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Gran Turismo 5 gets big 608MB patch

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games

Gran Turismo 5 patch

Getting ready to fire up Gran Turismo 5 this morning? Polyphony Digital would like you to wait a few moments, because there is a patch that needs to be downloaded… and it’s 608 megabytes. Don’t fret though, According to Eurogamer, this update brings a few new interesting features:

– Seasonal Events: Fresh racing events that allow GT5 users to compete against each other to win rewards and experience points. Leader boards will allow you to see where you stand compared to the rest of the world.

– Online Car Dealer: A new dealer lot that will focus on popular and rare used cars. This is a nice change of pace from the constant stream of odd JDM Civics and Subaru 360s that seem to wind up in our Used Car lot.

– Online Race Rewards and Experience: Just like it sounds… this adds rewards and experience points for races won in online competitions.

– Mechanical Damage: It was made available for online races but has now made its way to the offline races as well.

– HUD: You can disable the HUD display for a full-screen view of the action.

– Improved Rewards: The rewards for certain challenges, such as the AMG Driving Experience, have been increased.

– GT Academy officially launches as of 12/20/2010

We are still learning more with regards to what exactly is included in this mega-update, but word on the virtual street is that this ought to be a solid early Christmas present for Gran Turismo 5 fans.

[Source: EuroGamer.net]

Gran Turismo 5 gets big 608MB patch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Gifts for Christmas: The Big Gifts

Our second list of car gifts for Christmas focuses on those big gifts you get from Santa, or the one present that breaks the bank of the gift giver. Too rich for your blood? No problem, check out some less expensive gift ideas here.

See the list…

Continue reading Car Gifts for Christmas: The Big Gifts

Car Gifts for Christmas: The Big Gifts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: 2011 Jeep Compass to get big price increase, Trail Rated model

Filed under: Crossover, Jeep, Rumormill

2011 Jeep Compass spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Thanks to the efforts of some wily spy shooters, we’ve already peered upon the vastly improved styling of the redesigned 2011 Jeep Compass. If a report from the usually well-informed Allpar.com is correct, it would seem Jeep will be positioning its 2011 Compass a few rungs up the ladder than the platform-sharing Patriot.

If reports are correct, buyers will also need to fork over significantly more cash for the Compass in 2011. According to Allpar, the Compass will start at $19,995 in front-wheel drive guise and $21,695 when powering all four wheels – the 2010 model starts at just $15,365. More interesting, though, is word that the new Compass will be Trail Rated for the first time, something we suspected from the rather familiar-looking round fender badges on the silver vehicle in our spy shot gallery.

Presumably using the same off-road bits and pieces as the Trail Rated Patriot – Freedom Drive II with a CVT and dedicated low-range gearing – the Compass is rumored to feature repositioned rebound springs cribbed à la Grand Cherokee, along with an increase in ride height by one inch.

After looking at the pictures, we had an inkling that the new Compass may in fact be a more desirable overall package than the 2011 Patriot, which starts at $15,995, and this report would appear to confirm that hunch.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 Jeep Compass

2011 Jeep Compass

[Source: Allpar.com | Images: Chris Doane/Brenda Priddy & Company]

Rumormill: 2011 Jeep Compass to get big price increase, Trail Rated model originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Polaris quad with a 454 big-block? Why, yes… yes you can

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

Big Block Polaris Quad

Big-block Polaris quad – Click above to watch the video after the break

With a little blood, sweat and some good ol’ American ingenuity, almost anything is possible. Whether or not “possible” equals “advisable,” well… we’ll leave that up to you to decide. In any case, at least one enterprising individual has apparently managed to stuff a big-block Chevrolet engine displacing 454 cubic inches inside the tight confines of a Polaris ATV.

There doesn’t seem to be any rear suspension on this quad, so those massive balloon tires will have to suffice. While a smooth ride might be problematic, power won’t be. After all, not only is there a 7.4-liter V8 underneath, there are also dual carburetors and long-tube headers. For ultimate ease of use, there’s a Turbo 350 automatic transmission slid in between the engine and solid-axle rear end.

Yes, there’s a video of this beastie in action, and no, the driver is predictably not wearing a helmet. He is, however, enjoying the protection afforded by his apparently ill-fitting cap… that is, until it blows off his now unprotected head. No worries, he’ll swing right back around and put it back on to save his noggin. Safety first! Watch it all go down in the video after the break.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Polaris quad with a 454 big-block? Why, yes… yes you can

Video: Polaris quad with a 454 big-block? Why, yes… yes you can originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Three Have Five Years of Prosperity Until Party Ends

Filed under: Chrysler, Ford, GM, Autoline on Autoblog

Signs To Watch For As The Cycle Repeats

Ford trucks parking lot

Detroit’s automakers are starting to beat their chests in exultation, and who can blame them? The last 16 months have been nothing short of a miracle. Who would have believed they could recover so quickly?

Dial back the clock to last summer, June of 2009. Chrysler had just clawed its way out of bankruptcy, GM was still bankrupt. And Ford just barely avoided filing, saved only by borrowing heavily before the credit market collapsed.

The good times are just getting going. The next five years could be phenomenal.

If someone had come up to you then and said that in less than a year Ford would be earning over $7 billion and that it would surpass Toyota and Honda in quality, you would have said it was not going to happen.

If they had told you that General Motors would be earning over $6 billion in profits, you would have called them crazy.

If they had told you Chrysler would report an operating profit and come within a whisker of catching Honda in market share, you would have said they’re mad.

And if they had told you that Toyota would be battered by criticism for all its defects and quality problems, you would have said that’s impossible.

But here we are a year and a half later and the American auto industry has been completely transformed. The Big Three are more competitive than they’ve been in nearly four decades. Even more amazing, the good times are just getting going. The next five years could be phenomenal.

John McElroy is host of the TV program “Autoline Detroit” and daily web video “Autoline Daily”. Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Big Three Have Five Years of Prosperity Until Party Ends

Big Three Have Five Years of Prosperity Until Party Ends originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sounds Familiar: Millionaire drops big bucks to build Lotus-based EV sportscar

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Technology, UK, Electric

Ecotricity Nemesis

We’re beginning to think that the real difference between a millionaire and a billionaire is simply whether or not one succumbs to the idea of building your own sports car. The latest to fall victim to that money trap is Dale Vince – a man with a vision for an all-electric, 330 horsepower beast capable of ripping off the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds on its way to 100 mph in 8.5 seconds. Like a few other specialty racers we’ve seen surface recently, the Nemisis uses a Lotus chassis for its bones, while a pack of lithium-polymer batteries supplies the juice. And according to Vince, the cells can be topped off in 8-10 hours using a trickle charge.

All told, the car has a range of somewhere between 100 and 150 miles and boasts a theoretical top speed of 170 mph. Ecotricity, the company that builds the Nemisis, has its eyes set on besting the UK’s electric vehicle top speed record of 139 mph soon. So, how much would you have to pay for a car like the Nemesis? Vince isn’t saying, though considering that it cost around £25 million to develop (including a £400,000 investment from the British government), chances are it won’t be cheap should it ever hit production.

[Sources: Inventorspot, The Daily Mail]

Sounds Familiar: Millionaire drops big bucks to build Lotus-based EV sportscar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda VFR Adventure Concept: Big gets badder

Filed under: Europe, Motorcycle

Honda VFR Adventure Concept

Honda VFR Adventure Concept – Click above to enlarge

Honda is planning to debut an arsenal of eight bikes in Milan, and we may have our first inclination of what to expect from at least one of the machines. Behold the VFR Adventure Concept – a 1200cc behemoth designed to cater to those who like the style of dual-sport tourer but loathe the notion of actually heading off of the beaten path. Think more along the lines of the Ducati Multistrada than the KTM 990 Adventure.

As of right now, details are remarkably scarce about what to expect from the machine, though some seem to think that the bike will likely show up as a 2012 production model.

So what does the VFR Adventure bring to the table over the current VFR? From what we can see, it looks like riders can expect a slightly taller stance with more ground clearance and a skimpier fairing, but not much else. Honda has been pretty tricky about letting this one out of the bag, keeping news of the concept to its European press site. Does that mean that American buyers won’t be able to get their gloves on this one? Hard telling.

[Source: Hell for Leather]

Honda VFR Adventure Concept: Big gets badder originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: 2011 Toyota Verso-S is a small MPV with big features

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Paris Motor Show, Toyota

Toyota Verso-S

2011 Toyota Verso-S – Click above for high-res image gallery

The mini-MPV segment is quite popular outside of the United States, and Toyota has just unveiled its newest member of that market – the 2011 Toyota Verso-S. We didn’t know much about it earlier in the year, but the secrets have been spilled at the Paris Motor Show.

The Toyota Verso-S takes the stage as the shortest entrant into the B-MPV segment. However, the interior volume is on par with that of rivaling C-segment vehicles. It is the first car in this category to offer a multimedia, touchscreen system in the center stack. Down the line, an optional Navi-Box feature will be made available which boosts the multimedia capability but it also greatly enhances the navigation system features. The system can display speed camera warnings, sign posts on roadways and allows users to access numerous Google-based connected services. Points of Interest can be downloaded from the internet and entered as destinations. Also, the Navi-Box can display fuel prices, news and weather reports.

The 2011 Toyota Verso-S will go on sale in February 2011. Two engines will be made available; one diesel and one standard gasoline-burner. The diesel unit is a 1.4-liter diesel engine that produces 90 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque between 1,800 and 2,800 rpm. The 1.3-liter gasoline engine produces 99 hp and 93 lb-ft of torque. The gasoline engine is rated at nearly 43 miles per gallon while the diesel unit can hit 55 mpg. Both engines come standard with a six-speed manual transmission however the 1.3-liter can be paired with a seven-speed sequential unit and the 1.4-liter can be fitted with a six-speed automated manual. Click through our gallery of live shots to see the funky little MPV for yourself.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Toyota Verso-S

Paris 2010: Toyota Verso-S

Paris 2010: 2011 Toyota Verso-S is a small MPV with big features originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Ford Fiesta ST ready to back up its big brother

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Hatchback, Ford

2012 Ford Fiesta ST

2012 Ford Fiesta ST – Click above for high-res image gallery

We can’t find much fault with the 2011 Ford Fiesta, but if there’s one major gripe, it’s a lack of power (well, and paddle shifters for the dual-clutch gearbox). However, it looks like that lone complaint may be addressed with the introduction of the Fiesta ST, the smaller sibling to the recently revealed Focus ST.

Similar to the mule caught in Detroit earlier this year, the three-door Fiesta is back with a massive front-mount intercooler, revised body work, new wheels and a high-performance exhaust, along with some racy Recaros that probably won’t make the trek from prototype to production.

While it’s doubtful Ford would port over the Focus ST’s 247 horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost mill, the 180-hp turbo’d 1.6-liter or rumored EcoBoost 1.4 are definitely in the cards. With the Focus ST finally having a shot in the States, the globally-certified Fiesta ST might come along for the ride. And maybe a set of paddle shifters will be included in the package.

Gallery: Spy Shots 2012: Ford Fiesta ST

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: 2012 Ford Fiesta ST ready to back up its big brother originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart drives into retirement with big sell-off

Filed under: Motorsports, Auctions

1972 Funco SS1

Ivan “Ironman” Stewart has retired, and the legendary off-road racer didn’t play around when it came to getting out of the game. This weekend, 650 items from his 37-year racing career are being auctioned off, including the entire Pro Truck business he’s been running for the last ten years.

Items up for bid range from pieces of racing history like the restored Funco SS1 buggy (above) that ran the 1976 Baja 1000, to racing miscellany like antique fire sprinklers and five antique folding seats. Not bad if you want to sprinkle your souvenir room with a little bit of Stewart’s dust.

[Sources: AutoWeek, McCormack Auction Company]

Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart drives into retirement with big sell-off originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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