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Thursday, March 25, 2010
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- BMW CEO clarifies 1 Series front-wheel drive statements, promises RWD next gen
- No brainer: Cadillac XTS confirmed for production
- GM targets Ford Mustang with upgraded V6 for 2011 Camaro
- Toyota announces investigation into 2010 Prius cruise control complaints
- BMW bringing Alpina B7 xDrive all-wheel drive models to New York
- Porsche Boxster and Cayman get new option packages in Europe
- Pagani Zonda crash results in $449,000 insurance claim
- Future Alfa Romeo and Fiat models to be built by Chrysler in North America
- Ford working on upgrade to Power Stroke diesel, wants to beat GM’s Duramax
| BMW CEO clarifies 1 Series front-wheel drive statements, promises RWD next gen Posted: 25 Mar 2010 04:16 AM PDT  BMW fans were pretty shaken up in the last few days, after the CEO of the company, Norbert Reithofer, revealed that in a recent survey done internally, almost 80% of 1 Series owners believed their car was a front-wheel drive model. Now, the executive talked with Autocar and clarified the statement, going deeper into the 1 Series demographic.
At the same time, Reithofer promised that the next generation 1 Series (F20), due out in the next 18 months, will retain the rear-wheel drive setup, as will all current models sporting the Bavarian brand. For the future though, things are set to change, and besides the FWD BMW city models, the Mini brand will also see a lot of growth. For all you technical fans, the new platform will support vehicle lengths from 3.8 meters to 4.3m (12.46 to 14.1 feet), the latter being the same size as the Volkswagen Golf VI. For Mini models, the 4 meter barrier is enough, according to Reithofer. For what it’s worth, the current 1 Series measures 4.2 meters in five-door hatchback form, while the Mini Cooper spans almost 3.7 meters in three-door style. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| No brainer: Cadillac XTS confirmed for production Posted: 25 Mar 2010 02:26 AM PDT  Cadillac impressed a lot of people when it showcased the XTS Platinum concept at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. While many already anticipated the model, set to replace the aging STS and DTS, some were intrigued that it was badged as a concept. Now though, GM is reported to have officially given the green light to produce the new luxury limousine, aimed at competitors like the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S Class or the new Audi A8. Power options include the plug-in hybrid setup we saw in Detroit, involving a 3.6-liter V6 and an electric motor, as well as a twin-turbo version of the V6 and, perhaps, a V8 unit. The rumors are also saying that GM is sparing no expense, and wants the Caddy to be as competitive as possible against the Euro rivals. In order to do that, many of the interior features we saw on the XTS Platinum Concept will make it onto the production model and that its looks won’t change drastically. With Cadillac riding high in terms of quality and performance, we’re extremely intrigued by the future production XTS. Are you? Share your thoughts below. Source: MotorTrend Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| GM targets Ford Mustang with upgraded V6 for 2011 Camaro Posted: 25 Mar 2010 02:06 AM PDT  The power war between GM and Ford is continuing, as a new report indicates that GM is preparing to issue an upgrade for the Camaro’s 3.6-liter V6 engine, in order to better rival the Ford Mustang’s new V6. In case you don’t know, the current Chevrolet Camaro outputs 304 HP and scores 29 mpg in highway conditions. The 2011 Mustang, however, squeezes 305 HP and gets an impressive 31 mpg highway, trumping it by a narrow margin. Chevy is having none of this, and rumors are already flying about a software upgrade, which will get more power, and attempt to improve the fuel economy numbers of the V6. While the first can be achieved though some tricks, the latter is easier said than done. Either way, as with the war on the heavy duty pick-up truck segment, this battle between Ford and GM will definitely help the customer. Source: Automobile Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Toyota announces investigation into 2010 Prius cruise control complaints Posted: 25 Mar 2010 01:43 AM PDT  Chalk another investigation underway by Toyota, as the 2010 Prius hybrid is once again under the microscope of the Japanese carmaker. After recalling a big number of vehicles over potential problems with the regenerative braking system, the company is now investigating claims about the cruise control system. The issues range from failing to turn off when the brake pedal is pressed to the lack of immediate response. Preliminary results, which were shared by a Toyota representative, indicate that the drivers might be having problems with the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which is standard on the top-of-the-range Prius V trim line. It seems that the system can accelerate the car much faster than pressing the gas would, with the rep saying a 5 mph increase occurs in 1 second, leading to disoriented drivers. A few other complaints were filed against the cruise control system for being ineffective in detecting stopped cars in the same lane as the 2010 Prius, even though the technology was marketed as safe in these conditions. It’s nice that Toyota is investigating this problem before it will manifest itself in some ugly incidents. Source: Ward’s Auto Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| BMW bringing Alpina B7 xDrive all-wheel drive models to New York Posted: 25 Mar 2010 01:17 AM PDT  Even though it revealed the US-spec Alpina B7 luxury limousine at the Chicago Auto Show last month, BMW isn’t slowing down, and has just revealed that the B7 will be making an appearance at the upcoming New York Auto Show. Don’t go thinking it will just be driven from Chicago to NY, as the company will add the xDrive system to the Alpina B7 lineup of models. And for the more naive BMW 1 Series owners, xDrive does mean all-wheel drive, instead of the regular rear-wheel drive setup of the already announced B7 models. As the regular ones, it will be available in both standard and long wheelbase formats. Power will arrive from the same 4.4-liter V8 engine, developing over 500 HP under the hood of the exclusive limousine. Expect more details when the New York show opens at the end of the month. Source: BMW Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Porsche Boxster and Cayman get new option packages in Europe Posted: 25 Mar 2010 01:02 AM PDT  Porsche knows not a lot of people want to spring for a 911 these days, and has just announced new option packages for its lower priced Boxster and Cayman models. You won’t find any performance boosts, but you will get more bang for your buck. The first is a cosmetic package, which adds new color options to both the inside and the outside of the sportscars, as well as blacked-out 19-inch wheels, new tailpipes, mirrors, air vents, and special roll bars, for the Boxster. The design package also includes a new front lip and a rear spoiler, to make the cars look even more aggressive. To increase your pleasure, the aptly named Comfort package features bi-xenon headlamps, complete with dynamic cornering lights, rain sensors, climate control, and a new wind deflector for the convertible editions.  The Infotainment package has the Porsche Communication Management system included, while the Sound package has options for each specific model. The Boxster will get a 185-watt seven-speaker system, while Cayman owners will enjoy a bigger 235-watt nine-speaker setup Overall, these new features are bound to make people a bit more attracted in the budget Porsche cars. Source: Porsche Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Pagani Zonda crash results in $449,000 insurance claim Posted: 25 Mar 2010 12:32 AM PDT  You could imagine that if you were given the keys to a Pagani Zonda for a quick test drive (our dream), you’d drive it as carefully as possible. Sooner or later though, that massive 7.3-liter V12 engine would get the better of you, and you will have to floor it just to feel the rush. Sadly, a driver in the UK felt a bit more than just a rush, as he crashed the beautiful supercar while testing it out on a track. As you could imagine, you can’t just slap some bondo and hope it will buff out, so the driver went to his insurance company to file a claim. The worth of the claim, after being checked out by investigators, was a reasonable $449,000 (£300,000). Surprisingly, the company decided to ship the luxury model at the Pagani factory in Modena, and have it fixed, instead of just writing it off. And before you ask, yes, this was the largest claim issued by a private car owner in the UK. While we envy the guy for driving such a fantastic car, you can imagine that his insurance rate is now sky high. Perhaps he should check out these tips to keeping his insurance premium as low as possible. Source: BBC Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Future Alfa Romeo and Fiat models to be built by Chrysler in North America Posted: 25 Mar 2010 12:14 AM PDT  Fiat is taking some big steps in merging the operations, at least in terms of manufacturing, of its bigger brands like Alfa Romeo and a more “unknown” company like Chrysler. That’s why it is now reported that the Italian group will shift the production of its bigger models from Italy to various Chrysler plants in North America. It is expected that the future replacements for the 159 and 166 will soon be made in the good ol’ US of A, as well as few other big Fiat models. It seems that the Italian company wants to trim the fat in the five plants it currently owns in Italy, and will orient the factories to working with smaller models, like the 500 or the future Alfa Romeo Giulietta. It has also been revealed that Chrysler will be continuing to sell a wide array of vehicles in Europe, which will retain their identity outside of Italy, and be badged as Lancia models inside the country. Among them will be the 300C, the Sebring sedan and convertible, the Voyager, as well as other Dodge models like the Nitro or Journey. While we can’t say we agree (will Alfas retain their unique identity?) these are some healthy decisions coming from both Fiat and Chrysler. What do you believe? Will you be interested in an American-built Alfa? Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Ford working on upgrade to Power Stroke diesel, wants to beat GM’s Duramax Posted: 24 Mar 2010 11:55 PM PDT  While the HP war has been going on since the birth of the conventional car, no other segment prizes the pure power ratings like the heavy duty pick-up one. That’s why people were blown away by Ford’s 2011 Super Duty model, which is set to sport a massive 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine, capable of 390 HP and 735 lb-ft of torque. The party at the Blue Oval didn’t last long, as GM immediately showcased the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel it will fit in the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, which outputs 397 HP and 765 lb-ft of torque. As you could’ve guessed, Ford isn’t backing away from a challenge, and rumors are already flying around the Internet about engineers working on new ECU software on the all-new engine, in order to bump the HP output to over 400. It’s extremely likely that GM will follow, but as the guys at PickUpTrucks revealed, the fact that the Power Stroke is an all-new engine, while the Duramax already has some years behind it, will affect the power reserve the GM diesel has left. Either way, I’m sure plenty of heavy duty truck fans will enjoy this HP war while it lasts. Source: PickUpTrucks.com Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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