Hagerty predicts this year’s future classics
Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Etc., Audi, Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Nissan, Porsche, Volkswagen
The world would be considerably less entertaining if we could all predict the future. Even so, the classic car gurus at Hagerty Insurance have cast a few chicken bones in an attempt to figure out which vehicles produced today might eventually turn collectible.
The company restricted entrants to hardware with a price tag of less than $100,000, so the list isn't populated with too many wild exotics. While vehicles like the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Porsche 911 are low-hanging fruit, the list also featured a few surprises.
For starters, it begins with none other than the mighty Buick Regal GS. Hagerty says the vehicle is a win because it's the first Buick with a manual transmission since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fiat 500 Abarth also makes an appearance alongside an even hotter hatch, the Volkswagen Golf R. Of course, we're simply thrilled to see the sinister Audi TT RS make a showing. Hit the jump for the full list or view each vehicle in our gallery above.
Continue reading Hagerty predicts this year's future classics
Hagerty predicts this year's future classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord takes top honors in Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards
Filed under: Car Buying, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Lincoln
Polk has handed out its annual Automotive Loyalty Award for 2011, and Ford walked away with a total of six honors, including two of the highest. The Dearborn-based automaker took home the top nod in both the Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer award as well as the Overall Loyalty to Make award categories. The manufacturer received both awards in 2010 as well. Ford also received the African American Market Loyalty to Make, and the Ford F-Series and Ford Escape brought down wins in the Mid/Full-Size Pickup and Compact SUV categories, respectively. Additionally, the Lincoln MKZ drove away with the Luxury Car category.
Polk prides itself on organizing and distributing the industry's only fact-based owner loyalty award, and the organization analyzes over 4.5 million household records and consumer transactions each year to determine the winners. Polk also examines state registration and lease information.
Ford wasn't the only automaker to receive a node from the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards. Chrysler took home its fair share of hardware. Polk awarded Jeep its Most Improved Loyalty to Make award, and the Dodge Challenger and Chrysler Town and Country took home trophies in the Sports Car and Minivan segments. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Continue reading Ford takes top honors in Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards
Ford takes top honors in Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsEditors’ Choice: Top Five 2012 Detroit Auto Show Debuts
Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Acura, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Electric
That's a wrap, folks. Press days for the 2012 Detroit Auto Show have come and gone, meaning there's just one thing left to do: pick our favorites.
As we said in our end-of-show wrap-up, the Detroit show is back in full force after several years of being stuck in first gear in the wake of a stagnant auto industry and a horrid economic climate. This year, though, automakers from the United States, Asia and Europe all had impressive production and concept vehicles to show off. After tallying our votes, these are our five favorites.
Continue reading Editors' Choice: Top Five 2012 Detroit Auto Show Debuts
Editors' Choice: Top Five 2012 Detroit Auto Show Debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSay ‘goodbye’ to these cars and trucks for the new year
Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Sedan, SUV, Crossover, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Volvo, Tesla
As we prepare to flip our calendars from 2011 to 2012, it's time to say goodbye to a handful of vehicles that are being sent to the Great Parking Lot In The Sky before the 2012 model year completely takes hold. And while we're not exactly upset about having to bid farewell to things like the Mitsubishi Endeavor, Mazda Tribute or Chevrolet HHR, there are a few vehicles that we're truly going to miss.
The Mazda RX-8, for example, has grown to be one of our favorite sports cars since its introduction in 2003. We love its lightweight construction, high-revving rotary engine and surprisingly functional suicide door design. It's kind of like a Miata with a roof and rear seats. Speaking of the Miata, Tesla's two-seat Roadster - the automaker's first production vehicle - proved to us that open-top motoring can be thrilling even with a stack of batteries driving the wheels.
We'll miss the Honda Element and its rugged, utilitarian nature. We'll miss the Volvo V50 and its capacious cargo area made for Ikea runs. And we'll really miss those large lords of luxury, the Cadillac DTS and Ford Crown Victoria. We've already said goodbye to the faithful but overripe Ford Ranger, and as ridiculous as the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid was, it was a shockingly good-to-drive electrified crossover.
There are plenty more models that won't be making the journey to the 2012 model year, so have a look at the full list in our attached image gallery, then let us know which ones you'll miss (if any) in the Comments.
Say 'goodbye' to these cars and trucks for the new year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord sweeps Texas Truck Rodeo awards, Chrysler defends SUV crown
Filed under: SUV, Truck, Etc., Crossover, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Jeep
The Texas Auto Writers Association has awarded the 2012 Ford F-150 a slew of honors. The pickup took home the Truck of Texas title by beating out its competitors at the annual Truck Rodeo. The award is the association's most prestigious honor, but Ford also picked up a few other nods. TAWA named the company's EcoBoost engine technology its best vehicle feature, and the 2012 Ford Edge took home the CUV of Texas badge. Finally, the entire Ford pickup line was named the Truck Line of Texas by the association, making for a pretty clean sweep of the truck competition.
This year, manufacturers entered 48 vehicles into the TAWA Truck Rodeo, and 57 automotive writers turned out to evaluate the trucks and SUVs. When the dust settled, Ford had earned seven awards total, including the best heavy-duty, luxury and full-size pickup trucks.
For its part, Chrysler saw its products fare well in the competition, too. The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee went home carrying SUV of Texas trophy, while TAWA awarded its sister, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the mid-sized SUV of Texas title. Finally, the writers in attendance named the 2012 Dodge Durango the full-size SUV of Texas.
Hit the jump for a volley of press releases.
Continue reading Ford sweeps Texas Truck Rodeo awards, Chrysler defends SUV crown
Ford sweeps Texas Truck Rodeo awards, Chrysler defends SUV crown originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCars.com $37,000 SUV shootout yields unexpected results [w/poll]
Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Crossover, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Kia, Mazda, Toyota
Cars.com recently lined up seven new vehicles for a $37,000 SUV shootout. The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, 2012 Dodge Durango, 2012 Ford Explorer, 2012 Honda Pilot, 2012 Kia Sorento, 2011 Mazda CX-9 and 2011 Toyota Highlander all squared off against one another in a range of evaluations, including a one-day highway drive and family testing.
If you happen to be the deductive type, you may have noticed that the list above includes a fair number of genuine crossovers. Vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse and Mazda CX-9 bear little resemblance to the body-on-frame bruisers of old, and even models like the 2012 Explorer and 2012 Durango have evolved out of their traditional shells.
But when the dust settled, it was Honda's 2012 Pilot that took top honors thanks to its high level of amenities, spacious interior and clever storage solutions, despite the fact that reviewers found issue with road noise and exterior styling. Perhaps most surprising is the fact that the 2012 Explorer tied for sixth place with the 2012 Sorento. Ouch. Head over to Cars.com to see the full evaluation, and vote for your favorite in our poll.
Cars.com $37,000 SUV shootout yields unexpected results [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsDodge Charger Pursuit claims its victories in Michigan State Police tests
Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Police/Emergency
The Big Three are finally done one-upping each other in this year's Michigan State Police vehicle evaluations, with the 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit V8 laying down some heady numbers on the test track. The Charger emerged with the fastest lap time ever recorded in the Michigan State Police test's history, at 1:33.7.
That, boys and girls, is something else. The Chevrolet Caprice PPV may have the best top speed and braking, but the Charger has shown it has the chops to slice up the twisties as well. The Hemi-powered Charger also gets to 60 in under six seconds with the optional 3.07 gears.
The only strike against the Charger is that needed a V8 to post those numbers, while both the Chevrolet Caprice and Ford Interceptor employ less thirsty V6s. Full presser after the jump.
Continue reading Dodge Charger Pursuit claims its victories in Michigan State Police tests
Dodge Charger Pursuit claims its victories in Michigan State Police tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsMusic video recreates Bullitt chase scene for unknown reason
Filed under: Classics, Etc., Videos, Dodge, Ford
Sharam "Fun" remakes the Bullitt Chase - Click above to watch video after the jump
Now here's a quandary; What do inane pop beats and the Steve McQueen classic Bullitt have in common? If you answered less than the Cub Scouts and the Hells Angels, congratulations, we owe you a beer. Why do we ask? Our friends at The J managed to stumble across the music video for Sharam's "Fun." The twisted little piece of cinema has managed to shove all the patience-grating repetition that a disposable pop song can muster into a meticulous recreation of the Dodge Charger vs. Ford Mustang battle from Bullitt.
It's the emotional equivalent of a brake stand. Our eyes are begging to see more while our ears are doing their best to cut themselves from the sides of our skull. We don't suggest trying to wrap your mind around exactly what's going on here. Instead, mute the volume and enjoy one of the more accurate recreations of the Bullitt chase in music video history after the jump.
If you can't stand to sit there in the quiet, there's always the magic of YouTube doubler. It goes without saying that you'll need to mute "Fun."
Continue reading Music video recreates Bullitt chase scene for unknown reason
Music video recreates Bullitt chase scene for unknown reason originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 May 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsChevrolet Camaro sales still outpacing rival Ford Mustang
Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Earnings/Financials
2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS - Click above for high-res image gallery
The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro is still outselling the Ford Mustang, netting 19,972 sales through March compared to the Mustang's 15,419. Both cars handily outsold the Dodge Challenger, which itself is selling fairly well with 9,742 units through the same period. This is the second year running (well, so far this year at least) that the Camaro has managed stronger sales figures than the Mustang, having overtaken it last year for the first time since 1985.
GM figures the Camaro's success could be attributable to its relative newness in the pony car stable, having debuted in 2009. The Mustang has only undergone slight changes to its outward appearance since its 2004 redesign, though it's been kept well freshened in the engine bay. To help boost Camaro sales, Chevrolet says the V6 will get an 11-horsepower bump by this summer, taking the base Camaro to a total of 323 horsepower.
With such a big sales head start, it seems unlikely the Camaro will be caught before the end of the year, despite Ford's revised powertrain options for 2011 and the limited-production Mustang Boss 302 hitting dealerships soon.
Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
Chevrolet Camaro sales still outpacing rival Ford Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsPoll: 2011 Dodge Challenger V6 takes on Mustang, Camaro
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford
Dodge has big things headed our way for the 2011 model year, not the least of which is a thoroughly updated Challenger that seems to be much better equipped to go up against the likes of the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. Up to this point, even those who loved the last generation's styling and optional Hemi engine had to admit that lower level models powered by the old 3.5-liter V6 engine were simply unable to match up against its lifelong mortal enemies from Chevrolet and Ford.
As we've come to find out straight from the
| Base Price | Engine Size | Horsepower | Torque | MPG | Weight | |
| Dodge Challenger | $23,245* | 3.6 liters | 305 @ 6350 | 268 @ 4800 | N/A*** | 3819 lb* |
| Chevy Camaro | $22,680** | 3.6 liters | 312 @ 6400 | 278 @ 5200 | 17 / 28 | 3741 lb |
| Ford Mustang | $22,145** | 3.7 liters | 305 @ 6500 | 280 @ 4250 | 19 / 31 | 3453 lb |
As you can see, the Dodge very nearly matches up with its main rivals on paper, with slight deficiencies in torque and overall weight, though we don't quite know what the 2011 model's final poundage figure will be. We're also unsure of the Challenger's pricing for the new model year, but we can't imagine it will go up too much from its current spot as it's already the priciest of the three competitors, albeit barely.
In any case, we have ourselves one obvious burning question to consider: Does the new V6 engine improve the Challenger enough in your eyes to go head-to-head with the best six-pot pony cars from The Blue Oval and the Golden Bowtie? Or, to put it another way for you Mopar fans, is the 2011 Challenger V6 Sublime or is Chrysler just plain Plum Crazy? Make your voice heard in our completely unscientific, informal poll below.
Poll: 2011 Dodge Challenger V6 takes on Mustang, Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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