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As a genre, automotive journalists have seen (and done) some pretty stupid things done in some pretty stupid cars. Collectively, we’ve been airborne in more vehicles than are worth counting, roasted enough tires to make Al Gore weep, and generally made asses of ourselves on closed-course manufacturer track days. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Surprisingly, all of that stupidity has been eclipsed by the efforts of a few determined motorists in the Middle East. If the comments on YouTube are to be believed, the drivers and passengers in the slew of workaday family sedans in the video after the jump are participating in something called hajwalah, wherein drivers throw their vehicles into an extended slide before eventually correcting and continuing along their way. We’ve seen videos like this before out of the Middle East, and we’re thankful this one didn’t end in a crackup and bloodshed the way some others do.

Crazy drivers can be found the world over, and normally, most aren’t worth talking about. A few things are notable about this particular video, however. For one, the guys behind the wheel are kicking their vehicles around in what looks like full traffic in front of dump trucks and beside school busses. For another, none of them appear to be wearing seat belts. Finally, there’s a smattering of small arms fire from open car windows at the same time.

We’re nearly without the words to convey just how stupid this kind of driving is, but even we have to say, we didn’t know that humble family-toting iron like the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry could be pushed to such absurd slip angles – at least with such repeatability. Hit the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading Middle East drifting daredevils go beyond the bounds of sanity… in family sedans

Middle East drifting daredevils go beyond the bounds of sanity… in family sedans

Back in 2009, at the absolute lowest point in the history of the American automobile industry, Chrysler and General Motors declared bankruptcy. The United States government set up a cabinet-level group called The Presidential Task Force On The Auto Industry was formed to allow the government to handle the courtroom proceedings that would end up allowing the two automotive giants the opportunity to get back on their feet.

Though Ford did not declare bankruptcy or accept any governmental oversight, the Blue Oval did, in a show of solidarity, stand beside its Detroit-born brothers in Senate hearings and offered verbal support to both GM and Chrysler. It seems that goodwill only went so far, however and now that its two American siblings are churning out healthier balance sheets, the gloves are officially off.

As you can see in the video after the jump, Ford has created a new television commercial as part of its “Drive One: Press Conference” series that casts a somewhat critical eye on the U.S. automotive bailout of 2009. (It’s at this point we’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention that in the midst of the auto crisis, the Blue Oval accepted billions in very low-interest technology loans from the U.S. government, as did other automakers).

Despite the fact that Chris, the star of the advert, is not a Ford employee but a real Ford truck owner, and that the ad was apparently filmed without a script, Ford’s airing of the commercial more than suggests it approves of the message therein. In his own words, here’s what Chris had to say when asked if buying American was important to him:

I wasn’t going to buy another car that was bailed out by our government. I was going to buy from a manufacturer that’s standing on their own: win, lose, or draw. That’s what America is about is taking the chance to succeed and understanding when you fail that you gotta’ pick yourself up and go back to work. Ford is that company for me.

Now that you’ve watched the video after the break, the question is, how effective is this ad? Do you like it, hate it or are you indifferent? Is it a good message or is it a cheap shot at GM and Chrysler? Feel free to sound off in the comments, but first, take a moment to add your voice to our informal poll.

View Poll

Continue reading AdSpotting: New Ford commercial slams auto bailout [w/poll]

AdSpotting: New Ford commercial slams auto bailout [w/poll]

We reported earlier today that a rare Ferrari Enzo went off course yesterday while running the 2011 Targa Newfoundland and wound up swimming with the fishes in the Atlantic. We even had a video showing what happened leading up to the Ferrari’s off-road and then underwater excursion. We didn’t, however, have many pictures, but Autoblog reader Renee had a father on the scene who took these pictures for us of what happened immediately after.

When a car takes a dive like that, you’ve got to fish it out. That’s exactly what was done with the Enzo, first using a Jeep Grand Cherokee to pull it onto shore and then switching to a big crane to lift it up and onto a flat bed truck. Surprisingly, perhaps shockingly so, there’s no real visible damage to the Enzo. Maybe it’s the bright black-and-yellow paint scheme throwing off our eyes, but we don’t see any damaged bodywork in these images. That said, we’re sure the Enzo is hurting on the inside, both its mechanicals that generally don’t like being dipped in salt water and the interior that prefers Armor All to the Atlantic Ocean.

Check out the pics for yourself to see the sad state of affairs, and we’ve reposted the video for you after the jump.

Continue reading How to fish a Ferrari Enzo out of the ocean

How to fish a Ferrari Enzo out of the ocean

We saw the concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, but the real thing showed up at the Frankfurt Motor Show. SsangYong used the German auto show stage to reveal its all-new production-ready SUT-1 quad-cab pickup truck. SsangYong refers to the SUT-1 as a Sports Utility Truck, hence the SUT name.

Available in rear or four-wheel-drive, the SUT-1 will be sold with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Either gearbox will pair up with the 153-horsepower 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder engine mounted under the hood.

A true body-on-frame pickup, the SsangYong SUT-1 features a double-wishbone suspension up front and a five-link rear out back. Four-wheel discs sit at each corner, and tuck in behind either 16 or 18-inch alloy wheels. Still, just because the outside conditions might get tough, it doesn’t mean you have to feel it inside of the South Korean utility. Among the options list niceties? Power leather heated seats an audio system that supports Bluetooth connectivity and MP3 playback.

Continue reading SsangYong shows production SUT-1 pickup

SsangYong shows production SUT-1 pickup

With the long-serving Defender not… well, long for this world, Land Rover is gearing up for its eventual replacement – targeted to launch in 2015 – and we just got our first glimpse of it on the show floor here in Frankfurt. Or glimpses, we should say, as JLR surprised us with the debut not only of the concept we were expecting, but a pair of them.

In one corner, the white-roofed silver DC100 three-door wagon we’d been shown (at least, in part) a couple of weeks ago. In the other, the DC100 Sport, an open-air version decked out in yellow-orange. Both preview the next generation of the iconic, go-anywhere truck of choice for expeditionary teams worldwide, and pack such innovations as an off-road terrain scanning device to detect potential obstacles and – get this – a sonar depth-sounder for fording through rivers. Plus, you know, a whole lot more style than the model it envisions succeeding.

Check ‘em out in our pair of high-resolution galleries live from the show floor, follow the jump for the brief press release, and stay tuned for more info in our ongoing coverage of the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Continue reading Land Rover Defender successor visualized in pair of DC100 concept trucks

Land Rover Defender successor visualized in pair of DC100 concept trucks

Tata Motors has announced that its group chief executive officer, Carl-Peter Forster, resigned with immediate effect, only 18 months after joining the company.

Tata, India’s leading maker of trucks and buses, and owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, says Forster resigned due to “unavoidable personal circumstances,” but will remain a non-executive member of Tata Motors’ board. Forster stated:

I deeply regret that my personal circumstances make it difficult for me to continue to perform the challenging duties of managing the thriving global activities of the Tata Motors Group with its main activities in India and the UK and increasingly in additional overseas markets.

Forster’s departure comes as Tata Motors continues its lengthy search for a successor to Ratan Tata, who is set to retire soon as chairman of the sprawling conglomerate. Forster joined Tata in February 2010 after leaving Opel, with his focus on turning around the then-struggling Jaguar-Land Rover division. Tata Motors is currently seeking Forster’s replacement.

Continue reading Tata CEO Forster steps down after only 18 months

Tata CEO Forster steps down after only 18 months

The Historic Vehicle Association wants to change the fact that there are national historic registries for places, boats, planes, and trains, but nothing to protect vehicles with historic value. The Association, started in 2009 by Hagerty Insurance, a company that specializes in coverage for classic vehicles, is championing the passage of laws that further protect historically significant vehicles and allow them to stay on the road.

Determining which vehicles are significant and assigning a degree to that significance is one of the head-scratchers the Association is up against right now. “We’re looking at how things are treated, everything from a Marmon Meteor to a milk truck,” says Carmel Roberts, Association Director of Government Relations. There are design, ownership and origin factors that determine a vehicle’s place in history, and the association is open to upgrading vehicles so they can continue to be used, the same way historic homes can be outfitted with modern plumbing and wiring.

It’s unclear whether the effort and expense to pass laws protecting older cars will have any effect on their preservation. Cash for Clunkers didn’t apply to 1957 Chevrolet Bel Airs or 1973 Lamborghini Espadas, for example, and legislation doesn’t change the expensive reality of just storing a car properly, let alone restoration.

Group seeks national registry for historic cars

There are plenty of dogs that love to ride in the car. Surely you’ve seen Fido, Spot and Ubu with their heads out the window, gloriously long hair and ears flapping in the breeze, taking in all the sights, sounds and smells of a lovely spring day.

But what if man’s best friend wants to be a little more… open to the elements? Well, there are sidecars that can accommodate a four-legged friend, and, though we certainly don’t condone it, we’ve seen a few pups in the backs of pickup trucks, as well.

At least one man and his dog, though, found a somewhat different way to travel: on two wheels. According to The Asbury Park Press, Gyula Szatmari of Tuckerton, NJ, was pulled over on his way home from work with his pet pug on his lap. He was riding a motorcycle.

The local law enforcement cited Szatmari with careless driving and the improper transportation of an animal. According to the rider, he has been riding dog-in-lap for years and the dog apparently doesn’t mind… though he’s been warned by the police in the past that it’s not legal to ride in this manner.

We’re not entirely sure what the law dictates when it comes to transporting animals, but something tells us riding a motorcycle with a pug on your lap isn’t the best way to get it done. A lined crate, as seen above, might be a better option, no?

Man charged with animal cruelty for driving with pug on motorcycle

Toyota has announced that it will unveil its first-ever kei car to be sold under its recently launched Pixis sub-brand. The vehicle, called the Pixis Space, will make its official debut in late September. Based on the Daihatsu Move Conte, the Pixis Space will be sold at Toyota dealerships through what the automakers calls “Pixis stations.” Yes, seriously.

After Toyota’s version of the Daihatsu Move Conte makes its debut, the Japanese automaker will launch a Pixis-badged Daihatsu Hijet truck and microvan in December. By the end of 2012, Toyota says it will launch a Pixis version of the upcoming Daihatsu e:S – a vehicle that returns 70.6 miles per gallon (U.S.) as measured under Japan’s JC08 test cycle.

In case you weren’t aware, Daihatsu – Japan’s oldest manufacturer of automobiles – operates under the control of Toyota. In other words, these Pixis machines are simply badge engineering at the kei level.

Toyota launches Pixis Space; first kei cars are Daihatsus in drag

Do you happen to be a gamer? Are you also a car fanatic? If that’s the case, Electronic Arts has a message for you: We still have Porsche.

As we reported a short while ago, Electronic Arts happens to hold the licensing agreement to include cars and trucks from Porsche in its video games. Competitors routinely get permission from EA to include Porsche vehicles in their own games, but when Turn 10, makers of the Forza series, contacted EA in regards to the 35 Porsche models it planned to include in Forza Motorsport 4, EA declined.

That means there will be no Porsche 911, no Cayman and no Boxster in Forza 4. Not a Cayenne or Panamera to be found. It’s a sad day for Porschophiles who prefer the Forza franchise over Need for Speed.

Apparently not content to leave well enough alone, Electronic Arts has uploaded a new video to YouTube showing real in-game footage of the 2012 Porsche 911 Carerra S in its latest game, Need for Speed: The Run. A none-too-subtle jab at Forza, no? Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Electronic Arts reminds us it still has Porsche in Need for Speed series

Electronic Arts reminds us it still has Porsche in Need for Speed series

According to The Detroit News, The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has closed its investigation into 2.7 million Ford pickups for fuel tank straps that may have rusted and failed. Affected models included 1997-2001 F-150, 1997 to 1999 F-250 and 2002 to 2003 Lincoln Blackwood trucks.

A total of 339 complaints were received from Ford and NHTSA, of which there have been nine confirmed cases of straps so deteriorated that the fuel tank completely dislodged and fell to the ground, with many more cases involving at least one failed strap. It seems that road salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice were blamed for the corrosion.

In response, Ford issued a recall that covered 1.1 million trucks that were operated in cold-weather states. That action was good enough for government work, says NHTSA, so the case has hereby been closed.

Fed closes investigation of Ford F-150 fuel tank straps

Commanding over 40 percent of the 2011 F-150 pickup’s sales, Ford is making huge waves on both the sales floor and in the garages of the truck-buying and trailer-towing masses with its EcoBoost-powered models. Having driven several examples of the turbocharged and direct-injected V6, it’s easy to see why – excellent performance and good fuel economy go hand-in-hand with refinement and a price that’s rather easy to swallow.

So, is General Motors worried that it doesn’t have a competing technology in its full-size pickups? Not according to Chris Perry, Vice President of Global Marketing for Chevrolet. In a new Ward’s Auto article, Perry claims that GM can beat the F-150’s fuel mileage performance with the suite of technologies in The General’s arsenal when the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are given their next major redesigns.

“(Ford has) done a good job of marketing the EcoBoost, and that’s a challenge on our side to make sure that consumers understand you can get similar mpg out of a V8 Silverado without sacrifice,” Perry says. “Without sacrifice” isn’t really a sentiment we can agree with, however. In point of fact, the V8 engine GM offers that posts fuel mileage figures close to the EcoBoost’s is the 5.3-liter V8, and that engine’s power levels (315 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque) pale in comparison to the 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft delivered by the Ford.

In any case, we look forward to 2013, which is when GM is expected to roll out its next-generation full-size trucks. We fully expect to see advancements in both fuel efficiency and power, with turbocharged engines, eight-speed transmissions and even hybrids on the menu. Of course, we don’t exactly expect Ford to sit on its britches ’till then, either…

GM marketing boss not concerned with Ford EcoBoost success

A judicial inquiry has found Colin McCrae at fault for the helicopter crash that killed the rally driver, a friend and two children, including Colin’s son Johnny McCrae, in 2007. According to The Guardian, McCrae wasn’t properly licensed to fly the helicopter, and he had undertaken a number of dangerous maneuvers in the air before crashing into a wooden hillside. The inquiry evaluated evidence related to the crash, including video taken by 36-year-old Graeme Arthur Duncan shortly before the impact. The video showed McCrae buzzing farm buildings at an elevation of 275 feet before banking sharply.

From there, the helicopter descended into a wooden valley before crashing down. First responders said that the aircraft struck the ground with such force that it was impossible to tell what sort of accident had occurred without further investigation.

Despite the finding, the McCrae family say that Colin was a capable and experienced pilot, and that they will never truly know what caused the crash.

Colin McRae found at fault in his own fatal helicopter crash

The United Auto Workers are currently negotiating new labor contracts with The Detroit Three. Due to bankruptcy restrictions, UAW members working at General Motors and Chrysler and can’t go on strike. Ford, on the other hand, didn’t get a no-strike clause since it didn’t go through the bankruptcy process. That means the UAW can walk off Blue Oval production lines if it chooses to do so, and it is already threatening to do just that if it doesn’t get the agreement it wants when the current contract expires on September 14.

The Detroit News report on the matter is reminiscent of sports press reportage on the former NFL and current NBA lockouts: haves and have-nots, short memories, separate legal actions, and phrases like “they don’t believe Ford’s claims of poverty.”

A couple of days ago, it was reported that preliminary voting was heavily in favor of a strike, and that wasn’t a fluke: strike authorization is running at 97 percent – well above usual. But some UAW workers feel that the plants that are doing well, like the Dearborn Truck plant making the F-150 pickup, is a case of “The fat-cat plants want more,” while plants that want more work are content for now to let Ford get healthier before asking for more.

A strike authorization from Bob King and company does not necessarily mean that there will be a strike if an amicable conclusion can’t be reached, but it does give the UAW more ammunition than it has with GM and Chrysler.

UAW “leans toward” striking Ford if deal isn’t reached

It seems these days everyone wants a piece of Ferrari, with countless sports car-makers gunning for Maranello’s territory. But Volvo? Volvo Trucks, no less?

Believe it or not, the latest drag race competition pitted a Volvo big-rig against a Ferrari 360 Spider. Of course it wasn’t just any old run-of-the-mill tractor, but the Mean Green hybrid racing truck. The beast packs a 16-liter twin-turbo engine that cranks out 1,900 horsepower and is further boosted by a 200hp electric motor.

An even match? You’ll have to follow the jump to watch the photo finish for yourself, but the result was closer than you might think.

Continue reading Volvo truck takes on a Ferrari in drag race [w/video]

Volvo truck takes on a Ferrari in drag race [w/video]

Even though Ford’s light vehicle sales were up seven percent in August of this year versus last, the company is running low on a very popular product: there simply aren’t enough of the 2012 Focus to go around. The company’s sales analyst, George Pipas, said it’s because there isn’t enough inventory, with 5,500 Focuses in stock at the end of July.

It’s a good problem to have if that’s the real cause, but it’s still a problem. Focus sales declined more than 12 percent last month, year-on-year, and it was outsold by the Cruze by more than 7,000 units. Pipas cited the process and supplier issues at the truck factory that was refitted to build the Focus, but said that inventory levels were expected to return to normal in Q4. Then we’ll find out if the the summer slump after May’s high of 22,303 sales is due to supply.

The Focus is doing Ford well in other ways, though, with Ford’s VP of marketing, sales and service saying that the average age of Focus buyers has dropped by eight years, California customers are leading the pack and they are trading in imports to go domestic.

2012 Ford Focus sales being hurt by low supply

Ram is going for broke with its 2012 truck range, increasing power in both the 5.7-liter Hemi and 6.7 Cummins diesel. The gas V8 gets a bump to 383 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The 6.7-liter Cummins diesel inline six now pushes 350 horses backed by 800 lb.-ft. of torque.

Added to that, there’s a new six-speed automatic transmission with an updated torque converter. Ram says that the transmission should not only be stronger, but lead to improved fuel efficiency as well. With the new power in the big Cummins, the 4500 and 5500 series chassis cab trucks get a combined gross weight increase from 26,000 pounds to 30,000 pounds.

Full details in the PR blast after the jump.

Continue reading 2012 Ram pickup range updated with new gearbox, added power

2012 Ram pickup range updated with new gearbox, added power

General Motors has been fairly tight-lipped about whether or not we’ll see the next-generation Chevrolet Colorado here in the Land Of The Free. Right now, most signs point to “no.” That’s a real shame, too, given that the new mid-sized pickup packs what appears to be an efficient and powerful 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine and some snappy styling. That’s the kind of combination that could make us miss the new global Ford Ranger all the less. Regardless of whether or not the new Colorado makes it to our back yard, the truck promises to bring buyers elsewhere in the world the capability they want in a convenient package.

A keen-eyed member of Asian forum BBZnet has managed to snap a few quick shots of what appears to be a production version of the pickup. The vehicle has lost the integrated rear bumper of the concept as well as its large 20-inch wheels, but remains fairly true to the original design otherwise. Head over to the BBZnet for more photos.

Chevrolet Colorado successor spied almost completely camo-free

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in August 2011 versus 25 selling days in August 2010, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.

August 2011: Slow Recovery Edition

Here at Autoblog, we’re big fans of the Ford Raptor. So when Dodge announced that Mopar would be prepping a Ram for a head-to-head duel, we were quite excited to see the outcome of that project. Officially revealed in all its glory on March 28 of this year, the Ram Runner kit is offered in seven component sets that allow you to build your Ram up as much as you’d like.

We haven’t had the chance to test out the fully equipped Ram yet, but our friend Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com lined one up and took it out to the desert.

Levine teamed up with veteran Baja racer Kent Kroeker, whose KORE suspension company built the components for Mopar and Dodge. The KORE-assembled Ram Runner features every option available in the kit, and Levine put all of them to the test. The truck was driven hard in the desert, spent a little bit of time in the air and then shuttled through Los Angeles traffic.

How did it fare? Quite well, with the minor annoyance of an ABS system in need of recalibration. Read the write-up over at PickupTrucks.com to see why.

PickupTrucks.com tests Ram Runner by Kore, compares with Ford SVT Raptor