AutoWeek Daily Drive — Wednesday, September 8, 2010

HOME   |   CAR NEWS   |   CAR REVIEWS   |   RACING   |   AUTOSHOWS   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   MARKETPLACE Wednesday, September 08, 2010                  The 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid will get 41 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway.... 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid, an AW Flash Drive What is it? This is the first-ever hybrid for Lincoln, a heady title for an impressive car. At its core, it's a dressed-up Fusion, but this Lincoln has a sense for style. And the price is exactly the same as that of its conventionally powered sibling: $35,180. So take your pick. The hybrid gets 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, identical to the Fusion and Mercury Milan...   2011 GMC Sierra 3500, What I drove last night Cue up the Sir Mix-a-Lot, because this truck has got back! In fact, everything about this truck is big. Let's start with the name--the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 4WD Crew Cab SLT DRW. That is crammed with enough acronyms to qualify as a government project. Then there is the task of getting inside,...   2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged, an AW Drivers Log EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: As far as comfort and interior design goes, the Range Rover remains at the head of the class. When all that comfort and cool design is hauled around by a supercharged V8 making 510 hp, well, it suddenly gets that much better. Granted, there are probably few...   BMW ‘reveals’ new EfficientDynamics prototype BMW has established a Web site called www.dontblogabouthis.com with the express purpose of revealing a prototype being used to test a new gasoline-electric driveline earmarked for a future sports car. It’s expected to be launched in 2012 as part of BMW’s EfficientDynamics program....   Ferrari boss Montezemolo says his future is fast cars--and fast trains Ferrari S.p.A. Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has pledged his future to the supercar brand, refuting speculation that he might quit to join Italy's government. “In my future I see fast cars and fast trains--and no politics,” Montezemolo told Automotive News Europe in ...   Sept. 7: The charging station issue The idea behind a charging station is a good one, at least in theory. You park your car, plug in, get some electricity while you're out doing something else, then drive off with more juice than you had when you pulled in. It's efficient and extends the useful range of your electric car. Anybody ...   Paris auto show: Opel releases details of its Astra coupe concept Opel/Vauxhall has released pictures of a concept for an Astra coupe that will be unveiled at the Paris auto show later this month. Opel hints that a production version of the concept, called the GTC Paris, will not stray far from the show car's rakish lines. Mark Adams, the brand's...   Paris auto show: Sporty Chevrolet Aveo debuts Chevrolet has given its new Aveo subcompact car a sporty look aimed at capturing young buyers. The General Motors Co. unit will unveil its latest Aveo as a production debut at the Paris auto show later this month. The five-door hatchback keeps much of the sporty design of the Aveo RS... You May Have Missed...   WRC: Mini begins testing Countryman rally car Marcus Grönholm will begin testing the Mini Countryman World Rally Championship car in Portugal this week. The double world champion has been linked to a full-time return to the sport with the Prodrive-based team next season, but he will not make his decision until he drives the car on gravel.The...   WRC: Michelin in, Pirelli quits for 2011 Michelin will return to the World Rally Championship next year--and it has already begun testing its tires--while current supplier Pirelli has finally decided it will not return to the sport as a result of new tire rules.Pirelli cited a lack of transparency in the new regulations as the reason for...   Izod IndyCar Series will return to the Milwaukee Mile in 2011 The Izod Indy Car Series will return to the Milwaukee Mile in 2011. A news conference is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 10 at the historic track in West Allis, Wis., where IndyCar Series officials will announce next year's full-season schedule.We expect IndyCar to confirm at least 16 races, although...   Formula One: Lotus trying to switch from Cosworth to Renault Formula One team Lotus Racing wants to switch from Cosworth to Renault power for 2011 but it will first have to resolve its contractual situation with the British engine supplier.All the new-for-2010 F1 teams signed firm three-year contracts with Cosworth, as did the failed U.S. F1 effort. Cosworth ...   Star Mazda Series gives out $1.5 million in cash and career award The Star Mazda Championship will award prizes valued at $1.5 million this year to drivers who compete in the open-wheel feeder series, half of which will go to the champion.Perhaps more important than the cash, however, the winning driver--in this case Conor Daly, son of former CART and Formula One ...   NASCAR: Chase for the Championship field down to only two open slots Only two of 12 spots remain open in NASCAR’s upcoming Chase for the Championship, and one of them will be filled early in Saturday night’s 400-lap, 300-mile race at Richmond International Raceway.Eleventh-ranked Greg Biffle needs to finish only 42nd--second to last--or better to secure... CLICK HERE TO UNSUBSCRIBE from the AutoWeek Daily Drive E-mail or to sign up for other AutoWeek e-mail products. IMPORTANT: Please add AutoWeek.com to your E-mail Address Book to ensure you will continue to receive our newsletters. 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