Percaya Enggak Percaya: Juli 2011

Selasa, 26 Juli 2011

Video: The Mother of All Car Jump Fails

Take a good look at the opening picture above: what you see are the backs of two men in racing costumes, what they see is the road from several feet above the ground in a 90-degree angle…

But let's rewind. What you're about to watch is two stuntmen trying an ambitious jump in what appears to be a Dacia of the 1300 series. According to the person that took the video, the time is 1995 and the place is the Romanian city of Alba Iulia.

For whatever reasons, the jump didn't go as planned and as a result, the Dacia flew into the air only to drop down like a brick well before reaching the ramp on the other side. Amazingly, at the end of the clip we can see the driver and the front passenger walking out of the car alive!

2012 Honda Ridgeline gains New Sport Trim

As you probably expected after the introduction of the 2012 Pilot, Honda also announced the first details on its updated for the new model year Ridgeline pickup truck.

The big news is the addition of a new member to the Ridgeline family called Sport that supposedly targets customers looking for more personalized and slightly sinister looks.

Cadillac Introduces 2012 SRX with New 308HP 3.6-Liter V6 LFX Engine

The latest Cadillac SRX has been on the market for just two model years, but for 2012, General Motors is making some important tweaks to improve the crossover model's performance.

While GM had made the announcement on the 2012 SRX back in April, the company came out today with additional information and revised performance figures, just before the SUV goes on sale.

Shocker! Chrysler Bringing Home More Bacon than Fiat...

Two years ago, Chrysler was saved from oblivion when the federal government provided a $15 billion bailout and orchestrated a rescue plan that gave the Fiat Group the management control of the company.

Last week, the Italian automaker raised its share in Chrysler beyond 50% for the first time, to 53.5%.So Fiat saved Chrysler in 2009, right? Well, yes, but 2011 is another story altogether.

You see, Chrysler’s US sales increased by 21% in the first six months of the year, whereas Fiat’s European deliveries dropped 12.7% in the same period. But that's only half the story. With the exception of the Maserati and Ferrari brands, the Chrysler Group will contribute to the alliance €155 million for June alone, while Fiat €175 million for the past three months.

Bulgarian Styling House Vilner Refines Toyota iQ

While American buyers will have to wait until October to see the iQ in Scion's showrooms, over in Europe, the Japanese carmaker's 3+1 seat mini has been on sale since the beginning of 2009.

But despite being in the market for more than two years, the iQ hasn't really caught the attention of the aftermarket tuners. One of the few companies to warm up to the iQ is Bulgarian customizer Vilner, which has introduced a more luxurious take on the Toyota's interior.

Fisker Claims Multi-Speed Gearbox Would Give Karma “Veyron Speed”

Fisker’s environment-friendly hybrid sports sedan, the Karma, can hardly be called a slouch but if someone were to tell you that it could reach “Bugatti Veyron levels of performance” you'd probably look at them a little askance. But that's exactly what Henrik Fisker recently supported during an interview with British weekly magazine Autocar.

More specifically, the founder of the company said that the development of a reliable multi-speed gearbox could offer electric-powered vehicles a huge boost in performance.

Life After Death: Automakers Find New Uses for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Batteries

Hybrids and electric vehicles are more environment-friendly than conventionally powered models. However, one question many eco-conscious consumers bring up is what happens to the batteries at the end of their life cycle in the vehicles.

GM and Nissan estimate that batteries in their Volt and LEAF models respectively will have approximately 70% of their “life” remaining after a decade on the road. So, far from being useless, they can be utilized as back-up power sources for home use.

$202,000 Porsche Taxi Cab Takes Bangkok by Surprise

While New Yorkers get ready to embrace a new generation of boxy taxis like the Ford Transit Connect and the Nissan NV200, city dwellers in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, were introduced to a different and far more appealing form of the yellow cab: a Porsche Boxster sports car. Read more »

Report: GM to Launch Key Fuel Efficient Cars and Trucks in the Next 18 Months

USA’s biggest car manufacturer, General Motors, is scheduling a series of new vehicle launches for its four brands in the next 18 months. And the dominant theme here, both in passenger cars and trucks, will be improved economy figures as GM prepares its vehicle lineup to meet the more stringent fuel-efficiency standards.

For example, the Detroit automaker plans to introduce 8-speed auto transmissions and downsized turbocharged engines in its new pickups, and also intends to fit more models with the eAssist light-hybrid technology.

Official: Honda Announces 2012 CR-V Concept, on Sale in America by the End of 2011, and in Europe in Fall 2012

An online leak resulted to a photo of Honda's 2012 CR-V Concept appearing on the internet earlier today, but now the Japanese carmaker has given in and released a high-resolution image as well as initial information on the crossover model.

Honda said that the concept will make its first public outing at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, California, in September 2011, and go on sale in North America by the end of the year, and in Europe in Autumn 2012. This means we will probably see the final production model at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Fraudsters Claiming Luxury and Exotic Cars as Farm-Use Vehicles to Save on Insurance!

If you’ve ever owned a car that’s even slightly upmarket or exotic, you’ll know that insurance premiums can be a real headache. However, some owners are combating this by claiming that their vehicles – among them Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes, Audis and BMWs – are for…farm-use.

In other words, the insurance companies are being led to believe that these high priced luxury and exotic models are being used to haul bales of hay and the like and rarely leave their owner’s properties. In turn, these owners are paying as much as 20% less on their insurance premiums.

Toyota’s Passenger Car Sales in Japan Down 43 Percent in the First Half of 2011

The two natural disasters that hit Japan on March 11, the 8.9 offshore earthquake and the subsequent Tsunami that devastated the country and took many human lives, has also hit hard production and sales of Japanese car manufacturers.

Toyota said on Monday that its domestic passenger car production for the first half of 2011 dropped by 38% to 947,090 units and its overseas production by 11.7% to 1,923,408 units compared to the same period in 2010 units due to the lack of parts.

Senin, 25 Juli 2011

Video: Man versus Wild…Radio-Controlled Car

Undoubtedly, the video you're about to see would have elicited a chuckle or two even if the radio controlled missile-car hit a by-stander, but the fact that it knocked the person holding the remote control off his feet (we mean that literally) and into the air makes it twice as fun to watch.

See the incoming RC for yourself in the video after the break.

New Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Launched in the UK

Chevrolet found the perfect opportunity at the Donington race of the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship) to launch the hatchback version of the Cruze in Britain. While Yvan Muller was winning both rounds of the race in the Cruze WTCC, further advancing his lead on the championship, journalists were able to use the country roads around Donington to get their first taste of Chevy’s new hatchback. Read more »

2012 Honda Pilot Goes Under the Knife, gets a New Face

Tis' the season for changes at Honda. After the news on the 2012 CR-V Concept that previews the soon-to-be-launched production model, yet another official photograph of a new Honda model is making the internet rounds. This time it is the redesigned 2012 Pilot SUV.

The facelift comes three years after the introduction of the second generation Pilot in 2008. The most noticeable change is the brand-new and simpler looking three-slate front grille that replaces the oddly styled fascia of the outgoing model.

Ford Ditches CD Players on its New European Models

As digital music sales rise, compact discs seem to be heading the way of the cassette –for those of you old enough to remember them, that is. For example, in the UK digital sales account for 98% percent of the market. That’s evolution: just as the cassette made the 8-track player obsolete and then gave its place to CD-players, now purely digital content is making CD players a thing of the past. Read more »

Report: Red Bull Mulling to Build Road Cars with the Help of Infiniti

Enzo Ferrari didn’t initially intend to manufacture road cars when he started his Scuderia Ferrari team in 1928. It wasn’t until almost two decades later, in 1947, that the first road car bearing the prancing horse, the V12 125S, was produced mainly to finance his team’s racing activities.

Ferrucio Lamborghini founded Lamborghini Trattori in 1948, a successful manufacturer of tractors and other agricultural equipment. In 1959, he opened an oil heater factory, and later started producing air conditioning equipment. Naturally, he became very wealthy.

New Alfa Romeo 4C Promotional Film

If Alfa Romeo follows its most recent timetable, the 4C mid-engine sports coupe should arrive in European showrooms sometime in the first half of 2012 with a few examples making their way into the U.S. by the end of the year.

But let's not forget, it's the Fiat Group we're talking about here; the same company that has turned Alfa Romeo's U.S. introduction into something a joke by constantly pushing back the launch for the past decade.

F1: 2011 German GP Race Results

Last Sunday, after the finish of the German Grand Prix there was a McLaren, a Ferrari and a Red Bull on the podium. No surprise there. So what else is new? Red Bull and McLaren obviously have the best cars from the start of the season, winning all the races except the previous one. Especially Sebastian Vettel has such a big points lead, that he looks to have this year’s driver’s title in his pocket even with half the season remaining. Read more »

2012 Honda CR-V Concept: First Official Photo Leaked Onto the Web

Circulating around the internet today is an official photograph of the 2012 Honda CR-V Concept that previews the production model that is scheduled to follow by the end of the year.

In June, Honda had announced that it would present a new generation of its popular compact crossover model; however, the Japanese company had not disclosed any specific details on the vehicle other than it would sport a "new design inside and out, new features and new possibilities".

It’s Official: Mercedes-Benz Unveils Hot C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

Well, it was no big secret (not after some tell-tales spilled the beans facing the Germans’ wrath) that Mercedes-Benz was planning to unveil the Black Series edition of its C63 AMG Coupe during the German Grand Prix at Nürburgring.

Now the company has gone ahead as planned and revealed the C63 AMG Coupe’s hardcore sibling, the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series. The most potent version of the C-Class Coupe does not stray away from the successful formula of the models that carried the Black Series tag before it.

Sabtu, 23 Juli 2011

Stretch it Real Good: 2011 Chrysler 300 gets into the Limo Business

Even though Chrysler’s new 300 is being marketed as a more elegant and mature proposal than its predecessor, that doesn’t mean it won’t garner the same amount of attention from extreme tuners, rappers, professional athletes and of course, your occasional limo builder, as the previous model did.

Only a few months after it hit U.S. showrooms, and we have if not the first, at least one of the first stretch limousine transformation of the 2011 Chrysler 300.

The Hackable Car, or Why Technology is Making Our Cars More Vulnerable to Attack

The modern automobile is a microcosm for our networked society. Everything from the brakes to the dual-zone climate control and from the windscreen wipers to the CD player is connected through a Controller-Area-Network (CAN) bus.

Like the nerves in our bodies, this network passes information from one component to another. It allows the anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control to work in unison, disconnects the cruise control when you step on the accelerator and allows the headlights to switch themselves on in low light conditions.

Honda Odyssey Wears its Carlashes to the Beach

Truth to be said, the third generation of the Honda Odyssey is about as exciting to look at as a bowl of cheerios. And no, adding carlashes will definitely not change our view on the Japanese minivan’s styling or rather, the lack of it. Read more »

Lexus Invites Magazines to Drive 2013 GS, will be Offered Only with V6 Engines, gets Netbook-Sized Screen

Following the announcement on the time and place of the premiere of the all-new 2013 Lexus GS 350 –that would be the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18th for those of you that didn’t read our previous story- the Japanese company lifted the embargo on the first test drive of the car in the States.

Invitees include names like Car&Driver, Autoweek and Motor Trend. Naturally, the exterior of the pre-production test cars were bagged in plastic, but their interiors were largely free of camouflage (see links below for photos) revealing an edgier LF-A-esque design with lots of stitched leather on the dashboard and a gigantic 12.3-inch information screen above the center console.

Video: Honda’s CR-Z Mugen Special Driven by Fifth Gear

A few weeks ago at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Honda unveiled a concept study of the hybrid CR-Z prepared by Mugen’s European division.

The fettled CR-Z retained the regular model’s mechanical hardware including the IMA electric motor and the 1.5-liter gasoline engine, but the upgraded internals and the addition of a supercharger increased its performance by more than 50% over the normal model, to 200+ horsepower and 215 Nm (158.6 lb/ft).

SCOOP: 2012 Renault Scenic Compact MPV getting Ready for its First Facelift

One of Europe’s most popular people carriers, the Renault Scenic, is about to receive its first cosmetic refresh to stay ahead of the fierce competition in the compact segment.

The current, third generation of Renault’s minivan was launched onto the European market in 2009 and is available as the five-seat Scenic and the longer 7-seat Grand Scenic. Though we can’t be 100 percent sure, the prototype caught by our spy photographers appears to be the shorter Scenic model.

Video: GM Adopts 3D Rapid Prototyping to Reduce Development Time and Costs

GM’s Design Center is adopting the use of three-dimensional rapid prototyping in order to reduce the time and money required in developing expensive parts of prototypes.

The 3D technology will replace much of the work done on clay modeling and molding while developing a prototype. Moreover, designers from various GM design studios from around the world will be able to see their creations come to life much faster thanks to the digital manufacturing capabilities.

Official: All-New 2013 Lexus GS 350 to Debut in August at Pebble Beach Concours

This year’s edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that takes place in California on August 18 will see Lexus lifting the veil off the next generation of its GS premium sedan, which we recently showed you testing at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany.

Lexus teased the new GS with the LF-Gh Hybrid concept study at the New York Auto Show in April.

"Our customers have been waiting for a new GS that's more intense in every way," commented Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "They'll soon discover this GS was well worth the wait."

NHTSA Investigates Lotus Elise Oil-Cooler Ruptures

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is investigating oil-cooler leaks on 4,400 Lotus Elise sports cars from the 2005-2006 model years. The safety agency instigated the search after 33 owners complained that their cars’ oil-cooler ruptured, spraying oil on the wheels and /or the engine bay. Read more »

This is what a New BMW 1 M Coupe Looks Like after a Heavy Fender Bender

The brand-new BMW 1 M Coupe hasn’t been around from more than a few months, but we already have the first recorded accident of which we know about.

The unlucky owner of the car, who is from South Korea, posted these photos of the mishap over at the BMW 1Addicts forum. He said that he was the first customer to receive one of the 80 BMW 1 M Coupes scheduled to arrive in the South Korean market.

Jumat, 22 Juli 2011

California Drops $5,000 Rebate on Electric Cars

Electric car buyers in California will have to reach deeper in their pockets as the state has run out of the $5,000 rebates it was handing out to customers interested in vehicles like the Nissan LEAF and the Tesla Roadster. The generous rebate was given on top of the $7,500 tax credit offered by the government.

As for the 500 owners of electric cars that are currently on the waiting list to receive the rebate, California’s Air Resources Board said it will consider providing them with a $2,500 discount. Not what they signed up for, but still better than nothing.

It Came from eBay Hell: The “Camaro or Her” Edition

In a very different “It Came from eBay Hell” piece than what you are normally used to seeing on Carscoop, we bring you the best automotive advert that you’re going to read today on the popular online marketplace.

While we can’t verify the story behind the “Her or the Car?” edition, the owner of this 2010 Chevrolet Camaro claims to be selling his beloved muscle car due to a divorce. But let’s not take the spotlight away from him.

Enjoy the seller’s humorous narrative and comparo on the specifications of the Camaro SS and his…soon to be ex-wife after the break.

Luc Donckerwolke to Head VW Group’s Advance Design Division

It’s time to move on for automotive designer Luc Donckerwolke who will leave his position as Director of Design at Seat to become the VW Group’s Head of Advanced Design starting on August 1, 2011. In his new role, Donckerwolke will report directly to Design Chief, Walter de Silva. The 46-year-old Belgian designer will be replaced at Seat by Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos. Read more »

Update: Saab Subsidiary Resolves Bankruptcy Threat

This just in; only a few hours after it was made known that one of Saab’s suppliers submitted a bankruptcy petition against the automaker’s affiliate company Saab Automobile Tools, the Swedish firm issued a short statement saying that it has resolved the issue with Swepart verktyg AB.

Follow the jump to read the official statement from Saab's parent company Swedish Automobile N.V., formerly known as Spyker Cars N.V.

GM Confirms Chevrolet Cruze Diesel for the USA, Sales Start in 2013

We’d heard rumors that a diesel-powered version of the Chevrolet Cruze was being readied for the U.S., but now it’s official as General Motors announced today that the diesel variant will be added to the compact model’s North American lineup in calendar year 2013. Read more »

All-New 2012 Porsche 911 Spied on Camera Undisguised!

One could try to explain why such a hotly anticipated new model like the 2012 Porsche 911 was caught out in the open alone (?) and almost completely undisguised, but why bother; it is what it is and you can enjoy the clip and get your first unobstructed view of the 991 in the video after the break.

We’ll just remind you that the next generation of the 911 is due to be unveiled in a world premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September.

The most famous Porsche model series of all, will mostly likely be offered in two basic flavors at launch, the Carrera with a 350HP 3.4-liter flat-six and the Carrera S powered by a 3.8-liter boxer delivering around 400 ponies.

Ford’s Transit Connect Joins the NYC Taxi Fleet

The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLS) has given the green light for the Ford Transit Connect to be added to the 13,000-strong fleet of the Big Apple’s taxis.

NYC is not the only city in the USA where the Transit Connect has been approved for cab use. The approval in New York comes less than a month after the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) version of the Ford minivan was approved by the California Air Resources Board for use in the State of California.

More Troubles: Supplier Files for Bankruptcy of Saab’s Tool Division

New troubles are brewing for the never-ending roller-coaster that is Saab. On Friday, one of Saab’s many unpaid suppliers, SwePart Verktyg AB, lost its patience and applied for the Swedish automaker’s Saab Tools subsidiary to be declared bankrupt.

This is the first time that one of Saab’s suppliers has made such a move. The Swedish automaker’s parent company, Netherlands-based Swedish Automobile (SWAN), issued a short statement saying that it will try to resolve the problem as soon as possible:

London Slaps Barack Obama’s Motorcade with a $194 Congestion Fine

The long-standing diplomatic brawl between the US Embassy in Britain and the local authorities over the subject of congestion fines continues.

In this latest episode, Barack Obama's presidential motorcade has been fined £120 (about $194 or €137) for not paying the £10 congestion levy during his official State visit to Britain back in May.

Video: Crazy Nissan 350Z Accident Results in Awesome Parking Job!

An extremely violent accident involving what appears to be a Nissan 350Z (we could be wrong on the model though) that flew over a wall at a parking lot and which could have ended in a drama, surprisingly turned into the most awesome parking job we have ever seen on film. The driver even came out unhurt and checked the car as it was a mere fender bender!

Don’t believe us? Hit the jump and check out the spectacular video for yourself.

Scoop Quiz : Is this the 2012 Porsche 911 Turbo S?

Show any Porsche 911 to someone old enough to remember when Memorial Day was called Decoration Day, and chances are he or she will probably know the brand and model of the car. But ask someone to tell your which version they’re looking at and you’ll have a pretty hard time getting the right answer unless they’re a true Porschephile.

Take this 911 for example; even our experienced scoop photographers aren’t 100 percent sure about this 2012 Porsche 991 prototype that they bagged testing in Europe.

The chunky rear section with the blistered wheel arches and air-intakes along with the double wing at the back featuring a fixed lower part and a retractable upper section, leave few doubts that this is the new 911 Turbo.

Spanish City Offers Lifetime Tram Passes in Exchange for…Cars

In the Spanish city of Murcia, the local pollies have come up with a unique solution to their burgeoning congestion problem.

Residents have the opportunity to trade in their cars for a lifetime pass on the city’s newly introduced tram system. Severiano Arias, the director of Murcia Transvia Society, explains:

“The point is to take cars out of circulation for the environmental benefits this brings. So we are only accepting working cars not ones ready for scrap heap because that would not serve any purpose.”

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