Autoblog

Geneva 2010: Kia Venga EV, sorry we missed you the first time around —

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Hatchback, Kia, Electric

Apparently, we we missed at least one interesting machine from the recently concluded press days at the Geneva Motor Show. Kia showed off a battery electric version of its new Venga B-segment hatchback. Like the rest of Kia and Hyundai's hybrids and plug-in concepts either in production or recently shown, the Venga EV uses lithium polymer batteries, likely sourced from LG Chem. The battery pack is stored under the floorpan of the electric vehicle (EV).

The Venga EV contains 24 kilowatt-hours of battery capacity. The front wheels are driven by an 80-kilowatt motor packing a stout 206 pound-feet of torque. Kia says that the concept has about 112 miles of driving range and a 50-kW fast charge can provide an 80-percent recharge in as little as 20 minutes, while a full charge at normal power levels takes about eight hours. The rest of the details can be found in the press release after the break.



[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Kia Venga EV, sorry we missed you the first time around

Geneva 2010: Kia Venga EV, sorry we missed you the first time around originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Coupe: Brabus E V12 now in two-door form —

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz

It's been several days since we left the Geneva Motor Show and we're still finding cars that we somehow missed out on the floor. We especially don't know how we managed to skip this bad boy in the Brabus booth, as it should have been nearly impossible to miss. It's called the E V12 Coupe, and it's got 800 horsepower. Enough said.

There's nothing new about Brabus stuffing a V12 into an E-Class. They've been doing it since 1996, and have been making twin-turbo models since 2003. The latest version is based off of the new E Coupe, and it's a much prettier car than the awkward looking E V12 Black Baron that we saw in Frankfurt. Fortunately it does share the same engine - a 6.3-liter twin-turbo V12 putting out 800 horsepower and 1047 lb-ft torque. Brabus quotes a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 230 mph, and judging from the performance of their previous cars we are inclined to believe them.

Besides the engine, the E V12 Coupe also comes with larger brakes, a Brabus-spec coilover suspension system, 19-inch wheels and more carbon fiber than you can shake a stick at. The front spoiler, grille, front and rear fenders, rear diffuser, intake system, interior trim and seats are all made from the lightweight material. What is all of this going to cost you? 478,000 Euros - approximately $650,000 using today's exchange rate, or more than 13 E-Class Coupes.



[Source: Brabus]

Continue reading Super Coupe: Brabus E V12 now in two-door form

Super Coupe: Brabus E V12 now in two-door form originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon bound for New York Auto Show —

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Wagon, Acura, Luxury

We knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when. Now, Acura has officially announced that it will be unveiling the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon at the New York Auto Show at the end of this month, with the first examples hitting dealerships in late fall.

In Acura's brief press release after the jump, the automaker mentions that the standard sedans make due with either a 201-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder or the recently introduced 280-hp, 3.5-liter V6, both of which are only available in front-wheel drive form. Unfortunately, Acura has yet to confirm which engine/drivetrain configuration will be available in the Sport Wagon, but we're holding a candle for the RDX's 240-hp, turbocharged 2.3-liter four pot and Acura's SH-AWD system. However, we have a sneaking suspicion that our (and your) preferred powertrain combo isn't a possibility, so that candle may burn our hands by the time the TSX Sport Wagon debuts in the Big Apple.

Continue reading 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon bound for New York Auto Show

2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon bound for New York Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Corrigan Brothers have The Knack for Toyota parody —

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toyota, Humor

Doug Fieger, lead singer of The Knack, died earlier this year. He and My Sharona live on, though, and not just on '80s radio stations. Witness this rather timely and well-done parody, My Toyota by the Corrigan Brothers and Pete Creighton. If you think this whole Toyota recall/unintended acceleration thing will sound better in song, follow the jump to watch the video. We've even included the lyrics for you, since this is sure to be a karaoke classic.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Corrigan Brothers have The Knack for Toyota parody

Video: Corrigan Brothers have The Knack for Toyota parody originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty brings the biggest tools —

Filed under: Truck, Work, Ford, First Drive, Off-Road

It's a guy thing. Tim Allen understands. If you've got a job to do, you need the right tool. As guy logic goes, the bigger and more powerful the tool, the better.

If what you do requires a tool shaped like a truck, then you're currently experiencing a nirvana-like period in history. In just the last few months, Chrysler and General Motors introduced their new heavy-duty trucks. We drove the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty in October and liked it. We also saw the Chevrolet and GMC HDs at the Chicago Auto Show last month. Although we've yet to get behind the wheel, the powertrain and chassis improvements appear promising.

Not to be left out, Ford's rolling introduction of its latest F-Series Super Duty just culminated with an Arizona-based press-only driving event (we first reported on the new truck in September). Want to know everything about Ford's big, new tool? For starters, the blue oval on the grille measures 13 inches. Believe it or not, there's more. Find out after the jump.



Photos by Rex Roy / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty brings the biggest tools

First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty brings the biggest tools originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi begins deliveries of R8 LMS evolution to Euro race teams —

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Audi, Racing

2009 proved to be a very successful opening campaign for Audi's new customer race car, the R8 LMS. Eight cars were sold to a variety of teams and between them, the cars won 23 races and three national and international GT championships. For 2010, Audi has produced a new evolution version of the R8 LMS, and by mid-April, the German automaker expects to have delivered a total of 20 cars.

The alterations to the 2010 evolution R8 are apparently targeted at improving service life and making the car easier for crews to work on, with plans calling for changes including a new six-speed gearbox. An upgraded cooling system is designed to help the R8 perform better in high temperature conditions and new openings in the body work will allow crews to inspect wear parts without pulling everything apart. The first two 2010 cars were have been delivered to UK-based United Autosport, and another 10 are slated to go out over the next several weeks. Teams running 2009 cars will also have an upgrade kit available to bring their cars up to the new spec.



[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi begins deliveries of R8 LMS evolution to Euro race teams

Audi begins deliveries of R8 LMS evolution to Euro race teams originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Honda CR-Z was almost killed twice, U.S. dealers didn't want it —

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda

Norio Tomobe, chief engineer of the Honda CR-Z, said "The CR-Z is supposed to be an intelligent sports car." We can spend a fair bit of time debating the 'intelligence' of a sports coupe that gets from 0-to-60 in 9.7 seconds and has just two seats but gets worse gas mileage than a Toyota Prius. However, we won't really be able to decide on the issue until we drive it, and that is apparently what it takes to feel the love for it.

According to Automotive News, back when the CR-Z was being designed to house a traditional gasoline-only drivetrain, Tomobe said he and his team dug deep to come up with a new idea for the car, which ended up being a hybrid drivetrain and a six-speed transmission. But that wasn't until after they had tried to kill the project. Twice. And that didn't stop the president of American Honda Motor from repeatedly telling Japan the U.S. didn't need or want a sporty hybrid, which he thought would confuse customers. Until he drove it, and then all was go.

The hybrid's compromises remain a subject on everyone's minds. Tomobe wants more horsepower, and rumors began a month ago about a Type-R iteration. Even though Tomobe claims "We are not pursuing absolute maximum speed," we can't help but wonder if this first version of Honda's 122-horsepower future satisfies his own aspiration that "What we aim for is a car that is exhilarating to drive."

Gallery: Detroit 2010: 2011 Honda CR-Z

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd.]

Report: Honda CR-Z was almost killed twice, U.S. dealers didn't want it originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: ABC News faked at least one part of runaway Toyota report —

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Toyota

Late last month we wrote a lengthy post about problems with an ABC News report that purported to show a Toyota Avalon racing out of control without setting a diagnostic fault code. While we primarily focused on the technical side and analyzed whether the problem was realistic, the crew at Gawker took a hard look at the video in question and noticed something fishy.

It appears that an editor or producer at ABC felt they could pull a fast one on the audience and used some B-roll in the report showing the tachometer needle sweeping rapidly from near idle to over 6,000 rpm. That clip was injected at the precise moment when David Gilbert triggered his simulated sudden acceleration. As you can see from the screen cap above, the shot of the tachometer clearly shows the warning lights for the parking brake on, the doors open and the transmission indicator in park. The camera operator shot this segment separately so it could be used to illustrate a point in the report, and ABC claims that getting a steady shot during the test would've been both difficult and dangerous.

The B-roll shot doesn't indicate anything conclusive one way or the other about the validity of the test and certainly doesn't stand as proof of anything being rigged. However, the lack of transparency by ABC and Mr. Gilbert regarding the specific procedure doesn't add to the credibility of either the claims or the report, and the lack of clarity by Toyota in its response to Gilbert's assertions doesn't do the automaker any favors, either.

[Source: Gawker]



Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

Report: ABC News faked at least one part of runaway Toyota report originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Annual Energy Outlook predicts "alternative vehicles" won't top 50% market share in 2035 —

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Electric, Diesel

[Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration]

U.S. Annual Energy Outlook predicts "alternative vehicles" won't top 50% market share in 2035 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Stirling Moss falls down elevator shaft, breaks bones but OK —

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Celebrities

Reports are flooding our inbox this morning that Sir Stirling Moss, one of the most decorated drivers in all of motorsport, was injured falling down a lift shaft in his London home. Moss reportedly fell three floors down the shaft when the doors opened while the lift itself was still one floor above. The 80-year-old racing legend is said to have broken both ankles and four bones in his feet, though he is OK and expected to recover from his injuries in about six weeks.

Now, you may be wondering why Moss has a lift in his home. Remember, "lift" in the UK means "elevator" in the U.S., and the elevator in Moss' home is unlike any other. Let us take you back to June 2009. That month we reported about Moss' swank London home that's outfitted with such crazy contraptions as a giant tray that lowers from the ceiling to deliver dinner in front of the television, a remote-controlled jacuzzi tub and an automated inbox/outbox in his office. The report's real gem, however, was Moss' carbon fiber elevator that was designed especially for him by the Williams F1 team at the time.

While no reports of the accident mention anything about a carbon fiber elev... err, lift, being what Moss took his tumble down, we can't imagine he has two lifts in his house. Follow the jump for video of the carbon fiber elev... dammit... lift in action, and beware F1 teams bearing gifts.

[Source: The Independent]

Continue reading Report: Stirling Moss falls down elevator shaft, breaks bones but OK

Report: Stirling Moss falls down elevator shaft, breaks bones but OK originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota gets dishonorable mention in Oscars opening —

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Videos, Toyota

And here we thought all that Toyota bashing was happening just in Washington, D.C., in Midwest bars and on late night talk shows. It appears Toyota can't even escape the negative press that has come as a result of the company's recent recall woes at the 82 annual Academy Awards, either. During host Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin's opening monologue, the two delivered a shot below Toyota's collective belt in reference to the Japanese automaker's unwanted acceleration issues.

The joke wasn't all that funny and there were even a few boos from the star-studded audience, but the bigger issue for Toyota is that the company's quality woes has officially hit critical mass. After all, we're sure Toyota is elated that many stars are driving around Hollywood in a fully loaded Prius just like Apple was no doubt thrilled when Steven Colbert busted out an iPad on stage at this year's Emmys (Apple actually collaborated with Colbert on that one). But when Steve Martin correlates taking a hit out on someone with giving them a free Toyota... not good. And the headline sponsor of the mother of all awards shows? Hyundai and the 2011 Sonata. Hit the jump to watch the opening of the Oscars, and jog forward to about 6:15 to see the Toyota comment.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Toyota gets dishonorable mention in Oscars opening

Toyota gets dishonorable mention in Oscars opening originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen for 03.08.10 —

	Toyota joins Clean Energy Partnership, helps build new H2 stations That makes five more hydrogen vehicles in Europe.		Update on the CMT-380 microturbine hybrid sports car It's really too bad this thing isn't in production today.
	Report: Shell CEO expects plug-in cars to reach 40% market share... in 2050 Who's going to prove him wrong?	Other news: U.S. Annual Energy Outlook predicts "alternative vehicles" won't top 50% market share in 2035 Peugeot Eco-Cup drivers get 66-75 mpg from Paris to Geneva Bollore and Pininfarina target fall 2010 launch for Bluecar EV

AutoblogGreen for 03.08.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Foose/Deere 4020 vs John Deere 620 Orchard —

Filed under: Etc., Work, Specialty

Chip Foose's John Deere 4020 is pretty kickass, but the reality is this: You needn't enlist the services of a famous pro rodder to get a slick-lookin' John Deere tractor. Take, for instance, the John Deere 620 orchard model shown above. Standard-issue 620s have a traditional tractor look to them, but the ones fitted with the additional orchard equipment a streamlined appearance that looks like it's a set of giant-sized moon caps away from making a land speed record run at Bonneville.

In fact, all that extra bodywork has nothing to do with aerodynamics or improved performance; it's shielding designed to let the tractor operate in an orchard without the tires causing damage to the the tree branches. So, not only does this 620 look great, it does so for totally functional reasons.

And so, we come to tonight's poll: Which one of these tractors would you rather have? Follow the jump and declare your Deere.

[John Deere 620 image via TractorClocks.com]

Continue reading Poll: Foose/Deere 4020 vs John Deere 620 Orchard

Poll: Foose/Deere 4020 vs John Deere 620 Orchard originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Scott Wade's dirty car art and how it's done —

Filed under: Etc., Videos

If you were to research all of the posts ever published on Autoblog, you'd find that one of the most popular was one published back in June 2006 about artist Scott Wade from San Marcos, Texas. Wade is a painter who, unlike his peers, uses dirty cars as his canvas. He turns dusty rear windows into masterpieces that only last as long as a stiff breeze or unannounced rain shower allows.

At the time, we didn't know much about how Wade created his art other than that typical artists' tools like paint brushes were used. We recently found this video on YouTube created in January of this year, that details exactly how these amazing images are created.

Surprisingly, Wade first has to clean the rear window of the car he's working on. He then applies almond oil to the glass so the special dust he uses, the same kind of fake dust used in the movies, will stick better. The dust is applied using a hair dryer to blow it onto the glass, and once an even and opaque coating has been achieved, he goes to work with his paint brushes. A complete piece of dirty rear glass art takes about 2-4 hours to complete, after which it's either washed off or left to naturally decay on its own, which will happen fast.

Take a look at the video after the jump and revisit our gallery of past pieces by Scott Wade in the gallery below.

Continue reading Video: Scott Wade's dirty car art and how it's done

Video: Scott Wade's dirty car art and how it's done originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Saab 9-3X U.S. pricing announced —

Filed under: Car Buying, Wagon, Saab

Saab has released pricing details on its 2010 9-3 lineup, a newsworthy action in that it wasn't long ago that "Saab" and "2010 models" appeared to be mutually exclusive terms. Now that Victor Muller and Spyker have graciously relieved GM of the Saab albatross, it's onward and (ideally) upward for 2010 as the new company, Saab Spyker Automobiles, chases after the profits that have perennially eluded Trollhättan. The most noteworthy ride on just-released the price list? That would be the 2010 Saab 9-3X, the Allroad/Outback style jacked-up, all-wheel-drive SportCombi. Parking one in the garage at your ski home in Aspen will set you back, at minimum, $37,800, including destination. You can check out more high-res pics in the galleries below.



[Source: Saab]

Continue reading 2010 Saab 9-3X U.S. pricing announced

2010 Saab 9-3X U.S. pricing announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While Chip Foose's bread and butter is rodding, building and customizing cars - often models that have distinct and fervent followings, like Camaros and Mustangs - it would appear that he's more than happy to tackle projects outside that comfort zone as well. Foose has just completed a special project for John Deere (a brand whose followers are as dedicated as any Ford or Chevy might have), and the result is going to be given away.

The tractor you see above spent decades as a workhorse like any other John Deere 4020 (a trendsetting model manufactured from 1963 to '72), before it underwent transformation in Foose's shop. Frankly, we think it's beautiful. Now, Lord knows we wouldn't know what to do with it if we were to win it, but we're enamored enough that we actually Googled to see where our local Deere dealer is, so that we might actually enter the sweepstakes. (You can do so through June 30, 2010. The drawing takes place a month later.) Follow the jump for a series of making-of videos.

[Source: MachineFinder.com, John Deere]

Continue reading Video: Chip Foose gets agricultural, hot rods a John Deere 4020

Video: Chip Foose gets agricultural, hot rods a John Deere 4020 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Motorcycle, Electric

You may have read our latest report regarding the future of recently canned Buell Motorcycles. Everyone's favorite American sportbike company hit the chopping block a few months back at the hand of industry giant Harley-Davidson, and its cropping of the division has led Erik Buell to forge ahead with his competitively obsessed Erik Buell Racing brand. However, a key player in the now defunct company may have sparked a bright future with another American motorcycle company.

Zero Motorcycles, the little electric motorcycle manufacturer that could, has announced the hiring of former Buell Vice President of Engineering Abe Askenazi. Coming off of a 14-year stretch with Buell, Askenazi will no doubt bring a level of experience and insight to Zero beyond its years. With funding at an all time high and the obvious future in electric vehicles, the transition from combustion to current should be rewarding for both Askenazi and Zero. Click past the break to view the complete press release.



[Source: Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading Zero Charges Forward: Electric motorcycle company hires top talent from Buell

Zero Charges Forward: Electric motorcycle company hires top talent from Buell originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peekaboo: Cadillac CTS-V Wagon spied in L.A.? —

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Spy Photos, Performance, Wagon, Cadillac, GM

Well, it sure looks like it. All credit for this one goes to Autoblog reader Aaron P., who emailed the following to us:

So I was walking down Grand Avenue in Downtown LA, and they were shooting a Caddy commercial. There was a covered car, which I thought was the CTS Coupe, but the wind blew off the cover and there was a CTS-V Wagon. I only had time to snag this pic before they put the cover back on but you can see the wagon lines. I hope that means its coming cause that would be an amazing car.

Reports of the CTS-V Wagon being given the green light date back to September of last year. It's basically been a guessing game of whicch show will provide the backdrop for its formal unveiling. With New York the sole remaining major show on the U.S. circuit this year, and Bob Lutz's retirement scheduled to begin exactly one month after that, we'll bet our whole chip stack that El Generalissimo Roberto Maximo goes out with a bang, introducing the CTS-V Sportwagon at the Javits Center, because the car in the above photo is most definitely a wagon, that is most definitely the "V" badge, and those are the correct wheels. Amazing car, indeed.

Thanks to Aaron for the photo!

Peekaboo: Cadillac CTS-V Wagon spied in L.A.? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Weekender: 'Around the World in Video' Edition —

Filed under: Etc.

It's a feast of moving pictures this week, an ensemble cast telling 18 tragi-comi-dramatic stories such as: Volvo doing some naughty things forward and backward in its new S60, capitalist Communists in love with the Porsche Cayenne, Optimus Prime getting a Michael Bay makeover otherwise knowns as a Bay-kover, the Audi RS5 grumbling about everything, the 918 getting groped in two parts, don't ever, ever rent a car in Miami without a Haz-Mat suit, and what kind of awesome can you hear when you mix Bruce Willis and The Gorillaz? Follow the jump to find out...

Continue reading Autoblog Weekender: 'Around the World in Video' Edition

Autoblog Weekender: 'Around the World in Video' Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: BMW S 1000 RR pulls off the old tablecloth trick —

Filed under: Performance, Videos, BMW, Motorcycle, Humor

Ah yes, the good ol' pull-the-tablecloth-off-the-table-without-sending-dishes-flying routine. The oldest trick in the book? Possibly, but BMW has taken it upon themselves to update the classic demonstration in a major way. How 'bout upping the ante with 24 complete place settings around a giant rectangular table? Yeah, that'd do it.

Just how is BMW planning to remove said tablecloth? Using a new S 1000 RR superbike, that's how. Will it work? Well, it's really a question of physics, right? Take 193 horsepower and a 0 to 60 time that's just shy of 2.9 seconds. Add in one rider with a quick set of wrists and shake well. Garnish with celebratory wheelie.

We highly recommend that you click past the break to see it all go down on video. It's very much worth your time.

[Source: BMW via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: BMW S 1000 RR pulls off the old tablecloth trick

Video: BMW S 1000 RR pulls off the old tablecloth trick originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.5.10 —

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.5.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: 2011 Audi A1 S Line in the color of lust —

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Audi

The not-for-U.S. (at least not for now) Audi A1 just made its public debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show, and we're eager to see how the new hatch stacks up to the likes of the much-loved Mini Cooper. We're especially fond of this S Line model, which gives the A1 a much more aggressive appearance and tweaks the hatch's dynamics ever so slightly.

The S Line kit is made up of two separate packages. The exterior package adds a larger roof spoiler, a revised front bumper with side air vents, more chiseled sill tops and a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser. Beyond the host of exterior changes, the S Line sport package adds a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, a sport suspension, and a choice of either 17- or 18-inch alloys. In all, the whole S Line treatment looks great and gives us more reason to lust after the A1. Click through our gallery to see dozens of high-res shots of the A1 in its hot hatch-like S Line guise.



[Source: Audi via Carscoop]

Pics Aplenty: 2011 Audi A1 S Line in the color of lust originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chrysler ends 25-month sales skid by sending 58% of new vehicles to fleets —

Filed under: Chrysler, Dodge, GM, Jeep

Just about every automaker posted February sales gains compared to the same month in 2009, and industry-wide sales were up 13 percent for the month. Even Chrysler posted its first year over year gain for the first time in 25 months, albeit by a mere 399 units. So is everybody at the company's Auburn Hills, MI headquarters celebrating? We're guessing the answer is no... due to the fact that a knee-wobbling 58 percent of those sales came to fleet customers.

Automotive News is reporting that only 35,832 of those 84,449 sales were made to retail customers. That's not good, folks. In better times, Toyota would be disappointed if it only sold 35,000 Carmry sedans to retail customers. When AN asked Chrysler about its low sales for the month, a spokeswoman reportedly said, "Fleet sales were very strong this month, and our company sales reflect that." Big fleet sales will reportedly be temporary, though, as the company still eventually plans to allocate only 25 percent of its sales to fleets.

But while that's bad news for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers, the company is likely at least happy that fleet customers are buying again. When the economy hit the skids in the fall of 2008, the fleet market went from a sales oasis for domestic automakers to a discount desert. Chrysler isn't the only automaker to rely on fleet sales in February, either. General Motors allocated 45,000 of its 144,000 vehicles to fleets, about 31 percent of its total sales.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Report: Chrysler ends 25-month sales skid by sending 58% of new vehicles to fleets originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maserati to follow Ferrari down path of hybrid sportscars? —

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Maserati, Rumormill, Luxury

What's the world coming to when two of Italy's most storied supercar manufacturers - we're talking Ferrari and Lamborghini here, in case you couldn't tell - are planning to launch hybrid automobiles? Well, actually that'd be three of Italy's most storied automakers, now that rumors of just such a Maserati are making the rounds on the Interwebs.

We'd agree with the boys at Inside Line when they suggest that Maserati will likely borrow hybrid technology from fellow Fiat-owned Ferrari, especially since the two business units already share a number of drivetrain components. If that's the case, the three-pointed Trident brand could potentially get a version of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS for short) that Ferrari showed off on its 599 HY-KERS earlier this week at the Geneva Motor Show.

Word has it that Maserati is also joining Ferrari in its quest to shed a few unwanted pounds on its automobiles, which will have dual benefits for both brands - namely, improvements in both performance and fuel efficiency. Now there's a win-win scenario if we've ever heard one.

[Source: Inside Line]

Maserati to follow Ferrari down path of hybrid sportscars? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Saab 9-1 gets drawn up —

Filed under: Hatchback, Saab, Design/Style

Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars, has made it clear that Saab, which was just recently acquired by Muller's exclusive automaker, will introduce a new small car to go up against the Mini and the newly shown-off Audi A1. What's more, the new small Saab will hearken back to such classically styled Swedish iron as the classic 1949 92.

It's been rumored that the next Saab will be known as the 9-1 and will be based atop the underpinnings of the Opel Astra hatchback. Unlike past GM-based (or Subaru-based, depending) Saabs, though, Muller is reportedly telling his designers that every car wearing the Born-from-Jets badge must be instantly recognizable as a Saab.

That's enough information for a few talented artists to sketch out their own ideas of what a mini Saab might look like, and just such an illustration comes courtesy of Autobild. We have no clue how accurate it may be, but feel free to check it in full by clicking here. So, what do you think?

[Source: Autobild (translated)]

Rendered Speculation: Saab 9-1 gets drawn up originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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