VW knows how much it needs to spend to overtake Toyota.
As we've reported several times here before, Volkswagen has quite publicly declared its intent to become the world's No. 1 automaker by 2018, and it has recently pinpointed exactly how serious it is about the goal: $71 billion worth of serious.That's the amount of money the German manufacturer plans to invest in its automotive division in the next five years in order to overtake the current top dog, Toyota. The figure was quoted by CEO Martin Winterkorn in a statement to VW's supervisory board, which approved investment plans through 2015.
A little more than half that expenditure will go to modernizing the stable of brands, including luxury badges, thereby extending the product range of Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche as well as VW and Europe-only Škoda.
New F-150 EcoBoost proves it's up to the task during the Baja 1000.
Ford has been putting its new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine through some serious abuse recently. The company has organized a number of stunts to attempt to prove to buyers that the engine is just as stout as its 8-cylinder, naturally aspirated counterparts. After all, Americans have been buying V8 trucks for generations, but until now, turbochargers have belonged only on diesel engines. Combining forced induction and gasoline with the kind of torture that most trucks endure during a lifetime, and you’ve got one formula still lacking proof.
Well, proof in the eyes of the public, at least.
Consumer Reports on the bargains to be had for navigation systems.
Thanksgiving, of course, means tradition and family and, hopefully, an abundant feast. But for the deal-obsessed shopper Turkey Day is akin to an early Christmas.
Black Friday, as the day after Thanksgiving is known, is notorious for kicking off the holiday shopping frenzy with heavy markdowns — sometimes for that day only. In that spirit, Consumer Reports has published a piece on the best deals to be found on GPS units going into the holiday season. The list, after the jump, is a straight-up buyer's guide, taking into account price -- and where to buy, when -- and relevant information on notable features. We also feature Consumer Reports' brief video on how to shop the segment, which is also worthwhile; hardware and features are evolving rapidly enough that it's nice to know what's out there, and what's worth your money -- or not.
Large majority of owners support 'right-to-repair' laws.
![[Source: AutoMD.]](http://media.social.s-msn.com/images/blogs/00100065-0000-0000-0000-000000000000_00000065-06d9-0000-0000-000000000000_20101122225049_Right%20to%20Repair%20Survey.jpg)
Back in July, we told you about a bill facing the Massachusetts House (it had already passed the Senate) giving consumers and repair shops access to the same diagnostic and software data made available to manufacturers' dealerships. Manufacturers would pay for access, but drivers wouldn't be stuck with only one avenue to repair -- that is, the approved dealership.The law went out with a whimper when the House failed to vote, amid what seemed to be strong grass-roots support, and ended its regular session at the end of July. But according to a new study by AutoMD.com, nearly 83 percent of car owners support such a bill.
The 2012 VW Beetle is revealed -- sort of -- on the 'Oprah Winfrey Show.'
The 2012 Beetle, not yet out, was revealed only in silhouette; a current model was featured during the discussion of the vehicle. The actual unveiling will take place sometime in the spring.
Performance-specific components, such as stiffer suspension, dual exhausts, sport seats and 19-inch wheels, will be a part of the new iteration, as will a clean-diesel powertrain option in the cabriolet version.
Volkswagen's media site is having problems -- no doubt in part due to the massive influx of interest in anything Oprah-related -- so I can't access a shot right now. I'll post one when it's available. From some of the spy shots I've seen, the thing looks decidedly sportier, but also a bit weird. From the side, it resembles the rear of a Porsche Panamera mated to the front wheel arches of a PT Cruiser.
[Source: Autoblog; USA Today.]
NASCAR has never seen a driver win five straight Cup titles -- until now
NASCAR has never seen a driver win five straight Cup titles--until now. After Jimmie Johnson's second-place finish at Homestead-Miami clinched the 2010 championship, reaction poured in from around the racing world. Here's a recap of the highlights.
Jimmie Johnson, on his car's radio immediately after the race:
"Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Woohoo! You guys are the best. I can't believe that we did this. Unbelievable!"
On winning the fifth straight Cup:
"I'm so proud to be in this position and so thankful to have my great race team and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports giving me great race cars. I think this year we showed what this team is made. At times we didn't have the most speed, but we proved it here at the end of the Chase and especially here today. I am just besides myself. Four was amazing. Now I have to figure out what the hell to say about winning five of these things because everybody is going to want to know what it means. I don't know! It is pretty damn awesome, I can tell you that."
TV show's U.S. version debuted last night.
So, fess up: How many of you watched "Top Gear USA" on the History Channel last night? What are your thoughts?Chemistry among the hosts is a huge appeal of the BBC version, of course, though one can't expect too much in that department from three guys new to working together; passable would work just fine. Do you think the trio hit that mark?
What about the segments? The Dodge Viper/Cobra helicopter segment seemed to come straight from the Brits' playbook -- but the execution, not so much. Dueling Lamborghinis likewise was vintage TG, and this one fared a bit better. Buzz Aldrin was the guest, and the first in the "Big Star, Small Car" segment -- yep, they renamed "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car."
Well, look, I'm actually more interested in your thoughts on the thing. Anyone watch it? Those of you who did -- what did you think?
By Greg Kable
WITH VIDEO -- Audi has finally come clean on its RS3 Sportback, revealing photos and information about the four-door hatchback planned for European sale next March.
The RS3 uses a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine borrowed from the TT RS.
The RS3 Sportback will not come to the U.S. market.
With 340 hp and 332 lb-ft, Ingolstadt's latest performance model packs 75 hp and 74 lb-ft more than the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder used by its S3 four-wheel-drive sibling.
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Contributors
Clifford Atiyeh has spent his entire life driving cars he doesn't own. Raised in Volvos, he has grown to love fast, irresponsible vehicles of all kinds. He is the senior news editor at MSN Autos and also reports for Car and Driver, Road & Track, The Boston Globe and other publications.
In the garage: 21-speed Iron Horse, 2002 Jeep Wrangler X (not his)
Doug Newcomb has covered car technology for over 20 years for outlets ranging from Rolling Stone to Edmunds.com. In 2008, he published his first book, "Car Audio for Dummies" (Wiley). He lives and drives in Hood River, Ore., with his wife and two kids, who share his passion for cars and technology.
In the garage: 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, two 1984 Chevrolet Blazers, 2008 Honda CR-V
James Tate learned to drive stick at age 13 in a 1988 Land Cruiser - in La Paz, Bolivia. He's since been a mechanic, on a pit crew and has wrenched on every car he's owned since his first 1989 Honda CRX Si (and won't stop until the car is a 1973 Porsche 911 RS). His work has appeared in Car and Driver, Popular Mechanics, Automobile and others.
In the garage: 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera, 1988 BMW M5
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