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Japan’s Renesas Electronics Corp. is moving up the restart date for automotive microchip production at its last inactive plant. The company says it should have operations back up and running at its Naka plant the week of June 15, a couple weeks earlier than its original estimate.

Renesas is the world’s largest supplier of chips for cars, and is a major kink in the parts supply line for Japanese automakers. The Naka plant was damaged in the March earthquake, and will be Renesas’ last facility to resume production.

The plant will operate on a limited schedule at first, building around 3,000 200-millimeter wafers a month, down from a pre-earthquake total of almost 34,000. To compensate, the company has shifted some production burden from Naka to its other manufacturing plants. For now, Renesas is focused on getting any production restarted, but should know by mid-May when it can resume at full capacity. Read the press release after the jump.

[Source: Renesas via Automotive News Image: Renesas Electronics Corporation]

Continue reading Report: Renesas Electronics to restart automotive microchip production early

Report: Renesas Electronics to restart automotive microchip production early

There was a time when airbrushing reigned supreme as the ultimate in vehicular self-expression – an era that we believed had passed with the Ford Administration. Apparently, the art is alive and well in the Camaro community. The General Motors show car division worked with Mickey Harris of Mountain Muscle Cars in Cosby, Tennessee to produce an airbrushed fifth-generation Camaro SS. After three months of intense work, the car above is the result.

GM showed off the vehicle at the Camaro5 Fest 2011 in Arizona, and there’s no denying the talent on display here. Hopefully, this hyper-patriotic Camaro stays away from mall parking lots and out of any fender benders in the future.

[Source: Autos.Terra]

This is what a Camaro looks like after 350 hours of airbrushing

A few months back, Renault launched a special edition of its Laguna coupe called the Monaco GP edition. Only 400 examples were earmarked for production, available exclusively in the automaker’s domestic market. They proved an instant hit, selling out in short order. To satisfy customers’ demand for more, Renault has announced a second run of the cars.

The Laguna Monaco GP starts off as Black Edition coupe and upgrades from there. The Pearlescent White body is offset by the black roof and black Interlagos 18-inch alloys, while the high-contrast treatment is continued inside the cabin. As shown above, customers can also opt for black paint for a more sinister look.

French buyers can also choose between two diesels at 150 or 175 horsepower, with an options list ranging from four-wheel steering to a Bose sound system. It’s a sleek-looking coupe, particularly in this treatment, even if the powertrains don’t exactly live up to the Monaco GP racing designation. Follow the jump for more details and check out the images in the gallery below.

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Renault answers demand with Laguna Monaco GP edition

Renault answers demand with Laguna Monaco GP edition

Perhaps you’ve heard: two young Britons are getting hitched on Friday, April 29th, 2011. To mark the occasion, the groom, one William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor, better known as Prince William of Wales, and his bride-to-be, Kate Middleton, have been “honored” by exotic car customizer, Project Kahn.

The Project Kahn Wedding Commemorative Maybach 57 (what, no Bentleys or Rolls-Royces lying around the shop, guys?) is a blatant PR grab “tribute” to the new royal couple that will have nothing at all to do with the royal wedding itself reside at Project Kahn’s Bradford headquarters. The touched-up super Benz features Kahn-designed 22-inch wheels, smoked glass, an upgraded interior and darkened taillamps. It also wears the license plate, “4 HRH”, which means For His Royal Highness.

Take a closer look for yourself in the gallery below, then click past the jump to read the full press release.

[Source: Project Kahn]

Continue reading Project Kahn customizes Maybach to commemorate William and Kate’s royal wedding

Project Kahn customizes Maybach to commemorate William and Kate’s royal wedding

The Beastie Boys are back, ladies and gentlemen, and they’ve brought along a suitably awesome video to announce their triumphant return. Danny McBride, Seth Rogan and Elijah Wood star alongside nearly every Hollywood actor of any account, including Steve Buscemi, Will Ferrell, Orlando Bloom and Will Arnett, to name but a handful.

That’s all well and good, but our fanboism has been kicked into overtime thanks to the riotous profundity of amazing metal in the clip.

The video seems to be set in the early ’80s, and as such, there are cameos by everything from an International Scout and a Toyota FJ40 to a killer Datsun pickup. Of course, the king of ’80s metal, the DeLorean DMC-12, also shows up for spell. We’d expect nothing less.

To top it all off, it sounds like the New York trio haven’t lost any of their talent for entertainment since The Mix-Up. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

[Source: MTV]

Continue reading Video: Beastie Boys “Make Some Noise” rocks the old-school metal

Video: Beastie Boys “Make Some Noise” rocks the old-school metal

Parking can be the toughest part of any commute, unless of course you’ve gone to the Ken Block School of Parallel Precision. Beyond the jump is a very short clip a Russian driver who didn’t have time to turn around and park like the rest of us, so (we’re guessing) he jammed the parking brake at speed, spun 180 degrees and landed right where he needed to be.

This clip isn’t exactly new, but it’s new to us. Hit the jump to check it out. Thanks for the tip, Matt!

PS: Anyone else wonder if the driver might be related to this guy?

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Crazy Russian commuter’s parking job

Video: Crazy Russian commuter’s parking job

Quick Spin: 2011 BMW X1 xDrive28i

The BMW X1 embodies everything a would-be wagon-buyer could want: ample storage, acceptable ground clearance, upright seating and… it’s not a wagon.

New York 2011: Every new VW Beetle will be a second-generation design

The third generation of the New Beetle won’t be a redesign of the current car, it will be another modernized version of the original.

Video: Marvel riffs on VW Super Bowl ad with Tiny Thor

Now with 100% more Tiny Thor. And explosions.

Also of interest:

• Video: Nissan 370Z plays chicken
• 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 to start at $55,675*
• Reports: Volvo denies talk of Saab takeover, Muller looking for partner in China
• Report: Mugen CR-Z powertrain details come to light
• PickupTrucks.com gets first drive of Jeep JK-8 Pickup conversion kit

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.22.11

At the 2011 New York Auto Show we experienced the 400-watt, nine-speaker Fender premium audio system in the Volkswagen Passat, Jetta GLI and Beetle, the three models in which it will be offered. When VW announced the partnership last December, the company said “Volkswagen and Fender put the concert in the car.” That wasn’t just a reference to getting good sounds in your ride, it was also a clue to how you’d get that sound. But before we even sat down in the Passat for a listen, our first question was: why Fender?

Continue reading New York 2011: We check out VW’s new Fender audio systems…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL

Continue reading New York 2011: We check out VW’s new Fender audio systems

New York 2011: We check out VW’s new Fender audio systems

Colin Chapman’s legacy is a great one, without a doubt. But Lotus – the automaker and engineering firm he founded – isn’t the only one wielding it these days. So, too, do a number of manufacturers that build “continuation” versions of the famed Lotus 7, chief among them Caterham. And so does Team Lotus.

The latter Formula One racing outfit, as you may recall, originally licensed the name from Lotus’ Malaysian parent company Proton. It then bought the team name from an outside party laying claim. All of this prompted a legal battle between the racing team and the automaker which is still ongoing, a situation that was further complicated when Lotus itself got into the sport by buying into the Renault F1 team.

Now it appears that the Malaysian-owned racing team could be seeking to outflank Lotus itself by buying-out Caterham, the leading manufacturer of contemporary Sevens, as well as new models like the SP/300R. A press conference is reportedly scheduled for next week, so we’ll find out soon enough if the reports prove accurate. But for now, they certainly sound intriguing.

[Source: Autosport Image: Caterham]

Rumormill: Team Lotus to acquire Caterham

Does the Jeep Liberty have an addiction to rust? Back in 2003, approximately 326,000 2002-2003 Liberty SUVs were recalled because their lower control arm ball joints could corrode excessively. Just three years later in 2006, the issue popped up again, which prompted a recall of 826,000 potentially rust-happy 2002-2006 Jeep models. Another three years passed when, in 2009, Chrysler sent out a recall notice to 42,469 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty owners located in cold-weather states. This time, the problem was related to the upper ball joints.

Now it seems the Jeep Liberty is ready to jump the gun on its next every-three-years recall because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 370,000 vehicles… for the same issue. According to The Detroit News, NHTSA has opened up an investigation that involves 2002-2005 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles. It’s still just an investigation at this point, but given the round-eyed CUV’s track record, we’ll be keeping an eye out for more on this situation.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: NHTSA opens investigation into Jeep Liberty over rust-related suspension failures

Between the New York Auto Show, the Shanghai Motor Show and Top Marques Monaco, there’s a major motor expo happening on each of three continents. But the latest model you see here wasn’t unveiled at any one of them.

What you’re looking at is the hottest hatch to come from Opel. It’s called the Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition, and it means business. To start with, the Opel Performance Center (think of it as General Motors of Europe’s AMG) has tweaked the 1.6-liter turbo four from 192 horsepower to 210 and boosted the torque count from 170 lb-ft (196 on overboost) to 184 (206 on overboost).

To cope with the added twist, OPC’s fitted a multi-plate mechanical limited-slip differential. They’ve also added Bilstein suspension components and Brembo brakes, recalibrated the ABS, traction control and stability management systems. On the outside, they’ve mounted new 18-inch alloys on 35-series low-profile rubber and a new front spoiler, dual-tipped stainless-steel exhaust and the requisite special badges.

The result is a Karousel-charging 6.8-second sprint to 60 and an Autobahn-crunching 143 mph top end. Only 500 examples will be offered, with two new colors (Grasshopper green and the above-pictured Henna red) joining the catalog for this special edition. Follow the jump for the full press blast and scope out the trio of images in the gallery below for a closer look.

[Source: Opel]

Continue reading Opel channels the Nürburgring for its hottest-ever Corsa

Opel channels the Nürburgring for its hottest-ever Corsa

There are plenty of fine reasons to play golf. Everyone needs an excuse to get outside and stretch their legs, and smacking the life out of a little white ball is a socially acceptable way to relieve stress with a club. But for many of us, the only reason to get on the green is to get behind the wheel of a golf cart. Our short game may be the living definition of embarrassing, but we’d like to imagine we could execute a fine handbrake turn behind the wheel of an electric rental.

If that’s not entertaining enough to wet your whistle, you can always add the thrill of a turbine engine to the mix. We’re not exactly sure where the gentleman in the video after the jump got the idea to strap a small jet engine to the back of his custom golf cart, but we like where his head’s at. Odds are the other players may have a small problem with the racket that his contraption makes, but that’s their problem, right?. Hit the jump to check it out.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse

Video: Turbine-powered golf cart is the quickest way to the clubhouse

Formula One and Turkey are apparently on the splits, as Turkish newspaper Haberturk claims that the Turkish Grand Prix won’t take place in 2012. Istanbul chamber of commerce chief Murat Yalcintas reportedly told the publication “It looks like the Formula One race won’t be held in Istanbul next year.” The reported reason for the decision was that Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone (above) raised the race fee from $13 million to $26 million; a price Istanbul doesn’t appear eager to meet.

The paper claims that the reason for the decision has less to do with the rising cost of F1 and more to do with the fact that Ecclestone is interested in a 2012 race in Moscow. F1 has made no formal announcements regarding a foray into Moscow or the future of the Turkey race.

[Source: Bloomberg Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Report: Formula One’s Turkish Grand Prix is on the outs

The Kia Optima has been a resounding success from the minute the midsize sedan’s redesigned 2011 model hit dealer showrooms. Optima sales have nearly doubled since its November introduction, which has helped the automaker claim a 36 percent sales increase on the year.

The Korean automaker seems to think the good times will continue into the future, announcing a third hiring wave at the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia plant. The additional employees will help increase Optima output when the 2012 model arrives in the third quarter. This is good news for the red-hot Kia brand, and those looking for work in Georgia are likely excited as well. Kia says in the post-jump press release that its hiring spree will increase the workforce at the facility to 3,000 workers. Hit the jump to read over the official release.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Dan Roth / AOL

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Kia adding Optima production line to Georgia plant

Kia adding Optima production line to Georgia plant

The Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster has received a substantial makeover for 2012, with reworked powertrains and more masculine sheetmetal. The SLK350’s new 3.5-liter V6 helps back up that fresh dose of manliness with 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, thanks to the addition of direct injection. Having driven the roadster, we found the upgrades help make the car more entertaining to drive, and now we can put a price tag on these refinements.

Mercedes-Benz has announced that the 2012 SLK350 will start at $55,675 (*including $875 in destination charges). That’s a $1,500 increase over the 2011 model – a fair shake considering the updates. For comparison’s sake, the folding hardtop SLK350 carries an MSRP that’s $4,800 more than the Audi TTS Roadster and $950 more than the BMW Z4 sDrive35i. It does, however, continue to price out lower than the similarly powered Porsche Boxster S, which starts at $58,600. The SLK350 goes on sale on June 1.

If $55,675 is too rich or too powerful for your blood, you can opt to wait until February for the SLK250. Unfortunately, Mercedes hasn’t announced pricing for the SLK250, but we do know that it will feature a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque. Now, about that AMG…

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 to start at $55,675*

Volkswagen created a serious stir with its Super Bowl commercial featuring an adorably pint-size Darth Vader, and now Marvel Comics is riffing on the same theme as part of the run-up to the upcoming Thor feature film. The studio has gone through the trouble of recreating the German automaker’s “The Force” ad nearly scene-for-scene… with one notable exception.

Despite the fact that Acura has saddled up with Marvel for the latest comic flick, the hero car in this particular spot is not the new TL. That’s probably all for the best given the final outcome.

While Volkswagen’s tiny Vader couldn’t quite bend the force to his will, this runt manages to have a little better luck with Thor’s hammer. We won’t spoil the ending for you. You’ll just have to check out the full spot in the video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Marvel riffs on VW Super Bowl ad with Tiny Thor

Video: Marvel riffs on VW Super Bowl ad with Tiny Thor

Bloomberg reports that Ford Global Marketing Director Elena Ford (great-great-granddaughter of Henry Ford) has plead guilty to Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, saying the incident has been a “complete embarrassment” to her family. The Ford family heiress was arrested on April 4 after failing a sobriety test and registering a .14 on a breathalyzer; nearly twice the legal limit of .08 in Michigan. Police pulled Ford over after she reportedly jumped the median in in her 2011 Ford Explorer. The Michigan court sentenced the 44-year-old Ford to two years’ probation, 240 hours of community service and mandatory counseling. Ford was originally also charged with child endangerment since she had her 11-year-old son in the car. [Source: Bloomberg]

Followup: Elena Ford pleads guilty to DUI, gets probation

Hyundai has officially become the first automaker to jump into the Groupon party by offering customers a $29 oil change, inspection and tire rotation. The manufacturer says around 1,300 individuals participated in the event across 10 dealers in the greater Chicago area and that the move was part of an ongoing effort to increase service business. The hope is that some of those customers who participated in the deal might come back for more vehicle work in the near future.

So, the next logical question: Will Hyundai look into actually selling vehicles through the coupon company? That all depends on how well this particular venture goes. If the automaker sees a strong return rate among customers, it just might look into future partnerships. That said, an entire vehicle purchase seems pretty far-fetched…

Groupon is a Chicago-based company that allows users to buy into one large group coupon per day. Once a deal is announced, a certain number of people must sign up for the offer or it expires and no one benefits. The company serves over 500 markets by offering deals on everything from services to smoothies and everything in between.

All told, Hyundai says that each of its participating dealers developed 130 new service leads each. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Hyundai Image: Drew Phillips/AOL]

Continue reading Hyundai becomes first automaker to use Groupon

Hyundai becomes first automaker to use Groupon

It looks like Volvo and Saab won’t be teaming up to create one Swedish carmaker to rule them all. According to Reuters, Volvo has made it clear that the company has had no talks with Saab about buying the besieged automaker and that none are scheduled to take place. The Swedish newspaper De Telegraf had previously reported that the Swedish government was urging Volvo into talks with Saab about a potential takeover. The move would mean that a government loan previously granted to Saab by the European Investment Bank would have a greater chance of being repaid.

Saab has hit (further) rough waters in recent months with multiple supplier hiccups resulting in production stoppages including instances of the automaker being unable to pay for parts. In addition, sales fell well short of 2010 forecasts, resulting in a further cash crunch. The Swedish automaker has since performed a few economic stunts to get production rolling again, including selling the company’s properties and re-leasing them at a lower cost.

In related matters, Automotive News reports that Saab CEO Victor Muller is looking to broker a deal with a Chinese automaker to help finance the company, although it is understood that Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. is not one of those parties. BAIC, you may recall, purchased old Saab assets (the previous generation 9-3 model, among other things) back in 2009 for $200 million, and it also expressed interest in buying Saab from General Motors before Muller’s Spyker stepped in and completed the purchase.

[Sources: Reuters, Automotive News]

Reports: Volvo denies talk of Saab takeover,
Muller looking for partner in China

Mobility scooter owners now have a new way to make sure they’re first in line for the early-bird special or senior discount day with the QTVan, a mobility scooter-towed mini caravan. The trailer was designed by English company Environmental Transport Association as a convenient way to dodge lines, or a handy place to stay should your Rascal crap out on you. With the Royal Wedding fast approaching, ETA is touting the mini camper as a perfect way to beat the crowd in comfort and style.

It’s no Airstream by any means, but manages to fit a raft of features into a package just over six feet long. Inside, there’s a full-size bed, a tea service, a full bar and a 19-inch flat-screen television. It’s even available for short vacations, though with a 30-mile range and six-mph top end, it won’t get you much further than the park.

For those with a green-sensitive mindset, the ETA says the QTVan is 100-percent carbon neutral, provided you use sustainable energy sources to charge it. Conveniently, ETA will also sell you a mobility scooter roadside curbside assistance plan, covering everything from loss of charge to flat tires. Between the QTVan and the breakdown coverage, ETA has all your mobility scooter needs in hand.

The QTVan is available now to English customers, with a starting price of £5,500, or about $9,000, not including the scooter itself. Breakdown coverage will run you £49.99, or around $82, per year. Click past the jump to check out an epically awesome video of the QTVan in action.

[Source: YouTube via ETA]

Continue reading UK company markets caravan pulled by mobility scooter [w/video]

UK company markets caravan pulled by mobility scooter [w/video]