Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini

Everything You Need To Know About Italy’s New Raging Bull

Before the Geneva Motor Show press conference on Tuesday, Lamborghini let us in on a private Bologna-area photography studio so that we could get our own sex-machine shots of their raging new V12 firestarter, the 691-horsepower Aventador LP700-4.

First off, we’re glad they didn’t call it ‘Jota’ as some were peas-and-carroting about because it’s just a silly and unpronounceable name. It probably belonged to some wimpy minor league bull, too. Only one true Jota was ever built in 1970, and it was a just an amped-up and flared Miura (we prefer not to think about the mid-90s Diablo anniversary upgrade kits).

“Aventador” was, according to the best detective work we can muster, a bull whose career peaked in 1993 in the town of Saragozza, Spain, when he and the torero had a particularly spirited encounter prior to ol’ Aventador’s inevitable skewering. This particular beastie belonged to the breeding stables of the sons of Don Celestino Cuadri Vides and, for unknown reasons surely banal, he bore the number 32 singed on his hide. And now he gets the strongest Lamborghini ever built named after him. And about damned time! The British were getting tired of mispronouncing “Murcièlago” over the past ten years and now they have a new proper name to mutilate.

Continue reading 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: Deep Dive…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Wolfango Spaccarelli / AOL

Continue reading 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: In Depth

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: In Depth originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Audi, Rumormill

Audi has hinted that it’s in the process of developing an ultra-lightweight version of the R8 codenamed NF. Revealed during a technology demonstration at its lightweight materials facility in Germany, the NF is tipped to debut around 2014.

While there are no photos of the car available, Motor Trend reports that Audi showed off an R8 V10 that had several body panels replaced with carbon fiber units that may well be related to the NF’s development. When the NF breaks cover, it is expected to sport a carbon-fiber passenger compartment, with a full cf bulkhead between the occupants and the engine compartment.

Apparently, the NF will incorporate not only its own technology, but pieces from the R8 Spyder, limited-edition R8GT and E-Tron concept. Audi said the prototype at the demonstration was 20 percent lighter than the current aluminum-bodied R8, yet it maintains its structural integrity and crash worthiness. To prove their point, Audi engineers showed off a crash-tested R8 that sported cf roof rails.

[Source: Motor Trend | Images: Audi]

Report: Audi developing super lightweight R8 codenamed NF originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising

Infiniti announced today that it is signing on to be a sponsor of Red Bull’s Formula One racing team.

It is the first time that Infiniti is signing on to a global sponsorship of any kind, previously preferring regional tie-ins in sports such as tennis and sailing. But as the Japanese brand looks to expand globally, says global marketing marketing communications chief Simon Sproule, an expanding F1 series looks like a logical partner to the company.

“Infiniti has launched in Europe and is going into Russia, India and China, just as F1 has done, so it’s a good fit for us,” says Sproule.

The association with Red Bull, says Sproule, sprung from Red Bull’s use of Renault engines. Renault and Nissan are global alliance partners, with the French automaker holding a controlling stake in Nissan. CEO Carlos Ghosn is at the top of both automakers. The Renault engines may even be rebranded “Infiniti.” Red Bull, of course, won the championship title in Formula One last year. “It’s also good to be with a winner, of course,” said Sproule.

Infiniti had a good year in the U.S. last year. Sales were up 27% to crest the 103,000 level. But Nissan is looking for Infiniti to be a bigger player in luxury circles worldwide. F1 attracts a good amount of luxiry car buyers worldwide, and is catching on in important markets for luxury brands like China and Russia.

Red Bull, saus Sproule, has a broad appeal as the biggest energy drink brand in the world. The Austrian beverage company has associated its brand with numerous extreme sports, as well as owning the New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer team. It also has great crossover appeal between rich luxury car buyers, as well as young luxury car aspirers who don’t yet have the incomes to afford big sticker prices.

Infiniti signs on as F1 global sponsor with Red Bull originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tajik officials said it will still take several years before all parts of the northern Sughd Province can receive national TV and radio programs, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.State …

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Volkswagen, Electric

Remember the 2001 Volkswagen Microbus concept? For those who need reminding, it was a new look at an old icon – one that got enthusiasts and the automotive press all hot and bothered right after we ticked over into the new millennium. Sadly, management changes at Volkswagen killed the concept before it could become a reality.

Now, a decade later, VW is trying out the concept again at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. This time it’s called the Volkswagen Bulli, and like its 2001 ancestor, this one is designed to carry on the legacy of the brand’s famous Microbus. This Geneva concept packs a 113-horsepower electric motor drawing power from a lithium-ion battery pack. At full charge, the Bulli is said to be theoretically good for 186 miles before a recharge. When it’s time for more juice, VW says the Bulli can be fully charged in less than an hour.

The Bulli’s skin stays fairly true to the original Microbus shape, which means a flat load floor and plenty of interior space. Even old-school Samba fans will notice the family resemblance. Inside, VW supplied the Bulli with a removable iPad that controls the stereo, navigation, bluetooth and HVAC from its port on the console.

In a neat touch, the iPad will communicate with a Fender USA-designed stereo system, which should pump out more than enough roar for you and the kiddies.

No word on pricing yet or when the Bulli might be available, but we wouldn’t expect it until 2014 if it reaches production at all. Follow the jump for the official word from VW.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen Bulli Concept is a Microbus redux for Geneva

Volkswagen Bulli Concept is a Microbus redux for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Moamer Kadhafi’s regime has lost control of the majority of Libya’s oil and gas installations, the European Union’s energy commissioner said on Monday.

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THE rejection, by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s recent advice that the Naira should be devalued is a welcome decision because we do not see the measure as the tonic the nation’s economy needs to revive or to boom.

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Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Holden, Australia, Diesel

Holden has unveiled the Holden Series II Cruze, the latest edition of its locally-built compact car. If the name and face look familiar, that’s because the Holden is nearly identical to our good ol’ American Chevrolet Cruze.

The Aussie version, however, gets a wider range of options, and some interesting versions we won’t see Stateside. In particular, Australia will get two performance variants of its locally-built small car, the SRi and the SRi-V. There’s also a 2.0-liter turbodiesel version available, which joins the 1.4-liter turbo and 1.8-liter naturally aspirated gas engines. Holden claims the diesel mill is good for 42 mpg, making the diesel Cruze the most fuel-efficient car built in Australia. The entire range meets strict Euro5 emissions standards.

The SRi-V is the top-dog Cruze in Australia. While it doesn’t carry a much bigger punch than the others under the hood, it’s loaded down gadgets and an complex infotainment system. The SRi-V sports keyless entry and start and remote key technology. The stereo has a 10-gig internal hard-drive, which Holden says will hang on to 2,000 of your favorite tracks.

Power is up across the range, starting with the 2.0-liter diesel, which now churns out a more impressive 160 horsepower and 265 pound feet of torque. The 1.4 turbo, which powers both the SRi and the SRi-V puts out just 138 horsepower, but has 147 pound-feet of torque available between 1,850 and 4,900 rpm.

Check out the differences for yourself in our massive high-res gallery below, or check out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Holden]

Continue reading Holden Series II Cruze checks in Down Under

Holden Series II Cruze checks in Down Under originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Jeep

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 615 complaints so far about the 2007 and 2008 Jeep Wrangler over issues of fuel spillage. The complaints say that when the Wrangler is being refueled, there’s nothing that stops the fuel from spilling over onto the ground, all over the car or even on the person doing the refueling once the tank is full. NHTSA received so many complaints that the agency opened up its own investigation in August, 2010 to look into the matter.

After more than seven months of testing, though, NHTSA hasn’t uncovered an issue that would require a recall. That is, of course, exactly what Chrysler has said all along. The Auburn Hills-based automaker contends that the issue only presents itself when the plastic o-ring on the inlet check valve swells from being exposed to fuel with a concentration of ethanol greater than 10 percent.

In the end, the big question is how so many complaints made it to NHTSA’s desk when this really isn’t such a wide-spread problem. NHTSA claims that the buzz surrounding this issue came from the Internet, which could explain why the number of complaints was so high. The agency claims on its website that “ODI suspects that the NHTSA safety complaints submitted by subject vehicles owners may have been influenced by Internet-related publicity both before and during this investigation.” Don’t look at us. Follow the jump to read over the over NHTSA investigation results.

[Source: NHTSA, MyFoxDC via The Car Connection]

Continue reading NHTSA rules Wrangler doesn’t need recall for fuel spillage problems

NHTSA rules Wrangler doesn’t need recall for fuel spillage problems originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen

As part of its 2011 Geneva Motor Show festivities, Volkswagen is letting us loose behind the wheel of its range-topping Golf R, set to arrive in United States as a 2012 model. Production of the Stadeside-spec car begins at the automaker’s Wolfsburg plant this November, and we’ve just learned how different our version of the Golf R will be from the model that’s already on sale in Europe.

Don’t worry – we’re still getting the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to the company’s fourth-generation Haldex 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. But while the European car cranks out 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, Volkswagen tells us that the U.S. car will produce something closer to 256 hp and 243 lb-ft (not yet confirmed). Still, that’s 56 hp and 36 lb-ft more than the standard GTI, and since the Golf R is estimated to weigh around 3,300 pounds – 250 pounds lighter than the most recent R32 – the end result should be quite lively. Volkswagen is estimating that 0-62 mile-per-hour times will fall somewhere in the 5.7- to 5.9-second range.

As we reported earlier, the Golf R will only be offered with a six-speed manual transmission when it hits our shores. European cars can be had with Volkswagen’s slick-shifting DSG unit, and we must admit, not offering the twin-clutch setup in the States seems like a curious omission, especially when you consider that the take rate on DSG in the less powerful GTI is around 50 percent. Still, Volkswagen says that its research with different enthusiast groups and dealers suggests that the vast majority of U.S. consumers have been clamoring for a row-your-own Golf R, and since the automaker had to keep the number of build options to a minimum in order to get the vehicle approved for American consumption, manual-only was the way they decided to go.

Follow the jump for more details on the U.S.-spec version of Volkswagen’s Golf R hot hatch.

Continue reading 2012 Volkswagen Golf R loses power and choice of tranny on way to U.S.

2012 Volkswagen Golf R loses power and choice of tranny on way to U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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