A recent list highlighting the most American Made-in-America cars list both the first and spots as belonging to Japanese automakers. (See here for why). But when it comes to what automakers offer the most vehicles manufactured or assembled right here in the U.S. of A., it’s the domestics that come out on top.

Topping the list it’s a tie between Chevrolet and Ford, which each produce 12 models here. Second place does, however, belong to Toyota with nine. Third place is also a tie between Honda and GM truck-brand GMC each with eight. (And yes, we’re also struggling to think of eight different GMC models).

As for that other domestic automaker, Fiat-owned Chrysler, it builds just one vehicle, the 200, in America. (The bailout critics won’t like to hear that).

Looking at the bigger picture, Chrysler is redeemed somewhat, with 12 models accounted for when you include both the Dodge and Jeep brands. Ford and Lincoln combined bring FoMoCo’s total to 14, while General Motors dominates the list with a total of 27 made-in-America cars and trucks.

[Source: ConsumerReports]

Yu Muroga was driving along peacefully in Japan when the earthquake and tsunami hit. We’re not quite sure why he had a HD camera running on the dashboard, but we’re certainly amazed by the footage it captured.

Even though the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan needs no real introduction, very few videos have surfaced that showed the incident from this point-of-view. In fact, watching the video is a pretty surreal experience, something you’d expect out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

It starts off with an unsuspecting in-car point-of-view as the earthquake rocks the earth. It’s worth mentioning that the footage probably didn’t capture the huge one, but rather one of the aftershocks before the actual tsunami came. As the car pushed on to wherever it was trying to head to, the tsunami hits and flooding occurs. From there it’s heartbreaking to see people getting stuck in their cars or climbing to the roofs of their cars seeking refuge from the oncoming flood. It’s really something else to see cars floating around in a sea of water helplessly and how devastating the events were in Japan over three months ago.

Check out the video after the break. Continue Reading…

Porsche has more overall wins than any other automaker at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the German automaker plans to add one more victory to its list in 2014. That’s the year Porsche has announced it will re-enter the series in the top-tier LMP1 class, with a new factory-backed prototype race car.

“Motorsport was always an essential part of the Porsche brand” said Matthias Müller, President of the Executive Board at Porsche AG. “So for us it was only a matter of time before we returned as a factory to the top league of racing. Porsche’s successes in Le Mans are unrivalled. We want to follow up on this with the 17th outright victory.”

Porsche’s last success in the LMP1 class at Le Mans came in 1998 with the 911 GT1. Since then the team has had a successful LMP2 Class run in the American Le Mans Series and even raced those cars at Le Mans. Recently Porsche has had success with its 911s in the GT Class category and has been testing a new GT3 R Hybrid. That hybrid technology could become the backbone of the LMP1 program with Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport, commenting that, “the integration of our hybrid technology in the vehicle concept is one possible option.”

The automaker has released the below video on its YouTube channel, highlighting its success at what is likely the world’s most famous racing event. Watch the video after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Lotus is planning to build a Exige-based rally car that it will debut later this year at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The decision to enter the pro-rallying ranks is the latest move by the British sports car maker to further expand its motorsports activities that currently stretch from GT car racing at Le Mans to Formula 1 and Indy Car.

Reports are unclear as to weather this race car will share parts with the now-discontinued Exige, or if it will be an all-new chassis (likely based on the Evora platform).

According to CAR Magazine, Lotus’s ambitions aren’t to compete at the top-tier, but instead the RWD rally car will be built to drive in a class below the Super 2000 category.

It’s not yet clear if Lotus will enter a factory-backed team in either the WRC or IRC rally series, and instead may rely on selling prepped-cars to independent teams.

The Frankfurt show car will be ready for racing duty by January 2012 and in order to meet homologation standards at least 300 versions of the car will have to be built for street use.

[Source: CAR]

There are a few guarantees when it comes to a new Porsche. For one, you can guarantee that it will feature the highest technological advancements that focused German engineering can achieve, all measured by Nürburging lap-slaying metrics.

And you can also guarantee that Porsche will evolve its 911 as slowly as actual evolution, slavishly keeping to tradition: its flat-six engine will be imprisoned behind the rear wheels and that it will look exactly the same as the last one. Because if it didn’t, imagine the wrath of legions of Porsche fans. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria! However, the specs recently released on the next 911—known internally and to enthusiasts as the 991—should appease the masses.

The new Porsche will be slightly longer than the last one, by 2.2 inches but 4 inches in wheelbase. Sources with Porsche’s engineering team believe this is to accommodate a possible hybrid system. But for now, the venerable flat-six gets direct injection and a 3.4-liter, 350 horsepower engine in the base Carrera that’s shared with the Boxster, while the Carrera S gets 3.8 liters and 400 horsepower. The manual transmission gains a cog to 7, and the doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK, in less Germanic terms) will also have the same number of gears.

Performance will be similar to that of the current model, with a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds for the base Carrera and a top speed of 186mph. But what’s more, the 991 will be 12-15% more fuel efficient, and lighter by 55 pounds—so those times may be even more forgiving. According to Porsche, the 991 Carrera ran the Nürburgring in 8:04, and the Carrera S 7:50. Those figures will be the source of much contentious debate when the next 911 debuts in September, though hopefully without ghostly or otherworldly implications.

Look for the 2012 Porsche 911 to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September.

[Source: Car & Driver via TeamSpeed]

The leader in hybrid technology, Toyota will make a big push into further electrifying its fleet when it begins retails sales of the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, as well as two fully electric vehicles, next year. Toyota has confirmed that along with the Prius PHEV, it will begin selling an electric version of the RAV4 compact crossover, as well as a fully-electric version of the Scion iQ mini-car.

Toyota has partnered with Tesla Motors and displayed the RAV4 EV Demonstration Vehicle at the LA Auto Show last year, using the start-up American electric car company’s battery technology. The vehicle weights 220-lbs more than the standard model, but has acceleration on-par with its gasoline counterpart and manages to retain all of the 74 cu-ft of cargo room. Toyota is targeting a 100 mile range.

The second full-EV to hit dealers will be an electric version of the Scion iQ, with a gasoline-powered version arriving later this year. Using lithium-ion batteries under the floor it will retain the 3+1 passenger layout and improve the car’s center of gravity. Toyota is targeting a 65 mile range for this vehicle, designed for inter-city use.

Before those, however, Toyota will take its next step in developing the Prius, releasing the Prius PHEV. With a lithium-ion battery pack it will deliver 12 miles of emissions-free driving before operating more like a conventional hybrid. It isn’t expected to get nearly the same efficiency as the Chevy Volt, but will be priced just slightly higher than the conventional Prius, making it a higher-volume, more mainstream model.

The Supreme Court will rule on whether or not law enforcement officers need a warrant in order to track a suspect’s vehicle with a GPS device.

This case is based on Antoine Jones, whose vehicle was being tracked for a month without his consent or consent from the justice department. The police are arguing that tracking should not require a warrant because the location of a vehicle on public streets is public knowledge. The others are arguing that this type of surveillance is an unjust invasion of privacy. However, Jones was caught selling cocaine when his vehicle was being monitored.

Lower courts have agreed with Jones’ attorneys regarding privacy, however there is a precedent for allowing evidence to be obtained through warrantless GPS tracking.

[Source: Autoblog]

Chrysler is playing with the idea of returning to international GT competition with the next generation of Viper. Chysler dominated with the original Viper in the GTS class with wins at Le Mans 24 Hours from 1998-2000. The American automaker is looking at the possibility of taking on BMW, Ferrari, Chevrolet and Porsche in the GTE category.

Riley Technologies has been commissioned to undertake a technical analysis of the new Dodge Viper which will be available in 2013. The same company, produced the title-winning Grand-Am chassis for the past eight years.

“We are investigating some things and seeing what is out there, although no decision has been made yet. We have to be very careful about what we do”, said Chrysler’s motorsport manager Gary Johnson.

[Source: Auto Sport]

Audi may decide to produce a high performance ‘RS’ version of the Q3 complete with a 300-hp version of the same engine found in the TT RS.

The engine has the potential to crank out 503-hp when pushed to the limit but expect it to be more tame for the compact crossover.  Suspension modifications as well as a bodykit and custom interior pieces are expected to accompany to high output engine. Sources through Auto Motor and Sport have revealed that the Q3 Rs is coming, at least in Europe but we should keep out fingers crossed. If the crossover does go into production, expect to see it in the fall of 2012.

[Source: Motor Authority]