The Most Popular Hairdresser’s Car - Audi TT

The UK insurance firm came to a conclusion after over 18,000 hairdressers in Britain. The company said the MINI One is three and a half times more likely to be driven by someone working as a hairdresser than everyone else. The Audi TT ain’t the most popular car among hairdressers – or at least not in Britain. According to a new study made by UK women's car insurance specialist, that title goes to the one and only, MINI One hatchback.

2012 Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai has not let anyone drive the Veloster but they are willing to show us around the car, from top to bottom, and take us for an extensive drive around the block. The Veloster is Hyundai's latest addition to its lineup that now encompasses everything from the modest $12,000 Accent to the Lexus-fighting $58,000 Equus.

The new hatchback - uniquely configured with one driver door and two passenger doors. It's promoted as a compact coupe offering fun-to-drive chassis dynamics, a long list of standard innovative technology and hybrid-beating fuel economy in one cool-looking package.

China - Bentley's No.2 Market

Bentley Motors have sold 396 cars in Mainland China excluding Hong Kong and Macau and that too in the first four months of 2011. This is an all-time record in the Asian market. After this record, Bentley broke its previous record set just last year, by an amazing 66 percent increase in sales.

Hyundai to become the Sixth Big Automaker in U.S

Achieving 8% is a magic number in U.S. automotive sales. When an automaker hits 8%, they become one of the big guns in auto market. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Dodge and Nissan have already achieved, and Hyundai is expected to achieve in 2011.

Hyundai and its partner-brand Kia have steadily evolving as world-class carmakers. They’re keenly priced, and has a comprehensive quality which majority of new car buyers want in this day and age.

2011 Toyota Venza Reviews

2011 Toyota Venza

Overview
Toyota Venza, 2009 to enter the market and a new model at the same time, the controversy. Prior to the practice and functional properties to unite, the Venza has actually always been a vehicle that had been through this controversy. In 2009, the automaker a vehicle that sells style and comfort combined with the versatility of an SUV. But it is a cross, takes into account their capabilities, size and ground clearance.

The 2011 Toyota Venza looks like a 3.5-liter V-6 engine is based, Toyota offerings to the provision of 268 pounds torque hp/246-pi. Also available online with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder with 182 hp and 246 lb.-ft. Torque. The engine is paired with a engines six-speed tranny automatic transmission. It comes with front-wheel drive or full as well.

Venza sits higher than the Camry, an offer from Toyota, and can tow 3500 pounds. This vehicle combines a high performance, comfort and performance, but have no specific reasons. It is not so bad because the car buyer can customize the site Venza.

2011 Toyota Venza

The area
Style Council: SUV Engines Crossover: 2.7L I-4 3.5-liter V-6 Transmissions: six-speed automatic models: FWD 2.7L, 2.7L AWD, FWD 3.5L, 3.5L 2011 Toyota Venza AWDWhat Newth keep the same team had in 2010. But then the Venza Crossover does not have many new pieces of equipment in the last year or - iPod and USB standard, as Bluetooth connectivity. The Venza is a greater height for better visibility and fuel economy mpg highway and 21 mpg ciudad/29.
Exterior The Toyota Venza has a different grille and a cargo hold of a crossover, but it is clear that the proportion of vehicles in the DNA (and 109.3 in wheelbase) with the Camry sedan. Venza includes 19-inch wheels as standard vehicles with optional 20-inch wheels.

2011 Toyota Venza

Interior
The five-passenger Venza cabin comes with a dual-zone air conditioning, power windows and locks, and six speakers. Glass sunroof, power seats, leather seats, navigation and rear seat DVD entertainment are optional for the Venza.

Performance and handling
With the V-6, there are a lot of energy to the vehicle weight. This led to the Venza at 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 15 seconds flat out to 93.7 mph. Venza address is a bit steep, 20-inch wheels make the trip more difficult (but still pleasant), and roll the suspension when it is pressed.

2011 Toyota Venza

Security
Standard driver and front passenger, driver and front passenger seats in two rows side curtain and driver knee. Also standard on the Toyota Venza improved stability, traction control and ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.

EPA Fuel Economy
2.7L FWD: 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway
2.7L AWD: 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway
3.5L FWD: 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway
3.5L AWD: 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway

You'll Like
    Beautiful interior
    Excellent ergonomics
    Generous cargo space
    Good fuel economy

You Won't Like
    Underpowered four-cylinder
    Rougher ride with 20-inch wheels
    Slightly numb steering

MSRP: $26,625 - $29,900
Invoice: $24,364 - $27,209

Lexus Outpaced by Two of its German Rivals

It took eleven years for Lexus to become the top dog of the U.S luxury car market, and roughly the same amount of time to lose the title. Its because of Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall saga and the fifty percent drop in production capacity caused by the earthquake and the old guard automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have left the Japanese upstart gasping for air in third place.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid Reviews

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid-1

Toyota has marked its presence in almost all vehicle types and a new standard for the restoration of their models to meet for buyers. Toyota Camry Hybrid made his mark for the first time in 1983 and became a successful car. After the 2007 model year, the Camry now comes with new design in 2012 Toyota Camry. The new Camry 2012 is ready to take the edge of the competition Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. 2012 Camry Hybrid is a four-door small car limousine interior is spacious and in a number of options from the base SE model available, the supportiveness of the LE and XLE models top model.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid-2

Look for Camry 2012 to obtain details of the lighting mode to the optical fiber front and rear. And wait a little burnt bottom sides of the body suggest a better route, hugging position. No major changes for this four-door sedan in the size or shape in general planned. The Toyota Camry Hybrid   2012 is probably a little wider than its predecessor. But the track that should remain in the middle of the pack in the middle class.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid-3

New 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid  publication of the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid Pub, specifications, capabilities, contributions, photos and prices. Toyota is one of the leading producers in the production of quality wine car. In 2012, the good news the car with a design like the Toyota Camry will begin in 2012. This is the market for Toyota Camry car, ready to work with major car manufacturers Ford Fusion and Honda Accord compete. Toyota Camry is available in many settings, from the base SE model range available, the supportiveness of the LE and XLE models Premium models.
Toyota feature of this architecture has a wheelbase and width.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid-4

Toyota Camry Hybrid 2012, under the metallic leather has a range of 2.5 liters of whole muscle. The car engine is a four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve line, the energy produced around 169 horsepower. 3.5-liter V6 was available in the machine, so that generate the dynamic 268 hp. Toyota Motor gearbox is a six-speed automatic transmission and manual transmission mechanism. Four-cylinder engine, the vehicle speed at a distance of 33-34mpg on the highway to support.

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid-5

Toyota Camry 2012 should be in showrooms in spring 2011. Award 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid price is $ 20.300 $ 29.900.

The 2011 Toyota Camry Reviews

2011 Toyota Camry-1

                                                                                                Price:- MSRP $19,820 - $29,470 , 
                                                                                                 Invoice $18,531 - $26,817

Toyota Camry 2011 shows 17 out of 21 midsize cars at affordable prices. The best-selling car in America for eight consecutive years, the reputation of the Toyota Camry was damaged by sensational recalls Toyota unintended acceleration (see our Toyota Recall page for details.) Buyers are in a quiet Camry interested can find a cozy, comfortable coaches, but We have seen reports of quality problems with the 2011 Toyota Camr.

2011 Toyota Camry-3

The Americans knew exactly what to expect from the Toyota Camry for years. The  2011 Toyota Camry has a long list of virtues, but virtues are impressive not necessarily reflect the reviewes of automobiles. For fans of Toyota, Toyota Camry 2011 May a great buying opportunity, especially more Toyota Camry has been deducted from the strong incentives represent the recent months.
Buyers of midsize cars are now many excellent family car that will meet your needs.
The Camry was the last time for the 2008 model year revision. The Toyota Camry Hybrid 2011, a close variant of the Camry gas only discussed separately.
Toyota Camry 2011 model comes with two different engines and four trim levels and b of the front wheel driven. Model A 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid was introduced Security features include ABS brakes, stability control and balance, airbags for driver and passenger sit in the front of the knee airbag for driver, passenger and side airbags and side curtain with lights during the day.
Toyota Camry 2011 includes aerodynamic design. to update fog lamps, heated mirrors, electric sunroof and tires some of the optional features.

2011 Toyota Camry-2

The features in the 2011 Toyota Camry may vary on the trim level selected. 2011 Toyota Camry is very broad. The 2.5-liter engine offers a six-speed manual transmission and automatic transmission, while the 3.5-liter engine offered in exchange for a six-speed automatic transmission.
The 2011 Toyota Camry is reliable and has low cost of ownership.

Lincoln, Chrysler - Top brands in 2011 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

Do you get the type of satisfaction that makes you proud to own a car. AutoPacific has researched and found which automakers are doing their best job of keeping customers happy. The results released for the 2011 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA), and you may be surprised to know that Lincoln and Chrysler have taken top honors.

Hyundai launches Genesis Prada in South Korea

A few decades ago, mentioning brands like Hyundai and Prada in the same sentence would have seemed laughable but today Hyundai has a different image and no car could compete such a transformation more than the Genesis.

The Korean automaker announced a partnership two years ago with the Italian fashion house for a concept car but it has now launched the Genesis Prada. This luxury sedan is distinguished with a shark-fin antenna on the roof, offset by dark chrome trim, special 19-inch alloys and a special paint either Brown Moro, Blue Baltico or Black Nero Paints .

2012 Audi A6 Avant to Release Soon

Audi has just released info about its new 2012 Audi A6 Avant. Its body is comprised of bits of aluminum and the A6 benefits has a composite construction that keeps the passengers safe. This lightweight approach has helped the 2012 A6 Avant drop 66 pounds versus the previous model and its as much as 154 pounds lighter than the one it replaces. The base A6 2.0 TDI Avant weighs just 3,616 pounds.

Black Falcon - An Epitome of the Art

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Audi S6 and S7 to Offer Diesel Engines

Among the Audi S lineup, you can pick which S vehicle you cant, but you do not have a say in which engine is mounted under the hood. It seems that the upcoming Audi S6 and S7 might break that tradition. The cars will be available with the diesel lumps, but the badging will keep the A and not wear an S.

Source: autoblog.com

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Kelley Blue Book’s Top 10 Green Cars For 2011

2011 Nissan Leaf

When editors of Kelley Blue Book prepared to select the “Top 10 Green Cars for 2011,” KBB’s annual listing of the most fuel-efficient cars, they sought to balance what buyers want in today’s cars – safety, creature comforts and driving enjoyment – with fuel efficiency. So, instead of just looking at the fuel-economy numbers, the editors also paid attention to cars that are ultra fuel-efficient.
Here is the list of Kelley Blue Book’s “Top 10 Green Cars for 2011.” Note that many do double-duty as excellent family cars – either as the main family sedan or extra car for commuting or in-town driving.

2011 Nissan Leaf

1.    2011 Nissan Leaf – Green inside and out, the all-new and all-electric 2011 Nissan Leaf tops KBB’s list of “Top 10 Green Cars for 2011.” With a Nissan-quoted 73 miles per charge and the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon, the Leaf may not be for everyone, but it does offer a “groundbreaking combination of range, room and price,” says KBB. Recycled materials (made from old car parts, home appliances and plastic bottles) are used extensively throughout the car.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

2.    2011 Chevrolet Volt – KBB says the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric vehicle, has a “93 mpg equivalent.” For the first 35 miles, Volt is all electric. Then the gas engine kicks in to power the car up to an additional 379 miles. In addition, KBB says the Volt “looks like a tasteful vision of the future – inside and out – and is one of the most fun electrically driven cars we’ve driven so far.”

2011 Toyota Prius

3.    2011 Toyota Prius – The original “hybrid for the masses” is still up near the top of the green cars list, due to its stellar 51 mpg city/48 mpg highway fuel economy. Best of all, you drive it just like an ordinary car – no need to change your driving habits.

2011 Lexus CT 200h

4.    2011 Lexus CT 200h – Responsive and athletic – and a hybrid getting 43 mpg city/40 mpg highway, the all-new 2011 Lexus CT 200h “looks like a sporty premium hatchback,” says KBB, “which is exactly what it is.” The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is also the least expensive Lexus you can buy.

2011 Honda Insight

5.    2011 Honda Insight – Its 41-mpg combined fuel economy rating makes the 2011 Honda Insight the third most fuel-efficient hybrid on the road. But it’s also less expensive this year than last (reduced more than $1,000), with starting prices ranging from $18,950 to about $24,000.

2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid

6.    2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid – Ford already has a hit with the Ford Fusion, but the 2011 Fusion Hybrid’s combined EPA-estimated fuel economy of 39 mpg, KBB says Fusion Hybrid was a natural for its list of “Top 10 Green Cars for 2011.”

2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI

7.    2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI – With its 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine capable of delivering 42 mpg highway, the 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI is not only fuel efficient, it’s also a fun drive. European driving feel, interior quality and hatchback utility are other Golf highlights in KBB’s book.
 
2011 Hyundai Elantra
car news and car review carmax.blogspot.com
by familycarguide.com

Cadillac SRX Gets More Power for 2012

Enlarge Photo

GM has announced that it will be offering its direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 engine as standard equipment on the 2012 Cadillac SRX. The new engine will replace the current 3.0-liter V-6 and the 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6, which was discontinued earlier this year.

The engine is the same V-6 that's currently offered in the CTS, putting out 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque in the SRX. Cadillac says that in addition to the added power and torque, it also delivers its torque over a wider range than the 3.0-liter V-6, giving the SRX more flexibility. Speaking of flexibility, the new V-6 is also flex-fuel capable, able to run on gasoline, E85 ethanol, or any combination of the two.

The new engine will make the SRX one of the more powerful vehicles in the two-row luxury crossover market, outpowering the Lexus RX 350, Infiniti EX35, Mercedes-Benz GLK 350, and matching the BMW X3 xDrive35i in horsepower (although it gives up a little in torque to the Bimmer).

Cadillac also unveiled a host of new enhancements for the 2012 SRX. All 2012 Cadillac SRX models get standard Bluetooth, and luxury, premium and performance models receive a new standard heated steering wheel. A new machine-finish 20-inch wheel design is also standard on premium and performance models. Cadillac is even addressing a minor ergonomic quirk in the SRX, adding door lock buttons on the driver's and passenger's door panels. Previously, the button was only on the center console, although that button remains for the 2012 model year.carmax.blogspot.com

by thecarconnection.com

car news and review and  

2012 Cadillac SRX Upgrades To New V-6

2012 Cadillac SRX

With the current model already surging in sales in the luxury crossover segment, the 2012 Cadillac SRX will add even more excitement for prospective buyers: a new engine with more horsepower and torque.
The added boost comes in the form of a new 300-horsepower 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 engine that produces 260 pound-feet of torque. This is 35 more horsepower and 37 more pound-feet of torque than the current 2011 Cadillac SRX 3.0-liter engine generating 265 horsepower and 223 pound-feet of torque.
What does this added horsepower and torque do for the driver? Don Butler, Vice-president of Cadillac marketing says “the new engine will make the SRX more responsive for passing on the highway, entering freeways from on-ramps and climbing hills.”
Cadillac also says the new engine has a wider rpm range for maximum torque, which provides the driver more power across a wider range of speeds and driving conditions. It’s also FlexFuel capable, meaning it can run on gasoline, E85 ethanol, or any combination of the two. While EPA fuel economy ratings have not been finalized, Cadillac says it expects consumers will see “comparable real-world fuel-efficiency.” The current Cadillac SRX is EPA-rated at 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway.
Cadillac SRX models with the new engine arrive in dealerships in late summer. Pricing will be announced closer to production.
General Motors says the more powerful engine will build the sales momentum of the Cadillac SRX, number three best-selling mid-size luxury crossover in 2010 with sales of 51,094. Caddy is ratcheting up so far in 2011, with first-quarter SRX sales up 29 percent to 13,959 and aiming its sights on number-one in the segment, the Lexus RX350. Last year, the Lexus RX350 accounted for 95,790 sales. Number two best-seller in the segment is Cadillac SRX’s corporate sibling, the Buick Enclave, which posted 55,426 sales in 2010.
Interesting note, per Cadillac: the 2012 Cadillac SRX’s more powerful engine is projected to top the Lexus RX350 in both horsepower and torque. Lexus rates the RX350 at 275 horsepower and 257 pounds-feet of torque.
Other SRX enhancements for 2012
Besides the new engine, the 2012 Cadillac SRX will feature Bluetooth phone connectivity on all models, a heated steering wheel on upper trim levels, and door lock switches on the driver and passenger door panels. The new model will continue to have door lock switches on the center console.
The 2012 Cadillac SRX, available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, will also offer new machined-face finish on its 20-inch wheels, which are standard on SRX performance and premium trim levels.


[General Motors]

Lamborghini to produce 20 Sesto Elemento at €2M each

When Lamborghini unveiled the Sesto Elemento Concept Car, everyone thought it would get past the show stand due to its lightweight construction but as for producing the Sesto as is seemed rather outside of the realm of possibility.

We began receiving reports that Lamborghini was preparing to put it into production, albeit severely limited. Then the successive reports suggested that the car could be strictly limited to avoid costly homologation procedures.

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid Price Starts at $26,500*

The 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid will be available at $26,500 for sale excluding $750 for destination and handling. The $26,500 represents an increase of $705 versus the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Like its Sonata kin, the Optima Hybrid uses the automaker's 2.4-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine, mated to an electric motor and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

2011 Lexus IS 250C and IS 350C: Car Seat Check

The 2011 Lexus IS 250C is the hardtop convertible version of the IS 250, a sporty sedan. While the IS sedan can hold five passengers, the IS 250C carries four. There’s also a significant difference in rear legroom between the two models. The sedan has 30.6 inches of legroom in the second row; the convertible has only 25.9 inches, which made it difficult to install rear-facing child-safety seats in it. Our results can also be applied to the 2011 Lexus IS 350C, which offers a more powerful V-6 engine than its 250C sibling.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat. We also install the infant seat in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and convertible in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible.
Here’s how the 2011 IS 250C and IS 350C did in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check:
Latch system: There are two sets of lower Latch anchors in the convertible’s two-person backseat. The anchors are deeply buried in the seat bight, where the back and bottom cushions meet. The seats have significant seat bolsters and the anchors are set close together, making it difficult to install a car seat.
Two tether anchors sit under hinged covers at the base of the roll bars. The covers make it difficult to use the anchors. We had to flop the head restraints forward to get at the anchors.

Booster seat: The seat bolsters helped give our high-back booster seat a good fit in the convertible. However, the limited legroom in the second row will create problems for a child sitting in the seat. The seat belt buckles are well-anchored and sit high enough that kids in boosters can easily use them.


Convertible seat: To get the rear-facing convertible to fit in the IS 250C, we had to move the front passenger seat all the way forward. This left no room for the front passenger. We also had fit problems with the forward-facing convertible. The rear seatback has little to no recline, which pushed the convertible far forward. At least half of the convertible’s base was off of the bottom seat cushion. This shows yet again that not every car seat fits in every car.

Infant-safety seat: We also had to move the front passenger seat all the way forward to get this rear-facing car seat to fit in the convertible. As with the rear-facing convertible, there wasn’t enough room for the front passenger.

How many car seats fit? 2, but they’ll need to be forward-facing
Editor’s note: For three car seats—infant-safety seat, convertible and booster seats—to fit in a car, our criteria is that a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat.
by motherproof.com

Spyker CEO Clears The Air About Saab, Looks Ahead To 9-4X

 

2011 Saab 9-4X
Enlarge Photo

Saab is still alive—and well, according to Victor Muller, the CEO of Spyker Cars, Saab's owner.
And in recent days, Saab has been on a hiring spree. Monday, Saab Cars North America named Timothy Colbeck its new president and CEO. Colbeck was most recently vice president, sales, at Subaru of America. And last week, Saab announced that it hired James Sweeting—a Honda veteran—as its new national sales director.
It might be a little hard to believe, given all the brand's upheaval in the news. Just over the past two months, we've reported a potential bankruptcy; potential plans for Saab to build vehicles for other automakers; supply issues; a production stoppage and cash crisis; and new lifelines from Russia and China. And that's of course all after Spyker Cars bought Saab last year, saving the brand from a likely demise when General Motors was on the verge of shuttering it.
Breaking GM ties were costly
Prior to flying back out to China to formalize a deal that will save the storied Swedish brand, Muller cleared the air a bit about the events of the past couple of months, explaining that "everything in Saab was GM—GM financing, GM terms, GM suppliers, and these things of course start to come apart when you become an independent player," he explained, in a presentation to the press in Washington, D.C., who had assembled for the launch of the new Saab 9-4X.
Saab ended 2010 with 18,000 fewer cars produced and sold than it had anticipated, and it limped into 2011 in bad financial shape.
From uncertainty to full-blown financial crisis, in two hours
"Unfortunately on the 29th of March we called the bluff of one of our suppliers who said that if you don't do what I want, I'm not going to open the doors of my truck, and if I don't open the doors of my truck, you're not going to get the parts. Well, he was serious, and we screwed up. Because it caused a production stoppage of two hours."
News spread quickly in a media environment that had already taken a very critical slant about the automaker, Muller explained, and the troubled quickly multiplied. "Within two hours of that stoppage, we didn't have one supplier with a problem. We had 92. And that started to completely unravel it," recounted Muller. And soon, 20 million euros had turned into 90 million euros.

Saab logo

Little-known Hawtai saves Saab
Overall, Spyker secured about 150 million euros ($215 million) of additional funding that can go into the company whenever it's needed. As part of the deal, China's Hawtai Motor Group gets a nearly 30-percent stake in Saab and would get production rights for some Saab models in its home market (beginning with the former version of the 9-5).
Ultimately, Muller takes the blame for not anticipating the trouble. "There's only one person to blame for this, and that's me; because I should have been prepared," he said. "It should have never happened. But it did."
Muller said that he had already been working to get more money onboard, with negotiations with the Chinese beginning earlier in the fall.
New 9-4X being built, but Swedish production not quite back rolling
Production in Sweden could restart as early as next week, Saab officials estimate, with the automaker's Trollhattan plant making the 9-5 sedan, and a 9-5 SportCombi on the way in the next month (due to the U.S. in September). All while plans push ahead for an all-new Saab 9-3 that will bow about a year from now.
Ahead of that, production began early this week on the first 2011 Saab 9-4X crossover models—at GM's Ramos Arizpe, Mexico plant, alongside the Cadillac SRX. Ramos Arizpe has in recent years assembled the Chevrolet HHR, the former versions of the Chevrolet Equinox (and Pontiac Torrent), the Saturn Vue, and the Pontiac Aztek, among others. GM has committed to be able to build up to 12,000 9-4X models annually at Ramos, with much of that capacity
Will the new 9-4X give Saab a good foothold on the crossover market? Stay tuned for a first drive later this week.
 by .thecarconnection.com

Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and Axeon Build Electric Defender

One of the more obnoxious experiences we’ve had in a lifetime of memorably obnoxious experiences was bombing through the narrow streets of Dublin’s fair city in a Land Rover Defender 110 van. Though not gigantic by American SUV standards, the old Landie positively dwarfed most cars on the streets of Baile Átha Cliath. In an attempt to make the LWB successor to the classic Land Rover Series models a bit more socially acceptable, European electric-drive specialists Axeon have teamed up with Jaguar Land Rover South Africa to build an AC-powered Defender 110 for use in the country’s game preserves.
According to Axeon, the pickup-bodied, 193-hp Land Rover holds enough energy for thrice the typical game-preserve cruise in its 28.8 kilowatt-hour battery pack, offering roughly 50 miles of regular travel with another 12 in reserve. The trick bit of tech is that the battery pack’s designed to fit in the Defender’s engine bay, rather than underfloor, preserving the truck’s ground clearance and stream-fording capability. It’s on display right now at African tourism expo INDABA in Durban, South Africa.

by blog.caranddriver.com

Fastlane Starts Tuning Ford F-150 EcoBoost V-6

Traditional truck buyers aren't the only ones getting their hands on the first 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost V-6 trucks. Tuners are, too. Our friends at Fastlane in Houston are already squeezing more power and performance from the advanced direct-injection twin-turbo engine.
Bolting on a set of high-flow catalytic converters with wide pipes added 30 horsepower at the rear wheels, as measured on Fastlane's chassis dyno. They also lowered the truck, mounted a PLX boost gauge inside on the A-pillar to show turbo boost levels, and painted the engine's beauty cover to match the exterior and skinned it with a carbon-fiber-style laminate.
We spent 30 minutes behind the wheel to check out its peformance. Despite the lowered ride height, the F-150 still rode great on the highway. The biggest difference was the improvement in zero-to-60-mph times compared with what we've previously measured.

We clocked Fastlane's EcoBoost F-150 (3.73 rear axle) at 6.07 seconds from a full stop to 60 mph with our VBOX test kit. That's compared with 6.79 seconds (3.55) and 6.82 seconds (3.73) in two stock F-150s we've previously tested. We also clocked the truck in the quarter-mile at 14.97 seconds at 92.61 mph. Not too shabby for a relatively simple hardware upgrade.
Fastlane says the best is yet to come, but it's going to take a while longer. Fastlane's tuning braniacs are still trying to crack the strong encryption Ford has put in place around the EcoBoost's electronic control unit. Once they do, they plan to remove the stock turbos and replace them with high-performance BorgWarner EFR turbos that feature lightweight titanium turbine wheels for faster spool-up.
We'll be paying close attention to Fastlane's efforts to push the performance of Ford's EcoBoost F-150. Stay tuned.

by news.pickuptrucks.com

Forget the Aftermarket: Mopar Introduces Eight Special Grilles, Six Styles of Wheels for the New Chrysler 300

Part of what made the first-gen Chrysler 300 such an irrefutable hit was its popularity with aftermarket parts suppliers and tuners; the car was a virtual blank canvas for customizers. Chrysler is courting those same people with its new 300—though this time, it won’t send them to the aftermarket without showing them the Mopar catalog first, wherein they will see no fewer than eight unique grille designs and six designs of custom wheels. The grilles include the standard seven-bar design with either bright or satin-finished chrome; another is a fine wire mesh insert in black or bright chrome; there’s a glitzy diamond-pattern lace insert in bright chrome; a ribbed, perforated black chrome grille á la the 2012 300C SRT-8; and our favorite, a 13-bar billet grille patterned after the grille of the original Chrysler 300. Prices are surprisingly reasonable, too, ranging from $310 to $750.
Wheel designs include three 20-inchers—a 10-spoke design in two finishes and one five-spoker in black chrome—a 19-inch “satin carbon” eight-spoke wheel intended for all-wheel-drive models, and two 18-inch five-spoke designs in two finishes. Prices for these start at $265 per rim and run up to $610 each.

Naturally, the tuning community will take the new 300 to the extreme, and will offer everything from grilles emblazoned with the Superman logo to scissor doors. But Mopar’s offerings are available right away, and bring that special manufacturer’s touch. With reasonable pricing, too, they should have no trouble finding buyers.
by blog.caranddriver.com

Mazda Not Planning to Discontinue the 6, Contrary to Reports

Despite an unattributed claim by a Japanese business newspaper earlier today, Mazda is not canceling its slow-selling 6 sedan. The company confirmed to Car and Driver that “there is no intention to discontinue” the model. This is consistent with what we were told during a recent conversation with Mazda’s U.S. CEO Jim O’Sullivan, who indicated that the present generation of 6 would be around for the next several years.
At the same time, O’Sullivan told us not to expect any major changes for the 6 in the next two years beyond the introduction of the company’s new four-cylinder SKYACTIV engine and transmissions. A diesel is not planned for the 6 at this time, although one is headed to another Mazda product (we suspect it’s the CX-5 or CX-9) in the next 18 months.
It is possible, however, that the Mazda 6 will no longer be built at the company’s Flat Rock, Michigan, facility. The factory is shared with Ford, and it’s possible Mazda could eventually move production of the 6 to Mexico to take advantage of less-expensive labor there. Ford recently claimed that it pays $8/hour more for labor at its UAW facilities—including the AAI plant where the 6 is built—than it does in non-union factories. That said, Mazda has not given any indication that this is going to happen.
by  blog.caranddriver.com