Mercedes-Benz has cobbled together a behind-the-scenes video chronicling a photo shoot with two stars: the 451-horseepower and a Ducati 848 in matching white. Deviating from the behind-the-scenes template, this one is more like a series of rushes set to music. In addition to the mechanical eye candy, a pair of models feature prominently (as suggested by the screencap above). The action takes place on an Iberian runway, and you’ll find it .
Today’s vehicles are more powerful, more efficient and safer than ever before. In fact, today’s car buyer would be hard pressed to spend his or her money on a genuinely bad vehicle. But those overall improvements may have also led consumers to believe there are no real differences between the various products offered by the world’s major automakers. According to the Consumer Reports 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey, , , and have all seen their scores drop by double digits compared to last year.
The survey asks consumers to rate brands across seven categories. Consumer Reports says that by combining those categories, the organization can get a handle on how each brand is perceived in the marketplace.
This year, Toyota continued to lead in the survey, though its persistent recalls saw the brand’s perception fall by 17 points this year. Ford, Honda and all saw their perception scores plummet more than 20 points. The results may indicate consumers are seeing fewer differences between automakers as products continue to improve. While that’s good news for smaller automakers like , and , larger names in the industry should be worried. Head over to for the full report.
has served up a few more tidbits on the upcoming expected to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. According to Automotive News, the vehicle will feature a taller roof than the thee-door , and while the two sill share a front fascia, the larger vehicle will ride on a widened version of the same chassis that underpins the Fiat Punto. All told, the Fiat 500L will be around 163.38 inches long, which is around 2.36 inches longer than the current 500.
Interestingly enough, Fiat plans to introduce both five-seat and a seven-seat version of the 500L in the near future, though American buyers are only likely to be able to enjoy the former configuration. The 500L is expected to touch down on dealer lots in Europe in July, while Americans will have to wait until early 2013 to plop themselves in the driver’s seat.
In Europe, the vehicles will likely be available with with a turbocharged two-cylinder 900cc gasoline engine with 85 horsepower as well as a 1.4-liter four-cylinder good for either 77 or 105 hp depending on configuration. A 1.3-liter diesel will also be an option across the pond with either 75 or 99 hp. Odds are American buyers will simply see the 1.4-liter Multiair four-cylinder on their option sheets.
Business was a-boomin’ in the auto industry last year, and while a number of factors conspired to keep cars moving through dealerships, chief among them was discounts. How do we know that? This infographic contains part of the answer.
Compiled using data from car-shopping website , the infographic tells us which automakers gave the most discounts last year, where they were given, who got them, and more. Which automaker doled out the most discounts? , which CarWoo! says was selling its vehicles at a 17.7-percent discount in 2011. Which automaker also posted the largest percentage gain in sales last year? Jeep, whose sales compared to 2010.
and , which posted the second and third largest percent increases in sales last year, also make CarWoo!’s list by having offered high discounts of 11.7 and 12.1 percent in 2011.
Big savings didn’t always equal big sales, though. , for instance, is on record offering discounts of 12.2 percent in 2011, but still saw its sales fall 4.8 percent.
Check out the rest of what CarWoo!’s infographic has to say about savings .
A howling red prototype of the Aston Martin’s V12 Zagato made the international rounds last year, and now the first production example is headed for a Middle East reveal at the Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance (running February 15-18). Only 150 of the super-exclusive Astons will be made for worldwide consumption.
hasn’t released any new photos so we don’t know how the 510-horsepower, £330,000 (that’s $550,000 U.S., before taxes), aluminum-and-carbon-bodied coupe will differ from its progenitor. If at the 2011 is an indicator, though, the spoiler on the beauty in the above pic has been swapped for a redesigned trunk lid.
We’ll know more in a few weeks, so until then there’s a press release after the jump and a couple of image galleries for you to enjoy.
It’s common for people to consider the head and neck safety device, or HANS device, a millennial item, something developed ten years ago or so. But it was actually conceived after an accident in 1981 and the first prototype was donned in 1986. It sold only sporadically throughout the 90s, but after Dale Earnhardt died in a crash at the 2001 Daytona 500 – coincidentally, of the same injury that lead to the HANS device’s creation – it went from oddity to obligation in every major racing series.
Car and Driver looks at the physical numbers behind the device: in a 40g head-on collision, a HANS device can reduce total neck load by about 75 percent, to less than half the force of the injury threshold. That’s not bad for a one-pound contraption made of carbon fiber, padding and a fabric-and-polyester strap.
Click to check out the C/D piece, and for some enlightening visuals on just what the HANS device can do. There’s a video of a test crash with and without the device fitted, as well as the different kinds available and the story behind them.
When you hear the Shelby name, the first person who comes to mind is likely Carroll, father of the Cobra, racing legend, and a man still involved in the development of performance Fords at nearly 90 years of age.
You probably don’t think of Jerod Shelby, even though his company, Shelby SuperCars, has for years been building cars that compete for the title of world’s fastest. His latest creation, the Tuatara, might steal the title back from the , but in the meantime has proven to be .
Problem is, the automotive world isn’t big enough for two companies named after a Shelby, and so it has come to pass that Jerod’s company will change its name from Shelby SuperCars to SSC North America. The switcheroo is reportedly a result of a settlement with Carroll Shelby Licensing and Carroll Shelby International.
With that behind him, hopefully Jerod can get back to the Veyron-beating business. His company has also on the new 36,000-square-foot world headquarters and production facility in West Richland, Washington a few months back.
Legendary driver A.J. Foyt has been hospitalized after suffering complications from knee surgery. The 77-year-old Foyt had the surgery two weeks ago and was slated to serve as the grand marshal for the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Jackie Stewart stepped in to handle those duties in Foyt’s place this weekend.
According to a spokeswoman, the driver had been up and walking around after the surgery, but had developed an infection this week. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Foyt expressed his remorse for missing the Rolex, saying, “I feel so bad that I let everyone down.”
Meanwhile, Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said that the track and everyone involved with the race wishes Foyt a quick recovery.
Foyt is a towering figure in racing circles. He remains the only driver in history to win the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We wish him a speedy recovery. for a quick statement regarding his hospitalization.
Reaction vids certainly aren’t in short supply. Whether it’s a , a , or a , these candid-camera-style videos are usually good for a few laughs.
More recently, the meme has been slathered with sex appeal to attract even more eyeballs. There’s , plus who just has pretty girls ride shotgun as he takes them for a ride.
We like it best when the passenger’s reaction is honest and unscripted, though. Like this example, in which a son takes his father for a ride in his pride and joy: a 530-horsepowerToyota MR2. Shot back in 2010, it’s not new, but we’d never seen it before and still get a kick out of the father’s response.
has released two promo videos of its revised-for-2013 . From the looks of things, Team Bavaria has opted for a very subtle facelift that includes new headlights and a lightly tweaked grille. Otherwise, the mighty performance utility looks much as it did last year. Word has it the interior will receive similarly slight changes, with the option sheet getting a few more leather choices and little else. Likewise, the freshened BMW X6 M is expected to make use of this year’s 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine.
Buyers can expect to relish the same 547 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque as last year, which should be good enough to scoot the beast to 62 mph in a scant 4.7 seconds. to take a look at the two videos for yourself.
is recalling has issued a recall of the 2001- and 2002-model-year crossover for a possible brake fluid leak. It’s been found that fluid leaking from the reservoir cap on the master cylinder might come into contact with the ABS wiring harness connector, leading to potential corrosion and/or fire.
We’ve been waiting on this action for the better part of a month, as its mechanical twin, the , was the subject of a similar NHTSA recall . The Blue Oval recall covered some 244,000 units for the same problem.
There are 52,390 Tributes affected in total, and Mazda is taking the unusual step of advising that if you have one, you should park it outside until a dealer has made the necessary repairs. You can find a release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the matter .
Car dealers have a strange and oftentimes contentious relationship with the carmakers. Stories of automakers shoveling unsaleable models down the pipeline with unreasonable expectations are legion in the car sales world. With the number of family-owned, single-brand dealerships dwindling, dealers often field competing franchises. The concept of loyalty is as quaint as a . So it’s worth noting the automotive brands that are actually liked by the guys selling them.
The National Automobile Dealers Association conducts its Dealer Attitude Survey twice each year, and results from the summer survey are in. stayed on top for the third time in a row, followed by , , , and . The survey measures three factors: “franchise value, automaker policy decisions that affect the dealership and the automaker’s field staff who visit dealerships.”
Sixth place went to , while , , and followed. and tied for tenth. NADA received responses from over 14,700 dealerships, representing almost 54 percent of all dealers nationwide.
Usually our sister publication is out putting futuristic transportation hardware through the paces or talking to geeks who are trying to reimagine the very infrastructure of our world. But this week, the show has a decidedly more conventional subject: Interviews with Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche and CEO Alan Mulally.
Both of these automotive bigwigs were wandering the halls of the earlier this month (, a job ), which is where Translogic caught up with them for a chat and demonstration of their CES wares. Zetsche showed off a new gesture-based in-car interface, as well as some new active safety technology for . Mulally plugged Ford’s new hybrid and plug-in hybrid , as well as showing off the . Give it a watch .
If we could summarize the with just one word, it would be “evolution.” For decades, Porsche has methodically improved its rear-engined sports car. The design changes are subtle, and power has risen steadily.
To illustrate this, Porsche made a video that plays off the 911’s rich history. If you lie awake at night thinking about how great it would be to own a 911, for some more inspiration.
A design and engineering icon, the Toyota 2000GT is the forefather of all Japanese supercars, the ancestor to which the Acura NSX, and must pay homage. It’s rare enough to find a 2000GT for sale, but the example being offered by Maine Line Exotics is particularly special.
MF10-100001 is the first Toyota 2000GT produced, and one of the three that Toyota delivered to Shelby American Racing in 1967 to be prepped for the 1968 SCCA season. Two of those cars raced under the Shelby-Toyota banner in 1968. MF10-100001 wore the #23 and was driven by Davey Jordan.
How much does Maine Line Exotics want for this important piece of automotive history? How does $1.7 million grab you? Head over to for more information.
Do you love to hate speed cameras? We feel your pain. After all, no technology is foolproof, and we prefer our citations to come straight from a fellow human being. But what if the speed camera had a mind of its own? As in, a real brain inside its head?
Not sure where we’re going with this? Allow us to explain. Rémi Gaillard, a French funny man famous for his hilarious YouTube stunts ( ring a bell?), decided to play dress-up a full nine months before Halloween. Flashes fire, antics ensue.
We suggest you stick around to the very end, as the exhibition reaches it final, perhaps inevitable, conclusion. See for yourself in the video .
Less than a year after everyone with any sort of say in the matter seemed to agree that 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025 was a , the has decided to change things up a bit.
In addition to requirements of a (using the government’s formula, not what you see on window stickers), at least 15.4 percent of all cars sold by any major automaker doing business in California will have to be either fully electric, a plug-inhybrid or be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell by 2025. There are , which we’ll be investigating further.
According to Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, 15.4 percent is “actually a relatively modest goal, but that’s all that we’re mandating.” Most automakers are on board, says Nichols. “Probably the most heartening aspect of this whole rulemaking was the level of cooperation that we received from the industry… Overall, the degree of support for the package was just extraordinary.”
Even if automakers are on board, though, there’s still a question of who will actually buy the vehicles. While everyone wants better fuel efficiency, not everyone is willing to pay for it, counters the California New Car Dealers Association, estimating that the plan would add about $3,200 to the average price of a new car or truck. Perhaps to help dissuade such fears, Nichols added that “direct incentives to people who buy these cars (like) rebates and credits” are also in the works.
At least 10 more states are likely to follow California’s lead, reports Automotive News. That would put the total number of advanced green vehicles (either with a plug or powered by hydrogen) at around three million total units by 2025, 1.4 million of which would be in California.
It’s the two-minute warning in terms of Super Bowl advertising and still has some ground to cover. General Motors’ largest brand is still mulling its advertising lineup with less than two weeks remaining until the New York Giants and New England Patriots meet in the big game.
Chevrolet has purchased seven spots. Exactly which vehicles will be featured and at what times is still stirring healthy debate at GM headquarters.
“Every day, we’re changing the spots of what’s running where,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet’s vice president of global marketing and strategy. “We’re probably going to push it to the end.”
That comes Tuesday, Jan. 31 when NBC wants final decisions. Click to continue reading.
The automotive industry tends to work by certain norms and patterns. For example, by the time one model is ready to be phased out, we usually have a pretty good idea of how its replacement is shaping up and when it will appear. But , of course, is no typical automaker.
The House that Ettore Built has, for the past seven years, subsisted on the alone. Don’t get us wrong, it’s one heck of an automobile around which to build a brand, but it won’t be around forever. In fact, Bugatti announced a while ago that Veyron production was running its course and nearing its end. The open topped Grand Sport, as it turns out, was outside that original allotment, but even that is nearing the end of its road.
So you can imagine our surprise when Ricardo, the company that makes the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for the Veyron, announced today that it had extended its contract with Bugatti for another two years. Which would be straightforward enough if there were cars in which Bugatti would be installing said transmissions, but as we already established, the marque’s sole product is nearing the end of its life-cycle, with no replacement in sight.
So where are these transmissions going? There can only be a few explanations. One is that Bugatti is planning to extend Veyron production with another derivative – likely the that is expected to combine the removable roof panel on the Grand Sport with the more powerful engine and bodywork of the Super Sport. Another is that the Galibier – a four-door super-sedan in the pipeline at Bugatti’s Molsheim, France HQ – is closer than previously expected, but that model is expected to shift to a different type of transmission altogether.
One possibility we can’t quite accept is that Bugatti is stockpiling components as substantial as a gearbox without having a model in which to install them, so watch this space for more news. In the meantime, scope out the press release after the jump to inspect for yourself.
has officially announced pricing for the company’s new Cooper Roadster. The tiny droptop will carry a base MSRP of $24,350 in the U.S., while the Cooper S Roadster will set you back $27,350. The top-of-the-line John Cooper Works Roadster, meanwhile, will command a sticker of $34,500 (*pricing exclude a $700 destination and handling fee). Should buyers wish to drop an automatic transmission into their Cooper Roadster or Cooper S Roadster, the two-pedal option will cost an additional $1,250, but the John Cooper Works Roadster is only available with a manual gearbox. Mini says 16-inch alloy wheels are standard on the base roadster and its S counterpart, while the topped-out JCW Roadster will roll on flashier 17-inch wheels.
That means the Cooper Roadster requires a $3,450 premium over the base hardtop , but curiously, it’s cheaper than the Cooper Convertible by $600. While the latter doesn’t exactly offer palatial amounts of space for rear passengers, it is still considerably more functional than its Cooper Roadster equivalent. We have to wonder if there’s enough of a price differential between the two models to keep buyers from skipping the more rakish Roadster for its four-seat counterpart, but either way, we’re just pleased it doesn’t share the Coupe’s awkward backwards-ballcap roofline. for the lengthy press release.
Car dealers have a strange and oftentimes contentious relationship with the carmakers. Stories of automakers shoveling unsaleable models down the pipeline with unreasonable expectations are legion in the car sales world. With the number of family-owned, single-brand dealerships dwindling, dealers often field competing franchises. The 
