Monday, December 20, 2010

2012 Ford C-Max Final Specs: 2011 Detroit Auto Show Preview

Last fall we brought you the first drive of the 2012 Ford C-Max, but since the vehicles we drove were European-spec vehicles, we've been waiting on word of the final U.S. specifications.

Today Ford's released those specs, starting with engine output in both the C-Max's standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder...

Source: http://www.roadst3r.com/stories/2012-ford-c-max-final-specs-2011-detroit-auto-show-preview/

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2010 Honda Accord Crosstour: HVAC Registers Don't Shut

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2010-honda-accord-crosstour-hvac-registers-dont-shut.html

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DriveMeCrazy app provides outlet for virtual tattle-tales

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DriveMeCrazy iPhone app

We all see bad drivers. Now, one company has developed an iPhone app called DriveMeCrazy, which allows you to digitally jot down a license plate and deem someone a "bad driver." This information isn't then simply posted to some lame social network, it's reported to the DMV and your insurance company.

While the idea of being able to report someone for driving like a jackass sounds great, there's little question that this will lead to abuse. What if someone were out to get you and reported you simply because they felt like it? Perhaps the person who didn't get that parking spot you ended up with is feeling particularly angry. Maybe the other driver didn't see your blinker even though you had it on for the last 15 minutes. This is DrivemeCrazy's inherent flaw.

In addition to empowering virtual snitches, DriveMeCrazy also lets users reward good driving, as well as "flirt" with other DrivemeCrazy users. We now await the first report of a DriveMeCrazy user getting a real ticket for using a mobile device to serve up a cheesy virtual ticket while driving.

[Source: DriveMeCrazy via Wired]

DriveMeCrazy app provides outlet for virtual tattle-tales originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MINI not so mini anymore with release of Paceman Concept.

Well I suppose we can say that Mini has finally gone and screwed the pooch when it comes to keeping their cars pint sized. First there was the original itty-bitty Mini Cooper. Then we got the Mini Clubman, followed by the 4-door Countryman and now they're giving us the Paceman Concept, a car that mini...

Source: http://www.roadst3r.com/stories/mini-not-so-mini-anymore-release-paceman-concept/

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Edmunds Roundup: December 8, 2010

Edmunds Daily Roundup.jpg

Inside Line: 2011 Hyundai Elantra First Drive
Optioned smartly, the Elantra is more than just a lot of car for the money. It's a sharply dressed, roomy and amply equipped car for the money. It was before to some degree, but now it has classy looks to match.

Auto Observer: NHTSA Proposes Standard Backup Cameras in All Vehicles By 2014
The new regulation, released through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is aimed primarily at reducing blind zones behind vehicles that can obscure pedestrians

Green Car Advisor: Chrysler Reported Working on Ram Pickup Hybrid
Chrysler may be lagging behind fellow U.S. automakers Ford and General Motors when it comes to addressing its fleet's carbon footprint and petroleum consumption, but the company appears to be trying to catch up.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/12/edmunds-roundup-december-8-2010.html

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2011 Hyundai Sonata: Next North American Car of the Year?

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2011-hyundai-sonata-next-north-american-car-of-the-year.html

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Radical Sportscars previews SR3 SL ahead of Autosport debut

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Radical SR3 SL

If you're looking for a bare-bones, no nonsense roadster, the upcoming Autosport International motorsport show in Birmigham, England, is the place to be. That's where Caterham is set to unveil an all-new vehicle, and where Radical is also planning to debut its latest street-legal race car.

Now, that term is used to describe many performance automobiles, but if anyone can lay claim to it, it's Radical. The company makes Le Mans Prototype-style cars that are nominally street legal, but every bit the purebred racers they look like. The SR8 holds the lap record at the Nürburgring, and is soon to be joined in the Radical lineup by the SR3 SL. Fully street legal, the SR3 SL is aimed at track-day enthusiasts looking for a car they can drive to the circuit, lap to their heart's content and then drive back home... just like in the good old days.

The SR3 SL is powered by a 300-horsepower version of the Ford EcoBoost five found in the Focus ST, optimized in-house by Radical. It's mated to a six-speed paddle-shift sequential gearbox that automatically blips the throttle on the downshift, and with a curb weight under 1,500 lbs, is sure to be a serious thrill ride.

[Source: Radical]

Continue reading Radical Sportscars previews SR3 SL ahead of Autosport debut

Radical Sportscars previews SR3 SL ahead of Autosport debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Geneva 2011: Hyundai i40 Wagon Sketched

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/12/geneva-2011-hyundai-i40-wagon-sketched.html

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Car Review 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

The first-generation E30-series BMW M3 wasn't the fastest M3 ever built. It certainly wasn't the most luxurious or the most refined. But it was the smallest, purest and, in the opinion of many, the most dynamic M3 from a driver's perspective. And it's the E30 M3 that BMW attempts to channel with the...

Source: http://www.roadst3r.com/stories/car-review-2011-bmw-1-series-m-coupe/

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 12.17.10

First Drive: 2011 Jeep Compass

The Compass never accomplished its mission of being an attractive entry-level Jeep. Things should be a bit different for the 2011 model year.

Video: 19 teenage girls cram into Smart ForTwo for new world record

It's the question that's been racking the brains of the best and brightest the world over, and finally, we have an answer: 19. No, it's not the answer to life, the universe and everything.

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 12.17.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/xrPjz5zr-VM/

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RUMOR: Cadillac Planning An Electric Crossover?

Although it seems a lot of European manufacturers are chasing dreams of $200,000 electric supercars, Cadillac has a different plan: electrify the crossover.

To be more speicfic, Cadillac hasn't mentioned much about the Converj but has brought up the possibility of giving the SRX some voltage. With...

Source: http://www.roadst3r.com/stories/rumor-cadillac-planning-electric-crossover/

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2010 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ: Audio Review

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/12/2010-chevrolet-equinox-ltz-audio-review.html

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Toyota Extended Car Warranty Helpful Guide

I am sure your quest for Toyota Extended Car Warranty has come to an end as you read this article. Yes, gone are those days when we have to search endlessly for Toyota Extended Car Warranty information or other such information like car loan calculator, consumer reports extended auto warranties, auto...

Source: http://www.roadst3r.com/clusters/toyota-extended-car-warranty-hel/

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2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor: You Write the Caption

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2010-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-you-write-the-caption.html

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Edmunds Search Buzz: December 6, 2010

Edmunds Search Buzz.jpg

Millions of consumers visit the Edmunds.com site each month looking for the best info on all things automotive. This translates to hundreds of thousands of users each day seeking the latest deals, test drives, pricing info, negotiating advice and help on nearly any topic related to the car purchase or ownership experience. Edmunds.com traffic and its related search terms are significant enough that the traffic itself becomes a bellwether for consumer trends.

The Edmunds Search Buzz reveals the day's five most-searched topics, trends or vehicles on the Edmunds.com website. Knowing what other consumers are interested in can help point you to a better deal or a product you hadn't considered. Beyond being insightful, the Search Buzz is also entertaining and it's a useful tool for car shoppers and enthusiasts. Today's hottest search term is for Subaru Outback. Check the jump for the day's other hot search terms and related links.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/12/edmunds-search-buzz-december-6-2010.html

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2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: The Shark

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2002-chevrolet-corvette-z06-the-shark.html

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Edmunds Roundup: December 6, 2010

Edmunds Daily Roundup.jpg

Green Car Advisor: Hybrid, Alt-Fuel Tax Credits Expire Dec. 31
Tax incentives for buyers of hybrids, diesels and compressed natural gas (CNG) cars are set to expire at the end of the year, putting alternative-fuel momentum at risk because the cars tend to be more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts.

Inside Line: Comparison Test: 2011 Chevrolet Volt vs. 2010 Toyota Prius PHV
When it comes to comparing plug-in hybrids like the Volt and the plug-in Prius, you can't merely focus on the gasoline side and assume the electricity is free.

Auto Observer: To Become No. 1, Volkswagen Needs to Succeed in Chattanooga
Regardless of what you think about the Volkswagen Group's ambition to become the world's largest automaker by 2018, several roads to the German mass-marketing machine achieving that goal are going to run through the rather improbable location of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/12/edmunds-roundup-december-6-2010.html

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Edmunds Search Buzz: December 8, 2010

Edmunds Search Buzz.jpg

Millions of consumers visit the Edmunds.com site each month looking for the best info on all things automotive. This translates to hundreds of thousands of users each day seeking the latest deals, test drives, pricing info, negotiating advice and help on nearly any topic related to the car purchase or ownership experience. Edmunds.com traffic and its related search terms are significant enough that the traffic itself becomes a bellwether for consumer trends.

The Edmunds Search Buzz reveals the day's five most-searched topics, trends or vehicles on the Edmunds.com website. Knowing what other consumers are interested in can help point you to a better deal or a product you hadn't considered. Beyond being insightful, the Search Buzz is also entertaining and it's a useful tool for car shoppers and enthusiasts. Today's hottest search term is for the Toyota RAV4. Check the jump for the day's other hot search terms and related links.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/12/edmunds-search-buzz-december-8-2010.html

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2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor: Track and Dirt Videos

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2010-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-track-and-dirt-videos.html

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Saturday, December 18, 2010

Video: Crashvertising coming soon to a traffic jam near you?

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Crashvertising
Crashvertising - Click above to watch video after the jump

One thing's certain: where there's a car accident, there's a crowd. The severity is irrelevant; people gawk. To capitalize on this untapped audience a team of marketers has introduced the concept of Crashvertising.

If the Crashvertise team is notified of an accident, head to the scene quickly with posters and roadside emergency triangles highlighting whatever campaign is being promoted. To further draw in onlookers, the Crashvertisers will hand out related swag to further drive home whatever message the advertiser du jour is looking to spread.

A video, available after the jump, highlights how the Crashvertise concept works. Now, before you go berserk in the comments... be aware that this is satire. That said, we wouldn't be surprised if someone decides to run with this...




[Source: Crashvertise]

Continue reading Video: Crashvertising coming soon to a traffic jam near you?

Video: Crashvertising coming soon to a traffic jam near you? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/iKJwTBtp9wk/

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Nissan LEAF, Hyundai Sonata and Chevrolet Volt named finalists for Car of the Year.

The votes are in and the three finalists for the 2011 North America Car and Truck of the Year are the Nissan LEAF, the Chevrolet Volt and the Hyundai Sonata.

The LEAF, the Volt and the Hyundai Sonata are three very different cars, but all worthy of the title. According to DetNews, this year will be...

Source: http://www.roadst3r.com/clusters/nissan-leaf-hyundai-sonata-chevrolet-volt-named-finalists-for/

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Suzuki Jimny Limited Edition


A limited version for 40 years with Grand Vitara, Swift and SX4 4x4 Anniversary Suzuki celebrates 40 years of famous Jimny with the Limited Edition version of its long-lived and simultaneously launching the range 4x4 Anniversary model Grand Vitara, SX4 and Swift, all linked by four-wheel drive, which is a long tradition in Hamamatsu and a number of advantages for customers but will have a limited duration.

Source: http://www.autocarbe.com/suzuki/suzuki-jimny-limited-edition/

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Mini Paceman Concept is Rally, Rally Cool [Concept Cars] - Topix

Mini 's entry in the 2011 Detroit auto show concept car sweepstakes is a two-door crossover design concept combining elements of coupe and Countryman with some new style tweaks. Please note by clicking on "Post Comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are...

Source: http://www.roadst3r.com/stories/mini-paceman-concept-rally-rally-cool-concept-cars-topix/

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Edmunds Roundup: December 2, 2010

Edmunds Daily Roundup.jpg

Green Car Advisor: Lexus Aiming For Top Spot With 2011 CT 200h
Toyota's luxury badge, which plans to enter the compact-premium market next February with its 2011 CT 200h hybrid hatchback, says it hopes to capture as much as 40% of that sector  because of the car's combination of fuel economy and performance.

Auto Observer: November Sales Uptick Feeds Industry Expectations
Major automakers shared nearly equally in the good news. Even Chrysler's sales rose by 17 percent. But Toyota Motor Sales USA proved the notable exception, with a decline of 3 percent for the month on an unadjusted basis.

Inside Line: 2012 Audi A6 Redesigned
The midlevel A6 has received an extensive makeover, with an exterior redesign that draws styling cues from the recently reworked A8 flagship. Among the options are LED headlamps and 20-inch wheels and tires.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/12/edmunds-roundup-december-2-2010.html

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Edmunds Search Buzz: December 3, 2010

Edmunds Search Buzz.jpg

Millions of consumers visit the Edmunds.com site each month looking for the best info on all things automotive. This translates to hundreds of thousands of users each day seeking the latest deals, test drives, pricing info, negotiating advice and help on nearly any topic related to the car purchase or ownership experience. Edmunds.com traffic and its related search terms are significant enough that the traffic itself becomes a bellwether for consumer trends.

The Edmunds Search Buzz reveals the day's five most-searched topics, trends or vehicles on the Edmunds.com website. Knowing what other consumers are interested in can help point you to a better deal or a product you hadn't considered. Beyond being insightful, the Search Buzz is also entertaining and it's a useful tool for car shoppers and enthusiasts. Today's hottest search term is for winter driving. Check the jump for the day's other hot search terms and related links.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/12/edmunds-search-buzz-december-3-2010.html

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Edmunds Roundup: December 8, 2010

Edmunds Daily Roundup.jpg

Inside Line: 2011 Hyundai Elantra First Drive
Optioned smartly, the Elantra is more than just a lot of car for the money. It's a sharply dressed, roomy and amply equipped car for the money. It was before to some degree, but now it has classy looks to match.

Auto Observer: NHTSA Proposes Standard Backup Cameras in All Vehicles By 2014
The new regulation, released through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is aimed primarily at reducing blind zones behind vehicles that can obscure pedestrians

Green Car Advisor: Chrysler Reported Working on Ram Pickup Hybrid
Chrysler may be lagging behind fellow U.S. automakers Ford and General Motors when it comes to addressing its fleet's carbon footprint and petroleum consumption, but the company appears to be trying to catch up.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/12/edmunds-roundup-december-8-2010.html

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Lotus to Develop New Engines In House?

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/12/lotus-to-develop-new-engines-in-house.html

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze: Weather Forecasts

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2011-chevrolet-cruze-weather-forecasts.html

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Chrysler pondering diesel for U.S. Jeep Compass and replacement - Autoblog

Honda recalling 143,000 Fit hatchbacks over potential headlight lossOfficially Official: Volkswagen Golf R headed to U.S. The newly refreshed Jeep Compass (which we reviewed earlier today), which goes on sale in early 2011 in the U.S., Europe and other markets, will be offered in some places with a...

Source: http://www.roadst3r.com/stories/chrysler-pondering-diesel-for-u-s-jeep-compass-replacement-autoblog/

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2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor: Track and Dirt Videos

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2010-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-track-and-dirt-videos.html

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Inside Line Week In Review For December 17, 2010

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/12/inside-line-week-in-review-for-december-17-2010.html

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Friday, December 17, 2010

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Priced From $26,545

Source: http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/12/2011-hyundai-sonata-hybrid-priced-from-26545.html

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Edmunds Roundup: December 6, 2010

Edmunds Daily Roundup.jpg

Green Car Advisor: Hybrid, Alt-Fuel Tax Credits Expire Dec. 31
Tax incentives for buyers of hybrids, diesels and compressed natural gas (CNG) cars are set to expire at the end of the year, putting alternative-fuel momentum at risk because the cars tend to be more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts.

Inside Line: Comparison Test: 2011 Chevrolet Volt vs. 2010 Toyota Prius PHV
When it comes to comparing plug-in hybrids like the Volt and the plug-in Prius, you can't merely focus on the gasoline side and assume the electricity is free.

Auto Observer: To Become No. 1, Volkswagen Needs to Succeed in Chattanooga
Regardless of what you think about the Volkswagen Group's ambition to become the world's largest automaker by 2018, several roads to the German mass-marketing machine achieving that goal are going to run through the rather improbable location of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/12/edmunds-roundup-december-6-2010.html

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Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad

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Tata Nano ad
She loves the new Tata Nano in the driveway - Click above to watch the video after the break

If small equals cute, the Tata Nano might be the cuddly-wuddliest little car in the world. Sadly, that cuteness isn't necessarily translating into sales at the level the Indian automaker was planning for. Hence, advertisements.

While Tata usually veers towards the humor side of the advertising coin, for its first Nano commercial, Tata has decided to dance upon the heartstrings of the Indian audience, and rather successfully we might add. 'Course, we're not Indian, and no, those weren't tears - we just had something in our eye...

Click on past the break to watch the Tata Nano advertisement, where you'll see an adorable little girl with too much eye makeup asking her grandmother when their new microcar will make it home. As you'll see in the video, the Nano impresses all who see it on its journey from dealership to neighborhood. And it finally gets a little eye makeup of its own. Aww...

[Source: YouTube via Indian Autos Blog]

Continue reading Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad

Video: Tata Nano gets cuddly new television ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/0MZ6Zg75hk0/

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