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Video: The Crew open-world racer gets Gamescom walkthrough trailer

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Toys/Games

The Crew gameplay trailer and walkthrough

It’s easy to get excited about Gran Turismo 6 and Forza Motorsport 5, but the next-generation of video game consoles are showing signs of bringing new twists on the traditional racing simulators to market. Besides the Playstation exclusive game, DriveClub, there’s the multi-platform title The Crew. Developed by a band of UK developers, we covered this game when it first arrived at the E3 conference back in June. Now, with the Gamescom conference in full swing, we’ve gotten another taste of The Crew‘s social focus and how it integrates into the game, along with another taste of vehicle customization.

The video, narrated by Julian Gerighty, the game’s creative director, gives our best look yet at how The Crew differs from traditional racing games. Its strong emphasis on social gaming may be off-putting to some gamers, but we like the idea of a teamwork-oriented racer. Take a look at the whole gameplay trailer from Gamescom below, and let us know what you think in Comments. Is a social racing game going to work?

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The Crew open-world racer gets Gamescom walkthrough trailer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Aug 2013 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Lexus to open stores with branded accessories [w/video]

Filed under: Car Buying, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Lexus, Design/Style, Luxury

Lexus Intersect

Trying to build a boutique buying atmosphere with a large-volume premium brand isn’t easy, but Lexus is attempting to do just that by introducing its new Intersect By Lexus dealership experience. This aspect of Lexus retailing has nothing to do with cars and everything to do with luxury lifestyle accessories. Intersect By Lexus is effectively an all-in-one shopping destination for high-quality, hand-crafted designer products, many of them created specifically for the marque, right down to their “Crafted for Lexus” branding.

The first Intersect By Lexus store will open at the end of this month in Tokyo, with other stores planned for New York and Dubai. Going over the first store’s initial product list, it seems that each store will offer wares that reflect its location. Some of the products available at Intersect By Lexus Tokyo include a $400 minimalist LED desk light, hand-sewn $286 tablet cover and a $133 drip coffeemaker and cup set handmade from the ash of Japan’s Sakurajima volcano. Scroll down for a short video showing how some of these products were made.

Continue reading Lexus to open stores with branded accessories [w/video]

Lexus to open stores with branded accessories [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Chrysler’s SRT division open to smaller engines, but there’s still a market for big V8s

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Chrysler, Luxury

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 6.4-liter HEMI V8

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 – Click above for high-res image gallery

When asked about Chrysler’s Street Racing Technology (SRT) division rolling out another big-bore, high-horsepower engine at the 2011 New York Auto Show, Dan Reid, the company’s head of media relations, said “there’s a market for it – cars that go fast and sound good.”

Joseph Grace, the vehicle line manager for the SRT division, agreed that “big, naturally-aspirated V8s” can still find enough buyers to support halo cars. The tuning arm is open, however, to less potent options. “There’s a precedent for four-cylinders [with the Dodge Neon SRT4], and a 6 [on the Crossfire SRT6], and when we get the right platform we’ll look at it again.” Added Reid, “The five areas for SRT are powertrain, braking, handling, interior and exterior,” and any potential SRT vehicle has to live up to that first qualification. Grace then told us that the 6.4-liter engine in the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, with its cylinder deactivation and active exhaust system, was “the most efficient way to deliver the kind of performance the customer expects.”

“We had great success with the SRT4 and there’s a trend toward smaller displacement turbo engines, there’s actually a demographic that that appeals to,” Grace said. But when asked whether there could be something like an Dodge Journey SRT, Grace suggested not and said, “That’s why we have the Man Van.”

As for where else Chrysler is looking for special models, Reid said, “Want to expand the 300 model line to a car for every personality, tailor models to different customers. Right now we have a ‘bare-bones’ model, the 300, 300 S, 300C Executive, and SRT8. We’re looking at the non-traditional customer and seeing what they’d like.”

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8: New York 2011

New York 2011: Chrysler’s SRT division open to smaller engines, but there’s still a market for big V8s originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: 2012 Ford Ranger Wildtrak finds open arms around the globe (U.S. not included)

Filed under: Truck, Geneva Motor Show, Ford

Ford Ranger Wildtrak

Ford Ranger Wildtrak – Click above for high-res image gallery

Cinderella was right when they sang “Don’t Know What You’ve Got (‘Til It’s Gone).” The Ford Ranger has left the country only to reappear around the globe, looking pretty darn good in the process. Leading the charge into our now-broken heart is the 2012 Ford Ranger Wildtrak; a diesel-sipping, off-road ready, gadget-packed pickup truck that’s making out with the rest of the world while all we can do is watch from the sidelines.

The Wildtrak is the newest range-topping trim and it comes crammed full of features. On the outside, the Ranger Wildtrak sports a unique color scheme on its front fascia, 18-inch wheels and a roof rack. Inside, the cabin is fitted with a touch-screen control system that features satellite navigation, Bluetooth, iPod integration and voice recognition.

Under the hood, the 2012 Ford Ranger Wildtrak is offered with a choice of two diesel engines: A 2.2-liter four-cylinder that produces 277 pound-feet of torque or a 3.2-liter inline-five that generates an impressive 347 lb-ft.

You can stare at it all you want in the gallery below. Just know that heartaches come and go, and all that’s left are the words.

Gallery: Ford Ranger Wildtrak: Geneva 2011

Continue reading Geneva 2011: 2012 Ford Ranger Wildtrak finds open arms around the globe (U.S. not included)

Geneva 2011: 2012 Ford Ranger Wildtrak finds open arms around the globe (U.S. not included) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planters cracks open a new ride for Mr. Nut

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities, Specialty

Planters Nutmobile

Planters Nutmobile – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mr. Peanut can’t be relegated to just any automobile. After all, as the face of Nabisco’s Planters division and as one of the most beloved (though just a wee bit creepy, if we’re being honest) mascots in American history, Sir Nut needs a ride suitable of his stature. And, since he’s apparently over 12 feet tall and carries a six-foot-long cane, we’re talking some significant stature.

Fittingly then, Planters has seen fit to replace Mr. Peanut’s old set of wheels with a brand-new Nutmobile. And this is no ordinary Nutmobile… if such a thing actually existed. Based on a 2011 Isuzu NPR truck with a diesel engine running a five-percent mixture of biodiesel (oddly not actually nut-based), this latest Nutmobile will be making appearances all around the country to “promote the peanut lifestyle” and draw support for The Corps Network.

According to The New York Times, this latest Nutmobile is quite the green machine. In addition to the biodiesel blend, it features “a wind turbine, solar panels, LED interior lighting, recycled parts and wood floors reclaimed from a 19th century Pennsylvania barn.” Guess it’s not very nutty after all, is it? Top tip, Jeff!

[Sources: Wired, The New York Times]

Planters cracks open a new ride for Mr. Nut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spectre 341 Challenge is back and open to everyone

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

spectre 341 challenge corvette on the course

Corvette ZR1 tackling the Spectre 341 Challenge – Click above to watch video after the jump

In June 1972, Hans Tanner and other members of the Southern California Ferrari Owners Club set out to the road that’s known today as Nevada Highway 341. Tanner sought to emulate the great hill climb events in which he participated in Europe, and the Virginia City Hill Clmb was the perfect opportunity to take a shot at recapturing that glory. The event ran until 2002, when tragedy struck and organizers decided to discontinue the event.

In 2010, new organizers rebooted the Virginia City Hill Climb, rechristened as the first annual Spectre 341 Challenge. The second running is scheduled for June 17-20, 2011. Unlike last year’s invitation-only event, the 2011 Spectre 341 Challenge is open to everyone.

Are you ready to take on 5.2-miles of twisty Nevada blacktop? The road features multiple blind corners, near-constant elevation changes and some spots are still waiting on attention from the Nevada Department of Transportation (read: no guardrails). If yyou feel you and your car are up to the task, you need to do two things: have the $341 entry fee ready, and get your butt to Nevada to try and get into the 3:41 club. If ham-fisted automotive journalists like Ezra Dyer have made the list there may be room for you as well. Click past the jump to watch some highlights from the 2010 Spectre 341 Challenge.

[Source: Spectre 341 Challenge]

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Spectre 341 Challenge is back and open to everyone originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM to hold open house tours of all 54 manufacturing facilities

Filed under: Etc., GM

General Motors is giving the public a glimpse into the company’s inner workings though a series of factory tours. Each of the 54 GM manufacturing facilities in the United States are set to host open-house events in order to give everyone a better idea of exactly what goes on in the newly-public automaker’s plants. Each of the facilities will choose a date for their respective event and invite their local community inside by the end of 2011.

GM say that it wants to underscore the fact that it employees thousands of workers in locations across the country, and that since 2009, the automaker has created or saved 7,900 jobs in 21 localities around the U.S. If you live in close proximity to a GM plant, keep your ear to the ground for the open-house time and date in your area.

A similar effort is underway for The General’s Canadian plants. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: GM]

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GM to hold open house tours of all 54 manufacturing facilities originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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