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[Report: 2014 Jeep Cherokee facing production delay]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/2014-jeep-cherokee-facing-production-delay/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/2014-jeep-cherokee-facing-production-delay/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/2014-jeep-cherokee-facing-production-delay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2014 Jeep Cherokee - front three-quarter view

Jeep's bold-faced new direction spearheaded by the 2014 Cherokee is facing some teething issues. According to a report by the Detroit Free Press, production start-up of the controversial new utility vehicle at its Toledo North facility is running about a month behind schedule "due to a wide range of issues." That's according to Mark Chernoby, senior vice president of engineering at Chrysler.

Chernoby maintains that the issues being encountered aren't unusual for the launch of a new vehicle - particularly one with a new powertrain - and he downplayed the delay, telling Jeep dealers that they "will have ample inventory of the midsize SUV by fall." Among the kinks being worked out? Calibrating the Cherokee's cutting-edge ZF nine-speed automatic transmission and refining assembly line tasks to make the process more efficient.

Chrysler expects to start building retail-ready versions of the Cherokee around mid-June, with official sales slated to start in September.

2014 Jeep Cherokee facing production delay originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 jeep cherokeejeepjeep cherokeemark chernobyFri, 17 May 2013 14:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Fisker Karma prices tanking on used market]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/fisker-karma-prices-tanking-on-used-market/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/fisker-karma-prices-tanking-on-used-market/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/fisker-karma-prices-tanking-on-used-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fisker Karma listings on eBay Motors

Buying into a new, fledgling automaker is always a big risk - the early-adopter upside has the potential to be great, but the downside can look like the mother of all hangovers. Unsurprisingly, that's the unpleasant financial reality facing Fisker Karma owners as they look to unload their extended-range electric sedans while the company's future bleakens.

We've been keeping tabs on used Karma prices on eBay Motors and other websites for some time now, and there's been a steady stream of the voluptuous sedans on offer since not long after they first became available. Early on, we initially chalked that up to speculators, but moved on to imagining disgruntled owners as more and more mechanical and electrical problems were brought to light. Now, however, there's a bumper crop of Fisker models on the used market, with NBC News and Business Insider reporting that pre-owned examples are trading for under half their six-digit MSRPs just one year ago. Around 2,500 Karmas were made, and eBay Motors is playing host to 26 of them alone as this piece is being written. Scan over to AOL Autos' listings, and there are 126 entries.

For its part, the embattled startup has yet to declare bankruptcy, but it has laid off most of its employees and hired experts in the field suggesting they will soon. What's more, officials are looking to to recover as much of the $192 million in federal loans the company received, and despite some potential suitors sniffing around, no buyer for the company has emerged. No surprise, then, that Karma owners are looking to unload their models, likely fearing not only for their vehicles' resale values, but also the continued availability of parts and service.

Question: If Karma prices continue to crater apace, how soon until shadetree mechanics follow the lead of Bob Lutz's VL Automotive Destino, which bins the Fisker's complex plug-in hybrid powertrain in favor of the supercharged LS9 V8 from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1?

Fisker Karma prices tanking on used market originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fisker karmaebay motorsfiskerfisker karmaFri, 17 May 2013 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: F1 boss Ecclestone staring down bribery charges]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bernie Ecclestone F1 boss suited with hand up

Controversial Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is facing bribery charges from German prosecutors. The long-rumored indictments stem from the 2006 sale of the racing series from Germany's Bayern LB bank to CVC Capital partners. The charge could result in Ecclestone facing jail time and losing his iron grip on the F1 series.

Ecclestone, 82, is said to be "100 percent" relaxed about the pending charges, despite the fact that Bayern's former chief risk officer, Gerhard Gribkowsky, is already incarcerated and serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for admitting to taking a bribe worth nearly $43 million. According to reports, German prosecutors are alleging that Ecclestone was responsible for that money. For his part, Ecclestone has repeatedly asserted his innocence, maintaining that he is a victim of blackmail.

If the case goes to trial, Germany's The Local says Ecclestone is not likely to appear in court until this fall, as much of the case's extensive documentation will need to be translated into English.

F1 boss Ecclestone staring down bribery charges originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bayern lbbernie ecclestonebriberycoercioncvc capital partnersf1formula oneThu, 16 May 2013 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Watch this garbage truck consume a Pontiac Grand Am]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/watch-this-garbage-truck-consume-a-pontiac-grand-am/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/watch-this-garbage-truck-consume-a-pontiac-grand-am/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/watch-this-garbage-truck-consume-a-pontiac-grand-am/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Garbage truck crushes car - video screencap

When an old car or truck offers its dying breath in your driveway and you just don't have the financial or mechanical wherewithal to resuscitate it yet again, you traditionally have to go to the trouble of calling a flatbed or a tow truck to come haul it away. That usually helps to put a few bucks in your wallet and helps recycle some of the vehicle's parts, but the transaction doesn't seem as final or perversely satisfying as the dispatch service that this New Way Cobra Magnum garbage truck offers.

Okay, okay, so this refuse hauler isn't actually designed for this sort of thing, but it's oddly comforting to know that a sanitation truck can compact a hapless Pontiac Grand Am into oblivion. Next time, we won't feel so guilty about slipping that rusty charcoal grille onto the curb next to the cans on garbage day. Watch the carnage by scrolling below.

Continue reading Watch this garbage truck consume a Pontiac Grand Am

Watch this garbage truck consume a Pontiac Grand Am originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garbage trucknew waynew way cobra magnumpontiacpontiac grand amrefusesanitationvideoWed, 15 May 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: 2014 BMW M5 facelift shows up online]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/2014-bmw-m5-facelift-shows-up-online/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/2014-bmw-m5-facelift-shows-up-online/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/2014-bmw-m5-facelift-shows-up-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2014 BMW M5 leaked image - front three-quarter, blue

Is it that time already? Like its predecessors, the current BMW M5 has been endangering US licenses since it first went on sale here in 2012, but its design became a known quantity back at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Apparently that also means that the F10 generation has already grown tired enough to the "Must Have Latest Set" who can afford these sorts of super saloons that a facelift is in order.

If these leaked images sourced from Autocar are anything to go by, BMW stylists have used a predictably light hand to rework their hottest 5 Series, with a revised grille that echoes the M6 along with modestly resculpted headlamps. The rear end appears wholly unaltered. Interior changes gleaned from a look at the cabin photos include an updated touchpad-equipped iDrive controller and a new steering wheel cribbed from the M6.

No new word on changes to the 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 powertrain, but in late April, we heard that BMW was readying new competition packages for the M5 and M6. The packages are said to include 15 more horsepower, revised suspension and steering, along with new wheels and blackened exhaust tips. Given that BMW is known for habitually underrating its cars' horsepower outputs (particularly its M models) we can't help but wonder if its engineers will need to do anything other than wave a magic wand to corral those extra ponies underhood...

2014 BMW M5 facelift shows up online originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 bmw 5 series2014 bmw m5bmwbmw 5 seriesbmw m5Tue, 14 May 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: 2014 Acura ILX gets upgrades after just one year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/2014-acura-ilx-gets-upgrades-after-just-one-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/2014-acura-ilx-gets-upgrades-after-just-one-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/2014-acura-ilx-gets-upgrades-after-just-one-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

​2014 Acura ILX sedan - front three-quarter view

Like many others, we were openly disappointed with Honda after driving its lackluster 2012 Civic, a model so ill-conceived that the Japanese automaker was forced to put together a far-reaching facelift after just one year on the market. We found the resulting 2013 Civic to be much improved, putting the sedan back into the thick of the economy-car hunt.

The 2013 model year not only brought with it an upgraded Civic, it also marked the first model year of the Civic's upscale twin, the Acura ILX. Despite having the same model year and the same general underpinnings as the Honda, the ILX went on sale ahead of the freshened Civic and didn't receive all of the upgrades to its suspension, structure or NVH tuning (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) that graced its more plebeian cousin. While the ILX was a somewhat quieter and more refined car to begin with, the Civic's 2013 changes meant that it crept uncomfortably close to its Acura-badged brother in terms of refinement and standard equipment. For 2014, however, Acura is taking steps to remedy the inequity.

2014 Acura ILXThe 2014 ILX features a reworked interior with new leather seating surfaces and retrimmed door cards, along with heated front seats (the driver's side now featuring eight-way power), along with an enhanced audio system featuring a new subwoofer and active noise cancellation technology (found elsewhere on Honda's Odyssey minivan). A new multi-angle rearview camera and 17-inch alloys round out the 2014 model changes.

Unfortunately, no mention has been made of any changes to the car's unseen bits. While we don't mind that there hasn't been much in the way of an aesthetic rework, the Civic received reworked suspension tuning, additional sound deadening, and even structural enhancements for improved safety. We're inquiring to see if any such changes have been effected to the 2014 ILX, but for now it looks like the model year changes include mostly interior furnishings. As before, the ILX will be available with either a 2.0-liter, 150-horsepower four-cylinder or a 2.4-liter four-cylinder offering 201 horsepower (the latter recently lost an Autoblog comparison test to the Buick Verano Turbo). Details on the 2014 ILX Hybrid model have not yet been released.

For all of its upgrades, the 2013 Civic only suffered a $160 increase to its base price. The Indiana-assembled 2014 ILX, by contrast, is $1,000 dearer, starting at $26,900 (plus $895 in destination fees) for the five-speed auto model. All-in, the 2013 ILX has sold just 7,503 units through April so far this year.

Continue reading 2014 Acura ILX gets upgrades after just one year

2014 Acura ILX gets upgrades after just one year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 acura ilxacuraacura ilxacura ilx hybridMon, 13 May 2013 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Chevy sees greener pastures with 2014 Silverado High Country]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/05/2014-chevy-silverado-high-country-official/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/05/2014-chevy-silverado-high-country-official/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/05/2014-chevy-silverado-high-country-official/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country - front three-quarter view

It's no secret that fullsize pickups are the financial engines that power Detroit automakers - it's been that way for decades. In recent years, though, growing consumer appetites for dolled-up trucks has meant even more opportunities for manufacturers to line their coffers while pleasing increasingly discerning customers. Trims like King Ranch on the Ford F-Series and Laramie Longhorn on Ram trucks now include high-end amenities that were the exclusive preserve of luxury cars just a few years ago.

General Motors has been content to let its GMC brand harvest top-shelf pickup buyers for some time now - particularly with its high-line Denali models - but it's hard to turn away easy profits. GM says over 30 percent of new pickup sales now transact above $40,000, and that figure is growing by the year. Thus, it's no surprise that execs are finally letting Chevrolet get in on the action with this new range-topping High Country trim for the 2014 Silverado. Officials tell Autoblog that it's the first premium-branded Chevy pickup since the Cameo Carrier of the 1950s.

Sitting above the LTZ and Z71 off-road model, the Silverado High Country sets itself apart with trim-specific chrome grille and body-color bumpers front and rear - the only fullsize Chevy so equipped - along with unique 20-inch alloy wheels and a few bits of chrome frosting to go with the usual complement of badges. Available only in crew cab configuration, High Country will be offered in both two- and four-wheel drive with the buyer's choice of V8 engines - 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter - along with either a 5-foot, 8-inch or 6-foot, 6-inch box. There are no specific powertrain or suspension calibrations for the model.

Continue reading Chevy sees greener pastures with 2014 Silverado High Country

Chevy sees greener pastures with 2014 Silverado High Country originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 chevy silverado2014 chevy silverado high countrychevychevy silveradochevy silverado high countrygeneral motorshigh countrySun, 05 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: 1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jay Leno in Russian Volga - video screencap

One of the many reasons we love Jay Leno's Garage is the depth of the comedian's collection and his appreciation for the unappreciated. Most men of his financial and social standing with even a passing interest in automobiles would occupy their driveways with six- and seven-figure high performance and luxury cars - they wouldn't even know what something like this 1966 Volga GAZ-21 is, let alone offer it a spot in their garage mahal.

Yet here is Leno, pouring over this ex-KGB staff car in detail and trying on his best labored Russian accent, genuinely fascinated by this small sedan. With a three-on-the-tree, primitive leaf-spring suspension and 95 horsepower from its 2.5-liter four-cylinder, this unrestored sedan - still riding on made-in-USSR tires - doesn't sound terribly exciting on paper, but Jay does a good job of outlining its features and putting it into historical context. He even tells a brief-but-amusing yarn about driving the car through Russian immigrant neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area. Learn more about this Cold War curiosity by scrolling below to watch the video.

Continue reading 1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage

1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 May 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1966 volga gaz-21jay lenojay lenos garagekgblenovideovolgavolga gaz-21Thu, 02 May 2013 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: GM apologizing for this Chevy Trax ad dubbed 'racist' [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/gm-apology-for-racist-chevrolet-trax-ad-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/gm-apology-for-racist-chevrolet-trax-ad-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/gm-apology-for-racist-chevrolet-trax-ad-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Controversial Chevrolet Trax ad - screencap

In what can only be described as a growing trend, another automaker finds itself in trouble for an ad that critics are calling offensive. A new television and internet ad for the Chevrolet Trax subcompact crossover is under fire for its soundtrack, which a Chinese newspaper has labeled "racist."

The commercial blends the not-sold-in-the-US vehicle with a Flapper-era backdrop and soundtrack, and it's the latter that has General Motors spokeswoman Ryndee Carney issuing an on-the-record apology to Advertising Age: "Our intent was not to offend anyone and we're deeply sorry if anyone was offended... we're reviewing our advertising approval processes to make sure this doesn't happen again." The song in question, Booty Swing, is performed by Austrian DJ and producer Parov Stelar, refers to "the land of Fu Manchu" a place in which the girls sing "ching, ching, chop-suey." The South China Morning Post was among the first to publish a story criticizing the commercial as racist.

The ad, known as The Original Reborn, has been running in Canada - where the vehicle is on sale - and AdAge also reports that it has been featured on the automaker's European websites. Since the controversy erupted, Chevrolet has since substituted a new version of the ad that omits the lyrics, but you can view the original by scrolling below.

Controversial ads are nothing new for this industry, but there has been a bumper crop of them lately, including a recent Hyundai suicide-themed spot and a series of Indian-market Ford print ads featuring celebrity caricatures making light of S&M-tinged kidnappings.

UPDATE: A video of the song itself has been added below - it spells out the lyrics in question.

Continue reading GM apologizing for this Chevy Trax ad dubbed 'racist' [UPDATE]

GM apologizing for this Chevy Trax ad dubbed 'racist' [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 May 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 chevy traxbanned adsbooty swingchevychevy traxcontroversial adsoriginal rebornparov stelarvideoThu, 02 May 2013 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Jaguar's Callum refutes two XJ bodystyle rumor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/jaguars-callum-refutes-two-xj-bodystyle-rumor/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/jaguars-callum-refutes-two-xj-bodystyle-rumor/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/jaguars-callum-refutes-two-xj-bodystyle-rumor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jaguar XJR sedan - front three-quarter view
Not long ago, we relayed word from Edmunds that Jaguar was planning to split its next-generation XJ sedan into two bodystyles - one model that continued the ambitious design approach fostered with the current X351-based model, and another, more upright model to better appeal to China's conservative design sensibilities.

We expressed some cynicism in the idea, noting that such a strategy "might catch more profits for the marque, but it might also represent a setback to design head Ian Callum's vision for a thoroughly modern Jaguar portfolio." Callum has been quite insistent in his belief that Jag needs to be a forward-thinking brand in terms of design, and the two-model strategy seemed to conflict with that idea. We tried to get some comment from Callum at that time, but were unable to reach him.

As it turns out, our skepticism was well-placed. Autocar says that while the next XJ will continue to have two wheelbases, Callum has denied the two-model talk, saying flatly: "I can't see us doing two bodystyles. The cost would be enormous and the message inconsistent. You have to believe in what you produce and to do two bodystyles would undermine that."

Jaguar's Callum refutes two XJ bodystyle rumor originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 jaguar xjian callumjaguarjaguar chinajaguar xjx351Wed, 01 May 2013 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: 2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival [UPDATE: w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/27/2014-toyota-4runner-revealed-at-stagecoach-music-festival/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/27/2014-toyota-4runner-revealed-at-stagecoach-music-festival/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/27/2014-toyota-4runner-revealed-at-stagecoach-music-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2014 Toyota 4Runner

Toyota has just pulled the sheet off its updated 2014 4Runner at the 2013 Stagecoach Music Festival near Palm Springs, California. Toyota is the title sponsor at the festival, and claims that this is the first-ever global reveal of a new automobile at a major music festival. We're also guessing this is the first time that the 4Runner has seen duty inside what looks like a vintage circus act's cage.

We can see from the photos that the body-on-frame SUV has received a freshened look with new smoked light fixtures front and rear, along with a boldly reworked front fascia and grille. The profile view seems largely unchanged, though there are new wheel patterns on offer.

The 4Runner will continue to be offered in three trims, including SR5, more luxurious Limited, and off-road-ready Trail specification. Both 4x2 and both part- and full-time 4x4 models will continue to be available, all will be powered by the same 4.0-liter 270-horsepower V6 and five-speed automatic as last year.

Other changes for the 2014 model year include a retouched interior featuring new Optitron gauges, a multi-information display, and changes in trim. On the entertainment front, there are new head units with Toyota's Entune infotainment technology and an in-glass antenna replacing the previous mast unit. The optional navigation unit features a seven-inch screen.

Check out our gallery above and the official press release below for the full scoop.

UPDATE: A video has been added below to go with the press release. Enjoy!

Continue reading 2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival [UPDATE: w/video]

2014 Toyota 4Runner revealed at Stagecoach Music Festival [UPDATE: w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 toyota 4runnerbreakingstagecoachstagecoach music festivaltoyotatoyota 4runnervideoSat, 27 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: China's Great Wall aiming to sell vehicles in US around 2015]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/chinas-great-wall-aiming-to-sell-vehicles-in-us-around-2015/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/chinas-great-wall-aiming-to-sell-vehicles-in-us-around-2015/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/chinas-great-wall-aiming-to-sell-vehicles-in-us-around-2015/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Great Wall Motor Co. display at 2013 Shanghai Motor Show with pickup and camper

Stop us if you've heard this one before: "The Chinese are coming." According to Automotive News, Great Wall Motor Co. plans to sell its vehicles in the US by around 2015. The Chinese automaker has been researching its planned expansion for the last two years, looking at everything from regulatory hurdles to establishing a dealer network, as well as customer needs and wants.

Although it isn't immediately clear what models the company plans to market here in the US, it is apparently looking at establishing a factory stateside. The company currently sells its wares in 76 countries and regions around the globe, but has yet to attempt to crack the US or Canada. Great Wall may be China's largest purveyor of SUVs, but it has a full lineup of models to choose from - it brought 26 vehicles to last weekend's press day for the Shanghai Motor Show, including a stand-alone section for its Haval brand of SUVs.

Of course, the Asian nation's automakers have been promising to bring their vehicles to the US market for years now, but to date, not one has made a full-fledged effort. Not Chery, not Changfeng, not anybody. At the moment, the only Chinese-built cars sold in North America are Honda Fit models, and they are only available in Canada (however, General Motors recently opened the door to importing their own Chinese-built models).

Having said all that, Great Wall is one of China's most respected and most financially established automakers, and it has a lot of experience building factories in other markets (admittedly mostly knock-down plants), as well as exporting vehicles. It seems all but inevitable that Chinese automakers will eventually offer vehicles to US consumers in real volume, but for the moment, there's still a lot of debate about how quickly that reality will set in. To wit, a recent study by Bernstein Research suggested that Chinese automakers still have a decade or more of development before they will be able to field globally competitive products.

China's Great Wall aiming to sell vehicles in US around 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinese automakerschinese carsgreat wallgreat wall motorhavalshanghai motor showWed, 24 Apr 2013 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[2014 Ford Fusion order guide reveals new base Hybrid model, equipment changes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2014-ford-fusion-order-guide-reveals-new-base-hybrid-model-equi/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2014-ford-fusion-order-guide-reveals-new-base-hybrid-model-equi/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2014-ford-fusion-order-guide-reveals-new-base-hybrid-model-equi/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We've gotten our grubby little digits on the dealer order guide for the as-yet-unreleased 2014 Ford Fusion thanks to an anonymous tipster, and while there isn't much that's unexpected, there are some meaningful equipment changes to report after the rakish sedan's first year on the market.

Mechanically, the big news is, of course, the recently confirmed availability of the 1.5-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder paired with a six-speed automatic. The powertrain replaces the 1.6-liter automatic setup of 2013, though if you want a manual transmission, you'll still get the extra .1-liter of displacement.

On the equipment front, there are newly available rear inflatable seatbelts - as seen previously on the Explorer - along with a new heated steering wheel and cooled seat option on Titanium and Titanium Hybrid models (the latter two options will be late availability).

On the 2014 Fusion's color and trim palette, new paint hues include DarkSide and Sunset (replacing Bordeaux Reserve and Ginger Ale), and later in the model year, a light gray ("Soft Ceramic") interior will become available on Titanium models. Brick Red leather seating is optional for Titanium Hybrid models.

Speaking of the gas-electric variant, there will also be a new entry-level Hybrid S model joining the SE (2013 model shown) and Titanium variants - presumably it will come with a lower price tag, but we don't have MSRP information as of yet. However, we do know it will go without equipment including a power driver's seat, rear seat HVAC ducts, keyless-entry pad, satellite radio and heated side mirrors - integrated turn signals and all.

2014 Ford Fusion order guide reveals new base Hybrid model, equipment changes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 ford fusion2014 ford fusion hybridfordford fusionford fusion hybridorder guideTue, 23 Apr 2013 15:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Teased: Renault offers shadowy glimpse of F1-influenced electric car concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/renault-offers-shadowy-glimpse-of-f1-influenced-electric-car-con/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/renault-offers-shadowy-glimpse-of-f1-influenced-electric-car-con/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/renault-offers-shadowy-glimpse-of-f1-influenced-electric-car-con/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Renault mystery F1 EV teaser

Well, what have we here? Truth be told, we're not entirely sure. The teaser image above comes from Renault, and its contents are about as opaque as the message with which it arrives:

"This prototype vehicle, which features muscular styling and impressive performance credentials, provides a bridge between the world of Formula One and that of electric vehicles. It's a concept car that will make a lot of noise... but, in total silence."

So, the gist is that Renault is readying an EV concept influenced by F1. Beyond that, and the picture above displaying some of the car's electric drivetrain, we don't have much to go on. Fortunately, we won't have to wait long to find out what they are up to - the unnamed concept will be revealed in two days' time, on Thursday, April 25 at the company's plant in Valladolid, Spain.

Continue reading Renault offers shadowy glimpse of F1-influenced electric car concept

Renault offers shadowy glimpse of F1-influenced electric car concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evf1formula 1formula onerenaultrenault conceptrenault evrenault f1valladolidTue, 23 Apr 2013 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2013 BMW X1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2013-bmw-x1-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2013-bmw-x1-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/2013-bmw-x1-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A Tasty Bit Of Old School For The New School

2013 BMW X1

Against the backdrop of fervent hand-wringing from brand purists, BMW is on the cusp of finally offering front-wheel-drive vehicles. While that's a shock to the constitution, many are pointing to the company's fine-handling Mini offerings as an article of faith that it can get this drivetrain paradigm shift right. That may be true, but there's an even more important lesson that Mini has taught the decision-makers in Munich: how to make real money on small cars.

Before Mini came along, BMW - along with seemingly every other premium European automaker - never really figured out how to coax big dollars out of American wallets without developing cars that had large footprints, at least those other than sports cars. While the automaker really got rolling in America on the strength of little bantamweights like the 2002, it veered away from small cars sometime in the '80s. BMW subsequently crashed and burned with the cut-and-shut 318ti built off its E36 3 Series and, good as it is, the 1 Series hasn't given the company meaty volume or profits, either. Among other brands, the Audi A3 has never rung up big numbers, and the less said about the painful sales figures of the Volvo C30, the better. But Mini has beat the odds, blazing a more affordable and evidently compelling trail. As of late, the company's Countryman softroader has been a massive hit worldwide. No surprise then that BMW has reconsidered bringing over its smallest softroader, the X1, to the US.

The X1 originally went on sale in Europe in 2010, and after a solid launch on its home continent, the little crossover was introduced in small-car-friendly Canada for 2012, only going on sale here in the US fresh off a minor facelift for 2013. To be clear, the X1 shares no design DNA with the even-smaller Countryman. Their engineers don't even use the same washroom - whereas the Mini is based on a front-drive chassis, the X1's architecture is a variant of the aforementioned rear-wheel-drive 1 Series, itself derived from the old E90 3 Series. Exactly none of this is bad news.

Continue reading 2013 BMW X1

2013 BMW X1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 bmw x1bmwbmw x1reviewreviewsxdrive28iTue, 23 Apr 2013 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Bentley poised to join four-door coupe game?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/bentley-poised-to-join-four-door-coupe-game/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/bentley-poised-to-join-four-door-coupe-game/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/bentley-poised-to-join-four-door-coupe-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bentley Continental GT - front dead-on view

Bentley may be all hot and bothered with plans for its finally approved ultra-lux SUV, but the marque's attentions may not solely be limited to a two-box range expansion. That's according to AutoExpress, which quotes company CEO Wolfgang Schreiber as being interested in launching a 'four-door coupe' variant of its popular Continental range (pictured). According to Schrieber, "I definitely wouldn't say no to the idea... with the new Flying Spur, we have a model that supports the Mulsanne, and a coupe with four doors could sit below that."

The more rakish sedan isn't tipped to launch before 2016 - the brand will be too busy launching the Flying Spur and furthering work on the as-yet-unnamed SUV to pull ahead the project. The plan would appear to make a lot of sense, as the additional bodystyle on the back of the Continental platform would likely command more money than the rest of the line (see also: Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe) while basically just being a new top hat on an existing architecture. This isn't the first time AutoExpress has promulgated this Bentley 4DC idea, however. Back in 2010, it offered a similar report, but at that point, it anticipated the model would be cheaper than the Continental, suggesting it would be based on a platform shared with the Audi A7.

AutoExpress notes the additional model would help Bentley achieve its ambitious sales targets to drive from last year's 8,510 units sold to 15,000 by 2018, though most of that volume still figures to come from the new utility vehicle.

Bentley poised to join four-door coupe game? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continental gtbentley four-door coupefour-door coupewolfgang schreiberTue, 23 Apr 2013 10:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Shanghai: Cadillac still planning for big things in China]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/cadillac-still-planning-for-big-things-in-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/cadillac-still-planning-for-big-things-in-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/cadillac-still-planning-for-big-things-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2013 Cadillac Escalade ESV Hybrid revealed at 2013 Shanghai Motor Show

Despite some hiccups, China remains the auto industry's great hope for new vehicle sales, with significant sales gains and a huge upside. Nowhere is that hope more fervent than at General Motors, which offers eight different marques in the Asian nation. China has been GM's single biggest market the last three years running, and is unlikely to give up that title anytime soon. Yet its premiere brand, Cadillac, has remained essentially stagnant, selling just 30,000 units in China last year. That's in a segment where sales of luxury vehicles has outpaced that of the larger Chinese market. So what gives?

According to Cadillac officials Autoblog spoke with in China this week at the Shanghai Motor Show, it's been a problem of product - they haven't had the right ones. Displacement taxation issues, import tariffs and currency fluctuations have all conspired to make the brand's products less appealing than they might otherwise have been. But GM is stepping on the gas with Cadillac, and executives are eyeballing 100,000 sales by 2016 - more than triple the Wreath and Crest's current volume. And the expectations for the brand only get more ambitious from there - they're shooting for 10 percent of the luxury market by 2020. Bob Socia, President of GM China, promises that there will be a new Caddy launched in the market each year from now through 2016 and most will be built in China. Characterizing the company's efforts to revive the brand's fortunes as a "relaunch" of sorts, Cadillac also figures to gain dealers as GM expands its sales outlet footprint westward.

New products like a made-in-China XTS sedan (with a market-specific 2.0-liter four-cylinder to avoid heavy displacement taxes) will help, and Socia hinted that the ATS sport sedan could be next in line for in-country production. The SRX crossover - currently the brand's best-selling model in China - will also likely get a long look for future local production when the next-generation model is introduced. In the meantime, Cadillac unveiled the Escalade ESV Hybrid (shown above) as its latest model addition to capitalize on the market's white-hot luxury SUV segment.

In addition to new products, GM China is also investing in developing market-specific technology at its facilities in Shanghai. Much of that will come in the form of apps for its infotainment systems like Cadillac's CUE, including connectivity for popular social media utilities like Weibo, which executives described as China's Twitter.

Cadillac still planning for big things in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showbob sociacadillaccadillac atscadillac chinacadillac escaladecadillac xtsgmgm chinashanghaishanghai motor showweiboSat, 20 Apr 2013 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: GM China President says automaker could export vehicles from China to US]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/gm-china-president-says-automaker-could-export-vehicles-from-chi/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/gm-china-president-says-automaker-could-export-vehicles-from-chi/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/gm-china-president-says-automaker-could-export-vehicles-from-chi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GM of China executive Bob Socia at 2013 Shanghai Motor Show

At a press conference on Saturday at the Shanghai Motor Show, General Motors announced plans to further expand its presence in the Chinese market. Among those commitments are plans to build four new plants by the end of 2015, giving the automaker the capacity to produce around five million vehicles a year in the country.

In order to make the most of that expansion, GM is adding 400 dealerships in China this year alone (for a total of 4,200 sales points), and it's eyeing 5,100 dealers by 2015. Yet not all of that production will stay in China - GM is planning to increase exports as well. Officials estimate the company will export somewhere between 100,000 and 130,000 Chinese-built vehicles this year - a record. And it's gunning for more.

Autoblog asked GM China president Bob Socia (above) if that means the company might eventually export new vehicles built in China to the United States, and he responded:

"It could very well happen. It could very well happen. You know, I'm not sharing any plans with you, but we try to keep open as to what makes sense. And Tim [Lee - GM's president of international operations] is the right guy to talk about your manufacturing footprint. If it make sense to tool up a vehicle in one location as opposed to two, from an economic perspective, Tim will say that's what we should be doing. We're open to be doing that. There's no reason why we can't be exporting to the States, and obviously the States are exporting here."

Given that the Pan-Asia Technical Automotive Center - GM and Chinese automaker SAIC's joint-venture vehicle engineering and design house - is expanding and increasingly calling the shots with Buick, the Tri-Shield brand is arguably the most likely way that Chinese-built vehicles could find their way to the US. GM has sold more Buicks in China than in the States for some time now, and PATAC has been responsible for a growing amount of work on the brand, from taking the lead on styling and engineering for the current LaCrosse to designing showcars like the just-revealed Riviera Concept shown below.

But are there such export plans in place at this time, we asked? "No."

GM China President says automaker could export vehicles from China to US originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob sociabuickchina carschinese carsgeneral motorsgm chinajim leepatacSat, 20 Apr 2013 12:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Jaguar planning two bodystyles for next XJ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2014 Jaguar XJR

As we alluded to in today's F-Type first drive, Jaguar hasn't been selling its wares in China for very long, and as a result, buyers there usually don't have the same appreciation for the brand's history. So you might reasonably think that the company's recent radical styling shift (kicked off by the 2008 XF) wouldn't be as jarring to the nation's buying populace since they really didn't have the automaker's more traditionally styled models from years past to compare them against.

Yet while Jaguar and its sister marque, Land Rover, continue to pick up steam in China's developing market, that apparently isn't necessarily the case. Local buyers there tend to have more conservative tastes when it comes to styling, preferring more upright dimensions, big back seats and larger quantities of traditional luxury materials (think: chrome and wood) than other markets currently find desirable. Thus, the very bold current-generation XJ sedan may be leaving some sales on the table.

According to Edmunds, Jag doesn't want to risk that, and as such, it is preparing two bodystyles for the next-generation XJ - one with the rakish coupe-like styling of the current model, and a more "old-school" three-box sedan designed to appeal to a wider swath of Chinese buyers.

Given that Jaguar's small size means that nearly every model it generates must play worldwide today (with exceptions made for variants like the XF Sportbrake, which hasn't been engineered to global crash standards), it's reasonable to question whether Jag might offer both XJ bodystyles here in North America - perhaps in a tiered scheme like the Audi A8 and A7. That strategy might catch more profits for the marque, but it might also represent a setback to design head Ian Callum's vision for a thoroughly modern Jaguar portfolio.

Jaguar planning two bodystyles for next XJ originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 jaguar xjchinaian callumjaguarjaguar xjWed, 17 Apr 2013 19:14:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2014 Jaguar F-Type]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/2014-jaguar-f-type-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/2014-jaguar-f-type-first-drive-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/2014-jaguar-f-type-first-drive-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Stepping Into The Lion's Den With A Big-Hearted Cat

2014 Jaguar F-Type - front three-quarter view, charcoal

If you're like me - and our demographics suggests you are - you've probably never seen a new Jaguar sportscar at your local showroom. I'm 36, and it hasn't happened in my lifetime... and not by a little bit. Oh, there have been a string of XK coupes and convertibles, and as of late, there have even been some genuine high-performance specials - namely the R, R-S and R-S GT models - but their basis has always been the 2+2 grand tourer shell, not a lighter and smaller footprint with more intrinsic sporting intent. The truth is that it's been a half-century since Jaguar introduced a proper new sportscar. Today, most people know the brand strictly as a purveyor of wood- and hide-lined luxury sedans.

In fact, if you're not an enthusiast with some appreciation for the marque's history, it's a bit odd to hear Jaguar executives proclaim that they are a sportscar company and always have been. By their reckoning, the 2014 F-Type seen here is in fact a return to form, a Rip Van Winkled brand pillar reanimated and reimagined to take center stage. It's a sentiment that must be particularly odd for car shoppers in developing markets like China, where Jaguar hasn't even been selling cars for very long. Yet because the original 1961 E-Type is perhaps the most gorgeous car ever to lay ply on the world's roads, we're prepared to cut them some slack.

Given a desire to project its lengthy and distinguished (if distant) sportscar history into the present, we couldn't really have blamed Jaguar if they decided to just update the E-Type's visuals and pull what's underneath into modernity, à la Ford GT. (In fact, there's already a well-respected British outfit, Eagle, commanding big dollars for doing largely the same thing). There's also a middle 'homage' path - think 1956 BMW 507 begets 2000 Z8 roadster. Yet Jaguar hasn't taken the easy way out and created a doppelganger or even a historical pastiche. Yes, if you look hard enough, you'll find subtle nods to the E-Type, but they aren't immediately obvious. In fact, Jaguar has embarked on nothing short of a radical design overhaul of its entire lineup over the last half-decade or so (beginning with 2008's XF sedan) in an effort to upend its image as traditional luxury transport for the world's elderly elite.

Continue reading 2014 Jaguar F-Type

2014 Jaguar F-Type originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 jaguar f-typef type jaguarfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveftypejaguarjaguarjaguar f typejaguar f type reviewjaguar f-typejaguarftypejaguarftypereviewWed, 17 Apr 2013 11:57:00 EST