2013 Lotus Evora S

Among the unpaid bills and Bahar-ranting, Lotus has found the time to prepare a series of updates for the 2013 Evora S set to go on sale in October 2012. There aren’t many details available as to what changes will appear on the exterior or interior, but we do know that it will include the addition of Lotus’ Intelligent Precision Shift six-speed automatic transmission.

This transmission is already offered for the standard versions, but it is a first for the Evora S. The IPS six-speed transmission features four operating modes: fully automatic, manual mode, fully automatic sport, and manual sport. The Sports mode allows the driver to really feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission, while Manual mode gives the driver full control over the transmission using the paddle shifters. The engine lineup will remain with the usual 3.5 liter V6 engine that delivers a total of 345 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque.

The new Lotus Evora S equipped with IPS will make its official debut in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, so stay tuned for more details.

Read More

Is this the 2013 Lexus LS?

The pictures show the LS F-Sport specifically, and feature design elements previously seen on the GS sedan. These features include new headlights, a signature spindle grille, and larger air vents. The LS 460 F-Sport version will be distinguished by the usual F-Sport elements: front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a rear diffuser with prominent tailpipes.

The entire LS lineup will include the LS 460, LS 460 L, LS 600h, and LS 460 F-Sport. Lexus has yet to offer any details on the engine line-up, but some potential units are a 4.6-liter V8 engine delivering 357 HP and a 5.0-liter V8 engine for the hybrid version producing about 438 HP.

Read More

NJ state troopers may face charges in 'Death Race 2012' escort

Two New Jersey State Police officers who escorted a high-speed caravan of luxury cars, including one driven by former New York Giants star Brandon Jacobs, to Atlantic City will likely be charged criminally Friday, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

Sgt. 1st Class Nassir Nassry, a 25-year-veteran of the State Police, and trooper Joseph Ventrella, 28, were suspended in April without pay after the incident in March. Nassry allegedly ordered Ventrella to help with the caravan.

The escort down the Garden State Parkway at speeds believed at times to be in excess of 100 mph made national headlines after one motorist who was passed by the Lamborghinis, Porches and other expensive, exotic cars described it as "Death Race 2012."

No one was hurt, and there were no accidents as the convoy drove from north Jersey to Atlantic City.

Video of the incident by a construction worker appeared to show that some of the vehicles had tape over their license plates, which apparently prompted the Attorney General's office to consider filing criminal charges in the case, the source familiar with the investigation said.

Nassry filed his retirement papers Thursday morning, just hours before his attorney, Charles Sciarra, was to hold a news conference in which he was expected to sharply criticize the Attorney General's office for pursuing the criminal charges, NBC 4 New York has learned.

The incident could prove costly for Sgt. Nassry, who otherwise has an unblemished record with the State Police.

One estimate suggested if he loses his pension, either through conviction or plea bargaining, it would amount to a $3 million fine, the maximum the 47-year-old veteran could otherwise expect to collect over his lifetime.

NJ Attorney General Jeff Chiesa is expected to announce a new policy for car escorts Friday, as well as internal disciplinary action against several other troopers who were involved in a similar caravan in 2010 that was caught on video and posted on YouTube.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Read More

2012 Volkswagen Amarok Colt Seaver Edition

In the series, Colt Seaver drove a beat up 1980 GMC Sierra that was put through many suspension-breaking stunts and, much like General Lee on the Dukes of Hazzard, the Sierra never showed any signs of wear. Well, the theme of this one-off Amarok is the Sierra that Seaver beat the heck out of.

The Amarok Colt Seaver Edition receives its power from a 1,968 cc 4-pot engine that cranks out 163 PS (160 horsepower) at 4,000 rpm and 400 Nm (295 pound-feet) of torque at 1,500 to 2,000 rpm. What makes it like the Sierra that Seaver beat around is the fact that it boasts the same tan-on-brown paint scheme, brush bar, roll bar, and light bar that the Sierra boasted – scaled down to meet the Amarok’s compact size, of course. It also boasts a rather large “Fall Guy Stuntman Assoc” decal on its hood.

The truck itself actually looks rather neat with its lift kit, all-terrain tires, and classic paint job, but to name a special edition truck after a relatively unknown TV series from the `80s is strange. This becomes especially strange when you consider that the dealership building this truck is asking €51,695 ($62,700 at the current exchange rates) for it, which is just shy of three times the Amarok’s base price

Read More

2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor by Geiger

Ford’s mighty F-150 SVT Raptor recently got a host of changes to make it more driver-friendly and off-road capable, but the lack of engine modifications seem to have inspired Geiger Cars to make a few changes of their own. Their package basically pays homage to Hennessey’s VelociRaptor 600 - even though probably not on purpose - with similar improvements done at an expert level.

But let’s get back to the F-150. In its standard form, the Ford truck’s 6.2-liter V8 delivers a total of 411 HP, but after the German tuner’s handywork, it now delivers an impressive 600 HP. This was done with a built-in compressor that also amounts to a fuel savings at a constant speed of 100 mph.

The package includes a few other additional features, including a six-speed automatic transmission, differential lock, 17-inch alloy wheels with massive 35-inch off-road tires BRGoodrich, a Sony sound system, dual-zone air conditioning, and numerous leather items. These changes can be applied for both the Super Cab and Super Crew Cab versions.

The problem with all of these updates is that they come with an astronomical price of € 74,900, or about $90,500 at the current exchange rates.

Read More

Next Mercedes S-Class will include seven body variations

First, there will be a standard wheelbase sedan codenamed W222 (this version will measure 200.79 inches). Then, for markets like China where extra large models are a hit, Mercedes will offer a long-wheelbase sedan codenamed V222 which will get another 7.08-inches in its length and an extra-long-wheelbase sedan codenamed X222 that will be 13.78-inches longer than that. The model replacing the old Maybach limousine is a six-door Pullman that stretches an impressive 25.59-inches in total length.

Read More

2012 Audi AS7 Sportback by ABT Sportsline

The German tuner has just released a new performance program for the luxury Audi sedan, an upgrade that will give it enough added power to give Mercedes’ CLS AMG line a serious run for its money. The upgrade, which has been christened the "AS7" takes the S7 Sportsback’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged TFSI V8 engine and increases its output from the standard 420 horsepower and 406 lb/ft of torque figures all the way up to 520 horsepower and 442 lb/ft of torque. This allows it a new top speed of 183 mph, up from the standard 155 mph top speed of the stock model. Do the math and that equates to a 100-horsepower and 36 lb/ft of torque increase from the standard S7 Sportback and an improvement of 28 mph.

Read More

Lotus Scraps Almost All of Bahar’s New Model Plans

As we always say, sports car lovers are a fickle bunch. They know what they like and do not deal well with changes. Ferrari and Lamborghini lovers want fat sports cars with even fatter engines, whereas Lotus lovers want svelte and nimble machines that they can toss around at will. The models that Lotus has axed were very fat, by Lotus standard, and were not warmly received by enthusiasts.

Also scrapped in the process was the crazy notion that Lotus would produce its own engines for these new models. If the consistent lapping of Lotus-powered vehicles in INDYCAR isn’t enough of a deterrent for Lotus building their own engines, the sheer cost of the project is.

This is all clearly a cost-controlling measure by DRB-Hicom and Lotus to try and save the failing company, but it does have a bit of the undercoating of a jab to Bahar’s ribs. Regardless of the possible shot at Bahar’s ego, this is just one of the many necessary evils that Lotus has to go through to get back to being a profitable business.

Another necessary evil is the fact that Lotus will have to lay off 50 contractors hired to work on these new projects, which were part of Bahar’s “Five-Year Plan.”

Read More

2013 Audi R8 V10 Spyder

For this particular space, the onus is on the R8 V10 Spyder, considered the sexiest of them all thanks to its rich looks, throaty power, and yes, that fold-able top. Unlike the coupe versions of the R8, the R8 Spyder can dress up in more ways than one.

And trust us, that’s a very good thing.

In any case, the new R8 family does have plenty of surprises, including new aesthetic features, a plushier interior, and engine upgrades that will literally give you that proverbial "I-want-me-some-of-that" itch.

Read More

Rumors: Bentley’s Crewe, England Plant Shutdown Could Mean EXP 9F Pre-Production Preparation

Automotive plant shutdowns are no huge ordeal, as they have become pretty much commonplace in the modern automotive world. These shutdowns are designed to help reduce costs during low-production times, which are normally toward the end of the summer. The Bentley plant in Crewe, England typically closes its doors in August for two weeks to allow workers to rest and to help keep costs down, but this year that time frame has been extended to three weeks.

That would normally be chalked up as additional cutbacks, but the reasons given for the extra time off included enabling a number of facility changes in preparation for future productivity increases. Well, Bentley is not one to put out a new model each and every year and their productivity level does not change each year, so the only reason productivity would increase would be the addition of a new model. Add in the fact that the only new model that we know of in development is the EXP 9F, and you can see why we think that this extra shutdown is to get ready for the production phase of this love-it-or-hate-it SUV.

As we said earlier, we could be completely incorrect, but that slip of the tongue by Bentley is pretty telling. This is especially telling when dealing with a company that only sells fewer than 10,000 cars per year.

Read More

Ford Paying Dealers $300 Spiff for Escape Recall

We certainly got that, but we never expected it to be to the extent that it has become. Reports have emerged that Ford is actually paying dealerships a $300 spiff to repair each and every recalled Escape, which is about 11,500 vehicles. Even our basic mathematical skills can sort out that we are talking about $3,450,000 worth of spiff payments, which does not include the cost to repair the issue.

We are curious to find out if the dealers are passing this spiff onto the service writers and technicians that are repairing the vehicles or hoarding this payment for themselves. We are willing to bet that it is the latter, as the technicians and service writers make commission off of the recall repairs and dealers rarely share spiffs any more.

In addition to this extra bonus, Ford is also recommending that dealerships wash and vacuum the SUV, and fill the gas tank. Talk about going over the top...

Read More