2012 Archives | Page 21 of 30

2012 Mustang 5.0 comes with lower price, new features

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Ford

2011 Ford Mustang GT

2011 Ford Mustang GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

For those of you desperate to get your hands on Ford’s new 5.0-liter Mustang GT, it just got a little easier. Pricing has dropped for the base model of the 412-horsepower pony car by $500 for the 2012 model year, edging back under the 30k mark to $29,995. In contrast, the Premium GT model sees a price increase of $200 while the Premium GT Convertible is $700 more than last year.

While the 2012 Mustang lineup carries over relatively unchanged, there are a few updates to keep the cars fresh. Ford will be offering a new color, Lava Red Metallic, available on both the exterior and interior, while Sterling Gray Metallic will no longer be available. Ford has also added a few minor features like a universal garage door opener and sun visors with a storage system and illuminated vanity mirrors, and the EPAS steering system will now also come with three modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0

[Source: TheMustangSource.com, Edmunds]

2012 Mustang 5.0 comes with lower price, new features originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 BMW 1 Series coupe and convertible take a bow

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, BMW

2012 BMW 1 Series Convertible

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

BMW recently pulled the wraps off of its hot new 1 Series M Coupe, but this new addition to the automaker’s least expensive range isn’t the only changes on tap for the 2012 model year. Both the coupe and convertible versions of the 128i and 135i receive modest upgrades for 2012, including very, very slight styling updates and a new powertrain for the 135i.

Up front, 1 Series cars equipped with Xenon headlamps (optional on 128i, standard on 135i) receive a new horizontal LED eyebrow to complement the corona running lamps. Out back, newly tweaked taillamps use LED running lamps similar to those on the rest of the BMW product line. The 1 Series also gets a tweaked M Sport package that includes an aero kit (standard on the 135i), increased top speed limiter and more sporting suspension geometry. Additionally, M Sport cars are fitted with sport seats and M-branded interior trim components.

Much like its older brother, the 3 Series, the 135i is now powered by BMW’s N55 3.0-liter inline-six which uses a single twin-scroll turbocharger to produce 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. In addition to the standard row-it-yourself six-speed transmission, the 135i can now be had with BMW’s seven-speed DCT that first debuted in the Z4 roadster. Fitting this new engine means that the 135i Coupe can run to 60 miles per hour in five seconds flat with DCT and 5.1 seconds with the manual (add 0.3 seconds to those respective times for the droptop 135i). The base 128i continues to use the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter mill found in the outgoing model, rated at 230 hp and 200 lb-ft and paired with six-speed manual or Steptronic transmissions.

Pricing for the 2012 1 Series will be revealed closer to the car’s on-sale date in the Spring of 2011, and we wouldn’t expect the current base price of $29,450 for the 128i and $36,350 for the 135i to change much. Follow the jump for BMW’s exhaustive press release that details the full host of changes.

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series

2012 BMW 1 Series

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series Coupe

2011 BMW 1 Series Coupe

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series Convertible

2012 BMW 1 Series Convertible

[Source: BMW]

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Officially Official: 2012 BMW 1 Series coupe and convertible take a bow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda teases 2012 Civic before Detroit debut

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Honda, Design/Style

Civic Concept Sketch

Civic Concept Sketch – Click above for high-res image

Here’s our first official glimpse at the face of the next-generation Honda Civic. This sketch is intended to give the world an idea of what we can expect from the Civic show car Honda will display at the Detroit Auto Show in January. From the looks of things, the compact coupe will take the look of the current Civic and throw in some additional attitude. Along with some aggressively swept headlamps reminiscent of the European Civic Type R, the sketch also shows off a fascia with more menacing proportions. A large air inlet down low and slit fog lights help pull the car from the throws of anonymity.

Of course, it’s always difficult to tell what will survive the transition between design sketch and reality. We don’t expect to see those huge wheels nor the wildly flared hips make their way to production. Speaking of production, Honda has a long history of rolling out concepts that are nearly identical to the real deal, so keep your eyes on Detroit for what could be the first look at the next Civic.

[Source: Honda]

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Honda teases 2012 Civic before Detroit debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is ready to cut and thrust

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, BMW

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

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

BMW’s long, agonizing roll-out of information about the 2012 1 Series M Coupe has been a bit maddening. In addition to an early video reveal, we were invited to get some seat time in a prototype of the 1M, leaving us with just the final production-spec images and details in the world of the unknown. Well, wait no more – BMW has officially taken the wraps off of its hot new 1 Series, and while we’re still very eager to put this sporty coupe through its paces, we can’t help but wish for just a teensy bit more… oomph.

Let’s start with power. The 1 Series M Coupe uses BMW’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, and while early estimates had the car pumping out as much as 350 horsepower, the final numbers are: 335 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque – exactly what you get out of this engine in the current Z4 sDrive35is. The car’s ECU has an overboost function that provides an additional 37 lb-ft of twist at full tilt, and with your foot pressed hard into the right pedal, 0-60 will happen in just 4.7 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at – you guessed it – 155 miles per hour.

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe The only transmission available is a six-speed manual, though rumors have circulated about a possible twin-clutch DCT box making its way into the car down the road. Like all M cars, the 1M features an M Drive button on the steering wheel that improves throttle response. Additionally, the car is equipped with an M Dynamic Mode button that allows the electronic driving nannies to kick in slightly later than normal.

Compared to a 2011 135i coupe, the 1M is 0.2 inches longer, 2.1 inches wider and 0.5 inches taller. Both the front and rear tracks have been increased by 2.8 and 1.8 inches, respectively. Weighing in at 3,296 pounds, the 1 Series M Coupe is 77 pounds lighter than your off-the-shelf 135i. The 1M rides on standard M-specific 19-inch wheels wrapped in 245/35 rubber up front and beefy 265/35 out back. BMW hasn’t made great strides to rework the 1 Series’ interior for the M, but things like sport seats and a fat sport steering wheel are standard fare.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re drooling over the 1 Series M Coupe, but we can’t help but wish for a bit more power and perhaps a larger reduction in weight. After all, BMW is comparing this car to the E30 M3 coupe (see for yourself in our high-res image gallery), which is perhaps one of our all-time favorite Roundel sports cars. Still, BMW needs to position the 1 Series M Coupe in a way that it doesn’t step on the toes of it’s big brother, the M3, and we’re sure that this M Coupe treatment will provide more than enough moxie for us enthusiasts to get our kicks.

We’ll have plenty of live shots direct from the 1M’s Detroit Auto Show debut, but see the unwrapped beauty for yourself in our image gallery, below. BMW’s prolific press release is available after the jump, as well.

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

[Source: BMW]

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Officially Official: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is ready to cut and thrust originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Racing officially announces the 2012 Mustang Cobra Jet

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ford, Racing

2012 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet – Click above for high-res image gallery

Last week it was leaked that Ford would be bringing its purpose-built drag racer, the Cobra Jet, back for another year in 2012. Today Ford made it official by revealing the car at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Florida alongside its road racing brother, the Boss 302S.

After getting an upgrade in 2010, the Cobra Jet is getting revised once again for 2012 with an updated version of the supercharged 5.4-liter V8 and modified suspension, low-drag racing brakes, new black anodized wheels and a stickier set of Goodyear racing slicks. Three colors will be offered – Race Red, Grabber Blue and Winner White – and just 50 will be available from the Ford Racing catalog. Pricing starts at $91,990 with a fully loaded Cobra Jet coming in at $103,980. Follow the jump for the press release.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

[Source: Ford]

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Ford Racing officially announces the 2012 Mustang Cobra Jet originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Volkswagen Golf R headed to U.S. for 2012

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen

2010 Volkswagen Golf R20

2010 Volkswagen Golf R20 – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been a couple of years since Volkswagen’s heavyweight hot hatch, the R32, graced America’s shores, but now we have official word of a successor. Tuned by the in-house R team at Volkswagen, the Golf R should be a good bit more exciting than its already entertaining forebear, and hopefully, it will shave a few pounds off, too.

Unlike the R32, which was powered by VW’s popular VR6, the new model will be powered by Volkswagen’s ubiquitous turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. And while Volkswagen isn’t quoting power output for the new U.S. model, the European version currently on sale conjures up 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All of that gumption will be routed through VW’s fourth generation Haldex 4Motion all-wheel drive system, which means the VW should once again be a good foil for cars like the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.

Along with the power increase, VW is promising bigger brakes, an uprated suspension, 18-inch wheels, center-exit dual exhaust and a more liberally tuned ESP. Perhaps most interestingly, the Golf R will be available in both two and four doors and be paired exclusively with a manual transmission. That’s right, we said it.

Although the press release after the jump doesn’t mention when it will debut (our money’s on Detroit), additional R accoutrements include model-specific aero bits and badging, along with upgrated trim and a new steering wheel, shift knob, and so on.

In other words, it’s time to get excited.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf R20

[Source: Volkswagen]

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Officially Official: Volkswagen Golf R headed to U.S. for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe gets early reveal

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Videos, BMW

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe revealed – Click above to watch the video after the jump

BMW hasn’t done the best job of keeping its 2012 1 Series M Coupe a secret. The hot new two-door isn’t scheduled to make its public debut until the Detroit Auto Show next month, but we’ve already seen dozens of teaser images and videos. Heck, we’ve even driven a prototype.

Now, BMW has released video of the production-ready 1M with all of its swirly paper removed. Its bulgy, brash front end and wider stance certainly look the part of a serious baby brother to the M3, and while official numbers have yet to be confirmed, we’re indeed looking forward to flogging all 340-ish horsepower via a standard six-speed manual transmission.

Check out the video for yourself, after the jump, and stay tuned for the official details as they break.

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe: Prototype Drive

2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Prototype

[Source: BMW via YouTube]

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Video: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe gets early reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Are you the 2012 Volkswagen NMS?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Volkswagen

Volkswagen NMS spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

For all of secrecy surrounding the New Midsized Sedan, we may have just scored our first unfettered glimpse at the new Volkswagen four-door. The quick-eyed crew over at JokeForBlog managed to lay their hands on a scant few images of what appears to be the NMS, and the vehicle looks to take more than a few cues from the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. Using the German carmaker’s revised corporate face up front and the same hexagonal license plate inset on the trunk deck, the similarities are almost overwhelming. We’ve got to wonder exactly what VW has planned to differentiate the two models other than size.

Unfortunately, if these shots are accurate, the as-yet unnamed sedan doesn’t appear to be nearly as aggressive as the renderings we saw at this year’s Paris Motor Show. While those drawings showed off a low-slung four-door with aggressive lines and plenty of menace in its bones, these spy photos show a vehicle that looks downright pedestrian and conservative. That said, given the modest wheels this model is wearing, we suspect it’s a lower trim level – hopefully more expensive models will appear more premium and aggressive.

With the current Passat headed for the scrap heap in America, it would appear that we’d best get used to what we see above. Odds are this machine is going to be a bigger, less-expensive replacement for long-serving VW four-door.

Gallery: Volkswagen NMS Spy Shots

[Source: JokeForBlog via Autoblog.nl]

Spy Shots: Are you the 2012 Volkswagen NMS? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Focus production begins

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford

2012 Ford Focus

2012 Ford Focus production begins in Germany – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Ford Focus isn’t just an all-new model for the Blue Oval team – it represents the first example of the automaker’s “One Ford” global product strategy. Ford is now engineering cars that will be exactly the same in all markets, and for the first time in many years, we Americans will finally be able to buy the same Focus as the rest of the world.

Ford will start selling the 2012 Focus early next year, and thus, production of the new global C-car has officially started at the automaker’s Saarlouis Assembly Plant in Germany. This facility is capable of manufacturing up to 1,850 vehicles a day over the course of three shifts, and all three Focus bodystyles (sedan, hatchback and wagon) will be produced here. The high-performance Focus ST will be added to this line in early 2012, as well.

In addition to the Saarlouis plant, Ford has begun early production of the North American-spec Focus at the automaker’s Michigan Assembly Plant just outside of Detroit. This plant has been completely overhauled over the past year, as it was formerly used to produce the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

Ford plans to further expand Focus production in mid-2011 by adding manufacturing lines to its plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. What’s more, production in the Asia Pacific region will come on-line in 2012 at new facilities in Chongquig, China and Rayong, Thailand. Follow the jump to read the Blue Oval’s official press release.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus production

[Source: Ford]

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2012 Ford Focus production begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle caught making the rounds

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle caught unmasked in the wild – Click above to watch video after the jump

Before the keys land in the hands of the Oprah faithful, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle still has to make its world debut. Until then, we have to rely on spy photographers for glimpses of der neue New Beetle. The latest clip gives us a good view of the redesigned VW as it hits the street on one of its innumerable test drives. Hit the jump to see for yourselves. Thanks for the tip, Vicken!

[Source: YouTube via SecretNewCars.com]

Continue reading Video: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle caught making the rounds

Video: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle caught making the rounds originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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