Automotive News

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Audi

Click image for high-res gallery

Abt Sportsline strongest ties to the Audi TT date back to when they ran a race version in the 2002 DTM series. Outside of racing however, Abt is known for its work modifying and tuning cars that sport the interlocking rings, and with the arrival of the TT Roadster from Audi, they’re back on the case with a suite of appearance and performance upgrades.

For starters, Abt’s new aero kit tastefully muscles up the open-top 2-seater with new skirts and spoilers — de rigeur for a tuner like this. The obligatory wheel/tire upgrade is also available in 19″ and 20″ diameters. A sport exhaust with quad outlets gives the TT’s rear a more serious visual and aural presence, while underhood, go-fast measures can be taken regardless of what engine the car’s equipped with. Abt’s regimen for the 3.2L six-cylinder involves the addition of a supercharger that helps boost output to 355 horsepower — enough to propel the TT ragtop from 0-62 mph in five seconds flat. The standard 2.0 TFSI powerplant is not ignored either, with tuning packages that offer everything from a modest bump to 240 horses to an even more serious kit that offers a robust 300 hp.

Full details from Abt are in the press release after the jump, and a gallery of the hot little roadster can be found below.

[Source: Abt Sportsline]

Continue reading Abt tricks out Audi’s TT Roadster

 

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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Videos, Crossovers/CUVs, BMW, Ford, Subaru

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The Autoblog crew is being pulled in a million different directions right now, with plenty of OEM-sponsored events and car show to attend. We also got ourselves into a couple of competing crossovers, the Ford Edge and the Subaru Tribeca, and a couple new BMWs were unveiled as well. We fit in some first drives from the folks over at Ford Motor Company, and we attended the world premiere of the Transformers movie.

The last week was packed with information, and four minutes will give you an update on anything you might have missed by clicking on the video above. We’ve also added links below to some of the more significant galleries from the last seven days. In honor of our vacationing editor in chief, this week we found the only royalty-free music in the world that specifically mentions Cleveland. The one and only George Thorogood and the Destroyers cranked out “Any Town USA” for your enjoyment.

 

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Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Ford, Mercury

Click on the photo for a gallery of the 2008 Mariner in action

Ford provided the journalists assembled in Dearborn the chance to drive many of their 2008 models back-to-back with their 2007 equivalents so that the new models’ improvements could be experienced firsthand. Among the vehicles available to us were Ford’s compact crossovers, the Escape and Mariner. AutoblogGreen recently did a full review of the 2008 Escape Hybrid that you can check to find out what it’s like to live with. We’ll focus here on the improvements made to the ’08s in general.

Out front, the new Mariner has a much more distinct and upscale face compared to the Escape. While the Escape is styled with more of a family resemblance to the big F-Series trucks, with a bumper that stands in front of the grille, the Mariner sports the Mercury family’s vertical bar grille, sharing itd DNA with the Milan and new Sable. It flows all the way down to the bottom of the bumper and definitely looks more carlike than Escape. Once you climb inside, everything else applies equally to both the Mariner and Escape the driving experience is identical, save for some color/trim differences.

Check out our impressions of the Mariners old and new along with a video after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Mercury Mariner

Continue reading Video: Live from Dearborn - ‘07 vs ‘08 Mercury Mariner

 

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Filed under: Minivans/MPVs, Japan, Tech, Toyota

One of Toyota’s first applications of its new Valvematic engine is in the newly-redesigned 7-passenger Noah MPV and its slightly differently-visaged (and equally blocky) stablemate, the Voxy. Neither one will win a beauty contest anytime soon, but tastes are demonstrably different in Japan, so we’ll reserve further commentary on the aesthetics and leave the rest to you readers. This isn’t so much about the car itself as what’s under its hood, anyway.

The story here is the 2.0L 3ZR-FAE inline four with Valvematic that can be fitted behind the Noah/Voxy’s stern-looking face. The specifics are as follows:

• 1,986cc DOHC I4
• 158 PS (155 HP) at 6,200 rpm
• 144 lb-ft of torque 4,400 rpm
• 33 mpg
• 164 g/km of CO² emissions

Compared to Toyota’s previous topline 2-liter 4-cylinder, the 3ZR-FAE with Valvematic is more powerful by eleven horses. As previously reported, the Valvematic tech should be applied to Toyota’s full range of engines by 2010.

[Source: Paul Tan]

 

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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Ford, Driving

Click on the Taurus for a high-res gallery

At Ford’s 2008 model preview at the Dearborn Proving Ground, we had the opportunity drive the newly-reborn Taurus back-to-back with its immediate predecessor, the Five Hundred, and the differences were immediately apparent. Side-by-side, the Taurus is clearly an update of the Five Hundred, retaining the same profile and stance, but the Taurus now has the face it should have had all along.

The three-bar grille gives the Taurus a look that fits in with its stablemates and sets it apart from the competition.A lot of detail work was done on the Taurus and Sable for 2008 to ramp up the refinement levels and bring them to the head of the class. One example is visible on the side mirror housings. The top of the housing has a row of notches that manage the airflow around the mirror. The notches reduce the aerodynamic drag of the mirror and also reduce wind noise dramatically.

Continue reading our driving impressions and see the video after the jump

Continue reading Video: Live from Dearborn - Autoblog drives the 2008 Ford Taurus

 

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Filed under: Motorsports, Time Warp, Renault

Click image for high-res

What’s this? A rejected Bumblebee design from the Transformers movie? No, of course not. The top car is the 1977 Renault RS01, the first turbocharged F1 racer. It made its debut 30 years ago at the British Grand Prix. With Bernie Ecclestone’s traveling circus heading to Silverstone next week, Renault has created a modern doppelgänger to the RS01 by decorating an R26 in the RS01’s vintage livery to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its debut. We’re assuming both cars will be on display at the British GP for all to see next week.

As for additional eye candy, we found a short video of the RS01 taking a parade lap at the 2005 Race of Champions here. If anyone has anything better than that to share, shoot us a link in the comments.

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Retro flavor for Renault at British Grand Prix

 

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Filed under: SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, Videos, Ford

With safety becoming more and more of a priority in buyers’ purchase decisions, automaker are striving for as many IIHS top scores and five-star ratings as they can collect. One technology that hit the ground running a few years back is the backup camera, which gives drivers of large SUVs, pickups, and minivans a clearer view of what’s going on beyond the bumper. Ford designed its own camera technology for 2008 model year vehicles, with the image being shown in the rear view mirror.

The video screen only shows up when you’re in reverse, and it gives you both video of what’s behind you and the approximate distance you can travel before hitting something. Then the folks from Dearborn, MI threw in the beep sensor as a redundant measure. The technology works remarkably well, and the video screen is even visible in extremely bright sunlight. We got video of the camera tech during Ford’s 2008 vehicle review event, so hit the jump to see how close we got to some little girl’s bike with the new 2008 King Ranch Expedition. It was incredibly accurate.

Continue reading VIDEO: Ford reverse camera in action

 

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Wagons/Estates, Euro, Cadillac

Click the Cadillac for high-res photos of the BLS wagon

Since its introduction in Europe early in 2006 the Cadillac BLS has made the old Cimarron look like a roaring success. Reportedly, sales had reportedly failed to break into four figures by the end of 2006. But GM isn’t giving up on the small Caddy yet. Since the BLS is based on the Saab 9-3 it seems a no-brainer to add some of the other Saab options to the BLS lineup.

At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Cadillac introduce a BLS station wagon that will be available for sale starting in November. The BLS will also add the turbocharged E85 flex-fuel Saab BioPower engine as a new option at the same time as the wagon. A new 1.9L two stage turbo-diesel four cylinder with 180hp will be a further option.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Frankfurt Motor Show: Cadillac BLS wagon is coming

 

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Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Ford, Driving

Click Image for high-res gallery of the Mustangs that were at DDC

I admit it, I’m an unabashed Mustang fan. I have been ever since I was a kid and a family friend had a blue ‘69 Mach1. The first brand new car I bought after I graduated from college was a ‘91 5.0L LX. It may not have had the classic Mustang looks, but it had the heart of a pony.

At Ford’s 2008 model preview in Dearborn they had plenty of ponies for us sample, including the shiny blue Shelby GT ragtop in the picture. Chris and I immediately made a beeline for the Shelby and fired it up. No matter what you think about the Mustang’s interior or retro styling, on a summer morning as sunny as this, the visceral thrill of hearing a big rumbling V8 with the top down is enough to make any car fan smile.

Continue reading after the jump.

Continue reading Video: Live from Dearborn - 2008 Mustang Shelby GT convertible

 

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Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Ford, Driving

Click Image for high-res gallery of the Mustangs that were at DDC

I admit it, I’m an unabashed Mustang fan. I have been ever since I was a kid and a family friend had a blue ‘69 Mach1. The first brand new car I bought after I graduated from college was a ‘91 5.0L LX. It may not have had the classic Mustang looks, but it had the heart of a pony.

At Ford’s 2008 model preview in Dearborn they had plenty of ponies for us sample, including the shiny blue Shelby GT ragtop in the picture. Chris and I immediately made a beeline for the Shelby and fired it up. No matter what you think about the Mustang’s interior or retro styling, on a summer morning as sunny as this, the visceral thrill of hearing a big rumbling V8 with the top down is enough to make any car fan smile.

Continue reading after the jump.

Continue reading Video: Live from Dearborn - 2008 Mustang Shelby GT convertible

 

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