2012 Audi A6 grows up, borrows a page from A8

Set to make its debut early next year, the 2012 Audi A6 is a totally revamped version of the automaker’s mid-size luxury sedan. Styled to match the 2011 Audi A8, the new A6 (which, as we pointed out when it leaked a day early, looks a lot like the old A6) hides plenty of lightweight aluminum and high-tech steel components under its revised exterior. Inside, the A6 benefits from a wrap-around cockpit that envelops both the driver and front passenger with leather and wood, while luxury amenities – ranging from heated and ventilated seats to optional massage functionality – are all available for the taking.

The available powertrains – a choice between two gasoline engines and three diesel mills worldwide – have improved fuel economy by 19 percent, and a hybrid version will be introduced down the road. The most economical unit, a 2.0-liter TDI, is expected to achieve about 48 miles per gallon, while the hybrid will come in closer to 38 mpg. You don’t have to be totally frugal on the fuel to have some fun though, thanks to a carryover 300-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI powerplant that achieves 27 miles per gallon and runs to a limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.

The other gasoline engine is a 2.8-liter naturally aspirated unit that produces 204 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque which may or may not be available in the States (don’t hold you breath). For oil burner fans, two 3.0-liter diesel choices exist: a 204 hp/295 lb-ft example and a top-of-the-line 245 hp/368 lb-ft mill. The more powerful unit is rated at nearly 40 mpg yet runs from 0-60 in just 6.1 seconds.

2011 Roush 5XR Mustang: Now with more ROUSH

The 2011 Ford Mustang already packs a plentiful 412 horsepower under it’s well-contoured hood, but for some enthusiasts there is no such thing as enough power. And what makes owning a Mustang so great is that there are countless ways to upgrade your ride. Roush has done it’s fair share of Mustang modifying, and that trend continues for 2011. The new 5XR is Jack and the gang’s latest stab at ‘Stang perfection, with a R2300 ROUSHcharger mated to Ford’s already potent 5.0-liter V8 to produce a hearty 525 ponies and 465 pound-feet of torque.

When Roush upgrades a Mustang, obviously it starts with a more powerful engine, but the fun usually doesn’t end there. The 5XR will also feature a bevy of upgraded components, including a suspension kit with new front shocks and rear springs and front and rear stabilizer bars. Power will be transferred to the road via 20-inch chrome wheels wrapped with high-performance Cooper RS3 tires.

On the outside, Roush provides plenty of cues to alert even the novice that the 5XR is no run-of-the-mill pony car. Upgrades include a new front fascia with splitter, side rocker splitters, rear valance and three-piece deck lid spoiler. And if that isn’t enough to clue you in, the 5XR also comes standard with a copious amount of badging.

Does Cadillac need a Mini-fighter?

According to Autocar, Cadillac may have a burning desire to lock horns with Mini. The site quotes designer Niki Smart as saying that the time is right for The Wreath and Crest to build a model akin to the company’sUrban Luxury Concept that we saw at this month’s LA Auto Show. His reasoning? The company needs metal that’s more appealing to European buyers than what’s available in the current lineup. That means a heavier focus on small, hatchback designs that still retain the premium Cadillac aesthetic. Smart seems to think that translates into a Mini Cooper fighter.

With its scissor doors and 78 mpg hybrid drivetrain, the Urban Luxury Concept isn’t any closer to production than the now-iconic Sixteen Concept of years past. Even so, Smart told Autocar that GM’s Advanced Design Studio has looked into ways to make the vehicle production ready, funky doors and all. While we aren’t exactly wild about the design of the ULC, the thought of a flingable Cadillac with a V on its hatch is certainly a notion worth mulling.

Honda Insight gets much cheaper base model, new features for 2011

The slow-selling Honda Insight hasn’t exactly stolen any of the Toyota Prius’ thunder since its introduction last year, and with new green cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf ready to join the battle, the future of Honda’s hybrid hatch doesn’t look too bright. Still, the Japanese automaker has given the Insight a host of improvements for the 2011 model year, including a new base model that retails for $18,950 (including the $750 destination charge).

So, what do you lose gain with the base Insight? For starters, a downgraded stereo system is on hand, with a single CD player and two – yes, two – speakers. Audiophiles need not apply. Remote entry is standard on the base Insight, but if you want amenities like cruise control, a USB audio interface, center armrest and floor mats, you’ll need to opt for the mid-grade LX trim. In other words, the new price leader is something of a municipal and fleet special. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the pricier EX now comes standard with steering wheel-mounted audio controls and can be optioned with navigation.

The Insight’s 1.3-liter inline-four with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist carries over largely unchanged, with fuel economy rated at 40/43 miles per gallon, city/highway. 2011 Insight models are arriving at Honda dealers as you read this, and for the full details on what’s new, follow the jump for Honda’s press release.

Gran Turismo 5

1,000 cars. Hundreds of events. 71 track variations. Six years in development. There are lots of numbers to throw around and lots of numbers behind the latest release of Gran Turismo, the version that fans of the franchise have been aching for while suffering through delay after delay. Gran Turismo 5 is finally here, and in plenty of ways it’s the best installment that the storied franchise has seen to date.

However, it’s also the least polished release, least complete feeling and seemingly the buggiest – yes, even worse than the infamously rushed Gran Turismo 2. It’s a frustrating mix of amazing content and glaring shortcomings that will leave even the most devout GT fanboys and girls with mixed feelings. But, of course, the full story is rather more complicated than that. So let’s get to it…

Lexus expects to sell 1,000 CTs a month despite HS flop

Lexus is pinning rather high the expectations on its new CT 200h, billed as “The Dark Side of Green.” According to Brian Bolain, the automaker’s national advertising and marketing manager, Lexus expects to sell about 1,000 CTs here in the U.S. each month. We wish them the best of luck, but have some serious reservations.

Consider that the combined sales of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 (which represent the vehicles most likely to be cross-shopped with the CT) tally up about 1,500 sales per month, according toWard’s Automotive. For what it’s worth, the 1 Series, which is the only non-dedicated hatchback and easily the sportiest of the bunch, makes up the vast majority of the segment’s sales.

As you’re surely aware, the CT 200h is indeed a dedicated hatchback and it offers up a comparatively paltry 98 horsepower from its Prius-derived Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter four-cylinder, aided by another 36 ponies from its two electric motors and 28 NiMH batteries. 

As we said in our First Drive of the CT, that power level, particularly when coupled to a continuously variable automatic transmission, doesn’t exactly incite driving excitement.

Audi Quattro reportedly destined for the green light – but in what form?

If your jaw dropped at the site of the Audi Quattro concept unveiled in Paris, you weren’t alone. The aluminum and carbon fiber throwback was one of the best looking – and all-around most enticing – show cars on display at Versailles. And if you ask the people in charge, it could be destined for showrooms in short order.

The thing about Audi is that when it does a concept car, it does just do a rolling model. It engineers the thing. It does its homework. And in the case of the Audi Quattro, three years of development work have reportedly already gone into it. According to Motor Trend, both Audi’s and the Volkswagen Group’s chief execs are eager to put it into production, although their visions for how it’ll get there are a little different.

Group CEO Martin Winterkorn reportedly wants to put it into serial production at around 35,000 units annually in order to keep pricing to a reasonable level, offering a full range of engine options in the process. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler, meanwhile, sees the Quattro as a niche product, sticking with the solitary turbo five and all-wheel drive set-up that featured in both the show car and the ’80s icon that was its inspiration.

This is what $38 million sounds like

Want to know what $38 million sounds like? Well you’re not likely to find out. That’s the reported value of the highly coveted 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic recently sold by Gooding & Company from the Peter Williamson collection. 

But while we got a rare chance to stop by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, for an up-close-and-personal between the world’s most valuable car and our own Drew Philips, actually seeing it start up and drive would be a rare sight indeed.

Fortunately, onlookers had the chance when the Bugatti came down to the Pasadena Art Center Car Classic and fired up its 3.2-liter straight-eight – lest we forget that this is an actual functioning automobile, and not a stationary sculpture consigned to a pedestal. 

What’s more is that he caught it on camera in a pair of videosafter the jump.?

Honda CR-Z wins 2010 Japan Car of the Year

For the past 31 years, Japan has selected a Car of the Year award recipient. Over 60 jurors, composed mainly of Japanese journalists, vote on a vehicle worthy of the Car of the Year title, and the auto that receives the most nods drives away with the crown. Last year, that honor went to the redesigned Toyota Prius hybrid, which narrowly edged out the Honda Insight. This year, however, Honda took top honors with its all-new 2011 CR-Z.

Car of the Year jurors praised the CR-Z because of its ability to balance driving pleasure and fuel economy. Jurors also noted that Honda managed to wrap all that high-tech gadgetry inside a unique body design. Upon receiving the award, Honda’s president and CEO, Takanobu Ito, stated:

We are very proud that the CR-Z has been selected from the strong contenders of new models as the Car of the Year Japan 2010-2011. This award shows that the public has accepted Honda’s aspiration to supply exceptional environmental performance in a fun-to-drive hybrid car at an affordable price, as well as Honda’s desire to spread the joy of owning and driving a car. We also believe that this award for the CR-Z reflects the true value of the combined efforts of our business partners and the many others who supported CR-Z development and production. Going forward, Honda intends to bring more joy to an even larger number of customers.

Report: Audi bringing four-cylinder A8 in 2012

Automakers are always looking to add a tinge of green to their fleets, and Audi is reportedly ready to drop a few cylinders on its flagship sedan. The 2012 Audi A8 will be offered as a hybrid, with a four-cylinder gasoline engine being paired with an electric motor. 

The A8 Hybrid will likely be offered after Audi has launched a front-wheel drive six-cylinder diesel version, both of which should provide quite a different driving experiencecompared to the 372 horsepower 4.2-liter V8 currently available.

The move to a smaller cylinder count comes as automakers begin to prepare for tougher CAFE standards. Audi, not wanted to be left behind, sees that Mercedes-Benz and BMW are already moving to more efficient powertrains. 

Mercedes, who already launched its S400 Hybrid, is also adding a four-cylinder version of its flagship model – a 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel in the S250 CDI model. BMW has a different take on how it will produce more efficient luxury sedans. Rather than reducing the number of cylinders, BMW will add electric motors to its six and eight cylinder engines, so for the time being there are no plan to put a four-cylinder in the engine bay of a 7 Series.

Jeep Wrangler to get Pentastar V6 power in 2012

It looks like the Jeep Wrangler family will be the next Chrysler bloodline to benefit from the company’s excellent new Pentastar V6. Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler CEO, broke the news during the company’s third-quarter financial announcement. 

The new powerplant will likely pack somewhere between 283 and 305 horsepower depending on the tune, and will make for a substantial bump in grunt over the current 202-pony 3.8-liter V6 currently available in the Wrangler.

Still, it will be a good long while before buyers can sink their teeth into the new engine. Marchionne made it clear that the Pentastar won’t be available under the Wrangler hood until the 2012 model year.

Are you the new Audi A6?

Despite teasing fans with some none-too-revealing teasers, the German automaker’s new 2012 Audi A6sedan has leaked out thanks to the folks at Autoblog.nl (no relation). You’re forgiven if you have to squint a bit to notice the changes, but this is, in fact, a pretty thorough (if conservative) reworking of Audi’s middle child.

We’re digging the stylish front and rear LED lighting treatments, and the interior predictably appears to be a thing of beauty. We can’t yet say for certain what sort of powerplant options Audi will bestow upon the 2012 A6, but the car in these photos has a six-cylinder turbo diesel. Globally, we’re counting on a full slate of gasoline and diesel engines along with optional Quattro all-wheel drive, while in the States we’re likely to get a couple of petrol engines, a single TDI option and standard AWD.

The whole kit n’ kaboodle is slated for an official web unveiling tomorrow, so we should know all the details soon enough. In the meantime, check out the high-res image gallery below and let your voice be heard in the ‘Comments’.

Toyota to repair 650,000 Prius models globally over coolant risk

Toyota has announced that it will voluntarily repair 650,000 Prius models for a fault in the hybrid cooling system. According to Reuters, a glitch in the vehicle’s coolant pump could cause the vehicle to overheat and lose power, though no accidents or injuries have been reported in association with the problem to date. It’s worth noting that this isn’t an official recall in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it’s a service action.

According to the report, the way the electric water pump is designed can allow air bubbles into the system, a development that can slow coolant circulation and increase the heat build-up in Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive components. if the overheating problem isn’t tended to in a timely fashion, it could trigger a warning light and cause the vehicle to slip into limp mode.

The repair notice covers 2004-2007 model year Prius vehicles, 378,000 of which were sold in the U.S.. Toyota will repair the problem free of charge starting in December, and Prius owners can expect to be notified of the campaign shortly. The Japanese automaker is also stressing that it has changed the coolant pump design in the Prius since 2007 and that none of the company’s other hybrid vehicles are affected by the problem.

Hundreds of old nuclear warheads being secretly trucked across US freeways

It seems that the nation’s stockpile of W76 nuclear warheads is due for a tune up. According to The Kitsap Sun, the Navy is moving 1,600 and 1,800 of the warheads from their home at the Kitsap-Bangor Naval Base in Washington State to the Texas panhandle for updating. 

The 100-kiloton are between 23 and 32 years old, and as such, require updates to their aiming, firing and fusing systems. In order to get those updates, the warheads will have to travel by road in special, unmarked tractor trailers. For obvious reasons, the Navy isn’t into sharing the travel itinerary for the warheads, but according to The Kitsap Sun, specially-trained federal agents are tasked with transporting the weapons.

The trucks are forbidden from driving in foul weather, and a host of secure shelters along the way will house the big rigs should the skies turn cloudy. Likewise, the drivers aren’t allowed to go for more than 32 hours without sleeping in a real bed, despite the fact that the tractor cabs are sleepers. In addition, the trailers themselves are protected in the event of an accident.

Still, the knowledge that large numbers of nuclear weapons are coursing through the country’s interstate system should give us all pause before cutting off that tractor trailer in traffic.