2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 leaks out

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

The facelifted 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG wasn’t supposed to see the light of day until the Geneva Motor Show this March, but a sizable batch of photos have leaked out giving us a clear look at what to expect in Switzerland.

On the outside, the C63 gets a set of SL-inspired headlamps with ornate light-piping and LED DRLs mounted in the revised fascia. LEDs make their way to the tail lamps, while redesigned 18-inch wheels fill the wheel wells and frame upgraded brakes.

AMG opted to retain the 6.2-liter V8 instead of fitting its new 5.5-liter biturbo mill, so output remains at 451 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The Development Package will reportedly stick around for 2012, raising output to 481 hp and nixing the 155 mph limiter to allow the C63 to top out at 174 mph. The sports package also includes a few interior tweaks, a carbon fiber trunk spoiler and red calipers that clamp onto 14.2-inch front discs.

However, the biggest change comes in the form of a new transmission. The C63 now sends power to a seven-speed Speedshift MCT auto ‘box which swaps out the conventional torque converter for a high-performance clutch pack said to deliver smoother, more immediate shifts.

After the C63’s big day in Geneva, the revised C-Class will go on sale this fall, with the AMG-fettled version getting a very slight bump in price.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

[Source: Carscoop, Car and Driver]

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 leaks out originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Volkswagen (new new) Beetle caught undisguised

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shot

2012 Volkswagen New Beetle – Click above for more high-res spy shots

Honestly Volkswagen? Why even bother with camo? If you’re going to parade the 2012 Beetle out in the open – with it’s chopped roofline and redesigned rump – is a little bit of paint-matching trim around the headlamps really worth the effort? And while we’re at it, the bright silver paint isn’t doing your clandestine efforts any favors, either.

Unlike the shots our spies snagged late last year, this newest batch shows a near production-ready Beetle, complete with a reworked fascia, more deeply drawn headlamps and some attractive contouring around the greenhouse. The new chiseled sides, thickened C-pillar and higher hatch do their best to modernize an aging design, as will the underpinnings: all the good bits from the Golf VI platform combined with V-Dub’s 2.5-liter inline-five in the base models and something turbocharged further up the food chain. Expect more details to surface over the next few months, with a possible debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots

2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: 2012 Volkswagen (new new) Beetle caught undisguised originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford details Powershift transmission for 2012 Focus

Filed under: Technology, Ford

PowerShift six-speed transmission

The 2012 Ford Focus is an exciting piece of machinery for a variety of reasons. It puts the Focus on equal footing across the globe, along with being a stylish and well-equipped compact that should be an entertaining steer. On that last bit, Ford is hyping some of the new driver-centric technologies under the Focus’ skin, beginning with the PowerShift dry-clutch six-speed automatic with its Torque Hole Filling Technology (THF). What’s that? Ford’s glad you asked…

When you’re driving along in a car equipped with a traditional automatic transmission, you get a momentary lag after an upshift. This is known as the torque hole. Ford wanted to find a way to fill this gap, so with some trick computer modeling and enough math to last a lifetime, the Blue Oval engineers created a system where the engine and transmission talk to each other and prepare for potential torque holes. Additional torque is supplied to fill the hole and the resulting shifts are more seamless to both driver and passengers.

If you want even more geeky details, click past the jump for Ford’s complete release.

[Source: Ford]

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Ford details Powershift transmission for 2012 Focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class styling buck caught in the buff

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class spy shot

2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class spy shot – Click above for high-res image gallery

As the smallest member of the Mercedes-Benz line, the A-Class has had a tough time earning much credibility or respect. That could change, though, if the German automaker were able to inject a dose of stylishness and sportiness into the next design, and it appears it may be doing exactly that.

Spy photographers managed to snap off a set of images that appear to show a quarter-scale styling buck of the next-gen A-Class (codename W176), and it’s much lower and more agressive than ever before, complete with some 2012 CLS in the flanks and fascia. As you can see from the green car in the background, Mercedes-Benz appears to be using its BlueZero F-Cell Concept as a basis for the small hatchback’s overall proportions.

Rumor has it that Mercedes-Benz will incorporate thee- and five-door models into the A-Class pipeline, along with a possible crossover to take on the likes of the BMW X1. There could even be an AMG version of the little front-wheel drive machine, with as much as 270 horsepower. Reports indicate that the next B-Class will be based on the same architecture.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz A-Class

[Source: Brenda Priddy & Company]

Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class styling buck caught in the buff originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Acura TL to debut at Chicago Auto Show

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Acura

Acura TL

Acura has announced that it will debut the newly refreshed 2012 TL at the Chicago Auto Show next month. Details are slim as of this writing, but the automaker says that the 2012 model “further enhances its position in the segment with aggressive, yet refined styling and performance.”

In its current form, the TL has been praised for its high-quality and tech-friendly interior, not to mention the relatively impressive driving dynamics of the SH-AWD 6MT model. However, the biggest deal-breaker for the current TL has been its styling, which has garnered a whole slew of negative praise – especially the angular front fascia. We’ll have the full details on the 2012 TL closer to its official debut on February 9, so stay tuned.

[Source: Acura]

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2012 Acura TL to debut at Chicago Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM to double Chevy Volt production capacity in 2012

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevrolet Volt

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

With fuel prices anticipated to rise, General Motors anticipates increased demand for the Chevrolet Volt. To stay ahead of the game, the automaker reportedly plans to double production capacity for the plug-in hybrid.

Production was originally pegged at 10,000 this year and 60,000 next year, but if the increased capacity comes to pass, those figures could increase to 25,000 this year and 120,000 units next year. This strategy depends on parts availability, however, and if the outsourced parts necessary to build more Volts can’t be ramped up by OEM suppliers, the plans could be cut short.

As has been reported, in addition to the Volt itself, GM is evaluating possibilities to apply the car’s gasoline-electric drivetrain to a range of additional products across different GM brands.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt

Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: GM to double Chevy Volt production capacity in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Launch control is back on 2012 Nissan GT-R

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan

2012 Nissan GT-R

2012 Nissan GT-R – Click above for high-res image gallery

The GT-R obessives at NAGTROC managed to secure a copy of the 2012 Nissan GT-R owner’s manual and discovered that Nissan has reinstated the formerly verboten Launch Control feature for the 2012 model. But this time it’s called something different.

The new name is R Mode Start Function and the screen cap on the right lists off what you need to do to click of 0-60 mph runs in the low three-second range – or even the high twos, according to some preliminary reports.

After several reports of transmissions and half-shafts grenading themselves soon after the GT-R hit U.S. shores, Nissan removed the L.C. feature for the 2011 model year. This revised system seems to do the exact same thing, although the 4,000 rpm rev-limit is significantly higher than the last version and the ECU limits the start function to four consecutive runs before its disabled to protect the GT-R’s twin clutches and the rest of the transmission’s oily bits.

Gallery: 2012 Nissan GT-R

[Sources: NAGTROC (PDF warning) via 2009 GTR]

Launch control is back on 2012 Nissan GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2012 Honda Civic coming in April, all variants to launch in quick succession

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Sedan, Honda

Honda Civic Si coupe concept

Honda Civic Si coupe concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

A Civic for everyone. That was Soichiro Honda’s motto when rolling out the original Civic, and it’s one to which his company intends to stick with the launch of the next-generation model. When the all-new 2012 Civic is launched in April, Honda will roll out a whole variety of body and propulsion configurations within mere weeks of each other, instead of letting months pass between the debut of one model to the next.

Among those variants, we can expect both a sedan and a coupe, with several conventional gasoline engines on offer – including natural gas and hybrid versions – as well as the sporty Civic Si.

The new Civic, previewed recently at the Detroit Auto Show, was slated to debut in 2009. But when the global economy started going south, Honda sent the design back to the drawing board for a nearly complete overhaul before it ever saw the light of day. The result is expected to be much roomier than the current model, though the exterior design hasn’t changed all that much.

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Coupe

2012 Honda Civic Coupe2012 Honda Civic Coupe2012 Honda Civic Coupe2012 Honda Civic Coupe2012 Honda Civic Coupe

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Sedan

2012 Honda Civic Sedan2012 Honda Civic Sedan2012 Honda Civic Sedan2012 Honda Civic Sedan2012 Honda Civic Sedan

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: 2012 Honda Civic coming in April, all variants to launch in quick succession originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe caught without camouflage

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, BMW

2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe

2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s not a common practice for an automaker to debut a convertible before its coupe counterpart, but that’s exactly what BMW has done with its next-generation 6 Series. The droptop made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month, and while the hardtop Sixer will be rolled out within the coming months, our spies have just captured the swoopy new coupe out in public completely undisguised.

We’re hardly surprised by the design of the new 6 Series Coupe – a fixed-roof version of the attractive new cabriolet that takes inspiration from the Concept 6 Series Coupe that debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Obviously, some of the concept’s finer points (the large wheels, the large lower air intakes) have been softened for the production car, and what we’re left with is a pretty sleek evolution of the big coupe’s design.

We fully expect powertrains to be carried over unchanged from the convertible, meaning a twin-turbocharged V8 packing 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque will be in store for the 650i coupe, mated to a choice of six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions. We haven’t been given the official word on when the Big Six will officially debut, but we’d be shocked if the new coupe didn’t turn up at the Geneva show in March.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe

2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe spy shots2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe spy shots2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe spy shots2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe spy shots2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe spy shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe caught without camouflage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe the “most affordable” M product ever offered

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

At $47,010 (including destination), the 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe isn’t exactly cheap. Still, Matthew Russell, BMW product and technology PR rep, says it’s “the most affordable M BMW has ever sold, adjusting for inflation, including the original E30 M3.” That car cost around $34,000 when it was introduced in 1988. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Russell is more than right: $34,000 in 1988 had the same buying power as $62,885 in 2010.

With rumors of BMW getting into front-wheel-drive cars, we asked Dr. Kay Segler, president of BMW M GmbH, if M could do a FWD car. Segler said, “I haven’t thought about that,” and went on to remark that he couldn’t see doing a sub-1-Series M car. Russell elaborated with, “There are rumors about what is coming, but those aren’t from us.” As to other rumors about whether the coupes will be limited or capped in number, we were told categorically, “No.” But that was amended with, “But they will be hard to get.”

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe: Detroit 2011

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

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2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe the “most affordable” M product ever offered originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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