Everett auto repair shop helping buyers for about fifty many years: January 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

Autoblog Podcast #149

Filed under: Podcasts, Budget, Hybrid, Technology, Tokyo Motor Show, Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon, Electric, Lancia

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #149 of the Autoblog Podcast, the first frost edition, has arrived. The Tokyo Motor Show is coming up, and there have been a couple previews of what to expect there. The Toyota FT-86 concept has had everyone abuzz with its heralding as the spiritual successor of the much-beloved AE86 of the 1980s. Also building excitement for Tokyo is Subaru's Hybrid Tourer concept. Moving on from Asia, we touch on Lancias being rebadged as Chryslers before wrapping up with Chrysler and Fiat's collaboration on an electric car. Very last, we hit up some questions before calling it a night and going to sleep off our ailments. Keep the feedback rolling in to Podcast at Autoblog dot com, thanks for filling our survey with data, and we'll see you soon for #150! Remember, if you get lonely, there's always Joystiq and Engadget. Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #149

Autoblog Podcast #149 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/14/autoblog-podcast-149/

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Pagani Huayra makes its official web debut

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC

Pagani Huayra - Click above for high-res image gallery

After taking a look at our high-res image gallery below, we were tempted to say the Pagani Huayra made its o-fish-ial web debut... but we won't. Oh, wait.

In any case, Pagani's newest supercar can now be seen in all its glory, and we generally approve of the overall styling, despite the fact it's got something of a bottom-feeder fascia up front. Moving past that, we see a pretty serious set of gullwing doors and enough slats, flares and strakes to fill the sketchbook of a Boeing designer.

All those aero aids will surely come in handy when all the fury of the Mercedes-Benz AMG-built 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 engine is unleashed on the hapless pair of rear tires - the Huayra is said to be capable of speeds up near 230 miles per hour.

Over 700 horsepower and about 740 pound-feet of torque will be sent to the ground through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Couple that with a weight of just under 3,000 pounds - aided by copious amounts of carbon fiber - and you have the makings of a 21st century rear-wheel drive rocket ship.

Inside you'll find all the luxury touches you'd expect, including a cockpit slathered in beautiful hides and exposed aluminum and carbon fiber. You'll also bask in the glowing blue gauges and multi-function display that controls audio, navigation and communications gadgetry.

Even if we're just a tad stuck on that front fascia, there's simply no arguing with this level of performance. Have a close look at the Huayra below, then check out the (translated) press release after the break.

Gallery: Pagani Huayra

[Source: Autoblog.it]

Continue reading Pagani Huayra makes its official web debut

Pagani Huayra makes its official web debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/pagani-huayra-makes-its-official-web-debut/

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 leaks out

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG - Click above for high-res image gallery

The facelifted 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG wasn't supposed to see the light of day until the Geneva Motor Show this March, but a sizable batch of photos have leaked out giving us a clear look at what to expect in Switzerland.

On the outside, the C63 gets a set of SL-inspired headlamps with ornate light-piping and LED DRLs mounted in the revised fascia. LEDs make their way to the tail lamps, while redesigned 18-inch wheels fill the wheel wells and frame upgraded brakes.

AMG opted to retain the 6.2-liter V8 instead of fitting its new 5.5-liter biturbo mill, so output remains at 451 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The Development Package will reportedly stick around for 2012, raising output to 481 hp and nixing the 155 mph limiter to allow the C63 to top out at 174 mph. The sports package also includes a few interior tweaks, a carbon fiber trunk spoiler and red calipers that clamp onto 14.2-inch front discs.

However, the biggest change comes in the form of a new transmission. The C63 now sends power to a seven-speed Speedshift MCT auto 'box which swaps out the conventional torque converter for a high-performance clutch pack said to deliver smoother, more immediate shifts.

After the C63's big day in Geneva, the revised C-Class will go on sale this fall, with the AMG-fettled version getting a very slight bump in price.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

[Source: Carscoop, Car and Driver]

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 leaks out originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/27/2012-mercedes-benz-c63-leaks-out/

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Paris 2010: Is the Venturi America EV Dune Buggy another awesome EV we'll never see?

Filed under: Convertible, Paris Motor Show, Specialty, Electric, Off-Road

Venturi America EV Dune Buggy - Click above for high-res image gallery

Venturi was last seen in America a couple of months ago, blasting across the white crystals at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the guise of the Buckeye Bullet. At the Paris Motor Show, the Monegasque company revealed a different kind of terrain-blasting machine called the America EV Dune Buggy - a jacked-up, 300-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive electric sports car as open and free as the great land it's named after.

The interior would be admirably minimal if things hadn't got cluttered up around the console screen, but the center tunnel buttons are a chunky, metallic pleasure to behold. The single display in front of the driver will hopefully present information clearly enough to keep your eyes on the road and your hair in the wind. And we aren't sure what kind of stereo is involved, but based on the speakers it looks pretty serious.

As for actually getting behind the wheel and exploring the roadster's namesake country, a retail source for Venturis has just landed in Columbus, Ohio, which means we might one day see something from the automaker outside of a blog post. But that's the future, folks - for now, there's a press release in its familiar place and a gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Venturi America EV Dune Buggy

Continue reading Paris 2010: Is the Venturi America EV Dune Buggy another awesome EV we'll never see?

Paris 2010: Is the Venturi America EV Dune Buggy another awesome EV we'll never see? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/01/paris-2010-is-the-venturi-america-ev-dune-buggy-another-awesome/

Porsche Auto Service Auto Repair Automobile

Sunday, January 30, 2011

GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept being considered for production

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Truck, GMC, Diesel

GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've already crawled all over the GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept at the Detroit Auto Show, and Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com took an extensive look at the interior and exterior with designer Carl Zipfel. The questions we really wanted to get answered were, of course, "Are you going to build it? And if not, can we build it?"

As to whether GMC is considering bringing it to market - built on a GMC line or by a partner firm - Zipfel suggested that the company is considering the possibilities. However, right now it remains a concept only and there are no plans to build it.
In its favor is that Zipfel's team started with a production truck. "It's the best of the Duramax HD with more off-roading capability," he said, "built with an existing Duramax diesel and existing supplier connections."
When asked if a customer could build it, Zipfel said an HD owner could replicate "everything but the lights." You can't get the 5'8" bed on the 2500 Duramax HD, and widening the track by four inches would be a slightly lesser challenge. Otherwise, the chassis wasn't chopped to create the shortened front end, and Zipfeld said, "We think we're in striking distance for crash testing if GMC decided to build it."

Follow the jump for more revelations about the GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept.

Gallery: 2011 Detroit: GMC Sierra All Terrain Concept

Continue reading GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept being considered for production

GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept being considered for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/12/gmc-sierra-all-terrain-hd-concept-is-being-considered-for-produc/

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage S packs more power, attitude

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin, Luxury

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S - Click above for high-res image gallery

Aston Martin has found a way to turn up the heat on its V8 Vantage with a new S model. The coupe packs the same 4.7-liter V8 under the hood as its predecessors, though the mad scientists in Gaydon have managed to wrench a full 430 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque from the eight-pot. The engine is now bolted to a tweaked version of the company's seven-speed SportShift II transmission with even shorter ratios than before and the combined effect should be more than enough to snap your neck in style.

The engineers also bolted in a quicker steering rack, huge rotors and six-piston calipers up front to ensure this machine can take whatever level of flogging you deem appropriate.

The design crew at AM specifically lifted cues from the even mightier V12 Vantage and the race-bred Vantage GT4. That means buyers can expect to find a carbon fiber splitter low on the front fascia and a pair of wildlife-swallowing inlets designed to feed those massive stoppers. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin V8 Vantage S packs more power, attitude

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S packs more power, attitude originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/aston-martin-v8-vantage-s-packs-more-power-attitude/

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Lexus LFA launch control details revealed

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lexus

2011 Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

As any drag racer will tell you, achieving the perfect launch is something of an art form. Or maybe it's closer to a religion to the people constantly struggling to find exactly the right RPM, clutch technique and number of prayers to the God of the Quarter Mile.

Naturally, having a computer take all the guesswork out of the process (cheating? Not if everyone else is doing it... and they are) makes everything more than a little bit easier. The Lexus LFA is the latest supercar to get the technology here in the States. But how does it work?

Glad you asked. Lexus' carbon fiber wonder-mobile is finally hitting the streets, and its handy-dandy owner's manual outlines the launch controll process rather nicely. Nicely, but not exactly easily... as you might expect from a factory-installed technology that is known to be rather stressful on drivetrain components. See what we mean after the break.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA

Photos copyright (C)2009 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Lexus Enthusiast]

Continue reading Lexus LFA launch control details revealed

Lexus LFA launch control details revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/27/lexus-lfa-launch-control-details-revealed/

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CEC announces Lexus LFA customization program

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Lexus

CEC Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

Los Angeles-based tuner CEC has announced a new partnership with Lexus North America to create a tuning program for the Lexus LFA. Limited to just three vehicles, these unique supercars will feature a variety of enhancements created specifically for each customer. "We believe these three CEC Tuner Edition LFAs will be the most expensive and rarest of all the LFA supercars that Lexus will manufacturer and sell worldwide," said Sherif Yassa, Vice President of CEC.

Thanks to the technical innovations that went into building the LFA, the CEC upgrades will mostly be limited to aesthetics. "We looked at the LFA and what Lexus engineers had done, and knew it would be crazy to try and improve it from a performance or engineering standpoint," said Claus Ettensberger, founder of CEC. Even so, the tuner has managed to squeeze an extra 10 horsepower from the 4.8-liter V10 and trimmed shift times to .15 of a second.

While we don't have any photos of the trio of custom LFA supercars quite yet, CEC did have an LFA on display featuring their lightweight forged wheels. You can see high-res photos of the car in the gallery below.

Gallery: CEC Lexus LFA

CEC announces Lexus LFA customization program originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/29/cec-announces-lexus-lfa-customization-program/

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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Report: Toyota FT-86 to be badged as Scion, retail for $25K

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Scion, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon

Toyota FT-86 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

When the Toyota FT-86 concept was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, we were surprised and delighted at the prospect of an attractive, rear-wheel-drive 2+2 with a $20,000 price tag. Could we just as excited for a $25,000 RWD Scion? We may not have a choice.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Toyota management told dealers in Las Vegas there will be a production version of the FT-86 badged as a Scion model. The move would help bolster the struggling brand, which has been a bit product-starved of late. There are also rumors of a new price point - as high as $25,000 - and the possibility that the Subaru version will only be available in Europe.

While the report claims the FT-86 will be badged as a Scion, there is no definitive word there won't be a Toyota variant as well. We're sure to learn more this auto show season, as reports show that the production FT-86 could arrive at the New York Auto Show in 2011.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Toyota FT-86 Concept