Every once in a while you’ll find an accidental lie on the Internet…
A group of German organizations to every new car sold in that country that grades it based on CO2 usage. The energy-efficiency categories run from A+ to G, with the greenest cars at the top and the lowest cars falling into the deep red of the seventh letter of the alphabet. Well, G was the lowest category unless for every carmaker but VW, whose German website classified its cars on charts that went down to H.
The maker is accused of intentionally creating a lower category so that its cars branded with a G wouldn’t appear to be judged the least efficient. The expanded category was only online, the dealer charts were correct. VW reps said the online list was a “regrettable mistake,” totally unintentional, adding that “we apologize to our customers. But we reject the allegation of a conscious consumer deception.” The ‘oversight’ is being corrected.
It’s easy to forget the motivation behind Ken Block’s ridiculous gymkhana video series. At the heart of the tire smoking action, Block is simply paying the piper. All of those drool-inducing slow motion shots of the stunt driver’s old and new feature a smattering of sponsor stickers beating their way into our psyches. Block has even gone so far as to call one of his gymkhana flicks an infomercial.
French Supermoto National Championship winner Sylvain Bidart has put his own spin on giving sponsors a shout out with a new video of his own. Bidart and the Luc1 team take a tour of their major sponsors, from and Michelin to Ixon and Intermarche, and the video includes plenty of awesome riding inside the factories themselves. The result is nine minutes of awesome riding cleverly disguised as an advertisement. Or maybe that’s the other way around. Either way, to check it out for yourself. It’s an advertisement we’ll be watching over and over again.
One little Chinese girl’s protest against going to kindergarten very nearly ended in tragedy. While walking with her mother, the girl decided to sit down in the street and pout about being drug into the educational system. Seconds later, a crossover drove over the child at low speed and stopped.
Fortunately, a crowd of 16 bystanders jumped to action and managed to lift the vehicle far enough off of the child for her mother to pull her to safety. The heroics prevented any serious injury, and the girl headed off to school after a brief check up at a local hospital.
It’s unclear whether the inattentive driver responsible for parking on top of the child will be charged in the incident. Click to watch the video for yourself.
is recalling a small number of models built between April 8 and May 26, 2011. The problem? According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the seam of the side curtain airbag may not have been stitched properly, and thus, may not deploy properly in the event of a crash. A total of 317 A6 models are affected by this recall.
To fix this, NHTSA reports that Audi dealers will replace the head curtain airbags free of charge. Owners are currently in the process of being notified and the official safety recall will begin in January. for the full details in NHTSA’s release.
Corroborating long-held suspicions and spy shots, General Motors has confirmed that its surging marque will shortly receive a second crossover. Dubbed “Encore” (apparently GM is ), the five-seat CUV will be revealed at next month’s and carry a 2013 model year designation.
This is the first photo of a promised strip tease(r) series, clearly showing a characterful headlight and a vertical element grille similar to that of the Encore’s big brother, the popular three-row. We like what we see here, particularly the horizontal slat vent snugged into the headlamp assembly, even if the whole thing looks markedly less aggressive than Buick’s from April’s .
GM isn’t saying much about the vehicle at this point, other than to note that the Encore will bring “contemporary styling, signature QuietTuning technology, and a host of features and amenities customers expect from Buicks today.” Fair enough.
Buick promises that a new tab will go live on its this week showing a covered photo of the Encore so that you can make out its silhouette, and each week between now and its January 10 reveal, the automaker will digitally reveal a bit more of its new baby.
has just announced that the forthcoming 2013 ATS will come packing a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder putting out an estimated 270 horsepower.
The engine features direct-injection, a twin-scroll turbo huffing 20 psi of boost, an air-to-air intercooler and variable valve timing, along with a forged-steel crankshaft and a two-stage variable displacement oil pump.
Cadillac claims the new 2.0-liter is 16 percent more efficient than the previous generation four-pot, and is able to deliver its peak 260 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 to 5,800 RPM.
Two other engines will be offered in the 2013 Cadillac ATS when it goes on sale next year, including a normally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder and GM’s tried-and-true 3.5-liter V6. Get the skinny in the press blast after the break and expect more details from next month’s Detroit Auto Show.
Local manufacturing has become the watchword (or words) when it comes to foreign automakers entering the Chinese market, and for a number of reasons. For one, the market is plenty large enough to make sense out of manufacturing locally instead of importing from overseas. For another, joint ventures with local automakers have been encouraged by the still tightly regulated economy. And now there’s another reason: imported vehicles are about to face an extra measure of importation duties.
The taxes are being imposed specifically on cars with engine capacities of over 2.5 liters and made in the United States, which may principally boil down to the Detroit Three, but also affects foreign automakers that manufacture in the U.S. As a result, (for example) would face anti-dumping and countervailing duties between 8.9 and 12.9 percent, while and would be looking at around two percent.
The move by the Chinese Commerce Ministry is the latest in a series of trade disputes that seek to erect barriers to an otherwise opening economy, and one of the world’s largest developing markets.
Have you ever watched something only to think, What the heck is that guy smoking? Well that wouldn’t come even close to explaining this latest incident as seen here on a store’s surveillance cameras.
One Erik Whittaker, 40, intentionally drove his pickup straight through the front of a convenience store in Columbia, Tennessee, apparently trying to run down his 37 year-old girlfriend, Laquisha Dansby. After running over the store’s owner, Surendra Patel, Whittaker gets out of the truck, looks underneath it for Dansby’s body and – while she and the owner run off in fear – the culprit walks calmly out the store, steals an SUV and drives it straight into the front of a passing bread truck.
Miraculously, no one seems to have been seriously hurt in last Friday’s incident aside from Whittaker himself, who is listed in critical but stable condition. Presuming he recovers, Whitaker reportedly faces a litany of charges, including attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault and grand theft auto. to watch the crazy ABC News video report.
With models like the and , has shown it is no stranger to performance-oriented crossovers. That extended to its brand when it opted to enter the in the World Rally Championship, but now we’ve received confirmation that a road- (or off-road-) going Countryman JCW is on its way.
Currently undergoing winter testing in Austria, the Countryman JCW is to be unveiled at the in March. Mini has yet to confirm the details, but we’re expecting the 1.6-liter turbo to churn out a good 215 horsepower or so – a significant increase over the Cooper S Countryman (pictured above) and its 177 hp – for a 0-60 time of less than seven seconds.
The John Cooper Works version of the Mini crossover will also ride lower than existing versions, and sport all the suspension and aero upgrades you’d expect from a JCW model, with sales expected to start in about a year. The question is whether this is which Prodrive – the motorsport consultancy that fields the Countryman WRC – is currently preparing, or whether that is still to come as a performance model of its own.
We’ll have a drive report on the Countryman JCW prototype coming in just a matter of days, so watch this space for more information.
There aren’t many American cars that approach $100,000. As excited as they were by the ’s performance figures, enthusiasts balked at how a ‘Vette could cost so much. After steadily climbing since its announcement a few years ago, the Fisker Karma’s base price . And of course the -slaying GT went for a good $150k if you could get your hands on one, and was probably worth even more. But a ? You’ve got to be kidding, right?
No, we’re not kidding, but this also isn’t the same Focus filling shopping mall parking lots and rental fleets across America and around the world, either. This is the Focus ST-R, the turn-key racing car launched by Ford Racing back in September at the . It packs a competition-spec 2.0 EcoBoost four, a full FIA-certified roll cage, racing brakes and a track-tuned suspension.
In short, it’s all but completely ready to tackle any of a variety of touring car series the world over, from Grand-Am ST and SCCA World Challenge TC to the World Touring Car Championship and similar local series around the world. So while the reported $98,995 sticker price may seem like a lot for a Focus, it may be the turn-key bargain of the tin-top racing world.
is hard at work engineering a for 2014, and it appears that the Japanese automaker is close to picking a final design. Dutch site Autoweek.nl reports that there are three designs on the table, and one will be chosen in January. That likely means that we won’t see the production hatch any time soon, but a fall showing in or Los Angeles is a possibility.
The January time frame doesn’t leave a lot of time for engineering Etherea-based hatch, but keep in mind that the compact Infiniti will be based on the front-drive Mercedes-Benz A-Class platform. This engineering partnership will enable Infiniti to focus its collective energy on creating a unique design inside and out.
Information about the powertrains of the Infiniti hatch are scarce, but reports that a hybrid could be part of the equation. We’re guessing that a diesel is out of the question for the U.S., but a turbo-four or maybe even the 2.5-liter V6 from the could be in the works.
There’s strength in numbers, particularly for a producer of high-end exotic automobiles. For a brand like , being linked to the Group not only means that it can offset its carbon emissions across a broader range of cars – something like the two-cylinder TwinAir balancing out the MC Stradale – but also gives the company’s dealer network a ready fleet of more affordable loaner cars at their disposal.
A couple years ago, Alfa Romeo and Maserati – which had just recently been realigned under common leadership – announced a that had been made specially for Maserati dealers in Europe. Now they’ve followed up with the slightly larger and more powerful Giulietta.
The Maserati edition Giulietta starts out with the 235-horsepower turbo four from the top-of-the-line Quadrifoglio Verde (green cloverleaf) model, and further distinguishes itself with the same brown leather you’d expect to find in a Maserati, plus special 18-inch wheels, red brake calipers and special badges inside and out.
In other words, a suitable loaner to receive upon dropping off your for its regular servicing. And if the was anything to go by, Alfa dealers could be find themselves fielding referrals from their Maserati counterparts with eager customers waiting to place orders of their own.
According to French blog Caradisiac, will show a brand new electric-car concept at the . Pitched as VW demonstrating its intention to field a competitor for the hot-selling and the most-excellent , word is the VW offering isn’t based on any current car, nor is it destined for production.
According to the report, the EV’s design is inspired by the new “in order to evoke hallmarks of the brand.” We’ve heard similar things from inside VW directly, but no one is being specific. It’s almost like they’re trying to keep it a surprise or something.
Whatever it ends up being, the electrified people’s car will be sharing floor space with the coming . That sedan will utilize a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a lithium-ion-powered electric motor, shooting for an EPA fuel economy rating of 44 city, 44 highway and 44 combined miles per gallon.
There are some basic automotive shapes that we’re trained to admire. The , for the impact an inexpensive car had on the American populace. The , for the way its revolutionary design rebuilt an industry in Germany. And the classic wedge-shaped , for the way it looks fast even while standing completely still.
One such Raging Bull is the . Produced in limited quantities at a cost of a million euros ($1.3 million at today’s rates), the Reventon is a real-deal supercar capable of hitting speeds of over 220 miles per hour. But, like any proper Lambo, it doesn’t need to be moving to get our blood pumping.
A group of specialists called took one flat black Reventon into its studio for a session of projection mapping. We don’t know what that means, but you can . What we do know, on the other hand, is that projection mapping can result in some beautiful images captured on video. See for yourself .
Turns out the concept shown off at the may be a smoke signal for an impending new product. And apparently the reaction was positive enough to the integrated grille and sloping hindquarters that the picaresque four-door crossover could inspire a production version within three years.
VW execs believe CUVs will continue to grow in popularity, and that as they do, customers will want perhaps more car-ish variety in their styling, with more muscle and sportiness. According to Autocar, this vehicle wouldn’t come alone, either, with “several variants” being pledged if this one does see the light.
The concept itself was done with that in mind, seeing as it sits on the transverse matrix architecture that will support the next and . When we saw the concept in person, we couldn’t help but notice the production touches like partsbin window switches and seat rails, so we had a strong feeling that we were looking at a thinly disguised new model (though the hybrid powertrain will likely be a thing of the distant future).
Check out a video of the Cross Coupé on the stage in Tokyo .
There are many number of ways you can support your country’s athletes heading into the Olympics. You could watch them on television. You could follow them to the site and get tickets for your favorite events. You could buy and wear some official team apparel. But if you’re , none of that will do. No, you’re going to do some hooning. Something that involves, say, pulling donuts on the beach in a twin-turbo super-sedan.
That’s just what the Bavarian automaker, which acts as official automotive partner (read: car sponsor) for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, has done to promote its participation and support the athletes. Which is fine by us, because it gives us the opportunity to watch… a twin-turbo super-sedan pulling donuts on the beach. Or to be more specific, the new at the hands of stunt driver Wolfgang Weber at Pendine Sands in Wales.
There are stories in every culture about a young man or woman who is supposed to marry someone sensible, attractive, a good cook and good provider. But when the protagonist of the story meets the would-be fiancee’s more interesting, vivacious, funny and unconventional sibling or best friend, sparks fly and the original relationship doesn’t stand a chance.
And so it was when we drove the 2013 Subaru XV through the roads and highways of Tuscany. On Day One, we drove the version the U.S. will get in the third quarter of next year. The first thing to hit us: déjà vu. This is the , albeit with cladding above the wheel wells and a a seriously jacked up stance. It will have the same, brand-new 2.0-liter flat-four as the Impreza hatch we that is just hitting dealer lots. So what’s the verdict? The XV can cook an acceptable pot of tomato sauce and cleans up nicely for Sunday mass. She’s a nice girl and good company.
We should have left it there. We should have called it a test after Day One. We should have simply driven off with the girl we came to meet. Why? Because on day two of our drive, we met the cousin with the better personality, the longer legs, the Sophia Loren cheekbones and the killer personality: the 2.0 liter turbo-diesel with the manual transmission. We drove her through the winding back roads north of Florence amidst the Chianti vineyards, villages and Fiat fix-it shops, but she refuses to come to the States. You see, she will only date Europeans.
Every year, each Formula One team on the grid designs a brand-new car and builds a handful of them for use at grands prix around the world. So what happens to the old ones? Well, the less important ones might get scrapped, unfortunately. The more important ones might find their way into museum collections. But then there’s a whole class of collectors who buy them for use at historic racing events or private track days.
Those collectors lust after opportunities like this one: to own a grand prix-winning car driven by a World Champion for a team no less celebrated than . This 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 was the very same that Niki Lauda drove to the checkered flag at the Dutch Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix that year. And while it would have been worth more if those races had helped Lauda secure the championship that year, unfortunately, a series of DNFs relegated him to fourth place in the standings, returning the following year to win his first title.
Just the same, the car is now based in California, has been fully backed and certified by the factory, and is on sale now on eBay Motors with a starting bid of $1.25 million. Check it out in the image gallery and follow for a closer look. Thinking of bidding? Be quick about it – there’s mere hours left on the auction.
We’re just a few weeks away from the where, among other things, we’ll see the all-new for the first time. Parent company has already of the compact sedan’s exterior, and now, we’re getting our first look inside the new C-segment offering.
says that the 2013 Dart’s interior is all about customization, and that’s immediately noticeable with the gauge cluster. As you can see above, the Dart will have offer seven-inch color TFT display in the middle of the instrument panel, allowing the driver to switch between different display modes with a standard analog tachometer and fuel gauge/PRNDL flanking either side. That red glow you see around the IP? That’s an available ambient “racetrack” lighting system that not only outlines the cluster, but works its way over to the center stack, as well. Ambient lighting can also be had in the foot wells, door handles, map pockets, glove box, center console storage and cup holders.
Speaking of the center stack, the 2013 Dodge Dart will be available with Chrysler’s speedy and well-regarded UConnect infotainment system, displayed on a large, 8.4-inch touchscreen – the largest screen in its class, might we add. We’re also told that the Dart’s glovebox is cavernous enough to store an Apple iPad, and there will be the usual smattering of auxiliary input jacks throughout the interior to keep you connected to all of your electronic devices.
Adding to the theme of customization, the Dart will be available in 12 different exterior colors and the interior will have 14 possible color and trim configurations. What’s more, there will be three different wheel options, three engine choices and three transmissions, along with available safety equipment like blind spot and cross-path detection systems not normally found in this class of vehicle. We’ll have the full details in just a few weeks, but for now, scroll through the galleries above to see the full smattering of Dart teasers, and for the official press blast.
A little less than a year ago, the Club of Poland shocked us with an amazing fan-made video documenting some of the organization’s headier hardware. Now the club is back with a different sort of video. The director has managed to direct the entire crowd to craft a Stomp-style musical sound collage made up of the various clicks, chimes, slams, squeaks, roars and honks of a crowd of very stylish ponies. We’d rather watch the cars prowling around the cramped streets and open countryside of Europe, but we still commend the group for what must have been a very challenging video to shoot and edit.
The group says we can expect to see a making-of clip to come along soon as well. In the mean time, to check out the new video, and be sure to for a little refresher on the club’s first cinematic endeavor as well. You’ll be glad you did.
