Sigalon's Automotive Soup

AutoblogGreen for 03.19.10

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:58:00 GMT

	Greenlings: What realistic electric vehicle recharge options are there for apartment dwellers? We found four, five if you count moving.		Kuwaiti study: Conventional oil to peak in 2014 Who's worried?
	Report: BYD cutting back electric vehicle production plans Hmmm.	Other news: Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle at British factory from 2013 Toyota to send 400 more EDR readers for investigation of Prius incidents Video: Ferrari does the hybrid thing

AutoblogGreen for 03.19.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeux vidéo : F1 2010 se dévoile en images

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:11:02 GMT

Voilà bien longtemps qu'une simulation de F1 ne s'était pas invitée dans nos consoles de salon. Codemaster s'apprête à changer la donne avec un F1 2010 particulièrement réussi et dont voici les premières [...]

Ferrari : une 458 Italia aux enchères pour la bonne cause

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:23:19 GMT

Ferrari s'engage avec la Fondation au Clinton pour venir en aide aux victimes des séismes en Haïti. La firme italienne va vendre la première 458 Italia américaine aux enchères afin de récolter des fonds. [...]

Permis de conduire : halte aux rumeurs

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:37:52 GMT

Une rumeur persistante circule sur le net et peut avoir des conséquences catastrophiques sur votre permis de conduire. Heureusement SauverMonPermis et Maître Franck Cohen décryptent la situation. Comme [...]

Live Shots: McLaren MP4-12C takes the stage at company unveiling

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:44:50 GMT

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, UK

McLaren MP4-12C at company unveiling - Click above for high-res image gallery

Early this morning, at least in the U.S., McLaren Automotive had a coming out party in its home town of Woking, England. We were there in person and witnessed the unveiling of not only a new sports car company, McLaren Automotive, but also its flagship product: The MP4-12C. This will be the first of an entire range of new McLaren sports cars, and the company best know for its exploits on the F1 race circuit appears to have built a doozy of a supercar to kick things off.

McLaren F1 drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton were on hand at McLaren's technology center to pull back the sheet on the MP4-12C. The rear-wheel-drive supercar features a mid-mounted 3.8-liter V8 producing 600 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque with an 8,000-rpm redline. Comparisons with the legendary McLaren F1 will no doubt be made, but no performance numbers are available for the MP4-12C yet and, we suspect, their missions in life are not exactly the same. The MP4-12C appears to be a supercar you could live with on a daily basis, more like a Gallardo than a Murciélago (though we suspect it might leave both in the dust).

Since we were there, we also meandered about McLaren's facilities and captured stills of a bare MP4-12C chassis, rolling bodies on the assembly line, the XP11 prototype that was used for testing and various historical McLaren automobiles that were hanging out in the lobby. Check out the virtual tour of today's big event in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C At Company Unveiling

Live Shots: McLaren MP4-12C takes the stage at company unveiling originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenlings: What realistic electric vehicle recharge options are there for apartment dwellers?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:40:45 GMT

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Green Daily, Greenlings

One of the challenges to making electric vehicles (EVs) "work" in the real world is figuring out how, where and when to recharge them. If you have a garage, then those questions kind of answer themsleves. You come home, take 15 seconds to plug the car into the wall and undo the plug in the morning with a full charge. One previous Greenlings looked at EV charging basics and another Greenlings explained some of the options for home recharging. We recommend reading through those pieces as a primer for the article that follows if you're unfamiliar with some of the underlying concepts for recharging electric cars. As more and more plug-in vehicles come to market, though, we'll need to be able to figure out answers for people who can't easily recharge in their own garage. So, today, we're going to answer a question from reader Kellan O., who wrote in to ask:

I live in an apartment along with a lot of other urban residents of the world. How would I realistically recharge a plug-in hybrid or pure battery car (aside from a 200 ft. extension cord out of my window)?

A 200-foot extension cord would indeed be a problem. Continue reading after the jump for some answers.

[Image: Jason Pratt - C.C. License 2.0]

Continue reading Greenlings: What realistic electric vehicle recharge options are there for apartment dwellers?

Greenlings: What realistic electric vehicle recharge options are there for apartment dwellers? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Win 24 Hours of LeMons, go to 24 Hours of Le Mans

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:24:50 GMT

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

24 Hours of LeMons at Thunderhill - click above for high-res image gallery

That's right, the 2010 24 Hours of LeMons season champion team will be sent to France to enjoy the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For reals. Says LeMons Chief Perpetrator Jay Lamm, "I think it's only fit and proper that the very best team in LeMons see how seriously lame they still are in comparison." The winning team shouldn't expect the Audi-style treatment our man Damon Lavrinc received at last year's Le Mans. Sayeth the press release, "We'll pay the LeMons-grade airfare and lodging. (If you want to fly Emirates, enter F1.) We'll hook you up with some teams to hang out with. We'll even toss in some Fodor's and Sartre."

The big question then is why are they actually doing it? Why are they actually sending a bunch of greasy geeks used to fixing things with JB Weld and a Sawzal to Europe's most elegant and sophisticated race? When we asked Jay where this idea came from, he replied, "Absinthe, if I recall correctly." However, if you make the jump you can see second in command Nick "Deuce-Deuce" Pon's longer, more thoughtful, slightly NSFW explanation of why plus the actual press release.

Gallery: 2009 24 Hours of LeMons Champs plus Thunderhill

Continue reading Win 24 Hours of LeMons, go to 24 Hours of Le Mans

Win 24 Hours of LeMons, go to 24 Hours of Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Not so fast, says dealer of Dodge Challenger eBay debacle

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:24:49 GMT

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Dodge

Earlier this week, we shared with you the budding saga of "Hitman" and the fact that he had won a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 from Glenn E Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep for the amazing low price of $29,100 - about $13,000 less than the car is worth and also $13,000 less than Glenn Thomas wanted to sell it for. However, because eBay auctions are "legally binding" contracts and the dealer failed to put in a reserve, tough turkey, you gotta sell the car at a loss, right? Not quite.

We just got off the phone with John Davis, the general manager of Glenn E Thomas. Here's his side of the story: About two weeks ago, Glenn put the SRT8 up on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $43,425 and a Reserve price of $42,995. Six days into the seven day auction, Davis says that the dealership changed the Buy It Now price to match the lower Reserve price. At that time, the highest bid was about $21,000 (around half of the Reserve) and Glenn was hoping that a lowered Buy it Now price would drum up some bids. It did, in fact - but not for the reasons Glenn wanted.

Here's where the story gets fuzzy... Follow the jump to hear the rest of the dealership's side of the story.

Continue reading Followup: Not so fast, says dealer of Dodge Challenger eBay debacle

Followup: Not so fast, says dealer of Dodge Challenger eBay debacle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.18.10

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:24:48 GMT

First Drive: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is always ready for its close-up

The four-door sports car concept is coming into its own in the new decade, and the latest entrant from Aston Martin has the looks, but does it pack a Panamera-beating punch?

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost

Ford's working on a hotter version of its all-new Fiesta, and judging by the intercooler peering behind the Euro-market fascia, turbocharged goodness is on the way.

McLaren Automotive officially launches itself and MP4-12C supercar [w/video]

McLaren Automotive finally revealed the MP4-12C at an event in the UK this morning, and the automaker's first new model is a harbinger of good things to come.

Also of interest:

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.18.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CHP report seemingly sides with Sikes on case of the Runaway Prius

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:24:47 GMT

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

In reality, the California Highway Patrol isn't taking sides with anyone regarding the recent speeding Prius of Jim Sikes. But the CHP doesn't see any reason to doubt Sikes' version of events that led to his hybrid reaching speeds of around 90 miles per hour, apparently unable to bring the barreling vehicle to a stop. Also of note is the fact that a Border Patrol agent had also responded and was leading the Prius with its emergency lights on when the CHP officer arrived.

The officer that responded to the scene states that he "could see the driver sat up off his seat indicating that he was possibly applying the brake pedal with his body weight... His back was arched and both hands were pulling at the steering wheel." A short time later, the officer positioned his patrol car in front of Sikes' Prius when he "noticed that the Prius' speed had dropped dramatically" before coming to a complete stop on the highway. According to Sikes, this happened after he applied both the standard and parking brakes.

Paramedics arrived on the scene and found that "Sikes' blood pressure and pulse rate were very high." Another interesting tidbit is the the officer encouraged Sikes to speak with the media, despite the fact that the driver indicated he preferred not to. Later at the station, the officer took a statement from Sikes, who described his Prius as 'feeling funny' under braking, saying that the "whole car was shaking and vibrating" when the brakes were applied.

Sikes also claims to have manually pulled up on the gas pedal three separate times with no effect, and he was afraid that shutting the car off would cause the steering to lock up. The officer reports seeing the car's brake lights on and off intermittently, smelling the scent of worn brakes and seeing that the pads were worn completely down after the event.

CHP spokesman Brian Pennings has said that it is the CHP's position that no evidence has emerged to doubt Sikes' version of events. See the CHP officer's complete report in our image gallery below. For a slightly different view, click here and here to see what Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found after inspecting Sikes' Prius.

Gallery: CHP report of James Sikes' speeding Prius

[Source: California Highway Patrol, USA Today]

CHP report seemingly sides with Sikes on case of the Runaway Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renault-Nissan e-moves into Lombardy, Italy

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:20:45 GMT

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Renault

Renault-Nissan Alliance EV in Lombardy - Click above for high-res image

"E-Moving." That's the name of a pilot project from Renault-Nissan and the utility A2A that starts this June in Lombardy, Italy, including the cities of Milan and Brescia. With a name like that and the connection to Renault-Nissan, is it a surprise that this partnership involves electric vehicles (EVs)? We didn't think so.

There have been some attempts to get electric vehicles into Italy, but Renault says E-Moving is, "the first electric vehicle experimentation in Italy." At the very least, this is the biggest: 60 all-electric vehicles - the Kangoo Express Z.E. and the Renault Fluence Z.E. - will make up the fleet. Both models will be available to rent by the month. The one-year program will look at all the usual data points: impact of EVs on the grid, management of the vehicle batteries, ways to sell or rent EVs, etc. The project will install 270 charge points, setting the stage for more EVs in the future.

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Renault-Nissan e-moves into Lombardy, Italy

Renault-Nissan e-moves into Lombardy, Italy originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aborted plans for trio of new MG sportscar unearthed in new report

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:04:48 GMT

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Roewe, MISC

MG Project X120 - Click above for image gallery

As recently as five years ago, iconic British marque MG was in the midst of developing three - count 'em, three - new sportscars, according to various reports. Unfortunately, as MG Rover ran out of capital and was sold off to Chinese investors, the plans never saw the light of day. But that won't stop us from wondering what could have been.

The plan - known internally as Project X120 - included a replacement for the aging TF model, a successor to the diminutive Midget, and an up-market sportscar to take on the likes of the Porsche Cayman. The project, however, reportedly got itself into trouble when engineers realized that their plans revolved around using the TF's chassis, among whose shortcomings included a cramped cockpit with an awkward driving position. The injection of an extra £2 million to the £50 million overall budget could have afforded the program a new all-aluminum tub, but they just didn't have the cash.

The real kicker, from an American perspective at least, was that the business case for developing the new line of MGs necessitated the return to the North American market to pursue new potential buyers. And that's where we begin to weep and lament the MGs that could have been.

Gallery: MG Project X120

[Source: Auto Express and Austin Rover Online]

Aborted plans for trio of new MG sportscar unearthed in new report originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:00:46 GMT

Filed under: MPG, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta Ecoboost - Click above for high-res image gallery

The EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 found in the Ford Flex and Taurus SHO has quickly become one of our favorite mills on the market. But what we've really been hankering for from FoMoCo is its smaller displacement offerings, specifically the 1.6- and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines slated to arrive next year.

Along with the Fusion, the all-new Fiesta is set to get a boosted mill sometime in 2011, and these newest spy shots reveal that a high-performance version of Ford's diminutive hatch is in the works.

Tucked behind a modified version of the Euro-market Fiesta's Titanium Trim front fascia is a slim intercooler matched with blacked-out trim, a subtle body kit and a prototype rear diffuser modified to fit the European-spec rear bumper and dual exhausts. A set of 17-inch anthracite Speedline wheels complete the package, which poses two questions.

One, is this a prototype of a production vehicle or something that's planned for this November's SEMA Show? Either way, Ford's got big plans for its new three-door and showing off its aftermarket potential is sure to be high on the priority list.

Two, which EcoBoosted engine is powering the mule? The smart money's on Ford's new 1.6-liter inline four, which should be good for around 170 horsepower and a similar amount of torque in turbo'd form. The less-than-plausible, yet far more compelling, option is the Fusion's forthcoming turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot, which is good for between 230 and 250 hp and 240 pound-feet of twist. Obviously, we're hoping for the latter, but we'd be just as content with the 1.6-liter option and the possibility of future models turning up the wick even further.

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota asks ABC News for apology, retraction of Brian Ross report

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:54:51 GMT

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

"Toyota deserves a public retraction and formal apology from ABC News." At least according to the automaker itself. For what, you ask? For ABC's "irresponsible broadcast entitled "Expert: Electronic Design Flaw Linked to Runaway Toyotas." You surely remember the piece, which originally aired the night before a Congressional Panel began investigating the issue of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.

That dubious timing has also drawn ire from Toyota, which says ABC News "Rushed out the report" and "denied Toyota the opportunity to review specific manipulation" ABC and its expert, Dr. David Gilbert, "performed in the broadcast." If it had been given an opportunity to respond, Toyota claims it would have shown that Gilbert's technique required conditions that are "virtually impossible to occur in real-world conditions."

It's also pointed out in Toyota's four-page letter, which you can see in its entirety below, that ABC News faked at least one shot of a tachometer shooting from 1,000 to 6,200 RPM, insinuating that the vehicle was speeding out of control with Brian Ross behind the wheel when it was actually sitting in a parking lot with the transmission firmly in Park.

Toyota concludes that Brian Ross "failed in his basic duty as a journalist" by not disclosing that Dr. Gilbert's work was being paid for by a group of "trial lawyers involved in litigation against Toyota." Finally, the Japanese automaker "reserves the right to take any and every opportunity to protect and defend" its reputation.

The ball is officially in your court, ABC News.

Gallery: Toyota letter to ABC News

[Source: Gawker]

Toyota asks ABC News for apology, retraction of Brian Ross report originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mr. Unstoppable Force, this is Mr. Immovable Object

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:54:49 GMT

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Military

What happens when an unstoppable force encounters an immovable object? - Click above to see the video after the jump

We recently received the email below from a friend and felt like we had to share. We really think you'll like this one.

How many times have you wondered how strong those cement barriers are, that you see in front of military base entrances? (Are all barriers created equal?)

This was sent by someone who works for the Army Corp of Engineers:

From time to time someone asks me what the concrete barriers are in front of controlled and secure buildings. When I tell them that the barriers will stop traffic, even trucks, from approaching the secured building I usually get a look of disbelief.

Truck = 65,000 lbs. ~ Speed = 50 mph

Follow the jump to see what happens when an unstoppable force encounters an immovable object.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Mr. Unstoppable Force, this is Mr. Immovable Object

Video: Mr. Unstoppable Force, this is Mr. Immovable Object originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lancia Stratos: This Is What V6s Sound Like In Heaven

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:50:43 GMT

Directions for use: Click Play. Turn volume up.

Read about our drive of a Lancia Stratos.

Is There An Even More Expensive Supercar Coming From McLaren?

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:48:03 GMT

Today's press conference at McLaren's headquarters in Woking, England was all about the upcoming MP4-12C sportscar. With its twin-turbo V8 and low curb weight (@2,900 lbs.), the MP4-12C is already expected to be one of the world's fastest supercars.

Still, the company plans to price the MP4-12C in the low $200,000 range, so there's room for an even more expensive flagship in the lineup. Mark Vinnels, McLaren Automotive's Program Director hinted to that fact while discussing the company's drive for maximum efficiency. "Our focus will be on achieving the best lightweight solutions at the given price point," he said.

When asked about the company's plans for a flagship above the MP4-12C, Vinnels admitted that a higher price point "will allow us to play with more exotic materials." Managing Director Anthony Sheriff was a little less committed. "In the short term we will focus on two-seater sports cars," said Sheriff. "I wouldn't rule anything out in the long term but whatever we do, it will be a McLaren." -- reporting by Alistair Weaver in England

McLaren Says MP4-12C Will Have Lowest CO2 Per Horsepower

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:55:21 GMT

And no, they didn't make that claim with any sort of snickering or lack of seriousness. In fact, McLaren told Inside Line that it's totally committed to efficiency.

"Four or five years ago no-one in the supercar world cared about carbon dioxide emissions," said Anthony Sheriff, Managing Director of McLaren Automotive, "but we said it does matter because it's a key measure of efficiency. It was one of the primary targets for the MP4-12C."

It may sound like a bit of greenwashing by McLaren, but the company simply sees it as a matter of performance enhancement.

"It's very easy to chase performance figures," explained Mark Vinnels, McLaren Automotive's Programme Director. "The future will always be about efficiency. Increased performance will come with increased efficiency." -- reporting by Alistair Weaver in England

UK backs Ford and Nissan with $581m for green vehicles

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:40:47 GMT

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Ford, Nissan, Legislation and Policy, UK

Earlier today, we we learned that Nissan will start making Leaf electric vehicles at a plant in Sunderland, UK, beginning in 2013. One reason the facility will be opened is because the UK government is giving Nissan £20.1 million ($30.7 million U.S.) in the form of a Grant for Business Investment for the plant. Also announced today: the UK government is giving Ford a big £360 million ($551 million U.S.) loan guarantee to help Ford develop "environmentally friendly technologies across its UK sites." Last week, the UK gave General Motors a 300 million euro ($412 million) loan guarantee for Vauxhall operations in the UK and the rest of Europe.

What will Ford do with the money? It will be part of the company's £1.5 billion investment, over five years, for the development of low carbon emission diesel and petrol vehicles and technologies. We expect more Econetic engines, EcoBoost and small Euro vehicles to come of it.

[Source: Ford, Reuters]

Continue reading UK backs Ford and Nissan with $581m for green vehicles

UK backs Ford and Nissan with $581m for green vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delta Motorsport, The British Automotive X-PRIZE Contender

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:39:13 GMT

The Automotive X-PRIZE has competitors from all over the globe, but interestingly, there is only a single entrant from England. Delta Motorsport is the only all-British, and the only European contender in the race to find the most environmentally friendly car on the planet.

The Automotive X-PRIZE, the road-going equivalent of what got Richard Branson in orbit, is a competition with a $10m prize fund Autopia has been keeping an eye on for quite a while now. The entrants in the contest must produce cars that are capable of 200 miles before recharging as well as passing tests of braking distances and usability. And just as importantly, the winning ride should be ready to be mass produced.

So what does the Delta Motorsport E-4 Coupe have to offer?

The Delta Motorsport E-4 Coupe is swoopy for a four seater, which makes it more practical than some of the other entrants. But performance is what sets the E-4 Coupe apart. Unlike most other electric vehicles, the performance of the E-4 Coupe is capable of matching that of conventional cars. For example, it can accelerate from zero to 60mph in less than five seconds, which is comparable to a Porsche 911 Turbo. The E-4 tops out at a maximum speed well in excess of 100mph, which is sadly less than a Porsche.

Like seemingly every other British race car builder, Delta Motorsport is based at the Silverstone Circuit Technology Park in Northamptonshire. Delta has substantial experience in high technology engineering, motorsport and clean technology projects.

“We became involved with the design of environmentally friendly vehicles because they share many of the engineering challenges associated with motorsport – maximum efficiency, light weight, good aerodynamics and so on. We worked with Oxford University on a lightweight, highly efficient electric motor and have completed several road haulage aerodynamic programmers to improve fuel efficiency,” says Delta co-founder Simon Dowson.

The first S-4 Coupe will be completed in April, and Delta was mentioned by British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown as being one of 100 companies embracing the low carbon economy. Prime Minister Brown said, “Our transition to a low carbon economy will be a key driver of our future economic prosperity. Delta Motorsport is at the forefront of this transformation. Their innovation and expertise demonstrates why the UK is one of best places in the world for low carbon business.”

The more the merrier we say. Whether the Automotive X-PRIZE winner is from England, the U.S. or anywhere else, the whole point is to get us better, cleaner cars.

Photo: Delta Motorsport

Report: Volvo XC30 compact crossover coming in 2012

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:34:44 GMT

Filed under: Crossover, Volvo, Rumormill

2010 Volvo C30 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Much like the 3 Series-based BMW X1, Volvo is reportedly hard at work on its own diminutive soft-roader, modeled on the C30 hatchback. The new small crossover, said to be dubbed XC30 (natch), will ride on a slightly taller version of the C30's chassis, and while the drivetrain and powerplants are likely to be straight out of the three-door hatch, it's been reported that the styling will be more akin to that of the larger XC60 CUV.

The addition of a small(er) crossover to Volvo's lineup doesn't shock us, especially since other European luxury marques have discussed the possibility of creating crossovers in this segment as well. Audi is supposedly working on a Q3 to slot below the hot-selling Q5, and Mercedes-Benz has been rumored to be creating a crossover based on the next-generation B-Class, possibly called BLK.

Volvo is also said to be working on a five-door wagon-like version of the C30 (possibly called V30), but that supposed project remains in murkier parts of the rumormill for now. Look for the XC30 crossover to bow sometime in 2012.

Gallery: 2010 Volvo C30

[Source: CarsGuide]

Report: Volvo XC30 compact crossover coming in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition is darkened hotness

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:24:47 GMT

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Mazda, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style

Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

We make no effort to hide the fact that we love the Mazda Miata just the way it is. In fact, it's always been just about perfect in our eyes, as evidenced by our most recent road test of the sporty little Japanese runabout. But if bright schoolbus yellow just isn't your bag, baby, may we suggest something a little more subtle?

Mazda has just rolled out the MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition at the 21st annual Salon du Cabriolet, Coupé & SUV in Paris. Ostensibly to celebrate the Miata's 20th birthday in France, we kinda think Mazda just wanted to prove that its sportscar looks pretty darn good in the automotive equivalent of the little black dress. And boy, does it ever.

There's nothing special underhood, so the 2.0-liter four still puts out an adequate 167 horsepower. We can't say that we see them in the photos ourselves (fortunately), but design label LK by Laure Kczekotowska Paris has reportedly decked the MX-5 out in rhinestones, gems, and crystals. Ah well, nothing can be perfect. See for yourself in the image gallery below.

Gallery: Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition

[Source: Mazda via Le Blog Auto]

Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition is darkened hotness originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Updated Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon spotted touring about

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:24:46 GMT

Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Last week, the forthcoming revised Mercedes C-Class sedan was caught on a field trip, and this week it's the C-Class wagon.

Naturally, the same changes spotted in that last round of photos - new hood, headlights and bumpers, a more upright grille, LED taillamps, and altered rear fascia - have taken the small step over to this car as well. The spy shooters at CarPix also suggest that noticeable interior changes might be on the way, since "test drivers are always very keen on covering the dash up." We expect a few modest material changes and maybe some COMAND updates, but not a full-on interior redo. Either way, you can check out high-res exterior shots in the gallery of photos below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Mercedes C-Class wagon

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Updated Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon spotted touring about originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Suzuki declines to build Tata Nano-fighter

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:20:48 GMT

Filed under: MPG, Suzuki, Tata

Tata Nano - Click above for high-res image gallery

How cheap is too cheap? If you ask the head of Suzuki, the answer is simple; any vehicle that is cheaper than Suzuki's current offerings in India would no longer be a car worthy of the nameplate.

The comments from chief executive Osamu Suzuki surfaced when recently discussing the company's decision to abandon any attempts to build a vehicle capable of selling at the price point of the Tata Nano. Suzuki has considered the threat that the Nano could place on their existing model lineup in India but declined to build one for several reasons.

Decisions to abandon a Nano rival center on standards set by Suzuki and expected by its customer base. The company is concerned that safety, features, and expected comforts can not be provided at a price that is any lower than its current models.

India is one of Suzuki's premier markets with more than 50 percent of the market controlled by the company. Losing ground to Tata could be a significant blow, but apparently a too-cheap Suzuki would be worse.

Gallery: Tata Nano

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Suzuki declines to build Tata Nano-fighter originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fernando Alonso Goes Soft, Orders Up Maserati GranCabrio for Daily Duty

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:19:20 GMT

Ah, the life of a Ferrari Formula One driver. All the grueling hours of testing, the overzealous fans and champagne-soaked driving suits. Sometimes it's just too much, and for those occasions you need something to take you away from it all.

When Fernando Alonso sat down to order himself up a car, the Maserati GranCabrio was his choice. Why? Well, we don't really know, probably something to do with the way it looks, the sound of its V8 and the name at the top of his paychecks.

Thankfully, Mr. Alonso did not go for the obvious and order it in red. Instead he went for some shade of dark gray with a light interior. Nick score there Fernando, now you can relax.

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Fiesta Ecoboost

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:04:47 GMT

Filed under: SEMA Show, Spy Photos, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta Ecoboost - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Ecoboost 3.5-liter V6 found in the Ford Flex and Taurus SHO has quickly become one of our favorite mills on the market. But what we've really been hankering for from FoMoCo is its smaller displacement offerings, specifically the 1.6- and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines slated to arrive next year.

Along with the Fusion, the all-new Fiesta is set to get a boosted mill sometime in 2011, and these newest spy shots reveal that a high-performance version of Ford's diminutive hatch is in the works.

Tucked behind a modified version of the Euro-market Fiesta's Titanium Trim front fascia is a slim intercooler, matched with blacked-out trim, a subtle body kit and a prototype rear diffuser modified to fit the European-spec rear bumper and dual exhausts. A set of 17-inch anthracite Speedline wheels complete the package, which poses two questions.

One, is this a prototype of a production vehicle or something that's planned for this November's SEMA show? Either way, Ford's got big plans for its new three-door and showing off its aftermarket potential is sure to be high on its priority list.

Secondly, which Ecoboosted engine is powering the mule? The smart money's on Ford's new 1.6-liter inline four, which should be good for around 170 horsepower and similar amount of torque in turbo'd form. The less-than-plausible, yet far more compelling option is the Fusion's forthcoming turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot which is good for between 230 and 250 hp and 240 pound-feet of twist. Obviously, we're hoping for the latter, but we'd be just as content with the 1.6-liter option and the possibility of future models turning up the wick even further.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Fiesta Ecoboost

Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Fiesta Ecoboost originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Toyota considering stall fix for 1.2M Corolla and Matrix models

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:54:51 GMT

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

Are you tired of hearing about Toyota recalls and safety concerns? If that's the case, we must regrettably inform you that there's an update to note on a previously reported issue, this one potentially affecting some 1.2 million Corolla and Matrix models from 2005, 2006 and 2007. This issue concerns a possible defect that may cause affected vehicles to stall due to a failure in the engine's electronic control unit. At this time, Reuters reports, this is not a recall, just an investigation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration first began investigating the problem back in November of last year, and up to that point, the government agency had received 26 such complaints. Apparently, there's no rhyme or reason as to when the cars will stall out, and it can happen at any speed, even at a steady cruise on the highway or through an intersection.

According to a letter sent as a response to a query from NHTSA, Toyota is suggesting that this particular issue doesn't create "an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety," calling the problem more of an inconvenience to owners. NHTSA says Toyota even issued a bulletin back in September of 2007 to dealers outlining a fix to replace the ECU with an improved model.

For what it's worth, we'd wager that electronic gremlins are the very last thing Toyota wants the public to hear about right about now in the wake of recalling some 8.5 million vehicles so far this year, most of which were to address potential mechanical problems with the accelerator pedal and ill-fitting floor mats that can cause cases of unintended acceleration. The automaker has repeatedly ruled out electronic problems as the cause of its sudden acceleration issues.

[Source: Reuters]

Followup: Toyota considering stall fix for 1.2M Corolla and Matrix models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: V6, V8 engine popularity continued to fade in 2009

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:54:49 GMT

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Technology

Turning the past completely upside down, four cylinder engines marched up ten percent to further solidify the market dominance of lower cylinder count powertrains. According to Ward's Automotive, nearly 62 percent of cars produced in 2009 carried four bangers, up ten percent in just a year from 2008's 51.7 percent. Despite the V8 engine's precipitous fall from a high of being fitted to 88 percent of all cars sold in 1969, there's a sweet spot for the smaller powerplants, too.

Numbers are up for engines below 3.0 liters, while displacements smaller than 2.0 liters actually saw a decline for 2009. While engines between 2.0 and 2.9 liters are perhaps not as exciting as the typically larger V6 and V8 engines, they're less expensive and can still provide satisfying performance thanks to improvements like direct injection and forced induction. It's also worth noting that production numbers for trucks dropped for 2009, as well, skewing numbers further in favor of smaller engines.

Ward's comprehensive analysis of different engine sizes and types and their market share and volume lays it out for you in the link below. Either way, we suspect that the garages of car nuts are still filled with a majority of high-performance engines, regardless of displacement or cylinder count.

[Source: Ward's Automotive]

Report: V6, V8 engine popularity continued to fade in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Out, Ferrari. McLaren Is Back With Another Supercar

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:45:17 GMT

Ron Dennis has proven he knows how to build cars. Now he wants to prove he knows how to build a car company.

His latest supercar, the McLaren MP4-12C, is more than an insanely quick, insanely expensive sports car designed to take on the best from Italy, Germany and everywhere else insanely quick, insanely expensive supercars are made. The 600-horsepower machine with a $244,000 price tag is the first of what Dennis promises will be “a range of premium high-performance sportscars” that draw deeply from McLaren’s rich history in Formula 1.

McLaren, like Ferrari — its chief rival on the track and, now, off of it — is synonymous with grand prix racing. The company’s been at it for 44 years and in that time has won 164 of the 664 races it has entered. It’s trophy shelf includes 12 drivers’ and eight constructors’ championships. Dennis has parlayed that experience into a pair of limited-production road cars, the McLaren F1 and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. The MP4-12C “represents the next logical step,” Dennis said during the car’s formal unveiling today.

“We know it’s a competitive market, we know many small car companies have come and gone but we are not going to be one of them,” Dennis, chairman of McLaren Automotive, said. “We are here to stay.”

The McLaren Group, parent to the McLaren Automotive road car division and the F1 operation, plans to invest £750 million (about $1.4 billion) in the venture during the next five years. As much as 48 percent of that will come from unnamed Middle Eastern investors, according to British press reports. The goal is to build 4,000 cars annually within four years, according to Financial Times. For the sake of comparison, Ferrari sold 6,250 cars last year. McLaren will in the next few months set up 35 dealerships in the United States, Europe and Asia, and it ultimately hopes to sell cars in 19 countries. Dennis expects 30 to 40 percent of the sales to be made in the North America.

Jenson Button (on the right) and Lewis Hamilton pull the sheet off the 12C.

McLaren’s current F1 drivers, defending champion Jenson Button and former champ Lewis Hamilton, unveiled the 12C at the company’s technical center in Woking, Surrey, England. It will be McLaren Automotive’s flagship, a twin-turbocharged carbon fiber rocket aimed squarely at the forthcoming Ferrari 458 Italia and other top-tier exotics. McLaren promises the car will offer superlative performance — Dennis claims it will hit 125 mph from a standstill in less than 10 seconds — with low (for a supercar) emissions.

“With 600 horsepower it will be the most powerful car in its class, yet aiming to produce CO2 figures below 300 grams per kilometer, we expect to produce each horsepower more efficiently than any other car on sale today featuring a petrol, diesel or hybrid engine,” said Anthony Sheriff, managing director of McLaren Automotive.

Power comes from a 3.8-liter V8 engine designed by McLaren. The block and cylinder heads are aluminum alloy and the intake manifold and camshaft covers are lightweight plastic. The engine uses a dry sump and flat plane crankshaft to keep the center of gravity low. It features variable valve timing. The engine, which produces 442 pound feet of torque, is bolted to a seven-speed paddle-shifted gearbox.

The performance figures just exceed those of the Ferrari 458 Italia, which produces a claimed 570 horsepower and 390 pound feet of torque while emitting 307 g/km of CO2 and returning a claimed 17.1 mpg.

The mid-engine two-seater uses a unique carbon fiber monocoque that weighs 80 kilograms (176 pounds). McLaren was the first F1 team to embrace carbon fiber construction way back in 1981, and the McLaren F1 — of which just 107 were built between 1993 and 1998 — was the first road car made of the material.

By the numbers: 7 speeds. 8 cylinders. 442 pound feet. 600 horsepower.

McLaren says it has developed a manufacturing process that can produce the 12C monocoque, called the MonoCell, in one piece in just four hours. The six-piece unit in the SLR took 400. McLaren claims the monocoque is 25 percent lighter and 25 percent stiffer than a comparable aluminum chassis and offers unparalleled crash protection.

“We recently put the MonoCell through an extreme crash-test program, including putting the same chassis through three high-energy crashes,” said program director Mark Vinnels. “The MonoCell survived unscathed and uncracked.”

The front and rear subframes are bolted on, which McLaren says will make repairs a snap when someone wraps his 12C around a tree.

“In the event of a crash, a new aluminum front or rear structure can be taken off the shelf and fitted quickly, accurately and safely,” Vinnels said. “With a fully welded or bolted aluminum structure, such an impact would require cutting, welding and adapting the new parts.”

The sleek bodywork is aluminum and lightweight sheet molding composite. The car will weigh as little as 2,866 pounds depending upon the level of trim with a weight balance of 43:57 front to back. McLaren’s Colin Chapman-esque obsession with paring weight was so extreme it used wiring with a hexagonal, not round, cross section because it saved almost 8.5 pounds. A lithium-ion battery in place of conventional lead acid saved another 22.

McLaren says the body was designed with aerodynamic efficiency, “not the whim of a stylist,” as the leading concern. The 12C is 14.7 feet long, 6.2 feet wide at the rear axle and a hair shy of 4 feet tall. That makes it roughly the same size as the 458 Italia.

Anyone dropping $244,000 to $260,000 — McLaren is said to be waiting to see what the Italia goes for before finalizing its price — for a car expects some sweet options. The 12C features in-car wi-fi and a high-end audio system by Meridian, though McLaren doesn’t offer a CD player because MP3 players are damn near ubiquitous and ditching the player saves a few pounds. The infotainment system can handle as many as three in-car cameras.

“Thus,” the company says, “a full three-angled record of the 12C’s lap around the Nurburgring, for example, can be permanent stored on the customer’s hard drive.”

McLaren has spent five years developing the car, building more than 20 prototypes it claims to have subjected to nearly 1 million miles of testing. The company says the 12C will be in showrooms by next spring.

Photos: McLaren Automotive

Claudio Santoni, body structures manager at McLaren Automotive, sits in the 12C’s carbon fiber monocoque. The structure weighs just 80 kilograms, and McLaren says it is 25 percent lighter and 25 percent stiffer than a comparable aluminum chassis. That support structure for the dashboard is magnesium, by the way. It’s 75 percent lighter than a steel piece.

Mid-engined goodness with a weight distribution of 43:57 front to back. The front and rear aluminum subframes are bolted to the monocoque, which McLaren says will make repairs faster and easier when someone with more money than skill wrecks his 12C.

McLaren plans to offer “a range of premium high-performance sports cars” and build 4,000 of them each year by 2014 in a factory cleaner than a surgical suite.

It’s a McLaren, so you know it’ll be quick. Look for a top speed north of 200 mph and a zero to 120 mph — because 60 is just so slow — time of less than 10 seconds.

McLaren claims it has endured 12C prototypes to almost 1 million miles of testing, including six weeks of almost 24/7 runs on a track in Spain. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.

Spy Photos: Turbocharged Ford Fiesta Caught in Dearborn

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:35:56 GMT

You didn't think the 2011 Ford Fiesta was going to be stuck with a wimpy 120-horsepower, four-cylinder forever did you? Well, maybe you did, but our latest spy photos prove there's a hotter version of the Fiesta hatchback in the works.

As you can see, this Fiesta prototype not only looks a little different on the outside, it appears to have a few hardware upgrades as well. The faint sight of an intercooler up front confirms that the presence of an Ecoboost powerplant. Exactly which one is tough to tell at this point. Ford has already officially announced that it will build both 1.6- and 2.0-liter versions of the Ecoboost four-cylinder, but rumors of a 1.4-liter version have also been thrown around.

Also note the new set of wheels, low-profile performance tires and dual exhaust tips. Not a bad combination of upgrades eh? Expect to hear more about the Fiesta with Ecoboost later this year.

Ford Fiesta Will Get Ecoboost - Just Not When It Launches

Report: BYD cutting back electric vehicle production plans

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:10:49 GMT

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, China, BYD

BYD E6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

BYD, as we know, stands for Build Your Dreams. But, if your dreams include electric vehicles (EVs), there might not be too much building going on.

According to a report in Bloomberg citing the South China Morning Post, the Chinese automaker has scrapped plans to begin mass production of electric cars this summer. The company has an order for 100 all-electric e6 cars that will be used as taxis in Shenzhen, some of which have already gone into service. If, and here's the kicker, those taxis perform well, then more vehicles may be produced, according to the report. A BYD spokesman said in late February that e6 production would not be delayed, though, so there's some hope still. Maybe. We've asked the company for an updated statement on the matter.

As far as we know, the EV partnership between BYD and Daimler remains a go. Still, anyone waiting for the e6 to become available here in the U.S. this year, well, they might be dreaming.

Gallery: Detroit 2010: BYD E6

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: BYD cutting back electric vehicle production plans originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle at British factory from 2013

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:03:00 GMT

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Nissan, UK

Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan announced today that it will add production of its new Leaf electric car to its plant at Sunderland in the UK starting in 2013. Nissan will initially install capacity for 50,000 cars a year at the UK factory. Last fall, the automaker announced plans to build a lithium ion battery plant adjacent to the car assembly plant. Construction of that facility will start next month.

Production of batteries will start in 2012 with packs being used by both Nissan and partner Renault. Between Nissan and subsidies from the UK government, €468 million is being invested in the battery and assembly plants and 2,250 jobs will be retained.

The British Leaf production capacity will be in addition to Oppama, Japan where Leaf production starts this year and Smyrna, TN, which will ramp up in 2012. The press release is after the jump. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle at British factory from 2013

Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle at British factory from 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Techno : un GPS social et gratuit sur iPhone

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:47:28 GMT

Waze annonce aujourd'hui le lancement de son application GPS sur mobile en France. Disponible sous iPhone, Android et Symbian, ce logiciel enrichi la navigation d'informations générées en temps réel par [...]

Techno : un GPS social et gratuit sur iPhone

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:47:28 GMT

Waze, premier GPS social, annonce aujourd'hui le lancement de son application sur mobile en France. Disponible sous iPhone, Android et Symbian, ce GPS enrichi la navigation d'informations générées en temps [...]

Suzuki Germany releases special Nürburgring edition Swift Sport - sort of

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:34:48 GMT

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Suzuki

Suzuki Swift Sport "Rock am Ring" edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

When you think of the Nürburgring, and what cars come to mind? Porsche 911 GT3? BMW M5? Nissan GT-R? How about a Suzuki Swift?

Now the Swift - especially in Sport guise - is one of those hot little hatchbacks we wish was offered for sale in North America, and we may well get our wish with the next-gen model. But in the meantime, is it really worthy of a Nürburgring edition à la Lexus LFA? Well no, not really, but hold your horses there a minute, because the Suzuki Swift Sport "Rock am Ring" edition isn't about speeding around the road course. It's about the music, man.

Every summer - in case nearby residents weren't annoyed enough by the noise - the Nürburgring plays host to the "Rock am Ring" (Rock at the 'Ring) music festival, and Suzuki is one of the biggest sponsors. So to celebrate the arrival of this year's rock-fest, Suzuki's Deutsch subsidiary has released this special edition.

Instead of semi-slick tires and strut braces, the Rock am Ring edition Swift gets a Clarion infotainment system with a 6.9-inch color display, 30-gig hard drive, iPod connectivity and upgraded speakers. Oh, and the requisite special badging, of course. For our part, we'd blast some of our most spirited driving music, flog it around the track and make sure to add one of those Nordschleife stickers to the package.

Gallery: Suzuki Swift Sport "Rock am Ring" edition

[Source: Suzuki]

Suzuki Germany releases special Nürburgring edition Swift Sport - sort of originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LeMons Winners Will Get Trip to LeMans, Really

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:31:29 GMT

Yes, you read that correctly. Racing a $500 car could score you a trip to see the real thing, the actual 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.

The just announced prize will be given to the Team Champs, so it's all about consistency over the long haul. In other words, you'll have to beat Team Eyesore more than once. And if you can do that, you deserve a trip to France.

24 Hours of LeMons

Ducati 900 GTS custom

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:30:37 GMT

René Waters is a Ducati aficionado who lives in Medicine Hat, Alberta, about 3 hours east of Calgary. He runs the website Ducati Meccanica, an essential resource for anyone owning, or thinking of owning, an old Ducati. As you might expect, René’s own motorcycle is something special. It’s a 1978 Ducati 900 GTS that has been heavily customized, but in the most sensitive way. I asked René to tell us the story, so here it is, in his own words.

I happened into an exotic sports car dealership in Lake Forest (northern upscale suburb of Chicago). Just looking; I couldn’t afford anything in there. But they had two 900 SS Ducatis sitting there, making the cars look good. One silver, one black. They were beautiful, but just as out of reach as the cars were to a young guy. But those two bikes never left my mind: here was what happened when Italians built café-style bikes … perfection!

Over the years I customized a succession of Japanese bikes, every one trying to capture (and failing) what I’d seen in that sports car dealership. Eventually, about 12 years ago, my wife flat out told me that if I wanted a Ducati that badly, I’d better go find one. And so the hunt began in those pre-internet, pre-eBay days, and I tracked one down to the back of a liquor store in Calgary, Alberta. It was in a very sorry condition. I bought it on the spot, even though it wasn’t the bike I remembered from 20 years before—a GTS model, not an SS. But I knew it could be made into the bike that had haunted me for all that time.

This is its second resurrection in my hands. Once ten years ago, and this latest iteration, completed last year. I acquired the remains of a 2006 Paul Smart Replica that had been pretty picked over before I got it. I wanted the wheels most, and what happened next was the consequence of trying to make them work. Shoehorning a 180-series rear wheel into a swing arm designed for a 110 is no mean feat!

Once I had it down to the bare frame, the “might-as-wells” took over, and I started changing and upgrading everything. I ended up cutting off all the stock mounting points and building new ones to position things where I wanted them. I had to build a new rear frame loop to accommodate and mount a larger rear fender for the big rear wheel, and to fit the new solo seat. The front end was relatively easy. I changed out the Sport Classic steering stem for the one I was using already, and custom fabricated an adapter for head tension—as no bearings were available that would work with the new stem and existing head stock. New stops had to be fabricated to keep the upside down forks from hitting the 1972 GT steel tank. The seat is a repro of the original 750/900 SS solo seat, as are the side covers. Original Conti exhausts were sourced, and custom hangers fabricated which also position the custom rearsets. I replaced all the electrics with a custom harness and a bank of relays under the tank, running modern electronic ignition, fuses, lighting and instruments.

For the last ten years, the bike has been my daily rider. Weather permitting: I live in Canada, so winter is rough for motorcycling (call me a wimp). The shakedown ride was a 3,700 km round trip to Bonneville for the BUB Speed Trials and the vintage races at Miller Motorsport Park, Salt Lake, last September. The bike has approximately 180,000 miles on it, with two motor rebuilds that I’ve done. Possibly another before I got it. I plan on riding it plenty more.

I will be moving the horns from under the headlight to a less conspicuous spot behind the regulator rectifier, and I want to fix the angle of the rear tail light—I don’t like the way it points slightly downwards. So that’s the next job.

It’s now the bike I’ve always wanted, classic Ducati café good looks, fantastic bevel motor, and completely modern running gear: my take on what the new Ducati Sport Classic might have been. The redesign/rebuild took four months from teardown to first ride, and here’s a list of the mods in no particular order. All the work (with the exception of the powder coating and painting) was done by myself and a very good friend in his garage. There was no other outside work.

Extensive swing arm modifications to fit the 180 rear wheel and accommodate new 2″ longer shocks
All the existing frame mounting points were removed and new ones fabricated for tank, seat, side covers, battery box, ignition box, coils, regulator rectifier, rear frame loop, rear fender mounts, swing arm shock mounting points, exhaust hanger/rear set mounts, steering stops, choke mount, and inner fender mounts
Rear frame loop cut off and replaced with one to accommodate rear fender mounting and solo seat.
Custom fabricated steering stem and bronze bushings to enable Ducati Sport Classic triples to fit the existing steering head, with sealed roller bearings.
Upside down fully adjustable Showa forks, with Ohlins cartridge UES upgrade kit (which I have not yet installed)
Instruments are new S4 Monster, electronic speedo sensor mounted in the rear caliper mount under swing arm
Rear fender, 2008 Ducati 1000 GT, 1981 Darmah inner rear fender, 08 Sport Classic front fender
Turn signals (front and rear), tail light, tail light bracket, and headlight bracket new (Sport Classic)
New genuine Conti mufflers from Pescara, Italy
New rear shocks, 2009 Sport Classic 1000 S, with Ohlins valve kit
Battery box new from Ducati (2009 Sport Classic)
Reproduction solo seat, custom upholstering
Frame, swing arm, and center stand powder coated
Complete re-paint: front fender, rear fender, seat, tank, side covers, headlight bucket
Reproduction decals (made by myself)
Seat and panels fastened with Dzus fasteners
Wiring harness replaced with new custom built harness. All electrics now run on a bank relays under the tank
Old ceramic-type fuse block replaced with modern inline automotive style fuse block
Modern (new) coils, plug caps and plugs
Regulator rectifier replaced and moved to front, under tank, for improved cooling
Older style Ducati Monster switchgear
Reverse cone K&N filters to replicate velocity stacks (can’t run with open bell mouths as it’s a desert here during the summer)
Master cylinders, calipers and controls: all Brembo
Bike converted from rear drum brake to disc with Brembo master cylinder, caliper, and rotor and stainless steel line
Rear caliper custom mounted under swing arm
Sprocket carrier machined down, and spacers fabricated to have the sprockets line up and rear wheel to center properly
520 chain and rear sprocket, front sprocket machined to 520 and shouldered spacer fabricated to ensure correct chain alignment and output shaft engagement. Not enough room for a 530 (original) chain.
Bar risers (2005 ST3 Ducati)
Custom billet aluminum bars
Replaced cylinders and installed new high comp pistons and rings
Installed a MotoWitt DMC2 programmable electronic ignition system (16 programmable advance curves)
Replaced main crank bearings, re-shimmed, crank and transmission
Custom fabricated hydraulic clutch conversion, Brembo master cylinder and controls
Rebuilt gear selector shift box
Custom fabricated rear sets and control linkages
Michelin Pilot Classic 17″ tires front and rear
Both Dell’Orto carbs refurbished and rebuilt
Dry cell type battery fitted
CRG bar end mirrors
All fasteners (nuts, bolts, washers, etc) replaced with stainless steel throughout.

See more pictures of René’s beautiful 900 GTS here. And sign up to the Bike EXIF Facebook page for more vintage motorcycle goodness.

Ducati 900 GTS custom is a post from Bike EXIF - Classic motorcycles, custom motorcycles and cafe racers.

Pics Aplenty: 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon limited edition

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:24:56 GMT

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon - Click above for high-res image gallery

When we first told you about the new limited edition Corvette Z06 Carbon that Chevrolet plans to offer this fall, we had two measly photos to offer up from General Motors. In the run-up to this weekend's 12 Hours of Sebring, GM has shown the Z06 Carbon in public at the Corvette Corral, and now, more photos have now been released - including interior shots that you can find in our updated gallery.

Only 500 examples of the full-blown Carbon will be built, and they include numerous carbon fiber body parts and chassis components from the ZR1. Perhaps the best part of the new model is the inclusion of the carbon-ceramic brakes and the magnetic ride damping system from the supercharged car.

Of course, those that don't manage to get one of these limited edition models can put together most of the car by opting for the carbon fiber and Z07 packages.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon

[Source: Chevrolet]

Pics Aplenty: 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon limited edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jerry York, former exec of Chrysler and General Motors, dies at 71

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:24:55 GMT

Filed under: Etc.

Jerome "Jerry" York, the former CFO of Chrysler and General Motors, died today at a hospital in Pontiac, Michigan after succumbing to a brain aneurysm he suffered late Tuesday evening.

York enjoyed stints at the Big Three during the 1960s and later helped Chrysler pull its way out of its financial crisis and government bailout in 1980. He also served on the board of IBM and Apple, and earlier this decade was instrumental in efforts to bring GM back from the brink, along with an attempted takeover bid of Chrysler with Kirk Kerkorian. Apple's press release on York's death is available after the jump, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Continue reading Jerry York, former exec of Chrysler and General Motors, dies at 71

Jerry York, former exec of Chrysler and General Motors, dies at 71 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: GM explains next-generation heads-up display tech

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:24:55 GMT

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Videos, GM

GM explains next-generation heads-up display tech - Click above to watch the video www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/video-gm-explains-next-generation-heads-up-display-tech/#continuedafter the jump

Recently, we told you about the new heads-up display technology that General Motors is working on. The new concept, developed in the human/machine interface department of GM, is an enhanced vision system that builds upon conventional heads-up technology and displays important information across the entire windshield using cameras and sensors placed around the car.

This new high-tech, forward-thinking system won't come to market for quite a few years (if ever), but this interesting video offers an in-depth look at the technologies that GM is using to better enhance heads-up technology. Hit the jump to see for yourself.

Gallery: GM Next-Generation HUD Concept

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Video: GM explains next-generation heads-up display tech

Video: GM explains next-generation heads-up display tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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