Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Book Review: Legendary Race Cars by Basem Wasef [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/book-review-legendary-race-cars-by-basem-wasef-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/book-review-legendary-race-cars-by-basem-wasef-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/book-review-legendary-race-cars-by-basem-wasef-w-video/#commentsFiled under:

Maserati 8CM number 3011 from Legendary Race Cars - Click above for high-res image gallery

Confused as to what to do with all the Barnes & Nobles and Amazon.com gift cards your in-laws pelted you with this Holiday season? Be confused no more! Legendary Race Cars is the book every pistonhead needs sitting on their night stand in 2010. We really hope you haven't gone all Kindle on us, because Basem Wasef's coffee table-sized book is loaded bow to stern with gorgeous photographs of some of the most desirable cars ever built, let alone raced. Wasef took all the non-vintage pictures, too, and they're quite stunning.

What cars? Well, that's the really fantastic part. Put it like this: had we been asked to write such a book, our choices wouldn't have been much different. There are 25 legendary racers in all, spanning from motorsports earliest days right on up to the present. In truth, a great mix of racing machines.

The first car discussed is the Ford GT40 and the last is Sterling Moss's Mercedes-Benz 300SLR - the No. 722 car. In between you get Carroll Shelby's Aston Martin DBR1 and Cobra Daytona Coupe, all the Auto Union Grand Prix Cars, Senna's McLaren MP4/4, Fangio's Maserati 250F and of course the brutally awesome Porsche 917. Each car is discussed in informative, enthusiastic and playful detail, yet the text is never slavish or obsessive. If you want to know who cut the Maserati 8CM's splines, look elsewhere.

And that's not even the half of it, as Legendary Race Cars is loaded with more winners like Richard Petty's Plymouth SuperBird, the first round the world winner, the Thomas Flyer, the Indy-dominating Marmon Wasp (first car to ever employ a rear-view mirror!), Audi's Group B killer S1 Quattro, Schumacher's Ferraris, McRae's Subarus and even Ecurie Ecosse's Jaguars.

Some of you might be familiar with Basem Wasef's first book, Legendary Motorcycles. If you are, you'll no doubt remember that Jay Leno wrote the introduction to that one. Not bad for your first book. For his second book, Basem got none other than Sir Stirling Moss to pen the foreword, which, for you whippersnappers who have no clue who Sir Stirling is, would be like getting Snoop Dogg to help you write an essay about gangsta rappers and marijuana.

Here's part of what Moss has to say, "Selecting these 25 legendary cars cannot have been easy. Automobiles, like paintings and other works of art, have different effects on different people... I would hate to have been making the choice - but I am enormously proud and happy to have been invited to write the foreword for this book." All we can do is say wow. For his third book, Mr. Wasef will no doubt be writing it in Colin Chapman's blood. Until then, pick up a copy of Legendary Race Cars (It's $23.10 right now at Amazon). You won't regret it one iota. Make the jump to watch Basem Wasef discuss Legendary Race Cars with none other than Jay Leno, and don't forget to check out the gallery that's filled with some choice stills from the book.


Gallery: Legendary Race Cars

Legendary Race CarsLegendary Race CarsLegendary Race CarsLegendary Race CarsLegendary Race Cars

Continue reading Book Review: Legendary Race Cars by Basem Wasef [w/VIDEO]

Book Review: Legendary Race Cars by Basem Wasef [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>300 SLR 722300SLR300SLR 722300Slr722Aston Martin DBR1AstonMartinDbr1Auto UnionAutoUnionBasem WasefBasem Wasef Legendary Race CarsBasemWasefBasemWasefLegendaryRaceCarsBookBooksCarroll ShlebyCarrollShlebyCobra Daytona CoupeCobraDaytonaCoupeDaytona CoupeDaytonaCoupeFangioFangio MaseratiFangio Maserati 250FFangioMaseratiFangioMaserati250ffeaturedJay LenoJayLenoLegendary Race CarsLegendary Race Cars Basem WasefLegendaryRaceCarsLegendaryRaceCarsBasemWasefLenoMaserati 250FMaserati250fPorschePorsche 917Porsche917Richard PettyRichardPettySennaShelbySir Stirling MossSirStirlingMossStirling MossStirling Moss 300SLR 722StirlingMossStirlingMoss300slr722SuperbirdThomas FlyerThomasFlyerWed, 23 Dec 2009 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive30i is an easy lover]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/2009-bmw-z4-sdrive30i-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/2009-bmw-z4-sdrive30i-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/23/2009-bmw-z4-sdrive30i-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2009 BMW Z4 sDrive30i - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW's storied history of building roadsters dates back to the original 328 of the 1930s. However, there have been gaps in the brand's open-top lineage, including one extended stretch through the '60s, '70s and '80s. After a dalliance with the bizarre European market Z1, BMW finally got serious about roadsters again in the '90s with the introduction of the Z3.

Earlier this year, the Munich brand introduced what's essentially the third generation of its modern mainline roadster (discounting the aforementioned low-volume Z1 and the Z8) in the shape of its all-new Z4. Upon its introduction, the esteemed Mr. Harley took our first crack at the new "E89" at its Southern California launch last spring and came away with mixed feelings.

To be fair, whenever an automaker builds a new model, there's always a distinction between what the engineers and designers expect of it and what consumers bank on. There's also a big difference between spending a few hours on a prescribed driving route under controlled conditions versus living with a car as a daily driver for a week or longer. So we wanted to spend time with the Z4 on more familiar turf to see what life is like with BMW's newest roadster.


Gallery: Review: 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i


Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Max Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive30i is an easy lover

Review: 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive30i is an easy lover originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 BMW Z42009 BMW Z4 sDrive30i2009BmwZ42009BmwZ4Sdrive30iBimmerbmwBMW reviewBMW Z4BMW Z4 reviewBmwReviewBmwZ4BmwZ4Reviewconvertiblefeaturedfolding hardtopFoldingHardtopreviewreviewsroadstersDrive30Z4Z4 ReviewZ4ReviewWed, 23 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford goes open source, gets students to develop phone apps for Sync]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/ford-goes-open-source-gets-students-to-develop-phone-apps-for-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/ford-goes-open-source-gets-students-to-develop-phone-apps-for-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/ford-goes-open-source-gets-students-to-develop-phone-apps-for-s/#commentsFiled under: ,



Before we get into the nitty and/or gritty of what Ford is up to with their pending Sync app store, we should share with you a few facts FoMoCo shared with us. In 2010 fully 28 percent of the driving population will be between the ages of 16 and 31. These folks, known as Millenials (though us altecachers still prefer "Generation Y") love their smart phones and social networks the way the Baby Boomers loved the Beatles and Generation X loved moping around and bad tribal tattoos.

As such, the number one access point to the internet is no longer a computer -- it's a mobile device.

Access to your favorite songs and phone numbers is one thing, but what about all those apps you've spent so much time downloading?
Now we turn to Ford's Sync, a piece of software developed with Microsoft's help using the Seattle software giant's Microsoft Auto platform. While on the surface Sync has often appeared as little more than a fancy way to spin songs off your iPod, in reality it's a sophisticated piece of middleware that allows the vehicle to harness the power of a given mobile device. In other words, Sync allows whatever Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicle you're driving to act as a controller for your iPhone/Droid/Pre/whatever.

Handsfree access to your favorite songs and phone numbers is one thing, but what about all those fancy-pants apps you've spent so much time (and maybe money) downloading? Are they to be totally forgotten while you're in the car? Admittedly, you might be saying "of course," but Millenials think different. Besides, what if there were smart phone apps that actually enhanced the driving experience? With your hands on the wheels and eyes on the road, how would you access them? Here's a larger point, how does the internet work at 70 mph? Ford thinks it's got the answers to most if not all of these questions.

Continue reading Ford goes open source, gets students to develop phone apps for Sync

Ford goes open source, gets students to develop phone apps for Sync originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidApp StoreAppStoreDroidfeaturedFollow MeFollow Me Sync AppFollowMeFollowMeSyncAppFordGoogle DroidGoogleDroidiPhoneiPodPalmPalm PrePalmPreSyncSync appSync App StoreSync StoreSyncAppSyncAppStoreSyncCastSyncStoreTue, 22 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2010 Subaru Outback adds size, power and refinement for a big wagon winner]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/2010-subaru-outback-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/2010-subaru-outback-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/2010-subaru-outback-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Subaru Outback - Click above for high-res image gallery

Even in the face of a bleak economy and dreadful auto sales, Subaru managed to have a breakout year in 2009. Products like the Forester and the Impreza helped Subaru achieve consistent year-over-year gains while the Japanese automaker continues to post stellar quality ratings through J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. And the accolades don't stop there. The new-for-2009 Forester was crowned the 2008 Motor Trend SUV of the year, and this year Subaru accomplished a surprise repeat taking the award for the second straight year with the 2010 Outback.

However, the new Outback isn't the capable, milquetoast lifted station wagon we've come to know and respect over the years. It's now bigger. Quite a bit bigger, performing a similar wagon-to-crossover transformation that the Forester pulled off a year earlier. Granted, the Outback is only two inches taller and wider, and a mere three inches longer between the wheels, but the result is a wagon that looks much larger than the model it replaces. We've come to expect that kind of growth in a world of constant size and weight one-upping, but we had to wonder - has increased functionality come at the expense of entertainment once again? We snagged a six-cylinder Outback to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Subaru Outback


Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Subaru Outback adds size, power and refinement for a big wagon winner

Review: 2010 Subaru Outback adds size, power and refinement for a big wagon winner originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Subaru Outback2010SubaruOutbackautoblog garageautoblog reviewAutoblogGarageAutoblogReviewfeaturedoutbackoutback wagonOutbackWagonreviewreviewssubarusubaru awdsubaru outbacksubaru outback reviewSubaruAwdSubaruOutbackSubaruOutbackReviewSubieTue, 22 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2009 MTM Audi A3 Sportback is a singular sport (with) utility]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/21/review-2009-mtm-audi-a3-sportback-is-a-singular-sport-with-ut/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/21/review-2009-mtm-audi-a3-sportback-is-a-singular-sport-with-ut/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/21/review-2009-mtm-audi-a3-sportback-is-a-singular-sport-with-ut/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2009 MTM Audi A3 Sportback - Click above for high-res image gallery

In the automotive world, price is increasingly a function of degrees. How's that? Dial in a faster windscreen angle, aggressively rake the rear glass and - voilà! - you've just padded your margins to the tune of a few thousand bucks. Take a plain-jane sedan, hire some stylists to turn it into a "four-door coupe" with a racy greenhouse, and you can use the same mechanicals and still charge a mint. The same goes for crossovers - just steepen the backlight and you're in the ducats. Not convinced? See the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW X6 for field notes.

MTM is planning on selling only 15 of these in the U.S.
We note all of this because we're sure you're going to look at the upright profile of this MTM Audi A3 Sportback and dismissively turn up your nose when you learn its pricetag is around $55,000. But if we lopped off a couple of doors or gave it a less formal roofline, we'd be willing to bet that its price would suddenly look a lot more palatable. All of which is understandable, really, as $55k is a lot of coin to be shelling out - especially considering that at a few shekels over $27k, a base A3 starts at roughly half the money.

But shelve your bodystyle prejudices and bear with us for a moment. If you're like us, you've looked longingly at a lot of what the Four-Ringed Wunder has been kicking out on its home continent - models like the RS6 Avant, TT-RS and S3. And unless you've got some seriously deep pockets, an inside man on the gray market and a relative who owes you a favor at the local DMV, you haven't got a prayer of landing any such tasty treats here in the U.S. So while the folks at Motoren-Technik-Mayer (MTM) can't source you an assembly-line-fresh S3 for your middle-American driveway, they can build you a road-legal doppelganger, and as it turns out, that ain't half bad.

We've talked up the Audi A3's virtues and vices before, so we'll spare you the gab about how much we enjoy its well-resolved interior, grippy Quattro all-wheel drive, planted handling and surprising utility. We've also not been shy in mentioning how its price tag can get disastrously dear with just a brief once-over of Audi's options list - and that's before handing it over to a tuner like MTM. But enough with the apologies - ride along with us past the jump to see if this hot hatch is full of excuses... or full of win.


Gallery: Review: 2009 MTM Audi A3 Sportback


Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 MTM Audi A3 Sportback is a singular sport (with) utility

Review: 2009 MTM Audi A3 Sportback is a singular sport (with) utility originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Audi A32009 Audi S32009AudiA32009AudiS3A3Audiaudi a3Audi MTMaudi s-lineaudi s3AudiA3AudiMtmAudiS-lineAudiS3dual-clutchfeaturedMotoren-Technik-MayerMTMMTM A3MTM AudiMTM S3MtmA3MtmAudiMtmS3QuattroreviewreviewsS-lines-tronicS3turboMon, 21 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under: ,

GM COULD REPAY EVERY SINGLE PENNY

Even though General Motors surprised everyone when it announced it will repay its government loans by next June, a lot of people are still unhappy. What about the other $50 billion we poured into the company, they demand to know?

A lot of politicians and not a few Wall Street analysts say we may as well kiss that money goodbye. We'll never see it again, they promise.

But it's entirely possible, and even likely, that they are very much mistaken. Taxpayers are likely to get a lot of that money back. Indeed, the federal government could come out looking pretty good in this deal, just like it did when it bailed out Chrysler in the early 80s.

____________________________________________________________________________________

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoline on autoblogAutolineOnAutoblogfeaturedgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroyFri, 18 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna tries to make the minivan cool]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/2011-toyota-sienna-first-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/2011-toyota-sienna-first-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/2011-toyota-sienna-first-drive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2011 Toyota Sienna - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan minivans revolutionized family transportation when they were introduced back in 1983. Nevermind that Volkswagon had been selling people-friendly vans for decades, it was Chrysler's "magic wagons" that came to define the minivan for Americans. With decent car-based road manners, easy-access sliding doors and clever packaging, minivans quickly replaced the station wagon as our favored Wally World-bound chariots. Minivan sales peaked at more than 1 million sales in 2002, but the following year, customers discovered something else: The SUV.

The minivan has a chance at a comeback... cool or not.
Overnight, minivans and their drivers turned into punchlines - an emblem for those who'd given up on driving excitement. Despite the traditional minivan's utility, drivability and fuel efficiency, the masses flocked to Hummers and GMC Denalis, but the SUV's reign was short-lived. Skyrocketing fuel prices have made family-friendly crossovers the new hot commodity, but Toyota - even with its line of competent CUVs - hadn't given up on the minivan just yet. In fact, Toyota predicts that the minivan market will grow by 30 percent over the next few years (to about 600,000 units), as young families and empty-nesters once again discover the inherent merits of a car-based box with sliders. But while minivans are no doubt practical, they're far from cool.

The 2011 Toyota Sienna was designed to challenge that assumption.

Patterned after the F3R concept, the new Sienna apes the Honda Odyssey's square shoulders but grafts on a Venza-like nose and tail. There's something for everyone with five different trim levels, two different engines, front- or all-wheel drive, and even a sport-tuned SE edition. Yep, Toyota thinks the world is ready for a sporty minivan. They recently invited us down to sample their new range of people movers, and we spent a day driving them up and down the coast, along freeways and around neighborhoods, and even down one of Southern California's famed canyon roads, all in an effort to prove that the minivan is ready to be thrust back to the top.


Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna


Photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna tries to make the minivan cool

First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna tries to make the minivan cool originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 sienna2011 toyota2011 toyota sienna2011Sienna2011Toyota2011ToyotaSiennafeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveSiennaToyotaToyota SiennaToyotaSiennaFri, 18 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 Forward-Thinking Vehicles of the Decade]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/top-10-forward-thinking-vehicles-of-the-decade/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/top-10-forward-thinking-vehicles-of-the-decade/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/top-10-forward-thinking-vehicles-of-the-decade/#commentsFiled under:



Trend-setting. Far-reaching. Record-setting. In a word: Important. Use whatever descriptors you'd like, what we're looking at today are some of the most forward-thinking cars of the last decade.

Some of our choices are hugely successful in terms of sales while not being all that interesting or important to the advancement of the automobile. That's fine, we need those kinds of vehicles, and many of us drive them on a daily basis. There are other cars, though, that are so advanced, radical or just plain significant in their segment that other automakers sat up and took notice. These are the models we'll look back at in another ten years and remember as vehicular landmarks. To qualify for consideration, a car had to either be introduced between the year 2000 and 2009 or at least receive a major redesign during that time period.

Interestingly, this list was extremely difficult for us to agree upon. Some of our team members pushed very hard for models that ultimately didn't make the list while others argued vehemently that some of our choices didn't belong at all. Ultimately, we compiled a diverse list of vehicles for you to consider, and we think it's well worth taking the time to peruse.

Click either image (or here) to begin this journey through the decade that's just about to conclude. Have fun, and be sure to nominate your own choices in the comments section.



[Source Image: piterart | CC2.0]

Top 10 Forward-Thinking Vehicles of the Decade originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced carsAdvancedCarsfeaturedimportant carsImportantCarstop 10 cars you should never drive on a first dateTop Car Vantage GTtop tentop ten carsTop Ten Forward Thinking Cars of the DecadeTop Ten Forward-Thinking Cars of the DecadeTop10CarsYouShouldNeverDriveOnAFirstDateTopCarVantageGtTopTenTopTenCarsTopTenForward-thinkingCarsOfTheDecadeTopTenForwardThinkingCarsOfTheDecadeThu, 17 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d delivers obsolescence to gasoline-powered sibling]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/review-2009-bmw-x5-xdrive35d-delivers-obsolesce-to-gasoline-pow/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/review-2009-bmw-x5-xdrive35d-delivers-obsolesce-to-gasoline-pow/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/review-2009-bmw-x5-xdrive35d-delivers-obsolesce-to-gasoline-pow/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW heralds its X5 sport utility vehicle as a "Sport Activity Vehicle." The tactic is designed to focus attention on the vehicle's on-road handling and driving dynamics, but it's also an attempt to eliminate any need for the automaker to apologize for the X5's limited cargo space and restricted off-road capabilities. Regardless, consumers don't seem to mind, as they've been snatching up the SAV since its introduction in 1999.

BMW delivers the goods with three capable gasoline-fed engines, including a new 555-hp twin-turbocharged X5M, that keeps the ute's fun-to-drive factor higher than nearly every SUV on the road. So with on-road performance such a high priority, why has BMW decided to fit the 335d's 3.0-liter turbodiesel into its biggest SUV? More to the point, how does the fuel-efficient oil-burner fit into the mix and does it affect drivability and performance in the process? All that and more after the jump.


Gallery: Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d


Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d delivers obsolescence to gasoline-powered sibling

Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d delivers obsolescence to gasoline-powered sibling originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 bmw x5 35d2009 BMW X5 diesel2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d2009BmwX535d2009BmwX5Diesel2009BmwX5Xdrive35dbmwBMW 35dbmw x5BMW xDrive35dBmw35dBmwX5BmwXdrive35dfeaturedReviewTestedx5xDrive35dThu, 17 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport Package is F-ing with perfection]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/first-drive-2010-lexus-ls460-sport-package-is-f-ing-with-perfec/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/first-drive-2010-lexus-ls460-sport-package-is-f-ing-with-perfec/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/first-drive-2010-lexus-ls460-sport-package-is-f-ing-with-perfec/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Lexus introduced the IS F, enthusiasts were suitably skeptical about the automaker's attempt to go head-to-head with the Germans. After all, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have specialized in creating autobahn-burning, Nordschleife-honed handlers for decades.

And then we drove it.

To everyone's surprise, Lexus pulled it off, but we figured it might be a one-time deal. We assumed the IS F was an outlier - just a distraction from the brand's cadre of well-built, less-than-sporty luxo-barges. We were wrong.

In the footsteps of the IS F was the introduction of the F-Sport accessories line, followed by rumors of a GS F and finally the LFA supercar. Lexus was becoming increasingly serious about making a mark in the luxury performance space, but on its own terms and at its own calculated pace.

Flash forward to October when a press release arrived touting a new Sport Package for the upcoming 2010 LS460. To be honest, our first thought was Lexus was overreaching. The LS is a fine sedan, with plenty of power and a reasonably good balance of ride and handling. But a sports sedan it's not. No matter. If Lexus was threatening to "F" up its LS with a "Sport" package, we needed to put it to the test. And we did just that.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport


Photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport Package is F-ing with perfection

First Drive: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport Package is F-ing with perfection originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 lexus2010 lexus ls2010 lexus ls 4602010 Lexus LS 460 Sport2010 ls2010 LS 4602010 LS 460 Sport2010Lexus2010LexusLs2010LexusLs4602010LexusLs460Sport2010Ls2010Ls4602010Ls460SportF-Sportfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveis fIsFlexusLexus LSlexus ls 460Lexus LS 460 Sportlexus ls sportLexusLsLexusLs460LexusLs460SportLexusLsSportLSls 460LS 460 sportls sportLs460Ls460SportLsSportsport packageSportPackageWed, 16 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #157 - Mike Levine trucks along with us!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/autoblog-podcast-157-mike-levine-trucks-along-with-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/autoblog-podcast-157-mike-levine-trucks-along-with-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/autoblog-podcast-157-mike-levine-trucks-along-with-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Our friend Mike Levine from Pickuptrucks.com joins Chris, Sam and Dan for Episode #157 of The Autoblog Podcast, bringing his vast knowledge of all that is crew-cabbed and full framed. Of course, we start off with what we're driving and dreamy talk about the Dodge Ram Power Wagon, but the real meat and potatoes news items begin with a peek at the Mercedes-Benz E-Class cabrio. Staying with Ms. Jellinek's namesake brand, the crew ponders the idea of an electric SLS supercar. Staying charged, we move right into Toyota's recent hybrid news - a tease of an all new hybrid that we'll see at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, and today's announcement of a PHEV Prius. Hybrid pickups come up before we move on to the BMW's Z4 sDrive35is and then questions. One hour, thirty minutes, in time for your Tuesday pick-me-up.

For more listening pleasure check out our colleagues at Joystiq and Engadget, and let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!


Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #157 - Mike Levine trucks along with us!

Autoblog Podcast #157 - Mike Levine trucks along with us! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog podcastAutoblogPodcastbmw z4bmw z4 mbmw Z4 sDrive35isBmwZ4BmwZ4MBmwZ4Sdrive35isE-ClassE-Class Cabrioe-class cabrioletE-Class ConvertibleE-classCabrioE-classCabrioletE-classConvertibleelectric slselectric sls amgElectricSlsElectricSlsAmgfeaturedmercedesMercedes BenzMercedes SLS AMGmercedes-benzMercedes-Benz E-ClassMercedes-benzE-classMercedesBenzMercedesSlsAmgmike levineMikeLevinePickupTruckspickuptrucks.compodcastpower wagonPowerWagonram power wagonRamPowerWagontoyota hybridtoyota priustoyota prius hybridToyota Prius PHEVtoyota prius plug intoyota prius plug in hybridToyota Prius plug-inToyotaHybridToyotaPriusToyotaPriusHybridToyotaPriusPhevToyotaPriusPlug-inToyotaPriusPlugInToyotaPriusPlugInHybridTue, 15 Dec 2009 13:40:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #157Autoblog1:35:19podcast; autoblog podcast; toyota hybrid; phev prius; plugin prius; e-class cabrio; mercedes e; toyota; bmw z4<![CDATA[Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/mitsubishi-i-quick-spin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/mitsubishi-i-quick-spin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/mitsubishi-i-quick-spin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mitsubishi i - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're looking at a long, nearly straight, almost totally traffic-free downhill. We'd climbed up to the base of the Palm Springs to Idyllwild Ariel Tramway. Our goal was to see how fast Mitsubishi's tiny i could go. We're on the gas, and the teensy, turbocharged 660cc three-banger is giving us all its got. The speedometer ticks upwards, now cresting 100. In front of us is nothing but inviting tarmac. Deeper and harder we push and the numbers keep ticking up. 119, 120, 121 and then finally hitting 122. We felt we left a little on the table and could have probably achieved a terminal velocity of around 130. Maybe. 125 for sure.

Before you crime and punishment types climb upon your soapboxes, we should mention that the right-hand drive, JDM-only i reads out in kilometers per hour. Meaning that our top speed was almost 76 mph. And we stand by our assertion that we totally could have hit 80 mph.


Gallery: Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name

Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredii MiEVIMievKeiKei CarKeiCarMiEVMitshsubishi iMitshsubishi i MiEVMitshsubishiIMitshsubishiIMievMitsubishiquick spinQuickSpinTue, 15 Dec 2009 11:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport is a lot of car for a lot of coin]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/2010-nissan-maxima-sv-sport-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/2010-nissan-maxima-sv-sport-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/2010-nissan-maxima-sv-sport-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

Front-wheel drive is a funny thing. When originally introduced during the Thirties in the Cord 810 (then later in the awesome supercharged 812) and the Citroën Traction Avant, FWD was hailed as a major breakthrough, a wondrous technological innovation that allowed for lower ride height and greatly increased passenger space. Postwar consumers got a taste of the wonders of FWD with the iconic Citroën DS. At the top of its game in the Sixties, General Motors reintroduced FWD to American consumers with two remarkable luxury coupes: the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado and the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. Come the Seventies, Citroën produced what is arguably the greatest GT coupe of that decade, the impeccable (and FWD) SM.

It's not that RWD is always better than FWD. Only in this case, it is.
Roll the clock forward to the Eighties and suddenly everything was being tugged around by its front wheels. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all jumped head first onto the FWD bandwagon and, for the most part, they haven't looked back. Granted, Cadillac has rethought which wheels get driven, but with the exception of a dinosaur livery-mobile, there isn't a single rear-wheel-drive Lincoln to be found. Even Volkswagen got in on the transversely-mounted engine madness. This left only the Germans - namely Mercedes-Benz and BMW - to seriously carry the rear-wheel drive passenger car torch for nearly a decade. Sure, Lexus and Infiniti brought out some heavy hitting RWD sedans along with a raft of FWD offerings (M30 I30, G20 anyone?), but Acura never bothered.

The average gearhead hates FWD for all the right reasons (weight distribution, steering feel, the front tires being asked to both propel and turn, etc.), and during a recent discussion we had with a half-in-the-bag PR guy, [NAME REDACTED] exclaimed, "Front-wheel drive sucks!" So, how can a technology go from the penthouse to the doghouse like that? One answer (of many) comes from the Minnesotan economist/social philosopher Thorstein Veblen and his book The Theory of the Leisure Class. Here's a quick, ten-cent Cliff Note version: When electric lighting first appeared, only the rich could afford electric lights. As such, electrically lit dinners were considered romantic and desirable. However, once electrification trickled down to the unwashed masses, only the rich could afford both bulbs and candles. Hence, candlelit dinners became en vogue. Which - believe it or not - leads us very nicely to the 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport and its $38,384 asking price.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV Sport


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport is a lot of car for a lot of coin

Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport is a lot of car for a lot of coin originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport2010NissanMaximaSvSportfeaturedmaximamaxima sv sportMaximaSvSportnissannissan maximanissan maxima sv sportNissanMaximaNissanMaximaSvSportreviewreviewsMon, 14 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson a green machine with few compromises]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/2010-hyundai-tucson-first-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/2010-hyundai-tucson-first-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/11/2010-hyundai-tucson-first-drive/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Little more than ten years ago, the meat and potatoes of the automotive universe were C and D segment sedans. Think Corolla and Camry; Focus, Fusion and (old) Taurus; Civic and Accord. But then, for better or for worse, something significant shifted in that old sales paradigm. Specifically, crossovers. Also known as CUVs, the overgrown wagons still ride around on C and D platforms, only a foot higher off the ground. Why? Blame the SUV craze and/or what automakers refer to as the "command seating position," an odd euphemism for sitting up high.

A momentary flirtation with $4 per gallon gasoline has - for the most part - shut down the large SUV game. But for whatever reason, consumers still want and demand command seating, so much so that Hyundai believes the compact CUV segment will experience more growth than any other niche in the market. Hyundai knows this specialized segment well, as the outgoing Tucson - the Korean brand's previous generation small CUV - has sold more than one million copies. However, the Tucson has been around since 2005, and to put it nicely, the old Tucson wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer. And this is a gun fight. Knowing that, Hyundai has just rolled out its newest car, the 2010 Tucson. But is it a killer?


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson a green machine with few compromises

First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson a green machine with few compromises originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Hyundai Tucson2010HyundaiTucsonfeaturedfirst driveFirstDrivehyundaihyundai tucsonHyundaiTucsontucsonFri, 11 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2010 Lexus GX 460 sticks to its trucky roots]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/2010-lexus-gx-460-first-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/2010-lexus-gx-460-first-drive/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/2010-lexus-gx-460-first-drive/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2010 Lexus GX 460 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2002 Lexus GX 470 was little more than a Toyota 4Runner with a healthy dollop of Lexus luxury on top, but at the time, it didn't have to be anything more than that. It seemed just about every automaker that had an SUV in the stable was introducing an uplevel version to capitalize on American consumers' insatiable appetite for luxury sport-utes, so why not Toyota? Lexus had already adopted the full-size Land Cruiser, so it made sense to bring along the 4Runner for the slightly less well-heeled.

Although it didn't set the charts on fire, the GX won over enough people that Lexus has continued churning it out virtually unchanged until now. In fact, the company easily moved every 2009 model it made. Still, even the best vehicles need to be updated from time to time, and with an all-new 2010 4Runner hitting dealers, it was time for this Lexus to undergo a similar overhaul. But the state of the economy, environment and the changing luxury SUV market itself meant that the Japanese automaker needed to rethink a few things for its sophomore endeavor. And it has.

We spent time on and off road in San Diego County during our stint with the new 2010 Lexus GX 460, and what we have learned was quite surprising. Despite the market's shift toward crossovers, the GX is still body-on-frame and has a V8, full-time four-wheel drive and takes up just as much space as the previous generation model. It still looks like a truck, drives like a truck and handles like a truck. But is that such a bad thing? Is there still a place for this type of vehicle... or is it simply an anachronism from a once-thriving, but now rapidly vanishing market? Follow the jump to see what we discovered.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lexus GX460


Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Lexus GX 460 sticks to its trucky roots

First Drive: 2010 Lexus GX 460 sticks to its trucky roots originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 lexus2010 Lexus GX2010 Lexus GX 4602010Lexus2010LexusGx2010LexusGx460featuredfirst driveFirstDrivegxGX 460Gx460lexuslexus gxLexus GX 460LexusGxLexusGx460Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #156]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/autoblog-podcast-156/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/autoblog-podcast-156/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/autoblog-podcast-156/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Editor Chris Paukert has apparently been bitten by the podcasting bug, and he once again joins Shunk and Roth for Episode #156 of the Autoblog Podcast. We dive right in to reminiscence about the recently finished Los Angeles Auto Show. Moving on from there, we talk about Audi's new A7 Sportback and its extreme gorgeousness, as well as the new A8 and all its massive awesomeness. Speaking of awesomeness, Shunk thinks that the $199,950 Aston Martin Rapide is one very attractive four-place supercar. Going to the other end of the spectrum, rumors about Volkswagen's upcoming Jetta replacement gets some head scratches from us before we moved on to prognosticating about a unibody Dodge Dakota replacement. We wrap up a chewy hour-and-forty-five minutes by addressing some of your questions and calling it a night.

Don't forget to check out our colleagues at Joystiq and Engadget, and let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #156

Autoblog Podcast #156 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a7 sportbackaston martinaston martin rapideAstonMartinAstonMartinRapideaudiaudi a7audi a8audi s8AudiS8autoblogautoblog podcastchryslerdakotadodgedodge dakotaDodgeDakotafeaturedjettaLA 2009LA Auto showla auto show 2009la show 2009La2009LaAutoShowLaAutoShow2009LaShow2009los angeles auto showlos angeles auto show 2009los angeles autoshow 2009los angeles autoshow2009LosAngelesAutoShowLosAngelesAutoshow2009podcastsportbackunibody dakotaunit body dakotavolkswagenvolkswagen jettavwvw jettaTue, 08 Dec 2009 16:40:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #156Autoblog01:41:22la auto show; aston martin; aston martin rapide; rapide; audi a7; sportback; a8; audi; volkswagen; jetta; dakota; dodge dakota; podcast; autoblog podcast<![CDATA[Feat of Clay: We take a peek inside Toyota's Calty design center]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/feat-of-clay-we-take-a-peek-inside-toyotas-calty-design-center/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/feat-of-clay-we-take-a-peek-inside-toyotas-calty-design-center/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/feat-of-clay-we-take-a-peek-inside-toyotas-calty-design-center/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Toyota's Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, CA - Click above for high-res image gallery

In anticipation of the debut of the all-new 2011 Toyota Sienna at the 2009 LA Auto Show in December, the folks responsible for the minivan invited us to take a peek inside their Calty design center in Newport Beach, California. Calty Design Research is the Toyota design center that created production cars like the '78, '90 and '00 Toyota Celica, '07 FJ Cruiser, '07 Tundra, '08 Highlander, '08 Scion xB, and '09 Venza, as well as the Lexus LF-C, FT-SX, Scion t2B, Scion FUSE, FT-HS and A-BAT concepts.

It's not very often that they open the doors of this design center to the public - let alone journalists - so we jumped at the chance. We spent a day with the group directly responsible for the 2011 Sienna and also met with Calty and Toyota officials. It was an enlightening day in which we learned about what inspired this third generation people-hauler, what Calty offers to differentiate it from other Toyota design houses, and why full-size clay models are still so important in the world of design, among other things.

Follow the jump to travel with us past the velvet rope and into Calty.


Gallery: Calty Design Research Tour

Continue reading Feat of Clay: We take a peek inside Toyota's Calty design center

Feat of Clay: We take a peek inside Toyota's Calty design center originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Caltycalty design researchCaltyDesignResearchdesigndesign housedesignerdesignersDesignHousefeaturedlexuslexus designLexusDesignscionscion designScionDesigntoyotatoyota designToyotaDesignTue, 08 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS is up for the Challenge]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/2010-suzuki-kizashi-gts-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/2010-suzuki-kizashi-gts-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/2010-suzuki-kizashi-gts-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2010 Kizashi will change the way you look at Suzuki. To put it bluntly, the Kizashi is the strongest evidence yet that Suzuki's automotive division is no longer operating on autopilot in the States. And what's more, the brand is showing serious confidence. Consider the vehicles against which the automaker wants you to cross shop its Kizashi: the Acura TSX and Audi A4.

Suzuki has launched a promotion called the Kizashi Test Drive Challenge that will pay $100 to anyone who test drives a Kizashi and still decides to buy the more expensive TSX or A4. After spending some quality time with the model, we don't envy those potential Acura and Audi customers who are unprepared for how difficult their decision is going to be.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS


Photos copyright (C)2009 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS is up for the Challenge

Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS is up for the Challenge originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Suzuki Kizashi2010 suzuki kizashi cts2010SuzukiKizashi2010SuzukiKizashiCtsfeaturedkizashikizashi gtsKizashiGtsreviewreviewssuzukisuzuki kizashisuzuki kizashi gtsSuzukiKizashiSuzukiKizashiGtsMon, 07 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Cornell's SAE Baja buggy helps us get even with would-be alma mater]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/cornells-sae-baja-buggy-helps-us-get-even-with-would-be-alma-mater/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/cornells-sae-baja-buggy-helps-us-get-even-with-would-be-alma-mater/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/04/cornells-sae-baja-buggy-helps-us-get-even-with-would-be-alma-mater/#commentsFiled under: ,

Cornell's SAE Baja Buggy - Click above for high-res image gallery

How much horsepower do you need to have fun in a car? More is usually better, but sometimes less is okay too. Sometimes even none is enough - if you have gravity on your side. When you're running off-road through mud, rocks, up hills, crashing off of whoops and flying over jumps, you certainly can't rely on the attraction of physical bodies to get you around the course. You need power. Cornell's Baja SAE buggy admittedly doesn't have much, driven by a lowly 10-hp Briggs & Stratton that wouldn't look out of place on a lawnmower. This most certainly is not a lawnmower.

Cornell's team of students past and present have built an impressive chariot to cradle that engine and a driver. CAD modeled, CNC hewn and carbon fiber-skinned, nearly everything on the kart is a one-off created by the sort of technology that drives Formula One. When an offer came in to come drive the thing, we jumped right in - right in to a mudbath as it turned out. Won't you join us?


Gallery: Cornell's SAE Baja buggy tour and test drive

Continue reading Cornell's SAE Baja buggy helps us get even with would-be alma mater

Cornell's SAE Baja buggy helps us get even with would-be alma mater originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buggycartcornellcornell baja saecornell sae bajaCornellBajaSaeCornellSaeBajafeaturedkartkartingsaesae bajaSaeBajatest driveFri, 04 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[By the Numbers - November 2009: Strengthen Your Core Edition]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/01/by-the-numbers-november-2009-strengthen-your-core-edition/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/01/by-the-numbers-november-2009-strengthen-your-core-edition/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/01/by-the-numbers-november-2009-strengthen-your-core-edition/#commentsFiled under:

Hyundai up 46%, Nissan up 30% and all GM core brands positive

It's pretty easy to stage a comeback when a prior year's monthly sales are so dismal, but that still doesn't dull the sheen off what happened last month for auto sales in the U.S.

Not surprisingly, Hyundai continues its winning ways with the largest increase in sales by volume at 45.91 percent. Newcomers to the I Know How To Sell Cars In A Down Market list include Nissan, up 19.94 percent, and Mercedes-Benz, up 19.11 percent. Subaru and Kia again perform flawlessly, posting gains of 23.95 and 18.27 percent, respectively.

Perhaps more interesting is the fact that all four core brands of General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC) posted positive sales numbers last month, and in the case of Buick rose 14.78 percent. Ford also continued to stay positive, but just barely posting 2.02 percent gain for the brand against a 0.04 decrease for the motor company. You can blame that on Lincoln and Mercury, both of which were down.

As the U.S. auto industry continues to claw its way out of this recession, the Chrysler Group is seemingly being left behind. Of the multi-brand companies we follow, the Pentastar performed the worst (-25.45 percent). The next worst performer, BMW Group, was down only 7.54 percent. With sales down only 8.09 percent, the Dodge brand was the company's best performer.

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 23 selling days in November 2009 and 25 selling days in November 2008, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in the average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

Brand Volume% Nov-13 Nov-12 DSR*% DSR Nov-09 DSR Nov-08
Hyundai 45.91 28,045 19,221 58.60 1,219 769
Nissan 29.94 50,644 38,974 41.24 2,202 1,559
Subaru 23.95 16,988 13,706 34.72 739 548
Mercedes-Benz 19.11 16,797 14,102 29.47 730 564
Kia 18.27 17,955 15,182 28.55 781 607
Porsche 18.00 1,626 1,378 28.26 71 55
Buick 14.78 8,627 7,516 24.76 375 301
Lexus 14.04 18,500 16,223 23.95 804 649
Volkswagen 13.68 16,250 14,295 23.56 707 572
Acura 11.17 8,769 7,888 20.84 381 316
Cadillac 10.28 9,721 8,815 19.87 423 353
GMC 5.38 21,301 20,214 14.54 926 809
Volvo 5.15 4,631 4,404 14.30 201 176
Chevrolet 4.46 100,023 95,756 13.54 4,349 3,830
BMW 3.23 15,708 15,217 12.20 683 609
Ford 2.02 105,133 103,055 10.89 4,571 4,122
Toyota 0.98 115,200 114,084 9.76 5,009 4,563
Mazda 0.86 14,255 14,134 9.63 620 565
Audi 0.32 6,810 6,788 9.05 296 272
Honda -4.55 65,234 68,345 3.75 2,836 2,734
Dodge -8.09 24,268 26,404 -0.10 1,055 1,056
Mercury -9.68 6,994 7,744 -1.83 304 310
Lincoln -20.08 6,409 8,019 -13.13 279 321
Jeep -24.45 15,339 20,302 -17.88 667 812
Infiniti -26.04 5,644 7,631 -19.61 245 305
Chrysler -37.33 12,544 20,017 -31.88 545 801
Pontiac -38.83 7,426 12,140 -33.51 323 486
Mitsubishi -42.60 2,925 5,096 -37.61 127 204
Mini -43.59 2,564 4,545 -38.68 111 182
Suzuki -52.11 1,540 3,216 -47.95 67 129
Saturn -54.03 3,737 8,130 -50.04 162 325
Saab -56.46 371 852 -52.67 16 34
Smart -70.44 661 2,236 -67.87 29 89
Hummer -84.80 221 1,454 -83.48 10 58
COMPANIES
Nissan NA 20.78 56,288 46,605 31.28 2,447 1,864
Toyota Mo Co 2.60 133,700 130,307 11.53 5,813 5,212
Ford Mo Co -0.04 123,167 123,222 8.65 5,355 4,929
General Motors -2.23 151,427 154,877 6.27 6,584 6,195
American Honda -2.93 74,003 76,233 5.52 3,218 3,049
BMW Group -7.54 18,272 19,762 0.50 794 790
Chrysler Group -25.45 63,560 85,260 -18.97 2,763 3,410

By the Numbers - November 2009: Strengthen Your Core Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>by the numbersByTheNumbersfeaturednovember 2009 auto salesNovember2009AutoSalesTue, 01 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST