Sales of smaller cars are on the rise as the average transaction price for a new vehicle continues to climb, recently hitting an all-time high of $30,748.

In response to these trends, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has conducted a study revealing the proposed 54.5 mpg CAFE standards for 2025 will cause a significant increase in the technology as well as the cost required to build vehicles and, in turn, increase the price for each vehicle. As a result, many potential new-car buyers will be forced out of the market.

According to estimates calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency and NHTSA, the efficiency standards will cause the average retail price of passenger cars and light trucks to increase by nearly $3,000 by 2025. NADA’s study, “The Effect of Proposed MY 2017-2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards on the New Vehicle Market Population,” states that the price hike may be too much for approximately 7 million lower income consumers, such as college students and working families, as they may no longer qualify for auto financing to purchase the more expensive vehicles.

Regarding the 2025 CAFE requirements, Ford dealership owner Don Chalmers said during the NADA press briefing, ”To work, fuel economy improvements must be affordable. While you can mandate what automakers must build, you can’t dictate what customers will buy, nor can you dictate if a bank will make a loan.”

Chalmers continued, “If my customers can’t buy what I’ve got to sell, there are no savings at the gas pump and there is no environmental benefit. If car and truck buyers do not purchase these new products, we all lose.”

Doug Greenhaus, NADA chief regulatory counsel for environment, health, and safety, summed up the sentiment and suggested that the government must better understand the impact of the proposed CAFE regulations on consumers and auto lending before proposing the lofty mpg mandates. Greenhaus urged, “Disregarding vehicle affordability will undermine the environmental and national security benefits the administration is seeking. The proposed MY 2017-2025 fuel economy rules should be deleted until there is a more accurate picture of how prospective buyers will react.”

Devoted to celebrating the history and the culture of automobiles, car museums allow enthusiasts to admire the rarest and most iconic of cars, but don’t forget the “do not touch”  sign.

Now, thanks to the Road, Inc. classic car app, you can touch these cars to your heart’s content… on your iPad. A car museum at your fingertips, the Road Inc. app features an extensive collection of images, videos, sound clips and documentation on 50 carefully selected automobiles, ranging from super cars that broke the status quo to historically significant basic transportation.

While the app was originally sold for about $9.99, developer Pyrolia has now lowered the price to $6.99. A bit more expensive than the average app, Pyrolia also offers a free version, featuring just one out of the fifty vehicles – a Ferrari 250 GTO. If you’re a selective connoisseur and don’t care for all fifty cars, each of the cars can be downloaded for $0.99, or in categorized groups ranging from $1.99 to $3.99.

However you choose to enjoy the app (we recommend just paying $6.99 for the complete collection), we guarantee it will be more enjoyable than any of the table-top magazines you’ll see the next time you find yourself at a waiting room.

GALLERY: Road Inc. car museum app

[Source: MotorAuthority]

Purchase incentives usually involve a zero-percent interest rate, cash back after purchase or no-cost options, but Nissan is going another direction to target families with young children.

One of the problems a family that relies on child seats faces is finding a product that fits both their cars and child. For those of us without kids, it’s easy to assume that all seats fit all cars and kids, right? Wrong.

Continue Reading…

While the Toyota GT86 and Scion FR-S has received a lot of attention from aftermarket outfits during the past couple months, things have been rather quiet from the Subaru BRZ end… until now.

The first aftermarket tuner BRZ has been rendered by Sydney, Australia-based performance company Tunehouse, known for its work on Holdens, Fords, and a variety of German and Japanese imports.

Teaming up with Cosworth, Tunehouse is looking to replace Subaru’s 200-hp boxer engine with a more robust Cosworth 2.6-liter crate motor, equipped with an HKS turbocharger, intercooler, billet crank and flywheel, and finally an EcuTek engine control unit. Tunehouse expects all this work to amount to an output of at least 330-hp . Other pieces of hardware reserved for the BRZ include KW Variant coil-overs, Whiteline stabilizer bars, uprated bushings, and a limited-slip differential. The BRZ will also receive 18-inch Advan wheels wearing Federal RSR tires (245/35R18 front, and 285/30R18 rear).

While the modifications planned for this particular BRZ are quite extensive, Tunehouse’s project is just the beginning of what’s in store for the future, as more and more tuners begin to get their hands on a Subaru and reveal daring projects of their own.

Discuss this story at SubaruBRZForum.com

Black and yellow prancing pony badges have been available in the Chinese car market for 20 years and Ferrari is celebrating the anniversary.

To mark its growing success in the country, the automaker announced the inauguration of a permanent brand exhibition at the Italia Center of the Shanghai World Expo Park. Covering almost two square miles, it designed five specific themes to showcase at the venue.

Between the dedicated Ferrari in China, green technology, product, design, and racing wings, visitors will not only get to see current and past ferrari models, but will also get to admire a rich selection of images and videos made for the exhibition.

Continue Reading…

Self-driving cars aren’t new, but if electric vehicles’ slow adoption rates among U.S. consumers are any measure of new technology acceptance then autonomous cars can’t be close at hand, or can they?

According to a speech given by Larry Burns, former General Motors research and development head, we can expect such technology by 2020. Unless you’ve been ignoring auto news, that sentence might seem strange. We already have cars that drive themselves, even to Taco Bell drive-through windows, courtesy of Google.

Continue Reading…

Despite the commitment of many automakers to go green, consumers do not share the sentiment. According to a Polk study released today, almost two-thirds of U.S. hybrid buyers do not return to the market for another hybrid.

The only exception in the survey is from the best-selling Toyota Prius, receiving a repurchase rate of 41 percent while the repurchase rate among other hybrid buyers has fallen to 22 percent.

From surveys recorded since 2008, customer loyalty ratings for hybrids have been inconsistent. While the loyalty rate for hybrids are at 22 percent now, loyalty once reached 41.8 percent during the second quarter of 2009. By the fourth quarter of 2010, the rate had fallen to 26.4 percent, but had risen back to a total of 35 percent for 2011.

Continue Reading…

The all-new 2013 SRT Viper is without a doubt the star of this year’s New York Auto Show. Boasting big numbers, the Viper’s enormous 8.4-liter V10 engine produces 640-hp. Plus, SRT has announced a factory-backed return of the Viper to the American Le Mans Series and international endurance racing.

But here comes the most important bit of information of all – show your support for the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer and the very first Viper can be yours. The official charity of the American Le Mans Series, the Austin Hatcher Foundation For Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to aid cancer children and their families during the treatment and to provide continuing support throughout survivorship, all services are at no cost to families, and are funded solely buy donation.

The auction for the first 2013 SRT Viper will hold at Barrett-Jackson of Orange County, from June 22-24. Serial #01 vehicles have displayed a historic trend of reaching massive figures by auction end, so it will be exciting to see how much the new Viper can raise for the Austin Hatcher organization.

Co-founder of Austin Hatcher Foundation Dr. Jim Osborn said, “We are very excited that the first production Viper be auctioned at Barrett- Jackson Orange County to benefit the many families faced with pediatric cancer. We just can’t thank Mr. Gilles and his team enough.”

GALLERY: 2013 SRT Viper

Riding on the heels of April 1, better known as April Fool’s Day, it’s harder than steel to believe that the PAL-V Flying Car is more than an elaborate hoax, but against our better judgement it seems like it might be real.

Based on the detail-rich site and video footage, we’re reluctantly ready to say that the outlandish three-wheel helicopter-mobile you see above might actually be more than a joke. Still, don’t expect a first drive or review any time soon. The PAL-V Flying Car functions as both a road vehicle and a helicopter which would make licensing complicated and ownership difficult.

Few people would possess the qualifications to use such a thing (we say thing because it’s not really a car).

Still, the Dutch company seems committed to both selling its product and authorizing customers to use it. The site has section that puts customers in touch with flight schools. In a press release it also claims that licensing to fly only takes about 20 to 30 hours.

Pricing isn’t available yet, but if there’s any truth to any of this it seems the U.S. government is already preparing for increased air traffic from vehicles like this.

A single passenger vehicle, the flying car can reach top speeds of around 110 mph on land and in the air, with a flying range of about 220 to 315 miles depending on wind conditions.

On the ground it’s said to drive — and accelerate, like a sports car thanks to its three-wheel setup and leaning capability that make it feel like a car-motorcycle hybrid.

Watch the video footage of its maiden flight below.

Continue Reading…

In two days’ time the 2013 Cadillac SRX will make its debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show to display new technology and illustrate the brand’s intent to continuously improve its vehicles.

“The 2013 SRX illustrates the Cadillac philosophy of never leaving well enough alone,” said Don Butler, vice president of marketing for Cadillac. “The enhancements for the SRX – including CUE – are examples of how we’re developing advanced technologies and pushing them consistently through the Cadillac portfolio.”

Among those improvements, the automaker will showcase its CUE technology which integrates touch screen controls similar to what many users will be familiar with on their mobile devices.

Offered as standard equipment on all 2013 SRX luxury crossovers, CUE can take information simultaneously from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled devices on an eight-inch LCD screen. While that might seem like a recipe for complication, Cadillac says that potential problem will be addressed by allowing users to customize their controls which will simplify the interface.

Aside from Bluetooth, users will also be able to connect devices via USB, SD cards and MP3 player connection in case wireless connectivity is a little too confusing.

Other interior tweaks include a new shifter knob, active noise cancellation to improve driving comfort and gobs of connection points for technology devices including three USB ports.

A long list of safety features also come together to make the 2013 SRX a safer vehicle to drive. Radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors work to offer adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, lane departure warning and more. While many of those features are optional, electronic stability control, rollover mitigation sensors, head-curtain side-impact airbags and forward collision alert are offered on all models.

Customers will have the option to choose between front- and all-wheel drive, which is powered by 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 making 308 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. That power is translated between the engine and wheels by a standard six-speed automatic transmission.

GALLERY: 2013 Cadillac SRX

The i8 plug-in hybrid is the product of BMW‘s best engineering and innovation in an effort to create the most advanced automobile to ever come from the Bavarian automaker.

Motivated by a 170-hp electric motor driving the front wheels and a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine producing 223-hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at the rear, the performance figures don’t sound exactly supercar territory. However, thanks to a lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum chassis, BMW managed to keep its i8 down to a thin 3,197 lbs., good enough to earn respectable performance numbers like a 0-to-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds. A unique all-wheel drive system, which can change into an all-front or all-rear powered car in an instant, should provide the i8 with superior all-condition handling performance as well. What’s more, on a full charge, the BMW i8 can travel 20 miles in full electric mode.

But BMW isn’t going to stop there. In an effort to make the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car even more appealing, a convertible “Spyder” version is also in the works, with a selection of photos having been released ahead of the cars debut at the New York Auto Show next week. Could this be the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric convertible to go into production?

GALLERY: BMW i8 Spyder

While many new plug-ins boast the convenience and simplicity of recharging the car battery from a household wall socket, how many vehicles can claim to provide the opposite? 

Honda has installed an inverter in the trunk of one special FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, providing output power that could supply up to 8 kilowatts of electricity for more than seven hours from a full tank of hydrogen — a figure that is supposedly enough to power the average Japanese home for six days. This particular FCX has been delivered to the Saitama Prefecture government, which was also an early-adopter of a solar-powered hydrogen station.

Concerns over power shortages have heightened since last year’s natural disaster and the subsequent nuclear plant shutdown, causing a spike in interest for electric vehicles that may double as emergency power suppliers for homes. Last year, Nissan demonstrated its Leaf-to-Home, which claimed the power output could generate enough to sustain an average household for two days. Unlike fuel cells, an electric battery can only store electricity rather than generate it, resulting in a less flexible application when compared to fuel-cell technology.

GALLERY: Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell

Bringing together modern social media marketing and classic high-profile presentation, Infiniti and Cirque du Soleil collaborated in an one-of-a-kind, 11-minute live-streaming performance featuring incredible acrobatics and innovative engineering.

Now available on YouTube and Facebook, the performance, choreographed by Cirque du Soleil’s Special Events team, featured an Infiniti JX crossover suspended in the air with with nine acrobats.

“I am very proud that we were able to work so closely with Cirque du Soleil to create a truly inspired performance for our thousands of social media fans around the globe. There has already been an overwhelmingly positive response to the all-new Infiniti JX, and I am very honored to have been able to leverage our unique partnership with Cirque du Soleil to create, for our enthusiasts, something that, before today, seemed only imaginary,” Infiniti Canada director Wendy Durward said.

On sale this month, Infiniti’s full-size, seven-seat premium crossover aims to become the Japanese premium brand’s second best-seller, right behind the G sports sedan line-up. Competing against industry heavyweights like the Acura MDX and Lexus RX, the JX starts at $40,450 for the front-wheel drive model and $41,550 for the all-wheel drive. Packed with Infiniti’s latest tech features, the JX is available with the world’s first Backup Collision Intervention technology, an eight-inch touchscreen display with XM Nav Traffic, a 15-speaker Bose Cabin Surround sound system, and Infiniti Voice Recognition and Streaming Audio via Bluetooth. Learn more about the Infiniti JX from our car review here.

Check out the Cirque du Soleil/Infiniti JX collaborative performance after the break: Continue Reading…

 For the first two races of the 2012 Formula 1 season, Team Lotus has received a mixed bag of results. Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen finished both races in the points despite mediocre qualifying. Meanwhile, GP2 champion Romain Grosjean displayed rapid pace during qualifying but suffered a DNF for both races.

Such is the mix of fortunes in motorsports. A long and illustrious name in Formula 1, the Lotus F1 team withdrew from the series in 1994 and only returned in 2010. However, while Syed Zainal Abidin Tahir, managing director of Lotus parent company Proton, and Lotus CEO Dany Bahar are both appointed team board members, ownership of the F1 team in fact belongs to Luxembourg-based private equity firm Genii Capital. Now, between Lotus and Genii Capital, the future of the team is up for grabs.

A precarious situation, Genii Capital may even consider to buy out Lotus itself if the sports car manufacturer struggles to break through in its production car operations and continues to suffer heavy losses. To note, Lotus made a £21.4 million pre-tax loss last year while Proton’s profits have begun to show a trend of decline. In January, the Malaysian government sold its 43% controlling stake of Proton to DRB-Hicom, a Malaysian Corporation involved in the automotive manufacturing, assembly and distribution industry. Genii Capital chairman Gerard Lopez has previously exchanged with DRB-Hicom on the possibilities of selling Lotus. Lopez said,”If there is a way that we think the company can be bought and run successfully, then of course we would be interested.”

Despite the financial obstacles, Lotus and Proton remain true to their racing commitments. Lotus spent approximately £25m annually to sponsor the F1 team that bears its name and parent company Proton also supported the team an estimated £34m to satisfy debt obligations concerning secured loans with Renault and bankrupt Lithuanian bank AB Snoras. Also, more than having members on the team board, a signed call option agreement with Genii on February 3rd entitles Proton the right to purchase a 50 percent stake in the team to become majority shareholders. Proton has yet to execute the option but this may only be a matter of time.

We will learn more as the negotiations progress and as the Formula 1 season unfolds.

[Source: PitPass]

The engineering wizards of Nissan continue to massage more power and performance into their halo GT-R.

As a MY 2013, Nissan has just released its right-hand-drive Nissan GT-R Track Pack for the Japan, UK, Australia and South Africa markets this month. While initial reports suggested that the Track Pack is intended as a right-hand-drive exclusive, Nissan has announced that the hard-core package will be available in left-handed markets as well.

Despite being available in right-hand-drive markets right now, the dates for the other markets are unknown at this point. However, a source suggests left-hand-drive production begins in May. Unfortunately, the Russian, Ukraine and US market are omitted from the initial offerings, but as a hollow triumph, we’re relieved to know it’s not out of the question.

The Track Pack was designed for drivers that want a more authentic experience on a racetrack. Offering a harder edge while remaining road legal, the Track Pack horsepower rating will remain the same as Nissan is not concerned with the GT-R’s power, but more focused on its delivery. the Track Pack sports new cooling vents, front and rear, to increase the airflow over the brakes, dropping the temperature by as much as 100 degrees when driven hard.

Suspension has also been worked on, as different spring rates optimize track stability. Finally, performance Recaro front seats help keep the driver snug while the rear seats are removed for weight. Another weight saving measure, the Nissan GT-R Track Pack gets signature lightweight six-spoke RAYS alloy wheels with a black gloss finish as well.

A limited production model, look for the Track Pack emblem on the center console.

GALLERY: Nissan GT-R Track Pack

[Source: CarScoop]

Start-ups are inherently risky and while many bright-eyed visionaries initially display great potential, up to fifty percent of new enterprises run out of money. Unfortunately, Waltham-based A123 Systems Inc. are at risk of becoming a statistic. 

Earlier this month, Consumer Reports reported that a brand-new Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with less than 200 miles on the odometer abruptly shut down. News of the defect spread quickly, causing Fisker engineers scrambling to identify and solve the problem as soon as possible in an attempt to curb any damage to consumer confidence. Investigators determined the cause of the issue as a flaw in the Fisker’s battery module, which is supplied by A123.

Other than the incident at Consumer Reports, A123 CEO David Vieau told reporters that five Fisker customers are potentially affected by the flawed battery packs. As of March 26, A123 has started building replacement modules for Fisker and will begin to ship these battery packs out to customers this week. Despite moving forward, David Vieau admits that the cost of replacing the batteries will “require us to adjust our fundraising strategy.” Vieau did not elaborate.

Caused by faulty calibration in one of four welding machines, a misalignment of the components in some cells could lead to an electrical short, resulting in the permanent failure of the A123 battery or a decrease in performance and battery life. In order to replace all the defective battery packs, expense figure estimates are close to $55 million, which “represents a severe impact” on cash reserves, stated Dan Galves, New York-based Deutsche Bank analyst.

Galves wrote in a report, “We no longer have enough confidence that AONE can raise sufficient capital (without massive equity dilution) and/or continue to augment their book to future business. Recent quality issues may lead to concerns over AONE’s ability to manufacture with quality at high volumes, potentially leading to customer defections or at least difficulty in procuring new contracts.” AONE refers to A123′s stock symbol.

According to financial reports, A123 held $187 million in cash at the end of 2011 but Galves pointed out A123 suffered a cash burn of at least $155 million this year. The company will have to raise at least $50 million of additional short-term capital but, unfortunately, loan requests will be extremely difficult due to a general lack of confidence due to weak first-half results, long-term profitability concerns, pressure on battery pricing, and uncertainty on EV demand.

Dan Galves changed his rating on A123 from “buy” to “hold.” AONE share price have fallen 6 percent to $1.40 yesterday.

[Source: Boston.com]

From the Porsche European Delivery Program to the Master Italian Lifestyle Maserati Driving Experience, European automakers go the extra mile to make customers feel special.

BMW enjoys sharing its enthusiasm for automobiles also but best of all, you don’t even have to own a Bimmer to experience its passion.

Its headquarters feature a unique principal visitors center called “BMW Welt” (German for “world”), a multi-functional customer experience and exhibition facility that has attracted 2 million visitors annually since opening in 2007. As the term “multi-functional” suggests, BMW Welt is made up of the BMW Museum as well as the BMW Munich Plant, effectively bridging the company, the brand and its products to visitors fans. In fact, the company believes that BMW Welt effectively allows people to experience the company’s past, present and future as a whole.

Inside, BMW Welt is an event center equipped with state-of the-art technology for concerts, conferences, broadcasts, more. BMW’s Junior Campus allows the younger guests to explore the automotive world creatively. It’s also a delivery area where more than 100 customers receive their cars each day.

Located beside the BMW Group Headquarters, the concept behind the museum is arranged in linear fashion as 120 exhibits through 25 exhibition areas snake across the complex, guiding visitors through more than 90 years of brand history. Among those exhibits there are historic cars, motorcycles, racing and aircraft engines and hints at future designs.

The BMW Munich Plant is the original plant of the Bavarian automaker. Building thousands of vehicles a day thanks to a workforce of approximately 9,000 people, the BMW Welt experience provides visitors with insight thanks to a “window into the world of BMW production.” Individual tours are available as well.

Car enthusiasts who are planning on taking a trip to Europe in the near future may visit the BMW Welt website to learn more.

GALLERY: BMW Welt

An all-new Mercedes-Benz SL does not come very often. Since 1954, Mercedes-Benz has only introduced five generations of its luxury grand-touring coupe. For the 6th generation 2013 SL that will hit showrooms later this year, Mercedes-Benz spared no expense, packing it full of all the most desirable luxuries available to make it a true successor of its iconic heritage.

Starting at $106,375, the new SL features advanced driving aids including ECO Start/Stop engine technology, Active Body Control, Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control, and Active Lane Keeping Assist. What’s more, conveniences such as Keyless-GO, surround sound system with forward bass, sun-reflecting leather, Adaptive Wipers, COMAND online, a fully integrated electric draught stop, and a Panoramic Vario Roof Magic Sky Control are available as well.

In order to deliver performance that matches the SL’s level of technology and luxury, the Mercedes-Benz SL550 boasts a 4.7-liter V8 turbo producing 429-hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox, this Mercedes sports car can cover a 0-to-60 mile sprint in just 4.5 seconds, a full second quicker than the outgoing SL. Even though it’s more powerful, the new SL will be efficient as well. Thanks to an all-aluminum frame construction, the new SL is up to 300 pounds lighter than its previous generation equivalent.

In order to highlight all the features the new SL has to offer, Mercedes-Benz has concisely produced a manageable and informative promo trailer that touches upon many of SL’s clever functions. However, the ending proves that nothing is more important in the SL than the powerful V8 delivering rapid acceleration.

Check out the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 promo video below.  Continue Reading…

When Opel/Vauxhall first announced that its Ampera plug-in hybrid electric vehicle would participate in the 13th International Monte Carlo Rally for alternative energy vehicles, it made a point to challenge the Tesla Roadster, which won the previous two years.

Completing the racing stages from Annecy-le-Vieux to Monte Carlo from March 22 through 25, the Opel Ampera of Bernard Darniche and Joseph Lambert finished in first place, winning the Ampera’s inaugural Monte Carlo Rally. Following the leading Ampera, three more crossed the line to finish in the top 10.

A total of 130 competitors from 30 manufacturers took part in the Monte Carlo Rally, including a total of seven Amperas, the Renault Fluence Z.E., Tesla Roadster, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Volkswagen Up!, and Peugeot Ion. A test of endurance for alternative propulsion, teams were judged based on energy usage at a steady speed via a ratio formula that accounted for vehicle weight, CO2 emission, energy density of the fuel and its consumption.

According to French rally co-pilot Joseph Lambert, “The sophisticated technology of the Ampera was always reliable and enabled our tremendous success.”

“The Ampera’s success in this versatility contest under very challenging conditions proves its impressive balance between durability and fuel efficiency. This underscores our leadership role in the field of alternative propulsion,” Vauxhall/Opel director of E-mobility Enno Fuchs said.

GALLERY: Monte Carlo Rally Opel Ampera

Considerations for developing a Lexus GS-F have been raised and discussed in multiple occasions in the past but the idea has yet to take hold.

Now, rumors surface one again as Lexus product planning chief Karl Schlicht  says that we could expect to see a high-performance GS-F on the market in the not-too-distant future that would rival the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

The engine will likely be adopted from the high strung 4.8-liter V10 engine found in the Lexus LFA supercar. However, rather than 4.8-liters, the engine in the GS-F will likely be a slightly smaller displacement 4.6-liter producing approximately 450-hp.\

To distinguish itself from the standard GS range, the front fascia of the GS-F would receive sharper, more exaggerated surface treatments dominated by the spindle grille and preview the design of the next generation IS sports sedan range.

Details on a GS-F remain scarce as the project has yet to be official. If given the green light, expect the GS-F to arrive on showroom floors in approximately two years.

[Source: AutoCar]

Despite the demise of the Saab automaker, racing team Tidö and Flash Engineering are hard at work developing and performing shakedown tests on their new Saab 9-3 TTA race car that will compete in the Swedish Racing Elite League.

Recently, the Saab 9-3 TTA was seen conducting first round testing in France with Swiss driver Fabian Thuner lapping around the Alés track. Then, the race car as well as the new information and developments found during testing will be carried over to undergo official tests in Karlskoga and Anderstorp.

Competing against Saab in the Swedish Racing Elite League include automakers Citroën, BMW, and Volvo. Racing head to head against the Volvo S60 TTA, Flash Engineering Managing Director says enthusiastically, “I have longed for 40 years to see the fight between Saab and Volvo on the race tracks. It becomes reality this summer and my biggest dream is to get all Saab fans to the TTA races to cheer us on.”

GALLERY: Saab 9-3 TTA

Check out the test teaser video of the Saab 9-3 TTA taken at the Alés track of France after the jump: Continue Reading…

It was only December of last year when Google earned patents for autonomous vehicles. Now, the technology continues to rapidly move ahead as automotive supplier Continental has commenced testing a semi-autonomous vehicle of its own that is more affordable and could be among the first licensed for use on Nevada’s designated public roads by months end.

Nevada is the first state to pass laws regulating driverless vehicles. To qualify for a special state license, engineers at Continental have built and driven a heavily modified Volkswagen Passat with its brake and steering controls removed and replaced with sensors to digitally read and interpret surroundings. According to engineer Ibro Muharemovic, the Passat has logged almost 10,000 miles of autonomous driving and during a more recent trip from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Brimley, Michigan, home of Continental’s development and testing center, more than 90 percent of the journey did not involve the use of hands and feet.

Unlike Google’s ambitions to create a sophisticated fully autonomous vehicle, Continental went along to develop an interim semi-autonomous option that could take over duties during stop-and-go traffic or extended stretches of highway, the least satisfying of driving conditions. However, Continental and Google’s endpoint is identical: to create a solution that will reduce accidents, congestion, and fuel consumption. Continental director of engineering systems and technology Christian Schumacher said, “We still have a long way to go, but the technology is amazing.”

According to Ravi Pandit, CEO of India’s global IT and engineering company KPIT Cummins, “There is a strong business case for an autonomous car that can drop you off or a cab without the expense of a driver.”

Despite the optimism, mass production semiautonomous cars are still a couple years away. The technology exists but the idea raises questions of liability, regulation, and public acceptance. NHTSA will begin a study of autonomous driving in August with a one-year pilot project in Ann Arbor, testing 3,000 cars with the ability to communicate with one another to avoid an accident. What’s more, in an event of a crash, the law has yet to resolve who is reliable or whether the occupants of an autonomous car are legally exempt from bans on mobile devices.

As for passenger anxiety, Ravi Pandit is confident that, “A car can see better than a human can, and the car responds faster.”

Engineer Ibro Muharemovic commented, “I was surprised by how well it worked.” Continental’s Volkswagen Passat is fitted with a stereo camera that can monitor speed-bumps or potholes as far as 220 yards away and adjust steering, braking, and acceleration accordingly. Muharemovic adds, “The driver is always in control and can override the system any time.”

If testing is successful and Continental is qualified for Nevada registration, a special red license plate will be provided to distinguish the driverless car. In the future, production driverless cars would receive a green license plate.

Check out video footage of Continental’s autonomous Volkswagen Passat driving itself below.  Continue Reading…

Toyota supports environmental consciousness by holding the annual Lexus Eco Challenge competition, encouraging middle and high school students to practice eco-friendliness in creative ways.

Since the program’s inception, $4 million in scholarships and grants have been awarded to middle and high school students for their distinguished projects.

“Through this program, more than 25,000 participants have demonstrated that they want to make the world a better place. by coming up with real-world solutions to environmental challenges, students are learning how they can make a difference in the world around them,” Lexus group vice president and general manager Mark Templin said.

This year, more than 400 teams registered to represent nearly 3,000 students nationwide. In total, $500,000 in grants and scholarships were awarded to honored student teams. Finally, two Grand Prize winners were selected and awarded $30,000 each, while eight First Prize winners were awarded $15,000.

A two phase challenge, the first required teams to address concerns on land, water, air or climate and to create ways to make a difference for the environment in their local communities. The final phase would challenge teams to bring the projects beyond their local community and to inspire environmental action around the world.

The first Grand Prize winner was team “the Green Musketeers” of Jericho High School in Jericho, New York. After successfully creating their own filtration system, the students intend to patent the project, to sell it and to direct the profits towards developing systems in third-world countries.

The second Grand Prize winner was team “One-Towel Wonders” from SCAPA Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky. The students demonstrated how the simple idea of using one towel per person, per week could benefit the environment.

Pleased with the honor, “One-Towel Wonders” teacher advisor Ashlie Beals praises the Lexus program.

“For the past five years, all of my 8th grade students have worked in teams to create and implement innovative campaigns to encourage others to make one small change that can have a large positive impact on our environment,” she said. “My younger students eagerly look forward to their chance to participate in the challenge when they are in 8th grade.”

GALLERY: Lexus Eco Challenge

Marking the 50th anniversary of the legendary Alpine A110 Berlinette rally racing car, rumors of an all-new Renault Alpine concept for the 2012 Paris Motor Show started circulating.

Details are limited for now but some information is available from Renault marketing director Stephen Norman, who says the new Alpine will follow the path of a lightweight sports car but will not be a stripped down track weapon. He added that the performance sports car would be “made to the highest specification. We can’t come out with something that has wind-up windows and rubber mats,” he said.

The Alpine revival powertrain will seek existing components from the Renault and Nissan parts bin to save cost on an additional parts supplier. While that might not seem exciting at the surface, it also means there’s a chance the Alpine could be based on the Nissan GT-R.

Stay tuned for more details and developments as we draw closer to the Paris Auto Show.

[Source: World Car Fans]