Jaguar XFR

Jaguar C-X75

2011-05-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

The C-X75 is a hybrid supercar that produces less than 99g/km of CO2 emissions but that can rival the best of the supercars with a top speed of over 200 mph (322 km/h).
The C-X75 will be an all-wheel drive with a "downsized, highly-boosted petrol engine" coupled with two powerful electric motors," says Jaguar, although the automaker doesn't offer more details than that.

The concept used four 195-horsepower (145-kW) electric motors with two small turbine engines to create electrical current. The production C-X75 will be opting for the more conventional setup.

But Jaguar is promising a 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) sprint time of under 3 seconds - so power on tap will likely be aplenty. And the car will still have an electric-only range of more than 50 km (31 miles).

Its lightweight, all carbon-fiber chassis will be developed with partner Williams F1, who will be providing their vast expertise on carbon engineering, aerodynamics and hybrid technologies.
Jaguar will build only 250 units of the C-X75 which will cost between £700,000 - £900,000 each (€781,000 to €1,000,000) depending on markets.

Bertone Jaguar concept 2011

2011-04-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

Bertone says it is pitching the car as a design proposal to Jaguar, with an eye toward the British company re-entering the D-segment against the BMW 3-series and Audi A4. (You may recall that the last Jag in that segment was the far-from-great X-type.) That said, while Jaguar gave Bertone the blessing to build the B99, it’s nowhere near approval for series production.

The design itself of the B99 is a departure from current Jaguar models, and looks more like an evolution of the XJC coupe of the 1970s—were it being reinterpreted as a mid-1990s concept car. Coming from Bertone, which can lay claim to such forward-looking beauty queens as the Lamborghini Miura and Lancia Stratos, this is a disappointment. Attractive? Sorta’. But it doesn’t represent any radical shifts, as did Jaguar’s XF, and we hope the B99 looks better in the metal at the Geneva show. We’ll know soon enough—the Geneva press days are March 1 and 2, at which point we’ll bring you photos and info live from the show floor.

Jaguar XKR-S 2011

2011-04-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

Many expected this nod to the company’s heritage would include the announcement of a new small sports car. That is not the vehicle you see here. This is the 2012 XKR-S, and it proves that someone decided to make the XKR very angry. The thing looks as if it’s been raised in the wild. By a pack of badly behaved race cars that have never been to England or heard of the original E-type.

On the subject of heritage, it should be noted that this is not the first time Jag has used these four letters in a row. The company brought a 550-hp XK-RS concept with a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 to the 2004 Chicago show. And then in 2009, Jaguar built a run of 200 XKR-S models for European customers, giving the cars unique appearance bits but no additional power. The 2012 XKR-S happens to combine traits of both cars: the engine is a hopped-up version of the XKR’s supercharged 5.0-liter, and the car takes aesthetic crazy to new levels.

2011 Acura TL

2011-02-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

Acura has yanked the sheets off of the latest take on its bread-and-butter TL at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. In the face of much criticism, the Japanese automaker's stylists have set about taking some of the edge off of the sedan's styling with a fresh front fascia that goes some way toward making the vehicle look more like a car and less like Picaso's interpretation of one. The 2012 TL now wears shorter overhangs both front and rear, and the new look includes shedding the chrome trim from around the rear taillamps for a look that's altogether more appetizing than the previous iteration.

A few changes have cropped up under the hood as well. Acura engineers managed to cut engine friction to increase fuel economy, and a new six-speed automatic transmission helps bump the final figures to 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. That's an increase of three mpg highway over the five-speed automatic-equipped 2010 model. Fans of the third pedal need not fret, though. Acura says that buyers will still be able to snag their 2012 TL SH-AWD with the same six-speed manual setup that's currently available.

MTM Audi TT RS

2010-10-06T18:55:00.000-07:00

You'd be forgiven for believe the Audi TT RS is fast enough. By most accounts it is, packing a 340 horsepower, turbocharged inline five, it's good for a four-and-a-half-second sprint to sixty and a 174 mph top speed. But if you're going after the triple-century metric mark (close to 200 mph), you're going to need a little something extra.
So says MTM. And they ought to know. The German tuning house has a history of taking Audis to the V-max and beyond, having brought an RS6 Avant to 344.2 km/h in 2009, a radical twin-engine TT to 393.6 in 2007 and a Bentley to 331 in 2008.
In an effort to take the TT RS past the 300 mark without the need for breaching the 500 hp mark, MTM tweaked the ECU, modified the turbo spools and fitted a new exhaust system – along with new wheels, tires and brakes. The result of the engine mods was 472 hp, enough to get its customized TT RS up to a GPS-certified top speed of 312 km/h (just under 194 mph) at Italy's Nardo test track. And they'll sell you the modifications too, for a price: €14,500 for the engine mods and another €9,973 for the suspension and wheel work, taxes and installation included.
Having proven their point about power:speed ratios, MTM's also working on a 500+hp version. We can hardly wait to see what they'll manage with that one, but for now you can check out the images in the gallery below and the details in the press release after the jump.

Bosal Rear Muffler Single center inlet and outlet configuration; 44 in. L x 23 in. W x 10 in

2010-07-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Bosal Rear Muffler - Natural, Aluminized steel, Direct OE Replacement, Standard OE Replacement
Part Number: BO278375
Manufacturer Number: 278-375
Bosal Muffler Bosal Muffler
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BOSAL REAR MUFFLER, ALUMINIZED STEEL, NATURAL FINISH, SOLD INDIVIDUALLY -- Single center inlet and outlet configuration; 44 in. L x 23 in. W x 10 in. H; Round casing; Standard direct fit OE replacement; Made to fit vehicle-specific requirements for backpressure, emissions, sound levels, and sensors; Precision-manufactured to high tolerances for long life; Easy installation.

Quick Spin: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

2010-06-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in 2006 when the Chevrolet Volt was first conceived, its extended-range electric (ER-EV) powertrain was originally dubbed E-Flex as its configuration was designed to be flexible. The only part of the system that was constant was the electric drive and the presence of a battery. The architecture was designed so any type of powerplant could be used as a range extender, and over the last three years concepts have been shown with flex-fuel three-cylinder turbos, inline-four diesels and hydrogen fuel cells.

Ultimately, powertrain chief engineer Larry Nitz and his team opted for a normally aspirated 1.4-liter inline-four for the first generation Volt because it offered the best combination of cost and efficiency. However, while working on the first generation Volt, work on the second-gen. model has been happening in parallel. Way back in May 2007 we talked to then-VP for R&D Larry Burns about using an HCCI engine for the Volt since it could be optimized to operate at steady state speeds and he agreed that was certainly one possible direction.

Right now the top priority for the second-generation Volt is driving down the cost of the powertrain, including the battery. Although automakers are always reluctant to talk about parts pricing, GM's project management VP, Jon Laukner, has hinted on more than one occasion that the Volt pack costs somewhere in the $600 per kilowatt-hour range or under $10,000 for the 16 kWh unit. The goal is to get that cost down below $400 per kWh in the next few years and a combination of increased volumes and LG Chem launching cell production in western Michigan will certainly help to achieve that.

Reducing the cost of the range extender will also play a part. GM's VP of global vehicle engineering, Karl Stracke told Inside Line that smaller range extenders in the 15-18 kilowatt range are part of the strategy and either a two-cylinder piston engine or a single rotor Wankel are possibilities to replace the current inline-four. Volt communications manager Rob Peterson confirmed to Autoblog that a number of different variants are being evaluated, but he wouldn't say if any particular direction has been selected yet.

Powertrain engineering consultant FEV has recently been showing off an ER-EV Fiat 500 with a Wankel range extender. While Wankels are not known for fuel efficiency (quite the opposite actually), a modern direct injected unit for this type of application could be highly optimized to provide acceptable performance and consumption. A Wankel also has the advantage of being both very compact for its output and vibration-free, making it well suited for this type of application. With the first generation Volt only expected to have about a three-year life-span, a final decision will likely be made very soon.

Gallery: Quick Spin: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet Prices Silverado HD from $28,960

2010-04-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

General Motors released pricing for its updated 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD pickup truck range. Base pricing starts at $27,965, which excludes a $995 destination charge, while an upgrade to the 397 HP and 765 lb-ft of torque Duramax diesel engine and Allison transmission combination will cost buyers an extra $8,395 for a total of $37,355, which is the same amount as the 2010MY.

The refreshed Silverado HD will be offered in work truck, LT and LTZ trim levels, with production set to start in May. First deliveries are expected in early June, 2010.

New Audi A8 Hybrid with 2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Engine

2010-03-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

Making its debut at the Swiss international auto show is the Audi A8 Hybrid. Even though its officially billed as a study, the gasoline-electric hybrid version of the 2011 A8, which itself just broke cover a few months ago, is scheduled to enter production next year.

The A8 Hybrid is a good example of Audi's downsizing philosophy mating a 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder gasoline engine with 211HP and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) to an electric motor delivering 45HP and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque.

Audi says that the system's combined output is 245HP and 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft) of torque. Since the numbers don't add up, we're assume that the electric motor's output is limited when combined with the TSI.

The 2.0 TSI engine is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission while the electric motor draws energy from a lithium-ion battery pack mounted at the rear which steals some 110 liters from the 2011 A8's luggage space that now measures 400 liters (14.13 cubic feet).

The Audi A8 hybrid is said to be able to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.6 seconds and to achieve a top speed of 235 km/h (146mph). Its average fuel consumption is pegged at only 6.2 lt/100km or the U.S. equivalent of 37.9 mpg) with CO2 emissions of 144 g/km (231.75 g/mile).

Being a full hybrid, the German limo can be propelled by the electric motor alone for speeds up to 65 km/h (40 mph) and for a distance in excess of two kilometers (equal to about 1.3 miles).

Hybrid drivetrain aside, the near-production study also features unique 21-inch, two-color alloy wheels, a special paint job and the so-called "Powermeter" ithat shows the energy flow in the instrument cluster.

Feast your eyes out in our high-resolution mega gallery after the break

2010-01-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

Our Tokyo Auto Salon man Phil Alex with the help of friends Mike and Aaron put their photo cameras to exceptional use today capturing the booth sirens on film for your enjoyment. And as you will soon find out, the Japanese tuning show is only interesting in terms of car presentations but also in terms of female presences... Feast your eyes out in our high-resolution mega gallery after the break.

Photos by Phil Alex , Mike and Aaron

speak with Martin Birkmann who is the Head of Product Planning and Strategy with BMW NA

2010-01-17T21:21:00.000-08:00

Exclusive Interview with the Head of BMWNA Product Planning and Strategy/BMW Motorsport Manager, Martin Birkmann – A Look into the Future World of ///M Cars, Racing, and Current Engine Tech. At the recent 2010 NAIAS, we got a chance to speak with Martin Birkmann who is the Head of Product Planning and Strategy with BMW NA, as well as BMW Motorsport Manager in the U.S. If you haven’t already, we advise you get some coffee brewing or pop-corn popping – what follows is extremely interesting information about current and future BMW products.

With BMW’s new engines, the revamped N54 and now the N55, what have you upgraded on the N54?

Martin Birkmann: With the N54 we’ve basically changed the mapping of the engine, pressure of the engine, given it a more sporty, more torque, and peak oriented performance curve.

What are the differences between the N54 and N55?

Martin Birkmann: At first glance we’ve changed something in the architecture, we made the engine more compact, but in terms of costumer benefit the biggest change is the application of VALVETRONIC. With variable valve lift we eliminate the throttle and so we’ve made the engine again more efficient than the N54. The N55 is maintaining the N54’s base performance level, but gives you a lot of enhancement on the efficiency side

Will we see the N55 engine across the range?

Martin Birkmann: We started announcing the N55 for the 5 series GT so you can expect to find it in the regular 5 series sedan, one series, and we’ll roll it out for more and more applications.

With the new 5 series, what kind of changes can we expect to see on the new M5?

Martin Birkmann: I think it’s been widely speculated and confirmed that we’ve somewhat seen the dawn of the end of the NA engine. M is no exception, we’ve launched our first turbo M engines and I think that will be the biggest difference if you look at the tech spec sheet – that we will go with turbo charging for the M5. There is speculation that I don’t want to comment about; we will clearly see a change in the transmission strategy, we are still examining the need for a second transmission variant. We’ll know more about that as we go forward, as you know, every one should know that BMW NA in persona is a big proponent of manual transmissions and three pedal vehicle operation, but it’s not a trend that you see in the market gaining a lot of momentum right now. Our customers want more semi-automatic transmissions, so that’s a must, and everything else is a can. We’ll see as we approach the launch of the car.

What clear future do you see for BMW and racing?

Continued

Read Article

The new car’s styling owes nothing to what I’ve done before

2010-01-07T22:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a supercar that's rising up against the competition - it's the Fenix! The work of Leicestershire-based sports car maker, Lee Noble, it's the first model to come from his new company, Fenix Automotive.

The as-yet-unnamed supercar features a basic design that is reminiscent of the Noble M600 and M12. However, the Fenix gets aggressive and angular lines, similar to those of the fighter jet-inspired Lamborghini Reventón.

“The M12 was hugely successful, but we needed to move the game on in terms of design,” said Noble. “The new car’s styling owes nothing to what I’ve done before and has quite literally been a ‘clean sheet’ exercise from the start. It’s edgy, with powerful lines, and aerodynamically will be in another league to any of my previous cars.”

Under the bonnet is a choice of two Corvette engines, giving 480bhp and 638bhp. The latter is lifted from the supercharged ZR1, and with a kerbweight of 1,200kg, is said to propel the Fenix from 0-100mph in just under seven seconds on its way to a 200mph top speed.

“Our first prototype is now in build and development will start in around one month’s time,” said Noble. “We’ll be hot-weather testing the first prototype on the mountain roads around Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where the car will be manufactured. But I’m itching to get the car back to the UK where I can set it up on roads I know well.”

Prices will be confirmed when sales start in 2011.

Kia and Microsoft's UVO

2010-01-07T22:01:00.000-08:00

Kia's UVO system hands-on – Click above to watch video after the jump

Tucked in between Google's hot new smartphone and a variety of other computer peripheral equipment at this year's CES show is a crossover. Not the jacked-up, tricked-out, neon-dragging customized type that we typically see around the Consumer Electronics Show, but a bone-stock, 2011 Kia Sorento. Well, stock except for one option: UVO.

We recently got a chance to try out the newly-announced system in the plastic, and while impressive in its own right, just hours after sitting down with Ford to check out the latest Sync and MyFord Touch, it's somewhat less than stunning. But, ignoring that for now, Kia's offering looks good and still ahead of the rest of the curve. It's functionally comparable to early Sync, enabling easy access to media on 1GB of internal storage, on a USB-connected drive or even on a CD. You can rip from CD straight to internal memory or to a thumb drive, an interesting feature we're not sure is particularly useful. The touchscreen display is a nice improvement over Ford's two-line Sync readout, but remember that if you get this system, you'll have to opt out of in-dash GPS. Good thing you splurged and got that Droid, right? Check out some screens in the gallery below, and there's a quick video demo after the break.

Kia and Microsoft's UVO

But when the giver of said award is Playboy Magazine

2010-01-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

There are now so many Car of the Year awards given out that the whole idea of one vehicle being honored above all others has lost its impact. But when the giver of said award is Playboy Magazine, well, the honor means a little more. Why? Because Playboy doesn't pick a winner based on such tangible criteria as horsepower, miles per gallon or MSRP. They don't care so much about the fastest, greenest or most significant car in its segment. They care about cool. Which car is going to get you to that VIP event and make all eyes turn towards you on arrival? For 2010, Playboy says that car is the Porsche Panamera.

We can absolutely understand where Playboy is coming from here. You just have to imagine yourself as Hugh Hefner: Porsches are both cool and fast, but a Porsche that can accommodate me, my smoking jacket and three bunnies is worthy of a place in the Playboy Mansion garage and perhaps an X-rated car wash in the driveway.

Playboy gave out eight other awards in such categories as Best Horsepower Value (Nissan 370Z), Best Mean and Green (Ford Fusion Hybrid) and Best Reborn Beauty (Ford Taurus SHO) among others. You can check them all out in the press release after the jump, and while we're not sure how many automakers will place their new Playboy awards front and center in the corporate trophy case, we're sure behind close doors they're... well, let's not talk about what they're doing behind closed doors.

2010 Porsche Panamera

Papenburg to reach v-max in its GT9 supercar

2010-01-03T21:37:00.000-08:00

Click above to watch the 9ff TR 1000 reach 391.7 km/h at the Papenburg test track after the jump

There aren't too many places you can cruise at over 200 mph in relative safety, but the Papenburg test track is one of them. The high speed oval located in Northern Germany is a pavement playground for supercars in search of straight line speed, and various manufacturers and tuners regularly use the track to see just how fast their projects can go.

Take, for instance, 9ff. The Porsche super-tuner previously used Papenburg to reach v-max in its GT9 supercar, and they recently brought out a modified 911 Turbo dubbed the TR 1000 for a high speed romp. While not quite as fast as the GT9 (409 km/h), the TR 1000 still reached an impressive 391.7 km/h -- just over 243 mph. Fortunately the cameras were rolling, giving us an opportunity to see just how quickly a 1000 horsepower Porsche can triple the legal speed limit. You can watch it for yourself after the jump.

9ff TR 1000

Lexus of Europe has announced via the corporate Twitter account

2010-01-03T21:02:00.000-08:00

Another country heard from – this time, a mole in Lexus of Europe has announced via the corporate Twitter account that the LFA's V10 will definitely not be going into the GS F. The supercar's 10-pot wonder is "bespoke to LFA," which is ur-English for something custom made, but in this case we'll take to mean "None of you can have this engine if you don't drive an LFA."

You'll note that the 106-character tweet deftly avoids confirming the existence of any sort of GS F in the first place – a car that has existed solely as a fairytale for nigh on three years – with the deflection, "not going to comment on those." But at least now if the GS F does come, we know what it won't have. But hey, they didn't rule out a derivative, right? Hat tip to Stan!

There really isn't anything wrong with the Kia Borrego

2010-01-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

2009 Kia Borrego – Click above for high-res image gallery

There really isn't anything wrong with the Kia Borrego. When compared directly to its intended competition, the big, boxy, body-on-frame SUV is both attractive and fully class competitive, as we learned the first time we got any significant time in its driver seat. That said, there's no doubt that the Borrego's model launch was an object lesson in horrible timing.

The Borrego was Introduced in late 2008 as a 2009 model, right when the financial meltdown was starting to make some waves and the previous summer's record-high fuel prices were still emblazoned in our collective memory banks. This being the case, it's no surprise to learn from The Car Connection that Kia moved fewer than half (at 9,510 through November) of its hoped-for Borrego sales in 2009.

That said, we still didn't expect the Korean automaker to drop the Borrego entirely for the 2010 model year, which is exactly what's being reported by the boys over at The Car Connection. Apparently, no decision has yet been made as to whether the Borrego will make a return appearance after 2010 or if the square-jawed SUV will be a one-and-done proposition.

Either way, for the keen bargain hunter, there's a boatload of cash on the hood of the 2009 model year. Kia is presently offering $3,000 in cash back on all trim levels, plus the availability of numerous other incentives. The rundown: $1,500 for trading in a competitor's vehicle (everything from the Buick Enclave to the Pontiac Aztek and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited qualifies); $1,500 for owner loyalty, $400 for recent college grads, $500 for military service, and $300 for Great Dane rescue shelter workers. We made that last one up.

Kia Borrego First Drive

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne presents 5-year business plan

2009-11-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

Chrysler LLC has concluded its 7-hour-long marathon presentation of the business plan (read our Live Blog of the event here) that will see it through the next five years, and what we're left with is a little confusing. It's almost as if the automaker's new executives, amidst apologizing for the company's past and promising to do better in the future, were hoping we'd all fall asleep or get lost in the details. Well, we didn't fall asleep or get lost, and below you'll find a breakdown of what we learned while spending the day hip deep in Chrysler's future product. You can also check out the slides from Chrysler's presentation relating to product in the gallery below.

Models On Their Way Out

Jeep Patriot (end of 2012)
Jeep Compass (end of 2012)
Jeep Commander (end of 2010, may continue being sold internationally)
Chrysler PT Cruiser (end of 2010)
Dodge Dakota (mid 2011)
Dodge Caliber (mid 2012)
Dodge Viper (mid 2011, may return in 2012)

New Models That Are Coming

Jeep compact SUV (2013, supplied by Fiat, may be Panda)
Jeep small CUV (2013, supplied by Fiat, replaces Patriot and Compass)
Jeep Liberty (2013, replaced by Fiat product but retains name)
Chrysler small car (2013, supplied by Fiat)
Chrysler compact sedan (2012, supplied by Fiat, replaces PT Cruiser)
Chrysler Sebring (2013, replaced by Fiat product but retains name)
Chrysler midsize CUV (2013, supplied by Fiat)
Ram midsize unibody pickup (under consideration for 2011)
Ram large and small commercial van (2012, supplied by Fiat)
Dodge small car (2013, supplied by Fiat)
Dodge compact sedan (2012, supplied by Fiat)
Dodge Avenger (major update 2010, replaced by Fiat product 2013)
Dodge full-size CUV (2010)
Fiat 500 (late 2010, convertible 2011, Abarth 2012)

Models Staying, Receiving Attention

Jeep Wrangler Diesel (2010/2011, not confirmed for U.S. market... yet)
Jeep Grand Cherokee (all-new 2010)
Chrysler 300C (all-new 2010)
Chrysler Town & Country (major update 2010, next-gen 2014)
Ram 1500/2500/3500 (major update 2012)
Dodge Journey (major update 2010)
Dodge Nitro (major update 2011 under consideration)
Dodge Challenger (refresh 2011)
Dodge Charger (all-new 2010)
Dodge Grand Caravan (major update 2010, next-gen 2014)

UPDATE: You can dive whole hog into the plan yourself at Chrysler's website.

SEMA Steve Saleen and his new company announced Superparts

2009-11-06T16:50:00.000-08:00

SMS Superparts - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With SMS Supercars recently launching the 570 Challenger and with a Mustang and Camaro, it was inevitable it would soon offer many of the parts individually. On the first day of SEMA Steve Saleen and his new company announced Superparts, the aftermarket sales and distribution arm of SMS Supercars. Many of the parts on the 570 Challenger are now available individually, including the SMS 296 supercharger, aerodynamic parts, and suspension, wheel and tire packages.

Also making its debut at the show is the new SMS 296 supercharger for the 2005-2010 Ford Mustang. The system uses many of the same core components from the Challenger kit, but has a few new features specific for the 4.6-liter V8. The most notable feature is the "Duo-Path" induction system that splits the incoming air starting at the throttle body, going around the supercharger housing to the back of the engine where it enters the rear intake of the compressor. Expected power will be in the 475-650 range depending on the package.

Read more on the SMS Superparts announcement after the jump, or opt for the visuals with the '90s-style 2010 Mustang and a 570X Challenger painted in Sour Grape Green in the high-res gallery below.

2009-11-06T16:42:00.000-08:00

Honda FF engine demonstrator - click above for high-res image

For 2010, Formula F is getting some fresh blood. The Sports Car Club of America's board of directors has given the thumbs up to Honda's proposal for a new engine in the class. Next year, competitors will be able to swap out their ancient Ford Kent engines for a new 1.5-liter four based on the Fit.

Honda Performance Development created the engine so that it was specifically able to bolt up to many contemporary Formula Ford chassis designs with minimal modification, all while providing comparable performance. The air restrictor and ECU calibrations can be adjusted by HPD to ensure performance parity with the series' existing engines.

The engine's electronically fuel injected engine promises significantly reduced service requirements compared to the Kent, along with better efficiency. The engines will be supplied complete with intake, exhaust and conversion kits. The kit for the Swift DB-1 including the engine and all necessary parts runs $11,750 with deliveries starting February.

Honda Fit FF engine

Win one of five Sony PSP/Gran Turismo bundles - Day 4

2009-11-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

It's Day 4 of our SEMA Sweeps! After giving away three of five limited-edition PSP/Gran Turismo bundles, we're ready to give away our fourth. Yesterday's winner has been randomly selected and contacted, so here's how you can win today.

We're doing this in honor of the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and with it, the Seventh Annual GT Awards, so take advantage of our generosity and follow the directions below for your chance to win.

Today we're asking whether you prefer the PSP-3000 or new PSP Go. Your answer won't have any effect on your chances of winning since the sweepstakes winner is drawn at random, so pick your favorite portable Sony system, leave a comment and keep your fingers crossed!

Entering is easy. All you have to do is:

Leave a comment in this post telling us whether you prefer the PSP-3000 or PSP Go.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S. or Canada (excluding Quebec, désolé!)
Limit 1 entry per person per day
This entry period ends at 3:00PM EST on Friday, November 6
At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one PSP/GT bundle (ARV $199.99) that includes a Mystic Silver PSP-3000 system, Gran Turismo PSP game on UMD, a PlayStation Network downloadable voucher for a white Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, PlayStation Network downloadable movie voucher (title TBD) and Sony MusicPass voucher good for 10 downloadable songs.
For a list of complete rules, click here

Because of testing bans in place this season in F1

2009-10-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Ferrari just announced that injured driver Felipe Massa could be back in the saddle as early as Monday. Massa hasn't been in an F1 car since July's Hungarian Grand Prix, when a spring from another car flew up and hit him above his eye, fracturing his skull.

The first time he has even been back on track was last week when he took the wheel of a kart. Because of testing bans in place this season in F1, Massa can't drive the current car he was running until Hungary. As he gets back up to speed, the FIA has granted him permission to drive a 2007-spec car fitted with GP2 tires.

Massa has also spent time on Ferrari's racing simulator. Word has it he's already mastered Barcelona and is working hard at beating the Interlagos circuit now. Before taking the wheel of the 2007 car, he still needs to pass an examination, but once he's cleared, he could be on track in Italy by Monday. This will be testing only as the driver isn't expected to compete for Ferrari any more this season.

Cars and Coffee roadshow headed for New England

2009-10-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

Cars and Coffee, the informal and inclusive wheeled hootenanny originated in Irvine, California has been spreading across the country faster than swine flu. There's no stage with bad cover bands, not a trophy in sight, but you're always likely to see some astounding vehicles.

Herb Chambers, New England dealership juggernaut, has thrown his support behind a New England gathering. "Herb himself is a super car enthusiast," says John Covell, Director of Marketing for the Herb Chambers Companies, "He thought that others would enjoy it." A new BMW dealership in Sudbury, MA, where the event is being held this Saturday, October 10th, is a supporting cast member.

Cynics may dismiss this as another ploy akin to inflatable dinosaurs, but when was the last time you were invited out by a car dealership to drink free coffee and ogle a McLaren F1 on a Saturday morning? Running from 7-10 AM, the inaugural event will be over before many people's days get under way. "Herb is passionate about cars and he's passionate about this business. If our customers understand that we share their passion, that's a good thing," sums up Covell. Hey, if he doesn't mind us drooling all over his McLaren, we'll agree.

New GM marketing boss Mark LaNeve apparently unaware that diesel is now cheaper than gas

2009-06-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

Over the last several years, we've heard a lot of excuses from many auto executives as to why their companies aren't offering diesel engines in their American market cars. Yesterday, General Motors' Mark LaNeve, the company's vice president of sales and marketing, made an appearance on C-SPAN's Washington Journal. The final question of the segment came from a viewer wondering why GM has failed to offer U.S. consumers the chance to buy some of the high-mileage diesel cars it offers in Europe.

It would appear that LaNeve might have done better to take a pass on the question. Instead of talking about the cost of making those diesels meet U.S. emissions regulations or the difficulty in helping Americans overcome the misconceptions about the fuel, he claimed that no one has successfully cracked the diesel passenger nut in the U.S. (which based on VW's May sales appears to be wrong). More startlingly, LaNeve went on to claim that diesel is $1.25 a gallon more expensive than gasoline. According to the Energy Information Agency, the national average for diesel this week is $2.35 / gallon while regular gas is $2.52 or $0.17 more than diesel. Admittedly, the fact that diesel is now cheaper than 87 octane gas is a recent development (a trend that nobody is sure how long it will last), but – going on national television and quoting outdated fuel prices as a reason for your bankrupt company's business decisions... well, that doesn't strike us as a terribly hot idea.

You can hear the question and response at 20:30 into the video replay over at C-SPAN.

Jaguar XFR arrives early

2009-04-02T05:21:00.001-07:00

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Jaguar XFR

Thanks to an embargo break by 4WheelsNews, we can show you the first official image of the 2010 Jaguar XFR and reveal some juicy info on the British brand's new top cat. Set to go head-to-head with the big dogs in the high-performance luxury sedan segment, the XFR draws its motive force from a new version of Jaguar's AJV8 that's larger at 5.0 liters of displacement and supercharged to produce 510 bhp and 460 lb-ft of torque. That's good for a 0-60 mph run of just 4.7 seconds and a electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. The XFR is also fitted with new 20-inch Nevis alloy wheels and larger brakes with calipers bearing the "R" logo.

The XFR also features a number of exterior tweaks that emphasize its sporting intentions, including a new front end with a new bumper design incorporating large, chrome trimmed air inlets on either side, hood vents, new fenders, side sills, a decklid spoiler, and new rear bumper that wraps around four exhaust pipes.

The interior is also gussied up with new dark aluminum trim, sports seats bearing the "R" logo and a sport steering wheel. Finally, the new range-topping XF can be had in eight colors: Botanical Green, Indigo, Kyanite Blue, Liquid Silver, Lunar Grey, Porcelain and Salsa. We'll be back with more news on the XFR when we're allowed, so for now this all you get.

UPDATE: More images have begun to leak out, so check out the gallery below for addition high-res photos of the 2010 Jaguar XFR.

NEW AND FUTURE CARS: 2010 Jaguar XFR

2009-04-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that we like the Jaguar XF at Automobile Magazine. The keys to our XF Supercharged Four-Seasons test car are rarely sitting around and we keep piling on the miles. We even named the newest Jaguar sedan a 2009 All-Star. But, like you, we've seen the spy photos and knew the English brand had something hotter coming. That hotter something is the XFR, released here at the Detroit show.

The big news for the XFR is its engine. While the top-spec 2009 XF made due with the older, 4.2-liter supercharged V-8 with 420 hp, the new 2010 XFR gets a new 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 with a BMW M5-conquering 510 hp. Maybe even more telling is the torque. The blown Jaguar engine tops the BMW's same size (though normally-aspirated) V-10 by 78 lb-ft with 461 lb-ft at a rather low 2500 rpm. The XFR's engine even comes close to the larger, 6.2-liter V-8 in the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG in the torque department. Through the fitment of direct-injection and other fuel-saving technologies, the new AJ-V8 Gen III matches the old XF Supercharged model in fuel economy with an EPA rating of 15 city, 23 hwy. As long as we're in the comparing mood, it's interesting that the M5 is rated at a rather poor 11 city/17 highway and the E63 at 13 city/20 highway. Not that fuel economy is a real priority for buyers in this market.

What is important to buyers in this segment is overall performance. Luckily, Jaguar didn't just drop in a new engine and call it quits. The paddle-shift ZF six-speed automatic transmission is beefed up internally to handle the extra grunt. Larger brakes and a quicker steering rack are used as well. More interestingly, the chassis receives some electronic tweaks. First, an active dampening system called Adaptive Dynamics is fitted. This is a more advanced setup compared to simple, two-step dampers in the outgoing XF Supercharged. The second bit of chassis trickery is even more interesting. It's called Active Differential Control (ADC) and is an electronically controlled limited-slip rear end. It utilizes an electric motor with a multi-plate clutch and can actively transmit torque to the wheel with the most grip.

To read more about the 2010 Jaguar XFR, go to our 2009 Detroit auto show blogs coverage. All the latest blogs from the Editors of Automobile Magazine can be found HERE. We've got our whole staff wandering the floor at Cobo Hall bringing back live photos and more information about all the new debuts from Detroit.

Jaguar XFR: priced from $80,000

2009-04-02T05:18:00.000-07:00

Jaguar has announced that its 2010 XFR, the range-topping model of the mildly revised 2010 XF lineup, will start from $80,000 when it goes on sale later this year. Powered by an uprated, almost all-new AJ-series V8 motor, the XFR also receives numerous stylistic and handling-oriented changes as a part of its transformation into an R-series vehicle.

As expected, the XFR sits lower than the XF, and has a subtly more aggressive look. Adding to that look are 20-inch wheels — covering cross-drilled rotors — and quad-exhaust outlets, further separating the XFR from the lesser XF. Larger front air intakes and a subtle rear spoiler are also part of the XFR package.

The XFR also sports unique hood-mounted vents to keep airflow at a maximum.

Power for the XFR is provided by a 5.0L supercharged V8, rated at 510 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque — rivaling offerings from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. That’s enough grunt to get the Cat from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Jaguar is proud of numerous underhood advancements with the new XFR - and it says that it achieves class-leading fuel economy and low emissions levels.

Elsewhere across the XF range, the base XF will begin at $52,000 for 2010 and the XF Premium will start at $57,000.

Naughtier Kitty: 2009 Jaguar XFR goes hunting M5s and E63s

2009-04-02T05:16:00.000-07:00

Jaguar has gone outside the box with nearly every aspect of the XF. Its look is fresh and bold. The interior design and technology are anything but retro. Unlike its competitors from Germany, there's no six-cylinder "base" model sold in the U.S. Perhaps trying to focus more beginner buyers toward the updated-for-2008 {{{X-Type}}}, you'll find no fewer than eight cylinders beneath an XF bonnet.

Buy-in begins with the aforementioned 4.2-liter, 300-horsepower V-8. The XF Supercharged ups the ante to the same blown, 4.2-liter, 420-horsepower V-8 currently huffing away in the performance-minded XKR coupe/convertible and XJR sedan. But BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz offer their midsize sport/lux four-doors with 450 to 500 horses. So that's where Jag is headed with the XFR.

Our intel suggests the XFR V-8 will share certain architecture with the current AJV8 engine, but employ, at minimum, a new block able to be sized at 5.0 liters and beyond. Atop that will be supercharging and intercooling. The result should be at least 500 horsepower in blown form, with a 400-or-so-horse, naturally aspirated version to come later, perhaps replacing the current supercharged 4.2. The XFR's transmission will remain the excellent ZF six-speed automatic, with paddle shifters as on the XKR, plus its own unique calibration.

Standard on the XFR will be 20-inch light-alloy wheels and speed-rated rubber, along with the usual cocktail of upgraded brakes, stiffer suspension tuning, a beefier exhaust note, and sportier interior trim. Visuals likely will ape other Jaguar "R" models, meaning a bit less chrome, wire-mesh front grillework, more aggressive front and rear fascias, a rear lip spoiler, and a slightly reduced ride height.

The XFR will show its production face sometime in 2008 as a 2009 model. Pricing has yet to be announced, but it'll be aggressively positioned against the M5 and E63, meaning a predicted base of just under $80,000.

Jaguar XFR: A Powerful Pussycat

2009-04-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Jaguar XFR will officially debut at the Detroit Auto Show, but the loose lips at 4WheelsNews have leaked the photos and details of the 510 HP supercharged pussycat.

The 2010 Jaguar XFR, the sporty iteration of the sleek Jaguar XF sedan, will be getting a significant boost in both the power and visual prowess departments. According to the source, the power boost comes from a supercharged 5.0-Liter V8 capable of 510 HP and 460 lb-ft of torque. This represents enough juice to propel the car's passengers to 60 MPH from a cold start in just 4.7 seconds with an electronically-limited top speed of 155 MPH.

2010 Jaguar XFR

Jaguar XFR Interior And Mechanical Details

The aesthetic boost comes from a new front bumper, an angry-looking hood complete with scoops and vents, a new four-pipe exhaust integrated into the rear bumper, revised sills and a dash of chrome. On the inside, the sporty jag gets a mix of R-themed trim upgrades and new sport buckets designed to keep drivers and friends in place. There's no information on price as of yet, but we think it's the wrong question to ask.

Jaguar XFR

2009-03-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

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