Sources
- Autoblog
- AutoMuse
- Cars! Cars! Cars!
- David Leggett's automotive industry blog - from just-auto.com
- GM FastLane
- Grant's Auto Rants
- Jalopnik
- Officially Official: 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring [w/Video]
Filed under: Wagon, Europe, Videos, BMW, Luxury
BMW 5 Series Touring - Click above for high-res image gallery
Just as the new sixth-generation BMW 5 Series sedan goes on sale in Europe, a new station wagon variant has been unveiled. Like past editions of the 5 Series Touring, this one is essentially the same as the sedan, only with the roof extending straight back to enclose a substantially larger cargo area.
All of the fancy new technology that we've already seen in the 5 Series Gran Turismo and sedan is carried over into the Touring. That includes the driver assistance systems like the surround-view cameras and parking assist. Underhood, BMW's twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 won't be available at launch, but a selection of gas and diesel four- and six cylinder engines will be offered. The range-topping 535i is powered by the new 300-horsepower 3.0-liter N55 twin-scroll turbo direct-injected inline-six.
Single-turbo versions of the 2.0-liter inline-four and 3.0-liter inline-six diesels are also available with 184 hp and 245 hp respectively. The four-cylinder 520d Touring gets an EU combined fuel economy rating of 45.2 miles per gallon (U.S.) with the 530d also scoring an impressive 36.8 mpg.
Unfortunately, it seems extremely unlikely that we will ever get to see any of these handsome new wagons given Americans' ongoing aversion to this body style. We'll just be forced to make do with the homelier-looking 5 Series Gran Turismo. Click past the jump to check out new video footage of the 5 series Touring.
[Source: BMW]Continue reading Officially Official: 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring [w/Video]
Officially Official: 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring [w/Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Pics Aplenty: TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster hits the road
TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery
Following the unveiling of the TAG Heuer Roadster Sport at the Geneva Motor Show last week, Tesla has released a large batch of new photos of the one-off electric sports car. The new shots show the car, which was prepared to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Swiss watchmaker, out on the road.
Following the close of the Geneva Motor Show this weekend, the Roadster will be driven the 155 miles to Basel for the big watch show that starts there next week. (At Baselworld, TAG Heuer will unveil a new concept timepiece.) Mechanically, there's nothing really new about the Roadster Sport, but for those of you that can't get enough images of the two-tone Roadster, check out our newly-expanded high-res gallery.
[Source: Tesla]Pics Aplenty: TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster hits the road originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Officially Official: Lotus, Cosworth back in the IndyCar series
Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, Honda, Lotus
Lotus Cosworth KV Racing IndyCar rendering - Click above for high-res image gallery
Lotus is officially returning to the IndyCar series in 2010 in partnership with engine builder Cosworth and KV Racing. Lotus, as you well know, has a long history with Indy-style open-wheel racing, dating back to the early 1960s. Its exploits include a victory by Jim Clark in 1965 and the all-wheel-drive, turbine-powered cars that arrived a few years later.
A few weeks ago, Lotus announced a revival of its cooperation with Cosworth for both road and race cars. The new collaboration with KV is described as being both technical and commercial. It's not clear at this point what Cosworth will contribute from a technical perspective, since all the current IndyCars run Honda V8s. Perhaps KV will provide a platform upon which Cosworth can test and develop a new engine for the next-generation IndyCar regulations that are in the works.
The green and yellow Lotus/Cosworth-badged car will debut in two weeks at the St. Petersburg, Florida race with ex-Honda F1 pilot Takuma Sato at the controls.
[Source: Lotus]Continue reading Officially Official: Lotus, Cosworth back in the IndyCar series
Officially Official: Lotus, Cosworth back in the IndyCar series originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - New York 2010 Preview: All-new 2011 Kia Optima
Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Kia
2011 Kia Optima - Click above for high-res image gallery
The next stage of Kia's transformation from design also-ran to serious contender will kick off at the New York Auto Show in few weeks. After launching the Forte sedan and Koup, the new Sorento and, most recently, the Sportage, Kia's new design language is being applied to the Optima. The all-new 2011 Kia Optima is longer, wider and lower than the car it replaces although we don't know by how much. While it's not as aggressive as the sketches released a few weeks ago, this Optima is certainly a huge step forward.
We don't have any mechanical details yet, but we'd guess that the Optima shares a lot under the skin with the new Hyundai Sonata. Nor would we be at all surprised to learn that the Optima won't have a V6 engine option this time around. Instead, it'll probably use the same direct-injected 2.4-liter inline-four found in the Sonata. The turbocharged and hybrid variants may follow as well.
[Source: Kia]Continue reading New York 2010 Preview: All-new 2011 Kia Optima
New York 2010 Preview: All-new 2011 Kia Optima originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Spy Shots: Chevy Camaro Convertible spotted top-down
Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Chevrolet, GM
Chevrolet Camaro Convertible - Visit Camaro5.com for additional photos
GM's obviously thrilled with the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro's success, as it's pretty much owned the Ford Mustang on the sales charts to this point. Now, the retooled Mustang hopes to bounce back with new powertrains aimed at erasing any performance advantage the Camaro model has. File that battle under "To Be Continued." The other thing the Mustang has going for it, however, is that sunseekers can opt for a ragtop variant. As in, today. Chevy fans? Not so much.
The waiting game continues apace, however, as the Camaro Convertible inches closer to showrooms. The latest good news comes from Camaro5.com, where a contributor nabbed the droptop Camaro out testing with its roof down - the first such sighting. We think it's a looker, just like its fixed-roof sibling, and better still, with the top stowed, all the visibility compromises the coupe has to make in the name of its wicked curb appeal are summarily erased. This is one ride we're definitely looking forward to. For additional photos, make tracks over to Camaro5.com.
[Source: Camaro5.com]Spy Shots: Chevy Camaro Convertible spotted top-down originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Chrysler's upcoming 6.4L V8 only for SRT, not for Ram?
Filed under: Truck, Etc., Technology, Chrysler, Dodge
Back in November, during Chrysler's seemingly endless business plan presentation, Ram trucks chief Fred Diaz told the captive media audience that the new 6.4-liter Hemi gasoline V8 would likely appear in Ram's heavy duty trucks. Fast forward to today, however, and it would appear that the big Hemi is now off the table. PickupTrucks.com reports that the 6.4 Hemi will instead be exclusive to Chrysler's potent SRT vehicles. Chrysler VP of product development, Joe Veltri, says that the 6.4 is designed for performance, not the grunt work truck buyers demand of their vehicles.
PickupTrucks.com notes also that Veltri sees a need for Ram to get gas engine that delivers more power and torque than the currently-available 5.7-liter Hemi, but that the likely course of action will involve building off that engine, rather than looking to adapt the SRT lump for truck duty. Why the drive to add more gas offerings in the diesel-dominated heavy-duty truck category? Emissions regulations, natch. Increasingly strict rules mean that diesels are becoming commensurately more costly to produce and sell, and Chrysler sees the ratio of diesel to gas engines offered becoming much closer in future years than it is today. Head over to PickupTrucks.com for the full skinny.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]Chrysler's upcoming 6.4L V8 only for SRT, not for Ram? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Grounds for Celebration: TV scientists convert VW Scirocco to run on coffee
Filed under: Europe, Technology, Volkswagen, UK
This is what we mean when we say that the future of alternative fuels isn't anywhere close to being decided. A team from the BBC program Bang Goes the Theory has rigged an older Volkswagen Scirocco to run on coffee pellets. It's a bit complex, with the coffee grounds needing to be heated to 1,292 degrees Fahrenheit, and the resulting concoction cooled, separated and filtered before it's run to the engine. Because coffee contains carbon, however, it works.
It's expensive, though. The trial run the Starbucks Scirocco will make from London to Manchester and back will cost more than 25 times what the same trip on gasoline would because the car goes just three miles on a kilo of coffee. The 209-mile trip is also take ten hours, due to the number of stops required to refill the fuel canister and regularly clean out the system.
So, on second thought, this is not what we mean when we talk about the future of alternative fuels. But it is really neat, and it's for the kids, and those sorts of things count for a lot in our book. Hat tip to Joviocoe!
[Source: The Daily Mail]Grounds for Celebration: TV scientists convert VW Scirocco to run on coffee originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Report: No AWD for Subaru version of FT-86 "Toyobaru" (w/poll)
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Subaru, Toyota, Rumormill
Toyota/Subaru Coupe test mule - Click above to enlarge
Japan's Best Car (via 7Tune) apparently reports that development costs associated with Subaru's version of the Toyota FT-86 sport coupe have become so high that all-wheel drive is now being dropped from the equation. If true, this would deprive the widely-expected Scooby coupe of the feature the brand's entire marketing platform is built on, likely leaving us with a pair of clones whose only major difference will be styling. To that end, it's also reported that an effort is underway to more substantially differentiate the Subaru coupe's look from the Toyota FT-86 beyond grilles and badges.
Of course, nothing's official until these cars are formally introduced, but yanking AWD from the Subaru effectively leaves us with a Japanese version of GM's old Camaro/Firebird scenario, assuming both cars really do come to market. Frankly, it's hard to see why Subaru would even bother going with this sans all-wheel drive coupe, though the Herculean PR spin they'd have to put on it would likely be hugely entertaining ("This is what we wanted all along...").
So, let's hear what you think. Follow the jump for a poll on how a lack of AWD would impact your interest in the presumed Subaru version of the Toyota FT-86. Thanks to Johnny for the tip!
[Source: 7Tune via FT86Club.com]Continue reading Report: No AWD for Subaru version of FT-86 "Toyobaru" (w/poll)
Report: No AWD for Subaru version of FT-86 "Toyobaru" (w/poll) originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - All Bentley Continental models going flex-fuel in June
Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Bentley, Luxury
2010 Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery
It may not be the most interesting news you read all week, but we now have a date at which all Bentley Continentals will be able to gulp down whiskey with the best of 'em: June.( Well, not exactly whiskey, but ethanol's pretty close.) Bentley had made the announcement (sans date) at the Geneva Motor Show when it showed off the Continental Supersports Convertible.
This move as a big first step toward reaching Bentley's stated goal of offering an entirely biofuel-capable lineup by 2012. In its latest form, as seen in the Continental Supersports, Bentley's twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 offers up 621 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. That's sufficient to push the Conti to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and onto to a top speed of 202 mph.
As the Continental family is easily Bentley's most popular offering, this means that over half of all cars the brand sells this year will be flex-fuel-compatible. For those keeping track, the Brooklands coupe (which will soon be discontinued), Azure convertible and the soon-to-be-released Mulsanne sedan (the replacement for the long-running Arnage) are still not yet biofuel capable. According to Automotive News, however, the Mulsanne will be E85-capable shortly after its launch later this year.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]All Bentley Continental models going flex-fuel in June originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Video: 12" diesel stacks. God Bless America
Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Videos
American ingenuity FTW! 12" Pypes stacks - Click above to watch the video after the jump
Really, there's not much else to say here, other than that the guys at Pypes Performance Exhaust deserve a Nobel Prize or something. These 12-inch diesel stacks may well be the most gloriously redneck innovations ever devised by mankind. Or the most awesome. Or both. Don't be a hater - you know you need a big diesel truck now. With these. For America. Click past the jump for the video demo.
[Source: YouTube via Pypes]Continue reading Video: 12" diesel stacks. God Bless America
Video: 12" diesel stacks. God Bless America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Amelia Island Concours set to symbolically break Cuban embargo
Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Event Alert
Director Eduardo Mesejo Maestre leads a tour at the Deposito del Automovil in Havana
Recognizing that car guys (and gals) are car guys no matter where in the world they live, the folks running this weekend's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance have decided to use a bit of "Car-Guy Diplomacy" to reach out to that bigger island a little south of Florida...Cuba. They have invited Ing. Eduardo Mesejo Maestre, Director of Deposito del Automovil (the Cuban Automotive Museum), to serve as a judge for the event. It's kind of like those ping pong matches between the U.S. and China back in the '70s, but, you know, with classic cars.
It's actually a first in U.S.-Cuba relations, for a Cuban national to be invited to judge a major concours in the States, believe it or not. In fact, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury had to grant permission for Ing. Mesejo to come here for the event, which runs March 12-14. For those too young to remember or too inattentive in history class, the United States has had a commercial, economic and financial embargo on Cuba, Cuban goods and Cuban people since 1960. Leave it to the car community to bridge that divide.
Cubans and Americans share a bit of a history with classic American cars, too. Since the embargo laws blocked the importation of new vehicles into Cuba, Cuban auto enthusiasts have made it a bit of an obsession to keep the best of the 1950s classics alive and running, relying on a lot of ingenuity to find or make parts when needed. Ing. Mesejo will join racing legends Denise McCluggage and Carroll Shelby in the jurying duties, Shelby stepping in for the recently injured Sir Stirling Moss. Fittingly, they will be judging the "Cars of the Cuban Races" class, an homage to a series of races held just in 1957, 1958 and 1960. You can read more about the event and Ing. Mesejo in the full press release after the jump.
[Source: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance]Continue reading Amelia Island Concours set to symbolically break Cuban embargo
Amelia Island Concours set to symbolically break Cuban embargo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Next-generation Toyota Camry revealed in patent filings? (Updated)
Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Toyota
Toyota Camry patent filings - Click above for high-res image gallery
Toyota may be having some brand image troubles, what with all of the bad press it has been getting lately, but we mustn't forget that the Japanese automaker produces many of America's most popular cars, including the best-selling car in the U.S., the Camry.
Those keeping close watch will remember that the Camry received a very minor facelift for the 2010 model year, with the car receiving more Corolla-like styling, albeit in a more substantial package. However, one of our tipsters sent us these United States Patent and Trademark Office filing images of what appears to be the next-generation Camry, possibly slated for the 2012 model year. The sedan's dimensions don't seem to have changed too much, and the overall styling theme is still very conservative - in fact, it looks more milquetoast than the 2010 model that is presently in dealerships. The front fascia ditches the angular design of the current car for a smoother, more traditional design, and we see more pronounced taillamps out back, likely using LED strips like those on the 2011 Avalon. If anything, the vehicle in these images looks similar to the ASEAN market Camry that was retouched last year, but it is still clearly different.
Timing-wise, we wouldn't expect to see the official reveal until later this year or even early next year (2011 Detroit Auto Show, perhaps?). In the meantime, click through the gallery below to see the patent filing scans from all angles. A tip of the hat to RPB!
UPDATE: This is one of those times where we make like a point guard who just blew a pass to the open guy on a breakaway, tap our chests, and mouth, "My bad." As some of you noticed, the car pictured above is indeed the current Australian-market Toyota Aurion, itself a derivative of, yes, the Camry. Now, why would the Aurion show up in a U.S. patent filing? Perhaps the car's fascias are headed here as a cheap 'n easy facelift for the Camry. After all, it'd be a pretty significant change (for hyper-conservative Toyota, that is). It also does look better than the current Camry - in a differently-anonymous way. Also, if Toyota is going to Aurion-ize the Camry in the U.S., the least they could do is offer this while they're at it. Right? For a better look at the Aurion in living color, check out the second gallery below.
[Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office]Next-generation Toyota Camry revealed in patent filings? (Updated) originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Video: Watch the live reveal of the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor
Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Work, Ford, Police/Emergency
2012 Ford Police Interceptor reveal - Click above to watch the video
Earlier today, Ford unveiled its next generation Police Interceptor (they'd rather you not call it a Taurus) at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway before a group of police agency fleet buyers. The event was webcast live, but you can now watch a replay as Ford president Mark Fields and vehicle line director Scott Tobin explain the process of developing the new cruiser and how it differs from a civilian Taurus.
The Dodge Charger has been stomping all over the Crown Vic and Impala in recent years during the annual Michigan State Police vehicle test, but that process could end this year when the newTaurusPolice Interceptor hits the track. The 365-horsepower Ecoboost-powered Interceptor should be right up there with the Dodge and may well provide better fuel economy to boot.
Ford isn't talking price yet for the new cop cars, but it aims to make it competitive with the rest of the class, and a claimed 25-percent boost in fuel economy compared to Crown Vic should help ease the pain of transitioning. Check out the video after the jump.
[Source: Ford]Continue reading Video: Watch the live reveal of the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor
Video: Watch the live reveal of the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - WSJ speculates about Renault-Nissan taking stake in GM
Filed under: GM, Nissan, Earnings/Financials, Renault, Rumormill
Rumors that Renault-Nissan may be interested in taking on a third head have popped once again, with the would-be merger candidate this time being General Motors. Huh, sounds familiar, doesn't it? In actuality, The Wall Street Journal is really just speculating on the possible effects of such a deal, and it's done so with all kinds of number crunching and colorful pie charts.
The lone quote from Renault-Nissan head Carlos Ghosn that seems to have sparked the article: "The name of the game is scale and co-investments and sharing technologies." That's a common thread from Ghosn and most recently stated at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.
After reading through the article, it seems possible that such a merger could make sound business sense for the Franco-Japanese automaker for a couple of reasons. First is Ghosn's seemingly insatiable appetite for large-scale synergies. Second, the two automaker's sales footprints appear to be rather complimentary. Finally, Renault-Nissan has enough cash reserves and holdings on hand that it could afford to purchase a 10-percent stake in the American automaker when it hopefully goes public again in early 2011.
So, does any of this have an actual chance of happening? We have absolutely no idea, but that hardly seems to matter - we're always up for a little speculation when it comes to our favorite topic of conversation. As always, questions, comments and snide remarks can be left in "Comments." What say you? Does Renault-Nissan-General Motors have a nice ring to it?
[Source: The Wall Street Journal | Image: Raveendran/AFP/Getty]WSJ speculates about Renault-Nissan taking stake in GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Strictly Commercial: Nissan NV website comes online
Filed under: Minivan/Van, Marketing/Advertising, Work, Nissan
Nissan NV commercial vans - Click above for high-res image gallery
No surprise here, really. Just one short day after officially revealing its first-ever commercial vehicle for the U.S. market, Nissan has launched a corresponding website to go along with its NV series of vans.
As you would expect from such a website, Nissan allows you to see both the standard and High Roof models in a complete 360-degree view. The Japanese automaker told us in its official press release that a great deal of research was conducted to find out exactly what commercial users wanted from their vehicles, and on the site, you can watch a number of such interviews on video.
Despite the fact that this is Nissan USA's first commercial van, the Japanese side of the the automaker's coin has been in the work-vehicle business for over 75 years, and naturally they are more than happy to tell you all about it. Wanna learn more? Click here.
[Source: Nissan]Strictly Commercial: Nissan NV website comes online originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Report: Unintended acceleration Prius case gets twist involving debt, technology
Second-gen Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
The unintended acceleration case of the second-generation Prius belonging to James Sikes now officially has an interesting backstory. Apparently, according to USAToday, Sikes' "case against Toyota is starting to look shaky." Why? Two reasons. First, and most important, is the technical argument. Toyota is saying that Sikes' Prius has a brake override system that should have slowed the car down in the situation Sikes has described to the media and to investigators. Also, looking at Audi's history with a similar problem back in the 1980s, it's often driver error that led to the acceleration, not a problem with the vehicles themselves.
Second, and only to consider possible motives for pretending something was wrong when there really wasn't, Sikes is apparently deep in debt according to financial records uncovered by Jalopnik. He has said repeatedly that he doesn't plan on suing Toyota, but he has retained a law firm.
As we said yesterday, there is no obvious explanation for why Sikes' Prius (and a similar model in New York a few days later) sped up and there's a case to be made that the hype is getting out of hand. Still, something happened, and the sooner we get the facts here, the better off we'll be. For now, we'll just have to file this under "Ongoing."
[Sources: Jalopnik, USAToday, Autopia]Report: Unintended acceleration Prius case gets twist involving debt, technology originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Spy Shots: Are you the next Audi S8?
Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Audi, Luxury
Check out what a very cold spy photographer snapped some pictures of. This car could very well be the upcoming Audi S8. Of course, as the car in the photos is totally unmarked, this could just be another variant of the big Audi. We've suspected for some time that a new S8 is coming, and we hear that it's most likely headed over to our shores. However, we've know next to nothing about what type of terror resides under the hood. Until today.
Unlike the last (frankly underpowered) S8, this new big-fast sedan is dropping the choked-off, Lamborghini-derived V10 in favor of a new twin-turbo V8. The good folks at Car and Driver are claiming the unit will displace 4.0-liters. Our source at Audi wouldn't confirm that displacement explicitly, but did say that C/D is, "on the right path." This same source noted that BMW's been using a smallish displacement twin-turbo V8 (4.4-liters) in the 7 Series for the past year and that Audi intends to stay competitive.
Our Audi source also noted that the new V8 will be offered in many flavors, and will allow Audi to meet all the emissions and mileage standards coming down the pike in the next five years. We're told to expect a wide range of configurations, similar to what Audi/Lamborghini did with their shared V10. That means different states of tune for different cars, as well as naturally aspirated and force inducted version. As for power, our source once again confirmed that Car and Driver knows what they're printing. Meaning that the 450 horsepower/450 pound-feet of torque neighborhood isn't a bad guess, though the final numbers could be higher.
Back to the car in the heavily cropped photograph (check out Autocar for the complete set of pics), we're still not 100-percent sure it's the S8. First of all, there are no visual cues to distinguish this black car from a regular A8, save for the requisite four tailpipes. However, as Autocar notes, the new S8 is said to have bold new bodywork to set it apart from the standard car. Also, examine the brakes. They appear to be larger diameter than the standard brakes, yet they aren't drilled or slotted. One would think (and we would agree with him) that an S vehicle would have a more serious set of stoppers. After all, even the A8 Hybrid "Concept" has fancier discs. Of course, maybe these are just placeholders used during cold weather testing. Yeah, we're pretty sure this is the new Audi S8.
[Sources: Autocar, Car and Driver]Spy Shots: Are you the next Audi S8? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video]
Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.
THE THAW
You had to know it couldn't last forever. Most recently our Subaru ice racer was in action way up north in the wilds of Quebec, getting sideways on a frozen circuit. As it turns out, if we wanted to keep on racing we should have stayed up there. This form of motorsport needs frozen lakes and some unfortunately turbulent weather in the northeast over the past month didn't do the local bodies of water any favors. But, we were able to make it to one final event before the season was put to rest. We have some highlights to share below, including footage of what it looks like to be inside a pirouetting WRX, plus some discussion about how to safely stow your winter racing gear for the summertime off-season.
Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video]
Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 6 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - GM President Mark Reuss: Chevrolet Cruze Coupe "may show up"
Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Chevrolet, GM
Chevrolet Cruze - click above for high-res image gallery
Check out this little nugget General Motor's North American president Mark Reuss let slip during a recent web chat:"[...] 2 door cruze is a nice idea, and it may show up in the global market. As we have 2 door Cobalts currently, [North America] would naturally look at a Cruze 2 door, but I believe our small car portfolio will be WAY beyond what it is now, so a 2 door something still is needed."
Quite interesting, no? Especially as the Cruze will eventually replace the Cobalt as Chevy's C-segment car. We suspect there will be a bit of overlap between the two cars (GM's high-volume models die hard), but the idea of a Cruze SS Coupe is quite tantalizing. To us at any rate.
Also lip smacking is another bit of info Reuss let slip when a man named Pete asked the following question, "Can you tell us if the plans for a ZETA RWD sedan in one of the core brands is moving forward?" Mr. Reuss' response, "quite possibly Pete......." That's not the Lutzian answer we're used to ("RWD, twin-turbo wagons with manuals for all!") but it's not a "no," either. Also of note, Reuss, a competition-license carrying "car guy" at one time owned Buick GNX #446. Good to know, and stay tuned....
[Source: GM Reinvention]
GM President Mark Reuss: Chevrolet Cruze Coupe "may show up" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
Filed under: Recalls, Toyota, Autoline on Autoblog
RUNAWAY TOYOTAS? WHAT ABOUT DRIVER ERROR?
No one wants to touch it. Not Toyota, not NHTSA, not any politician. But the issue has to be raised. Driver error is most likely at the root of these sudden unintended acceleration incidents.
Unintended acceleration is not a new issue for the auto industry. It's been around for decades and complaints have been filed against virtually every automaker. Even more telling, it was around long before electronic throttle controls (ETC) ever showed up in cars.
But we've managed to work ourselves into a hysteria where everyone automatically assumes that ETC is the culprit. That's a dangerous assumption that will likely lead us down a dead-end path, and could prevent us from implementing a fairly easy design change that could cure most of these incidents.
While it is possible that "ghosts" in the electronics could be causing a problem, no one has been able to find them. Toyota has done exhaustive investigations into this. So has every other major automaker. So have all the suppliers that make these systems. Independent laboratories, universities, and government agencies have investigated it. But none of them have ever found the problem. Never. And it is my contention that they probably never will.
John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Tire-d Race Fans
I commented last year on the class action suit brought against Michelin (and others) by angry race fans for Michelin-equipped cars that pulled out of the U.S. Grand Prix due to a controversy over tire performance. Uh, it seems the... - Judiciary Eyes McCarran-Ferguson Act
The Senate Judiciary Committee is taking a hard look at the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which exempts insurers from the application of federal antitrust laws. The testimony of the witnesses is very interesting and for those who prefer to listen (while doing... - Examining Direct Repair Contracts
The following is my article on the issues facing collision repair facilities when confronted with insurer "direct repair programs" appearing as the June 2006 cover article for Body Shop Business (reprinted with permission from Body Shop Business.) Examining DRP Contracts... - Drive Time: Not much fun anymore
A California law firm brought a class action suit against used car dealer Drive Time for leaking customers' private financial information given for the purpose of obtaining credit to outsiders. The suit alleges that the dealership disclosed L.A. area consumers'personal... - Technical Difficulties
Please forgive the lack of posts recently. We're having technical difficulties with a conflict that keeps rearing its ugly head between the blogging software and server. We should have that worked out very soon. In the meantime, just think of... - Auto Law: A Law Unto Itself?
Ian Best of 3L Epiphany kindly sent me an email telling me that he had listed AutoMuse under the topic Automobile Law in his taxonomy. AutoMuse finds itself alone in this vast category. Interestingly, however, there are 3, yes 3,... - Auto Law: A Law Unto Itself?
Ian Best of 3L Epiphany kindly sent me an email telling me that he had listed AutoMuse under the topic Automobile Law in his taxonomy. AutoMuse finds itself alone in this vast category. Interestingly, however, there are 3, yes 3,... - Gas Prices Curb Vehicles
Sounds obvious, right? The higher gas prices go, the lower consumption is. Well, it is obvious, and what is more compelling is that, after gang-buster sales in the wholesale used vehicle market for the last two months, Manheim Auto Auction's... - Fast + Car = Stephen Bainbridge
Noted UCLA law professor, Stephen Bainbridge, recently dropped by the AutoMuse email room to answer some prying questions about his fascination with sports cars, the recent break-up of his relationship with BMW, and his new romantic entanglement with Porsche. Witty,... - Up for and On Air
Gasp! After being buried with work for weeks it feels sooo good to come up for air -- especially when it is On Air. The AutoMuse reappears on the radio show Crash Talk broadcast live out of Seattle on Saturday,... - Muses to Fools
George Wallace of Declarations & Exclusions and A Fool in the Forest is hosting a brilliant edition of Blawg Review (#51) today. While the AutoMuse has been too buried under paperwork to post anything meaningful lately, George kindly remembers the... - Safeco's Diminished Value Settlement
Money received from Safeco's diminished value settlement in Georgia helped fund the Georgia Mock Trial Competition in Lawrenceville last week. Jonesboro team wins state mock trial competition | ajc.com... - DOJ's Criminal Resource Manual
I was looking for some specific information on vehicle identification numbers today via the net, and found something astonishing in the Department of Justice's Freedom of Information Act Reading Room. Under the "Title 9" heading, DOJ actually has a subheading... - 2005 Dodge Viper SRT-10
To clarify right out of the box, the first picture is that of a 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10, not the 2005 that I am driving. However, as they look the same from the outside, we are not having great... - AutoMuse Cited to the U.S. Supreme Court
It is a great honor to be quoted in a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. Congratulations to SCOTUS which was cited as well. It's comforting to know that others are as concerned as I over the U.S. Supreme Court's...
- Screen Door Factory Gets a New Neighbor!
There's gonna be a new car company in Delaware? Next to the screen door factory? Seriously, this is where we'da rather seen the car bailout money go -- to new start ups with new ideas. Referenced articles emptywheel: Biden To... - A Loan
OK, so Koenigsegg Group AB want to buy the Saab division from GM. But they need a loan to do it. It looks like about $600,000,000 is needed. So, at the current rate of 19 Saabs sold per day at... - Just One. Really?
Just one GM was returned during the 60-day guarantee? MeanwhileHe [GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz] says consideration for GM vehicles is up 15 percent and says its market share in September, 20.5 percent, is the same as last year. Consideration,... - Recall!
No, not good 'ol GD, just some Fords. One million? No, keep going. Two? Nope. Three. Think mo. Mo mo mo. Four?! Oh, stop, we'll answer for you. 4,500,000 All the way back to when Clinton was in office! Sweet... - Can't Be Real
There is no way that DeLorean Motor Company is considering building a car based on the Pontiac Solstice. That car helped kill Pontiac and Saturn. No, it did not single car-ily kill both companies, but it was a great example... - Time To Make A New Category
Not that we care all that much for Trucks* but what the hell is Chrysler thinking? A brand just around the RAM trucks? It's not like these things have been selling like hotcakes... so WTF? Is Chrysler going to spin... - Saab On The Brain?
Sorry for our rants about Saab recently (No Way), but what is up with Saab? How can this niche brand still be around? Specifics? Sure, in August and September Saab sold 19 cars a day. Two months in a row!... - No One Could Have Predicted
Actually, we didn't. But we knew this was a no go. There were no cars to sell. And it's not like people were lining up to buy any Saturns anyway. So what happens now? Saturn just closes and "the dream"... - Go, Safety!
Offset crash (then vs now): Man, give us new over old any day! - Honda Falls
How did Honda fall so far so fast? With the release of the photos of the Crosstour, one has to wonder who quit in the last few years since the original Acura TL was released. Seriously, how many ugly vehicles... - No Way
There is no way that Koenigsegg is buying Saab. Really? No, there is no way. For Alison's sake, they sold 19 each day during August. That's during the cash for clunkers sale no less. Saab is dead. GM killed it.... - An Alternative It Is
Idea maybe for a new blog, hmm? Yes? OK, enough of the Yoda talk. Can you imagine if more people did this rather than driving? 42 bikes in one car spot. Referenced articles gizmodo: How Many Folding Bikes Does It... - A New Ford
The new Ford's here! The new Ford's here! And is he more qualified than ever or what?Anybody who can keep junior high school kids not only in their seats but focused on a lesson plan can deal with any supplier... - I'll Buy That For a Dollar
Who in their right mind would buy a car company that sold 22 cars a day in July? But you say, "So what if they don't sell a lot of 'em. Profit it profit, dear Cars! Cars! Cars! writer." First...
David Leggett's automotive industry blog - from just-auto.com
- AvtoVAZ Togliatti - 'monotown'
Is the Russian car market going to bounce back when it gets its own clunkers scheme? There must be a few people praying that it will – not just the OEMs looking at under utilised production capacity, but also a few people in Russia's government.
The position of AvtoVAZ is especially acute. The thing is, it is very far from being an ordinary company in dire financial straits – it is most definitely an extraordinary one. An accountant may say that, with its massive debts and 30% capacity utilisation it needs massive restructuring (layoffs). Maybe, but the local economy of Togliatti is totally dependent on AvtoVAZ. One way or another work has to be found for the bulk of the AvtoVAZ plant's workers or there is the risk of political unrest.
Togliatti is one of four hundred so-called ‘monotowns’ throughout Russia where a single industry employs most of the population. Their dangers became clear last April in Pikalevo, south of St Petersburg. When a slump in metals prices closed the town’s aluminium factory, desperate workers blocked a motorway. Vladimir Putin flew in and forced owners to reopen the plant.
I'd guess that the powers that be will want to manage the AvtoVAZ situation so that it doesn't get out of control. That might mean a combination of resettling people in other places as well as striving to find work for Togliatti. But you'd think that employment prospects at AvtoVAZ are going to be in decline whatever happens. The social/political dimension to what goes on with AvtoVAZ is probably at least as important – in Russia – as its business status. For Renault, being involved in the rescue of AvtoVAZ is something that comes with big risks, but it does seem that the Russian government is prepared to go the extra mile – and dip into its resources - to keep things on an even keel in Togliatti. In those circumstances it could yet turn out to be a very sound investment, provided the Russian economy and market does eventually come back.
- April 21 is date for Fiat Auto spin-off verdict
Fiat's Sergio Marchionne is dropping lots of hints that there will be news of a possible Fiat Auto spin-off on April 21 when an investors' meeting is scheduled in Turin. There will also be a presentation of a five-year strategic plan then. Five years continuing as now? I doubt that, even if the spin-off isn't exactly imminent. Marchionne has been thinking about a spin-off for a while now and he'll be wanting to set out a future for a consolidated automotive company merged with Chrysler and looking out for still higher scale economies in alliance with others (PSA speculation will obviously continue).
- Sudden acceleration - the early years
The problem of 'unintended acceleration' is indeed a thorny one and the media is like a dog with a bone. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between a genuine issue and something that is contrived by an over-zealous journalist/publisher/broadcaster or simply an unfortunate incident blown up out of all proportion.
Anyway, we have come across a little ancient history that is interesting - below link. Poor old Audi. The small matter of being innocent of all charges (unless you count having the accelerator and brake pedals 'too close' - not an issue anywhere else) and being the victim of actively misleading media coverage couldn't rescue diving sales on the 5000.
- Geneva leftovers
I have been going through my Geneva notes and there are a few nuggets picked up in interviews that didn't make it into articles that might be worth sharing anyway. So here they are, in no particular order:
- Toyota's Didier Leroy said that in Europe some 200,000 accelerator pedal recalls have been made out of 1.7m cars; also more than 16,000 of the Prius software changes have been made – out of 52,900.
- Lexus is aiming for around 28,000 European sales in 2010 – versus 27,000 last year.
- Bob Lutz pointed out that while General Motors the brand has attracted negative baggage, the brands underneath will often be viewed much more positively by the same people with negative views of GM. 'Hate the parents, don't blame the kids' was the phrase he used.
- I asked Lutz about the chances of a GM IPO this year. 'It will be done at the appropriate time' was his straight bat response.
- Should GM have kept Saab? Is there a danger that it will now be successful and GM will have sold something that it should have held on to? Lutz pointed out that GM was under strict instructions from the Obama task force to halve the number of brands and had little alternative but to divest loss-making Saab.
- Lutz said that the US market has changed in the sense that the formerly 'impregnable membrane' that appeared to divide the market into import and domestic brands has opened up with owners of cars in both categories now prepared to consider cars in the other category in a way that was not the case a few years ago.
- Nick Reilly thinks that alliances have more mileage in them.
- Allan Rushforth - who has worked in other OEMs - enjoys the speed and autonomy for Hyundai in Europe. 'It's not a culture based on endless committee meetings – we just get stuff done.' He also sees only a 'marginal business case' for hybrids in Europe, acknowledging the marketing benefit for companies with hybrids right now but questioning whether that advantage will be as strong in 18 months' time when there are many more hybrids around. He noted that there is still a lot to be done with clean diesel and improved performance of gasoline engines.
- Good wishes to Bob Lutz
Whatever you make of GM's Bob Lutz, there are surely few who would begrudge him good wishes for his retirement. I saw him a couple of days ago in Geneva when he gave an interview to journalists and he was on his usual good form, as enthusiastic as ever at delivering his views on the industry.
There were some who portrayed him as a kind of relic from the past with old-fashioned attitudes. That is way too simplistic and, in fact, Lutz has always been a difficult guy to stereotype. A small example. In Geneva this week he mocked the 'right-wing radio talk show hosts' in the US for the way they portray the 'nationalisation' of General Motors. He pointed out that it was a free market Republican – Harry Wilson – who persuaded Democrats that the equity solution was preferable to loading GM with more debt to service. 'And now the poor Obama administration gets blamed for a left-wing socialist takeover of GM when in fact that solution was proposed by a free market Republican,' he said.
Is Lutz fond of RWD muscle cars? Do bears tend to defecate in the woods? Yes, bears do, but they will also go anywhere to answer the call of nature. Lutz is also the guy who has enthusiastically championed the Volt and understands that the auto business is rapidly changing.
One thing about Lutz is you always have the feeling he will say what he thinks and not slavishly follow the company line. I think he probably revelled in that image as the maverick, but he did seem to say things in a way that suggested his words were not exactly crafted by a PR person. I guess the 'global warming is a crock of shit' remark was a striking example of that. A stupid thing to say, or wonderfully provocative, brutally honest? Or all of the above? Discuss.
But he was not some kind of 'always shoot from the hip for maximum effect' idiot; far from it. He had a good grasp of the numbers and the big strategic picture. He also understood collective responsibility and I'd wager his colleagues would have liked having him on the board, bringing his considerable experience to the table. Have there been disagreements? I'd guess so, but Lutz doesn't seem the type to undermine people through media manipulation. Perhaps he is more team player than the maverick reputation suggests.
On a simple human level, you had to respect the guy's experience and history, his enthusiasm for the auto business and its products. Hard to believe Lutz is 78. I like the idea of him enjoying a good few years on his motorcycles/cars/airplanes, perhaps occasionally raising his head above the parapet to express some pithy and forthright views.
- Geneva press day
I have been looking at my schedule for the first press day at the Geneva Show tomorrow (March 2). There are a number of formal interviews that have been arranged in advance. I'm seeing Didier Leroy of Toyota at 10:15am, Bob Lutz on the Chevrolet stand at 11:00am and Nick Reilly CEO of Opel/Vauxhall at 2:00pm. At 4:00pm there's Allan Rushforth at Hyundai. In between, there's a list of people who said 'let's meet up in Geneva', a few more stands to call in on and, lest we forget, some new automotive metal to have a good gander at.
It certainly won't be dull.
- Lotus proActive
The latest Lotus proActive e-magazine is out and available for perusal. It includes the first half of an interview I did with Richard Parry-Jones, as well as some informative articles on emissions rules and two-stroke engines. The latter article poses the intriguing question: could upsizing be the new downsizing? And the interview with RP-J reveals who it was who inspired his '50-metre test'...
- Going, going, going...
GM did this before. Saab was being wound-down after a planned sale had fallen apart, but it was made clear that new offers would get a hearing. So, step right up ladies and gentlemen. Hummer, creator of life-size Tonka Toys, is being wound-down but is also back in the shop window. Is it a duffer? Well, it doesn't exactly capture the spirit of the age perhaps, but we're talking niche here. Are there enough people in the globe who would buy a Hummer? Maybe. They were going mad for them in Russia a few years ago, too. If you can get the production economics right, it could be a brand that is less bonkers than it at first appears.
- JLR in the black
Things seem to have turned up a bit lately over at Jaguar Land Rover. Sales have sparked into life for both brands – albeit off a low base when compared to early '09 – and Tata Motors has announced that JLR was in profit in the fiscal quarter ended Dec 31. That's not bad going when you consider how the recession seemed to be hammering both brands in the early part of last year. The contribution of cost-cutting is an interesting one. Clearly it has made a difference already and suggests that the JLR cost base isn't quite as ripe for radical surgery as some had feared (and taking a plant out after 2014 suggests further efficiency gains ahead). But the key thing, of course, will be maintaining progress in the coming quarters.
- Keeping warm in an EV
There are some interesting observations in our forum area on the problem of heaters in EVs draining battery juice. Trading off cabin warmth for vehicle range might not be a fun choice if you live in a part of the world subject to occasional cold weather (and I guess the converse applies in hot/humid places where you might want the AC switched on more or less constantly).
Human ingenuity being what it is, solutions are being found that don't necessarily include long johns and woolly hats...
- If you can keep your head...
Learning new things is one of life's little joys. If you had asked me at the beginning of last week what a 'double McTwist 1260' was, I'd have probably guessed it was something to do with a well known fast food chain. It is not. It is the name for a snowboarding manoeuvre that involves quite a bit of twisting and flipping. I am not all that into winter sports, but the guy who pulled that one off in Vancouver last week had my undivided attention and considerable admiration (he already had the gold and didn't even have to do it). As, indeed, did some of the other competitors in other events.
I guess the thing is, whether you are a winter sports fan or not, the competition for Olympic medals is about human endeavour and competition on an epic scale. People train for years and then push themselves to the absolute limit. The guys who failed spectacularly in the two-man bob also got my attention last week. It had all gone horribly wrong for them but, again, I guess we can empathise on a certain level.
We have all failed at something at some time or another and we have hopefully learned something from that experience. Saying sorry and working hard to correct something that has gone wrong occasionally goes with this territory.
Dealing with Kipling's 'two imposters' of triumph and disaster is a part of life, whoever you are and whatever business you are in. And sometimes it's how you deal with the bad stuff that is particularly important; how you cope in a crisis can be more revealing about character than how you milk the plaudits in the good times.
Toyota president Akio Toyoda - new to the job last year - has had a pretty tough time of late and I would assume that his decision-making is governed by what he believes is in the best interests of his company and its customers. And of course, he is no doubt in receipt of plenty of good advice and wise counsel from his close associates.
He also needs to bear in mind how things are perceived and how the media interprets things. Sometimes the media is unfair in the way it treats things and we have seen plenty of evidence of that here in the UK since the 'Toyota recalls' story first broke last month. The media - in the broadest sense - is on the case and some of the nuances of what a recall actually is, quality versus safety concerns and so on, have been a little lost at times - especially in the non-specialist media.
To some degree, it is a no-win situation for Toyota. The bad PR is already out there and the priority is to limit damage and repair confidence (among customers, dealers, suppliers, employees) as soon as possible. Storms do eventually move off. Dire situations become less dire if you do the right things. Do Mercedes-Benz customers today worry about the firm's serious quality troubles of a few years ago? No. It was very effectively dealt with.
If there was ever a time for effective and decisive leadership at Toyota it is now. And anything that can be interpreted as prevarication or indecision - however unfair that interpretation may in fact be - is certainly not going to be helping.
US: Toyota confirms recall document subpoenas as president flies in
- Lotus and Naomi team up for Haiti
In response to the horrific consequences of the Haiti earthquake, Naomi Campbell together with Lotus Cars will be auctioning eight special edition "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Evora sports cars, with the proceeds from the auction going to help the relief effort in Haiti. There will also be an opportunity to bid for some of the cars online. The grand total raised for the charity and the highest bidders will be announced by Naomi Campbell at the Geneva Motorshow on the 2nd of March.
Well done to Naomi for taking time out from throwing telephones at people. And eight cars is a pretty decent sounding donation so well done also to Lotus!
- Carl-Peter Forster at Tata
The announcement that Carl-Peter Forster has taken a senior job at Tata Motors (TM) isn't exactly surprising. It was rumoured to be on the cards last year after he had left GM in the immediate GM/Opel/Magna fallout. Ratan Tata is clearly looking for someone with the relevant experience and ability to take TM to the next level - essentially a major presence on the international stage. He has got his man.
Forster is in many ways the ideal candidate. He knows the European automotive market and industry intimately. He also comes with knowledge of how a big car company like General Motors, with diverse operations and an international footprint, actually works.
He also knows a bit about cost management from his 'Project Olympia' GM Europe experience. And he ought to be able to offer some insights on industrial relations (which might be particularly helpful to JLR).
Forster comes with a Rolodex full of contacts and a level of strategic know-how that is informed by his high-level industry experience. He is much respected in the industry, especially in Europe. Home grown managers are great, but sometimes the mix at the highest level benefits from a fresh perspective.
The big project is taking Tata Motors to a new level. Forster will have to have a vision that chimes with what Ratan Tata wants and - crucially - a plan on how to realise that vision in the long-term. Many of the building blocks are already in place: Tata Motors is a considerable industrial force based in one of the world's high-growth emerging markets that also boasts low manufacturing costs. Tata Motors is no one-trick pony - it makes cars and trucks and is part of a conglomerate which can also bring further, less obvious, benefits to bear.
I wouldn't mind betting that one of the first things Forster will want to do is review the whole Tata Nano project, top to bottom. It has not been an unqualified success so far and he will want to get to the bottom of where the problems have been, what has worked well and what hasn't. And then there's the small matter of turning a car like the Indica into something that would work in overseas markets. The trucks? They may be a nice little earner in India, but is there more potential for overseas sales?
Jaguar Land Rover is probably something he will want to take some time over. Sales have looked better recently and there is already a plan in place to consolidate on facilities (with a plant to go after 2014) which will save on cost. Can some JLR activity or some models - old ones perhaps - be made in India? That, as Mr Forster will be well aware, is a suggestion to be handled with the utmost sensitivity. Getting JLR back in the black is the immediate priority as the business model is retuned - especially at Jaguar where the dash for volume growth under Ford ultimately failed.
Ratan Tata will want Tata Motors in 5-10 years' time to look different from the Tata Motors of today - with a bigger spread of products (and better ones) and much more international market presence. Getting an industry heavyweight like Forster on board - and basing him in Mumbai - sends out a message to the industry that Tata is serious about growing outside of India.
- Greeks send a warning
We were fairly forcefully reminded last week that the adverse consequences of the international financial crisis of late 2008 that ushered in the economic recession of last year are not exactly fully behind us. In fact, there are serious structural issues concerning national public finances and rebuilding household balance sheets that will take a fair few years to work through.
The German economy - by far the EU's biggest national economy and its industrial powerhouse - isn't rebounding very strongly. In fact, it's stalled - adding to worries over an economic 'double dip' this year in Europe.
We also saw a public deficit and debt servicing crisis in Greece that threatened to spill over into a broader crisis of confidence in the markets. Are stock markets - which surged last year - now set for a rebalancing? Is confidence generally about to take a knock? There is some talk of an asset bubble that could be about to burst.
Thank goodness, then, for the emerging markets and growth in China. Yes, but imagine if things - for whatever reason - turn a little sour there?
My point is simply that there remain serious global economic challenges ahead and those challenges are particularly relevant to the auto industry's overall demand environment and the companies that depend on that.
The worst economic scenarios may well have been avoided last year, but we are nevertheless a long way from business as usual. Governments are having to make the call on when to ease off on fiscal stimulus packages and start to make headway on bringing seriously damaged public finances back into balance. If they ease off too soon, the fragile economic recovery in the West may tank. Too late and the debt hangs around too long and dents economic prospects for the long-term.
Companies in the automotive business need to stay in crisis mode and be well aware of the 'what if' scenarios for a while longer yet. Look around. There are still plenty of question-marks for GM in its home market, especially. Toyota is enduring a torrid time on recalls. Ford - undeniably a relative star performer - nevertheless has a lot of debt. Renault posted an ugly looking record loss last week. Fiat's ambitious project to develop a successful alliance with Chrysler is far from a done deal.
The unrelenting pressure to trim costs and make efficiency gains wherever possible is still there, the relative competitive positions of the big automotive groups in this rather hesitant post-recessionary environment far from decided.
GOLDING'S TAKE: Why Whitacre and Liddle will have Ghosn to Amsterdam
- Spark
Chevrolet Spark is an interesting vehicle and the latest instalment in the ambitious Chevrolet project. The thing with Chevrolet is to look at the global scale of sales for the value brand. There is a lot of volume for the BRICs, naturally.
And in Western markets – like the UK? The Aldi of the automotive world? UK MD Mark Terry spins an upbeat tale of not having enough Captivas to meet demand last year, of getting into new segments. The Orlando will be an interesting one.
I still don't quite get how Volt works as a Chevrolet in markets outside the US where Opel/Vauxhall is selling it as Ampera. Well, they don't sell fresh lobster in Aldi or Lidl do they? Actually, I'm told, they do. With more people from the more upscale supermarkets downtrading in the recession, they found demand for it. Brands and the way people perceive them aren't set in stone.
Incidentally, I stayed in a prison cell for the Spark launch – well, it was once a prison but has been converted into a hotel. Cool place. You know that prison scene in the movie The Italian Job? When Noel Coward's Mr Underworld walks down the staircase in the prison gallery to a rousing chorus of 'England!' from the other inmates. That was filmed there.
- Chevrolet Spark
I'm up to Wellingborough (Northants, southern fringes of the English midlands) today for a Chevrolet Spark drive event. The Spark, you may recall, is the small car that was picked for production by the public from three concepts. The styling certainly looks very interesting, though I note the car has already received some criticism for its drive in some quarters. I guess that depends to some degree though on what you are comparing to; eg new Fiesta or the outgoing Spark/Matiz...
I'll be interviewing Chevrolet UK MD Mark Terry later on today.
Besides the usual drive in the car, the Chevrolet PR people have set up a 'Spark and Ride' depot at the home of the Chevrolet World Touring Car team where they have commandeered a warehouse for the week. There are some interactive product presentations and we are also promised 'monkeys, bananas, Welsh footballers and magic pianos'. That's some combo. Ryan Giggs on acid?
- Parts commonality bites Toyota back
It wasn't so long ago that Toyota's progress seemed rather relentless. The company posted one set of record results after another. There has been something of a rude awakening lately on quality.
Maybe the firm has tried to grow a little too quickly. And there have been pressures to cut back on cost - which perhaps partly explains what has been going on with the recall.
One of the striking things about Toyota's accelerator pedal problem is just how many vehicles are affected. The component is common across many Toyota models globally.
That's how you get cost down, by employing vast scale economies on parts like that which can be described as 'commodities' - a part of the vehicle that is unseen and makes no difference to the end-product in terms of customer perception. It doesn't need to be specified differently according to model, as an interior trim component that the customer sees and feels might be. The lower the cost, the better.
That's all fine and dandy when there are no problems with the component or its design. But if anything goes wrong, the commonality of supply that got the unit-cost of the part so low becomes a double-edged sword: the fallout is wide.
I would guess that some other manufacturers are looking on with mixed feelings. Yes, they are probably feeling that Toyota taking a hit like this one provides a market opportunity for them, at least in the short-term. But they may also like to reflect on the dangers of global sourcing and scale economies.
The pressures for 'cost-down' have never been as big as they are these days and Toyota's experience provides a warning on the risks that come with that.
- Video clip showing US dealer dealing with recall
I have been sent this clip from FOX Business in which you can see a service centre manager explaining the technical fix to the pedal problem. Interesting thing is, there's also a car in the workshop getting a software download that means the brakes will override the accelerator pedal in an emergency - I guess for a little added reassurance.
- Toyota troubles
I heard Toyota GB's PR man Scott Brownlee on the radio this morning being interviewed over the accelerator pedal recall. He gave a decent performance, responded clearly and confidently to the potentially awkward questions and it occurred to me that for the PR people at Toyota, it maybe feels a little bit like soldiers going off to the front line for the first time. No more phoney war. This is it; this is what we trained for. Helmets on.
This global recall on a safety-critical component has blown up like a squall out of nowhere to become the perfect storm that some commentators reckon will do great damage to Toyota. It is clearly a serious problem not to be belittled, but I wonder whether it will really do much long-term damage to Toyota sales. A lot depends on how quickly this issue is dealt with and how quickly a sense of business as usual at Toyota can be restored.
Can a reputation for industry leading quality and reliability built up over decades really be ruined overnight? A few people in the media are jumping on this particular bandwagon (and predictably taking some knee-jerk investors with them), but I'm not so sure.
For many, the idea that Toyota equals quality and reliability, even if it comes with a little blandness of product, is very deeply ingrained. It's almost a given and it will take a fair bit of shifting. I'm not saying that cannot happen, just that we're not there yet.
If Toyota can ride the initial bad PR (no escape from that) and get the pedal problem fixed quickly, the car-buying public may well view it as an outlier or blip, a one-off that was very effectively dealt with. It could even end up being viewed as a positive, a case study on how companies handle product-based PR nasties. In this admittedly optimistic scenario Toyota's image is hardly dented and a short-term hit to sales is contained.
The eventual outcome may, of course, fall somewhere in the middle with the costs and sales fallout turning out worse than Toyota is planning for, but not as bad as the worst fears. By next year it's becoming a fading bad memory; Toyota still a brand associated with generally good quality and reliability.
That word 'containment' is important. Any sense that there is more going on than just the accelerator pedal, that there are underlying quality and reliability issues at Toyota, would certainly impact long-term sales. Keep an eye on that Prius brakes situation. And things got ratcheted up a notch in the US yesterday with some politicians' comments (always be wary of politicians wading in publicly over something like this).
Toyota has perhaps had its aura of invincibility on quality punctured a little in recent years with other recalls, but it is hardly a company devoid of good processes, a laggard among its peers or one that is instantly associated with poor quality product - far from it.
We're too early into this recall to say that Toyota has royally screwed up and that's done it, reputation for quality now in tatters. Crisis management and shaping perceptions will be key. It is all still to play for, Toyota's managers and PR people very much in the heat of the battle.
Good article - below link - from special agent Coolbear looking at 'Throttlegate'. He makes some very good points concerning Toyota's overall strategic direction, cost-cutting dangers, the risks inherent in parts/design commonality across model ranges and the new emerging markets model - Etios.
- Rubbing shoulders with yer actual Royalty
I think I mentioned last week that I was attending an event at which Prince Michael of Kent would be present. The people at Automotive PR have sent me a pic - you can see that HRH and I are in deep conversation (that's my best angle, I reckon). He was asking me about just-auto, numbers of readers, who they are. I remembered not to call him Mike. He prefers Mick.
Is my hair really that grey? Guess so.
UK: Recovery to UK economy and auto industry fragile - academic
- Photo of the Day: Chevy Hot Rod
Today?s photo comes from shb4photos. Be sure to look at all of sjb4photos’ photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with ?gmfyi.” - SXSW Road Trip Challenge: Final Recap
The challenges have been completed, the tweets tweeted and the miles traveled. All eight teams have arrived safe and sound in Austin, Texas, we can declare that Team Detroit is the winner of the inaugural Chevy SXSW Road Trip Challenge. Congratulations Team Detroit and thanks to all the teams. It really was a fun couple of [...] - SXSW Road Trip: Day Four Recap
By Will Stewart SXSW Road Trip Challenge Correspondent As the Chevy SXSW Road Trip Challenge rolls into its final day, Team Detroit continues to dominate the scoring, opening up a nearly two-to-one lead over its nearest rival, Team South Florida. It?s looking like Team Detroit might be unbeatable as the teams approach their destination, Austin, Texas. But from [...] - Photo of the Day: 2011 Chevy Cruze
Today?s photo comes from kykorvette. Be sure to look at all of kykorvette’s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with ?gmfyi.” - A World Class Day
By Bob Socia Vice President Global Purchasing and Supply Chain You don?t read a lot about the tens of billions of dollars of parts and services that GM buys to advance our goal of designing, building and selling the world?s best vehicles. It is important enough that we set aside one day every year to celebrate those [...] - Photo of the Day: ?Bumblebee? Camaro
Today?s photo comes from Steve Brandon. Be sure to look at all of Steve Brandon’s photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with ?gmfyi.” - SXSW Road Trip Challenge: Day Three Recap
By Will Stewart SXSW Road Trip Challenge Correspondent With all eight teams now on the road, the Chevy?s SXSW Road Trip Challenge is now in full swing. Team San Diego hit the road this morning, meaning that each of the teams is now on the road and on the scoreboard. Team Detroit continues to hold down a commanding lead, [...] - Webchat: Mark Reuss on the State of GM in North America
Wednesday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m. EST, the president of General Motors North America, Mark Reuss will host a live Webchat to talk about the state of GM North America. Mark and his team are focused on creating innovative products with exciting design, high quality, and great fuel efficiency. He stands behind GM’s commitment to deliver [...] - SXSW Road Trip Challenge: Day Two Recap
By Will Stewart SXSW Road Trip Challenge Correspondent Seven of the eight teams taking part in the Chevy SXSW Road Trip Challenge are on their way to Austin, Texas, documenting their crazy solutions to the challenges they have to accomplish on their journeys. Not that they haven?t taken some time to pamper themselves. In fact, pedicures anyone? Team North [...] - Photo of the Day: 1957 Chevy Bel Air
Today?s photo comes from sjb4photos. Be sure to look at all of sjb4photos’ photos and our other albums. And if you would like to recommend your favorite photo with a GM car or truck in it, put it up on Flickr and tag it with ?gmfyi.”
- Im Memoriam -- Phill Hill
Born Phillip Toll Hill, Jr. on April 20th, 1927 in Miami, FL. Phill Hill was raised in Santa Monica, CA where he would reside his entire life. As the sole US-born race driver ever to win the coveted Formula One... - "Equillibriance"
The time value of money (i.e. that a dollar today is worth more than the promise of the same dollar at some point in the future) is one of the most important and fundamental principles of economics. As a society,... - Horse(power) Wars
By any measure, animals and roadways have never had a particularly good relationship. Aside from breaking up their natural habitats and delivering hordes of gun-toting hunters directly to their doorstep, the highway has become an outright death-trap to many a... - People's Service for the People's Car
Volkswagen has recently announced that they will begin offering a free scheduled service program starting with their upcoming Tiguan model. The program is not limited to just their new pint-sized SUV however, and will apply to all of the 2009... - Ding...You are now free to move about the cashier's office
For anyone who has experienced it, the new boarding process at Southwest airlines seems more like a bizarre study in sociology than the time-saving seat selection protocol it was no-doubt designed to be. What was likely perceived as a clever... - Loud Pipes Save Lives?
This de facto motto that Harley-Davidson had adopted is more than just a tag line. In all likelihood, there is probably as much truth and substance to it as there was to that temporary campaign they once used specifically to... - Things that make you say "hmm" - NAIAS 2008
All of us have at one time or another slid on a pair of our favorite jeans only to find an errant sock or pair of underwear balled up in a pant leg completely throwing off an otherwise comfy fit... - New Year's Resolution
If you traveled at all this past holiday season, it is an unfortunate certainty that you likely ran into some delays or other transportation-related problems somewhere along the way. To be fair, the holidays are an extreme and will burden... - Customer service with a side of 5 Series.
Every so often you come across a product that is a real game-changer. These are the items that are executed so well that competitors can actually thrive just by emulating them and offering an inferior copy. It seems that just... - Year end clearance...
Well, the holiday season is officially upon us. This is the time of year when people are thinking about travel plans, trendy gifts and dropping temperatures. One thing noticeably off that list is the purchase of a new (or used)...
- The Anti-Toyota Commercial Ford Wishes It Had The Balls To Run [Beige Bites Back]The U.S. automakers have been licking their chops to take a hard swipe at Toyota over unintended acceleration. None had the balls to actually do it. SNL, however, does — with this anti-Toyota commercial Ford wishes they could really run. More »
- 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring: Baby Got Back That We'll Never Get [New Cars]The new BMW 5 Series is built on the same platform as the 7 Series, which explains the variety of ever-larger backsides. The latest? The BMW 5 Series Touring. Attractive, right? Don't worry, we're probably not getting it here. More »
- What Do You Do With a Free Ford Tempo? [24 Hours Of Lemons]We got a really great judicial bribe at last weekend's Sears Pointless 24 Hours of LeMons race: a beat-to-hell, unregisterable, not-legal-for-public-streets Ford Tempo. After honoring Ford_Tempo_Fanatic with a Tempo DOTS recently, we found ourselves in something of a dilemma. More »
- What About Emission Control Laws? [Question Of The Day]Once that bleeding-heart liberal Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act in 1970, the writing was on the wall for 11:1 compression hydrocarbon-spewing chrome chariots. Malaise Era, coming up! Still, it's now possible to breathe the air in Los Angeles. More »
- Citroën DS Develops Huge Panel Gaps Due To Excessive Phrog Slammin' [Music]You'll need to suspend your disbelief while watching this 2000 music video by Da Slammin Phrogz, because nodding-dog dolls wouldn't get enough bounce action to function while perched in a suspension hydropneumatique-equipped Citroën. Ditto for the gill-style door panel gaps. More »
- The Top 147 Lemons of the Sears Pointless 24 Hours of LeMons [24 Hours Of Lemons]Race Numero Quatro of the 2010 LeMons season left a trail of connecting rods, oil, and bumpers all over Infineon Raceway's once-pristine surface, and we saw our first-ever LeMons Citroën. Want to see the other 146 entries? More »
- Mrs. Adams Abducts Ford Salesman In '74 Country Squire [Classic Ad Watch]Salesman of big gas-sucking dreadnaughts were really feeling the pain in 1974, what with the Arab oil embargo and runaway inflation. That's why it was easy for "Mrs. Adams" to lure the unsuspecting Ford salesman to his doom. More »
- Largest Assortment of Patinas Ever Found On One Lincoln! [Down On The Junkyard]I wish I'd had shots of this glorious '70 Mark III when I made the Junkyard Desktop Wallpaper Gallery, because it's a beauty from any angle! More »
- 1970 Chevrolet El Camino [Down On The Street]Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. I've been neglecting this very clean El Camino in my neighborhood for long enough! More »
- Follow Jalopnik, Staff On Twitter [Car Tweets]Follow us on Twitter: @Jalopnik, @raywert, @madmatter33, @ThatSamSmith, @HellForLeather, @benwojdyla More »
- Commenter Of The Day: Boldly Going Edition [Commenter Of The Day]Jalopnik recently got an #offtopic forum, then, today we asked a Gawker intern to cull some gems from it for us. Both represent bold steps into a realm where no man has gone before. Optixtruf somehow saw a connection between this and the greatest television show ever made, saying: More »
- EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Business Partner Claims Runaway Prius Driver A "Scammer" [Exclusive]Since reporting the questionable past of runaway Toyota Prius driver James Sikes there's been a deluge of tips coming in about his character, including the following from a former business partner who alleges Sikes stole from their company. More »
![Click here to read EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Business Partner Claims Runaway Prius Driver A "Scammer"](http://cache-01.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/03/160x120_jim_sikes_01.jpg "Click here to read EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Business Partner Claims Runaway Prius Driver A "Scammer"")
- Scottish Police Roll Gangster-Style In Seized Q7 TDI [Police Cars]When police in Strathclyde, Scotland seized a gang-owned Audi Q7 TDI they realized it was too cool to auction off (and return the money to citizens coffers) so they've applied police livery and roll like bad-boy yardies. Mad respect. [BBC] More »
- Lamborghini Murcielago: Low Enough To Park For Free [LOLCars]Want to save money on parking? Buy a Lamborghini. At only 44.7 inches tall, the Lamborghini Murcielago is low enough to fit under some parking barriers, as illustrated by this video. More »
- Moparized Ram Power Wagon: The Raptor Of Rock Crawling [Spy Photos]Chrysler's bringing a big toy to the Easter Jeep Safari, the Moparized Ram Power Wagon. It's fitted with a shortened box for a better departure angle, huge 37"+ tires, a winch, rock rails and a bad attitude. [Pickuptrucks.com] More »
- 2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible Spied With Its Top Down [Spy Photos]A member of Camaro5 snagged the first top down shots of the Chevy Camaro Convertible. Looks like the windscreen stays the same height and the overall proportions are retained, but the GPS aerial looks weird on the trunk. [Camaro5] More »
- Is Jim Sikes The New "Balloon Boy?" [Beige Bites Back]Like Richard Heene, father of the now-infamous "balloon boy," Jim Sikes, the financially-strapped runaway Prius driver, stepped eagerly into the spotlight after his bout of "unintended acceleration." What similar consequences await Sikes if this turns out to be a hoax? More »
![Click here to read Is Jim Sikes The New "Balloon Boy?"](http://cache-06.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/03/160x120_james_sikes.jpg "Click here to read Is Jim Sikes The New "Balloon Boy?"")
- #Offtopic: Hey, Jalopnik Talks About Other Stuff Too [Offtopic]We've asked Jeff Archipley, a Gawker community intern, to take a dive into Jalopnik's #offtopic forum and fish out some juicy morsels. He knows nothing about cars. Let's laugh together below. — Ed. More »
- A Kitchen With a Mini On The Wall [Car Culture]The original Mini is rumored to seat four adults and the kitchen sink in comfort. Apparently, it also works the other way around. Just make sure you drain the oil before mounting. More »
- Norwegian Prius Unintentionally Accelerates To 109 MPH, Rams Guard Rail [Beige Bites Back]Check out the front wheels on this Toyota Prius, after its owner rammed a guard rail after the throttle stuck open, accelerating it to 109 MPH. It's the second Prius II after James Sikes' to do this. [VG.no] More »
- Fake Akio Toyoda Calls Americans "Frightened Kittens" On Letterman [Beige Bites Back]Last night on Letterman, Dave had on a very special guest, Fake Akio Toyoda! The faux-Akio was ostensibly on camera to take responsibility for the company's current issues, but instead went on a stellar anti-American driver rant. Dave bites back? More »
![Click here to read Fake Akio Toyoda Calls Americans "Frightened Kittens" On Letterman](http://cache-10.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/03/160x120_akio_rant.jpg "Click here to read Fake Akio Toyoda Calls Americans "Frightened Kittens" On Letterman")
- 5-0 In A 5.0: A History Of Ford Police Vehicles [Police Cars]The 2012 Ford Police Interceptor unveiled today is the latest in a long line of Ford squad cars. Here's why the sight of even a civilian Crown Vic now induces Pavlovian application of brakes in all motorists. More »
- What Police Car Scares You? [Question Of The Day]Years of keen observation has made me a living, breathing radar detector yet, despite my cop-sensing abilities, there are still a few law enforcement vehicles that cause my right foot to jerk off the gas. What police car scares you? More »
- Pagani Zonda R: This Is How Car Porn Is Done [Ad Watch]You're going to want to take three minutes, put down what you're doing and watch this. Pagani put together an homage to its track-day specialist, the Zonda R. It's the finest piece of product-focused marketing we've seen in ages. More »
- The Model T Office [Custom Cars]Hyderabad's most talented custom car builder, Sudhakar, just built himself a new office — inside a 1908 Ford Model T. More »
- New F1 Documentary Will Omit Multi-Hooker Nazi Sex Orgies [Racing News]An officially sanctioned F1 documentary will omit Max Mosley's five-hooker Nazi sex orgy, focusing instead on racing between 1968 and 1982 when the sport was still exciting. It's being described as "a big action movie." More »
- IKEA Mud Flaps [LOLCars]A forumite at DirtyImpreza.com needed a new set of mud flaps. Instead of hitting the aftermarket he decided to improvise, buying a set of IKEA flexible cutting boards (DRÄLLA) and crafting affordable solutions for modern hooning. STÄNKSKYDD? [DirtyImpreza via TCL] More »
- 2012 Ford Police Interceptor: The Crown Vic's Robocop Replacement [Police Cars]Ford's Crown Victoria-based police interceptor will finally end production late next year. This is its replacement — the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor. Other than the movie Robocop, it's the first time Ford's Taurus has served as a purpose-built patrol car. More »
- Go For the Gold Duster for $8,750! [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]Zombie car brands, like their brain-slurping human counterparts, are not typically fastidious regarding their appearance. However, Nice Price or Crack Pipe has a Plymouth that's been dusted off and looks like it'll do more than just shamble. More »
- Pussy Wagon Stars In New Lady Gaga Music Video [Movie Cars]If you have ears you've probably heard a thousand Lady Gaga songs. Or at least you've heard one song a thousand times. And because her very NSFW video "Telephone" co-stars the "Kill Bill" Pussy Wagon you'll now know another song. More »
- Bankrupt Runaway Prius Driver Owns Adult Swinger Site [Exclusive]Earlier today we broke a story about the San Diego runaway Toyota Prius driver James Sikes recently declaring bankruptcy. Now, a review of records shows a link to a sex site for couples and a series of mysterious thefts. UPDATE! More »
- 2012 Chevy Malibu: The Car You Can't Ignore If You're A Stick Figure [Spy Photos]If you've been waiting patiently to find out what the 2012 Chevy Malibu looks like, today's your day. These patent filings reveal the next-generation 'Bu and reflect the same design we've been expecting. More »
- Garage Condo: The Ultimate Man Cave [Garages]Not enough room at home to house all your cars, beer, flat screens and buddies? Buy a garage condo and the wife will never nag you to store her minivan in there again. More »
- Commenter Of The Day: Will Save You Money! Edition [Commenter Of The Day]Every city has its local TV advertising celebrity. Maybe it's a car dealer who wears funny clothes or a mattress salesman who cuts them in half with a chainsaw. In Houston, we have both of those but the hero is furniture salesman Mattress Mac. A recovering drug addict who opened up a small shop with his wife, it grew into a Houston furniture empire fueled primarily by his tagline: "We'll save you MONEY!" It's awesome. Today we brought you the bankruptcy of Jim Sikes and Oddfish is surprised he didn't save more money. More »
- The Pontiac Trans Am Kammback [Custom Cars]In the mood for a one-of-a-kind Pontiac now that the brand's dead? This 1985 Pontiac Trans Am Experimental Kammback is for sale and fits the weirdo bill. It's a GM experimental with a wagon-back bolting right into the hatch opening. More »
- This Is Why They Invented Roof Racks [LOLCars]Disposophobia, or compulsive hoarding, is a mental disorder and it causes people to collect crap and never dispose of it. This is the first time we've seen vehicular disposophobia, but it's equally as frightening. More »
- The Forgotten History of Automaker Tractors [Retro]Ferruccio Lamborghini didn't start out as a builder of supercars. His first success came in the form of tractors and agricultural equipment. Here's a look at the long and illustrious history of automaker-built tractors. More »
- Bugatti Veyron On eBay For Under $1 Million [Found On EBay]This "celebrity/executive owned" California Bugatti Veyron is listed on eBay Motors for less than $1 million, a major markdown for a rare car that went for around $1.6 million new. What? Did the Veyron-for-Corvette trade-in destroy the market? More »
- Playboy Fiat Heir Interferes With NBA Game, Helps Lakers Win [Car Culture]Fiat heir/dragqueen-enthusiast Lapo Elkann was sitting court-side at Tuesday's Lakers-Raptors game when he touched an errant pass before Toronto could save it, giving possession to the Lakers and Kobe Bryant, who hit a game-winning shot with 1.9 seconds left. More »
- Did Bankrupt Runaway Prius Driver Fake "Unintended Acceleration?" [Exclusive]James Sikes, the San Diego runaway Toyota Prius driver, filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and now has over $700,000 in debt. According to one anonymous tipster, we're also told he hasn't been making payments on his Prius. UPDATE! More »
![Click here to read Did Bankrupt Runaway Prius Driver Fake "Unintended Acceleration?"](http://cache-07.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/03/160x120_james_sikes_prius.jpg "Click here to read Did Bankrupt Runaway Prius Driver Fake "Unintended Acceleration?"")