Car News
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More power, improved fuel economy and a trick suspension system means the new 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 will not only leave its predecessor in the dust, but possibly a few sedans wearing M or AMG badges too. The big bruiser made its world debut last month at the 2011 New York Auto Show and here is our official walkaround video presented by our man Nelson Ireson. Chrysler chose to show off its new 300 SRT8 in a simple pearlescent white, which certainly garnered some mixed feelings at the show, as did the car’s new rear decklid spoiler. Nevertheless, it’s evident that the new muscle...
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2011 Porsche Cayman S Black Edition PreviewJust as it did with the 911 and Boxster models, Porsche has released a new special edition of its Cayman S dubbed the Cayman S Black Edition. Marking the end of the Cayman line before the arrival of the next-generation 2012 Porsche Boxster and Cayman arrives, the latest special edition coupe will...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Volkswagen And Microsoft Working On New In-Car Movie TechnologyWhile in the past we’ve seen Microsoft work closely with Fiat in the auto industry to develop the Blue&Me electronic interface, the software giant is now partnering with Volkswagen to help develop the next-generation of in-car entertainment technology, and possibly do-away with in-car DVD...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Audi, MIT's AIDA 2.0 Previews Next-Gen Car GPS InterfaceThe first generation of Audi and MIT's collaboration on a futuristic in-car interface system produced a somewhat creepy, ostensibly friendly, in-car robot. The second generation, previewed in the video below, looks more like the product of a sci-fi movie, aiming to redefine the way we look at...
Nelson Ireson -
2013 VW Polo R WRC Preview VideoEarlier today we brought you the first scant official details on Volkswagen's 2013 World Rally Championship entry, the Polo R WRC, and now we have the official preview video of the car's design and unveiling. Showing little more than some cryptic sketching and small cuts of in-car video, both...
Nelson Ireson -
2011 Pebble Beach Concours To Host 20-Car Ferrari 250 GTO GatheringToday's Ferraris are often raced, and even those that aren't can lay strong claim to the racing heritage and ongoing F1 development within the company. But the tradition of building special models just for homologation in sports car racing has largely died off, leaving icons like the 250 GTO to...
Nelson Ireson -
Mercedes-Benz was late to the telematics game, but now that its mbrace system has been available for a while, it's looking like a trailblazer, compared to systems just hitting the market--Hyundai's Blue Link, Kia's UVO and Toyota's Entune, among them. At the recent New York Auto Show, we talked with Mercedes and Hughes Telematics representatives, who took us for a refresher course through mbrace via an E-Class sedan on the show floor, as well as a smartphone paired and waiting nearby. The system, if you're not familiar, lets your phone do many of the things your car's electronics are capable...
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Acura Working On New RSX: ReportThe rebirth of the NSX, now in hybrid form, is once again underway. As we wait to see how--or even if--it takes form, rumors of a new RSX are brewing at Acura. Unlike the NSX, the new RSX isn't expected to be a hybrid. Instead, it will share the new Civic Si's 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder, rated...
Nelson Ireson -
Volkswagen Polo R WRC Revealed, Starts Throwing Gravel In 2013World Rally Championship racing is heating up even as other series appear to be struggling: MINI recently announced a new entry, and now Volkswagen is joining the party, too, as we've expected for some time, though it won't take to the countryside in anger until 2013. Its entry, the Polo R WRC, is...
Nelson Ireson -
Rick Hendrick Hand-Builds A Corvette Z06 EngineBuyers of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 or ZR1 can hand-build their engines by participating in what Chevy calls the Corvette Engine Build Experience. NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick--he of the eponymous Hendrick Motorsports team--chose to do just that when he bought his Z06 Carbon Edition. We have...
Tim Healey -
Audi R4 Dead In The Water?We've been anticipating a compact sports car, expected to be called the R4, for years now. Unfortunately, the project may already be dead if the latest reports bear out. The Audi e-tron Concept from 2010 was said to be a near-perfect preview of the car--though the concept's all-electric powertrain...
Nelson Ireson -
First Boss Mustang Found On eBay, Sold LocallyBoss Mustang #001 has been sold--not through a Ford dealer, but by the owner. The car had been on eBay, with the owner asking for a starting bid of $60,000 and a reserve of $100,000. The seller wanted a down payment of $2,000 plus payment in full after seven days, and the buyer was responsible for...
Tim Healey -
General Motors Company's [NYSE:GM] European division Opel is scheduled to debut its new Astra GTC at this September’s 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, but one day we could see the sporty three-door hatchback on sale in the U.S. wearing Buick badges. This isn’t your average Astra like the one sold by Saturn in recent times. The new Opel Astra GTC is wider, sleeker and sits much lower than its predecessor, and it’s set to receive a range of new four-cylinder engines producing upwards of 300 horsepower in some guises. It’s this latter version, plus a possible convertible model...
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Mansory Porsche Panamera Crashes, World Is Better OffOkay, that title may be a little harsh. In the world of high-end car modification, there's extreme, there's insane, and then there's Mansory. But anyone that's actually been inside a Mansory vehicle knows the attention to detail and craftsmanship that goes into the firm’s over-the-top...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Rolls-Royce Launches Provenance Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle ProgramAnyone considering dropping a few hundred large on a used, ahem, pre-owned Rolls-Royce can now breathe a little easier as the automaker has launched a new certified pre-owned vehicle program dubbed Provenance. To be classified under the Rolls-Royce Provenance scheme, a car has to meet exacting...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Agnelli Controlled Exor And Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Confirm Interest In F1 BidIt’s official. European investment group Exor, owned by Italy’s Agnelli family and headed by Agnelli scion John Elkann, the current chairman of Fiat, has confirmed that it and media giant News Corporation are investigating the possibility of a takeover bid for the commercial rights of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Previewed Ahead Of Frankfurt DebutThe 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster has been of the worst kept secrets of the year, perhaps purposely so, as we’ve not only seen barely disguised prototypes but also leaked patent drawings and even a Super Bowl ad appearance. Now Mercedes-Benz has released some preview shots of the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
De Tomaso Pantera Prototype Spotted Outside Factory: VideoAt March’s 2011 Geneva Motor Show, a rejuvenated De Tomaso, now run by former Fiat exec Gian Mario Rossignolo and his family, presented the controversial SLS luxury crossover concept and announced production of not just one but three distinct new models. These were to include a new crossover...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
After honoring a Chrysler-badged Mitsubishi in last week's Guilty Pleasure feature, I decided it was time to go back to Japan for real, with a genuine Mitsubishi-branded product. Strange how some cars never make much of an impression, though they lingered in the marketplace for quite a while; the Mitsubishi Diamante is such a car. We've all heard of the Diamante, of course, but do you notice them on the street? I have a vague recollection of some early-to-mid-90s gangster rapper— was it Ice Cube?— bragging about the Diamantes rollin' on the ave, but other than that I can't think...
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2012 BMW 650i Coupe Live From Mexico: GalleryWe spent the first half of the week driving the 2012 650i Convertible around the Baja peninsula, but during the event, BMW also had a 650i Coupe on hand. Unfortunately we didn't get any seat time in it, but we did get these tasty photos to share with you. While it's easy to appreciate the open-air...
Nelson Ireson -
Mercedes-Benz G-Class BA3 Final Edition, Edition SelectGermany's own military-bred super SUV is soon to meet its end, and to celebrate the G-Class's run, Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a pair of special edition models: the Edition Select and the aptly named BA3 Final Edition. The Final Edition is a short-wheel base model, while the Edition Select is long...
Nelson Ireson -
Brammo Announces New IET Transmission For Electric Motorcycles: VideoElectric vehicles, of both the two- and four-wheeled variety, commonly use a single gear ratio, thanks to the instant-on torque band of electric motors. Sometimes that's not ideal, however, and Brammo has developed a new system to better emulate the performance of gasoline-powered sportbikes with...
Nelson Ireson -
Viper ACR Sets Record At Miller Motorsports: VideoThe 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is a beast of a car, and as we reported last month, it has set the lap record for a production car at Miller Motorsports Park. Driven by Kuno Wittmer, the car set a time of 1:59.995 on the 3.048-mile Outer Course at Miller. At an average of 91 miles per hour, its the...
Tim Healey -
2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible: First DriveIf you've never been to the Los Cabos region of the southern Baja California peninsula, you should start making plans now. While you're at it, try to find a way to secure a 2012 BMW 650i Convertible to drive while you're there. I make the recommendation based on my recent trip to drive the car at...
Nelson Ireson