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We’re still purring along on One Lap of America in our BMW Performance School-provided 335d and 550i sedans, but while there have been zero mechanical issues for the timing and scoring crew, the event is starting to take its toll on competitors’ cars, as well as their drivers.

The returning #1 Nissan GT-R of Steven Rankins wasted no time staking its claim to the lead once again, posting the best results at Friday’s wet skidpad event (a startling .962 g) at the Tire Rack in South Bend. After negotiating some overachieving thunderstorms on the way through Wisconsin, the #1 GT-R (above) would follow up that performance with the second-best time at Road America in the first event, trailing only the #3 Porsche 911 GT2 of Leh Keen and Doug Wilks. Dan “Mr. One Lap” Corcoran finished third on the 4.1-mile circuit in his carbon fiber-bodied Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

In the second Road America event, the #3 Porsche GT2 again mopped up, with the #4 Nissan GT-R of Catesby Jones and Jose Collado taking second and the #5 Corvette of Danny Popp rounding out the top three.

The racers noted above may be the lead sled dogs, but everyone at Road America spent the day talking about Howard LaFever and his #69 2010 Cadillac CTS-V. LaFever managed to walk away from a massive rollover crackup in the first event after overcooking the car in Canada Corner. The longtime One Lapper bounced across Turn 12’s gravel trap at triple digit speeds, through a catch fence and over a concrete barrier, where the car landed in a crumpled heap on its roof (pics here). Miraculously, LaFever escaped uninjured, only to leave the track in search of a replacement vehicle. He would turn up shortly thereafter in a newly purchased white Chrysler Crossfire, a car in which he can run the rest of the event but not accrue further points. By the day’s end, other cars were claimed by Road America too, although not as violently as LaFever’s CTS-V. Mechanical maladies befell a Mitsubishi Evo, the sweet 1968 Dodge Charger (fuel pump), as well as a Corvette Z06 and a Mustang GTS. Thankfully, most are not permanently hobbled, showing up further down the road.

Click through to the jump to continue reading.

Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs Inc.

Continue reading One Lap 2010: The Weekend That Was

One Lap 2010: The Weekend That Was

The year was 2006, and Chrysler was fresh off the successful launch of the gangsta 300 and the oddly well-received Dodge Charger. The future looked bright for the Pentastar, with a plethora of new products set to arrive for the 2007 model year. The Chrysler Sebring and Aspen, the Dodge Caliber and Nitro and the Jeep Compass and Patriot were all primed to turn the car-buying world on-end. Or not. The Aspen is now history, the Sebring and Nitro have been abject failures, and the Caliber, Compass and Patriot, all of which share the same platform, haven’t come close to meeting expectations.

But one vehicle almost had a shot: the Patriot. Despite mudding Jeep’s crystal-clear brand DNA by adding a front-wheel drive soft-roader to the mix, the Patriot’s all-four cylinder lineup and better-than-advertised fuel economy arrived just as gas prices rocketed into the stratosphere. So why did it flop? That’s a novel unto itself, but the key culprits included poor interior materials and questionable build quality that conspired with a lackluster ad campaign and the overarching sense that Chrysler was teetering on the brink.

But in spite of all of that, the crew from Auburn Hills didn’t leave the Patriot for dead. They upgraded the interior, made a host of hardware changes and reworked the rugged little crossover to be more competitive for 2010. We were keen to sample the fruits of their labors, so we picked up a fully-loaded 2010 Jeep Patriot Limited to see if the sum of its upgrades have made this front-drive stepchild a viable alternative in a crowded field of small crossovers.

Photos by Chris Shunk / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Jeep Patriot deserves a second look

Review: 2010 Jeep Patriot deserves a second look

Anyone that’s ever tried to get divergent computer systems to play nice knows that it’s not a trivial matter. And when two automakers come together, getting everyone on the same page is both enormously difficult and critically important if the enterprise is to succeed. Chrysler is all too familiar with lackluster enterprises thanks to failed marriage to Daimler, and with it’s recent Italian tie-up, the (software) language barrier could cause some problems.

Now that Chrysler has hooked up with Fiat, the two engineering teams need to consolidate the design software that they use to develop new products. As we learned in the Chevy Cruze safety story, computer aided design and simulation is the foundation to being able to develop products that meet regulations around the world.

Chrysler’s engineers have been using Catia from Dassault Systems for more than two decades while Fiat uses the other major brand Siemens PLM’s NX software. CEO Sergio Marchionne wants everyone in his domain to use the Siemens software for new projects. Unfortunately, the problem goes well beyond just switching out the software at the Chrysler tech center. Suppliers will also have to buy new software because they share design models with the automaker and they need compatibility. Chrysler has begun using the Siemens software for the modifications to the North American version of the Fiat 500, but it could be some time before the issue is resolved completely.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub Req'd]

Chrysler split over which CAD software to use

If you’re even marginally interested in mobile technology, you know the future is in the cloud. Remote servers store your data, allowing you to access everything from contacts to music from a range of devices. That technology has largely been limited to mobile phones and PCs, but Ford’s pioneering a new system that’s set to connect the cloud to your car.

Six teams of students enrolled in Cloud Computing in the Commute at the University of Michigan have partnered with Ford’s Research and Advanced Engineering program to develop a handful of applications utilizing real-time vehicle data, GPS and social networking to create a connected in-car experience like no other.

The software, dubbed “Fiestaware” and built atop Windows 7 and Microsoft’s Robotics Developer Studio, allowed the teams to create services and software that utilize the vehicle’s on-board internet connection to deliver a variety of information to the driver.

Each team created an app they felt would best utilize the available services, and the programs included everything from a real-time fuel consumption tool to traffic alerts and point-of-interest sharing. All the programs were tested and honed by Ford’s user interface engineers, and a panel judges from FoMoCo, U-M and Microsoft picked one app as the winner.

Caravan Track (pictured above) allows drivers to set a route on a website, track participating vehicles and send the driver hazard notifications, along with a host of other information. The team that created the program will get to test out their app on the road when they depart from Ann Arbor, MI on May 14th and drive cross-country to the Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA in a kitted-out Fiesta.

Judging by the pace of development and Ford’s continued innovations in the infotainment space, expect similar cloud-based services to be included in future Blue Oval products. A data-over-voice system will be available on the 2011 Fiesta and upgrades to the SYNC system are sure to make connectivity even easier going forward. Get all the details on the system, the teams and their creations after the jump.

Continue reading Ford’s cloud-computing future starts with students [w/video]

Ford’s cloud-computing future starts with students [w/video]

	Discussion fodder: Could there be an environmental disaster like the Gulf spill if we got off oil? What might be on the horizon.		Tesla IPO could go decently, or worse, depending on CEO's divorce trial on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/tesla-ipo-could-go-decent-or-worse-depending-on-ceos-divorce/">Tesla IPO could go decently, or worse, depending on CEO’s divorce trial Bears watching.
	Chevy Orlando in U.S., dreams of 7-seat Voltec dead on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/gm-cancels-plans-to-sell-chevy-orlando-in-u-s-dreams-of-7-seat/">GM cancels plans to sell Chevy Orlando in U.S., dreams of 7-seat Voltec dead This is not the Volt-like CUV you’re looking for.	Other news: Surprising connections: how biodiesel affects kosher foods NASA creates submersible that can run nearly forever on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/perpetual-power-nasa-creates-submersible-that-can-run-nearly-fo/">Perpetual Power? NASA creates submersible that can run nearly forever In wake of oil rig disaster, Obama promises no new offshore drilling until…

AutoblogGreen for 05.04.10

It’s no secret that we’re wagon fans, especially the modern, stylish mid-size five-doors available from Subaru, Cadillac and Audi. Unfortunately, aside from the Subarus and VW Jettas there are few affordable examples available in the U.S. market.

With any luck the good folks at Kia will see this rendering based on the recently revealed Optima and say “Let’s do it!” The new Optima sedan is a handsome piece of work, but adding this CTS-inspired extended roof-line and D-pillar really gives it the finishing touch.

Now what we’d like to see is something akin to the Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break concept based on the Sonata. Come on photoshoppers, get to work. Hats off to Andrus for the tip!

[Source: This Week in Motors]

Rendered speculation: Kia Optima Sport Wagon

Chrysler comes roaring back

Sure, Chrysler Group sales were up an astonishing 25 percent last month and its dealer network deserves a pat on the back for clearly working their backsides off in April. That said, let’s not forget the low bar that Chrysler had set for itself last year. Heading into bankruptcy, Chrysler Group sales in April 2009 were nearly 50% worse than 2008. Thus, it was inevitable when industry sales began to rise in 2010 that Chrysler would beat its poor performance in 2009. Imagine what they could do with new products to sell?

By and large the entire U.S. auto industry enjoyed positive sales last month, with (shocker!) Chrysler and Dodge posting the best performances by brand. Subaru, per usual, is right up there with a near 50% sales increase (thank you, Outback).

The number of double-digit percent increases in sales is perhaps the most telling bit of info to take away from this month’s chart. Only 13 brands did not have double-digit increases, and four of those were still single-digit increases while another three are shuttered brands from General Motors. Buyers are clearly in a buying mood. At this point, which automaker gets the sale comes down to either who has the newest product or offers the most aggressive incentives.

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in April 2010 and 26selling days in April 2009, so the change in monthly sales volume will equal the change in the average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

By the Numbers – April 2010: Don’t Count Chrysler Out Edition

Japan Transport Minister Seiji Maehara stopped by Washington D.C. late last week to discuss several issues with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, including Toyota and the future of high speed rail here in the States. The Detroit News reports that Maehara admitted the Japanese automaker made some mistakes in handling its recall issues, adding “Toyota has on its own recognized that it had been slow.” Maehara and LaHood further agreed that the Toyota situation shouldn’t disrupt the relationship between the U.S. and Japan, as the two agreed to have more open dialog in the future.

The dueling transportation secretaries also spent time discussing high speed rail. Japan has had high speed trains for decades, while the U.S. is looking to finally get in on bullet trains this decade. LaHood is scheduled to travel to Japan next, where he will have further dialog with Japanese officials. When transportation officials from the U.S. visited Japan in December, they were reportedly given a chilly reception, but LaHood told the DetNews that he expects to receive a “red carpet” reception.

[Source: The Detroit News Image: STR/AFP/Getty]

U.S. and Japanese transportation officials meet, Toyota not the only topic

Say it ain’t so! How could Harley-Davidson’s main manufacturing base be anywhere but Milwaukee, Wisconsin? It would be like a Toledo without Jeep (or Tony Packo’s), Detroit without General Motors. A Gotham without Batman. In other words, inconceivable!

But here we are anyway, with The Motor Company reporting that it is considering its options at both its powertrain operations in Milwaukee and at its Tomahawk, Wisconsin plant. Why? Simple: money. According to H-D, it could save millions of dollars per year by changing locations due to reduced costs associated with labor contracts and scheduling flexibilities. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, though, has pledged to do whatever necessary to keep Harley right where it’s at.

Of course, it seems more likely that Harley-Davidson is using these rumors as a tactic to get the upper-hand on the upcoming union negotiations. Still, with the brand’s very survival on the line, anything seems possible – up to and including the (very remote, we’d guess) threat that H-D motorcycles could be manufactured overseas. Stay tuned.

[Source: The Associated Press via The Kneeslider]

Rumormill: Harley-Davidson considering move away from Milwaukee?

	Nissan reports 8,000 plus orders for Leaf, easily expects 25,000 by year end on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/30/nissan-reports-8-000-plus-orders-for-leaf-easily-expects-25-000/">Nissan reports 8,000 plus orders for Leaf, easily expects 25,000 by year end It pays to be first.		Aptera 2e needed 40 attempts to clear Automotive X-Prize’s accident avoidance test It’s called the Shakedown stage for a reason.
	Sixt begins renting electric Fiat 500 and Fiorino in Essen, Germany How does $105 per day sound?	Other news: Is it better to recharge your gadgets while driving? Honda president says next Insight will beat Prius in mpg fight on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/30/honda-president-says-next-insight-will-beat-prius-in-mpg-fight/">Honda president says next Insight will beat Prius in mpg fight Veggie Van smashes Guinness record for longest journey on alternative fuels

AutoblogGreen for 05.03.10

Ferrari has found itself at the center of controversy once again as pundits have accused the Scuderia of subliminal advertising of tobacco products through its longstanding partnership with Philip Morris International, producer of Marlboro cigarettes.

Historically, tobacco advertising has been commonplace in motorsports, F1 in particular. Imperial Tobacco’s Gold Leaf brand started off sponsoring the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix, leading a trend that would see tobacco companies sponsoring teams and races for decades to come. British American Tobacco went so far as to field its own cars – the British American Racing team that later became Honda, then Brawn GP and now races under the Mercedes GP banner. For several years, Marlboro (like Santander today) sponsored both McLaren and Ferrari, before concentrating its efforts on the Scuderia. By the late 1990s, however, European countries in particular began outlawing tobacco advertising in sports, leading to the withdrawal (no pun intended) of most major tobacco companies from Formula One. Williams became the first major team to run without cigarette branding in 2000, and since then all the major tobacco companies have pulled out of the sport, with the notable exception of Philip Morris.

Like other teams had initially, Ferrari continues to run livery on its F1 cars that – in compliance with European regulations – doesn’t explicitly include the name of its sponsor. The brand continues, however, to be part of the team’s name (known officially as Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro in a deal reportedly worth $1 billion), and over the years the Marlboro logo has grown increasingly abstract on the livery to the point that today it’s little more than a red, white and black bar-code. Although the team had, until a couple of years ago, run with the Marlboro name on the cars in overseas races where regulations permitted tobacco advertising, since 2008 Ferrari has run only with the bar-code logo.

British pundits, however, say the abstraction is not enough, pointing to the bar-code and even the team’s use of the color red as subliminal advertising of the team’s title sponsor. Ferrari has released a statement refuting the charges, saying the bar-code logo has not been scientifically proven to be subliminal advertising, and that the red livery has been integral to the team since its inception and the dawn of motorsports. Follow the jump for Ferrari’s argument and judge for yourself.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari addresses criticism over Marlboro sponsorship

Ferrari addresses criticism over Marlboro sponsorship

Given how close everyone is to pulling a Fred Flintstone and yabadabadooing the hell out of the office for the weekend, allow us to provide you with a quick little diversion. Behold what could possibly be the most gorgeous example of a Renault R5 Turbo II we’ve ever set our eyes upon. This sucker wears the same paint it bore from the factory, and with a scant 25,500 miles on the clock, it’s as close to new as anything from France, 1985 can get.

Inside, nearly everything is original save a few choice modifications. The stock steering wheel has been given up in favor of a suede Momo piece, and the factory buckets were swapped for a set of period Recaro thrones. They are the perfect shade of late ’70s brown, and we love them. The owner points out that unlike most R5s, both the dash and door panels were never cut for a stereo.

If you’re fretting over the fact that this car has had less than 1,000 miles put on the odometer ever year, don’t. The seller is the second owner, and claims this set of hips-with-wheels has been meticulously maintained by none other than the experts at Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo Ferrari. You know, the oldest authorized Ferrari dealer in the States? Yeah. Those guys.

If you want it as badly as we do, get ready to fork over a serious chunk of change in a hurry. As we write this, there are less than two days left on the eBay auction, and the starting bid of $47,500 has yet to be touched.

[Source: eBay via Bring a Trailer]

Buy Me! 1985 Renault R5 Turbo II… in Oregon

When the Chevrolet Camaro debuted in production form, opinions on the design have been largely split between the interior and exterior. The exterior styling and execution has been almost universally praised while the interior has been deemed barely competitive with the Ford Mustang. The last Ford Mustang.

The problem is that while that the Camaro was hitting the streets, Ford rolled out a revised ‘Stang with an all-new and vastly improved interior. Thankfully, Chevrolet wants to rectify things post haste, so the cheap plastic dash is likely to be discarded and hopefully a steering wheel with less canted rim will replace the current unit. Unfortunatel,y changes to the enormous A-pillars are unlikely, meaning that visibility will still suck.

Since we’re talking about changes inspired by competition with the Mustang, it appears that the Z28 will probably be removed from the cold storage shelf and put back on the road. Motivation is rumored to be supplied by a version of the supercharged 6.2-liter LSA used in the Cadillac CTS-V with about 550 horsepower, but we’re not going to believe that until one appears on the show stand.

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro to get upgraded interior, Z28

Of all the products in the Audi arsenal, we’re not sure if the RS6 would be our track rat of choice. It’s twin-turbocharged V10, massive meats and grippy all-wheel drive system is surely the stuff of track-day dreams, but we’ve always been more enamored by the RS6’s brutal, road-going civility – it’s simply better suited to high-speed cross-country runs rather than full-on tarmac attacks. MTM appears to disagree.

The German tuner of all things Audi has put the sedan variant under the knife to create the RS6 Clubsport, and as with everything from MTM, it’s a compellingly comprehensive package.

The mods start with a new front lip, carbon fiber rear diffuser, an adjustable suspension and black 21-inch wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. Inside, the factory thrones have been nixed in favor of a duo of carbon fiber Recaro buckets with six-point harness attached to a rear-mounted roll cage that’s sure to have displaced the rear seats.

Engine upgrades are limited to a high-flow air filter and stainless steel exhaust, but with the help of MTM’s crack ECU tuners, they’ve been able to boost output of the turbo’d 5.0-liter V10 to 720 horsepower (at 6,360 rpm) and and 579 pound-feet of torque (between 2,750 and 6,280 rpm) – a sizable increase over the stock engine’s 571 hp and 479 lb-ft of twist. And if you option up the tires to one of the four available compounds (and why wouldn’t you?), a derestricted top speed of 211 mph can be yours. We think we’ll take ours in five-door form, sans the cage. Maybe in brown…

[Source: MTM via LeBlogAuto]

Bahn burner turned track rat: MTM Audi RS6 Clubsport

Honda has resurrected The Impossible Dream once more. Hands down one of our favorite car spots of all time, the original ad aired in the UK way back in 2005 and featured a smattering of models from the Japanese company’s past. From lowly scooters and the lovable S800 to the company’s early racing bikes and F1 cars, the ad was a highlight reel of all of which the company has to be proud.

Things have changed quite a bit for Honda in five years. It’s walked away from its F1 efforts, abandoned the S2000 to the sands of time and brought the brunt of its focus to odd-looking people movers. You won’t find any of that in The Impossible Dream II, though. Instead, Honda has removed any reference to Formula One and clipped the old hot-air balloon at the end in favor of products like the new Honda Jet, CR-Z hybrid and the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle. Even Asimo the robot makes a cameo and the ending features a hot tub powered by a Honda generator.

Watching the spot, which is about 30 seconds longer than the original and concludes with a new line from NPR superstar Garrison Keillor, we can’t help but hope Honda will find a way to return to its former place as an automotive innovator capable of producing excellent pieces of engineering with a focus on driver involvement. An impossible dream? We hope not. Hit the jump to see the new spot.

[Source: Honda via YouTube]

Continue reading Honda updates Impossible Dream ad with CR-Z, Asimo and hot tub

Honda updates Impossible Dream ad with CR-Z, Asimo and hot tub

Over the course of Bob Lutz’ tenure at General Motors, one of his major goals was globalizing the production process. As Lutz tells it, the Pontiac GTO was the first global vehicle born of his labors, with development work being done in both Australia and North America. But the GTO, and its follow-up, the Pontiac G8/Holden Commodore, were niche products sold in limited numbers in limited markets. The real test of global product development comes when it’s applied to high-volume mainstream products.

That’s were the Epsilon II and Delta II architectures come into play. Epsilon is GM’s mid-large platform (D/E segment) while Delta is the compact (C segment) platform. We’ve already seen the Epsilon II here in America, underpinning the Buick LaCrosse, but the Chevrolet Cruze proved to be a tougher nut to crack. One of the most difficult challenges in the global production strategy is the differing safety standards around the world, along with the guidelines imposed by non-governmental bodies like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Creating a platform that can live up to all of these standards without being absurdly heavy is a problem. Find out how GM tackled the problem and found a solution after the jump.

Continue reading 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: A Safety Story [w/video]

2011 Chevrolet Cruze: A Safety Story [w/video]

Funkmaster Flex has teamed up with Ford to pimp both a new 2011 Fiesta and his new show on MTV2. Viewers can tune in on May 2 to see Flex put his own personal taste into Ford’s new B-fighter, with touches like a new body kit, lowering springs, wheels and a reworked interior. We’ve even been promised a two-tone paint-scheme will be part of the recipe. At the end of the show, one viewer will have the chance to win the car featured in the debut episode of Funk Flex Full Throttle.

Supposedly the show isn’t anywhere close to Pimp My Ride, so there’s no worry of a 40-gallon fish tank cropping up in the back seat or a massage parlor popping out of the rear hatch. Instead, Flex promises a greater focus on lifestyle, with interviews with popular artists and plenty of good music, too. He’ll also show off some of his more recent automotive projects from time to time. Dare we say it, but it almost sounds watchable.

Check your local listings for full details and hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Funkmaster Flex pimping 2011 Ford Fiesta

Funkmaster Flex pimping 2011 Ford Fiesta

Just when we thought China’s automotive industry had made some headway in the quality department, we get word that complaints about new car quality in the country have risen significantly over the past few months. During the first quarter of this year, complains on vehicles purchased within the last six months climbed 15 percent over last year’s figures. Those numbers come courtesy of the China Association for Quality.

Even more surprising, the increase marks a nine-percent jump over the number of complaints filed during the fourth quarter of 2009. By and large, the defects concerned engine issues as well as small parts. A total of 94.6 percent of the complaints were lodged against cars costing less than $44,000.

[Source: Gasgoo]

Report: Chinese car quality complaints on the rise

Audi’s major push for Iron Man 2 tie-ins begins now, with the Tony Stark Innovation Challenge. A real way for life to imitate art, Challenge entrants will create videos to showcase their ideas that will make the world better through technology – just like Tony Stark does in Iron Man, but without the guns. The winner gets all kinds of swag, including $15,000 to make it all come true. Sadly, there’s no mention of Audi making you a billionaire or having your contracts notarized by Scarlett Johansson. Follow the jump for all the details and Audi’s first video.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi announces ‘Tony Stark Innovation Challenge’ video contest

Audi announces ‘Tony Stark Innovation Challenge’ video contest

Chinese automaker Brilliance is pulling out of Europe with no plans to return, according to Autoweek. The company began selling both its BS4 and BS6 sedans in the old country back in 2007, though sales have been beyond dismal. As of the end of 2009, dealers only managed to move a paltry 502 units – a figure that fell well south of the 158,000 cars the company had planned to sell over a five year period. Throw in the fact that Brilliance refuses to price its products any lower to get its foot in the European door, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

The company fought an uphill battle with consumers after both models had trouble getting past crash test standards in 2007, and things didn’t improve from there. For the time being, production has completely stopped, and the company has no timetable for bringing the business back on line.

If Brilliance does decide to jump back into the European market, it will be looking at some pretty hefty engineering costs. The current BS4 and BS6 are only designed to meet Euro 4 standards, and with Euro 5 coming down the pike, the platforms would need to undergo significant updates. Naturally, the news also means that Europeans won’t be seeing the lovely BS4 Wagon anytime soon, either.

[Source: Autoweek]

China’s Brilliance reportedly retreats from Europe after ‘cool reception’