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Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz Ad

Mercedes-Benz reveals new models in Super Bowl ad – click above to watch the video

Mercedes-Benz is throwing its hat into the Super Bowl advertising fray with a pretty new 60-second spot designed to celebrate the company’s 125th anniversary by heralding in a wave of five new models. The spot marks the very first time that the company has ever advertised during the NFL’s ultimate game. In the spot, Mercedes-Benz features four new vehicles, including a very quick peek at the upcoming C-Class Coupe and the SLS AMG Roadster.

The spot features many of the company’s past and current models escaping their owners in a bid to pay homage to the newborn Benz fleet. There are plenty of fantastic vintage Silver Arrows in the spot, along with a soundtrack by Janis Joplin and at least one celebrity cameo (we won’t spoil the surprise on that one). Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz via Facebook]

Continue reading Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster

Video: Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl ad director’s cut reveals C-Class Coupe, SLS AMG Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini reveals images of Murcielago replacement’s suspension

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador pushrod suspension

Lamborghini Aventador pushrod suspension – Click above for high-res image gallery

While attending the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, we took a moment to stop by the Lamborghini display to have a word with Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann and head of R&D Maurizio Reggiani. At that time, we learned the Lamborghini 834, the Murciélago replacement otherwise known as the Aventador (probably), would have a new suspension system.

Lamborghini revealed that its next supercar would have a pushrod suspension with horizontal dampers – the first time such a system will appear on a production car, according to the automaker. The setup will keep the wheel in perfect alignment throughout the range of suspension travel and a high-end set of Ohlins shocks should keep the tire on the pavement.

Now, Lamborghini has release the first set of images showing off its new suspenders, along with a press release (find it after the break) with a slew of technical details explaining why the new design is superior to others. See for yourself in the image gallery below, and hold tight until the official unveiling of Lambo’s next great supercar at the Geneva Motor Show.

Gallery: Lamborghini Aventador suspension

Lamborghini Aventador suspension

[Source: Lamborghini]

Continue reading Lamborghini reveals images of Murcielago replacement’s suspension

Lamborghini reveals images of Murcielago replacement’s suspension originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Honda Accord

KBB.com names its 20 Most-Researched vehicles for 2010 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Kelly Blue Book has compiled a list of the most researched new vehicles for 2010, as well as brands that hold the greatest market share of interest. The Honda Accord, Civic and Toyota Camry claim the top three spots — not a surprise if you’ve been reading this list the last few years. Since 2004, the same three vehicles have garnered the most attention at KBB.com.

While it’s not a surprise to see those three, it’s a nice change of pace for a few newcomers to the list. The Hyundai Sonata was 29th overall last year, but has risen 24 spots to claim the title of fifth most-researched vehicle for 2010. Not everyone rose this year, of course. Two notable vehicles, the Toyota Prius and Corolla, dropped a few spots compared to 2009.

It’s not all bad news for Toyota, however, because KBB.com also takes a look at each brand’s market share of interest among new car buyers. Toyota leads the way at 13.4 percent, with Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan rounding out the top five in that order.

Here’s how the Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010 breaks down:

1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Hyundai Sonata
6. Nissan Altima
7. Honda Pilot
8. Ford Mustang
9. Toyota Highlander
10. Toyota RAV4
11. Toyota Sienna
12. Honda Odyssey
13. Chevrolet Equinox
14. Toyota Corolla
15. Ford Fusion
16. Ford Escape
17. Toyota Prius
18. BMW 3 Series
19. Chevrolet Camaro
20. Volkswagen Jetta

Be sure to click past the jump to read the full release from Kelley Blue Book.

Gallery: Kelley Blue Book’s Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010

[Source: KBB.com]

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KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota reveals new JDM Vitz – that’s Yaris to you, fellah

Filed under: Budget, Japan, Hatchback, Toyota

2012 Toyota Vitz Yaris

2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris – Click above for image gallery

Never heard of the Toyota Vitz? It’s one of the auto giant’s biggest sellers in the Japanese Domestic Market, accounting for over 1.4 million units since its introductory model in 1999. But the compact hatchback isn’t exclusive to Japan: in export markets, it’s known to us as the Yaris, and Toyota’s sold more than 3.5 million of them around the world. And now it has introduced the third generation.

Abandoning the cartoonish styling of its predecessor, the new Vitz/Yaris is considerably sharper in the design department. It’s also more fuel efficient and less polluting to the environment. And while overall dimensions remain compact, the interior has grown in capacity for added comfort and utility, utilizing a new type of glass to filter out 99 percent of UV radiation.

The Vitz is offered domestically with a range of engines and trim levels – from 1.0- to 1.5-liter engines, with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with CVTs, manu-matics and stick shifts, a start-stop system and even upscale Jewela and RS trims – though the North American Yaris will undoubtedly constrict the choices some. Follow the jump for additional details and click the thumbnails below for a closer look.

Gallery: 2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota reveals new JDM Vitz – that’s Yaris to you, fellah

Toyota reveals new JDM Vitz – that’s Yaris to you, fellah originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla SEC filing reveals Model S has 3,000 deposits

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Hatchback, Earnings/Financials, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Model S SEC filing page

In an 8-K filing posted with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, Tesla Motors revealed that, by the end of the third quarter, it had already lined up 3,000 buyers, each of whom has coughed up $5,000 required to reserve the automaker’s long-promised Model S. Additional information mentioned in the report suggests that the Model S will eventually obtain a five-star safety rating, feature more cargo room than any other sedan on the market and be designed to accommodate battery-swap technology.

The SEC filing details Tesla’s numerous deals with other automakers, which are briefly outlined below:

Tesla received an initial order for 1,500 lithium-ion battery packs for the Smart ForTwo ED
Tesla anticipates selling 500 lithium-ion battery packs to Daimler for use in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class electric.
The automaker’s cumulative sales to Daimler topped the $12-million mark earlier this year.
Tesla expects revenue of $60 million for its part in developing components for the Toyota RAV4 EV.

To read Tesla’s 8-K SEC filing, which is jam-packed with graphics that detail the automaker’s intentions, click here.

Gallery: Tesla Model S

[Source: Securities and Exchange Commission via Tesla Motors]

Tesla SEC filing reveals Model S has 3,000 deposits originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mission Motors reveals race-ready Mission R

Filed under: Motorcycle, Electric, MISC

Mission Motors Mission R

Mission Motors Mission R – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Mission R cut a seductive silhouette in a teaser shot from Mission Motors that presaged its arrival. Now, with its public debut scheduled for later today at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show, the lights have come up and the bike is rather awe-inspiring. As we take it in details, from its front Brembo brakes to its rear single-sided swingarm, we are indeed smitten.

Mission Motors Mission R motor closeup Newly developed MissionEVT components have been intelligently integrated into a compact James Parker-conceived chassis, then dressed in a design of grace and aggression by Tim Prentice of Motonium. The result is an electric race bike that’s smaller than a typical 600cc MotoGP machine, yet it holds a massive 14.4 kWh battery beneath its carbon fiber skin. You might not guess this creature weighs a significant 545 pounds (247.2 kg), and though we’ve yet to see it dance through the esses, we’re hoping its movements will conceal this fact as well.

To push the package along, the liquid-cooled AC motor pumps out 141 horses with 115 pound-feet of twist on tap from 0 to 6500 RPM. Top speed hasn’t been determined yet (it will only visit the track sometime after the calender flips to 2011), but the company expects it will easily see 160 miles per hour.

We will have the opportunity to see how the Mission R compares with its peers later in the new year when it competes in the TTXGP North American Championship. The factory team has a lot to prove after sitting out the 2010 season, but this certainly looks promising. The official press release and complete specifications await past the break.

Gallery: Mission Motors Mission R

[Source: Mission Motors]

Continue reading Mission Motors reveals race-ready Mission R

Mission Motors reveals race-ready Mission R originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GT5 creator reveals fixes in the works, more functionality coming

Filed under: Toys/Games

Gran Turismo 5 cover Gran Turismo 5 has been pretty polarizing, right out of the gate. Some diehard fans are so excited that it’s here, they may not care about the obvious issues the game has at launch. On the other end of the spectrum, some folks are quick to deride the racing sim as being terrible when that’s far from true. The reality is that Gran Turismo 5 falls somewhere in between these two extreme points of view. It is pretty amazing, while its flaws are clearly visible. Creator Kazunori Yamauchi has revealed that fixes are planned, and should arrive by early December.

What exactly do these fixes include? Mechanical damage will be added to the existing cosmetic damage, the “blocky shadows” will be resolved, online functionality will be increased and the ability to disable the HUD is mentioned as a possible option.

Whatever your gripes with the game may be, it’s nice to hear that Polyphony Digital is listening. The ability to implement fixes and dole them out by way of a download is a far cry better from the old days of waiting for the next generation game.

[Source: Joystiq]

GT5 creator reveals fixes in the works, more functionality coming originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oprah reveals 2012 VW Beetle silhouette, gives cars to entire audience [w/video]

Filed under: Budget, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Celebrities, Design/Style, Diesel

Oprah gives away 2012 Volkswagen Beetle to audience – Click above to watch the video

After dominating the afternoon talk show circuit for 25 years, Oprah Winfrey is going out in style by giving each member of her studio audience keys to the as-yet-unseen 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. The promotion is part of Oprah’s Ultimate Favorite Things giveaway, in which audience members are lavished with pricey surprise gifts of all descriptions.

Jonathan Browning, President and CEO of Volkswagen of America, confirmed that Winfrey reached out to the German automaker about the giveaway, saying that as an owner of the current VW New Beetle, the icon has long been one of her Favorite Things. The show, which aired moments ago on ABC, saw Oprah making the surprise announcement in front of a silhouette of the forthcoming model, and a current model New Beetle was featured on stage. While Browning admits that Oprah has been given a sneak peek at the completed car, her 275 lucky audience members will be in the dark about their new rides look until VW reveals it at a date to be determined this Spring (read: it won’t be shown at the Detroit Auto Show in January). Audience members will receive their cars next Fall when VW’s Puebla, Mexico plant begins production.

While VW officials declined to talk in detail about the 2012 Beetle, Browning did confirm that the new model will feature technologies like Bluetooth integration and a touchscreen, along with branded audio systems and ambient lighting. More importantly, Browning insists that the new model will have a decidedly sportier bent than previous iterations. The 2012 Beetle will feature available performance-minded items like a stiffer suspension, sport seats, 19-inch wheels and dual exhausts.

This more sporting attitude is interesting, in part because VW officials have previously indicated that they hope to ‘degender’ the new model (the New Beetle’s image and ownership base has long skewed heavily female). Given this positioning, the decision to launch a major promotion with Oprah Winfrey may seem a bit curious, but VW knows that it will still need to woo the current New Beetle’s core audience in order for the 2012 model to be a success.

Autoblog was able to confirm that not only will VW’s TDI engines figure in to the model’s plans, clean diesel technology will even be available in the Cabriolet model, making it the first modern oil-burning convertible sold in the States. The company’s venerable 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine will also be available, but there’s no word yet about a dedicated high-performance model or a possible hybrid variant.

This is not the first time Oprah has given away new cars as part of her Favorite Things show – she famously handed over the keys to 276 then-new Pontiac G6 sedans back in 2004 as part of a $7.7M promotion. Nor is it the first time that the talk show queen has worked with Volkswagen – last year she gave away a pair of Routan minivans. Click through to the jump to watch video of Oprah breaking the news to her studio audience.

*UPDATE: Official VW press release added after the jump.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle spy shots

[Sources: Volkswagen, ABC News | Gallery Images: CarPix]

Continue reading Oprah reveals 2012 VW Beetle silhouette, gives cars to entire audience [w/video]

Oprah reveals 2012 VW Beetle silhouette, gives cars to entire audience [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Preview: Land Rover reveals the Evoque

Filed under: SUV, Paris Motor Show, Land Rover, Luxury

2012 Land Rove Evoque – Click above for high-res image gallery

Here’s the production 2012 Range Rover Evoque in all its glory, and the LRX-inspired CUV is lighter, meaner and greener than anything to come from the Range Rover arsenal.

Buyers can opt for three exterior design themes: Pure, a minimalistic take with 19-inch wheels and natural colors complemented by brushed metal trim adorning the insides; Prestige, a “bespoke exterior” treatment with exclusive 19-inch wheels paired “an indulgent interior;” or Dynamic, with 19- or 20-inch wheels a reworked bodykit, and a sportier cabin complete with perforated leather seats and a bit more bling.

Inside, the interior is influenced not only by the Range Rover Sport, but by Jaguar as well. Seriously bolstered seats straddle a center tunnel where a rotary gear transmission selector rises to hand. The four-setting Terrain Response System dial has been replaced with buttons attending an illuminated menu and controls are mainly managed through an eight-inch touchscreen. Aural enjoyment is provided by the 825-watt, 17-speaker Meridian sound system with additional inputs for other peripherals.

Underneath the Evoque’s hood is a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine that, naturally, is not called EcoBoost. Referred to as the Si4, it’s been developed for North American audiences and produces 240 horsepower that runs through a six-speed automatic transmission. Electric power steering is standard, a regenerative electrical system captures energy when things get hauled down and everything is kept on an even keel thanks to a MagneRide adaptive dynamics suspension.

Sales of the LRX start in the fall of 2011, and all the info you could want can be found in the press release after the jump, while dessert is in the gallery of high-res photos below. We’ll be getting even closer to it in a week’s time at the Paris Motor Show.

Gallery: 2012 Land Rover Evoque

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Land Rover reveals the Evoque

Paris Preview: Land Rover reveals the Evoque originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Volvo, Luxury

2011 Volvo S60 R-Design

2011 Volvo S60 R-Design – Click above for high-res image galery

Volvo has been so kind as to give us an inkling of what to expect from the company when it arrives at this year’s Paris Motor Show. The Swedish carmaker will display new R-Design versions of both the S60 sedan and the V60 wagon. According to the press release, both cars will receive the usual go-fast treatment, starting with a few aesthetic changes outside. The R-Design cars will wear a more aggressive fascia up front, unique 18-inch alloys, revised sports seats inside and a few suspension tweaks to help everything stay planted through the twisties.

That means firmer bushings all the way around, a strut-tower brace up front and lower, stiffer coils on all four corners. The icing on the cake is a new corner traction control system that uses a torque-vectoring system to make for smoother cornering, a compelling feature that we just tested on the plain-jane S60 T6 all-wheel drive. Don’t look for any extra horsepower under the hood, though. Volvo has left the usual array of engines completely untouched. Both the R-Design S60 and V60 will debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show next month. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo S60 R-Design

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut

Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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