Tag: car

Peugeot EX1 sets fastest electric car lap at the ‘Ring

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Peugeot, Electric

2010 Peugeot EX1 Concept

2010 Peugeot EX1 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Peugeot EX1 has whirred its way into the record books by lapping the 12-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife with a 9:01.338-minute run. According to Peugeot, that shatters the previous electric vehicle record at the track by an impressive 50 seconds.

The fully-electric Pug, which debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, averaged 85 mph on its record-setting run. Peugeot has promised to release photos and video of the EX1 at the Nordschleife, but for now we’ll have to wait.

The lightweight, four-wheel drive EX1 was created to celebrate Peugeot’s 200th birthday, and packs a pair of electric motors (one on each axle) totaling 340 horsepower. As for production, don’t hold your breath, though the technologies on display in the EX1 and lessons learned during its development will likely influence future models.

Gallery: Peugeot EX1 concept

[Source: World Car Fans]

Peugeot EX1 sets fastest electric car lap at the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What the birth of a car nut looks like

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Porsche, Humor, Luxury

Smiling kid in a Porsche 911

The best way to get to school – Click above to watch video after the jump

Some of or earliest memories are of toddling around car shows in awe and thumbing through the local Automart, but there had to have been a moment when we made the switch from growing up as relatively normal children to becoming kids obsessed with the thrash of internal combustion. Maybe it was something like the event in the video posted after the jump.

While most kids are subjected to the brutality of a daily school bus ride, this particular youngster gets chauffeured in style. His dad’s ride of choice is a 1996 Porsche 911. Sure, there are more practical family haulers out there, but few scoot along with such prowess.

Dad serves up a quick bout of acceleration and son responds with an appropriate attack of the giggles. This is how you know you’re raising your progeny correctly. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Maz!

[Source: YouTube]

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What the birth of a car nut looks like originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Apr 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick sells 3 millionth car in China… since 1999

Filed under: China, Buick, GM

buick gl8 mpv

Buick GL8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

China and Buick have enjoyed a fruitful relationship since the brand’s introduction there in 1999, and General Motors is now celebrating the sale of the three-millionth Buick in the country. This greatly exceeds Buick sales in the U.S. over that same period, and GM managed to move all that metal with only 400 stores across China.

Shanghai GM credits the Buick brand strategy laid out in 2008 as a reason for the impressive totals, with sales rising by more than 100,000 units per year. That approach has resulted in the introduction of several new or revised Buick models over the past few years, including the GL8 luxury MPV and the Excelle GT and XT. Hit the jump to read over GM’s press release.

Gallery: Buick GL8 Van

[Source: General Motors]

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Buick sells 3 millionth car in China… since 1999 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz hooks DTM up with a new C63 AMG safety car

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Safety, Mercedes-Benz, Racing

2011 DTM Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG safety car

2011 DTM Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG safety car – Click above for high-res image gallery

The DTM series and Mercedes-Benz have a long and beautiful history together. Particularly when it comes to the AMG-tuned C-Class. That’s the car that the German automaker currently runs in the touring car series, and stands as the most successful in the series’ history. Also, one of the most coveted models Mercedes AMG ever made was the CLK DTM. And now the latest C63 AMG will be setting the pace as the series’ new safety car.

The safety car is essentially the same as the model you can order from your local showroom, complete with the AMG Performance Package, but has been outfitted with such features as flashing LEDs front, rear and top, Safety Car decals on every exterior surface and an interior fitted with a communications radio, TV monitor for watching the live race feed, a pair of bucket seats with four-point harnesses and a steering wheel covered in Nappa leather and Alcantara.

While this latest iteration will debut at Hockenheim this weekend, this isn’t the first time that the C63 has been called into this particular line of duty. In fact Mercedes-AMG has provided pace cars to DTM every year since its relaunch in 2000, the C63 filling the role since 2008. But rather than replacing the R8 safety car, the Mercedes alternates with Audi from race to race. Which are the only two teams currently on the grid, leaving us to wonder what they’ll do when BMW joins in next year.

Gallery: 2011 DTM Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG safety car

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

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Mercedes-Benz hooks DTM up with a new C63 AMG safety car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 World Car Awards: How close it was

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Alfa Romeo

2011 Nissan Leaf wins World Car of the Year

On Thursday the 21st of April, the seventh annual World Car Awards were given out in a ceremony at the New York International Auto Show that was duly covered by Autoblog.

Full disclosure: I, Matt Davis, European Editor of this online obsession Autoblog, am both a co-founder and co-chair of the World Car Awards, and I intend to shamelessly soapbox herein about the WCAs, at least until the bosses toss me out on the sidewalk.

The WCAs comprise four awards: World Green Car, World Car Design, World Performance Car, and overall World Car of the Year – known as the WCotY. There is no other widely known award even remotely like this, as all four take into account truly global cars from every region of the world. The overall WCotY, in particular, pits cars of every type from every make on the globe, some of which may not be available in the English-speaking world, against one another and, in the end, we 66 international jurors shake out a winner, two runners-up, and the rest.

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2011 World Car Awards: How close it was originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autowriters Aaron Robinson and Ezra Dyer added to The Car Show on SPEED

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

the car show

First look at The Car Show – Click above for high-res image gallery

SPEED is betting big on its newest TV series, called The Car Show. You’re most likely already aware that the program will be hosted by Adam Carolla, Dan Neil, Matt Farah and John Salley. Now, SPEED has announced that some well-known auto scribes are joining the team to pitch in on writing duty.

Aaron Robinson and Ezra Dyer have become a part of The Car Show family. Robinson is the Technical Editor at Car and Driver, while Dyer has written for a handful of publications and has a running column at Automobile. The two will add their automotive knowledge and insight to a team that already knows a good deal about cars. Well, we’re sure of everyone except Salley. The Spider owns four NBA championship rings, was a member of the Chicago Bulls record-breaking 72-win season, and wasn’t terrible in the film Eddie. None of that translates to cars, but we’re hoping the writers stay away from attempting to squeeze his six-foot, 11-inch frame into a Mazda Miata.

Gallery: Adam Carolla’s The Car Show

[Source: Speed]

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Autowriters Aaron Robinson and Ezra Dyer added to The Car Show on SPEED originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ninja Alert! Beware of car salesmen trained in the art of phone calls

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, BMW

It may sound obvious to say you should be wary of car salesmen on the phone, just as you should be wary of car salesmen in general. To hammer the point home, though, here are some audio files of Jerry Thibeau training salespeople at car dealerships, in this case a BMW dealership, to schmooze and potentially ensnare customers before they even walk on the lot.

With the Internet stealing large portions of business from car dealerships, there’s a real need for dealers to invest in this kind of telephone training. Thibeau answered the call when he started New York-based Phone-Up Ninjas back in late 2009.

Guys like Thibeau charge $2,000 a day plus expenses to visit car dealerships for these training sessions. They can also do the work remotely, dubbing constructive criticism into mystery shopper phone calls to point out where a salesperson’s pitch could use some help.

The car salesman on the other end of the line has a job to do: make you buy a car (or how about this nice SUV that’s just a little more per month?). Just remember that, next time, you may be talking to a ninja.

Our advice? Hang up. Follow the jump to hear the ninja training calls, or read the full report at AOL Autos to learn more about how this industry operates.

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Getty]

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Ninja Alert! Beware of car salesmen trained in the art of phone calls originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New car sales on the rise in Latin America

Filed under: Car Buying, South America

Brazil traffic jam by Rafael Cavalcante

According to the Los Angeles Times, new car sales in South America are skyrocketing, thanks to wage hikes, more jobs and easy credit terms. Last year, there were 3.5 million new car and light truck purchases in Brazil alone, representing an 86-percent increase over 2006.

While Brazil leads the charge in terms of new car sales numbers, Peru topped the heap in terms of per capita market growth, moving 106,000 new cars in 2010, or three times its 2006 total. Argentina and Columbia also experienced car-buying booms, with their markets growing by 25 percent and 50 percent respectively over 2006.

Despite car-buying increases in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and Peru, the trend doesn’t ring true in Mexico, where new car sales have dwindled. In 2006, Mexicans bought 1.2 million new cars, as opposed to just 820,000 in 2010. Dealers blame the decline on Mexico’s opening the market to used American cars. Venezuela saw a decrease, too, after import duties were increased in an attempt to stem inflation.

The trend is obviously good for automakers like General Motors, who move plenty of metal in Latin America, and need all the help they can get from expanding markets. Importantly, the upward trend in new vehicle sales also shows that at least some South American economies are beginning to stabilize. Easy credit, longer loan repayment periods and consumers’ increased disposable income indicate that the region as a whole is on the rise.

[Source: The Los Angeles Times |Image: Rafael Cavalcante – CC 2.0]

New car sales on the rise in Latin America originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports: Most car buyers not looking to downsize

Filed under: Car Buying

simpsons canyonero

Back in 2008, gas prices soared past $4 per gallon and car buyers clamored for more efficient forms of transportation. But once fuel became affordable again, we’re guessing there were quite a few Honda Civic and Chevy Cobalt owners who longed for their old SUVs. The price of gas is skyrocketing yet again, but it appears that customers aren’t inclined to make that mistake again.

Consumer Reports recently polled 911 new car-buying adults to gauge the size of their next vehicle, and 56 percent responded that their next car or truck will be the same size as the one it replaces. The poll shows that a quarter of the respondents did plan to downsize, but another 19 percent were inclined to buy bigger the next time around. And if you’re 18-34, you’re more likely to up-size your next vehicle, in part because younger buyers will in many cases own a smaller vehicle because they are typically cheaper to purchase. This demographic also falls into the heart of family starting years, so children could be driving the growth.

Among those who wanted to downsize, 92 percent were looking for improved fuel efficiency, while 71 percent wanted less expensive repair costs and 67 percent were concerned about the environment. Improved reliability and a lower purchase price are also factors. Unsurprisingly, 80 percent of those who wanted a larger vehicle were looking for more space, while comfort came in second at 72 percent. Safety, reliability and lower maintenance and repair costs were also factors.

Hit the jump to read over the Consumer Reports press release, and let us know in the poll below whether you plan to up-size, downsize or retain the status quo when you buy your next vehicle.

View Poll

[Source: Consumer Reports]

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Consumer Reports: Most car buyers not looking to downsize originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the age of the sub-$10,000 car passing?

Filed under: Sedan, Hatchback, Hyundai, Nissan

Nissan Versa 1.6 Base

As you’ve likely noticed, new cars aren’t getting cheaper. Pack enough options onto a new C-segment hatchback or sedan, and it’s not difficult to elevate the MSRP to $25,000 or more. At the same time, there are still plenty of B-segment and C-segment vehicles that can be had for $16,000 or less, and the base Nissan Versa can still be snagged for $9,990; albeit with zero options and no radio. The same goes for the cheapest Hyundai Accent, which starts at $9,985.

How much longer can Nissan continue to offer a new car for under $10,000? USA Today thinks those days are about over, as the 2012 Versa is set to bow at next week’s New York Auto Show. The new Versa appears to be better looking and more refined than the model it replaces, making a $10,000 price tag unlikely. The new Accent is another probable candidate to drop its $10K model. It’s also expected to make an appearance in New York, and should be markedly improved over the current car in all respects.

So, does the arrival of the next-generation Nissan Versa and Hyundai Accent mean the end of the $10,000 vehicle? Does it even matter? While the ultra-cheap stripper models are handy marketing tools for their manufacturers, a shopper with $10,000 to spend can get a lot of car for that money on the used market. With a radio and A/C to boot.

[Source: USA Today]

Is the age of the sub-$10,000 car passing? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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