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Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy picks up dates for 2010, adds SLS and Pro-level courses Filed under: Etc., Safety, Mercedes-Benz 
AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock - Click above for high-res image gallery
What do you do after hitting success with a trial product? Bring it back and make it bigger, of course. That's just what Mercedes-Benz has done with its AMG Driving Academy, a program that our own Editor Paukert attended the course last fall at Lime Rock to his great amusement and education.
This year's courses will put participants in the Mercedes E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and, new for this year, the SLS AMG gullwing. After working your way up through Basic and Advanced courses, you're ready for Top Gun testing in the new Pro level course, which means an "intense curriculum" and open lapping at Road Atlanta. Follow the jump for all that goes on this year's academy including dates and locations, and have a look at what you can be doing in the gallery of high-res photos below.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]Continue reading Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy picks up dates for 2010, adds SLS and Pro-level courses Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy picks up dates for 2010, adds SLS and Pro-level courses originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Motor Trend Classic resurrected, goes quarterly Filed under: Classics, Convertible 
1948 Norman Timbs Special is a Motor Trend Classic - Click above for high-res image gallery
We were just talking with a friend about his Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI. "How on earth did you afford that?" is the highly sanitized version of the question we posed to him. Answer: He bought used, and then explained to us that he would never buy a new car again, no matter what. A decision that's fine by us, but which buff book is our pal going to read if he's unwilling to ever walk into a new car dealership again?
Meet - or re-meet as the case may be - Motor Trend Classic. The fine folks at Motor Trend tried their hand at this classic car thing a few years back in 2005 but were forced to shutter the magazine in 2006. But that was then (and they were trying to sell 12 issues a year. Correction: Motor Trend Classic launched with two issues in 2005 and then went to six issues for 2006). Motor Trend Classic every three months is now. The cost to entry is a good bit higher than your standard car mag (roughly three times). However, the new magazine is (thankfully) largely free of advertising and it features a unique format and higher quality paper. Hence the high price: $14.95 per issue.
Also of note, Motor Trend will be using this weekend's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance to relaunch the Classic magazine. In fact, Amelia Island will feature a special "Motor Trend Class" devoted to cars found on the cover of Motor Trend, including the gorgeous streamlined Norman Timbs Special seen above that graced the cover of the October 1948 issue. Pretty nifty, no? Make the jump for the press release and a complete list of the Motor Trend Class cars.
[Source: circsource.com via Media Week]Continue reading Motor Trend Classic resurrected, goes quarterly Motor Trend Classic resurrected, goes quarterly originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
NTEA 2010: 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD puts the Heavy in Heavy Duty Filed under: Truck, Work, GM, GMC, Misc. Auto Shows, Diesel 
2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD - Click above for high-res image gallery
For the first time in its history - and considering that the company has been around for over 100 years, that's significant - GMC decided to make an official appearance at the National Truck Equipment Association show in St. Louis. And the Professional Grade brand brought along the heavies... specifically, the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD.
When the truck hits the market later this year, it will be the first time that GMC has offered a Denali version of its Heavy Duty truck platform. After giving the truck a thorough once (and even twice) over, we have to say that the Denali, even with all of its drilled-out chrome highlights, looks rather subdued and classy in all-black paint. And, though we certainly appreciate the in-your-face attitude of General Motors' two main competitors in the pickup wars, we'd say that understated appearance is a good thing.
Inside, you'll find the expected luxury trimmings, including heated and cooled leather seats and a matching wood-trimmed heated steering wheel, along with some nice details like Denali-specific door sill plates. All that is well and good, but the big news resides under the truck's big black hood: a revised 6.6-liter Duramax V8 diesel engine, which is mated up to a stout Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission.
For those who like to keep track of these thing, which is to say every single person who's actually interested in purchasing one of these earth-moving behemoths, GM's latest Duramax beats out the 2011 Ford Super Duty in the all-important horsepower and torque wars with 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet. Wanna pull a ten-ton load? No problem. That powerplant is also more fuel efficient (by 11 percent) and cleaner than the unit it replaces.
Interestingly, GM representatives tell us that they had a bit of a back-and-forth with the Feds regarding how best to handle the required refilling of the diesel exhaust fluid tank, which won't run dry for about 5,000 miles between fill-ups. It seems that when the truck gets dangerously low on the exhaust treatment, its speed will be capped at 55 miles per hour. If you run out, the computer nannies will keep you to just a four mph crawl so that you'll never be stranded completely. Want more? Check out our gallery of high-res images below and click here for the rest of the details.
NTEA 2010: 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD puts the Heavy in Heavy Duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Update: Texas high school gets to keep using Ram logo Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Dodge  Remember a couple weeks back when we told you about Chrysler's improbable legal battle against little Lake Mary High School in Florida? Chrysler's legal team put the smack down on the school for using the Ram logo as its school insignia, and the law jockeys in Auburn Hills, MI were giving the school until June 15 to remove all instances of the logo at a considerable cost to the school district and neighborhood taxpayers.
It appears cooler heads have prevailed at Chrysler, as Allpar is reporting that the school and automaker have made an agreement that allows the school to keep the admittedly perfect-for-a-football-helmet logo, at least until wear and tear requires their replacement. The reported agreement stipulates that the school must declare its partnership with Chrysler on signs stating "Lake Mary: Proud Partner of Chrysler." We think Chrysler should also sponsor the prom and provide a 300C stretch limousine for every senior. C'mon, think of the good will!
When we originally told you about the legal tussle between Lake Mary HS and Chrysler, we were more than a little critical of Team Pentastar for its legal action against the small school in a town of 15,000. It wasn't because Chrysler didn't have every legal right to protect its trademarks, but rather making a school district pay lots of money to remove a logo when it wasn't really damaging is just bad PR for a company that can ill afford any more bad PR. Compromise can be a very good thing, and it's nice to see that the folks at Chrysler see that. Good people of Lake Mary, Florida: feel free to continue purchasing vehicles from the Chrysler group.
[Source: Allpar] Update: Texas high school gets to keep using Ram logo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spy Shots: Opel Astra ST spotted braving the elements Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Opel, Vauxhall 
Opel/Vauxhall Astra SportsTourer spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Opel/Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer - otherwise known as a wagon or estate - is testing its cold weather chops with minimal camouflage.
Details on the little cargo carrier are slim, but snappers at CarPix tell us that the rear liftgate differs from that on the larger Insignia ST by being separated from the taillights. We are also told that the interior and engine options will be the same as on the five-door hatch, and a spicy GSi model is on the way to fill out the line. It's too bad no one from Buick will tell us in the States, "Yes, you can have it..." You can check it out from various angles in the gallery of high-res photos below.
[Source: CarPix]
Spy Shots: Opel Astra ST spotted braving the elements originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Videos: Dacia Duster looks good in motion Filed under: SUV, Renault 
By and large, the Geneva Motor Show isn't like U.S. auto shows in that grandiose press conferences just don't exist like they do here. Or, at least, like they used to here. Most vehicles just show up on the show floor and we snap photos at a fevered pace in an effort to get those pics to you as quickly as possible. The upside for us is that we can rip through posts at a fevered pitch for your enjoyment. The downside is that every once in a while we miss something, and this year we forgot to cover the Dacia Duster, though we did tell you about it in advance. Still, our bad.
Renault's Romanian-bred SUV is built to be affordable, attractive and capable, with a 30 degree approach and a 36 degree departure for relatively some serious off-roading. The Duster even comes diesel-ready, with a 105 horsepower, 266 pound-feet of torque powerplant that we'd love to try for ourselves. And if an earlier report from The Wall Street Journal is correct, Renault is even pondering bringing the Duster to U.S. shores.
Until that happens, we have to make do with a couple of videos showing off just how capable the Duster is. The first spot shows us how the Dacia handles off-road chores and the second seeks to illustrate that it isn't a dud on dry pavement, either. Hit the jump to watch the two videos for yourself.
[Source: Dacia via YouTube]Continue reading Videos: Dacia Duster looks good in motion Videos: Dacia Duster looks good in motion originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Ralliart announces it is closing its doors... so what does that mean for Mitsubishi? Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Mitsubishi 
In a letter issued to its customers, Ralliart, a Japanese high-performance subsidiary of Mitsubishi, has announced that it is closing its doors. The company's business case has apparently faded, a victim of the wilting domestic aftermarket scene as well as its lack of continued motorsports involvement.
Naturally, we wondered if and how the closure of the company responsible for its high-performance parts and related merchandise would impact the development, production and marketing of Mitsubishi vehicles sold here in the States - more specifically, the Lancer Ralliart and Sportback Ralliart models. To answer that question, we spoke with Mitsu spokesman Maurice Durand, and he informs us that the closure of Ralliart will not, in fact, have any affect on the availability or continued marketing of these models (or any future branded offerings), as Mitsubishi owns the rights to the name, logo, and so on. Furthermore, all licensing agreements in foreign countries remain intact.
So, while you may not be able to get a genuine JDM Ralliart strut-tower brace or shift knob, you can breath easy that the SportBack that you've been saving your lunch money for will still be at your local dealer by the time you've got enough scratch. Official press release after the jump.Continue reading Ralliart announces it is closing its doors... so what does that mean for Mitsubishi? Ralliart announces it is closing its doors... so what does that mean for Mitsubishi? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spy Shots: Next-gen Dodge Charger interior gets outed Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Dodge 
Next-gen Dodge Charger spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery
There've been no shortage of spy shots to be had showing the upcoming next-gen Dodge Charger, but to date we've yet to see the interior fully revealed. Our spy photogs have remedied this by finally capturing the big rear-wheel-drive sedan's inner domicile. What's plainly obvious is that Dodge designers have added some swoop to the Charger's angular interior. Note the silvery dashboard piece that acts as a backdrop for the cluster gauge, driver and center air vents and the rather large navigation screen. This particular interior is two-tone with what appears to be light-colored leather seats and door inserts, with black plastic (soft touch, we're hoping) everywhere else and some nickel-colored trim thrown in. There's also a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and information display between the tach and speedo.
All in all, we see a big improvement over the current car's aged interior, but a final verdict will have to wait until we can get our grubby paws all over it. We've also got some new spy shots of the exterior that don't reveal much more than what we've seen before except a naked C-pillar. Have a look in the high-res gallery below.
Spy Shots: Next-gen Dodge Charger interior gets outed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Carl Edwards gets three-race probation for intentional wreck Filed under: Motorsports 
NASCAR handed down its ruling yesterday on Carl Edwards' retaliatory wreck of Brad Keselowski during the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday. The Roush Fenway Racing team driver will be subjected to a three-race probation that covers the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 21, the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 28 and the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 10.
What does probation mean for Edwards? Not a whole hell of a lot. The best description we could find of this peculiar punishment was "little more than monitoring actions." That is to say, unlike a suspension, Edwards will race the next three Sprint Cup races. The fact that Edwards won't face much consequence for his actions last Sunday is in keeping with what NASCAR officials said in January about putting more responsibility in the hands of the driver. That said, NASCAR president Mike Helton remarked that, "... there is a line you can cross. When you cross that line in our opinion, we're going to get involved with you."
In addition to the probation, NASCAR plans on getting Edwards and Keselowski in a room together along with team owners Jack Roush and Roger Penske to iron out this feud. We don't know about you, but that sounds close enough to the plot of Days of Thunder that an epic rental car race on the beach is almost certain to occur on the way to dinner afterwards.
[Source: NASCAR, The New York Times | Image: Geoff Burke/Getty]Carl Edwards gets three-race probation for intentional wreck originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: Next-gen Ford Police Interceptor will debut this Friday in Las Vegas Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Government/Legal, Work, Ford, Specialty 
Hold on to your sap gloves and night sticks - it's that time of the decade! An Autoblog source reveals that Ford is about to release a brand spankin' new Police Interceptor. Not only is this humongous news for our pals in the law enforcement community, but this is 120-point headline font for taxi companies around the country, as they typically buy old Police Interceptors with 90,000 miles on 'em and repurpose them as the cabs we all know and love passing out in. Why? Because Police Interceptors are the toughest passenger cars money can buy.
Few of us have the need to drive over curbs at 50+ mph, but if that need arises, you're going to want to do so in an Interceptor. Aside from the "severe duty" shocks, you get a beefed up frame and body mounts. Yes, that is correct. The Crown Victoria-based Police Interceptor is body-on-frame. Listen, when you're PIT maneuvering a perp during a high speed chase, the last thing you want to worry about is bending the chassis. Plus you got them heavy duty brakes, suspension components and oil coolers. A sweet package, no doubt.
Here's the thing though. If this new Police Interceptor is more than a package, what platform will it ride on? Ford has stated publicly that it's ending the geriatric Panther Platform Crown Victoria's life in 2011. We'll go ahead and interpret that to mean that this new Police Interceptor won't be Crown Victoria-based. Do we know that for sure? No, but it's a logical bit of speculation. Could the new Interceptor be Taurus-based, maybe something with a SHO motor and stouter brakes? Again, yes, but for all we know the upcoming car's a Fiesta with the Mustang GT's new 5.0-liter V8 crammed in the rear seat. Or one of them apocryphal Australia-only rear-drive Falcons. All we know for sure is that Ford's introducing a new Police Interceptor to a select group of folks in Las Vegas this Friday. Production? Concept? We're not entirely sure yet. More details when we get them.
[Image: davidsonscott15 | CC2.0]Source: Next-gen Ford Police Interceptor will debut this Friday in Las Vegas originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
NTEA 2010: Nissan pulls the covers off NV commercial van Filed under: Minivan/Van, Work, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows 
2011 Nissan NV2500 HD - Click above for high-res image gallery
We're here in St. Louis attending the National Truck Equipment Association show, and we just watched Nissan officially pull the covers off its NV commercial van for the first time in front of a live audience. Our initial impression: They aren't kidding when they say there's an optional High Roof... at 105.5 inches (76.5 of which is usable inside), we have to wonder whether that sucker will fit inside your run-of-the-mill suburban garage.
Of course, that High Roof is optional, and the space it affords inside will allow most 80-percentile human beings to stand straight up for cargo loading purposes - up to 300 cubic feet of it. For those who don't need such a cavernous cargo area, the standard height measures 83.9 inches from the ground, and 55.4 of those inches are ready for stowage inside.
We were able to grab some live photos from the show floor, but sadly Nissan isn't quite ready to let us inside to see the interior details. In any case, check out our high-res gallery below and click here for the rest of the details.
NTEA 2010: Nissan pulls the covers off NV commercial van originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spy Shots: Noblesse takes tuned Honda CR-Z to Suzuka for testing [w/video] Filed under: Aftermarket, Spy Photos, Coupe, Hybrid, Japan, Videos, Hatchback, Honda 
Noblesse-tuned Honda CR-Z on-track - Click above to watch video after the jump
A couple of days ago, we wrote about the specs for the 2011 Honda CR-Z, and most commenters weren't all that impressed. Spoon then let a little bit slip about what it was doing to make the hybrid coupe a little more engaging, but those were merely words. Now we have what is said to be track footage of Japanese tuner Noblesse in one of their tuned CR-Zs at Suzuka, and it might put people in a mind to at least reserve judgment.
It's all in-car video, and yes, Noblesse is primarily known for their bodykit work, not for actual performance parts. All which makes this footage a little tough to gauge, but there were moments when we did find ourselves thinking, "Hey, this could be something." And yes, we will only accept fully blacked-out CR-Zs from now on. Follow the jump for some Suzuka lapping, and have a look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below. Thanks for the tip and images, Chris!
[Source: Six Sylinder]Continue reading Spy Shots: Noblesse takes tuned Honda CR-Z to Suzuka for testing [w/video] Spy Shots: Noblesse takes tuned Honda CR-Z to Suzuka for testing [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet a smooth Spanish Fly(er) Filed under: Convertible, Mercedes-Benz, First Drive, Luxury 
2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet - Click above for high-res image gallery
Convertibles have long been something of an acquired taste. Devotees steadfastly defend the unique sensation of elemental motoring that can only come when plugged in to one's surrounding breezes, noises and smells. Conversely, detractors have traditionally lambasted droptops for their lackluster foul weather performance, added weight, vulnerability, and creaky, ill-handling platforms. And while the naysayers may have had a point in the era of tonneau-covered British roadster pilots with their tepid heaters, dubious structural rigidity and leaky, masochistic roof mechanisms, modern topless numbers like this 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet give lie to the idea that convertibles make lousy year-round companions.
Follow the jump to find out why.
Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet a smooth Spanish Fly(er) First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet a smooth Spanish Fly(er) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Report: Porsche really, really wants to build 918 Spyder. Really. Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Hybrid, Performance, Porsche 
Porsche 918 Spyder Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
We still haven't stopped drooling over the Porsche 918 Spyder concept, a car that debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show. It's a sexy infusion of both Boxster and Carrera GT influences, with a dash of hybrid power thrown in for good measure. What's not to love about a 500-horsepower, V8-powered roadster that can hit 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds? Oh, and did we mention that, because of its additional electric motors, Porsche claims that the 918 can also achieve up to 78 miles per gallon? We highly approve.
According to Autocar, we aren't the only ones swooning over the 918. In fact, Porsche is apparently fully committed to building a serial version of the Spyder. No official confirmation has been made, but in speaking to Autocar, Porsche boss Michael Macht says, "There is no one inside Porsche who doesn't want to build the 918," later adding, "The 918 Spyder proves the answer to whether there can be high-performance cars in the future." If this concept does get the green light for production, we could likely see it hit the streets within the next five years. We'll do our best to remain patient.
[Source: Autocar]Report: Porsche really, really wants to build 918 Spyder. Really. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Nissan unveils NV commercial van, available in three different flavors Filed under: Truck, Work, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows 
Nissan NV commercial vans - Click above for high-res image gallery
Historically, America's commercial vehicle marketplace has been dominated by domestic automakers. Besides a small percentage of Sprinter sales from Dodge while under Daimler ownership, the fullsize van market has really only been occupied by Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. Nissan is ready to change all that, and its opening salvo in the commercial vehicle marketplace is its NV series of vans.
Nissan's NV series - "NV" rather unimaginatively stands for Nissan Van, for what it's worth - relies on three different designations, NV1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD, and two different roof heights (the High Roof is only available on the NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD models) to provide a platform for every conceivable need. Opting for the tall version will provide enough room for most people to stand up inside with no need to duck.
Interestingly, Nissan's research indicates that commercial van owners are the least satisfied of any vehicle segment, and as such, the automaker says that the NV design is that of an armored car a 'clean-sheet' approach resulting from one of the most researched projects Nissan has ever undertaken. That research has yielded a vehicle that utilizes a fully boxed steel ladder frame and rear-wheel drive with either a 4.0-liter V6 or an optional 5.6-liter V8. Both engines are mated to a standard five-speed automatic transmission.
No matter which engine or roof style is chosen, the NV will come with a user-definable interior layout that can accept standard-size drywall or plywood or any number of aftermarket cargo solutions. Up front, there are a number of storage pockets and compartments to hold whatever is needed, while High Roof models offer an overhead console for additional storage options.
Pricing is not yet available, but Nissan promises the NV series will hit authorized commercial U.S. dealerships before the end of the year. Want to know more? Be sure to check out our gallery of high-res images below and click past the break for the official press release.
[Source: Nissan]Continue reading Nissan unveils NV commercial van, available in three different flavors Nissan unveils NV commercial van, available in three different flavors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
eBay Find of the Day: 1996 DeTomaso Guarą is a rare treat Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions 
1996 DeTomaso Guarà - Click above for high-res image gallery
The DeTomaso Guarà was the last project of company founder and namesake, Alejandro de Tomaso. First shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1993, the Guarà could be had as a closed-roof coupe or open-top barchetta. A more practical canvas-roof Spider was eventually added as well, but only five were ever made. The Guarà was based on the 1991 Maserati Barchetta Stradale concept and was built from 1993 through 2004, when the struggling Italian automaker went into liquidation.
During its production run, 10 to 12 Barchettas and about 50 Coupés were built, along with the handful of Spiders. The early cars, including all of the Spiders, were powered by a BMW 4.0-liter V8 putting out a modest 272 horsepower. Later cars, and all, um, two of the cars that have somehow found their way into America are powered by a 320-hp version of the Ford 4.6-liter V8 from the Mustang Cobra. The Guarà was made of fiberglass, Kevlar and other composites on an aluminum backbone, making it fairly light. Performance was decent with a 0-60 dash of about five seconds flat and a top speed quoted between 168 and 171 miles per hour for this 2,500-pound mid-engined sportscar.
The car's racecar-like pushrod suspension made it a bit of a handful to drive on city streets, but its handling limits were pretty high by all accounts. This particular car is in Woodland Hills, California, and is painted a perfect Modenese yellow. It has just 10,000 miles on the clock and is being offered at the princely sum of $100,000. That might seem like a lot of coin for a fairly anonymous exotic with a Mustang engine, but considering its rarity and its association with the name DeTomaso, it could be a fun addition to someone's collection. Are you listening Jay?
[Source: eBay Motors]
eBay Find of the Day: 1996 DeTomaso Guarą is a rare treat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Report: Toyota Tundra frame rust recall to go nationwide Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Toyota 
Last November, the Toyota Tundra recall to address premature rusting frames was expanded to include trucks from the 2000-2003 model years. That recall, though, only applied to 20 states and Washington, D.C. - those areas where cold weather and road treatments could cause expedited corrosion.
Today, however, The Associated Press reports that the recall has been further expanded to include Tundras from those model years in all 50 states. Toyota apparently hasn't said how many trucks that means it is recalling, but if you have one of those Tundras, you might wish to give your dealer a call.
[Source: The Associated Press via Google]Report: Toyota Tundra frame rust recall to go nationwide originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Cash for Clunkers more than twice as effective as first thought? Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal 
In what might turn out to be one of the biggest games of "he said, she said," in the history of the world, Maritz Research, an automotive market research company, is claiming that the government's Cash for Clunkers program actually boosted auto sales by much more than previously thought. Maritz is crediting the program with 765,000 new vehicle sales, higher than the 677,000 claimed by the government, and much, much higher than the 125,000 sales that Edmunds.com famously quoted. In fact, it's more than double the Department of Transportation's own estimate of 346,000 sales.
Maritz surveyed 36,000 new car and truck buyers who bought their vehicles during the time Cash for Clunkers was in effect, between July and August of 2009. The company figures a full 542,000 sales came from people who hadn't planned on buying a car otherwise, spurred by the government program. Maritz also includes 223,000 people who came to dealerships after hearing of the program, and even after they discovered that they didn't qualify, bought anyway.
Perhaps even more interesting were the findings on how the program affected future sales. It was believed by many that Cash for Clunkers might have just sped up sales in the short term, advancing sales that would have naturally occurred in future months or years. "The results provide strong empirical evidence that CARS did not impede future sales," said Maritz vice-president David Fish, "Vehicles were sold to people who don't normally buy them."
According to Maritz's findings, Cash for Clunkers buyers tended to be long-term car owners. Maritz says that nearly 80 percent of trade-ins had more than 100,000 miles on them and that 50 percent were more than 10 years old. Better than 60 percent of buyers told the pollsters that they plan on keeping their new cars as long as possible, meaning that many of the people who took advantage of the program came from non-regular customer pools.
The Maritz report could be used to support additional incentive programs like Cash for Clunkers in the future, but there are already detractors. For its part, Edmunds.com is already saying that there is a big difference between the analysis of sales figures it performed in its own study and Maritz's conducting of a survey that could contain flawed or leading questions. The issue is certainly not settled yet.
[Source: CNN Money | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]Cash for Clunkers more than twice as effective as first thought? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Report: Another Prius accelerates unintentionally in New York and crashes Filed under: Hybrid, Recalls, Hatchback, Toyota 
Not one day after a high-profile incident involving a Prius taking off on its owner in Southern California, we're hearing reports that another one of Toyota's popular hybrids has suffered unintended acceleration in New York. This time, instead of the car eventually succumbing to the will of its braking system, it crashed into a stone wall. Fortunately the owner was reportedly just pulling out of her driveway in Harrison, NY and the car only accelerated across the street, though the collision allegedly sent "some pretty big boulders" flying, said one police chief.
The 56-year-old driver reportedly suffered non-life threatening injuries, and like the incident in Southern California a day earlier, a floor mat trapping the accelerator pedal has been ruled out as a cause. The 2005 model year Prius' driver side floor mat was reportedly tied to the seat base with plastic ties.
The 2004-2009 Prius is included in an earlier Toyota recall for floor mats that may entrap the accelerator pedal, but the Japanese automaker does not have a fix ready for the cars, which may include reshaping their pedals, replacing floor mats and altering the shape of the floor. These cars are not, however, included in Toyota's other major recall involving drive-by-wire accelerator pedal assemblies that could stick due to wear and other environmental conditions. That leaves no obvious explanation as to why these two Prius models took off on their owners. Toyota has stated it will join California and the U.S. government in investigating the first vehicle, though hasn't commented on whether it will investigate the vehicle in New York yet.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]Report: Another Prius accelerates unintentionally in New York and crashes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Infiniti celebrates 20 years with limited edition Gs Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Infiniti 
20th Anniversary Edition 2010 Infiniti G37 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Has it really been 20 years? As a matter of fact, yes. Infiniti has been selling its upmarket wares in the U.S. for two decades and to commemorate the occasion its releasing three special edition G37 coupes, sedans and convertibles.
Limited to 200 variants of each model, Infiniti has outfitted the 20th Anniversary Editions with Monaco Red interior, maple trim and a sexy Graphite Shadow exterior, along with Premium and Navigation packages. Included in the kit are heated and cooled seats, summer rubber, a blacked-out grille, new side sills and revised fascias, with a standard rear spoiler on the coupe and sedan.
Pricing and availability is yours for the taking after the jump and sales are set to begin towards the middle of next month.
Continue reading Infiniti celebrates 20 years with limited edition Gs Infiniti celebrates 20 years with limited edition Gs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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