Porsche‘s announcement that a Cayenne Diesel will finally be available to U.S. buyers was fairly big news at this year’s New York Auto Show. However, we’ve now learned that the Stuttgart automaker plans to introduce a more powerful oil burning SUV, a V8 diesel Cayenne S.

Details are still rather sketchy on exactly which engine it will use. While the existing V8 diesel used by Audi for its A8 flagship might seem the most logical choice, it’s getting on in years and with looming tighter emissions standards in Europe it probably won’t make the cut.

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According to a recent government study, the average American family now spends more a year on transportation than food. While higher gas prices are a significant factor, the study also says a big part of the problem lies with traffic congestion (which wastes a whopping $1.9 billion per year).

Furthermore, a lack of adequate public transportation in many areas and a crumbling infrastructure of roads, bridges and tunnels is making the situation worse.

Given that many municipalities have seen their budgets cut in recent years and with the cost of new construction projects and public transportation initiatives, plus a current lack of enthusiasm among voters for supporting them (raising taxes to fund such projects is essentially the only choice), it is unlikely we’ll see any improvements to the situation soon.

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Sounds too good to be true? Well if you’re a racer the news is probably music to your ears. Recognizing how popular the Civic Si has become in motorsport circles, particularly road racing, Honda Racing displayed a 2012 body-in-white Civic Si at SEMA last year and is now offering them up for $3500 a piece.

Following on from a practice used by other automakers, the body-in-white program is available exclusively to bona fide racers, and enables them to get a basic shell along with suspension, differential, brakes and a toe strap.  It’s then up to them to add the rest such as the engine, gearbox, roll cage, instruments, seat, harness and other necessary equipment.

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Have you always wanted a muscle car or exotic but budget and necessity mean you end up driving a compact or minivan? Well, 2XL Games has a solution, namely in its XLR8 smart phone app.

By downloading it your smart phone, XLR8, reproduces the sounds your vehicle’s engine makes under acceleration, cornering and braking but with a twist. Instead of a buzzy four cylinder, the exhaust note sounds like a muscular V8 running a high-lift cam and open exhaust, perfectly matched to your car’s acceleration, cornering and braking.

It does this via accelerometers and a GPS system inside your iPhone, Android or other portable device. By hooking up the phone to your vehicle’s sound system in much the same way as a MP3, simply choose the app and press the button.

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It seems we’re all becoming a little more fuel conscious these days and that includes the military. While in the past, heavy battle tanks and armored carriers that did eight gallons to the mile were deemed acceptable, that’s apparently no longer the case.

As the 21st century unfolds, even the military (which in 2008 consumed about 1.5 percent of all oil in the U.S.), is looking to more fuel efficient solutions when it comes to vehicle design and development.

Helping its cause will be a brand new, state-of-the-art Ground Systems Power and Energy laboratory complex in Warren, Mich. that will be operated by the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). The opening of the labs creates some 150 new job positions, in addition to the 1,500 souls already employed by TARDEC, which primarily consist of engineers, researchers and scientists.

This week, Federal and Michigan State officials announced the grand opening of the new lab complex which covers some 30,000 square feet, something that many consider to be well timed. That’s especially true as military presence is scaled back in the Great Lake State with planned cuts at a number of facilities including the large Selfridge Air National Guard base located between Metro Detroit and Port Huron.

John Wray, a TARDEC spokesman, said hiring for the new lab positions will be incremental, while also mentioning that introducing more fuel efficient vehicles, including those with hybrid propulsion, can save lives. “For every one percent improvement in fuel efficiency, the need for 6,444 solider fuel trips is eliminated,” he said.

[Source: The Detroit News]

When it comes to pure electric cars, range anxiety is never far from the conversation. Indeed, here at AutoGuide, we’ve had a number of experiences when cars almost ran out of juice, including the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i.

In the Leaf’s case, getting the car from to and from the AutoGuide office proved to be somewhat unnerving, given the 40-mile distance from house to office alone.

And we’re not alone, anybody driving more than a 30 mile round trip each day is likely to face a similar scenario (Nissan says the car has a range of about 70 miles in real world driving before requiring a charge).

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A decade ago, General Motors announced a limited run off of 2002 Chevy Monte Carlo coupes. Know as the SS “Intimidator,” these cars were built as a tribute to the late, great NASCAR legend Dale Earhardt.

Given their limited production and unique trim and color scheme, these cars have become quite prized in certain circles, notably among NASCAR fans and even car collectors. Now one of these cars, in much the same condition as when it first rolled off the line, is being sold for a worthy cause.

It will be auctioned off at the spring Toronto Classic Car Auction with part of the proceeds being donated to a local hospital to help fund a new urgent care unit.

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Last year, we reported that Volkswagen was considering a second generation successor to the controversial Phaeton and now it looks like those plans might become reality.

Despite being an unmitigated flop in the US and not doing too much better in Europe, VW’s flagship has found a much better reception in China, where long wheelbase sedans are proving a hit with more affluent consumers. In fact this has led to certain manufacturers introducing LWB versions of smaller cars, notably BMW with it’s 3-Series.

Given the relative popularity of the Phaeton in China, as well as VW’s long established presence there, a second generation model makes more business sense now than it did before.

As we previously reported, much of the car’s engineering will be shared with the next generation Audi A8, which will mean some form of aluminum monocoque construction. That said, despite the reduction in mass and smaller displacement engines, likely four and six-cylinder motors, plus the possible option of a Plug-in Hybrid driveline, the new Phaeton will actually be dimensionally larger than the old, with even the short version sporting a 196-inch wheelbase.

The next generation Phaeton is set to bow in 2015 and aimed at the same kind of buyer as its predecessor. It’s “a sedan for the person who’s successful but doesn’t feel the need to show it,” remarked a VW spokesperson. “Volkswagen doesn’t change course between generations of a car. It’s always easier to keep the customers you have than to lose them and go find new ones.”

Whether sticking to the same principles proves a wise move for the second generation Phaeton, remains to be seen. Nonetheless, you can’t help but admire VW for doing so.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

After Chevrolet temporarily halted production of the Camaro ZL1 at the Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant due to a potential software problem, we reported recently that it had been green lit once again.

However, given that the three-week hiatus caused a hiccup in the original production schedule of the car, General Motors has now released some information regarding how many ZL1 coupes will be built and when they’ll be made available.

As it stands some 1,100 orders out of the original 2012 allocation (less than 3000 units)  are currently outstanding. That said, given the time required for changeover to new model year production, GM has said it will only build a further 500 as 2012 models.  The remaining 600 cars will be serialed as 2013 models, manufacture of which isn’t scheduled to begin until sometime after April.

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Besides unveiling the production 2013 Lincoln MKZ, the first vehicle to result from the division’s new found “independence,” the New York Auto Show served as a venue for Ford to discuss it’s planned “Lincoln Experience.”

One of the biggest thrusts is really taking the idea of customer service to a new level, so initiatives such as the Lincoln Academy are underway, designed to fundamentally change the way in which Lincoln representatives work with clients. In order to do that, Lincoln is going outside traditional channels, tapping into resources like Les Clef’s D’Or (prounced clay dore or literally translated golden keys), to help train staff in new and unique ways when it comes to customer service.

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It looks like the days of plugging in your mobile device to a 12-volt power outlet might soon be over, at least if you drive a Chrysler product. Beginning with the 2013 Dodge Dart, the company has announced it will be introducing a wireless in-car charging system.

The system uses a storage bin that measures 8.27 x 9.5 x 3.25 inches. Mounted below the center stack and in front of the console, it features an integrated charging grid that allows a smart phone or other portable device to be charged when placed on top of it (a special device casing with pins on it is required for your phone or other devices to be charged).

The wireless charging device, which will be offered through Chrysler’s Mopar Parts and Accessories division, will retail for $199.99 plus installation by your local dealer. It will be available starting this summer, timed for introduction alongside the new Dodge Dart.

Since it’s 2011 refresh, the Ford Explorer has’t really set the world alight, at least among those that remember the old 5.0-liter and 4.6 V8 models that offered both gusto and family practicality.

Having introduced a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder in the 2012 model, Ford decided to kick things up a notch with the 2013 Explorer Sport, launching a 3.5-liter EcoBoost powered flagship Sport model.

Rated at the same 350 horsepower as the Taurus SHO and delivering 350 lb-ft of torque, the Sport is designed to deliver that extra dose of pizzazz without sacrificing fuel economy (Ford says it will deliver a projected 22 miles per gallon on the highway).

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At least that’s the case in the U.S. In Europe a production version of this wagon has been on sale for several months, but despite being on display at this year’s New York Auto Show, the official line from Volkswagen was  just a study designed to gauge public reaction.

However, given the success of vehicles like Subaru’s Legacy Outback here and even Audi’s AllRoad, it seems like a no-brainer to us for a North American version to be made available to dealers.

However, the powertrain may be of some concern in the American market. The European car is offered with a choice of 2.0-liter diesels (the concept in NY sports the 140 hp version) though making that marketable here would probably require a gas option.

That said, a combination of 4Motion all-wheel drive, raised ride height, electronic locking differentials and decent cargo capacity are bound to strike a chord with a healthy portion of North American vehicle shoppers. We’ll see if VW has anything else to say about it once New York show wraps up.

GALLERY: Volkswagen Passat AllTrack concept

According to brand CEO Fred Diaz, the 2013 Ram 1500 was due to receive a mid-life freshening. However, what’s ultimately emerged is an extensively re-engineered truck, despite looking familiar on the outside.

Key developments, many in a gesture toward improved fuel economy, include a re-designed frame that’s both lighter and stronger than last year’s true. In addition, there’s also an eight-speed automatic transmission (the TorqueFlite 8), that’s teamed not only with the base 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 but also the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. There’s also a rotary shifter on the center stack designed to make engaging gears easier and free up additional interior room.

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There’s a bit of an oil burner renaissance going on at this year’s New York Auto Show. Besides Mazda talking about Skyactiv Diesels, and Mercedes revealing a diesel GLK, Porsche also made news, displaying its Cayenne Diesel SUV in U.S. specification.

While it’s VW Touraeg counterpart is already offered with a diesel motor here, until now an oil burning Cayenne simply wasn’t available. Now that’s changed. Thanks to trickery such as AdBlue fluid injected into the exhaust and what Porsche called selective catalytic reduction technology, the 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 is able to pass tough Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards and hence become certified for sale in the US.

GALLERY: 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel

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If there’s one car that we’ve been looking forward to seeing at this year’s New York Auto Show, more than any other, it’s the next generation Viper. Very nearly sold off during Chrysler‘s turbulent years under Cerberus, like any great icon, it managed to endure. 

Not only that, but even before the last fourth generation SRT 10 examples were rolling out the door, a plan was underway to introduce a new one; an American super car re-imagined for the 21st century. Now it’s been revealed to the world for the first time.

Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology Brand perhaps summed it up best. “Beyond being the flagship for the new SRT brand, the launch of the 2013 Viper proves that we simply would not let the performance icon of the Chrysler Group die,” he said to raucous reception. Indeed.

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BMW clearly has a bit of an open air theme at this year’s New York Auto Show. Call it spring fever (the buds are already blooming in Manhattan as I write), or call it simply a more relaxed approach, it’s definitely about going topless.

Besides recently announcing the i8 Spyder, the Munich based automaker has just unveiled a drop top version of the M6, (shown in coupe form in Geneva last month). In terms of specs, the roofless version essentially mirrors its tin top counterpart.

It’s got the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood, cranking out 560 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, it’s got the 7-speed dual clutch transmission with Drive Logic and an active rear differential that can automatically adjust from fully open to fully locked, enabling the back tires to provide the maximum amount of traction depending on the road conditions.

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Details were leaked on it yesterday, ahead of the official debut. However, now that the BMW X1 has been revealed in US specification, we’ve finally got the chance to have a good look at it during the car’s official debut at the New York Auto Show.

More aggressive looking than its slightly bigger brother, the X3, BMW’s latest compact crossover has already been on sale in Europe and Canada, but 2013 marks the first time buyers will be able to snap one up in the US. For the 2013 model year, the X1 has been given a mild facelift with revised headlight housings and upgraded interior materials, including helpings of electroplated trim on the console and shifter.

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At least that’s the news according to statistics released by the two American automakers. Chrysler said it sold 34 percent more vehicles this March, versus the same period last year, delivering some 161,381 cars and trucks, versus 121,730 in March 2011.

Jeep and Ram truck demand was particularly strong, with gains of 35 and 22 percent respectively. Ford said it had seen sales grow by some five percent with sales reaching 222,884 units last month versus 212,295 in March 2011.

Despite declines in Buick and Cadillac sales, General Motors said it had seen overall demand grow by 12 percent in March to 231,052 units, largely fuelled by sales of small cars. Don Johnson, GM’s vice president of US sales remarked that,”the economic recovery and a deep bench of fuel-efficient cars and crossovers have been driving our sales for more than a year, but the combined impact has never been stronger than it was in March.”  The General said it sold a record 100,000 vehicles last month that get at least 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

A number of analysts believe the growth in auto sales last month can be partly attributed to this year’s unseasonably mild winter, which had consumers flocking to dealers earlier than the traditional spring selling season; other factors include a plethora of new models hitting the streets as well as lower unemployment statistics and easier access to credit for many.

Many industry observers are keeping a close eye on gas prices to see if they have an effect on auto sales this year; as currently they’re around the $4.00 gallon mark, traditionally seen as the tipping point which consumers change their car buying and driving habits.

Nonetheless, the outlook remains generally optimistic. “Barring any future shock related to geopolitical issues in the gulf region and further upward pressure on the price of oil, we believe sales will continue on a solid pace for the balance of the year, said John Humphrey” J.D. Power and Associates senior vice president of global operations.

[Source: New York Times via Auto News]

We’ve been hearing a lot about the so called “Taxi of Tomorrow,” but until recently we’d only seen renderings and prototypes. Now, on the eve of the 2012 New York Auto Show, following a special gathering in SoHo, Manhattan, Nissan has provided details on the actual version that will apply for hire on the streets of the Big Apple.

Features on the production version include a glass roof “presenting unique features of the city,” sliding rear access doors, easily reached grab handles, opening side windows, fully flat passenger floor, USB connectivity for the driver, a mobile charging 12 volt outlet and USB port for passengers, breathable antimicrobial (germ repellant) seat fabric and even a Hearing Loop System for the audibly impaired.

The NV200 is also the first New York City cab to be crash tested and certified with a full driver/passenger partition and sports front and rear occupant curtain airbags, with seat mounted units for the front row.

All NYC taxi NV200s will be powered by Nissan’s 2.0-liter gas four-cylinder engine and in anticipation of the severe use the cabs will be subjected to, the motor boasts a 150,000 mile warranty (NYC’s roughly 13,000 yellow cabs collectively travel around 500 million miles each year).

The production NV200 goes on public display at the New York International Auto Show from April 6, giving New Yorkers a chance to get up close and personal with the cab they’ll soon be riding around in.

Who would have thought it? Given the flack the Chevy Volt has received at Republican hands over the last few months, former Republican president George H. W. Bush dealt the Volt attackers a serious blow, deciding to purchase one of GM’s extended range electric cars.

The Volt, which has become a symbol of all that’s wrong with the Obama administration according to a number of conservatives, might finally be getting a break. In addition to Bush Sr.’s purchase of a Volt (for his son Neil), there’s growing sentiment among the right that the car might not be that bad after all.

Fred Barnes, writing in the conservatively inclined Weekly Standard, showed sympathy for the Volt, saying it “is not an Obamamobile,” a view that’s been widely held by many Republicans. In perhaps an even more surprising turn, Fox News, the notorious Volt basher, is also apparently changing it’s tune. Lee Spieckerman, CEO of Spieckerman Media and a conservative himself, said during a recent interview on the network that the “Volt is the quickest and most efficient way to bring American fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and nuclear energy to American automobiles. It is a terrific car, it is the iPhone of the automobiles. I’ve driven it and it’s very impressive.”

Volt sales remain sluggish despite GM introducing a zero percent incentive this month, so this change is probably welcome news, though Spieckerman did say that in order for it to truly be successful in the market, the price of the Volt needs to be reduced by about 20 percent, in order to give it a fighting chance against the likes of machines like the Chevy Cruze.

[Source: Yahoo Autos]

In today’s safety conscious world, having a vehicle earn “Top Pick” status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a big deal for many automakers, especially when it’s not just one car, but the entire brand’s lineup. 

Buick has already been awarded IIHS top safety picks for its LaCrosse and Regal sedans, plus the Enclave crossover and now the Verano compact sedan, which was recently bestowed with the same award. That means each model in the current 2012 Buick lineup has been awarded Top Pick status, with the exceptions of the Encore compact crossover, since it hasn’t hit the market yet.

According to IIHS president Adrian Lund the results indicate that “Buick is building state-of-the-art crash protection into every model from the ground up. This means the best overall protection in the most common kinds of crashes, along with standard electronic stability control for helping drivers to stay out of many crashes to begin with.”

Among the key features that have enabled current Buicks to enjoy Top Pick safety status, include the use of high strength steel in the vehicle body structure, ABS and panic braking technology, collapsible pedals, GM’s Stabilitrak dynamic control system and a plethora of airbags – the Verano alone has 10 of them.

Lund’s sentiments are echoed by Jack R. Nerad, veteran auto journalist and editorial director of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com website, who stated in response to the Top Safety pick awards that “Buick buyers want to make certain that any vehicle they buy has state-of-the-art safety features. With this in mind, Buick engineers have incorporated an unprecedented combination of safety systems to more than address that need.”

Interestingly, the newest IIHS Top Pick Buick, the Verano, was also named by kbb.com as one of it’s “Ten Best sedans under $25,000.” Clearly it seems that Buick is indeed back.

Watch the IIHS Verano crash test below.

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Although it’s no secret that most industrialized countries are experiencing ageing populations, which, related to motoring means the average age of drivers on the road is increasing year after year; a study from the University of Michigan has also found, that in many of these nations, younger people are also showing less interest in getting behind the wheel.

According to the study, conducted by the U of M’s Transportation Research Institute in Ann Arbor;  in the US and other developed nations, notably Canada, Germany , Japan, Norway, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom, a higher proportion of internet users led to corresponding lower amount of driver license applications. In the US, dropping application rates saw the ratio of drivers under 30 decrease to 22 percent of the motoring population by 2008; back in 1983 this group represented a third.

According to Michael Sivak, head of the Institute’s human factors group, the lower rate of license applications is “consistent with the hypothesis that access to virtual content through electronic means reduces the need for actual contact among young people.”

Rebecca Linland, an senior analyst with IHS Automotive, agrees with Sivak, stating that, “in every other generation, kids had to leave the house to see their friends and now you can do all that online,” she said. “A car is no longer required.”

However, Lindland does acknowledge that  interests and needs change over time, thus as today’s youth grow older, shifting priorities will likely see them develop requirements for personal transportation down the road. That said, she still thinks the way in which young people today will perceive and use vehicles could very well be different that what we’ve witnessed over the last four or five generations. ”It’s the first time we’ve seen that and that’s why it’s a bit alarming,” she said.

[Source: Automotive News]

Over the last few months, we’ve seen prices at the pumps steadily rise, to the point that the national average is now some $3.90 per gallon.

Some parts of the US, namely the District of Columbia and 10 states, including the likes of California, Illinois, Michigan, New York and Hawaii, are already above the $4.00 per gallon mark (Hawaii is currently the highest at $4.55).

Back in 2008, gas prices rose dramatically, blamed largely on growing demand from tiger economies in Asia (namely China and India), plus a futures market gone wild. Back then, $4.00 per gallon proved the tipping point at which motorists changed their purchasing and driving habits, many trading in large trucks and SUVs for smaller vehicles and simply driving less.

This time however, some analysts say that rising gas prices;  blamed on tensions in the Middle East earlier this year  (notably conflict in Libya and possible confrontations with Iran), along with a recovering global economy which has seen increased demand for crude, might have already peaked. A recent Lundberg survey noted that oil prices have remained relatively stable in March.

“If crude oil prices do not spike again, then gasoline prices will be peaking very soon. They may already be doing so,” remarked survey publisher Trilby Lundberg.

With around a fifth of US oil refining capacity still idled and the Obama administration appearing to be dragging its feet on boosting oil supplies (the Keystone pipeline saga being one hot topic), there are still fears that the price at the pumps could rise even higher, stalling fragile US economic growth.

That said, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, most Americans are spending less on fuel today than they did a generation ago, with 3.7 percent of national spending going to gasoline, as opposed to around 5 percent in the early 1980s.

As a result, despite still being a thorn in the side for most of us, at present, higher gas prices, aren’t generally hurting as much as they used to.

[Source: CNN]