General Motors may be testing the EN-V mobility concept vehicles in its Detroit hometown. GM North America President Mark Ruess said that Detroit would be a “perfect” area to test the futuristic machines.

If you’re a connoisseur of fine automobiles, you have to be conscious about how you present yourself. It’s not enough to drive the car – you need to embody the lifestyle. From the tips of your shoes, right down to the watch on your wrist, you’re a style plate for your ride of choice. And if your have a 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, there’s a wrist watch made just for you.

Volvo has just released a fascinating new version of their OnCall app for iPhone and Android phones that provides the owner with a range of beneficial features. The features include a car locator, incase you forget where you parked, remote door lock or vehicle health check. This app works on 2012 Volvo models and can be downloaded for free.

Ken Block isn’t only getting his hands dirty piloting his Ford Fiesta to ridiculous fame. He’s teamed up with SPY Optic to come out with a limited edition collection of shades with unmistakable Ken Block style.

Kick up your heels in the new MINI Union Jack Sneakers. These cool hi-top kicks are the latest addition to the MINI Lifestyle Collection.

Meet Aaron Prevost, age 20. He’s a skilled mechanic who specializes in mainly European cars, and he’s been working on them since the tender age of 10. And yet he can’t drive a car—on account that he’s legally blind.

Prevost was born with a damaged optical nerve, and attends a school for the blind with his older brother, who has the same condition. As a mechanic, he’s fully aware of the difference between knowing how something works and feeling it firsthand. But only now does he get to experience the act of driving, something we tend to take for granted, at Mosport International Raceway behind the wheel of a new Porsche Boxster.

Selling cars is kind of big business for Nissan. Taking advantage of social media to reach all those trendy kids these days is merely a part of that. And in the 20 years that marketing communications director Erich Marx has been at Nissan, he’s seen the changes in how people reach out to others, and how companies reach out to customers.

So here’s how not to hawk Altimas on Twitter: “It’s not about selling vehicles tomorrow, it’s not about a $179 lease on a Nissan car. It’s about building value so if we can offer our customers something that’s of interest or of value to them.” In an interview with Ad Age, Marx details some secrets (well, some of them seem pretty straightforward) of working in the social media biz.

With auto/gamer enthusiast eagerly awaiting the release of Forza Motorsport 4 for XBOX 360, they will be happy to know an new element to the gameplay has been implemented to enhance the experience. Head-Tracking is the brand new feature offered through the Kinect system, allowing the gamer to lean in and out of corners as well as look in different directions from within the cockpit by moving your head.

For those not familiar with Kinect, it is basically a motion sensing device based loosely on a webcam that allows users to control gaming actions with their movements, rather than pushing buttons on a regular joystick.

The head-tracking feature allows the driver to look through the turn, which as any professional driving instructor will tell you, is a vital action when executing an apex turn.

The Kinect head tracking element looks pretty interesting. Check out the video after the jump!

The California Court of Appeal has ruled that drivers do not need to use their turn signals if no other car is nearby. A three-judge panel found that La Habra Police Officer Nick Wilson was in the wrong when he pulled over Paul David Carmona, Jr. after the accused made a right-hand turn without signaling in his Chevy.

As if KISS action figures and PEZ dispensers are not enough, the band has branded MINI Countrymen, although for a good cause. MINI teamed up with the quartet to customize the countryman for charity. All four band members have applied their trademark style to the exterior of the 2011 Minis.

You can’t afford to buy a Porsche, so you buy the next best thing – Porsche merchandise. It’s cheaper, right? Not so much, especially when it comes to this Porsche watch.

With the Gumball 3000 already underway (it started May 26), the folks in charge of the international parade of shenanigans has released a video showing the rally’s start in Covent Garden, London. The 19 minute video shows over 100 of the most magnificent and rare supercars in the world. Even the rain couldn’t stop the massive crowd that gathered to watch the beginning of the world’s most fun and most glamorous rally.

The 3000 mile rally will start in London and end in Istanbul over a seven day period across 10 countries, via Paris, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Milan, Venice, Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia. It was also revealed that the 2011 rally would cost £25,000 to take part in.

Participants include the “who’s who” of the international social scene, Sheikhs, entrepreneurs, oil tycoons, and dot com billionaires.

The incredible line up includes Pagani Zondas, Bugatti Veyrons, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Aston Martins, Jaguars, Porsches, Morgans and several Lotus’, and this year, over 20 eco and concept electric cars are taking part as Gumball enters a new decade of green motoring!

Check out the video after the jump!

They may be a little too big to fit into your pocket, but that doesn’t make the Pocket Classics any less fun. Nope, they aren’t dinky cars – these mini zoomers are half-scale replicas of classics cars, ones you can actually ride around in… and a little less costly (but only by a little bit).

With his vast wealth, he can afford to buy any kind of car he wishes to have. So some might be surprised to learn that he is an avid American car fan. To be more precise, he prefers Cadillacs.

17th century Scottish writer William Shenstone once said, “nothing is certain in London but expense.” He should be lucky there weren’t cars back in his era, or he would have spit out his haggis: the average cost of insuring a new driver in Ol’ Blighty is around $10,000 a year.

It’s just three days away and what better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the running of the Indianapolis 500 than by buying a shiny (and expensive) new watch?

Hyundai– Kia will outsell Toyota and Honda in May sales, according to TrueCar. TrueCar expects Hyundai-Kia to sell 115,434 units in May. This number represents an increase of 43.4 percent over May 2010 making the Korean group a 10.9 percent market share putting it number three behind Ford and GM.

To capitalize on India’s new found wealth, Ferrari has now officially opened doors to its first ever dealership in the country. The dealership is located in the city of New Delhi, a city best known for its Bollywood film studios.

An international gang of thieves operating in New York City managed to steal nearly 300 vehicles, shipping them off around the globe before finally being busted by police.

A poll has just been released asking Americans to rate their likelihood of making certain lifestyle changes based on different hypothetical gas prices. 57 percent of respondents refused to consider buying an “electric car that you could only drive for a limited number of miles at one time” no matter how high gas prices go.

20 years ago, buying a Hyundai (and a used one at that) was seen as a sign of failure, as Glengarry Glen Ross alluded to. Now, mercifully, not so much. And to reiterate this bit of pop-culture-driven consumer advice, Hyundai is offering three months of free XM satellite radio on all Hyundais within their Certified Pre-Owned program.

The headline could have also read “finally, a Honda with some torque.” Ok, we kid. But the mere existence of a rear-wheel-drive Acura Integra with a blown 454 Chevy big-block says two things: 1.) you can turn anything into a Pro Street racer with enough knuckle sweat, and 2.) always follow your dreams, kids.

The impressive Integra was reportedly built by Pro Street Unlimited, based in Manchester NH, and features a manual transmission, a belt-driven supercharger, electric blue paint and a sound like God’s Own Cuisinart. Rumors that this car is the current prototype for the next NSX are still unsubstantiated.

[Source: 1A Auto Blog]

Watch the video after the jump:

Earlier today, Volkswagen launched its “Think Blue” campaign in the U.S. VW’s aim is to “encourage eco-friendly mobility and progressive ideas for responsible action in everyday life”.

It’s been over 100 years, and French watchmaker Saint Honoré has blessed the world with some unforgettable designs. Now, they’ve turned their sights on car racing and created a watch to go along with their new obsession – the Haussman Forty 7-24 watch.

It’s Monday morning and all you want to do is nurse that coffee and hope the day goes by fast. What would inspire you to get work done? How about working at a Bugatti-inspired Executive Desk? But before you put in the Staples order, you’d better get it signed off by your boss. Trust us.

After years of teasing us with concept car after tantalizing concept car, Toyota is finally set to unveil a street version of all those FR sports cars—but with one minor change: this one doesn’t have an engine.

You may not have been around to be a hippy in the 1960s, but it’s not too late to enjoy the pleasures of the VW Camper Van. Only this time around, it’s a little more environmently friendly.

Ferrari launched its first official store in Barcelona, coinciding with Spanish driver Fernando Alonso’s, Formula one contract extension, set to last until 2016.

Now that Hublot and Formula 1 have been partners for a year, we’ve seen a few impressive timepieces thanks to this collaboration. And now it’s time for another special edition to make its way to us – take a look at the Hublot Formula 1 King Power Ceramic Watch.

Another day, another themed product push from Disney. With the release of Cars 2 just around the corner (June 24), Disney is pumping out the licensed products just as fast as we can buy them up. And today, it’s a cool set of earbuds we wouldn’t mind getting our hands on.

Two car designers, one classic BMW, and one of the most infamous road races in the world—sounds ripe for a buddy comedy from the 80s, but it was actually the 2011 Mille Miglia: featuring BMW designer Adrian van Hooydonk, Swiss industrial designer Alfredo Häberli, and a classic 1930s BMW 328.

Honda is looking for the next great songwriter, the one that can capture in lyrics the emotions of the human condition. Or at least someone to sing about the new Civic.

Chu said that the DOE is currently funding research to lower the cost of electric-vehicle batteries by half within the next three or four years, and increase their energy density trifold within six years. Currently, America only builds 1% of advanced batteries in the world, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will invest in more battery research and create more manufacturing plants, securing more jobs.

Everybody needs a little bling for their cuffs and key rings. And if you’re all about being stylish and subtle, try the Maserati Masterpiece and Circle collection on for size.

A trade group representing Detroit’s three automakers as well as Toyota is currently urging the Obama administration to say no to a proposal that could mandate a 62-mpg CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) industry standard by 2025.

A multi-tool that lets you store up to six keys, the Keyport features a separate slider for each key that can be pushed out when it’s needed. Those slots can also be used to attach a USB slider, LED flashlight and a bottle opener.

Starting from $49, the Keyport is available in different colors and is made using stainless-steel construction. Add to that the fee of $4.99 per key, as the Keyport will have them cut and placed onto the slider blades for you. And that’s just for the regular keys – if you need a chipped key, it’ll cost you $20.

For more information, you can check out MyKeyport.com, or watch to see one in action after the jump.

[Source: Autoblog]

Those of you who will become stranded in an Audi, never fear: the Audi Roadside App is here!

After losing around 70 percent of his ‘fun money’ savings, former Ford Employee Gary Mueller found a unique way to enjoy his retirement, delivering large recreational camper trailers to their owners across North America.

Back in the mid-1970s BMW recruited artists to paint their race cars, which eventually lead them do some road-cars. Artists such as Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder did one-off designs which brought both the car-maker and the artists much publicity. However, all the art-cars commissioned by BMW themselves sit in a museum and are unlikely to ever be sold.

Students from London’s Royal College of Art (RCA) are striking a pose with Bentley with a series of designs inspired by the iconic British auto manufacturer.

A fitting remembrance to former racecar driver Luigi Macaluso, Girard-Perregaux has released a signature timepiece that was designed for racing enthusiasts – the R&D 01.

During the National Corvette Museum’s  annual C5/C6 gathering last Friday, Executive Director Wendell Strode announced, at an evening banquet hosted for donors that had pledged $1,000 or more; that the Museum’s Motorsports Park Project had acquired an additional 92 acres of land for the development of the track, supplementing the original 70 acres set aside for it.

It’s billed as the world’s largest motor racing festival and the 2011 event, which will take place on 22-24 July was officially announced in style.

What will Manhattan look like in 2030? Get your multipasses ready, because Audi has an idea—it’ll be green, multicultural, and certainly involve four rings.
Opening at the New Museum at the Bowery, the exhibit brings designers, architects, and artists together to form a unified vision of what life will be like in less than 20 years, with five prominent New York architecture firms concentrating on one section of the island. The exhibit features a 1:1200 rendering of the Manhattan of 2030, with an Inception-like rendering of the island folding upon itself.

Finally, a Techart for the rest of us: those who can’t afforrd their hyper-fast, garishly-colored, modded Porsche s.

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It seems to be the latest thing for corporations to be liked or get fans via official Facebook pages. However, in some cases the idea appears to have clearly worked.

Over the past 13 years, the Gumball 3000 has been in the news for plenty of good and bad reasons, and they are set to party on the road once again.

While it may seem that Apple’s iPhone continues to dominate the smart phone market, Google’s Android is actually the more popular operating system. So naturally, many app developers and companies are slowly creating variants of their iPhone/iPad apps to work on Google’s Android system. Included in that list is radar detector company Cobra.

All 2011 and 2012 BMW models will be able to stream Pandora Internet radio through the car’s controls, which is good news for potential owners with an iPhone and the app itself.

There’s an urban legend that Mitsubishi originally wanted to name the Starion, the ultra-80s turbo terror, the “Stallion,” only to FUBAR the translation. Say what you will about  stereotypical Japanese pronunciation—somebody at Lexus isn’t helping that cliché.

Well, you can’t afford the real thing, and chances are, you can’t afford the replica either. We’d all like to get behind the wheel of a 1960 Ferrari 250 California Spyder SWB, but let’s face it – unless a magic lamp falls out of the sky to grant us three wishes, there’s no way we could afford the real thing, and as it turns out, even a 1:8 scale replica.

Forbes Magazine, that bastion of automotive truth and cutting-edge opinion, has released their annual list of bottom-feeders, scam products, and they still build those? malarkey known as the annual Worst Cars On The Road list.

Forbes consulted the results of six Consumer Reports studies, including those about reliability, safety, fuel economy, cost of ownership, and overall new car scores. And among the list of terrible, hopeless products that your grandparents might buy without an ounce of research, the list includes such luminaries as the Nissan Titan, 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and Smart Fortwo.

But the rest of the list is bad news for decent American taxpayers—with the exception of those three models, the next 8 cars are all imported from Detroit.

Chrysler‘s 2011 Town & Country ranked terribly for reliability (hooray, kids, no school!) and cost of ownership. The Jeep Liberty and Wrangler made the list for the same reasons, with the Wrangler ranking among CR‘s own Worst Vehicles list. And even though the Dodge Nitro and Dakota haven’t been relevant since Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? first aired, they too earned their trophies.

For General Motors, the Chevrolet Aveo and Colorado are so long in the teeth that they’re wooly mammoths at this point; the Aveo being replaced with the Sonic this year. After being in production for 9 and 7 years, respectively, it’s like kicking a man when he’s already sprawled on the ground.

Ford escaped the list completely, which might say a thing or two about government spending. Insert your own rant here, then click the jump to view the entire list.

[Source: Forbes]

The famous fashion designer is known for having great taste in design, and looking at his old car, we have to agree. This example, which currently sits at the Classic Car Gallery in Southport, CT., is in beautiful condition inside and out. In black on black with a factory whale-tail spoiler, the car looks menacing. The dealer also points out that the 3.2-liter flat-six engine has always been very well maintained and the clutch feels like new. Given Mr. Klein’s bank account has been quite healthy for several decades now, he obviously spared no expense in keeping his precious ride in tip top shape.

The Steve McQueen nostalgia binge rolls on, with the news that legendary London auction house Bonham’s is putting up the King of Cool’s 1971 Husqvarna 400 for auction.

You may not be a racecar driver, but that doesn’t mean you can look like one. No, we don’t think it’s a good idea to wear a Nomex suit adorned with logos everywhere you go, but we like the new Edox X-Treme Pilot III, a watch made for WRC drivers.

Mini is following in the footsteps of Audi and designing its own line of bicycles. And in the interests of smallness, the bicycles are designed to be folded—perfect for today’s clogged cities.

The Mini Folding Bicycle features a lightweight aluminum frame that collapses in a matter of seconds: the crossbar, seat, handlebars and pedals fold into each other for easy carrying from a subway to the trunk of a Countryman. The entire bicycle only weighs 24 pounds and still manages to sport 8 gears, 20-inch wheels, mud guards, a gel seat, a cute bell, and a Teflon-coated chain that won’t get your suit dirty when you inevitably get tangled while trying to fold it up.

Like most folding bicycles, it won’t be cheap at 500 Euros (approximately $729), but it’s still cheaper than getting your Mini Cooper impounded for the 3rd time in a row from a tow zone.

Look for it available online and at select Mini dealerships in August this year. And if you can’t wait that long, click the jump for the press release and specifications.

Toyota Motor Sales USA has announced that it will be offering a new Online Ordering system for the Prius Plug-in hybrid.

You want it all… you just can’t afford it. But what you can afford is the Luxury Toys For Men book that is full of toys you will never own.

We think if you ask nicely, your wife will let you decorate your home with pieces from the Fiat 500 Design Collection. And just like the car, this furniture collection is designed to save space while making a bold style statement.