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Videos: 2011 Ford Explorer shows off its tech

Timmy Tim — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:25:19 +0000

Unless you’ve been in seclusion for the past 24 hours, you know Ford officially unveiled the 2011 Explorer yesterday. (Be sure to read Part One and Part Two of our deep dive for the full details.) The new Explorer is a pretty drastic departure from the generations preceding it – Ford has opted to use a unibody construction and a car-based platform rather than a traditional body-on-frame SUV, and naturally aspirated V8 power has been ditched in favor of more fuel-efficient four- and six-cylinder powerplants.

So while the Explorer seems to fit better in the crossover classification, Ford is confident that traditional SUV shoppers will still be pleased with what the new Expy has to offer. There are a host of new technology features on the 2011 model, including things like blind spot monitoring, trailer sway control and a terrain management system (similar to what you might find on a Land Rover). These features will be attractive selling points to SUV-oriented customers, and they get detailed in the videos after the jump.

Via \ AutoBlog

Spy Video: Mystery Ferrari caught outside Maranello

Timmy Tim — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:22:33 +0000

In an appearance more akin to UFO footage, one quick cameraphone-wielding shooter has caught a couple of seconds of a Ferrari mule doing a drive-by.

There are cues from the 458 Italia up front, rear three-quarter glass that’s more 599, then a tiny rear overhang and what appears to be a vent slapped on the back of the greenhouse. We know there are a slew of Ferraris coming, so the question is, which one is this? Follow the jump to see the video and weigh in yourself.

Via | AutoBlog

New Audi A7 Sportback: First Official Photos!

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:08:26 +0000

The first official images of the all new Audi A7 Sportback are making the internet rounds today ahead of the sport saloon’s debut on Monday. These photos, which were sent our way by Carscoop reader Enrico, prove that the production car has stayed remarkably true to the 2009 Detroit Show concept’s appearance.

Most differences concern practical details such as the shape and size of the exterior mirrors, and the air-inlets on the front bumper. The car also keeps the show car’s five-door body style with a practical rear hatch.

In a similar fashion, the styling of the interior is almost identical to the concept, sans the colors and the decorative trim. From what we know, the just-under 5-meters long A7 Sportback will be strictly for four passengers.

Mechanically, the A5 Sportback’s (see photos here) big brother is heavily based on the next generation of the A6 and according to our sources, at launch it will be offered with both diesel and gasoline V6 engines including the new 3.0-liter TSI unit with some 290-horsepower. It goes without saying that the A7 Sportback will be available with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system and S-tronic dual clutch transmissions.

Expect to see performance-oriented S7 and RS7 variants, as well as a hybrid model being added to the range within the next year or so.

The A7 Sportback will slot between the A6 and A8 executive saloons with its main competitors being the new Mercedes-Benz CLS and the BMW 5-Series GT (at least until BMW unveils the production version of the Gran Coupe).

Thanks for the photos Enrico B.!

via | Carscoop

BMW 5-Series GT Owners Beware; Your Fuel Gauge May be Lying- Recall on the Way

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:04 +0000

If your BMW 5-Series GT has covered several hundred miles since you last filled up and the fuel gauge needle hasn’t moved a bit from ‘Full’, it isn’t because of your eco-driving skills nor the car’s extreme fuel efficiency. More than 6,000 owners of certain 2010 and 2011 model year BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo fastbacks manufactured from January 12 through July 1, 2010, are being cautioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about a problem concerning their car’s fuel gauge.

According to the release on NHSTA’s website, the 5-Series Gran Turismo’s fuel level sensor within the fuel tank can become wedged against the tank. If this occurs, then the fuel gauge in the instrument cluster will display a larger amount of fuel than what’s actually in the tank.

The German automaker has not yet provided details on the fix nor a notification schedule on the recall. Concerned owners of the affected models can contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

via | Carscoop

Video: MTE rolls out 785-hp Volkswagen Golf R32

Timmy Tim — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:57:38 +0000

The Volkswagen scientists at MTE recently decided that their Golf R32 BiTurbo just wasn’t quite up to snuff. While the company had already managed to drag staggering amounts of power out of the little German hatch, the project simply lacked that certain muchness that a true tuner purebred needs in order to stand out of the crowd. The solution? Yank 785 horsepower and 586 lb-ft of torque from the car – a 55 horse jump over the previous iteration of the project.

Yeah, we think that’ll do just fine.

How’d they do it? For starters, there’s a pair of mammoth Garrett G28/71 turbos under the hood pushing on forged internals. The team also reworked the cylinder heads, bolted on a water/methanol-injection intake manifold and unique cast-iron exhaust manifold. The whole kit breathes through an up-sized stainless steel exhaust system, and MTE says that it has limited the wicked little Golf at 193 mph. In order to cope with that kind of speed, the VW wears Brembo six-piston calipers and KW Variant 3 coilovers along with semi-slick tires. Hit the jump for a look at the car back when it was in its lowly 730-horsepower guise.

[Source: MTE via Inside Line]

Via | AutoBlog

Audi sells two millionth vehicle in the States

Timmy Tim — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:54:02 +0000

In the grand scale of automotive existence, Audi hasn’t been selling vehicles in the U.S. for that long. The company first landed on our shores in 1970 with the introduction of cars like the Super 90 and 100, which means that chances are some of you out there have socks older than Audi USA. Flash forward 40 years to present day, and the company is celebrating its 2 millionth vehicle sold in the United States. The lucky car just happened to be a new A3 TDI – a fine choice if we do say so ourselves – and was sold through Keyes Audi in Van Nuys, California.

Audi is predicting that it will take considerably less time to hit the 3 millionth vehicle sold mark, and we’re inclined to agree with them. The company says that since 2000, it has doubled its model count here in the land of freedom fries – a trick that’s helped to make Audi a legitimate alternative to the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the hearts and minds of American buyers. Hit the jump for the press release

Via | AutoBlog

Gordini edition Renault Megane and Wind reportedly underway

Timmy Tim — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:51:45 +0000

Following decades of absence, French racing enthusiasts were suitably enthused by the return of the Gordini line. Whether the cosmetic packages that have heralded its comeback are up to snuff is another matter, but according to reports from across the ocean, a couple more are on their way.

We initially reported on the marque’s comeback a year ago and brought you the unveiling of the new Gordini Twingo and Clio from the Geneva show this past March. Based on the existing RenaultSport models, the Gordini editions revive the blue-and-white livery of their forebears in an exclusive new package. Feel free to check out high-res image galleries of those cars after the break. Now, it appears that Renault is preparing to give the same treatment to the Megane and the Wind.

In the case of the Megane, a RenaultSport version is already available and widely acclaimed. Reports of a Wind Gordini, however, also suggest that an RS version of the diminutive roadster is on the way as well. So if the racing stripes weren’t enough to pique your interest, RenaultSport’s legendary tuning prowess in an open-air package should. Or at least give us another European sports model to pine for.

Via | AutoBlog

Novitec Treats Maserati Quattroporte with 590HP Supercharged V8

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:14:39 +0000

When Porsche’s designers were trying to make a five-door liftback out of the Beetle, Maserati already had one of best looking proposals in the sports saloon segment; the Quattroporte. And while neither the 430HP Quattroporte S or its 440HP Sport GT S brethren are underpowered, the German tuner of all things Italian, Novitec, has come up with a package of upgrades for both versions of the saloon, including a significant power bump and some styling enhancements.

Starting with the engine bay, Novitec strapped on a supercharger along with a new water-to-air intercooler to the Quattroporte’s 4.7-liter V8.

Other modifications include a new intake manifold and larger fuel injectors, while a recalibrated ECU takes care of the electronics. In both the Quattroporte S and Sport GT S, these changes help lift output to 590HP at 7,300 rpm, while torque grows from 490Nm to 572Nm / 421.9 lb-ft.

As a result, the Italian four-door saloon accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 4.6 seconds, an improvement of 0.5 seconds over the Sport GT S and 0.8 seconds over the S model. Novitec’s 590HP Quattroporte can sprint to 200km/h (124mph) in just 14.9 seconds while the car’s new top speed is 295km/h (183mph).

To improve handling, the tuner equipped the Quattroporte with a new electronically-controlled sport suspension that is continuously height-adjustable and features multiple settings for compression and rebound. In addition, the car rides on a set of three-piece 21-inch alloy wheels with five double spokes mounted on Pirelli P Zero high-performance tires in size 255/30 ZR 21 up front and 295/30 ZR 21 at the back.

A discreet boot lid spoiler made from clear-coated carbon fiber completes the package, though customers can also choose from a variety of options for the interior including special leather or Alcantara trim, and multimedia systems.

via | Carscoop

Video: Remember, Honda?

Timmy Tim — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:50:45 +0000

Up until the last few years, Honda was known for being one of the most engineering driven companies in the world. Soichiro Honda instilled a remarkable spirit of innovation in his staff, driving the company to spawn amazing ideas like the CVCC engines of the mid-1970s, the oval-piston NR750 race bike and the fuel cell powered FCX Clarity. As of late, though, the Japanese automaker has been looking a bit ‘behind the curve’ with models like the Insight, Accord Crosstour and CR-Z lacking the cleverness, spark, and class-leading competence that made past Honda models so iconic.

Thus, it might be a good time to take a look back at what made Honda so great. One of the all-time highlights of the company’s road car portfolio remains the Honda/Acura NSX. Although both Nissan and Toyota toyed with the idea of building mid-engine exotics, only Honda actually put one into production. The influence of the NSX on its market segment extended far beyond its commercial success. The NSX was the first “exotic” to demonstrate that you could combine everyday driveability and reliability with supercar performance. Before the NSX, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and the like forced drivers to make all sorts of compromises in order to have their performance at one’s disposal. It’s fair to say that the supercars of today are far better all-around drivers today thanks to the lessons taught by the NSX. Unfortunately, Honda shelved plans for a successor model, so in many respects, one could argue that the spirit of the everyday supercar remains alive in the Audi R8.

Perhaps Honda’s product planners and beancounters alike would do well to take a stroll down memory lane and revisit what once the company great. We can’t think of a better way than to check out the dramatic video tribute to the NSX after the jump. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

[Source: Format67 via YouTube]

Via | AutoBlog

Video: Seat touring car flips into crowd at Brands Hatch over weekend

Timmy Tim — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:44:30 +0000

If you’ve ever found yourself as a spectator at a race track, it’s easy to lull yourself into believing that you’ll be as safe as can be just so long as you keep a crash barrier between your brittle bones and the lightspeed chunks of metal blasting by. Thing is, that’s not always the case. The interwebs are full of videos of cars gone airborne, leaping guard rails and tire walls by leaps and bounds to come crashing down in the middle of a passel of spectators. We can officially add the video after the jump to that list of horrors.

According to our English cousins, Portugese driver Francisco Carvalho had a bit of a mishap at this weekend’s World Touring Car Championship event at Brands Hatch. Carvalho was competing in the Seat Leon Euro Cup Race when he received a nudge from a fellow racer. Instead of losing a position, Carvalho’s car was sent veering off of the course and into a crash barrier before bouncing end-over-end and vaulting back over the wall. The crash sent a crowd of race marshals fleeing before the car came to a stop, but amazingly enough, no one was injured. Not even Carvalho. Hit the jump to see the devastation for yourself.

Via | AutoBlog