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Of all the automakers in the United States, perhaps the one with the largest enthusiast following is Mini. Sure, brands like Porsche, BMW and even Subaru have their own clubs and cult followings, but when it comes to eccentricity and personality, no one does it like Mini.

In that spirit, the pint-sized automaker is once again embarking on its Mini Takes The States cross-country road rally, an event that first occurred in 2006 and then again in 2008. This time, Mini is gathering its owners to celebrate the launch of the 2011 Countryman crossover, and we’ve been asked to tag along. We’ll be scoring some seat time in the Countryman as well, so stay tuned for our initial impressions.

Our trip started in New York and will take us to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Columbus and finally Indianapolis before we hop a plane back home. Many of the other participants will head all the way out to Denver, where they will meet up with other groups doing similar drive routes in different parts of the country. Mini has a full host of festivities planned for the Denver crew, and many other local Mini enthusiast clubs are providing some entertainment along the way.

Mini has provided us with a Cooper S Camden Edition for the trip, which means we’ll experience turbocharged small car thrills along the highways of America. We already spent a considerable amount of time with the Camden-ized Cooper, and we’ve been getting many a thumbs-up from Mini owners out on the road. (We’ve opted to leave the Camden’s Mission Control system in the “off” position.)

Keep your eyes peeled for caravans of Coopers and Clubmans, folks. This not-so-mini road rally is taking America by storm. Want to vicariously join in on the fun? Follow the trip’s progress on Mini’s Facebook page.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Autoblog hits the road with Mini Takes The States 2010

We’ve all heard the rhetoric about how small cars are primed to be big sellers over the next few years, and nobody seems to be responding to that direction sooner than Toyota. The Japanese automaker is getting ready to challenge the diminutive Smart Fortwo here in the United States with the Scion iQ, and we’ve just been told by Toyota representatives to expect it to hit dealer showrooms around March of next year.

Unlike its main competitor, the iQ sports a unique 3+1 seating arrangement that will allow three real-sized human beings to fit in the car with an extra spot for a munchkin or car seat. Scion also promises that its micro car will boast real storage capacity, which is an important factor if people have any inkling to use their urban runabout as a second car.

Expect a price somewhere in the vicinity of the Fortwo when the iQ hits the streets early next year.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Scion iQ to hit dealerships in March 2011

The interface between human and machine are often as much art as they are science. A prime example is the way automobiles are controlled, in particular acceleration and braking. While nearly all vehicles over the last several decades have used a pair of adjacent foot pedals to manage those operations (with a shrinking proportion using a third for manual clutches), a third setup hasn’t gained any traction in the marketplace.

As both Audi and Toyota can attest, this arrangement is less than ideal for many drivers. In an emergency situation, when you can’t even see the pedals, it’s all too easy to hit the throttle when you meant to lay on the brake.

Japanese inventor Masuyuki Naruse has developed a single pedal solution that should eliminate the possibility of misapplication. Naruse’s system consists of an accelerator operated by rotating the right foot clockwise while the brakes are operated by pushing down in the traditional manner. While the idea of a single pedal solution is certainly appealing, the side press for acceleration seems like it could be problematic from an ergonomic standpoint – particularly over an extended period of time.

With the arrival of electric vehicles, regenerative brakes and even brake-by-wire systems, a single pedal operation with braking coming simply by releasing the pedal is a possibility. The Mini E almost does this through the use of a very aggressive regenerative braking system, allowing drivers to slow the electric Cooper quickly without ever touching the brake pedal. There’s little doubt that over the next few years we’ll be seeing more innovation in this area with the hope of eliminating unintended acceleration, but building a better mousetrap – one that stands up to the test of time – is going to be difficult to implement across all vehicles.

[Source: New York Times]

Japanese inventor makes gas and brake one pedal

It looks like drivers should be less concerned about their vehicles’ black boxes recording their every move, and more worried about their neighbors in traffic. Police in New Delhi have dished out 665 tickets for traffic violations, though not by using any traditional footwork. Instead, the local PD launched a Facebook page where fans can submit photos of bad drivers. With 6.5 million vehicles registered to drive on its roads, New Delhi is notoriously afflicted by motorists that tend to alternate between homicidal and suicidal. So far, fans of the Facebook page have submitted a rash of photos of cars and motorcycles in illegal or dangerous situations.

The New Delhi police have admitted that there may be some privacy issues at stake here, but that by and large, the system seems to be working. Citations are sent to the owners of the vehicles and issued by using license plates that are easily visible in the photos. Here’s hoping this line of law enforcement remains overseas.

[Source: The New York Times]

NYT: India’s police turning to Facebook to catch bad drivers

August is here, meaning it’s time for our annual pilgrimage to Monterey for the smorgasbord of classic and collectible cars that awaits. Events there include Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival, The Pebble Beach Tour, Concorso Italiano, The Quail, the auctions, The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Concours d’LeMons and the granddaddy of them all – The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. We’ll be on hand to cover it all for you, just in case you can’t make the trip yourself.

For those of you more inclined toward American iron, Hot August Nights is going on and there’s the annual Woodward Dream Cruise happening in Detroit as well. Those are in addition to many other end-of-summer-type events happening around the rest of the country, like New York Autofest, Legends of Motorsport: Corvette Grand Sport, BMW West Coast Summer Concours, The 53rd Annual New Hope Automobile Show, Columbia River Concours d’Elegance, The Milwaukee Masterpiece, The Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance, BlackTop Nationals, 4th Annual Garage Cruise, 15th CARS Inc. Open House, 20th Annual Sultans Car Show, Vista Rod Run 21, VW Jamboree, 40th Annual North – South F100 Run and the 10th Annual Woodies at the Beach to name several.

Motorsports aficionados have plenty of choices in August as well. Formula 1 hits Hungary and Belgium, while NASCAR visits Pocono, Watkins Glen, MIS and Bristol. The IndyCar Series stops at Mid-Ohio, Infineon and Chicagoland, while ALMS heads to Mid-Ohio, Road America and Mosport. WRC will be in action in Germany, while Rally America fans can catch the gang at the X-Games 16 and then at New Jersey Motorsports Park at the end of the month. LeMons brings its budget racing action to the LeMons Arse-Sweat-Apalooza and LeMons Mutually Assured Destruction of Omaha.

If none of those events appeal to you, check out our Google Calendar after the jump 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.

Continue reading Event Alert: August 2010 Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: August 2010 Calendar of Automotive Events

The web has spoken and a 1941 Tatra T87 has been voted The New York Times 2010 Collectible Car of the Year. The rear-engined, air-cooled V8 Tatra beat 30 finalists (overall, there were 651 entrants), including noteworthy cars from Packard and Checker. The T87’s owner, Paul Greenstein, was shocked to hear that his car – one of three Tatras he owns – came out on top. Greenstein says the Tatra has a unique allure that can’t be matched by other manufacturers. For Americans, rarity factors into that, as the Czech marque was never sold in the United States.

Greenstein picked up his car in 2001 for the princely sum of $8,000. At the time, the fin wasn’t in show-quality condition, so he had the T87 shipped to the Czech Republic for a full restoration. Fringe benefits of having the work done in the old country included cheap labor and parts availability that couldn’t be matched in the U.S. Three-and-a-half years and $60,000 later, Greenstein and his girlfriend had their T87 back. Don’t scoff at the cost; recent examples have sold at auction for as much as $125,000. Fortunately, the Times’ Collectible Car of the Year award includes a $5,000 check along with the trophy.

Head over to the The New York Times to read the full story, and be sure to also visit Clunkbucket for a few shots of Paul Greenstein’s T87 taken prior to its restoration.

[Source: The New York Times Image: Clunkbucket]

1941 Tatra T87 named The New York Times’ Collectible Car of the Year

If it weren’t for the somewhat obsessive and frankly narrow-minded love by taxi drivers and police officers for the body-on-frame Ford Crown Victoria, we’d imagine the old Panther platform would have been put out to pasture a very long time ago. As it stands, though, New York cabbies especially seem hell-bent on keeping it around on life support as long as possible.

Interestingly, though, a report from USA Today suggests that cab drivers make more money when operating a Crown Vic than any other automobile, and that supposedly includes hybrids. According to John Shaban, a 27-year-old cab driver, “I don’t like the hybrids… Mechanics charge an arm and a leg for them.”

Could it be that customers inherently prefer the Crown Vic? Shaban believes so, saying, “People wait for the Crown Vic because it’s roomier. They’re more likely to get in.” Regardless, that’s all set to change soon as Ford finally discontinues its long-running rear-wheel-drive people mover. It’s expected to be replaced with – you guessed it – a hybrid or some other fuel efficient alternative.

[Source: USA Today Image: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty]

Surprise! New York cabbies prefer Crown Vics to hybrids

	Video: Elon Musk chats it up on Colbert Report Stephen makes a funny.		Plug-In 2010: Drive Oregon chills with Arcimoto Pulse, Barefoot Motors ATV Three wheels, $17,500.
	Surprise! New York cabbies prefer Crown Vics to hybrids One cabbie said, “I don’t like the hybrids… Mechanics charge an arm and a leg for them.”	Other news: Recycling gone wild: turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F BMW reportedly banned from claiming zero-emissions in ads UK approves $7,800 incentive for ultra-low carbon vehicles

AutoblogGreen for 07.30.10

If you reside or frequent a large metropolitan area, you’re probably all too aware of the cost to park your vehicle. In cities like New York or Chicago, you can pay upwards of $30 or more for a full day of parking. To make matters worse, even with astronomical costs many drivers can’t even find an open spot.

San Francisco is looking for a permanent solution to its parking problems by going high tech and paying big bucks to do it. Frisco is investing $25 million on a new electronic parking system that will constantly gauge demand for spots and raise or lower pricing accordingly. So why go to all this expense and trouble to set parking prices?

Parking that’s too cheap may lead to spots getting filled too quickly, which will lead to cars circling around waiting for spots, clogging streets with unnecessary congestion. The goal of the $25 million project is to make parking cheap enough for people to afford it while at the same time expensive enough to ensure spots are always available.

The electronic parking system will work as a network, setting prices between a quarter and $6 per hour depending on demand. The high-tech solution will start with 190 new meters in the Hayes Valley area of San Francisco and in two years end with 6,000 metered spaces and 12,250 spots at the city’s 15 parking garages. The system will eventually make it possible for advanced planners to go online to find where the most spots are located. Distracted driving aficionados will be able to search for spots on their smartphone, making it easier for multi-taskers to park and harder for pedestrians and other drivers to avoid getting hit.

[Source: NPR Image: Ingrid Taylar - C.C. License 2.0]

Sounds About Right: San Francisco spending $25M to determine how much parking should cost

Who would would have thought that the emphasis on marketing rather than racing could be hurting competition in NASCAR? The influence of sponsors is just one of several factors that’s led to 2010 being the first season in the series’ 62-year history devoid of rookie drivers. An influx of successful rookies since the mid-1990s has left the top-level Sprint Cup with a crowd of drivers still in their prime and a dearth of seats for up and comers.

In the Nationwide series, traditionally the breeding ground for younger drivers, the sponsor money that fuels racing cars, has been pushing the established cup drivers to run for the extra promotional value. Combined with the cost cutting moves that have resulted in the banning of testing, there just isn’t much room for up and comers to show their stuff.

This lack of young drivers could hurt the series in the long run as young fans continue to lose interest. Perhaps NASCAR should consider more modern cars, compelling competition, lively interviews and some serious brand-versus-brand infighting to bring the fun back to the sport.

[Source: New York Times]

Report: NASCAR Sprint Cup goes rookie-less as drivers age, fans leave

The Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight, in the company’s Sportster segment, sits at a cross-cultural intersection in the cyclemaker’s lineup. It apparently represents the spot where bikers meet skateboarders. It seems that the stripped-down looks and functional-jewelry design of the Forty-Eight is well appreciated by skaters who don’t like their rides to make any extraneous fuss.

The bike is only one small part of what some call a larger trend, that of skateboarders increasingly moving into the world of bikes. It isn’t that skateboarders want to be bikers but, according to a skate shop owner, “We’re just wired a certain way. For some reason the death and danger are just a part of us.” And you don’t have to look any further than a motorcycle to find death and danger.

Harley has used the rendezvous to help market the Forty-Eight, including hiring skaters like Heath Kirchart and Matt Ball to appear in its promotional materials. The Milwaukee firm isn’t targeting skateboarders only with this bike, but they certainly want to welcome them to the family. Said a Harley rep, “There’s no question that there are huge parallels there between bikers and skateboarders.” Tip of the cap to Alex!

[Source: The New York Times]

Harley Davidson targeting skateboarders with new model?

It’s been quite a day for the new 2011 Ford Explorer. After teasing, more teasing, and even more teasing, Ford finally unveiled what it thinks will “reinvent the SUV for the 21st century.” At 12:01 EST this morning, we presented an in-depth look at the new Explorer, providing details on the new exterior and interior as well as some of the safety features, and at noon we went over the new powertrain options, including the 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-4 that will deliver 30 percent better fuel efficiency than the previous V6 model. Ford has even put up a configurator for the 2011 Explorer, allowing you to build your own.

The 2011 Explorer was also introduced live in various parts of the country, from the middle of New York City to Detroit to Los Angeles. We were in attendance on both ends of the coasts to cover the unveilings, each of which had an entirely different feel. The Discovery Channel’s Mike Rowe was on hand with CEO Alan Mulally to make the introductions in the Big Apple, while Ford’s President of the Americas Mark Fields did the honors amidst huge sand sculptures alongside the famous boardwalk in Venice Beach. You can see photos from both unveilings in the galleries below.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / Alex Nunez / AOL

2011 Ford Explorer unveiled live from coast to coast

Earlier today, Ford hit its 30,000 fan for the 2011 Explorer Facebook page, so the automaker could give away one all-new unibody ‘ute to a lucky follower. To celebrate meeting its goal, Ford has posted yet another teaser, showing off the new Explorer’s grille. But enough with the teasers. When can we actually see it in person? Glad you asked…

This coming Monday, Ford will reveal the Explorer at live events across the U.S., including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and at the “glass house” in Dearborn, MI. At a preview of the Explorer in Dearborn earlier this week, marketing VP Jim Farley discussed how Ford plans to drum up interested in the Explorer, and based on the success of last year’s Fiesta Movement social media campaign, the Explorer will be omnipresent online and elsewhere in the lead-up to the on-sale date late this year.

According to Farley, the Fiesta campaign required only 10 percent of what a typical new vehicle launch costs, but it overwhelmingly succeeded in establishing name recognition for the small car well ahead of its arrival in showrooms. Given that America already knows the Explorer, Ford will be focusing on how it’s “reinvented the SUV for the 21st century.” We can’t tell you more at the moment, but look forward to full details this Monday 12:01 AM EDT.

[Source: Ford]

Ford Explorer reaches 30,000 Facebook fans, celebrates with grille shot

A United States Senate bill that would provide a further $3.6 billion in funding for plug-in vehicles has made it past the first of many hurdles toward passage. The Senate Energy Committee approved the legislation, put forward by Senator Byron Dorgan, (D-ND) that would create so-called deployment communities around the country and subsidize the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) and the installation of infrastructure.

By focusing on specific areas for deployment of EVs and charging stations, the bill would take care of the well-known chicken/egg issue of which is needed first, EV chargers or the vehicles that need them. It would also allow for the evaluation of what happens when you have large numbers of EVs in a concentrated area. Of course, there are already regions around the country that are planning for large numbers of EVs – like southern California and New York – and it’s not clear if the bill would support these regions or move to get other areas plug-in ready.

There is no guarantee that the Dorgan bill will be passed by the full Senate or even the House of Representatives, but it is one more step on the way to setting the stage for electric vehicles. Dorgan rather enthusiastically hopes that the results of the legislation will ultimately lead to half of the U.S. vehicle fleet being electrified by 2030.

[Source: Detroit News]

Senate panel approves $3.6B for electric vehicles and chargers

Most small American supercar companies don’t seem to have the best of luck, which is why we were somewhat skeptical when we first heard of ICONIC Motors. The concept was impressive if not somewhat unbelievable – a lightweight roadster with an aluminum 6.9-liter V8 putting out 800 horsepower with design cues inspired by the legendary Shelby Cobra. The GTR, as it was then named, made its debut at the 2008 Amelia Island Concours, and we got our first look at the car at the New York Auto Show shortly thereafter.

We haven’t heard much from ICONIC since then, but apparently the company has been quite busy finalizing the production version that includes a few design changes from the original concept. In the last two years, ICONIC has also formed a partnership with AC Cars, and the car has officially been renamed the AC Roadster. ICONIC has scheduled a 2011 release date for customer cars and states that they currently taking orders. Follow the jump for full details in their latest press release.

[Source: ICONIC Motors]

Continue reading ICONIC Motors announces production of AC Roadster to start in 2011

ICONIC Motors announces production of AC Roadster to start in 2011

Here’s a handy piece of information to keep in mind the next time you hop into the car with your significant other. According to a study commissioned by Halfords – a UK car accessory company – 70 percent of those polled admitted to having an argument in a vehicle at least once a month. The biggest cause of friction behind the wheel? Navigation. More than 33 percent of responses said that directions, or the lack there of, are a regular point of contention between couples behind the wheel. A hefty 85 percent of those surveyed said that the clashes began when the driver refused to stop and ask for directions.

The solution? Pick up a GPS device, of course. The New York Times says that in a separate study in which 502 people were surveyed, around a quarter of women said that they weren’t confident in their sense of direction. Only nine percent of guys said the same, even though 58 percent of men in the study admitted to using personal GPS. Take away the technological aid, mix in a little insecurity, a stressful situation and voila! Instant domestic discord. So cut your partner some slack during this road trip season – they just might repay the favor the next time you’re at the helm.

[Source: The New York Times]

Study: Most in-car arguments are over directions. No they aren’t. Yes they are.

As expected, Porsche announced today in New York that the 911 GT3R hybrid will be coming to North America later this year to race in the Petit Le Mans (PLM). When the new flywheel hybrid race car was first announced this past spring, Porsche told us that it would make a decision about running in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) after evaluating the new car’s performance during its early races in Europe. After coming within two hours of winning the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in May, it was clear that the 25-percent fuel economy boost and extra power was more than enough to make up for the added weight of the hybrid drive.

Since the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has yet to finalize the technical rules for hybrid GT cars, the Porsche will run unclassified at Road Atlanta on October 2. The Georgia race will be the North American round for the inaugural Le Mans Intercontinental Cup. Following the PLM, Porsche will take the car to Zuhai, China for the Asian round on November 7. No announcement has been made yet about running in the European round at Silverstone in the UK in September.

The 911 GT3R hybrid has a 480-horsepower flat-six driving the rear wheels and a pair of 60-kilowatt electric motors for the front wheels. The motors recapture kinetic energy during braking and store it in an electromechanical flywheel mechanism. The flywheel can release energy back to the motors automatically during cruising or the driver can press a boost button on the steering wheel for extra power on demand for passing.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid to run at Petit Le Mans

Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid to run at Petit Le Mans

Automotive News reports that a federal grand jury in New York has subpoenaed Toyota for documentation related to a component in the steering mechanism of some of its vehicles. The company announced that the subpoena came on June 29, but isn’t yet saying publicly which vehicles are involved with the issue.

What we do know is that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated an investigation in February of 749,685 2009 and 2010 model year Corolla and Matrix vehicles for a potential steering issue. Toyota has received 437 reports, including 11 injuries and 18 crashes, since 2008, and NHTSA has received 168 complaints. In affected Corolla and Matrix models the electric power steering units are reportedly prone to drifting or locking up, with the problem most notable when cruising at highway speeds. The Japanese automaker has stated publicly that the issue is not a safety recall, though it intends to service the vehicles of Corolla and Matrix owners who say they have an issue. NHTSA still has not revealed the results of it’s investigation.

This subpoena is the third Toyota has received so far in 2010, with the first coming in February due to unintended acceleration issues and the second from the Michigan Attorney General for recall issues in March. Toyota has recalled 10.8 million vehicles worldwide for acceleration-related issues.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. Image: David McNew/Getty]

Toyota reportedly subpoenaed for steering rod documents

As anyone with a passing interest in automotive history can tell you, the car world is rife with the kind of drama that could keep TMZ humming for weeks. While most of those tales live in the dark annals of Wikipedia, a few of them manage to work their way into the public consciousness. Such is the case with the dark and seedy story of the Bricklin SV-1.

A playhouse in the gullwinged sports car’s hometown of Fredericton, New Brunswick has decided to not only bring the story to life on stage, but to do so through song. That’s right, kids: this sucker is a musical. According to The New York Times, “The Bricklin” goes for a cabaret/show car/disco vibe.

If you’re wincing already, you’re not alone. The principal characters include Malcolm Bricklin, of course, as well as Richard Hatfield, the gent who managed to secure most of the money for the SV-1 venture. There’s also a love story involving a couple that goes to find work in Bricklin’s New Brunswick production facility. Perhaps the biggest star of the show, however, is the orange SV-1 that also finds its way onstage.

“The Bricklin: An Automotive Fantasy” runs from July 27 to August 15 at The Playhouse in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

[Source: The New York Times]

Bricklin: The Musical

The next Hyundai Elantra was revealed a few months ago at South Korea’s Busan Motor Show. It’s been revealed again, this time outdoors, in a parking lot where it appears to be practicing parallel parking maneuvers. Hyundai’s small four-door has grown in size, which helps it wear those stretched ‘fluidic’ design cues rather nicely. Once a portrait of anonymity, the Elantra’s now as good-looking as its big brother, the Sonata.

When the restyled Hyundai Elantra arrives next year, we expect it to be motivated by a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injection engine with 138 horsepower. And we have a feeling those new looks are going to make people take a good, long look at the Elantra in liew of say, a Civic or Corolla.

As for parking jobs like this? We have a feeling they’ll be a lot easier than these drivers are making it look. If they had to find street parking in, say, New York, they’d run out of gas before they successfully stashed the car. Follow the jump to see the video, which does nothing to make parking seem any less mundane than it is. Hat tip to Avery

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Next generation Hyundai Elantra caught practicing its parking?

Video: Next generation Hyundai Elantra caught practicing its parking?