2010 Archives | Page 3 of 23

Quick Spin: 2010 BMW 760Li

Filed under: Sedan, BMW, Luxury, Quick Spin

If You Have The Means, Then By All Means…

2010 BMW 760Li

2010 BMW 760Li – Click above for high-res image gallery

$66,350 is a significant sum. In the automotive world, it can buy you a variety of delicious drivables, including the BMW M3, Cadillac CTS-V or Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. It can buy you exactly 4.67 Mazda2 hatchbacks, if that’s more your style, but no matter how you look at it, $66K isn’t chump change.

So when you consider that the 2010 BMW 760Li commands a wallet-gouging $66,350 over an entry-level 7 Series, which itself starts at at a lofty $70,650, you’d be right to expect the standard BMW flagship treatment with a heaping helping of sport sedan prowess thrown in for good measure. And that, folks, is exactly what you get.

Gallery: 2010 BMW 760Li: Quick Spin

2010 BMW 760Li

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Quick Spin: 2010 BMW 760Li originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Honda Accord

KBB.com names its 20 Most-Researched vehicles for 2010 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Kelly Blue Book has compiled a list of the most researched new vehicles for 2010, as well as brands that hold the greatest market share of interest. The Honda Accord, Civic and Toyota Camry claim the top three spots — not a surprise if you’ve been reading this list the last few years. Since 2004, the same three vehicles have garnered the most attention at KBB.com.

While it’s not a surprise to see those three, it’s a nice change of pace for a few newcomers to the list. The Hyundai Sonata was 29th overall last year, but has risen 24 spots to claim the title of fifth most-researched vehicle for 2010. Not everyone rose this year, of course. Two notable vehicles, the Toyota Prius and Corolla, dropped a few spots compared to 2009.

It’s not all bad news for Toyota, however, because KBB.com also takes a look at each brand’s market share of interest among new car buyers. Toyota leads the way at 13.4 percent, with Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan rounding out the top five in that order.

Here’s how the Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010 breaks down:

1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Hyundai Sonata
6. Nissan Altima
7. Honda Pilot
8. Ford Mustang
9. Toyota Highlander
10. Toyota RAV4
11. Toyota Sienna
12. Honda Odyssey
13. Chevrolet Equinox
14. Toyota Corolla
15. Ford Fusion
16. Ford Escape
17. Toyota Prius
18. BMW 3 Series
19. Chevrolet Camaro
20. Volkswagen Jetta

Be sure to click past the jump to read the full release from Kelley Blue Book.

Gallery: Kelley Blue Book’s Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010

[Source: KBB.com]

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KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 136 recall campaigns in 2010 have covered 17.2M autos, and it’s still not a record year

Filed under: Recalls, Safety

Toyota recall pedal fix parts

It’s been a banner year for big recalls, or at least it feels that way. What with high profile recalls from Toyota for everything from runaway vehicles to brake issues and a host of smaller problems from nearly every automaker in the market, it certainly felt like 2010 was at the top of the recall heap. Only it wasn’t. According to Ward’s Auto, a total of 136 recalls sent 17.2 million vehicles back to the dealer this year, and while that’s an impressive sum, it still falls short of the record. Way back in 2000, manufactures recalled 24.3 million vehicles due in part to the now infamous Ford Explorer/Firestone tire scandal.

Still, while this number’s figure falls short of the big double-oh, recalls crept up by 800,000 units compared to 2009. Not surprisingly, Toyota led the way with 17 recalls covering around 6.6 million vehicles in 2010, but according to Ward’s, the automaker still has plenty of work to do on some of the recalls from last year. Toyota is still only 65 percent of the way through repairing the 5.6 million vehicles that were recalled this year for faulty floor mats. That figure includes 80 percent of the trapped-pedal cars that were recalled in 2009.

And what of other automakers, you ask? Ward’s reports that combined, the Big Three brought back around 4.6 million vehicles. Head over to Ward’s Auto to see the full breakdown for yourself.

[Source: Ward’s Auto]

Report: 136 recall campaigns in 2010 have covered 17.2M autos, and it’s still not a record year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Volkswagen, Design/Style, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start

2010 VW Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start – Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2.0-liter turbo diesel in our long-term 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition is a very modern mill, so we were curious how it would handle starting in the frigid clime of northeastern Ohio this time of year.

Diesel engines typically have three vulnerabilities when it comes to cold weather starts: the fuel, the battery and their glow plugs. First, the new Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel we all use begins to gel at a higher temperature than the old fuel. Sulfur is also a lubricant, and with less of it, the fuel pump has to work harder in cold temperatures to keep the thicker diesel fuel flowing. Fortunately, most diesel fuel sold in colder areas has ant-gelling additives mixed in already.

Batteries are also less efficient when cold, while at the same time having to work much harder to crank the engine more times. Finally, diesel engines use glow plugs to heat the point of combustion in each cylinder, which is a much tougher job when the mercury drops below freezing. Optional block heaters can help a diesel engine start in cold weather, but Volkswagen has enough faith in its 2.0-liter TDI that it doesn’t even offer one.

So how did our Jetta TDI Cup Edition do when being started in 25-degree weather after sitting for over 24 hours? Follow the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video]

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition: Cold Weather Start [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: California livin’

Filed under: Sedan, Subaru, Long-Term Garage

It’s been about a month since the long-term Subaru Legacy 2.5GT arrived in Northern California, and as the weather slowly turned south, my opinion of our burgundy sled has improved. Dramatically.

Transitioning from a German compact into a near-luxury sedan from Japan (both within $1,000 of each other, oddly enough) has proven to be an eye-opening experience – but not in the way you’d think. Maybe I’m just biased towards the staid interior stylings from Deutschland, but the Legacy’s insides came off as overwrought and sub-par when compared to the Jetta MK5 TDI Cup Street Edition. The materials didn’t exude the same level of quality and while fit-and-finish is certainly above board, it still lacks the high-end tactility I enjoyed in the Volkswagen. Plus, the experience behind the wheel has felt heavy and ponderous after living with the Jetta for the better part of four months.

This opinion lasted right up until the first monsoon. I was driving north on 580 when the world went blurry. Traffic was crawling along, but with the wipers set to meth-head speed, I was able to plow through the storm with confidence. As the weeks have worn on, I’ve grown fond of the Legacy’s added heft and all-wheel drive – there’s just something inherently comforting about piloting a heavyweight down the road – not to mention sending power to all four wheels. That said, it’s far from a fair weather driver’s car. The suspension is too floaty, the seats are far too flat and the shifter is far too floppy. However, that last bit we’ll be dealing with soon.

Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: California livin’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009-2010 Mazda5 minivans recalled over fuel pump concerns

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Recalls, Mazda

2009 Mazda5

2009 Mazda5 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a safety recall on certain Mazda5 minivans from the 2009 and 2010 model year.

This recall focuses on the van’s fuel pump, with NHTSA citing that water may not have been completely removed from the pump’s harness connector before vehicle assembly. Thus, the connector pin may corrode, causing the pin to break. If the harness connector breaks, this could lead to an inoperative fuel pump. The Mazda5’s engine could stall, and the inability to restart the engine increases the risk of a crash.

Approximately 16,200 of the Mazda minivans are effected by this problem, and the safety recall is expected to begin on or before December 11th. Dealers will inspect the fuel pump connector and replace the harness free of charge. For the full details, follow the jump to read NHTSA’s official statement.

Gallery: 2009 Mazda5

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading 2009-2010 Mazda5 minivans recalled over fuel pump concerns

2009-2010 Mazda5 minivans recalled over fuel pump concerns originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Top Gear Award winners announced

Filed under: Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Maserati, Porsche, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, UK, Koenigsegg

Citroen DS3

Citroën DS3 – Click above for high-res image gallery

As we said before, it’s that time when everyone starts rolling out their year-end “Best of” lists and revisits their favorite rides of 2010. Top Gear is in on the action, naming its annual award winners. Its list, as you can see, is diverse and loaded with forbidden fruit (at least for those of us in the U.S.)

Hypercar of the Year: Koenigsegg Agera
Cabrio of the Year: Maserati GranCabrio
Grand Tourer of the Year: Bentley Continental GT
Hot Hatch of the Year: Volkswagen Golf R
Family Car of the Year: BMW 520d Touring
Engine of the Year: Fiat TwinAir
Coupe of the Year: Peugot RCZ
Luxury Car of the Year: Jaguar XJ
Small Car of the Year and Car of the Year: Citroen DS3

Besides the standard categories, the three hosts also picked their favorites of 2010. Jeremy Clarkson is in love with the Pagani Zonda R, James May goes with the Bugatti Veyron Supersport and Richard Hammond is quite fond of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Though we’ve given you the list, it’s still worth a trip over to the Top Gear website to read the reasons behind each choice.

Gallery: Citroen DS3

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[Source: Top Gear]

2010 Top Gear Award winners announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts at 2010 Bologna Motor Show

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut

Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show – Click above for high-res image gallery

Everyone loves a special-edition, track-focused Ferrari and the time has come for the 458 to get a taste of the Maranello magic. At this week’s 2010 Bologna Motor Show, Ferrari has devoted its stand to serve as storyboard showcasing the automaker’s racing heritage. The newest piece of that history takes the form of the Ferrari 458 Challenge, which is finally making its world debut.

The 458 Challenge is the fifth model to get placed into a single-series racing program. The standard 458 Italia is already such a potent beast that the Challenge keeps the changes away from the engine bay leaving it with the same 570 horsepower as the standard 458 Italia. That said, the gear ratios and calibration of the dual-clutch transmission have been adjusted so that the Challenge generates more torque at lower revs.

Stiffer springs and a lower ride height help keep the body planted around the large Pirelli tires. That rubber hugs 19-inch forged alloys with a central locking nut. The brakes are upgraded to the newest setup that Brembo offers, and the system is paired with the ABS that debuted on the wild-child Ferrari 599XX.

Ferrari 458 Challenge Both the suspension and braking get a helping hand from something that has been reduced: weight. Ferrari has focused on reducing the thickness of the body panels, as well as introducing materials such as carbon fiber and Lexan.

All of the upgrades found on the Ferrari 458 Challenge result in a potent, track-ready machine that is faster than the 458 Italia it’s based on. The 458 Challenge hit Ferrari’s home Fiorano race track for numerous test sessions, and during the course of development, it was able to post lap times two seconds faster than the Italia. During testing, the 458 Challenge also pulled lateral grip numbers in the neighborhood of 1.6 g’s. Giggity.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show

Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show

[Source: Ferrari]

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Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts at 2010 Bologna Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By the Numbers – November 2010: Almost Done With Oh-Ten Edition

Filed under: By the Numbers

Subaru, Hyundai and Kia set full-year sales records

The subtitle above should surprise no one. Of all the automakers operating in the U.S., Subaru, Hyundai and Kia are the only automakers to increase sales month after month through this years-long recession while their competitors have faltered. As such, all three are enjoying new full-year sales records a month ahead of the Times Square ball dropping.

The rest of the industry, however, is apparently done fumbling around and is clearly finding its footing. The vast majority of brands saw increased sales last month except for the usual suspects (GM’s non-core brands that are just about dead, also-dying Mercury, along with Smart and Jaguar) and a few cellar-dwelling surprises like Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota and Lexus. We’re not sure what Toyota’s banking on to turn things around, aside from mass amnesia of its recall woes, while Chrysler is doing its best to either fully redesign or substantially upgrade its existing models to keep customers interested.

Either way, when the book closes on 2010, automotive historians will write that the competitive landscape on December 31 looked markedly different than it did 365 days earlier. With one more month to go, we doubt the list of winners and losers is going to look very different from what you see below.

Brand/Company	Volume %	Nov-10	Nov-09	DSR %*	Nov-10	Nov-09
Ram	66.89	19,040	11,409	59.93	793	496
Jeep	57.78	24,202	15,339	51.21	1,008	667
Suzuki	51.43	2,332	1,540	45.12	97	67
Porsche	48.59	2,416	1,626	42.39	101	71
Kia	48.15	26,601	17,955	41.98	1,108	781
Mitsubishi	47.21	4,306	2,925	41.08	179	127
Hyundai	45.21	40,723	28,045	39.16	1,697	1,219
Infiniti	44.97	8,182	5,644	38.93	341	245
Audi	37.52	9,365	6,810	31.79	390	296
Buick	35.91	11,725	8,627	30.25	489	375
Land Rover	34.90	2,922	2,166	29.28	122	94
BMW	30.18	20,097	15,438	24.75	837	671
GMC	29.52	27,590	21,301	24.13	1,150	926
Ford	27.02	133,544	105,133	21.73	5,564	4,571
Nissan	24.76	63,184	50,644	19.56	2,633	2,202
Volkswagen	24.24	20,189	16,250	19.06	841	707
Subaru	22.39	20,792	16,988	17.29	866	739
Acura	22.23	10,718	8,769	17.13	447	381
Cadillac	21.40	11,801	9,721	16.34	492	423
Honda	20.95	78,899	65,234	15.91	3,287	2,836
Lincoln	19.33	7,648	6,409	14.36	319	279
Chevrolet	17.56	117,588	100,023	12.66	4,900	4,349
Mercedes-Benz	13.34	19,037	16,797	8.61	793	730
Mini	8.66	2,786	2,564	4.13	116	111
Mazda	7.36	15,304	14,255	2.89	638	620
Saab	7.01	397	371	2.55	17	16
Lexus	-1.41	18,240	18,500	-5.51	760	804
Jaguar	-3.12	1,117	1,153	-7.16	47	50
Toyota	-3.58	111,077	115,200	-7.60	4,628	5,009
Volvo	-11.94	4,078	4,631	-15.61	170	201
Mercury	-12.12	6,146	6,994	-15.79	256	304
Dodge	-12.45	21,246	24,268	-16.10	885	1,055
Chrysler	-22.96	9,664	12,544	-26.17	403	545
Smart	-67.49	211	649	-68.84	9	28
(Hummer)	-88.69	25	221	-89.16	1	10
(Pontiac)	-99.91	7	7,426	-99.91	0	323
(Saturn)	-99.92	3	3,737	-99.92	0	162
COMPANIES
BMW Group	27.11	22,883	18,002	21.82	953	783
Nissan NA	26.79	71,366	56,288	21.50	2,974	2,447
Ford Mo Co	24.30	147,338	118,536	19.12	6,139	5,154
Jaguar/LR NA	21.69	4,039	3,319	16.62	168	144
America Honda	21.10	89,617	74,003	16.05	3,734	3,218
GM (Core)	20.79	168,704	139,672	15.75	7,029	6,073
Chrysler Group	16.66	74,152	63,560	11.80	3,090	2,763
General Motors	11.43	168,739	151,427	6.79	7,031	6,584
Toyota Mo Co	-3.28	129,317	133,700	-7.31	5,388	5,813

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were24 selling days in November 2010 versus 23 selling days in November 2009, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

By the Numbers – November 2010: Almost Done With Oh-Ten Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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