Tag: good

Video: Audi Canada surprises out-of-warranty owners in a good way

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Audi

2014 Audi R8 dealer courtesy car - video screencap

One of the worst parts about going to a dealership is sitting around waiting for the courtesy shuttle to show up and transport a group of strangers to their places of work or homes. Well, Audi of Canada found a nice way to surprise customers who brought their out-of-warranty vehicles in for a scheduled Health Check by replacing dealer’s normal shuttle with a 2014 Audi R8 V10.

The R8, painted to resemble a safety car or police car, gave the customers a ride home – even stopping at a coffee shop along the way. Needless to say, the stunt got plenty of attention from passers-by and was quite a hit with the Audi customers, too. Scroll down to watch video of the customers getting the ride of a lifetime, which we’re sure left some of the in-warranty customers at least a little jealous as they drove off in dealer loaner cars.

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Audi Canada surprises out-of-warranty owners in a good way originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Father’s ultra-rare Ferrari to leave family for a good cause

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Luxury

1967 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spyder - video screencap - front three-quarter view, top down

It isn’t every day that the rarest of Ferrari models change hands. In fact, you can count your fingers to get the number of 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spyders that ever existed. The 1967 Ferrari you see here is one of those ten Spyders, and it has stayed in the same family since it was bought new.

The car was bought through Luigi Chinetti, Ferrari’s US importer at the time, by the late Eddie Smith Sr., a Ferrari collector and businessman from North Carolina. Smith kept it – and kept driving it – until the day he died six years ago. Since then, this remarkable machine has been collecting dust. Smith’s son, Eddie Smith Jr., spent some time with Petrolicious to give a history of the car and explain why he and his family are going to do the one thing his father never could: sell it. The catch? All of the money it earns on the auction block will be donated to charity.

“It’ll be a bittersweet thing, because we know the fact that all the money is going to charities that he would approve of,” Smith Jr. said about his father, and it “will really make him smile, because he loved to give back.”

Look for the car at this year’s RM Auction in Monterey next month, where it should net millions of dollars before it gets a new owner. In the meantime, be sure to watch the video below. (And if it doesn’t yank at your heartstrings, please check your pulse or watch more Petrolicious videos.)

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Father’s ultra-rare Ferrari to leave family for a good cause originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe proves one good tune deserves another

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

The expanse of model ranges from German automakers keeps expanding. With Mercedes-Benz, you know (with few exceptions) that when a new model debuts, it’s only going to be a matter of time until the AMG version comes along. And with the new C-Class Coupe, it’s come along today.

Destined to be unveiled at the upcoming New York Auto Show, you can look at the new C63 AMG Coupe as a C-Class Coupe with upgraded go-fast bits, or as the new 2012 C63 AMG sedan unburdened of a couple of doors. Either way, you’re looking at Affalterbach’s prized 6.2-liter V8 engine driving 451 horsepower (481 with the optional AMG Development pack) to the rear wheels via seven-gear Speedshift MCT gearbox for a 4.4-second sprint to sixty and an electronically-limited 155 mph top end, trimmed by a tenth and increased to 174 respectively in dev spec.

To go with the extra power, AMG has also stiffened the suspension, widened the tracks, sharpened the steering, plussed-up the rolling stock and beefed up the brakes. Tweaks to the interior and exterior let everyone know this is no mere boulevard cruiser, details of which you can read about in full in the press blast below the fold and view in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe proves one good tune deserves another

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe proves one good tune deserves another originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: 2012 Aston Martin Virage is more of a good thing

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin

Aston Martin Virage debut in Geneva

Aston Martin Virage – Click above for high-res image gallery

Truth be told, we didn’t really see the need for a new Aston Martin to slot between the DB9 and DBS, but after getting the low-down on the new 2012 Virage, we’re welcoming it with open arms. Based on the same VH architecture as the other cars in the English brand’s lineup, the Virage uses Aston’s wonderfully vocal 6.0-liter V12 to crank out 490 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. In the Virage, those dozen cylinders are stirred exclusively through the company’s six-speed Touchtronic 2 paddle-shift transmission.

While the Virage’s design isn’t vastly different from anything else in the automaker’s portfolio, it’s definitely got some pizzaz. Much like the larger Rapide, we can’t help but stare at this coupe for long periods of time – it’s simply gorgeous. Need proof? Click through our high-res gallery below to see the Virage from all angles, then learn more in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Aston Martin Virage: Geneva 2011

Aston Martin Virage: Geneva 2011Aston Martin Virage: Geneva 2011Aston Martin Virage: Geneva 2011Aston Martin Virage: Geneva 2011Aston Martin Virage: Geneva 2011

Gallery: 2012 Aston Martin Virage Coupe

2012 Aston Martin Virage Coupe2012 Aston Martin Virage Coupe2012 Aston Martin Virage Coupe2012 Aston Martin Virage Coupe2012 Aston Martin Virage Coupe

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Geneva 2011: 2012 Aston Martin Virage is more of a good thing

Geneva 2011: 2012 Aston Martin Virage is more of a good thing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mahindra TR40 pickup only good for 19/21 mpg?

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Diesel

Mahindra Pik-Up

Mahindra Pik-Up – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s hard to understand how Indian truck/SUV maker Mahindra could miss its fuel economy goal by one-third. Mahindra’s supposed U.S. distributor, Global Vehicles of Marietta, Ga. (which has been embroiled in an opera of lawsuits, name-calling and musical chairs management concerning its deal with the Indian manufacturer), has had an oft-stated goal of 30 mpg highway fuel economy for the clean diesel truck.

According to FuelEconomy.gov, however, the four-wheel-drive Mahindra TR40 crew-cab pickup with a four-cylinder diesel engine and automatic transmission has been rated by the EPA at only 19 mpg city/21 mpg highway. By comparison, the 4×4 2011 Dodge Dakota with a 3.7 liter V6 engine is rated at 14/18. The TR40’s miserable highway mileage doesn’t even match the Ford F-150 3.7 liter 4×2, which is rated at 16 city/23 highway. The 4×4 Ford Ranger, like the aforementioned Dodge, is rated at 14 city/18 highway. Mahindra’s compact pickup truck offers a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload of 2,765 pounds.

Mahindra and GV had been counting on the fuel economy angle to get on truck buyers’ radar. But the current differential between the Mahindra TR40 diesel truck’s mileage and that of the gas-powered competition is unlikely to turn heads or create headlines. Global Vehicles told PickupTrucks.com: “Good fuel economy will be an important part of the truck’s appeal, and we’re eager to see the fuel economy for all of the models, especially the two-door, two-wheel-drive model, which Mahindra told us to expect would achieve close to 30 mpg.”

It’s hard to imagine Mahindra squeezing out nine additional highway miles per gallon just by stripping out the 4-wheel-drive system.

Gallery: Mahindra Pik-Up

mahindra-pickup-large_21mahindra-pickup-large_11mahindra-pickup-large_22mahindra-pickup-large_12mahindra-pickup-large_13

Continue reading Mahindra TR40 pickup only good for 19/21 mpg?

Mahindra TR40 pickup only good for 19/21 mpg? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teaching kids how to steal cars is a good idea

Filed under: Etc.

Child in truck

A recent workshop in Los Angeles offers something special for interested children: a class on the mechanics of car theft. Created by the non-profit organization Machine Project, the workshop is entitled “The Good Kids’ Guide to Being a Bit Bad: Cars edition.” It covers the topics of hot wiring, opening a locked door and getting out of a locked trunk… and we fully support the class.

Getting kids fascinated about “how things work” is a wonderful project, and when it involves cars, well that’s just a bonus. In this modern world, it’s so easy to overlook how things work on the inside, which makes it extra important for kids to develop a basic understanding of nuts and bolts while they’re young.

The instructors for the class also didn’t simply just talk about how a car door works, they showed the children and then let them try to open a locked door themselves. The same happened when showing the kids how to escape a locked trunk. The only lesson that wasn’t hands on was the hot-wiring of a car because of the risk of being shocked, which the instructor also demonstrated by shocking himself a few times.

The kids learned about some basic mechanical functions, got a dose of humor and hopefully the class created a desire in them to learn more about how the things around them function.

[Source: BoingBoing | Image: Cookie Flores/Flickr]

Teaching kids how to steal cars is a good idea originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C7 Corvette rendered by design student with good ideas

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Design/Style

James Robbins Corvette C7 rendering

Chevrolet C7 Corvette renderings by James Robbins – Click above for image gallery

It isn’t easy redesigning an icon, especially one as popular and well-known as the Chevrolet Corvette. Nevertheless, a seventh-generation Corvette is coming, and while rumors of an exotic mid-engine layout for America’s supercar are unlikely to pan out, it’s possible that the Bowtie brand’s designers could take the Corvette’s look in an entirely new direction.

Student designer James Robbins has his own ideas for what the C7 Corvette will look like. His renderings look like a logical next step in the car’s design evolution, though we’re not fans of some of the details. We particularly like the rear end’s reimagination of the Corvette’s signature round taillamps, albeit perhaps without some of the edgy detailing on the car’s hood. What say you? Check out the rest of the renderings in the gallery below and let us know what you think of Robbins’ C7 Corvette.

Gallery: Chevrolet Corvette C7 renderings by James Robbins

[Sources: Yanko Design, Coroflot]

C7 Corvette rendered by design student with good ideas originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is good-lookin’, green-drivin’

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Kia

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid – Click here for high-res image gallery

Kia is just now beginning to roll out its sexy new 2011 Optima, with the 2.4-liter GDI version priced from only $18,995. Much like its sister car, the Hyundai Sonata, the Optima will be offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in EX and SX trims, and here at the LA Auto Show, the Kia has unveiled its third member of the Optima family – the Hybrid.

Much like the Sonata Hybrid, the gas/electric Optima uses the same 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four, mated to an electric motor. Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Optima Hybrid will yield 40 miles per gallon on the highway – besting its eco-minded competitors, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Pricing will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date early next year, and you can read the full details in Kia’s press release, after the jump. Check out our high-res galleries of live and stock shots, as well.

Gallery: LA 2010: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Continue reading LA 2010: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is good-lookin’, green-drivin’

LA 2010: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is good-lookin’, green-drivin’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: Saab 9-4X is another glimpse of good fortune for Trollhättan [w/video]

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Saab, Luxury

2012 Saab 9-4X

LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X – Click above for high-res image gallery

Saab is looking to move forward after its long relationship with General Motors. Saab CEO Victor Muller quoted Winston Churchill today at the LA Auto Show saying “If you’re going through hell… keep going.” Muller says that Saab has gone through hell and is seeing the light on the other side. The 2012 Saab 9-4X is the latest taste of what Saab now has in store for us.

2012 Saab 9-4XThe 9-4X takes aim at the luxury crossover segment and is prepared to do battle withs some heavies, such as the Audi Q5, Lexus RX and BMW X3. The Cadillac SRX platform-mate arrives chock full of upmarket goodness like eight-way power adjustable seats, Bluetooth connectivity and a tri-zone climate control system; all part of the standard features list.

The exterior styling stays true to what we see with the Saab 9-5 sedan, and clearly states that the vehicle comes from a line of sporty cars. To match this style, the under-hood offerings come in two spirited flavors: a naturally-aspirated 265-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 and a direct-injection, turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 that pumps out 300 hp. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox that feeds all four wheels through Saab’s XWD system.

It wasn’t just the 9-4X on the menu at the 2010 LA Auto Show. We learned that the 9-5 wagon is set to make its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show next March, Saab is expanding distribution into China and Russia and all operations have officially been moved to Trollhättan. It’s also the first time in Saab’s history that the 9-3 convertible has been built on Swedish ground.

Hop the jump to find out more about the 2012 Saab 9-4X including a chance to watch the model’s first commercial, and stay tuned for more from this now-independent Swedish automaker in the near future.

Gallery: LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X

LA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4XLA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4XLA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4XLA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4XLA 2010: 2012 Saab 9-4X

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeff Glucker / AOL

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading LA 2010: Saab 9-4X is another glimpse of good fortune for Trollhättan [w/video]

LA 2010: Saab 9-4X is another glimpse of good fortune for Trollhättan [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Paddock Hack is a New Zealander’s idea of good TV

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Paddock Hacks – Click above to view teaser after the jump

So there are a lot of farm animals in New Zealand – last we checked there were at least six sheep for every one human. And they graze in paddocks, essentially giant sweeps of countryside. And when the sheep aren’t around, or, it appears, sometimes even when they are, the average New Zealander likes to engage in a sport called “paddock hacking.” That is when you take a clapped out junker and fly that sucker over and through and into anything else occupying the paddock. Think of it as 24 Hours of Lemons meets Home on the Range. With sheep.

Now, since we can’t find any official information on Paddock Hacking, we’ve pieced this together from what’s in the video above. That video was sent to us by a New Zealander who’s working on a pilot for a television show on the subject. We have no idea what kind of season-long dramatic arc you can get from Death Race cars and trucks rampaging over green antipodean hills, but it’s fun enough for now. Follow the jump for the action.

[Source: White Balance Pictures]

Continue reading Video: Paddock Hack is a New Zealander’s idea of good TV

Video: Paddock Hack is a New Zealander’s idea of good TV originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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