2012 BMW M6

2012 BMW M6: Armed with a big TwinPower Turbo V8 engine, the new M6 is here to deliver a 560 HP ass-whooping to the CTS-V and any other coupe with the balls to get in the ring with this Teutonic two-door. But, if you're hoping for a manual don't hold your breath. At least not this year anyway. That engine's the same one already found in the BMW X5M, X6M and M5. 

The 4.4-liter engine develops a peak output of 560 hp at 5,750 – 7,000 rpm, while its maximum torque of 500 lb-ft is on tap between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. The rev limiter intervenes at 7,200 rpm. The rev band is therefore almost three times as wide as that of the V10 engine in the previous generation M6. Not too shabby if you ask me. As in the V8 engine of the X5M, the two twin-scroll turbochargers are placed (along with the catalytic converters) in the V-space between the two cylinder banks in a reverse flow layout.

Categories: 2012 BMW M6, BMW

1968 Dodge Charger

1968 Dodge Charger: The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi was a muscle car with star quality.Charger's new hidden-headlamp grille, curvy body, elegant recessed backlight, refined tail, and spare use of chrome represented a styling high point for '60s muscle cars. And in R/T form, its performance justified equal praise. For $3,506, the R/T came with the 375-bhp 440-cid four-barrel Magnum V-8, heavy-duty brakes, R/T handling package, and F70Xl4 tires. 

The rear bumblebee stripe could be left off, while inside, the original Charger's space-age interior gave way to less flashy, more functional decor. The only engine option was the mighty 426 Hemi, at $605. Chrysler strengthened it for '68, with a slightly longer-duration cam, new valve springs, and revisions that reduced oil consumption. It was still underrated at 425 bhp, but as Car and Driver marveled, "There just isn't more honest horsepower available off the showroom floor than you get from this bright orange monster."

Categories: 1968 Dodge Charger, Dodge

2012 Chrysler 300C SRT8

2012 Chrysler 300C SRT8: The 470-horsepower 2012 Chrysler 300C SRT8 matches rev with grunt, pounding out 470 lb-ft of torque; yet it gets 25% better highway mileage than its predecessor. One spotted car was red, one was titanium with a black chrome grille surround and black chrome wheels; the final car uses silver Brembo calipers, with 14.2 inch front and 13.8 inch rear vented, slotted rotors. 

Already alert braking system sets the pads closer to the rotors to reduce lag time when the driver suddenly releases the gas pedal. Brake fade is reduced thanks to new cooling ducts. New for 2012 is an adaptive damping suspension (ADS) system which adjusts the suspension based on speed, steering angle and speed, brake torque, throttle position, and acceleration (vertical and lateral). A Sport mode locks the system into a higher damping rate.

Categories: 2012 Chrysler 300C SRT8

2012 Chevy Cruze

2012 Chevy Cruze: Cruze is offered in three distinct trim levels besides Eco. The base car, powered by a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four, is designated "LS." In the middle, there are two "LT" models, and at the top-of-the-line is the "LTZ." In two model years, GM has offered nine different powertrain combinations on the Cruze, including four different transmissions – you'll need a scorecard to keep up.

Parsing all the possible powertrain combinations on the Cruze is necessary because, as attractive as that 42 mpg number is, most people like automatics. That GM has to deploy a manual to hit that number is something of a problem, given that the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra nail 40 EPA-rated miles per gallon with automatics. (Ford has its own problem on this score: A less-than-smooth-shifting dual-clutch gearbox.) Even if you prefer rowing your own gears, the Eco's manual transmission can be frustrating.

Categories: 2012 Chevy Cruze, Chevrolet

2014 Lotus Esprit

2014 Lotus Esprit: New Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, who was previously senior vice president of brand management at Ferrari, has a beautiful grand plan for the small manufacturer of sports cars in Britain, it upscale the Elise, Exige, and Evora a series outright to Porsche. Among the new Elan, Elise, Elite, and Eterne lead predators to the mid-engine supercar Spirit, which revives the name used on the Giugiaro-designed hold two seats went on sale in 1976.

The new car is expected in 2013 as the model 2014. As the last Spirit, which comes with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-8 engine from 1996 to 2004 new cars a bent-eight mounted amidships. But while the old engine was developed in house, the car uses a 5.0-liter V-8 from the Lexus IS F and turbocharged engines. Lotus should have done a little more than a slap on the turbo, the engine running at 8500 rpm (the SI unit of red lines F in 6800).

Categories: 2014 Lotus Esprit, Lotus

2013 Cadillac Escalade

2013 Cadillac Escalade: Cadillac is a brand that has been in the auto business from years back, and then, as a division of the GM Corporation, the Cadillac has already prepared to yet again introduce its most recent edition of the Cadillac Escalade. The 2013 Cadillac Escalade is a name of the product, and as a sophisticated SUV, the 2013 Cadillac Escalade is intended to provide the driver and also the passenger with the ability to run over various tracks.

2013 Cadillac Escalade will likely be the fourth generation of the Cadillac Escalade collection, where 4th generation will likely be fabricated within the Cadillac plant in Silao, Mexico. The 2013 Cadillac Escalade is planned to be backed up with the Cadillac’s 6.2 liters Vortex 6200 V8 engine, where this extensive engine will probably be able to give the vehicle with roughly 403 horsepower.

Categories: 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac

2013 Chevy Silverado

2013 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 HD will be capable of operating on both compressed natural gas and good ol’ pump gas  though not at the same time. According to GM, the truck’s 6.0-liter V-8 is capable of switching seamlessly between its CNG and gas fuel systems. That should help nip CNG range anxiety in the bud, as it allows owners to fill-up just about everywhere. 

GM expects the two trucks to have a range of over 650 miles when operating on both fuels. Chevy and GMC will offer the Silverado and Sierra bi-fuel trucks with two bed lengths: standard and long. That’s just as well because the diamond-plated CNG fuel tank will take up a bit of cargo room, since it’s mounted in the Silverado or Sierra’s bed. The CNG fuel tank is installed by a GM supplier, and fully-backed by a GM warranty.

Categories: 2013 Chevy Silverado, Chevrolet

2012 Charger

2012 Charger: Challenger, not during its first year. That’s right, announced during the Chicago Auto Show, Dodge is bringing back the SRT8 for its 2012 Charger, complete with the 392 HEMI underhood. On paper, it seems the 465 horsepower / 465 lb-ft torque produced by the 6.4L V8 is slightly detuned from the Challenger’s 470 hp, Dodge is estimating 0-60 mph sprints in the 4 second range and 1/4 mile times for the sedan dipping into the 12′s (oh, and a top speed of 175 mph). 

All this will run through the W5A580 five-speed automatic with a manual mode for more spirited control over the gears. And as always, extra goodies come with wearing the SRT badge. Large Brembo brakes, an adaptive suspension system, 20″ forged aluminum wheels and even a special 19 speaker sound system come along for the ride, among other upgrades.

Categories: 2012 Charger, Dodge

2012 Charger SRT8

2012 Charger SRT8: when you consider the 465 reasons to want this car. That’s the number of horsepower the 6.4-liter beast of a Hemi V-8 makes. The sport seats feel a lot like the ones in the last Charger SRT8, so they ought to provide plenty of lateral support in sweeping corners. I hope the metal-and-leather steering wheel makes it into all of Chrysler’s SRT products. It has a thick, flat-bottom rim and thumb grips at 3 and 9 o’clock. Very cool. 

The paddle shifters sit adjacent to the stereo’s seek/voIntroducing a car with over-the-top power has been a dubious exercise in the past half-decade, representing reckless waste in a world turned green followed by needless extravagance in a world turned broke. I can’t vouch for fuel efficiency; Chrysler says this will be a little better than before, but that’s little reassurance given the old Charger SRT8 got an EPA-estimated combined 15 mpg. lume buttons.

Categories: 2012 Charger SRT8, Dodge

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8: Debuted at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, signaling a renewal of Dodge as a high-performance brand. The Charger SRT8 went on hiatus for the 2011 model year, after Chrysler sold just 688 Charger SRT8s in 2010. The 2012 Charger SRT8 gets some major revisions versus the 2010 model, most notably under the hood. The 2012 model gets a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that churns out an estimated 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. 

Dodge said specific horsepower, torque and fuel economy numbers will be announced closer to introduction in the fall. Pricing has not been announced. The Charger SRT8 will also get standard paddle shifters and a five-speed automatic transmission. It has an estimated top speed of 175 mph and an estimated 0-60-mph time in the "high 4-second range," said Dodge.

Categories: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8, Dodge

2012 Subaru Impreza

2012 Subaru Impreza: The Subaru Impreza has long been high on the list of alternatives. But with the new 2012, it leaps to the top. Styled like a small hatch, but with the interior room and comfort of a car a full size class larger. Built solidly, with good materials...you get the sense that it'll be a long time before you hear a squeak or a rattle.

Starting price is $19,595 (non-Premium sedans can be had in the 17s, but it's the Premium 5-door we drove and are talking about here)...with the 148 horsepower 2.0 liter Subaru boxer engine, 16 inch wheels, cruise control, tilt/telescopic steering column, power locks, windows and mirrors, multi-function trip computer, 6-speaker audio system, air conditioning and of course, all wheel drive (it's a Subaru).

Categories: 2012 Subaru Impreza, Subaru

2012 Subaru Forester

2012 Subaru Forester: includes naturally aspirated models, designated 2.5X, and the 2.5XT models powered by a 224-hp turbocharged/intercooled Boxer engine. The 2.5X models last year debuted an all-new double-overhead-cam (DOHC) 2.5-liter Boxer engine for increased fuel efficiency. The Forester is Subaru’s best-selling vehicle and, like all Subaru models, features Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard equipment.

The new optional navigation package available for 2.5X Limited and Touring and 2.5 XT Touring includes a touch-screen navigation system with 6.1-inch display, rear vision camera, AM/FM stereo with HD Radio™, single-disc CD player with MP3/WMA file capability, 6 speakers (7 on Touring with subwoofer), voice-activated controls, Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming, iPod® control capability, iTunes® tagging, USB port, 3.5mm auxiliary input jack, SMS text messaging capability, XMV Satellite Radio (requires subscription)

Categories: 2012 Subaru Forester, Subaru

2012 Ferrari Enzo

2012 Ferrari Enzo: that will be provided in a special edition, not only that 2012 Ferrari Enzo also will have a better performance than previous generations, supported by a V8 engine or a twin turbocharged V6 with direct fuel injection, and 6-cylinder engine instead of part of their plans for 2012 Enzo Ferrari as customers still prefer larger engines in their supercar.

It is submitted by the Office of the Italian boss Amedeo Felisa. 2012 Ferrari Enzo that was designed to be a model used to take the fight against mass-production vehicle the company, as well as all designs will be made of material used in carbon fiber, for the 2012 Ferrari Enzo is a car that is not intended for everyday use.

Categories: 2012 Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari

2012 Ferrari California

2012 Ferrari California: Weight reduction isn't usually half of a mid-cycle refresh, but latest California arrives sixty six pounds trimmer than the outgoing model. As a result of that increased power and reduced weight, the California now takes just 3.eight second to sprint from 0-sixty two an improvement of zero.2 seconds.

Interestingly, the California truly started life as a Maserati. It was developed under the codename M139 M for Maserati and was meant to complete Maserati's current lineup, giving the Italian Marque the Quattroporte sports sedan, the GranTurismo coupe and a hardtop convertible. After Ferrari's 2005 split from Maserati, the prancing horse automaker decided to stay the M139 program entirely for itself.

Categories: 2012 Ferrari California, Ferrari

1985 Alpina B6

1985 Alpina B6: is a rare sight in the USA and will likely outperform all but the most modified E30 M3′s. The seller claims over 230hp from the naturally aspirated 6-cylinder and the stance and Euro bumpers make for a fantastic attitude. Dark gray us the perfect color and the rubber lip spoiler and deep chin spoiler separate this car from the numerous decaying North American E30′s. 

The interior features newly covered sport seats in gray with black piping. The dash was supposedly replaced but retains the Euro cluster with metric gauges. The 4-spoke steering wheel has the right look and details like a new headliner and re-sealed sunroof are also nice touches. This car will cost you the same as a fairly nice M3, but will behave completely different. The 6-cylinder can make up for any gearing issues and the car would look even better with new BMW roundels and a few less Alpina references.

Categories: 1985 Alpina B6, BMW

BMW E30 M3

BMW E30 M3: This car is an original California example with VIN-matched panels all around. It sits on a recent Ground Control coil-over suspension and sweet looking 18″ BBS LM replicas. We wish they were real, too, but the price would again be much higher. We like the yellow high-beams but if given the choice would go clear. Inside the tan interior wouldn’t be our first choice, but the seats need covers so it might be a good time to change to black or an interesting M-Technic Euro cloth pattern. 

Black carpets and door panels should be easy enough to source. The engine has 208k but recently received rod bearings.  That is a fairly invasive repair and we imagine that the valvetrain and rings can’t be far behind. We’re tempted to tidy up the engoine compartment with new fluid containers and stock black finishes, but after the car is paid for the next paycheck should likely be directed into the 2.5L replacement fund.

Categories: BMW, BMW E30 M3