No fair! Porsche seeks partial exemption from upcoming emissions standards
Filed under: Etc., Porsche, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily
2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S – Click above for high-res image gallery
With U.S. emission standards continually becoming ever more stringent, Porsche has decided to take a stand. According to the company, new regulations forthcoming “would perversely require Porsche to become the fuel efficiency leader in the United States.” As you can imagine, making sports cars that achieve the industry standard of 42 miles per gallon by 2016 is not on the easy to do list and Porsche would like to avoid the situation if at all possible.
The company has taken the first steps of petitioning both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation and requesting a partial exemption for low-volume sports cars. The company cites two problems with the future regulations. First, sports cars are not as efficient as everyday vehicles. Low-volume makers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini focus solely on sports cars, which can’t possibly meet the lofty mpg goals set. Second, while many other automakers must meet a fleet average of 35 mpg, Porsche will be required to be closer to 42 mpg. Why? Fleet averages combine trucks (with a regulatory goal of 26.6 mpg by 2016) and cars (42 mpg by 2016). If an automaker sells a significant amount of trucks that beat the 26.6 number, it can offset some cars that fall below the listed goals. Needless to say, Porsche doesn’t specialize in trucks and will be required to have a fleet average close to 42 mpg, which the company believes is unfair.
Porsche vehicles are widely regarded as some of the most efficient offerings in its class, but pushing for 42 mpg without crushing the heritage of the brand will be a daunting task.
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
No fair! Porsche seeks partial exemption from upcoming emissions standards originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Coming Soon: Steve McQueen A Tribute to the King of Cool
I make no secret of being an unabashed Steve McQueen fan. I’ve written a book about his cars, bikes and racing (McQueen’s Machines: The Cars and bikes of a Hollywood Icon), and have watched Bullitt and Le Mans more times than I should admit. And, don’t forget, Happy 80th Steve, as I write this on March 24.
There’s a new Steve book out soon that I think similar fans might enjoy. It consists of more than 200 first person capsules or “remembrances” by so many people that were involved in his life one way or another. It’s called A Tribute to the King of Cool, by Marshall Terrill, and will be published by Dalton Watson books. It was my honor to write the chapter about McQueen the racer, car, and bike enthusiast. I’ve seen a draft of the book, and there are some great names, great stories, and great photos contained therein. Learn more at www.daltonwatson.com.
Unofficial drag test puts 2011 Mustang GT ahead of Camaro SS in eighth-mile showdown
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Ford
2011 Ford Mustang GT – Click above for high-res image gallery
Though driving impressions of the new 5.0-liter 2011 Ford Mustang GT are off limits for now, Popular Hot Rodding notes that Ford made no mention of releasing pure facts. It’s all about the numbers anyway, right? During last week’s media launch for the new Mustangs in California, the showdown between the (supposedly) 412-horsepower 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 and the 426-horsepower 2010 Camaro SS got underway at a sectioned-off portion of the Camarillo Airport. An eighth-mile drag strip lay ahead of the two ponycars, both equipped with six-speed automatics.
With time-slips in hand, the numbers don’t lie. Popular Hot Rodding managed a time of 8.82 seconds at 83 miles per hour in the Camaro, but the Mustang proved to be even faster at 8.62 seconds at 86 mph. Virtually all journalists on hand recorded better times in the Mustang. Crude translations to quarter mile numbers come in at 13.8 seconds for the Camaro and 13.5 seconds for the Stang.
With a base price coming in at $30,495 and numbers that – for now, at least – appear to beat the competition, Ford looks like it has a serious hit in the making with its new 5.0 Mustang. How the renewed rivalry translates from the streets to the sales sheets, where the Camaro currently rules the roost, will be interesting to watch.
Spills, chills and thrills at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix [SPOILER ALERT]
Filed under: Motorsports
![aus gp 1 630op Spills, chills and thrills at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix [SPOILER ALERT]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/aus-gp-1-630op.jpg "Spills, chills and thrills at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix [SPOILER ALERT]")
2010 Australian Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery
You asked for it, you got it. After what was widely received as a rather dry (if intriguing) start to the season two weeks ago in the sand dunes of Bahrain, many were left clamoring for more exciting race action. And that’s exactly what we got this weekend in Melbourne.
The 2010 Australian Grand Prix entered the history books today packed with spins and crashes, rain and dry, wheel-to-wheel action and leapfrog passes. By the end, a good third of the grid had spun out, and the order had been completely shaken up. Click past the fold to see how it unfolded.
Brawnier 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class leaked ahead of New York debut
Filed under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury
2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class – Click above for high-res image gallery
The R-Class has had a rough life. Not only did it suffer from odd, disproportionate styling, but Mercedes-Benz never really marketed the vehicle the way that it should have, choosing to position it as a “sports tourer,” rather than the obvious upscale family hauler that it is. Dismal sales ensued. Makes sense, then, that the 2011 R-Class benefits from a slightly more comprehensive overhaul than the standard mid-cycle refresh usually entails.
Right away, we must say that the R-Class’s new schnoz is a giant leap forward from drooping proboscis of the outgoing car. New, more chiseled headlamps accent a larger, more upright grille and a less angular hood. The revised lower fascia features the automaker’s new quad foglight design – something we’ve already seen on the E- and GL-Class. Not much has been changed out back, save the standard mid-cycle enhancements (revised taillights and a tweaked bumper).
Interior changes are minimal, which is fine, since we’ve never really had a problem with the sports tourer people mover’s cabin. Look for the typical array of Mercedes-Benz technology features, as well as a new AMG sport interior, which includes different seats, a better steering wheel with shift paddles, a new lighting package, and stainless steel pedals. As for powertrains, we expect the standard V6 engines – both petrol and diesel – to be offered. Us? We’re secretly crossing our fingers for the return of the R63 AMG.
Check back later this week for full details from the New York Auto Show. In the meantime, click through the gallery below to see preview shots of the new R-Class. Hat tip to Ashley!
Electric Spark (E-Spark) to be on the Indian roads by this year end
General Motors, the parent company of Chevrolet Spark has said that it will launch the electric powered Spark small car in India by this year end. The electric driven Spark has been developed by General Motors in association with Bangalore based Maini group which manufactures REVA electric cars. The electric Spark was displayed at the Auto Expo 2010.
Expect the price of the E-Spark to be slightly higher than that of its petrol sibling.
Press release
Leaked: 2011 Infiniti QX56 drips onto web prior to NY debut
Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Infiniti, Luxury
2011 Infiniti QX56 – Click above for low-res image gallery
When Nissan unveiled the all-new Patrol SUV in the Middle East last month, we already knew that we’d be seeing the rebranded Infiniti version as the 2011 QX56 at the New York Auto Show. Furthermore, spy photos left little to the imagination. Today, leaked official images leave exactly zero to the imagination.
Despite what appears to be an effort to infuse a dollop of FX style to the front end, the 2011 Infiniti QX56 manages to retain an awkward-looking “forehead” (much like its predecessor) that’s reminiscent of Frankenstein’s monster, thanks to the not-insubstantial amount of bodywork that rises above the headlamps. There’s also a garish fender vent that appears to be the size of Martha’s Vineyard. While the QX56′s front and rear end treatments are unique to the Infiniti, the basic profile and daylight opening are identical to the new Patrol, as is the lavishly-appointed interior, which appears to just swap steering wheel logos.
Given that we already know the vehicle nomenclature – QX56 – look for the same 5.6-liter, 400-horsepower, 405 pound-foot direct-injected V8 that’s available in the Nissan. Likewise, we expect to see most, if not all, of the same technological features the new Patrol offers, such as its seven-speed automatic transmission, electronic four-wheel-drive with driver-selectable modes, and hydraulic anti-roll system.
Check out the low-res leaked images in the gallery below, which you can compare to our high-res Nissan Patrol set. We’ll have full details in the new 2011 Infiniti QX56 later this week once the festivities get underway in New York.
