2010 Archives | Page 8 of 23

GM recalls 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala over faulty seat belts

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Chevrolet, GM

2009 Chevrolet Impala SS

General Motors has issued a recall for 392,409 2009 and 2010 Chevrolet Impalas. The issue at hand lies with front seatbelt anchors. A number of Impalas may have front belts that were not properly secured to the anchor pretensioner mounted nearest to the door. In a crash, this could cause the seatbelt anchor to separate and not act very much like a safety feature.

There have been no reported injuries to date and GM is ready to fix this free of charge at your nearest Chevy dealer. Both front anchors will be inspected and, if need be, replaced. Impala owners will be notified of this recall by mail, on or around October 25th, 2010. For more information, take a look at the press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

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GM recalls 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala over faulty seat belts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Great Long-Term Vehicle Swap of 2010

Filed under: Sedan, Subaru, Volkswagen, Long-Term Garage

Above are Autoblog’s two current long-term test vehicles, the 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT and the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sport Cup Edition. At the moment, they are separated by some 2,460 miles of road with the Legacy at my house in the Greater Cleveland area and the diesel Jetta with Senior Editor Damon Lavrinc in San Francisco. Come next Monday, they will have swapped places.

We could have called a carrier service to deliver the cars across the country. In fact, we looked into it, but who wants to pay over two grand to have a company do what we’ll gladly do for free? So myself and Lavrinc are embarking on a cross-country road trip from nearly opposite ends of the great 48 to swap these cars somewhere in the middle. We’ll both be leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning and plan to return home late Monday night with different vehicles than the ones we left in.

This being my last night with the Legacy 2.5GT, I’ll sum up my feelings towards it by saying that it’s not the sporty sedan I expected. It’s not a true sports sedan at all, in fact, but more like a mid-sizer with a very comfortable ride that injects an extra element of driver involvement with its six-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, it’s not the most precise six-speed I’ve ever rowed, but the 265-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder is a willing dance partner, even if the transmission occasionally has two left feet. And where else can you get a manual transmission paired with a powerful engine that starts under $30,000 in this segment? Not many places, that’s for sure.

So while Damon and I hunker down for the long haul, ask us any questions in Comments that we haven’t answered already in our updates. We’ll try to tweet answers from the road on Autoblog’s official Twitter account (@therealautoblog) or we’ll save the answers for future updates on the site.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

The Great Long-Term Vehicle Swap of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Opening lap crash at 2010 Bathurst race

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Australia, Racing

Fabien Coulthard Bathurst 1000 Crash

Fabien Coulthard crashes out of the Bathurst 1000 – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Australian Supercar Bathurst 1000 has grown a reputation for being an all-out slugfest between two camps: those loyal to the Holden banner and those who eat, sleep and breathe Ford blue. While the racers are knocking fenders on track, spectators are typically knocking back beers by the truckload and locking horns to defend their respective brands. In all, the event makes Daytona look like a kiddie carnival ride. This past weekend’s Bathurst got off on a scary foot with a spectacular single-car accident in the first lap.

Judging from this YouTube video, it looks like Fabien Coulthard, who started in the 21st position on the grid, blew the left rear tire on his Holden Commodore. The resulting loss of control sent the driver off track, and his touring car hit a sand trap sideways at considerable speed. The result was the kind of pirouetting explosion of sheetmetal that we haven’t seen for a good while. Thankfully, Coulthard was able to hop out of the remains of his racer and give the crowd a hearty thumbs-up. Hit the jump to see the action for yourself. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

[Source: YouTube]

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Video: Opening lap crash at 2010 Bathurst race originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP 2010 Sepang: A tale of two champions [Spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Celebrities

MotoGP Sepang Turn 1

Starting from pole position certainly has its advantages in GP racing, especially if you take to the track with the goal of potentially clinching your first World Championship and playing it safe is the name of the game. Just the opposite would be true when staring from the second row, entering turn one in the middle of the pack and racing like you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Such was the case with two very divergent Yamaha riders.

For Jorge Lorenzo, the goal of winning his first ever premier-class World Championship was on the line at Sepang. The Spaniard and his crew came to the race with a plan to run safe and clinch the title. As Lorenzo put it, “There was a possibility of injuring myself. So we had to make the race, make 20 laps, and finish it.” He would admit that the fall from pole position to eventually finishing in third was not his best performance, however nerves and conflict avoidance both played a part in his uninspiring ride. In any case, as the checkers waved, Jorge Lorenzo became the 2010 MotoGP World Champion at the age of 23.

The day started off differently for The Doctor, as he came to Sepang with a completely different aim than teammate Lorenzo. Valentino Rossi was out for nothing short of victory, which would mark his 46th career win. If you must ask why this is so significant to the legendary Italian, well, just start by looking at he front of his motorcycle. As he was entering the first turn in 11th position, Valentino certainly had his work cut out for him! With the precision of a surgeon, The Doctor sliced through the pack with a very inspiring ride that he would later call “one of the best of my career” and landing himself square at the top of the podium. Rossi never ceases to amaze.

So goes the tale of MotoGP Champions past and present. And yes, there were other riders in Malaysia, like Ben Spies and Andrea Dovizioso, who both finished in the top five. You can make the jump for the complete list of top-ten finishers. Now lets see if anyone other than Casey Stoner shows up in Australia.

[Image: AP Photo/Ching Kien Huo]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010 Sepang: A tale of two champions [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010 Sepang: A tale of two champions [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Japanese Grand Prix: The sun finally shines in the Land of the Rising Sun [Spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan

2010 Japanese Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Japanese Grand Prix has long held a special place in the Formula One World Championship. Traditionally one of, if not the very last race of the season, Japan has crowned many a champion: in fact the title has been decided there 12 out of the 24 times the Pacific island nation has hosted a grand prix. And of the drivers who’ve won there the past ten years running, all but Kimi Raikkonen lined up there again this weekend, Suzuka taking back the hosting duties from Fuji once more.

Would this year’s race see a new winner atop the podium? Or would Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher or even Rubens Barrichello add the trophy alongside their previous wins in the Land of the Rising Sun? Follow the jump to find out.

Gallery: 2010 Japanese Grand Prix

[Images: Greg Baker, Mark Baker / AP | Mark Thompson, Shuji Kajiyama / Getty | Toshifumi Kitamura, Jung Yeon-Je, Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP/Getty]

Continue reading 2010 Japanese Grand Prix: The sun finally shines in the Land of the Rising Sun [Spoilers]

2010 Japanese Grand Prix: The sun finally shines in the Land of the Rising Sun [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 07:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Cadillac SRX recalled over power steering lines

Filed under: China, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Cadillac, Luxury

General Motors has announced a voluntary recall of the 2010 Cadillac SRX luxury CUV over concerns of possible damaged power steering lines. The recall affects 3,996 units, and of those GM believes only two or three are actually affected by this issue. If the power steering lines in question are damaged, they could leak steering fluid onto the engine and start a fire, which has actually happened in at least one case. GM’s official statement after the jump. [Source: General Motors]

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2010 Cadillac SRX recalled over power steering lines originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Petit Le Mans dominated by diesels again, hybrid Porsche performs well [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Audi, Chevrolet, Porsche, Ferrari, Peugeot, Racing

Rain didn’t cut this year’s Petit Le Mans short. Unlike last year’s race, racers went carbon-fiber fender to carbon-fiber fender for the full 1,000 miles at Road Atlanta during the running of the 2010 Petit Le Mans. By the time the checkered flag fell, Peugeot walked away with a one-two win, effectively establishing a French dynasty in the American Le Mans series. As you may recall, Peugeot took the overall win at last year’s Petit Le Mans as well, beating out arch-diesel-rival Audi in the process. This year, the quad-rings fell to third place, a full two laps behind the leading French racer thanks to a flat tire late in the race. The German car, piloted by Le Mans legends Tom Kristensen, Allen McNish and Dindo Capello, simply couldn’t make up the time lost to the pits, sealing the win for Peugeot in the process.

The pair of Pugs led 299 of the 394 total laps, but that doesn’t mean that’s where the only show was. Hit the jump for a quick recap.

[Source: American Le Mans]

Continue reading 2010 Petit Le Mans dominated by diesels again, hybrid Porsche performs well [w/video]

2010 Petit Le Mans dominated by diesels again, hybrid Porsche performs well [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Loeb takes 2010 WRC title

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Citroën, Racing

Sebastian Loeb

Sebastien Loeb has effectively secured his seventh World Rally Championship title, netting his 60th carrier win by taking the Rally de France in the process. With a total of 226 championship points under his belt and two rallies left in the schedule, there’s simply no way for any of the other competitors to get within arm’s reach of the WRC gold. The Citroën team managed to pull off a one-two win at the French rally with Loeb’s teammate Dani Sordo walking away with the second fastest time. Sordo is currently fifth in the point standings.

Rounding out the podium in France was Peter Solberg, who currently occupies fourth place in points. Gymkhana guru Ken Block managed a respectable 12th place finish, though that result isn’t enough to gain the American racer any points. Currently Block is sitting at the bottom of the Championship rankings with zero points to his name.

With both the Spanish and British rallies left on the schedule, all eyes will be on who will take the bronze in this year’s WRC. With Jari-Matti Latvala currently holding onto 144 points in third place and Peter Solberg trailing by just 11 points in fourth, the bottom rung of the podium could easily go either way. Thanks for the tips, Joe and Novac!

[Source: WRC | Image: Lionel Cironneau/AP/Getty]

Loeb takes 2010 WRC title originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Reviews, Luxury

As Subtle As Dropping A TV Set From A Hotel Balcony

2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package – Click above for high-res image gallery

Roger Daltrey has gone on record as saying that in the Who’s early days, they were paid ₤75 to ₤150 a show, yet they would bust-up around ₤250-300 worth of gear every time they took to the stage. That’s bad math. Similarly, Mercedes-Benz asks those willing to pay $57,350 for its least expensive AMG model – the C63 AMG – to pony up a further $5,950 for the new-for-2010 P31 AMG Development Package that adds 30 horsepower, uprated brakes and a passel of miscellaneous hi-po gear.

From the perspective of a rational consumer, this too, fails to add up, as the standard-issue C63 is already a hooligan’s hooligan, a car from which no sane individual would walk away wishing for bigger stones. But as with Daltrey’s Who, the C63 is a fantastically overachieving beast of rather pedestrian roots, and when it comes down to it, adding the Dev Pack promises to be like dropping off Pete Townshend in the brand-new lobby of a mid-’60s Holiday Inn. With a set of Marshall stacks. Drunk and fresh off a painful breakup. In other words, it might not make a whole lot of sense or be a particularly wise financial decision, but it’s also a brave call with the glorious potential for unbridled mayhem.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Performance Pack

2011 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Performance Pack

Continue reading Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package

Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG w/P31 Development Package originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: Ferrari California featuring HELE system

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Paris Motor Show, Ferrari

Ferrari California with HELE System

Ferrari California with HELE System – Click above for high-res image gallery

One theme we have seen so far at this years Paris Motor Show, is automakers showing off vehicles which don’t seem to flow with past company history. Ferrari just added a vehicle to the growing list. Have a look at the Ferrari Calfornia fitted with the HELE System. HELE stands for High Emotion Low Emissions and is a system designed to reduce C02 emissions without taking away from the joy of driving a Ferrari.

The HELE System works by utilizing a variety of technical measures including a start/stop function that can restart the car in 230 milliseconds, intelligent engine fan and fuel pump control, electronically controlled variable displacement air-conditioning technology and adaptive gear shifts. The result is a 23 percent reduction in C02 emissions.

We joke about automakers moving away from their traditional vehicles, but it’s these types of cars that allow them to continue to build the ones we love. There probably would be no Porsche GT2 RS without the Cayenne, for example. The Ferrari California fitted with the HELE System shows that the purveyor of the Prancing Horse understands the world is constantly changing – and Ferrari is doing its best to continue to build the cars it’s known for while staying in tune with the current climate of the world.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Ferrari California with HELE System

Paris 2010: Ferrari California with HELE System

Paris 2010: Ferrari California featuring HELE system originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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