| The Truth About Cars

Panamera, Guajira Panamera!

By Bertel Schmitt
November 24, 2008 -

Spyshot photographers of the world: Look for another target. Today, Porsche released the definitive official pictures of their 4-door sportssedan Panamera. (Thank you, Automobilwoche.) The first Porsche with a decent rear bench (ignoring the Cayenne for a while) will be physically present in spring, and shall go on sale throughout the world by the end of Summer 2009. It will be hard to overlook: 16 feet 4 inches long, and six foot four wide, the Panamera will be nearly 2 feet longer than 911, even the S-Class is 2 inches slimmer around the waist. For motors, there will be six and eight bangers, ranging from 300 to 500 horses. No true Porsche driver would touch an automatic. The engine of the Panamara is mated to six gears, operated by a stick. Dual clutch with 7 gears optional. The power goes to the rear wheels, all wheels drive optional. A green-sheened hybrid is “in the works.” Something Porsche may want to hide: The body of the Panamera is welded in VeeDub’s truck plant in Hannover, final assembly takes place in Porsche’s plant in Leipzig. More official details as they become available.

Automobilwoche »

Posted in New Cars | News Blog | 18 comments

It’s STILL fugly

By Robert Farago
November 21, 2008 -

AutoTelegraaf [via Autoblog] »

Posted in New Cars | News Blog | 55 comments

2010 Ford Fusion Pricing Announced

By Justin Berkowitz
November 21, 2008 -

Courtesy of Ford’s Fusion microsite (MICROSITE!) and other reliable sources (Dick Cheney), we can report the pricing on Ford’s updated 2010 Fusion:

Fusion S - $19,270 - 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, 175 hp, six speed manual (6-speed auto optional)
Fusion SE - $20,545 - 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, 175 hp, six speed manual (Options: 6-speed auto, 3.0 V6, AWD only with the V6)
Fusion SEL - $23,975 - 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, 175 hp, six speed automatic (Options: 3.0 V6, AWD only with the V6)
Fusion Sport - $25,825 - 3.5 liter V6, 263 hp, six speed automatic (Options: AWD)
Fusion Hybrid - $27,270 - 2.5 liter I4, voodoo electronics

Standard Equipment:
All models include A/C, the full complement of six airbags, aluminum or painted steel wheels, tire pressure monitoring system, antilock brakes, and electronic stability control.

Option Pricing:
3.0 liter V6 (240hp, 6-speed auto transmission with manumatic feature) - $1610
AWD - $1900 (this is an educated estimate; waiting for more info from Ford)

Waiting for more info from Ford:
Cost of AWD, cost of the automatic transmission

Posted in New Cars | News Blog | 20 comments

LA Auto Show: New Lexus RX350 RX450h “Wildly Inoffensive”

By Alex Dykes
November 20, 2008 -

Lexus took their mantra of being “wildly inoffensive” down new [soft] roads at the LA Auto Show. The new RX350 and 450h now both use the 3.5-liter V6 from the Lexus family. The RX350 churns out 275hp while the Atkinson cycle powered hybrid setup powers up 295hp combined. With electric all-wheel-drive, all five passengers will enjoy the flat floor and electronic wizzardry. Outside, not much is new. On the inside, a new jumbo-sized nav/car controller operates similarly to the pointer stick you find on some laptops, which is just as annoying. Carrying on Lexus’ latest trend in interiors, the RX’ seems to take a bit too much from the Camry’s design studio.

Posted in LA Auto Show | New Cars | News Blog | 13 comments

A Schnitzer for Your Schnauzers

By Robert Farago
November 19, 2008 -

Posted in Germany | New Cars | News Blog | Tuners | 12 comments

New Nissan 370Z. Finally. Again. Still.

By Robert Farago
November 19, 2008 -

After Carlos Ghosn spent an hour blowing a green smoke screen at his keynote address about the future of the auto industry, Nissan released the new 2009 370z, the most powerful Z car so far. With 332hp going to the rear wheels and a new seven-speed automatic transmission, Nissan one-upped themselves with a manual transmission that rev matches for you. With new sheetmetal that could have been penned by Porsche, and an interior that goes to “Infiniti” (but not beyond), the new Z is the poor man’s, uh, Porsche. The coupe starts at $30k. And what a sound it makes…

Posted in New Cars | News Blog | 15 comments

New Fusion/Milan Hybrid Beats Camry Hybrid’s MPGs. And?

By Robert Farago
November 19, 2008 -

A quick reminder: the Toyota Prius OWNS America’s hybrid market. Year-to-date, the Japanese automaker’s sold 142,365 Priora. Even during October’s carpocalypse, at a time when gas prices have fallen back to pre-Katrina levels, ToMoCo shifted 11,804 of the gas - electric hybrids (down “just” 13.6 percent). All other hybrids– including Toyota’s Camry gas - electric variant– must live off of crumbs from the Prius’ table. So when Ford announces it’s about to sell a hybrid Fusion with better mileage than the Camry hybrid– a six (according to the press release) or five (according to Automotive News) mpg improvement around town and an indeterminate number on the highway, the words “big whoop” spring to mind. Or even, perhaps, why bother? Certainly the Gods of Corporate Average Fuel Economy must be satiated. But doesn’t Ford have to sell the vehicles for them to count against F-150 mpgs? As for the badge-engineered Milan hybrid, well you gotta put Mercury’s babe on your website! In your garage? Not so much. (The car. Not Jill.) More interesting: SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide. The doo-hickey “coaches” hybrid drivers to maximize fuel efficiency. John Madden voice prompts optional, presumably. Oh, and props to The Blue Oval Boyz for improving the 2.5-liter I4 Fusion for better torque, and offering a six-speed manual.

Automotive News »

Posted in Hybrid | New Cars | News Blog | 26 comments

New BMW 7-Series Paves the Way for Speed Limiters

By Robert Farago
November 18, 2008 -

You know how it is with press releases. You read through the hyperbole (”the first 750i of 1987 famously offering more computing power than NASA utilised to put man on the moon”) thinking of snarky things to say (as does my microwave oven). And then it hits you: there’s something not right here. Hang on; is that the speed limit I spy with my little eye? Sho’ nuff: the new BMW 7-Series marries the optional Lane Departure Warning system (achtung baby!) with the innocuously named “Speed Limit Display.” From the press release: “Using a camera mounted behind the rear view mirror, the system cross-references the GPS navigation system information and the real-world information to constantly monitor the legal speed limit, and relays this information to the driver in the dashboard or, if specified, into the Head-up Display. The car’s hard drive is pre-programmed with all of Europe’s speed limits but, in the case of road works or incidents, limits can vary. The camera reads the numbers on temporary road signs and over-rides the known speed limit, bringing this information constantly into the driver’s line of sight.” Dummkopf! Limits can vary! Link the GPS speed limits with the cruise control and Big Brother’s your spymaster! Coming to an island nation near you soon!