Eight vehicles you can still buy new… seriously
Mar 20, 2010 Object, news, video
Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Etc., Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GM, GMC, Mazda, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Pontiac, Saab
Eight vehicles you can still buy new - Click above for high-res image gallery
Was your heart crushed when vehicles like the Mercury Sable, Pontiac Grand Prix or Dodge Durango got the axe? Well, fear not - these hot little numbers (and many more!) are still available from dealerships all across the country.
Automobile magazine has detailed a list of eight cars that are still on sale - brand new - even though they aren’t 2010 models. And while these vehicles don’t necessarily represent the sexiest cars currently sitting on dealer lots, it’s probably safe to assume that they’re all being offered with substantial incentive packages, not to mention full warranties (we hope).
Click through the gallery below to see high-res shots of all eight rides, and head over to Automobile to read the full details.
Gallery: Eight Vehicles You Can Still Buy New
[Source: Automobile]
Eight vehicles you can still buy new… seriously originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: b-series, chevrolet, dodge-durango, mazdab-series, mercury-sable, mitsubishi, pontiac, represent-the, trucks, vehicles-you, xlr
Video: Sebring 2010: BMW’s Dirk Mϋller talks about hour 1
Filed under: Motorsports, BMW, Racing
The #90 BMW M3 GT2 - Click above to watch video after the jump
The last 24 hours have been tough for Dirk Mϋller, one of the drivers of the BMW M3 GT2 in the American Le Mans Series. After setting the fastest GT2 time in qualifying on Friday for today’s 12 Hours of Sebring, his time was disallowed because of an issue with his car during tech inspection. That meant the #90 car was pushed down to the 13th spot on the GT2 grid. To make matters worse, the #90 M3 smacked a wall during the morning warmup and missed the recon laps before the race.
As a result, Mϋller had to start the race from the pits after all the other cars pulled away. He spent the opening laps making his way through the crowd of GT Challenge Porsches before tackling the GT2 field. By the time hour one was over and he came in for the first pit stop, Mϋller was running fourth in GT2. Check out the video after the jump.
[Source: BMW]
Continue reading Video: Sebring 2010: BMW’s Dirk Mϋller talks about hour 1
Video: Sebring 2010: BMW’s Dirk Mϋller talks about hour 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 12horasdesebring, 12hoursofsebring, a-wall-during, b-series, check-out-the, dodge-durango, gt2, start-the-race, vehicles-you
Video: Porsche vs. Corvette prequel at the 12 Hours of Sebring
Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet, Porsche, Racing
Click above to view the video after the jump
The 57th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring is set to begin tomorrow at 10:30 AM, and with Audi out and Peugeot already dominating the LMP class in the qualifying sessions, the attention turns to the ALMS GT cars - specially the Porsche and Corvette teams.
The rivalry between the Flying Lizards and the Corvette C6.Rs has been stoked (even further) by Chevrolet’s new racing webisodes, and after last year’s final lap at Laguna Seca, the GT-class feuding is sure to make for some great racing.
After the jump you’ll find a video documenting the Lizard’s practice session yesterday, including Hans Herrman - the winner of the 1960 race - taking a lap around Sebring in a immaculate Porsche RS 60 Spyder. If you’re planning to tune in tomorrow, you can download Andy Blackmore’s stellar spotter’s guide in all its high-res glory here and read our breakdown of this year’s season here.
Gallery: 2010 ALMS Corvette C6.R
Continue reading Video: Porsche vs. Corvette prequel at the 12 Hours of Sebring
Video: Porsche vs. Corvette prequel at the 12 Hours of Sebring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-lap-around, alms, chevroletcorvette, corvetee, corvettec6.r, flyinglizards, jump, motorsports, porsche, porsche 911, porsche911, videos
Video: MT wrings out Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni on mountain road, leaves soundtrack at home
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lamborghini
Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni on mountain roads - Click above to watch the video after the jump
Talk about a perfect way to spend an afternoon. The boys over at Motor Trend got their hands on Lamborghini’s hottest two-wheel-drive creation, the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni, but instead of taking it to the track or recording performance data, they decided to show what this car does best - attack winding roads with brute force and staggering beauty. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t just a wee bit jealous.
We highly suggest you take three minutes out of your day to watch this example of Italian supercar hotness storming through the mountains of California. It’s a treat for both the ears and eyes, and you can experience it for yourself by clicking through the jump.
[Source: YouTube]
Video: MT wrings out Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni on mountain road, leaves soundtrack at home originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-penchant-for, daily, entry, first-drive, lamborghini gallardo, look-at-the, mountains, valentinobalboni, video, watch-the-video
Rendered Speculation: 2012 BMW M5 Touring
Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Hatchback, BMW
2012 BMW M5 Touring - Click above for high-res image
Master photochopper Jon Sibal has put digital pen to virtual paper to render up the next BMW M5, but unlike his previous F11 ‘chops, he’s applying his skills to the yet-to-be-confirmed Touring version of the mid-size bahn-burner.
As Sibal points out in his post, BMW has an on-again, off-again history when it comes to five-door versions of the M5, with the E28 and E39 only available sans-hatch, while the E34 and outgoing E60 have been available in five-door form.
There’s a good chance that the F11 version will be made, nixing the current model’s V10 powerplant in favor of a 570-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 pulled from the X6 M. However, the chances of the hi-po hatch making it to the States is virtually nill, as the 5 Series Gran Turismo is set to take the standard Touring’s place in the U.S. market. So does that mean a M5 GT could be in the works? Here’s hoping, and maybe Sibal will render one up in the meantime.
Gallery: 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring
[Source: JonSibal]
Rendered Speculation: 2012 BMW M5 Touring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2011bmwm5, 2012bmwm5touring, bmw, bmwm5, meantime, post, previous, series-touring, sibal, virtually-nill
Feds suggest driver error may have caused runaway Prius in NY
Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota
Last week we told you about an incident in New York involving unintended acceleration in a 2005 Toyota Prius. This accident occurred just after the high-profile case involving Jim Sikes and his runaway Prius in San Diego, but unlike that incident where the car eventually came to a complete stop, the New York Prius crashed into a stone wall with the driver suffering minor, non-life threatening injuries.
Now, after a full investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ruled that this accident was likely caused by driver error, rather than a faulty brake system. NHTSA delivered this message to reporters:
“Information retrieved from the vehicle’s onboard computer systems indicated there was no application of the brakes and the throttle was fully open.”
Toyota spokesperson John Hanson says that the accident is being looked over by the Harrison, NY police department, and that the automaker will not comment until the investigation has completed. And while Toyota did join in with the investigation of Sikes’ Prius, it is not clear if the automaker will take a closer look at this second incident.
With the validity of Jim Sikes’ story coming under attack and the incident in New York likely being a true accident, we have to wonder how many other runaway Toyota incidents have been much ado about nothing other than driver error, intended or otherwise. With both the NHTSA and Toyota under a microscope, each one will likely be investigated by the feds and local authorities, as well as possibly Toyota too. Neither high-profile incident mentioned above has resulted in a solid case against Toyota and its products, a streak that may or may not continue depending on the result of each investigation going forward.
[Source: USA Today]
Feds suggest driver error may have caused runaway Prius in NY originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-faulty-brake, automaker, entry, jim sikes, jimsikes, new york prius, prius, safety, san diego prius, sandiegoprius
AutoblogGreen for 03.19.10
Mar 19, 2010 Object, news, video
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Greenlings: What realistic electric vehicle recharge options are there for apartment dwellers? We found four, five if you count moving. |
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Kuwaiti study: Conventional oil to peak in 2014 Who’s worried? |
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Report: BYD cutting back electric vehicle production plans Hmmm. |
Other news: | |
AutoblogGreen for 03.19.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, british, citroen, ferrari, five-if-you, formula, formula 1, formula1, hybrid, mercedes, racing, team
CHP report seemingly sides with Sikes on case of the Runaway Prius
Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota
In reality, the California Highway Patrol isn’t taking sides with anyone regarding the recent speeding Prius of Jim Sikes. But the CHP doesn’t see any reason to doubt Sikes’ version of events that led to his hybrid reaching speeds of around 90 miles per hour, apparently unable to bring the barreling vehicle to a stop. Also of note is the fact that a Border Patrol agent had also responded and was leading the Prius with its emergency lights on when the CHP officer arrived.
The officer that responded to the scene states that he “could see the driver sat up off his seat indicating that he was possibly applying the brake pedal with his body weight… His back was arched and both hands were pulling at the steering wheel.” A short time later, the officer positioned his patrol car in front of Sikes’ Prius when he “noticed that the Prius’ speed had dropped dramatically” before coming to a complete stop on the highway. According to Sikes, this happened after he applied both the standard and parking brakes.
Paramedics arrived on the scene and found that “Sikes’ blood pressure and pulse rate were very high.” Another interesting tidbit is the the officer encouraged Sikes to speak with the media, despite the fact that the driver indicated he preferred not to. Later at the station, the officer took a statement from Sikes, who described his Prius as ‘feeling funny’ under braking, saying that the “whole car was shaking and vibrating” when the brakes were applied.
Sikes also claims to have manually pulled up on the gas pedal three separate times with no effect, and he was afraid that shutting the car off would cause the steering to lock up. The officer reports seeing the car’s brake lights on and off intermittently, smelling the scent of worn brakes and seeing that the pads were worn completely down after the event.
CHP spokesman Brian Pennings has said that it is the CHP’s position that no evidence has emerged to doubt Sikes’ version of events. See the CHP officer’s complete report in our image gallery below. For a slightly different view, click here and here to see what Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found after inspecting Sikes’ Prius.
[Source: California Highway Patrol, USA Today]
CHP report seemingly sides with Sikes on case of the Runaway Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: check-out-the, chp, entry, mclarenautomotive, media, sikes, takes-the-stage, toyota recall, toyota-prius, toyotasafetyconcerns, unveiling
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.18.10
First Drive: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is always ready for its close-up
The four-door sports car concept is coming into its own in the new decade, and the latest entrant from Aston Martin has the looks, but does it pack a Panamera-beating punch?
Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost
Ford’s working on a hotter version of its all-new Fiesta, and judging by the intercooler peering behind the Euro-market fascia, turbocharged goodness is on the way.
McLaren Automotive officially launches itself and MP4-12C supercar [w/video]
McLaren Automotive finally revealed the MP4-12C at an event in the UK this morning, and the automaker’s first new model is a harbinger of good things to come.
Also of interest:
- Mazda MX-5 Matte and Black Special Edition is darkened hotness
- V6, V8 engine popularity continued to fade in 2009
- Toyota considering stall fix for 1.2M Corolla and Matrix models
- Video: GM explains next-generation heads-up display tech
- Jerry York, former exec of Chrysler and General Motors, dies at 71
Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.18.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: aston, black, jerry york, media, sikes, toyota recall, toyota-prius, toyotasafetyconcerns
Video: Mr. Unstoppable Force, this is Mr. Immovable Object
Filed under: Truck, Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Military
What happens when an unstoppable force encounters an immovable object? - Click above to see the video after the jump
We recently received the email below from a friend and felt like we had to share. We really think you’ll like this one.
How many times have you wondered how strong those cement barriers are, that you see in front of military base entrances? (Are all barriers created equal?)This was sent by someone who works for the Army Corp of Engineers:
From time to time someone asks me what the concrete barriers are in front of controlled and secure buildings. When I tell them that the barriers will stop traffic, even trucks, from approaching the secured building I usually get a look of disbelief.
Truck = 65,000 lbs. ~ Speed = 50 mph
Follow the jump to see what happens when an unstoppable force encounters an immovable object.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading Video: Mr. Unstoppable Force, this is Mr. Immovable Object
Video: Mr. Unstoppable Force, this is Mr. Immovable Object originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-and, austin-rover, concrete barrier, concretebarrier, concretebarriercollision, concretebarriers, concretebarriertest, make-the-jump, military, military-base, Object, trucks, video
