Back in January, Jeep launched a competition called “Name My Ride.” It was set up to find the perfect name for Jeep’s latest special edition models.

Much to the company’s surprise, the contest drew in well over 100,000 entries from Jeep enthusiasts, with “Altitude” as the winning name.

Now Jeep is taking the name to new heights but releasing not one, but three models: the Grand Cherokee, Compass and Patriot Altitude editions. Each of these vehicles will receive some special treatment, which starts with the “blacked-out” look you see above.

The Grand Cherokee’s exterior gets a grille surround appearing in black gloss, and mesh grille texture in platinum chrome. A platinum chrome lower fascia applique completes the unique front-end appearance. Black headlamp bezels and a black liftgate light bar continue the theme throughout the vehicle’s exterior. It also gets 20-inch black gloss alloy wheels.

Inside you’ll get leather-trimmed heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a 9-speaker 506-watt sound system with subwoofer, iPod/MP3 connectivity, back-up camera, rear-park assist system, Keyless Enter-N-Go, plus Chrysler Group’s Uconnect hands-free communications system.

Available in six colors, this special edition Grand Cherokee will be available from May with a $35,595 starting price for 4×2 models and $37,595 for 4×4 models.

The Compass and Patriot get a similar styling treatment, albeit with 18-inch and 17-inch wheels respectively. Only four colors are available for the Compass Altitude edition with pricing starting at $22,190 for 4×2 models and $23,940 for 4×4 models.

The Patriot Altitude edition is also available in four colors and its pricing starts at $20,240 for 4×2 models and $23,275 for 4×4 models.

Jeep has seen a 34 percent increase in sales in 2012 and they are certainly hoping to up that figure even more with these new special editions. Pending success, maybe the Liberty and Wrangler will get similar treatment.

GALLERY: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Altitude

GALLERY: 2012 Jeep Compass Altitude

GALLERY: 2012 Jeep Patriot Altitude

Dodge revealed full details this past weekend on it’s new 2012 Challenger Rallye Redline, including the $28,745 price tag.

The new package is a tuned Challenger SXT Plus, which comes with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, making 305 horsepower. Normally an SXT would start at $24,995 but the extra $3,750 offers a list of go-fast parts that aim to offer a more engaging driving experience.

Performance upgrades run through the chassis and drivetrain starting with a cold air intake that improves airflow to the engine. New front and rear sway bars stiffen the chassis and make the car more corner-capable. Further augmenting the cornering, the Rallye Redline edition gets 42 percent firmer monotube shocks in the front and 22 percent in the rear.

Dodge also replaced the 2.65:1 rear axle ratio with a more lively 3.06:1 unit which means acceleration will feel stronger despite having the same engine as the SXT.

Stopping power also improves with larger two-piston calipers at the front and larger vented disc brakes all around.

Playing off the package name, the car gets a centre racing stripe with two smaller lines all running parallell over the car’s length. 20-inch aluminum alloys wrapped in Firestone Firehawk all-season performance tires, which replace the standard 18-inch wheels, also have a thick red line accenting the outer edge.

As a modified version of the SXT Plus, the Rallye Redline comes with the same list of standard features as the unit it’s based on. Those include leather seating — heated in the front, bluetooth cellphone connectivity, electronic stability control and more.

GALLERY: 2012 Challenger Rallye Redline

Chevrolet has announced that its turbocharged Ecotec 1.4 liter engine equipped Sonic subcompact will now be available with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The quickest of its class, the 6-speed manual turbocharged Ecotec 1.4 liter engine propels the Sonic from 0-to-60 mph in 7.8 seconds, faster than the comparable 2012 Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, or Hyundai Accent. Although initial offerings only came with a 6-speed manual, the addition of an automatic transmission makes the Sonic more accessible to more consumers.

According to vehicle line director and chief engineer for North American small cars Jim Danahy, “Providing the option of a turbocharged engine to our non-stick driving Chevy customers allows us to offer everyone the thrill and power of a fuel-efficient Ecotec 1.4L powerplant. Both in the Sonic and Cruze, the engine enables better fuel economy without sacrificing power or performance. It’s really a winning combination.”

The added convenience of an automatic transmission comes at a cost, as 0-to-60 mph acceleration clocks at a slower 8 seconds and will earn an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city and 37 highway, while the manual transmission is capable of 29 in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. What’s more, adding the automatic transmission will take on an additional $440 to the price of a Sonic LT sedan or hatchback, or an additional $630 to the price of a Sonic LTZ sedan or hatchback.

GALLERY: Chevy Sonic

When it comes to the next generation of its popular Escape compact crossover, Ford is leaving nothing to chance, perfecting every aspect of the all-new 2013 model.

In order to make owning the all-new Escape as enjoyable as possible, a team of sound engineers was assembled to create a concert-hall quality audio experience in the cabin. The tuning process has two steps. The first stage is the objective portion, where the engineers monitor sound wave files on laptops hooked up to speakers within the vehicle. The second stage is the subjective portion, relying on a good set of human ears to find the most pleasing quality.

Carefully-selected song recordings were used to test and tune the Escape’s sound system. For example, Stevie Ray Vaughn’s cover of Jimi Hendrix classic “Little Wing” featured a distinct buzzing sound coming from single-coil pickup amplified by tubes. Ford’s audio specialists zeroed in on the song’s characteristics to evaluate tonal balance, ensure quality in the bass region, and to ensure a wide sound stage available in the system.

Next, Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner” a cappella was used to evaluate center staging. Rihanna’s “S.O.S.” was used as well to tune clean bass when mixed with vocals and to make sure that the tweeters will not sound shrill. Other songs were used to ensure dynamics, imaging depth, spatial qualities, as well as bass extension to ensure strong bass won’t shake the doors.

According to audio engineer Christine Templin, “We tuned the audio system so that it sounds natural — as if you’re listening to music inside a theater rather than in your vehicle.”

Available this spring, the Escape will offer three audio options: the standard six-speaker system, a nine-speaker system, and finally a Sony 10-speaker system.

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Escape

Chevrolet released a single teaser image of its all-new Impala today, which will debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show.

 ”The momentum at Chevrolet continues to build with the debut of the 10th generation of the Impala, one of the brand’s most enduring and cherished nameplates,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “The new Impala further strengthens Chevrolet’s passenger car lineup by giving consumers a full-size sedan that balances the desire for distinction with engaging driving dynamics.”

Introduced in 1958, the Impala has been one of Chevrolet’s best-selling cars, going through a series of changes that carried its nameplate from the massive ’58 sport coupe to the front-wheel drive car often seen as a fleet vehicle.

There wasn’t much additional information, but we’ve previously reported that the upcoming Impala will share the Cadillac XTS platform. Hopefully that means a more refined car in the coming generation.

The revised 2013 Ford Mustang is one of the most highly anticipated sports cars to hit our market this year. We first told our readers about the upcoming changes late last year.

One of the features will surely excite car enthusiasts is the new “Track Apps” system. This inbuilt feature has all the performance driving telemetry you could wish for. It has an acceleration timer that lets you record your 0-60 mph, 0-100mph, 1/8th-mile and 1/4-mile times.

There is also an accelerometer which measures g-forces, so now you’ll be able to see how hard the car is working in the corners. Braking performance is another feature with Track apps, which measures your stopping time and distance.

Finally, and possibly the most fun, there is an app that mimics the lights at a drag strip, giving a count down before stomping on the gas pedal.

All these apps will be a source of great fun for Mustang owners, we just want to urge you to do your testing on the track, and not on public roads.

To learn more about this feature, watch the video below.

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Six Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the identical twin to the American Chevrolet Volt, will make an inaugural appearance at this year’s International Rally Monte Carlo.

Entering the Monte Carlo Rally for Alternative Energy Vehicles, the six Amperas will race against 150 other green cars in a series of stages starting March 22 from Annecy-le-Vieux, to Clermont-Ferrand, Luganu, and finally finishing three days later at Monaco.

Regulations for this competition dictates that a car must emit less than 115g/km of CO2 in order to participate. While not as exciting as the WRC event, the Alternative Energy competition can be just as challenging to tackle. The goal is to cover the race distance, maintain a constant speed, all while using as little energy as possible.

The Tesla Roadster emerged victorious at the Monte Carlo rally twice in a row. Intent on giving Tesla a run for its money, the Opel Ampera features an electric motor that drives the wheels and a conventional gasoline engine that kicks in to generate electricity once the battery depletes. The Ampera’s system is prepared to deliver 150 hp and 273 lb.-ft. of instant torque, good for a 0-62 mph time of approximately 9 seconds and a top speed of 100 mph.

Since 1953, the Chevrolet Corvette has been a part of the American landscape, both on the road and on the track.

It is easily the most winning American sports car, having clocked wins on national and international circuits. Corvette’s have been particularly competitive at the 12-Hours of Sebring race. Since its first race outing in 1956, 231 Corvette’s have competed at Sebring, 24 of which have won class or outright victories at this track.

So it is fitting that Sebring International Raceway has inducted the Corvette into its Hall of Fame. It also worked out for Corvette that on its 60th anniversary, the car placed second and third place in this years grueling endurance race.

Russ Clark, Chevrolet’s marketing director for performance cars said; “We are thrilled that Sebring has recognized the success of the Corvette on the race track by inducting it into the hall of fame. Even more important than the awards and race wins are the benefits to our production vehicles as a result of our racing programs,” said Clark. “We have been successful at transferring racing technology to the street, especially in our high-performance vehicles such as the Corvette ZR1, Z06 and our carbon fiber models, including aerodynamic, powertrain, chassis, braking, safety and design features.”

On the occasion of the Corvette’s 60th Anniversary, Chevrolet is offering the 427 Convertible Collector Edition Corvette, which is essentially a z06 without the roof. A 60th Anniversary appearance package is also offered on all 2013 Corvette’s.

Congratulations on your new honor Corvette, you truly deserve it.

Norwegian WRC racing driver Mads Østberg has enjoyed a bit of success in his World Rally Championship career but as it is with all athletes, practice makes perfect so a little snowy stunt driving is practically training. Record-breaking is just a bonus.

Setting a new bar for himself, and the world, Østberg completed a world record snow jump at the “DC All in Trysil” event, a winter extreme sports festival held last weekend at Trysil, Norway, sponsored by DC Shoes.

Østberg took three attempts, leaping off a snowy ramp in his WRC Ford Fiesta, the first of which saw him barely clear the landing ramp. His second jump was cleaner but not quite record-worthy. Finally on the third try he cleared 50 meters (164 feet). Spectacular as it is to watch, the jump isn’t “official” and won’t be recorded in the Guiness Book of World Records.

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Ford‘s Panther chassis, platform for the iconic P71 Police Interceptor, is anything but a slouch, but after more than 30 years of service both Ford and police recognize the need for a change.

Ford started building police variants of the LTD Crown Victoria in 1979, by 1992 the company’s cars evolved from modified civilian sedans to law enforcement machines.

Agencies are looking for something more fuel efficient options than the aging Crown Victoria’s and the 14 mpg city and 21 mpg highway rating from its thirsty V8 as municipal budgets shrink with the rocky U.S. economy.

Ford says the the next generation Interceptors address that concern and offer significantly improved fuel efficiency. The Taurus-based Interceptor sedan gets 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, a 4.5 mpg average improvement over the previous Interceptor. During 10-hour shifts of Police duty, police cars idle for approximately 6.7 hours of the duration so Ford has made improvements on idle consumption as well. The latest Taurus Interceptor will also use 35 percent less fuel at idle thanks to its smaller displacement 3.5 liter V6 engine.

What’s more, the Explorer-based Interceptor SUV achieves an estimated 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway, a best-in-class figure for police spec utility vehicles.

Ford managed to keep performance intact, despite the improved efficiency. A 3.5-liter V6 is used for both vehicles, producing 288 hp. That translates to a 38-hp gain over the outgoing V8.

During 0-60 runs, results show that the V6 Ford Explorer Interceptor Utility can reach 60 mph one full second faster than the competing V8 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV.

An Eco-Boost turbocharged 3.5 liter V6 producing 365-hp is available as an option as well. Combined with all-wheel-drive, the powerful Ford police vehicle out-accelerates competitors from Dodge and Chevrolet.

The Chicago police department ordered and will soon take delivery of approximately 500 Ford Police Interceptors this year, making the city the first to field test Ford’s ne enforcement vehicles.

GALLERY: Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer Interceptor

KFC’s latest marketing campaign for its classic Chunky Chicken Pot Pie has been a hit as audiences complimented its cool retro style. While that pot pie does look down-right scrumptious, the red 1970 Dodge Charger was the most eye-catching of all.

Fans of the commercial shared their thoughts on KFC’s Facebook page, “The Pot Pies are delicious, but my nod goes to the Dodge Charger!” Another shared the same sentiment, “Man, that’s one sexy 1970 Charger!”

After the outpour of appreciation, KFC announced a special photo contest where the very Charger will be the grand prize awarded to the winner. Chief Marketing Officer Jason Marker explained, “There are lots of ‘classics’ in our current commercial, from the Chunky Chicken Pot Pie and the Dodge Charger to the dudes’ sunglasses and sideburns. Now, one lucky fan is going to own the very car that has been creating all this online buzz. And no matter what the decade, anyone would look cool pulling up to the KFC drive-thru in that classic ride.”

Here is how the contest works: visit KFC’s Facebook page and upload a fun and classic “old school” themed photo. The submitted picture could either be a real photo taken in the 70′s or it could be one that was inspired by the decade. Once uploaded, the picture will automatically post on the user’s Facebook page and will be forwarded to KFC as well. Pictures will be graded on creativity, originality, and consistency with the KFC brand image.

The contest, aptly named “Bring Back a Classic,” will run through April 1, 2012. The winner of the photo contest will be announced after April 15, 2012.

Check out KFC’s Bring Back a Classic Advertisement Below:

Mustang enthusiasts will probably appreciate a visit to the Ford website if they haven’t already taken one recently thanks to the new Shelby GT500 configurator going live.

While playing dress-up with the man-beast of a muscle car is a far cry from actually feeling the 650 hp it has on tap, you can get a good idea of what options are available, how they will look and what it will cost. We resisted the temptation to deck our car out in AutoGuide colors, partially because the matte black rims look great matching, but also because the new taillights are gorgeous next to the paint noire.

With a starting price of $54,200, the updated super ‘Stang is $5,390 more expensive than the model it replaces, though that price also brings a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 compared to the outgoing 5.4-liter version. WIth that extra displacement, drivers get an extra 100 hp.

Optioned out, the top-tier price tag comes in at $66,485, which includes a Shelby-branded car cover among other fancy options.

Head on over to the configurator to have a little customizable fun for yourself.

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Shelby GT500

Perhaps the most important figure regarding the upcoming 2013 Shelby GT500 is its top speed of 200 mph. Best of all the figures on the car however is Ford has announced that this Mustang could be yours for a “mere” $54,995.

A sharp increase of $6,000 over last year’s model, it’s also slightly more than the new Camaro ZL1, which is priced at $54,095.

A larger 5.8-liter V8 engine and a bigger supercharger gives the 2013 GT500 an increase of 100-hp over the out-going 2012 model. Other components joining the powerplant include a new six-speed manual transmission, carbon fiber driveshaft, clutch, and a new final drive real axle with 3.31:1 ratio.

Also available on the GT500 is the new Performance Pack which offers SVT/Bilstein electronically adjustable shocks and a Torsen limited-slip differential. Finally, an optional Track Pack adds an extra engine oil cooler, rear differential cooler and a transmission cooler to manage the sustained high temperatures during a track day.

Despite the absence of rear independent suspension, there’s no denying that the 2013 Shelby GT500 is a complete and well thought out package. Start keeping your eyes peeled for 2013 GT500′s at Standing Mile events starting this summer.

In an interview, Ford vehicle line director Gunnar Herrman reported that development on the next-generation Focus RS hot hatch have been delayed to bump development of various other vehicles and its trims and variants, especially the Ford Kuga/Escape and the Ford Focus Electric.

Simply, Herrmann explained that “It’s just because we have other priorities to clean up and, effectively, we have to make a final decision on how we proceed [with the new RS].”

For the new Focus RS, the previous Volvo derived 2.5L, five-cylinder engine will be replaced with a new turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder producing approximately 320 horsepower. Like the previous generations of the Focus RS hatchback, the new RS will be front wheel drive, coping torque steer with the help of a limited slip differential as well as a Revoknuckle front suspension.

GALLERY: 2010 Ford Focus RS

[Source: World Car Fans]

In an effort to curb spending, improve fuel economy and simplify its manufacturing process Chrysler introduced a new 3.6-liter “Pentastar” V6 engine several years ago, with a plan that it would replace up to seven other V6 engines.

With that plan now mostly complete, the next stage in development is to down-size that engine, with a new report that the next generation Jeep Liberty will receive a 3.2-liter version of that powerplant. Also expected as a part of the mix is a new 9-speed automatic transmission, which will help maximize the power available by the smaller displacement engine to help deliver performance that is on par with the larger engine, but with improved fuel economy..

Making anywhere from 283 to 305 hp, depending on the application, look for the 3.2-liter unit to deliver around 250 hp. Previously, Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne had said the company was planning a smaller displacement version of the Pentastar V6 using Fiat’s Multi-Air variable valve timing technology, which uses hydraulic pumps rather than a cam on the intake side. While it isn’t yet clear if that technology will be used in this current version, if it is, power output could be closer to the 3.6-liter version, with improved fuel economy.

Look for the new Jeep Liberty to debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show next January.

[Source: AutoNews]

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is Britain‘s premier motoring event celebrating racing heritage. Last year, the venue celebrated the centenary of the iconic Chevrolet brand. For 2012, Chevrolet returns once more to celebrate the 60th birthday of the Chevrolet Corvette.

First conceptualized as the 1952 EX-122 concept, designer Harley Earl wanted to create an American sports car to challenge Britain’s Jaguar and MG. The EX-122 made its first public debut in January 1953 at the GM Motorama, at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York.

GM also intended for its sports car to be made more affordable, utilizing existing mechanical components. However, this isn’t to say that the Corvette was made on the cheap. GM developed  an ultra-modern, aerodynamic body and the Corvette became the first mass-produced vehicle to extensively use fiberglass, an innovative material that saved weight, prevented corrosion, and is capable of being molded into more complex shapes.

As for its engine, the first Corvettes came with GM’s ‘Blue Flame’ inline-six engine and an optional 265 cubic inch Small Block V8 before GM took it to new heights with a larger 283-hp 283 cubic inch Small Block V8 for 1957. The 283 became one of the first mass produced engines to achieve 1-hp per cubic inch.

Today, the Corvette remains one of America’s highly popular and iconic high performance sports cars. Over the span of six generations, more than 1.3 million Corvettes have been produced.

Chevrolet UK Managing Director Mark Terry said, “The Corvette is a true icon of the Chevrolet brand– it provides the performance DNA that runs through the whole Chevrolet model rage. Styling influences such as its trademark dual cockpit, there since the original, can be found in all of our cars today, and it still delivers the same performance, the same jaw-dropping styling and the same wow factor as it always has– it’s the greatest ambassador possible for the Chevrolet brand.”

Celebrate Corvette’s 60th with fellow automotive enthusiasts at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from June 28th to July 1, 2012.

GALLERY: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette

Dodge is introducing the 2012 Avenger SE V6 today as a class leader in power output, providing both performance and affordability for driving enthusiasts.

The heart of the 2012 Dodge Avenger SE V6 is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 mated to an automatic six-speed transmission. The Ward’s “10 Best Engines” honoree delivers 283-hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque while also achieving a 4-cylinder-like 29 mpg highway fuel economy rating. Likewise, the Avenger SE V6 starts at a 4-cylinder-like price tag– only $21,495.

According to Dodge President and CEO Reid Bigland, “The Dodge Avenger is one of the fastest growing mid-size cars in America, with sales up 112 percent this year. We’re building off this momentum with the introduction of the new SE V6 package, delivering a true no compromise solution of the mid-size car buyer — 283 best-in-class horsepower, 29 mpg highway, 18-inch wheels and a rear spoiler- all for just $21,495 MSRP. You get the power, the efficiency, the look, and tremendous value that is unmatched in the segment.”

Other standard equipment offered in the Avenger SE V6 include electronic stability control with traction control and electronic roll mitigation, multi-stage driver and front passenger air-bags, side-curtain and front seat-mounted side airbags, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with integrated audio and cruise controls, outside temperature display, LED taillamps, and premium interior with soft-touch surfaces. All this comes with a five-year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

GALLERY: 2012 Dodge Avenger

A direct reflection of the current market, GM has been struggling to keep up with demand for the 4-cylinder Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers for the past two months.

Facing a shortage in supply, GM has restricted dealer orders to better ration its bestsellers. Unfortunately, this has caused many dealers to fill their inventory with the 3.0-liter V6 models, which are less desirable to consumers in the face of rising costs at the pump. Currently, four-cylinder models account for 80 percent of Equinox and Terrain sales.

GM spokesman Jim Cain explained that “temporary order limits” had to be placed on the Equinox and Terrain. “It’s a function of a strong industry, a hot vehicle, and a very robust demand for the four-cylinder model.We’re working with our suppliers to increase deliveries of key components.”

According to GM, the supply constraints will only be temporary until the supplier adjustment has been resolved. From the dealer’s perspectives, it has been difficult to shift the V6 models as the national average has risen to $3.79/gallon of gas. For Herb Chambers Chevrolet-Cadillac of Danvers,MA, general sales manager Eduart Lela said, “I cringe when I have to order a six.”

In an effort to work with the dealers, GM offers a $1,000 discount for each V6 Equinox or Terrain moved in order to lift sales.

GALLERY: Chevrolet Equinox

[Source: GM Inside News]

When it comes to hero cars, Batman and his bat mobiles or James Bond and his Aston Martins don’t have anything on Mad Max and the devilish rides he and the lawless motor tribes drive.

Thanks to leaked images from the set of the latest Mad Max: Fury Road, we get a sneak peek to see what sort of machines will be featured in the film.

A reported 130 cars and motorcycles will be used to perform almost 200 stunts. The leaked picture shows an oversized truck trailer bed carrying a double-bodied ’59 Cadillac coupe, each featuring two supercharged V8s connected by a planetary gear. Known as the “Gigahorse”, the pair of monster Cadillacs with monster engines are mounted on top of a monster-truck chassis. Finally, to top it all off, the Gigahorse also sports a four-bladed cow catcher.

In the past, the 80′s classics were filmed in the Australian outback over stretches of desert roads. However, Director George Miller believed that the area is “too green” and doesn’t offer the same dystopian landscape as it did years ago. Instead, shots of road wars will be set in the deserts of Namibia.

Tom Hardy replaces Mel Gibson for the role as the new “Mad” Max Rockatansky. The heroine role has been appointed to Charleze Theron, as Furosia. According to Miller, Fury Road will be filmed back-to-back with the sequel, Furiosa. In total, Miller confirmed that three scripts have already been written for Mad Max’s return. Get ready for a trilogy if the first film is well received.

[Source: Autoblog]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary investigation regarding approximately 360,000 units of Ford Taurus produced from 2005 through 2006.

According to 14 Taurus owners, the Ford Taurus has experienced incidents of stuck throttle due to cruise control cable detachment.

NHTSA revealed that most complaints described that the Taurus would experience, “engine speeds as high as approximately 4,000rpm after shifting into Park or Neutral”. Drivers noted that a shift into neutral or an engine shut off was necessary to effectively slow the vehicle down.

Although there are no reported accidents or injuries, one incident involved a Ford Taurus driver who allegedly went through a red light, partially crossing the intersection before he could stop the vehicle. “This is an extremely dangerous situation,” the driver wrote. “There needs to be something done about this before it becomes fatal.”

According to NHTSA, “A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency, and safety-related consequences of the alleged defect.” Interestingly, Ford Taurus mechanical twin Mercury Sable is not a part of the investigation.

More information and details from Ford and the NHTSA will be available as the investigation continues.

GALLERY: 2005 Ford Taurus

Jeep blazes trails in mountains rocks and mud, but this time the company is taking steps to tread new ground in education.

In February, Jeep launched a partnership with Detroit’s Jalen Rose Leadership Academy public charter high school, an open enrollment public charter high school. The academy was created to provide a leadership-focused education based on real-world, project-based experiences. Jalen Rose Academy accepted its first students in September, 2011 for 120 freshmen. Under this new collaboration, Jeep hopes to create a multi-phased development program to expose students to programs and events for enrichment and to bridge their educational path.

This program will involve a mentoring program between Jeep employees and students. Jeep employees will team with select students to enroll in a seven-month long mentorship program. Each mentorship session will focus on personal improvement skills including career planning and goal setting. Participating students will also take part in group field trips to visit several Chrysler Group facilities, including the Jefferson North Assembly Plant and the Jeep Design Studio to meet with the designers. In January, students attended the North American Auto Show to create photo logs of their experience. Students were assigned to develop a journal that outlined their favorite Jeep brand vehicles.

What’s more, Jeep will also be developing a marketing project and will be a sponsor for the academy’s boy’s and girl’s basketball team as well. Finally, Jeep will also award $100,000 in college scholarships to the first graduating class of the academy.

“The Jeep brand is honored to partner with the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy and build a relationship within our community. This program is an authentic, hands-on approach that will fuel leadership, provide educational empowerment, and develop life skills for the students. With this program, we hope to help students reach their fullest potential,” Jeep president and CEO Mike Manley said.

Jalen Rose, the founder of the Academy, agreed saying: “A philanthropic project of this nature requires support from the entire community and it is a privilege to have the Jeep brand join our team. We will work together to have a positive influence on our future leaders.”

Hype around Cadillac has been directed to its ATS and CTS sports sedan offerings so often lately that sometimes we forget the company made a name for itself from its grand luxobarges. 

GM just released a new 2013 Cadillac XTS promo video to remind us what owning a Caddy was all about. According to the company, development involved a lot of time spent, “in homes making observations and taking notes.” Finally, designers and engineers involved in the XTS project determined that a recurring theme for the XTS concept was, “the desire for more space to accommodate active lifestyle gear, like golf bags.”

The chief engineer of the XTS, Sheri Hickok, said, “We used computer simulations to model golf bags, as well as other common types of good our customers are likely to transport. That also includes cases of bottled water, luggage, groceries, and more. Just as we did with he rest of the XTS, we spent a lot of time maximizing every inch of storage space.”

The result is a class leading cubic-inch figure, offering nearly 40 inches of legroom as well as 18 cubic feet of trunk space, exceeding the space offered in an Audi A8L, BMW 7-series, or Mercedes-Benz S-class.

“Our owners want to comfortably take four adults out for a round of gold and dinner afterwards. The challenge was to give customers what they expect in terms of interior spaciousness, comfort and luxury, but to do so without compromising exterior looks and handling dynamics.”

The 2013 Cadillac XTS will receive a direct-injection 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 good for 300-hp. Look for more details on the next generation flagship in the months ahead.

Click here to watch the video.

GALLERY: 2013 Cadillac XTS

Many of us still remember the 90′s Ford Taurus line: ugly, poorly built and revolting. There just wasn’t much good to say about them. Fast-forward by about a decade and the Taurus makes more power than recent muscle cars, or at least the SHO version does.

Ford updated its site to include pricing on the 2013 Taurus models, which start at $27,395 (including destination) and go up to $39,995 for the performance-oriented SHO model.

Those willing to foot the bigger bill get a car with the same potent ecoboost 3.5-liter V6 as the company offered on the previous model. While the 365-hp rating is nice, the broad power band is the impressive part. Ford says peak torque (350 lb-ft) is available all the way from 1,500-5,250 rpms, or most of the engine’s rev-range.

That model comes with all-wheel drive and is mated to a high-capacity version of the standard six-speed automatic transmission. The base model now comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder ecoboost capable of 31 mpg highway while still offering 237 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque.

Probably the most noticeable change, the exterior styling got a serious update with Ford’s new hexagonal grille that looks sportier and more Mustang-like. The SHO model comes with 19-inch wheels standard, but customers may choose 20-inch upgraded wheels with summer performance tires. A spoiler and and sport-tuned suspension also come standard.

Don’t let the EcoBoost name fool you, though. As we said in our review of the 2012 model, gas mileage is far from eco-friendly. The SHO gets a thirsty 17/25 mpg city/highway. The standard V6 is also available making 290 hp and 18/28 mpg city/highway.

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Taurus

Earlier, we reported that Ford CEO Alan Mulally had been awarded $58.3 Million worth of company stock for meeting company performance targets. Fiat/Chrysler‘s Sergio Marchionne, on the other hand, has declined a salary and bonus for the work he’s done for Chrysler Group in 2011.

Although Marchionne is compensated for his work at Fiat S.p.A, this is the second straight year that he declined salary from Chrysler, only accepting reimbursements for cleaning, utilities, security expenses, as well as insurance and association fees at his condominium near the Chrysler headquarters in Detroit. According to filings with the US. Securities and Exchange Commission, costs were on par with or less than the charges had Marchionne stayed in hotels.

Performance figures have shown that Chrysler has outperformed the U.S. auto market for 2011, an increase of 24.3 percent compared to the 10.3 percent industry average. What’s more, Chrysler refinanced the $7.6 billion in loans from the United States and Canadian governments.

[Source: Autonews]