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Tesla Roadster eligible for $38,000 clean energy rebate in Japan Not a bad discount, right? |
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GM says Chevy Cruze Eco with an automatic will hit 36 mpg highway This slushbox won't hurt too bad at the pump. |
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Coda will sell electric sedan in Hawaii in late 2011 The line is forming that-a-way. |
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AutoblogGreen for 09.03.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Truck, Ford, Off-Road
Ford's off-road beast, the F-150 SVT Raptor, has only been on sale for a year, but it's already getting a few upgrades for the 2011 model year.
Many reports and a few spy shots indicated that Ford had been prepping a four-door SuperCrew version of the Raptor (you know, for when the family wants to do the Baja run with you), and the automaker has officially confirmed the details (again). The SuperCrew's wheelbase is a full 12 inches longer than the standard Raptor, meaning it should provide a more comfortable ride along the way, and the 5.5-foot box can still haul everything you need when you get there.
Speaking of capability, all Raptors now come standard with more power on tap - the 6.2-liter V8 will be the only available powertrain for 2011 (sad trombone for the people who rushed out to get the 5.4). As we reported earlier, it stands to reason that the 2011 Raptor will get a price increase to account for the larger mill, but it's a small price to pay for an extra 101 horsepower and 69 pound-feet of torque over the 5.4-liter V8.
From there, the other enhancements for 2011 are purely cosmetic. Raptors can now be had in a new color - Ingot Silver Metallic (pictured) - and matte black accent graphics are available on the hood. These new graphics can be ordered separately from the box side decals, too. Inside the cabin, Ford now offers a standard 4.2-inch LCD display (called the "productivity screen") in the center of the revised instrument gauges, similar to what was introduced on the 2011 Super Duty.
Dealers will start taking orders for 2011 Raptors as you read this with the first examples hitting dealerships later this year. Ford's detailed press release is available after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Officially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011
Officially Official: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Crossover, Dodge, Ford
The SUV is dead. Long live the SUV!
The 2011 Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are big departures from the models that they replace. Aside from the usual styling and refinement differences, the biggest changes for these vehicle are that they both ditch the traditional body-on-frame sport-utility vehicle DNA in favor of unibody constructions. By our definition, these once-SUVs are now CUVs, though their respective parent companies continue to brand them as being traditional sport-utes through and through.
Both the Durango and Explorer offer available seating for seven and all-wheel drive, but that's where the similarities start to taper off. Each vehicle offers a choice of two different powertrains, but while Dodge has opted to go a more traditional route with by fielding the Durango with both 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 engines, Ford has gone in the opposite direction by equipping the Explorer with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four and a 3.5-liter V6. There are pros and cons for each - the Explorer may prove to be more fuel-efficient, but the Durango ought to tow more.
Each of these new crossovers tries to stay true to the traditional SUV mindset, just in different directions. Ford's Terrain Management system will surely come in handy for people who need more off-road prowess, though the end result remains that the Explorer is arguably more of a tall wagon than an honest SUV. The Durango keeps things a bit more and has a strong, presence that we suspect will still be well-received by people who prefer honest-to-goodness sport-utility vehicles.
We could debate the pros and cons of each vehicle all day, and indeed, we're still waiting for the Full Monty-worth of details and specifications, but we still want to know: What do you think? If you had to choose either the Explorer or Durango, which would get your pick? Cast your vote in the poll below and be sure to sound off with your thoughts in Comments.
Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango - What's your pick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Videos
Spectre Performance has been busy. The team made impressive progress toward its goal of toppling the 400 mph barrier in a four-wheel, gasoline-powered vehicle during this year's Bonneville Speed Week. Their weapon of choice? A twin-engined speedliner with a combined displacement of 1,026 cubic inches and a total output of somewhere between 3,200 and 4,000 horsepower thanks to twin turbo systems on each engine. In 2009, that contraption walked all the way up to 330.569 mph - good enough to set a world record at the SCTA World Finals, but still well short of the team's goal.
This year, they headed to the salt flats with driver Amir Rosenbaum at the tiller. Rosenbaum managed to squeeze quite a bit more speed out of the machine, pushing it all the way to 366 mph and breaking three records in two classes in the process. If you're like us, you're probably wondering just what it feels like to fly at those speeds with the seat of your pants mere inches from the Earth. Fortunately for all of us curious types, Spectre has put out an excellent video detailing the experience. Find it and the full press release after the jump.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading Video: Spectre Performance Speedliner takes to the salt
Video: Spectre Performance Speedliner takes to the salt originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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First Drive: 2011 Kia Optima
It's hard to imagine comparing an Optima to the cream-of-the-crop, but with sharp new styling and some compelling powertrains, Kia has a mid-size winner of its hands.
Video: Top Gear USA runs with the bulls
Judging by this newest trailer, Top Gear USA might not suck. After all, it's hard to argue with three Lamborghinis and a matador.
2011 Dodge Durango unveiled
The all-new Durango has arrived, complete with freshly-minted sheetmetal and a choice of V6 or V8 power that finally brings the fight back to the Explorer.
Also of interest:
- SEMA Preview: Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F
- Next-gen 'smart' headlamps to automatically adjust beams around oncoming traffic?
- GM asks Chevy dealers to buy Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla for Cruze comparisons
- Kia to upgrade 2011 Sorento shock absorbers to soften ride
- McLaren planning five new models over five years
Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 9.2.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Etc., Safety, Videos
Allstate has officially ranked the country's 200 largest cities by the likelihood of their drivers to get into an accident. The annual report singles out localities with the best drivers, and this year, Fort Collins, Colorado took the cake as the city with the safest residents. Last year, the town was stuck at number two behind Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Unfortunately for drivers who live in the former capitol of safe driving, that town saw its rank fall by 17 places to number 18 in just one year.
On average, Allstate says that drivers in Fort Collins will get into an accident of some variety or other every 14.5 years, and that they're around 31.2 percent less likely than the national average to wrinkle their sheetmetal.
And which localities are the worst of them all? It should be no surprise that the drivers who circle the Beltway in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia are among the worst of the lot. Our nation's capitol held onto its spot in dead last, with drivers expected to get into a claimable accident every 5.1 years. Baltimore, Maryland is just one notch up the list with that city's drivers likely to experience one accident every 5.6 years. Hit the jump for a look at the top ten cities, and check the gallery to stick an eyeball on the complete results.
[Source: Allstate | Image: Garry Sun/bauergriffinonline.com]
Continue reading Survey: Allstate lists America's safest driving cities [w/video]
Survey: Allstate lists America's safest driving cities [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Budget, Japan, Recalls, Hatchback, Toyota, Daihatsu
Daihatsu has announced plans to recalling over 500,000 vehicles in Japan due to taillight lenses that can fade over time. The lenses, originally orange, will bleach white with exposure to the sun, leading to a potential safety risk. As a result, Daihatsu is recalling a total of 435,423 Move hatchbacks built between 1995 and 2000, as well as 145,769 Mira models manufactured from 1998 to 2000. Both vehicles fall into Japans micro-car category and are powered by fuel-thrifty .66-liter engines. The company plans to fix the issue by installing orange bulbs in the vehicles instead of the white ones that came from the factory.
Daihatsu is owned by Toyota, and the company produces a number of small vehicles for the manufacturing giant. While not as crippling as some of the other issues Toyota has had this year, the Daihatsu does add to the 11 million recalled Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled since fall of last year.
[Source: Automotive News]
Report: Toyota's Daihatsu recalls over 500,000 minicars over... fading taillamps? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We know you’re a clever bunch. Sometimes you catch stuff in our videos that we missed, even though we shot the video. We’re impressed, we really are. As dyed in the wool car guys, we love the fanaticism. Just how good are you though? We decided to assemble a little test of your skills. No cheatin!
No related posts.
Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.
Right now, traveling anywhere between Mercedes-Benz’s Stuttgart headquarters, the company’s Bremen factory, and its Papenburg test track, you are bound to run into camouflaged M-B prototypes. Just last week, I spotted the next-generation SL, the SLK, and the new B-class. All of them appear to continue in the spirit of the current models. The B-class is once again a compact van with a short hood and high seating position. The SL and SLK keep the current models’ proportions, although the SLK in particular will be a more muscular car. The dashboards will look more angular in the future. All of them will come with LED daytime running lights; the SLK gets horizontal front turn signals, similar to those on the current S-class. And while Mercedes toyed with the idea of switching back to a fabric roof for the SL, the company decided to stick with the folding hardtop, despite its packaging disadvantages.
Mercedes-Benz Viano
Here are two Mercedes models that definitely won’t make it to the U.S.: the just-face-lifted commercial vans Vito and Viano, little brothers of the Sprinter. While the Vito is unabashedly marketed to plumbers and craftsmen, the dressed-up Viano harbors upscale pretenses. This five-year-old van, just like the similarly sized Volkswagen T5, actually tries to compete with car-based minivans such as the Chrysler Town and Country in Europe. But the seating position and the steering-wheel placement betray their true nature. The T5, of course, is actually really nice, with the perfect execution I’ve come to expect from any recent VW. The Vito and Viano, on the other hand, are a far cry from any modern Mercedes car—and the face lift, which brings them visually closer to the R-class, changes little of that. Mercedes transporters were always engineered to different aesthetic and ride standards than the brand’s cars, but they are spacious and durable. If you can afford the gas bill, the top-of-the-line, 254-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 (which drives the rear wheels) is actually fun.
New Ford Ranger and a Small Toyota
Current Thai-built Ford Ranger
The U.S.-market Ford Ranger and the Ranger sold in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere are entirely different trucks. Built in Rayong, Thailand, the rest-of-the-world Ranger is a simple and cheaply built truck; now a replacement is around the corner. Badged as the Ford Ranger and the Mazda BT, the new model will be built from mid-2011 on. Will it come to the U.S when the current model is discontinued? Probably not; even the new, Thai-built model would be a major step down from previous U.S. Rangers.
At the Paris auto show in four weeks, Toyota will launch the Verso-S. One of the smallest microvans, it is powered by a 69-hp, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine or a 1.3-liter, 97-hp four. It is tiny, but a clear departure from the organic style of the previous Yaris Verso, which was sold in Europe until 2005.
European Thoughts on Lincoln
Following the April 1998 launch of the Lincoln LS, Ford announced that its upscale brand would enter the European market for the 1999 calendar year. The official press picture of the LS (license plate: K-DM 3418) is a special gem of my collection, as Lincoln’s move into Europe subsequently turned out to be little more than the figment of a few executives’ of imaginations. In the following years, other brands in Jac Nasser’s orbit were always more important than Lincoln, and the money that the brand would have needed was channeled into Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Aston Martin—all of which are no longer part of Ford Motor Company.
To be sure, Ford tried to make Lincoln more “European.” These attempts included Richard Parry-Jones’s totally gratuitous technical redesign of the big rear-drivers (Town Car, Grand Marquis, Crown Victoria) for the 2003 model year. The land yachts did become slightly more dynamic, although the change wasn’t called for by the brand’s traditional customers, who—in the eternal words of then-Lincoln designer Gerry McGovern (who is now back at Land Rover)—”will all be dead soon anyway.” What’s more, chassis replacement parts which were typically stored by fleet customers became worthless overnight. To top things off, that new chassis ate up the money that was badly needed for a visual face lift of the Crown Victoria, which was previewed by the Police Interceptor concept at the 2003 New York auto show but never materialized in showrooms.
With the new focus on Lincoln and the fact that every other part of the “Premier Automotive Group” has been sold off or is in the process of being closed down, is there an excuse for Lincoln not to thrive? Expectations are high.
Related posts:
- The Continental: E-cars for the Elderly, Mercedes A-class and VW Amarok for the U.S., and a Case for the Autobahn
- The Continental: Gemballa Supercars is Back, Ford News, and Compliments to Mercedes
- The Continental: Pondering Mercedes Styling, VW Could Buy Alfa, and Ford Globalizes Its Platforms
Filed under: Aftermarket, Lexus
Lexus just dropped us a note to let us know that its F Sport line of performance accessories are on sale between September 10 and November 1, with between $100 and $300 off on accessory packages ranging from $500 to $2,000. If you're interested in wheels, brakes or an exhaust for your GS or IS, click here for the coupon with all the details.
$300 discount on Lexus F Sport Accessories originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Sedan, Safety, Dodge
A 2008 Dodge Charger played the role of lifesaver on Tuesday when a man fell 400 feet and amazingly lived to see another day. The New York Post reports that 22-year-old Thomas Magill allegedly tried to commit suicide by jumping out of a 39-story New York high-rise when the aforementioned Charger broke his fall. Witnesses said that Magill flew through the air at "like 100 miles per hour" and landed on the Charger's rear window.
The man's impact sent glass flying everywhere and even knocked his tennis shoes clear off his feet and onto the windshield of another vehicle. After Magill hit the vehicle, witnesses claim the young man screamed that his legs hurt. Understandably.
While Magill lived through the tremendous fall, he's not out of the woods yet. He is reportedly listed in critical condition at a local New York hospital.
[Source: The New York Post]
Report: Dodge Charger saves life of suicide jumper originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Brian Blessed, the British actor with the booming voice as powerful as a rumbling volcano, is the latest celebrity to sign a deal with sat nav company, TomTom to voice over the otherwise dreary, mechanized driving directions.
Best known for his role as Vultan in the 1980 film, ‘Flash Gordon’ and his catch phrase, “Dive, my Hawkmen, dive!” he also thunders out “Gordon’s arrived!” in place of “Gordon’s alive!” Other gems come from his roles in the BBC television series ‘Blackadder’ and in Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’ among the 57 directions he recorded.
Blessed joins the likes of Darth Vader and Homer Simpson as two of TomTom’s favorite downloads.
Blessed’s elevation came about as a result of a Facebook campaign that attracted more than 25,000 supporters.
So, who would you start a Facebook campaign for? Kirk from ‘Star Trek?’ or how about Angelina Jolie in full Lara Croft mode?
No related posts.
Filed under: Videos, Crossover, Hatchback, Mini
Mini is continuing its advertising onslaught for the new Countryman, and in its latest spot, the company visualizes every potential path for the Countryman to run amok in the Italian countryside. The original car eventually multiplies into a fleet of over one hundred CG interpretations, all hopping curbs and harassing pedestrians in what we can only imagine is what the world would look like if a Mini exec ruled the globe. Eventually, the high-riding Countryman flings itself onto a ferry to escape into the sunset.
Mini also turned out a making-of video to document the action. If you've ever wondered exactly how filmmakers go about melding the physical world with the virtual, you'll want to check out that clip, too. You can find both after the jump.
[Source: Mini]
Continue reading Mini Countryman commercial makes mess of multiplication
Mini Countryman commercial makes mess of multiplication originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: SUV, Land Rover, Military, UK, Off-Road
Land Rover seems to be having some trouble figuring out how to go about putting its plan for the successor to the Defender throne into motion. According to Autocar, the company knows what attributes the vehicle should have, but doesn't know how to go about engineering the platform using existing components from the company's parts bin. Word from the web had previously said that Land Rover had planned to use the company's T5 steel platform for Project Icon (the internal name for the next Defender), though according to the report, the company now thinks that the chassis would be too heavy to be a viable option.
So what will the next-generation Defender look like? If anyone at Land Rover knows for sure, they certainly aren't telling the scribes at Autocar. According to the article, all we know for sure is that the vehicle will still wear the Defender name. Otherwise, there's just a few shady hints that the company's fancy Electric Rear Drive Axle Drive technology may show up both on civilian and military models.
Speaking of the Defender's military service, the Autocar report says that Land Rover is interested in winding down that area of its business, reducing the number of Defender body variations at the same time. With Tata having given the okay (and the funds) to proceed with the 2014 project, here's hoping Land Rover works its way through this mess in a hurry.
[Source: Autocar]
Next Defender expected in 2014 but Land Rover suffering from lack of focus? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Chevy’s middleweight Corvette makes for a hugely capable convertible.
Currently in its sixth generation as America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette bristles with track-bred performance, unmistakable design, and everyday comforts. Although it hasn’t been entirely modernized—leaf springs, anyone?—General Motors has whittled away at the car’s rough edges for well over half a century, resulting in one of the best all-around performance cars for the money.
Keep Reading: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible – Short Take Road Test
Related posts:
- 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport – First Drive Review
- 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport vs. 2010 Lotus Evora, 2010 Porsche Cayman S – Video
- 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport vs. 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – Video
Taking newfound civility to the fringes of civilization.
Don’t be alarmed if you think the 2011 Dodge Durango looks a lot like a stretched Jeep Grand Cherokee with a crosshair grille, because that’s essentially what it is. While the underpinnings are largely shared, Dodge tells us that the Durango is more focused on hauling people—it has three rows to the Grand Cherokee’s two—than crawling over rocks. And so while Jeep boasts about off-road capability, Dodge will play up the crossovery-ness and on-road performance of the Durango.
Keep Reading: 2011 Dodge Durango – Official Photos and Info
Related posts:
Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Paris Motor Show, Hyundai
When it comes to designing an MPV, it's difficult to move beyond the standard two-box form. That's where Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design language comes into play. Penned by the automaker's European R&D studio in Rüsselsheim, Germany and set to debut at Paris Motor Show at the end of the month, the ix20 attempts to add a level of style to the utilitarian MPV segment.
There's no word on an engine or output, but Hyundai says the soiree in Paris will have a heavy focus on the brand's BlueDrive drivetrains, and joining the ix20 on stage will be a refreshed i10 city car, complete with a new 1.0-liter engine. Full details in the press blast after the break.
Continue reading Paris Preview: Hyundai ix20 MPV sketched
Paris Preview: Hyundai ix20 MPV sketched originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Hybrid, Paris Motor Show, Lotus
In addition to the pair of Evoras being introduced at this year's Paris Motor Show, Lotus will also be unveiling two front-engine hybrid vehicles, in keeping with the automaker's promise to offer more gasoline/electric sports cars. Edmunds' Green Car Advisor reports that one of these hybrid cars will be a four-door hatchback and the other will be a two-door coupe.
Lotus debuted its hybrid concept earlier this year in the form of the Evora 414E Hybrid (pictured), but unlike the mid-engine concept, the two front-engine models will utilize a 47-horsepower 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine specifically designed to provide power to electric-drive hybrids.
We'll have the full details direct from the Paris show later this month, so stay tuned.
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
Report: Lotus bringing a pair of front-engine hybrids to Paris Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lamborghini
While everyone and their mother seems to have made Top Gear USA bashing the new national pastime, you might want to take a look at the newest video tease it's just released. While the appeal of the BBC show undoubtedly revolves around the chemistry between its three mismatched hosts, at its core, it's a show about cars. So even if we're not certain the three American hosts can live up to the legacy established by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, perhaps they really don't need to.
Top Gear USA isn't a replacement for the BBC show after all - it's more of a spin-off. And as long as the production values stay high - and from the looks of it, they have - it's just more car pr0n for all of us. Case in point: the video you'll see after the jump. The storyline is fairly straightforward: Round up the baddest Lamborghinis from the corral - Superleggera, Balboni and SuperVeloce - and open them up so we can see what they'll do. Can there possibly be a loser? Maybe the matador. Follow the jump to see the Top Gear USA guys on their run with the bulls. Thanks to everyone for the tips!
[Source: The History Channel via YouTube]
Continue reading Video: Top Gear USA runs with the bulls
Video: Top Gear USA runs with the bulls originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsIn a case involving a marijuana grower, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has decided that police didn't violate the suspect's Fourth Amendment protection from unreasonable search and seizure by sneaking his driveway and attaching a GPS tracking device to the bottom of his Jeep. (Court document pdf.)
In a different case in Washington, D.C., an appeals court decision went the other way, ruling a lower court erred in admitting evidence acquired by the warrantless use of a GPS device to track that defendant's movements. The court overturned the conviction of one suspected conspirator. (Court ruling pdf.)
While your movements on public roads have never been private (an unmarked police car could legally follow you, for example), the Information Age continues to present new challenges to privacy, especially when it comes to law enforcement, from Internet usage to GPS signals in cars and cell phones.
Should law enforcement have access to GPS data? And is it fair to place trackers on vehicles without a warrant or permission if law enforcement has reasonable suspicions about criminal activity?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
—Eric Evarts
Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Hybrid, Performance, Hatchback, Honda
Nearly one year later, we're still digging the idea behind Meguiar's Wraptivo system. For under $2,000 you can design and have a professional installer wrap your car in vinyl, complete with custom graphics and textures. And to drum up more interest in the program after its debut at last year's SEMA show, Meguiar's has picked up a 2011 Honda CR-Z and enlisted the tuning talents of RJ De Vera and rendering artist Jon Sibal to show what it has planned for the 2010 show.
Naturally, the CR-Z Type-F Concept is focused on the matte black and "carbon fiber" wrap, but the real party pieces are underneath the vinyl.
A supercharger will be fitted to the anemic 1.5-liter four-pot, with a custom exhaust system and a Hondata ECU used to extract maximum power. Accessories from Honda's performance line will join a Tein suspension, HKS components and some Volk TE37 wheels, while the inside will benefit from a pair of Recaro buckets, Alcantara trim and a new shift knob. And while it might be easy to dismiss the Type-F (which apparently stands for "Fun") as a SEMA show queen, Meguiar's plans to enter it in Source Interlink's annual Super Lap Battle the week after the show. Get all the details in the press release after the jump and check out Sibal's high-res rendering above.
[Sources: Jon Sibal, Motorworldhype]
Continue reading SEMA Preview: Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F
SEMA Preview: Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The designers from Tilke GmbH have unveiled their design for the new Formula 1 racetrack set to be built near Austin, Texas. The location is scheduled to host F1 races from 2012 through 2021 and will be the first purpose-built Grand Prix circuit in the U.S.
The course runs counterclockwise and is 3.4 miles long, with 20 corners and a total elevation change of 133 feet. The designers say the layout lets spectators watch multiple turns from one location and enjoy views of downtown Austin. We’re looking forward to seeing the finished track, which will hopefully be ready for racing about two years from now.
Related posts:
- U.S. Grand Prix Circuit to be Built 20 Miles South of Austin
- Formula 1 to Race on All-New Track in Austin, Texas From 2012
- How To: Go to a Track Day – Feature