In the interest of fairness, we do think it’s incredibly difficult to market a new car. After all, how are you supposed to get attention from prospective buyers — especially when your latest city car is geared toward the youngest demographic possible?

Audi is trying to coax a few more eyeballs onto their A1 city car by releasing Beat Driver (iTunes link), an iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad game. The purpose? Steer through a fictional landscape (think F-Zero or Wipeout), drive into pulsating blocks, get powerups, and avoid the dreaded black “X” block.

As an avid iPhone users, we immediately downloaded and fired up the game — and were pleasantly surprised to find a track by Canadian band Metric (“Gold Guns Girls”) as one of the in-game songs. Torpedo, Tommy Sparks, The Music, White Lies, The Rakes, La Roux, The Fall, and Lo-F-Fnk also contribute tracks.

After a quick test drive, here’s the verdict: the music is good, but the game is awful. It’s a tired concept that doesn’t make use of any features of the iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad platform, and was clearly cranked out for some middle manager at a marketing firm to tout its success through numbers of downloads.

And despite an “international high score list,” Facebook, and Twitter integration, it comes off as a desperate attempt to pander to the “cool kids” that Audi so desperately wants in the A1.

They say the best things in life are free…but they haven’t seen the incredible RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580. Designed to run the Unlimited Class at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the PM580 is basically a Le Mans-style prototype racer — with all-wheel-drive. And at least 650 horsepower.

Hyundai sent out a preview of the car, but, well, we weren’t expecting this. Let’s hear from Rhys Millen, the car’s designer and racer who will tackle the mountain this summer.

“We are building a car for today’s road,” said Millen “The car will have a sleek aerodynamic body, the grip of Toyo Proxy tires and the power and durability of a Hyundai engine. This is the package I need to break the record.”

By any estimation, the vehicle should be ballistic. A target weight of 1,850 lbs. — less than a Lotus Elise — ensures the 650+ horsepower 4.1-liter turbocharged Hyundai Lambda engine won’t go to waste. Also part of the package is an active rear wing to allow a more slippery profile on straights, plus a Quaife active center differential. Hyundai and RMR believe this setup will help the car transition from asphalt and dirt, something the 12.42 mile course does numerous times. 

Let’s make no mistake: Hyundai is gunning for the outright Pikes Peak record. The current world record holder is Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima, who ran a 10:01.41 on the 12.42-mile course in an extremely modified Suzuki back in 2007. Tajima’s time bested the standing world record of 10:04.06, se in 1994 by Rhys’ father Rod Millen.

The 2010 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is set for June 27th.

GALLERY: RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580

Click through for the complete specs on this stunning new Pikes Peak race car

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Yes, the above video features a car parking itself. “What’s the big deal,” you ask, seeing as certain Lexus models can already park themselves?

This Passat is different. The car, nick named Junior 2 (Junior being the autonomous Audi TT-S), has been modified by the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Laboratory at Stanford University to valet park itself. The system uses a night vision camera, cruise control radar, and two tiny laser sensors to both navigate through a parking lot, find an empty space, and park. And besides, the Lexus doesn’t entirely part itself, it still requires a driver in the car to operate the pedals – and to push the auto-park button.

After the jump we’ve embedded a second video, taken from the back seat as all of this is taking place. And yes, it’s controlled via an iPhone app. Color us impressed when the system learns how to find us cheap parking…

[Source: BotJunkie]

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What could be better than your readers being involved in a groundbreaking automotive project? That’s exactly what happened to our friend Ben at Bespoke Ventures, who had a reader named Janne thank him for a post about rear mounted radiators…then attach a few photos.

Above is the finished product, the ERA (Electric Race About) electric car from Finland. The ERA will be competing in the upcoming Progressive Auto X-Prize, too.

The car itself, according to Ben, is being developed by Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, spanning more than three years of work. And, without a doubt: this electric car is an absolute stunner.

They’ve gotten support from a variety of companies, including Valmet Automotive, also in Finland. The company not only assembles Porsche Boxster and Cayman models, but had produced a concept called the Valmet Raceabout in 2005. We think they may be related…

Back to the electric car. Here are some (impressive) preliminary specs:

• • Weight: 2,755 lbs (1,250 kg)
• • Drivetrain: AWD
• • 0-60 MPH: Less than five seconds
• • Range: More than 180 miles per charge

We wish the ERA team luck, and hope the vehicle sees series production soon. We’ve pasted a video of the car after the jump. Oh, and readers: if you have something cool in your garage, don’t be afraid to share!

[Source: Bespoke Ventures]

When somebody introduces himself as “Mick Alebon, Senior Production Manager, Leather and Seats Centre of Excellence,” you better sit up straight and listen to what he’s got to say.

As part of a series of preview videos supporting the all-new Bentley Mulsanne, Alebon takes viewers on a tour of the handcrafted materials and craftsmanship that are found in the car.

For example, the wood lacquer is applied in five coats…and is left for three days in order to properly cure.

We can’t say much more about the process — it should be seen to be believed. Click over the jump for the video and feel free to browse the galleries below:

GALLERY: Bentley Mulsanne at Pebble Beach

GALLERY: Bentley Mulsanne Debut in Frankfurt

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It sounds too good to be true…but it isn’t. As part of a new PR campaign for BMW faithful in the Munich area, you can book a tour of the historical city in one of the company’s museum cars.

Sure, they’re chauffeur-driven. But you’ve got the choice of various 1930s BMWs, including 326 and 335 convertibles — as well as a 1950s-era 502 “Baroque Angel.”

You’ll get your money’s worth, too: the route is three hours long (!), starts at the BMW Museum, continues to a tour of BMW Welt, then the 3-Series factory, then a tour of the company’s historic vehicle collection.

After a short break, the chauffeur drives you around town…then to BMW’s flagship showroom for a champagne reception.

They’re even so generous to include a certificate of participation, a gift box, a BMW museum ticket and guide. It’s only €90 (~$120 U.S./CAD) per person. Compare that with a Ring Taxi ride, at €195 ($264 U.S./CAD) per lap. Ouch.

Dates are available to book throughout this year. Call +49 (0)1802-118822 for more details.

Some say he dated Princess Leia, that he once punched Neil Armstrong in a bar fight, and he’s deathly afraid of the Canadarm. All we know is, he’s called Robonaut 2.

This 300 lb. robot, developed by NASA and General Motors, will blast into space as part of mission STS-133 aboard the space shuttle Discovery slated for September. Robonaut 2 is merely a head, two arms, and torso — but was created as a robotic assistant that can work alongside humans.  Robonaut 2 can use human tools, and in the future will be adapted to confront the harsh environment of a space walk. But where, exactly, does General Motors fit into all of this?

GM says its manufacturing engineering team is already working to identify potential applications for R2’s array of vision, motion and sensor technologies that will assist workers in manufacturing operations.

“Our strategy is to develop technologies that can fundamentally change the way we manufacture cars and trucks”, said Kenneth D. Knight, executive director GM Manufacturing Assembly & Automation Center.  ”This includes a focus on developing ways to further support our operators.”

We have a better idea: create a second Robonaut 2 and send it to the moon, along with another lunar rover. General Motors helped NASA make the first rover, and we think a 24/7 “Lunar Race Network” would be the perfect antidote to ever-so-boring home decorating shows.

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“Is that hashish in your race suit, or are you happy to see us?” was probably what Spanish police said to drug smugglers at the helm of a fake Dakar rally truck. The graphics-laden and off-road prepared truck had blended in with support trucks along an official rally route, in hope of delivering its load to the Spanish island of Ibiza in time for the summer party season.

Just what did police find? More than 1,760 lbs (800 kg) of cocaine, 15,000 ecstasy pills, marijuana, guns, and $64,000 U.S. in cash.

“The vehicle had been totally transformed to adapt it to its supposed participation in the competition as a support truck, with publicity and logos of the event painted on its side,” read a police statement.

Its drivers were fully kitted out in race suits, with official-looking route maps and race documents to hide their motives. In total, seven suspects have been arrested, all from Spain.

Since we have no footage of the criminals in action, after the jump we’ve placed a video of a Kamaz Dakar truck hooning in the snow with ex-F1 driver David Coulthard at the wheel.

*Note: the above image is of a Dakar support truck, not the actual one used in the case.

[Source: BBC]

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We love customized MINIs like we love air, so seeing a street art-inspired one from Russia made our hearts go all aflutter. Prepared in a strict limited run of 25 unique cars, the Russian artist Denis Simachëv and Russian tuner TopCar will create each car as a wholly unique vehicle.

The white one, called “Bully,” was a desire to “break the stereotype that MINI is mostly a girl’s car.” Simachëv says:

“This car is created for a real ‘bully’ that is fond of easy money. He likes socializing and is desperate to attend fashionable gatherings and parties. A real ‘party animal’, he is just fooling around and looking for an adventure.”

We love the car, and don’t get what they mean. Maybe Ed Hardy shirts haven’t made it to Russia.

To check out more photos of the “Bully,” plus #2 in the series, “Moscow” (adorned with traditional Russian ‘Khokhloma’ paintings) hop past the jump.

Oh, Apple. Always coming up with ways to improve the user experience.

The picture above is from the 2011 Ford Edge and its groundbreaking MyTouch dashboard, which we’re using because it’s currently the most advanced in-car display. But it looks like everything, plus the kitchen sink, was put onto the screen. The result is very un-Apple like simplicity.

Apple apparently feels they should share some good design with drivers, according to technology site Engadget. In the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0 software exists an “iPod Out” mode, generating a simple menu that’s fed via a video output.

While we can’t comment on the choice of music in the clip below, we will say it looks far nicer (and simpler) than anything a manufacturer has yet shown. While some think this could pave the way for Apple-branded in-car accessories, we say: “Give us an Apple car stereo!”

[Source: Engadget]

See a short clip of the “iPod Out” mode after the jump:

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The future is nearly here. Better Place, a company devoted to developing rapid battery swap systems, will have its first station on-line by May 2010. According to Green Car Advisor, the first Tokyo station will serve Nihon Kotsu, one of the city’s largest taxi firms.

“These taxis average about 300 kilometers [186 miles] a day each, so that’s three battery exchanges for each taxi each day,” said Better Place spokeswoman Julie Mullins. “It will be a 24/7 test of the system.”

This news is significant, as Better Place has agreements to supply infrastructure to a number of countries and regions around the world, including Ontario, Canada; Denmark; Australia; Hawaii; Northern California; Japan, and Israel. Denmark and Israel will be the first countries with a full Better Place battery swap network, in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

“But,” you say, “there aren’t any vehicles on-sale that support such a technology.”

You’d be right, although the Renault Fluence ZE pictured above will be the first vehicle to support the Better Place system. Since Renault and Nissan are essentially the same company, expect to see the first vehicles in North America to support battery swapping to come from Nissan. Unfortunately, the upcoming (on-sale in August) Leaf all-electric car does not support battery swapping.

See a demo of the Better Place system after the jump:

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If you were wondering which U.S. automaker was making the biggest strides toward next-generation powertrain technology, wonder no more.

In a bold move, if you’ll excuse the reference, Ford will be introducing turbocharged engines on some of its largest and smallest vehicles by the end of 2010. Here’s our run down of the increasingly prolific application of EcoBoost motors in the Ford lineup:

• Ford C-Max: 1.6-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost (2010 availability, Europe)
• Ford Explorer: 2.0-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost (2010 availability, North America, preview)
• Ford Edge: 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost (2010 availability, North America, preview)
• Ford Flex: 3.5-liter six-cylinder EcoBoost (on-sale now, review)
• Ford Taurus SHO: 3.5-liter six-cylinder EcoBoost (on-sale now, review)
• Lincoln MKS: 3.5-liter six-cylinder EcoBoost (on-sale now)
• Lincoln MKT: 3.5-liter six-cylinder EcoBoost (on-sale now, review)
• Ford F-150: 3.5-liter six-cylinder EcoBoost (2010 availability, North America)

Ford says they plan on having EcoBoost engines in 90 per cent of the company’s North American models. By 2013, the company will be producing 1.5 million such engines per year. That means you should expect to see the engine pop up in nearly everything, from the Fiesta to the Mustang. Dan Kapp, Ford’s director of powertrain research and advanced engineering says that they’re tuning EcoBoost to deliver better efficiency in future models.

“We are trying to get in front of the pack in leveraging EcoBoost for fuel economy,” Kapp said. “It’s going to be a trend in the industry, and we can’t rest on our laurels for one minute. We are going to keep wringing more efficiency out of EcoBoost.”

Other than EcoBoost, Ford has some exciting technologies on the horizon, including a fully electric version of the Focus, the promise to have 98 per cent of its North American models fitted with six-speed transmissions, and to have 20 per cent of its vehicles worldwide fitted with stop/start systems by 2014. Those systems, which turn off the engine at a stop light (just like a hybrid), can contribute to a five per cent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.

It seems as though Volkswagen enjoys a different sort of success over in Europe.

First, we were surprised to learn that the German automaker produced a limited-edition condiment called Volkswagen Classic Ketchup. Second, we were even more surprised to learn that V-Dub ketchup has been available for years: it was first produced in the 70s as a collaboration with food giant Kraft. Third, we had no idea Volkswagen also produced (and serves) curried sausage to their factory workers.

That curried sausage companion, Volkswagen Spiced Ketchup, was first available for purchase in 1997, with 20,000 bottles sold. How popular is this stuff? They’ve sold more than 100,000 bottles of it in the first 10 weeks of 2010, according to the company. The 1,000-run Classic ketchup variety was produced to celebrate the 40 years of Volkswagen ketchup. Not bad for a sauce…

Techno Classica held in Essen, Germany, is an annual fan event that features classic models, concepts, and race cars from the past that are dusted off and shown. A variety of automakers take part, and we wish there were more events like this here in North America. We looked over this year’s program and noticed Volkswagen was showing an original Golf Country, as well as the Paris-Dakar-winning Iltis (the vehicle also lent its drivetrain to original Audi Quattro prototypes.)

Thanks, Volkswagen. Now we’re craving off-roading and currywurst… Have any of our readers tasted this stuff? Does this car-branded sauce cut the mustard?