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Although punching buttons to change gears is something that’s been around for decades, these newest spy pics from KGP confirm that the new Jaguar XF and XK are likely to receive a setupreminiscent of the console found on the C-XF concept that debuted in Detroit.

The flat panel design, partially concealed by the test driver’s hand, reveals a large red ignition button placed atop letters displaying the traditional “PRND.” The image doesn’t reveal how gear selection will be made, but if it’s anything like the design shown on the concept (above), it’s going to be way cooler than the Powerflitetrannies of yesteryear.

[Source: Straightline]

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You want images of the Noble M15? We’ve got 23 for you right here.

When it was originally introduced last year, the Noble M15 sported a highly evolved three-liter, twin-turbo’d V6 that made 455 HP at 6,800 RPM and an equal amount of torque at 4,800 RPM. Mounted amidships and sending power to the rear wheels, the M15 could accelerate to 60 in 3.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 175 MPH. That was good, but Noble’s propellerheads are making it better.

According to an article in Autoweek.nl, the next iteration of the M15 will get a 45 HP bump in output to bring power up to the mystical 500 HP level. Whether or not it’s going to steal the ?100k entry fee from buyers… Read the rest of this entry

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We still remember being extremely excited about the 200 HP, 2.5L V6 in the SVT Contour, so every time the think of FWD family sedans approaching 300 HP, we shake our heads in amazement. And if an Altima can have 275hp, then what the heck do automakers do with exotic sports cars? Easy, crank up the juice until drivers are able to break the sound barrier on the Interstate track. Somewhere around 600-650hp, OEMs start to get nervous, and the aftermarket takes over.

The tuning specialists over at 9ff took an “ordinary” 911 turbo cabrio and kicked up the power into the 910 HP stratosphere. Since the standard 911 turbo can hit 60 MPH in under four seconds, we can’t imagine what would happen… Read the rest of this entry

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It will soon cost you a lot more to distort your face like putty and suck the plugs right out of your scalp while going deaf. What? Er, make that WHAT!? Right. Well, Brammo Motorsports has a hit on their hands with the Ariel Atom, and they’ve been forced to add more people to keep the skeletal rocket’s production humming along. The $6,000 price increase spares us Dads, by appearing June 18th. That still leaves time for your loved ones to get you a 300 horsepower suggestion of a car. Six grand is a steep price bump – for that price you can build a very nice LoCost. There’s also competition sneaking up on the Atom, like the KTM X-Bow and other cars that share the same bare-minimum-with-brawny-motor ethos.

Even bumped by six large, the price is still a bargain considering what… Read the rest of this entry

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Earlier this month we brought you a rumor that BMW was in talks with Ford to buy Volvo. Then just this week the rumor popped up again, in a Swedish newspaper. Now Ford comes out to officially quash the story, saying, “Ford Motor Company is not in discussions with BMW or any other company regarding an interest in the Volvo Car Corporation.”

That should take care of it, right? Well, not with everyone. Reuters quotes several industry analysts saying such a sell wouldn’t surprise them. Ford could make a load of much-needed money by getting rid of Volvo, and one analyst said he would expect Ford to look at all serious offers.

A Merrill Lynch analyst told Reuters Ford might get as much as $8 billion for Volvo, if, of course, it were for sale.

We’ve already stated our thoughts on BMW… Read the rest of this entry

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We invite you once again to AutoblogGreen, where you’ve got your new ABG podcast (with info on how to make a 200 mpg car), the latest on Toyota’s FT-HS and more on high gas prices and cars that run on air. Enjoy your visit.

• Autoblog Green Podcast #6 – Roberto Jerez of Velozzi and the 200 mpg car
• Toyota FT-HS looks set to be new Supra with hybrid for power not efficiency
• Volkswagen offers up new details on 1.4L TSI engine
• Panic? Who said panic? Gas prices aren’t yet that high.
• Conspiracy? Stan Meyer and the Mysterious, Elusive Electrolyzer
• Honda exhibiting at EU Green Week event in June
• Honda gets new Insight on the Fit
• Miss Statue of Liberty green ferry to debut in 2008
• Put starch in your tank to power a hydrogen fuel cell
• eBay find for green freaks – a Hummer?
• May 23, 2007, marks

… Read the rest of this entry

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Volkswagen’s diminutive front-wheel-drive soft-roader, the CrossFox, available in South America and Mexico, is set to receive a mild facelift soon, according to El Diferencial. Brazil will see the revisions first. The front fascia is smoothed out following the deletion of the grille bar and the relocation of the driving lights (they’re more low-profile and spaced farther apart). The CrossFox side graphic gets reduced in size and is joined by the stylized fox logo, too. And that, friends, is the extent of the changes. The 103-horsepower four-cylinder underhood is unchanged, as are the rest of the car’s mechanicals.

You can check out the current pre-facelift CrossFox in the high-res gallery below, and if you’re interested, you can read more about it at VW Brazil (Portuguese) or VW Chile (Spanish). All we know is that the CrossFox looks pretty cool to us. Add it to… Read the rest of this entry

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Diesel engines continue to be all the rage in Europe while they’re just beginning to gain ground again in the U.S. As proof that diesels aren’t just considered high-mileage motors for city cars, we offer up these spy shots of the BMW 635d, a version of the 6-Series that will be rocking the automaker’s twin-turbo 3.0L diesel engine. The motor in the 635d should produce about 286 hp and 428 ft-lbs. of torque. Motor Authority expects a 0-60 time of about six seconds combined with what will likely be the best fuel consumption of any 6-Series model.

These spy shots show a slightly updated 6-Series model with a revised front bumper, but we know there’s a diesel underhood because the spy photographer managed to get a pic of the car’s gauges, which show the word “diesel” above the fuel gauge.

Along with the TT 3.0L diesel, the 6-Series… Read the rest of this entry

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Remove Car Dent With Airduster – More amazing video clips are a click away

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/videos_educational/VIDEO_Car_Dent_Removal_with_Hair_Dryer_and_Compressed_Air’; We’d like to be able to explain exactly how this home brew process for removing car dents works, but Physics 101 didn’t agree with us in college. The process is simple and involves heating the dent with a hairdryer for 30 seconds to a minute. Next, quickly spray the area with compressed air for about 10 seconds. The last step is to take a step back and listen for the dent to pop itself out. Surely the explanation involves the expansion and contraction of metal due to the hairdryer’s heat and the -110 degree Farenheit temperature of the liquid CO2 from the compressed air. The video’s producer is quick to point out that his process will not harm your vehicle’s paint, though we imagine whatever dented your car in… Read the rest of this entry

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The legend we had always known was that BMW and Mercedes-Benz had a gentleman’s agreement in place not to go after the Porsche 911. For whatever reasons, building a proper two-seat sports car was out of the question, though both build heavier and more accomodating grand touring machines that manage to skirt around the 911’s segment.

Then came the Audi R8. Being stuck in third place of a three-man race has forced Audi to branch out into new segments, and the R8 is a bold statement that might make someone shopping a 911 think twice. Audi’s bite of the forbidden fruit has apparently opened the door enough for BMW to consider a proper two-seat sports car. Sure, the M6 is plenty powerful with its 500-horse V10, more powerful than the R8 actually, but it’s a pretty porker that can carry four people.

German outlet Auto Zeitung is reporting that… Read the rest of this entry