Straightline

Looks good without flames, huh?

It's officially-officially-official now: 303 Ferrari 458 Italias have been recalled due to fire risk.

We reported this story back when Ferrari was simply notifying owners and trying to avoid the stigma and paperwork a full NHTSA recall would induce.

Well, you can only play that game for so long. Ask Toyota. So now the 458 Italia recall is really a recall, it's got a number,( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V389000  N/A) and a consequence line (UNDER PARTICULARLY HIGH AMBIENT OPERATING TEMPERATURE THIS COULD CAUSE THE ADHESIVE TO IGNITE, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND/OR RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. )

Full Ferrari 458 Italia recall after the jump

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Categories: Ferrari

Well, it wasn't really a secret as Ford had already confirmed not only that they were building a 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew, but that said super-raptor would only be available with the 6.2-liter, 411-horsepower V8 would be the only engine. Well, now that confirmation is official. Today, Ford released specs on the 2011 Ford SVT Raptor SuperCrew

Besides the addition of real rear doors, the only other visual difference is the Ingot Silver Metallic paint scheme. Unless you're keen enough to see the size differences.

The 2011 Ford Raptor SuperCrew has a wheelbase of 145.2 inches, up from the standard truck's 133.3 inch track. Overall length, too, is increased with the Supercrew stretching to 232.1 inches vs 220.6 on the 'normal' Raptor.

Curb weight is up as is, thankfully, payload. Get the SuperCrew and there's 1,030 lbs of payload vs 930 on the Supercab. The SuperCrew also has a maximum tow rating of 8,000lbs, that's 2,000 above the Supercab.

Just to up the weight, the SuperCrew gets a larger, 36 gallon fuel tank. The Supercab has to make do with only 26 gallons.

Interiors get spruced up with tilt/telescope wheels, one-touch driver/passenger windows, 110v outlet in the center console, remote start and a 4.2-inch LCD "productivity Screen."

No word on pricing yet, but the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor with the 6.2 costs $41,000. We expect the 2011 will cost more.

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Categories: Ford,Trucks

Ayrton Senna is famous for saying, "I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence." But he was one of the best Formula One racers of all time, who's possibly left to idolize? Us mortals, we have Ayrton to remember and idolize and here's the trailer for the Ayrton Senna documentary.

Categories: Motorsports

There is a fair bit of debate happening re: the two new DOT and EPA proposed window stickers. On the one hand, you have the fear of alarmist consumers refusing to buy something with a B- or  C rating even though said vehicle would be the median in terms of environmental impact. And then on the other hand you've got people who think consumers can't understand sliders and big, clear numbers.

So, think it over-- big scary letter, or lots of scary numbers-- read this excellent synopsis over in Edmunds advice section, and then cast your vote here. And while you're at it, cast a text-based vote here, just for fun.

Categories: Auto Industry,Green Tech

Like a common reptile, traditional EVs (is that even something we can say yet?) are wildly influenced by the temperature. Too hot? Well that's no good battery life and range will suffer. Too cold? That's not good, either. So rather than have the navigation guide the car to large, hot rocks or cool, dark tunnels to regulate things, they've simply added a closed-circuit liquid temperature regulation system. Something most mammals should be familiar with.

The liquid-filled system consisting of a pump, some heat exchangers, a chiller and a heater, runs a thermally conductive liquid over the batteries at varying speeds and temperatures to keep them in peak condition. This means no overheating like we experienced with our Long Term Mini E.

Not that this system is exclusive, Chevy uses a similar system passing fluid over heavily-filled battery packs on the Chevy Volt and Tesla also utilizes a liquid cooling system.

Categories: Electric Vehicles,Ford

I may have taken French for the better part of 6-years, but I have no idea how "Yeeeehawwww!" translates. Or maybe it doesn't. Maybe the exclamation of good ol' boys doesn't have a translation. No conjugation. Maybe it's memetic and universal.

All we know is that this truck rodeo is happening in French-Canadian Quebec and that it's seriously rad.

Oh, and we know that there are a bunch more after the jump.

( Thanks, again, to Josh for the hookup. Can't believe I hadn't seen this before! Want to see something on SL? Submissions (@) Edmunds.com )

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In (the former )Soviet (republic of ) Uzbekistan, GM controls the passenger car market (95%)

In Soviet Uzbekistan, 1.0 and 1.2-liter engines option you.

In Soviet Uzbekistan....

Categories: Chevrolet

After a thorough trouncing in the market at the hands of, well, everyone, Lexus is offering a special sale on F Sport Accessories. Whether they are already installed on a new car (excluding IS250 Sedans with the F Sport Option pack), installed by the dealer on your car or simply bought and walked away with, Lexus is offering  deals of up to $300 on separately purchased parts. That $300 discount is off of purchases above $2,000. You get $200 off of purchases between $1,000 and $1,999 and $100 off of F Sport purchases from $500 - $999.

That means lowering springs ($299) are not eligible for the deal, nor is the performance air intake. Lexus F Sport exhaust, however, at $1,470 is eligible for $200 off. Lexus 10-spoke forged wheels (above), retail for $2,196 (19s) and $1,759 (18s-- for AWD cars).

Front and rear brakes run $3025 and  $2,550 respectively.

Coupon must be present to receive discount and will be available at dealerships, on Facebook and after the jump.

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Categories: Lexus,Tuners and Modifications

Edmunds analysts tackle the "stuck in first gear" August vehicle sales numbers. The industry saw a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 11.5 million units which is just about what the predictions have been for this August, and most of 2010. Year over year sales are virtually irrelevant here due to the spike produced by Cash for Clunkers.

For full details, see Edmunds AutoObserver.

Categories: Auto Industry

"Buckle in and hold tight. Dodge is jumping back into the sport utility (SUV) segment with the 2011 Dodge Durango, a three-row vehicle spacious enough to carry the entire crew and performance-tuned to thrill anyone who truly loves to drive. Durango will lead the Dodge brand's new product onslaught for 2011."

We can't make that stuff up, kids. That's all from the press release on the 2011 Dodge Durango. Also included in the press release are the engine options for the 2011 Durango: a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or a 5.7-liter HEMI (with multi-displacement mode and four-cylinder mode). The engines will be able to tow 6,200 lbs and 7,400 lbs respectively.

The 2011 Durango will also offer standard side-curtain air bags, ESC, blind spot monitoring, rear cross path detection, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry / start.

More photos of the 2011 Dodge Durango, and the new Dodge logo, after the jump 

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Categories: Dodge,SUVs