The Detroit News reports that tailgate thieves are overrunning southeast Michigan, costing truck owners and insurance companies between $1,200 and $3,600 per theft. The problem is so bad in part because stealing a tailgate only takes a few seconds when unlocked, and under a minute when they are locked. Thieves can reportedly remove a tailgate using only their fingers or with the aid of a regular old screwdriver – no specialized tools are needed.
To combat this problem, some auto dealers are displaying their trucks sans gate, or parking those trucks right up against a wall so thieves don’t have room to operate. Not even a law making tailgate theft a felony worthy of up to five years in prison appears to be scaring off thieves. St. Clair Shores, MI police detective Dave Centala adds that the speed of the crime makes thieves difficult to catch, adding “they come at night, make no noise and we have never caught one in the act or recovered the part.” Centala tells the DetNews that five were stolen in one night in St. Clair Shores, and in other cities the tailgates are being stolen in chunks.
Tailgate thefts are nothing new, and The Detroit News is only reporting on thefts in Michigan, but given the ease with which tailgates are being swiped, we’re inclined to believe this continues to be a problem on the national level. Owners looking to protect their trucks can purchase an aftermarket lock, or they can park their vehicle in a garage or in a spot that gives thieves little room to remove the tailgate. Hopefully automakers will tune into this situation and make stealing tailgates far more difficult in the future.
Chevrolet has called the franchise’s and and raised the stakes by one supercharger. The obvious aim of the is to silence all the critics who flame the Camaro for being slower than the 5.0-liter competition from Ford.
To cure their case of horsepower envy, Chevrolet threw a supercharged 6.2-liter LSA making more than 550 horsepower between the Camaro’s fenders. That power theoretically puts it atop even the mighty GT500 in a straight line.
To make sure the Camaro could take down the handling-oriented Boss 302 as well, they cribbed the magnetic dampers from the for the ZL1. All that effort should add up to not only the fastest Camaro ever built, but the best-handling, as well. We can’t wait to get our mitts on the car, but in the meantime, we’ll slake our curiosity by hearing the LSA briefly come to life in the video (Warning: Auto play).
Jay Leno interviews Lee Iacocca – Click above to view video
Jay Leno’s Garage managed to pull a very special interview this week with Lee Iacocca, the legendary American businessman credited with fathering the original and with bringing Chrysler back from the brink in the 1980s. The interview rehashes Iacocca’s success with the Mustang and direct involvement with the creation of Carroll Shelby’s first cars in the ’60s.
The video concludes with a walkaround and test drive of the , a (very) limited edition 400-horsepower supercharged tribute to the father of the Mustang. Leno even sneaks in a burnout in Lido’s personal example. Check it out . Top tip, Brent!
2011 Jeep Compass – Click above for high-res image gallery
Let’s be honest here: The should have never been built – at least not in the form it took. A derivative of the compact Dodge Caliber, the Compass is neither a real nor an SUV, but a singular testament to how badly Daimler mismanaged the brand over its decade of ownership. And sales have proven this out. Although the Compass did well in the first year after its May 2006 launch, interest quickly cooled, and through the end of 2010, Chrysler had totaled only 111,000 Compass sales. The company managed to move fewer than 16,000 of them last year.
A “softroader,” the Compass was meant to compete in the growing field of compact, front-wheel-drive crossovers often derided as “Cute Utes.” The misguided, condescending and paternalistic attitude of the Germans running DaimlerChrysler at the time was that young women would flock to the Compass, while its mechanical twin, the , was designed for the boys. While the Patriot at least looked like a Jeep – the much-loved, discontinued Cherokee – the googly-eyed Compass was cartoonish, like a Jeep animated for the Powerpuff Girls.
Kimi Raikkonen at the Brickyard for the 2007 United States Grand Prix – not his last time at the speedway?
What does a U.S. president do after he’s finished his term in office? Whatever the heck he wants. That’s because he’s already reached the top of his game and has nothing left to prove but to use his considerable influence and experience towards whatever end he chooses. The same might be said of a Formula One World Champion. Take Kimi Raikkonen, for example, who won the title in 2007. He turned his back on F1 when he’d had enough, and is now trying his hand at rallying in the World Rally Championship. But if the latest reports are any indication, the Finnish driver has had enough of that, as well, and is eager to try something new.
That something, according to the latest reports from his home country, is NASCAR. Now, we could chalk this up to a slightly premature April Fool’s Day gag, but if accurate, Raikkonen could be preparing an assault on America’s oval speedways. The report alleges a new team under Kimi’s ICE 1 Racing banner is being established in conjunction with Foster Gillett – the sports arm of American businessman George Gillett’s enterprise that formerly owned the Montreal Canadiens (the winningest team in all of professional sports), the Premier league Liverpool Football Club, and (previously known as Gillett Evernham Motorsports).
If the reports prove accurate – and we’re still taking this with a big grain of salt – Raikkonen will start off in the Craftsman truck series before moving up to the Nationwide series and finally the top-tier Sprint Cup. In doing so, he’d be joining his old McLaren teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, as well as fellow former champion Jacques Villeneuve in migrating from F1 to NASCAR. Watch this space for more as it emerges.
A spokesperson for has notified us that on Monday, the first Evora S allotment of press cars left its Hethel U.K. factory and headed to port in both the 2+0 and 2+2 seating arrangements.
We already go gaga over the $64,000 276-horsepower 2+0 for its crispy dynamics and on-track lust. Now we have to get a 330-hp PorscheCayman R ($66,300 before adding a mountain of options) ready to pit against the $75,000, 346-hp fairly loaded Evora S once the latter clears its U.S. port of call at the very end of April.
Scheduled to make its North American debut at the New York auto show on April 21 alongside the 276-hp Evora IPS with automated manual six-speed and paddles at the wheel, the Evora S gets that 25 percent extra supercharged power and 295 pound-feet of torque (a 14 percent increase). In addition, the Sport Pack dynamics calibration button and sport-ratio six-speed manual – accounting for $2,775 in options on the base Evora – plus the more better sport exhaust all come standard on the Evora S.
With ‘ cash flow back to reasonable levels, the company is re-evaluating its position on Australian-built Zeta rockets like the . The last one we had on our shores was the much-lamented Pontiac G8, which was essentially a Commodore with a new set of badges.
With the success of the , GM has reportedly okay’d the development of a new Zeta sedan for the American market. According to reports, it’s slated to debut in early 2013 as a 2014 model, concurrent with the introduction of the redesigned Holden Commodore. Particular details, such as engine size, transmission options and horsepower figures are as yet unavailable. That said, a pushrod small block in the neighborhood of 430 horsepower probably isn’t too far off the mark.
The rumor gets juicier, and a tad more unbelievable, with the revelation that a sport wagon and Ute version of the car are coming as well. The ute, if it happens, will debut around the same time as the sedan, with the sport wagon arriving later in 2013.
2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
Word is that is planning a whole mess of debuts for the upcoming New York Auto Show. Among them, according to reports, are three worldwide first we’ve yet to see, along with three North American debuts.
The models being unveiled for the first time on this side of the Atlantic includes the new , sedan and . As for the world debuts, sources suggest we’ll be seeing two new variants from the AMG division and one all-new concept car. Now we already know the above-pictured will be among them, but rumor has it that the Roadster will be unveiled at the show as well.
As for that mystery concept, speculation is that it could be the new B-Class or a preview of the next M-Class crossover. We’ll have to wait to find out for sure, but with less than a month to go before the doors open at the Javits Center, we won’t have to wait long.
Chrysler Motor Village LA – Click above for high-res image gallery
put a lot of work into its five-story, factory-owner dealership located in Los Angeles, California. Home to all brands under the Chrysler umbrella, Motor Village is also the . But not everyone is thrilled about its arrival, and some have made the claim that it’s actually illegal.
According to the California New Car Dealers Association, manufacturers are not allowed to operate dealerships within 10 miles of independently owned same-make stores, according to California law. The CNCDA believes that Motor Village principal Howard Drake has no serious monetary investment in the facility, and that Chrysler is simply utilizing his name as a legal loophole. Chrysler, of course, disagrees with the claims and the issue will head to California’s New Motor Vehicle Board.
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[Source: - sub. req. Image: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Chrysler]
2010 Volvo C70 – Click above for high-res image gallery
has announced it will take sole ownership of its joint manufacturing facility with . The Pininfarinia Sverige AB plant in Uddevalla, Sweden, only builds the Volvo C70 convertible. According to Volvo, the changeover will take place in 2013, and the automaker will continue to build C70s at the plant.
Volvo and Pininfarina have been bedfellows at the plant since Volvo began building C70s in 2003. The car moved just over 4,000 units in 2010, down nearly two percent from the 2009 total.
The Chinese auto industry has been on the lookout for high-tech auto companies in search of a partner, and China’s Dongfeng may have found just that in transmission maker Getrag. Automotive News reports that Dongfeng is in advanced talks to purchase a 30-percent stake in the German supplier.
Details are scarce, but the report cites sources who say the deal could be worth $700 million. Getrag has reportedly been looking for a partner since Dana Corporation sold its 30-percent stake back to the Hagenmeyer family back in 2007. The family is currently the sole owner of Getrag.
AN points out that the merger, if it goes through, would represent the first time a Chinese automaker has bought into the German auto sector. It’s important to point out that talks are reportedly ongoing, which means that either party can back out at any time. Many global automakers rely on Getrag for transmissions to one extent or another, including , and .
2011 P4/5 Competizione – Click above for high-res image gallery
James Glickenhaus’s made its debut at the this weekend ahead of the actual running of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The test sessions reportedly went well and got as much hype and attention (yep, we’re guilty as charged…) as anything Glickenhaus’s now-famous racer does.
The P4/5 Competizione looked right at home on the track, though tests were cut short after a red flag limited driver Luca Cappellari to one lap. Mika Salo got plenty of seat time though, and the car looks just about ready for competition.
There aren’t any concrete lap times yet, but best guesses are in the 8:30 range, which would put the P4/5 Competizione right where it needs to be. for videos from the test weekend, and be sure to check out the latest set of images of the exquisitely beautiful showpiece below.
How has the refreshed version of this first generation Genesis held up ahead of the second-gen’s arrival as a 2012 model?
Talking about my dad just after the day of his death, I’m sort of forced to quote him. Right up to the last, he was “one tough summbitch” as he would say in praising anyone worth their salt.
Sources say this is a through-the-road all-wheel-drive hybrid Mini Cooper.
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2011 Lamborghini Aventador – Click above for video
Lamborghini delivered one of the first of its latest supercars to a dealership in Berlin recently, blocking traffic and generating quite a crowd on a busy street. Despite some awkward maneuvers in busy traffic, nobody seemed to care… at least not once the Aventador’s 7.0-liter V12 fired.
The best part of the clip by far is the Aventador’s hostile cackle, even without turning much above idle through the entire video. In spite of it being shot in grainy medium-resolution, the latest big Lambo looks as good out in public as it does all gussied up for the auto show circuit. to check out the full video. Thanks for the tip, Rick!
What We Like: The soundtrack, and the depiction of people using their Porsche sports cars for everyday driving and living is a nice change of pace for the brand and the ad work. We especially like the scene of the 911 trudging through snow, which it does with great aplomb thanks to a superior all-wheel-drive system. Porsches are seen as indulgences for men mostly that are often kept in garages under tarps when the snow falls. I’m not sure I would ever load mulch into a Cayman, but we do like the idea of the kids getting picked up from school. The yellow paint job for that 911 was a lovely touch by the ad creatives.
What We Don’t Like: Not too much, though there is a bit of the strategy showing. The economy is still about as zippy as a and there’s much talk about the lines and definition of luxury changing to more value and sensibility, all of which makes this campaign seem a little defensive to us.
Strategy: Porsches is not as impractical as you think. They can be great in the snow. You can get enough mulch in one to fill one of those upside-down tomato growers that hangs on your condo patio. A 911 can carry two small kids in the backseat, provided they are not part of the national obesity problem. We think Porsches, especially the 911, are fabulous sets of wheels that anyone would be proud to own for maximum driving excitement and brand appeal. But practical? Not on your Nellie.
Grade: B+
Watch the commercial and give it your own grade below.
1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI – Click above for full gallery of the royal wedding’s transportation
When Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot on April 29, the bride will ride to Westminster Abbey in a 1977 Phantom VI that student protesters attacked on December 9. The car, carrying Prince Charles and his wife Camilla at the time, suffered a broken window and new two-tone paint job. for some video footage of how the attack went down.
According to Alex Garty, the transport manager at Buckingham Palace, the car is being repaired as we speak and will be ready for the April 29 nuptials. Garty says the car is getting a quick freshening while it’s being repaired, just to make sure it’s looking its best for the royal bride.
Once the knot has been tied, William and Kate will proceed back to Buckingham Palace in an , provided it isn’t raining. The same State Landau also took Prince Charles to St. Paul’s Cathedral for his 1981 wedding to Princess Diana.
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the royal couple will ride in an , which is usually the vehicle of choice for royal brides to get to the church.
can stick another feather in its safety cap. The has officially been awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick judgement by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That means the sedan managed to net top ratings in all IIHS crash tests, including front, side, rollover and rear evaluations. Vehicles awarded the Top Safety Pick designation must also come standard with electronic stability control.
According to the IIHS, it’s been a while since the S60 has carried the institute’s highest honor. The vehicle’s previous generation had no problem netting good ratings in both front and rear tests, but was only rated as acceptable in side impact evaluations. Additionally, the new roof strength tests weren’t in place for the vehicle’s last iteration. IIHS says that Volvo improved the design of the S60 enough to net higher side impact ratings and pass the new rollover tests with flying colors.
IIHS says that the roof of the S60 stood up to 4.95 times the weight of the vehicle. Currently, the federal standard is only requires a vehicle to withstand a force equivalent to 1.5 times its weight. for the full press release.
Jimmy Keeney’s crash at the Global RallyCross Championship – Click above for high-res image gallery
Marcus Grönholm put on an impressive display at the inaugural Global RallyCross Championship by winning both races, but one of the more talked about happenings of the weekend was a spectacular crash by Jimmy Keeney in his .
Matched up with driver Marcus Dodd in the Friday elimination rounds, Keeney had lost ground and was trying to make up time when he came up short for the 70-foot jump. The result was that the back end of the catapulted over the front, flipping end-over-end twice before finally landing on its side with smoke pouring from under the hood. Fortunately, Keeney climbed out of the wreckage unhurt, but the same couldn’t be said for the car.
With ESPN covering the event and plenty of photographers on hand, there was bound to be some good footage of the event. Sharp shooter John Rettie has been kind enough to let us publish his photos of the wreck, and we’ve also embedded a video of the crash .
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Photos copyright (C)2011
[Source: ]
WRX flips end-over-end at Global RallyCross Championship
Someone has finally wised up and combined the body of the original 5.0-liter with the horsepower of Ford’s 2011 Coyote 5.0-liter mill. The combination comes courtesy of Georgia-based Kurgan Motorsports, and, as one might imagine, it’s a beast.
The engine fit right between the Fox Body’s fenders without any cutting, but Kurgan needed to fabricate custom motor mounts, along with air conditioning and power steering brackets to hang to the engine. Custom Kooks headers keep the gases flowing the right way, and a Tremec T-45 handles the added twist.
Though the car is certainly impressive as it sits, Kurgan says there’s a supercharger in the works.
2011 Volkswagen Jetta – Click above for high-res image gallery
is recalling 71,043 of its 2011 model year sedans for a wiring problem with the horn and anti-theft alarm system. The automaker has long been chastised for problems with wiring and electronics in its vehicles, and though we’re told that VW is working to improve quality in this area, some gremlins continue to crop up. No accidents or injuries have occurred as a result of this defect.
Customers will be notified via mail about this issue. Volkswagen will include information about corrective measures and anticipated repair time – something that the automaker has not yet released. Affected cars were built between March 2010 and March 2011. for VW’s official release.
