First Drive: 2010 Ford SVT Raptor 6.2 is born to fly

How do you make the best factory-built desert-pummeling pickup even better? A bit of retuning and another 101 hp.

Engine power has increased 112% since 1980… and other fun facts about the Horsepower Wars

In this day and age, even the average sedan is packing some serious heat under the hood, and there was a time when even “sports cars” were listed under 150 horsepower. See how far we’ve come with our latest infographic.

Formula One coming to Austin, Texas in 2012

After a three-year hiatus, Formula One is coming back to the States, and Austin, Texas has been chosen to host the party.

Also of interest:

• Adam Carolla explains why he’s not doing Top Gear USA
• It’s Official: VW taking 90% stake in Italdesign
• Turn Out the Lights: Final Hummer H3 rolls off the line… for Avis
• Cosworth puts the spurs to Subaru’s Impreza WRX STI
• Report: Toyota Prius “Alpha” MPV coming in spring 2011

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.25.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 19:20:00 EST.

In this day and age, even the average sedan is packing some serious heat under the hood. It didn’t use to be like this and there was a time when even “sports cars” were listed under 150 horsepower. For those unfamiliar with the history behind the horsepower wars, follow the jump for an infographic primer from the 1960s to the present day.

[Source: Auto Insurance for Autoblog.com]

Continue reading Engine power has increased 112% since 1980… and other fun facts about the Horsepower Wars

Engine power has increased 112% since 1980… and other fun facts about the Horsepower Wars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 11:01:00 EST.

First Drive: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is modern luxury with a strong sense of history

Balancing tradition with technology is a fine line to walk, but Bentley manages to pull it off with its latest, greatest flagship.

Bimmerfest 2010: The Rose Bowl hosts North America’s largest BMW gathering

For BMW addicts, it’s the World Series, the Stanley Cup and the SuperBowl all rolled into one. So we go for a stroll around the grounds at Bimmerfest to see what the marque’s most ardent fans are up to.

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Simplicity of switchgear a welcome trait

After a week of living with BMWs, our long-term Legacy’s ease-of-use and on-road demeanor continues to win us over.

Also of interest:

• Spy Shots: Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge
• Officially Official: Buick Regal GS is a go!
• Report: Dodge getting new badge to support sporty image
• Ford said to be preparing Explorer-based pursuit-rated SUV for police fleets
• Report: Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup set to expand in U.S.

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.24.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 19:20:00 EST.

Video: Hennessey builds twin-turbo Camaro with 847 rwhp

For John Hennessey, too much is never enough. How else can you explain a 1,000 hp Camaro?

Pininfarina unveils Nido EV prototype for modular EV platform

Pininfarina wants to set the tone for the future of electric vehicles, and its new Nido prototype is the yet another step towards a marketable electric city car.

Spy Shots: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS caught primping for the camera

Spies snag shots of the 2011 CLS before its big reveal at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

Also of interest:

• Ferrari Boss Felisa: “Hybrid means we can protect the V12“
• Report: Volkswagen Golf MkVII to get ‘Net-connected 8-inch touchscreen
• Spy Shots: 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost V6
• 2011 Mazda2 dealer order guide surfaces on the interwebs
• USA Today: Four-cylinder engines powered nearly half of all new car sales last month

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.21.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 May 2010 19:20:00 EST.

First Drive: 2010 Lotus Evora delivers performance, civility and little concession

In a move that would have impressed Harry Houdini, Lotus has made one thousand pounds of vehicle mass seemingly disappear – yet we…

Volkswagen Golf GTI Adidas and Excessive unveiled at Wörthersee 2010 [UPDATE]

As usual, Volkswagen has used this year’s annual GTI meetup in Wörthersee, Austria to unveil new special variants of…

Ford turns Fiesta into ultimate mobile hot-spot and cloud-linked cruiser

While engineering students at the University of Michigan were figuring out how to turn the Ford Fiesta into a rolling iPad, engineers…

Also of interest:

• Report: Chrysler Sebring name to live on, at least until all-new model arrives
• Report: Ford, GM make quality gains in new supplier study
• Hey Ya’ll, Wash This! NASCAR to license car wash chain, already moving into RV parks
• Hyundai Genesis sedan and Mercedes-Benz E-Class named IIHS Top Safety Picks
• Project Runningblade will attempt 100+ MPH lawnmower land speed record [w/video]
• Rumormill: BMW may bring diesel 5 Series to America

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.13.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 May 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Drive: The Gumpert Apollo is a near-mythological, utterly fantastical beast

Now this is a fascinating little creature. A compound of contradictions that goes by the unlikely name of Gumpert Apollo. The first…

Video: B-roll footage of Porsche 911 GT2 RS is just fine with us

We’ll admit it – the 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS gives us the willies. There’s something about the…

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee officially priced from $32,995* [UPDATE]

To say that Chrysler has a lot riding on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee would be an understatement of epic proportions. Though the…

Also of interest:

• Officially Official: Acura releases Canada-only TL A-Spec
• Report: Hyundai puts kibosh on Ram-based pickup, considers commercial market
• Google may be GM’s mystery technology partner
• Kia releases special edition Ghost Soul… Spooky!
• Ferrari idling engine plants and laying off workers?
• Report: NHTSA launches fresh investigation into Toyota recall delays
• A Prius costs $846/year to fuel… and other fun facts about car costs

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.12.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 May 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Review: 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid makes being green easy

2010 Ford Escape Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery The Ford Escape Hybrid was the first mass-produced battery-assisted SUV on the market when it launched in 2004, and from day…

Volkswagen’s autonomous “Junior” reverse power-slides into parking spot

Click above to watch video after the jump Automotive technology is rapidly advancing to the point where we eventually won’t need to actually drive a car ourselves in most real world scenarios. At…

Toyota earns $1.2B in Q1 amidst recall mess

Conventional wisdom might tell you that Toyota should have lost loads of money last quarter in the wake of the company’s largest-ever global recall and safety scandal. Perhaps it shouldn’t…

Also of interest:

• Fast Forward: Panamera already best-selling Porsche in U.S.
• 2015 Audi A4 to shed over 300 pounds
• Volvo’s all-new 2011 S60 priced from $37,700*
• Report: Casey Stoner leaves Ducati for Honda
• Report: Hundreds of complaints about Ford Windstar axles snapping, yet no NHTSA inquiry
• Volkswagen and Porsche may share more technology
• Where’s The Love: Russian Rolls-Royce Centurion abandoned by train tracks?

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.11.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 May 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Quentin Dupieux’s Rubber – Follow the jump to watch the trailer

Making a film about an evil, sentient car tire that manifests its anger by using psychokinetic power to explode people’s heads sounds like an easy way to get laughed out of a room. In fact, it would appear the opposite is true: a film about exactly that topic has scored independent filmmaker Quentin Dupieux a 2010 Critics’ Week (May 13 to May 21) screening at Cannes.

The movie itself is called Rubber, and the teaser trailer is embedded after the jump. Be forewarned: it’s every bit as weird as you’d expect, given the subject matter. Follow the jump to watch for yourselves. Avatar’s leviathan box-office grosses are probably safe, but hey – you never know, right?

[Source: FirstShowing.net]

Continue reading Rubber – A film about an angry tire with deadly psychokinetic powers. Really. (w/video)

Rubber – A film about an angry tire with deadly psychokinetic powers. Really. (w/video) originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 May 2010 19:59:00 EST.

For as many people out there who own a car, there is seemingly an equally large group of people who want to steal them. The funny thing is that car thieves rarely pull a Gone in 60 Seconds and steal expensive, rare autos. Year after year some aging model year of the Honda Accord tops the list as the most frequent car stolen in the U.S., followed by such everyman-mobiles as the Civic, Toyota Camry and Ford F-150. Ubiquity rather than desirability seems to be the common denominator among these top stolen vehicles.

Follow the jump for our latest infographic that explores the facts and figures of stealing cars. And remember not to be one of the 15 percent of people who leave their keys in the ignition.

[Source: Auto Insurance for Autoblog.com]

Continue reading Infographic: One car stolen every 33 seconds… and other fun grand theft auto facts

Infographic: One car stolen every 33 seconds… and other fun grand theft auto facts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Quick Spin: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ain’t no Cadavelier

2011 Chevrolet Cruze – Click above for high-res image gallery Chevrolet’s mainstream, high-volume compact car was derisively referred to as the Cadavelier not so many years ago. It was…

Report: GM to announce repayment of federal loans in full on Wednesday

According to The Detroit News, General Motors will announce that it is fully repaying the federal loans it received last summer from both the United States and Canadian governments. In total,…

DetNews: Toyota recalling Lexus GX to address rollover concern [*UPDATED*]

The moment Lexus GX owners have been waiting for since Consumer Reports first blacklisted the SUV last week has finally arrived – Toyota has recalled the vehicle. According to The Detroit…

Also of interest:

• Video: Mini’s Mission Control is, um, how you say… ridiculously annoying
• Officially Official: Nissan sending out Leaf registration emails, will take money Tuesday
• Volkswagen unveils electric Milano Taxi concept in Hanover
• First renderings of Rhys Millen’s Hyundai-powered Pikes Peak challenger
• Shanghai Preview: Citroën Metropolis concept is a bit of a stretch

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.19.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.