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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SohqIBOb03k The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League in the United States and is known for its high-profile advertisements that are aired during its television broadcast - that are believed to reach more than 90 million viewers and are very costly. Hyundai has come up with six commercials for the Super Bowl and one of them features the Sonata 2.0 Turbo sedan. The commercial, by the name of
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After the launch of the sedan and hatchback version of the Forte, Kia has now introduced the two-door variant, or popularly known as the Koup, at the 2013 New York Auto Show. Bearing a similar front fascia as the hatchback, the 2014 Kia Koup is available with 2 engine choices in the US. They are a 2.0-litre GDI unit with 173bhp and a high end 1.6-litre GDI turbo with 201bhp. The turbo Koup comes with a standard six-speed manual gearbox and an optional six-speed automatic with paddle shift. The force-fed coupe wears 18-inch alloy wheels. On the inside, the all new Koup gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and cruise control buttons plus FlexSteer that allows three settings - Comfort, Normal and Sports modes. Other goodies include UVO connectivity system, Bluetooth and a rear camera display. The new Koup will go on sale in Q4 2013 in the US. Nearer to home, Kia Singapore has announced in their Facebook that the new Forte sedan will be launched in July this year. The Koup's local debut should not be far from its US launch.
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Lexus has given the official green light for the stunning LF-LC Concept to go into production. The confirmation is delivered by Brian Smith, Lexus' Vice President, Marketing, who spoke to WardsAuto, a US online car portal, during a recent media event. "That was (intended as) a concept car, and I think it surprised everybody, including us, when Japan said due to overwhelming response they decided to do it," said Smith. Lexus unveiled the Lexus LF-LC Concept 2+2 hybrid sport coupe at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, showcasing the future design direction for Lexus with an emphasis on a driver-focused vehicle. The design was developed by the company's Calty design studio in Newport Beach, California. Powering the concept is a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain producing a combined system output of 499bhp. During the media event, Lexus also confirmed the production for the LF-CC, which is basically a coupe version of the 2013 Lexus IS sedan.
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After the launch of the stunning new Mazda6, the next model that we expect from the Hiroshima-based automaker would be the compact Mazda3. According to Automotive News, an online car portal, three Mazda dealers in the US revealed that the all-new Mazda 3 will be launched in fall 2013, which means September to November. The Mazda3 is the brand's best-selling model and will share the CX-5's new lightweight architecture. The new 3 is expected to be "Kodomised" like its bigger brother, the Mazda6. The above image shows a rendered impression of the next Mazda3. The arrival of the new Mazda3 will hopefully spice up the Japanese compact sedan market, which is currently at a high risk of being overshadowed by vastly improved Korean offerings such as the Elantra and the upcoming Forte. The new Mazda3 is expected to lose some weight and will be powered by a range of Skyactiv engines. Photo Credit: carscoop.blogspot.com
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Cadillac has revealed part images of the upcoming 2014 Cadillac CTS, which will be making its world premiere at this week's New York Auto Show. The most prominent feature of the 2014 Cadillac CTS is the LED stripe at the headlight that extends to the front quarter panel of the car and towards the front bumper at the other end. Not everyone may like the design but I personally find the LED treatment quite refreshing and unique. The new CTS will be powered by a 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6 with 420bhp and 583Nm of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the large American sedan will go from zero to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 274km/h. Other engine options include a naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6 with 321bhp and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder churning 272bhp. The 2014 model will grow longer by some two to three inches as compared to the current model and will be based on GM's rear-wheel drive Alpha platform.
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The finalists for the 2013 World Car of the Year Awards have been named. The list for each category has been reduced to just three to four models, and the final results will be announced at the upcoming New York Auto Show. The winners will be voted by a committee of 66 journalists from 23 countries. Interestingly, the Porsche Boxster and Toyota GT86 has the opportunity of clinching two awards at the same time. Here's the contenders for the various categories: World Car of The Year World Performance Car of The Year World Green Car of The Year World Car Design of The Year
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The Mercedes CLA 45 AMG was shown in digital format last month when the PlayStation 4-exclusive game Driveclub was announced. Now, we get to see the real thing as Mercedes has released the official images of the high-performance variant of the CLA. Like its close cousin, the A 45 AMG, the CLA 45 AMG is propelled by the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder which generates 360bhp with 450Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Both cars also share the same set of 18-inch alloy rims and twin-blade radiator grille design. Powered by the most powerful production series four-cylinder engine in the world, the CLA 45 AMG claims to reach 0 to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds. The AWD four-door coupe will make its world premiere at next week's New York Auto Show.
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Cadillac has announced that the 2014 CTS, which will be unveiled at the upcoming New York Auto Show, will be equipped with a brand new 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged engine. The power plant will be mated to a conventional torque converter eight-speed automatic transmission supplied by Japan's Aisin. The 420bhp, 582Nm lump will enable the CTS to accelerate from zero to 100km/h in approximately 4.6 seconds before hitting an estimated top speed of 274km/h. The CTS will also be offered with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 272bhp and a naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6 that pumps out 321bhp. The Cadillac CTS is a mid-size performance luxury car which is available in three body styles - Sedan, Coupe, and Sport Wagon. Its European rivals include the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class.The new CTS will be the latest model to be based on GM
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Nissan recalls five 2013 models due to defective passenger airbags
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Some car buyers stay away from the first few batches of an all-new model to allow time for teething issues to be ironed out. There could be some truth in such beliefs. A case in point is the recent recall of five 2013 model year Nissan vehicles due to defective passenger airbag issue. These five models are the Sentra (Sylphy), Altima, Pathfinder, Leaf and Infiniti JX35. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the seat-mounted sensor could fail to defect the presence of the passenger, resulting in the airbag not deploying in the event of a severe crash. The faulty sensor was discovered at one of Nissan's manufacturing sites when the airbag warning light was observed. The problem was traced back to the sensor -
In the April 2013 issue of Consumer Reports, the magazine states that while other hybrid vehicles have an excellent reliability report, the Civic Hybrid has been plagued with a serious battery issue. Since the Civic Hybrid's introduction in 2001, it has sold over 255,000 units globally and is the second best-selling hybrid model in the US. "The Civic Hybrid, which has been a reliable car overall in most years, has a big problem with its drive battery. The 2009 model was the worst - Almost one in five owners needed a replacement hybrid battery in our 12-month survey period. But more than 10 percent of owners of the 2003, 2004, and 2010 models also needed one," said Consumer Reports. On the issue, Honda claims that a software update was issued to older models to prevent premature battery failures. Honda has switched to a new lithium-ion battery pack in the 2012-2013 Civic Hybrid. Hopefully, there will be less electrical issues.
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2013 Honda Civic is the first compact sedan to earn 'Top Safety Pick+' rating
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
The 2013 Honda Civic has become the first compact car to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) rating. To qualify for the 2013 TSP+ award, vehicles must earn good ratings for occupant protection in at least 4 of 5 evaluations and no less than acceptable in the fifth test. The evaluations include frontal and side impact tests, rear seat based impact test, roof strength test and the latest small overlap frontal impact test. According to Chuck Thomas, Honda's chief engineer in charge of collision safety, Honda took the opportunity to make some changes to the car's structure alongside with the facelift. Specifically, the 2013 Civic gets higher-strength materials to reinforce the cabin space together with some additional components in the structure and engine compartment. Although the styling of the latest Civic may appear too 'tame' to some, there is no doubt that it is one safe sedan for your family. Joining the Civic in receiving the coveted TSP+ rating include the 2013 Volvo XC60, Lincoln MKZ and the all new Mazda 6. -
If your Subaru's engine cranks up and switches off by itself, do not be afraid as your car isn't possessed by supernatural forces. What happens is that if the remote starter key fob is dropped, a software glitch could occur and it may randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button. The engine will run for up to 15 minutes, but could continue to start and stop until the petrol tank is emptied or the fob battery goes flat. The danger is that if the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause asphyxiation. The problem affects the 2010-2013MY Legacy and Outback as well as the 2012-2013MY Impreza fitted with automatic or CVT transmissions. According to Subaru, around 47,000 cars are affected by the recall in the United States. Subaru dealers will replace the fobs free of charge. This issue with Subaru key fobs also serves as a reminder to all of us to take care of our key fob. Personally, I've left mine in my pocket before and it went into the washing pail. Fortunately, it is still functional.
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Porsche recalls 911 Carrera in the US over exhaust pipe issue
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Porsche has issued a recall in the US involving 2,263,911 Carrera and Carrera 4 models over exhaust pipe issues. The affected vehicles were manufactured between 7th March to 12th November 2012. "The exhaust tail pipe may fracture and separate from the rear muffler," said Porsche through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The problem affects the Carreras that were fitted with the standard exhaust system. The German brand added that the fallen pipe may become a hazard for other vehicles on the road, increasing the risk of a crash. This is certainly true especially if a motorcycle is right behind. Porsche is not aware of any defects or reported failures on any customer-owned vehicles. All defects determined to date were reported on internal Porsche test vehicles with mileage of over 25,000 miles. If you are lucky enough to own the latest 911, do check that the tail pipe is still attached at the end of the drive. -
Ferrari announced that 2012 was the best financial year ever for the 66-year-old brand. A total of 7,318 vehicles were delivered to worldwide dealership in 2012 while a revenue of 2.43 billion euros was recorded, breaking the record set in 2008. Net profit rose 17.8% to just under 244 million euros. "We are all enormously proud of ending the year with these kind of results despite the unfavourable economic backdrop in many European nations, and the distinctly hostile one in Italy," said Chairman Luca di Montezemolo. Although the US economy was threatened by the looming 'Fiscal Cliff' last year, Ferrari's sales in the US exceeded 2000 units for the first time by delivering 2058 cars. Sales in Europe was impressive as well with deliveries in Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany increasing by 20.4%, 17.4% and 8.2% respectively. Consumer behaviour is hard to predict some times. The results delivered by brand-related activities in areas of retail, licensing and e-commerce were excellent too, showing a 40% improvement in operating margin to over 50 million euros. If a Chinese idiom was used to describe Ferrari
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Want a reliable driving machine that provides stress-free ownership? The recent 2013 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study by J.D Power suggests that you should get yourself a Lexus. In the study, Lexus came out on top with a score of 71 problems per 100 vehicles. Owners of three-year-old cars of various makes were asked to mention the problems they had with their vehicles in the last 12 months. Porsche took up second position after Lexus while Lincoln and Toyota tied for the third spot with a score of 112 PP 100. The overall average stands at 126 PP 100. The lowest 5 spots were taken up by Volkswagen, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Dodge and Land Rover. For individual models, the Lexus RX (above) had the highest dependability with just 57 problems per 100 vehicles, marking the first time in the survey an SUV came up on top. J.D. Power commented that 54% of owners who don't experience any problems with their vehicles stay with that brand for their next purchase. That loyalty rate slips to 41% when three or more problems are experienced.
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Fancy the power of the Veloster Turbo but wished that it comes with a 4th door? Good news! The all-new Kia Forte 5-door may fit the bill. The latest Korean hatchback was launched at the recent 2013 Chicago Auto Show. Like the four-door sedan, the five-door Forte looks sportier and more sophisticated that its predecessor. It has a slimmer grille than the sedan and comes with a more aggressive-looking front bumper that house a larger air intake. For the new Forte hatchback, beauty is more than skin deep. The big news is that the 1.6-litre T-GDI will be offered as one of the engine choice. The turbocharged lump churns out 201bhp with 264Nm of torque between 1,750 rpm to 4,500 rpm. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. This most powerful Forte to date wears 18-inch alloys and has a sports-tuned MacPherson suspension at the front with multi-link setup at the rear. "The combination of a useful hatchback for carrying cargo and the sportiness of the turbocharged SX trim make the all-new Forte 5-door a dual threat in the segment," said Kia Motors America executive vice president of marketing, Michael Sprague. Kia
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It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's a Superman Kia Optima Hybrid
FaezClutchless posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
[extract] During last year -
Wolfsburg and Driver's Editions of the MK6 Golf GTI launched
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
[extract] Volkswagen has launched two limited editions of the MK6 Golf GTI to commemorate the final model year of the hot hatch at the Chicago Auto Show. The GTI Wolfsburg Edition will go on sale in Q1 2013 and only 2000 units will be produced. For the GTI Driver -
These are the first leaked images of the production version of the 2014 Toyota Corolla. They seemed rather believable, sporting the new corporate fascia with styling cues borrowed from the Furia Concept. Compared to the Furia concept, the supposedly road-going model has a more
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KlearKarbon aims to utilise hydrogen cleaning technology for powertrains
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
[extract] KlearKarbon is a new start up and it -
Many car manufacturers are finding ways to reduce their products' emission levels. For Volkswagen, it is going green upstream by taping on solar power in their manufacturing process. Volkswagen has just opened a huge solar park to provide power for their US plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The plant produces a version of the Passat that is exclusive to the North American market. The solar facility is expected to produce 13,100 megawatt hours per year thanks to the 33,600 crystal solar modules. The solar power generated will provide about 12.5% of the electricity required when the plant is operating at full capacity. Frank Fischer, CEO and chairman of Volkswagen Chattanooga, said, "This facility is a key part of our 'Think Blue Factory' programme and further proof of Volkswagen's worldwide commitment to environmental protection. Once again, we are setting standards in efficient, sustainable production." Volkswagen's latest commitment to environment might help to pacify the Greenpeace activists who recently protested against the carmaker's stance on the climate outside the Vienna car show.
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Things you don't know about the United States President's limo
FaezClutchless posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
[extract] United States president Barack Obama's second inauguration took place just recently. As usual, the president arrived in the presidential state car which is commonly known as the Cadillac One or at times, The Beast. Not much is known about the vehicle as its specifications are heavily guarded by the US Secret Service. But, over the few years, some of these heavily guarded secrets were leaked out and below are some of the things you don -
An important and iconic Lamborghini visits Jay Leno Garage
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
"Welcome to another episode of Jay Leno's Garage" - is Jay Leno's usual introduction whenever he starts off a web video. Visiting his garage recently was an iconic but important Lamborghini. At 20 mins it is nearly the running length of a sitcom, but may I say if you are a car enthusiast, it is truly worthy of your time. Visiting his garage was the legendary Lamborghini 350 GT from 1965 - The first Lamborghini ever. With him is Andrew Romanowski of Lamborghini Club of America, and together they discuss about the car and a brief history of the marque before finishing off with a auralgasmic drive down the street. If you are a young car enthusiast probably from the iGeneration and are more familiar with recent models like the Gallardo, or Aventador.. then you should watch this. Think of it as a automotive history lesson. -
Lexus presented the all new IS, now in its third generation (I think) at the North American International Auto Show recently. Presenting an all new facia and aggressive styling, the IS from the start has been designed and engineered with one purpose in mind, to dethrone the BMW 3 Series as the best in its class. American automotive publication Motor Trend recently had a chance to talk to chief engineer of the IS, Junichi Furuyama, to explain why the new IS is important and how this might re-invent the Lexus brand.
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Toyota has revealed the Corolla Furia concept at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show. Like the Auris, the Furia concept sports the latest corporate face of the Japanese brand. According to a statement on the Furia concept, Toyota states that it builds on the brand's product development priority to develop more dramatic, expressively designed vehicles. Toyota did not reveal any details on the concept's horsepower, torque and handling capabilities. The concept measures 4,620mm long by 1,805mm wide by 1,425mm tall. If this is an indication of the production version, the next corolla would have grown 80mm longer, 45mm wider yet sits 40mm lower - adopting a sportier stance. The tail light, which appears to borrow styling cue from the Kia Optima, and the integrated exhaust pipes gives the rear a sporty look. The US Corolla and the ASEAN version that we are getting have similar bodywork. If you feel that styling of the current 10th generation Corolla Altis is too conservative for your liking, the 11th generation might change that thought.