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Despite the unusually warm winter we’re having this year, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have Jessi and Patrick check ice racing off The List. So we sent them to New York to meet our good friend and ice-racing expert, Engadget.com editor-in-chief Tim Stevens, for an inside look at this very special and frigid sport. Thanks to the courtesy of the Adirondack Motor Enthusiast Club, they were able to get in and complete their objective before the warm temperatures returned the track back into a lake.

As Tim explains in the episode, the great thing about ice racing is the amount of time you actually spend racing. And with two classes that cover both stock and modified vehicles, anyone can race with whatever they’ve got in their garage. But as Jessi and Patrick learn, racing on ice is easier said than done.

Click here to watch The List #0032: Go Ice Racing.

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Continue reading The List #0032: Go Ice Racing

The List #0032: Go Ice Racing

The Enclave has been a boon for Buick since it arrived in 2007, with impressive sales complemented by profitable transaction prices. And even though the big Buick has gone without a refresh since its debut, the Enclave managed its best year ever in 2011, with a segment-leading 58,000 units sold.

Buick is hoping to stretch that streak with the Enclave’s first refresh for 2013. The tweaked three-row crossover will receive several updates, starting with a new front fascia that includes a black chrome waterfall grille and redesigned hood. The front also includes a new headlight design with standard Xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights. Out back, the 2013 Enclave features new LED taillights and a fresh design with integrated exhaust outlets.

Overall, the exterior redesign is evolutionary, but more dramatic changes await inside. The Enclave’s cabin was fast becoming outdated, but Buick upped its game with a fresh dash that includes more modern-looking materials and contemporary center stack. There are also tasteful wood treatments, a smattering of chrome accents and attractive stitching throughout. The cabin also features blue LED ambient lighting that accentuates the size of this voluminous crossover.

The 2013 Enclave will also inherit Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system, which offers a brilliant LCD and interactivity with smart phones via Bluetooth and USB connections. The Enclave also features tri-zone climate control and an industry-first front center airbag for additional crash protection.

Buick engineers hasn’t made any changes to the tried-and-true 3.6-liter V6 or the six-speed automatic, but the ride and handling setup has been given a bit of love. The front and rear dampers were revised for a smoother ride, with adjustments that also ensure big bumps don’t loosen your fillings. The ride has also received more “Quiet Tuning,” (read: insulation) which keeps even more unwanted road noise out of the re-imagined cabin than before.

The 2013 Buick Enclave will make its official debut at the New York Auto Show tomorrow. Scroll down to read over the press release from Buick and peruse official high-resolution images in the gallery above.

Continue reading 2013 Buick Enclave debuts with new look over same drivetrain

2013 Buick Enclave debuts with new look over same drivetrain

The LA Weekly reports there may have been more to the viral news story of a motorcycle police officer who ended up with his legs in the air in the back seat of a BMW convertible after a traffic collision. Following an 18-month investigation, prosecutors have officially dropped the three misdemeanor assault charges against driver Brian Hitchcock after the man’s lawyers discovered Hermosa, California officer Anthony Parente had a history of questionable accidents and hefty workers’ compensation claims.

Hitchcock was charged with assault, reckless driving and a third misdemeanor after Parente accused the man of speeding in the parking lane, swerving in front of the officer and then jamming on his brakes once Parente hit his lights and sirens. The bike then struck the BMW, catapulting Parente into the rear seats of the vehicle. The two had been next to each other at a stop light moments earlier.

But Hitchcock reportedly maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, saying he accelerated normally and never cut the motorcycle off. Eye witnesses corroborated his version of the story, and Hitchcock’s lawyers found Parente had filed for workmans’ compensation six times in recent years, three of which were in his four years with the Inglewood School Police Department where he served before joining the Hermosa Beach Police Department in 2005.

Furthermore, Hitchcock’s lawyers discovered Parente had allegedly pulled a similar stunt with a cop car after ramming one Peter Brown. Brown’s insurance paid Parente’s claim. Hithcock’s did not, with the man vowing to fight the charges tooth-and-nail in court. Parente, meanwhile, is currently on medical leave with workman’s compensation for soft tissue damage some 20 months after the accident.

Was that viral photo of a motorcycle cop crash-landing into convertible a scam?

Paul Jaray was an Austrian-born engineer who transferred his aerodynamic designs for zeppelins to the smaller canvas of the automobile. His work included vehicles like the Tatra T77 and T87, and cars inspired by his work and patents included the Chrysler Airflow and Ford Zephyr.

Most of his creations weren’t exactly pretty, however, as the rebodied Audi concept car above amply demonstrates. A new Audi ad shows how far the brand has come in the looks department by contrasting that streamlined-but-ugly-duckling coupe with the 2012 A5, with a little help from singer Danny Kaye and Hans Christian Andersen. We like the spot quite a bit, but wonder if Audi wouldn’t have been better served by having it pitch the aerodynamic beauty of the A7 instead. Follow the jump to check it out.

Continue reading Audi channels its “Ugly Duckling” past to sell 2012 A5

Audi channels its “Ugly Duckling” past to sell 2012 A5

A Daimler spokesman has put an end to rumors that his employer is trying to outbid Audi for an interest in motorcycle-builder Ducati.

Despite Daimler’s previous collaboration with the two-wheel wizards, it looks like Audi’s reported bid of $1.16 billion could be the only one. An Italian newspaper indicates the proposal from Audi is not a bid for the entire company, a strategy that Bloomberg suggests is more agreeable to Ducati.

We’ve also heard rumors of India’s Mahindra also being interested in the high-performance motorcycle marque, but there’s no mention of it in this report.

Daimler refutes interest in Ducati

Toyota has just wrapped up another impressive Antarctic expedition, this time traversing over 43,500 miles in the span of four months. In the process, the company says it snagged a new world record with three specially-prepared Hilux pickup trucks with each covering 5,903 miles of the frozen continent. Iceland-based Arctic Trucks handled converting the pickups for their stint in the cold, and while the alterations included creating at least two 6×6 versions, the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engines had to be reworked to consume Jet A-1 fuel. In the low temperatures of the Antarctic, standard diesel would simply turn to jelly.

The trucks were also outfitted with large tires running just 2-3 psi of air pressure, resulting in a contact patch around 17 times larger than a standard tire. Toyota reports the trucks ran incredibly well throughout the expedition and required no major repairs.

Starting last November, Toyota sent a team of 10 Hilux trucks to the far south to establish fuel depots, a weather station and to support scientific expeditions along the way. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Toyota conquers Antarctic in jet-fueled Hilux pickups

Toyota conquers Antarctic in jet-fueled Hilux pickups

Towing a load as massive as a semi and its loaded trailer is a dangerous undertaking no matter the circumstances. We don’t have any first-hand experience in the matter, but we’d wager that the danger level goes off the charts when that load is being towed through the winding roads of a snowy mountain overpass.

Need proof? Check out the video after the break, wherein a tow truck driver barely escapes death as his rig switches roles from the vehicle doing the towing to being towed itself… toward a guardrail and a massive cliff ledge that leads to an icy river below.

Like we said: dangerous. According to reports, the driver of the tow truck was taken to a hospital in Norway where he was listed in stable condition with broken bones. Click past the break to watch the dramatic video.

Continue reading How not to tow a big rig on a snowy mountain

How not to tow a big rig on a snowy mountain

The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR currently holds the unofficial production car record for a Nürburgring lap with a time of 7:12.13. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S is the first four-door to show up on the list of lap times with a 7:52.00. The Audi RS6 Avant is the quickest wagon with a time of 8:09.00, and the first thing resembling a sport utility vehicle is the BMW X6 M at 8:24.00. That right there would be the target for a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 were someone to bring one to Germany for a ‘Ring run. Last September, somebody did.

Piloted by the eminently qualified Sabine Schmitz, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 did the deed in 8:49.00. Ouch. That’s 25 seconds behind the X6 M and slower than even the front-wheel-drive Chevrolet HHR SS (8:43.52). Still, you can’t be taken seriously as a performance machine these days until you pay tribute at the Green Hell. And watching something attempt a high-speed ‘Ring run that was originally designed to rock crawl is always fun. Scroll down to watch the official lap vid from SRT.

Continue reading And the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8’s ‘Ring time is…

And the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8’s ‘Ring time is…

Ford must be expecting the 2013 Fusion to be a hit when it arrives in showrooms this fall. As a way to make sure that demand won’t outstrip production, Ford is investing $1.3 billion in its Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly facility. Hermosillo currently employs over 3,300 workers, and as part of its investment, Ford will be adding 1,000 new jobs in order to handle production of the 2013 Fusion and its Lincoln MKZ twin.

The Fusion, with its wide range of powertrains and exceptional fuel economy, has mainstream sedan-watchers eager for seat time, and the Lincoln MKZ will be a direct beneficiary of the work done on the Fusion. Ford isn’t saying what its production capacity will be rising to after the upgrades are completed, but the company clearly wants to have enough available for every interested buyer. Scroll down for the official press release.

Continue reading Ford investing $1.3B in Mexican plant that builds Fusion, MKZ

Ford investing $1.3B in Mexican plant that builds Fusion, MKZ

We’ve seen some dumb ideas before, but this one may take the cake. The post-jump video shows what happens when a dragster that should stick to the strip goes on a track that requires a mild left turn. Actually, this “track” looks more like the cart path at the local golf course, except most owners wouldn’t put the path this close to a ditch.

Of course the dragster ends up in said ditch, and we’re thinking the driver is mighty lucky that his car rolled back into the upright position, or he could have been in a heap of trouble. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself, if only to enjoy the second vantage point of the crash, which shows just how useless a steering wheel can be in a drag car.

Continue reading This is why drag racers should stay on dragstrips

This is why drag racers should stay on dragstrips

This week, the racing yacht VOR70 Maserati finished its run from Miami to New York City. Intended as a record attempt, skipper Giovanni Soldini elected not to have the final time of the transit ratified because he didn’t feel it was reflective of the real speed Maserati is capable of. (The boat had to deal with several weather systems on its way up from Florida, which slowed it. Another attempt at a better time will be made in the future.)

With the boat spending a few days at Manhattan’s North Cove marina, just outside the World Financial Center, Maserati invited us down to take a look in person. Maserati, a 70-foot, carbon-fiber monohull, contested the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race under a different moniker. It was subsequently overhauled, had its weight distribution adjusted, and made 10 percent lighter, after which it was reintroduced in its current form, with Maserati as its primary sponsor.

It’s capable of traveling at an incredible 40 knots under sail (hence the 46 mph reference in the headline), and what’s striking about Maserati in person is that in addition to the hull itself, almost everything else on board is made of carbon fiber: the wheels at the helm, the mast, the grinders and winches, and so on. I pointed at one of the big winches on deck and asked watch leader Brad Van Liew, “How much is that?”

“Around $80,000,” he answered. The whole boat apparently cost around $8,000,000. It’s the state of the art, and if you’re in Manhattan, you might still be able to check it out in person. It’s due to head out on another speed record attempt (destination: Cape Lizard, UK) in the coming days.

If you want to follow the ongoing exploits of VOR70 Maserati, bookmark Maserati.Soldini.it for news, blogs, video, the crew’s Twitter feeds, and more.

An $8 million “Maserati” that goes 46 mph

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

Much like Mini at its launch, Fiat remains largely a one-model make (here in the United States, that is). While that may not change anytime soon in the U.S., there are rumblings that the model lineup in Canada could expand.

Buoyed by sales proportionately larger above the 49th Parallel than below it, Fiat is apparently plans to add the new Panda (pictured above) and the aging Punto to the Canadian market. Coupled with the expected arrival of the 500L in Fiat “studios” both in Canada and the United States, suddenly the availability of affordable Italian cars looks on the up in the country where Sergio Marchionne was schooled.

Fiat to expand Canadian lineup with Panda and Punto?

We pity the fool who don’t think this is cool. Put aside the celebrity provenance of this “authentic replica,” allegedly “certified” by George Barris, for now and just take a look at the thing. It appears to be a spot-on knock-off of B.A. Baracus’ bad attitude van, the perfect midlife-crisis toy for anyone who grew up watching The A-Team. Imagine how cool it would be to drop the kids off at school in this?

Okay, the traffic snarl during drop-off time won’t clear out any faster, but when it comes to “manly vans,” you can’t top this custom 1983 Chevrolet G10. Wait, what’s that you say? B.A. drove a GMC? Of course he did. But this is a replica, and one that seems to have been built from a nearly identical Chevy donor.

The seller claims the van was built for none other than Mike Myers, he of Wayne’s World and Austin Powers fame. We’d like to see some documentation of this celebrity provenance, though it’s not the sort of thing that we’d see too much value in, regardless. We’re also curious about the last line of the sale ad: “Movie coming out in June!” It was back in June 2010 that the A-Team feature film debuted, which makes us think the seller might be willing to deal on his $20,000 price.

Find of the Day: “Authentic” A-Team van replica commissioned by Mike Myers

When a McLaren hits the race track, the competition had better watch out. The British outfit is, after all, one of the most successful in Formula One, having won 176 grands prix, a dozen drivers’ championships and eight constructors’ titles. But McLaren’s prowess extends beyond F1. The Woking firm was a force to be reckoned with in Can-Am in the late 60s, and the last time it built an endurance racing sportscar – the famed F1 GTR back in 1995 – it trounced even the advanced prototype racers to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Now, McLaren is back in the sportscar racing game with the new MP4-12C GT3. Based on the MP4-12C road car, the GT3 racing version took only a year to develop, and McLaren GT has delivered 25 examples of its racing car to independent racing teams around the world. Included in the purchase price are test sessions organized by McLaren and access to the team’s advanced driving simulator and deep expertise in all things motorsport.

The cars are set to compete in the Blancpain Endurance Series (where the MP4-12C also serves as safety car), the VLN series at the Nürburgring, German’y ADAC GT Masters, the International GT Open and the FIA GT1 World Championship. The first of these are set to take place in Germany this weekend at the Nordschleife and Oschersleben, where the MP4-12C will be making its parallel race debuts. Can’t wait that long? We’ve got two high-quality video clips of the car undergoing testing for your viewing pleasure (together with the full press release) after the jump and a fresh crop of high-resolution images added to the gallery above.

Continue reading McLaren delivers 25 MP4-12C GT3s to customer racing teams for 2012 racing season [w/videos]

McLaren delivers 25 MP4-12C GT3s to customer racing teams for 2012 racing season [w/videos]

What started as only a cute little hatchback, the Fiat 500 will now be growing into a full range of models. The new cabriolet and Abarth versions have already launched here in the United States, and we just got our first glimpse at the larger 500L (pictured above) during the Geneva Motor Show. But now, Automotive News reports that an even larger 500 crossover, dubbed 500X, will be heading into production next year.

Like the 500L, the 500X will use a widened version of Fiat’s small car architecture that currently underpins the Punto in other markets. The new crossover will be built at the company’s Mirafiori, Turin plant, and will replace the current Sedici (a rebadged version of the Suzuki SX4 crossover).

As of this writing, it’s unclear whether or not the 500X will be offered in the United States. But that doesn’t mean we’ll miss out on some small CUV goodness. Automotive News also reports that the 500X will be built alongside a new Jeep crossover, currently codenamed B-CUV, which is set to launch in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2014. It will be smaller than both the current Patriot and Compass, and reportedly be offered with a Trail Rated designation here in the States.

Fiat 500X crossover will debut next year

By now you’ve probably heard about “Batman” getting pulled over by the cops in his Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. The story has been all over the Internet this week, thanks to the in-car video from the local Maryland police department that stopped the caped crusader. But now we’ve got the real scoop on this would-be Bruce Wayne, thanks to the Washington Post.

His name is Lenny B. Robinson, and being Batman is only a part-time gig for the wealthy philanthropist. Robinson visits sick children in hospitals around the Baltimore area, decked out in a $5,000 neoprene-and-leather Batman suit, according to the report. He hands out Batman toys, signs autographs and gives the kids some much-needed fun, while boosting the morale of the parents, as well.

The Lamborghini is just part of the fun, though Robinson told the Post that he’s having a “real” Batmobile built. (Which of the various movie cars he’s having replicated was not specified.) While this episode marked Robinson’s first time in a national spotlight, it wasn’t his first encounter with the police while in costume. Patch reported on a distress call made by “Batman” back in November 2011, when Robinson’s Gallardo had a flat.

Scroll down to see video of the police stopping Batman.

Continue reading The real story behind the speeding Batman

The real story behind the speeding Batman

Today’s automobiles are more connected than ever, and the National Transportation Safety Board doesn’t seem to approve. The Detroit News reports that NTSB Chair Deborah Hersman is standing behind a recommendation to ban drivers from making hands-free phone calls that aren’t of the emergency variety.

Hersman is battling automakers head-on when it comes to distracting technologies, and there are plenty of those technologies in today’s vehicles. That includes hands-free calling made via Bluetooth, which has long been viewed as a safer alternative to grabbing a phone and calling someone the old-fashioned way. The proposed ban on hands-free calling reportedly doesn’t include OnStar, which integrates calling directly through the vehicle. Hersman reportedly went as far as to suggest that automakers make their number one priority “safety, not sales.”

While we think distracted driving is worth fighting, it’s difficult to see where banning hands-free calling is the answer. And we’re not alone. Even National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Ray LaHood feels the NTSB recommendation goes too far. If automakers are forced to remove the tech from new vehicles, we’re thinking many drivers will simply revert back to hand-held calling.

The NTSB thinks that hand-held and hands-free are equally dangerous, but it’s difficult to argue that case, especially if integrated technology like OnStar is permitted. Once a phone is paired, what’s the difference between pressing the hands-free button and pressing the OnStar button? We’d argue that having kids in the back seat is far more distracting than hands-free calling, and we don’t see the NTSB calling for a ‘no kids in the car’ policy any time soon.

NTSB still pushing to ban hands-free phones in cars

We’ve been showing you spy photos of a prototype 2013 Lincoln MKZ sporting a very large retractable roof for months now, and today, the automaker has pulled back the curtain on this very unique feature.

While giant sunroofs are nothing new, the retractable panoramic roof that will be available for the 2013 Lincoln MKZ covers 15.2 square feet, which Lincoln says makes it one of the largest retractable glass roof panels in a production sedan. We can’t think of any larger than that, though manufacturers usually don’t supply the square footage of their sunroofs. Bonus points, then, for whoever can name a larger one in the comments.

Lincoln says it takes two motors just ten seconds to either open or close the roof, which rides along parallel rails located on the outer edges of the roof and along each side of the rear window. When fully retracted, Lincoln says the opening is about two-feet deep and two and a half feet wide.

That’s all we know until the production 2013 Lincoln MKZ debuts next week at the New York Auto Show, but we’re fairly certain this special roof will be optional equipment and likely pricey. We’d also be surprised if the automaker’s marketing team didn’t give it a more catchy name like “PanoScreen” or “MyLincoln See.”

Scroll down to see video of the MKZ’s retractable panoramic roof in action.

Continue reading 2013 Lincoln MKZ reveals its extra large panoramic roof

2013 Lincoln MKZ reveals its extra large panoramic roof