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While there are merits to the safety benefits from riding in a taller, heavier vehicle, there are disadvantages as well. According to safety evaluations from NHTSA, the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban suffered a rollover during a side-impact crash test.

Simulating a passenger car striking the driver’s side at 38 miles an hour, the inertia caused the Suburban to land on its side. Along with the Ford Escape and the Nissan Rogue, the Suburban is the third current-model SUV to tip over during the side-impact test. In typical cases, vehicles should only skid on all four wheels.

From plugging in parameters into a mathematical formula, the NHTSA projects that the Chevrolet Suburban has a 24 percent risk of rolling over in a single accident. Neither GM or NHTSA has responded to requests for comment on the crash tests. Moreover, other than the rollover concern, the Suburban earns top scores in both frontal and side impact crash safety for occupants. However, the overall rating was only dropped to four out of five stars because of the mentioned rollover calculations.

GALLERY: 2012 Chevrolet Suburban Side-Impact Crash Test

[Source: The Examiner]

We could be wrong about this, but we always thought the idea of a limousine was for added comfort and a sense of luxury while going from point A to point B. So label us confused when we spotted this eight-passenger, stretched, matte black, Chevrolet Camaro up on eBay with a current bid of $28,100 at the time of this posting.

As if the look of the stretched Camaro wasn’t silly enough, a glance at the red and black interior proves just how ridiculous of an idea this was. Package it with the dual rear gullwing doors, LED lighting in the wheel wells, and the multiple TV screens and you’ve got an official 140″ head shaker. It also sports 14,655-miles on the odometer and the reserve still wasn’t met.

We’re hoping whoever ends up buying this awesome Camaro gives it over 700-hp and takes it down the quarter mile.

Check out the video after the break.

GALLERY: Stretched Chevrolet Camaro Limo

[Source: eBay]

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Brabus has announced a Roadster variant of their custom Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and it looks to be based on the tuning package for the 700 Biturbo SLS AMG Coupe. Its official debut will be at the upcoming Essen Motor Show on November 26th, 2011.

No official specifications were announced, but based on the Biturbo 700, we can safely assume the Brabus SLS AMG Roadster sports 700-hp with 626 lb-ft of torque thanks to the B63 bi-turbo system. Plenty of carbon fiber components adorn the exterior of the vehicle, though we’re sure there’s slight differences between the Roadster and the Coupe’s styling accessories due to aerodynamics.

Along with the turbo upgrade and styling accessories, Brabus also offers interior customization for the SLS AMG Roadster, as they do with various other Mercedes models.

GALLERY: Brabus Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

[Source: Motorward]

Rumors have been circulating for a while that Volkswagen has been working on a three-row crossover. Now it has been officially confirmed by the Wolfsburg automaker.

The planned “Honda Pilot fighter” as Car & Driver puts it, should help bolster the appeal of VW CUVs amongst US buyers since the two-row Toureg is expensive and doesn’t fit the needs of the majority of shoppers in this segment.

In keeping with its current US market strategy of offering more spacious vehicles at lower prices, expect the new VW crossover, when it does materialize to be priced similar to the Pilot and the Ford Explorer, which should mean somewhere in the low $30k range.

As for engines, the most likely candidates will probably be VW’s 3.6-liter gas V6, with the 3.0-liter V6 TDI diesel a possible option. Given that this new SUV has obviously been designed primarily with the US market in mind, it will probably be built here too, at the firm’s new manufacturing complex on the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, though Mexico remains another possibility.

Alongside the new three-row crossover, a VW exec has also reportedly said that the next generation Tiguan will also be conceived more with a US audience in mind; the current model, is seen by some as perhaps a little too “European” thanks to its compact dimensions, firm ride and GTi like driving characteristics.

[Source: Car & Driver]

Was J.Lo’s performance at the American Music Awards a creative song and dance routine or a commercial for Fiat 500? Either way, it has got people talking… especially when it comes to how much Jennifer Lopez got paid to dance alongside the compact car.

It’s being reported that J.Lo received about $1 million for that dance number – kind of makes you wish you stuck with your tap dancing lessons, doesn’t it?

This isn’t the first time Jennifer and the Fiat 500 have gotten together. The pair has starred together in a series of commercials in this fully integrated marketing campaign. Not only is the Fiat 500 out in full force, the campaign also coincides with launch of the superstar’s new products.

Do you think that Fiat and J.Lo are selling out or is this just the next generation of commercialism and we should just get used to it? Leave your thoughts in the comments sections below. And you can watch Jen and Fiat get down with their bad selves on the dance floor after the jump.

Video after the jump

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12. Toyota Camry

While automakers and outside research firms publish sales figures and earnings reports on a regular basis, one metric we rarely get a glimpse of is how profitable each vehicle is. In an era of re-badging and platform sharing, one would think that the most profitable vehicles are those with a large number of derivatives to spread the cost around. But a new report from Bernstein Research suggests that two factors – price point and volume – are the keys to making big bucks off vehicles. And judging by the list, longevity seems to help as well.

Number 12 on the list is the Toyota Camry, and for good reason. The Camry has a number of factors in its favor – massive volumes, an accessible price point and its made in America (currency fluctuations, particularly a rise in the euro or yen, can make exports unprofitable). Bernstein’s report notes that high volume cars at a medium price point are one of the keys to profitability, and the Camry might be the textbook definition of this formula. The Camry’s twin, the Lexus ES350, was absent from the list, but no doubt earns its keep, as a gilded version of the Camry.

Autocross is generally the safest form of motorsport you can participate in. Most courses are setup to focus on skillful driving rather than high speed passes, leveraging your vehicle’s handling and brakes more than its horsepower. Unfortunately for this Chevrolet Corvette, a cold track with cold tires meant a long, unintentional sideways slide into the curb.

And of course all the action is caught on video and immediately uploaded onto YouTube for the world to see. We’re going to guess this accident is partly driver error and partly (albeit, much smaller) bad course design. Even though the ‘Vette doesn’t seem like it’s going at any real fast rate when the accident occurs, there’s definitely some significant damage to the car, especially to the chassis.

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: Autoblog]

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As Chevrolet continues to expand its lineup into Europe, both the Malibu and Volt received top ratings in the European New Car Assessment crash tests. Both sedans got five stars in all categories and also made the Volt the first U.S.-branded electric car that’s rated with Euro NCAP’s top assessment.

“The Chevy Volt will be sold in Europe as an Opel Ampera and the Malibu’s appearance is its first in the European market.
The results confirm that both vehicles meet today’s highest safety standards. The Volt’s safety performance and propulsion concept highlight the reliability and practicality that is inherent to this outstanding design,” said Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe.

[Source: LeftLane News]

Over a decade ago, Volvo’s vehicles were known to be some of the safest on the planet, but were seen as boring and economical family sedans.

Then they tried to change their image some by adding sportiness to their models and turning towards premium vehicles and even adding some luxury to their brand. Now it just seems like Volvo’s a little bit confused but the manufacturer claims to move further upscale with a new design language and more fuel-efficient engines.

Volvo’s lightweight SPA platform will be seen in new mid-sized and large models starting in 2014, and with those vehicles we’ll also see Volvo’s new generation of smaller, four-cylinder engines. Volvo will also be turning towards turbochargers and plug-in hybrids in search for more power and fuel efficiency.

They also announced that a diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain that’s currently in development will be shown off at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. Volvo is boasting 123-mpg with 440 lb-ft of torque out of this powertrain, with an electric-only mode giving it a range of 30-miles.

Volvo will also continue aiming towards being a luxury brand worldwide and “will go upmarket if the market will bear it.”

The next-generation XC90 will arrive in 2014 while the redesigned S80 will come in 2015. One thing is for sure, Volvo doesn’t have any plans to return to the old-school “brick” look but continue to broaden their new, rounded style.

[Source: Automotive News]

GM has issued a recall on Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pick-up trucks produced between September 9th, 2011 to October 19th, 2011 for a faulty driver’s side seatbelt buckle. An electrical connector on the buckle might not have fit snugly with the connector pins which will cause the seat belt warning light to not illuminate when the belt is not fastened.

It’s not exactly the most disastrous of recalls, though NHTSA wanted to remind everyone that the lack of an audible or visual warning that the driver’s seatbelt isn’t fastened could increase the risk of injury during an accident. Either way, GM will rectify the issue by installing a new electric connector terminal with the recall beginning on November 30th.

[Source: LeftLane News]