The Auto Blog .ru

Your nitro-fueled R/C racer may look all badass and be really fast, but it’s got its limitations. Namely, walls. The Sand Flea robot shown above, developed by Boston Dynamics, won’t win any races or beauty contests, but it laughs at walls. More precisely, it just leaps over them.

The little bot, which scoots around like a regular all-terrain R/C car, is equipped with a CO2-powered piston that gives it the ability to leap 30 feet in the air. When presented with a challenge, the Sand Flea stops, tilts, and launches up and over the obstacle in front of it. The video showing it in action, posted after the jump, is simultaneously astonishing and hilarious (especially when you mentally add this sound effect to each leap). On a full charge, the Flea can make 25 jumps. A gyroscope keeps it stabilized while airborne, and its wheels act as the cushion upon landing.

Funding for the project comes from DARPA, the Joint IED Defeat Organization, and the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force, and it’s meant to bolster the military’s ever-expanding arsenal of reconnaissance tools. As such, PopSci reports that the Sand Flea is headed to the Army Test and Evaluation Command for safety certification, after which several examples will head to Afghanistan for some real field testing.

Continue reading Sand Flea robot goes where your R/C car can’t

Sand Flea robot goes where your R/C car can’t

Electric vehicle owners like to think of themselves as green, but that color may be taking on a more glowing, radioactive hue in Japan.

The ecologically friendly reputation of electric cars in Japan is taking a hit since last year’s meltdowns of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant have made more people concerned about a primary source of electricity throughout the country, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

The meltdown – caused my last March’s earthquake and ensuing tsunami – created a 12-mile radius around Fukushima where people are barred because of radiation issues. Before last year’s disaster, the Japanese government planned on having nuclear power eventually supply half of the country’s electricity, up from a third, but those plans have been put on hold.

Nissan, which has said it expects to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles around the world by 2015, has sold just 12,000 battery-electric Leafs in Japan since launching the model in 2010, according to the report. There have been positive associations drawn between the EV and its role in the earthquake relief efforts (between the Mitsubishi i and the aftermath, too) and Nissan even touted the way some battery packs that were damaged in the quake survived intact.

Rising gas prices make charging an EV in Japan about 90 percent less expensive than filling a tank. That said, electricity prices may spike expenses stemming from fixing the Fukushima plant increase. The higher cost might be the way EVs could get lumped together with nuclear energy in some consumers’ minds.

Reputation of electric cars takes a hit in Japan due to tsunami aftermath?

You know things are rough when you have to sell your corporate headquarters to raise some cash. But that’s just what PSA Peugeot-Citroën did this week, unloading its Parisian office building for about $327 million, according to Automotive News.

The 48-year-old headquarters is located in Paris’ central business district, not far from the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees. According to the report, the French carmaker will continue to lease the building from its new owner, Ivanhoe Cambridge, a real estate subsidiary of Canadian pension fund management company Quebec Deposit and Investment Fund.

This latest move follows several efforts by PSA Peugeot-Citroën to reduce debt, cut costs and boost profitability. Last fall, it cut 6,000 jobs and in January it pulled out of Le Mans racing. In February, it announced a plan to liquidate assets and agreed to sell a seven-percent stake to General Motors, as part of a new global alliance that could help both car companies trim costs through shared purchasing.

Peugeot-Citroën raises cash by selling its Paris headquarters

It boasts the best highway fuel economy for any non-hybrid midsize sedan: 38 miles per gallon.

Perhaps more than most people realize, the Nissan Altima is a hugely important car here in the United States. In 2011, it was the second best-selling car in the country (trailing its classmate, the Toyota Camry), and with the launch of this fifth-generation Altima, Nissan appears to simply be going for an evolutionary enhancement rather than completely reinventing its successful midsize sedan formula.

That said, this step forward for the Altima should make it more competitive than ever in one of the most highly shopped segments of North America’s automotive marketplace. Nissan has not only been able to shed enough weight to make the Altima the lightest car in its class, it now boasts the best highway fuel economy for any non-hybrid midsize sedan: 38 miles per gallon when paired with the 182-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four. Combine that with a new rear suspension setup, class-exclusive driving aids such as Active Understeer Control and a slew of new infotainment functionality, and Nissan’s midsizer looks to have what it takes to keep running with the segment’s best.

Scroll down for an in-depth look at what’s in store for the 2013 Altima.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan Altima debuts, does 38 MPG HWY and priced from $21,500*

2013 Nissan Altima debuts, does 38 MPG HWY and priced from $21,500*

Porsche is getting in on the diesel craze with its first diesel-powered vehicle ever offered in the U.S. The 2013 Cayenne will be available with a turbo-diesel V6 option pumping out 240 horsepower, permanent all-wheel drive and a staggering 406 lb-ft of trailer-towing torque. That’s enough power to propel the super-SUV to 60 in 7.2 seconds and 135 miles per hour on the track. That’ll outrun your neighbor’s base Cayenne by .2 seconds, but don’t try to take on a Cayenne Turbo (0-60 in 4.4 seconds).

Porsche says the diesel’s estimated fuel economy numbers are 20 city / 28 highway. The Volkswagen Touareg offers the same diesel engine but with 15 fewer horses and EPA estimates of 19/28 mpg. Bad news, however, for anyone who likes shifting their own gears. Looks like only the 8-speed Tiptronic will be available with the diesel.

While the least-expensive Cayenne will set you back at least $48,850, adding the diesel engine runs the base price up to $55,750. That’s not too bad when you consider the platform-sharing Touareg TDI starts at just below $47k and runs all the way up to $59k for the Executive level VW.

Car spotters can ID the latest Cayenne variant by the “Diesel” badges behind the front wheel wells.

Check out the gallery above for more pics and scroll down for the official details from Porsche.

Continue reading 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel offers monster torque, 28 MPG HWY

2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel offers monster torque, 28 MPG HWY

Protesters in Bahrain continue to push for democratic reforms in the country, and police have stepped up a brutal crackdown ahead of the upcoming Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix. Last year, unrest forced F1 to cancel the race, but Bernie Ecclestone, president and CEO of the series, has said that won’t happen in 2012. Protestors have turned their ire against F1 organizers, saying the race belittles the strife and sacrifices of those working toward democracy. In an attempt to quell the demonstrations, plainclothes police have reportedly responded with violence. Crowds have faced tear gas and rubber bullets as well as live rounds. At least one protestor died in the fray.

The movement has rallied around the death. Twitter has played host to a campaign to cancel the race with the hashtags #BloodyF1 and #NoF1 gaining popularity. One video commentator said, “Do not tarnish the reputation of the respected auto sport with the blood of Bahrain victims.”

Bahrain is currently controlled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty.

F1 protests in Bahrain take fatal turn

It’s April 2 today, which means we’ve made it through all the April Fools’ Day gags (stay tuned for more on that front…) and it’s time to turn to more serious stuff. And nothing is more serious than the 2013 SRT Viper that debuts on April 4 at the New York Auto Show.

While we’ve seen teasers and spy shots, renderings and some other assorted approximations of what the first Viper without a Dodge badge will look like, we think this latest one really kills it. Courtesy of artist Jon Sibel, this is one of those images that looks good enough to be the real thing. If it were, we’d be pleased with the new Snake. We imagine everyone at Chrysler would too.

Besides this great rear three-quarter shot, Sibel has done up a nice Viper roadster that you can see in our gallery.

One more rendered speculation of the new Viper before the big reveal

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

Cash-strapped enthusiasts may not have had much to get all sticky over from Camp Toyota in recent years, but the automaker’s new GT 86 / Scion FR-S coupe promises to mine a rich paystreak of driving enjoyment. And while we’re big (okay, huge) fans of the car’s low-speed dynamic thrills, not every enthusiast is so forgiving of its rather middling power and acceleration figures. We knew it wouldn’t take long for the aftermarket to remedy this perceived power deficit with things like forced induction and ECU reflashes, but we foolishly expected a full engine swap to take a bit longer than it apparently has.

What you’re looking at here is Manabu “Max” Orido’s Toyota GT 86 prepped for drifting in D1 Grand Prix events. In this case, that means the two-door has been gutted and stuffed with the 5.0-liter V8 from the Lexus IS F, one of Toyota’s more emotive offerings thanks to its honkin’ great eight.

Orido’s GT 86 is shown here undergoing shakedown testing, and from the looks of things, the transplant appears to be going rather swimmingly. At first glance, we even dig the more aggressive widebody look, lack of paint and all. Check it out for yourself below, and be sure to have your speakers on.

Continue reading Well That Didn’t Take Long: V8-powered Toyota GT 86 drift car undergoes testing

Well That Didn’t Take Long: V8-powered Toyota GT 86 drift car undergoes testing

Congratulations are in order for Buick after its new Verano earned top scores in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests. This now means that every new Buick model is on the Institute’s Top Safety Pick list.

The Verano’s safety credentials weren’t really in question though, since the Chevy Cruze with which it shares a platform also made the Top Safety Pick list.

“When we started the vehicle development of Buick Verano, we had a comprehensive safety strategy that enabled us to achieve the highest safety rating and to be among the best safety performers in the segment,” said Sigit Santosa, General Motors’ Engineering Group Manager of Vehicle Safety Performance Integration.

Scroll down to read GM’s official press releas on the Verano’s ratings. There’s a video of the new Buick compact being smashed up, as well.

Continue reading Verano completes Buick sweep of IIHS Top Safety Pick awards [w/video]

Verano completes Buick sweep of IIHS Top Safety Pick awards [w/video]

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]

Italy’s Superstars Series may have seemed like an insignificant championship in the past, but drivers and manufacturers alike are beginning to take notice of what is rapidly emerging as Italy’s equivalent of Germany’s DTM, Japan’s Super GT or Australia’s V8 Supercars series. One of those drivers is Tonio Liuzzi, and one of those manufacturers is Mercedes-Benz.

The German automaker had been represented in the series before, but is now launching an officially factory-sanctioned works effort with a specially-prepared C63 AMG touring car fielded by Caal Racing. And it has lined up an experienced driving talent to man the wheel.

A veteran of 80 grands prix, Vitantonio Liuzzi has driven for Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Force India and HRT, but unfortunately failed to distinguish himself with a single podium finish, pole position or fastest lap in the span of his six years in Formula One. Prior to ascending to the pinnacle of motorsports, he had won the International Formula 3000 championship, and has also tried his hand at A1GP (representing Italy) as well as the Speedcar Series (a stock car series held briefly in the Middle East).

Will he prove himself a greater talent in touring cars than he did in F1? We’ll have to wait and see, but given the factory support in a privateer-dominated series and the number of championships Caal Racing has won, things are looking up for Liuzzi and Mercedes. Follow the jump for the official announcement (in Italian) and check out the batch of official high-resolution images in the gallery above.

Continue reading Tonio Liuzzi heading home to Itay’s Superstars series with Mercedes AMG

Tonio Liuzzi heading home to Itay’s Superstars series with Mercedes AMG

Put the word Grand in front of a nameplate and you’ll likely be looking at something from the Chrysler stable: a Jeep Grand Cherokee, for example, or a Dodge Grand Caravan. But Auburn Hills isn’t the only automaker to use the moniker: so does Renault, as in the Grand Scenic, Grand Modus, Grand Espace, and this latest release.

The Grand Kangoo is based, as you might have guessed, on the Kangoo commercial van, but has been configured for passenger use. Seven passengers, to be precise. Easily among the smallest seven-passenger vehicles on the market anywhere, the Grand Kangoo features a highly modular and adaptable cabin that ought to make it a popular choice for those who need the flexibility to carry larger-than-usual loads of cargo or a large family, but not so much in the style department.

European buyers can opt for two levels of output from the 1.5liter dCi engine with either 90 horsepower or 110, and two trim levels, with prices starting at €20,750 (in France, inclusive of taxes) and order books opening next month. See the press release after the break.

Continue reading Renault launches new seven-passenger Grand Kangoo

Renault launches new seven-passenger Grand Kangoo

The Mint 400, held in the Nevada desert outside of Jean, is legendary for more reasons than being a grueling race: Rick Mears, Al Unser, Jr. and Steve McQueen are among the marquee names to have entered it, Wonder Woman Lynda Carter and Vanna White were Mint 400 Girls, and Hunter S. Thompson’s assignment to cover it for Sports Illustrated turned into Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. Robby Gordon managed to avoid both of Thompson’s conditions on his way to winning the latest edition of the General Tire Mint 400 held last week.

Estimates have 65,000 total spectators watching 300 teams and 900 drivers in 20 categories going for the top podium spot over three days. The race was four laps of a 92-mile loop through the rock and gravel, with Gordon completing the 368-mile deed in 6:05 in his Class 1500 runner, just three minutes ahead of second-place driver David Maurice in a Class 1400 truck.

Scroll down for the post-race press release and a video of this year’s action.

Continue reading Robby Gordon triumphs at Mint 400 [w/video]

Robby Gordon triumphs at Mint 400 [w/video]

Just as mysteriously as it began, Chevrolet has removed the production hold it had placed on the 2012 Camaro ZL1. For those keeping track, the delay has lasted roughly three weeks, and we still don’t know what the “quality assessment issue” was.

According to Motor Authority, a letter has been sent to those who have placed orders on Chevy’s hottest muscle car, letting them know when they can expect their machines to arrive at the dealership.

Cars that had already been produced and had been held back from the waiting garages of buyers will begin trickling to owners in two to three weeks, while orders placed but not yet built will take a little longer. That said, Camaro ZL1 models built in the foreseeable future will very likely continue on with a 2012 model-year designation before the Oshawa plant switches production to the 2013 cars. Just how many 2012 ZL1s will be built remains to b seen.

We also can’t help but mention the newly announced Camaro 1LE, which gets some of the track-ready features of the ZL1 with a 426-horsepower V8 in place of the killer 580-horse supercharged engine, along with what’s sure to be a much lighter price tag. With choices like these, we’d say it’s a good time to be shopping for a Camaro.

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 back on sale, production hold removed

This year, Pikes Peak will, once again, be crawling with electric vehicles. Mitsubishi will be there with its i-MiEV-based racer, and the Pikes Peak EV Challenge Committee has just announced it will bring a new all-electric car to scale the 14,110-foot peak in Colorado this July.

The prototype vehicle will be developed by Team APEV, where APEV stands for the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles, and will be driven by the legendary Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima. Tajima has won the contest six years in a row, breaking the ten-minute barrier for the first time last year.

But that was in a gas-powered Suzuki, which isn’t nearly as eco-chic as doing it with zero emissions. The coolest part, for real, is that Team APEV and Monster Sports will be participating to help victims of the 2011 Japan earthquake disaster as well as promoting environmental education projects for children and “projects to promote active participation from the senior citizens of Japan.”

In 2011, two EVs, a Nissan Leaf and a custom EV from AC Propulsion, made the climb.

Monster Tajima to tackle Pikes Peak in an all-electric prototype

Nissan has released the fifth and final teaser of its all-new 2013 Altima sedan ahead of the car’s official debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show. It’s a good thing this is the last one, because Nissan has seen fit to show off almost the entire car, albeit very quickly and never stationary.

It’s plain to see that this new Altima will be much swoopier than before, with a highly stylized front fascia and a steep D-pillar arc. We also note a rising body line that starts below the side mirrors before heading over the rear haunches to the taillamps. At the rear, there appears to be a bulging rump on the trunk lid that reminds us of the infamous Bangle Butt made popular by past BMW models.

It seems Nissan is most interested in promoting its latest interior technology, pointing out that the 2013 Altima will feature a “new Advanced Drive-Assist Display” in the instrument cluster that “is designed to keep the driver focused on the road.” Available will be lane departure warning, rear moving object detection and blind spot warning. We’re pretty sure we see steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, too.

Feel free to peruse the press release below, but not before watching the video. Enjoy, and come back next week for the Altima’s full reveal.

Continue reading Nissan releases final teaser for all-new Altima [w/video]

Nissan releases final teaser for all-new Altima [w/video]

Those of us who are fortunate enough to have never suffered through cancer likely don’t realize how the disease can turn some of life’s simplest acts into huge hurdles. Just getting to treatment appointments can be daunting with the onset of symptoms and side effects. One cancer survivor in Austin, Texas has set up a network of exotic and classic car owners to make getting to the hospital a little bit easier and more fun at the same time.

Ken Adams noticed a large number of cancer patients who were forced to take public transportation or rely on friends and family to make it to treatments while he was waiting for his own doctor. Adams then hatched the idea for volunteers to help get those patients from home to the hospital, and Your Ride Is Here was born.

Patients get to ride in everything from vehicles like the Aston Martin Rapide to the Chevrolet Camaro and even the Ferrari Enzo. For patients who may be going through some of the darkest days of their lives, the chance to ride in some of the world’s greatest pieces of engineering is also a chance at a valuable smile.

We’ve been plenty guilty of balking at supercars in the past, and while they remain firmly out of grasp for the vast majority of the human race, they also represent just what mankind is capable of with the right motivation. We’re just glad to see some of their owners have a similarly impressive capacity for compassion.

If you don’t own a supercar but still want to help, Your Ride Is Here relies entirely on donations, which can be made here. They’ve also made an excellent video that best explains their purposes, which can be viewed farther down the page.

Continue reading Your Ride Is Here gives cancer patients a ride to treatment in style

Your Ride Is Here gives cancer patients a ride to treatment in style

Subaru has a lot riding on the 2012 New York Auto Show. In addition to the XV Crosstrek, the Japanese automaker will show off its new 2013 Legacy and Outback models, and these aren’t exactly minor updates.

Under the hood of 2.5i models will be a brand-new 2.5-liter DOHC boxer four that puts out 173 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque – improvements of three and four, respectively. Furthermore, the 2013 Legacy’s new engine and the latest version of Subaru’s CVT automatic gearbox achieve estimated fuel economy ratings of 24 miles per gallon city, 32 highway and 27 combined. That’s one mile per gallon better across the board, and a six-speed manual will also be available.

The Outback, which boasts 8.7 inches of ground clearance, will manage an estimated 24/30/26 mpg with the same drivetrain. Both models will be available with an optional 3.6-liter flat-six engine mated to a five-speed automatic that offers up 256 horsepower. All-wheel drive is, of course, standard.

Subaru’s new EyeSight driver-assist system, which integrates Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Vehicle Lane Departure Warning, will debut on the 2013 Legacy and Outback, and you can read plenty more about this technology here. Bluetooth connectivity is also new, along with iPod controls and a USB port. A seven-inch navigation screen will be optional on top-end models.

Styling is tweaked a bit, with a new front fascia standing out as the most obvious change, and Subaru claims that the ride and handling have been improved thanks to a stiffer structure and revised suspension geometry. We’ll be sure to bring you live photos from New York, but in the meantime, check out the few shots released so far and the official press blasts for both models after the break.

Continue reading Subaru releases 2013 Legacy, Outback details ahead of New York debuts

Subaru releases 2013 Legacy, Outback details ahead of New York debuts

Few rivalries are as heated as that between the Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911. And with both models having recently been updated, Evo magazine has taken the updated GT-R and the new 911 Carrera S to the Bedford Autodrome for a little head-on-head action. And who better to put in front of the camera and behind the wheel than Tiff Needell, the longtime Fifth Gear co-host who’s now doing a series of video tests for the magazine British enthusiasts love best.

Now if you’re thinking that the GT-R really ought to be compared to the 911 Turbo and not the naturally aspirated 911 Carrera S, well, you’re probably right. Particularly since Nissan hiked the price on its latest performance flagship to nearly $100,000. But Porsche hasn’t released the turbocharged version of its latest 911, so the Carrera S will have to do. Skip past the break to see how they compare, as well as which one is Tiff’s favorite.

Continue reading Tiff Needell pits latest Porsche 911 Carrera S against Nissan GT-R

Tiff Needell pits latest Porsche 911 Carrera S against Nissan GT-R