2012 Archives | Page 20 of 30

Videos: Ford’s 2011 Explorer and 2012 Focus go off the wall

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Videos, Crossover, Ford

Ford Focus Crash Test

2012 Ford Focus plays tag with a wall – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ford has been testing its upcoming 2012 Focus extensively, and it’s already put the compact through 12,000 crashes in both the virtual and real worlds. Ford says that the Focus features advanced restraint systems as well as next-generation airbags that feature upgraded chest-protection technology. The C-Segment car is not stealing all the focus (*ahem*), however, because the all-new 2011 Explorer has clearly received plenty of attention from the safety engineers. For the first time in the Explorer’s history, it has landed on the IIHS list of Top Safety Picks.

Enough talking, because you’re ready for some automotive snuff films, right? Hop the jump to watch a 2012 Ford Focus and 2011 Explorer make out with a wall. While you’re over there, be sure to check out Ford’s official press release.

[Sources: Ford, YouTube]

Continue reading Videos: Ford’s 2011 Explorer and 2012 Focus go off the wall

Videos: Ford’s 2011 Explorer and 2012 Focus go off the wall originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Focus equipped with brake-based torque vectoring

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Hatchback, Ford

2012 Ford Focus

2012 Ford Focus – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Ford Focus is set to hit dealers early next year, and in addition to a cadre of standard and optional features, Ford is equipping every new Focus with its new breed of “torque vectoring control.”

For the uninitiated, torque vectoring systems actively split power between the two driven wheels to maximize traction and increase performance. Some higher-end systems manipulate the output to each wheel through a set of electronically controlled gears, while others apply a subtle amount of braking to the inside wheel, causing more power to be sent to the outside wheel, thus helping rotate the vehicle through a turn. Ford is using the latter on the 2012 Focus, the first implementation of its kind on a Blue Oval model in North America.

Thanks to the continued implementation of standard traction control systems, these torque vectoring setups are becoming more common and have finally reached the compact segment. While the benefits generally outweigh the negatives, we’ve found other brake-based systems have a tendency to overheat the pads, rotors and fluid when flogged long and hard enough (ahem, GTI). We’ll be able to test it out for ourselves soon, so look for a full driving report in just over a month. In the meantime, get the full details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus

2012 Ford Focus hatchback

Continue reading 2012 Ford Focus equipped with brake-based torque vectoring

2012 Ford Focus equipped with brake-based torque vectoring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carlsson strikes first with custom 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS350

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel, Luxury

Carlsson Mercedes-Benz CLS

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 by Carlsson – Click above for high-res image gallery

The svelte Mercedes-Benz CLS has long been a favorite of tuners, and with the new model on the way, you can expect a veritable onslaught to ensue. The first bit of blood has been drawn by Carlsson, which has just unveiled its tuning program for the CLS350 before it even reaches showrooms.

Engine modifications are available for both the CLS350 gasoline and diesel V6 mills. With the petrol engine, power is increased to 333 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque (gains of 27 and 29, respectively), and the oil-burning powerplant now cranks out 320 hp and 575 lb-ft (increases of 55 hp and 96 lb-ft). Both the gasoline and diesel CLS350s will sprint to 62 miles per hour in just 5.9 seconds – 0.2 seconds faster than the stock petrol car and 0.3 seconds faster than the standard diesel model.

Carlsson’s C-Tronic adjustable suspension (mounted to a choice of wheel options) is also on offer, as is a full body kit – complete with a new front bumper, grille, power-dome hood, LED fog lamps, side skirts, side vents and rear apron with diffuser – and an Alcantara and brushed aluminum-trimmed interior. Have a closer look in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 by Carlsson

[Source: CarScoop]

Carlsson strikes first with custom 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Focus gets wrapped up in tattoos

Filed under: Etc., Hatchback, Ford, Design/Style

2012 Ford Focus shows off its tattoos

2012 Ford Focus showing off its tattoos – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford really wants owners to personalize their vehicles, and over the past year the automaker has launched custom graphics for the Mustang, Taurus, Fiesta and F-150. Now another car is getting in on the vinyl wrap fun – the 2012 Ford Focus. Through the website FordCustomGraphics.com, 2012 Focus owners can apply vinyl ‘tattoos’ to their cars.

The Blue Oval team did some research and found that nearly four in 10 Millennials have at least one tattoo. It’s not a stretch, then, to figure they might want to throw one on their car. People already put graphics on cell phones, laptops and whatever else is around, so allowing an outlet for automotive creativity makes sense. These automotive tattoos won’t be in short supply, either – Ford is offering over 200 different designs for the all-new Focus.

The graphics range in price from $120 up to $470 and they’ve all been produced by Original Wraps. Of course, each wrap is easily removable should you get bored with the look – something that can’t be said for an actual tattoo. Follow the jump for Ford’s official press release.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus shows off its tattoos

2012 Ford Focus shows off its tattoos

[Source: Ford]

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2012 Ford Focus gets wrapped up in tattoos originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Dec 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class gets new four-cylinder model, refreshed styling

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class – Click above for high-res image gallery

Look very closely – this is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which gets a very modest facelift for the new model year. Good thing, then, that the majority of changes made to the C-Class are found underhood, where Mercedes-Benz is offering an all-new four-cylinder engine option here in the United States (as well as a new model designation – C250), not to mention some tweaks for the V6 found in the top-end C350.

Design tweaks are limited to a new aluminum hood with slightly restyled headlamps and LED running lamps down below. Yes, it looks extremely similar to the 2011 model, but if we’re honest, the current C-Class design isn’t exactly growing old. In fact, we rather like it as-is. The styling upgrades to the rear end are hardly noticeable, and that’s just fine, too.

Four-cylinder powerplants are quickly replacing six-cylinder mills these days, even in the entry-level luxury segment. You’ll remember that just a few years ago, Audi discontinued the 3.2-liter V6 in its A4, leaving only the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine on tap. Based on preliminary specifications, the new direct-injected 1.8-liter turbocharged mill looks to be plenty potent, with 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque on hand. That’s 27 less horsepower than the mid-range 3.0-liter V6, but the 1.8T offers eight more pound-feet of twist. Thus, both the C250 and the mid-range C300 4Matic will do the 0-60 sprint in 7.1 seconds, but the C250 returns 24 miles per gallon (combined) while the C300 nets just 20 mpg. The range-topping C350 also gets some help from direct injection, meaning its 3.5-liter V6 now produces 302 hp and 273 lb-ft, gains of 34 hp and 15 lb-ft over the outgoing model.

In addition to new engines, the 2012 C-Class benefits from a restyled interior, mimicking what we’ve grown accustomed to in the E-Class. New driver assistance systems like Attention Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Parktronic help keep things in check out on the road.

The 2012 C-Class will make its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month with the cars going on sale in the United States next summer. (Full Disclosure: This information was under embargo, but a few other websites decided to spill the beans a bit early). Follow the jump for Mercedes-Benz’s official press release.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class gets new four-cylinder model, refreshed styling

Officially Official: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class gets new four-cylinder model, refreshed styling originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu draws closer

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

2012 Chevrolet Malibu spy shot

2012 Chevrolet Malibu spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been a while since we’ve heard about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. In its current form, the aging ‘Bu is a competent aging dog in need of some new tricks, but General Motors is hoping to put its mid-sizer back at the top of the segment with the all-new model. Early predictions lead us to believe that the 2012 Malibu would show its face at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show in January, but we’re now thinking that a New York debut is in order.

For 2012, the Malibu will be shortened, riding on the smaller Epsilon II platform that underpins the Buick Regal. Sources who have seen the finished product tell us that while the exterior dimensions have shrunk, there’s no shortage of space inside the car, and we expect the interior to be a giant leap forward from the cabin found in the current model.

Earlier reports have suggested that the 2012 Malibu will only be offered with four-cylinder powertrains (like the Regal), meaning GM’s 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four is a safe bet for the base engine, and the more powerful 2.0-liter Ecotec turbo-four will likely replace the V6 option. A hybrid powerplant is also understood to be in the works. All engines will come with six-speed transmissions, and we’ve even heard rumblings about optional all-wheel drive for the Malibu. Currently, only the Ford Fusion and Subaru Legacy mid-size sedans are available with all-wheel drive.

Production of the new Malibu is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011, though rumors have been circulating about an even earlier start date. Initial production will begin in China and Korea several months before the North American-spec version, as GM is prepping its Fairfax and Detroit Hamtramck plants for 2012 Malibu duty. While you’re waiting, check out the latest set of high-res spy shots in our gallery.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

[Source: Brenda Priddy & Company]

Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu draws closer originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2012 Ford C-Max demonstrates its hands-free liftgate

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Technology, Videos, Ford

2012 Ford C-Max

2012 Ford C-Max shows off its hands-free liftgate – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Call us weird, but we’re rather excited for the 2012 Ford C-Max to launch here in the United States. The majority of today’s minivans are anything but, and as more people look to downsize and seek out the most efficient vehicles to fit their lifestyles, small MPVs have a real chance to succeed here in the U.S.

Ford is bringing the heat by fitting its C-Max with an innovative new hands-free power liftgate, which automatically opens when the driver waves their foot under the rear bumper. Yes, you need to have the vehicle’s key fob within range, and we’re honestly surprised that no one thought of this sooner (okay, so maybe BMW announced that it’s coming to the 5 Series, but shouldn’t the Honda Odyssey have this by now?) In any case, you can see how easy opening the 2012 C-Max’s liftgate can be by watching the video after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Ford C-Max

2012 Ford C-Max

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Video: 2012 Ford C-Max demonstrates its hands-free liftgate

Video: 2012 Ford C-Max demonstrates its hands-free liftgate originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan unveils all-new 2012 Sunny global sedan in China

Filed under: Sedan, China, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows

2012 Nissan Sunny – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s always sunny in Philadelphia. The sun never sets on the British Empire. Japan is the Land of the Rising Sun. We’ve heard it all before, but the latest unveiling shows it’s sunniest in Guangzhou, China. That’s where Nissan has taken the wraps off its latest global compact family sedan.

Called the Sunny in the Chinese market and manufactured there by joint-venture with the Dongfeng Motor Company, the global model will be sold around the world under a variety of different nameplates. (Past iterations have carried names as varied as Almera, Sentra, Laurel, Pulsar and Tsuru and have even worn Datsun, Renault and Samsung badges.)

Whatever it’s called, the Sunny is projected to be a class leader in fuel economy, carrying a 1.5-liter engine mated to a continuously variable transmission with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam rear suspension. If you’re a family man in your mid-30s, as Nissan figures its target market is in China, check out the details in the press release after the jump and the photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Nissan Sunny

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan unveils all-new 2012 Sunny global sedan in China

Nissan unveils all-new 2012 Sunny global sedan in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 Ford C-Max puts the ‘mini’ back in ‘minivan’

2012 Ford C-Max – Click above for high-res image gallery

A few days after the Paris Motor Show, we had the chance to sample the Grand C-Max, Ford’s latest Euro-spec MPV destined for North American soil. Other markets around the world are ripe with these mini-minivans, but here in the States, our only C-segment MPV option is the very likable Mazda5. The long-wheelbase C-Max will drop its “Grand” nomenclature when it arrives here in North America, and the public will get its first taste of the new Ford at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

Ford calls the C-Max’s seating configuration a “five-plus-two,” meaning that the interior is best suited for five passengers, and that the two rear seats are best used for small occupants. What’s more, Ford offers a unique storage solution for the middle seat in the second row, allowing it to fold down and is stow underneath the bottom cushion of the rear passenger-side chair, creating a set of two captain’s seats in the process (check out a video here). The rest of the C-Max interior is very much akin to what we’ve seen in the 2012 Focus, and we’re quite impressed with the high-quality craftsmanship that FoMoCo is putting into its latest crop of cabins.

2012 Ford C-Max Perhaps the most interesting feature of the 2012 C-Max is its hands-free liftgate. Much like a passive entry system for the driver’s door, whoever has the C-Max’s key fob on their person can simply wave their leg under the rear bumper, triggering two sensors that will open the liftgate. It’s pretty slick, and Ford tells us that this technology will me making its way to the vast majority of the company’s hatchback products.

The base powertrain in the C-Max is Ford’s 2.5-liter inline-four also found in the Fusion. In its MPV home, this mill produces 168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission. The upmarket engine is an all-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline-four, rated at 180 hp and 173 lb-ft of twist, also mated to a six-speed ‘box. The C-Max is only available with front-wheel drive, and 17-inch wheels are fitted to all three trim levels – S, SE and SEL.

We’re eager to get our mitts on the U.S.-spec C-Max, and we’re crossing our fingers that American car buyers will be more receptive to smaller MPVs than in the past. Check out the 2012 C-Max for yourself in the gallery below, and follow the jump for the full suite of details.

Gallery: 2012 Ford C-Max

2012 Ford C-Max

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2012 Ford C-Max puts the ‘mini’ back in ‘minivan’

Officially Official: 2012 Ford C-Max puts the ‘mini’ back in ‘minivan’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe to get 5.5-liter turbo

Filed under: Coupe, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill

Mercedes-Benz AMG Black Series badge

The Mercedes-Benz C Class already has a hugely capable and entertaining performance model in the 451-horsepower C63. But a refreshed C Class is expected to bow at next month’s Detroit Auto Show, and an exotic Black Series Coupe is expected to follow later in the year.

Inside Line reports that a conversation with Mercedes spokespeople has revealed that the 6.2-liter in the C63 will not be tweaked for Black Series duty, opting instead for the company’s twin-turbo 5.5-liter mill. That powertrain, as you may recall, already puts out 571 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque in the S63 AMG. That’s 71 more ponies than the the CLK AMG Black Series and more twist than almost anything this side of a diesel-powered heavy-duty pickup truck. That should help justify the expected $100k-plus price tag of the rarest of AMG variants, while simultaneously making every BMW M3 owner a bit leery of a race with the Black Series coupe. Let’s just hope it maintains the otherworldly bark of the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter, which is one of the C63’s primary draws.

[Source: Inside Line]

Rumormill: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe to get 5.5-liter turbo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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