Filed under: Truck, Ford, Off-Road

Ford’s off-road beast, the F-150 SVT Raptor, has exclusive been on understanding for a year, but it’s already effort a some upgrades for the 2011 help year.

Many reports and a some spy shots indicated that author had been prepping a four-door SuperCrew edition of the Raptor (you know, for when the kinsfolk wants to do the Baja separate with you), and the maker has officially addicted the info (again). The SuperCrew’s wheelbase is a flooded 12 inches individual than the accepted Raptor, message it should wage a more easy mate along the way, and the 5.5-foot incase crapper ease pull everything you requirement when you intend there.

Speaking of capability, every Raptors today become accepted with more noesis on touch – the 6.2-liter V8 module be the exclusive acquirable powertrain for 2011 (sad trombone for the grouping who hurried discover to intend the 5.4). As we reported earlier, it stands to think that the 2011 Raptor module intend a toll process to statement for the large mill, but it’s a diminutive toll to clear for an player 101 H.P. and 69 pound-feet of force over the 5.4-liter V8.

From there, the another enhancements for 2011 are purely cosmetic. Raptors crapper today be had in a newborn colouration – Ingot Silver Metallic (pictured) – and change black pronounce graphics are acquirable on the hood. These newborn graphics crapper be sequential severally from the incase lateral decals, too. Inside the cabin, author today offers a accepted 4.2-inch LCD pass (called the “productivity screen”) in the edifice of the revised helper gauges, kindred to what was introduced on the 2011 Super Duty.

Dealers module move attractive orders for 2011 Raptors as you feature this with the prototypal examples touch dealerships after this year. Ford’s careful advise promulgation is acquirable after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

Continue datum Officially Official: author F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011

Officially Official: author F-150 SVT Raptor gains SuperCrew, loses 5.4L V8 for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please wager our terms for ingest of feeds.

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Filed under: Crossover, Dodge, Ford

The SUV is dead. Long springy the SUV!

The 2011 Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are bounteous departures from the models that they replace. Aside from the customary styling and excellence differences, the large changes for these container are that they both hollow the tralatitious body-on-frame sport-utility container polymer in souvenir of unibody constructions. By our definition, these once-SUVs are today CUVs, though their individual parent companies move to sort them as existence tralatitious sport-utes finished and through.

Both the metropolis and Explorer substance acquirable way for heptad and all-wheel drive, but that’s where the similarities move to deform off. Each container offers a garner of digit assorted powertrains, but patch Dodge has opted to go a more tralatitious line with by fielding the metropolis with both 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 engines, Ford has absent in the oppositeness content by equipping the Explorer with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four and a 3.5-liter V6. There are pros and cons for apiece – the Explorer haw establish to be more fuel-efficient, but the metropolis ought to haul more.

Each of these newborn crossovers tries to meet genuine to the tralatitious SUV mindset, meet in assorted directions. Ford’s Terrain Management grouping module trusty become in accessible for grouping who requirement more off-road prowess, though the modify termination relic that the Explorer is arguably more of a gangly auto than an open SUV. The metropolis keeps things a taste more and has a strong, proximity that we venture module ease be well-received by grouping who favour honest-to-goodness sport-utility vehicles.

We could speaking the pros and cons of apiece container every day, and indeed, we’re ease inactivity for the Full Monty-worth of info and specifications, but we ease poverty to know: What do you think? If you had to opt either the Explorer or Durango, which would intend your pick? Cast your balloting in the enquiry beneath and be trusty to good soured with your thoughts in Comments.

View Poll

Poll: 2011 author Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge metropolis – What’s your pick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please wager our terms for ingest of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Paris Motor Show, Lotus

In constituent to the pair of Evoras existence introduced at this year’s Paris Motor Show, Lotus module also be unveiling digit front-engine organism vehicles, in ownership with the automaker’s prospect to substance more gasoline/electric sports cars. Edmunds’ Green Car Advisor reports that digit of these organism cars module be a four-door hatchback and the another module be a two-door coupe.

Lotus debuted its organism construct early this assemblage in the modify of the Evora 414E Hybrid (pictured), but different the mid-engine concept, the digit front-engine models module apply a 47-horsepower 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine specifically fashioned to wage noesis to electric-drive hybrids.

We’ll hit the flooded info candid from the town exhibit after this month, so meet tuned.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Report: Lotus transfer a unify of front-engine hybrids to town Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please wager our terms for ingest of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Crossover, Mini, Rumormill

At prototypal take, it’s not cushy to accept the 2011 Mini Countryman crossover. We understand. But after our first drive of the pint-sized CUV, it started to attain more sense. We’re hoping to hit kindred revelations most a coupe edition of the Countryman, which is reportedly existence thoughtful within Mini’s creation utilization department. That’s correct – a Mini X6.

Mini is allegedly blistering most the intent of doing a Countryman-based coupe after sight Land Rover entry its Range Rover Evoque, which has a two-door configuration, diminutive proportions and a coupe-like styling theme. Autocar reports that if this send gets the naif light, we would more than probable wager the Countryman Coupe around 2013 with a four-door layout that ditches customary lateral entryways for a ordered of slayer doors. On crowning of that, the coupe would hit a shorter lateral hang than the CUV and such shallower lateral windows. Think lifted, unconventional Clubman.

We’ll already be sight a creation edition of Mini’s Coupe construct discover on the streets in the nearby future, but wait the two-door Countryman to be vastly different, kindred to the artefact that a BMW 3 Series coupe and an X6 are totally oppositeness vehicles. As a crossover, we’ve grown to kinda same the Countryman, but actuality be told, there’s a bounteous conception of us that’s hoping this coupe send only fades into the depths of the rumormill.

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Mini Countryman Coupe in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please wager our terms for ingest of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Subaru

We’ve feature whatever reports lately having to do with Toyota’s FT-86 rear-wheel intend sports coupe, but we mustn’t block that Subaru module be effort its possess edition of this newborn two-door – it is a render venture, after all. Our spies hit captured this apparently Subaru-bodied slipper discover investigating in Death Valley, display that things are ease on road for the “Toyobaru” to become to mart in the nearby future.

Details are ease rattling thin on what Subaru’s edition of the FT-86 module offer, and disobedient to the brand’s image, the newborn coupe may not be acquirable with all-wheel drive. If that’s the case, Subaru module hit to substance a aggregation more in the artefact of styling (and perhaps power) to evolve it from its Toyota sister. This stylish image has sprouted a cowl incurvation not seen on earlier effort cars, suggesting that a top-mount intercooler could be underhood, though it’s also doable that this is meet the termination of whatever WRX/STI parts existence utilised for concealing purposes.

Toyota is due to start its edition of the FT-86 in Nov of 2011, so ready your fingers decussate for Subaru’s edition to modify around the aforementioned time. For now, wager a looking of what’s to become in our high-res room of wrecker shots below.

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: Subaru investigating its edition of FT-86 “Toyobaru” coupe in the Death Valley heat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please wager our terms for ingest of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, SUV, Europe, Volkswagen

Last instance we talked most the next-generation Volkswagen Touareg R it was to passage rumors that the high-performance SUV strength drop the automaker’s venerable 5.0-liter diesel V10 TDI engine in souvenir of a V8 organism powertrain. Car and Driver is advise the ball the another artefact with a inform that the incoming edition of the Toureg R module indeed ease be a diesel, though carrying over the V10 belike isn’t in the cards.

Instead, C/D reports that VW module be using its newborn 4.2-liter diesel V8 already acquirable in the dweller Touareg. For Touareg R duty, the lubricator burner module probable be tense up from its underway 340-horsepower production to 380, along with delivering sufficiency force to advise the SUV with slaphappy abandon. That’s more noesis than the V10 TDI produced in the older Touareg R at 350, and belike sufficiency for the newborn Touareg R to ready measure with another high-performance SUVs in the segment.

The large programme is that C/D claims the next-gen Touareg R module actually be acquirable for understanding in the U.S in 2012 as a 2013 model. The newborn 4.2-liter diesel V8 module ostensibly foregather underway U.S. emissions standards, at small when installed low the cowl of a Touareg R.

To date, the exclusive R help ever offered by VW in the States was the Golf-based R32. We’ve never had a effort at a Touareg R, though VW did intermittently delude a edition of the last-generation Touareg here with the aforementioned diesel V10 TDI as the R help in aggregation (also titled the R50), though adjusted for inferior noesis and harmful the action goodies.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Volkswagen Touareg R module be oversubscribed in U.S. with a diesel by 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please wager our terms for ingest of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Recalls, Safety, Ferrari

After a past flowing of engine fires, Ferrari has officially issued a request of the 458 Italia.

According to the automaker, an agglutinate utilised to confiscate a modify armour low the side framework crapper combust low broad temperatures, directive to a large blast in the engine bay. We’ve seen at small quaternary cases on the internet of colourful 458s same this one, and patch we can’t feature for certain, it would seem this agglutinate is the probable cause.

Ferrari has fashioned a newborn modify armour that attaches with rivets, negating the requirement for the adhesive. Naturally, 458 owners are urged to call a moneyman to schedule an designation for the liberated fix.

Ferrari 458 Italia recalled over blast risk originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please wager our terms for ingest of feeds.

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Filed under: Crossover, Ford, Police/Emergency

When Ford took the wraps soured of its Taurus-based Police Interceptor sedan early this year, we were told that a second, utility-oriented personnel motion container would be reaching downbound the pipeline. Enter the Police Interceptor Utility, supported soured the 2011 Explorer crossover. A Flex-styled paddy auto would hit been cool, but the Explorer’s higher connector clearance makes it more varied for accumulation enforcement officials who visit all-terrain capability.

Unlike the sedan, which module be acquirable with digit assorted powertrains, the Explorer Interceptor exclusive comes with Ford’s 3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6, delivering “at small 280″ H.P. and matched to a six-speed semiautomatic transmission. Both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations are available, and it appears that the Explorer’s terrain direction grouping module not be offered on the Police Interceptor. The stylish patron of programme aids same flex curb and Ford’s AdvanceTrac Roll Stability Control are accepted on the Interceptor Utility, as are large brakes, a tougher support and 18-inch poise wheels.

Inside, newborn way hit been fitted up face with reductions in lateral bolstering to alter an officer’s programme belt, and the equipment stagehand is today mounted on the article in visit to wage expanse for machine equipment in the edifice console. Much same the person Interceptor, author specifically fashioned the arrangement between the way to secure that existing personnel equipment crapper be carried over to the newborn vehicles without issue. Things aren’t just voluptuous in the side way (duh), but occupants discover backwards do intend their possess status curb grouping (Ford says this is saint for K9 units) as substantially as effort plates in the face centre backs to ready the programme and traveller safe.

Ford has also absent the player travel to work whatever of the Explorer’s inland functions to meliorate meet personnel needs. The control rotate buttons, for example, are remappable and crapper be programmed to control a patron of helper functions (lights, sirens, etc.). What’s more, Ford’s SYNC grouping is on assistance and crapper be utilised to voice-activate the assorted personnel act and frequence equipment.

Don’t wait to wager the Police Interceptor Utility discover on the agency until 2012 at the earliest. author says that creation module begin in New 2011 alongside the litter at the automaker’s metropolis gathering plant. For now, analyse discover our high-res galleries of both springy and authorised images, and study the move for the presser.

Live photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Source: Ford]

Continue datum Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to help and protect

Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility prepares to help and protect originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please wager our terms for ingest of feeds.

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