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Tuesday, May 18, 2010
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- 2012 Nissan GT-R might upgrade to 500 HP
- Toyota brand loyalty still declining, Honda and Ford overtake it, survey says
- GM posts $865 million first quarter profit, the first since 2007
- Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel expresses interest in Ferrari
- Suzuki SX4-based Volkswagen Rocktan rendered
- Next generation Honda Civic arriving around 2011
- Video: First Uma Thurman Alfa Romeo Giulietta ad appears
- Mr. Bean to race an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 at Silverstone
- Video: Switzer-tuned P800 Nissan GT-R takes on the Koenigsegg CCR
- 2011 Porsche Cayenne gets tuning packages from Russia’s TopCar
| 2012 Nissan GT-R might upgrade to 500 HP Posted: 18 May 2010 01:07 AM PDT  The rumor mill has started spinning once more, this time with details about the next upgrade for the Nissan GT-R model. It seems that the guys at Autoblog have it on good authority that the 2012 model year will pack an upgraded version of the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, capable of around 500 HP and 450 lb-ft of torque. The current GT-R is ‘only’ capable of 475 HP and 414 lb-ft. More power isn’t the only goal for the 2012 Nissan GT-R as a host of aerodynamic improvements are also quite likely. From a new front splitter to a rear diffuser or an optimized wing, all of these components will aim at making it faster and handle even better. Plus, as an added treat, after the preliminary Nurburgring testing that occurred sometime last month, the 2012 GT-R lapped the famous circuit much faster than the original GT-R’s 7:26 run. Stay tuned for more details on this optimized Godzilla as soon as they appear. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Toyota brand loyalty still declining, Honda and Ford overtake it, survey says Posted: 18 May 2010 12:52 AM PDT  At the beginning of 2009, Toyota looked untouchable and reigned over the rest of the car industry as the most profitable and popular carmaker in the world. Fast forward to 2010, after two huge recall scandals, a big fine and many other disputes, and the Japanese company isn’t looking so fresh. According to various studies, it was overtaken in brand value by BMW and in customer loyalty by Hyundai. A new survey has just appeared, this time from Consumer Reports, which charted brand loyalty (about the same thing as customer loyalty). The findings still put Toyota in a bad light. It seems that the company recorded a 13% drop in loyalty as opposed to 2009. The new king is Honda, surprisingly, as 68% of current owners have declared that they are ‘highly likely’ to buy another car from the Japanese company. Ford is runner up with 61% and Toyota rounds off the podium with 58%. While many deemed this period to be the end of the company, financial results show Toyota to be doing quite good, so we won’t mourn its passing anytime soon. Still, the large carmaker will have to work hard in order to gain back customer trust and increase in brand value. Source: ConsumerReports via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| GM posts $865 million first quarter profit, the first since 2007 Posted: 18 May 2010 12:29 AM PDT  General Motors has one more reason to celebrate this year, as the US carmaker has posted a net profit of $865 million for the first quarter of 2010. What’s even more impressive is that this is the first profit posted by GM since 2007. The car manufacturer, which was bailed out last year by the US and Canadian governments, highlighted the fact that sales have improved, both domestically and abroad. With the improving economy, the company is expressing high hopes about its future.
Since it was bailed out on July 10 and until the end of 2009, GM lost around $4.3 billion. In 2010, the company has pushed new vehicles out the door and also managed to pay back the cash loans it received from the North American governments. The next goal on GM’s agenda is to go public at the stock exchange, around late 2010 or early 2011, and to further repay the taxpayer dollars it received last year. Source: Detroit Free Press Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel expresses interest in Ferrari Posted: 18 May 2010 12:11 AM PDT  Without a doubt one of the most promising young drivers in Formula 1 is Sebastian Vettel, who makes a great team with Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing. As you could imagine, bigger F1 teams have noticed this and are already expressing an interest in the German driver. But what does Vettel prefer? In order to find out, Spain’s El Pais newspaper interviewed the Red Bull driver about his future in F1.
Red Bull knows how important Vettel is, and signed him on for quite a few years, so he won’t be able to switch teams that easily. On the other hand, reports indicate that Ferrari might be interested in Vettel’s teammate, Webber, who showed impressive form by winning the last two F1 races in Barcelona and Monte Carlo. The year-to-year contract the Australian pilot has with Red Bull isn’t the most secure, so we might get to see Felipe Massa replaced in 2011. Nothing is set in stone though, so until something is announced, there will be a lot of backstage fighting taking place in the motorsport competition. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Suzuki SX4-based Volkswagen Rocktan rendered Posted: 17 May 2010 11:53 PM PDT  The partnership between Volkswagen and Suzuki is already spawning its first rumors and renders, with a sketch of a compact city crossover, the VW Rocktan, appearing on the Internet. As you can see above, the Rocktan is heavily based on the SX4 crossover, a popular model from the Suzuki range. According to rumors, this new car will bridge the gap between the plastic-heavy CrossPolo and the Tiguan crossover. Voices say that this will eliminate the other plastic-clad VW model, the CrossGolf. Expect the Volkswagen Rocktan to use many of the popular German engines, from the 1.4-liter TSI to a 1.6 or 2.0-liter TDI. According to sources, the SX4-based crossover will be priced at under €20,000 ($25,000), in order to compete with other compact crossovers like the Toyota Urban Cruiser or the Nissan Juke. No word on when we will get to see the Rocktan, but you can expect it to hit around late 2011 or early 2012. Source: AutoInternationaal via Automarket Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Next generation Honda Civic arriving around 2011 Posted: 17 May 2010 11:35 PM PDT  Seeing as how carmakers like Honda stick to five-year life cycles for their bread and butter models, you would think that the current generation Civic, launched in 2005, would receive its replacement in the next few months right? Not so fast, says American Honda executive vice president John Mendel, as a few key problems have appeared, meaning that we won’t get to see the next Japanese compact sedan for at least another year or so. Why the delay? Tougher emissions and fuel average laws plus an increase in competition on the compact sedan segment (*cough* 2012 Ford Focus sedan). As such, the Japanese company has been forced to modify the size of the next Civic, in order to keep it as light and as compact as possible, as well as its equipment levels, in order to keep it competitive against its rivals. While the current model is still managing to move quite a lot of units, Honda needs to be extra careful with the next generation, especially considering the stiff competition heading onto the market segment. Source: AutoWeek Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: First Uma Thurman Alfa Romeo Giulietta ad appears Posted: 17 May 2010 11:21 PM PDT  Last week, we revealed that Hollywood actress Uma Thurman will be lending her talents to Alfa Romeo in order to promote the new Giulietta hatchback model. Now, the first ad, which currently airs on Italian TV, has been revealed, showcasing a few sides of both miss Thurman and the stylish hatch. Our Italian may be a bit rusty, but the tag line is that ‘without hearts, we would be only machines’. Still, even if it’s in a foreign language, the beauty of both Uma Thurman and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is universal. Hit the jump to check out this new ad. Source: Automarket Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Mr. Bean to race an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 at Silverstone Posted: 17 May 2010 11:10 PM PDT  Yes, the title is correct. Mr. Bean, or rather Rowan Atkinson, the actor who depicted the much loved British character, will try his hand at a bit of racing, in the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 series that was announced earlier this year. The famous actor will partner up with Aston Martin chairman David Richards, for the Silverstone stage counting for the one-make series. Both Atkinson and Richards have racing credentials, with the latter winning the 1981 World Rally Championship as a co-driver. Mr. Bean, on the other hand, has shown us multiple times what he can do in an old Mini on the popular TV show, but what we didn’t know is that Atkinson has also tried his hand at racing Aston Martin models in the past. Now, the two drivers will take turn on May 22, when the Silverstone race of the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 series will take place. Hopefully a Reliant Regal Supervan won’t be spotted around the track. Source: AutoEvolution Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Switzer-tuned P800 Nissan GT-R takes on the Koenigsegg CCR Posted: 17 May 2010 10:45 PM PDT  Just after we revealed our special on the most awesome YouTube car videos, another batch of supercar footage appeared, this time depicting a Switzer Performance P800 Nissan GT-R drag racing against a Koenigsegg CCR Evolution. For those that forgot, the P800 GT-R develops 800 HP (duh!) while the CCR Evo has 806 HP on tap. The video has not one but two races, the first where the CCR starts in second gear, while the second has the Swedish supercar starting in first gear. Still, even with all those Scandinavian horses behind it, the Koenigsegg had a few problems with the GT-R. Check this fantastic drag race after the jump. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Porsche Cayenne gets tuning packages from Russia’s TopCar Posted: 17 May 2010 10:25 PM PDT  The 2011 Porsche Cayenne is set to be another best seller for the Stuttgart brand and we all know most units will be sold in Eastern Europe. As such, Russian tuner TopCar has already revealed the three packages it will sell for the new Cayenne model. These kits will have in common a power increase of 35%, up to 750 HP being squeezed from the performance SUV. Besides that, a wide array of accessories like new mirrors, LED lights and special wheels will also be found on all of the customization packs. The first will be the Porsche Cayenne Advantage 2, which sees the addition of 911 headlights, instead of the Cayenne’s own set, as well as a new body kit consisting of front and rear bumpers, a new bonnet, a rear diffuser plus enlarged wheel arches.  The second pack is the Porsche Cayenne Vantage GTR 2 (pictured above), which keeps the original SUV’s healights but also features wider air intakes, a new front bumper and all of the other additions from the Advantage 2 pack. Both these packages will only be offered in a limited run of 25 units each. For those who won’t move quick enough, an unlimited number of Porsche Cayenne Vantage 2 packages will be offered by TopCar. This kit boasts new body panels made from carbon fiber or even kevlar, as well as a complete body kit. If you want to check out these tuning packages for the 2011 Porsche Cayenne before you place your order, the Russian customizer will feature them at the upcoming Moscow Motor Show. Source: WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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