Having written a number of pieces on , we have come across surveys that showed a group of people being in favor of the intersection sentinels, but we have never come across a survey in which a majority of people in a particular city actually lobbied for the automated ticket generators. A poll taken by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety changes that. In a survey of people in 14 cities that have had “long-standing” red-light cameras, it found that a majority of people in all but one city were in favor of them. Only Long Beach, CA came in below the cut, at 48 percent. Washington, D.C. topped the ‘yea’-ers with 78 percent.
The IIHS characterizes the results as “Two-thirds of drivers in 14 big cities with longstanding red light camera programs support their use.” Now, we’re not saying they’re wrong, but we would like to see a larger sampling. The release states that “More than 3,000 people in the 14 study cities were interviewed by cellphone and landline between Feb. 19 and March 29,” including folks in Chicago, Phoenix and San Diego. Those three hamlets boast 5,488,632 people, meaning that the survey includes less than a tenth of a percent of the population of those three cities alone, much less the entire 14.
Follow the link for the particulars. But, as Consumer Reportsnotes, with the IIHS saying 56 percent of Houstonians are in favor of cameras, but 53 percent of Houstonians rejecting red light cameras, we’ll go with the voters and not the respondents for now.
Getting ahead as an F1 team is a costly affair. There’s an endless stream of expenses, but even all the cash in the world doesn’t buy experience and expertise.
Virgin initially tried keeping costs down to a minimum with its new F1 team last year. The team skipped wind-tunnel testing in favor of designing its car entirely using computers. It also retained a consulting firm rather than hire the staff usually required of an F1 team. But that approach hasn’t done very well for the team, so it’s starting over again.
The ambitious outfit has its technical director, the services of Pat Symonds (the disgraced former technical director from Renault) and acquired lock, stock and barrel the Wirth Racing Technologies company that handled its cars until now. However the latest development could bode best for the team’s forward momentum.
As anticipated, Virgin has signed a technical partnership with McLaren that will grant the former access to the latter’s considerable facilities and expertise. It’s a similar deal to that signed between McLaren and Force India a couple of years ago, which helped propel Force India from the back of the field into solid midfield contenders. The main difference here is that, while Force India’s deal included using drivetrains, Virgin will, for the time being at least, continue using Cosworth engines. Details in the press release .
For the first time since 1994, one of the famed Piccadilly Lights is changing. The enormous illuminated advertising banners in Piccadilly Circus, London’s equivalent of Times Square, are iconic tourist attractions, as well as monuments to the power of corporate advertising.
Hyundai has managed to finagle itself a spot in Piccadilly Circus, replacing Sanyo, who took over from Panasonic 17 years ago. For the privilege, is expected to pay England’s Land Securities between £1m and £5m a year. For a little perspective on how rare this change is, consider this: Coca-Cola has had its spot in Piccadilly since 1955.
Before Hyundai takes over its spot this fall, Land Securities will change the sign from neon to LED illumination.
Tudor Fastrider Ducati – Click above for high-res images
We come across a seemingly endless array of array of automotive-inspired wristwatches here at Autoblog, but every once in a while we’re treated to something a little different. Like this model that’s made for motorcycle riders and aficionados.
The result of a partnership between Tudor and Ducati, this chronograph packs a Swiss-made automatic mechanical movement with 46-hour power reserve into a 42-milimeter satin-finish steel case, with chronograph subdials and engraved tachymeter scale for timing split-second lap times. Instead of the usual steel bracelet or rubber or leather strap, the Tudor Fastrider offers a NATO strap, made from nylon webbing, that allows it to be securely fitted on the wrist or over a pair of riding gloves.
Rather than rely on a slathering of logos, the Fastrider Ducati says it all with its color scheme: a red face with off-center black racing stripes, the reverse applied to the strap. But like a Ducati motorbike, it don’t come cheap, with prices set around four grand.
Driver flees as Brazilian Stock Car is engulfed in flames – Click above to watch the video
There’s no doubt about it – racing can be a dangerous sport. There are any number of accidents that could leave you injured, paralyzed or worse. Fortunately, safety equipment has managed to keep up in lock-step with our ever-increasing need for speed, which means all but the most heinous of vehicular monstrosities on the race track result in little more than a bruised ego and a check or two with lots and lots of zeros.
Still, sometimes there’s a racing incident that’s just so bizarre we all just have to stand up and take notice. Take, for instance, Tuka Rocha, a driver in the Brazilian Stock Car Championship. After his car (which is a mysteriously sponsored by… ) went up in flames, Rocha was apparently left with no option but to kick open the door and jump for his life. Seriously.
What happens next is equally bizarre. Rocha, seemingly overcome with the kind of joy that can only come from seeing your life pass before your smoke-filled eyes and living to tell the tale, jubilantly dances and waves for several seconds before finally succumbing to his near-death experience and collapsing into a heap in the grass. Safety crews rush to the scene, and soon enough, Rocha is found to be mostly unharmed.
Sound crazy? It is. And you can see for yourself in the video .
1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamica by Pininfarina – Click above for high-res image gallery
Those with the cash are prone to buying . Those with lots of cash buy custom coachbuilt Ferraris. It’s a tradition that’s been revived in recent years with such specials as the , the , the and of course the P4/5 Pininfarina. But decades ago, the application of custom coachwork to Ferrari chassis was the thing to do, and with Pebble Beach coming up next month, Gooding & Company has announced the consignment of some very unique examples.
Among the fifteen classic Ferraris that Gooding will be putting under the hammer in Monterey will be a Vignale-bodied ‘53 Ferrari 375 America, a Touring-bodied 195 Inter from 1950 and a 410 Superamerica (1957), 400 Superamerica Aerodinamica (1963, pictured above) and 250 GT (1955) with coachwork by Pininfarina.
All five were displayed at major auto shows of their day – Turin ‘53, Turin ‘51, Paris ‘57, Geneva ‘63 and Geneva ‘56, respectively – with prices expected to reach well into seven figures when the gavel drops at the Pebble next month. for more details and in the press release and check out the glory in the high-res image gallery.
The and I spent nearly all of May and June together, and during that time, the big sedan began to felt like it was my personal car. The seats began to feel more lived in, technology became more intuitive and even the way the Equus handled different road surfaces became permanently mapped into my brain. But even after six weeks with it, I still never got used to the fact that the Equus was a Hyundai.
It’s still a bit difficult for me to process the fact that Hyundai makes a full-blown luxury rig, and the behavior of others who encountered it tells me I’m not alone. I was continually amazed at the number of requests to sit in the vehicle by people I have never met before in my life. One elderly gentleman – who proved his love of automobiles by showing me a completely tricked-out he had just purchased – went so far as to sit in the driver’s seat. His wife smartly opted for the reclining rear passenger seat, where I showed her all the tricks that make the Equus a livery-ready passenger car. As a reward, I got to sit in the driver’s seat of the 500. I can’t say that I fit comfortably, so my new friends may have gotten the better end of the deal.
Keep your eyes locked on the official for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (, look for the hashtag).
In this case, “patriotic” refers to car shoppers who buy from domestic manufacturers regardless of where their products are actually . Not surprisingly, TheDetroitBureau.com reports that the Big Three are most popular in the Midwest, with more than two-thirds of car sales going to , or . Detroit and Saint Louis were rated the two cities with the largest slice of domestic car buyers with consumers choosing to buy American 67 percent of the time. Cleveland, Ohio came in third with a 59 percent U.S. majority in the CarGurus.com study.
The Detroit News reports that those figures slide off a bit the farther you move toward the coasts. San Francisco shoppers only opt for domestic hardware 27 percent of the time. Los Angeles and San Diego are tied at the same rate. Likewise, East Coast buyers tend to lean more toward import vehicles, with just 32 percent of New Yorkers taking home an American vehicle. Head over to TDB for a full look at the rankings.
2011Chevrolet Silverado HD – Click above for high-res image gallery
Some analysts are concerned that is falling back into old habits by producing far more vehicles than the market can support. Bloomberg is reporting that the automaker’s dealers are currently sitting on a 122-day supply of pickup trucks. That’s more than twice the average for most models.
Meanwhile, competition like the hangs around its lots for about 79 days before finding a home. GM enjoyed similar performance between 2002 and 2010, when its and trucks averaged 79 days on the lot, but now says that the company is producing sufficient volumes to meet demand and that somewhere between 100 and 110 days will be the new normal moving forward.
But analysts interviewed by Bloomberg disagree, saying that a dated product, a slow economic recovery and overzealous production has led to an overstock scenario and that the automaker hasn’t learned any of the painful lessons of its bankruptcy. GM counters by suggesting that trucks require a larger dealer supply because of the variety of weight classes, cab and bed configurations and engine options.
2013 BMW 335i Spy Shots – Click above for high-res image gallery
is continuing to work away on the , and our spy photographers managed to click off a few photos of what appears to be the 335i sedan cranking out a few hot laps at the Nurburgring. The shots show a vehicle with slightly less aggressive camouflage than anything we’ve seen in the past, though details as to what we can expect from the next-generation 3 are still markedly absent. Given that the four-door in the photos is rocking an aggressive dual-exhaust treatment, we’d say there’s likely a forced-induction inline six kicking power to the rear wheels.
If that’s not obvious enough for you, we can even speculate that the tires are probably made of rubber. But don’t quote us on that.
BMW has kept its secrets wrapped up but good concerning the next-generation 3 Series, though there are some whispers kicking around the web indicating that lower-rung trims may slip to a forced-induction four-cylinder engine. Stay tuned.
Blue Angels Ford Mustang GT – Click above for high-res image gallery
has partnered up with for the last several years, producing one-off aviation-themed that are auctioned off to benefit the . Whether it’s the collectible nature of the cars or just plain generosity by those with deep pockets, the cars have always garnered huge bids. Last year, an , and previous years’ cars .
We fully expect there to be plenty of interest in this year’s car as well, with the Blue Angels being chosen as the theme for 2011. The one-off Mustang was built by in Valencia, California, and features an amazing chrome blue paint scheme that pays homage to the famous F/A-18 Hornets. The Spectra Chrome process that was used along with hand painting the graphics took more than 600 hours to complete. A Boss 302 front fascia, custom rear wing and a set of HRE 590RS wheels complete the look of the exterior.
The Blue Angels theme continues inside, drawing inspiration from the pilots’ suits. Dual yellow stripes can be seen on both the seats and seat belts, and the custom Alcantara and leather Recaros each feature an embroidered logo of the Blue Angels’ crest. A few pieces from the parts bin were used inside as well, including the dash-mounted triple gauge pack and the rear seat delete that has also been painted yellow. Even the gauges have been changed to an aviation theme, with the speedometer now displaying “ground speed.”
Performance hasn’t been ignored either. A supercharger system, Ford Racing handling pack and Brembo brakes have all been installed.
If you want to see the Blue Angels Mustang up close, it will be on display inside the Ford Hangar during EAA AirVenture from July 25-31 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Interested in buying the car? You’ll have your chance on July 28 when it goes up for auction. for more details and the official press release from EAA AirVenture.
2012 Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery
buyers in Europe will soon be able to sink their teeth into a special edition version of the company’s . The 2012 Fiesta Sport Special Edition rocks plenty of exterior tweaks and revised interior additions. Expect to see new side skirts along with aggressive spoiler treatments up front and on the rear hatch. Twin-polished exhaust and a chrome-accented grille are also part of the package, as are 17-inch black alloy wheels. Buyers will be able to pick from between seven different exterior color options, including the Black Panther hue used on the rollers.
The Fiesta Sport Special Edition is only available in three-door configuration, and front occupants are treated to black heated leather seats with silver contrast stitching. The stock pedals have been swapped for stainless steel bits and unique floor mats also show up to the party.
The Fiesta has been on European roads since around 2008, so it’s about time for Ford to start rolling out special edition models to keep the public interested. Don’t expect to see this creation on our shores anytime soon, though we certainly wouldn’t mind if it did… for the press release.
2011Chevrolet Cruze – Click above for high-res image gallery
has announced that the automaker is reducing the price of its optional navigation system in the by 50 percent. Buyers who wait for the 2012 model will enjoy an upgraded system for the lowly price of $995, or around $800 more than an excellent on-dash aftermarket nav. The new kit comes with a touch-screen interface and better resolution than the old screen, though users will still be able to make use of physical knobs on the dash to make their selections if they so desire.
According to USA Today, much of the savings comes from the fact that engineers scrapped the 10-gig hard-drive based nav for an SD-based memory system. As a side effect, drivers will no longer be able to pause or record live radio. Seems like a sacrifice that’s well worth $1,000 to us. Expect to see the new nav available on 2LT, LTZ and Eco models when the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze arrives on dealer lots later this month.
Cruze beats Camry, V8 Supercars to race in Austin, HOV stickers expire, 2012 Toyota Camry
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Episode #237 of the Autoblog Podcast is done, a day later thanks to us celebrating the 4th of July holiday. Chris, Zach, Dan and Chris Paukert start with the Chevrolet Cruze outselling the Toyota Camry in June. Other topics include Australia’s V8 Supercar race series invading Austin, California’s Hybrid HOV access stickers expiring and the 2012 Toyota Camry. Your questions and comments finish us up, and live podcasts will be back soon at our . We’ve embedded our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #237:
In the Autoblog Garage
Hosts: , , , Runtime: 01:12:19
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President Barack Obama is set to name Jay Williams, the Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, as his head of the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. The post was created by executive order in 2009 shortly after both and declared their respective bankruptcies. Williams is expected to resign as mayor before taking up the post in August.
The Detroit News reports that the automotive industry lost somewhere around 400,000 jobs between 2008 and 2009. Since then, just 115,000 of those positions have been added back into the mix. President Obama is set to sign another order on June 6 that will ask multiple agencies to work with the Labor Department to help offset challenges facing automotive communities.
The Government Accountability Office, meanwhile, says that Congress should consider refusing to fund the new office on the grounds that the Obama administration should provide more details as to how funds will be used to assist communities in trouble. Some municipalities have yet to receive any aid from the program. Detroit, for example, hasn’t seen any funds while neighboring Flint brought in $6.8 million to help keep firefighters on the job.
Ola Nilsson slips in victory champagne – Click above to watch video
There are innumerable perils associated with driving a race car. From the bloodthirsty competitors nipping at your back bumper to breakneck speeds to notoriously unforgiving crash barriers, death and bodily harm loom at every apex. One might think that after successfully vanquishing the competition and taking a checkered flag for your very own that you’d get the chance to relax for half a second without having to worry about your relatives cashing in on your substantial life insurance policy. Not so for Ola Nilsson, a Swedish driver in the 2011Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup.
Nilsson apparently managed to beat out the rest of the field at the Norisring in Nuremberg to take the top spot on the podium and was busy showering his competitors with victory champagne when he stepped down, lost his footing in the bubbly and went down. But, hey – if you’re going to make a fool of yourself in front of God, the internet and everyone else, you might as well do it soaked in victory bubbly. to see the oops moment for yourself.
2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery
has a hankering for cranking out powerful luxury cars all day long. The power-hungry engineers at AMG take those vehicles and play crazy games with the horsepower and torque antes. Occasionally, Mercedes and AMG let the uncorked mad scientists loose and a Black Series vehicle is born. What you’re looking at above is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series coupe making an unscheduled debut, and that cackling noise you hear is the sound of a wild-eyed, frizzy-haired engineer welcoming his creation into the world.
Rumor has it that this super coupe will pump out 517 horses and 472 pound-feet of torque. Thanks to a slight reduction in weight and a broader track, the C63 AMG Black Series should be a beast on the street and at the track. We’ll wait for official figures (and some sweet sweet seat time) before providing real claims on what this two-door is capable of. Still, we’re giddy just from looking at these photos.
The man they call Maximum Bob had visions of becoming Governor Maximum Bob. When the former vice chairman of saw his tenure with automaker drawing to a close, Bob Lutz considered running for governor of Michigan. It appears this was merely a brief consideration, ahead of the 2010 election.
A gubernatorial run faded into an afterthought once Lutz was informed of the sheer volume of cash he would need to spend on a campaign. Couple the amount of money with a never-ending sea of meetings and appearances along the campaign trail, and Lutz apparently realized this wasn’t a pool he felt like diving into.
Since it’s nothing more than a thought exercise at this point, why not take a moment to cast a completely meaningless vote in our poll below. Come on, Lutz, we’re pulling for ya.
and may have separate product lineups, but the two Korean automakers are owned by the same company. But while the two companies have shared platforms and engines on most occasions, for some reason, Hyundai received a rear-drive platform and the impressive Tau V8 engines for its range while Kia was left out of the fun.
That could change with the introduction of the , which has been rumored to arrive in 2012, but does Kia have more plans for rear-wheel-drive and maybe even a V8 engine? The UK’s What Car? is reporting that Kia is looking to get quite a bit sportier in the future, suggesting that the automaker will release a pair of rear-drive coupe concepts to gauge interest. The first eight-pot coupe will reportedly show up for duty at the Frankfurt Motor Show, followed by a second concept car at the Detroit Auto Show in January. If public opinion of the rumored concepts is strong, What Car? claims a production model could ensue for 2015.
What Car? also renews speculation that Kia is eying a competitor to the . The would-be roadster would be small and light, but importantly, it may not be rear-drive. Word is that the drop-top could utilize the platform of the next generation . While we’re all for another compact roadster, we’d add that in order to truly compete with the , rear-drive should definitely be part of the equation. Those with really long memories will recall that Kia has already experimented with small front-drive roadsters designed to take on the Miata – it briefly retained the rights to build its own version of the second-generation Elan (M100) back in the late 1990s.
President Barack Obama is set to name Jay Williams, the Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, as his head of the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. The post was created by executive order in 2009 shortly after both and declared their respective bankruptcies. Williams is expected to resign as mayor before taking up the post in August.
