The Fruit of Knowledge
Posts tagged res image
Los Angeles: 2012 Jeep Wrangler and Liberty Arctic Editions chill out in sunny SoCal
Nov 17th
Filed under: LA Auto Show, SUV, Jeep
Jeep may not have anything big to show us here in Los Angeles, but that doesn’t mean the automaker has arrived empty-handed. New for 2012, Jeep has released special Arctic Editions of both the Wrangler and Liberty SUVs, and the icy duo make their debut here at the LA Auto Show.
On both models, the Arctic package adds semi-gloss wheels – the Wrangler receiving 17-inch rollers while the Liberty makes due with 16s – as well as special paint, Arctic badging and a decidedly tacky Yeti footprint decal. Inside, there are some minor aesthetic tweaks, including white accent fabrics, orange piping on the seats and, of course, more badging. Check out both of the special Jeeps in our attached high-res image gallery.
2012 Jeep Wrangler and Liberty Arctic Editions chill out in sunny SoCal originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Official: Sebastien Loeb seals record eighth World Rally Championship despite off-track crash
Nov 16th
Filed under: Motorsports, Citroën, UK
You take the good with the bad. It’s a motto that applies to any number of situations in life, and certainly does in motorsports. That’s what Sebastien Loeb and his longtime co-pilot Daniel Elena found this weekend in Wales.
In the midst of a hard-fought battle with Jari-Matti Latvala in a Ford Fiesta RS, Loeb and Elena were on their way back to the paddock when they collided over a blind crest with another car. The Citroën DS3 WRC was damaged virtually beyond repair, but the position in which they retired was still good enough to clinch a record eighth drivers’ title in World Rally Championship to join the manufacturers’ title claimed for the team last month.
The Citroën mechanics managed to piece the car back together enough to pose for some photos, which you can see in the high-res image gallery. But even if it wasn’t the ideal picture-perfect finish for the undisputed dominant force in rallying, it still didn’t stop Loeb from celebrating his place as the most accomplished driver in all of motorsport.
Continue reading Sebastien Loeb seals record eighth World Rally Championship despite off-track crash
Sebastien Loeb seals record eighth World Rally Championship despite off-track crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Los Angeles: Subaru BRZ Concept STI looks fast, furious
Nov 16th
Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Subaru
With every passing auto show, the production version of the Subaru BRZ rear-wheel-drive sports coupe draws closer. Here in Los Angeles, the Japanese automaker has debuted its BRZ Concept STI – a look at what could happen if the new coupe is left in the hands of Subie’s in-house performance tuning division.
Curiously, the Concept STI does without a turbocharged engine – something that’s become a Subaru tradition with its performance cars. Instead, the direct-injected 2.0-liter Boxer four has been left unchanged. Never fear, though – STI has added a full smattering of performance bits to the BRZ, including a more aggressively tuned suspension setup, Brembo brakes, and lightweight materials (a carbon fiber roof and wheels, specifically) to reduce overall weight.
Other modifications include a new front fascia with a revised splitter, and while Subaru hasn’t really been known to build pretty cars, the appearance of this BRZ concept is really growing on us. Check it out for yourself in the attached high-res image gallery.
Continue reading Subaru BRZ Concept STI looks fast, furious
Subaru BRZ Concept STI looks fast, furious originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Wiesmann MF5 Roadster channels Caped Crusader with Black Bat special
Nov 15th
Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Europe, MISC
The term “Batmobile” is one that gets thrown around a lot in automotive circles. Pretty much anything black and sinister is described as the Dark Knight’s new ride. But aside from the handful of custom vehicles made for the various TV shows and movie installments over the years – ranging from campy to badass – few have been truly worthy of the name. Enter the Wiesmann MF5 Black Bat.
Starting with the top-of-the-line V10-powered MF5 retro roadster, customizers SchwabenFolia and Dahler have produced the closest thing to a genuine Batmobile this side of the Tumbler… particularly when photographed against the backdrop of a rather Wayne Manor-esque gothic mansion. They’ve wrapped it in matte black, blacked out the chrome and given it a set of noir BBS 20-inch alloys with polished rims.
There’s even a little Batman logo on the back, but the party piece is the ECU reflash and new exhaust that have brought output up from the 507 horsepower featured in the old BMW M5 and M6 to a nice, round 600. Six-piston Brembo calipers keep the power in check, but with that much bat-juice under hood, we wouldn’t expect to see this beast sitting still for long – so you’d better check it out in the high-res image gallery if you want to catch a glimpse.
Wiesmann MF5 Roadster channels Caped Crusader with Black Bat special originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Official: Mercedes-Benz reveals 518-hp ML63 AMG ahead of Los Angeles debut [w/video]
Nov 14th
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, SUV, Mercedes-Benz
We’ve seen a lot of action from Mercedes-Benz and its AMG performance division this year, most of which concerns replacing the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 with the company’s new, more powerful, more efficient twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8. The 5.5 is a great engine, but we’ve lamented the death of the 6.2 for a while now (though Merc is still putting it to good use in the C63 AMG), and the next vehicle to get the 5.5-liter swap is the all-new 2012 ML63 AMG, which makes its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this week.
In standard guise, the ML63 AMG puts down 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, though an optional AMG Performance Package raises those numbers to 550 and 560, respectively. This power is put to the ground via Merc’s AMG Speedshift Plus seven-speed transmission, driving all four wheels in the case of the ML63. The Performance Pack also raises the SUV’s top speed from 155 miles per hour to 174, and the extra grunt reduces the ML63′s 0-to-60-mph time from 4.7 seconds to 4.6.
We like how the AMG design has been grafted onto the new M-Class shape, as the previous model was a bit too bulgy and brash for our tastes. Inside, there’s a standard Designo leather interior, along with a whole slate of high-tech gizmos to keep you safe, comfortable and entertained.
Stay tuned for live impressions direct from Los Angeles later this week. In the meantime, have a look through our attached high-res image gallery, and hit the jump for the official press blast as well as some B-roll video of Merc’s new AMG crossover.
Continue reading Mercedes-Benz reveals 518-hp ML63 AMG ahead of Los Angeles debut [w/video]
Mercedes-Benz reveals 518-hp ML63 AMG ahead of Los Angeles debut [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
McLaren MP4-12C avoids gas-guzzler tax, U.S. deliveries commence in January
Nov 11th
Filed under: MPG
List price is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when considering the purchase of a new supercar. Never mind the premium you’re likely to pay a speculator to avoid long waiting lists, or astronomic insurance rates, for that matter. If you actually plan on driving your six-figure exotic, you’re going to be spending a whole lot on fuel, plus another chunk on gas-guzzler tax. Right?
Well, usually, but the latest intel suggests otherwise when it comes to no less a capable performance machine than the McLaren MP4-12C. While most supercars achieve dismal fuel economy figures – after all, that’s not why they’re bought in the first place – and are subsequently hit with the EPA’s fossil-gulping penalty, the MP4 has reportedly managed to avoid it with (relatively) respectable fuel economy figures of 15 city/22 highway miles per gallon.
That’s enough for the carbon-fiber wonder and its twin-turbo V8 to skip the extra tax, which just leaves more money for all the rubber you’re bound to burn through while gleefully sliding Britain’s finest around every corner in sight. It’ll undoubtedly come as good news by January when the buyers lining up for the 500 examples bound for the U.S. market will begin taking delivery. That’ll be taking place at a new network of dealerships, which will, incidentally, each display a vintage grand prix racer from the company’s illustrious racing heritage, and you can check ‘em out in the high-res image gallery below.
McLaren MP4-12C avoids gas-guzzler tax, U.S. deliveries commence in January originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
McLaren MP4-12C avoids gas-guzzler tax, U.S. deliveries commence in January
Nov 11th
Filed under: MPG
List price is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when considering the purchase of a new supercar. Never mind the premium you’re likely to pay a speculator to avoid long waiting lists, or astronomic insurance rates, for that matter. If you actually plan on driving your six-figure exotic, you’re going to be spending a whole lot on fuel, plus another chunk on gas-guzzler tax. Right?
Well, usually, but the latest intel suggests otherwise when it comes to no less a capable performance machine than the McLaren MP4-12C. While most supercars achieve dismal fuel economy figures – after all, that’s not why they’re bought in the first place – and are subsequently hit with the EPA’s fossil-gulping penalty, the MP4 has reportedly managed to avoid it with (relatively) respectable fuel economy figures of 15 city/22 highway miles per gallon.
That’s enough for the carbon-fiber wonder and its twin-turbo V8 to skip the extra tax, which just leaves more money for all the rubber you’re bound to burn through while gleefully sliding Britain’s finest around every corner in sight. It’ll undoubtedly come as good news by January when the buyers lining up for the 500 examples bound for the U.S. market will begin taking delivery. That’ll be taking place at a new network of dealerships, which will, incidentally, each display a vintage grand prix racer from the company’s illustrious racing heritage, and you can check ‘em out in the high-res image gallery below.
McLaren MP4-12C avoids gas-guzzler tax, U.S. deliveries commence in January originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Report: McLaren MP4-12C avoids gas-guzzler tax, U.S. deliveries commence in January
Nov 10th
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC
List price is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when considering the purchase of a new supercar. Never mind the premium you’re likely to pay a speculator to avoid long waiting lists, or astronomic insurance rates, for that matter. If you actually plan on driving your six-figure exotic, you’re going to be spending a whole lot on fuel, plus another chunk on gas-guzzler tax. Right?
Well, usually, but the latest intel suggests otherwise when it comes to no less a capable performance machine than the McLaren MP4-12C. While most supercars achieve dismal fuel economy figures – after all, that’s not why they’re bought in the first place – and are subsequently hit with the EPA’s fossil-gulping penalty, the MP4 has reportedly managed to avoid it with (relatively) respectable fuel economy figures of 15 city/22 highway miles per gallon.
That’s enough for the carbon-fiber wonder and its twin-turbo V8 to skip the extra tax, which just leaves more money for all the rubber you’re bound to burn through while gleefully sliding Britain’s finest around every corner in sight. It’ll undoubtedly come as good news by January when the buyers lining up for the 500 examples bound for the U.S. market will begin taking delivery. That’ll be taking place at a new network of dealerships, which will, incidentally, each display a vintage grand prix racer from the company’s illustrious racing heritage, and you can check ‘em out in the high-res image gallery below.
McLaren MP4-12C avoids gas-guzzler tax, U.S. deliveries commence in January originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Official: Porsche launches updated 911 GT3 RSR
Nov 10th
Filed under: Coupe, Porsche, Racing
When Porsche launches a new 911, it doesn’t just launch one model, it starts a process that will see literally dozens of variants to follow. Some with turbos, some without. Some with all-wheel drive, some driving just the rear. Coupes, convertibles, targas, lightweight models, and yes, even racing versions.
The 911, after all, is one of the most prolific racing cars on circuits around the world. This example, however, is not based on the new 911. What you see here is still based on the old 997. But it is the pinnacle of Porsche Motorsport’s range of customer racing cars.
The new GT3 RSR is built to race in the ACO’s GTE category, making it instantly eligible for competition in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Le Mans Series, the American Le Mans Series and the new FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as the International GT Open and a variety of other series and events.
Its 4.0-liter boxer six drives 460 horsepower (kept in check by a mandatory air restrictor) to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox. Porsche has also fitted larger wheels front and rear, and given it a completely new aero package to keep it glued to the tarmac, slicing through the air and at front of the pack.
The best part is that you can buy one yourself. That is, assuming you’ve got half a million euros (about $675k) to spend on a track toy. Either way, you can check it out in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.
Continue reading Porsche launches updated 911 GT3 RSR
Porsche launches updated 911 GT3 RSR originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Honda gears up to electrify winter with hybrid snowblower
Nov 8th
Filed under: Etc., Hybrid, Honda
With cars like the Insight, CR-Z and Civic Hybrid, Honda is certainly no stranger to hybrids. But their latest isn’t a hatchback. It’s not a sedan. It’s not even an SUV. In fact it’s not a car at all. It’s a snowblower.
The Japanese industrial giant, as you may well be aware, makes a lot of things besides cars. It makes motorcycles, for starters, not to mention ATVs, marine engines, personal watercraft, jet airplanes, robots, and all manner of power equipment. Stuff like generators, lawnmowers and snowblowers.
This latest model is called the HS1336i, and it joins the Insight, CR-Z et al in Honda’s hybrid line-up. It’s powered by a combination of iGX390 four-stroke OHV engine and a pair of electric motors. The gasoline engine drives the auger and fan, and charges the battery that powers the electric motors driving the tracks. During deceleration, the engine acts as a generator and even the braking energy is recuperated to recharge the battery. How insightful.
Call it the hybridization of power equipment, then, and you can read more about it in the press release after the jump, and scope it out in the high-res image gallery for a closer look.
Continue reading Honda gears up to electrify winter with hybrid snowblower
Honda gears up to electrify winter with hybrid snowblower originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
