A Pagani Zonda takes on Eiger Nordwand in the rain – Click above to watch video
Somewhere out there on a secluded hog farm, an adorable baby piglet was just born with butterfly wings. A rash of new Gran Turismo 5 gameplay videos have made their way to the information super highway, including a full clip of the racing simulator’s seven-minute introduction video. Make sure you’ve got plenty of break time saved up before diving into that particular gem.
The other clips focus on racing in the rain around Eiger Nordwand and darting through Tsukaba Circuit. It’s difficult to tell just how much the graphics have improved over what we’ve seen of the game in the past thanks to the shaky-hand-cam-on-TV-screen action in each of the videos, but hey, we’ll take what we can get.
Knowing that there are some lucky jokers out there playing the game right now almost takes the sting out of the fact that we were supposed to have GT5 in our hands at the beginning of this month. Almost. to check out the action for yourself.
2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery
When you grow up in Detroit, the is so much more than just another performance car. It’s arguably the most iconic automobile born within these city limits, and anyone who’s called the area home can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride while driving the Blue Oval’s pony through the Motor City. It’s like eating a hot dog at the ballpark – you can’t explain why, but it just tastes better.
At the tippy top of the Mustang hierarchy sits the with its supercharged 5.4-liter V8, 550 horsepower and an exhaust note that will wake the neighbors. Our love for the GT500 has run deep since its debut in 2006, though most of that affection was never given to the convertible. The droptop Ford suffers from substantially more handling and rigidity issues than the coupe, and when you consider the added price that Ford charges to lob off the roof ($5,000, in this case), it can seem like a puzzling proposition.
For 2011, Ford has tweaked the GT500’s core, not to mention stiffening individual components of both the front and rear suspension setups. That, combined with a new electric power assist steering system, means this should be the most driver-focused GT500 yet. Thus, we put the top back and basked in the warm Michigan sun to rekindle our love with Detroit’s most powerful pony car. This, friends, is our kind of end-of-summer lovin’.
is happy with its third quarter results, which boast a 10 percent increase in revenue from last quarter’s $28.4 million to $31.2 million, an improved gross margin of 30 percent from 22 percent previously, and a net loss of $34.9 million compared to its second quarter figure of $38.5 million. While an improvement from just a quarter ago, the large net losses this year stem mostly from development costs associated with the upcoming sedan, which is planned for launch in 2012. R&D costs alone shot up from just $1.3 million in last year’s Q3 to $26.7 million this year. According to CEO Elon Musk:
We are very pleased to report steady top-line growth and significant growth in gross margin, driven by the continued improvement in Roadster orders and our growing powertrain business. Roadster orders in this quarter hit a new high since the third quarter of 2008, having increased over 15 percent from last quarter. While some of this is due to seasonal effects associated with selling a convertible during the summer months, we are pleased with the global expansion of the Roadster business and the continued validation of Tesla’s technology leadership position evidenced by our new and expanding strategic relationships.
The Palo Alto, California-based electric carmaker continues to work hard in the fourth quarter. October was a busy month that included the company’s in Fremont, CA and the signing of a $60 million development deal with for the electric version of the . In November, in Tesla stock. With the company’s to develop next-generation battery packs on track, the planned launch of the more affordable Model S in 2012, and the continued growth of incentives being offered by countries around the world for the purchase of electric vehicles, Tesla may just yet prove its doubters wrong.
The Lil Pete – Click above for high-res image gallery
You’ll have to excuse us while we go a little fan boy for a moment. This is perhaps one of the most hands-down awesome aftermarket conversions we’ve ever laid our eyes on. A few brilliant souls have come up with the perfect solution for the those old trucks languishing around the farm: build a scale replica of a big rig out of them. For the low, low price of just $12,950, you get the complete body ready to bolt onto your 1980s-1990s F-250 two-wheel drive, 1973-1987 Pickup or 1994-2003 Ram into a baby big rig. At around five feet tall at the cab, the machines do an excellent job of looking just like the “real” thing.
Lil Big Rig will be happy to supply you with all of the accessories you need to flesh out the project in every way, from fuel tanks and fenders to appropriate lighting and the like. Since the trucks can be built with full sleeper cabs, this could very well be the perfect toy or track-day hauler. That is, so long as there’s the right powerplant under the hood.
These days, there are some serious battle lines drawn around which late-night host you prefer. With the embattled Conan O’Brien taking to the airwaves for the first time since being ousted from NBC, we can all but guarantee another outpouring of down-with-Leno sentiment. But who are the rank and file that make up the heart of each suit’s fan base? Who is it exactly that watches Letterman, and how do they differ from Stewart’s army of fans?
The crew from USA Today set out to discover the answers to those questions by commissioning a poll with Penn Schoen Berland. What did they find? Conan O’Brien fans are likely to be between 18 and 34 years old, drive Volkswagens and be single atheists. Seriously.
Meanwhile, Jay Leno is favored by folks who are 45 years old and up, religious and listen to country music. Their chariot of choice tends to be something of the domestic flavor – especially Pontiac and Chevrolethardware.
One of Leno’s harshest critics, David Letterman, picks up views from people between the ages of 25 and 44 years-old who are likely divorced democrats. Interestingly enough, Letterman’s crew rolls on a beige tide of Toyotas.
Finally, the study took a look at Jon Stewart’s fan base and found that the comedian garners views from 35-54 year-old married Catholics. Team Stewart tends to favor a GMC truck for getting around town.
Husqvarna Mille 3 concept bike – Click above for high-res image gallery
Strange. That’s how we’d best sum up this motorcycle concept and the company that made it.
Husqvarna got its start producing muskets for the Swedish military. The company still makes small arms, along with farm equipment, sewing machines, home appliances and motorcycles. Today these businesses are all separate enterprises, the motorcycle manufacturer based today in Italy and three years ago by .
A strange path, but certainly no stranger than their latest unveiling: the Mille 3 concept bike. Unveiled at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, the Mille 3 straddles the division between cruiser and sport bike about as widely as the rider would its low-slung seat. The handlebars are taken from an off-road bike, while the foot pegs sit far back like those on a sport bike.
Power is provided by a 933cc fuel-injected three-cylinder engine, but it’s the design that sets it apart. Husqvarna says it indicates they’re “always ahead of the game”, but exactly what game that might be is a mystery to us.
Danny Thompson crashes at 260 miles per hour – Click above to watch video
Danny Thompson, the son of Mickey Thompson, has a need for speed that’s satiated when he hits the salt flats in his 1,300-horsepowerFord Mustang. Thompson had previously recorded a top speed of 252 miles per hour but recently headed back to the flat lands for an . Problems arose as Danny passed 260 mph. The car began to lift and then left the ground at approximately 264.7 mph. Danny and his Mustang traveled 1,100 feet before returning to the salt and the car tumbled further before coming to a stop.
Amazingly, and a testament to just how good proper safety equipment is, Danny escaped from the wreck with no injuries. He didn’t have minor injuries, scratches or bruises… he was completely unharmed. Well, maybe physically, as a wreck like that can probably keep you awake at night for a few months. Also unharmed? The iPhone 4 sitting in his front pocket.
2010 Porsche 911 Carrera S – Click above for high-res image gallery
Driving a in Germany is akin to climbing rocks with a in Moab, piloting a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, flying a Long-EZ into Oshkosh or guiding the Skycycle X-2 over the Snake River Canyon – the machine is a perfect choice for the venue.
With a personal European vacation already scheduled, it was an ideal opportunity to review a in Deutschland. During one full week of touring, I’d have the opportunity to drive the venerable sports car nearly a thousand miles through German Bavaria. The planned route would wander through wooded forests, cross fertile farmland and follow the banks of the Rhine River. There would be days climbing through the spectacular Alps, and countless miles spent zooming down unlimited sections of Autobahn.
There is no better place on earth to drive a Porsche than in Germany and it was going to be my job to prove it…
Earlier this morning, an armed employee of BMW France took a number of hostages in one of the company’s offices in Paris. French authorities reportedly responded with an elite anti-crime force that freed three hostages without injury, despite the assailant firing two shots during an altercation. The whole incident lasted just two hours from the time authorities received a call about the hostage situation.
hasn’t released any details on the incident, though it is known that the armed employee was a male in his 50s.
wasn’t the only member of Bernie Ecclestone’s traveling F1 circus victimized by yesterday. Sauber Motorsport says that three of its engineers were also robbed after leaving the Interlagos circuit last night around 8PM. While stopped at a traffic light, the group’s minivan was reportedly surrounded by five robbers, one carrying an automatic weapon. The van’s front passenger opened his door in response to the threat, and the bandits made off with a pair of backpacks, one of which contained a staffer’s passport and phone among other items. After taking the bags, the thieves left, and no injuries were reported. The local police were informed of the incident, for whatever that’s worth. Thanks for the tip, Pasi!
Here’s what we know. Reigning Formula One world champion Jenson Button has survived an armed attack on the vehicle in which he, his father, trainer and manager were being transported back to their hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil after Saturday’s qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Button was fortunately riding in an armored vehicle provided by his team, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, that was piloted by a police driver trained in avoidance techniques.
According to Button himself, the attack occurred while his vehicle was moving slowly past a shanty town in Sao Paulo. Six armed attackers, reportedly brandishing machine guns, attacked the vehicle, though Button doesn’t mention whether shots were fired or his vehicle was hit. He has, however, praised his driver, who he says “bounced off about five cars” while ferrying the party from harm’s way. That’s quite a compliment coming from the reigning world champion.
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes also provided Button’s teammate Lewis Hamilton with an armored vehicle and trained police driver. The precautions were reportedly taken on account of the high number of gun crimes in Sau Paulo. We’re not sure if that’s standard procedure for all F1 teams visiting Brazil this weekend, but we bet it will be in the future.
Hennessey Venom GT at Cars and Coffee – Click above for high-res image gallery
The crowd of automotive fanatics at Cars and Coffee in Irvine, CA rarely gets too excited about a car. Everything from to to dozens of supercars are fairly commonplace at the weekly gathering. Ferraris and Lamborghinis roll by without eliciting a second glance from onlookers, and even the mighty Bugatti Veyron only attracts minimal attention. It takes something unique car get everyone’s blood pumping at the most jaded car show on Earth. Which brings us to the the Hennessey Venom GT.
Before today, the car had yet to be publicly seen on U.S. soil, so its appearance at Cars and Coffee was a North American debut of sorts. The initial plan was to show the car at SEMA earlier this week, but delays at customs prevented the car from getting to Las Vegas in time.
To say that the Venom GT attracted attention is a huge understatement. The second the Hennessey crew rolled the car off the trailer and lifted the engine cover to expose the twin-turbo V8, a crowd of inquisitive car geeks formed, drooling over each and every detail of the bodywork.
We try and make it to Cars and Coffee more often than not, but sometimes the lure of a cozy warm bed at 6:00 AM on a Saturday morning makes it just too easy to hit the snooze button. When news came that the Hennessey Venom GT would be making an appearance, we made sure we set our alarm clocks (plus a few backups as well) and joined the rest of the early-risers to see the car in person. We came away with quite a bounty of photographs, which you can see in the high-res gallery below.
plans to raise another $75 to $150 million to add to the $300 million it has already raised privately, the , and the $21.5 million in grants and loans it has received from the state of Delaware. If you think there’s a lot of money going in, but not much coming out, company CEO Henrik Fisker says not to worry. Investors will most likely to be paid back once Fisker stock eventually goes public, like .
:
“We have to launch the Karma first, that is clear. You have to get the revenue and launch the Karma, but we already are making sure our company is prepared for this possibility of an IPO.”
The first factory-produced version of the $88,000 Karma sports sedan was displayed at the in October. CEO Fisker, the designer of the Aston Martin DB9, V8 Vantage and Z8, said at the event that the company has more than 3,000 pre-orders for the Karma and expects to start deliveries in March ().
In late 2012, Fisker intends to launch Project Nina in Delaware, where the company purchased the Boxwood Road Plant previously owned by . The plan is to employ 2,500 people in Delaware and produce the Nina SUV and a two-door version. Then, if things go well, three iterations of the Karma will be built: the sports sedan, a convertible, and a sports wagon. The plans are big, and will apparently cost another $150 million or so.
Top Gear picks the new Stig – Click above to watch video
The process of Top Gear picking a new Stig has always been a mystery, that is until recently when we learned that where new Stigs are bred. Not all grow up to be tame racing drivers though, with some being too violent and others seeming to suffer from the dulling effects of too much inbreeding.
Top Gear has released this video of the Stig-picking process, and as you might expect, not all Stigs have the natural drive to become skilled wheelmen, but some do have other talents. One Stig shown in the video is a gifted painter and another wants to become a writer. A pink Stig is also shown whose only talents appear to be staring at other Stigs and skipping merrily.
The breeding program is focused on finding that one Stig that will go on to set blistering lap times on the Top GearTest Track. The best are found, and from them, one is chosen. The video after the jump ends with a vision of the program’s new Stig, clearly ready for action in his iconic white outfit. to see the Stig farm and meet the new member of the Top Gear crew. Thanks for the tips, everyone!
2011 Saab 9-5 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Koenigsegg nearly , but at the eleventh hour, the Swedish specialty carmaker . Losing out on Saab may have been the best thing for Koenigsegg to do financially, but we’re thinking there’s at least some small measure of regret for Christian von Koenigsegg and crew that the deal didn’t happen.
So how do you satiate that disappointment? Christian von Koenigsegg bought himself a small piece of the company, taking delivery of a white . Saabs United reports that Koenigsegg was actually one of the first people in the world to order a new 9-5, though he says that he definitely wasn’t the first to actually take delivery.
Koenigsegg told the Saab-centric site that he was hoping to get his hands on a 2.0T model since it it lighter, but instead ended up with an Aero V6 because he wanted Saab’s GM-sourced HiPerStrut suspension system. That, and the DVD headrests screens means he can play Koenigsegg videos while chauffeuring potential new customers.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Off-Road Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery
covered its bases with two takes on the at this year’s SEMA show, displaying both a “Lowrider” Edition and a globe-crushing Off-Road Edition. When we first heard that Chrysler was planning to shock Las Vegas with a frame-scraping iteration of the Grand Cherokee, we were a little baffled as to why the company would want to defang one of the most off-road capable SUVs out there by dropping it to the ground. But with custom 22-inch rollers made up just for SEMA and a unique front fascia, the Street Edition looks to sit no lower to terra firma than the stock model. Someone at marketing needs to spend some time on Urban Dictionary.
Meanwhile, the Off-Road Edition politely book ends the other side of the SUV spectrum. Taller coil springs, 33-inch BFGoodrich tires and an arsenal of trail-ready armor all come along for the ride, and unlike its stage mate, Mopar skid plates, rock rails and tow hooks mean this GC actually lives up to its name. We dig.
Kia Soul White Tiger and Soul Hamstar Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Since its debut, we’ve seen a rash of special edition , and the autoamker hasn’t held back from creating two more just for this year’s show: the Hamstar and White Tiger Concepts. The White Tiger is planned for a 2011 model year run, and its white skin will flaunt tiger-themed graphics like a cat claw on the hatch and stripes along the sides. Inside will be an all-black cabin with heated leather front seats and illuminated scuff plates. Expect to see it at dealerships in the coming weeks.
The Hamstar Concept pays homage to Kia’s popular ad creatures, called the Hamstars. These guys already have their own apparel, so why not their own Soul? The Molten Red concept has got “Hamstar” written all over it, literally, and we’re told that the “off-black matte finish stripes on the urban passenger vehicle’s sides that reminiscent of vintage warm-up pants.” Yo. Take it in for yourself in the gallery of high-res photos below, and read about both of these special edition Souls in the press release .
Well, look at that… Day Two has finally come to a close, and this is but a small sampling of what we brought you over the last couple of days from the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. We’ll have a little bit more coming your way tomorrow morning as we wrap up the final day of the festivities. Stay tuned!
Race-ready Genesis Coupes from GogoGear.com and ARK Racing – Click above for high-res image gallery
The is a tuner favorite at SEMA. GogoGear showed off its , while ARK Performance has created a performance Genesis Coupe more appropriate for cruising the Vegas Strip. There’s even a bit of overlap between the two, as GogoGear’s entry uses a carbon fiber bodykit, headers, shocks and coilovers from ARK Performance. Getting the rest of the coupe ready for kerbs are the upgraded V6 churning out 380 horsepower, carbon fiber roof, 18-inch Konig Kilogram lightweight wheels and a Racepak IQ3 data logger dash.
went street with a carbon grille, hood and rear diffuser, with ARK SFX bumpers, skirts and fenders. Stoptech brakes scrub the speed, and Alpine, Apple and Infinity provide the audiovisual buffet in the cabin. JsDesigns can be thanked for the little guy on the hood, and his rear is warmed by the heat of a supercharged 3.8-liter, 585-hp engine with 330 pound-feet and dual headers and downpipes. You can say “Hi” to him in the gallery of high-res photos below.
Interactive smartphone apps are the latest technological trend being introduced by a variety of automakers. has now launched its iPhone CarMonitor app, which claims to deliver close monitoring of key vehicle functions, data logging with GPS and the ability to find your vehicle in most any parking lot.
The robust application, which is being displayed at this year’s show, works with the car’s OBD-II port to access and analyze performance data on the fly. The app will also measure and monitor CO2 data, showing motorists how their driving style affects fuel consumption and pollution levels. App owners can also upload their vehicle data to to share their performance and emissions data with the world.
Audi of America sales executive David Tait calls the new app “a great addition to the already impressive interior features that Audi owners have come to appreciate,” adding that CarMonitor is a good example of how Audi is listening to it’s customers. Sounds pretty cool to us. to read over the full press release.
Interactive 
