Archive for October, 2010
Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is proving to be one of the more exciting offerings of the next couple of years, and as the spiritual successor to the renowned Gullwing 300SL of the 1950s it makes sense for the car to be offered in a roofless variant as well. There’s no official word yet from the automaker but it’s expected that a SLS…
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Video: Red Bull X1 Revealed In Gran Turismo 5 Gameplay
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
Formula One is often touted as the pinnacle of what is possible in racing and performance car technology, but that’s only true within the constraints of the FIA’s regulations. If there were no regulations limiting performance, nothing to keep engineers from putting together the ultimate car for navigating a circuit, the Red Bull X1 prototype is…
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2010 SEMA Preview: Mummbles Marketing 2011 Hyundai Equus
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
The 2011 Hyundai Equus was just priced earlier this month, and alreday Hyundai is building hype for the car, with next week’s SEMA show as an early focal point . The latest addition to the modded-Equus fold? One from Mummbles Marketing. Despite the unfortunate name, the Mummbles Marketing Equus looks to put an “elegant” twist on the big sedan…
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Reader Review of the Week: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
“4WD Enthusiast” from Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., sounds like the quintessential off-roader. He owned a V-8-powered 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and now he has the redesigned V-8-powered 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
While 4WD Enthusiast's wife won't let him take his new Jeep Grand Cherokee off-roading quite yet, its on-road prowess and build quality were enough for this reader to choose the Jeep over the BMW X5 and Mercedes M-Class. Find out why below, and submit your own reader review here.
“I purchased the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. I recommend the Blackberry Pearl color, it's a beautiful dark, metallic blue in the sun and can turn into black on a cloudy day.
“The Jeep came loaded with everything but skid plates and safety sensor group. But the 20-inch wheels do look nice (if I had a need to go off-roading all the time, the 18-inchers with the Off Road 2 package would probably be best). The 20-inch all-season tires will be upgraded to all-terrain when I need to switch them out. But, as my wife won't let me take this $44,500 Jeep off-road for a few years, I'm not worried about it.
“Everything you've read about this Jeep is true. I owned a 2005 JGC, and the 2011 is light years ahead of it in every respect. I went with the 5.7-liter V-8 over the V-6 (which is good and better than the old 4.7-liter V-8 I had in the 2005). At the end of the day, $500 more a year isn't enough to get me to lose performance; off the line, it's a screamer. The interior is well-executed, best I've seen from Chrysler on any vehicle. The premium leather is great, and the interior is quiet when it's supposed to be. But, floor it, and you can hear the wonderful Hemi going to work. Haven't taken it off-road, but the air suspension, Selec-Trac and Quadra Drive II should make easy work out of Winter driving.
“I shopped other SUVs, including the BMW X5, Lexus and Mercedes. Basically, for $10,000-$15,000 less, I got a vehicle that has built-in quality that meets and exceeds these vehicles with more off-road capability. Yes, the Mercedes and Jeep are cousins, but IMO, the Jeep is the stronger, more tight vehicle of the two. (I've read that there are thousands more safety welds in the Jeep frame versus the MB frame.) All in all, I'm delighted that Detroit and Chrysler can make a Jeep like this. If Fiat/Chrysler are able to execute like this in their other cars, Chrysler will be back soon and more relevant than ever before.”
2011|Jeep|Grand Cherokee
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Consumer Reports Restores Recommendations on Recalled Toyotas
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
Today, Consumer Reports reinstated its recommendations for eight Toyota models the automaker recalled last January due to concerns over sudden acceleration.
The Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sequoia and Tundra met the requirements for Consumer Reports’ coveted “recommended” status before the recall, but the publication stopped recommending the vehicles after Toyota recalled and put a “stop sale” on the affected models.
Consumer Reports says it has monitored the recall situation carefully, and, judging from its analysis, decided that the safety concerns diminished enough to restore the designations because new versions of said Toyota models came with a new accelerator pedal that prevented sticking problems; most of the recall models have been fixed; and all 2011 models come with a brake override system. In addition, the publication notes it has seen a drastic decrease in consumer complaints about sudden acceleration on Toyotas since January.
Overall, 1.8 million of the 2.3 million recalled vehicles have had the potentially affected part repaired or replaced.
Consumer Reports reinstates recommendations on eight Toyotas (Consumer Reports)
2010|Toyota|Avalon
2010|Toyota|Camry
2010|Toyota|Corolla
2010|Toyota|Highlander
2010|Toyota|Matrix
2010|Toyota|RAV4r
2010|Toyota| Sequoia
2010|Toyota|Tundra
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Video: iRacing Announces Addition Of Williams-Toyota FW31 F1 Car To Online Sim
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
For those serious about racing, iRacing, with its digitally-mapped tracks and hyper-realistic vehicle setups and physics, has become a go-to for practicing and previewing tracks before running them in real life, both for amateurs and professionals. Now iRacing fans can climb into the virtual cockpit of the Williams-Toyota FW31 Formula 1 car to…
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Recall Alert: 747,000 Nissan, Infiniti Trucks and SUVs
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
Nissan has issued a recall of about 747,000 vehicles in the U.S. for a defective electrical relay. Silicon vapor may form in this relay and over time could oxidize and eventually lead to engine stalling at low speeds. Nissan says no injuries or accidents have been reported.
Vehicles in the recall include:
- 2004-2006 Nissan Armada, Titan and Infiniti QX56 built between August 2003 and May 2006.
- 2005-2006 Nissan Frontier, Pathfinder and Armada built between Aug. 24 and June 2006.
You can check your vehicle’s build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb. The recall will begin in December. Nissan will replace the faulty relay for free. For more info, Nissan owners can call 800-647-7261 and Infiniti owners can call 800-662-6200.
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2011 Dodge Avenger: First Look
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
- Competes with: Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion
- Looks like: An improvement, but is it enough
- Drivetrain: 283-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 with six-speed transmission; 2.4-liter four-cylinder with four or six-speed automatic transmission
- Hits dealerships: Late 2010
For the 2011 model year, the poor-selling Dodge Avenger gets a significant midcycle refresh that may fix many grievances with the current sedan. The 2011 Avenger gets an all-new interior, minor exterior updates, a new V-6 engine and further retuning of its suspension.
Starting with the most significant upgrade, the Avenger’s interior gets a new dash, gauge cluster, front seats, armrests, steering wheel and center stack. Not much was left untouched. Epically noteworthy are the seats and the sporty gauge cluster, which looks similar to the cluster in the Nissan Maxima and Murano. Dodge promises more soft-touch materials throughout the new interior.
Outside, the Avenger gets only minor aesthetic upgrades that bring the car more in line with the new Dodge “look.” The sedan gets a new lower front bumper, rear bumper and LED taillamps. Like in the new 2011 Dodge Journey, the rear LEDs are arranged in a circle.
Underneath the hood, the Avenger gets a new 283-horsepower V-6 engine, the same one incorporated into the new 2011 Chrysler 200. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder is a carryover from last year, and it will be mated to a four- or six-speed automatic transmission.
The suspension is completely redesigned, too. Dodge says 26 of 30 suspension bushings have been updated for the 2011 model. The 2011 Avenger rides lower to the ground, has a wider track and has thicker tires compared with the outgoing model. Overall, the car should feel sportier, Dodge says.
The new Avenger should go on sale sometime in November. We’ll keep you posted when more photos and pricing are available.
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DTM Racing In U.S. Confirmed For 2013
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
It’s official: Grand-Am and NASCAR will partner to bring a 12-race U.S.-based championship for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) series. We reported on an unconfirmed rumor that this might happen earlier in the month, and let’s just say, we have our ice skates ready for this frosty day in the Inferno. The decision to match DTM with…
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2011 Dodge Grand Caravan: First Look
Posted on 28. Oct, 2010 by admin.
- Competes with: Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey
- Looks like: The interior is radically different; outside … not so much
- Drivetrain: 283-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 with six-speed transmission
- Hits dealerships: Late 2010
The most important thing Dodge has changed to its upcoming Grand Caravan is the interior. It is all new and in line with the other recent Dodge models we’ve seen, like the Journey. However, the company is highlighting the performance of the new V-6 engine and a thoroughly revised suspension, touting it as “a minivan with the driving dynamics of a performance sedan.”
See, that’s where people just throw their hands up.
If the Grand Caravan can handle as well as a Honda Odyssey, it will be a terrific achievement. There’s no need to compare it to a BMW M3. Back to the important stuff, the most intriguing new interior feature looks to be a center console that flows outward from the dashboard. Most minivans rely on a separate storage bin that often can detach from the floor. This feature, called the “Super” center console, is optional. A heated steering wheel is another option, but most consumers will likely be swayed by more comfortable Stow ‘n Go seats and upgraded seating materials.
There will be four trim levels. In ascending order, they are Grand Caravan Express, Mainstreet, Crew and R/T. Dodge says the R/T will be the ultimate “Man-Van” in terms of performance, but what upgrades it may pack weren't revealed.
