sedan
Maserati To Use Turbochargers, 8-Speed Automatics In Future Cars
Maserati‘s new GranTurismo MC Stradale might be using a nifty new single-clutch automated manual gearbox in its home market of Europe, but North America will get a ZF-built 8-speed automatic. The ZF unit is a precursor to Maserati’s further use of the gearbox, and frankly, North American consumers of the brand will likely not notice…
2012 Nissan Versa Hatchback Spied In China
While the Nissan Sunny has already been previewed at AutoGuide, we just got out first look at the hatchback version of Nissan’s subcompact (known as the Tiida) thanks to a Chinese photographer who spied the car out in the open. The new hatchback looks like a Lexus CT200h mixed with Nissan’s familiar corporate styling cues,…
Cadillac Will Send XTS, ATS To Europe
British radio personality Tim Westwood may have bought a Cadillac Escalade, but the brand has had inconsequential sales throughout Europe for its entire life. Even GM’s poor attempt at a Euro-friendly Caddy, the ill-fated BLS sedan. The misfortunes of Cadillac hasn’t stopped GM CEO Dan Akerson, who was quoted by Autocar as saying “The only thing you…
Mercedes-Benz C63 Coupe Gets Video Treatment
It’s only a matter of time before the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG gets adopted by the Ed-Hardy-and-hair-gel crowd as the official car of the Flash and the (steroid-fueled) Furious, but Mercedes has at least put out a video showing some decent b-roll footage of the car being driven at speed. The 451-horsepower coupe is arguably the…
Lincoln Offers Free Access To New York Times Online Section
With the New York Times erecting a “pay wall” around their online section, many web enthusiasts are crying foul at the venerable paper’s decision to abandon the online modus operandi of making information free. But 200,000 of the Times’ best customers will be eligible for free access (worth about $150) thanks to Lincoln, which is…
BMW M3 Pickup Will Not Enter Production
The excited hoardes of car-geeks who drooled over a prototype BMW M3 pickup, spied lapping the Nurburgring, will have to steel themselves for more disappointment, as Road & Track magazine confirmed that this car will not be entering production. “BMW M did indeed create the pick-up seen on the ’Ring, but it was just an…
Infiniti Enlists Henry Rollins For M Hybrid Commercial
Who would have thought that punk icon Henry Rollins would ever end up doing voice-overs for a luxury car? Certainly not us, but while the punk days are over, Rollins is a tremendous speaker, and we’re looking forward to his work for Infiniti as the brand prepares to launch its new M Hybrid. With 360 horsepower and…
2012 BMW M5 Videos Released
For those of you who can’t wait until BMW releases their new M5 sports sedan at this September’s Shanghai Auto Show, the company has just released new videos of the car undergoing winter testing in Austria, but you’ll need to speak German if you want to catch any of the dialog. With a twin-turbo V8 and…
Sultan Of Brunei’s Car Collection Decaying Amid Neglect
The Sultan of Brunei’s extravagant car collection is something of an urban legend among auto enthusiasts. Most of the evidence surrounding its existence is anecdotal, with a few grainy photos having leaked out over the years on rare occasions. Now, Sports Car Market has published an article by car broker Michael Sheehan detailing the vastness of…
Mercedes-Benz C350 BlueEFFICIENCY Gets AMG Appearance Package
If you want an aggressive looking Mercedes-Benz C-Class but can’t ante up for the psychotically delightful C63 AMG, the 2011 C350 BlueEFFICIENCY equipped with the AMG appearance package might be a suitable bridge between the standard car and the V8 demon lurking at the top of the C-Class food chain. LED running lights and new…
Cadillac SRX, Buick Lacrosse, Recalled Over Defroster Defect
General Motors is recalling 10,179 Buick Lacrosse sedans and Cadillac SRX crossovers due to a fault defroster. The problem is actually a software glitch rather than a physical defect, but one that prevents the unit from properly clearing the windshield. Should the windshield fail to be clear, visibility problems could arise and result in a…
Suzuki Kizashi To Be Sold In The United Kingdom
The Suzuki Kizashi may have enjoyed critical acclaim (and rightly so) but it’s sales figures have never been stellar. Suzuki is planning to sell the Kizashi in the UK later in 2011, and while Suzuki only plans on selling 500 units, it’s difficult to imagine the car being anything more than a low-volume curiosity. With…
Tesla Model S To Launch With Three Trim Levels Denoting Different Battery Ranges
With most car manufacturers, the different trim levels often signify how well-equipped a vehicle is. But the new Tesla Model S electric car will use them in a different manner, with the three trims carrying different batteries, ranging from 160 to 300 miles. The first cars produced by Tesla will be a limited run of…
Car Salesman Turns Himself In After Test Drive Ends In Death
A Landisville, Pennsylvania area car salesman turned himself in to police after a customer test drive of a Mitsubishi Lancer ended with a passenger’s death. According to Lancaster Online, Michael D. Hershey was charged with homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, reckless endangerment and driving at an unsafe speed in…
Mazda May Suspend Joint Venture Production With Ford
Mazda is considering ending their joint venture with Ford based in Flat Rock, Michigan. “We have been studying various measures to improve business of Auto Alliance International, but nothing has been decided,” Mazda spokeswoman Kozue Nitta told Reuters. The mid-size Mazda6 is currently built at the Michigan facility, and the car is selling poorly despite…
Geneva 2011: Audi A3 Concept Revealed With Turbocharged 5-Cylinder
The Audi A3 might be a fancy Golf in its current form, but the Audi A3 Concept shown at the Geneva Auto Show is a complete 180 from that formula. Packing a 408-horsepower 5-cylinder engine and a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox, the A3 sedan has more in common with the fearsome Audi Quattros of yesterday…
Cadillac ATS To Get Convertible Soft Top, ATS-V May Get V6
The Cadillac ATS is a crucial product for GM’s luxury division, a car aimed squarely at the BMW 3-Series, and Cadillac is hoping to come out with a full line of models to give buyers an alternative to the German compact luxury cars. One noticeable difference will be among the convertibles, as the ATS will not offer…
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Delayed Due To Pedestrian Warning System Modificatons
After the United States legislated mandatory pedestrian warning systems for hybrid and plug-in vehicles, Hyundai was forced to go back to the drawing board, and modify their Sonata Hybrid sedan to comply with the new legislation. The Sonata Hybrid was originally equipped to give drivers the ability to turn off the “chirping” sound emitted at low speeds…
Jeep Grand Cherokee Expected To Boost Chrysler Sales In Japan
The last time the Jeep Grand Cherokee was sold in Japan, only 88 units found homes among Japanese buyers. After a hiatus for 2010, Chrysler is re-introducing the SUV on March 12, and is ambitiously targeting sales of between 500 and 1,000 units. Chrysler sold a high of 15,000 vehicles in 1996, but sold only…
2012 Saab 9-3 Debuts With New Power, Styling Upgrades
The turbo gas engines come in two different forms, rated at 163 or 220 hp. Saab says that equipped with these engines, fuel economy and emissions on the 9-3 are improved by around four percent.
Toyota Recalls 2.17 Million Vehicles For Stuck Accelerator
Anyone who was not comatose in 2009 remembers the Toyota unintended acceleration scandal, which saw millions of Toyota and Lexus products recalled due to what was eventually deemed to be a mismatch between floormats and the accelerator that could cause the pedal to stick. Now, Toyota is recalling a further 2.17 million cars and trucks…
Mazda 6 SKY-D Prototype Previews Possible Diesel Model
Mazda‘s announcement regarding a SKYACTIV diesel engine in future products had car geeks hoping for a diesel Mazda3, but it looks like the oil-burner will actually make an appearance on the mid-size Mazda6, putting it squarely against the updated Volkswagen Passat, which will be available with a TDI diesel engine. While details on the SKY-D…
Chevrolet Volt A Target Of Price Gouging, Dealers Demand Up To $65,000
Any time a hot new car is released, the inevitable race to squeeze every last dollar from consumers starts almost immediately, and the Chevrolet Volt is no exception. With supply extremely limited and demand strong, Chevrolet dealers seem to be taking advantage of market conditions. An investigation found that prices ranged from $46,923 in Michigan…
Saab To Mark Independence From General Motors With Celebrations
Saab employees will get a day off on February 23rd to celebrate the company’s independence from GM and its resurgence as an automaker. Slated to die during GM’s bankruptcy proceedings, the Swedish vehicle manufacturer was rescued by Dutch boutique sports car maker Spyker, and is set to launch an all-new product line over the coming years. Saab…
