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Report: BMW’s next supercar coming in 2013 for $200,000

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW

BMW Efficient Dynamics prototype

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics prototype – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW is set to change the way we think about supercars with its Vision EfficientDynamics concept. This swoopy economical machine is estimated to produce around 328 horsepower from its three-cylinder diesel hybrid powertrain, and fuel economy is claimed to be a lofty 62.5 miles per gallon.

While speaking to Inside Line recently, the automaker’s sales and marketing director, Ian Robertson, announced that the car will cost roughly €150,000, or about $200,000 USD when it goes on sale. That’s indeed a pretty penny, but it’s put into perspective when you consider that Mercedes-Benz’s upcoming efficient supercar, the SLS E-Cell, is rumored to cost around $250,000.

No official timeframe has been given as to when we’ll see the debut of the production-ready EfficientDynamics supercar, but Inside Line states that BMW is sponsoring the 2012 London Olympics, so we should look for the car to debut at that time. It’s indeed a vast change from the eight-, ten- and twelve-cylinder hotties that currently make up the supercar segment, but with the changing times putting a larger emphasis on efficiency, BMW’s end result should still be pretty sweet.

Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Prototype

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Prototype

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: BMW’s next supercar coming in 2013 for $200,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man caught driving 200 km/h on public roads gets $235,000 Ferrari taken away

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., BMW, Ferrari, Canada

Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Two speed-loving Canadians have had the keys to their hoon machines taken away. A 2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia and a 2008 BMW M6 were caught speeding up Mount Seymour in British Columbia, hitting speeds of up to 200 km/h (about 126 miles per hour) in a 60 km/h zone, as well as narrowly missing a mother who was walking with her two children. As you’d expect, the cars were impounded, but the provincial government is taking things a step further. Both vehicles are going to be sold. In fact, the Ferrari has already moved on to a new home and the M6 is set to hit the auction block in the very near future.

The Ferrari is owned in part by a relative of the person driving at the time. That relative will receive 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale, while the other owner receives 30 percent. The government is going to hold on to the rest. The owner of the M6 also receives 30 percent but the government keeps the other 70. The reason for the payouts? To clear notes on each car with the owners respective banks.

[Source: CNews]

Man caught driving 200 km/h on public roads gets $235,000 Ferrari taken away originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Saab cutting 200 jobs

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Saab, Earnings/Financials

LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X – Click above for high-res image gallery

Saab may been been saved from an untimely death by Spyker, but sales have yet to rebound. According to Reuters, union representative Hakan Skott says the poor sales mean Saab will cut its workforce by 200 jobs, bringing overall employment at its Trollhättan complex from about 1,600 to 1,400. Skott claims this is no surprise, given that Saab’s sales forecast was revised downward from 45,000 units to between 30,000 and 35,000 for all of 2010.

Cutting nearly 15 percent of all factory jobs is a serious issue, but Skott feels (hopes?) sales will pick up in February or March. Saab didn’t comment on the report, though Spyker CEO Victor Muller reportedly told Dagens Industri that there was “no reason to worry,” adding that Saab still intends to build 80,000 vehicles in 2011. Muller added that temporary workers are the ones receiving pink slips.

Gallery: LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X

LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeff Glucker / AOL

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Saab cutting 200 jobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Chrysler 200

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Chrysler, First Drive

Sebring Successor Goes A Long Way to Address Old Ails

2011 Chrysler 200

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler isn’t into mincing words about the company’s recent past. After years of corporate and product neglect, those at the helm of the smallest of the Big Three know that the company has a long way to go to regain buyer confidence. While a rash of new and revised models are hitting Jeep and Dodge show rooms over the next few months, it’s clear that the company is beginning to gain momentum under the guidance of Fiat. But the models under the Silver Wing seem to be staring down the barrel of a more uncertain future. With plenty of product overlap with Dodge and a lack of any real brand cohesiveness, Chrysler has yet to yield any clear indication of progress away from the dark days of the company’s past. As a result, buyers are having a hard time knowing what to make of the company or where it’s headed.

Still, after Chrysler emerged from Chapter 11, it was clear that wherever the carmaker was going, the Sebring wasn’t coming along for the ride. After a long, degrading life of rental car service and all out neglect from designers and engineers alike, the Sebring had mutated into a car that was a few leagues behind the competition, even when the third-generation bowed in 2007. To that end, Chrysler sent the Sebring name to the burn pile by revealing the 200 – a small sedan that rides on the same bones as its ill-fated predecessor but wears new sheet metal and a revised interior along with a slew of significantly reworked mechanical components. The result is the vehicle that Chrysler should have built in the first place – a competent economy cruiser with plenty of content even at lower trim levels. Is it enough to banish thoughts of the Sebring from our minds? We hopped behind the wheel to find out.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200: First Drive

2011 Chrysler 200

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First Drive: 2011 Chrysler 200 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #200 – We celebrate a milestone!

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc.

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

We celebrate the milestone of Episode #200 of the Autoblog Podcast by welcoming back Editor in Chief John Neff and Executive Editor Chris Paukert. We talk about the garage, and what significant milestones have passed in the last 100 episodes. We also reminisce about some of our favorite experiences while testing vehicles, and then we wrap it all up with some of your questions. Thanks for listening, and we’ll be back with a normal ‘cast for Episode #201. See you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #200 – Scion FT86, Toyota Prius MPV, Chevrolet Volt transmission

In the Autoblog Garage:

Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Infiniti M56X

Hosts:
Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, John Neff, Chris Paukert

Runtime: 1:17:29

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Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #200 – We celebrate a milestone! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #200

Filed under: SEMA Show, Etc., Porsche, Subaru, Toyota

Click above to subscribe to The Autoblog Podcast in iTunes

Episode #200 of the Autoblog Podcast goes down tonight, and we’ve got some things to talk about. Drop us your own feedback and questions below if you think there’s anything we’ve missed, or vote on your fellow readers’ submissions to help determine what we discuss this momentous evening. You can subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already to hear your question answered.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #200

SEMA
Hybrids aplenty at Porsche
Prius MPV debut at Detroit Auto Show
Sportier Forester?

Subscribe to the Autoblog Podacast and hear your questions asked:
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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #200 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler 200 to spawn European Lancia model?

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Chrysler, Fiat, Rumormill, Lancia

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumor has it that Fiat is looking to push the Chrysler 200 into a handful of markets around the globe. According to Automotive News, the Italian automaker has its sight set on reworking the car into Lancia and introducing it in mainland Europe. At the same time, the standard Chrysler 200 may debut in the UK and Ireland. Interestingly enough, Fiat isn’t mulling the move because it thinks that the 200 can go head to head with the rest of the small car. Instead, the company is hoping to bolster its fleet sales in various European markets.

That’s not to say that the deal is set in stone at this point. The Chrysler 200 has a major chink in its armor when it comes to doing battle in Europe – it doesn’t come with a diesel option. With only two gasoline engine options, Fiat would have to source its own oil-burning powerplant to make the ploy work. Throw in the fact that the car is set to be replaced in three years and the likelihood of seeing the 200 in Europe is slimmer yet. Still, the company says that it’s currently looking at the numbers to see if there’s a solid business case for the move.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req’d via Carscoop]

Chrysler 200 to spawn European Lancia model? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Will the 200 be enough to get Chrysler back into the family sedan game?

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Design/Style

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Goodbye, Sebring, thanks for the memories… sort of. Sadly, most of the recollections we can muster that include Chrysler’s mid-size sedan aren’t ones we’re particularly fond of – at least not when thinking of the nameplate’s current generation, which debuted in 2007 to a chorus of boos amongst the motoring press and limp sales directly thereafter. Why? Taking lackluster driving dynamics and a disappointing interior out of the equation, the biggest problem with the Sebring has been that it’s widely considered to be one of the least attractive sedans on the road.

And so it’s with eager anticipation that we look forward to the introduction of the Chrysler 200 for 2011. The Pentastar brand has just pulled the covers (mostly) off its thoroughly updated family sedan, and for the most part, we like what we see, though admittedly it’s a long way off from the more adventuresome 200C concept car that wowed Detroit Auto Show goers in 2009. There may be a few nits that need picking, however, starting with what seems to be a completely carryover greenhouse. Also, the fact that a four-speed automatic gearbox is still available on some models is a disappointment (though it’s likely just for rental car-spec models), and we’ve yet to see the full interior.

We know there are a lot more specifics yet to be revealed, but the question that most needs answering today is whether or not you, dear readers, think that Chrysler has done enough with the 200 to differentiate it from the unloved Sebring. Take a moment to scroll back through the photos (click here if you want a quick refresher on the 2010 Sebring), then be sure to take part in our completely unscientific poll below. Finally, feel free to have your say in our ‘Comments’ section below.

View Poll

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200

Poll: Will the 200 be enough to get Chrysler back into the family sedan game? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Lincoln plans to close 200 metro dealers, upgrade the rest

Filed under: Ford, Lincoln, Luxury

Lincoln Concept C – Click above for high-res image gallery

Now that Ford has officially announced that its Mercury division would be going the way of the Dodo, and with Blue Oval-branded models like the Taurus SHO proving that the Dearborn automaker can indeed move itself a bit upmarket, the next logical concern is addressing what will happen to Lincoln. That’s especially true given the fact that Lincoln’s 82,847 total sales in 2009 are a mere pittance compared to that of class-leading Lexus, which moved 215,957 vehicles.

One of the big problems with Lincoln is that there are just too many dealerships trying to sell a car to in-market customers. To wit, Lincoln currently boasts a whopping 1,221 stores in the States. By way of comparison, Lexus has 230, Audi has 270, BMW has 338 and Mercedes-Benz has 352. Do the math and it’s easy to see that each Lincoln dealership doesn’t sell very many vehicles – in fact, they’re averaging just two sales per week.

According to Automotive News, Ford has a two-part plan to inject some life into its moribund Lincoln outlets. First, the total number of dealerships will be reduced by at least 200, and most of those closures will happen in large metropolitan markets where there are already multiple stores. Second, remaining outlets will be heavily upgraded in order to compete with Lincoln’s targeted competitors.

Will it work? Hard to say, but if the brand can build models like the rumored production version of the Concept C showcar, it could certainly inject some life into Lincoln. In any case, we should get a few more details around October 4, which is when Lincoln’s annual dealer meeting is scheduled to begin.

Gallery: Lincoln Concept C

[Sources: Automotive News – sub. req., Bloomberg]

Report: Lincoln plans to close 200 metro dealers, upgrade the rest originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: World’s Fastest Street Car drives 1,200 miles, whips off 6.95 ET @ 209 mph

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

Larry Larson and his six-second street-driven Nova – Click above to watch videos after the jump

Technically, there’s nothing wrong with putting your race car on a trailer and towing it to the track. In fact, as anyone who has tried to use a track rat as a daily driver can tell you, a car can be either a racer or a commuter. Rarely can it do both effectively. But there’s a certain subset of drivers out there for whom “trailer queen” is as dirty a phrase as any four-letter word you could think of. Hot Rod Magazine has worked up an event just for these folk. It’s called Drag Week, and the rules are pretty simple. Cars must run five tracks in five states over five days, lowest ET wins and everyone has to drive their bruiser from track to track. No trailers allowed.

This year’s king of the heap is Larry Larson and his 1966 Chevrolet Nova, a racer that is staking its claim for the title of world’s fastest street car. A twin-turbocharged 565 cubic-inch big-block Bowtie V8 supplies the grunt, and though it’s never been on a dyno, estimates put it at more than 2,300 horsepower. As a result, Larson can launch the car down the quarter mile in 6.95 seconds at 209.1 mph, even after driving the car on public roads for five days straight – some of it in pouring rain, no less. Hit the jump to see a few videos of the machine.

[Sources: 1320 Video via YouTube, Bang Shift]

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Videos: World’s Fastest Street Car drives 1,200 miles, whips off 6.95 ET @ 209 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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