Think fuel prices are high in the United States? What Yanks pay is nothing to what our former colonial masters are forced to shell out at the pumps, as reports come in of record-high prices in the UK.
According to the BBC, prices have hit an all-time high of 121.76p per liter in the United Kingdom. The numbers work out to $7.27 per gallon in American terminology, but the record doesn’t take inflation into account. To put the current British petrol prices into perspective, consider that it will now cost English soccer moms in Chelsea over $163 (!) to fill up their BMW X5s.
The worst news for British motorists is that this isn’t even the end of it: with both the Value Added Tax (VAT) and fuel duties scheduled to rise again in the new year, next month is anticipated to go even higher. As Edmund King, head of the UK’s Automobile Association put it, “for those people dependent on road transport, it’s not looking like a very happy Christmas or indeed New Year.” Indeed.
It seems like new feeder series on the ladder up to Formula One are popping with increased frequency. GP2 kicked off in 2005, which then gave birth to GP3. Formula 2 was re-inaugurated in 2009, while other series like A1GP, Superleague Formula and Auto GP come and go. All the while, Formula 3 has remained a fragmented category with no cohesive international championship. That is, until now.
The FIA has announced a new international level of Formula 3 racing that promises to draw the best up-and-coming talents from the open-wheel racing world. Instead of superseding or replacing any of the national or regional series currently in place, the F3 International Trophy will string together several events from existing series along with some others to crown a world champion.
The six-round calendar for the inaugural championship is set to include the Macau Grand Prix in China (pictured above), the Zandvoort Masters in the Netherlands, and a support race (currently part of the British F3 series) for the Spa 24 Hours in Belgium, while reviving the erstwhile dormant Pau Grand Prix in France and kicking off new races at Hockenheim (date TBA) and Yeongam (in support of the Korean Grand Prix). The top three drivers at season’s end will qualify for an F1 superlicense, giving them a much-coveted shot at the big leagues.
The 2011 model year represents an all-new generation of the Nissan Quest. It’s a stylish people hauler that should spice up the competition among industry heavyweights like the , , and .
It may also be popular with entertainment-seeking grown-ups. We’re not talking about concerts or sporting events, but rather the type of windowless entertainment facilities that require a trip to the ATM beforehand… and then another trip a few songs later. Yes, as you see above, an “Adult Entertainment” category is part of the Quest navigation system’s POI database. This functionality may, in fact, be included in other Nissan and/or products – or GPS systems from other automakers – but this is the first time we’ve seen it anywhere.
In any case, this proves that the 2011 Nissan Quest isn’t just a capable kid-hauler – it’s equally qualified for bachelor party duty. Thanks for the tip, Keith!
GM CEO Dan Akerson being presented Motor Trend’s 2011 Truck of the Year award
Motor Trend is following up its somewhat controversial decision to crown the with a safer call for its 2011 Truck of the Year award. The was announced as the magazine’s TOTY during a ceremony before the 111th Army-Navy Game at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, giving General Motors’ volume brand a pair of golden calipers to crow about all next year.
Chevy’s heavy-duty version of its Silverado pickup truck was significantly upgraded this year, though it faced a tough pair of competitors in the equally improved and the also-upgraded . The Sierra HD looks almost identical on the outside compared to the 2010 model, but Chevy engineers worked magic on all the mechanicals beneath the surface. A significantly more powerful Duramax turbodiesel, excellent six-speed transmissions, reworked suspension and fully boxed frame were enough to put the Silverado HD ahead of its corporate cousin and crosstown rival in the minds of Motor Trend editors.
Curiously, the magazine claims it doesn’t often have an apples-to-apples fight for its Truck of the Year award, but this year just happened to line up a trio of new-enough heavy duty pickups. The only truck missing was the Ram Heavy Duty, which was new for 2010. Chevy should probably be glad the Ram HD missed the cut off mark, as Dodge’s heavy hauler holds the crown as .
Grille Flasks by Nicholas Brawer – Click above for high-res image gallery
Let us go on the record once again as stating that we at Autoblog don’t condone drinking and driving. But to suggest that those who love cars can’t also enjoy the occasional adult beverage is another matter entirely. For such a crowd, craftsman Nicholas Brawer has just the thing.
Joining a collection that includes a replica mahogany wind tunnel model of an aerial bomb and a portable roulette wheel comes this unique set of collectables – a selection of ornamental decanters styled after the radiator grilles of classic , , , and automobiles. All five come in the set, each crafted to scale from chrome and glass. They assuredly don’t come cheap, but they may just do the trick for the discerning enthusiast on your shopping list.
Louisville plant is old and out-of-date, but that’s about to change with a $600 million cash infusion. Ford says that the forthcoming overhaul will make the facility the automaker’s most flexible plant in the world, while adding an additional 1,800 union jobs to handle increased production.
Construction at the facility will commence later this month, with new tooling and equipment pouring in. Ford will re-open the Louisville plant in late 2011, in time to produce the next-generation while “providing future manufacturing flexibility.” In other words, Ford will be able to add other models to the facility as demand shifts.
News of Ford’s Louisville plant upgrade is likely good for those who live and work in the region, and the state of Kentucky is showing its appreciation with tax incentives. Ford will receive up to $240 million in tax breaks over the next 10 years. Hit the jump to read over Ford’s press release.
To say that sales of alt-energy vehicles in China have been dismal would be an understatement. Despite investing million into advanced alternative fuel powertrains, the Global Times reports that many Chinese automakers are facing the tough decision to either ditch their green car plans or continue on with sales that are far below expectations.
Due to poor sales volume, Changan Auto has pulled the plug on its . According to the company, not a single Jiexun was sold during the last year. , reporting that it has sold only 54 and just 290 between January and October of this year. Even admits that sales volume, which has been at less than 4,000 for each of the past three years, is below the company’s expectations.
Many Chinese automakers have voiced concerns and are calling upon the government to help boost sales of advanced-technology vehicles. So far, however, buyers have shown little interest in purchasing the high-tech rides that often come with steep price tags.
Does a crossover make sense? If you’re , it certainly does. Speaking to Autocar, Hallmark said that Jaguar “needs a crossover and needs to stop being a saloon-based company.” We’re a bit confused as to exactly why Jaguar needs a CUV when the typical Jaguar shopper could .
Hallmark adds that a Jaguar XF wagon will appear shortly. That, we like, but with Jaguar making noise about a crossover, we find it hard to imagine an XF station wagon ever rolling into US showrooms. Hallmark goes on to say that lightweight cars will become part of the brand’s future DNA.
Wait, so how does this crossover fit in with the brand again?
Just days ago, Fiat rolled out one of several upcoming special edition models. The new 500 Bicolore, pictured above, made its debut at the Bologna Motor Show. Details are limited, but as its name implies, the Bicolore model features a two-tone paint scheme in candy-apple red and white. Fiat finishes off the changes to the Bicolore by fitting it with unique alloy wheels and trimming the interior with some chrome accents.
Fiat describes the Bicolore as “an unprecedented combination that recalls the retro world of ’50s American cars and pop art.” The automaker continues, calling the special edition 500 a model “that celebrates the car’s more eco-friendly and sporty spirits.” The Bicolore is powered by available: the turbocharged two-cylinder 0.9-liter , which cranks out 85 horsepower.
The Bicolore is just one of several special edition 500 models that Fiat plans to launch in the coming months, so stay tuned for more.
Racing across the country via Google Street View – Click above to watch the video
Driving across the United States is no simple task. As our own editors John Neff and Damon Lavrinc , it takes a few days, a lot of planning and plenty of Red Bull to successfully motor across the good ol’ U-S-of-A. However, our tech-savvy culture now allows us to virtually experience the open road through the magic of Google Street View, and two men took it upon themselves to see if you could “drive” from California to New York only using Google’s street-mapping software.
It took 90 hours and 104,619 mouse clicks, but these two gents successfully piloted their way across the United States (San Francisco to New York) all through the magic of the internet. Some 2,958 miles were covered in this webtastic task, and you can check out a full recap of the events in the video, .
The holiday season is in full swing, and that means holiday parties are in no short supply, filled with people wearing horrible sweaters. It also means booze is readily available, and the opportunity to drive after having too much to drink is at fever pitch. According to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 30 million folks will drive drunk in an average year while another 10 million get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs. Approximately 13.2 percent of Americans over the age of 16 drove under the influence of alcohol this past year, and in some states, the amount of drunk drivers in the past year is well into the 20-percent range. A bit higher numbers than the before turning the ignition key.
f you hit the road in Wisconsin, keep a sharp eye on the cars around you because 23.7 percent of drivers drove drunk this year. The same can be said for North Dakota where 22.4 percent of the driving population should have taken a cab. Rhode Island and Vermont are high on the list of states that prefer drugs to alcohol with 7.8 and 6.6 percent of drivers impaired by illicit drugs, respectively.
On the other end of the scale sit states like Utah and Mississippi that see just 7.4 and 8.7 percent of alcohol-impaired folks getting behind the wheel. New Jersey and Iowa, at 2.9 and 3.2 percent respectively, have the lowest rate of drivers operating an automobile while under the influence of drugs. It’s not all bad news however because the nationwide figure of 13.2 percent has declined from 14.6 percent of people driving while drunk. The number of folks driving while on drugs has also fallen with a previous average of 4.8 percent to this past years nationwide average of 4.3 percent.
With fuel economy and emissions standards growing tighter by the day, the minds at Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru’s parent company, unveiled the third-generation of their boxer engine recently. Find out how much it improves the 2011 Forester.
Right on schedule, Audi has pulled the sheets off its next-generation Le Mans prototype. Now with a closed roof.
Russ Swift and Mini teamed up for a video to declare that the Cooper is the arch enemy of boredom.
David Higgins joins Subaru Rally Team USA – Click above to watch video
The speculation over exactly who will be taking Travis Pastrana’s spot in the driver’s seat with Subaru Rally Team USA can officially be put to rest. David Higgins will be the new man in blue and yellow. Higgins has a résumé that’s chock full of rally wins, from championship titles in SCCA rally here in the states in 2002 and 2003 to a British National Rally Championship title in 2004. The guy also managed to walk away with a championship wins in group N in the British National Rally in 1997, 1999 and 2002.
Needless to say, the guy’s got the chops to keep the pace.
plans to campaign two cars next season, and while Higgins is the newest member of the team, the leader of the pack will BMX guru and rally beast Dave Mirra. Mirra managed to snag a Rookie of the Year award from Rally America for his efforts last season and took a slot on the podium during the Rally America Olympus event among others. for a look at a video of Higgins doing what he does best as well as the full press blast.
Charles Jordan, better known as ‘Chuck,’ was the driving force behind the modern design era at . After graduating from MIT in 1949, Jordan joined the GM design staff in the role of Junior Engineer. Throughout the years, Chuck Jordan rose through the ranks and designed some amazing vehicles. One notable design includes the .
Other vehicles that you may have heard of, which featured Jordan’s guidance, include:
-1958
-1959 Eldorado
-1968 Opel GT
-1970 Opel Manta
-1992 Cadillac STS
That is just a partial list that can be filled with the Oldsmobile Aurora, a handful of models and a lot of stylish concepts.
Chuck Jordan was just the fourth person elected to the position of Vice President of Design, a position he held from 1986 until his retirement in 1992. He passed away in the evening hours of Thursday, December 9.
It sounds like is getting ready to square off against the Opel Meriva small minivan in Europe. According to Automotive News, Ford will be bringing an all-new B-segment van to next year’s Geneva Motor Show. The Blue Oval’s European arm is keeping the details of the vehicle close to its chest, but from what we understand, the new minivan should begin production toward the end of 2012. The company has already made it clear that its Craiova, Romania facility will be tasked with constructing a new B-segment fighter sometime soon, and news has it that the vehicle will be more people mover than hatchback.
If true, that means that the new van is likely to carry the B-Max moniker to keep in line with creations like the C-Max and S-Max. In Europe, Ford has relied on its aging Fusion people mover to carry the company in the small-car segment, and the aging platform has begun to slip over the past few years. While it once held the number two slot, the Fusion has fallen to be the fifth most popular vehicle among the B-segment vans.
Regardless of whether or not the B-Max can knock the Meriva off of its throne, we aren’t likely to see it here in the states.
2011 Kia Sorento – Click above for high-res image gallery
is setting up the streamers and the champagne is on ice. The 100,000th crossover just went home with a new owner and it marks the first U.S.-built Kia vehicle to pass that milestone. For the past 11 months, the Sorento has been the brand’s sales leader and it was only a matter of time before 100,000 of the crossovers took up residence in American driveways.
The Kia Sorento is built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, which is located in city of West Point. It . KMMG has an annual capacity of 300,000 units so perhaps the 100,000th sale is just the beginning of many more Sorento sales for the United States.
Gallery:
Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL
2011 Holden VE Series II Commodore – Click above for high-res image gallery
Since 1978, the Holden Commodore has been roaring across the land down under. It’s worn a plethora of body styles ranging from coupe and sedan to wagon and ute, brought the to American soil and sold over 44,000 units last year in Australia. During its run, the Holden Commodore has been a rear-wheel drive vehicle, but new reports state that the front-engine/rear-drive layout may not be in the cards for much longer.
The next-generation Commodore is going to appear by 2015 and it’s possible that may switch it to a front-wheel drive car. The goal is increased fuel-efficiency for GM’s large cars and the front-wheel drive platforms are the ones set up to deliver the highest fuel efficiency.
The Holden Commodore could ride on the Super Epsilon II platform, which will also make its way into the next Chevrolet Impala and the upcoming Cadillac XTS. Sure, we understand why an automaker would look to make this change but it doesn’t mean we have to like it. We prefer our Maltidas waltzing and our Commodores drifting.
Soon we can all say goodbye to the high-revving V8s currently shrieking their way around the world’s Formula One circuits. F1 has officially enacted new rules that require all teams to run a new turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine design by 2013. In addition, the maximum engine speed will be reduced from the current 18,000 rpm to a maximum of 12,000 rpm.
All told, the changes are expected to allow the vehicles to use around 35 percent less fuel than the outgoing eight-pots, even while churning out very similar power numbers. While neither the FIA nor F1 organizers are willing to throw out any solid numbers, there is word that the engines will use high-pressure gasoline injectors that can dump fuel into the combustion chamber at up to 7,251 psi.
Atomization? Yeah, it looks like they’ve got that covered.
Interestingly enough, F1 is also moving to limit the number of engines (again) that a team can use during a season. Right now, the rules allow for a stable of eight engines, though by 2013, that number will drop to five before falling to four soon after. That would mean on top of nabbing better fuel economy and yielding high power, the new lumps will need to be stout enough to take the abuse of multiple races without popping. Here’s to the future. Thanks for the tip, Franz!
Audi R18 LMP1 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Right on schedule, has pulled the sheets off its next-generation Le Mans prototype. As had been rumored before the unveil, the R18 has abandoned the open-top design of its forefathers – the R8, R10 and R15 Plus – for a closed canopy to improve aerodynamics and reduce driver fatigue. The company hasn’t worked with a clamshell since 1999, and we’re guessing is has more than a little to do with Peugeot’s 2009 Le Mans win. That victory is the only wrinkle in the Audi’s domination of the world’s most difficult motorsports race, and it’s no small coincidence that work on the R18 began in mid 2009.
The R18 gets its grunt from a 3.7-liter TDI V6 engine, and while Audi isn’t saying exactly how much horsepower or torque the oil-burner produces, we have to guess that the figures are nothing to sneeze at. Behind the engine is a new six-speed transmission, though the innovations aren’t simply chained to the drivetrain. Audi used a single-piece construction carbon fiber monocoque to keep weight down and increase stiffness, and those epic all-LED headlights are the first make their way to Le Mans.
While Audi is planning to campaign a total of three R18 racers at the 2011 Le Mans race this summer, the vehicle’s first appearance will be at the six hours of Spa on April 24. to see the full press release.
Earlier this week, the ink dried on a deal for Navteq to acquire , the speed trap and road hazard tracking company that makes GPS apps for iPhone, Android and Blackberry. Navteq’s interest in Trapster is obvious: One of the world’s largest mapping and sat-nav software companies needs more crowd-sourced traffic information. With over nine million downloads, Trapster has both the reach and programming knowledge to expand the depth and breadth of the firm’s traffic data.
According to Autoblog sources familiar with the matter, five companies were interested in acquiring Trapster, and an outright bidding war was waged by three of the startup’s suitors. In the end, Navteq brought home the brass ring for an undisclosed amount.
Trapster was established in 2003, growing considerably once it received funding in March of 2009 which allowed it to bring on a handful of employees.
Trapster users can expect their service to remain intact, and with the engineering resources of Navteq integrated with the current apps, traffic, road hazard and maybe even police data stands to increase considerably.
Charles Jordan, better known as ‘Chuck,’ was the driving force behind the modern 
Earlier this week, the ink dried on a deal for Navteq to acquire , the speed trap and road hazard tracking company that makes GPS apps for 
