Author: autoevolution

  • Rush Racing Exhausts for 2010 Honda Fury

    The specialists at Rush Racing have just released two new exhaust systems for the 2010 Honda Fury, available with either show quality chrome or popular black coating. Fury owners can choose between a Straight and Multi-Directional Angle Tip. Two optional tips are also available, a tapered cut and short ring.

    The systems have double ceramic coating that increases exhaust gas flow and therefore improves power. Besides better performance, lower exhaust pipe temperatures makes a more comfortable… (read more)

  • Toyota Committee for Global Quality, Take One

    Toyota’s newly formed Special Committee for Global Quality got together this week for the first time, to discuss the steps to be taken by the Japanese manufacturer to wash the shame caused by the huge quality scandal of recent months.

    The panel comprised Steve St. Angelo (US), Didier Leroy (Europe), Masahiro Kato, Feng Xingya, Godfrey Tsang and Tian Congming (China), Mitsuhiro Sonoda, Surapong Tinnangwatana and Vince S. Socco (Asia), Hisayuki Inoue (Middle East, Africa, and Latin America) a… (read more)

  • Pagani C9 Crashed During Testing

    Today was definitely not a good day for science: the Pagani C9 hypercar test mule took a potentially lethal blow at 10AM this morning, while being driven on the Autobahn B14, close to the Mercedes-Benz factory in Stuttgart, Germany.

    No details of the crash have surfaced yet, but judging by the pictures, we can say that the car has a huuuge boo-boo, actually multiple huge boo-boos. It looks like someone might lose a dream job or two…

    After holding a written moment of silence (            … (read more)

  • Piquets Sue Briatore for £200,000 in UK Court

    The Piquet family seems unwilling to let go of the crash scandal that shattered the world of Formula One last year. Although the decision of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on the crash saga involving Renault, Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds has been overturned by Paris’ Tribunal de Grande Instance, it seems yet another lawsuit has been issued on this topic.

    As some of you might remember from last year, as soon as Nelson Piquet Jr. came out with the story about Renault’s Briator… (read more)

  • BMW S 1000 RR to Be Raced by Maria Costello at Isle of Man TT

    Shortly after the German manufacturer announced it will return to the Isle of Man TT this year, the fastest woman at the TT for the last five years will also be racing a BMW machine at the event. Maria Costello will ride the BMW S 1000 RR in three races at the Isle of Man, the Superstock, Superbike and Senior TT races.

    The bike is supplied by Wollaston BMW in Northampton and purchased by her personal sponsor, Tony Morris. The BMW Superbike will also be ridden in both the Superbike and Senior … (read more)

  • NAS Joins Quest for Toyota’s Evil Unicorn

    The more, the merrier… After NHTSA and NASA itself, another investigation into the mysterious problem which accelerates Toyotas will be opened by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). So, we can now definitely say there are more agencies investigating the incidents than incidents themselves.

    "We are determined to get to the bottom of unintended acceleration," said a very determined Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "For the safety of the American driving public, we must… (read more)

  • Lorenzo Receives Title Ultimatum from Yamaha

    Although Jorge Lorenzo’s preparation for the 2010 MotoGP season have suffered an immense blow earlier this year – when the Spaniard injured himself in a motocross accident and had to sit off no less than 6 weeks, therefore missing an entire test – his team boss from Yamaha Davide Brivio doesn’t seem too eager to wait for another year until the Spaniard secures his first title in the series.

    Entering his 3rd year with Yamaha in 2010, Lorenzo has now officially been put under pressure by Brivio… (read more)

  • Honda to Increase Production in Canada

    Honda’s Canadian arm plans to expand its production capacity by adding a second production shift at one of its two factories, as Reuters reports.

    The Alliston, Ontario production site’s output will be increased from 400 vehicles per day to 600 vehicles per day, a measure that will also lead to an addition 400 jobs.

    The Honda Canada Manufacturing Plant 2, located next to Plant number 1,  produces the Honda Civic sedan, the Acura MDX SUV and the Acura ZDX crossover. The facility, which has b… (read more)

  • Veteran Falcon Gets Commemorative Logo

    What better way to celebrate the longest-running nameplate in Australian motoring history than to honor it with a… commemorative logo!? Well, why not? After all, what do you expect them to do? Give the car a birthday cake?

    As the Ford Falcon turns 51 this year, the manufacturer will release the aforementioned commemorative logo. The new design is inspired by the original Falcon bird logo from the early 1960s, but with a few tweaks here and there and a big, "50 Anniversary" inscri… (read more)

  • Additional New Vehicle Taxes in the UK

    The UK government will introduce an additional new vehicle purchase tax, which should drive buyers towards low-emission vehicles and will increase the level of the current annual taxes, starting from tomorrow.

    The new first year rate of vehicle excise duty (VED), aka showroom tax, will target all new vehicles for the first year of registration based on their CO2 emissions. Cars that emit less than 130 g of CO2/km will be exempted from VED charges for the first year. The tax starts at 110 pou… (read more)

  • Loeb Fastest in Rally Jordan Shakedown

    A few hours before the official start of the Rally Jordan, reigning world champion Sebastian Loeb insisted that he and his team should not sit back and relax following their comfortable win in Rally Mexico. The Frenchman made yet another such statement today, when setting the fastest time in the pre-event shakedown for the Jordan event this weekend.

    The shakedown went under way on a 2.3 km itinerary some 7.5 km north of the Dead Sea Service Park, with the temperatures not exceeding 30 degrees… (read more)

  • Wirth to Pay for New Virgin Chassis

    Virgin Racing will have to wait until the Spanish Grand Prix in early May to actually hope to finish a race in Formula One. The team has discovered that the size of their car’s fuel tank is not enough to take on the necessary amount of fuel to finish a race, therefore will have to build a new chassis to implement a bigger tank.

    Amid recent reports that Sir Richard Branson is considering withdrawing his financial support for the Virgin Racing outfit due to this immense mistake by the developer… (read more)

  • Watch and Sigh: Ford Focus RS500 in Motion [Video]

    After it was forced by the imminent leakage of photos showing the limited edition Focus RS500 to present the car ahead of its scheduled unveiling, American manufacturer Ford thought that, while they’re at it, to launch the official video showing the car as well. And below it is…

    The model which marks the end of the RS line in Focus’ genealogical tree is, as said, limited to only 500 "performance car enthusiasts." It comes packing a 2.5l 5-cylinder engine developing 345 horsepower … (read more)

  • Mercedes-Benz to Produce the C-Klasse Coupe at the Bremen Plant

    Mercedes-Benz is expanding the production hardware at its Bremen plant in Germany, as the company plans to produce a new model there.

    The car we are talking about is the C-Klasse coupe, which will come to the world via the facility starting from next year. The vehicle will join other three cars produced on a single, state of the art, flexible production line: the C-Klasse saloon, C-Klasse estate and the GLK SUV.

    "The decision by the Board of Management to produce the Coupé version of… (read more)

  • Volvo V70 DRIVe Gets Five Stars in ADAC EcoTest

    Swedish carmaker Volvo has yet another reason to brag about, this time because the V70 DRIVe model. German motorists’ organization ADAC, recently gave the Volvo V70 1.6D DRIVe five stars in its annual eco-test.

    According to the carmaker, Volvo V70 DRIVe diesel is the first car model ever to receive five stars despite being powered by a conventional fuel.

    The DRIVe version of the V70 is down to 4.9 l/100 km fuel consumption and 129g CO2 emissions, 18 percent better than today’s two-liter di… (read more)

  • Rieger Touches the Volkswagen Golf GTI

    The German tuning company Rieger has developed a complete tuning kit for the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

    For the moment, the company has only released the details of the exterior styling modifications, with the technical upgrade expected to be announced later. Considering that the GTI’s 200 hp turbocharged 2.0 liter engine is one of the most tuner-friendly units currently available on the market, we expect to see a serious enhancement.

    Moving on to the tuned hot hatch’s appearance, we can see tha… (read more)

  • Fiat Commercial Vehicle UK’s Comedy Series Coming to CV Operators Show

    Earlier this month, we reported that Fiat Professional UK, the company’s British commercial vehicle arm, will launch a new brand marketing campaign, in the form of a 10-episode comedy series, called The Fleet.

    Now, the company announces that it will bring the fictitious company that stars in the series to this year’s Commercial Vehicles Operators Show, which will be held in Birmingham, between April 13 – 15. The event’s visitors will have the chance to feel like they are part of the action.
    … (read more)

  • Renault Aims for Top 4 Finish in 2010

    Renault’s reshuffle of their entire Formula One organization prior to the 2010 season seems to be working just fine, as the Enstone-based team scored their first podium only 2 races into the new campaign. And the result is even more resounding as it was recorded thanks to a strong, rather than lucky, performance from leading driver Robert Kubica.

    Team principal Eric Boullier admitted his enthusiasm over the Australian Grand Prix result, where the Polish driver went on to finish runner-up to M… (read more)

  • The Custom Trike Kit for Harley Softails by California Sidecar

    The latest offering from the California Sidecar specialists, dubbed The Custom, comes to fit all Softail models from 2000 – present, excluding the Rocker and 2007 Fatboy. Combining the Volusia Trike Conversion kit for Harley-Davidson Softails introduced in June 2009 with a custom chopper trike, The Custom offers something different.

    Standard features include a complete new front-end with custom polished billet aluminum triple trees raked for a chopper look, carpeted trunk with remote operate… (read more)

  • Scott Riggs to Race for Keyed-Up

    After completing his last full season on NASCAR’s first stage in 2008 and racing for 2 races with Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2009, Scott Riggs returns to the Sprint for another incomplete season.

    Riggs has been confirmed as the driver of the No. 90 Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevrolet for at least the next two races, at Phoenix and Texas. His arrival became a necessity after Casey Mears has been announced as Denny Hamlin’s replacement for the Phoenix race.

    We are thrilled to have Scott in our car,… (read more)