2011 Dodge Durango Review Specification

Those were dark days for Chrysler. The press conference was meant to show that even though then-owner Cerberus was incapable of successfully managing Chrysler, there was still energy and passion at the Auburn Hills HQ.

2011 Dodge Durango

Interior Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Durango Engine Design

2012 Dodge Durango Wallpaper

Then head of design, Ralph Gilles, stoically put on one heck of a show as to what the future held for Chrysler. Alongside an early 2011 300 and Dodge Charger, the red Durango styling buck looked rough. The solid body had blacked out windows and wavy body panels. But the proportions were modern compared to the already archaic 2008 Dakota, an SUV whose best days had passed years earlier.

Gilles is now President and CEO of the Dodge Brand and the Senior VP in charge of Design at Chrysler Group LLC. As evidenced in the fully renewed 2011 Chrysler LLC model line, Gilles earned every bit of both titles.

The all-new 2011 Durango shares nothing with the old model. Therefore, forget everything you know about the antiquated truck-based predecessor.

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Honda Begins Operation of New Solar Hydrogen Station

Honda has launched a new solar-powered hydrogen fueling station capable of refilling fuel cell electric vehicles overnight. The device, under development for ten years, could theoretically be installed in the home garage of any future customer.

The single-unit station produces 0.5 kilograms of hydrogen over an eight-hour period. Sadly, many consumers would likely not find this to be purposeful in many situations. 0.5 kg of hydrogen will only move the Honda FCX Clarity a total of 30 miles.

Honda's new home station is not meant to replace commercial filling stations, which will still be necessary to fully fill a vehicle quickly, often in less than five-minutes. The slow-fill home-based station would be used to reduce costs to the end user.

A full "fast fill" at a commercial location would provide the Honda FCX Clarity with a 285-mile range, according to a press release. However, the FCX Clarity's range is listed at 240 miles on the official website for the vehicle.

Honda claims the fuel is produced more efficiently in the new home station than previous solar units, with enough hydrogen created for a typical urban or suburban commute. This efficiency was increased by 25% thanks to a smaller and lighter "high differential pressure electrolyser," replacing a system made up of an electrolyser and separate compressor.

Because the system is missing a storage unit, the station will only produce hydrogen when a vehicle is connected. Although some would no doubt prefer to refuel quickly by tapping into a storage tank, the tank would likely prevent the system from being installed at many homes due to land-usage and zoning rules.

The system's solar panels hook up to the grid, sending electricity during daylight if a vehicle is not hooked up. Honda says most customers would use off-peak electricity to power the station when recharging overnight.

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How To Lose Weight And Gain MPG in F-150

A source for PickupTrucks.com is reporting that Ford is considering replacing the F-150′s conventional frame with some sort of “all-new platform featuring extensive use of an innovative magnesium-aluminum alloy” to reduce the truck’s overall weight. In addition, you could also see use of aluminum body panels (but not inside the box).

F-150

F-150 Interior

How To Lose Weight And Gain MPG in F-150

How To Lose Weight And Gain MPG in F-150

This potential change leaves a lot of questions like

- Will the F-150 turn into a unibody Honda Ridgeline-like vehicle?
- How does this affect towing capacity?
- Will they also put a 4 cylinder engine in the F-150?
- Will the changes make the F-150 wimpy!!??

Well time will tell what Ford will do to the F-150. Considering how they’ve continued to only improve on the truck we don’t anticipate that Ford would do anything to compromise the F-150′s capability.

Source: PickupTrucks

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2011 Lexus CT 200h

Lexus is pinning rather high the expectations on its new CT 200h, billed as "The Dark Side of Green". According to Brian Bolain, the automaker's national advertising and marketing manager, Lexus expects to sell about 1,000 CTs here in the U.S. each month. We wish them the best of luck, but have some serious reservations.

2011 Lexus CT 200h

2012 Lexus CT 200h Interior Design

2011 Lexus CT 200h DVD Player

2011 Lexus CT 200h Engine Design Review

Consider that the combined sales of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 (which represent the vehicles most likely to be cross-shopped with the CT) tally up about 1,500 sales per month, according to Ward's Automotive. For what it's worth, the 1 Series, which is the only non-dedicated hatchback and easily the sportiest of the bunch, makes up the vast majority of the segment's sales.

As you're surely aware, the CT 200h is indeed a dedicated hatchback and it offers up a comparatively paltry 98 horsepower from its Prius-derived Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter four-cylinder, aided by another 36 ponies from its two electric motors and 28 NiMH batteries. As we said in our First Drive of the CT, that power level, particularly when coupled to a continuously variable automatic transmission, doesn't exactly incite driving excitement.

Also factor in the sales flop that is the dedicated-hybrid Lexus HS 250h, a model whose yearly sales will struggle to hit half the 20,000 units Lexus had counted on, and you can see why we're a tad skeptical that Toyota's luxury division will manage to move a thousand CTs per calendar flip. In any case, we figure the CT is at least as attractive as the HS, and we look forward to spending some quality time with the hybrid hatchback in day-to-day driving scenarios where it should become much more clear how the machine stacks up against its competitors.

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2012 Audi A6 Review Dimension

Set to make its debut early next year, the 2012 Audi A6 is a totally revamped version of the automaker's mid-size luxury sedan. Styled to match the 2011 Audi A8, the new A6 (which, as we pointed out when it leaked a day early, looks a lot like the old A6) hides plenty of lightweight aluminum and high-tech steel components under its revised exterior.

2012 Audi A6

2012 Audi A6

2012 Audi A6 Interior Design

2012 Audi A6

2012 Audi A6 Car Dimension

Inside, the A6 benefits from a wrap-around cockpit that envelops both the driver and front passenger with leather and wood, while luxury amenities – ranging from heated and ventilated seats to optional massage functionality – are all available for the taking.

The available powertrains – a choice between two gasoline engines and three diesel mills worldwide – have improved fuel economy by 19 percent, and a hybrid version will be introduced down the road. The most economical unit, a 2.0-liter TDI, is expected to achieve about 48 miles per gallon, while the hybrid will come in closer to 38 mpg. You don't have to be totally frugal on the fuel to have some fun though, thanks to a carryover 300-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI powerplant that achieves 27 miles per gallon and runs to a limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.

The other gasoline engine is a 2.8-liter naturally aspirated unit that produces 204 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque which may or may not be available in the States (don't hold you breath). For oil burner fans, two 3.0-liter diesel choices exist: a 204 hp/295 lb-ft example and a top-of-the-line 245 hp/368 lb-ft mill. The more powerful unit is rated at nearly 40 mpg yet runs from 0-60 in just 6.1 seconds.

The 2012 A6 Hybrid, the second hybrid behind the launch of the Q5, will make its debut sometime after the new A6 hits the market. Power will come from a 2.0 TFSI engine paired with an electric motor that sits between the engine and the eight-speed transmission. The A6 Hybrid will be able to run on electric power alone at speeds of up to 62 mph.

Transmission options on the 2012 A6 are as varied as the available motors they pair with. A six-speed manual will join a CVT and seven-speed S-tronic automatic before the aforementioned eight-speeder arrives in the hybrid.

A mega press release chock full of A6 information is waiting for you just after the jump, and a massive photo gallery lies down below. Keep in mind these figures represent the German version of the A6, but give us a good idea of what to expect when it makes its way to the U.S.

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