Category: Auto Industry

Tesla Model S gets new options, price increase on things like XM Radio

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk at Teslive 2013

During the Teslive town hall with Tesla fans in July, company CEO Elon Musk was his usual interesting, informative self, and he even dropped some news about changes coming to the Model S. The big ones are a valet parking mode (to limit performance so those punk kids don’t go tear things up with your EV), a better navigation system (so that north is always facing up, for example, and a way to download maps for offline use) and a way to use your phone’s data connection instead of the built-in cell network receiver in the Model S. You can see an hour-long video of Musk’s talk below.

Even more recently, the Model S order page was updated with new options like parking sensors and a Subzero Weather Package for $750. That package, recommended for buyers who live wherever it regularly drops below freezing, adds three-zone rear seat heaters, wiper blade defrosters and washer nozzle heaters. The company has also raised the price of some of previously existing features. Adding XM satellite radio, for example, used to cost $950, but it’s now part of the $2,500 Ultra High Fidelity Sound package option.

On the Tesla Motors forum page, some customers and potential customers are expressing their displeasure with the price increases and the lack of a grace period for people who wanted the “old” version and prices. It’s impossible to know exactly how hard these increases will hit individual buyers, but some commenters are comparing the prices today with what they bought their Model S EVs for a few months ago and are finding that the increases add around 8-9 percent to the overall cost of the car.

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Tesla Model S gets new options, price increase on things like XM Radio originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Infiniti G37 to live through MY 2015, sell alongside Q50

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Infiniti, Luxury

2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan - front three-quarter view

Infiniti has officially confirmed news we broke last month about its G37 sedan – that it will live on in showrooms alongside its erstwhile replacement, the 2014 Infiniti Q50, a model that goes on sale this week. And it’s sticking around for quite a while – it will be sold through the 2015 model year.

In order for the G37 and Q50 to not rub shoulders, Infiniti is rolling out an amended G lineup, complete with lowered pricing. The G37 will stick around in Journey and all-wheel drive trims, both powered by the same 3.7-liter VQ-Series V6 engine, and only two option groups will be available, Premium and Navigation. The 2014 G37 Journey will start at $32,550, while the G37 Sedan AWD will run $34,150 (both are subject to a $905 destination fee).

The 2013 G37 had been priced from $38,255 delivered as of earlier this week, so the price drop is significant, likely bringing the base MSRP more in line with where transaction prices had been on the aging model. The new pricing, which takes effect August 6, should also allow the G37 gain consideration amongst shoppers of smaller-engined rivals like the BMW 320i while the Q50 waits on a turbocharged four-cylinder and diesel engine from Daimler. For comparison’s sake, the larger, more tech-rich Q50 will start at $37,605 delivered.

Why leave the G37 hanging around with its successor? According to Ben Poore, Infiniti of America’s vice president:

“The introduction of the Q50 with its distinctive design, engaging performance, world’s first technologies and unmatched levels of connectivity and personalization, enables us to pursue a two-pronged strategy. It creates room to strategically offer the repositioned G37 at the lower end of the near luxury segment in addition to the higher-positioned Q50. The two vehicles aim at different market segments and allow us to serve different customer needs.”

Confusingly, the G37 will apparently keep its nameplate in the face of Infiniti’s new Q-based nomenclature, a system that has already changed the G37 Coupe and Convertible models to the name Q60. For more, check out the official press release by scrolling below.

*Note: 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan shown

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Infiniti G37 to live through MY 2015, sell alongside Q50 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Cadillac’s Butler announces surprise departure

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Cadillac

Don Butler, former vice president of global strategic development for Cadillac

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Cadillac’s vice president of global strategic development, Don Butler, has resigned. Butler has held the position since April, after a term as vice president of US marketing for General Motor’s luxury brand.

As the report explains, the timing here is pretty unfortunate for Cadillac. Butler is the third high-profile member of Cadillac’s brass to depart in recent months, following the firing of US sales boss Chase Hawkins and the pending departure of Susan Docherty. Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell told the Detroit paper, “Bob [Ferguson],” global boss for Cadillac, “and other leaders asked him to stay on. Don’s here in the office today – and told our team that his decision is purely on a personal level. After three years of putting everything into Cadillac, he is stepping away for some personal time, and to consider new avenues in his life.”

Butler says his decision is part of a decision to “recalibrate, reassess my priorities.” Whatever the reason, it’s an unpleasant surprise for Cadillac, which has been on a surge in 2013, with 30-percent jump in sales on the heels of the hot-selling ATS.

Cadillac’s Butler announces surprise departure originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Rare Isdera Imperator 108i flexes its considerable muscles

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Racing

Isdera Imperator 108i

The Isdera Imperator 108i is a remarkably rare supercar from the late 80s and early 90s. Born of a Mercedes-Benz concept car, it’s powered by a range of AMG-developed V8s, with five to six liters of displacement, depending on the engine. The example shown here, lapping the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit, features the most potent 6.0-liter V8 available. And rather than just being driven about on a perfectly clean racing line, it’s freaking power sliding!

Yes, there’s something eternally childlike about a wedge-shaped supercar from our formative years being flung about a Belgian racetrack. Adding to the appeal is the Imperator’s stumpy, periscopic rear mirror, sticking out of the roof. Even after being out of production for 20 years, this is still a wild, wild car and we’d happily snap up the opportunity pilot one of the 36 Isderas that were built. Take a look below for the full video from Spa.

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Rare Isdera Imperator 108i flexes its considerable muscles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Toyota Matrix discontinued for 2014

Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchback, Toyota

Between its slow sales and the upcoming redesign of the closely related Corolla sedan, things haven’t been looking good for the Toyota Matrix (for some time now). After 10 years on the market, Toyota has officially announced that it will drop the Matrix from its US lineup following the 2013 model year.

The announcement was made as a part of a press release breaking down what’s new for Toyota in 2014, but for now, it doesn’t look like any Toyota-branded product will fill the Matrix’s spot. The Matrix and its sister car, the defunct Pontiac Vibe, were the final vehicles developed under the joint venture between Toyota and General Motors, an arrangement launched back to 1984.

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Toyota Matrix discontinued for 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BMW i8 headed to Frankfurt

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Electric, Luxury

BMW i8

According to Edmunds, BMW will reveal its production i8 hybrid sports car at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The i8 is the second vehicle to come from the automaker’s new “i” initiative, following the debut of the smaller i3 hatchback last month.

The BMW i8 makes its debut nearly four years after the original Vision EfficientDynamics concept bowed at the Frankfurt expo in 2009. The production car is expected to use a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels, coupled to an electric motor that drives the front wheels. Combined output is said to be something like 393 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, based on our earlier reports. The i8 is also expected to be very light, with curb weight coming in somewhere around 3,125 pounds. Finally, the i8 is said to have a pure electric range of 20 miles, and should be able to hit 62 miles per hour in just under five seconds.

Other publications had the chance to ride along in the i8 (in prototype form) and came away impressed. We’re hoping we’ll feel the same when the car officially goes on sale sometime in early 2014. Stay tuned for more at the i8’s official unveiling in just a few weeks.

BMW i8 headed to Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Cadillac ATS failing to command BMW 3 Series-like pricing as hoped

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Cadillac, Luxury

2013 Cadillac ATS - front three-quarter view

The BMW 3 Series has long been the benchmark for small and sporty luxury vehicles, but the Cadillac ATS has come on strong in its short time on the market as a true rival in this segment. As impressive as Cadillac’s new compact sedan is, however, Automotive News is reporting that the car is still lagging behind the 3 Series when it comes to actual transaction pricing.

According to the article, the average transaction price for the ATS is $39,459 while the 3 Series is at a much larger $44,764, but, just as importantly, Cadillac has about $500 more in incentives on the ATS compared to BMW. Transaction prices are much closer to cars like the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. Of course, this is all with the ATS trying to take on its small,sport sedan rivals with a single bodystyle and limited powertrain options compared to the numerous options available from the German automakers in this class.

This uneven battle won’t last long, though, as recent spy shots have revealed that Cadillac is hard at work on a high-performance ATS-V and an ATS Coupe. No official word as to when either of these models will be unveiled, but with auto show season set to kick off, we’re expecting sooner rather than later. The best news for the ATS is that the Automotive News says sales of the ATS are on target and that 74 percent of ATS buyers are new to Cadillac – two important factors for the brand as it tries to break into this tough segment.

Cadillac ATS failing to command BMW 3 Series-like pricing as hoped originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Take a peek inside Tim Allen’s garage

Filed under: Classics, Videos, Celebrities

GQ in Tim Allen's Garage

Jay Leno might be the celebrity that’s known for an impressive car collection, but there’s no shortage of big names stars that enjoy picking up new rides. Tim Allen, star of Home Improvement, Toy Story, and Galaxy Quest is one of those celebs. Being a Detroiter, Allen’s collection of muscle cars shouldn’t be a huge surprise. However, it’s the generally eclectic feel of his collection that makes it interesting.

GQ took a video camera inside Allen’s Los Angeles garage, where he keeps a spate of muscle cars, along with some truly rare finds and a few one-off deals. The video includes an interesting anecdote about his Ford RS200, along with closer looks at a Shelby Cobra 289, a 1950 Cadillac, and the same 1933 Ford that was rebuilt on-air during Home Improvement‘s run.

We’ve got the full video below, so be sure to swing down and check it out.

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Take a peek inside Tim Allen’s garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: New entry-level Caterham Seven to get turbo’d Suzuki 3-cylinder

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, MISC

Caterham's next entry level car will have a 660cc Suzuki three-cylinder engine.

Caterham is lowering the price and adding lightness to its newest entry-level Seven, with a sub-17,000-pound ($26,061) window sticker and a new engine from Suzuki, a 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder mill that will produce less horsepower than the current 125-hp entry level model (it was not mentioned if the Suzuki-powered Seven will replace any models). The new, lightweight engine complements a re-engineered chassis featuring major suspension revisions.

Without releasing actual horsepower or fuel efficiency numbers, the automaker said in a release that the Suzuki engine is the smallest, cleanest and most efficient engine ever used in a Seven. That’s not surprising when considering that the engine we suspect Caterham will be using was designed for Suzuki’s kei cars in Japan, such as the MR, which are restricted to a maximum of 660cc and 63 hp.

“Our intention for this car is to offer the joy of the Seven in distilled form, so the new entry-level car is lighter, cheaper, more economical and more accessible than ever,” says Caterham Cars CEO Graham Macdonald. Check out the press release below for a few more details, and sit tight for word on North American availability.

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New entry-level Caterham Seven to get turbo’d Suzuki 3-cylinder originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Lexus IS F avoids cancellation, priced from $63,350*

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Lexus, Luxury

Ever since the redesigned Lexus IS hit the scene, we’ve been wondering about the 416-horsepower IS F model, and now we finally have some answers. For 2014, the IS F carries over with the previous bodystyle, and Lexus gives its sport sedan some small changes to go with a higher starting price of $63,350 (*not including $910 for destination) when it goes on sale in October. Compared to the 2013 model (shown above), the price has risen by $1,600.

For that extra money, buyers will get a couple styling changes like the new carbon fiber decklid spoiler and LED fog lights, as well as some minor interior updates like headrests embossed with the “F” logo, Alcantara trim added to the door panels and center console cover, semi-aniline leather replacing the black leather and black Alcantara seat-inserts added to cars equipped with the red leather seats.

The price hike for the IS F is considerably higher than the rest of the 2014 IS lineup such as the $885 increase for the new IS250 and the $855 drop for the IS350 while pricing for both IS Convertible models (IS250C and IS350C) went up by $100 each. Speaking of price increases, Lexus has also increased its destination charge slightly from $895 up to $910.

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Lexus IS F avoids cancellation, priced from $63,350* originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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