Jenson Button laps Bathurst – Click above to view video
Jenson Button has become the first person to ever run an F1 car around Australia’s legendary Mount Panorama Bathurst circuit. In an event organized by Vodafone, Button and Australian V8 Supercar driver Craig Lowndes traded laps in a 2008 McLaren MP4-23 car.
Button went out first and ran five laps of the circuit, clocking a best lap of 1:48 before coming in and giving Lowndes a turn. Lowndes’ laps made him the first Australian to ever take an F1 car around Bathurst, beating Australian F1 superstar Mark Webber to the punch. Lowndes’ best lap was a 1:49.
to see a video of Lowdes and Button’s F1 laps, and some hot laps from Lowndes’ Monaro supercar.
Ordinarily looking like something you’d expect to see dragging Indiana Jones behind on a rope, the is not exactly the pinnacle of luxury for which the Silver Star has become known to upscale buyers. But that doesn’t mean it can’t change.
Two businessmen in Mongolia have ordered a matching pair of the six-wheel-drive cargo truck and had them converted to luxury RVs for use on hunting expeditions. And we’re not talking about poaching grouse with a shotgun, either: These guys hunt for wolves. In the Altai mountains. With an eagle. (Seriously, we couldn’t make this stuff up – unless of course this is an early April Fool’s joke from our friends in Stuttgart.)
For the expeditions, these Zetros customs have been fitted with everything you’d expect on a yacht: Full bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom (complete with shower, marble tiles and under-floor heating). They’ve got 46-inch flat-screen TV monitors, outdoor grilles, Bose sound systems, self-adjusting motorized satellite dishes, Wi-Fi, even place for an ATV.
A 7.2-liter inline-six diesel engine with 326 horsepower and 960 pound-feet of torque does the pushing/pulling duties, driving all six wheels for a chassis load capacity of 16 metric tons. Which strikes us as exactly what they’ll need to schlepp all those electronics and marble tiling around the Mongolian desert. for all the details in the full press blast.
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[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
-Benz Zetros 6×6 luxed up for Mongolian hunting expeditions
Renault DeZir Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Most European automakers have their own dedicated performance division. What separates a line within the automaker’s range from a stand-alone brand, however, is the production of its own unique models. AMG, for example, straddled the divide with the , which doesn’t exist as a non-AMG version, but is still labeled as a . ’s M division, on the other hand, only produces tweaked versions of the company’s regular production models. Abarth has long been rumored to get its own roadster model, separate from ’s range. But if the latest reports from across the pond prove accurate, Renaultsport could beat them to the punch.
Renault had been toying with the idea of reviving the old Alpine name with a dedicated sportscar, but word is that those plans have been scrapped in favor of a Renaultsport roadster. The French automaker’s motorsport and tuning division (ironically based at the old Alpine factory) is well known for its hot hatches, and previously produced the Spider as its own model some 15 years ago.
Rumor has it that the Renaultsport Spider’s successor could essentially be a production version of the DeZir concept (pictured above) that previewed Renault’s new design language last year at the Paris salon. It may be too early to tell if the production version would retain the concept’s electric drivetrain or go with one of the tuned gasoline or diesel engines from one of the division’s existing models, but a limited production run could be in the cards, and could lead to one or two more dedicated Renaultsport models as well. For our part, we can only hope the plans come to fruition, and that maybe a version might make it to these shores as well.
AMG Driving Academy – Presumably not the cars your teenager will be driving
“Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a “. Janice Joplin’s words may seem entertaining to some, but strikingly familiar to anyone who’s gone through the ordeal of ushering their teenager into the world of driving. While most parents wouldn’t consider buying their teen a Mercedes as a first car – at least, not a new one – the automaker is offering the next best thing. And in many ways, it’s even better.
Armed with statistics of teenage driving accidents and the success of a similar program in the UK, Mercedes-Benz USA is preparing to launch its own teen driving school right here in the United States. The program is aimed at turning new drivers into safer drivers through an advanced curriculum that goes over and above what’s mandated by the state in order to fulfill the basic requirements for a driver’s license. Going even further, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is negotiating with local DMVs across the country over integrating its program with the existing mandatory process to create an all-encompassing program.
If it achieves the same goals as it has in the UK, opening an advanced driving school for teens in America strikes us as one of the best safety features Mercedes-Benz has come up with yet. For the company that pioneered ABS brakes, crumple zones, stability control, brake assist and traction control, that’s no mean feat. Details in the press release after the jump.
Being stuck in anywhere sucks. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, feelings of urgency and anger sneak in quickly. Now, imagine being stuck in traffic multiple hours a day, five days a week. For some people, it’s a way of life. To figure out who has the worst commute in the nation, the Daily Beast studied and quantified the Top 20 Worst Commutes in America.
Factors that went into the list included length of the traffic corridor, longest rush hour travel time along that stretch of road and the time it takes to drive a mile along that stretch during the highest-volume rush hour. They also calculated how much worse a stretch of road is during its worst rush-hour period versus normal driving. California’s Delta Highway/CA-4 took that honor handily, taking 318 percent longer to travel during rush times.
The data was gathered from GPS and smartphone tracking of four million vehicles by a company called INRIX, which the Daily Beast compiled into the top 20 list. Now, without further ado, the top 20 worst commutes in the nation:
1. Riverside Freeway/Calif. Highway 91 eastbound, Los Angeles
2. Lunalilo Freeway/I-1 eastbound, Honolulu
3. California Delta Highway/Calif. Highway 4 westbound, San Francisco
4. I-95 southbound, Washington, D.C.
5. Bruckner/Cross Bronx Expressways (I-95 southbound), New York
6. I-35 southbound, Austin-Round Rock
7. Connecticut Turnpike (I-95 northbound), Bridgeport8. I-405 southbound, Seattle
9. Bayshore Freeway (U.S. 101 southbound), San Jose, Calif.
10. Kennedy/Dan Ryan Expressways (I-90/I-94 eastbound), Chicago
11. I-5 northbound, Portland, Ore.
12. Calif. Highway 78 eastbound, San Diego
13. I-494 eastbound, Minneapolis
14. Southwest/Eastex Freeways (U.S. 59 northbound), Houston
15. Southeast Expressway (I-93 northbound), Boston
16. Hampton Roads Beltway (I-64 westbound), Virginia Beach, Va.
17. Baltimore Beltway Inner Loop (I-695 eastbound), Baltimore
18. Schuylkill Expressway (I-76 westbound), Philadelphia
19. North Freeway (I-35W northbound), Dallas
20. Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101 northbound), Oxnard, Calif
The situation at / has been lately. Nissan’s sales have been lackluster, with extra incentives needed to move metal. French investors have recently shot down CEO Carlos Ghosn’s six-year plan for Renault.
Then there is the that rocked Renault. The case, which involved the alleged stealing of electric vehicle know-how, led to the firing of three Renault execs and an accusation by the French government aimed at China. After some investigating, though, it became clear that the espionage case was really a fraud case, and the only crime committed was a false accusation. Talk about your national embarrassment.
In light of all of Renault/Nissan’s troubles, it’s not surprising that some are interested in the head of Mr. Ghosn, but French Industry Minister Eric Besson says it’s not happening. Automotive News reports that Besson told a French radio station that he hears the call for punishment, but “the industry minister’s greater concern at this time is not to destabilize Renault any further.” Besson then pointed out all the good things Ghosn has done during his time with the company, and added that the company faces challenges launching its electric vehicles.
It appears Ghosn is getting a pass for the company’s recent troubles, but we’re guessing that the leader’s leash is a bit tighter than it was a couple years ago.
2011 Infiniti M37 – Click above for high-res image gallery
has big plans to expand beyond North America, and Drive reports that the Japanese luxury automaker intends to include Australia in its expansion. The site says that officials at have officially announced that Infiniti would head Down Under by September 2012, adding that the brand would start off with three stand-alone dealerships in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
When those dealerships launch, there will only be three Infiniti products from which to choose. The and , the and the were chosen in part because of their freshness in the market. Infiniti has reportedly decided against exporting the high volume G37 sedan to Australia, opting instead to wait until the next generation model goes prime-time. The Australians will be able to choose from the same 3.7-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 options we have here in the States, and they’ll also be able to pick a 3.0-liter diesel that we aren’t afforded.
The folks at Infiniti also hinted at their strategy for the brand. Infiniti brand GM Kevin Snell reportedly told the press at a launch event that the brand wouldn’t try to be the “cheapest” make Down Under, adding that Infiniti models are often better-equipped than the competition from Europe.
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Photos copyright (C)2010 Michael Harley / AOL
[Source: ]
Cadillac goes back to racing with the CTS-V Coupe – Click above to watch video
has put together a . The automaker will run a pair of CTS-V Coupe SCCA race cars in the World Challenge series, which kicks off March 25th, 2011 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ahead of the green flag, Cadillac has released the fourth and final clip in its mini documentary.
Titled Ready to Race, the last installment of the series has the team eagerly looking forward to its first official event. Cadillac will face serious competition in the SCCA World Challenge but it’s also got an excellent car on its hands. to watch the final episode.
The forums are alight with word that will be bringing something unique to this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. According to the BMW-obsessed crowd over at M3Post.com, the Roundel is looking to flex its muscles when it comes to lightweight engineering with an M concept that boasts the best the company has to offer. Supposedly, the chassis will use a plethora of exotic materials to shave off every last pound, including magnesium, titanium, thermoplastic and carbon fiber. Unfortunately, it sounds like the concept will be a one-off piece and not something that’s destined for production. A real shame since we could really go for a 1 Series CSL.
That doesn’t mean BMW won’t use the technology in the concept in its production vehicles, though. The German manufacturer has made it clear that carbon-fiber reinforced plastic is going to be a big part of its vehicles moving forward, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the material joined by other lightweight components as shedding pounds becomes increasingly important to meeting fuel economy and performance goals.
Wanton destruction of Mazda sedans – Click above to watch the video
You know those cranes that you see at many large grocery stores? You know, the ones with the shiny, pointy claws that can’t seem to pick up a teddy bear or some fuzzy dice. They’re infuriating to use, mostly because you know you just got duped into paying fifty cents for something that you just can’t win. They have the same claws in Russia, and apparently they’re infinitely larger, more functional and far more hostile towards the .
Beyond the jump is some video that we just can’t explain. It involves a massive, absolutely awesome crane truck grabbing onto the roofs of a pair of perfectly good-looking Mazdas and simply tossing them into an equally huge bin attached to said truck.
We have no idea why these Mazdas were taken in such a hostile manner, but we’re hoping it’s not because they were parked in a loading zone. And why is it that we can only see Mazdas in this parking lot? So many questions. So much destruction. (We’re guessing these cars were somehow damaged and destroyed for insurance purposes, but we can’t say for sure.)
to watch this puzzling and destructive video for yourself, if only to marvel at the skill of the crane operator. And if you speak Russian, let us know what the guys making the video are saying.
Prius production resumes, Honda further delays restarting plants
Japanese automaker news resulting from the March 11 earthquake is coming in fast and furious right now, so we’ve packaged the latest information in one convenient spot.
announced some good and bad news this week on the production front. The good news is that the company will resume limited production of the , and CT 200h hybrids with all-new parts coming in. Eighteen other Toyota plants remain closed, however, through at least March 28, and the automaker has warned its assembly plants in North America that they could soon face parts shortages that interrupt production.
has moved the restart date of its Japanese plants again from March 27 to April 3 or later. Among the vehicles affected are the and . The company also says its research and development center will be closed for months due to extensive damage. Some of the work being done at the R&D facility has been moved to other Honda facilities in Japan.
restarted production in Japan on March 24, though the plants are using only existing parts stock with no new parts coming in. The company is studying whether its Tennessee engine plant could supply VQ V6 engines to Japan due to damages sustained at an engine plant in the quake zone. The automaker also that were damaged at a Japanese port during the quake. CEO Carlos Ghosn claims 40 Japanese suppliers are still in trouble.
has been running some plants in Japan, though parts are starting to become scarce. The CX-7 and are among the vehicles affected.
has postponed any production in Japan until at least March 28. In the U.S., the automaker has suspended overtime at its Indiana plant.
Brilliant Van based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is perfect for shuttling a half-dozen people to the airport, but what if you prefer a ride that’s a bit more upscale, yet still want enough room to stand up and mill about? Brilliant Transportation has the answer, and its Brilliant Van doesn’t just add a touch of luxury, it makes a seem downright plebeian.
The Brilliant Van is essentially a top-shelf limousine with way more head room. Rather than rows of seats, this luxury Sprinter comes equipped with four leather thrones that wouldn’t look out of placing in a mansion’s drawing room. Inside, passengers can watch TV on one of two 32-inch flat screens and listen to music through an eight-speaker audio setup. The TV screens grab a DirecTV signal and occupants can block out the rest of the passengers through wireless headphones. If you want to get on the Internet, the Brilliant Van is equipped with WiFi, and also features a color-printer and hands-free phone system.
Brilliant Transportation currently operates fleets in New York and Los Angeles. That’s perfect for us, because we’ve been looking for a proper vehicle to shuttle us to Las Vegas. This way we don’t have to plunk down .
You’ve likely seen plenty of news lately about how Japanese automakers have been affected by the March 11 earthquake in Japan, but what about the rest of the industry? The Detroit News reports that research firm IHS Automotive thinks that global auto production could drop by 30 percent, and nearly every major automaker will be affected.
The key to that dire prediction will be the speed with which Japanese suppliers can get back to making parts for the industry. IHS Vice President Michael Robinet reportedly told DetNews that if suppliers aren’t online within six weeks, global vehicle production could drop by 100,000 units per day. With average total production sitting at 280,000 to 300,000 units per day, 100,000 represents about 30 percent of all vehicles built. Robinet adds that if parts don’t start coming online quickly, automakers will begin feeling the pinch by mid-April.
IHS points to electronics and transmission components as the most likely to run dry. And that 30-percent figure could morph into 40 percent if automakers can’t get replacement parts within eight weeks.
Sobering statistics, indeed. We’re thinking automakers are hoping Japan can rebuild factories as quickly (and miraculously) as it can .
I found it. After more than four years and 3,000 miles, my 1976 BMW 2002 is currently residing in Newberry, Florida, just east of Gainesville. How did I track it down? A new website that allows you to plug in your long lost love’s VIN (that’s Vehicle Identification Number for those acronym averse) and spits out its last registered location.
is a social network for cars, allowing you to build a profile, add vehicles, find your old hoopties and connect with their current owners. You can also import some of the data into Facebook and get a free history report on your current car.
Admittedly, AutoCheck is a big buggy at the moment (it took several tries to get the info on some of our past rides), but we’re currently scouring our file cabinets for old maintenance folders and I’m trying to track down the VIN for my very first car, a (God help me) 1991 Plymouth Horizon. After that, I’ve gotta find the 1984 Supra, the 1970 510, the 1972 2002, the E36 318i…
It sounds ominous. The union has imported interns from other automaking countries like China, Germany, South Korea and India to teach them the organizing techniques the union uses in the United States. The UAW’s Global Organizing Institute will give interns from other car building countries an indoctrination into the practices the union uses for collective bargaining, which they will then take back to their home countries and act as homegrown advocates for the UAW’s organizing efforts at non-unionized transplant facilities in the United States.
, UAW president, has a goal of bringing his union to one of the currently non-unionized transplant auto factories in the American south. With agents arguing for the UAW on the homefront and the union doing its best to get a transplant automaker on board, the union hopes it can not only help workers organize in other countries, but also help its own causes.
The UAW has asked for no interference from the leaders of those car companies and has threatened to use protests and other attention-grabbing practices should any automaker try to strongarm its workers into staying non-union. The interns will be given six weeks of training and field experience before they’re sent back to their home countries packing a new arsenal of skills.
Spy Shots: BMW 3 Series GT caught hitching a ride – Click above for high-res image gallery
hinted that a 3 Series GT was in the works. Like its larger sibling, the 3 Series GT would feature a two-tier rear hatch, raised seating position and a boosted ride height. And rumor has it that a non-swirly-camo version will be heading to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The BMW 3 Series GT will slot in the lineup to combat Audi’s upcoming Q3 crossover. It’s also enough of segment jumper that the could wind up in its crosshairs. Take a gander at the gallery below, and try to look past the swirls to decipher the hunchback body hiding underneath.
Volvo C30 Electric – Click above for high-res image gallery
A trial fleet of around 400 , and anyone who wants one had better have an awful big piggy bank. Speaking at a media launch near Indianapolis, IN today, the president of Volvo Car Special Vehicles, Lennart Stegland, said that, while the final price for the car hasn’t been set, Volvo will not sell the EV, but instead offer the car through a three-year lease for around 1,500 Euros. Per month.
1,500 Euros comes out to about $2,129.85 at today’s exchange rates, so if you stick it out for the full 36 months, you get to spend $76,674 to not buy a car. Even worse, Stegland said that Volvo will lose money on the deal. Ouch. Developing electric vehicles for mass production (which, on Volvo’s schedule, will happen sometime around 2013 or so) is more than mildly expensive.
Sure, for the three years you drive the C30 Electric, you’ll probably be quite happy with the car. We certainly were and fell for it again in Indiana today (our full write up is coming soon). To convince EV skeptics, Volvo is pushing its traditional safety with the C30 Electric, and we’re sure the car is as safe as can be. We’ll see how powerful this argument is when a hundred C30 Electrics come to the U.S. in the first quarter of 2012. An official lease price hasn’t been set but, as much as we like it, it’ll be hard to justify two-large a month for four-seat hatch.
Gallery:
Photos copyright (C)2010 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.
A situation has developed between Allied trucking and automakers and that has deteriorated to the point of hostage-taking. The Detroit News reports that GM has filed a lawsuit against the car-hauling company that alleges it’s holding 1,700 of the automaker’s valuable and models that should be on their way to dealers. The vehicles in question are worth $47 million, and many of them are reportedly already bought and paid for by customers. The suit also claims that the inventory will depreciate in value if dealers don’t receive the vehicles, while at the same time dissatisfying customers.
The problems between Allied, GM and Chrysler started when the car hauler asked for a 15-percent raise. Allied had previously tried to cut the pay of Teamster union members by 20 percent, but was unable to do so due to a provision in the company’s labor contract. GM then severed ties with Allied on March 16.
One day after GM filed suit against Allied, Chrysler filed its own lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court. Team Pentastar claims Allied has 700 of its vehicles at Allied locations. The court has already granted Chrysler the right to recover 200 of those vehicles. Chrysler has resourced its vehicle hauling to other car hauling companies as a result of the dispute.
Ferrari FF, behind the scenes – Click above to watch the videos
Typically when an automaker rolls out a new vehicle, it fits into a certain mold. Even if it isn’t replacing a specific model, it generally follows a certain formula by which the automaker operates. Especially for an automaker like , which only makes – and only has ever made – two-door, rear-wheel drive coupes and convertibles. That was the case, at least, until the new FF came along.
The FF represents a complete game-changer for Maranello – an entirely new model with a new engine, new body-style and new four-wheel drive system never before seen in a Ferrari. And to drive that point home, the Prancing Horse marque has released yet another set of videos: one documenting the new technology in the car, another the flexible cabin configurations and a third going behind the scenes in the production of the previous videos released. to watch for yourself.
Word came down from on high that a handful of automakers, a few consumer electronics manufacturers and two suppliers had joined forces to create the . The underlying purpose: to begin standardizing in-vehicle connectivity solutions ranging from Nokia’s awkwardly-named “” to Near Field Communications (NFC) and wireless charging capabilities.
In a world where platforms, devices and vehicle software runs the gamut from bleeding-edge (your smartphone) to bled-out (your two-year old, OEM-supplied navigation system), The Consortium has the potential to meld ease-of-use with constant connectivity. But there’s a problem: two of the biggest names in mobile technology – Apple and Google – aren’t in on the party. So is The Consortium dead before even it issues its next press release?
