2012
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Stronger residuals—for automakers, the key to offering attractive leasing options, especially for entry-luxury models like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Mercedes-Benz's residuals haven't been as good in recent years as those of other luxury automakers, but it's a trend it hopes to reverse with the upcoming 2012 C-Class, which gets stronger tech content, as well as a new standard turbocharged four-cylinder model, the C250, that achieves 30 mpg highway. According to the residual value experts at ALG, Mercedes-Benz residual value forecasts have been declining since 2002—by 2010 falling...
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2012 Camaro Z28 To Be Called Something Else?We'd thought that the resurrection of the Z28 name for the upcoming high-end Camaro--which will have a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8--was a foregone conclusion. Sure, we'd heard that GM (NYSE:GM) is using the name "HP Edition," but we figured that was just internal speak. But now we're not so sure...
Tim Healey -
First Production 2012 Lexus LFA Rolls Off The LineWe’ve seen plenty of 2012 Lexus LFA supercars before, in all sorts of colors, and with each incarnation we saw it was evident that the cars were becoming more and more refined. However, up until now, these LFA examples were all pre-production prototypes, developed either for testing or...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Volkswagen Wins 2011 Dakar Rally, Achieves Hat TrickVolkswagen has managed to win the Dakar Rally for the third time in succession, with drivers Nasser AlAttiyah and Timo Gottschalk taking the top honors. They were joined by two other Volkswagen teams in second and third place, with all three teams competing with latest Race Touareg 3. The 2011...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
David Beckham’s Porsche 911 Turbo Fetches $217,100 At AuctionAn unnamed buyer has just dropped $217,100 on a used 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet and, to make matters worse, the car was extensively modified. Normally, this would seem a ridiculous amount to pay for such a vehicle but in this case the car was previously owned by none other than soccer star...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Nismo Prepped Nissan GT-R RC Debuts At 2011 Tokyo Auto SalonNissan used this weekend’s 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon to roll out a new edition of its GT-R supercar, one aimed at well-heeled track enthusiasts and privateer race teams. If you’re unfamiliar with the Auto Salon, it's essentially the Japanese version of SEMA and manages to draw in the major...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford is already auctioning off a 2012 Boss 302 Mustang at Barrett-Jackson this month, and now there is one more Mustang goody on the line. Aftermarket supplier SPX is selling a Ford Mustang FR500S that is modified to meet World Challenge GTS specifications on January 21. The auction, which takes place in Scottsdale, Arizona, will include a sponsorship package, racing equipment, and other items. Proceeds go to St. Jude Children;s Research Hospital. The winner of this turn-key race car gets to sit on the grid when the World Challenge Sports Car Wars begins at the Honda Grand Prix of St...
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Mega Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMGYou first saw the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, and at that time we learned most of the key details. But we didn't have a bevy of beautiful images beyond the live shots of the matte-finished car on the show floor. Now we do. Along with the new images released...
Nelson Ireson -
Subaru Bringing Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Concept To GenevaSubaru, a company whose reputation is built around a symmetrical all-wheel drive system, will be bringing a new concept car to March’s 2011 Geneva Motor Show, one with a rear-wheel drive layout. The latest revelation is no big surprise as we’ve known Subaru has been working on a new...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Caterham And Lola Reveal SP/300.R Prototype Track CarCaterham's range of ultra-light track cars have been extremely popular amongst driving enthusiasts in the UK and certain other markets such as Italy, Japan and the U.S., and for good reason. The cars represent a much more simplistic approach to racing, with a no nonsense design and purity that most...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Spy Shots: 2012 Kia Rio HatchbackHot on the heels of yesterday’s official teaser sketches of the new 2012 Kia Rio comes this latest set of spy shots of the upcoming hatch, caught testing ahead of its world debut scheduled for March’s 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Like the smaller Kia Picanto, which will also be making its...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK PreviewThe new 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK isn’t scheduled to make its debut until the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March but the first official details and images have already hit the Web. Set to go on sale this summer, the third-generation SLK will come onto the market with a bold new look, more...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
If you're salivating over a limited-edition luxury performance vehicle easily capable of triple-digit speeds, four-second zero-to-60 times, hand-made engines, and serialized production—the likes of the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG or Aston Martin DB9—insurance premiums could prompt you to think again about signing on the dotted line. But would you care? Chances are, if you can afford one of these vehicles, you probably aren't concerned with the premiums. Insure.com just investigated, finding average rates for 2011 models, and the list of most expensive vehicles to insure looks like a...
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2012 Audi A6 Wins EyesOn Design Award At Detroit Auto ShowUnderstated, simple, even plain. Audi's design themes--outside of the S and RS lines, at any rate--are often a bit sleepy, but they're always tight, clean, and sleek. The 2012 Audi A6 is no different, winning recognition from the EyesOn Design award at the Detroit Auto Show this week. The 2012 Audi...
Nelson Ireson -
Video: 2012 Buick Verano Unveiling At The 2011 Detroit Auto ShowWe know you've seen the photos and read up on the details of Buick's new compact luxury sedan, but if you weren't in Detroit, you didn't get to see the unveiling as it happened. We've got you covered. The flash and bang is all done with pretty quickly, followed by a detailed description of the car...
Nelson Ireson -
2011 Detroit Auto Show: Ford C-Max Energi Plug-In Hybrid Concept Live PhotosFord had its new 2012 C-Max minivan on show at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show this week, revealing the latest model to be spun-off its flexible C-segment platform. While the gasoline version, which you can see live shots of by clicking here, is a stretched version of the model already on sale in...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2011 Detroit Auto Show: 2012 Fiat 500 Live PhotosLovers of Italian flair--on a budget--were treated with a handful of 2012 Fiat 500 minicars at this week’s 2011 Detroit Auto Show, which added a little spark to Chrysler’s stands and managed to draw in plenty of fans and curious onlookers. These latest live photos really show off the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2011 Detroit Auto Show Video: 2012 Hyundai VelosterLooking to see the 2012 Hyundai Veloster J-turning, sliding into parking spots sideways, smoking the front tires, and generally hooning about? This isn't the video for you. If you like synchronized driving on two-lane desert roads, though, you're in luck. Not a lot goes on in the video aside from...
Nelson Ireson -
Here's another peek at the 2012 Boss Mustang, this time on a dynamometer that Ford brought to the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. There wasn't much in the way of Mustang news, but for those who can't make the show, the gallery above will show you what you're missing. While our shooter was snapping these pics, the folks in charge of running the dyno needed to shut down several times so that the Mustang's noise wouldn't interrupt TV interviews being filmed in the background. For video of a similar car in action at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, click here.
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2011 Detroit Auto Show Video: 2012 Chevrolet SonicYou've seen the live shots, the preview, and now you get a video. Sadly, there are no hedgehogs in this one. Just the 2012 Chevy Sonic. When you're done here, be sure to check out our Detroit Auto Show page for more videos, photos, and info on the latest cars and concepts in the Motor City...
Nelson Ireson -
2011 Detroit Auto Show: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Live PhotosTurbos are our friends. Whether we're after better fuel economy or more power, they get the job done in a way nothing else does. The 2012 Chevy Sonic is a perfect example. It's true that 1.4 liters doesn't sound like much displacement--and it's not. There's more volume in a bottle of Coke. But when...
Nelson Ireson -
Saab Teams With Hirsch To Offer Factory-Backed Mods On 9-3 And 9-5Saab has announced that it will be teaming up with Swiss tuner Hirsch Performance to launch a range of aftermarket products, including power upgrades, for its 9-3 and 9-5 models this spring. The new parts will be available for all 2007 to 2011 model year Saab 9-3s and all 2010 and 2011 Saab 9-5s...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford Learning From Fiesta In Upcoming Small-Car And EV LaunchesFord's U.S. lineup is about to change in a very significant way. And as the automaker emphasized in its Detroit Auto Show press conference, with several high-volume small car models expected to arrive this year and next, you'll soon see plenty of smaller and greener alternatives in Ford's lineup...
Bengt Halvorson -
2011 Detroit Auto Show: 2012 Ford C-Max Live PhotosWhile the new hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the 2012 Ford C-Max may have grabbed most of the attention, they won’t be on sale for another year at least. The regular gasoline model, which is capable of seating up to seven, will be on sale by the end of the year, however, and it is this...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran