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| BMW celebrates 75 years of building roadsters
May 29, 2009 at 8:13 pm
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|   BMW Roadsters - Click above for a high-res image gallery We generally think of BMW as the maker of some of the world's best sports sedans, but its put out some impressive roadsters over the years. Seventy-five years to be exact. The Bavarian auto manufacturer has been producing two-door open-seaters for three quarters of a century now, starting with 315/1 Sports model that was unveiled at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show followed by the more powerful 319/1.  Mac Motorcycles Pea Shooter - Click above for a high-res image gallery "What underpins Mac Motorcycles' philosophy is the belief that the riding experience and the stories...  Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric R8 supercar (or an extended range...  Brammo Enertia TTR race bike - Click above for a high-res image gallery Best Buy has hopped on as an official sponsor of the Brammo Enertia race team, which will be campaigning...  Bewerp Savage Revale Roadyacht GTS - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we checked, the name "road yacht" wasn't exactly complimentary, but bespoke...  Mindset electric car - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we heard from Spirit Avert, the team behind the mindset electric car, the group was said...
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| PopSci grapples with age-old question of what is worse: driving drunk or stoned
May 29, 2009 at 8:04 pm
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|  Impaired driving kills thousands of motorists each year, and ad campaigns and increased police enforcement have done little to stop it from happening. When we say "impaired driving," most think about alcohol. But marijuana usage prior to getting behind the wheel can be just as dangerous. Professors from Israel's Ben Gurion University wanted to see which was worse; drink driving or stoned driving. The university chose 14 students to participate in the study,  2010 Jaguar XFR – Click above for high-res image gallery About 20 minutes after heading south towards the Mediterranean, traffic on our four-lane roadway stops abruptly.  The Pothole Killer: Click above to watch the video after the jump Potholes suck. Every spring, northern towns see the snow melt, only to find destroyed streets in wake of Old Man Winter...  2009 Pontiac G8 GXP – Click above for high-res image gallery General Motors may have already buried its Pontiac division, but the brand's recent passing isn't stopping...  The Guggenheim Museum is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the completion of its building, designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with an exhibition called "Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward.
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| WSJ: Keeping the Chevy Volt alive doesn't make sense for Government Motors
May 29, 2009 at 7:57 pm
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|   Click above for a high res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt With bankruptcy for GM pretty much certain for next week, the Wall Street Journal has taken a look at whether or not the Chevy Volt is a good thing for the government to be spending so much money on. Interestingly, the U.S. government will play a role in both sides of the keep-it-or-lose-it argument.  Frank had the feeling many of the world's brightest minds think electric cars development should be in the pervue of the start-up not a large industrial company like GM.  Bob Lutz, General Motors? soon-to-retire product czar, said Thursday that not only does he support and endorse the work of President Barack Obama?s automotive task force...  They have strictly restricted those driving experiences to the vehicle's charge depleting mode. Outsiders thus only have the experience of driving the car in pure electric mode without the gas generator running.  Toyota supposedly wishes to offer GM the technology that underlies the Prius and other Toyota vehicles should GM go into bankruptcy. The intellectual property under...
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| Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.29.09
May 29, 2009 at 7:56 pm
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|  First Drive: 2010 Jaguar XFR, XKR and one great V8
Jaguar admits it's been a rough decade for the brand, but 2009 is Jag's coming out party and the festivities begin with the mind-blowing XFR, XKR and one of the most potent V8s on the market.  Honda CrossTour - Click above for an image gallery VWVortex forum member GoVdubSPEEDGo was vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when he came across a duo of Honda wagon/crossover mules. 2010 Jaguar XFR – Click above for high-res image gallery About 20 minutes after heading south towards the Mediterranean, traffic on our four-lane roadway stops abruptly.  Fresh pics of what looks to be the next generation BMW 1 Series have been snapped in Germany. If it is the rumored 2011/2012 model, it adheres to the trend of nearly every new car, as it appears to be simultaneously bigger and brawnier all over.
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| $15,600 the sweet spot for electric cars in Japan
May 29, 2009 at 7:28 pm
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|  Mitsubishi i-MiEV sport - Click image above for a high-res gallery It's a hard target to hit, but if full-speed electric cars were available today for 1.5 million yen (about $15,600), most average Japanese car buyers would be willing to shell out the money to get one. A new Reuters survey of 882 people found that somewhere between 1.5 million and 2 million yen ($20,800) was considered a fair price by 40 percent of respondents. Frank had the feeling many of the world's brightest minds think electric cars development should be in the pervue of the start-up not a large industrial company like GM.  Devon Motor Works GTX rendering - Click above for an image gallery According to court documents filed by Chrysler, there is but one lone official offer for the firm's Dodge Viper automotive business...  Chrysler LLC's Dodge Viper sports car business has drawn only limited interest from buyers, according to court statements filed in connection with the automaker's bankruptcy hearing.  Hybrid and battery electric cars get most of the attention from drivers looking for more efficient transportation. Toyota has done a masterful job of marketing the benefits of hybrids and...
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| As bankruptcy nears, new GM begins to emerge
May 29, 2009 at 7:14 pm
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|   DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.S. and rid itself of the biggest. As GM's board began two days of meetings Friday to make a final decision on the company's fate, GM was also closing in on a sale of its European Opel unit, and its main union overwhelmingly approved dramatic labor cost cuts. A deal to sell its rugged but inefficient Hummer brand also appeared on the horizon.  On top of the 1,124 General Motors dealers that will be closed next year, the ailing automaker is reportedly going to announce another round of dealer closings on Monday when its bankruptcy declaration is expected.  2010 Chevy Spark - Click above for a hi-res image gallery General Motors has issued a cryptic press release suggesting it plans to retool an existing plant here in the United States to build a new small car.  MACKINAC ISLAND ? Wayne County officials and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing have cooked up a plan to grant Renaissance Zone status to General Motors Corp.'s headquarters in the Renaissance Center...  Whether or not General Motors files for bankruptcy protection, the carmaker has made clear that its future plans do not include two brands — Saturn and Hummer — that once seemed to hold immense promise for the company.
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| Patents reveal Ferrari's plan for new turbocharged engines
May 29, 2009 at 7:10 pm
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|  Ferrari turbocharged V8 engine patent drawing - Click above to enlarge Last week, we learned that Ferrari was taking a long, hard look at hybrid drivetrains as a way to improve the performance of its line of supercars when a less-than-ideal amount of traction is present. While Ferrari's patent documents didn't mention environmental concerns as a reason to investigate hybrids, it seems likely that the issue is at least on the minds of Italian automaker's engineers.  Lotus' relationship with Toyota could extend beyond supplying drivetrains for the Elise, Exige and Evora, with three new engines sourced from Lexus rumored to be fitted to the 2012 Lotus Esprit.  2009 Monaco Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery Another race, another week of wondering whether the other Formula 1 teams would make enough progress to catch Brawn GP.  Formula One: Jenson Button became the first British driver to win the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix from pole since Jackie Stewart did it in 1973. The win was Button's fifth in six races this season...  As of Thursday, Porsche and Maserati are the latest two brands to pull out of the biennial Tokyo Motor Show. That brings the tally to 22 foreign brands sitting out the Japanese showcase, leaving Hyundai, Ferrari, and Lotus to duel for import honors.
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| REPORT: GM preparing to give more dealerships the axe
May 29, 2009 at 6:57 pm
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| On top of the 1,124 General Motors dealers that will be closed next year, the ailing automaker is reportedly going to announce another round of dealer closings on Monday when its bankruptcy declaration is expected. According to two Automotive News sources, 450 dealers will not see their dealer franchises renewed. For his part, Mark LaNeve, GM's VP of North American sales, said the number would be "less than half that." DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.  UAW members have ratified changes to the labor contract with General Motors that the automaker says will make the company competitive. The deal was one of the final pieces... 2010 Chevy Spark - Click above for a hi-res image gallery General Motors has issued a cryptic press release suggesting it plans to retool an existing plant here in the United States to build a new small car.  The Obama administration made a new proposal today to General Motors Corp. bondholders carrying $27.2 billion of the company's debt, offering them 10% of a reformulated...
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| Modified PHEV Prius setting out on 1,100-mile, one-tank drive - but why?
May 29, 2009 at 6:26 pm
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|  Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Toyota Prius File this one under slightly sketchy (AFS Trinity style). A Florida Toyota dealer is taking a Prius on what he calls an "epic" 1,100-mile trip to Washington, D.C. and he wants to do it on only one tank of gas. Since the tank of the Prius is 11.9 gallons, that'd be quite a mileage feat. 92.4 mpg to be exact.  General Motors said Friday that it plans to build a small, fuel-efficient car in the United States that will compete in the ?B-segment? as the company tries to comply with stiffer mileage mandates recently proposed by the Obama administration.  Toyota Prius - Click above for a high-res image gallery Toyota Prius fans in the UK have a little something to celebrate today. Prices for the upcoming third-generation...  Toyota's third-generation Prius couldn't come at a better time for the automaker. Sales of just about every one of the company's models are down, and the Aishi, Japan-based automaker lost $7.  2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery When car buyers think of hybrids, the name that most often springs to mind is the Toyota Prius since it...
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| Event Alert: June Calendar of Automotive Events
May 29, 2009 at 6:20 pm
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|  As we approach the half-way point of 2009, the automotive industry is still in turmoil and the economy is just barely showing signs of recovery, but we still have plenty to be happy about. Dozens of concours events, cruise nights, and local shows are being held each and every weekend around the country. There's probably one close to you. Greenwich, Huntington Beach, Los Angeles, and Rodeo Drive top that list of concours in June. Click above for a high res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt With bankruptcy for GM pretty much certain for next week, the Wall Street Journal has taken a look at whether... Impaired driving kills thousands of motorists each year, and ad campaigns and increased police enforcement have done little to stop it from happening. When we say "impaired driving," most think about alcohol. BMW Roadsters - Click above for a high-res image gallery We generally think of BMW as the maker of some of the world's best sports sedans, but its put out some impressive roadsters over the years. DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.
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| Telesto Ventures' bid for GM's Saturn division thick with Chrysler talent
May 29, 2009 at 6:11 pm
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|  The General Motors appendage known as Saturn is scheduled to be scalpeled off sooner rather than later. What happens to the mass once it has been removed from its host is still uncertain, though there are apparently groups interested in the shiny metal entrails. GM has reportedly whittled the roster of buyers it might let Saturn go to down to two or three, says a source at The Detroit News. One of the few that hasn't been culled is Telesto Ventures, which has put its auto team together. DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U. On top of the 1,124 General Motors dealers that will be closed next year, the ailing automaker is reportedly going to announce another round of dealer closings on Monday when its bankruptcy declaration is expected. UAW members have ratified changes to the labor contract with General Motors that the automaker says will make the company competitive. The deal was one of the final pieces...  In a brief article on its website, the UK's Channel4 says that a Swedish newspaper, Dagens Industri, is reporting that supercar maker Koenigsegg is in the running to purchase either a stake in Saab, or the whole kit and caboodle.
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| Mercedes-Benz Sprinters get new cleaner more efficient diesel engines
May 29, 2009 at 5:55 pm
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|  With the EURO-V emissions regulations coming into full effect this year, Mercedes Benz has updated the engine lineup for its big Sprinter vans. The Sprinter uses a range of four cylinder and V6 diesel engines all with common rail injection systems and particulate filters for smoke free operation. The four cylinder is the new 2.2-liter that debuted last year in several car models, including the latest C-class. Mindset electric car - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we heard from Spirit Avert, the team behind the mindset electric car, the group was said... Lotus' relationship with Toyota could extend beyond supplying drivetrains for the Elise, Exige and Evora, with three new engines sourced from Lexus rumored to be fitted to the 2012 Lotus Esprit.  There are some who believe that the Holy Grail of fuel-saving technology could potentially be diesel-electric hybrids, and the idea certainly isn't without merit. After all...  2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery According to a puzzling report from L'Automobile Magazine in France, Mercedes-Benz plans...  Bond String Quartet - Click above for a high-res gallery To kick off the launch of the 308 CC, French carmaker Peugeot has enlisted the musical services of the high-heeled female string quartet Bond.
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| After 93 Years, G.M. Shares Go Out on a Low Note
May 29, 2009 at 5:22 pm
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|  From our colleagues at DealBook: Anyone who grew up thinking of General Motors stock as a blue-chip investment probably wept a little on Friday. Or maybe buckets of tears. G.M.'s shares closed at 75 cents a share, down 37 cents, or 33 percent from Thursday, on what was likely to be its final day of trading before the company seeks bankruptcy protection next week. The decline set a new 52-week low and historic low for G.M., whose previous low was $1, set earlier this month. The company's stock fell another 4 cents, to 71 cents a share, in after-hours trading. DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U. On top of the 1,124 General Motors dealers that will be closed next year, the ailing automaker is reportedly going to announce another round of dealer closings on Monday when its bankruptcy declaration is expected. The General Motors appendage known as Saturn is scheduled to be scalpeled off sooner rather than later. What happens to the mass once it has been removed from its host is still uncertain...
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| GM sets announcement for Monday in NYC; White House braces
May 29, 2009 at 5:16 pm
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|  General Motors, which is expected to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday, announced today that CEO Fritz Henderson will hold a midday news conference Monday at the GM Building in New York City. Bankruptcy experts have said GM would most likely file for bankruptcy in New York. The White House, meanwhile, braced to lead GM into bankruptcy Monday, as officials cheered the progress in Chrysler LLC's bankruptcy case and called it "a hopeful example" for GM. Click above for a high res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt With bankruptcy for GM pretty much certain for next week, the Wall Street Journal has taken a look at whether... DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U. On top of the 1,124 General Motors dealers that will be closed next year, the ailing automaker is reportedly going to announce another round of dealer closings on Monday when its bankruptcy declaration is expected. UAW members have ratified changes to the labor contract with General Motors that the automaker says will make the company competitive. The deal was one of the final pieces...
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| BMW introduces exclusive M3 Edition models
May 29, 2009 at 4:36 pm
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|  2009 BMW M3 Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery It's difficult to make the new BMW M3 even more appealing, but that's exactly what the boys from Bavaria are trying to do with the new M3 Edition models. The limited run of 2009 M3s feature a choice of four bespoke paint schemes – Alpine White Non-Metallic, Black Non-Metallic, Dakar Yellow Non-Metallic or Monte Carlo Blue Metallic – along with a black-finished twin kidney grille, fender vents and mirror caps.  Volkswagen Eos White Nights – Click above for high-res image gallery We know that Volkswagen's new special-edition Eos isn't named after a mythical cavalry figure on an ivory steed...  BMW F 800 GS – Click above for high-res image gallery Since its introduction back in 2004, the R 1200 GS has been BMW's best selling motorcycle, and for good reason.  Following last week's announcement of the production version of the new BMW 5-series Gran Turismo comes a new more fuel efficient engine variant. For the last two years, BMW has offered a twin turbocharged 3.  Mini celebrates its 50th birthday in August, and its parent company, BMW, is using the occasion to introduce a trio of limited-edition cars. And they're coming our way.
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| Warren, MI mayor offers GM deal to move headquarters, Detroit officials counter
May 29, 2009 at 4:29 pm
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|  Earlier this month, General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson said in reference to the possibility that the automaker may move its headquarters from Detroit: "We're looking at, frankly, everything within our business, but it's not like we have that queued up at the top of our list...
 Calling it an unprecedented proposal, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts offered General Motors Corp. long-term tax incentives Thursday to move its headquarters from the Renaissance Center in Detroit to the GM Tech Center in Warren.  Warren Mayor Jim Fouts plans to officially offer tax incentives and other perks to General Motors on Thursday if it moves its headquarters from the Renaissance Center in Detroit to the GM Tech Center in Warren.  Calling it "economic and consumer patriotism," the mayor of Warren, Michigan wants to make it compulsory for city officials to buy American cars. Jim Fouts says that 15% of his fiscal budget depends on the auto industry...
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| Which electric car comany is Kleiner Perkins betting millions on next?
May 29, 2009 at 4:28 pm
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|  Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma The last time we heard about the goings on at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers it was as part of Fisker's 85 million VC funding announcement. Kleiner Perkins is saying it has more money to put into the electric-drive vehicle field, though, as Greentech Media notes, the next pile of cash is intended for a company with cars at "the other end of the spectrum" from Fisker and would be low-price, high-volume automaker.  Ruff and Tuff Electric Vehicles Inc. (RTEV) has spun off its Wheego Electric Cars division. Wheego's first car, the low-speed Whip (pictured), should be available in late July (yes, that's a delay).  About a month ago we first heard about the Electric Car Company in the UK starting sales of its Ev'ie. The Ev'ie is a Citroen C1 converted to full battery electric drive. Bewerp Savage Revale Roadyacht GTS - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we checked, the name "road yacht" wasn't exactly complimentary, but bespoke...
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| Rinspeed launches car-themed art collection:
May 29, 2009 at 4:22 pm
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|   This may be the most natural progression from the car world to art: Rinspeed, the master of the offbeat concept, is launching an auto-themed collection of contemporary prints. The art is based on the company?s head-turning concept cars. There are five collections, with artwork created from the iChange, the sQuba, the eXasis, the zaZen and the Bedouin concepts. There also is art derived from the E2 Fiat 500 concept by Rinspeed, and a section devoted to Futurism. Click above for a high res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt With bankruptcy for GM pretty much certain for next week, the Wall Street Journal has taken a look at whether... Impaired driving kills thousands of motorists each year, and ad campaigns and increased police enforcement have done little to stop it from happening. When we say "impaired driving," most think about alcohol. BMW Roadsters - Click above for a high-res image gallery We generally think of BMW as the maker of some of the world's best sports sedans, but its put out some impressive roadsters over the years. DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.
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| We Join Papa John's Quest For His 1972 Z28 Camaro
May 29, 2009 at 4:00 pm
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|   Listening to pizza magnate "Papa" John Schnatter point out the differences between the 1972 Z28 Camaro he lost, and the one we're driving around Houston in, you come to realize his quest for the lost car is more than a gimmick. When Papa John opened his first restaurant he had to sell his 1972 gold-and-black Z28 Camaro to get the $1,600 he needed to pay for the equipment. He remembers parting with the car and, in describing it, he visually winces as he explains that "it was so painful I had to look away so I couldn't see it driving off."  John Schnatter's 1972 Chevrolet Camaro – Click above for high-res image gallery It's inconceivable that in 1984 there was any young man in America under 30 that did not love both pizza and the Camaro Z-28.  Reader Rudolphdude spotted this flier asking passers-by for information about a tank lost somewhere in Brooklyn. At first glance, the phone number makes it look like a very clever viral Army recruiting ad.  Magna tried and lost when Chrysler was for sale. Pulling a Marchionne, Magna's now trying to win GM Europe's Opel division for itself, and rumor is that Saturn is also on the shopping list.  Yesterday morning we finally hopped into a Chevy Volt mule with outgoing GM product czar Bob Lutz for a spin around the Warren Tech Center. What's it feel like? It's utterly unremarkable and appliance-like.
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| Zero X gets a mid-cycle refresh
May 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm
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|  Zero X electric dirtbike with revised bodywork - Click above to enlarge Shortly after taking the 2009 Zero X electric dirtbike out for a spin, we had the opportunity to chat with company founder and Chief Technology Officer Neal Saiki, and he told us to expect a slight makeover within the next few months of the plastic bodywork that was fitted to our test bike. Apparently, that time has arrived, and the update also reportedly includes a more advanced braking system. We don't have any real details on the brake upgrade, but the new bodywork is plain to see. Click above for a high res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt With bankruptcy for GM pretty much certain for next week, the Wall Street Journal has taken a look at whether... Impaired driving kills thousands of motorists each year, and ad campaigns and increased police enforcement have done little to stop it from happening. When we say "impaired driving," most think about alcohol. BMW Roadsters - Click above for a high-res image gallery We generally think of BMW as the maker of some of the world's best sports sedans, but its put out some impressive roadsters over the years. DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.
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| REPORT: California still wants EPA waiver to set emissions standards until 2012
May 29, 2009 at 3:45 pm
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|  Even though President Obama's new national CAFE standards will lean on the stricter California standards for support and there was broad agreement that a national standard of this type is the way to move forward, the devilish details could still cause a disagreement or two.
 Even though Obama's new national CAFE standards will lean on the stricter California standards for support and there was broad agreement that a national standard of this type is the right way to move forward...  President Obama proposed tougher fuel economy standards on May 19, citing a target of 35.5 miles a gallon (for cars and trucks) by the 2016 model year. And officials from the administration said that California...
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| REPORT: Koenigsegg a finalist in bid to buy Saab
May 29, 2009 at 2:58 pm
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| In a brief article on its website, the UK's Channel4 says that a Swedish newspaper, Dagens Industri, is reporting that supercar maker Koenigsegg is in the running to purchase either a stake in Saab, or the whole kit and caboodle. According to the report, Koenigsegg is reportedly a front-runner to rescue the fellow Swedish automaker, with the other suitors being the Renco Group, a U.S. investment company, and the Italian automaker Fiat – the latter of which is being denied by both Fiat and Saab. Whether or not General Motors files for bankruptcy protection, the carmaker has made clear that its future plans do not include two brands — Saturn and Hummer — that once seemed to hold immense promise for the company.  Mark McNabb loves a challenge. After working for General Motors for 13 months leading Cadillac, Hummer, and Saab, McNabb announced his resignation last week as of June 1.  Tezzari Zero - Click above for a high-res image gallery Interested in the chance to purchase the very first Tazzari ZERO sold in America? Good news then, you're free to bid on it on eBay.
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| Heard about China's new 42 mpg standards? Get educated first
May 29, 2009 at 2:55 pm
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|  Which is better? A national fleet fuel economy standard (think CAFE) of 42.2 mpg or 35.5. mpg? The former, right? Well, 42.2 is exactly what China has put in place and, from that one number, they seem to be beating the U.S. The trusty John O'Dell over at Green Car Advisor breaks down why we need to look beyond the numbers so that when the political debate on "why are the Chinese so far ahead of the U.S.?" gets going, we can answer the question with a bit of background.  The Volkswagen Group sold more than a million cars in China last year (more than three times its United States sales), so it wasn't surprising that when VW decided to add another battery collaborator, it chose the fast-moving Chinese company BYD.  The bubble of anonymity surrounding BYD outside of its home in China might be about to burst. Last week, we learned that Volkswagen had signed a memorandum of understanding...  Like most other countries with native automobile industries, China has implemented a Cash-For-Clunkers-style used car scapping program. Interestingly, the Chinese government is also subsidizing the replacement of old...  The 2016 CAFE standards of 35.5 MPG will almost certainly punish performance cars. Did you know that the 2010 Toyota Prius only manages to wring 134 HP out of its 50 MPG? Look at it this way.  Earlier this year, word was that the Wheego Whip was supposed to be available here in the U.S. in May. Looks like July is the new delivery date, so hold on if you want your smart fortwo clone minicar NEV.
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| GM announces plans to build new small car in U.S. - but which one will it be?
May 29, 2009 at 2:51 pm
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| 2010 Chevy Spark - Click above for a hi-res image gallery General Motors has issued a cryptic press release suggesting it plans to retool an existing plant here in the United States to build a new small car. No specifics are given on what small car this may be, as the missive only says that the plant will have the capacity to build up to 160,000 small and compact cars and that "this vehicle adds to GM's growing portfolio of U.S.-built, highly fuel efficient cars including the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt." Know what that means? It's speculation time! 2009 BMW M3 Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery It's difficult to make the new BMW M3 even more appealing, but that's exactly what the boys from Bavaria are trying to do with the new M3 Edition models. General Motors said Friday that it plans to build a small, fuel-efficient car in the United States that will compete in the ?B-segment? as the company tries to comply with stiffer mileage mandates recently proposed by the Obama administration. Mac Motorcycles Pea Shooter - Click above for a high-res image gallery "What underpins Mac Motorcycles' philosophy is the belief that the riding experience and the stories... 2010 Jaguar XFR – Click above for high-res image gallery About 20 minutes after heading south towards the Mediterranean, traffic on our four-lane roadway stops abruptly.
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| General Motors says it plans to build small car in U.S.:
May 29, 2009 at 2:45 pm
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| General Motors said Friday that it plans to build a small, fuel-efficient car in the United States that will compete in the ?B-segment? as the company tries to comply with stiffer mileage mandates recently proposed by the Obama administration. GM said it likely would retool one of the sites to be idled under its restructuring plan for production of the car. The investment would be $600 million to $700 million, and the plant would employ 1,200 workers, including hourly and salaried employees. The site has not been selected yet, GM said. UAW members have ratified changes to the labor contract with General Motors that the automaker says will make the company competitive. The deal was one of the final pieces... 2010 Chevy Spark - Click above for a hi-res image gallery General Motors has issued a cryptic press release suggesting it plans to retool an existing plant here in the United States to build a new small car. MACKINAC ISLAND ? Wayne County officials and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing have cooked up a plan to grant Renaissance Zone status to General Motors Corp.'s headquarters in the Renaissance Center...  Click image above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Spark General Motors announced this morning that it will build a future small car at existing U.S. production facilities beginning at some unspecified date.
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| Classic Ad: Free Wheelin' Ford
May 29, 2009 at 2:43 pm
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| Ford recently announced plans to convert its once profitable truck plant into a manufacturing plant for small cars. The reason, as my colleague Jerry Garrett explained, is that the market has shifted away from big, gas-swilling S.U.V.'s to smaller, fuel-efficient cars like the Focus. But flash back 30 years and, if Ford's advertisers are to be believed, the market was all about good times and fast trucks. Just check out the above "Free Wheelin'" Ford commercial featuring a carefree driver hightailing his truck down a sandy beach and boardwalk. If shot today, Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma The last time we heard about the goings on at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers it was as part of Fisker's 85 million VC funding announcement. 2009 BMW M3 Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery It's difficult to make the new BMW M3 even more appealing, but that's exactly what the boys from Bavaria are trying to do with the new M3 Edition models. This may be the most natural progression from the car world to art: Rinspeed, the master of the offbeat concept, is launching an auto-themed collection of contemporary prints. UAW members have ratified changes to the labor contract with General Motors that the automaker says will make the company competitive. The deal was one of the final pieces... Like most other countries with native automobile industries, China has implemented a Cash-For-Clunkers-style used car scapping program. Interestingly, the Chinese government is also subsidizing the replacement of old...
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| 2010 Ford Transit Connect: First Drive
May 29, 2009 at 2:00 pm
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|  After the Ford Fiesta, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect is the second lust-worthy European Ford to make it Stateside. Can a small, practical cargo van appeal to big, burly American workers? The Transit Connect occupies the same territory as the old-as-nails Econoline van, but manages the same job in a smaller, lighter, friendlier way. That old Econoline is a hulking beast of a vehicle, stuffed mostly with tried-and-true F-series pickup truck parts.  Ford Fiesta Rally Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery For the Ford Fiesta's next trick on it's Get to Know America Tour, the smallest of Blue Oval autos is getting a serious overhaul and going mountain climbing.  Who knew that the Fiesta Movement was going to turn out to be the Fiesta Adventure – at least, for Agent 44 Jake Bronstein. Not long ago, he reported his Fiesta stolen and Ford was meant to be tracking it on a joyride near Port Chester, NY.  You have to watch these hot and wet chicks saucily soaping up their Fiesta Movement Ford Fiesta, getting it squeaky clean. Each time we've watched this video it's gotten us more and more... hungry. [BrittaniLouiseTaylor]  Buried within the noise that is Twitter this morning was a tiny tweet from Brooklyn-based Fiesta Movement Agent Jake Bronstein: #fiestamovement car STOLEN. No, really.
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| Top Ten LeMons Contenders... in 2029
May 29, 2009 at 1:58 pm
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|  The drive from Autoblog's South Bay outpost to Reno-Fernley raceway gave Justice Lieberman and I some time to wax poetic on the 24 Hours of LeMons. Peppered between discussions about the race, the field of competitors and the finer points of officiating the world's fastest growing motorsport (we're pretty sure), I asked the question: what cars are going to dominate LeMons 20 years from now? Some were obvious, so were absurd and others were dismissed out of hand. Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma The last time we heard about the goings on at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers it was as part of Fisker's 85 million VC funding announcement. About a month ago we first heard about the Electric Car Company in the UK starting sales of its Ev'ie. The Ev'ie is a Citroen C1 converted to full battery electric drive.  Click above to video of the Lexus LF-A burning down the house Nurburgring after the jump There were two Lexus LF-As entered into last week's Nurburgring 24 Hour race prepared by the Gazoo Racing Team.
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| Wheego Whip spun off from RTEV, low-speed electric car on track for late July
May 29, 2009 at 1:55 pm
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| Ruff and Tuff Electric Vehicles Inc. (RTEV) has spun off its Wheego Electric Cars division. Wheego's first car, the low-speed Whip (pictured), should be available in late July (yes, that's a delay). According to Wheego, about 100 people have pre-ordered the $18,995 car that's not-a-Smart. The reason for the spin-off is that RTEV wants to refocus its energy "on cost reduction and selling deeper into its established territory markets, instead of expanding into new markets, Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma The last time we heard about the goings on at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers it was as part of Fisker's 85 million VC funding announcement. Zero X electric dirtbike with revised bodywork - Click above to enlarge Shortly after taking the 2009 Zero X electric dirtbike out for a spin, we had the opportunity to chat with company founder and Chief Technology Officer Neal Saiki... About a month ago we first heard about the Electric Car Company in the UK starting sales of its Ev'ie. The Ev'ie is a Citroen C1 converted to full battery electric drive.
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| BREAKING: BBC says Magna has agreed to take majority stake in Opel from GM
May 29, 2009 at 1:52 pm
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|  According to the BBC News, supplier Magna International has come to terms with General Motors to purchase a majority stake in its European Opel division...
 Car parts manufacturer Magna has agreed to buy GM Europe, which includes the Opel and Vauxhall brands, according to BBC News. The German government still needs to approve the deal, but may choose insolvency instead. Whether or not General Motors files for bankruptcy protection, the carmaker has made clear that its future plans do not include two brands — Saturn and Hummer — that once seemed to hold immense promise for the company. The bubble of anonymity surrounding BYD outside of its home in China might be about to burst. Last week, we learned that Volkswagen had signed a memorandum of understanding...  We love cars. We even bathe, polish, and prune our autos, but we're quite sure we've never taken our obsession this far. According to the UK's Telegraph, Edward Smith freely admits he has had 'sex' with over 1...
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| UAW members OK labor deal with GM
May 29, 2009 at 1:10 pm
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| UAW members have ratified changes to the labor contract with General Motors that the automaker says will make the company competitive. The deal was one of the final pieces of a GM restructuring to fall into place before the company files for bankruptcy reorganization, a move expected to occur Monday. The amended 2007 national contract covers 54,000 hourly workers and was voted on over the past few days. It passed with 74% approval by both production and skilled trade workers, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said at a Detroit news conference today.  General Motors Corp., the industrial behemoth that once defined the American corporation, plans to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday, the Free Press learned today.  While it might not save General Motors Corp. from bankruptcy, GM and the UAW reached a tentative labor agreement Thursday that ultimately could give the union safer footing if the troubled automaker files for Chapter 11 reorganization.
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| Electric Car Company Citroen Ev'ie tested, slow and dubious reliability
May 29, 2009 at 1:02 pm
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| About a month ago we first heard about the Electric Car Company in the UK starting sales of its Ev'ie. The Ev'ie is a Citroen C1 converted to full battery electric drive. ECC actually has a deal with Citroen UK to buy cars direct from the factory for conversion and does all the work at its London shop Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma The last time we heard about the goings on at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers it was as part of Fisker's 85 million VC funding announcement. Ruff and Tuff Electric Vehicles Inc. (RTEV) has spun off its Wheego Electric Cars division. Wheego's first car, the low-speed Whip (pictured), should be available in late July (yes, that's a delay). Mindset electric car - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we heard from Spirit Avert, the team behind the mindset electric car, the group was said...  Click above to watch video after the jump While they might lack the comedic punch of their seasoned British co-frères, the presenters at Top Gear Australia don't seem to have any electric car "issues".  We've had our first taste of the drive system under development for General Motors' pioneering Chevrolet Volt, piloting a test mule based on the Chevrolet Cruze at the company's Warren (Mich.
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| Spy Shots: Honda CrossTour caught in the Smokies
May 29, 2009 at 12:54 pm
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| Honda CrossTour - Click above for an image gallery VWVortex forum member GoVdubSPEEDGo was vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when he came across a duo of Honda wagon/crossover mules. The crew over at Temple of VTEC have dubbed it the upcoming CrossTour, and tapped one of their sources to confirm the new CUV won't share the forthcoming Acura ZDX's platform. Fresh pics of what looks to be the next generation BMW 1 Series have been snapped in Germany. If it is the rumored 2011/2012 model, it adheres to the trend of nearly every new car, as it appears to be simultaneously bigger and brawnier all over.  There has been all manner of speculation leading to this point, but the Temple of VTEC says it has heard from a source who claims the Honda Crosstour will be arrive in the U. Hybrid and battery electric cars get most of the attention from drivers looking for more efficient transportation. Toyota has done a masterful job of marketing the benefits of hybrids and...
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| Mac Motorcycles enters the fray with four custom bike concepts
May 29, 2009 at 12:12 pm
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| Mac Motorcycles Pea Shooter - Click above for a high-res image gallery "What underpins Mac Motorcycles' philosophy is the belief that the riding experience and the stories that go with motorcycle journeys seem to have been hijacked by technology and plastic," says Ellis Pitt, the man behind the upstart British motorcycle maker that's just unleashed details on four planned custom bikes. Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma The last time we heard about the goings on at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers it was as part of Fisker's 85 million VC funding announcement. 2009 BMW M3 Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery It's difficult to make the new BMW M3 even more appealing, but that's exactly what the boys from Bavaria are trying to do with the new M3 Edition models. This may be the most natural progression from the car world to art: Rinspeed, the master of the offbeat concept, is launching an auto-themed collection of contemporary prints. UAW members have ratified changes to the labor contract with General Motors that the automaker says will make the company competitive. The deal was one of the final pieces...
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| General Motors will build new small car in idled U.S. factory
May 29, 2009 at 11:05 am
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| Click image above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Spark General Motors announced this morning that it will build a future small car at existing U.S. production facilities beginning at some unspecified date. Also remaining unspecified is the location where the car will be built and the actual product. The announcement comes in the wake of the recently ratified modified contract with the UAW. Whether or not General Motors files for bankruptcy protection, the carmaker has made clear that its future plans do not include two brands — Saturn and Hummer — that once seemed to hold immense promise for the company. Calling it an unprecedented proposal, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts offered General Motors Corp. long-term tax incentives Thursday to move its headquarters from the Renaissance Center in Detroit to the GM Tech Center in Warren. General Motors Corp., the industrial behemoth that once defined the American corporation, plans to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday, the Free Press learned today.  Europe's crash testing authority, Euro NCAP, has published a series of new tests that includes the latest small and fuel efficient models offered there. The top scorers in the small car segment...
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| VIDEO: Lexus LF-A supercar burns it up at the Nürburgring 24
May 29, 2009 at 11:01 am
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| Click above to video of the Lexus LF-A burning down the house Nurburgring after the jump There were two Lexus LF-As entered into last week's Nurburgring 24 Hour race prepared by the Gazoo Racing Team. This is what happened to one of them, car #15, about two hours from the end of the enduro. Just one of a jumble of cars that didn't finish the race, Gazoo hasn't explained what happened to the car, but a rather toasty engine fire took the car out of the running. Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric R8 supercar (or an extended range... Devon Motor Works GTX rendering - Click above for an image gallery According to court documents filed by Chrysler, there is but one lone official offer for the firm's Dodge Viper automotive business...  Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery According to dueling reports on Auto Motor und Sport in Germany and L'Automobile in France, Audi may...  Lexus LF-A Nurburgring - Click above for a high-res image gallery Last year's reports about the demise of the Lexus LF-A may have been greatly exaggerated, and according to the fabulists at AutoExpress...  Audi R8 V10 - Click above for a high-res image gallery Reports out of France and Germany indicate that in addition to the all-new A8 and A5 Sportback, Audi plans to reveal two versions of the R8 at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
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| Papa John's founder embarks on cross-country drive to find his '72 Camaro, offering $25k reward
May 29, 2009 at 10:57 am
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| John Schnatter's 1972 Chevrolet Camaro – Click above for high-res image gallery It's inconceivable that in 1984 there was any young man in America under 30 that did not love both pizza and the Camaro Z-28. John Schnatter had the Chevy. A '72 Z-28 in gold with black stripes, white-letter BFGs on chrome wheels, a sunroof and chrome-tipped duals. In other words, awesome. John felt a strong pull to try his hand at opening a pizza restaurant. To raise the needed working capital, the beloved Camaro had to go. As much as he loved his car, John loved his pizza plans more.  Despite General Motors' current economic woes, production of a convertible version of the Chevrolet Camaro is on track to start in early 2011. That is later than the original plan of having the ragtop Camaro go into production early next year...  The new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro recently went on sale and, come June, Chevy will also release a limited Bumblebee edition of the Camaro SS based on the car (or character) featured in the "Transformers" movie.  Please, to the powers above, and in Washington and on Wall Street: Do not condemn General Motors to fail. I have driven the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, and one thing I know: This is not an automaker that deserves to die.  2010 Chevrolet Camaro as Bumblebee - Click above for a high-res image gallery Diehard Transformers fans take note: Chevrolet is reportedly planning to launch a limited edition Bumblebee Camaro to capitalize on the upcoming flick...
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| VW of America confirms 2010 Jetta Sportwagen will get new face early
May 29, 2009 at 10:56 am
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|  2010 Volkswagen Golf Estate - Click above for high-res image gallery
When Volkswagen's home office in Wolfsburg announced the new Golf Estate a few days ago, nothing was said about plans for the U...  Ford Focus RS – Click above for high-res image gallery In an interview with Jost Capito, head of Ford's global performance, it came out that – yet again –...  It's taken a little more than two years for Ford to build 1 million vehicles with the Sync entertainment and communications system, and it marked the milestone by having...  The crossroads of North America is about to become a lot more pedestrian-friendly. New York City's Times Square is reportedly getting a makeover to make it car-free. According to an Associated Press report...  click above for a high res gallery of the Honda CR-Z concept Following the introduction of the second generation Insight, Honda has recommitted itself to developing hybrid drive vehicles.
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| The AutoWeek list: 10 Coolest Summer Cars :
May 29, 2009 at 10:41 am
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|  2010 Ford Mustang GT convertible Hard to beat the performance for the bucks 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata 1953 Buick Woody station wagon Strap on the surfboards and drive to the coast 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe Cars don?t come much cooler Get one in time for one of this summer?s outdoor music festivals Splash your way to your favorite hideaway  When it comes to horsepower, it's always tempting to declare that some new beast of a car has edged over the brink of excess. On the topic of the Bugatti Veyron, Pierre Henri-Raphanel...  Mazda MX-5's 20th Anniversary at LeMans - Click above for a high-res image gallery It's hard to believe it's been two decades since Mazda first showed the world how to build a classic British sports car right. Despite General Motors' current economic woes, production of a convertible version of the Chevrolet Camaro is on track to start in early 2011. That is later than the original plan of having the ragtop Camaro go into production early next year...  Ford Motor Co., surprised by the popularity of theAWD versions of its Ford Five Hundred, Freestyle, and the Mercury Montego, forecasts sales of such equipped vehiclesfrom automakers to reach 500...
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| Institute of Mechanical Engineers: Electric cars aren't enough
May 29, 2009 at 10:24 am
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|  According to a recent survey from the Royal Automobile Club Foundation in the UK, there will be lots of people who want to buy electric vehicles but are going to get frustrated by the long delay in getting EVs ready for mass consumption...
Frank had the feeling many of the world's brightest minds think electric cars development should be in the pervue of the start-up not a large industrial company like GM. Mindset electric car - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we heard from Spirit Avert, the team behind the mindset electric car, the group was said... Hybrid and battery electric cars get most of the attention from drivers looking for more efficient transportation. Toyota has done a masterful job of marketing the benefits of hybrids and...  Chrysler Town & Country EV - Click above for a high-res gallery Chrysler has submitted a series of plans to the U.S. Department of Energy intended to speed up the...
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| Audi shoots down electric R8 rumor for Frankfurt
May 29, 2009 at 10:12 am
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| Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric R8 supercar (or an extended range EV that uses a diesel range extender) to the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September have been denied by an Audi spokesperson. The anonymous Audi representative told Inside Line simply that the stories in Auto Motor und Sport in Germany and L'Automobile in France were "not true. Brammo Enertia TTR race bike - Click above for a high-res image gallery Best Buy has hopped on as an official sponsor of the Brammo Enertia race team, which will be campaigning... Bewerp Savage Revale Roadyacht GTS - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we checked, the name "road yacht" wasn't exactly complimentary, but bespoke... Mindset electric car - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we heard from Spirit Avert, the team behind the mindset electric car, the group was said...  Caterpillar-infested Honda Civic - Click above for a high-res image gallery For sale: One fourth-generation Honda Civic hatchback. Slightly faded red exterior paint with lots of squiggly black lines.
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| Jay Leno wins car award from Concorso Italiano:
May 29, 2009 at 9:58 am
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|  He started as an understudy and has become an icon, and with his last taping of the Tonight Show hours away, Jay Leno has secured another car honor. The Concorso Italiano, which plays host to a prestigious car event before the Pebble Beach concours, announced that Leno is being honored with its La Bella Macchina hall of fame award for contributions to the car world. Formula One: Jenson Button became the first British driver to win the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix from pole since Jackie Stewart did it in 1973. The win was Button's fifth in six races this season...  Helio Castroneves has won the 2009 Indianapolis 500, marking his third career win here at the Brickyard. It also makes for a record breaking 15th team with for Penske Racing.  The buzz around the collector-car world for quite some time has been the possible emergence of early Japanese cars as collectibles. Few have hit the radar as mainstream collectibles.  Click above and scroll down to watch the video While Dave Letterman struggles to correctly describe the Chevrolet Volt, rival late-night host Jay Leno takes a bit more care to get things right in his test drive of the Aptera 2e.
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| Aston Martin to join F1 circus in 2012?
May 29, 2009 at 9:57 am
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|  It looks like GT and Le Mans prototype racing may be just the beginning for Aston Martin. Following an agreement this week with F1 promotions boss, Bernie Ecclestone, Aston Martin could be jumping into the Formula One ranks in 2012. Like Aston's other race programs, it's F1 campaign will be operated by Prodrive, although the team will actually launch in 2010 as the Prodrive team then switch to the automaker's branding two years later.  Renault Twingo - Click above for a complete gallery A few French media outlets are toying with the possibility that Renault could build a microcar to compete with the smart fortwo... Volkswagen Eos White Nights – Click above for high-res image gallery We know that Volkswagen's new special-edition Eos isn't named after a mythical cavalry figure on an ivory steed...  Martini girl in Monaco – Click above for high-res image gallery You'd have a hard time concentrating too if this woman were staring right at you. That's what reportedly happened during last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix. Devon Motor Works GTX rendering - Click above for an image gallery According to court documents filed by Chrysler, there is but one lone official offer for the firm's Dodge Viper automotive business...
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| Dodge Challenger Wheel Weights Round Out The Field
May 29, 2009 at 9:30 am
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|  It's an epidemic folks: new muscle cars seem to be afflicted with difficult-to-balance wheels. First, it was the Camaro, then the Mustang, and now we can add the Challenger to the list. We realize this story line is getting a bit ridiculous, they are just wheel weights after all, but in the interest of fairness we figured we should point out that horsepower isn't the only place in the muscle car wars these three cars compete. Nope, it's the hefty load of wheel balancing weights as well. Ford Fiesta Rally Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery For the Ford Fiesta's next trick on it's Get to Know America Tour, the smallest of Blue Oval autos is getting a serious overhaul and going mountain climbing.  We're familiar with the Camaro brake weights issue, so when we saw tons of wheel-balancing weights on the Camaro Indy pace car, we thought it strange. Turns out the 2010 Mustang is just as bad. When it comes to horsepower, it's always tempting to declare that some new beast of a car has edged over the brink of excess. On the topic of the Bugatti Veyron, Pierre Henri-Raphanel...  Volkswagen's sleek new Scirocco may never make it to America, but Europeans are already lining up for a performance version of the Golf-based coupe. The Scirocco R gets VW's 261-horsepower turbocharged direct-injection 2.
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| Tesla Motors and Lotus announce matching recall notices
May 29, 2009 at 9:25 am
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|  Tesla Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery Tesla Motors has announced its first-ever recall, affecting all 345 Roadsters the Silicon Valley automaker produced in 2008. According to the official recall notice from the NHTSA, the rear hub flange bolts on some vehicles may not be torqued to proper specifications, which could lead to "degredation in vehicle handling and a rubbing noise from the rear of the vehicle." That, as you would imagine, would be bad, and if left unresolved could result in a crash. Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric R8 supercar (or an extended range... Brammo Enertia TTR race bike - Click above for a high-res image gallery Best Buy has hopped on as an official sponsor of the Brammo Enertia race team, which will be campaigning... Bewerp Savage Revale Roadyacht GTS - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we checked, the name "road yacht" wasn't exactly complimentary, but bespoke... Ford Fiesta Rally Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery For the Ford Fiesta's next trick on it's Get to Know America Tour, the smallest of Blue Oval autos is getting a serious overhaul and going mountain climbing.
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| Rendered speculation: Peugeot 008, French iMiEV
May 29, 2009 at 9:21 am
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|  We've known for several months now that Peugeot would be selling a re-badged version of the Mitsubishi iMiEV in Europe in a couple of years. What we haven't seen is the car itself. We still haven't, but AutoExpress has taken a crack at rendering what it might look like. Overall, their imagined car doesn't look much different from the existing Mitsubishi aside from the front of the car. Europe's crash testing authority, Euro NCAP, has published a series of new tests that includes the latest small and fuel efficient models offered there. The top scorers in the small car segment... There has been all manner of speculation leading to this point, but the Temple of VTEC says it has heard from a source who claims the Honda Crosstour will be arrive in the U.  The Ford Capri is to Europe what the Ford Mustang is to the United States... with at least one major exception. Unlike the quintessentially American pony car, which has been in nearly continuous production since its inception way back in 1964...  Next up to announce a miniature MPV is Volkswagen, said to be eying its Polo for conversion to a (little) people hauler. In Europe such a car would go against competition like the Opel Meriva and Fiat Qubo.
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| Frank Weber Says Chevy Volt is Necessary and Relevant For Energy Independence
May 29, 2009 at 9:16 am
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|  Frank had the feeling many of the world's brightest minds think electric cars development should be in the pervue of the start-up not a large industrial company like GM. He has set out to prove them wrong. Weber says electric cars aren't about a "green niche" but a necessary tool to end oil dependence. Hybrid and battery electric cars get most of the attention from drivers looking for more efficient transportation. Toyota has done a masterful job of marketing the benefits of hybrids and... We've had our first taste of the drive system under development for General Motors' pioneering Chevrolet Volt, piloting a test mule based on the Chevrolet Cruze at the company's Warren (Mich. They have strictly restricted those driving experiences to the vehicle's charge depleting mode. Outsiders thus only have the experience of driving the car in pure electric mode without the gas generator running. Chrysler Town & Country EV - Click above for a high-res gallery Chrysler has submitted a series of plans to the U.S. Department of Energy intended to speed up the...
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| Best Buy official sponsor for Brammo Enertia TTXGP race team
May 29, 2009 at 8:25 am
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| Brammo Enertia TTR race bike - Click above for a high-res image gallery Best Buy has hopped on as an official sponsor of the Brammo Enertia race team, which will be campaigning a pair of electric motorcycles at the world's first zero-emissions motorcycle race on June 12th at the Isle of Man. The news of Best Buy's involvement doesn't come as too much of a surprise since the Big Box retailer had earlier invested a large chunk of cash in Brammo and plans to begin selling the road-going Enertia in West Coast stores on a trial basis this summer. Plus, John Schnatter's 1972 Chevrolet Camaro – Click above for high-res image gallery It's inconceivable that in 1984 there was any young man in America under 30 that did not love both pizza and the Camaro Z-28. Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric R8 supercar (or an extended range... Tesla Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery Tesla Motors has announced its first-ever recall, affecting all 345 Roadsters the Silicon Valley automaker produced in 2008. Bewerp Savage Revale Roadyacht GTS - Click above for a high-res image gallery The last time we checked, the name "road yacht" wasn't exactly complimentary, but bespoke... Ford Fiesta Rally Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery For the Ford Fiesta's next trick on it's Get to Know America Tour, the smallest of Blue Oval autos is getting a serious overhaul and going mountain climbing.
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| Motorcycles Too Pricey? Rent One Instead
May 29, 2009 at 7:43 am
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|  Owning a car in the city can be such a drag - what with the high price of parking, the confusing signs and the crush of commuter traffic. But owning a motorcycle is no picnic, either. Parking is still a puzzle, the streets aren't exactly racetrack-smooth and there are several months when the weather makes riding a motorcycle a bone-chilling experience. It's an epidemic folks: new muscle cars seem to be afflicted with difficult-to-balance wheels. First, it was the Camaro, then the Mustang, and now we can add the Challenger to the list. Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric R8 supercar (or an extended range... It looks like GT and Le Mans prototype racing may be just the beginning for Aston Martin. Following an agreement this week with F1 promotions boss, Bernie Ecclestone, Aston Martin could be jumping into the Formula One ranks in 2012. He started as an understudy and has become an icon, and with his last taping of the Tonight Show hours away, Jay Leno has secured another car honor. The Concorso Italiano...
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| GM trying to unload Saturn, Hummer
May 29, 2009 at 7:11 am
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| Whether or not General Motors files for bankruptcy protection, the carmaker has made clear that its future plans do not include two brands — Saturn and Hummer — that once seemed to hold immense promise for the company. GM has said it will decide this year whether to sell or discontinue both brands as part of the stringent cost-cutting measures aimed at trying to restore the ailing company's financial stability. The overall effort also has created an uncertain future for two other GM divisions, Saab and Opel.  According to Bloomberg, citing persons familiar with the matter, the 77 year old company plans to file for bankruptcy protection on Monday June 1. That same day will...  WASHINGTON - Government Motors. A new name for Detroit's weakened auto giant GM is making the rounds, sometimes with irony, sometimes with dread, suggested by the deepest Washington industrial intervention in a half-century.  Nowhere near enough General Motors bond holders agreed to exchange their debt for stock before a deadline at midnight Tuesday, making a bankruptcy filing by the automaker highly likely.
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