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Official: Chevy’s famed Bowtie still looking dapper at 100 years

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Chevrolet

2014 Chevrolet Camaro front end - focus on Bowtie emblem

The Chevrolet Bowtie, that iconic badge that’s adorned an estimated 215 million cars and trucks, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Bowtie originally debuted on the 1914 Chevrolet H-2 Royal Mail and H-4 Baby Grand.

Rumors have long surrounded the Bowtie logo’s origins, with some claiming it was borrowed from the wallpaper of a French hotel and others saying it came from Chevrolet founder Louis Chevrolet’s homeland of Switzerland. William Durant, co-founder of Chevy, even had family members say differently.

Regardless of where the logo came from, since its first appearance on a pair of 1914 models and its appearance with the Chevrolet name in a 1913 edition of The Washington Post, it’s become one of the most identifiable symbols in America, even though it has gone through a number of subtle evolutions (check out the gallery above to see what we mean). We look forward seeing it for a long time.

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Chevy’s famed Bowtie still looking dapper at 100 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Mercedes S600 Pullman spied, could get three-row seating

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes S600 Pullman prototype - camouflaged

With the death of its Maybach brand, Daimler will be filling its ultra-luxury sedan portfolio with a version of the redesigned Mercedes-Benz S-Class called the S600 Pullman. While it’s not totally clear if the car shown here is the new Pullman, we can easily see from these spy shots that this is not your run-of-the-mill stretch job.

Comparing this car to our firsthand shots of the 2014 S-Class, the extended wheelbase is instantly obvious, but looking closer, we also see that the rear doors, quarter panel and C-pillars are also unique to this vehicle. Oddly, those bits are also far different from the most recent stretched S-Class spy shots we’ve seen (although they could have just been an early engineering mule for this car). Whatever model is shown in these spy shots might not even be the king of the S-Class range, though, as there is also word of a three-row, six-passenger Pullman model in the works.

Mercedes S600 Pullman spied, could get three-row seating originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda recalls select 2013 Accords over fuel tank neck

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Honda

Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a recall for 1,659 model-year 2013 Honda Accord vehicles. The affected Accords are Low-Emission Vehicle II rated cars manufactured between January 15 and April 5 of 2013.

The recall is pursuant to a fuel tank neck that might be out of specification, and the variance could result in the fuel pump not properly sealing with the fuel tank. As you might guess, a bad seal here could result in a gasoline leak, posing a fire risk. As of this writing, there have been no reports of fires because of this problem.

Honda will reach out to owners of affected 2013 Accords, directing dealers to replace the cars’ fuel tank, nut and O-ring gasket. Expect the notifications when the recall begins in earnest on August 1. FInd the full NHTSA press release below.

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Honda recalls select 2013 Accords over fuel tank neck originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch this mobility scooter drag race a Nissan Skyline with surprising results

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan, Humor

Mobility scooter races Nissan Skyline - video screencap

Okay, so we may not be talking about a classic, all-conquering Nissan Skyline GT-R here. But the sub-Godzilla-trim Nissan Skyline GTS-T is still a car, after all. And, as a car, if someone asked you to lay a bet on it versus a mobility scooter (Hoveround, Rascal, you know the type) in a drag race, you’d probably take that action.

Unless, of course, that drag race were happening on YouTube, in which case you’d put your money away and open up your laptop. On the Internet it’s best to never bet against the wild underdog.

We don’t mean to spoil the following video for you, but come on. When you saw Skyline vs. Scooter in that headline, you had a pretty good idea of what was to come, didn’t you. Needless to say, mobility scooters fitted with Suzuki GSX-600F engines are pretty quick. Strap in and scroll down.

Continue reading Watch this mobility scooter drag race a Nissan Skyline with surprising results

Watch this mobility scooter drag race a Nissan Skyline with surprising results originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Acura aiming for Chinese production by 2016

Filed under: China, Plants/Manufacturing, Acura, Luxury

Acura SUV-X Concept live at 2013 Shanghai Motor Show

Not wanting to be left out of the emerging luxury car bonanza in China, Automotive News is reporting that Acura could begin producing vehicles in the Asian country by 2016. Like Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Acura will reportedly build vehicles in China using a local partner – Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. in Acura’s case – while Cadillac and Infiniti will build their own vehicles locally.

Guangzhou already produces Honda models in China, but the article says that the first Acura produced in that country could be a new compact model based on the Acura SUV-X Concept (shown above), a showcar revealed in April at the Shanghai Motor Show. China’s luxury car market is expected to grow to 2.7 million units a year by the end of this decade, which would put it on pace to make it the largest premium car market in the world.

Acura aiming for Chinese production by 2016 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM planning to put its fullsize pickups on a big diet, too

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2014 GMC Sierra pickup - silver - front three-quarter view with mountains

General Motors is just coming off a complete redesign of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra for 2014, but in the US fullsize truck market, there is no rest for the weary. According to Reuters, plans are already unfurling for both trucks to drop pounds from their curb weight over the next few years, but this will unlikely be able to keep pace with the 700-pound diet targeted for the next-generation Ford F-150, a truck expected to debut late next year.

The biggest weight reduction for these trucks might not be available until the next full redesign, which will likely happen around 2019, but the article says that smaller updates could shave pounds in the meantime. Two examples given include an “aluminum-intensive” version of the Silverado that could shed 250 pounds and debut around the same time as the lighter-weight, aluminum-bodied 2015 Ford, and there is also talk of reducing weight for driveline components such as axles and driveshafts. These changes are all part of an attempt to meet strict new fuel economy standards coming in 2017, targets which will get even tougher in 2025.

GM planning to put its fullsize pickups on a big diet, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Hyundai shows Walking Dead Veloster Zombie Survival Machine at Comic-Con

Filed under: Aftermarket, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Hyundai, TV/Movies

Hyundai Veloster Turbo made up for The Walking Dead tv show - front three-quarter view

The Walking Dead, the hit zombie apocalypse show on AMC, has enjoyed a marketing tie-in with Hyundai for two seasons now. If you’ve watched the show, you’d no doubt seen Rick Grimes, his sociopath-in-training son Carl and emerging hero Glenn Rhee avoiding the dead behind the wheel of a light-green Hyundai Tucson. That relationship expanded beyond the show when Hyundai brought an Elantra Coupe-based Zombie Survival Machine to last year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

For this year’s Comic-Con, the new Zombie Survival Machine is just a touch faster, funkier and deadlier. Based on a Hyundai Veloster Turbo and built by Galpin Auto Sports to decapitate as many Walkers as possible, this four-door hatch has been heavily modified. The headlights, taillights and windows are all protected with a combination of wrought iron and chainlink fencing. There’s also plenty of armor on the body panels.

Passive zombie killing features abound, like the “horde plow” on the front bumper and sawblade grille. But by and large, the majority of the Veloster Turbo Zombie Survival Machine’s offensive power comes from a combination of firearms and chainsaws. A .50-caliber machine gun is mounted on the roof, along with a pair of assault rifles on the hood. Each door features blades along the base and a machine gun. Melee weapons can be found in the back, including a spiked baseball bat or katana.

We see a few issues with the Veloster Turbo ZSM. Clearly, the creators have never read Max Brooks’ excellent book, World War Z, otherwise they’d know that flame throwers (of which we counted three) are ineffective against the dead, as are rapid-fire weapons. Our nerdy minds aside, this is a pretty cool one-off concept from one of the very best shows on television. But if you think you can do better, Hyundai has set up an app for fans to design their own Zombie Survival Machines. The winning entry will get their car built and put on display at New York Comic-Con in October. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to see if we can retrofit our long-term Veloster Turbo into a Zombie Survival Machine.

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Hyundai shows Walking Dead Veloster Zombie Survival Machine at Comic-Con originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: BMW M135i vs. Mercedes A45 AMG in Euro small-lux throwdown

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Hatchback, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, UK

BMW and Mercedes-Benz – please, please, please bring the M135i and A45 AMG hatchbacks to North America. For as long as we can remember, buyers in the New World have been forced to look longingly at Europe and Great Britain and the excellent super hatches that are so routinely offered there. And while we’re quite content with the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen GTI, having a 360-horse five-door with a premium, content-rich interior sounds quite nice.

Our envy for Europe has grown after watching the latest video from Drive, which stars Chris Harris, the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG and the BMW M135i. This latest battle between MB and BMW takes place on both road and track, with Harris providing a running commentary. If you’re interested in the upcoming Mercedes CLA45 AMG, you should pay special attention to the section on the A45, as the two are essentially fraternal twins. While the video is a bit on the long side, it provides a comprehensive rundown of both cars, giving those of us in North America just a small taste of what we’re missing. Check it out by scrolling below.

Continue reading BMW M135i vs. Mercedes A45 AMG in Euro small-lux throwdown

BMW M135i vs. Mercedes A45 AMG in Euro small-lux throwdown originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: Infiniti G37 to live on in showrooms alongside 2014 Q50

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Etc., Infiniti, Luxury

2014 Infiniti Q50 - front three-quarter view live on show stand

Infiniti is preparing to roll out its hotly anticipated 2014 Q50, a car that not only ushers in a new alphanumeric naming strategy, it ostensibly replaces the G37 as the brand’s bread-and-butter sport sedan. That will happen, but not in the short-term, as the G37 will continue to be manufactured and sold alongside the Q50, at least for the rest of this year.

Infiniti spokesman Kyle Bazemore has confirmed to Autoblog that a decision is pending on how long to extend the G37 sedan’s production run. “We’re taking Q50 up a little bit, and that allows us to keep the G Sedan in the lineup… It [Q50] certainly started as a replacement, but it ended up being much more than that.” Confusingly, Infiniti has already announced that the Q50 is to start at $37,605 (including $905 destination charge), yet the 2013 G37 is more expensive, starting at $38,255 delivered according to Infiniti’s consumer website. Thus, a price drop on the G37 is likely coming in short order.

So why hold on to the older model? With the Q50 launching exclusively with V6 and Hybrid models (a turbo four and diesel are said to be in the cards down the road), Infiniti evidently feels it is risking leaving lower-end sales on the table. “There’s a lot of movement with the [BMW] 320i and such, and this allows us a two-tier strategy to compete,” says Bazemore. Keeping the G37 on tap at a lower price for fleet sale duty may also serve to protect the Q50 as it establishes itself on the market.

For the moment, Infiniti is still determining whether to continue G37 sedan production beyond the 2013 model year, and some of that may depend on the arrival time of its new entry-level front-wheel drive model, expected to be dubbed Q30. A decision is likely to be made over the next few weeks. Adding to the confusion, the existing G37 Coupe and Convertible will be immediately rebranded as the 2014 Q60 Coupe and Convertible, even though they won’t be based on the new Q50.

Infiniti G37 to live on in showrooms alongside 2014 Q50 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick Spin: 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Quick Spins

2014 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S - front three-quarter view, red

I don’t care who you are; when a new Porsche 911 rolls up in your driveway, that’s a pretty good day. This was my very first experience with Porsche’s 991 911, and after having spent time with just about every tune and trim of the last car, I was hotly anticipating comparing and contrasting.

Somehow (I don’t remember sending out any cash-filled, unmarked envelopes) I’d scored a week in the 911 Carrera 4S over a long holiday weekend, too. That meant that I’d get to A) log a ton of miles in one of the best cars in the world, B) get to show-off the Porsche to family and friends and C) tempt cops in three states to pull me over. Good thing I’ve got the Autoblog traffic lawyer on speed dial…

Driving Notes

I’ve never been one to find every-single 911 ever completely attractive – I find the 996 Cabriolets are a particularly bad representation of the legend’s style – but I think the 991 generation is sexy as hell. When my test car showed up in Guards Red over black wheels, I was smitten right away. Silver or black might be safer choices with this body shape, but I can’t help but think the profile of the car – sleeker than ever now – is nearly perfect. With that said, erecting the retractable rear spoiler completely ruins the body line, even if it helps keep the car pinned to the Earth at triple digit speeds.
The longer wheelbase of the 991 Carrera does set the car up as a better all-around driver and grand touring car than its 997 predecessor. On the negative side, this means that this 911 doesn’t feel quite as quick to turn in and rotate on a dime. Also, slightly more grown-up chassis and suspension tuning mean that I get less of a sense of overall road feedback, too. The positive side of that trade-off is a greater level of high-speed stability, with what remains an ultra-smooth, ultra-confident driving experience on the best of roads. And, while the electric power steering system’s feel might not be quite as good as the last-gen 911’s hydraulic setup, or the current Boxster and Cayman, it’s still light years ahead of many other sports cars.
I put more than 700 miles on this Porsche over the long 4th of July weekend, with a trip to Chicago from Ann Arbor, including plenty of backroads along the way. It’s not particularly sexy to say so, but the Carrera 4S is as just about as practical as anything in the “near-supercar” category is likely to get. Seats for the two passengers up front are comfortable and supportive, with plenty of head, elbow, and leg room for a car this size. Visibility is actually pretty decent, too, considering the silhouette of the machine. I was shocked to see highway fuel economy over the EPA estimated rating of 26 miles per gallon, especially considering I was doing a pretty steady 80 miles per hour most of the time I was on the interstate. And, it’s a story you’ve heard before, but there’s more than enough luggage space for two people as long as both occupants can get along with two standard-size rollerboard suitcases.
Of the roughly $40,000 worth of options on my 911 4S (stickering at $145,305 over a base of $105,630), perhaps the best value was the $360 rear windshield wiper. (In fact, in terms of German-car options sheets, that’s downright thievery.) Every car should have a rear wiper – I’ll now be saddened every time I see a 911 without one, knowing the owner was just a couple hundred bucks away from all-weather rear visibility.
There aren’t too many cars in the world that are this fast and this grippy. I had to resort to flooring the throttle, with a whole handful of lock on a wet road to kick the heavy tail out with any conviction. The all-wheel-drive system is impressive, to be sure. And, considering the output figures of 400 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque aren’t all that impressive by modern sports car standards, this Carrera 4S still feels astonishingly quick from point to point. Wide open throttle – in Sport mode with the exhaust opened all the way up – sounds about as close to perfect as it gets, too. If you have the chance, drive this car.

2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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