As the first compact convertible to come with a retractable hardtop, the Mercedes-Benz SLK has to be at the forefront of the segment when it comes to topless technology, and the new car is no exception. Even though it’s been completely restyled and given a new engine lineup, the big news for the new SLK...
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Although there is no high-performance version of the Chevrolet Cruze, its platform-mate, the Buick Verano, could see a GS version sometime in the future, according to GM’s Ed Wellburn, a senior figure in the General’s design department. Wellburn claimed that GM was “toying” with the idea of a Verano GS, and that concept sketches have...
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The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is one of the most iconic vehicles produced by the brand, with a major aftermarket industry dedicated to faithfully restoring and preserving existing Wagoneers. “It’s time we gave the market an upper-scale Grand Wagoneer,” Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News. “You’ll see it in January 2013.” While the Wrangler defined...
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Although Volvo is traditionally associated with all things Swedish, but Volvo’s new chairman is hoping to put down serious roots in China as well. “We are looking at a strategy of making China a second home market. Today we mainly only have one home market, in Sweden,” Volvo Cars China Chairman Freeman Shen said, in...
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BYD, perhaps China’s best known car maker, is an acronym for “Build Your Dreams”, but their current product offerings look like someone else’s dreams shamelessly copied and sold under the Chinese automakers own badging. BYD’s S6 DM is a blatant rip-off of the Lexus RX crossover, and even has a dual-mode hybrid system similar to...
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‘ The Mazda5 may be about to get overshadowed by the Ford C-Max, but that doesn’t mean Mazda’s engineers can’t have fun with their venerable but well regarded compact van. Designers at Mazda’s Irvine, California studio were given free reign to design their dream Mazda5, and the vehicle above was the end result. Lowering springs...
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Thanks to Google Translate, we were able to whip up a wacky title for this article, but the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is all business, aside from the Banana Popsicle Yellow paint. Making 525 horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque through all 4 wheels, the SLS E-Cell will hit 60 mpg in 3.9 seconds, a couple tenths...
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The Jeep Compass doesn’t get much respect. As a 4-cylinder, car based Jeep, it never really fit with the brand’s rugged off-road ethos, and some Jeep fans mocked its weak constitution on anything but paved roads. For 2011, the Compass gets a substantial refresh, hoping to trade on the looks of its big brother, the...
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Having just been unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, the MINI Paceman Concept is production ready, according to a MINI source, who told AutoGuide that 2013 is the target date for the Paceman’s launch. Before the new two-door crossover, MINI will launch the upcoming Coupe and Roadster, sportier, stripped down versions of the base car...
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Honda has a history of releasing “concepts” of their newest products that are barely disguised versions of what they’ll be selling to the public, and the Honda Civic Concept is no different. Both sedan and coupe concepts resemble the current car quite strongly, but the styling is more aggressive, with swoopy lines and big 19″...
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Hyundai has finally released details on their new CURB crossover Urban Activity Vehicle, described as a vehicle for “Generation Y living an urban lifestyle with an active night life.” The wild sport-cross concept shared the stage with the new Veloster during its debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Despite the nebulous marketing spin, the CURB seems...
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Ford‘s last minivan, the Freestar, left the market in tatters roughly 6 years ago, lagging badly behind the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. For 2011, Ford is back, with a vehicle that couldn’t be more different. The Ford C-Max ditches the Freestar’s antiquated architecture and inefficient V6 for a pair of 4-cylinders, including a 1.6L...
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Although Toyota has been hyping their new Prius MPV for months, Ford‘s announcement of not one, but two hybrid minivans is sure to take the wind out of Toyota’s sails (no pun intended). The C-Max Hybrid and Energi (Ford’s name for the plug-in variant) will be 5-seaters only, and use a lithium-ion battery pack, considered...
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As part of Ford‘s “One World” plan, a single platform will be used across all markets worldwide. While we reap the benefits with the all-new Focus and C-Max, there can be trade-offs when different markets require different attributes in a vehicle. With the Ford Vertrek Concept, unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show, the Blue...
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The 2011 Ford Explorer beat out the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee to win the North American Truck Of The Year award. The winner was announced at the 2011 North American International Auto Show, where the Chevrolet Volt was also announced as the Car of the Year. Ford took the honors last year with...
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The Motor City is absolutely frigid this time of year, but the 2012 BMW 650i Convertible, unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show, has us dreaming of warmer climates that would be appropriate for the Bavarian firm’s newest droptop boulevard cruiser. Powered by BMW’s newest 4.4L twin-turbo V8, the 650i will put its 400 horsepower...
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Cadillac‘s entry in the SCCA World Challenge GT series broke cover at the 2011 North American International Auto Show early Monday morning, looking very much like a proper race car. Sporting Cadillac’s supercharged LS9 V8, the CTS-V Race car looked to have a full rollcage, a proper bucket seat, massive Brembo brakes and steamroller sized...
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The long awaited 2012 Volkswagen Passat has finally been revealed a day ahead of its world premiere at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, looking very much like the recently released 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, sporting the same corporate face and profile in a larger package. Built at VW’s new Tennesse facility, the Passat’s 191 inche length...
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Fans of old school Mercedes-Benz diesels can rejoice, as M-B is adding yet another oil-burner to its North American lineup. The 2012 S350 BlueTec 4MATC will bow at the 2011 North American International Auto Show. Featuring Mercedes’ stellar BlueTEC V6 turbodiesel engine and the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, the S350 will put out 210 horsepower...
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If there were ever an automotive/firearms tie in that was appropriate, this is it. A Missouri Dodge dealer is offering customers a free Barret .50 sniper rifle upon purchase of a 2010 Dodge Viper ACR. Both machines are capable of deadly force, and represent the last word in American excess. While the Viper ACR is...
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The all new Chrysler 300 will start at just under $28,000, rising to $41,145 for a full-blown AWD equipped 300C with a 5.7L Hemi V8. The base car, equipped with a 3.6L V6 making 292 horsepower, will start at $27,995 when it goes on sale in early 2011. The Limited model will start at $31,995...
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Looks like our reports of the Mercedes ML63’s death were premature, even if they were easily rationalized. The folks at Motor Trend have confirmed with M-B that the ML63 will continue on for 2011, but it still may not be long for this world. With a new ML due out for the 2012 model year,...
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We’ll spare you the awful cliches about failing to learn from the past and get right to the point. “Emerging markets” like China and India are all the rage right now for profit-hungry car makers, but the same problems of too much supply and weakened demand could spell doom for OEMs if a similar situation...
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From recalls to unintended acceleration to lawsuits, 2010 was not a good year for Toyota. The seemingly infallible automaker had its reputation for quality and reliability shattered forever – but that didn’t stop the brand from coming out as the sales leader in a few categories. Yet again, the Camry was America’s best selling passenger...
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