http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/VrARd1lH2zE/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/alt-fuel-cars-unsustainable-without-government-assistance/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/alt-fuel-cars-unsustainable-without-government-assistance/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/electric/" rel="tag">Electric</a></p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-technology/alternative-powertrains-can-t-survive-without-government-help-experts-say"><img alt="Chevrolet Volt Charger" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/volt-charger-628.jpg" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 628px; height: 417px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a><br /> <br /> According to the 2012 U.S. Automotive Industry Survey and Confidence Index by Booz &amp; Co., <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/alternative/">alternative</a> vehicle powertrains may take up as much as 10 percent of the total market by 2020, but only if the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/federal government">federal government</a> continues to support development.<br /> <br /> Without a helping hand from Uncle Sam, only 30 percent of the researchers, executives and consumers who participated in the survey believe alternative-fuel machines will be able to carve out that small slice of the market. Specifically, federal <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/tax%20incentives/">tax incentives</a> for potential buyers could help push the technology forward in the future.<br /> <br /> According to <em>Wards Auto</em>, further development faces a double hurdle. First, additional urban planning is required to demonstrate <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/plug in hybrid">plug-in hybrids</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/ev">EVs</a> will be viable options for buyers, but at the same time, government agencies also need to see fuel cell and battery costs come down before being willing to pony up for chargers or incentives.<br /> <br /> Even so, 70 percent of those surveyed said they were more confident about future hybrid demand than they were in 2011. Take a look at the full survey results <a href="http://www.booz.com/media/file/BoozCo_2012-US-Automotive-Industry-Survey-and-Confidence-Index.pdf">here</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/alt-fuel-cars-unsustainable-without-government-assistance/">Alt-fuel cars unsustainable without government assistance</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 25 May 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/alt-fuel-cars-unsustainable-without-government-assistance/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244535/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/alt-fuel-cars-unsustainable-without-government-assistance/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/H633vac_vG3oOGET1QOPl4pq878/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/H633vac_vG3oOGET1QOPl4pq878/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/H633vac_vG3oOGET1QOPl4pq878/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/H633vac_vG3oOGET1QOPl4pq878/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=VrARd1lH2zE:3C8LnE57Nl0:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=VrARd1lH2zE:3C8LnE57Nl0:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=VrARd1lH2zE:3C8LnE57Nl0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=VrARd1lH2zE:3C8LnE57Nl0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/VrARd1lH2zE" height="1" width="1"/>alternativealternative fuelelectricfederal governmentfuel cellhybridplug in hybridtax incentivestechnologyus automotive industry study and confidence indexwards autoFri, 25 May 2012 09:59:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/alt-fuel-cars-unsustainable-without-government-assistance/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/anNnCzMKSEQ/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/2013-bmw-7-series-arrives-with-more-power-gadgets-and-safety/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/2013-bmw-7-series-arrives-with-more-power-gadgets-and-safety/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-bmw-7-series/"><img alt="2013 BMW 7 Series, dynamic shot, front three-quarter view" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/2013bmw7series2.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 419px; " /></a><br /> <br /> The 2013 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/7+series">BMW 7 Series</a> gets incremental improvements everywhere. Outside the changes are minimal: fewer vertical slats inside the kidney grille and a larger chrome surround, two horizontal chrome accents bars splitting the lower intake, restyled side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, and new shades of red on the taillights. Inside are resculpted front seats, more soundproofing, redesigned ambient lighting, an updated <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/idrive/">iDrive controller</a> and "floating" screens for the Rear Seat Entertainment package, and an optional Bang &amp; Olufsen sound system. Along with those changes, the look of the navigation system has been updated with new menu organization, displays, a "pie menu" and 3D elements. The Attention Assistant system provides gives BMW drivers their own coffee cup icon to remind you when it's time to rest and hands-free trunk operation makes its first appearance in the range.<br /> <br /> The eight-speed steptronic transmission, fitted to every model, allows the new 7 to make more of its engines. Under the hood, the inline six-cylinder in the 740i maintains the same power ratings, 315 horsepower and 330 lb-ft, but is mated to the new eight-speed Steptronic transmission and said to have "significantly improved" efficiency, with a 20 percent increase noted in the EU cycle. The 4.4-liter V8 in the 750i gets fitted with Valvetronic and gets bumps of 45 hp and 30 lb-ft, for 445 hp and 480 lb-ft total. The changes reduce its 0-60 time to 4.7 seconds, at the same time as fuel economy on the EU cycle climbs 25 percent with the new transmission.<br /> <br /> The second-gen <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bmw+activehybrid+7">ActiveHybrid 7</a> drops down an engine size, swapping its previous V8 for the 3.0-liter six-cylinder from the 740. It's yoked to a 55-hp synchronous motor. Rated at a combined 349 hp and 367 lb-ft, BMW says it is 14 percent more fuel efficient than the 740i.<br /> <br /> Both the 740i and 750i will come with a new powertrain management system dubbed ECO PRO that joins the other Driving Dynamics Control settings and that includes a coasting mode operable between 30 and 100 mph. Other driving enhancements include Dynamic Damper Control, an electronically controlled damping system that works on each shock individually dependent on road conditions, self-leveling rear suspension now standard on all models, and xDrive available on the 740i.<br /> <br /> Both the 740i and 750i will arrive in showrooms this summer, the ActiveHybrid 7 coming this fall. The high-res gallery above can show you what's coming, scroll down to read all about it in the press release.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/2013-bmw-7-series-arrives-with-more-power-gadgets-and-safety/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2013 BMW 7 Series arrives with more power, gadgets and safety</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/2013-bmw-7-series-arrives-with-more-power-gadgets-and-safety/">2013 BMW 7 Series arrives with more power, gadgets and safety</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 25 May 2012 09:34:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/2013-bmw-7-series-arrives-with-more-power-gadgets-and-safety/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244838/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/2013-bmw-7-series-arrives-with-more-power-gadgets-and-safety/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kc5xVrauXkJYv8WHOMwUzVx6uas/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kc5xVrauXkJYv8WHOMwUzVx6uas/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kc5xVrauXkJYv8WHOMwUzVx6uas/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kc5xVrauXkJYv8WHOMwUzVx6uas/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=anNnCzMKSEQ:P9NySBorxg4:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=anNnCzMKSEQ:P9NySBorxg4:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=anNnCzMKSEQ:P9NySBorxg4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=anNnCzMKSEQ:P9NySBorxg4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/anNnCzMKSEQ" height="1" width="1"/>2013 bmw 7 series7 series7-series740740i740li750750i750li760liactivehybrid 7bmwbmw activehybrid 7Fri, 25 May 2012 09:34:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/2013-bmw-7-series-arrives-with-more-power-gadgets-and-safety/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/4LvpStekLc8/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/motorcycle-fatalities-stay-steady-while-auto-deaths-decline/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/motorcycle-fatalities-stay-steady-while-auto-deaths-decline/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorcycles/" rel="tag">Motorcycle</a></p><a href="http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/motorcyclist-death-rates-appear-to-have-plateaued/"><img alt="crashed motorcycle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/crashed-motorcycle.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 419px;" /></a><br /> <br /> The numbers haven't been definitively crunched, but it is expected that the estimated 32,310 traffic fatalities in 2011 were the lowest on record in the 62 years that records have been kept. Yet the good news about the total number of fatalities masks regrettable news for traffic safety authorities: automobile fatalities are down, but motorcycle fatalities are up.<br /> <br /> After a steady rise in motorcyclist death rates through the first decade of the new century, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/27/first-drop-in-motorcycle-related-deaths-in-a-decade-are-we-real/">numbers fell</a> in 2009 and the beginning of 2010. Observers hoped the trend would continue, but that didn't happen when deaths ticked up slightly over the course of 2010 and stayed steady through 2011.<br /> <br /> Causes are varied, from high gas prices leading more people to ride motorcycles to inadequate training for both riders and automobile drivers on how to ply the roads safely. A report breaking down the numbers also "noted that 29 percent of fatally injured riders in 2010 had a blood-alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit, and 35 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding." It didn't, however, indicate how much of those numbers overlapped - how many of those riders were over the limit when they died.<br /> <br /> Nor does it look like current developments will allay the trend in the near-term. Only 19 states require riders to wear helmets, Michigan just repealed its compulsory helmet law and five other states are considering such measures. Again, the overall number of fatalities is welcome news considering how many more people and cars there are on the roads now compared to 1949, but the takeaway for motorcyclists is that there is now more reason to be extra careful when you ride.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/motorcycle-fatalities-stay-steady-while-auto-deaths-decline/">Motorcycle fatalities stay steady while auto deaths decline</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 25 May 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/motorcycle-fatalities-stay-steady-while-auto-deaths-decline/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20243284/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/motorcycle-fatalities-stay-steady-while-auto-deaths-decline/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qSjgNHhojrsLf0GlYcheNJcvqYc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qSjgNHhojrsLf0GlYcheNJcvqYc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qSjgNHhojrsLf0GlYcheNJcvqYc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qSjgNHhojrsLf0GlYcheNJcvqYc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=4LvpStekLc8:y6aI54bQgU8:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=4LvpStekLc8:y6aI54bQgU8:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=4LvpStekLc8:y6aI54bQgU8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=4LvpStekLc8:y6aI54bQgU8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/4LvpStekLc8" height="1" width="1"/>car accidentsfatalitiesmotorcycle accidentsmotorcycle fatalitiesmotorcyclesnational highway traffic safety administrationroad safetytraffic fatalitiesFri, 25 May 2012 08:59:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/motorcycle-fatalities-stay-steady-while-auto-deaths-decline/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/pfS9f2No5zA/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/renault-fetes-red-bull-racing-with-special-edition-twingo/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/renault-fetes-red-bull-racing-with-special-edition-twingo/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/renault/" rel="tag">Renault</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/renault-twingo-rs-red-bull-rb7/"><img alt="Renault Twingo RS Red Bull RB7" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/twingo-rb7.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 396px;" /></a><br /> <br /> Used to be if <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/renault">Renault</a> wanted to celebrate a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/f1">Formula One</a> team with special edition, it would celebrate its own. But having sold the bulk of its own team to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lotus">Lotus</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/genii">Genii Capital</a> in favor of supplying engines to a greater variety of independent teams, its latest commemorative hot hatches honor the (current) king of them all: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/red+bull">Red Bull Racing</a>.<br /> <br /> Just a couple of months ago, Renaultsport rolled out the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/14/renault-celebrates-red-bull-partnership-with-special-edition-cli/">special RBR edition Clio</a>, and is now following up with a similar treatment applied to the smaller <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/twingo">Twingo</a> (with a special edition Megane to follow). Celebrating the team's 2011 constructors' title and the Renault-powered car that got them there, the Twingo RS Red Bull Racing <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/01/red-bull-and-toro-rosso-launch-2011-f1-cars-trackside-at-valenci/">RB7</a> features a black and yellow livery (though we don't know what the color scheme has to do with the team that races in dark blue with red), the otherwise optional Cup suspension, blacked-out 17-inch alloys and the RS Monitor onboard telemetry system.<br /> <br /> Order books are opening in June across nine markets in Europe and in Japan. But even if you're not in one of them, you can still <a href="/2012/05/25/renault-fetes-red-bull-racing-with-special-edition-twingo/#continued">scroll on down</a> for the full press release and scope out the images in the high-resolution image gallery above.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/renault-fetes-red-bull-racing-with-special-edition-twingo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Renault fetes Red Bull Racing with special edition Twingo</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/renault-fetes-red-bull-racing-with-special-edition-twingo/">Renault fetes Red Bull Racing with special edition Twingo</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 25 May 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/renault-fetes-red-bull-racing-with-special-edition-twingo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20242716/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/renault-fetes-red-bull-racing-with-special-edition-twingo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zBg1ENOANCZaeERhCTfXcPeYMhQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zBg1ENOANCZaeERhCTfXcPeYMhQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zBg1ENOANCZaeERhCTfXcPeYMhQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zBg1ENOANCZaeERhCTfXcPeYMhQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=pfS9f2No5zA:hSJknKDpGbs:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=pfS9f2No5zA:hSJknKDpGbs:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=pfS9f2No5zA:hSJknKDpGbs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=pfS9f2No5zA:hSJknKDpGbs:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/pfS9f2No5zA" height="1" width="1"/>rb7red bullred bull racingrenaultrenault twingo rs red bull racing rb7renaultsportrenaultsport twingorstwingotwingo rsFri, 25 May 2012 08:31:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/renault-fetes-red-bull-racing-with-special-edition-twingo/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/IAeJ7RzMHA8/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/mercedes-benz-rolls-out-the-gold-carpet-in-cannes/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/mercedes-benz-rolls-out-the-gold-carpet-in-cannes/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/design-style/" rel="tag">Design/Style</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mercedes-benz-at-2012-cannes-international-film-festival/"><img alt="Mercedes-Benz at 2012 Cannes International Film Festival" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/mb-cannes-gold.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 386px; " /></a><br /> <br /> We've seen some rather unfortunately garish chrome-jobs in our day, and yes, some have even ladled on the shiny stuff in gold. Many of those have also been <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz">Mercedes-Benz</a> vehicles. But while we've come to expect that kind of bling from owners with cash coming out of their Ferragamo shoes, we didn't expect the same treatment to be carried out by Mercedes-Benz itself on its own vehicles.<br /> <br /> We were wrong. Because that's precisely what the German automaker had in store for this year's Cannes International Film Festival. For the awarding of the prestigious 65th Palme d'Or, Benz rolled out a fleet of vehicles wrapped in gold in which it shuttled around movie stars and other celebrities. Among the attendees were the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/cls-class/">CLS</a> four-door coupe, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/m-class">ML</a> sport-ute and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/">S-Class </a>limousine.<br /> <br /> The AMG division was also on hand to show off the new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/04/2013-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-packs-an-earth-moving-738-pound-feet/">SL65</a> and offer celebrities a chance to drive their latest offerings. Hopefully those convinced on the Cote d'Azur to place an order will have the good sense to forgo the gilded treatment, though. See what Daimler had to say for itself in the <a href="/2012/05/22/mercedes-benz-rolls-out-the-gold-carpet-in-cannes/#continued">press release below</a>.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/mercedes-benz-rolls-out-the-gold-carpet-in-cannes/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Mercedes-Benz rolls out the gold carpet in Cannes</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/mercedes-benz-rolls-out-the-gold-carpet-in-cannes/">Mercedes-Benz rolls out the gold carpet in Cannes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 25 May 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/mercedes-benz-rolls-out-the-gold-carpet-in-cannes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20242955/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/mercedes-benz-rolls-out-the-gold-carpet-in-cannes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5urkB4DrMuy8n2gCvV79WDF1nNY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5urkB4DrMuy8n2gCvV79WDF1nNY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5urkB4DrMuy8n2gCvV79WDF1nNY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5urkB4DrMuy8n2gCvV79WDF1nNY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=IAeJ7RzMHA8:yK0IOds8w24:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=IAeJ7RzMHA8:yK0IOds8w24:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=IAeJ7RzMHA8:yK0IOds8w24:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=IAeJ7RzMHA8:yK0IOds8w24:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/IAeJ7RzMHA8" height="1" width="1"/>cannescannes film festivalcannes international film festivalchromeclscls-classfilm festivallimousinemercedes-benzmlml-classpalme dors classs-classFri, 25 May 2012 08:01:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/mercedes-benz-rolls-out-the-gold-carpet-in-cannes/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/cipkBHWqx5A/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/middle-east/" rel="tag">Middle East</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">MISC</a></p><a href="/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/#continued"><img alt="McLaren MP4-12C in Abu Dhabi" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/mclaren-abu-dhabi.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 419px;" /></a><br /> <br /> The Middle East is an enormously vital market for <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/mclaren">McLaren</a>, and not just because its oil barons have the cash to buy as many <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/mp4-12c">MP4-12C</a> supercars as they and every member of their family could possibly want. While the team has only won the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/abu+dhabi+grand+prix">Abu Dhabi Grand Prix</a> once and has yet to do the same at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bahrain+grand+prix">Bahrain Grand Prix</a> - the only two in the region (discounting <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/turkish+grand+prix">Turkey</a>), the company is part owned by Saudi businessman Mansour Ojjeh, and another part by the royal family of Bahrain.<br /> <br /> Little wonder, then, that the upstart McLaren Automotive is setting up no fewer than six dealerships in the Middle East, the first of which has just opened its doors. To mark the occasion, McLaren took its new MP4-12C to the dunes of Abu Dhabi and around the Yas Island Marina Circuit and brought a camera crew - armed with a RED video camera and Canon's new 1DX - along for the ride. The resulting high-resolution images and footage are worth a glance, so check 'em out in the gallery below, the <a href="/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/#continued">video below</a> that and the press release below them both.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Watch the McLaren MP4-12C hit the dunes of Abu Dhabi</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/">Watch the McLaren MP4-12C hit the dunes of Abu Dhabi</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244506/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LbV5FyNysiW61aB-3Lwex6M9uZU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LbV5FyNysiW61aB-3Lwex6M9uZU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LbV5FyNysiW61aB-3Lwex6M9uZU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LbV5FyNysiW61aB-3Lwex6M9uZU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=cipkBHWqx5A:6bljHSW1lXg:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=cipkBHWqx5A:6bljHSW1lXg:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=cipkBHWqx5A:6bljHSW1lXg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=cipkBHWqx5A:6bljHSW1lXg:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/cipkBHWqx5A" height="1" width="1"/>abu dhabimclarenmclaren automotivemclaren mp4-12cmp4-12cuaeunited arab emiratesvideoyas islandyas marinaThu, 24 May 2012 20:01:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/watch-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-hit-the-dunes-of-abu-dhabi/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/NrqvIU8F6bQ/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a></p><a href="/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/#continued"><img height="393" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/20120524-chrysler-imported-from-detroit.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /><br /> <br /> Chrysler</a> Group's "Imported from Detroit" ad campaign grabbed top honors Wednesday night in New York City, winning the <a href="http://www.effie.org/pressroom/5_23_12">North American Grand Effie Award</a> as the most effective ad in the nation.<br /> <br /> "Imported from Detroit was the Grand Effie winner because they sold the product, the category and the city," said Deborah Sandler, President, Mars Chocolate North American and a Grand Effie jury member, in a news release.<br /> <br /> Indeed. The two-minute Super Bowl commercial, titled "Born of Fire", created a huge buzz for the city and for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chrysler/200/">Chrysler 200</a>. The agencies Wieden+Kennedy and Universal McCann created it and Chrysler capitalized on it.<br /> <br /> "The success of this campaign has contributed significantly to the company's sales growth over 2010, and as a result of this success, Chrysler has paid off their government bailout six years early," Chrysler said in its entry.<br /> <br /> Other automotive winners at the Effie Awards included <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/porsche/">Porsche</a> grabbing second place in the automotive category for "How Porsche created new relevance for a revered icon," and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/">Chevrolet</a> taking third for "<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/volt/">Chevy Volt</a>, it's more than electric."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/kia/">Kia</a> also grabbed a third-place honor in the Single Impact Engagement category for its "Not your average slam dunk" commercial.<br /> <br /> And for those feeling nostalgic, <a href="/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/#continued">scroll down</a> and check out the original commercial. It <em>still</em> gives us chills. You can also read more about the Effie Awards in the included press release.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>"Imported from Detroit" wins Grand Effie award for effective advertising</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/">"Imported from Detroit" wins Grand Effie award for effective advertising</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244364/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qvrahpIKbk310eUTsUesjTpwP6c/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qvrahpIKbk310eUTsUesjTpwP6c/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qvrahpIKbk310eUTsUesjTpwP6c/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qvrahpIKbk310eUTsUesjTpwP6c/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=NrqvIU8F6bQ:RjVXRIuCgyM:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=NrqvIU8F6bQ:RjVXRIuCgyM:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=NrqvIU8F6bQ:RjVXRIuCgyM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=NrqvIU8F6bQ:RjVXRIuCgyM:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/NrqvIU8F6bQ" height="1" width="1"/>advertisingadvertising awardchryslerchrysler adchrysler commercialdetroiteffie awardsgrand effieimported from detroitThu, 24 May 2012 19:30:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/imported-from-detroit-wins-grand-effie-award-for-effective-adv/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/kAivDo5VDzQ/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a></p><a href="/2012/05/23/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/#continued"><img alt="Nissan Easy Fill Tire Alert System" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/easyfill-opt.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 355px;" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/">Nissan</a> is moving to make its Easy Fill Tire Alert system standard equipment on its 2013 model year vehicles. Taking the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2007/08/29/know-about-tpms-you-will-and-soon/">federally mandated</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/tire+pressure+monitoring+system/">tire pressure monitoring system</a> to the next logical step, the Nissan system honks the car's horn when you've inflated your tires to the correct pressure. No more reading the tire pressure placard on the door jamb and hunting around in the glovebox for a pressure gauge.<br /> <br /> While Nissan actually introduced this feature beginning with the 2011 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/quest/">Quest</a> minivan, its proliferation throughout the lineup makes sense. After all, it's a good idea, and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/04/study-one-third-of-drivers-dont-know-what-this-dashboard-light/">most motorists can't be bothered to care about tire pressure</a>, despite its importance for both fuel economy and on-road safety. If Nissan's system can actually encourage a few of those disinterested drivers to maintain proper tire inflation pressures, it's a win for all.<br /> <br /> <a href="/2012/05/24/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/#continued">Scroll down</a> to watch a Nissan-produced video demonstrating the feature on the company's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/altima/">2013 Altima</a> and read the press release.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Nissan's Easy Fill idiot-proofs tire inflation</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/">Nissan's Easy Fill idiot-proofs tire inflation</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244171/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3xPkcdHrIj4ORwCadh9eLYw4A_Y/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3xPkcdHrIj4ORwCadh9eLYw4A_Y/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3xPkcdHrIj4ORwCadh9eLYw4A_Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3xPkcdHrIj4ORwCadh9eLYw4A_Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=kAivDo5VDzQ:mnpnxh-yxXo:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=kAivDo5VDzQ:mnpnxh-yxXo:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=kAivDo5VDzQ:mnpnxh-yxXo:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=kAivDo5VDzQ:mnpnxh-yxXo:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/kAivDo5VDzQ" height="1" width="1"/>altimaeasy fillnissantire inflationtire pressuretire pressure monitoring systemtpmsThu, 24 May 2012 19:01:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nissans-easy-fill-idiot-proofs-tire-inflation/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/RD16jwFCux0/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/volkswagen-to-launch-new-beetle-convertible-with-three-decade-ed/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/volkswagen-to-launch-new-beetle-convertible-with-three-decade-ed/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/la-auto-show/" rel="tag">LA Auto Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-roof-down/#photo-4979500"><img alt="Volkswagen E-Bugster concept" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/e-bugster.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 378px;" /></a><br /> <br /> Say what you will about the whole retro design trend that gave us such vehicles as the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mini">Mini</a>, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chrysler/pt+cruiser/">Chrysler PT Cruiser</a>, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/ford+gt">Ford GT</a> and the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/fiat+500">Fiat 500</a>, but it has been (neo <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/thunderbird">Thunderbird</a> notwithstanding) a rather successful formula for several automakers, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/">Volkswagen</a> chief among them. The German automaker is now on its third generation of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/beetle/">Beetle</a>, and is preparing to launch the new convertible version at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/la-auto-show/">Los Angeles Auto Show</a> in the fall (previewed by the E-Bugster concept pictured above). And when it does, it is slated to go even more retro.<br /> <br /> That much, according to <em>Car and Driver</em>, will come in three special launch editions. Each one will be dedicated to a specific decade from the original Beetle's long history - tipped to center around the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Special touches will be period-specific, including unique colors, seat upholstery and even white-wall tires. We'll have to wait a few months to see how many of these particular details pan out, but recent history has been replete with launch editions from Volkswagen.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/volkswagen-to-launch-new-beetle-convertible-with-three-decade-ed/">Volkswagen to launch new Beetle convertible with three decade editions</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 18:32:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/volkswagen-to-launch-new-beetle-convertible-with-three-decade-ed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244427/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/volkswagen-to-launch-new-beetle-convertible-with-three-decade-ed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z7MfGWB4hw_vgC1kk8_c2m6rRIY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z7MfGWB4hw_vgC1kk8_c2m6rRIY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z7MfGWB4hw_vgC1kk8_c2m6rRIY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z7MfGWB4hw_vgC1kk8_c2m6rRIY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=RD16jwFCux0:v7OweRv_RTE:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=RD16jwFCux0:v7OweRv_RTE:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=RD16jwFCux0:v7OweRv_RTE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=RD16jwFCux0:v7OweRv_RTE:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/RD16jwFCux0" height="1" width="1"/>beetlela 2012la auto showlos angeles 2012los angeles auto showvolkswagenvolkswagen beetle convertibleThu, 24 May 2012 18:32:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/volkswagen-to-launch-new-beetle-convertible-with-three-decade-ed/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/vagZQOgUq4s/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nhtsa-broadening-chevy-cruze-fire-probe-to-370-000-sedans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nhtsa-broadening-chevy-cruze-fire-probe-to-370-000-sedans/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/recalls-tsbs/" rel="tag">Recalls</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chevrolet/" rel="tag">Chevrolet</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-chevrolet-cruze-eco-review/"><img alt="2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco - red - front three-quarter view" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/2012-chevrolet-cruze-eco-review.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px; " /></a><br /> <br /> The <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a> has expanded its investigation into Chevrolet Cruze engine fires to two model years.<br /> <br /> In April, NHTSA began investigating two complaints concerning fires erupting in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/cruze/">2011 Cruze</a> engine compartments. Now, <em>Reuters</em> is reporting that the government agency has added 2012 Cruze models to the list, upping the number of total vehicles from 177,000 to 370,000.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/general+motors/">General Motors</a> told <em>Reuters</em> it has cooperated with investigators and there have been no reported injuries or accidents related to the probe.<br /> <br /> According to a pair of complaints filed on NHTSA's website, two Cruze sedans were on the the open road when smoke began streaming out from under the hood. A few minutes later, the cars were ravaged by fire.<br /> <br /> "In two minutes, the car was fully engulfed and flames were 15-feet high," one complaint said. "GM needs to find out and correct this problem before someone get [sic] seriously hurt."<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nhtsa-broadening-chevy-cruze-fire-probe-to-370-000-sedans/">NHTSA broadening Chevy Cruze fire probe to 370,000 sedans</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nhtsa-broadening-chevy-cruze-fire-probe-to-370-000-sedans/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244525/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nhtsa-broadening-chevy-cruze-fire-probe-to-370-000-sedans/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3DHFdA4gk21wsbATdpY5yoZqY2U/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3DHFdA4gk21wsbATdpY5yoZqY2U/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3DHFdA4gk21wsbATdpY5yoZqY2U/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3DHFdA4gk21wsbATdpY5yoZqY2U/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=vagZQOgUq4s:dry1zVD2tFY:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=vagZQOgUq4s:dry1zVD2tFY:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=vagZQOgUq4s:dry1zVD2tFY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=vagZQOgUq4s:dry1zVD2tFY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/vagZQOgUq4s" height="1" width="1"/>2013 chevrolet cruzechevroletchevrolet cruzechevycruzegmnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsaThu, 24 May 2012 18:01:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/nhtsa-broadening-chevy-cruze-fire-probe-to-370-000-sedans/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/JFyvKUMZ6lQ/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/bmw-1-series-sedan-detailed/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/bmw-1-series-sedan-detailed/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-bmw-1-series-five-door-quick-spin/#photo-4297897"><img height="417" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/bmw1sedan.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br /> <br /> The engorged dimensions of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/3+series">BMW 3 Series</a> have been a source of enthusiasts' ire for years now. The 3er's growth isn't all that shy, especially of late: the sedan is 10.6 inches longer and 8.3 inches wider than it was in 1975, or for a more modern perspective, the brand new 3 Series is 6.5 inches longer than it was in 2002. It took 27 years to gain 4.1 inches, but only 10 years to stretch another 6.5. To address the size and heft, a report in <em>Autocar</em> says <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw">BMW</a> is planning a rear-wheel-drive <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/1+series">1 Series</a> sedan to be "the spiritual successor to the E30-generation 3 Series four-door."<br /> <br /> Talk of 1 Series models being spiritual successors to 3 Series models isn't new - part of the clamor around the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/1+series+m">1 Series M</a> was that it channeled the light flickability of the first M3s. A 1 Series sedan would serve three purposes: get a light, small, RWD model back in the lineup, give the company a clear competitor to the upcoming <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/audi+a3+sedan/">Audi A3 sedan</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/mercedes-benz-cla-is-official-name-of-small-four-door-coupe-debu/">Mercedes-Benz CLA</a>, and help BMW get closer to its sales target of two million cars in 2020.<br /> <br /> The sedan would sit on a derivative of the platform used in the current 3 Series, and be different from the front-wheel-drive platform underpinning the forthcoming 1 Series GT. Four- and six-cylinder engines and BMWs xDrive AWD system are in the planning mix, as is an electric version. <em>Autocar</em> says 2015 is a potential sale date for the sedan, which would put it one year after the next-generation coupe and convertible officially bow.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/bmw-1-series-sedan-detailed/">BMW 1 Series sedan detailed</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/bmw-1-series-sedan-detailed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244483/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/bmw-1-series-sedan-detailed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/x6JZjl1AU47uQpnuz7CYlK5Epvg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/x6JZjl1AU47uQpnuz7CYlK5Epvg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/x6JZjl1AU47uQpnuz7CYlK5Epvg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/x6JZjl1AU47uQpnuz7CYlK5Epvg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=JFyvKUMZ6lQ:FZiC_Lz5_yk:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=JFyvKUMZ6lQ:FZiC_Lz5_yk:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=JFyvKUMZ6lQ:FZiC_Lz5_yk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=JFyvKUMZ6lQ:FZiC_Lz5_yk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/JFyvKUMZ6lQ" height="1" width="1"/>1 series1 series sedan3 seriesa3audiaudi a3 sedanbmwbmw 1 series sedanclamercedes-benzmercedes-benz claThu, 24 May 2012 17:30:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/bmw-1-series-sedan-detailed/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/6josssSNON4/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/#continued"><img alt="2013 Ford Fusion techno music" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ford-fusion-techno.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 327px;" /></a><br /> <br /> If you're wondering what the <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford/fusion">2013 Ford Fusion</a> has to do with techno music... well, join the club - we have no idea. We'll defer to an expert, musician Joshua Harrison:<br /> <blockquote class="inline-quote"> <p> "Techno music, by its nature, is very similar to the makeup of a car... In both cases, there are lots of little pieces mechanically put together. Just like a car, a Techno song has many elements that serve their own small purpose, and the masters of the craft are those who can put it all together and make everything work as one solid piece."</p> </blockquote> Who are we to argue?<br /> <br /> In any case, <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> has used an old trick in a somewhat new way in conscripting artists to create techno tracks using sounds made by its Fusion, in this case a 2.0-liter Hybrid model. Listen to the three resulting tracks, then <a href="/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/#continued">scroll down below</a> to watch a video explaining the process and showing the musicians working their magic.<br /> <br /> Even if you don't like techno, it's at least interesting to hear how each track is so wildly different from the other two. And if you do like what you hear, maybe you should consider attending the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/movementdetroit">Movement Electronic Festival</a> in Detroit, May 26-28.<br /> <br /> <object height="81" width="100"><param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F47275062" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F47275062" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100"></embed></object><span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/fordfusion/joshuaharrison">Sounds of Fusion Track 1 by Joshua Harrison</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/fordfusion">fordfusion</a></span><br /> <object height="81" width="100"><param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F47270574" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F47270574" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100"></embed></object><span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/fordfusion/keithkemp">Sounds of Fusion Track 2 by Keith Kemp</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/fordfusion">fordfusion</a></span><br /> <object height="81" width="100"><param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F47299806" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F47299806" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100"></embed></object><span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/fordfusion/tomnewman">Sounds of Fusion Track 3 by Tom Newman</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/fordfusion">fordfusion</a></span><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2013 Ford Fusion does the techno sound collage music thing</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/">2013 Ford Fusion does the techno sound collage music thing</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244677/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/rGZalIcqWX87X8ggMtmoy2C8cbM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/rGZalIcqWX87X8ggMtmoy2C8cbM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/rGZalIcqWX87X8ggMtmoy2C8cbM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/rGZalIcqWX87X8ggMtmoy2C8cbM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=6josssSNON4:cVBiNj5oZBA:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=6josssSNON4:cVBiNj5oZBA:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=6josssSNON4:cVBiNj5oZBA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=6josssSNON4:cVBiNj5oZBA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/6josssSNON4" height="1" width="1"/>2013 ford fusion2013 ford fusion hybriddetroit technoelectronic musicfordfusionfusion hybridmovement electronictechnotechno musicThu, 24 May 2012 16:58:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/2013-ford-fusion-does-the-techno-sound-collage-music-thing/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/wgshF9xFHl0/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/gemballa-debuts-real-diamond-finish-for-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/gemballa-debuts-real-diamond-finish-for-cars/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/gemballa-diamond-finish/"><img height="402" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gemballa-diamond-finish.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/ac-schnitzer-acs5-sport-geneva-2012/">Matte</a>. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/mirror-finish-bugatti-veyron-marks-new-pavillion-at-autostadt/">Mirrored chrome</a>. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/23/gold-fingers-mercedes-c63-spotted-in-where-else-dubai/">Gold-plated</a>.<br /> <br /> You can now add diamonds to the growing list of ostentatious and extravagant finishes being applied to cars these days. Longtime <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/porsche/">Porsche</a> tuner <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/gemballa/">Gemballa</a> has announced a new automotive finish that literally uses diamonds to create its million-dollar sparkle.<br /> <br /> The German-based company claims its new diamond finish is the first of its kind to ever use the actual gem rather than other reflective ingredients like metal pigments, glass fragments or crystals. The trick was grinding the diamonds down to a size small enough that they could be applied like paint, which Gemballa says also helps increase the refractive qualities of its shine.<br /> <br /> There's no mention of price or other specifics like how many precious stones are sacrificed per gallon of twinkle juice, but you can imagine as well as we can what kind of premium it will command. With any luck, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/justin-bieber-chromes-his-fisker-karma-henrik-just-happy-for-th/">Justin Bieber can't afford it</a>.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/gemballa-debuts-real-diamond-finish-for-cars/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Gemballa debuts real diamond finish for cars</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/gemballa-debuts-real-diamond-finish-for-cars/">Gemballa debuts real diamond finish for cars</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/gemballa-debuts-real-diamond-finish-for-cars/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244550/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/gemballa-debuts-real-diamond-finish-for-cars/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/UTBlUlfgLgY-jVkucdIq4Ams5Yk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/UTBlUlfgLgY-jVkucdIq4Ams5Yk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/UTBlUlfgLgY-jVkucdIq4Ams5Yk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/UTBlUlfgLgY-jVkucdIq4Ams5Yk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=wgshF9xFHl0:AKb8IbNW73c:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=wgshF9xFHl0:AKb8IbNW73c:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=wgshF9xFHl0:AKb8IbNW73c:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=wgshF9xFHl0:AKb8IbNW73c:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/wgshF9xFHl0" height="1" width="1"/>diamonddiamond finishdiamond paintdiamondsgemballaThu, 24 May 2012 16:29:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/gemballa-debuts-real-diamond-finish-for-cars/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/XPdBS4mBI0M/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/polestar-working-on-volvo-s60-to-take-on-m3/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/polestar-working-on-volvo-s60-to-take-on-m3/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/volvo/" rel="tag">Volvo</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-volvo-s60-tta/"><img alt="Volvo S60 TTA" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/volvo-s60-tta-2012.jpeg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 374px;" /></a><br /> <br /> There are several things you might think of when <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volvo/">Volvo</a> comes to mind, but performance isn't necessarily one of them. Volvo is working on that image, however, and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/polestar/">Polestar</a> is a big part of that.<br /> <br /> The tuning firm and racing garage has been partnering with Gothenburg on several fronts, not the least of them being the company's officially sanctioned touring car team whose latest <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volvo/s60">S60</a> racer is pictured above. Those efforts have also been seeping into the Swedish automaker's publicly available road cars, but nothing has approached the kind of levels that AMG applies to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/">Mercedes-Benz</a> or the M division does with <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw">BMW</a> vehicles.<br /> <br /> That's been long rumored to be in for a change, however, and the latest reports give us a sneak peek at what the two firms have in store. According to Swedish car mag <em>Teknikens Varld</em>, Volvo and Polestar are working on a full-scale assault on the territory held by the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/c63+amg">Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/m3">BMW M3</a>, among others.<br /> <br /> The donor vehicle would be the S60 sedan, but the question remains just what would motivate such a beast. Sources suggest the Yamaha-built V8 from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volvo/xc90">XC90</a> could be employed. In stock form it produces 315 horsepower, but <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/noble">Noble</a> uses it in the M600 with a pair of turbochargers that boost output up to 641 hp. A nice, round 400 hp should be well within reason, then, and Polestar's considerable capabilities.<br /> <br /> The S60 Polestar could, however, go with modifying an engine already available in the stock S60. For its C30 concept, Polestar bolted a bigger turbo onto the 2.5-liter five for 411 hp, and recently managed to squeeze 325 hp out of the stock turbo six with just an ECU reflash. Whatever the engine, we're told to expect a Haldex all-wheel-drive system, &Ouml;hlins suspension and Brembo brakes stuffed into 19-inch BBS alloys wearing Pirelli PZero rubber. Consider our interests piqued.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/polestar-working-on-volvo-s60-to-take-on-m3/">Polestar working on Volvo S60 to take on M3</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/polestar-working-on-volvo-s60-to-take-on-m3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244551/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/polestar-working-on-volvo-s60-to-take-on-m3/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VlGfiG2KHaVKiyFvVbGjLF8Kitw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VlGfiG2KHaVKiyFvVbGjLF8Kitw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VlGfiG2KHaVKiyFvVbGjLF8Kitw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VlGfiG2KHaVKiyFvVbGjLF8Kitw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=XPdBS4mBI0M:gTIpX_nkmpQ:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=XPdBS4mBI0M:gTIpX_nkmpQ:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=XPdBS4mBI0M:gTIpX_nkmpQ:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=XPdBS4mBI0M:gTIpX_nkmpQ:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/XPdBS4mBI0M" height="1" width="1"/>polestars60volvovolvo s60volvo s60 polestarThu, 24 May 2012 16:01:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/polestar-working-on-volvo-s60-to-take-on-m3/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/81JDZiBTrwY/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/renault-alpine-new-images-and-teaser-video-surface-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/renault-alpine-new-images-and-teaser-video-surface-w-video/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/" rel="tag">Concept Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/renault/" rel="tag">Renault</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/renault-alpine-a110-50-concept/"><img alt="Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/01-alpine-renault-a110-50-concept-628.jpg" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 628px; height: 403px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/renault">Renault</a> has turned over a few more photos of its all-new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/renault-alpine-a110-50-concept-leaked-ahead-of-monaco-debut/">Alpine A110-50</a> ahead of the machine's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/renault-confirms-400-hp-alpine-concept-debuting-on-friday/">debut</a> at this weekend's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/monaco grand prix">Monaco Grand Prix</a>. The new shots show off the sports car's rear end for the first time. The total package looks more than a little like the Renault DeZir concept, though we're told the chassis is borrowed almost entirely from the company's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/megane trophy">Megane Trophy</a>.<br /> <br /> If the two machines share more than bones, that means we can expect to see a 3.5-liter V6 engine mounted mid-ship. The powerplant churns out 360 horsepower in standard guise, though the A110-50 is said to clear over 400 horsepower.<br /> <br /> In addition to the few photos, Renault also served up a brief teaser video showing the covered machine as it is being unloaded from a transport. <a href="/2012/05/24/renault-alpine-new-images-and-teaser-video-surface/#continued">Check it out</a> for yourself, and stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/renault-alpine-new-images-and-teaser-video-surface-w-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Renault Alpine: New images and teaser video surface [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/renault-alpine-new-images-and-teaser-video-surface-w-video/">Renault Alpine: New images and teaser video surface [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/renault-alpine-new-images-and-teaser-video-surface-w-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244365/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/renault-alpine-new-images-and-teaser-video-surface-w-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oZj6xprUNM4E66A9Rzv2y2Pd0wo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oZj6xprUNM4E66A9Rzv2y2Pd0wo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oZj6xprUNM4E66A9Rzv2y2Pd0wo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oZj6xprUNM4E66A9Rzv2y2Pd0wo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=81JDZiBTrwY:VL-yAzx4Rog:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=81JDZiBTrwY:VL-yAzx4Rog:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=81JDZiBTrwY:VL-yAzx4Rog:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=81JDZiBTrwY:VL-yAzx4Rog:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/81JDZiBTrwY" height="1" width="1"/>a110-50alpine a110-50conceptmonaco grand prixrenaultrenault alpine a110-50Thu, 24 May 2012 15:31:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/renault-alpine-new-images-and-teaser-video-surface-w-video/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/K9lt6LU4chI/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/china/" rel="tag">China</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a></p><a href="/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/#continued"><img alt="Three year old in traffic in China" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/three-year-old-china.jpg" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 628px; height: 324px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a><br /> <br /> We feel there's no shame in admitting we would have more than a little hesitation about jumping into rush-hour <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/traffic">traffic</a> in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/china">China</a>, but that's exactly what one three-year-old boy did. A grandmother in China had a scare after she turned around to find her grandson missing. The toddler had managed to hop on his toy motorcycle and head for the horizon. Unfortunately, his path took him directly into the middle of a busy intersection during rush-hour traffic.<br /> <br /> Despite buses and cars hurling past in every direction, the child seemed unphased, and the drivers on the road managed to keep away long enough for a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/police officer">police officer</a> to spirit the child to safety. No one was harmed in the incident. Check out the <a href="/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/#continued">nail-biting video</a> for yourself.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>3-year-old drives into middle of Chinese rush hour traffic</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/">3-year-old drives into middle of Chinese rush hour traffic</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244465/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/WhOhzVGd2iI9LzDcNnVnzI8ve_c/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/WhOhzVGd2iI9LzDcNnVnzI8ve_c/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/WhOhzVGd2iI9LzDcNnVnzI8ve_c/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/WhOhzVGd2iI9LzDcNnVnzI8ve_c/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=K9lt6LU4chI:8WjYFTGcToI:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=K9lt6LU4chI:8WjYFTGcToI:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=K9lt6LU4chI:8WjYFTGcToI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=K9lt6LU4chI:8WjYFTGcToI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/K9lt6LU4chI" height="1" width="1"/>chinapolice officertoddlertoddler in traffictoddler in traffic in chinatrafficvideoThu, 24 May 2012 14:59:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/jru-HOCAVsw/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/more-americans-paying-their-car-loans-on-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/more-americans-paying-their-car-loans-on-time/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/carbuying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/earnings-financials/" rel="tag">Earnings/Financials</a></p><a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120523/BUSINESS01/205230332/Late-auto-loan-payments-fall-across-nation"><img alt="Female car buyer signing documents at dealership" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/female-car-buyer.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 419px; " /></a><br /> <br /> Nearly everyone in America with a car loan is making the payment on time, the <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120523/BUSINESS01/205230332/Late-auto-loan-payments-fall-across-nation">Detroit Free Press</a> is reporting.<br /> <br /> A scant .36 percent of people with a car loan are 60 or more days behind on making their payment, according to a TransUnion report looking at the January through March quarter of auto loan payments. That means more than 99-percent of customers borrowing cash for cars are on time.<br /> <br /> The tiny percentage, which represents a drop of about 27 percent year-over-year is the lowest since TransUnion started tracking it in 1999.<br /> <br /> The fall in loan delinquency, however, may not be great news for banks overall. TransUnion attributes some of the on-time payments to recession weary consumers placing a priority on their car payment while foregoing payments on credit cards and underwater homes.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/more-americans-paying-their-car-loans-on-time/">More Americans paying their car loans on time</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 14:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/more-americans-paying-their-car-loans-on-time/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20243424/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/more-americans-paying-their-car-loans-on-time/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/H1VLlL18nXoI4c6rxGHJOQbNqFA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/H1VLlL18nXoI4c6rxGHJOQbNqFA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/H1VLlL18nXoI4c6rxGHJOQbNqFA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/H1VLlL18nXoI4c6rxGHJOQbNqFA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=jru-HOCAVsw:39tgCIgTQMg:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=jru-HOCAVsw:39tgCIgTQMg:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=jru-HOCAVsw:39tgCIgTQMg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=jru-HOCAVsw:39tgCIgTQMg:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/jru-HOCAVsw" height="1" width="1"/>auto loansauto salesbankcar loancar paymentcar salesdelinquencyfinanceloanloan delinquenciespaymentrecessionThu, 24 May 2012 14:31:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/more-americans-paying-their-car-loans-on-time/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/rt0ZjXzYqHM/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/peugeot-rolls-out-301-and-new-nomenclature-for-emerging-market/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/peugeot-rolls-out-301-and-new-nomenclature-for-emerging-market/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/paris-motor-show/" rel="tag">Paris Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/peugeot/" rel="tag">Peugeot</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/peugeot-301/#photo-5043566"><img alt="2012 Peugeot 301 - front three-quarter studio view" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/peugeot-301.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 379px; " /></a><br /> <br /> Where automakers could once get by selling in a handful of specific markets, these days, they need to grab as much market share as they can around the world. That's particularly true for a brand like <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/peugeot">Peugeot</a> that's missing out on one of the largest markets in the world - this one - and so it is ramping up its assault on developing markets with vehicles like the one you see here.<br /> <br /> Called 301, the approximately <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/focus">Focus</a>-sized sedan is intended for markets that we once considered the second or third world - markets like Russia, Africa and the Middle East. So not only is it positioned as a more budget-friendly proposition, it's also been developed to deal with a greater range of climates and with poor road conditions that often exist in developing markets. Buyers in these markets will be able to choose engines ranging from 71 to 115 horsepower and benefit from similar levels of features and safety equipment you'd expect to find in wealthier markets.<br /> <br /> Now if you're thinking that the last 300-series model from Peugeot was the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/308">308</a> and were wondering what the marketing gurus at PSA headquarters were planning to do when they got past 309, wonder no more, because they've modified their naming scheme. The first digit (3 in this case) represents the class of vehicle, the 0 (or 00 for crossovers and minivans) remains a constant, and the last digit will either be an 8 (for mainstream products) or a 1 (for emerging markets). Got all that?<br /> <br /> The 301 will make its public debut at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/paris-motor-show/">Paris Motor Show</a> in September, after which production will commence in Spain for rollout around the world. Scroll down for the pair of press releases and scope it out in the high-res image gallery.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/peugeot-rolls-out-301-and-new-nomenclature-for-emerging-market/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Peugeot rolls out 301 (and new nomenclature) for emerging markets</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/peugeot-rolls-out-301-and-new-nomenclature-for-emerging-market/">Peugeot rolls out 301 (and new nomenclature) for emerging markets</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/peugeot-rolls-out-301-and-new-nomenclature-for-emerging-market/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244184/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/peugeot-rolls-out-301-and-new-nomenclature-for-emerging-market/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qyhtibTFMvP-cidMd5zRpxjVIEg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qyhtibTFMvP-cidMd5zRpxjVIEg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qyhtibTFMvP-cidMd5zRpxjVIEg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qyhtibTFMvP-cidMd5zRpxjVIEg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=rt0ZjXzYqHM:zDulqS_MWRA:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=rt0ZjXzYqHM:zDulqS_MWRA:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=rt0ZjXzYqHM:zDulqS_MWRA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=rt0ZjXzYqHM:zDulqS_MWRA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/rt0ZjXzYqHM" height="1" width="1"/>2012 paris motor show2012 peugeot 301301parisparis motor showpeugeotpeugeot 301Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/peugeot-rolls-out-301-and-new-nomenclature-for-emerging-market/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/GWycBwcAI98/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/spyphotos/" rel="tag">Spy Photos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/aston-martin/" rel="tag">Aston Martin</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/misc-auto-shows/" rel="tag">Misc. Auto Shows</a></p><img alt="Aston Martin DB9/DBS successor at the Nurburgring" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/astondbsspyweb.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 409px; " /><br /> <br /> As much as it pains us to say it, the current core range from <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/aston+martin">Aston Martin</a> has grown a little stale. But fret not: a new model is just around the corner.<br /> <br /> Snapped undergoing testing at the N&uuml;rburgring in this latest batch of spy shots is what looks to be a new and nearly complete V12 GT from Gaydon. Code-named AM 310, it could be a successor to either the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/aston+martin/db9">DB9</a> or <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/aston+martin/dbs">DBS</a> - or could carry a different nameplate altogether and replace them both.<br /> <br /> While the engine and platform carry over as modified versions of the existing building blocks, sources anticipate just about everything else in the new sportscar will be new. The bodywork - styled as something of a blend between the current DBS and the top-of-the-line <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/one-77">One-77</a> - is tipped to be made up almost entirely of aluminum and carbon fiber, reducing the weight for the 6.0-liter V12 engine - anticipated to come with a 55-horse boost over the current DBS for a solid 565 horsepower. That ought to be sufficient to propel the rakish coupe to highway speeds in under four seconds.<br /> <br /> An even lighter version clothed entirely in carbon fiber is also said to be in the works, but we may not have to wait that long, as the AM 310 may debut as soon as this weekend at the prestigious and glamorous <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/villa+deste">Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/">Aston Martin DBS/DB9 successor caught at the Ring preparing for Villa d'Este debut</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244293/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/hCtSu3fawQ8t_aOokdCguK69mYc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/hCtSu3fawQ8t_aOokdCguK69mYc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/hCtSu3fawQ8t_aOokdCguK69mYc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/hCtSu3fawQ8t_aOokdCguK69mYc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=GWycBwcAI98:cpV056ACWhA:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=GWycBwcAI98:cpV056ACWhA:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=GWycBwcAI98:cpV056ACWhA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=GWycBwcAI98:cpV056ACWhA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/GWycBwcAI98" height="1" width="1"/>310am 310astonaston martinaston martin 310aston martin db9aston martin dbsconcorso deleganza villa destedb9dbsnürburgringnurburgringspyspy shotsvilla desteThu, 24 May 2012 13:31:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/aston-martin-dbs-db9-successor-caught-at-the-ring-preparing-for/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/MjXhxzE1Ung/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/saab-to-be-saved-by-mystery-swedish-electric-car-company/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/saab-to-be-saved-by-mystery-swedish-electric-car-company/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/saab/" rel="tag">Saab</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-saab-9-4x-first-drive/#photo-4139461"><img alt="2011 Saab 9-4X - white - front three-quarter view" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/saab-9-4x-628.jpg" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px; " /></a><br /> <br /> The all-but-lifeless corpse of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/saab">Saab</a> continues to stagger forward in hopes of finding a juicy investor to sink its teeth into. <em>Autocar</em> reports that National Electric Vehicle Sweden is currently close to buying the brand's remaining assets. The freshly minted electric car consortium is helmed by none other than Karl-Erling Trogen, the former head of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/volvo%20trucks/">Volvo Trucks</a>. Beyond that, few details are known about the company or its plans for Saab. National Electric Sweden is owned by two bodies, Sun Investment and Mikael Kubu, the president of law firm Ac-Gruppen.<br /> <br /> We can only speculate about what the consortium wants with Saab, though fan site SaabsUnited reports the company may have its eyes on an electric rear axle program developed with in conjunction with eAAM. Whether that means we'll see electric or hybrid Saab models whirring around in the future is still uncertain. If we did, it would probably take quite a while. As SaabsUnited notes, "Saab, the company, right now has nothing in it, no dealership network, no finance structure, no personnel-structure, no communications network, nothing... everything needs to be completely rebuilt from scratch, which will take a huge amount of time."<br /> <br /> At this point, we'll just be pleasantly surprised if the Griffin brand gets a new owner at all.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/saab-to-be-saved-by-mystery-swedish-electric-car-company/">Saab to be saved by mystery Swedish electric car company</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 24 May 2012 13:02:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/saab-to-be-saved-by-mystery-swedish-electric-car-company/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20244277/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/saab-to-be-saved-by-mystery-swedish-electric-car-company/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/1dSYsS1t95B4MgLZY4PdWs5vi7o/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/1dSYsS1t95B4MgLZY4PdWs5vi7o/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/1dSYsS1t95B4MgLZY4PdWs5vi7o/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/1dSYsS1t95B4MgLZY4PdWs5vi7o/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=MjXhxzE1Ung:_tx4BoyOLa0:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=MjXhxzE1Ung:_tx4BoyOLa0:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=MjXhxzE1Ung:_tx4BoyOLa0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=MjXhxzE1Ung:_tx4BoyOLa0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/MjXhxzE1Ung" height="1" width="1"/>9-4x9-5ac-gruppenelectricelectric carelectric saabhybridhybrid saabnational electric vehicle swedensaabsaab evsun investmentThu, 24 May 2012 13:02:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/saab-to-be-saved-by-mystery-swedish-electric-car-company/