Report: Panoz wants to race fields of DeltaWings in American Le Mans Series

Nissan DeltaWing

In pretty much any racing series you go to, the cars tend to progress in an evolutionary, not revolutionary fashion. This year’s crop of Formula One cars, for example, may have those ungainly stepped noses, but they otherwise look pretty much the same as last year’s cars, which looked mostly the same as the cars the year before and the year before that, and so on and so forth. The same could be generally said of Indy, Le Mans prototypes…even stock cars. The DeltaWing project, however, is another story altogether.

Designed and developed by an alliance of some of the biggest names in racing and recently backed by Nissan, the DeltaWing represents a comprehensive rethink of what form a race car can and should take. The idea was originally fielded as a proposal for the new IndyCar chassis, but that series’ organizers went once again for something much more conventional. So the brain trust behind the project adapted it for endurance racing and are taking it to Le Mans this year.

But surely they didn’t put all that work into it just to race it once – outside the classifications as a demonstration only – did they? Not if Don Panoz has anything to say about it. One of the partners in the DeltaWing project and the father of the racing car manufacturer that bears his name, Panoz hopes to find a way to race the DeltaWing in the American Le Mans Series which he essentially founded.

A way to equalize its performance with either the LMP1 or LMP2 classes would need to be found with the IMSA and the FIA, but considering how it was adapted from an IndyCar proposal to a Le Mans racer, the platform seems pretty flexible. But Panoz doesn’t want to race just one. Sure, a solitary entry in the full ALMS calendar would be a great start, but Panoz reportedly envisions assembling a quantity of DeltaWings at his factory in Georgia that has over the years built cars for Indy, Champ Cars, Superleague Formula and of course Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series.

Just how many remains to be seen, but with powerhouses like Panoz, Nissan, Highcroft, Chip Ganassi and Dan Gurney on board, we would be very surprised if the DeltaWing ran just the once.

Panoz wants to race fields of DeltaWings in American Le Mans Series

    



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    Video: Chris Harris explains what makes his own 1986 BMW M5 so special

    7b24e harrise28m53 Video: Chris Harris explains what makes his own 1986 BMW M5 so special

    The 70s were a definitive decade for music and movies. Fashion and cars, not so much. The 80s corrected one of those oversights, an era of ethereal supercars like the Porsche 959, game-changing exotics like the Ferrari Testarossa, and, best of all, everday cannons that offered mortals a generous portion of lairy thrills, such as Chris Harris’ 1986 e28 BMW M5.

    In 1986, a 3,100-pound, 286-horsepower luxury sedan straight from the factory that could also handle was as rare as a goose with lips. Sure, there was a more powerful AMG Mercedes-Benz E-Class but it didn’t want to get into a lengthy conversation about handling, and there was the AMG Hammer, but that was a terrifically expensive tuner special. The M5 weighed the same as the 1986 Chevrolet Corvette and had 225-section rear tires just like the ‘Vette, but the M5 had 36 more horsepower. And it had four, leather-covered seats. And it could corner.

    All of which has to do with why Drive’s Chris Harris spends eight minutes explaining, and showing, why he loves his personal M5 so much. Scroll down to learn about the sedan that compels him to say “it’s the best money I’ve ever spent on a car.”

    Continue reading Chris Harris explains what makes his own 1986 BMW M5 so special

    Chris Harris explains what makes his own 1986 BMW M5 so special

        



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      Study: America, these are your top 10 most expensive cars to own

      Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - red - at speed in a forest

      Picking up a used luxury car is a great way to save some coin. Letting the previous owner take the fall on depreciation is a smart move, but it’s worth remembering that high-end autos carry with them high-end maintenance and repair costs. Using Edmunds.com data, 24/7 Wall Street has compiled what it says are the 10 most expensive vehicles to own, and the list is populated by some not-so-surprising names. BMW and Mercedes-Benz soak up the lion’s share of the offenders, though other manufactures make a showing as well. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG takes top honors as the most expensive of them all with a “true cost of ownership” of $245,469. That’s in addition to the gullwing supercar’s $210,875 MSRP.

      The calculations not only factor in deprecation, but also things like fuel, maintenance and insurance costs.

      All told, Mercedes-Benz models takes four of the 10 spots on the list. That’s twice as many as BMW, and the rest are split between makes like Land Rover, Audi and Nissan. If that last one seems a bit out of place, keep in mind Nissan makes the mighty (and mighty complex) GT-R. Check out our gallery below for a full list of the biggest offenders.

      America, these are your top 10 most expensive cars to own

          



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        First Drive: 2013 Nissan Altima

        38 Special

        4ac35 08 2013 nissan altima fd opt First Drive: 2013 Nissan Altima

        2,500 rpm in a family sedan generally isn’t a whole lot to get excited about. In fact, it’s traditionally closer to idle speed than anything offering the possibility of real entertainment. But each and every one of those 2,500 revolutions in this 2013 Nissan Altima offers a frisson of excitement when whirling away in concert. Why? Because they add up to 100 mph. In a four cylinder.

        Process that for a minute: 2,500 revs = 100 mph in a 2.5-liter normally aspirated four-door kinshlepper. This, friends, is impressive. We first verified the figure for ourselves during a prototype drive at Nissan’s Arizona proving grounds back in March. More real-world numbers include 2,000 rpm at 80 mph and just 1,450 rpm at 60 mph. Credit the Altima’s Continuously Variable Transmission, which has been extensively reworked for this new model. Seventy percent of the transmission’s parts are new, and internal friction has been reduced by up to 40 percent through a battery of small tricks including redesigned internals swimming in lower viscosity oil. The transmission has a super-wide 7.0 gear ratio spread and reprogrammed control logic to help the keep all four pots on boil as necessary.

        Of course, it’s still a CVT, which is to driving enthusiasts what Mark Zuckerberg is to the Amish. But Nissan’s Xtronic unit at least makes a good go of it, thanks to a sport mode that introduces shift points to create a physical and auditory experience similar to that of a traditional torque converter automatic. To be fair, the revs don’t plunge quite as far as they would in a slushbox, but it keeps the engine in the meat of its powerband and still delivers a pretty convincing performance, even when subjected to aggressive throttle openings. Either way, those awkward “stretched rubberband” CVT moments are kept to the bare minimum, only rearing their head when the accelerator is buried in the carpet, and just for a moment. Under most circumstances, we imagine most Altima drivers probably won’t even notice they own a CVT.

        Continue reading 2013 Nissan Altima

        2013 Nissan Altima

            



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          Video: Watch the McLaren MP4-12C hit the dunes of Abu Dhabi

          McLaren MP4-12C in Abu Dhabi

          The Middle East is an enormously vital market for McLaren, and not just because its oil barons have the cash to buy as many MP4-12C supercars as they and every member of their family could possibly want. While the team has only won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix once and has yet to do the same at the Bahrain Grand Prix – the only two in the region (discounting Turkey), the company is part owned by Saudi businessman Mansour Ojjeh, and another part by the royal family of Bahrain.

          Little wonder, then, that the upstart McLaren Automotive is setting up no fewer than six dealerships in the Middle East, the first of which has just opened its doors. To mark the occasion, McLaren took its new MP4-12C to the dunes of Abu Dhabi and around the Yas Island Marina Circuit and brought a camera crew – armed with a RED video camera and Canon’s new 1DX – along for the ride. The resulting high-resolution images and footage are worth a glance, so check ‘em out in the gallery below, the video below that and the press release below them both.

          Continue reading Watch the McLaren MP4-12C hit the dunes of Abu Dhabi

          Watch the McLaren MP4-12C hit the dunes of Abu Dhabi

              



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            Official: "Imported from Detroit" wins Grand Effie award for effective advertising

            e4ae8 20120524 chrysler imported from detroit Official: "Imported from Detroit" wins Grand Effie award for effective advertising

            Chrysler Group’s “Imported from Detroit” ad campaign grabbed top honors Wednesday night in New York City, winning the North American Grand Effie Award as the most effective ad in the nation.

            “Imported from Detroit was the Grand Effie winner because they sold the product, the category and the city,” said Deborah Sandler, President, Mars Chocolate North American and a Grand Effie jury member, in a news release.

            Indeed. The two-minute Super Bowl commercial, titled “Born of Fire”, created a huge buzz for the city and for the Chrysler 200. The agencies Wieden+Kennedy and Universal McCann created it and Chrysler capitalized on it.

            “The success of this campaign has contributed significantly to the company’s sales growth over 2010, and as a result of this success, Chrysler has paid off their government bailout six years early,” Chrysler said in its entry.

            Other automotive winners at the Effie Awards included Porsche grabbing second place in the automotive category for “How Porsche created new relevance for a revered icon,” and Chevrolet taking third for “Chevy Volt, it’s more than electric.”

            Kia also grabbed a third-place honor in the Single Impact Engagement category for its “Not your average slam dunk” commercial.

            And for those feeling nostalgic, scroll down and check out the original commercial. It still gives us chills. You can also read more about the Effie Awards in the included press release.

            Continue reading “Imported from Detroit” wins Grand Effie award for effective advertising

            “Imported from Detroit” wins Grand Effie award for effective advertising

                



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              Video: Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway

              Nissan Juke-R on ice

              There’s something about the boffins over at Nissan – particularly those working at its racing headquarters in the UK. We’re not quite sure what it is. Oh, right: they’re bonkers. Absolutely off their rockers, in the best way possible. How else would you explain the decision to take an entry-level crossover and swap out its powertrain for that of a supercar?

              We’re talking, of course, about the Juke-R, the 480-horsepower demon cockroach from hell. After racing it against a field of supercars in Dubai, Nissan has taken the Juke-R to a decidedly different setting – an ice track near the former Winter Olympics site in Lillehammer, Norway – and set it loose.

              And if that wasn’t quite enough, the Japanese automaker didn’t put it in the hands of an veteran ice racer – say, the four-time Formula One World Champion who drives for its sister company in the Andros Trophy, they gave it over to its gamer-turned-racer Lucas Ordonez who, being from Spain, had never driven on ice before. Sounds sane to us. Scroll on down to see the results in the brief video clip.

              Continue reading Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway

              Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway

                  



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                Review: 2012 Infiniti G25

                Better Fuel Economy At Any Cost

                2012 Infiniti G25

                Brands like Infiniti built their empires convincing the world that the badge on the hood shouldn’t matter nearly as much as the bones underneath, but Japan’s cadre of luxury brands isn’t the only group peddling bang for the buck these days. Manufacturers from Kia to Volkswagen now come with cabins packed with luxury amenities. Even the lowly Ford Fiesta can offer buyers high-quality leather seating and enough technology to put the subcompact into geosynchronous orbit. So why bother stepping up to the mid-level luxury league at all? What differentiates a nice car from a fine automobile beyond a little inflection and a lot of marketing?

                European brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz happily prattle on about pedigree and superior engineering, but at the end of the day, a luxury machine simply has to feel special. Foodies often speak of the fifth flavor, umami. Directly translated, the word means “good taste” with an element of savoriness, and automotive luxury is built on that same intangible sensation. Perhaps better than either Acura or Lexus, Infiniti has become a master of that something special, offering its customers elegant style, well-crafted interiors, innovative technology and a superb driving experience. The 2012 Infiniti G25 looks to add superior fuel economy to that list, but can it do so without losing its luxury essence?

                Continue reading 2012 Infiniti G25

                2012 Infiniti G25

                    



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                  Does BMW’s new 6 Series Convertible work in yellow?

                  98274 yellow6series Does BMWs new 6 Series Convertible work in yellow?

                  Perhaps it’s merely the era, perhaps it’s the shapes of modern cars, but you just don’t see large numbers of sports cars and supercars drenched in wildly luminous colors anymore – the Lamborghini Gallardo maybe the only exception. A sky blue Porsche 911 or a dandelion Ferrari were once nothing special; now a white Ferrari is avant-garde.

                  Not so for the driver of this BMW 6 Series convertible, who doubled down on a special-order Atacama Yellow paint job – not vinyl wrap – from the factory for his 6. Bimmerpost forum member X-Vert caught this in NYC while it was waiting to have some work done. While we personally shy run away from cars in incadescent colors, and even though the girth of the 6 Series makes for a Great Wall of Yellow, with the black top and black wheels we think it’s not bad at all. It’s not for us, but it’s not bad.

                  Yet the image deceives: it has been ‘Shopped to disguise the fact that the wheels aren’t really black. They’re yellow. And that changes everything… To see the beast fully resplendent, head on over to Bimmerpost.

                  Does BMW’s new 6 Series Convertible work in yellow?

                      



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                    Report: Arrinera supercar born out of Polish Lamborghini replica?

                    Arrinera

                    If you thought it seemed a little odd that Poland – a country without much of a history of producing exportable cars – would suddenly come out with a high-performance supercar, well… we’re afraid you may be right. Because the latest reports out of the Eastern European country suggest that the Arrinera project is nothing more than a reclothed replicar.

                    Arrinera, as you may recall, is a project to build a supercar in Poland. Specifications recently hit the interwebs, indicating a $160,000 list price and a 6.2-liter V8 with 650 horsepower driving the rear wheels through a Graziano gearbox for a 3.2-second sprint to 62 and a 211 mph top end.

                    Now reports coming out of Poland – citing a certain Jacek Balkan who seems to be the Slavic version of Jeremy Clarkson – are calling the whole project into question. According to the word on the Warsaw boulevard, the people at Arrinera took a Lamborghini replica made by another Polish outfit called Bojar Tuning and gave it a new skin. Interior components were reportedly borrowed from the Opel Corsa and late-90s Audi A6, all in an effort to raise funds on the stock market.

                    The question we’re left with is, if the project started as a replica but now has its own design and identity, should its humbler beginnings matter? If the specs are right and legendary chassis tuner Lee Noble is involved, the Arrinera could still emerge as a winner. Of course, we’d have to drive it in order to tell for sure, but we’ve got some openings in our calendar coming up…

                    Arrinera supercar born out of Polish Lamborghini replica?

                        



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                      Video: Watch Guy Martin outrun a helicopter at the Isle of Man

                      Guy Martin Isle of Man TT

                      While there are some specialty machines that are capable of relatively high velocity, your average run-of-the-mill helicopter can’t sustain speeds much higher than 100 miles per hour. That said, because of the heli’s ability to climb high into the air with cameramen packing extreme telephoto lenses, actually managing to trick a chopper pilot into losing you – in scenes sure to be played out monthly on national news channels – is another matter entirely.

                      So, what would it take to actually outrun a helicopter? As demonstrated by professional racer Guy Martin in the video after the break, a modern superbike has more than enough speed to do the trick. In the case of Martin’s modified Suzuki GSX-R1000, which boasts a terminal velocity in excess of 200 mph, all you’d need is a road straight enough to pin the throttle for a dozen seconds or so…

                      All of which brings us to the Isle of Man, nestled away in the Irish Sea. Every year, legions of racers and fans line the 38-mile-long Snaefell Mountain Course to watch racers like Guy Martin test the depths of insanity as they seek to outpace their rivals on what basically amounts to closed surface streets. See what it looks like as a helicopter does its best to follow the action in the video pasted below.

                      Continue reading Watch Guy Martin outrun a helicopter at the Isle of Man

                      Watch Guy Martin outrun a helicopter at the Isle of Man

                          



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                        Video: Watch a Taurus and Charger cop car team up on new Shelby GT500

                        GT500 vs Cop Cars

                        The good old boys at Motor Trend got their hands on not only a 2013 Ford Shelby GT500, but a Ford Police Interceptor and a Dodge Charger Police Pursuit, as well. Like any good, upstanding group of hooligans, the crew set to playing cops and robbers in the shadow of Detroit’s vacant factories. With the big 662-horsepower, supercharged V8 Mustang left with no long spans of asphalt to stretch its legs, the two pursuit vehicles have a clear advantage. Watching the three go at each other is a decent way to blow five minutes of your work day.

                        Of course, this reminds me of a pearl of wisdom served up by my grandfather on the subject of evading the long arm of the law. He always said, “You can out run one, you might even out run two, but you’ll never outrun that radio.” Amen.

                        Check it out for yourself.

                        Continue reading Watch a Taurus and Charger cop car team up on new Shelby GT500

                        Watch a Taurus and Charger cop car team up on new Shelby GT500

                            



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                          Video: Jay Leno gets nostalgic driving Shelby GT500 and Boss 302

                          Carroll Shelby and Jay Leno

                          It looks like we weren’t the only ones to get our hands on the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500. Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief nameplate engineer, recently stopped by the Big Dog Garage to show off both the Mustang Boss 302 and the GT500. It’s no secret that Leno has always been a Mustang fan, and with the ridiculously powerful supercharged 5.8-liter pumping out more grunt than the comedian’s own Ford GT, the 2013 Shelby has earned itself another proponent. Leno takes the big horse out for a ride around town, including over some of the more punishing stretches of Los Angeles freeway before heading home.

                          Of course, it wouldn’t be an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage without a proper burnout, and the clip doesn’t disappoint. Looks like fun to us. Now the only question is whether Leno will add one of these machines to his own personal collection. Scroll down below to watch the video, which concludes with a little tribute to the recently deceased Carroll Shelby.

                          Continue reading Jay Leno gets nostalgic driving Shelby GT500 and Boss 302

                          Jay Leno gets nostalgic driving Shelby GT500 and Boss 302

                              



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                            Report: Remember the electric Rolls-Royce Phantom? Forget it

                            Rolls-Royce 102 EX Concept

                            Motor Trend reports Rolls-Royce has pulled the plug (literally) on its electric Phantom. Word has it none of the ultra-luxury automaker’s current clients have any interest in an electrified land yacht due to niggling factors like range anxiety and a perceived loss of premiumness. Apparently the world’s super wealthy only feel content when their transportation runs on the tears of crushed ecosystems. That’s a bit odd considering the 102 EX Concept bowed at the Geneva Motor Show with more torque than the buttery-smooth V12 in the standard Phantom. Still, all the torque in the world is no balm for a range of under 100 miles.

                            While it’s true Rolls-Royce officially quoted a total range of around 120 miles from the 1,452-pound battery pack in the machine’s nose, we’re more than a little skeptical of that figure. Then there’s the issue of keeping the electric Phantom charged. We can imagine the typical Phantom owner isn’t accustomed to waiting for anything, let alone twiddling their thumbs for eight hours while their cripplingly expensive sedan charges. With all that compromise, Rolls-Royce says it just doesn’t make sense to produce the 102 EX.

                            Remember the electric Rolls-Royce Phantom? Forget it

                                



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                              First Drive: 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 [w/video]

                              The Biggest Hammer Of Them All Is Sharper Than Ever

                              2013 Ford Shelby GT500

                              We would love to be able to look you square in the eye and say, “All you need to know about the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 can be summed up in one figure: 662.” After all, that’s the obscene amount of horsepower ripping at the rear tires courtesy of the supercharged 5.8-liter V8 under the hood. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. For the first time in its life, the GT500 has found itself lined up against a legitimate competitor in the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The muscle car/supercar crossbreed from General Motors is stitched to conquer not only the quarter mile, but nation’s road courses as well.

                              In order to answer that threat, the engineers at Ford have laid a hand on nearly every mechanical and electrical system on board the GT500. While that means the blown V8 churns out a diabolical 112 more horsepower than the previous model, it also means the top-tier Mustang now comes with tricks like user-selectable Bilstein dampers, adjustable electronic power steering, larger brakes and an array of optional cooling systems. In fact, if this car came wrapped in a slightly different shade of sheetmetal, we’d be talking about an all-new model instead of a refresh.

                              Continue reading 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 [w/video]

                              2013 Ford Shelby GT500 [w/video]

                                  



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                                Report: GM pulls advertising from next Super Bowl after Facebook exit

                                General Motors logoThe overhaul of General Motors‘ marketing battle plan isn’t finished. The Wall Street Journal reports that Joel Ewanick, GM’s global marketing chief, is giving the brand a hiatus from Super Bowl advertising, believing it’s just got too expensive and that variety is called for. Thirty-second spots for next year’s big game are projected to cost $3.8 million.

                                The development comes quickly after GM decided to stop buying ads on Facebook citing a lack of effectiveness (to which Ford responded), and comes during a year of realignment efforts throughout the company: a global review of accounts began earlier this year and some were quickly let go, a brand new agency was created for Chevrolet and set up shop in Detroit, and personnel are being realigned.

                                The General’s global ad spend in 2011 was $4.7 billion, and word is that GM doesn’t plan on spending less, it only wishes to spend better – Ewanick says the changes made so far will net the company $2 billion in savings over the next five years. It’s clear he’s looking to unlock more efficiencies; observers say that GM is also trying to improve its ad performance overseas and find better ways to reach demographics that have migrated in all directions and to all media.

                                GM pulls advertising from next Super Bowl after Facebook exit

                                    



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                                  2013 SRT Viper to require dealer certification; hardcore model planned? [w/video]

                                  2013 SRT Viper GTS - Live at 2012 New York Auto Show reveal

                                  On Thursday night’s Autoline After Hours, SRT boss Ralph Gilles sat down with show hosts John McElroy and Peter DeLorenzo, along with Autoblog and AOL Autos staffers to talk all things Viper. Among the interesting tidbits disclosed about the 640-horsepower supercar are plans for a new dealer certification process designed to encourage the sort of purchasing, service and ownership experience that buyers of six-digit cars have come to expect.

                                  According to Gilles:

                                  “It’s going to be a qualified dealer situation… The ones who do the dealer training in terms of the tech. I want a tech. I want a display car. I want all these things. There’s going to be a list. It’s not going to be impossible, it’s just that someone has to put in the extra effort and say ‘I’m an SRT dealer.

                                  Off the air, Gilles told Autoblog that Chrysler officials have already approached a number of dealers with a strong record of Viper and SRT sales to discuss how the certification process will work, gaining valuable feedback in the process. A document outlining the new certification program will go out to Dodge dealers next month.

                                  Chrysler has yet to announce official pricing and the Viper won’t go on sale until sometime in the fourth quarter of the year, but that hasn’t stopped a queue of customer deposits from piling up. According to Gilles, one particularly strong Viper dealer already has around 90 such deposits in-hand. Considering that Viper sales averaged about 1,600 units in past years, that’s a substantial figure.

                                  In other news, Chrysler officials have been making a big point of talking about the 2013 Viper’s newfound refinements, from reduced NVH to nicer interior materials and improved drivability thanks to the institution of technologies like stability control and traction control. Gilles says that great care has been taken to ensure the model’s core personality still shines through, but given that much of the Viper’s mystique is centered on its raw, leg-burning, hairy-knuckled persona, we couldn’t help but wonder aloud if the new model’s refinements have left room for a stripped-out hardcore version for Viper purists and racers. With raised eyebrows, arms gesturing wildly and stifling a smile, Gilles wryly said: “I love how you think. Next subject!”

                                  To watch the Autoline After Hours episode in its entirety, scroll down.

                                  Continue reading 2013 SRT Viper to require dealer certification; hardcore model planned? [w/video]

                                  2013 SRT Viper to require dealer certification; hardcore model planned? [w/video]

                                      



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                                    Report: MotoGP champ Casey Stoner stuns with retirement announcement [w/video]

                                    9f730 casey stoner retires Report: MotoGP champ Casey Stoner stuns with retirement announcement [w/video]

                                    Reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner is just 26 years old, but has been riding in the FIM series since 2001 when he joined the 125cc ranks. Five years later, the Australian was in the headlining formula series with Honda, the year after that, in 2007, he won the title astride a Ducati. Last year, Stoner won it again with Honda, and even battling an issue with his arm this year, he’s atop the standings and leading his rivals in practice sessions for this weekend’s French GP at Le Mans.

                                    But Stoner used yesterday’s GP press conference to announce his retirement at the end of this year. The Australian says the sport had gone in a direction that doesn’t interest him and that he simply isn’t enjoying it enough to continue the sacrifices necessary to be competitive at the top level. Speculation is that he wants to spend time with his wife and daughter, and perhaps that he plans to drive in the Australian V8 Supercar series.

                                    Fellow Aussie and MotoGP legen Mick Doohan said he doesn’t believe just yet that Stoner will actually ride off into farm life. Even so, the fact that the current World Champion is unhappy enough to publicly announce the end of his career is a shock to the MotoGP world. Have a look below for a video news report on Stoner’s announcement.

                                    Continue reading MotoGP champ Casey Stoner stuns with retirement announcement [w/video]

                                    MotoGP champ Casey Stoner stuns with retirement announcement [w/video]

                                        



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                                      Official: University of Michigan hopes to set new 3,300-mpg record in SAE Challenge [w/video]

                                      University of Michigan Supermileage Team

                                      The University of Michigan has had one of the preeminent solar car teams in the world for more than two decades, but a new group of students is looking to make its own mark in the world of green engineering. The school will be fielding its first entry in the annual SAE Supermileage competition this year.

                                      If you think a bunch of newbies would launch their effort somewhat low-key, you probably aren’t from Michigan or familiar with the Wolverine Way. Michigan has set its goal at nothing short of the North American record of bettering 3,169 miles per gallon with its single-cylinder, Briggs & Stratton lawnmower engine. The expectation is that the Michigan car will hit 3,300 mpg.

                                      The Supermileage competition has been held since 1980, requiring students to design and build extremely lightweight, single-seat vehicles. The competition itself involves circling the Eaton Corporation Proving Grounds test track. Last year, 27 teams competed, with Quebec’s Universite de Sherbrooke dominating the competition, recording 2,158 mpg, over 500 mpg more than its cross-province rival, Universite’ Laval.

                                      The 2012 Supermileage competition is scheduled for June 7-8 in Marshall, MI. Scroll down to read the press release and watch Michigan’s promotional video.

                                      Continue reading University of Michigan hopes to set new 3,300-mpg record in SAE Challenge [w/video]

                                      University of Michigan hopes to set new 3,300-mpg record in SAE Challenge [w/video]

                                          



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                                        Official: Seat bringing boatload of hot hatches to Lake Worthersee

                                        Seat Ibiza SC Trophy

                                        GTI Treffen may have started out as a gathering for owners of Volkswagen pocket rockets, but by now it’s blown into a full-on celebration of everything related to hot hatches and more. And though it remains a grassroots event by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, Volkswagen is wise not to ignore it. These days, it comes to the annual lakeside gathering in Austria with a handful of show cars in tow, and brings its sister-brands along for the ride, too.

                                        Audi has already announced the Q3 Red Track concept destined for Wörthersee, and Skoda is coming with a pair of Citigo concepts – one made up as a DJ booth and the other as a rally car. Now their Spanish cousins at Seat have revealed the veritable motorcade of show cars it’s bringing to the meet-up.

                                        Seat will be showcasing the Ibiza Cupra Concept it unveiled in Beijing, but that’s not all. It’ll also display a customized Ibiza FR and Leon Cupra R, a Mii city car (that’s the Spanish version of the Volkswagen Up!) imagined in sporty FR trim and, most enticing of all, a pair of racing models that are ready to hit the track.

                                        The Ibiza SC Trophy packs a 180-horsepower turbo four with DSG, locking differential, upgraded brakes, modified oil sump and competition-spec suspension, available to aspiring racers for 31,500 euros (before taxes, or about $40K). The Leon Super Copa, meanwhile, is closely mirrored on the car that Seat ran in the World Touring Car Championship and packs a 300-horse 2.0-liter turbo four with all the trimmings, available for 63,000 euros (about $80K). Both can be fielded in spec-racing series across Europe and arrive at Wörthersee in grey with fluorescent orange accents.

                                        Check out the full spread in the high-res image gallery above and the press release below.

                                        Continue reading Seat bringing boatload of hot hatches to Lake Worthersee

                                        Seat bringing boatload of hot hatches to Lake Worthersee

                                            



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