The 2011 Ford Explorer is the latest iteration of the Ford Explorer and arguably one of the most important.  In many ways the Explorer launched the popular use sport utility vehicle market in the USA when it introduced the 4-door Explorer in 1991.  Previously, 4-door SUVs had been either Jeep Cherokees, the occasional Japanese entry and Chevrolet/GMC Suburbans.  With the introduction of the Explorer the growth in the SUV market skyrocketed until almost one in four vehicles sold in the USA was an SUV of one type or another.  In its heyday, Explorer was counted among the top five best selling vehicles in the USA and in its top year sold almost 450,000 units.

Until the new Explorer, the Explorer had been very much a two box SUV designed to move five (and later seven) people comfortably.  While Explorer was an "SUV" it was a pretty mild one.  It was known for being easy to live with but not for its prowess off-road.  Ford never pretended the Explorer had the off-road chops of a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

EcoBoost 4-Cylinder OPTIONAL Powertrain  The base engine for the Explorer is the 3.5L V6 with 290-horsepower.  This engine is expected to be in 75% of Explorers sold.  The extra cost optional powertrain is the 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine with 237-horsepower.  This is an unusual pricing strategy for any manufacturer - giving LESS FOR MORE.  Of course, Ford will position the EcoBoost 4 as the high technology, high fuel economy alternative that is worth more.  Well, we'll be watching this one closely because Americans usually don't buy less for more and many still believe the adage "There is no replacement for displacement."

Continue reading "2011 Ford Explorer Raises XSUV Bar - Explorer Reinvented" »

Posted by George Peterson at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Who Says You Can't Get Standard Navigation for $18,500? Not Suzuki
We called up the kind folks over at Suzuki this winter and asked if we could check out one of their latest additions, the 2010 SX4 Sportback. Specifically, we wanted to check out the standard integrated Garmin navigation system. Having spent a reasonable amount of time with systems that range from $1500 to $2500, the idea of a cheap but functional system appeals. The expensive systems generally have great graphics, bigger screens, and are nicely integrated into the car's center stack. But are they worth it?

Suzuki is also making some noise with what is now the second-oldest vehicle in its range, the five-door SX4, for 2010MY. Launched for the 2007MY, this five-door hatchback was introduced as an AWD model, causing some to initially confuse it with a small SUV. The range was expanded to include a sedan with the 2008MY, and a front-drive version of the hatchback became available for 2009MY. With 2010MY, these cars take a new engine that boosts power to 150HP and also comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission.

Continue reading "On the Road: 2010 Suzuki SX4 Sportback" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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On Monday November 30, Audi AG revealed the all new Audi A8 flagship sedan to the world media in Miami, Florida. There were 850 journalists in attendance from the USA, Europe, South America, China, Japan, Russia... anywhere you can name.

Capping Audi's Centennial Anniversary, the launch of the A8 is very significant to the company. The A8 is being introduced in Europe and China earlier in 2010 with the USA getting A8 in Winter 2010 or Spring 2010.

Study Team Visits USA and China The A8 has a special place in AutoPacific's heart. In early 2006, AutoPacific hosted an Audi study team working on finalizing the concept of the A8. The team was in the USA for about three weeks. After visiting the USA, they spent a month in China where Audi outsells BMW and Mercedes-Benz by two-to-one. This group of engineers, planners, designers, financial experts and production managers were extremely enthusiastic, very knowledgeable and anxious to do what was right for the car and for Audi.

The results of their work is the all new 2011 Audi A8. Wow, what a car!

Continue reading "2011 Audi A8 Premium Luxury Reveal" »

Posted by George Peterson at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Ford Motor Company launched a new powertrain technology called EcoBoost earlier in 2010. EcoBoost will eventually be available on 90% of Ford's lineup in the USA. The first EcoBoost installations are in Ford's new D3 Platform vehicles - Ford Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT, and Ford Flex. EcoBoost's first installation is a 3.5L V6 with gasoline direct injection and twin turbochargers. Power output on the Taurus SHO is 365HP while on the MKS, MKT and Flex is 355. The EcoBoost 3.5L has 350lb-ft of torque. These technology advancements yield substantially better performance while achieving equivalent fuel economy as a vehicle equipped with a non-EcoBoost 3.5L (of course this is only on paper. EcoBoost is so fun to drive you'll be in it all the time - achieving equal fuel economy is just a dream).

EcoBoost a $5,000 Proposition Anyway, EcoBoost is not free. A Taurus SHO is almost $40,000 and the price increase for EcoBoost on the MKT, MKS and Flex comes out to about $5,000. That price includes all wheel drive which EcoBoost requires to handle the power and torque on the front wheel drive platform. So, with the power and price increase, how many is Ford selling?

EcoBoost Installations Running Ahead of Forecast According to George Pipas, Ford's spokesman for sales reporting and arcane numbers, the Taurus SHO now represents about 15% of the Taurus lineup. This is 5%-pts higher than Ford had estimated. Each Taurus SHO generates $10,000 more economic profit than an average Taurus. Installation rate on the Lincoln MKT is 47%. About 30% of Lincoln MKS gets EcoBoost (and 37% gets AWD). The Flex has about an 11% rate lowest of the four.

So, it appears that EcoBoost is well on its way to being a success even in these tough economic times. In each vehicle line, with the possible exception of Flex, the installation rate is healthy for a performance option. It will be interesting to see what the mix is of EcoBoost engines as Ford continues to roll the technology across its vehicle lines.

Posted by George Peterson at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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While hybrids may be getting all of the attention when it comes to efficient motoring, the German automakers have long been preparing to show Americans a real alternative in the form of diesel engines. Because of much higher fuel prices in Europe, diesel has become the norm across the Atlantic due to their much greater fuel economy (up to 30% better than a comparable gasoline engine). In other words, the German automakers are already fully invested in diesel, and they would love to expand this technology into the U.S.

It isn't an easy job, however. Whereas European emissions rules focus on CO2 emissions - a diesel strength since CO2 emissions are directly linked to fuel economy, American emissions rules tend to prioritize NOx and particulate emissions, which are two areas where diesels typically don't do so well in. Furthermore, Americans associate diesels with dirty truck stops, smoky 18-wheelers, and pig-slow jalopies from the '70s and '80s that were unreliable and belched filth from their sooty tailpipes. On the other hand, Americans equate hybrids with high technology, clean air, and in many cases, a green future.

Continue reading "2010 BMW 335d: The Polar Opposite of What You Think Diesel Is" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Ford unveiled the new Fusion Hybrid at the LA Auto Show. It's a very nice piece of work that is able to achieve better fuel economy than the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Stephanie Brinley was able to get an exclusive interview with Gil Portalatin, hybrid propulsion integration manager at Ford. Watch below as Gil takes us on a tour of the car and some of its most innovative features.

Posted by Ed Kim at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Ed Kim got an exclusive interview and drive with Kenichiro Wada, the project manager for Mitsubishi's innovative i-Miev electric car. Hear Wada-san talk about some of the car's innovative features as well as his take on some of the infrastructure challenges that face pure electrics.

Posted by Ed Kim at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Underscoring the eco-friendly theme of the LA Auto Show (and arguably many other auto shows over the last few years), MINI unveiled an all-electric version that will be available to 500 lucky individuals and companies. Called MINI e, this plug-in electric car uses advanced lithium ion batteries that will provide good range (for an electric) along with the sort of peppy performance expected from the brand.

Continue reading "2008 LA Auto Show: MINI E" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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And turn that radio down!
Today's teens have grown up in a world of fluid and ever-expanding technology, with their parents using everything from V-chips to internet blockers to teddy-bear babysitting cams to GPS trackers to keep better track of them. For many, it is simply part of their world. Parents and kids have the same trust issues to sort through, just the same as when I was a kid and didn't think my mom had any right to go through MY dresser, but parents have more direct tools at their disposal now.

Add one more to the arsenal. Ford is introducing the latest electronic nanny next year (2010MY) across several model lines, including the Focus. The system will be a no-cost option or standard equipment, depending on model. It turns out to be an inexpensive way to help teens stay focused in early driving years, when they are the least experienced, and for parents to feel better about teens driving.

Continue reading "Ford's MyKey: Who Says Parents Can't Control Your Speed?" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 3:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Chrysler today announced plans to jumping into the electric car market with both feet by offering up three high-voltage prototypes to reporters and a promise to put about 100 electric vehicles on the road in 2009. We've been waiting to get a sense of what the company's ENVI group is up to, and now we know.

One of the three concept vehicles, the all-electric Dodge EV, is sure to generate some buzz (Is it a Tesla for the common people?) for its fierce looks and eco-friendly, refuel-it-from-the-wall-socket appeal.

With that in mind, it could be easy to miss the hybrid-on-steroids potential of the Jeep and Chrysler EVs -- a Jeep Wrangler and a Chrysler Town & Country fitted with battery and range-extending engine setup (similar in concept to GM's Volt) that Chrysler claims will allow them run for 40 miles without touching a drop of gas.

Read the full report from Chrysler after the jump.

Continue reading "Chrysler enters the electric race" »

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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NextCruise was billed as a fun, eco-friendly addition to the gas-guzzling fun of the Woodward Dream Cruise. We were promised engaging displays, a glimpse into the future and the opportunity for some quality time behind the wheel of hybrids, clean diesels and alternative fuel vehicles. Did things pan out as organizers had hoped?

The future (clean diesel, in this case), craftily hides inside a Grand Cherokee.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #25: NextCruise - How the Future Fared on Woodward" »

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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On one hand, it’s the best idea in human history: Dad drives the minivan, and while little Pashley is engrossed in her Dora DVDs, mom can e-mail her sister about how ill-advised this trip is, Junior can watch a panda get hit in the junk on YouTube, and Sister can do whatever it is those damn kids do in their Facespaces or Mybooks or what have you.

On the other hand, it’s the Internet in the car. Well, there’s a brilliant plan with absolutely no flaws, don’t you think?

”DSL? Where we’re going, we don’t need DSL.”

Continue reading "500 Miles to Ironforge" »

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Hokay, so. We’re talking about hybrids this week here at the VehicleVoice Interntronic Webblargh. Saving gas (and gas money) is a subject near and dear to my heart, as the more patient and visionary among you may have gathered from last week’s slightly garbled missive. This time around, let’s talk about the two-mode hybrid system that George liked so much on the Yukon earlier this week. Development of this particular system was a joint project between BMW, General Motors, Daimler, and Chrysler.

That guy from Futurama approves

Continue reading "Two-Mode Hybrid: Simpler than the stupid Internet would have you believe." »

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 7:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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A few weeks ago, I was cleaning out my email inbox – something I’d meant to do for years – and happened upon one particular old email I had written to a friend in 2002 while I was vacationing in Germany. I spoke of my rental car, a Mercedes-Benz C180 (yes, that’s a C-Class with a 1.8 liter normally aspirated 4-cylinder and about 130HP), and how the fuel prices over there necessitated these fuel sipping engines in vehicles that we Americans think of as pretty upscale. Specifically, I referred to “Germany’s $4 per gallon gasoline” and its impacts on vehicle choice in that part of the world.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #15: High Gas Prices Stink, But Don't Forget About the Tech" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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One of the highest demanded in-car technology features these days is a navigation system. Originally, these were in-car hard-wired systems that were somewhat clumsy to use and required expensive annual updates to keep them current. Recently, portable hand-held units from Garmin, TomTom, Magellan and others have given consumers the option of having a navigation system that is much less expensive than the hard-wired system, and still can be used out of the vehicle or with other vehicles.

Over the past couple of years, these portable systems have been making in-roads on the fixed systems found in many cars. Where a typical in-car system would cost $1,995 (as the new Ford SIRIUS-SYNC-NAV system does), capable portable NAV unit can be had for under $500.

Suzuki, rightly in our mind, has adopted a strategy that has the best of both worlds and approaches the holy grail we have been seeking for the past decade... more on that later. Anyway, Suzuki will have a Garmin NAV system standard in its 2009 SX4 sedan. This is a first in the compact class of cars. And the collaboration between Suzuki and Garmin has resulted in a pretty slick system. The NAV unit is similar to the familiar Garmin NUVI 700 unit and has a 4.3-inch screen. It plugs into a flip up lid atop the instrument panel and syncs with the audio system. As all Garmin units this one is touch screen and you input destinations just by tapping the screen. While the screen is not the huge 8.5-inches found in some OEM systems, the Suzuki/Garmin system is plenty big enough for most things.

Hats off to Suzuki for being first to the market with an innovative and cost effective way to get NAV into the hands of buyers of less expensive cars.

HOLY GRAIL - PERSONALIZED DATA TRANSPORT - CAR AS RECPTACLE

Now, about the holy grail. Since AutoPacific began conducting consumer research on navigation systems and telematics over a decade ago, it became obvious that the logical solution would be some sort of super PDA or iPod that would be personalized to the driver. The car would be the receptacle and the iPod-esque device would carry music, navigation, personalized vehicle settings, address book, telephone, bluetooth, etc. All that stuff that is becoming an integral part of our 21st century lifestyle. Because all of those things change rapidly, they are not ideal for hard-wiring in a car or truck. We know the industry is working on solutions like this. Just taking too long.

Continue reading "Suzuki Adds Standard Garmin Navigation to SX" »

Posted by George Peterson at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Video is rapidly becoming an important component for any new, magazine, or entertainment website. At VehicleVoice, we’ve been using video for nearly two years and we want to make certain you know how useful and entertaining our video stories can be.

Our video stories are typically fairly short, so you can enjoy them during a coffee break, or while waiting for that report to print. Two recent surveys show that more than three quarters of the people who use the Internet watch an hour or more of video every week. And, a huge percentage of that audience takes advantage of the lunch hour to enjoy the various video clips and stories now being posted everywhere from CNN to political campaigns to your own private website -- to, yup, right here at VehicleVoice.

Continue reading "Video Reviews, Test Drives, and Opinion from VehicleVoice" »

Posted by dbarrett at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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It’s a fact of life that we are all “connected” more than ever today. We gab on our cellphones constantly, we check our messages both in front of computers and on the go on our smartphones, and we have more choices than ever over how we are entertained. For the most part, these are all positive changes in our lives and a clear sign of progress.

We live, however, in one of those “in-between” times when society hasn’t yet figured out how to merge progress with basic safety. You know, like back when automotive engineers figured out how to make cars go really fast but hadn’t yet invented the 3-point seatbelt. To what am I referring? I’m talking about being able to use all of these devices that keep us connected safely while driving.

This is a topic that’s been talked about time and time again over the last decade. Initially, people talked about people distracted as they talk on their cellphones, but since then, it’s gotten a lot worse. Now, people scroll through reams of playlists on their iPods (yes, I’m guilty as charged) as they read their email and text messages on their phones (and many try to write messages too). All this, while talking on their handsets while negotiating traffic filled with similarly distracted drivers? Oh dear.

Manufacturers have been trying for years to find ways to reduce this distraction, with mixed results. Among the most ambitious and comprehensive systems that attempt to reach the Holy Grail of connectivity and safety is Ford’s new SYNC, co-developed with Microsoft. It’s available on most Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln products – even the lowly Focus. So, it’s available to everyone, not just those rich guys who can afford all the gadgets.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #3: Help! I’m so distracted!" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 6:00 AM | Permalink

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According to AutoPacific's annual survey of new car and light truck acquirers, the BMW 3-Series, Acura MDX, Lexus RX, Honda Accord, and Infiniti QX56 attract the most tech savvy buyers. Tech savvy consumers made up approximately 5% of the new car buying population in 2007, up from just 2% in 2006. As Gen Y matures and enters the new vehicle market in greater numbers, AutoPacific expects these numbers to continue their growth. Tech savvy car buyers were defined utilizing a collection of data filters from AutoPacific’s Research Suite® database.

Continue reading "What Are The Top Vehicles Purchased by Tech Savvy Buyers?" »

Posted by Dan Hall at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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In some ways, the 2008 North American Automobile Show was like most other recent major auto shows. Once again, automakers went out of their way to show us how hard they are trying to protect the environment and reduce our dependent for foreign oil.

General Motors and Toyota lead the rhetoric. Each claims to have a broad spectrum of programs that range from alternate fuels for internal combustion engines to full electric vehicles. I have to weigh in on this issue, because I’m seeing two strategies that are very different and tell you a lot about the companies they come from.

General Motors spent a lot of time talking about Ethanol, and is clearly lobbying for greater distribution outlets for the fuel. Has GM chosen to expend their efforts in a political battle to increase the availability of Ethanol as their primary tool to solve this issue? Ethanol-capable vehicle conversion is inexpensive, but the end result may leave consumers unsatisfied. Surprisingly, Rick Wagoner, GM's Chairman, advocated Federal regulations mandating ethanol distribution across the country (won't Iowa be proud?).

Continue reading "The Greenest Detroit Auto Show Ever" »

Posted by Dan Hall at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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New Game; Many Players; Winners Unclear!

There was a lot of action at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week. Clearly the industry is more interested in Green, and more interested in fuel economy (well, at least in legislated CAFE, Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements) than ever before.

Virtually all major manufacturers are working on clean diesels, gas hybrids, diesel hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hybrids with nickel-metal hydride batteries, with some form of lithium batteries and with batteries in conjunction with ultra capacitors. Most manufacturers are working on significant improvements to conventional gas engines, some with direct fuel injection, and some with direct injection coupled with one or more turbochargers (what Ford calls EcoBoost). Cylinder deactivation and smaller displacements with fewer cylinders is a popular approach. Ethanol has its advocates (primarily GM), and also its detractors. And in the long term (maybe VERY long term) hydrogen fuel cells show exciting promise.

Technology Up... Prices WAY UP!!!!!!!!!

So what is the winner? Well, the consumer, for sure will have more choice than ever.But in a technology sense, it is entirely unclear what technology will dominate in the near future. Perhaps it is a mix of many approaches for awhile, as it was 100 years ago (between gasoline, electric power and steam) before one technology dominates.

Meanwhile, the cost (and price) of powertrains is likely to up... way up. Probably up by more than the fuel savings offset, at least at anything like today's fuel prices. How high is up? Nobody really knows, but perhaps HD pickups give us a clue: diesels provide a 20-30% fuel economy gain, but are priced about $7,000 higher than (semi) equivalent gas engines.

American Drivers Unwilling to Sacrifice for Better Fuel Economy

It is not clear that Americans are really ready to pay that much for a slightly better environment and some reduction in the dependence on foreign oil. Somehow, it seems to me that for most Americans to truly embrace all this new technology and the associated costs, fuel prices will have to double, or maybe triple, effectively reaching European levels.

Meantime, what en exciting race!

Posted by Jim Hossack at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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LRX Demonstrates Atomization of the SUV Market
Not all that long ago, we (and most other pundits) would have prescribed a pretty failsafe formula for how to create a successful SUV. Make it big, make it really upright, and give it plenty of power, OPEC be damned. Sure, everyone knows now that fuel prices are high, driving demand for more efficient means of transportation, but there are plenty of other factors driving the atomization of the once cookie-cutter SUV market.

Whatever you want to call them – body-on-frame utility vehicles, crossovers, car-based utilities, whatever – SUVs as a genre have matured to the point where there is plenty of space and demand for unique niches within the larger segment. In fact, consistent with the greater overall consumer demand we see nowadays for tailored, unique products that fit every taste (how many ways can you have your Starbucks?), the SUV segment is quickly becoming as diverse as the passenger car market. So is there a market for a sustainable, eco-friendly coupe-like Land Rover? Even five years ago, we probably would have given the notion a big thumbs down.

Seeking New Blood and New Concept Space
Land Rover’s LRX concept previews a niche luxury entry SUV product that we’re expecting to see within the next few years. This product would come in below the car-based Freelander, theoretically casting a wider net and providing a larger gateway to the Land Rover brand. We can see their logic here. Today’s oldest Gen Y buyers are coming of age and are starting to earn real money, and a huge number of them have grown up valuing prestige and premium branding. As a struggling brand (especially in Europe, where the traditional truck-based SUVs that Land Rover specializes in have become more irrelevant than ever), Land Rover has got to find some new blood – and the key hopefully lies in these young and open-minded buyers.

Continue reading "Land Rover LRX Concept: Times are Definitely Changing" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 6:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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BMW Joins the Effort to Spread the Diesel Gospel
If there’s one company out there whose powertrain reputation is beyond reproach, it’s easily BMW. Some underwhelming 4-cylinders from the 80s and 90s aside, it’s hard to point out any BMW motors that weren’t powerful, engaging, soulful, and indestructible. Except for the indestructible part, those descriptors certainly don’t describe diesel, at least in the minds of North American drivers.

In case you hadn’t heard, the Europeans are firing their first volleys in their attempted diesel revolution in the US. They’ve actually tried for years to sell Americans on diesels, touting their economy and longevity as advantages. But thanks to some really notably awful diesels from the 70s and 80s (and consumers’ long memories), the only takers have been automotive eccentrics. Today though, in the days of rising fuel prices and international instability, there is a significant increase in interest in fuel-saving technologies.

You can’t blame the Europeans for using diesel to spearhead their efficiency strategies. After all, Europe has already embraced diesel as a mainstream fuel (67% of BMWs sold in Western Europe are diesels!), and as such they have made tremendous advances in diesel power, refinement, and cleanliness. And, if anyone can help erase that diesel stigma in America, it’s BMW.

Impressive Specs and Power
BMW’s Advanced Diesel strategy in the US starts with their internationally lauded 3.0L inline-6 diesel with twin turbos, pumping out 268 horsepower and a truly stump-pulling 425 lb-ft of torque. This is while delivering 25% better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine. The engine is 50-state legal, thanks to an SCR catalyst and AdBlue urea injection.

To start, this fire-breathing yet eco-friendly diesel will be available in the 3-Series and X5. You can expect to see other diesel variants in the coming years.

High Fuel Economy…But Likely High Cost
Despite these impressive specs, diesel’s got a real uphill battle to contend with. Even without considering diesel’s image in the US, there’s the cost – both in terms of hardware and the fuel itself. In Southern California, diesel’s running about 20¢ higher than gasoline, and these new diesel engines themselves are inherently very costly due to their beefy innards and all that expensive exhaust aftertreatment. BMW (and other diesel hopefuls) certainly won’t be able to play the “save money” card with their diesels; they’ll have to find some other unique way to position these powertrains.

There is a real and growing trend among leading edge affluent consumers to equate green with chic. BMW will need to work hard to market diesel’s benefits to these leading edge consumers – and convince them to pay more for the privilege of being green. If they can pull this off with these opinion-leading consumers, diesel just might have long-term hope in North America.

Posted by Ed Kim at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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In past discussions with Derrick Kuzak, Ford's product development czar, he has stressed that Ford would be making their cars and trucks much more efficient by reducing their weight and using higher technology engines. One of the first examples of that strategy was when Ford dropped the V8 engine from the powertrain plan for the upcoming Lincoln MKS sedan and will use a twin turbo V6 as its high performance powerplant.

While we can't fathom a Lincoln flagship without a V8, the proof is in how it drives and what the durability and reliability of a turbo powertrain turns out to be. In AutoPacific and VehicleVoice Internet research car buyers generally opt for displacement (larger) and less engine technology (non-turbo, for instance). The old adage that "there is no replacement for displacement" generally holds true. But we can't ignore the issues of Global Warming (if it exists) or higher gas prices or impending CAFE rules that force new technology.

Ford has laid out its powertrain philosophy in an early January press release shown below the fold...

Continue reading "Ford Announces EcoBoost Powertrains" »

Posted by George Peterson at 10:16 AM | Permalink

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Giving us all a little break from the green car parade at the LA Auto show, Porsche gave North America it's first look at the 2008 911 GT2. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 is a beast, not designed for your average LA attorney. We had a few minutes with David Pryor Vice President of Marketing of Porsche Cars North America. David, a 911 driver, summed it up like this, "The GT2 is the perfect blend between the Porsche Turbo and the GT3." The GT3, At 415 horsepower, is the most powerful naturally aspirated six cylinder engine in any production car.

Continue reading "Green, Schmeen: Porsche Gives North America a look at the New 2008 911 GT2 at Los Angeles Auto Show" »

Posted by Dan Hall at 9:26 AM | Permalink

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Imagine you arrive for work, spend the morning at your desk, and when you head outside to drive yourself to lunch, your new Mercedes is gone. Stolen! Now, imagine you're a guy who would like to drive a Mercedes and you don't want to use the traditional baseball bat to smash the window in while attempting to snatch it from its rightful owner. What's a poor thief to do?

Eli Biham, a professor of computer science at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, says his team has come up with a new method of hacking those electronic keys appearing in nearly every car these days. And, he blames it on outdated technology being sold "as new" today.

Continue reading "The Key to Driving Nearly Any Car You Want" »

Posted by dbarrett at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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