Official: Aston Martin releases copious images of the Vanquish [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Aston Martin, Luxury

The multimedia dam has finally been opened on the Aston Martin Vanquish. The curviest version of Aston's muscled design language spent a bunch of time in Italy with Aston's favorite photographer, Rene Staud, showing off its angles and colors in the Tuscan dusk.

What's more, there's official driving footage and Aston put together a three-part video series on just how all those photos of the 565-horsepower "super grand tourer" were captured. So, no need to dally here; enjoy perusing the the huge gallery above or the four videos below.

Continue reading Aston Martin releases copious images of the Vanquish [w/video]

Aston Martin releases copious images of the Vanquish [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2013 Lexus LS [w/video]

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Lexus, First Drives, Luxury

Japan's Premier Luxury Cruiser Now Comes With An Enthusiast Option



In 1990, Nissan and Toyota both entered the luxury market with two new brands, each boasting a flagship premium full-size sedan. The Infiniti Q45 was aimed at the enthusiast with a powerful V8, limited-slip differential and a multi-link suspension. The Lexus LS 400, on the other hand, was all about luxury. The automaker surrounded its buttery-smooth V8 with aerodynamic (if banal) bodywork and lined its cabin with premium leather and fine wood.

Thanks to a clear message, a strong advertising campaign and a product solid enough to back both, Lexus sold more than 40,000 units that first year. Infiniti, in sharp contrast, was never able to capture the same momentum. By 1995, Lexus had introduced an all-new second-generation LS, followed by an all-new third-generation model six years later - and each introduction only served to drive the nails deeper into the Q45's coffin. By the time the fourth-generation LS arrived in 2007, the Infiniti Q45 was gone, and Infiniti nearly with it.

The Lexus LS continued to develop. What was originally a rear-wheel-drive sedan evolved into a model range of rear- and all-wheel-drive sedans, short- and long-wheelbase, with a choice of gasoline or hybrid drivetrains. The automaker's flagship continued to lead with technological innovation and unsurpassed luxury - but it still lacked a sporty quotient, a model seemingly necessary to run head-to-head with the Europeans.

All that will change in 2013. After a minor update in 2010, Lexus has unveiled a significant refresh for the new model year that encompasses all seven models in the lineup. But most importantly, the LS range now includes its first-ever performance-oriented model, the F Sport.

Continue reading 2013 Lexus LS [w/video]

2013 Lexus LS [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Why new cars are more dangerous for emergency responders [w/video]

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Videos

Among the best reasons to buy a new car are the safety improvements that have been made across the industry over the past decade. Yet safer cars for drivers and passengers haven't meant an improvement for first responders. On the contrary, the added complexity and new technologies employed in modern vehicles routinely frustrate firefighters attempting to save occupants involved in a crash.

According to USA Today, part of the problem facing rescuers is just knowing what hazards might be lurking beneath the sheetmetal. From high-strength steel that's difficult to cut to airbags hidden in every nook and cranny, rescuers face not just frustration, but real danger. Like high-voltage systems in hybrids and electric cars, some of which can be difficult to tell apart from conventional models, according to the report.

To complicate all of this, firefighters are often left in the dark by automakers, and when they do get to practice on vehicles, often those are older models. But things are changing, as industry groups, including the Society of Automotive Engineers, are working on addressing some of these new challenges. The engineering group is close to recommending a new standardized labeling system for electrified vehicles, according to the report.

Scroll down to watch the accompanying video, and click here to read the entire story.

Continue reading Why new cars are more dangerous for emergency responders [w/video]

Why new cars are more dangerous for emergency responders [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, New Car Reviews

A Racing Circuit Best Reveals The Beast Within



Back in the 1980s, the Chevrolet Camaro was a real badass. The sleek two-door coupe was the epitome of reasonably priced sports cars, easily going head-to-head with competitors like the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA, Nissan 300ZX, Toyota Supra and Mazda RX-7. At the top of the Camaro pecking order was the IROC-Z, an $18,000 American muscle car with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 pumping 215 horsepower to the rear wheels. If its five-speed manual gearbox was shifted perfectly, the 3,430-pound coupe could blast to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds leaving nothing but a pile of rubber from its 16-inch Goodyear Eagle VR50 Gatorback tires. At the hands of an expert, the hatchback could lap the Big Track at Willow Springs in 1:44.

Twenty-five years later, the Chevrolet Camaro is again at Willow Springs. But this is no old F-body clunker. Instead, we are holding the keys to a pristine 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the IROC-Z's direct descendant. Under the hood of this range-topping coupe is a supercharged 6.2-liter V8. But that is just the tip of the iceberg, as automotive engineering hasn't just crept forward since the 1980s - it has advanced exponentially. And thankfully, so has the Chevrolet Camaro.

Continue reading 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe [w/video]

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teased: Audi teases RS5 Pikes Peak Hill climb entrant [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Audi, Racing

Audi has released a teaser shot of its entrant in the 2012 Pikes Peak Hill Climb on its Facebook page. The teaser of the menacing coupe is also accompanied by a nice little video of Audi's past dominance. It's a nice refresher going into this weekend's hill climb, which was postponed by wildfires.

The first Audi entrant in the Hill Climb was in 1984, with Michele Mouton piloting an Audi Sport Quattro. Mouton won the even in 1985, and was unseated by Bobby Unser in 1986 in an Audi Sport Quattro S1. The S1 featured a turbocharged five-cylinder making 600 horsepower

From what we can tell from this shadowy shot, this RS5 has the gaping grill and lower valences typical of a vehicle wearing the Four Rings and an RS badge. At this angle, it looks similar to the RS5 that you can get from a dealer. The stock RS5 makes 450 horsepower from the brand's venerable 4.2-liter V8. Chances are this hill-climber will be putting out much more than that, though. We'll know for sure when it competes in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb on August 12, but while you're waiting, you can check out the video by scrolling below.

Continue reading Audi teases RS5 Pikes Peak Hill climb entrant [w/video]

Audi teases RS5 Pikes Peak Hill climb entrant [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorsports: Chevrolet Camaro tours overseas as new safety car for World Touring Car Championship [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Europe, Videos, Chevrolet, Specialty, Racing

Seeing a Chevrolet Camaro setting the pace at a NASCAR or Indy race is not uncommon, but its latest tour of duty has taken GM's modern ponycar to another form of racing altogether: the World Touring Car Championship.

The WTCC pits race-prepped sedan and hatchback touring cars against each other on tracks across Europe and around the world. Considering that the factory-backed Chevrolet Cruze has emerged over the past couple of seasons as the car to beat in WTCC competition, perhaps its only fitting that another Chevy act as safety car.

The Safety Ca(r)maro, as it's been dubbed, appears pretty much bone stock, though we'd assume it has had the necessary safety gear fitted, like a roll cage, five-point harness and fire supression system. But as it stands, its 430-horsepower V8 is about 40% more powerful than the restricted engines in the touring cars it's keeping at bay. Scroll on down for the full press release and video clip.

Continue reading Chevrolet Camaro tours overseas as new safety car for World Touring Car Championship [w/video]

Chevrolet Camaro tours overseas as new safety car for World Touring Car Championship [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Ugur Sahin is back with an interesting Alfa Romeo concept [w/video]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo, Design/Style

Some automotive designers pop up on our radar screens more often than others, but Ugur Sahin is one whose designs we look forward to receiving. The Turkish designer has dreamt up conceptual Ferraris and Aston Martins, and one of his projects - the Soleil Anadi - is actually heading into production, however limited. Now he's come back with a new Alfa Romeo project.

Called the 12C GTS, the design envisions a twelve-cylinder front-engined supercar - not likely to get picked up for production by Alfa, in this form anyway, as it would encroach on sister-brand Ferrari's territory even more than the 8C Competizione did. But a man can dream, can't he? And dream Sahin has. In fact he's looking for investors to fund its production.

We'll let the work speak for itself in the high-res image gallery above and the video below, but we will tell you it has our interest levels suitably piqued around the virtual Autoblog watercooler.

Continue reading Ugur Sahin is back with an interesting Alfa Romeo concept [w/video]

Ugur Sahin is back with an interesting Alfa Romeo concept [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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