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Video: Porsche vs. Corvette prequel at the 12 Hours of Sebring

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet, Porsche, Racing

Click above to view the video after the jump

The 57th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring is set to begin tomorrow at 10:30 AM, and with Audi out and Peugeot already dominating the LMP class in the qualifying sessions, the attention turns to the ALMS GT cars - specially the Porsche and Corvette teams.

The rivalry between the Flying Lizards and the Corvette C6.Rs has been stoked (even further) by Chevrolet's new racing webisodes, and after last year's final lap at Laguna Seca, the GT-class feuding is sure to make for some great racing.

After the jump you'll find a video documenting the Lizard's practice session yesterday, including Hans Herrman - the winner of the 1960 race - taking a lap around Sebring in a immaculate Porsche RS 60 Spyder. If you're planning to tune in tomorrow, you can download Andy Blackmore's stellar spotter's guide in all its high-res glory here and read our breakdown of this year's season here.

Gallery: 2010 ALMS Corvette C6.R

Continue reading Video: Porsche vs. Corvette prequel at the 12 Hours of Sebring

Video: Porsche vs. Corvette prequel at the 12 Hours of Sebring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren MP4-12C performance stats have arrived

Filed under: Coupe, Performance

McLaren MP4-12C - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you read our deep dive on the McLaren MP4-12C, you're thoroughly up to speed on the automaker's latest foray into supercardom. However, something was missing. McLaren hadn't provided the rudimentary performance figures to keep bench racers and keyboard jockeys frothing at the mouth. Until today.

According to recent reports the MP4-12C is able to crack the 60 mph mark in "under three seconds" when utilizing the launch control feature on its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Partnered with its 2,870 curb weight (there's still some debate if that's "dry" or fully loaded with fluids) and 600 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, the more telling stat is its 0-124 mph time of "under 10 seconds."

For those of you keeping track at home, the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo hits 60 in 3.2 seconds, the Corvette ZR1 breaks the mark at 3.5 seconds, with the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 and Ferrari 458 Italia coming in at 3.4 and 3.3 seconds respectively - not to mention the Nissan GT-R's 3.5-second run. So, is Maranello losing sleep tonight? Not likely. But there's officially a new player in the supercar set, and we can't wait to get our grubby paws on it.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C At Company Unveiling

[Source: Car and Driver]

McLaren MP4-12C performance stats have arrived originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.19.10

There Will Be Mud: An express course in ice racing with Subaru

We spend a day flogging the WRX and STI around an ice course and come away with a new appreciation for our left foot.

If you're green, are you more likely to be mean? A new study suggests you are...

A study in Psychological Science contends that eco-conscious consumers have a penchant for overt righteousness and a general feeling of superiority. You don't say?

Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo

With both GM and Ford providing all-new police-specific vehicles next year, we take a look at the old stalwarts and their black-and-white successors.

Also of interest:

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.19.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: MT wrings out Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni on mountain road, leaves soundtrack at home

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lamborghini

Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni on mountain roads - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Talk about a perfect way to spend an afternoon. The boys over at Motor Trend got their hands on Lamborghini's hottest two-wheel-drive creation, the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni, but instead of taking it to the track or recording performance data, they decided to show what this car does best - attack winding roads with brute force and staggering beauty. We'd be lying if we said we weren't just a wee bit jealous.

We highly suggest you take three minutes out of your day to watch this example of Italian supercar hotness storming through the mountains of California. It's a treat for both the ears and eyes, and you can experience it for yourself by clicking through the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: MT wrings out Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni on mountain road, leaves soundtrack at home

Video: MT wrings out Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni on mountain road, leaves soundtrack at home originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler kicks off production of Pentastar V6 engine, formerly known as "Phoenix"

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Chrysler Pentastar V6 engine begins production - Click above for high-res image gallery

The ~~artist~~ engine formerly known as ~~Prince~~ Phoenix has officially hit the assembly lines at the Chrysler Group's plant in Trenton, Michigan. The first version of the mill, which now bears the Pentastar moniker, displaces 3.6 liters and will see its first production application in the engine bay of the brand new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Expect this all aluminum, 60-degree, dual-overhead cam (with variable valve timing) powerplant to see lots of use in the near-term future - Chrysler boasts that the Pentastar V6 will replace seven current V6 engines. In the new Grand Cherokee, the Pentastar will put out 280 horsepower (a 22-percent increase) at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque (an 11-percent improvement) at 4,800 rpm.

Just as importantly, Chrysler tells us that the new engine will be 11 percent more fuel efficient than the unit it replaces, and it will run on either regular 87-octane gasoline or E85. This family of engines represent a $730 million investment, and the 822,000-square-foot Trenton facility will be able to produce more than 400,000 engines per year. See the complete press release after the break.

Gallery: Chrysler Pentastar V6 enters production

Continue reading Chrysler kicks off production of Pentastar V6 engine, formerly known as "Phoenix"

Chrysler kicks off production of Pentastar V6 engine, formerly known as "Phoenix" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joel Ewanick defects from Hyundai to Nissan, takes top marketing post

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Hyundai, Nissan

Over the past couple of years, Hyundai has been credited as having some of the best marketing efforts of any automaker in the U.S. The executive most credited with such programs as Hyundai's Assurance program is Joel Ewanick. As vice-president of marketing at Hyundai Motor America, he led the team that came up with ideas like Hyundai Assurance, which promises to continue making payments or take a car back if a buyer loses his or her job.

Ewanick is now moving over to Nissan North America where he will take on the same task for the Nissan division. Ewanick is replacing Christian Meunier, who was recently appointed president of Nissan Brazil. Ewanick starts at Nissan on Monday March 22, so prepare for some marketing magic out of Nissan's Tennessee headquarters shortly thereafter if he does for Nissan what he did for his former employer.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Joel Ewanick defects from Hyundai to Nissan, takes top marketing post

Joel Ewanick defects from Hyundai to Nissan, takes top marketing post originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Disgruntled hacker disables 100 cars in Texas remotely

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Omar Ramos-Lopez' retaliation on his former employers' customers might be something we conjure up while lying sleepless in bed, but we've got the power of self-restraint. Omar? Not so much. Ignoring his locus of control, Ramos-Lopez retaliated against Texas Auto Center after he was fired from by activating the GPS-enabled immobilizer systems the dealer fits to some of its cars. Some customers missed work, others had horns that kept honking and many had to pay for towing and repair.

In all, more than 100 people were impacted by the actions of Ramos-Lopez, a 20-year-old now facing charges for breach of computer security. Austin police say Ramos-Lopez accessed the computer system in an attempt to block the dealership's access to its own Pay Technologies account. Customer names were changed to things like "Tupac," and it took a couple days to figure out who the culprit was. Ramos-Lopez had been fired a month before the incident, and he's now facing between four months and two years in state prison if convicted.

[Source: wishtv.com | Image: Travis County Jail/AP]

Report: Disgruntled hacker disables 100 cars in Texas remotely originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Edge ordering guide hits the Intertubes

Filed under: Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Edge Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

After spending some time with the 2011 Ford Edge Sport, it's obvious Ford did more than just a run-of-the-mill mid-cycle refresh. And with the overhauled crossover hitting showrooms this summer, more and more information is trickling out. A member of the Blue Oval forums apparently found the Edge's order guide, giving us a complete rundown of the four Edge packages available at launch.

First, let's begin with what we already know. The Edge will be available in SE, SEL, Limited and Sport trims, come standard with an overhauled 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 powerplant and the Sport model will get the same 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 that powers the 2011 Mustang V6. According to the ordering guide, Ford expects 17 percent of customers to opt for the base SE model, 39 percent to go for the mid-level SEL, 40 percent to choose the Limited and only four percent to choose the 22-inch wheels of the Sport model.

SE buyers will have two Rapid Spec option packages from which to choose, though the pickings are slim. Spec 101A includes a convenience package with auto-headlamps, a compass, keyless entry and a reverse sensing system. The SEL will add everything from the best SE model plus standard equipment including 18-inch painted aluminum wheels, heated mirrors, a six-way power driver's seat and dual-zone temperature control. The SEL trim will also afford three different packages: Rapid Spec 201A includes the eight-inch LCD MyTouch interface with SYNC and a rear-view camera while Spec 202A adds features like leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat and ambient lighting.

Stand alone options include an expansive Vista Roof (available with spec 201A or 202A) and Ford's excellent navigation system (available with spec 202A). Jump to the Limited Edge and MyTouch, SYNC, leather, heated seats with power adjust in the front row and visual cues all around are all standard. The Limited has three rapid specs, with The Blue Oval expecting 301A to be the most popular. The package includes navigation, HID headlamps and the Vista Roof. Spec 302A adds BLISS blind spot protection and adaptive cruise control, while the low volume Sport model comes with scores of standard features including the aforementioned 22-inch wheels and 3.7-liter drivetrain. All options, including navigation, are a-la-carte. What the alleged Edge order guide doesn't include is pricing or any information about the 2.0-liter turbo model, which reportedly won't be available until 2011. Check the gallery below for the full guide.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge Ordering Guide

Gallery: First Ride: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

[Source: Blue Oval News]

2011 Ford Edge ordering guide hits the Intertubes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Mazda considers offering diesel CX-7 in the States

Filed under: Crossover, Mazda, Diesel

2010 Mzda CX-7 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Two years ago, Mazda introduced an advanced new 2.2-liter four cylinder diesel engine in the European market. Since then, we've asked Mazda officials on several occasions whether they would offer that engine in the U.S. market. The company has never ruled out bringing a diesel here, but it has also never said it would. Instead, Mazda has always said that it's watching the market and if there was demand for a diesel in the U.S., it would look at offering the efficient engines. Perhaps the success of Volkswagen's diesel offerings in the U.S. has convinced Mazda to look more seriously at oil-burners.

Mazda also offers a higher revving, more powerful 2.3-liter diesel which would be better suited to U.S. tastes. Mazda already offers the CX-7 with an SCR after-treatment system that would go a long way to meeting American emissions standards. However, at last fall's Tokyo Motor Show, the company also showed a next-generation diesel dubbed Sky-D, which is 20 percent more efficient. According to Road & Track, Mazda has acknowledged that the Sky-D diesel could be part of the lineup for the next generation CX-7 and CX-9, but the obvious question is: When?

Gallery: 2010 Mazda CX-7

[Source: Road & Track]

Rumormill: Mazda considers offering diesel CX-7 in the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The last interview DeLorean never gave?

Filed under: Classics, Etc.

The name John DeLorean is synonymous with the automotive industry. From his days at General Motors, where he turned Pontiac into the automaker's de facto performance division with the creation of the GTO, and, therefore, the muscle car genre in general, to his days running his eponymous car company that gave us the classic stainless steel gullwing wedge that became an iconic time machine through the magic of the movies, DeLorean was at the forefront of the industry for three decades.

Sadly, John DeLorean died in March of 2005. We'll never know what exactly he may have had in store to bring DeLorean Motor Company back to the market, though a telephone call two weeks before his death gives us a few clues. Apparently, DeLorean was planning to relaunch DMC with a new take on the classic DMC-12, complete with an engine from Renault with an optional hydraulic hybrid drivetrain and carbon fiber panels to keep it all lightweight.

The above information comes courtesy of our sister site AOL Autos' Maintenance Editor Tom Torbjornsen, who had planned an interview with John DeLorean that was to take place one week after his death. Torbjornsen pieced together information from a conversation he had with DeLorean and his "best guess at what [he] thought John might have said based on [their] conversation." It's an interesting read, and you can check the whole thing out by clicking here.

[Source: AOL Autos]

The last interview DeLorean never gave? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Ferrari 612 successor spied

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Ferrari, Luxury

The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is due for a major overhaul and the next generation 2+2 is expected to grow in size, be available with all-wheel drive and come packing Ferrari's new HY-KERS system.

Caught cold weather testing near the Arctic Circle, the 2012 model is sporting a longer wheelbase and redesigned front and rear fascias, along with a massive hood bulge. Power is expected to be provided by an Enzo-derived V12 putting out around 530 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, and delivering grunt to a modified seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox found in the 458 Italia and Ferrari 599 HY-KERS concept.

Although the fitment of all-wheel drive remains a rumor, there's a significant chance that the next 612 will be equipped with Ferrari's new hybrid system, complete with lithium-ion battery pack and three-phase electric motor to put out an addition 100 hp. If we're reading our tea-leaves properly, we'd expect the new 612 to be unveiled early next year with sales beginning in late 2011.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Ferrari 599 HY-KERS

[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy Shots: 2012 Ferrari 612 successor spied originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Police/Emergency

It used to be that every full-line American automaker offered a version of its mainstream full-size sedan to make it appropriate for police duty. By the time 1996 rolled around, the Chevrolet Caprice, which was the last would-be competitor to the standard-setting Ford Crown Victoria, was discontinued, leaving the lucrative police market to the Blue Oval Boys.

The automotive industry took notice, and plans began in corporate board rooms to remedy that situation, and even a few new entrants - most notably Carbon Motors - sprung up with promising designs that eschewed the mainstream production-based sedan design.

In 2005, Dodge rolled out a factory police package for its full-size Charger sedan, and for the first time in a decade the Crown Victoria faced some stiff V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive competition. Then in 2009, Chevrolet announced that its new Zeta platform Caprice would be returning for the 2011 model year packing a strong 6.0-liter V8 of its own.

How would Ford answer this newly mounted competition? Would the aging Panther-based Crown Vic finally get an update? Nope. Instead, Ford just recently announced that it would soon offer a highly ruggedized version of its most recent Taurus sedan, optionally equipped with the stout 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine powering all four wheels as seen in the revived Taurus SHO.

We decided to see for ourselves how the three new competitors stacked up against the old guard Crown Vic on paper, and as you can see, there's little to separate each offering on the spec sheets. It should prove interesting to see how police agencies react to these choices, especially since reliability and durability will be mostly unknown factors for the first time in ages. See for yourself.


	Ford Crown Vic	Ford Taurus	Dodge Charger	Chevrolet Caprice
Availability	Forever	Late 2011	2005 - Present	2011
Type	Four-door, body on frame	Four-door, enhanced unibody	Four-door, unibody	Four-door, unibody
Engine	4.6L V8	3.5L V6 Twin-turbo 3.5L V6	5.7L Hemi V8	6.0L V8
Power	250 horsepower	263 horsepower 365 horsepower	368 horsepower	355 horsepower
Torque	297 lb-ft	249 lb-ft 350 lb-ft	395 lb-ft	385 lb-ft
Fuel Economy	14 City / 21 Highway	18 City / 28 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus FWD) 17 City / 25 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus SHO AWD)	16 City / 25 Highway	15 City / 24 Highway (2009 Pontiac G8 GT)
Driveline	Rear-Wheel	Front or All-Wheel	Rear-Wheel	Rear-Wheel
Shifter	Column	Column	Column	Console
Wheels	17-inch steel	18-inch steel	18-inch steel	18-inch steel
Brakes	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs
Cop Brakes	Y	Y	Y	Y
Cop Suspension	Y	Y	Y	Y
Cop Cooling	Y	Y	Y	Y
Seats	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Cloth Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench
Interior Volume	106.4 Cubic Feet	102.3 Cubic Feet	104 Cubic Feet	112 Cubic Feet
Trunk Space	20.6 Cubic Feet	20.1 Cubic Feet	16.2 Cubic Feet	18 Cubic Feet
Special Features	Overwhelming Ubiquity Tough as nails Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact	Seats with downsized lateral bosters, cut-outs for utility belts Ford SYNC Safety Canopy(R) side-curtain air bag Rollover protection system Customizable steering-wheel switches Rear doors swing 71-degrees Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact BLIS(R) (Blind Spot Information System) Cross Traffic Alert Rear View Camera System Reverse Sensing System	160-mph (certified) calibrated speedometer AM/FM radio with CD player, changer controls, four speakers and clock with auxiliary audio input jack Load-leveling, height-control shock absorbers Independently switched red/white LED dome lamp	Seats with downsized lateral boosters, cutouts for utility belts In-dash touch-screen computer technology Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature

Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: 2012 BMW M5 Touring

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Hatchback, BMW

2012 BMW M5 Touring - Click above for high-res image

Master photochopper Jon Sibal has put digital pen to virtual paper to render up the next BMW M5, but unlike his previous F11 'chops, he's applying his skills to the yet-to-be-confirmed Touring version of the mid-size bahn-burner.

As Sibal points out in his post, BMW has an on-again, off-again history when it comes to five-door versions of the M5, with the E28 and E39 only available sans-hatch, while the E34 and outgoing E60 have been available in five-door form.

There's a good chance that the F11 version will be made, nixing the current model's V10 powerplant in favor of a 570-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 pulled from the X6 M. However, the chances of the hi-po hatch making it to the States is virtually nill, as the 5 Series Gran Turismo is set to take the standard Touring's place in the U.S. market. So does that mean a M5 GT could be in the works? Here's hoping, and maybe Sibal will render one up in the meantime.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring

[Source: JonSibal]

Rendered Speculation: 2012 BMW M5 Touring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Akio Toyoda sitting out this year's Nurburgring 24

Filed under: Motorsports, Lexus, Toyota

2010 Lexus LFA racer - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has his hands full. In addition to the day-to-day rigors of running the largest automaker in the world, Toyoda is busy combating the negative press and apologizing profusely for the massive amount of recalls customers are enduring. He's also an avid blogger and race driver, and in his most recent entry has announced that he will not, after all, be returning to the wheel of the Lexus LFA for this year's Nurburgring 24.

The embattled auto executive was one of the drivers in last year's event, where Toyota and Gazoo Racing campaigned an LFA prototype to great effect. He was even reported to have brokered the deal with Aston Martin for the iQ-based Cygnet city car at the event last year.

With the announcement that Lexus would be returning with a new LFA racer based on the production model, speculation (fueled by the official announcement) was rampant that Toyoda would return to the cockpit. But Toyoda himself has now dispelled the rumors, leaving the roster of Japanese and German drivers to pilot the car without him this year.

Gallery: 2010 Lexus LFA racer

[Source: Gazoo.com (translated) via The Truth About Cars]

Report: Akio Toyoda sitting out this year's Nurburgring 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AmD Milltek Racing brings the Volkswagen Golf back to the British Touring Car Championship

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Volkswagen, UK, Racing

AmD Milltek Racing Volkswagen Golf touring car - Click above for image gallery

Touring car racing is big business overseas. Think of it as European stock cars and you've got an idea of the fan base. And while there's a World Touring Car Championship, it's the individual national series that draw the most attention: series like DTM in Germany, Australia's V8 Supercars, Italy's Superstars series, and this, the British Touring Car Championship.

The UK series dates back for decades, and has attracted the participation of many of the world's biggest automakers. Now, for the first time in ten years, a Volkswagen will be competing in the series. Prepared by AmD Milltek Racing, this VW Golf will be dicing it with the likes of the BMW 320si, Vauxhall Vectra, Seat Leon and Honda Civic Type R for the glory as an independent entry. (In fact most - if not all - of the entries are now privateers since the major manufacturers packed up shop.)

The Golf touring car was brought over under the new S2000 rules from the Baltic Touring Car Championship - one of the more obscure series in the discipline - and modified by Milltek before recently undergoing a shakedown at Brands Hatch where the team is based. The car was driven, as it will be throughout the season, by the team's managing director Shaun Hollamby, whose past experience had him competing in the Volkswagen Cup and directing the television department for Formula One Management.

Gallery: AmD Milltek Racing Volkswagen Golf touring car

[Source: AmD Milltek Racing via JonSibal.com]

AmD Milltek Racing brings the Volkswagen Golf back to the British Touring Car Championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Rolls-Royce Phantom to undergo major overhaul in 2016

Filed under: Sedan, Rolls-Royce, Rumormill, Luxury

Rolls-Royce Phantom - Click above for high-res image gallery

Having been introduced in 2003, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has been on the market for seven years now. That's a pretty long life-cycle for a car these days. According to the ever-churning rumor mill, that's only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as Rolls may be planning on keeping the Phantom the way it is for another six years or so.

According to the reports, the Phantom is set to receive a major overhaul in 2016. What that will entail is far from being known at this point. And considering Maybach may reportedly fall by the wayside, its only major competition is the Bentley Mulsanne, which is brand spankin' new.

Once the Phantom sedan is replaced, though, it would be reasonable to expect the Coupe and DHC convertible to follow suit. In the meantime, expect another few dozen special editions for the Persian Gulf crowd.

Gallery: Review: 2007 Rolls-Royce Phantom

[Source: Autotelegraaf.nl (translated)]

Rumormill: Rolls-Royce Phantom to undergo major overhaul in 2016 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you're green, are you more likely to be mean? A new study suggests you are...

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

You've probably heard the Toyota Prius referred to as the "Pious." The joke is that Prius owners feel driving a hybrid means they are holier than thou. But it's just a joke made by people who wish they could get 50 miles per gallon around town, right? If you ask Canadian psychologists Nina Mazar and Chen-Bo Zhong, they'll say that environmentally conscious types are liars, cheats, thieves and just plain mean, and they're not even talking about hybrid-driving politicians.

The Detroit Bureau reports that a Mazar and Zhong study published in Psychological Science focused on the social behaviors of green consumers, and the results were surprising. The psychologists set up tests to compare the behavior of environmentally conscious types against consumers who are less likely to consider a product's environmental impact during the purchase process.

Their results show that people who buy green products may amass a stock pile of moral capital that ultimately encourages deviant behavior like lying and stealing. Think of it this way: You sacrificed what your V8-loving, tire-shredding heart really wanted and bought a hybrid for the greater good. You're owed, and you're such a good person that you don't have to play by the same moral rules as everyone else.

You can review the experiments conducted in the first source link below. The psychologists conclude that "acting upon one's values establishes moral credentials that can subsequently license deviating behavior." We think that means green buyers feel holier than thou.

[Source: Psychological Science via The Detroit Bureau]

If you're green, are you more likely to be mean? A new study suggests you are... originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There Will Be Mud: An express course in ice racing with Subaru

Filed under: Etc., Subaru

Subaru Ice Racing School - Click above for high-res image gallery

John Haugland, the man tasked with turning us flacks into ice racers, advised us to do several things the night before our instruction. For whatever reason, being "water positive" stuck with me the most. So before heading to bed I chugged a bottle and a half of water, woke up in the middle of the night, downed the other half and then drank another bottle before heading out to the makeshift circuit. When the time came to man-up in one slightly modified Subaru WRX, I had to liberate some liquid... badly.

Exacerbating my bursting bladder was the near-freezing temps of Park City, Utah, but despite the mid-30s weather and an early morning departure, by the time I rolled up to the staging lights, a fair amount of the course had succumbed to the sun. The result was a circuit comprised of equal parts snow and ice, with a few mud pits thrown in for dramatic measure.

But no matter the state of terra firma, sliding is sliding, grip is grip and opposite lock antics were mine for the taking, so after a quick trip to the port-o-potty I dialed in a few thousand revs, dropped the clutch and sped my way towards the first chicane. It took all of two turns and several muffled orders from Haugland to begin to see the allure of ice racing and understand what our man Tim has been proselytizing in his ongoing series.

My first go-round was suitably slow and occasionally sideways, but for the most part it was an exercise in anticlimactic understeering. And then... epiphany!

Gallery: Subaru Ice Racing School

Continue reading There Will Be Mud: An express course in ice racing with Subaru

There Will Be Mud: An express course in ice racing with Subaru originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canada Post to replace fleet with Ford Transit Connect

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Government/Legal, Work, Ford

Ford Transit Connect - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford scored a big deal this week for its new Transit Connect when Canada Post chose the compact commercial van to replace its current fleet of mail carriers. The Canadian post office went through a competitive bidding process to select a new vehicle that included total lifecycle costs, which favored the relatively fuel efficient Transit Connect that's rated 22 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway by the EPA. One of the key selling points of the Transit Connect is its fuel efficiency advantage over full-size vans.

Canada Post will buy 1,175 Transit Connects this year as part of its fleet modernization effort, which makes it the largest single order yet for the Transit Connect in Canada. Canada Post currently uses the same small box vans as the U.S. Postal Service.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Transit Connect

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Canada Post to replace fleet with Ford Transit Connect

Canada Post to replace fleet with Ford Transit Connect originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feds suggest driver error may have caused runaway Prius in NY

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

Last week we told you about an incident in New York involving unintended acceleration in a 2005 Toyota Prius. This accident occurred just after the high-profile case involving Jim Sikes and his runaway Prius in San Diego, but unlike that incident where the car eventually came to a complete stop, the New York Prius crashed into a stone wall with the driver suffering minor, non-life threatening injuries.

Now, after a full investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ruled that this accident was likely caused by driver error, rather than a faulty brake system. NHTSA delivered this message to reporters:

"Information retrieved from the vehicle's onboard computer systems indicated there was no application of the brakes and the throttle was fully open."

Toyota spokesperson John Hanson says that the accident is being looked over by the Harrison, NY police department, and that the automaker will not comment until the investigation has completed. And while Toyota did join in with the investigation of Sikes' Prius, it is not clear if the automaker will take a closer look at this second incident.

With the validity of Jim Sikes' story coming under attack and the incident in New York likely being a true accident, we have to wonder how many other runaway Toyota incidents have been much ado about nothing other than driver error, intended or otherwise. With both the NHTSA and Toyota under a microscope, each one will likely be investigated by the feds and local authorities, as well as possibly Toyota too. Neither high-profile incident mentioned above has resulted in a solid case against Toyota and its products, a streak that may or may not continue depending on the result of each investigation going forward.

[Source: USA Today]

Feds suggest driver error may have caused runaway Prius in NY originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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