2012 Archives | Page 6 of 30

Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Buick, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Shanghai Motor Show

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Autoblog Podcast #226 features Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Dan Roth and AOL Autos Editor-in-Chief David Kiley. We start with the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle and then talk about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Staying with the auto show theme, we talk about the Buick Envision that has shown up in Shanghai. Your feedback in our Q&A module winds us up, and we’ve embedded that in the post below, as well. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai Auto Shows

2012 Volkswagen Beetle
2013 Chevrolet Malibu
Buick Envision Concept

In the Autoblog Garage:
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco
2011 Dodge Avenger Heat

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
Guest: David Kiley

Runtime: 01:23:12

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Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entire 2012 BMW motocycle line to come with standard ABS

Filed under: Safety, Motorcycle

BMW K1600 GTL

2012 BMW K 1600 GTL – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW has announced that the company’s entire line of 2012 motorcycles will come with anti-lock braking systems as standard equipment. The German manufacturer points to research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that shows bikes with ABS are 37-percent less likely to be involved in a fatal accident than their non-ABS counterparts. BMW has been a longstanding advocate of the safety system as it helped bring anti-lock technology to the two-wheeled consumer market 23 years ago.

The manufacturer’s 2012 K 1600 GT and K 1600 GTL are loaded with technology and safety kit such as ABS brakes that are designed to keep riders in the saddle and off the tarmac. As you may recall, BMW has fitted the bikes with the industry’s first adaptive headlight, and a new multi-function grip means that riders can access and adjust most of the motorcycles systems without having to remove their hands from the handlebars. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 BMW K1600GT and K1600GTL

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Entire 2012 BMW motocycle line to come with standard ABS

Entire 2012 BMW motocycle line to come with standard ABS originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen gives price points for 2012 Beetle, targets Mini

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen Beetle reveal in NYC

2012 Volkswagen Beetle reveal in NYC – Click above for high-res image gallery

Elaborating on our previous details from the New York unveiling of the 2012 much-altered Beetle, Volkswagen North America CEO Jonathan Browning has told Autoblog, “We’re aiming to essentially go after the Mini so far as market positioning and price offerings.”

That means a price range from $20,000 to $24,000 when the coupe launches worldwide in late September, and between $25,000 and $29,000 for the 2013 convertible. These price ranges take into account the three engines on offer at the start of deliveries: the 2.5-liter five-cylinder, 2.0-liter TDI diesel, and 200-hp 2.0-liter TFSI. There’s no telling what the price will be on the hot Beetle R foreseen for mid-2013 with the newest 261-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four from the Scirocco R, much less the rumored 337-hp Beetle RS with turbo inline five “W28” engine for 2014.

Wheels available at launch will range from a standard 17-inch set to optional 18-inch and 19-inch, the latter set being the size shown on all of the Beetles that you’ll see in our photos from the 2011 New York Auto Show.

VW global branding boss Luca De Meo tells us, “We want to avoid the almost total lack of rollout planning that the former New Beetle suffered. That car had a couple of pretty good years and then it fell dramatically. We want to keep offering new things that are significant this time around so as to keep the car fresh.”

Though Volkswagen could rely on its vast worldwide manufacturing network to build the Beetle for Western Europe, China, and North America, bosses in New York say that all Beetle manufacturing will remain exclusively at the Puebla, Mexico plant.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle: New York 2011

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen gives price points for 2012 Beetle, targets Mini originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2012 Cadillac CTS with 3.6L won’t get six-speed manual, V models safe

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, Cadillac

cadillac cts wagon

Cadillac CTS Sportwagon – Click above for high-res image gallery

The list of vehicles with an available manual transmission may become a bit smaller for 2012, as Inside Line is reporting that certain 2012 Cadillac CTS models will lose the ability to specify a third pedal. IL cites sources from within General Motors who say that models equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 will only be offered with an automatic transmission next year. The high-performance CTS-V sedan, coupe and wagon will still be offered with a manual transmission, as will CTS variants equipped with the torque-deprived 3.0-liter V6.

The General wouldn’t specify why the 3.6-liter-equipped models would lose the manual option, but we’re thinking that a low take rate at the dealership had something to do with the decision. And while we never like to see that owners lose out on the manual-equipped version of any vehicle, at least the CTS-V will retain row-your-own ability.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: 2012 Cadillac CTS with 3.6L won’t get six-speed manual, V models safe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roush announces 2012 Stage 3 Mustang with 540 horsepower

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford

2012 Roush Stage 3 Mustang

2012 Roush Stage 3 Mustang – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Stage 3 has always been the flagship of Roush’s modified Ford Mustang stable, and the supercharged pony car is making a return for 2012 with a new RS3 moniker. With 540 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque on tap, the Stage 3 replaces the 5XR as Roush’s most powerful offering.

Along with the extra power, the RS3 comes with a new graphics package that is available in six stripe colors and six accent colors, making for 288 color combinations. You can use Roush’s new online configurator to see what colors like Luminescent Lime and Red-Blooded American look on the car and add optional items like the 20-inch Hyper Black wheels and rear three-quarter window louvers. The 2012 RS3 Mustang starts at $59,945 and comes standard with a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty. PR and full details after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Roush Stage 3 Mustang

[Source: Roush]

Continue reading Roush announces 2012 Stage 3 Mustang with 540 horsepower

Roush announces 2012 Stage 3 Mustang with 540 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo XC70 and S80 get refresh, tech upgrades for 2012

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Crossover, Volvo

2012 Volvo S80

2012 Volvo S80 – Click above for high-res image gallery

On the outside, the changes to the 2012 Volvo S80 and XC70 aren’t immediately noticeable. The headlamps have been redesigned, the S80 gets LED turn signals in the side mirrors and each model gets a new exterior color choice. Underneath the skin, however, these two Volvos have received a handful of new tricks.

Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system, which made its debut with the 2011 S60, has found its way into the 2012 S80 and XC70, allowing the driver to easily operate audio, video, Bluetooth and navigational controls. It also provides information and setting adjustment for safety features such as City Safety, Collision Warning and Active Cruise Control.

The City Safety system is now a standard feature on both of these 2012 models. The automaker has also added Pedestrian Detection, which keeps an eye out for foot traffic and provides an audible warning if it feels a collision is imminent. Should the driver fail to heed that warning, the S80 or XC70 can fully engage the brake automatically.

Check out the updated 2012 Volvo XC70 and S80 in the galleries below. Also, be sure to take a look at the full press released posted after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Volvo S80

2012 Volvo S80

Gallery: 2012 Volvo XC70

2012 Volvo XC70

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo XC70 and S80 get refresh, tech upgrades for 2012

Volvo XC70 and S80 get refresh, tech upgrades for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refreshed 2012 Kia Soul to bow at New York Auto Show

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Hatchback, Kia

Kia Soul spy shots

2012 Kia Soul spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a newsletter sent out by the New York Auto Show organizers, Kia will debut its refreshed 2012 Soul hatchback as part of next week’s festivities. In addition to a slightly revised front fascia complete with LED running lamps, the funky hatch will receive a number of powertrain enhancements for the 2012 model year.

Most significantly, the Soul will benefit from the addition of new six-speed transmissions, likely in both manual and automatic forms. According to Kia, this means the 2012 Soul will achieve nearly 35 miles per gallon on the highway – a healthy boost over the current car’s fuel economy rating of 24/30 mpg city/highway when equipped with the 2.0-liter engine and five-speed manual shifter.

As we reported earlier, Kia will also debut the 2012 Rio in New York, boasting new direct-injection technology and fuel economy ratings of over 40 mpg. Stay tuned for the full details next week.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Next-generation Kia Soul

Spy Shots: Next-generation Kia Soul

[Source: New York Auto Show | Images: CarPix]

Refreshed 2012 Kia Soul to bow at New York Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio released in U.S. “just in time for spring”

Filed under: Convertible, Chrysler, Fiat

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio – Click above for high-res image gallery

Good news, lovers of open-air motoring: Fiat has just announced that its diminutive little 500 Cabrio will be hitting the U.S. market “just in time for spring” as a 2012 model. That’s a little nebulous, mind you, as the announcement doesn’t specifically say when we should expect the droptop 500c to actually hit a dealership near you.

In any case, the North American 500 Cabrio mimics its European cousin with an electrically powered fabric roof that can be opened while driving at any speed up to 60 miles per hour. Unlike most convertibles, the 500 Cabrio keeps its fully-framed side windows, as the top slides back and forth on roof rails instead of folding down into a pile at the rear of the car.

Fiat will offer the 500 Cabrio with three different soft top colors, 14 exterior colors and 12 combinations of interior colors and fabrics. Customization is a good thing, no? We’ll get our first live impressions of the 500c at the New York Auto Show next week. Hit the jump for the official press release and be sure to check out some fun-in-the-sun motoring in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Fiat 500c

2012 Fiat 500c

[Source: Fiat]

Continue reading 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio released in U.S. “just in time for spring”

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio released in U.S. “just in time for spring” originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2012 Hyundai Accent is off the wall

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hyundai

2012 Hyundai Accent 3D projection – Click above to watch the video after the jump

The 2012 Hyundai Accent will make its North American debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show, but the marketing blitz has already started in other markets. In Malaysia, a recent stunt with the 2012 Accent and 3D projection answered the question, “How does a company stand out when computer-generated imagery can put any car in any landscape?”

A 2012 Accent was suspended from the side of a building and a driver in a Tron-esque suit walked down Spidey-style to get in and “drive.” The wheels spun and the imagery moved accordingly, though the trees and cityscapes were all cleverly crafted to bring motion to an essentially static display. It works, and the end result is very, very cool. Check out the video after the jump.

[Source: AdRants]

Continue reading Video: 2012 Hyundai Accent is off the wall

Video: 2012 Hyundai Accent is off the wall originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this the facelifted 2012 Jaguar XF?

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Spy Photos, Sedan, Jaguar, Shanghai Motor Show, Diesel, Luxury

2012 Jaguar XF

A photo purported to be a sneak peak at the facelifted 2012 Jaguar XF has hit the Web ahead of its New York Auto Show debut, and while there’s precious little information about where the photo came from, if it’s legit, this is exactly in line with what we’re expecting the next XF to look like.

The sharper headlights on the car pictured above look consistent with the camouflaged versions seen in spy shots, so there’s a solid chance this is the real deal. Underneath the XF’s reshaped skin will be a new eight-speed automatic gearbox from ZF backing up a 2.2-liter diesel four-pot pulling down 187 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque. That same transmission will likely be fitted to the U.S.-spec models packing the 5.0-liter V8, possibly in both naturally aspirated and supercharged R guise. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: Joke For Blog via Nitrobahn]

Is this the facelifted 2012 Jaguar XF? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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