One of the many things we love about Iceland is that it has a more extreme version of just about everything, or, if it’s only just as extreme, there’s a lot more of it in one concentrated place. That’s certainly the case with this hillclimbing video, featuring madly-engined, purpose-built buggies running up dirt, grass, volcanic rock, and any other terrain that points at the sky. So few people, so many gearheads. to watch, and enjoy the gent at 1:35 who believes that throttle can cure everything.
It has taken 20 years, but Infiniti is throwing its dice down on the diesel table. Well, in Europe at least. The V9X engine, developed with Renault, is a 3.0-liter narrow-angle V6 with 234-horsepower and 405 foot-pounds. It will first be placed in the EX30d and FX30d models, then later will come the M, making its first appearance in Europe at all with the M30d and a petrol-powered model.
After a year of European sales the brand has its eye on growth, and it knows a good oil-burner is a good way to goose the numbers. The crossover models will go on sale this summer, the M following at some point. Prices haven’t been announced yet, but you can find out all about the new engine in the press release after the jump.
The – or something that everyone has given that moniker to – has been snapped in varicolored glory outside the factory in Maranello. Taking turns in red-and-black, blue and black the car is disguised in the same way as the previous surreptitiously-caught 599 that everyone wants to be a GTO.
A keen spotter on Teamspeed even pointed out the fact that the tape over the rear bumper appears to be hiding vents as on the original GTO. Otherwise, save for the black roof and diffuser, things don’t look like they’ll change much if this is anything close to the final version. Of course, a 700-horsepower engine could be all the change anyone needs…
Pictured above is one tiny corner of the formerly mammoth Longbridge factory complex that last made MGs. Now owned by SAIC, the site is meant to be undergo extensive repurposing. To help keep it British – and perhaps pick up a little more interest in MG – SAIC has in naming five access roads that will grace the new site.
The only requirement looks to be that the names “reflect the heritage of the MG brand.” You have until Friday, February 26 to get your submissions in. A friendly tip, though: you can probably skip names like “Leyland,” “Phoenix,” and “Do They Still Make Those?”
Few people have had as great an impact on motorsports as Dan Gurney. He’s been a driver, team owner, and manufacturer, and has won races doing all at the same time. Gurney has competed successfully at Daytona, Sebring, the Nürburgring, Indianapolis and Le Mans.
In August, Gurney’s race exploits will be honored when he’s featured as the first guest at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, known until last year as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Gurney’s history with Laguna Seca dates back to the first professional race held at the track, and won there in 1962. The Reunion will host a display of Gurney-related vehicles from Formula 1, Indy, IMSA GTP, Can-Am and Trans-Am, and the man himself will be on hand for a public interview and an autograph session. Hit the jump for more details on Gurney and the event.
T-Pain’s Daniel Marino “Dolphin Killer” hearse – to watch video
We’re pretty sure this isn’t supposed to be funny but, you know, it’s pretty hilarious. Rapper T-Pain’s car collection defies description, and each time he adds to it, he manages to go where few, if any, have gone before. This 1991 Cadillac hearse was done up in Miami Dolphins colors as a Super Bowl treat, and it’s nothing short of amazing – in a “did he really do that?” sort of way. to see the vid and do T-Pain’s favorite thing: “hit that button, microwave oven.” Hat tip to RideWithWes
Vladimir Antonov will soon give up the position of chairman at Spyker because he stood between the Dutch company and its successful acquisition of . Recent reports indicate that a Swedish government investigation tied Antonov and his family and money laundering. Those findings helped kill the initial deal between Spyker and and led to Antonov’s subsequent departure.
Antonov has a different take on the story. In a New York Times op-ed called “,” he writes that the results of the Swedish investigation were “surreal allegations,” and that he’ll prove them untrue. He’s hired a firm of private investigators to clear his name, and he plans to give his report to all parties involved, including the press, to show that he’s just another businessman.
His goal is to get back in on the Spyker-Saab deal; apparently, Antonov sees enough potential there to go through these public motions. Although he’s no longer a shareholder, he does remain a lender to Spyker, having tendered the company $100 million to help it buy Saab. That makes it simpler for Antonov to return to the Spyker party, say, if Spyker converts debt to shares, but first he’ll have to get past the bouncers in Sweden and the U.S. government.
When debuted the last year, we were initially a bit skeptical about how the porky crossover (still having a hard time calling it a Sports Activity Coupe) would be received by enthusiasts. However, after , we learned that while the X6 M is ridiculously unnecessary, it’s a total blast to drive, especially on the track. Now, enthusiasts looking to get some of the X6 M’s mystique without shelling out $89,000 can have their own unique version of the X6, thanks to new accessories from BMW Performance.
The list of optional modifications starts with two different power kits, depending on which engine the stock X6 is equipped with. xDrive35i models gain an additional 20 horsepower and 37 pound-feet, bringing the total output to 326 hp and 332 lb-ft. The xDrive50i gets a bit more oomph, with power increased to 448 hp (up by 41) and 479 lb-ft (up by 37). Keep in mind, these power figures are based on of the 2011 X6, which has slightly different powertrains from the current model. What does it all mean? Six-cylinder X6s will be able to do 0-60 runs in just 6.5 seconds, and V8 models will do it in just 5.2.
From there, BMW Performance offers an aerodynamics kit, which includes a revised front bumper, side sills and an insert for the rear bumper. Other aero options include a rear spoiler, matte black rear fins, and a black front grid. Additionally, a new set of 21-inch light-alloy wheels are available wrapped in much sticker rubber. Interior tweaks include a new flat-bottom steering wheel with alcantara coating, as well as aluminum pedals. Given that Bimmer accessories are anything but cheap, plan on writing a substantial check if you’re looking to go all-out with the extra toys.
X6 owners can pick up their BMW Performance accessories through the automaker’s dealer network, and all modifications are fully backed by BMW’s warranty standards. For the full details, click through the jump to read the official press release.
Every spring, graduates of engineering schools across Canada earn their Iron Ring. It’s part of the pledge originally written by Rudyard Kipling in “The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer”. Legend has it that the iron was taken from the scraps of a bridge in the province of Quebec that, due to shoddy work on the part of the engineers in charge, collapsed nearly 100 years ago killing 75 construction workers
The story’s a historical fact; whether the rings are still made from that scrap iron is a topic for debate. Whatever your take on the tale, we have a new proposal (for mechanical engineering graduates at least): the Gear Ring by Kinekt Design.
The Gear Ring doesn’t just look mechanical – it actually is. As you can see from , the tiny gears across the face rotate as the larger gears that form the upper and lower segments of the ring spin in opposite directions. Call it a gimmick. Call it a distraction. We call it nifty – yes, nifty – and thank our man Mike for the tip.
called “Shotgun” on Playstation Home, and is so far the only automaker to take its case to those gamers with its Audi Space. First came the racing game, which has lured more than 700,000 players into running more than a million races.
As of last week, you can also find the Audi A1 showroom, which doesn’t have much more going on for it than an actual showroom does, but you can look forward to an A1 game next month as well as more info on the e-Tron. And hey, there’s always that Audi Corporate Sound Concept to chill out to in the meantime. Follow the jump for the spiel on Audi Space in Audi’s own words.
About the same time and Fiat executives were running through a marathon with the world’s automotive journalists, Pentastar lawyers were working over the principal at Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida. You may be asking yourself what Chrysler lawyers would want with principal Michael Kotkin when, just six months earlier, The Pentastar needed billions of taxpayer dollars to . Good question, for sure, but the answer is pretty lame.
Moto Bullet reports that Chrysler’s legal department was reportedly all up in Kotkin’s grill because the school’s logo was a near-perfect match for the Ram logo. Team Pentastar ordered the school to replace the company’s favorite goat head as the school logo or risk having to drive a Sebring head into court. Chrysler lawyers even had several photos of the logo being used at the school in several different spots. The Seminole County School District decided that the logo wasn’t worth an expensive legal battle, so the school, ranked in the top 1.4 percent nationally for academics, reportedly has until June 15 to remove it from the premises. But while avoiding court will likely save the district plenty of money, the school won’t get out of this mess scot-free. Removing the horned-head from the school’s gym floor alone will reportedly cost the school (read: local taxpayers) $15,000, or roughly the cost of a new science book for about 300 kids.
We don’t want to pretend that we’re experts on branding rights and corporate logos, but we just can’t see what the harm is to Dodge if the brand and the school share the logo. After all, we’re assuming the school isn’t going to start making a competitive truck in wood shop. Principal Kotkin is still putting a positive spin on the situation, saying that Chrysler’s actions have “galvanized my school,” but unfortunately for Team Pentastar, the school’s new battle cry sounds something like “I’ll never buy a Chrysler as long as I live.”
UPDATE:The Chrysler Group got in touch with Autoblog to tell its side of the story, which you can read .
About the same time and Fiat executives were running through a marathon with the world’s automotive, Pentastar lawyers were working over the principal at Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida. You may be asking yourself what Chrysler lawyers would want with principal Michael Kotkin when, just six months earlier, The Pentastar needed billions of taxpayer dollars to . Good question, for sure, but the answer is pretty lame.
Moto Bullet reports that Chrysler’s legal department was reportedly all up in Kotkin’s grill because the school’s logo was a near-perfect match for the Ram logo. Team Pentastar ordered the school to replace the company’s favorite goat head as the school logo or risk having to drive a Sebring head into court. Chrysler lawyers even had several photos of the logo being used at the school in several different spots. The Seminole County School District decided that the logo wasn’t worth an expensive legal battle, so the school, ranked in the top 1.4 percent nationally for academics, reportedly has until June 15 to remove it from the premises. But while avoiding court will likely save the district plenty of money, the school won’t get out of this mess scot-free. Removing the horned-head from the school’s gym floor alone will reportedly cost the school (read: local taxpayers) $15,000, or roughly the cost of a new science book for about 300 kids.
We don’t want to pretend that we’re experts on branding rights and corporate logos, but we just can’t see what the harm is to Dodge if the brand and the school share the logo. After all, we’re assuming the school isn’t going to start making a competitive truck in wood shop. Principal Kotkin is still putting a positive spin on the situation, saying that Chrysler’s actions have “galvanized my school,” but unfortunately for Team Pentastar, the school’s new battle cry sounds something like “I’ll never buy a Chrysler as long as I live.”
Vauxhall VX220 in a La Jolla garage – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you spend any time hanging out in the same areas frequented by the affluent, you’ll inevitably stumble across plenty of exotic motorized conveyances. Beverly Hills, Newport Beach and La Jolla, California are riddled with , , and . Since those vehicles are readily available for sale here, anyone with enough liquidity can wander in to a dealer and pick one up.
Every once in a while, though, you’ll stumble across something genuinely unusual, that clearly took some effort to acquire. Such was the case the other day when we came across this diminutive silver speed demon in a La Jolla parking garage. Those familiar with the Lotus Elise and will recognize the lineage. However, this machine is far more sharply chiseled than its cousins.
This is the , complete with the steering wheel on the right-hand side of the cockpit. During the first half of the 1990s, Vauxhall and its continental counterpart, Opel, collaborated with Lotus to produce a rebodied and stretched version of the Elise powered by General Motors Ecotec four-cylinder engines. We have no idea how this car came to make its way to the Golden State, but if the owner (we’re probably safe in assuming there is only one person in California with a VX220) reads this and cares to enlighten us, we’re all ears.
While we wholeheartedly love the r, part of us wondered whether there’d be many takers for a $40,000 truck that was purpose-built for the sand dunes. Looks like we needn’t have worried, as it appears demand is very strong for the Raptor. In fact, had its flacks issue a press release bragging about just how successful the Raptor’s been so far. The factory super-truck has reportedly found 5,300 takers to date, and F-150 marketing manager Mark Grueber says Raptor “is so popular that we actually wound up building more 5.4-liter V-8 models than we had originally anticipated.”
The reason Ford thought customers might be interested in waiting to pull the trigger on a Raptor is the spring availability of the Dearborn, MI-based automaker’s new 6.2-liter V8 engine. The new 6.2 promises 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque, or 91 more ponies than the soon-to-be-mothballed 5.4. Ford’s already taking orders for the 6.2-liter model, and we’re thinking they’ll only increase in number over the coming weeks and months.
After filling out 5,300 orders, Ford also has a better idea of which amenities customers want in their Raptors, and the content story is a good one for the automaker. Ford reports that customers are checking option boxes for the luxury package, reverse-sensing camera and moonroof at a rate of at least 79 percent. Ford’s expensive but fantastic touchscreen navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link[TM] is being chosen in 62 percent of Raptors sold. And while we loved the Raptor in Molten Orange, 52 percent of customers are opting for Tuxedo Black. Hit the jump pore over Ford’s bragfest press release.
2011 Audi RS5 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The next über-model from Quattro GmbH division won’t officially debut in Geneva for another week, but images from its brochure have already made their way onto the web. The Audi RS5 coupe will no doubt take the performance of Audi’s B8 platform to levels beyond the much-loved and departed . What we don’t know at this point is how high that level will go, and what the motive power will be.
It’s probably safe to assume it’ll fall somewhere between the 420 horsepower of the Audi RS4 and the 571 hp of the current Audi RS6. Since the V10 used the R8 and RS6 isn’t really in keeping with Audi’s current engine-downsizing philosophy (not to mention that the 10-cylinder probably wouldn’t fir into the smaller A5’s engine bay), perhaps we’ll a turbo or supercharged version of the 4.2-liter V8 in the current S5, or a maybe even a more severely amplified version of the 3.0-liter TFSI V6 from the S4. Either way, we can’t wait to get our hands on the RS5. A tip of the hat to Liam!
Mercedes-Benz F800 Style – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Mercedes-Benz F800 Style concept car that’ll debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month is highly-touted by Mercedes-benz’s press release scribes for its green-car tech, but what’s probably of greater interest to most of you is its styling, which is everyone’s first peek at what the next-generation CLS-Class sedan is going to look like. To that end, get ready for a nose section whose grille apes that of the SLS AMG, plus enough flame-surfaced bodywork to make one envision Chris Bangle, sporting a set of to mask his true identity, clandestinely moonlighting at Benz. The rear doors are sliders, because it’s a concept, and you need to give the people a clear view into the swoopy, sci-fi passenger cabin. Props to Mercedes PR for gamely making it sound as if there’s an actual practical application for those doors, though (see the attached press release).
Mercedes-Benz also touts the concept’s flexible powertrain platform. The realistic option is a plug-in hybrid system that’s basically an offshoot of the V6 light-hybrid setup found in the S400 sedan. Mercedes says this new plug-in gas-electric system, which is good for over 400 combined horsepower, gives the car an EV-only driving range of 18 miles. The automaker has announced that a new plug-in system is headed to the next-gen S-Class, so don’t dismiss the F800’s hybrid setup as trendy green pandering. Save that cynicism for the concept’s other powertrain option: a compact fuel cell/electric setup evolved from the one used in the current F-Cell cars. We have no doubt that the technology itself is genuinely impressive, and we’re sure news of its development will be a hit with all the jet-setters at the next snowbound climate change conference. From a mass-production, real-person’s-car standpoint, expect to see the fuel cell system in Benz showrooms right after Mercedes intros a 700-horsepower inline 3-cylinder that runs on unicorn milk. Alas, we digress.
The F800 concept also introduces two new technologies that will doubtless appear in upcoming models. Distronic Plus Traffic Jam Assistant is an enhanced version of Mercedes’ active cruise control system, which can now steer the car through curves as long as it’s traveling under 25 mph. Neat. Also new is the Pre-Safe 360-degree system, which expands the existing Pre-Safe collision detection/mitigation system to the rear of the car. Now, if Pre-Safe senses that a rear-end impact is imminent, it’ll apply the brakes in a bid to keep the car from getting into an additional chain-reaction accident involving other cars or pedestrians.
We’ll be in Geneva to see the sheet come off the Mercedes-Benz F800 Style in person, and will have plenty of firsthand observations and live photos then. For now, feast your eyes on the gallery below, and check out the Mercedes PR included after the jump.
Gallery:
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
: Mercedes-Benz F800 Style a sneak peek at next CLS-Class
The Autoblog Weekender – to check out what you missed
In this week’s steaming heaping of extras, the Audi A1 absconds to Barcelone, the Rolls-Royce Ghost absconds to Southern California to get some on-screen time, we discover ten dollars can get you a Mercedes and a house but it’ll take 50 to get you Tony Stewart’s Camaro, and we also discover that Wired magazine has a thing for a Saab that makes us go “Yeah baby!”, Miss Teen Georgia has things to say about… things, the Insignia wagon is coming to the States (pinch us), and Tata makes expensive cars, too. Oh, and it is revealed that Uwe Gemballa’s favorite game is hide-and-go-seek. But you can skip that ’seek’ part if you’re the German authorities. No, really, you Polizei can stay home…
This week we also say goodbye to the magnificent Tyler Shipman. for all the tidbits…
EVO tackles the Lexus LFA on public roads – Click above to watch video
Sure, we’ve already had the chance to , but we haven’t had the opportunity to spend time with ’s new supercar on public roads. The folks at EVO have that covered, though, and as we would imagine, the is quite a different machine when it isn’t being driven at ten-tenths.
So, what does EVO think of the Lexus LFA in an everyday driving environment? to watch the video and find out.
BMW S 1000 RR with studs – Click above to watch the video
We are amidst one of the most persistent bouts of winter weather many parts of the world have ever seen. Chalk it up to Punxsutawney Phil predicting six more weeks of this dreaded season, or perhaps just a good old fashion case of cabin fever, but either way, the crew at couldn’t wait another second to give the 2010 BMW S 1000 RR a good . What? You gonna let a few feet of ice stop you?
Take your regular old 193-horsepower Beemer, fit a set of Michelin Pilots with cleats and you have the makings of a good snow cone business. After watching the video, we think the new BMW S 1000 RR looks ready for battle – the exhaust note alone will confirm that. Plus, you can choose from four unique color selections, as well as BMW’s typical A’ la carte menu of safety and performance options.
Not convinced? The claimed best-in-class power-to-weight ratio may just quicken your pulse. If you find yourself sitting comfortably behind closed doors warming your toes by the fire while you await that first ride of spring, don’t fret! Looks like Germany may have actually come up with a cure for the winter blues. to watch the video.
About the same time and Fiat executives were running through a marathon with the world’s automotive journalists, Pentastar lawyers were working over the principal at 
About the same time and Fiat executives were running through a marathon with the world’s automotive, Pentastar lawyers were working over the principal at 
