Tuesday, May 3, 2011

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Ram Goes Big, Really Big with New Long-Hauler Concept Truck

Posted: 02 May 2011 07:18 PM PDT


The Chrysler Group claims, "they don't get much bigger" than its new Ram Long-Hauler Concept truck and at a whopping 24 feet (about 7.3 meters) long, who can blame them? Based on a Class 5 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab, the monstrous Long Hauler rides on an extended wheelbase measuring 197.4-in. (5,014mm) in length, which is more than enough to fit a Mercedes-Benz E-Class (191.7-in)!

The concept truck is also 79.1 inches tall and tips the scales at an environmentally…unfriendly 9,300 lbs (4,218 kg), or close to 2.5-times as much as a Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan. Ram says the Long-Hauler has a maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating of 37,500 lbs (16,783 kg).

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BMW 3-Series Still Top Dog despite Strong Competition

Posted: 02 May 2011 05:03 PM PDT


In the ingloriously named, "small premium car segment", the BMW 3-Series is king. A good all-rounder with sporting pretensions and cred, a nice assortment of engine and equipment options, and perhaps most importantly, a variety of body styles including a coupe and station wagon derivative that have ensured its market supremacy.

All 3-Series models are doing their bit to keep sales high. According to a study released by R.L. Polk & Co., from 2008 through this past February, the 3-Series sedan covered around 60 percent of the model's retail registrations, with the coupe, convertible and station wagon versions accounting for the rest of the sales.

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NHTSA Investigates 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs for Shattering Tailgate Glass

Posted: 02 May 2011 03:53 PM PDT


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has opened a preliminary investigation concerning 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs from the 2010 and 2011 model years, after receiving several complaints that the window glass in the tailgate allegedly shattered without warning.

The safety agency said it received 18 complaints noting that "the liftgate window glass shattered spontaneously, while opening the liftgate or while closing the liftgate. In one alleged injury incident, the complainant and her 10 year old son were cut by glass fragments."

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Nissan Brazil Strikes Again with an Ad for a Family Minivan that You’re Never Going See in the U.S. [NSFW]

Posted: 02 May 2011 03:08 PM PDT


Back in March, Nissan do Brasil aired a commercial, which drew the wrath of Ford's local arm for making claims that the Detroit automaker charges customers too much for its family models. But while Ford's people only saw a Focus and a pair of rappers dressed as engineers chanting about the money they made by overpricing the hatchback, some viewers were also captivated by the curvalicious bikini-clad models…

Now, Nissan of Brazil returns with a new TV spot, this time for the Livina 7-seater compact minivan. While the Japanese carmaker avoids referring to a specific rival, the theme appears to be similar: scantily dressed female models dancing provocatively and a tagline aimed at the competition. And oh; towards the end of the clip you may notice the Livina and young family of four (not that we're complaining about the appearance of the ladies…).

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Sport Truck Redux: New Rumors About the Holden Ute Heading to the U.S.A.

Posted: 02 May 2011 01:36 PM PDT


It's a poorly kept secret that many Americans are quite fond of the Australian-made and Commodore-derived, Holden Ute, which we recently drove in Queensland. It's big, brutish and comfortable with a bevy of engine and equipment options to suit virtually any budget or taste - so long as those tastes only extend to, "Big, brutish V6 or V8 engined utes".

Before the Global Financial Crisis of 2009, the subsequent bankruptcy GM and the disillusion of the Pontiac brand, as many as half of the Holden Commodores built in Australia were destined for the U.S. and the world in the form of the Pontiac G8. A thinly disguised Holden Ute even made a showing at the 2008 New York Auto Show as the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck.

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Honda USA Shows Some Personal Appreciation to its Facebook Fans

Posted: 02 May 2011 01:10 PM PDT


Recently, Honda USA's facebook page hit the one-millionth fan mark. To show its appreciation, the Japanese brand responded with some personal gestures that, unlike the look of some of its more recent models like the Civic, took some of its fans by surprise.

For example, in response to a fan that mowed the Honda logo on his lawn, the Japanese company carved his name into the corporate headquarters next to the main entrance. Another fan that showed his love for Honda with a tattoo of the brand's logo was surprise to find out that Honda's vice president of marketing got an airbrushed tattoo of his name and face. Finally, a fan that received a Honda haircut was emulated by a Honda associate who carved the fan's name in his hair.

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Saab Announces Strategic Partnership with China’s Hawtai Motor Group, Secures New $30 Million Loan

Posted: 02 May 2011 12:14 PM PDT


Spyker Cars NV and Saab president Victor Muller is pulling all the strings to kick start the Swedish automaker back into life after the company hit a cash crunch and was forced to halt production last month as suppliers refused to send parts citing lack of payment.

After an earlier announcement on the involvement of Russian banker Vladimir Antonov, who plans to invest €30 million in Saab's parent company Spyker in return for a 29.9 percent stake, Muller hit twice today revealing that the company has secured a €30 million convertible loan from Gemini Investment Fund Ltd, while also announcing a new partnership with China's relatively unknown, Hawtai Motor Group.

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Peugeot's EX1 Concept Breaks the Electric Car Record on the Nurburgring

Posted: 02 May 2011 11:09 AM PDT


It's not very often we hear about an electric car taking on the fearsome Nurburgring-Nordschleife track. A concept version of an EV is an even rarer sight on the "Green Hell", but that's exactly what Peugeot did as it put the EX1 design study at work on the world's toughest circuit.

It wasn't just a pleasure ride, however, since Peugeot visited the 'Ring to break the lap record for electric cars. And it did, with driver Stéphane Caillet lapping the 20.8-kilometer (12.92-mile) long track in 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds, at an average speed of 138,324 km/h (85.95 mph), in "very unfavorable weather conditions", according to the French automaker. The previous lap record set by an electric car belonged to the Mini E racer, which lapped the German track last year in 9 minutes and 51.45 seconds.

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Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Tearing up the Vallelunga Race Track [Videos]

Posted: 02 May 2011 10:12 AM PDT


Good news for those of you that just can't get enough of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, the new V12 supercar from Sant'Agata. After the media presentation of the jagged nose Raging Bull model that took place on the busy streets in and around Rome, Lamborghini gave members of the press a chance to get behind the wheel of the Aventador at the Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi racing circuit, which situated some 20 miles (32km) north of Italy's capital city.

Hop the jump to check out all four videos of the latest Lamborghini supercar doing its thing on the racetrack and don't forget to turn up the volume to hear the thrilling sounds of Sant'Agata's 700-horsepower strong 6.5-liter V12 engine.

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Chevrolet Begins Taking Orders for Volt in Canada

Posted: 02 May 2011 09:01 AM PDT


General Motors is adding Canada to the list of countries that will soon get the Chevrolet Volt as starting from today, the company's dealers in seven key regions across the country will begin accepting orders for the extended range electric vehicle, with prices starting from at CA$41,545 (equal to US$43,780 at today's exchange rates). Read more »


Euro-spec Ford Focus to Bring Internet Access to the Masses in 2012

Posted: 02 May 2011 08:29 AM PDT


The European division of Ford announced on Monday that its Sync system with MyFord Touch will feature WiFi connectivity on the new Focus starting from 2012. The infotainment system will create a password-protected WiFi hotspot inside the car allowing up to five devices to be connected. The service will be free of charge, as the in-car internet connection will use customers' existing USB modems or compatible smartphones to access the web. Read more »


The Most Affordable Techart Porsche Ever: New Collector’s Edition GTStreet Scale Model

Posted: 02 May 2011 07:54 AM PDT


When it comes to tuning Porsche models, Techart is one of the most renowned aftermarket specialists in Germany. This time, however, the tuning firm has something far smaller but also, far more affordable in store for us. We are talking about Techart's new Porsche 911 Turbo-based GTStreet collector's edition die cast model. Available only in 1:43 scale, production of the miniature Porsche is limited to just 300 units with pricing set at €59.90 (including 19% VAT in Germany) or about US$89. Read more »


Zagato’s Dodge Viper-Based Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale Smiles at the Camera

Posted: 02 May 2011 07:06 AM PDT


Thanks to the interwebs, we now have the first video clip of Zagato's spanking new Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale that was introduced to the world just last week. Hiding underneath the Italian suit are the platform and the mechanical hardware of the now-obsolete Dodge Viper ACR including the 8.4-liter V10 engine. Zagato has not yet given information regarding output and performance numbers.

The Italian coachbuilder plans to build only 9 examples of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale with the American heart, with the first three cars having already been spoken for. To get a look of the new coachbuilt Alfa in the flesh and on the road, just hit the jump below.

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Chrysler Reports Net Profits for the First Time Since Emerging from Bankruptcy

Posted: 02 May 2011 06:02 AM PDT


On Monday, the Chrysler Group LLC reported its first quarter gains since exiting bankruptcy almost two years ago in June 2009. The Auburn Hills-based automaker, which is now operated by Fiat S.p.A., said net income totaled $116 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to a net loss of $197 million in the same period last year.

At the same time, the company's revenues grew 35 percent from $9.7 billion in Q1 2010 to $13.1 billion in Q1 2011. In addition, the automaker said it had $99 billion in cash reserves at the end of the first quarter compares to 2.5 billion in December 31, 2010.

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New Porsche Panamera Diesel Returns 6.3lt/100km or 37.3mpg

Posted: 02 May 2011 05:34 AM PDT


European Porsche shoppers will soon have the option of ordering a diesel-powered version of the Panamera sports saloon. The most fuel-efficient model of the Panamera range is equipped with a Porsche-tuned version of the VW Group's widely used 3.0-liter V6 TDI employing common rail direct injection technology and electrically controlled variable geometry turbochargers (VGTs)

The six-cylinder unit produces a maximum output of 250HP (184 kW) between 3,800 rpm and 4,400 rpm and a peak torque of 550Nm (405.7 lb-ft) available from 1,750 rpm to 2,750 rpm. The V6 is hooked up to an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission while a start/stop system comes as standard. The Panamera Diesel is offered exclusively with rear-wheel drive.

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