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[Official: Lotus offers Exige S Roadster for sale, but not in North America]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/lotus-offers-exige-s-roadster-for-sale-but-not-in-north-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/lotus-offers-exige-s-roadster-for-sale-but-not-in-north-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/lotus-offers-exige-s-roadster-for-sale-but-not-in-north-america/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Lotus Exige S Roadster - front three-quarter view, blue

The first thing you need to know is that this is the Lotus Exige S Roadster, unchanged from the Exige S even in price and officially the fastest convertible Lotus has ever made. The second thing you need to know is that if you live in the US, you won't be getting this car.

Now that that's out of the way, the lack of a roof, rear wing and front splitter help make it 22 pounds lighter than the coupe, coming in a 2,565 pounds, and the supercharged 3.5-liter V6 in this topless blossom discharges 345 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. For historical comparison with a non-convertible, those numbers nearly match the 2004 Lotus Esprit V8 Final Run edition - which had twin Garrett turbochargers. Yet the Exige S gets from a stoplight to 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds, nearly a full second quicker than that Esprit. Fair play, though, the Esprit did weigh 3,040 pounds.

It will be fitted with a six-speed manual only, and cost 52,900 pounds ($79,667 US), 55,378 euros ($71,404 US) or 8,500,000 yen ($82,078 US), depending on where you live. Here in the US we'll be sticking with the track-only Exige V6 Cup and Cup R models. The press release below offers more on the fine points.

Continue reading Lotus offers Exige S Roadster for sale, but not in North America

Lotus offers Exige S Roadster for sale, but not in North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 lotus exige s roadsterlotuslotus exigelotus exige slotus exige s roadsterThu, 23 May 2013 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Denso executives plead guilty to US price-fixing case]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/denso-executives-plead-guilty-to-us-price-fixing-case/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/denso-executives-plead-guilty-to-us-price-fixing-case/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/denso-executives-plead-guilty-to-us-price-fixing-case/#commentsFiled under:

Denso display at auto show

The three-year investigation by the US Department of Justice into price-fixing allegations by auto parts suppliers continues, with two more fish from the swamp of corruption the latest to be sentenced. Reuters reports that Denso executives Yuji Suzuki and Hiroshi Watanabe will do 16 months and 15 months in US jails, respectively, for their roles in setting prices for parts like heater control units and power window systems. They will also each pay $20,000 fines.

Fourteen executives and nine companies - so far - have been speared by the investigation. Eight of the companies have settled, Denso paying a $78-million fine in February last year at the same time as the DoJ collected $478 million from supplier Yazaki, $200 million from Furukawa Electric Company and sent three Furukawa execs to prison.

Denso executives plead guilty to US price-fixing case originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>densodepartment of justicefurukawahiroshi watanabejustice departmentsupplieryazakiyazaki north americayuji suzukiThu, 23 May 2013 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Audi A8 facelift on the way]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/audi-a8-facelift-on-the-way/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/audi-a8-facelift-on-the-way/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/audi-a8-facelift-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Refreshed Audi A8 caught testing under camouflage - front three-quarter view

The coming Audi A8 has already been spotted in camouflage on public roads at earthly elevations, and now our snappers have caught it at elevation in the Alps. The evolution will entail modified head- and taillights, different sculpting for the grille and a new bumper profile said to be more in line with the A6 S Line.

Inside, there might also be adjustments made to input controls like the gesture touchpad and the MMI infotainment system that include behind-the-scenes improvements like new Nvidia Tegra chips, but such revisions are expected to be minor. With the S8 and the TDI just having been launched, don't be surprised if engine outputs also remain the same. The prevailing sneaking suspicion is that we'll see the car unveiled at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Audi A8 facelift on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2015 audi a8audiaudi a8frankfurtfrankfurt 2013frankfurt motor showspy shotsThu, 23 May 2013 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: IIHS goes behind the scenes of its own frontal offset crash tests]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/iihs-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-its-own-frontal-offset-crash-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/iihs-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-its-own-frontal-offset-crash-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/iihs-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-its-own-frontal-offset-crash-test/#commentsFiled under: , ,

IIHS spokeswoman with dummy and crash test car - video screencap

It would be glib to say that safety equipment has had a huge influence on automobiles in the past 20 years. The result of cars being massively more safe than they were not long ago has made them bigger, heavier, more expensive, more challenging to develop, harder to fix and harder for emergency responders to deal with. That's just what it takes to try and keep people safe when they're wielding two-ton battle tanks in close quarters.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is one of the entities in the greyhound-and-rabbit jockeying that keeps pushing the bounds of safety. It uses its testing to confer the Top Safety Pick designation that carmakers seek and it launched the small overlap frontal crash test that tripped up a number of vehicles.

It has begun a video series demonstrating what it tests at its facility in Virginia and how, with its crash test dummies, it assesses the results. There are two videos so far, one detailing the front offset test, the other examining the specifics of the crash test dummies who do all the 'work.' There will be eight videos in total, with another released every Tuesday. You can watch the first two below. They're a short and fascinating six minutes of viewing.

Continue reading IIHS goes behind the scenes of its own frontal offset crash tests

IIHS goes behind the scenes of its own frontal offset crash tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto safetycrash testcrash test dummiescrash testingiihsinside iihsinsurance institute for highway safetysmall overlap frontal crash testvideoThu, 23 May 2013 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Jim Harbaugh picked to drive Indy 500 Corvette Stingray pace car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/jim-harbaugh-picked-to-drive-indy-500-corvette-stingray-pace-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/jim-harbaugh-picked-to-drive-indy-500-corvette-stingray-pace-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/jim-harbaugh-picked-to-drive-indy-500-corvette-stingray-pace-car/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Indy 500 Corvette C7 pace car - front three-quarter view

He didn't get the trophy, but he did get the girl pace car. San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh - who quarterbacked the Indianapolis Colts from 1994 to 1997 - will lead the 33-car Indianapolis 500 field around The Brickyard in a 2014 Corvette Stingray pace car.

Harbaugh's other connection to the race is that he's a principal in Panther Racing, which has two cars running on Sunday that are powered by Chevrolet engines: JR Hildebrand is starting tenth, teammate Townsend Bell is 22nd. There's a press release below with the kind of juicy quotes you'd expect from all involved.

Continue reading Jim Harbaugh picked to drive Indy 500 Corvette Stingray pace car

Jim Harbaugh picked to drive Indy 500 Corvette Stingray pace car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 chevrolet corvette2014 chevy corvette2014 chevy corvette stingraychevychevy corvetteindianapolis 500indy 500indy 500 pace carjim harbaughpace carThu, 23 May 2013 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Watch Carrera Cup driver Connor de Phillippi's first lap of the Nürburgring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/watch-carrera-cup-driver-connor-de-phillippis-first-lap-of-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/watch-carrera-cup-driver-connor-de-phillippis-first-lap-of-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/watch-carrera-cup-driver-connor-de-phillippis-first-lap-of-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Connor de Phillippi drives the 'Ring in his Porsche 911 racecar - video screencap

American race driver Connor de Phillippi was recently added to the roster of Porsche Juniors, the arm of Porsche's factory racing program that develops new talent. The 20-year-old is contesting the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland series with FÖRCH Racing by Lukas Motorsport, and last weekend, he raced the series round at the Nürburgring. Starting 15th on the grid, de Phillippi would cross the line in ninth out of 32 finishers.

Courtesy of his in-car camera, you can watch his entire first lap in the video below - there's no music added, just engine whine during nine minutes of crests, turns, bumpy straights and that wicked Carousel. Enjoy.

Continue reading Watch Carrera Cup driver Connor de Phillippi's first lap of the Nürburgring

Watch Carrera Cup driver Connor de Phillippi's first lap of the Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrera cupconnor de phillippimotorsportsnürburgringporscheporsche 911porsche carrera cupporsche juniorsvideoThu, 23 May 2013 12:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Cadillac to recall 20,000 SRX models over wheels that could fall off]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/cadillac-to-recall-20-000-srx-models-over-wheels-that-could-fall/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/cadillac-to-recall-20-000-srx-models-over-wheels-that-could-fall/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/cadillac-to-recall-20-000-srx-models-over-wheels-that-could-fall/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Cadillac SRX - front three-quarter view, silver

A potential issue with the lug nuts on 19,871 units of the 2013 Cadillac SRX in the US and Canada has lead to a recall of the luxury crossover. Those lug nuts that have a Teflon topcoat, identified by their bluish tint, could loosen and cause "creaking, rattling or grinding noises or steering vibrations." In the worst case scenario, a wheel could fall off, but there have been no reports of that happening, nor any reports of accidents or injuries due to the issue.

This is the second recall action on the SRX over the last few months. In March, Cadillac recalled 27,000 SRX models over a transmission programming issue. General Motors will begin notifying customers with the potentially faulty parts on June 3, at which time they can take their vehicles to dealers to have the tires rotated and new nuts installed. A further 7,397 SRXs exported from North America also face the recall action.

Cadillac to recall 20,000 SRX models over wheels that could fall off originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 cadillac srxcadillaccadillac recallcadillac srxcadillac srx recallcadillacsrxrecallgmlug nutnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsarecallsrx recallThu, 23 May 2013 10:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Ford to cease Australian automaking operations after 90 years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/ford-to-cease-australian-automaking-operations-after-90-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/ford-to-cease-australian-automaking-operations-after-90-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/ford-to-cease-australian-automaking-operations-after-90-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Ford Falcon - front three-quarter view

Ford began manufacturing cars in Australia in 1925 with the Model T. In 2016, Ford will stop manufacturing cars Down Under, including the Falcon and the Territory SUV. Ford Australia CEO Bob Graziano has reportedly confirmed the closure of the company's Broadmeadows assembly plant and the Geelong engine plant, both in the state of Victoria. There will be 650 jobs lost at Broadmeadows, 510 sacrificed at Geelong. Of the roughly 3,000 workers the Blue Oval has in Australia, it's said it will try to retain about 1,000 of them at its R&D and product development facilities.

The writing hasn't just been on the wall, it's been a regular item in all the papers and on Ford's bottom line for years. As recently as 2003, Ford sold nearly 75,000 Falcons, but over the next four years, annual sales dropped by something like 10,000 units, and over the last two years, it has sold less than 20,000 per year. It isn't only Ford that has suffered - sales of the other large, locally produced sedan, the Holden Commodore, have also gone over the precipice, triggering the same kind of angst about Holden's continued existence. Ford is the smallest of Australia's local automakers, Holden and Toyota the others, and has posted losses of $AUD141 million last year ($136M US) and $AUD600 million ($580M US) in the past five years. Graziano said the cost of manufacturing is simply too expensive in the country, twice as high as Europe and three times as high as Asia, and there no way to make a business case for staying in the country.

In January 2012, Ford Australia announced it would stay in the country until at least 2016, but by July of the same year, most outside observers were quietly declaring that 2016 would be the last year of Ford Down Under, and even the speculation was making other observers nervous. Ford received money from the Victorian government last year to aid its refresh of the Falcon and Territory, which will continue on schedule for the 2014 model year. A front- and all-wheel-drive sedan on a global platform is predicted to replace the Falcon, with some other SUV expected to replace the Territory. The company says it still intends to expand its lineup in the country.

As for what will replace the employment hole at the factories and the supplier base, no one is quite sure. Ford has said that the employees will receive their entitlements, and workers do have three years to prepare for what's coming. As well, the state and national governments have already committed tens of millions to a fund to assist the employees.

Ford to cease Australian automaking operations after 90 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australian manufacturingbob grazianobroadmeadowsfordford auford australiaford falconford territorygeelongmanufacturingThu, 23 May 2013 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Mansory Stallone makes a man out of Ferrari F12]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/mansory-stallone-ferrari-f12/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/mansory-stallone-ferrari-f12/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/mansory-stallone-ferrari-f12/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The Mansory Stallone you see above isn't the first such transmogrification of a Prancing Horse. This one is based on the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, but the first honor, as far as we can tell, went to the Stallone based on the 599 GTB Fiorano. The F12 version was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this year, but we missed out, and we were sure you wouldn't want to miss it.

As with its predecessor, this one gets a total makeover, from the new front clip and hood to the side skirts, new rear end, rear diffuser and rear wing. There is additional muscle for the 6.0-liter V12, too - a tweaked ECU and sports exhaust with a stainless steel muffler getting matters up from 740 horsepower to 775, and torque from 509 pound-feet to 535. Moving things forward is a set of bespoke, staggered, lightweight aluminum wheels, 21 inches up front, 22 in the back.

The showstopper is inside, where a red and black leather treatment and redesigned steering wheel will make the cabin a very intense place to be. Check out the press release below for the minutiae, and the high-res gallery above for more angles.

Continue reading Mansory Stallone makes a man out of Ferrari F12

Mansory Stallone makes a man out of Ferrari F12 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ferrariferrari f12 berlinettamansorymansory stalloneWed, 22 May 2013 16:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Automobile Magazine names its 2013 All-Stars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/automobile-magazine-names-its-2013-all-stars/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/automobile-magazine-names-its-2013-all-stars/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/automobile-magazine-names-its-2013-all-stars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Employing complex scientific formulas and methodologies probably best described as "Whatever we felt like choosing," Automobile has named its All-Stars for the 2013 model year. The 11 vehicles earned their trophies for being "the best and most significant" offerings to the mag's staff and contributors, and while we were surprised to see a couple of them on the list, none of them were shocking. In no particular order, they are: Random notes: The least expensive vehicle on the list was the Ford Focus at $16,995 however, it was the $24,495 Focus ST that was actually driven; the least expensive vehicle as-tested, when such indication was given, was the $28,265 BRZ; the most expensive vehicle as-tested was the $75,615 Porsche Boxster S, hurdling the price of the A7 by nearly $4,000; the greatest disparity between base and as-tested price was the Ram, from the $24,395 skin-and-bones truck to the $54,335 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab; the GTI was viewed through the history of its birthplace, Wolfsburg.

There you have it. Head on over to Automobile for the full story and the adventures they created to test each winner.

Automobile Magazine names its 2013 All-Stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi a7automobileautomobile magazineautomobile magazine all-starsbmw 3 serieschevrolet camaro zl1ford focushonda accordmazda cx-5porsche boxsterram 1500scion fr-ssubaru brzvolkswagen golf gtiWed, 22 May 2013 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: NY State puts kibosh on RelayRides car-sharing service]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/ny-state-puts-kibosh-on-relayrides-car-sharing-service/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/ny-state-puts-kibosh-on-relayrides-car-sharing-service/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/22/ny-state-puts-kibosh-on-relayrides-car-sharing-service/#commentsFiled under: ,



Three-year-old peer-to-peer car rental service Relay Rides has run into a rough ride in New York, accused by the state's Financial Services Department of "repeated false advertising and violations of insurance law."

The two sides present different takes on what's happened - a state official makes it sound like Relay Rides willfully misled consumers when it told them "that they would not be liable for out-of-pocket expenses in the event that their car was stolen or involved in an accident," because the company's insurance isn't approved by New York. Relay Rides, which operates nationwide, has said that it works to make sure it abides by state laws but learned from the Financial Services Department that there was "noncompliance with certain unique aspects of New York insurance law."

While the quarrel is sorted out, Relay Rides has said it will discontinue the service in New York but that any existing reservations will be honored.

NY State puts kibosh on RelayRides car-sharing service originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>financial services departmenthudson insuranceinsurancenew yorkrelay ridesWed, 22 May 2013 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Renault and Red Bull Racing team up for awesome sports Megane [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/renault-and-red-bull-racing-team-up-for-awesome-sports-megane/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/renault-and-red-bull-racing-team-up-for-awesome-sports-megane/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/renault-and-red-bull-racing-team-up-for-awesome-sports-megane/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Renault Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8 - front three-quarter view

The Renault Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8 is a special edition hatchback celebrating the company's third year in a row powering Infiniti Red Bull Racing to the Formula One Constructor's Championship. The French carmaker did the same thing last year with the Megane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7, but whereas last year's model came in the black and yellow livery associated with Renault factory racing teams, this one hews closer to Infiniti Red Bull colors, with an exclusive Crépuscule Blue finish and platinum gray accents.

Other signs as to the hatchack's purpose are the Red Bull logos on the rear quarter panels, the badging on the sills and inside and the laurel stickers on the rear windows. Helping fulfill the buyer's need for speed are a set of 19-inch black wheels shod in the same Bridgestone rubber that got the Megane around the Nürburgring in record time for a production front-wheel-drive car. The car also includes the first use of Renault's new R-Link multimedia tablet and the second generation of the R.S. Monitor.

It will go on sale in 26 countries that sadly fail to include ours. Its arrival in French dealerships is slated for June at a starting price of 36,000 euro ($46,445 US, taxes included), and it will be withdrawn from sale on September 30, 2013 to make good on its limited-edition promise. There's more on it in the press release and video below.

Continue reading Renault and Red Bull Racing team up for awesome sports Megane [w/video]

Renault and Red Bull Racing team up for awesome sports Megane [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>infiniti red bull racingred bullred bull racingrenaultrenault meganerenault megane rs red bull racing rb8Tue, 21 May 2013 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: McLaren 12C Spider worked over by Gemballa]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/mclaren-12c-spider-worked-over-by-gemballa/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/mclaren-12c-spider-worked-over-by-gemballa/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/21/mclaren-12c-spider-worked-over-by-gemballa/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



A host of carbon fiber parts designed and made in Germany are what turn the McLaren MP4-12C Spider into the Gemballa GT Spider. The 625-horsepower, twin-turbo V8 is untouched, almost everything else is heavily touched. There's the body kit that includes new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, new tailpipes and logos. Swing up the doors and you'll find a reskinned interior in leather and Alcantara in your choice of color, plus color-matched gauges. That will run you 19,980 euro ($25,647 US) including paint and installation, but it can alternatively be shipped internationally if you'd like to have your own people install it.

The GForged-one wheels are an inch larger than the standard units, at 20 inches up front and 21 inches in back, but don't change the weight of the car. There are two styles and two finishes available, and shod in Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber they'll require 7,980 euro ($10,243) of your hard earned. Throw down a little more and you can have the brake calipers painted, too.

If this number whispers seductive German nothings in your ear, check out the press release below and the high-res gallery above.

Continue reading McLaren 12C Spider worked over by Gemballa

McLaren 12C Spider worked over by Gemballa originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftermarketgemballagemballa gt spidermclarenmclaren mp4-12c spiderTue, 21 May 2013 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: 2014 BMW M5 and M6 add Competition Package bundles, stay close to home otherwise]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/2014-bmw-m5-and-m6-add-competition-package-bundles-stay-close-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/2014-bmw-m5-and-m6-add-competition-package-bundles-stay-close-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/2014-bmw-m5-and-m6-add-competition-package-bundles-stay-close-t/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

​2014 BMW M5 and M6 Competition Package models - sitting on race track

The leaked facelift images and the Competition Package rumors were accurate: These are the 2014 BMW M5 and M6 models, with exactly three nips and four tucks distinguishing them from their outgoing counterparts, as well as an expected track-day overhaul package. The standard M5 boasts 560 horsepower from its 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8, and the new Competition Package ups that to a preliminary 575 hp, with shifting options remaining the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission or the six-speed manual. Unsurprisingly, the M6 family - including the two-door coupe, convertible and four-door Gran Coupe - get this optional treatment as well.

The go-fast packs make a lot more changes around the cars, though. It lowers them by ten millimeters, recalibrates the steering, differential, front bushings, coil springs, dampers and M chassis control system while adding stiffer anti-sway bars and black chrome exhaust tips. All models sit on 20-inch M light alloy wheels and can be specced with carbon ceramic brakes. For the dragsters among you, the result is a 0-62 mph time that drops by 0.1 second in all models but the M6 convertible.

Inside, on all 2014 M5 and M6 models, there's a new look to the steering wheel, a touchpad for the iDrive controller, more storage and more chrome trim. Two more paint colors and two more leather hues have been announced, with more Frozen paint finishes on the way as well. We're told prices will be announced closer to the models' August on-sale date. For now you read what BMW has to say about them in the press release below.

Continue reading 2014 BMW M5 and M6 add Competition Package bundles, stay close to home otherwise

2014 BMW M5 and M6 add Competition Package bundles, stay close to home otherwise originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 May 2013 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 bmw m52014 bmw m62014 bmw m6 convertible2014 bmw m6 gran coupebmwbmw 5 seriesbmw 6 seriesbmw 6 series gran coupebmw m5competition packageMon, 20 May 2013 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Audi R8 V10 gets tuned up by ABT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/audi-r8-v10-gets-tuned-up-by-abt/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/audi-r8-v10-gets-tuned-up-by-abt/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/audi-r8-v10-gets-tuned-up-by-abt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

ABT-tuned Audi R8 V10 - front three-quarter view, red

Bavarian tuners ABT have done another job on the Audi R8 V10, pumping up the 5.2-liter FSI V10 from 525 horsepower to 600 hp, and torque from 391 pound-feet to 406 lb-ft. With 50 more horsepower than the R8 V10 Plus - but not the extreme weight-loss scheme - ABT claims a 0-62 mile per hour run of 3.5 seconds, the same as the R8 V10 Plus, and a top speed for the mid-engined coupe of 198 miles per hour "is no problem at all."

Managing all that speed are the aero tweaks provided by a comprehensive body kit including a rear wing, a lowered and beefed-up suspension, a stainless steel exhaust and 19-inch wheels in two different designs.

The press release below has a few more bits of info on the matter. And while ABT hasn't put a price on the Audi upgrades, but it's safe to say that nearly 200 mph in an R8 won't come cheap.

Continue reading Audi R8 V10 gets tuned up by ABT

Audi R8 V10 gets tuned up by ABT originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 May 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abtabt r8 v10aftermarketaudiaudi r8audi r8 v10Mon, 20 May 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Hyundai offers three free years of Blue Link safety tech [w/videos]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/hyundai-offers-three-free-years-of-blue-link-safety-tech-w-vide/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/hyundai-offers-three-free-years-of-blue-link-safety-tech-w-vide/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/hyundai-offers-three-free-years-of-blue-link-safety-tech-w-vide/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As of now, the Assurance Connected Care service that Hyundai introduced at the New York Auto Show with the 2014 Equus sedan is complimentary for three years on any vehicle equipped with the company's Blue Link telematic systems. It's the third service package to join the Blue Link suite, after Essentials and Guidance.

Assurance Connected Car provides owners with monthly vehicle reports, maintenance alerts, notification of diagnostic trouble codes and safety features like SOS emergency assistance and automatic collision notification sent to Blue Link agents. The service can also be transferred to new owners within the three-year timeframe. Owners who already have Blue Link can add Assurance Connected Care "at a reduced price," but Hyundai hasn't said what that price is yet.

There's a press release below with more details and four commercials to show you just what you could be missing out on.

Continue reading Hyundai offers three free years of Blue Link safety tech [w/videos]

Hyundai offers three free years of Blue Link safety tech [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assurance connected careblue linkhyundaitelematicsvideoMon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: 2014 Lexus IS gets TRD bits]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/2014-lexus-is-gets-trd-bits/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/2014-lexus-is-gets-trd-bits/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/2014-lexus-is-gets-trd-bits/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Toyota Racing Development (TRD) in Japan has designed cosmetic and performance bits that give the 2014 Lexus IS a front-to-back workover. Different from the F-Sport parts we expect from Lexus here, the full body kit runs 437,700 yen ($4,285 US) and starts with air deflectors at the lower edges of the front bumper, through to side skirts, a decklid spoiler and a rear bumper with a diffuser and quad exhaust tips.

For 288,750 yen ($2,830) you can sharpen responses with new shocks, springs, dampers, sway bar and bracing. The priciest individual component is the set of 19-inch wheels, four of them going for 527,625 yen (5,170 US). There's no word on US importation or pricing yet, but done up all in black like the IS above, we wouldn't mind seeing it here.

2014 Lexus IS gets TRD bits originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 May 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 lexus isaftermarketlexuslexus istoyota racing developmenttrdMon, 20 May 2013 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Car thief caught in McDonald's drive-thru after placing order with owner]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/car-thief-caught-in-mcdonalds-drive-thru-after-placing-order-wi/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/car-thief-caught-in-mcdonalds-drive-thru-after-placing-order-wi/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/car-thief-caught-in-mcdonalds-drive-thru-after-placing-order-wi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

McDonald's drive-thru

If you're going to drive a stolen car in a town of roughly 77,000 people - about the same size as Scranton, Pennsylvania or Ogden, Utah - you want to be very careful about where you drive that stolen car to eat. That's the lesson Katherine York of Kennewick, Washington learned when she was arrested for being in possession of a stolen Toyota 4Runner that also happened to have a bunch of stolen clothes from JC Penney and Sears in it.

Virginia Maiden woke up Tuesday, May 14 to find her 1995 4Runner - that she thought she forgot to lock - swiped from her apartment building. At 3 PM that afternoon, while working her shift at the drive-thru at McDonald's that day, she saw her truck in line. York hadn't even gone far - the McDonald's is not even five miles from Maiden's apartment. Maiden called the police, they showed up just as York was leaving, and York made another vehicle switch, this time into a black-and-white for a trip to the Benton County jail. They don't have McDonald's there, but she won't have so far to go to eat.

Car thief caught in McDonald's drive-thru after placing order with owner originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>katherine a yorkkennewickstolentoyotatoyota 4runnervirginia maidenwashingtonMon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: 2014 BMW 5 Series starts at $50,425* and gets a new diesel, 5 Series GT starts at $60,925* [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/the-2014-bmw-5-series-starts-at-50-425-and-gets-a-new-diesel/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/the-2014-bmw-5-series-starts-at-50-425-and-gets-a-new-diesel/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/the-2014-bmw-5-series-starts-at-50-425-and-gets-a-new-diesel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



BMW itself says it is making "Precise modifications to the design" of the facelifted, sixth-generation 5 Series, and this is the result. The 2014 5 Series will come in four flavors - sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo and ActiveHybrid 5 - the biggest news probably the addition of a diesel engine for the US market.

When they go on sale in August, the 528i sedan will start at $50,425, a $1,700 increase over the 2013 model, and if you want xDrive that adds $2,300 to the price across the model range. The 535d employs a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six-cylinder diesel with 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque and starts at $56,025. BMW portends "substantial fuel efficiency gains over its gasoline-fueled counterpart," but the exact numbers won't come until closer to the on-sale date. The $64,825, top-dog 550i holds pat with 4.4-liter, twin turbo V8, with output upped to 445 hp and 480 lb-ft - an increase of 45 hp and 30 lb-ft of torque. The outputs haven't changed on the twin-turbo four-cylinder in the 528 nor the 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine in the 535, and *all prices include the $925 destination charge. The engines are also fitted with a coasting mode that uncouples the powertrain when rolling downhill.

Outside there are new "contour lines" for the grille and air intakes, slimmer taillights and elements that accentuate the car's width - as if that were necessary. Xenon adaptive headlights will be standard along with side indicator lights on the rearview mirrors, the options list adds LED headlights, the Luxury Line and Modern Line packages. The former package adds chrome trim to certain exterior elements, the latter adds matte chrome trim.

Inside will be more storage and more cup holders, additional luggage capacity in the 5 Series GT, an optional rear seat entertainment system that puts tablets on the front seatbacks, and a touchpad iDrive controller.

There's a lot more besides which you can read about in the press release and video below, and you can pair words with images in the four high-res galleries above and below.

Continue reading 2014 BMW 5 Series starts at $50,425* and gets a new diesel, 5 Series GT starts at $60,925* [w/video]

2014 BMW 5 Series starts at $50,425* and gets a new diesel, 5 Series GT starts at $60,925* [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 May 2013 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 bmw 5 series5 seriesbmwbmw 5 seriesbmw 5 series gran turismobmw 5 series gtbmw 535dSun, 19 May 2013 17:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: McLaren already pondering P1 successor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/mclaren-already-pondering-p1-successor/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/mclaren-already-pondering-p1-successor/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/mclaren-already-pondering-p1-successor/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Now that McLaren is a proper automaker, it's automatic that auto journalists will inquire about future product. That's how we've come to learn that the McLaren P1 will have a successor - but not until a decade from now.

Attempting to answer the question left by the mission statement of the P1, which is that it "will maintain its status as the best super sports car the world has ever seen until a successor is built," Autocar inquired about the supercar's following act. The company's head of sales and marketing explained that not only will it be a "decade or so" before the next flagship arrives, but we can expect a "short product cycle" for the P1 because "you have to step back from the market for a few years." We take that to mean there'll be a gap when no transcendent flagship is on sale, the same way we waited nine years for the Ferrari LaFerrari to succeed the Enzo.

The McLaren F1 didn't fulfill its sales ambitions but did become a legend. The clock has just started on the McLaren P1, but with "30 or so" cars in the order books it should avoid the former fate, and before we get to thinking about a successor, perhaps we can first see how the P1 fares against the competition and its own heritage.

McLaren already pondering P1 successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 May 2013 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>greg levinemclarenmclaren f1mclaren p1Sun, 19 May 2013 05:21:00 EST