| Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. | |
| V8-powered Ariel Atom 500 could cost at least $160k
June 8, 2009 at 8:58 pm
|
|   Ariel Atom 500 V8 - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Even with the stock 300-horsepower Honda four, the Ariel Atom is a verifiable supercar-slayer...  Wacky Races recreations in West Sussex – Click above for high-res image gallery The love of motorsports starts at a young age for many racing fans, and countless enthusiasts owe their obsession to Hanna-Barbera's classic Wacky Races cartoons.  Tesla Roadster convoy - Click above for a high-res image gallery Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After...  Ferrari at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery It's no secret that the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association are jointly interested in reducing the cost required to compete in F1 racing...  Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory Transformers livery - Click above for high-res image gallery General Motors isn't the only vehicle manufacturer with an interest in promoting the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen flick...
|
| Hanna-Barbera's Wacky Racers take to the street ahead of Goodwood Festival of Speed
June 8, 2009 at 8:49 pm
|
| Wacky Races recreations in West Sussex – Click above for high-res image gallery The love of motorsports starts at a young age for many racing fans, and countless enthusiasts owe their obsession to Hanna-Barbera's classic Wacky Races cartoons. The 60's-era animated series featured all manner of characters competing wheel to cartoon wheel in the most hilarious automotive concoctions ever rendered on celluloid. Tesla Roadster convoy - Click above for a high-res image gallery Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After... Ferrari at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery It's no secret that the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association are jointly interested in reducing the cost required to compete in F1 racing... Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory Transformers livery - Click above for high-res image gallery General Motors isn't the only vehicle manufacturer with an interest in promoting the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen flick...  Pontiac G8 GT - Click above for a high-res image gallery The brand's demise next year will mark the end of the Pontiac G8, but there's a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the Aussie-built sports sedan.
|
| Rush Limbaugh calling for boycott of GM products
June 8, 2009 at 7:51 pm
|
|   As if things weren't bad enough. Rush Limbaugh used to love GM, at least the company's gas-guzzlers. Now that the General has become "Government Motors," Limbaugh is rallying his Dittoheads to boycott GM products. Limbaugh is joined in his quest by fellow rightwing pundit Hugh Hewitt and, for now, a smattering of conservative blogs and writers. Wacky Races recreations in West Sussex – Click above for high-res image gallery The love of motorsports starts at a young age for many racing fans, and countless enthusiasts owe their obsession to Hanna-Barbera's classic Wacky Races cartoons.  This crunched Bumblebee-yellow Avis-rental Chevy Camaro was supposedly spotted by Jalopnik reader Nicholas outside the Avis at DFW airport. It only had 1,100 miles on the odometer. What a sad, early end to a 300 HP V6-engined muscle car. Tesla Roadster convoy - Click above for a high-res image gallery Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After...
|
| Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.8.09
June 8, 2009 at 7:48 pm
|
|  Review: 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible adds open-air fun for a price
The newest drop-top Cooper S packs all the dynamic delights of its fixed roof counterpart with the added thrill of open-air motoring. But does its lofty price tag cut into the fun? We find out.  If you're not an Apple fanboy who's been hitting F5 repeatedly over on Engadget today, here's a green car tie-in from the big WWDC that's just wrapping up: your iPhone will soon be able to unlock the doors of your Zipcar rental vehicle.  Apple announced a new iPhone application for car-sharing service Zipcar at today's 2009 World Wide Developers Conference. The app will allow users to find, reserve and control zipcars from their phones.  For all of you who aren't Apple fanboys and haven't been refreshing Engadget's live coverage of the 2009 WWDC this afternoon, there's some major news involving everyone's favorite little smart phone and two big auto-related companies.  2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery Back in 2001, BMW revived the Mini brand by unveiling a new Cooper model that updated the...
|
| eBay Find of the Day: Malcolm Bricklin's very own 1970 Meyers Manx SR
June 8, 2009 at 7:41 pm
|
|  Malcolm Bricklin's 1970 Meyers Manx SR - Click above for high-res gallery The Meyers Manx SR (for "Street Roadster") was the roadgoing version of Meyers' seminal, frog-eyed dune buggy. There were ten built at Meyers' factory in Fountain Valley, and the 1970-vintage example you see above was built for that other kit car icon, Malcolm Bricklin.  1999 Packard Twelve concept - Click above for an image gallery The Packard nameplate is one steeped in rich heritage, having produced its first automobile way back in 1899.  Speaking in an interview with Robert Farago from The Truth About Cars, Malcolm Bricklin offered a few more details on his plans to convert existing vehicles from Chrysler and General Motors to hydrogen hybrids.  Add serial entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin to the list of people interested in getting a crack at the 2,000 or so automotive dealerships that are scheduled to be shut down by either General Motors or Chrysler in short order.
|
| Convoy of Tesla Roadsters in California commemorates 500th delivery
June 8, 2009 at 7:39 pm
|
| Tesla Roadster convoy - Click above for a high-res image gallery Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After taking a look at the photos of such an event from our friends at Speed and Motion, we'll go with convoy. This crowd was brought together to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Tesla's first retail store and the delivery of the 500th Tesla Roadster, Pontiac G8 GT - Click above for a high-res image gallery The brand's demise next year will mark the end of the Pontiac G8, but there's a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the Aussie-built sports sedan.  Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel at NAIAS 2008 – Click above for a high-res image gallery While the intertubes are abuzz with Lamborghini's announcement of a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction plan...  BMW DesignworksUSA Falcon 7X business jet interior - Click above for a high-res image gallery Thanks to its unique "ability to create designs consistent with individual brands...  2009 Turkish Grand Prix – Click above for a high-res image gallery With the established teams still threatening to walk and new teams lining up by the dozen, nothing...
|
| The new Audi: more performance, less weight
June 8, 2009 at 7:35 pm
|
|  Audi is developing the groundwork for an entirely new way of building its cars. The future for the four rings is light weight, giving it the proper base to support the best hybrid and electric cars, as well as extract the most from its traditional offerings. As previously reported, the first example from the test lab is an S5 that is 400 kg -- yes, 880 pounds -- lighter than a traditional S5. Whereas the conventional S5 uses a 354 hp V8,  Saturn Vue Plug-in - click above for a high-res gallery Now that Penske has agreed to buy Saturn from GM, the big question is what will happen to the brand's vehicles.  The lab is the largest and most technologically advanced automotive battery lab in the United States. Located in the sprawling 1 mile square Warren Technical Center, the lab occupies 33,000 square feet, 4 times the size of the old lab.  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...  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.
|
| Oil Painting: Lewis Hamilton rendered in used Mobil 1
June 8, 2009 at 7:29 pm
|
|  Components from F1 cars – especially championship-winning F1 cars – don't go to waste. Collectors eagerly snap them up and put them on display as fast as the teams will release them. But in this case, the motor oil from Lewis Hamilton's title-winning McLaren-Mercedes MP4-24 was used to create a tribute to the driver. Wacky Races recreations in West Sussex – Click above for high-res image gallery The love of motorsports starts at a young age for many racing fans, and countless enthusiasts owe their obsession to Hanna-Barbera's classic Wacky Races cartoons. This crunched Bumblebee-yellow Avis-rental Chevy Camaro was supposedly spotted by Jalopnik reader Nicholas outside the Avis at DFW airport. It only had 1,100 miles on the odometer. What a sad, early end to a 300 HP V6-engined muscle car. As if things weren't bad enough. Rush Limbaugh used to love GM, at least the company's gas-guzzlers. Now that the General has become "Government Motors," Limbaugh is rallying his Dittoheads to boycott GM products.
|
| Rental Car Reach-Around: First Avis Camaro Wreck!
June 8, 2009 at 7:15 pm
|
|  This crunched Bumblebee-yellow Avis-rental Chevy Camaro was supposedly spotted by Jalopnik reader Nicholas outside the Avis at DFW airport. It only had 1,100 miles on the odometer. What a sad, early end to a 300 HP V6-engined muscle car.  The story begins pointing out that the Chevrolet Camaro SS is GM's latest muscle car that flies in the face of all the environmental talk going on these days. "Sexy with charisma...  The formula for making a muscle car was established 46 years ago when John Z. DeLorean dropped a 389 where a 326 had been and created the first GTO. That simple Frankenstinian act has been followed ever since by a parade of great brutes.  Yes friends, this is the new "Government Motors"-designed 2014 Chevy Camaro which, according to insider groups within the bankrupt automaker, is a muscle car designed to meet the new, more stringent CAFE standards.  Chevy Cruze gets the Bumblebee treatment – Click above for a high-res image gallery The idea behind building a stunning performance car like the new Chevy Camaro...
|
| Honda Sets Up 50th Anniversary Homage 1959 Storefront In HQ
June 8, 2009 at 6:45 pm
|
|  In 1959 Honda established itself here in the U.S. selling motorcycles out of a small storefront in LA. Fifty years later, the folks at Honda erected a homage to that first little store in their U.S. headquarters. See it below. The display inside the faux storefront includes the following: - 1975 Civc CVCC: At 40 mpg, the 1975 Civic CVCC topped the EPA's fuel efficiency ratings and was the first car to meet the 1975 U.S. Clean Air Act standards without a catalytic converter.  What automaker has a lower owner satisfaction score in the UK than Chrysler? The one and only company that makes automobiles less tasty to UK consumers is Fiat. Both brands...  General Motors' place in downtown Detroit appears safe, at least for now. After a few days of frantic phone calls, letters and tax incentives being offered from two different cities...  You've seen the Burning Man Penalty from the Goin' For Broken 24 Hours of LeMons at Reno-Fernley Raceway last weekend, but that was just one of many innovations in the LeMons Correctional System.
|
| Audi working on hybrids, saving weight
June 8, 2009 at 6:24 pm
|
|  Audi Sportback Concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery
It's easy to focus on the electrification of the automobile as the next big step towards reducing our fossil fuel consumption, but a lot has to happen before we're all driving electric vehicles... Tesla Roadster convoy - Click above for a high-res image gallery Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After... Pontiac G8 GT - Click above for a high-res image gallery The brand's demise next year will mark the end of the Pontiac G8, but there's a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the Aussie-built sports sedan. Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel at NAIAS 2008 – Click above for a high-res image gallery While the intertubes are abuzz with Lamborghini's announcement of a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction plan...  2009 L.A. Concours d'Elegance – Click above for high-res image gallery Now that it's almost officially summer, that means one thing: car shows. While those on the...
|
| Dealer Bailout: Chrysler to redistribute all new inventory
June 8, 2009 at 6:23 pm
|
|  After the suggestion of Congressional hearings on the matter, Chrysler's Jim Press assured Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) that Chrysler dealers with leftover inventory after June 9 would "receive a fair and equitable value." It appears that Chrysler is making good on that promise. The company's head of sales, Steven Landry, outlined the measures being taken to relieve shuttered dealers of their wares and remunerate them for it. Of the 42,000 cars held by the 780 dealers whose franchises were nixed,  NEW YORK - Hundreds of Chrysler dealers across the U.S. on the automaker's "hit list" are scrambling to dispose of their inventory by Tuesday when their franchise agreements are slated to be terminated.  DES MOINES, Iowa - If you're looking for a new Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep, this just might be your weekend. Chrysler dealers who will lose their right to sell new cars as...  General Motor is attempting to cushion the blow of dealers losing their franchises as part of the automaker's bid to pare down its network. According to Automotive News...  General Motors is going to right-size its dealer body as part of its bankruptcy, and the Detroit automaker is going to ask plenty of dealers that make the cut to remain with the "new" GM.
|
| Aprilia commemorates Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with special RSV 1000 R livery
June 8, 2009 at 6:14 pm
|
| Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory Transformers livery - Click above for high-res image gallery General Motors isn't the only vehicle manufacturer with an interest in promoting the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen flick, as evidenced by last weekend's AMA Pro Daytona SportBike at Road America in Wisconsin. Italian motorcycle maker Aprilia used the race to unveil fresh new livery for the RSV 1000 Factory race bike ridden by Ben Thompson, Wacky Races recreations in West Sussex – Click above for high-res image gallery The love of motorsports starts at a young age for many racing fans, and countless enthusiasts owe their obsession to Hanna-Barbera's classic Wacky Races cartoons. Tesla Roadster convoy - Click above for a high-res image gallery Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After... Ferrari at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery It's no secret that the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association are jointly interested in reducing the cost required to compete in F1 racing... Pontiac G8 GT - Click above for a high-res image gallery The brand's demise next year will mark the end of the Pontiac G8, but there's a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the Aussie-built sports sedan.
|
| Trying out the new Insight in Spain at the EcoDesafÃo Honda Insight
June 8, 2009 at 6:07 pm
|
|  Click on image above to see a full gallery of the EcoDesafio Honda Insight in Barcelona The first generation the Honda Insight wasn't offered for sale in most European markets, including Spain. The Honda Civic hybrid is available here, but hasn't seen too many sales, in part because diesel is usually cheaper than gasoline. Honda thought that it would be a good idea to promote its new Insight hybrid using a slightly more intensive marketing campaign.  Remember the uber-secret Ford "Bobcat" dual-fuel engine — the one that squirts a shot of E85 directly into the cylinder chamber to create diesel-like performance out of a gasoline engine? Thanks to PickupTrucks.  Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen has repeatedly said in the past that the British luxury marque will introduce lower CO2-emitting powertrains over the next several years, starting with the flex-fuel W12 in the Continental Supersports this fall.  Tato Nano Europa - Click above for a photo gallery Americans may have the opportunity to welcome the Tata Nano to their shores in just over two years, according to a confirmation from David Good, a U.
|
| Coda Automotive Enters the Battery Business
June 8, 2009 at 6:02 pm
|
|   One week after unveiling the Coda electric sedan, Coda Automotive has announced a joint venture to produce lithium-ion batteries for the car. The upstart automaker says it will build a factory with Yardney Technical Products to develop and manufacture automotive-grade batteries for the Coda (pictured), which it expects to begin selling in California next year. The four-door, five-passenger sedan will use batteries developed by Chinese manufacturer Lishen until the factory, slated for Enfield, Conn., is up and running.  General Motors officially opened its new Global Battery Systems Lab in Warren today, saying it will expand the automaker's research and development capabilities for the electric-powered vehicles of the future.  For the past four years, General Motors has been trying to sell its medium duty truck business, which produces the giant Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick. Navistar, Isuzu...  He's been called a "competitive cuss," especially by those who've had to go up against him, whether on track or in a business deal. Roger Penske is a take-no-prisoners kind of executive... NEW YORK - Hundreds of Chrysler dealers across the U.S. on the automaker's "hit list" are scrambling to dispose of their inventory by Tuesday when their franchise agreements are slated to be terminated.
|
| F1 teams vote to scrap KERS in 2010
June 8, 2009 at 5:58 pm
|
| Ferrari at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery It's no secret that the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association are jointly interested in reducing the cost required to compete in F1 racing, and the FOTA has taken a step in that direction by resolving to abandon the use of the controversial kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) that are permissible but not mandatory for the 2009 season. According to reports, the vote to ban the hybrid powertrains was not unanimous, but a majority of teams have voted against the technology for 2010. Wacky Races recreations in West Sussex – Click above for high-res image gallery The love of motorsports starts at a young age for many racing fans, and countless enthusiasts owe their obsession to Hanna-Barbera's classic Wacky Races cartoons. Tesla Roadster convoy - Click above for a high-res image gallery Just what do you call a gathering of 30 or so Tesla Roadsters all in one place? A gaggle? A flock? After... Aprilia RSV 1000 Factory Transformers livery - Click above for high-res image gallery General Motors isn't the only vehicle manufacturer with an interest in promoting the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen flick... Pontiac G8 GT - Click above for a high-res image gallery The brand's demise next year will mark the end of the Pontiac G8, but there's a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the Aussie-built sports sedan.
|
| Is This The New 500 HP Ferrari F450?
June 8, 2009 at 5:30 pm
|
|  Could this Auto Plus-commissioned illustration be the 2011 Ferrari F450? The F430 replacement will feature a high-revving 500 HP, 4.5-liter V8 with a hair-raising 10,000 rpm redline. Not only will the F450 feature a .2-liter bump in displacement and ten more Italian ponies from the F430 Scuderia, it'll also be the first car to feature Ferrari's new weight savings techniques that were previewed on the 2007 FXX Millechili concept. In 1959 Honda established itself here in the U.S. selling motorcycles out of a small storefront in LA. Fifty years later, the folks at Honda erected a homage to that first little store in their U. For all of you who aren't Apple fanboys and haven't been refreshing Engadget's live coverage of the 2009 WWDC this afternoon, there's some major news involving everyone's favorite little smart phone and two big auto-related companies. Yes friends, this is the new "Government Motors"-designed 2014 Chevy Camaro which, according to insider groups within the bankrupt automaker, is a muscle car designed to meet the new, more stringent CAFE standards.  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).
|
| Zipcar announces new iPhone app, gives new meaning to "unlocked" cell phone
June 8, 2009 at 4:59 pm
|
| If you're not an Apple fanboy who's been hitting F5 repeatedly over on Engadget today, here's a green car tie-in from the big WWDC that's just wrapping up: your iPhone will soon be able to unlock the doors of your Zipcar rental vehicle. Yes, your phone can now tell your car what to do. It's only a matter of time before Dr. Horrible's remote control app becomes a reality. Apple announced a new iPhone application for car-sharing service Zipcar at today's 2009 World Wide Developers Conference. The app will allow users to find, reserve and control zipcars from their phones. For all of you who aren't Apple fanboys and haven't been refreshing Engadget's live coverage of the 2009 WWDC this afternoon, there's some major news involving everyone's favorite little smart phone and two big auto-related companies.  Click above to watch the video after the break It shouldn't come as a major surprise that car sharing services like Zipcar are reporting increased membership rates and demand for short-term rental vehicles in these tough economic times.  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.
|
| GOP plan calls for Fed to give GM, Chrysler stock to taxpayers
June 8, 2009 at 4:58 pm
|
|  The bankruptcy of General Motors and Chrysler has made both automakers part property of the U.S. government. Under the current plan drawn up by President Obama's Auto Task Force, 60% of GM and 8% of Chrysler will end up under the ownership of Uncle Sam, but Republicans are hatching a different plan. Senator Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., has authored a bill to turn over control of the Detroit automakers to the 140 million Americans that filed tax returns last year. The stock notes would be doled out once GM and Chrysler exit chapter 11 bankruptcy.  WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama's transition team turned down a pitch last November from Bush administration officials to publicly join forces in setting tough conditions on General Motors Corp.  When it comes to dealership closings, there is a big divide between what General Motors, Chrysler and President Obama's auto task force want and what dealers and Congress want.  With a little help from Fiat and the U.S. government, among others, it seems Chrysler and GM are both on a pathway to solvency — or are they? On June 1, President Barack...  WASHINGTON ? Fighting to survive, top executives from General Motors and Chrysler today defended their decisions to slash dealerships around the country, calling the moves unavoidable despite the pain to many loyal dealers and customers.
|
| Hertz updates European Green Collection, all models now
June 8, 2009 at 4:41 pm
|
|  Over in Europe, Hertz has updated its "Green Collection" rental car fleet. The expanded fleet is available in more countries and all of the vehicles that fall under the "green" banner have CO2 emissions below 140 g/km and more than half of the available cars are below 120 g/km. Those sub-120 g/km are exempt from congestion charges in places like London. The Green Collection is available to renters in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Sweden. Wacky Races recreations in West Sussex – Click above for high-res image gallery The love of motorsports starts at a young age for many racing fans, and countless enthusiasts owe their obsession to Hanna-Barbera's classic Wacky Races cartoons. This crunched Bumblebee-yellow Avis-rental Chevy Camaro was supposedly spotted by Jalopnik reader Nicholas outside the Avis at DFW airport. It only had 1,100 miles on the odometer. What a sad, early end to a 300 HP V6-engined muscle car. As if things weren't bad enough. Rush Limbaugh used to love GM, at least the company's gas-guzzlers. Now that the General has become "Government Motors," Limbaugh is rallying his Dittoheads to boycott GM products.
|
| GM opens new battery lab, shuts down medium-duty truck line
June 8, 2009 at 4:26 pm
|
|  General Motors officially opened its new Global Battery Systems Lab in Warren today, saying it will expand the automaker's research and development capabilities for the electric-powered vehicles of the future. The battery lab celebration illustrates GM's new direction and comes a week after GM filed for bankruptcy reorganization and on the same day GM also announced it would wind down its medium-duty truck operations. Saturn Vue Plug-in - click above for a high-res gallery Now that Penske has agreed to buy Saturn from GM, the big question is what will happen to the brand's vehicles.  General Motors took a big step toward its reinvention as the "New G.M." today when it opened what it calls the largest automotive battery laboratory in the United States... For the past four years, General Motors has been trying to sell its medium duty truck business, which produces the giant Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick. Navistar, Isuzu... WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama's transition team turned down a pitch last November from Bush administration officials to publicly join forces in setting tough conditions on General Motors Corp.
|
| WITH PDF OF ORDER: Supreme Court halts sale of Chrysler assets to Fiat
June 8, 2009 at 4:13 pm
|
| The U.S. Supreme Court has at least temporarily blocked the sale of Chrysler LLC's assets to a new Chrysler-Fiat partnership, according to an order released this afternoon. The court ordered a halt to the sale pending further directions, without elaboration. Chrysler, Fiat and the U.S. government had been prepared to close the sale as soon as today if an appeal from the Indiana state pension fund had been rejected. What automaker has a lower owner satisfaction score in the UK than Chrysler? The one and only company that makes automobiles less tasty to UK consumers is Fiat. Both brands...  As the movie Hoosiers amply demonstrated, Indiana natives don't quit. That's also true for three Indiana state pension funds who have fought Chrysler's bankruptcy all the way to the federal appeals court in New York and...  WASHINGTON ? Opponents of Chrysler's sale to Fiat are asking the Supreme Court to block the deal. Three Indiana state pension and construction funds filed emergency papers...  The sale creating a new Chrysler-Fiat could close Monday afternoon, unless the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear a last-ditch appeal from three Indiana pension funds.
|
| TomTom and Zip Car announce new apps for iPhone
June 8, 2009 at 3:51 pm
|
| For all of you who aren't Apple fanboys and haven't been refreshing Engadget's live coverage of the 2009 WWDC this afternoon, there's some major news involving everyone's favorite little smart phone and two big auto-related companies. The first is a new app from TomTom that was previewed back in January but finally became official today. The long awaited TomTom app will turn your iPhone into a full feature navigation system, a function this phone's been sorely lacking for quite a while despite housing the hardware to make it happen. While pricing wasn't given, Apple announced a new iPhone application for car-sharing service Zipcar at today's 2009 World Wide Developers Conference. The app will allow users to find, reserve and control zipcars from their phones.  Coda sedan - click above for a high res live gallery Unfortunately, we didn't have anyone from the ABG team available locally to attend the unveiling of the new Coda electric sedan earlier this week in Santa Monica. Yes friends, this is the new "Government Motors"-designed 2014 Chevy Camaro which, according to insider groups within the bankrupt automaker, is a muscle car designed to meet the new, more stringent CAFE standards.  The 2010 Honda Insight hybrid is a new car bereft of new ideas. That's peculiar, because the original 2000 Insight was the first gasoline-electric hybrid sold in the United States.
|
| What Will Almost $50,000 Buy? An Electric Car
June 8, 2009 at 3:46 pm
|
|   Mitsubishi has announced that its i-MiEV electric pod car will go on sale in Japan in late July for $45,660. Not to be outdone, Subaru said it will bring out its own electric car, the Stella, for $49,255. Finally, cars that makes the idea of a $40,000-something Chevy Volt seem like a bargain. Mitsubishi and Subaru are aiming their products squarely at the Japanese domestic market, where E.V. buyers can qualify for government subsidies of more than $14,000.  Toyota officials in the U.S. may express public skepticism over market prospects for plug-in vehicles, but that doesn't mean the company isn't working on related technology.  The Toyobaru deserves a place in the mythical creature pantheon with vampires and the Loch Ness Monster -- every official denial is followed by another sighting. The latest speculation on Toyota and Subaru's coupe project provides more details...
|
| Saturn's future under Penske: electric cars might move to front of the line
June 8, 2009 at 3:42 pm
|
| Saturn Vue Plug-in - click above for a high-res gallery Now that Penske has agreed to buy Saturn from GM, the big question is what will happen to the brand's vehicles. The agreement between the two companies stated that GM would keep building the Aura, Vue, and Outlook models for Penske on a contract basis and, as we heard earlier, the plug-in Vue Hybrid powertrain will be moved over to the Equinox. The lab is the largest and most technologically advanced automotive battery lab in the United States. Located in the sprawling 1 mile square Warren Technical Center, the lab occupies 33,000 square feet, 4 times the size of the old lab.  IndyCar team owner and Detroit businessman Roger Penske has an agreement with General Motors to buy the Saturn brand, it was announced Friday. The proposed deal could close in the third quarter...  Today they have announced that they have a proposed contract with the Penske Automotive Group to acquire the Saturn brand. The price tag will be between $100 and $200 million...  Confirming a report we posted on earlier today, General Motors has reached a preliminary agreement to handover the Saturn marque to the Penske Automotive Group. In GM's official statement after the jump...
|
| Pontiac G8 could live on, sans Pontiac... but don't hold your breath
June 8, 2009 at 3:29 pm
|
| Pontiac G8 GT - Click above for a high-res image gallery The brand's demise next year will mark the end of the Pontiac G8, but there's a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the Aussie-built sports sedan. Speaking with Automotive News, Tom Stephens, General Motors' vice chairman of global product development, said "there's still discussions on" resurrecting the G8, "but Chevrolet already has several sedans. How many sedans do you need to cover the waterfront?" Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel at NAIAS 2008 – Click above for a high-res image gallery While the intertubes are abuzz with Lamborghini's announcement of a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction plan... BMW DesignworksUSA Falcon 7X business jet interior - Click above for a high-res image gallery Thanks to its unique "ability to create designs consistent with individual brands... 2009 Turkish Grand Prix – Click above for a high-res image gallery With the established teams still threatening to walk and new teams lining up by the dozen, nothing...  Brammo Enertia TTR race bike - Click above for a high-res image gallery As excited as we are about the upcoming TTXGP zero-emissions eGrandPrix, we're more than a bit...
|
| Acura ZDX spied: Big star from Big Apple show caught testing:
June 8, 2009 at 3:13 pm
|
|   The Acura ZDX continues its drive to showrooms this fall, and the new luxury four-door was spied during testing on the road. It looks close to the prototype shown at the New York auto show in April, with the dramatically angled roofline and bulging fenders. Up front, Acura?s bolder grille is visible through the coverings, and the doors get dramatic lines that flow backward.  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.  As its name suggests, the BMW X1 represents the entry level in the German carmaker's SUV lineup. But while European sales will start in October, following an unveiling of the production car at the Frankfurt motor show...  After a few earlier attempts were unsuccessful in setting an official record, Jürgen Hohenester, a German racecar driver and automotive tuner, has finally set a new...  Ariel Atom 500 V8 - Click either image for a high-res image gallery When it comes to power and lightweight, enough is never enough. And so, Ariel (finally) gives us the Atom 500 V8...
|
| Control Zipcar From Your iPhone
June 8, 2009 at 3:10 pm
|
| Apple announced a new iPhone application for car-sharing service Zipcar at today's 2009 World Wide Developers Conference. The app will allow users to find, reserve and control zipcars from their phones. Yes, control. Zipcar users with an iPhone will not only see locations and cars as little green pins and allow them to access information about the cars and make reservations. Better yet is a new feature that'll allow you to unlock the Zipcar from your phone rather than with the usual ZipCar ZipCard and even potentially control certain features of some cars, For all of you who aren't Apple fanboys and haven't been refreshing Engadget's live coverage of the 2009 WWDC this afternoon, there's some major news involving everyone's favorite little smart phone and two big auto-related companies.  The lowest rung on the Chevrolet car ladder currently is home to the Aveo. But that car is scheduled to be replaced midway through 2010 with a new model. Spy shooters have captured engineers testing a prototype of the new car...  Ford tossed down the gauntlet on gee-whiz dashboard gauge clusters with the Smartgauge in the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid. Now supplier Yazaki is going one step further with a fully-reconfigurable concept cluster running on Linux.  click above for a high res gallery of the Code EV sedan Today, Miles EV announced that the full speed electric car that it has been developing for the last several years will bear the new Coda Automotive brand.
|
| GM's 'Reinvention' Starts With A $25M Battery Lab
June 8, 2009 at 2:36 pm
|
| General Motors took a big step toward its reinvention as the "New G.M." today when it opened what it calls the largest automotive battery laboratory in the United States, a move the struggling company believes will hasten the development of electric vehicles. GM invested $25 million in the 33,000-square-foot Global Battery Systems Lab to develop and test the drivetrains underpinning the Chevrolet Volt and other hybrid, battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama's transition team turned down a pitch last November from Bush administration officials to publicly join forces in setting tough conditions on General Motors Corp.  The far right wing of the American political spectrum has begun channeling its displeasure over the federal government's involvement in the restructuring of General Motors into calls for a boycott of the company's products. The lab is the largest and most technologically advanced automotive battery lab in the United States. Located in the sprawling 1 mile square Warren Technical Center, the lab occupies 33,000 square feet, 4 times the size of the old lab.
|
| Zhong Tai, the new Chinese electric SUV, will bring "peace and safety for the people"
June 8, 2009 at 2:18 pm
|
|  Chinese company New Power is showing off its Zhong Tai electric mini SUV and making big claims: that it can go 250 miles on a charge, has a top speed of 75 mph, uses li-ion batteries, holds four people and will cost somewhere between £16,300 and £20,500 ($25,790 and $32,440) when it goes on sale in the UK "within the next couple of years...
 Mercedes-Benz builds more than fancy li-ion hybrid cars. The company's buses, notably the Citaro series, are quite a common sight in European cities. The German company has announced that the new generation of the Citaro G model...  BEIJING -- Hummer owners are an unusual breed, but a little-known Chinese company's surprise purchase of the U.S. maker of gas-guzzling, military-style SUVs is audacious, even by their standards.  Headquartered in Santa Monica California the new company stated its intentions to mass produce a pure electric sedan. The 4-door 5-passenger unassuming sedan will be powered by lithium ion batteries made by Lishen Co.  When GM finds a buyer for the HUMMER brand, its CAFE levels will be affected in a positive (if very minor, because the H2 is not counted in CAFE figures) way. This isn't...  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.
|
| VIDEO: BMW announces SYNC-like voice recognition technology for nav, audio
June 8, 2009 at 2:15 pm
|
|  Click above to view two videos of BMW's new voice recognition system after the jump Issuing voice commands to your vehicle's infotainment system used to be an arduous task that rarely, if ever, produced the desired effect. New systems, like Ford's SYNC, have cured many of those ills and BMW is on track to bring voice recognition to the next level later this year. General Motors officially opened its new Global Battery Systems Lab in Warren today, saying it will expand the automaker's research and development capabilities for the electric-powered vehicles of the future. Apple announced a new iPhone application for car-sharing service Zipcar at today's 2009 World Wide Developers Conference. The app will allow users to find, reserve and control zipcars from their phones. Mitsubishi has announced that its i-MiEV electric pod car will go on sale in Japan in late July for $45,660. Not to be outdone, Subaru said it will bring out its own electric car, the Stella, for $49,255. Saturn Vue Plug-in - click above for a high-res gallery Now that Penske has agreed to buy Saturn from GM, the big question is what will happen to the brand's vehicles.
|
| 2009 Orphan Car Show: MT Tech Editor brings out his 1967 Sunbeam Alpine
June 8, 2009 at 2:15 pm
|
|  Frank Markus' 1967 Sunbeam Alpine – Click above for high-res image gallery As we wandered around this year's Orphan Car Show, we ran into Motor Trend's Michigan-based technical editor Frank Markus. It turn's out Frank was displaying his own summertime toy, a 1967 Sunbeam Alpine roadster. Frank told us that he has owned this particular machine for over 20 years and it runs great. In fact, people familiar with Sunbeams are surprised when they hear it drive by. Pontiac G8 GT - Click above for a high-res image gallery The brand's demise next year will mark the end of the Pontiac G8, but there's a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the Aussie-built sports sedan. Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel at NAIAS 2008 – Click above for a high-res image gallery While the intertubes are abuzz with Lamborghini's announcement of a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction plan... 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery Back in 2001, BMW revived the Mini brand by unveiling a new Cooper model that updated the... 2009 L.A. Concours d'Elegance – Click above for high-res image gallery Now that it's almost officially summer, that means one thing: car shows. While those on the...
|
| Mercedes offering three cleaner, more powerful engines for C-class BlueEfficiency models
June 8, 2009 at 2:10 pm
|
|  Mercedes-Benz is now offering three new direct injected engines in its C-Class BlueEfficiency models. Two of the three four cylinder engines are diesels while the other is fueled by gasoline. The 2.2-liter diesel is available as a single turbo 170 hp version or a dual turbo 204 hp variant. The diesels produce 295 lb-ft and 369 lb-ft of torque respectively. The gasoline engine is a new 204 hp turbocharged 1.8-liter unit with 229 lb-ft of torque. Saturn Vue Plug-in - click above for a high-res gallery Now that Penske has agreed to buy Saturn from GM, the big question is what will happen to the brand's vehicles. For the past four years, General Motors has been trying to sell its medium duty truck business, which produces the giant Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick. Navistar, Isuzu... Remember the uber-secret Ford "Bobcat" dual-fuel engine — the one that squirts a shot of E85 directly into the cylinder chamber to create diesel-like performance out of a gasoline engine? Thanks to PickupTrucks. What automaker has a lower owner satisfaction score in the UK than Chrysler? The one and only company that makes automobiles less tasty to UK consumers is Fiat. Both brands...
|
| GM stops trying to sell medium duty truck line, will cease production of Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick
June 8, 2009 at 2:02 pm
|
| For the past four years, General Motors has been trying to sell its medium duty truck business, which produces the giant Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick. Navistar, Isuzu and other unnamed suitors were all at one point in discussions with GM to make a deal, but none ever happened and today the automaker announced that it would will "wind down" production of the Kodiak and Topkick and cease production altogether on July 31st. General Motors officially opened its new Global Battery Systems Lab in Warren today, saying it will expand the automaker's research and development capabilities for the electric-powered vehicles of the future.  Just weeks before Transformers 2 hits theaters, GM's killed Ironhide, announcing they'll be ceasing production of medium duty trucks after being unable to find a buyer due to the Carpocalypse. He's been called a "competitive cuss," especially by those who've had to go up against him, whether on track or in a business deal. Roger Penske is a take-no-prisoners kind of executive... NEW YORK - Hundreds of Chrysler dealers across the U.S. on the automaker's "hit list" are scrambling to dispose of their inventory by Tuesday when their franchise agreements are slated to be terminated.
|
| GM Kills Ironhide, Ceases Production Of TopKick, Kodiak
June 8, 2009 at 1:01 pm
|
| Just weeks before Transformers 2 hits theaters, GM's killed Ironhide, announcing they'll be ceasing production of medium duty trucks after being unable to find a buyer due to the Carpocalypse. Goodbye, GMC TopKick and Chevy Kodiak. You'll both be missed. Here's the full release in all two sentences of its glory. General Motors took a big step toward its reinvention as the "New G.M." today when it opened what it calls the largest automotive battery laboratory in the United States... The Acura ZDX continues its drive to showrooms this fall, and the new luxury four-door was spied during testing on the road. It looks close to the prototype shown at the New York auto show in April... Mercedes-Benz is now offering three new direct injected engines in its C-Class BlueEfficiency models. Two of the three four cylinder engines are diesels while the other is fueled by gasoline. For the past four years, General Motors has been trying to sell its medium duty truck business, which produces the giant Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick. Navistar, Isuzu...
|
| Update on Ford's new Bobcat, ethanol injected, turbocharged V8
June 8, 2009 at 12:58 pm
|
|  Back in the 1970s, a Bobcat at Ford was a Mercury-badged version of the infamous Pinto. Hopefully, the new usage of the name at Ford will turn out with better results. So far, it's looking very promising. Our buddy Mike Levine has been doing some digging in the document treasure trove at the U.S. Department of Energy and uncovered some materials on Ford's new Bobcat. It turns out Bobcat is the code name for the new ethanol boosted engine being developed in Dearborn. Ford recently presented some data on Bobcat to the DOE that has fallen into Mike's hands. Remember the uber-secret Ford "Bobcat" dual-fuel engine — the one that squirts a shot of E85 directly into the cylinder chamber to create diesel-like performance out of a gasoline engine? Thanks to PickupTrucks. Coda sedan - click above for a high res live gallery Unfortunately, we didn't have anyone from the ABG team available locally to attend the unveiling of the new Coda electric sedan earlier this week in Santa Monica.  Ford Ranger mule – Click above for high-res image gallery of spy shots As we've previously reported, Ford engineers in Australia are hard at work on the next-generation Ranger pickup, reportedly codenamed T6.  Presidents and biofuels. Seems to be a theme today. Back in February, the Governors' Biofuels Coalition sent a letter to President Obama asking for a stronger ethanol position...
|
| Review: 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible adds open-air fun for a price
June 8, 2009 at 12:57 pm
|
| 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery Back in 2001, BMW revived the Mini brand by unveiling a new Cooper model that updated the classic English design of the original while growing the car's trademark size just enough to fit the engineering, safety equipment and conveniences that modern drivers demand. It was a perfect play, and if Mini sales haven't exactly set the world on fire here in the U. Frank Markus' 1967 Sunbeam Alpine – Click above for high-res image gallery As we wandered around this year's Orphan Car Show, we ran into Motor Trend's Michigan-based technical editor Frank Markus. Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel at NAIAS 2008 – Click above for a high-res image gallery While the intertubes are abuzz with Lamborghini's announcement of a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction plan... 2009 L.A. Concours d'Elegance – Click above for high-res image gallery Now that it's almost officially summer, that means one thing: car shows. While those on the... BMW DesignworksUSA Falcon 7X business jet interior - Click above for a high-res image gallery Thanks to its unique "ability to create designs consistent with individual brands...
|
| Ferrari CEO outlines green plan, hybrid concept could debut at LA show
June 8, 2009 at 12:49 pm
|
| Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel at NAIAS 2008 – Click above for a high-res image gallery While the intertubes are abuzz with Lamborghini's announcement of a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction plan, arch-rival Ferrari is keen to show it's keeping pace as the company's CEO has reportedly indicated the direction Maranello is heading with regards to its greenification. The lab is the largest and most technologically advanced automotive battery lab in the United States. Located in the sprawling 1 mile square Warren Technical Center, the lab occupies 33,000 square feet, 4 times the size of the old lab. Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen has repeatedly said in the past that the British luxury marque will introduce lower CO2-emitting powertrains over the next several years, starting with the flex-fuel W12 in the Continental Supersports this fall.  Now of course Fritz Henderson is at the helm. He has inherited a company that is in bankruptcy, and is charged with the herculean task of restructuring it into a leaner meaner four brand form.
|
| 2009 LA Concours d'Elegance kicks off West Coast show season
June 8, 2009 at 12:42 pm
|
| 2009 L.A. Concours d'Elegance – Click above for high-res image gallery Now that it's almost officially summer, that means one thing: car shows. While those on the East Coast were treated to two days of fine automobiles at the Greenwich Concours this past weekend (photos from which are forthcoming), those of us on the West Coast headed over to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the fourth annual LA Concours d'Elegance. Frank Markus' 1967 Sunbeam Alpine – Click above for high-res image gallery As we wandered around this year's Orphan Car Show, we ran into Motor Trend's Michigan-based technical editor Frank Markus. Ferrari F430 Spider Bio-Fuel at NAIAS 2008 – Click above for a high-res image gallery While the intertubes are abuzz with Lamborghini's announcement of a comprehensive carbon emissions reduction plan... 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery Back in 2001, BMW revived the Mini brand by unveiling a new Cooper model that updated the...  While lamenting the recent departure of great automobile brands such as Oldsmobile or Pontiac, we tend to forget how often car companies used to rise and fall. The appearance...
|
| Obama turned down Bush proposal on autos
June 8, 2009 at 12:04 pm
|
| WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama's transition team turned down a pitch last November from Bush administration officials to publicly join forces in setting tough conditions on General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC in return for money to survive. The disclosure Sunday by a former top economic aide to President Bush came after repeated criticism from the Obama team that the Bush White House had simply dumped billions of dollars into GM and Chrysler that would have to be written off as a loss because of a lack of oversight. General Motors officially opened its new Global Battery Systems Lab in Warren today, saying it will expand the automaker's research and development capabilities for the electric-powered vehicles of the future. Pontiac G8 GT - Click above for a high-res image gallery The brand's demise next year will mark the end of the Pontiac G8, but there's a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for the Aussie-built sports sedan. General Motors took a big step toward its reinvention as the "New G.M." today when it opened what it calls the largest automotive battery laboratory in the United States... For the past four years, General Motors has been trying to sell its medium duty truck business, which produces the giant Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick. Navistar, Isuzu...
|
| Formula One teams alliance votes to ban KERS in 2010
June 8, 2009 at 10:23 am
|
|  The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) voted this past weekend to push for a ban on kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) in 2010...
 XR3 - click above for a high-res gallery It's been a long time coming for Robert Q. Riley and his XR3, but things are happening. The XR3, a three-wheeled plug-in hybrid that was designed to be as light as possible...  BMW's equivalent of Deep Throat has divulged a host of information on the marque's coming plans for its premium entry level range incorporating the 1-Series and Z2, and a new line of Y vehicles.  Sir Stirling Moss' carbon fiber elevator – Click above to watch video after the jump F1 drivers tend to accumulate a great deal of money over the course of their careers, and few have had careers quite as distinguished as Sir Stirling Moss.  Mercedes-Benz has been busy. Having just introduced a new E-class, it now presents the 2010 S-class. The lineup includes the S400 hybrid, and the first production Mercedes hybrid is aimed squarely at Lexus?s LS 600h.
|
| Motoczysz releases pics of E1pc electric superbike, complete with iPhone gauges!
June 8, 2009 at 10:18 am
|
|  Motoczysz E1pc - Click above for high-res image gallery
Finally, speculation on the appearance of the Motoczysz E1pc can end as the fledgling American motorcycle maker has released official pictures of the machine that will take on the rest of the field at the upcoming TTXGP zero-emission eGrandPrix motorcycle race at the Isle of Man...  The first ever TTXGP is now just a few days away and teams are still arriving to the Isle of Man for the event. One group that arrived earlier than most is XXL Racing from Germany...  Austrian motorcycle maker KTM stakes its reputation on the ability of its off-road motorcycles to tackle the toughest terrain on earth, and it's made a habit of proving... Brammo Enertia TTR race bike - Click above for a high-res image gallery As excited as we are about the upcoming TTXGP zero-emissions eGrandPrix, we're more than a bit...  Click above to watch the video after the break Curious what it might be like to pilot what's very likely one of the world's fastest electric motorcycles? While it's not quite the same as piloting the machine yourself...
|
| XR3 plug-in hybrid trike headed for production
June 8, 2009 at 10:12 am
|
| XR3 - click above for a high-res gallery It's been a long time coming for Robert Q. Riley and his XR3, but things are happening. The XR3, a three-wheeled plug-in hybrid that was designed to be as light as possible, has been in development for years (check out where things stood in 2007). Riley has been offering the XR3 as a kit car from his website for the past year, but soon even the tool averse will be able to get behind the wheel because the XR3 is headed for production. Riley told AutoblogGreen that:  Senior citizens who are at heightened risk for heart attack and strokes or those with diabetes often stop driving to keep both themselves and other motorists safe in the event that they have a medical issue while behind the wheel.  In addition to the planned Alias from ZAP, the electric vehicle company reportedly wants to branch into the electric pickup truck market as well. According to the latest in a long line of press releases from ZAP...  Raffaele de Rosa's amazing save - Click above to watch the video after the jump Without a doubt, one of the scariest moments in any motorcycle rider's life is the split-second just before a high-side.  Volvo has launched a joint venture with a Swedish utility to put a plug-in hybrid on the road by 2012 in an push to dominate the emerging market for cars with cords. The...
|
| VIDEO: Sir Stirling's House in London, complete with carbon fiber elevator
June 8, 2009 at 10:12 am
|
| Sir Stirling Moss' carbon fiber elevator – Click above to watch video after the jump F1 drivers tend to accumulate a great deal of money over the course of their careers, and few have had careers quite as distinguished as Sir Stirling Moss. Over the course of only ten years in professional racing, he competed in about 500 races and won some 200 of them. So what did Sir Stirling do after he retired? He built himself a house that would make James Bond drop his martini.  There are all kinds of reasons why one might want to drive an electric vehicle (EV). Perhaps you're concerned about the environmental damage done by oil exploration, recovery, refining, and the eventual burning of carbon-based fuels. When it comes to dealership closings, there is a big divide between what General Motors, Chrysler and President Obama's auto task force want and what dealers and Congress want. General Motor is attempting to cushion the blow of dealers losing their franchises as part of the automaker's bid to pare down its network. According to Automotive News...  In 2007, Royal Mail issued a set of stamps commemorating Britain’s Formula One greats. With six slots for eight world champions and Sir Stirling Moss, the stage was set for a philatelic battle royale.
|
| Rumormill: BMW plans assault on the premium entry-level segment with X and Y models
June 8, 2009 at 10:01 am
|
| BMW's equivalent of Deep Throat has divulged a host of information on the marque's coming plans for its premium entry level range incorporating the 1-Series and Z2, and a new line of Y vehicles. According to the mole, Scott26, the 1 will break into three different levels: Traditional, Lifestyle, and Sporting. They will be underpinned by a modular platform that could be differentiated among models and also serve as the basis for the next MINI.  Name a failing automaker that needed outside help to survive. Not General Motors or Chrysler. That's too easy. How about BMW, Nissan, Renault and Ferrari? Among the world's most admired brands and companies...  The Greenwich Concours d'Élégance opened today for the 14th consecutive year in Connecticut, drawing classic cars, yachts, motorcycles and one flying car from around the country.  2011 Ford Mustang Mach 1 renderings by Edmundo Cano - Click above for a high-res image gallery Few Mustang variants are as legendary or desirable as the classic Mach 1. Senior citizens who are at heightened risk for heart attack and strokes or those with diabetes often stop driving to keep both themselves and other motorists safe in the event that they have a medical issue while behind the wheel.
|
| 2010 Lotus Evora: More room, plenty of fun:
June 8, 2009 at 9:54 am
|
|  Knees splayed, head cocked and elbows tucked in tight, we wouldn?t call the seats particularly spacious, but the fact that we fit at all was impressive. They would certainly work in a pinch. We?re talking Lotus seats, after all--the rear ones. The 2010 Evora moves the brand into long-abandoned territory, throwing in a two-plus-two ride where tiny sports cars have held sole reign for years. A bigger reason to celebrate is that the Evora maintains most of the go-kart thrill championed by its dedicated sports-car stablemates.  The Solar Human Hybrid is a street-legal quadricycle with a solar-powered electric motor to help you along, room for three friends to join you in the fun and even a spot for groceries and your dog.  The automotive gods haven't quite answered our prayers by bringing us the amazing BlueSport roadster, but they've given us reason to be hopeful. There are increasing signs...  Once upon a time, General Motors stood strong and mighty, the world at its feet. Today, the world prevails, and GM is on its knees. Bankrupt. Can't pay its bills. The filing Monday was just a formalization of what we already knew...  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.
|
| Mercedes hybridizes its S-class :
June 8, 2009 at 9:50 am
|
| Mercedes-Benz has been busy. Having just introduced a new E-class, it now presents the 2010 S-class. The lineup includes the S400 hybrid, and the first production Mercedes hybrid is aimed squarely at Lexus?s LS 600h. The S-class hybrid, based on the long-wheelbase S-class, was introduced at the Shanghai motor show. The car is powered by the 3.5-liter Mercedes V6 gasoline engine. The engine will be familiar to C- and E-class owners,  For the 2010 model year, the big powertrain news from General Motors in the U.S. has been the launch of two new direct injected engines, a 2.2-liter four cylinder and a smaller 3. The Solar Human Hybrid is a street-legal quadricycle with a solar-powered electric motor to help you along, room for three friends to join you in the fun and even a spot for groceries and your dog.  2010 E Class wagon testing in Namibia - Click above for a high-res gallery We find it cool that carmakers cart their rides all over the globe to carry out the most brutal testing in the most out of the way places. Mercedes-Benz builds more than fancy li-ion hybrid cars. The company's buses, notably the Citaro series, are quite a common sight in European cities. The German company has announced that the new generation of the Citaro G model...
|
| Lewis Hamilton Portrait Painted With Motor Oil From His F1 Car
June 8, 2009 at 9:30 am
|
|  Parsons graduate David Macaluso proves there's other ways to depict motorsports than with crayons: he painted his corporate-commissioned portrait of Lewis Hamilton with the very oil from Hamilton's McLaren he drove to a 2008 F1 title. The Hamilton portrait, which was paid for by McLaren’s fuel partner ExxonMobil, is far from being the only such piece in Macaluso’s extensive portfolio. While most of his motor oil paintings are abstractions, there are two portraits of another man of African ancestry who has gone where no man of his lineage has gone before: President Barack Obama. XR3 - click above for a high-res gallery It's been a long time coming for Robert Q. Riley and his XR3, but things are happening. The XR3, a three-wheeled plug-in hybrid that was designed to be as light as possible... BMW's equivalent of Deep Throat has divulged a host of information on the marque's coming plans for its premium entry level range incorporating the 1-Series and Z2, and a new line of Y vehicles. Sir Stirling Moss' carbon fiber elevator – Click above to watch video after the jump F1 drivers tend to accumulate a great deal of money over the course of their careers, and few have had careers quite as distinguished as Sir Stirling Moss. Mercedes-Benz has been busy. Having just introduced a new E-class, it now presents the 2010 S-class. The lineup includes the S400 hybrid, and the first production Mercedes hybrid is aimed squarely at Lexus?s LS 600h.
|
| Toyota Industries will sell electric car charging stations this summer
June 8, 2009 at 8:56 am
|
| Toyota officials in the U.S. may express public skepticism over market prospects for plug-in vehicles, but that doesn't mean the company isn't working on related technology. The latest batch of plug-in hybrid Priuses will arrive late this year and Toyota showed a conceptual battery powered version of the iQ, the FT-EV, earlier this year.  WARREN, Mich. - Even now, as General Motors fights for survival, there is something ambivalent about its prescription for saving itself, a conflict implicit in a bit...  Loremo electric car - Click above to watch the video after the break It wasn't long ago that we first saw the first prototype from Germany startup automaker and Auto X-Prize hopeful Loremo move under its own power on video.  GM re:invention spoof video – Click above to watch video after the jump We'll start off by saying that this spoof on General Motors' Re:invention commercial is not exactly fair and not exactly accurate.  Handing over a $1.4 million electric car to a blog is interesting, especially when the company operates a "you break it, you buy it" policy. Can the 268 HP Protoscar Lampo...
|
| Rendered (Again) Speculation: Yet another crack at Toyobaru
June 8, 2009 at 8:55 am
|
| The Toyobaru deserves a place in the mythical creature pantheon with vampires and the Loch Ness Monster -- every official denial is followed by another sighting. The latest speculation on Toyota and Subaru's coupe project provides more details, suggesting specs of 200 hp and 145 lb-ft, MacPherson struts forward and a multilink suspension aft on a 2,700-pound vehicle.  Click above for a high-res gallery of the Tata Nano Europa Ever since Tata Motors announced plans to build a $2,500 car, speculation has been rife about whether the car would ever make it to the U. 2011 Ford Mustang Mach 1 renderings by Edmundo Cano - Click above for a high-res image gallery Few Mustang variants are as legendary or desirable as the classic Mach 1.  Motoczysz E1pc - Click above for an image gallery Finally, speculation on the appearance of the Motoczysz E1pc can end as the fledgling American motorcycle maker has released... With a little help from Fiat and the U.S. government, among others, it seems Chrysler and GM are both on a pathway to solvency — or are they? On June 1, President Barack...
| | | 
| |
No comments:
Post a Comment