Midsize cars offer a compromise between expensive luxury and cheap cars. They are comfortable and nicely equiped but they often look a bit dull and not real fast. But they will often be the best deal for the money conscious consumers.
One Lap America actually has roots dating back to the original Cannonball Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, known simply as Cannonball. Many of today’s enthusiasts think that Cannonball was simply a movie or plot, but this was actually a real-life cross-country race that included high speeds on U.S. highways.
The original Cannonball only lasted five runs until its organizer, Brock Yates, decided he had better quit this no-holds-barred race before the authorities decide to close it down. In 1984, the Cannonball returned, but was not about making it across the country as fast as possible, but about making it through a course that went throughout the lower 48 states and ended up with the amount of miles closest to Brock’s estimate.
In the modern era of the One Lap America, the race is now about following the rules of the road, as you drive throughout a predetermined course, and between these leisurely drives, you have track events. The scoring of this event is solely based on the track event results, but you and your co-driver(s) must also survive driving 24 hours on end, stopping only to enjoy a “gourmet” gas station hot dog or two along the way.
This 19-event, eight-day racing series just wrapped up on Saturday and we have your full list of winners in each class and we have also broken down a list of all of the oddest and most awesome cars to grace the 2012 running.
Click past the jump to read about the odd and awesome cars, as well as the winners from each class.
At the end of 2011, BMW unveiled the new generation 3-Series in sedan version, but left the station wagon out in the cold for a few months after that. Now, after we capturing the car during its testing a few times, BMW has finally dropped the official details on the new 3-Series Station Wagon.
As expected, the station wagon version will feature the same design language as the sedan model, albeit with an extended rear for better cargo room, 495 liters of stowage room to be exact.
The new 3-Series Station Wagon will be offered in three different versions: 328i, 330d, and 320d, all with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, Auto Start-Stop function, ECO PRO mode, and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Power will range from 184 HP to 258 HP.
BMW will offer Sport Line, Luxury Line, and Modern Line equipment packages, as well as an optional M Sport package which will be available at launch.
UPDATE 05/14/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images for the BMW 3-Series Station Wagon.
Hit the jump to read more about the new 3-Series Station Wagon.
We all watched as Mazda rolled out the sexy Mazda Takeri concept car in New York. At that same time we learned that the 2014 Mazda6, which we will see at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, will be “strongly influenced” by the Takeri concept and we became rather excited by its potential. With those “look at me” body lines we assumed that there would be some hot V-6 option for this new stylish body. Unfortunately, Mazda went in a completely different direction, according to Mazda spokesperson Jeremy Barnes, via Automotive News.
Barnes made it quite clear that there are no plans to place a V-6 option or any other performance engine option under the 2014 Mazda6’s new hood. Actually, Mazda is even axing the somewhat impressive 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The likely replacement for both engines is the Skyactiv 2.0-liter four-banger that cranks out a respectable-for-its-size 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. However, if you have to add “for its size” in front of something, that’s typically not a good thing.
The goal of this freshly revised Mazda6 is obviously fuel economy, which we can respect Mazda for doing. In all honesty though, they could produce a turbo-charged four-cylinder or even borrow an EcoBoost engine from Ford, who still owns a small share of Mazda. A possible performance engine would be the 250-horsepower, 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine slated for the upcoming Focus ST.
Having said all of that, Mazda did not completely rule out a future optional Skyactiv V-6 option for the Mazda6, but for now we will only see a four-cylinder engine.
We just hope that Mazda isn’t cutting its own throat by offering an under-powered four-cylinder for this hot-looking model. Then again, the automotive world tends to change with the wind, so you never know what may actually happen between now and the 2014 Mazda6’s release in the first quarter of 2013.
It seems like Chevy is so excited to release the SS model that it can barely keep a lid on the rumors and leaks. First, we had swirling rumors about the Holden-based SS model back in 2011. Next, there was the oddly timed registration of the SS moniker.
Some other experts have tried downplaying this by saying that the trademark mentions “SS” in a fanciful manner, meaning just the fancy SS badges. What these experts are overlooking is that all trademarks involving a sequence of letters almost always include “stylized” or “fanciful,” as you cannot just patent two letters.
Well, GM, or more appropriately OnStar, has dropped yet another breadcrumb and one Christopher Price – a Tech dude and OnStar subscriber – found it. As Price puts it, he was checking out his profile and decided to explore other OnStar features. He stumbled upon the list of compatible cars and oddly enough found 2014 models. He clicked on it and what happened to be positioned right between the Chevy Spark and Silverado? A non-existent model dubbed the “SS Performance.”
Does a strange computer glitch mean that the SS model is truly coming in 2014? We don’t really know. However, it is yet another brick that further solidifies the wall of rumors that began construction back in 2011. OnStar obviously caught onto the leak and quickly patched it up, as the 2014 model year is no longer on the site, but not before Price got a glimpse at another future name, the Cadillac ELR, which could point to an all-electric Caddy.
There is, of course, the outside chance that we are being tricked by a good Photoshop job, but our amateur eyes say it is the real deal. Then again, this could just be us getting our hopes up for a new muscle sedan from Chevy.
The 2012 Beijing Auto Show is fast becoming an automotive showcase for the Chinese market as more and more automakers are introducing concept vehicles that have specially developed specifically for the Chinese market.
The latest to do so is Honda, which is unveiling two concept vehicles, one of which is the Concept C sedan. Details are scarce at this point about the car, but according to a Honda press release, the "C" in the concept’s name represents "Cool", "Challenge", and "China".
Honda also said that the Concept C will be a middle-class sedan that the company is currently developing through a cooperation between development teams in both Japan and China. The production model will be made available in China next year through Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.
As for the car itself, the Concept C is an aggressively designed vehicle that’s highlighted by its rather large dimensions and a muscular rear end, creating an aggressive yet elegant look that plays right into the tastes of the Chinese market. The concept also carries three major side veins adding to the menacing side profile while the front end receives a distinctive central grille and bumper set up with a pair of huge intakes on both ends of the bumper.
Powertrain options for the Concept C were not divulged, but rest assured that we’ll have them for you information becomes available.
Remember when we were all kids and our parents would constantly remind us never to play with anything electric around water? For the most part, we all listened to them, right? We wonder if the same goes for playing with a really big electric toy on top of frozen water – AKA snow and ice.
According to Tesla, the rule definitely does not apply to frozen water, or the company just so happens to be chocked full of bad boys and girls that didn’t listen to their parents. The above video is proof of their frozen water and electricity shenanigans, as the all-new Tesla Model S goes sliding around in the snow and ice, and appears to be having a dang good time in the process.
The video is of the 2013 Tesla S testing in the cold weather, something that has been a thorn in the side of electric cars since their inception. Apparently, the Tesla S not only tested well in the cold weather, but for a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan, it sure did hold onto the track well. We’re interested to see what tires Tesla slapped on this electro-mobile to make it stick the way it did because they definitely aren’t summer tires.
The only time we saw it really break loose was at the 1:15 when it looks to be in a fairly controlled drift. Regardless of its snow handling, we still think the Tesla Model S and its 4.4-second peak 0 – 60 time is pretty awesome. Then again, that $105,400 sticker price will definitely put a small hole in anyone’s wallet.
So we now need to add an asterisk next to the old water and electricity lesson that our parents taught us, so it excludes water in a solid state. No, this doesn’t mean you can mess with your toaster or dry your hair while ice fishing!
Anyways, kick back and enjoy mixing electricity with snow and ice, we certainly did.
Audi is preparing to add a new RS model to its line-up as shown by these images of the future RS6 Avant. The sports-focused mid-sized vehicle was caught testing at the Nurburgring race track in Germany, donning some heavy camouflage. This just means that the mule that was testing previously has been tossed out and the production version is now making its testing rounds.
As previously reported, the Audi RS6 will be powered by the same 4.0 TFSI bi-turbo V8 as the S6, the S8, and even the new Bentley Continental GT V8. However, the final output is expected to be increased to the 500 HP area, so the RS6 should be a real monster.
The future Audi RS6 will also feature a wider track and more aggressive brakes, as well as a meaner overall look. The bad news is that Audi doesn’t plan on offering it as a sedan just yet, so station wagon haters will have to give in or wait that much longer.
Car manufacturers simply love carbon fiber. Especially high end, exotic sports car makers. Yep, engineers in Italy literally live and breathe carbon fiber, and as carbon fiber has developed, it’s become more accessible and slightly cheaper up to the point where ‘regular’ car manufacturers are considering using the material once reserved for the most exotic of exotics. One problem still remains, and that’s the simple fact that carbon fiber is still too expensive.
Sure, the actual fibers used to begin the process of creating carbon fiber may be relatively cheap, but the main costs are derived from the intensive manufacturing process and considering that carbon fiber is often applied by hand, it’s easy to understand why it is so expensive. Furthermore, individual carbon filaments used to make the stuff can be five micrometers thin, and yes, that’s a lot thinner than the average human hair.
However, if Ford and Dow Automotive Systems have their way, carbon fiber should become accessible to the ‘masses.’
The two are currently researching ways to increase carbon fiber production while also making it simpler and more cost-effective to construct. The biggest reason behind the new partnership is the belief that Ford will someday, in the not too distant future, be able to construct sedans entirely out of carbon fiber, such as the Ford Fusion, but in order to do so, the duo really have their work cut out.
It’s not yet known how much this venture is costing, but we feel unless Ford and Dow really come up with the goods, the American brand may be better off investing this money elsewhere, such as improved car safety. Or perhaps that’s what this is all about, car safety.
Alright folks, grab the salt shakers and put a great big grain of salt in your hand, `cause we’ve got rumors. Recently, our colleagues over at Motor Trend had a little powwow with someone in the know about the upcoming Infiniti G sedan. Some of the rumors are a little ho-hum and others are flat out awesome, we’ll stick to the latter ones for now.
First off, the next-gen Infiniti G is through its design phase and production is ready to begin. According to the mole in Infiniti, the new G sedan will be based on a slightly stretched version of the new Mercedes C-Class’ platform, with other modifications. The leaky informant also let it be known that the new Infiniti G sedan will be in showrooms by the end of the summer in 2014 and the coupe will come later.
According to the informer, the new G will look nothing like the current model. From the front end, in particular the headlights, it will have the appearance of the Etherea concept car that Infiniti teased us with at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. The G will again come in a sedan or coupe, so no surprises there. However there are talks of a crossover model.
Now onto the good stuff: the Infiniti G’s engines. First, the rumors of a diesel engine are true, per Motor Trend’s source, but not for the G sedan. The 2.1-liter Mercedes diesel will only see use in the European and Korean Infiniti M. The only information he shared on the G’s engine was that the all-new IPL performance model will feature a 530-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter V-6. Last, the price of the Infiniti G IPL model was discussed and the informant says it will hover in the 10 million Yen range, which is about $123,000.
So there we have it. We can’t necessarily validate these rumors, but they certainly do add a little more excitement to the waiting game. We just have to wait and see if these rumors are true.
After debuting the new Altima at the 2012 New York Auto Show, Nissan is moving on to its next project by presenting a teaser image showing five redesigned models that will be launched in the next 15 months. During the Altima’s official debut in New York, Nissan also presented a short promo video that showed five new models hidden under a white cover.
Rumors say that the list of redesigned models will begin with the production version of the 2013 Pathfinder and a new Sentra. From left to right in the teaser images, the cars are: the hatchback version of the latest Versa set to be unveiled by the end of the year, the 2013 Pathfinder, the new Altima, the redesigned Rogue compact crossover, and the next Sentra that will adopt the same design language as the new Altima.
We haven’t received any confirmations for any of the models listed, but these are the best speculated vehicles in terms of Nissan’s history. Nissan has confirmed, however, that the new Sentra will be the next model unveiled.
