Forbes releases 2011 Worst Cars on the Road list

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Hybrid, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Etc., Crossover, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GM, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Smart, Luxury

2011 Cadillac Escalade

Forbes’ Worst Cars on the Road – Click above for high-res image gallery

Forbes has released its 2011 Worst Cars on the Road list, and the outcome is not pretty for American manufacturers. With the exception of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the 2011 Smart ForTwo and the 2011 Nissan Titan, the cars on the list are all American-made. Worse than that, they all come from two manufacturers: General Motors and Chrysler. Ford managed to avoid the list completely.

To determine which cars get the dubious honor and which don’t, Forbes compiles results from six studies by Consumer Reports including the Most Reliable Cars Report, Best and Worst Safety Performance Survey, Best and Worst Fuel Economy, Highest Cost of Ownership, the Best and Worst Values Report and Consumer Reports’ overall scores for new cars.

Chrysler made the list with the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country, which racked up dismal scores for reliability and cost of ownership. Both the 2011 Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Liberty made the cut, with the Liberty scoring poorly for reliability and fuel economy. The Wrangler joined the Liberty in the reliability department, and also ranked for worst value, and made a spot on Consumer Reports’ Worst Cars list. The 2011 Dodge Nitro and Dodge Dakota made the list for similar reasons.

The picture is almost as bleak at GM, where offerings from Chevrolet and Cadillac crowded the picture. The base model 2011 Cadillac Escalade earned spots on the Worst Value, Highest Cost of Ownership and Worst Safety Performance lists. The 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid hung with the Cadillac for Worst Value and safety, and earned a spot on the Least Reliable roster as well. The Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Colorado rounded out the worst General Motors offerings for 2011.

Though the results make it seem like General Motors and Chrysler still can’t do anything right, there are plenty of vehicles from both manufacturers that didn’t make the list. Added to that, luxury vehicles like the Escalade are at a disadvantage in the value and cost of ownership categories. Head over to Forbes for further explanation on how the worst cars are weeded out. Thanks for the tip, Irving!

Gallery: 2011 Forbes Worst Cars on the Road

2011 Cadillac Escalade2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid2011 Chevrolet Colorado2011 Chevrolet Aveo2011 Chrysler Town and Country

[Source: Forbes]

Forbes releases 2011 Worst Cars on the Road list originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM releases another shot of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Shanghai Motor Show

2013 Chevrolet Malibu

2013 Chevrolet Malibu – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will be unveiled on Monday at the Shanghai Motor Show. General Motors is expectedly making a big deal of the event, and started dropping teasers a couple weeks back. Those were followed by a full-on, high-resolution pic of the Malibu in red on Thursday. And now? Another picture of the China-spec car in blue. Since it’s static, we get a clean look at the new Malibu’s wheels and a better idea of the car’s profile

If you feel like you’re already overstuffed on the 2013 Malibu, try to save some room for the main course, which comes in the form of the sedan’s official debut in Shanghai. The live reveal will be streamed via webcast on Chevy’s Facebook page on Monday, April 18 at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

Gallery: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

2013 Chevrolet Malibu

[Source: GM via EGM Car Tech]

GM releases another shot of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Disney releases new scene from CARS 2

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos

cars 2 promo trailer

Special Cars 2 sneak peak – Click above to watch the videos after the jump

We can’t hide the fact that we’re pretty excited for Cars 2 to hit theaters June 24th, even if the extensive marketing efforts leading up to the premiere are a bit over the top. Over the weekend at WonderCon, movie promoters gave some very interested fans a sneak peak at what it’s like to be super sleuths, which jives with the movie’s spies theme.

The promoters placed three vehicles outside the convention wearing some crazy decals that directed folks to head to the Twitter account @ChromeLeaks. Once on the Twitter page, a link was provided to the Youtube video of a faux used car dealer commercial. The predictably cheesy commercial for “Cars N’ Deals of Emeryville” was purposely terribly done, but the 57-second mark revealed a very brief surprise. It was a link to a special sneak peak for the new Cars 2 movie. Sneaky, eh?

That’s a lot of work to do, even for a kick butt movie trailer, but you can skip the hassle and hit the jump to watch the videos. The first clip is the turd-tastic used car spot, followed by a very cool Cars 2 promo that reminds us of this scene from Back to the Future 2. Enjoy!

[Source: Youtube]

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Video: Disney releases new scene from CARS 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hinson Motorsports releases own official vid of 230-mph twin-turbo Corvette crash

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

Hinson Motorsports 2011 Texas Mile crash

Hinson Motorsports crash at the 2011 Texas Mile – Click above to view video after the jump

Over the weekend, we showed you a horrifying series pf pictures from Hinson Motorsports’ 230-mile-per-hour crash at the Texas Mile. The tuner’s twin-turbo Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was trying to break its own 224-mph standing-mile record for Corvettes when something went badly awry.

Even now, nobody’s quite sure what caused the nearly 2,000-horsepower Vette to go airborne, but it did, rolling several times before coming to rest on its wheels. The new video after the jump offers multiple perspectives on the crash as it happened, and it looks much more violent in the videos than it did in the earlier video footage and stills we saw.

Once again, the driver somehow managed to walk away from the crash unharmed, and Hinson has promised to come back with another entry in the Fall.

[Source: Hinson Motorsports via YouTube]

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Video: Hinson Motorsports releases own official vid of 230-mph twin-turbo Corvette crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Koenigsegg releases full Agera R specifications

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, MISC

Koenigsegg Agera R

Koenigsegg Agera R – Click above for high-res image gallery

Koenigsegg certainly caught our attention when it unveiled the new Agera R at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. With its Speed Racer paint scheme and 1,115 horsepower on tap, it darn well better have. But the exotic Swedish automaker has only now released the full specifications, and suffice it to say, they don’t disappoint.

As we already knew, the Agera R packs a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces a prodigious 940 horsepower on standard 95-octane gasoline, but fill it with E85 bio-ethanol blend and you’re looking at a whopping 1,115 hp. Driving the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, that’s good enough for a 2.9-second sprint to 60 mph.

The engine is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, however. The carbon-Kevlar body generates 300 kilos (660 pounds) of downforce at 250 km/h (155 mph), to which the turbine wheels contribute, wrapped in specially-made Michelin rubber. Koenigsegg says their latest supercar will also pull a neck-straining 1.6 g around the skid pad – enough to trounce just about anything else on the road. Follow the jump for the full specifications.

Gallery: Koenigsegg Agera R

Gallery: Koenigsegg Agera R: Geneva 2011

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Koenigsegg]

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Koenigsegg releases full Agera R specifications originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: BMW releases official M5 flick

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW, Luxury

BMW M5 Teaser Video

BMW M5 teaser video – Click above to watch video after the jump

BMW just can’t seem to help itself when it comes to sharing frosty videos of the next-generation M5 undergoing winter testing. The German automaker has released this second clip to accompany the first, complete with plenty of shots of the muscle-bound sedan getting sideways on the powder. We’re a little handicapped by the fact that we don’t speak German, but that certainly didn’t stop us from enjoying watching the big four door do what it does best on the white stuff.

We still can’t help but feel a pang of remorse for the loss of the naturally-aspirated V10 that powers the current M5, but from what we hear, the new twin-turbo V8 will give us plenty to sing about. Unfortunately, rumor has it that buyers won’t be able to pick up their next-gen M5 with a manual transmission. Still, we’ve got our fingers crossed that BMW will still offer a third pedal in the meanest of the fives. After all, if American buyers can take home the new 6 Series with a row-your-own gearbox, a manual transmission option shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for the M5. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

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Video: BMW releases official M5 flick originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Disney releases new Cars 2 trailer, pics

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Cars 2

Cars 2 goes international – Click above for high-res image gallery

Disney has dropped the latest trailer for Cars 2, and along with the two-minute clip past the break, they’ve released a slew of new images that make a nice addition to our gallery of Cars 2 characters.

In the second installment of our favorite car-related, Pixar-animated feature, the crew from Radiator Springs goes global, racing in the World Grand Prix and getting caught up in an international espionage ring. Naturally, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) once again take center stage, and judging by the trailer, the Pixar people continue to one-up their own efforts.

Hit the jump to see the action and check out the new gallery of pics below.

Gallery: Cars 2

Gallery: CARS 2 Characters

GremAcerShu TodorokiRaoul ÇaRouleCarla Veloso

[Source: Pixar]

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Video: Disney releases new Cars 2 trailer, pics originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey releases 602-hp Camaro HPE600 Convertible

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet

Hennessey HPE600 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Hennessey HPE600 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible – Click above to watch video after the jump

If for some strange reason you find that the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible SS doesn’t quite pack the punch you need, Hennessey has you covered. The Texas tuner has officially pulled the sheets back on the very first example of the company’s HPE600 Camaro Convertible, complete with a walloping 602 horsepower. That’s a full 172 ponies more than the most powerful production version, and the nudge in grunt comes courtesy of a TVS2300 supercharger and host of other upgrades designed to help the big V8 breathe a little easier.

As we’ve come to expect from Hennessey, the company’s wrenches also turned their attention toward the vehicle’s suspension, and buyers who opt for the muscle-bound droptop can expect to find a KW adjustable coilover suspension and wider 20-inch wheels wrapped in super-sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

Hennessey says that the topless wonder is good for dashing to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and can clip off the quarter mile run in 12 seconds flat at 118 mph. That’s moving. Hit the jump to take a look at a video of the car in action as well as the full press release.

Gallery: Hennessey HPE600 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

[Source: Hennessey]

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Video: Hennessey releases 602-hp Camaro HPE600 Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports releases 2011 list of American Top Picks, Ford again on top

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Ford

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Ford Fusion Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

For the second year running, the Ford Fusion has not only come out as the top family sedan pick in Consumer Reports‘ list of the 2011 American Top Picks, once again eclipsing the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in reliability.

Topping the list in the budget car segment is the Ford Fiesta, though CR admits they aren’t sure how reliable the car will be, given that it’s a clean-sheet design. The Chevrolet Cruze takes the small car category.

Ford captures CR’s small SUV category with the Escape, and Chevrolet has nailed down the family SUV category with its Equinox 2LT. The funky Ford Flex takes the family hauler category, and the Mustang is the top pick among sporty cars.

The only non-Ford or Chevrolet product on the list is the Buick Regal, which takes top honors for CR’s sports sedan category. The Ford Fusion Hybrid (above) garners the American green car pick for 2011, and the Chevrolet Avalanche rounds out the list in the pickup truck category.

It should be noted that some categories in CR’s list only have a top-scoring American vehicle, not a top pick. In the budget car segment, the sports sedan segment and the small car segment, CR passes on picking a favorite because there are models in the segment that are too new to have reliability data yet.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2010fordfusionhybrid_review0002010fordfusionhybrid_review0012010fordfusionhybrid_review0022010fordfusionhybrid_review0032010fordfusionhybrid_review004

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Chris Shunk / AOL

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Consumer Reports releases 2011 list of American Top Picks, Ford again on top originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: Ken Block releases alternate edits of Gymkhana 3

Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Specialty

Ken Block Gymkhana 3

Ken Block Gymkhana 3 trick edits – Click above to watch video

As if Ken Block’s Gymkhana series weren’t popular enough, the DC Shoes owner/hotshoe has released eight (8) new edits of Gymkhana 3, each focusing on a different aspect of Block’s behind-the-wheel trickery.

The videos, all of which can be viewed after the jump, highlight the more impressive of Block’s tricks, like a rainy-day rolling 360 and a nearly impossible wall tap that leaves just a slight rubber smudge on the white concrete. There’s also an in-depth look at Block’s execution of the famed 51-degree bank wall ride.

Of the eight vids, two are dedicated to a behind-the-scenes look at Gymkhana 3 and the making of a limited-edition Gymkhana 3 drip poster, signed in paint pen by Block himself. According to Block, the videos are meant to celebrate the success of Gymkhana 1, 2 and 3 and give fans something else to sink their teeth into. Check out all 8 videos after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

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Videos: Ken Block releases alternate edits of Gymkhana 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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