us down in the "Yes, please" column... we'll even trade in the Cube or Murano CrossCabriolet as a gesture of good faith.

Dacia Duster to spawn inexpensive Nissan Terrano, will we get it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dacia dusternissannissan terranorenault dusterSat, 08 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Acura TSX Sport Wagon on the way out?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/acura-tsx-sport-wagon-on-the-way-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/acura-tsx-sport-wagon-on-the-way-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/acura-tsx-sport-wagon-on-the-way-out/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon - rear three-quarter view

With Acura widely expected to consolidate its TSX and TL sedans into one model line in the near future, the fate of the TSX Sport Wagon is unsurprisingly in doubt. The long-rumored one-for-two sedan replacement is said to be dubbed TLX, and will sit above the Honda Civic-derived ILX, a model that already encroaches on the TSX's pricing and size. According to Ward's Auto, Acura officials are refusing to confirm that today's TSX wagon - effectively a re-schnozzed European-market Accord estate - is facing extinction. Reading the tea leaves, however, things certainly don't look good - the European Accord itself is said to be on the bubble and may not be replaced.

The TSX Sport Wagon was brought to the US as a niche play for the 2011 model year, with Acura of Canada taking a pass on the bodystyle. Officials said at the time that it hoped to shift 4,000 units per annum, roughly a 10-percent sliver of US TSX sales. And while Acura doesn't normally break out the wagon in its sales reports, Autoblog was able to obtain the model's totals for the last two years: the company sold 3,210 Sport Wagons in 2011, improving to 4,234 units last year. The current 2013 model began trickling into showrooms in December, but some dealers are still looking to clear out remaining 2012 models at handsome discounts.

Acura TSX Sport Wagon on the way out? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 acura tsx sport wagonacuraacura tlxacura tsxacura tsx sport wagonhonda accord wagonhonda accort tourerFri, 07 Jun 2013 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Skoda Octavia vRS set to storm into Goodwood]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/skoda-octavia-vrs-set-to-storm-into-goodwood/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/skoda-octavia-vrs-set-to-storm-into-goodwood/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/skoda-octavia-vrs-set-to-storm-into-goodwood/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

2013 Skoda Octavia vRS - sedan - front three-quarter view

We've been led to expect good things out of the third-generation Škoda Octavia, Volkswagen's new Czech-badged C-segment entrant that rides atop the company's MQB architecture along with the new Audi A3 and VW Golf. We liked what we saw of the handsome - if conservative - standard model when it was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and now the recipe looks to be getting a bit more interesting with this new vRS model.

Set to debut at the UK's Goodwood Festival Of Speed on July 10, this racier Škoda will be available in both sedan and wagon bodystyles, complete with a unique nose that includes a more aggressive fascia, honeycomb air intakes and bi-xenon headlamps with LED running lamps. Out back, the vRS receives a blacked-out rear diffuser, chrome rectangular exhaust pipes, LED taillamps and a rear spoiler. Naturally, the whole package snugs 12- to 13-millimeters closer to the ground thanks to a firmer sport suspension that rides atop any number of flashy new wheel patterns.

Inside, changes are limited to the institution of new sport seats, a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel with matching gearchange lever and handbrake, ambient lighting, stainless-steel pedals and sill plates, along with the inevitable smattering of vRS emblems.

The Škoda Octavia vRS will race into European showrooms shortly after its Goodwood introduction, but you can learn more about it in the official press release below.

Continue reading Skoda Octavia vRS set to storm into Goodwood

Skoda Octavia vRS set to storm into Goodwood originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 skoda octavia vrsgoodwoodgoodwood festival of speedskodaskoda octaviaskoda octavia vrsThu, 06 Jun 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: TVR finally poised for a dramatic return? [w/videos]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/tvr-finally-poised-for-a-dramatic-return-w-videos/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/tvr-finally-poised-for-a-dramatic-return-w-videos/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/tvr-finally-poised-for-a-dramatic-return-w-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



TVR, the British cottage industry builder of hair-on-fire, purists' sports cars like the Sagaris, Tuscan, and Cerbera flamed out in spectacular fashion back in 2006, leaving a hole in the the hearts of enthusiasts far larger than its meager output might suggest. The company behind the brilliantly characterful but never-quite pretty, never-quite reliable sports cars with their far-flung ergonomics and bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you dynamics has been the subject of intermittent resurrection rumors since production ceased in 2006. Yet last July, Nikolai Smolensky, the marque's owner, seemed to close the books on the brand once and for all when he said that building a new TVR didn't make financial sense. Instead, it's understood that the Russian plutocrat wanted to build... wind turbines.

But now, it appears that the fiberglass-bodied carmaker may be poised for a revival after all. Auto Express reports that the TVR brand has a new owner, a British businessman by the name of Les Edgar, who purchased the rights to the TVR name and to the equipment and parts to build the brand's existing cars for an undisclosed sum. There's no word yet on what the four-wheeled future of TVR looks like (rumors of an all-new model with Ferrari-like performance at half the price have been dismissed), but Edgar and Co. are apparently keen to reignite the fires at the brand, having even gone so far as to update the company's website with the image above - previously the splash page for the site displayed the TVR logo with the words "never say never."

Of course, TVR has had its share of aborted comebacks before, so we won't hold our breath for its undoubtedly theatrical return. If they do manage to return, we hope they'll be welcomed back with open arms - the world needs more undistilled, unvarnished, uncompromising and overpowered sports cars, right? To jog your memory on the enigmatic firm, check out a brace of vintage Top Gear UK reviews by scrolling below.

Continue reading TVR finally poised for a dramatic return? [w/videos]

TVR finally poised for a dramatic return? [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeremy clarksonles edgarnikolai smolenskytop geartvrtvr cerberatvr sagaristvr tuscanvideoThu, 06 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Aston Martin Rapide wagon headed for production?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/aston-martin-rapide-wagon-headed-for-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/aston-martin-rapide-wagon-headed-for-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/aston-martin-rapide-wagon-headed-for-production/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aston Martin Rapide station wagon one-off as seen in the Bertone Jet 2+2 concept - Live reveal at 2013 Geneva Motor Show

Back in March at the Geneva Motor Show, we had all manner of shiny new baubles trying to distract us from the Bertone Jet 2+2, a one-off from the Italian design house that basically amounted to an Aston Martin Rapide wagon. Yet we still couldn't take our eyes off the car and mutter a few "what ifs." The showcar was conceived as a single vehicle at the behest of one of Bertone's well-heeled customers, but what if the one-off wasn't so one-off? Could an estate conversion like this mount a successful small production run?

According to Autocar, the answer is a riff on "Definitely. Maybe." The British magazine says that Aston Martin and Bertone want to do the deed and are investigating a "small-scale production run," but how small remains anyone's guess. Autocar hypothesizes that if fewer than 10 cars are made, they will be built in Turin near Bertone's headquarters. If the run is larger, however, production would likely be at Aston's home facilities in Gaydon. Of course, there are legal hoops to jump through, naming concerns, and all other manner of nettles to negotiate before the Jet 2+2 can transition into production reality.

So... how much for this still-theoretical, limited-edition couture-n'-kiddie-hauler? Your guess is as good as ours, but the donor Rapide starts above $200,000, and one has to assume that such limited volume would confer a much higher price on the Jet's flanks. Whether that means that it could be costlier than the nearly $300,000 Vanquish remains to be seen.

Aston Martin Rapide wagon headed for production? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 aston martin rapideaston martinaston martin rapideaston martin rapide wagonbertonebertone jet 2+2shooting brakeThu, 06 Jun 2013 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Treasury poised to sell off 30 million more GM shares]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/treasury-poised-to-sell-off-30m-more-gm-shares/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/treasury-poised-to-sell-off-30m-more-gm-shares/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/06/treasury-poised-to-sell-off-30m-more-gm-shares/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GM stock debuts on NYSE - CEO Dan Akerson rings the bell

The next step in the US Treasury's efforts to eliminate its financial interests in General Motors will involve the sale of 30 million shares of the automaker's stock. The government's move to divest itself of GM is all part of a larger plan to sell the remaining 300 million shares of stock it received in compensation for the 2009 bailout of the then-failing automaker. The US Treasury plans to sell off all remaining stock - around 18-percent of GM - by early next year, yet this 30 million share sell-off, which may happen today, is a much smaller divestment than the 200-million shares it sold back to GM in December for $5.5 billion. The United Auto Workers, whose retiree medical trust also owns a large chunk of The General, will also sell off 20 million shares in this latest offering.

According to The New York Times, the sale is timed in tandem with GM's return to Standard & Poor's 500-stock index, a mental milestone of sorts that many investors believe will help improve the company's under-performing stock. GM is taking the spot on the S&P 500 formerly occupied by H.J. Heinz, the Pittsburg-based food conglomerate that has gone private thanks to investment by Berkshire Hathaway and investment firm 3G Capital.

At the time of this writing, GM stock is trading at $34.04 a share, a little above its initial public offering price of $33 back in November 2010.

Treasury poised to sell off 30 million more GM shares originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of the treasurygmgm bankruptcygm stockstandard and poorstreasury departmentuawus treasuryvebaThu, 06 Jun 2013 10:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Mercedes offering illuminated Three-Pointed Star logo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/mercedes-offering-illuminated-three-pointed-star-logo/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/mercedes-offering-illuminated-three-pointed-star-logo/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/mercedes-offering-illuminated-three-pointed-star-logo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mercedes-Benz illuminated Three-Pointed Star - video screencap

Deep, dark, secret confession time: Back well over a decade ago while I was in college, I supported my love for all things automotive in part by publishing basic how-to articles on websites dedicated to the vehicle that I owned at the time, a 1999 Ford Ranger. I never got paid for these pieces, but they eventually gained enough notice that aftermarket companies started sending me products to feature. Much of it was cosmetic, all of it was minimally involved, and some of the modifications now look suspect to my older enthusiast self - things like a billet grille insert and tailgate-mounted Lumi Logo, the latter issuing a subtle glow from my otherwise stock-appearing Ford Blue Oval emblem. I kind of laugh at some of it now, but hey, tastes change.

And yet, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Just ask Mercedes-Benz, which has revealed this new illuminated Three-Pointed Star emblem, available as a dealer-installed option on the 2014 E-Class, 2013+ GL-Class, 2012+ M-Class and 2006+ CLS-Class. Mercedes promises additional fitments as well, but no word on whether they'll be installing future examples at the factory. Unlike my Ranger's short-lived Lumi Logo, the illuminated Three-Pointed Star utilizes LED and light tube technology to project a classier look, and theirs illuminates when you use the key fob to unlock the vehicle. If this new bit of illumination takes off for Mercedes, we're guessing you'll see similar riffs from other OEMs in short order... and maybe a second life for the guys who make Lumi Logos.

What do you think, is Benz's new illuminated star cool-ish or foolish? Watch the video below, then have your say in Comments.

Continue reading Mercedes offering illuminated Three-Pointed Star logo

Mercedes offering illuminated Three-Pointed Star logo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>illuminationlightingmercedesmercedes logothree-pointed starvideoWed, 05 Jun 2013 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Acura rejoins with Seinfeld, sponsors Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee [w/videos]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/acura-rejoins-with-seinfeld-sponsors-comedians-in-cars-getting/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/acura-rejoins-with-seinfeld-sponsors-comedians-in-cars-getting/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/acura-rejoins-with-seinfeld-sponsors-comedians-in-cars-getting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Jerry Seinfeld Acura Super Bowl ad with NSX - screencap

We enjoyed the opening season of Seinfeld's offbeat Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee web series, a video serial where Jerry Seinfeld picked up his friends in some of his classic cars and... chatted. It was a simple premise that offered some genuinely enjoyable moments, even if the 'cars' connection was often a bit incidental. In any case, Acura must have felt the same way, as it has just inked a deal to be the sole sponsor for the series' next season.

Acura, you may recall, already enjoys a relationship with the comedian - Seinfeld starred in the company's 2012 Super Bowl ad alongside the NSX supercar concept. So perhaps it's no surprise that it has signed on to sponsor 24 episodes of the series, due to roll out this year and next. Naturally, with any title sponsorship these days, you can expect to see some integration of the sponsor - in this case, Acura says such measures will involve its new 2014 MDX crossover, integrating "short, contextually relevant ads at the beginning and end of the episode."

Will you watch? For a refresher on Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, check out a couple of our favorite first season episodes with Michael Richards and Alec Baldwin by scrolling below.

Continue reading Acura rejoins with Seinfeld, sponsors Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee [w/videos]

Acura rejoins with Seinfeld, sponsors Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 acura mdxacuraacura mdxalec baldwincomedians in cars getting coffeejerry seinfeldmichael richardsseinfeldWed, 05 Jun 2013 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: NHTSA may greatly expand GM airbag recall]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/nhtsa-may-greatly-expand-gm-airbag-recall/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/nhtsa-may-greatly-expand-gm-airbag-recall/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/nhtsa-may-greatly-expand-gm-airbag-recall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

2012 Buick Verano

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is pondering whether to dramatically upscale a pair of airbag recalls on General Motors vehicles. The two existing campaigns, one launched in the fall of 2012 and the other in January of this year covered just 6,845 vehicles, but the government agency is considering whether to boost the recall to around 400,000 units.

The existing recalls involve the the closely related 2012 Buick Verano (shown) and Chevrolet Cruze sedans, along with Sonic and Camaro models. The root of the problem is a shorting bar in the inflator module of the steering-wheel-mounted airbag that may contact the primary state airbag terminal, a condition that could prevent deployment in an accident. Dealer technicians have been replacing the steering wheel airbag coils to fix the issue.

According to a post on NHTSA's website, the root cause, said to be a production issue, may not have been completely isolated - particularly for the second recall, which was for the Camaro. According to Automotive News, GM says it is cooperating with the government investigation, but won't say whether or not it knows the true origin of the problem.

NHTSA may greatly expand GM airbag recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 buick verano2012 chevy camaro2012 chevy cruze2012 chevy sonicairbag recallbuickbuick veranochevychevy camarochevy cruzechevy sonicgeneral motorsgmnhtsaWed, 05 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Porsche Australia price cuts in excess of $36,000 irks customers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/04/porsche-australia-price-cuts-in-excess-of-36-000-irks-customers/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/04/porsche-australia-price-cuts-in-excess-of-36-000-irks-customers/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/04/porsche-australia-price-cuts-in-excess-of-36-000-irks-customers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2013 Porsche Panamera GTS - front three-quarter view

Have you ever gone to the store, only to become irked after learning that the new [*insert widget here*] that you bought just last week has gone through a price drop? If you're particularly thrifty, even if it's only a couple of bucks, you probably brought in your receipt to see if the store would issue you a credit for the difference. Now, imagine that the widget in question isn't a minor purchase, it's a Porsche - and the price drop isn't just a few bucks - it's thousands.

That's the unhappy scenario that recently faced a number of Australian luxury car buyers and the uncomfortable conversation awaiting the German automaker. According to GoAuto, Porsche Australia recently whacked up to $36,000 off the price of its models in order to jumpstart sales Down Under - the Panamera range itself saw cuts between $5,500 and more than $36,000. The aggressive price cut was a strategy designed to drive sales of more than 3,000 cars locally, a yearly goal originally set for 2018, but now hoped for as early as 2016.

Australia is known for its comparatively high car prices, so the dramatic price cuts were undoubtedly welcome news to potential Porsche shoppers. However, around 50 existing customers were understandably agitated by the reductions because they purchased their cars just before the adjustments took effect. Not only did they stand to lose out on the deals, they also had good reason to fear that their new cars' residual values would take a beating.

GoAuto indicates the automaker was prepared for exactly this scenario, however, and they even had "a process in place for customers to address their concerns." That's according to Porsche Australia managing director Michael Winkler, who also noted that of the 50 or so concerns, 40 of them were "of a very minor nature." Each case was reviewed and, Porsche maintains, resolved amicably, though it isn't going into the details of how each customer was satisfied.

Porsche Australia price cuts in excess of $36,000 irks customers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 porsche panameraaustraliamichael winklerporscheporsche australiaporsche panameraprice dropTue, 04 Jun 2013 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Long Term: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: May 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-may-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-may-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-may-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Long-term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Although I went on the Portland launch of the regular-strength Veloster back in late 2011, my time in the Turbo model was previously limited to one very brief commuting experience, so I was glad to get some time in our long-term matte gray model this month. In a way, I lucked out, grabbing the key fob to our Hyundai just as the weather in mid-Michigan finally acknowledged spring's existence. The temperature change afforded us the chance to swap out the all-season Kumho Solus KH25 rubber that it arrived with in January for its optional ($1,200) Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (215/40ZR18), an almost absurdly major-league, high-dollar set of shoes for what is actually only a hottish hatch.

You might have expected the Veloster Turbo to slide under the radar in such high-performance and shouty company, but the truth is it was a little magnet for attention.

With the new footwear freshly installed, I made a beeline for South Bend, Indiana for the start of this year's One Lap of America, an event I've been staffing for well over a decade. I rolled into the Tire Rack headquarters' expansive parking lot, parking the VT alongside the competitors, whose vehicles appeared "cunningly disguised as racecars," covered with all manner of sponsorship stickers and graphics. You might have expected the Veloster Turbo to slide under the radar in such high-performance and shouty company, but the truth is it was a little magnet for attention.

Most of the One Lappers I spoke with had seen standard Velosters before from a distance or at auto shows, but none of them had firsthand experience with them, let alone with the Turbo. While not everyone loved its looks, a good number truly did, and several asked if the car's matte finish was a wrap - all were impressed to learn that it wasn't. They were also pretty blown away by the inclusion of Michelin Pilots on a car of this price and mission, and everyone appreciated that it had a six-speed manual and a "real" third door. At least a couple of drivers pronounced it a "great kid's car" and vowed to have a look at it for their own progeny after the weeklong rally. As much as I enjoy the car, it was frankly a warmer reaction than I had anticipated amidst a crowd of hardcore car guys and gals.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: May 2013

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: May 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai veloster turboablongterm-velosterfeaturedhyundaihyundai velosterhyundai veloster turbolong-termlongtermMon, 03 Jun 2013 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Ford mulling EcoSport for US? [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/ford-mulling-ecosport-for-us-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/ford-mulling-ecosport-for-us-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/ford-mulling-ecosport-for-us-w-poll/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Ford EcoSport - front three-quarter view

"We certainly have that ability. We're studying it very, very closely." Those are the words of Jim Farley, global head of sales, marketing, service at Ford. The investigation Farley is referring to is the possibility of selling the company's new EcoSport crossover in America.

The diminutive Fiesta-based EcoSport was developed for emerging markets like Brazil and, more recently, China, but it apparently may have a future in the States, where it would form a new entry-level rung below the Escape in Ford's already robust crossover stable. Ford has big plans for its tiny CUV - Farley tells Automotive News that the EcoSport is only available in 10 countries right now, but by 2017, its distribution will have mushroomed to 62 countries. At the time the second-generation model launched at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show as a 2013 model, Ford said the EcoSport would eventually be sold in nearly 100 markets worldwide.

The Brazilian- and Indian-assembled EcoSport is available with a variety of gasoline-powered engines, but the 1.0-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost giving 118 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque would seem to be the powertrain of choice for America, as it was recently confirmed for the stateside 2014 Fiesta.

Do you think Ford should bring over the EcoSport? Vote in our poll and then have your say in Comments.

View Poll

Ford mulling EcoSport for US? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford ecosportfordford ecosportjim farleyMon, 03 Jun 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Lexus in no hurry to be a big player in China]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/lexus-in-no-hurry-to-be-a-big-player-in-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/lexus-in-no-hurry-to-be-a-big-player-in-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/lexus-in-no-hurry-to-be-a-big-player-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lexus executive Mark Templin presenting

For a while now, China's spiraling wealth, population and development has had the world's luxury automakers in an expansionist fervor, with many executives exhibiting the sort of gleefully maniacal behavior historically reserved for gold-rush prospectors. Yet Toyota, of all companies, is exercising a surprising amount of caution in the Asian nation.

As The Wall Street Journal notes, Toyota's premium brand, Lexus, sold all of 64,000 vehicles in China last year, while BMW cleared its books of 326,000. In fact, it didn't even bother entering the market until 2005, while rival Audi built its first car in the market a decade and a half earlier. Even now, Lexus doesn't build any vehicles in China, and with the country's notoriously high tariffs on imports, that's a major disadvantage. Yet the business daily quotes Lexus executive vice president Mark Templin as saying that the brand is nowhere near ready to start building cars in the market. "We're not having those discussions about when we're going to go to China... We have a lot of work to do before we get to that point."

Part of that work includes establishing a more expansive dealer network - Lexus only had 99 stores as of 2012, while rival Mercedes-Benz had over two-and-a-half times as many, and it's still expanding. Adding a lot of dealers without having a goodly number of competitively priced offerings for them to sell may seem like an odd strategy, but Templin tells the WSJ that the goal is to "cultivate our image for quality and customer service and let the customers that we have go tell that story for us."

Do you think this conservative approach to expansion in China will be effective for Lexus? Have your say in Comments.

Lexus in no hurry to be a big player in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinalexuslexus chinamark templinMon, 03 Jun 2013 08:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Jaguar says F-Type sales off to flying start]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/jaguar-says-f-type-sales-off-to-flying-start/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/jaguar-says-f-type-sales-off-to-flying-start/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/31/jaguar-says-f-type-sales-off-to-flying-start/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2014 Jaguar F-Type roadster - top down, front three-quarter view

As we noted in our recent first drive, Jaguar's luscious new F-Type roadster is a bit of a tweener in both size and cost, lining up in between rival Porsche's Boxster and 911. That one-for-two-segment strategy is showing early signs of paying off, with Automotive News reporting that half of the car's 2014 production allotment is already sold. We're not talking huge numbers - sports cars in this segment only "have a global annual volume of about 75,000 units and a market share of 0.1 percent," notes Jaguar brand director Adrian Hallmark. Yet the company figures the F-Type will work out to about 15 to 20 percent of its total volume of around 60,000 units.

From where we sit, this is all very encouraging news, but it's way too early to call the F-Type a smash hit. The sports car segment is known for its fickleness and its front-loaded sales curve, so the real measure of success will be how it fares over the next few years after early adopters get their cars. Jaguar will have to work to keep the F-Type fresh with new variants, and we hear it's prepared to do just that. The British luxury marque hasn't confirmed a hardtop coupe variant yet, but patent images and spy shots suggest one is on the way shortly, and it ought to extend the model's appeal greatly. A four-cylinder option and a manual transmission have also been rumored, and presumably Jaguar will eventually launch higher-performance R and R-S variants as it has done with various model lines, including its other sporty two door, the XK grand tourer.

Jaguar says F-Type sales off to flying start originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 May 2013 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 jaguar f-typeadrian hallmarkjaguarjaguar f typejaguar f-typejaguar salesjaguarftypeFri, 31 May 2013 14:29:00 EST