News that Jaguar and Land Rover won’t exhibit at this year’s North American International Auto Show can be taken as a sign of the diminished importance the Detroit show now plays on the global stage.

There’s more to this story, however, as the reason the two luxury brands will be absent is due to a conflicting schedule with the Auto Expo show in New Delhi, India. While India’s importance as an emerging market can’t be downplayed, the decision has less to do with growing economies and more to do with the fact that JLR parent company Tata Motors, is from India.

In addition, JLR has little new to show a western audience, having already revealed the Jaguar C-X16 and Land Rover DC100 concepts, first at the Frankfurt Motor Show and then at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

JLR has confirmed that executives will still be cruising the show floor. After all, the Range Rover Evoque is on the shortlist for the 2012 Truck of the Year.

[Source: AutoNews]

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Detroit Auto Show Preview here

There’s been quite a lot of talk over the last few years concerning the replacement for Nissan‘s venerable Titan full-size pickup.

After the plan to offer a Ram based vehicle went away, following Chrysler’s bankruptcy and subsequent restructuring, Nissan chose to go it alone when it came to a next generation big pickup, bringing the entire development and engineering process in-house.

However, those plans, which reportedly would have seen a revamped Titan rolled out in 2013, have now been pushed back at least a year, largely as a result of supplier fallout from Japan’s natural disaster back in March. This has left the automaker scrambling to get production back on track as a top priority, diverting resources away from some upcoming vehicle programs.

As a result, during a Q&A session with Automotive News at the LA Auto Show last month, Andy Palmer, Nissan’s vice president for vehicle planning and program management, stated that, regarding a new Titan, “we will come out a little later now. I have made the decision.”

As to what form the new Titan will take, or which powertrains it will offer, little is known at this time, though expect V6 and possibly V8 engines as well as extended and crew cab models. It’ll be also interesting to see if Nissan will attempt to target heavier-duty customers with this one (it’s Titan based NV van currently comes in 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and 1-ton configurations).

Perhaps the most exciting addition to the new Titan, however, will be the addition of a Cummin’s sourced diesel engine.

[Source: Autoweek]

In the run-up to the Detroit Auto Show this January, Lexus has teased a new concept car twice, first showing an aggressive exterior, and then a futuristic interior. Now comes word that the vehicle in question may wear the “LF-LC” badge when it is fully uncovered.

That code says almost all of what we need to know about the car, starting with the LF, which stands for Lexus Future, signifying it is in fact a concept. Next is the second L, which if you take a look at other L models in the Lexus lineup, is a sign that this is a true luxury machine – take the Lexus LS for example.

Finally there’s the C, which is a strong indication that this concept car is a coupe (or perhaps even a convertible).

That said, the LF-LC is likely a concept car aimed at showing the next generation Lexus SC. Of note, there’s no “h” used in the nomenclature, suggesting this model won’t be a hybrid – an unusual move for the luxury brand.

GALLERY: Lexus NAIAS Concept

[Source: Lexus Netherlands blog via LexusEnthusiast]

Check out AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Detroit Auto Show Preview here

Discuss this story at LF-LCForum.com

It’s no secret that Audi is looking to launch a second generation Audi R8 supercar in Spring 2014, a car that it will be lighter and more powerful than the current model.

Besides adopting a multi-material inner structure, which includes carbon fiber for parts such as the transmission tunnel, B-pillars and engine firewall, the new R8 will also feature a 450 horsepower 4.2-liter V8, while the optional V10 motor will be hiked in output to around 550 hp.

There’s also a possibility that in effort to better comply with upcoming fuel economy standards, the V10 will be substituted for a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, similar to that which recently made its debut in the Bentley Continental. In addition, Audi also plans to market a limited run electric version, dubbed the RSe, aimed at buyers who want performance while maintaining a relatively health conscience.

Other features slated to be part of the 2014 R8 include a 7 speed dual-clutch transmission rather than the current 6-speed single clutch unit (no manual gearbox will be offered) a simpler MMI driver interface and variable intensity LED lights. Along with the loss of the stick-shift, Audi is also expected to make a major style change, dropping the trademark sideblades.

A Lamborghini Gallardo cousin will reportedly make its debut slightly ahead of the R8, with a roadster version of the latter due around 2015.

[Source: Car Magazine]

Despite the majority of auto manufacturers reporting record sales and earnings this year thanks to a healthy Chinese market, the future in China may not be as bright as it was in 2011.

China as a whole is dealing with some tough economic factors with their stock market down, real estate prices dropping and now the prices of luxury cars from German manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are selling for way below MSRP. The average price of a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C200 were sold at 16-percent below MSRP at Chinese dealerships, a continual decline from the 14-percent below in October and 3.4-percent below in July. BMW on the other hand, sold their 320i sedan 11-percent below the suggested price, more than triple the initial discount for the 2011 model.

Despite this, Audi posted a 69-percent increase in China deliveries to 29,861 units while BMW had a 9.8-percent increase in sales in China while Mercedes-Benz increased deliveries by 24-percent. But 2011′s growth in China will most certainly not replicate itself in the future to come, which could prove troublesome to many of the manufacturers that are currently undergoing big capacity expansions.

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

We’re pretty sure this video is more of a testament to the stupidity of some people rather than the shortcomings of Ford‘s V6 Mustang.

First of all, we hardly believe that this individual had the opportunity of driving his Mustang “on a closed road at high speeds”, especially considering the quick glance of the road from the video proves it’s your run-of-the-mill public street. Secondly, there’s a reason why Ford – who has been manufacturing vehicles for over a century – put a speed limiter of 112-mph on their new Mustang V6. Lastly, what were you thinking filming yourself trying to go towards 140-mph while driving the car?

The original poster of the video, who is also the owner of the vehicle, bashes Ford stating that the drivetrain was not designed to handle the power of the engine. No, the drivetrain wasn’t designed for people to remove the speed limiter and try to take their V6 Mustang to 140-mph. There’s a V8 for that.

According to the owner, the broken driveshaft caused write a bit of havoc (as one could expect) to the Mustang. There was a hole in the metal floorpan, major exhaust system and muffler damage, broken transmission shifter, broken parking brake, broken interior plastic trim, etc.

Thankfully the majority of the people commenting on the video gives us hope that not everyone is this silly in believing this is Ford’s fault.

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: Autoblog]

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Time lapse videos are probably the new cool thing on the Internet, and this one showcasing AMG Performance Studio customizing a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG proves why.

AMG Performance Studio wanted to show off just what they can do our in Affalterbach and at the same time, let their potential customers know how involved their customizations can be when ordering an AMG vehicle. By starting with a stock, glossy red SLS AMG, the Performance Studio meticulously disassembles the car, transforms the exterior of the vehicle to a matte Yosemite Blue finish, outfits it with a new set of wheels and redoes the entire interior to match the new exterior color scheme.

Check out the time lapse video after the break.

Continue Reading…

Toyota announced today the MSRP for the 2012 RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle. The overall price point on the compact crossover is being increased by an average of $100, or 0.4 percent on all models.

You can get the RAV4 in three different trim packages: the base RAV package, the middle of the road Sport package and the top of the line Limited package, with a choice between a 2.5-liter four cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter V6. Toyota also offers a choice between front wheel drive or electronic on demand four wheel drive.

The starting MSRP is $22,650 and stretches in range up to $28, 650. The 2012 RAV4 will hit dealers on December 20th.

GALLERY: 2012 Toyota RAV4

Last week we received a macro image of a new concept car from Lexus that will be fully revealed at the upcoming 2012 North American International Auto Show. Lexus PR literature revealed only that the concept will introduce a new design direction for the luxury brand but did not hint what role the concept will play for the future line-up.

A new image has been released today revealing an illustration of the concept’s interior. The press release remained just as brief, stating, “The interior of this Lexus design concept hints at the new contemporary, upscale and uniquely Lexus design direction. Created by Calty, the company’s design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., the concept vehicle will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit at 1:25 pm Eastern time on January 9, 2012.”

Details regarding technology or powertrain are unknown but the need for secrecy suggests an imminent paradigm shift for Lexus.

A rare combination of Hollywood and racing history, the Gulf livery racing suit that Steve McQueen wore for the movie Le Mans was sold in a California auction for a steep $800,000. After fees and taxes are taken into account, the total sum is actually $984,000.

With the exception of an automobile, this is the most expensive piece of racing memorabilia ever sold.

From the text of the Profiles in History auction catalog, “When principal filming of Le Mans was completed, Solar Productions donated this suit to the British newspaper, The Observer, for a special La Mans-themed contest in 1971.”

“By answering 3 Le Mans history questions correctly, 12 year-old Timothy Davies of Wolverhampton, England was chosen as the winner and presented with the suit by racing driver Richard ‘Dickie’ Attwood, winner of the 1970 Le Mans race and driver of the Porsche 917K Gulf car during driving sequences in the film.”

[Source: SpeedTV]