Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition

If you look at the very pinnacle of the automotive market, you'll mostly find exotic sportscars and luxury sedans. There are plenty of high-end SUVs out there too, but not quite at the same level. But demand for luxury sport-utes continues to rise in "developing" luxury markets like Russia and the Persian Gulf, prompting automakers to dial up their high-riding game time and time again. And the latest ne plus ultra comes courtesy of Land Rover.

Called the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition, this top-of-the-line SUV is exactly that: the ultimate. It's billed as the most luxurious Range Rover ever, and that's no mean feat. To get there, Land Rover has outfitted the SUV with a veritable first-class cabin that includes four individual buckets, separated front and back by middle console with aluminum tray tables and a drinks cooler in the back. The rear-seat passengers also get the use of a pair of Apple iPads docked into the front seatbacks, and the cargo area gets a yacht-inspired teak deck. Of course the leather is top notch, offset by Kalahari wood veneers.

Danny Thompson will attempt to waltz past the 300 mph

Plenty of us that grew up around a drag strip know the name Mickey Thompson, but fewer of us realize that the guy was more than a name on the sidewall of some seriously sticky rubber. He was also responsible for setting plenty of land-speed records in his day, including being the first guy to break the 400 mph barrier on the salt. His son, Danny Thompson, is no slouch behind the wheel, either. Last year, the younger Thompson managed to set the fastest land speed for any Ford Mustang. With a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 swilling down E85, the Thompson clicked off 252 mph, and this year, he's going back for more.

Danny Thompson will attempt to waltz past the 300 mph barrier with another Mustang owned by Brent Hojek. This car, like the last, will run off of E85, but will pack somewhere close to 1,300 horsepower. The new pony also wears soy-based carbon-fiber body work and unique soy-based yellow paint in an attempt to ecologically justify a supercharged V8. Hey, we aren't complaining. Head over to Stang TV for a closer look at the blown 5.4-liter.

Nissan considering Leaf-based EV sportscar

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7-20-2010 09:24

Nissan is reportedly considering building a sports car based on the electric drive hardware from its new Leaf EV. From a business perspective, it would likely make sense for Nissan to follow the same path set forth by Toyota/Lexus with premium hybrid models, and indeed, the Leaf is already pegged to get a pricier sibling at Infiniti. A premium battery electric vehicle could be sold a significantly higher price point, helping to subsidize the cost of more mainstream models like the Leaf.

The big question is what platform to use. Mercedes-Benz and Audi are both developing electric versions of their respective supercars. Nissan could do a battery powered version of the 370Z, which has both its positives and negatives. The Z is relatively lightweight for a modern car, although its small size could make packaging the battery problematic. A more likely scenario might be a version of the 2009Infiniti Essence concept which was originally shown as a hybrid. The larger car would allow for more battery and range.

A third possibility that might actually be the best option is a new car based on the Leaf platform but with the motor moved to the rear axle. The compact size of the electric motor could make packaging easier than with an internal combustion vehicle, and much of the rest of the hardware could stay the same.

Jay Leno reviews the 2011 Ford Mustang

Jay Leno reviews the 2011 Ford Mustang – Click above to watch video after the jump

It was only a matter of time before Jay Leno got his hands on the new 2011 Ford Mustang GT. It's no secret that the guy is a fan of Detroit ponies – he owns a minty 1965 Shelby GT350 that he claims is one of his favorite cars to drive. Now it looks like he's added the newest generation 5.0 to the flock. As you might expect, he's been so kind as to share his impressions with the interwebs via an episode of Jay Leno's Garage.

You might be surprised to hear what the comedian has to say about the car. On more than one occasion, he compares the new Mustang to high-end metal from Mercedes-Benz and BMW. This isn't the first time we've seen that connection drawn. Hop the jump to see the video.

Mahindra pickups could hit U.S. in under 90 days

Mahindra pickup – Click above for hi-res image gallery

Plagued by a series of setbacks, delays, and that little thing called "the chicken tax," Mahindra has yet to receive EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 federal emissions certification for its TR20 and TR40 pickups. But man, they must be getting really close. Right?

John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles USA, Mahindra's exclusive U.S. distributor, says that all the emissions testing on the trucks has been completed and the paperwork is being submitted to the EPA for final approval. Approval itself is expected to take about 30 days. At that point, Global Vehicles could begin importing the trucks to the United States. They'd arrive on our shores 30 to 60 days later.

By our math, that sounds like we could have Mahindra pickup trucks on U.S. roads before the end of August, but neither Perez nor Mahindra's corporate offices are talking sale dates yet. Experience has probably taught them not to make predictions, but with 330 dealers signed up and raring to go, we're sure that official sales date can't come soon enough for any of the parties involved.

When they eventually go on sale, Mahindra pickups will be offered in two configurations: a two-door regular cab, the TR20, and a four-door crew cab, the TR40. Both will offer Mahindra's slightly modified version of the mHawk 2.2-liter inline-four-cylinder diesel engine. Official EPA numbers obviously haven't been determined yet, but the trucks are expected to have fuel economy ratings around 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Not too shabby considering their 1.3-ton hauling capability. Pricing is expected to start around $22,000.

Gallery: Mahindra Pik-Up

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Honda CR-Z Hybrid 2011

Shifting to smaller and lighter-weight vehicles is about the quickest and easiest way to reduce the environmental impact of our cars. But compact cars have never been big sellers in the United States. Could Americans be seduced to downsize their vehicles with an attractive and sporty compact hybrid?

First unveiled two years ago at the Tokyo Motor Show, the sporty two-passenger Honda CR-Z Hybrid is back again in Tokyo in 2009. This time, Honda is closer to a production model—about “95 percent” of the way according to company officials. Honda has committed to introducing a range of small hybrids, with both the CR-Z Hybrid and Honda Fit Hybrid due out in 2010. It’s too early for mileage or pricing info, but we expect mpg in the high-30s and a price tag in the low $20,000s.

The Honda CR-Z’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine is mated to Honda's proprietary Integrated Motor Assist technology and a six-speed manual gearbox. That would make the CR-Z the only hybrid on the market with a manual transmission.

Light, sporty and futuristic are the keywords. The design features an oversized front grille with small openings on each side of the front panel. The CR-Z clearly borrows its overall shape from the Honda CRX sports car, a version of the Civic that was produced from 1984 to 1991. The CRX used a small and light profile to translate directly into sporty and speedy. “CR-Z” stands for “Compact Renaissance Zero,” which is meant to signify the company’s desire to give birth to a new era for compact highly efficient vehicles.

Honda CR-Z engineer discusses development

Honda’s long-anticipated CR-Z hybrid sports car has made its world debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. A natural successor to the popular CRX of the 1980s and 90s, the CR-Z promises a blend of fuel economy and a sporty driving dynamic.

As expected, the production version of the CR-Z which debuted at the Detroit Auto Show closely mirrors the concept shown earlier at the Tokyo Motor Show. The road-going version of the CR-Z retains the show car’s overall shape, but does lose the concept’s futuristic headlights.

Powered by a gasoline-hybrid engine, Honda says CR-Z stands for ‘Compact Renaissance Zero.’ However Honda explains how they ended up with the CR-Z name, the car is an obvious successor to the popular CRX hatchback of the 1980s and early ’90s.

The CR-Z features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid technology. Overall output of the system is 122 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. Despite those rather meager figures, the CR-Z achieves just 36/38mpg city-highway in CVT form, with the standard manual transmission dropping those numbers to 31/37. Still, the CR-Z is slightly more efficient than your typical sporty hatchback.

One of the CR-Z’s more unique features is its three-mode drive system. This allows the driver to tailor the driving experience to actual conditions or personal preference. Some drivers may prefer to conserve fuel at all times. Some drivers may prefer to have all of the CR-Z’s power on tap at all times, while other drivers may prefer to have a combination of the two but with the option to pick either, depending on the situation.

The CR-Z’s interior follows the design theme of “Hi-tech and Sporty,” achieved by a very futuristic instrument panel. The CR-Z’s gauge cluster can glow in three different colors, depending on which driving mode is activated (Econ, Normal or Sport). Honda also designed the interior to seem very airy and spacious by using mesh material on a simple framework. Overall, the CR-Z’s interior looks similar to that of the Honda Insight.

Pricing has yet to be officially announced, but expect pricing to start in the low $20,000s. We will report back with more on that front as we near the CR-Z’s launch date later this year.

For now, enjoy the recently released video by Honda in which Terukazu Torikai, the chief chassis dynamics engineer, discusses the development of Honda’s next sporty offering in the CR-Z. Torikai points out the sources of inspiration for the development of the CR-Z, which not surprisingly included a Mini Cooper, but possibly more surprising – also included a Lotus Elise.