has had from its 500C commercial featuring Jennifer Lopez. After enduring a and reports that the vehicle actually during filming, Chrysler then found itself in the crosshairs of a lawsuit. The artists behind a copyrighted mural in the Bronx sued the automaker for using the image without their permission, but The New York Times now reports that the two parties have settled their differences out of court. Neither side is disclosing the details of the settlement at this time, but Fiat and artists TATS Cru have conveniently announced a new collaboration.
Fiat will provide the artists with a 500 to be painted and then auctioned off at a later date for charity, though no one is saying whether the group received any compensation for the use of its artwork in the Jennifer Lopez ad. to check out the ad in question for yourself.
is the ironic label for when a company replaces the badge or branding of a product with that of another and considers it something new. Domestic automakers like , General Motors and have been vilified for their overuse of this practice. Then again, they weren’t often badge engineering rear-wheel-drive sports cars (though they’ve done that, too).
This week, and both revealed their own versions of a RWD sports car jointly developed between the two companies: the GT 86 and BRZ. You’d be hard-pressed to tell them apart from a distance of 30 yards, but we got up close and personal with each at the 2011 this week and discovered that there are, in fact, subtle differences.
Since we’ll be getting the also-slightly different Scion FR-S in the U.S., this exercise is really aimed at our European readers who will be offered the GT 86, but everyone’s free to participate.
We’ve got videos of each model in the metal , and after you watch, let us know which one you prefer in the poll below.
We have serious respect for the individuals employed in the world’s various stunt shows. It takes hours of practice, meticulous choreography and massive amounts of skill to be able to manipulate vehicles in concert, and the specter of immediate death is waiting just off screen should you miss your cue. Take the stunt show at the Beto Carrero World theme park in Brazil, for example. The action centers on two dueling motorcyclists in a faux city center. After an impressive burnout display, the two riders were to pull a wheelie before narrowly threading between three compact hatchbacks.
That’s what was supposed to happen. As you can tell from the screen capture above, that’s not exactly how things went down. At the last minute, the motorcyclist in the black gear clipped one of the oncoming cars, went airborne and fell to the pavement. Miraculously enough, no one was seriously injured in the calamity, and our intrepid biker turned catapult victim showed up at work the next day. for the full video.
JD Power and Associates has released the results of the organization’s annual study on customer satisfaction with the vehicle buying process, and has once again taken top honors among mass market brands. The study specifically looks at satisfaction among buyers and those who chose not to buy from a particular brand for a comprehensive slice of the automotive consumer masses. Among buyers, JD Power evaluated across four categories; working out the deal, salesperson, delivery process and dealership facility. Rejectors, however, evaluated ranked their experience across salesperson, fairness in price, facility, inventory and experience negotiating.
Overall sales satisfaction actually increased over last year across the board, and JD Power believes this may be due to the fact that manufacturers are focusing improving their dealer experience now more than ever. That increase in satisfaction comes even as the actual buying process takes longer than in 2010. Buyers can now expect to spend an average of 11 more minutes in a dealer when it comes time to sign the loan agreement, thanks in part to more in-depth demonstrations of vehicle features.
beat out the rest of the luxury brands to take first place in 2011, with and trailing close behind. Who took the bottom of both lists? landed dead last among luxury makes, while took the bottom spot among mass marked sellers. for the full press release as well as the rest of the automaker standings.
and Mini offer the most satisfying buying experience
The Model A doesn’t get the historical respect of its 15-million-unit predecessor, the Model T, nor is it as beloved as the 1932 Ford V8 which followed. But when the Model A went on sale on December 2, 1927, it was an important transitional model for Ford.
Following the unparalleled success of the Model T, Ford had been reluctant to develop a new model, or even upgrade the T with features that were increasingly driving customers to other brands. The Model A was the first Ford to feature modern controls, with clutch, brake and throttle pedals, and a gearshift lever sprouting out of the center of the front floorboards.
Selling for as little as $365, the Model A was a huge success. Ford built almost five million units over five years. Had it not unveiled the A when it did, the Blue Oval might have met the same fate as many auto manufacturers of the 1920s that didn’t see the other side of the Great Depression.
Surprisingly enough, this 84-year-old car can actually provide somewhat serviceable transportation today, although with limitations. While its four-cylinder engine provides fuel economy in the high 20’s, Interstate travel is a bit beyond its meager 40 horsepower output. Mechanical drum brakes are the weakest point in the A’s specifications, with a lack of climate control rating a distant second.
For more on what it’s like to drive an A everyday, check out the .
Just over a month ago, was promising rebirth with . The promise will not be kept. Today, the company announced it is closing its doors, effective immediately.
In an email to supporters, president and CEO Paul Wilbur wrote, “We are out of resources.” His letter (available in full ) reveals many details about the behind-the-scenes at the EV start-up, including DOE discussions about development of a plug-in -like sedan. The company was talking to the DOE because it was asking for an ATVM (Advance Technology Vehicle Manufacturing) loan. Aptera was recently given a Conditional Commitment Letter for a $150 million loan but could not find the required matching funds to actually collect the money, even though the company was .
Speaking of money, this news raises a host of questions, including what happens to the people who put down deposits on an Aptera 2e. Also, will some of the intellectual property that the company developed find a new home elsewhere? Wilbur’s letter seems to indicate that is a possibility:
We remain confident, even as this chapter closes, that Aptera has contributed tech new technologies to build a future for more efficient driving. Through the dedicated staff at Aptera, our board and suppliers we have touched this future. All that remains is for someone to grab it. We still believe it will happen.
In the last few years, has joined the ranks of the Germans by offering a range of enhanced active safety features on its higher-end models. But wants to bring many of these systems to its core models, including blind spot and lane departure warnings.
But that’s old hat now.
This week in Japan, Nissan demonstrated three new safety technologies that are bound for both Infiniti and Nissan models in the next few years, two of which are sure to be copied by other automakers in short order.
Life is full of unattainables. Most of us will never hold the keys to an expansive beach-front property, lounge on our own personal yacht or park a in the garage, and for good reason. The very exclusivity of those objects is part of their lure, but a new site looks to change all that. Jointli allows regular Joes and Janes to co-own property, vehicles, boats and more. The site’s tools allow users to chose potential co-owners in their area, sign agreements and manage time shares accordingly. So, how much would it conceivably cost to own, say, a Ferrari F430?
According to Jointli, four people could conceivably wrangle one of the Italian exotics for as little as $8,000 per person, which works out to close to $8 per hour individually. Of course, Jonli’s math means that’s the cost after selling the vehicle after just one year of use. It also excludes any unfortunate dings or repairs that may arise as the result of four people who don’t know how to drive a Ferrari being tossed the keys. The whole scenario sounds great in a perfect world. Unfortunately, our planet is about as far from that bright center as you can get. Head over to to check out the system for yourself.
A rare storm system working its way from the west coast has caused millions of dollars in damage, left many without power and spurred fires from California to Colorado. According to USA Today, wind speeds reached as high as 123 miles per hour, or the equivalent of a category three hurricane. In Eldorado County, California, a total of seven fires burnt more than 130 acres as the harsh winds whipped fueled the flames. In Southern California alone, 350,000 people lost power due to downed lines. Of that number, 270,000 were still in the dark as of Friday morning.
Meanwhile, in Utah, authorities temporarily closed Interstate 15 after ten semi trucks toppled over in the heavy gusts. Meteorologists are calling the wind storm one of the worst in recent history, and while the winds have died down significantly since they first made landfall, the storms are expected to make their way toward Oklahoma, Missouri and Indiana. Hang on tight.
Scroll through our above image gallery to see some of the automotive carnage that resulted from this storm system.
It likely comes as no shock to hear we’re all sorts of excited about the prospect of a . Even though we know the model may never show up on our shores, we’re happier in a world in which a machine like this exists. Ivan Martinovic has been so kind as to render what the longroof may look like once strips off all the swirls. Is it faithful to the final product? Your guess is as good as ours, but we’re hoping the production version has a bit more elegance to its rear when it drops.
As we’ve already heard, the XF Sportbrake is an attempt for Jaguar to snap up buyers who would otherwise spend their hard-earned cash at their local or dealership. Jaguar has made it clear that its new wagon won’t be coming to the U.S. due to a tangle of federal regulations. That means we won’t get to cram the family in this luxury hauler any time soon. More importantly, it means the and the inevitable – we hope – Jaguar XFR Sportbrake will simply have to glare at one another from the across the pond. Head over to for a closer look.
is still looking for a few needles in its haystack of 2001-2003 models, as it expands a . The recall concerns defective driver’s airbag inflators, and it’s a serious issue, one that has already resulted in a dozen injuries and at least one death.
The recall covers the 2001 and 2002 , 2001 to 2003 , 2001 to 2003 , 2002 and 2003 , 2003 , 2002 and 2003 3.2 and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL. This latest expansion of the recall is necessary because Honda still hasn’t found all the defective parts, with 640 of the inflators still unaccounted for. Some were sold as service parts, meaning that their whereabouts cannot be easily traced.
“Because Honda is unable to determine the specific vehicles that may have received the affected service parts through existing information,” said Honda’s statement, “Honda will inspect an additional approximately 603,000 vehicles and replace those parts as necessary.”
Honda will be contacting affected owners by mail later in the month, and the information will also be available on the Honda and Acura websites at and . The automaker’s official press release is available .
Jeremy Clarkson says a lot of things, some funny, some not, but all designed to get a rise out of people. This time, however, he may have crossed a line.
“I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families,” said Clarkson, referring to striking workers in Great Britain. “I’d have them all shot. I mean, how dare they go on strike when they’ve got these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living?”
While we’re not sure whether Clarkson was “working” while making the comments on BBC television’s One Show, it certainly seems like the celebrity host of Top Gear was joking. But a British union that represents over a million public sector workers isn’t laughing, according to an Associated Press report. Dave Prentis, the general secretary of UNISON, said Clarkson’s comments “were totally outrageous, and they cannot be tolerated.” His group has demanded Clarkson be fired immediately.
While Clarkson’s , his latest gaffe even came to the attention of Prime Minister David Cameron, who vouched for his friend, according to the AP. To his credit, Clarkson has apologized, and so has the BBC.
Right when it looks like , we have this: A consumer protection group is asking the United States Environmental Protection Agency to look into claims that the has exaggerated fuel economy numbers.
Consumer Watchdog sent the EPA a letter citing a litany of public criticism of the compact Elantra’s real-world fuel economy, and asking the EPA to “re-test the 2011 and 2012 Elantra models in its own facility, to seek an explanation for the MPG disappointments of so many Elantra buyers.”
Except that many Elantra buyers are actually satisfied with their mileage. When we asked Hyundai for a response to the allegations, its public relations staff pointed us to a study showing that, “Elantra owners are the happiest in the entire compact segment competitive set in terms of fuel economy.”
Hyundai did note that real-world fuel economy results often differ from EPA label values, but stopped short of writing the whole thing off as “your mileage may vary.” According to Hyundai, when Consumer Reports put the Elantra through its tough city cycle test regimen, the results were consistent with other compact cars, all of which underperformed compared to the EPA test. Hyundai said the Elantra achieved 20 mpg, which was higher than at 19, at 18, and at 17. “These results show rank-order consistency with the EPA results of Elantra (29), Civic (28), Focus (28), and Cruze (22),” said Hyundai.
The Elantra was redesigned for the 2011 model year, and , we averaged 31 mpg over a week of mixed driving, compared to EPA numbers of 29/40/33 city/highway/combined. For 2012, Hyundai has actually added its ActiveECO system that it says can improve fuel economy by up to seven percent. Sales of the Elantra were up 44 percent in November.
After spending with Senior Editor Damon Lavrinc, our long-term moved to southern California to serve our esteemed photographer, Drew Phillips. In early November, I handed Drew the keys to our long-term and stole the Countryman from his driveway. He hasn’t seen it since.
I like the standard hardtop. It is fun to toss the little 2,668-pound two-door around and it delivers decent fuel economy. However, after four weeks of living with this maxi-Mini four-door (a whopping 540 pounds heavier), I have come to the conclusion that bigger isn’t necessarily better – there is simply too much sugar in this Mini’s sweetly flavored drink.
The motoring press hasn’t had the greatest of relationships with the . When the sedan debuted, critics slammed the newest generation as a Walmart interpretation of a model many of us had grown up loving. The nicer-than-expected materials, playful handling and quiet cabin had all been scrapped in favor of a bargain basement price tag wrapped in styling as risky as sunblock in summer. The machine simply felt like the latest casualty of the campaign to become the world’s largest automaker. To make matters worse, buyers didn’t seem to care.
Despite a tide of vitriolic ink that’s risen around the 2012 Jetta, the model has seen an explosion of sales that’s left plenty of critics tapping their microphones and asking, “Is this thing on?” If anything, the exercise has proven that when it comes to moving vehicles in the now fiercely-competitive compact segment, price is still king no matter what the critics say. So, when Volkswagen promised to satiate the model’s longtime fans with a new GLI, the rank smell of skepticism came wafting through newsrooms across the country.
But with a stylish exterior, sporty indoor appointments and an upgraded suspension, the 2012 Volkswagen GLI seemingly makes up for the base model’s deficiencies, at least on paper.
It’s still unclear whether or not the all-new will be offered here in the United States (for reference, the old B-Class was available in Canada, meaning the small Benz hatch has seen plenty of time on North American shores), but these spy shots certainly give us one more reason to lust after the compact Merc. Nearly every model range in the automaker’s lineup benefits from some sort of high-performance AMG variant, and it appears that is working on something sweet for its little B-Class, as well.
Rumored to be dubbed the B25 AMG, this hotter B-Class will likely be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four capable of producing somewhere between 320 and 350 horsepower. That grunt will reportedly be sent to all four wheels via a dual-clutch transmission, though the number of speeds (six or seven) is unclear at this time.
Visually, the AMG will stand apart from the standard B-Class with the addition of larger wheels on lower profile tires, bigger brakes and a more aggressive front end treatment – you know, the standard AMG flare. It certainly seems like a potent package, and if Mercedes-Benz does end up offering the B-Class her in the U.S., we certainly hope the little AMG variant will be part of the lineup.
Ford kicked off its turn-key drag racing program with the , and since then both and have joined the party with the and the recently-introduced . With the competition from its American counterparts Ford hasn’t been able to rest on their laurels, updating the Cobra Jet in both and for . Now, Ford has revealed yet another revised Cobra Jet for 2013, with the car being unveiled at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Florida.
The biggest change for the 2013 Cobra Jet is the availability of two 5.0-liter V8 options that come in either naturally aspirated or supercharged variants, allowing competitors to compete in the NHRA Stock Eliminator category. Further updates to the 2013 Cobra Jet include a lighter body, electric power steering, a new roll cage and new suspension geometry that allows for quicker launches.
As in previous years, just 50 Cobra Jets will be produced for 2013 at the AAI assembly plant alongside road-going Mustangs, with customers being chosen on a first come first served basis. With the new 5.0-liter engine options the base price has dropped to $86,000, and the optional supercharger puts that number closer to the six figure mark. You can read Ford’s official press release , and live photos of the 2013 Cobra Jet at the PRI show can be found in the gallery above.
According to the Associated Press, GM CEO Dan Akerson has said General Motors will buy back any from owners who are concerned about the vehicle’s fire risk. Akerson said that his company isn’t making the move because the plug-in hybrids are unsafe, but because GM is committed to keeping its customers happy. The CEO also said that GM is prepared to recall the 6,000 Volt models currently on the road if the federal government deems such an action necessary. As you may recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that the several days after a severe side-impact crash and rollover.
NHTSA found that the vehicles could ignite anywhere from seven days to three weeks after the initial impact. GM believes the fires are a result of a failure in the battery pack’s cooling system because the NHTSA test involved an intrusion of four-to-five inches into the vehicle’s battery pack. Current testing standards call for no more than two inches of intrusion.
GM initially to any customer concerned with the safety of their Volt, and later said that the battery pack to better guard against this type of failure.
An outfit like keeps a tight product portfolio. Four model lines in all, when it comes down to production models. Even with the various derivatives that follow, that still doesn’t amount to a large number of new debuts from year to year. But as a racing team first and an automaker second, it rolls out a new vehicle at least once a year. What falls between, then, bridges the gap.
What comes in between a road car and an F1 car, you ask? With a rapidly escalation level of crossover in technologies, less and less. But the narrow territory we’re talking about is the XX development program – what Ferrari terms as their elite cadre of “client development drivers.” That is, the customers who are willing to shell out big bucks – and we do mean big bucks – to test out the latest technological developments on the path from F1 cars to road cars.
The program initially launched with the FXX, an Enzo-based track car that was neither homologated for any racing series nor certified for road use (save a handful of well-heeled customers in some small countries where cash can overcome regulation). That was later improved upon with the FXX Evoluzione, an upgrade offered to existing owners/participants in the program. That, in turn, was succeeded by the 599XX, which has now led, somewhat expectedly, to the 599XX Evoluzione.
For another €185,000 (about $250k) over the €1.3 million ($1.75m) purchase price of the initial 599XX – existing buyers-in to the program can opt to upgrade to the Evoluzione model. That includes a two-year extension of factory-backed “test sessions”, as well as a number of upgrades that center primarily around the aerodynamics package. Aside from the giant front splitter that juts out from the nose, you might notice a rear wing that would make a jumbo-jet blush. But it’s not just a big spoiler: it’s an adaptive one, too. Like the DRS mechanism employed in Formula One, the FXX Evo’s rear wing can be opened up for reduced drag on straightaways or closed for increased downforce in the corners.
Coupled with an incidental 30-horsepower increase in output from the 6.0-liter V12 (for 740hp total), the 599XX Evoluzione can now lap Ferrari’s private Fiorano test track in 1:15 – a full second faster than the existing 599XX… or nine seconds ahead of the 599 GTO, the fasted street-legal version of the same road-going GT. But with only 29 examples in existence – the first of which was just unveiled for the first time at the Bologna Motor Show – we’ll just have to wait for the adaptive aero bits to trickle down to the rest of us. Details in the press release .
Top Gear magazine has officially named the its Car Of The Year for 2011 after snagging top honors in the SUV category. Perhaps even more impressively, Jeremy Clarkson also named the Evoque his favorite vehicle of 2011. The compact luxury SUV faced off against the likes of the , McLaren MP4-12C and Ferrari FF among more common offerings. Top Gear celebrated in classic style by taking the Evoque on an African adventure through the deserts and mountains of Morocco. Sure beats handing an anonymous executive some cheesy trophy on stage.
Readers can find the full tale in any of the magazine’s 29 international editions. Clarkson was joined by Richard Hammond, James May, Top Gear magazine editor-in-chief Charlie Turner and the publication’s full editorial and road testing staff in picking the 2011 car of the year. The crew isn’t the only batch of writers to honor the Evoque. The model has soaked up 34 international awards since it debuted. for the full press release.
