Rolls-Royce parades through London on the Spirit of Ecstacy centenary drive

Rolls-Royce may sell as many motor cars in Hong Kong and Dubai as they do in their own domestic market, but if you had to pick one city that embodies the Spirit of Ecstasy, that'd be London. So to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic Rolls-Royce mascot, the company rolled out a parade of 100 of its vehicles around the sites and streets of the English capital.

The latest Phantom and Ghost models lead the procession that included shining examples from the company's history – including Silver Ghosts, Clouds, Shadows and Spurs – past such local landmarks as Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Full details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Rolls-Royce]



















rolls royce ghost

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Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition celebrates the big 900,000

900,000 units is a heck of a milestone, and that's precisely the production benchmark the Mazda MX-5 Miata has reached over the course of its 22-year lifespan so far. And to celebrate, Mazda is launching a commemorative special edition.

Launched at the Chicago Auto Show, the MX-5 Miata Special Edition features an interior decked out in a unique gray leather color scheme with gray top-stitching and aluminum trim. It's based on the PRHT model, so it's got a retractable hard top, and comes standard with the otherwise optional Premium and Suspension packages along with special 17-inch alloys.

Buyers can choose from Sparkling Black or Dolphin Gray Mica, with either automatic or manual six-speed transmissions. Only 750 examples will be made, exclusively available in North America, with prices starting at $30,925. Full details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Mazda]



















Mazda MX-5 Miata

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Camaro ZL1 is the new hot model in Chicago

We've been hearing some conjecture about what Camaro-based model would debut at the Chicago Auto Show today, and Tran from Camaro5 would appear to have the answer: The ZL1. The Chevrolet press conference isn't scheduled for another hour or so, but wandering the floor seems to have revealed that the expected hi-po pony car will eschew the Z28 designation in favor of ZL1. Either way, it'll pack a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with a six-speed manual as part of a beefed-up driveline.

Other major features are said to include Magnetic Ride Control suspension, Brembo brakes, competition-spec cooling system, along with unique bodywork including a "Transformers 3 style" front bumper, unique hood and model-specific wheels. Camaro5 indicates that the interior has also been upgraded with a new steering wheel and silver trim. We'll have live pics of the Camaro from the reveal shortly, so stay tuned. Top tips, Jesse and Amber!

[Source: Camaro5]



















Camaro ZL1

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Rhys Millen's new 500-hp Hyundai Veloster rallycross machine drifts into Chicago

There are more famous racing families than the Millens, but not many. While Steve Millen was closely associated with Nissan, his brother and nephew have long been associated with Hyundai That nephew is Rhys Millen, the drifting champion we know and love. And this is the latest tool of his trade.

Rhys Millen Racing started with the new Veloster coupe that debuted last month at the Detroit Auto Show and stripped it down to nothing. They stripped the chassis to its bare metal, soaked it in alkalai for five days and then reinforced the welding. They replaced the metal body panels with carbon/Kevlar to cut 75 percent of the shell's weight, dropping the scales down to 2,656 pounds. The company stripped out the interior and fitted a custom eight-point roll-cage, firewall and Sparco bucket. What's more, the Veloster rallycross car uses an unspecified custom long-travel suspension, with 18-inch HRE wheels, Hankook rubber and 14-inch Alcon brake discs (12-inch in the back) gripped by six-piston calipers all around.

The real treasure, though, sits under the louvered hood: Hyundai's 2.0-liter four-cylinder bolted to an HKS ball-bearing turbocharger driving a whopping 500 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque through an X-Trac six-speed sequential to all four wheels. Hot diggity damn.

Hear Hyundai's rally engine starting up

Rhys will be pivoting the Veloster around the 2011 U.S. Rallycross Championship, and sharing it with motorcross two-wheeler Robbie Maddison at the Summer X-Games. A second car will be built for Maddison to share with rally champ Marcus Dodd also in the U.S. Rallycross Championship, while a third front-drive car will be constructed for celebrity drivers. Follow the jump for full details in the press release and an official video, and check out the additional images in the gallery below.


[Source: Hyundai]
















Hyundai Veloster

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2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan gets new 5.0L V8

It seems like only yesterday when Hyundai shocked the auto industry with the Genesis Sedan. The hard truth, though, is that the Korean automaker's first foray into the luxury market arrived in 2008 as a 2009 model. Hyundai doesn't intend to rest on its laurels, and new updates for the 2012 model year are being debuted during the Chicago Auto Show this week.

No self-respecting mid-cycle refresh is complete without an all-new powertrain, and the Genesis is blessed with with a doozy. An all-new R-Spec trim level will sport an all-new direct-injected 5.0-liter V8 – a mill that's also destined for the larger Equus. The new powerplant is Hyundai's most powerful engine ever, producing 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. That's 85.6 very impressive horsepower per liter out of a naturally aspirated engine, or more grunt per unit than the competition from Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

Impressive stuff, and Hyundai follows through with a new eight-speed automatic transmission that was developed in-house. The new tranny will help the R-Spec model achieve estimated fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon on the highway and 16 mpg around town. The R-Spec model will also feature unique 19-inch wheels, along with more aggressive suspension and steering tuning.

The Genesis Sedan will continue to offer the 4.6-liter Tau V8 and 3.8-liter V6, but changes were made to boost both power and efficiency. The 4.6-liter V8 will now reward the driver with 385 ponies thanks to tweaked induction and timing. Wha't smore, the updated eight-cylinder mill will now hit 26 mpg on the highway, up from 25 mpg. The 3.8-liter engine has added direct injection for 2012, pumping horsepower up by a substantial 15 percent – 333 horsepower and 291 lb-ft for you number crunchers out there, up 43 ponies and 27 lb-ft from the old engine.

Hyundai rounded out changes for the 2012 model year with a few design tweaks to keep aesthetics fresh. Updates include a reworked grille and front fascia, incorporating new headlights with LED accents and dark chrome headlamp inserts. Out back, Hyundai added new taillamps, a revised fascia and integrated dual exhaust tips. Other changes include a host of interior updates and the new Genesis 3.8 Premium and Technology Packages. Hit the jump to read over Hyundai's extensive press release, and click on the photo above or the gallery below for high-res pics.

[Source: Hyundai]



















2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan

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2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the fastest, most powerful ever

The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was a performance monster, featuring an all-aluminum engine displacing 427 cubic inches that was originally intended for racing. Just 69 units were built, and they are highly coveted by collectors today. Perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that Chevrolet chose to resurrect this classic moniker for what it is calling the fastest and most technologically advanced Camaro ever built.

At this point, specifications are still preliminary, but Chevrolet is estimating that its supercharged and intercooled 6.2-liter LSA V8 engine will put out around 550 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque. Those ponies will be sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission using a dual-disc clutch that's necessary to properly harness all those horses. There's also a dual-mode exhaust system that alters the sound level and character in response to engine rpm.

Chevrolet tells us that its goal was to build "a Camaro intended to reach optimal lap times on top road-racing circuits and excellent driving dynamics on the street." To that end, the 2012 Camaro ZL1 will be fitted with a new electric power steering system and Magnetic Ride Control that will offer both Tour and Sport modes. Brembo brakes measuring 14.6-inch (370 mm) in the front (with six-piston calipers) and 14.4-inch (365 mm) at the rear (with four-piston calipers) bring it all back down from speed.

Naturally, there's an updated body kit to differentiate the ZL1 from lesser machines. Most notable are the redesigned fascia that features a front splitter, vertical fog lamps and air intakes designed for brake cooling. There's also a new aluminum hood with a raised, satin black-finish carbon fiber insert that uses a unique air extractor that is said to increase downforce by directing oncoming air over the car. There's also a spoiler at the rear of the car and new 20-inch aluminum wheels fitted with specially developed Goodyear Supercar F2 tires.

Chevrolet promises to have the Camaro ZL1 on dealer lots in the beginning of 2012, and it will be available in any color offered on the Camaro. We can hardly wait. In the meantime, check out all the details in the video and press release after the break, and feel free to drool over the high-res image gallery below.

[Source: Chevrolet]
















Chevrolet Camaro

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Miss Evelyn's "Wild Ride" in a Camaro most-watched ad of all time

The Nielsen Company has counted the numbers from last weekend's Super Bowl and determined that General Motors' "Wild Ride" Chevrolet Camaro commercial (its official name is "Miss Evelyn") has become the most-watched ad of all time with an estimated 119,628,000 viewers. You can rewatch the ad after the jump, but as you may recall, it's about two guys creating their own Camaro commercial on the fly. The new viewership record beat the old one set by a Doritos commercial during last year's big game that was seen by 116,231,920 viewers.

The crazy thing is that the old record was beaten by every ad that made this year's top ten most viewed list, which in addition to the Camaro commercial also included ads for the Chevy Cruze, Chrysler 200 and Bridgestone tires. Credit not only the quality of this year's Super Bowl commericals, but also an excellent game of pigskin that got better with each passing quarter. The Camaro commercial, for instance, got a boost from appearing during the fourth quarter when the game was anything but decided.

Nielsen is also reporting that Volkswagen's "The Force" ad starring Max Page as Darth Vader was this year's 'best-liked' commercial during the Super Bowl. The top ten list for most liked Super Bowl commercials was also littered with car-related ad, but curiously, the top ten 'most-recalled' ads didn't feature a single automotive spot.

[Source: The Nielsen Company]



















nissan skyline

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Chicago 2011: 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI starts at $23,495

Volkswagen has brought its latest iteration of the new-for-2011 Jetta – the turbocharged GLI – to this year's Chicago Auto Show, and we're quickly falling in love with the Autobahn-ready VW. The Jetta's already handsome (if decidedly sedate) looks are emphasized by larger 18-inch alloy wheels, a more aggressive front fascia and smoked taillamps, and when the whole package is painted in pull-me-over red, we can't help but daydream about whipping the new Jetta GLI around our favorite set of twisty backroads.

The Jetta GLI appears eager to perform, too. Under the hood is Volkswagen's turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, rated at 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Both a manual and dual-clutch transmission are available, the latter of which allows the Jetta GLI to achieve up to 32 miles per gallon on the highway. Not bad.

The big change, of course, is that the GLI will benefit from a more sophisticated independent rear suspension than the standard Jetta, and VW has ported over its XDS cross differential technology from the GTI.

source:autoblog












2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

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2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is a 465-horsepower family sedan

We're still wrapping our heads around the appearance of the new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8, but we don't need even a second thought regarding its performance specifications. Just about anything sporting a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 putting out 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque will find a welcome bay in our garages, and this Charger is no exception.

Yes, the five-speed automatic is a bit of a disappointment in this day and age, but something tells us a few 12-second trips down the good ol' 1320 ought to ease that bit of pain, as would an autobahn blast at the Charger SRT8's 175 miles per hour top speed. If those tantalizing little tidbits are enough to whet your appetite for more, we highly suggest you click here to read the rest of the impressive specifications.

source: autoblog


















Dodge Charger SRT8

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Spy Shots: 2012 Mini Coupe nears production

The Mini Coupe is set to go on sale this Fall and that means testing of the hatchless Cooper has begun in earnest. Caught by our spies running around outside BMW headquarters in Germany, the 2012 Mini Coupe uses the Bavarians' standard psychedelic camo, but it wasn't able to hide a new retractable spoiler nestled within the trunk – something that wasn't fitted to concept shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009.

Power should come from Mini's entire range of naturally aspirated and turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder mills, although our spies contend that the prototype you see here is a Works model, evidenced by the upgraded brakes that barely fit inside the wheels and red calipers fore and aft. We suspect the production version will make an appearance in Frankfurt this autumn, with sales beginning in Europe and the U.S. before the end of the year.

[Source: CarPix]



















Mini cooper

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2011 Ram 1500 Tradesman is built to work

Ram Truck has just dropped a low-buck bombshell on the 2011 Chicago Auto Show with the 1500 Tradesman. The pickup comes standard with the company's 5.7-liter V8 with 390 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque mounted to a five-speed automatic transmission, and Chrysler says that the drivetrain is good for 20 mpg on the highway. Specifically set up for small businesses, contractors and fleet service, the Tradesman is also loaded with a Class IV hitch and a handy transmission cooler. That kit helps crank up the truck's tow rating to a lofty 10,450 pounds.

The best part? Prices for this sucker start at a slim $22,780 with destination. Buyers will be able to pick between 4x2 and 4x4 trim, and a long-bed option is also available. Look for the Tradesman to land on dealer lots in the second quarter of this year. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

[Source: Chrysler]



















ram truck

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