John Deere Walmart rampage – Click above to view video
A couple in Richmond Hill, Georgia were returning from the car wash when they noticed a strange late-night gathering at the local Walmart. Curious, they stopped to see what the fuss was about, and were confronted with the spectacle of a driver-less John Deere Tractor careening around the parking lot.
The tractor in question wasn’t just your regular, run-of-the-mill lawn tractor, either. No, the phantom tractor was a four-wheel-drive Deere equipped with enough snowplow to clear Vail in January. The tractor spent five minutes jogging circles around the parking lot, gouging the side of the Walmart and annihilating an unsuspecting and while slackjawed onlookers stood by doing nothing and area police literally drove in circles.
Eventually, someone with enough cojones decided to climb aboard the wayward farm machinery and try to stop the madness… but did they succeed? to find out for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Marshall!
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The seller of this 1969 Boss 429 bought it from its original Akron, Ohio owner who racked up a scant 4,405 miles before offloading it back in the day. It’s been garage-kept all its life, and still sports its original, terrifying bias-ply tires. According to the seller, this particular Boss 429 is fitted with the coveted ‘S’ engine, a feature only available on the first 279 Boss 429s produced.
The current owner says he bought the car in excellent shape in 2007 and had it professionally cleaned and re-awoke the engine after a long slumber. Since then, the car has been pampered and its astonishing mileage preserved.
Despite its low mileage, the Boss participated in, and won, a couple bracket races when new. The quarter windows still carry the winner’s stickers. The price for this all-original time capsule is enough to make even the most-hardcore Mustang fan gulp. Buy-It-Now is set at an astounding $550,000. Is it worth it? Have your say in Comments. Top tip, Brent!
A photo purported to be a sneak peak at the facelifted 2012 has hit the Web ahead of its New York Auto Show debut, and while there’s precious little information about where the photo came from, if it’s legit, this is exactly in line with what we’re expecting the next XF to look like.
The sharper headlights on the car pictured above look consistent with the camouflaged versions seen in , so there’s a solid chance this is the real deal. Underneath the XF’s reshaped skin will be a new eight-speed automatic gearbox from ZF backing up a 2.2-liter diesel four-pot pulling down 187 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque. That same transmission will likely be fitted to the U.S.-spec models packing the 5.0-liter V8, possibly in both naturally aspirated and supercharged R guise.
2011 BMW Z4 GT3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The GT3 proved it can win races back in January when it took the overall victory at the Dubai 24 Hours. Never one to rest on its laurels, took the car from the winners circle in Dubai and put it right back on a test track. After a good beating throughout March, BMW made aerodynamic and electronic tweaks to get the racer into absolute state-of-the-art shape for customer entries in 2011 GT3 competition.
The BMW Z4 GT3 resembles its production cousin in name and basic shape only. Most of its body panels have been significantly altered to keep the car slipping through the air and bolted to the road.
Under the hood, the production Z’s six-cylinder heart has been ripped out and replaced with the same 4.4-liter V8 that sees duty in the . The V8 feeds power to the ground through a six-speed paddle-shifted sequential manual. Stuffing all that engineering know-how into the Z4 GT3 isn’t cheap, either; the car retails at just north of $450,000. Full press release .
The Mopar V10 Drag Pak debuted just shy of a month ago and has already stormed its way into the NHRA record books. Driver Dave Thomas laid down a 9.43-second pass at 143.90 mph at a test session April 7, simultaneously setting the elapsed time and mile-per-hour records for the AA/SA class.
Thomas’ record is all the more impressive when you consider that he made his first-ever passes in the car the Sunday before the record run. With capabilities in the nine-second range almost as soon as it comes out of the box, we expect there are quicker times to be pulled out of the only V10-powered factory dragster.
As a refresher, the V10 Drag Pak carries a slightly modified version of the 500 cubic-inch mill from the mated to a two-speed race-only transmission and a Mopar solid-axle rear end. The car comes ready to race, with an NHRA-approved roll cage, fuel system and racing wheels and tires. Full press release .
Jaguar XF Designer Edition – Click above for high-res images
There are major auto shows, and there are relatively minor ones. Holland’s AutoRAI may fall more into the latter category, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have its fare share of new debuts. And a big part of those are reportedly coming from .
Say what you will about the wisdom of decisions taken in Europe’s notoriously mind-altering playground, but as we already , Jaguar has apparently chosen the Amsterdam expo as the location to elaborate on the future of its X-Type successor. But the company’s English manners prevent it from turning up empty-handed with only some promises of things to come, so it’s created a special series specifically for the Dutch market.
Called the Designer Edition, it’s available on either the or the , powered by the 3.0-liter V6 engine, and decked out in Stratus Grey London paint – looks decidedly greenish to us – with tan leather interior and piano black lacquer trim. The XF Designer Edition is further distinguished by bi-xenon headlights, 19-inch wheels in grey or black, heater leather steering wheels and sports seats and heated windshield. The XJ Designer Edition, meanwhile, packs a infotainment system with Bowers & Wilkins audio, high-def dual-view touchscreen and TV tuner plus a leather headliner.
Only 20 units of each are slated for production, the former coming in at €77,790 ($110,000 by current rates), the latter at €121,290 ($171,000). Just don’t forget where you parked yours.
2011 Malaysian Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery
Variety, they say, is the spice of life. So what does that mean in motor racing? Well, sometimes it’s the epic battles between the established front-runners that provides the most gripping race action. And this year’s Malaysian Grand certainly had plenty of that. But it’s the variety – those wild cards from which you never know what to expect – that throw us all for a loop.
Heading into the second round in the 2011 Formula One World Championship, defending champion Sebastian Vettel had already staked his claim for Red Bull and the lead in the standings, with McLaren close behind and the remade LotusRenault GP following surprisingly in third. Would the same players dominate the field once again, or would new challengers mix it up so early in the season? Follow the jump to read on.
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[Images: Clive Mason, Paul Gilham, Mark Thompson/Getty Mark Baker, Raymond Ho, Vincent Thian, Aaron Favila, Eugene Hoshiko/AP]
The North Pole and the South Pole are separated by over 12,000 miles, and Swedish explorer wants to traverse that distance within 12 months. To do so, he wants to go carbon-neutral, and has partnered up with Nilson to help make sure he accomplishes his goal.
Called the Pole2Pole Expedition, Nilson plans to go from the North Pole to the South Pole in six stages. Nilson’s means of transportation will be skis, a dog-sled, sailboat, bicycle and kite-sled. Audi has provided a light-weight sled that will allow Nilson to transport his equipment as he nears the southern pole, and the automaker has also offered up its test facility so Nilson can ensure that it will withstand the harsh conditions to which it’ll be subjected. The test facility is capable of recreating freezing temperatures and vicious wind, two of many environmental hazards awaiting Nilson on his trip.
In addition to the carbon-fiber sled and cold-weather testing, Audi has supplied a that will serve as a support vehicle as Nilson treks across the Americas. The Q5 spews CO2 so the team will work to offset the difference and keep the expedition carbon neutral.
Check out the press release for more on Johan Ernst Nilson’s Pole2Pole expedition.
has apparently changed its plans for the next-generation CTS yet again, confirming the development of a coupe to fill out the rest of the line when it arrives in 2013. This comes after reports that Caddy’s mid-level fighter would only be offered in sedan form.
Fighting it out for the hears and wallets of coupe and convertible buyers was originall going to be left to Cadillac’s upcoming competitor, currently codenamed the ATS. The rationale was that a more traditional coupe roofline and folding convertible top would integrate into the ATS’s rump more smoothly than the angular CTS.
For the next generation CTS, Cadillac is changing the car’s underpinnings from the current Sigma platform to the Alpha rear-drive platform, which will also see duty under the next .
Rumor has is that Cadillac is working on an even more radical design for the next-generation CTS Coupe, which will likely share its doors with the Camaro. And as we’ve heard so many times before, there may be a low-volume flagship model from Cadillac, nosing its way past the six-figure price point.
Ford claims that the packs the most-powerful V8 ever offered in an Australian sedan. And after seeing four-time Australian Touring Car champ Allan Moffat at the wheel, we’re inclined to believe them.
The Boss 335 GT squeezes 450 horsepower from a supercharged, DOHC 5.0-liter V8 based on the same mill powering the in the U.S. With 10 more horsepower than our Mustang and two more doors, the Boss 335 GT is likely one of the most efficient ways of getting you and three friends arrested Down Under.
Unfortunately, that privilege is reserved solely for the Australians, as there’s zero chance the Boss 335 GT will come to our shores. Hear the 335 GT in action . Thanks for the tip, Dan!
Anyone who’s tried a creeper when working under a car knows that it’s far from a perfect solution. Designer saw an opportunity to improve upon the status quo for casual users and car enthusiasts alike. After testing an inexpensive, commonly bought creeper, it became clear to Angoulvant just how much these units hinder, rather than help.
The thought process that brought the Dexter Work Sled to fruition pondered how to develop an emotional tie (other than anger and frustration) to our creepers. From there, the “what ifs” included a wearable vest with tank treads, and finally settled on a hammerhead shark-inspired shape rendered in molded plywood like the famous Eames chairs.
The result is a creeper that’s beautiful and functional, with integrated magnets and LED work lights. The wheels have been pushed out to the sled’s edges, allowing them to be larger, and an easy-to-use brake lets users really crank down on stubborn fasteners without having their work platform slip out from under them. Of course, it’s a nice-looking piece on its own, and it’d be a shame to stain it with oil spills. Check out a video of the sled in action (with a slick mid-’60s Lincoln) .
BJ Baldwin goes two wheelin’ in his trophy truck – Click above to watch video
Putting a car – or, more accurately, keeping a car – on two wheels is challenging. Some cars, we imagine, will be better suited to the task. Say, for example, an old . Others, however, are less than ideal. We have to imagine that trophy truck is somewhere on that not-so-easy list. Despite this, Ballistic BJ Baldwin is rather skilled at getting his desert-dashing pickup on two wheels… and keeping it there.
The truck weighs more than 6,000 pounds and the suspension travels farther than the Griswold’s on vacation. None of that matters to Baldwin because the man has serious skills behind the wheel. to watch him go two-wheelin’. Top tip, Kilian!
Two new characters from Pixar’s CARS 2 – Click above to view all of the new characters
Pixar has released more goodies this week about its upcoming sequel, , due to hit theaters in the U.S. on June 24. What we have for you today are the cars representing Germany and Spain in the movie’s championship race, the World Grand Prix.
First up is Max Schnell, who not only represents Deutschland, but also appears to be carrying the torch for all DTM racers in CARS 2. His last name, Schnell, is also a nice touch, being the German word for ‘fast’. He hails from Stuttgart, which is the home of both and , but we think his design is actually inspired by the , hence him wearing the #4. He’s also won more races at the Motorheimring (Pixar-speak for Nürburgring, and also German for Motorhome-ring) than any other car in the World Torque Champion League (Pixar-speak again for World Touring Car Championship).
Next up, representing the country of Spain, is Miguel Camino, who hails from Pamplona. Miguel gained fame in his homeland by participating in the famous Running of the Bulldozers and competing as a toreador in the dozer ring. He now races as car #5 in the Grand Touring Sport circuit. If we had to venture a guess at who Miguel is modeled after, we’d say Spanish F1 champ Fernando Alonso. Why? The shape of his headlights suggest a influence, and Spain’s real greatest racer drives for Ferrari in Formula One.
Finally, Pixar has also released some cool retro posters promoting the World Grand Prix in each of the four locations it’s raced. Check them out in the second gallery below, and to watch turntable videos of Max Schnell and Miguel Camino.
This 1989 Rothmans tribute is the second such 953 rally car homage to come from this seller in less than a year. Last year, he reportedly sold a 1980 Porsche 911 Rothmans to the folks at GoPro for north of $70k. That car was nice, but was only two-wheel drive.
This year, he decided to go all out, and took a perfectly-maintained 1989 Porsche 911 C4 and turned it into a near-perfect representation of the 1984 -winning 953. Check out the , where the car has yet to meet its reserve. Using a C4 as the base car means this tribute carries an all-Porsche all-wheel drive system, making this year’s car even more desirable than last year’s.
Best of all, the car looks the part, but retains its street legality and some crucial creature comforts to make it a useful means of transportation as well as a suitable weekend warrior. According to the eBay listing, the car retains ABS, cruise control, climate control, a sunroof, power locks, power mirrors, power windows, and a differential lock. See the car in action after the jump. Top tip, Chris M!
With the exception of the facility that makes the plants in Japan have been closed following the earthquake disaster in Japan, but that is scheduled to change by April 18. The Associated Press is reporting that Toyota will resume production that day, though assembly lines will only work at half speed. The plants will run through April 27, when they will close again until May 9 to honor Japan’s Golden Week holiday. That’s a fairly short production window, but the move is likely welcome news to Toyota’s rank and file. The automaker has already lost 260,000 units since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Toyota’s plan to restart production comes as the automaker continues to struggle to procure parts needed for production. Toyota’s parts situation has improved, however, as the APreports that problem part counts have gone from 500 to under 150.
Toyota president Akio Toyoda acknowledges that parts supply issues are still hurting the automaker, but adds “we are doing our utmost to improve the conditions so that we can deliver cars to many customers.”
[Source: Associated Press via Image: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty]
Silver Jeep Wrangler by Project Kahn – Click above for image gallery
The last time a looked this at home in Europe, it was helping American forces liberate the old world from Nazi occupation. But that was another era. Europe is a new place today – necessity having mandated the rebuilding of so many bombed-out cities – but the (or the older Civilian Jeeps in their various incarnations) has remained a constant. So the people at Project Kahn evidently thought it was about due for a modern makeover.
Kahn’s silver Jeep Wrangler is more about the whole than the sum of its parts, but to get it there, Kahn and company dropped the suspension, fitted 20″ wheels, retrofitted the interior and, apparently, gave it a proper respray. The result (that is, an off-road workhorse with a dropped suspension and oversize rims) sits at just about the opposite end of the spectrum from the recently-announced kit, and may make about as much sense as the proverbial screen door on a submarine. That said, we’ve got to admit it looks the business… whatever business that might be. See for yourself in the high-res image gallery below.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze – Click above for high-res image gallery
has reportedly issued a recall of 2,100 of its compact car in the U.S. and 400 units in Canada after one car was found to have an improperly attached steering wheel. While the defect sounds terrifying, Chevrolet says the mishap hasn’t caused an accident or any injuries.
According to The Detroit News, Chevy is confident that only one car had the issue, and the recall is a precautionary measure. According to the story, Chevy says it inspected more than 2,000 vehicles at the plant where the defective Cruze was built and several hundred more at dealerships and didn’t find any with a similar fault.
Those affected by the recall will be asked to take their Cruze in to the dealership to be inspected for the fault, which will be repaired for free if a problem is found.
What We Like: The editing and look of the ad fits with the excellent ads that agency Wieden & Kennedy created last year. There is an urban feel to this TV spot that is probably fitting for a vehicle like Compass, which has not had much positive said or written about since it first hit showrooms in 2007. There is authority, emotion and value in the Jeep brand, and re-igniting that for consumers is a good idea.
What We Don’t Like: Now for the bad news. For people who know Jeep and the Compass, not to mention the new Hawaii Five-O TV show, this ad has a lot of problems. For sure, the Compass has been much improved for the 2011 model year. We are not only impressed with what the new Chrysler team managed with a new interior and trim, but with how we were able to when we tested the new car. But the bones of this vehicle are highly suspect to the real Jeep fan and student of the brand. “Iconic beauty,” reads the voiceover in the ad. “A legendary bloodline.” To people who know something about the Compass, that is way, way, way over the top. There isn’t anything in common between the Compass and the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is a terrific piece of work, except the logo and some talented, passionate engineers who did the best they could with the marginal vehicle they started with.
And in making the “Bloodlines” case… Laila Ali? Seriously? And actor Scott Caan? Not only are these two figures the barest shadows of their fathers (wait…maybe they do work for this ad), but in the only role Scott Caan is really known for (with respect to the reborn Oceans franchise, we’re talking about the new Hawaii Five-O), he is completely linked to a , part of the product placement deal worked out, which has vehicles all over the show. In one recent show, both Caan and the bad guy were driving Camaros. And Caan’s character, Danno, would never be caught driving a Compass.
Strategy: Play up the brand equity of the Jeep brand for all the products even if some of the current products don’t measure up. We can see how the company and agency arrived at this idea. After all, they have to sell the Compass for another 16 months or so until an all-new vehicles come in to replace it. The Compass has had very little cred in the marketplace, especially with repeat Jeep buyers. This may be the only way to juice up sales a little for the rest of the time it is marketed. The new Compass is much improved, and should get a more serious look from would-be buyers. But the halo placed on this model is a bit too much for us.
Grade: C
Watch the commercial and give it your own grade below.
2012 Hyundai Veloster – Click above for high-res image gallery
We haven’t been behind the wheel of one yet, but we’re thinking that the normally aspirated 2012 Hyundai Veloster probably looks a little faster than it is – we say this only because a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower can only be so spirited. We’ve heard previously that a turbocharged version of the Veloster is on the way, but thus far, details haven’t been easy to come by.
If new stories in are to be believed, the Veloster Turbo will feature a 1.6-liter GDI turbo powerplant capable of 208 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. That’s not exactly game-changing power, but keep in mind that the little Veloster weighs all of 2,600 pounds, giving the little coupe a 12.48-pounds-per-pony ratio. And if the Veloster Turbo does indeed feature the 1.6-liter, we’re thinking the little ride’s laudable 40 mile per gallon highway fuel economy bogey won’t be affected all that much.
A 208-horsepower Veloster sounds just dandy to us, but we’re still looking forward to official word from Hyundai to confirm. Hopefully we’ll hear something more official about the boosted Veloster very soon.
