Posts Tagged ‘Performance’

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Infiniti Performance Line debuts with 348-hp IPL G Coupe

August 12th, 2010


2011 Infiniti IPL G37 Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Up until recently, Infiniti wasn’t entirely sure what its brand was all about. But since its latest reboot, the brand has staked a claim as an unabashedly Japanese performance luxury automaker – in essence, the anti-Lexus.

Today, it’s taking another step in that direction with the introduction of the Infiniti Performance Line and unveiling the first vehicle to wear the new badge: the IPL G Coupe. And anyone expecting an answer to BMW’s M division or Mercedes’ AMG line might be slightly disappointed.

Like most in-house component offerings, Infiniti is putting an emphasis on style, performance and OEM-level fit and finish, beginning with new front and rear fascias, side sills, rear spoiler and 19-inch seven-spoke graphite wheels. Matching the Graphite Shadow or Malbec Black exteriors are a new set of sport seats with thicker bolsters, manual thigh extenders (ala BMW), torso and thigh support adjustment, along with de rigueur contrasting red stitching.

Far more important is what’s been done under the hood and at each wheel well. A new high-flow exhaust partners with a recalibrated ECU to raise output to 348 horsepower (at 7,400 rpm) and 276 pound-feet of torque (at 5,200 rpm), an increase of 18 hp and six pound feet over the standard G37. Channeling that additional grunt to the ground is a close ratio six-speed manual with a short-throw shifter (a seven-speed auto is available with paddles), a viscous-type limited slip differential and Bridgestone Potenza RE50A summer rubber sized 225/45 in front and 245/40 in the rear. A retuned suspension is also included, increasing spring rates by 20% in the front and 10% out back, along with slightly upgraded brakes.

Infiniti hasn’t released an MSRP for the IPL G Coupe yet, but considering the performance components and litany of standard features, we’re hoping the price premium isn’t excessively high for what’s essentially a glorified sport package. Get all the details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Infiniti Performance Line debuts with 348-hp IPL G Coupe

Infiniti Performance Line debuts with 348-hp IPL G Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST.

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Report: SV Motors head indicted for investment fraud

August 4th, 2010

SV Motors 9 Competizione – Click above for high-res image gallery

Exactly a year ago today, we got our first real-life glimpse of the SV Motors 9 Competizione, an American/Italian mash-up built atop the C6 Chevrolet Corvette and coated in custom carbon fiber coachwork. 365 days later and the dream has turned into a nightmare.

Joseph Viloa (aka Giuseppe Viola), a 58-year-old investment consultant based in San Francisco, CA and the man behind SV Motors, has reportedly been indicted by a federal grand jury on aggravated identity theft, mail and wire fraud. In the process, he allegedly bilked victims for around $7 million – two million of which went into the design and production of the SV 9. And this wasn’t the first time he’s run afoul of the law.

Viloa was previous convicted of fraud, serving five years in Arizona, and is currently behind bars in Maricopa County where he’s awaiting trial for another fraud case from 1990. His latest round of illegal escapades reportedly ran from 2004 to 2010, during which he may have defrauded at least 60 investors.

From what we can gather, only a handful of SV 9s were produced, so assuming the Feds get their conviction, the only time you’ll see a Competizione is at the occasional auto show and – yes – as Lafayette’s ride in True Blood re-runs. Top tippage Brian!

[Source: SFGate]

Report: SV Motors head indicted for investment fraud originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:23:00 EST.

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2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Heading to shop for recall inspection

August 4th, 2010

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

Truth be told, our long-term 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT has been running like a top from day one with not a single issue arising that has required a trip to the dealer for repair. We did get her oil changed around 5,000 miles, though we had to skip the dealer experience since we were pressed for time and they couldn’t squeeze us in on short notice. But there are some recalls in effect for the 2010 Legacy, three to be exact, so we made our first appointment at Ganley Westside Subaru in North Olmsted, OH to have our 2.5GT inspected.

Kudos to Ganley for making the experience as painless as possible, as well as accommodating a very late cancellation and rescheduling. Upon arrival, they took the keys and put our 2.5GT in the air on one of six lifts in their service area.

Of the three recalls in effect for the Subaru Legacy, only one affects our particular car. It’s for a bundle of wires in the steering column that could crack and cause certain functions to stop working. If that happened, the problem could manifest itself as the horn not working or something more severe like the driver’s front airbag failing to deploy in an accident.

Our car was inspected and deemed roadworthy with no repair needed. The dealership also let us know that Subaru Service Program WVP26 affects our car. Apparently some units were shipped with cracked covers for their anti-lock braking ECU modules, so the action has dealers inspect and replace the affected part if needed. Again, ours was looked at and showed no such issues.

We were in and out in less than an hour and the total cost was $0, so our trip to the dealer went off without a hitch and our long-term Legacy carries on trouble-free. Stay tuned for a report on what we did during our summer vacation with the long-term Legacy, which included logging over 2,000 miles traveling through a beautiful part of the country that’s absolutely obsessed with crab.

- 7,906 miles

Photos copyright (C)2010 John Neff / AOL

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Heading to shop for recall inspection originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST.

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Pagani Zonda HH fully revealed

August 2nd, 2010

Pagani Zonda HH – Click above for image gallery

The latest special edition Zonda to come from Pagani is set to be delivered to one ludicrously wealthy American later this year, but before the official wraps come off, a sneak peek of the Zonda HH has arrived online.

There’s still no word on who the one-off convertible is being built for, but the proud poppa has detailed his commissioned creation over at TeamSpeed and, as reported previously, it’s a keen amalgamation of the Zonda F and Cinque.

The HH starts with the Zonda’s carbon-titanium tub, and from there the owner has picked the best bits from the Pagani parts bin. Carbon ceramic brakes hide behind center-locking wheels, while the Cinque’s 680-horsepower AMG-sourced V12 resides out back, with spent hydrocarbons shuttled out a titanium exhaust system and sending power to a proper manual gearbox.

While the Monterey Blue exterior and yellow accenting is a go, the design is still be fleshed out and the man behind the HH hopes to have it in his possession by year’s end, complete with the F’s front clip but minus the massive rear-mounted air intake. In the mystery buyer’s own words, “that was a little much.”

Gallery: Pagani Zonda HH

[Source: TeamSpeed, Autoblog.it]

Pagani Zonda HH fully revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:58:00 EST.

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Spy Shots: 556-hp Supercharged 2012 Camaro Z28

July 23rd, 2010

It’s been rumored for far too long, and now it’s finally coming into focus. The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 has been caught by the long lens of Priddy & Co., complete with ultra-wide tires, a revised exhaust, intimidating hood bulge and a sizable front splitter. But how do we know what’s under the hood?

The shooters caught the high-po Camaro with its passenger door open, and stuck on the plastic dash is a piece of paper that reads “2012 Chevrolet Camaro, 6.2L SC V8, 6AT.” Break that down and it means the Z/28 is packing the same 6.2-liter supercharged V8 LSA fitted to the 556-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V, mated to a six-speed automatic. Naturally, a proper manual will be available as well when the Z/28 goes on sale sometime next year.

[Source: Camaro5]

Spy Shots: 556-hp Supercharged 2012 Camaro Z28 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:57:00 EST.

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Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units

July 15th, 2010

2011 Ford Shelby GT500 – click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve just gotten off the horn with Ford‘s SVT performance division, and we’ve learned that the Blue Oval’s hot-rod arm is going to limit production of the 2011 Shelby GT500 to 5,500 units for this model year. According to Ford spokesman Henry Platts, the move is not the result of slow sales, but rather a desire to maintain exclusivity. In fact, sales of Ford’s king of the Mustang range have “exceeded expectations,” with in excess of 3,300 orders already placed.

The 550-horsepower GT500 has not only been performing surprisingly well in a down economy, it’s been going out the door loaded-to-the sills with options. According to Platts, there have been three times as many GT500 coupes ordered with the $1995 glass roof option as compared to the regular Mustang. In the “News That Makes Us Happy” category comes word that a full 68 percent have been spec’d out with the $3,495 performance package (includes 19- and 20-inch painted forged alloys, 3.73 limited-slip, tuned suspension, Gurney flap rear spoiler, etc.), and additionally, 70 percent of all GT500s have been ordered with the $2,340 electronics package (navi, dual-zone HVAC and Sirius/HD radio). With the GT500 starting at an out-the-door price of $49,495 before options, we’re guessing that the GT500 is more than carrying its weight for Dearborn’s bottom line.

While Ford is limiting total output of the GT500 to 5,500 units for 2011, Platts says the automaker has no plans to dictate how that shakes out in the coupe/convertible bodystyle mix. That said, if you’ve been fence-sitting on whether to pick up a GT500 of your very own this year, might we suggest that you make up your mind… quickly.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units

Ford to limit 2011 Shelby GT500 production to 5,500 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST.

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BMW Frozen Gray M3 paint a pain, owners must sign agreement about its care?

July 13th, 2010

2011 BMW M3 Frozen Gray Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you were one of the 30 Bimmerphiles to snag a 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe last month, expect to fill out another round of paperwork before you take delivery of your new matte gray baby.

BMW is apparently requiring all owners to sign a “maintenance agreement” that insists the M3 is never polished or waxed, ran through an automatic car wash or even strongly rubbed. Additionally, BMW politely asks that you immediately remove bugs, bird droppings, tree sap and fuel spills with a soft sponge, and naturally, dealers are more than willing to sell you appropriate products for maintaining the matte finish.

According to enthusiast site Bimmerfest, BMW explicitly states the M3′s warranty won’t cover any damage due to owner neglect and it notes that all exterior repairs must be performed by a BMW-authorized shop. What’s more, if you don’t sign the agreement, no Frozen Grey M3 for you. That’s a lot of disclaimers. All of which could be easily solved for less if you simply went down to your local custom vinyl shop and wrapped your (decidedly less expensive) standard M3 in a 3M coating. But how do you put a price on exclusivity?

[Source: Bimmerfest]

BMW Frozen Gray M3 paint a pain, owners must sign agreement about its care? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST.

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Video: BMW teases 1 Series M Coupe [*UPDATED]

July 9th, 2010

BMW 1 Series M Coupe – Click above to view the video after the jump

We’ve waited a long time for this. And not just for the official name. BMW has released the first teaser video of its upcoming 1 Series M Coupe and “excited” doesn’t begin to describe how we’re feeling.

The video after the jump is devoid of hard details, but it confirms what we’ve seen in countless spy shots and the rumors that have made the rounds for nearly a year.

Early reports indicate that the twin-turbocharged inline-six (N54) in the standard 135i will be upgraded to 335 horsepower, with the M Coupe’s newfound grunt channeled through a six-speed dual-clutch manual gearbox and down to the rear wheels via a torque-vectoring M rear differential. The results are a 0-60 time of around 4.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Naturally, firmer springs, dampers and bushings are part of the package, along with lightweight 18-inch wheels and a full body kit consisting of a new fascia, flared wheel arches, larger side sills, rear diffuser and a small spoiler. Being an M-fettled product, expect a quad-tipped exhaust to reside out back and – judging by previous spy shots and the official video – BMW’s trademark fender vents.

BMW kindly requests you to register at M-Power.com for more details and to sign up for an exclusive test drive. The rub: it’s only open to “German and Austrian” drivers. Here’s hoping that unjust regionalism doesn’t extend to sales when the 1 Series M Coupe hit dealers in the second quarter of 2011.

Continue reading Video: BMW teases 1 Series M Coupe [*UPDATED]

Video: BMW teases 1 Series M Coupe [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:36:00 EST.

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2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE melds the best bits of the GSR and MR

July 6th, 2010

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2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you’re hankering for a dual-clutch equipped Mitusbishi Lancer Evolution X, but can’t manage to shell out the $40,000 or so for the top-of-the-line MR, Mitsubishi will begin offering the next best thing later this year.

The Evo X SE packs the same TC-SST transmission as its 335i-challenging sibling, complete with three driving modes – Normal, Sport and Super-Sport – channeling all 291 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque to its S-AWC all-wheel drive system.

On the outside, it’s a predictable blend of GSR and MR kit, including a GSR front fascia and black vents, along with an MR rear diffuser and upgraded Bilstein shocks. Inside, cloth Recaros come standard – our preferred choice compared to the MR’s leather-lined thrones.

Pricing won’t be announced until next month, but expect the SE to carry a sticker of around $35,800 – undercutting the standard MR by around $3,000 and a little less than a $2,000 premium over a comparable GSR.

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X SE melds the best bits of the GSR and MR originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:18:00 EST.

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Autoblog Long-Term Garage Introduction: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

June 29th, 2010

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

We hinted at it in our review, but it’s time to make it official. Welcome the newest entrant to the Autoblog Long-Term Garage: the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition.

So why, with the all-new Jetta right around the corner, would we bring the TDI Cup into the hallowed halls of Autoblog Towers? Simple. We want to get intimate with diesel. Not only do we want to reap the high-mileage benefits of ultra-low sulfur dino-juice, we want to see if something with a TDI badge can, in fact, be an entertaining drive over the long haul.

We explored the Cup’s backroad prowess in our review, but how will it fare at the track? Will a new set of tires and wheels make a world of difference? How about some upgraded brake pads? In stock form, does it have what it takes to compete with the latest and greatest in the new fuel-conscious sporty car segment? How will it hold up after thousands of miles, a few road trips and stints across the country with our editors? All these questions and more will be answered over the course of a year.

We’ll be keeping you updated on the TDI’s progress with weekly and monthly posts, highlighting the finer points and questioning the logic of others. More importantly, we’re interested in what you want to know about the Jetta TDI Cup Edition. Tell us in Comments and we’ll get cracking.

Additionally, we’ve set up a specific page to follow the TDI’s progress, complete with updates, specs and other useful info. Check it out and follow us on Twitter at TheRealAutoblog for 140-character morsels of insight tagged #ablongterm.

The fun is about to begin, and the only question now is: What’s first?

Autoblog Long-Term Garage Introduction: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST.

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