This is the Avalon, the car that replaced the Mercury Grand Marquis in the hearts, minds and garages of Florida retirees. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: 2013 Ram 1500 ups the pickup ante with new V6, less weight
Ram is out to make both Ford and General Motors sweat with the Auburn Hills automaker’s newest pickup, the 2013 1500. Debuting at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the half-ton pickup bows with less weight, an efficient new 3.6-liter V6 option and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Chrysler projects the V6 alone should help yield 20 percent better fuel economy over the old 3.7 lump, thanks in part to a start/stop system. While there are no solid EPA numbers as of yet, our estimations put the vehicle at around 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Throw in aerodynamic tweaks like an active shutter system that closes off the engine bay and a standard air-ride suspension that lowers the vehicle by as much as 1.2 inches for better efficiency, easier loading and load leveling and you have a force to be reckoned with. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Shelby celebrates 50th anniversary by rolling out the original 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX2000
Shelby is celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, the performance gurus rolled out the very first Cobra ever constructed. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: 2012 Lotus Evora S nearly sneaks by, but we catch the improvements
Lacking the fanfare of a flashy press conference, the 2012 Lotus Evora S arrived at the New York Auto Show sporting an upgraded interior and new wheel options (Lotus is one of the few automakers still following the actual calendar when it comes to model year introductions, meaning 2012 models are just now flowing into the North American marketplace). Funk Flex
Auto Talk: 2012 Shelby 1000 is Carroll’s ultimate Mustang
As if last year’s 800-horsepower GT500 Super Snake wasn’t enough, Shelby has just taken the covers off their lastest creation, the “1000” at this year’s New York Auto Show. The muscle coupe comes in two flavors – the 950 horsepower street version and the track-only 1100+ horsepower S/C – although the difference seems like a moot point when it comes to a car’s capability on the Pirelli street tires. A massive Kenne Bell 3.6L supercharger is the main source of the increased engine output, while a variety of chassis and drivetrain enhancements ensure that the additional horsepower and torque is delivered to the pavement. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: 2012 BMW M6 Convertible makes its world debut
BMW has finally pulled the sheets back on its 2012 M6 Convertible. The convertible counterpart to the hardtop that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show bows with the same vicious turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 under the hood. Good for 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the convertible should be able to launch to 62 mph in around 4.1 seconds. BMW hasn’t mentioned the weight difference between the hardtop and the convertible, though the automaker stressed the 2013 model has shed significant weight over its predecessor. The “base” 2013 BMW M6 Convertible will leave the showroom with 19-inch M-designed wheels, though larger 20-inch alloys are also available. Funk Flex
