Former Top Gear Stig, Ben Collins, will be joining the cast of rival program Fifth Gear
With all of the Paris Motor Show coverage this week, we haven’t had a Stig update in, like, five days. The last we heard about Ben Collin, he was suggesting a “” TV show, or that he might enter the British Touring Car Championship. Today we are hearing that, like another BTCC superstar, Jason Plato, Collins will be joining the ranks of Fifth Gear presenters.
when he . The book had been held up by a court case brought by the BBC on behalf of Top Gear. Fifth Gear is the more car-focused and generally less over-the-top Top Gear rival that airs on BBC Channel 5.
The former Stig will reportedly make his debut on Fifth Gear when the new season starts next Friday and appear in five episodes total. Collins will be at least the third former Top Gear cast member to make the switchover, joining fellow ex-TG stars Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson over at Fifth Gear. Collins will not don the famous white racing suit Fifth Gear, but he will reportedly appear in a “colorful racing suit” as well as present on the show in street clothes while not wearing a helmet.
In all fairness, Top Gear has also snatched talent from the Fifth Gear pool as well, with renowned wookie, Tom Ford, recently joining the ranks of Top Gear Magazine staffers. Hat tip to Kris!
October brings us the beginning of Fall, Halloween, Octoberfest… and the Paris Motor Show. In fact, the second and final press day is coming to a close as we speak. Between now and the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas at the beginning of November, there are going to be hundreds of automotive events to keep car-lovers busy.
Local auto shows like the will bring all of the 2010 and some 2011 models to the public. The in Santa Monica will do the same for those who want the latest in green motoring. Camaro lovers of all stripes might want to stop in at the at their shop in Santa Fe Springs, CA.
Classic and collectible car fans can still see some of the most amazing machinery from throughout history at events like:
– a.k.a. Hershey
If you’d like to buy your own classic, there are a couple of auctions in October as well – hosts its Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey event during Fall Meet Week in Hershey, PA. RM also conducts its Automobiles of London auction this month.
Racing fans can take in Formula 1 action during the Japanese and Korean Grands Prix. The Chase is on in NASCAR and the pack will be making stops at Kansas, Charlotte, Fontana, Martinsville and Talladega. IndyCar finishes its 2010 season with the championship-deciding Miami Indy 300. The WRC hosts rallies in France and Spain this month, while the ALMS heads to Georgia for the Petit Le Mans. Drag racing fans can catch NHRA action at Maple Grove Raceway and Las Vegas in October.
If none of those events appeal to you, check out our Google Calendar for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. And please don’t forget to use the comments section to add or modify listings.
Complete with colorful dancers and Bollywood superstar Amir Khan, announced its entry into the two-wheeled market with the launch of two new models. The Mojo and Stallio are the culmination of a plan put into action back in 2008, when the giant Indian manufacturer purchased Italian design firm Engines Engineering, which claims responsibility for the styling of the M&M motos.
The smaller Stallio, which starts under $999 at current exchange rates, will be powered by an air-cooled 110cc mill sourced from China, with the rest of the bike also doing well to reflect its cheap entry level price point. Not so with the above pictured Mojo, which benefits from a liquid-cooled and fuel-injected 300cc single, inverted forks and large-diameter petal-type brake rotors. With a price-point just under $3,900 and a four-year warranty, the big Mahindra might just work some mojo of its own on potential buyers. For a complete list of spec’s you can head over to .
Vice chairman Arnad Mahindra proudly made the bold claim that this will be not only “the most interesting, the most attractive bike” going on to claim that it would be “the fastest and best that India has to offer the globe.” It should come as no surprise that Mahindra wants a piece of the globe’s second largest motorcycle market, where five times the motorists prefer two wheels to four.
Just don’t expect to get your hands on one if you live within the world’s largest motorcycle market as the U.S. is not slated to be included in the distribution. Maybe by the time we can get our hands on a we will be able to source a Mojo to put in the back, but that is probably wishful thinking on both fronts. A complete press release is available to those who .
Last night we gave you the , a concept car that demonstrates the company’s latest technologies. At the time we didn’t have the opportunity to get a close look at many of the car’s details, but we’re making up for it today with plenty of new photos and more info.
If there’s one thing that caught our attention about the Sesto Elemento, it’s the weight. Lamborghini was able keep its curb weight to 999 kg, or 2,202 lbs, thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced plastics. The entire car is essentially constructed from the lightweight materials including the monocoque, front frame, body panels, major suspension components and wheels. With a 570-horsepower V10 mounted behind the cockpit, the San Elemento has just 3.86 pounds to push for every horsepower. Lamborghini claims a 0-100 km/h time of just 2.5 seconds and a top speed of over 300 km/hr, or 186 mph.
While the technical details are impressive, we weren’t immediately taken with the exterior design. As our own Chris Paukert put it, “There’s a lot going on.” What’s interesting is that while we don’t necessarily like the design as a whole, each of the individual elements is quite stunning. The interior is impressive to see as well, with nearly nothing to hide the structural and functional aspects of the car.
Have a look at all the details of the Sesto Elemento in the mega gallery below, or read the full press release from Lamborghini after the jump.
There’s no denying that Lotus had lost its way prior to the release of the much-loved . The company that Colin built had strayed from its roots of lightweight sports cars and drifted towards the exotic realm… and it had drastic effects on the company’s bottom line. Thankfully, the Elise and its hard-core cousin, the , set the company back on the straight and narrow.
All of this begs the question, though: How do you update a modern classic like the Elise? Lotus’ answer is currently being shown off at the Paris Motor Show. Here are the basics: 320 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine procured from , a six-speed manual and optional paddle-shifted automatic transmission, and a 2,409-pound curb weight. This supercharged model can hit 62 in 4.3 seconds. Price? $55,000.
For those keeping track of such things, which is to say nearly all of you, that is indeed heavier and more expensive than the current Elise… and that’s not good. Fortunately, Lotus promises that there will be less expensive versions of the 2015 Elise available, presumably without the benefit of forced induction. There will also be both hard-and soft-top models on offer.
What all Elises will offer, though, is a more luxurious cabin and easier entry and exit. We’re loving the look of the interior, with its pod-like binnacle of instruments, steering wheel with F1-style progressive shift lights and its digital rendering of race circuits for those venturing out the the track. As for the exterior, well, let’s just say we’re not quite on board yet with what Lotus designers have planned for the brand’s future. Fortunately they have plenty of time to change our minds.
recently to get your heart pumping a bit. Today the British automaker wants to get your wallet pumping. Pricing has just been announced for the new Conti and the MSRP rises by just under four percent – an increase from $182,800 (2010 Continental GT MSRP) to $189,900.
What does that four percent rate hike get you? A lot actually. The W12 engine produces more power to the tune of 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque; an increase of nearly three and eight percent respectively. The interior has been upgraded and features a welcome-to-the-modern-era-finally navigation system as well as an increase of 46 mm of rear seat legroom. This is good news for any owners looking to date taller supermodels.
What can’t be measured by facts and figures is the updated appearance of this handsome car from Crewe. The new lines on the 2011 Continental GT look downright Muscle Beach without detracting from the overall elegance. The fenders arc and crease beautifully, grabbing the lines started by the nose, flowing into the shoulder and then back out into the tail.
The 2011 Bentley Continental GT may be getting a four percent price increase over the outgoing model, but that $7,100 buys you a whole new ultra-luxe touring experience. Check out all the details in the press release .
2011Volkswagen Passat – Click above for high-res image gallery
is slowly in the process of refreshing its entire product portfolio, and right on the heels of the recently introduced comes the seventh-generation . The automaker’s new corporate design language is in full force here, and observations of the new Passat looking like a big Jetta will not be disagreed with.
A full range of gasoline and diesel engines will be available when the Passat launches later this year. In North America, it’s safe to assume that we’ll receive the 207-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as well as the 296-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6, but we won’t rule out the possibility of Volkswagen offering its well-liked 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine, as well. All engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and like previous Passats, 4Motion all-wheel drive should be available on top-end models.
The Passat will also be available with Volkswagen’s XDS electronic differential, which first debuted on the hatch. This system helps reduce understeer and improve overall traction in slippery conditions, and we imagine that it will quickly make its way to the vast majority of VW products. What’s more, a new optional city emergency braking function automatically stops the car at speeds below 18 miles per hour when an imminent collision is detected, sort of like the self-stopping systems by (which, , don’t always work correctly).
Both the sedan and wagon Estate models go on sale in the UK next month, with North American availability coming shortly thereafter. Hit the jump for the full details in VW’s press blast.
Automobile parts supplier Visteon appears to be closer than ever to after 15 long months of proceedings, with the help of the company’s one-time master. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that has agreed to waive $268 million in pension and retiree claims, relieving the troubled supplier of still more debt obligations. Further, The Blue Oval will reportedly commit to another $600 million in contracts, helping the supplier exit bankruptcy with a bit more work in queue.
When Visteon finally exits Chapter 11 proceedings, it will do so with a far healthier balance sheet, production capacity that is more in line with demand and less reliance on Ford Motor Company for business. But while the new Visteon will likely be profitable, the company won’t be nearly as big as Ford’s one-time captive supplier arm was 10 years ago. Visteon has shuttered or sold over 50 plants in the past decade while losing over 50,000 jobs.
Camaro5 is an internet forum that focuses on one specific offering from , namely the fifth-generation . Their hearts (and ours) are a-flutter with images they just got hold of. Sitting under the hood of a not-very-well camouflaged 2012 Camaro Z28 lies the LSA engine in all its supercharged glory. We know it will , now we know which one.
For those not familiar with it, the LSA was originally shoehorned under the hood of the . It’s currently rated at 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque in that application. We have no clue what it will produce under the hood of the Z28, but it will most certainly be a hearty jump over the 425 hp produced in the .
Head over to the to see more detail and gander at some high-res photos. A twirl o’ the bow-tie to Jason!
Earlier this week, announced that it was in talks with about future component sharing after indicated that the next-generation could benefit from BMW power.
Now, Saab has announced that from 2012 on, BMW will supply it with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine which we’re told will be adapted to meet Saab’s specific requirements. BMW currently uses 1.6-liter turbo fours in its entire range, so we expect that this new mill is the next-generation version of the engine presently found in the , and . As of this writing, no details were released as to what Saab products will use this new engine, and no output specs have been divulged.
Curiously, it would appear that this new turbo engine may only be slated for duty in Saab’s new small car, contrary to Bloomberg’s report. We won’t rule out the possibility of the 9-3 getting this 1.6-liter engine, but since the upcoming 9-2 is reportedly being built on Mini Countryman groundwork, having a similar powertrain would indeed make sense. Follow the jump to read Saab’s official statement.
[Source: Saab] Photo copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL
Mahindra Pik-Up – Click above for high-res image gallery
The automotive soap opera that is Mahindra keeps on turning. Today, the Indian automaker issued a statement regarding the claims put forth by Global Vehicles. Mahindra accuses GV of “” It states that the and Mahindra is free to pursue other means of bringing its Pik-Up to its network of waiting U.S. dealers. It has effectively rejected . Mahindra further claims that Global Vehicles is working hard to damage its reputation while disrupting its attempts to bring the vehicle stateside.
Honestly, we would love to see this little truck land in dealer lots here, but we don’t know how this drama will play out. Both sides are pointing fingers and we expect name calling to soon follow. Either way, this doesn’t appear to a very productive way of expediting vehicles to showrooms, now does it?
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Steven Ewing joins podcast regulars Dan and Chris for Episode #197 of the Autoblog Podcast. Items we cover are the newly expanded powertrain selections for the Ford F-150, a potential diesel-powered car from General Motors, the apparently heating-up American love affair with hatchbacks, the just-out-of-reach Mahindra Pik-Up, the definitely unattainable Bugatti Galibier and the rush to pre-order the Nissan Leaf. At one hour, twenty-two minutes, it’s not quite as epic as last week’s extravaganza, and we wrap up by responding to some of your feedback. Thanks for listening!
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2011 Citroën C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso – click above for high-res image gallery
The 2010 Paris Motor Show is a croissant’s throw away and automakers all over the globe are showing off their latest and greatest products. Now, Citroën is jumping into the fray by releasing information and images of its redesigned 2011 C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso before the cars make their official debut later this week.
The Grand C4 Picasso was originally launched in 2006 with the smaller C4 Picasso following in early 2007. Both people-movers feature upgrades inside and out. The sleekly styled C4 dives into the LED club by adding the showy daytime running light treatment to its VTR+ and Exclusive models. Also available on the Exclusive model is a Black Top option which covers the roof and A-pillars in a glossy Onyx black finish. Inside, the pair of Picassos receive a long list of standard equipment upgrades including Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port.
The real news lies under the hood – the Grand and standard C4 Picasso will be fitted with Citroën’s new e-HDi micro-hybrid technology. The fuel economy rating climbs way up to nearly 60 miles per gallon (in the EU cycle) for both models when fitted with this powertrain.
Both cars will make their debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and we’ll be on hand to give you an up close look when they roll out. For now, satiate your French automotive needs by reading the full press release .
Volvo V60 Pedestrian Detection test failures – Click above to
Volvo’s new is under scrutiny after a series of demonstrations for journalists in Australia went awry in rather spectacular fashion. During the presentation, an inflatable test dummy was mowed down after the system failed to detect its presence in time to stop. This, despite the fact that the technology was showcased under controlled conditions. The optional hardware, which debuts on the and , utilizes both radar and camera technology to avoid or mitigate an accident with a pedestrian by automatically slowing the vehicle to either a full stop or at least initiating full braking to lower the rate of impact (Volvo: “The system can avoid a collision at speeds up to 22 mph. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car’s speed as much as possible prior to the impact”).
Volvo officials themselves cautioned… that the system may not always detect the dummy’s presence.
According to Aussie motoring website Car Advice, journalists at the demonstration were told by a spokesperson that the system may have been ‘confused’ by a tractor-trailer parked around 30 meters behind the dummy, but the subsequent removal of the big rig still saw two more failures resulting in impacts. According to the same report, Volvo noted that “around 650 media participated in the week-long demonstration – with a claimed 99.7 per cent success rate – the nature of the failed 0.3 per cent of runs appears to be undisclosed.”
Autoblog had the chance to sample this system firsthand at the earlier this month in similar parking lot tests with different dummies. It performed as-advertised for us, though a few other journalists did record failures of their own – though those lapses were evidently at least partially exacerbated by the drivers giving-in to their instinct to tromp on the brake pedal. Interestingly, Volvo officials themselves cautioned us in advance that the system may not always detect the dummy’s presence, in part because it doesn’t mimic the behavior of a human (the Pedestrian Detection system is trained to look for human movements – arms swaying, legs moving, and so on). In fact, when we asked if the system would also detect and activate when animals are in the road, officials said that the safety feature has not yet been trained to do so – it is only capable of registering bipeds.
As you may recall, this is not the first failure of Volvo’s new auto-stop impact avoidance systems. , we told you about another incident in which an S60’s City Safety auto-brake system test resulted in the car plowing into the back of a semi truck. Volvo would apparently later state that the crash was caused by a ‘low-voltage event’ in the car’s electrical system that turned the rear-impact avoidance system off, a flaw that has since been repaired.
Follow to watch videos of the PSD failures as well as an official Volvo video explaining how the system is designed to work.
2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible teaser – Click above for high-res image gallery
The hammer has fallen on the and the Barrett-Jackson crowd broke out their wallets for it. Final price for the drop-top muscle car? $205,000. Being the first person with a new toy costs money and an affluent fan of the bow-tie will be placing one of the earliest examples of the upcoming convertible in their garage.
products ending up taking three of the top five sales spots. A 1981 Corvette coupe sold for $150,000 and a custom 2010 Camaro coupe brought in $350,000. A pair of exotic supercars finished one and two as a 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren convertible cost someone $412,500 and a sold for $770,000. More on that one later…
Is it worth that amount of money to have an early example of a new model like the reborn Camaro convertible? Only time will tell – but we could think of many other ways to spend $205,000, especially in Las Vegas. Regardless, congrats to the new owner, whose family will probably be selling the car at Barrett-Jackson Mars 2060.
2011 Hyundai Sonata being recalled for steering issues – Click above for high-res image gallery
It looks like the is officially taking its place near the top of the midsize car category. We already told you how it has moved into , and now it moves up the charts again… but on a much less desirable list. Hyundai has issued a recall of 139,500 Sonatas over steering issues.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report at safercar.gov identifies the issue says “the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened.” The consequence could be “a complete separation or compromised attachment of the connections, such that the driver could experience a loss of, or reduction in, steering capability increasing the risk of a crash.”
The recall affects MY 2011 Hyundai Sonata sedans built between December 11, 2009 and September 10, 2010. Dealers should begin sending out recall notices in October. They will inspect and re-torque the assembly, and update the steering software too, at no charge.
In the meantime, owners can contact the Hyundai Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-633-5151, or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153). Hat tip to Ralph!
Cardboard Smart ForTwo – Click above for high-res image gallery
Sometimes, the jokes write themselves. Artist Sarah Illenberger has partnered with and the packing gurus at CD Cartondruck AG to build the world’s first hemmed in high-quality reusable cardboard. Both the exterior and the interior of the car will be decorated with heaps of the recyclable material, and oddly enough, Smart says that it’s pulling the stunt to disprove the notion that its products aren’t disposable. We’re having a hard time wrapping our heads around that one. The project will also serve to highlight Smart’s infatuation with urban design.
Illenberger plans to use her experience producing art installations for the editorial departments of magazines like Style, Vanity Fair and The New York Times Magazine to create a unique look for the ForTwo. According to the press release, the car will come clad in a pixilated camouflage pattern called Eco-Flage. The creation will be on display at this year’s Paris Motor Show from September 28 to October 17. to see the full press release.
Citroën DS3 WRC teaser – Click above to watch video
, the car they’ve chosen to adapt to the new regulations, will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next week. Among the deluge of pics and videos teasing all manner of creations we’ll be seeing on the French floor, the Gallic firm has strung together a few shadowy snippets of the hot hatch that Sébastien Loeb will pilot next year (according to him, his final year) in his attempt to win yet another title. He’ll have to beat the new along the way. to be teased. Hat tip to Dan
Mahindra Pik-Up – Click above for high-res image gallery
Mahindras road to the United States has been interesting so far, to say the least. It’s , seen , and .
Many here in the states are eagerly awaiting the arrival of an official on-sale date for the Pik-up. The biggest group waiting for that announcement might just be Global Vehicles, the U.S. distributor for the little truck with potential big appeal. Global Vehicles has already invested nearly $100 million to bring the vehicle to the US and now they’ve placed an initial order for the Mahindra pickups to the tune of $35 million.
John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles, says:
“We are proud of the sales and service network we created to support the launch of Mahindra vehicles, and we look forward to bringing American buyers something truly unique in the marketplace – rugged, high-quality, clean diesel pickup trucks that can achieve nearly 30 miles per gallon. Our dealers are all seasoned auto industry professionals who will treat customers with honesty, integrity and respect. We built our business on these bedrock principles, which should be the foundation of every business relationship.”
Perez goes on to state that he believes Global Vehicles will prevail in the pending arbitration case against Mahindra. This would force Mahindra to honor its agreement with GV. The offending clause states that Mahindra could walk away from the deal if its truck did not pass EPA testing by a certain date. Mahindra claimed this last-minute contract change was to protect against potential losses if its truck didn’t receive the EPA certification. The deadline dates came up three times, with Perez’s company extending the deadline each time. The most recent time passed on June 11. Ten days after that deadline, Mahindra announced its vehicles were certified for sale and declared its relationship with GV now void.
It will be very interesting to watch this play out. The Pik-Up is supposed to be an affordable and capable, fuel-efficient truck which could be a perfect fit for many U.S. buyers. It’s clear that Global Vehicles remains extremely committed to its investment and hopefully we see the distinctly-styled trucklet roaming our streets in the near future.
