2011 Ford Explorer configurator already up and running, pricing starts at $28,190*
Jul 26, 2010 Object
Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Ford
It’s been less than 24 hours since Ford took the wraps off of the 2011 Explorer, but in an effort to keep the buzz going about the all-new crossover due to hit dealerships later this year, Ford’s online configurator is already up and running.
At the moment, only models equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 can be optioned, ranging from the base $28,190 front-wheel drive Explorer (*Don’t forget to add $805 for delivery fees) all the way up to the top-trim Limited 4WD ($39,190 plus destination). A fully decked-out all-wheel drive configuration will set you back $48,075* - and that’s before the optional accessory list is looked over.
If you have some time to waste, head over to Ford’s configuration page and spec out the Explorer of your dreams. Additionally, be sure to scroll through our gallery of color choices, showing the nine available paint jobs.
Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer Colors
Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer
[Source: Ford]
2011 Ford Explorer configurator already up and running, pricing starts at $28,190* originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2011fordexplorerecoboost, about-the-all, all-wheel-drive, configurator, delivery-fees, explorer, ford explorer 2011, fordexplorer2011, hntbcorporation, tollroad, took-the-wraps
2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX configurators up and running
Jul 14, 2010 Object
Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln, Luxury
The 2011 Ford Edge and 2011 Lincoln MKX configurators have gone live for your shopping - or time-wasting - enjoyment. The Edge SE starts at $27,220 for the 3.5-liter V6, but you can hit it out of the park before even leaving the first page by selecting the Edge Sport all-wheel drive for $38,070. That’ll get you a 305-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 canvas to play with. There isn’t much more you can add to it, but after stuffing it like a turkey we got it up to $45,171. For those with a mind to be a kinder on wallets and Mother Earth, there are SEL and Limited trims on offer, as well as the 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine (…eventually).
The Lincoln MKX puts less on the table when it comes to varieties: the front-wheel drive starts at $39,145, the AWD at $40,995. Both get that 3.7-liter V6, six-speed SelectShift transmission and SYNC as standard fit. If you go the package route, your work is just about finished, because they cement quite a few exterior and interior choices. But don’t take our words for it - click the links and get to configuratin’. Hot tips, Drew and Tony!
Gallery: First Ride: 2011 Ford Edge Sport
2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX configurators up and running originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2011 lincoln, 2011lincolnmkx, a-friend-via, all-wheel-drive, battery-pack, chevroletvolt, configurator, detroit-auto, first-ride, luxury, mkx, mother-earth-, the-front-wheel
Patent drawings reveal 2012 Chevrolet Aveo sedan
Jul 14, 2010 Object
Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Hatchback, Chevrolet
2012 Chevrolet Aveo patent drawings - Click above for high-res image gallery
The public got its first look at the all-new 2012 Chevrolet Aveo at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, but the RS Concept was only shown as a five-door hatchback, and as we all know, four-door sedans remain the preferred form factor here in the U.S. A newly discovered patent reveals the look of the three-box Aveo, which remains the same as the hatch from B-pillar backwards, but carries a few more interesting design cues.
The roof-line of the Aveo sedan has a similar profile to the larger Cruze and from the side, the tail-lights have the same triangular shape. From the rear, the horizontally arranged lights of the Cruze are replaced by vertically stacked lamps and the sedan gets conventional rear door handles in place of the hidden units in the C-pillar of the hatch. The production Aveo should arrive sometime during this upcoming auto show season, with production starting in the first half of 2011 at GM’s Lake Orion assembly plant north of Detroit.
Gallery: 2012 Chevrolet Aveo patent drawings
[Source: Autoblog Spanish]
Patent drawings reveal 2012 Chevrolet Aveo sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2012 chevy aveo, 2012chevroletaveo, a-friend-via, all-wheel-drive, chevrolet aveo rs, chevroletaveodesignpatent, designpatent, entry, hatch, horizontally, same-triangular, the-front-wheel
Mini dishes out more info on Countryman including complete specs
Jul 14, 2010 Object
2011 Mini Countryman - Click above for high-res image gallery
Way back in January, Mini went ahead and unleashed a dump truck’s worth of information and images on its new Countryman crossover, and at the time we expected the full set of specifications to be released along with the car’s official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Instead, Mini waited until now to let the full bounty loose, and we’ve parsed through detritus to find the most pertinent details.
We’ll start with the drivetrain. As expected, both the standard Countryman and the uplevel S model will get four cylinder engines displacing 1.6 liters, with the higher-spec model gaining a turbocharger to boost power from 122 horsepower to 184. Naturally, our European friends also get a couple of diesel options, but we’re not really expecting to see those units Stateside any time soon.
Either engine will be available with a choice of a manual or automatic transmission, both boasting six forward ratios. The slowest combination (base model with an automatic) will take over 11 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour, while the turbocharged S dispatches the same test in under eight (add a few tenths for the auto and another few tenths for all-wheel drive).
Interestingly, if you want Mini’s full-time All4 all-wheel drive system, you’ll need to step up to the S model (or the higher-spec diesel across the pond). The front MacPherson strut suspenders couple with the multilink arrangement at the rear to provide just under six inches of ground clearance… no hardcore off-roading here, folks.
Naturally, there’s plenty more to digest. Hit the jump for the complete 9,000-word (no kidding) release along with a listing of specifications for the standard model, the front-wheel-drive S and the All4 S.
Gallery: 2011 Mini Countryman
[Source: Mini]
Continue reading Mini dishes out more info on Countryman including complete specs
Mini dishes out more info on Countryman including complete specs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2011 mini crossover, 2011minicoopercountryman, all-wheel-drive, audia5fsiquattro, bugatti, dishes-out-more, drivetrain, geneva-motor, higher, mini countryman, minicountryman, turbocharged
2010 Bixby Knolls Car Show & Cacklefest ignites the senses
Jul 14, 2010 Object
Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Racing
2010 Bixby Knolls Car Show and Cacklefest - Click above for high-res image gallery
When a 3,000-horsepower drag racing engine fires up, a few things happen. Your head jerks around to see where the deafening noise is coming from, your eyes start to tear up from the burnt and unburnt fuel emanating from the short, upturned headers, the ground rumbles beneath your feet and your chest pulses with the timing of the engine.
Last Saturday night we had the distinct pleasure to experience that scenario several times at the fifth annual Bixby Knolls Car Show & Cacklefest in Long Beach, California. Long Beach is a great town, but most of us probably associate it with IndyCar or the Scion celebrity derby that makes up the Long Beach Grand Prix every April. Dragsters, especially the vintage ones assembled in Bixby Knolls might seem a bit out of place at first, but for those with a decent memory or a fondness for obscure racing nostalgia, Long Beach once was the home of Lions Drag Strip. Follow the jump to read more of our day in Bixby Knolls.
Photos by Frank Filipponio/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading 2010 Bixby Knolls Car Show & Cacklefest ignites the senses
2010 Bixby Knolls Car Show & Cacklefest ignites the senses originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2011 mini crossover, a-decent-memory, a-great-town, all-wheel-drive, beach, entry, mini countryman, turbocharged, vintage dragster, vintage dragsters, vintagedragsters
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE melds the best bits of the GSR and MR
Jul 6, 2010 Object
Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mitsubishi
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE - Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’re hankering for a dual-clutch equipped Mitusbishi Lancer Evolution X, but can’t manage to shell out the $40,000 or so for the top-of-the-line MR, Mitsubishi will begin offering the next best thing later this year.
The Evo X SE packs the same TC-SST transmission as its 335i-challenging sibling, complete with three driving modes - Normal, Sport and Super-Sport - channeling all 291 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque to its S-AWC all-wheel drive system.
On the outside, it’s a predictable blend of GSR and MR kit, including a GSR front fascia and black vents, along with an MR rear diffuser and upgraded Bilstein shocks. Inside, cloth Recaros come standard - our preferred choice compared to the MR’s leather-lined thrones.
Pricing won’t be announced until next month, but expect the SE to carry a sticker of around $35,800 - undercutting the standard MR by around $3,000 and a little less than a $2,000 premium over a comparable GSR.
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE melds the best bits of the GSR and MR originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, a-little-less, all-wheel-drive, channeling-all, evo x, evox, harris, improvement, infinitim35, mitsubishi evo x se, mitsubishievoxse, order-as-nissan, preferred, simone-at-the
Officially Official: Audi announces 4.2 V8-powered R8 Spyder
Jul 1, 2010 Object
Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Audi
Audi R8 Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery
After running around the rumormill for several months, Audi has finally confirmed it will offer a 4.2-liter V8 powered version of the R8 Spyder, in addition to the V10 model. Thankfully, the R8 Spyder 4.2 is available with a six-speed manual in addition to the R-Tronic semi-automatic gearbox.
Like other R8s - with the exception of the recently announced GT - the 4.2 Spyder is packing standard Quattro all-wheel drive and the top mechanism remains the same fully-powered fabric unit found in the V10 model. Those who opt for the lesser engine will have to make do with conventional dampers and 18-inch wheels, although the magnetic ride dampers and 19-inch rolling stock that are standard on the V10 are available at a “slight” increase in cost. The eight-piston (front) and four-piston (rear) calipers remain standard issue with the optional carbon ceramic rotors and pads still available as an option in Europe. Since Audi has not issued any new images of the Spyder 4.2 yet, there are probably no visual differences aside from the wheels and badging.
The V8 Spyder goes on sale in Europe in the third quarter, but no announcement has been made about U.S. availability… yet.
Gallery: Audi R8 5.2 FSI Spyder
[Source: Audi]
Continue reading Officially Official: Audi announces 4.2 V8-powered R8 Spyder
Officially Official: Audi announces 4.2 V8-powered R8 Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: all-wheel-drive, audi, audi r8 spyder, audir8spyder4.2, convertibles, denmark, elon musk, entry, ford sync, past-the-jump, powered-version, r8 spyder, will-apparently
Review: 2010 GMC Terrain - a tale of two engines
Jun 4, 2010 Object
Filed under: SUV, Crossover, GMC, Reviews
2010 GMC Terrain - Click above for high-res image gallery
GMC’s “Professional Grade” tagline works best when it’s being used to upsell truck shoppers into Sierras instead of Chevy Silverados, but even wider mass-market success comes from snaring folks who couldn’t care less about payload. And while the Yukon has its place at the table for some families, the thirsty brontosaur’s broad appeal vanished with the disappearance of super-cheap gasoline. Hence, traditionally truck-focused GMC has crossed over, so to speak. The three-row Acadia was the beginning, and while the trucks are still there for those who want or need them, if you’re shopping for a family car, the nice man in the tie would like to show you something different: the 2010 GMC Terrain.
Gallery: Review: 2010 GMC Terrain
Photos by Alex Nunez / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Review: 2010 GMC Terrain - a tale of two engines
Review: 2010 GMC Terrain - a tale of two engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2010gmcterrainreview, a-family-car-, all-wheel-drive, all-wheeldrive, aston-martin, gmc, terrain slt, terrainreview, volkswagenpassat
Video: Ferrari test driver Marc Gene flogs the California
Filed under: Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Middle East, Luxury
Marc Gene goes joyriding the Ferrari California - Click above to watch video after the jump
During a Ferrari event at the Yas Island Formula 1 circuit, Ferrari test driver Marc Gene took some willing participants out for laps of the track, going high on the oversteer and tire smoke. The ride of choice was a Ferrari California, and it’s good to see the hardtop coupe is still a leering stallion… but even so, it’s still a California. If that’s what you’re into, there’s 2:03 of goodness in the video after the jump. Enjoy!
[Source: Ferrari]
Continue reading Video: Ferrari test driver Marc Gene flogs the California
Video: Ferrari test driver Marc Gene flogs the California originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, all-wheel-drive, aston-martin, ferrari, goes-joyriding, island, sports, terrain slt, test-driver, videos, yas island, yasisland
Volkswagen R GmbH reportedly working on Polo R
2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI - Click above for high-res image gallery
It’s barely been a couple of months since Volkswagen confirmed the formation of its own high-performance division, dubbed R GmbH. But with the Golf R and Scirocco R already released, what is the highly anticipated new performance studio up to next?
According to reports, a new Polo R is on the way. Picking up where the (above) Polo GTI - due for release this summer, complete with 178-horsepower, 1.4-liter Twincharger four - leaves off, the Polo R is tipped to benefit from a 1.6-liter turbo four. Because the Polo’s platform reportedly can’t accommodate the VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system, the Polo R will likely drive around 210 horsepower through the front wheels only, slotting in nicely below 270-hp, all-wheel drive Golf R. Sources expect the Polo R’s arrival in 2012.
Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI
[Source: Autocar]
Volkswagen R GmbH reportedly working on Polo R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 210-horsepower, all-wheel-drive, jaguar-heritage, new-performance, news, nicely-below, polo, rgmbh, vw polo
