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Report: Large SUV segment outpacing small car sales growth in America Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, SUV, Crossover 
2011 Infiniti QX56 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Finally, after years and years of stagnation and painfully slow sales, small cars are starting to take a foothold in the United States. Or are they? While conventional wisdom makes us believe that Americans are ready to take the downsizing plunge in the face of - or at least the threat of - high fuel prices and environmental concerns (we're all still watching the Gulf Coast, right?), it seems that reality may once again set us straight.
Automotive sales watchdog Autodata has found that the gas-swilling large SUV segment is growing at a faster pace than the America's small car segment. Like statistics? Here we go: With a 19-percent jump over the first six months of 2010, large SUV sales have outpaced small cars (14 percent). Critically, they've also outpaced the overall market (17 percent).
Now, before we get our feathers riled up too much, realize that sales of large SUVs still lag way behind small cars - 974,000 to 121,000 through the first half of the year. Further, large crossovers like the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Flex, GMC Acadia and Lincoln MKT are included in those figures right alongside traditional behemoths like the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Infiniti QX56 and Toyota Sequoia.
We also expect that small car sales will continue to climb with new models coming to market, such as the upcoming Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Hyundai's Accent and Elantra. That said, there's always going to be a demand for large and powerful SUVs that can haul people and stuff while towing a boat or camper in cool, air-conditioned comfort, and automakers will be only too happy to provide the thick-margined vehicles for their consumption. For better or for worse.
[Source: USA Today via Kicking Tires]Report: Large SUV segment outpacing small car sales growth in America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Unsurprising News of the Day: Ford Explorer Sport Trac is toast Filed under: SUV, Truck, Crossover, Ford 
Ford Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin - Click above for high-res image gallery
When it comes to a new Explorer Sport Trac for 2011, the only real surprise would have been if Ford had actually opted to build one. With the standard Explorer moving to a unit-body architecture, there are no plans for a new pickup truck version, a vehicle that probably would have been something akin to the Honda Ridgeline.
Since the Ridgeline hasn't exactly been flying off dealer's lots, Ford has wisely decided to focus on its full-bodied version, the Explorer. The Blue Oval hasn't made a habit of breaking out Sport Trac sales from its SUV kin, but the Explorer only totaled 52,190 in 2009, so the pickup's volume probably wasn't a huge seller. According to Automotive News' sources, Sport Trac sales usually totaled about 20 to 25 percent of Explorer sales over the last decade, but that number strikes us as curiously high. Over its entire life, we never saw a ton of them - even on the roads around Michigan where domestic pickups are commonplace.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]Unsurprising News of the Day: Ford Explorer Sport Trac is toast originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
X Games 16 Preview: Autoblog rides shotgun with the stars of Rally Car [w/video] Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Hatchback, Ford, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Celebrities, Racing 
X Games 16 Subaru Practice Session - Click above for high-res image gallery
It was just a short time ago - five years, to be exact - that rallying was introduced as a competition in the X Games. The first event started out in spectacular fashion, with Travis Pastrana beating out the late Colin McRae after the former World Rally Championship winner rolled his car with just a few turns to go.
Since then, the competition has become stronger and car manufacturers have increased their involvement as interest in the sport has increased thanks to ESPN's mainstream audience. This year looks to be one of the most exciting events yet with a host of new cars, new drivers, new rules and even a new event. Follow the jump to learn about what to expect for this year's X Games 16 and what it's like to ride shotgun in a 500-horsepower rally car.
Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOLContinue reading X Games 16 Preview: Autoblog rides shotgun with the stars of Rally Car [w/video] X Games 16 Preview: Autoblog rides shotgun with the stars of Rally Car [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
GM will increase Volt production by 50% - to 45,000 units - in 2012
President Obama toured the General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck facility where the automaker will build (can we say "is building" yet?) the Chevrolet Volt today, and as any good PR person will surely agree, you can't let an opportunity like that go by without making an announcement of some sort. So, GM has something to say and it's big news, too: GM will increase Volt production capacity by 50 percent in 2012.
Details are as follows: Instead of making 30,000 Volts in the U.S. in 2012, GM will now make 45,000. These numbers are lower than production numbers we heard rumors of in years past, but they're good news for fans of plug-in vehicles. Is the increase a response to positive reaction to the Volt's $33,500 after-tax-rebate price tag? Maybe, GM said in a statement that, "In the past few weeks, more than 25,000 people have joined the Chevrolet Volt enthusiast list."
The news is good for the President, too, since the White House is pushing The American Auto Industry: A Comeback Story message this week. Part of that is an interactive version of the White House map showing places where the government has supported automakers, which you can find here.
[Sources: General Motors, WhiteHouse.gov]Continue reading GM will increase Volt production by 50% - to 45,000 units - in 2012 GM will increase Volt production by 50% - to 45,000 units - in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Oft-rumored Nissan Murano convertible tipped to debut at LA Auto Show Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Crossover, Nissan, Rumormill  As much as we were hoping that it was nothing more than an elaborate internet hoax by a talented Photoshopper, we're getting closer and closer to slotting this one away in the Silly But Apparently True file. According to Inside Line, the oft-rumored Nissan Murano convertible is indeed coming to an auto show near you, starting late this year at the LA Auto Show.
Yes, we're serious. No, we're not sure we get it either.
If there's any truth to this rumor, we can expect the droptop crossover to hit the market as a 2012 model equipped with the same 3.5-liter V6 engine and continuously variable automatic transmission as the standard-issue Murano. The switchover to convertible status will reportedly include the removal of the rear doors and may even come with a Chrysler PT Cruiser-esque hoop that's ostensibly there to boost rigidity and act as some sort of roll bar in the unlikely event of a tipover. We're sure it'll be just the thing for unstable homecoming queens come parade duty.
Gluttons for punishment are free to see the complete retina-roasting rendering here at Inside Line. Hey, don't blame us... we warned you.
[Source: Inside Line]Oft-rumored Nissan Murano convertible tipped to debut at LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Obama working to pitch success of auto bailouts to American public Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chrysler, GM, Earnings/Financials 
You don't have to be a pollster to know that for the most part, the American public remains none too happy about the federal government handing over the people's hard-earned tax dollars to pull General Motors and Chrysler out of the fires of insolvency. Despite the fact that both companies have managed to keep their lights on, doors open and paychecks flowing due to their generous federal loans, Joe Plumber still can't stand the thought of paying the price of the two companies' failures. With midterm elections right around the corner, President Obama is in Detroit to attempt to sway that opinion.
The Commander-in-Chief will speak to crowds at Chrysler's Jefferson North plant about the positive side of loaning close to $85 billion to two of our country's largest automakers, including the fact that in 2010, the Big Three have re-hired a total of 55,000 of the 334,000 workers it sent packing a year prior. That may seem like a fraction of the total, but the President is certain to point out that without the loans, that job loss figure would have been much higher.
And then there's the matter of getting the federal government's money back. President Obama is also focusing on sharing his belief that a large majority of the country's money will be returned once GM and Chrysler go public once again.
Interested in keeping tabs on Obama's visit to Motown? The Detroit Free Press has a liveblog that you can follow along with (including live audio) by clicking here.
[Sources: Bloomberg, Detroit Free Press | Image: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty]Obama working to pitch success of auto bailouts to American public originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Mercedes-Benz unveils 2011 S63 AMG with twin-turbo 5.5L V8 [w/video] Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury 
2011 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG - Click above for high-res image gallery
Engine downsizing has now come to the almost top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG with the adoption of AMG's new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8. The new direct-injected V8 bumps output up from a mere 518 horsepower to 571 horsepower along with generating 663 pound-feet of torque between 2,250 and 3,750 rpm. That's sufficient to propel this behemoth to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds in normal trim or 4.4 seconds if you opt for the AMG sports package.
The 2011 S63 also swaps out its previous torque converter automatic transmission for the multi-clutch unit from the SL63, a move which should lend it a more sporting feel. Just as other automakers get both performance and efficiency benefits from boosted direct-injected engines, the S63's combine fuel economy numbers have jumped from 16.3 miles per gallon (U.S.) to 22.4 mpg on the EU test cycle. The EPA numbers aren't yet available, but we would expect a similar real-world increase from the 2010 model's 14 mpg, though perhaps a bit smaller since the EPA's testing methodology won't show any benefits from the S63's new automatic start-stop feature. Official press release and driving footage video after the jump, spanking new high-res gallery below.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]Continue reading Mercedes-Benz unveils 2011 S63 AMG with twin-turbo 5.5L V8 [w/video] Mercedes-Benz unveils 2011 S63 AMG with twin-turbo 5.5L V8 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Video: Sunday! Sunday!! Sunday!!! Witness the incredible ManEater funny car! Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Safety, Videos, Racing 
Funny car checkup yields some unexpected excitement - Click above to watch video after the jump
If you aren't terrified on some primordial level of the funny car drag racing class, odds are it's only a matter of time before natural selection comes a-callin'. Most funnies run a variation on the 500 cubic-inch, supercharged big-block formula while slurping down nitromethane/methanol fuel by the drum. No one's exactly sure how much power these suckers dish out, but estimates in the 8,000 pony range are typically considered conservative. Yeah. Wrap your noggin around that one for half a second. The whole concoction is designed to hold together just long enough scoot down the eighth or quarter mile, so it should come as no surprise that accidents happen.
We don't want to blow the surprise for you (you'll have to watch the video for that), but according to the video's YouTube comments, the son of the driver was beginning to check his dad's car over one last time when the vehicle's supercharger broke a stud. Hit the jump to see what happened next.
[Source: YouTube via CarDomain]Continue reading Video: Sunday! Sunday!! Sunday!!! Witness the incredible ManEater funny car! Video: Sunday! Sunday!! Sunday!!! Witness the incredible ManEater funny car! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Review: 2010 Lexus ES 350 is soft-riding royalty that's lost its crown Filed under: Sedan, Lexus, Reviews, Luxury 
2010 Lexus ES 350 - Click above for high-res image gallery
The entry-level luxury sedan segment doesn't command the enthusiast attention of, say, the ultra-premium luxury sports sedan. But if you ask automakers to choose between the two, we'd wager that most would rather have a best-in-class $35,000 sedan than a world-beating $70,000 sports tourer.
The reason? Very few fortunes are made selling a few thousand highfalutin' rocket launchers, but bottom lines can easily be bolstered or crippled based on the success or failure of a plush, high-volume cruiser. Luxury marques from Acura to Volvo have experienced varied levels of success at the low end of the luxury market, but few have enjoyed the consistent sales dominance of the Lexus ES. In the past decade, Toyota has cranked out over 600,000 copies in the U.S. alone, with another 650,000 units shipped around the world. And those sales have traditionally been overwhelmingly of the retail variety with little or no incentives. Not bad for what many consider a glorified Toyota Camry.
Enthusiasts take note: Lexus didn't reach such lofty sales levels with a rear-wheel-drive architecture or pavement-punishing quantities of horsepower. The road map to success for the ES has been simple: a soft, compliant ride; a pampering interior; and unmatched quality. The fifth-generation ES350 has built nicely on those attributes with smoother power, a quieter cabin and more technology. But the competition is still striving to overtake the ES in sales, so Lexus has gone and given its top-selling sedan a mid-cycle refresh for 2010. We spent a week in a Starfire Pearl ES350 to see if it still had the goods to remain a top option in the entry-level luxury segment.
Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Review: 2010 Lexus ES 350 is soft-riding royalty that's lost its crown Review: 2010 Lexus ES 350 is soft-riding royalty that's lost its crown originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
2011 Toyota Tacoma gets sweet-looking TRD T|X and T|X Pro packages Filed under: Truck, Toyota, Off-Road 
2011 Toyota Tacoma TRD T|X Pro - Click above for high-res image gallery
If you're like us, you'd probably do all manner of unspeakable acts to be able to call the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor your very own. Unfortunately, FoMoCo isn't in the business of accepting black market kidneys as payment, which has left us without a desert stomping pickup in the driveway. Fortunately, Toyota has come out of left field with a stopgap savior in the form of its new 2011 Tacoma T|X and T|X Pro models. The packages are built around the T|X concept from the 2009 SEMA show, and pack much of the hardware we saw on that particular show truck.
Both packages are available on the Tacoma V6 Access Cab or Double Cab Prerunner models that are equipped with the TRD off-road package. In addition to the sweet electronic locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks and BFGoodrich Rugged Trail rubber, the T|X package throws in 16-inch blacked-out beadlock wheels and black tube side steps among other good-looking pieces. Step it up to the T|X Pro, and you're also rewarded with a TRD cat-back exhaust.
Both trims cost $1,699 and represent a savings of over $700 compared to if you'd simply raided the TRD catalog yourself. The T|X and T|X Pro packages may not put you on the same level as Ford's mad hatter, but it's a start. Hit the jump for the press release and check out our massive gallery below.
[Source: Toyota]Continue reading 2011 Toyota Tacoma gets sweet-looking TRD T|X and T|X Pro packages 2011 Toyota Tacoma gets sweet-looking TRD T|X and T|X Pro packages originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Viper releases SmartStart for Android devices Filed under: Etc.  Up until now, anyone with an iPhone or Blackberry and a vehicle with a Viper alarm system could control a range of features from their SmartStart-equipped smartphone. Now Viper is extending that functionality to Google-powered devices through its free app in the Android Marketplace.
Vehicles equipped with the SmartStart hardware can start their engines remotely, pre-warm or pre-cool the insides and, depending on the implementation, lock and unlock doors, pop the trunk and arm their vehicle through their phones. If a baddy cracks the window, an alert is sent to the smartphone and if you've got more than one vehicle equipped with the hardware/software combo, you can keep tabs on all your rides through the system.
Full details in the cheese-laden video and accompanying press release after the jump.
[Source: Viper via TalkAndroid]Continue reading Viper releases SmartStart for Android devices Viper releases SmartStart for Android devices originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Report: Toyota already set to cancel four-cylinder 4Runner Filed under: SUV, Toyota 
2010 Toyota 4Runner - Click above for high-res image gallery
Cars and trucks here in the U.S. are being invaded by more efficient four-cylinder engines. Both the 2011 Buick Regal and Hyundai Sonata, for example, feature four-pot-only lineups. Even the 4,800-pound Toyota 4Runner has an entry-level 2.7-liter four. Well, at least the off-road-ready Toyota did offer a four-banger for one model year.
Motor Trend is reporting that Toyota will discontinue the four-cylinder model from the 2011 4Runner lineup due to an anemic take rate of less than 10 percent. That's pretty amazing given the fact that the V6 option costs nearly $4,000 more than the four-cylinder model, but the power and fuel economy stats tell the whole story. The downsized engine option only provides 157-horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. That's down a whopping 113 ponies and 100 lb-ft compared to the optional 4.0-liter V6, while combined fuel economy is within one mile-per-gallon of the more powerful engine.
If taking away 1.3-liters and 113-horsepower only nets you a fuel economy gain of one measly mpg, we can't blame customers for overwhelmingly opting for the far more powerful V6. And we really enjoyed our time with a 4.0-liter equipped 4Runner, too, so we're thinking the extra money is well-spent.
Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Motor Trend]Report: Toyota already set to cancel four-cylinder 4Runner originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Nissan refreshes Rogue crossover for 2011 Filed under: Crossover, Nissan 
2011 Nissan Rogue - Click above for high-res image gallery
The 2011 Nissan Rogue is a getting a slight efresh when it goes on sale in mid-August. The most obvious external changes are a nose job that brings with it an eggcrate grille shaped more like the one on its bigger Murano sibling, along with new pockets around the foglamps that give the front a more sculpted appearance and revised front and rear spoilers. 18-inch wheels are also newly available for the SL and S Kr?m Edition models. The exterior alterations strike us as subtle but handsome, particularly the new grille, which minimizes the odd 'chrome bucktooth' look of the 2010 model.
Perhaps the more important changes outside the vehicle are of the type that only James May would be likely to notice: spats in front of the wheels and a new underbody tray cut the aerodynamic drag and contribute to 1 mpg improvements in both the city and highway fuel economy numbers. The front-wheel-drive model is now EPA rated at 22/28 mpg while the all-wheel-drive variant manages 22/26 mpg. Inside, the Rogue doesn't look much different but does get upgraded entertainment systems.
The 2011 gets its first public showing this weekend at the annual Z Car Convention in Nashville, TN.
[Source: Nissan]Continue reading Nissan refreshes Rogue crossover for 2011 Nissan refreshes Rogue crossover for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Report: Toyota secures trademark for Supra name Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Toyota 
Toyota FT-HS Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
What's in a name? Well now, that'd depend on the name, wouldn't it? For instance, while both are sporty cars from Ford, there's a big difference to Blue Oval fans when discussing the merits of the Ford Mustang versus the Ford Probe. When talk turns to Toyota, the name that conjures up the most memories in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts is 'Supra.'
Despite all this, the Japanese automaker inexplicably let its trademark for the iconic Supra moniker pass by in 2006. Luckily, nobody tried to punish Toyota by trying to snap up the name, and now the chance is over. According to Car and Driver, Toyota has reapplied for the trademark on the Supra name, and now has three years to make use of it.
This revelation just so happens to coincide with reports that Toyota president Akio Toyoda wants "to see the next Supra tested in the near future." Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it? We're thinking that it's unlikely that Toyota would use the Supra name for its long-anticipated FT-86 revival, so we'll of course be keeping our ears to the ground for any sportscar news coming out of Japan.
[Source: Car and Driver]Report: Toyota secures trademark for Supra name originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Surprise! New York cabbies prefer Crown Vics to hybrids Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Work, Ford 
If it weren't for the somewhat obsessive and frankly narrow-minded love by taxi drivers and police officers for the body-on-frame Ford Crown Victoria, we'd imagine the old Panther platform would have been put out to pasture a very long time ago. As it stands, though, New York cabbies especially seem hell-bent on keeping it around on life support as long as possible.
Interestingly, though, a report from USA Today suggests that cab drivers make more money when operating a Crown Vic than any other automobile, and that supposedly includes hybrids. According to John Shaban, a 27-year-old cab driver, "I don't like the hybrids... Mechanics charge an arm and a leg for them."
Could it be that customers inherently prefer the Crown Vic? Shaban believes so, saying, "People wait for the Crown Vic because it's roomier. They're more likely to get in." Regardless, that's all set to change soon as Ford finally discontinues its long-running rear-wheel-drive people mover. It's expected to be replaced with - you guessed it - a hybrid or some other fuel efficient alternative.
[Source: USA Today | Image: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty]Surprise! New York cabbies prefer Crown Vics to hybrids originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Report: NHTSA expands Ford Windstar corrosion probe to front subframes Filed under: Minivan/Van, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Ford 
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has opened a second investigation into 1999-2003 Ford Windstar minivans. The new probe has arisen amidst reports of front subframe corrosion that can cause the vehicle to lose steering. Apparently, a number of owners in salt-belt states have complained of front steering components rusting to the point of failure, causing a total loss of steering in the process. NHTSA will be looking into a total 900,000 potentially affected vehicles as part of the first stage of a process that could ultimately lead to recall.
As we first reported in May, Windstar minivans of the same vintage are currently under investigation for a similar corrosion concern in the rear of the vehicle. The government agency launched an investigation after receiving 234 complaints of the vehicles' rear axles fracturing. Owners claim that the design allows for road salt and grime to collect in certain places, accelerating corrosion in the process.
Ford says that it is doing everything it can to cooperate with the investigation and address any design issue, should one exist. According to Automotive News, the Windstar, which was built between 1994 and 2003, has been the subject of a total of 10 recalls so far.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]Report: NHTSA expands Ford Windstar corrosion probe to front subframes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart moving from off-road trucks to... electric bikes? Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Motorcycle, Electric, Racing 
 Off-road racing fans will no doubt be familiar with the name Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, winner of 17 Baja 500s and three Baja 1000s over his 37-year career. Apparently, even an iron man can only take so much pounding and Stewart has decided it's time to ride off silently into the sunset.
Stewart has decided to auction virtually all of his off-road racing memorabilia, race truck building business and vehicles. Instead of pounding dirt, Stewart will be peddling electric bicycles out of a new shop in San Diego, California.
The Ivan Stewart Electric Bike Center will sell, service and rent battery-powered bicycles from an initial shop in downtown San Diego, followed by two additional stores in La Jolla and Del Mar to the north.
[Source: San Diego Union-Tribune via PickupTrucks.com]Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart moving from off-road trucks to... electric bikes? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
AutoblogGreen for 07.30.10 
AutoblogGreen for 07.30.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spy Video: Nissan GT-R SpecM gets wrung out at the 'Ring Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Europe, Japan, Nissan 
Just when we thought the softer-riding Nissan GT-R SpecM had disappeared for good, the car shows up at the Nurburgring for a little abuse. The crew from Auto Motor und Sport managed to lay their hands on a lengthy video of a few barely-cloaked examples of the car scooting around Green Hell, and everyone's best guess is that the vehicles are a peek at what we can expect out of the Nissan 2011 supercar lineup. As you likely recall, the SpecM is designed to be a more comfortable interpretation of the company's no-holds barred bruiser. The suspension is tuned more for the street than busting around your favorite road course, and the interior is supposedly swaddled in more high-grade materials.
Judging from what we see in the video, we're guessing that the new SpecM will wear aero additions borrowed from the mighty Spec-V, along with wheels swiped from the same car. Hit the jump to see the flick for yourself.
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Carscoop]Continue reading Spy Video: Nissan GT-R SpecM gets wrung out at the 'Ring Spy Video: Nissan GT-R SpecM gets wrung out at the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Video: Elon Musk chats it up on The Colbert Report Filed under: Videos, Celebrities, Humor, Tesla, Electric 
Elon Musk on The Colbert Report - Click above to watch the video after the jump
Elon Musk apparently has a sense of humor. Proof of which can be found in the video after the break, where you'll see the co-founder of Paypal, Tesla Motors and Space X sit-down with Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report.
As always, Colbert takes a lighthearted slant with the interview, making a few comic-relief jabs along the way. For instance, after detailing Musk's seemingly heroic take on the automotive and space exploration industries, Colbert point-blank asks Musk whether he's a super hero or a super villain. We'll let you figure that one out...
Our favorite quote, though, is this: "You have these electric cars that uses no fossil fuels, but then you've also got this rocket, this Space X that puts the rocket into space, using about as much fuel as 2,000,000 Hummers. So... are you just trying to break even as spectacularly as possible?"
There are plenty more gems in the video, and we don't want to spoil the whole thing for you. So just check out the video after the break.
[Source: The Colbert Report]Continue reading Video: Elon Musk chats it up on The Colbert Report Video: Elon Musk chats it up on The Colbert Report originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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