After taking a closer look at the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee at the L.A. auto show , we noticed that the differences between it and the standard SRT8 go beyond the cosmetic changes we already reported . We now have a better idea of what’s included—and what isn’t—as well as how much the car will cost. While official pricing hasn’t been confirmed, an SRT spokesperson told us to expect a sticker right between those of a well-equipped Charger R/T and the SRT8. That puts a base Super Bee, we figure, somewhere near $40K. If our hunch bears out, it will be the least expensive SRT8 model from Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge. Here’s a rundown of what’s deleted from a standard SRT8 in exchange for the approximate $8000 rebate: Active exhaust Adaptive dampers (the Super Bee uses regular Bilstein dampers) Forged, 20-inch aluminum wheels (the Super Bee’s 20s are cast) Leather upholstery (the Super Bee gets its own embroidered cloth seats) Navigation (it’s not even optional in the Bee) Heated and cooled cup holders Twelve-way memory driver’s seat (a six-way non-memory seat is subbed in) Heated seats and steering wheel, front-seat ventilation In addition, a few items become optional instead of being included off the bat: HID headlights, automatic dual-zone climate control, remote start, satellite radio, and, oddly enough, paddle shifters. And several regular SRT8 options can’t be ordered at all, including a sunroof, the Driver Confidence Group (rain-sensing wipers, a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, auto high-beams), and the Adaptive Cruise Group (adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning). So it turns out the Super Bee is a stripper, offering big Hemi power for less in much the same way the  Ram Express does for Chrysler’s trucks. While some who decide to drop $40,000 on a Charger will surely just pony up the additional $8K to get the goodies, we have no doubt that the lower price will entice more than a few technophobes, purists, and collectors. Lots of muscle at a lower price—consider us on board. Read the original here: Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is Cheapest Way to a 6.4-liter Hemi at $40K(ish) Read the original:  Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is Cheapest Way to a 6.4-liter...

Volvo is getting in on the factory performance-upgrade game with a new series of engine-tuning packages for certain T5- and T6-powered models. The upgrades are the work of Polestar, Volvo’s motorsports partner, and are similar to BMW’s performance kits for the 135i and 335i . Polestar’s ECU tweaks crank up the boost, alter throttle mapping, and advance spark timing to give Volvo’s turbocharged inline-five and inline-six engines not-so-modest power bumps. In C30, C70, and S40 models, the T5 produces 227 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, while the T6 in the S60 and XC60 stumps up a healthy 300 hp and 325 lb-ft. Polestar’s tuning beefs up the T5 to 250 hp and 273 lb-ft (the same tune was applied to the limited-edition C70 Inscription that recently debuted at the L.A. auto show) . The T6 sees output rise by 25 hp and 29 lb-ft to 325 hp and 354 lb-ft. Volvo R-Design fans will recognize those figures, as they are the same produced by the S60 and XC60 R-Design models. The added power isn’t the only good news: The T5 upgrade costs just $1295 and the T6 $1495; both prices include the reprogramming work. Furthermore, because the tuning is restricted to the engine computer, it isn’t limited to any single car. Thus, the Polestar power boost is available for a wide range of old and new Volvos. Manual or automatic 2008–12 T5-powered C30s, C70s, and S40s can benefit from the software, as can the automatic-only 2011 T6 S60 and 2011–12 XC60s. Aficionados of small, slow-selling wagons in limited configurations, you may now rejoice: The all-wheel-drive V50 with a manual will soon join the approved list. As for the other vehicles mentioned, the T5 boost is already available at any Volvo dealership, and the T6 upgrades begin December 5. Both software packages are fully warranted and Volvo says they maintain factory fuel-economy estimates. Real-world mileage, however, is likely to suffer. Read more: Volvo to Offer Polestar Performance Tuning Packages for Turbo Fives and Sixes See the original post here: Volvo to Offer Polestar Performance Tuning Packages for Turbo Fives and Sixes

We’ve had a lot of discussions with people about cars. Interestingly, we’ve always found there to be a group, both young and old who hold on to the notion that somehow cars in the past are safer than the ones of today. You know, the “matchbox” cars of today that just aren’t built like they used to? Well the problem with that is that facts don’t bear that out. We love classics as much as the next guy, but all evidence points to the fact that today’s cars are much safer than cars from yesterday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s figures shows that, thankfully, less people than ever die on American roads, despite many more cars on the road and miles driven. Automotive safety has grown by leaps and bounds. To put this to the test, Stuntbusters pitted a 1962 Cadillac versus a 2002 Cadillac – a difference of 50 years. The two cars were hurled toward each other at 50 mph in the Mojave Desert to see who the winner was. Modern technology – surprise! – won out, with crumple zones in the 2002 Cadillac making the prospects of surviving the crash much greater. We didn’t need a test like this to figure that out though, as the facts bear it out. You can check the video out below to see the results. We couldn’t help cringing seeing a classic destroyed…. Related posts: Dashboards Past BMW Celebrates 75 Years Of Roadsters Lamborghini LP550-2 – the First RWD Lambo in 10 Years Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Go here to see the original: Video: 50 Years Apart, Watch Two Cadillacs Collide

In an effort to get the message out to teens about the dangers of distracted driving, the Department of Transportation has released a new public service announcement (PSA) titled “OMG” that will be shown next month at movie theaters and gas stations nationwide. Throughout the month of December, the PSA will appear on Regal Cinema movie screens and via PumpTop TV in an effort to reach teens directly—at the theater or when filling up their car. And now that the holiday driving season is upon us, it’s very important to reach teen drivers as parties, vacation days, and new high-tech gifts will introduce new temptations and risks. The hard-hitting PSA uses popular texting phrases like LOL and L8R to get the message across to this younger audience, as well as some creative Hollywood effects. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers, and teens have a higher likelihood that they will text and drive. Sixteen percent of all distracted driving crashes involve drivers under 20. For more on distracted driving, see distraction.gov and also our special section Distracted driving and teen safety . Read the original here:  OMG: New video warns teens of distracted driving dangers

General Motors announced today that it is taking active steps to investigate fires in two crash-tested Chevrolet Volts—and to stop the conflagration of rumors that its plug-in electric hybrid can catch fire after a crash. The company is starting an investigation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to explore why two Volts, after being crash-tested and then sitting for a lengthy period of time, subsequently caught fire. Mary Barra, GM’s vice president for global product development, said in a conference call today that it is possible the vehicles’ batteries were not “de-powered” after their crash tests, which would have either reduced or eliminated the possibility of a fire. If the investigation concludes that de-powering would have averted the fires, then GM needs only to change its current advice to first responders and repair shops dealing with damaged cars; re-engineering would not be necessary. Parachutes Optional So far, this is pretty typical stuff for an automaker in this sort of situation: find the precise cause of an issue, work with the government along the way, and (ideally) come up with a safe fix. The unusual bits are how GM is going to deal with Volts already on the road. For starters, in the case of future on-road Volt accidents, General Motors plans to send technicians out to each car within a day to properly de-power the battery. OnStar already alerts GM when any of its vehicles are involved in accidents, and as there are only about 5400 Volts on the road right now, GM says it is worth the resources to actually send corporate folks into the field to ensure the cars are properly shut down. Yes, this will mean putting someone on a plane from Michigan or elsewhere to Anytown, USA. While there isn’t a timeline for the full investigation and any resulting operational or vehicle changes, Barra and GM’s North American president Mark Reuss say that this surprisingly involved part of the process won’t last for too long. If the investigation goes according to GM’s plan, emergency responders, Chevrolet dealerships, and third-party repair shops will be issued instructions for properly de-powering Volts involved in serious collisions. Finally, any current Volt owners jittery about driving...

Following an incident with a Chevrolet Volt catching fire after being crash tested, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a safety investigation into the plug-in hybrid sedans. And General Motors has announced it will offer free loaner cars to any Volt drivers who are concerned about the risk. (Download the letter that GM has prepared for Volt owners .) The fire resulted after NHTSA evaluated the Volt in a side-impact pole test in July that damaged the battery pack, as well as the battery’s coolant lines. Then the car was rotated 360 degrees to simulate a rollover in a real-world crash. Three weeks later, the fire erupted when the car was parked next to other vehicles at the crash-test facility. While the agency states that it is unaware of any crashes of Volt’s on public roads that have resulted in fires, NHTSA did conduct three followup crash tests two weeks ago, trying to duplicate the fire. In the third test, the Volt also caught fire. Last week, the Volt involved in the second followup test also caught fire. NHTSA is conducting its own investigation into the causes of these fires. A defect investigation, such as the one NHTSA announced Friday, is the prerequisite to a mandatory safety recall. General Motors has said that in the July test NHTSA did not follow GM’s procedure in draining the batteries after the accident . The company is now training tow truck drivers and body shop operators, as well as junk yard workers, to do so. It remains unclear whether NHTSA drained the batteries in the Volts subsequently tested, as they had not returned calls by the time we published. NHTSA says Volt drivers should take the same precautions following an accident that they would in a traditional gasoline-fueled car: Exit the vehicle if possible, move a safe distance away, and call 9-1-1. The question NHTSA’s investigation will address is not whether electric cars are safe, but whether they are as safe as gas-powered cars. From a fire-safety standpoint, the main difference seems to be that gasoline requires a spark to ignite, and when it does the conflagration is thorough and immediate. Batteries can supply their own sparks, but they’re less likely to ignite immediately or burn as quickly. So the key question...

BMW is slowly becoming an engine provider for automakers. In the past we have heard about deals between BMW and SAAB , PSA Group and more recently General Motors . And today, a report by Nikkey Business Daily mentions recent talks between BMW and Japanese automaker Toyota. According to the publication, the two companies could share fuel-efficient technologies, initially with Toyota adopting BMW diesel engines for an upcoming model in Europe. The engine in question is the highly-efficient, yet powerful BMW 2.0-liter diesel engine. By having local diesel engine technology based in Europe, Toyota will reduce its costs, as well as the development fees that could help the company regain market share in the compact segment.  In exchange, Toyota is said to be open to lending BMW its hybrid technologies, most likely a similar deal to the one between BMW and French PSA Group. The timeline for the partnership remains unknown at the time, as well as all the fine details that go with such a complex deal. The third generation 2.0 liter twin-turbo diesel engines can be found in the 18d, 20d and 23d iterations, as well as under the hood of several MINI models. At its highest peak, the engine outputs 204 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. [Source: Nikkei Business Daily via CarAdvice ] See the original post here: BMW to supply diesel engines for Toyota

A car that enthusiasts have been waiting on for a long time has arrived. For quite some time, rumors have swirled about a Toyota/Subaru partnership over a small rear-wheel drive sports car. Toyota and Subaru are in cooperation, and both have been looking for a new performance model to bring some excitement into their lineups. For Toyota in particular, the need is urgent. The company has virtually nothing to offer enthusiasts, and its older trending clientele has caused head executives to conclude the lineup needs to offer a more engaging driving experience, as well as more compelling design. It’s about time! After being talked about endlessly and teased with a variety of concepts, the Toyota sports car has been made official at the Tokyo Auto Show, dubbed the GT 86. The GT 86 was just launched in the United Kingdom. Here in the United States, the powers at be decided the car would be sold under the youth-oriented Scion brand. We think the Toyota brand needs the excitement, but we digress. WIth this car, Toyota has proclaimed that “passion is back.” Stylistically, the car looks similar to what we have been seeing for a few years. The front end has horizontal headlights and a sculpted, downward pointing front end that lacks a grille in between the headlights. That sets it apart a bit. Instead, it has a large lower grille. There are haunches around the back, with some clear taillights lenses integrated in. The rear-wheel drive proportions are the nice thing; the details are a bit immature. Boy racer? Kind of. It will probably translate better in person. We’re guessing most will care more about the GT-86′s driving experience though. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder with direct-injection; it is naturally-aspirated and makes 197 horsepower. Some say that is on the low side, but the point is the GT-86 is a blank canvas for those to make it their own; modify, tune, etc. If its lightweight (a big if) the numbers shouldn’t be too shabby out of the box either. The engine is mated to your choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. With a 53:47 weight distribution, Toyota says the car has “precise, instant response to the smallest throttle and steering inputs.” That is all meant to appeal “to...

Is the Volt's battery really safe? Shouldn’t there have always been a de-powering protocol? I would have no problem buying a Chevy Volt today — if it were cheaper — despite the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s formal investigation into Volt fire risk after an accident ( more ). I honestly don’t believe the Volt is a serious fire risk, but I do think that GM — and perhaps all EV makers — might have missed some due diligence. But is that really cause for plug-in worries? It is well-documented that lithium-ion batteries pose thermodynamic risk, and companies like GM have spent countless hours and dollars doing almost everything possible to mitigate and contain such risk, almost everything . Still, it remains unclear whether GM should have foreseen whether or not some sort of de-powering protocol needed to be established before sales of the Volt began. Perhaps, GM thoroughly believed such de-powering was unnecessary. Or, maybe they just overlooked this important issue. Regardless, today GM now offers a de-powering team that will travel to any Volt crash to de-power the battery, but is that really a very cost-effective mitigation strategy? Could this issue be resolved via technology in the future, or will someone always have to de-power the battery after the crash of a lithium-powered vehicle? I assume there will be quality solutions to the problem of de-powering heading into the future, and such problems really should be expected. There are bugs in all new technologies. Software updates are simply part of the modern world. Of course, it’s possible that GM simply screwed up. Surely, such safety concerns will dissuade some from purchasing a Volt or another EV. Ironically, however, most consumers aren’t really ready to buy a plug-in vehicle yet anyway. Fortunately, when plug-in prices are no longer in need of tax credits and much cheaper, Volt fire risk will long be forgotten and battery vehicles will be as safe — if not safer — than conventional vehicles. Continued here: De-powered: GM’s Chevy Volt fire begs serious questions

The Basics: Volkswagen’s had a major hit with its redesigned Jetta sedan, which grew bigger and a little less refined for the 2011 model year. But while the four-door was repositioned to compete better with domestic and Korean compacts, the Jetta SportWagen remains a European-built wagon with less interior space, but a distinctly nicer interior… Read the original here: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

Why do we like the things we like and choose X over Y? Why do some of us choose coffee over tea and Apple over Android? Why donuts over muffins? What are the reasons we choose one over the other? There must be some reason or reasons that motivate our choices, right? And so, onto the main question: Why BMW? Is it purely because of the cars they make, or is it the company as a whole? Why not Mercedes, Audi or Lexus or any other manufacturer for that matter? Is it because of its design, tradition, quality, reliability or the brand’s philosophy that attracts you? It can be anything and everything from the interior smell to the driver’s position to the colors offered and even the cup holders! There is no right or wrong answer. Simply put: Why? We know that for some it’s the driving “feel” that BMW engineers into their cars, while for others it’s the numbers and figures, such as horsepower, 0-60 times, torque or MPG that might seal the deal for them. For some the Roundel serves purely as a status symbol while for others it’s a belief in the mantra “The Ultimate Driving Machine” and philosophy of high revving naturally aspirated engines. More recently the focus towards the future of sustainable mobility and Efficient Dynamics has attracted the more eco-friendly crowd, thanks to the arrival of the BMW i sub-brand. With this move towards greener and more technologically advanced road vehicles, it has also brought along not only the eco-friendly but also the forward thinking, technology loving crowd as well. With that in mind, some are not only attracted to the BMW Group just because they produce great cars, but also because of their way of doing things. Some appreciate the fact that BMW is constantly trying to push the envelope further and create the best they can possibly create with the latest and greatest that the mechanical and technological fields have to offer. Case in point, the idea that a company should stick to tradition and ignore any possible opportunities for improvement does not really fit BMW’s bill. With the switch from naturally aspirated engines to turbocharged ones and the electric assisted steering are just a few to name. Controversial subjects for some, rest assured. Enter, second part of this article. But it’s not...

Mercedes GP Petronas driver Nico Rosberg finished the Brazilian Grand Prix in 7th place while Michael Schumacher finished in 15th Original post:  MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: 2011 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix Results

Today at High Gear Media, Best Car To Buy 2012 winners are announced and we review the 2012 Nissan Leaf. Toyota finally shows off the production GT 86 and Maybach is getting the axe. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. The 2012 Ford Focus has been named The Car Connection’s Best Car To Buy 2012. Toyota finally… View post:  Best Car To Buy Awards, 2013 Toyota GT 86, 2012 Nissan Leaf: Car News Headlines

We know what you’re thinking: “Another holiday gift guide?” But hear us out, because this one’s a little different. For starters the following 12 goodies are geared toward commuters, tinkerers, and other car fans. Whether they’re shade-tree mechanics or shuttle-service soccer moms, there’s something on this list for nearly anyone who spends time… The rest is here:  12 Cyber Monday Gift Ideas From The Car Connection’s Holiday Gift Guide

On our way to Las Vegas in the Q5 (Full review to come soon!), we decided to take a slight detour and head up to enjoy the first day of the Los Angeles Auto Show . More importantly, I wanted to get an up close look at the e-Tron concept car that I’ve been admiring for the past year. Check out our video footage…(or watch via YouTube ) I’m not sure why I didn’t get any video footage of the R8 GT. Maybe because I was so in awe of the e-Tron concept car which was right beside it. For photos from the show, check out the gallery over at our Facebook page . Read the rest here:  Audi at 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show (Video and Photos)