cars burner

Video: Running the ‘Ring in reverse in a VTEC’d Mini

Mar 9, 2010 Object, video

Filed under: Videos, Mini

The Nurburgring is the gold standard for any track not comprised of a banked oval, and it’s a blast to watch dashboard-mounted video of various vehicles taking on the best the Nordschleife has to offer. We typically share with you videos of ZR-1s and GT-Rs, but this time we have something a bit different. Achim Korden and co-pilot Guido Heindl of ringmini.de fame run the ‘Ring in reverse in an old school Mini (1971 Clubman Estate) equipped with a 1.6-liter Honda drivetrain, and they mean business.

Hit the jump to watch the little Mini battle a rain-soaked Nordschleife while starting at the end and making their way to the beginning. It’s an odd experience and further proof that you don’t need to have big power to have big fun.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Running the ‘Ring in reverse in a VTEC’d Mini

Video: Running the ‘Ring in reverse in a VTEC’d Mini originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: a-fix-for, after-the-jump, detroit-news, floormat, news, nordschleife, running, starting-at-the, taking-on-the, toyota prius recall, toyota recall, toyotaprius, watch-the-video, while-starting

Video: How did that Pontiac Grand Prix end up in a tree?

Mar 5, 2010 Object, video

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Pontiac

Click above to watch the video after the jump

We see a lot of weird, sometimes funny stuff on our nation’s streets and highways, but we usually don’t feel compared to share any of it with you. Until today. Wednesday, March 3 was a cool, dry day in southeast Michigan, so we weren’t expecting any significant traffic backups on our way home. But sometimes that’s precisely when the most interesting situations unfold.

Hit the jump to see the end-game of what had to be a really odd incident. It involves a 15-foot hill, a Herculean pine tree and a very determined “Wide Track” Pontiac Grand Prix going all “Dukes of Hazard” on unsuspecting passers-by. We have no idea how this happened and we’re hoping nobody was injured, but at the same time we’re showing this video to any teenagers who think texting and driving is a good idea. Please forgive us for the iPhone-quality video and the AM soundtrack, but we feel this is definitely worth your time.

Continue reading Video: How did that Pontiac Grand Prix end up in a tree?

Video: How did that Pontiac Grand Prix end up in a tree? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: a-really-odd, accident, after-the-jump, hyundai-equus, spy photos, spyshot, very-determined, video, videos, watch-the-video

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

Mar 5, 2010 Object

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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Tags: a-friend-via, after-the-jump, askenazi-coming, charges-forward, competitively, hirings-firings, hyundai-equus, motorcycles, spy photos, watch-the-video, zeroemissions, zerohiresbuellengineer

Video: Suzuki calls on killer snowmen to sell Kizashi

Mar 4, 2010 Object, video

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Suzuki

Unlike Hyundai, Suzuki isn’t featuring any lesbians in its marketing campaign for the all-new Kizashi. Nope, Suzuki is instead relying on another proven technique for attention keeping: Killer snowmen.

Actually, Suzuki already has a rather large marketing campaign in play that not only includes the Killer Snowman commercial for the all-wheel drive version of the Kizashi, but another TV ad playing up the car’s prowess compared to more expensive sport sedans, as well as a radio spot, print and web advertisements. The cool thing? Autoblog’s actually quoted in a couple of them, specifically the radio spot and dual-page print ad that you may have already seen in the buff books this month.

Check out the whole kit ‘n kaboodle after the jump, but if you really want to be sold on a Kizashi, just go drive one.

Continue reading Video: Suzuki calls on killer snowmen to sell Kizashi

Video: Suzuki calls on killer snowmen to sell Kizashi originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: a-rather-large, after-the-jump, check-out-the, chevrolet, entry, jump, killer-snowman, kizashikillersnowmen, news, suzuki, suzuki kizashi, video, watch-the-video

Video: Porsche casts father Ferdinand in 918 Spyder concept video

Mar 2, 2010 Object, video

Filed under: Convertible, Hybrid, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Videos, Porsche, Electric

Porsche just released a video showing the new 918 Spyder concept - setting the stage by taking a look back at the very first car designed by a Porsche way back in 1900. The Porsche 918 was a bit of a surprise leaking out just ahead of this week’s Geneva Motor Show launch. Porsche is telling us that we can have our cake and eat it too with the 918. It’s a parallel hybrid with both a 500-horsepower V8 and a pair of electric motors adding another 218 hp. That’s enough power to launch this Carrera GT-like supercar from 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds as it charges on to a 198 mph top end. The best part about it is that Porsche says it can also return 78 miles per gallon while emitting just 70 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

We knew all of that already though. What we didn’t know was that Porsche was going old school with their video pitch for the 918. Click through and you’ll find a video after the jump. In it you’ll see turn-of-the-20th-century citizens gazing in wonderment at the revolutionary Porsche electric vehicle that could go a scandalous 50 kilometers per hour! Imagine that. The video transitions to talk of the newest Porsche, and it’s pretty revolutionary in its own way. We have to say that this vid would be way cooler if the 918 Spyder concept were actually a pure EV with wheel hub motors, just like the 1900 original, but it is still pretty cool.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Video: Porsche casts father Ferdinand in 918 Spyder concept video

Video: Porsche casts father Ferdinand in 918 Spyder concept video originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: a-video-showing, entry, geneva, geneva motor show, geneva-motor, porsche, porsche 918 spyder, porsche918spyderconcept, revolutionary, spyder, video, watch-the-video

Geneva 2010: Bufori Geneva is Australian for luxury, mate

Mar 2, 2010 Object, news

Filed under: Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Luxury

During their press conference, Bufori founder and owner Anthony Khouri mentioned that he and his two brothers George and Gerry had so fallen in love with Geneva that they decided to name their new sedan after the fine, Swiss city. An honor for sure, though speaking honestly before they yanked the cover off, we were set to dismiss the newest Bufori as what would happen to your Morgan if you parked it inside a Krispy Kreme for the weekend.

However, and maybe we were swayed by the presentation, but there’s more to the Bufori Geneva than meets the eye. Under the hood you’ll find the same 6.1-liter Hemi V8 found in SRT-model Chryslers, though for Geneva duty it’s tuned to 430 horsepower (instead of 420 hp). If you like, Bufori will be more than happy to slap a supercharger on that puppy, bumping the output to “nearly 600 hp.” The Geneva also rides on adjustable air suspension atop a four-wheel multi-link suspension system.

The Geneva also has a full range of modern electronic bells and whistles including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and night vision. More importantly, the body is made out of a blend of Kevlar and carbon fiber, the first such “hybrid” body ever to cover a four-door sedan. As far as the looks go, we can state emphatically that the Geneva is the best looking Bufori ever made. You can debate the specifics of the design amongst yourselves.

The big news is inside the handmade Australian luxo-barge, specifically in the backseat that you enter through suicide doors. Like other luxury rides such as the big Maybachs, there’s a mini bar, a champagne fridge, integrated champagne flutes and fully adjustable rear seats. But the Geneva takes it to the next level. There’s a locking cash box for all of your loose, ill-gotten gains and the Geneva’s pi