The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee is still pouring over , and right now the group is looking into older braking systems. Automotive News reports that the committee was told by investigators that an investigation of a showed that some older model Toyotas were equipped with brake override systems (although not all newer models have such equipment). Toyota, as you may recall, has promised to equip all 2011 model year vehicles with a brake override system.
The Japanese automaker has also been asked by the committee to detail the work being performed by research firm Exponent Inc. relative to Toyota’s unintended acceleration issues. Exponent has said that it hasn’t found any electronics issues that would lead to unwanted acceleration issues. For his part, Committee Chairman Henry Waxman has told reporters in a letter that Exponent “has not been fully cooperative with the committee’s requests.”
Toyota is reportedly being given until July 6 to contact the House committee, and documents must be provided by July 12. Toyota spokesman Mike Michels has informed AN that the company will cooperate with requests from the committee.
Let’s take a stroll back through time to an era when droves of people, young and old, would willingly pay to watch bad actors and improbable cars join forces to fight evil on the silver screen. No, we’re not talking about 2007, nor Michael Bay’s . We’re interested in something altogether more pure – 1986’s The Wraith. If you’ve never seen the film, you’re missing out on a piece of cinematic car history that uses plot only as a vessel for plot holes. But never mind that. The star of the show is none other than the 1984 M4S Concept. Charlie Sheen is there, too.
Using its mid-ship, twin-turbo 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, the newly christened Wraith is no longer a prisoner of the show circuit. Using state of the art special effects, the car spends the length of the film running down gang members and restoring order to society.
And now it’s for sale. After being found in pieces, some loving soul has taken the time to restore The Wraith to its former glory, and it’s now available for sale in Kansas. According to , the seller is open to entertaining offers. Take our advice: don’t low ball the guy. The Wraith just might come for your immortal soul.
is no stranger to being first – Japanese luxury vehicles and hybrids chief among them. Although may have launched earlier, remains the only Japanese luxury marque to market in Japan. And having launched in Europe shortly after America, Lexus was also the first to challenge the European heavyweights on their home turf, and with its and , it remains the only non-European marque to compete at the top level.
Credit Toyota, as well, for popularizing hybrid technology, as it launched the domestically as the first mass-produced gas-electric, whereupon it has dominated the market with successive generations. But where the Japanese auto giant has really stood apart is in the combination of both luxury and hybrid technology.
Recognizing the technology’s popularity with upscale buyers, Lexus has carved out a niche in producing luxury hybrids. In fact, its lineup in many European markets is comprised exclusively of hybrids. The launched late last year as the world’s first dedicated luxury hybrid model and now Lexus is branching out again by electrifying territory previously uncharted by Japanese automakers: the premium hatchback segment. We flew out to Toyota’s European headquarters to see how development of the new CT 200h has been coming along. Follow the jump to see what we found.
Gallery:
Photos by Noah Joseph / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Fernando Alonso takes the Ferrari F10 around Fiorano – Click above to watch the video
The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty may have made the world a better place, but the test ban in place in Formula One has had some other rather interesting effects. Take Jaime Alguersuari, for example, who was racing in actual grands prix before getting a chance to actually test out . Or Michael Schumacher, who had to before coming out of retirement. Or in this case, Fernando Alonso, who had never even lapped iconic private Fiorano test track… until now.
Ferrari took advantage of a loophole in the regulations that allows teams to run their cars during the season for “promotional purposes.” So in order to test the revisions that the Scuderia made to its racer in advance of , and allow their two-time world champion to get some track time at Fiorano, Ferrari had to release this clip. Follow to watch the video from inside the cockpit, and consider the team suitably promoted.
Top Gear magazine spent some getting-to-know-you time with the at the Bugatti factory in Molsheim, and scribe Jason Barlow was all kinds of smitten. The Galibier he crawled all over was painted black, a “Bugatti insider” avowing that the two-tone hue previously on show was “a distraction.”
But get this for a real distraction: Bugatti wants to build it and a “top VW engineer” claims the chances are better than 50% that such a thing will occur. A production car would swap the Veyron’s four turbos and DSG for two superchargers and a torque converter, because you want your 16-cylinder sedan a little more… sedate, you know? It will take the vote of a man named Piëch to truly make this happen, but we’ll have no problem dreaming in black in the meantime. Top tip, Brandon!
Patent drawings for a small Chevy pickup – Click above for high-res image gallery
designers have had some fun with the company Etch-a-Sketch and came up with this, then filed the drawings with the patent office. Any details identifying its place in the Chevy lineup or in the automaker’s global marketplace were sadly left out of the filing.
Carscoop theorizes that it could be an update for the South American market, or a long-shot replacement for the Colorado. At right is a single-cab Chevy Colorado, whose door handles and greenhouse are close to the patent drawing.
However, beneath that is a Brazilian-market 2009 Chevy S10 Colina, whose taillights are a much better match for the patent drawing. Swapping its front end for the Cruze-ish grille in the filing might be more reasonable than performing the same swap on a Colorado, or maybe not. What’s really got us wondering are those exposed bed-rail tie-downs, which look like something from an early eighties Toyota. Or a . What truck and what market are looking for those?
Have a look at the high-res filings yourself and feel free to make all the guesses you want.
BMW M5 N635S 5.8 Hans Nowack Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery
With its award-winning V10, ’s M division hasn’t left us with much not to love. Save, of course, for the fact that it’s not long for this world, pushed out as it will be in the next by the company’s growing environmental conscience. But before the twin-turbo V8 spells its demise, Nowack Motors is giving it a suitable farewell in the form of the N635S 5.8 Hans Nowack Edition.
Having ruled out forced induction, the BMW tuning house has fitted the 5.0-liter V10 with a pair of new intake air collectors, a remapped ECU and retooled engine components. The result boosts the stock 507-horsepower motor up to a mind-boggling 708, dedicated by Oliver Nowack to his father Hans. The modifications are warrantied for a full year and can be retrofitted to any existing M5, and since the upgrades have been carried out principally on the engine itself, can also be fitted to its two-door counterpart, the M6. Details in the press release after the jump and photos in the gallery below.
It doesn’t take a gearhead to know that engine coolant is vitally important to the overall health of your car or truck. Still, thousands of vehicle owners ignore their coolant every year to the detriment of their precious powertrains. Prestone wanted to demonstrate just how important coolant is to the health of an engine, but this isn’t the sexiest topic on earth. So did Prestone spend big bucks on a CGI simulation? How about boring us with a video showing how long it takes for a vehicle sans fluids to go up in smoke? Nope. Instead Prestone gave some well-trained pyromaniacs high-powered blow torches and melted the aluminum engine block of a 3.6-liter V6.
Hit the jump to watch as GM’s high-feature V6 feels the heat of several blowtorches. It only took about 20 minutes to mutilate everything but the crankshaft and cylinder sleeves, but Prestone cut the carnage down to three manageable minutes.
As we see it, there’s one major problem with the 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. No, not the $280,000 asking price, or even the give-us-a-break curb weight of 5,269 pounds. We also aren’t talking about the fact that this basic chassis has been around since 2003. Nor are we concerned that there exist very few places on earth where you can even maybe-kinda-sorta properly experience the thrust of the Supersport’s twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12’s profligate output. Get this: 621 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 590 pound-feet of torque available between 2,000-4,500 rpm. Did we mention this one’s a convertible?
Furthermore, the topless Supersports’ problem does not involve the fact that there are very, very few people in its target demographic. You know, the guy that wants to take three members of his family for a ride at 197 mph with the top down ( would like us to point out that with the top up, the Supersports Convertible will hit 202 mph). Thing is, out of the earth’s 6.7 billion inhabitants, there will surely be around 400 folks that fit the bill, coincidentally about the same number of these topless Supersports Bentley intends to build. No, the problem with the Bentley Supersports Convertible is that the preposterously humongous carbon-ceramic brakes feel a bit squishy coming down from 165 mph. Mind you, at 130 mph, the stoppers work like anchors.
2007 Audi Cross Coupé concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Apparently not content to let Mini hog the small premium crossover segment with its new Countryman, is reportedly working on an Allroad version of the A1.
The A1 three-door hatchback goes on sale this year with a five-door coming in 2011. A higher-riding crossover variant could come by 2013 and follow in the path of previous Audi Allroad editions with arch extensions, bigger wheel and tires and possibly even all-wheel drive. A quattro variant hasn’t yet been confirmed, although is reportedly working on an all-wheel drive variant of the which shares its platform with the little Audi. Given Audi’s 30-year commitment to quattro, we’d bet on both variants for the A1 Allroad – but of course, we were surprised when the A1 hatch arrived with only its front wheels driven…
2011 Volvo V70 R-Design by Heico Sportiv – click above for a high-res image gallery
A wagon from a tuner can’t help but sound exciting to us. Externally, the Volvo V70 T6 R-Design by delivers what you’d expect for an exclusive Euro express, carrying an eye-watering €70,193 price tag (that’s more than $86,000 USD). Metallic sapphire black is the only color available for the limited-edition run of 100 cars. Ride height is lowered by 30 millimeters over attractive five-spoke 19-inch wheels, a sport exhaust system is fitted and there’s an ever-important viking-helmet emblem affixed to the car’s rump. Heico also re-tunes the turbocharged six cylinder engine, which jumps from its standard 304 horsepower to 330.
Volvo’s R-Design dress-up parts are applied liberally, as well. Matte metal accents in and out and sport leather upholstery further set this special wagon apart. The aesthetics are without fault, but then there’s the performance details. Despite increased horsepower and claims of “apparently limitless power reserves,” the resulting numbers aren’t terribly impressive for a car with such sporting overtones and lofty price. 0-62 mph arrives in 5.9 seconds, which is quick, but for about the same money, an packs a 429 pony wallop that reaches 62 mph in just 5.2 seconds, and we’re guessing that it’ll outhandle the Swede as well. is a veritable bargain, ringing up a €48,000 price tag (just under $59k) and delivering a nearly-identical run 6.0 second run to 100 km/h from its 306 hp engine. On this side of the Atlantic, you could pick up an Ecoboost-powered for $37,000 and get more space and similar pace (Ford’s three-row scorcher ran to 60mph in 6.0 seconds for a shoe).
Despite the number-crunching, there’s little doubt that this Heico-tuned V70 is among the sportiest Volvo wagons extant, but exclusivity and styling will have to sell this car. It’s out-sprinted by a V6 , and even the V6 will give it a hard time – not exactly what you’d expect from a “tuner” car.
New spy photos have turned up showing a standard-cab version of the Amarok… snagged testing on Germany’s Nürburgring, of all places. Up until now, the Amarok pickup has only been seen with a short-bed, crew-cab configuration, but the new standard-cab is expected to go on sale in 2011. The thick B-pillar should mean that the seats will have some space behind them to allow for storage or adjustment for more leg-room.
The current Amarok is only available with either four- or all-wheel-drive, but the new version is expected to have a rear-wheel drive base model as well. Judging by the relatively plain trim on this prototype, it appears that Volkswagen is aiming to offer a lower cost work truck similar to the pickups that are commonly sold to commercial fleets here in the United States.
The 163 horsepower 2.0-liter diesel is expected to carry over to the standard-cab with a dual-clutch DSG gearbox joining the existing six-speed manual box. As far as we know, there are still no plans to offer the Amarok in the North American market. Oh, and we’re also not sure if the Amorok was able to set any new ‘Ring records… but probably not.
The has been electromagnetic when it comes to special editions, nearly as powerful at attracting check-this-option-box versions as the . The next one to be rung up is the MX-5 Miyako for those roadster-loving Brits. Part of the year-long celebration of , the “summer special edition” Miyako gets the requisite leather interior upgrade with highlighted stitching and badging, unique colors and 17-inch wheels.
It is the first special edition that you can have in both ragtop and folding tin-top forms, with 500 each available to the consuming public. It goes on sale July 1, priced from £18,385 ($27,722 U.S.) on-the-road. Have a read on all the specs , and check the fun you’re meant to have in it in the gallery of high-res photos below.
Ralph Gilles reports that the halls of are abuzz with enthusiasm since Fiat rescued . In an interview with The Detroit News, Gilles conveys his enthusiasm for the Dodge brand and the new direction it’s headed. Among the most significant changes? 100,000-plus fans on Facebook for Dodge. To many, that figure may be nowhere near as important as the divorcing of Ram into its own sub-brand, but Gilles notes there was virtually no social media presence for Dodge just months ago. Brash moves like the during the World Cup are also harbingers of what we’re likely to see from Dodge, Gilles says.
Nuts-and-bolts developments like the horsepower rating of the in the new , the name and the possibility of a new Viper find Gilles being more coy. It’s an encouraging chat for anyone concerned with the future of Dodge. Gilles seems genuinely enthusiastic about the different directions Dodge is going to get its brand engaging with fans and customers. There’s an apparel line that’s done surprisngly well, , more grassroots focus and it all means that you should expect to see Dodge popping up in unexpected places. The most important, and perhaps still unexpected place you’ll see Dodge showing up soon is the auto show stand. Dodge and parent Chrysler are set to introduce a slew of new models in the coming months. If they’re as good as they need to be, we’ll be giddy like Gilles, too.
While refines its pickup truck plans and gets ready for an , it is doing only a little bit of tweaking to the 2011 Titan and . The Titan swaps three of its four trim level names, with XE becoming S, SE becoming SV and LE becoming SL, and any four-wheel drive model will get a “4×4″ badge. More substantively, captain’s chairs will be fitted as standard on the top-level SL trim. The 317-horsepower, 5.6 liter V8 remains unchanged.
The name swap carries over to the Frontier, however, with the PRO-4X model keeping its name on the Frontier and Titan. The smaller pickup loses the six-speed manual on the long wheelbase SL King Cab and SV Crew Cab, but gains a six-speed manual option for the lowest trim S model and the PRO-4X short wheelbases. The top line SV trim adds a Luxury Package to its option sheet, and with a little mix-n-match you can get LATCH child safety seats.
The 2011 Titan goes on sale in August, the V6 Frontiers hit showrooms in September, the four cylinder Frontiers in October.
Motor America can officially stick another feather in its cap. The company has successfully managed to woo Mike O’Brien from the clutches of and back onto the Korean automaker’s team. O’Brien worked at Hyundai for a full 14 years as a product planner before jumping ship and heading over to Toyota as a corporate manager. Now he’s back, and will be filling the role of vice president of product and corporate planning under the Hyundai flag.
So what does that mean for future Hyundai products? Any hypotheses we throw out now would be little more than guesses, but according to the press release, O’Brien is a car guy first and foremost and spends his off-time buzzing around in a decommissioned French . Here’s hoping some of that need for speed translates into a few more aggressive pieces of machinery from Hyundai. for the press release.
In a lot of ways, we’ve been shortchanged on the transportation front. We were supposed to be jetting around in by the year 2000, but unfortunately, our vehicles remain firmly bolted the ground below them. At least for now. A company by the name of i-tec is out to build and sell an off-road vehicle capable of taking to the skies in a bid to bring missionaries to the far-flung reaches of the . Called the Mavric, the buggy weighs a heady 1,100 lbs, but manages to get off the ground thanks to a massive, carbon-fiber blade reverse-prop 128-horsepower engine and an ultra-light style airfoil.
The FAA has granted the Mavric experimental status, and the i-tec crew has been putting the buggy through its paces. While the company specifically wants to use its invention to buzz around in the rain forest, it also has an eye on selling its flying off-roader to companies that spend time inspecting expanses of pipe or fence in unruly terrain. We just want one to use to terrorize our neighborhood.
Tonino Lamborghini CULV laptop – Click above for image gallery
Take a particular slant on supercar history and you’d be forgiven for categorizing as another pretender to ’s throne. Enzo was, after all, the spiteful impetus for Ferruccio’s branching out from tractors to sportscars, and some might say has been playing catch-up ever since. Whatever way you look at it, that’s certainly the case when it comes to merchandising, an area which – for better or worse – Ferrari’s long been the leader.
As Ferrari has its line of Acer computers, so has Lamborghini teamed up with Asus for a range of laptops. But this is something altogether different. Tonino Lamborghini – Ferruccio’s son with his own line of merchandise – has granted his name and variation on the raging bull badge to be used on this seemingly pedestrian laptop. The specs are rather run-of-the-mill and the design is rather uninspired, as you’ll find in the gallery below and the source links. But at 649 euros, it’s a fair bit cheaper than the four-figure tags on either its namesake’s or its rival’s more upscale offerings.
There’s the right way to immortalize a car in song, and the wrong way. For every ode to the , there’s at least one . Granted, the piece of fanboyism after the jump isn’t nearly so toxic as the prepackaged corporate drivel served up in honor of the plug-in, but we’d still put it on the same level as shoveling week-old, unrefrigerated sushi down your gullet. It’s just not something that we’d recommend, which is exactly why we’ve decided to post it here and share it with the masses.
Someone by the name of J Brave and a merry band of musicians under the name the Luminaries have taken it upon themselves to pontificate on the benefits of the in song. We’ll be honest – we don’t have a single musical bone in our body. It’s why we’re sitting here banging on a computer keyboard instead of rocking out on the ivories, but we know something worth listening to when we hear it, and this just ain’t it. if you dare.
designers have had some fun with the company Etch-a-Sketch and came up with this, then filed the drawings with the patent office. Any details identifying its place in the Chevy lineup or in the automaker’s global marketplace were sadly left out of the filing.
