2011 Archives | Page 30 of 57

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost rated at 16 city, 22 highway

Filed under: Truck, Ford

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost smokes its tires – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s official: Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, as seen in the 2011 F-150 pickup truck, has been rated at 16 city and 22 highway by the EPA. And it’s also officially the engine to get if you’re shopping for a new Blue Oval workhorse.

To put it all into perspective, the 365-horsepower, 420-pound-foot EcoBoost-equipped F-150 offers 3,060 pounds of payload and 11,300 pounds worth of towing capability – both of which are best-in-class – and it gets better fuel mileage than any comparable engines offered by Ford’s competitors (see the graph after the break).

All this baked-in, twin-turbocharged goodness won’t even cost the buyer all that much money, as the EcoBoost engine option adds just $750 to the cost of a truck that would otherwise be equipped with the perfectly acceptable 5.0-liter V8, or $1,750 over the cost of the base 3.7-liter V6.

Money well spent, we’d say, especially considering that the more powerful EcoBoost beats the 5.0 when it comes to fuel efficiency (15/21) and nearly matches the 3.7’s 16/23 rating. Probably not when smoking its tires, though…

Want to know more? Feel free to check out the complete press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost

[Source: Ford via PickupTrucks.com]

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2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost rated at 16 city, 22 highway originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2011: Ford Focus Electric ready to steal the EV spotlight

Filed under: CES, Hatchback, Ford, Electric

Ford Focus Electric

Ford Focus Electric – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf may have stolen the show for electric vehicles in 2010, but Ford is hoping to make big waves in 2011 with its first EV passenger car, the Focus Electric. The zero-emissions Focus hatchback makes its official debut at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show and Ford says the car will officially launch at the end of 2011 here in North America, with European customers expected to take delivery sometime before 2013.

Visually, the Focus Electric has an improved aerodynamics package to improve drag, incorporating a new front fascia that looks like something right out of the Aston Martin school of design. (Too bad this isn’t the Cygnet, huh?) The only other major design changes are the addition of a charging port with an LED ring to the left of the driver’s door and a new set of 15-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low-rolling resistance tires. And speaking of LEDs, while the gasoline-powered Focus’ LED eyebrow above the headlamp is only available in Europe, Ford tells us that the North American-spec Focus Electric will wear this bit of accent lighting when it hits production.

Gallery: CES 2011: Ford Focus Electric

Ford Focus Electric

Gallery: Ford Focus Electric

Ford Focus Electric

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading CES 2011: Ford Focus Electric ready to steal the EV spotlight

CES 2011: Ford Focus Electric ready to steal the EV spotlight originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2011: Hands-on with MyFord Mobile

Filed under: CES, Technology, Ford, Electric

MyFord Mobile Hands On

MyFord Mobile app – Click above for high-res image gallery

On the eve of Ford’s big unveiling at CES, we got an exclusive hands-on with MyFord Mobile, a smartphone app that keeps track of all the information an electric vehicle owner would want. Why does Ford need an app for an EV? That’ll be unveiled tomorrow, but you know what’s coming…

The app – which will launch on Android and Blackberry, with iPhone support coming later on – connects with an EV to provide the owner with a range of charging, location, telematics and driver-oriented information. If you’re an iPhone owner, you can also access all the features through any HTML5 browser (Safari) or from your desktop PC. And before you ask, the demo unit in the photos was running Windows Phone 7, but it isn’t supported just yet.

When you load up the app, you’re greeted with the vehicle’s state of charge, how long it will take to charge to different levels and the exact time the battery will be topped off. There’s also a page that lists how much CO2 you’ve saved, the amount of cash you’ve stolen out of Big Oil’s pockets and a rating of your driving style – a sliding scale that moves between ‘zippy’ and ‘zen.’

Ford partnered up with MapQuest to provide location data, including where the nearest charging stations are located, along with color coding (green, yellow and red) that indicates your charge status when you arrive. The mapping software also can calculate the distance to and from multiple destinations – round trip – and determines if you’ll have enough juice to get back home. It even takes into account the outside temperature and how it affects the battery’s discharge.

Finally, there’s the My Car section that covers everything from location, vehicle information (battery health, tire pressure, etc.), charge settings and how your personal driving style is affecting the amount of range you’re getting. Ford has also partnered with Microsoft to provide smart charging data, allowing you to only juice up your EV during non-peak use hours.

That’s all we can divulge for now, but you can get more details in the press release after the jump, the photos in the duo of galleries below and check back tomorrow at 11 AM PST/2 PM EST for official details on Ford’s new electrified XXXXX.

Gallery: Hands On: MyFord Mobile App

Gallery: MyFord Mobile App

MyFord Mobile App

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading CES 2011: Hands-on with MyFord Mobile

CES 2011: Hands-on with MyFord Mobile originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2011: Next generation MMI, Touch debuting on Audi A3

Filed under: CES, Technology, Audi

Audi Next Generation MMI

Click above to enlarge

Take a close look at the photo above. You’re looking at Audi’s next generation MMI system being demoed during this morning’s keynote at CES. The circuit board to the left is packing NVIDIA’s Tegra chipset – the same processor powering a range of tablets and netbooks – and to the right is Audi’s new scroll wheel, which has grown considerably. The reason for the added girth? Audi is incorporating the much-lauded MMI Touch interface directly into the scroll wheel. MMI Touch – which originally debuted on the A8 and is making its way to the A7 and all-new A6 – will continue to move down through the ranks of Audi’s line-up and will debut on the next generation A3, likely to arrive within the next two years.

The revised MMI Touch will continue to include handwriting recognition, but will also handle scrolling and possibly gestures for panning, zooming and other functions. If you’ve used an iPhone, iPad or MacBook touchpad, you’ll be right at home.

We also got a sneak preview of the Tegra’s performance as it seamlessly rendered Google Earth, a new circular navigation menu and full 3D graphics. Audi claims to have over 100 engineers and user interface experts working on its infotainment software, and from what we’ve seen today, we believe them.

CES 2011: Next generation MMI, Touch debuting on Audi A3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2011: Audi shows off revised eTron Spyder

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Hybrid, CES, Audi, Electric, Diesel

Audi eTron Spyder

Audi eTron Spyder – Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler rolled onto the stage in the same eTron Spyder we saw in Paris, but for the crowd in Sin City, Audi swapped the silver paint for a more delectable red hue.

Aside from the color change, everything else remains the same, from the 300-horsepower twin-turbo TDI V6 churning out 479 pound-feet of torque to the front-mounted battery and wrap around windshield. It’s still a looker, although we’re generally in favor of something a little more subtle…

Gallery: CES 2011: Audi eTron Spyder

Gallery: Audi eTron Spyder

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

CES 2011: Audi shows off revised eTron Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Chrysler 300 priced from $27,995*

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Chrysler

2011 Chrysler 300

2011 Chrysler 300 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The most recent debut in Chrysler’s 2011 model year refresh onslaught, the 300 flagship sedan, will make its official public debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week. It won’t be long before the new 300 hits dealerships, and Chrysler has just revealed that its redesigned sedan will be priced from $27,995 (*including $825 in destination charges).

Four trim levels will be available from the get-go. The 300 and 300 Limited use the automaker’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, rated at 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and routed to the pavement through the rear wheels. Base 300s come standard with things like cloth seats, 17-inch aluminum wheels and new LED headlamps and taillamps; Limited models add leather trimmed seats, heated from seats, Uconnect voice command, a rear backup camera, premium audio system and 18-inch chrome wheels. Opting for the 300 Limited will set you back $31,995.

The higher-end 300C, priced from $38,995, uses Chrysler’s well-liked 5.7-liter Hemi V8, and comes standard with amenities like a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, LED interior lighting, power folding mirrors and a host of more luxurious interior options. Adding all-wheel drive to that equation nets you 19-inch wheels wrapped in wider 235/55-series tires and pricing starts at $41,145. Available on 300 Limited, 300C and 300C AWD models is a new SafetyTec Group option ($2,795) that includes HID headlamps, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and a slate of beeping park aids.

The full details are available in Chrysler’s press release after the jump, and keep your eyes peeled for the 2011 Chrysler 300 to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in just a few days.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 300

[Source: Chrysler]

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2011 Chrysler 300 priced from $27,995* originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392 make more power than expected

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Chrysler, Dodge

2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392

2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392 – Click above to watch the video after the break

As part of its Hemi Highway Tour, a country-wide tour that started in November of 2010 and just recently came to its end, Dodge decided to stop and spend some quality time with the boys and girls from National Speed in Wilmington, NC. Though that company’s main purpose is modifying high-performance machinery to make even more power, Dodge decided to put a couple of its brand new 2011 models on their dyno to see what kind of power could be had right off the showroom floor.

As a preface to the actual dyno results, you should know that Ralph Gilles, Dodge Car Brand President and CEO, claims that a bone-stock 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 ran the quarter-mile at Infineon Dragway in just 12.44 seconds at 110 miles per hour. That, boys and girls, is seriously fast. And those figures are backed up by the data spat out by the computers hooked to National Speed’s dyno.

Without further ado, the numbers: The 2011 Dodge Charger R/T put down 327 horsepower at the rear wheels and 349 pound-feet of torque. For a car rated at 368 horses and 395 lb-ft, that’s quite good. Remember, the dyno measures power after it’s already gone through the transmission and through the wheels to the ground, which saps around 15 percent of total power.

And now on to the big guns. The 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 was measured at 420 rear-wheel horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque. Also impressive when stacked up against its factory ratings of 470 ponies and pound-feet. Even more interesting, these same machines put down ever more power just a few days later on a different dyno, though still below the 452 horses obtained by the scribes at Inside Line. Enough talking already. Check out the video after the break. Thanks for the tip, Norm!

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392: First Drive

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392

[Source: Red Letter Dodge]

Continue reading Video: 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392 make more power than expected

Video: 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392 make more power than expected originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2011: Blue Link is Hyundai’s answer to OnStar

Filed under: CES, Safety, Technology, Hyundai

Hyundai Blue Link

Hyundai Blue Link – Click above for image gallery

As part of its quest to match the rest of the industry point-for-point, Hyundai has just announced at the Consumer Electronics Show that it’s entering the world of telematics with the introduction of Blue Link, its first foray into the safety and convenience sphere.

Similar to OnStar, Blue Link handles everything you’d expect, specifically directions with turn-by-turn navigation, point-of-interest searches, remote door-locking/unlocking, vehicle health reports, maintenance scheduling, crash notification, remote start and – according to Hyundai – 30 other features at launch. Included is a vehicle slowdown feature to aid police if the vehicle is stolen and a new “geofencing” system that sends a text message to the owner if the vehicle strays outside a prescribed area or route. Little Jimmy will not be pleased.

Hyundai is also touting a new voice-to-text feature that allows drivers to reply to a text message with custom commands rather than canned responses.

Blue Link is set to arrive this spring, initially on the Sonata sedan and a “youth-focused model” (*cough* Veloster *cough*) before the summer, with the system rolling out to every Hyundai by 2013. Hit the jump for the full details.

Gallery: Hyundai Blue Link

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading CES 2011: Blue Link is Hyundai’s answer to OnStar

CES 2011: Blue Link is Hyundai’s answer to OnStar originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2011: GM shows off OnStar equipped with 4G, Skype, video monitoring and more [w/video]

Filed under: CES, Technology, Buick, Cadillac, GM

OnStar with Verizon 4G LTE

Click above to view the video after the jump

Verizon just rolled out its 4G LTE wireless broadband network, and with General Motors using Big Red for its OnStar system for over 15 years, GM is asking itself: What can we do with all this bandwidth?

The answer is ‘plenty’… but nothing immediately.

Instead, GM and Verizon equipped a Buick LaCrosse with a 4G LTE modem and a host of cameras, sensors and controls and is trotting it out at CES to demonstrate how the broadband tech could be implemented.

Among the possible applications is a vehicle monitoring system that utilizes a handful of lipstick cameras to transmit video to the driver to see what’s going on both inside and outside the vehicle while they’re away. On the same front, the system can be paired with Verizon’s 4Home service, which connects with home security cameras, lights and thermostats and transmits information back to the driver.

Other features include voice search, a traffic view that streams live traffic-cam images, Skype with video chat and a impact detection system that would identify if your car was hit in a parking lot, and would then turn on all the exterior cameras and capture an image of the offending vehicle as it drove away.

Hit the jump for a video of the various systems in action along with the press blast, and look for our initial impressions from CES later this week.

Continue reading CES 2011: GM shows off OnStar equipped with 4G, Skype, video monitoring and more [w/video]

CES 2011: GM shows off OnStar equipped with 4G, Skype, video monitoring and more [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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