Finance and Insurance in USA

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition

0 comments Posted by secret site at 9:25 AM

Typically, when an automaker and a watchmaker team up, it’s to spec out a special-edition watch. But Lamborghini and Blancpain have already done that. The two marques are also behind the Super Trofeo racing series, which Lamborghini claims is the fastest spec racing series on today’s circuits. The season just wrapped up at Vallelunga, where the two companies took the wraps off the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition.

The special-edition Lambo is distinguished from the standard model with such unique touches as a vented engine cover and a big rear wing, along with carbon fiber parts, Skorplus wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes. A matte black finish with yellow accents further set its apart inside and out. The most interesting spec however, is the Blancpain Edition’s weight; at 2954 pounds, Sant’Agata lauds it as the lightest vehicle in Lamborghini’s roadgoing range. Couple that with the 5.2-liter V10 boosted to 570 horsepower (like the spec racers) and Lambo claims a 3.4-second sprint to 62 mph from a standstill, topping out a hair under the double-century mark.

We’re on our way to Paris to get a closer look at this among the myriad other excitements making their debut later this week. In the meantime, we invite you to read more about the Blancpain Edition in the press release after the jump and have a closer look in the image gallery below.

Lamborghini Murciélago tweaked into JB Car Design’s LP 640 ‘Bat’

0 comments Posted by secret site at 9:23 AM

The whole ‘Batmobile’ comparison gets thrown around an awful lot on websites like this one. And this car’s not even black, so we’ll wave off of that this time. But consider the following: in the most recent Batman movie, Bruce Wayne drove a Lamborghini Murciélago. Into a truck, unfortunately. His alter-ego’s drive, meanwhile, was on the other side of the more extreme Reventón. Now along comes JB Car Design with a kit to bridge the gap. And they call it the Bat, suitably enough.

The German tuner’s retrofitted Murci LP 640 can be had with 710 or 750 horsepower (a not-inconsequential improvement on the stock 640) through the installation of new cats and exhaust. But in this case, the defining factor is the car’s styling. A new front bumper and splitter, side skirts, and rear bumper with diffuser give the LP640 a more Reventón-style look, with a two-piece carbon fiber rear wing, LED lights and 20-inch modular alloys rounding out the package.

Meanwhile, the interior been re-trimmed in different leather, Alcantara and carbon fiber, along with a new steering wheel and sound system. Each of these components for engine, body and cabin can be purchased separately or as a comprehensive package, but JB says it will only make 75 examples of the body kit. Check out the photos in the gallery below

limited-edition Reventón R/C car

0 comments Posted by secret site at 9:20 AM

Like the vast majority of humanity, we were never able to lay our hands on one of the 20 Lamborghini Reventón models the company built for the fabulously wealthy. We had neither the $1.27 million it took to call the car your very own nor the connections to be one of the few to even have the chance to purchase said Raging Bull. That’s just fine, though, because Lamborghini has partnered up with De Agostini to build a 1:10 scale R/C replica of the car for the masses. Well, maybe not the masses per-se – the company is only building 65 examples, so this ain’t your garden-variety Nikko or Tamiya.

Each one of the cars is crafted with impressive detail and features a 3cc gasoline engine mated to a two-speed transmission, a fully-independent suspension with hydraulic shocks and four-wheel disc brakes – all on an R/C car. Insane? Sure, but it’s our kind of crazy. Unfortunately, with so few of the cars being produced, we’re guessing they won’t be cheap enough for anyone we know to afford. History repeats itself. You can head over to the R/C car’s site for a closer look.

GM official says U.S. to have 1 million EVs on the road by 2018

0 comments Posted by secret site at 9:16 AM

GM CEO Dan Akerson wants the automaker better prepared with more fuel-efficient models such as the Volt in the event gasoline prices remain elevated.

Neil Roland

WASHINGTON -- A General Motors Co. official said today she expects 1 million electric vehicles will be on U.S. roads by 2017 or 2018 -- a little later than President Obama's target date.

Obama has said he wants Americans to be driving 1 million EVs by 2016.

"I think we'll miss it by maybe a year or two," Britta Gross, GM's director of global energy systems, said at an Edison Foundation conference here. "We have to watch demand."

Gross said manufacturers such as GM, which makes the Chevrolet Volt, are prepared to meet Obama's goal. It's not yet clear, however, whether consumer tastes will respond that quickly, she added.

GM is striving to boost Volt output and plans to apply the car's technology to other models down the road. GM CEO Dan Akerson wants the automaker better prepared with more fuel-efficient models in the event gasoline prices remain elevated.

Some industry analysts, such as HIS Global Insight's Rebecca Lindland, have expressed skepticism that Obama will come close to meeting his target date.

They have cited the cost of EVs, questions about whether there will be enough charging stations, and "range anxiety" among EV drivers.

Ford to 'hold back' on discounts, Bill Ford says

0 comments Posted by secret site at 9:04 AM

Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford, introduces the Ford Focus Electric car at the Detroit auto show in January. The automaker plans to hold back on incentives, Ford said, despite moves by some rivals. With gas prices surging, Ford said he expects to see consumers shift to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. plans to hold the line against price discounts in the U.S. market despite pressure from competitors who have spent more heavily on incentives to boost sales in the first months of the year, Executive Chairman Bill Ford said on Thursday.

"One of the things that comes with having a better portfolio is the ability to hold back on discounts," Ford said in an interview at the Wall Street Journal ECO:nomics conference in Santa Barbara.

"We've planned our production very conservatively so we're not caught in the game of cranking out too many vehicles and then figuring out how we have to push them out the door."

Ford's rival General Motors Co. logged an industry leading 46 percent sales gain in February, stoked by incentives that also led the industry. Ford's sales were up 14 percent for the month.

"You can't be completely immune to what your competitors are doing, but we've shown a lot of restraint in the marketplace, and I think that's appropriate," Ford said.

With gas prices surging, Ford said he expected to see consumers shift to buying smaller, more fuel-efficient cars -- a market Ford is better able to serve than it was the last time oil prices spiked in 2008.

U.S. oil prices were near $102 a barrel on Thursday, the highest level in nearly 2-1/2 years.

"You will see a shift, I believe, to smaller cars, smaller SUVs," Ford said. "We are very prepared. I love our portfolio because it plays right into our strategy, which is to be the fuel economy leader."

Ford is making small, more fuel-efficient cars more attractive to consumers by incorporating premium-priced features, including electronics and navigation systems, that also help boost the margins on those sales, Ford said.

"If you look back at what used to be considered Green vehicles, it really meant very small vehicles that were no fun to drive and that were stripped of all content ... you were lucky if you got an FM radio," Ford said.

"What's different today, though, is that our smallest cars in many cases have more technology than some of the bigger cars. We choose to introduce technology first into that segment. As content goes into the vehicles we can price for it."

Ford rolled out the early version of its Sync audio and phone system developed with Microsoft Corp. on its Focus small car for the 2008 model year.

Ford executives have said repeatedly that the automaker's intent is to compete by offering vehicles that hold their value without big, up-front incentives -- a strategy that Honda Motor Co. and others have long followed in the U.S. market.

Ford's average incentive spending per vehicle in the U.S. market in 2011 has been just under $2,800, less than the amount spent by GM, Chrysler and Nissan Motor Co., according to market research firm Autodata Corp.

Ford's 2012 Focus, set to be launched shortly, is the first real test of Ford's strategy of using fewer platforms and fewer suppliers to reduce costs.

In addition, Ford is marketing the Focus with a first-of-its kind global ad campaign that will highlight technology available for the small car, including a rear view camera and rain-sensor wipers.

Bill Ford said it was a sign of the company's progress that it was manufacturing the fuel-efficient Focus at its Michigan Assembly plant outside Detroit and making money on it.

"That's not something that would have been possible years ago," he said.

Ford also said that the economic recovery, albeit "fragile," appeared to be continuing despite higher fuel prices.

"Any time you see inflation, whether it's in basic commodities or oil or food, they all cumulatively become an issue," Ford said. "So far it looks as if the fragile recovery that we've been in is still continuing. So I think that's a good sign. But who knows? Who knows what next political event may trigger another dislocation in price."

2012 Honda Civic: No Really, it's the All-New 9th Generation Civic Sedan and Coupe Models

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:57 AM

We know many of you will find it hard to believe at a first look, but this here is the completely new, North American market, 2012 Honda Civic. Even though it may seem otherwise, the 9th generation Civic has been designed from the ground up and shares very few parts -if any- with its predecessor, well that is, aside from its styling personality which has gone from bland to blander...

Not surprisingly, Honda managed to remove all the styling elements that made the Detroit Motor Show Civic concepts somewhat worth a second look from the production models.

The design similarities with the 8th generation Civic are not only visible on the outside but continue inside as wells with the dashboard styling and the near identical layout.

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The 2012 Civic lineup includes a sedan and a coupe with a conventional 1.8-liter gasoline engine, a new "HF" high fuel economy version with the same 1.8-liter unit, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant.

Starting with the all-new Civic HF, it is powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine delivering 140HP and an estimated fuel economy of 41 mpg on the highway.

The most fuel efficient model of the range is of course the Hybrid, which will be outfitted for the first time with a lithium-ion battery and a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine producing a combined 110HP. Honda said the Civic Hybrid is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated city/highway combined fuel economy of 45 mpg, an improvement of 4 mpg compared to the 2011MY Civic hybrid.

Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models are equipped with aerodynamic components for improved efficiency as well as with the Honda ECO Assist system.

The regular Civic Sedan and Coupe models get the 140HP 1.8-liter i-VTEC (but not the aero improvements) and are expected to return an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 39 mpg on the highway, an improvement of 3 mpg over the current model. The Civic Natural Gas model is anticipated to earn a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to the current version.

Finally, the sportiest model of the lot is the Si which get a larger and more powerful 2.4-liter engine as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission. Honda said it the new engine will deliver 200 horsepower with 170 ft-lb of torque. According to the company, the Si models are anticipated to achieve an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 mpg; an increase of 2 mpg when compared to the current model.

"The Civic is the only model in the industry that can deliver on all fronts – fuel economy, sporty performance, smart packaging, alternative fuel and long-term value," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Co.,Inc. "For the ninth-generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model."

Honda will release more information on the new 2012 Civic closer to the on-sale date, which is expected this Spring.

2012 HONDA CIVIC SPECS

Civic HF, Sedan, Coupe and Natural Gas Specifications

140 horsepower, 1.8-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
5-speed automatic transmission
ECO Assist technology
EPA-estimated Civic HF highway fuel economy: 41 mpg
EPA-estimated Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe highway fuel economy: 39 mpg

Civic Hybrid Specifications

110 horsepower, 1.5-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine (combined gasoline + electric)
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Lithium-ion battery
ECO Assist technology
EPA-estimated Civic Hybrid city/highway combined fuel economy: 45 mpg

Civic Si Specifications

200 horsepower and 170 lb-ft, 2.4-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
6-speed manual transmission
EPA-estimated Civic Si highway fuel economy: 31 mpg

Sbarro's Evoluzione Shows Lamborghini How It's Done

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:55 AM

Swiss automobile builder Sbarro, in league with the Espera Sbarro design school, has brought a very interesting concept to the Geneva Motor Show this year: the Evoluzione. The prototype seen here is an eye-popping mix of various themes: it takes Lamborghini's recent efforts at making drivable razors, puts in a spoonful of motorcycle, and then adds McLaren F1-style seating.

Sbarro's Evoluzione took thirteen weeks to complete with twenty-five students working in teams on both the engineering and design sides of the project. Pierre Guenebaut, a teacher at the design school, explains, "Being present at the Geneva Motor Show is a reward for them. They will have the opportunity to explain their project to the public while investing in relationships and communication."

The delightfully naked rear end houses a 180 horsepower 1.8T sourced from Audi. In front of the engine are three staggered Recaros with the driver front and center, flanked by two "wingman" passenger seats.

Rolling on what appear to be 20-inch OZ's, this funky three-seater makes Lamborghini's Aventador look downright boring.

Bertone B99 asks, "Can't we All Just Forget About the X-Type?"

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:53 AM

Bertone and Jaguar have joined forces again, and the result is this lovely little concept called the B99. Celebrating 99 years of existence, Bertone's B99 is meant to showcase what a Jaguar 3-Series could look like (and thankfully there's no silly black C-pillar as found on the XJ). While some may disagree with this design's placement in the lineup, one thing is certain: an X-Type this ain't.

The B99 measures 4.5 meters long, 1.35 m tall, and 1.95 m wide with a 2.8 m wheelbase. As befits all Jaguars, there's a leaper on the hood; this time, though, it uses some snazzy pedestrian safety sensors that can retract it at airbag speeds should an impaling be imminent. Think of it as dab of Rolls with your Jaguar.

There's more retraction action at the trunk end of things, too, with a speed-sensing spoiler in the trunk.

Inside are a slew of "hidden riches", as per Bertone. Examples of these little ditties include a hideaway multimedia screen, "Ebony Macasar African Wood", and air vents hidden behind the wraparound wing that floats above the dash. Suspended between the wing and the dashboard are "trumpet" gauges wrapped in aluminum. This unique style also carries over to the transmission shifter/infotainment controller which rises up from the center console.

Now, about those sexy seats; they're definitely Jaguar with their flip-down trays, but with an added touch of flair. Also, all four seats are nestled between their own floating armrests, adding an "at home in the recliner" feel to this luxury sports sedan.

Power comes from an extended range hybrid unit developed by Bertone Energy; in the B99, this system utilizes two 150 kW / 201 hp motors housed at the rear axle and a range-extending 1.4-liter, 125 kW / 168 hp gasoline engine. With their powers combined, these power units create an impressive 425 kW / 570 hp while returning a potential 700 km / 435 mile range (100 km / 62 miles in EV mode) and only emitting 30 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

Also showing up in Geneva is a 2.5 meter wide B99 GT, forecasting a potential track fighter. Not only is it wider, it also sits 100 mm lower and has 50 mm of space between its washboard stomach and the pavement. Also, it gets two more electric motors up front for an all-wheel drive system and 725 total kilowatts (972 hp). You can see most of the other mods, along the with standard B99, in the gallery below.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:51 AM

For those of you that still haven't had enough of the Lamborghini's newest dream car, here's a comprehensive photo gallery and a video presentation of the Aventador LP700-4 straight from the Geneva Motor Show floors.

Named after a bull that entered into battle in October 1993 at the Saragossa Arena, earning the “Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera" for its courage, the Aventador is the latest in a long line of Lamborghini V12-powered supercars that span back to the 1970s Miura. It comes equipped with a brand-new 6.5-liter V12 engine pushing out 700HP and 509 lb-ft of torque for a 0-100 km/h (62mph) sprint time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 350km/h (218mph). For more details, you can check out our previous post here.

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:45 AM

I know some of our readers will disagree, hell, even some of the folks here at Carscoop will beg to differ, nevertheless, I'm going to say it: I'm utterly disappointed with the styling of Alfa Romeo's 4C Concept, which is slated to enter production in 2012. Alfa had a unique chance to redefine its design language with its first mainstream rear-wheel drive model in decades but instead chose to add the Mickey Mouse - bug face treatment to a body that looks awfully similar to the Lotus Elise.

The specific styling cues may work for the 8C Competizione but if you ask me, the 4C looks just as silly as the MiTo does. Granted; the true essence of the 4C Concept lays under the skin and in particular the mid-engine / rear-wheel drive architecture, but would it be much to ask for some of that styling magic Alfa Romeo has served us over the years?

As always, feel free to agree or disagree in our comments section below.

Mansory's Take on the New Porsche Cayenne Turbo Comes with 690HP

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:44 AM

Mansory put up quite a show in Geneva this week as the tuning house unveiled no less than three world premieres. Aside from the Mercedes SLS AMG Cormeum and the Ferrari 458 Italia Siracusa, that we've already told you about, the tuner's Swiss subsidiary also revealed a new program for the latest generation of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV.

Ferrari FF and Lamborghini Aventador Both Sold Out for their First Year of Production

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:42 AM

They are two of the most hotly anticipated and talked about cars at this week's 2011 Geneva International Motor Show. We're talking of course about the Ferrari's first ever four-wheel drive model, the FF, and Lamborghini's replacement for the Murcielago, the Aventador LP700-4.

Though catering to different tastes and needs, these two supercars have something in common, and we're not referring to their Italian roots nor their twelve-cylinder powerplants, but to the fact that both are sold out for their first year of production even before they arrive in showrooms across the world.

Hyundai’s Model Naming Conventions: From 0 to Fubar in Just 4 Years

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:40 AM

Hyundai is one of the world’s biggest automakers, and the most visible of South Korea’s business and industrial acumen. So you would think a company that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Toyota and pre-bailout GM would be pretty consistent with its model naming conventions, right?

Well, not exactly. When Hyundai first launched the i30 hatchback in Europe, Australia and other markets, it seemed that familiar nameplates such as Elantra and Sonata would soon be dead and buried. Not so. In fact, the i30 CW (basically, the station wagon version of the i30), is still sold in the U.S. as the Elantra Touring.

Brabus 700 Biturbo is One Mean Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:38 AM

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is the car most tuners wanted to put their mark on at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Brabus of course, couldn't miss out on this party, so here's what they came up with: a 700 horsepower wide-body version of an already impressive supercar.

Called the 700 Biturbo, Brabus' iteration of the SLS AMG received the Widestar treatment, which means the car is 20 millimeters (0.8 in.) wider at the back, creating the necessary space for the extra wide 11Jx21 wheels (9.5Jx20 on the front).

Brabus says the entire body was subjected to aerodynamic tunnel tests to ensure the car is stable at high speeds. The front spoiler, the covers for the air inlets, the gills, the rear spoiler and the diffuser are all made from carbon-fiber and contrast the silver paint of the 700 Biturbo. Brabus also added carbon side skirts fitted with air vents for the rear brakes

TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2011 upcoming Cars With Prices Specification And Previews and Images

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:35 AM

The new 2010 Toyota 4Runner is powered by a new 4.0-liter V6, which now generates 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. The 2010 Toyota 4Runner comes with advanced engine management that includes dual independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), the new V6 engine produces 34 horsepower more than the prior V6, and 10 horsepower more than the optional V8 of the previous generation. In addition to the upgraded V6 engine

The 2011 Toyota 4Runner carries over styling that morphed from soft-shouldered to square-jawed for 2010. The look emphasizes 4Runner’s throw-back nature, to a time when SUVs had truck-type body-on-frame construction. That was before the civilizing influence of the “crossover” craze. Now, most SUVs – from the compact Honda CR-V to the roomy

MUSTANG 2011 upcoming Cars With wallpapers and specification

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:32 AM

2011 MUSTANG Price Range

$22,145.00 - $40,145.00

2011 MUSTANG Fuel Economy
16 city / 24 highway

2011 MUSTANG Base Engine
412-horsepower V8

Upcoming Cars in 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA With Latest Reviews and Prices

0 comments Posted by secret site at 8:31 AM

Basic exterior features of the 2011 Nissan Maxima should include automatic headlights, a sunroof, halogen headlights, and dual power remote mirrors.
For mid-level luxury, the 2011 Nissan Maxima provides drivers and passengers an unrivaled experience.

The Maxima is a great vehicle if you’re looking for a little sportiness, and you’re interested in a vehicle that bridges the gap between affordable vehicle and an entry-level luxury car.

The 2011 Nissan Maxima receives some minor revisions for its most popular model but is otherwise a rerun of the 2010 Nissan Maxima. Should you buy a "2011 Nissan Maxima" or wait for the 2012 Nissan Maxima? The car’s basic shape and engineering won’t change, so buy a 2011 Maxima if you want a solid, sporty front-drive sedan with bird-in-the-hand styling.