AutoDen

Spy Shots: ‘Ring-bound Aston Martin One-77 begs the question – Who is Dirty Shirley?

Addydas21 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:57:00 +0000

Filed under: Spy Photos , Coupe , Performance , Aston Martin “Dirty Shirley” Aston Martin One-77 spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery If you’re thinking, “This car looks familiar,” it’s because we’ve seen it before . The Aston Martin One-77 continues to tease us with its beauty, power and exclusivity, and our spies have caught the bronze test car out on the N

David Suzuki: Why even electric vehicles won’t save us

pete — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:31:00 +0000

Filed under: Etc. , EV/Plug-in , Green Culture Long-time environmental activist Dr. David Suzuki is unconvinced that a huge shift to electric vehicles will do enough to address the impact of our transportation culture. It’s clear that simply replacing internal combustion engines with electric drive powertrains will definitely reduce the direct pollution of operating vehicles, but Suzuki argues (correctly) that the total impact of the way our transportation system has evolved over the past century goes way beyond what comes out of the tailpipe.

Read the original here:
David Suzuki: Why even electric vehicles won’t save us

Video: BMW registers dontblogaboutthis.com, we can’t help it

pete — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:28:00 +0000

Filed under: Coupe , Etc. , Marketing/Advertising , BMW , Rumormill , Specialty Sorry, we just did – Click above to watch the video after the jump A new website called DontBlogAboutThis.com has surfaced, currently populated with two photos and two videos. The photos show an odd looking BMW 6 Series wearing skinny tires, a matte paint job and a don’t-look-at-me-no-please-look-at-me bumper sticker.

See the original post:
Video: BMW registers dontblogaboutthis.com, we can’t help it

2011 Fiat 500: Will It Be a Hit With American Families?

Uzair — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:21:00 +0000

With the success of the MINI Cooper, Smart ForTwo, and other small-but-very-fuel-efficient cars, the news that an American version of the Italian-spec 2011 Fiat 500 may be coming to the U.S. as early as the end of 2010 has caused more than a few automotive reviewers to stop and think. Will the tiny car be a hit with American consumers?

Read the original:
2011 Fiat 500: Will It Be a Hit With American Families?

62 mph in 4 secs, drag-racing 12,000 pounds up a mountain, or 60 mpg?

Uzair — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:09:39 +0000

Utterly senseless? Will fuel economy ever be cool? MotorTrend is salivating over the new ABT-Sportsline modified Audi TT-RS today. With specs like 0 – 62 in 4 seconds and a top speed of 181 mph, what gear head wouldn’t act as if his bell had just been wrung? Yet, if all the effort put into achieving such power had been put into achieving fuel economy, 60 mpg would already be an after-thought

Originally posted here:
62 mph in 4 secs, drag-racing 12,000 pounds up a mountain, or 60 mpg?

Jeremy Clarkson calls The Stig a ‘Greedy Tw*t’ [w/poll]

pete — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:56:00 +0000

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs , UK , Celebrities It would seem that the vitriol between the trio of presenters on Top Gear and Ben Collins , the man behind the Stig’s helmet, isn’t just for show. During a recent charity event, Jeremy Clarkson , arguably the leader of the TG three amigos, made it clear just how he feels about Collins’ unmasking of himself by calling the former tame racing driver “The Greedy Tw*t.” That’s certainly one way to put it. Rumors began dusting up over whether or not Ben Collins was the racer in white after it was widely publicized that Collins was seeking to publish a book on his life as the White Stig. The BBC attempted to file an injunction stopping the publisher from moving forward, but a judge found that there was no reason to stop Collins from moving forward

Read more from the original source:
Jeremy Clarkson calls The Stig a ‘Greedy Tw*t’ [w/poll]

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 9.7.10

Addydas21 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:50:00 +0000

First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Equus The Hyundai Equus isn’t Phaeton Part Deux – it’s the ultimate value proposition. Consumer Reports picks side in V6 pony car wars If you’re debating between the sultry styling of the Chevrolet Camaro V6 and the downright impressive sports car performance of the Ford Mustang V6, CR has something to make up your mind. 2011 Bentley Continental GT arrives with new design, optional V8 The Continental GT goes under the knife and comes back with new sheetmetal and an optional V8. Also of interest: Scion tC to get TRD performance version?

Read more from the original source:
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 9.7.10

Valet Parking Always A Little Risky: Tips To Minimize Mischief

Uzair — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Leaving your car with valet parking attendants? It’s likely it will be responsibly parked, with the keys placed on a wall or in a drawer. But if you’re not as lucky—or if you drive something irresistibly flashy like a Porsche 911 Turbo or a Lamborghini Gallardo—it could turn into a scene right out of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

See the original post here:
Valet Parking Always A Little Risky: Tips To Minimize Mischief

Video: 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit police car leaks out

pete — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:31:00 +0000

Filed under: Sedan , Videos , Dodge , Police/Emergency Dodge Charger police pursuit vehicle revealed – Click above to watch the video after the jump This all seems a bit backwards. Chrysler has yet to release the official details and images about the 2011 Dodge Charger , but we already have the skinny on the Charger Pursuit , Dodge ‘s work-ready police car set to hit the streets in just a few months. And while only one official image of the Charger cop car has been revealed, a new video gives us a walk-around of Chrysler’s latest pursuit vehicle. Recorded at what appears to be some sort of police fleet convention, this poorly-lit amateur video gives us a nearly complete view of what the 2011 Charger’s exterior will look like when gussied up for police duty.

See the article here:
Video: 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit police car leaks out

Video: ECTunes solves silent electric vehicle "problem" with directional noise system

pete — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:26:00 +0000

Filed under: Etc. , EV/Plug-in , Green Daily ECTunes equipped vehicle – Click above to watch video after the jump The issue of whether or not noise should be added to electric vehicles (EVs) always seems to elicit a heated discussion . On one side of the argument, blind advocacy groups push for added noises because they believe that without an alert system, near-silent EVs present an added risk . On the flip side, there’s a slew of advocates who firmly believe that adding sound to EVs creates unnecessary noise pollution. The arguments from both sides aren’t likely to die down, but ECTunes , a small company based in Horsens, Denmark, believes it has developed a solution that could please those who demand noiseless cars, while also satisfying safety concerns.

See more here:
Video: ECTunes solves silent electric vehicle "problem" with directional noise system

Failed suicide attempt results in 39-story fall onto Dodge Charger

Addydas21 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:24:33 +0000

When Dodge set out to makes its Charger sedan safe, it is unlikely it considered the safety of people falling onto the vehicle from 39 stories above. Dodge – Dodge Charger – Suicide – Sedan – Recreation

See the rest here:
Failed suicide attempt results in 39-story fall onto Dodge Charger

New Shelby Ford Mustang models could include V6, twin-turbo GT500

Addydas21 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:55:00 +0000

Filed under: Aftermarket , Concept Cars , Coupe , Performance , Ford Shelby Mustang Concepts – Click above for image gallery Earlier this year, Shelby announced it would focus less on building complete cars and more on selling parts , and that transition began when the company brought much of its manufacturing in-house and created a new speed shop to customize Mustangs at its Las Vegas facility. Looking to the future, Shelby has now posted a query online asking its customers what they want to see from the company, and in the process it’s proposed four Mustang aftermarket packages ranging from a V6 model to a twin-turbo Shelby GT500 . While probably the least likely to appeal to the everyday Mustang enthusiast because of its cost ($100,000 not including the car), the twin-turbo GT500 obviously caught our attention.

See the rest here:
New Shelby Ford Mustang models could include V6, twin-turbo GT500

In Push to Small Global Hybrids, Toyota Will Build Yaris Hybrid

pete — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:49:24 +0000

Toyota Yaris In what could become the next chapter of the hybrid car saga, Toyota is planning to produce small, affordable high-mpg hybrids. The downsizing of hybrids, at first in Europe and Asia, could represent the technology’s shift to mainstream global markets where economies of scale would mean dramatic increases in hybrid production. The Mid-Japan Economist newspaper today reported that Toyota plans to produce a hybrid version of the Yaris subcompact at its factory in France starting next April.

More here:
In Push to Small Global Hybrids, Toyota Will Build Yaris Hybrid

Car Dealers Give Proposed New Fuel Economy Label a Failing Grade

Addydas21 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:37 +0000

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency submitted three fuel economy label concepts for public review. One of those designs—referred to in the agency’s seven-page brochure as “Label 1″—was a large sticker with a prominently displayed letter grade that would be given to every auto model that goes on sale in the United States. The grades range from D to A+ based on a fuel economy grading system whose details aren’t available and are probably yet to be finalized. Today, the National Automobile Dealers Association came out against that option , saying that the letter grades would confuse consumers and be unfair because they are “imbued with schoolyard memories of passing and failing.” The EPA is determined to move forward with some form of new labeling scheme and is currently reviewing feedback for the three proposed designs during a 60-day public comment period. “New fuel economy labels will keep pace with the new generation of fuel efficient cars and trucks rolling off the line, and provide simple, straightforward updates to inform consumers about their choices in a rapidly changing market,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in a press release.

More:
Car Dealers Give Proposed New Fuel Economy Label a Failing Grade

Toyota’s Daihatsu Motor Co. recalls 581,192 minicars

pete — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:32:00 +0000

Filed under: MPG , Toyota , Green Daily , Lightweight Toyota’s minicar division, Daihatsu Motor Co. , has announced that it will recall more than half a million cars due to taillight lenses that can fade from long-term UV exposure. Apparently, the vehicle’s rear lenses, which are originally orange in color, can loose their lustrous glow as the sun’s penetrating rays sap the orange right out of them and turn the lenses an off-white hue. This presents a safety risk to other motorists because the turn signals flash white rather than the expected amber hue

View original post here:
Toyota’s Daihatsu Motor Co. recalls 581,192 minicars

Pagani Zonda HH commissioner revealed as 30-year-old Chicago software mogul

Addydas21 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:27:00 +0000

Filed under: Convertible , Performance , Europe Pagani Zonda HH – Click above for image gallery Even with the new model around the corner, Pagani has no problem putting out special editions of the current Zonda faster than Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s. The latest came in the form of the Zonda HH , a one-off blending the best bits from the Zonda Cinque edition and the Zonda F Roadster in a delicious blue package that looks about as drool-worthy as they come. The big question on enthusiasts’ minds, though, was just who commissioned the latest unique Zonda.

See the original post:
Pagani Zonda HH commissioner revealed as 30-year-old Chicago software mogul

MotoGP 2010: Don’t call it a comeback at Misano… just yet [SPOILER]

Addydas21 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:03:00 +0000

Filed under: Motorsports , Performance , Motorcycle , Celebrities , Racing When Dani Pedrosa left Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week, there’s little doubt he was the envy of his fellow MotoGP contenders. The Spaniard clinched victory, proving that he possessed not only the speed, but also the fortitude to truly challenge Jorge Lorenzo. The question on everyone’s mind was this: Could Pedrosa and Repsol Honda really mount a solid comeback?

Continue reading here:
MotoGP 2010: Don’t call it a comeback at Misano… just yet [SPOILER]

Sportier Subaru Forester to debut soon; U.S.-bound?

Addydas21 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:45:45 +0000

Subaru might be getting back into the performance arena with its popular Forester crossover – if the latest reports are to be believed. Subaru – Subaru Forester – United States – Makes and Models – Recreation

Follow this link:
Sportier Subaru Forester to debut soon; U.S.-bound?

Jeremy Clarkson "Hurt" By Ben Collins, Calls Him "Greedy" [Top Gear]

Uzair — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:30:00 +0000

In a taped interview, Top Gear ‘s Jeremy Clarkson talks frankly about the Ben Collins/Stig controversy and shares how hurt he was by Collins. He also hints at the uncertain future of the character. More

Peugeot iOn to lease for €499 / month in France

Uzair — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:29:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Mitsubishi , Peugeot , Paris Motor Show 2011 Peugeot iOn – Click above for high-res image gallery Peugeot has announced pricing for the iOn electric commuter car ahead of its debut in production form at the Paris Motor Show later this month. When the iOn becomes available, Peugeot will be offering a five year lease deal that will cost €499 per month (including value-added tax) in France. The lease is all-inclusive and covers the battery warranty and all servicing and roadside assistance for five years or 50,000 kilometers.