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2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Edge Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery

It goes without saying, but we’re going to go ahead and say it anyway: Crossovers are so hot right now. According to data compiled by Ford, the CUV industry has expanded 220 percent since 2006, which is the year the Blue Oval introduced the world to the Edge, its main player in the hotly contested market.

Ford also contends that the over 400,000 Edge CUVs have sold since late 2006, making it the best-selling mid-size crossover over that period of time. Don’t expect that growth to slow down any time soon, either, as Ford projects the CUV segment will increase another few percentage points in 2011. In fact, the market for CUVs will grow to be as large as that of full-size pickup trucks.

In order to meet the increased demand it expects for CUVs, Ford has sharpened its Edge (sorry, couldn’t resist) for the 2011 model year. Of special note are the two new drivetrain choices that join the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 285 horsepower and a 3.5-horsepower 3.7 Ti-VCT V6 in the newly beefed-up Edge Sport.

The House that Henry Built is also quick to point out that its next-gen Edge will come with a full suite of technology options, including Sync and MyFord Touch. So, will all of this added goodness equal a worthwhile improvement to the hot-selling previous-generation Edge? Stay tuned for a First Ride report, and feel free to click past the break for Ford’s official press release.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Range Rover Evoque hits the ‘Ring in five-door trim

Filed under: Spy Photos, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Land Rover

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover may be sending specially wrapped versions of its early ~~LRX~~ Range Rover Evoque prototypes to different cities around the world, but when it comes to the serious development testing, the standard swirly yellow camouflage will do. Here, our spies have caught the five-door version of the Evoque making its first foray onto the Nürburgring, giving us hope that there might be a sporting bone or two in the Evoque’s skeleton.

Details on the new Evoque are still pretty slim as of this writing, but we fully expect the usual raft of details to be released closer to the crossover’s public debut at the Paris Motor Show. As of right this writing, we know that both front- and all-wheel drive versions will be available and that a hybrid powertrain is planned. For now, scroll through our high-res gallery of spy shots below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Range Rover Evoque

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: 2012 Range Rover Evoque hits the ‘Ring in five-door trim originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog hits the road with Mini Takes The States 2010

Filed under: Convertible, Hatchback, Mini

Mini Takes The States 2010 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Of all the automakers in the United States, perhaps the one with the largest enthusiast following is Mini. Sure, brands like Porsche, BMW and even Subaru have their own clubs and cult followings, but when it comes to eccentricity and personality, no one does it like Mini.

In that spirit, the pint-sized automaker is once again embarking on its Mini Takes The States cross-country road rally, an event that first occurred in 2006 and then again in 2008. This time, Mini is gathering its owners to celebrate the launch of the 2011 Countryman crossover, and we’ve been asked to tag along. We’ll be scoring some seat time in the Countryman as well, so stay tuned for our initial impressions.

Our trip started in New York and will take us to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Columbus and finally Indianapolis before we hop a plane back home. Many of the other participants will head all the way out to Denver, where they will meet up with other groups doing similar drive routes in different parts of the country. Mini has a full host of festivities planned for the Denver crew, and many other local Mini enthusiast clubs are providing some entertainment along the way.

Mini has provided us with a Cooper S Camden Edition for the trip, which means we’ll experience turbocharged small car thrills along the highways of America. We already spent a considerable amount of time with the Camden-ized Cooper, and we’ve been getting many a thumbs-up from Mini owners out on the road. (We’ve opted to leave the Camden’s Mission Control system in the “off” position.)

Keep your eyes peeled for caravans of Coopers and Clubmans, folks. This not-so-mini road rally is taking America by storm. Want to vicariously join in on the fun? Follow the trip’s progress on Mini’s Facebook page.

Gallery: Mini Takes The States 2010

Autoblog hits the road with Mini Takes The States 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat hits the matte with new 500 BlackJack edition

Filed under: Hatchback, Fiat, UK

Fiat 500 Blackjack

Fiat 500 BlackJack – Click above for high-res image

Over the years since its introduction, the Fiat 500 has had no shortage of special editions. But if the fashion-forward Diesel edition wasn’t your cup of tea and the Pepto-painted Pink edition didn’t tickle your fancy, the Italian automaker has another special in store. And this one’s decidedly more sinister.

Called the BlackJack, the special 500 is decked out in matte black with gloss black accents, offset by a splash of red at the center of the black wheels and red brake calipers on the 1.4-liter model. UK buyers can choose between that or the more frugal 1.2-liter engine, both fitted with a stop/start system, with total production limited to just 200 units. And though no details were revealed on interior colors, you can bet it’ll be just as black as the exterior.

The question is, when the Fiat 500 finally makes it Stateside, is this how you’d want yours? Follow the jump for the full press release and share your impressions in the comments section below.

[Source: Fiat]

Continue reading Fiat hits the matte with new 500 BlackJack edition

Fiat hits the matte with new 500 BlackJack edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Infiniti G25 hits dealers… in China

Filed under: Sedan, China, Infiniti

2011 Infiniti G25 in China – Click above for high-res image gallery

Finally caught where the eyes of the general population can see it, the Infiniti G25 posed for a few photos at a Chinese dealership, and from the outside it’s hard to distinguish the entry-level Infiniti from the 3.7-liter V6-powered G37 sedan.

As you might guess from the name, the entry-level G25 has a 2.5-liter version of the VQ-Series V6 that produces 232 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. Interestingly enough, it’s also possible to get this same powerplant in the Chinese-market EX crossover as… you guessed it, the EX25. For its part, the G25 is also starting to become available in select additional markets including Russia.

At the moment, there is no word about any plans for either model to be launched in North America.

Gallery: 2011 Infiniti G25