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Long Term: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, May 2011 [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Hyundai, Luxury, Long-Term Garage

2011 Hyundai Equus

Long-Term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate – Click above for high-res image gallery

The long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate made its way into my driveway a few weeks ago, and since being handed the keys, I’ve added 1,900 miles to the odometer, putting our total distance traveled at just over 5,400 miles since the car’s March arrival at Autoblog Towers.

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Like both editor-in-chief John Neff and editor/test fleet manager Steven J. Ewing, I’ve been bombarded with compliments and curious questions about the Equus – and that’s before I tell them that they’re looking at a $65,000 Hyundai. It helps that the Equus looks like almost nothing else on the road, with its alien grille, massive proportions and over-the-top headlamps.

So far, I’m really enjoying my time with the Equus, and I’ll have a full rundown of specific pros and cons next month. Over the course of my 1,900-mile stint, I’ve averaged 20 miles per gallon flat – besting the 19.1 mpg that Ewing and Neff saw last month. But while the month of May has been mostly all stars, there was one service hiccup that reared its ugly head…

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, May 2011 [w/video]

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, May 2011 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M5 gets sideways and leaves long trails of rubber

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW

f10 bmw m5

The new BMW M5 is not afraid to get wet – Click above to watch video after the jump

Are you currently suffering from BMW M5 withdrawal? Autoblog is here to help, and we’d like to offer up a video that will allow you to cope while you wait for the production version of the newest M5 to be revealed. BMW is still testing and fine-tuning the F10 M5, but the German automaker has been kind enough to bring a camera along to capture the more exciting bits.

Test drivers examine how the M5 responds to wet weather, steep inclines and smoky launches. Here’s a spoiler for you; it handles all of that quite well. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Click past the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading BMW M5 gets sideways and leaves long trails of rubber

BMW M5 gets sideways and leaves long trails of rubber originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai wants you for the long-term with Assurance Trade-In Value Guarantee

Filed under: Car Buying, Hyundai

Hyundai logo

Hyundai made news recently when it announced its new Assurance Trade-In Value Guarantee program. Now, the program is officially under way.

If you purchase a Hyundai vehicle at an authorized dealership, in 24 or 48 months time you can trade that vehicle back in for a new Hyundai and the dealer will honor the agreed-upon future value of your trade-in. Should your car be worth a bit less due to the changing market, you will still receive full value. However, should your car be worth more, then you will receive the increased value to put towards the price of a new Hyundai.

Click past the jump to read the full press release.

Hyundai wants you for the long-term with Assurance Trade-In Value Guarantee originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ram shows off Long-Hauler Concept in high resolution

Filed under: Concept Cars, Truck, Chrysler, Dodge

ram long-hauler concept

Ram Long-Hauler Concept truck – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Ram first showed off its new super-stretch Long-Hauler concept truck, we couldn’t help but think those initial photos looked like they were shot with a first-generation iPhone sporting a greased-over camera lens. Now, however, Chrysler has been so kind as to bring in a professional who’s pulled a few high-resolution images off their memory card.

We’re assuming the photographer stood way back to capture the entire 24-foot-long, quad-cab pickup truck. It’s called the Long-Hauler because it can carry enough fuel (170 gallons in total) to keep on truckin’ for around 1,600 miles between fill-ups.

Want to see it for yourself? Chrysler is taking its new super-steed out to a few shows. Click past the jump to see if the Ram Long-Hauler Concept will be making a pit-stop near you. Also, click through the gallery to check out this titan-truck from a different few angles, including a shot of the interior.

Gallery: Ram Long-Hauler Concept truck

Ram Long-Hauler Concept Ram Long-Hauler Concept interior Ram Long-Hauler Concept seat

Continue reading Ram shows off Long-Hauler Concept in high resolution

Ram shows off Long-Hauler Concept in high resolution originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See the streets of Long Beach through the eyes of Corvette Racing

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Chevrolet, Racing

Corvette Racing Long Beach

Corvette Racing Long Beach – Click above to view video after the jump

Corvette Racing went into the ALMS round in Long Beach, California ready for a fight. Coming off of the long grind that is 12 Hours of Sebring, the two-hour slam around a concrete-lined street course promised a new challenge for the team and drivers. As promised, the race was a hard fight, demanding the drivers stay vicious and focused from beginning to end.

Despite a lackluster last-place qualifying effort for the number 3 machine, car number 4 managed a second-place grid spot. Ten minutes in, Corvette Racing had first place, though they were only able to hang on until around minute 40. Despite its less-than-desirable start, car 3 managed to work its way up the ranks to a respectable finish.

Both cars came away with the scars of an all-out street race, but managed to finish near the top of the heap. Corvette Racing now heads into LeMans with a renewed focus and the momentum of two positive results in California. Click past the break to see the team’s results and get a closer look at the action.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading See the streets of Long Beach through the eyes of Corvette Racing

See the streets of Long Beach through the eyes of Corvette Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ram Long-Hauler concept offers 1,600-mile range for epic road trips

Filed under: Concept Cars, Truck, Work, Dodge, Specialty

Ram Long-Hauler concept

Ram Long-Hauler Concept – Click above for image gallery

Need a way to get yourself, four buddies and a whole lot of cargo across the country with the bare minimum of fuel stops? The Ram Long-Hauler Concept is your truck. The rig got a quiet coming-out party at the Mid-America Trucking Show, which was held March 31st through April 2nd in Louisville, Kentucky.

This behemoth of a tow rig sports a 197.7-inch wheelbase, or about as long as your average oil tanker. That much space means it has a full-size eight-foot bed and Ram’s four-door MegaCab passenger compartment. In keeping with the oil tanker theme, the Long-Hauler has the capacity to hold an astonishing 162 gallons of diesel fuel, thanks to a 60-gallon auxiliary tank in the bed. That much fuel should give this thing enough range to cross the country in two fuel stops if you aren’t too liberal with the throttle.

The Long-Hauler is based on the Ram 5500 commercial truck chassis cab, which comes with a 19,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating. Ram combines that with a self-leveling air suspension on all four corners, a dual-rear-wheel package, 19.5-inch Alcoa 10-lug wheels and an Allison six-speed automatic. Add it all up and you’ve got a gross vehicle weight rating of 37,500 pounds, which should be enough to handle whatever you throw this hauler’s way. Doing the grunt work will be a 350-horsepower, 6.7-liter Cummins diesel inline six spitting out 650 pound-feet of twist.

The Ram Long-Hauler, should it make production, will be aimed at those who need enormous towing capacity and range, but don’t want to step up to something like a Freightliner SportChassis just yet. There’s still no word on a production timetable or what the truck might cost should it become available.

Gallery: Ram Long-Hauler Concept

Ram Long-Hauler Concept front 3/4 Ram Long-Hauler Concept side

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com | Images: Pickuptrucks.com]

Ram Long-Hauler concept offers 1,600-mile range for epic road trips originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Long-Term Logbook: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, April 2011

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Long-Term Garage

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate – Click above for high-res image gallery

Between myself and Editor-in-Chief John Neff, Autoblog has racked up 3,500 miles on our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate since its arrival in March. Now that the initial honeymoon phase is over, we’re getting a very good feel for how the Big Korean handles day-to-day tasks.

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First and foremost, I continue to be impressed with the sheer number of compliments the Equus receives, most of which are from women. This car really turns heads, possibly due to the fact they’re scarce on the road – I have yet to see another one in metro Detroit. I wasn’t too keen on the Hyundai’s design when it first arrived, but am now finding the Equus to be a very regal beast, especially in white. Even the guys at my local car wash, who don’t usually say much about the test cars I bring through, could not hold back their positive praise. Neff even took the Equus on a high-end house hunting trip and found its presence was enough to convince real estate agents he could afford the top-dollar listings.

I’ve had the chance to take the Equus on a couple of longer road trips, and while it’s comfortable and quiet for the most part, these long-distance drives also brought out some complaints with our long-term tester.

Continue reading Long-Term Logbook: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, April 2011…

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Long-Term

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate

Continue reading Long-Term Logbook: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, April 2011

Long-Term Logbook: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, April 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula Drift kicks off the 2011 season in Long Beach

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

2011 Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach

2011 Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach – Click above for high-res image gallery

A handful of well-known drivers and manufacturer-sponsored cars typically dominate the Formula Drift circuit – Foust, Gittin, Hubinette and Millen. At the opening event in Long Beach this past weekend, though, the big names were noticeably absent from the podium.

Perennial contender Tanner Foust retired from the sport last season to focus on his rally and television careers, Sam Hubinette couldn’t manage to get his new Dodge Challenger to the starting line, and last year’s champion, Vaughn Gittin Jr., failed to qualify for Saturday’s knockout round. Rhys Millen in his newly painted Hyundai Genesis Coupe only managed to make it into the quarter finals.

The eventual podium featured first time winner Justin Pawlak, who drove to victory in Gittin’s hand-me-down Mustang, Matt Powers, another newbie to the podium, and Daijiro Yoshihara, who finished fourth last season. You can read more about the event in the press release after the jump or browse through our photos from the event in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach

Continue reading Formula Drift kicks off the 2011 season in Long Beach

Formula Drift kicks off the 2011 season in Long Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing

Filed under: Podcasts, Hybrid, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Electric

Autoblog podcast logo

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Here’s Autoblog Podcast #223. The crew this week is Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth. Topics covered are Ford’s commitment to the 2012 Focus by giving early cars a 30-mile shakedown drives, Japan’s amazing ability to repair roads in days, the Autoblog long-term Hyundai Equus and the sad passing of David E. Davis, Jr. Your feedback in our Q&A module winds it up, and we’ve embedded that in the post below, as well. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing

Japanese road crew repairs quaked damaged road in six days
Ford giving 2012 Focus 30-mile quality exam prior to sale
Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins the long-term Autoblog Garage
Auto journalism pioneer David E. Davis, Jr., dead at 80

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Kia Sportage
2012 Ford Focus Titanium

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:17:50

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[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #223: Ford Focus quality, Japan’s quick road fix, long-term Hyundai Equus, David E. Davis, Jr. passing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins Autoblog’s Long-Term Garage

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Luxury, Long-Term Garage

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate long-term

Long-Term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Equus proves that Hyundai has the Lexus LS 460 in its sights by offering the best value proposition in the luxury flagship segment. We’re eager to see how Hyundai’s new range-topping model stands up to the day-to-day rigors of American life, and so we’ve just added one to the Autoblog Long-Term Garage.

Our Equus is the fully loaded Ultimate model in White Satin Pearl, and though it’s packed with premium equipment, the as-tested price is only $65,400. The Ultimate trim level adds the four-passenger seating configuration, and no other option packages are available.

Things are pretty luxurious for rear seat passengers, as features like power recline and massage functions have been added, as well as a rear entertainment system, refrigerator, power headrests and illuminated vanity mirrors. And yes, our car does have the reclining right rear passenger seat. Check out our car’s full list of equipment on its Monroney.

Before we go on, we must confess that we haven’t been as regular as we had planned with updates on our other two long-term cars – the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT and Volkswagen Jetta TDI Street Cup. You’ll be hearing about the fate of both in the very near future, and to fix this issue with irregularity, we’re going to do our long-term updates a bit differently with the Equus.

We’ll be publishing the majority of our on-the-go Equus coverage on Autoblog’s official Facebook page. Be sure to Like the page so you can join the conversation. We’ll also be posting instant impressions to our Twitter account, @therealautoblog, so be sure to follow us and look for any tweets with the #ablongterm tag. Finally, we’ll publish a monthly update right here on the site that includes data like fuel economy and maintenance costs.

We’re ready to add thousands of miles to the Equus’ odometer, so let us know what questions you’d like answered in the comments below and see our car from every angle in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Long-Term

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins Autoblog’s Long-Term Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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