Autoblog

Jaguar bringing XKR-S Convertible to LA

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:21:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Jaguar

Jaguar has officially announced that the droptop counterpart to its new XKR-S will bow at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week. We've spied the XKR-S Convertible before, and aside from some minor tweaks to the suspension to keep the car from getting all wobbly after the roof was cut off, not much else is expected to change during the coupe-to-cabrio transformation.

The automaker has not released any details about the XKR-S Convertible at this time, stating only that it and the coupe represent the fastest and most powerful Jaguar automobiles ever created. We were pretty smitten with the hardtop variant when we drove it recently, so we're eager to see how the whole XKR-S experience changes with the wind in your hair.

Stay tuned for the full details live from Los Angeles next week.

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Jaguar bringing XKR-S Convertible to LA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lincoln teases new design language; 2013 MKS, MKT headed for LA Auto Show

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Crossover, Lincoln

Yesterday, Lincoln released the teaser you see above on its Facebook page, showing what's in store for the automaker's revised design language that's coming soon (we're guessing it's the hood and fender of the redesign MKT). Lincoln states that its new styling direction will be "forward-looking and more elegantly crafted," and it appears that we'll get our first glimpse at the fruits of the company's labor at the LA Auto Show next week.

Autoblog reader Tony tipped us to this page on the LA Auto Show website, which lists all of the vehicles that will debut at the Los Angeles Convention Center next week, and both the Lincoln MKS and MKT are listed under the "world debuts" section. Makes sense, since we've already seen the refreshed versions of the Ford Taurus and Flex on which the Lincoln vehicles are based, respectively. When asked, a Lincoln spokesperson was unable to confirm that we would see the new sedan and crossover in LA.

Unlike the current vehicles, the 2013 MKS and MKT are expected to differ greatly from their respective Ford kin. While not officially confirmed, sources within the automaker have suggested that the updated vehicles will use new running gear in order to fully differentiate them from their Ford counterparts. Of course, Ford's EcoBoost engine technology will be on hand, though other enhancements like suspension and steering upgrades will also likely be in the cards.

Stay tuned for the full details from the LA Auto Show next week.

Lincoln teases new design language; 2013 MKS, MKT headed for LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Flex gets funkier with new nose, updated power and tech

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:02:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Ford, Design/Style

Ford is certainly embracing the weirdness of its Flex crossover - at least, in terms of design - for its 2013 model year refresh. Set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week, the 2013 Flex features a restyled front fascia that strikes us as flashier and somehow more robotic than the current model. We've seen it in person, and if we're honest, we're not sure we love it.

Ford understands the fact that not all shoppers love the Flex's exterior as a whole, but the automaker maintains that prospective buyers will like the sort of retro-modern look to the new front end. As for the rest of the Flex's design, things haven't changed too much, save the addition of some new paint colors and wheel choices, as well as the now-standard Flex badging above the grille - something previously reserved exclusively for the Titanium trim. We'll have to see what future sales numbers look like before deciding if this new schnoz is a hit or a miss, though.

Behind that new front end, the Flex receives a powertrain update: the base 3.5-liter V6 now packs 20 more horsepower - 285 versus 265 - and even with that extra grunt, fine-tuning to the powerplant has yielded one extra mile per gallon in both city and highway driving modes (18/25 mpg). Of course, customers will still be able to outfit the Flex with Ford's 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, which carries over unchanged.

Inside, the 2013 Flex receives a refreshed dashboard and instrument cluster that incorporates the latest version of MyFord Touch. Other interior enhancements include pushbutton start, rain sensing wipers and the addition of more safety features including optional rear inflatable seatbelts and a host of collision-avoidance technologies.

We'll have more on the 2013 Flex live from Los Angeles next week. In the meantime, peruse our gallery and then follow the jump for Ford's official press blast.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Flex gets funkier with new nose, updated power and tech

2013 Ford Flex gets funkier with new nose, updated power and tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Performance, Hatchback, Ford

Ford already debuted the Fiesta ST concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but if you recall, that show car was based on the three-door Fiesta that isn't available here in the United States. Now, Ford is showing off a proper five-door version of the Fiesta ST, set to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in two weeks.

Ford still tells us that the Fiesta ST is purely a concept right now, but the fact that both three- and five-door variants of the concept have been made leads us to believe that we'll eventually see a production version. What's more, Ford's own press release states, "The five-door Fiesta ST Concept shows the promise for a globally available performance model." Here's hoping.

Just like the three-door concept from Frankfurt, the five-door Fiesta ST is powered by Ford's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine, good for 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Like its big brother, the Focus ST, the Fiesta ST concept uses a front-wheel-drive setup, with power being sent to the wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

Speaking of the Focus ST, we already saw the production car alongside the three-door Fiesta ST in Frankfurt, but Ford has announced that it will debut the left-hand-drive, North American-spec version of the car in Los Angeles, as well. The Focus ST is powered by Ford's 2.0-liter EcoBoost four, good for 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, and features amenities like Recaro seats, a performance-tuned suspension and upgraded wheels, tires and brakes.

See what the Fiesta ST concept looks like with an extra set of doors in our attached high-res image gallery, and follow the jump for Ford's official release on the new concept.

Continue reading Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show

Ford bringing five-door Fiesta ST concept to LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Volkswagen CC nip/tuck revealed ahead of LA debut

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Volkswagen

Without a doubt, the big story from Volkswagen this year was the launch of its all-new, American-built 2012 Passat. And while the sun is about to set on 2011, Volkswagen is now announcing some updates for the Passat's svelte sister, the CC, which will make its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month.

For the 2013 model year, the CC benefits from a refreshed front and rear fascia, both of which are more akin to the styling direction seen on the larger Passat sedan. Up front, bi-xenon headlamps with LED running lamps are now offered as standard equipment - part of the CC's reworked nose that incorporates a new grille and lower fascia. Around back, the taillamps have been redesigned to look more like the new units found on the Jetta and Passat.

Volkswagen hasn't released any information - yet - about powertrain or interior upgrades, but we don't expect things to change too much here. The one interior photo that VW released looks almost identical to the current model, though we won't rule out some packaging or color combination changes. Under the hood, expect both the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder and 3.6-liter V6 with 4Motion all-wheel drive to carry over unchanged.

Pricing for the 2013 CC will likely be announced closer to the car's on-sale date next spring. We'll have more details at the LA Auto Show in just a few weeks, but in the meantime, click past the jump for Volkswagen's brief press release.

Continue reading 2013 Volkswagen CC nip/tuck revealed ahead of LA debut

2013 Volkswagen CC nip/tuck revealed ahead of LA debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru BRZ STI Concept coming to LA Auto Show

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:26:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Subaru

We're expecting to finally see the production version of the Subaru BRZ sports car at the Tokyo Motor Show in early December, but not before the automaker teases us with one more concept. At this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, Subaru will unveil this, the BRZ Concept - STI (yes, that's its official name), showing what the automaker's in-house tuner can do with the all-new, lightweight, rear-wheel drive sports car.

Curiously, the STI team has chosen to leave the BRZ's 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Boxer four untouched. A shame, since a turbocharged version of the all-new powerplant would certainly make sense for an STI-badged version of the car. Subaru has, however, fitted upgraded suspension bits, new Brembo brakes and larger 18-inch wheels.

The neat thing about the STI Concept is that this is actually the first time we've seen the Subaru's exterior design - we've only seen full models of the Toyota/Scion version of this car. We like what we see so far, though we're not exactly blown away. Then again, we probably shouldn't expect much from an automaker that hasn't exactly been known for aesthetics over the years. Of course, this being the STI version, a large wing has been fitted to the rear deck, and the car is painted in a new evolution of Subaru's classic blue, called WR Blue Pearl II.

We'll see the car in person in just two weeks, but for now, hit the jump for Subaru's press release and see some official renderings of the BRZ STI in our attached high-res image gallery.

Continue reading Subaru BRZ STI Concept coming to LA Auto Show

Subaru BRZ STI Concept coming to LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Production 2012 CR-V revealed by JDM Honda website

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Spy Photos, Crossover, Honda, Design/Style

The North American-spec 2012 Honda CR-V won't officially debut until the Los Angeles Auto Show in just a couple of weeks, but thanks to the automaker's own Japanese website, we're now getting our first glimpse at the production version of the new crossover - at least the JDM version, which isn't expected to differ much. Honda previously teased us with a shot of a CR-V Concept, which, flashy as it may have been, gave us a good idea of exactly what the final design would look like.

In addition to the CUV's decidedly predictable exterior, Honda's Japanese site gives us a sneak peak inside the CR-V, where things don't appear to change all that much from the current model. Under the hood, Honda will continue to employ its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, though a new six-speed automatic transmission is expected to be on tap for 2012, which should aid fuel economy and performance.

We'll have the full details on the new CR-V in the not-too-distant future, but in the meantime, see it for yourself over on Honda's Japanese site to get a glimpse at what's to come.

Production 2012 CR-V revealed by JDM Honda website originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat 500 Abarth finally lands in the U.S. [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Hatchback, Fiat

One of the benefits of the strengthening ties between Fiat and Chrysler is a mutual expansion of their joint product portfolio. The shared leadership of the two auto groups has seen Fiats arrive in North American showrooms and Chryslers proliferating overseas. Which is all well and good, but where's the excitement? Where are the performance models for which the Italian auto industry is so deeply loved? Well, we finally have our answer.

We've been anticipating the launch of the Abarth sub-brand in North America ever since the basic Fiat 500 first arrived - if not longer - and Chrysler has now confirmed its arrival as a fait accompli. When the doors open at the Los Angeles Convention Center at the end of the month for the LA Auto Show, the Chrysler Group will finally unveil the American version of the Fiat 500 Abarth.

Few details have been disclosed as to the U.S.-market Abarth's specifications, but what we do know is that the 500 Abarth arriving on American shores will pack an all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged four, kept in check by upgraded brakes, handled by a sportier suspension, controlled by a higher level of technology and conveyed by a more aggressive appearance.

The much-loved European-model Abarth 500 offers up either 130 horsepower or 160, the latter with the Esse-Esse kit. We're hoping for the higher end of that spectrum, of course, but we'll have to wait until the LA show to find out for sure. In the meantime, we'll just have to live with the pair of preview images and the press release - along with written, photographic and video run-downs of the Abarth brand's heritage - after the jump.

Continue reading Fiat 500 Abarth finally lands in the U.S. [w/video]

Fiat 500 Abarth finally lands in the U.S. [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible to debut at Los Angeles Auto Show

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:56:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Chevrolet, GM

General Motors has announced that the world's most powerful production droptop* - the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible - will officially debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Like its coupe kin, the ZL1 Convertible will pack 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque from its supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8, besting the Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible's power figures of 550 hp and 510 lb-ft.

Good thing Ford is working on that all-new supercharged 5.8-liter V8 for the next-generation GT500. The horsepower wars are anything but dead.

GM tells us that it has added a whole host of supports and reinforcements to the ZL1 Convertible's body structure in an effort to reduce droptop demons like cowl shake. The improvements include things like a front X brace and rear V brace, a transmission support reinforcement brace, underbody tunnel brace and tower-to-tower brace under the hood.

The Camaro ZL1 coupe goes on sale in early 2012, and we'd expect the convertible to arrive shortly thereafter. We'll have the full details in Los Angeles next month, but for now, hit the jump for GM's official release.

*Apparently cars like the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport don't count in GM's world.

Continue reading 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible to debut at Los Angeles Auto Show

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible to debut at Los Angeles Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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