The next version of Autoblog is currently under development, but we’re ready to give everyone at what we’re working on. There’s a whole new look to the site, as well as tons of new features we can’t wait for you to check out. Here’s a list of just some of them:
Click here to log into Autoblog Beta. We’re reserving the privilege for only our Facebook followers, so if you’re not already a Facebook fan, you’ll need to become one in order to try it out.
And keep an eye out for the Beta Bar (below) at the bottom of Autoblog Beta, which you can use to switch between the current and Beta sites, as well as send us feedback on what you like and don’t like. We want Autoblog to be the best destination for automotive news and features, and your feedback will make the difference.
PS: Download the new if you haven’t yet and, if you like it, give the app a five-star rating.
UDPATE: Just to clarify, only access to Autoblog Beta will be controlled by logging in via Facebook; access to Autoblog.com is still as free and open as it’s always been. Also, we’ll only require logging in via Facebook for Autoblog Beta while the site is under development, after which it will replace the current site and not require logging in via Facebook.
UPDATE 2:If you’re not seeing any images on Autoblog Beta, try performing a hard refresh of your browser (hold down Shift and reload the page).
Imports: 2010 Woodward – Click above for high-res image gallery
Not everything that trawls the potholes of Woodward Ave. during the Dream Cruise was made in America. A lot of the cars aren’t from around here; they’re imports. We’re not just talking about Japanese cars, either. The imports at Woodward often hail from Europe, and are just as classic as anything that Detroit screwed together.
Truth be told, we didn’t capture as many foreign cars as we would have liked between dodging raindrops and trying fill all of our other galleries. But we went ahead and built a high-res gallery with the shots we got because, well, we got some really good ones of classic Porsche 911s, and we figured the Porschephiles among you could use some new desktop wallpaper. Enjoy!
Imports: 2010 Woodward – Click above for high-res image gallery
Not everything that trawls the potholes of Woodward Ave. during the Dream Cruise was made in America. A lot of cars aren’t from around here, and for all intents and purposes are imports. We’re not just talking about Japanese cars, either. These imports more often than not come from Europe, and are just as classic as anything that Detroit screwed together.
Truth be told, we didn’t capture as many imports as we would have liked in between dodging rain drops and trying fill all of our other galleries. But we went ahead and built a high-res gallery with the shots we got because, well, we got a few really good shots of some classic Porsche 911s, and we figured some of your Porsche fanatics might like a new desktop wallpaper. Enjoy!
For safety’s sake, most of what we hear about phones and cars in the same news piece is about not dialing or texting while driving. The rest is usually about connecting your phone to your car… so you don’t have to dial or text while driving. But once in a while it comes down to phones inspired by cars. has done a few, and so has – with a range of manufacturers from to . The latest, however, is the product of Maranello’s partnership with Taiwanese computer firm Acer.
The tie-in has already spawned a number of laptop computers, but as phones get smarter and smarter, they’ve evolved into small computers to the point that computer companies are becoming some of the biggest players in the mobile phone market. Acer’s flagship model is the Liquid E, a touchscreensmartphone with a Snapdragon processor running Google’s Android 2.1 mobile operating system. Now they’ve done up a special edition for Ferrari, decked out all in Rosso Corsa and coming paired up with a similarly trimmed Bluetooth earpiece.
Aside from the racy color treatment, the Ferrari edition Liquid E comes emblazoned with the Prancing Horse badge surrounded by carbon fiber trim, a microphone cutout designed after the air intake on the side of a Scuderia Ferrari F1 car, and will surely come packed with Ferrari-themed wallpapers, icons, screen savers and ring-tones. The model’s just been unveiled at the Computex trade show, so no word on pricing just yet, but expect that to be suitably Ferrari-inspired as well.
Audi R8 GT – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’ve already had enough of the , you’ve probably found this site by accident and you shouldn’t be here. Go away. Now if you’re still around, we needn’t remind you of the stripped down GT’s 560 horsepower5.2-liter V10 engine. Nor the 220 pound weight loss program and its 3.6 second run to 60 mph. If we’re speaking your language, then check out this newest batch of wallpaper-ready photos of the lightest, most powerful R8 courtesy Audi’s German website.
Since Audi only plans to produce 330 examples of its stunningly capable coupe, pictures could well be the closest many of us will ever get to four-ringed perfection. Bask in the beauty below.
We love our British buff books, but many times the double-digit price tag means that we’re relegated to reading them solely at the bookstore and not at home. EVO has come up with a compromise, and is now offering an interactive online magazine. The good part is that it’s free, but the bad part is that it’s not the full magazine. Still, it’s one of the better e-magazines we’ve seen, with embedded video, audio clips, photo galleries, desktop wallpaper and plenty of other cool stuff to click on.
The first issue starts off in typical EVO fashion with plenty of supercars. The editors review both the Ferrari 458 Italia and before comparing four super convertibles – the , , and . Plus there’s quick takes of the Spyker C8 Aileron and Volkswagen Golf R, the cars of the Geneva Motor Show, an update on the long-term Pagani Zonda and one of our favorite “classic” EVO videos.
Sound like your thing? or head over to and get your free copy every month.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, has issued a recall for 2005-2006 models. The government agency says that the recall applies to vehicles with tilt and telescoping steering wheels. Over time, the signals traveling through the steering wheel could become corrupted, resulting in an error message. That’s not all, though. The malfunction could also cause one side of the vehicle’s brakes to actuate and pull the car to the left or the right, thereby causing an accident.
A total of 40,028 Corvettes are involved in the recall, and GM says that it will replace the faulty parts free of charge. Owners can contact their local dealers or the NHTSA for more information.
Citroen Metropolis concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Citroën rarely disappoints when it comes to concept cars. This year, for example, we’ve already gotten the and . Its latest effort steps up the luxury in a big way. The , set to later this month, is a beautiful and very French take on the Maybach formula (whether PSA actually greenlights a production venture into such rarefied air remains to be seen.)
Some of the Metropoplis concept’s lines are similar to those first seen on the supercar, but they’re more elegant than outrageous as presented on this opulent saloon. A 460-horsepower hybrid powertrain has our interest piqued as well, but for now we’ll have to keep ourselves content with the photo dump that just hit Citroën’s media site. All the latest images are laid out in the high-resolution gallery below, desktop wallpaper-worthy images below, and begin counting down to this year’s Paris salon to see what Citroën has in store for us next.
Hondas with dogs – Click above for high-res image gallery
HondaJapan’s oddly compelling and inherently fascinating website includes useful consumer tidbits such as a visual guide to how well your poodle will fit in the CR-Z’s front passenger seat. (Before you start yelling how it’s the only passenger seat, know that .)
That’s not all, however. There’s stuff to entertain as well, including a whole page of desktop wallpapers featuring Hondas with various dogs that you can find below. Seriously. Vintage stuff, too. Civic RS with a Corgi? ? All present and accounted for. Check out a few samples in the gallery below, and head to the for even larger sizes.
