Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupes, Infiniti, Nissan

The Infiniti G35 coupe showed that Nissan’s U.S. luxury arm could compete with the likes of Mercedes and BMW. Being mentioned in the same breath as those storied brands is nice, but Infiniti isn’t looking to be class competitive; it wants to lead. Ghosn’s guys rolled out the new and improved G37 Coupe for the 2008 model year with more power and a vastly improved interior while also delivering an entry price that undercuts the popular 335i coupe by around $4,000.

The 330-hp 3.7L V6 introduced in the G37 Coupe was a big improvement over the also competent 3.5L it replaced, but the carry-over five-speed automatic was holding back Infiniti’s jewel of an engine. Nissan has rectified this shortcoming for 2009 with an all-new seven-speed slush box that promises faster shifts and improved refinement and efficiency. We got our hands on a brand new 2009 model to see if it has what it takes to put the G37 at the top of the entry-level luxury food chain. Hit the jump to see how Infiniti’s coupe performed during its time in the Autoblog Garage.

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Chris Shunk / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Porsche, Volkswagen

Porsche is continuing to wag the dog by upping its stake in VW to over 50%. The move, which cost Porsche $8.49 billion, adds another 8% to the German automaker’s ownership stake. The move to 50% was supposed happen late in 2008, but a short squeeze temporarily skyrocketed VW stock from 210 Euros to over 1,000, delaying the move. Porsche’s increase in VW stake also gave the iconic automaker indirect control of Swedish truckmaker Scania. Swedish law requires a mandatory takeover offer, but since Porsche has no interest in truck tech, it will only offer the minimum amount required.

The much smaller Porsche has been deliberate in its bid to own the much larger VW, and its plans don’t end at 50%. A Porsche spokesman told Automotive News that, pending market conditions, the company intends to own a 75% stake by the end of 2009. And to think Porsche was once worried that its small size made it vulnerable to be taken over by other companies.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Porsche raises stake in VW to 50% originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Videos, Crossovers/CUVs, Cadillac

The current Cadillac SRX is a competent vehicle, although it hasn’t come close to selling as many units as the Lexus RX350, let alone the Acura MDX. GM is looking to change that with the thoroughly revised 2010 Cadillac SRX. Gone are the station wagon looks and rear wheel drive, and in its place is a new front drive platform and sheetmetal that looks the part of a true crossover contender. General Motors has ditched its larger powertrains for an efficient 3.0L, direct injected V6 and a 300 horsepower, 2.8L turbocharged unit that have the potential to quell fears that the new 2010 model will be lacking in the performance department. We had the chance to speak with Cadillac Marketing Director Steve Shannon to get an in-depth tour of the new SRX, and you can get the inside story in the video after the jump.

Continue reading VIDEO: 2010 Cadillac SRX in detail

VIDEO: 2010 Cadillac SRX in detail originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Videos

When automotive mad man Rhys Millen broke five vertebrae attempting to back flip the Red Bull trophy truck, it only made him want to try it again. The drift king set the stage for redemption on New Years Eve with the truck, ramp and huge crowd on national television for all to see. ESPN even had the obligatory live-cam shot of Millen’s concerned wife to lend some extra drama to the daring jump. The magnificent Millen hit the ramp at speed, executed a near perfect back flip, then proceeded to roll his trophy truck. The rear passenger wheel touched down just before its parallel partner, resulting in a messy landing that left Millen’s truck at its side.

Luckily, this time Millen walked away from the crash without any serious injuries, but his pride was still hurt. Millen did perform a mid-air back flip, but he doesn’t count that for anything because “It’s nothing unless you drive away.” Fair enough. You know what they say, though, if you fall off the bike, you have to get back on and try again. Something tells us this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Rhys Millen and back-flipping trophy trunks. At least we hope not. Hit the jump to see rolling footage of the back flip and crash.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Rhys Millen New Year’s Eve truck backflip… almost

VIDEO: Rhys Millen New Year’s Eve truck backflip… almost originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, LLC.

Every year, Chrysler rewards its top dealers with an all-expenses paid trip to some exotic location. But with the financial situation at the privately-owned automaker in the crapper, the Pentastar decided to cancel this year’s excursion. Chrysler spokesman Stuart Schorr told the Detroit News that “the state of the market and the financial challenges the company faces, it made sense not to hold this year’s reward meeting.” We’re sure the decision to cancel the trip to the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico was monetarily motivated, but there are likely other motivating factors as well.

There is the matter of the $4 billion loan from the federal government that kept the doors open at the Auburn Hills, MI automaker. Chrysler already learned that spending money to thank Americans was probably a bad idea. The bigger lesson likely came from insurance giant AIG, who received major backlash for spending $440,000 to pamper top sales executives just days after receiving billions from the government. It’s good to see that Chrysler cancelled what sounds like a very fun trip, because the domestic auto industry doesn’t need any more negative press.

[Source: Detroit News]

Chrysler scraps dealer awards meeting in Mexico originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chrysler, LLC.

After receiving at least $4 billion dollars in low cost government loans, Chrysler, LLC thought the least it could do was thank the American people for their support. Instead of calling a press conference or writing a heart-felt letter to major newspapers, team Pentastar thought it best to take out full page ads in newspapers across America. Actually, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea (not to mention several pop-up text ads). It seems there are quite a few Americans that don’t like the fact that Chrysler found the need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars taking out ads in papers when the company is struggling to remain in business. The full page ads were run in papers including the USA Today and Wall Street Journal, where the price of a full-page ad can reportedly cost up to $264,000.

Action group American Solutions calls the ads “a precise example of the fact that they do not get it” and Americans for Tax Reform likened Chrysler’s ads to a polite robber that said please and thank you but still made off with the cash. It’s not surprising that special interest groups would jump on the ads, but apparently some tax-paying Americans are just as displeased. A click over to Chrysler’s blog shows some angry responses. There are 15 consumer responses so far, and none of them are positive. We’re no ad gurus, but this didn’t seem like a very good idea from the start, and it appears we’re not alone.

[Source: Fox News]

Can’t win for losing: Chrysler criticized for “Thank You” ads originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal

The gasoline tax has long been the method of choice for raising money for public road upkeep, but more fuel efficient cars are slowly eroding funds from the public coffers. Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski wants to keep road repair money flowing, so he’s proposing the dreaded mileage tax. Opponents of the idea see a GPS-based solution as being an invasion of privacy, giving the government the ability to track where tax-payers go. However, the proposed system in Oregon doesn’t track any travel points. Mileage is instead read whenever drivers fuel up, and a 1.2 cent per mile tax is levied. The program was tested in 2006 and 2007 with 300 motorists participating in the experiment.

Someone driving 12,000 miles per year would pay $144 in mileage tax. For comparison’s sake, a 25 mpg vehicle driving 12,000 miles would pay $115 based on Oregon’s current 0.24 cent per gallon tax. Kulongoski has no power to enforce a mileage tax, so he’s relying on the Oregon legislature to make the tax law. Since it will take time to get all vehicles on the road equipped with a GPS device, the standard gas tax would remain in effect for the foreseeable future, with a possible two cent increase. Commuters equipped with a GPS system would receive a refund for gas taxes paid.

[Source: Gazette Times]

Oregon governor pursuing GPS-based mileage tax originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, GM

General Motors is celebrating GMAC’s decision to loosen credit restrictions by increasing incentives on many remaining 2008 models. Effective immediately, the General is offering 0% APR for 60 months on the 2008 Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and the entire Saab lineup. All GMT900 full-size SUVs and every member of the 2008 Cadillac lineup also gets a big-time incentive boost, with 1.9% financing available for 60 months. The rock-bottom deals come in addition to cash incentives of up to $4,250. GM is also offering financing as low as 3.9% on select 2009 models, including the well-received Cadillac CTS. Hit the jump to see GM’s official list of available financing specials.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM ups incentives: zero percent financing for up to 60 months

GM ups incentives: zero percent financing for up to 60 months originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, GM

GMAC is officially opening up lending to buyers with credit scores of 621 or higher after a $5 billion investment from the federal government. A credit score of 621 is considered by some lenders to be the Mendoza line that separates good borrowers from the subprime. The financing arm of General Motors, which is majority owned by Chrysler’s sugar daddy, Cerberus Capital Management, had been crippling the automaker’s ability to sell cars and trucks after declaring in October only customers with credit scores of 700 or better would be lent to. The money that’s greasing the gears here comes from the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program and is separate from the $13.4 billion that GM received from the government to avoid bankruptcy. The investment by the fed should allow GM to sell more vehicles than it has during a dismal fourth quarter that’s seen sales drop by 40% or more.

The government also gave GM an additional $1 billion to participate in a rights offering at GMAC connected to its reorganization as a bank holding company. And GMAC also announced that it raised enough capital in a debt swap to satisfy federal requirements. Executive compensation was also cut, as a pool of bonus funds was reduced 40% versus 2007 levels. Thanks for the tip, Jack!

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd, Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty]

GMAC opens up financing after $5 billion fed loan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Tuners, Supercars, Nissan

If the Nissan GT-R’s 478 horsepower twin-turbo engine isn’t powerful enough for you, the tuners at Power Enterprises has some hardware to put Godzilla over the top. PE has two kits available and a third coming to the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. The 35GTR 560 (as in 560 hp) kit features a PE P-Map ECU, PWR Air Impulse II air filters and an upgraded intake kit. The 35GTR 600 kit has the above upgrades, plus upgraded wastegate actuators and a Supersonic Titanium 89 mm exhaust.

For those among the GT-R crowd that could simply never have enough power, Power Enterprises is also working on a twin-charger setup that adds twin superchargers to the mix. the Four Charger System adds a pair of Rotrex C30-94 superchargers to bump the power quotient to 650 ponies. More importantly, the superchargers should provide nearly limitless mid-range torque, making turbo lag a non-issue. We’re guessing track day would be a hell of a lot of fun with that setup, and we’d imagine that a twin-turbo, twin-supercharged GT-R would sound something like Doc’s time-traveling locomotive from Back to the Future. We’ll be on the lookout for more twin-charger details closer to the Tokyo Auto Salon on January 9.

[Source: GT-R Blog]

Power Enterprises developing Nissan GT-R twin-charger system originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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