What boring new car do you recommend to your friends? [Question Of The Weekend]

Like many car lovers, when my non automotive obsessed friends are in search of car purchasing advice, I am usually the first one to get a call. After they listen to my standard automotive advice (Don't buy a '57 Plymouth) my friends usually ask me to point them in the right direction towards a new and what I would consider boring car. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/jalopnik/full/~3/8q1dwLvM9vw/what-boring-new-car-do-you-recommend-to-your-friends

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Report: Is the 2011 Opel Ampera sold out?

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Opel Ampera
2011 Opel Ampera - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in November of 2010, General Motors began taking orders for the 2011 Opel Ampera, Europe's mechanically identical cousin of the Chevrolet Volt. The MSRP, a lofty €42,900 in Germany, ($61,123 U.S. at the current exchange rate), or $21,128 more than a 2012 Volt here in the U.S. (though not significantly higher than the Volt's European price), apparently hasn't turned off potential Ampera buyers.

According to Automobilwoche (sub. req.), some 5,000 potential buyers have plunked down €150 ($214 U.S.) to pre-order the Ampera, which means that all of the Amperas headed to Europe this year are spoken for. Well, sort of.

Officially, Opel's press release says that:

Over 5,000 potential customers have already joined the ePioneer community at Opel-Ampera.com. Opel expects Ampera sales in 2012 to reach around 10,000 units.
Those 5,000 (2,000 coming from the general public and 3,000 from corporate fleets) or so hand-raisers have nothing to lose but their meager deposits if they decide to back out. So, until sales of the Ampera begin in the fourth quarter of 2011, there's no way of knowing whether or not Opel's plug-in hybrid is actually sold out. In any case, there appears to be a supply of about 10,000 Amperas headed across the pond for 2012.


Gallery: Opel Ampera


[Source: Automobilwoche via The Truth About Cars, Opel]

Continue reading Report: Is the 2011 Opel Ampera sold out?

Report: Is the 2011 Opel Ampera sold out? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/08/report-is-the-2011-opel-ampera-sold-out/

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2011 British Grand Prix brings the circus back home to Silverstone [spoilers]

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2011 British Grand Prix
2011 British Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Unlike racing series such as IndyCar or Le Mans, the Formula One championship isn't built around any specific race. But even though each grand prix carries the same weight in the standings, some are, symbolically speaking, more important than others. While Monaco is clearly the most exciting, and emblematic of the series as a whole, we'd argue that none are as important to the teams as the British Grand Prix.

Since more teams are based in the UK than anywhere else, the race at Silverstone is considered home turf for about half the grid, not to mention the spiritual home of grand prix racing. So with the British Grand Prix unfolding this weekend, who took top honors? Follow the jump and we'll tell you.

Continue reading 2011 British Grand Prix brings the circus back home to Silverstone [spoilers]

2011 British Grand Prix brings the circus back home to Silverstone [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/10/2011-british-grand-prix-brings-the-circus-back-home-to-silversto/

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Test drive: 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec

2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec

Hyundai has been hitting the Japanese automakers pretty hard, and there are plenty of reasons to buy a Hyundai instead of a Toyota, a Nissan or a Honda.

But what about buying a Hyundai instead of a BMW?

...

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Source: http://cars.about.com/b/2011/06/21/test-drive-2012-hyundai-genesis-r-spec.htm

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Nine reasons to purchase this awesome armored vehicle currently on Ebay [Found On EBay]

Why would anyone ever want to buy a government surplus armored vehicle? We know it's a stupid question, but for those in the world who aren't blinded by weird automotive obsession, it's one you are likely to hear. In an effort to simultaneously convince one of our readers to purchase this awesome vehicle and aid said armored vehicle purchaser in defending their choice to the rest of the world, here are our favorite nine reasons to purchase this armored vehicle currently on Ebay. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/jalopnik/full/~3/lv5oX4mv5EM/nine-reasons-to-purchase-this-awesome-armored-vehicle-currently-for-sale-on-ebay

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2010 Cadillac SRX 2.8T Test Drive: 300-hp Turbo Gives Luxury Crossover an Edge

The 2010 SRX that arrived earlier this year is aimed squarely at the heart of the crossover market. A battle we staged between the two left us thirsty for more thrust out of the SRX. Does the new Audi-built 2.8T motor upgrade transform Cadillac's crossover?

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Source: http://feeds.popularmechanics.com/~r/pm/blogs/automotive_news/~3/NuRH_iGv8CQ/4327158.html

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Mitsubishi and Jim Russell Offer Level II Program to Grads of Lancer Evolution Experience

If you have attended the Lancer Evolution Experience I presented by Mitsubishi and Jim Russell Racing Drivers School at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, you probably went sideways a lot, and even if you didn?t, you surely had a riotous time. Well, here?s some good news, go-fast grad: Mitsubishi and JRRDS have just announced a [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/IU7_zMwkq8w/

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Bentley Continental GT Convertible to Debut at Frankfurt Auto Show in September

Last fall, Bentley unveiled its all-new Continental GT, which is simultaneously lighter, more powerful, and slightly more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. The next-generation GTC convertible and Flying Spur sedan?both of which we hope will offer the same advantages?are up next, and we now have on good authority that the GTC is scheduled to debut this [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/iMM_Wzhup3M/

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ABT has big plans for the little Volkswagen Beetle

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2012 Volkswagen Beetle by ABT Sportsline
2012 Volkswagen Beetle by ABT Sportsline - Click above for high-res image gallery

Squint your eyes just so and a Volkswagen Beetle can start looking like a Porsche 911. And with good reason: the two were designed by the same man using the same basic principles. So with common heritage, it's little wonder that the latest model is already started to follow its sportier brother's lead. No, we don't mean an endless array of special editions from the manufacturer - we mean tuning packages. And lots of them.

Just like the 911 attracts aftermarket tuners by the truckload, undoubtedly so will the new Beetle, and ABT Sportsline is among the first to line up. The German tuning house has big plans for the sportier new bug, from full aero kits and upsized rolling stock to suspension tuning and extensive engine mods. ABT figures it can get the base 1.2-liter TSI up from 105 horsepower to 140, the 1.4 from 160 to 210, and the 2.0 from 200 to 230, with similar gains for the diesel models, as well.

Sounds promising, and to keep our interest piqued, ABT has released a couple of renderings of what we can expect. Check 'em out along with the press release after the jump.

Continue reading ABT has big plans for the little Volkswagen Beetle

ABT has big plans for the little Volkswagen Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/08/abt-has-big-plans-for-the-little-volkswagen-beetle/

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