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U.S. Grand Prix Circuit to be Built 20 Miles South of Austin

Jake Holmes — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:28:08 +0000

The organizers behind the planned Formula 1 track in Austin, Texas, have bought 900 acres of land on which to build the all-new racetrack. The location, represented as a red rectangle on the above interactive map, is about 20 miles south of the center of Austin (denoted by the green pin stuck in the word Austin), and less than 10 miles from Austin’s airport (the blue airplane symbol). Organizers Full Throttle Productions, McCombs Partners, and Prophet Capital Management have secured rights to host an F1 race in Austin from 2012 through 2021. The track will be designed by German designer Hermann Tilke and his company, Tilke GmbH, most recently responsible for the Formula 1 circuit in Abu Dhabi with construction currently underway on an F1 track in India, among other projects. The Austin track’s layout will be revealed later this year. Assuming everything goes as planned, the Austin race will be the first U.S. F1 race since 2007, and the first American track specifically designed for F1 racing. As race fans, we’re hoping everything falls into place for Texas to receive the return of the U.S. Grand Prix in 2012. Related posts: Grandee Grand Prix – Car News Formula 1 to Race on All-New Track in Austin, Texas From 2012 Tsukuba Racing Circuit . . . in Ohio?

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U.S. Grand Prix Circuit to be Built 20 Miles South of Austin

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG / CL65 AMG – Official Photos and Info

Jake Holmes — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:19:00 +0000

New style, more power, and extra gadgets for the go-fast CL63 and CL65. Low-flying private jets, tire-liquefying gentlemen’s expresses—whatever you call Mercedes’ CL63 and CL65 AMG models, they’re going to take more names and kick more assumptions to the curb after a 2011 refresh. There are the expected visual tweaks, but the real action is under the surface, where new electronic gadgets join a revised engine lineup. Keep Reading: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG / CL65 AMG – Official Photos and Info Related posts: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – Official Photos and Info 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing – Official Photos and Info 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL-class / CL550 / CL600 – Official Photos and Info

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2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG / CL65 AMG – Official Photos and Info

European and U.S. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta: The Differences

Jordan Brown — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:16:08 +0000

Haven’t had enough 2011 Jetta? Dive back into our impromptu Jetta Week coverage for our first drive , a spin in a GLI prototype , hybrid news , info about the next SportWagen , and some more tidbits hidden in The Continental . Or don’t—Ed. At $16,755, the Jetta is “surprisingly priced” according to VW PR. Unsurprisingly, such a price point requires serious cost-cutting. And while all Jettas come out of the same Puebla, Mexico, plant (Chinese production comes later), the models destined for Europe and the U.S. differ significantly. Based on the “PQ35 Low-Cost” platform, the Jetta is cheaper than the Golf by a strong margin—$1625, to be exact. All Jettas have a steel front subframe, while on other PQ35 derivatives, it’s made of aluminum. But the European Jetta keeps the Golf’s multilink rear axle; U.S. models get a specially developed torsion-beam rear axle. The EU Jetta’s electric power steering goes out in favor of hydraulic power steering, which is less precise and less efficient—but cheaper. That said, it’s also effortless, and it goes quite well with the comfy U.S. suspension if you don’t insist on spending your weekends on the track. While the U.S.-destined TDI version shares the European TDI’s engine and DSG transmission, gasoline-powered American Jettas are driven by two naturally aspirated engines: the venerable 115-hp, 2.0-liter four and 170-hp, 2.5-liter five, available with a manual gearbox or an Aisin-supplied torque-converter automatic. Europe, by contrast, gets turbocharged four-cylinder TSI engines: a 1.2-liter, two 1.4-liter strengths, and one 2.0-liter unit (which will be sold here as the GLI later). They are more efficient but more expensive to produce than their U.S. counterparts, and they lack the prestige of the higher displacement and the higher cylinder count of the five. For Europe, there is no more conventional automatic: Besides the standard manuals, VW offers only six- and seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions. The EU Jetta features a soft-touch upper dashboard, four-gauge instrumentation, and an advanced electronics architecture designed to handle VW’s top nav systems—even in the entry-level 1.2 TSI. The U.S. models don’t. If your performance-loving soul is tortured by these alterations, relief is around the corner: The upcoming GLI gives you just about everything that defines the Euro Jettas, including electric power steering, the multilink rear axle, and the six-speed DSG, as well as the Euro dashboard, gages, and even the hidden electronic architecture. What’s more, it comes in at less than $24,000—little more than the softer five-cylinder Jetta SEL. That money, of course, will barely get you into a wheezing 1.2-liter TSI in Europe; “surprisingly priced,” apparently, applies not just to U.S. models. Cost-cutting suddenly doesn’t sound all bad, does it? Related posts: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta GLI / 2.0 TSI – First Drive Review 2011 Volkswagen Jetta – Spied 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Nearly Undisguised – Spied

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European and U.S. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta: The Differences

Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 50

Car and Driver — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:25:55 +0000

Hit play for an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note, and then share your guesses or get a few hints from other visitors in the comments below. Be sure to check back on Thursday for the answer! Related posts: Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 37: 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 with Exhaust Cutout Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 8: Audi S8 Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 16: Porsche Cayman S

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Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 50

Nissan Leaf Batteries to Carry 8-Year/100,000-Mile Warranty, Launch Markets Announced

Jake Holmes — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:23:02 +0000

Nissan has announced that the lithium-ion battery pack for the upcoming Leaf electric car will carry an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. That could quell any fears potential customers may have about costly battery replacement down the road (at least for the first eight years of ownership). The announcement comes just hours after Chevrolet revealed pricing for the upcoming Volt , which also has an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty . If you think the timing is more than coincidence, you’re not alone. So far, 17,000 customers have paid the $99 necessary to reserve a Leaf, with real orders beginning in August. The first production Leafs (Leaves?) will be sold in Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington this December—about the same time the Volt will first appear in select regions. Nissan also told us about the preferences of those who have made their reservations. Over 30 percent want their Leaf in blue, with 26 percent asking for a silver car. Three-quarters of buyers are willing to pay $940 extra for the SL trim, which nets a rearview camera, a solar-panel rear spoiler, fog lights, and automatic headlights. As for why they’re interested in buying an electric car, 35 percent of those reserving a Leaf cited energy independence, 34 percent cited environmental consciousness (is everyone else environmentally un conscious?), and 20 percent said the purchase was due to concerns about fuel costs. We’re thinking that many of them and the remaining 11 percent simply want an EV in order to show off their green credentials to friends and neighbors, but that apparently wasn’t an option on Nissan’s survey. Related posts: Chevrolet Volt to Carry 8-Year/100,000-mile Battery Warranty Nissan Announces Joint Venture to Reuse Electric-Car Batteries Nissan Leaf Pricing Clarified (Somewhat)

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Nissan Leaf Batteries to Carry 8-Year/100,000-Mile Warranty, Launch Markets Announced

Hyundai Details 2011 Equus Standard Equipment

Jake Holmes — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:01:09 +0000

As the Hyundai Equus will be positioned to compete with luxury sedans from Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz, it will be loaded to the brim with luxury features when it goes on sale in the U.S. sometime next year. (The Equus is already on sale in South Korea.) There will be two trim levels, Equus Signature and Equus Ultimate. The former has plenty of standard equipment, while those being chauffeured will want to splurge for the Ultimate. Both models feature Hyundai’s 4.6-liter Tau V-8, a six-speed automatic transmission, electric power steering, air suspension, and 19-inch wheels. Standard gadgets on both trims include adaptive HID headlights; parking sensors with a backup camera; keyless ignition; powered, cooled, and heated front seats; a 608-watt, 17-speaker sound system with iPod and XM satellite radio connectivity; and a navigation system with an eight-inch display. Real birch or walnut wood trim is available inside, with leather seats, an Alcantara headliner, and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The driver’s seat packs a massaging feature, and rear passengers can enjoy the privacy of powered shades for the side windows and backlight. As for safety tech, there are nine airbags, plus a lane-departure warning system, adaptive cruise control, collision warning, and seatbelt pretensioners that cinch passengers in place during “critical driving situations.” Ultimate Trim Coddles Your Passengers The Equus Ultimate adds a power trunklid and a forward-facing camera to help drivers see around tight corners. The big news is in back, however, where pampered executives can be chauffeured in the utmost of comfort. There are just two rear seats, which are heated and cooled and can recline, separated by a console with integrated refrigerator. Rear passengers can watch DVDs, control the audio system, or adjust the climate control on an eight-inch LCD screen. And the right-hand-side rear seat has “first class” options: an extendable leg rest, built-in massage feature, and a button to move the front passenger seat forward for full leg extension. Hyundai says the entry price will be around $50K, which would undercut what the company sees as its key competitors, providing an impressive collection of standard equipment. It sounds like the ultimate low-cost livery car, and we won’t be surprised to see them lining the streets in Manhattan, idling among the Town Cars and S-classes. Related posts: 2011 Hyundai Equus – Official U.S. Photos and Info 2011 Hyundai Equus – Official U.S. Photos and Info First (Short) Drive: Hyundai Equus

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Hyundai Details 2011 Equus Standard Equipment

2011 Kia Sportage – First Drive Review

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:10:03 +0000

Kia’s redesigned small SUV attempts to capture male buyers with anti-cute-ute styling. Will the strategy work? Within the ever-growing range of compact SUVs, Kia’s little Sportage has represented a bargain-priced, well-warranted alternative to industry darlings such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. But there’s a reason the others have been the standouts and the Sportage has not: The outgoing model wasn’t dynamically or stylistically compelling. Keep Reading: 2011 Kia Sportage – First Drive Review Related posts: 2011 Kia Sportage – Official Photos 2011 Kia Sportage – Official Photos and Info 2011 Kia Sorento – First Drive Review

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2011 Kia Sportage – First Drive Review

2011 Ford Explorer – Official Photos and Info

Mark Quint — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:24:19 +0000

The Explorer—arguably America’s preeminent body-on-frame SUV—is reborn as a unibody crossover. (And there’s a four-cylinder engine!) At the press preview of the 2011 Explorer, Ford executive Mark Fields said the plan was to reinvent the vehicle “for an SUV market that we still think is very vibrant.” As we’ve known for some time, that reinvention most notably involved abandoning the Explorer’s traditional body-on-frame roots in favor of unibody crossover underpinnings. As a result, one of America’s most recognizable SUV icons now is based on the Taurus’s front-wheel-drive D platform. So even while the name’s the same, the vehicle to which it’s attached is radically different. Keep Reading: 2011 Ford Explorer – Official Photos and Info Related posts: 2011 Ford Edge and Edge Sport – Official Photos and Info 2011 Ford Explorer – Spied 2011 Ford C-Max – Official Photos and Info

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2011 Ford Explorer – Official Photos and Info

Audi RS5 Scheduled for 2012 U.S. Arrival

Jake Holmes — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:15:39 +0000

We’ve been anticipating the Audi RS5 being sold in the U.S. ever since Audi CEO Rupert Stadler confirmed it to us a few months ago. Now we know just how long we have to wait: Audi promises the RS5 will hit American soil in 2012. For a quick refresher, the two-door RS5 packs a 4.2-liter V-8 engine producing 450 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and—as with all Audi RS cars—Quattro all-wheel drive. We recently tested a European-spec car and managed to hit 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and pull 0.98 g on the skidpad. Not bad. Either the RS5 or the TT RS will mark the return of the RS badge to our shores depending, of course, on which arrives here first. Audi is still keeping quiet on pricing and equipment, but expect the RS5 to sticker at similar levels to the BMW M3 and Cadillac CTS- V coupes, at around $70K. Related posts: 2011 Audi RS5 – Spied Audi RS5 Confirmed for U.S. – Car News 2011 Audi RS5 – First Drive Review

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Audi RS5 Scheduled for 2012 U.S. Arrival

Dodge Releases Photos of Mopar ’10 Challenger

Jake Holmes — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:20:18 +0000

Dodge has given us real photos of the Mopar ’10 Challenger , and it looks just as menacing in the sheetmetal as we expected from an earlier sketch. Just 500 will be built, all finished in black with black 20-inch wheels, hood pins, and a functional hood scoop. Buyers get a choice of blue, red, or silver for the side stripes. The cockpit is outfitted with Katzkin leather upholstery featuring Mopar ’10 stitched logos, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a unique dashboard plaque bearing the car’s serial number. Manual-equipped cars get the pistol-grip shifter seen below, although Dodge expects about 80 percent of buyers to choose the automatic, which comes with a T-shaped shift lever. The few mechanical changes comprise a new air intake and strut bracing front and rear. Dodge tells us the intake and the hood scoop should coax an additional 15 hp from the 5.7-liter V-8 engine. The Mopar ’10 Challenger also scores Super Track Pac suspension, a $400 option on other Challengers that bundles better dampers, a new rear axle, upgraded brake pads, and sticky Goodyear tires. Dodge is taking pre-orders for the cars now, and they’ll arrive in dealerships across the country next month. The entry price is $38,000 with an automatic and $39,000 with a manual transmission. Related posts: Mopar Announces Appearance Packages for Dodge Challenger Dodge Launches Special-Edition Mopar ’10 Challenger Mopar Underground Dodge Ram Concepts – Auto Shows

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Dodge Releases Photos of Mopar ’10 Challenger