The Buick Regal GS has proven that Buick and speed aren’t two mutually exclusive terms. After making utterly boring vehicles for years, Buick turned over a new leaf with the 2008 Enclave. Since then the Regal, Verano and Encore have been released (Encore isn’t on sale yet though) and Buick’s average buyer age has steadily dropped. In the Buick lineup the Regal GS by the far the model of most interest to enthusiasts, sharing a lot with the Opel Insignia OPC. We didn’t get the OPC’s all-wheel drive or V-6, but hey we’ll take what we can get. Buick has announced that the Regal GS is the fastest Buick ever. It hit 162 mph at the Nevada Open Road Challenge, good enough for a second-place finish in the 135-mph class. The car was driven by Buick engineers Bill Rietow and John Townsend. The race uses stock cars; the Regal GS only added safety equipment like a roll cage and racing harnesses, as well as data collection computers. The team set a target time of 40 minutes and came within 0.4 seconds of achieving that. Last year, the pair won first place in the 120-mph class. The way the Open Road Challenge works is different than most races. Instead of seeing who gets to the end first, the finishers are awarded on speed consistency. The Open Road Challenge sounds like a lot of fun. Like its name implies, it takes place on Nevada State Highway 318. A two-line, 90 mile segment forms the course. Buick is participating in these events to build performance credentials for the GS, which is a worthwhile endeavor. The GS is a great car; its only problem is pricing. People expect a real value proposition from Buick and it isn’t. That is something they’ll have to sort out in the future. Following their run, the engineers made a video talking about the car. You can check it out below. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Continued here:  At 162 MPH, Buick Regal GS Becomes Fastest Buick

Today at High Gear Media, we say good-bye to a list of 2012 green cars and Ford’s Mustang Facebook fan page clocks 4 million fans. The Mercedes-Benz A Class might get an electric powertrain, and the next-generation Mazda MX-5 will spawn a new Alfa Romeo Spider. Catch all of this and more in the day’s car news links below. The Ford Mustang Facebook… Read the original post:  Green Car Death List, 4 Million Mustang Fans, Mazda And Alfa Romeo: Car News Headlines

We’re convinced that the previous generation BMWs (save for probably 3-Series) will stand out as divergent from the developmental flow. That is true in both styling and in powetrains. Last time around the M5 ditched its traditional V-8 power plant for a V-10. A BMW V-10? That was a shocker. Then, the M3 moved to a V-8 after being powered by BMW’s inline sixes for most of its lifetime. This time around styling has returned to form, and things are making more sense under the hood as well. F30 Post reports that the next-generation M3 will return to inline six-cylinder power. Emphasis on inline there; some speculation surfaced that BMW would make it a V-6. The thinking was that BMW could basically lop two-cylinders off the twin-turbocharged V-8 powering the M5. According BMW North America President Ludwig Willisch that possibility was being considered, but they settled on an inline six. Smart move, we say. The new engine will have two or possibly three (!) turbos to help it generate about 450 horsepower. The M3 is about 1.5 to 2 years away, and F30 post says the next car will be lighter, faster, more efficient, and more powerful than the current car. A manual transmission will be either optional or standard, and a debut will take place in early 2013 or 2014. Why the wait? The M3 is primarily coupe based (the four-door sedan version was killed off) and the current-generation coupe hasn’t debuted yet. Right now, previous generation versions of the coupe and convertible are still being sold alongside the current F30. BMW has been said to consider renaming the coupe/convertible versions as 4-Series, but that would mean ditching the M3 moniker, which we can confidently say won’t happen. Can’t they just leave well enough alone? 3-Series, 3-Series Coupe, 3-Series Convertible – makes sense to us. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Here is the original post:  Next-Generation BMW M3 Switching Back to Inline Six

There is a lot of satisfaction in proving the naysayers wrong. So far, Tesla has done just that. The Model S is moving forward full-speed ahead for a production launch one month ahead of schedule. Tesla has just announced the beginning of a countdown – one month from today the first Model S is scheduled to be delivered to customers. The gleaming former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California is gearing up for full production. The first production body for customer delivery was recently completed (see image above). Tesla is a true product of Silicon Valley – technology is at the forefront of the experience. The whole aim with the Model S is to produce a different (and they say better) car than ever before.That different approach is carrying through to personalization options. Today new details have been released that enhance the package. One of them is a regenerative braking option, enabling you to select “Standard” or “Low”. Regenerative braking is one of the major differences in the driving experience of electric and hybrid vehicles. When you take your foot of the accelerator, there is a bit of a pullback (similar to downshifting) as the car turns motion into energy. For some it is a welcomed thing; others an annoyance. One caveat though; on low you have the less range. Adjustability isn’t just down to the regen though; it includes steering and suspension options. For the steering, you can select from Comfort, Standard and Sport. The ride height also has options for Very High, High, Standard and Low. Nifty. Also, every Tuesday until June 22nd be sure to check out “Inside Tesla.” There, they will reveal different aspects of the manufacturing process each week. On launch day, there will also be a celebratory employee event and a delivery ceremony streamed live on teslamotors.com. We can’t wait! Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Go here to see the original:  Tesla Model S Scheduled for June 22nd Delivery

Sometimes things work out better in theory than in practice. Rolls-Royce is finding that to be the case with electric power. A few years back images of a Phantom surfaced with “Dual Mode” hybrid badges. It turned out to be the owner pulling a joke, but the idea has been considered. More seriously though, an electric Phantom has been brought up for discussion numerous times over the past few years. We remember hearing about it back in 2009. Then, last year the 102EX Concept was shown off in Geneva. Former Chief Executive Tom Purves endorsed the idea enthusiastically. In 2009 he said: “Many of our customers do small mileages exclusively in the city…for these customers, an electric Rolls-Royce would be ideal…..we stand for unmatched refinement and you can’t get a quieter and less intrusive engine than a well engineered electric motor…..we also stand for strong and instant torque – and an electric motor delivers maximum torque instantly. The ‘waftability’ would be fantastic.” Those things are all true. Electric fits in perfectly with Rolls values on a lot of fronts. The “waftability” factor has been put forth as the ultimate definition of what makes a Rolls Royce a Rolls Royce. Quiet, creamy smooth, no shifting from a transmission, lots of low end torque – perfect right? Not so fast says Motor Trend . Given that the idea was being seriously considered, the 102EX Concept was produced to gain feedback from customers. The result? Rolls found out that its buyers really love their 12-cylinder engines. “I haven’t yet seen a blank check on my desk to say ‘Torsten, build me an electric Rolls-Royce” says current CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. “Over 500 people have been behind the wheel now, all over the world. The feedback is ambivalent so far, unfortunately. I wouldn’t have thought that. Because I’ve always loved the car from the very beginning……the clear feedback is, there’s too much compromise.” Compromise refers to 8 hour charge times and a range of 120 miles. Rolls buyers are wealthy, so the thinking was an electric Phantom could just be added to their fleet. The prospect of such an expensive vehicle with limited capability proved to be too much to stomach though. Nothing being stranded...

Remember the Aston Martin Lagonda Concept? If you don’t, be thankful. It is a vehicle who nobody liked in the first place, and its styling hasn’t worn well with time. Lagonda was a design study by Aston Martin, who was looking to launch Lagonda as a separate brand in order to sell luxury SUVs. The reception it received was strikingly similar to the way everyone reacted to the Bentley EXP 9 F Concept this past March. While Aston expanded its reach with the Rapide (and hideous Cygnet…), building an SUV was ruled out under the Aston Martin name. The premise of the Lagonda made sense though; Aston did its research and concluded it would do very well in the United States and emerging markets. The research was spot on, and they apparently arrived at that conclusion earlier than Bentley and Lamborghini. But, the Lagonda SUV was never given the green light due to the horrible reception it received. The smart thing to do would have been to try again, but we haven’t heard much since – until now. Autocar says the Langonda SUV isn’t dead. The profits are proving too hard to ignore. When Porsche was independent, it made a similar decision to produce the Cayenne. The pressure is on to diversify when you’re an independent manufacturer. Much less so when you’re under a corporate umbrella (*cough* Lamborghini cough*), but we digress. Buyers in the U.S lap SUVs, as well as in countries like China and India. Chinese and Indian buyers apparently aren’t into super cars as much as SUVs, due to poor road conditions. Also, IHS Automotive analyst Colin Couchman says: “The traditional markets for supercars — the US and Europe — are still depressed…although the Chinese market remains buoyant, that won’t feed through to Aston because the Chinese don’t yet see the value of displaying their wealth through owning an expensive sports car.” SUVs have a lot more potential for growth, that’s for sure. We aren’t opposed to the idea either – big, luxurious SUVs are cool. However, they need to be sold under the right brand and styled properly The Lagonda Concept didn’t do the trick in that regard. If they go back to the drawing board and produce something that looks good, we could see this thing working out. Ulrich...

Ahh, the joys of branding and rebranding. Chrysler is no stranger to this. Since its partnership with Fiat it has separated RAM from Dodge (go figure), introduced standalone Fiat stores, and launched a new plan for Street Racing Technology. Chrysler has been pitching SRT as its own brand for the past year. That means separate marketing and the like – despite the fact there will still be SRT Dodges and Chryslers, sold under different brands. Makes perfect sense, right? OK, we’ll get off our soapbox now. We do think it is a great idea for Chrysler to conduct specific owner outreach programs to SRT buyers. SRT buyers make up a unique demographic that is different from the standard iterations of their respective brands. So hey, maybe it will work out brilliantly. The 2013 Viper is one such vehicle under the new SRT umbrella. It isn’t a Dodge Viper anymore, but rather an SRT Viper. Via Autoblog , Ralph Gilles has said that change has led to a reworking of the company’s strategy in selling the vehicles. Instead of sticking the usual salespeople on the job for selling the expensive Viper, a training program will be instituted. A document will be going out to dealers interested in selling the car, he said. “It’s going to be a qualified dealer situation… The ones who do the dealer training in terms of the tech. I want a tech. I want a display car. I want all these things. There’s going to be a list. It’s not going to be impossible, it’s just that someone has to put in the extra effort and say ‘I’m an SRT dealer ” says Gilles. It isn’t clear if this is limited to the Viper only. We assume so, as SRT models are already sold in Dodge dealers around the country. Gilles said reception to the new Viper is strong – there is one dealer that has 90 orders alone. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts See more here:  Dodge Dealer Training Required to Sell 2013 SRT Viper

High gas prices make most people think differently about driving. Carpooling, driving less, switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles – those are all options many consider. Truck and large SUV sales usually correspond closely with changes in prices. Hybrids are one way to do that, but so are diesels. In the rest of the world, particularly Europe, diesels are by far the largest sellers. They’ve never caught here because in the past they’ve been loud and dirty. Today’s clean diesels have a much different character. The biggest seller of diesels in the U.S today is Volkswagen, with its TDI engines. We rave about it a lot, but the new Passat TDI really does offer an impressive package for those looking for a mainstream, fuel-efficient sedan. But, we digress. Kia has signaled that it is considering adding a diesel engine to its lineup. We hear a lot of about manufacturers adding diesels to their lineups, but it really is beginning to happen. Chevrolet, as mainstream as they come, is preparing a big push with the upcoming Cruze Diesel. It is a pretty forward looking move for them. On Kia’s North American PR Facebook page, they recently posed the question: “Would you drive a diesel?” They did this in response to a post on EfficientDynamics speculating about the possibility of bringing the Optima Diesel over here to the U.S. In Europe, the Optima is only available as a diesel. The engine in question is a 1.7-liter CRDi (Common Rail Direct Fuel Injection) turbo diesel making 134 horsepower and 244 pound feet of torque. 0-60 takes 11.5 seconds. Yikes. A more powerful version of the engine is being debuted by Hyundai though, making 160 hp. That would make a lot more sense. So would having it in the Forte small car. Then, Kia could go directly against the Chevrolet Cruze and Volkswagen Jetta TDI. So, what does all this mean? Kia does have the diesel technology and appears to be considering the idea. They’ll probably monitor Chevrolet’s introduction of the Cruze closely before pulling the trigger on anything. If it is successful, a raft of competitors will be sure to follow. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Excerpt from: The Diesels are Coming: Is Kia Next?

Today at High Gear Media, we’ve reviewed the 2013 Chevy Silverado–it’s carried over for the new model year–and Jay Leno’s driven some interesting new electrified Fords. A 2013 Ford Mustang raised money for charity and Subaru may have previewed the next-generation WRX. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection… Go here to see the original:  2013 Shelby GT500, Lexus HS 250h Dead, Apple Patent: Car News Headlines

America is in the midst of graduation season, which can only mean one thing: high school graduates across the country are motoring around in their very first cars, taking their first road trips, and buying their first (and last) air-fresheners disguised as fuzzy pairs of dice. But along with those joys comes another, less pleasant first: the very… Go here to read the rest: 7 Things To Remember When Your Car Breaks Down

Audi’s new 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8 is quite the engine. Case in point: the 4.0-liter is now being used at Bentley. For the first time the Continental GT has added eight-cylinder power as an option, after sticking with twelve-cylinder power for its life span. The 4.0-liter V-8 packs a horsepower punch, and it is slated to play an important role in premium vehicles at the Volkswagen Group. Automotive News reports that a modified version of the engine could do duty in the Lamborghini Urus. When it debuted, many were thinking the crossover would pack a huge 10 or 12-cylinder, like the rest of the Lamborghini. To meet targets for weight and dynamics performance though, that may be ruled out. Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini director of Research and Development, says: “We were given a very challenging target: Make the production Urus the best-performing and lightest vehicle in its category. This is forcing us to think outside the box…..as the unibody structure of the PL73 is made of steel, we need to think of innovative solutions so we can meet the very challenging weight target we were given.” PL73 is the platform underpinning the Urus, and it will be shared with the Audi Q7, Bentley SUV, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Toureg. The weight target for the Urus is 4,400 pounds, AN says that is “440 pounds lighter than any of the models it would challenge if launched today.” We aren’t sure what those models are exactly (we assume it is referencing vehicles like the BMW X6), but OK…. A heavy use of composite materials, magnesium and aluminum will likely be used to achieve that goal. Weighing in favor of a V-8 is a compact, lightweight design. “Such a car needs huge torque at low revolutions rather than high peak power, therefore a V-8 twin-turbo is an interesting possibility,” Reggiani says. The official line is that Lamborghini is waiting on approval for the Urus SUV, but it is as good as done. It’ll be a while before it shows up though: Reggiani says “no sooner than early 2017.” No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Here is the original:  Lamborghini Urus Arriving in 2017, Could Get V-8 Power

Now here is a new Porsche model that we can get excited about! We’ve been hearing about the upcoming small Macan crossover and possibility of a “Pajun” mid-size sedan far too much. Those cars are part of a plan by the Volkswagen Group to push Porsche sales to 200,000 by 2018.  Let’s get back to real sports cars. The 918 Spyder is just that – it will be the fastest, most expensive Porsche ever in fact. The car was first shown off at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, as a mid-engined range-topping successor to the Carrera GT. Following a positive reception from the public, Porsche approved the 918 for production. The company has announced that the first initial prototypes have been completed, with the 918 on track for a production start date in September 2013. Given that it was shown off as a concept in Geneva, we already have a very good idea of what the production car will look like. Still, Porsche has released some images of the prototypes for our viewing pleasure. Their “camouflage” is designed to evoke memories of the 917 racers of yesteryear. Much of Porsche’s development energy is being focused on the unique powertrain.  “What we are doing with the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche AG. There will be a gas/electric plug-in setup that combines a 4.0-liter V-8 making 500 horsepower and two electric motors that combine for a power output of 770 hp. “They are therefore a critical component in this vehicle into which we have put all of our expertise and capacity for innovation,” said Hatz. Weight will also be reduced thanks to a full carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) monoque. The result is a 0-60 time of 3.1-seconds, a top speed of 199 mph and 78 miles to the gallon on the European testing cycle. That sounds like a hybrid we could live with! Too bad it will cost about $845,000….. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts See the original post here: 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder Going Into Production Next Year, New Images Released

Today at High Gear Media, Ferrari’s going to sell a hybrid supercar and Tony Hawk jumped over a Lexus LFA. Audi teased an electric bike and Infiniti is preparing the next-generation G37. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. Should you go to jail if you text a driver and they crash? Porsche released details… More: 2014 Infiniti G37, 2013 Audi Q7, Porsche 918 Spyder: Today’s Car News

  Although not the most active thought in the minds of this world, somewhere on this globe owners or perspective owners of the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe could be bored to tears by the mere 451-horsepower from the vehicle’s 6.2 liter V-8 engine. Along with the powerplant, maybe ponderings relating to the look of the two-door hardtop is also leaving luxury car customers craving an overall performance package to impassion the C63 AMG Coupe. For the poor souls seeking a more extravagant amount of engine output, experienced, award-winning German tuner BRABUS revealed a hyperactive version of Mercedes-Benz C-Class based personal luxury coupe. The evolution on a vehicle created more than a year before based on a S63 AMG sedan , the Bullit name is once again being used to demonstrate extreme German motoring first shown at the past 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Dubbed the BRABUS Bullit Coupe 800, the numerical indicator in the vehicle’s name is synonymous with the most eye-catching detail of the modified Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Replacing the 6.2 liter V-8 found in the C63 AMG, BRABUS adds a 6.3 liter V-12 Biturbo powerplant harvested from the Mercedes-Benz S600. Mated with extensive features inside the engine positioned for high-power capabilities such as mixture-flow optimized breathing and a BRABUS stainless steel performance exhaust, the Bullit Coupe casually generates 800 horsepower. Despite the insane amount of horsepower, the BRABUS Bullit Coupe 800 meets EURO V emission standards.     Combining with up to 1,047 pounds-feet of torque (electronically limited at 811 pounds feet), the BRABUS Bullit Coupe 800 is the perhaps the most unhindered personal luxury two-doors to be treated to the skilled hands of trained performance engineers. Lighting up pavement in 0 to 62 mile per hour acceleration, the BRABUS Bullit Coupe 800 launches the full distance in just 3.7 seconds. For 0 to 184 miles per hour, a driver only needs to place their foot on the throttle for 23.8 seconds inside the BRABUS Bullit Coupe 800. Top speed with the BRABUS vehicle is said to exceed 230 miles per hour. All 800 horsepower of the car is made available through a specially-tuned 7-speed automatic transmission coupled to a limited-slip differential on the rear wheel drivetrain. Riding...

The Infiniti Etherea Concept that debuted in Geneva provided a good look at Infiniti’s new small car. The small luxury segment in the United States currently includes only the Audi A3, and it is about to expand very quickly. These new cars are front-wheel drive and are geared toward reaching new buyers. For a long time BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class-sized vehicles have been the smallest luxury automakers have dared to go in the U.S. That is no longer the case though, and now Infiniti is quickly looking to get into the game as a way to expand globally. Emphasis on quickly. Infiniti is contracting a good portion of the car’s development out – even production. Today Automotive News reports that the car all be produced by Magna Steyr in Austria. The Etherea’s primary focus will be on the European market, so that makes sense. As it is now, Infiniti is a U.S-centric brand, much like Lexus. And even here, they have always been an also-ran in the luxury segment. Nissan wants to change that, and they think a small car is one way to do it. Now, about that contracting development out business – to get up to speed quickly, Nissan turned to Daimler. Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti products will share engines and platforms below the E-Class level. It is a setup that would seem to offer little benefit for Mercedes at first glance. The two companies did research though and apparently concluded that the two brands are not cross-shopped. For Daimler, the thinking is that Infiniti’s push for volume would help Mercedes achieve greater economies of scale and development costs. For instance, Automotive News reports that Mercedes will be shipping preassembled platform components to Infiniti for the new small car. The production version of the Etherea will be based on the new Mercedes Front Architecture (MFA) and will be powered by Mercedes engines. With engines and platform components all produced by Mercedes, Daimler stands to make a nice profit on each one sold. Infiniti’s entry is expected to begin production in 2014. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts View original post here:  Infiniti Etherea Produced By Magna Steyr, Based on Mercedes Components