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From the ‘We Almost Missed It” file comes word Kansas man has set about testing his state’s new seatbelt law. Kansas has just joined the handful of other states that have moved not wearing a seatbelt while driving up to a primary offense, meaning that law enforcement officers can pull over and cite offenders simply for failing to buckle up. According to KWCH CBS 12, Paul Weigand says that he wants to challenge the law because he believes wearing his seatbelt should be up to him. Since the law says that an individual simply has to wear a seatbelt, Weigand has apparently taken to donning a seatbelt that he made himself around his waist at all times. The law apparently makes no mention of the seatbelt needing to be factory equipment nor that the belt needs to actually be fastened to the vehicle.

Not surprisingly, Weigand was cited under the new law and decided to fight the citation. A district judge decided earlier this month that the seatbelt crusader can take his case to court. According to the report, Weigand knows that he’s poking fun at the law, but believes that seatbelt use should be up to individuals. He claims to have a phobia of being trapped in a crashed vehicle. Click on the KWCH link below to watch a video and see the homemade safety belt for yourself.

[Source: KWCH CBS 12 via USA Today]

Kansas man goes to court over homemade seatbelt

Regardless of where you stand on the “drifting is/isn’t a form of motorsports” debate, it’s fun to watch a car being piloted on full opposite lock. But is it possible on a motorcycle? Icon Motorsports rider Nick Brocha answers with a fat sideways-smoking yes.

Icon may be know for providing gear for maniacs fans of two-wheeled transportation, but they also sponsor a team of skilled bikers. Brocha is one of those riders and he pits his modded Kawasaki ZX10 against Jim Guthrie and his Corvette-powered Mazda RX-7 drift machine. Add in some cameras and a prime location and we have ourselves an entertaining video, which you can watch after the jump.

[Source: Icon Motorsports via Hell for Leather]

Continue reading Video: Drift battle pits Mazda RX7 against Kawasaki ZX10

Video: Drift battle pits Mazda RX7 against Kawasaki ZX10

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium plays host to a variety of racing events, ranging from from Formula One and touring car to weekend track days. When out on the course in a production car, it might feel like you are conquering the Eau Rouge better than any human on the planet. This video mashup is here to remind that you’re not.

This isn’t ground-breaking information, but it is interesting to see just how much faster an F1 car is around a series of high-speed turns. Someone over in the VWVortex’s Car Lounge decided to overlay two videos of the same corner, and while they don’t line up perfectly, you get the point. Check it out after the jump.

[Source: VWVortex]

Continue reading Videos: Your Porsche 911 GT3 isn’t that fast…

Videos: Your Porsche 911 GT3 isn’t that fast…

Tiff Needell in Top Gear out-takes – Click above to watch the video after the jump

What a good sport, that Tiff Needell. The affable Brit was once a Top Gear co-host, but these days he’s headlining rival program Fifth Gear. But when his old friends Clarkson and company needed a replacement to fill in for The Stig, Needell heeded the call.

We reported on Tiff’s temp placement last month, and now we have video proof courtesy of the BBC. Needell came back to Top Gear to coach the program’s latest guest star – Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting director Danny Boyle – how to coax the most out of the program’s reasonably-priced Kia Cee’d. Follow the jump to see Boyle behind the wheel, and Needell’s reactions from the sidelines.

[Source: Transmission]

Continue reading Video: Proof positive of Tiff Needell standing in for The Stig on Top Gear

Video: Proof positive of Tiff Needell standing in for The Stig on Top Gear

The Kia KV7 Concept isn’t only a concept. At the Detroit Auto Show this week, Michael Sprague, Kia’s vice president of marketing, told Autoblog “We tend to use auto shows to presage what will be coming,” and referenced the Kia Kue Concept from 2007 revealing the brand’s design intent as precursor to the Sportage, then the Kia Koup Concept in 2008 and Soul Concepts in 2009 leading to their respective production versions.

The question is what we might see on the retail floor; certainly not the lounge-like seating, the full-length LED dash, or the gill-like LED headlights. Sprague tells AB, “With the KV7 what we see coming eventually is materials on the vehicle that we’d like to see incorporated. Or getting a Kia that’s Wi-Fi enabled, it’s just a question of how soon.” Could this hint at a successor to Kia’s aging Sedona/Carnival minivan?

Either way, it’s likely that the brand’s hilarious Hamstars won’t be selling whatever the KV7 turns into. As to how much longer the furry rappers can keep it moving in the Soul’s ad campaign, Sprague admits “We might have another one in us.” Otherwise, the marketing push is that “we’re going to market more sporty as Hyundai goes more premium,” and the brand’s creative like the Sweet Dreams ad stresses “making rational things fun.”

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Kia says KV7 Concept presages some sort of production model; Hamstars to return?

Few forms of motorsport offer up a more pure driving experience than going tire to tire in a shifter kart. Likewise, of the many storied and excellent tracks of the world, Laguna Seca holds a special place in the the hearts and minds of racers of all stripes. Combine the two for the first time and you’ve got a recipe for unbridled awesome. Laguna Seca had been off limits to 125cc shifters for some time due to pesky noise regulations, but with a new air box and a larger exhaust silencer, the pint-sized racers have only just managed to squeeze under the 92 dB rule.

To celebrate the occasion, one racer was kind enough to strap a camera to his machine before taking to the course. As a result, we can all tag along for the ride. If you’re short on time and just want to see the shifters dance down the infamous Corkscrew, jump ahead to about 1:30 in. Hit the jump to see the full flick for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Jason!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: 125cc shifter karts lap Laguna Seca

Video: 125cc shifter karts lap Laguna Seca

The World Rally Championship is downsizing. Not in the number of teams participating – that’s actually expected to increase – but in the size of its cars. While Formula One is set to switch to turbo fours, the WRC is switching to smaller cars, similar to the Super 2000 formula. And so, in-line with the new regulations, Ford is switching from a Focus-based rally challenger to the new Fiesta.

The WRC-spec Fiesta RS was revealed in tentative, showgoing livery back in Paris, but the team has now unveiled the car in the full competition livery in which it will take on the world’s most challenging rally stages. Similar to the livery featured on the outgoing Focus, the new Fiesta RS WRC is dominated by the logos of title sponsor Abu Dhabi – which takes over from BP – and secondary sponsor Castrol’s Edge range of motor oils.

Full specifications have still yet to be released, so we’ll have to wait until early February before the new Fiesta RS WRC hits the season-starting Rally Sweden from Feb 10-13. Details in the press release after the jump with high-resolution images of the liveried rally machine in the gallery below.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford releases new Fiesta RS WRC in full livery ahead of season debut

Ford releases new Fiesta RS WRC in full livery ahead of season debut

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said this week at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show that the German automaker will decide by year-end whether or not to shutter its super-luxury Maybach division.

The line of cars, meant to compete against the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce, has seen its business wither during the economic downturn. “The success or failure of Maybach hardly shows up on our results, but it is something I want to have a decision on by year-end. And everything is on the table,” said Zetsche. Killing it off? “Everything is on the table,” Zetsche repeated.

The Financial Times reported last month that Daimler was in talks with Aston Martin about taking over the development of future Maybachs. Zetsche said that partnerships like that are also on the table to see if there is a viable business model for the business.

Maybachs, which start at $366,000 have been popular with some pro athletes and hip hop moguls. Jay-Z and Russell Simmons are among owners. Jay Leno owns one as well. Golfing great Nick Faldo has been among the brand pitchmen.

The current lineup of Maybachs includes the Maybach 57 and 57S, Maybach 62 and 62S, and the Landaulet. Maybach first hit the boulevards in 1919, but was discontinued when World War Two broke out. Daimler-Benz bought what was left of the company in 1960.

The current-day Maybach made its debut at the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show at the height of the dot-com economy, and went on sale globally shortly thereafter. Last year, Maybach sold 63 cars in the U.S.

Daimler CEO: Maybach on the bubble in 2012

Now here’s a juicy rumor we can get excited about: According to the crew over at Automobile, Ford may be considering another shot at the legendary Ford GT. The news comes courtesy of Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s head of global product development. After being questioned about the possibility of a GT successor, Kuzak chose his words very carefully by admitting that there are certain things in the four-year product plan that the company isn’t comfortable with discussing. While that’s not an out-and-out confirmation that the Blue Oval wants to see another mid-engine, high-horsepower machine in its stable, the overly diplomatic response does indicate that the thought may have crossed more than a few minds in Dearborn.

Is this a thin thread to cling to? Absolutely, but the talking heads of the industry typically site pesky issues like a vehicle’s high expense and looming CAFE standards as perfect reasons against building a new halo car. Considering that none of that rhetoric showed up this time around and the fact that we’ve heard rumors about a hybrid GT successor, it wouldn’t seem to be too much of a stretch to think that we just might see a new version of the car in a few short years. Consider our fingers crossed.

[Source: Automobile]

Report: Ford’s Kuzak hints that GT successor may be in the cards

Remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books? The series, which sold over 250 million copies between 1979 and 1998, allowed you to choose your path through the story, but not every path led to a happy ending. The rally team from Subaru Canada must have read a few of these books yet decided to make any and all choices lead down the same awesome path, just from a slightly different viewpoint.

Strapping a gaggle of HD cameras onto a 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car, the team was able to load all the footage up to YouTube, where the viewer can select the viewing angle of his or her choice, be it the dash cam, bumper cam, clutch cam or side cam.

The driver is Pat Richard, the navigator is Alan Ockwell, and the quartet of camera angles is the Choose Your Own Adventure book we wish we could have read as a kid. Slide over the crest to view the clips.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Choose Your Own Cam with 2011 Subaru WRX STI rally car

Video: Choose Your Own Cam with 2011 Subaru WRX STI rally car

2011 Detroit Auto Show: Editors’ Choice for Top Five Vehicles

The end of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show means it’s time for us to look back at our choices for the Top Five Vehicles that debuted.

Video: Australian flood sweeps away parking lot of cars

Australia is undergoing one of the worst natural disasters in its history. Watch and weep as a lot full of cars succumb to a flash flood.

Autoblog Podcast #212: Detroit Auto Show recap

Here’s the remedy to our post-Detroit Show hangover, featuring Chris Shunk, Dan Roth and Chris Paukert.

Also of interest:

• Video: 2012 Hyundai Veloster gets the B-roll treatment
• Report: GM CEO Akerson says Chevy Volt tech coming to minivan
• Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 Scaglietti replacement caught out on the prowl
• Rumormill: Next Bugatti Veyron to hit 270 mph
• Polk: Ford owners are most loyal buyers this year

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 1.12.11

Toyota wants to change our view of the Prius. It’s no longer a singular car but now an entire family of vehicles. The standard Prius that we all know and love will soon be joined by the Prius V, Prius C and plug-in Prius. Clearly, Toyota isn’t just building new cars, it’s attempting to build a new word… and it needs your help.

What is the plural of Prius? That’s a question that has been asked ever since the little hybrid hatchback hit the market, and the truth is that even Toyota doesn’t exactly know… but they do have some suggestions. It might be Prii, Priuses, Prium, Prien or just Prius. You can head over to the Prius web site and vote for your favorite. Voting ends on February 20th, and as of this posting, the early leader is Prii. However, our own Chris Paukert suggested that a group of Prii should be referred to as a smug, and the rest of us tend to agree.

Hop the jump to check out a video explaining Toyota’s conundrum… but don’t blame us when the song gets stuck in your head.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Toyota asks, what is the plural of Prius?

Video: Toyota asks, what is the plural of Prius?

Saab and Hirsch have made it official: The Swiss producer of go-fast parts will now offer a full line of upgrades for Saab vehicles in North America. Beginning in the spring of 2011, customers will be available to order Hirsch Performance products at select Saab dealers around the country.

A variety of parts will be offered for 2007-2011 Saab 9-3s and 2010-2011 9-5s, including engine mapping upgrades, spoilers, aero ground effects, suspension tuning, exhaust upgrades and even interior upfits like a carbon instrument panel. The Hirsch parts will be installed at dealerships and will not hinder the vehicle’s warranty. Pricing and availability will be announced in the coming months. Follow the jump for Saab’s official release.

[Source: Saab Image: Hirsch-Perfomance]

Continue reading Saab officially teams up with Hirsch Performance for high-performance parts

Saab officially teams up with Hirsch Performance for high-performance parts

Much like its sister company Hyundai, Kia is in the midst of a major product overhaul, spearheaded by the launches of the Soul, Forte, Sorento, Sportage and Optima all within the past few years. The next major up-do within the Kia line is the B-segment Rio, and Kia has just released these sketches of the new subcompact that will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Kia’s new design language, brought forth by chief design officer Peter Schreyer, is very much present in this new Rio. Both the headlamp and front fascia design are reminiscent of what we see in the Sportage and Optima, and the rear taillights mimic the shape of what’s found on the Forte. Combine that with a swept-back profile and a strong character line stemming from the front wheel and the end result is something that should wind up being quite handsome in production form.

We’ll have the full details in just under two months, but in the meantime, foliow the jump for Kia’s press blast.

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Kia renders next-gen Rio, confirms Geneva debut

Kia renders next-gen Rio, confirms Geneva debut

B-roll footage isn’t necessarily the most exciting visual or aural experience, but it allows us to see new production models strutting their stuff out on the road. Hyundai is wasting no time in getting the B-roll footage out of the recently debuted 2012 Veloster, and here we see a pair of brightly-colored three-door coupes mixing it up on a desert test track.

As it typical with B-roll footage, there’s no music and the only sound comes from what the microphones picked up. Our suggestion? Go to YoutubeDoubler.com and spice it up yourself, though you know you’re just going to add music from the movie Inception. Click past the jump to see the 2012 Hyundai Veloster in action.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: 2012 Hyundai Veloster gets the B-roll treatment

Video: 2012 Hyundai Veloster gets the B-roll treatment

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Don’t be fooled by that big ol’ bulge out back – the successor to the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is destined to be a swoopy, sexy coupe when it launches sometime next year. Our spies indicate that the hunchback shape is all for show and that it’s part of an elaborate camouflage suit designed to completely mask the sloping rear roofline. Your dreams of a Ferrari-badged shooting brake have indeed been dashed. Still, the new 612 coupe will surely be an eye-catcher, what with its 458 Italia-inspired front fascia, long, raked hood and short rear deck.

The 612 replacement will likely use an advanced all-wheel-drive system and power will come from a 6.3-liter V12 churning out roughly 670 horsepower, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The rumors surrounding this combination suggest a 3.7-second 0-60 time and a top speed somewhere around 210 miles per hour. We’re planning to see the finished 612 at the Geneva Motor Show this March, so stay tuned for the full hotness.

[Source: Brenda Priddy & Company]

Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 Scaglietti replacement caught out on the prowl

2011 Chevrolet Volt charging port – Click above for high-res image gallery

The more vehicles General Motors is able to build using the battery technology pioneered in its 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the better chance the automaker has of earning a return on its significant investment into the electrically driven automobile. It’s the classic economies of scale issue… but what is the next logical vehicle application?

While many of the early prognostications pointed to a Voltec-powered Cadillac, a report from AutoWeek says GM CEO Dan Akerson is suggesting a minivan may come first. There’s also some talk that an unknown hatchback is in the works (yes, the Volt is indeed a hatchback that’s shaped to look more like a sedan, but whatever).

Also notable are Akerson’s expectations that at least 10-percent of all GM production will be hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles within 10 to 15 years. Akerson wants each of the automaker’s four core divisions – Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet (check) and GMC – to have a vehicle using Volt technology, though no timeframe for that expansion has been given.

In other Volt news, Akerson told reporters at the 2011 Automotive News World Congress that the General is on track to sell 25,000 Chevrolet Volts for the 2011 model year, which is a sizeable increase from the 10,000-20,000 units expected as production began.

Moving past the ever-present greenery, Akerson and GM North American President Mark Reuss both stated that the company is putting some of its next-generation truck programs on the fast-track. We’d imagine that means we’ll see new fullsize pickups from Chevy and GMC sooner rather than later.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Paukert / AOL
[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: GM CEO Akerson says Chevy Volt tech coming to minivan

Bugatti is reportedly beginning work on the next generation Veyron, and rumor has it that they’re looking to hit Ludicrous Speed. Okay, maybe it won’t go quite that fast, but with a target of 270 miles per hour, it figures to be pretty darn close.

According to AutoExpress, despite losing money on each one it builds, Volkswagen Group has no plans to watch its mighty hypercar fade away, and the next version will stick to the business of shattering perceptions of what a production car can do. Reportedly, the 8.0-liter W16 engine and its quad-turbo setup will return in a similar form as is employed in the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. However, the new car will head to the scales and produce a number far below what we see in current Veyron models. It will achieve this through more extensive use of lightweight alloys and carbon-composite materials.

If AE is reading its tea leaves correctly, the new warp-speed Bugatti Veyron to make an appearance sometime in 2013.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Rumormill: Next Bugatti Veyron to hit 270 mph

Australia is under assault by rain and undergoing one of its worst natural disasters in its history. Flood waters in the state of Queensland have ripped through numerous cities. Over 30 lives have been lost and many others are still missing. Homes are ruined and many more are at risk as the surge heads into Brisbane; Australia’s third largest city. Damage estimates are already being pegged as high as $13 billion. One person was recently able to capture just how quickly a stream of water can turn into a raging river.

Filming from the balcony of their Toowoomba office, the video recorder watched as water levels grew higher until they were high enough to begin picking up parked cars (including a hapless Subaru WRX STI) and carrying them away. Hop the jump to see the clip, which includes a bold SUV driver at around 1:10 that refuses to lose his 4×4 to the rising waters (note how he appears to take the time to lock the front hubs on his Toyota). Also, If you feel like helping out, Australia could certainly use it right now.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Australian flood sweeps away parking lot of cars

Video: Australian flood sweeps away parking lot of cars

Scion came out swinging when it launched in 2003 and sales hit a peak of 173,024 units in 2006. Since that time, however, things have been spiraling downward. In 2010, Scion sold just 45,678 vehicles. That represents a 21 percent decline compared to 2009 sales. Despite this lull, Toyota President Akio Toyoda says the youth-oriented brand isn’t going anywhere.

According to Automotive News, Scion represents a way for Toyota to reach a young demographic, and it doesn’t plan to lose that gateway anytime soon. One of the problems has been that folks under 30 have been hit by the economic recession just like everyone else. Another is that recent models have failed to capture the imagination – and sales – that models like the original box-like xB did. Analysts are predicting a sales rise in 2011 but will that rise include Scion’s demographic? Toyota recently redesigned the brand’s most-popular model, tC, trying to make sure it does.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Toyoda: Scion will soldier on