Auto Mobiles

The new J.D. Power survey shows, for the first time in 13 years, Detroit models make owners happier than imports.

All cars in NHRA's Top Fuel, Funny Cars, Top Alcohol and Top Alcohol Funny Cars classes will have to use carbon-fiber rear brake rotors by next week.

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, SUV, Videos, Porsche, Luxury

According to the Porsche, the 4,784-pound, 500-horsepower Porsche Cayenne Turbo gets from zero to sixty in 4.4 seconds. The 3,219-pound, 385-hp 911 Carrera 4S with PDK takes 4.3 seconds to run the same distance. With such remarkably close acceleration times, Autocar wanted to see if the Cayenne Turbo could hang with the 911 around Millbrook's 1.39-kilometer Outer Handling Circuit. The answer: A lot better than expected. Follow the jump to watch Steve Sutcliffe run both Porsches ragged. Top tip, Steve!

[Source: Autocar]

Continue reading Video: Autocar pits Porsche 911 4S against Cayenne Turbo... who wins?

Video: Autocar pits Porsche 911 4S against Cayenne Turbo... who wins? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hyundai

Hyundai isn't content to just sit back and rest on its laurels. Despite the fact its Genesis Coupe, which was just introduced for the 2009 model year, has earned plenty of praise - including here on our own pages - the Korean automaker has upped the ante for 2011 with a host of new detail changes and one completely new model to spice things up.

The biggest single piece of news is the addition of an R-Spec package for the 3.8 V6-powered coupe. Previously only available on the smaller-engined 2.0T, the R-Spec model includes all the goodies to make the car go, turn and stop as quickly as possible without adding the frilly stuff to hold it back... or add dollars and unwanted weight.

To the standard 306-horsepower V6 mated up to a six-speed manual transmission, the R-Spec adds 19-inch wheels with a gunmetal finish, Brembo brake package with 13.4-inch ventilated front rotors, stiffer suspension, a limited slip differential and sportier seats with larger bolsters. Naturally, appropriate badging is also included.

All Genesis Coupe models get a refinished interior for 2011 with soft-touch, matte-finish surfaces and dark metal-grain accents on key bits and pieces, along with softer leather on the steering wheel and cloth-wrapping on the A-pillars. There's also new chrome trim on the shifter bezel, center stack knobs and gauge cluster rings.

There's plenty more for the truly obsessive to, um... obsess over, so feel free to check out all the details in the press release after the break.



[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai releases Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec for 2011

Hyundai releases Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.15.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Rolls-Royce, Luxury

The last time Mansory showed us one of its Rolls-Royce Ghost creations, it was OMG! drenched in blue and gold. But if you took that same car and re-hued it in white, well, all of a sudden we could be on to something. The White Ghost Limited is a three-of-a-kind special that adds a mild body kit and rear spoiler, LED running lights up front and on the mirrors, and a new dual exhaust out back.

The inside is a little more intense, but put into Mansory context next to the Bentley Vitesse Rose and Panamera Turbo, it's as subtle as an English butler. Thankfully, things are upgraded under the hood, with a 66-horsepower jump to 629 ponies and a boost of 60 pound-feet to 634. That means a 4.5-second run from zero to 62 miles per hour and a higher top speed of 180 mph. It'll run you €119,800 ($152,407 U.S.) on top of the price of the standard Ghost, but if you just prefer to window shop, there's a press release after the jump and a gallery of high-res photos below.



[Source: Mansory]

Continue reading Rolls-Royce White Ghost shows Mansory at its most restrained

Rolls-Royce White Ghost shows Mansory at its most restrained originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's a magical place where they race RWD, V8-powered sedans built by American-owned companies that actually resemble the cars they're based on.

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz has a lot on its plate at the moment. In addition to the spy shots we've seen of the next-generation GL, ML, SLK and C-Class Coupe, our men in the trees have spotted this S-Class mule out roaming the streets, giving us a glimpse at what the all-new flagship Benz will have in store when it launches in the next few years.

Up front, it appears that the headlamps have been reduced in size and our spies indicate that full-LED units will be in place for the 2012 model year. Additionally, the front grille appears larger, mimicking what we've seen in the F700 concept car. Under the hood, we expect a full range of new engines, including gasoline, diesel and hybrid variations, keeping the big S-Class competitive with what the rest of the luxury barges coming to market in the next few years.

We fully expect to see more spy shots of the new S-Class as development continues, so stay tuned. As for the official reveal, look for that to happen sometime in 2011 with production models hitting the road in 2012.



[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class struts its stuff out in public originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Sedan, Europe, Citroën, Electric, Luxury

If you were disheartened by reports last week that Citroën had shelved plans to build the GTbyCitroën concept, we've got better news for you this week. Much better news, in fact.

First of all, follow-up reports claim that Citroën hasn't killed the program, so the proverbial jury is still out on whether it will get built or not. But that's not even the good part, as Britain's Autocar magazine has it on good authority that the French automaker is working on bringing two more recent concepts into production.

The first is the pint-size Survolt concept unveiled in Geneva, a model that more recently ran the Circuit de la Sarthe at the Le Mans Classic... with a more appealing paint scheme, too. According to reports, Citroën is evaluating putting the little electric sportscar into limited production, and even launching a one-make spec racing series (like the Porsche Supercup or Ferrari Challenge) specifically for the Survolt. Sounds enticing, and we've put together a nice big fresh image gallery of the concept at Le Mans for the occasion.

That's not the end of it, however, as the Chevron marque is also reportedly evaluating production possibilities for the Metropolis concept, a car that could halo the company's premium line with a DS9 nameplate. The sleek limousine was unveiled in concept form at the Shanghai Motor Show, and if for the Chinese market alone could be worth putting into production. With the German luxury marques forging into the supermini category, Citroën is rearing for a fight, and launching a luxury sedan back at 'em could be just what the docteur ordered.




[Source: Autocar]

Citroën reportedly considering producing Survolt, Metropolis concepts [w/pics aplenty] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, Volvo, UAW/Unions

Ford Motor Company is making changes at the top of its organization, including an expanding roll for up-and-coming marketing chief Jim Farley. A new Detroit Free Press report indicates that the former Toyota marketing whiz will be elevated to the roll of global marketing chief effective August 1. That's significant in part because this will be the first time The Blue Oval has ever had a head of global marketing - in the past the job was handled on a regional basis.

In other FoMoCo management moves, Stephen Odell, vice president and CEO of Volvo Cars, will move over to the top spot at Ford of Europe as soon as the sale of Volvo is completed. The move will free current head of Ford Of Europe John Flemming to concentrate on his other role as head of global manufacturing and labor affairs. The top spot in labor figures to be a particularly important post in the near-term due to the 2011 contract negotiations scheduled with the United Auto Workers.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Ford]

Ford's Jim Farley reportedly promoted to global marketing post originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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