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2,500 Chevy Cruze sedans recalled for “improperly fastened” steering wheels

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

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

Chevrolet has reportedly issued a recall of 2,100 of its Cruze compact car in the U.S. and 400 units in Canada after one car was found to have an improperly attached steering wheel. While the defect sounds terrifying, Chevrolet says the mishap hasn’t caused an accident or any injuries.

According to The Detroit News, Chevy is confident that only one car had the issue, and the recall is a precautionary measure. According to the story, Chevy says it inspected more than 2,000 vehicles at the plant where the defective Cruze was built and several hundred more at dealerships and didn’t find any with a similar fault.

Those affected by the recall will be asked to take their Cruze in to the dealership to be inspected for the fault, which will be repaired for free if a problem is found.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT: Review

2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT

[Source: The Detroit News]

2,500 Chevy Cruze sedans recalled for “improperly fastened” steering wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Fiat 500 Cabrio to drop its top in New York

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Convertible, Fiat

fiat 500c

Fiat 500C – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fiat is getting ready to bring 500 Cabrio to the States. According to fresh reports, the top will drop on the 500C at the upcoming 2011 New York Auto Show. Shortly after making its U.S. debut, the Fiat 500C will head to dealer showrooms in time for spring to actually appear (nevermind what the calendar says).

Click through the gallery below for a glimpse of what we can expect to see on stage at the 2011 NYIAS. After that, be sure to check out the Abarth version for what we hope will eventually come over.

Gallery: Fiat 500C

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Report: Fiat 500 Cabrio to drop its top in New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Fiat 500 Zagato Coupe go for production

Filed under: Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Specialty, Fiat

2012 Fiat 500 Zagato

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

Among the Fiat 500 concepts that Fiat took to Geneva, the most interesting was probably the Coupe Zagato,which got the design firm’s famous low, double-bubble roof and teardrop-shaped windows. According to Fiat brass, the 500 Coupe Zagato is go for production in Mexico and in very limited numbers in Europe.

No word yet on pricing, but it looks like the Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato will come with your choice of the standard 500’s engine options, including the brand-new 105-horsepower turbo two banger. Whether Fiat plans to bring the Zag here remains a mystery, but we aren’t getting our hopes up.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato concept: Geneva 2011

Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato concept: Geneva 2011

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

Report: Fiat 500 Zagato Coupe go for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Fiat 500 by Gucci will match your fake purse

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Design/Style, Luxury, Fiat

Fiat 500 by Gucci

Fiat 500 by Gucci – Click above for high-res image gallery

A company like Fiat has proven itself eager to take on new challenges. Dominate Italian industry? Done. Undertake a partnership with the world’s largest automaker, then extract billions after pulling out? Done. Take over one of the Detroit Three and complain about the terms of a government bailout? Done. Making the 500 even more fashionable and quintessentially Italian may have seemed undoable, but as with those challenges before, it has risen to the occasion.

The latest version of its designer hatchback has been tweaked by Gucci and features all of its hallmarks, from the red and green stripes to the logos on the seats and wheel hubs. The Fiat chairman’s stylish kid brother, Lapo Elkann, saw the project through to completion, displaying it in a dedicated boutique section of the automaker’s show stand. And while it may not be as exciting as Zagato’s coupe version, for those who (like the model standing next to the car) prefer to match their car to their purse, it very well may be the best thing since artisanal sliced bread.

Gallery: Fiat 500 by Gucci: Geneva 2011

Geneva 2011: Fiat 500 by Gucci will match your fake purse originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford releases new version of the Fiesta S1600, limited to just 500 units

Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchback, Ford, UK

ford fiesta s1600

Another day, another hot-hatch that the United Kingdom can enjoy while thumbing their nose at our relative lack of hot-hatchitude here in the States. Ford has just announced another limited-edition run of Fiesta S1600 hatchbacks.

In 2010, Ford released a 650-car run of 118-horsepower Fiesta S1600 three-doors. A new version for 2011 uses the same engine but ups the power ante to 132 horsepower at 6,700 rpm and 118 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm.

On the outside, the Ford Fiesta S1600 receives a lower front valence, larger side sills, a rear spoiler, rear diffuser and white 17-inch alloy wheels. The car is available in Frozen White or Performance Blue and both color choices get a pair of contrasting center stripes. The S1600 gets upgraded parts on the interior as well. Leather lines the heated sports seats, handbrake cover, gear level and steering wheel.

The Ford Fiesta S1600 will be limited to just 500 units and wears a price tag of £15,895, or nearly $26,000 USD. It doesn’t matter how much it costs in U.S. Dollars though because we can’t buy it here. That said, feel free to read all about what you’ll likely be missing in the press release after the break.

[Source: Ford]

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Ford releases new version of the Fiesta S1600, limited to just 500 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat 500 by Gucci celebrates Italian style

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Design/Style, Luxury, Fiat

Fiat 500 by Gucci

Fiat 500 by Gucci – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chic, stylish and Italian, a car like the Fiat 500 is a natural fit for the Gucci set. But in case that wasn’t obvious enough, the two Italian firms have teamed up on a special line. Spearheaded by Lapo Elkann – the rakish playboy brother of Fiat chairman John Elkann and grandson of his late predecessor Gianni Agnelli – the Fiat 500 by Gucci is a joint effort between Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini and Fiat’s Centro Stile in this, Italy’s 150th year of ndependence.

The car itself follows in the footsteps of the Diesel edition – not to mention the myriad of similar initiatives involving the Citroën DS3 and the Mini – and is available in either black or white. Gucci’s signature red and green stripe runs down the flank, with the Double-G logo on the wheel hubs and in the pattern on the leather seats.

Naturally, Gucci has also introduced a range of clothing and accessories to mark the occasion. The car and collection were launched by Milan Fashion Week and will be displayed at a dedicated stand at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Trend-setters needn’t wait to check out the details in the press release after the jump and the high-resolution images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Fiat 500 by Gucci

[Source: Fiat]

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Fiat 500 by Gucci celebrates Italian style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: New Transformers 3 commercial hits during Daytona 500

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Transformers 3 Jimmy Johnson Car

Autobots in NASCAR… who knew? Click above to watch the video after the jump

Excuse us if we’re not all that excited about Transformers 3. The novelty of seeing fantastically animated versions of the toys we played with as youngsters died off right about the same time an SR 71 Blackbird turned into old man Decepticon in T2. But hey, at least we can consider watching any movie featuring Megan Fox. Oh wait, she was replaced.

You know what could get us jacked for T3? NASCAR Transformers.

We kid, of course, but it appears we’re going to receive exactly that – Autobots with numbers on the doors – even if we didn’t ask for them. Hit the jump to watch the latest commercial for the July blockbuster. We’re told the ad was aired during the Daytona 500… can’t say we were watching. Then again, if NASCAR allows Jimmie Johnson’s car to be fitted like the T3 car pictured above, they’d have our attention in 2012.

[Source: YouTube]

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Video: New Transformers 3 commercial hits during Daytona 500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spoiler Alert: Daytona 500 winner makes history

Filed under: Motorsports

2011 Daytona 500

If you’re saving your 2011 Daytona 500 viewing experience for a later date, you’ll want to go ahead and skip this post all together.

Still with us? This year marked the 53rd running of the biggest race in NASCAR, and thanks to a completely re-paved track, the event saw a record 74 lead changes between 22 drivers. The new sticky asphalt also led to plenty of side-by-side racing with more than a few pile ups as a result. But all of that carnage happened to open the door for one very unlikely winner.

Wood Brothers Racing took home the checkered flag for the first time since 1976 with 20 year-old Knoxville, Tennessee native Trevor Bayne behind the wheel. Never heard of him? We aren’t surprised. This Daytona 500 only marked his second Sprint Cup series start. Bayne led the last six laps and successfully fought off a last-minute rush by Carl Edwards to take home the $1.46 million purse and become the youngest-ever winner of the Daytona 500. While Bayne was only scheduled to run five races with Wood Brothers this year, this win just might change his schedule.

[Source: ESPN | Image: Glenn Smith/AP Photo]

Spoiler Alert: Daytona 500 winner makes history originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR marks 10-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death at Daytona 500

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Celebrities

Dale Earnhardt Senior

It was 10 years ago today that racing legend Dale Earnhardt Senior died while competing at the Daytona 500. It’s no secret that not every motorsports afficianado is a fan of the NASCAR scene, but there’s no denying the outright skill and presence that racers bring to the game both on and off the track. Nowhere was that more evident than with Earnhardt, who sprang from a long-line of circle track racers. Even if series fans rooted for a different driver, they respected Earnhardt for his down-to-earth nature and old-school approach to racing. When Earnhardt was behind the wheel, it was clear he wasn’t there to make friends or play nice. He was there to win.

While Earnhardt’s death was a tragedy on many levels, we can’t help but feel that NASCAR lost more than an icon when he passed. Today’s field is populated by overly polished, nameless media machines that lack the heart and human emotion that the old-timers brought to the table. Maybe that’s why we just can’t bring ourselves to flop down in front of the TV for 500 laps anymore.

For an excellent (and tear-jerking) retrospective on The Intimidator’s fatal accident, check out Dale Earnhardt’s Last Ride from ESPN.

[Sources: Yahoo Sports, Kansas City Star, USA Today | Image: Bruce Ackerman/AP]

NASCAR marks 10-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death at Daytona 500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Fiat’s high-riding, all-wheel-drive 500

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Fiat

Fiat 500 AWD spy shots

Fiat 500 AWD spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Fiat 500 may just be launching here in the United States, but elsewhere, Fiat appears to be working on an all-wheel-drive 500 to battle the high-riding Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic that have both been recently spied. Rumors have suggested that the AWD variant will be introduced around the same time as the slightly facelifted 500 in Europe.

This 500 mule is clearly rides higher off the ground than the normal car, and our spies point out that a reworked exhaust system is present on this test car – a result of the reworked underpinnings. We expect the 500 AWD to arrive sometime in 2012, though it is unclear whether or not this model is destined for consumption here in the U.S. Scroll through our gallery of high-res spy shots below to see for yourself.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Fiat 500 AWD

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Fiat’s high-riding, all-wheel-drive 500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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