Four-decades after the fact, three former Ford execs are facing serious charges.    

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Truck, Etc., Crossover, Hatchback, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Electric, Luxury, Ram

Employing complex scientific formulas and methodologies probably best described as "Whatever we felt like choosing," Automobile has named its All-Stars for the 2013 model year. The 11 vehicles earned their trophies for being "the best and most significant" offerings to the mag's staff and contributors, and while we were surprised to see a couple of them on the list, none of them were shocking. In no particular order, they are:

• Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (seen above)
• Porsche Boxster
• Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S
• Audi A7
• Ram 1500
• Honda Accord
• Mazda CX-5
• Ford Focus
• BMW 3 Series
• Volkswagen GTI

Random notes: The least expensive vehicle on the list was the Ford Focus at $16,995 however, it was the $24,495 Focus ST that was actually driven; the least expensive vehicle as-tested, when such indication was given, was the $28,265 BRZ; the most expensive vehicle as-tested was the $75,615 Porsche Boxster S, hurdling the price of the A7 by nearly $4,000; the greatest disparity between base and as-tested price was the Ram, from the $24,395 skin-and-bones truck to the $54,335 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab; the GTI was viewed through the history of its birthplace, Wolfsburg.

There you have it. Head on over to Automobile for the full story and the adventures they created to test each winner.

Automobile Magazine names its 2013 All-Stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RT @DieselDig: #Volkswagen to retrofit #TDI models to preven mis-fueling http://t.co/YT1Vnmuluz

RT @DieselDig: #Volkswagen to retrofit #TDI models to preven mis-fueling http://t.co/YT1Vnmuluz

#Volkswagen to retrofit #TDI models to preven mis-fueling http://t.co/YT1Vnmuluz

This low riding ass nigga **. #vw #golf #tdi #slammed http://t.co/eZj2XWjCuG

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, McLaren

We know the McLaren P1 is pretty much ready to fly into lucky US owners' underground bunkers by the latter part of fall 2013. We should get a go at an early production version by late June, we are told, and as you would imagine, we can't wait. The running number on the price for the United States remains pegged at $1.15 million.

The main facts remain the same: The P1 runs off a twin-power hybrid powerplant good for a combined 903 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. Thrusting thrills are provided by both the push-button operated Drag Reduction System (or DRS), chopping drag by 23 percent by flattening the rear wing, and by the push-button operated Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) feeding instantaneous added electric-motor oomph through the gearbox straight to the drivetrain. The slingshot from 0 to 186 miles per hour (i.e. 300 kilometers per hour) happens in less than 17 seconds.

Shivers. While at the Geneva Motor Show where the P1 showed itself in full production trim and in screaming picture-hogging yellow, we chatted about further details with the P1's chief of engineering design, Dan Parry-Williams. To all the specification fodder we already have on the P1, Parry-Williams added some chum.

Continue reading McLaren P1 guru spills more info on his hypercar

McLaren P1 guru spills more info on his hypercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz's lifestyle-oriented boulevardiers are heavily revised for 2014, so we hit the Autobahn to check them out.    

Looking for prebuilt assemblylines for #IBM #TDI 7.1. Looking to move SQL to SQL to Domino. Anyone have a good resource?

@gabonomas @shir_espinola @pattdanielleds vengan na este finde vamos a encuestar #TDI

heheh #TDI upravo sad.. hitt kakve glave se javljaju

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Subaru

While more and more buyers seem to be opting for the functionality of car-based crossover vehicles every day, it's rare that your read much in the way of passionate praise for one. And, while Consumer Reports doesn't exactly lavish written paeans on the Subaru Forester in its latest review - that's just not its style - it did give the CUV a remarkably high overall score.

Praising its excellent fuel economy, visibility, roomy interior and a whole lot more, the testing publication bestowed an overall score of 88 out of 100 on the Forester. That's a really excellent number for just about any vehicle, but it's also a top-of-the-class mark for the Forester's small CUV division. Just about the only major gripe was that of ride quality.

Most of the direct competitors to the Forester have earned CR marks in the mid-70s. The Honda CR-V is some 11 points behind, for instance, while the Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5 earn scores of 75 and 74, respectively.

2014 Subaru Forester gets big nod of approval from Consumer Reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An NFL coach will behind the wheel of the pace car at this year's Indy 500.    

@AssyaAlyuza sry hahaha :D mav ganggu Ryan keren Acting loe wkwkwk !! Mav kak assya ganggu numpang coment aja !! #tdi emgga kekirim !!

kako me nervira ova voditeljka na #tdi ma mnogooooooo smesno ne pitaj

Filed under: SUV, Land Rover, Design/Style, Luxury, Off-Road

There seem to be plenty of reports swirling in regards to Land Rover lately. According to Autocar, not only is the British automaker going back to the drawing board for the design of its next-generation Defender, but the outlet is also saying that the Freelander name could be dropped.

While the article doesn't say why, its source indicates that current plans for the next Defender have been scrapped, yet there is a still a replacement in the works. The existing Defender will end production in 2015, but this replacement vehicle will not be ready by then. We imagine that the styling of the replacement won't echo that of the DC100 Concept shown above, and that the news would affect the planned Defender-based Tata SUV as well as the proposed Land Rover factory in India.

As for the Freelander, it sounds like the next generation of this SUV will be out by next year, but it will not be wearing the Freelander name. Instead, Land Rover will include it as a smaller version of the Discovery. Here in the States, these two vehicles are named LR2 (Freelander) and LR4 (Discovery).

Next-gen Defender plans scrapped, Freelander name being dropped originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 May 2013 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RT @BigBlueFun: Up and Down #bigbluefun #gopro #goproyo #fish #diving #scuba #scubadiving #padi #tdi #sdi #dir… http://t.co/kJmeubwF4A

Up and Down #bigbluefun #gopro #goproyo #fish #diving #scuba #scubadiving #padi #tdi #sdi #dir… http://t.co/kJmeubwF4A

The next-generation LR2 will be badged as a Discovery.    

My car!! #golf #tdi #volkswagen http://t.co/gc6qpS3qyM