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According to a report from Automotive News, BMW has managed to replace Toyota as the world’s most valuable car marque, even though the German automaker saw its brand’s worth decline last year. The article sites a study by Millward Brown called the BrandZ Top 100. On the heels of Toyota’s recent recall troubles, the company’s value declined by 27 percent to a shade under $21.8 billion. Meanwhile, the BMW drop was much less at just nine percent, putting its total value at $21.8 billion even.

Despite Toyota’s stumble, researches at Millward Brown seem to think the brand will be back on top of its game before too long. A spokesperson said that the carmaker’s aggressive work to rebuild its reputation is already underway and should do much to restore the company’s global standing.

Meanwhile, automakers like Ford and Volkswagen made progress on improving their own brand value thanks to investments in entertainment and emissions technologies. Those companies are both valued at around $7 billion.

The Automotive News report also pointed out that high-end automakers like Porsche and Mercedes-Benz suffered the most from the economic downturn, with those brands seeing their value decline by 31 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

Interested in seeing Millward Brown’s complete study results, including brand values for non-automotive businesses? Click here for the full report of everything from beer to apparel to gas companies.

[Sources: Automotive News, Millward Brown]

Study: BMW replaces Toyota as world’s most valuable automaker

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And again. And again. Until the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells you that your company is no longer allowed to make helmets and sell them in the United States. Or something like that.

Specifically, we’re talking about a Florida-based company called Advanced Carbon Composites. Apparently, the helmet manufacturer’s first product was called the EXT001, and it failed to meet the safety agency’s standards. So, it was recalled, and the new model was the EXT002. Sadly, the revised helmet still wasn’t safe enough.

And so the EXT003 was created. Guess what? It too failed the required safety standards. And so did the latest helmet, the EXT004. For those keeping track of such things, Advanced Carbon Composites built and sold some 17,000 helmets from 2005, none of which was ever deemed safe. What to do?

How about a cease and desist order. The NHTSA ordered Advanced Carbon Composites to “stop designing, selling or manufacturing motorcycle helmets.” Company president Kim L. Davis has agreed to the NHTSA’s demands and is not allowed to own more than three percent of any company that has anything to do with motorcycle helmets.

Case closed? Perhaps. Perusing the company’s product portfolio indicates that it still offering helmets for kayaking and other whitewater sports. Remember… use your brain the next time you decide to make a helmet purchase.

[Source: New York Times]

NHTSA orders manufacturer to stop selling helmets. Our heads thank them

Civil engineers in Mexico are in the midst of an ambitious project to span the infamous Devil’s Backbone. Until now, if you wanted to cross the twisted span of the Sierra Madre that separates Durango from the coastal city of Mazaltan, you had to either take an eight-hour detour that circumnavigated the mountains or risk life and limb by tackling the dirt road that snakes through drug country. When the project wraps up in 2012, drivers will be able to hop over the mountains in a mere two and a half hours.

To make it happen, workers will have to carve a total of 63 tunnels through some 11 miles of stone. They’ll also have to raise 32 bridges, including one that will become the second highest span in the world. Work on the road officially kicked off in 2005, though crews just got started cutting their way through the Devil’s Backbone last year. Workers have already begun digging the longest tunnel – a 1.6 mile behemoth.

Mexico has a lot riding on the road. The land between Durango and Mazaltan has been difficult to access in the past, and as a result, there have been few jobs. Most local citizens have turned to the drug trade for work in one aspect or another, and the area has become one of the country’s largest producers of marijuana and opium. With the new highway in place, federal officials are hoping both tourism and industry will flow into the area and supplant drug-based jobs with higher-earning options.

[Source: USA Today Image: Google Maps]

Mexico paving Devil’s Backbone, adding 63 tunnels and 32 bridges

The last decade has been a boon for technologies like traction and stability control, but the tire itself has remained relatively low tech. Schrader Electronics is reportedly looking to change that equation with a “smart tire” that could be production ready within three years. The electronics company already knows a thing or two about tires, as a self-proclaimed global pioneer of the Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems that stabilize today’s trucks and crossovers.

Schrader claims that its Smart Tire tech utilizes sensors on the tire itself that wirelessly transmits data to receivers in the wheel housing and is routed to the vehicle’s ECU sensor. Schrader is working with Pirelli to bring its new tire tech to market starting in 2010. The first tire, called ‘Cyber Tyre Lean,” will transmit pressure, temperature, average load and the number of revolutions.

The company claims that the fully-integrated “Cyber Tyre” will transmit information on “tread depth, pressure and temperature, along with the shape of its footprint and the amount of load it is under, will be combined with precise readings of road conditions to optimize control of the vehicle’s dynamics.” Schrader expects to offer the Cyber Tyre by 2013. Hit the jump to read over the Schrader Electronics press release.

Continue reading Are intelligent tires in your future?

Are intelligent tires in your future?

	Know what you want and need, or you may not get to buy a Nissan Leaf “We may tell the customer, ‘Look, you’d be better off buying an Altima or a Sentra because your driving patterns are not ideal for this car.’”		Oklahoma is newest market for natural-gas burning Honda GX State number four.
	Tesla's Elon Musk says new SUV model due in 2013 on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/28/report-teslas-elon-musk-says-new-suv-model-due-in-2013/">Report: Tesla’s Elon Musk says new SUV model due in 2013 More to come after that.	Other news: concept, still no pics on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/28/v-vehicles-tours-d-c-with-secretive-high-mpg-concept-still-no/">V-Vehicles tours D.C. with secretive high-mpg concept, no pics yet Oil giant Total invests in cellulosic ethanol company Coskata’s latest funding round Fisker seeking more money, wants $9 million grant and $12.5 million loan from state of Delaware on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/28/fisker-seeking-more-money-wants-9-million-grant-and-12-5-mill/">Fisker seeking more money, wants $9 million grant and $12.5 million loan from state of Delaware

AutoblogGreen for 04.29.10

It could very well be the ultimate car-obsessed/Star Wars fanboy fantasy. What is this latest object of our geekery? How about a car wash carried out by a gaggle of Princess Leias? And not just any Princess Leia, mind you, but slave Leia. We told you already: Ultimate car-obsessed Star Wars fanboy fantasy.

Not surprisingly, the fertile minds over at G4TV’s Attack of the Show were behind the stunt, and proceeds from the Star Wars Charity Car Wash went to the Make A Wish Foundation. And if you’re worried it was all just a horrible example of male chauvinism (yeah, it probably was), Han Solo, Darth Vader, Obi Wan, a slew of Storm Troopers and even a Tusken Raider and pair of Jawas were also present and accounted for. What, no Olivia Munn?

Video? Of course, four of them in total. See it all go down after the break.

[Source: Attack of the Show]

Continue reading Video: Princess Leia. Car wash. No, we’re not kidding

Video: Princess Leia. Car wash. No, we’re not kidding

In the May issue of Car and Driver, the pub peered through the looking glass to see what kind of product enthusiasts can look forward to in the next few years. The feature, entitled “25 Cars Worth Waiting For,” combines some astute speculation and a few foregone conclusions with a rendering of each vehicle. However, one particular depiction caught the eye of ace auto artist Jon Sibal.

A rendering of the 2011 BMW M5 commissioned by C/D and created by artist Mark Neeper bore a striking resemblance to an image Sibal says he penned this past December. Considering both artists were working with existing information, the number of similarities – particularly the sculpted front bumper and side sills – could’ve been mere coincidence. But Sibal delved deeper and came across several disturbingly exact parallels.

In Sibal’s own post, he breaks down each of the distinct items he included in his rendering, and while the first few examples could be taken as fluke coincidences, details like the precise lighting glare on the silver side mirrors, a swapped tow hook cover and the highlighting on the side sills were exact duplicates. More telling is Sibal’s admission that he made a slight mistake on one side of the intake (not blending it in properly) which mysteriously made it onto Neeper’s image. Additionally, Sibal added his own “watermark” – an odd, pinched line on the front bumper – which he claims, “was left in there purposely… to track and identify the parts of the car I’ve painstakingly designed and created.”

To his credit, Sibal isn’t out for blood or even monetary compensation; he’s just looking for some attribution. And when we spoke with him earlier today, Sibal made it clear that he respects Neeper’s work.

Neeper, who has yet to return our emails, is a well-respected artist who’s been creating drawings and renderings for various publications for the better part of two decades.

Sibal says he has contacted C/D, but apparently has yet to receive a response. We’ve spoken with C/D and they’re just as flummoxed as Sibal and are taking the matter very seriously as they embark on an investigation.

Check out the examples below for more proof, and get the full details on Sibal’s site.

Artist hired by Car and Driver swipes rendering from Jon Sibal?

Review: 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo is the Ultimate Passenger Machine

In the wake of BMW’s new “Joy” ad campaign comes the 5 Series Gran Turismo, the first Ultimate Driving Machine that’s more interested in shuffling passengers in comfort than providing thrills behind the wheel.

Infographic: One car stolen every 33 seconds… and other fun grand theft auto facts

Car theft is no laughing matter, but a quick look at these stats will have you cracking a smile.

C/D: Next Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 all but confirmed

The all-new Grand Cherokee is right around the corner and that means Jeep is probably planning a hotter, 500+ hp version to take the place of the aging SRT8.

Also of interest:

• Video: Drifting Cadillac thwarts purse snatching
• TVR rebirth hinges on hybrid tech and Chevrolet Corvette power
• Honda in the black, fourth quarter profits up by 28%
• 2003 Toyota Sequoia to be recalled over traction control
• Top Gear America caught filming on Mullholland

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.28.10

Flash back to the 2007 Detroit Auto Show and sitting on the Chrysler stand was the Nassau concept. Nothing ever came of the angular five-door, but some of the elements that debuted on the show car eventually worked their way onto the Sebring. That connection stands to be revived with a report by the Detroit Free Press that the Sebring’s replacement will carry the Nassau name when the all-new midsize sedan goes on sale within the next two years.

The concept’s sleek lines aren’t likely to inspire the Nassau, but considering Chrysler purchased the name, it’s fair game and will help to put Chrysler’s lackluster sedan out of the public consciousness.

Chrysler hasn’t official confirmed the name yet, but when the Nassau goes on sale – likely in 2012 – it will be joined by the refreshed Dodge Avenger, with a thoroughly revised interior and a choice of either a 2.4-liter four-cylinder or Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Chrysler’s Sebring replacement to be named Nassau

Take a good look at the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The Korean competitor is obviously designed to go up against cars such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima. But, unlike those generally staid sedans, the Sonata features a rather rakish, swept-back design that has earned it plaudits among the motoring press and consumers alike.

In order to properly compete with the aforementioned Accord and Altima (though not the Camry – Toyota cut its losses on the slow-selling Solara coupe), the Hyundai Sonata needs to be offered in a sportier two-door configuration. Will it happen? Though the Korean automaker isn’t willing to confirm anything at present, it’s certainly a distinct possibility that development of such a machine is well under way.

According to Inside Line, a Hyundai Sonata Coupe could arrive late in 2011 or early 2012. If that’s the case, Theophilus Chin’s excellent rendering of such a machine seems likely to be spot on. As pointed out by IL, the presence of the Genesis Coupe would probably mean that a two-door Sonata wouldn’t be overtly sporty, but the availability of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four with 274 horsepower could go a long way towards spicing things up a tad.

So… what do you think?

[Source: Inside Line]

Rendered Speculation: Already rakish Hyundai Sonata slims down to two doors

Mitsubishi, Citroen and Peugeot have announced a partnership that should have a new small SUV in French show rooms by early 2012. The Japanese automaker has agreed to share its ASX platform with PSA Peugeot Citroen in an effort to move more models for everyone involved. Mitsubishi says that while it is providing the bare bones for the project, respective models from the two European automakers will incorporate unique bodywork as well as their own engine.

While the French-Japanese creation will use a 1.6-liter diesel four-cylinder culled from the PSA Citroen Peugeot parts bin, buyers will be able to choose between front-wheel and four-wheel drive models.

The partnership should move an additional 50,000 platforms out of Mitsubishi’s doors and onto the streets of Europe. PSA Peugeot Citroen believes the small SUV segment will explode in the near future, with sales leaping by as much as 60 percent by 2015. Hit the jump to see the full press release.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading Mitsubishi giving Peugeot/Citroën version of ASX

Mitsubishi giving Peugeot/Citroën version of ASX

Hold on to your Dubbelmossas, rally fans. Legendary Swedish rally and rallycross driver Per “Pekka” Eklund is coming back, and he’s coming back hard. How hard? A Saab 900 Turbo 16S built to Group A specs.. Sure, it’s not diamond tough hard – like this – but we’re still impressed. Not only that, but he’ll be campaigning the 26-year old front-driver in the ADAC 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Also of note, it’s been thirty years since Eklund competed in a 24 hour race.

Fear not though, as this particular Saab 900 Turbo sounds totally up to the task as it’s capable of producing 310 hp and a punishing 384 pound-feet of torque steer. Says Eklund, “When I got offer to be able to compete with a classic Saab 900 Turbo on the Nordschleife, I immediately loved the idea.” Who wouldn’t?

Will the 64-year old Eklund be up to the task of racing around one of the world’s most difficult tracks in the middle of the night in car built (probably) the same night Mondale was defeated? We’ll go ahead and guess yes, he’ll be just fine. As for a Saab holding together for 24 grueling hours, hey, anything’s possible. The fun starts on May 13th.

[Source: Per Eklund via Saabs United]

Rally legend Per Eklund to enter Nürburgring 24 in classic Saab 900 Turbo

AutoExpress has put the 478-horsepower Nissan GT-R Spec-V through a round of semester exams, and it looks like this carbon fiber kid has the guts to make it in the real world. It motored to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds, ran the slalom at 74.7 mph – beating everything from Europe and tying the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 – and soaked up 1.12 G on the skidpad – beating everything including the ZR-1. It’s all right to admit… you want a Spec-V. Don’t you? Follow the jump for the video.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Continue reading Video: AutoExpress tests the 2010 Nissan GT-R SpecV

Video: AutoExpress tests the 2010 Nissan GT-R SpecV

What, Danica Patrick’s inclusion in the sport isn’t enough to generate sufficient interest? Guess not. Seemingly in an attempt to generate some additional excitement in the 17-race 2010 IndyCar Series schedule, Randy Bernard, first-year chief executive of the Indy Racing League, has announced that there will be three different winners after the season is done and over with. Why? We’ll let Bernard explain:

After my first six weeks, I kept saying to myself we need to be able to deliver a consistent message about our sport that separates us from other forms of auto racing… What hit me is that we have the fastest and most versatile drivers and racecars in the world – and no one can deny that – and now we have to show why we’re the fastest and most versatile. We have 17 events, but how do we create better story lines?

Apparently, that “consistent message” necessitates awarding a winner for both oval racing (to attract NASCAR fans?) and road racing (to attract F1 or Le Mans series fans?) in addition to the normal overall series champion.

Does this three-tiered championship earn your interest? If so, you’ll be pleased to hear that a contest coming in late May will allow fans to help choose the names for the oval and road racing trophies. So far, it seems that Foyt (oval) and Andretti (road) are the leading candidates.

[Source: The New York Times Image: Darrell Ingham/Getty]

IndyCar no longer content with crowning single champion, moving to three?

We’re expecting awfully big things from the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is rumored to begin initial production early next month. This will be the first totally new design to roll out of Chrysler’s design and engineering departments since America’s number three automaker was bailed out by the federal government and Italy’s Fiat, so it had better be good.

And if a new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 is good and the expected 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is better… well then, a suitably enlarged 6.4-liter version of the well-liked Hemi would be best of all, right? According to the Car and Driver crew, just such a beastie is currently in development, though Chrysler is reportedly neither confirming nor denying its existence in the product pipeline.

If true, C/D’s currently imaginary Grand Cherokee SRT8 would get an unadulterated and naturally aspirated power figure that’s well over 500 horsepower and possibly a tad more than the BMW X5 M’s towering 555-horse rating. Rumor has it that Jeep wants its SRT8 to be the quickest SUV on the market, which would mean besting the aforementioned German’s 4.0-second run to 60.

Also on the menu would likely be fully adjustable air suspension to keep things planted when the going gets twisty and an appropriate steroidal injection to the standard 2011 Grand Cherokee’s already attractive sheetmetal. If it’s indeed coming to market – and we have reason to believe that it will – we wouldn’t expect to see the GC SRT8 before 2012 at the earliest.

[Source: Car and Driver]

C/D: Next Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 all but confirmed

At long last, the question of exactly which American V8 the newly-resurrected TVR will use has been answered. As you might have guessed, the Russian-owned, English-bred racer will get a beating heart from none other than the mighty Chevrolet Corvette. The news hounds over at Autocar managed to snag a quick interview with the brand’s owner, Nikolai Smolenski, who said that the GM eight-pot presented the most efficient and powerful solution to the company’s engine concerns.

Unfortunately, Smolenski didn’t say exactly which GM V8 would find its way behind the new TVR’s headlights. We’d love to think that the 638 horsepower supercharged LS9 would do a proper job of paying homage to the ridiculously powerful TVR models of days gone by, but it’s possible that the company could opt for the more civil (and less expensive) 505 horsepower LS7 found in the current Corvette Z06.

Either way, the car should be an absolute rocket whenever it hits the streets. Given the fact that an all-American lump is going to be pushing power to the rear wheels, there’s even some talk of the cars being sold here in the States. Our fingers? Yeah. They’re crossed.

Autocar also makes mention of the fact that Smolenski is considering a hybrid model that would allow the use of an automatic transmission. Blasphemy or not, we’re about to see a whole new take on the TVR name we know and love.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: TVR rebirth hinges on hybrid tech and Chevrolet Corvette power

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Crime fighting Good Samaritans can take on all forms, and apparently that includes in the form of a 3,900 pound, rear-drive Cadillac CTS. FailBlog has stumbled upon a what looks to be a Chinese news program running street camera footage of a petty thief stealing the purse of an unsuspecting woman. But instead of running off into the night, the robber is instead intercepted by the Caddy driver in rather spectacular fashion.

It’s almost a good enough display to have us wondering about the authenticity of what’s going on (there are a lot of staged viral videos these days), but assuming it’s the real deal, now might be a good time to change Cadillac’s tagline to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Bad Guys.”

Hit the jump to watch the Caddy doing Starsky and Hutch proud.

[Source: Failblog via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Drifting Cadillac thwarts purse snatching

Video: Drifting Cadillac thwarts purse snatching

Report: Dutch driver gets Bugatti Veyron confiscated for doing 50 mph over. He’s 20.

Nissan has begun taking $99 registrations for its all-electric Leaf, and the early results are very encouraging. The Japanese automaker has reportedly already received 7,000 pre-orders in the U.S. and another 4,000 orders in Japan. Nissan had been expecting pre-sales of roughly 20,000 vehicles, and early pre-sales show that the initial estimates may have undershot reality. Whatcar? reports that orders have been so strong that Nissan expects that it won’t be able to fulfill demand for its emissions-free vehicle when it hits dealerships in late Fall. The 11,000 hand-raisers Nissan currently has in the bank doesn’t include any buyers from the UK, as our across the Pond allies aren’t eligible to pre-order the Leaf until July.

Nissan reportedly claims that its forthcoming EV will be cheaper to buy and run than the king of the hybrid hill, Toyota’s Prius. The Leaf will carry an MSRP of $32,780 (plus $2,200 for the charger) when it goes on sale, which is closer in price to the Lexus HS 250h than the Prius, though government tax breaks of $7,500 per all-electric vehicle brings the base price down to a much more manageable $25,280.

[Source: Whatcar?]

Report: Nissan expecting Leaf shortages thanks to high early demand

Honda has officially joined the ranks of automakers like Kia and Ford by posting solid profits during the fourth quarter of the company’s fiscal year. The Japanese automaker managed to see profits rise by 28 percent compared to the same period last year, thanks largely to increased hybrid sales. The announcement marks the fourth-straight quarter of profits for the company after seeing a rare operating loss at the end of March, 2009.

Sales in Japan have been bolstered by sales of the incredibly popular CR-Z Hybrid. Earlier this month, Honda announced that it had received over 7,000 orders for the two-door hatchback, which accounted for over half of the models the company had set aside for sale in its home market.

Honda also attributed its quick recovery to the fact that its lineup is comprised mostly of fuel-efficient vehicles – something buyers in a global recession have been quick to appreciate. Analysts also point to a healthy dose of cost-cutting measures as bearing credit for the rebound, too. Based on the good news, the carmaker hopes to see its growth continue through the rest of 2010.

[Sources: Honda, Mainichi Daily News Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Honda in the black, fourth quarter profits up by 28%