Author Archives: Jeff Glucker

Fifth Gear remembers what made the original Audi Quattro so special

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fifth gear legends audi quattro

Compiling a list of automotive legends is a task that could force all enthusiasts into a debate of epic proportions. Opinions will differ, feelings will be hurt and some deserving vehicles might wind up off the ultimate list. There is one vehicle, however, that should create little debate as to its place in the annals of all-time greats. We’re talking about the original Audi Quattro, and it’s clear that the folks from the UK’s Fifth Gear agree.

The Fifth Gear crew managed to snag the keys to an Ur-Quattro for its Legends series, and set about tracking it down some of their local country roads. Cameras were powered up, lenses were clean and the resulting review is available to fawn over after the jump.

Continue reading Fifth Gear remembers what made the original Audi Quattro so special

Fifth Gear remembers what made the original Audi Quattro so special originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari 458 Spider priced from $257,000

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ferrari 458 spider

The top’s already come off, but we’re just now getting to the subject of price. Don’t get too excited, most of you can’t afford it anyway. We’re talking about the Ferrari 458 Spider, and it’ll cost you at least $257,000 to put one in your climate-controlled garage. Should you have the means, you can place your order starting in January of 2012.

What do you get when you replace $257,000 from your bank account with the Ferrari 458 Spider? A 4.5-liter V8-powered exotic sports car with a roof that disappears so your ears can get closer to aural nirvana. Sure, the fancy folding top covers up the visuals, but we’d take the soundtrack over the artwork any day. Besides, the body lines on the 458 Spider will keep your eyes busy enough as it is.

Ferrari 458 Spider priced from $257,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Hyundai Veloster deliveries underway

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2012 hyundai veloster

You now live in a world in which the Hyundai Veloster is actively being sold. The first example has just been delivered, and the owner, one Daniel Jenkins, picked up his new Veloster at a Henderson, Nevada Hyundai dealership as soon as it rolled of the truck. You’ll surely soon be spotting examples of the 138-horsepower four-door hatchback on a road near you in the near future.

We recently spent a bit of time behind the wheel of the 2012 Veloster, and based on our observations, we’re confident that Mr. Jenkins will be getting a load of stares on his daily commute – after all, the Veloster is a rather unique looking beast, no matter what exterior shade you opt for.

2012 Hyundai Veloster deliveries underway originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford letting customers battle it out with new Mustang Customizer

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ford mustang customizer

We love car configurators here at Autoblog, and we also enjoy competition. Ford has just found a way to combine the two with a brand new website that lets you pit your online automotive creation against examples built by others. The vehicle that you’re tasked with making your own is the Ford Mustang, and the automaker wants you to do battle with other Mustang fans across the Internet.

This special Ford Mustang Customizer will go live on Tuesday, September 20th. Once it does, users can pick between all varieties of the Mustang, from V6 up to the big-boy Shelby GT500. Once a user decides on his machine, it’s time to customize it to his or her liking. Ford has a offered-up virtual wheels, body-kits, decals, grilles, decklid spoilers and a few choice parts from the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog.

Once your mega Mustang is created, you can upload it to your Facebook page where it can “battle” against examples produced by your friends and other Mustang fans. There will be a leaderboard so you can see how your design stacks up against the rest of the world.

Also, if you end up falling in love with your work, Ford will help you turn it into a reality. A PDF description of how you optioned your car can be printed out, and then brought to your local dealer. All of the Ford performance and styling pieces can be purchased there, while the available aftermarket items will have to be sourced from the applicable vendors. Head over to Ford.com/cars/mustang on Tuesday to get cracking on creating your dream Mustang.

Continue reading Ford letting customers battle it out with new Mustang Customizer

Ford letting customers battle it out with new Mustang Customizer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic configurator tools up

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2012 chevrolet sonic configurator

Life is full of choices, and now you have a few more to make. The configurator for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is up and running, so you’re choices may now decide how productive you wish to be at work today. Thankfully, Chevrolet has reduced your number of choices a great deal, because the 2012 Sonic is an easy car to configure.

This all-new compact is available in two body style flavors. You can go with a hatchback or sedan, and both are offered in either the LS, LT or LTZ trim. We opted for a Summit White Sonic hatchback in the top-tier LTZ trim. From there, we decided to go with the 138-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and paired it with the six-speed manual gearbox. Ticking the box for the sunroof brings our grand total to $18,785.

How will you build your own 2012 Sonic? Head over to the Chevrolet configurator page, then sound off in the comments below.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic configurator tools up originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Classic Jaguar XK150 gets Minor adjustments, goes to the dogs

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the foxbat

Those who love both dogs and sports cars often find that their two passions can’t exist together in perfect harmony. A man named Geoffrey Stevens thought differently, and in the 1970s, he decided to build a car that would allow him to prove his point. We’re not going to speculate here that drugs were involved in this decision, but it was the ’70s after all…

The resulting car is called, somewhat appropriately, the Foxbat, and it’s the unholy union of a 1959 Jaguar XK150 and a Morris Minor Traveller. Mr. Stevens was able to enjoy the driving entertainment provided by his XK150, while also taking in the company of his beloved Labradors.

The Foxbat is now for sale through Bonhams, and it will be auctioned off at the Goodwood Revival event on September 16th. Auction officials have estimated that it will fetch between $50,000 and $60,000.

Classic Jaguar XK150 gets Minor adjustments, goes to the dogs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford marketing VP Farley pushes real Shelby Cobra around Laguna Seca

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jim farley drives a usrrc cobra around laguna seca

The 2012 Monterey Motorsports Reunion will certainly be a loud one. The featured marque will be the Shelby Cobra, which will celebrate 50 years of exciting existence. Ahead of next year’s festivities, one man decided to get a taste of on-track action a bit early. That man is Jim Farley, and if his name sounds familiar, that’s because his day job is Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service at Ford Motor Company.

A well-liked, well-known car guy, Farley got to push a U.S. Road Racing Championship Cobra around Laguna Seca during California’s recent Monterey Historics weekend. The rare, open-top racer had a few cameras, a lap timer and a g-meter strapped to it, which is good news for the rest of us. The Cobra produces sounds that would make modern race cars shriek in terror, and Farley does a good job of pushing it around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Click past the jump to check it out.

Continue reading Ford marketing VP Farley pushes real Shelby Cobra around Laguna Seca

Ford marketing VP Farley pushes real Shelby Cobra around Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Buick Verano gets a starting price of $23,470

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2012 buick verano

General Motors has announced pricing for the upcoming 2012 Buick Verano, and the compact luxury sedan looks set to bang heads with the segment’s best. Starting at $23,470 (which includes the $885 destination charge), the base model 2012 Verano is priced to undercut similar offerings from Japan. The Acura TSX, for example, starts out at $30,495, while the Lexus IS 250 will cost you $34,170.

Three trims will be offered on the 2012 Verano, with the top tier set to start at $26,850. All three versions will be powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which is rated at 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. The standard features list is filled with items such as 18-inch forged alloy wheels, a seven-inch LED touchscreen in the center stack, the Buick IntelliLink system and a host of other products designed to make your commute an enjoyable experience.

Click past the jump for the full dish on the newest little Buick.

Continue reading 2012 Buick Verano gets a starting price of $23,470

2012 Buick Verano gets a starting price of $23,470 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AdSpotting: Chevy trucks give the silent treatment

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chevrolet tahoe duck hunting ad

Company: General Motors

Brand: Chevrolet

Medium: TV (The Outdoor Channel)

Ad Agency: Goody Silverstein & Partners

Product: Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe

Campaign: Silverado Saturdays/The Official Truck

What We Like: GM is showing viewers how its trucks should be used with regards to recreational pursuits. Hunting and fishing are activities that suit the full-size Silverado and Tahoe, and the soft-spoken ads help create the feeling that you’re there with the guys and gals who enjoy these sports. The other team member on these excursions? Your Chevy truck.

We also enjoy the fact that these ads aren’t working too hard to get in your face or cram a message down your throat. Hunting and fishing are generally relaxing activities spent in quiet environments, and tone of the spots mirrors that perfectly. We can almost feel the damp morning air, and hear nature waking up around us as we prepare for the day.

What We Don’t Like: Your author isn’t much of a hunter, but that won’t temper our opinion here. In fact, we’re having trouble finding anything wrong with the spots besides the fact that the duck hunters place their decoys right next to a boat ramp.

Strategy: GM is going after a segment of the country that loves trucks and full-size SUVs. These ads air on The Outdoor Channel during a block of shows called Silverado Saturdays. Occasionally, the spots will also show up during other outdoor shows. The commercials show Chevrolet trucks being used in a manner that the viewer can relate to, and it’s being done in a simple manner that manages to convey a subtly powerful message.

Grade: A

Watch the videos after the jump and give it your own grade below.

View Poll

*Update: Corrected Sundays to Saturdays.

Continue reading AdSpotting: Chevy trucks give the silent treatment

AdSpotting: Chevy trucks give the silent treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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German enthusiasts show true passion for rockabilly and rat rods

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rust and dust hot rod in the mud

The event is called Rust and Dust, but this year that dust was replaced with rain and mud. Still, the attendees of this automotive festival in Teterow, Germany arrived in large numbers to share their passion for rockabilly, rat rods and racing. The rain attempted to dampen spirits, but it was powerless against these German fans of American old school.

The language is different, but the cars and music are the same. So is the enthusiasm for the style, and it comes through in the following video, which has subtitles but almost doesn’t even need them.

OK, that’s not true… we need the subtitles. Still, the video shows a group of car enthusiasts gathering to hang out and enjoy their shared love, regardless of the weather. At first it seems odd, due to the language being spoken (and occasional Audi and Opel logo), but it quickly becomes mesmerizing. Click past the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading German enthusiasts show true passion for rockabilly and rat rods

German enthusiasts show true passion for rockabilly and rat rods originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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