Saturday, December 31, 2011
Give This Week and Levi?s Commuter Jeans Could Be Yours
I’m pleased to announce that thanks to an outpouring of support these past two weeks, Streetsblog and Streetfilms are more than halfway to our goal of raising $25,000 by the end of the year. If you haven’t given yet and you value the high-impact reporting and videos that we produce day in and day out, [...]
Hayden injured in training accident
Nicky Hayden's participation in the first MotoGP test of 2012 is in doubt after the American was injured while training in Kentucky.
New for 2012 Preseason Thunder NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Testing at Daytona
Preseason Thunder Test is Jan. 12-13-14 at Daytona International Speedway Final preparations for 2012 Speedweeks, in particular, the running of the 54th annual Daytona 500 ? Sunday, Feb. 26 Rules package is a result of information gathered during recent tests at Talladega (October) and Daytona (November) Rules package includes: Smaller radiator – Maximum of 2 [...]
Germain com Toyota Ryan Newman Phoenix Construction Chevrolet
Report: New car seat concept uses your butt print as identification
Filed under: Etc., Japan, Technology
If Fido can distinguish people and other pooches by their backsides, why not a seat? When students at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology in Tokyo, Japan asked that question, they came up with a car seat fitted with 360 sensors that makes a map of the pressure applied by your posterior. Among the six rumps tested, the seat was 98 percent accurate at sorting one from another.
The ultimate aim is to work with automakers to develop an anti-theft solution that would be available in the next few years. With such a small testing pool, it's too early to start asking the difficult questions about real-world viability (especially when you start to factor in things like different articles of clothing, Costanza wallets, and so on), but we have a feeling this kind of technology will find an application somewhere.
New car seat concept uses your butt print as identification originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsRicciardo: I need more aggression
Daniel Ricciardo believes he will have to take a more aggressive approach in his first full Formula 1 season with Toro Rosso in 2012. After a promising partial campaign with HRT this year, the Australian has been given an STR seat alongside fellow Red Bull protege Jean-Eric Vergne, with Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari ousted to make way for the pair. Ricciardo said he was confident he was quick enough for F1, but knew he needed to be more assertive in his racing now
Eric McClure Returns to TriStar Motorsports; Switches to Toyota for 2012 Season
Hefty� / Reynolds? Wrap Racing Logo Team McClure Inc. and TriStar Motorsports announced today that Eric McClure will return to the TriStar organization for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) season, driving the No. 14 Toyota Camry in all 33 scheduled events. McClure, 33, a native of Chilhowie, Virginia, made his NNS debut in 2003...more»
Stewart: Title fight among best ever
Tony Stewart believes his battle for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup with Carl Edwards was one of the best in the history of the sport. The top two in the title race finished the year equal on points, after a head-to-head fight for race victory in the season finale at Homestead
Friday, December 30, 2011
Name That Shifter, No. 55: 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
On Monday we presented this week?s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle from whence it came. Our winner? Tyler T., who linked this week?s mystery stick with the 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. He?ll get the holiday-inspired Save the Manuals prize pack we promised. The Sierra RS Cosworth [...]
Autoblog's Most Popular Posts of 2011
Filed under: Etc.
We've been doing Autoblog for a while now and still don't know exactly why some posts become popular and others completely miss boarding the crazy train to Viralville. Maybe we were the first to post about a hot topic. Videos are almost always poised for success, and of course any post that includes a first look or specs of a highly anticipated vehicle can be a hit waiting to happen. But every time we hit the publish button it's like throwing a dart in the dark.
It may be difficult to know in advance what you all will click on the most, but after the fact, simple math tells us everything we need to know. We've assembled the 10 Most Popular Posts of 2011 according to clicks, and the results are available after the jump.
Continue reading Autoblog's Most Popular Posts of 2011
Autoblog's Most Popular Posts of 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsPrime Cuts: We Slice into an Eaton TVS R1320 Supercharger
A whining supercharger (a.k.a. ?blower,? for the way it provides an engine with extra air) has long been associated with the wild rides of drag racers, street rodders, and Mad Max. The latest blowers, such as Eaton?s TVS R1320 supercharger, are changing that perception. The TVS (Twin Vortices Series) is efficient enough for a Porsche [...]
Report: Investors' advice to Proton: Sell Lotus
Filed under: Government/Legal, Lotus
There's a lot of smoke going on over at Lotus, but we still have a while to wait before we get the first evidence of fire: the new Lotus Espirit and it's in-house V8 won't be here until 2013. On the other side of the world, there's a fair bit of smoke and fire happening at Malaysian automaker Proton, which owns Lotus.
The Malaysian government controls Proton and has been investigating a partnership for or sale of the company for a couple of years, but despite its efforts, it hasn't made any deals. The 28-year-old automaker has been losing large chunks of market share, and the government feels that sale to a well-funded global player would be the best solution to insure Proton's long-term future. Although it has named its chosen candidate for a purchase, it isn't clear if anyone has made any serious overtures to that end.
Outside observers believe the first thing Proton should do is get rid of Lotus. The mass-market Malaysian carmaker has almost nothing in common with the tiny, English niche sports car producer, and has done nothing but throw money at Lotus' carmaking arm since 1996 (Lotus Engineering, the technology consultancy, is profitable).
Proton has said it has no intention of selling Lotus. However, if Proton is sold then the new owners could reverse that stance. And if Lotus were unloaded, that puts everything CEO Dany Bahar has planned in serious doubt.
Investors' advice to Proton: Sell Lotus originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2012 iRacing.com World Tour Schedule
From the virtual sands of Daytona and the digital bricks of Indianapolis to the simulated shores of Phillip Island, the 2012 iRacing.com World Tour will enable iRacers to compete in online versions of some of the world?s classic motorsports events.�� Scheduled for the same weekends as their real-world counterparts, the World Tour events are open to all iRacers, regardless of license level, who own the appropriate car/track content. The schedule kicks-off with a mixed-class GRAND-AM doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway ? the GRAND-AM Continental Showdown Before the 2.4 and the GRAND-AM Racing 2.4 Hours at Daytona� — on January 27/28.� The World Tour returns to Daytona for the iRacing.com Daytona 500 on February 25 and continues on to Sebring, Charlotte, multiple events at Indianapolis, Spa-Francorchamps, Phillip Island, Talladega and Road [...]
What the H?: Everything You Need to Know About a Hydrogen-Fueled Future
By the end of the decade, fuel-cell vehicles from GM, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota are due to start trickling into dealers. They?ll be reliable and versatile, though they?ll cost a small fortune, and refueling them will be difficult. Clearly, fuel-cell vehicles have a lot of ?hurdles to clear as they make their way to [...]
2011 GT Open winners awarded in Montecarlo
International GT Open Monte Carlo, 18 December 2011 FIA Vice-President Carlos Gracia hands out top trophy to Soheil Ayari The traditional Awards Dinner and Ceremony of the International GT Open took place Saturday evening in the Salon Belle Epoque of...
Jeremy Clements Boudreaux s Butt Paste Chevrolet Justin Allgaier
Ford Teases All-New Global Vehicle, Fiesta-Based Crossover Most Likely Candidate
While those of us in the U.S. will be tuned in to the goings on at the upcoming 2012 Detroit auto show at the beginning of January, Ford will be conducting additional operations at the concurrent Auto Expo in New Delhi. The company released a teaser image of a new global model debuting at the [...]
Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya Joseph Francis Nemechek III
Thursday, December 29, 2011
McKinney Takes SoBo
For Week 7 of the iRacing.com Street Stock Series, top sim racers traveled to the famous SoBo (South BostonSpeedway ). In total, 832 racers took to the track at least one time during the week at the famous Virginia short track. Weekly High Strength of Field Last week’s high Strength of Field race had an SoF of 2866, which paid 174 championship points for the win Coming-out on top in the field of 11 drivers was NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship regular Tyler Hudson (Mid-South). Hudson led every lap from the pole en route to a 2.3 second victory over CJ LaVair, who netted 156 points. Coming home in third was Nathan Rhew (Carolina), almost 11 seconds behind the race winner. For his efforts, Rhew received 138 points. Mark McDowell [...]
2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Long-Term Intro
Minivans are the true automotive appliances: unsexy, underappreciated, and indispensable to many families. That the Honda Odyssey is entertaining to drive?as far as these vehicles go?is something we?ve recognized before, and why we jumped at the chance to add the latest version to our long-term fleet for a 40,000-mile test. Besides, we all appreciate a [...]
2013 Nissan Pathfinder Image Released (Yes, It?s a Teaser)
Nissan has released a single darkened image of the Pathfinder it will debut at the Detroit auto show this January, and it’s inspired a bout of d�j� vu. That’s because the Pathfinder will be the Nissan-badged version of the Infiniti JX crossover we met at last month’s L.A. auto show. (Check out spy photos of [...]
PRISM Motorsports Toyota Travis Kvapil Long John Silver s Ford
Top 10 Stories of 2011 ? #8 Austin Dillon Becomes Youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Champion
8-Austin Dillon Becomes Youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Champion Though a number of young drivers have used their experience in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as a springboard to NASCAR Sprint Cup success ? think Carl Edwards, among others ? veteran drivers, for the most part, have had a stranglehold on its championships. Only [...]
Vienna Sausage Kroger Chevrolet Clint Bowyer Zaxby s Chevrolet
Smile! Your Car?s on Camera: We Ride Along to Learn What the Cops Know About You
Cruiser-mounted cameras can scan about 700 license plates an hour. We ride along with a cop to learn what automatic scanners know about you. ?Might wanna watch the floor over there,? says Officer Brian Walczak, 42. ?They just detailed my cruiser, lots of ?Armor All.? No sooner has he issued this warning than my loafers [...]
Nine CRT entries for MotoGP 2012
The 2012 MotoGP field is set to reach 21 bikes, with governing body the FIM announcing that nine CRT entries have been accepted for next season. MotoGP organiser Dorna sees the lower-cost CRT regulations, which allow elements of modified production machinery, as the future of the championship.
Ferrari to unveil 2012 car in early February (PA SportsTicker)
Ferrari plans to introduce its completely revised 2012 car in early February.
Senna: no regrets over Renault chance
Bruno Senna says there are no regrets about doing his eight-race stint for Renault in the second half of 2011, even though he missed out on a race seat with the renamed Lotus team for next year.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550: M-B?s Big Roadster Drops a Few Pounds
Sport leicht, or sport and lightweight. Despite the two-plus-ton heft of Mercedes? big boulevardier, that?s what SL has supposedly stood for ever since the car debuted in the ?50s. Now in its sixth generation, the SL promises to be more car than ever: more powerful, more efficient, and more light. Keep Reading: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 [...]
Top 10 Stories of 2011 ? #5 Regan Smith?s Southern 500 Win
5-Regan Smith?s Southern 500 Win What Trevor Bayne began in February, Regan Smith continued in May. Smith entered Darlington Raceway?s SHOWTIME Southern 500 with a lean resume to say the least: no wins, top fives or top 10s in 104 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts. Smith, then 27, became the upset winner of NASCAR?s oldest “crown [...]
Four-Cylinder Models Added to 2012 Honda Crosstour Lineup
The confused Crosstour�car/hatch/crossover is in the middle of an identity crisis. It drops “Accord” from its name for 2012, and now Honda tells us that the not-quite-a-wagon will borrow a four-cylinder engine from its namesake sedan. Make that its former namesake. Since the Accord Crosstour was introduced in 2010, it has only been offered with [...]
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Driven: Looks Great, Less Filling (Up)
Chevy?s mid-size Malibu is all-new for 2013, joining the Buick Regal on the global Epsilon II platform. Loyal readers of Car and Driver may remember that our John Phillips briefly drove and generally liked a 2013 Malibu prototype earlier this year. We recently traveled to Texas to see if our early impressions would hold up [...]
Paddon switches to S2000 for 2012
Reigning Production Car World Rally Champion Hayden Paddon will switch to the Super 2000 WRC for next season. The New Zealander confirmed on Tuesday that he will drive a Skoda Fabia S2000 run by Spanish team ASM Motorsport
Sweet wager: Martinsville squares off against Michigan in Sugar Bowl bet
Martinsville (Va.) SpeedwayBROOKLYN, Mich. (Dec. 27, 2011) ? Next Tuesday?s Sugar Bowl will pit two legendary programs against one another ? Martinsville Speedway and Michigan International Speedway. The top dogs for the two NASCAR racetracks will square off head-to-head, each backing his state?s marquee football team. MIS boss Roger Curtis will cheer for the legendary...more»
Dieter Gass to reinforce Audi Sport
AUDI Motorsport Ingolstadt, December 19, 2011 - New position: Head of Racing Commitments - Engineer is returning to Audi family - Experience from eleven years in Formula One Audi is tackling the 2012 motor sport season with an extended leadership...
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Seattle Police Mock ?Dumb F***? Jogger Hit By Semi Truck
Tim Nelson was fighting for his life after being hit by a semi truck driver while jogging in West Seattle in late October. As he was rushed to the hospital with a broken back, six snapped ribs, and a fractured skill, a dash cam in a Seattle police cruiser captured this video, which has been [...]
Bentley Continental V8 GT/GTC EU Prices Leaked, Don?t Expect Huge Discount in the U.S.
When Bentley announced that it would offer V-8?powered versions of its Continental GT and GTC, it went without saying that the new models would be less expensive than their 12-cylinder counterparts. Our sources indicated that the discounts wouldn?t amount to much, however, and that information has been backed up by a seemingly credible EU pricing [...]
Ferrari to unveil 2012 car in early February (PA SportsTicker)
Ferrari plans to introduce its completely revised 2012 car in early February.
Vehicle safety items make perfect holiday gifts (NASCAR.com)
Vehicle safety items make perfect holiday gifts
Caterham?s ?12 car passes crash tests
Caterham technical chief Mike Gascoyne has announced that the Caterham squad's 2012 contender has passed its crash tests. The former Team Lotus also officially switched over to its new Caterham title this week.
GP drivers join new i1 Supercar series
Former grand prix drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Giancarlo Fisichella have joined the new i1 Supercar Series. The championship will use Radical SR3 cars for its inaugural season, which will visit the Buddh International circuit in India, the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, the Losail circuit in Qatar, Sepang in Malaysia and Sakhir in Bahrain. Villeneuve and Fisichella will be joined by former and current GP drivers like Jean Alesi, Tonio Liuzzi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Karun Chandhok and Mika Salo, according to Indian media.
Monday, December 26, 2011
2013 Viper To Drop Dodge From Name, Be Branded as SRT Model
We already knew the next-generation Viper would debut late next year as a 2013 model, but Chrysler dropped a surprise today in regards to the car?s name. In a press release about the new Viper?s assembly plant, there was but a single mention of Dodge, and it was used in reference to the last-gen car. [...]
Cast Your Vote for the 2011 Streetsies
It’s that time. Time to take stock of the year in livable streets. Time to revisit the great media bike freakout of 2011. Time to feel the agony of transit raids and savor the joy of victories over the bikelash all over again.
Yes, the polls are open for the people’s choice categories in Streetsblog’s annual [...]
Yes, the polls are open for the people’s choice categories in Streetsblog’s annual [...]
Report: Dodge Caliber euthanized
Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Dodge
According to The Detroit News, the Dodge Caliber has finally stumbled out of production.
When the Caliber first rolled onto the scene for the 2007 model year, we didn't quite know what to make of it. Replacing the long-serving Neon, the Caliber sported polarizing styling, available all-wheel drive and a taller-than-average ride height. To some, it looked like an aggressively styled tonic to the frankly outdated and somewhat cutesy Neon, while others remained suspect of the car's quasi-SUV aesthetic and intrinsic goodness.
It didn't take long for the reviewers to pile on, however. Pundits argued that the Dodge delivered a lackluster driving experience thanks to an unsorted chassis co-developed with Mitsubishi, an unlovable Jatco-sourced CVT and a coarse interior that was later freshened but never truly fixed. In the end, the doubters appear to have won out, as the Belvidere, Illinois-built compact garnered little critical or popular praise. While the Caliber opened to reasonably strong sales traffic, yearly totals quickly collapsed despite steep discounting and the introduction of a powerful SRT-4 performance variant.
As part of its arrangement with new parent company Fiat, Chrysler has developed the Alfa-Romeo-based Dart as the Caliber's replacement, and expectations are running high ahead of its Detroit Auto Show debut next month. The Dart will need to be excellent, as it faces a veritable murderers' row of competitors, ranging from strong new models like the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra to well-sorted mainstays like the Mazda3 - not to mention perennial sales darlings including the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
Dodge Caliber euthanized originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKentucky off 2012 IndyCar calendar
Kentucky Motor Speedway has been dropped from the IndyCar calendar for the 2012 season.
Post 9 11 GI Bill Chevrolet Martin Truex Jr NAPA Brakes Toyota
NISSAN CHAMPIONS UNITE IN THE DESERT
NISSAN Motorsport Monday, 19 Dec 2011 ? Nissan champions to race together at Dubai 24 Hours ? Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 to make its 24 hour race debut To celebrate a year of racing success in 2011, Nissan's champions will...
Jeff Gordon DuPont National Guard Military Intelligence Ryan Newman
Seattle Police Mock ?Dumb F***? Jogger Hit By Semi Truck
Tim Nelson was fighting for his life after being hit by a semi truck driver while jogging in West Seattle in late October. As he was rushed to the hospital with a broken back, six snapped ribs, and a fractured skill, a dash cam in a Seattle police cruiser captured this video, which has been [...]
Johnny Andrew Sauter Kenneth William Schrader Bradley Reed Sorenson
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Give This Week and Levi?s Commuter Jeans Could Be Yours
I’m pleased to announce that thanks to an outpouring of support these past two weeks, Streetsblog and Streetfilms are more than halfway to our goal of raising $25,000 by the end of the year. If you haven’t given yet and you value the high-impact reporting and videos that we produce day in and day out, [...]
Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Jason Keller T riStar Motorsports Chevrolet
Al Hameli Wins; Qatar Team Crash Gives Carella World Title!
F1 H2O / F1 Powerboat News SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates - Friday, December 16, 2011 What was expected to be a 37-lap battle for the 2011 UIM F1 H2O World Championship at the 13th Grand Prix of Sharjah ended three...
Report: Dodge Caliber euthanized
Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Dodge
According to The Detroit News, the Dodge Caliber has finally stumbled out of production.
When the Caliber first rolled onto the scene for the 2007 model year, we didn't quite know what to make of it. Replacing the long-serving Neon, the Caliber sported polarizing styling, available all-wheel drive and a taller-than-average ride height. To some, it looked like an aggressively styled tonic to the frankly outdated and somewhat cutesy Neon, while others remained suspect of the car's quasi-SUV aesthetic and intrinsic goodness.
It didn't take long for the reviewers to pile on, however. Pundits argued that the Dodge delivered a lackluster driving experience thanks to an unsorted chassis co-developed with Mitsubishi, an unlovable Jatco-sourced CVT and a coarse interior that was later freshened but never truly fixed. In the end, the doubters appear to have won out, as the Belvidere, Illinois-built compact garnered little critical or popular praise. While the Caliber opened to reasonably strong sales traffic, yearly totals quickly collapsed despite steep discounting and the introduction of a powerful SRT-4 performance variant.
As part of its arrangement with new parent company Fiat, Chrysler has developed the Alfa-Romeo-based Dart as the Caliber's replacement, and expectations are running high ahead of its Detroit Auto Show debut next month. The Dart will need to be excellent, as it faces a veritable murderers' row of competitors, ranging from strong new models like the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra to well-sorted mainstays like the Mazda3 - not to mention perennial sales darlings including the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
Dodge Caliber euthanized originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsNeal impressed with NGTC Honda
Matt Neal believes Honda's new NGTC Civic will enable to him to defend his British Touring Car crown as the first car nears completion.
Biking and Walking Score Big in TIGER III
In the third round of TIGER funding, the Obama administration has continued to demonstrate a strong commitment to bike and pedestrian projects.
Boundary Street in Beaufort, South Carolina will be transformed from a suburban arterial to a walkable, bikeable main street, thanks to a $12.6 million TIGER III grant. This project was one of 22 awarded [...]
Boundary Street in Beaufort, South Carolina will be transformed from a suburban arterial to a walkable, bikeable main street, thanks to a $12.6 million TIGER III grant. This project was one of 22 awarded [...]
Engine firms relaxed about DW12
IndyCar engine manufacturers believe that the series will not suffer if the new DW12 chassis initially proves to be slower than expected on ovals. Championship officials have long been optimistic that the new chassis will outperform its predecessor at tracks such as Indianapolis, although this has not been borne out in initial testing
Long John Silver s Chevrolet Tayler Malsam Iron Horse Jeans Toyota
Saturday, December 24, 2011
iRacer of the Year
iRacing.com is excited to announce the first annual iRacers of the Year awards.� The iRacing.com 2011 Driver of the Year will be awarded to a member for his/her achievements in competition on the virtual race tracks of iRacing.com.� The iRacing.com 2011 Member of the Year will be awarded to a member for his/her contributions to the iRacing community as whole as the result of their technical contributions, helping other drivers and/or simply adding to the fun, fellowship and sense of community. Below are the nominees for the iRacer of the Year awards.�� Voting runs from December 15 through December 31 at 23:59 GMT and the winners will be announced in early January.�� Click here to cast your votes. Driver of the Year ?�� Ray Alfalla ? NASCAR iRacing.com Series World [...]
Johnny Andrew Sauter Kenneth William Schrader Bradley Reed Sorenson
AUTOSPORT voted best F1 magazine
AUTOSPORT magazine has been voted by fans as the best motor sport publication for Formula 1 coverage in the inaugural Silverstone Media Awards. More than 5,000 fans cast their votes across a number of categories for both F1 and MotoGP, both of which count Silverstone as their British home
Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie
iRacer Profile: Landon Sciacca
Columbus, Ohio’s Landon Sciacca is a fan short tracks, be they real or virtual.� His favorite track on the iRacing service?� Richmond International Raceway.� His favorite “real life” tracks?� Toledo Speedway,Columbus Motor Speedway and Winchester Speedway.� Sciacca knows where-of he speaks in both cases, competing in the Main Event Racing Series and focusing on NASCAR iRacing.com Class B, C, Late Models and Legends in iRacing.� To good effect.� With 13 top fives (and six wins) in 27 starts, he’s currently second in points to Bill Wease in Class C (fixed) Division 4, and 12th in Legends Cup Division 1 with 37 top fives (and 11 wins) in 48 starts. Q:�� �How long have you been sim racing? A:�� �Five or six years now, with Dirt Track Racing 2, rFactor, Nascar [...]
Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Tested: Not the Fastest or Priciest, But Still the Most
Really, as a bull trotting into a Spanish fighting ring, the best you can hope for is to someday have a Lamborghini named in your honor. Because after the mules drag out your skewered carcass, your future is pretty much one of minute steaks and dog food. Keep Reading: 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 – Road [...]
Friday, December 23, 2011
Report: Whoops! Mini misses WRC registration deadline
Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Mini, Off-Road, Racing
Mini - or Prodrive, the outfit that preps Mini's rally cars - has inexplicably failed to file for entry into the 2012 World Rally Championship before the series' December 20 deadline. Mini's first year back at the top level of rallying as a development team yielded two podiums, and the company hasn't stepped back from its stated desire to win the whole championship in 2013. Word is that parent BMW is gung-ho to continue but that there are "significant issues which need to be resolved" between it and Prodrive.
In an update to the situation today, UK site PistonHeads said has spoken to Prodrive and has been told Mini will somehow gain entry and be at the first race in Monte Carlo. Prodrive is in discussions now with the FIA to clear the way to entry, but apparently told PistonHeads that had "some concern" over WRC promotion with respect to television coverage. We have no idea if that has anything to do with the supposed issues with BMW, but we do know we'd like to see the little red flyer in action again this year.
Whoops! Mini misses WRC registration deadline originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsTravis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte
More Than 50 NASCAR Drivers To Appear At NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented By Sprint
NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by SprintDrivers To Sign Autographs And Interact With Fans At Inaugural Fan Event DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 16, 2011) ? More than 50 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are now confirmed to appear at the inaugural NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented...more»
Alonso: Ferrari wants ?dominant? car
Fernando Alonso says Ferrari is going all out to produce a 'dominant' Formula 1 car for next year, after praising the determination that he has seen at its Maranello factory this week. The Spaniard claims that his outfit is eager to enjoy the success that Red Bull Racing has experienced for the last two campaigns, which is why it has been willing to take more risks with the design of its 2012 challenger. And after seeing the new car in the windtunnel this week, Alonso says he is convinced Ferrari is putting in the effort that will allow it to hit back in style at the start of next season.
Q&A WITH 2011 NHRA FUNNY CAR CHAMPION MATT HAGAN
NHRA FUNNY CAR CHAMPION MATT HAGAN CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (Dec. 15, 2011) Photo by autoimagery.com It's been one month since Matt Hagan claimed his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship, at the young age of 28. We...
A.J. Allmendinger Grabs #22 Penske Ride for 2012
ALLMENDINGER TO DRIVE THE PENSKE RACING NO. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL DODGE IN 2012 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 21, 2011) ? Penske Racing has named AJ Allmendinger as the driver of the team?s No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Allmendinger, who has competed in the Cup Series since 2007, is coming off [...]
Note to NYC Press: Public Health Experts Don?t Sell Cheeseburgers
For the second time in the past few weeks, a New York City media outlet has allowed Milk Burger owner Erik Mayor to claim that protected bike lanes in East Harlem will increase asthma rates. Earlier this month it was the Daily News, and over the weekend NY1 gave some airtime to Mayor too.
East Harlem [...]
East Harlem [...]
Virginia Commonwealth University Ford Brian Scott BigSpot com Toyota
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Hulkenberg gets Sutil?s Force India seat
Force India has confirmed Nico Hulkenberg will join Paul di Resta in its racing driver line-up for the 2012 season.
Honda to Preview 2013 Accord with Accord Coupe Concept at Detroit Auto Show
Honda has announced that it will bring a design study of the 2013 Accord Coupe to the Detroit auto show. The Detroit show is already shaping up to be a big one for Honda?Acura, its luxury subsidiary, will debut the next NSX sports car, RDX crossover, and the new Honda Civic?based ILX in Detroit?and the [...]
Kevin Harvick Armour Vienna Sausage Kroger Chevrolet Brad Keselowski
NASCAR acts on tandem drafting
NASCAR has revealed the technical changes that it hopes will eliminate the tandem drafting that dominated restrictor plate races in 2011. The trend for cars to hook up in pairs started in the non-championship races ahead of the Daytona 500 in February, as advances in engine cooling meant that drivers could run close together without overheating their engines
AUTOS: Barrett-Jackson Goes Road Rallying
The 41st annual Arizona collector-car auction gets rolling with the popular road rally through Scottsdale.
Today?s Headlines
Trucker Hits and Kills 17-Year-Old Cyclist in Harlem; NYPD: “No Criminality” (DNA)
Meanwhile, East Harlem Calorie Merchants Keep Up Their Anti-Bike Lane Media Tour (NY1)
Drunk Driver Mows Down Stuyvesant Senior One Block From Gravesend Home (News)
Bloomberg on Cuomo’s Transit Cut: “Somebody Else Is Going to Have to Pay” (CapNY)
One More Reason Albany Needs to Get Serious [...]
Meanwhile, East Harlem Calorie Merchants Keep Up Their Anti-Bike Lane Media Tour (NY1)
Drunk Driver Mows Down Stuyvesant Senior One Block From Gravesend Home (News)
Bloomberg on Cuomo’s Transit Cut: “Somebody Else Is Going to Have to Pay” (CapNY)
One More Reason Albany Needs to Get Serious [...]
Ford: New deal shows WRC?s strength
Ford's commitment to the World Rally Championship should be taken as an indication of the series' solid future, according to team principal Malcolm Wilson. As the WRC's commercial arm North One Sport fights for its survival - after parent company Convers Sports Initiatives went into administration - Ford's decision to commit to the championship confirms the future of the WRC.
McLaren will be ready for first test
McLaren will have its new car ready for the first test of 2012, after the team confirmed on Monday it will be launched on 1 February. With tougher crash test regulations in place for next year, allied to a two-week gap between the first and second test, it had been expected that a number of outfits could choose to delay the launch of their new cars to make the most of extra development time. However, McLaren's announcement that the MP4-27 will be ready for the opening test at Jerez, which takes place from February 7-9, means the team follows Ferrari and Red Bull Racing in opting to get running as early as possible.
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SFPark Manager: Too Early to Evaluate Groundbreaking Parking Program
It’s too soon in the development of SFPark to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of demand-responsive pricing on parking habits, says the SFMTA’s Jay Primus, who manages the SFPark program.
Primus speaking with SFMTA Sustainable Streets Director Bond Yee at the installation of SFPark meters in March. Photo: SFMTA/Flickr
Primus got in touch yesterday when the [...]
Primus speaking with SFMTA Sustainable Streets Director Bond Yee at the installation of SFPark meters in March. Photo: SFMTA/Flickr
Primus got in touch yesterday when the [...]
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011
A.J. Allmendinger Grabs #22 Penske Ride for 2012
ALLMENDINGER TO DRIVE THE PENSKE RACING NO. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL DODGE IN 2012 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 21, 2011) ? Penske Racing has named AJ Allmendinger as the driver of the team?s No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Allmendinger, who has competed in the Cup Series since 2007, is coming off [...]
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Conway to race with Foyt in 2012
British driver Mike Conway has signed with AJ Foyt Racing for the 2012 IndyCar season. The 28-year-old, who replaces Vitor Meira, took his first series win with Andretti Autosport at Long Beach this year, but said that he was looking forward to starting work with his new team. "Hopefully we can hit the ground running with off season developments and be quick out the box," said Conway, who will be embarking upon his third full year in the series
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NISSAN CHAMPIONS UNITE IN THE DESERT
NISSAN Motorsport Monday, 19 Dec 2011 ? Nissan champions to race together at Dubai 24 Hours ? Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 to make its 24 hour race debut To celebrate a year of racing success in 2011, Nissan's champions will...
GP2 announces expanded calendar
GP2 will make its debut on the Singapore street circuit as part of its expanded 2012 calendar. With the championship dropping its winter Asia series in favour of adding more non-European rounds to the main schedule, the 2012 GP2 calendar will feature a record 24 races across 12 events. The season kicks off as part of the Malaysian Grand Prix bill - the first time that the main GP2 series has raced at former GP2 Asia venue Sepang - before back to back events at Sakhir, the first supporting the Bahrain GP, the second a standalone meeting one week later
New for 2012 Preseason Thunder NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Testing at Daytona
Preseason Thunder Test is Jan. 12-13-14 at Daytona International Speedway Final preparations for 2012 Speedweeks, in particular, the running of the 54th annual Daytona 500 ? Sunday, Feb. 26 Rules package is a result of information gathered during recent tests at Talladega (October) and Daytona (November) Rules package includes: Smaller radiator – Maximum of 2 [...]
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HRT appoints Perez-Sala as team boss
Former Formula 1 driver Luis Perez-Sala will take on the role of team principal at HRT following the exit of Colin Kolles, the Spanish team has said. HRT confirmed on Wednesday that Kolles would leave the team today after having occupied that position since the start of 2010. Perez-Sala, who competed in Formula 1 with Minardi in 1988 and 1989, had joined the team as an advisor in July this year
Ferrari ?ready to mount resurgence?
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has told his team it has everything it needs to return to the top in 2012 after a disappointing 2011 season. In a pre-Christmas speech to the team at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters, di Montezemolo said he had been encouraged by the efforts he had seen at the factory, and felt that the team now had the right personnel in place and the approach needed to take the fight to Red Bull once again
Mike Conway signs with AJ Foyt Racing for the 2012 Indy Car season
AJ Foyt Racing Mike Conway London, UK - Tuesday 20th December 2011 Long Beach Grand Prix winner Mike Conway has signed with AJ Foyt Racing to drive the No. 14 ABC Supply Honda in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series....
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Honda to Preview 2013 Accord with Accord Coupe Concept at Detroit Auto Show
Honda has announced that it will bring a design study of the 2013 Accord Coupe to the Detroit auto show. The Detroit show is already shaping up to be a big one for Honda?Acura, its luxury subsidiary, will debut the next NSX sports car, RDX crossover, and the new Honda Civic?based ILX in Detroit?and the [...]
Kolles parts company with HRT
Colin Kolles will leave the HRT team after reaching an agreement to end their cooperation, the Spanish squad announced on Wednesday.
De la Rosa: HRT move not a step back
Pedro de la Rosa says moving to the HRT team is not a step back, although he concedes it will be a huge challenge getting the Spanish squad closer to the midfield. De la Rosa, who has McLaren's reserve driver, will return to racing next year after securing a two-year contract with HRT
Alguersuari surprised at exit from Toro Rosso
Spanish driver Jaime Alguersuari said he is very surprised by Toro Rossos decision to drop him for the 2012 Formula One season. Alguersuari said Thursday that team principal Franz Tost and adviser Helmut Marko had as recently as Monday told me to insist on our 2012 project in F1. Toro Rosso announced two days later that Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Jean-Eric...
Monday, December 19, 2011
Al Hameli Secures Pole for Grand Prix of Sharjah!
F1 H2O / F1 Powerboat News SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates - December 15, 2011 The stage is set for a nailbiting finale to the 2011 season as Abu Dhabi's Ahmed Al Hameli clinched pole position ahead of one of the...
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Kolles parts company with HRT
Colin Kolles will leave the HRT team after reaching an agreement to end their cooperation, the Spanish squad announced on Wednesday.
Hand joins BMW?s DTM squad for 2012
Joey Hand will race in the DTM for BMW next year, following a successful test at Monteblanco last month. The 32-year-old American has been a factory driver for the German manufacturer since 2009 and has achieved huge success this year, winning both the Daytona 24 Hours in a BMW-engined Riley and then taking the GTE crown in the American Le Mans Series in an M3 GT. BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt said: "Joey has been a member of the BMW family for many years, and we are extremely pleased that he will now form part of our DTM project
Furniture Row Racing Looking for Broncos/Tebow Magic
Smith’s Sprint Cup Chevrolet to be Showcased at Sunday’s NFL Game in the Mile High City DENVER, Colo. (Dec. 8, 2011) — Though it’s the offseason for NASCAR, the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing is looking for some of the recent magic by the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow to rub off on the Sprint Cup [...]
NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented By Sprint Features Appearances By 2011 Champions
NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by SprintStewart, Stenhouse Jr., Dillon To Sign Autographs At Inaugural Fan Festival In January DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (Nov. 29, 2011) ? With the completion of the 2011 NASCAR season, planning for the NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint season preview fan event is in high gear. Driver appearances by the newly...more»
2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid: Mo? Battery, Mo? Mileage
After years of development capped by a painstaking study of 600 pre-production cars around the world, Toyota is finally ready to launch the plug-in Prius, which goes on sale in the spring of 2012. Keep Reading: 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid – Official Photos and Info
F1 teams filling 2012 rosters as Force India promotes Nico Hulkenberg
Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs
Now that the 2011 season is behind us, Formula One is focusing on the year ahead. So far, the top teams are keeping their talents in place: Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will continue at Red Bull Racing, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will take another crack at McLaren, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will soldier on at Scuderia Ferrari, and Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will stick it out another season at what's now begin called the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.
The bigger changes are happening in the mid-field and back-market teams. Lotus (formerly Renault) is bringing back Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Toro Rosso is likewise switching up its roster with Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. Meanwhile Sauber and Caterham (formerly Lotus) are both keeping their drivers (Kaumi Kobayashi & Sergio Perez, and Heikki Kovalainen & Jarno Trulli, respectively).
HRT has picked up perennial McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, but has yet to announce its second seat. Marussia (formerly Virgin) is keeping Timo Glock and bringing in lackluster newcomer Charles Pic. Williams is keeping Pastor Maldonado but has yet to confirm whether Rubens Barrichello will be returning. And the final piece to the puzzle was filled in today when Force India announced it is keeping former DTM champ Paul di Resta in place, but replacing Adrian Sutil with Nico Hulkenberg, a German driver who raced for Williams after winning titles in Formula 3, A1GP and GP2 and who spent last year as Force India's test driver.
With just two seats (Williams and HRT) still vacant, the 2012 championship is already shaping up before the new year has even started.
Continue reading F1 teams filling 2012 rosters as Force India promotes Nico Hulkenberg
F1 teams filling 2012 rosters as Force India promotes Nico Hulkenberg originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSunday, December 18, 2011
Zanella ends Barcelona testing on top
2011 Formula 2 runner-up Christopher Zanella brought a successful season to a close by topping the second - and final - day of testing at Barcelona. The 22-year-old, a double race winner in this year's championship, set his best time of 1m37.075s in the cooler morning conditions, and it remained unbeaten for the remainder of the day. Newcomer and German F3 graduate Markus Pommer came within 14 thousandths of deposing Zanella in the afternoon, but ultimately had to settle for second.
F1 teams filling 2012 rosters as Force India promotes Nico Hulkenberg
Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs
Now that the 2011 season is behind us, Formula One is focusing on the year ahead. So far, the top teams are keeping their talents in place: Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will continue at Red Bull Racing, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will take another crack at McLaren, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will soldier on at Scuderia Ferrari, and Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will stick it out another season at what's now begin called the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.
The bigger changes are happening in the mid-field and back-market teams. Lotus (formerly Renault) is bringing back Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Toro Rosso is likewise switching up its roster with Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. Meanwhile Sauber and Caterham (formerly Lotus) are both keeping their drivers (Kaumi Kobayashi & Sergio Perez, and Heikki Kovalainen & Jarno Trulli, respectively).
HRT has picked up perennial McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, but has yet to announce its second seat. Marussia (formerly Virgin) is keeping Timo Glock and bringing in lackluster newcomer Charles Pic. Williams is keeping Pastor Maldonado but has yet to confirm whether Rubens Barrichello will be returning. And the final piece to the puzzle was filled in today when Force India announced it is keeping former DTM champ Paul di Resta in place, but replacing Adrian Sutil with Nico Hulkenberg, a German driver who raced for Williams after winning titles in Formula 3, A1GP and GP2 and who spent last year as Force India's test driver.
With just two seats (Williams and HRT) still vacant, the 2012 championship is already shaping up before the new year has even started.
Continue reading F1 teams filling 2012 rosters as Force India promotes Nico Hulkenberg
F1 teams filling 2012 rosters as Force India promotes Nico Hulkenberg originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsVettel says focus on even better 2012
Sebastian Vettel says he is already moving on from his ultra-successful 2011 Formula 1 season and keen to ensure he and Red Bull Racing can be even better in 2012. The German wrapped up this year's world championship with a 122-point cushion, having taken 11 race victories and 15 poles. But as he celebrated the achievement in Red Bull's Home Run event in Milton Keynes this weekend, Vettel said he was starting to put 2011 in the past and focus on next year's car
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Al-Attiyah secures works Citroen drive
Citroen has confirmed it will field a third DS3 World Rally Car for Nasser Al-Attiyah from the second round of next year's World Rally Championship. The seven-time Middle East Rally Champion will drive a Qatar-backed Citroen in exactly the same specification as that of eight-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb and his new Finnish team-mate Mikko Hirvonen. Olivier Quesnel, Citroen Racing team principal said: 'We're pleased to announce the arrival of Nasser Al-Attiyah at Citroen Racing
HRT appoints Perez-Sala as team boss
Former Formula 1 driver Luis Perez-Sala will take on the role of team principal at HRT following the exit of Colin Kolles, the Spanish team has said. HRT confirmed on Wednesday that Kolles would leave the team today after having occupied that position since the start of 2010. Perez-Sala, who competed in Formula 1 with Minardi in 1988 and 1989, had joined the team as an advisor in July this year
Exclusive: This is the last Tesla Roadster
Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Tesla, Electric
Four years and 2,600 Roadsters later, Tesla is putting its first production vehicle out to pasture at the end of this year. But how do you celebrate the last of a breed? A sports car that put Tesla on the map? With a special edition, of course. And the Roadster you see here isn't just one of five Final Edition Roadsters - it's the last one to ever be produced.
Sporting Atomic Red paint, a duo of dark silver stripes on its hood and rear clamshell, along with exclusive anthracite aluminum wheels, this is number four of five Final Editions slated for North America. Originally, it was headed north of the border, but when the Canadian buyer realized importation would be an issue it went back on sale here in the States. We're sure someone is itching to sign the papers, grab the keys and never look back.
Tesla says each sales region - North America, Europe and Asia - will get five Roadsters specced out exactly as this one, and while there are no performance modifications, with only 15 on the planet, they should fetch a nice purse at the 2035 Barrett-Jackson auctions.
This is the last Tesla Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSaturday, December 17, 2011
Corvette Z06 tops Motor Trend list of shortest-stopping vehicles
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ferrari
Any modern performance car worth buying puts just as much emphasis on stopping as it does on going. After all, what's the point in being able to hit ludicrous speed if you can't manage to get it back down without heading fascia-first into an unmovable object?
So, what's a good stopping distance? According to the crew at Motor Trend, 100 feet from 60 miles per hour is a pretty good starting point. And the best of the best do the deed in significantly less. How's about 93 feet, recorded by both the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition and the 2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia.
There's a smattering more Corvettes and Ferraris in the under-100-feet club, plus a couple Audis, Porsches and Vipers, along with a lone Lamborghini and the 2011 Nissan GT-R. If you're willing to allow non-DOT-approved tires, a prototype Lexus LFA managed to halt from 60 in 94 feet.
Speaking of tires, it seems that the best stopping treads are the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, which are joined on the list by the Pirelli Pzero Corsas and a couple sets of Bridegstone Potenzas.
We've got to hand it to the Corvette Z06 for topping the list, especially since it's one of the least expensive vehicles in the under-100 club.
Corvette Z06 tops Motor Trend list of shortest-stopping vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsEdwards to lead BBC commentary
Ben Edwards will replace Martin Brundle as the BBC's lead Formula 1 commentator next year, ending weeks of speculation about who will join David Coulthard in the box. With Brundle having switched to Sky for 2012, the BBC has been looking for an experienced broadcaster to join its efforts next year.
Ricciardo, Vergne to race for Toro Rosso
Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne will race for the Toro Rosso team in the 2012 Formula 1 season, the team has announced. The news means the duo will replace Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari
Report: Hezbollah financing terrorism by selling used cars, allege federal prosecutors
Filed under: Government/Legal, Middle East
Terrorism isn't cheap. Like any organization, these groups have payroll, supplies and other overhead to take into account. Terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and Hezbollah have their own network of international investments, drug trafficking and illicit financial channels, and the latest evidence suggests that includes selling used cars.
The story comes into focus through a legal complaint filed by U.S. government officials. In the suit, federal prosecutors allege that Hezbollah is funded through Lebanese financial institutions that buy used cars in the United States, sell them in West Africa, launder the money through various established channels and funnel it back to the terrorist organization in Lebanon.
The evidence implicates the Lebanese Canadian Bank as well as two Lebanese exchange firms: Hassan Ayash Exchange Co. and Ellissa Holding. If courts uphold the federal prosecutors' findings, these financial institutions could stand to have their assets in the United States frozen, and their ability to do business with any American firms blocked.
Hezbollah financing terrorism by selling used cars, allege federal prosecutors originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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