Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2007-2008 Kia Sorento SUVs recalled over potential airbag fault]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/2007-2008-kia-sorento-suvs-recalled-over-potential-airbag-fault/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/2007-2008-kia-sorento-suvs-recalled-over-potential-airbag-fault/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/2007-2008-kia-sorento-suvs-recalled-over-potential-airbag-fault/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2007 kia sorento

While airbags can be a major safety asset in the event of an accident, crash test data and real-world incidents have shown that front airbags can actually be dangerous for younger, lighter children. Many newer vehicles now have sensors that turn off the front passenger airbag when the occupant doesn't meet weight requirements, but the sensor may not work in some 2007 and 2008 Kia Sorento models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced the recall of 10,631 Kia Sorento models built between June 15, 2006 and November 27, 2007. At issue is an Occupant Classification System that may incorrectly classify adults as children. When that happens, the "passenger air bag off" light will illuminate, and the airbag won't go off in the event of an accident.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by Kia and instructed to head to a nearby dealership for a free repair. To fix the issue, a Kia technician will update the programming of the OCS controller. Hit the jump to read over NHTSA press release.

Continue reading 2007-2008 Kia Sorento SUVs recalled over potential airbag fault

2007-2008 Kia Sorento SUVs recalled over potential airbag fault originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20072008air bagkiaNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationnhtsarecallsorentoMon, 19 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20045484/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/19/2007-2008-kia-sorento-suvs-recalled-over-potential-airbag-fault/20045484/article-detail.xml 20045484 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/2007-kia-sorento_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/2007-kia-sorento.jpg <![CDATA[Honda recalling 410,000 Odysseys and Elements for brake problem]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/honda-recalling-410-000-odysseys-and-elements-for-brake-problem/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/honda-recalling-410-000-odysseys-and-elements-for-brake-problem/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/honda-recalling-410-000-odysseys-and-elements-for-brake-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Honda Element - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda has announced a recall for some 410,000 vehicle due to a defect with the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) module. According to the automaker, 344,00 Odysseys and 68,000 Elements (MY 2007-2008) are affected by the problem and owners will be notified via mail this April to take their vehicles into dealers.

The issue with the VSA results in a softening sensation through brake pedal and a longer pedal travel that requires owners to apply more pressure to bring their vehicles to a halt. The condition worsens over time as the stability control system lets a small amount of air into the braking system. Full details on the problem, including Honda's recall hotline, are available after the jump.


Gallery: 2009 Honda Element

Continue reading Honda recalling 410,000 Odysseys and Elements for brake problem

Honda recalling 410,000 Odysseys and Elements for brake problem originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20072007 honda element2007 honda element recall2007 honda odyssey2007 honda odyssey recall2007HondaElement2007HondaElementRecall2007HondaOdyssey2007HondaOdysseyRecall20082008 honda element recall2008 honda odyssey2008 honda odyssey recall2008HondaElementRecall2008HondaOdyssey2008HondaOdysseyRecallbrakeelementhondaodysseyrecallTue, 16 Mar 2010 14:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19401836/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/16/honda-recalling-410-000-odysseys-and-elements-for-brake-problem/19401836/article-detail.xml 19401836 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2009elementex006-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2009elementex006-630op.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA: U.S. road fatalities drop to their lowest level since 1982]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/22/nhtsa-u-s-road-fatalities-drop-to-their-lowest-level-since-198/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/22/nhtsa-u-s-road-fatalities-drop-to-their-lowest-level-since-198/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/22/nhtsa-u-s-road-fatalities-drop-to-their-lowest-level-since-198/#commentsFiled under:



Since 1975, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been recording the number of fatalities on U.S. roadways, and with the exception of 1992, that figure has never dropped below 40,000 deaths per year. According to NHTSA's new figures, that changed in 2008, when 37,261 fatalities occurred in the U.S. - a drop of nearly 10% over the previous year and the largest reduction in both number and percentage since 1982.

The majority of that reduction came from passenger vehicles, with light truck fatalities dropping for the third consecutive year. However, the reduction hasn't taken place across the board - motorcycle fatalities continue their upwards trajectory with 5,290 riders meeting their demise on the road, comprising 14% of all roadway fatalities and continuing an eleven-year increase. Naturally, injuries were down as well, with 2.35 million people involved in crashes in 2008 compared to 2.49 in 2007, and the metric of 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) was also down to 1.27 in 2008, compared to 1.36 the previous year.

You can check out NHTSA's full report here (Warning: PDF) and get a full breakdown on the stats from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety here.

[Source: NHTSA, IIHS | Image: Gabriel Bouys/Getty/AFP]

NHTSA: U.S. road fatalities drop to their lowest level since 1982 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008iihsnhtsatraffic fatalitiestraffic fatalities 2008TrafficFatalitiesTrafficFatalities2008Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19168724/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/09/22/nhtsa-u-s-road-fatalities-drop-to-their-lowest-level-since-198/19168724/article-detail.xml 19168724 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/89755051-620op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/89755051-620op.jpg <![CDATA[Lamborghini profits up 27% for 2008 due to cost-cutting, outlook for 2009 hazy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/lamborghini-profits-up-27-for-2008-due-to-cost-cutting-outlook/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/lamborghini-profits-up-27-for-2008-due-to-cost-cutting-outlook/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/lamborghini-profits-up-27-for-2008-due-to-cost-cutting-outlook/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Lamborghini has released its pre-tax profits for 2008, and the supercar manufacturer netted a total of 60 million euros ($79.6 million) last year for a 27% increase over 2007. Overall sales were up a scant 2.5%, eclipsing the previous year's sales record (2,406 vehicles) with 2,430 cars sold worldwide. The increase in sales is attributed to growth in China and the Middle East, while sales in the U.S. fell by over 20% to just 741 vehicles (down from 930 in 2007). Obviously, the additional profits didn't come from a massive sales increase. Instead, Lamborghini placed 300 of its 1,000 employees on shorter work days from February through May, netting an additional savings.

Naturally, the automaker isn't bullish (rimshot) for 2009, with CEO Stephan Winkelmann admitting that the economic downturn is likely to affect Lamborghini's sales. However, it remains committed to bringing a new model to market each year, so expect more hotness from Sant'Agata in 2009 and beyond. Hit the jump for Lamborghini's press release.


Gallery: Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Continue reading Lamborghini profits up 27% for 2008 due to cost-cutting, outlook for 2009 hazy

Lamborghini profits up 27% for 2008 due to cost-cutting, outlook for 2009 hazy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008lamborghiniprofitsWed, 15 Apr 2009 18:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1518088/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/15/lamborghini-profits-up-27-for-2008-due-to-cost-cutting-outlook/1518088/article-detail.xml 1518088 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/lamborghini_lp560_4_new_images_1-580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/lamborghini_lp560_4_new_images_1-580op.jpg <![CDATA[Ford reports 4th quarter net loss of $5.9 billion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/29/ford-reports-4th-quarter-net-loss-of-5-9-billion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/29/ford-reports-4th-quarter-net-loss-of-5-9-billion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/29/ford-reports-4th-quarter-net-loss-of-5-9-billion/#commentsFiled under: ,



Ford has so far been able to avoid suckling on the teat of the federal government like its cross-town rivals, but after today's announcement of a 2008 fourth-quarter loss of $5.9 billion, serious questions are beginning to arise about how FoMoCo will fair in 2009.

This will be the third consecutive year Ford hasn't posted a profit, with a $2.8 billion loss in the previous year and $620 million drop during the same quarter of 2007. Ford wrapped up 2008 with $13.4 billion in cash reserves, but has announced plans to draw $10.1 billion in available credit to weather what's sure to be a rough 2009. That would bring Ford's liquidity up to $23.5 billion, sans the money already used for January, and the automaker contends that this is enough to meet its goals for the year. However, if Ford continues its fourth-quarter cash burn rate of $1.83 billion a month, there's a distinct possibility that FoMoCo execs might be knocking on Uncle Sam's door before the year comes to a close.

On a more positive note, Ford posted a 2008 pre-tax profit of $1.06 billion in Europe, although the last quarter saw a drop of $330 million. Hit the jump for Ford's full press release.

[Source: Ford, Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty]

Continue reading Ford reports 4th quarter net loss of $5.9 billion

Ford reports 4th quarter net loss of $5.9 billion originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20084th quarter4thQuarterfordford lossFordLossfourth quarterFourthQuarterlossThu, 29 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1444472/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/01/29/ford-reports-4th-quarter-net-loss-of-5-9-billion/1444472/article-detail.xml 1444472 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/83887407_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/83887407_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Shanghai GM stumbles in '08]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/shanghai-gm-stumbles-in-08/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/shanghai-gm-stumbles-in-08/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/shanghai-gm-stumbles-in-08/#commentsFiled under: , ,



One of the refrains we've all heard in recent years is how strong Buick is for General Motors in China, where it's not cursed with the stigma of being a grandparent's brand in the States. While most of yesterday's attention was rightly focused on the industry-wide year-end U.S. sales bloodbath, Shanghai Daily reports that 2008 was a bummer for GM's joint venture with SAIC in China.

Shanghai GM ended up down 7% versus 2007, with analysts saying that its new cars, like the freshly-updated Buick Excelle, didn't deliver the goods in terms of styling, price, or fuel economy. Hence, buyers reportedly turned to the VW Jetta and Toyota Corolla instead. Shanghai Daily points out that Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Saab all showed growth in China last year, so the overall Shanghai GM decline essentially gets laid at the feet of Buick. Now, it'll be interesting to see how 2009 plays out. GM is hoping that the Chevy Cruze can help get things back on track in the People's Republic (and everyplace else, for that matter) when it arrives sometime in Q2, joining other key Shanghai GM newcomers like the Buick Regal.

Shanghai GM's disappointing 2008 performance was part of a broader growth slowdown for the General in China. When factoring in the rest of its joint ventures, GM's China sales were actually up 6% overall. But that's a significant dropoff from the double-digit sales gains exhibited in preceding years -- 19% in '07, and at least 27% in the each of the four years prior to that, according to Bloomberg. With so many consecutive years of explosive sales growth, things were probably bound to level off as car shoppers transformed into car owners. Whether GM's influx of new models planned for this year and beyond stokes the sales fires in China again is a story that we'll follow throughout '09.

Gallery: 2009 Buick Excelle


Gallery: 2009 Chinese-spec Buick Regal


[Sources: Shanghai Daily, Bloomberg]

Shanghai GM stumbles in '08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008buickbuick excelleBuickExcellegmsaicshanghai gmshanghai gm salesShanghaiGmShanghaiGmSalesTue, 06 Jan 2009 17:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1419692/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/01/06/shanghai-gm-stumbles-in-08/1419692/article-detail.xml 1419692 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/sgmexcelle_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/sgmexcelle.jpg <![CDATA[2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: In the pits and on the track]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/autoblog-at-the-2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/autoblog-at-the-2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/autoblog-at-the-2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for a massive high-res gallery from the 2008 24 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill

Imagine this: text-message updates on your favorite LeMons teams that includes their last lap time and overall position. Or real-time telemetry data streaming online. How about pictures and analysis, straight from the track and beamed down through the tubes right into your home? Fantasy? Hardly. When you get hundreds of die-hard DIY types together for a weekend of wheel-to-wheel racing, anything's possible. Unless, of course, the one necessary component - a stable internet connection - is missing from the equation. And so concludes our overall coverage of the 2008 24 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill. After battling wonky wifi and sketchy EVDO connections, we bailed on the race late last night so we could give you a brief snippet of the action outside of Willows.

The LeMon's season-ender has all the ingredients for another epic crap-can battle royale, including the utterly fantastic ghetto-charged Miata, a Griswold-inspired Pinto, a fiberglass-bodied 240, a flipped Yugo, a superbike-powered Metro, a rod-knocking Escort (that puked all of its oil onto a half-mile stretch of the track) and our Altamont-running RX-7 that returned from the dead. Everything you'd want in a LeMons race was present and accounted for, and in these tumultuous times, it was a breath of fresh (well, diff-oil scented) air to see true gearheads doing what they love in an environment that's part LeMans and part Burning Man. If you ever need a brief respite to reinvigorate your faith in the bond between man and machine, LeMons is where it's at. And the 2009 season is already scheduled. If you can't compete, at least attend. You won't be disappointed, even if "the tubes" could use a thorough snaking.

Check back tonight for a list of the top-ten finishers and keep an eye out later this week for a first-hand account of the Tinkerbell Rosso team's campaign. In the meantime, enjoy our gallery of Saturday coverage below.

UPDATE: And the winner is... the Metro Gnome CBR900RR-powered Metro!

Gallery: 2008 24 Hours of Lemons at Thunderhill

2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: In the pits and on the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082008 25 hours of lemons thunderhill200825HoursOfLemonsThunderhill24 hours of lemons24HoursOfLemonslemonsthunderhillSun, 28 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1412943/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/28/autoblog-at-the-2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill/1412943/article-detail.xml 1412943 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/61_lemons_08_thill_580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/61_lemons_08_thill_580op.jpg <![CDATA[Dave Barry sums up 2008, Detroit 3 included]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/dave-barry-sums-up-2008-detroit-3-included/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/dave-barry-sums-up-2008-detroit-3-included/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/dave-barry-sums-up-2008-detroit-3-included/#commentsFiled under: ,

2008 is at an end, and while the editorial pages of some newspapers spend the final days of December focusing on ways to further burden taxpayers and foment interstate hostility, the Washington Post Magazine has, thankfully, handed several pages over to Dave Barry who, as usual, makes the events of the past year actually seem funny. This includes car-related stuff like the farcical Detroit bailout proceedings, which often bordered on satire. Fortunately, Barry knows exactly how to handle that sort of thing, and does so much in the same way David Ortiz handles a hanging curveball with runners in scoring position. Hilarity ensues on many fronts, except maybe inside the executive boardrooms of GM and Chrysler, the latter of which earns mention in Dave's June summary with, "In economic news, Chrysler announces a plan to lay off workers who have not been born yet." This year-end recap is best appreciated as a whole, however, so if you're in a mood to lighten things up this afternoon, head over to the WaPo and just read the whole thing.

[Source: The Washington Post]

Dave Barry sums up 2008, Detroit 3 included originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082008 summary2008Summarychryslerdave barryDaveBarrydetroit 3Detroit3fordgmwashington postWashingtonPostyear in reviewYearInReviewSun, 28 Dec 2008 16:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1412798/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/28/dave-barry-sums-up-2008-detroit-3-included/1412798/article-detail.xml 1412798 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/dminmtu_200_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/dminmtu_200.jpg <![CDATA[2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: Auld Lang Syne penalty]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill-auld-lang-syne-penalty/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill-auld-lang-syne-penalty/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill-auld-lang-syne-penalty/#commentsFiled under:

With less than 30 minutes of racing complete, the first penalty was dolled out to the #43 BMW 325i after a bit of off-track farming. A spin of the Wheel of Misfortune delivered the Auld Lang Syne penalty, which involves a pair of adult diapers, a sash and commitment to be a better competitor in the New Year. Black flags are flying all around, so expect more tails from the pits to follow throughout the day.

2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: Auld Lang Syne penalty originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082008 24 hours of lemons thunderhill200824HoursOfLemonsThunderhill24 hours of lemons thunderhill24HoursOfLemonsThunderhilllemonsthunderhillSat, 27 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1412522/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/27/2008-25-hours-of-lemons-at-thunderhill-auld-lang-syne-penalty/1412522/article-detail.xml 1412522 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/aulangsan_250op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/aulangsan_250op.jpg <![CDATA[MINI Cooper S recalled for protruding tailpipes, inadvertent tattoos]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/mini-cooper-s-recalled-for-protruding-tailpipes-inadvertent-tat/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/mini-cooper-s-recalled-for-protruding-tailpipes-inadvertent-tat/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/mini-cooper-s-recalled-for-protruding-tailpipes-inadvertent-tat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 MINI Cooper S

Let's set the scene: You've just returned from a jaunt to pick up Grandma and parked your 2007-2008 MINI Cooper S in the driveway. After leading the sweet lady up your steps and into the house, you return to the car to unload the assorted goodies and gifts that she's brought for you and the fam. You pop open the hatch, reach over to grab a foil-wrapped plate of her legendary baklava and start to feel a burning sensation on your shin. It's official. You've been indoctrinated into the Club of Cooper S owners who now sport a circular prison tat on their legs.

According to the NHTSA, the problem affects some 28,450 2007-08 MINI Cooper S models due to the dual tailpipes that protrude too far from the center of the Cooper's rear bumper. The problem has been documented on several MINI-specific forums, and BMW is stepping up to address the issue and offering Cooper customers a new, shorter exhaust, free of charge. The recall begins in January and owners can contact BMW at 800.831.1117 to schedule a replacement of the offending exhaust.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 MINI Cooper S


[Source: InsideLine | Image: Findude]

MINI Cooper S recalled for protruding tailpipes, inadvertent tattoos originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20072007 mini cooper s recall2007MiniCooperSRecall20082008 mini cooper s recall2008MiniCooperSRecallburncooper sCooperSexhaustexhaust tipsExhaustTipsminimufflerrecalltipsTue, 23 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1409850/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/23/mini-cooper-s-recalled-for-protruding-tailpipes-inadvertent-tat/1409850/article-detail.xml 1409850 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/r56-mini-s---24_580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/r56-mini-s---24_580op.jpg <![CDATA[Aston Martin offers power upgrades to last-gen V8 Vantages]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/aston-martin-offers-power-upgrades-to-last-gen-v8-vantages/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/aston-martin-offers-power-upgrades-to-last-gen-v8-vantages/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/12/aston-martin-offers-power-upgrades-to-last-gen-v8-vantages/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

If you're a 2005-2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage owner, you may have wished you'd held out for the 2009 model which benefits from an extra 0.4-liters of displacement (up from 4.3- to 4.7-liters) and gains an extra 40 hp and 45 lb-ft of torque, along with some revised suspension tuning. The crew at Gaydon feels your pain and has begun offering a new performance package for the 4.3-liter model.

The kit includes a new induction system originally developed for the DBS that features a pair of toggling airbox valves that open at 5,500 rpm to bring more air into the engine. With the help of a revised ECU that optimizes ignition timing and recognizes higher octane fuels, output increases to 400 hp (20 extra ponies) and torque grows to 307 lb-ft.

The sports package developed for the 2009 model can also be retrofitted to the last generation Vantage and includes forged aluminum five-spoke wheels, upgraded springs and Bilstein dampers. Aston hasn't released pricing for the new performance pack, but we're sure it's less than trading in your old Vantage for the updated model.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Continue reading Aston Martin offers power upgrades to last-gen V8 Vantages

Aston Martin offers power upgrades to last-gen V8 Vantages originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2005200620072008aston martin v8 vantageAstonMartinV8Vantageperformance packperformance packagePerformancePackPerformancePackageFri, 12 Dec 2008 17:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1399668/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/12/aston-martin-offers-power-upgrades-to-last-gen-v8-vantages/1399668/article-detail.xml 1399668 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/56626ast_580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/56626ast_580op.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog's Top Ten(ish) from the 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/07/autoblogs-top-ten-ish-from-the-2008-25-hours-of-thunderhill/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/07/autoblogs-top-ten-ish-from-the-2008-25-hours-of-thunderhill/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/07/autoblogs-top-ten-ish-from-the-2008-25-hours-of-thunderhill/#commentsFiled under:


Click above to check out Thunderhill's top ten, and a few of our favorites

With 83 official competitors at the 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill, it's next to impossible to give each team their well-deserved time in the limelight. So we've complied a gallery of the top ten overall finishers (although one escaped our long lensman) and four of our favorites from the race that we caught up with between pit-stops and fill-ups. Check the gallery for their overall and class standings, along with a brief write-up on the teams we were able to corner.

We've also uploaded two galleries from the early morning and afternoon; one that covers almost all the contendors still running late into the day and another gorgeous gallery of night shots that provided us with a new desktop.

Gallery: 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill: Top Ten(ish)


Gallery: 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill: Sunday Afternoon


Gallery: 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill: Early Sunday

Autoblog's Top Ten(ish) from the 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 22:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At 5:00 AM PST this morning, the 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill restarted after a fog-induced 7.5-hour delay. We were able to catch a few hours of sleep in the interim and got word at 4:30 AM from team Cytosport that the fog was lifting and that the race would be underway shortly.

NASA hasn't updated their live scoring page with new information yet, but by our count, just over 50 cars are on the track, another half-dozen are prepping in the hot pits and the rest are in various states of disrepair. We're sitting about 20 feet away from the #27 Team MPME/Team Scion/Modified Mag Scion tC and with a new transmission already in place, the crew expects to be back on the track within 30 minutes.

While the pea soup that postponed the race has thinned out, it's still far from clear. The thickness of the fog varies depending on when you look out on the track, with the crow's nest being visible one second and then totally obscured in a grey blanket the next. More to follow in the next few hours... we're off in search of caffeine.

UPDATE: Cytosport car has been hit by an unknown Honda. Word from a member of the crew is that the rear suspension is toast. Updates and photos shortly.

2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill: Game on! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for a high-res gallery of the action on Saturday afternoon

The sun has set and the fog is beginning to roll in. But before darkness descended on Thunderhill, we were able to catch some of the contenders in action, including the ultra-quick pit-stop performed by the Cytosport team, the everlasting Scion (yes, that's an air-jack setup) and plenty of peg-leg performances from our favorite front drivers. Check it out in the gallery below and follow the action live at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill website.

Gallery: 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill - Sat. Afternoon

2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill: Powerslides and peg-legs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for a high-res gallery

"Come to Evil Genius - engine swap!!" That's the text message we received at 3:30 PM from the esteemed Dr. Lieberman, telling us about the catastrophic engine failure that took out Evil Genius Racing's 1994 Miata. By the time we caught up with John (the Evil Genius himself) the team had pulled out the grenaded mill, replaced it and had #65 back on track... in just over an hour and a half. And they started putting together another engine, just in case. As of this writing, #65 is 57th overall and 15th in class.

Two other engine mishaps have temporarily taken out the #9 Mustang and #94 RX-7. Work is underway on both, and we're hoping to get more information from the teams soon.

2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill: Three engine swaps and counting originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UPDATE - 11:13 AM PST: The green flag has dropped and the race is underway.

Click these colored words here for live results and scoring.


Click above for a high-res gallery of the pits at Thunderhill

We're a few minutes away from the start of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, so we took the opportunity to stroll through the pits to see the cars and crews about to take on North America's most challenging enduro.

The Scion tC we reported on yesterday is up and running, although slightly worse for the wear after an off-course excursion at turn 8 during qualifying put the turbo'd coupe on its roof. The Mazda contingent is out in force, with every generation of MX-5/Miata and RX-7 represented and ready to mix it up with Fords, Hondas, BMWs (including an utterly fantastic V8-powered E46 -- our bad, it's not racing, it's for sale) two Fun Cup cars and everything in between. Hit the jump to check out the (poorly formatted) qualifying results that puts Team Cytosport and its Daytona Prototype on the poll. We'll have more images once the race gets underway, but check the gallery to get a virtual walk-through of the pits.

Gallery: 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill - Pit Walkthrough

Continue reading 2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill: Qualifying and a stroll through the pits

2008 25 Hours of Thunderhill: Qualifying and a stroll through the pits originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche makes sports cars backed by a rich tradition and race history. The thought of something wearing the badge that's also able to cart around your family and a load of their assorted junk was once laughable. Today, of course, that thought manifests itself in the form of the Porsche Cayenne. Even now, the idea of the Porsche SUV still seems wrong. Sure, the red Cayenne GTS in the Autoblog Garage has a spec sheet that looks exciting on paper. 405 V8-sourced horses and that shield on the hood makes you almost forget the five doors and 4,900 pounds that fill out the rest of the package. Read on to find out how the 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS fared as a family hauler during a quick vacation up the coast.


Gallery: Review: 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Alex Nunez / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS

Review: 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coach Builders Ltd. is known for its convertible conversions of the Chrysler 300C and Cadillac CTS, so after Dodge made the decision not to offer the Challenger in drop-top guise, it knew what it had to do.

The Florida-based company will bring a customized soft-top Dodge Challenger SRT8 to SEMA, packing a Vortech supercharger good for 560 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. In addition to the hydraulically powered acrylic polyester cloth roof (complete with sound and temperature insulation), the Challenger is dropped courtesy of a KW coil-over suspension over 22-inch Foose wheels coated in Nitto rubber.

The cost of the conversion, which also includes a heated glass rear window, matching headliner and a rear strut bar to shore up the chassis, is a whopping $16,000, making for a $58,000 hair dryer when rolled into the $41,695 base price of an SRT8. We're not saying it's not worth it, but we could think of a few other mods we'd do to the Challenger before hacking the roof off.

[Source: Coach Builders Ltd. via InsideLine]

SEMA Preview: 560-hp Challenger Convertible that Dodge won't build originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082008 dodge challenger convertible2008DodgeChallengerConvertiblechallengercoach builders ltdCoachBuildersLtdconvertibledodgedodge challenger convertibleDodgeChallengerConvertiblesemasema 2008Sema2008Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1346644/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/10/20/sema-preview-560-hp-challenger-convertible-that-dodge-wont-bui/1346644/article-detail.xml 1346644 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/challenger_convertible_pre_450op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/challenger_convertible_pre_450op.jpg <![CDATA[Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-mitsubishi-evolution-x-mr/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-mitsubishi-evolution-x-mr/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-mitsubishi-evolution-x-mr/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here's a revelation: being stuck in traffic sucks. And it's even more infuriating behind the wheel of an Evo.

Despite what some scribes might lead you to believe, the Evos of yore (VIII and IX) weren't deplorable daily drivers. Granted, Mitsu's engineers erred on the stiff side with the Evo's ride, and it didn't help that the tiller provided more feedback than a Metallica sound check. But the real reason jaded journos harped on the old Evo's workaday unfriendliness was because nothing is more frustrating than piloting concentrated adrenaline in a sea of buzzkill.

With the 2008 Evolution X, Mitsubishi attempted to rectify some of the Evo's (perceived) shortcomings by equipping the range-topping MR with more amenities, more sound-deadening material, a more compliant ride and a new twin-clutch transmission to balance back-road thrills with daily livability.

But all those extras have caused the Evo's curb weight to skyrocket, and its price tag has followed suit. For $42,000 - the sticker on our MR tester - you can get your hands on the new yardstick for high-end, entry-level performance: the BMW 335i. While that kind of wallet shock could ostracize the Evo's core demographic, Mitsubishi is quick to point out that the new MR is for the discerning enthusiast: a more sensible, mature owner. But does mature mean infirmed? Read on to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Brad Wood / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR

Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082008 mitsubishi evolution x mr2008MitsubishiEvolutionXMrautoblog garageAutoblogGaragedrivenevoevolutionfeaturedin the autoblog garageInTheAutoblogGaragelancerlancer evoLancerEvomitsubishimitsubishi evolution x mrMitsubishiEvolutionXMrmrreviewroad testRoadTesttest driveTestDrivexWed, 10 Sep 2008 11:55:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1309327/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/09/10/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-mitsubishi-evolution-x-mr/1309327/article-detail.xml 1309327 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/evo_x_1280_001_450op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/evo_x_1280_001_450op.jpg <![CDATA[Review: 2008 Jeep Compass Sport 4x2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-jeep-compass-sport-4x2/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-jeep-compass-sport-4x2/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-jeep-compass-sport-4x2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2008 Jeep Compass - Click above for high-res image gallery

We weren't really sure what direction Jeep was heading when it introduced the Compass in 2007. Built on a shared platform with the Dodge Caliber, the Compass goes against what we normally think a Jeep should be - rugged, tough, capable, and... well... square. The departure from classic Jeep styling hasn't received rave reviews, and the interior has been a source of complaints, as well. Does the Compass deserve the criticism it's been receiving? We aimed to find out and secured a 2008 4x2 Sport model for the Autoblog Garage.


Gallery: Review: 2008 Jeep Compass Sport 4x2


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2008 Jeep Compass Sport 4x2

Review: 2008 Jeep Compass Sport 4x2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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