Now that the Range Rover has become the luxury SUV of choice for the merely rich, the Land Rover crew is forced to step up for their uber-wealthy client base and create something over the top. Enter the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition, a truly opulent SUV for the developing world plutocracy. The biggest changes...
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Suzuki may not have much of a profile in the United States, but their Swift compact hatchback has been a hit with both critics and consumers in other markets, and the Geneva Auto Show will be the platform for Suzuki to launch a thinly veiled “concept” version of the new Swift. With the current Swift regarded as...
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After Ford filed a legal injuction regarding Ferrari’s use of the name “F150” for their new Formula 1 car, the Italian supercar manufacturer has bowed to legal pressure and re-dubbed their entrant the “F150th Italia”. While Ford’s ubiquitous pick-up truck, the F-150, could never be confused with the purpose built race car, evidently someone in...
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One of the big advantages of an electric car is the lack of routine servicing they require. With only the battery and electric motor present, consumables like fluids, filters, belts and the like are obsolete. Ford is making this a big selling point for their upcoming Focus Electric, as it released a list of 25...
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The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, is expected to have a base price of $47,000 when it launches in February, 2012. While it undercuts its chief rival, the Ford Shelby GT500 by about $2,495, a base Corvette, which has a 0-60 time of under 4 seconds, but only 430 horsepower, retails...
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Nobody in their right mind could ever confuse the Ford F-150 pickup truck with the Ferrari F150 Formula 1 car. But Ford’s lawyers seem to disagree, and have asked a U.S. court for an injunction against Ferrari and their use of the name. Ferrari claims that the F150 moniker is intended to honor the 150th...
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It’s pretty hard to make the Dodge Challenger even more eye-catching, but a new color, dubbed “Green With Envy”, should help it attract the attention of bystanders and the ire of other motorists. Available on the R/T Classic (white black or white stripes) or the SRT8 392 (black stripes only), the new getup is supposed...
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Acura is cognizant of the fact that their current design language isn’t going over well with consumers, and is at least doing something about it. Truth be told, the Acura TL is a good car. Equipped with SH-AWD it’s even better, and with the 6-speed manual transmission, it’s fantastic. Unfortunately it looks like a child’s...
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Without a compact luxury car, Infiniti will have a hard time competing in their new European stomping grounds, and let’s face it, a rebadged Nissan Versa ain’t exactly up to the task. What Infiniti does have is a new alliance with Daimler through parent company Renault-Nissan. Infiniti is about to leverage this relationship big-time with their new...
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Nissan will show their ESFLOW electric car concept at the Geneva Auto Show, a vehicle that has more in common with the Tesla Roadster than Nissan’s compact Leaf EV. While the Leaf is based on a traditional car chassis, the ESFLOW is a clean-sheet design, that uses two motors in the rear wheels to allow...
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The Dodge Journey R/T is the kind of vehicle we really can’t see a point for, but it’s here to stay and could end up in the hands of an eccentric few customers. Under the hood is a 283 horsepower 3.6L Pentastar V6 with a 6-speed automatic transmission, that will at least give the R/T...
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Amid all the disappointment surrounding the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, and the step back it has taken in quality and driving dynamics, Volkswagen wants to show enthusiasts that it hasn’t forgotten them, and is augmenting both the GTI hatchback and the rest of the Jetta lineup with the GLI, a 4-door Jetta that retains features like a punchy...
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With Subaru‘s Impreza compact due for a replacement soon, and a concept shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show this past fall, the debut of the new car is getting ever closer. In fact, a Subaru executive recently confirmed that the target date for the new car is an August, 2011 release. With the date...
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Ford of Europe CEO Stephen T. Odell announced a “groundbreaking” new vehicle set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show at the beginning of March, but gave no details as to the nature of the car. Some have speculated that the car could be an larger version of the Fiesta, dubbed the B-Max, that would...
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An investigation by NASA has cleared Toyota‘s electronics systems of causing the unintended acceleration phenomenon that was widely reported in 2010. The Department of Transportation, who oversaw the investigation, released a statement claiming “NASA engineers found no electronic flaws in Toyota vehicles capable of producing the large throttle openings required to create dangerous high-speed unintended...
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Even though Toyota saw its dealerships and other facilities picketed by UAW members in 2010, Honda is taking a tough stance on any interference by the United Auto Workers, with John Mendel, Honda‘s executive vice-president, dismissing them in a speech made on Tuesday. “The union announced that they’re going to target the operations of international...
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The Toyota Matrix has always been a bit of a non-starter in the marketplace, but that’s not stopping Toyota from launching an all new updated version at the Chicago Auto Show. Just like the updated 2011 Corolla, the changes are essentially all cosmetic. The same 1.8L and 2.4L powerplants remain in place, as does the...
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While GM’s announcement of a new car based on the Camaro platform being shown at the Chicago Auto Show stole the spotlight in the automotive press, the Buick Regal eAssist represents a product far more relevant to the average consumer, even if it’s less glamorous. With an eAssist hybrid system from the Buick Lacrosse, the...
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Hyundai dealers were reportedly shown a coupe version of the Elantra compact, set to debut in spring, as well as a new Azera full-size sedan that will go on sale in the fall. While Hyundai officials would not confirm or deny the Elantra Coupe’s existence, one dealer told Automotive News that an image of the...
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To celebrate the 900,000th Mazda MX-5 sold (as well as the 20th anniversary of Mazda’s most famous product), the company is introducing a Special Edition model for the North American market, set to debut at the Chicago Auto Show on Wednesday. Based on the Grand Touring trim level, chrome accents adorn the interior, as well...
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With the Chevrolet Impala forced to endure an unbearably long production cycle (8 years by the time its replacement arrives in 2015), Chevrolet’s full-size sedan will need something to ensure it stays relevant in the marketplace, and General Motors is confident that an updated engine will do the trick. The new 3.6L LFX V6 will...
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Hyundai is looking to capture 5 percent of the U.S. car market in 2011, amid projections that show greater overall sales for new vehicles in the coming year. With Hyundai sales up 24 percent in 2010, and a market share of 4.6 percent, the new target is certainly reachable, especially with new products like the...
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Volvo‘s new S60 is an absolutely wonderful car, and our review (coming soon) will reflect that. We’re not the only ones either, as praise for the car has been unanimous. While there’s often a disconnect between what auto journalists like and what consumers actually buy. We’re glad to see that the S60 has gone from...
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The 2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid, the brand’s first hybrid vehicle, has been rated at 27 mpg in the city and 29 mpg highway, while returning 350 horsepower from its V6 engine. With a net rating of 360 horsepower when the hybrid system is taken into account, the M35h should offer a good blend of power...
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