Tag: 2011

Lotus Renault GP, Virgin confirm drivers for 2011

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Lotus, Renault

Lotus Renault GP Drivers

Jerome d’Ambrosio (above left) and Vitaly Petrov (above right) the latest drivers to be confirmed for 2011

As we wind down the remaining days of the calendar year, the final few seats are closing for the 2011 Formula One World Championship after both Renault and Virgin have officially confirmed their rosters for next season.

After much speculation and a change of ownership, the Lotus Renault GP team has confirmed that rookie Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will stay with the team to drive alongside fellow incumbent Robert Kubica for another two years. The announcement comes several weeks after widely-publicized negotiations with Kimi Raikkonen broke down.

The Virgin team, which has likewise rebranded as Marussia Virgin Racing, has also confirmed its drivers for next season, with Timo Glock staying on and newcomer Jerome d’Ambrosio taking the second seat. The Belgian driver won the International Formula Master in 2007 and placed second in the GP2 Asia Series in 2008/09. After a year as a Renault reserve driver, d’Ambrosio will replace Lucas di Grassi.

Shortly after the announcement, di Grassi made headlines by winning Felipe Massa’s charity karting event in Brazil ahead of Massa, Williams veteran Rubens Barrichello and Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari. Did Virgin act too hastily? Only time will tell.

There are just six seats still unconfirmed at Force India, Toro Rosso and HRT, and the 2011 F1 season is scheduled to kick off on March 13 in Bahrain. Follow the jump for the official announcements from both teams.

[Sources: Renault, Virgin]

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Lotus Renault GP, Virgin confirm drivers for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears

Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2011 GMC Sierra

2011 GMC Sierra – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors is recalling a handful light-duty GMT900 pickups from the 2011 model year due to faulty rear axle cross pins. Both the Chevrolet Avalanche and Silverado 1500 are effected, as are the Cadillac Escalade EXT and GMC Sierra 1500 – a total of 1,262 vehicles in all.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites that these rear axle cross pins were not manufactured up to proper specification and that the pin could “fracture and become displaced within the rear axle.” NHTSA further details the consequences of a displaced pin, saying:

“The driver may hear a banging noise coming from the axle. If the pin shifts out of position, it could create an interference condition and cause the rear axle to lock. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without prior warning.”

GM will begin notifying owners about this problem in January, and dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin without any cost to the customer. NHTSA’s official statement is available after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 GMC Sierra

2011 GMC Sierra2011 GMC Sierra2011 GMC Sierra2011 GMC Sierra2011 GMC Sierra

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears

GM recalls select 2011 model year pickup and SUV models over axle fears originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Porsche, First Drive

It May Be Humpbacked, But It’s No Quasimodo.

2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

2011 Porsche 911 Speedster – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s rare. It’s fast. It’s expensive. Meet the 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster. First shown in October at the Paris Auto Show, the $204,400 humpbacked 911 arrives at U.S. dealerships early next year.

On paper, the rear-wheel-drive 911 Speedster appears to be a heavily optioned 911 GTS Cabriolet, albeit one with a bubbled tonneau cover. Having just driven the new GTS with the 408-horsepower 3.8-liter flat-six and Turbo-width rear track, we knew going into this drive that the uprated equipment makes a good foundation for the Speedster. Building on the GTS’ enhanced mechanicals, the Speedster also gets the seven-speed PDK dual clutch, Sport Chrono Plus, Porsche Active Suspension Management and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes. Take it or leave it, this is the only way the Speedster comes.

But so much for on-paper specs. To find out what the 911 Speedster is like on the road, we headed to Palm Springs, California for a mid-winter desert blast.

Continue reading…

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster: First Drive

2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

Photos copyright (C)2010 Rex Roy / AOL

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First Drive: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS crowned 66 Top Safety Picks in 2011

Filed under: Car Buying, Safety

2011 Buick Regal Crash Test

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its list of vehicles with the highest crash ratings for 2011. A total of 66 vehicles were awarded the honor of becoming an IIHS Top Safety Pick, with 40 cars, 25 SUVs and one minivan making the cut. As you may recall, the organization awards its Top Safety Pick designation to vehicles that achieve the highest possible rating in front, side, rollover and rear crashes. They also must come equipped with traction control as standard equipment.

This year, Hyundai/Kia and VW/Audi both tied as manufacturers with the highest number of Top Safety Picks with a total of nine winning models. Ford/Lincoln, General Motors and Toyota/Lexus/Scion all took second place with a total of eight Top Safety Picks each. Subaru has managed to retain its title as the only automaker to have a Top Safety Pick designation for every vehicle it sells, too.

Interestingly enough, The Volkswagen Touareg became the only large SUV to take home a Top Safety Pick for 2011, and the 2011 Ford Explorer managed to make its way onto the Top Safety Pick list for the first time in the vehicle’s history. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: IIHS]

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IIHS crowned 66 Top Safety Picks in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #209: 2011 Chrysler 300, GMC All Terrain HD, Automobile All Stars, 2013 BMW supercar

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Acura, Chrysler, Ford, GMC, Infiniti, Subaru, Toys/Games

Autoblog podcast logo

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

Episode #209 of the Autoblog Podcast has arrived, and the personnel are: Chris Shunk, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Chris Paukert. It starts with the Autoblog Garage and then heads for the 2011 Chrysler 300, GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept vehicle, our thoughts about the 2011 Automobile All Stars, a $200,000 electric supercar from BMW and some car gifts for the Christmas season. We wrap with your questions at the end for an hour and a half total. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #209: 2011 Chrysler 300, GMC All Terrain HD, Automobile All Stars, 2013 BMW supercar

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Infiniti G37S
2011 Acura ZDX
2011 Subaru STI
2011 Ford F350 SuperDuty

News Topics:

  • 2011 Chrysler 300
  • GMC Sierra All Terrain HD
  • Automobile 2011 All Stars
  • $200,000 BMW Supercar for 2013
  • Car Gifts for Christmas: Ultimate Edition


    Hosts:     Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert
    Runtime: 1:30:34

     Get the podcast:
    [iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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    [MP3] Download the MP3 directly

    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 #209: 2011 Chrysler 300, GMC All Terrain HD, Automobile All Stars, 2013 BMW supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Full details on the 2011 Chrysler 300

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler

2011 Chrysler 300

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

Chrysler has finally been kind enough to serve up a few official details on what buyers can expect from the innards of the 2011 300. While we know that the company’s big bruiser will be available with either the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or the familiar 5.7-liter V8, but the company has just now let us all in on what they’ve done to update the vehicle’s exterior. The next-generation 300 now wears a windshield that’s been raked back by three inches, and combined with slightly thinner pillars all the way around, Chrysler says that visibility has been improved by around 15 percent. Given the tank-slit views from the cockpit of the old 300, that’s no bad thing.

Inside, buyers can expect to be met with a smattering of chrome accents and what Chrysler calls “cast-skin” instrument and door panels. But for us, the really good news is that, like it’s platform mate the Dodge Charger, the 300 comes with the company’s new, fantastically huge 8.5-inch LCD touchscreen. Joy to the world. Hit the jump for a peep at the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 300

[Source: Chrysler]

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Officially Official: Full details on the 2011 Chrysler 300 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What would a 2011 Buick Roadmaster look like? Top Gear USA takes a crack at it

Filed under: Classics, Wagon, Buick, GM, Design/Style

2011 Buick Roadmaster rendering

2011 Buick Roadmaster renderings from Top Gear USA – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has made some excellent cars over the course of its hundred-plus years of existence. As we’re all painfully aware, though, it’s also produced some horribly bad cars. It’s debatable as to when GM’s fortunes really turned south, but many critics point to the early 1970s, when a series of poor decisions led to the automaker’s eventual near demise in 2009.

And so it’s fitting that, when tasked with choosing cars from GM’s often illustrious, often horrendous lifetime, the crew from Top Gear USA chose three models built between the early ’70s and the late ’90s as examples of what the modern-day GM should consider reviving: a 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass, a mid-’80s Pontiac Fiero and a late-’90s Buick Roadmaster wagon. Interestingly enough, only one of those brands is still in existence…

After putting the three machines through a battery of tests, a clear winner was crowned, and it’s probably not the vehicle you were expecting. The car that General Motors should reintroduce: the Buick Roadmaster station wagon. Here at this link you’ll find the complete episode, where you can see what led up to the surprising conclusion (hint: it involved steep inclines, eggs and a few thousand gallons of water – challenges that should be familiar to Top Gear UK followers).

What we’re most interested in, though, is the show’s rendering of what a 2011 Buick Roadmaster might look like. We like the basics – a big pushrod V8 engine up front, six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, a cavernous interior with seating for you and your seven closest friends and their stuff, and, of course, portholes and Buick’s signature ‘sweep-spear’ profile design language. Okay, maybe we can do without the vinyl wood siding… but maybe not. See for yourself in our image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Buick Roadmaster rendering from Top Gear USA

2011 Buick Roadmaster rendering from Top Gear USA2011 Buick Roadmaster rendering from Top Gear USA

[Source: Top Gear USA]

What would a 2011 Buick Roadmaster look like? Top Gear USA takes a crack at it originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Lincoln MKX

Filed under: Crossover, Lincoln, Reviews, Luxury

Competing Against Edge More Than Other Luxury CUVs

2011 Lincoln MKX

2011 Lincoln MKX – Click above for high-res image gallery

With Mercury dead, hundreds of former Lincoln-Mercury dealerships will be forced to rely on Ford’s 93-year-old luxury brand to bring home the bacon alone. These dealers are nervous about their future, and rightfully so.

Every Lincoln on sale today is a gussied up version of a Ford. True, most mainstream automakers with luxury divisions, like Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura and Volkswagen/Audi, use a similar strategy of platform and technology sharing to save costs, but U.S. domestic automakers have never been particularly good at it. A Volkswagen is usually praised for being Audi-like, but a Lincoln is usually decried for being too similar to a Ford. Sharing can so easily become rebadging, and Lincoln dealers are wondering how they’ll live off a lineup of simply “more expensive” Fords.

The answer may lie in the 2011 Lincoln MKX, which is the lux version of the Ford Edge. Since the latter received a significant mid-cycle freshening for the 2011 model year, so has the former. With their first significant update since 2006, the duo is poised to upset the status quo in the premium mid-size CUV segment. We’ve already told you how impressed we are with the 2011 Edge, so you won’t be surprised to learn we feel much the same about the new MKX. The difference is that the Lincoln has a lot further to go to be competitive within the luxury CUV set. Does it succeed? Will we now praise the Edge for being Lincoln-like?

Continue reading…

Gallery: 2011 Lincoln MKX: Review

2011 Lincoln MKX2011 Lincoln MKX2011 Lincoln MKX2011 Lincoln MKX2011 Lincoln MKX

Photos copyright (C)2010 John Neff / AOL

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Review: 2011 Lincoln MKX originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Playboy‘s 2011 Cars of the Year hit the casting couch

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2011 Playboy Car of the Year - Mercedes Benz SLS AMG

Are the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG’s gullwing doors just giant bunny ears? – Click above for high-res image gallery

We all know the story, and we’ve all used the line: we read Playboy for the articles. Somehow no one ever takes us seriously, but the fact of the matter is that Playboy is a men’s magazine with a wide readership and articles focusing on everything guys want to read about: sex, sports, politics and yes, even cars.

While you might think that with so many Bunnies hopping around the Mansion, the Volkswagen Rabbit would be the car of choice for Heff and company, they’ve actually put together their own comprehensive best-of selections again for 2011. The winner of the coveted Playboy Car of the Year? None other than the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG seen above. You can check out the other award winners by clicking through the perfectly-safe-for-work gallery below. Think they’ve chosen wisely? Share your thoughts in our Comments section.

Gallery: Playboy’s 2011 Cars of the Year

Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMGBest Hybrid: Honda CR-ZBest Convertible: Porsche Boxster SpyderBest Sports Coupe: Cadillac CTS-VBest Bang for the Buck: Mazda 2

[Source: Playboy]

Playboy‘s 2011 Cars of the Year hit the casting couch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: 2011 Chrysler 300

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Chrysler

2011 Chrysler 300

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

It’s been endlessly teased and occasionally spied, and now it’s official: the 2011 Chrysler 300 has arrived ahead of its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

As we’ve seen before, the exterior of the 300 is even more audacious than its predecessor, thanks to the liberal application of chrome below the headlamps, on the grille, coating the side mirrors and partially framing the tail lights and trunk. New LEDs are fitted up front, and while Chrysler hasn’t released interior shots just yet, judging by what we’ve already spied and recently sampled in the automaker’s latest offerings, the insides should be significantly improved.

Power will come from the same engines we’ve been familiarizing ourselves with over the last year, specifically Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and 5.7-liter V8, with power sent to either the rear wheels or all four depending on spec. Sales should begin in the first quarter of 2011, and expect pricing to hit closer to the 300’s debut in Detroit.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 300

[Source: Chrysler]

Detroit Preview: 2011 Chrysler 300 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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