The flooding in Tennessee has been nothing short of catastrophic, with 19 deaths and billions of dollars in damage. And Tennessee residents don’t only have a monumental clean-up on their hands. There are plenty of closed roads, stores and schools out there, which means residents will have a difficult time driving and shopping, and kids will be bored.
A video recently posted on YouTube shows what could possibly the very worst way to spend your time in the home of the (flooded) Grand Ole Opry. A trio of youngins thought it would be fun to water ski on the flooded parking lot of what looks like an abandoned dealership. The three youths tied a rope to the tail of a Nissan Pathfinder, hit the gas and showcased some very solid skiing skills. Unfortunately for them, the cops were watching the whole time, and after a short run on the flood water the driver and skier were cuffed.
to watch the video for yourself. The fuzz may be overreacting to a bunch of kids having fun, but the reality is that the kids’ stunt was pretty dangerous and likely not worth the risk of adding to an already high death toll. We’re pretty sure the owners of the property wouldn’t want to take on that kind of insurance risk, either. Feel free to voice your open opinion in the Comments.
The Williamson Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic – Click above to enlarge
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful automobiles ever created, it’s not every day that a Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic changes hands. Only four of examples were ever made, and only two or three of them are still around today. One is , and another belonged to the late Dr. Peter Williamson. Californian auction house Gooding & Company has now announced that the Williamson Bugatti has changed hands for a record sum, and though the buyer and exact amount paid remain undisclosed, reports place it between $30-40 million, easily eclipsing the $12.2 million paid for a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa this time last year.
Until his recent passing, Dr. Williamson had amassed a considerable collection of classic Bugattis. Gooding had helped assemble the collection, and since his passing has helped his estate sell them off. But the Atlantic – the crown jewel of the collection and winner of the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – was saved for last. According to reports, the car was acquired through Gooding by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, where we recently went to check out the , so with a little luck we might have the opportunity to bring you the Atlantic in due course. Follow the jump for the press release from Gooding.
Many small businesses need to deliver product or services to their customers. For many that operate locally, existing options like the Dodge Sprinter or Ford E-Series vans are simply too large, thirsty and unwieldy for their needs. Enter the Ford Transit Connect.
Suzuki has partnered with Road Race Motorsports to develop a Kizashi Turbo Concept, boosting the power to a very respectable 290 horses.
Motor Trend is reporting that the aging is set to exit stage left here in the States after the 2011 model year. As it is, the rotary-powered sportscar is slated to see the European guillotine at the same time due to its inability to meet Euro V emissions standards.
Falcon Motorcycles Kestrel – Click above to watch the video
Despite our best attempt to harbor a deep-seated loathing when it comes to the hoards of under-thought and over-raked , and by default one-off bikes as a whole, rare occasions arise when we feel obligated to stop and take note of something beyond the wave of metallic peanut tanks. Such an occasion arose with the release of the Kestrel, a sophomore effort from the L.A.-based studio of Falcon Motorcycles.
Yeah, we know it’s a shop, not a studio where one builds motorcycles, right? In the case of Falcon, the line between motorcycle and art form seems to be blurred. Founders Ian Barry and Amaryllis Knight like to think of their creations as “art that can be pulled off the wall, and ridden into town.” After a childhood run-in with a pack of bikers mounted on British iron, Barry developed a preference for not only the style of the two wheelers, but also the historical importance of bikes built across the pond.
Now all grown up, Knight’s obsession has sent Falcon on a quest to reproduce 10 motorcycles, which despite being completely custom will share a a few commonalities: all British and all of particular historical significance – that is, in the Knight’s opinion. The Kestrel, which is based on a 1970 , is the second in that line of creations. It will make it’s debut two years after Falcon’s firstborn Bullet, which was commissioned by actor Jason Lee.
Take two years and 2,000 man hours, a basket-case Bonnie, sprinkle in the right amount of panache and viola, the Kestrel is born. Check it at the on it’s first journey from the nest. to see the complete video of the Kestrel at Falcon’s home base.
Audi A1 low-rider – Click above for high-res image gallery
The may be making its first official public appearance at the Wörthersee Tour 2010 this week, but the big push for is unarguably the new A1. Of the 19 cars that Audi is showing, nine are the new A1 mini-car. Seven of those have been customized with special wraps and interior treatments running the gamut from an Austrian police car to an airport guide vehicle.
Of special note is the white-walled, flame-sprouting low-rider riding on black steelies. With this display, it’s clear that Audi wants to go after the same audience that has been applying personalized finishes to modern Minis for the past decade. To help that effort, Audi will be offering a variety of “competition kits” of interior and exterior bits that will be available when the A1 goes on sale later this year.
Take a look at the customs in our high-res image gallery below. Have a favorite?
If you read our on the prospect for a Formula One race against a Manhattan backdrop and thought, That’ll be the day, well…that day may be coming sooner than you think. Destination Jersey City has submitted plans to build a racing circuit to host the United States Grand Prix in Liberty Park.
Now we know, Jersey’s not New York, but before you go dismissing the Garden State and it’s (stereotype alert) Firebird-driving, wifebeater-wearing, Miller-swilling, Bon Jovi-blasting residents, consider that Liberty Park is the gateway to both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, two of the New York harbor’s most iconic landmarks, and offers spectacular views of the Big Apple across the river. And notwithstanding that (awesome as it was), closing down Manhattan city streets so a few F1 cars can run laps through Times Square would be practically unfeasible.
So what does Jersey City have in mind? A 3.6-mile circuit that could be ready as soon as 2012. Developers are seeking a five-year contract to bring Bernie Ecclestone’s dream to fruition. A group of citizens is already raising its voice in opposition to the proposal, fearing that the state park will be forever transformed into a racing venue. But even they’ll likely go along if the state puts on a free Springsteen concert or two at the site. Hey, the Boss is the Boss. *Update: Apparently, the proposal was nixed by the major of New Jersey less than 24 hours after it was unveiled. So… there goes that idea.
If you read our on the prospect for a Formula One race against a Manhattan backdrop and thought, That’ll be the day, well…that day may be coming sooner than you think. Destination Jersey City has submitted plans to build a racing circuit to host the United States Grand Prix in Liberty Park.
Now we know, Jersey’s not New York, but before you go dismissing the Garden State and it’s (stereotype alert) Firebird-driving, wifebeater-wearing, Miller-swilling, Bon Jovi-blasting residents, consider that Liberty Park is the gateway to both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, two of the New York harbor’s most iconic landmarks, and offers spectacular views of the Big Apple across the river. And notwithstanding that (awesome as it was), closing down Manhattan city streets so a few F1 cars can run laps through Times Square would be practically unfeasible.
So what does Jersey City have in mind? A 3.6-mile circuit that could be ready as soon as 2012. Developers are seeking a five-year contract to bring Bernie Ecclestone’s dream to fruition. A group of citizens is already raising its voice in opposition to the proposal, fearing that the state park will be forever transformed into a racing venue. But even they’ll likely go along if the state puts on a free Springsteen concert or two at the site. Hey, the Boss is the Boss.
Hummer H3T – Click above for high-res image gallery
has just announced a sizeable recall on models manufactured between 2006 and 2010. According to Consumer Reports, the vehicles have defective hood louvers that could come loose over time and detach from the vehicle while driving. The tabs that hold the louvers in place have been found to break, causing vibration that can lead to total separation.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is warning H3 owners to be on the lookout for any vibration of the louver assembly, as that may be an indicator that a failure is likely. A total of 162,000 are covered under the recall, and General Motors says that technicians will apply an adhesive in order to keep the louvers from coming loose at no cost. Owners may contact Hummer at 800-732-5493 or visit the NHTSA for more information.
has just announced its newest wave of incentives. Those looking to snap up anything from the company’s four brands can look forward to zero-percent financing courtesy of GMAC on most of its products. Chrysler models can be had at the low APR for 60 months or 1.9 percent for 72 months. If that doesn’t float your boat, the company is also dishing out $3,000 in consumer cash.
Likewise, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Commander are all now available with either zero-percent financing or up to $4,000 in cash. If buyers sign their car loan with GMAC, the lender will also throw in an additional $1,000 in bonus cash on those Jeep models. Sorry, fans, but everyone’s favorite go-anywhere machine is only available with $500 in Mopar bucks.
Speaking of Mopar bucks, buyers can now take advantage of a hefty $2,000 to be used exclusively toward Mopar accessories. Chrysler has also rolled out similar incentives for other and Ram Trucks products. for the press release.
Somehow, we’re guessing that the “any publicity is good publicity” cliche isn’t ringing particularly true with Toyota these days. That said, we do have to give some props to the automaker for being open about the current state of its recent recall woes. According to Toyota, roughly 3.2 million of its many recall notices have been fulfilled.
Yes, that number sounds like a lot. Bear in mind, though, that Toyota isn’t even halfway finished with its recalls. In fact, there are about 4.6 million more of the notices out there that have yet to be fulfilled. And the actual breakdown of which recalls have been completed is also rather interesting.
Says Toyota, “Approximately 70 percent of the sticking pedal modifications have been completed on the 2.3 million vehicles that have been recalled… and more than 75 percent of the ABS program updates have been performed on the 147,500 and models that were recalled.”
Not bad, but there’s still some worrying data. “Approximately 27 percent of the floor mat entrapment modifications have been completed on the 5.4 million vehicles that were recalled for this issue,” continues Toyota.
We have to wonder if people aren’t taking the floor mat entrapment issue seriously, or if perhaps the general populace is content just to chuck their mats into the trash bin in lieu of a seemingly odd tie wrap resolution. In any case, check out all the details in the press release after the break.
Tesla Model S – Click above for high-res image gallery
Autopia has brought a healthy dose of skepticism to the claims that will be delivering the sedan to customers by 2012. Wired’s automotive wing unearthed a report by the Downey Patriot that says that if the electric car manufacturer wants to use the property it has been eying in Downey, California, it will need to get on the ball in a hurry.
The report claims that in order for Tesla to renovate the structures located on the 51-acre tract of land to suit its needs, the company will need to have construction crews work 20-hours a day, five-days a week. Even at that pace, it will take close to 18 months to get everything ready in time.
That’s just a year and a half to work out kinks like prepping buildings, installing tooling and firing up an assembly line. A spokesperson from says the 20-hour a day work schedule is a worst-case scenario, and that the company believes its goals are more than obtainable.
Right now, however, the company has yet to make a formal decision on where exactly it will build its manufacturing facility, and time is ticking. And even after that, Tesla still needs to prove it can sell its all-electric sedan at a profit.
Chevron GR8 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Fast. It’s what every sportscar and racing car manufacturer has in its sights, but Chevron – as deep as its history runs – has found speed in another regard. It’s been barely six months since the British firm , and though few thought it could be done, the first batch is already built, and the one-make racing series they’re earmarked for is set to kick off this coming weekend.
The Chevron GR8 is a lightweight racing car powered by a relatively modest 255-horsepower ]two-liter Cosworth engine, placed smack in the middle of a compact steel spaceframe with fiberglass bodywork. Chevron apparently considered going with carbon composite construction, but cost aside, the gestation period would have taken much longer. Instead, after only half a year has gone by from concept to construction, the first ten examples are ready – and spoken for – for their first race this weekend at Silverstone. By the second round at Brands Hatch on June 19, Chevron plans to have doubled the grid with the second batch. Now that’s what we call fast.
Check out the renderings in the gallery below for a closer look at the new GR8, and stay tuned for an update with images of the finished car undergoing testing.
2010 Suzuki Kizashi Turbo Concept – Click above to watch video
took a pretty big gamble by only offering its new with a fuel-thrifty 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. While the mill produces a respectable 185 horsepower, it falls well short of the numbers available from its V6-clad competition. To address that situation, the company has partnered with Road Race to develop a Kizashi Turbo Concept. The aftermarket company worked in a Mitsubishi 16 G turbo coupled with a Road Race Motorsports intercooler and a handful of other goodies to help up the power to a much more respectable 290 horses.
As evidenced by the video that you’ll find , the car will get its debut on Test Drive on SpeedTV. So far, there’s no indication as to whether or not Kizashi buyers will be able to opt for the new turbo system from the dealer, or how much it will cost from Road Race Motorsports.
Either way, the fact that buyers can get a little more pep from their Suzuki should help move the sedans off of dealer lots and into driveways. Check your local listings for more information on Test Drive, see our high-res image gallery below and for the press release and video.
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina SWB – Click above for high-res image gallery
Call it a sign that the recession is abating, or count it as an indicator that, for the extremely wealthy, the recession hardly ever crossed their minds. But any way you cut it, classic continue to fetch record prices at auction. And exceptional though it was, this past weekend’s Sporting Classics of Monaco event, held by Canadian firm RM Auctions, was no exception.
The event marked the first time that the venerable auction house – a growing force to be reckoned with on the classic car scene – held an event during the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique. Yet RM still managed to rake in a mind-blowing €33,235,917 ($45 million), matching the all-time record for single-day auction results, which RM itself set in Maranello in May 2007.
The headline results were boosted by the sale of a rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina SWB, which went for a high bid of €2,800,000 ($3.8 million), exceeding its estimate and fetching the highest price ever paid for such an example. Several other Ferraris went for seven-figure prices as well, including a 1957 250 GT Tour de France ($3.2M), a 1959 250 GT California Spyder ($2.8M), and a pair of mid-60s-era 275 GTBs that each fetched a million and change.
The rare Prancing Horses were joined by such other notable examples as a 1960 Birdcage ($3.3M), a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C Zagato Spider ($1.2M), a Le Mans-spec ‘63 Shelby Cobra 289 ($1M) and a whole slew of classics. Follow the jump to delve further into the auction results, and check out the high-resolution images of the headline Superamerica in the gallery below.
It’s been 50 years since first took a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 1960 Briggs Cunningham . has decided to mark the occasion by swaddling the very first 2011 ChevroletCorvette in the same livery worn by the champion. The car wears blue stripes and other decals as homage to the company’s racing history, but it also packs a few performance tricks from the Chevrolet playbook at the same time. The special-edition 2011 Corvette boasts both the Z06 and packages, which means there’s 505 horsepower on tap courtesy of a 7.0-liter aluminum V8.
That CFZ package also throws in tricks like those fancy wheels and unique side-view mirrors, along with a healthy dose of carbon fiber bodywork. If you want it, GM has a smoking deal for you. The company is offering the car for a $300,000 tax-deductible charity donation plus what it cost the company to produce the vehicle. How much is that? According to the good folk over at Corvette Blogger, the price tag should be around $85,000.
Sure enough, the car is sexy as can be, but we can buy a lot of metal for nearly $400,000 – deductible or not. For that kind of cash, we easily could snap up a whole garage full of ZR1s and enough tires to keep them all fat and happy.
Corvette Blogger has a killer spread of photos of the car, though, and we don’t mind spending some time drooling. Hop on over to the to see a few good shots of the 1960 beating up on the competition at Le Mans, too.
After yet another round of musical chairs amongst ‘ executives, Susan Docherty will be removed from her position as vice president of marketing later this month. With just over six months behind her in the current job, Docherty will be given a new position within GM, which the automaker says it will announce in the near future. Rumors of Docherty’s removal had been speculated for a while now, especially after her was dropped in another recent management shift.
Big shoes to fill, no doubt, but GM is certain that they’ve found a worthy replacement, especially if the automaker was willing to remove Docherty from the job in the first place. On May 24th, GM will welcome Joel Ewanick to the team – the man who helped build its considerable marketing momentum over the past few years, though he did to just a few months ago. GM’s North American president, Mark Reuss, says, “Joel is highly regarded in industry and marketing circles, and his track record speaks for itself.”
In a time when GM needs to give its entire brand image a good once-over, it makes sense to have the best marketing people possible on the team. What’s more, with big announcements like and its new slogan on deck, some serious new marketing strategies will have to come into place to move new products off of dealer lots. GM’s full press release is available after the jump.
Jay Leno drives the Koenigsegg Trevita CCXR – Click above for to watch video
It takes a serious piece of engineering to really impress . Even by auto journo standards, the guy has driven more lust-worthy sheet metal than ought to be possible, so when he starts gushing on a car, you know it’s something special. Such is the case with the . Odds are the supercar-obsessed among us will recognize that smattering of consonants and vowels as the same 1,018 horsepower, twin-supercharged 4.8-liter V8 beast that weighs a fraction of what the Bugatti Veyron weighs.
Leno recently had a chance to go over the carbon-fiber work of art with none other than Koenigsegg head honcho Christian von himself. According to the Swede, there are only three Trevita CCXRs in existence, and Leno was brave enough to drive one of them around Los Angeles for a day.
Watching the video, it’s clear the car is on a totally different level from most supercars. Yes, you can take the top off, but there’s enough space on board to store the carbon fiber lid so that you don’t need an entourage of shop hands following you around. It has a ridiculously low ride height, but also boasts a suspension that can raise the vehicle high enough to tackle most speed bumps. Are we in love? How could we not be? Unfortunately, if Leno can’t afford the price tag, we seriously doubt we can pull it off either. to see the clip for yourself.
2009 Mazda RX-8 – Click above for high-res image gallery
According to “a well placed source at North American Operations,” Motor Trend is reporting that the aging is set to exit stage left here in the States after the 2011 model year. As it is, the rotary-powered sportscar is slated to see the European guillotine at the same time due to its inability to meet Euro V emissions standards.
There are a number of issues that all manufacturers that have chosen to borrow the rotary engine design from Felix Wankel have had to deal with, not the least of which have been poor fuel efficiency, comparatively high exhaust emissions and excessive oil consumption. It seems that these same long-running plagues may kill off yet another fun-to-drive rotary-powered model from Mazda.
Mazda has not made any formal announcements as to the death of the RX-8 or the rebirth of the perennially rumored RX-7 revival. That said, we’d be more than a little shocked if Mazda didn’t renew its commitment to the high-revving, barrel-shaped rotary engine wrapped up in some sort of innovative package within the next few model years. We’ll see.
2010 Ford Transit Connect – Click above for high-res image gallery
If there were one undeniable business lesson to be learned from the auto industry during the past decade, it’s to keep a close eye on your sales and a closer eye on your capacity. As executives have repeatedly said over the years, the supply of any model should always be exactly one less than the demand. Less supply and you’re leaving money on the table, more and you’ve got unused capacity.
This philosophy can be adapted to a wide array of businesses and is especially relevant to small businesses. Many small businesses need to deliver product or services to their customers. For many that operate locally, existing options like the Dodge Sprinter or Ford E-Series vans are simply too large, thirsty and unwieldy for their needs. Enter the . Since being introduced last year in North America, an increasing number of businesses small and large have found the Transit Connect to be just the right size for their needs. We spent a week with a cargo van version to find out what it’s like to live with. to read on.
Gallery:
Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
: 2010 Ford Transit Connect arrives ready for work
1980 Ferrari Pinin concept – Click above for image gallery
has done it. has too. Even toyed with the idea in the form of the Estoque concept. But according to chief executive Amedeo Felisa, will never follow its rivals in making a four-door model.
The closest we’ll get, points out Felisa, is the , the four-door sports sedan from Ferrari’s Modenese sister-company, which is in the near future. Maranello once considered the idea of a four-door with the show car (above), but as close as it may have come, the concept never made it to production.
Addressing the notion that Ferrari once swore it would never make a hybrid or use start-stop technology – both of which are in the pipeline from Maranello currently – Felisa responded that both these measures were required by government regulation, but that nobody’s forcing them to make a sedan. Well, there you have it.
After yet another round of musical chairs amongst ‘ executives, Susan Docherty will be removed from her position as vice president of marketing later this month. With just over six months behind her in the current job, Docherty will be given a new position within GM, which the automaker says it will announce in the near future. 
