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Auto Blog News
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193 vehicles returned under GM's 60-day satisfaction guarantee
Filed under: Car Buying, GM 
Last month, General Motors raised some eye brows when it announced its 60-day satisfaction guarantee program giving customers the ability to drive their vehicles for 60 days and return them with zero minimal risk. A month ago, we told you that only one vehicle had been returned under the program, and that guy simply traded his manual tranny Corvette for one with a six-speed slush box. Now, a little more than two months into the promotion, the General has a still fairly insignificant 193 (out of 220,000 sales) customers who have returned their vehicle under the program, and GM says some of those customers decided to purchase different or better equipped GM models.
But while 193 appears to be fairly insignificant when compared to overall sales, it also represents 30 percent of the 653 people who actually opted for the 60-day option in lieu of a $500 discount. While some would say that the 30% number is very bad for GM, we'd say that it isn't much of a surprise given the fact that those 653 customers obviously weren't very sure about their purchase decision to begin with.
GM appears to be pretty pleased with the fact that so few vehicles have been returned during the program, but the automaker also plans to learn from those who were dissatisfied with their product. Vice President of Global Product Engineering Mark Reuss told the Associated Press that he and other executives plan to call customers who turned in their vehicles under the program, calling it "about the best unfiltered consumer feedback we've had" and according to the report, Chairman Ed Whitacre came up with the idea to make the calls. GM's 60-day guarantee promotion is scheduled to end on January 4, 2010.
[Source: AP | Image Source: Joe Raedle/Getty]193 vehicles returned under GM's 60-day satisfaction guarantee originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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REPORT: Ferrari working on radical new door opening
Filed under: Technology, Ferrari, Rumormill  As if Lambo doors, Gullwings, butterflies and those crazy Koenigsegg pivoters weren't enough to separate exotics from lesser cars, Ferrari is said to be working on another new door design that is both radical and practical. Go figure.
Autocar came across a patent filing showing a few diagrams depicting this unique door setup. What sets it apart is the fact that the new Ferrari door includes part of the front fender and hinges upward like the butterfly door from a LeMans racer. Apparently the opening is large enough and shaped in such a way that "occupants can place their foot directly behind the front wheel."
According to the patent application, that will make ingress and egress much easier for passengers in low-slung supercars, though the new door design is said to work just as well on front engined cars as it does for vehicles with their engines mounted aft or amidships. Even better, this design and its unique hinges are reported to be "easy and cost-effective to make," which should make it easier for the Dodge Chargers of SEMA circa 2012 to get in on the fun too.
We're still seeing an issue with the A-pillar and windscreen, but it looks interesting. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for any photos of these funky doors, but for now we're stuck wondering how hard it was for Ferrari engineers to use the supplied British sports car diagram in order to submit their application form.
[Source: Autocar]REPORT: Ferrari working on radical new door opening originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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REPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon"
Filed under: Earnings/Financials, Tesla, Electric 
Tesla Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery
Rumors about Tesla's plan to go public have been circulating since 2008, but a down stock market seemed to put a damper on the start-up's IPO. Now, the word on the street from Reuters is that Tesla is planning to go public "soon." When might that be, exactly? Who knows. A source told Reuters it could happen "any day," but Stephan Dolezalek, managing director of VantagePoint Venture Partners and a Tesla investor, said in September that it's unlikely to happen in 2009.
For its part, Tesla continues to offer little guidance on the report other than to dismiss it as "rumor or speculation." We shall see...
[Source: Reuters]REPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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VIDEO: Deconstructing the end-of-the-world limo ride in 2012
Filed under: Technology, Videos
We're still early in the holiday movie season, but the clear early winner is the blockbuster world-ending thriller 2012. The pic cleared $65 million in its first weekend in the U.S. and a stunning $265 million around the globe. If you have already seen the movie or if you've just checked out the five minute clip we showed you last month, then you know this disaster flick is chock-full of CGI destruction on a scale we quite frankly have never seen before. And our favorite scene stars a Lincoln Town Car limo that somehow manages to survive (like the Panther platform upon which it is based) while the virtual world quite literally crumbles around it. It makes us wonder how that scene was made to look so damn real.
Well, we didn't have to wonder for long, because YouTube has come to the rescue with video of how the scene was created. A company called SWAY Studio created a simulator/program called Drive-A-Tron that works like a virtual stunt driving machine with very realistic-looking results. The simulator features a real steering wheel, along with brake and accelerator pedals to capture the action in real time. SWAY reconfigured the machine for the big screen action flick so the program could interact with moving terrain, and since the system features true to life engine, suspension and even tire inputs, the final product looks pretty damn real to us. Hit the jump to watch how the Lincoln Town Car limo scene was created. Pretty interesting stuff.
[Source: Raging Artists]Continue reading VIDEO: Deconstructing the end-of-the-world limo ride in 2012 VIDEO: Deconstructing the end-of-the-world limo ride in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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BREAKING: Schumacher likely to return to F1 racing with Mercedes
Filed under: Motorsports, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Rumormill 
Say it ain't so, Schu! The Daily Telegraph is reporting that seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher is close to signing on with the newly formed Mercedes Formula 1 team. Mercedes is the new name of the former Brawn GP team, the current Constructors Champion. After a stellar rookie season that saw this former Honda team clinch not just the Constructors Championship, but also the Drivers Championship for Jenson Button, they had a bit of a dropoff as Button bolted for rival McLaren.
That left a seat to fill at Mercedes and if BBC Sport's Eddie Jordan is to be believed, none other than Michael Schumacher is about to sign a one-year contract to return to racing in that very car. The deal, which would net Schumacher the same salary that Button turned down at Brawn GP in favour of McLaren, would finally see the German teaming up with Mercedes, who were in the past unsuccessful in their bids to lure him away from Ferrari.
Ferrari almost lured the retired champ back this season when Felipe Massa went down following the infamous spring incident in Hungary. The Champ's sore neck put a stop to that comeback, but apparently it got Schumi's juices flowing again. Signing with Mercedes would create something of a German dream team with Nico Rosberg in the other car. If the deal goes through, MS will be reunited with Brawn GP-namesake and current Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, the man who guided Michael to all seven of his World titles.
Still just a rumor for the moment, the deal is said to give Schumacher the same salary Button turned down when he defected to McLaren. The Schumacher deal is just the latest volley in the silly season melee that has seen Kimi Raikkonen vacate his seat in order to make room for Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, which lost adviser Michael Schumacher as well. Whatever the future holds, it is only going to get more interesting. We'll keep you posted as things develop. Thanks to everyone for the tips!
[Source: The Daily Telegraph via Planet F1, BBC Sport | Image Source: Getty]
BREAKING: Schumacher likely to return to F1 racing with Mercedes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Spy Shots: 2011 Audi A7 caught in production form
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury 
2011 Audi A7 Spied - Click above for high-res image gallery
The intrepid spy shooters at KGP have caught the 2011 Audi A7 uncovered in a testing lab in Germany ahead of its official reveal next year, and the sleek, low-slung saloon/coupe hasn't lost much of its flavor in the transition from showcar to production.
Although the shots don't give us a clear view of the front fascia, the headlamps and front clip have obviously been toned down from its conceptual predecessor shown earlier this year the Detroit Auto Show. However, its sloping roofline and well-integrated hatch would appear to prove that at least one automaker can create a five-door hatch that's simultaneously attractive and functional.
If our tea leaf-reading is accurate, we'd expect to see the A7 make its production debut either in Detroit this January or at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Powertrain options should include everything from Audi's turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four to the S4's supercharged six, along with a V8 option further down the line. And if the BMW 5 Series GranTurismo proves to be a hit in the States, we won't be at all surprised if Audi follows suit and by offering the A7 in North America.
Spy Shots: 2011 Audi A7 caught in production form originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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VIDEO: Audi teases the new A8 ahead of Sunshine State debut
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Videos, Audi, Luxury 
We still have a bit over a week until Audi officially pulls the wraps off its next-generation A8 flagship sedan in Miami. As a holdover, however, they have released a teaser video, and we've got it for you. The operative word here is tease. As usual, very little of the car is actually shown, although a variety of phrases are overlaid on the imagery which feature terms like "creativity," "aesthetics," and "art factory." From a couple of the images (including the one captured above), it appears that the new A8 will probably be more sculpted than previous models, and it will likely feature elements like the so-called "tornado line" used on the side of the A4 and A5.
As a brand headliner, the A8 will surely feature an "intensive abundance of research and ideas" such as the rumored touch pad interface with handwriting or gesture recognition for the controls. No doubt more details will be trickling out over the coming week, and we'll be on hand in Miami to give you the full details as the car is revealed. In the meantime, you can check out the video now by clicking past the jump.
[Source: Audi]Continue reading VIDEO: Audi teases the new A8 ahead of Sunshine State debut VIDEO: Audi teases the new A8 ahead of Sunshine State debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Range-topping Lamborghini Urus rumored anew
Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Lamborghini, Rumormill
2010 Lamborghini Reventón Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery
So you like the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV, but you're struggling to justify the price. After all, it may be just as fast as the Reventón, but it only costs a third of that range-topping bull. You like that it's the latest limited-edition hypercar from Sant'Agata Bolognese, but will everyone think you're slumming by not getting the most expensive bull in the barn? Come to think of it, maybe you can hold out for the Reventón Roadster, which should easily surpass the coupe as the ne plus ultra in the Lambo lineup. Of course, you could just stick with your ordinary LP640-4 or LP650-4 Roadster a little longer and wait for the Murcielago replacement in a year or two.
When that so-called Jota finally debuts, it will bring with it a new carbon fiber chassis and an equally new direct-injected 6.0-liter V12 thought to be good for at least 700 horsepower. Yeah, that's probably the way to go. After all, the economy isn't exactly the best right now and plunking down $1.5M for a new car might make others unnecessarily envious. Haters. Of course, if you wait too long, you might find yourself debating waiting a little longer still for the Jota-besting halo car from Lamborghini, the rumored Urus.
CARS UK is quoting "a source close to Lamborghini" when they talk about this new halo vehicle, which is expected to take on all comers, especially that "FX70" Enzo-replacement coming out of Maranello. Using a modified Jota chassis, the Urus will go on an even stricter diet to make it a featherweight lighter heavyweight. It will drop the few bits of aluminum that are expected to be used on the Jota and go all carbon fiber. That, active aerodynamics, and a nearly 800 horsepower version of the Jota V12 in its engine bay should allow the Urus to challenge even the Bugatti Veyron with a sub-3-second 0-60mph time. The real question becomes -- Can you wait until 2012 for the Urus or will you buckle a year earlier and pop for the Jota in 2011? You know what, just get both.
[Source: Cars UK]Range-topping Lamborghini Urus rumored anew originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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VIDEO: The answer to how Honda will market the Accord Crosstour? Animated jazz
Filed under: Wagon, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda
We're not so sure about the Honda Accord Crosstour. It's definitely a Honda, so at least from a marketer's perspective, that''s a big plus, but the big crossover/hatchback//wagon/thing isn't exactly what we'd call pretty, and worse, it isn't even as functional as its competitors. We're not alone in our criticism of Honda's latest, as the Japanese automaker has heard more than its fair share of Crosstour complaints on the Internets. Like it or loathe it, though, the Crosstour is upon us, and Honda dealers need to sell it. We were curious as to how Honda might try to ply such an odd duck, and we have at least a preliminary answer waiting for you after the jump.
The commercial starts off with about 15 seconds of oddly animated polygon characters playing some smooth, Cosby Show-style jazz. Between 15 and 20 seconds we see the band's instruments fitting in the Crosstour's hatch (though oddly, they don't play up the car's chief storage trick, its hidden storage box). At the 20 second mark, we finally see the Crosstour in the flesh, and the spot wraps up with a few words from actor Kevin Spacey as always. We're far from convinced, but you'll want to hit the jump to judge the 30 second spot for yourself.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Honda]Continue reading VIDEO: The answer to how Honda will market the Accord Crosstour? Animated jazz VIDEO: The answer to how Honda will market the Accord Crosstour? Animated jazz originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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First Drive: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT is a CUV we can live with
Filed under: Japan, Crossover, Mitsubishi, First Drive 
2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT - Click above for high-res image gallery
Mitsubishi presented its best and brightest rides for us to drive over the course of an eight-hour event in the parched desert oasis of Palm Springs, CA. Everything from a tuned, 290-hp Lancer Sportback Ralliart to an electric i MiEV. And drive them we did. We rocketed up winding mountain roads and down gravel-caked trails. If they brought it, we pounded on it. Fairly hard, too. Odd then that the focus of this particular review - and in many ways the star of the party - isn't some carbon fiber body kit-enhanced EVO X, but rather the new 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT.
Yup, an SUV. Actually, a CUV, albeit one with lots of ground clearance. Mitsubishi first introduced the second generation Outlander in 2006 (replacing the more wagon-esque first gen.), and 2010 marks a major refresh. In GT trim, almost everything has changed, from the exterior to the interior to the quantity and quality of gadgets to the engine output to the transmission and finally, most importantly, its all-wheel-drive system. The 2009 Outlander was a fine, competent, utilitarian machine - perfectly adequate for schlepping kids and groceries. But let's be frank, it didn't set hearts on fire. And while the new Outlander GT won't necessarily do that either, it's most definitely not just another sedan on stilts.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT is a CUV we can live with First Drive: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT is a CUV we can live with originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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