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Automobiles

First Renderings of 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Hit the Internet

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By Alexander Stoklosa

2015 Chevrolet Corvette convertible

The automotive interwebs are abuzz from the appearance of two images of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette convertible that many are saying are the real deal. We’re not so convinced—the images, which first appeared on The Auto Insider, certainly appear to be photographs of a real car, and the license-plate cover even reads “GM Design.” But after some careful inspection, we‘d wager that they’re really well-done renderings, whether they came from within GM or not. Plus, it’s probably no coincidence that these images are being circulated just days after the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette coupe made its big debut at the 2013 Detroit auto show. 

2015 Chevrolet Corvette convertible

Besides showing what the topless Corvette probably will look like, these renderings also give us our first look at the non-Z51 Vette (Chevy only brought the higher-performance Z51 model to the Corvette’s reveal). The differences between the Z51 and this potential non-Z51 are few: There’s no full-width rear spoiler and there are no vents on top of the rear fender bulges. The lack of rear-end venting probably has a lot to do with the non-Z51 Vette’s lack of rear-mounted differential and transmission coolers, which are mounted just behind each rear wheel on the high-po model.

Otherwise, it’s pretty much a given that the C7 Corvette convertible will get the same 6.2-liter small-block V-8 pushing an estimated 450 horsepower through a choice of seven-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission as the coupe. Look for the droptop iteration to debut sometime in the next year or so before going on sale as a 2015 model.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Fiat Brings Two 500 Design Concepts to Detroit [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

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By John Lamm

Fiat 500 Abarth Tenebra design concept

No, the Tenebra and the Cattiva are not new models Fiat’s introducing to supplement its 500, but design concepts based on the Abarth and the Turbo. Apparently they were designed by someone who figures Nero (black) is beautiful, and their opening act is the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

Tenebra begins as an Abarth that’s been painted matte gray—or Matte Grigio, as Fiat calls it—on goes Nero Chrome exterior trim, with gloss-black headlamp, taillight, and parking lamp bezels. At the corners are 16-inch Abarth-designed aluminum wheels finished in, you guessed it, Nero Chrome. Contrasting with the flat-gray exterior paint are an Abarth body stripe and high-gloss gray mirror caps. Spanning the entire rooftop is Abarth’s classic Scorpion logo, which is done in glossy Grigio. It’s no surprise that there’s plenty of Nero inside, too, which features on the special Abarth performance leather seats and the flat-bottom steering wheel wheel. A real, matte-finish carbon-fiber inset stretches across the instrument panel. As with all Fiats now, the Tenebra features a Beats by Dr. Dre audio system.

Fiat 500 Cattiva design concept

The Cattiva is based off the Sport and Turbo models, and is finished in Rame (which is what Fiat calls copper) with accents in—prepare yourself for quite the surprise—Chrome Nero. Ditto for the roof and rear spoiler. This detailing includes the same Nero Chrome exterior bits as the Tenebra, although its wheels are finished in gray. Finally, the Cattiva’s interior receives Nero-finished leather sports seats, steering wheel, and shift knob. And Beats handles audio duties here, too.

The purpose for these two designs is so the Italian marque can display just how unique it’s Fiat Custom Shop can make the 500. The Fiat Custom Shop launched late last year and allows buyers to spec their Cinqucentos with a large assortment of options when it comes to exterior colors, interior appointments, graphics packages, and body add-ons. Fiat tells us there are no plans to send the Cattiva or the Tenebra into production.

Fiat 500 Design Concepts

2013 Detroit Auto Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

2013 Shelby Ford Focus ST: Stock Motor, Look-Fast Parts [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

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By John Lamm

Shelby American is taking the Ford Focus ST and specializing 500 of them for 2013. These “pocket rockets,” as Mr. Shelby himself liked to call them, won’t receive any engine modifications—yet—but they will look and sound considerably meaner than the stock iterations.

A Borla exhaust is added to give the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four a bit of growl. Where that mill resides is a bit of eye candy in its own right, thanks to an engine-dress-up kit that has the look of carbon fiber, but is called Hydrocarbon. Not the organic compound, that’s hydrocarbon, but a process in which carbon-fiber-looking graphics essentially are shrink-wrapped around stock components. It doesn’t save any weight, of course—in fact, it does the opposite—but it saves cost compared to using real carbon fiber. Three months down the road, Shelby plans to introduce a package that will up horsepower by 30 to 50 ponies. In addition to the look-light parts, Shelby has added a Ford Racing suspension package, brake upgrades at all four corners, and a short-throw shifter.

Three appearance packages are available for the Shelby ST, including the classic racing stripes, a competition-look complete with race numbers, or what’s called the Checkered Flag Splash. The grille inserts and the rear spoiler also have been given the faux-carbon-fiber look, but the hood’s heat extractors are functional. The performance brand also has a carbon-fiber hood in the works.

The ST’s original interior is left largely alone, save for the seats. The standard seat coverings have been removed and reupholstered with exterior-color-matching leather and Shelby stitching in the headrests. The only addition to the dash is the numbered plaque to inform passengers precisely which of the Shelby STs they’re riding shotgun in.

The process of attaining a Shelby-fied ST starts at the local Ford dealer. After plunking down the requisite $24,495, your brand-new Focus ST will be shipped to Shelby American HQ in Las Vegas, where a check for $14,995 will cover the rest of the Carroll treatment. Included in that nearly 15 grand is an optional tour of the Shelby museum if you so choose to pick up your new Focus in Vegas, or it can be shipped back to your local dealer.

2013 Shelby Focus ST Photo Gallery

2013 Detroit Auto Show

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Marchionne Says Nine-Speed Auto Still in the Works for Dodge Dart [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

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By Daniel Pund

In a press conference today at the Detroit auto show, Fiat head honcho Sergio Marchionne acknowledged that the C-segment Dodge Dart has been something of a sales disappointment for the company.

Marchionne places the blame for the weak sales on the Dart’s available transmissions. Marchionne describes the six-speed manual (with which the Dart launched) and the six-speed dual-clutch automatic that came shortly after as, “not the ideal solution for this market.” Based on our test drives of the manual and the dual-clutch, we think his description is something of an understatement.

In hopes of delivering to the market a product that does not annoy buyers, Chrysler will add a ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic gearbox that will be seen first in the replacement for the Jeep Liberty this spring. Unlike the dual-clutch unit currently available, the nine-speed will be a conventional torque-converter that Marchionne (and us) anticipate will better suit the expectations of American C-segment buyers.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

This Toyota 2000GT Runs on the Sun’s Good Vibes—and Electricity [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

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By John Lamm

When Chiba Toyopet in Tokyo “garage found” this 1967 Toyota 2000GT, it was a mess. No problem, because the value of one of the rare Toyota sports cars is such that it’s well worth restoring. One of the 351 original cars ever made was sold at Pebble Beach last year for $647,000. So, off this find went to be restored to Concours d’Elegance–level greatness, right? Well, yes, it was restored, and to auto show–snuff, too. But rather than returning the 2000GT to its original-’60s-supercar status, it was given a solar-powered electric drivetrain and dubbed the 2000GT Solar Electric Vehicle (SEV). 

The work was done by the Toyota Automotive Lovers Association, which fitted the the infamous sports car with some components out of a Lexus LS600h hybrid. Solar panels have been mounted on the hood and the rear window, with power being stored in a 40-kWh lithium-ion battery. Output from the system is estimated at 181 horsepower, with a top speed somewhere in the mid-80-mph range. (A regular, gasoline-powered 2000GT has a top speed of 124 mph.)

Unfortunately, the 2000GT SEV lacks the practicality of a proper EV. The car’s solar panels require two weeks to fully charge its battery, and 240-volt charging necessitates that the car remain plugged in for roughly 12 hours.

Now, while the car sits in its electric state, Chiba Toyopet did, in fact, restore all the internal-combustion components alongside the rest of the rehab. So this 2000GT has all the necessary bits ready to re-convert it to its original-’60s-supercar stardom, and rumor has it that the car eventually revert to its gasoline-drinking roots.


2013 Detroit Auto Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Volkswagen Adds R-Line Trim to 2014 Tiguan and Touareg Models [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

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By John Lamm

2014 Volkswagen Touareg R-Line

Volkswagen has gotten into the habit lately of adding a little visual zest to its lineup without piling on more ponies. Throughout the past year, VW has introduced the stylish R-Line trim to both its Beetle and its CC. At this year’s Detroit auto show, the brand is debuting the same treatment for the Tiguan and the Touareg.

The Tiguan R-Line builds off the SEL model and can be had with front-wheel drive or 4MOTION all-wheel drive, with power arriving from the VW Group’s ubiquitous 2.0-liter turbo four. R-Line Tiguans ride on 19-inch aluminum wheels with low-profile all-season tires and a sport-tuned suspension. Spotter’s-guide exterior additions include chrome-trimmed body-color side skirts, add-on fender flares, a specific rear spoiler, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, and the requisite R-Line grille badge. Climb into an R-Line Tiguan and notable additions to be found include a new scuff plate, aluminum pedals, a flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters, metallic-finish trim on the dash and door, and a black headliner. Sounds will stream from a 400-watt, eight-speaker-plus-subwoofer Fender audio system.

The Touareg R-Line makes use of the Lux trim level, and it provides a choice in engine: the 333-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 or, for diesel fans, the 225-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel. Both come with an eight-speed automatic, standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive, and sport suspension. This R-Line runs on 20-inch aluminum wheels and the exterior eye candy includes a new lower front facia, side skirts, LED taillights, oval exhaust tips and, of course, the critical R-Line badging. Interior upgrades include shiny black– and aluminum trim for the doors, center console, and dash; as well as an R-Line flat-bottom steering wheel; aluminum sport pedals; and stainless-steel scuff plates.

Pricing information isn’t available as of yet, but we would discourage rushing to the nearest VW dealer to find out—the 2014 Tiguan and Touareg R-Lines won’t go on sale until the fall.

Volkswagen Touareg R-Line Photo Gallery
2013 Detroit Auto Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

2013 Ram 3500 HD Towing Capability Upped to 30,000 Pounds

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By John Lamm

It never hurts to have a lot of pull, particularly when you’re talking pickup trucks. So for 2013, Ram has upgraded its 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups, the latter trumping the competition by quite a margin. The 3500 Heavy Duty has had its trailer capacity bumped up to 30,000 pounds compared it its nearest competitor’s 23,100 pounds. What’s more, it’s GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating), which includes the weight of the truck, trailer, and the load being carried, has been upped to 37,600 pounds compared to the other guys’ 30,500. Ram 2500s have had their capacities also increased to 18,350 and 25,000 pounds, leading the 3/4-ton class.

Also new for 2013 are a factory-integrated fifth-wheel and gooseneck hitch mount, a 17,000-pound Class V hitch with 1800 pounds of tongue weight, and electronic stability control for dual-rear-wheel layouts. Very handy will be a camera mounted in the high-mounted stoplight to make it easier when hooking up the likes of a fifth wheel.

Making all this work required a myriad of changes. The frame now is of 50,000-pound-per-square-inch, high-strength steel, which now houses a new suspension. The transfer case, transmission, and 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel all were upgraded, the latter now with 385 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque and—important to budget-conscious haulers—15,000-mile oil change intervals.

Also improved to match the higher ratings were the cooling system, driveshafts, and U-joints. A new active-air-intake system allows for extreme heat or high altitudes and both engine- and transmission-cooling systems have dual radiators/coolers.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Dodge Blackens Its Minivan and Crossovers with Blacktop Packages [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

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By Erik Johnson

2013 Dodge Blacktop Editions

How many of us dads have had this thought: Y’know, my neck tattoo, flat-brimmed hat, and sweet chinstrap beard tell the world I’m a total bad-ass when I’m in the mall pushing a stroller, but what about when I’m on the highway? How do I let people know that, yeah, I may have kids and I may drive a responsible family vehicle with seating for up to seven, but I still have it on lockdown? We’re in luck: Dodge has announced that it will offer “sinister” Blacktop option packages for the Grand Caravan, Journey, and Durango. (Of course, there’s also the Town & Country S. Chrysler as a whole is pretty obsessed with black.)

The Dodge Durango can be blackened for just $295, which adds a glossy black grille and black 20-inch wheels to Rallye and R/T models. (The Rallye package itself is a $1995 option for SXT models.) The interior of the former, with its 295-horse 3.6-liter V-6, can be upfitted to R/T spec with suede seat inserts, red accent stitching, black wood trim, and a power driver’s seat with power lumbar support—carrying around those cojones is hell on the lower back—for an additional $595. The R/T, of course, features a 360-hp Hemi V-8. Available colors are white, black, silver, gray, and red.

The Dodge Journey Blacktop edition can be ordered with five- or seven-passenger seating, a choice of the 173-hp four-cylinder base engine or the 283-hp Pentastar V-6, and front- or all-wheel drive. Exterior colors include two whites, two reds, gray, silver, and black. Nineteen-inch black wheels and an 8.4-inch infotainment touch screen are fitted, while the grille, front fascia trim, headlamp surrounds, and mirror caps are black. The kit costs $995.

Finally, the Grand Caravan—albeit only the SXT trim—can be fitted with Blacktop stuff for $595. It includes 17-inch aluminum rollers with black-painted pockets, a black grille, black headlamp bezels, and a set of fog lamps. Darkness reigns inside: The seats, headliner, center console, and door panels are black, and silver stitching is applied throughout. The exterior color palette is essentially the same as with the other two models.

These people haulers join the pavement-themed Charger, Challenger, and Avenger already available, and Dodge says this completes the Blacktop lineup, so don’t expect a Dart. Unless you pour asphalt on yours. Which would be just like a bad-ass.

2013 Dodge Blacktop Editions Photo Gallery

2013 Detroit Auto Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Volvo Shows Off Touch-Screen Retrofit for XC60, S60 [2013 CES]

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By Alexander Stoklosa

Volvo Parrot system

Compared to other major automakers, Volvo had a relatively small booth at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show—the company actually shared floor space with Ericsson—but the Swedish brand made a compelling infotainment-specific announcement. Volvo is working with both Ericsson and Parrot to roll out an unusual update to its latest in-car infotainment setup. The collaborative effort will result in (at first) a dealer-installed retrofit kit that partially transforms the automaker’s central display screen to essentially an Android touch-screen unit with an all-new, app-based interface optimized for touch control.

Perhaps the most bizarre aspect of the new system is that it lends the seven-inch screen found in the XC60 crossover and S60 sedan (plus the V60 wagon not available here) an intriguing dual nature. That’s because the stock display interface—controlled by steering-wheel and dash-mounted buttons and knobs—is maintained for all of the car’s key functions like navigation, climate-control, and settings. The retrofitted touch-screen system is accessed from the main menu by clicking on a new “Connected” entry; this switches the central display to a slightly different-looking interface stuffed with apps like Spotify, TuneIn, and Parrot Maps and that is operable via touch inputs.

This secondary sub-menu gains touch control via infrared emitters fitted around the screen; break the infrared beam with your finger, a stick, or pretty much any pointy object, and the system can place the location of your “touch” and translate that into a button push—hence the stock seven-inch display doesn’t need to be replaced with a capacitive-touch screen. The touch-operated “Connected” sub-menu is based on Parrot’s Android-based Asteroid car infotainment system software; it runs off a fist-sized, glove-box-mounted hardware box. Apps can be downloaded directly to the box from Parrot’s Asteroid app market via a mobile-phone hotspot (phones are connected via wi-fi or a USB connection) or a USB 3G data card. The hardware in the glove box is wired directly into Volvo’s stock infotainment system. Ericsson’s contribution to the system will be cloud support for the various compatible apps and functions, though at present, specifics on the cloud functionality are scarce.

Volvo representatives on hand at CES shied away from describing the retrofit setup outright as a stopgap measure designed to fill the gap between now and when the company’s next-generation, modular Scalable Platform Architecture come online (with modular engines, structures, and infotainment). That said, we’re told elements of the retrofit kit are being looked at for Volvo’s next-gen infotainment system. For now, it looks like the dealer-installed retrofit interface will show up in Europe early this year, followed by a factory-installed version closer to the end of 2013. Although details on the system were thin at CES, we expect more finalized info will arrive before the new system hits the U.S., though timing, pricing, and availability have not yet been finalized. Because the touch-screen doodads and secondary computer are designed to work with Volvo’s semi-standardized seven-inch display, it can be fitted to any post-2010 Volvo XC60, S60, or V60 wagon.

2013 Consumer Electronics Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

BMW’s “Caught” Commercial: Politically Incorrect or Right On? [The Ad Section]

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By Don Klein

BMW’s “Caught” Commercial: Politically Incorrect or Right On? [The Ad Section]

Award-winning ad man-cum-auto journalist Don Klein knows a good (or bad) car commercial when he sees one; the Ad Section is his space to tell you what he thinks of the latest spots. The ad’s rating is depicted via the shift pattern at the bottom, but everyone has an opinion when it comes to advertising, so hit Backfires below and tell us what you think, too.

Ultimately, of course, the reaction to any television commercial is in the eye (and ear) of the beholder: What you perceive isn’t necessarily the same as what everyone else across America perceives, even though we’re seeing and hearing the exact same thing, often at the exact same time. And while that’s true for every commercial, some are potentially more polarizing than others. BMW’s “Caught” is a good case in point.

The spot opens on a boy of privilege picking up his exceedingly gorgeous prom date. After presenting her with a flower, he courteously escorts her to “his” new BMW, likely borrowed from Dad for the big night. We can see from her expression that she is both captivated and delighted. Meanwhile, the Charmed Child makes his way to the driver’s side by walking around the back of the car. When he thinks he’s safely out of sight, he does a little anticipatory victory dance in which he explicitly references her shapely figure. Then he caps it off with an air butt-slap. Even the upbeat soundtrack (The Sonics’ “Have Love, Will Travel”) confirms that things are going his way. But as he settles in behind the wheel, the mood abruptly changes. Blondie’s look of love has morphed into a death stare, and a glance to the Bimmer’s rearview camera screen tells us why: He’s been busted, Big Time. The kid’s boutonniere isn’t the only thing that wilts as he realizes what just happened, but before he can even muster up an excuse she surprises him (and the viewer) by leaning over and planting a big wet one squarely on his mouth. She then shoots him a look that makes me think maybe this isn’t her first prom. There’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to the rearview camera not missing anything, and then it’s over.

My take away? I like it. A lot. On a rational level, I find it believable and appropriate that parents who have safe, mid-range luxury cars let their kids borrow them for special occasions like a prom. I understand and accept that there are beautiful women who at some point were beautiful teenagers, and that when they were, they sometimes went to their proms with guys who borrowed their fathers’ BMWs. (My date had to settle for my Dad’s Pontiac.) I accept that just because the kids in the commercial are rich—go back and look at her necklace; it’s probably her mother’s but stunning nonetheless—that doesn’t mean they’re bad people. In fact, I find them rather likable. And I find it totally believable that beautiful rich kids are subject to the same hormonal impulses as everyone else their age. Call me crazy, but I was glad when she kissed him. And that look she gives him. Didn’t the Black Eyed Peas have a hit based on nights like this? So good for him and his goofy sideburns. And good for her, too.

5th GearAs for the rearview camera, its functionality isn’t news and BMW knows it. You can get one on a sub-twenty-grand Kia Rio, for Pete’s sake. But it’s a great excuse to do some brand bonding via a commercial that viscerally appeals to the guys who buy 3- and 5-series: When they see this commercial, they see themselves. They’re the guy with the hot car and the hot date. That’s what this commercial is all about. It has little to do with product features, or their own kids.

So that’s my perception. And I’m sure not everyone agrees. Some might find it sexist, claiming it demeans women by objectifying them, or that the actress sets a bad example by her aggressive behavior. Some might say it perpetuates stereotypes by glorifying spoiled rich kids. Some might deem it senseless because it doesn’t show a practical application of the camera (like every other manufacturer boringly does). And some—if they’re honest—might hate it just because it makes them jealous.

The Ad Section encourages healthy debate, so come on, folks: Am I the only one who thinks this is a terrific spot?

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Cadillac Hypes its Extended-Range ELR Hybrid in Camo [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

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By Justin Berkowitz

General Motors’ quest to position Cadillac as a global luxury brand can’t stop with offering competitive product, it would seem. To truly enter the echelon of top-tier premium vehicles, Cadillac must—like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, among others—release its own “spy” photos of a camouflaged pre-production model. In this case, the future Cadillac ELR is shown wrapped in what resemble recycled parachute pants, looking quite similar to the car we photographed in October and resolutely less elegant than it did in an official preview photo released a few days ago. The car is scheduled to debut in Motown next week.

2014 Cadillac ELR preview

Even without the disguise, the ELR’s plug-in-hybrid powertrain would remain something of a mystery; we do know that it will deliver more power and have a longer EV-only range than its mechanical bro, the Chevy Volt. For a full preview of the plug-in-hybrid ELR, you can read our scoop story here. Check back next week for photos of the Cadillac ELR live from the floor of the 2013 Detroit auto show, as well as full details from GM. They won’t even be covered in camo.

2013 Detroit Auto Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Ford Opens AppLink API to Developers, Announces Raft of New Sync-Compatible Apps [2013 CES]

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By Alexander Stoklosa

Ford Developer Program

Ford is going app crazy at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, introducing a bevy of new Sync-compatible apps and announcing that it is opening its AppLink code to developers. Taking a cue from the mobile-device industry, Ford is letting app developers get their hands on the company’s AppLink—Ford-speak for the basic code necessary for making iOS or Android apps compatible with the Sync infotainment system‘s voice and button controls. In even simpler terms, AppLink is the conduit that allows drivers to manipulate phone-based apps via Sync’s in-car controls—the apps themselves don’t actually “live” in the car’s hardware. 

By opening up AppLink to developers, Ford is hoping there will be a rush to introduce many more Sync-friendly apps. But it won’t be a complete free-for-all; Ford might be furnishing its code to the outside world, but the results still need to pass Ford muster. That means that all AppLink-compatible apps created or converted under the Ford Developer Program will need to successfully complete a review process before being approved for use in Sync-equipped vehicles. Developers need only to register with Ford to participate in the creative process; Ford provides the software developer kit with the necessary code, tech support, and access to a wider developer community.

As for the metric carload of newly Sync-compatible apps, here they are:

Wall Street Journal (live and on-demand radio content)
USA Today (listen to articles and headlines; play, pause, skip, move within stories)
Kaliki (reads select newspaper and magazine articles aloud, subscription free)
Amazon Cloud Player (streams personal music collection from the cloud)
Aha Radio (on-demand music, internet radio, podcasts)
Rhapsody (on-demand music, internet radio)
Greater Media (live-stream radio)
Glympse (location-sharing)
BeCouply (date-night suggestion tool)

These apps join a library of other mobile-device-based apps like NPR, Pandora, and more that already can manipulated via Sync controls.

2013 Consumer Electronics Show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Fiat to Increase Its Share of Chrysler to 65.2 Percent

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By John Lamm

General Motors and Ford are scrambling to minimize their exposure in the crumbling European market, closing or selling factories. Fiat is doing no better on the Continent, and is pushing to increase its stake in Chrysler, and the U.S. makes sense considering the Pentastar now has had 33 straight months of better year-over-year sales. In a financially technical statement that makes the small print in a credit card application read like a Dick and Jane story, Fiat is exercising an option to buy “approximately 3.3 percent of Chrysler’s outstanding equity.”

Those outstanding shares belong to the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (VEBA), through which the Italian marque has an agreement to purchase 3.3-percent stakes in Chrysler every six months through 2016 as a part of Fiat’s initial deal with the Detroit manufacturer. Fiat has put the value of this 3.3-percent stake at $198 million. When it’s all said and done, the latest chunk of stock would take Fiat’s stake in the U.S. automaker would climb to 65.2 percent.

Just one little problem remains: money. Fiat valued the stake it purchased in July at $140 million. VEBA estimated those shares were worth $343 million. Last September, a Delaware Chancery Court was asked to provide a judgment to confirm the price and a determination is expected within a few months.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Analysts: U.S. Car Market Will Continue to Grow Toward Pre-Recession Levels in 2013

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By Justin Berkowitz

Early next week, you’ll be able to read our analysis of auto sales in the U.S. in 2012, but for now, we’re checking in with number-crunching industry analysts looking to the coming year.

Though far sharper than your local weather guy, automotive sales forecasters still are aiming for precision in an impossibly imprecise task. Resulting expectations for 2013 vary from analyst to analyst, but all are pointing in the same direction: continued growth of the U.S. new car market from 2012’s sales of 14.5 million units. Most agree that next year won’t grow at the same rate we did from 2011 to 2012, because we’re moving out of economic-recovery mode. Those people who couldn’t—or wouldn’t—buy a new car in 2008 and 2009 now have, for the most part, bought those new cars.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ

Polk, a market research and analysis company—with which we’ve worked in gathering data for some very cool articles—pegs the 2013 market in the U.S. at 15.3 million units. Jesse Toprak, of TrueCar.com tweeted his projection of 15.5 million. Organizations with a broader focus vary a bit more; GE Capital says its projection of 15.2 million is looking “increasingly conservative.”

These projections have the volatility of oxygen-argon plasma. If the economy slips back into recession, 2013 will drop at least a million sales from 2012’s number. Alternatively, if we continue a recovery mostly free from job growth, sales could linger without expanding. More major meteorological events, like Hurricane Sandy, briefly will kill sales, then crank them up as people replace wrecked rides. Several major models either are just hitting the market or will be introduced in 2013, too—the new GM pickups, the Honda Accord, and the Ford Fusion chief among them—and that could give a little boost as well.

Maybe the weatherman does have it easier.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

The Question: Ford Mustang V6 or VW GTI for $350/Month? [Lease Throwdown!]

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By Justin Berkowitz

2013 Ford Mustang V-6 vs. 2013 Volkswagen GTI Lease Throwdown
2013 FORD MUSTANG V-6 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GTI
$329 typical monthly payment, $0 down $374
$11,844 total payments, 36 months $13,464
$22,995 sticker price $24,790
305-hp V-6
6-speed manual		 powertrain turbocharged 200-hp inline-4
6-speed manual
0-to-60 mph: 5.4 seconds
1/4-mile: 14.0 seconds @ 104 mph		 acceleration 0-to-60 mph: 6.3 seconds
1/4-mile: 14.9 seconds @ 96 mph
19/29 EPA city/highway fuel economy, mpg 21/31
Watched from the sidelines as the V-8 Mustangs made the 10Best list, then trounced a V-6 Camaro for revenge C/D trophy case Seven-time 10Best winner, recently took down a 263-hp Mazdaspeed 3 in a comparo
Superb balance and nimbleness strengths Steering weight and response, engine flexibility
Oddly clumsy in our lane-change test, low top-speed governor (114 mph) weaknesses Brakes prone to fading, nose-heavy, recently lost to a Focus ST in a comparo
It’ll depreciate $12,000 in three years. why lease instead of buy? It’ll be warrantied the whole time you have it.
Spend most of my commute making slight steering corrections while looking through the side windows. in inclement weather, i . . . Gloat to myself about front-wheel drive’s superior stability.
Two of them are usually children. Small children. when i have three other people with me . . . I want the adults in the back seat to think we’re in an adult car.
Fuel economy in a cool retro package. reason you tell people you got it Fun and utility.
A Mustang GT was too expensive. real reason you got it Drives, looks, and feels like a German car—because it is one.
Go late at night and do donuts in the parking lot. when i go to costco, i . . Buy so much stuff I almost think I need a U-Haul to get home. But a spacious hatchback will do.
America, God shed his grace on thee. america . . . You want to talk about progressive income taxes or the pervasiveness of genetically modified potatoes?
Real men get rear-wheel drive. get it instead of the other one because . . . Refinement matters.

From the October 2012 issue of CAR and DRIVER magazine


Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

More Than 400 Chevrolet Dealers Opt Out of Selling Volt Due to Higher Cost of Service Tools

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By Alexander Stoklosa

2013 Chevrolet Volt

It might seem like an odd concept, but dealerships are not obligated to sell every model an automaker produces—if a model isn’t popular or profitable, dealers can decide to drop it altogether. This phenomenon, first reported by Automotive News and confirmed to us by a Chevrolet spokesperson, currently is being acted out in more than 400 Chevy dealerships nationwide where the Volt plug-in hybrid is being dropped from showrooms. The reason? Chevrolet is requiring that Volt-certified dealers equip their service departments with $5100 worth of new tools this year, and some stores just don’t feel like coughing up the dough.

Each year, Chevrolet allows its dealers to opt out of selling certain vehicles, so this year, when Chevy raised the service-tool costs for the Volt from $2800 to $5100, some stores decided the Volt wasn’t worth it. (Chevy annually updates its service requirements for its models—the Volt included—and so even though the newly required tools this year cost more, dealers only have to buy them once.) Now before you go ballyhooing the Volt as some kind of failure, a Chevy spokesperson told us that the dealerships that dropped the Volt accounted for less than one percent of the car’s annual sales. Imagine, if you will, that you sell Volts. If you sell 100 Volts a year, spending $5100 on equipment specifically for servicing that particular vehicle doesn’t cut into profit margins too greatly; if you sell only a handful, well, your per-car profit is more deeply affected.

So why the huge year-over-year increase in service tool costs? According to Chevrolet, a large chunk of the increase comes from a new battery-depowering tool that allows service departments to power down the Volt’s battery pack so that pieces of the pack may be sent back to Chevy for maintenance rather than the entire unit. Such equipment likely would have prevented the NHTSA’s famous Volt crash-test fires, we’re told by outside sources.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

2013 Ford Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid EPA-Certified, Earns 100 MPGe Combined Rating

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By Alexander Stoklosa

2013 Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid

Ford has announced fuel-economy figures for the 2013 Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, which goes on sale in January, and the sedan’s EPA ratings vault it to the top of the plug-in-hybrid sedan fuel-efficiency heap. Granted, that heap is pretty short—it currently includes just the Toyota Prius plug-in, the Chevrolet Volt, the Fisker Karma, and Ford’s own C-Max Energi—but the Fusion Energi’s 100-MPGe (miles-per-gallon of gas equivalent) combined rating nonetheless grants Ford efficiency bragging rights for the time being.

Ford’s Energi sedan’s other economy figures are 108 MPGe in the city and 92 on the highway, and all three numbers mirror those of the C-Max Energi. There, as they say, lies the rub, of course—Ford is being dragged into the spotlight over the veracity of the impressive fuel-economy claims for its C-Max hybrid (the non-plug-in C-Max variant) and Fusion hybrid. That’s not to say the Fusion Energi’s numbers are false or misleading, but it shares its powertrain with the cordless Fusion hybrid and the C-Max twins, so Ford’s claims for its hybrids could all soon fall under question. For reference, Toyota’s Prius plug-in is rated for 95 MPGe combined; the Chevy Volt is good for 98 (its numbers were increased for 2013); and the Fisker Karma musters just 54.

Against the segment’s most-visible player, the Chevrolet Volt, the Fusion Energi brings more than just a higher MPGe figure—it’s slightly less expensive, to boot. The Ford starts at $39,495, $500 less than the Volt; the Chevy wins in electric-only range, however, with a 38-mile rating for electric-only running to the Fusion Energi’s roughly-20-mile gas-free operating radius.

Source: Car & Driver

Automobiles

Mercedes-AMG Developing Twin-Turbo 4.0-Liter V-8 for Next-Gen C63 and SLS Replacement

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By Jens Meiners

Mercedes-AMG’s M156 ad M159, the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 that powers the SLS and the C63, won’t be around for much longer.

Insiders close to Mercedes-Benz have confirmed a report by Autocar claiming that the AMG version of the next-generation C-class and the successor to the SLS will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. Car and Driver can further reveal that the engine, code-named M177, will produce between 460 and 500 hp in the next-gen C—which will come to market in 2015. For use in the SLS’s replacement, which is set for a 2016 launch, the powerplant will be referred to as M178 and will produce in the region of 590 hp.

This news spells the end for the legendary M156/M159 6.2-liter V-8, a naturally aspirated mill designed by Bernd Ramler, an engineer who was deeply involved in the conception of the 604-hp, 5.7-liter V-1o that powered the Porsche Carrera GT. The M177/M178 also could eventually replace the M157—the twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 that currently powers the entirety of AMG’s lineup outside the SLS, the C63, and the SLK55. The SLK55 AMG’s naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-8—code-named M152—also is set to be replaced, and the new 4.0-liter turbo would be the likeliest of successors.

What happens to the nomenclature of the new models isn’t known yet. We believe that the misleading “63″ moniker applied to all V-8–powered AMG models—with the exception of the SLK55—will remain. It’s also possible AMG could adopt “60″ as the new handle for its V-8s. A displacement-appropriate name of “40″ is out of the question with the introduction of the A45 and upcoming CLA45, both of which will be powered by a high-output 2.0-liter turbo four.

With the new engine, AMG will offer a displacement identical to Audi’s twin-turbo V-8, which powers several S and RS versions and the Bentley Continental GT V-8. Although Mercedes will have cut 2200 cubic centimeters from its C63, that car’s direct competition in BMW’s next-gen M3 and M4 as well as Cadillac’s upcoming ATS-V will be powered by turbocharged six-cylinders—further proof that the more-horses-from-fewer-cubes war rages on.

Source: Car & Driver

Automobiles

Alfa Romeo’s Product Plans Through 2016 Allegedly Leak Online

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By Alexander Stoklosa

Alfa Romeo product plan 2016

The Greek website Autoblog.gr claims to have obtained Alfa Romeo’s proposed product plans for the next four years, a time frame that includes the Italian automaker’s proposed return to the U.S. (Here’s our recent take on which vehicles you can expect here.) The plans are laid out on what appear to be presentation slides, and even though they are somewhat vague, the product breakdowns back up most of what we already knew about Alfa’s upcoming products, both globally and for the States. The documentation details the company’s aggressive product expansion through 2016 from its current, weak two-model lineup (the subcompact MiTo and compact Giulietta) to nine entries. 

The larger slide includes a graph placing nine new Alfa Romeo models on two axes based on price and size. There is one B-segment model, followed by one C-segment, three D-segment vehicles, one E-segment, and three “specialties.”

The B-sized ride is the MiTo hatchback and the C is the Giulietta (which shares its architectural basis with the new Dodge Dart). The D-sized players are the upcoming Giulia mid-sized sedan and wagon, as well as a compact crossover based on the next Jeep Compass/Patriot. The E-segment offering will be a large, rear-drive sedan loosely based on that Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger bones that also will underpin the upcoming Maserati Ghibli.

Finally, the specialty Alfas, all of which are sports cars, include the mid-engined 4C coupe and roadster, plus the new Duetto/Spider rear-drive roadster that will be architecturally twinned with the next Mazda Miata.

Comparison Test: 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye vs. 2012 Ford Focus SE
Instrumented Test: 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo
First Drive: 2013 Dodge Dart 2.0L Automatic

Alfa Romeo product plan 2016

Also among Autoblog.gr’s leaked info is an unlabeled timeline showing which models will arrive each year between now and 2016. (It’s unclear from the documentation whether the years are calendar years or model years.) The current MiTo is aging, so our guess is that its replacement falls under the 2013 header, although we don’t expect it to be sold in the United States. That year should bring a refreshed Giulietta, too. Next to arrive will be the all-new 4C for 2014, followed in 2015 by the Duetto/Spider, the Giulia sedan and wagon, and the compact crossover. Finally, 2016 will see the arrival of the large E-segment sedan and probably a fully redesigned Giulietta. (Other interpretations: The rear-drive flagship may be a 2015 entrant, and may be assembled in North America given that one icon lacks an Italian flag. The 4C coupe and roadster timing might also be staggered.)

Alfa’s slides include a strong emphasis on becoming a “truly global premium brand” with “significant sales” in NAFTA (North American) and EMEA (European, Middle Eastern, and African) markets. The brand is currently due here in 2014, a target we look forward to seeing Alfa Romeo meet after years of false promises regarding a return to the U.S.

Source: Car & Driver

Automobiles

Volvo’s “Little Red” Commercial: Good Example of the Tail Wagging the Wolf [The Ad Section]

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By Don Klein

Volvo’s “Little Red” Commercial Is a Good Example of the Tail Wagging the Wolf [The Ad Section]

Award-winning ad man-cum-auto journalist Don Klein knows a good (or bad) car commercial when he sees one; the Ad Section is his space to tell you what he thinks of the latest spots. The ad’s rating is depicted via the shift pattern at the bottom, but everyone has an opinion when it comes to advertising, so hit Backfires below and tell us what you think, too.

Upon casual viewing, Volvo’s S60 commercial appears simply to be a modern take on an old fairy tale wherein good triumphs over evil. The commercial opens in a dark, spooky forest. Cut to distant headlights piercing the misty fog. A series of beauty shots reveals they’re coming from a blood red S60 being driven by a handsome young father. While all this is taking place, we hear Sam the Sham and the Pharaoh’s iconic ’60s hit “Li’l Red Riding Hood,” freshly (and excellently) covered by Laura Gibson.

Suddenly the Volvo screeches to a halt as it encounters a wolf roadblock. Well, it consists of just one wolf, but this particular critter (a professional stunt animal whose name in real life is Kane) is pretty big and has a nasty, toothy snarl, so he gets the job done on his own. He holds the Volvo at bay by baying until the S60 revs up and lets loose a snarl of its own, at which point Kane turns into a sniveling puddle of wolf pudding and sulks off.

Triumphant, Volvo Dad drives on, turning as he does to ask his adorable little daughter (who is art directed to the teeth in a red hooded jacket), “What does the wolf say?” Safely ensconced in her Volvo OEM child seat, she leans back, closes her eyes, and reels off her best Sam the Sham “Ahooooo!” (Although, based on what she just witnessed, shouldn’t she have made little whimpering noises?)

Thanks to top-notch cinematography and directing, the spot is eye-catching and fun to watch. And its implied message that Volvos are safe havens in an unsafe world is totally in keeping with the brand’s DNA. But the commercial commits the ultimate sin of hanging its hat on something that’s not specific to the product: Any car will trump a wolf. It doesn’t need to be a Volvo, it doesn’t need to have a turbocharged engine, and it certainly doesn’t need to be red. Even wolf pups know that sheetmetal of any make or model wreaks havoc on the fangs, not to mention the digestive system. Besides, people don’t need much “protecting from” wolves anyway: The number of fatal attacks by wolves in the past 100 years is minuscule. So even if you’re wearing Lady Gaga’s meat dress and driving a Miata with the top down, you’re probably going to live to tell the tale.

Comparison Test: 2012 BMW 328i vs. Audi A4, Infiniti G25, Mercedes C250, Volvo S60
Comparison Test: Buick Regal GS vs. Volvo S60 R-Design
Instrumented Test: Volvo S60 T6 AWD

But of course, this commercial isn’t really about Little Red Riding Hood. It’s about Volvo’s massive product placement investment in the Twilight movie franchise. That handsome Volvo Dad? He’s supposed to evoke Edward, Twilight’s leading vampire, who’s really a decent and nurturing chap despite the fact that he wants to suck your blood. Apparently, women find him irresistible. Or at least the kind of women who buy Volvos.

3rd GearIf you’re not a “Twifan,” this might not make a whole lot of sense. But millions of people—often young, often female—have paid big cash to see the Twilight films. In its first two weeks alone, Breaking Dawn: Part 2 grossed $237 million in total domestic ticket sales. And guess what Edward drives in the flick? (Hint: it’s Swedish and begins with V).

So in fact, this commercial is designed more to reinforce the product-placement deal and its extensive social-media effort than meets your big eyes. And given the franchise’s phenomenal success with a big chunk of Volvo’s target audience, that’s not a dumb thing. Yes, the spot sort of stands on its own, but in the absence of a Twilight deal, do you really think this is the way Volvo would pitch the ostensibly male-oriented S60 sports sedan? Neither do I.

Source: Car & Driver