Filed under: Sedan, Porsche

2011 Porsche Panamera - Click above for high-res image gallery
When the Porsche Panamera was introduced in 2009, skeptics panned the sedan as oddly proportioned and thoroughly unattractive. Later, as the media began to test and review the all-new Porsche, skepticism gave way to fanaticism as the Panamera's amazing handling and jaw-dropping powertrains won over even some of its biggest doubters. Less than a year after the vehicle's introduction, Porsche has ample reason to celebrate as the Leipzig factory has just built Panamera number 25,000. That's peanuts for a mass-market automaker, but an incredible feat for a sports car maker that in most years is thrilled to produce 100,000 models globally.

Panamera number 25,000 is Ruby Red and packs a 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 that was added to the lineup back in May. The special Panamera will be delivered to the U.S. market, where to date 5,000 copies of the sedan have been sold. Porsche looks to keep up the Panamera momentum with a hybrid variant that is expected to bow in 2011. Hit the jump to get the details in the release.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Porsche Panamera V6

Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Porsche]

Almost as Quick as the Car: Porsche builds 25,000th Panamera originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

A little over a month ago, I got a call from Jonny. Something was up. He was excited and anxious, and before the words "MacKenzie offered me a job, and I've accepted" came out of his mouth, I knew he was off to greener pastures.

I'm proud of a lot of things at Autoblog, but getting Dr. Lieberman on board is near the top of that list. And now he's gone, taking the Senior Editor position at Motor Trend after the buff book's editor-in-chief called and said, "We need to talk." Plenty of people have moved on from Autoblog over the years, but given Jonny's penchant for prose and never-say-die attitude, we asked him to pen a farewell letter before heading off to do some ludicrous comparison test for MT. You'll be missed, sir, so the floor is yours... one last time.

Damon Lavrinc - Senior Editor
Working at Autoblog has been one of the best experiences of my car-writing career. As you may or may not know, if there's a website about cars, odds are it's hoisted my byline at some point. From The Truth About Cars to Jalopnik to Clunkbucket and most points in between, I've cranked out some auto-centric virtual ink nearly everywhere. But Autoblog was the feather in my digital cap. No car website commands more respect, is more widely read or opens as many doors. And yeah, a pretty big door just got opened for me.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful men behind the screen. I've worked at some sites filled with mega-friendly people that weren't capable of pouring piss from a boot. Other places were hyper-competent and staffed almost totally with assholes. Autoblog combined near-ruthless professionalism with the kind of positive working environment you only dream about in any job. It really is a wonderful operation, one that sent me Japanese whiskey as a wedding gift. Thanks to Damon Lavrinc for always being in my corner and John Neff for not only giving me the chance, but for running such a tight ship. I'd like to thank especially Drew Phillips, "my photographer," for putting up with my right foot on all those canyon runs.

But of course, it's not all roses and sunshine. There are quite a few things I regret. In true Butthole Surfers fashion, allow me to quote, "Well son, the funny thing about regret is, it's better to regret something you have done, than to regret something you haven't done." Sadly, while there's nothing I regret doing at Autoblog (well, maybe SEMA), there's a whole slew of things I regret not doing. With that in mind, here's a small list of stuff that for one reason (lazy!) or another (extra lazy!) I never got around to sharing. Read on...

Continue reading Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog

Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Crash Testing - Click above for high-res image gallery
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to debut a new testing procedure for the 2011 model year that will make it more difficult for new cars and trucks to earn the government agency's coveted five-star safety rating. Just as interestingly, the recent influx of electronic safety gadgets, such as lane departure and collision warning, will be included in the testing regiment as well.

NHTSA will calculate one simple-to-understand grade for each vehicle based on how it manages to perform throughout the agency's testing. While the revised parameters promise to make safety-minded comparison shopping between new automobiles a bit easier, it also means that pre-2011 ratings will not be directly comparable to the new ones.

A total of 55 new 2011 cars, trucks and minivans (including the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze seen above undergoing GM's internal safety testing) will be tested by NHTSA with the new procedures, and the list is made up of both brand new models and some of the more popular nameplates Americans seem most likely to purchase in large numbers next year. You can check out NHTSA's official release and the initial list of what cars will be subjected to this new testing regime after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Crash Testing

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading NHTSA to update 5-star testing process

NHTSA to update 5-star testing process originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Subaru

Subaru has pulled back the sheets on the company's newest breed of rally heathens. Built by Vermont SportsCar, the all-wheel drive bruisers will be piloted by the likes of Travis Pastrana and Sverre Isachsen at this year's X Games. The tuning house started with a bone-stock 2011 WRX STI before gutting the interior, seam-welding the entire chassis and stitching in a full roll cage. The stock gas tank was scrapped for a rally-legal fuel cell, and a fire-suppression system installed in case things go fricassee. Down below, a set of EXE-TC adjustable coilovers were swapped for the stock bits to help the car tackle the varied course of X Games 16.

The speed gurus at Vermont SportsCar managed to yank a full 500 screaming ponies and 560 pound-feet of twist from the turbo 2.0-liter flat four under the hood, even with a 45 mm restrictor plate in place. Not too shabby. The fire-breathing mill is laced with an anti-lag system as well as launch control and bolted to a five-speed dog box transmission. The stock electronically adjustable center differential remains in place, though boasts a more advanced controller.

The X Games is debuting a new rally feature this year. Called SuperRally, the track pits four cars against one another simultaneously. Subaru is hoping the new car will help the company fend off competition in the new event. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Subaru releases 2011 rally cars at X-Games

Subaru releases 2011 rally cars at X-Games originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan joins the long list of recent recalls, this time for a problem similar to the Lexus HS 250h - excessive fuel leakage in the event of a rear-end impact.


Nissan Motor - Nissan - Nissan Cube - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Lexus HS

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Safety, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW 535i - Click above for high-res image gallery
The 2011 BMW 5 series can stick another feather in its jaunty Alpine cap. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the German automaker's middle child the coveted Top Safety Pick accolade. The newest generation of the 5er managed to nab the highest ratings possible for front, side, rear and rollover crash protection, becoming the first 5 Series to win the Top Safety Pick in the model's history. Surprisingly enough, the 2011 5 Series is also the first BMW to take the award since the IIHS incorporated its new roll-over test.

The institute says that BMW has made up impressive ground in the area of side impact protection. Last year's car only managed a "marginal" rating during that section of testing, while the new car was granted the highest rating possible. The institute goes on to say that its test replicates an impact from a larger vehicle, such as an SUV of a pickup truck, to accommodate for the higher number of these vehicles on the road today. Full details at the link below.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 5 Series IIHS Crash Test

[Source: IIHS]

2011 BMW 5-Series nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick laurels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Following a crash landing in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, while piloting his private plane, Jack Roush has now been transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.


Mayo Clinic - Jack Roush - Wisconsin - Minnesota - Oshkosh

Smyth Performance G3F concept - Click above to watch the video after the jump
Reduce-Reuse-Recycle is the tri-directive that could help us become more sustainable as a society. Soon, a kit for the G3F from Smyth Performance - a new venture by Factory Five Racing co-founder Mark Smith - will follow those guidelines, enabling you to convert a previously-enjoyed Volkswagen Jetta into something you can really look forward to driving. The finished product will be lighter, faster and burn less biodiesel than the original vehicle, offering up to 60 miles per gallon and boasting a very naughty top speed of 140 miles per hour. All for about $10,000 and less than 100 hours of labor.

It's a simple recipe. You start by procuring a TDI diesel Jetta four door sedan. Cut away about 800 lbs of metal, reusing a large chunk of the chassis, including the entire safety structure. The engine gets chipped, modded and moved from in front of the driver to behind. Add the body, seats, wheels and all the other included bits from the kit and voila! You now own a recycled VW that increases your joy of driving while reducing the amount of petroleum product you'll need to pump.

Okay, maybe we're making it sound a little easier than it actually is, but Smith is confident there is enough interest to make a go of it with a line of depositors already being formed. Despite deliveries (optimistically) planned for September, the original prototype is still under construction. The operation doesn't have an official website either - that's coming this fall - but you can follow the progress of both car and company on both Facebook and the unofficial Factory Five forum. Hit the jump for video of Mr. Smith explaining his concept and tell us what you think.

[Source: Boston.com]

Continue reading Recycling Gone Wild: Turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F [w/video]

Recycling Gone Wild: Turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As the X-Games kick off for 2010, Ford and Ken Block have created a new commercial to show off the rally Fiesta, as well as announce a chance to win a Fiesta.


Ken Block - Ford Fiesta - Ford - Ford Motor Company - Fiesta

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Porsche, Celebrities

Porsche's 911 GT3 pays a visit to Jay Leno's Garage - click above to watch the video
Porsche recently dropped off a new 911 GT3 at Jay Leno's garage where racer Justin Bell picked it up for a bit of a road trip. Before the trip, Leno and Bell discuss their preference for normally aspirated manual transmission Porsches over the more powerful turbos and dual-clutch PDKs.

On his way to Laguna Seca for the spring American Le Mans Series event, Bell finds a perfect little road for his own private hill climb and gushes over the responsiveness of the non-turbo engine and enormous Brembo binders. At Laguna, Bell hooks up with factory pilot Patrick Long to discuss the differences between the Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 he races and the roadgoing GT3 which spawned it. Even within the limits of the rules set out by the ACO, Flying Lizard and Porsche have managed to find a lot of creative ways to extract more speed out of their competition machine. Check out the full video after the jump.

[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Continue reading Video: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 rolls into Jay Leno's Garage

Video: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 rolls into Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As alternative technologies continue to work their way into vehicles, Nissan has decided to take a shot at developing technologies aimed at improving occupant health.


Nissan Motors - Health - Nissan - Alternative - Electric vehicle

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Performance, Honda, Reviews

2010 Honda Civic Si HFP - Click above for high-res image gallery
There was a time was when any serious discussion of "hot hatches" - small, lightweight economy cars pumped full of go-fast parts and body modifications of dubious taste - always included the Honda Civic Si. Back in the day, the D16Z6-engined Si would routinely do battle against the Volkswagen GTI and Nissan Sentra SE-R for import tuner supremacy. Times, however, change.

These days, the battle for hot hatch supremacy starts and essentially ends with turbocharged beasties like the Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru WRX/STI, with a dash of MazdaSpeed3 or Mini Cooper S thrown in for flavor. The Sentra SE-R is little more than a sad shell of its former self (a fact we find odd considering just how much cache Nissan has built up for the brand with its exotic-destroying Godzilla GT-R) and the Volkswagen GTI has evolved into an entry-level Audi - lots of interior and NVH refinement, but lacking the kicked-in-the-you-know-where power necessary to keep up with the all-wheel-drive Japanese kids. But what about the Civic Si? Where does it fit into the import tuner lexicon, especially when loaded up with lots of Honda Factory Performance (HFP) parts? Make the jump as we attempt to find out.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Civic Si HFP

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2010 Honda Civic Si HFP not fast, is curious

Review: 2010 Honda Civic Si HFP not fast, is curious originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities, Electric

It has long been apparent that the more successful a talk radio host is, the less relevant the facts become. Case in point is this week's apparent tirade by Rush Limbaugh against the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. No doubt the Volt's sticker price came in higher than most of us had hoped at $41,000, and Limbaugh may have had a slight point there. However, suggesting that the federal $7,500 tax credit for plug-in vehicles like the Volt and the Nissan Leaf was there as an admission that no one wants these vehicles strikes us as disingenuous at best, especially when you recall the tax write-offs that were available to people buying Hummers and other large SUVs just a few years ago. As far as we know, Limbaugh also made no mention of the more palatable $350-per-month lease deal available for the Volt.

Limbaugh also ripped into the Volt's 40 mile range, implying that the 40 miles of range from the battery is all that is available. He was either unaware of or chose to ignore the fact that in charge-sustaining mode, the car's onboard engine-generator can keep the battery going for another 300 miles on a tank of gas. If you don't have time to sit around while the battery charges, you can just take a couple of minutes to fill the tank and be on your way again, just as you would in a normal car.

Perhaps we should just give Limbaugh the benefit of the doubt and assume his cochlear implant was on the fritz.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Rush Limbaugh tears into Chevy Volt, fails to understand how it works originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In an effort to continually improve - and confuse - the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a new crash test for 2011 vehicles.


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Crash test - United States - Government - Transportation Department

[Op-Ed] Just as the original Explorer kicked off an SUV supernova, the original CLS virtually ensured that imitators would multiply like rabbits throughout the marketplace.


Recreation - Supernova - Universe - Sildenafil - Muscle

Filed under: SUV, Toyota, Off-Road

2010 Toyota Sequoia - Click above for high-res image gallery
Earlier this week, we heard word that Toyota would be sending its sluggishly-selling Sequoia out to pasture after this current product cycle came to a close. Those whispers were evidently enough to ruffle a few feathers at the Japanese automaker, as the company has come out with a cleverly-worded denial:
Toyota denies any reports of the discontinuation of the Sequoia. For obvious competitive reasons, Toyota does not discuss future product plans. Sequoia continues to be a profitable, high-quality vehicle for Toyota and several years remain in the life of the current generation. Our focus remains on building our vehicles, including the Sequoia, with the highest possible quality. Call us crazy, but the statement above doesn't do much to assure us about the future of the high-riding family hauler beyond this generation's expected lifecycle. Either way, we can certainly say that the current Sequoia will continue to dominate mall parking lots for at least a few more years. Past that, Toyota isn't saying what its plans are for its biggest vehicle.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Sequoia

[Source: Toyota]

Toyota denies Sequoia discontinuation - sort of originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Safety, Technology, Nissan

The automotive landscape is changing quickly with a raft of smaller, more efficient autos coming to market. We're even on the verge of mass-market electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. The bogey has shifted and will continue to shift over time, so Nissan is aiming to get ahead on the changes of tomorrow. The Japanese automaker issued a press release Wednesday to inform the world that it is working on a "Health & Well-Being" concept to make driving in a Nissan safer and healthier than ever before... and we can see some out of the box thinking showing through.

Have dry skin? The Nissan of two or three years from now could pump breathable vitamin C into the cabin, helping to keep your skin moisturized. Just when we were beginning to wonder if we would ever fix our dry elbow problem. Exciting stuff, and there's more.

The next-generation climate control system could control the filtering of air, a plasmacluster ion generator and inside/outside air control with but one control. How about a speedometer that keeps you out of trouble by reminding you of important dates like anniversaries and birthdays? As long as it doesn't tell us to slow down and it can shut up when prompted, we're okay with that. The Japanese automaker is also working on "easy chars" that utilize NASA research to promote proper blood flow in the legs and back during long trips. Another new seat design is new Comfortable Captain Seat, which utilizes an integrated leg rest, articulated seatback and three-layered cushion pads to keep passengers comfy for long periods of time. Hit the jump to read Nissan's invigorating presser.

[Source: Nissan via The Economic Times]

Continue reading Nissan to moisturize occupants with breathable vitamin C in new autos?

Nissan to moisturize occupants with breathable vitamin C in new autos? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just did an economy run with a #VW #CrossPolo #TDI (4,4 l/100km), #Mercedes E250 CDI and a C220 CDI, both 6,3 l/100km! Not bad!

Hyundai's new Tucson made a splash in 2009 with a fresh design and now it's Kia's turn with the all-new 2011 Sportage subcompact crossover.


Hyundai Tucson - Kia Motors - Hyundai - United States - Kia

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Videos, Porsche, Racing

N.Technology Porsche Panamera touring car - Click above to watch video after the jump
We're guessing that Porsche had to do some head scratching when it came to figuring out which motorsports arena would best suit its big Panamera. After all, the company prides itself on forging its wares in the fire of competition. Heck, it even managed to find a suitable arena for the high-riding Cayenne in the Trans-Siberia Rally. Fortunately, it didn't take long for the scientists at Stuttgart to locate a racing league that would suit the portly Porsche's talents: The N.Technology team chose to campaign a modified version of the fast four-door in the Italian Supercar series.

The field is made up of other massive bruisers, complete with front-mounted V8 power plants. On any given race day, you can easily see a Chrysler 300C tango with a Maserati Quattroporte - something that few other race leagues on the planet can boast. Evidently, the big Panamera is off to a good start - the car managed to take the checkered flag on its very first outing. We haven't been able to lay our hands on any footage of the N.Technology car dishing out heaping spoonfuls of hurt to the rest of the field, but we have found a quick clip of last year's season for a little taste of incredibly compelling action. Hit the jump to see for yourself.

[Source: Jonsibal via Autoguide]

Continue reading Porsche Panamera touring car is victorious, proves mass is no object [w/video]

Porsche Panamera touring car is victorious, proves mass is no object [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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