2012 BMW 3 Series priced from $35,795*

Have you been waiting for the new BMW 3 Series to come around? Well the wait is over. The sixth generation of the quintessential sport sedan is upon us, and now we've got the pricing to go with it.

BMW of North America has placed the base MSRP for the four-cylinder 328i at $35,795, and the six-cylinder 335i at $43,295 – inclusive of destination charges(*). While these prices represent a $320 and $370 respective increase over the models they replace, BMW is adamant that the jump is worth it.

Not only has the 3 Series sedan been substantially redesigned, it also packs a higher level of equipment. That includes cabin gadgets like a 6.5-inch dashboard display screen for the iDrive system, as well as Bluetooth, USB and iPod connectivity, but also the latest enviro-tech like regenerative braking and stop/start engine management

Source: Autoblog

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Mercedes-Benz killing Maybach in 2013, replacing with S600 Pullman

According to an unnamed Mercedes-Benz source speaking with AutoWeek, the German automaker is killing off its Maybach line in 2013.

The unsurprising news comes after the brand was resurrected in 2002, but failed to meet sales expectations with its two core models, the Maybach 57 and 62. Further solidifying its fate, a deal with Aston Martin to aid in the development of future Maybachs fell through earlier this year.

According to the AutoWeek insider, the plan is to continue to sell both Maybach models through the end of 2013, after which the fifth-generation S-Class will go on sale. When that happens, three new variants of the S-Class will be available, including an all-new, range-topping S600 that brings back the Pullman moniker and may be better suited to competing with the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

Source: Autoblog

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2013 Lexus GS 350

Engine:
3.5L V6

Power:
306 HP / 277 LB-FT
Transmission:
6-Speed Auto
0-60 Time:
5.7 Seconds (est.)
Top Speed:
142 MPH (limited)
Drivetrain:
Rear- or AWD
Curb Weight:
3,795 LBS
Seating:
2+3
Cargo:
14.3 CU-FT
MPG:
19 City / 28 HWY
MSRP:
N/A


So Lexus wants to be taken seriously now. Certainly the brand is a heavyweight – and has been since the moment it launched 22 years ago, changing the luxury market almost overnight. It's just had trouble garnering the respect of the cognoscenti, the car enthusiast types, the sorts of people who can see a pair of taillights flash by and identify year, make and model.

Lexus representatives are not shy about the issue, in part because it's hard to ignore years of critics calling your cars bland and soulless, while smirking, self-avowed "car guys" trade their BMW sedans in on new BMW sedans, even as they grumble about electronic nannies, iDrive and Chris Bangle.

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Europe's Toyota GT 86 sports car revealed

It's no secret that the Toyota FT-86 will finally make its production-spec debut next week in Tokyo, and ahead of that, the automaker's UK office has released the first official photos and some initial specs. In Europe, the car will officially be called the Toyota GT 86.

Cutting right to the chase, here are the specs that are now official, from the Toyota UK announcement. Obviously, there's more to come:
2.0-liter boxer with D4-S injection (direct and port injected)
197 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft (205 Nm) @6,600 rpm
6-speed manual or automatic transmissions
17-inch wheel/tire package standard
4,240mm (167 in.) long, 1285mm (50.6 in.) high, 2,570mm (101 in.) wide
53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution
475mm (18.7 in.) center of gravity
As demonstrated in the photos, everything is basically in line with what we've seen so far in the various leaked materials. So, start getting excited. In addition to the sharp styling outside, the interior looks the business, and the "86" fender logo is just plain cool. The GT 86 goes on sale in the UK next June.

Source: Autoblog

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2012 Shelby GTS

The Shelby name doesn't come cheap. Vintage Shelby Mustangs and Cobras can command six or sometimes even seven figure sums. The current Shelby offerings are much cheaper – the GT350 is priced around $70,000 while the Ford-built GT500 is a little less expensive with a base price just short of $50,000 – although we still wouldn't consider them attainable to the average guy with a mortgage and 2.5 kids.

Shelby sees that as a problem. The majority of its customers are the people who craved a GT500 or Cobra back when they were kids in the 1960s. Those customers are getting older, and like many other automakers, Shelby has decided to reach out to younger buyers. At the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Shelby announced the GTS, a new model designed to be attainable to the masses. The GTS would be available in both V6 and V8 form and, with a package price of $9,995, could be had for less than $33,000 in base form. "It's a car that reaches a younger buyer while acknowledging the economic realities of our times," said Shelby American president John Luft at the time.

We have to wonder, though. Are younger buyers interested in buying a Shelby Mustang? Will people actually buy a Shelby with a V6? We aimed to find out for ourselves and picked up a V6 model in Race Red with White Le Mans stripes at Shelby's facility in Gardena, CA for a week-long test.

Source: Autoblog

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Chevrolet shares a bit of its tunnel vision for Camaro ZL1

The engineers behind the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 are our kind of people. They were the ones who stepped up to the immeasurable task of transmuting the Camaro from its current state as a straight-line princess into a a hairpin street fighter. While America has typically fallen back on the old "no replacement for displacement" adage when it came time to win races, the engineers responsible for the ZL1 left no stone unturned. Suspension, brake performance and weight balance all played a huge role in the vehicle's development, and, as the company's latest video on the sports car reveals, so did aerodynamics.

Every piece of aero equipment on the ZL1, from the front splitter to the under-belly trays, rockers, rear spoiler and wheel spats are all functional pieces. The company says that there's over 100 hours of wind tunnel development on the ZL1, and the result is the first vehicle in General Motors history to boast neutral or negative lift.

If GM can pull this sort of magic off on the porkly Camaro, we can't wait to see what the company has in store for the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette.

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Six-cylinder BMW M3 caught on and around Nürburgring

That Roundel-obsessed crew over at F30post.com has laid its paws on a quick clip of the next-generation BMW M3 turning a few hot laps at the Nürburgring. The video gives us the best look and listen yet to the performance 3 Series under duress, and it certainly sounds as if the vehicle has finally shed its high-winding V8 for six-cylinder power. That feeling? It's just the universe re-aligning itself. Don't worry about it. BMW hasn't said exactly what sort of power the next-generation M3 will produce when it arrives, but we'd guess that the number will land north of the 414-horsepower available from the current model.

The only question is whether or not BMW has abandoned its tried-and-true inline six for a more blasphemous V6 configuration. The automaker has publicly said that it wouldn't embrace the V, but there's a growing tied of rumor that would suggest otherwise. Either way, we'll find out when the M bows in mid-2012. Hit the jump to check out the full video for yourself.

Source: Autoblog

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American racer Michael Lewis earns Ferrari test on back of F3 victory

When this year's Formula 1 young driver test kicks off in Abu Dhabi, Alexander Rossi may be the only American there, but he's not the only young Yank with his eyes on grand prix racing. And he's not the only one set for an F1 test, either.

Rossi is joined in his aspirations by fellow Californian driver Michael Lewis, who is scheduled to test for no less prestigious a team than Scuderia Ferrari. The opportunity is Lewis' reward – arranged between Ferrari and the Italian racing body CSAI – for his achievements in the Italian F3 Championship, where he emerged as rookie of the year. He also placed second in the overall standings behind series champion Sergio Campana, who will be driving the 2009-spec Ferrari F60 alongside him at the Vallelunga circuit outside Rome.

Prior to Formula 3, Lewis competed in Formula BMW both on this side of the Atlantic and the other. All the while, he's been working towards a business degree at the Fullerton campus of California State University – a rarity in a demanding field that often precludes aspiring racers from furthering their education.

Source: Autoblog

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2012 Nissan Altima Iconic VQ35

2012 Nissan Altima Sedan Pairs Power and Efficiency, Quality and Value to Maintain Strong Sales Momentum
With a choice of two powerful, efficient engines, the Nissan Altima Sedan is perfectly positioned for today’s driving environment – maintaining its position as the best selling individual model in the Nissan lineup. Yet as Altima enters the sixth year of its refined fourth generation design, it may be its reputation for quality and value that has cemented its place among the leaders in mid-size sedan sales and segment share.
For 2012, Altima Sedan is again available in three well-equipped models designed to appeal to a broad range of buyer needs and budgets – the 2.5 CVT and 2.5 S CVT featuring a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder and the 3.5 SR CVT with a standard 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. Enhancements for the new model year include a new Value Package and the continuation of last year’s Special Edition Package. Both are offered with Altima Sedan 2.5 S. In addition, a Dark Slate exterior color replaces the previous Metallic Slate.

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2012 Ferrari FF Silver Extremely Sporty

A revolutionary four-seater, four-wheel drive V12 Ferrari: exceptional performance and versatility
Maranello, 21st January 2011 – The official Prancing Horse web site, Ferrari.com, has revealed the first photographs of the new FF, the company’s most powerful, versatile four-seater ever, as well as its first ever four-wheel drive car.
The FF – an acronym for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive) – ushers in an entirely new GT sports car concept. A decisive break with the past, the new car represents not so much an evolution as a true revolution.
This new V12 melds to an unprecedented level an extremely sporty, high-performance character with incredible versatility, superb comfort and sophisticated elegance, guaranteeing both driver and passengers an absolutely unique driving experience.
Designed by Pininfarina, the shape and proportions perfectly interpret the FF’s harmonious blend of sporting DNA and extraordinary usability.

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2011 Mitsubishi ASX New

From Concept-cX to ASX reality
Sharing the same evocative “Kawasemi Blue” introduction color (1), the new Mitsubishi ASX represents a marketable interpretation of the Concept-cX show car, unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, whose success convinced MMC’s management to turn it into a full-fledged production car.
Longer by nearly 20 cm (4.295 m vs the concept’s 4.11 m), slightly higher (+ 6.5cm) and wider (+ 2cm), and featuring a more upright tailgate all for the sake of optimum packaging, ASX shares nonetheless Concept-cX’s basic design theme as well as its passenger car-like sure-footed stance.
Suggested by the gaping “Jet Fighter” grille – a nod to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.’s F-2 jet fighter (http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/products/detail/f-2_close_support_fighter.html) and now a trademark feature for nearly all Mitsubishi Motors on-road vehicles in Europe (Colt, Lancer and Outlander) – this car-like “attitude” was a key direction for Mitsubishi designers: unencumbered by any marketing pressure to simulate an SUV look through heavy detailing (no need to with Pajero/Montero/Shogun and L200 already in the range…), they further developed Concept-cX’s own vocabulary towards a less polarizing yet sharp, expressive and finely executed “sports hatch” with proper presence & substance.

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2012 Lexus IS 350 Features AWD & RWD Models 3.5 L V6 Engine 306 hp at 6,400 RPM & 277 lb.-ft. of Torque at 4,800 rpm

Lexus IS Sport Sedan Line Features AWD and RWD Models
* Standard Leather-Trimmed 10-Way Power Front Seats
* Available 3.5L V6 Offers 306 Horsepower
* Available F Sport Package Offers Exclusive Upgrades for IS 250/350 Rear-Wheel Drive Models
Complete with AWD and RWD models, two powerful engine choices, and a stylish package with 17-inch standard wheels, the Lexus IS sport sedan continues to be a favorite among customers. The IS moves into the 2012 model year virtually unchanged after receiving numerous changes last year including revised front and rear styling, minor interior updates, an IS 350 all-wheel drive (AWD) model, and an F Sport Package for the IS 250/350 rear-wheel drive (RWD). The IS sedan models receive a revised color palette as Nebula Gray Pearl replaces Smoky Granite Mica and Fire Agate Pearl replaces Glacier Frost Mica.
Engine/Transmission/Drivetrain/Performance
The IS 250’s 2.5-liter V6 engine delivers 204 horsepower at 6,400 RPM and 185 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,800 rpm. The IS 350’s 3.5-liter V6 offers a more potent 306 horsepower at 6,400 RPM and 277 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm. The IS 350 RWD model can accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. Both engines employ dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which controls timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts.

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2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV New-Generation Electric Vehicle (EV)

Mitsubishi Motors Commences Production of the North American i-MiEV
Tokyo, October 28, 2011 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced the start of production of the North American* version of its i-MiEV new-generation electric vehicle (EV) at its Mizushima Plant. The North American version of the i-MiEV will first be available in Hawaii as well as the United States’ western coastal states of California, Washington, and Oregon from the end of November this year. From then on, MMC plans to expand sales throughout other parts of the United States and Canada by the end of fiscal year 2012.

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F1 may be coming to New York, but not NASCAR

NASCAR and New York may strike you as diametrically opposite pillars of modern America. But if Formula One can race in Texas, surely NASCAR can race in New York, right?

F1 has recently announced two new races in the United States: the U.S. Grand Prix slated to race in Austin, Texas, for the first time next year, and the Grand Prix of America that will follow a year later in West New York and Weehawken, New Jersey. In other words, F1 racing is coming to two very different parts of the country. So surely NASCAR can as well.

The stock car racing series is already big in the South, but while series organizers have in the past sought a location closer to New York to mount a race, that probably won't be happening any time soon. According to The Wall Street Journal, organizers feel they're already reaching their target audience through the races they have in place, and that expansion into new markets wouldn't be prudent given the lagging economy.

So if you're a NASCAR fan stuck far away from the racing action in the Big Apple, it looks like you'll still have to make the trek upstate to Watkins Glen or out to New Hampshire.

Source: Autoblog

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Mercedes SL prototype says you'll never catch me, copper

It's not every day that Mercedes-Benz comes out with a new SL. The roadster that anchors the top of the company's non-AMG production range tends to enjoy an unusually long lifecycle. The iconic first-generation Gullwing was on the market for ten years. The second-gen model lasted just eight years, but the third iteration was around for a whopping eighteen. The boxy fourth version was around for fourteen years, and the current model that replaced it has been on the market since 2003, with a facelift that came in 2008.

Fortunately, a new model is on its way and should put the MkV out to pasture after ten long years of service. Due sometime next year as a 2013 model, these are the clearest shots we've seen yet of what to expect.

Now stripped of all but a bare minimum of disguising, the 2013 SL looks a bit more svelte than the model it replaces, though that doesn't tell us if it'll be any lighter: the current two-seat folding hardtop convertible weights as much as some SUVs. The more upright front grille is both a nod to the SLS AMG and likely a measure to comply with pedestrian-impact regulations enacted in Europe.

It looks as though LEDs are lurking in the lower front intakes on either side, with what seems like it could house a side intake behind the front wheels. The test mule is draped in a new shade of copper we haven't seen before, and we suspect that those unflattering wheels are temporary. Take a gander yourself in our high-res gallery.

Source: Autoblog

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Standard Toyota FT-86 / Scion FR-S

Is this the standard production version of the Toyota FT-86 / Scion FR-S? Sure looks like it. Another set of brochure shots acquired by the FT-86 forum shows a plainer version of the new rear-drive sports car in red, in contrast to the white Modellista brochure shots from a few days ago. The interior images are the same as before, but the exteriors diverge in a few areas: the production version doesn't appear to have LED accents by the headlights, the skirting is softer around the car, a conventional whip antenna replaces the shark fin on the roof, and there's optional vent ornamentation for the front fenders.

Opinion seems to be divided on whether Toyota has gone too far with certain elements of the car or, after years of gestation, if didn't go far enough. We don't have much longer to wait until the real thing takes a deep bow at the Tokyo Motor Show, but is this what you've been waiting for?

Source: Autoblog

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Icon Derelict '52 Chevy Business Coupe is unassuming masterpiece

Ladies and gentleman, this is what SEMA should be about. Behold the latest from Icon, the Derelict – a 1952 Chevrolet Deluxe Business Coupe hiding a full arsenal of modern engineering beneath over half a century of patina.

The vehicle uses a complete powder-coated Art Morrison chassis with a front independent suspension and a four-link rear. An all-aluminum, fuel-injected 6.2-liter General Motors LS3 V8 sits between the frame rails and cranks out 430 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 4L65E automatic transmission and a full set of six-piston brakes with anti-lock control ensures that the whole party can come to a stop in a timely fashion. Despite looking like junkyard relics, the wheels are actually custom CNC-machined pieces shod in ZR-rated BF Goodrich rubber.

If the Coupe's mechanicals and exterior aren't enough to flip your switches, take a peek indoors. Both seats have been recovered in a combination of wild-caught alligator and buffalo hides(!) that have been dyed to the same Hermes hue as John F. Kennedy's briefcase. The carpet is Rolls-Royce Wilton wool bound in buffalo as well, and an Aston Martin vintage mohair headliner finishes out the indoors. An array of tech is also tastefully hidden away as well, including Focal and Parrot audio components with Bluetooth capability.

This sort of execution is so far above and beyond the typical restomod and tuner fodder we typically see from the SEMA crowd that it serves as a breath of fresh air. If you like what you see, Icon says that the company can do the same for nearly any vehicle from the '30s to the '70s.

Gentlemen, start your imaginations. The Icon Derelict 1952 Chevrolet Business Coupe will be on display at this year's SEMA show.

Source: Autoblog

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Porsche Design has made its own Blackberry

While its styling has refined over successive generations, you don't buy a Porsche for how it looks. You buy one for how it works. And the same could be said of a BlackBerry. The favorite communications tool of businesspeople worldwide and a number of private consumers as well, the BlackBerry is – like a Porsche – more about function than form. Leave it to Porsche Design, then, to up its style factor.

Having already produced phones on its own, Porsche Design has long been rumored to be working on a project for Research In Motion, the Canadian company responsible for unleashing the addictive device upon the world. And here it is.

The co-branded "Porsche Design P'9981 Smartphone from BlackBerry" packs a 1.2 GHz processor, HD video camera, eight gigs of internal (expandable) memory, a QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry 7 OS into a slick forged stainless steel case with leather back and a touch display screen. A personal concierge service is included with the P'9981, which still doesn't make its estimated $2,000 price tag any more reasonable. Then again, it's the kind of thing you'd expect a style-conscious business executive to be talking on when he cuts you off in his Panamera.

Source: Autoblog

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Chevrolet COPO Camaro Concept

What's a COPO, you ask? Back in the heyday of American muscle cars, COPO was an acronym for Central Office Production Order, which was, for all intents and purposes, a way for Chevrolet and its enterprising dealer network to sneak high-performance option packages and oversize engines past the bigwigs at General Motors and into the waiting hands of automotive enthusiasts.

With ancient history out of the way, what's COPO mean in 2011? Well, it still means performance, but there's certainly no way Chevy is going to bypass the powers-that-be at GM HQ, especially not with a Camaro proof-of-concept that's destined to live out its life at the drag strip in NHRA Stock Eliminator drag racing competition.

According to Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, the COPO Camaro that is debuting this week at SEMA "is a clear indication that Chevrolet intends to homologate the Camaro for sportsman drag racing." Seems pretty clear to us, too – in lieu of the standard independent rear suspension setup is a straight axle that's perfectly suited to straight-line racing. Plus, there's a full roll cage for safety.

Buyers of the COPO Camaro, if and when it becomes available, will be able to fit one of two suggested engine packages: one 427-cubic-inch naturally aspirated V8 (7.9 liters for A Stock racing) and one 327-cubic-inch supercharged V8 (5.3 liters for for AA Stock racing). The car you see in our live images is powered by a prototype version of the supercharged 327.

Source: Autoblog

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