Report: Audi A6 Hybrid not coming until 2015?

by Jeff Glucker (RSS feed) on Jan 18th 2011 at 4:02PM

201? Audi A6 Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery
At last week's Detroit Auto Show, Audi unveiled the 2012 A6, and trotted out a hybrid variant capable of achieving 38 miles per gallon and running up to 62 miles per hour on electricity alone. So when can we buy one? Audi isn't sure.

According to Autoweek, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen says the timetable for the A6 hybrid is still to be determined. In fact, we may not see the gas- and electron-powered luxury sedan until 2015. In the meantime, we'll be quite happy to spend some seat time with the 300 horsepower supercharged version.

Live photos copyright c2011 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Autoweek] Filed under: Car Buying, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Audi, Luxury

Tags: 2011 detroit auto show, 2012 audi a6, a6 hybrid, audi, audi a6, audi a6 hybri

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Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 successor snapped again, interior revealed

by Steven J. Ewing (RSS feed) on Jan 18th 2011 at 12:29PM

Ferrari 612 successor spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery
It's been less than a week since the last batch of shots of Ferrari's 612 Scaglietti replacement have hit the Net. And while we were quick to dismiss the hunchbacked shape the last time around, this more revealing set of photos proves that the 612 does, in fact, take on a more traditional shooting brake design rather than that of a swoopy coupe.

Our spies managed to get a quick glance inside the 612 replacement, and in addition to confirming that there's an honest-to-goodness luggage compartment out back, we now have a relatively clear idea of what the cockpit looks like. In addition to heaps of the finest leather, we can see what appears to be a set of nicely bolstered seats and a Ferrari-spec steering wheel complete with the bright red "engine start" button and drive mode selector switch.

This latest Ferrari will undoubtedly be an eye-catching piece of machinery when the camouflage cladding is removed. Gorgeousness aside, we're salivating at the rumors of a 670-horsepower 6.3-liter V12 being found underhood, meaning 0-60 should be ripped off in just 3.7 seconds and the car's top speed should be well north of 200 miles per hour.

[Source: CarPix]

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Bentley mulling third product line?

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Jan 18th 2011 at 4:33PM

New Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer inherited a high-end marque with only two product lines; the recently refreshed Continental GT and the spanking new Mulsanne. The two vehicles are tasked with continuing to prop up the brand after sales dropped to only 4,616 units in 2009, and according to a The Detroit Bureau help could be on the way.

During an interview with outgoing Bentley boss Franz-Josef Paefgen, the CEO said that Durheimer is tasked with noodling the idea of a third model. If we were the betting type we'd place our chips on a high-end electric car to help the brand reach rising emissions standards or an "entry model" under $150,000 to help increase volume – and the latter seems far more likely. At any rate it appears a third Bentley is still years out even if Durheimer and his team decide to expand its product lineup.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

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Tesla Model S begins first phase of road testing [w/video]

by Sebastian Blanco (RSS feed) on Jan 18th 2011 at 6:57PM

Tesla Model S road testing – Click above to watch the video after the break

The last time Tesla Motors released a video about the Model S, it was a lot of talking from the company's vice president and chief engineer for vehicle engineering, Peter Rawlinson, about engineering the vehicle. Today, new video shows just the opposite. No talking, just pretty pictures.

Almost eerily silent, the video shows the first Alpha build Model S (tons of details on the car here) cruising down rural roads, and it's a beautiful sight. The car looks like it handles well and makes us the need to get behind the wheel yesterday. Tesla's Vehicle Dynamicist (we're guessing thats fancy talk for test driver?) Graham Sutherland said in a statement that:

The first Alpha is amazingly agile for a car of its size. It has great handling balance and poised ride with communicative steering. Just goes to show what combining a low center of gravity with a very stiff body structure can achieve.

Sounds – and looks – good. Let's hope it gets better. Watch the video after the jump.

[Source: Tesla]

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Tesla, Electric

Tags: electric vehicle, model s, model s alpha build, tesla, tesla model s, tesla model s driving, tesla model s sedan, tesla motors

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Report: Dana coughs up $25M to Toyota over rusty Tacoma frames

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) on Jan 18th 2011 at 5:34PM

When an automaker is forced to issue a recall, the defective part or feature is generally the fault of the automaker or of an OEM supplier it contracted to. In the case of the Toyota Tacoma – part of a 110,000-unit recall in 2009 – the problem appears to have been traced back to the supplier. And now the supplier is forced to pay for its mistakes.

The company in question, according to reports, is Dana, the Ohio-based OEM contractor supplying (among other components) axles and driveshafts for automobiles, commercial trucks and heavy equipment. In this case, it supplied the frames for the Tacoma pickup which were found to rust when exposed to road salt.

Although in 2010 Dana sold the plant that manufactures the frame to Mexican conglomerate Grupo Porza's Metalsa subsidiary, since the component in question was built prior to the sale (from 1995 to 2000), Dana has reportedly been forced to shell out $25 million to Toyota over the issue.

[Source: Reuters]

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Recalls, Toyota

Tags: dana, grupo porza, metalsa, porza, recall, recalls, tacoma, toyota, toyota recall, toyota recalls, toyota tacoma

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