Fiat 500 Abarth in US production trim
Like much of Italy's economy, the Fiat 500 has suffered a lackluster year, with Americans buying less than half of the Cinquecentos Fiat expected to sell and a Jennifer Lopez ad testing the proposition that all publicity is good publicity. Here's the reinforcement arriving in March: the 160-hp turbo Abarth.
The 500 isn't a bad small car, but it's probably a bit too cute to ever be a mainstream vehicle. The Abarth version goes some distance toward putting a scorpion on the 500's face, with a tighter, lowered suspension and upgraded brakes, steering and wheels. The power of 160 hp and 170 lb.-ft. is slightly lower than some Fiat enthusiasts were hoping for, but still enough to make the 2,500-lb. Abarth scoot with some authority.
Fiat didn't release prices, but an affordable and credible sports-flavored 500 could undo some of the damage done by J-Lo's gyrations. If it misses, Fiat troubles could grow; there's only so many chances to fix it again.
The 500 isn't a bad small car, but it's probably a bit too cute to ever be a mainstream vehicle. The Abarth version goes some distance toward putting a scorpion on the 500's face, with a tighter, lowered suspension and upgraded brakes, steering and wheels. The power of 160 hp and 170 lb.-ft. is slightly lower than some Fiat enthusiasts were hoping for, but still enough to make the 2,500-lb. Abarth scoot with some authority.
Fiat didn't release prices, but an affordable and credible sports-flavored 500 could undo some of the damage done by J-Lo's gyrations. If it misses, Fiat troubles could grow; there's only so many chances to fix it again.
LA Auto Show 2011: Camaro ZL1 drops its top
Only in the rarefied world of auto shows would a 184-mph car seem just a touch slow, but that’s what Chevrolet faces with the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 — until it drops its top.
The latest salvo in the revival of GM’s muscle car, the ZL1 convertible and coupe draw their force from a 6.2 liter supercharged V-8, capable of 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft. of torque. Equipped with a six-speed automatic, the ZL1 can make 60 mph in 3.9 seconds — a time that only gets slower with a manual transmission option.
While it's 70 hp shy of the Ford Shelby Mustang, and a little lower in status than the $135,000 Jaguar XKR-S convertible, the Camaro does offer the punch of a relatively low sticker price — $54,995, before any options. It’s a massive amount of money, and yet paying more for a more expensive vehicle wouldn’t guarantee any better performance, or the ability to enjoy it with the top down.
The latest salvo in the revival of GM’s muscle car, the ZL1 convertible and coupe draw their force from a 6.2 liter supercharged V-8, capable of 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft. of torque. Equipped with a six-speed automatic, the ZL1 can make 60 mph in 3.9 seconds — a time that only gets slower with a manual transmission option.
While it's 70 hp shy of the Ford Shelby Mustang, and a little lower in status than the $135,000 Jaguar XKR-S convertible, the Camaro does offer the punch of a relatively low sticker price — $54,995, before any options. It’s a massive amount of money, and yet paying more for a more expensive vehicle wouldn’t guarantee any better performance, or the ability to enjoy it with the top down.
LA Auto Show 2011: Ford reveals all-new 2013 Ford Escape
Ford is importing a new Escape in hopes of keeping its best-seller status. Designed to be sold around the world as the Kuga, the new Escape eschews the block styling for a slippier shape that mimics the Ford Focus, with which it shares basic components. While the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine gets a few tweaks to 168 hp, Ford drops the V6 option in favor of two smaller turbocharged four-cylinder powerplants; a 1.6-liter Ecoboost that Ford claims will top competitors in fuel economy while pumping 173 hp, and the top-line 2-liter Ecoboost will churn 237 hp.
2013 Ford Mustang gallops up to 200 mph
Shelby edition now sports 650 hp, world's most powerful V-8
Yet another argument for the contention that we’re living in a golden era for American muscle cars arrives with the 2013Ford Mustang, which will sport a brace of tech and styling updates across its line — including the most powerful V8 engine sold by any automaker in the world. How much trouble could you get in with a 200-mph ‘Stang?
The original pony car has survived 46 years only through annual tweaking between major redesigns, and offering a broad enough model range to lure in everyone from high-schoolers to professional drag racers. Thanks to the competition with the revived Chevrolet Camaro, there’s more muscle in muscle cars than ever before; today’s base V6 Mustang has more grunt than the V8 flashed seven years ago.
The biggest change comes at the top, where the Ford Shelby GT500 gets 100 extra ponies under the hood, giving the supercharged 5.8-liter V8 650 hp and 600 lb.-ft of torque — more than any Camaro, Corvette or even the Ferrari 458 Italia. Every part of the Shelby was tweaked in some fashion to handle the power riot, along with a launch control system for better controlled top-speed starts. The only thing not included are the numbers of local bail bondsmen.
For 2013, the exterior gets a freshening in some details, namely a beefed-up grille and different wheel combinations and smoked tail lamps. For the more boastful Mustang owners, a light in the side-view mirror will project the pony logo on the ground when you unlock the car.
The original pony car has survived 46 years only through annual tweaking between major redesigns, and offering a broad enough model range to lure in everyone from high-schoolers to professional drag racers. Thanks to the competition with the revived Chevrolet Camaro, there’s more muscle in muscle cars than ever before; today’s base V6 Mustang has more grunt than the V8 flashed seven years ago.
The biggest change comes at the top, where the Ford Shelby GT500 gets 100 extra ponies under the hood, giving the supercharged 5.8-liter V8 650 hp and 600 lb.-ft of torque — more than any Camaro, Corvette or even the Ferrari 458 Italia. Every part of the Shelby was tweaked in some fashion to handle the power riot, along with a launch control system for better controlled top-speed starts. The only thing not included are the numbers of local bail bondsmen.
For 2013, the exterior gets a freshening in some details, namely a beefed-up grille and different wheel combinations and smoked tail lamps. For the more boastful Mustang owners, a light in the side-view mirror will project the pony logo on the ground when you unlock the car.
The V6 keeps its 305 hp output, while the standard 5-liter V8 in the GT models now tops 420 hp, a gain of 8 hp. The six-speed automatic transmission now offers an optional mix-your-own-gear mode for weekend auto crossers. For the more serious track day adherents, there’s also an upgrade to the brakes, cooling and suspension tweaks from the Boss 302.
To make the fun a little more technical, the dash computer will now come with what Ford calls Track Apps, programs that can measure g-forces, 0-60 and quarter-mile runs and braking data. It’s like having “Motorweek” in your dash. The Boss 302 gets by with a carryover 444-hp V8 and the same appearance changes — and a new color of school bus yellow paint. Your move, Camaro. This all news is taken from yahooautos.
To make the fun a little more technical, the dash computer will now come with what Ford calls Track Apps, programs that can measure g-forces, 0-60 and quarter-mile runs and braking data. It’s like having “Motorweek” in your dash. The Boss 302 gets by with a carryover 444-hp V8 and the same appearance changes — and a new color of school bus yellow paint. Your move, Camaro. This all news is taken from yahooautos.
some other click we have taken from LA auto show
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1. 2013 Lincoln MKT is seen after its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011.
- Actress Paula Patton, who stars in the film "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," poses as she participates in the North American debut of the BMW i3 electric concept vehicle (background) and the i8 hybrid-electric concept vehicle at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles November 16, 2011. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES - Tags: TRANSPORT BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT)
- Actress Paula Patton (L), who stars in the film "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," participates in the U.S. debut of the BMW i3 (background) and i8 concept electric vehicles with Ludwig Willisch, the president and chief executive of BMW North America, at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles November 16, 2011. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES - Tags: TRANSPORT BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT)
- The 2013 Lincoln MKT is seen after its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011
Paula Patton, who stars in the film "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," poses as she participates in the North American debut of the BMW i3 electric concept vehicle (background) and the i8 hybrid-electric concept vehicle at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles November 16, 2011. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES - Tags: TRANSPORT BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT)- Actress Paula Patton (L), who stars in the film "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," participates in the U.S. debut of the BMW i3 (background) and i8 concept electric vehicles with Ludwig Willisch, the president and chief executive of BMW North America, at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles November 16, 2011. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES - Tags: TRANSPORT BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT)
- The 2013 Lincoln MKT is seen after its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011.
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