On Veterans Day, a word of thanks

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Nov 11th, 2009 at 9:45AM



We'd like to take a brief pause from the normal frivolity around here to acknowledge and salute America's veterans. Thanks to all the men and women who have served our country, for the innumerable efforts and sacrifices you have made in the past and continue to make today. It is because of you that we have the great freedoms we take for granted. For that, we are humbled, and we are very grateful.

Thank you.

[Image: Flickr – dklimke via CC 2.0]

VIDEO: Are you the 2011 Audi A8? Or are you the 2011 Audi A6?

by Jonny Lieberman (RSS feed) on Nov 11th, 2009 at 9:30AM

2011 Audi A6 or 2011 Audi A8 - Click above to watch the video

Well, is it? Hard to say. We do know that both a new Audi A8 and A6 are headed our way sooner rather than later. Sooner, as in the South Florida International Auto Show for one of the new Audis, and/or Geneva for the other. We're pretty sure that the car captured in the video you'll soon be watching after the jump is the same sedan wearing the BMW-style psychotropic body wrap in our earlier post. Only now, watching the car in motion and especially seeing it next to other vehicles, we're just not sure the Audi in question is large enough to be an A8.

Which means we might just be looking at the 2011 Audi A6. And we have to say, it almost looks too small to be an A6. Watch as the test mule passes various hatches and economy cars and seems to be about the same height, if not over all size. Maybe the mule's black paint is playing tricks on us. Or maybe – just maybe – the new A6 is going to be smaller than the current car. Time will tell. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: YouTube]

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Jaguar trains gentleman racers at its R Performance Academy

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) on Nov 11th, 2009 at 8:58AM



The surfeit of driving academies means that behind-the-wheel instruction is no longer only about being a better driver; it's about learning to vigorously drive the car you want to drive. Now it is Jaguar's turn to leap through the flaming driving school ring with the launch of its R Performance Academy.

In this case, though, your wish to learn how to flog a Jaguar will only be granted if you have actually bought one: for now, the academy is open to those who have purchased an XFR or XKR. If that's you, the Performance Academy site is accepting registrations now, and dates are available through next Spring at three tracks around the country. You can check out the press release after the jump for more info. Nothing is indicated about them teaching you to the proper inflection for "Rather!" and "Good show, old chap!" but we're sure it'll be part of your training. Burnouts, however... not so much...

[Source: Jaguar]

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Volkswagen GTI named Automobile Magazine car of the year

by Jonny Lieberman (RSS feed) on Nov 11th, 2009 at 8:33AM

2010 Volkswagen GTI - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's funny how publications have a personality. It shouldn't be funny, as obviously all publications have an editor and said editor has a collection of likes and dislikes, but we still find it amusing. Here's a for instance. This year our pals over at Motor Trend went ahead and named the Subaru Outback their Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year. Besides the obvious issue (a jacked up station wagon counts as an SUV?), this selection makes perfect sense considering that in 2008 the Subaru Forester won the same award. Funny, huh?

Therefore it should surprise no one that Automobile named the 2010 Volkswagen GTI their Automobile of the Year. Why? Because they did the same thing back in 2007. Really? Yeah man, really. Only this time we're not sure how ha ha funny we find this selection. It's more funny odd. For one thing, the 2010 GTI really isn't all that different than the 2007 GTI. Same power plant, same suspension, same hard points. All that's really new are some body panels and an electronic differential, the latter of which is suspect during sustained, high-speed back country driving.

All that said, the new GTI is a fine car -- we said so ourselves a few months back. However, we just don't see it as COTY material. In fact, if we were to select a single car to shower praise down upon... we're not even sure where we'd start. Some of us (ahem) would no doubt push for the Shelby GT500 because for the money it just can't be beat (or for that matter, for twice the money). Still others would pick... the Ford Fusion Hybrid. So what do we know? Oh wait, two of us are on the Internet Car of the Year jury...


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Volkswagen GTI


[Source: Automobile]

Brilliance importer for Europe goes belly up

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) on Nov 11th, 2009 at 8:02AM



When Chinese automaker Brilliance wanted to invade The Continent, it chose Germany-based importer HSO Motors to introduce models like its BS4. Brilliance kept up its end of the agreement, shipping cars to HSO; HSO, however, couldn't get the cars sold, and a little more than a year into the partnership HSO has gone bankrupt.

Three reasons are blamed for the flame-out: the crash test videos for the BS4 and BS6, along with pricing. If you'll remember, when the German ADAC tested the Brilliance BS6, the result was a horror film that would have frightened Freddy Krueger with an official rating of zero stars. After a great deal of improvements and added equipment were put on the BS4, tested two years later, the results were much more palatable -- yet the car still received just three stars. The ADAC's had raised its testing standards, so what would have earned the BS4 a three-star rating under the old methods was only good for zero this time around. That didn't make German buyers comfortable.

The ADAC's testing methods have been labeled unfair, and it's been noted that the ADAC is not a regulatory body. Yet other cars tested under the new methods, like the Skoda Yeti and Honda Jazz, earned five stars. Beyond that, the BS4 is priced at about €16,000 ($24,000 U.S.). Even though it's larger, it's priced against cars like the Focus and Golf, and well above a Skoda Octavia. As a maker trying to earn its way into the field of German car offerings, Brilliance will need to go well beyond the norm to to make its case. For now, Brilliance has taken over HSO Motors' role as importer.

[Source: Euro Car Blog]

AutoblogGreen for 11.11.09

by Sebastian Blanco (RSS feed) on Nov 11th, 2009 at 5:56AM Autoblog Green


Lutz: High-performance Chevy Volt SS a "possibility"
Could the Volt become a high-performance vehicle?
Brammo cuts Enertia price to $7,995
2k down, $249 a month and you're good to go.

Mitsubishi iMiEV earns its chevrons - bring on the Citroën C-Zero
The next French brother to the MItsubishi i-MiEV (and the Renault iOn) makes an appearance.		 Other news:

VIDEO: Even if the Mercedes E-Class Wagon doesn't handle like a slot car, it can still handle slot cars

by Jonny Lieberman (RSS feed) on Nov 10th, 2009 at 7:58PM

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon + slot car track - click above to watch the video

First of all, yes – this is pure Mercedes-Benz propaganda. We're fully aware of that fact. Second, despite it all, we're very jealous of what takes place in this video. In order to show off just how much junk you're able to fit inside the new E-Class Wagon -– or "Estate" in Mercedes parlance. How they settled on building a giant slot car track (or more precisely, sneaking it past the corporate money men) is beyond us, but we're glad they did.

So, how much junk? Quite a bit. Specifically, 1,275 pieces of track, including a section that snakes through the E-Class. All told, the track is over 400 meters long (about a quarter mile) and takes the 1/32 scale DTM cars four minutes and forty-seconds to complete. The track layout was designed beforehand on a computer because otherwise, well... they'd still be building it. Watch the full video after the jump.


Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon


[Source: Mercedes-Benz via YouTube]

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Lumma Design shows bizarre black-and-white BMW M5 with 730 HP

by Drew Phillips (RSS feed) on Nov 10th, 2009 at 7:30PM


Lumma Design CLR 730 RS - Click above for high-res image gallery

With its latest creation, the CLR 730 RS, it seems that Lumma Design is making a play for the title of Europe's most garish tuner. However, this two-tone widebody BMW M5 is actually subtle compared to previous Lumma Design models, and we think the title still firmly remains with Mansory.

So what's special about the CLR 730 RS? For starters, 730 horsepower. The 50% increase in chutzpah comes from a set of twin-superchargers courtesy of G-Power, and Lumma Design claims an impressive top speed of 228 mph. Additional performance upgrades come in the form of a sport suspension, six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes, and an upgraded exhaust system.

The candy cane interior of the CLR 730 RS is even more over-the-top than the outside, with a combination of carbon fiber, leather, and suede. It's not really our style, but we would probably be more accepting of it in a more subtle color. We have plenty of high-res photos in the gallery below, and Lumma Design's press release has full details after the jump.


Gallery: Lumma Design CLR 730 RS



[Source: Lumma Design]

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 11.10.09

by John Neff (RSS feed) on Nov 10th, 2009 at 7:20PM

Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante makes getting away with it half all the fun

2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante – Click above for high-res image gallery Let's say a clandestine organization asked you, for your country, to "take care of" an enemy of the state at tonight's...

BMW defies logic with six-cylinder Concept 6 motorcycle

BMW Concept 6 - Click above for high-res image gallery BMW is known the world over for its excellent brand of inline-six cylinder powerplants. In most cases, those supremely smooth and powerful...

Lookin' Swede: Volvo reveals Geneva-bound 2010 S60 sedan

2010 Volvo S60 – Click above for high-res image gallery A company's image can be a burden and a blessing. Volvo, for example, remains keen on ditching its image for boxy, lackluster...

Also of interest:

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VIDEO: NASCAR's Dickies 500 shows you how to properly deliver a pace car

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Nov 10th, 2009 at 7:01PM

Dickies 500 Chevrolet Camaro pace car delivered in style - Click above to watch the video

The official pace car for last weekend's Dickies 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race was none other than the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. This, in itself, is no biggie. What's interesting is how the car was delivered to the Texas Motor Speedway prior to the race. If you watched sports over the weekend, you know that salutes to America's veterans were part of just about every event that took place (Veterans Day is tomorrow, remember).

As part of that theme, NASCAR had the Camaro delivered to the track in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. In the video posted after the jump, you'll see the big heavy-lift chopper touch down, drop its ramp, have the Chevy drive on out, and take back off. At the wheel of the Camaro was NASA astronaut Doug Hurley, who is also a TMS season-ticket holder, a United States Marine Corps colonel, and was the pilot of the shuttle Endeavour on this year's STS-127 mission. Pretty. Freaking. Cool. In fact, short of the Camaro and Chinook subsequently turning into robots and fighting each other on the TMS infield, it doesn't get much cooler. Follow the jump to watch.

[Source: YouTube]

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Autoblog Podcast #152: Paukert Enhanced!

Eddie Alterman wades in with Sam, Chris, Dan, and Jonny to talk about SEMA and other recent events.

 
 

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