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While it is generally understood that America’s dependence on foreign oil negatively impacts the country in many ways, both the citizenry and the media differ in how they choose to deal with the topic. Case in point: VoteVets, a group of veterans who are working to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, produced a commercial outlining some of the brutal realities that our addiction to crude creates. The commercial aired on CNN and MSNBC, but according to TreeHugger, the folks at Fox News have rejected the commercial because it is “too confusing.”

After viewing the 30-second clip available after the jump, we have trouble seeing where the spot is confusing. The premise is quite simple: Our nation’s dependency on foreign oil benefits numerous hostile regimes and can even lead to war. So, if the commercial isn’t “too confusing,” then why did Fox News refuse to air it? TreeHugger suggests many possible reasons, but one stands out: Saudi prince Prince Alwaleed bin Talal owns a seven-percent stake in News Corp., which owns Fox, so even suggesting that the U.S. should eliminate its dependence on foreign oil would appear to be a conflict of interest for the network.

As expected, VoteVets was none too pleased about Fox’s decision – the organization’s senior advisor Richard Smith responded with:

There’s nothing confusing about the link between oil and terrorist funding, and even the most dyed-in-the-wool neocons agree on that point. The only confusing thing here is why FOX News would reject an ad that calls on Congress to defund our enemies by finding new sources of energy.

Now, we’re interested in what you think. Is Fox News right to reject the commercial? Did they step over the line here? Is the commercial really “too confusing”? Watch the commercial after the jump and then let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Hat tip to Andy!

[Source: TreeHugger]

Continue reading Fox News refuses ad denouncing nation’s dependence on foreign oil [w/video]

Fox News refuses ad denouncing nation’s dependence on foreign oil [w/video]

Ferrari’s ever-expanding branding initiatives took a hit recently when the Italian automaker and racing team split with its watchmaking partner, Panerai. Apparently the collaboration wasn’t doing much for either brand, so they called it quits. But it appears Maranello may be learning from its mistakes with this new collaboration.

What you’re looking at here is a pre-production rendering of the next Ferrari timepiece. It’s the brainchild of renowned watch designer Jean-Francois Ruchonnet, and will be produced by exclusive Swiss watchmaking atelier Cabestan. Based on some of Ruchonnet’s previous designs for Cabestan, the Scuderia One incorporates an incredibly intricate vertical tourbillon movement, chain-driven via individually handcrafted links, with carbon fiber and other exotic materials employed in its construction.

Not enough to separate it from the Panerais and Girard-Perregaux watches that came before? Then the pricing and sheer exclusivity ought to do the trick. The watch will reportedly be limited to just 60 examples, available only to existing Ferrari owners at a price point of – wait for it – $300,000. Now if that doesn’t say “Ferrari” to you, we don’t know what will.

[Source: Cabestan via Luxist]

Scuderia One by Cabestan: Ferrari watch for Ferrari owners – at a Prancing Horse price

“Horrible, quite bad race.” That’s how one of the championship front-runners described the results from today’s Spanish Grand Prix. We’re not about to tell you who summarized his day with such frustration – for that you’ll have to read through to the end, or at least click past the jump and scroll down. But the circumstances he described came as one of a few surprises in an otherwise largely processional race this weekend in Barcelona. Follow the jump to read how it unfolded.

Continue reading 2010 Spanish Grand Prix brings (a) few surprises [SPOILER ALERT]

2010 Spanish Grand Prix brings (a) few surprises [SPOILER ALERT]

It’s no secret that we’re fans of the Škoda Fabia S2000 rally car. The good news for us Europeans is that VW’s Czech brand has decided to integrate some of that racing DNA (at least appearance-wise) into a Fabia RS model scheduled to debut at Wörthersee 2010.

This is Škoda’s first visit to the big GTI gathering, and they’ve obviously come prepared. A green roof and alloys aping those used on the S2000 racer are the Fabia RS’s showcase elements, along with a brutal lower front lip, smoked glass all around, darkened chrome work, a rear spoiler, and side skirts. The Fabia RS joins Volkswagen goodies like the Golf GTI Adidas, which will also be formally unveiled, and it will be on display from May 14-16.

[Source: Autoweek.nl (translated)]

Škoda Fabia RS to debut at Wörthersee 2010

We have no idea how it’ll fare when it goes on sale, but we enjoy imagining the day when we start seeing the CTS-V Sport Wagon on the streets. Since that’s still a ways off, for now we’ll be happy getting our next fix from Cadillac Design Director Clay Dean, who takes us on a walk around the hottest wagon that isn’t named “E63.” Perhaps the most useful thing about it is that it gives us other features to talk about besides the engine – not that we’ll ever really talk about them, but at least we know they’re there. Follow the jump for the walk-around.

[Source: Cadillac]

Continue reading Video: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon walkaround with Clay Dean

Video: Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon walkaround with Clay Dean

Plagued by a series of setbacks, delays, and that little thing called “the chicken tax,” Mahindra has yet to receive EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 federal emissions certification for its TR20 and TR40 pickups. But man, they must be getting really close. Right?

John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles USA, Mahindra’s exclusive U.S. distributor, says that all the emissions testing on the trucks has been completed and the paperwork is being submitted to the EPA for final approval. Approval itself is expected to take about 30 days. At that point, Global Vehicles could begin importing the trucks to the United States. They’d arrive on our shores 30 to 60 days later.

By our math, that sounds like we could have Mahindra pickup trucks on U.S. roads before the end of August, but neither Perez nor Mahindra’s corporate offices are talking sale dates yet. Experience has probably taught them not to make predictions, but with 330 dealers signed up and raring to go, we’re sure that official sales date can’t come soon enough for any of the parties involved.

When they eventually go on sale, Mahindra pickups will be offered in two configurations: a two-door regular cab, the TR20, and a four-door crew cab, the TR40. Both will offer Mahindra’s slightly modified version of the mHawk 2.2-liter inline-four-cylinder diesel engine. Official EPA numbers obviously haven’t been determined yet, but the trucks are expected to have fuel economy ratings around 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Not too shabby considering their 1.3-ton hauling capability. Pricing is expected to start around $22,000.

[Source: Automotive News via PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Mahindra pickups could hit U.S. in under 90 days

Ever since the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata went on sale in February, it’s been selling faster than ever. Over 18,000 units were moved in both March and April and the new turbo and hybrid models are still to come later this year. In order to continue meeting the demand for the new sedan, moving Santa Fe SUV production out of Hyundai’s Montgomery, Alabama factory (where the Sonata is also built) is now under consideration. Montgomery’s been running overtime for weeks.

But if the Santa Fe is ousted to open up additional Sonata capacity, where would it go? Sister brand Kia recently opened factory in West Point, Georgia that builds the Sorento. Relocating Santa Fe production there could work, since it the and Sorento share many components already. If Hyundai does pull the trigger on a production shift for the Santa Fe, it could happen before the two new Sonata models are added in the fall.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Report: Hyundai Sonata demand could prompt SUV manufacturing shuffle

You have to love the human being’s ability to rationalize almost anything. After all, how else can you explain calling a near half-million-dollar sports car a “best value?” Yet that’s exactly what Autocar has done in evaluating the new Ferrari 599 GTO. By comparing it’s £300,000 price tag against the £1.3 million 599XX while noting that the GTO is at least 4/5ths of the more expensive car, it certainly comes across as something of a bargain, absurd as it sounds. Of course, since almost no one reading this likely to ever afford either car, the point’s moot anyway.

One thing that jumps out at us in Autocar magazine’sFerrari GTO video review is what we’ll be missing if electric cars ever take over the world: the glorious sound. Sure, torque-heavy electric motors can generate a car that may be just as fast, but no electric car will ever sound as good as this thing. It’s the kind of noise that can make a man find religion. Check out the video after the jump, and drop a comment letting us know whether you agree. A tip of the hat to Giulio!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Autocar drives the Ferrari 599 GTO, calls it “best value”

Video: Autocar drives the Ferrari 599 GTO, calls it “best value”

Following more than a week of controversy regarding its livery, Ferrari has capitulated for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. For more than a decade, the Ferrari Formula One team has been sponsored by Marlboro cigarettes. Ever since tobacco sponsorship was banned from F1, however, traditional Marlboro branding has been absent from the Italian cars.

In recent weeks, though, accusations flew, alleging that the replacement “bar code” logo adorning the Ferraris’ engine covers was merely a subliminal reference to the tobacco brand. After Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo insisted just days ago that the “argument was pointless,” the cars appeared in Barcelona devoid of the controversial livery. Instead, the cars now have a simple red rectangle wear the bar code once was.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Nixed! Ferrari removes barcode from F1 cars

Nixed! Ferrari removes barcode from F1 cars

By now, you’ve likely seen the various hybrid vehicles shown off by Ferrari, both for racing and for street-legal models in concept form. Purists might be more than a bit put off by the idea of a supposedly eco-friendly vehicle wearing the famed Prancing Horse badge, and it seems that Ferrari head Amadeo Felisa commiserates with them.

Speaking to Autocar at the recent Beijing Motor Show, Felisa had some rather interesting remarks on the future of his company, notably regarding the powerplants needed to meet future emissions and fuel mileage requirements. Says Felisa:

Our customers are looking for the essence of Ferrari – the emotion, the performance, the technology and so on. The way in which we fix emissions is not their problem but ours. If we are not able to fix it, only then will it become a problem for them.

That’s rational, we’d say. But here’s the point where Felisa’s comments seem sure to garner a few raised eyebrows amongst the environmental set:

[Hybrids will come in] 2015, if we are forced to by the [government] regulations. The issue of emissions for Ferrari is more a political one than real one. Lowering emissions of every Ferrari will not save the planet, but it will cost us a lot of money… In the next five to 10 years, hybrid technology will develop and maybe something else will come up. Maybe it’ll be hydrogen, but for our cars only hybrid is ready.

So, hydrogen isn’t ready for Ferrari (or vice versa) and the only reason the sportscar manufacturer is even looking at hybrids is because the various governments of the world are making them. Oh yeah, and nothing with more than two doors. At least that much we can all agree upon.

[Source: Autocar]

Ferrari ‘forced’ to add hybrid, emissions concerns not ‘real’

The minds at Inside Line have taken it upon themselves to ponder the improbable by sketching up a few renderings of a Hyundai Sonata Convertible. We should be clear and point out that no one from Hyundai has said word one about dropping two doors and the roof off of the company’s sharp new sedan. Still, the Inside Line crew makes a good case for having the Korean shed its top.

Their logic? The market is noticeably bereft of a well-priced drop-head with functional rear seats. Former heavy hitters like the Chrysler Sebring, Toyota Solara and even the Pontiac G6 are either dead or dying, and that’s created a void that’s gone unfilled. Clipping the roof off of the already well-styled Sonata certainly wouldn’t hurt the design in anyway, especially if Hyundai stuck with a power soft top instead of a heavy retractable hard-top version.

There’s no doubt that the automaker could pull it off if so motivated, but we have to wonder whether it would be worth Hyundai’s time. Be sure to hop over to Inside line to see the full renderings.

[Source: Inside Line]

Rendered Speculation: Hyundai Sonata Convertible in the works?

Word on the web would have us believe that Geely has its eyes set on snatching the least-expensive car crown from Tata. The Chinese automaker has announced that it will bring its IG concept to market, and that it will cost a mere $2,250 at current conversion rates. If that’s not enough to raise your eyebrows, the company says that its pint-size econobox will be a higher-quality alternative to what’s currently rolling out of India. Granted, that’s not exactly an atmospheric quality goal, but at this price point, every little bit helps.

Expect to see a 70 horsepower, 1.0-liter engine to put power to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox when the car hits markets in China and Russia. The company hasn’t made mention of any fuel economy numbers just yet, but we have to imagine the IG can hold its own in that department.

Autocar reports that the company plans to have the IG in showrooms by 2012, and that there’s some chance that an all-electric version will crop up in both Europe and the U.S. not long after. The company is already planning to swap the gasoline engine for an electric motor with 80 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque. There’s no word on what we can expect in terms of top speed, but the company says the concept is capable of cruising for 93 miles on a single charge.

[Source: Autocar]

Geely to challenge Tata, Renault with low-cost car?

The 2010 Camaro has been a boon for General Motors and its Chevrolet brand, with sales of 9,150 units in April alone. The Mustang is down a bit at 5,145 units for April, but that’s expected to change once the vastly improved 2011 models begin rolling into Ford dealers around the country. Even the Dodge Challenger had its best month ever in April. We can’t tell you how happy it makes us that the pony car wars have once again began to boil over, but a report by Edmunds’ Auto Observer correctly points out that the rest of the sports car market isn’t faring nearly so well.

The report shows that sports cars like the once hot Nissan GT-R, with only 106 sales in April, are now struggling for sales. Porsche 911 sales are down 18 percent from a poor 2009, only 428 Mazda RX-8s have been sold in 2010 and Nissan failed to sell 1,000 copies of the fun to drive 370Z. Even the venerable Corvette, which saw 2007 production of over 40,000 units, is only at 3,522 units through four months of 2010.

Is the sports car on the permanent decline, or are we just hitting a big-time bump in the road? Take the poll below to give us your thoughts.

View Poll

[Source: Auto Observer]

Is the sports car an endangered species? [w/poll]

The 2010 Camaro has been a boon for General Motors and its Chevrolet brand, with sales of 9,150 units in April alone. The Mustang is down a bit at 5,145 units for April, but that’s expected to change once the vastly improved 2011 models begin rolling into Ford dealers around the country. Even the Dodge Challenger had its best month ever in April. We can’t tell you how happy it makes us that the pony car wars have once again began to boil over, but a report by Edmunds’ Auto Observer correctly points out that the rest of the sports car market isn’t faring nearly so well.

The report shows that sports cars like the once hot Nissan GT-R, with only 106 sales in April, are now struggling for sales. Porsche 911 sales are down 18 percent from a poor 2009, only 428 Mazda RX-8s have been sold in 2010 and Nissan failed to sell 1,000 copies of the fun to drive 370Z. Even the venerable Corvette, which saw 2007 production of over 40,000 units, is only at 3,522 units through four months of 2010.

Is the sports car on the permanent decline, or are we just hitting a big-time bump in the road? Take the poll below to give us your thoughts.

View Poll

[Source: Auto Observer]

Is the sports car an endangered species? [w/POLL]

Different people like different things, and this is especially true with cars. Even with something as specific as the new 2011 Shelby GT350, customers want to have options. When the car was unveiled at Barrett-Jackson earlier this year it only came equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and a Ford Racing supercharger good for 500 horsepower, but according to Shelby they will now be offering both a naturally aspirated and an automatic version to customers. The company cites qualifying the GT350 for SCCA racing as the main reason for offering a non-supercharged model, although the overall price point may have been a factor as well. Leaving the supercharger off the options list will save you $7,000, and there will still be 412 horsepower to play with from the 5.0-liter V8.

Supercharged or not, automatic or manual, each GT350 will be a serious performer. The car comes standard with a Shelby-tuned Ford Racing suspension system, Baer front and rear brakes, Borla exhaust and new compound of Goodyear tires. Each GT350 will only be available in legendary White with Guardsman Blue stripes, and all will be built as a post-title program at Shelby’s Las Vegas facility. The upfit package (base car not included) now starts at $26,995 for the naturally aspirated model and $33,995 for the supercharged version. Follow the jump for full details.

[Source: Shelby American]

Continue reading Shelby to offer naturally aspirated, automatic GT350 models

Shelby to offer naturally aspirated, automatic GT350 models

Mercedes-Benz has been accomplishing miraculous feats of incredible horsepower with its large displacement engines. However, those engines haven’t been particularly fuel efficient, so M-B is in the process of developing several new mills to meet new CO2 and fuel economy standards in Europe and the U.S.

Mercedes is reportedly adding a new, direct-injected, twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8 engine this fall with an impressive 435 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The German automaker claims a fuel economy improvement of 22 percent versus one of its last-generation engines outputting a similar amount of power. Those impressive gains come courtesy of the aforementioned direct injection, stop/start technology and more efficient components like the fuel and water pumps. The twin-boosted V8 will reportedly arrive this fall in the CL-Class and S-Class.

Also up for an overhaul is Mercedes’ 3.5-liter V6. The new mill will have an all-new 60 degree V block with new intake and exhaust. The sum of these changes is 306 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of twist, and a reported fuel economy savings of 24 percent in the not-for-U.S.-consumption S350. The new 3.5-liter will be an especially welcome addition to the Mercedes lineup, as the current 268 horsepower engine isn’t exactly keeping up with similar displacement engines available from Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac and Acura.

Keep in mind that Mercedes isn’t listing official EPA numbers when its touting its new engines’ improved efficiency, and Inside Line points out that the EPA rating system doesn’t really account for Stop/Start systems in its fuel economy averaging.

[Source: Inside Line]

Mercedes-Benz claims more power, efficiency with new V6, V8 engines

Honda scored a decent U.S. sales month in April, with overall results up by 13 percent. But what has company insiders excited isn’t strong Accord or Civic sales. Honda’s light trucks, the Pilot, Odyssey, CRV and Ridgeline, were up 33 percent compared to April of 2009. Those vehicles comprise many of the most expensive vehicles in the Honda lineup, and a healthy source of profits.

Automotive News reports that Honda VP John Mendel called light truck sales “spry,” adding that truck sales are up for several automakers, signaling that the U.S. sales downturn may be waning. Mendel also points to low inventory as a good sign for Honda, with light trucks sitting at a very low 42 day supply, down five days from March 1st levels. And while you’ve likely seen Honda’s recent ads touting unprecedented incentives, keep in mind that light trucks are still at low incentive levels.

That’s undoubtedly good news for Honda and its dealer body, yet Mendel reportedly cautions that dealers shouldn’t get too giddy over the numbers. In the short term, though, the Honda VP intimated that some dealers may need to add salespeople as the auto industry continues to improve.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Honda: Light truck sales outpace industry rebound

Aston Martin has done it. Porsche has too. Even Lamborghini toyed with the idea in the form of the Estoque concept. But according to chief executive Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari will never follow its rivals in making a four-door model.

The closest we’ll get, points out Felisa, is the Maserati Quattroporte, the four-door sports sedan from Ferrari’s Modenese sister-company, which is set to gain a baby brother in the near future. Maranello once considered the idea of a four-door with the 1980 Pinin show car (above), but as close as it may have come, the concept never made it to production.

Addressing the notion that Ferrari once swore it would never make a hybrid or use start-stop technology – both of which are in the pipeline from Maranello currently – Felisa responded that both these measures were required by government regulation, but that nobody’s forcing them to make a sedan. Well, there you have it.

[Source: Autocar]

Ferrari CEO pledges we’ll never see a four-door Prancing Horse

We knew we were in for something special when Delahaye USA announced it would be tackling a roadster. The company had already wowed us with its Bella Figura Bugnotti Coupe last year, and taking the top off of a beautiful car has never been a crime in our books. The company dedicated to cranking out modern interpretations of some of the most beautiful cars ever created has impressed us with the newest Bugnotti.

The car was originally penned by none other than Chip Foose himself, and Delahaye did its best to stay true to the design. That includes those enclosed pontoon front fenders. The builder went through plenty of pains to ensure that the front wheels could turn lock-to-lock inside of the bodywork without any interference.

The Bugnotti also features an asymmetrical aesthetic thanks to the hand-worked trim on each side. On the left, the vehicle’s pontoons are bare, while the right-hand side wears chrome-plated aluminum metal work. Not quite our cup of tea, but as builder Terry Cook pointed out, you only see one side of the car at a time.

Under that lengthy hood sits a LS1 V8 from General Motors mated to a 4L60E automatic gearbox. Cook originally wanted a BMW V12 to power the boat tail, but wiring concerns and a short timeline resulted in the all-American powerplant.

Right now, Delahaye isnt’ saying exactly how much a Bugnotti roadster will set you back, but considering that the Bella Figura starts at $250,000, it’s not going to be cheap.

[Source: Delahaye]

Bugnotti Roadster poses for the camera

The last time we drove one of Lexus‘ new HS 250h hybrid sedans, we found the experience to be about what you might expect. That is to say, eminently usable and well-designed with reasonable driving dynamics. We liked it, though we pointed out that the styling is pretty bland and performance is merely adequate.

We can’t say for certain whether that staid styling or its lack of driving emotion may be holding it back in the marketplace, but Wards Auto reports that the HS 250h is failing to live up to the sales volume projections set out by Lexus when the car was introduced late last year.

Since initially going on sale last August, Lexus has sold 11,228 HS hybrids. Last month, Toyota’s luxury division moved just 1,076 units, which makes for a grand total of 4,529 since 2010 kicked off five months ago. A quick calculation tells us that full-year sales, assuming they remain at something resembling a steady pace, will be under 14,000 units.

Lexus had previously set a target of 20,000-22,000 HS 250h sales in America – and even that figure represented a lowered expectation from the 25,000-30,000 sales initially quoted before Japanese consumers started ordering the model up at a faster-than-expected rate.

Why the below-par sales stats? Says Mark Templin, vice president of Toyota’s Lexus division, “I think we underestimated the power of the Prius brand… And we overestimated what the market would look like based on gas prices. But if we can do over 1,000 units a month, 1,000-1,500 units a month, we feel really good about what we’re doing in the marketplace.”

[Source: Wards Auto]

Report: Lexus HS 250h not meeting volume projections in U.S.