The Auto Blog .ru

	Confirmed: U.S. considering 62 mpg CAFE target by 2025 Here we go?		Lotus unveils range-extended electric city car concept It’s only the sixth (!) vehicle Lotus displayed in Paris.
	World Series, meet the Chevy Volt With a lot of Americans watching, GM will make the formal introduction.	Other news: Fisker fishing for an IPO? Henrik says “oui” in Paris You’re stealing what? Waste grease thefts on the rise again Thomas Edison’s 1912 electric car restored; hits the streets once again

AutoblogGreen for 10.04.10

We think the 304 horsepower Cadillac CTS Coupe is pretty cool and the 556 hp CTS-V Coupe is an outright badass. The power pundits at Hennessey think any car or truck could use a little more oomph than it leaves the factory with. John Hennessey’s crew has massaged the blown LSA motor under the two-door Caddy’s bulging hood and the results scream for themselves. The 2011 Hennessey V700 Coupe pushes out 700 hp to the rear wheels and makes nearly 740 pound-feet of torque.

How does that all that power do when the car is launched down the dragstrip? The trip from tree to finish takes just over 11 seconds. Hop the jump to see the action for yourself.

Photos by Steven J. Ewing and Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey runs its “Coupe DeThrill” down the quarter-mile

Video: Hennessey runs its “Coupe DeThrill” down the quarter-mile

Whether the cretin responsible for flattening the grille of your mint Isuzu Impulse left a note or not, the damage wrought on your vehicle is going to require repair. DentBetty streamlines the traditional pain-in-the-tuchas process of traipsing around to various body shops to get estimates for cosmetic repairs. Any incident that results in structural damage still requires a firsthand look by body professionals, but cosmetic damage is a very common annoyance that many people forgo repairing due to the aggravation.

DentBetty provides body shop estimates from your uploaded photos

The Swiss are masters of precision. The world’s most elegant timepieces hail from Switzerland. The multi-purpose and compact tool known as the Swiss Army Knife is praised throughout the world for its utility and dependability. Swiss-made products carry their label as a badge of honor that commands respect.

Philippe Perakis, a former mountain bike racer, is carrying this ethos into an amazing product designed for the outdoor enthusiast. Perakis has created the swissRoomBox, and its simple name belies a complex and mechanically beautiful product. The swissRoomBox is essentially a motor home squeezed into a few boxes, which fit neatly into the back of any mid-size hatchback, wagon, crossover or SUV.

The name of the game here is “ease of use,” and the swissRoomBox delivers. Initial setup requires connecting a supplied cable to the battery and mounting the unit to four anchor points in the back of the car. It can then be installed or removed within ten minutes. Once in, however, it transforms your car into a mini RV. The swissRoomBox can be used to cook food, take a shower, and provide power and drinking water. It can even be detached to create seating or sleeping space.

It’s an amazing piece of engineering that provides an endless amount of useful features. The swissRoomBox goes on sale in October 2010 but pricing has yet to be announced. Bonus: The company has stated that they are able to ship to the United States – get ready, Honda Element owners. Want to see one put to use? We have video of the swissRoomBox in action on the other side of the jump.

[Source: swissRoomBox via The Adventure Life]

Continue reading Video: swissRoomBox turns any vehicle into a motor home

Video: swissRoomBox turns any vehicle into a motor home

Now that Volvo is no longer a part of Ford Motor Company, change is inevitable. The Swedish automaker can no longer rely on Ford to supply low-cost global platforms or new powertrains in the future, so that future may include fewer platforms and better model distinction. AutoWeek reports that Volvo will soon go from three platforms to two by adding some new models and taking away some others. On the chopping block are the S40 sedan and V50 wagon. Both have sold reasonably well, but they are reportedly too close in size to the new S60 to be retained. The V70 station wagon will cease to exist after the 2011 model year.

Doug Speck, CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, tells AW that a new vehicle is being considered that will be smaller than the S40. It would do battle against heavy hitters like the BMW 1 Series. The small sedan’s all-new platform could also spawn a compact crossover to take on the likes of the BMW X1. Speck cites the feverish growth of the small luxury crossover segment as the main motivating factor to adding a smaller stablemate to the XC60 and XC90. In the short term, the larger S80 and XC90 will also be redone, better positioning Volvo to win sales in China, where large luxury rides are in high demand.

Speck also set expectations for S60 sales in the U.S. Volvo hopes to sell 15,000 to 25,000 copies of the attractive new sedan annually. Volvo sold only 5,895 copies of the outgoing S60 in 2009, though the last-gen model, which first sold way back in 2001, was very long in the tooth.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Volvo mulling sub-S40 sedan, BMW X1 rival

Heading into the final race of the 2010 IRL IZOD IndyCar Series Championship, early championship leader Will Power clung to a 12-point lead over the fast-closing Dario Franchitti. The two drivers had each been strong on ovals or road courses, but not both. Franchitti was crowned the oval champ, earning the A.J. Foyt trophy, while Power had won the road race crown, picking up the Mario Andretti trophy. Power had shown a level of dominance through the mid-season road and street races that made his title lead look insurmountable. But Franchitti racked up more points in the latest oval races as Power struggled to get good results.

That brought the title fight down to the last race of the season at the Miami-Homestead oval: The Cafes do Brasil Indy 300. Follow the jump to see who took the 2010 IndyCar Championship and how it came to be.

[Images: Chris Graythen, Nick Laham/Getty Alan Diaz, Terry Renna/AP]

Continue reading IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS]

IndyCar: Sparks fly as thrilling Indy 300 closes season [SPOILERS]

News is coming in that the body of Uwe Gemballa has been found in South Africa. Gemballa was the former CEO of the Porsche tuning company that bares his name. As we reported earlier this year, Mr. Gemballa went missing in February after arriving in South Africa for a business trip.

The details that poured in after the reported disappearance of Gemballa caused great speculation that shady business deals were afoot. He was reportedly having trouble paying its employees, his wife was given power of attorney and registered the company for bankruptcy and he had started a second company with his 79 year-old mother listed as the sole stockholder.

To further muddy the waters, it’s being reported that Uwe Gemballa was turning towards Czech fugitive and South African organized crime boss, Radovan Krejcir. A former business partner of Krejcirs by the name of Juan Meyer has provided the local police with a sworn statement, saying that the Porsche tuner and the mobster were working on a business arrangement. Gemballa was slow in getting money to Krejcir and it may be what cost him his life.

It’s a sad, speculative end for a once famed tuner of German sports cars. The Gemballa company has moved on since Uwe’s disappearance but these new stories can’t help it as remaining employees attempt to revive the company.
Thanks for the tips, Alexander and Nicolas!

[Source: Stern.de - translated from German into English]

BREAKING: Uwe Gemballa reportedly found murdered in South Africa

Audi unleashed its Quattro Concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, but the automaker isn’t done sharing with us just yet. We now have a short new video clip of the Quattro, and we can’t stop staring. There are so many questions that will most likely go unanswered. What’s it like to drive? How much would a production version cost? Does Audi accept our stolen totally legit American Express card? You know it’s been at least several minutes since you last ogled the Quattro, so get your fix by watching the this new video. If that’s not enough, we also have a longer cut that ditches the annoying background music. Both are posted after the jump.

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Audi Quattro Concept plays with our emotions

Video: Audi Quattro Concept plays with our emotions

We have a hard time imagining a world in which we don’t drive. Google CEO Eric Schmidt doesn’t have that problem. He feels that humans should give up their right to the steering wheel and hand the keys over to a computer. At a recent TechCrunch conference, Schmidt opined that we humans aren’t very good at driving, adding that “it’s a bug that cars were invented before computers.”

It’s hard to fight Schmidt’s logic. After all, thousands of Americans die each year due to accidents that are mostly avoidable. Then there’s the matter of traffic jams; Computers could one day seamlessly route vehicles to the best possible road, virtually eliminating the Interstate parking lot. Oh, and don’t forget that drivers are becoming increasingly distracted by electronic gadgets like smartphones.

Autonomous vehicles? Nice idea, but until it truly feasible and reliable on a massive scale, we’re more than happy to drive ourselves. And while we’re at it, we’ll row our own gears, too.

[Source: TechCrunch]

Google CEO: Ridiculous that humans drive cars

It seems everyone is losing their patience waiting for Gran Turismo 5 to arrive in November. Apparently, that includes Top Gear, which is now lending its name to special features in the upcoming Forza Motorsports 3 Ultimate Collection edition that’s due in stores this month.

The new content includes the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Koenigsegg CCX and Lexus LF-A, which make up a pack called Stig’s Garage. (What, no Toyota Aygo?) There’s also a free 90-minute video compilation produced exclusively for Forza and an Xbox LIVE premium dashboard theme. The makers of Forza Motorsport also say that future collaborations with Top Gear are also planned.

In addition to the Top Gear content, the Ultimate Collection includes every previously released Forza 3 add-on pack, plus seven new cars:

• Lancia 037 Stradale
• Jaguar D-Type
• Plymouth Cuda
• Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro
• Audi TT RS Coupe
• Audi R15 TDI
• Porsche 550A Spyder

It’s almost enough to make a guy want to ditch his PS3. Hurry, Gran Turismo…

Want to see how the two games stack up? Take a look after the jump for videos of each.

[Source: Forza Motorsport, YouTube]

Continue reading Top Gear cheats on GT5, teams with Forza on Stig’s Garage collection

Top Gear cheats on GT5, teams with Forza on Stig’s Garage collection

Car guys insist that their four-wheeled machines are as fun as any motorcycle. The two-wheeled, leather-clad bike folks laugh at this notion, then scream off into the twisties at 9,000 rpm. The discussion can go back and forth until both parties are blue in the face. Inside Line decided it would be fun to put two powerful examples, one car and one motorcycle, to the test. These aren’t just run-of-the-mill vehicles, either: In one corner is a 2010 Bugatti Veyron while in the other sits a 2010 BMW S 1000 RR. The battleground? Forest roads around Molsheim, France

The Veyron obviously has the power advantage, thanks to its quad-turbo 8.0-liter W16 engine that produces 1,001 horsepower. The 190-horsepower BMW, however, has a huge weight advantage and the agile bike can get around any Citroën-shaped obstacles that it might come across.

The staff at Inside Line give the nod to the bike, for a number of valid reasons. It makes more sense in a day-to-day atmosphere, can slip through traffic, and when the luggage rack is applied it has more cargo capacity. The S 1000 RR also gains an edge when comparing maintenance costs. Changing a tire on a bike isn’t too much of a hit to the wallet, but to change the full set of rubber on the Bugatti costs $90,000. Furthermore, there are only two machines in the world capable of handling that job — one in France and another here in the US.

Regardless of the outcome, the pair both represent unique forms of engineering excellence and the real winner of the shootout is Inside Line. Getting to spend time with either vehicle is a treat, but getting to do it on a scenic French road is a dream. Head on over to Inside Line to live vicariously through their lucky contributor.

[Source: Inside Line]

Bugatti Veyron vs. BMW S1000 RR – Which is fastest?

Say hullo to this little truck: It’s the 2011 Chevrolet Montana and it might just make its way up from South America into U.S. dealer showrooms. It’s a small two-door, two-passenger ute that rides on the same platform as the Brazilian Chevy Agile, a hatchback city car.

According to Mike Levine over at PickupTrucks.com, General Motors has no successor planned for the U.S.-version of the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon twins. This car-based, front-wheel-drive trucklet could provide a nice stepping stone into its family of larger pickups. The engine would likely have to be beefed up for this market, since potential truck shoppers might be scared off by the Montana’s 1.4-liter four-cylinder (it’s good for 97 horsepower, 95 pound-feet of torque, and 30 miles per gallon on the highway). Despite its modest power numbers, the Chevy Montana is capable of hauling 1,671 pounds in the rear cargo area – a number comparable to the payload ratings of several full-size pickups.

Is North America ready for a pint-sized, front-wheel drive truck? That’s a tough call, especially one with such Aveo-like unique styling. The 2011 Chevrolet Montana might not arrive in the form you see above (and in the gallery), but it could provide a glimpse at what’s waiting down the road.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

2011 Chevrolet Montana compact truck unveiled in South America

GM’s Lordstown plant builds the Chevrolet Cruze, but when plant management needed the cars coming off the line repaired, it didn’t use plant workers; it sent the cars to an outside repair shop. That didn’t make UAW leadership happy. The union’s response was to draw up a leaflet telling workers that “management is not your friend,” and to take their discontent to the press with the message that things haven’t really changed.

Local 112 president said the issue was resolved the next day. For its part, General Motors says it has met with the UAW and a “resolution [is] expected soon.” The situation was blamed on the pressure that management and labor are under to get the Cruze right. From the outside, this doesn’t look like a productive way to achieve that end.

[Source: Automotive News - sub req'd]

Report: GM, UAW clash over Chevy Cruze repairs

One theme we have seen so far at this years Paris Motor Show, is automakers showing off vehicles which don’t seem to flow with past company history. Ferrari just added a vehicle to the growing list. Have a look at the Ferrari Calfornia fitted with the HELE System. HELE stands for High Emotion Low Emissions and is a system designed to reduce C02 emissions without taking away from the joy of driving a Ferrari.

The HELE System works by utilizing a variety of technical measures including a start/stop function that can restart the car in 230 milliseconds, intelligent engine fan and fuel pump control, electronically controlled variable displacement air-conditioning technology and adaptive gear shifts. The result is a 23 percent reduction in C02 emissions.

We joke about automakers moving away from their traditional vehicles, but it’s these types of cars that allow them to continue to build the ones we love. There probably would be no Porsche GT2 RS without the Cayenne, for example. The Ferrari California fitted with the HELE System shows that the purveyor of the Prancing Horse understands the world is constantly changing – and Ferrari is doing its best to continue to build the cars it’s known for while staying in tune with the current climate of the world.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Paris 2010: Ferrari California featuring HELE system

If you like the Fiat Punto, you’ll love the Punto Evo. And if you love the Evo, the Abarth Punto Evo will make you quiver. So we’re not exactly sure what this Abarth Punto Evo EsseEsse is going to do to you – you may just faint. First shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the Abarth-tuned version of the Punto Evo debuted, offering a bit more oomph, more aggressive styling and even better handling and braking. At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Scorpion brand brought us even hotter versions of both, and we’re very glad it did.

Wearing a Campovolo Gray paint scheme with white accents – and carrying that EsseEsse tag – this Punto gets a slight boost in power and a variety of upgrades to match. Output is now a full 180 horsepower, which is enough for a 7.5-second dash to 62 miles per hour. Additionally, top speed rises to 134 miles per hour.

That gray color might look familiar to you if you’ve ever seen an Italian warplane. The color is named after the airfield across the road from the company’s historic headquarters in Turin. Inside, the EsseEsse gets “Abarth Corse by Sabelt” seats in black leather and Blue&Me sat-nav. The Punto also features an array of upgrades to the suspension, brakes, rolling stock and more. Full details can be found in the press release after the jump.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Paris 2010: 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth EsseEsse is one fierce Scorpion

Paris 2010: 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth EsseEsse is one fierce Scorpion

Unlike so many other electric vehicles introduced at the Paris Motor Show and throughout the year, the Saab 9-3 ePower doesn’t look like its vanity plate should read “Buck Rogers,” and it isn’t powered by dark matter or black holes or Neptunian vapor. It’s a 9-3 SportCombi with a plug in the back. That’s all.

But that means a lot for Saab. The ePower is a testbed for a 70-car fleet that will be evaluated next year in Sweden in preparation for a production electric vehicle. The aim is a 120-mile range in a car that provides real-world wagon convenience. Up front is a 184-horsepower electric motor, 26 hp less than the ICE in the production 2.0T, powered by a 35 kW lithium-ion battery pack. That gets the estate from zero to 62 miles per hour in 8.5 seconds and on to a 90-mph top speed.

Trials in Sweden will put the air-cooled batteries’ 30-degree Celsius operating temperature to the test, which Saab claims is ten degrees colder than other battery packs can manage. The 70 families invited to drive the car over the next two years will put its other attributes to the test. If all goes well, Saab wants to turn the knowledge it gains into a high-performance electric vehicle. There’s more to know in the press release after the jump, and plenty of high-res images in the gallery below.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL

Continue reading Paris 2010: Saab 9-3 ePower signals one way for ward for the Swedes

Paris 2010: Saab 9-3 ePower signals one way for ward for the Swedes

Earlier this year, the 2011 Renault Latitude was unveiled at the Moscow International Auto Show. The European version has now made its debut in front of the crowd at the Paris Motor Show. The Latitude is considered a business-class saloon and Renault is positioning it to become the automaker’s flagship vehicle.

The styling of the Renault Latitude somehow evokes images of the Chyrsler Sebring, new Volkswagen Jetta and any Lexus vehicle – yet it’s done in a stylish manner. When it launches in Russia, the Latitude will be available with either a 139-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT or a 2.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic that’s good for 177 hp. The four-cylinder unit is rated at 34 miles per gallon while the V6 gets just under 30 mpg. As the car expands into other markets, it will feature an expanding lineup of engine and gearbox choices.

Inside, the Renault Latitude is all about comfort. The power-adjustable driver’s seat features a massaging function with five pneumatic rollers and four different settings. In order to keep everyone else happy, the Latitude has a climate control system with triple-zone adjustability.

The 2011 Renault Latitude hit dealer showrooms in September 2010, in Morocco and Algeria. It then starts popping up in Russia and the Ukraine before being made available throughout Africa. The European model will follow after that.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Paris 2010: Renault Latitude ready to carry the flag for French automaker

Venturi was last seen in America a couple of months ago, blasting across the white crystals at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the guise of the Buckeye Bullet. At the Paris Motor Show, the Monegasque company revealed a different kind of terrain-blasting machine called the America EV Dune Buggy – a jacked-up, 300-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive electric sports car as open and free as the great land it’s named after.

The interior would be admirably minimal if things hadn’t got cluttered up around the console screen, but the center tunnel buttons are a chunky, metallic pleasure to behold. The single display in front of the driver will hopefully present information clearly enough to keep your eyes on the road and your hair in the wind. And we aren’t sure what kind of stereo is involved, but based on the speakers it looks pretty serious.

As for actually getting behind the wheel and exploring the roadster’s namesake country, a retail source for Venturis has just landed in Columbus, Ohio, which means we might one day see something from the automaker outside of a blog post. But that’s the future, folks – for now, there’s a press release in its familiar place and a gallery of high-res photos below.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL

Continue reading Paris 2010: Is the Venturi America EV Dune Buggy another awesome EV we’ll never see?

Paris 2010: Is the Venturi America EV Dune Buggy another awesome EV we’ll never see?

This is the Citroën Lacoste concept, which the automaker describes as “an emblem for a state-of-mind” – that particular mental state probably including sun, sand, bikinis and Speedos. The open buggy-like four-seater with floating headrests is the opposite of “always more,” powered by a three-cylinder engine that will make its pace as relaxed as its occupants.

Fashion and four-wheelers combine all around, with the golf-ball wheels outside and bench seats with a polo-shirt-like weave inside. The dash that’s as wide as the car goes in another direction entirely, with readouts in giant pixels popping up and running along its length akin to a Times Square news ticker. And although we probably won’t see it on the roads beaches soon, there is a chance we could see it or something like it: Frédéric Banzet, managing director of Citroën, has said he’d like to bring it to production. Ok then.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL

Continue reading Paris 2010: Citroën Lacoste Concept is a fashion buggy for the white belt set

Paris 2010: Citroën Lacoste Concept is a fashion buggy for the white belt set