WordPress Themes is an area that is just loaded with helpful details, as you just have read. Create Amazing Content: It might seem surprising but there are quite a few WordPress websites that don’t meet this standard and it causes them points with the search engines. If you want to grab the attention of the search engine spiders you need to impress them in every way possible while also getting as many good backlinks as you can while also creating fantastic valuable content. While this is a simple thing to understand and do, not many manage to actually do it. The first and most important thing that you need to do is work on your content so that your WordPress site works well for you.

Turn on Trackbacks: One of the main things that helps you WordPress blog get good ranking is the trackbacks. By using this it is not hard to link back in the comments to the person who is linking to your WordPress blog. When you allow trackbacks on your WordPress blog, this gives other people an avenue for linking to your articles and creating a backlink for you. If you look around, you’ll find that the majority of large WordPress blogs have their trackbacks enabled. This is setup like this so that anyone can conveniently link to your article if they really like it.

Use pinging services to announce to the world, and to the search engine spiders, that there’s something new on your site. Ping-o-matic is the service that is commonly used by WordPress. Part of its popularity stems from the fact that once it is pinged, it turns around and pings other sites. One thing that you should keep in mind is to bring down the number of pings automatically issued by WordPress, because each time you edit your post and update it, a ping is sent out. In most cases it isn’t that easy to avoid being accused of spamming if you aren’t. But in this case the only thing you need to do is adjust the frequency of your pings. Acting responsibly when it comes to pinging can ensure that you’ll be able to use your favorite pinging service for many years to come. WordPress SEO happens to be a step by step process that will gradually help you boost your blog’s visibility in the search engines. The weightiness of WordPress is capable of bringing great consequences for your blog. One particular search engine that admires WordPress is Google; and actually will deliver high marks for your blog. So before you go all complex with your approach to WordPress SEO, first get the basics right and ensure that you’ve built a strong foundation for the future traffic.

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One thing you are going to find if you haven’t had a cell phone before is that if you end up signing a contract with a company, they might also require a deposit. You may possibly also discover that the deposit that these businesses may ask for can be up to $250 or even more. regarding signing up for a contract is that if you discover that the service you are using doesn’t give you coverage where you need it, you’ll not be able to switch services for up to 2 years, unless you wish to pay a cancellation fee. Which is why increasingly more people are searching for a cellular phone service that does not require a contract to be signed.

Now in relation to not signing a contract you are going to discover that this is not something you’re going to need to do with the LG Thrive Prepaid Android GoPhone with AT&T. You can keep your phone service on by simply buying the minutes you need for the phone. You’re only going to need to purchase the minutes that you need every month, and you will also realize that when you invest in minutes your phone will be activated for 1 month up to a year with regards to the amount of minutes you purchase.

You will find that not only will this phone come with the android operating system, but it is a very good quality phone. The android operating system is something which most individuals are actually searching for in a phone. The screen which comes with this phone is actually a touch screen that is 3.2 inches in size, and you’re also going to discover that the qwerty touch screen keyboard makes texting very easy. The above really only just begins to scratch the surface of what is available concerning WordPress Landing Page. And when you’re looking to browse the web, you will recognize that this touch screen keyboard will also make this rather simple. This phone has a lot more features that we do not have the room to cover here, but you can see all the options that come with this phone on the Amazon product description page.

One more thing you are going to find is you can save 25% should you end up buying this phone from Amazon, so you will only end up paying $150 for this phone. One more thing that you may like about buying this from Amazon is that they are going to pay the shipping fees to have this phone shipped to you.

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If You Don’t Want A Cellular Phone Contract Take A Look At The LG Thrive Prepaid Android GoPhone With AT&T is a post from: Tips, news and autopart reviews

All right, we have reviewed the first couple of points regarding Best WordPress Theme, of course you recognize they play an important role. One thing that will serve you well is making people in your niche aware of what is just around the corner with your site. Think about existing businesses and how you can leverage them to help you get the word out. If you do a good job of it they will be interested in what is coming. Sit down and make a list of all the positives about your site, and you need to be clear on what is in it for them. Be careful about attempting this too early before the launch, and you should not wait too late, either. Whatever you do, don’t have a countdown timer on your website. But if you’re stubborn and really want to challenge us, go ahead and put one up. Perhaps the biggest drawback of the countdown timer is that it puts you in a position to mess up from the very beginning. Beyond that, it is sometimes impossible to both make and then work toward that kind of deadline. This is primarily because there could be factors beyond your control. You could wind up depending on a third party to deliver a bigger part of your project. This timer doesn’t do anything productive to help you and most of the time it just annoys the people who do visit your site.

It is always a very important idea to have a contact form or page so you can answer questions once you launch your site. Naturally, you want to make a good impression, so be there for them if they inquire. Anytime someone sends you a message or question, be sure you reply in a timely fashion. The people visiting your site initially are the early adopters, and remember their suggestions are highly valuable and can’t be ignored. Also, be sure you test your form or email address just to make sure all is well. There you are! Launching your own website and doing it successfully isn’t necessarily hard. As long you’re done with your homework and have a clear plan in front of you, you can’t possibly go wrong. Sure you’ll definitely face some bumps and hiccups but that is absolutely normal. The primary thing you need is to simply focus on getting just one element to work correctly and then you can support another over the course of the launch. The launch of your website is incredibly important so make sure you keep that in mind as you work. The launch of a site is so important; it is what will make or break things for you.

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No question, we are just getting going with all that can be acknowledged about Mortgage relief. What do you think about when considering new floors in your home? You might be thinking about all of the money you’ll be spending on contractors that will do your flooring. The good news is that you do not have to do this anymore. At a fraction of the cost, you can get laminate flooring which will appear to be hardwood flooring that you had professionally installed. More than that, laminate flooring is easy to install yourself. You won’t have to work hard at all as this flooring goes right into place with little or no effort. Just go to your home improvement store and ask them what you will need.

Clean any rugs or carpets. You will find commercial carpet cleaners in most local stores; they will give you the best cleaning. You will be amazed how the colors of your rugs will regain some of their clarity. This is a logical option because it will not cost a lot of money. You rent the machine from the grocery store, bring it home, use it and then return it after your carpets and rugs are clean. Before you decide to rip out or replace your carpets and rugs, give them a good and thorough cleaning. Their bright appearance might shock you!

Find out how to do some landscaping on your own.

Home improvement doesn’t stop with the inside of your home. It also pertains to the outside of your home and the yard that surrounds it. So many people pay for professional landscaping when the truth is that you can learn to do just about anything that a professional landscaper would charge you to do. Working in the garden can have a calming effect for some folks. Once you have finished developing your garden or yard all on your own; when you stand back at look at your work you will have a great sense of satisfaction. That will feel great!

People on tight budgets can also do home improvement projects; it just depends on what you get. You will save money by doing a lot of the work yourself wherever you can. Just take the afternoon off, or the weekend, and finish some small home improvement projects that you can do on your own. It is amazing at how much the little things can add up to create an entirely new looking and feeling home. Start working today!

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Article by Shawn Parker

Floor Mats for your Car are an accessory which any car owner absolutely needs. They are an investment, not only in your comfort, but also your safety, and the continuing value of your car. Available in multiple styles, one can use Floor mats both to express your personality, and also to meet a range of flooring needs. Given the number of hours the average adult driver spends commuting, this kind of investment in our car’s interior has become essential.

The most obvious benefit garnered from Floor Mats for your Car, are the mats ability to preserve the cars original carpeting. By absorbing the mud, snow, and soda spills which would otherwise cause unavoidable stains, mats protect the original color and texture of your car’s carpeting. Perhaps more importantly, mats can protect the metal flooring below that carpet from deterioration resulting from moisture and salt exposure that comes from your shoes in the winter months. This dual protection of your flooring not only insures the quality of your vehicle will be maintained for your own use, but also protects its resale value.

Floor Mats for your Car also serve to protect your personal safety. By creating a surface that absorbs the moisture from your shoes, you lower the risk of slippage both in and outside your car. Studies show that the use of floor matting can prevent falls outside the car, because one steps with drier shoe soles, maximizing traction. Likewise, the increased traction lowers the driver’s risk of accident caused by foot slippage on the brake or accelerator pedals.

When selecting a set of mats, the options are as endless as the drivers who buy them. Choose a design that fits your personality, displaying your favorite cartoon character, or featuring a color that accents your cars interior. For the utility vehicle, or a vehicle which transports small children, select a rubber mat with deep ridges to provide extra protection containing spills. The cost of Floor mats for your car is relatively low when considering the substantial benefits they provide, and personalization which they lend drivers to meet both wants and needs.

Compare Prices of Similar products At Amazon.com

Multi-Purpose Reversible (Bright Colors or Neutral Charcoal) Foam Floor Mats (BIG Tiles 25″ x 25″ x .53″!!!), Anti-fatigue Mat, for Business, Home, Basement, Workshop, Kitchen, Children’s Rooms (Child Safe), Pool Area, Gym and Exercise, Gardens, Garage, Laundry Rooms, Etc.
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MattingExperts.com Expands Recycled Material Mat Selection
Manufacturers of floor mats and matting offered on MattingExperts.com website have begun manufacturing more products constructed of recycled rubber and other consumer items. What was once a small fraction of the mats for sale on this website has grown …
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Rubber Flooring, Inc. Now Offers Portable Dance Flooring
Rubber Flooring Inc. is focused on providing numerous niche flooring products including, rubber gym flooring, playground flooring, cork flooring, martial arts mats, and more to its valued customer base. All of Inc Stores web shops offer competitive …
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Sudbury estate property is impeccable in every way
It is divided into four dedicated rooms, including a 22-by-20 game room with wood-burning fireplace and 14-by-25 exercise room with rubber mat flooring. A full bath is accessible from both these areas. A wet bar with custom cabinetry, …
Read more on Milford Daily News

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Floor Mats For Car Videos and Other rubber floor mats for cars News is a post from: Tips, news and autopart reviews

The first thing you will need to do when you go shopping for a used car is to look at the car’s condition. You have to check the vehicle over very closely, not just the exterior and the interior, but inside the trunk, and under the hood. If checking out the outside of the car inspect the paint closely to see if there are any rusty places on the exterior body. You want to also verify that the car is level by ensuring it is parked on a flat and level surface. If it appears like the car is inclined on one side, the frame or spring might be damaged. lighting really should be working properly, and the tires should be inflated the way they are supposed to be.

You should check the tires also for deterioration, especially noticing if the tire might be wearing unevenly. You should definitely examine the rims, the windows, the disc brakes as well as the other little things for any sign of damage or scratches. There were some debates on our end about what all to include about rims.

So what we did was try to break things up as well as possible, and we have written other articles about this.

We recommend that you perform research at applicable authority sites that are known for being reputable and credible.

That will always be a great idea, and you will find that it will be extremely useful. Do not deprive your self of the ability to create the best decision environment because that is the most intelligent thing you can do. When you go through the inner surfaces of the car, make sure that every one of the controls and rubber parts are not peeling or flaking and check that the seats are not ripped or heavily stained. You must also sniff around the car for dog or cat orders. Sometimes individuals have allergies to pets, so a car that has transported pets might be a bad idea. Final thing is to check to make sure that the air conditioner is functioning.

The majority of people never even inspect the trunk, even if it’s just to see if there is a spare tire. You ought to see what kind of state it is in. Confirm if there are any likely leaks or rust damage. The customer must know what he or she is looking at when checking under the hood. In the event you really don’t know what to look for, find a trusted mechanic and have them check it for you. Be sure that you look at the wiring, the belts, the battery, the radiator and that also there are no leaks or cracks in the hoses. Be sure that you don’t see any warning signs of damage like rust or dents.

There were some debates on our end about what all to include about buy rims .

There is a limited amount of space in any one article, but of course we have written more about this which is available on our site.

But that is all right because what is best for you is to do more searching on your own for added content.

Any time you can build on existing knowledge you possess, then you have done a smart and good thing for your self. Anybody can research something and read it, but it is how you assimilate that knowledge that makes a huge difference. When everything passes the inspection, the next step is to test drive the car. The important factor would be that the car feels good when you drive like the handling and the efficiency on the road.

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The first and greatest tip is to look at the condition of the used car you want to buy. You have to check the vehicle over very carefully, not just the exterior and the interior, but inside the trunk, and beneath the hood. If checking the outside of the car inspect the paint closely to ascertain if there are any rusty places on the exterior body. You should also check if the car is level by ensuring it is parked on a flat and level surface. If it tilts, that might be telling you that the spring or frame is damaged. Be sure that the lights for the car operate and that the tires are properly inflated.

must check the tires also for wear, especially noticing if the tire may be wearing unevenly. You’ll want to analyze the rims, the windows, the disc brakes and all the other little things for any sign of damage or scratches. Even though we are offering a solid overview with some pertinent details about rims, there is much more than you may realize. Sure, we know this is just one article, but take it from us when we tell you there is so much more to know.

Of course not absolutely everything will be used today by you, and that is normal and quite typical. Do not make the error of judging too soon, and that is really all we can say about that.

The best results will be from taking action on hard core facts, and then also seeing what can be done in other ways in a creative fashion.

But there is much more to come, today, and you will see that it will come together quite nicely. We always think that it is always all good, and it just needs to percolate a little bit in your mind. When you go through the inside of the car, make sure that every one of the controls and rubber parts are not peeling or flaking and check that the seats are not ripped or heavily stained. You should also get a whiff of the car for pet orders. Occasionally folks have allergies to pets, so a car that has transported pets might be a bad idea. Mainly make sure that the heating, and air conditioning are working well.

Most people never in fact inspect the trunk, even if it’s just to see if there is a spare tire. You ought to see what sort of shape it is in. Do you see any places where water has gotten in and produced some rusty spots. Make certain that you understand what you are looking for when investigating the car engine. If you don’t know the right way to check the engine, get a skilled auto technician to examine for you. examine the wiring, the belts, the radiator, the battery, along with the fluids and hoses. are not any signs of damage, in addition to rust or dents.

You probably are aware of the scope that car rims covers, and that proved to make it difficult to decide on what we wanted to cover.

There is a limited amount of space in any one article, but of course we have written more about this which is available on our site.

What you can and should do is look for your self because we know there are other great sources on the net.

Everything you can find out will be of service to you in some way, and maybe that will be in the far off future; but that is all right. There are always options, and the path to finding the best ones is through accurate content. all the examinations, now you have to do the crucial test drive. The important aspect would be that the car feels good when you drive such as the handling and the efficiency on the road.

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If you own a classic automobile as your only vehicle and you drop your kids off and pick them up from school as well as do weekly shopping in it, it might cause problems for you on the road because these vehicles were not made for such frequent use. As a result, since you don’t know if it was well taken care of, buying a classic car does pose a certain amount of risk. When you get a car whose previous owner meticulously cared for it you’re home and dry – so long as you keep up the care the car should give you much pleasure and few problems. You should believe it is easy to buy a reliable classic car if you stick to the advice that follows.

You could see an advertisement for a classic automobile virtually by searching in any daily newspaper. You do need to think carefully well before making up your mind. Do not launch into a decision just by looking at the photograph of a classic car in the newspaper. Take into account your needs and budget and then make a determination. See the vehicle and consider its current overall condition. When it is well looked after and well maintained by its owner, you could think about buying it. A present day car is perfect for many years of reliable use, but a well-chosen classic car can do the same.

Certainly, you must be happy with the price you pay to get the car; however, it is essential that you also understand how expensive it could be to keep it on the road. A number of classic automobiles are sold cheap, which makes them attractive, but later you find out that they have very expensive spare parts and many faults which require a huge investment to fix. If you need to use this automobile on a daily basis, you have to look at this aspect even more carefully.

You’d be well-advised to look into the availability of spares in case your fancy has been caught by an imported car. Watch out for very old models, since you could find that some spares cannot be bought for love or money. It would be smart to do some advance exploration into potential problems that may arise with the car you’ve finally set your heart on. To this end, you can investigate the local market or go to online shops. The amount of data and information regarding wheels can be a bit intimidating if you have not read so much about it, yet. When you are feeling a little more comfortable with this information, then you simply must continue your education.

Yes, you will not only understand this better, but the knowledge you gain will have a positive impact. Not everybody has the initiative to learn more in any truly meaningful way. It is natural for us humans to want to have some degree of command over the events and situations in our lives. Web based communities are usually very eager to offer advice. It should be easy to connect with an online forum where you can get advice on things that may go wrong.

These handful of facts and tips will help you in making a good judgment

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When you buy a house, there’s someone next to you every step of the way, starting with the broker who must find the right house for you. You might have an attorney confirm that the contract is not prejudicial, and then there’s the title company which verifies that you will get clear title before allowing you to pay for the house. There isn’t a single person to help you when you decide to go in to buy a new car. It is quite possible to stroll into a dealership, and drive away later that day with all the paperwork and other aspects completed. It actually is doable, but know that it will cost a lot more than necessary.

One thing you want to do is check out one dealership with the firm intention that you will under no circumstances buy a car while you are there. Develop a pact with yourself that you’ll limit yourself to taking a look at cars, and test-driving them. Then you will leave to complete some research at home. Search online and examine the costs of the dealers, if there are option prices and what the safety ratings are, and don’t forget manufacturer to dealer incentives that may not have been disclosed to you. Before you decide to go to the dealership you should decide the amount you can afford, and be resolved to resist any attempt at upselling to something more expensive. You are the one who could lose the car, and have it repossessed when you can’t make the payments.

Do not just accept his word, insist on seeing any calculations the finance manager makes. By just attaching a couple of dollars to your monthly payment, which you will never be aware of, car dealerships can increase the amount of money they make. We have covered a few basic items about rims for sale, and they are essential to consider in your research. You could for example say that you can afford $600 each month, and the salesman, knowing full well that he could give it to you for $570, tells you he has a deal for $590. Wow that’s wonderful, is what it is likely you think, but back at the ranch you are going to be paying an additional $20 per month. rims is one of those topics that is important to so many people, and the reasons are personal and varied. What we like to do is be as neutral as possible because it is more important for you to consider each part on its own merit. Whether or not every single point or item will totally apply to you is unknown to us, so we try to present a good overview. If you get too bogged down with the minute details, you can easily get lost in the haze. We know that is very helpful to do even though all of us are very busy and maybe do not have the time. If that describes you, then you know that you need to make the very most of your time. That is really what each of us tends to do, anyway, we go with what applies to our unique situation and try to find what is most helpful. Any time you keep them truthful you’re able to keep your money. What works well is always to record notes about everything that you learn, even the salesman’s talk. This will keep every person on the same page, and hopefully more honest.

Purchasing a new car should be something that you enjoy, so keep control and keep the thought in mind that this new car is yours. When you’ve got misgivings about a deal, or feelings that you are being had, go away at once and try somewhere else. It is your investment and your decision, after all.

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Ebay Car Auction Site – Our Guide To Car Auctions On Ebay

Article by John Winam

An Introduction on eBay – eBay car auction site

EBay has become one of the most popular ways to sell goods currently available in the world. Thanks to eBay, virtually anyone with a computer, an internet connection, and a simple to make eBay account can trade online.

People are free to sell goods, buy goods, sell unwanted goods, buy goods in bulk and sell for profits, whatever the cause, eBay can suit your n needs. The auction site has become so popular over the last few years that the company is now expanding to heights never before imagined by the founders.

EBay is well known around the world and it has users based in many countries. The good thing about eBay is that can sit in the comfort of your own home selling away until your hearts content.

eBay car auction siteNow, on to the car auction side of eBay..

Although eBay is more than just a car auction site as we have discussed above, it is indeed also a very popular car auction site. Many people who trade in cars are turning to eBay to sell their cars.

You can sell cars fast on the eBay car auction site, write out full detail on the car you are selling, offer specific viewing times, and to be honest, probably get a price on your car than you would offline. This is simply because you are advertising your car to much people. You can reach thousands of people via eBay, so the marketing power of the auction site is tremendous.

How long to list the car for on the eBay car auction site

We generally don’t give a guideline to this because it depends on how fast you want to sell the car, however, if you want to advertise to more people for longer, you could put the car on for 10 days, set a reserve price, and see what happens.

A reserve price is simply a price that you wont take any less than, viewers wont get to see this, but lets say your car is worth $ 2000, and the auction finishes with $ 1500, you wouldn’t have to sell the car, this means eBay offers some form of protection for sellers who want the money they feel the item is worth.

However, if you don’t set a reserve, you have to sell the car at whatever the auction price is, so if the car sold for $ 1500, you would have to sell the car for this price.

156,963/year – 3 Ebay(r) Auctions Per Week
Why Sell Measly Items On Ebay(r)? Sell A High Ticket Item Everyone Buys!
156,963/year – 3 Ebay(r) Auctions Per Week

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Obama Chrysler On eBay: No Sale at Million
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GM is committed to recycling. Or is it heritage? Maybe both. We bring this up because the 2013 Acadia‘s new look might not be so, well, new. Take a gander at the picture below to see what we mean.

Yes, that’s the same wraparound rear glass treatment on the now-defunct Saturn Outlook (Saturn’s version of the three-row Lambda-platform SUV bit it along with the rest of the brand in 2010). It’s probably the same glass. The squared-off fenders appear to be identical, at least in the rear—the fronts have slightly different cutouts to accommodate each brand’s headlight shape. And the liftgate itself may also be shared, although things like badges, taillights, and the rear wiper differ. A GMC spokesman would neither confirm or deny our speculation. But these two images speak volumes. Or at least their allotted 2000 words.

Look, we’re not saying there’s anything wrong with this; the Acadia actually looks a good deal better than it used to, especially with the squarish fender flares and Granite-inspired nose. Reuse like this saves on development and tooling costs. It’s the same reason the Acadia shares its platform with the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse. We get that. And it’s not the first time GM has done something like this. To wit: Another Saturn SUV, the Vue, was recently rebadged as the Chevrolet Captiva for fleets. (Yes, you can rent a unicorn.) And after Pontiac died, GM’s Australian arm, Holden, repurposed some G8 noses on its SS V-Series Special Edition cars.

If we had a vote, and we most certainly do not, the G8 ST would be the next dead GM product to get a reprieve. Sorry. That one still stings.

To help kick off the launch of its ever-so-lightly refreshed 370Z sports car, Nissan is launching a social-media campaign by which the public can help design a tricked-out Z. The automaker is imaginatively calling the crowd-sourced Z “Project 370Z,” and will show the final product at this year’s annual ZDayZ gathering.

Project 370Z will be built in several stages between now and when it debuts. Nissan will let its Facebook fans vote on different upgrades—with the categories including power, handling and brakes, and interior/exterior styling—and the winning parts will be installed on the car. Of course, Nissan will guide the process to some degree; those of you who were hoping Project 370Z might turn out as a Nissan-badged Local Motors Rally Fighter or a 370ZCamino are out of luck. The ultimate goal is a 370Z with a résumé that balances track-day abilities with street manners. To participate, you’ll first have to like Nissan Performance’s Facebook page. The completed Project 370Z will bow this May; the non-crowd-sourced 2013 370Z goes on sale in June.

Vans are cool. The A-Team had a van, rock bands drive them, and Shaggy and Scooby rode in the Mystery Machine. So it’s with a smile that we watch the sliding-door offerings in this country expand and improve from Bronze-age chariots of sadness to Euro-bred hyperhaulers. Ford was first to launch a compact van here, with the Transit Connect, which hit the market in early 2010. Now, the competition has arrived in the form of the small Nissan NV200.

Keep Reading: 2013 Nissan NV200 – Official Photos and Info

On Monday, we presented this week’s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence it came. A few commenters posited guesses that the shifter belonged to a 1980s Volvo 440. Those guesses were close, but the stick is actually from the 1987 Volvo 480ES. Mark M. submitted the first 440 guess, and because the two cars’ consoles look fairly similar, he will receive a Save the Manuals button and sticker as a reward.

The 480ES pictured here is from our February 1986 issue. The 480ES was actually produced by Volvo Car BV, a Dutch Volvo subsidiary that was previously known as DAF. The svelte hatchback boasted pop-up headlights, four-wheel disc brakes, and electronic fuel-injection—cool stuff in the mid-‘80s.

Ford dropped an automotive bomb when it introduced the 650-hp, 200-mph 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 coupe late last year at the L.A. auto show. Seemingly overnight, the bar by which all muscle machines are measured was reset—tough luck, 580-hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1—and no one outside of Ford has even driven the thing yet. The 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 convertible debuting at the Chicago auto show does the same for softtops, but lacks the coupe’s top-speed claim to fame: Because of the non-rigid roof, Ford will continue to limit the GT500 convertible to 155 mph.

Keep Reading: 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible – Official Photos and Info

Kia unveiled the 2012 Optima SX Limited sedan today at the Chicago auto show; it’s a new, fully loaded trim that sits at the top of the mid-size Optima range. It’s true that family-sedan news hardly stokes the enthusiast fire, but the Limited is based on one of the nicest-driving mainstream four-doors on the market: the turbocharged Optima SX. The luxurious Limited is basically an SX at which Kia threw the kitchen sink.

The Limited treatment starts with a $3300 package on the SX’s option sheet. Checking that box adds black or white Nappa leather for the seats, door panels, and center console; LED daytime running lights; wood interior trim; red-painted front brake calipers; additional exterior chrome, including the 18-inch wheels; a first-aid kit; and SXL badging. But Limited buyers aren’t done spending money: Ordering those goodies mandates the $4350 SX Technology and Premium package, which includes a backup camera, in-dash navigation, a panoramic sunroof, eight-speaker Infinity audio system, a four-way power front-passenger seat, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear outboard seating, and power folding side mirrors. Only three exterior colors are available, so we hope you like black, white, or silver. Being based on the SX, the Limited also packs a 274-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four, a paddle-shifted six-speed automatic, HID headlights, and a firmer suspension.

About the money: The Optima SX starts at a reasonable $27,250; adding $7650 in Limited kit (some of which is available on lesser Optimas) inflates the bottom line to $34,900. That’s more money than a Toyota Camry XLE V6 or Honda Accord EX-L with navigation, and nudges awfully close to BMW 3-series territory. While the Optima Limited has more features than any of the aforementioned cars, we can’t help but feel that it’s a pretty aggressive deviation from Kia’s tried-and-true value strategy.

There must be something about the Soul hatchback that compels Kia to use bizarre punctuation. Take, for example, the Soul’s + and ! (Plus and Exclaim in our language) trim levels, and the topless Soul’ster concept from three years ago. This Track’ster is the company’s second apostrophe-laden Soul-based concept: It’s a 250-hp, all-wheel-drive hatchback that sacrifices the normal Soul’s rear doors and rear seat in the pursuit of track-readiness. The somewhat tough-looking concept makes its first appearance at the typically pickup-truck-heavy Chicago auto show.

Keep Reading: Kia Track’ster Concept – Auto Shows

For automakers, the prospect of freshening up a successful model can be daunting. Focus on only the minutiae, and your efforts may go unnoticed by the buying public; change too much, and you risk alienating your core customer base. Considering that 2011 was the most successful sales year for the Acadia since its 2007 debut, we understand why GMC made few obvious changes in this restyle.

Keep Reading: 2013 GMC Acadia – Official Photos and Info

Ever value-conscious, Hyundai is looking to save money on badges for its latest five-door Elantra. Why else change the name from Elantra Touring to the revived Elantra GT moniker? The new hatchback makes its debut at the 2012 Chicago auto show alongside a two-door Elantra

Keep Reading: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatchback – Official Photos and Info

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra coupe may not need much explanation; it’s basically an Elantra sedan with two fewer doors. On the other hand, it’s hard for us to say why Hyundai has decided to enter the shrinking segment of front-wheel-drive coupes—especially with the Veloster and more-powerful Genesis coupe already on dealer lots. Perhaps Hyundai’s sleek new two-door will steal a few sales from the Honda Civic coupe and even the Elantra’s corporate sibling, the Kia Forte Koup.

Keep Reading: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe – Official Photos and Info

Car companies only get one chance to introduce their new cars. But between sketches, renderings, concepts, teasers, and leaks, they’re quickly learning how to exploit the internet for more opportunities to discuss cars prior to actually revealing them. Acura apparently realized too late that it had blown the opportunity to draw out the introduction of its 2013 RDX and settled for calling the car that officially debuted at the Detroit auto show a prototype. At the Chicago show, Acura is introducing a production RDX.

What’s changed on the RDX from prototype to production vehicle? The paint. Apparently silver is a prototype color. And the wheels. Also, the RDX has a strut front suspension and a multilink rear (we hadn’t told you that before) and something called Amplitude Reactive Dampers. Free advice to Acura marketing: Call them Adaptive Amplitude Reactive Dampers, pair them with a camera-based system that scans the road ahead and primes the shocks for upcoming imperfections, call the latter Visual Anticipation of Road Kinematics, and your initialism could be AARDVARK. Also, please stick to just introducing your cars once.

If you missed it the first time, you can read the rest of the details on this second-gen RDX in our story from last month’s Detroit show.

Previewed as a concept at this year’s Detroit auto show, Acura’s new ILX sedan wears production-ready sheetmetal as the curtain rises on the 2012 Chicago show. Consistent with Honda/Acura practice, the distinctions between the Detroit concept and the production car on display in Chicago’s McCormick Place are subtle indeed: a little character crease in the side mirrors, a little less bright trim around the trademark Acura chrome overbite grille, minor distinctions in the lower fascia and air dam, and a simpler wheel design.

Keep Reading: 2013 Acura ILX – Official Photos and Info

The last time our spy photographers caught a prototype of the next-generation Nissan Altima, black camouflage covered everything that wasn’t glass or rubber. Now that 2013 Altima test cars have ditched the Glad-bag look in favor of stick-on wraps, we know much more about the all-new sedan’s slippery design.

Keep Reading: 2013 Nissan Altima Spy Photos – Future Cars

Hit play for an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note, and then share your guesses or get a few hints from other visitors in the comments below. Be sure to check back on Thursday for the answer!

Buick is planning two big changes for the Regal lineup. The first is making the eAssist hybrid powertrain the standard setup for 2013; it mates a 182-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 172 lb-ft of torque with a 15-hp motor/generator and a trunk-mounted lithium-ion battery pack. (Previously, an unassisted 2.4-liter four-cylinder was the standard powertrain.) In the Regal, the system boosts fuel economy to 25 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway—a boost of 6 and 5 mpg, respectively, compared with the non-eAssist four-cylinder version. The second change is the addition of a no-cost six-speed automatic option for the up-to-now manual-only turbocharged Regal GS. Neither move is surprising—we already knew an automatic was headed for the GS’s option sheet, and Buick already made eAssist standard on the four-cylinder version of its larger LaCrosse sedan for 2012.

Buick hasn’t revealed any details regarding changes to the Regal’s equipment levels and pricing as a result of making eAssist standard, but we’re told the 2012 LaCrosse is a fairly accurate model. When Buick dropped the LaCrosse’s base four-cylinder in favor of the eAssisted iteration, it upped that car’s price by nearly $3000 but also added more standard equipment. The company also made the LaCrosse’s more powerful V-6 engine a no-cost option. As such, we expect the 2013 Regal to gain more standard features and see its base price to go up by between $2000 and $3000. That means the car’s current $27,940 entry fee will increase to around $29,000, or close to the non-GS Regal Turbo and the least-expensive 2012 Regal with eAssist. Right now, it is unclear whether the Regal Turbo’s 220-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four also will be a no-cost option, but a Buick representative told us it will be priced similarly to the eAssist.

As for the automatic-equipped Regal GS, Buick says it will match the stick-shifted car’s 0-to-60 time and 19/27 mpg city/highway fuel-economy numbers. Naturally, the automatic will probably motivate more buyers into the sportiest Regal. The auto will be available as a late addition for 2012-model-year cars. Buick hasn’t announced a specific on-sale date for the 2013 Regal line.

As is often the case with aging starlets, sports cars reach a certain point in their careers when a mere mention of their name no longer lights up a room. Their success dependent on surviving the cruel and fickle selection process of the consumer public, they submit themselves to minor face lifts, stopgap procedures aimed at keeping their outward appearance fresh amongst a sea of hungry up-and-comers. And so it goes with the 2013 Nissan 370Z.

Keep Reading: 2013 Nissan 370Z – Official Photos and Info

When we reported last month on Hyundai’s precedent-setting “lifetime” warranty on the battery pack for the 2012 Sonata hybrid, official details had not been made available, and our post’s comments section quickly filled up with speculation regarding the specifics of the coverage.

Hyundai recently set the record straight: “The Hyundai Lifetime Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee ensures that if the 2012 Sonata hybrid lithium-polymer battery fails, Hyundai will replace the battery and cover recycling costs for the old battery pack free of charge to the original owner. The coverage is not transferable, and does not apply to lease and commercial vehicles or vehicles serviced outside the U.S.”

The integrated hardware, software, and controllers are not included in the lifetime battery warranty; they are instead covered by the vehicle’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

On the ostensibly rare occasion where an original owner faces what could be a hefty repair bill for components damaged by a catastrophic battery failure after Hyundai’s generous powertrain warranty has expired, they’ll likely want to consider mileage, residual value, and the overall condition of the vehicle before writing a check. That’s just common sense.

Car and Driver is currently sending out an APB for cast members to appear in two new web series. Check out the specifics below to see what we’re looking for, and if you fit the bill—or in the case of the second show, know someone who does—simply follow the directions for a chance to be featured on the shows!

Show no. 1: We need groups of three or four car-repair experts for a new web series; experts can range from professional mechanics to self-taught backyard grease monkeys. Submissions from NY/NJ/CT area only, please. All applicants must be outgoing and confident in their skills, and the groups must previously exist, i.e. be co-workers or members of a car club or similar. This ultimate gearhead competition will test these experts’ abilities to repair and modify beat-up crapcans for various challenges.

If you are interested in participating in the show, e-mail liontvcasting@gmail.com with “Battle” in the subject line and be sure to include the following information:

Name(s):
Contact Phone Number:
Business/Car Background:
Qualifications for Being Considered a “Car Expert”:

Show no. 2: We need horrible drivers for a new web series. If you or someone you know could easily be described as among the worst drivers on the planet, it just might be time for an intervention. This new series will help bad drivers improve their skills and hopefully save some lives—not to mention cars and property—along the way.

If you are interested in participating in the show, e-mail liontvcasting@gmail.com with “Bad Driver” in the subject line and be sure to include the following information:

Your Name, Plus the Name of Your Nominee (If Applicable):
Driver Age(s):
Contact Phone Number:
Why You or Your Nominee is Considered Such a Terrible Driver:

BMW won’t say how many manual-transmission 3-series it sells in the United States for “competitive reasons.” It’s not as many as in Europe, where 3-series sedans are sold in great numbers with small gasoline and turbo-diesel engines paired with manuals, but  enough are moved here to keep a six-speed manual on the order sheet as a no-cost option. In the States, the cheapest of the new F30-generation 3-series is the 328i sedan, equipped with BMW’s new N20 turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder and starting at $35,795. That’s a savings of $7500 compared to the 2012 turbo six-cylinder 335i sedan.

Keep Reading: 2012 BMW 328i Sedan Manual – First Drive Review

Update 2/6: We’ve now captured spy photos of the new hatchback undergoing testing; note the familiar Chrysler grille behind the front camo. The car is wearing stretched and widened Alfa Giulietta bodywork—similar to that seen on early prototypes for the Dodge Dart—but it will wear unique sheetmetal when it is finally produced. The article below was originally published on January 27.

The Chrysler product-planning department may want to avoid running for public office, lest they be labeled flip-floppers: After a confirmation followed by a cancellation, a Honda Civic–sized Chrysler is back in the company’s plans. Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, told the Detroit Free Press this week that such a car is happening, that it’ll be a hatchback, and that it could be called the Chrysler 100. We confirmed that the Free Press accurately quoted Marchionne, and we’ve since heard from our own sources that the car has the green light.

Here’s why this is such an odd turn of events. In 2009, soon after Chrysler and Fiat first hooked up, the company presented a five-year product plan; it included a Chrysler-badged C-segment sedan. Then, in April 2011, this changed. Olivier François—charged at the time with running the Chrysler and Lancia brands but currently the head of Fiat—told us that “either Dodge or Chrysler” would get a C-segment vehicle, but not both. With Dodge prototypes eventually becoming the new Dart, we concluded that the Chrysler model was dead. It has now risen, zombie-like, from the development grave.

The Lancia Delta, which may become the Chrysler 100

Beyond knowing that it’ll have five doors and a two-box shape, we can’t tell you very much about the Chrysler 100. Logically, it would ride on the same platform as the new Dodge Dart, which is about the right size. The Dart’s platform is called CUSW within Chrysler/Fiat, which stands for Compact U.S. Wide; it’s a widened evolution of the underpinnings used for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Marchionne went on to say that the Chrysler 100 would be rebadged as a Lancia and exported to Europe. Wait, what?

Lancia already has a hatchback that’s bigger than the Alfa Giulietta; it’s called the Delta. The Chrysler folks even surreptitiously plopped a Chrysler-badged Delta onto its stand at the 2010 Detroit auto show. Why design an all-new C-segment hatchback, build it in the U.S., and then ship it off to Lancia in Europe, where such a car already exists? Surely it would be cheaper for Chrysler to take the existing Delta, federalize it for the U.S., and build and sell it locally. The Delta isn’t even due for a redesign, as it debuted in 2008 and Lancia product cycles are typically six to ten years long.

Regardless of the sanity of the plan—and that plan’s final execution—independent of Mr. M, we’re hearing that Chrysler’s C-segment hatch should arrive in the U.S. in two to three years. We assume that the picture will have cleared up by then, but you seemingly never know with Fiat and Chrysler.

We’ve already driven the 2013 CX-5 (and liked it), covered its technical specs and fuel economy, and now Mazda has released complete pricing info for its all-new crossover: $21,490 to start. A fully loaded, all-wheel-drive model should just top $30,000. The CX-5 is the first vehicle from Mazda designed from the ground up to include the company’s efficiency-aiding Skyactiv technologies (new engines and transmissions, and an eye toward weight reduction).

That base model—the manual, front-drive Sport—is also the most fuel-efficient; it’s rated at 26 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway (we should also note that the highway figure is 2 mpg higher than Mazda initially estimated). Next up is the $22,890 front-drive Sport with the six-speed automatic, followed by the all-wheel-drive CX-5 Sport, which rings in at $24,140. The mid-level Touring trim is $24,690 with two driven wheels and $25,940 with four. Finally, the top-shelf Grand Touring model commands $27,840 and $29,090 for front- and all-wheel drive, respectively. All front-drive, automatic CX-5s are rated at 26/32 mpg city/highway, and all-wheel drive, which is only available with the auto, drops those numbers down to a still-respectable 25/31.

The Sport models come standard with 17-inch aluminum wheels, push-button start, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and auxiliary and USB audio ports. The only major option for the Sport is the $400 Bluetooth audio package, which bundles Bluetooth connectivity with a 5.8-inch color touch screen.

The Touring model adds to its list of standard amenities the Bluetooth package and touch screen, a six-way power driver’s seat, fog lamps, two extra speakers (for a total of six) for the audio system, a rearview camera, a blind-spot monitoring system, and cow hide on the steering wheel and shift knob. An extra $1130 buys you the Moonroof/Bose package that includes a sunroof and a nine-speaker Bose audio system. The $1185 Technology package includes an in-dash TomTom navigation system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, adaptive and auto-leveling bi-xenon headlights, and rain-sensing wipers. Satellite radio is a $525 stand-alone option on Touring models and includes a complimentary four-month subscription.

The Grand Touring is luxuriously appointed with standard leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver’s seat, 19-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and the Bose audio system with satellite radio. A $1325 Technology package is available here, and includes everything from the Touring model’s eponymous option group that isn’t already standard on the Grand Touring plus keyless entry.

Mazda has priced the CX-5 smack-dab in the middle of the small-crossover segment, with an entry fee that’s lower than the new Honda CR-V‘s and near the outlay we expect Ford will charge for the 2013 Escape. A future comparison test should help determine whether Mazda’s is indeed the enthusiast’s choice in the typically vanilla little-ute arena.

The 535i’s spartan mien did not stop it from becoming an instant long-haul favorite, however. Never mind the car’s shortcomings—numb steering, disappointing handling composure, and a hefty curb weight—that left it behind the Audi A6 and an Infiniti M37 in a ­comparison test [August 2010]; its odometer rolled past 20,000 miles in less than five months while visiting locations such as Myrtle Beach, Yellowstone National Park, and the Great Smoky Mountains. ­Editor-at-large John Phillips was one of many to commend the 535i for terrific interstate behavior, calling it “serene, composed, and quiet.” Yeah, that, and it was not unusual to hit 28 mpg on an interstate stretch. We averaged an impressive 23 mpg over 40,000 miles.

Keep Reading: 2011 BMW 535i – Long-Term Road Test Wrap-Up

Some sympathy is in order for United Auto Workers president Bob King. Here he was last March, about to enter negotiations with the Big Three on labor contracts that were certain to be crap sandwiches for his brothers and sisters on the line, and Ford announces that it’s paying CEO Alan Mulally an extra $56.5 million in stock for doing a good job.

Keep Reading: Aaron Robinson: Bolting Together Cars Used to be a Middle-Class Job. That’s Changing

The Kia Soul has been a big hit for the company, and it’s an even better drive than before thanks to improvements made for 2012. To sustain the momentum, the Korean automaker is showing a Soul concept at the 2012 Chicago auto show called Track’ster.

Born at Kia’s California design studio, this box is intended to “be the ultimate sporting representation of Kia’s Soul.” Much more aggressive looking than the tamer and topless Soul’ster concept shown at the 2009 Detroit auto show, the Track’ster is said to embody the automaker’s latest design direction. Envisioned with a 250-hp engine—the concept may in reality pack no powertrain at all—Kia says there are no plans to produce it. Our bubble just burst.

On the flip side, the Soul’ster is said to be in the final stages of consideration for production, whatever that means. We thought it was pretty cool way back when it debuted, so, yeah, we say bring it to market. The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet called and told us it’s lonely in the convertible-crossover/weird-thing-nobody-asked-for segment.

Damian Kulash Jr. sits in one of the editing suites of a media-production house in downtown San Francisco, watching clips on a computer screen of a silver Chevy Sonic doing hand-brake turns in a dust cloud. The car is festooned with what looks like forks, hockey sticks, TV antennas, railroad horns, shark spears, and a couple of dead Persian cats, which are in fact large microphones fitted with furry windsocks. Inside the car, three guys plus Kulash—each in a driving suit and matching helmet of a different lollipop color—pull levers, finger small pneumatic keyboards called melodicas, and mouth the words to a song called “Needing/Getting.”

Keep Reading: Car Commercialism: The Making of OK Go’s “Needing/Getting” Music Video – Feature

It’s easy to confuse weird with bad. The Mitsubishi i is weird. It looks like a computer mouse. It has windshield wipers that resemble Ultraman’s arms in attack mode. It is powered by a 66-hp electric motor mounted under the rear seats. It carries onboard the energy equivalent of less than half a gallon of gas. Its front tires look like compact spares. We could go on. But despite being weird, the i isn’t bad.

Keep Reading: 2012 Mitsubishi i Electric Vehicle – Instrumented Test

At 7.6 seconds, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is 3.9 seconds quicker to 60 mph than the SUV it replaces, thanks to its new 285-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 and five-speed automatic. To put that in perspective: You could run a BMW M3 sedan to 60 mph and then, very immediately  thereafter, run the new  ute to 60 mph in the same time it would take the old one, with its four-speed auto and 3.8-liter noisemaker, to huff  its way to that speed.

Keep Reading: 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon – Instrumented Test

Saab apparently is not dead—it’s just in a persistent vegetative state. A total of five parties have stepped forward to bid on all or parts of the Trollhättan-based automaker as a bankruptcy court in Sweden manages the sale of the company’s assets. The aim is to recover some money for Saab’s creditors. The three parties receiving the most attention are two Chinese companies and Mahindra & Mahindra, an Indian automaker.

• Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. is said to have made a bid in the hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars range for as much of Saab as it can get. Details of the offer haven’t been disclosed, but some very careful contracting must be on the table: Youngman tried to buy Saab before the bankruptcy, but General Motors ultimately vetoed that deal since it would have put so much GM-engineered Saab technology into the hands of a relatively small Chinese firm. It’s not clear what’s different this time around that might placate GM.
• Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company (BAIC) also has expressed serious interest in picking at Saab’s carcass. Saab sold the tooling and rights to build the old 9-5 to BAIC in 2009—it’s re-skinning them with more-modern sheetmetal—so this seems like a predictable move. Analysts like to say that the Chinese auto industry is developing quickly, which it is, but the benefit of building a car on even an old western platform can’t be understated.
• Indian firm Mahindra & Mahindra—a major manufacturer of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and agricultural equipment—is reported to have entered preliminary discussions to buy at least portions of Saab. These reports date back to December 30, however. As of this writing, Mahindra spokespeople weren’t available for comment.

If you’re confused by this quagmire of news, it’s understandable. And you’re not alone. Saab is a relatively large industrial firm, and it’s going through a sophisticated bankruptcy process in Sweden. State- and privately held Chinese manufacturers are in some cases declining to be forthcoming about their positions in negotiations—and in other cases are legally required to stay quiet. Even international news organizations with staff on the ground in Sweden and China are relying in part on second-hand information.

We’ll bring you more news if and when it develops.

Photo by Phil LaCombe

Volkswagen’s latest Beetle dropped a few things relative to the New Beetle it replaces, including the word “New,” the height of its roof, and the cutesy demeanor. Now the Beetle line regains something lost a few years back: a fuel-efficient TDI diesel iteration. The 2013 Beetle TDI will debut at the 2012 Chicago auto show.

Keep Reading: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI – Official Photos and Info

When the first-generation Mazda Miata debuted way back in 1989, the reveal took place at the Chicago auto show. The city therefore remains special to the brand, and the intervening years have seen a long line of special-edition Miatas zip through McCormick Place.

Keep Reading: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition – Official Photos and Info

Please do not confuse this with news. It is merely something that happened, about which we’ll make the following comments:

• Jeep says these custom Grand Cherokee SRT8s were identically prepared. If true, this could be the first time Alonso and Massa were given identical cars.
• Ferrari Rosso Corsa paint, a matte-black roof, and a red interior look pretty damn good on the SRT8. We’re not loving the red-trimmed seven-slot grille.
• While this is the first American product to get the Ferrari treatment, it is not the first such Fiat Group mash-up; the Fiat 500–based Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari wore a similar schema di vernice.
• We’re told the Jeeps wear rear spoilers that have their undersides painted like the Italian flag. This is not a direct tribute to the country, but rather a tribute to the wing on the Ferrari F150th Italia Formula 1 cars, which is itself a nod to the sesquicentennial of Italy’s integration. So, a tribute to a tribute of the original.
• We predict that these loaners inevitably will be replaced by identical Ferrari-engined Maserati Kubangs, which, conveniently, will be built on this Jeep’s platform and produced in the same Detroit-area plant. Isn’t globalization fun?

Fiat’s new 500L five-door MPV will—if you believe the company—go on sale in the U.S. in 2013, several months after debuting at the upcoming Geneva auto show. Fiat had already confirmed that such a model was coming, but now it has released photos. U.S. sales of the 500 hatch and convertible have been disappointing, so the bigger, more practical 500L is a critical addition to the Italian automaker’s American lineup.

Keep Reading: 2013 / 2014 Fiat 500L – Official Photos and Info

On Tuesday, we posted an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note. To hear it again, click play above. A few of you successfully determined the exhaust note was from something large, but no one figured out that the sound came from the 5.0-liter V-8 of a 2012 Land Rover LR4.

Like that sound? Download the MP3 and quiz your friends, make your own ringtone, or just lull yourself to sleep with sweet, sweet vehicular ear candy.

2012 Land Rover LR4 MP3 (Right-click to Save As…)

If you’re like us, you’ve bored holes through pictures of the new 3-series sedan trying to discern the styling changes versus the outgoing model. Yes, there are some. A new face features headlights that puddle in toward the chrome-wrapped kidneys and a broad, blunt-faced front bumper that creates a sort of grimacing overbite into the lower grille. Move around to the sides and tail, and it all looks very familiar, even though the new car is 1.9 inches longer in wheelbase and 3.7 inches longer overall, which gives it more of a sleek, sprinter-on-blocks profile. But what’s really new about the F30, you ask? Well, after 600 miles in a brand-new 2012 F30-generation 335i Sport Line—and a couple of plates of South Carolina barbecue—we have a pretty good idea.

Keep Reading: 2012 BMW 335i Sedan – Instrumented Test

New information has been scarce regarding Infiniti’s range-extended electric sports car for this March’s Geneva auto show. But now we’ve got a name: EMERG-E. We’ll likely have to wait another month or so to see the entire car—only a few teaser photos like the one above have been released—but we do know it will feature a mid-mounted powertrain. Stay tuned for more details.

Curse the hordes of European cyclists no more! A biker in such a group recorded a seemingly production-ready Mercedes-Benz A-class while on a ride in southern Spain. (Watch the whole video on YouTube.)

The premium hatch, which debuts at the Geneva show this March, is visible for only a few moments. But it confirms that little if anything has changed from European patent renderings we saw a few months ago. Kudos to Benz’s designers, too, for hanging onto the psychedelic grille from the A-class concept.

We expect that this five-door A-class hatch will be among the four variants that come to the U.S. over the next few years. In 18 months, a sleek four-door coupe based on the same underpinnings will be the first of the quartet to arrive here. For more info on the compact Benzes coming to the States, check out our full rundown here.

VW's current system (above) can now be considered old and busted—MIB is the new hotness

Volkswagen’s upcoming MQB vehicle architecture is going to underpin every new VW car—excluding the upcoming Phaeton, but including more than a few Audis—that arrives from this point forward. It’s a component set of engines, suspension pieces, and transmissions, sure, but its adoption also will mark the debut of many other modular bits, including an infotainment system dubbed Modular Infotainment System, or MIB. (No Will Smith jokes, please.)

The MIB setup—the initialism comes from from the German Modularen Infotainmentbaukasten—is basically a platform for in-car electronics, and it will be based on common, hidden hardware used across many vehicles. Hiding electronic hardware isn’t new, of course, but using the same basic stuff in everything from budget boxes to expensive sleds is more novel, and it will allow for technologies currently found in higher-priced rides to trickle down to more lowly models. Even entry-level cars such as the Golf will have the option of an eight-inch touch screen, high-res 3D navigation maps, and free map updates.

In Volkswagens, MIB will be based entirely around capacitive touch screens; as one example, this will allow VW to adopt Audi’s navigation input system, whereby you write letters with your finger. As you may have surmised, VW’s version of the technology will use the capacitive screen rather than a touch pad, as currently found in the Audi A6, A7, and A8. (Audi will stick with its button, knob, and touch pad MMI setup in the future; its version of MIB was previewed in the next-gen Audi A3 interior shown at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show.) The Volkswagen brand’s MIB rollout starts with the seventh-generation Golf, which goes on sale in Europe this year.

Another trick feature will be a sensor that knows when a hand is near the touch screen. This allows, for example, the navigation map to be completely free of options (e.g. zoom, orientation, and drop-down destination functions) most of the time, but when a driver wants to interact with the map, he needs only to reach for the screen and the functions will appear. And, taking a page from the Apple, scrolling between music tracks will be done with swipes of your finger, not tapping an arrow.

The basic setup will involve a five-inch capacitive touch screen. To go bigger—5.8- and 8.0-inch screens also will be available—individuals will have to opt for more features, and, in the U.S., such MIB options likely will be bundled in a more expensive package. Wireless tethering via your phone eventually may be available, and the systems will feature the expected Bluetooth, SD, and USB connectivity.

We’re excited by the tech, but what we actually like most are the cost savings VW will reap from the system’s commonality. With similar hardware found in all models, the individual unit cost will be relatively small. This will in turn free up cash for, say, additional chassis development, or perhaps better interior plastics for our American non-GLI Jetta. VW’s plans for world domination may have just taken another step forward.

Update 2/11: We’ve again captured the SLS Black, this time wearing more production-ready bodywork. Check out the new photos in the gallery.

Keep Reading: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Spy Photos – Future Cars

When NASCAR driver A. J. Allmendinger took the checkered flag by a slim margin of 5.198 seconds on Sunday afternoon, it ended a week of festivities dedicated to celebrating the golden anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

Since 1962, drivers and manufacturers from around the world have journeyed to one of the meccas of American motorsport to compete on Daytona’s storied road course. The sanctioning bodies and technical specifications may have changed over the years, but many of the names have not: Porsche, Lola, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, and Chevrolet; Gurney, Haywood, Donohue, Pruett, and Rahal. These are but a few of the celebrated marques and legendary drivers that have in one way or another made an indelible mark at Daytona in the last 50 years.

To celebrate their legacy, the powers that be at Grand-Am and Daytona took upon themselves the Herculean task of assembling as many of the former winning drivers and cars as they could locate for a 50-year class reunion and a pair of ceremonial laps around the celebrated circuit.  By the time the event kicked off, nearly thirty cars and close to forty champion drivers had been gathered.

Just a few hours before commencement of the Rolex 24 on Saturday, the vintage machinery took to the track, shaking out cobwebs and blowing out carbon, creating a spine-tingling sight for fans of racing history. The once-in-a-lifetime event was enjoyed by all ages, but the old timers’ grins were by far the widest.

Peruse the photo gallery and check out the video below, which features Bobby Rahal talking  about climbing in to his 1981 Rolex-winning Porsche 935K3 for the first time in thirty years.

Today, Audi released pricing for the lightweight R8 GT sports car’s droptop Spyder iteration and revealed how many cars from the 333-unit production run will be allocated for the U.S. market. First, the cost: The 2012 GT Spyder will start at $213,350, including gas-guzzler tax. This gives it the distinction of being the most expensive R8 variant available. The nearly identical—save for the roof—GT coupe previously held that title, with a base sticker $13,200 less than the GT Spyder’s. For reference, the topless GT commands a $38,300 premium over the V-10 R8 Spyder 5.2 with the R tronic automated manual transmission.

Like the GT coupe, the Spyder is lighter and more powerful than its R8 5.2 counterpart; its V-10 engine puts out 560 hp (35 more hp than the standard R8 5.2 Spyder’s), and the whole car weighs about 100 fewer pounds. However, because the R8 Spyder is heavier than the coupe to begin with, the GT Spyder’s weight savings pretty much bring it down into non-GT coupe territory. Besides a reduction in weight, the GT Spyder gets a stiffened and lowered suspension, a larger rear diffuser, an aggressive front splitter, a fixed rear spoiler, and 19-inch wheels. It also gets Audi’s single-clutch R tronic automated manual standard, which is much less fun than the gated six-speed manual that is available in non-GT R8s. If you’re interested in snagging one of the limited-edition R8 GT Spyders for yourself, we suggest you hurry—Audi’s only sending us 50 of the 333 units slated for production.

The Team Olds ’92 Delta 88 looked good all weekend. The car didn’t break down (much), it managed to put down some respectable lap times on Stafford’s tight, paint-tradin’ course— not an easy feat for a big GM boat surrounded by Alfa Romeo Milanos, Honda Civics, and E30 BMWs— and it looked luxurious doing so.

Here we see General Motors showing the flag at Stafford’s start/finish line; that’s the Chev-itte Where The Sun Don’t Shine Chevrolet Chevette (which finished sixth overall out of 52 entries and annihilated the Class C competition) in front, with the Team Olds Delta 88 right behind. Just behind them is the bewinged Limp1 Brokebird Pontiac Firebird, which finished in an impossible-to-believe fourth place, and that majestic yellow machine is the Speedycop and the Gang of Outlaws 1980 Pontiac Bonneville Donk—it took home the race’s Index of Effluency, a.k.a. LeMons racing’s top prize—rollin’ on 22s in extremely gangsta fashion.

Behind the Donk we’ve got the Elmo’s Revenge Saturn SL2, and that Pontiac Fiero decked out in Alitalia livery is none other than the legendarily terrible “Five Lap Fiero” built by C/D scribe Mike Austin for the ’08 Altamont race and then sold to the members of Rusty Tear Racing (in what we assume was the swindle of the century), after Mike decided that a VW Quantum Syncro wagon would be more reliable. Yes, the Team Olds Delta was in excellent company for a weekend of racin’ glory that no doubt made the General proud. (Never mind that an Alfa Milano took the win on laps.)

As the shadows lengthened on Sunday afternoon, Team Olds could taste that checkered flag coming. Not many full-size grandma haulers can survive a weekend of thrashing on Stafford’s wicked-mean half-mile course without tossing a rod through the oil pan or busting major suspension components, and so taking the checkered flag would be quite a triumph for the Oldsmobile pilots. The flag dropped on the winning Team Scuderia Limoni Alfa Romeo, and then the Team Olds driver put the hammer down and roared through the team’s glorious 734th lap.

But just as the car was coming around the final turn before the finish line, a tie rod decided it had had enough. The Olds plowed into the wall, knocking off a wheel—still, it had enough momentum to scraaaaape across the finish line, with the errant wheel bouncing past the delighted fans in the grandstand. Never have I heard such cheering for the finish of a 24 Hours of LeMons race!

One of the greatest finishes in LeMons history is captured nicely by the in-car camera of the Team French Toast Peugeot 405 Mi16 (itself a great example of a Good/Bad LeMons Idea); the wheel comes off the Olds at about 0:39, followed by the Pug clipping the three-wheeler’s left rear and then the cheers of the crowd.

We saw a lot of checkered-flag drama during the ’11 season; below you can see the Kamikaze Pilots of Fury Honda CRX throwing a rod mere seconds after the finish of the Showroom-Schlock Shootout at Autobahn Country Club. Once again, a standing ovation from the spectators. Yes, it’s definitely a bad idea to blow up in the final seconds of a race, but, in LeMons, it’s also a good idea!

Who would have thought that with 50-mpg fuel-economy rules around the corner, Ford would be striving to push a version of the Mustang above 200 mph? It wasn’t long ago that such a top speed was strictly reserved for wedge-shaped exotica.

Keep Reading: In Depth: 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – Feature

On Monday we presented this week’s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence it came. We’ve had a few uncharacteristically sunny and warm days (for January) here in Ann Arbor this week, so to celebrate we decided to bring everyone some sunshine. Most of you saw the light, and identified this week’s shifter as the 1993 Honda Civic del Sol Si’s five-speed manual. The first commenter to correctly identify it was CSARO, who will receive a Save the Manuals button and sticker as a reward.

The del Sol Si pictured here is from our October 1992 issue. The del Sol rode on a shortened contemporary Civic hatchback platform, and also inherited that car’s 1.5- and 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines. The Si version got the 1.6-liter, which put out a respectable 125 hp, and could scamper to 60 mph from rest in 8.1 seconds. Of course, the del Sol’s main draw was its removable roof panel which allowed for open-top motoring. Unfortunately, the extra bracing Honda added to make up for the open lid did add some weight—the car weighed nearly as much as a four-door Civic sedan.

Rolex 24: Pruett was one of the drivers in the No. 01 BMW Riley

Even the most logistically challenged individuals would have a hard time getting lost on the storied tri-oval Daytona superspeedway; keep turning left, and eventually you’ll get back to the strip of checkered pavement that marks the start/finish line.

But a few times a year, the oval folds back in on itself between the front stretch and first corner to create a suitably challenging road circuit for the Grand-Am series. The twisting diversion winds its way through the infield, transforming the 2.5-mile high-banked tri-oval into a 3.56-mile road course. Follow it long enough and you’ll still find your way home, but only after navigating several additional (left and right) corners to get there. Sounds like fun, no?

To find out the most expedient way around the circuit, we went right to the top, recruiting four-time Daytona champion Scott Pruett and BMW Performance Driving School instructor Mike Renner as our personal tour guides. Renner slides us around the wet track and Pruett hammers the dry course, both in M3s. Ride along with us in the clips below.

Ford’s new 2013 B-Max MPV will debut in production form at the upcoming Geneva auto show, one year after the concept version appeared at the same event. The good news: its styling is nearly unchanged from the handsome concept, and Ford managed to preserve the wide, B-pillar-less apertures from the show car. The not-so-good news, at least for American fans of tiny vans, is that the B-Max will be a Euro-only offering.

As the “B” in its name implies, the B-Max is based off of Ford’s B-segment Fiesta model. As is the case with the larger C-Max and the C-segment Focus, the B-Max is basically a taller version of its related hatchback with more interior room. About its lack of B-pillars: To ensure crashworthiness in side impacts, Ford incorporated the necessary crash structure into the doors themselves. This isn’t the first instance of such structural technology making it into the affordable-vehicle arena; vehicles like the Mazda RX-8, Honda Element, and several extended-cab pickup trucks beat the B-Max to the punch, although that doesn’t make the feature any less useful or practical. The B-Max will be powered by Ford’s new turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, as well as a variety of small diesels. It goes on sale on the Continent later this year.

Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.

My visit to the Rally Monte Carlo, held from January 19 to 22, was a fantastic experience. Rally racing is making a strong comeback. Unfortunately, today’s cars are nothing like the legendary Lancia Stratos or Audi Quattro that dominated the scene in the 1970s and early ’80s. Current World Rally Championship (WRC) regulations call for all-wheel-drive vehicles with a length of at least 157.5 inches and a minimum weight of 2646 pounds; power comes from turbocharged 1.6-liter engines and is restricted to around 300 hp. Fighting for the title are the Citroën DS3 WRC, the Countryman-based Mini John Cooper Works WRC, and the Ford Fiesta RS WRC; next year, Volkswagen will join with the Polo R WRC. Watching these cars is pretty exciting, and just listening is a delight in itself, as each is marked by a characteristic engine note: the Citroën has a high-pitched, high-tech sound; the Mini entry sounds metallic and aggressive; the Fiesta emits a dark rumble.

I spent two days with my Citroën hosts following the cars in a van and helicopters. Our guide was former Saab test driver, rally driver, and co-driver Per Carlsson, who runs his own company called Rallytravels. It couldn’t have been better organized. The rally was crowned by the victory of the unbeatable Sébastien Loeb driving a DS3. Daniel Sordo Castillo piloting the Mini JCW WRC came in second, and Petter Solberg was third with the Fiesta RS. VW’s entry will undoubtedly give the series another decisive push. Personally, I enjoy WRC far more than Formula 1, which maintains a personality cult that is approaching NASCAR proportions, is short on exciting driving, and runs cars with very little in common with anything you can purchase or drive.

On the other hand, you can drive a piece of WRC technology yourself: Citroën offers the limited-edition DS3 Racing with 207 hp; Ford has the Fiesta ST; and there is a considerable number of sporty Mini derivatives, although the brand has failed to make the connection to rally racing so far. It would be nice, for example, if Mini came up with a better racing web site. There is precious little corporate information on the Cooper WRC, even though it may be the most spectacular of the current WRC cars to watch.

Citroën Gets Sportier and Less European

While in Monte Carlo, I had the chance to speak with Citroën managing executive Frédéric Banzet about the brand’s strategy. He emphasized the role of the upmarket DS range as “a lever to transform Citroën.” Like the legendary DS, which was launched in 1955, the cars are design-oriented and characterized by premium technology features. They also are far from retro-styled; in fact, Citroën advertises the DS3 as being “anti-retro,” a swipe at BMW’s Mini. Banzet hinted at an upmarket sedan and a large crossover, and there’s possibility of a number of sporty vehicles topping the DS range. Banzet calls Citroën “far too European” and aims to grow abroad. So is a return to the U.S. market possible? Don’t hold your breath. “Like Europe, the U.S. market is mature,” says the Citroën executive. Growth will come from Asia and Latin America.

News from the Volkswagen Group

Lamborghini will show a concept car previewing an SUV very soon. If it comes to market, the five-door will be built on the next large SUV platform shared with VW, Audi, Porsche, and Bentley. The engine will be a dedicated Lamborghini unit—which doesn’t exclude shared components with Audi, as on the Gallardo V-10. Speaking of the next Gallardo, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann tells me that a dual-clutch gearbox is the way to go. The sophisticated Graziano single-clutch unit in the Aventador is too extreme in character—and, I presume, in cost—and the take rates for the manual are woefully low. It won’t be offered anymore.

Why did Lambo not go ahead with the Estoque? The feedback was very positive, but the timing was wrong, says Winkelmann, referring to the economic crisis a few years back. It’s not entirely off the table. A four-door sedan could come back, but the SUV has priority (although it isn’t 100-percent finalized yet).

I spoke with engineers about the MSB platform—Modularer Standardantrieb-Baukasten, or modular standard architecture, “standard” here referring to the conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. This platform is being developed by Porsche for the next Panamera, as well as future Bentley and possible Lamborghini models. Audi is not part of the plan, although that doesn’t exclude it from joining at a later stage. The MSB will be rear- or all-wheel-drive, and it will weigh at least 200 pounds less than the current Panamera platform. The body and structure will use a steel-aluminum mix, similar to the 991, and carbon fiber may be utilized as well. Will the next Panamera be offered with a manual? Porsche won’t say, but it admits that take rates for the Panamera and Panamera S with the manual box (which isn’t offered here at all) are woefully low. A low-single-digit take rate, sadly, is the best that our favorite transmission can muster.

While spending three days at last weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, we learned two important things: First, the Grand-Am series appeared to be absolutely viable as a spectator-driven form of motorsport, and, second, skinny jeans have never been more in style. Particularly for the less-than-skinny.

Indeed, the growing popularity of sports-car racing was evident from the moment we arrived. It was clear not only in the total amount of tickets sold (reportedly the highest total ever for a Grand-Am event at Daytona), but also by the sheer number of people who ponied up extra cash for garage-access privileges, in hopes of a chance encounter with their favorite driver.

Still, there is an argument that racing is best enjoyed on television. There are no parking hassles and you get up-to-the-second coverage and replays—plus an absence of pathogen-incubating Porta Potties. But we joined the sunburned hordes shuffling through the humanity-clogged paddock and managed to capture a few items that illustrate why there’s no substitute for being there. Equipped with a simple point-and-shoot camera and no media pass, we interacted with the stars as anybody would, and emerged with the video and photo gallery below.

Oh—we tried some skinny jeans, too, but switched back to shorts after developing a nasty rash from the chafing.

If the BMW 3-series is the quintessential sports sedan, then the M3 is the quintessential sports car in disguise. Ever since the launch of the first M3 in 1986, this BMW has enjoyed a fiercely loyal following of enthusiasts, as well as a distinguished racing career. It is the car that represents the essence of what BMWs should be.

Keep Reading: 2014 BMW M3 Sedan Spy Photos – Future Cars

McLaren’s 593-hp MP4-12C supercar isn’t exactly in dire need of more power, but Hennessey Performance Engineering may have us rethinking such narrow-minded notions. HPE has announced plans to build its own version of the 12C, called the HPE800 Twin Turbo—that’s 800 as in, 800 hp. (HPE didn’t provide an exact figure but says the final product will put out “over” 800 hp.)

HPE will replace or upgrade plenty of parts to get an extra 207 hp from the car’s 3.8-liter V-8: the turbos, intercoolers, the engine-management software, the transmission-cooling system, and the clutch among them. To put the final tuner touch on things, Hennessey will add its own titanium exhaust system, as well as new external wastegates and blow-off valves for the turbos.

In a somewhat un-tuner-esque move, Hennessey will not mess with the car’s suspension, saying that “the factory systems will be difficult to improve upon.” We can respect the decision to leave the well-balanced chassis alone: a stock MP4-12C recently beat out the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Porsche 911 GT2 RS in a three-way comparison test.

The HPE800’s exterior does get a mild overhaul, with new fascias and rocker panels that improve downforce at speed. HPE also fitted Hennessey monoblock aluminum wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. (The standard MP4-12C rides on Pirelli P Zeros.) Finally, Hennessey leather, faux suede, and carbon-fiber interior touches also will be available. Most of that stuff comes standard on the MP4-12C anyway, so we’re not sure that’s a hugely necessary upgrade.

The elements of this Hennessey-tuned McLaren will be available together as a turnkey package as well as some separate pieces. Pricing for the super-dupercar hasn’t been announced, but we’ll go ahead and guess that it’s a good deal past the MP4-12C’s $230K base price.

Remember the old joke about how to lose 10 ugly pounds? Right, cut off your head. Here’s an automotive sequel. Although this car didn’t lose weight when its football-helmet Coupe top was lopped off—it’s actually about 90 pounds heavier than its hard-shelled sibling—it definitely lost a lot of ugly.

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