Auto Mobiles

She's been sentenced to a 90-day jail term for charges related to drunk driving.

In what must have been one of the most shining moments in British motoring, McLaren showed off its latest creation, the MP4-12C, at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Spyker, Celebrities, Luxury

It's the Spyker C8 Laviolette's turn to tour Jay Leno's Garage, and it holds its own under the lights with a Rocket, McLaren F1 and Jay's Ecojet playing character roles in the background.

Leno spends half the 11-minute video crawling all over the 400-horsepower, 2,800-pound C8 with a Spyker sales rep from Galpin Auto Sports, and we learn a unique fact in the process... how many of you knew that the C8's ignition is in the glove compartment? For the rest of the Spyker's secrets and its terrific roar, follow the jump for the video.



[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno welcomes Spyker C8 Laviolette into his garage

Video: Jay Leno welcomes Spyker C8 Laviolette into his garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, BMW, Luxury

The King is dead, long live the King. BMW dropped us a line to say that the V10-powered M5 supersedan is no more. Production has officially ended on the E60 version of one the world's best sports sedan after five years and 20,548 units. That's even greater than the production numbers of its predecessor, the V8-powered E39 models, even though those versions had an additional year of production.

When it was first released in 2005 as a 2006 model, the E60 was a fairly outrageous automotive offering, with an exotic 5.0-liter V10 and 507 horsepower on tap. This generation of M5 introduced the world to a whole new set of superlatives as automotive journalists reached for their Roget's to find a novel way to describe the acceleration, braking and handling. And now that the E60 is no more.

But BMW wants us to rejoice rather than lament the passing of the E60, for the new F10 BMW M5 is just around der Karussell. We've been seeing spy shots of the 2011 BMW M5 seemingly forever, and with its new twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 rumored to be producing 560 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque, performance should even be a step above the E60. That doesn't mean we won't miss the E60, however. The good news is that they should be getting even more affordable on the used car market. Follow the jump to read the release and check out a few of our favorite E60 M5 reviews from the blokes at Top Gear and their more sane siblings at Fifth Gear.



[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW M5 production comes to an end [w/video]

BMW M5 production comes to an end [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.7.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, China, Plants/Manufacturing, Spyker, Rumormill, Luxury

Spyker has its sights set firmly on the blooming Chinese auto market, and according to a report from the China Car Times, the company plans to produce and market a road-legal version of its GT2 racer just for the People's Republic. Supposedly the car will be both longer and wider, and will feature a host of creature comforts to help bridge the gap between the racetrack and public streets. Now, here's the really surprising part: the car is set to be launched in October of this year. If that's the case, development of the vehicle must be almost complete.

China Car Times also mentions that Spyker is planning to build a larger four-door model just for Chinese customers as well. Both vehicles will feature design elements that have been specifically crafted just for the new market. Eventually, Spyker hopes China will become the company's second largest market after the United States. With all of the money floating around the Asian country's economy at the moment, we can't imagine that the goal is too much of a stretch.



[Source: China Car Times]

Report: Spyker to launch Chinese Edition GT2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Hatchback, Subaru, Australia

If you're in the market for an all-wheel drive hatchback with 300 horsepower and an extensive track pedigree, you're probably looking for a Subaru WRX STI. Hope you know how to drive a stick, though, because the only available transmission here in the States is a six-speed manual. If you're thinking "good!" we're most definitely with you, but if you're interested in a slush box you're going to have to pass on the STI all-together. Unless you live in Australia.

Subaru is offering a five-speed automatic for the Australian market, apparently because of high demand. Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia says in the post-jump press release that the company has had "increasing inquires about an auto over the last two years and we're delighted to be able to deliver what a significant number of customers have requested." Senior added that the five-speed slush box will reflect the hatchback's athletic nature while appealing to a wider audience.

We're all for car-buyers getting whatever they want, as long as a proper manual transmission is also offered. Keep in mind that the automatic tranny is only being announced for the Australian market, and there is no indication that we'll see a five-speed slusher in the States. We wouldn't be surprised if we did, though, considering Americans' love for the automatic, coupled with the fact that the Land Down Under is such a small market.



[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Subaru WRX STI gets five-speed automatic option... Down Under

Subaru WRX STI gets five-speed automatic option... Down Under originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo, in case you hadn't noticed, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. And it seems like rumors of an Alfa CUV have been floating around for just as long. But the wait may finally be over as the Italian automaker reportedly plans on making it up to its customers with not one, but two new crossover models.

With its sights set firmly on Audi's Q5 and upcoming Q3 compact crossovers, the two-pronged approach may help Alfa launch into the CUV market. The smaller of the two is tipped to be based on the new C-Evo platform developed for and recently launched on the Giulietta, while the larger model could borrow Jeep underpinnings, substantiating earlier reports. Expect the first to come along in a couple of years and the second to follow a couple of years after that, with North American sales a distinct possibility.



[Source: Autocar]

Kamal-Back: Alfa Romeo reportedly cooking up two new crossovers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: China, Europe, Government/Legal, Ford, Volvo, Geely, Luxury

Volvo and Geely have taken another step toward holy matrimony. The European Union has officially approved the Chinese company's takeover of the Swedish manufacturer. The EU found that the move wouldn't stifle competition within its borders and gave all of the interested parties the green light. Ford originally agreed to sell Geely its former ward in March of this year, and the $1.8 billion dollar purchase is well on its way to becoming reality.

The move is a big one, not just for Volvo and Geely, but the whole of the Chinese auto market. According to Reuters, the buy is the largest overseas automotive acquisition any Chinese company has made to date. We would be surprised if it were the last, though.



[Source: Reuters]

EU clears Volvo's sale to Geely originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln

The 2011 Lincoln MKX delivers 15 percent more horsepower (305 ponies in all) and 12 percent more torque (280 pound-feet) than the outgoing model, and that added power comes with the added bonus of improved efficiency. The Environmental Protection Agency has rated the 2011 MKX at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg around the highway, besting the Lexus RX350 by one mpg in the city and on the highway. That's a combined 21 mpg, which Ford says is enough to best its nine closest competitors.

Ford was able to crank up ponies while also ratcheting up efficiency by adding twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to its 3.7-liter V6 engine. TI-VCT enables a larger torque-curve while also improving power by 10 percent and efficiency by 4.5 percent versus an engine without the technology. The 3.7-liter engine, which is also available on the 2011 Mustang and the 2011 Edge Sport, also utilizes aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff to further increase efficiency. Basically, the engine shuts down whenever the driver doesn't need engine torque.

The EPA has also rated the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, which scores 36 mpg on the highway and 41 mpg in the city. That's the same numbers as the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which shares a common powertrain, and six mpg better than the smaller Lexus HS250h. Hit the jump to read over the Ford presser.



[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Lincoln MKX gets 19/26 MPG ratings, Ford claims best-in-class

2011 Lincoln MKX gets 19/26 MPG ratings, Ford claims best-in-class originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments