tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86538258380490624222012-02-15T23:03:37.871-08:00car infoThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comBlogger45021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-86049350558368232182011-06-01T18:11:00.001-07:002011-06-01T18:11:21.527-07:00Gmail Forwarding Confirmation (#13777153) - Receive Mail from paula.yates1@gmail.compaula.yates1@gmail.com has requested to automatically forward mail to your emailaddress paula.yates1.machine@blogger.com.Confirmation code: 13777153To allow paula.yates1@gmail.com to automatically forward mail to your address,please click the link below to confirm the request:https://mail.google.com/mail/vf-bfba40eec4-paula.yates1.machine%40blogger.com-zmT-TpyQGFsbNcj1JLQOKdBvC68If you click the Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-68687937155299747622011-05-29T21:57:00.000-07:002011-05-29T21:59:51.432-07:00Designer Imagines what a 2012 Fiat Dino Could Look likeAfter the axing of the Fiat Coupe in 2000, the Italian brand's range was left without a coupe. And that's where British designer Peter Norris steps in with a new study that envisions a future sports car model for Fiat. However, this concept would not necessarily make a successor to the affordable Fiat Coupe, as the car carries a Pininfarina badge, thus hinting to a more luxurious model. The Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-56035454975689567922011-05-06T12:49:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.782-07:00It Came from Kyrgyzstan: Steel Drake’s Volkswagen Concept Sports CarImagine for a second that, in the very near future, Audi is facelifting the TT to look more like its big brother R8. Then, halfway through the project, Audi cans it and hands over all its sketches and prototyping model to Volkswagen which then decides to put the two-door coupe into production. Kyrgyzstanian graphic designer “Steel Drake” has created something very much fitting with this scenarioThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-26101898939105668572011-05-06T12:09:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.782-07:00Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition Photographed at its Natural HabitatLast month we wrote about the Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition, a 210HP version of which only 500 units will be built. Opel had initially released three photos of the new car but now, the German carmaker returns with a bevy of new pictures of its pocket rocket. Naturally, all shots are taken at the Nurburgring racetrack, on the old Nordschleife section as well as on the modern Grand Prix Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-34887093028663916692011-05-06T11:26:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.782-07:00VIDEO: Bijan Pakzad’s Ostensibly Opulent Bugatti Veyron Grand SportOn April 16, Iranian born fashion designer Bijan Pakzad passed away at a hospital in Los Angeles after a stroke. The man who became famous for dressing some of the most influential and well-known people in the world including President Barack Obama, Frank Sinatra and Carry Grant, also had a passion for cars. The Los Angeles-based designer not only amassed a huge collection of luxurious limos and Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-55677123594531014462011-05-06T10:47:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.782-07:00U Spy: One More Reader Spots the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M Class SUVEven though the official presentation of the new M Class isn’t due until later this year - most likely at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in early September, an increasing number of lightly camouflaged prototypes have been caught roaming around the roads of Germany. During the past few months, we’ve covered the 2012 M Class pretty extensively with both professional and reader shots. This new Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-33711963046411838582011-05-06T09:34:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.782-07:00VIDEO: New VW Amarok Takes Down a 140 Tonne ChimneyVolkswagen marked the UK launch of its new Amarok truck with a rather unusual demonstration, using four pickups to demolish a gigantic, 67-meter (220 feet) tall steel chimney weighing in at around 140 tons. To complete a job that would normally have been done by a 40-ton excavator, structural engineers and demolition experts meticulously planned the task, undertaking a series of tests to see if Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-68608458506924304702011-05-06T08:52:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.783-07:00Polk Gives us a Peak at Vehicle Density in Emerging MarketsAccording to Polk, an automotive statistics website, one of the key performance indicators of a maturing auto market is the number of cars per 1,000 people or the nation’s “vehicle density”. Ten years ago in the U.S., for instance, it was 453 vehicles per 1,000 people. What with the global financial crisis and high fuel prices resulting in many people selling their cars, this has now dropped to Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-17525743084548557082011-05-06T08:27:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.783-07:00Ford’s Cologne Plant Celebrates Production of One Million New Fiestas in 33 MonthsThe festivities over the new Fiesta continue at Ford with the production of the one-millionth current generation model at the company’s central European plant in Cologne, Germany. The production milestone comes less than two months after Ford announced that European sales of the new Fiesta reached the 1 million mark in the beginning of March, 2011. Current global sales of the new Fiesta stand at Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-15634194233078538962011-05-06T07:53:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.783-07:00Mercedes-Benz Revises E-Class Engine Range, Slashes Fuel Consumption by up to 20 PercentIn tune with the times, Mercedes-Benz has announced a comprehensive suite of mechanical upgrades for the E-Class series, which result in significant gains in fuel economy. From now on, all models are fitted with the firm’s eco-friendly BlueEfficiency package, direct injection technology and start-stop systems. In addition, all automatic models are equipped with the improved 7G-Tronic Plus 7-speedThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-53527354958501168182011-05-06T07:29:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.783-07:00Unrestricted Vauxhall Insignia VXR with 170mph Top Speed Available for the UKFollowing last month’s presentation of the Opel Insignia OPC Unlimited, Vauxhall introduced its own version of the performance sedan with the VXR moniker featuring the de-restricted package. The Unlimited option removes the standard Insignia VXR’s 155mph (250 km/h) restrictor, allowing Vauxhall’s range-topper to exploit its all-wheel-drive chassis and 325HP turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 engine to theThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-79221450579245518692011-05-06T07:07:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.784-07:00New Porsche Cayman S Black Edition with 330 Horses and Added FeaturesPorsche is once again making use of its “Black Edition” nameplate for one of its models, this time for the Cayman S, which benefits from a power boost and additional standard equipment. Limited to 500 units worldwide, the Cayman S Black Edition features an upgraded version of the 3.4-liter six-cylinder boxer engine, with output increased by 10 horsepower to 330HP at 7,400 rpm (200 rpm higher). Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-42950690310232969412011-05-06T06:33:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.784-07:00Hyundai Sketches All-New i40 Sedan for Europe, will Debut in BarcelonaJust a couple of months after debuting the i40 Station Wagon at the Geneva Salon in March, Hyundai is now getting ready to lift the covers off the sedan version of its mid-size model, which will receive its world premiere at the upcoming 2011 Barcelona Motor Show on May 12th. The South Korean automaker released the first teaser rendering of the i40 Sedan, which will effectively replace the older Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-91167321551123709182011-05-06T06:03:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.784-07:00Volkswagen Reveals Polo R WRC Racer with 300HP [Video]After months of rumors and whispers, Volkswagen officially announced that it will enter a factory team to the World Rally Championship starting with the 2013 season. The announcement was made in Italy, where journalists had the chance to take a first look at the car VW will throw in the competition, the 300HP Polo R WRC, shown here as a prototype. Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-74031568754273179522011-05-06T05:33:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.784-07:00Official: Jaguar to Build C-X75 Hypercar with the help of Williams F1, Production Limited to 250 UnitsThe super rich automotive collectors of this world will soon have one more choice to add to their list as today, Jaguar officially confirmed the limited production of its flashing C-X75 hypercar that drew much attention at last year’s Paris Motor Show. To be developed in cooperation with Williams F1, the C-X75 will make use of hybrid powertrain with Jaguar aiming to have the car on sale in 2013Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-4753313168385888592011-05-06T04:40:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.784-07:00Mercedes Previews SLS AMG Roadster Five Months ahead of Frankfurt DebutEven though we expected the roadster version of Mercedes' SLS AMG supercar to be revealed at the recent New York auto show, the German automaker took the decision to perform the world premiere of its flagship drop top model at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show this September. Along with the announcement Mercedes also released the most revealing photos of the new SLS AMG Roadster so far, though Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-8289033815190872642011-05-05T06:36:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.784-07:00Fiat Launches TwinAir Lineup for the 500 and 500C with Bespoke Styling and Equipment FeaturesThe Italian carmaker has announced the market launch of the new 500 TwinAir version, available for both the three-door and convertible models. From now on, the TwinAir name not only designates the innovative two-cylinder turbocharged engine, but also a new line of models. The 500 TwinAir lineup comes with bespoke styling elements and upgraded equipment features. Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-28518428267375711502011-05-04T14:03:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.785-07:00Kia Officials Hint at New Premium RWD K9 Sedan Based on the GenesisSouth Korea’s largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Co. is leaving no stone unturned in its quest for world domination. Having already pushed its Hyundai brand into new territories with the Genesis and Equus premium sedans as well as the sporty, rear-wheel drive Genesis Coupe, the Koreans now appear to be focusing on the company’s second brand, Kia. We first heard rumors about a range topping Kia Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-49004638107858652642011-05-04T12:54:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.785-07:00McLaren's MP4-12C GT3 Racer gets 100HP less than the Street Version [Gallery and Video]McLaren has announced full technical specifications of its MP4-12C GT3 racing model, which much surprisingly, has 100 horses less than the road car it's based upon. The racer uses the same 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 engine (codenamed M838T), but in a de-tuned state deliver 500 horsepower (down from 600HP) in order to “provide optimum power for a performance-balanced race car,” according to McLaren. Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-76066401425983878272011-05-04T12:16:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.785-07:00Lexus Turns the Roosevelt Hotel into the World’s Biggest 3D BillboardThe Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California, is one of the most iconic hotels in the United States, nay the world. Built in the 1920s, it has since featured in countless movies, television shows and music videos. So it figures that sooner or later someone would get the bright spark idea of using it as a giant billboard for their product. Enter the world of Lexus who, with the help of some Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-56355333774554795712011-05-04T11:48:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.785-07:00Novitec Rosso Supercharges Alfa Romeo 8C Spider to 600-horsepowerIt may not be the best sports car Italy has to offer us right now, but Alfa Romeo’s 8C Spider is certainly a prime candidate for being one of the most beautiful out there. That said, even Novitec Rosso is smart enough to know that you don’t mess with a good thing with the German tuner focusing its attention on improving the Alfa’s mechanical hardware. The highlight of Novitec Rosso’s Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-72188788026110395402011-05-04T10:48:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.785-07:00Is this the New De Tomaso Pantera? Mystery Sports Car Caught Leaving the Italian Firm’s HQDuring the Geneva Motor Show presentation of the De Tomaso Deauville crossover earlier this year, the Italian automaker’s new CEO and the person responsible for bringing the brand back to life, Gian Mario Rossignolo, revealed that the company is planning to introduce a modern day successor to the Pantera sports car before the end of 2011. Now, it appears that we have our first look at the 21st Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-34393289386420594402011-05-04T10:30:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.786-07:00Hennessey’s Tire-Shredding HPE500 Supercharged Ram Truck on FilmThe tuners over at Hennessey Performance have always had a thing for boosting anything that rides on four wheels. More recently, the Texas-based tuning firm applied its technical wizardry on the Ram Truck. The result is the Hennessey HPE500 Supercharged Ram, which as implied by its name, features a supercharged version of the Chrysler Group’s 5.7-liter Hemi V8 producing 505-horsepower at 5,400 Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-9613199102361730942011-05-04T10:01:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.786-07:00BMW Insider Says All-new 2012 M5 will offer All-Wheel-Drive OptionRevealed in concept car guise at the recent Shanghai auto show, the new BMW M5 will not only be the first turbocharged M5 to hit the streets, but also the first one with an optional all-wheel drive system, or at least that’s what an unnamed company insider told British car magazine, Autocar. The company official said the all-wheel drive model will be built around the upcoming V8-powered M5 sedan,Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-65925950342540236592011-05-04T09:06:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.786-07:00Yugo…Grale Replicates Lancia’s Iconic Delta HF Integrale [with Video]If you grew up in the late 1980s or early 1990s and were an avid automotive enthusiast, chances are you fondly remember the great Delta HF Integrale, arguably the last super exciting (from a driver's perspective) Lancia model. And while Lancia has turned a new page in its history, tending to the needs of customers enamored with fashion catwalks instead of rally courses, there are plenty of Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-30719167211115527322011-05-04T07:51:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.786-07:00Pininfarina to Unveil Coachbuilt Ferrari Super America 45 Convertible at Villa d'Este on May 20The above photo is of the 2009 Ferrari P540 Superfast ApertaThis year’s edition of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este motor show in Italy will see Pininfarina lifting the veils off (that is, unless some scoopster beats them to it…) a spanking new coachbuilt Ferrari convertible called the Super America 45. The one-off supercar was commissioned by New York billionaire, real estate tycoon and Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-91314532183721621002011-05-04T07:15:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.786-07:00Volkswagen’s Little Darth Vader Uses the Force on the European PassatUnless you've been living in some oddball world where the internet doesn't exist - in which case, you wouldn’t be reading this anyway (…), you’ve undoubtedly seen Volkswagen’s much praised Super Bowl commercial starring a pint-sized Darth Vader who uses the Force when he discovers the new, North American-spec 2012 Passat. Having garnered close to 40 million views on Youtube on VW USA’s channel Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-25140542282869242232011-05-04T06:41:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.787-07:00Volvo Launches Luxed up S80 Executive and Sportier-looking V70 R-DesignSwedish carmaker Volvo is expanding its lineup with the introduction of two new models, the top-end S80 Executive sedan and the sportier loooking V70 R-Design station wagon. Starting with Volvo’s premium sedan model, a special badge on the C-pillar hints at the enhanced features inside, which include a leather wrapped instrument panel, ventilated soft leather seats with massage function, Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-48859035416992573912011-05-04T06:13:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.787-07:00Video: Peugeot EX-1’s Record Breaking Run on the NurburgringOn April 27, 2011, for the first time in the Peugeot’s history, the French car maker set an official lap record on the Nordschleife race track in Germany. And this was no ordinary feat as Peugeot established an electric speed record with a concept model, the EX1 design study, which we first laid eyes upon at last year’s Paris Motor Show. With Stéphane Caillet, driver and tuner-technician from Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-38845827646809465182011-05-03T07:48:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.787-07:00VW Releases Mega Gallery of the New Golf CabrioletFollowing its Geneva show world premiere in March, Volkswagen has now released a comprehensive photo gallery of its new Golf Cabriolet. Featuring a fully automatic soft top that retracts in 9 seconds and up to speeds of 30 km/h (18.6 mph), the Golf Cabriolet continues the tradition of its three predecessors, produced between 1979 and 2002 in over 680,000 units. Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-55426344912788087262011-05-03T07:24:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.787-07:00Italdesign’s Sexy BMW Nazca M12 Concept Could be Yours for $1.1 millionOne of the most memorable concept models from the decade that brought us grunge, the internet, Playstation and the Prius, is Italdesign’s series of BMW Nazca supercar studies. Designed by the great Giorgetto Giugiaro who was also responsible for BMW’s production M1 sports car, the Nazca M12 made its debut in 1991 and was followed in by a more hardcore version called the Nazca C2 in 1992 and an Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-57939197262528672722011-05-03T05:44:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.787-07:00Saab Details Partnership with China’s Hawtai Motor GroupIn his attempt to save Saab- again, and after having secured short-term cash of €30 million (US$44.6 million), Spyker Car N.V. CEO Victor Muller’s next move was to sign a strategic partnership with China’s Hawtai Motor Group. Under the agreement, Saab will receive a €150 million (US$222.5 million) cash injection while the two companies will form joint ventures for manufacturing, technology and Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-45152921330542933422011-05-02T19:05:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.788-07:00Ram Goes Big, Really Big with New Long-Hauler Concept TruckThe Chrysler Group claims, “they don’t get much bigger” than its new Ram Long-Hauler Concept truck and at a whopping 24 feet (about 7.3 meters) long, who can blame them? Based on a Class 5 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab, the monstrous Long Hauler rides on an extended wheelbase measuring 197.4-in. (5,014mm) in length, which is more than enough to fit a Mercedes-Benz E-Class (191.7-in)! The concept truck Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-73895646025557014062011-05-02T16:35:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.788-07:00BMW 3-Series Still Top Dog despite Strong CompetitionIn the ingloriously named, “small premium car segment”, the BMW 3-Series is king. A good all-rounder with sporting pretensions and cred, a nice assortment of engine and equipment options, and perhaps most importantly, a variety of body styles including a coupe and station wagon derivative that have ensured its market supremacy. All 3-Series models are doing their bit to keep sales high. Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-25368276078288622322011-05-02T15:49:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.788-07:00NHTSA Investigates 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs for Shattering Tailgate GlassThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has opened a preliminary investigation concerning 200,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs from the 2010 and 2011 model years, after receiving several complaints that the window glass in the tailgate allegedly shattered without warning. The safety agency said it received 18 complaints noting that “the liftgate window glass Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-1900168248958834682011-05-02T14:45:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.788-07:00Nissan Brazil Strikes Again with an Ad for a Family Minivan that You’re Never Going See in the U.S. [NSFW]Back in March, Nissan do Brasil aired a commercial, which drew the wrath of Ford’s local arm for making claims that the Detroit automaker charges customers too much for its family models. But while Ford’s people only saw a Focus and a pair of rappers dressed as engineers chanting about the money they made by overpricing the hatchback, some viewers were also captivated by the curvalicious Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-12198727030994346502011-05-02T13:25:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.788-07:00Sport Truck Redux: New Rumors About the Holden Ute Heading to the U.S.A.It’s a poorly kept secret that many Americans are quite fond of the Australian-made and Commodore-derived, Holden Ute, which we recently drove in Queensland. It’s big, brutish and comfortable with a bevy of engine and equipment options to suit virtually any budget or taste - so long as those tastes only extend to, “Big, brutish V6 or V8 engined utes”. Before the Global Financial Crisis of 2009, Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-71738092495700799852011-05-02T13:03:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.789-07:00Honda USA Shows Some Personal Appreciation to its Facebook FansRecently, Honda USA’s facebook page hit the one-millionth fan mark. To show its appreciation, the Japanese brand responded with some personal gestures that, unlike the look of some of its more recent models like the Civic, took some of its fans by surprise. For example, in response to a fan that mowed the Honda logo on his lawn, the Japanese company carved his name into the corporate Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-42252512749749373102011-05-02T12:06:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.789-07:00Saab Announces Strategic Partnership with China’s Hawtai Motor Group, Secures New $30 Million LoanSpyker Cars NV and Saab president Victor Muller is pulling all the strings to kick start the Swedish automaker back into life after the company hit a cash crunch and was forced to halt production last month as suppliers refused to send parts citing lack of payment. After an earlier announcement on the involvement of Russian banker Vladimir Antonov, who plans to invest €30 million in Saab’s Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-87102455106302543012011-05-02T11:03:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.789-07:00Peugeot's EX1 Concept Breaks the Electric Car Record on the NurburgringIt's not very often we hear about an electric car taking on the fearsome Nurburgring-Nordschleife track. A concept version of an EV is an even rarer sight on the “Green Hell”, but that's exactly what Peugeot did as it put the EX1 design study at work on the world's toughest circuit. It wasn't just a pleasure ride, however, since Peugeot visited the ‘Ring to break the lap record for electric cars.Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-91437111950623470492011-05-02T10:02:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.789-07:00Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Tearing up the Vallelunga Race Track [Videos]Good news for those of you that just can’t get enough of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, the new V12 supercar from Sant’Agata. After the media presentation of the jagged nose Raging Bull model that took place on the busy streets in and around Rome, Lamborghini gave members of the press a chance to get behind the wheel of the Aventador at the Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi racing circuit, Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-79157558394795026762011-05-02T08:55:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.789-07:00Chevrolet Begins Taking Orders for Volt in CanadaGeneral Motors is adding Canada to the list of countries that will soon get the Chevrolet Volt as starting from today, the company’s dealers in seven key regions across the country will begin accepting orders for the extended range electric vehicle, with prices starting from at CA$41,545 (equal to US$43,780 at today’s exchange rates). Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-45317965176271507032011-05-02T08:26:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.790-07:00Euro-spec Ford Focus to Bring Internet Access to the Masses in 2012The European division of Ford announced on Monday that its Sync system with MyFord Touch will feature WiFi connectivity on the new Focus starting from 2012. The infotainment system will create a password-protected WiFi hotspot inside the car allowing up to five devices to be connected. The service will be free of charge, as the in-car internet connection will use customers' existing USB modems orThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-7711903502588398252011-05-02T07:50:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.790-07:00The Most Affordable Techart Porsche Ever: New Collector’s Edition GTStreet Scale ModelWhen it comes to tuning Porsche models, Techart is one of the most renowned aftermarket specialists in Germany. This time, however, the tuning firm has something far smaller but also, far more affordable in store for us. We are talking about Techart’s new Porsche 911 Turbo-based GTStreet collector’s edition die cast model. Available only in 1:43 scale, production of the miniature Porsche is Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-91382537844923814292011-05-02T07:02:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.790-07:00Zagato’s Dodge Viper-Based Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale Smiles at the CameraThanks to the interwebs, we now have the first video clip of Zagato’s spanking new Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale that was introduced to the world just last week. Hiding underneath the Italian suit are the platform and the mechanical hardware of the now-obsolete Dodge Viper ACR including the 8.4-liter V10 engine. Zagato has not yet given information regarding output and performance numbers. The Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-12595068049951907972011-05-02T05:24:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.790-07:00Chrysler Reports Net Profits for the First Time Since Emerging from BankruptcyOn Monday, the Chrysler Group LLC reported its first quarter gains since exiting bankruptcy almost two years ago in June 2009. The Auburn Hills-based automaker, which is now operated by Fiat S.p.A., said net income totaled $116 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to a net loss of $197 million in the same period last year. At the same time, the company’s revenues grew 35 percent from Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-52794767382153531442011-05-02T04:47:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.790-07:00New Porsche Panamera Diesel Returns 6.3lt/100km or 37.3mpgEuropean Porsche shoppers will soon have the option of ordering a diesel-powered version of the Panamera sports saloon. The most fuel-efficient model of the Panamera range is equipped with a Porsche-tuned version of the VW Group’s widely used 3.0-liter V6 TDI employing common rail direct injection technology and electrically controlled variable geometry turbochargers (VGTs). The six-cylinder Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-7727986433664780802011-04-30T11:14:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.791-07:00Take that Google: Dodge Rebels Against Robots in New 2011 Charger CommercialThe future, as we imagine it now, may be full of robots doing all kinds of things for us humans, including driving our cars. As some scientists over at Google recently proved, driver-less vehicles may become a reality sooner than we expect, so here's what an automaker that produces cars for drivers has to say about this issue. In the Chrysler Group’s latest commercial for the 2011 Dodge Charger Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-80626684613098007172011-04-30T08:08:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.791-07:00VIDEO: Fast 5 Movie Goers Cause Automotive Mayhem Outside of Theater in DetroitFans of all kinds and sorts of the much talked about Fast 5 film went “fast and furious” at a theater parking lot in Detroit before and after a midnight release of the movie on Thursday. Steven Pham, a professional photographer and automotive enthusiast, happened to be one of those early moviegoers and filmed some of the hoonery that went on up until the boys in blue showed up to put an end to Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-37092833752404800402011-04-30T07:24:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.791-07:00Inden Design Applies the Black Series Treatment to the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMGSince 2008, Mercedes-Benz has been producing a special edition version of the SL65 AMG called the Black Series that comes with a fixed carbon fiber roof, a wide body kit, an upgraded V12 and numerous other performance and styling enhancements. If you happen to like the look of the Black Series but prefer to keep the retractable hardtop of the standard SL65 AMG, you may want to check out Inden Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-78375989696789319772011-04-30T06:50:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.791-07:00Study Reveals Steering Wheels Are Nine Times Dirtier than a Public ToiletThis disturbing conclusion comes from a UK survey done at the request of home store B&Q. While 80 bacteria are found on each square inch of toilet, around 700 harmful bugs lurk in the interior of a car and specifically on the steering wheel, gear stick and back seats. The study also revealed that 42 percent of motorists regularly eat meals while driving. “A car is the perfect place for germs to Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-88665681031715548882011-04-29T17:27:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.791-07:00Nissan gets Creative with Smoking Billboard at New York Auto ShowIt might not be an award winning campaign, but Nissan’s new outdoor board placed right outside the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center during the 2011 New York Auto Show (April 22 to May 1 for the public) is sure to grab attention and increase awareness for the firm’s all-electric Leaf family car. The two-sided Smokeboard was created by the Japanese firm’s advertising partner TBWA\Chiat\Day, whichThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-78370638781084907862011-04-29T14:46:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.792-07:00Ford Says F-150 Orders with EcoBoost V6 on the RiseWith gas prices on the rise again, an increasing number of Ford F-150 buyers looking to save some (let’s not get carried away here…) cash at the pump without compromising on power are turning to the company’s new EcoBoost turbocharged V6 engine. According to Ford, demand for the EcoBoost engine in the F-150 has increased each month since production began in January. In March, one in every four (Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-23572397089955407232011-04-29T14:05:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.792-07:00VIDEO: How Not to Take a Corner with a 14-Wheeler TruckVehicle accidents happen on the road everywhere and every day. However, some mishaps could be easily avoided if the person behind the wheel has his or her head screwed on the right way. For example, take a look at this video showing a 14-wheeler truck overturning on a busy road in Wenling City in eastern China's Zhejiang Province; this is not the way you are supposed to turn into a corner with Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-82904157543491419092011-04-29T13:29:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.792-07:00The QTvan: World’s Smallest Caravan or Just Clever Marketing?Mobility scooters (or shop riders) are big business in the UK, with close to a quarter of a million of the island nation’s elderly and disabled population using them to get around. In response to a previous untapped market segment, Environmental Transport Association (ETA) has introduced the world’s smallest caravan that can be towed by a mobility scooter. In what’s perhaps more marketing ploy Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-873004492285202012011-04-29T13:00:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.792-07:00GM to Build and Sell New 2013 Chevrolet Malibu in KoreaGeneral Motors is quite serious about selling its upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Malibu on a global scale. So serious, in fact, that the Detroit automaker is making plans to built the mid-size model on several continents. Today, GM revealed that will build and sell the redesigned Malibu sedan in Korea. We’ll remind you that earlier this year, GM Korea announced it is replacing the Daewoo nameplate with Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-54792949628844321392011-04-29T11:43:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.792-07:00Lamborghini Unleashes two Aventadors on the Twisty Roads around RomeWe've only recently brought you a host of videos from Lamborghini's presentation of the Aventador LP 700-4 in Rome, but we’re convinced you won’t mind us showing more of Sant’Agata’s exotic creation. This time, two new and eye-catching short films of the Aventador surfaced online. The official videos show a pair of LP 700-4s taming the Eternal City's scenic streets as well as the winding Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-57006104805671210262011-04-29T11:04:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.793-07:00U.S. Gov Study Reveals Significant Decline in Border Crossings through Canada and Mexico over the Past DecadeA new study by the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports a considerable decline in the number of people crossing from Mexico and Canada into the U.S.A from 2000 to 2009. The report found that the number of people entering the U.S. through its land borders dropped 37 percent in this period, from 400 million people in 2000, to 252 million in 2009, with Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-64343084184469954472011-04-29T10:05:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.793-07:00Kia Recalling Spectra Models Over Fears that the Fuel Tank May…Fall OffSouth Korea’s Kia Motors said Friday it will recall certain Spectra LD vehicles from the 2004-2007 model year in the United States over a corrosion issue that could cause the fuel tank to fall from the car. The recall covers 58,322 Kia Spectra models build from November 7, 2003, through March 6, 2007, and sold or currently registered in states that rely heavily on road salt to melt ice in the Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-29366032011047281702011-04-29T08:55:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.793-07:00Mini to Use Rolls Royce-Prepped Goodwood as a Sub-brand for Bespoke ModelsIn the same way the John Cooper Works moniker designates high-performance models, Mini plans to use the Goodwood name as a sub-brand for high-end luxury versions of its cars. According to British magazine Autocar, which quotes sources from within the company, the Goodwood badge will be used on luxurious, bespoke Minis just like the JCW badge is put on its high-performance models. The first modelThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-3221423924130209932011-04-29T08:29:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.793-07:00VIDEO: Meet the Amazing...5-Year Old Screenwriter of Fast and Furious 5For most of us gearheads, the Fast and Furious franchise is just another way to entertain ourselves for a couple of hours with plenty of fast cars, scantily dressed women and over the top brain-bashing action scenes - nothing more, nothing less. Does that mean we shouldn’t criticize it? Of course not. And what a better to do it than through a sarcastically amusing (in a tongue in cheek manner) Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-86479221068148449722011-04-29T07:48:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.793-07:00New Audi R18 TDI Le Mans Competitor with smaller 3.7-liter V6 Diesel to Receive Racing Debut in SpaIn less than two months time, Audi’s brand new R18 TDI racer -that would be the bug-eyed model pictured on the right, will show us what it’s capable of at the famous 24 hours of Le Mans on June 11/12. But before the prestigious event in France, the brand with the four rings will give the R18 TDI its racing debut at the second round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Spa in Belgium on SaturdayThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-36924032858640154002011-04-29T07:11:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.793-07:00Toyota Confirms 2.0-liter Boxer Engine, Six-Speed Gearboxes and LSD for 2012 FT-86In keeping enthusiasts on their toes, Toyota’s European division came out with a new release today on its upcoming FT-86 sports coupe. The Japanese automaker confirmed that the production version will go on sale in 2012 with power coming from by Subaru's new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine fitted with Toyota's D-4S technology. The latter consists of direct injection combined with port injectionThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-9184375438113451702011-04-29T06:38:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.794-07:00Spyker Cars Says Saab won’t Meet its Sales Target this Year, Now Talking with Chinese Companies for FundingThe roller coaster that is Saab has taken another turn, and unfortunately for the Swedish brand, the future doesn’t look so bright. In spite of a tentative agreement to let Russian banker Vladimir Antonov invest 30 million euros in Saab’s parent company Spyker in return for a 29.9 percent stake, the investment still needs to be approved by the European Investment Bank, which means the Swedes are Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-84767310928310802912011-04-29T05:37:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.794-07:00Lincoln Touts All-Wheel Drive Sales in the USANot to be outdone by GM and its Cadillac brand, which had recently published some fresh statistics about its all-wheel drive model sales in the States, Ford’s Lincoln division came out with a similar announcement to increase awareness and do some show off. Ford’s premium brand offers all-wheel drive as an option on all five models of its range, including the MKT, MKS, MKZ, MKX and the Navigator. Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-11280175901722142832011-04-28T18:04:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.794-07:00U Spy: BMW’s New X1 ‘baby’ Crossover Caught Strolling in Long Beach, CaliforniaWhile BMW is still keeping mum on when it will bring its smallest crossover model over to the States, Carscoop reader, Nick K., who is always alert for new models on the road, snapped this picture of the X1 dressed in an M Sport outfit during his daily maneuvers in Long Beach, California. “I saw this BMW X1 driving in Long Beach today followed by 3 5-Series BMW's. It had specially marked plates Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-64866534308127474022011-04-28T16:58:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.794-07:002012 Volkswagen Beetle Filmed out in the Open in TexasIn what could be one of the first public sightings of the brand new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle outside of a motor show, Youtube user JWalters84 passed by and filmed his short encounter with the car on a road in Laredo, Texas. What was it doing there? Well, who knows, but it's safe to assume that it’s probably a pre-production model used either by dealers or by VW Group employees since sales of the Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-82067152632259849432011-04-28T16:28:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.794-07:00Celebrating 50 Years of Queensland’s Lakeside Park [with Gallery]Nestled somewhat innocuously behind a golf course in Pine Rivers Shire, South East Queensland, Australia, is historic Lakeside Park Raceway. It holds the distinction as the Queensland’s first permanent, purpose-built racetrack and has sat - for fifty years - on the banks of Lake Kurwongbah. It is a monument to both motorsport and Australia’s can-do attitude, having been built on a foundation of Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-6789702549867017482011-04-28T15:24:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.795-07:00Brand New Trailer for "Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon"Today we get our first look at the second, full-length theatrical trailer for Michael Bay’s upcoming blockbuster film, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”. The brand new trailer provides us a deeper look into the story, characters and the action we can expect to see in the third and possibly final chapter in the Transformers franchise. While Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky, this time he will Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-71316809023589843202011-04-28T14:30:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.795-07:00VIDEO: Geely’s McCar Bundles Four Seats and a Scooter in a Mini PackageAt the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show, Chinese automaker Geely displayed an interesting concept car called McCar, whose funny name reportedly stands for “Magic car” and “Motorcycle Car” , and has nothing to do with the famous chain of fast-food restaurants – unless you take into consideration the fact that there is a folding electric scooter sandwiched between the rear seats of the car… Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-37071329427951752642011-04-28T12:48:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.795-07:00VW Remembers its First Diesel-Powered Golf, we Compare it with its Modern Day SuccessorsIn 1976, just two years after the introduction of the original Golf Mk1 that was designed to replace the Beetle, Volkswagen presented the first diesel version of its compact model, the Golf D. It was powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder diesel engine that put out 50HP at 5,000 rpm and 80Nm (59 lb-ft) of peak torque at 3,000 rpm. The most economical Golf of its time returned a combined fuel Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-37499291855014378112011-04-28T12:08:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.795-07:00Swedish Debt Office and GM Allow Antonov to Invest in SaabIt appears that Saab's hopes of survival continue to depend after all that happened on Vladimir Antonov, the Russian banker who was forced by GM to sell his initial shares in Spyker for the Saab sale to occur. Spyker today confirmed that the Swedish National Debt Office (NDO) allowed Antonov to become a major shareholder in Spyker Cars, Saab's parent company. "This is a great day for our Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-44373880993385043442011-04-28T11:32:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.795-07:00Aftermath: Chevrolet Suburban SUV Rams Ferrari CaliforniaA crash is never a good thing but fortunately for those involved in this three-vehicle accident in Texas City on April 19, no one was seriously injured. According to a report from The Daily News, the driver of a big ol’ 1987 Chevrolet Suburban SUV was traveling west on FM 517 with his wife and two children when he disregarded the red traffic light and crashed into an oncoming Ferrari California Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-59256722166002193102011-04-28T11:01:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.796-07:00Seat Rumored to Start Production of Audi Q3-based SUV in 2012It seems that the VW Group’s Martorell plant in Spain will not only build the new Audi Q3, but a similar version of the compact SUV for Seat as well, according to a report from British car magazine, What Car. Industry sources told the publication that the Seat IBX crossover study shown at Geneva this year will be built in the same plant with the Audi Q3, with both models to share the same Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-31153699317899152812011-04-28T10:27:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.796-07:00Mad Vandals Fill Airbrushed Range Rover with…Insulating FoamThe owner of this airbrushed Land Rover Range Rover was in for an unexpected and definitely unwanted surprise when his parked luxurious SUV became the victim of vandalism committed by unknown individuals. The incident presumably took place somewhere in Russia. The artsy troublemakers not only spray painted the Range Rover and broke several components such as the bumpers and lights, but –get Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-75040533215290043142011-04-28T09:24:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.796-07:00Chrysler Group to Repay $7.5 Billion of Government Loans by the End of JuneIn order to pave the way for Fiat to reach 51 percent ownership of the Chrysler Group, the Auburn Hills-based automaker announced today that it intends to repay in full the loans provided by the U.S. and Canadian governments back in 2009 ($7.53 billion in total). The Chrysler Group said it plans to complete the repayment during the second quarter of 2011 (ending in June). The company will use Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-37619510557769996742011-04-28T08:36:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.796-07:00Sic…Lexus Becomes Official Supplier to HSH Prince of Monaco who will use an LS Hybrid for his WeddingFor those who still believe in the institution of monarchy and the legitimacy of kings, queens and royalty in general in this day and age (…some 2,500 years after the Athenians gave birth to democracy), 2011 will be marked by the royal weddings of Prince William to Catherine Middleton, and to a lesser extent, Prince Albert II of Monaco to Miss Charlene Wittstock. If you wondering what all this Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-49137654796279362392011-04-28T07:33:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.796-07:00Chevrolet Reveals 2012 Corvette with Modest Upgrades [with Video]Chevrolet will improve the Corvette’s performance capabilities with a series of enhancements for the 2012 model year aimed at offering better on-track performance and on-road comfort. The subtle performance improvements concern the Z06 and ZR1 models, while the rest of the Corvette lineup receives modest interior and equipment updates. Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-61689074203198051252011-04-28T07:12:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.797-07:00New Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Debuts as Official Safety Car of DTM Racing SeriesMercedes-Benz and its AMG division continue to serve safety cars to the world of racing, this time with the refreshed C63 AMG sedan that will be used for the 2011 DTM touring car season. The Stuttgart automaker’s latest Safety Car will make its premiere on May 1, 2011, at the opening race of the German Touring Car Masters season at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg. Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-83947270086331257372011-04-28T06:45:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.797-07:00Porsche Says Goodbye to the 997 Series with 500HP 911 GT3 RS 4.0 [with Video]The new 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is Porsche's ultimate street-legal track racer and a fitting farewell to the current 911 series, codenamed 997, which will soon be replaced by an all-new model set to be unwrapped at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September. There’s a lot to like about the new GT3 RS including the fact that it is fitted with the largest engine ever to be mounted on a factory-approved Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-76978717760120247212011-04-28T06:24:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.797-07:00Zagato TZ3 Stradale: A Dodge Viper ACR Dressed as an Alfa RomeoWe don’t know if Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s future plans for the upcoming, next generation of the Dodge Viper include the development of a corresponding Alfa Romeo model based on the underpinnings of the muscle car, but famed Italian coachbuilder Zagato has given the formula a try with its new TZ3 Stradale. You see, Zagato’s TZ3 Stradale is an Alfa Romeo bodied sports car based onThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-42836032841601485152011-04-27T16:46:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.797-07:00Poll: What’s Your Favourite Toyota FT-86 Concept?Toyota’s FT-86 sports coupe has to be one of the most hotly anticipated cars of the last ten years. A sporty, lightweight, front-engined and rear-wheel-drive spiritual successor to the legendary AE86, brought to you by the same company that built the Celica, MR2 and Supra? Yes, please! So far, we’ve had three iterations of the “AE86 Nouveau”. First, there’s the original, scene stealing Toyota FTThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-26511668713605918172011-04-27T16:35:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.797-07:00SCOOP: Third-Generation 2012 Porsche Boxster Caught Working OutThe next iteration of the 911 series, codenamed 991, isn’t the only new model undergoing development by Porsche these days. The Stuttgart-based sports car maker is also busy testing a brand new generation of the Boxster, as these latest spy photos reveal. In typical Porsche fashion, the third generation Boxster’s styling will be an evolution of the second generation model, which itself was an...Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-76691752285924744552011-04-27T15:51:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.798-07:00Chromed-out Chevrolet Camaro SS Takes Czech Republic by StormA Czech company called Tintek promotes a chrome exterior wrap for the Chevrolet Camaro SS that will either make your eyes hurt or it will make you google their name to find out more. Tintek says the Camaro is the first chrome application of this kind in the Czech Republic, as the effect is not obtained by painting the car but by applying a special 3-D foil over the original paintwork. Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-17037326493860809942011-04-27T14:24:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.798-07:00Porsche Engineering Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Special Museum ExhibitionPorsche has been making sports cars for more than sixty years, but the historic roots of the brand go further back to 1931, when Ferdinand Porsche founded and registered an engineering design bureau in Stuttgart. Up until 1948, when Ferry Porsche built the first Porsche automobile (the legendary Type 356), the design bureau offered engineering services to important companies around the world. Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-61739062220188750772011-04-27T13:52:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.798-07:00Buick’s China Sales Surpass 3 Million Mark 12 Years After the Brand’s DebutChina with its massive emerging middle class is shaping up to be one of the important markets for General Motors. In fact, for one of the Detroit firm’s brands, China is actually its biggest market by far. We’re talking of course about Buick that has just surpassed the 3 million mark in Chinese sales since GM’s joint venture began offering the brand in the country in 1999. Last year, Buick’s Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-50869832833481789132011-04-27T12:53:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.798-07:00Video Tribute: The Fast and the Furious Ten Years OnIn the far-flung future, historians won’t be looking at cracked pottery or pieces of timeworn iron. No, they’ll be looking at our movies and...God help us...the internet. So what will these future historians learn about the early 21st century? Well, for one, we liked gasoline-powered land car movies starring actors who couldn’t, you know, act. I’m talking about The Fast and the Furious and its Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-54297740397762869372011-04-27T12:41:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.798-07:00Jeep Betting on Three New SUVs to Boost European Sales Five-Times by 2014Jeep has disclosed plans to increase European sales from 25,000 units this year to 125,000 units by 2014. Europe will play a key role in Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s plans to double the brand’s global sales from 420,000 units last year to 800,000 units in 2014. "Our plans for Europe are ambitious but doable. Europe for Jeep is an incredibly important market. We have been here for 30 years Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-31303929151907958082011-04-27T11:43:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.799-07:00VIDEO: This is One of the Coolest Hidden Garage Spaces You have Ever SeenSan Francisco one of those big, dense cities with very few parking spaces. In fact, in some areas of the city, parking can be more expensive than living space. Add to that the recent changes in the city code for adding garages that prohibit any extensive alterations to the front of historic buildings, and you can see how big the problem is. To overcome these challenges and incorporate a garage Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-70049102033122726522011-04-27T10:43:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.799-07:00Ferrari Explains to 458 Italia Drivers what to do with all those Switches and ControlsWhen Ferrari released the 458 Italia back in 2009, the Italian supercar surprised the world not only with its performance (after all, it's expected from a new Ferrari to set the bar high), but with its high-tech gadgetry as well. Using Formula 1 expertise, Ferrari put almost all of the car's controls on the steering wheel, including the indicator switches, windshield wipers, long beam, horn, Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-24622712169285269282011-04-27T09:46:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.799-07:00Brabus Boosts Output of New V8 BiTurbo in Mercedes S500 and CL500 and S63 and CL63 AMG ModelsLongtime Mercedes-Benz tuner has released a performance package for the latest S500 and CL500 as well as the S63 and CL63 AMG models, which are fitted with Stuttgart’s new V8 bi-turbocharged engines. In addition to the powerplant enhancements, the German tuning firm has also developed a range of cosmetic and handling upgrades. Starting with the S500 and CL500 models, Brabus offers two differentThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-38612785370504408412011-04-27T08:48:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.799-07:00Report: Renault Captur to Spawn two Production Models within the next two YearsIt seems Renault's funky Captur concept that premiered in Geneva won't remain just another design study, as the French automaker is planning to build two production models inspired by the small crossover, according company insiders quoted by Autocar. The first version will be a small five-door crossover similar in size to the Nissan Juke, with which it will share the platform. Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-47455777577633146252011-04-27T08:29:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.799-07:00Lamborghini Aventador LP-700 Descends on Rome for Media PresentationThe hype surrounding the spanking new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 has yet to calm down, and the Italian firm’s decision to bring more than half a dozen examples of the V12 supercar down to Rome for a media presentation, only adds fuel to the fire. Luckily for us, there were plenty of by-passers willing to film this unique gathering of Aventadors in the Eternal City. Even though the LP 700-4 Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-73318416190613660362011-04-27T05:56:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.800-07:00F1’s Team Lotus Acquires British Sportscar Maker CaterhamThe owners of Formula One Team Lotus announced today the acquisition of lightweight sportscar manufacturer Caterham, for an undisclosed sum from the shareholder consortium led by Corven Ventures. Based in England, Caterham has made a name for itself for building the Seven, a lightweight two-seater sports car that was designed by Lotus founder Colin Chapman and who sold the rights of the car to Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-8584544642119439052011-04-26T14:15:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.800-07:00In the Backseat with Serene: Hot Host Takes us for a Spin Around the 2011 New York Auto ShowEven though it may sound blatantly stereotypical to say that the majority of men like hot cars and women, well, deep inside we all know it’s true. Therefore, we can’t blame the organizers of the 2011 New York Auto Show for trying to combine the two to promote the event to the public, or at least to the social media-active male population. If you’re still with us and haven’t followed the jump toThing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-52219035017406269832011-04-26T13:09:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.800-07:00German Gas Station Charges €9.99 for a Liter or $55 for a gallon of Gasoline!A petrol station in the town of Filderstadt near Stuttgart, Germany, skyrocketed the price of super gasoline to a prohibitive level of €9.99 per liter ($14.60) or $55 per gallon on Easter Monday, in an attempt to…prevent customers from buying the fuel. German news site ‘The Local’ reported that the Esso petrol station raised the price to €9.99 a liter as it was running low on the fuel amid a Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-62601735702422051852011-04-26T12:28:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.800-07:00GM set to Reclaim No1 Position Thanks to Toyota’s Mounting WoesOne automaker’s misfortune is another’s gain, or so it seems with GM and Toyota. With the effects of Japan’s Tōhoku earthquake still being felt and full scale production unlikely to resume at Toyota’s Japanese plants until the end of the year, GM is likely to reclaim the top spot as the world’s largest automaker. Adding to Japanese automakers woes are the numerous recalls and the bad publicity Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-33495919058015908772011-04-26T11:42:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.800-07:00Barely Driven BMW M1 with Less than 3,000 Miles on the Odo up for Sale on eBayToday’s eBay find brings us a seemingly immaculate BMW M1 from 1980 that’s offered up for an undisclosed price. One of 455 (albeit some bring this number down to 451) examples ever built, this one is finished in a classic red hue with a black interior. Claimed to be in original condition, the seller says it has been driver a mere 4,418 kilometers or 2,747 miles since it left the Bavarian Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-71887874916879742392011-04-26T10:51:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.801-07:00Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf Receive Top IIHS Safety Ratings in Crash TestsThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released the results of the first-ever U.S. crash test evaluations of plug-in electric cars, with the two EVs earning the highest safety ratings. The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf were awarded the top rating of “good” for front, side, rear and rollover crash protection. Since both cars are fitted as standard with electronic stability control Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8653825838049062422.post-86121869491118400202011-04-26T10:25:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:14:10.801-07:00Toyota Conducts Voluntary Recall of 2011MY Tundra to Fix Drive ShaftsApproximately 51,000 Toyota Tundra trucks from the 2011 model year are subject to a new voluntary safety recall to inspect the rear drive shaft. According to the Japanese automaker, the rear drive shaft in a very small percentage of the affected vehicles (0.05%) may include a component (slip yoke) that could break due to improper casting during the foundry process. Read more »Thing Automotivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04376283892500582984noreply@blogger.com