Tag: model

Report: Porsche puts all new model plans under review

Filed under: Porsche, Rumormill

Porsche Badge

According to Autocar magazine, Porsche chairman Matthias Müeller has announced that the German automakers plans for future models are currently being put on hold. This includes both a small, sub-Boxster roadster and the Cajun small crossover. The company needs to review currently proposed new models and see where they fit into the current lineup of Porsche vehicles. A business case needs to be presented and many questions have to be answered before Porsche proceeds. The planned strategic review is understood to not impact revisions of models that are currently in production.

This is not to say the vehicles won’t be built. Müeller says the ideas for both of the smaller Porsche models are still very much alive, but each design needs to make financial sense. The business cases will be presented and the questions will be answered, with a decision-due date set for the end of this year.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Porsche puts all new model plans under review originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti still mulling halo sportscar model?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Infiniti, Rumormill, Luxury

Infiniti Essence concept car

Infiniti Essence concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Infiniti has got its hands full these days. Between the launch of the new M range, development of its own luxury version of the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle and plans for a rival to the likes of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and new Lexus CT200h, to say nothing of the manifestation of its Infiniti Performance Line, there’s plenty on the Nissan premium division’s plate. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t take on one more big project, if the latest reports from overseas come to fruition.

According to British weekly Autocar, Infiniti chief Toru Saito is keen to top the brand’s model lineup with a full-on range-topping sportscar. The segment is one which rival Acura had previously attacked with the iconic NSX and which Lexus recently tackled with the LFA supercar (albeit at a stratospheric level), but which Infiniti hasn’t broached until now. Although previous rumors surrounded the use of the Nissan GT-R’s platform, if it comes to be, Autocar says that Infiniti’s sportscar would likely take its cues from the critically acclaimed Essence show car displayed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, and possibly draw on parent company Nissan-Renault’s recently-penned partnership with Mercedes-Benz.

Gallery: Infiniti Essence Concept

[Source: Autocar]

Infiniti still mulling halo sportscar model? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford scaling back on model changes in 2011

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Earnings/Financials

Ford


Ford is ready to come up for air. The automaker has been updating its product line with great quickness and now it’s ready to take a breather. 33 percent of the Blue Oval’s product line has been replaced for 2010 and Ford says it will be scaling that back next year. The lineup is currently bolstered by the likes of the 2011 Ford Edge, Fiesta, Explorer and, of course, the Mustang with its wonderful new engines.

Still, the plan is to outpace the rest of the competition and move to a fleet built upon global platforms. Ford’s goal is to accomplish this by 2013 which will allow the automaker to reduce costs across the board and cut away at its $5.4 billion debt. This is welcome news to people who bought 2011 Mustangs, yet owners of not-as-fast 2010 models are still being monitored for signs of depression.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: Ford scaling back on model changes in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Citroën reportedly readying hot hybrid DS4 Racing model

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Crossover, Hatchback, Citroën

Citroën DS4 – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you’re still scratching your head trying to figure out what to make of the new Citroën DS4, get ready to be even more confused. Emerging reports from across the pond indicate that the French automaker is preparing a performance version of the premium hatchback/crossover/whats-it in the same vein as the DS3 Racing… only taller. And with a few more doors.

Presumed to be called the DS4 Racing, the high-performance version of the vehicle slated to debut in Paris later this month, will ostensibly target the bigger hot hatches already on the market, like the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Renaultsport Megane 250.

Performance-oriented trim inside and out – from the two-tone aero kit and upsized wheels to the racing buckets and flat-bottomed steering wheel – will give the DS4 Racing an aggressive attitude, but the real party trick will be sitting under the hood. Citroën is reportedly working on adapting the HYbrid4 through-the-road all-wheel drive system to couple the 200-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo four from the Peugeot RCZ with an electric boost.

With the DS4 still to be publicly unveiled and the DS3 Racing just hitting the market now, sources don’t expect the DS4 Racing to arrive before 2013.

Gallery: Citroen DS4

[Source: Auto Express]

Citroën reportedly readying hot hybrid DS4 Racing model originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whoops! MT discovers Ford Edge Sport slower than less powerful SEL model

Filed under: Crossover, Ford

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

According to popular American folklore, you should always buy the biggest engine available. Such thinking likely became prevalent in the 1950s, when the American automotive industry was busy building new V8 engines, experimenting with multiple carburetors and high compression, and generally discovering the art of hot-rodding. Gas prices? Fuel economy? Pfft. It was a great time to be an American.

These days, life isn’t quite so simple. There are countless reasons to consider a downsized powerplant. First off, we all care about fuel mileage and many of us care about emissions. Then there’s the cost consideration, and, finally, the biggest engine isn’t always the best performer. Proof of such can be seen in the new 2011 Ford Edge, that we just drove ourselves and that was recently put through the full testing regime by the boys at Motor Trend.

There are currently two V6 engines available in the Edge (a 2.0-liter EcoBoost is on the way in a few months), a 3.5-liter and a 3.7, which comes straight from the Mustang. Power for the smaller engine comes in at 280 horses and 253 pound-feet of torque. The larger 3.7 puts out 305 horses and 280 lb-ft and is available only in the Edge Sport. So, the Sport is the fastest, right?

Not so fast… literally. MT clocked a 7.1-second run to 60 in the base Edge, but only managed a disappointing 7.6 seconds in the 3.7-powered Edge Sport. Apparently, the problem is weight. The base Edge tipped MT’s scales at 4075 pounds while the Sport came in at an obese 4405, part of which can be explained by the addition of all-wheel drive. In any case, the Edge Sport, with its massive 22-inch wheels and wide tires, can’t keep up with the base Edge in a straight line.

On the flip side, the AWD Edge Sport (with those aforementioned oversize wheels and tires) handily out-handled its base model sibling. In other words, this is a case where you need to pick your poison, either handling or straight-line acceleration. And of course the upcoming EcoBoost will add another interesting option to consider in a few short months.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge: First Drive

[Source: Motor Trend]

Whoops! MT discovers Ford Edge Sport slower than less powerful SEL model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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Rumormill: Range Rover plans fourth model

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Land Rover, Rumormill, Luxury


Range Rover Evoque – Click above to enlarge

According to Autocar, Land Rover isn’t done expanding its Range Rover model lineup now that the Estoque has made its official debut. Citing so-called “well-placed sources,” the UK mag suggests that LR is surprised by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the new entry-level Range Rover – enough that it’s now considering another model to slot in below the Range Rover Sport.

The report goes on to suggest that development of the proposed machine has barely begun and there’s no clear indication of what exactly is in store, though a seven-passenger “lifestyle” (whatever that means…) vehicle has been hinted at. It’s thought that the Range Rover Sport may be moved slightly upmarket from its current £46,000 (just over $60,000 U.S.) starting price to make room for this theoretical new model. In any case, considering that the Evoque is still quite a way off, we don’t expect to see this new rumor fulfilled any time soon.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Range Rover plans fourth model originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bloodhound Gang: Full-scale model of supersonic car unveiled in UK [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, UK, Specialty, Racing

Bloodhound SSC show car – Click above for high-res image gallery

It looks like the Bloodhound project has reemerged from the ether of the internet, this time with a full-scale model of the team’s actual world land speed-record hopeful. If you dust off the way-back synapses, you might recollect that the Bloodhound Education Program is a ploy to get school-aged kids into the sciences by showing them exactly what Algebra can do. You know, like launch a hunk of metal to 1,000 miles per hour on land. As a show of progress, the team has unveiled a 42-foot-long life-size replica of the machine that it hopes to use to obliterate the standing world land-speed record of a little over 763 mph.

So far, construction of the rear section of the machine is slated to begin in the second quarter of next year, and the team claims that it’s in talks with another organization to begin building the front half right now. That means we could be hearing reports of shakedown runs by the end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012. From there, it’s a short hop to the Hakskeen Pan in South Africa for the real trial. Get excited, people. Hit the jump for a video of the car as well as the full press release. Thanks for the tips, Carlos and Mark!

Gallery: Bloodhound Supersonic Car

[Source: Bloodhound Project]

Continue reading Bloodhound Gang: Full-scale model of supersonic car unveiled in UK [w/video]

Bloodhound Gang: Full-scale model of supersonic car unveiled in UK [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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