Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Green Envy
It seems that Dodge is really trying to make an impression at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, bringing a whole bunch of cars. The one with the coolest name would have to be the Challenger SRT8 392 Green Envy. The most interesting aspect of this car is without any doubt its very cool green paintwork along with those classic full-body black stripes.
The car rides on 20-inch, 5-spoke, cast-aluminum rims that give the Challenger a real raw look. These wheels are covered by P245/45R20 Goodyear Eagle F1 Super Car three-season tires
Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Green Envy
The starting price for the car is $44,875 and you will get a 392-cubic inch HEMI power unit that outputs 470 hp and 470 lb.-ft of torque. The car benefits from the Fuel Saver technology – for the models fitted with the automatic transmission – and allow the Challenger car to do 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, which is 15% better in comparison to the 2010 model but still not quite impressive.
Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Green Envy
If you don’t like the Green Envy color which is a limited edition, the Challenger SRT8 is also available with the following paintworks: Toxic Orange Pearl Coat, Redline 3 Pearl Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat and Billett Metallic Clear Coat. I for one would choose the Green Envy as it looks very nice.
Post tags: Tags: detroit-auto-show, dodge-challenger-srt8, green envy
At the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, the Dodge Durango Heat made its public debut, featuring a 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine that produces 295 hp and has a fuel consumption of 23 mpg; at least this is what thepeople over at Dodge promised.
The car got a new double wishbone front suspension as well as a multi-link rear one which will make the ride smoother. In addition, it now packs a dual exhaust system, tuned air induction and very nice 20-inch Satin Carbon finished rims.
Inside, the Durango Heat offers plenty of room for five adults, 50 cubic feet for your stuff and looks pretty much the same as the cabin in the R/T version.
Outside, you’ll notice the new fascia with those tiny fog lamps, wheel lips, a color-matched grille (I wished it was black), dark headlamp bezels and a new rear fascia that sports integrated dual chrome exhaust outlets.
All the 295 ponies are available at 6,350 rpm while the maximum torque (260 lb.-ft) is available at 4,500 rpm. This big boy has a top speed of 130 mph and its maximum towing capacity is a whopping 6,200 lbs.
The car will be available this spring at the following prices (taken from the official press release):
(rear-wheel-drive / all-wheel-drive)
Durango Express: $29,195 / $31,195;
Durango Heat: $30,295 / $32,295;
Durango Crew: $33,195 / $35,195;
Durango Crew with CrewLux package: $38,195 / $40,195;
Durango R/T: $35,465/$37,865 Durango Citadel: $41,795 / $43,795;
(All prices exclude an $850 destination charge.)
Source: Dodge
Post tags: Tags: detroit-auto-show, dodge durango heat
One of the most exciting unveiling at Detroit today was the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8. This bad boy got a powerful V8 HEMI 6.4-liter that produces approximately 465 hp and 465 lb.-ft of torque – we don’t know for certain that these are the final figures, but they should be around somewhere. Top speed is estimated to be 175 mph and 0-62 mph sprint time is less than 5 seconds.
To improve fuel economy, the engineers at Dodge equipped the car with an active valve exhaust system which will also most likely make the car sound more muscular. The aforementioned power unit is mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox that is offered as standard with the paddle-shift technology.
The suspension has been modified a little bit in order to offer a better handling and now features 2-mode adaptive dampers which will permit selectable suspension tuning.
The 2012 Charger SRT8 sits on 20-inch lightweight forged and polished aluminum rims with black painted pockets. To stop this monster, Dodge equipped the car with 4-piston Brembo calipers and vented/slotted rotors that measure 14.2-inches in the front and 13.8-inches out in the back.
Design-wise, I love the front look of the car, it is way more aggressive in comparison to the outgoing model and that front grille is just awesome.
The car will be available starting with this fall as a 2012 model. Dodge will reveal the price list once the launch date approaches. Stay tuned.
Post tags: Tags: detroit-auto-show, dodge charger srt8
The 2011 North American International Auto Show is the first important auto show of the year and this edition at Detroit we’ve seen some interesting cars announced. Here is a personal top ten in my opinion; the ranking has been done randomly.
The American-spec Volkswagen Passat was one of the biggest names this year at Detroit. Formerly teased as the new “NMS” sedan, the car will be available in the US starting with this August at a very affordable price of less than $20,000. The new Passat will be available in three different trim levels. The first one will get you the entry-level 5-cylinder power unit that produces 170 hp. The other gasoline engine is the more powerful VR6 6-cylinder unit that churns 280 hp. If you prefer diesel, you will be happy to hear that the car will be available with a TDI unit that produces 140 hp.
One of my personal favorites at Detroit was the new Audi A6. The German automaker unveiled the model prior to the auto show and at its official debut, the car won the “Best Production Vehicle” award, given by EyesOn Design. The new generation of the beautiful A6 will be available with five different engine options – two gas units and three diesel engines. The most affordable model will be the one with the naturally aspirated 2.8 FSI that outputs 204 hp and offers 280 Nm of torque. The other gas engine is a 3.0 TFSI that will be good for 300 hp and 440 Nm of torque. The entry-level diesel engine is the 2.0 TDI which will produce 177 hp and 380 Nm of torque. The other two variants are based on the 3.0 TDI engine – one of them will output 204 hp / 400 Nm, while the other will churn 245 hp / 500 Nm of torque.
Another German car made it into the top, the new generation of the Mercedes C-Class, another looker. The new model is drop-dead gorgeous both inside and out. Along with the styling changes, the C-Class will get two new engines, including the 4-cylinder 1.8-liter turbocharged unit that will output 201 hp. The other one will be a more potent V6 3.5-liter that will crank up around 300 hp.
Design-wise, the Hyundai Veloster was the coolest car this year at the NAIAS. This gorgeous three-door sports coupe was officially unveiled, after years of unconfirmed rumors. The styling of the car was inspired from a sports bike and the car will be available with a brand new engine. I’m talking about a 1.6-liter Gamma 4-cylinder unit which will be the company’s smallest GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) unit. Developing 138 hp and linked to either a 6-speed dual-clutch (DCT) gearbox or a standard 6-speed manual transmission, the Veloster will certainly be a hit.
Finally something from the domestic market and by that we mean the Ford Vertrek. It seems that this cool-looking SUV / crossover will be the base of the upcoming generation of the Escape. Under its awesome design, the car has a 4-cylinder EcoBoost 1.6-liter engine that outputs about 160-180 hp. In addition, the Blue Oval will also offer a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost as well as a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder unit. In Europe, the car will probably also get a 2.0-liter TDCI engine. All of these engines will feature the Auto-Start-Stop technology which will lower the fuel consumption by 5%.
We’ve talked about the Mach7 Motorsports Falcon last week and it had to be in this top as it will be a very potent American supercar. The car will be powered by a massive V8 6.2-liter LS3 Corvette engine that churns 500 hp in its standard version. If you want more muscles, the car can be fitted with either an LS7 or LS9 supercharged power unit that will output 640 ponies. With the LS9 package, the car will do the 0-62 mph sprint in 3.5 seconds, onto a top speed of well over 200 mph.
GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD Concept
The GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD Concept rocked the 2011 Detroit Auto Show with its very powerful 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V8 engine that is good for 397 hp and 765 lb.-ft of torque. With many “green” cars launched at the event, this GMC model was an exception to this rule.
Speaking of efficient cars, Ford unveiled two versions of the C-Max model, dubbed Hybrid and Energi. The latter has a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle gas engine and of course, an electric motor. The car runs primarily on electric mode with certain conditions – when the battery is empty for instance – allowing the car to switch to a “charge-sustaining hybrid mode for continued optimal fuel efficiency.” The Hybrid is like all the hybrids nowadays, packing an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery and the same engine we mentioned before, except for the plug-in component.
The Chevrolet Aveo was officially killed in US when the company launched the new Sonic model. The car will be available with a choice of new engines, including 4-cylinder petrol and diesel power units with outputs starting with 70+ hp for the 1.2-liter versions and ending with 115 hp for the 1.6-liter units. With a price tag of only $12,115 – it is the ideal car for taking you from Point A to Point B.
We almost forget the highly-anticipated BMW 1-Series M Coupe. The smallest M model ever made comes with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine that cranks up 340 hp. What I love about the car is that the Germans decided to offer only a manual gearbox for it, making it an authentic driver’s car.
If I’ve didn’t include a car that you consider to be worthy of this top, I am open to suggestions and opinions. Maybe the 6-Series Convertible or the Chrysler 300 should have made it into the top; I’ll let you decide that.
All things considered, the 2011 Detroit Auto Show was pretty interesting, with many production models and concepts revealed, showing us that the future of the automobile looks promising.
Post tags: Tags: detroit-auto-show, top 10
Audi booth at Detroit Auto Show was so hot, fire erupted and people were evacuated
Even though many people weren’t all that excited about this year’s Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS), with the big American carmakers losing a lot of their fans and support, there were still quite a few visitors at the show.
But yesterday, according to unconfirmed reports, the Audi display, boasting things like the 2011 A8 or the new version of the e-Tron electric concept, got so hot, a fire erupted. Bear in mind there was nothing serious, according to the official NAIAS Twitter feed, but thick smoke engulfed the whole Cobo center, where the show was taking place.
People were immediately evacuated, and the firemen, which had one of their stations right across the street, promptly intervened. No injuries were reported, but a redesign of the Audi booth and quite a few air fresheners might be needed.
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Post tags: Tags: Audi, detroit-auto-show, fire
GM’s Lutz: all-electric Chevrolet Volt will appear, admits weather impacts performance
General Motors had a pretty busy Detroit Auto Show, and one of its main executives, Bob Lutz, was giving out statements left and right about various cars, plans and anything in between.
During his talks with reporters, he also admitted that an all-electric Chevrolet Volt will appear in the future, saying that the technology is “trivial” given the expertise GM has acquired with the regular Volt, which can go up to 40 miles on its battery power before a 1.4-liter gasoline engine kicks in.
The GM executive also admitted that weather will be playing a significant part on the amount of charge the batteries will be able to store, as during these recent winter months when temperatures dropped, many Volt test cars saw their range drop to under 30 miles, causing quite a few complaints.
“It varies a lot more than the range variation with a gasoline-powered car depending on your driving style,” Lutz revealed, saying that he got only 28 miles from a Volt in winter conditions.
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Post tags: Tags: bob-lutz, Chevrolet, chevrolet-volt, detroit-auto-show, Electric Vehicles, General Motors, gm, Hybrid
BMW has just released a video, shot on location at the Detroit Auto Show this year, in which it shows off its newly announced ActiveE electric concept, which is based on the 1 Series coupe model.
For those of you who might have forgotten, the concept is part of the Project i initiative, alongside the Mini E model. It uses an electric motor, placed on the rear axle, which develops 170 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque, taking the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than nine seconds, and up to an electronically-limited 90 mph.
Hit the jump to see the BMW ActiveE electric concept being showcased at the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS).
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Post tags: Tags: BMW, bmw active e, bmw activee concept, Concepts, detroit-auto-show, Electric Vehicles, Video
Cadillac prepared quite a few interesting things for the 2010 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS), as not only did it formally present the CTS-V Coupe, but it also brought a new concept, which was teased before the beginning of the year.
That model is this: Cadillac XTS Platinum concept, which was revealed by GM’s luxury brand and aimed at setting a new benchmark for luxury in limousines, replacing the aging STS and DTS sedans and sitting right between them in terms of size.
What’s more interesting about the new concept is that it is a plug-in hybrid model, using both an electric motor which feeds off a pack of lithium-ion batteries, but also a conventional 3.6-liter V6, which develops 345 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. The motor will be used to help with the acceleration, and can even fully power the car up to speeds of 40 mph.
“The XTS Platinum Concept is the next expression of Cadillac’s Art and Science execution philosophy, reflecting our drive to deliver the latest innovations in the most artful manner,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “We envisioned this concept as an automotive personal headquarters, using advanced technology to enable new levels of connectivity and luxury.”
No other details were given, under the excuse that it is still a concept, but you can look forward to the new Cadillac XTS, a rival for the Mercedes-Benz S Class or BMW 7 Series in the following years.
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Post tags: Tags: Cadillac, cadillac xts, cadillac xts platinum concept, concept, detroit-auto-show, Hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Audi really surprised everyone at the Frankfurt Motor Show with its e-Tron electric concept, which even though hasn’t been officially revealed as a preview for a production model at that time, rumors were already proclaiming that it will become an R4 sportscar, rivaling Tesla’s Roadster.
Now, for the Detroit Auto Show, the German company brought a new version of the concept, which is less powerful than the one shown at Frankfurt or Los Angeles, but much closer to a production model than its predecessor.
The new model now outputs just 204 HP but, according to Audi, still generates a torque rating of 1,955 lb-ft (or 2,650 Nm), but do bear in mind that the company might have used the same clever workaround to offer the wheel-measured torque, instead of the drive shaft one, which is the industry standard. Plainly put, the true torque might still be around 200 lb-ft.
The new concept has also gone on a serious diet, thanks to the aluminum space frame technology and the carbon fiber bodywork, and now weights 2,976 pounds (1,350 kg), with weight being distributed 40:60. Albeit slightly less powerful, the e-Tron can still go from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds, and keep going for around 155 miles, after which it needs an 11-hour recharge from a 230-volt socket.
According to Audi, the e-Tron name might be turned into a brand (think quattro) and might be used with other models in the future, after this concept becomes a reality around 2012.
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Post tags: Tags: Audi, audi e-tron, audi e-tron concept, detroit-auto-show, Electric Vehicles
While General Motors is betting big on the upcoming Chevrolet Volt hybrid, the company is also capitalizing on the technology behind it, the so-called Voltec powertrain, and will implement it in a few other cars as well, like the Opel Ampera.
But one of the most interesting versions of the Voltec might appear in a production version of the Cadillac Converj hybrid concept, which was shown last year at the Detroit Auto Show. During this year’s convention, GM executive Bob Lutz revealed that the Converj will soon enter production, and that “we’ll see it when we see it”, but also said that the whole hybrid and electric trend might be just a fad.
“There are always these waves in the popular media and the public, and right now it’s teensy-weensy cars and electric vehicles,” he said. “And I’m all for it because we’re going to have those, and I hope people buy a lot of them so we can make some money.”
You can just imagine Lutz being the old guy at the convention laughing at the Honda CR-Z or the newly revealed Toyota FT-CH hybrid concept. In all seriousness, the Converj looks pretty good, and with an electric motor developing 161 HP and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque, helped by a 1.4-liter gasoline engine, it will certainly attract a lot of people when it will be released.
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Post tags: Tags: bob-lutz, Cadillac, cadillac converj, detroit-auto-show, General Motors, gm, Hybrid
The Detroit Auto Show was the first convention were people could admire the new generation of the Audi A8, the flagship of the Ingolstadt carmaker, which will be launched in dealerships starting with this spring.
This was also the venue where Audi announced that a hybrid version of the A8 will be showcased at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, which will being in March, this year. The new car will feature a full hybrid setup, and alongside the upcoming Q5 hybrid, will be the first steps of the German company into this territory.
Audi, until now, relied on its clean diesel models, even winning the 2010 Green Car of the Year with its A3 TDI model. With the e-Tron concept also making the rounds, showcasing its electric power, it seems Audi has all the bases covered and is ready to go in any direction it wants.
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Post tags: Tags: 2011 audi a8, Audi, audi a8, audi a8 hybrid, detroit-auto-show, geneva-motor-show, Hybrid
After many brochure scans showcasing the inside, the outside and even screenshots of a leaked video with the Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe, the Japanese company has finally revealed the production version of its anti-Prius weapon at the Detroit Auto Show.
There’s not much that hasn’t been said before: Honda says that the CR-Z will be the model to bring a more aggressive and sporty approach to hybrids, evoking the memories of the old CRX model. It’s a bit hard to envision just what sportiness will the CR-Z show, as it will be powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine, which develops 112 HP and 107 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a 14 HP and 57 lb-ft electric motor.
Projected fuel economy figures are around 36 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway, but no differences between choosing the automatic CVT or the manual transmission were given. The 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe is set to appear on the market beginning with this spring.
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Post tags: Tags: coupe, detroit-auto-show, Honda, honda cr-z, Hybrid
Toyota knows it’s losing points with the younger population, and has tasked its design bureau in Nice, France, to come up with a compact hybrid which will symbolize fun and sportiness.
As such, the FT-CH concept was born, and revealed yesterday at the Detroit Auto Show. The compact hybrid concept, which was teased a few weeks ago, boasts a very interesting design, and much smaller dimensions that the Prius (it’s a full 22 inches shorter).
Designed with an 8-bit mentality in mind, the new car might just make into production, considering Toyota plans to launch eight completely new hybrid models in the following years. The small car may also be considered Toyota’s take on the Lexus LF-Ch concept, which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, and a rival to the Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe, which is also being shown off in Detroit.
“We’re developing a Prius family to take advantage of the Prius brand,” said Toyota USA boss Jim Lentz. “There are more models planned and FT-CH is a concept that we are considering.”
The small FT-CH definitely looks younger and more attractive than the Prius and might be a winning gamble for Toyota in the next few years. What do you think? Share your thoughts below.
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Post tags: Tags: concept, detroit-auto-show, Hybrid, Toyota, toyota ft-ch, toyota ft-ch concept, toyota prius
Next generation Volkswagen Beetle to use Jetta platform
I’m sure Volkswagen wanted to New Beetle model to be a sales phenomenon, just like the original small car was. But combining small interior space with a high price tag just wasn’t something that would attract many people, so in the last 10 years, VW managed to sell just one million cars.
For the next generation, things are definitely going to change, according to a Volkswagen source, which revealed that new elements will be implemented both in its exterior but also interior design.
“The design will change, slightly but there won’t be anything too surprising,” said the VW source. “It will have more interior space and slightly different proportions. The main aim is to make the design more masculine, to appeal to more buyers.”
The next generation is expected in 2011/2012, but a concrete release plan has yet to be revealed. Using the Jetta platform will certainly allow for more space, but I’m who knows if it will be a winner. If you’re still interested in the current New Beetle, don’t forget that the final special edition was revealed a few months ago.
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Post tags: Tags: detroit-auto-show, volkswage, volkswage new beetle
Detroit Auto Show: Lincoln debuts 2011 MKX, goes all futuristic with the MyLincoln Touch system
Ford is betting big on new technology, and revealed its MyFord Touch system, which was inspired by the movie Minority Report, a few weeks ago.
Now, the first implementation of the new system that aims to incorporate anything from navigation to music and video playback in one simple to use touch screen will be the 2011 Lincoln MKX facelift.
Don’t go expecting to see the MyFord logo popping up when you’ll turn on the new car though, as the luxury brand behaves it doesn’t know its owner and rebranded the system as MyLincoln Touch. Anyway, I’m sure most of the interested customers won’t notice that as they’ll be too busy playing with all the settings and the touch-sensitive sliders which have replaced all the buttons on the center stack.
Expect the system to appear on other Lincoln models soon, and on the premium trim lines of Ford models.
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Post tags: Tags: 2011 lincoln mkx, detroit-auto-show, Ford, Lincoln, lincoln mkx, myford touch, mylincoln touch
