In NASCAR, they say that “rubbin’ is racin’”, or at least “they” do in Tom Cruise’s vision of NASCAR. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, rubbing could lead to serious trouble when you are approaching warp speed on the Mulsanne Straight.
Still, over the years a handful of NASCAR drivers have ventured over to the Circuit de la Sarthe to test their mettle – in fact, back in 1976, NASCAR sent entire teams and cars across the ocean to help promote the sport – and now Michael Waltrip has become the latest to catch a plane heading to Le Mans, France.
Michael Waltrip won’t be driving his overseas, however, as he has joined on AF Corse team that’s campaigning a . There’s no grandstand lighting to guide Waltrip as he navigates the nearly 8.5-mile course, so we at Autoblog wish him good luck and good headlights.
Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf Crash Tests – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has completed its first test of mainstream plug-in vehicles, and both the and the have were named “Good” for their front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection. Testing procedures for these plug-in vehicles were exactly the same as for any other automobile the IIHS tests, as they should be.
The two plug-in pioneers join in earning the Top Safety Pick title, thanks to their fine performance in instrumented crash testing and their standard electronic stability control. For what it’s worth, other fuel sippers like in the past. That said, the IIHS has taken issue with some plug-in electric vehicles in the past, specifically like the Gem e2 or the Wheego Whip.
Of course, we all know how much fun it is to watch brand-new cars being smashed to bits in the name of safety, so we’ve gone ahead and embedded a video of the two plug-ins undergoing the crash testing process. to see for yourself and to check out the official press release.
Time to take our cars back from the robots – Click above to watch video
Computers are constantly gaining a foothold on the everyday tasks that occur in our lives, but there are some tasks we simply hold too dear to let go. Or are there?
Jeopardy has gone the way of the robot and Google has shown that cars can be controlled without a human taking the wheel. Continuing down this path could lead to a future where the vehicles on the road are being piloted by robots or computers. doesn’t want to see that day come, and it sends a shot right across the bow of SkyNet’s patrolling warships.
In a new commercial for the , we’re given a glimpse into a world where technology is done creeping. It’s everywhere, and it affects all portions of our daily routine. One man has had enough, and decides to take back control of his vehicle (the fascia of which bears an eerie resemblance to the latest Charger). Cut to a shot of present day, and Dodge proclaims that robots “will never take our cars.”
That’s right, Dodge. Fight the evil robot overlords. to check out the clip.
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 – Click above for high-res image gallery
new , the , is a 444-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive two-door designed to fight well above its weight class. Motor Trend decided to spend quality time with the coupe, and something scary happened. Not scary as in ‘whoa, this thing is scary fast’ but more along the lines of ‘call my tailor, I ruined my pants’ terrifying.
Part of M/T’s testing gauntlet includes a look at braking distance. Road Test Editor Scott Mortara ran the Ford up to 70 miles per hour. Now it was time to see how quickly he could bring it to zero. Typically, this is just a matter of mashing the brakes and holding on. The sound of straining tires is a sound that’s welcome, but a metallic snapping noise is not. Either way, the 2012 Boss 302 was a runaway pony.
Mortara used the six-speed manual transmission to reduce the coupe’s speed before exiting the track through a gap at its end. What went wrong? A pin that connects the brake pedal to the rod that actuates the master cylinder had failed and snapped off. Normally, the brake pedal connects to the rod in a manner that distributes the pressure evenly over a large surface area and would still actuate the brakes when one presses the pedal. The setup on this particular Mustang was faulty, and allowed for far more pressure on the individual piece that failed.
Ford has examined this car, as well as the brake installation process at its assembly plants. It seems this car is unique in its defect. Motor Trend contends that it’s possible the brake assembly was removed then reinstalled after the vehicle left the factory, which could explain why the part failed in such an abnormal manner. Check out .
No one needs a 503-horsepower SUV capable of 155 miles per hour. In the real world, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG make no sense whatsoever. But you want one all the same. We understand.
Autoblog has racked up 3,500 miles on our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate since its arrival in March. Now that the initial honeymoon phase is over, we’re getting a very good feel for how the Big Korean handles day-to-day tasks.
This three-minute clip of the Aventador thwarting a geological disaster amply illustrates its appeal.
Also of interest:
Leaf entered in Pikes Peak Hill Climb [w/videos]
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2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
Kelley Blue Book has announced the winners of its 2011 Brand Image awards, which are given out based on KBB data culled from a survey taken by over 12,000 in-market shoppers. image must be rather strong with said shoppers, because it took home KBB hardware in three out of the 10 award categories.
Constantly citing the CTS family of vehicles, KBB handed Cadillac the awards for Best Exterior Design, Best Comfort and Best Interior Design. , , , and snagged the rest of the 2011 Brand Image trophies. BMW and Ford received two nods apiece, but Caddy is still king of this particular hill for 2011. to read the full list of categories and winners.
2011 Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery
“With electric automobiles popping up like dandelions across the landscape of American driving, it’s no surprise that they will be part of the field at the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26.”
So says the press release you’ll find waiting for your prying eyes after the break. While it’s true that we’re not exactly surprised that an electric car will make its way up to the top of the historic hill – there was, after all, a dedicated electric vehicle class for 2010 – we are a little curious whether a completely stock has any chance of dethroning .
Certainly, Leaf driver knows what he’s doing, as he currently pilots an off-road racing truck in the TORC series. In any case, we’ll find out soon enough if the Leaf’s 110 horsepower and 90-mile-per-hour top speed has the stuff to hang with the purpose-built EV racers; Hanawa will again contest the championship in his Concept two-wheel drive 2010 Custom Summit HER-02.
Oh, and about that dandelion thing… those are generally unwanted guests of those who actually care about keeping a lush carpet of green in their yards. Maybe not the way lovers of automotive greenery want to think of their rides, eh? Check out the complete press release for all the details, and spend a few minutes watching Hanawa’s record-setting HER-02 do its thing on the Peak.
Nissan radiation testing – Click above to watch video
Japanese automakers are continuing to test their products for excessive radiation levels as they leave their respective manufacturing facilities and before they’re loaded onto container ships for transport. has released a video detailing the company’s radiation check system, which includes monitoring randomly-selected sample group vehicles in three key locations.
Workers measure levels at the vehicles’ wheels, the center of the hood and the steering wheel before handing out clean bills of health. So far, all of the company’s vehicles have passed without a problem.
Automakers began testing vehicles after the disaster at the despite the fact that most manufacturing locations are situated well away from the ill-stricken facility. The video after the jump follows a few vehicles (including a and a ) through the test procedure and onto a transportation vessel in port. to watch the full video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Stephen!
Ram Long-Hauler Concept – Click above for image gallery
Need a way to get yourself, four buddies and a whole lot of cargo across the country with the bare minimum of fuel stops? The Long-Hauler Concept is your truck. The rig got a quiet coming-out party at the , which was held March 31st through April 2nd in Louisville, Kentucky.
This behemoth of a tow rig sports a 197.7-inch wheelbase, or about as long as your average oil tanker. That much space means it has a full-size eight-foot bed and Ram’s four-door passenger compartment. In keeping with the oil tanker theme, the Long-Hauler has the capacity to hold an astonishing 162 gallons of diesel fuel, thanks to a 60-gallon auxiliary tank in the bed. That much fuel should give this thing enough range to cross the country in two fuel stops if you aren’t too liberal with the throttle.
The Long-Hauler is based on the , which comes with a 19,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating. Ram combines that with a self-leveling air suspension on all four corners, a dual-rear-wheel package, 19.5-inch Alcoa 10-lug wheels and an Allison six-speed automatic. Add it all up and you’ve got a gross vehicle weight rating of 37,500 pounds, which should be enough to handle whatever you throw this hauler’s way. Doing the grunt work will be a 350-horsepower, 6.7-liter Cummins diesel inline six spitting out 650 pound-feet of twist.
The Ram Long-Hauler, should it make production, will be aimed at those who need enormous towing capacity and range, but don’t want to step up to something like a Freightliner SportChassis just yet. There’s still no word on a production timetable or what the truck might cost should it become available.
Between myself and Editor-in-Chief John Neff, Autoblog has racked up 3,500 miles on our long-term since its arrival in March. Now that the initial honeymoon phase is over, we’re getting a very good feel for how the Big Korean handles day-to-day tasks.
to see all of our long-term vehicle updates
First and foremost, I continue to be impressed with the sheer number of compliments the Equus receives, most of which are from women. This car really turns heads, possibly due to the fact they’re scarce on the road – I have yet to see another one in metro Detroit. I wasn’t too keen on the Hyundai’s design when it first arrived, but am now finding the Equus to be a , especially in white. Even the guys at my local car wash, who don’t usually say much about the test cars I bring through, . Neff even and found its presence was enough to convince real estate agents he could afford the top-dollar listings.
I’ve had the chance to take the Equus on a couple of longer road trips, and while it’s comfortable and quiet for the most part, these long-distance drives also brought out some complaints with our long-term tester.
There are few things more satisfying for a younger sibling than besting their older kin. Be it a hard-fought round of Stratego or a bare-knuckle brawl, putting an elder brother or sister in their place can be more satisfying than winning the lottery. In this spirit, German magazine Sport Auto just finished pitting the new up against BMW’s venerable . The pair locked horns around Hockenheim in a battle for ultimate supremacy that saw the M3 do the deed in 1:14.2. The M Coupe, meanwhile, managed to lap the track a hair quicker at 1:14.1.
That gave the newcomer to the game the overall win and put it just one tenth of a second behind metal like the on the famous track. Is this conclusive evidence that the 1 Series M Coupe is the better performance buy than the legendary M3? Not necessarily. After all, this is just one comparison with one magazine. Still, the fact that the baby can get within striking distance of its predecessor with two fewer cylinders is a testament to the vehicle’s prowess.
2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
There are few things more satisfying for a younger sibling than besting their older kin. Be it a hard-fought round of Stratego or a bare-knuckle brawl, putting an elder brother or sister in their place can be more satisfying than winning the lottery. In this spirit, German magazine Sport Auto just finished pitting the new up against BMW’s venerable . The pair locked horns around Hockenheim in a battle for ultimate supremacy that saw the M3 do the deed in 1:14.2. The M Coupe, meanwhile, managed to lap the track a hair quicker at 1:14.1.
That gave the newcomer to the game the overall win and put it just one tenth of a second behind metal like the on the famous track. Is this conclusive evidence that the 1-Series M Coupe is the better performance buy than the legendary M3? Not necessarily. After all, this is just one comparison with one magazine. Still, the fact that the baby can get within striking distance of its predecessor with two fewer cylinders is a testament to the vehicle’s prowess.
No one needs a 503-horsepower SUV capable of 155 miles per hour. In the real world, the make no sense whatsoever. But you want one all the same. We understand.
All it took was one glance at its massive tailpipes out back for us to fall in love. The ML63 is fitted with equal parts absurdity and brilliance, and almost immediately, our minds filled with images of blasting the AMG SUV along the snowy roads of southeastern Michigan, its 6.2-liter V8 bellowing at full volume, ricocheting off the concrete overpasses looming above metro Detroit’s Interstate 696.
Senior editor Damon Lavrinc appropriately described this behavior as “suburban winter assault,” but as we found during our week-long winter test, the ML63 AMG is perfectly equipped for battle no matter the weather.
Isis AM01 – Click above for high-res image gallery
What you’re looking at isn’t the latest homologation special to come from an automaker’s sports prototype racing program. (It’s not an imaginary spy agency from a cartoon show for that matter, either.) It’s a Dutch supercar of sorts, and you can buy one now.
It’s called the Isis AM01, and it may not be pretty, but it is, well… intriguing. Forget the “controversial” design, and underneath you’ll find the 275-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder from the driving the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. It’s reportedly based on the , another small-run supercar from New Zealand.
With only 1,875 pounds to schlepp around, the 275 horses are reportedly enough for a 4.2-second sprint to 62 and a 160 mile per hour top speed. €120,000 ($175k) is the asking price, but a more powerful AM02 version with 400 horsepower from an unspecified 3.0-liter engine is also said to be in the works for a €20k ($30k) premium.
Seeing such a rare bird up close would be a unique burden opportunity, so check it out now in the gallery below and the video after the jump.
The image of wafting around the Italian countryside in an open-air cabriolet is inextricably intertwined with our typical notion of Italian motoring. It’s somewhat surprising, then, that there wasn’t a single four-seat convertible on offer from Italy’s automakers until the relatively recent introductions of the Fiat 500C, and Maserati GranCabrio. But there nearly could have been, if only Alfa Romeo had given this project the green light.
This one-of-a-kind cabriolet prototype based on the was only recently revealed by Bertone. The relatively simple chop-job would have given Alfa a four-seat convertible in its range, and given Carrozzeria Bertone the lifeblood it so desperately needed. But instead, Fiat passed on its production and ended up buying Bertone’s coachbuilding operations as the latter comprehensively restructured.
In its place, Alfa opted to go with the Spider as a two-seat convertible version of the Brera, designed by Giugiaro and built by Pininfarina – Bertone’s two greatest rivals. And while that model may be the handsomer of the two, both its driving dynamics and performance in the marketplace never managed to keep up. From 2005 to 2010, Alfa sold less than 22,000 examples of the Brera, and from 2006 to 2010 only 12,000 Spiders, while the GT coupe has sold over 80,000 units from 2003 to 2010. Would a GT Cabrio have proven more successful? Impossible to tell now, but Carrozzeria Bertone might still be around if it had.
Repo Games trailer – Click above to watch the video
We’ve never had a car repossessed, but we imagine it’s a painful ordeal. That doesn’t mean that it won’t make a great game show, however, as the producers of Jersey Shore have created Repo Games. The premise is simple; real repo guys are taking real cars, but with a twist. If a vehicle owner/contestant answers three out of five questions correctly, the vehicle isn’t towed, and the winner gets to keep the vehicle outright.
Spike TV, which will air the show, says that people from all walks of life sometimes have trouble making their car payments. Still, we’re guessing that many of the show’s contestants will be hard-luck types. to watch the three-minute promo video. Many of the questions from the clip appear to be absurdly simple, though the answers aren’t always that easy to come by.
Maserati GranTurismo MC – Click above for high-res image gallery
At the Paris Motor Show last year, pulled off the – the fastest roadgoing Trident this side of the Enzo-based MC12. And while Maserati won’t be selling the MC Stradale on the Western shores of the Atlantic, it has done the next best thing.
The US-market GranTurismo MC is nearly identical to the European-market MC Stradale, save for two key differences: for one, it replaces the Stradale’s sequential gearbox with the smoother ZF automatic transmission from the standard , and for another, puts the rear seats that were deleted for the Stradale back in place.
Otherwise it’s the same machine, packing the same 450-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 as the MC Stradale (which also powers the new ) and the same aggressive aerodynamics package.
Maserati unveiled the GranTurismo MC (as well as the GranTurismo Convertible Sport, as the top-of-the-line convertible is known over here) at its new TriBeCa showroom in Manhattan on the eve of the New York Auto Show. Get a closer look at the GranTurismo MC in the gallery below and follow the jump for the full details in Maserati’s press release.
Steam Whistle Brewing electric 1958 Chevrolet Apache – Click above to watchvideo
is known for three things: making high-quality pilsner beer, a green-sensitive ethos and an awesome collection of ’50s, ’60s and ’70s American iron to haul their wares around. The latest addition to their stable is this very green 1958 Apache. The truck was originally motivated by the omnipresent General Motors small-block V8, but for a company with an eco-friendly mindset, that wasn’t going to cut it for long.
Instead, the guys at Steam Whistle teamed up with some local Vancouver, Canada mechanics and restorers to replace the truck’s fossil fuel-chugging guts with a brushless AC motor turning out an incredible 465 lb.-ft. of torque. That kind of motivation means this thing can ferry bedloads of brew to destinations all around Vancouver by day and then cruise the strip and shred tires with the best of them at night. The best part is Steam Whistle’s high-voltage Apache is nearly 100-percent carbon neutral, thanks to wind-generated charging. Click to see videos of the truck in action.
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: Steam Whistle Brewery’s electric 1958 Chevrolet Apache
2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale – Click above for high-res image gallery or
The 2011 is the regular GranTurismo’s crude, hairy-chested brother. It’s loud, muscle-bound and doesn’t make any apologies. With a 450-horsepower version of Maserati’s 4.7 liter V8 under the hood, its got the brawn to back up its big talk.
Despite its unruly demeanor and aerodynamic tweaks to the body, the fastest also manages to be as drop-dead gorgeous as its tamer stablemate. Now, there’s video of Maserati’s wild child tearing up the race track. The car looks poised and right at home, and sounds like Lucifer’s personal symphony at full blast. For the full five-minute immersion, check out the video .
