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Intercontinental Le Mans Cup hits Spa-Francorchamps [spoilers]

Filed under: Motorsports, Audi, Peugeot, Racing

Intercontental Le Mans at Spa-Francorchamps

The second round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup took place in Belgium, and even though the Audi R18 took to the starting line for the first time, Peugeot was able to take the top two spots on the podium after six hours of racing.

Interestingly, the qualifying results were the opposite of the race results: Audi racers occupied the first three positions on the grid, and although a Peugeot 908 was in fourth, it wasn’t a team car, it was that of the Oreca squad. Due to an incident-strewn and red-flagged qualifying session, the first Peugeot Sport Total car was back in 13th, the second was in 18th, and the third wasn’t even classified and started at the back of the grid.

In the race, however, it was Audi’s turn for bad juju. The pole-sitting car spun at the first corner on the first lap, one of the drivers accidentally hit the pit-lane speed limiter button during the race, unscheduled stops for new tires and collisions ate away at their positions. Come the checkered flag, team Audi rallied to take third, fourth, and fifth positions, but first and second went to The Lions – that second-place car being the one that started at the back of the grid.

Even with the copious amounts of shenanigans pre-race and in-race, the results aren’t totally surprising: Peugeot has a knack for emerging victorious at Spa – this was the team’s fifth consecutive win in the Ardennes. Have a look at some of the action in the high-res gallery below.

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup hits Spa-Francorchamps [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xplore Jeep Wrangler hits the trail at the Moab Easter Safari

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Jeep, Off-Road

Xplore Jeep Wrangler

Xplore Jeep Wrangler takes on Moab – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve seen the Xplore Toyota FJ Cruiser at SEMA, and we got a sneak peak of what the company has in store for the Jeep Wrangler. Well, that Wrangler is finished, and Xplore decided the best place to unveil it would be in Moab. Smart decision, seeing that Jeep lovers from all over the country would be descending to that area for Jeep’s annual Easter Safari.

Xplore has taken the standard Wrangler and pumped it up a few notches. Offering up to four stages of customization, this Jeep Wrangler has checked nearly all of Xplore’s option boxes. Upgrades can be found inside and out, and include custom wheels, a Mopar exhaust and intake setup, Bilstein shocks, Xplore badges and seat embroidery, OME suspension and a host of ARB parts.

As with the FJ Cruiser, the purchase of an Xplore-outfitted vehicle comes with a one-year National Parks and Monuments pass and the Xplore newsletter. A portion of the proceeds received from parts or complete vehicles is donated to the National Parks Foundation. Xplore wants you to explore, and they’re putting together vehicles that will get you doing just that. Check out the press release after the break.

Continue reading Xplore Jeep Wrangler hits the trail at the Moab Easter Safari

Xplore Jeep Wrangler hits the trail at the Moab Easter Safari originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sales update: Nissan Leaf hits 573, Chevy Volt at 493 in April

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Plants/Manufacturing, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Electric

nissan leaf chevy volt mash up

Last month we tallied the cumulative North American sales of both the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf, and it’s time to check those numbers again. While neither vehicle is selling like hotcakes, April’s numbers show that one of the two electric autos is inching up the sales chart, while the other has slipped a bit.

The Leaf sold 573 units in April versus the Volt’s 493. Compared to March’s results, which had Leaf sales at 298 and Volt sales at 608, Nissan’s electric hatch has gained some ground, while Chevy’s plug-in lost some traction.

The latest cumulative U.S. sales totals for the plug-in duo, since launching in late 2010, has the Volt leading the pack with 2,029 units sold, while the Leaf comes in at 1,044. Year-to-date, Volt sales stand at 1,703, while Nissan says Leaf production had, as of April 15th, hit nearly 8,000.

Nissan’s presser on Leaf sales is posted after the jump and a detailed look at GM’s numbers are available here (PDF warning).

[Source: Nissan, General Motors]

Continue reading Sales update: Nissan Leaf hits 573, Chevy Volt at 493 in April

Sales update: Nissan Leaf hits 573, Chevy Volt at 493 in April originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motus hits the track with MST-01 and MST-R

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Motorcycle

Motus MST-R on the track

Motus MST-R – Click above to watch video after the jump

The last time we heard from the Motus crew, they were packing up their gear and hitting the road for a long trip designed to put both the MST-01 and the MST-R through their paces. Now it would seem that the American-built bikes recently put in some time on the track with the suspension gurus from Ohlins to get the kit sorted before full production kicks off. Fortunately for us, they brought along a video crew to document the action and give the whole world a sample of exactly what a pushrod V4 sounds like.

We like what we hear.

So, how long will it be before you can get your hands on either bike? Motus isn’t handing out any set dates just yet, but the company does say that it’s currently shopping for dealers. If you think there’s a dealer in your area that might be into selling American-made sport tourers with 160 horsepower on tap and an Ohlins-tuned suspension, drop Motus a line. Hit the jump to check out the full video for yourself.

[Source: Motus via YouTube]

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Motus hits the track with MST-01 and MST-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bertone hits Shanghai, says museum car auction may not happen after all

Filed under: Concept Cars, China, Europe, Earnings/Financials, Shanghai Motor Show

Bertone emblem

Our friends at legendary Italian design house Bertone had a small group of us over to its headquarters in Caprie just to the west of Turin in order to shed greater light on what the company’s current situation actually is. In brief, from the mouth of CEO Marco Filippa, contrary to reports that recent Fiat rumblings have put Bertone on the skids, the company is instead thriving in its own humble manner… sort of.

First sign of thrive-ery is the unveiling of three Bertone-executed showcar concepts at the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show, two of which are strictly for Chinese clients and a third being of potential global significance for General Motors’ joint partner SAIC, known also as Shanghai GM. Bertone’s holding company and Stile Bertone have signed up four of the top five Chinese brands for 2011 projects, along with a project with what some insiders say is BMW, and one more with the newly incorporated Fiat Industrial.

Awkward news reports insinuating that Fiat’s pause in investing in the manufacturing facility it bought from Bertone in late 2009 – and the announcement of six Bertone museum pieces being put up for sale by RM Auctions at the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este – had many people concluding that Bertone was desperate for cash. “Not the case at all,” CEO Filippa has assured us.

Continue reading Bertone hits Shanghai, says museum car auction may not happen after all

Bertone hits Shanghai, says museum car auction may not happen after all originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster hits the track and the town

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

spy photos: mercedes-benz sls amg roadster

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster – Click above for high-res image gallery

A note to prospective buyers of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: you might want to wait a bit longer to hand over your hard-earned gold bullion. The roadster version should be arriving very soon, provided you’re willing to give up the coupe’s gullwing doors for a bit of open sky. Spy photographers have caught the drop-top Merc pushing around the Nürburgring then taking in the sights around town. Sporting only a dash of camo, this shows us that Mercedes is close to showing the world a production version of the SLS AMG Roadster.

Once on sale, it will pose a buying conundrum for Three-Pointed Star devotees looking for a new supercar. You might have to give up the hardtop’s charismatic doors, but at least you’ll also hear more of the devilish gargle produced by the SLS’ 563-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8. Decisions, decisions…

Gallery: Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster hits the track and the town originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forza Motorsport 4 video hits the web

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Forza Motorsport 4

Forza Motorsport 4 – Click above to view video after the jump

Someone at Turn 10 Studios has apparently “leaked” (sure, guys) a fully-polished, high-quality sneak peek at its upcoming Forza Motorsport 4 to YouTube. The newest installment of Forza leverages Kinect technology, allowing players to open the doors and hoods of their cars with hand motions and fire the engine from the driver’s seat. During a race, Kinect also lets players look around corners by detecting head movement.

Turn 10 says its goal is to produce the best-looking racing sim of 2011, employing methods like image-based lighting to get as much photorealistic quality as they can out of each car and track. Turn 10 also says that Forza 4 will have the most extensive range of models to choose from, with cars from over 80 manufacturers. Plan on slipping Forza 4 into your XBOX 360 in October. In the meantime, check out the “leaked” trailer after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

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Forza Motorsport 4 video hits the web originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Charger R/T hits the dyno

Filed under: Sedan, Dodge

2011 dodge charger

2011 Dodge Charger – Click above for high-res image gallery

Lift the hood of a 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and you’ll find a powerful 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine bursting at the seams. It’s a joyous site that gets better when armed with the knowledge of the Hemi’s prodigious power – 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque, to be exact.

But just how accurate are those numbers? The folks over at Inside Line put the Charger R/T to the test on their dyno, and it appears Chrysler may be underplaying its hand. Tests by Inside Line show that the Charger R/T sends 360 hp to the rear wheels at 5,300 RPM, with torque peaking at 393 lb-ft at 4,260 RPM. When you consider that the average drivetrain accounts for a 10 to 15 percent power reduction before its all sent to the wheels, you’re looking at a powertrain with a lot more bite than the company brochure cares to admit. Head over to Inside Line to see the official horsepower and torque map.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Charger: First Drive

2011 Dodge Charger

[Source: Inside Line]

2011 Dodge Charger R/T hits the dyno originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: BMW’s new 6 Series Coupe hits the road

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, BMW, Luxury

2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe

2012 BMW 650i Coupe – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Following closely on the heels of the official images-and-press-blast debut of the 2012 BMW 650i, BMW has let loose video footage of its next big coupe.

Having lost the squared-off decklid of the last 6 Series, the 2012 650i is sleeker and more aggressively styled than the last generation. In motion, the coupe looks silky smooth, but ready to pounce thanks to its 400-horsepower twin-turbo V8.

As pretty as this thing is, it’s hard not to start squirreling your pennies away for this thing’s Stateside launch. Pricing for the 650i is still a mystery, but we expect it will be pretty dear. Click past the jump to see BMW’s new grand tourer in motion.

Gallery: 2012 BMW 6 Series coupe

2012 BMW 6 Series coupe

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Video: BMW’s new 6 Series Coupe hits the road

Video: BMW’s new 6 Series Coupe hits the road originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS hits America

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Racing

2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS

2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS – Click above to watch the video after the jump

The first 20 examples of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS were delivered last month at El Toro Air Station in Irvine, California. Owners who picked up their cars at the event had the opportunity to log track time with Porsche driving instructors before being released on the streets with their new 620-horsepower terrors.

Porsche High Performance Cars manager Andreas Preuninger was on hand to oversee delivery of the car he spent the last four years developing as a skunkworks-style project. According to Preuninger, he and the engineers who developed the 997 GT2 and GT3 RS started the project during testing of the “regular” GT2 at the Nurburgring. Essentially, the design brief was to combine the stripped-down nature of the GT3 RS and the power of the GT2 to build the fastest 911 possible.

To get every detail nailed down, Porsche engineers logged nearly 435,000 testing miles and another 80,000 hours of engineering time.

The end result is a 620-horsepower lightweight Porsche 911 that set a 7:18 lap time around the Nurburgring. The most-powerful Porsche ever built, the 911 GT2 RS was designed not as a money-making venture, but an exercise in supercar muscle-flexing by Porsche. The fact that Porsche stuck with the project despite its dubious profitability makes it even more amazing. Hit the jump to watch video of the GT3 RS in action.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Paris 2010: Porsche 911 GT2 RS

[Source: Porsche via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS hits America

Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS hits America originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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