Ford‘s 3.5L V6 Ecoboost engine, a twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine that will go into the upcoming F-150 pickup, will put out 365 horsepower and a whopping 420 lb-ft of torque at 2500 rpm.

The 3.5L V6 may lack the outright grunt of Ford’s 6.2L V8, 90 percent of the power is available from 1,750 to 5,000 rpm, while being able to tow 11,300 pounds or carrying a payload of 3,060 pounds.

While Ford says that the Ecoboost will offer class leading fuel economy, mpg figures haven’t been released yet. We’ll keep you posted when they’re finally made public.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: Ford]

Continue Reading…

Porsche has just announced that along with the new Carrera GTS model it will also unveil a limited edition 911 Speedster model at the Paris Auto Show.

An homage to the original 356 Speedster just 356 versions of this convertible sports car will be offered. Powered by a more powerful version of the 3.8-liter flat-six engine, the Speedster makes 408-hp and is offered exclusively with Porsche’s 7-speed PDK gearbox.

Exterior design highlights follow after the Boxster Spyder and take inspiration from the Carrera GT with a shorter and more steeply raked windshield and a double-bubble rear clamshell. It will also get a manual soft top – although its not yet clear if it will be as useless as the Boxster Spyder’s. Also accentuating the car’s performance is a suspension that has been lowered by 60 millimeters (roughly 2-inches), while the rear-drive Speedster runs on the wider Carrera 4 platform. Other highlights include a custom aero kit, Fuchs-style Sport Classic wheels and an exclusive Pure Blue paint color – although it will also be available in Carrara White.

Inside the originality continues with plenty of blue detailing and a checkerboard pattern on the seats.

The 911 Speedster is the latest product to come from Porsche’s in-house Porsche Exclusive tuning arm as the division celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Set to be unveiled at the Paris Auto Show, AutoGuide will be on hand to deliver live photos of the car September 30th.

GALLERY: Porsche 911 Speedster

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Customized hybrids look to be gaining popularity, as is evidenced by this AMS Honda CR-Z. Overall it’s pretty clean but just a tad too aggressive for our tastes. The center exit dual exhaust with a wickedly designed carbon fiber diffuser features more sharp lines and angles than we care to count. The rear spoiler on the trunk is pretty clean though and rounds off the CR-Z’s natural shape pretty well.

The front three-quarter view of the car really shows off AMS’ goal of making this CR-Z aggressive. The kit is headed in the right direction but still looks a bit too busy. We could also do with a different set of wheels – those babies look way too big on that CR-Z’s body.

While this may be the most aggressively tuned CR-Z to date, it’s certain to be outdone soon with Honda having shipped several of its new hybrid coupes do tuners throughout the U.S. to build show cars for the upcoming SEMA Show. We’ve already provided teasers on a few of them and will be sure to report back with full coverage of the 2010 SEMA Show starting in early November.

GALLERY: AMS Honda CR-Z Terra

[Source: Farm of Minds]

Contrary to previous rumors and reports, Lamborghini will not unveil the successor to the Murciélago at the Paris Auto Show at the end of the month. That might leave you to think we’ll see the next generation Gallardo on the stand – but that would also be inaccurate.

Instead, the series of photos Lambo has teased us with so far are of a single “technology demonstrator,” says our source.

Some reports have suggested Lambo will unveil both a concept model and the Murcielago successor (or Jota as its being called). Again, our source indicated that just one model would be shown and that seems to make sense. For an automaker like Lamborghini that releases very few new models it doesn’t make much sense to show more than one at a time.

A recent report by 0-60 Magazine shed light on two new models being shown to dealers, the LB715-5 and the 83X. While the naming would seem to suggest the LB715-5 is the successor to the Murcielago. The 83X is, therefore, the likely Paris concept car which will showcase new technology for the brand.

Built specifically for the Paris Auto Show, the concept vehicle is expected to make extensive use of carbon fiber (likely for the actual chassis), while the photos so far seem to indicate it will use a V10 engine. As is also the case with small production automakers like Lamborghini, you can be sure a concept car won’t be put to waste, meaning that it’s likely to head to production or many of the ideas and components showcased in it will trickle down to future products.

No other details have been provided, but we’ll keep you updated as info continues to spill out. Plus, follow our coverage of the Paris Auto Show starting September 30th.

If you’re the biggest Chevrolet Camaro fan in the world and feel compelled to own anything and everything Camaro, this novelty PC might just be made for you. With a price tag of $1,300 it’s no trinket, but you do get a functional computer for the price (minus the keyboard, mouse and monitor) and it is a cool desk accessory.

The Camaro PC measures in at 20-inches, so it’s pretty portable if you wanted to carry it around to show off or actually use. No specs on the actual processor has been revealed, but we’re guessing it’s an Atom of some sort that’s commonly seen in netbooks. It does sport 8 GB of RAM (which is pretty darn good), a 500 GB hard drive and Windows 7. There’s four total USB ports and a DVD-RW. It also features built-in ethernet and Wi-Fi along with HDMI out and an onboard sound card. The coolest part? The headlights turn on while the computer’s on.

GALLERY: Chevrolet Camaro Replica PC

[Source: Topspeed]

PPI Automotive has taken the Audi R8 V10 and overhauled it into the limited edition Razor GTR-10. With modifications from bumper to bumper, including performance, suspension and aesthetics, it’s a complete package for those that find the standard V10 model too mundane.

Horsepower has increased from 525-hp to 601-hp, plus there’s 417 ft-lbs of torque on tap, a slight increase from the factory 391 ft-lbs. Possibly more impressive is that the car sheds over 550 lbs from its body, making the performance increase that much more noticeable. The 0-62 mph time is now a scant 3.2 seconds.

The weight loss is attributed to a ton of carbon fiber components, with all new doors, roof pillars, side skirts and front bumper. Additional cooling comes from modified side skirts, rear fenders and a rear bumper. The last bits of carbon fiber replacement parts include an adjustable rear spoiler and rear diffuser. The engine bay also features a carbon fiber cover while the trunk sports carbon fiber ram-charged air inlets.

Shedding even more pounds are replacement lightweight MAG11 forged aluminum PPI wheels. Up front are a pair of 19×9-inch sized wheels wrapped with 245/35/19 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires while the rear features 20×12-inch wheels with 325/25/20 matching tires. Flashy orange-metallic brake calipers highlight the brake upgrades.

Suspension modifications lower the vehicle thanks to KW Automotive springs, while a hydraulic lift system has also been installed to raise the front 1.75-inch if needed.

Inside there are even more carbon fiber goodies from e-brake to interior trim while the seats have been reupholstered with Onyx Nubuck leather with colored accents that are customizable. PPI also installs their proprietary steering wheel to the limited edition vehicle.

Hit the link below for all the pics:

[Source: GTSpirit]

General Motors, recently announced that is preparing to invest $483 million and create 483 new jobs at it’s Spring Hill, Tennesse Powertrain complex, which currently builds Ecotec four-cylinder engines. Providing that state and local officials are in agreement, the investment should provide a major shot in the arm for the General, the Spring Hill area and also the United Auto Workers’ union, since the new jobs will be filled by workers laid off, in accordance with the UAW/GM National Labor agreement.

According to Mark Reuss; GM North America President; “The engines made in Spring Hill will drive the success of GM to meet our customer demands for advanced powertrains which offer high fuel economy without sacrificing performance.” He went on to say that, “this new commitment to the Spring Hill team will help GM almost triple its North American production volume of four-cylinder engines with direct injection by 2012.”

Included in the announced spending package is $23 million that will be used to add 30 hourly jobs in response to increased production of current generation Ecotec engines, beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The rest of the money and jobs are planned for development and production of the next generation of Ecotec engines, which are said to be significantly more efficient than those currently available in vehicles such as the Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain, Buick LaCrosse and Regal.

Formula 2 racing is a stepping-stone, giving drivers a chance to compete in open wheel formula racing and experience motorsports in its highest form. Unfortunately that also means crashes occur more frequently and this one is one of those insane crashes that makes you want to rewind and replay over and over.

No one was injured in this accident and the Lithuanian driver, Kazim Vasiliauskas, was able to walk away unscathed. It looks like he was bumped on the side, sending his car flying off the course, barrel rolling several times into the dirt. The best part of it all? Kazim returned to take the pole position in the second race at the Formula 2 Valencia event.

Make sure to check out the video after the break.

[Source: Zer Customs]

Continue Reading…

Although it had yet to be confirmed, there were many hints that Ford‘s venerable compact pickup, the Ranger would end production in the North American market in 2011. Well now that’s been officially declared by Ford, with no replacement in sight.

According to Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s current Vice President of Global Product Development, there are several reasons why the Ranger won’t be replaced here even though a next generation ‘global’ Ranger will be offered in other markets. Kuzak says that this ‘global’ Ranger is approximately 90 percent the size of the current F-150 and that buyers, particularly in the U.S.; would rather spend that little extra to get a full-size truck. But he also said that in overseas markets that 10 percent in size can make a difference, along with the ability to meet different legislative requirements in various countries as well as being able to engineer the truck for both left and right hand drive (aspects that weren’t really considered for the current F-150).

Kuzak also went on to state that the small truck market in North America has been declining for years and now represents just two percent of total vehicle sales (it once accounted for around 10 percent). He also says that people who bought Rangers were also looking primarily for cheap wheels, so their needs can be served by cars like the Fiesta and in the commercial sector, the Transit Connect.

Kuzak didn’t comment on the fact that the decline in small truck sales might be due to a lack of enthusiasm and investment from automakers, with Ford not having updated the Ranger in any significant way since 1993. And yet it still managed to sell a respectably 75,000 units annually.

Ford is also hoping they can move Ranger owners up into the F-150, which as of 2011 will boast a V6 engine that is more fuel efficient than the Ranger’s four-banger.

Given the fact that GM might be considering a new true compact truck in view of the 35 mpg CAFE standards; Chrysler has given the green light for a next generation Dakota and even Scion is looking at a compact truck to complement its lineup of ‘youth oriented’ vehicles, perhaps ditching the Ranger at this time isn’t the best strategy for Ford.

[Source: Autoblog]

Hyundai is set to build the new Elantra at their Alabama factory, as it joins the Sonata and Santa Fe at the plant. The new Elantra is already on sale in South Korea, but is set to debut in U.S. spec at this November’s 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

In a press release, Hyundai CEO John Krafcik said “Hyundai‘s philosophy is to build our vehicles where we sell them, and with the addition of the Elantra to our U.S. production mix we now manufacture our three most popular models right here in the U.S.”

The move to produce the Elantra in the United States allows Hyundai to price the car even more aggressively as it aims to capture an ever larger market share in the United States.

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue Reading…