Insurance just completed its annual survey of driver knowledge, and the results don’t look good. Of those questioned, drivers proved to know the least about the rules of the road, with 20 percent failing the written exam and 85 percent not knowing basic information like what to do when approaching a yellow light. The trend continued for most of the North East with the region managing the lowest average test score of 74.9 percent.
Meanwhile, the Mid-West took the highest average test score by region with 77.5 percent average. It turns out drivers are the most knowledgeable of traffic laws. The state’s residents managed to pull down an average test score of 82.3 percent. GMAC surveyed a total of 5,000 licensed drivers from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. for its research, and looked into distracted driving issues as well.
GMAC didn’t provide average test scores for the entire nation, but we can guess they’re nothing to brag about. Our country’s approach to is outdated and underfunded at best, and hand-me-down at worst. Bi-annual testing, behind-the-wheel training (complete with an understanding of vehicle control in emergency situations) and law-enforcement for infractions other than speeding would be a good place to start. It ain’t gonna be cheap, but it certainly would be worth it in lives and insurance costs.
McLaren MP4-12C (above) and McLaren F1 (top) – Click above for high-res image gallery
The McLaren MP4-12C has barely hit the market yet, and already reports are surfacing of new variants. Last year we were already seeing reports of a in the works. Then reports of a potential trickled out a few months later. Now, word from across the pond is that McLaren Automotive is planning on squeezing an extra couple of seats into the MP4-12C to make it a proper 2+2.
With an enlarged cabin, the 2+2 would be the first four-seater to roll out of Woking – most of their chassis, after all, are single-seaters – but it wouldn’t be the first McLaren with more than two seats: The famous McLaren F1 supercarfeatured a unique 1+2 configuration with a central driving position, a setup McLaren abandoned for the MP4. With the 2+2 version, it looks like at least one of your dates will have to sit in the back. Good luck smoothing that one over there, slick.
Cobra Technology and Lifestyle dual-mode exhaust – Click above to watch video
German tuner Cobra Technology and Lifestyle has developed a range of aesthetic and performance parts for the coupe and roadster. One of them is an exhaust with a remote-controlled butterfly valve that allows the driver to control how loud it bellows. Delivering the same kind of effect you’d get by revving an Aston above 4,500 rpm, you can buy 120-mm pipes with a flap that ranges from “discrete sportiness to pure racing sound.”
You can check it the sound range in the video . Even with the flaps open it doesn’t seem bad at all, but it might still come in handy for those hamlets where any kind of .
1993 Toyota Celica All-Trac – Click above for image gallery
During the late ’80s and early ’90s, American buyers were stuck with the over-regulated, hollowed-out versions of hot metal available in Japan and Europe. While our friends across the Pacific were busy driving things with and GT-R badges, we had to be content to import parts and spin our own wrenches just to get a fraction of the performance available to buyers straight from the factory outside of the States. One of the few companies to actually throw us yanks a bone was, believe it or not, . Before the company resorted to selling the automotive equivalent of bran flakes, you could find legendary cars like the Supra and Celica All-Trac lurking in the dark corners of U.S. dealer lots.
Thanks to silver screen exploits, every Pep Boys parking lot knows about the Supra, but the Celica All-Trac remains far less celebrated – and far more rare. By the fifth generation, the car couldn’t have been any more different from its plebian brethren. The All-Trac abandoned its native front-wheel drive for a sophisticated all-wheel drive system born on the rally stages of the world, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produced a lofty 200 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque – big numbers considering the Ford Mustang GT of the day managed a measly 220 horsepower.
Needless to say, these puppies are rare, and it’s nearly impossible to find one that hasn’t been ran hard and put away wet. That makes this particular eBay find beyond special. A one-owner, 1993 Toyota Celica All-Trac with a scant 40,500 miles, it’s as cherry as cherry can be. You can find it in Marietta, Georgia with three days left on the clock and a reserve not yet met with the bidding at $8,670 as of publish time. Check the full listing . Thanks for the tip, James!
advertising gurus have a big job ahead of them when it comes to supplementing their longstanding (and intentionally arrogant) “Ultimate Driving Machine” slogan with the company’s new “Joy” campaign. Bimmer fanboys had lived and died by the company’s proclamation of superiority for years, so it’s going to take some coaxing to get BMW loyalists to swallow the new ads. Fortunately, BMW has never been one to skimp on advertising dollars, and the company has pulled a stunt in to make sure the ball gets rolling in the right direction.
BMW has used two buildings for a massive, unique 3D projection display right in the middle of downtown Suntec City. Talk about cool. Two massive hands appear to disassemble the structures and rearrange them for their own diabolical, Joy-soaked plans. You can to see the whole shindig for yourself. Thanks for the tip, John!
Now here’s a juicy rumor. Word on the web is that may be looking to step back into the auto-design mainstream by revisiting one of his former employers. Don’t expect new models to be wearing any of the guy’s influences though. From what we understand from our Google Translator, Caradisiac believes that Bangle would be the perfect choice for Fiat to give its products an extra level of pizzazz as the company wades even deeper into international waters.
On one level, the move makes sense. After all, Bangle called Fiat home before he moved to BMW in 1991, and the designer cut his teeth and made a name for himself while working on the likes of the Fiat Coupe way back when. But we haven’t heard word one from the designer about making a return to the mainstream auto world.
For now, we’ll simply file this one under rampant rumor and wishful thinking. Fiat isn’t having any trouble cranking out stylish products, and one would think the company has its hands too full dealing with bringing back to life to bring on a big name like Bangle. Doesn’t hurt to ponder “what if?” though, especially since the guy’s dried up in March.
Next generation BMW 6 Series convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery
has had a remarkably steady flow of new product hitting the market in the last couple of years, and now that the latest 5 Series is starting to hit the streets and the X3 is coming this fall, one of the next models in line for a rework is the 6 Series.
The new coupe and convertible will be the last of the “Bangle Butt” models to go under the knife, and none too soon. The redesigned convertibles have been running everywhere from Arvidsjaur, Sweden to the Nurburgring since last winter, but always with the top up. The latest batch of images from our intrepid spy shooters show a test driver enjoying a bit Munich sunshine in the spring.
When the new 6 debuts publicly either later this year or early next we’re expecting it to feature much of the same design language we’ve seen on the latest 5, 7 and Z4, with tight side sculpting, stretched headlamps and an overall look that is both cleaner and more muscular than before.
2010 Hummer H3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Would the last one out the door please switch off the lights? The long strange trip that has been the brand is just about over for . The final ever production rolled out of GM’s Shreveport, Louisiana factory on Monday May 24, 2010 on its way to an Avis rental car outlet. As you may recall, GM had actually stopped assembling H3s in mid-2009 as it went through bankruptcy, but it resumed production recently in order to .
GM tried to sell the Hummer brand to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines Co., Ltd but last February. A subsequent offer from Raser Technologies also went nowhere. Now that production has ceased, 200 of the 900 remaining employees at Shreveport will be laid off by July and the rest of the Hummer staff back at headquarters in Detroit is either leaving or .
2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT – click above for high-res gallery
Over the last few months, we’ve had some time to come to grips with how comfy and capacious the interior is in our long-term , but despite this, we think it could still do with a sportier feeling cabin. A big part of the staidness of the interior can be blamed on our test car’s spears of orangey woodgrain trim – we would have gladly substituted the silver trim in lower-rung models, but it wasn’t an option.
Thankfully, has recognized the incongruity – and the opportunity – and they’re substituting faux carbon fiber , which ought to be a great improvement and help sell the ‘performance’ aura. Better still, they’re adding aluminum pedal covers and silver seat stitching which should definitely liven up the place a bit.
Pricing for the 2011 model – now in ‘Limited’ trim only – goes up by $405 to $31,395. but includes Harman/Kardon audio with XM – two items that cost extra in our 2010. They’re also adding folding side mirrors, which should make at least one AB commenter we’ve heard from very happy. Either way the modest price increase is money very well spent in our book. Now, if Subaru would only make its excellent Xenon headlamps available as an option (they’ve already got the next to the power mirror controls), we’d be even happier campers…
Updates on our year-long experience with this Subaru can be found by checking out its . Bookmark it, subscribe to our RSS feed and (#ablongterm) as we travel along the road ahead with our Legacy 2.5GT.
Gallery:
Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Porsche 918 Spyder – Click above for high-res image gallery
made an impressive showing at the with its . But don’t think for even one power-boosted second that its hybrid initiative was a one-time affair for the Stuttgart-based automaker. Not, at least, if the latest reports from Germany prove accurate.
According to Auto Motor und Sport, mere days after the conclusion of this year’s race, Porsche is already preparing to campaign a competition-spec version of the 918 Spyder at the Ring next year. The 918 Spyder concept just a few months ago at the Geneva Motor Show to rave reviews. Derived from the same program that gave birth to the 917, 911 GT1 and RS Spyder, the 918 Spyder packs 718 horsepower of combined output, 90 miles per gallon and a simulated Nordschleife lap time of 7:30, making it an ideal machine to contest the grueling endurance race. We’ll just have to wait a year to find out whether it lives up to its promise or falls victim to arch-rival BMW.
2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery
Bloomberg is reporting that will again be bit by the , this time due to steering problems with its , LS 460L, LS 600h and LS 600h L. The recall, reportedly announced by Toyota spokesperson Mieko Iwasaki, will cover 11,500 models globally, including 3,800 units in the States. The company says that some customers in Japan have complained that the front wheels don’t turn to their original position quickly enough after executing a turn, and the issue is reportedly both mechanical and software related
The reported recall comes just one month after the Lexus , was that was discovered by Consumer Reports. Toyota recalled 9,400 GX460 SUVs in the U.S. and 13,000 units globally. The Lexus LS recall is not currently listed on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, and there is no word yet regarding which model year(s) will be covered under the recall.
2011 BMW M5 – Click above for high-res image gallery
, of 2011 BMW M5 spy shots. It never fails. But this latest smattering of pics shows off even more of the Bavarian luxo-bomber’s exterior, including its shapely, -inspired fascia, bulging hood and camo-covered (and trademarked) fender vents aft of the front wheels.
Naturally, the rest is comprised of standard bits, but those massive, drilled rotors and 10-spoke BBS wheels speak to the heart of the matter. And speaking of the heart – if you weren’t already aware – expect the all-new to be packing upwards of 560 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque from its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. With the recent onslaught of photos, the next M5 is right around the bend, and we should get our first glimpse within the next few months.
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO #4675GT – Click above for high-res image gallery
Back in February we reported that RM Auctions was conducting a worth an estimated $16-20 million. This past week, the auction house announced that they had found a buyer for the car, but released limited details on the sale.
According to The Sun, however, the buyer is none other than British radio host Chris Evans, who also at an RM auction. The 250 GTO tops his previous purchase, though, at a reported £12 million (or approximately $18 million USD). Apparently, Evans had to sell three other Ferraris in his collection to make the purchase, and he plans to drive the car on the road.
While that’s a lot of money, Evans’ car actually wound up costing less than some other 250 GTOs. For instance, another recent example that traded hands was rumored to have a . To top all those, a earlier this month, making it the most expensive car of all time. Hit the jump for the press release from RM and check out Evans’ latest toy in the gallery below.
Minivan commercials typically showcase to potential customers as many creature comforts as possible in the span of 30 seconds. That makes perfect sense, right? uses just such a time-tested formula for its latest commercial, but there is a bit of a catch. See, while the ad shows off the Grand Caravan’s FLO TV, voice activated navigation and available WI-FI hotspot tech, it also appears to have been written by the Mad Hatter.
The ad is called Turncoat, and the tagline is, “It has everything, so you can do anything.” So far, so good. But wait. A bunch of guys are driving through the desert in three black Caravans on the way to the emergency room. Apparently, the world is looking for surrogates. Weird. We can’t even begin to understand what the hell is going on here, so we’re going to let you and view it for yourself. And if you get it, feel free to explain it to us in the post-jump comments.
Added bonus: Check out the second, equally puzzling Grand Caravan commercial after the jump. The spot appears to be a cross between West Side Story and CATS, the musical. Seriously.
Forza 3 Exotic Car Pack DLC – Click above for high-res screen-shot gallery
There are exotics, and then there are exotics. Some are relatively commonplace, like , or . But some are decidedly, well… exotic. Like , and Moslers, to name just a few. Those most exotic of exotics are the contents of the latest downloadable content package for Forza 3, the hit racing game for the Xbox 360.
Called, suitably enough, the Exotic Car Pack, it contains the , Weismann GT MF5, , , , , , and , plus an Australian exotic called the . The package costs 400 Microsoft points (equivalent to $5) on Xbox Live, but you can check them out now in the high-res screen-shot gallery below and the video .
The new hasn’t even gone on sale yet here in North America but there are now reports that might add a diesel engine option. According to , BMW will add diesel engine options to two more models in addition to the and already sold here with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six diesel.
The 3.0-liter with 265 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque would be ideally suited to the new 5 Series and has already been calibrated to pass U.S. 50 state emissions regulations. We drove a previous generation European specification two years ago, which was quite the stormer while also being extremely fuel efficient. A 535d would also go a long way towards helping BMW meet new CAFE regulations here in the U.S.
The second diesel addition could be one of several models. Diesel versions of the and both seem unlikely since BMW is already offering hybrid versions of both. The more likely scenario is the installation of the company’s in either the or . In twin-turbocharged form, this engine produces 204 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, plenty for either car with a combined fuel economy in the 35-40 mpg range.
2010 Audi A5 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The all-new and won’t be the only vehicles in line-up to benefit from the automaker’s new eight-speed gearbox. According to dealer order guides released for the 2011 model year, the octo-cog-swapper is set to proliferate throughout the Audi line-up in the next year, with the automaker aiming for around 70% of it U.S. sales volume to come equipped with the new gearbox.
For the 2011 model year, the 2.0 TFSI quattro sedan and will come packing the eight-speed tranny, along with the 2.0 TFSI quattro coupe and cabriolet (the manual six-speed will only be available on the coupe). In addition, the revised Q7, with its new high- and low-output 3.0-liter supercharged V6s (cribbed from the and ), will replace the 3.6-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 for the 2011 model year. Both engines, along with the new 3.0-liter TDI, will come equipped with the eight-speed auto.
Finally, Audi quietly revealed the 2.0 TFSI inline-four-equipped Q5 at the New York Auto Show, and part of the new package will also include the eight-speed ‘box.
Sales of the eight-speed automatic-equipped models will begin this fall, each delivering improved fuel economy, quicker downshifts and, thanks to its compact packaging, no additional weight gain over the standard six-speed tiptronic.
The next-generation (or is that ?) Durango (or is that ?) has been spotted yet again now wearing much less camouflage than ever before. Aside from front and rear fascia covers, the vehicles are down to just -style swirly wraps.
What is apparent is that the new unibody crossover has adopted a much sleeker look than the previous-generation model. The front end looks like it has been lifted straight off the current Ram pickups and the rest of the body has much more car-like proportions.
In terms of size, the new vehicle looks to be about on par with Lambda CUVs (, , ). The new CUV shares its platform with the 2011Jeep Grand Cherokee and will almost certainly get the and possibly a 5.7-liter Hemi V8.
Our first encounter with the Aston Martin DBS left us surprisingly cold, but after a full-bore run from LA to SF in the Carbon Black Edition, we’re ready to declare this particular DBS as the Aston to have.
At the Queensland Raceway run of the Mini Challenge, one race-prepped Cooper trips, flips and flies over the fence into the fans. Miraculously, the driver walked away and only two spectators were injured.
Chrysler’s up 25% over last month, with Subaru taking the top spot again and all but 13 automakers posting double-digit sales increases. Is the worst finally behind us?
Also of interest:
releases details of new lithium ion e-Golf, Jetta plug-in coming
When a pearly white Aston Martin One-77 arrived celebrating Silverstone’s new grand prix circuit, we couldn’t help but let out a few excited giggles. After all, we’re talking about the handmade, exceedingly rare, V12-powered superAston of our wildest dreams. In white.
is video of the One-77 trolling around the UK in an easy search of people willing to stand and stare at its awesomeness. We should warn you that the nearly three minutes of video isn’t nearly as exciting as the audibly sexy we showed you a couple months back, but it’s an Aston One-77, it’s white, and it makes us drool. Enjoy.
