2011 Archives | Page 47 of 57

First Drive: 2011 Lincoln MKX

Filed under: Crossover, Lincoln, First Drive, Luxury

Lincoln Follows Ford and Takes the Refresh to a New Level

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

If there’s a sales star of the Lincoln lineup, it’s the MKX. Ford’s luxury arm has managed to move over 100,000 of the leather-lined crossovers since 2006, and that pace doesn’t look to be slowing anytime soon. Lincoln says the crossover market here in the U.S. is bound to swell considerably in the coming years, and since it already represents nearly four percent of the automotive industry as a whole, everyone seems to know that this is no place to cut corners. Fortunately, the MKX is set to enjoy its second refresh since hitting the market four years ago.

Given the vehicle’s significance, it should come as no surprise that Lincoln is using the 2011 MKX as a springboard for its vision of the company’s future. The refreshed MKX benefits from a raft of updates that include many of the changes we saw hit the crossover’s Blue Oval clone, the 2011 Ford Edge. With more power, a quieter cabin and an interior that’s finally becoming of a true luxury brand, the MKX has the makings of a sales winner. We’re just not sure the Lincoln high-rider is far enough away from its kissing-cousin.

Gallery: 2011 Lincoln MKX: First Drive

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First Drive: 2011 Lincoln MKX originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin sketches out Le Mans-bound 2011 LMP1 racer

Filed under: Motorsports, Aston Martin, Racing

2011 Aston Martin LMP1 car

Aston Martin’s 2011 LMP1 challenger for the 24 Hours of Le Mans – Click above to enlarge image

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which oversees various Le Mans series in Europe and elsewhere, laid out a number of changes to the 2011 LMP1-class cars, aiming to equalize performance between diesel- and gasoline-engined cars. Sniffing a chance to not only steal some thunder, but perhaps beat Audi and Peugeot over the head with it, Aston Martin plans a brand-new LMP1 entrant for 2011 to go for overall Le Mans victory.

An open cockpit, monococque single-seater with a new engine, it would be the first racing Aston developed entirely in-house in fifty years. The biggest X factor is whether, and how much, the regulations will actually work to close the diesel/gas disparity. If it’s close, Aston Martin Chairman Dave Richards believes his company is in with a shout. Follow the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Aston Martin’s 2011 Le Mans LMP1 challenger

[Source: Aston Martin]

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Aston Martin sketches out Le Mans-bound 2011 LMP1 racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Nissan Xterra, Pathfinder, Frontier and Altima pricing announced

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Truck, Nissan, Off-Road

2011 Nissan Xterra

2011 Nissan Xterra – Click above for high-res image gallery

You can quit biting your nails waiting for Nissan to unveil pricing information on the2011 Pathfinder, Xterra, Frontier and Altima. The company has just announced that, starting next year, the Pathfinder will start at $27,840 for the two-wheel drive, V6 S model. That marks a $300 increase over the 2010 version. Topped out, the SUV will set you back $42,600 for the four-wheel drive V8 LE.

Meanwhile, the base, two-wheel drive Xterra X commands an MSRP of $23,850, which is about $1,100 more than the outgoing model. Option up to the range-topping four-wheel drive PRO-4X with an automatic gearbox, and you can expect to hand over $30,100 of your hard-earned cash.

If a pickup is more your flavor, Nissan will let you hop into a Frontier S King Cab two-wheel drive for $17,750, though the topped-out SL Crew Cab with four-wheel drive, long-wheelbase chassis and a V6 engine coupled to a five-speed automatic gearbox will cost significantly more at $31,630.

Finally, the company has priced the 2011 Nissan Altima sedan at $19,900 when equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a CVT gearbox. Look to pay $22,940 for the Altima Coupe and $26,780 for the hybrid sedan.

None of the prices above include destination, so you can expect things to be just a bit more expensive by the time you leave the dealer lot with keys in hand. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Xterra

[Source: Nissan]

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2011 Nissan Xterra, Pathfinder, Frontier and Altima pricing announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Graphics offered for 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Design/Style, Off-Road

2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor with optional hood graphics – Click above for high-res image gallery

You can get graphics for your Ford Fiesta, Mustang and Taurus, and now the 2011 F-150 SVT Raptor joins the wrapped-up bunch. There will but one customization option: a black hood inspired by the racing Broncos of the 1970s – wilder trucks in wilder days. As well as lending a little bit of old-school-style badass, a side benefit of the new graphic is a reduction of glare coming off the hood. The digital mud bedside graphic available since the Raptor’s debut remains an option. Follow the jump for the press release and see what Ford hath wrought in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor graphics

[Source: Ford]

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Graphics offered for 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford scaling back on model changes in 2011

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Earnings/Financials

Ford

Ford is ready to come up for air. The automaker has been updating its product line with great quickness and now it’s ready to take a breather. 33 percent of the Blue Oval’s product line has been replaced for 2010 and Ford says it will be scaling that back next year. The lineup is currently bolstered by the likes of the 2011 Ford Edge, Fiesta, Explorer and, of course, the Mustang with its wonderful new engines.

Still, the plan is to outpace the rest of the competition and move to a fleet built upon global platforms. Ford’s goal is to accomplish this by 2013 which will allow the automaker to reduce costs across the board and cut away at its $5.4 billion debt. This is welcome news to people who bought 2011 Mustangs, yet owners of not-as-fast 2010 models are still being monitored for signs of depression.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: Ford scaling back on model changes in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Toyota Tundra gets more powerful V6

Filed under: Truck, Work, Toyota

Toyota Tundra

2011 Toyota Tundra – Click above for high-res image gallery

The full-size truck market here in the United States is about as accommodating as a pool full of piranhas and rusty razor blades. In this one, shining segment, the Big Three enjoy unparalleled dominance; safe from attack from intruders from Japan and Germany thanks to a quirk in the tax structure and a lifetime worth of experience in crafting vehicles built to work.

Toyota is attempting to lure buyers away from the F-150, Silverado and Ram by offering a more powerful V6 engine in the 2011 Tundra. The automaker says that the reworked 4.0-liter V6 now packs the company’s variable valve-timing technology, helping it churn out a full 270 horsepower. That’s a bump of around 34 ponies compared to last year. Similarly, torque will see a nudge up to 278 pound-feet of twist, though the company hasn’t said where in the rev band those numbers show up. Toyota has been using its twin variable valve timing system on both its 4.6- and 5.7-liter V8s to increase power and fuel economy for years, but this is the first time it has shown up on the smaller displacement six-pot. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Toyota Tundra

[Source: Toyota]

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2011 Toyota Tundra gets more powerful V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Filed under: SUV, Jeep, Reviews, Luxury

Proof Positive That Chrysler Can Still Compete

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re finally beginning to get a glimpse of exactly what Chrysler has been up to since snagging a whopping $6.6 billion in federal funding during the automotive implosion of 2009. While General Motors has been busily chugging along like nothing happened, the Pentastar hasn’t exactly rolled out a wave of new and refreshed models. There’s been an obvious hitch in the Chrysler giddy up, and those loyal to the company’s three brands have been forced to settle for little more than slightly reworked option packages… until now. As 2010 comes to a close, the company is pulling the covers off a range of new models, each as important to its future success as the last.

In a world populated by bubble crossovers, the Grand Cherokee clearly stands apart.

At the front of the pack is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a vehicle that’s become synonymous with Chrysler’s righting of itself in the public eye thanks to some of the most well-crafted advertisements in the industry. If you don’t know what we’re on about, we highly suggest pointing your browser toward YouTube and spending a few minutes watching the company’s “The Things We Make, Make Us” spot. Be prepared for an overwhelming sense of patriotic duty, as well as a burning desire to pick up a hammer and bang some nails.

You’ve been warned.

Even before Chrysler’s run-in with Chapter 11, there were flickers of hope within the company’s fleet. The Dodge Ram packed one of the best interiors in the segment, and the previous-generation Grand Cherokee wasn’t a horrible place to spend a few hours. The 2011 Grand Cherokee picks up those cues and runs with them in all directions, resulting in a vehicle that’s as capable off road as it is jousting with mid-town traffic. If this is the new face of Chrysler, we like what we see.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Subaru WRX lineup configurator now online

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, Subaru

2011 Subaru WRX configurator now online

It’s time for X-Games fetishists and lovers of sideways, dirt-slinging action to get excited – the 2011 Subaru WRX is one-step closer to being in your driveway. If you head over to Subaru.com, you can play with their online configurator and create the new WRX that appeals to you.

Available as a sedan or five-door hatchback, the Impreza WRX is offered with either six or seven colors to choose from. This is dependent on which engine you want under the hood. The 265-horsepower WRX gets the standard set of color options while the 305-hp WRX STI gets more than a power boost – you can also add Plasma Blue Pearl to the available palette.

Our virtual 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI wears Obsidian Black Pearl and is going to cost us $39,130 (we know, we know – it needs gold wheels). There are plenty of ways to make that dollar figure go way up or way down, so head over to the configurator and have some fun. Thanks for the tip, Peter!

Gallery: 2011 Subaru WRX: First Drive

Gallery: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI: First Drive

[Source: Subaru]

2011 Subaru WRX lineup configurator now online originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Honda, First Drive

Honda doesn’t redefine the minivan, they strive to perfect it

2011 Honda Odyssey – Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda did something silly during the launch of its all-new 2011 Odyssey minivan. The automaker built a large autocross-type “track” in the parking lot of San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium and invited journalists to take its latest eight-passenger family hauler for hot laps. It was an interesting “fish out of water” introduction to Honda’s fourth-generation people mover.

Designed, developed and manufactured in the United States, Honda considers the 2011 model an “American Odyssey.” The domestic development team, owners of 46 Odysseys between them, labored to deliver a minivan with distinctive style, greater interior versatility and improved fuel economy. Did Honda build itself a worthy successor and how did it fare on the autocross?

Gallery: 2011 Honda Odyssey: First Drive

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First Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2011 Bentley Continental GT out on the road

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Paris Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury

2011 Bentley Continental GT

2011 Bentley Continental GT – Click above to watch the video after the jump

The all-new 2011 Bentley Continental GT was recently revealed online. Initially we only had pretty pictures to look at, but information comes fast and furious on the world wide web. We have gotten our hands on a video of the luxurious grand tourer doing what it does best.

The video (located just beyond the jump) is a bit low on action but high on design and style. These pictures and videos only serve to whet our appetite for some (heated leather) seat time in the new Continental. The car is set to make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show so be sure to tune in to our coverage of the entire event. We can’t give this Bentley our stamp of approval just yet but details such as the 567 horsepower W12, a top speed of 198 miles per hour, climate-controlled seats and an updated (finally!) touchscreen have us leaning towards “huzzah!”

Click over to the jump to check it out for yourself.

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental GT

[Source: Bentley via YouTube]

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Video: 2011 Bentley Continental GT out on the road originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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