Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Ford, Specialty
Later today, Ford will officially unveil its new Police Interceptor at a private fleet sales event in Las Vegas, but the first images of the new vehicle were posted this morning on the company’s website. As has been rumored for some time, Ford will be adapting the Taurus to take over from the aged Crown Victoria which is finally being euthanized in September 2011.
At this point, we don’t have any mechanical details on the new cop car. We wouldn’t be surprised if Ford offers the Interceptor in two forms. A naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 version with front-wheel drive could serve for all those local applications like liaison officers, supervisors, etc. where extra performance is not needed. The true Interceptors for highway patrol applications will probably use the SHO powertrain with the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 and all-wheel drive.
This twin-turbo cop car would provide the first real performance challenge to the increasingly popular Dodge Charger while likely getting much better fuel economy, and we presume that the Blue Oval will field the new units with the obligatory upgrades, including a more robust suspension, cooling system, electrical, and hopefully, brakes. We should have all the answers for you around lunch time.
Gallery: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor
[Source: Ford]
BREAKING: First images of Ford’s new Taurus-based Police Interceptor revealed! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: China, Crossover, Honda, Beijing Motor Show
The Honda Accord Crosstour has been less than critically acclaimed here in the U.S., but it’s far too early to tell if the bulky hatchback will resonate with customers. While it may be too early to declare the Crosstour’s success or failure here in the States, Honda may already be planning on introducing the hatchback/crossover/wagon to the transportation-hungry Chinese.
A new report from Gasgoo states that Honda is working with China partner Guangzhou Honda to build the Crosstour in The Land of the Great Wall. The Crosstour, which evidently carries the codename “Accord QE,” has reportedly been spotted testing in China, and the Asian news site proclaims that the Accord-based “lifestyle vehicle” is set to be introduced next month at the Beijing Auto Show.
Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Gasgoo]
Honda to build Accord Crosstour in China? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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AutoblogGreen for 03.12.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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In the high-stakes game of magazine publishing, there’s one critical component that can either make or break an entire issue. What are we talking about? The cover. Get it right and an editor-in-chief can move an extra few thousand copies to casual passers by at the nearest magazine stand. Get it wrong, as Car and Driver undeniably did for its April 1987 issue with the wretched Zimmer Quicksilver on the cover, and you end up with the worst-selling edition in the magazine’s storied history.
We just happened upon what may be the very best (or worst, depending on your point of view) time waster in the history of the Internet. It’s called Coverbrowser.com, and it allows you to see over 450,000 magazine and comic book covers dating back to well before most of us were even born. Using this tool, we dug up some of the best, worst and just plain ridiculous automotive magazine covers in the history of the universe… or something like that.
For instance, do you think unintended acceleration is in some way a new phenomenon? Think again. Can a Buick be worth $65K in 1980 dollars? Yes, according to C&D. Remember the Cadillac Cimarron? See here. Did Oldsmobile ever make a European-inspired sedan worthy of enthusiasts? Apparently, yes. The 1982 Olds Omega, built atop the X-car chassis. Can a lowly pickup truck from GMC outgun a bright red Ferrari? Sure can. How about when a 134-mph Ford was newsworthy?
Just for fun, we also analyzed a few trends in magazine covers. It seems that high-priced exotics were nearly always worthy of being shot with an equally tantalizing female model. See here, here, here and here. And, though there are rare exceptions, Japanese cars didn’t necessarily get models unless you count robot ninjas and samurais. Oh, and there’s always room for a little misplaced patriotism, right?
All of this raises an interesting question. What’s the blogging equivalent of a magazine cover? What will we all be waxing poetic about 30 years from now when we look back at Autoblog? Whatever the case, check out our gallery of awesome (or sometimes not) magazine covers below, and be sure to kill an hour or two over at Coverbrowser.com when you’re done. Got any favorites of your own? Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves in the Comments section.
[Source: Coverbrowser.com]
In Pictures: Celebrating the art of the magazine cover originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing
As Chevrolet Corvette Racing team heads into its first full season of competition in the American Le Mans Series GT2 class, the first full episode of a new General Motors video series chronicling their journey has been posted on YouTube. The 12-part series will follow the team as it gets ready for the nine race series as well as the annual June treck to Le Mans for the 24 Hours.
Episode one begins with a look back at where 2009 left off. On the final corner of the final lap of the Laguna Seca race last October, Jan Magnussen slammed into a retaining wall with a 57 g impact after making contact with one of the Flying Lizards Porsches.
As soon as the cars returned to the team’s Wixom, MI shop, the crew set about getting ready for 2010 including preparing for the all-new 5.5-liter V8. First, though, they had to rebuild the #3 C6.R. Check out the first episode of the series after the jump.
Gallery: 2010 ALMS Corvette C6.R
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading Video: Episode 1 of Chevrolet’s Corvette Racing Series hits the interwebs cinema
Video: Episode 1 of Chevrolet’s Corvette Racing Series hits the interwebs cinema originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG is already a fierce little roadster, what with its 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 cranking out 355 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. But for those who want something a bit more bonkers, the folks at Väth have just the solution, by way of the V58 - an SLK55-based beastie that produces - get ready - 565 hp and 568 lb-ft, gains of 210 and 192, respectively. Holy moly.
How does such a thing come to life? Väth starts by upping the Merc’s engine displacement to 5.8 liters and adding things like a new compressor, new pistons, high-grade steel catalysts, a sport air filter and much more. In addition to these mechanical tweaks, the engine’s electronics have been re-calibrated, and the end result is an SLK that will max out at 193 mph. To manage all of that added power, a new set of high-performance brakes have been added up front. Vath also offers a locking differential and a new fuel cooler as optional upgrades.
Other exterior changes include hot new 19-inch wheels and a custom suspension that can be lowered anywhere from 20 to 65 millimeters, depending on user specification. An aerodynamic package is also on hand, featuring a front lip and rear diffuser made of carbon fiber. Inside, Väth has added the usual decorative touches to the climate control system, ashtray, shift gate, shift knob, door coatings and seat adjustment controls.
Naturally, all of this extra kit comes at substantial cost, and for all of the upgrades that we’ve listed, you’ll need to shell out €55,512 (that’s just over $75,900 based on current exchange rates). For that price, you could buy two SLK55s and tie them together, but there’s no doubt that the Väth creation would provide buckets and buckets of fun. Hit the jump for the full details in Väth’s press release and check out our high-res gallery below.
Gallery: Vath V58
[Source: Väth]
Continue reading Väth V58 turns up the wick on Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG to the tune of 565 HP
Väth V58 turns up the wick on Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG to the tune of 565 HP originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Review: Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP induces grins, wheelspin and wheelies
Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP - Click above for high-res image gallery We’re going to get ahead of ourselves a little bit with our review of the new Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP. We…
2012 Chevrolet Malibu design completely revealed in patent filings?
2010 Chevrolet Malibu patent drawings - Click above for high-res image gallery Over the past nine months, we’ve seen the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu twice at General Motors media…
DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based
Will the new Police Interceptor be a toughened Taurus SHO? - click above for high-res image gallery Just a quick note: The Detroit News is reporting that the next Ford Police Interceptor will be…
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- Chevrolet to employ new “Excellence for Everyone” ad campaign
Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.11.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Budget, Sedan, SUV, Recalls, Safety, Mitsubishi, Off-Road
Mitsubishi is recalling both the 2004 Endeavor SUV and 2010 Galant sedan over possible corrosion issues that could cause flammable fluids to leak. The safety recall affects approximately 56,113 Endeavors and 2,307 Galants across the United States.
The Endeavors in question are those that were originally sold or currently registered in states where road salt is used to clear away snow and ice in the winter. According to NHTSA, road salt, mixed with other debris, can become trapped between the Endeavor’s fuel filler pipe and a reinforcing bracket, which can cause corrosion and potentially a fuel leak. As for the Galant, the automatic transmission oil cooler pipe on some vehicles may have insufficient corrosion-preventing plating. If so, this pipe can develop a hole, meaning transmission fluid can potentially seep out.
The official safety recalls begin in March for the Galant and July for the Endeavor, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. Owners can contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037 for more information regarding either recall. Click through the jump to read the full details in NHTSA’s press releases.
[Source: NHTSA]
Continue reading Mitsubishi recalls 2004 Endeavor, 2010 Galant
Mitsubishi recalls 2004 Endeavor, 2010 Galant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Citroën, Luxury
Well now, this is exciting. The iconic Citroën SM turns forty years old today. First introduced at the Geneva Motor Show on March 11, 1970, the SM was incredibly advanced for its time. In fact, there are those who would argue that it’s still way ahead of the curve.
A couple of basics, if you will. SM stands for Sports Maserati (though some argue it stands for Sa Majesté in reference to the DS - i.e. Goddess, i.e. La déesse’). While probably not the wisest financial decision of all time, Citroën purchased Maserati in 1968. As such, they were able to use the new 90-degree V6 Maserati had developed. Essentially a V8 with two-cylinders lopped off, the SM’s V6 (also shared with the Maserati Merak) is one of the most fantastically complex engines ever conceived. How does three timing chains strike you?
But the SM was much more than a powerful (for the time) engine in a sleek and sexy, Robert Opron designed aircraft grade aluminum body. The SM featured the world’s first variable-assist power steering system (known as DIRAVI) which is so insanely complicated that we can’t even begin to describe it to you (it involves heart shaped cams). Also, the SM featured one-turn to lock. Needless to say, the DIRAVI was tied into the SM’s oleopneumatic system. What’s oleopneumatic? A fancy French way of saying an oil-based hydropneumatic system.
Besides the steering the suspension, headlights, brakes and transmission were all run off the SM’s hydraulic system. Headlights? Yup. The SM featured six headlights behind a beautiful glass cover, two of which turned with the steering wheel, and six could pivot up and down depending on rear ride height. In other words, if the rear of the car was loaded down, the lights would automatically adjust to point straight ahead so as not to blind oncoming motorists.
Back in 1970, not only was the SM the fastest front-wheel drive car in the world (the factory claimed 137 mph, but many took the cars up to 145 mph), it had the shortest stopping distance of any car, period. Credit the dual-channel hydro-brakes and the fact that the front rotors are inboard. In fact, rumor has it that until the Porsche 959 showed its face in 1986, the SM was the production deceleration king. One last little tidbit. As far as we know, the Citroën SM is the only car ever designed specifically to seat two men up front and two women in the back. Amazing, no? Happy birthday SM! Maybe in another forty years the world will be ready to embrace you. Read the press release after the jump.
Gallery: Citroen SM Turns 40
[Source: Citroën]
Continue reading Happy Birthday Your Majesty: Citroën SM turns 40
Happy Birthday Your Majesty: Citroën SM turns 40 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety
Safety doesn’t sell cars. At least that’s what Detroit executives walked around saying back in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The whole of them were convinced that if you even mentioned the word “safety” in a marketing campaign it would imply that cars were unsafe. In fact, it took a crusader like Ralph Nader to stand up to the auto industry and say enough with the death traps, like he did when he published his infamous Unsafe at Any Speed (only one chapter is about the Corvair!) in 1965. Like him or loathe, if you’ve walked away from a serious car accident in the last forty or so years, you probably owe him.
And it looks like many more of us have been walking away from car accidents lately. According to a new report from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the death rate for calendar 2009 plummeted by a frankly significant 8.9-percent from 2008. 33,963 Americans were killed on our roads last year, as opposed to the 37,261 people that perished in 2008. Still terrible, but much, much better. In fact, 2009’s fatality rate (measured with the totally morbid metric, “death per mile”) is actually the lowest such rate since 1954. Were cars safer back then? No, not even kinda sorta. It’s just that a much smaller percentage of the population drove back then. The Interstate system was still two years off, so road trips were rare and mostly for truckers and beatniks.
Why the drop in the death rate? Many factors. Cars are getting safer. More air bags, crumple zones, better construction techniques, stability control, better tire technology - all of it is adding up to help prevent accidents, or at least make them more survivable. Also, campaigns like “Click It or Ticket” have increased seatbelt usage, and cops nationwide are cracking down harder than ever on drunk drivers. However, there’s one other reason the death rate fell so far in 2009: people drove less. Meaning that if our economy recovers and we start driving more, the death rate could - and probably will - increase. Make the jump to read the press release.
[Source: NHTSA | Image: Bantam Dell Publishing Group]
Continue reading NHTSA announces 2009 fatalities lowest since 1954, continue downward trend
NHTSA announces 2009 fatalities lowest since 1954, continue downward trend originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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