Every year on Holocaust Remembrance Day, the people of Israel take two minutes to honor those who died in the Holocaust. When the sirens go off, everything stops, including traffic. This year, the two-minute ceremony was unfortunately marked with a pair of accidents due to the abrupt stop in traffic.
The Times of Israel reports that a woman in her 60s was run over as she was standing outside her car and another was struck as she stood by her vehicle on the highway. Both women were hurt badly enough to require medical attention and the older woman was listed in serious condition.
The incidents scarred an already solemn occasion, but after watching the post-jump video, we’re surprised more people aren’t injured. to watch the unorganized chaos of freeway drivers pulling over at different times. Just as unorganized is the minute after the sirens stop, when everyone seems to want to leave as quickly as possible.
has used the to launch two new concept cars that it says “show the direction of mass-production models Honda will introduce to the market next year.”
First up is the imaginatively named Concept C. According to the automaker, ‘C’ stands for “Cool, “Challenge” and “China.” As much as we wish we were making that up, we aren’t. The car itself, though, looks pretty bold, with striking character lines down each side and a fascia that would look right at home on the next Battlestar Gallactica spinoff. We’re curious to see how much of the C’s conceptual styling makes it into production when a mass-market version hits the Chinese market in 2013 – if it were toned down just a bit, we think Honda could do worse than inject some of this boldness in its American lineup, though some might suggest the grille has overtones of the controversial styling decisions seen at .
Moving along, we have the Concept S, which supposedly stands for “Stylish,” “Smart” and “Surprise.” Like the Concept C, Honda says Concept S will spawn a production model that will debut in China in 2013, with global sales following thereafter. Honda isn’t saying exactly what is powering the S other than mentioning it’s a hybrid.
below for the complete press blast from Honda, but not before perusing our two high-res image galleries of the Concept C and Concept S.
Much as it is to any automaker doing business there, China has grown to become a vital market for the brand. In fact, the group’s iconic SUV brand sells more vehicles in China than anywhere outside North America. And so to celebrate its success in the Chinese market, Jeep has rolled into with the customized you see here.
What sets this designconcept apart from any other Wrangler Unlimited is the dragon motif that dominates throughout. Jeep started with a Rubicon Unlimited, blacked out everything from the fenders and bumpers to the wheels and roof and applied bronze-gold dragon decals to the hood and left flank, the spare tire cover, the unique carbon-fiber engine cover and the interior. Bronze-gold trim complements throughout, with a gold and black leather interior with gold snakeskin bolsters to top it all off.
More than a simple decal job, the Wrangler Dragon design concept looks pretty convincing, and if demand in China is high enough, Jeep might even build it. Just don’t count on it showing up in your local dealership on this side of the Pacific, though – you’ll just have to scope it out in the high-res image gallery above and for further details in the official press release.
It’s not every day that a country celebrates the diamond jubilee of its reigning monarch. In fact, this is only the second time they’re doing so in Great Britain, making the sixtieth anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II a cause for, well… jubilation. And to help with the festivities, has launched an exclusive special edition. But rather than make it another , this time it went with the top-of-the-line .
Limited to just 60 examples, the Bentley Mulsanne Diamond Jubilee Edition was unveiled not in the UK itself, but in Beijing – the capital of the country that is now Bentley’s largest market, where the automaker has just opened one of its largest showrooms, and where the is now getting under way.
For the special edition, Bentley’s own in-house coachbuilder Mulliner (which also built the unique State Limousine that carries Her Majesty about) gave the Mulsanne such special touches as gold-embroidered headrests, veneered fold-down tables in the back and leather cushions, all with the gold motif of a classic royal carriage.
The jubilant Mulsanne can be ordered in a variety of muted combinations of the colors of the Union Jack, but one would simply not discuss the matter of the bill in polite company. You are, however, invited to peruse the press release , as well as the high-resolution images in the gallery above.
Ford is looking to put a new twist on the term “old money.” The automaker may add old, shredded, out-of-circulation U.S paper currency to its list of recyclable materials that may be used for cushions, insulation and other components.
With about 10,000 pounds of paper money being shredded per day, Ford is exploring adding it to a list of recyclable or reclaimed materials that includes soybeans, denim and plastic bottles.
Ford has cut its petroleum use by about 5 million pounds a year by using soy-based material for foam that is installed in seat cushions and head restraints. And each is built with the denim-equivalent of about two pairs of blue jeans that’s used for sound-dampening purposes.
Ford started looking into using recycled materials about ten years ago as a way to cut use of petroleum in components that usually require plastic. At that time, oil cost about one-seventh of what it costs now.
In January, the company said it would use from the in Detroit and the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to create part of the polyester fiber used in the ’s seats.
It’s been the better part of a year since we first brought you that Victoria Beckham – who had then just signed on as a celebrity “creative director” for the brand – was set to get her own special edition of the chic new . We didn’t know quite what to make of the news then – much less when the British purveyor of luxury SUVs released a just a few days ago – but now JLR has taken the wraps off its glamorous new special edition, and it’s not nearly as gaudy as you might think.
As you can see, the second vehicle released by Land Rover’s new Engineered To Order division (alongside the new Jaguar XJ Ultimate) is characterized by matte black paint, which contrasts with the gloss black and rose-gold trim. The interior is finished in vintage-finish tan leather, with mohair floor mats and a microsuede headliner. It also comes with a four-piece set of fitted leather luggage, and a leather portfolio carrying the owner’s manual and bearing Victoria Beckham’s own signature.
In other words, it’s suitably posh for a vehicle resulting from a collaboration between the Land Rover Design team and the pop star who made her name as Posh Spice. Only five examples out of the 200 planned for production will make it Stateside, with no word yet on pricing. We’ll also be keeping an eye out for more images of the luxed-out, matte-finish Evoque when they surface, but in the meantime you can view the solitary pic released so far in high-resolution and delve into the full press release .
At what point does a political issue become a moral one? And at what point, if any, should motor racing enter that debate? These are the questions that Formula 1 and all those involved have wrestled with since the Bahrain Grand Prix was put back on the calendar for this year.
Some argued that sporting competition should rise above such issues. Others decried the cold-heartedness of holding something as glitzy as an F1 race where government forces are brutally cracking down on protestors – particularly when the race itself is orchestrated by said government.
One way or another, however, the grand prix took place this weekend in Bahrain, entering the record books as the fourth round in this year’s championship. Keep reading to find out how it unfolded.
There have been plenty of excellent debuts over the past year, but few capture our imagination like the Morgan 3 Wheeler. The V-twin-powered creation looks just like its forebears with its open cockpit, classic metalwork and three-wheel design. Being in love with any vehicle that looks as if it might kill us at any second, the 3 Wheeler is right up our alley.
The videos below haven’t dulled that passion. We’ve amassed a smattering of clips, including a new showcasing the 3 Wheeler as it motors through the countryside.
Of course, should you find backwoods sprints too boring, we’ve also included a few videos that demonstrate just how much fun you can have vaporizing the back tire. (The 3 Wheeler lends itself to donuts like few other machines on the planet.) to take in the goodness for yourself.
. A small claims court in California awarded Ms. Peters $9,867 because it agreed that her Honda Civic Hybrid failed to deliver the 50 mpg EPA rating claimed it would. According to The Detroit News, Honda is appealing the decision, especially after the success of Peters’s suit inspired 1,700 others to opt out of a 2003-2009 model year class action settlement, possibly portending a wave of one-shot litigation that the company would have to defend itself against.
Honda didn’t seem to take Heather Peters very seriously until it lost, but it now seems that the company is intent on not blowing its last chance to have the case reviewed. Peters will be presenting new evidence and both sides will get to argue their side of the issue to a judge, basically re-trying the initial case.
Of course you all know who that man in the picture is, don’t you? He’s Jeremy Clarkson, one of the stars of Top Gear, the BBC’s hilarious automotive variety show. Its 18th series just premiered on BBC America this past Monday, with more new episodes airing Mondays at 8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT.
We include this preamble because the powers that be at the BBC have kindly suggested that if we want to use this photo of their Mr. Clarkson, we do so “for show promotion only.”
Now that we’ve taken care of that, we’ll get on with the news, which of course, pertains to the aforementioned celebrity rankling yet another group in Britain. This time it’s a result of Clarkson’s commentary in The Sun newspaper, calling people who commit suicide by jumping under trains “selfish,” suggesting that trains should be put back on schedule after these incidents as soon as possible. According to a report by Press Gazette, five groups who assist suicide victims and their families have complained to the Press Complaints Commission, stating their belief that Clarkson and his newspaper employer violated a clause pertaining to “intrusion into grief.”
The Sun apologized, according to the report, removed Clarkson’s column from its website and agreeing to train its staff in reporting suicide sensitively, among other concessions.
Given Clarkson’s long history of seemingly attempting to offend everyone in Britain, from to , if not the world (particularly ), we wonder if he’ll actually be forced to complete the training. And if he does, we can only imagine what an amazing BBC special that might make.
In the market for an entry-level sedan from a premium automaker? Your choices are few and far between, it seems. There’s the and , but those are both hatchbacks. That leaves the , which, by all accounts, is a credible entry into the segment. If that’s not quite your style, hopes to tempt you with its new 2013 , and it has announced that the base model will start at $25,900 (*plus $895 destination fee for all models).
For that starting price, buyers will get standard features like Bluetooth connectivity, keyless access with push-button start, Pandora internet radio interface and a moonroof. If you want a leather interior, 17-inch alloy wheels, upgraded audio and Acura’s excellent multi-view backup camera system, your ILX will start at $29,200 with the base 150-horsepower 2.0-liter engine and five-speed automatic transmission.
Acura has two more engine offerings for the ILX, including a 1.5-liter hybrid model that achieves estimated fuel economy ratings of 39 city and 38 highway for $28,900. On the other end of the spectrum is a 2.4-liter model, which pumps out 201 horsepower and is available only with a six-speed manual gearbox. A fully loaded ILX with the Technology package, which includes navigation and an internal hard drive for music storage, will cost $31,400 with the 2.0 or $34,400 with the hybrid drivetrain. Sadly, it’s not possible to order the 2.4-liter engine with the top-level Technology kit.
See the complete pricing breakdown in Acura’s official press release by , and stay tuned for our complete first drive review of the ILX early next week.
Alfa Romeos were meant to be on sale here after summer, but we all know that’s not happening. Nevertheless, lentamente, Alfa Romeo’s return to the U.S. progresses. According to a story in Automotive News, was earlier this month granted the U.S. trademark for “Alfa Romeo 4C” for the car and ancillaries. We can at least take that as certain; Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne’s statement that the 4C will go on sale at the end of 2013 we’ll take with a bit more caution.
is in Italy, and the is projected to go on sale in Europe early next year. Only 2,500 will be made per annum, and here they’ll give Alfa a much needed halo car to entice less spendy buyers into showrooms and into giving other Alfa models – and the brand itself – a chance.
We know the 4C will eventually be joined by the based Giulia sedan and a crossover or two. As for when, well, you can circle late 2013 on your calendar. In pencil.
Ever get the feeling that not every grand prix on the Formula One calendar should be worth as much as every other? Aside from the bragging points that go with winning a race like, say, the Monaco Grand Prix, maybe the most prominent races should be worth more championship points, too? So says Bernie Ecclestone, according to the latest reports.
The notoriously outspoken F1 supremo is always hatching new ideas on how to make the series more interesting, and his latest borrows from the world of competitive tennis. The four most important tournaments on the tennis circuit – the Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon – are not only more prominent in every way than any other, but they’re also worth more points for the players who win them.
Since the current calendar of 20 races is the most F1 has ever seen and regarded as the most it could possibly accommodate, could awarding more points for a handful of iconic races be what the proverbial doctor ordered to mix things up? Maybe, but identifying which races would get the honor would be another matter. Out of 20 races, we’d pick Australia, Japan, Britain, Monaco, Canada and Brazil as the likely candidates. Is this a good idea? Have your own list in mind? Let’s hear your thoughts in Comments.
Color us unsurprised. Car and Driver reports that officials have confirmed a production version of the company’s concept first shown at the in March. We expected as much – after all, parent has demonstrated real adeptness at building a myriad of derivatives from the basic architecture, and the boutique brand already markets more spinoffs than Law & Order, so what’s one more?
Essentially a panel van version of the , C/D says the Clubvan will appear in U.S. showrooms this September as a 2013 model. It isn’t immediately clear if the model will offer both the standard 121-horsepower four and the Clubman S’ 181-horsepower turbo, but C/D says we shouldn’t expect a John Cooper Works version.
Interestingly, it doesn’t appear that Mini will weld in sheet steel where the Clubman’s rear side windows normally go – instead, C/D reports the company will employ body-color foil on the outside and plastic and safety foil liners inside. Other changes will include a trimmed-out cargo hold with power sockets and tie-downs. As with the concept, a stainless-steel grille will be fitted to keep cargo from intruding on the passenger compartment.
No word yet on whether the loss of rear seats will make the Clubvan any lighter, but Mini says the vehicle will offer more cargo capacity than its passenger-minded brethren. No guidance yet on pricing, either, but we’re guessing that like other Mini models, boutiques and delivery services will have to shell out a pretty penny to get their hands on this dutch-door cutie. Our only question now is… how long will it take for Mini to come out with a panelized version of its softroader?
The group of hackers known as Anonymous last night announcing their intent to hack and take down the officialwebsite for Formula One at for the duration of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Their reason? To protest the increasingly violent crackdown on the people of Bahrain by their own government.
As of this writing, as promised and another website, , is displaying a message from Anonymous that claims responsibility.
In its press release, Anonymous addresses Bernie Ecclestone, president and CEO of Formula One, directly, promising the following:
Anonymous will turn your web site (www.formula1.com) into a smoking crater in cyber space. We will also jam your phone lines, bomb your E-Mail inboxes – and wreck anything else of yours we can find on the internet.
The group also calls upon fans of F1 to ignore the race by either not attending in person or watching it on television. They also appeal to the drivers themselves to protest the race by not crossing the starting line at the beginning of the race.
Last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix was , and despite the increasing frequency of protests and leading up to this weekend’s race, it has not yet been cancelled. As a result, activists, now including the Anonymous group, are using the motorsport’s worldwide popularity to gain attention for their cause.
Delaware may be joining , , and other states in cracking down on drivers who use the left lane for more than passing. A bill in the Delaware legislature would institute fines of up to $230 for drivers who camp out in the left lane on roads with at least two lanes in each direction, according to USA Today.
Delaware’s current law requires drivers to keep right only when going slower that the flow of traffic, according to the report. The new measure would resemble nearby New Jersey’s law – the Garden State currently fines left lane dawdlers up to $200, though a recent proposal would raise that to $300.
The Delaware bill is supported by AAA Mid-Atlantic and the Delaware Police Chiefs Council. For what it’s worth, we think it’s a good idea as well, but don’t take our opinion for it, let us know what you think by voting in our poll below.
When a major automaker shuts down its racing program like Peugeot did at Le Mans, it leaves a big gaping hole for everyone involved. The French automaker’s departure from endurance racing left the series organizers scrambling for another team to take its place just as it was preparing to inaugurate the new FIA World Endurance Championship. It left – the Diane Sawyer of Le Mans racing, to borrow an analogy from Talladega Nights – without its Katie Couric. And arguably most of all, it left Peugeot’s roster of highly skilled drivers without a ride.
Easily among the most talented of these drivers is Marc Gené, the driver who helped Peugeot clinch the checkered flag at La Sarthe in 2009. A longtime factory test driver for (and one time grand prix driver for Minardi and Willaims), Gené has a wealth of experience that couldn’t very well be left untapped. So it should come as little surprise that Audi has scooped him up.
Although the German automaker already has a full roster of pilots – proven race winners, no less – at its disposal, it has found room for Gené as a reserve driver. In this capacity Gené will be filling in for an uninjured Timo Bernhard to drive the #3 Audi R18 Ultra together with French drivers Romain Dumas and Loïc Duval at Spa-Francorchamps in just a couple of weeks, and will undoubtedly be on hand to jump into the cockpit at Le Mans in June should duty call.
Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments spent $2.7 billion buying 9.1 percent of Daimler in 2009. At the time, Aabar said it was “excited by the commercial potential of our partnership,” both companies said it was a long-term investment and spoke of joint ventures, and committed to building a training center in the emirate. Aabar then bought a share of , and later that year said it wanted to take its .
Turns out three years counts for long term these days, because a story first reported in Germany’s Manager Magazin indicates the fund wants to cash out. There are conflicting accounts as to how big a stake Aabar still has – Reuters says 9.1 percent, says three percent, but based on “sources familiar with the situation” various watchers seem sure that the stock sale is on the way.
Aabar won’t comment on the situation, Daimler has said it isn’t aware of Aabar’s intention to sell. Automotive News suggests increased fiscal discipline of Abu Dhabi’s deal making could be behind the move, other analysts say the position isn’t unusual since the stock price has doubled since Aabar bought in. Still others say that with Aabar having made $113 million from earlier this year, walking completely away from Daimler with money still on the table could indicate broader back-room disagreements.
If you want to buy a new car, you go to a car dealership. If you want to buy a ridiculously expensive and luxurious cashmere sweater in any color imaginable, you go to Harrods. At least that’s the way it once was, but these days the swanky London department store has been turning its front window display into an automotive showroom.
A year and a half ago at Harrods, a lead that in the same space a month later. just a few months ago, and now is doing the same with its Goodwood edition hatchback.
As you may recall, the Goodwood is a Mini hatchback that’s had its interior fitted by the same craftsmen who do the cabins for . Only 1,000 units will be made, each with a whopping $52,000 price tag. The Mini Inspired by Goodwood has been on display at Harrods for a week already and will be for another, with a salesman on hand – swatches and samples at the ready – to answer questions and take orders behind the window on Brompton Road.
Chances are, if we asked you to replicate the sound of a small block with a mild cam, you could probably pull it off with nothing more than a little slobber and a few embarrassed glares from your significant other. If you keep practicing that particular skill, you may just find yourself in front of a massive studio audience. Just ask 19-year-old Daniel Jovanovic.
The teenager recently took the stage on the show Australia’s Got Talent and managed to wow all three judges with his impressive engine impersonations. He started with the sound of a Formula One pit stop before moving to a variety of other machines.
Talented? Absolutely. Even if he doesn’t manage to take the top nod, Jovanovic has already soared to internet stardom. to check out the quick video for yourself.
