When you strap your child into a car seat, you think that they are safe because these seats have safety standards, right? Sorry to burst that bubble, but if you’re strapping kids weighing more than 65 pounds to a booster seat, they don’t come with any government safety standards. And even seats for younger children are regulated only for their effectiveness in front-end collisions.

So what’s the problem? It turns out it lies with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They haven’t developed a lifelike child crash test dummy, which is needed to properly test the safety of seats built for heavier children. Until then, child seat manufacturers are left to self-regulate their car seats, instead of following guidelines instituted to protect children in front, side, rear-end and rollover accidents.

The problem, says safety experts, is the lack of funding for research and development into lifelike child test dummies. With the rise of overweight children, seats made just a few years ago to hold children up to 65 pounds are now marketed for those up to 85 pounds.

[Source: The Washington Post]

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan has had a devastating effect on its people. Not only have many people lost their homes and loved ones, many companies are out of work as they struggle to get their businesses up and running.

Japan’s major car companies have also been badly hit due to this disaster. Toyota and Honda have still not started their operations, and will stay shut over the weekend, due to a shortage of parts coming from suppliers, which were situated in areas most badly hit by this recent disaster.

Other Japanese car firms have slowly started production, but mainly to finish the cars on the assembly line and make use of the parts that were already in their inventory. Nissan is hoping for a March 24 restart, which includes the Tochigi assembly plant that makes cars like the 370Z and the GT-R.

Mitsubishi has resumed production, but says it has parts to last them up to Wednesday, and will suspend production until the supplier issue is solved. Mazda, Suzuki and Subaru are in an identical situation.

Let’s all hope the nation of Japan and its people recover from this catastrophe and rebuild their homes and industry as soon as possible.

[Source: Automotive News]

Rumors of a new uber sedan from Audi have been circulating for quite some time, badged as the A9 and slotting in above the brand’s current flagship model, the A8. According to a new report by Auto Bild, the A9 is getting the go-ahead, but it won’t be a 4-door. Instead, plans are to build an A9 Coupe, rivaling the likes of the Mercedes CL.

Similar power plants to those found in the A8 could be used, as could a new turbocharged V8 that Audi is working on.

Previous reports had suggested the A9 would be more of a CLS rival and retain 4-doors, with coupe-like styling, but this new info suggests and exciting direction for Audi, offering a vehicle that sits as a stepping-stone to the Bentley Continental GT.

If it does get the go-ahead, look for an A9 Coupe some time around 2014.

[Source: Autobild]

OK, so this car doesn’t actually belong to Chuck Norris, but you’ll forgive us for saying so once you read the for sale ad placed by the owner.

The man of mystery behind this powerhouse of Symmetrical all-wheel drive has scribed a piece of prose that, we’d guess, is only superseded in awesomeness by the car itself – not to mention its future owner.

Rather than a conventional for sale spot, this ad for a 1998 Subaru Impreza Wagon reads like a work of literature, with the author promising that, “if it was possible for a vehicle to sprout chest hair and a five o’clock shadow, this Subaru would look like Tom Selleck.”

But it doesn’t end there. No, this Subie is described as a “fire breathing, dragon slaying, nazi killing hero,” that was “engineered by 3rd degree ninja pirate super-warriors in the highest mountains of Japan.”

That’s not to say the important details have been overlook, as it does come with a first-aid kit that includes, “A pint of whiskey, a stitch-your-own-wound kit and a hunk of leather to bite down on when you’re operating on yourself.”

The seller is located in Barrie, Ontario (just north of Toronto), and does indicate the ‘Baru’ has 183,000 km and (as all awesome cars do) comes with a manual transmission.

For 2,500 bucks, it seems like a sweet deal. So grab your best Three Wolf Moon Shirt and forget that Cavalier in the driveway because, according to the ad, this car, “will live on as a monument to your machismo.”

[Source: Kijiji]

Koenigsegg has kept the full and official specifications on the Agera R well under wraps, leading many to wonder just how super this supercar would be. But now it’s all fully disclosed and it may just live up to its billing.

According to the Swedish supercar maker, the Agera R will accelerate to 62-mph from a standstill in a mere 2.9 seconds, while 124-mph is just around the corner in 7.5 seconds. And for those wondering how its braking performance is, the Agera R turns in a 0-124-0 time in 12.7 seconds.

To maximize the Agera R’s performance, E85 ethanol is required in order for the 5.0L V8 to push out 1,115-hp. On 95-octane, the Agera R will put out 940-hp while 98-octane providers 1,050-hp. Top speed is rated at over 261-mph.

There are even a variety of options that will be available for the Agera R, from front winglets to heated seats to an Inconel exhaust system and winter wheel package. No pricing is announced, but we’re sure it’ll be well towards (or over) the $1.5 million mark.

GALLERY: Koenigsegg Agera R

GALLERY: Koenigsegg Agera R Debut in Geneva

Since going fast on public roads is both stupid and dangerous, not to mention illegal, more people are turning towards track days for their speed thrills. This has increased the demand for track-day specials like the Caterham 500 and the Ariel Atom. Now there will be a new kid on the block, fighting for your attention.

It’s called the Mono and it’s from Britain’s newest car company, Briggs Automotive Company (BAC), and from the looks of this first product, they mean business. The Mono is a single-seater sportscar that weighs just 1,188 lbs. and is powered by a Cosworth developed 2.3-liter engine. Max output is 280 hp at 7700 rpm and 207 lb-ft of torque at 6000 rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox, same as the ones used in F3 race cars.

As you could imagine, its performance numbers are quite impressive. 0-60 mph takes just 2.8 seconds, while top speed is quoted at 170 mph.

BAC hopes to sell around 50 examples of the Mono this year, with prices starting at $108,600. That is certainly not cheap, so only time will tell how the buying public will respond to this latest track attack vehicle.

Every year over in Houston, Texas, Toyota Supras from all over the nation gather at the Lonestar Motorsports Park for a weekend of motorsports festivities. It begins with a Dyno Day then a weekend of test-n-tune and drag racing. Over the years, every big player in the Supra industry has shown up with Florida heavyweights Titan Motorsports and Big Daddy being no exceptions to the rule. This year however, there was plenty more excitement when the two MKIV Supras took to the track.

Titan’s Supra has really been shoved aside for their full race program, with it only making select appearances yearly. One thing’s for sure, they never miss the Texas event with their infamous Copper Supra. Their day started out just fine, rolling out a 7.75 @ 178 mph pass as they made the rounds in the Unlimited Class. Fast forward to the end of the day and Titan found themselves in the final against fellow Florida rival, Big Daddy.

Big Daddy knew they’d have to be on their A-game to topple Titan’s giant, but unfortunately they might have pushed the pedal a little too hard as their Supra goes out of control, flying through the center line and into Titan’s lane slamming into the wall. Titan’s driver, Gary White, was able to escape with minimal damage to the car (though it’s still not a pretty sight) and luckily both drivers were just fine after the accident.

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: Titan Motorsports Blog]

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You could be the proud regretful owner of a Bugatti Veryron, for what is certain to be a fraction of the cost of a new model. No, we’re not talking about a Fiero kit car, but a real Veyron. There’s just one issue, it’s got a salvage title given by the insurance company when the owner famously confused it with a submarine.

Likely you recall the story (and video) of the Veyron that wound up in a Texas lake in 2009. You might also recall that this wasn’t even fresh water, but that ultra-corrosive salt water. Worse still, the owner kept the car running – although its not clear if the engine was ruined.

The car is technically a write-off however, meaning that the insurer saw the price of repairing it as more than the car is worth. And when you consider it retails for roughly $1.5 million when it was new – that’s one seriously expensive accident.

From the outside it doesn’t look half bad, apart from a missing headlight and the Bugatti badge that’s falling off. Treat those as an omen, however, as inside the wiring looks to be a mess and some shots show the salt water has already begun its rusty journey to return the Veyron to its more basic elements.

Not scared away? Then hit the link below to bid. Offers are being accepted until Wednesday at 9 a.m.

GALLERY: Bugatti Veyron Salvage Title

[Source: bidisausa.com via Jalopnik]

And hit the jump for that famous video:

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With a debut of the next-generation GS rumored for the New York Auto Show, Lexus has now confirmed as much, with the planned debut of the LF-Gh Concept in the Big Apple.

The naming suggests the new luxury sedan will in fact be a hybrid, keeping true to the Lexus philosophy. And while Toyota uses hybrid technology to enhance fuel economy, the Lexus plan ads electrification as a way to deliver serious power with reduced emissions. That being said, expect solid performance from this new luxury machine.

Look for full details and photos April 19th, and keep up to date on all the New York Auto Show reveals here.

Ferrari has quietly responded to recent allegations that it unfairly preps its vehicles used by journalists – particularly when it comes to comparison articles. Rather than give respected auto journalist Chris Harris’s shocking article (published by Jalopnik) credibility though an official release, the Italian automaker responded in what amounts to rebuttal article written by The Telegraph‘s Andrew English.

Ferrari communications director Sefano Lai denies all of Harris’s charges, including that the Prancing Horse fiddles with suspension setups or engine electronics on press cars. He then goes a step further, commenting that, “I think Chris has done more harm to himself than to Ferrari.” That seems unlikely, however, with claims that Ferrari ‘fixes’ cars lighting up the blogosphere, while Harris seems to have gained credibility and notoriety beyond what he has already earned as a professional auto journalist.

Lai even comments that when it comes to eking out every last second from a car, “For most Ferrari owners, these things are not important.” Many of the Ferrari faithful will no doubt be offended by this remark, even if it has more than a grain of truth to it.

Ferrari couldn’t have hand-picked a better piece for a rebuttal, with the larger scope of the article essentially a history of how automakers have cheated to get the best result from auto journalists and judges.

Reading the piece its hard not to feel sympathy for the Prancing Horse. That is, after all, the point of rhetoric.

While seemingly innocent, the piece is little more than a classic example of the ‘Two Wrongs Make a Right’ logical fallacy. Or to put it more bluntly for anyone who skipped Journalism 100: just because others cheat, it doesn’t justify your cheating – which, according to Lai, Ferrari isn’t doing anyway.

Should you feel sympathetic for Ferrari? One would think so, as that does seem to be the larger point of the piece. Should you be sympathetic? If you believe what Harris has to say, the answer is: hardly.

[Source: The Telegraph]