Signs Point to Yes: Return of Buick Grand National and GNX Imminent?

December 2, 2014 at 6:05 pm by Andrew Wendler | Photography by Manufacturer

Rumors that the Buick Grand National and its higher-overall performance GNX derivative are generating a modern-day comeback have been swirling for years, and now we have a tiny far more grist for the mill. According to GM Authority, Liberty Buick GMC in North Carolina has created a waiting list for each models in response to the high quantity of customer interest the dealership has received in the however-unconfirmed high-functionality Buicks.

So does this mean the cars are, effectively, confirmed? According to the exact same report, Liberty Buick GMC owner Scott McCorkle indicates that the first cars could hit his lot late subsequent year. Buick, of course, has no official comment.

We named out the return of both the Grand National and GNX models over a year ago, noting that they will be constructed on GM’s rear-drive Alpha platform that was introduced with the Cadillac ATS and serves as the backbone for the current Cadillac CTS as properly as the subsequent-generation Chevrolet Camaro. We’re expecting the Grand National to supply the decision of either a turbocharged 2.-liter 4-cylinder or a 3.6-liter V-6, while the GNX would come with a roughly 400-hp 3.6-liter V-6 huffing through twin-turbochargers. Automatic transmissions will be available leading to bottom, and the turbo models will most likely supply a manual as an alternative.

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When the original Grand National and GNX hit the scene in the 1980s, they stood out as anomalies in an otherwise bleak period for General Motors. In C/D testing, a 1987 GNX posted a 4.7-second -to-60-mph time on its way to demolishing the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 102 mph. (In each measures, the Buick smoked the 1988 Corvette.) Quick-forward to nowadays, and GM is flush with functionality across its portfolio, setting the perfect stage for a remastered Grand National/GNX duo. Will the new-age Buick muscle reside up to the hype? We’ll have to wait and see, but clearly a couple of Buick fanboys have enough self-assurance to place themselves on a waiting list.

UPDATE 12/2, 6:05 p.m.: The Buick dealer has issued a retraction. Owner Scott McCorkle stated, “We really like the idea of the Buick Regal GNX coming back to our showroom, but for now, it is only a notion. Bottom-line, the report was incorrect. Details were not checked and we sincerely regret releasing the data.” So, there’s that. Nonetheless, we’ve got our fingers crossed that it is all primarily based on truth.

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Signs Point to Yes: Return of Buick Grand National and GNX Imminent?

IMSA Announcers Leak Mustang GT350R On-Track Debut Timing—Street GT350 Imminent?

August 5, 2014 at 7:08 pm by Steve Siler | Photography by YouTube/IMSAVids, Chris Doane Automotive, and the Manufacturer

Offered the copious quantity of speaking completed by announcers for the duration of auto races, a lot can be lost. But our sharp-eared—if that’s a thing—friends at Mustang6G picked up on a telling comment produced in minute 39 of this weekend’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway broadcast: “And correct now what’s in development is that GT350 race car for subsequent year. We must see that auto on the track later this September.”

As Mustang6G points out, the only IMSA event in September is the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge in Austin at the Circuit of the Americas, which takes spot on September 19.

Whilst the announcer was referring to the track-only GT350R, this off-the-cuff comment suggests to us that the introduction of the streetable version of the 2015 Mustang Shelby GT350 could be imminent, possibly occurring just prior to the racing version tends to make its debut. Of course, it is not impossible that Ford will show the salable auto later, as Chevrolet did when it unveiled the NASCAR version of its SS some weeks just before pulling the sheets from the production model.

But our most recent GT350 spy shots from the Nürburgring show a really comprehensive-looking (and poor-ass!) vehicle that seems to be in its final verification and improvement phase. We don’t think that we’re alone in our anticipation of Ford stripping off the camo and revealing what promises to be one particular of the greatest Mustangs in history.

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IMSA Announcers Leak Mustang GT350R On-Track Debut Timing—Street GT350 Imminent?

Honda Debuts Most current ASIMO Humanoid Robot, Machine Takeover Imminent

Everyone’s favorite soccer-playing, plastic-spaceman-wearing-a-backpack–style humanoid robot, ASIMO, is back and greater than ever! Honda’s bizarre robot adore child receives a rash of improvements this year, some of which are undoubtedly regarding for any tinfoil hat–wearing readers concerned about an eventual robot takeover of society. The Honda robot’s other new features, however, may just have a practical use in automobiles. That is a lot more than we can say for ASIMO’s potential to “leap” a whopping 1.97 inches. 

ASIMO has been about for nearly 14 years, and that followed a lot more than a decade of study Honda put into walking and humanoid robots. Over time, ASIMO—which stands for “Advanced Step (in) Revolutionary MObility”—has gained the capacity to walk semi-naturally, carry items in his arms, turn, move rapidly (by “leaping,” an action throughout which each feet leave the ground), answer queries, recognize postures and gestures, recognize faces, shake hands, and collaborate with a second ASIMO to achieve a objective. This year, ASIMO takes the next step, so to speak, toward being a completely autonomous becoming, rather than a semi-human-controlled machine.

Honda has imbued ASIMO with what it calls “autonomous behavior handle technologies,” which is an ominous way of saying that the robot has a rudimentary choice-producing engine. ASIMO can now greater comprehend and react to his environment, as nicely as predict the motions of others and formulate a decision to, say, move out of someone’s way and return to his intended path afterward. Element of this ability comes from Honda’s installation of a kind of intelligence, so that ASIMO now “evaluates inputs from several sensors that are equivalent to the visual, auditory, and tactile senses of a human becoming.”

Whilst it may well sound kind of eerie, ASIMO’s new capabilities bode well for the improvement of far more sophisticated autonomous-driving aids. Critically, ASIMO’s ability to take in and react to his surroundings to steer clear of collisions is a rudimentary step toward a automobile carrying out the identical thing. Fully autonomous automobiles are nonetheless a lengthy way away, even so, so ASIMO’s other new talent, the capability to home in on a single speaker in a group (even if they’re all speaking at once) could preview a much more imminent true-planet automotive function. In-car voice controls could, in essence, borrow the facial- and auditory-recognition tech behind ASIMO’s social capabilities to respond to numerous voice inputs, therefore bringing into the digital age the age-old fight more than which radio station is chosen.

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But that’s all in the future—for now, Honda’s friendly robot remains just that: A friendly companion . . . albeit 1 that can now also stroll on an uneven battlefield—er, uh, surface—perform surgical human experiments—we imply, “tasks with dexterity” making use of his fingered hands, and . . . Let’s just say that as soon as ASIMO is spotted behind the wheel (figure of speech, there is no wheel!) of one particular of Google’s autonomous vehicles, we’re running for the hills.

Honda Debuts Most current ASIMO Humanoid Robot, Machine Takeover Imminent

2015 Ford Mustang Dealer Stock Production Imminent, Special Orders Can Be Placed 9/9

July 10, 2014 at 1:43 pm by Steve Siler | Photography by Marc Urbano

There’s no upcoming vehicle a lot more highly anticipated than the 2015 Ford Mustang. Now, thanks to a leaked Ford Dealer Bulletin published to Mustang6g.com, we’ve discovered that Job 1 production starts subsequent Monday.

That date applies to coupes, while convertibles will commence rolling off the assembly lines in Flat Rock, Michigan, on September 15. The “OK to Buy” date—the day on which dealers can accept customer orders—for coupes is September 9. Ragtop orders can be placed on October 27.

Mustang6g is the same venue that initially published 2015 Mustang coupe pricing, which starts at $ 24,425 for a base V-6 coupe and rises to $ 46,995 for the coupe-only 50 Year Limited Edition GT model. Full pricing is available here.

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When will vehicles reach consumer driveways? Though far from an official confirmation, Mustang6g member 5 Oh Brian says that orders for dealer stock currently have been rolling in for weeks and that these vehicles will be released for immediate sale as soon as they arrive at dealerships. He also says that this could extremely nicely be ahead of September 9, so early adopters will want to get in touch with their local Blue Oval shop rightfreakingnow and hope that the waiting list is a brief 1.

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2015 Ford Mustang Dealer Stock Production Imminent, Special Orders Can Be Placed 9/9