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: Ford sued over alleged 3.5-liter EcoBoost defects]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ford-sued-over-alleged-3-5-liter-ecoboost-defects/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ford-sued-over-alleged-3-5-liter-ecoboost-defects/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ford-sued-over-alleged-3-5-liter-ecoboost-defects/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ford Taurus SHO - Ecoboost engine closeup

Three Ford owners from Ohio have filed a lawsuit against the automaker over defects that they allege exist within the company's twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine. Automotive News reports that the lawsuit claims the engine "contained serious latent design, manufacturing, or assembly defects." Those defects, the suit claims, cause the vehicle to shake, misfire and lose power quickly.

Two of the plaintiffs, a married couple, own a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, and allege they experienced a loss of power and stalling, while the third, an F-150 owner, claims he lost power while accelerating. In addition to the Taurus SHO and F-150, the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine is also available in the Ford Flex, Explorer Sport and Lincoln MKT and MKS. Other three- and four-cylinder EcoBoost engines are not included in the suit. There have been no recalls associated with 3.5-liter V6 engine, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently not investigating the matter.

The plaintiffs, however, claim Ford has known about the problem, citing several technical service bulletins issued to dealers of the F-150 that suggest possible fixes. Ford had no comment for Automotive News, saying that it's yet to review the lawsuit, which was filed last Friday in Columbus, OH.

Ford sued over alleged 3.5-liter EcoBoost defects originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.5-liter ecoboostecoboostengine defectfordford ecoboostford lawsuitlawsuitnhtsaThu, 16 May 2013 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Honda returning to F1 as McLaren partner]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/honda-returning-to-f1-as-mclaren-partner/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/honda-returning-to-f1-as-mclaren-partner/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/honda-returning-to-f1-as-mclaren-partner/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Honda and McLaren announce new F1 efforts by showing three race cars throughout history

McLaren Honda team formation - executives shaking handsHonda must really love Formula One racing, as evidenced by today's announcement that the Japanese automaker is returning to the world's most popular motorsport for the fifth time in its history. Honda has entered into a team partnership with McLaren to develop and manufacture power systems - the engine and energy recovery system - for the 2015 F1 season. McLaren will be in charge of chassis development and running the day-to-day operations of this newly formed team, which will be called McLaren Honda.

Honda says its decision to reenter F1 racing had to do with new regulations for the 2014 season that require cars to be powered by a 1.6-liter direct-injection turbocharged V6 engine paired with an energy recovery system. Apparently the chance to develop this particular powertrain for F1 racing was too enticing for Honda to pass up, which suggests it has bigger plans for the knowledge learned while developing these systems beyond just winning races.

As mentioned, this is Honda's fifth foray into F1 racing, the first being back in 1964 when it participated as its own team through 1968. Its longest stint came from 1983-1992 as an engine supplier, during which time it partnered with many teams, including McLaren, and won six Constructor Championships. Honda then returned from 2000-2005 as an engine supplier for British American Racing (BAR) before buying that team outright and running it as Honda Racing from 2006-2008. Then the global economic crisis hit. Honda's return to the sport will surely be welcomed by fans as its partnership with McLaren should produce a formidable team. It's a strong signal that the company has returned to health after a few tumultuous years, and hopefully its rediscovered motorsports mojo will help yield more passionately engineered street cars.

Continue reading Honda returning to F1 as McLaren partner

Honda returning to F1 as McLaren partner originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1formula 1formula onehondahonda engine suppliermclarenmclaren hondaThu, 16 May 2013 09:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Clever water stop sign prevents tunnel crashes in Australia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/#commentsFiled under: ,



Faced with truck drivers not heeding warnings when their tractor trailers were too tall to enter the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, officials turned to a company called Laservision to put an end to these costly crashes that were not only closing the tunnel for weeks at a time, but also put other drivers on the road in considerable danger.

Developed and implemented back in 2011, Laservision's Softstop system projects a familiar bright red stop sign, seemingly in mid-air, at the tunnel's entrance if a vehicle too large to enter is detected. In fact, the stop sign does not float in mid-air, but rather is projected onto a water screen that, should a vehicle not heed its command, would cause no damage from being driven through.

The Softstop water stop sign is a last resort, mind you. If a driver's truck is tall enough that it would crash into the tunnel were it to enter, a number of brightly flashing warning signs are activated that signal the driver to stop earlier. Only if those flashing signs are ignored is the Softstop system activated at the tunnel's entrance. Likewise, the Softstop system can be activated for other reasons, including keeping drivers out for their own protection if there's a fire or other disaster inside the tunnel.

Though we admit to chuckling at the occasional truck-crashes-into-low-overpass video (11foot8.com is a whole website devoted to vehicles crashing into a low railroad trestle in Durham, NC), this clever solution for preventing such accidents is even more interesting to watch in action.

Continue reading Clever water stop sign prevents tunnel crashes in Australia

Clever water stop sign prevents tunnel crashes in Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laservisionsoftstopsydney harbour tunneltruck tunnel crashesvideowater stop signWed, 15 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Gran Turismo 6 confirmed for holiday 2013 release on PS3]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/gran-turismo-6-confirmed-for-holiday-2013-release-on-ps3/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/gran-turismo-6-confirmed-for-holiday-2013-release-on-ps3/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/gran-turismo-6-confirmed-for-holiday-2013-release-on-ps3/#commentsFiled under: ,



For those hoping the next iteration of Polyphony Digital's storied 15-year-old Gran Turismo franchise would take full advantage of the Sony Playstation 4, sorry, but we're going to burst your bubble. The next-gen console is slated to debut this holiday season, and while Sony officially announced today that Gran Turismo 6 would be released at the same time, it will be for the seven-year-old Playstation 3 console, not the new PS4. But hey, at least we won't have to have waited five years for this version like we did for the fifth.

GT6 will launch with a roster of 1,200 cars, 33 locations (seven more than GT5) and 71 track layouts. The racing simulator is also said to utilize new game and physics engines, which Sony claims "pushes the limits of the PS3." Today's announcement was made at the well-known Silverstone racing circuit in the UK, which is one of the new tracks in GT6. A demo version of the game with 19 cars (see the full list below and view them in the related gallery) will be released before the holiday season; Sony says it's scheduled for July and will kick off GT Academy 2013.

We'll see more of Gran Turismo 6 at the E3 games show in June, but for now you can watch the trailer below for what has become the Playstation 3's best-selling franchise with 70 million copies sold. This sixth iteration will likely lock down that honor for good.

Continue reading Gran Turismo 6 confirmed for holiday 2013 release on PS3

Gran Turismo 6 confirmed for holiday 2013 release on PS3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gran turismogran turismo 6gt6playstation 3polyphony digitalsonyWed, 15 May 2013 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Parking lot traps uncoordinated driver [NSFW]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/parking-lot-traps-uncoordinated-driver-nsfw/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/parking-lot-traps-uncoordinated-driver-nsfw/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/parking-lot-traps-uncoordinated-driver-nsfw/#commentsFiled under: ,



We certainly have sympathy for this hapless driver who had a difficult time leaving a Wits University parking lot in Johannesburg, South Africa. The lot is overcrowded and probably beyond capacity, making the driver's efforts to turn down its lanes an exercise in futility and frustration. It doesn't help that the camera operator and his friends offer nothing but colorful (read: explicit, hence the NSFW warning) commentary. They refer to the driver as being female, but it's not possible to tell from the video's perspective which sex was responsible for bungling the dozen-plus-point turnaround. Scroll down to watch the excruciating extrication below.

Continue reading Parking lot traps uncoordinated driver [NSFW]

Parking lot traps uncoordinated driver [NSFW] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>johannesburgparking lotsouth africatrapped parking lotvideowits universityWed, 15 May 2013 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Audi kicks off ad campaign tonight with stirring new spot]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/audi-kicks-off-ad-campaign-tonight-with-stirring-new-spot/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/audi-kicks-off-ad-campaign-tonight-with-stirring-new-spot/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/audi-kicks-off-ad-campaign-tonight-with-stirring-new-spot/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Following last week's entertaining and wildly popular Spock vs. Spock video, Audi has come back with a bevy of videos for its new advertising campaign that will begin airing tonight in primetime and on cable.

There are five ads altogether, but the longest one, a 60-second spot titled It Couldn't Be Done, is our favorite by far. Set to a reading of the poem of the same name by Edgar Albert Guest, the commercial chronicles the history of Auto Union Deutschland Ingolstadt from the days of its founder, August Horch, through its many decades of innovation, competition and creativity. Indeed, watching the commercial gave us chills similar to when we first heard the Ram brand's Farmer commercial that aired during this year's Super Bowl.

The other four commercials are shorter 15-second spots that focus on such familiar themes as the company's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the safety of its vehicles, their style and the company's advances in LED lighting. While less impactful than the longer ad, we think they effectively sound the drum beat of Audi's preferred tag line: Truth in Engineering. Scroll down to watch all five new ads, starting with the 60-second It Couldn't Be Done.

Continue reading Audi kicks off ad campaign tonight with stirring new spot

Audi kicks off ad campaign tonight with stirring new spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi adaudi commercialaugust horchedgar albert guestit couldnt be donetruth in engineeringvideoMon, 13 May 2013 19:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Watch Brazilian police ram a drug plane with their car to prevent takeoff]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/#commentsFiled under: , ,



After watching this video of Brazilian police ramming a suspected drug-smuggling plane with their car to prevent it from taking off, I've realized that Hollywood has once again lied to me. My last exposure to Brazilian law enforcement was courtesy of their portrayal in 2011's Fast Five, in which the country's police force was presented by Tinsel Town as easily corruptible and able to be defeated by a couple of Americans in Dodge Chargers towing a safe.

In reality, though, it appears not all Brazilian cops roll over that easily. The ones in this dramatic video did their own real-life stunt work when they decided to ram a suspected drug transport plane during takeoff. Appearing to take out the plane's tail section and then ram it from the side, the officers also braved some flying bullets, though it's unclear from the video who was doing the shooting. Huffington Post reports that five people were arrested and 230 kilograms of cocaine base paste were seized.

The Brazilian police aren't even newcomers to the plane-ramming business. An equally, if not more, dramatic video was captured in 2011 that showed Brazilian police using their car to shear off an entire wing of a plane while it was taking off. All of which makes me now believe that if Hollywood were more realistic, Fast Five would've been over in 20 minutes with Dom and Brian in handcuffs. Scroll down to watch this real-life car-vs-plane chase scene.

Continue reading Watch Brazilian police ram a drug plane with their car to prevent takeoff

Watch Brazilian police ram a drug plane with their car to prevent takeoff originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brazilbrazil policebrazilian policedrug planedrug tradedrug traffickingdrugsplane rammingvideoMon, 13 May 2013 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: VW Amarok R-Style debuting at Worthersee]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vw-amarok-r-style-debuting-worthersee/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vw-amarok-r-style-debuting-worthersee/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vw-amarok-r-style-debuting-worthersee/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Volkswagen has announced another vehicle that will be delighting the brand's fans at this week's Wörthersee festival in Austria. The Amarok R-Style is a performance version of the pickup that VW seemingly sells all over the world... except the US and Canada, of course.

The truck is powered by a 3.0-liter TDI V6 making 272 horsepower and a stout 442 pound-feet of torque. That engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic, and the pair are reportedly good for helping the truck reach 62 miles per hour in 7.9 seconds. While a 20-year-old GMC Cyclone pickup would laugh that figure off as cute, the Amarok R-Style at least looks the part of a performance truck with 22-inch wheels bursting out of fenders widened by 2.36 inches on either side. There's also a carbon fiber diffuser out back, side sill extensions and bigger air intakes up front. Oh, and two chromed tailpipes for good measure.

Inside, the Amarok R-Style apes the GTI with a black, white and red color scheme on its surfaces and deeply bolstered sport seats. A new steering wheel, eight-inch touchscreen, subwoofer and carbon fiber dashboard round out the other extra upgrades.

VW Amarok R-Style debuting at Worthersee originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 May 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>vwvw amarokvw amarok r-stylewortherseeworthersee 2013Wed, 08 May 2013 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: VW debuts 503-hp Design Vision GTI at Wörthersee [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/vw-debuts-503-hp-design-vision-gti-at-worthersee/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/vw-debuts-503-hp-design-vision-gti-at-worthersee/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/vw-debuts-503-hp-design-vision-gti-at-worthersee/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



As is the case every year, Volkswagen engineers have built and brought a new toy to their fans at the annual Wörthersee festival in Reifnitz, Austria. Called the Design Vision GTI, this track toy is a Golf that's been widened, lowered and given an injection of twin-turbo V6 steroids.

The powerplant providing motivation is a 3.0-liter V6 paired with two turbochargers to produce 503 horsepower and up to 413 pound-feet of torque. With all-wheel drive and Volkswagen's famous DSG gearbox (the gear count is unknown), the Design Vision GTI can erase what's between you and 62 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds, as well as a reach a terminal velocity of 186 mph. Carbon ceramic brakes, 20-inch wheels and a specially tuned chassis round out the hardware upgrades, while engineers compressed the car's dimensions to be shorter, wider and lower than a stock GTI.

The exterior of the Design Vision GTI is meant to evoke the future of GTI styling, which is fine by us as we especially like how the car's iconic C-pillar is pulled away from the body and flows into the significantly flared rear fenders. It looks like the reflection of a GTI in a circus mirror with menace-making bends. The interior, meanwhile, is an exercise in editing, with switches, knobs and all manner of unnecessary controls removed, and the center console more severely oriented towards the driver. The rear seats have been replaced by an X-shaped crossbar, and red straps appear where door handles used to be (à la Porsche). There's even a camera embedded in the A-pillar that can shoot either the track ahead or the driver at work.

While not as stout in the power or performance departments as the 2007 GTI W12 Concept, the Design Vision GTI looks even more the business than that King of Golfs. For now we only have renderings, but we'll update this post with live images of the Design Vision GTI as soon as they're available.

Continue reading VW debuts 503-hp Design Vision GTI at Wörthersee [w/video]

VW debuts 503-hp Design Vision GTI at Wörthersee [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gtivwvw design vision gtivw gtiwortherseeworthersee 2013Tue, 07 May 2013 21:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Viper GTS-R will have first full season chronicled in web series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/viper-gts-r-will-have-first-full-season-chronicled-in-web-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/viper-gts-r-will-have-first-full-season-chronicled-in-web-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/viper-gts-r-will-have-first-full-season-chronicled-in-web-series/#commentsFiled under: , ,



SRT will be documenting its second season - and first full season - of Viper GTS-R racing in the American Le Mans Series with a new web series called Beyond the Checkered Flag. We don't know much yet, but the team has released a teaser video (below) and promises the series will run at least four episodes, if not more. The videos will feature all six drivers who are responsible for piloting the No. 93 and 91 Viper GTS-R cars that compete in each race, and each episode will be told from a different perspective of the action (drivers, the pits, the fans, etc.).

As we've mentioned before, the return of the Viper to motorsports is a big deal, and we're excited that SRT Motorsports has decided to document it. The car's first go around in racing began in the late '90s and peaked during the fledgling seasons of the then-new American Le Mans Series when the Viper GTS-R won 16 of 18 races during 1999 and 2000. The new Viper GTS-R hasn't been nearly as dominant as the original since returning to ALMS racing last August, the team having only just achieved its first podium finish a few weeks ago in Long Beach with one of its cars finishing third.

The first episode of Beyond the Checkered Flag, which should air in mid-May, will focus on preparations for the 2013 season, specifically the time leading up to the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring in March. Spoiler alert: the team didn't win its class, though the No. 91 car did lead for much of the race and finished fifth, scoring valuable championship points to kick off the team's first competitive season back.

Scroll down to watch the trailer for Beyond the Checkered Flag.

Continue reading Viper GTS-R will have first full season chronicled in web series

Viper GTS-R will have first full season chronicled in web series originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsbeyond the checkered flagsrtsrt motorsportssrt vipersrt viper gts-rTue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Audi pits Star Trek's new Spock versus the original]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/audi-pits-star-treks-new-spock-versus-the-original/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/audi-pits-star-treks-new-spock-versus-the-original/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/audi-pits-star-treks-new-spock-versus-the-original/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The only thing that makes a sci-fi geek happier than William Shatner and Patrick Stewart in the same room is when two Spocks collide. Audi has somehow managed to do just that ahead of the release of the second film in this historic franchise's new go-round called Star Trek Into Darkness, which opens in theaters nationwide on May 17th.

We won't spoil the fun (you can, and should, watch it yourself below), suffice it say that the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, steals the show from the franchise's new Spock, Zachary Quinto. The short video has the two Vulcans battling wits in a series of challenges that quickly comes to involve cars, but Audi manages to outwit them both in the final scene by leaving these logical beings with an emotion that resembles amazement.

This is the second summer blockbuster that Audi has tied its four rings to, the other being Iron Man 3. Whereas Tony Stark's garage and the Marvel universe have more Audis per square mile than people, we aren't expecting to see an Audi logo on the warp drive of the USS Enterprise in this latest Trek tale.

Scroll down and set your phasers to amuse.

Continue reading Audi pits Star Trek's new Spock versus the original

Audi pits Star Trek's new Spock versus the original originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi a7leonard nimoystar trekstar trek into darknesszachary quintoTue, 07 May 2013 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Read This: Returning war vets at higher risk for vehicle crashes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/returning-war-vets-at-higher-risk-for-vehicle-crashes/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/returning-war-vets-at-higher-risk-for-vehicle-crashes/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/returning-war-vets-at-higher-risk-for-vehicle-crashes/#commentsFiled under: ,



David Brown of The Washington Post has published a piece on a little-known risk to returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: motor vehicle crashes. According to the report, which sources both professional research and observations of service members, vets and their counselors, 75 percent of returning vets have a higher rate of fatal car crashes than the civilian population. Likewise, active duty troops are involved in more accidents after their deployments than before, and the likelihood of an accident goes up with each successive tour of duty. In fact, motor vehicle fatalities will soon rank right up there with suicide and interpersonal violence as a leading cause of non-combat deaths.

The reasons why our nation's service members are at such high risk for motor vehicle crashes include, of course, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a contributing factor, as well as drunken driving and seeking out thrills to replace the rush of actual combat in civilian life. The latter is likely why fatal motorcycle crashes in particular spike during wartime.

The final reason mentioned by Brown in his piece, however, is one we hadn't considered, which is that returning service members haven't unlearned the aggressive driving behaviors that kept them alive in a war zone. Racing through intersections, straddling lanes, swerving on bridges and even not wearing seat belts because they hinder a quick escape are all cited in the report as behavior learned in combat that becomes very dangerous when it happens on the home front.

According to Brown, this problem is only beginning to get attention from the military, and research is still hard to come by as recruiting willing test subjects is not easy. The data, however, that points to motor vehicle crashes as a rapidly growing risk for our active and retired service members is conclusive. Click here to read Brown's full report.

Returning war vets at higher risk for vehicle crashes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active troopsdavid brownmilitarymotor vehicle crashesriskservice membersTue, 07 May 2013 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Top ten cars bought by people who probably can't afford a car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/04/top-ten-cars-bought-by-people-who-probably-cant-afford-a-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/04/top-ten-cars-bought-by-people-who-probably-cant-afford-a-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/04/top-ten-cars-bought-by-people-who-probably-cant-afford-a-car/#commentsFiled under:



Sub-prime borrowers are buying completely different cars than everyone else, at least according to data gathered by Carfinance.com. This financing company that specializes in helping "below-prime" borrowers finance their car purchases looked at data gathered from between October 2012 and March 2013. According to their numbers, the top 10 new cars bought by sub-prime borrowers during that time are as follows.
  1. Dodge Avenger
  2. Kia Forte
  3. Kia Optima
  4. Chrysler 200
  5. Dodge Journey
  6. Ford Focus
  7. Ram 1500
  8. Nissan Sentra
  9. Nissan Versa
  10. Kia Sorento
Small and midsize sedans dominate the sub-prime borrowers shopping list, though not the same four-doors as the general public is buying in droves. Whereas the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima are the three top-selling midsize sedans in the US overall, sub-prime borrowers only have eyes for the midsize Dodge Avenger. In fact, the only vehicle that makes an appearance both here and on the list of top 10 selling vehicles overall is the Ram 1500.

Speaking of which, the Ram pickup also tops the list of top 10 used vehicles purchased by sub-prime borrowers (below), which also includes fullsize pickups from Ford and Chevy, as well as the lone example of what might be considered a less-than-practical purchase on either list, the Ford Mustang. The list of top used vehicles also shows that buyers are getting more car for their money, moving up to mid- and fullsize cars with nary a compact in sight.
  1. Ram 1500
  2. Nissan Altima
  3. Ford F-150
  4. Dodge Charger
  5. Chevy Silverado
  6. Chevy Impala
  7. Chevy Malibu
  8. Toyota Camry
  9. Chrysler 300
  10. Ford Mustang
What's the takeaway? Considering this data comes only from a six-month period, and from a single company's set of customers as well, we shouldn't give it too much weight. Still, the lists do suggest what we already expected, that sub-prime borrowers aren't usually buying what they want, but rather what they need.

Top ten cars bought by people who probably can't afford a car originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 May 2013 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carfinance.comdodge avengersub-prime loanssubprime auto loanssubprime loansSat, 04 May 2013 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[April 2013: Showers Edition]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/april-2013-showers-edition/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/april-2013-showers-edition/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/april-2013-showers-edition/#commentsFiled under:

Ford And Nissan Make Big Gains, Toyota Falls



Unlike the month of March, when automakers left and right were breaking monthly sales records despite having one fewer selling day, April 2013 was a month when some brands couldn't even beat their year-over-year sales numbers despite being spotted an extra selling day compared to April 2012.

The Honda Accord won this month's round of midsize sedan sales.

Some of the winners from March, though, kept on winning in April. Of the high-volume brands, Nissan posted the biggest YoY gain of 24.62 positive, while Ford, which deals in volumes more than twice the size of Nissan, moved its needle in a positive direction by an impressive 17.77 percent. Nissan can credit the popularity of its Altima (up 35.4 percent to 21,991) and Pathfinder (up 423.5 percent to 6,473) for the bump. Ford, meanwhile, was firing on all of its cylinders, with the Escape up 52 percent to 25,826 units sold and Fusion up 23.7 percent to 26,722.

Speaking of midsize sedans, the Honda Accord won this month's round, with April sales of 33,528 compared to the Toyota Camry at 31,710, the aforementioned Fusion at 26,722, and Nissan Altima at 21,991.

Lincoln also appears high up in our April table, thanks entirely to the MKZ, which is finally filling up dealer lots after having its initial production and quality woes sorted. Ford's luxury brand saw sales up 20.72 percent to 7,615 total on the back of the MKZ's 115.4-percent sales increase to 4,012 units.

Of the automakers reporting declining sales, we're most surprised to see both Toyota (-1.51 percent) and Chrysler (-12.68) among them. Toyota saw sales decline for three of its top-selling models (Corolla -6.1 percent, Camry -17.3 percent and Prius -24.1 percent), which couldn't be offset by the brand's new RAV4 posting a 17.1-percent increase to 18,541 units sold in April. Chrysler, meanwhile, only has three models, and while sales of the 200 and Town & Country were largely flat, the 300 saw sales fall 47 percent to 4,120 units.



*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 25 selling days in April 2013 and 24 selling days in April 2012, so there is a difference between the change in monthly sales volume and the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.

April 2013: Showers Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april 2013auto industryauto salesby the numbersfeaturedWed, 01 May 2013 15:48:00 EST<![CDATA[The List: The List #0010: Drive a Big Rig Truck]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/the-list-0010-drive-a-big-rig-truck/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/the-list-0010-drive-a-big-rig-truck/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/the-list-0010-drive-a-big-rig-truck/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A person's portfolio of automotive experiences should contain more than just family vehicles and the occasional sports car. That's why our list of 1,001 Automotive Things To Do Before You Die includes driving all sorts of different vehicles. So far we've driven drift vehicles, off-roaders and even tanks, and there are many more interesting conveyances we still want to sample.

One that's been on our list since the show's beginning is driving a big rig truck. We all pass these beasts of burden on the highway and probably don't give them a second thought, except maybe to question why one is blocking our way on the one day we're late for work.

Still, these many-wheeled machines account for the bulk of shipping that occurs in the US, and there's an army of highly trained drivers who pilot the nation's fleet. You can't just step out of your Ford Explorer and into the driver's seat of a big rig; you need schoolin' first.

We sent Jessi and Patrick to Southern California's Dootson School of Trucking, and because we had high hopes our two pupiles could be taught to drive a big rig on public roads, before school started they were required to pass a Commercial Drivers License written permit test, as well as receive a physical and drug test as ordered by the Department of Transportation. With that out of the way, their lesson could begin. Scroll down to watch some of what it takes to become a real big rig driver.

Continue reading The List #0010: Drive a Big Rig Truck

The List #0010: Drive a Big Rig Truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big rigdootson school of truckingjessi combspatrick mcintyresemithe-listtractor trailerTue, 30 Apr 2013 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Shanghai: Buick Riviera Concept debuts in China]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/buick-riviera-concept-shanghai-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/buick-riviera-concept-shanghai-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/buick-riviera-concept-shanghai-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Buick Riviera Concept

It's nighttime in China, and Buick has just concluded an evening event the day before the first - and only - press day of the Shanghai Motor Show. The star of this evening's party was the Buick Riviera concept vehicle, a plug-in electric hybrid coupe that the automaker says gives a glimpse at its future design direction, not to mention resurrecting some nomenclature from the brand's history that includes a similarly named concept from 2007.

The shape of the Riviera is said to be inspired by water. While the traditional Buick "waterfall" grille is present, the front end gains a more aggressive note thanks to what appear to be vertical air inlets below each headlight.

As for the concept's drivetrain, Buick says it uses General Motors' new dual-mode wireless plug-in hybrid electric vehicle propulsion system, or W-PHEV for short. The keyword there is 'wireless,' as the Riviera can charge its onboard battery packs with a traditional cable or wirelessly via a "sensory recharge panel" underneath the car.

The car's other features include 10 high-res cameras and 18 micro high-precision sensors for image and distance monitoring of objects in the vehicle's path, which are then displayed on the inside of the windshield for the driver as a holographic image. Other electronic goodies include baked-in 4G LTE internet connection, night view assist, eagle view (like Nissan's Around View Monitor), full-range adaptive cruise control, an autopilot system and something Buick calls "transparent" A-pillars. A lot of this sounds like concept car hokum, but buried there somewhere beneath all that future-tech is an aesthetic Buick hopes will resonate with buyers, and maybe a production coupe it can sell in both China and the US.

Continue reading Buick Riviera Concept debuts in China

Buick Riviera Concept debuts in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showbuickbuick riviera conceptshanghaishanghai motor showFri, 19 Apr 2013 10:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Translogic test drives the Epic Torq three-wheeled EV roadster]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/translogic-test-drives-the-epic-torq-three-wheeled-ev-roadster/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/translogic-test-drives-the-epic-torq-three-wheeled-ev-roadster/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/translogic-test-drives-the-epic-torq-three-wheeled-ev-roadster/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Only about a week ago did the company Epic EV makes its very first delivery of the Torq Roadster to a customer. Before that, our colleagues at Translogic spent some time with company founder Chris Anthony and were the very first to get some seat time in this Morgan-Three-Wheeler-Meets-Tesla-Roadster EV.

You may recall, Chris Anthony has been involved with some some very special EVs, including the ill-fated Aptera, the DeLorean EV, the all-electric wakeboard boat and an EV ATV.

The Torq Roadster is a natural extension of his work in electrified transportation, and while somewhat spartan, keeps up nicely with the EV world's performance standard-bearer, the now-cancelled Tesla Roadster, in the performance department: 0-60 miles per hour happens in about four seconds and this very wide trike (80.5 inches) can pull 1.3G while cornering.

Watch Translogic host Bradley Hasemeyer take it for a spin below.

Continue reading Translogic test drives the Epic Torq three-wheeled EV roadster

Translogic test drives the Epic Torq three-wheeled EV roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bradley hasemeyerchris anthonyepicepic torq roadstertranslogicvideoThu, 18 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/2013-hyundai-santa-fe-sport-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/2013-hyundai-santa-fe-sport-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/2013-hyundai-santa-fe-sport-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Crossover For The Kardashians Of 1895



My wife and I are holdouts among our friends and family in the offspring department. Our heir-free lifestyle, however, affords us the opportunity to travel this great land, and road trips are our favorite. So while I'm unqualified to remark on how well the new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport will swallow an infant son and stroller, I can pass judgment on this two-row crossover's talents for carrying people and cargo over great distances.

The lady and I recently drove a new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport to one of this country's national treasures: the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore was built between 1889 and 1895 by George Vanderbilt, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt who was one of this country's earliest captains of industry. Despite the Biltmore being the largest privately owned home in the United States, which it remains to this day with a footprint of 178,926 square feet, George and his wife, Edith, only ever had one child. A family of two parents plus one child would have made the Vanderbilts exactly the type of people Hyundai hopes to attract with this two-row Santa Fe Sport - George's eldest brother, Cornelius II, had seven children and would've had better luck fitting his brood in the larger three-row Santa Fe (sans the "Sport" suffix).

Like George, the all-new Santa Fe Sport is now the youngest in a large family of redesigned Hyundais that have been pushing the Korean brand's sales ever higher. Being last in a line of overachievers has its advantages, as this new Santa Fe Sport comes to market with the brand's latest design, technology and safety features, all of which it needs to compete in a midsize crossover segment that is more crowded and competitive than perhaps any other.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai santa fe sportbiltmorebiltmore estatefeaturedgeorge vanderbilthyundaihyundai santa fehyundai santa fe sportreviewreviewsvanderbiltThu, 18 Apr 2013 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking: Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept crossover leaked ahead of Shanghai debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/mercedes-benz-gla-concept-crossover-leaked-ahead-of-shanghai-deb/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/mercedes-benz-gla-concept-crossover-leaked-ahead-of-shanghai-deb/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/mercedes-benz-gla-concept-crossover-leaked-ahead-of-shanghai-deb/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept

With just a few days left before the start of the Shanghai Motor Show, images of the Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept compact crossover have emerged online. The little 'ute is based on the small A-Class hatchback, and though it shares an identical wheelbase, is larger in every other dimension.

Looking like a rough-and-tumble five-door hatchback on the tippy toes of its 20-inch wheels, the GLA is most certainly destined for production in a toned down form that will borrow many bits and pieces from other cars based on this platform like the aforementioned A-Class and the CLA-Class sedan. Carscoop reports that the production version of the GLA will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September of this year, with sales to the public starting in 2014.

Since it's based on the A-Class, we expect that the production GLA-Class will be powered by your choice of Mercedes' 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and a diesel or two, and will offer transmissions that include the company's seven-speed DCT and perhaps a six-speed manual (at least in Europe). If the GLA follows the same path as the two cars before it, expect a GLA45 AMG producing over 300 horsepower, as well. As for what powers the GLA Concept, that just might remain a mystery until the vehicle is officially revealed in China.

Stay tuned to Autoblog this Friday night and Saturday for our live coverage of the Shanghai Motor Show.

Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept crossover leaked ahead of Shanghai debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showmercedes-benzmercedes-benz gla conceptmercedes-benz gla-classshanghaishanghai motor showWed, 17 Apr 2013 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Followup: Guinness reconfirms Bugatti Veyron's world record top speed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/guinness-reconfirms-bugatti-veyrons-world-record-top-speed/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/guinness-reconfirms-bugatti-veyrons-world-record-top-speed/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/guinness-reconfirms-bugatti-veyrons-world-record-top-speed/#commentsFiled under: , ,



After taking last week to review the record category for World's Fastest Production Car, Guinness World Records has reconfirmed that the holder of this hotly contested superlative remains the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

The Veyron Super Sport set the official record back in 2010 with a Guinness-verified speed of 267.8 miles per hour, but other interested parties have recently contested that record's validity because the Veyron used that day had its speed limiter removed. With the speed limiter in place, the Veyron Super Sport tops out at 258 mph.

Guinness rules state that a record-setting production car must be unchanged from what is available to customers. While some, particularly Hennessey Performance, have claimed that removing the Veyron's speed limiter violated that rule, Guinness has settled the matter by stating that "a change to the speed limiter does not alter the fundamental design of the car or its engine."

This is a nice win for Bugatti on top of the news last week that the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse also set a record for the fastest open-top production car with a speed of 254.04 mph. That record, however, as far as we know, has not been verified by Guinness World Records.

For its part, Hennessey, whose claim against the validity of Bugatti's record didn't work this time, could potentially break the record outright if given enough road for its own Venom GT to run. The 1,244-horsepower Venom hit 265.7 mph earlier this year before running out of room on a two-mile runway, though those runs were not officially verified by Guinness. Nevertheless, there still remain questions about whether or not the Venom GT counts as a production car by Guinness standards. The world record authority defines "production" as building at least 50 examples and only 29 Venoms are supposed to be built, though Guinness does permit itself to grant exceptions.

Continue reading Guinness reconfirms Bugatti Veyron's world record top speed

Guinness reconfirms Bugatti Veyron's world record top speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugattibugatti veyronbugatti veyron super sportguinness world recordhennesseyhennessey venom gtworlds fastest production carMon, 15 Apr 2013 13:29:00 EST