In a few short years Volvos-the fancy ones, anyway-will include a cruise-control system that lets your car drive and steer itself through crawling traffic. So if your daily commute involves a long stretch sitting in a jam, you’ll be able to sit back and read a book, get caught up on work, or just keep your hands free for communicating with fellow motorists. More »
Chevrolet is looking to shake up the compact car market with the announcement of the Sonic Dusk. It will officially be announced at next week’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, NV on October 30. There, the company will unveil a new, production-ready version of the Sonic sedan.
The Sonic Dusk appeared at last year’s SEMA show as a concept car, and now Chevrolet is looking to turn the vehicle from a concept into a reality. Chevrolet’s vice president of marketing, Chris Perry, said that “the reaction to the Sonic Dusk concept last year was overwhelmingly positive and proved customers are interested in a more-refined subcompact. We’re moving quickly to bring Sonic Dusk to Chevrolet showrooms.”
The production model of Sonic Dusk comes with some cosmetic changes compared to last year’s concept model. For example, there’s the ashen grey paint job, the rear spoiler, and 18-inch aluminum wheels finished in pearl nickel. There’s also bits of matte on the grilles, as well as on the door handle inserts and trim around the license plate frame.
On the inside, the Dusk features leather-trimmed seats with suede accents and mojave tan inserts. There’s also mojave accent stitching and tan-colored accents on the door panels and instrument panels, which enhance the interior’s ambience. It’s also equipped with Chevrolet’s MyLink “infotainment” system, which can integrate a smartphone with the stereo system either via Bluetooth, plug-in outlet or USB.
The Sonic Dusk has a Ecotec 1.4-liter turbocharged engine rated at 138 horsepower and 148 pound feet of torque. 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions will be available. Chevrolet is hoping for a late-2012 release of the car, and should have a performance-focused RS model out at the same time as well.
Chevrolet Sonic Dusk officially starting production is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The Dark Knight Rises – one of the biggest movies of the year – will be releasing on DVD and Blu Ray soon (December 4 to be specific), and Warner Bros. has one whopper of a promotion planned for the lead up to release. Starting this weekend, Warner Bros. will send a total of six Batmobiles on tour across the country. The Batmobiles span most of Batman’s Hollywood history, starting with the version seen in 1966′s Batman, The Movie starring Adam West and ending with the black and camo Tumblers seen in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy.
Of course, there were plenty of Batmobiles between 1966 and 2012, and those will all be on display too. These include the Batmobile Michael Keaton drove in Batman and Batman Returns, the one Val Kilmer cruised around in Batman Forever, and the one from 1997′s beyond terrible Batman and Robin. As an added bonus, the Batpod from Christopher Nolan’s films will be on display as well.
The tour kicks off this weekend at Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas. On Saturday, the Batmobiles will be parked outside the Miller Lite Club, while on Sunday, they’ll be on display at half-time during the Cowboys’ game against the New York Giants. After the stint in Arlington, the Batmobiles will move onto Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Lousiana the weekend of November 3.
More dates will be announced later on, so no, the Batmobiles will not just be visiting those locations listed above. Make no mistake, if you’re a Bat-fan, this is about as good a chance as any to catch a glimpse at the various Batmobiles that have graced the silver screen throughout the years. Will you be making the trip to see these Batmobiles in person?
Batmobiles new and old hit the streets for Dark Knight Rises DVD release is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Let’s face it; electric vehicles aren’t exactly selling well. There a lot of reasons for this, one of the biggest being the fact that electric vehicle cost significantly more than a comparable gasoline vehicle. Another major reason is range anxiety.
That hasn’t stopped some the world’s most popular luxury and sports carmakers from showing off pure electric concepts and production vehicles. One of the most interesting and sporty electric vehicles that we’ve seen was the Audi R8 e-tron. Of these vehicles for internal of valuation, but has canceled plans to make production versions for sale to the public.
Part of the reason the Audi has abandoned plans to produce a production version of the electric R8 comes in the form of changing priorities partially attributed to new R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer. When he took over the electric R8 e-tron is one the project is said to have made the cut with Audi.
Another major reason for the elimination of the electric vehicle is said to be a limited range of the vehicle. As a carmaker, Audi is shifting away from electric vehicles to plug-in hybrids. The plug-in hybrid makes a lot more sense for many consumers because it offers the same range as a gasoline vehicle with fuel savings. Audi currently plans to produce plug-in hybrids of several of its vehicle models including the A1, A3, A4, A6, and Q7.
[via Wired]
Audi abandons all electric R8 e-tron is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Just a few days ago, we told you that Chevrolet was going to be officially unveiling their 2014 Corvette on January 13 at the North American International Auto Show in Detriot, MI. They were sparse on details, but it seems they were just too excited to leave everything behind closed doors. Today, the company dropped the curtains on the car’s new motor.
The next-generation Corvette engine is called the Gen V LT1, and it’s a direct-injected eight-cylinder motor with a cool 450 horsepower. GM confirmed this morning that the new motor will be 6.2 liters, despite earlier reports saying that it would be a 5.5-liter engine, similar to that of the C6R.
The new engine comes with some advanced technology too. It has cylinder deactivation to increase fuel mileage (similar to what a lot of newer vehicles have). This reportedly will give the 2014 Corvette over 26 MPG on the highway. The new motor also has dry sump lubrication and variable valve timing.
Compared to the previous LS3 engine, the LT1 has 20 more horsepower and 26 more pound feet of torque (426 pound feet of torque in total). The engine also has a slightly better power curve than the LS7 currently powering the Corvette Z06, and engineers expect a 0-60mph time of under four seconds. The 2014 Corvette will sell for around $50,000.
[via Jalopnik]
Chevrolet unveils 2014 Corvette 450HP V8 motor is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Tesla is one of the most successful electric vehicle companies out there. It also happens to offer some of the most interesting electric vehicles on the market with its Model S and the Roadster. Tesla has been disruptive in the automotive industry because it sells directly to customers rather than exclusively through dealer networks.
Tesla Motors is now being sued by two different automotive dealers groups forcing the company to defend its model of selling directly to customers. Lawsuits have been brought against Tesla in New York and Massachusetts with dealers associations claiming that Tesla is violating franchise laws within the states.
Tesla argues that it is at a disadvantage under a normal dealer system of selling cars, and that it isn’t hurting Tesla franchisees by selling directly to consumers within the states. Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims that selling directly to customers within the states isn’t hurting the existing franchisees; he feels that people behind the suits have their own agendas in mind.
Musk says that one dealer involved in the suits is upset because he wasn’t granted a Tesla franchise and another dealer is selling a competing vehicle as a Fisker dealer. One of the suits is seeking to shut down a Tesla owned showroom in Boston. The same dealer associations have been successful in the past and preventing Ford and GM from opening factory owned stores in the states within the past 20 years.
Automotive dealers associations file suit against Tesla is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Hyundai has unveiled another concept car that will be traveling to the 2012 SEMA show in Las Vegas. This concept car is an Elantra GT that has been significantly modified by Bismoto Engineering. On the outside, the car is covered in blue and black paint with a graphic scheme that looks like it’s straight out of the 80s.
I’m not particularly keen on the splatter paint graphics, but the appeal of the car isn’t custom graphics, it’s what’s under the hood. Bismoto equipped this car with a built 1.8-liter NU family Hyundai engine. With the stronger engine, the car is able to survive under the increased pressure provided by a Bismoto Turbo kit and special camshafts.
There are a number of other custom engine components used in the vehicle that combine to produce over 600 hp from the little four-cylinder engine. The car also has a full roll cage, coilover suspension, custom wheels, and heavy-duty clutch to survive all the extra power. The questionable exterior graphics and paint scheme are actually a custom body wrap.
Inside the vehicle are custom racing seats, a Racepack IQ3 Dash, and a lot more. This may be the most track ready of all Hyundai’s concept cars that will be seen at SEMA this year. With all the power this car produces, I can’t help but think that the 18 x 8.5″ wheels won’t be able to fit enough rubber to put all that power to the ground.
Bismoto Engineering and Hyundai build a 600 HP Elantra GT concept for SEMA is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
We already know that Ford is redesigning its iconic pony car, the Mustang for 2015. The new vehicle will celebrate the 50th birthday of the Mustang and is expected to debut on April 17, 2014. If that date is accurate, it would be exactly 50 years to the day since the original Mustang one on sale.
Any changes to one of Ford’s most iconic vehicles is sure to draw its share of ire from fans. So far, we’ve heard rumblings that the 2015 Mustang would be significantly changed from the existing vehicles both visually and technologically. Car & driver reports that the 2015 version of the Mustang won’t differ much from the existing car dimensionally.
It will have an all-new unibody with a slightly narrower track in the front and rear. The wheelbase is expected to be less than an inch shorter than the current car. One of the key changes is that the 2015 will get a MultiLink independent rear suspension that should expand rear seat space and cargo space in the next-generation vehicle.
Changes under the hood of the 2015 are expected to be announced. Whereas the car comes with a base V6 and three different V-8 engines currently, Ford is tipped to use a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine in some international versions of the new Mustang. Scuttlebutt says that we will see a four-cylinder in the US and there will be a turbocharged direct-injected 2.4-liter four-cylinder available. Word is that boosted four-cylinder engine will be an upgrade over the current base V6 and will have around 250 hp or more. The 5.0-liter V8 engine will continue with the same 420 hp output with another Boss 302 coming tipped to produce 450 HP. What will happen to the Shelby GT500 remains to be seen.
[via Car & Driver]
Details on the 2015 Ford Mustang surface is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
If you follow cars or automotive racing all, you’re probably aware that Austin, Texas has a new F1 track that will be used this year called Circuit of the Americas. While the F1 race is still several weeks away, the track has just now been officially completed and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed over the weekend. As part of the festivities, hoards of rich and famous drivers turned up in all sorts of exotic vehicles.
The race track has 20 turns and spans 3.4 miles. All the Ferraris and other exotic vehicles that showed up at the track were owned by VIPs who actually got a chance to drive their vehicles on the racetrack. I know hoards of track day automotive enthusiasts who are frothing at the mouth for a chance to drive on this racetrack. The track ribbon-cutting ceremony also featured a number of race ready cars from various automotive racing series.
There were also racing cars on hand to zip around the track included a mid-engine Corvette racing car from the Grand Am series, a Lotus F1 car, and a crazy three-seat F1 car people could ride in. Mario Andretti was on hand at the event and made some hot laps around the track in an old school John Player Special Lotus 79 Cosworth.
I guess my invitation to this VIP and press event got lost in the mail. The first major racing event to be held this track will be the inaugural US Grand Prix the weekend of November 16. This is the Formula One event the track was built for. After that, I can only hope the track will be open to driving enthusiasts and various track day organizations at a decent price.
[via Jalopnik]
Circuit of the Americas F1 track officially opens is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Today, Tesla opened six Supercharger stations in launch of the Supercharger network. The stations seem to be located in such a way that EV owners can travel between LA, San Francisco, Vegas, and Lake Tahoe. Says the tweet from @TeslaMotors: “Charge for free in Model S on your next road trip btwn SF and LA, Tahoe & Vegas.”
The six Supercharger stations are located in Folsom, Harris Ranch, Gilroy, Barstow, Tejon Ranch, and Los Angeles. Tesla Motors plans to eventually have these stations scattered throughout the US in such a way that EV owners can travel anywhere without concerns about staying charged up. According to the official website, the network will expand to 100 stations in 2015.
So, how long does it take? With a name like Supercharger, one imagines a relatively fast speed, which seems to be an oxymoron when it comes to juicing up via electricity. According to TeslaMotors.com, a 30 minute charge will yield 150 miles of range. This is in comparison to 31 miles when charging via a high-power wall connector, and 16 minutes via a 240 outlet. Not as fast as pumping a tank of gas, but certainly cheaper.
How does it work? According to the Supercharger website, “it’s like an adrenaline shot for your battery.” The cable from a Supercharger connects to the plug in your car much the same way a gas hose is used to fill a tank. The charger delivers 4.5x more electricity than Twin Chargers. The Tesla Model S car starts at $49,900.
[via aolautos]
Tesla unveils six Supercharger stations in California is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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