Top 10 finalists for World Car of the Year announced

The 2009 World Car of the Year competition is back for its fifth run, and the jurors have determined their ten, no, 11 finalists. The WCotY is determined by the votes of over 50 journalists from countries the world over (none of which works for Autoblog). Some of the finalists include the award-hoarding Nissan GT-R andJaguar XF, plus strong entries like the Ford Fiesta, Fiat 500, and Audi A4. Due to a tie for 10th place, there are 11 finalists this year. Judges will next narrow their choice to the top three vehicles by March 9, and the winner will be announced at the New...

Read more »

Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Touareg TDIThe way Volkswagen talks up the $42,800 Touareg V6 TDI, you'd almost think it was the ninja of SUVs: a single package with so many highly developed capabilities that its gas-engined foes are annihilated and left on the side of the road with ninja shuriken lodged in their tailgates before they even realize they've been outdone. The engine alone promises reduced fuel consumption, fewer emissions, more power, more torque, better responsiveness and quiet progress. The only questions then are: Does it deliver and will anyone...

Read more »

2009 Dodge Ram Laramie Crew Cab 4X2

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Dodge RamMany consider the Dodge Aries K and Dodge Caravan the most important Chryslers of the past 30 years. We agree those two vehicles were a huge part of keeping the Pentastar in business, but we'd add the 1994 Dodge Ram to the list, as well. Dodge wasn't even competitive in the lucrative full-size truck market until the bold-faced '94 model hit dealerships, and Chrysler's light-duty pickup has held on to 3rd place in truck sales ever since. The Ram constantly finished in the money until the all-new Toyota Tundra hit the scene. Toyota's first...

Read more »

LusoMotors LM23 rolling prototype ready for its closeup

  Last July, we told you about the latest rolling homage introduced by Portuguese car design and development house LusoMotors. While our previous post featured a gallery of naked chassis and finished product renderings, we now have pics of the rolling prototype. Dubbed the LM23, this bathtub racer is nothing sort of an updated Lotus 23B for the street. Well, it is likely to spend more time on the track, but it is ostensibly streetable.Set to go head-to-head with cars like the Ariel Atom, Radical SR3, KTM X-Bow, Brooks Double R, et al, this featherweight flyer features a steel...

Read more »

Lamborghini Reventon up for sale in Silicon Valley

Even with a limited run of 20, a seven-figure price tag and ten making to the United States, you can bet there were more people who wanted to get their hands on a Lamborghini Reventon than there were examples on the market. However, one man's loss will be another man's gain, and a Reventon has just popped up for sale in California.For those who've forgotten already, the Reventon was a special rebodied version of Lamborghini's flagship Murcielago supercar. It was named after a famous matador-killing fighting bull, painted any color the customer wanted (as long as it was grey – Grigio...

Read more »

Volkswagen Finish 1-2 in Dakar

 The Volkswagen team made motorsport history in Argentina today (Sunday), claiming the first diesel-powered victory in the history of the world’s toughest motorsport event, the Dakar Rally. Not only that, but the team’s South African driver, Giniel de Villiers, led home a Volkswagen 1-2.De Villiers, his German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz, and their TDI-engined Race Touareg crossed the Buenos Aires finish line – after more than 5000 km of competitive rallying – nearly nine minutes ahead of the sister Volkswagen of USA/South Africa pairing Mark Miller and Ralph Pitchford. Third place went...

Read more »

Concept BlueSport

Maximum driving fun with minimal fuel consumption: This is the standard by which Volkswagen is starting the new car year 2009 and is presenting the roadster Concept BlueSport at the North American International Auto Show.“The BlueSport proves to be a compact and passionate car with a clear Volkswagen signature. The car offers pure dynamics with a powerful 180 PS Clean Diesel engine that is combined with the characteristic Volkswagen philosophy of efficiency,” confirmed Volkswagen’s Chairman of the Board, Prof. Martin Winterkorn in Detroit.The Concept BlueSport is making its appearance at the car...

Read more »

The Roadster Sport

Tesla Motors Inc. began taking orders today for the Roadster Sport, a high-performance sports car based on the world’s leading all-electric, zero-emission vehicle.The Roadster Sport accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, compared with 3.9 seconds for the standard Roadster. It comes with a hand-wound stator and increased winding density for lower resistance and higher peak torque. In addition to Yokohama’s Ultra High Performance tyres, the Roadster Sport has improved suspension with adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars that will be tuned to the driver’s preference.The Roadster Sport starts...

Read more »

Dodge Circuit EV

The Dodge Circuit EV displays bold exterior and interior styling with outstanding performance, zero gasoline consumption and zero tailpipe emissions.The Dodge Circuit EV design screams pure sports car from every angle. The Dodge Circuit EV’s profile demonstrates perfect proportions for balanced handling, placing the driver and passenger midway along the wheelbase. At the front of the vehicle, the distinctive Dodge crosshair grille splits the wind, sending it over the long, low hood and cleanly over the windshield and cockpit. The body sides feature a deep scallop, providing visual depth and also...

Read more »

Renault F1 Team unveils new car

The ING Renault F1 Team officially launched its 2009 season today as the new Renault F1 R29 was unveiled to the world’s media at the Algarve Motor Park near Portimao in the south of Portugal.Both the team’s race drivers, Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet, were on hand this morning to take the covers off their new challenger as they joined Managing Director Flavio Briatore for a photo call with the R29 in front of the team’s pit garage. They were joined by young Frenchman, Romain Grosjean, who was announced as the team’s third driver for 2009, and the latest recruits from Renault’s Driver Development...

Read more »

New Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

The successful Porsche 911 GT3 RSR takes off into the new model year with extensive modifications. The most powerful race car based on the Porsche 911, which last season secured wins in the American Le Mans Series and at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, competes in the GT2 class in international long distance races. The most distinguishing feature of the new GT3 RSR is the re-designed nose with its large air outlets on the front panel. Furthermore, major changes were made to this quickest 911 beneath its light-weight bodyshellNoticeable at first sight are the air outlet slots, the so-called louvres,...

Read more »