2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 details emerge

The last Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 was one heck of a muscle truck, but it was somewhat encumbered by being based on the last Grand Cherokee. The new model, however, is a different beast entirely, billed as the kind of vehicle that could help turn Chrysler’s fortunes around. So what’s next? The new Grand Cherokee SRT8, of course. And rumormill reports of its specifications are beginning to pour in.

According to insiders, the new GC SRT8 will bow at the upcoming New York Auto Show in April. And when it does, it is expected to pack the new 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with around 470 horsepower and just as much torque. That’ll be mated, according to the rumors, to a five-speed automatic equipped with paddle shifters – an SRT first. Couple that to a new adaptive damping suspension, 14-inch Brembo brakes and 20-inch alloys wearing Pirelli rubber and you can start to see where Chrysler’s Italian cousins are starting to pitch in. Heck, Chrysler is even said to be working on boosting the towing capacity, so the next SRT8 should be a more well-rounded vehicle to live with, as well.

 

Source:Autoblog

Man tattooes ‘Mini’ on his penis to win free Cooper

Think about the craziest thing you would do to win a free car. Andreas Muller of Germany has you beat. Muller really – really – wanted to win the Mini Cooper being given away by his local radio station, and in order to do so, he had the word “MINI” tattoed on his mini, err… penis.

Organizers of the stunt received a long list of crazy ideas, yet Muller’s stood out for the sheer ballsiness (pun intended). His screams of pain were broadcast over the air as the tattoo was applied to his now-sponsored manhood.

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 dyno’d – is the 392 underrated?

Hemi. The mere mention of the word is enough to strike fear into the hearts of lesser powerplants… or at least images of a pair of scrubby-looking bottom-feeders that really love themselves some Ram Trucks. In any case, we’re keenly interested in the latest Hemi engine from the Dodge Boys, in this case displacing a heady 392 (or so) cubic inches and placed gently inside the engine bay of the 2011 Challenger SRT8.

Not only is this new Hemi larger than the already oversized version it replaces, it’s also considerably more potent. The Pentastar says that its new 392 kicks out 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque – substantial improvements over the outgoing SRT8′s 425 hp/420 lb-ft. But those are factory ratings, and we all know those don’t necessarily match what’s actually under the hood of production models.

Thankfully, the crew over at Inside Line managed to score enough time with a 2011 Challenger SRT8 to strap it down to a proper dyno. And the results? How about 452 horses at 6200 RPM and 443 lb-ft at 4400? Yep, that’ll do nicely, and it means that Dodge may actually be underrating its potent performer just a tad. Oh, and for what it’s worth, IL managed to record 370 horses and 343 lb-ft from its 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS on the same exact dyno. Chevy’s answer ought to be coming in the form of a Z28 with over 500 supercharged ponies… Stay tuned, the horsepower wars are clearly still in full swing.

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe race car finishes first test at Sebring

The boys and girls at Cadillac have taken their newest toy out to play. The CTS-V Coupe race car got its first sampling of track time at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida earlier this week. Drivers Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim took time behind the tiller for the car’s first real shake down as the car and team prep for the first race of the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT. The series kicks off in St. Petersburg, Florida from March 25 to 27.

As you may recall, it’s been a good long while since the Crest last suited up to go fender-to-fender. The company last competed in the World Challenge GT series in 2007. At that time, Cadillac had campaigned a CTS-V sedan for three seasons. General Motors is hoping that taking to the track once again will help establish the CTS-V Coupe as a legitimate performance competitor capable of taking on the best that Germany has to offer. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Choosing Auto Insurance

Auto insurance is a state-administered and every individual who drive needs to declare financial accountability before they can register their cars. Though the community might administer the bottom limits of accountability drivers need to insure, they repeat on telling drivers what to do about the actual expenses provable. There are particular issues to consider when selecting a car insurance policy.

If you did not spend cash in obtaining your automobile because it is through loan or leasing contract, better study your financing arrangement along with your financial agreement. There are also financing firms that limit the maximum inferable you can obtain from your car policy to retain in settlement with your auto financing. Also you need to determine your available capital. An inferable isn’t a one-time expense, if you are disastrous to have several car accidents, you will have to spend with your own money for the quantity of every single claim. Always select a provable that you can manage to pay for each separate claim.

Another is to recognize the make and year model of your vehicle. Car insurance deductible requirements for contemporary luxurious cars differ from the automobile deductible necessities for cars over 10 years. Make some research on the average expenses of repair for your car before analyzing what type of insurance to take. It is also essential to recognize the missing funds expenditures opposed to the superior insurance savings. The larger the inferable, much money will be able to save on premium and oppositely. Have the insurance personnel to give some financial figures. Analyze the distinctness between the loss of capital costs and the potential premium savings and obtain with something that can exactly fit your money.

Automobiles Companies

Global automobile companies like Mercedes, Hyundai Motors, Fiat, Ford, and Toyota etc have stepped into International markets. Now Indian automobile companies like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hindustan Motors, and Mahindra etc. are also recognized as global manufacturers and keep on bringing new models of automobiles into the international market. This shows that people across the world are investing a lot on various car models launched by a number of manufacturing companies. Automobiles, whether it’s a car or bike have become a possession of flaunting ones personality.

No doubt, people spend a lot on automobiles, in such a situation, automobile insurance becomes indispensable. Expensive cars and road bikes are no longer a necessity now they have become an inherent part of ones personality. Your precious automobile requires safety, proper care and our great vigilance. Also, vehicle theft is almost common in all the countries of the world and can cause you a loss of hefty sum of money, if by chance you lose your vehicle. In addition to these, possibility of road accidents whether you are living in any part of the world is something you can’t deny. Here is when Automobile insurance comes into play. Automobile insurance safeguards you against any such heart-reckoning situation which can lead to loss of your costly vehicle earned by your hard-earned money. Now days with the facility of internet you can apply for automobile insurance online.Online automobile insurance makes an easy and less expensive way of getting your vehicle insured.

Besides this, your dream of owning a luxurious car has now become easy through the various car loans being offered. Now with the car loans facility you can buy a brand new SUV, MUV, jeep or even a small car .The new car loans provided by the various banks and financial firms enable a consumer to own the latest model of cars from various manufacturers, like: Maruti, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Fiat, Ford, Honda and many more. The size of the car loan usually depends on the type of the vehicle whether it’s standard or premium, the percentage of financing and the cost of the vehicle. In case of a new car a loan of up to 90% of the total cost of the car can be availed. Normally the tenure of repayment of the auto car loans can vary from 1 to 5 years, but some banks offer a flexible relaxation up to 7 years. Auto Loan Calculator estimates the overall cost of purchasing a car, including the sales price, sales tax, and the many charges and fees that are thrown on you when you finally decide to make the purchase.

Innumerous automobile suppliers take care of all the needs of the customers related to the automobile they want to buy. The list of automobile suppliers is normally available online. You can check through internet and contact the automobile supplier of your area if you want to buy any car, bike etc. Also there are car rentals in India. Car Rental in India offers Luxury, Deluxe and cheap & budget car rental services in New Delhi, Agra, Goa, Mumbai, and Kolkatta and in almost all the big cities of India. Car rentals in India offer variety of cheap car rentals, luxury car hire, coach travel in India, coach holiday packages, discount car rental to put the customers at ease.

Solar Powered Car is Coming

Solar powered cars have been in existence since the mid of the 19th century. They have been increasing in number year by year and organizations tend to hold solar powered car racing each year and thousands of people invest their money and bet on their solar powered cars. The mechanism of these cars is very simple. The batteries installed in these light bodied cars charge themselves from the solar energy. Then this energy is converted by them into electrical energy thus it helps the motor run.

Now this prospect is very simple or more likely it sounds very simple and trouble free. The sun shines everyday and there doesn’t seem to be any such problem with these cars. But the fact is that the amount of energy stored at a time by these cars enables them to drive at a very slow pace. The road has to be leveled and not steep because that requires even more energy. It will need more powerful batteries and more storage capacity.

Journalist Sue Mead, racer Darren Skilton become first U.S. team to win a class in Dakar Rally

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is still proving that it can do whatever deed needs done, whenever it needs doing. Sue Mead and Darren Skilton managed to pilot a largely stock version of the desert-raiding pickup through all 12 stages of this year’s Dakar rally. The team survived 16 days of some of the most brutal terrain on the South American continent and covered over 11,800 miles in the process. Their effort was enough to net the Raptor a 40th place finish over all and a first place finish in the OP class.

In fact, from what we hear, Mead and Skilton were the only contestants to even finish in the OP class, even with big names like Robbie Gordon gunning for the win.

That marks the first time that an American crew has ever managed to take a class win in the history of the Dakar Rally. The F-150 SVT Raptor that Mead and Skilton campaigned boasted the same 5.4-liter V8 that it rolled off the production line with, though a larger cooling system was fitted to handle the harsh temperatures of the course. Likewise, the pickup was equipped with a host of other race-capable bits including a new locker system for the differentials, more robust shocks, springs and tires.

Overall, Volkswagen took the top three spots in the 2011 Dakar Rally. BMW filled out the remaining spots in the top five with its entries. Hit the jump for the press release.

Mini: “The 500 is a darling little car… but we’re a premium brand”

Mini showed off the Paceman Concept at this year’s Detroit Auto Show and announced not long afterward that it would spawn a production model. Tom Salkowski, who recently moved from BMW USA to Mini USA to fill the role of marketing manager, will be the man charged with getting the word about about Mini’s eighth model and the ones beyond. Here’s what he had to tell us.

• The small car segment has erupted over the past couple of years and “Mini has prospered” even though it “faced significantly more competition.” But when asked what kind of head-to-head competitors the brand thinks it faces, Salkowski said “maybe Volkswagen, Mazda, Scion in the small-car segment,” with the caveat that since “Mini is very much a mindset, it’s different than other vehicles,” so “for the time being we don’t see anything.” Head of product management Oliver Friedmann confirmed the assessment with, “We don’t see any one-to-one competition, maybe the Evoque could be” for the Countryman.

• Salkowski offered his thoughts on the Fiat 500 with, “The 500 is a darling little car, but Mini is a premium brand.”

• On the discussion of roots and heritage at other emotional brands like BMW and Lotus, when asked how big the Mini brand and Mini cars could get and still be considered Minis, Friedmann said, “That’s what we try to find out at the moment. We just jumped over the four-meter line with the Countryman,” but reaction in the three months that the crossover has been on sale in Europe has been “very positive.”

• Nevertheless, it’s not about creating an acceptance of a Mini of any size. Friedman said, “The competitors for the Countryman are significantly larger. We will always stay the smallest in the segment.” But the number one rejection of Mini is due to size and space, so the company had to do something.

• Mini’s been known for its irreverent advertising, and it doesn’t sound like much will change under Salkowski, with a “bigger spend on television – you only get one chance to launch a car.” There will also be a huge billboard in Times Square, and a take-off on Mini’s original U.S. launch when they had a roving Ford Excursion driving around with a Mini on its roof. This time it will be a roving Countryman with a vintage Mini, Alec Issigonis’ original, on its roof.

Next Dodge Viper inspired by a “naked woman on the beach.” Aren’t we all?

The Dodge Viper has always been an impressive looking vehicle, but its muscled lines haven’t ever been what we’d call feminine. That may change with the next-generation version of the Snake. Ralph Gilles, head ofChrysler design and the Dodge brand, says that the look of the next Dodge Viper will be inspired by “a naked woman on the beach.”

Sorry, but we’re having a hard time coming up with a witty quip after that one (well, other than the one in the headline).

Gilles made the announcement while speaking with reporters at the Automotive News World Conference, and while the revelation about the vehicle’s design inspiration was a big highlight, he also announced that the next Viper would take dead aim at stealing buyers away from both the Porsche brand and the Chevrolet Corvette. That’s especially true when it comes to the crowd of younger buyers – guys and girls under 45.

The next-generation Viper is set to debut in 2013, and while that gives Dodge plenty of time to get the car right, we don’t expect either Porsche or Chevrolet to sit back and allow the Viper to play catch up. Suddenly we’re very excited to see what the sports car world looks like in two years.

Scion sales down 20%, but “we have the exact customer we want”

A chat with Scion Vice President Jack Hollis was probably the biggest ‘Let’s get something straight’ moment we had at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Sales were down 20 percent in 2010, the new 2011 tC didn’t get the warmest reception from its former proponents, and the perception is that Scion is losing a grip on its youth-oriented message. Hollis sought to address those points and more:

• “Some people have the impression that we’ve lost youth… but it’s about identical: the median age for the tC was 28 last year, now it’s up to 29. It’s still the youngest in the market.” As a brand, Scion has a median age of 41.5 years, up from 40.
• Scion’s sales were down 20 percent last year, but Hollis says that’s only the point “if volume is your goal.” He went on to say, “We could double sales, but we don’t rely on traditional incentives.” Sale prices remained non-negotiable throughout the recession and the only two cash incentives – $1,000 off for college students and military personnel – are handled through Toyota Financial Services. Hollis is more focused on “Who is the buyer you’re capturing? The average age of our buyer in a recession was under 30. We have exactly the buyer we want.” That means that “we lost numbers, not youth. That’s not a Scion problem, that’s an industry problem.”
• “The key tenet of Scion is to sell to people who have never purchased a Lexus, Toyota or Scion before.” Seventy percent of buyers of the first xA and xB had never bought into the Toyota group before, and Hollis says that although the second generations of both models were very different, they achieved the same percentage of first-time buyers. “It’s not my intent to have loyalty retention, but Toyota brand retention,” to get the buyer started on an investment in Toyota’s products.
• Still, volume is on his mind. “My goal is to increase sales.” The 2011 Scion tC had an 80 percent increase in Q4 last year compared to 2009, and “I have the tC all year this year.” Hollis expects sales better than last year, “absolutely,” and even to make gains on 2009 numbers.
• On keeping up the momentum, he’s admits that “Scion has got to find new ways to attract youth,” adding “I think Scion will take the lead.”
• If you have your eye on a Scion iQ, it’s “coming out in summer,” and you’ll be able to tweak it as you would any other Scion. There will be less customization possible than on a tC “on a percentage basis,” but the ethos remains, “when you bring out a Scion you need to have personalization.”

ZF developed nine-speed transmission is coming

Did your favorite brand just move to six-speed automatics? Are you already cruising along happily in seventh gear or perhaps you’re enjoying the scenery with your transmission lazily churning in eighth. Well move over because ZF is getting ready to produce a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Marking a first for front-wheel drive passenger vehicles, the ZF nine-speed will help automakers generate greater fuel-economy gains while also providing a smoother driving experience. The shift times are said to be quite short and the resulting gear changes are nearly imperceptible to passengers.

The nine-speed automatic will be produced in a brand-new manufacaturing facility located near Greenville, South Carolina, and there’s talk that one of its first homes will be under the hood of something from Chrysler.

Chrysler’s Marchionne says only one minivan per brand, C-Max competitor coming

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says the automaker plans to only offer one minivan in the future, eliminating either the Chrysler Town and Country or Dodge Caravan by 2013. Additionally, the company is working on a smaller “people mover,” that will go to whichever marque doesn’t retain the minivan.

“If our Project Genesis [a plan to have all Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep showrooms at a single dealership] goes to its conclusion, which is the plan, then it makes no sense to offer consumers two minivans differentiated only by equipment,” Marchionne said in an interview with reporters at the North American International Auto Show.

The smaller “people mover” is being engineered from a new architecture that will underpin several new vehicles in the Fiat and Chrysler lineups. Though Marchionne didn’t get into specifics, the platform is likely to be developed for the Fiat Giulietta, with Chrysler and Fiat engineers planning to expand and adapt the chassis to serve as the basis for a replacement for the Jeep Compass and Patriot, among other vehicles.

Inititally, Marchionne indicated that he would prefer to keep the Dodge Caravan and make the micro-van a Chrysler. In Canada, 80% of the minivan mix is comprised of the Dodge Caravan. But the Town and Country outsells the Caravan in the U.S. and other markets. “We will have to look at the branding, but we are absolutely going to one minivan.” One consideration for Chrysler planners will be that it would be difficult to get the premium price points – over $40,000 for the top-of-the-line Town and Country – for a Dodge branded minivan. LIkewise, it will be difficult to get prices North of 30,000 for even a loaded Chrysler micro-van.

Marchionne also said that both the minivan, and the micro-van would be built at the company’s Windsor, Ontario plant where the minivans are currently produced and designed to compete against the Mazda5 andFord Grand C-Max.

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 dyno’d – is the 392 underrated?

Hemi. The mere mention of the word is enough to strike fear into the hearts of lesser powerplants… or at least images of a pair of scrubby-looking bottom-feeders that really love themselves some Ram Trucks. In any case, we’re keenly interested in the latest Hemi engine from the Dodge Boys, in this case displacing a heady 392 (or so) cubic inches and placed gently inside the engine bay of the 2011 Challenger SRT8.

Not only is this new Hemi larger than the already oversized version it replaces, it’s also considerably more potent. The Pentastar says that its new 392 kicks out 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque – substantial improvements over the outgoing SRT8′s 425 hp/420 lb-ft. But those are factory ratings, and we all know those don’t necessarily match what’s actually under the hood of production models.

Thankfully, the crew over at Inside Line managed to score enough time with a 2011 Challenger SRT8 to strap it down to a proper dyno. And the results? How about 452 horses at 6200 RPM and 443 lb-ft at 4400? Yep, that’ll do nicely, and it means that Dodge may actually be underrating its potent performer just a tad. Oh, and for what it’s worth, IL managed to record 370 horses and 343 lb-ft from its 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS on the same exact dyno. Chevy’s answer ought to be coming in the form of a Z28 with over 500 supercharged ponies… Stay tuned, the horsepower wars are clearly still in full swing.

Ahmadinejad’s tired 1977 Peugeot 504 draws $1M bid

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently put his 1977 Peugeot 504 on the auction block. The original price for a ’77 504 was in the neighborhood of $9,000, and a used one like Ahmadinejad’s could fetch $2,000 in its local market. The bidding just got a massive shot in the arm, however, because someone thinks the car is worth a million bucks.

The million-dollar bid came from an Arab country but further details have not been released. Proceeds from the sale of the 504 will be used to build a low-income housing project.

Are you the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe?

We’ve been told to expect to get our first glimpse of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March, but a few photos of the German two-door may have leaked out ahead of time. The images you see above were sourced up by the team at GMotors. From what we can tell, the vehicle in the stylized photos lines up pretty well with the spy photos we’ve seen of the 2012 C-Class Coupe so far, which leads us to believe that this may actually be the real deal. If so, the new coupe will wear the new beak of its updated four-door compatriots.

That includes the new slightly restyled front fascia. Interestingly enough, this particular set of photos ditches the quad fog lights we saw in the spy photos in favor of LED units. we’d say that seems like a fairly reasonable change given the popularity of the diodes in automotive design at the moment. Word is that this particular machine will get the same rash of engines as the sedan, meaning that buyers can expect to get their hands on either a 3.0-liter V6 with 228 horsepower or a 3.5-liter six-pot with 268 ponies. The question is, will we get an entry-level four-cylinder model like the 2012 C-Class sedan? Something tells us we’ll know a little more as we get closer to Geneva.