2012 Archives | Page 15 of 30

Chicago 2011: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the fastest, most powerful ever [w/video]

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was a performance monster, featuring an all-aluminum engine displacing 427 cubic inches that was originally intended for racing. Just 69 units were built, and they are highly coveted by collectors today. Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that Chevrolet chose to resurrect this classic moniker for what it is calling the fastest and most technologically advanced Camaro ever built.

At this point, specifications are still preliminary, but Chevrolet is estimating that its supercharged and intercooled 6.2-liter LSA V8 engine will put out around 550 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque. Those ponies will be sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission using a dual-disc clutch that’s necessary to properly harness all those horses. There’s also a dual-mode exhaust system that alters the sound level and character in response to engine rpm.

Chevrolet tells us that its goal was to build “a Camaro intended to reach optimal lap times on top road-racing circuits and excellent driving dynamics on the street.” To that end, the 2012 Camaro ZL1 will be fitted with a new electric power steering system and Magnetic Ride Control that will offer both Tour and Sport modes. Brembo brakes measuring 14.6-inch (370 mm) in the front (with six-piston calipers) and 14.4-inch (365 mm) at the rear (with four-piston calipers) bring it all back down from speed.

Naturally, there’s an updated body kit to differentiate the ZL1 from lesser machines. Most notable are the redesigned fascia that features a front splitter, vertical fog lamps and air intakes designed for brake cooling. There’s also a new aluminum hood with a raised, satin black-finish carbon fiber insert that uses a unique air extractor that is said to increase downforce by directing oncoming air over the car. There’s also a spoiler at the rear of the car and new 20-inch aluminum wheels fitted with specially developed Goodyear Supercar F2 tires.

Chevrolet promises to have the Camaro ZL1 on dealer lots in the beginning of 2012, and it will be available in any color offered on the Camaro. We can hardly wait. In the meantime, check out all the details in the video and press release after the break, and feel free to drool over the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: Chicago 2011

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Gallery: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Chicago 2011: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the fastest, most powerful ever [w/video]

Chicago 2011: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the fastest, most powerful ever [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Dodge

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Dodge has dropped the Street and Racing Technology motherlode on the eve of the Chicago Auto Show and first out of the gate is the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 – what Eminem should’ve rolled in during the Super Bowl.

As with anything birthed from Chrysler’s in-house tuning division, the Charger SRT8 is all about the engine, so the transformation begins with the new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 putting out 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque – a boost of some 80 lb-ft over the old 6.1-liter mill. That torquey wave comes on at 2,900 rpm and Dodge claims that with the fitment of its Fuel Saver tech, allowing the engine to run on four cylinders when its not under load, fuel economy will improve, although Dodge isn’t saying how much.

Chrysler’s W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission backs up the HEMI, and you can select your own gears by either slapping the AutoStick or thumbing the steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters.

All that adds up to an estimated top speed of 175 mph, a 0-60 mph time in the high fours and a quarter-mile run deep into the 12s.

In addition to the five-spoke, 20-inch forged aluminum and polished wheels, the SRT crew saw fit to equip the SRT8 with an adaptive damping suspension with Auto and Sport settings that process speed, steering angle, brake pressure, throttle application and lateral acceleration. Brakes are sized 14.2-inches up front and 13.8-inches in the rear, with a new front fascia, LED taillamps and four-inch dual exhausts rounding out the exterior mods. And naturally, the interior isn’t left out in the cold, with a flat-bottom steering wheel, heavily bolstered seats and a 900-watt, 19-speaker audio system courtesy of Harmon Kardon.

We’ll be on the floor tomorrow to snag live pics of all the SRT-fettled goodies, but in the meantime, peep the gallery below and get all the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

[Source: Dodge]

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Chicago 2011: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: Volkswagen debuts turbocharged 2012 Jetta GLI, priced from $23,495

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Volkswagen first debuted the new-for-2011 Jetta sedan, we were told that a total of four engine choices would be available. The standard Jetta makes use of the naturally aspirated 2.0- and 2.5-liter mills, as well as the much-loved 2.0-liter TDI powerplant. The final engine in this set – Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four – now makes its debut under the hood of the 2012 Jetta GLI, which gets its official reveal at this week’s Chicago Auto Show.

Think of the Jetta GLI as a bigger, fatter GTI. Just like in the smaller hatchback, the 2.0-liter turbo-four produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or VW’s DSG automatic. The Jetta GLI uses the same XDS cross differential system that debuted in the GTI, which assists in controlling wheel spin and understeer during cornering.

The Jetta GLI is available in three trim levels – GLI, GLI Autobahn and GLI Autobahn Navigation – priced from $23,495, $25,545 and $26,445, respectively. The base GLI comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, smoked taillights and a revised front fascia, not to mention enhanced suspension geometry for better engagement out on the road. The GLI Autobahn ups the ante with a set of 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, heated leatherette seats and a new Fender premium audio system. The top-trim GLI Autobahn Navigation adds, well, navigation, as well as push-button start.

Look for the 2012 Jetta GLI to hit dealerships in the coming months. For the full details, follow the jump for Volkswagen’s press release, and stay tuned for live impressions direct from the Chicago show floor.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Chicago 2011: Volkswagen debuts turbocharged 2012 Jetta GLI, priced from $23,495

Chicago 2011: Volkswagen debuts turbocharged 2012 Jetta GLI, priced from $23,495 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2011: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist live in the Windy City

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Buick, GM

2012 Buick Regal eAssist

2012 Buick Regal eAssist – Click above for high-res image gallery

We received the first details about Buick’s new Regal eAssist earlier today, but we’ve just returned from seeing the car in person before the Chicago Auto Show officially kicks off tomorrow. Visually, the more fuel-efficient Regal looks no different than the standard car, save the addition of eco-friendly 17-inch alloy wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires.

What’s most important about this car is what’s under the hood – a 15-kilowatt electric motor that offers 15 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque for initial acceleration thrust, matched with Buick’s 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four. Combine that with regenerative braking and a start/stop system for the engine, and the end result is a Regal that’s capable of achieving 26 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg highway.

Buick’s new eAssist system first debuted on the larger LaCrosse sedan, where it will serve as the base powertrain for 2012 model year vehicles. With the Regal, however, the eAssist model will slot just above the base 2.4-liter car and below the Regal Turbo, which uses the automaker’s 220-horsepower 2.0-liter Ecotec inline-four. Pricing will be announced closer to the eAssist’s official launch later this year.

Gallery: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist: Chicago 2011

2012 Buick Regal eAssist

Chicago 2011: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist live in the Windy City originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2012 Subaru Impreza could debut in New York

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Subaru

Subaru Impreza Concept

Subaru Impreza Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

We were smitten with Subaru’s Impreza Concept from the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. The production version will certainly be toned down for normal road use, and a report from Inside Line states that we could see the next-generation Impreza bow sooner than expected. In speaking with IL, Subaru of America’s executive vice president, Tom Doll, confirmed that the 2012 Impreza will go on sale in the United States in August, meaning that an official reveal at April’s New York Auto Show is very likely.

Like the current model, the 2012 Impreza will be offered in both sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, powered by the automaker’s revised 2.5-liter Boxer flat-four that debuted in the 2011 Forester. We hope that Subaru keeps many of the Impreza Concept’s lines intact for the production car, especially since we drool at the thought of what the STI-fettled version will look like.

Gallery: LA 2010: Subaru Impreza Concept

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: 2012 Subaru Impreza could debut in New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist will get 26/37 mpg

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Buick, GM

2012 Buick Regal eAssist

2012 Buick Regal eAssist – Click above for high-res image gallery

When General Motors debuted the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist technology at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, the automaker told us that this new fuel-saving feature would quickly spread across many other models in its portfolio. Now, GM has taken the wraps off of the eAssist-equipped 2012 Buick Regal, which makes its official public debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week.

Most significantly, the addition of eAssist to the Regal’s 2.4-liter inline-four powertrain means that the sedan is now capable of achieving 26 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Like the LaCrosse, the Regal eAssist uses a small, 15-horsepower electric motor to give assistance during acceleration, and when combined with things like regenerative braking and automatic start/stop, it means a substantial increase in fuel economy. It’s not exactly Ford Fusion Hybrid impressive, but still quite good when you consider that the standard Regal only musters up 19/30 mpg ratings.

Unlike the larger LaCrosse, eAssist will not be the base powertrain for 2012 Regals. Buick has positioned the Regal eAssist to be part of larger family, which includes the Regal Turbo and upcoming GS. Model-specific changes over the base Regal include things like lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels (smaller than the standard Regal’s 18-inch set), an eco mode for the air conditioning system, an eco gauge on the instrument panel and a powerflow readout in the seven-inch infotainment screen.

We’ll be seeing the 2012 Regal eAssist live in Chicago this week, so stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, follow the jump to read GM’s official press release, and see the new electrified Regal for yourself in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist

2012 Buick Regal eAssist

[Source: General Motors]

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Officially Official: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist will get 26/37 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Chevy Impala to soldier on with new V6, replacement delayed until 2014

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevrolet Impala

2011 Chevrolet Impala – Click above for high-res image gallery

When discussing the current W-body Chevrolet Impala, the phrase “long-in-the tooth” is an understatement. And while Chevrolet’s biggest retail sedan was scheduled to get a complete overhaul in 2013, a report from GMInsideNews states that the next Impala has now rescheduled for the 2014 model year.

In an effort to keep the elderly Impala passably fresh until its new Epsilon-based replacement arrives, General Motors is reportedly ready to outfit the big sedan with its 3.6-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Both the current 3.5- and 3.9-liter V6 engines have been canned, and because of the W-body architecture, adding a six-speed automatic transmission to the existing engines would not have been feasible.

No other updates are scheduled for the 2012 model year as of this writing, but we’re sure that the Impala will continue to be a fleet queen until a more consumer-worthy replacement arrives.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Impala

2011 Chevrolet Impala

[Sources: GMInsideNews, Motor Authority]

2012 Chevy Impala to soldier on with new V6, replacement delayed until 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, BMW, First Drive, Luxury

Frolicking Topless Under The African Sun In BMW’s Latest Big GT

2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible

2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

To say that the second-generation BMW 6 Series caused a bit of a scene when it hit the world stage in 2003 would be to underplay its shock value. The Dingolfing, Germany-built coupe and convertible’s styling seemed to win admirers and ruffle traditionalists’ feathers in equal measure, but regardless of how you feel about its aesthetics, the 6’s long model run has been a success, resulting in nearly 118,000 units sold.

Despite this victory (and despite what BMW officials tell us), there has been a clear bit of design capitulation in the halls of Bavaria, as Chris Bangle’s controversial surfacing treatments and high trunk lines have been smoothed out in newer models in favor of less polarizing designs throughout the BMW empire.

So it is with the 2012 6 Series range, which launches with the 650i convertible model shown here, a model that’s due to hit showrooms this April (just in time for top-down season). With North America enduring a hyperborean winter, it was only appropriate that we head to more temperate climates for some quality top-down running. BMW evidently had the same thought, so they sent us to Cape Town, South Africa. Famous for its finned and pointy-teethed population coursing offshore, we couldn’t think of a more appropriate spot to sample the 6 Series’ reborn shark nose look.

Gallery: 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible: First Drive

2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible

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First Drive: 2012 BMW 6 Series Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Volkswagen Tiguan ordering now underway in Europe

Filed under: SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan – Click above for high-res image gallery

While it won’t make its official debut until March 1st at the Geneva Motor Show, European customers can begin ordering the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan compact SUV right now. VW made this announcement and released a small set of official photos yesterday (a leaked screencap also made the rounds earlier in the week).

The base price for the freshened Tiguan, whose styling reflects the automaker’s new corporate design language, is set at €24,175 for the Trend & Fun trim, which features the 120-horsepower 1.4L four-cylinder TSI engine. Volkswagen says that it’s opening up ordering so far in advance because the old Tiguan is sold out due to its popularity. VW is also quick to point out that the new-look Tiguan’s base MSRP is unchanged from the previous version.

No other specs were released at this time, and we’re still in the dark as to the updated Tiguan’s U.S. launch timetable and pricing (we figure it’ll be on hand at the New York Auto Show in April). More info will likely become available as we get closer to Geneva. In the meantime, check out the high-res gallery of the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan below. VW’s press release is posted after the jump. Thanks to Kyle for the heads-up.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan

[Source: Volkswagen]

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2012 Volkswagen Tiguan ordering now underway in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe coming to Shanghai

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Etc., Europe, BMW, Rumormill, Shanghai Motor Show, Luxury

BMW 6 Series Coupe Concept

BMW 6 Series Coupe Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Word has it that BMW is planning to unveil the next 6 Series coupe at the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show in April. According the Dutch arm of AutoWeek, it only makes since for the big two door to take a bow this spring since the concept version debuted at the 2010 Pairs Motor Show last fall. Given that we’ve seen more than a few spy photos crop up recently, the prediction would seem spot-on.

The report says that buyers can first expect to get their hands on the coupe in either 640i or 650i variants with additional models showing up later down the line. But that’s not the most interesting bit of news to pop up.

AutoWeek is also reporting that BMW is currently slaving away on a sedan version of the 6 Series. Supposedly, the car would make use of the same coupe body lines as its two-door brethren. Such a vehicle would allow BMW to tango with the ever-popular Mercedes-Benz CLS, but we have to wonder if there’s room in the Roundel’s stable for yet another sedan.

Gallery: BMW 6 Series Concept

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe coming to Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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