The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has revealed that the number of fatal traffic incidents in which drugs were found to be present in the driver’s system has increased over the past four years.
In 2005, 15,363 drivers fatally injured during a traffic incident were tested for the presence of narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, cannibinoids, PCP, anabolic steroids and inhalants. Of those drivers, 3,710 were found to have at least one of the drugs in their system, though NHTSA is quick to remind us that the simple presence of the substance does not indicate whether or not the driver was under the influence at the time of the accident.
In 2009, of the 13,801 drivers tested, 3,952 tested positive for drugs. That’s an increase of 242 drivers, though NHTSA says that the figures could be misleading. There’s a sizable discrepancy between how states test and report the presence of drugs in fatal traffic accidents, and that discrepancy could push the results higher or lower in a sizable way. You can check out the full PDF report .
The Center for Automotive Research has released a new study detailing the impact of the auto bailout of 2009. According to The Detroit Bureau, the group found that the government’s involvement in the automotive industry saved 1.14 million jobs and $96.5 billion in personal income in 2009. The study also says that in 2010, around 314,400 jobs were saved by the bailout and that, in total, the loans to and allowed $28.6 billion in social security and income taxes to be paid back to the federal government.
If these figures are accurate, they mean that, despite the fact that the two carmakers have only repaid $13.4 billion of the $80 billion that was loaned out, the government only needs to receive another $38 billion to cross a theoretical break-even point. That would be a pretty rosy picture compared to the doom and gloom that opponents to the bailout predicted before the treasury opened its doors. The full study is available at the .
Ralph Gilles and D’Ann Rauh with the final Dodge Viper – Click above for high-res gallery
According to The Detroit News, most of the rumors we’ve been hearing about the next aren’t true. The meanest of the models won’t be riding on a modified Alfa Romeo or platform when it bows anew in 2012 as a 2013 model. The Pentastar has said while there may be some similarities to the 8C Competizione, the Viper will make use of entirely unique underpinnings and will carry significantly different proportions compared to the Italians. Part of that means doing away with the snake’s iconic long hood in favor of a design with a little more balance.
What’s more, Dodge head Ralph Giles tells the Detroit daily that the Mopar supercar won’t utilize a Ferrari engine for its power, though he stopped short of saying whether or not the old 640 horsepower V10 will survive the vehicle’s rebirth. That means that a new lump may surface, though the number of cylinders and how much horsepower it will produce remain a mystery. Thanks for the tip, Prhime.
2006 Lamborghini Gallardo SE – Click above for high-res image gallery
Back in 2005, the had been on the market for two years, and the LP560-4 was still three years away. So to spruce things up a bit, the Bolognese automaker came out with the Gallardo SE. The special edition of 250 examples were differentiated primarily by its two-tone color scheme, offsetting the primary color with black trim, inverted on the interior. Now reports indicate that Lamborghini could be planning a repeat.
The new two-tone Bicolore edition is said to be in the works, this time based on the current LP560-4 model that’s now been on the market since 2008. Like the original Gallardo SE, the new model would also likely get a new set of wheels, while a small power boost could be in the cards as well. Sources anticipate the new two-tone Gallardo to bow at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show with deliveries beginning early in the new year.
Browse through the fresh gallery of high-resolution images below for a trip down memory lane and a refresher on what we might expect from the new model.
According to The Wall Street Journal, is seriously considering a new plant in an emerging market, with Mexico being mentioned as the most likely target in order to have a base to enter additional markets in South and Central America. Of course, a plant in Mexico might also be used to supply vehicles to the United States by virtue of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
If Mazda does indeed build a new plant in Mexico, it’s likely to partner with SumitomoCorp, which holds three percent of the Japanese automaker’s shares. , SumitomoCorp acquired those shares, is also thought to be a possible, though seemingly less likely, partner on the project.
Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition by Startech – Click above for high-res image gallery
Think of yachts and you’ll likely conjure up images of opulence and luxury. The Defender 90, less so. Don’t get us wrong here: the Defender is one of the most capable and desirable off-roaders ever devised. But to that end, it’s typically a spartan and bare-bones affair. That is, until Startech came along.
The German tuning house has taken the Defender and given it a yachting theme with such touches as a brilliant white paint job, illuminated running boards, and an interior that’s literally decked out in teak wood trim, offset by navy blue leather and Alcantara. There’s also the color-keyed headlamp surrounds, grille and Recaro seat shells, plus 16-inch wheels. Have a closer look in the gallery below and get all the details in the press release after the jump.
With all the mergers and acquisitions going on in the automotive industry these days, few corporate structures have been as tumultuous as that of Fiat. The Italian group was once very centralized, but recently, it split its divisions into quasi-autonomous subsidiaries, then it stepped in and took the reins at , and is now it is splitting itself into two distinct groups.
The first is to be known as Fiat SpA, and will encompass the automotive brands, including Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and, of course, Fiat. The second, Fiat Industrial SpA, will presumably include the likes of Iveco, Case New Holland and French motorcoach division Irisbus. (’s future hangs in the balance as reports alternately confirm and deny plans to sell off parts of the Maranello-based automaker and racing team.)
The de-merger was made in accordance with a shareholder vote on September 16. As a result, both new corporate groups have received new logos to help differentiate one from another, as both will be listed separately on the Milan Stock Exchange. While the move likely won’t have any immediate, direct impact on the Chrysler Group, if an official merger is to take place between the Turin and Auburn Hills auto groups, it’s likely to encompass the Fiat auto group and leave the industrial group alone. Official announcement in the press release after the jump.
2012 Audi A6 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Set to make its debut early next year, the is a totally revamped version of the automaker’s mid-size luxury sedan. Styled to match the , the new A6 (which, as we pointed out when it , looks a lot like the old A6) hides plenty of lightweight aluminum and high-tech steel components under its revised exterior. Inside, the A6 benefits from a wrap-around cockpit that envelops both the driver and front passenger with leather and wood, while luxury amenities – ranging from heated and ventilated seats to optional massage functionality – are all available for the taking.
The available powertrains – a choice between two gasoline engines and three diesel mills worldwide – have improved fuel economy by 19 percent, and a hybrid version will be introduced down the road. The most economic unit, a 2.0-liter TDI, is expected to achieve about 48 miles per gallon, while the hybrid will come in closer to 38 mpg. You don’t have to be totally frugal on the fuel to have some fun though, thanks to a carryover 300-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI powerplant that achieves 27 miles per gallon and runs to a limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.
The other gasoline engine is a 2.8-liter naturally aspirated unit that produces 204 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque which may or may not be available in the States (don’t hold you breath). For oil burner fans, two 3.0-liter diesel choices exist: a 204 hp/295 lb-ft example and a top-of-the-line 245 hp/368 lb-ft mill. The more powerful unit is rated at nearly 40 mpg yet runs from 0-60 in just 6.1 seconds.
The 2012 A6 Hybrid, the second hybrid behind the launch of the , will make its debut sometime after the new A6 hits the market. Power will come from a 2.0 TFSI engine paired with an electric motor that sits between the engine and the eight-speed transmission. The A6 Hybrid will be able to run on electric power alone at speeds of up to 62 mph.
Transmission options on the 2012 A6 are as varied as the available motors they pair with. A six-speed manual will join a CVT and seven-speed S-tronic automatic before the aforementioned eight-speeder arrives in the hybrid.
A mega press release chock full of A6 information is waiting for you just , and a massive photo gallery lies down below. Keep in mind these figures represent the German version of the A6, but give us a good idea of what to expect when it makes its way to the U.S.
Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera chases a Porsche 911 GT3 through Paris – Click above to watch video
Before we go salivating all over the thought of two of Europe’s best and brightest going the distance through the City of Lights, we should probably start off with an obligatory “don’t try this at home.” The kids you see sliding around the Parisian streets in the video are trained professionals working in a semi-controlled environment, so do us all a favor and keep your reenactments confined to your Need For Speed marathons.
That said, the video is a well-shot interpretation of what a full lap of Paris might look like as a and a go fender-to-fender. Our early money was on the Raging Bull strolling away with the checkered flag, but Stuttgart’s finest seemed to have no problem keeping the big bad Italian behind its winged tail-end as the two snake around the French capitol. to see the action for yourself.
[Source: ]
911 GT3 and Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera tango through Paris
Gran Turismo 5 is finally here. We tell you why the most anticipated driving game ever is not a must buy.
Want to see something really crazy? How about a 24-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine with twelve giant blowers? Check out the video of this ridiculous piece of machinery make its first dyno run.
Chris Shunk, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Chris Paukert tackle the latest news.
is pinning rather high the expectations on its new , billed as “T.” According to Brian Bolain, the automaker’s national advertising and marketing manager, Lexus expects to sell about 1,000 CTs here in the U.S. each month. We wish them the best of luck, but have some serious reservations.
Consider that the combined sales of the , and (which represent the vehicles most likely to be cross-shopped with the CT) tally up about 1,500 sales per month, according to Ward’s Automotive. For what it’s worth, the 1 Series, which is the only non-dedicated hatchback and easily the sportiest of the bunch, makes up the vast majority of the segment’s sales.
As you’re surely aware, the CT 200h is indeed a dedicated hatchback and it offers up a comparatively paltry 98 horsepower from its -derived Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter four-cylinder, aided by another 36 ponies from its two electric motors and 28 NiMH batteries. As we said in our , that power level, particularly when coupled to a continuously variable automatic transmission, doesn’t exactly incite driving excitement.
Also factor in the sales flop that is the dedicated-hybrid , a model whose yearly sales will struggle to hit half the 20,000 units Lexus had counted on, and you can see why we’re a tad skeptical that ’s luxury division will manage to move a thousand CTs per calendar flip. In any case, we figure the CT is at least as attractive as the HS, and we look forward to spending some quality time with the hybrid hatchback in day-to-day driving scenarios where it should become much more clear how the machine stacks up against its competitors.
What do you think, will the CT 200h be a hit in America? Have your say in Comments.
There are any number of racing series around the world that are eager to welcome former F1 drivers onto their grids – and Jacques Villeneuve has tried nearly all of them. Traditional outlets have included DTM and Le Mans, to name just two, but lately retired grand prix drivers have found their groove again in such varied series as NASCAR and the World Rally Championship.
Alain Prost, however, has found satisfaction in his post-F1 career racing in the . Now the four-time World Champion (the third most successful driver in F1 history behind Fangio and Schumacher) will have some company in the French ice racing series as fellow former champion Jacques Villeneuve hits the frozen grid as well.
The French Canadian driver recently to get back into F1, and was tipped to focus his energies on making it in NASCAR, but will contest at least four rounds of the Andros Trophy this winter season, driving for recently crowned IRC champions Skoda alongside Olivier Panis. A former Monaco Grand Prix winner, Panis was last teamed with Villeneuve at BAR-Honda in the 2001 and 2002 Formula One World Championships. The pair will debut on ice at the season opener on December 4 at Val Thorens.
It recognizes hundreds of voice commands. It will interface with your Bluetooth-enabled smart phone. It was co-developed with Microsoft. Sounds like popular SYNC tech, right? Sure does, but it also smacks of Fiat’s Blue & Me system that has been in production in Europe since 2007. The technology will be available stateside when the tiny Fiat 500 goes on sale early in 2011. The cost? $500 in a base 500, and the system is standard on uplevel Sport and Lounge models.
Like the Fiat 500 itself, Blue & Me certainly sound compelling, but it’s one small niche product in a sea of cars, trucks and crossovers. Perhaps more significant is the fact that Fiat’s infotainment tech could be available in Chrysler products as early as 2012. And while B&M apparently doesn’t do everything as well as SYNC, it also carries some advantages of its own. For instance, 500 Sport and Lounge buyers can shell out an extra $400 for an optional Tom Tom navigation system that interfaces with the voice command system. Fiat also enables drivers to download their driving habits to a USB stick and load it to a website called Eco:Ville. The site will process the data and give drivers tips for more efficient driving.
So will Blue & Me become as popular as SYNC? Who knows, but at the very least it’s nice to see that competition for Ford’s system is on the way.
Want to and get the first available production model of one of the most eagerly-awaited vehicles of the decade? You can, if you’re willing to bid some money to help the Detroit Public Schools – more specifically the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, which supports math and science education.
The “first Chevrolet Volt available for retail sale” will be auctioned on through 6 p.m. (EST?) December 14, with the winner announced on December 16. The actual first retail Volt will be kept by , so the auction car will have a vehicle identification number ending in BU100002. The car includes the Light Neutral interior with dark accents, has the Premium Trim Package, Rear Camera and Park Assist Package and polished wheels. The auction starts at $50,000 and comes with a 240-volt charging station installed in the winner’s home. No word on whether of not winning the auction still qualifies you for the $7,500 federal tax credit.
As you might expect, GM is highlighting the connection between all of the advanced technology in the Volt and the math and science needed to create it. General Motors North America president Mark Reuss said in a statement that, “By encouraging Detroit-area students to pursue these topics, we hope to cultivate the next generation of engineers who will build upon the Volt’s innovative technologies.” To this end, GM will also hire 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan within the next two years. You can , but before you go anywhere, check out an official time-lapse build video of the first Chevy Volt after the jump.
Dario Franchitti drives Jim Clark’s legendary Lotus 38 – Click above to watch video
We’re sure that open-wheel hero Dario Franchitti has managed to realize quite a few of his four-wheeled dreams over the years, but he’s only just managed to top them all with a drive of Jim Clark’s legendary Lotus 38, a car that Clark piloted to victory in the 1965 Indy 500.
Franchitti, like Clark, was born in Scotland and the two share a love of going fast. Jim Clark’s Lotus 38, with its four-cam V8 pumping out around 500 horsepower, is a very different vehicle then the modern day IndyCar that Franchitti pilots for Chip Ganassi Racing. Regardless, the Lotus is a pure racing machine and a true piece of motorsports history, and it’s a treat to listen to Dario discuss his experience behind the wheel of the . His insight is important but his excitement is palpable – this is a rare opportunity and he appears to treat the opportunity with the appropriate level of respect and admiration for Clark and Lotus.
How’d this all come to pass? Dario Franchitti, working together with Road & Track, reached out to The Henry Ford Museum, Lotus Cars USA and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to make this event happen. It’s all captured on the video , and it’s just the first in a series of events designed to celebrate the Indy 500. In the near future, we will get to see Bobby Rahal drive the 1912 winning National and Sam Posey hop behind the wheel of Roger Ward’s 1962 Leader Card Special.
For now however, it’s all about Franchitti in Clark’s Lotus 38 at the Brickyard. Stop reading and start watching (and listening!) by .
2011 Honda Insight – Click above for high-res image gallery
The slow-selling hasn’t exactly stolen any of the ‘ thunder since its introduction last year, and with new green cars like the and ready to join the battle, the future of Honda’s hybrid hatch doesn’t look too bright. Still, the Japanese automaker has given the Insight a host of improvements for the 2011 model year, including a new base model that retails for $18,950 (including the $750 destination charge).
So, what do you losegain with the base Insight? For starters, a downgraded stereo system is on hand, with a single CD player and two – yes, two – speakers. Audiophiles need not apply. Remote entry is standard on the base Insight, but if you want amenities like cruise control, a USB audio interface, center armrest and floor mats, you’ll need to opt for the mid-grade LX trim. In other words, the new price leader is something of a municipal and fleet special. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the pricier EX now comes standard with steering wheel-mounted audio controls and can be optioned with navigation.
The Insight’s 1.3-liter inline-four with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist carries over largely unchanged, with fuel economy rated at 40/43 miles per gallon, city/highway. 2011 Insight models are arriving at Honda dealers as you read this, and for the full details on what’s new, for Honda’s press release.
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Episode #206 of the Autoblog Podcast is staffed by Chris Shunk, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Chris Paukert. We hit the Autoblog Garage first and then cover the confirmation of the Porsche Cajun, what it means that the Nissan Leaf has been named European Car of the Year, and finish up talking about the new Car and Driver 10Best list. Of course, we finish with your questions at the end, and it’s a breezy hour and twenty-three minutes. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #206: Porsche Cajun, Nissan Leaf COTY, 10Best
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