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Automotive News reports that Kia will launch a small electric vehicle by the end of this year, and that it will be the first car in a wave of forthcoming Korean EVs. It’s not known if or when the new electric cars will eventually arrive in the U.S., though it would hardly be surprising if they did. Hyundai Motor Group calls this EV initiative the TAM project, and that the first vehicle to come out of it will ride on the subcompact Hyundai i10 platform.

All told, Automotive News says that Kia will produce 2,000EVs for 2012. A small group of BlueOn Hyundai i10 EVs has been ongoing in South Korea, and it’s thought that the lessons learned will be applied to the upcoming Kia vehicle.

This is Hyundai’s first real push into the electric vehicle segment. While Japanese and domestic automakers have already brought production EVs to market, Hyundai and Kia have contented themselves with offerings like the Sonata Hybrid and Optima Hybrid.

Kia bringing EV to market this year

Al Unser, Jr. is in the news again, and not in a good way. AP reports that the two-time Indy 500 winner was arrested last week for drag racing on public roads while under the influence of alcohol.

Bernalillo County, New Mexico sheriffs reportedly stopped Unser on Thursday for driving over 100 miles per hour in his Suburban. During the traffic stop, he slurred his speech and registered over twice the legal limit for blood-alcohol levels.

This isn’t the first time Unser’s gotten himself in hot water. In 2002 he reportedly underwent treatment for alcohol abuse after hitting his girlfriend in the face while drinking in Indianapolis, and in 2007 he lost his license for a DUI in Nevada.

IndyCar has responded to the new charges by suspending Unser indefinitely from his role as a race control official as the matter is investigated further.

Al Unser Jr. arrested for reckless driving, DUI

The Buick Grand National is a bona fide classic. Out of the emissions-strangled Seventies arose an engine that turned the plain G-body Buick into a fire-breather capable of running with exotics of its era. Pony cars were accustomed to viewing it from behind. Slathered in monochromatic black paint, the Grand National is one of few true legends to emerge from the beleaguered domestic auto industry during the 1980s. That’s why Andrew Filippone Jr’s “Black Air” documentary will be thrilling to anyone whose heart beats in some kind of firing order.

In many ways, the Grand National is the last gasp of the muscle car era that started nearly a generation before it. Built on the last rear-wheel drive General Motors intermediate platform, the A/G body, the chassis details of the Grand National weren’t vastly different than those underpinning Skylarks 10-15 years prior.

The Grand National’s engine, however, was a different story. Fuel injected, turbocharged and snorting out horsepower and torque numbers that shamed Corvettes, the Grand National’s 3.8-liter cast-iron fist hit the jaw of car enthusiast lore hard enough to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with. And that was before it was ushered off the showroom floor with one last gasp of ultimate awe, the GNX.

Filippone has taken the time to interview auto-journalism luminaries and insiders involved with the Grand National’s development to weave the enthralling story through firsthand accounts. People we’ve read, like Csaba Csere and Don Sherman feature in the story, as do Bill Porter, Tony Assenza and Martyn Schorr. Their well-rounded narrative further cements the the sinister black Buick’s historical importance.

Watch the trailer after the jump. You can follow Black Air on Twitter, and there’s also a Facebook page where you can keep up. Or try to, anyway.

Continue reading Black Air: The story of the Buick Grand National

Black Air: The story of the Buick Grand National

“You’ve never heard of the 1977 Star Wars Celica? Kids, it’s the car that was the grand prize in the Star Wars Space Fantasy Sweepstakes.” It most likely started life as a 1977 Celica LiftBack GT Pace Car, an extra-flared, spoilered-up version of the coupe that already looked like a three-quarter scale muscle car. Delphi Auto Design of Costa Mesa, California lavished the bodywork with a custom paint job featuring galactic nebula, TIE fighters, X-Wings, and a lovingly airbrused recreation of the Tom Jung poster art on the hood. Pete Vilmur has been looking for this car for a long time, and he’s probably the foremost expert on it, but still, nothing has emerged from the ether.

The trail goes colder than Hoth after 1977, when the contest, a joint effort between Toyota and Twentieth Century Fox, picked its award winners. No record of the car’s VIN can be found, nor can the name of a winner. That may be due in part to Delphi Auto Design being caught in a legal imbroglio involving drug running, murder and income tax violation that tied up one of the main financiers of the business. There was a glimmer of hope in the form of an early-1980s classified ad listing the car for sale, but no record of that can be turned up, either.

So where is it? Who won it? Did it wind up like most Celicas from that era, attacked by tinworm or traded in on a newer car? It’s conceivable that the customized cosmos paint job was sprayed over at some point. Maybe the Celica just met an ignominious end somewhere during the Kessel Run. Nobody knows, but we’re all keen to find out.

The hunt is on for an official 1977 Star Wars Toyota Celica

The totally redesigned 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (formerly known as the Civic GX), America’s only natural gas-burning passenger vehicle, will hit Honda dealerships nationwide on October 18 with a starting MSRP $26,155, (*excluding a $750 destination fee). Add in navigation, and the Civic Natural Gas tops out at $27,655 plus $750 for delivery.

A modified version of the 1.8-liter four-cylinder found in the gas-fueled 2012 Civic Sedan and Coupe powers the Civic Natural Gas; a five-speed automatic transmission is standard. The Civic Natural Gas is EPA-rated at 27 city/38 highway/31 combined miles per gasoline-gallon equivalent. Compared against the 2011 Civic GX, the 2012 Natural Gas delivers a 12.5-percent improvement in city fuel efficiency and a 5.5-percent bump on the highway.

But here’s the crucial question: How does the Civic Natural Gas stack up against its green sibling, the Civic Hybrid? Well, the Civic Hybrid starts at $24,800, so it’s cheaper than the Natural Gas Civic and, at an EPA-estimated 44 mpg in all driving conditions, the gas-electric version is more fuel efficient. But for residents of California, where unlimited access to HOV lanes adds thousands of dollars to a car’s value, the Honda Civic Natural Gas Civic might still be the logical choice. Hit the jump for the official press blast.

Continue reading 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas priced from $26,155*

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas priced from $26,155*

It’s not often that cars and whiskey cross paths on these pages, but it does happen. One distillery manager began charging his EV off of spent barley. Another blended special bottles for Formula One drivers. Now Porsche Design has teamed with Johnnie Walker for the exclusive scotch packages you see here.

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Collection by Porsche Design Studio includes three items. The collection starts out with The Chiller, a case made of brushed titanium and blue leather to hold one square bottle of Walker’s finest blend. Its top turns into an ice bucket. next is The Cube, whose top also turns into an ice bucket, but its larger encompasses an individually-numbered bottle of Blue Label, four crystal tumblers, and a set of stainless-steel tongs.

The piece de resistance, however, is the Private Bar: a six-and-a-half-foot-tall tower of titanium, glass and leather. It opens and pivots 180 degrees automatically (via electronic sensors) to reveal three bottles of Blue Label, four illuminated crystal tumblers, chilled water and an ice bucket.

All three items were styled by Porsche Design at its studio in Austria, and they don’t come cheap. The Chiller and The Cube sell for £240 ($375) and £490 ($770) respectively through a selection of high-end retailers in London. The Private Bar is available for about $150,000 by special order. Check them out for yourselves in the attached photo gallery and the pair of press releases after the jump.

Continue reading Porsche Design raises the bar with Johnnie Walker Blue Label Collection

Porsche Design raises the bar with Johnnie Walker Blue Label Collection

U.S. District Judge James V. Selna has dismissed the first unintended acceleration lawsuit against Toyota in California on the grounds that it should have been filed in Utah. Automotive News reports that the case was brought to court by the families of two people killed in a Utah crash in 2010.

Judge Selna found that a federal warranty claim in the lawsuit failed to meet a required threshold of $50,000. The warranty claim was levied toward the dealer that sold the vehicle, and since the judge ruled that the plaintiffs couldn’t use personal injury or punitive damages in warranty claim, the lawsuit fell short of the threshold. That meant that the case fell back under Utah jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Mark Robinson, the plaintiffs’ attorney, said that he’s already working to draft another complaint that leaves the dealer out as a defendant altogether. Doing so will allow the suit to go forward seeking full punitive damages. The suit alleges that Toyota failed to install a brake override system or otherwise prevent unintended acceleration. The case is thought to be a litmus test for similar suits around the country.

Toyota’s first unintended acceleration trial dismissed on technicality

My helmet has just been crammed into the cross ribs of the roof of our Miata for the third time in less than a kilometer, driving a guttural “OOMPH” from my lungs mid-sentence at the same time. I regain my breath, look from the route book to the kitchen timer that’s Velcroed to the rally computer on the dash, and start counting out the seconds on my fingers. My tiny brain is already too overloaded for simple math, and I’ve reduced myself to elementary school tricks for quick calculations. It’s the fifth stage of the fourth day, and the verdict isn’t good; we’re a far cry from our target time.

“We are 17 seconds slow,” I say into the mic, doing my best to stifle any tones of urgency.

“Seventeen seconds? Are you sure?”

The short answer is that no, I’m not sure. For the first time in a full week’s worth of time-speed-distance rallying, our time intervals are making no damn sense. We’ll pass one and be 25 seconds down only to pass the next and be within five seconds of our target. I’m all kinds of crossed up, but mid-stage is no time to let your driver know his navigator has no damn clue what’s going on.

“I’m sure. Beat on this thing.”

Always project confidence.

Continue reading How to lose the 2011 Targa Newfoundland in one easy step [w/video]

How to lose the 2011 Targa Newfoundland in one easy step [w/video]

It looks like the Vision SZR is still clawing its way toward production. According to online video series Done In 60 Seconds, the specialty machine from Mar Vista, California will reportedly come equipped with up to 700 horsepower courtesy of a 6.0-liter V12, though cost-shy buyers could theoretically stick with the base 6.2-liter V8 good for a more modest 620 horsepower. With an aluminum chassis and a carbon fiber body, the Vision SZR tips the scales at 2,875 pounds in its heaviest configuration, which means that all that swoopy bodywork should scoot to 60 mph in the low-three-second range. If you like what you’re hearing, get ready to wait for a while. Currently there is only one SZR in the world, and it apparently cost its creator $2 million to produce.

The first Vision SZR prototype turned a wheel back in 2005 (development dates back ten years), and the company has been soldiering forth on development ever since. As Chief Operating Officer John Misumi sees it, the SZR is a muscle car for the 21st century. While the design certainly isn’t for everyone (we think it looks kind of like the 1990 Chevrolet Corvette CERV III concept car viewed through a funhouse mirror), we certainly appreciate Misumi’s drive to create a one-of-a-kind performance vehicle. Hit the jump to watch a video of the SZR in action, and check it out in our gallery as well.

Continue reading Vision SCR still trying to make it into production

Vision SCR still trying to make it into production

Raul Castro is changing the way life works in Cuba, lentamente. According to Reuters, the island ruler sent several hundred reforms to the annual Commuist party congress, and one of them just approved now allows Cubans to buy and sell cars made after 1959. Previously, only cars that predated the island’s Communist revolution could be commercially traded by anyone not specifically given permission by the government.

That gives the 11-million-strong populace access to other makes like the Lada, Nissan, Isuzu and Mercedes-Benz models that the well-connected have been able to drive in the intervening 52 years. However, even though the new law states that owners can act “without any prior authorization from any entity,” it doesn’t mean it’s open season: there remain limits on things like importing and ownership of cars. Castro said the law will help ensure the survival of Cuban Communism.

Now they just need to address the fact that the average Cuban makes about $18 a month.

Cuban government authorizes citizens to buy, sell cars

The first season of Top Gear USA was a little rough, and the statistical proof of this came in the form of lukewarm ratings. But instead of dumping the show in favor of more Pawn Stars re-runs, The History Channel decided to give the auto-focused program another chance at success. Good thing, too, as the second season of Top Gear USA was more refined, more entertaining and, we’re guessing, it brought in more ad dollars. That’s because the show’s ratings jumped by 30 percent, with the much-sought 25-54 demographic jumping by 35 percent.

Thanks to those 1.9 million average viewers, History decided to extend season two by eight more episodes. Hosts Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood and the crew are already in production, and History tells us the new episodes will feature “more exciting challenges, crazy antics and legendary vehicles.”

The extended season will include Adam and Rutledge coming up with dangerous ways to charge an electric vehicle while driving and Tanner heading to England to drive the Noble M600. The show hosts will even whip up some homemade limos out of some funky rides, and use the stretch monstrosities to chauffeur celebrities to the Emmy Awards.

Like we said, the first season was pretty average (and sometimes unwatchable), but the second run of shows were far more entertaining. We’re thinking that a larger audience can only lead to more investment in the show, which should be a good thing. Hit the jump to read The History Channel press release.

Continue reading Top Gear USA extends second season

Top Gear USA extends second season

Today, Friday, September 30, 2011, marks the 56th anniversary of the death of American icon James Dean. Far less significantly but also noteworthy, it rather obviously marks the same anniversary of the passing of Little Bastard, the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder that Dean was driving west on U.S. Route 466 (now known as State Route 46) in Cholame, California, on his way to a race in Salinas.

Dean’s death was caused, not by speeding as some believe, but by a fellow motorist who veered into Dean’s path. Dean’s last words, as quoted by his mechanic and passenger that day, Rolf Wütherich, were, “That guy’s gotta stop… He’ll see us.” He didn’t see them, he did not stop, and the head-on collision led to Dean’s death about 10 minutes later.

While the legend of James Dean had already been firmly established even before his untimely death, the curse of Little Bastard, the name bestowed upon the Porsche Spyder by Dean himself, was just getting started. While details and the exact series of events are clouded in uncertainty, there’s no arguing that the wreck of Little Bastard was sold after the tragic accident and many of its parts were subsequently used in other vehicles… in some cases, with confirmed fatal consequences.

Was the car that killed James Dean really cursed? We’re not ones to cast judgment on such issues of mythical folklore, but the details surrounding Little Bastard are nothing if not an interesting story. We suggest you read more here, here and here, or watch the video we’ve pasted after the break that discusses the actor’s life and the curse of Little Bastard.

Continue reading Remembering James Dean and the curse of Little Bastard [w/video]

Remembering James Dean and the curse of Little Bastard [w/video]

The only better place to watch a drag race than from the other side of the wall is behind the steering wheel. Then again, that depends on what car you’re driving. This gentleman enjoyed the view from the driver’s seat of his hopped-up 80’s Buick Regal for the holeshot, or just until his seat went from upright to permanently reclined in 1.2 seconds.

All of which just goes to show how souping up a car can sometimes reveal hidden weaknesses in the most surprising ways. Our advice: Do some crunches, get back out there and try again! Check out the disaster-averted hilarity after the jump.

Continue reading Drag racing Buick Regal driver loses best seat in the house

Drag racing Buick Regal driver loses best seat in the house