tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89008393120627837542011-12-21T09:26:22.397-08:00Spare Some Ribsrezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comBlogger64301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-52146977716907196002011-07-22T04:49:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.284-07:00London Slaps Barack Obama’s Motorcade with a $194 Congestion FineThe long-standing diplomatic brawl between the US Embassy in Britain and the local authorities over the subject of congestion fines continues. In this latest episode, Barack Obama's presidential motorcade has been fined £120 (about $194 or €137) for not paying the £10 congestion levy during his official State visit to Britain back in May. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-65800117078514927712011-07-21T17:59:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.284-07:00Video: Crazy Nissan 350Z Accident Results in Awesome Parking Job!An extremely violent accident involving what appears to be a Nissan 350Z (we could be wrong on the model though) that flew over a wall at a parking lot and which could have ended in a drama, surprisingly turned into the most awesome parking job we have ever seen on film. The driver even came out unhurt and checked the car as it was a mere fender bender! Don’t believe us? Hit the jump and check rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-14129402606342898612011-07-21T17:05:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.284-07:00Scoop Quiz : Is this the 2012 Porsche 911 Turbo S?Show any Porsche 911 to someone old enough to remember when Memorial Day was called Decoration Day, and chances are he or she will probably know the brand and model of the car. But ask someone to tell your which version they’re looking at and you’ll have a pretty hard time getting the right answer unless they’re a true Porschephile. Take this 911 for example; even our experienced scoop rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-65718414407619004942011-07-21T15:58:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.284-07:00Spanish City Offers Lifetime Tram Passes in Exchange for…CarsIn the Spanish city of Murcia, the local pollies have come up with a unique solution to their burgeoning congestion problem. Residents have the opportunity to trade in their cars for a lifetime pass on the city’s newly introduced tram system. Severiano Arias, the director of Murcia Transvia Society, explains: “The point is to take cars out of circulation for the environmental benefits this rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-49873960561934195002011-07-21T15:45:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.284-07:00Infiniti Teases 2013 JX Crossover’s Kinky C-PillarOur weekly dose of 2013 Infiniti JX teaser images continues with the release of the fourth picture of the Japanese automaker’s upcoming premium crossover in advance of its debut first in concept form at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 18 and then in final production trim at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Having previously graced us with a single sketch of the 2013 JX’s rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-22996697264651022602011-07-21T15:16:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.285-07:00Mercedes to Expand U.S. Factory to Locally Produce the Next C-Class, R-Class and G-ClassDaimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, said it plans to invest more than $2 billion to upgrade and retool its U.S. plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in order to begin building the C-Class (from 2014) as well as the new generations of the R-Class and the G-Class models. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-77103018775540229502011-07-21T14:58:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.285-07:00Lotus Evora S Patrol Cars to Assist Italian Police ForceNot to be outshined by their compagni over at the highway patrol unit and their Lamborghini Gallardo cruisers (that is, when they don't crash them...), the Arma dei Carabinieri, a division of the Italian army that polices both military and civilian populations, has received a pair of bespoke Lotus Evora S sports cars. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-42459633611843009082011-07-21T13:52:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.285-07:00It Came From eBay Hell: 1998 Mauck ExecutiveIf you hit the jump, you’ll find a short clip from the 1977 cheesefest Supervan, where our heroes are being chased by the police. The titular van was built by the self-anointed King of the Kustomizers George Barris, who also has a cameo in this mess. And that’s all I have to say about this. It was the funkadelic 1970s and Georgie had to earn his keep with Mrs. Barris. Now take a look at this rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-21771724234625944222011-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.285-07:00Saab Further Delays Production Restart Due to Lack of PartsSaab announced today that it is still in discussions with its suppliers over supply and delivery terms in order to restart production at its Trollhattan factory. Yet, as the Swedish automaker tries to secure short-term funds, it isn't able to guarantee that production will commence on August 9 as Saab's new plan had initially called for, postponing the date to the end of August. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-25788892874284356812011-07-21T13:05:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.285-07:00Kia Wins “Best of Best” for Overall Design in German ContestKia walked away with no less than four awards from the inaugural Automotive Brand Contest organized by the German Design Council. The most important was that of “Best of Best” for overall brand design, acknowledging Kia’s new styling language. The other three awards were won in the Exterior category by the latest Sportage, the Optima sedan and the new Rio. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-91172541294992036152011-07-21T12:30:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.286-07:00Thursday giveaway!Today's giveaway is from Bario-Neal, a handcrafted jewelry studio in Philadelphia that uses reclaimed precious metals, ethically-sourced stones and environmentally conscious practices. They're offering one lucky winner their herringbone bracelet. Isn't it beautiful? I'd love to wear it with a maxi dress this summer or a wool sweater this fall.For a chance to win, please visit Bario-Neal's online rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-24723239615407019012011-07-21T12:28:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.286-07:00Ford Marketing Boss Jim Farley Allegedly Tells GM to Stick it in Upcoming BookWe’re not used to automotive execs using foul language or trashing the competition when speaking out in the open and/or in public, so we were somewhat surprised with some of the comments allegedly made by Ford Motor Company Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Jim Farley. According to Jalopnik, the Ford executive who joined the Detroit automaker in 2007 after nearly two decades at rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-74697493779744969122011-07-21T11:53:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.286-07:00McLaren Opens its First Two Dealerships in GermanyTrue to its original plan of expanding its dealer network throughout the world, McLaren Automotive today opened its first two dealerships in Germany in the cities of Düsseldorf and Hamburg just in time for the Formula 1 German Grand Prix this weekend. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-20717576762123211262011-07-21T11:14:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.286-07:00Video: Motor Trend Drifts the Lexus LFALexus’ first supercar, the LFA, looks more sinister than Darth Vader himself – especially in black. But it is indeed a very rare piece, which shouldn’t come to as a surprise considering that only 500 examples will be built each priced at a hefty $375,000. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-46276203480402699672011-07-21T10:21:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.286-07:00Fiat Completes Purchase of Chrysler from U.S. and Canadian Governments, US Taxpayers Lose $1.3 BillionThe Fiat Group today purchased the remaining Chrysler LLC shares held by the U.S. and Canadian governments. The Italian company acquired a 1.5% fully diluted stake in Chrysler Group LLC from Canada for US$125 million, and a 6% stake from the United States Department of the Treasury for a price of US$ 500 million. After acquiring the shares in the two separate deals, the Fiat Group now controls rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-37529751376213494912011-07-21T09:50:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.286-07:00VW Reportedly Put a Price on the Table for GM’s Opel after Hearing Rumors about Hyundai’s InterestGerman monthly publication ‘Manager Magazin’ reported in its latest issue that the Volkswagen Group has a far deeper interest in Opel than originally thought. Citing unnamed sources close to the automaker, the financial magazine said that Volkswagen gave General Motors a rough estimate of what it is willing to pay for Opel after the German company heard rumors about Hyundai’s alleged interest rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-40984283584077260322011-07-21T09:10:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.287-07:00Fail: Cop Impounds Ferrari but Doesn’t Know How to Start it Up….A British police officer trying to impound a Ferrari F430 Spider (probably somewhere in London) was caught on film by a by-passer having a hard time figuring out how to start up the exotic Italian supercar. Too bad for us but...luckily for him, the man behind the video camera was nice enough to point out the shiny red ‘ENGINE START’ button on the steering wheel (honestly, how can you miss it?). rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-62786210095830195052011-07-21T08:59:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.287-07:00Finding happiness in DenmarkHave you ever been to Denmark? These beautiful vintage photos are from Denmark's national library. (Fun fact: Some of the photos were staged. The photographer wanted to give people a happy escape from the unemployment, despair and depression in the 1930s and 1940s.)P.S. Our England vacation photos coming up tomorrow, excited to share...xo(Photos by Sven Turck, via My Modern Met)rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-11003768525172126652011-07-21T08:49:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.287-07:00Chevrolet Records Best-Ever First Half with 2.35 Million Global SalesChevrolet sold 2.35 million cars worldwide in the first six months of 2011, which is a record number in the company’s 100-year history. The GM brand sold 286,499 more vehicles than in the same period of 2010, which represents a 14% increase. This is due to Chevrolet gaining ground in its top five markets. In the US, its sales increased by 16%, in China by 15%, in Russia, where it is the rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-59868663651480355162011-07-21T07:28:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.287-07:00Make your own cheese!Claudia Lucero moved to Portland in search of slower, happier life. She started pickling vegetables and making cheese, and now she runs an etsy shop with DIY cheese kits! You can make the fresh cheeses in your kitchen in under an hour with just a gallon of milk.I'd LOVE to try these, wouldn't you?P.S. More on stinky cheeses...rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-11756889961556535422011-07-21T06:08:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.287-07:00Official: 2012 Mercedes SLK AMG gets New 422HP 5.5-liter V8 with Cylinder Deactivation ModeDespite rampant rumors on the development of a turbocharged V6, Mercedes-Benz has chosen to continue with a naturally aspirated V8 engine in the next generation of the SLK AMG that is due to make its first public outing at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall. While we only get to see a fuzzy photo of the 2012 SLK 55 AMG, the firm with the three-point star emblem revealed plenty of details aroundrezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-14486099709742069682011-07-21T05:26:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.287-07:00Rolls Royce Celebrates 100th Anniversary of the Spirit of Ecstasy with Historic Car Meet [Video]This year marks the centenary of Rolls Royce motors’ famed figurine, the Spirit of Ecstasy and today, the company celebrated the event with a historic meeting at its Goodwood headquarters in West Sussex, UK. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-66112982128670534492011-07-20T17:58:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.287-07:00Mystery Scoop: Is this the 2014 Cadillac ATS, a Future Buick or Something Else?Maybe you can help us out here. A Carscoop reader, who prefers to remain anonymous, nabbed these photos of an identical pair of camouflaged prototype sedans at a tollbooth in Ohio. The photos were shot from a distance with a cell phone camera, so it’s difficult to tell the brand and make of the vehicles. Our unnamed reader told us that the front end looked like a Cadillac but the rest of the rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-71903125824208137742011-07-20T17:13:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.288-07:00MINI Files Patent Design for Paceman, the Three-Door Version of the Countryman CrossoverLast January at the Detroit Motor Show, MINI lifted the curtains on the not-so-mini Paceman concept study based on the Countryman crossover. During the presentation of the prototype, BMW board member Ian Robertson had then confirmed that the Paceman will join the MINI line-up in the very near future. And while we’ve yet to capture a prototype version of the Paceman on the road, today we rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-53569605677330608852011-07-20T16:11:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.288-07:00Volvo Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of its Pioneering SCC StudyMost concepts presented at motor shows remain just that: a stylistic exercise by the automaker’s designers, a “what if” proposal, a flight of fancy. At best, a few of them make it into production, mostly in a much more conventional form. But as with every rule, there are always an exception. Volvo’s SCC Concept is one such example. Presented at the 2001 Detroit Motor Show, the Swedish carmaker’srezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-25116314861927198362011-07-20T15:04:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.288-07:00Brabus Works its Styling Touch on the Mercedes E-Class and S-Class ModelsMore often than not, Brabus’ aftermarket offerings include some heavy performance modifications, but this time, the German tuning firm decided to focus solely on improving the styling of the Mercedes E-Class and S-Class premium sedans with the release of two new aerodynamic packages. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-51202421260903235442011-07-20T14:19:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.288-07:00IKEA to Install Blink Charging Stations for EVs at Select US StoresHousehold furnishing giant IKEA announced that it has teamed up with ECOtality to host Blink electric vehicle charging stations for EVs at select stores in the Western United States. The company said that it is considering 10 locations in Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington with the program set to go in motion this fall. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-43618153836594056732011-07-20T13:32:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.288-07:00Your Tax Dollars at Work: The Volt as a Halo Model to the CruzeIn the 1960s, customers who could only dream of owning a Corvette often left their local Chevy dealers with the keys to a new Impala or Bel-Air. Now, it seems the same thing is happening with the Chevy Volt don’t-call-it-a-hybrid and the Cruze small car. Year-to-date sales are up some 32% across the range, though only 567 of the 80,000 plus cars the Detroit automaker sold in June were Volts. rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-39714384299945969402011-07-20T12:27:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.289-07:00Aston Martin Cygnet's Twin (...), the 2012 Scion iQ, Priced from $15,995 U.S. Sales Start in OctoberAfter making the motorshow rounds, it’s time for Toyota to start preparations for the U.S. launch of its new Scion iQ mini that will begin arriving at dealerships on the west coast in October, and the rest of the country in early 2012. The Lilliputian four-seater model that is sold in Europe as a Toyota and let's not forget, as an....Aston Martin as well, will carry a base sticker of $15,265. Arezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-23393424149179734102011-07-20T11:53:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.289-07:00Fiat Panda Gets Euro 5 Engines in the UKLast February Fiat recorded Europe’s lowest average CO2 emissions for the fourth year in a row. And now it reinforces its eco-friendly character by introducing an all-Euro 5 engine line-up across the Panda range in Britain. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-79852067257050735872011-07-20T11:41:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.289-07:00Video: Pedestrian Crossing from HellIf there was ever a pedestrian crossing from hell, this is it. True, we can’t see if there’s a pedestrian light on the other side of the road, but come on, the drivers seen in this video didn’t even attempt to slow down and let the man pass the crossing in safety let alone stop. Watch the incident for yourself in the video after the break. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-22710097925792567692011-07-20T11:06:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.289-07:00SPIED: All-New 2012 Fiat Panda Caught Stretching out in the SunThe car that helped Fiat get back on its feet at the turn of the century, the nuova Panda, will soon give its place to an all-new model that was snagged by Carscoop’s photographers during hot weather testing in Europe. It's hard to picture the styling details with the heavy cladding and camouflage on the prototype, but it’s evident that new model will retain the shape of the tall-bodied, secondrezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-87310357215261956282011-07-20T10:38:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.289-07:00Yellow dressHow adorable is this yellow dress? (And it's only $40!) I'm thinking of getting it for weddings and date nights this summer.rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-25800434015560913932011-07-20T10:21:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.289-07:00Just Before Launch, McLaren Decides to Make MP4-12C “More Emotional”McLaren’s MP4-12C has received a lot of praise from automotive journalists. It has even set the second fastest time ever in the Top Gear power lap. But this doesn’t mean that it’s perfect. Most who have driven it have placed it below its chief rival, the Ferrari 458 Italia, not because its’ slower (it isn’t) or less capable, but because it lacked the aural charisma and emotional character of therezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-13686801515380592772011-07-20T09:45:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.290-07:00Ferrari Unleashes 458 Italia Grand AmItalian sports carmaker Ferrari has set its eyes on the North American Grand Am series, which it plans to compete in with the new 458 Italia Grand Am that was given its track baptism today at the Fiorano circuit completing several laps in the hands of Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo. Developed in cooperation with Michelotto Automobili, the racing model is based on the European GT3 version of therezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-13936934406601268402011-07-20T09:13:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.290-07:00Chrysler Suspends Workers Caught on Camera MisbehavingChrysler announced on Tuesday that it suspended nine workers from its Trenton Engine Plant without pay after FOX aired a report showing them drinking and smoking during lunch break. It all started when big brother FOX 2 reporter Rob Wolchek received two separate calls from colleagues of the aforementioned workers claiming that they no longer wanted to work with people behaving in such a rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-35689041372660483642011-07-20T07:44:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.290-07:00Starship Trooper: Mercedes-Benz Bodied Acura Integra ConvertibleIf you’re still with us and haven’t gone out looking for a bug swatter, there’s more of this lime-green creation to be seen in the video after the jump. Judging from the cuts on the front fenders and the shape of the bonnet, we reckon it’s a mid-1990s Acura Integra Coupe. The proud owner of the vehicle chopped off the roof to turn the Japanese coupe into a convertible model and then proceededrezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-56763304653777850002011-07-20T07:34:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.290-07:00PB&J barOh my goodness, who wants a bite of this PB&J candy bar?!P.S. Remember this...rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-9803268623200342982011-07-20T06:54:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.290-07:00Toyota to Use Prius Hybrids to Supply Household Appliances with Electricity!As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. In Japan’s case, the devastating earthquake in March and the subsequent damages to the country’s infrastructure put the spotlight on Toyota’s Estima Hybrid minivan that features a system allowing the supply of auxiliary electricity to power household appliances. The minivan’s owners were extremely satisfied with the system, which effectively rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-14146912200757171252011-07-20T05:51:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.290-07:00Caterham Seven Makes its Way to ChinaSmall boutique sports carmaker Caterham is looking for ways to expand its sales reach by entering Asia’s most lucrative car market. The UK-based company announced today that it has signed an exclusive deal with import firm Courtenay Trading International (CTI) to sell its iconic Seven model in China. Caterham said that even though it has had a “long-standing presence” in the Far East, most rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-33541274164503293202011-07-20T05:31:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.291-07:00Big Brother: Chevrolet and OnStar to Monitor Volt Drivers’ Charging HabitsGeneral Motors and OnStar announced a new program that will be applied to the Chevrolet Volt and which will use the car’s built-in telematics system to send data from the vehicle to the power grid. This will enable the carmaker to track the charging habits of the vehicle’s drivers so as to better manage the car’s energy supply. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-80235965305986522342011-07-20T05:16:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.291-07:00BMW Expects More Growth in China in the Second Half of 2011At a press event on Monday, BMW sales chief Ian Robertson said that he expects the brand’s sales in China to grow, albeit not at the extraordinary rate of 61% that it achieved in the first half. "In the second half of the year we will not have such a fast growth rate in China as in the first half because of the high year-earlier level of comparison, but will still have growth," said Robertson. rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-82760356745781848992011-07-19T17:28:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.291-07:002012 Hyundai Sonata Receives its First Facelift in South KoreaHyundai has blessed the South Korean market version of its Sonata mid-size sedan with its very first mild facelift. Just don’t blink because you may very well miss it. The light cosmetic surgery on the outside brings a revamped front grille with a little bit less chrome on top and around the sides, plus new LED taillights at the back, reshaped mirror casings and a fresh choice of alloy wheel rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-85250485255057321522011-07-19T17:02:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.291-07:00The Real Godzilla: AMS Performance’s 1,309WHP Nissan GT-R Completes ¼ Mile in 9.05 Sec! [Video]We’ve seen some insanely modified Nissan GT-R R35s, but Chicago-based tuning house AMS Performance, has really lifted the bar with its newest creation, the ALPHA 12. The heavily tuned Nissan GT-R ALPHA 12, which is still in the development and testing phase, was placed on a dyno where it produced an incredible 1,309-horsepower and 994 lb-ft (1,384Nm) of peak torque at all four wheels! Read rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-91349003428426772702011-07-19T16:14:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.291-07:00It Came From eBay Hell: Custom Made Canadian “Woodie”One of my all-time favourite cars is the 1948 Ford Super Deluxe. The station wagon and Sportsman convertible variants were the last true “woodies” and in my mind the best looking of the bunch. On the opposite end of the scale is this hand-built woodie pick-up from Quebec, Canada. It’s like a child’s drawing of a pick-up truck come to life or maybe the first car designed and built exclusively byrezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-6328756660975079872011-07-19T15:30:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.291-07:00Top Gear has a Blast Driving the 2012 Nissan GT-ROne of the highlights in the fourth episode of Top Gear’s 17th season that aired in Britain this past weekend was the test of the 530HP and 612 Nm (451 lb/ft) 2012 Nissan GT-R. Jeremy Clarkson clearly had a blast driving the updated version of Nissan’s twin-turbocharged, four-wheel drive supercar and, unusually for him, almost ran out of expletives. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-1955129931549783302011-07-19T15:08:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.292-07:00Study: Speeding the Most Common Cause of In-Car Arguments Amongst CouplesIt’s happened to all of us at some point. You’re behind the steering wheel and just when you think that everything is fine and dandy, the person sitting in the passenger’s seat, be it your spouse, girlfriend of boyfriend, starts yelling: “Slow down, you ‘re driving too fast!”, “You should have listened to me, we missed our exit” or “Keep your distance, we’re gonna hit the car in front of us”. rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-32601142315509062362011-07-19T14:25:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.292-07:00VW Says “More Masculine” 2012 Beetle will Appeal to Men, Convertible Said to Join the Range Next SummerVolkswagen is confident that a higher percentage of men as well as younger consumers will buy the 2012 Beetle compared to its predecessor when U.S. sales start in September. VW of America’s Vice President of marketing and strategy Rainer Michel told Autonews that “a more masculine appearance, including a higher beltline, and 20 more horsepower for the base model, should do the trick”. While rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-44536465840163386022011-07-19T13:29:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.292-07:00The Truth About the Relationship Between Hyundai and KiaHyundai and Kia have a strange, symbiotic relationship. They share factories, parts as well as engineering knowhow and product testing duties. And yet they remain separate entities with their own marketing, distribution and styling departments. Michael Sprague, Kia’s VP for marketing and communication describes their relationships to the New York Times likes this: “Kia Motors America operates rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-80831234237415025322011-07-19T13:06:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.292-07:00Video: Berlin Parking Lot Sits Atop Hitler’s BunkerNo doubt, World War II was a dark period in history. And even though many years have passed since then, the Nazi regime has a way of surfacing to the limelight – or so to speak. Like Adolf Hitler’s secret bunker that was found under a Berlin parking lot. Unsurprisingly, most people, both German and foreigners, had no idea that they were parking their cars above the place that Hitler spent the rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-79041917197410064342011-07-19T12:30:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.292-07:00Naughty Fiat 500 with a Very, Very Suggestive License PlateWe’ve seen some pretty weird license plates over the years, some funny, some meaningful, some witty and others just plain nasty. No need to explain why you’d be better off staying very far away from the one pictured above. The…suggestive license plate belongs to a Fiat 500 city car that was spotted at a South African showroom by Carscoop reader Jeff G. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-2285284679608666312011-07-19T11:50:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.292-07:00Would you wear a caftan?Would you wear this beautiful new hand-block-printed Indian caftan by EmersonMade? It would be effortlessly breezy to wear while reading books, curling up with friends or hosting a late-night dinner party. Reminds me of my mom when she was really young in the 70s.Thoughts? Would you wear it?rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-85185205453287443092011-07-19T11:25:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.293-07:00Chrysler Surpasses Ford as Canada’s Biggest Seller of Light TrucksCanada’s economy seems unaffected by most of the Western World’s woes, where markets are struggling and unemployment is booming. In fact, Canada’s economy is growing and as a result, unemployment is falling and people are getting jobs. Therefore, they have money to buy cars, or light trucks, pickups and SUVs. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-77253612763836013382011-07-19T10:55:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.293-07:00Update: Toyota Says RAV-4 EV Will Be Sold to the General PublicToyota has just issued a statement disputing a recent report from Reuters by saying that the upcoming all-electric RAV-4 will be available for sale to the general public as well. The Reuters story, which Carscoop also reported on, said that the RAV-4 EV would only be sold to fleet customers and car sharing programs, citing Geri Yoza, the National Business Planning Manager of Advanced Vehicle rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-58278391301393591882011-07-19T10:25:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.293-07:00How Shocking: Electrical Issues Plague Modern CarsWith modern cars fitted with more and more electronic equipment, it is logical that electrical problems are popping up much more frequently than in past years. According to a Warranty Direct survey in the UK, electrical faults account for 27% of all car malfunctions every year. That’s a 17% rise over just five years ago, with more than four out of 10 cars each year facing breakdowns due to rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-41209803587418786672011-07-19T09:27:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.293-07:00The Price of Success: Nissan Raises 2012 Leaf Prices Between $2,420 and $3,530!Well, that didn’t take long did it? Only a year after launch and while the Leaf is leading the eco-friendly sales race against GM’s Chevrolet Volt, Nissan today announced that it is lifting the base price of the 2012 model year version of its pure-electric hatchback between 7 and 11 percent, depending on the trim grade! In particular, the entry-level 2012 Leaf SV is now priced at $35,200, or rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-13702357212250179882011-07-19T09:03:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.293-07:00Temporary tattoos!These days, I'm smitten with all the clever tattoos out there, but I'm too wussy to get a permanent one. So I was THRILLED to discover tatt.ly, a new online shop offering awesome, designy temporary tattoos.Which would you wear?rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-66144691955230376342011-07-19T08:43:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.293-07:00FIA Investigates Jet Fighter Canopies for Improving F1 Drivers’ SafetyMay 1st, 1994: the world watches in shock as Ayrton Senna’s Williams-Renault veers off the track and hits the wall at the Tamburello corner of the Imola circuit. Unfortunately, it was an accident that the most charismatic F1 driver of all times wouldn’t survive as his head injuries were too severe. Just one day before another fatality had hit F1 for the first time in 12 years. Roland rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-24517615883074081532011-07-19T07:40:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.294-07:00Ferrari World Design Contest: And the Winner is….For the past few months, design students from 50 universities across the globe took up Ferrari’s challenge of designing a future supercar for the famous Italian brand. Now, following the completion of the second phase in which seven schools were chosen to move to the final round, we have a winner. Drum-roll please…and the winners of the Ferrari World Design Contest are…the students from Seoul’srezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-8629572661615848682011-07-19T06:43:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.294-07:00Coming Soon: 2012 Porsche 911 Teased in Official VideoThe wait for the next evolution of the Porsche 911 is almost over. In fact, we’re so close to the launch date that the German firm has just entered the teasing phase releasing the first official video of the sports car shot during hot weather testing in South Africa. The public will have its first chance to see the new 911, codenamed 991, at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. What we rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-1412880457999734602011-07-19T06:28:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.294-07:00Study Shows Volvo’s Active Safety Systems Reduce AccidentsThe Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a study showing that Volvo’s XC60 active safety systems contribute to it being engaged in 27% fewer damage accidents and 51% fewer bodily injury accidents than other mid-size luxury SUVs. Always according to the study, the XC60 is also 19% less likely to be involved in accidents compared to rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-21748547819485788222011-07-19T05:57:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.294-07:00Mazda Australia Spicing Up New BT-50 with Locally Developed AccessoriesWhen the new generation of the 2012 Ford Ranger’s Japanese sibling, the Mazda BT-50 pickup truck, goes on sale in Australia later this year, it will be available with a wide variety of locally designed and built genuine accessories, the company said today. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-58699832730070997392011-07-19T05:28:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.294-07:00Oops! They Did it Again: Alfa Romeo’s Return to the US Delayed Until 2013It’s 2003, 2004, 2006 – you get the idea- happening all over again; Alfa Romeo’s return to the US market has been delayed and will not happen in 2012 as was the most recent plan. Instead, Fiat Group and Chrysler LLC CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has pushed the Italian brand’s arrival back for another year, or so until he announces another delay. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-70657984118599447642011-07-18T19:23:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.294-07:002012 Toyota Fortuner: SUV Version of Facelifted HiLux Makes Asian DebutAfter last week’s presentation of the redesigned 2012 HiLux in Europe, Toyota went ahead and introduced the Asian market version of the pickup truck, called HiLux Vigo in Thailand, as well its SUV sibling, the seven-passenger Fortuner. Both the HiLux Vigo and Fortuner sport the same styling revisions with their European counterpart including the new front end with the chromed out, razor edge rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-34255563992174592642011-07-18T18:29:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.295-07:00Saab 9-6: Subaru-Based Crossover Prototype Comes out of the ClosetBack in the corporate heydays of GM, before the Detroit automaker went bust, the General would re-badge just about anything it could get its hands on if it were to make a fast buck without breaking a sweat. This lazy corporate mentality was not only limited to GM’s American products but it spread throughout the entire company. Saab and even Subaru were subjected to this crude process, which was rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-2511499201351783142011-07-18T17:32:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.295-07:00Jay Leno Buys a McLaren MP4-12C, Shares the Experience on CameraIf the fact that Jay Leno was recently invited to drive the all-electric and open top versions of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG as well as the 2012 VW Beetle hasn’t already made you green with envy, maybe this will: not taking into consideration the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren he owns, the host of The Tonight Show has just acquired his second McLaren model after the F1. Leno’s latest toy is the rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-19425873340066693302011-07-18T15:59:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.295-07:00Double Standards, or how (Not) to Sell Cars to WomenIn the 1950s, products for women were no doubt designed and marketed by men. Take for example the 1955 Dodge Le Femme, a truly absurd car (by today’s standards) that came with a matching purse, raincoat and umbrella as well as a bright pint interior with rose-patterned trim. It’s the equivalent of offering a car today with a…tampon dispenser in the glovebox. Across the pond there was the rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-79411023627999614132011-07-18T15:34:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.295-07:00Tata Considers Developing Engines with Jaguar and Land RoverTata Motors’ owner, Ratan Tata, confirmed today in the company’s annual report that the Indian carmaker is considering developing an engine in cooperation with its Jaguar Land Rover division. "To optimize the synergistic strengths between JLR and Tata Motors in India, an examination is also under way on a joint engine development program which would have manufacturing facilities both in the U.K.rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-57778277503262679272011-07-18T15:08:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.295-07:00How to Fail in Placing the Top on a Bugatti Veyron Grand SportWhile not the completely hassle free experience you’d expect from a roofless exotic hypercar priced closed to $2 million, the placement of the secondary fabric top on the 1,000-horsepower Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport is supposed to be an easy task – or so the French-based boutique carmaker says. Well, try telling it to the stars of this video that seems to have been filmed somewhere in London. rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-80898767977118693052011-07-18T14:28:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.295-07:00Toyota’s Upcoming RAV4 EV will NOT be Sold to the General PublicThe pure electric version of the RAV4 will not be sold directly to the U.S. public when it arrives in the market in the first quarter if 2012 as originally planned, according to Geri Yoza, Toyota’s national business planning manager of advanced vehicle marketing. Instead, the EV version of the Japanese company’s popular SUV will be leased only to fleet customers and car sharing programs. Read rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-46519515733263733832011-07-18T14:16:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.296-07:00My balance of work/baby/lifeMy lovelies, last week, seven amazing mothers shared how they juggle work/life, including the ups and downs. It's so wonderful to be honest and normalize what that all mothers are going through. Thank you again to those brave and lovely bloggers!Now I'd love to share my own juggle post. I have to admit, it feels strange to be sharing my own routine because I didn't have a decent schedule figured rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-7084571968362023292011-07-18T13:56:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.296-07:00SPIED: Armored-up 2012 Mercedes A-Class Completing Final Tests Before it Takes on the BMW 1-SeriesUnlike its famed Bavarian rival, which at one point was almost absorbed by Mercedes-Benz, the Stuttgart automaker continues to cover up and hide its prototype models in chunky plastic armor instead of the psychedelic wraps used by the BMW Group and other carmakers these days. The five-door hatchback you see pictured in these latest spy shots is the upcoming 2012 A-Class, which has been rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-1188016041780184452011-07-18T13:06:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.296-07:00Video: Scuderia Ferrari's First Visit to the Moscow City Racing EventThis past Sunday, Russia’s capital city hosted the annual Moscow City Racing event. It was the fourth time in a row that the racing show was organized in Moscow and the first to feature the Ferrari Formula 1 team. After the press conference, Scuderia Ferrari test driver Giancarlo Fisichella first drove a California in the usual parade, and then last year’s F10 Formula 1 car on the streets of rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-28660771615889178592011-07-18T12:44:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.296-07:00Über Rare Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion up for GrabsIt might not be the prettiest Porsche to look at, but the 911 GT1 Straßenversion is without doubt one of the most rare and radical street legal 911s ever to leave the Stuttgart firm’s factory. You see, the 911 GT1 Straßenversion is the fully road-legal version of Porsche’s 1997 GT1 race car, While based on the 993, it features many modifications including a bespoke carbon-fiber body made to rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-81759712984023940852011-07-18T12:04:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.296-07:00Rising Yen won’t Hurt Nissan’s Sales, says GhosnNissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn, has predicted that Japan’s second biggest carmaker will achieve its sales targets, despite the yen’s 9.6% climb over the US dollar in the past year. However Ghosn admitted that the strength of the Yen may cause problems: “The high yen is definitely a headwind. What I worry about is not just Nissan, but Japanese manufacturers losing their motivation to maintain productionrezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-16465946337182933242011-07-18T11:26:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.296-07:00The Ditch: Can You Guess How Many Rally Cars will Make it Through?An evil…ditch was just waiting to claim a victim at the Rally Finland - or so the Youtube poster claims that this is where the following incident(s) took place. Watching the first few rally cars pass through or rather drive into and out of the ditch on the side of the road it becomes clear that it’s not a case of if, but when we’ll see a car taking a plunge. Enjoy the clip after the jump. rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-45569920000798976712011-07-18T10:35:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.297-07:00Nico Rosberg to Drive Fangio’s 1954 Mercedes W196 at the NürburgringMercedes F1 driver Nico Rosberg will have the chance to drive Juan Manuel Fangio’s legendary 1954 Mercedes W196 at the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit next weekend during the German Grand Prix. The Mercedes W196 was the first Formula 1 car to race with open wheels, coincidentally at Nurburgring, after Fangio faced problems with the "streamlined" bodywork at the British GP. The W196 won the rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-21543075302066385802011-07-18T10:12:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.297-07:00Nissan Versa Hatchback Enters 2012MY with Equipment RefinementsAfter revealing prices on its low-cost 2012 Versa sedan, today Nissan announced pricing on the five-door hatchback version of its sub-compact series. Even though the Japanese company has launched a newer version of the hatchback model in certain markets including China, in the States, the five-door variant continues in the new model year with its first-generation design. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-22615502199067693442011-07-18T08:59:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.297-07:00Bluebird to Attempt to Break Electric UK Land Speed RecordThe Bluebird team has a history of more than 100 years old. A history in what, you might ask? The answer is, breaking speed records. Not just on land, but also on water. It all began in 1911 with Sir Malcolm Campbell, who named his team after Maurice Maeterlinck’s play. In the following years, the family team broke more than 30 speed records and now, Sir Campbell’s own grandson, Don Wales, will rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-78954950394388430212011-07-18T08:48:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.297-07:002013 Ford Focus Coupé Design Study by David CardosoFord is going full force with its latest generation Focus that is currently available in a variety of body styles including a five-door hatchback, a four-door sedan, a station wagon and a pair of MPVs that carry the C-MAX moniker. A three-door hatchback is on its way while we have also heard talk about a convertible and possibly a compact coupe model. Enter the world of independent designer rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-58482603878208240082011-07-18T08:23:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.297-07:00Felipe Massa: “Ferrari Can Still Win F1 Title”Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel, who lead by 110 and 80 points in the Constructors and Drivers Championships respectively, are clearly the team and man to beat this season in Formula 1. And in the last race, in Silverstone, someone stepped up to the challenge and did just that: Ferrari and Fernando Alonso were at the top spot of the podium flanked by the two Red Bull drivers. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-58065918656479493552011-07-18T07:55:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.297-07:00Back from EnglandHi, my darlings! We got back from England last night, after a wonderful, dreamy, windy, sunshiny week visiting our relatives in Cornwall. I keep gazing at this photo, which my cousin took while we were on a boat to the beach. I wish I could beam myself right back there. :) How was your week?P.S. My own work/baby juggle post is coming up today. Thanks to the amazing mothers last week, and love to rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-49412866443412276132011-07-18T06:24:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.298-07:00Shelby Supercars Shows off its Latest Creation, the 1,350HP Tuatara [with Video]There’s a new beast in town and it’s called the Shelby Supercars Tuatara (pronounced twu‐tar‐ah). The company that was founded by Jarod Shelby in 1999 says the Tuatara was inspired by a modern day New Zealand reptile that bears the same name. "The design specifications for the Next Generation SSC were so extreme; we knew early on that a proper name would be a key piece of the puzzle for this rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-35246984494181733482011-07-18T05:39:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.298-07:00Ford Begins Production of New Focus in RussiaFord's Vsevolozhsk Plant near St. Petersburg in Russia has begun assembly of the firm’s new generation Focus. The five-door hatchback is the first member of the Focus family to roll off the assembly line in Russia with the four-door and station wagon variants to enter production in September and January, respectively. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-7590247931556502412011-07-18T05:16:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.298-07:00Volvo Aims to Boost Sales in China, Become Known for More than SafetyVolvo wants to increase its sales in China by at least 60% this year, to 50,000 cars, and to 200,000 by 2015. And how does the Swedish carmaker, which is owned by China’s Geely, intend to do so? By adding user-friendly comforts and a touch of luxury, according to Volvo’s CEO, Stefan Jacoby. The reason for this shift is that Volvo’s greatest asset, safety, is not a unique selling point any more rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-39284877064049507952011-07-17T11:41:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.298-07:00NYPD Goes Green with 50 Chevrolet Volt Patrol CarsPolice officers in New York City will now be able to boast that they drive environmentally friendly cars and, as an added bonus, approach possible offenders silently. That’s because 50 Chevrolet Volts have been added to the 40 Nissan Altima Hybrids of the NYPD fleet, as a part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC project for lowering emissions and creating, in his own words, “a greener, greater rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-27664179334932527242011-07-17T08:43:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.298-07:00Lamborghini Sues Las Vegas Business for Using its Raging Bull LogoItalian supercar maker Lamborghini has unleashed a snarling pack of lawyers against the owners of an exotic car showroom, merchandise gallery and restaurant at the Palazzo resort in Las Vegas. Lamborghini’s lawsuit claims that the companies that operate Dal Toro Exotic Car Showroom, Merchandise Gallery and Ristorante Italiano have been using the brand’s raging bull logo. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-32521847507370590842011-07-17T07:40:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.298-07:00VW Begins Series Production of 2012 Beetle in MexicoVolkswagen announced that it has commenced regular production of the 2012 Beetle at its factory in Puebla, Mexico, where its predecessor was also built. To mark the occasion, Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and Board Member for Production and Logistics at VW Passenger Cars Hubert Waltl visited the plant in Puebla. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-59571848531035773612011-07-16T14:45:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.299-07:00The Best Car Ad You’ll See Today: Volkswagen Tiguan TranslatorWe’ve seen more car-related ads trying to capture our attention than we can remember, but very few actually manage to pull it off like the way the Brazilian division of the BBDO advertising agency did with its “Volkswagen Tiguan: Translator” commercial. The TV ad was created to show off the SUV’s hands free park assist system. Being that the whole point of this commercial is the element of rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-81980709462134095822011-07-16T12:32:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.299-07:00GM Agrees to Pay Korean Workers a Record Bonus of $6,140 Each and Increase Basic Salaries by 4.7%!The South Korean division of General Motors has agreed to a record bonus payment for its employees following a partial strike last week. This was the first organized union strike to hit GM Korea in three years and it led to a production loss of 9,700 units. The agreement between GM Korea and the union includes a raise of basic salaries by 4.7% and, more importantly, a $6,140 (6.5 million won) rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-74924913177772935262011-07-16T09:33:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.299-07:00Would You Pay $50,000 for Kate Middleton’s Used VW Golf?Say want you want about the media’s obsession around Britain’s newly-wed royal coupe, Kate and Williams, but for some people, like Sonny Brazil, it’s a gift from the heavens. You see, Sonny’s father Al, bought Kate Middleton’s inky-blue 2001 VW Golf hatchback back in 2009 from her brother James for a reasonable £1,400 (about US$2,300 or €1,600 at today’s exchange rates). Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-75612616870755770482011-07-16T07:46:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.299-07:00BMW Marks Returns to DTM with New M3 Coupe Concept RacerNew DTM racing cars are like public transportation: you wait for ages and then , all of a sudden, three or four buses appear at the same time. Just yesterday we posted Audi’s new entry into the German Touring Car Championship or, as it’s more commonly known, DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters). Today, BMW pulled the wraps off its new own DTM racer based on the coupe version of M3. And mind you, rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-38590419237419055782011-07-15T19:38:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.299-07:00D'oh! Ferrari 458 Italia Driver Starts Drag Race with Dodge Viper in…Reverse!Before you watch the following video, take a minute to ponder this: You are sitting behind the steering wheel of an exotic, brand new Italian supercar, getting ready to drag race a V10-powered Dodge Viper on the quarter mile strip in front of a crowd of 100, or perhaps even more people. But when the race begins you start rolling backwards… Oh yes, that’s right; the owner of the Ferrari 458 rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-60609575803410859392011-07-15T19:03:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.299-07:00Tesla Current: Maxim Ostapenko Envisions an All Electric S-Class CompetitorWith Tesla’s long anticipated Model S sedan still more than six months away, designers from all over the world have begun to speculate what will be next for the Silicon Valley-based automaker. One such design study is the Current by Maxim Ostapenko, a graduate of Pasadena, California’s Art Center College of Design. Essentially a four-door all-electric saloon car to compete with the likes of rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-10144682898501755842011-07-15T18:50:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.299-07:00Frankfurt Rumors Fuel Design of 2012 Volkswagen CrossPassatRecent rumors have suggested that Volkswagen may introduce a high-riding, faux-crossover Variant of its latest generation of the European market Passat, as early as at the forthcoming 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. And while we can’t confirm the rumormill, what we can do is show you a very well executed rendering of the VW Cross Passat made by a talented reader of Autoblog.nl. Read more »rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-73079790680443867652011-07-15T18:18:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.300-07:00It Came From eBay Hell: 1993 Jaguar XJ6 “Airport Limousine”In the glory days of air travel – when you could still smoke and fly without the fear of being groped and fondled by security personnel wearing latex gloves– some passengers were lucky enough to commute from the terminal to their hotel in the back of an airport limousine. These stretched cars, with their multiple rows of seats and doors, were essentially the primitive precursor to the modern rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-49919429349559662692011-07-15T18:06:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.300-07:00New Saab 9-4X SUV Arrives in the US, First Model Delivered in OhioSaab is still trying to work through its problems, but the Swedish carmaker has some good news from the States. The first examples of the firm’s new crossover, the Cadillac SRX-based 9-4X, have just arrived at US showrooms. “Our first vehicles are just hitting retailers and our first customer sale took place last weekend at Saab North Olmstead in Cleveland, Ohio” said President and COO of Saab rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-44140598876467428482011-07-15T14:11:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.300-07:00The Price of Parking: Colliers’ Releases Results of 2011 Global SurveyThe results of Colliers International’s 2011 Parking Rate Survey are in for the U.S., Canada and the rest of the world, and there are few surprises. The U.S. national median monthly parking rate is US$155.22, with the highest being midtown Manhattan at US$541 and Renoa at US$45 the cheapest. In Canada, Calgary topped out at US$486 followed by Toronto at $342 USD and Montreal at $305 USD. Read rezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-73987108571934778152011-07-15T13:56:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.300-07:00Fiat Marks 500 Launch in China with 100 “First Edition” ModelsThe first Fiat 500 to make its way into China was presented today in Shanghai by Fiat Group Executive Vice President for International Operations, Lorenzo Sistino. To celebrate the launch, Fiat crafted a special version named 500 “First Edition” featuring bodywork graphics by five young Chinese designers. The special edition will be available in a limited run of just 100 numbered units ahead ofrezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8900839312062783754.post-36827354827929751232011-07-15T13:25:00.000-07:002011-07-22T04:59:58.300-07:00New Audi A5 Coupe DTM Racing Concept to Replace A4 Sedan from 2012Get excited DTM fans because there’s a new kid coming to town. We’re talking about Audi’s freshly revealed A5 Coupe racecar, internally named “R17,” that will replace the four-door A4 with which Audi has conquered the DTM title four times since 2004. Ingolstadt’s new touring model is based on the facelifted A5 Coupe that was presented earlier this week and it complies with the new technical andrezzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03474237093582250770noreply@blogger.com