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Thursday, June 10, 2010
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- Ferrari CEO says V6 engines are a possibility, bets on turbocharged V8s
- GM wants to people to forget about Chevy nickname
- Video: Mini Contryman stars in Timbaland & Michelle Branch ‘Getaway’ music video
- 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton gets detailed, new photos
- Long wheelbase BMW 3 Series planned for production in China
- Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Thirty-Five meets 300 SEL 6.8 AMG at Spa
- Video: 2011 Subaru WRX STI sedan laps the Nurburgring in 7:55
- Mercedes-Benz CEO bets on Germany during 2010 World Cup, offers large incentives
- 70% of people eat in their car even though it could lead to food poisoning
- Chrysler models to be badged as Lancia ones in Europe
| Ferrari CEO says V6 engines are a possibility, bets on turbocharged V8s Posted: 10 Jun 2010 01:46 AM PDT  Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo has once again talked about the ‘green’ future ahead of the Italian supercar manufacturer. According to the executive, the future will see some changes made to the strategies used by Ferrari, but the core philosophy, to offer outrageously fast supercars, won’t be changed by any fuel average of emissions regulation. Montezemolo admitted that in the future, we might see V6 units be employed for some models, but the next few years will be focused around turbocharged V8 units. Also, projects like the one previewed by the 599 HY-KERS hybrid we saw in Geneva this year will also benefit future models. Montezemolo once again expressed his hope that the Formula 1 team will pioneer new technology, like the KERS system or breakthroughs in aerodynamics, even though the current FIA regulation doesn’t allow for much innovation. So, smaller but greener engines under the bonnet of Ferrari models. Who would’ve guessed? Still, fans shouldn’t be to worried, according to the executive, as the company will continue to deliver performance with all of its future cars. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| GM wants to people to forget about Chevy nickname Posted: 10 Jun 2010 01:32 AM PDT  There are a huge number of car brands active these days. But not a lot of them can hold a stick to the popularity and the heritage of General Motors’ Chevrolet brand. Over the years, the company became as quintessentially American as apple pie or the 4th of July, earning it the nickname Chevy. As you could imagine, GM was extremely pleased back in the day that its brand was so loved by many. Now, things have changed. In a recent internal memo sent by marketing vice president, Jim Campbell, and VP of sales and service, Alan Batey, employees and dealers are now advised to use just the Chevrolet name, effectively eliminating the Chevy nickname. Why? Because brand consistency is key and, according to the brilliant minds of GM, people can’t possibly make the connection between Chevrolet and Chevy. A funny fact is that in order to exemplify their reasoning, the two But all joking aside, this, if it will be made official, is a terrible idea. Brands work for decades to get a nickname with its customers, and wanting to delete the Chevy memory from the mind of faithful consumers is just plain wrong. That’s our reasoning, at least. What’s your point of view? Share your thoughts below. Source: New York Times Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Mini Contryman stars in Timbaland & Michelle Branch ‘Getaway’ music video Posted: 10 Jun 2010 01:07 AM PDT  While Audi decided to go the video series route in order to promote its A1, Mini opted for a much better approach in order to market the new Countryman crossover. The new Mini model is being showcased in what promises to be As you could have guessed, the Getaway theme blends in nicely with the overall motive for the Countryman, to offer a getaway from the crowded city and out into nature. The song is pretty catchy, so hit the jump and check out this music video. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton gets detailed, new photos Posted: 10 Jun 2010 12:51 AM PDT  The 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton has been officially revealed at the Beijing Motor Show a few months ago. As you could’ve guessed, VW made the right move, because the Phaeton is a best seller in the Asian country. Now, right before the large, luxury limousine will be launched in Europe (this month) and China (in August), the German company has released a fresh batch of details, including the many systems the 2011 Phaeton will use. As you can see, the restyled grille, now in line with the rest of the VW family, stands out. It now has LED technology, present also on the rear lights. The bi-xenon headlights are controlled by the Dynamic Light Assist system, which monitors oncoming traffic that might be blinded by your lights, and adjusts them accordingly. Besides that, the Phaeton will have an optional front camera, which can detect traffic signs, display speed limits and monitor the permission of overtaking. All of that information, and more, will be displayed on the eight-inch touchscreen. Besides controls for the climate or other functions, this screen will also display the satellite navigation. This is no ordinary system though, as you can transfer Google Maps data, points of interest and routes from your smartphone to the car’s 30GB hard drive, and display it over the regular navigation system. Engine fans are going to find a varied offer with the 2011 Phaeton, as it will boast anything from V6 to V8 or W12 units, powered by both gasoline and diesel, developing from 236 HP to 443 HP. Even though its predecessor hasn’t really become a best-seller, the 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton is looking pretty good. Check it out in the photo gallery below and then share your thoughts about this new German luxury limousine. Photo Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton
Source: Volkswagen Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Long wheelbase BMW 3 Series planned for production in China Posted: 10 Jun 2010 12:18 AM PDT  BMW is set to further expand its Chinese range by offering a long wheelbase version of the 3 Series, according to new reports. It seems that when the new plant that BMW and its local partner, Brilliance, will be built in the Shengyang, new products are set to be manufactured. Besides the X1, which was confirmed some time ago, sources indicate that a long wheelbase version of the 3 Series might also see the light of day in China. The new factory will be able to produce over 100,000 models each year, so the possibility of a longer 3 Series, in order to contend with the Audi A4L already offered in China, might not be too far fetched. Still, the plant is a long way until it is finalized (around 2012), so don’t expect a long wheelbase 3 Series anytime soon. We’re pretty sure, however, that the LWB version of the 2011 5 Series will please the Chinese public until then. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Thirty-Five meets 300 SEL 6.8 AMG at Spa Posted: 10 Jun 2010 12:03 AM PDT  Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance division really loves sharing its prestigious racing heritage. As such, when the company revealed its new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 engine, capable of 544 HP and 590 lb-ft, it decided to showcase it in a rather special Mercedes-Benz S63 (don’t ask about the number), decorated in the same livery as the famous 300 SEL 6.8. For those not familiar, the Mercedes-Benz AMG 300 SEL 6.8 was the first racing luxury sedan revealed by the company, packing an upgraded 6.8-liter engine and, even though it weighed 3,600 pounds, managed to score second place in the 1971 24 Hours of Spa.  As such, the new S Class Thirty-Five (the number the 300 SEL wore during the race), commemorates that achievement. How so? Well, the aforementioned 5.5-liter V8 has been upgraded to 571 HP and 664 lb-ft of torque. As an added bonus, the wet clutch-equipped Speedshift MCT seven-speed gearbox was added. The two cars went on to do a few laps of the famous Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, in order to celebrate the old and the new. Source: Mercedes-Benz Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: 2011 Subaru WRX STI sedan laps the Nurburgring in 7:55 Posted: 09 Jun 2010 11:26 PM PDT  Subaru made a lot of fans extremely happy when it announced that the 2011 Impreza WRX STI will be offered not only in the new hatchback form, but also in the iconic sedan body style. In order to really prove the worth of the refreshed model, the Japanese engineers fiddled a bit with some of its accessories, like the turbocharger on the 2.5-liter Boxer engine, but also added some lightweight equipment. Afterwards, they handed the keys to this slightly better-than-average WRX STI to one of the guys in their parking lot, former WRC Champ Tommi Mäkinen. The driver took the new 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI onto the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife and achieved the best time ever for a Subaru, lapping the circuit in 7:55 Hit the jump to check out the in-car footage from the Nurburgring lap. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Mercedes-Benz CEO bets on Germany during 2010 World Cup, offers large incentives Posted: 09 Jun 2010 11:12 PM PDT  The 2010 World Cup in soccer is set to start this Friday in South Africa. With it, Daimler boss, Dieter Zetsche, is planning a new incentive rush for Mercedes-Benz. In order to promote the company’s tie to both the World Cup organizers and to the German national team, Zetsche has pushed for new incentives, with as much as a $2,493 discount for a SLK roadster in his native Germany. Zetsche is seemingly also a betting man, as he promised that if Germany will win the World Cup (1 in 14 odds), zero percent financing plus $381 in lease incentives will also be offered to specific models across the range. So, you might be thinking, why is Mercedes-Benz trying so hard to capitalize on the World Cup? For starters, it’s one of the biggest sporting events in the world, but most importantly, MB is trying to target a younger demographic. Currently, Mercedes buyers are, on average, 10 years older than BMW or Audi customers. As such, soccer fans that are thrilled about Germany’s World Cup performance are a very interesting segment. Source: Bloomberg Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 70% of people eat in their car even though it could lead to food poisoning Posted: 09 Jun 2010 10:52 PM PDT  Driving a car in second nature to a lot of us, but sometimes this means that we need to get our food on the go. While eating in a car is already a bit of a messy affair, it seems that a lot of people still do it anyway, as a new study conducted in the UK shows that 70% of people eat in their vehicle regularly. While that may not sound too scary, how about the fact that after scientists tested out random cars, they found a whole array of germs and bacteria on things like door handles, gear knobs or even the steering wheel? These aren’t your regular bugs either, as these microscopic organisms ranged from Staphylococcus to Bacillus Cereus, just the things that can lead to food poisoning, nausea or worse. And if you’re thinking that the summer heat might kill them off, then you’re wrong, as these germs thrive even more in hot environments. So, all in all, next time you’re feeling hungry, just go to a restaurant, and be sure to clean your car every now and then if you don’t want a bacteria circus in there. Source: Daily Mail via Automarket Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Chrysler models to be badged as Lancia ones in Europe Posted: 09 Jun 2010 10:32 PM PDT  Fiat’s acquisition of ailing US carmaker Chrysler has opened the way for some very interesting collaborations between the two large groups. The most interesting one, or at least the one that was covered the most by the media, is the merger of the Chrysler and Lancia brands. We’ve heard a lot of speculations and even some from Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne. Now, Olivier Francois, the CEO of both Chrysler and Lancia, has revealed the new plan. In Europe, the Chrysler name will be erased, and all of its models will be badged as Lancia ones. The existing dealerships will also be merged, but some will be shut down. Vehicles will still be sold under the Chrysler name in the UK, as Lancia hasn’t been present there since the beginning of the 1990s. According to Francois, this new move will see sales increase for the two brands from 132,500 vehicles in 2009, to at least 300,000 in 2014. Source: Automotive News via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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