[w/poll] Archives | Page 3 of 5

Volvo rolls out exclusive C30 Black Design for Italy… does it look better? [w/poll]

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Volvo, Design/Style

2011 Volvo C30 Black Design

2011 Volvo C30 Black Design – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Volvo C30 is a bit of a divisive design. Some love the radical P1800ES-inspired hatch, while others find it awkward. But maybe the brand’s latest special edition can help.

Called the C30 Black Design, it’s limited exclusively to the Italian market and to just 600 examples. What sets it apart is the application of a 3M carbon-look film to the roof, pillars, grille surround and wing mirrors. There’s also 17-inch matte black wheels (upgradable to 18-inchers) and a specially trimmed interior with individualized dedication plaque.

Italian buyers can choose between the 115-horsepower D2 or 150-hp D3 turbo-diesel engines, or a 145-hp 2.0-liter gasoline four, and specify theirs in white, gray or orange. The question is, does the faux-carbon trim make the C30 look better or worse? Cast your vote in our poll below after looking over the gallery.

View Poll

Gallery: 2011 Volvo C30 Black Design

[Source: OmniAuto.it (translated)]

Volvo rolls out exclusive C30 Black Design for Italy… does it look better? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Volvo rolls out exclusive C30 Black Design for Italy… does it look better? [w/poll]”

Report: Audi Quattro edging closer to production [w/poll]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Audi

Audi Quattro concept

Audi Quattro concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

When the veil was lifted on the Audi Quattro concept at the Paris Motor Show last year, suffice it to say people stood up and paid attention. And ever since, reports have been circulating of its production potential. Call it an inside line, or call it wishful thinking, but the latest reports indicate that the Quattro coupe – a five-cylinder, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive tribute to the original rally machine – is edging ever closer to production.

According to the news from across the pond, Audi’s namesake Quattro division – the department in charge of all the S and RS models as well as the R8 project in its entirety – has a working prototype based on the S5 coupe but considerably lighter thanks to the intensive use of aluminum and carbon-reinforced plastics. At around 1300 kilos (2,866 pounds), the vehicle is said to be about 300 kg (660 lbs) lighter than an RS5, and 225 kg (500 lbs) lighter than an R8.

The prototype is reportedly due to be driven by Audi’s board members before they sign off on its production. No word yet on what strategy the product would take – full production model or niche product – but here’s our question for you: if, for the sake of argument, it came in around the same price as an R8, which would you buy? Cast your vote in our poll below.

View Poll

Gallery: Audi Quattro Concept: Quick Spin

Audi Quattro Concept

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Audi Quattro edging closer to production [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Audi Quattro edging closer to production [w/poll]”

Would you wait to buy a Japanese car? [w/poll]

Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota

Honda Civic Si

It may be some time before consumers in line for a new Japanese car get their hands on their new ride.

Besides killing thousands of people, shocking the nation’s infrastructure and setting off the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, the Japanese earthquake disaster has halted car production on the island indefinitely. Added to that, the tsunami resulting from the quake destroyed thousands of cars and trucks awaiting export.

With production halted and parts supplies drying up, waiting lists for new Japanese cars are mounting. According to CNW Research, those in line for new Japanese cars are, on average, willing to wait 90 days for the delays to end.

Only eight percent of Honda buyers would look elsewhere after a 90-day wait, with the figure climbing to 13 percent for Subaru, 14 percent for Toyota and 19 percent for Nissan.

Those may not seem like huge numbers, until you compare them to comparable American brands. Ford would only lose six percent after 90 days for its cars, and a scant 2.8 percent of truck buyers would bail. Jeep buyers proved most-loyal, with 97.2 percent of their customers sticking around after 90 days.

Would you stand in line for 90 days or more for your new Japanese car of choice? Let us know by voting in our poll.

View Poll

[Source: CNW Research via The Detroit Bureau | Image: Drew Phillips/AOL]

Would you wait to buy a Japanese car? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Would you wait to buy a Japanese car? [w/poll]”

Report: Army wins fight to keep spending money on NASCAR sponsorship [w/poll]

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising

Ryan Newman Army NASCAR

Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum is a Democrat looking at areas where the budget can be cut. Her current target is military spending. More specifically, she is focused on banning the military from spending money advertising in NASCAR. She introduced a measure to this effect, and it was shot down by a vote of 241-148.

The US Army spent $7 million in 2010 to sponsor a car in NASCAR and has a signed contract with Stewart-Haas racing to put its logo on a car for 2011. In contrast, the Marines, Navy and Coast Guard all ended NASCAR sponsorships back in 2006.

McCollum feels that spending money in this arena is an inappropriate use of military funds. Ramsey Poston, NASCAR’s Managing Director for Corporate Communications, sees things a little differently. According to 2009 data gathered by Experian, one in five NASCAR fans have served in the military, while one in three active service members are fans of the sport. Also, the Army states that it received 46,000 recruiting leads in 2010 thanks to the racing team.

And so, we ask you: Should the United States Army sponsor a NASCAR team?

View Poll

[Source: The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Inside Line | Image: John Harrelson/Getty]

Report: Army wins fight to keep spending money on NASCAR sponsorship [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Army wins fight to keep spending money on NASCAR sponsorship [w/poll]”

The people of Detroit want a RoboCop statue [w/poll]

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

RoboCop

What do you think Detroit is best known for? Cars? Motown music? Or RoboCop? A growing grassroots movement is insisting the latter, as support grows for erecting a statue in honor of the 80’s cult movie icon.

Supporters have reportedly taken to Facebook and Twitter to drum up support for the potential landmark, but have received little support in return. According to reports, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is against the idea. And little wonder: the futuristic vision of Detroit, where the RoboCop movies are set, is hardly complimentary, depicting a crime-ridden metropolis run by corrupt officials and a privatized security force.

As The Detroit News points out, a similar initiative to honor Motown’s greatest in Detroit with another statue never materialized, although the effort is not without precendent: just one state over, a statue of the Fonz from Happy Days was erected in 2008, much to everyone’s “ayyyy!”

So… do you think Detroit should get a RoboCop statue? Place your vote in our online poll:

View Poll

[Source: The Detroit News]

The people of Detroit want a RoboCop statue [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “The people of Detroit want a RoboCop statue [w/poll]”

Report: Chrysler wants ‘S’ branding to appeal to youth market [w/poll]

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Design/Style

2011 Chrysler 300

The average age of those who buy new Chryslers? Sixty-two. That’s not good for a brand that’s looking to expand into new markets and thereby increase sales. Invariably, such a strategy means younger buyers will need to be lured into the showroom.

Chrysler 300S badge In order to entice younger buyers, Chrysler reportedly plans to enhance its so-called ‘S’ sub-brand, starting with the refreshed 200 sedan (the old Sebring) and the more heavily revised 300, that Chrysler says will appeal to those who want something a little more “edgy.”

Exterior chrome will be blacked-out, interior wood will be replaced with carbon fiber and traditionally staid interior colors will now be offered in brighter red hues. There won’t necessarily be any modifications to the car’s driving characteristics, as this is intended to be a styling exercise only.

Automotive News reports that an S version of the 200 will go into production this spring, followed an an unspecified time by the 300. Think it’s a good idea? Let your opinion be heard in our completely informal poll below.

View Poll

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Chrysler wants ‘S’ branding to appeal to youth market [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Chrysler wants ‘S’ branding to appeal to youth market [w/poll]”

Seatbelt use up to 85% nationally, 1 in 7 adults still don’t buckle up [w/poll]

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Volvo Seatbelt

According to the Center for Disease Control, seatbelt use among American adults is at an all-time high. In a recent study, 85 percent of those surveyed said that they wear their seatbelts regularly. That number is up from just 11 percent in 1982, though the CDC points out that at least one in every seven adults still don’t wear their seatbelts on the road. That’s despite evidence that points to automotive accidents as the number one cause of death in the U.S. among people aged 5 to 34.

So which states take the cake for seatbelt use? The CDC says that Oregon has the highest rate of buckling up, with 94 percent of respondents from that state claiming to use their belts on a regular basis. North Dakota came in dead last, with a paltry 54 percent of those surveyed strapping in. Not surprisingly, the study found that states that have laws allowing police officers to pull over a driver solely for not wearing their seatbelt have significantly higher rates of buckling up. Click on the jump for a look at the full synopsis, but before you head over there, make sure to take our poll on seatbelt use below.

View Poll

[Sources: CNN Health, CDC | Image: Volvo]

Continue reading Seatbelt use up to 85% nationally, 1 in 7 adults still don’t buckle up [w/poll]

Seatbelt use up to 85% nationally, 1 in 7 adults still don’t buckle up [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Seatbelt use up to 85% nationally, 1 in 7 adults still don’t buckle up [w/poll]”

Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll]

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Kia

2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata

2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata – Click above to enlarge

The Koreans are coming! Actually, strike that… they’re already here. As a matter of fact, both the 2011 Hyundai Sonata and its corporate kissing cousin, the 2011 Kia Optima, rank very highly on our own midsize sedan pecking order chart. All of this begs the question: Which one is better, and why?

The boys from Inside Line decided to pit the two sedans, which share most major components and assemblies, against each other in a no-holds-barred fight for supremacy. Not surprisingly – both use 2.4-liter four cylinder engines (plus or minus California emissions…) and six-speed automatic transmissions, and both weight nearly the same – picking a winner means delving into the details.

And IL found that the details favored the Kia. There are a number of reasons given for the why and how of this conclusion, which you can read all about right here. Basically, though, IL found that the Optima is tuned more for the enthusiast as opposed to the competent and comfortable nature of the Sonata.

Which one would you pick? Take our poll below and then feel free to talk about your choice in Comments.

View Poll

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima: First Drive

[Source: Inside Line | Main Image: Kurt Niebuhr for Edmunds]

Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll]”

Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5’s lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll]

Filed under: Technology, Toys/Games

Forza Motorsport 4 trailer teaser

Click above to watch the video after the jump

November 2010 was a big month for driving simulator-loving PlayStation 3 owners. Gran Turismo 5 finally hit store shelves nearly six years after GT4 set the gaming world aflame. GT5 is a PS3-only affair, though, so xBox fans have little to get excited about. But then again, most xBox champions probably feel they already have a hyper-realistic driving simulator courtesy of the Forza series. And according to the official Forza Motorsport website next Fall will see the debut of Forza 4.

That’s right; just one year after GT5 finally graced our presence and only two years after Forza 3 was minted, an all-new Forza is waiting in the wings. We’re a little shy on details at at this point, but we’re guessing the game will build upon the 500 cars in the Forza 3 Ultimate Collection, with more tracks, more racing styles and, hopefully, even more stunning graphics. Hit the jump to watch the Forza Motorsport 4 teaser, and chime in on the battle of Forza versus Gran Turismo in our poll below. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

View Poll

Gallery: Forza Motorsports 4 Trailer Screen Shots

Forza Motorsports 4 Screen Shot

[Source: Forza Motorsport]

Continue reading Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5’s lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll]

Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5’s lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5’s lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll]”

Report: Hyundai considering more luxury models, separate luxury brand [w/poll]

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Hyundai, Luxury

First the Genesis sedan, then the Equus. Clearly, Hyundai is pinning its ears back and charging upmarket like Ndamukong Suh rushing Aaron Rodgers. And, like the rookie Husker-bred defensive end, the Korean automaker is making a rather successful transition to the next level. What’s next? Quite possibly a sedan designed to compete directly with the benchmark entry-level luxury sedan, the BMW 3 Series. After that, Hyundai may craft a crossover to go up against the segment-defining Lexus RX CUV.

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Hyundai isn’t nearly done refining the image of its top-level nameplates. Hyundai USA head John Krafcik told the WSJ in an interview that the automaker is actively considering whether it should break its premium models apart from the rest of its lineup, much in the same way Honda does with Acura, Toyota does with Lexus and Nissan does with Infiniti.

While this isn’t exactly news, Krafcik’s level of candor is. Three options are apparently on the table. First, an entire separate dealer network could be created to sell these Genesis-branded machines, but this would be very costly. Second (and reportedly most likely), a subset of the automaker’s current set of dealers could add a section to their dealerships designed to cater specifically to upmarket clients – a showroom-within-a-showroom, if you like. They could even have their own dedicated employees. Lastly, Hyundai could stick with its current scheme of training at least one salesperson on the Genesis line, leaving the dealerships alone.

Whichever way Hyundai chooses to move, don’t expect any hasty decisions. Krafcik says the company will keep a close eye on the success of its Equus sedan in the States before making any judgments on its dealer network. In the meantime, expect Hyundai to unveil a new global branding strategy at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show along with a slogan to replace the current “Drive Your Way” message.

One thing is clear: this decision will shape the way forward for Hyundai’s continued performance in the United States. We’re keenly interested in your take on the matter, and we know the automaker’s execs are listening, too. What strategy should Hyundai adopt in its bid to move further upmarket? Make yourself heard in our informal poll below, as well as in Comments.

View Poll

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus: First Drive

[Source: The Wall Street Journal, Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Hyundai considering more luxury models, separate luxury brand [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Hyundai considering more luxury models, separate luxury brand [w/poll]”