2012 Ford F-Series Medium-Duty to get 6.8-liter V10 Gasoline Engine

Ford today announced that its 2012 model year F-Series medium-duty chassis cab, scheduled for a market launch in the fourth quarter of 2011, will be available with the firm's gasoline-sipping 6.8-liter V10 engine.

The three-valve, single-overhead-camshaft V10 is rated at 362-horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 457 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,250 rpm. According to Ford, gross vehicle weight ratings for Class 6 and Class 7 medium-duty trucks equipped with the V10 gasoline unit will range from 20,500 to 30,000 pounds.

"No other manufacturer offers this wide of a range of options and solutions for truck customers," said Len Deluca, Ford director for Commercial Truck Sales and Marketing. "The availability of a gas engine in this medium-duty segment will be welcome news to many businesses and municipalities."

The V10 engine will be hooked up to the same heavy-duty six-speed TorqShift automatic transmission used on the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel engine that powers the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks.

As an option, the company will offer buyers the same alternative fuels engine package that will become available this fall on the F-450 and F-550 Super Duty chassis cab trucks that use the 6.8-liter V10. The factory-installed conversion option allows the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane (LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas).

Citroën Survolt Sports Car Concept to Make Racing Debut at Le Mans Classic [with Video]


Citroën is taking its funky little all-electric sports car concept, the Survolt, out for racing. Unveiled to the public for the first time at this year's Geneva Salon in March, the Survolt will make its track debut at the Le Mans Classic on July 10 piloted by racing driver Vanina Ickx, daughter of Belgian Formula One pilot, Jacky Ickx.

Along with the announcement on its first track appearance, the French carmaker also revealed technical details about the Survolt. Measuring just 3.85m long, 1.87m wide and 1.2m high, the supermini-sized Survolt features a tubular chassis, a flat underside with an extractor and full carbon bodywork. It tips the scales at just 1,150 kg or 2,535 pounds.

The Survolt's full electric drivetrain comprises of two-electric motors producing a combined output of 300-horsepower, and a pair of lithium-ion batteries weighing in at 140kg or 308 lbs a piece. Each battery pack boasts a 31kw capacity offering a driving range of around 200km (124 miles).

According to Citroën, the tiny coupe is capable of returning a top speed of 260km/h (162mph) and a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) sprint time of under five seconds.



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Cadillac's 2011 CTS Coupe Headed to Showrooms Ahead of Schedule


GM just can't wait to see its new Cadillac CTS Coupe in showrooms as the Detroit automaker announced today that its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant has not only begun full production of the car but also started shipping models to U.S. dealerships ahead of schedule. The company initially planned to have the 2011 CTS Coupe in showrooms in early August.

The 2+2 Coupe will be offered in two flavors, a standard model powered by 304HP 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection starting from $38,990, and the CTS-V Coupe that comes with a 556HP 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and a starting price of $62,990.