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Report: Fiat 500 Cabrio to drop its top in New York

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Convertible, Fiat

fiat 500c

Fiat 500C – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fiat is getting ready to bring 500 Cabrio to the States. According to fresh reports, the top will drop on the 500C at the upcoming 2011 New York Auto Show. Shortly after making its U.S. debut, the Fiat 500C will head to dealer showrooms in time for spring to actually appear (nevermind what the calendar says).

Click through the gallery below for a glimpse of what we can expect to see on stage at the 2011 NYIAS. After that, be sure to check out the Abarth version for what we hope will eventually come over.

Gallery: Fiat 500C

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Report: Fiat 500 Cabrio to drop its top in New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charlotte NASCAR Nationwide race renamed Top Gear 300

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

Top Gear USA

In an effort to gain some viewership, Top Gear America has teamed up with NASCAR to rename the May 28 Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway the Top Gear 300. To tease season two of the American spinoff of the so-far superior English car show, clips from Top Gear America will be broadcast during the race.

Top Gear America clips will also air on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 200-foot high-definition jumbotron, the biggest high-def TV in the world. That’s gonna make Rutledge’s head look extra big, no? (Just kidding, Mr. Wood, your head’s just fine.)

Details are scant as to what TGUSA paid for all this, but we can’t imagine it came cheap. The green flag waves on the Top Gear 300 at 2:30 EST on May 28. Only time will tell if this move ends up boosting TGUSA’s ratings for season two.

[Source: UPI.com]

Charlotte NASCAR Nationwide race renamed Top Gear 300 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS awards Top Safety Pick to 2011 Honda Odyssey, GM Lambda CUVs

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Safety, Crossover, Buick, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Honda

2011 Honda Odyssey IIHS roof test, Top Safety Pick

IIHS roof test on 2011 Honda Odyssey – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced that the 2011 Honda Odyssey, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia have all been named Top Safety Picks, the organization’s highest honor.

The Odyssey is the second minivan to earn the award since IIHS added roof strength requirements to its criteria for earning the Top Safety Pick designation, the other being the Toyota Sienna. Since the Honda minivan had already been tested and rated Good for front, side and rear crash protection, only the roof strength measurement was required this time around.

Similarly, the GMC Acadia was only tested for roof strength as it had already passed the previous crash-testing regimen. The Odyssey’s roof withstood a force more than five times the minivan’s weight; the Acadia managed four times its weight. To put this in context, a vehicle’s roof must be able to withstand 1.5 times its weight to pass the more lenient federal testing standards.

Because the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave share their architecture with the tested GMC Acadia, those vehicles were also awarded Top Safety Picks. See the photos of the roof testing below and the press release after the break.

Gallery: IIHS roof test on 2011 Honda Odyssey and GMC Acadia

IIHS roof test on 2011 GMC Acadia IIHS roof test on 2011 Honda Odyssey

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS awards Top Safety Pick to 2011 Honda Odyssey, GM Lambda CUVs

IIHS awards Top Safety Pick to 2011 Honda Odyssey, GM Lambda CUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:07:00 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_review000 2010fordfusionhybrid_review001 2010fordfusionhybrid_review002 2010fordfusionhybrid_review003 2010fordfusionhybrid_review004

[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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Geneva 2011: Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible is a classy drop-top rocketship

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley SuperSports ICR Convertible - Geneva debut

Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

This question is for all of our Bentley buying readers in attendance today: Do you prefer the Flying B in your driveway to be of the limited-edition variety? If you answered “Harrumph! Of course I do, you peasant!”, then we’ve just gotten up close with your next purchase. It’s called the Bentley Continental Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible and just 100 examples will be produced.

The Bentley ICR Convertible was created to commemorate the achievements of Juha Kankkunen. Last month, Kankkunen took a lightly-modified (tires, aero bits and roll-cage) out to a long stretch of sea-turned-ice. Once there, he fired up the twelve-cylinder engine and set a new ice speed record by hitting 205.48 miles per hour.

Bentley is producing 100 examples of the Supersports ICR and each will boast standout features that make them stand out from non-ICR versions. Just three exterior color choices will be available to compliment the Dark Grey Metallic top; Beluga, Quartzite and Arctica White. Inside, carbon fiber has fitted on the dashboard and center console, while the familiar Breitling dashboard clock gets red accents.

The Bentley Continental Supersports Ice Record Convertible is the most powerful Bentley ever (going by horsepower alone). Its 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine produces 631-horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque – enough to push the hefty two-door from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds and on to a top speed 202 miles per hour.

Check out both the actual record-setting car (shown above) and the special production model it inspired in our galleries below, then click past the jump to check out the official press release.

Gallery: Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible: Geneva 2011

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible

Bentley Ice Speed Record front Beluga Bentley Continental Ice Speed Record rear Bentley Ice Speed Record side

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible is a classy drop-top rocketship

Geneva 2011: Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible is a classy drop-top rocketship originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is your city one of the top ten worst speed traps in America?

The weather is finally beginning to turn warm in parts of our great nation, and with spring looming, plenty of people have an eye on scratching their road trip itch. Before you take to any wide-open expanse of tarmac, it might be worth taking some time to note some of the worst speed traps in the country. Yahoo Autos has gone through the trouble of ranking the top 10 cities with the worst speed traps in the U.S., and while no one should be surprised to see that Los Angeles, California has claimed the number 10 spot, there are a few surprises on the list.

Colorado Springs, Colorado managed to break into the top five with a number four ranking. The locality boasts a heady 186 speed traps, and local law enforcement says that they’re happy to write citations for drivers who exceed the limit by 1-4 mph. But it was Texas that took the cake by driving away with three of the 10 spots, including the top two. Austin took the silver metal with 189 traps, while Houston was crowned the speed trap capital of our nation with a staggering 373 hotspots. Head over to Yahoo Autos to check out the full list.

[Source: Yahoo Autos | Image: Mark Wilson/Getty]

Is your city one of the top ten worst speed traps in America? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Chicago Auto Show: Editors’ Choice for Top Five Vehicles

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Etc., Acura, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai, Design/Style

The Chicago Auto Show may be the smallest of the major North American auto shows, but this year proved to be surprisingly bountiful in terms of the number of new cars that were revealed. Sure, many of these new products were merely trim level upgrades, but we saw quite a few big introductions that sparked lengthy discussions amongst the Autoblog staff.

Thus, we’ve looked through the lot of Autoblog’s show coverage and the staffers on-hand in Chicago have picked their favorite vehicles that debuted in the Windy City. Much like our Detroit Auto Show picks, our editors had no problem picking our first and second place winners, but when it came to numbers three, four and five, that’s when the arguing began.

Still, we’ve come to a final consensus, and you can read our Top Five Editors’ Choice debuts after the jump.

Continue reading 2011 Chicago Auto Show: Editors’ Choice for Top Five Vehicles

2011 Chicago Auto Show: Editors’ Choice for Top Five Vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 10 finalists announced for World Car of the Year

Filed under: Etc.

It’s that time of the year again, kiddies, to name the best car in the world. The selections for the World Car Awards awarded granted by an international panel of 66 automotive journalists, who have now announced their ten finalists.

Included on the shortlist are the Audi A1 and A8, the BMW 5 Series and X3, Jaguar XJ, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Nissan Leaf, Porsche Cayenne and Volvo S60/V70. The selections were made based on the jurists’ experience with each car through the course of their professional work, and each will be tasked with reevaluating the ten finalists before casting their final ballots to be tabulated by KPMG.

Intriguingly, although the Leaf EV was short-listed, the Chevrolet Volt didn’t make the cut. For an idea of the jurists’ tastes, consider the winners from years past: the Volkswagen Polo (2010), Volkswagen Golf in (2009), Mazda2 (2008), Lexus LS460 (2007), BMW 3-Series (2006), and the Audi A6 in 2005, the first time the prize was awarded.

The shortlist will be whittled down to three finalists to be announced at the Geneva Motor Show next month, followed by the awards to be given out at the New York Auto Show in April. Follow the jump for the official announcement, and check out our image gallery of the ten finalists below.

Gallery: 2011 World Car finalists

Audi A1 Audi A8 BMW 5 Series BMW X3 Jaguar XJ

[Source: World Car Awards]

Continue reading Top 10 finalists announced for World Car of the Year

Top 10 finalists announced for World Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GT Academy flaw exposed by cheaters who currently top the podium [w/video]

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

GT Academy

GT Academy cheaters – Click above to watch video after the jump

A handful of Gran Turismo 5 players are currently battling it out for a shot at becoming a real-world race car driver in Polyphony’s GT Academy, but according to GT Planet, there may be a bit of an issue. Currently, the top three drivers are using a less-than-sanctioned route to get around the track by dipping off of the asphalt and cutting two corners entirely to come up with a significantly quicker lap time than everyone else.

To put it simply, the three players who are on the podium right now are cheating.

Now, cheating is a staple of both video gamedom and the hallowed halls of racing, so it should come as no surprise that someone has figured out a way to get around a track quicker than everyone else by ~~bending~~ obliterating the rules. Still, it kind of ruffles our feathers to know that the top award could go to the shadiest man (or woman) standing.

So far, there’s no word on whether or not Polyphony will step in to quell the competitor’s cheating ways. Hit the jump to have a look at the videos for yourself.

[Source: GT Planet]

Continue reading GT Academy flaw exposed by cheaters who currently top the podium [w/video]

GT Academy flaw exposed by cheaters who currently top the podium [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 earn Top Safety Pick awards

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Chrysler, Dodge

2011 Dodge Charger crash test

2011 Dodge Charger – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s no secret that the 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 are more attractive and are substantially more refined than the models they replace. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the new LX-platform twins are also incredibly safe, too – earning the company’s prestigious Top Safety Pick designation for the first time ever.

To note, the last-generation Charger and 300 earned the second-lowest rating available in side impact protection, even when equipped with side-curtain airbags. Yikes. On the other hand, the 2011 Charger withstood a force equal to 5.37 times the car’s weight during the roof strength test (for rollover protection). The current federal standard for this test is 1.5 times the car’s weight.

Chrysler has now earned seven Top Safety Pick ratings for its latest crop of 2011 vehicles. To read the press release about the Charger and 300’s earnings, follow the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Charger: First Drive

2011 Dodge Charger

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 earn Top Safety Pick awards

2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 earn Top Safety Pick awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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