Autoblog: News Thread

[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Details on Dodge Challenger drivetrains

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Dodge

click above image for more high-res pics of the Dodge Challenger Concept

The Ford Mustang has held court in the modern day muscle car segment long enough. At least that's what Chevy and Dodge would like you to believe, as both brands are prepping their answer to the Mustang as we speak. Dodge's offering will of course be the new Challenger, and Allpar.com has dug up some news on the rear-wheel-drive muscle car's productions specs that was previously unknown. Along with detail information on each of the Challenger's drivetrains, including engines, transmissions and axle ratios, Allpar.com reveals two new features that the Challenger will sport when it goes on sale sometime next year as a 2009 model. The first is the same Hill Start Assist technology used on the Dodge Ram, Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee and Liberty. Like the name suggests, HSA will hold the car in place on a hill, giving the driver a small amount of time to switch pedals and begin applying throttle. Hopefully it will save a few rear bumpers from some expensive bodywork. The second feature is called the Trak Pak, which is reportedly just a marketing term for a specific combination of transmission, shfiter and gearing. Available on R/T and SRT-8 models, the Tremec 6-speed manual is included, as well as a limited slip differential, though the axle ratio appears to vary between the two models on which the Trak Pak is included.

Follow the jump for more including a complete breakdown of the Dodge Challenger's drivetrains.

[Source: Allpar.com]Continue reading Details on Dodge Challenger drivetrains

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Absolutely Fabulous: Jennifer Saunders takes second spot on Top Gear celebr

Filed under: Etc., Euro

click above image to view Jennifer Saunders' fast lap

Top Gear's "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment is just one of the many reasons why we love this show so much. Though half the time we can't recognize the famous British "star" the show has got lapping its track in a Chevy Lacetti, it's hilarious to watch these wannabes put their driving skills, or lack thereof, to the test in a powder-blue econo cream puff. The most recent episode (Episode 7, Series 10) featured Jennifer Saunders in the Lacetti's hot seat. We actually do know who she is, as Comedy Central used to air an endless string of Absolutely Fabulous episodes back in the day, of which Saunders was one half of the leading female duo. Turns out that she's also a car buff, genuinely impressing Jeremy Clarkson with her knowledge of Alfa Romeos, Porsches and her maligned love of Bristols. Saunders is also as competitive as they come, though she was aiming low when trying to post a lap time faster than any female had gone before. After a near flawless lap, her time turned out to be 1:46.1, second only to Simon Cowell who posted a 1:45.9. She beat out Hugh Grant (1:47.7), Ewan McGregor (1:48.0) and a laundry list of people who are famous only within the confines of the Queen's domain. She also toasted the next fastest female, Dame Helen Mirren, who took 1:52.8 seconds to lap the Top Gear track. Bravo for Jennifer Saunders we say. You can watch the segment after the jump, including the winning lap itself that actually manages to make a Lacetti look smooth around a track.

Thanks for the tip, Derek!

[Source: Top Gear, YouTube]Continue reading Absolutely Fabulous: Jennifer Saunders takes second spot on Top Gear celebrity lap list

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Toyota builds the ultimate driving sim in the name of safety

Filed under: Safety, Tech, Toyota

Toyota has built a 15-foot-high, 23-foot-wide, 78-ton driving simulator "for effectively analyzing the driving characteristics of average drivers." The simulator allows Toyota to work on specific driving issues in a controlled environment, and to study mental aspects of driving such as decision making, which are among the most important considerations when trying to develop the next wave of gotta-have-it safety features.
The NHTSA has a comparable simulator, and Toyota used some of that technology to create its own. There's a Lexus inside the dome, and its walls are 360-degrees of computer-animated scenery. The dome moves in all directions to realistically recreate the sensations of driving, and allows Toyota to research driving habits and test safety devices without endangering anyone. Toyota is also using the system to work on features that might benefit specific groups of people, like teens and the elderly, or tired drivers. As far as we can tell, however, Toyota's driving sim seems to lack an HDMI or component input for our Xbox 360, which is a shame.

[Source: IHT]
Continue reading Toyota builds the ultimate driving sim in the name of safety

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: First Jaguar XF rolls of production line

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Euro, Jaguar

click above image to view a few more shots of the first Jaguar XF

Is today the dawn of a new era for Jaguar or just another 24 hours of circling the drain? The very first Jaguar XF sedan rolled off of the production line today at the company's Castle Bromwich plant in jolly old England, so what happens next is anyone's guess. The car is a Vapour Grey 4.2L V8 SV8 model (that's the supercharged one) and surprisingly will not be sold to the public. Despite Jaguar desperately needing the profit from every car sold, the first one is being donated to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust collection. The rest will go on sale next March in 66 markets, including the U.S. where interest in the new cat is high, at least for a Jaguar. That's a bit unfair, as the XK and XKR are gems that garner quite a bit of praise, from us included. Nevertheless, until Jaguar starts delivering the XF, we can't say whether it follows in the footsteps of the forgettable S-Type it's replacing or aspires to be the four-door version of Jaguar's wonderful coupe.

[Source: Jaguar]

Gallery: First production Jaguar XF

Continue reading First Jaguar XF rolls of production line

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Rendered Speculation: Nissan Silvia on comeback trail?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Nissan

Last December we reported that Nissan was seriously considering a rear-wheel-drive replacement for the much missed 240SX, a.k.a. the Silvia in Japan. Rumors have continued to surface since then of Nissan's plans, with Winding Road even posting spy shots of a mule this past summer that may have been such a car undergoing testing. Another blog by the name of Rocket Punch Auto Blog claims to know that a new Silvia has gotten the green light and will arrive by 2010 with a price point between &yen;2,000,000 and 2,500,000 ($18,435 and 23,044 USD). These renderings (click here to view rear shot) show what a new 240SX and Silvia might look like when it debuts on a modified version of the 350Z's platform. Regardless of how the car looks, the prospect of a new reasonably-priced rear-wheel-drive offering from any automaker is exciting news to us. We await the day in the near future when Nissan's 240SX/Silvia descendant shares a stoplight with a new incarnation of Toyota's famous AE86, which is also rumored to be in development. Throw in a Pontiac Solstice Coupe for good measure and we have ourselves a new bang-for-the-buck performance segment.

[Source: Rocket Punch Auto Blog via Motor Authority]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Make your car greener with Grass on the Dash

Filed under: Etc., Green
Year after year there are hucksters trying to sell miracle devices that reduce your fuel consumption. They're almost always proven to be complete shams. But now you can truly make your car greener for less than the cost of a tank of gas.

Pot your favorite flora in the Grass on the Dash planter and offset some of that carbon belched out by your gas-guzzler. If you're driving something particularly bad at conserving fuel, we suggest getting several. The GOTD's suction cup mount will stick to any glass surface, so make use of the windshield, side windows, sunroof, etc. The more greenery growing in your G-Wagon, the less guilt you'll have about the melting icecaps.

Or better yet, grow your own crops to offset the cost of gas! As far as we known there's no law against growing most cash crops in your car. We suggest several pots of corn that you can convert into ethanol.

[Source: Grass on the Dash]

Thanks for the tip, Ryan!
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Big plans for GM's new Delta small-car platform

Filed under: Coupes, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, SUVs, Tech, Crossovers/CUVs, GM
GM's new compact front-wheel-drive platform created to replace the Delta platform is longer with a longer wheelbase than its predecessor. This will give allow it to underpin at least eight new models in a range of segments and markets around the world. Compare that to the current Delta platform, which sits under just six models (including the current Cobalt and coming Astra), all of them small or mid-sized vehicles.
The as-yet-unnamed platform is expected by 2012 to be produced in volumes exceeding one million units per year. It will form the basis for small, economy models to be sold in emerging markets for under $10,000, as well as luxury models sold in Europe for $40,000, and everything in between. The extra length will also allow it to underpin a small Chevy minivan or CUV, as well as a 7-passenger SUV replacement for the Opel Zafira. Other variants include the next-gen Saturn Astra in 2009 or 2010, a South-Korean-market Daewoo, a European Chevrolet, a China-market Buick, the Chevy Volt, and a potential Saab model.
The new platform will also allow GM to exploit the economies of scale that it can't do now with the Delta, because region-specific engineering has often made the platform unusable in some markets. The new platform "will be identical across the globe," and the same suppliers will be used in many cases, hopefully allowing GM to take real advantage of the global platform its been working on for some time now. In the mean time, the Cobalt is expected to ditch the Delta platform in favor of the also front-wheel-drive Gamma platform, and the Pontiac G5 will be put on the Alpha rear-wheel-drive platform, all according to Automotive News. Mmm... a RWD Pontiac G5 would almost make up for the current model.

[Source: Auto News, sub. req'd]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Mr. Porsche goes to Washington: Low-volume CAFE classification could save P

Filed under: Sports/GTs, SUVs, Government/Legal, Green, Porsche
The Senate bill to raise CAFE changes the definition of a low-volume manufacturer from a company that produces 10,000 cars worldwide per year, to a company that has less than 0.4-percent of the US market -- which would be about 64,000 vehicles currently. Porsche sold 34,227 cars and SUVs in the U.S. last year, and if the new classification stands, as a low-volume manufacturer Porsche could benefit from relaxed standards and save itself a heap of money in fines. The provision would also open the door for Jaguar and Land Rover to be reclassified once they are sold.

Under current CAFE regulations, Porsche paid $4.6 million in fines last year. When the new regulations are adopted, that number stands to increase significantly, which is why Porsche wants to keep the new low-volume provision in tact and has hired a full-time lobbyist to make that happen. Other automakers, of course, are not too happy about Porsche's efforts, with a Mercedes lobbyist saying 64,000 cars "isn't really a small number." The question is, could a Porsche that owns VW still be a low-volume manufacturer?

[Source: Auto News, sub req'd]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Baileyspeed Blade goes from daydream to concept car

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Sports/GTs


How many times have you been stuck in traffic and let your mind wander, dreaming of your personally designed supercar? Take the beltline of that, the fenders of this, those headlights and whatever engine that is you can hear three cars over. Few of us have the resources, talent or time to make it a reality, but Neal Bailey apparently has all three, and the rendering you see above is what his mental wandering came up with: the Baileyspeed Blade.

Sure, you're thinking, "Yeah, nice computer model. Anybody with a mouse can do that." But check out the second picture. Yep, that's Neal Bailey sitting in the Blade as it's being mocked up in Baileyspeed's top-secret workshop (a.k.a. Bailey's garage).

The car's stats are as impressive as its looks, too. A Roush 353 with 480 HP. Fiberglass over box steel frame with a target weight of 2,200 pounds. Four-wheel independent suspension and six-way adjustable shocks and adjustable coil-overs. Price? Bailey only says he hopes to make it "affordable", a truly relative term if you ask someone on a blogger's income.

Bailey tells us that he hopes to have a for-sale version by the end of 2008 depending on how development goes. We asked him a few questions about the project, and you can read the interview after the jump. Be sure to check out our gallery for a few select photos of the Blade's development, and if you want more, there are literally hundreds on Baileyspeed's website.

Gallery: Baileyspeed Blade

Continue reading Baileyspeed Blade goes from daydream to concept car

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: 2007 Class of The World's Most Beautiful Automobiles

Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Wagons/Estates, Etc., Euro, Crossovers/CUVs, Supercars, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Lamborghini, Lexus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Volvo, Renault, Opel, Peugeot, FIAT

Click the image above for a hi-res gallery of the Revent&oacute;n
The Lamborghini Revent&oacute;n has been named L'Automobile pi&ugrave; Bella del Mondo. Translation: The World's Most Beautiful Automobile. It earned this honor in the Special Models category of this annual automotive fashion show, recently held for the fifteenth time at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy. There are eleven categories in all, though the Special Models category is generally considered to be the big winner. Other cats include your various sizes of sedans, coupes, convertibles, station wagons, crossovers, sports cars and concept cars. The judging panel included artists, architects, designers, a historian, and a journalist.
We like the Revent&oacute;n and would even buy one if we had &euro;1 million -- and an invitation -- lying around, but we don't know if it's the most beautiful car in the world. One vehicle we did expect to see on the list is the Aston Martin DBS in the Sports Car category, followed in second place by the supremely tasty Maserati GranTurismo. Lexus should also be happy with its LS 460 deemed the second most beautiful large sedan in the world. What's more beautiful than the LS 460? Why the LS 600h, of course. Follow the jump for the full list of this year's winners.
[Source: Top Speed]
Continue reading 2007 Class of The World's Most Beautiful Automobiles

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Herd of cattle may herald arrival of 2009 Dodge Ram in Detroit

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Etc., Chrysler, Dodge, Misc. Auto Shows


Chrysler debuts are legendary among the automotive press, particularly the shows that the company puts on at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit every January. In the past, they've driven through plate glass windows and drowned an unsuspecting automotive press in a sea of confetti (for the Aspen, of all vehicles). This January the automaker will be unveiling the 2009 Dodge Ram, its best selling and arguably most profitable vehicle. The stakes are high for grabbing and holding the attention of the automotive press, so Chrysler LLC is reportedly exploring the idea of herding cattle down Jefferson Ave. in downtown Detroit to herald the new Ram's arrival. Though people from Chrysler LLC and the city of Detroit are playing dumb and claiming to know nothing about the idea, the Detroit Free Press says it has on good authority that the spectacle is in the planning stages. Perhaps Chrysler will donate a couple of new Rams to the city of Detroit for the cleanup effort after this stunt. They could show off the Ram's increased payload by filling its bed to the brim with manure, and you know we'd post on that.

[Source: Detroit Free Press via Winding Road]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: Right to buy a 'First 888 G8' from Pontiac dealer

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Auction Action, Pontiac

click above image to view eBay Motors auction ('First 888 G8' model NOT shown)

As consumers and perpetual car shoppers, we're always irked to hear of dealers marking up the price on whatever new hotness hits their showroom floor. While the upcoming Pontiac G8 sedan won't create the same chaos as, say, the Chevy Camaro or Dodge Challenger, it will be a highly sought after model right out of the gate. While we expect many dealers to jack up the G8's very reasonable MSRP as soon as it arrives, we can't blame this Columbus, OH dealer who is auctioning off the right to buy his lone allotted Pontiac G8. And it's not just any G8, it'll be one of the first 888 G8 sedans. That really means nothing, though, as this first batch of cars will only be set apart by a small interior logo that reads "G8 First 888". But if you're an early adopter, that might mean something.

To be clear, this auction on eBay Motors is just for the privilege of buying this dealer's only Pontiac G8. The auction starts at $500 and hasn't attracted any bidders yet, but we imagine it will. The dealer does stipulate that the winner will pay MSRP for the car and nothing more, so if you're able to outlast other interested parties to win the auction, you may end up paying less overall for your G8 than someone buying directly from the dealer and dealing with markups. Or, you could just wait a few months for production to ramp up and availability to increase, which will happen eventually. The G8 is not a niche vehicle for Pontiac, as we suspect the brand plans to import as many from Oz as the Australians can build.

Thanks for the tip, Ryan!

[Source: eBay]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: 2008 will be another long year for automakers: Dealers cutting back on orde

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

This time last year some analysts were saying that a downturn in auto sales was around the corner. Well, it looks like those chaps were right on the money, as 2007 is projected to finish with 16 million sales, down one million units from 2005 totals. If a look at dealer orders is indicative of things to come, automakers are in for another tough year in 2008. One-third of dealers surveyed by Wachovia Capital Markets stated that they intend to cut back on new vehicle orders in 2008, which is up from 20 percent just a few months back. Automakers have been very careful with planned production volume for the next few months, and some have already cut shifts from assembly plants. Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn thinks demand could shrink by another 500,000 units next year, which would put everybody in a tough spot. If the U.S. heads into a recession, the outlook could get even gloomier.
It seems as though almost every automaker is projecting global growth in the next few years, but with the way things are going in the world's largest automotive market, it looks like there will be a few executive boards in an uproar come '08.
[Source: Detroit News]

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Navel-gazing foretells the future of automotive technology

Filed under: Etc., Tech


Automotive News sat down with its crystal ball and industry contacts to come up with a list of emerging technologies that are likely to find a place in the cars of tomorrow. While some, like steer-by-wire and new takes on the digital dash, have been discussed ad nauseum, others proved a bit more interesting.

The image above is a rendering of what "bumper bags" might look like, where traditional airbags are used on the exterior of SUVs to soften the blow to both passengers and low-riders alike. Biometrics are also likely to replace traditional keys and fobs in the future, with either a fingerprint or retinal scan deterring unauthorized use of the vehicle - no good for the youngins out for a late night cruise.

Inevitably, hydrogen power and individual motors mounted in the wheel wells make an appearance, although a system currently under development by Siemens VDO includes not just motors, but the steering rack, shock absorbers and brake parts all integrated directly into the wheel.

Some of this technology is already being employed, including a facial recognition system used on the Lexus LS 460 that detects when the driver isn't paying attention to the road, while the rest of the prognostications are quoted by AN to come to market "after 2010," which could mean 2011 or something like 2091.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: LEAKED! Corvette ZR1 6.2L LS9 V8 sees light of day

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Chevrolet

We didn't think we would get a glimpse of it until January at the Detroit Auto Show, but Jalopnik has obtained official photographs of the LS9 V8 that will power the 2009 ZR1 Corvette. The images show that the LS9 is a supercharged version of the 6.2L LS3 V8 like we previously reported. One photo also illustrates in detail a unique integrated twin intercooler that sits atop the supercharger. While it may not have the official name, the blue accents on the engine cover hint at the "Blue Devil" moniker by which we referred the car for some time before switching to the official ZR1 name. While specifications haven't been released yet (we're guessing it will offer somewhere in the neighborhood of 650 HP), just seeing the images of the LS9 gets us even more excited for the ZR1's official debut in January.
[Source: Jalopnik]
Gallery: Supercharged LS9 V8



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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: AutoblogGreen for 11.27.07

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green


Honda is not kidding around when it comes to the Clarity FCX. This hydrogen fuel cell car is the real deal and it's coming to the public soon. Honda's Stephen Ellis talked with AutoblogGreen all about it and his company's plans for the hydrogen future. Porsche, meanwhile, thinks that they should be exempted from new fuel economy rules. We disagree. And have you seen what they drive down in Texas?

• AutoblogGreen Q&A: Honda's Stephen Ellis talks about hydrogen, Part 1
• AutoblogGreen Q&A: Honda's Stephen Ellis on hydrogen, Part 2
• Carbon emissions awareness, the Texas edition
• Bad idea: Porsche wants a pass on fuel economy rules
• Rendered Speculation: New Jaguar XJ to get hybrid drivetrain in 2009
• Renault Kangoo ECO&sup2;: Green cargo hauling
• How long until hydrogen cars take over? One expert says just one century
• Australian companies will use coal plant emissions and algae to make biodiesel
• Fuel-cell Ford Focus gets T&Uuml;V certification
• HAWK, a crosswalk button that actually works
• Boeing using hydrogen fueled Ford engine in HALE experimental spy drone
• SF Green Party Sustainability co-chair on the "Terrible Illusion of Biodiesel"
• Toyota blog gives tips on hypermiling
• ACEA and voluntary CO2 notes in European car ads
• Labor Party wins Australian election, moves to enforce Kyoto
• Ultra-capacitor/li-ion battery "hybrids" being developed in China

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Idiot drives Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 219 MPH on public road

Filed under: Videos, Supercars, Lamborghini

click above image to view video

The Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 is a pretty incredible piece of machinery. A road car capable of speeds one would normally associate with an open-wheel racer will always be impressive, especially when you consider it's laden with government-mandated safety equipment, plus niceties like a stereo and air conditioning. Only a fool would explore the car's outer performance limits on public roadways, however. That's best saved for a closed course, and if you can afford an LP640, you should be able to buy yourself some track time to see what it can really do.

The driver (and owner?) of the car in the video above was apparently too foolish to do that, and embarked on a quest to set the "world speed record" for an LP640 on Arizona public highways. Sure, the sound the car makes as it flies past static camera points at some 200 mph is nothing short of incredible, but the act itself is disturbing, because no matter how late at night this film was taken, there are other drivers out, and at 200 miles per hour, the margin for error is exactly zero. Make a mistake, and people are going to die.

[Source: YouTube]Continue reading Idiot drives Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 219 MPH on public road

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Detroit Preview: Mitsubishi to unleash Concept-RA

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Green, Mitsubishi

click above image to view high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Concept-RA

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/motorsport/Mitsubishi_to_unleash_Concept_RA_at_Detroit_Auto_Show'; Performance enthusiasts have witnessed the devolution of the Mitsubishi Eclipse from the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive thrill ride it once was to the V6-powered, front-wheel-drive highway cruiser it is today. Perhaps the Concept-RA that Mitsubishi will unveil at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January heralds a return to that original Eclipse. The concept certainly has the look of those first-gen cars, with a low slung body and perfectly arching roof line. The rear even has a bit of Boxster to it. The fender flares and what we hope are functional extraction vents give purpose to the design, which is backed up by the use of lightweight materials and an eco-friendly though potent powerplant.

The Concept-RA is built on an aluminum space frame and most of its body panels, including the hood and fenders, are made from a recyclable plastic resin that's impact resistant. That brings the weight down so that the 2.2L four-cylinder turbodiesel doesn't have to work as hard to make the car go. The diesel features Mitsu's MIVEC valve timing technology, as well as direct injection and piezoelectric injectors. It requires no urea injection to meet our strict emissions standards for diesels, instead relying on a smorgasbord of traps, filters and catalytic converters. Despite its formidable green cred, the 2.2L mill produces just over 200 HP and 310 ft-lbs. of torque. Like the best Eclipses of old, it sends power to all four wheels, though through a more modern Twin Clutch SST transmission. Mitsubishi's Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) also keeps the car planted by coordinating the efforts of a variety of systems, including the brakes, stability control, steering and damping.

The Concept-RA should to be one of the most exciting concepts in Detroit this year, not just because it looks sharp, but also because Mitsubishi took the time to fit it with a workable drivetrain and cutting edge powerplant that could make it to market. As for whether or not the Concept-RA has any official ties to the first-generation Eclipse, that was our own wishful thinking... but you can't deny the resemblance.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Gallery: Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Continue reading Detroit Preview: Mitsubishi to unleash Concept-RA

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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: Following CX-9, Mazda to make more vehicles just for U.S.

Filed under: Coupes, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Crossovers/CUVs, Mazda

The CX-9 was Mazda's first vehicle designed specifically for US consumption, and one Motor Trend SUV of the year award later, Mazda may be on to something. Sales momentum has increased steadily for the seven-seat utility vehicle, with 3,000 units flying off dealer lots in October alone. Mazda's flexibility allowed the automaker to transform in 18 months a minivan that would likely retail for less than $30,000 into a hot CUV with a price tag reaching $40,000. The Hiroshima-based automaker will leverage those lightning-fast production capabilities and its Ford-shared global architecture bin to produce more vehicles for US tastes, and we're happy to hear it.

Since Mazda seems to have a handle on CUVs (it has four in the US already), we can only guess what exclusive product the development team in Irvine, CA will give us next. A zoom-zoom version of the Honda Ridgeline would be interesting, as would a US-unique Mazda2. We'd like to put in a vote for Mazda utilizing the RX-8 platform to create a sporty RWD sedan, but we're sure everyone the world over would want that.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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[monkeyboy]

Autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: 2003 Pontiac Aztek Custom Show Car

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUVs, Auction Action, Pontiac

It's official. The Pontiac Aztek can get uglier. Way uglier. For some reason, someone thought the Aztek would be a suitable vehicle to build into a show car (a loose term in this case), and they proceeded to give it Lamborghini doors, yellow interior trim with cloth seats, a train horn (huh?), light bar (for what?), and a paint job that includes several monkeys (are you as confused as we are?). The result is less of a show car and more of a distasteful and offensive security vehicle that patrols the monkey house at the zoo. The description states that it is a "real must have for your business or collection" and that it's "a real showstopper and a great advertisement." Yeah. Right. On a positive note, it's never been damaged (at least in an accident), and it has new tires. As of now there are no bids, so feel free to start with one at $12,000, or if you just can't wait there is a "buy it now" price of $18,500.
[Source: eBay Motors]

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