An 87-year old WWII veteran and frequent blood donor was killed in a tragic accident involving a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 that crashed during a lapping day at Texas Motor Speedway.

Donald Krusemark died one day after the accident took place. The family declined to comment on the accident, but it is believed that Krusemark was a passenger, and was being taken for a ride around the Speedway. Krusemark was honored at the event for his generous donations of blood and platelets over the years.

The event was organized by Texas Driving Experience, a company that “offers extreme racecar Rides and Drives.”

[Source: The Dallas Morning News]

Fiat’s cute 500 model is set to hit the streets in North America by the end of this year followed by numerous other versions of the Italian mini car. We’ve already reported on the upcoming 4-door 500 model but now there’s word of a name change. According to Car & Driver, the 4-door 500 will be badged as the Fiat 600. Using a version of the 500′s platform that is both longer and wider, the 600 will take on models like the MINI Clubman in the premium compact segment. Unlike the 500, which will be built in Miexico, the 600 will be built in Italy.

The 4-door 600 is expected to arrive later in 2011, along with a 500C (convertible) and eventually high-performance Abarth versions. Although an Abarth 600 is unlikely. There are also rumors of a Fiat 500 wagon model.

[Source: Car & Driver]

Federal investigators are looking into faulty airbags on the 2005-06 Mercedes-Benz E-Class luxury sedan. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has said that it has received four complaints regarding a wiring harness in the steering column, that could lead to the aig bags failing to deploy in a front-impact crash. No injuries have been reported. Roughly 100,000 vehicles could be affected.

According to Robert Moran at Mercedes-Benz USA, the issue stems from a wring harness that could be too short. The problem may arise if a driver puts the telescopic wheel all the way out. Moran says that if this happens to a vehicle, it would signal a warning light telling the owner to bring the vehicle in for service.

Following a spate of recalls by Toyota, NHTSA itself has also been under close scrutiny and so has been stepping up its number of recall investigations.

[Source: Bloomberg]

BMW is planning to introduce its 5 Series ActiveHybrid next year and deliver a 3 Series hybrid after that. BMW chief Norbert Reithofer told company shareholders yesterday in Munich that, “As early as next year, the new BMW 5-series will also be available as a full hybrid. And we are anticipating the hybridisation of further models series, such as the BMW 3-series.”

The 5 Series ActiveHybrid isn’t likely to change much from the concept, which debuted at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year. The concept is powered by a 300-hp inline-six mated to a twin-scroll turbocharger – the same unit found in the 535i. This is then combined with a powerful 40kW electric motor (the motor in the 7 Series hybrid is just 15 kW) enabling this version to operate as a full two-mode hybrid. As a result, the Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid can operate on electric power, gasoline power or a combination of both. The transmission used is an eight-speed automatic.

Currently BMW offers both the X6 and 7 Series hybrids for sale in North America, although the U.S. market is not the main reason for the increased focus on hybrids. According to Reithofer, market pressure in Japan has led to the decision to increase hybrid production.  “Sales of hybrid vehicles [in Japan] have skyrocketed,” he said. “If you don’t have a hybrid in your portfolio, soon you might not be selling any cars in Japan at all.”

[Source: AutoCar]

With Toyota having recently undergone the worst period in its history, the grandson’s founder and man at the helm of the Japanese auto giant looks to be ready to make big changes in order to get the company back on track. More than just an executive, Akio Toyoda is a well-known car buff who loves to get out on the race track, so its no surprise that he wants to instill some passion into Toyota’s lineup of models.

In an interview with Automotive News, Toyoda admitted that its most important model, the Camry, is now facing serious market pressure from competitors such as General Motors, Ford and Hyundai. “Look at the Ford Taurus. It may be making a comeback. GM also has Camry fighters. And they’ve been done with a fun-to-drive touch. And Hyundai is coming up, and they’re looking good,” said Toyoda. “So we have to start asking, ‘Can we just keep doing the Camry like this?’”

Fortunately for Toyota it has survived the recession and is back to profitability after recording its first ever loss. The recall crisis seems to have subsided as well, with sales signifying that current and past Toyota owners weren’t overly phased by the fiasco. The problem, however, will be getting new buyers from other brands. To do this Toyota will need a more exciting Camry. It will also need more exciting entry-level models to bring in first-time buyers.

To solve that problem, Toyoda said he wants to focus more on the “neglected” Scion brand – which will receive two new models in the next 12 months, including the second generation tC and all-new iQ mini car. Originally the Scion brand was exciting, but Toyoda admits that recently the Scion lineup has become “more like the regular Toyota vehicles.”

Also on the burner is the much-touted FT-86 entry-level sports car, which Toyoda did not comment on.

He does have high hopes for the future, however, commenting that lessons have been learned and that, “if we can apply those lessons one at a time, it won’t be long until we’re back where we were.”

[Source: Automotive News]

Compared to Volkswagen‘s MkV Golf platform, the current MkVI is really more of a a large update than an all-new model – particularly in North America where some of the more exciting new items found in European models aren’t even offered. That is set to change for the MkVII (seventh-generation) model, however, with AutoExpress reporting an all-new, light weight platform, with design inspiration from the New Compact Coupe (above). The seventh-gen Golf will also spawn numerous models with obvious and obligatory three-door and five-door hatchbacks, as well as a wagon, a cabriolet and a four-door coupe.

As for engines a new line of turbocharged motors is expected, with 1.2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinders in Europe. Turbo 3-cylinders are also planned, with diesels that can achieve as much as 80-mpg. Both hybrid and electric models will also be a part of Volkswagen’s plan. And of course we can expect high-performance GTI, GTD and AWD Golf R models.

With the current MkVI still relatively new on the market, the next generation car isn’t due out until 2012 or at least 2013 in North America.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Rumors that the Dacia Duster could be sold as a Renault have been floating around ever since the vehicle’s launch at the Geneva Auto Show last year, but now comes word that it may also be sold as a Nissan – in markets where Renault doesn’t have a significant presence. “In a market where Nissan had a presence and Renault didn’t, it would be a possibility,” said a company insider to AutoCar. And the most notable of those markets is North America.

For those not familiar with the model, or the brand, the Duster is the first SUV build by Dacia – a sub-brand of Renault (which owns Nissan). It is built in Dacia’s home-market of Romania.

Nissan already has a rather significant crossover and SUV presence in North America and has just added the Juke to that list. The Duster, however, is a true SUV with an optional 4×4 system and real off-road capability. In Europe it is offered with a diesel powerplant only making 105-hp and 266 ft-lbs of torque. And while the Nissan SUV lineup is quite full already, the Duster could fit in under the current Xterra model and really take the fight to Jeep.

[Source: AutoCar]

Volkswagen will purchase a controlling share in Italdesign Giugiaro – Italy’s largest design and engineering firm. The acquisition is seen as the latest step by Volkswagen as part of a larger plan to become the world’s largest automaker by 2018. With the recent acquisition of numerous brands, including, most recently, Porsche, VW is in need of designers to shape the company’s future products.

According to a report by Automotive New Europe, VW will introduce as many as 60 new models in just this year, meaning the in-house design teams are already taxed. Rather than contract out design work, VW obviously feels it makes more sense to bring an internationally recognized design house into its fold. Some of Italdesign Giugiaro’s best known designs are the original Lotus Esprit, the De Lorean, the Maserati Quattroporte, the original Lexus GS, the original VW Scirocco, the current range of MINI models and numerous well-known concepts.

Founded in 1968 and owned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italdesign currently employees 975 staff – most at its headquarters in Moncalieri, south of Turin. Both Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio, who acts as chairman, are expected to continue on with the company.

The official announcement of the acquisition is expected as early as next week.

[Source: Automotive News]

See a complete list of Italdesign Giugiaro’s works after the jump:

Continue Reading…

There’s not a single member of the Autoguide staff who does not admire the Honda’s of the company’s “Golden Age”. Spanning the period from 1983, when the CRX was released, to 2001, when the last Integra Type-R rolled off the line, subsequent Honda’s have been excellent cars, but have never quite lived up to the magic that their predecessors were able to wield over us.

Right around the turn of the last decade, Honda’s dominance in the import tuner market looked set to end as drifting, the new motorsports craze, seemed destined to take over. With their front-drive layout, the big H couldn’t compete in the rear-wheel-driven motorsport. But as drifting’s popularity grew, the popularity of Honda cars experienced a parallel renaissance that continues to this day.

Eibach Springs holds an annual Honda meet for afficionados of the brand, described as the “Concours D’Elegance” for Honda cars. While some scoff at the notion that Japanese cars will ever be historically important, there are now multiple generations that grew up with cars from the Land of the Rising Sun, living out their teenage and young adult years behind the wheel of Datsuns, rear-drive Toyotas and Civic hatchbacks. As the crowd gets older, the 1970′s  machinery is becoming increasingly collectible and the fan base is becoming more affluent. The Eibach show is a great way for those with high dollar Hondas to show off their babies to others admirers of the brand.

[Source: Speedhunters]

The Japanese are known for their calligraphy. The Swiss invented Helvetica. Now the Russians are creating beautiful stenciled art work – on the bodywork of an E36 BMW 3-Series. With AK47s.

Apparently, the BMW in question was headed to a museum exhibit dedicated to the political turmoil of the early 1990′s, when Russia was a newly capitalist society. The rapid rise to a market economy meant an influx of ill-gotten wealth, and status symbols like luxury cars were all the rage.

A local artist decided that the car needed some additional accoutrements, and had some gun enthusiasts take shots at the BMW with their Kalashnikov. Some of the work turned out quite nicely, while other attempts ended up being a mess. Check out the photos at Jalopnik, and the awesomely bad text at the original site for more info.

[Source: English Russia via Jalopnik]