It seems like only yesterday that Ferrari stopped producing the 360 Modena (one of my favorite all-time cars) to replace it with the more capable (but less attractive) F430. In fact 2005 was the last year for the 360, which means the F430’s life cycle is almost over, according to Ferrari’s standards. There’s been a lot of speculation about what the F430’s successor will impose, and now we have details from Ferrari themselves regarding the new mid-engine GT. First up is the looks. The design changes are apparent, but still keeps the same V8 GT style of predecessors. From the side you can see a bit of the Enzo in there, and the interior (at least the cockpit) stays true to the same F430, 360 style. If you look at the front grill in the top picture, you’ll see two tube-looking things on each side of the Ferrari logo. Those are slightly elastic, and deform at high speeds to create more downforce. Clever. My biggest problem with the design are the headlights, which looks like they just don’t belong. The elongated and vertically stretched thing isn’t working for me. Also, take a look at the side view above. Looks good as a coupe, but Ferrari will inevitably make a convertible Spider version of the 458 Italia. Imagine that side view with a chopped top…looks terrible. They’ll have to do some major re-engineering to make that look good. So here’s where it gets interesting. The new engine in the 458 Italia is a 4.5-liter V8 producing a monstrous 562 horsepower – 79 hp more than the F430’s 4.3-liter mill. Once we start putting this much power into a car, it becomes less and less a cruiser, which is one thing this line-up was always good for. The new engine will be mated to a revised version of the California’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Its amazingly fast shift times along with the new engine will be responsible for propelling the 458 Italia from 0 to 62 mph in less than 3.4 seconds. That’s faster than the Enzo! It also breaks the 200 mph club with a top speed of 202. Rumors were floating around of the F430’s replacement sporting forced induction – likely turbochargers – to increase power. Thankfully, Ferrari came to their senses and kept the 458 Italia...

“Cash for Clunkers”. Use that phrase in front of a car hobbyist, and you’re almost sure to ignite a hell of a conversation. This whole deal, run by the government, just recently started here in America, but follows closely on the heals of similar programs that have sprung up in Europe. The fear for guys that are really into rebuilding old Chevys or think it’s total fun to restore a 1975 Mustang looked at the program with dread and revulsion. They were worried that people who didn’t know any better would be trading in Rocket 88s et al, and cars that used to be fun and easy to find would be gone forever. Turns out, the system doesn’t exactly work that way. For starters, it’s not literal cash money for your car, it’s a voucher from Uncle Sam to go buy a NEW car down at the dealership. Now, think about that for just a second. The government will give you XX-thousands of dollars in voucher form that you can only spend at anew car dealer. For all the spin of this being a green initiative, which it IS, and there ARE environmental benefits, what you’ll notice is that this is a way to get people to buy new cars, and thereby, prop up the ailing car industry. When similar initiatives were started in various EU countries over the past few months, various Euro governments literally said that much. To them, and to me, they are killing two birds with one stone: You get to prop up an ailing industrial segment AND you get more fuel efficient and modern cars on the road. It’s a twofer, and a good one. Now, on to how this will not be taking 55-56-57 Bel Airs et al off of the roads. The deal is set up in such a way that cars have to fall within certain parameters, most notably cars of a given time period (so stuff like 1928 Dubonnets are excluded) and of certain bad MPG figures. So you can’t take in your Gen 1 Prius, get $4500 in a cash for clunkers voucher and go buy a new Gen 3 Prius. But you COULD take in your 1984 malaise-era Detroit lead sled that’s lucky to get 12 miles to the gallon and get a hefty voucher for that. So, now that it’s been up and rolling for a bit, how all this Cash for clunkers working? Quite well, if you ask the folks at Kelly Blue Book. They’ve noted that there’s...

Please join Kevin Williams, GMNA Vice President, Service & Parts Operations, on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time for a one hour live chat to answer your questions about customer service and GM making the customer the center of everything we do. Kevin is also interested in your thoughts on what constitutes a great vehicle ownership experience. Look forward to hearing from you. – Tom Henderson, Communications Manager, Service & Parts Operations (Note: While we can’t address specific customer concerns in this chat, resolving them is very important to us. If you have any questions or concerns about a specific GM vehicle you can reach us Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, by calling the appropriate Customer Assistance Center telephone number. Buick: 1.800.521.7300, Cadillac: 1.800.458.8006, Chevy: 1.800.222.1020, GMC: 1.800.462.8782, Hummer: 1.866.486.6376, Pontiac: 1.800.762.2737, Saab: 1.800.955.9007, Saturn: 1.800.553.6000) Webchat with Kevin Williams M-F 8am – 9pm Eastern Here is the original: Webchat: Customer Service with Kevin Williams

Check out the refreshed 2010 Acura MDX. Although it retains the overall shape and look of the 2007-2009 model years, it does have a few aesthetic and mechanical changes that should be noted. An aggressive new grille and different mirrors from Acura's newest parts bin are the most noticeable alterations, although the designers did also tweak the front and rear bumpers, hood, side sills and tail lamps. The 3.7-liter V6 powerplant still has 300 horsepower, and torque drops from 275 to 270 pound-feet. A new six-speed Sequential SportShift tranny helps bump both mpg up one mpg to a 16/21 rating. New gearing supposedly gives the mid-size crossover more umph off the line. The interior receives a thicker sport steering wheel with paddles, more LED lighting, a rearview camera and a VGA nav screen. More pics of the refreshed and kind-of-purple MDX after the jump. Read more here: Acura Gives MDX a Facelift for 2010 Go here to see the original:  Acura Gives MDX a Facelift for 2010

You may have seen these posts on our long-term blog, but if not you're missing out. Our very own Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing and a former OEM chassis engineer, breaks down the various suspension designs used on today's latest new models. So far Dan has limited his explanations to cars in our long-term fleet, but we're planning on expanding this series to our short-term vehicles as well. If we had time, we would do it with every vehicle that goes through our garage, but there are a lot of vehicles and only one Dan. That said, which vehicles would you consider a top priority? We've already covered various cars in our fleet like the BMW M3 , Dodge Challenger R/T , and the Nissan GT-R . Got any other suggestions? Suspension Walkaround: 2008 Ford Focus SES Continued here: Suspension Walkaround: 2008 Ford Focus SES More here: Suspension Walkaround: 2008 Ford Focus SES

The Department of Transportation will soon be making an announcement about the balance of the Cash For Clunkers account (it started with $1 billion), and, quite frankly, it could already be dwindling close to zero. Washington sources spoke with our friends over at AutoObserver , saying that although no announcement has been scheduled yet, the program could be temporarily put on hiatus or even suspended completely. As of 10 a.m. this morning the CARS Web site showed $779 million remaining for the program, but it's unknown how much money today was requested by dealers for pending transactions. Many dealers are concerned that there are many more transactions being made than the program can handle, meaning there is a prospect that dealers could be stuck with paying the $3,500 or $4,500 bill per voucher if the government funds dry up too quickly. The Detroit Free Press quoted the National Auto Dealers Association president John McEleny saying, "We feel that we're much closer to exhausting that $1 billion than anyone thought. We're not telling dealers what we should or shouldn't do but that we think the billion might be close to exhausted if not exhausted already." The program officially kicked-off Monday of this week, although dealers started acknowledging the vouchers July 1. It looks like people have been taking full advantage of the program; let's hope there are funds remaining and the government doesn't throw dealers under a bus with a bunch of worthless $3,500 or $4,500 vouchers in hand. Cash-for-clunkers being suspended AutoObserver : Cash For Clunkers Could Be Done Or On Hiatus Read more from the original source: Cash For Clunkers Fund Might Already Be Exhausted The rest is here:  Cash For Clunkers Fund Might Already Be Exhausted

Electric vehicles were once known to sacrifice power to save gas. Those days are long gone with companies such as Ferrari and BMW gearing up to release high powered electric vehicles. Next up may be Audi, if recent reports are to be believed that suggest the Automaker is gearing up to debut an R8 ePerformance EV concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Don’t get this confused, however, as the reports say this call will be powered by nothing more than high capacity batteries and an electric motor making it a fully all electric vehicle. Audi has yet to say anything of such a car so we’ll have to wait until September to see if these rumors turn out true. via WCF Related Posts Audi denies alternative energy R8 rumors Audi A5 Sportback Audi A1 Sportback Concept Leaks Out Before Paris Motor Show Audi A’KIMONO LS2.0 Concept BMW to debut sustainable sports car at Frankfurt Motor Show Tags: all electric , Audi , battery powered , electric motor , eperformance , ev , r8 Related posts Toyota’s IQ EV out by 2010? (2) Nissan’s all-electrics in China by 2011? (2) Nissan showcases EV-11 all-electric vehicle (0) MIT to have working rapid-charge EV prototype by 2010 (0) GM to sell Chevy Volt on eBay? (0) View original post here: Audi’s R8 ePerformance EV concept debuting in Frankfurt? View original post here:  Audi’s R8 ePerformance EV concept debuting in Frankfurt?

Not impressed by the sportiness of your Honda Insight hybrid ? Well, let Japan’s Exclusive Zeus help you out. The Japanese tuner is offering a body kit for the Insight that offers a lowered suspension, a new front apron, side skirts, a blacked out grille, a new rear apron and a diffuser. You also get a set of new alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tires. No performance upgrades are being offered, so you’re stuck with your 98-hp 1.3L SOHC i-VTEC engine mated to a CVT transmission. However, you’ll probably still enjoy 40/43 mpg (city/highway). Exclusive Zeus 2010 Honda Insight Body Kit : – By: Stephen Calogera Source: CarScoop                         See the rest here: Exclusive Zeus makes the Honda Insight a little more appealing Here is the original:  Exclusive Zeus makes the Honda Insight a little more appealing

It’s no secret that GM was hit extremely hard by the economy, so hard in fact that they had to put a halt on all of their leases. That halt may soon be over as the Wall Street Journal reports that GM is gearing up to begin leasing cars again as early as next month. This would probably be a smart business decision for GM considering the economy is finally starting to stabalize (knock on wood) and the fact that leases made up 20% of GM’s revenue last year. Further reports suggest thatGM will be looking for other financial institues to help with leasing rather than GMAC. Read (WSJ) Related Posts Reduced Price Deals on the Audi in New Hampshire Today on CarBuyersNoteBook.com Who Killed the Electric Car? Volvo Receives New Order for Truck in India Car Tip: Wax Your Car Once a Month Only Tags: economy , GM , GMAC , leasing , recession , report Related posts GM will sell Saab to Koenigsegg (2) VW set to buy-out Porsche (2) US Government Injects 7.5 Billion to GMAC (0) Toyota outs 2010 Prius in Japan, gets good reception (0) Supreme Court lets Fiat buy Chrysler (2) See original here: GM to resume leasing next month? More:  GM to resume leasing next month?

BMW has recently come forth to give us official word that they will in fact be showcasing their 7-Series ActiveHybrid and X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. WorldCarFans reports that both cars are expected to utilize an electric motor capable of 14KW and 210Nm of torque. Of course, this will be coupled with the car’s twin turbo-charged 4.4-liter V8 to make for a slightly more palatable fuel economy. Just how much more palatable? Well, BMW has previously said that the 7-Series ActiveHybrid will get a 15% boost in fuel economy while the X6 ActiveHybrid will get a 20% boost. Related Posts Audi’s R8 ePerformance EV concept debuting in Frankfurt? BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid to be Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid caught testing in South Carolina Lexus Developing Entry Level 1- Series Hybrid Sneak Peak: 2011 BMW 6 Series Tags: 7 series , activehybrid , frankfurt motor show , x6 Related posts Volvo’s XC60 R-Design (0) Sneak Peak: 2011 BMW 6 Series (0) Renault Announces Lease a Battery Pack Option (0) New Bugatti model this September? (1) BMW trademarks ActiveE (1) Read the original: BMW to showcase 7-Series ActiveHybrid and X6 Actice Hybrid in Frankfurt? Original post:  BMW to showcase 7-Series ActiveHybrid and X6 Actice Hybrid in Frankfurt?

It seems that an artist by the name of Jon Sibal has grown tired of waiting for Ferrari to release anything regarding the Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder and has decided to take matters into his owns hands. What you see above is his creation, a render of a Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder. As you’ll see, it’s nothing more than yesterday’s image of the Ferrari 458 Italia with a drop top. There’s really no telling if Ferrari has plans to make the Italia Spyder look similar to this but if they do, they may have a winner on their hands. Related Posts 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia unveiled 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder to Sell for $28.5 Million? Ferrari Testa Rossa Going for World Auction Record BRUSA Spyder Electric Roadster The Taxi You’ll Never Ride In: Ferrari Enzo Tags: convertible , Ferrari , ferrari 458 , italia , render , Spyder Related posts Ferrari Testa Rossa Going for World Auction Record (1) 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia unveiled (0) £100,000 Ferrari F430 Snubbed (2) The Taxi You’ll Never Ride In: Ferrari Enzo (1) The GTA Spano Challenging Ferraris (0) Read the original post: Artist makes render of Ferrari 45 Italia Spyder See the original post:  Artist makes render of Ferrari 45 Italia Spyder

Just yesterday we gave you a glimpse of what the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi was to look like and today the automaker has come forth and given us the full break down. Apparantly this vehicle will go up against cars such as the Subary Legacy, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion and will feature a 2.3 liter 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual or CVT transmission and come in either FWD or AWD models. There has been no official word on prices but they are sure to come out soon as Suzuki hopes to have the 2010 Kizashi hit dealerships this winter. via KickingTires Related Posts 2010 Suzuki Kizashi pictured 1 day ahead of unveiling Suzuki Alto: The Small Bundle of Fun 2009 Suzuki SX4 2009 Suzuki Equator Crew Cab Sport Maruti Suzuki Planning to Develop Cars Independently Tags: kizashi , official , Pictures , specs , Suzuki Related posts 2010 Suzuki Kizashi pictured 1 day ahead of unveiling (1) Volkswagen Buying 10% of Suzuki? (1) Toyota Urban Cruisers Now Available (1) Suzuki Throws Support for Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) (1) Suzuki Grand Vitara (1) Original post: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi officially showcased View original post here: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi officially showcased

Last month we reviewed the 2010 Kia Soul Sport , which we found to be a step in the right direction if they want to compete with the Scion xB, Nissan Cube, and Honda Fit. It wasn’t great, but worth a look. This week, Kia dropped off another 2010 Soul – this time of the “+” (Plus) trim level. I thought this review would be easy, and go something like “here are the differences between the Sport and Plus trim levels.” Turns out that’s not the case… The Soul + feels like an entirely different vehicle. For someone like me who always wants the sportiest experience possible, I’m shocked at how much better the Plus trim is. The most noticeable difference is the transmission. Our Soul Sport had a 5-speed manual that wouldn’t let you shift into 3rd gear most of time, and felt gritty and rough; an overall unpleasant experience. The 4-speed automatic in the Soul Plus was smoother and made the ride much more pleasant, although I wish the automatic was a 5-speed instead of 4. The Kia Soul + gets the same 142 hp 2.0-liter engine found in the Sport, which is still too little power for this car. I found myself running the engine hard just to accelerate fast enough to keep up with traffic, and as a result got less than the 24/30 mpg EPA standard. On a 300+ mile trip, I averaged 24.9 mpg (although I was traveling rather hastily most of the way.) So how else do the Soul + and Soul Sport differ? The +, which is the second trim level in the line-up (it goes Base, +, !, Sport) costs $2000 less than the Sport model. As a result, it has smaller 16-inch wheels (vs. 18″,) a softer (and seemingly more capable) suspension, a smaller stereo, no interior metal accents, no body kit, and no rear spoiler. Each trim level also has its own interior design, and I like the “Soul” branded seats on the + better than the others as well. I’m glad we got another Kia Soul to review so soon; now I’m convinced of it being a worthy contender to its competition. As far as I’m concerned, if you’re going to get a 2010 Kia Soul, the + trim is the way to go. It has a better looking interior and a better ride than the Sport model. It still has most features, unlike the Base model, and the only stuff you miss out...

+ Malcolm Bricklin founded Subaru of America, imported the Yugo from Russia, and even worked with Chery. He tells C/D what he would have done differently. [ Car and Driver ] + Pricing for the 2010 Subaru Impreza was announced today and not much has changed from the 2009 model. The 2.5i Premium will shed $1000 from its starting price, while other trims will see minor changes. [ Car and Driver ] + If you thought that it was The Dude you heard in one of Hyundai’s commercials, you were right. But he’s not the only celeb lending his voice to help manufacturers sell cars. [ Car and Driver ] + New legistlation has been introduced in hopes to ban texting while driving, possibly as a result of our own research. [ Car and Driver ] + Suzuki finally pulls the sheet off of the 2010 Kizashi for it’s formal introduction. We like what we see. [ Car and Driver ] + How the NHTSA instructs dealers to destroy clunker engines. [ Car and Driver ] + We spend time in Volkswagen’s Touareg TDI. [ Car and Driver ] + We’ve put 15,000 miles on our long-term Genesis sedan over 6 months. Read about what we’re getting into with this special 100,000-mile test. [ Car and Driver ] + A new documercial video shows Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni getting sideways and talking about the new two-wheel-drive Gallardo that bears his name. [ You Tube ] + Felipe Massa is already planning his return to F1. His doctor reports “he is back to normal” and appears to have no problem with his left eye, as thought previously. [ USA Today ] + L’Automobile Magazine in France is reporting that Audi has an ePerformance version of the R8 planned for a debut in Frankfurt this September. While nothing has been confrimed yet, an electric R8 sounds about as bizarre as an electric SLS, so it might just happen. [ L'Automobile Magazine ] + Ford’s ad onslaught for the 2010 Taurus will debut August 4. Aimed at tech-savvy and style-conscious consumers, Ford will also launch five webisodes pairing the Taurus up with Audi, Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti sedans. [ Jalopnik ] + EDO Competition is launching some performance and apperance goodies for the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. EDO says the upgrades to the car’s exhaust, intake, and a re-programmed ECU will bump...

According to National Automobile Dealers Association spokesman Bailey Wood, the Cash for Clunkers program may run out of its $1 billion funding ‘well before’ its November 1 expiration day. He said that dealers have already applied for 10 percent of the funds set aside for the program, reports Automotive News . Bailey said that the programs “has been a success” in terms of boosting U.S. auto sales. He said that the NADA is now working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “to emphasize the importance that every dealer be reimbursed by NHTSA for a valid deal.” The NHTSA said today that dealers have submitted 22,782 deals worth $95.9 million in reimbursements as of 4 p.m. yesterday. That’s an average of $4,209.26 per deal, indicating that a majority of sales include $4,500 vouchers. Of the $1 billion as much as $50 million of that budget can go toward NHTSA’s administration costs. – By: Omar Rana See more here: Cash for Clunkers $1 billion funding could run out ‘well before’ Nov. 1 expiration Original post: Cash for Clunkers $1 billion funding could run out ‘well before’ Nov. 1 expiration