mule Archives | AutoDepot

Report: Ford blamed in drug mule lawsuit

Filed under: Government/Legal, Ford

If a college student is caught smuggling drugs across the border, one might think the kid got what was coming to him. But when a Mexican student at the University of Texas in El Paso was caught by Border Patrol agents with duffel bags filled with marijuana in his trunk, the man used a classic excuse: He claimed they weren’t his.

While a claim like that is almost unbelievable, Ricardo Magallanes, the student, is now suing Ford for handling its vehicles’ key codes negligently enough to allow drug smugglers to break into his Ford Focus and stash the drugs, The Daily Caller reports. The twist here is that four other people who lived in Juarez and worked in El Paso were involved in the same type of scheme – allegedly unwittingly, just like Magallanes – and all the cars were Fords except one model from General Motors. FBI agents also found an employee at a Dallas Ford dealership that had accessed the key codes to all four of the cannabis-stuffed Fords.

While we all may not own Fords, the case still causes us slight paranoia. We’ll definitely be checking our trunks before we cross any more international borders.

Ford blamed in drug mule lawsuit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: McLaren P13 technology mule seen at the ‘Ring

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Luxury, McLaren

McLaren MP4-13 mule - front three-quarter view, disugised

Seems the McLaren MP4-12C Spider recently seen at the Nürburgring wearing slight camo on its front end wasn’t hiding a facelift for the current car, but rather technology for its coming entry-level model known as P13. You’ll see that our spies have captured a new set of images of the mule, this time with a slightly less disguised nose (not that it matters much). The baby McLaren is being developed to take on Porsche, and it’s expected to get 450 horsepower from its 3.8-liter V8 and bow in 2015 or 2016.

McLaren’s monocell carbon tub will form its backbone, and a report in Autocar says styling will remind people of its ties to the P1. Using this new information, the suspicion is that camouflage could be hiding LED lighting up front.

The MP4-12C isn’t completely left out of the ‘Ring gossip, though – word is that an uprated version of the twin-turbo, 616-hp, 3.8-liter V8 is on its way, perhaps ringing up 641 hp.

McLaren P13 technology mule seen at the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Renault Alpine mule captured wearing Lotus duds

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Renault

Renault Alpine mule caught on test track - front three-quarter view

A curious, heavily modified Lotus Exige has been spotted lapping the Nürburgring, and, to hear our spy shooters tell it, the car is actually a disguised Renault Alpine A110-50 out chassis testing with Swedish suspension company Öhlins. It was spotted in the company of several key performance cars from Renault Sport, including the Megane RS and Clio. These spy photos confirm that Renault is serious about making the Alpine a production reality and suggests that it needed more than its alliance with Nissan to help foot the development bills.

Caterham became Renault’s partner in this venture last year, and rumors have suggested that this Lotus-disguised Alpine will be mid-engined, with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine offering about 1.6 liters of displacement and making around 270 horsepower.

We have reported in the past that Renault, Infiniti and Lotus were developing a gas-electric hybrid together, and the Renault version could become the Alpine (with Lotus building the production versions of all three cars), but we don’t truly know what the future holds for Renault’s reborn performance division.

Got all that? Neither do we, so we’re going to sit tight and see where the chips fall, but we’ll be sure to let you know when that happens.

Renault Alpine mule captured wearing Lotus duds originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Mustang dragster mule caught brandishing gargantuan hood scoop

Filed under: Motorsports, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Racing

spy shots ford mustang drag racer

Spy Shots: Ford Mustang Drag Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our spy photographers have trained their expensive camera lenses on something very interesting. Caught running around one of Ford’s private test tracks, this Mustang is clearly set to live life a quarter mile at a time. Out back sits a pair of massive Hoosier slicks, while up front, a set of skinny Hoosiers are tucked under the fenders. Oh right, we’re not sure if you noticed, but there’s a massive hood scoop planted on the front of this pony car.

What’s going on under the hood? We don’t know. The front-end (minus the scoop) is from a GT500, while the rear end is standard Mustang GT attire. That scoop, however, looks like it was pulled off a Donzi 22 Shelby GT speedboat. Actually, scratch that… it looks even bigger. Check out this possible next-generation Mustang Cobra Jet by clicking through the gallery below.

Ford Mustang dragster mule caught brandishing gargantuan hood scoop originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Is this 2012 Honda CR-V test mule packing a third row of seats?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Honda

2012 Honda CR-V spy shot

2012 Honda CR-V spy shot – Click above for high-res image

While Honda may have to delay rolling out the successor to the current CR-V crossover, a shortage of parts resulting from the crisis in Japan doesn’t mean it isn’t still working on the project. And while we hadn’t seen any prototypes running before, we’ve now received our first glimpse.

The test mule in this solitary spy shot is wearing a bra over the front end and some taping around the hind quarters, but is otherwise fairly naked for all to see. So what are we looking at? Heavily revised styling for a start, with tail-lights that extend up the D-pillar like the current model but with a rather Volvo-like shape to them. Our intrepid auto spies also suggest the extended rear end could be making room for a third row of seats (wonder what that D-pillar tape job is hiding?), but from where we sit, it looks mighty cramped.

Beyond the design, we can expect a slightly more powerful and more efficient version of the current model’s 2.4-liter VTEC four. Expect production to begin in Ohio and Ontario before winter rolls back around.

Is this 2012 Honda CR-V test mule packing a third row of seats? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2013 Land Rover Range Rover mule spotted winter testing

Filed under: Spy Photos, SUV, Land Rover

Land Rover Range Rover spy shots

Next-gen Land Rover Range Rover spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Even though it won’t hit the streets for another couple of years, the next-generation Land Rover Range Rover is already out on the prowl in development mule stage. Thus, we can’t tell what sort of new design elements will be found on the next-generation Range Rover, though the larger, bolted-on wheel arches give off the impression that the next SUV will likely be slightly wider than the one currently on sale.

Expect the usual crop of eight-cylinder powerplants to be available in both naturally aspirated and supercharged variants. There’s also been talk of a possible Range Rover Hybrid – a vehicle that would likely make its debut in the SUV’s next generation. Our spies are calling this Range Rover a 2013 model, so look for it to debut sometime in 2012. Click through our high-res image gallery to see the full set of spy shots.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Land Rover Range Rover

Spy Shots: Land Rover Range Rover

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: 2013 Land Rover Range Rover mule spotted winter testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Baby Maserati Quattroporte mule snapped hiding in plain sight

Maserati ‘Baby Quattroporte’ spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you’ve been listening to the whispers about a new smaller version of the Maserati Quattroporte and wondering exactly what the machine will look like when it debuts, you can quit your pondering. Sort of. Our task force of stealthy spy photographers have managed to lay their lenses on a mule version of the new baby Quattroporte. This particular evaluation car sports a shorter wheelbase and smaller brakes than its bigger brother, and a single exhaust outlet hints to a slightly lower level of performance. Though this tester seems to have raided the parts bin of the larger Quattroporte for some ill-fitting glass, we’re told that the production version of the car will look significantly different.

Maserati has been itching to tango with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz AMG E-Class, Jaguar XFR and BMW M5, and this machine could be the beast that allows the company to do just that. As of right now, there’s no indication as to exactly what will lurk underhood when it debuts in 2012, though with a mule running around, we’re guessing it won’t be too long before we hear more about the smaller Quattroporte’s drivetrain.

Gallery: Maserati Quattroporte Spy Shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Baby Maserati Quattroporte mule snapped hiding in plain sight originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online Find of the Day: 2000 Ferrari Enzo mule

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Ferrari

Ferrari Enzo mule – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s not every day that a Ferrari mule comes up for sale, but that day, ladies and gentlemen, has arrived. What you see here may look like an old 348, maybe with some 355 components retrofitted. But what you’re actually looking at is one of the mules that gave rise to the all-conquering Enzo supercar.

The car may wear modified 348 bodywork – disguising evaluation testers with existing sheetmetal is common practice in Maranello – but like so many things, it’s what’s inside that counts. And in this case, it’s a 670-horsepower V12 derived from the Scuderia’s Formula One racing program, but adapted for roadcar use and mated to a six-speed paddle-shift transmission.

Enamored of the Enzo’s performance, but less so of its styling? This could be your once-in-a-lifetime chance. Think of it the same way as the 288 GTO was to the F40, only one-of-a-kind, and suddenly the Langenfeld, Germany dealer’s 750,000 Euro (a cool $1M at today’s rates) asking price doesn’t seem quite so extravagant, though it’s not much cheaper than a full-on factory Enzo. Have a closer look in the high-res image gallery below and then be sure to take a look at Modena Motorsport’s website. Thanks for the tip, Juan Pablo!

Gallery: 2000 Ferrari Enzo Prototype

[Source: Modena Motorsport]

Online Find of the Day: 2000 Ferrari Enzo mule originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Lexus IS mule makes the rounds

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Lexus, Luxury

Next-gen Lexus IS mule

Next-generation Lexus IS spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Much like the larger GS sedan that we recently spied, Lexus is apparently working on a substantial overhaul for its smaller rear-drive IS, as well.

Though still in early test mule stages, the next IS is expected to ride on a shorter version of the GS platform, which could give it a slightly wider stance than the car currently on the road. Expect the usual sedan and convertible variants to be on hand, as well as a forthcoming IS coupe set to battle the BMW 3 Series and upcoming Mercedes-Benz C-class two-door.

The reworked IS sedan will likely bow sometime in 2012 and the coupe is pegged to arrive shortly thereafter with the usual V6 powertrains as well as an eventual high-performance F variant in at least one bodystyle. The only question we have is, will a force-fed four powerplant also join the party?

Gallery: Spy Shots: Next-Generation Lexus IS

Next-generation Lexus IS spy shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Lexus IS mule makes the rounds originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Lexus GS mule caught testing

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Lexus, Luxury

2012 Lexus GS spy shot

Next-generation Lexus GS spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Following our report that the Lexus GS is scheduled to get a rather extensive overhaul next year, our spies have captured this test mule of Lexus’ next 5 Series fighter out on the road.

Even though this mule uses the current GS body, we can see that extra panels have been added around the wheel wells, meaning a wider track is probably in order. What’s more, the reworked GS underpinnings will go on to form the groundwork for the smaller, overhauled IS, which is set to debut in 2013.

Expect to see the next-gen GS show its restyled body within the coming months, with an official debut happening sometime next year. For now, click through the gallery to see high-res shots of the early-build mule roaming the streets.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Next-Gen Lexus GS

Next-generation Lexus GS spy shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Lexus GS mule caught testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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