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President Barack Obama stands alongside Chevrolet Volt

In the latest indicator of the current administration’s dedication to green technology, the White House endorsed a plan by Senate Democrats to spend $4.4 billion on natural-gas-powered vehicle technology, and another $400 million on electric vehicles.

The money will be used to offer rebates for compressed natural gas vehicles, and additional electric vehicle efforts.

During his candidacy in 2008, President Obama urged for 1 million plug-in hybrids to be on the road by 2015, and has backed a number of efforts to effectuate that vision.

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NHTSA

The NHTSA announced today that it would be crash-testing 55 2011MY vehicles under its new, tougher five-star safety ratings program.  The revised ratings system will give drivers a single overall score for the first time, as well as provide additional information about whether vehicles have advanced safety features like lane departure and forward collision warning systems.

The agency announced the first round of testing today that will be released in September.

“The vehicles we are announcing today will be the first ones tested under the department’s tougher, more rigorous five-star ratings program,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. ”This new testing program significantly raises the safety bar for all vehicle manufacturers.”

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2011 Chevrolet Volt

In a not so shocking display of his own ignorance, conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh criticized GM (one of his advertisers), and the Obama administration with regards to the government’s bailout of the former, and the company’s new Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle. Limbaugh scoffed at the $41,000 price tag applied by GM, and questioned the $7,500 tax credit added by the government.

“Obama and the government are admitting nobody wants this,” Limbaugh said, repeatedly referring to GM as “Obama Motors.”

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

In his criticism of the vehicle however, Limbaugh revealed his own ignorance. “That 40-mile range has to include you getting home, and staying home three to four hours to charge the thing,” he said. “It’s (a) 20-mile range.” He failed to mention (probably because he was unaware of) the fact that after the car exhausts its 40-mile range on exclusively electric power, the gasoline powered range extender takes over and provides for an additional 300 miles of travel.

In the utmost hypocritical fashion, Limbaugh admitted last year, after a tirade denouncing the bailout of GM, that he had taken advertising money from GM.

Apparently Limbaugh thinks that the technological advances and future implications that the Chevy Volt indicates for future AMERICAN green technology and energy consumption, is insignificant and wasteful. Fortunately, not many people with the slightest sense of awareness regarding the environment or the automotive industry agree.

Click here to read our first drive impressions of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, “T”-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. According to GM’s preliminary specs, the system puts out 150-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes less than 3 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 8 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries a 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 300 miles.

2011 Chevrolet Volt:

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25,000th Porsche Panamera built alongside 2011 Porsche Cayenne

Just shy of one year after Porsche began selling its all-new Panamera sedan, the workers at the company’s Leipzig plant have built the 25,000th unit reaching a significant manufacturing milestone.

“The employees are not only proud to be a significant part of the successful launch of Porsche’s fourth model line, they have reached this milestone while also producing the all-new, next-generation 2011 Porsche Cayenne SUV that is now in North American Porsche dealerships,” Porsche said in a statement.

The 25,000th unit is a Ruby Red Panamera powered by a 300-hp 3.6L 6-cylinder engine and will be delivered to a customer in the USA.

Click here to get prices on the 2011 Porsche Panamera.

“The benchmark performance of our Panamera V6 models wins over our customers worldwide,” said Bernhard Maier, Porsche’s Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. “Even in the USA, a country with a preference for V8 engines, they impress with their efficiency and sportiness. The Panamera combines these aspects with the comfort and exclusivity of the luxury class.”

To date, Porsche dealers in the United States have sold over 5,000 units of the Panamera. A Panamera S Hybrid is due early next year.

Refresher: The $89,800 Porsche Panamera S is powered by a 400-hp V8 allowing for a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds with a top speed of 175 mph. The $93,800 Panamera 4S is powered by the same 400-hp V8. The $132,600 Porsche Panamera Turbo is powered by a turbocharged V8 making 500-hp allowing for a 0-60 mph time of 4.0 seconds with a top speed of 188 mph. The Porsche Panamera V6 and Porsche Panamera 4 are powered by a 3.6L V6 engine making 300-hp and a peak torque of 295 lb-ft. Prices start at $74,400 for the base V6 Panamera and $78,900 for the V6 Panamera 4.

2011 Porsche Panamera:

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2011 BMW 5-Series gets 2010 Top Safety Pick award from IIHS

The 2011 BMW 5-Series sedan has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2010 Top Safety Pick award after earning a top rating of “Good” on its performance in each of the Institute’s crash tests.

Click here to get price quotes on the 2011 BMW 5-Series.

“The new 5 Series integrates the latest crash avoidance technology with outstanding crashworthiness in a beautiful package that inspires confidence and peace of mind,” added Tom Baloga, Vice-President of Engineer US for BMW. “Advanced materials, sophisticated design techniques, and state-of-the-art testing succeeded in delivering a fantastic new 5 Series that will become the benchmark for every premium model in this segment.”

Click here for more news on the BMW 5-Series.

Refresher: The 2011 BMW 5-Series is currently available in the U.S. with just two variants including the 535i and the 550i. The 2011 BMW 535i, which starts at $50,475, is powered by 3.0L twin-scroll turbocharged inline that makes 300-hp and 300 lb-ft. The 2011 BMW 550i, which starts at $60,575, is powered by a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 making 400-hp. Both models are available with a choice of a 6-speed manual transmission, BMW’s new 8-speed automatic transmission or new Sport Automatic 8-speed. The 2011 BMW 528i carries a starting MSRP of $45,425 and will join the lineup in July. Power for the 2011 528i comes from 3.0L inline-6 making 240-hp and a peak torque of 230 lb-ft.

2011 BMW 5-Series:

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2011 Ford Explorer

Besides an all-new design and fuel-economy, the 2011 Ford Explorer also focuses on new technology and safety features.

“The all-new Explorer targets top safety ratings with a stiff unibody structure and a class-leading suite of active and passive safety features and technologies, plus another Ford safety innovation – the world’s first second-row inflatable rear belts,” Ford said in a statement.

We have three videos here that highlight the following features:

• AdvanceTrac with RSC features Curve Control functionality to provide braking – optimized by each individual wheel.
• BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert.
• Explorer V6 models are available with an intelligent 4WD system that adds terrain management. Driver can choose between four modes including snow, sand, mud and normal modes. This system also includes a hill descent mode.

Check out the videos after the jump.

Click here to read our original post on the 2011 Ford Explorer.

Refresher: Power for the 2011 Ford Explorer comes from a 3.5L Ti-VCT V6 engine making 290-hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission or the optional 6-speed SelectShift automatic. Ford will also offer an 2.0L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled EcoBoost engine making 237-hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Also mated to a 6-speed automatic, the EcoBoost Explorer is expected to deliver a 30 percent increase in fuel-economy. The 2011 Explorer will hit dealerships with three trim levels including base, XLT and Limited. Prices start at $28,190.

2011 Ford Explorer:

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If you took a walk around New York City any day of the week, you’re bound to see either a Toyota Prius Taxi, a Ford Escape Hybrid Taxi or a Nissan Altima Hybrid Taxi – they are starting to become more and more apparent in an ocean filled with yellow Ford Crown Victoria cabbies.

While New York City plans to get rid of the Crown Vic off the streets by 2014, taxi drivers still love their big yellow Ford sedan. Why? It’s the only taxi that grabs the attention of hailers. Not only that, taxi drivers say that they are the most reliable and makes them the most money every shift.

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2003 Lexus LX 470

Along with the recall of 373,000 Toyota Avalons, the Japanese automaker is recalling 39,000 2003-2007 model year Lexus LX 470 vehicles due to an issue with the steering shaft – bringing the total to more than 400,000 vehicles recalled today.

Lexus’ explanation of the Lexus LX 470 recall:

Lexus has determined that the construction of the steering shaft on involved LX 470s is such that the snap ring on the shaft may disengage when the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front wheels, such as striking a deep pothole. If the snap ring becomes disengaged and the steering wheel is then repeatedly turned to the full locked position, the steering shaft may disengage over time.

The luxury brand says there have been no reports of any accidents related to the recall. To fix the issue, Lexus will replace the snap ring snap ring with a newly designed one and the installation of an additional component to prevent separation of the steering shaft.

Owners will be notified throughout August and can contact Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987 or at www.lexus.com/recall for more info.

- By: Omar Rana

2003 Toyota Avalon

Toyota announced today that it intends to conduct a voluntary recall of approximately 373,000 2000-2004 model year Toyota Avalon sedans sold in the United States to address an issue that could cause the vehicle’s steering lock bar to break under certain conditions. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this recall.

Here is Toyota’s detailed explanation of the issue:

Because of improper casting of the steering lock bar, which is a component of the steering interlock system, there is a possibility that a minute crack may develop on the surface. Such a crack may expand over a long period of repeated lock and unlock operations, and eventually the lock bar could break. If this occurs, the interlock system may become difficult to unlock when stationary.

If the vehicle while being driven is steered to the right with sufficient lateral acceleration, a broken and loose lock bar may move toward the steering shaft. If the engagement hole in the shaft happens to line up at the specific time the broken lock bar has moved, this could cause the steering wheel lock bar to engage, locking the steering wheel, and increasing the risk of a crash.

As a part of the recall, Toyota said it will replace the steering column bracket on involved vehicles – a procedure that takes up to 2 hours. Toyota will start notifying owners throughout next month.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

- By: Omar Rana

Kia Soul'ster Concept

Kia has had some nice success with the new Soul compact car, but remains unsure if it wants to venture into offering additional variants of the model. While sales of the Soul through June were up an outstanding 156.3 percent from a year ago, outpacing competitors including the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube, officials are unsure if additional derivatives of the model would make sense.

“The Soul tends to be a niche vehicle,” Orth Hedrick, director-product planning, told Ward’s at a media event. “There is very high appeal to a very narrow group of buyers.”

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Kia Soul.

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