in a effectively sealed his place in the hallowed halls of stunt driver lore. As it turns out, actually pulling off a 360-degree barrel roll in a vehicle is one of the most challenging stunts one can perform. Driving on two wheels? Cakewalk. Knocking down a series of ? As easy as sucking pea soup through a crazy straw. The barrel roll requires stacks of mathematical calculations to account for everything from the vehicle’s weight to its speed and the exact rotation angle of each ramp.
But Dyrdek wasn’t the first guy to successfully execute such a bit of insanity. He’s one of a select few stunt drivers to do the deed, and Popular Mechanics has taken a look at those who have tackled the automotive barrel roll in the past. Dyrdek’s stunt was actually an almost exact replica of the Astro Spiral Jump as performed in 1972 at the Houston Astrodome. That exercise used a significantly classier AMC Javelin, however. Head over to to check out the video series and click for a clip on the Astro Spiral Jump.
Water is a pretty amazing substance. It coats our planet, makes up the vast majority of our bodies, and – most importantly – proves to be an endless source of YouTube hijinks. You remember, of course, the , in which water’s destructive powers were just hinted at. But in all seriousness, water is not to be messed with. Whether leaking into your basement, , or unleashing hell in the form of a tsunami, water’s capacity for violence and disaster is as great as anything dreamed up by man.
Enough with the preamble. Combine water’s devastating power with some heavy machinery and a really awful quality camcorder and you get the priceless video .
If you’re looking for the bones of Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, you may need look no further than the General Motors headquarters. According to a new book by Hoffa’s former driver and mob goon Marvin Elkind, Hoffa’s corpse rests below the cement foundation of the Renaissance Center. Elkind co-wrote Weasel: A Double Life in the Mob with a Canadian journalist, and according to one passage, reported mob boss Anthony Giacalone told Teamsters delegates to “Say good morning to Jimmy Hoffa, boys,” as he nodded to the foundation of the Renaissance Center during a conference in Detroit in 1985.
Thin evidence? Sure, but the news is just as credible as any of the other theories concerning Hoffa’s dissappearance. From a burial under the end zone of the old Giants Stadium in New Jersey to cremation at a Hamtramck waste disposal facility, plenty of urban legends surround the union leader’s vanishing act. Something tells us no one’s going to be ripping up the floor boards at the RenCenter looking for musty bones anytime soon, however.
General Motors has announced that it will invest an additional $68 million into the company’s Oshawa assembly plant to produce the next-generation . Those funds are on top of over $100 million headed toward the facility to help launch production of the Cadillac XTS in the plant. The Impala marks the fifth new model to be manufactured at Oshawa since 2009, and GM says the new investment will secure approximately 350 jobs. The next-generation Impala will be built both in Oshawa and at the GM plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, which is also responsible for building the .
From what we’ve , Impala buyers can expect their new vehicle to be based on a variant of the GM Epsilon 2 platform with a 3.6-liter V6 under the hood. The vehicle may also boast a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and the GM eAssist system may rear its head as well.
The Oshawa assembly plant currently employs 4,400 workers, and the facility produces the , Camaro convertible, Chevrolet Impala, and . The plant recently added two new shifts, thereby securing 1,300 jobs in the process. to view the full press release.
Automotive News reports Opel is delaying delivery of its Ampera extended-range hybrid to customers. The plug-in gas-electric hatchbacks have already arrived at dealers across Europe, but the automaker wants to ensure the vehicles’ batteries are safe even in the event of an accident. The delay comes on the heels of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration evaluation which saw its twin catch fire three weeks after a . Since the Volt and Ampera are mechanically identical, Opel says that it wants to set up a process to deal with the batteries to make sure they’re safe.
Both the Volt and the Ampera are assembled at the General Motors plant in Hamtramck, Michigan, and both make use of lithium-ion batteries to power their electric motors. GM has any Chevrolet Volt models from owners concerned about the safety of their vehicle, but few have taken them up on the offer. The company is currently working on a solution to the fire issue, and the why it took NHTSA so long to bring the battery pack problem to light.
has been wise in reviving old nameplates to inject some excitement into its contemporary model lineup. Recent products like the and – both named after classics from the brand’s past – have drummed up a considerable amount of enthusiasm where names like Stratus and Intrepid could not. But don’t expect that formula to be applied to everything Dodge puts out.
Contrary to rumors that the upcoming replacement for the would bear the name Hornet, a report from The Detroit News suggests that it will not. The nameplate originates from the Hudson Hornet that was built by the American Motors Corporation in the 1950s and the AMC Hornet that followed in the ’70s before the company was subsumed into . The original re-appeared as Doc Hudson in the computer-animated Pixar film Cars, and was revived off-screen for a concept car (pictured above) which Dodge showed in 2006.
The new production compact, set to compete against the likes of the and , will fill a critical role for , which currently lacks a viable competitor in that vital segment. Whatever it’s called, it’s being jointly developed with and is expected to bow sometime early in the new year. We’ll just have to wait to see what they call it.
We expect the Jaguar X-Type to be making an appearance in an episode of AMC’s Walking Dead, since the sedan that simply will not, well, die. Or rather, its successor won’t die. Autocar has a detailed report on the work being done to engineer a new entry-level , and it is hypothesized that we’ll see it in 2015.
Summer of 2010 was full of news about an that would be wrapped around a . That, however, appears to run contrary to Autocar’s assessment that “The car’s closest conceptual rivals in the showroom are expected to be the upcoming Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLC small saloons.” What’s more, the mag asserts it will be motivated by not just 1.8- and 2.0-liter four cylinders, but also a 1.5-liter three-cylinder.
That latter engine would probably be a go-to in markets like India and China where Jaguar wants to make an even bigger mark, and not slated for U.S. sale. But combined with the revelation that the new sedan will be front-wheel drive, it’s clear that even in the U.S. we can forget about any 3 Series comparos and instead look at this as a frugal baby Jag for young social climbers and CAFE mongers.
Oh, and it won’t be cheap: £22,000 was given as an estimate. As a base price, that puts it about halfway between the and . Whatever’s coming, it should be interesting.
Andy Richter is piloting a from Burbank, California to New York City as part of a stunt for Conan O’Brien’s self-titled late night talk show. It’s officially been one year since Team Coco found a home on TBS, and to celebrate, the entire Conan crew is packing up for a special performance at the Beacon Theater in the Big Apple. While the rest of the crew is turning to the miracle of commercial flight for the trip east – including O’Brien himself – Richter is saddling up in the newest compact from Chevrolet for a three-day road trip across the continent.
Hilarity is bound to ensue. The Team Coco site has been configured to allow viewers to follow along with Richter’s big Sonic adventure, and the comedian will also be tweeting along the way to keep everyone abreast of his progress. Keep an eye out for tweets with the hashtag . In the meantime, to see O’Brien sending Richter off yourself.
The gents at Heide Performance Products (HPP) make cars that get attention. The philosophy, at least, should appeal to enthusiasts who experience gastric distress whenever they look at another evolution of the mid-sized-fits-all Camcordimabu.
That hasn’t been the case, however – at least not in our comments. Once we post on HPP’s SEMA-riffic offerings like the or , we don’t have long to wait for a sharp opinion.
We visited HPP’s workshop in suburban Detroit and were given a brief opportunity to form some opinions inside a car, the Petty Superbird, and burn a little gas in the process. Foremost among the revelations: HPP isn’t really trying to revive a car; it is reviving an attitude.
General Motors execs say production of the will not hit a level capable of satisfying demand until the second-quarter of 2012. Despite dismal , GM insists it’s not a lack of demand that’s holding the Volt back.
While The General continues to blame the Volt’s lack of sales on limited availability – thanks in part to a recent – data compiled by Ward’s Auto shows the supply of Volts now stands at 1,361 units, up from the 226 reported at the end of July. GM says that some 700 to 800 of the 1,361 plug-in hybrids are dealer demonstration units that, at least for now, can’t be sold. If Ward’s numbers are correct, that leaves almost a two-month supply of Volts sitting on dealer lots.
Later this year, the . Don Johnson, GM’s U.S. sales chief, told Ward’s Auto that since dealers must stock a demo Volt before receiving salable units, retail sales of the plug-in sedan won’t increase significantly anytime soon. During a conference call on Friday, Johnson added, “It’s going to take us a month or two to really fill up the retail inventory for those dealers.” It looks like that the will continue its electrifying reign over the Volt for the next couple of months will hold true.
In the battle for plug-in vehicle sales supremacy, the electric-only has emerged victorious for the month of July, beating out the for the fourth consecutive month (, , and July).
Nissan says Leaf sales dropped to 931 units in the U.S. in July, a significant decrease compared to the .
On the flip side, announced that U.S. sales of the Volt came in at 125 units in July. The decline, as compared to the , is mostly due to extensive . The General told our sibling that:
We are virtually sold out. Only about 100 2011 Volts [are] left in stock. On average, each Volt spent about 13 days at the dealership. This includes prepping it for delivery.
Year-to-date sales of the Leaf total 4,806 units in the U.S., compared to 2,870 Chevy Volts.
Will the Leaf retain its top spot for the month of August? Or will it be the Volt – with its production reportedly cranked up to – that rises up to take the lead?
Peterson Automotive Museum CARS 2 exhibit – Click above for high-res image gallery
We recently attended a screening of Disney’s CARS 2 at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. The movie was both fun and entertaining. We particularly liked the racing scenes as the studio nailed the sequences with the proper sounds and eye-catching details. The others in our clan enjoyed the action scenes and storyline – the three twelve-year-old critics we brought along rated it a solid 8.5 out of 10 and ate every drop of popcorn during the viewing.
After the show, it was time to head over to a Peterson Automotive Museum exhibit across the street where the curators had brought over a few real-life vehicles representing some of . Protected in a tent, with real shoddy bluish lighting, we found “Acer” () and the “Queen” () parked alongside a very nice and a . Also on site were full-size replicas of “” and “” the tow truck, inspired by a 1952 International Harvester.
Porkka Playboys play Queen in a VW Polo – Click above to watch video
A Volkswagen Polo is a small car. Queen’s epic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” by contrast, is a huge song. Finnish musicians the inexplicably and delightfully decided to combine the two. The Playboys crammed their bodies and instruments into the old hatchback and promptly proceeded to rock out (apparently a was unavailable).
Who knew that the German subcompact was such an acoustical delight? Apparently these Finnish lads did, because their music sounds pretty awesome coming out of the rusty heap. to watch them make Freddie Mercury proud.
Also, if you wander over to their YouTube page, you’ll find an excellent rendition of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades.” Sadly, that song was not performed inside of a automobile. Either way, Volkswagen needs to hire these guys for its next Polo commercial.
2011Chevrolet Impala – Click above for high-res image gallery
The aging is finally getting a major overhaul for the 2014 model year, and has just to support production of the next-generation sedan. According to Automotive News, GM will work on repositioning the Impala within Chevrolet’s lineup. Currently, the automaker feels that there is too much price overlap between the Impala and smaller .
Automotive News reports that the 2014 Impala will be built on the longer version of GM’s Epsilon platform, destined for use under the new flagship. The new, larger Impala will offer more standard equipment than the smaller Malibu, and the two cars will be positioned similar to how the and are within ’s lineup.
In an effort to keep the Impala fresh until its overhaul, GM has found elsewhere in the automaker’s portfolio, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The first sales of the 2014 Impala are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2013.
has committed to investing a total of $2 billion in 17 of its facilities here in the United States, and the latest to receive monitory support is the Arlington Assembly Plant in Texas. $331 million is being pumped into the Arlington facility for tooling and equipment in an effort to expand the plant. 110 jobs will also be added to the facility’s existing 2,400-person workforce.
Currently, the plant builds The General’s GMT900 sport-utility vehicles: the , , and . GM likely has no plans to abandon this segment anytime soon, so it only makes sense that the plant will be updated in order to support the next generation of these full-size SUVs.
The Arlington Assembly investment comes after GM made efforts to expand its , , facilities. for the official press blast.
GM Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly – Click above for high-res image gallery
has announced that it will add two shifts and 2,500 jobs (both hourly and salaried) at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. Currently, the facility builds the and its European cousin, the , but GM is expanding this plant’s capability to handle the production of the , as well as the next-generation sedan.
According to GM, most of the 2,500 new jobs will be filled by laid-off UAW members.
This latest move means that GM has invested $190 million in the Detroit-Hamtramck facility since April 2010. Last year, The General announced a $121M investment to support next-generation Malibu production, and now, an additional $69 million is being pumped into the plant for tooling and equipment that will be used on the future Impala.
GM’s efforts at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly follow the investments that the company has recently made in other states, including the in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as well as facilities in Toledo, Ohio; . for GM’s official press release, as well as a video of a Chevy Volt being produced at the Detroit-Hamtramck facility.
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
General Motors has only sold 1,703 copies of the through April, but the automaker plans to crank up the volume for the 2012 model year. GM has announced that it will shut down its Detroit Hamtramck plant for four weeks to prepare for 2012 Volt and Opel Ampera production. The upgrades will enable GM to build 16,000 total units this year, and in 2012 production will grow to 60,000 units; 45,000 of which will be destined for U.S. consumption.
When the 2012 model comes online, GM will begin to open up sales throughout the U.S. The 2011 model is only being sold in California, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The Volt and Ampera will also be shipped to Canada, China and Europe beginning later this year.
During the lengthy shutdown, GM will add new tools, install overhead conveyor systems and other equipment. The General will also set up the plant to build the during the four-week shutdown, though more work will be completed before the mid-size sedan is launched. to read over the GM press release.
is adding a photovoltaic array to the roof of its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. The facility’s new solar panels will help offset the energy consumed when producing . GM has partnered with DTE Energy on the planned 516-kilowatt installation, which will cover 264,000 square feet on six acres of land. In addition to the solar array, further energy-saving measures like automated equipment shutdown, more efficient lighting, and upgrades to more energy-efficient assembly tools will be implemented.
DTE Energy is putting $3 million of its own money into the GM partnership as part of its SolarCurrents program. This initiative aims to install 15 megawatts of solar power systems in Southeast Michigan, and the hope is that large-scale, highly-visible projects like the Detroit-Hamtramck plant will drive more demand for renewable energy in Michigan. Press release posted after the jump.
Volt assembly plant to get largest solar array in MI
Auto sales are continuing to rise here in the U.S., and carmakers are working hard to gain as many new buyers as possible. For many of them, adding sales means investing in plants, which appears willing to do. The Detroit News is reporting that GM is planning on investing $2 billion in 17 production facilities this year alone.
GM CEO Dan Akerson is expected to announce the investment at its Toledo transmission plant today. The chief executive will reportedly inform the rank and file that the automaker is investing $250 million in the facility, which while also lead to 250 new jobs. The announcement will be big news for the state of Ohio, and the mayor of Toledo and Governor John Kasich will be in attendance.
Details are sketchy regarding other investment opportunities, though the Detroit Hamtramck plant that currently builds the is expected to be among the plants receiving upgrades. GM plans to rework the production line to make room for the , giving the automaker flexibility to increase volume as demand increases.
The added investment in facilities is good news for America’s battered manufacturing sector, while at the same time helping GM better utilize its existing plants. In total, the investment should help create or retain about 4,200 jobs, which should help GM at the negotiating table with Bob King and the United Auto Workers this summer.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu teaser pics – Click above for high-res image gallery
has been releasing teaser images of the for the past couple weeks, and now the Detroit-based automaker is talking about the global midsize sedan’s production schedule.
The Detroit News reports, citing GM spokesman Dave Darovitz, that the Malibu will begin mass production in early 2012, four months ahead of the original plan. Darovitz adds that the request to speed up the Malibu’s timeline came straight from the top, saying, “Mr. Akerson requested we study the program to see if we can move quicker and faster.”
The 2013 Malibu will make its world debut next Monday at the Shanghai Motor Show; its Stateside debut will happen shortly thereafter at the New York Auto Show. The major refresh is a huge step for GM, as it will be The General’s first global midsize sedan, and the automaker says it will be sold in over 100 countries. In the U.S., the Malibu will be built at GM’s Fairfax, Kansas and Detroit-Hamtramck plants.
