Latest Auto Reviews Blog

How Many Cars On Your Property?

2009-10-07T01:37:00.001-07:00

I personally feel that yards festooned with junk cars are an important part of the American cultural landscape. I don’t necessarily mean stripped-out hulks up on cinder blocks, or rotting junk with the windshields caved in. But a residential property with a few serviceable project vehicles strewn around it always warms my heart–it says, this is a neighborhood where you can have a few cars and maybe even work on them in public without getting hassled by The Man. I’m looking at moving in the next few weeks, and seeing as it’s always easier to accumulate cars than to get rid of them, I can only hope I’ll be going someplace where the neighbors won’t mind me keeping a few extra vehicles around. So, just curious: how many rides do you keep at your place? And do you think you could get away with more?

Sam Shepard Snagged For DUI, Speeding In Normal, IL [Daily DUI]

2009-10-03T08:40:00.001-07:00

Sam Shepard, playright, director and player-of-gruff-old-military-like-roles in films such as Black Hawk Down, was snagged for an alleged DUI and speeding. Shepard apparently blew 0.175, or around twice the legal limit.

Shepard was reportedly going 46 MPH in a residential zone in Normal, IL when he was pulled over by police. Oh, and by the way, he pulled over by parking his Chevy Tahoe on the curb.

Of course, that's not the most unheard of action while parking, given Shepard just officially became a senior citizen in November (turning 65). Ha! Old people jokes make us laugh! [via TMZ]

New Jersey Turnpike, Highway To Hell

2009-10-03T08:39:00.001-07:00

According to the Pantagraph, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority is having a devil of a time preventing the repeated theft of mile marker 66.6 along the Garden State Parkway. A spokesperson for the Turnpike Authority admitted that they have zero solid leads, but they suspect the culprits to be college students on the prowl for some unique dorm room decor.

Within the past two years, the 66.6 mile marker sign has been stolen at least four times, and the state is getting tired of shelling out the $50 replacement fee. Some officials have suggesting adding an extra non-demonic digit, like 66.61, which would effectively kill the novelty and hopefully stave off the thefts, but as of late, no formal plans have been made.

[News Source: Pantagraph.com]

Paris Auto Show Teaser Video: BMW Concept X1

2009-10-01T06:20:00.001-07:00

BMW X1 Spy Shot [Source: Motorbang.com]

Looking to generate some hype for the BMW Concept X1 that’s scheduled to premiere at the 2008 Paris Auto Show next week, BMW-web.tv uploaded video footage giving us a sneak peak of the new BMW Concept X1 that is strangely reminiscent of those 90’s-era slightly instructional videos I used to sit through in French class that always fell just short of identifying with the American teenage demographic.

At any rate, according to BMWblog, the BMW X1 will be available with either a rear- or front-wheel drivetrain, and its optional 4 or 6 cylinder engine offerings will be equipped to run on either diesel or standard fuel. Slated to make its first debut in the European market, the X1 is expected to be placed and priced somewhere between the BMW 3 Series Wagon and the BMW X3 - no word yet on how that would translate for a North American introduction.

Video after the jump

[Video Source: BMW-web.tv]

PCH, Slot Car Handling On A Budget Edition: Turbo V6 Lotus Esprit or Fiat 124 Sport Coupe? [Project Car Hell]

2009-10-01T04:16:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Project Car Hell, where you choose your eternity by selecting the project that's the coolest... and the most hellish! You want an inexpensive project car that sticks to the pavement like flypaper?

That's what we've got for you today! Now, when you're talking about a couple of rare European sports cars priced low even by collapse-of-global-economy standards, you've got to count on ~~endless~~ a few setbacks in the ~~decade-long~~ interval between the project's glorious arrival in your garage and the even more glorious day of project completion ~~(which will require belief in an afterlife)~~. Jump right in- the bubbling sulfur is fine!

These days, just about the only Fiat you can find in North America is the 124 Spider, with maybe an occasional X1/9 here and there. Fine cars, but they're just too commonplace to make for true Hell Project material. If only you could find a genuine Fiat 124 Sport Coupe… but it's just impossible to find an affordable one. Stop the presses, Giuseppe, because here's a 1974 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe (go here if the ad disappears) with an asking price of only two grand! In fact, the seller makes it clear that he'll sell it for much less, with the statement "The wife wants it gone . . . so I'll make you a good deal!" More good news: it's in rust-free New Mexico! Sure, sure, the thin air and harsh sun in Santa Fe makes for backyard conditions similar to those on the sun-facing side of the planet Mercury, and this car has had many years to get its upholstery and wiring thoroughly baked and/or gnawed on by hantavirus-infected rodentia: "It has been sitting still for quite a few years and is currently home to a family of mice." But come on, it's got a Fiat Twin cam, 5-speed, and four-wheel disc brakes, and you know you could turn it into a little Ferrari eater!

That 124 Sport Coupe could be pretty quick, that's for sure, but nothing ~~breaks your heart~~ handles like a Lotus! Wouldn't you love to have a Lotus Esprit Turbo to ~~jab red-hot pokers in your eyes~~ play with? Of course you would, but you'd be lucky to find a clapped-out Eclat anywhere near as cheap as that Fiat. Better buy a lottery ticket, my friend, because this is obviously a jackpot day for you! Would you believe a Lotus Esprit Turbo with a three-figure high bid on eBay? Really, this turbocharged 1978 Lotus Esprit could be yours for the kind of money that normally gets you a primered-out Chevy Celebrity! It's turbocharged and everything… although some of you more skeptical types may have noticed that the engine compartment doesn't quite look the way it did when the car left the assembly line. That's because it's got a Ford 3.8 liter V6 ~~crudely strapped down with plumber's tape~~ installed in place of the original four-cylinder, and what appears to be a draw-through-carbureted turbocharging setup. It probably runs great, once you work out ~~several million~~ a few bugs, and you shouldn't be scared away by such seller statements as "car needs a lot of electrical work due to the fact that the interior is not the original one......the dash board is out of an oldsmobile." An Oldsmobile dash! And the flip-up headlights have been replaced with grille-mounted units! Totally custom! You might want to budget ~~geological amounts of~~ some time to undo a few mistakes, because the seller states "the previous owner had alot of good concepts for the car but his quality of work was not the best." Still, an Esprit Turbo for pocket change!

Which glued-to-road European machine will it be?
( polls)

Project Car Hell's Greatest Hits

2010 Porsche Panamera Pricing to Range from $89,800-$132,600

2009-10-01T02:17:00.001-07:00

Porsche has announced the pricing for its upcoming 2010 Panamera four-door sedan. Pricing for the luxury sedan will range from $89,800 - $132,600 when it is released this fall.

The base rear-wheel-drive Panamera S with a 400-hp 4.8L V8 will start at $89,800. The all-wheel-drive Panamera 4S with the same 4.8L engine starts at $93,800. The all-wheel-drive Panamera Turbo with its 500-hp twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 will start at $132,600.

The Panamera is expected in showrooms this October.

I-Way: The Ultra Luxe MotorSport Getaway for Businessmen

2009-10-01T00:17:00.001-07:00

Say you’re a wealthy businessman with a penchant for motorsports. Hop on a plane and hit up Lyon, France for a few nights of Formula 1 simulation, drinks, and good times.

I-Way is a posh playground for men, with a fancy bar, a gym, and most importantly, high tech Formula 1 simulators. They have 3 plasma screen displays built into the chassis of actual racing vehicles, and are fitted with tons of complicated hydraulics which gives you the feeling of actually being on the track.

Check out the video and pictures after the jump:

VIDEO: MINI Convertible Hits the Car Wash With its Top Down

2009-09-30T22:34:00.003-07:00

We all know that you're supposed to put the top up on your convertible before you take it to the car wash. Nonetheless here's a video of four guys in a new MINI Cooper Convertible hitting the car wash with the top down.

We don't recommend trying this at home...

CES 2009: Alpine keeps in touch with iPod users

2009-09-30T22:34:00.001-07:00

Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, CES

Alpine has had iPod compatibility for years, but the user interface has been decidedly un-Apple. Alpine hopes to rectify matter with its new touch-screen iXA-W404 unit works, which boasts a new interface, new features and all the connected goodies audiophiles on the move require.

iPod and iPhone owners will notice that the Alpine's 4.3-inch, touch-screen face displays album art of the current song, and the names of the next two and most recent songs played. Song selection can be made from an alphabetical list just as on the iPod Touch and iPhone or by flipping through the album art in an animation similar to Apple's Cover Flow. Alpine's newest unit also supports video playback from an iPhone or any 30-pin iPod. W404 owners can choose to display three of five "widgets" included with the unit, which include a clock, calendar and photo viewer. The unit can be upgraded by adding components from Alpine's lineup, ranging from GPS, HD Radio, rear-view camera and Bluetooth connectivity. The W404 head unit can even control video display on rear-seat monitors.

The 2DIN iXA-W404 will be available in April for a suggested retail of $550. Alpine's HD radio tuner is a $230 add-on, the rear-view camera system is $220, the Bluetooth module is $180, navigation capability is $350 and a dual seven-inch headrest monitor package is $750.

Gallery: CES 2009: Alpine keeps in touch with iPod users

Continue reading CES 2009: Alpine keeps in touch with iPod users

CES 2009: Alpine keeps in touch with iPod users originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The E-Classamino Is Up For Sale... Again! [El Camino]

2009-09-30T20:43:00.003-07:00

If you love German cars and pickup trucks you'd normally have to buy two vehicles, but it isn't a normal day when the E-Classamino is again up for sale!

This is actually the second time we've noticed the Mercedes E-Classamino up for sale but it's worth repeating the details. Based on an E320 Limo Chassis, it's claimed the E-Classamino was one of three custom built by Mercedes. Two of the three, not surprisingly, ended up in the United States. Why? Because occasionally people from Alabama win the lottery. With less than 8,605 miles on the odometer this is one clean E-Class. Unfortunately, there's no AMG-tweaked mill under the hood but rather a lowly V6. Still, when buying a Camino-ized vehicle it's all about what's out back and this überamino has a clean-looking bed made with German precision. It looks like Bruce's cousin Bryce is ready to start bidding and we hope he has some methlab money because the price has increased over the last two years from $30K to $49K. Apparently, not everything is cheaper. [AutoTrader via The Car Lounge]

The Curse Of James Dean's “Little Bastard” [Porsche 550 Spyder]

2009-09-30T20:43:00.001-07:00

When we think of the Porsche 550 Spyder, the first thing that comes to mind is James Dean. We suggest you stop thinking about it if you enjoy your health.

Since James Dean’s death in 1955, the Porsche 550 Spyder has become infamous as the car that killed him. As young Jalops we watched an Unsolved Mysteries episode on the curse of the James Dean Porsche. These stories not only made the famous car seem more like Christine than Porsche, they downright scared us. We decided to share some of the stories with you. Read on if you dare.

While filming Rebel Without A Cause, James Dean had upgraded from the 356 to the 550 Spyder and decided that he wanted to make it uniquely his. Dean called upon George Barris, of movie car fame, to customize the Porsche. He gave it tartan seats, two red stripes over the rear wheels and plastered the number ‘130’ on its doors, hood and engine cover. The name “Little Bastard” was given by Dean language coach, Bill Hickman, and was later painted on the car by master pin striper, Dean Jeffries. On September 23 of 1955, Dean met actor Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kebobi) outside of a restaurant and had him take a look at the Spyder. Guinness told Dean that the car had a “sinister” appearance and then told Dean: “If you get in that car, you will be found dead in it by this time next week.” Seven days later, Dean would be killed in his beloved “Little Bastard.” Cue the Unsolved Mysteries theme song.

That “Little Bastard” not only killed James Dean, but killed and maimed others who came in contact with it causing many to say that the damn thing was cursed. George Barris, who customized the 550 originally, bought the wrecked carcass of “Little Bastard” for $2500 and soon after it slipped off its trailer and broke a mechanics leg. Not long after Barris sold the engine and drivetrain to Troy McHenry and William Eschrid. While the two were both racing against one another in cars that had parts from the “Little Bastard,” McHenry lost control and hit a tree, killing him instantly and Eschrid was seriously injured when his car suddenly locked up and rolled over while going into a turn. Barris still had two tires from the 550 which were untouched in Dean’s accident. He sold them and not long after, both blew out simultaneously causing the new owner’s car to run off the road. Barris had kept the car in his possession sans the sold parts and it caught the attention of two would-be thieves. One of the thieves arms was torn open trying to steal the steering wheel while the other was injured trying to remove the bloodstained tartan seat.

Due to all the incidents involving “Little Bastard,” Barris decided to hide the car but was convinced by the California Highway Patrol to lend the cursed heap to a highway safety exhibit. The first exhibit was unsuccessful as the garage that housed the car caught fire and burned to the ground. Mysteriously the car suffered virtually no damage from the fire. The next exhibition at a local high school ended abruptly when the car fell off its display and broke a nearby student’s hip.

The curse continued when the “Little Bastard” was being transported when the truck carrying the car lost control which caused the driver to fall out and somehow get crushed by the car after it fell off the back. The car fell off of two more transport trucks while travelling on the freeway fortunately not injuring anyone. The CHP decided that it had had enough of the “Little Bastard” and while transporting the car to Barris, the car mysteriously vanished and has not been seen since.

There are stories of a single piece of “Little Bastard” residing at the Historic Auto Attractions museum in Illinois, but we’re not brave enough to find out.

[via UnderWorldTales]

Detroit 2009: Day 1 Wrap-up

2009-09-30T18:36:00.001-07:00

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show

Day 1 of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show has ended, and we did our best to bring you the most complete coverage possible. In case you weren't able to keep up with the coverage on Sunday, we've compiled every production vehicle and concept car below for your Monday morning perusal. Enjoy and come back often on Monday and Tuesday for more coverage of Detroit 2009.

Audi
Audi Sportback Concept [w/VIDEO]
Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI [w/VIDEO]
Audi A3 TDI

Bentley
Bentley Continental GTC Speed

BMW
2010 BMW Z4

Chrysler LLC
Chrysler 200C Concept [w/VIDEO]
Dodge Circuit EV [w/VIDEO]
Dodge Patriot ER-EV [w/VIDEO]
Dodge Ram Heavy Duty

Ford Motor Company
2010 Ford Taurus [w/VIDEO]
2010 Ford Shelby GT500 [w/VIDEO]
Ford ready to electrify the masses with EV car in 2012

General Motors
Cadillac Converj Concept [w/VIDEO]
Chevy Spark Concept [w/VIDEO]
Chevy Orlando Concept [w/VIDEO]
2010 Buick LaCrosse [w/VIDEO]
2010 Cadillac SRX [wVIDEO]
2010 Chevy Equinox [w/VIDEO]

Honda
First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight

Kia
Kia Soul'ster Concept

Lamborghini
Lamborghini Ad Personam personalization program

Lexus
Lexus HS250h

MINI
MINI Cooper Convertible

Subaru
Subary Legacy Concept

Volkswagen
Volkswagen Concept BlueSport

Volvo
Volvo S60 Concept

Detroit 2009: Day 1 Wrap-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 09': 2010 Toyota Camry Makes its Debut

2009-09-30T18:34:00.001-07:00

Toyota has unveiled the revised the 2010 Toyota Camry in Detroit.

For 2010 the standard engine in the Camry is a new 2.5L engine. The Camry LE and XLE equipped with the 2.5L puts out 169 horsepower and in the SE it puts out 179. The 2.5L can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.

The exterior changes to the gas powered Camry include a new grille, front bumper, lager headlights and revised taillights. The Camry Hybrid gets a new unique hybrid grille, a distinct front bumper, a wider lower intake, restyled fog lights and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The revised (boring) 2010 Camry will be available this March.

Hyper Power International Dyno Claims First Accurate Measurement Of Driveline Losses With Nissan GT-R [Nissan GT-R]

2009-09-30T16:34:00.003-07:00

Horsepower at the flywheel or wheels? It's an important distinction in powertrain bragging rights. Thanks to dyno wizardry from Hyper Power International, you can now know both. MT's tried it first with the GT-R.

It's always been tough to stack up raw engine power output of the car against at-the-pavement performance. This has been the problem with dynos in the past, you either measure power on an engine dyno and don't know the power to the wheels or measure on a chassis dyno and don't know how much power the engine really makes. Rule of thumb driveline losses are never satisfying in either case and that's where Hyper Power International comes in.

Apparently, their dyno looks like any other four-wheel chassis dyno, with four big rollers to strap a car onto and sophisticated measurement equipment to test maximum output. The trick comes in when you've finished a pull and the system asks you to put the car in neutral. As the wheels and the rollers slow down, the dyno which was just used to measure power is now able to measure losses. By comparing the normal slowdown of the rollers against the slowdown with the car and all of its drag from gears, bearings, differentials and so on it can determine real driveline losses.

Motor Trend's Frank Markus was the first journo to test out the system and considering the constant automaker slap-fight surrounding the Nissan GT-R, Godzilla was the only choice for the test. The results are pretty interesting — it looks like the initial Nissan HP claims have been accurate. Of course, now there will just be naysayers wanting to see engine dyno versus chassis dyno versus Hyper Power dyno results now just to confirm Nissan isn't a den of cheaters. And by naysayers we mean Porsche. [MotorTrend]

Top Ten Best Wedge Car Designs Of The 60s, 70s and 80s [Wedged Wonders]

2009-09-30T16:34:00.001-07:00

In car design, the wedge is something we can appreciate. Here's our list of the top ten most influential wedge-shaped designs of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Back in high school and middle school the wedgie (or as we called it, the wedge) was something you most certainly didn’t want, under any circumstance and you definitely didn’t appreciate it when it came along. But in car design, the wedge is something you can appreciate.

The beautiful and technical shape was used by many of the top design houses of the seventies and was a signal the future had officially arrived. While not the most aerodynamic form in practice, it certainly looked the part and helped usher in a new era of automotive design. Italian design houses ItalDesign, Bertone and Pininfarina were at the forefront of the movement, but the Japanese, Germans and the U.S. jumped on the bandwagon shortly thereafter

10) 1972 Lotus Esprit M70

First displayed at the Turin Motor Show in 1972, the Lotus Esprit M70 was designed by Giugiaro at Ital Design and was built on a widened and lengthened Europa chassis. After positive reviews from the public Colin Chapman decided to put the Esprit into production. The final design was completed in 1973 with many of the concept cues intact and when the then GM owned Lotus decided to build Peter Stevens redesign in 1987, many of those original cues remained.

Fun fact: that you couldn’t call yourself a car guy without knowing already: Roger Moore drove a submersible version in the 1977 James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me.

9) 1989 Vector W8

In 1989, after nearly two decades of development, Gerald Wiegert revealed his Vector W8 to the public. Extensive use of aeronautical building techniques were to be W8s selling point, but shoddy quality and a lack of funding eventually brought down the U.S.-built Lamborghini competitor in the mid-nineties. The W8 drew its inspiration from the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo and many other wedge cars in our list and is still a beautiful car today and you can pick up one of the few examples for a steal; nearly 20 percent of the original $685,000 asking price.

Fun fact: The Vector W8 was featured briefly in the 1993 movie, Rising Sun.

8) 1972 E25 BMW Turbo

The E25 BMW Turbo was initially built to celebrate the upcoming 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, but was later used as the inspiration for the M1, 8-Series, Z1 and the new M1 Homage concept. BMW built the Turbo concept as a rolling display for new safety and engineering technologies as well as showing that BMW had officially left the difficult 60’s behind. Penned by BMW’s French head of design, Paul Bracq, the Turbo concept was styled after the most dramatic Italian supercars of the day and featured an advanced radar system that warned the driver of close objects such as curbs and cars.

Fun fact: The Turbo featured two BMW badges on the rear – symbolizing BMW’s exceptional quality – a cue that made it onto the production M1 and M1 Homage concept.

7) 1978 Dome Zero

Dome was and still is a race car manufacturer in Japan and in 1978 they gave the world the Dome Zero concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Intended to show Dome’s intention of building a homologation special for a new line of sportscars; it was unable to pass Japanese homologation. In 1979, Dome debuted a revised Zero, dubbed the P2, with U.S. market bumpers and safety equipment added to the design. In the same year, a racing effort was launched at Le Mans but the ‘Zero RL’ failed to finish the race. Shortly after, investors pulled their funds and the Dome Zero was officially dead.

Fun fact: The Dome Zero was featured in Gran Turismo 4, Auto Modellista on the PS2 and Sega GT on the XBOX.

6) 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero

At the 1970 Turin Motor Show, Bertone showed off a styling exercise called the Lancia Stratos Zero. The Lancia Stratos HF roadcar was based very loosely off of this concept though the similarities are few and far between. The futuristic Zero stood 838mm tall and was so low that conventional doors could not be used and to gain access, drivers would have to raise the windshield and walk into the car.

Fun fact: The Stratos Zero appeared in Michael Jackson’s 1988 film, Moonwalker.

5) 1972 Maserati Boomerang

In 1971 the Maserati Boomerang was shown at the Turin Motor Show as a mockup and then in 1972 the Geneva Motor Show saw the debut of the fully realized Maserati Boomerang concept. It sat next to the Lotus Esprit M70 as both were designed by Giugiaro at ItalDesign. At 1070mm high, it’s not the shortest wedge in the list, but it did have a 15 degree windshield rake – the steepest rake you could achieve while maintaining visibility, albeit very little. ItalDesign used the Boomerang as inspiration when designing the DMC Delorean (most noticeable in the rear view) in the eighties.

Fun fact: Intended as a showcar, the Boomerang was registered as a roadcar and was actually sold in 1974 to a private collector which brings us to 2005 when it was auctioned at Christie’s for a cool $1,000,000.

4) 1969 Holden Hurricane RD001

The Holden Hurricane was an experimental concept built in 1969 and was the first product of the GM Holden Research and Development group. The Hurricane’s ultra low 990mm stance would have made ingress and egress difficult with traditional doors, so an electro-mechanical powered canopy was used and swung forward over the front wheels. Also included were power elevated seats that both rose up and out of the way along with the steering column to make exiting the Hurricane easier. When climbing into the car the seats would lower to a semi-reclined position and the roof would close overhead.

Fun fact: A similar canopy design was used on both the Saab Aero X and the Batmobile from the Tim Burton Batman movies.

3) 1970 Ferrari PF Modulo

Painted black for the 1970 Geneva Motor Show and then re-sprayed white for its debut at the 1970 Turin Motor Show; the Paulo Martin penned Pininfarina-Ferrari Modulo concept gained quite a reputation and won numerous international design awards – 22 of them – for a car that almost wasn’t produced. The cars release was held for over a year because of an apprehensive Sergio Pininfarina. Developed using the Ferrari 512-S racer as a basis, the 935mm high PF Modulo was built to explore new construction technologies and to show off the raw passion of the Italian design house.

Fun fact: Paulo Martin was sketching a Rolls-Royce Camargue dashboard when the idea struck him to make the first sketch of the Modulo. You could say he was more than a little bored with the Rolls.

2) 1971 Lamborghini Countach

Designed by Gandini for Bertone in 1971, the original Lamborghini Countach concept was the most pure version the public would ever see of this car. The wild scissor doors were first seen on another car in our list (the Alfa Romeo Carabo concept) and were used primarily because of the extremely wide chassis, but we think the real reason is because Gandini knew every rice boy would want them on their econo-hatch some day. The Countach name was derived from the dialect of the Piedmont region in northern Italy, literally meaning astonishment and amazement. The pure design of the concept translated loosely into the production LP400 though it was short lived when splitters, wings and U.S. bumper requirements were added to the mix in the LP400S, LP500 and QV models.

Fun fact: The Countach was featured in the 1981 movie, The Cannonball Run, and is one of the most replicated cars to date.

1) 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo

The 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo is the most significant wedge car and paved the way for many of the cars on this list. Designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone fame, it was revealed at Porte de Versailles in Paris in 1968 to an absolutely stunned crowd. The Lamborghini Countach concept that arrived 3 years later drew inspiration from the Carabo in its wedge form, wheel house openings and its notoriously cool scissor-doors, though the Countach wasn’t the only car that took inspiration from the Carabo. You can see inspired cues from many sports cars and supercars like the Diablo, 4th gen Camaro and Vector. Vector took the inspiration quite literally by duplicating many of the shapes of the front and side profile in its W8. Many wealthy individuals tried to purchase the Carabo including an Arab prince or two, but thankfully Bertone decided to hold on to it and now the Carabo spends its days relaxing inside the Alfa Romeo museum in Arese, Italy.

Fun fact: The unique name “Carabo” and its green paint were derived from the small green beetle, Carabus Olympiae.

Honorable Mentions

Narrowing down our search for the top ten wedge cars was difficult and we couldn’t let this list pass without mention of a few other notable wedges. The DMC DeLorean was the hardest to leave off the list based on its cult follow from the Back to the Future films. Another difficult car to omit was the popular Triumph TR7/TR8 which was produced from 1974 to 1981. In the gallery below you’ll find the rest of the cars that we thought were worth mentioning. Enjoy!

[via Lotus Esprit Turbo]

Detroit 2009: Hyundai Genesis, Ford F-150 win North American Car and Truck of the Year

2009-09-30T14:44:00.003-07:00

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Trucks/Pickups, Ford, Hyundai

Like an automotive continuation of the BCS bowls, winners were crowned for the 16th North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year awards at the Detroit Auto Show this morning. Voted on by 50 automotive journalists in various media from the U.S. and Canada (where's Mexico?), winners took home a bit of brand polish and a big lump of crystal.

The award selects "the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar." For a shot at the title, eligible vehicles must be "all-new" or "substantially changed" from the previous model.

Taking the monogrammed plaque in the car category was the Hyundai Genesis, beating back two other finalists, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and the Ford Flex. It's the first time a diesel has been a finalist, and it was only beat by a car that is gathering plaudits everywhere and for everything.

The truck field was narrowed down to the Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, and Mercedes ML320 BlueTEC. With the highest available towing capacity, the highest payload capacity, and class-tying fuel economy -- not to mention being the best selling vehicle for more than three decades -- it's no wonder who won.

Detroit 2009: Hyundai Genesis, Ford F-150 win North American Car and Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caption This: 50 Cent's Rolls Royce Holds Its Own Key Hostage [Caption This]

2009-09-30T14:44:00.001-07:00

Hip hop businessman 50 Cent found himself locked out of his own Rolls-Royce Phantom in the streets of London, prompting his groupies to attempt the old hanger trick on the $300k ride.

Adding to his un-posh day, the car was also ticketed while it sat there holding its own key hostage. Apparently the Rolls Phantom had enough Grey Poupon and decided to really poop on Fiddy, leaving him stranded for hours. How embarrassing.

[via The CarFanatic]

Dodge Ram SRT-10 Burnout Goes Horribly Wrong

2009-09-30T12:55:00.001-07:00

Yow…

First-Ever Yugo Enters 24 Hours Of LeMons, Gets Shiny Side Down Soon After [24 Hours Of Lemons]

2009-09-30T12:53:00.001-07:00

We were all pretty excited when a genuine, Marshal Tito-grade Yugo showed up to the track on Friday night and a crew started putting a cage in it right there in the parking lot.

Hooray! We've always wanted to see a Yugo in a 24 Hours Of LeMons race, and here it was happening before our eyes. Unfortunately, the amount of time we got to spend enjoying the sight of a fine Balkan machine duking it out with Mazdas and BMWs was extremely short; it didn't take long before the Yugo got a little bit wiggly in turn 4, got clipped by another car, and rolled over a few times. The driver was unhurt- we were all holding our breath until we saw him clamber out, what with that somewhat iffy Zastava build quality and all- but the car didn't fare so well. And yes, the top of this Yugo wasn't very shiny... but when you see the opportunity to use CB radio slang in a headline, you take it. Once again, thanks to Mad Science Senior and Mad Science for the photos.

Spy Shots: Early BMW 3-Series mule spotted testing

2009-09-30T10:47:00.003-07:00

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, BMW

Global Motors just posted some spy pics of what is believed to be a next-generation BMW 3-Series mule. The taped up rear and chunky fender flares distinguish it from a stock 3.

If you're scratching your head thinking we just got a new 3-Series from the Bavarians, you're right. The E90 debuted in 2006 and just received a freshening for '09, so we don't expect anything to come of this project until 2011 at the earliest (which goes some way toward explaining why there's no new production bodywork in evidence). Click over to Global Motors for more visuals of the mule in all its fender-flared glory. Thanks for the tip, Andrus!

[Source: Global Motors]

Spy Shots: Early BMW 3-Series mule spotted testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Cayenne Diesel Unveiled with 240HP and 25MPG

2009-09-30T10:47:00.001-07:00

Porsche has unveiled the new diesel powered Cayenne that will be sold in Europe early next year.

The Cayenne diesel is powered by a 3.0L turbocharged V6 diesel engine that puts out 240 horsepower and 405 lb-ft. of torque. It also manages to get 25 mpg. The engine is mated to the Tiptronic-S automatic gearbox.

The Cayenne diesel is initially only going to be sold in Europe, although Porsche claims that other markets will follow. It remains to be seen how well the diesel powered Mercedes and upcoming Audi Q7 TDI will perform in the US.

2010 Ford Taurus [Rendered For Your Pleasure]

2009-09-30T08:53:00.003-07:00

The 2010 Ford Taurus has been spotted around town wearing next-to-no camo. We've pulled the sheet entirely off with these exclusive renderings from KORSdesign of the new Taurus to be unveiled officially in Detroit.

Ford has taken the smart approach by loosening the hold on the Gillette razor design team, giving us Yanks some of the Euro flavor we’ve been asking for. The 2010 Ford Taurus, set to make its official debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show, is finally on track to become a competitive sedan all over again. Using the recently released Lincoln MKS as its base (which itself is based off the current model Ford Taurus / Ford Five Hundred), the new 2010 Taurus appears to be more sophisticated in every way.

The front fascia will receive the most attention from critics as the three-bar razor bladed grille is now gone, replaced by an attractive Euro-inspired electric razor with more detail and depth. The lower fascia gains some of the Euro-flair as well with twin fog lamps situated to either side of a new trapezoidal center intake that appears to be divided in thirds. The headlights are horizontal units that rise ever-so-slightly on their outward edge to visually connect with the sculpted body side character line. The A-pillar runs downward and toward the center as it creates the power dome (a design quickly becoming a centerpiece of every non-Mustang in the Ford car lineup) at the leading edge of the hood, bearing resemblance to the 2010 Fusion and seemingly drawing from the Ford Interceptor Concept.

The profile of the 2010 Taurus is less formal than the previous model and has gained some attractive surfacing. The shoulder line is strong and arcs slightly as it runs from the headlights rearward to meet just before the tail lamps. The wheel arches are more pronounced and have a more muscular feel to them, giving the 2010 Taurus a very strong stance. Although we question the need for the artificial side vents and would have hoped it was a trend that would have gone away by now.

The rear design hints at the Ford Interceptor Concept in its tail lamp treatment and in the upper deck-lid surfacing. The Ford emblem is now set in a chrome trim piece sitting at the center of the trunk surface that runs horizontally to intersect with the tail lamps. The lamps themselves are a take on the Interceptor but lose the depth from the concept as they are now fairly flush to surface. The 2010 Taurus is a large vehicle and Ford has done its best to lose some of the visual mass by utilizing many horizontal elements and pushing the details outward. The lower body line is a dark grey plastic that also helps to lessen the visual mass, a technique also used on the 2010 Mustang.

The 2010 Ford Taurus looks to be on track to fix some of what was wrong with the very bland previous generation and we hope Ford delivers. We’ll bring you more info as it becomes available, until then take a peek at the illustrations we commissioned from KORSdesign.

Car Guide For Rich College Students: 15 Hot Cars to Drive to School

2009-09-30T08:53:00.001-07:00

Hey, save the envy for your therapist, rich kids have to drive too, and they need guidance. That’s why CollegeCrunch has compiled a list of the 15 Hottest Cars to Drive to School. It offers a wide range; cars like the Audi RS4 and the Corvette C6 and even the Nissan GT-R are on the same list with the Civic Si Coupe. But they’re all impressive cars. Show up on campus with any of these machines and you’re going to increase you’re sex factor by at least 40%. That’s a scientific number, people. This is science.

Renault working on Twingo roadster?

2009-09-30T07:30:00.003-07:00

Filed under: Convertibles, Euro, Renault, Rendered Speculation

Those who mourned the passing of the Smart Roadster may be interested by the reports that Renault is preparing to launch a tiny convertible of its own. The diminutive spider is tipped to be based on the existing Renault Twingo, and feature a manual targa-style deployable roof that can be stowed in the trunk.

The Smart Roadster was never a market success, largely because it was too expensive to build and therefore too expensive to buy. But if the reports are to be believed, Renault is learning from Smart's mistakes and is targeting the affordable Nissan Micra C+C, Opel/Vauxhall Tigra and Peugeot 207 CC for the Twingo convertible's pricing. Sources indicate that the little roadster could bow in Frankfurt in 2010 - only that year's show will actually be held in Renault's home-base of Paris.

[Source: AutoInternationaal via ABG]

Renault working on Twingo roadster? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An Addendum To Our Most Commented List [Our Commenters Are The Best]

2009-09-30T07:30:00.001-07:00

When we posted the "Most Discussed Stories Of 2008" there was someone who suggested making the most discussed list the most commented list of the year, thus creating a black hole. You did it!

All of you are insane, but in the best way. We finished up most of the work a while ago and we've just been sitting here watching it happen and you crossed the finish line with just 10 minutes left in the day. Thanks to Ash, pauljones, JHunt, LTD Scott, Unevolved, Brazil Reporter, Novaload, Beta.Rogan, DoctorNine, Mytdawg, Boosted Lego Wagon, Miscellanea, Tylinol, LittleYodaPickup, Adidac425, Edlerly Douche, Braff, dearthair, Schm, TheDanMan and everyone else who donated comments to the effort.

Photo ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. Government Denies GM's $10 Billion Request to Buy Chrysler

2009-09-30T06:03:00.003-07:00

Earlier this week GM approached the U.S. government for $10 billion to support a merger between GM and Chrysler.

It's now being reported that the U.S. Treasury has denied the request due to the fact that the merger could result in the loss of thousands of U.S. jobs. Since the U.S. Treasury denied the request the merger talks have been put on hold.

2009 Audi TT-S Starts at $45,500

2009-09-30T06:03:00.001-07:00

Audi has announced the pricing for the 2009 Audi TT-S that begins at $45,500 for the coupe and $47,500 for the roadster.

The Audi TT-S is powered by a 2.0L TFSI engine that puts out 265 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque, which is more powerful than the 3.2L V6. The TT-S coupe reaches 0-60 mph in a very short 4.9 seconds and still manages to get 29 mpg on the highway. The top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

2009-09-30T02:52:00.003-07:00

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupes, Infiniti, Nissan

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

The Infiniti G35 coupe showed that Nissan's U.S. luxury arm could compete with the likes of Mercedes and BMW. Being mentioned in the same breath as those storied brands is nice, but Infiniti isn't looking to be class competitive; it wants to lead. Ghosn's guys rolled out the new and improved G37 Coupe for the 2008 model year with more power and a vastly improved interior while also delivering an entry price that undercuts the popular 335i coupe by around $4,000.

The 330-hp 3.7L V6 introduced in the G37 Coupe was a big improvement over the also competent 3.5L it replaced, but the carry-over five-speed automatic was holding back Infiniti's jewel of an engine. Nissan has rectified this shortcoming for 2009 with an all-new seven-speed slush box that promises faster shifts and improved refinement and efficiency. We got our hands on a brand new 2009 model to see if it has what it takes to put the G37 at the top of the entry-level luxury food chain. Hit the jump to see how Infiniti's coupe performed during its time in the Autoblog Garage.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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High Performance Sport Bike “CopBlade” Makes Getting Caught By The 5-0 Almost Cool

2009-09-30T02:52:00.001-07:00

In North Wales, UK, the local police department has added a Honda Fireblade sport bike to their fleet of crime fighting vehicles. Referred to as “CopBlade”, the unmarked sport bike is equipped with a front mounted speed sensor and hidden police lights and relies on the same technology found in red light cameras to enforce speed limits. Rather than manually monitoring motorists, the CopBlade’s technology automatically registers and records excessive speeds, allowing the department to issue citations by mail a week or so later. According to The Newspaper, whistle-blowing self-proclaimed “journal of the politics of driving”, those who have witnessed the CopBlade in action first hand claim that the CopBlade will wait attentively by the side of the road for a group of high-speed performance bikes to pass, and then file in unassumingly behind them. Once the pack begins to pick up speed, the officer simply cruises behind and allows the sensor begin generating citations. Since the North Wales PD began using covert tactics like the CopBlade, they’ve begun ticketing a record number of law breakers, counting for more than a third of the $20 million dollar revenue local speed partnerships reported in 2006. Local motorists and motorcyclists alike are none to thrilled with the policing methods, I would like to take this opportunity to remind them that law enforcement is largely a defensive maneuver and perhaps if residents hadn’t generated such a dangerous and reckless speeding problem, they wouldn’t have to worry about Joe Rocket on his CopBlade. You know, just a theory.

[Photo Source: Visor Down]

Citroen wins in New Zealand

2009-09-29T05:31:00.001-07:00

1-2 win for Citroen

Oh how harshly we misjudge cars. If anyone is under the impression that smaller, economical cars don’t have guts or aren’t “lustable” (whatever that means), you need to check out the attached pictures of last Sunday’s Rally race in New Zealand. Fans of WRC and the cars that they inspire certainly had to be pleased with the race which lived up to WRC’s reputation for providing some of the most exciting motorsport racing on the planet.

Suzuki SX4-WRC

World Champion Sebastien Loeb won for the third time in as many races to win Rally New Zealand by 17.5 seconds last Sunday at the expense of Mikko Hirvonen who lost controland spun out on the second-to-last stage. The win increased his lead over Hirvonen the in the World Rally Championship. The win was Loeb’s 42nd in WRC rallies, aftervictories in Finland and Germany and his second in New Zealand, where he last one in 2005. Loeb’s one-two finish with teammate Dani Sordo of Spain also increased Citroen’s grip on the manufacturers’ championship.

Mitsubishi Taking Flight

Taking a look at both the manufacturer and driver results (listed below), it’s a shame not to see a single American in the list. Sure, this is the land of NASCAR and INDY (at least once a year), but you would still think Rally Racing would be a bigger hit in the States. Even as heavily modified as the cars are, they are certainly more closely related to actual production cars than anything from the previously mentioned racing leagues. And what could be more American than tearing ass around off-road? I mean the Dukes of Hazzard was basically a Rally Race with a couple of Good ‘Ole Boys in a Dodge! I can almost picture some kid from Alabama named Skeeter hoisting a trophy, surrounded by the Beck’s bikini team.

RESULTS FROM THE WRC RALLY OF NEW ZEALAND:

Final results and standings Sunday after the 18-stage Rally of New Zealand, 11th event in the World Championship: (After 18 special stages)

1. Sebastien Loeb, France, Citroen, 3 hours, 59 minutes, 18.9 seconds.

2. Dani Sordo, Spain, Citroen, 17.5 seconds behind.

3. Mikko Hirvonen, Finland, Ford, 41.5.

4. Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru, 2:48.9.

5. Urmo Aava, Estonia, Citroen, 3:30.7.

6. Per-Gunnar Andersson, Sweden, Suzuki, 7:37.4.

7. Toni Gardemeister, Finland, Suzuki, 7:54.9.

8. Federico Villagra, Argentina, Ford, 8:35.0.

9. Henning Solberg, Norway, Ford, 9:15.2.

10. Martin Prokop, Czech Republic, Mitsubishi, 13:49.0.

Overall drivers’ championship standings after 11 of 15 rallies:

1. Sebastien Loeb, France, Citroen, 86 points.

2. Mikko Hirvonen, Finland, Ford, 78.

3. Dani Sordon, Spain, Citroen, 51.

4. Chris Atkinson, Australia, Subaru, 40.

5. Jari-Matti Latvala, Finland, Ford, 34.

6. Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru, 32.

7. Henning Solberg, Norway, Ford, 22.

8. Gianluigi Galli, Italy, Ford, 17.

9. Matthew Wilson, Britain, Ford, 12.

10. Francois Duval, Belgium, Ford, and Urmo Aava, Estonia, Citroen, 11.

2009 Land Rover Defender SVX

2009-09-29T05:30:00.001-07:00

Happy 60th Birthday Defender!

For years Land Rover has represented the epitome of off-roading capabilities. The heavy, boxy stanced juggernaut has conquered every continent, taken passengers on safari and is still used by peace keeping and aid organizations in the completion of their duties. Along with Jeep it is perhaps the most recognizable name in production 4×4 vehicles. This year the Land Rover Defender turns 60. While it is only marginally different than previous Defenders, it is still a rugged piece of machinary. But unfortunately for North America it will not be sold here. Now before I get more “you think every piece of Euro-crap is good” emails, let me explain why this is significant.

2009 Land Rover Defender SVX

Land Rover only builds 25,000 Defenders annually, the majority of them are used by farmers and aid organizations, the automaker says. While still maintaining an air of sophistication and class, the Defender is the most affordable Land Rover in Europe (approximately $38,000) and has the look of a vehicle ready to go to work.

Defender SVX Truck

It comes in many different configurations, including a two-door, four-door and truck. Part of the Defender’s versatility is it’s bolted together construction, as opposed to unibody. This gives it a durability in offroad use that does not diminish as the rigors of abuse weaken unibody vehicles. It also makes repair of body panels and converting from hardtop to convertible as easy has using hand tools. But despite it clearly being one of the most respected and durable vehicles on the planet, U.S. regulations make it impossible to be imported.

Defender Interior: No Airbags=Unsafe in America

Unlike other countries, the regulations in America, especially those for safety go WELL beyond the usual airbag/seat belt variety. In fact, in America vehicles not only have to provide these standard features but the car also has to be designed with the assumption that the driver and/or passenger are not going to use them. The designer of the Aston Martin DB7 and Vanquish, Ian McCallum, explains that unbelted passengers and pedestrian legislation prevent vehicles ranging from the bull-nosed Defender to the diminutive Hyundai i10 from ever coming to the States.

Defender Tackling Challenging Terrain

So even though we are required to wear seatbelts, use child seats, or any number of other things, automakers are required to assume we are idiots who won’t. Something to think about while you are stuck in traffic, not smoking, talking on your cell phone, or eating a twinkie with transfat.

How Should GM, Chrysler Spend The Next 102 Days? [Question Of The Day]

2009-09-29T04:11:00.001-07:00

The White House magic ATM is going to help GM and Chrysler survive the cold winter for at least three months. How should GM, Chrysler spend the next 102 days?

With respect to GM, it looks like the company is going to use this time and extra money to drastically cut costs, renegotiate contracts and work to get better products like the Chevy Cruze to the market. They'll also, we hope, try to tackle their dealership network issues and figure out a way to get product moving.

Chrysler, despite the leaked info and promise of electric cars, still seems in bad shape. If there's a real long term plan we haven't seen it yet. Maybe they should just spend the time and money throwing parties, chartering yachts and eating at fancy restaurants until a controlled bankruptcy or something else happens. We call this the "AIG" approach.

(QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of The Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)

Reader Ride Lust Of The Week: Dan’s Cherry ‘73 Corvette

2009-09-29T04:10:00.001-07:00

At RideLust, we have a healthy respect for fellow motorheads, which is why we give you the chance to show off your pride and joy in our reader gallery. I check out the submissions daily because I’ve got a definite weakness for really babied rides, and I’m always impressed with what I see. Usually, we leave the rides in the reader gallery to stand alone as individual showcases, but I’ve seen so many that deserve an extra mention I wanted to start bringing them into the spotlight. This week, I wanted to show off the 1973 Corvette submitted by Dan Mavridis - it’s got me so blinded with ride lust I can’t see straight.

View Gallery After Jump

To be fair, classic ‘Vette’s always make me drool, but Dan’s is especially yummy thanks to the interior he refinished to match the Mille Magalia Red paint job.

According to Dan, his Corvette has over 250,000 and is still purring along with its original engine.

Sacré bleu! French torch 1000+ cars on New Year's

2009-09-28T02:33:00.003-07:00

Filed under: Etc., Euro

Throughout France on New Year's Eve, 1,147 cars met crispy deaths at the hands of arsonists. That's almost 300 cars more than the previous year.

Lighting cars on fire as a form of protest has been a habit among youth in France since the 70s, but ever since the protests of 2005, after two boys were killed in an electrical station while hiding from police, burning cars has become a go-to political statement.

But if you think 1,147 cars in one night is bad -- and as car lovers, we're not saying it isn't -- in 2007, 43,000 cars were burned, and through November of 2008, 36,700 cars were burned. That's more than 100 cars getting flambeed every single day. French president Nicolas Sarkozy has told police to show the youth no mercy, but they apparently only make up 80% of the offenders. The other 20% of arsonists is suspected to be owners committing insurance fraud on a night that provides a great alibi.

[Source: France 24]

Sacré bleu! French torch 1000+ cars on New Year's originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler LLC Does The Electric Boogaloo

2009-09-28T02:33:00.001-07:00

: Chrysler Firepower Concept

Later this month, Chrysler will offer a preview of the three electric car prototypes it plans to produce over the course of the next decade. Currently working with battery suppliers both at home and abroad, Chrysler’s primary focus is developing an electric plug-in hybrid vehicle capable of averaging 300 miles per charge. “Fuel cells are in the future, ” said Chrysler co-president Jim Press, “but probably more in my kids’ future than my own.”

Jeep Hurricane Concept

Full Chrysler Concept Gallery After Jump

Riding high on the crest of the temporary success of the new Dodge Ram 1500, Press said Chrysler intends to continue producing fuel drinking titans like the Ram and Dakota regardless of the sales figures, and he doesn’t expect Chrysler to generate a positive cash flow for 2008. Press views the current hardships in the industry as merely temporary and with sights set firmly on the future, fully expects the market to right itself by 2010 - just in time for Chrysler’s anticipated release of 8 brand new models.

[News Source: Auto News]

IIHS: PT Cruiser Most Dangerous New Small Car In America [Iihs]

2009-09-28T01:07:00.003-07:00

The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety has retested the most popular small cars in America and the good news is they're getting safer. The bad news comes if you own a PT Cruiser.

The IIHS tested seven 2009 model-year small cars and discovered most carmakers are doing a better job of keeping people from dying in their compact offerings. Every vehicle received a "Good" rating in the front tests, though received mixed performances in the side and rear tests.

The best performer overall was the Suzuki SX4, which received a "Good" side rating and a "Marginal" rear crash rating, followed by the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe. The 2009 Ford Focus was the only car to achieve a "Good" rating in the rear crash test.

The worst performer, not surprisingly, is the 2009 PT Cruiser. Having been abandoned with no new model on the horizon by a sinking company, the PT Cruiser hasn't been brought up to modern safety standards and achieved a "Poor" rating in both the side and rear tests. The verdict from the IIHS is quite strongly worded:

In the side test, measures recorded on the driver dummy indicate that in a real-world crash of similar severity, rib fractures and internal organ injuries would be likely, along with a possible pelvic fracture. The rear passenger dummy's head contacted the C-pillar during the test because this car doesn't have rear-seat side airbags. Measures recorded on the dummy indicate that serious neck injuries and a fractured pelvis would be possible in a crash of this severity.

If you're driving a PT Cruiser drive slowly or, actually, maybe a bit faster to avoid getting rear-ended.

The IIHS also tested the 2009 Mini Cooper, which is in a smaller car category. The new Cooper was awarded with a "Good" rating for both front and rear testing, but was merely "Adequate" in side impact ratings.

Full details in the press release below.

New crash tests of small cars: good ratings in frontal tests but many models need better side and rear crash protection

ARLINGTON, VA — Most new small cars now earn good ratings in frontal crash tests but not when it comes to side and rear crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently completed front, side, and rear tests of seven 2009 model small cars: Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Saturn Astra, Suzuki SX4, and Toyota Matrix. All earn the highest rating of good for occupant protection in frontal crashes. Only the SX4 and Matrix and its twin Pontiac Vibe also earn good ratings for protection in side crashes. Among seat/head restraints evaluated, only those in the Focus earn a good rating for protection in rear impacts. The Institute also tested the Mini Cooper, a minicar that earns good ratings for front and rear crashworthiness but not for side protection.

"Automakers have made big improvements to small cars to better protect people in frontal crashes," says Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan. "They've also added stronger structures and standard head-protecting side airbags to help in side crashes, which are tougher on smaller, lighter cars."

Eleven of the 21 current small car models the Institute has rated earn good ratings for side protection. "This is a huge improvement from our last comprehensive round of small car crashworthiness evaluations in 2006," Nolan says. "Then only 3 of the 19 tested earned a good rating in the side evaluation. Most earned a poor rating."

The Institute's side test is especially challenging for small cars because the barrier that strikes the test vehicle represents the front end of a pickup truck or SUV. Side airbags designed for head protection are crucial because the barrier crashes into the side of the car right at the head level of the two dummies that are positioned in the driver seat and in the rear seat behind the driver.

"Side airbags were mostly optional in the 2006 round of small car tests," Nolan says. "A major change is that side airbags are standard in all of the seven small cars we tested this time around."

Small cars have grown especially popular as gasoline prices fluctuate and consumers become more conservation-minded. Nolan cautions that even though current models do a better job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes than earlier ones, small cars inherently afford less crash protection than bigger, heavier vehicles. "There's no escaping the laws of physics," Nolan says. "People in larger, heavier cars fare better in crashes with other vehicles and in single-vehicle crashes than people in smaller ones."

PT Cruiser earns poor ratings for side, rear protection: The Chrysler PT Cruiser is the only small car in the recent test series to earn poor marks in both side and rear evaluations. In the side test, measures recorded on the driver dummy indicate that in a real-world crash of similar severity, rib fractures and internal organ injuries would be likely, along with a possible pelvic fracture. The rear passenger dummy's head contacted the C-pillar during the test because this car doesn't have rear-seat side airbags. Measures recorded on the dummy indicate that serious neck injuries and a fractured pelvis would be possible in a crash of this severity.

The PT Cruiser's seat/head restraints are the only ones the Institute tested this time around that earn the lowest rating of poor for occupant protection in rear crashes. The seat/head restraint combinations in the Chevrolet HHR and Suzuki SX4 earn the next lowest rating of marginal. Looking at the larger group of 21 current small car models the Institute has rated, the PT Cruiser still has the worst seat/head restraint rating.

"The PT Cruiser doesn't offer the same crash protection level as other small cars," Nolan says. "For consumers who want to drive small cars, there are many good alternatives to the PT Cruiser, including the six Top Safety Pick winners the Institute announced last month. There are lots of good choices, too, among midsize and large cars."

Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also must have electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. The 2009 small car winners are the Honda Civic 4-door (except the Si model), Mitsubishi Lancer, and Toyota Corolla, all with optional ESC, and the Scion xB, Subaru Impreza, and Volkswagen Rabbit 4-door, all with standard ESC.

ESC should be standard: Among the small cars in this round of tests, only the Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Vibe have standard ESC. It isn't available at all on the PT Cruiser and optional on the rest, including the Vibe's twin Toyota Matrix. ESC helps reduce rollovers, especially fatal single-vehicle ones. When ESC senses a vehicle is becoming unstable, it automatically engages to help a driver regain control and put the vehicle back in the intended travel direction. ESC lowers fatal rollover crash risk by as much as 70 percent. "Cars aren't involved in rollovers as often as SUVs and pickups, but when they do roll the consequences can be deadly," Nolan notes. "The smallest cars that most need this crash avoidance feature often don't have it."

Rear crashworthiness needs improving: Many automakers haven't paid as much attention to protection in rear crashes, compared with front and side, Nolan points out. Good seat/head restraints are key to preventing whiplash injuries. Neck sprain or strain is the most frequently reported crash injury in US insurance claims. When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, its seats accelerate occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, the head will lag behind the forward torso movement, and the differential motion causes the neck to bend and stretch. The higher the torso acceleration, the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur. Keeping the head and torso moving together is crucial to reducing whiplash injury risk. To accomplish this, the geometry of a head restraint has to be adequate — high enough to be near the back of the head. Then the seat structure and stiffness characteristics must be designed to work in concert with the head restraint to support an occupant's neck and head, accelerating them with the torso as the vehicle is pushed forward.

"In stop and go commuter traffic, you're more likely to get in a rear-end collision than any other kind of crash," Nolan says. "It's not a major engineering feat to design seats and head restraints that afford good protection in these common crashes." For example, when Toyota redesigned the Corolla for 2009 it incorporated active head restraints to help guard against whiplash injuries. Active head restraints are designed to move closer to the backs of occupants' heads in rear-end crashes.

Mini Cooper results: This minicar was redesigned for the 2007 model year, and it earned a good rating for frontal crash protection in a previous test. New side and rear tests were conducted to assess further design changes made for the most recent models. This minicar earns a good rating for rear protection and an acceptable rating for side protection. Measures recorded on the driver dummy indicate that a fractured pelvis would be possible in a side crash of the same severity, but there's low risk that other significant injuries would occur to the driver. For the rear passenger, rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries would be possible. ESC is newly standard for the 2009 model year.

How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on two instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.

Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man. Seat/ head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can't be positioned to protect many people.

[IIHS]

OPEC Approves Biggest Production Cut Ever, Market Goes "Meh" [I Feel Gassy]

2009-09-28T01:07:00.001-07:00

OPEC today announced it will cut daily oil production by 2.2 million barrels, a response to the shrinking price of gas. And how did the market respond to the news? Crude is down.

OPEC President Chekib Kheli told reporters "I hope we surprised you. If you're not surprised we need to do something about it." Be careful what you wish for President Kheli. The big surprise is the energy markets don't seem to care with crude prices dropping 4.5% to $41.64 a barrel. So no need to trade-in your Excursion yet.

The drop in production is, in the eyes of the market, not large enough to counterbalance the decrease in energy use by a recession-weary populace. Gas prices may continue to rise slightly after January 1st when the change becomes effective, but the economy is still so bad people aren't using as much black gold as before. We're trying to process if this is good or bad news. H/T to Jason for the tip!

Photo: ALI AL-SAADI/AFP/Getty Images

[MSNBC via Truckblog]

Road commission calls for gas tax hike

2009-09-26T21:05:00.001-07:00

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Green, Earnings/Financials, Lifestyle

A gas tax is about more than putting liquid into your tank and subtracting a higher amount from your bank account. A gas tax is -- just like CAFE and hybrids and $25 billion set aside to finance fuel efficient technologies -- about reworking and redefining our entire system of private transportation. And since that system is most certainly going to redefined, it is no surprise that the National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing has recommended a jump in the federal fuel tax.

Congress created the commission to examine the federal taxes on fuel -- currently 18.4 cents for gas and 24 cents for diesel -- and the commission came back with the same results as everyone else: people are driving less, and driving more fuel efficient cars, and that has killed revenue for transportation infrastructure. One member of the commission said, "I'm not excited about a gas tax increase, but the reality is our current gas tax doesn't pay for upkeep of the system we have now. We can either let the roads go to hell or we can pay more." If the roads go to hell, though, guess what? We're going to pay more, but that money will go to service departments and auto parts stores.

The proposed solution is to make the gasoline fuel tax 24.4 cents, and the diesel tax between 36 and 39 cents. That would begin to make up for the $105 billion difference between actual revenues and the money needed to upkeep our roads and highways. It is conceivable that a higher gas tax could also encourage people to buy those high-mileage vehicles the government keeps commanding Detroit to make. But before that happens, it will probably just make a lot of people anguished and angry.

[Source: CNBC]

Road commission calls for gas tax hike originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 or 2009 Honda Element Exposed

2009-09-26T21:04:00.001-07:00

It looks like the Honda Element is going to get a new front end that is very similar to the recently introduced Honda Pilot.

This brochure scan that was sent to Autoblog clearly shows the changes that Honda has planned for its little box on wheels. The revised Element gets a new front end with a grille that is very similar to the larger Honda Pilot. Inside the new Element is expected to get a fridge (probably like the Ford Flex) and a nav system. A few new colors are also going to be offered. The 2.4L engine is still the sole engine offered.

Vehicle recalls down 30% in 2008

2009-09-26T19:29:00.003-07:00

Filed under: Recalls/TSBs, Safety, Chrysler, LLC., GM, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

After such a gloomy 2008, automakers are looking anywhere they can for a ray of sunshine. One such glimmer came in the form of a preliminary report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that recalls were down 30% last year compared to 2007, and at their lowest levels since 1994.

It's not all good, though. While automakers recalled a combined 10.2 million vehicles in 2008, the total number of recall campaigns hit a record number of 642 -- a 9% jump over 2007 - and also included a 233 safety investigations last year, up from only 98 in 2007.

David Kelly, acting NHTSA administrator, said his agency is attributing the drop in recalled cars to an early warning system used to alert manufacturers to problems as quickly as possible. Early fixes in a product's production puts fewer flawed cars on the road.

Among the top six automakers, Chrysler had the fewest recalled cars in 2008 at 360,000. That's a huge drop from the 2.2 million it recalled in 2007. GM, on the other hand, recalled 1.9 million in 2008, up from 538,000 in 2007. Honda and Toyota both saw their recall numbers increase, while Nissan's dropped.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Vehicle recalls down 30% in 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti Veyron Targa to be revealed at Pebble Beach in August

2009-09-26T19:29:00.001-07:00

Mark your calendars people. Company sources have told the Inside Liners that it will unveil the Veyron Targa (convertible) in mid-August at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Production...

2011 Chevy Volt Officially Unveiled...Finally!

2009-09-26T18:05:00.001-07:00

After weeks of photo leaks, GM has finally unveiled the 2011 Chevy Volt during the automaker's 100-year celebration today.

The 2009 Volvo S80: Svenskarna Är Pimps Too

2009-09-26T18:04:00.001-07:00

We are flat-out impressed by Volvo’s premium luxury offering, the 2009 Volvo S80 - those Swedes have really stepped up to the plate where the American standard of luxury is concerned. In fact, we’d even go so far as to assert that the Volvo S80 completely outperforms other sedans in its class like the BMW 5-series and the Audi A6.

We test drove the floor model, a 2009 Volvo S80 V8, and by the time we had driven the first half-mile, we were this close to making a break for the border and living a life on the lamb - that’s how in love we are with the new S80.
One of it’s most striking features by far is its handling, the ride is smoother than glass. Although that may not seem like such an impressive feat for a luxury sedan, you have to remember that all the extra safety features Volvo is notorious for adding to their cars usually makes for pretty stiff handling. Leaving their “safety over style” mentality light-years behind them, the Volvo S80 V8 also comes with optional 18″ chrome rims and a 20% window tint, providing for not only a smooth ride, but a sick one too.

So let’s say you buy an S80 and you’re in love with your new whip, but you’re nervous about leaving it alone in the parking lot while you’re up in the club. Well don’t be, because Volvo thought of that. Standard on the S80 V8 and optional on both the S80 3.2 and S80 T6, Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator [PCC] provides every theft-deterrent short of trunk-stored Dobermans. The PCC acts as a two-way radio between you and your car, keeping you constantly aware of when your car is locked or unlocked, and - for when you aren’t within earshot - whether the alarm has been activated or not. If the alarm has been activated, the PCC communicates with the Volvo S80’s Heart Beat Sensor and will notify you as to exactly how many individuals are in the vehicle and where they are seated. After you waste the punks, the S80’s front and rear park-assist cameras as well as Blind Spot Information System will allow you to easily navigate your way out of the parking lot while 311-hp V8 engine will help put some distance between you and the responding 5-0.

Fully bagged out, the S80 goes for about 50k, a lot less than the Germans would try and squeeze out of you for the same luxuries. Bottom line: in the words of the late Notorious BIG “Only Pimpin’ hoes drive Volvos.”

Top 10 Mid-Engined Hatchbacks

2009-09-26T09:51:00.003-07:00

Filed under: Etc., Hatchbacks

Click above to start Top 10 Best Mid-Engine Hatchbacks

There are few concoctions in the automotive industry as bonkers as the mid-engine hatchback. The concept takes the most exotic layout and wraps it in the bodywork of the most mundane and commonplace, creating a paradoxical sub-segment that makes you wonder what their designers were smoking. (Turns out it was rubber, incidentally.) And while incarnations of the mid-engined hatch are a bit of a rarity, the years have produced a considerable number of these most insane of auto types. We're celebrating the holidays with our ten favorites, and invite you to come along in our gallery by clicking on the image below.

Top 10 Mid-Engined Hatchbacks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brand Spankin’ New Images: 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

2009-09-26T09:51:00.001-07:00

Bentley today released more images of the 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur and the new Continental Flying Spur Speed along with a press release that said nothing more then that the two models...

Chicago Plans To Crack Down On Bike Laws; Your Reckless Days Are Numbered, Bike Messengers

2009-09-26T08:17:00.003-07:00

This week, Chicago city officials announced that they would be cracking down on bicyclists who violate traffic laws. Fuel prices and environmental concerns have yielded a surge in bike traffic, obviously alerting Chicago to the dangerous habit many cyclists have of pedaling as though they are impervious to physical arm. Given a two week grace period before the new enforcement policy goes into effect, members from Chicago’s Bicycle Ambassadors Program launched an aggressive campaign warning cyclists about the future changes.

Two Chicago bicycle patrol offers admitted that they do not usually cite bicyclists for running red lights or stop signs, and one cyclist explained that constant stopping-and-starting was simply too exhausting during long trips. Apparently unswayed by the logic, police spokeswoman Monique Bond, “We’re going to see an increase in enforcement. We’re going to be enforcing the same traffic laws for bikes as well as motorists, so that both respect each other and the rules of the road…”

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

ABT announces performance packages for Audi A3 Convertible

2009-09-26T08:17:00.001-07:00

While the Kempten designers still work on a design package for the new 2009 Audi A3 Cabriolet, ABT couldn’t wait to release the details on the performance packages that give the entry level...

Refreshed 2009 Honda Civic Coupe Revealed

2009-09-26T06:39:00.003-07:00

Last week Honda officially unveiled the restyled 2009 Honda Civic sedan and hybrid models.

Saleen celebrates with 720-hp SMS 25th Anniversary Mustang Concept

2009-09-26T06:39:00.001-07:00

Steve Saleen is celebrating his 25 years in the automotive business with the introduction of the new SMS 25th Anniversary Mustang Concept. As an entrepreneur, retirement is not a word in...

Automobile: The Guide To Wall Street Recession Rides [Carpocalypse Now]

2009-09-26T02:43:00.003-07:00

With Wall Street losing jobs like the Lions, poor rich people are downsizing. Helpfully, Automobile tapped an ex-Wall Streeter to guide them through trading in your F430 for an Audi R8. [Automobile]

The 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe: Thanks Dave

2009-09-26T02:43:00.001-07:00

2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe

I guess I’m something of an oddball when it comes to the Civic Si. I actually really liked the fifth generation 2002-2005 Civic Si, the one everyone else thought was ugly; I liked the console mounted shifter and the big headlights and the stubby nose and the fact that it was a hatchback, I liked the whole package. A taffeta white 2005 Civic Si with dark tint all around is a beautiful thing. So I wasn’t super happy in 2006 when Honda totally redesigned the Civic and brought back the coupe. But I recently drove a 2008 Si and it blew my mind.

I have the luxury of working at an auto repair shop, and because of that, I come into contact with a lot of different cars everyday. A customer recently came in looking for a side view mirror for his 2008 Civic Si, we ordered him a new one, and I gave him discount for letting me drive his car around. Everyone wins. On top of that, I got to drive my cousins 2004 Honda Civic Si hatchback a few years ago, and the memory of that drive will be my control.

Fifth Generation Honda Civic Si hatchback

Like I said, the look of the old Civic Si Hatchback was great, the only problem was everything else. Considering it was supposed to be a ‘performance’ car, it was surprisingly lacking in the power and handling department, with pretty obvious understeer on tight curves. The new sixth generation Civic Si definitely fixes that.

Honda hasn’t really done much with the Si since they redesigned it in 2006, but it’s still a major improvement over the hatchback Si. Where the 5th gen hatchback had 160 hp from the 2.0 VTEC engine, the new 6th gen coupe has 197 hp, and the 6 speed trans that the hatchback should have had. You don’t have to push the 2008 Si the way you had to push the hatchback, it wants to go. And the transmission is perfect, shifting is swift and easy, almost effortless.

The power is only a small part of the improvements though. Like I said earlier, the hatch Si had some pretty severe problems with understeer, it just wasn’t as tight as it should have been, and the new coupe corrects that. The 2008 Civic Si took the tight curve on the south end of Wheatsheaf lane perfectly, whereas the old hatchback nearly threw me up on the railroad tracks at the same speed a few years ago. This car handles beautifully. It wouldn’t do it justice to say the new Si is just an improvement on the fifth generation, it’s so much more than that, it really is one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve ever driven.

It is a much tighter ride than the hatchback was, but the whole class has upped their game. The 2008 Civic Si has some very stiff competition. The Chevy Cobalt SS, Mazdaspeed 3, and Volkswagen GTI all have more horsepower than the Civic Si, the Cobalt SS considerably so. And the Mazdaspeed 3 and VW GTI are both on Car and Driver’s 10best list. So what’s the deal?

The Civic Si is a twisty car. Yes, it’s beat in the power department, but I doubt the the Cobalt SS could take the hairpins I’ve taken in the Si. And the Honda is more refined, it has a quality interior, not the chintzy plastics of the Cobalt. Plus, the overall quality of Honda…the car will last. And starting at 21k, it’s the cheapest of the 4 sport-compacts.

As for the look, I still don’t like it the way I liked the hatchback Si. The rear spoiler makes it look silly and the tiny headlights give it a much less aggressive, more boring look. Still, this car was a thrill to drive. I’ll take mine in taffeta white.

2011 Toyota 4Runner

2009-09-25T11:48:00.003-07:00

The 2010 Toyota 4Runner went on display and had the wraps taken off of it today at the State Fair of Texas and it is really looking great. This year’s model is taller, wider and longer, and has a selection of new motors. We’re really excited about test driving this one.

2011 Toyota 4Runner

Four-Links – Michelin’s tire-testing rig, SASCO closing, Kirkland concours, MAX the 100 MPG diesel Seven

2009-09-25T11:48:00.001-07:00

* In 1972, Michelin wanted to test truck tires at high speeds, but worried about the disastrous consequences of high-speed blowouts in big rigs, so they built the PLR, a mishmash of Citroën DS parts and two small-block Chevrolet V-8s. Apparently, Ixo made a 1/43rd-scale diecast model of it too.

* News came this week that one of the last (if not the last) vestiges of Studebaker, SASCO, housed in the historic Building 92, was sold off to settle a debt. the story mentions the city’s desire to demolish the building as well, so do like Flickr member jpenrice did and grab your photos of Building 92 sooner rather than later. (via)

* Them boys over at RustyHeaps.com recently took in the Kirkland Concours d’Elegance at Carillon Point in Washington state. The show included some great race boats and Big-C Classics, but very few rusty heaps.

* There’s some neat vehicles competing in the Automotive X Prize, and one of them is MAX, a Seven-type roadster built pretty much from scratch using a Kubota three-cylinder diesel and chronicled in the pages of Mother Earth News. (via)

* Finally, the UK’s Autocar reports that the British cash for clunkers program may get a cash infusion similar to the one that kept its American counterpart going for a couple weeks longer. Though originally designed to last through March, current estimates have the program running out of money next month. A cash infusion would prolong it through February. As for the other Euro clunkers programs, Edmunds has a roundup. Summary: They don’t want it to end.

2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: In the pits and on the track

2009-09-25T08:54:00.001-07:00

Filed under: Motorsports

Click above for a massive high-res gallery from the 2008 24 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill

Imagine this: text-message updates on your favorite LeMons teams that includes their last lap time and overall position. Or real-time telemetry data streaming online. How about pictures and analysis, straight from the track and beamed down through the tubes right into your home? Fantasy? Hardly. When you get hundreds of die-hard DIY types together for a weekend of wheel-to-wheel racing, anything's possible. Unless, of course, the one necessary component - a stable internet connection - is missing from the equation. And so concludes our overall coverage of the 2008 24 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill. After battling wonky wifi and sketchy EVDO connections, we bailed on the race late last night so we could give you a brief snippet of the action outside of Willows.

The LeMon's season-ender has all the ingredients for another epic crap-can battle royale, including the utterly fantastic ghetto-charged Miata, a Griswold-inspired Pinto, a fiberglass-bodied 240, a flipped Yugo, a superbike-powered Metro, a rod-knocking Escort (that puked all of its oil onto a half-mile stretch of the track) and our Altamont-running RX-7 that returned from the dead. Everything you'd want in a LeMons race was present and accounted for, and in these tumultuous times, it was a breath of fresh (well, diff-oil scented) air to see true gearheads doing what they love in an environment that's part LeMans and part Burning Man. If you ever need a brief respite to reinvigorate your faith in the bond between man and machine, LeMons is where it's at. And the 2009 season is already scheduled. If you can't compete, at least attend. You won't be disappointed, even if "the tubes" could use a thorough snaking.

Check back tonight for a list of the top-ten finishers and keep an eye out later this week for a first-hand account of the Tinkerbell Rosso team's campaign. In the meantime, enjoy our gallery of Saturday coverage below.

UPDATE: And the winner is... the Metro Gnome CBR900RR-powered Metro!

2008 25 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill: In the pits and on the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Pushes New Highlander Production Forward, Avoids Layoffs

2009-09-25T08:53:00.001-07:00

Looking to avoid employee cuts at all costs, Toyota has announced that it will begin manufacturing the new Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV six months earlier than planned. Amid dismal SUV sales, Toyota had postponed Highlander production until May of 2010 when construction of its Highlander assembly plant in Tupelo, Mississippi would be completed.

According to management briefings, Highlander Hybrid production will be moved to Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana plant and assume it’s original fall 2009 release schedule - all in order to avoid a massive round of layoffs. Amid dismal sales figures, Toyota recently ordered a halt on production of both the Toyota Tundra pick-up truck and Sequoia SUV. When word came down, activity at both the Princeton, IN and San Antonio TX plants [responsible for Sequoia and Tundra production, respectively] was immediately idled, leaving workers with literally nothing to do. Scrambling to avoid distributing the dreaded pink slips, Toyota decided to scrap plans to wait for the Mississippi factory completions and instead change venues to the Princeton, Indiana plant. Said Toyota’s North American senior vice president Steve St.Angelo, “We need to get those people working, that’s the bottom line.” The solution is a temporary one aimed at helping Toyota ride out what is presented as a brief tight spot. Production of the Tundra and Sequoia is expected to resume as usual in November.

[Source: Automotive News]

Clever BMW Billboard

2009-09-25T06:24:00.003-07:00

I thought this was pretty funny. Enjoy!

By Carl Jarrett

Tesla may supply Mercedes-Benz with lithium-ion batteries

2009-09-25T06:24:00.001-07:00

Coming off back-to-back Tesla posts yesterday, we have some more Tesla Motors news for you today. Daimler AG has been reported to be in talks with Tesla Motors on a new technology deal. According to...

All-New VW Golf GTI and R Variant Coming Next Year

2009-09-11T22:37:00.001-07:00

VW officially unveiled the all-new VVW Golf a few days ago, but said nothing about the GTI and R32 models.

Till Death Do Us Part

2009-09-11T16:43:00.001-07:00

Well not for this 90 year old South Carolina man. Lonnie Holloway was buried in the fron seat of his 1973 Pontiac Catalina. He was buried in the same spot his wife was- but in the driver seat of his car. Yeah kinda weird-but would you do it? Would you have yourself burried in the front seat of your car? Heck, it doesn’t even have to be your car, well I guess I am getting to would you be burried in a car, if so what car? Personally I wouldn’t want to get burried in a car I would want it to be driven for as long as possible by my kids and there kids and there kids. Tell us what you think!

Cars of the Candidates: Who Drives What?

2009-09-10T23:48:00.001-07:00

With the most important election of our lives closing in quickly, we have to take time to reflect on the facts, to set aside the emotions and rhetoric, and get to the very core of the issues. The most important issue of all, obviously, being what cars these men of power choose to drive.

A note: I despise politicians to my very core. Politics a game of pandering and lying and using the resources stolen from the many to help the very few who can afford lobbyists. It’s disgusting, but you have to vote for one of the major candidates, right? You wouldn’t want to throw your vote away, right? Ugh, you people disgust me too.

Anyway, let’s get this over with, here are the cars that these ridiculous plastic ambition-bots drive:

Goldenboy, aka, the Manchurian Candidate, aka, Barack Obama used to drive a Chysler 300C, which is actually a respectable choice. It’s a nice car, powerful, good looking, etc. But he made a speech back on May 7th basically chastising Detroit for failing to anticipate rising oil prices. It included this little tidbit: “While foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicle, American automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars. The auto industry is on a path that is unacceptable and unsustainable. And America must take action to make it right.”

Unfortunately, when someone pointed out that he actually drives a bigger, faster, gas guzzling V8 beast, he promptly threw away the 300Ca and switched to a Ford Escape Hybrid, which is to politics what the Cadillac Escalade is to hip hop. Apparently Al Gore and John Edwards drive the Escape Hybrid too. I can almost picture the meeting where they decided on that car. “Ok, it’s American, it’s a hybrid, and yet, it’s big enough to say you’re strong, you’re no little Prius driver, you won’t fold to Iran, YOU CAN LEAD”. I can’t stress this enough. I hate politics.

As for the old snapping turtle himself, John McCain, he hobbles around in exactly what you’d think a 90 year old curmudgeonly war veteran hobbles around in, a Cadillac CTS sedan. An old man in a Cadillac? It’s almost too perfect, but it’s true. I bet he leaves his blinker on for hours at a time too, just in solidarity with the rest of the very very old voters.

Now, say what you will about Ron Paul, but if you’ve ever taken an economics course in your life, you realize he’s the only one that makes any sort of logical sense. Granted, he never had a chance, but the facts are still there, and there’s a reason that people with higher IQ are more likely to be libertarians. Because libertarianism is based on sound economics.

Whatever though, this is about cars, not about the nation of sheep that set out every 4 years to pick between two colors and pretend like it matters. THIS IS ABOUT CARS. And Ron Paul drives a Buick. All anyone could get out of him was this nondescript quote when asked what he drives: “a Buick while in Washington and a second-hand Lincoln car and Ford truck back home.” That’s all he told anyone, you know why? Because he doesn’t want the gawrd’dang government all up in his business, tracking his car movement with their elec-tro-tronic sat-e-lites and what not. An interesting side note, Ron Paul also says he keeps a 1979 Chevette at home for “sentimental reasons.” I love you Ron.

If you’re wondering what Ralph Nader drives, he actually claims he doesn’t own a car; he just flies around on his broomstick powered by massive amounts of government regulation and virgin blood. It keeps him young. Nader is actually as old as time itself, he was created in the big bang as one of the major universal forces “Governmentium” hes the reason government always gets bigger, it’s a law of nature

BMW to start offering M-Sport packs in the U.S., look faster without the go-fast bits!

2009-09-10T17:47:00.001-07:00

Filed under: BMW

Frankly, its never been all that difficult to turn a run of the mill BMW into a reasonable facsimile of an M model like an M3, M5 or M6. All you had to do was order the appropriate body kit from your friendly neighborhood BMW dealer and slap it on your car. In spite of this, Europeans have generally had an even easier time thanks to M-Sport packages on virtually every model in the lineup including those that didn't offer M equivalents. The M-Sport packages generally consist of assorted aero bits, wheels, upgraded seats and interior bits emblazoned with the "M" badge.

BMW is reportedly getting ready to offer M-Sport packages in the U.S. for the first time beginning in early 2009. The 1 and 5 series will apparently be the first models to get blessed. Given the slow down in sales and BMW's recent profit warnings, this should come as no surprise as the packages will surely be priced with a generous profit margin built in. Thanks to Gabe and Michael for the tips!

Related:

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 BMW M5

Gallery: Autoblog Garage: 2008 BMW M3

[Source: Bimmerfile]

BMW to start offering M-Sport packs in the U.S., look faster without the go-fast bits! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Spy Photos of Honda's New Hybrid...It Looks a lot Like a Prius

2009-09-10T15:13:00.001-07:00

Honda as already announced plans for a new stand alone hybrid model that will go head to head with the Toyota Prius, but until now we had not seen what the actual hybrid would look like.

Audi R8 Spyder

2009-09-10T13:58:00.001-07:00

Enjoy the true soundtrack of life with this gorgeous piece of engineering from Audi. The R8 Spyder defines what automotive love is all about. It’s a virtual certainty that you’ll fall in love with the sound of that V10 engine when the roof is down. The car’s design doesn’t really veer far away from the original R8. It still has that simple yet elegant look but the side blades that distinguish the R8 is gone and replaced by air vents. For your off-color fixation, the frame of the windshield is made of brushed aluminum. Watch out for the official unveiling of the car, with all its gorgeous details in the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

Getting Car Loans for Bad Credit

2009-09-09T21:04:00.001-07:00

Car loans are hard to come by if you don’t have the best credit in the world. Even if you have the worst credit in the history of the United States, there are still some tips, and tricks that you can use in order to get that loan you need for that car purchase. Since most of us need a car to get back and forth to the grocery store, work, and more, you’re going to find that it’s essential to get a loan as soon as you can.

Try P2P lending clubs - Services like Lending Club are amazing, because it allows anyone like you, and I to get a loan from the public. What you’ll do on a website like this is input your information, and tell the public what kind of loan that you want, and why you need it. Lending Club will do a background check on you, and let the public know your credit score, etc to show them who they are dealing with.

When the public decides to lend you money, they are going to make money on your loan, because you’re going to pay it back, plus interest. It’s going to be a win-win for all. This is definitely the first choice that I would take in order to find a loan that best suits you.

Lower your price range – If you have enough cash in the bank, you may want to just purchase the car 100%. You can get cheap, smaller cars for as little as $3,000. I know it may sound like a lot if you don’t have a lot saved, but it can be done, especially if you have a lot sitting in your bank account.

Jump to friends and family - This is the last resort that I generally would take, but you’re going to find that banks, and other lending institutions aren’t going to lend to you. Instead of stressing out, because you can’t find a loan, your best bet is to call up a friend, or family member. Tell them that you’ll write up a binding contract, and pay them back. If they trust you, you should be able to get something out of it.

Car loans can be hard to come by, especially if your credit is lousy. Make sure that you try some these tips above, and see if you can work it out so that you can get the car that you need.

2008 Subaru WRX STi: Alphabet Alpha Dog

2009-09-09T16:10:00.001-07:00

To the joy of all WRX fans who have been disappointed with the cars lagging performance in relation to its competitors as of late, Subaru has followed up the release last year of its redesigned WRX by adding a few more letters to the badging and a few horsepower to the car.

Subaru optimized the STI’s powertrain for better performance and a higher degree of driver-selectable control. The STi’s 2.5-liter, turbocharged and intercooled, 4-cylinder, boxer-style engine now has a Dual Active Valve Control System (Dual AVCS) and Subaru’s Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system which achieves 305 horsepower, a gain of 12 hp over last year’s model.

SI-Drive allows the driver to alter the car’s driving characteristics. A console-mounted dial offers three settings, varying from one that offers optimal fuel economy to one that provides lightning-quick throttle response.

The STI’s response to aggressive acceleration is lightning-quick and the 6-speed manual transmission. In testing the STI, Car & Driver magazine recorded a 0-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 13.6 seconds at 102 mph. Top speed is electronically limited to 151 mph, though I’m sure some bright-eyed youngster will find a way to dispense with that.

The EPA rates the STI’s mileage at 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway using premium gas, which will probably encourage some restraint and is achievable with conservative use of the throttle.

Physically, differences between the WRX and the WRX STi are subtle. The Aero package, previously an option, is now standard on both sedan and five-door models as is a new STI-style grille.

Starting with the Impreza’s new hatchback bodywork, the STI gains a trim look but still with bulging fenders and quarter panels. The hood scoop, front brake air intakes and engine heat outlets are all functional, as they should be.

STi interior

The interior of the STI comes with special front seats designed with tight side bolsters and integrated head restraints. The upholstery is cloth with leather trim. The instrument cluster features a 9,000-rpm tachometer and 160-mph speedometer, along with indicators for the driver-selectable functions.

Whether the $35,640 sticker price, basically a 10 grand option over the WRX is worth it, remains to be seen.

Ford talking to Chinese to sell Volvo, brand cuts 2,000 jobs

2009-09-08T23:27:00.001-07:00

It’s that time of the month again where we hear speculations on Volvo being sold. This time, according to Dagens Industri, FoMoCo is talks with a Chinese company, Shanghai Automotive Industry...

Spy Shots: 2009 Acura RL spotted in Mojave Desert

2009-09-08T19:29:00.001-07:00

The guys at Automotive Traveler were out testing the Subaru Impreza WRX STI in California Mojave Desert and happened to catch the 2009 Acura TL undergoing some hot-weather testing. Design wise the...

Rover Time, Part X: Making a new choke cable

2009-09-08T15:31:00.001-07:00

The choke cable in the Rover was good and stuck, and no amount of penetrating oil that I was able to spray into the housing was going to change that. Not only that, but in trying to get the cable free I had broken the sheath away from the housing. The cable has to be able to work in both directions, so that was no good.

I took the cable out of my parts car, but that one had a broken cast-metal housing, and it couldn’t be fixed. Are new cables available? I couldn’t find them online. Then I noticed that the $15 choke cable I’d bought for the SU conversion I’m doing on the Spitfire had a very similar kind of housing, just longer. Hmmm.

This shows the original Rover housing. The bezel between the hook-shaped handle and the threaded part is cast in.

The threaded portion on the Spit cable was longer, and the bezel wasn’t cast in, but threaded on. It’s not an exact match for the Rover part, but it’s close enough. (Now that I notice it, the choke cable for earlier Spitfires seems to have the same cast-in bezel.)

The Spitfire housing even has the same three holes the Rover part has. They’re for the contacts for a switch for a choke warning lamp, which the Rover has and the Triumph doesn’t. All that I had to do to adapt this part was to shorten the threaded shaft with a hacksaw, and to drill out a keyway that was cast into the part.

The other end of the cable has a round ball at the end, which is inserted into a connector for the two separate cables that go to the choke linkages on the two carbs. I wanted to keep the old parts-car cable for its handle; the newer cable had a square knob. I needed to remove the ball from the end of the old cable to get it out. Playing around with my soldering iron, I discovered that the ball was just a brass bit that was soldered onto the end of the cable. There was no problem in removing it.

Then there was the ferrule. The old one was crimped to the end of the sheath, and had a groove so that it could be held in place with a clip — remember, it has to work in both directions. I used a bike cable ferrule on the new cable, and turned a groove in it by chucking it into my drill press and holding a hacksaw blade against it as it turned. A wire crimper locked it onto the end of the sheath.

Everything’s in place, and it all works. Which means I can start the engine from cold without having to hold the chokes open with a bent piece of wire.

Pontiac Mulls the Idea of a V6 Powered G8 Sport Truck aka El Camino

2009-09-07T23:28:00.001-07:00

GM's yet to be named Pontiac G8 Sport Truck has yet to receive an official name, but Pontiac is already discussing the idea of offering a V6 in the spiritual successor to the El Camino.

2009 Maserati Quattroporte and Quattroporte S get facelift

2009-09-07T19:29:00.001-07:00

After selling 15,000 units, Maserati is now offering a facelifted version of the Quattroporte. Looks wise the 2009 Maserati Quattroporte gets a new large grille with vertical slats like the...

Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA Confirmed with 230 HP

2009-09-07T15:28:00.001-07:00

Alfa Romeo officially released the MiTo last week and now 4Car is confirming the launch of the high-performance MiTo GTA.

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