Author: Jeremy Korzeniewski

  • Strand Craft 122 super yacht comes with supercar and in-boat garage to hold it

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    Strand Craft 122 Super Yacht – Click above for high-res image gallery

    We know what you’re thinking. What business does a yacht – albeit one as ridiculously lustworthy as the Strand Craft 122 promises to be – have gracing the pages of Autoblog? Somewhat surprisingly, the answer is a garage. And also a supercar. That’s right, this ultra-yacht design study comes with an integrated garage in the stern that houses an 880-horsepower V12-powered supercar.

    Despite the fact that the designer has shared next to nothing about the supposed supercar (other than the fact that it can theoretically travel at speeds of over 230 miles per hour), we’re going to go ahead and start referring to it as the World’s Coolest Tender. Feel free to check out the high-res rendering of the machine in our image gallery below.

    As far as the yacht goes, we guess that’s pretty cool too… what with power coming from twin Rolls-Royce engines along with an optional booster engine sporting over 14,000(!) horsepower and a top speed of 55 knots. Not too shabby, eh? Price? Well, it’s all theoretical at this point, but even so, we’re guessing we could pool the AB staff’s money together and still only come up with enough money for a quick tour of the harbor in one.

    [Source: Strand Craft]

    Strand Craft 122 super yacht comes with supercar and in-boat garage to hold it originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 May 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Legendary Pontiac ad-man Jim Wangers selling off his collection

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    Jim Wangers’ 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge – Click above for high-res image gallery

    Got a hankering for a new Pontiac? Well, we’ve got bad news, then… you can’t get one. But today we can offer up something even better: a new-to-you classic Pontiac GTO, Firebird, Trans Am, or even a Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R. Now we’re talking.

    The cars in question come from the personal collection of Jim Wangers, who famously served as Pontiac chief marketing manager during the brand’s halcyon days of muscle cars, sportscars and a favored position right behind Chevrolet in General Motors‘ brand index. As such, we’d expect these 10 machines to be excellent examples of the breed.

    Now, on to the actual cars. First up is a 1965 GTO Sport Coupe, a car that represents the second year of the model’s existence and stands as a tribute to the classically warmed-over Royal Bobcat cars. If wind-in-your-hair motoring is more your style, may we direct you to the droptop 1966 Goat behind door number two. Also available are two Carousel Red (a.k.a. ‘orange’) GTO Judges from 1969.

    Perhaps you prefer the F-body? Choose from a first-year Firebird from 1967, a real 1969 Trans Am (super rare, very expensive), a 1979 Trans Am 10th Anniversary car with less than 100 miles on the odometer, a 20th Anniversary Trans Am with the turbocharged V6 engine from the Buick Grand National from 1989 or, finally, a white and blue 30th Anniversary Trans Am convertible.

    Still not caught your fancy? Well, there’s one more option: the aforementioned year 2000 Holden Commodore HSV GTS-R, which Wangers describes as “the very car that inspired Bob Lutz to seek from Holden (GM’s Australian car maker) a car for U.S. buyers – the ’04 Pontiac GTO.” Interested? Peep at the gallery below and then click here for the rest of the details.

    [Source: GeeTO Tiger via Motorator]

    Legendary Pontiac ad-man Jim Wangers selling off his collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • SYNC updated with stock quotes, horoscopes and more [w/video]

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    Ford SYNC with Applink – Click above to watch the video after the the break

    Ford’s excellent SYNC infotainment technology is undoubtedly already one of the best systems on the market. But there’s clearly been one glaring omission that’s been keeping the Microsoft-developed system from attaining its true position as the ultimate automotive killer app that the world has been waiting for: horoscopes.

    Good news, all you budding astrologers… Ford has seen fit to add daily horoscopes to all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with the cloud-based SYNC app Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI). There’s no cost and all the driver needs are an active owner account on www.syncmyride.com and a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone.

    Horoscopes not your thing? No problem! There will also be access to stock quotes, movie listings, airlines, rental cars and hotels. If this kind of thing tickles your wattle fancy, we suggest you check out the video and press release after the break.

    [Source: Ford]

    Continue reading SYNC updated with stock quotes, horoscopes and more [w/video]

    SYNC updated with stock quotes, horoscopes and more [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Report: Ford considering shutting down Mercury division

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    Mercury spokesmodel Jill Wagner – Click above for high-res image gallery

    According to a report from Bloomberg, which is citing two unnamed sources who are supposedly “familiar with the plan,” Ford is planning to close the doors on its Mercury division after 70 years of existence. If true, Mercury will join recently departed brands ranging from Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer.

    We can’t say that this news comes as a shocker, as analysts far and wide have been predicting such an event for the last few years, but Ford has repeatedly denied any plans to cancel its interplanetary division when questioned.

    For what it’s worth, the Mercury brand has seen its sales fall by nearly three-quarters since the year 2000, now representing less than two percent of Ford’s annual sales. What’s more, Mercury is scheduled to lose two of its four models next year. At this point, the only thing we’ll miss if Mercury leaves us is spokesmodel Jill Wagner.

    Stay tuned for more as the story develops.

    [Source: Bloomberg]

    Report: Ford considering shutting down Mercury division originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Video: Kia Soul hamsters return to kick it old school

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    Kia Soul This or That advertising spot – Click above to watch the video after the break

    You could get with this, or you could get with that. ‘This,’ in case you were wondering, would be the 2010 Kia Soul, and ‘that’ would be, um, anything else. Especially a toaster, washing machine or cardboard box… and we’ll leave those vehicular associations up to you to decipher.

    Before you actually watch the video pasted after the break, please know that our collective heads heads have officially exploded due to the sheer awesomeness of this effort from Kia and its marketing firm. First of all, the clip features the oddly popular Hamsters from Kia’s initial marketing launch for the Soul, the first commercial of which managed to win Nielsen’s Automotive Ad of the Year.

    More importantly, as far as we’re concerned at least, is the use of Black Sheep’s The Choice is Yours as the musical accompaniment to the Alien Green Soul and its urban backdrop. Also note that the character’s so-called Hamstar clothing will soon be available for purchase by fans at hamstarclothing.com. Seriously.

    Expect to see this advertisement all over your television set and in movie theaters starting on Friday, May 28. That said, we highly suggest that you get the jump on everyone else and watch the video now. Seriously, what are you waiting for? Hit the jump.

    [Source: Kia]

    Continue reading Video: Kia Soul hamsters return to kick it old school

    Video: Kia Soul hamsters return to kick it old school originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 May 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Spy Shots: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS shows off even more skin

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    Up until last week, Mercedes-Benz had been doing a rather admirable job keeping the 2011 CLS under wraps. But as we saw last Friday, that got blown out of the water as the forthcoming four-door was caught posing for the camera as part of what appeared to be a photo shoot. All that was missing was a nice clean shot from the front.

    Problem solved. This morning, a lone image has appeared that shows off the shapely new 2011 CLS’ SLS-inspired fascia with LED lighting, dramatically sloping roofline and its newly contoured bodysides. As we saw last week, a bit of comparison work proves that the production car will share the vast majority of its sheetmetal with the CLS Shooting Break (yes, we know… it should be Brake, but we didn’t name it) concept that M-B introduced just a few months back.

    In fact, the car in the spy shot looks so much like the conceptual CLS hatch that we had to open the two in their own windows the double check what we were looking at. See for yourself. In any case, we’re mostly digging this new fastback sedan shape and relishing the idea of a 5.5-liter turbocharged and direct injected AMG-fettled V8 engine underhood.

    [Source: SecretNewCars.com]

    Spy Shots: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS shows off even more skin originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 May 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Mazda silences the kids

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    Mazda silences the kids – Click above to watch the video after the break

    We love kids… other people’s kids, that is. Yours truly doesn’t have any progeny of his own to look after, so the need for a vehicle that has loads of interior space is mostly lost on me. If you do have some screaming little’uns to look after, though, your vehicular choices suddenly become a bit narrower in focus, and things like folding rear seats, power liftgates and rear-seat entertainment systems begin to look less like unnecessary expenses and more like valuable life- and time-savers.

    Regardless of whether or not you have kids of your own, you’ve surely been trapped inside a moving vehicle full of the little buggers. Assuming that’s the case, we’ll step a bit further out on the limb and figure that you’ve had your own thoughts on how best to deal with the, ahem… problem. Mazda has a suggestion – see for yourself by watching the video pasted after the break. Like that one? Click here to see more funny commercials from veryfunnyads.com.

    [Source: veryfunnyads.com]

    Continue reading Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Mazda silences the kids

    Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Mazda silences the kids originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 May 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Ryca Motors reimagines Suzuki S40 with a sportier flair

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    Ryca Motors CS-1 – Click above for high-res image gallery

    In case you hadn’t noticed, cafe racers are in. In fact, retro in general has been seeing a resurgence of sorts for the last decade or so, and there’s a certain intrinsic charm to motorcycles designed to be sportbikes before the term sportbike actually existed. Established motorcycle brands, such as Ducati with its Sport Classic series and Triumph with its Thruxton, have taken note with production models that ape the design of low-slung classics with dropped handlebars, raised exhausts and sloping seats.

    As much as we appreciate those bikes, it’s important to note that cafe racers were highly customized by their owners and were therefore much more unique than the bikes they were based on. As such, we’re finding ourselves rather intrigued by the CS-1 from Ryca Motors. Starting with the well-known Suzuki S40 (or the Savage, as it was previously known) means that parts and service will never present a problem, and that bike’s easygoing 650cc single cylinder powerplant lends itself to the cafe racer look with relatively little effort.

    Casey Stevenson, formerly an engineer at NASA, designed the CS-1 to be a fun and fuel efficient machine that could be built on a small budget and sold as a small run of production models and kits. Want one? A check for $9,500 will get you a CS-1 brand new off the showroom floor, and $8,000 will get you a bike built atop a gently used donor. If you already have an S40 or Savage, you can get it converted for $5,500 or you can buy the complete kit for $3,200.

    Gallery: Ryca Motors CS-1

    [Source: Ryca Motors via The Kneeslider]

    Ryca Motors reimagines Suzuki S40 with a sportier flair originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 May 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • NHTSA claims Toyota unintended acceleration may have claimed 89 lives

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    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now estimating that 89 deaths may be attributable to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles here in the United States between the year 2000 and May of 2009. Previously, it was reported that 52 deaths were possibly related to the throttle defect.

    This figure has been extrapolated from NHTSA’s database of the roughly 6,200 complaints it has received over that same time period. In addition to the 89 deaths, 57 injuries have also been tallied. Toyota reminds us that these figures are estimates, saying in a statement:

    Many complaints in the NHTSA database, for any manufacturer, lack sufficient detail that could help identify the cause of an accident. We will continue to work in close partnership with law enforcement agencies and federal regulators with jurisdiction over accident scenes whenever requested.

    According to Toyota, some 1.67 million sticky accelerator pedals and 1.62 million floor mats have so far been fixed under recall, with roughly 120,000 being performed per week on average.

    [Source: The Washington Post | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

    NHTSA claims Toyota unintended acceleration may have claimed 89 lives originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Adam Carolla explains why he’s not doing Top Gear USA

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    Ah yes,Top Gear USA. We had nearly given up hope for the American version of the hit British television series until friend-of-Autoblog Adam Carolla let slip details of the series’ subsequent resuscitation on The History Channel during a taping of one of his CarCast episodes. At the time, it was thought that Carolla would be the only one of the original three cast members from the pilot to make the reborn series. As it turns out, that was not the case. What gives?

    Apparently, Carolla has a pilot sitcom that he’s currently taping for NBC, and the Peacock wouldn’t let the funny man away long enough to join History’s Top Gear USA. Sad for all, as reports from those who attended the taping of the NBC pilot almost universally praised Carolla’s performance on the show.

    Perhaps the most disappointed of all is Carolla himself, who openly dishes on the May 17 edition of his CarCast that he hopes his NBC sitcom is canceled so he can rejoin Top Gear. Click here to listen to the entire episode, but know that there’s some foul language.

    [Source: AdamCarolla.com via MotoBullet.com]

    Adam Carolla explains why he’s not doing Top Gear USA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • It’s Official: VW taking 90% stake in Italdesign

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    1970 Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

    Remember those rumors that Volkswagen was poised to purchase Italdesign Giugiaro? Well, they’re rumors no more, as the two storied firms have just announced that it’s a done deal. The German automaker will acquire a 90-percent stake in the design house, and the Giugiaro family, which currently owns the company outright, will retain the remaining 10 percent.

    It is currently assumed that Volkswagen will keep the 975 employees at Italdesign, adding them to its own design department. Reports indicate that VW will also retain the services of the elder Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son, Fabrizio, who currently serves as the company design head. For what it’s worth, the Italian design house styled some of VW’s most successful and iconic models, including the original Golf (or Rabbit, depending on your country of birth) and Scirocco.

    Hit the jump for the official joint press release, and be sure to check out some of the best collaborations between the two companies in our high-res image gallery below.

    [Source: Italdesign]

    Continue reading It’s Official: VW taking 90% stake in Italdesign

    It’s Official: VW taking 90% stake in Italdesign originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Suzuki celebrates 16-year-old Elena Myers’ AMA Supersport win by going… pink

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    A brief glance around any motorcycle racing paddock will tell you all you need to know about the number of women racing in the field. In short, there aren’t many. Thankfully, things are changing, especially when racers like 16-year-old Elena Myers proved that they can do more than just keep up on the track with their male counterparts.

    In case you missed the news, young Elena just became the first female to win an AMA Supersport Class race, and she did so aboard her No. 21 Lucas Oil Roadracingworld.com RMR Suzuki GSX-R600. Suffice it to say that Suzuki is rather proud of Elena’s achievement, and the Japanese company has gone so far as to celebrate the landmark victory by changing its Suzukicycles.com homepage to pink in her honor.

    Naturally, we wish Elena all the success in the world. But seriously… pink? We see exactly zero pink on any of her motorcycle or riding gear, but if that’s the Way Suzuki wants to celebrate…

    [Source: Suzuki]

    Continue reading Suzuki celebrates 16-year-old Elena Myers’ AMA Supersport win by going… pink

    Suzuki celebrates 16-year-old Elena Myers’ AMA Supersport win by going… pink originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Lexus issues stop-sale, recall on LS 460 and LS 600h

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    True to predictions, The Detroit News is reporting that Lexus has issued a stop sale on its LS 460 and LS 600h (standard and long-wheelbase) luxury sedans due to a problem with the electronic steering system that can temporarily cause the steering wheel to become off-centered. Apparently, the wheel will return to its correct position after about five seconds of misalignment. Toyota issued a recall on Friday, May 21st to address the defect. Click here to see the recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    Although Toyota has reportedly fixed the problem on new models rolling down the assembly lines in Japan, those recalibrated machines are not expected to hit dealership lots in America until the middle of June. In the meantime, the 3,800 or so owners of affected 2009 and 2010 LS sedans are being urged to avoid turning the steering wheel rapidly after holding it in full lock in the opposite direction.

    We would imagine that there are certain scenarios where following such advice may prove difficult to follow, but Toyota is so far reporting that no injuries or accidents have been caused by the issue.

    [Source: The Detroit News]

    Lexus issues stop-sale, recall on LS 460 and LS 600h originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Followup: Dubai authorities arrest YouTube hoons

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    A memorable day on a Dubai highway – Click above to watch video after the jump

    Well, wouldn’t ‘cha know that it actually wasn’t just another day in Dubai traffic. You may recall the video that we posted last Friday that showed a couple of hooning drivers doing wicked crazy burnouts, drifts and donuts all over public highways in Dubai… not to mention plenty of driving on two wheels. If not, now would be a good time to click past the break to see the video for yourself.

    As it turns out, the two men – both UAE nationals in their 20s – driving the vehicles in question down Sheikh Zayed Road have been tracked down and arrested. As has happened in the past, police were able to identify the vehicles after seeing their license plates in full view from the videos uploaded to YouTube.

    Let this be a lesson. A lesson of what, exactly, is up to you to discern. We’ll go with a few: Don’t hoon so obviously on highly trafficked public roads. Don’t endanger the lives or livelihoods of your fellow citizens. And finally, don’t upload videos of your illegal actions to YouTube unless you are willing to pay the consequences.

    Oh, and speaking of consequences… these two drivers are reportedly facing up to three years in prison if convicted.

    [Source: ArabianBusiness.com]

    Continue reading Followup: Dubai authorities arrest YouTube hoons

    Followup: Dubai authorities arrest YouTube hoons originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Triumph updates 2011 Sprint GT with emphasis on touring over sport

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    2011 Triumph Sprint GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

    American touring motorcycles, including the Road King from Harley-Davidson or the Vision from Victory, are built for the kind of vast stretches of wide-open roadways America is known for, and such machines are perfect to watching the miles roll by in open-air comfort. For those looking to add some additional sport to their touring rides, though, Triumph has cooked up something that may very well be of interest.

    The British motorcycle company has seen fit to update its Sprint sport tourer for the 2011 model year with a 1050cc inline-triple powerplant that puts out 130 horses, five more than before. Anti-lock brakes are standard, as are 8.2-gallon saddlebags and a 12-volt power port. Optional amenities include heated grips, a taller windscreen, gel seats and a large top case for additional storage.

    Styling is slightly revised as well, with a smoother fairing, new optics up front and the addition of a single low-mount exhaust in lieu of the previous underseat system. For whatever reason, the name of the bike is now the Sprint GT, not ST. Check it out for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.

    [Source: Triumph]

    Triumph updates 2011 Sprint GT with emphasis on touring over sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 May 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • The Kei to a Good Time: Pint-sized Shelby Cobra replica from Japan

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    Baby Cobra replica – Click above for high-res image gallery

    Shelby Cobra. A mere mention of the beast is enough to send enthusiasts’ hearts aflutter and cause the minds of those lucky enough to have piloted such a beast to reel with fast-paced memories. Unless, of course, you are talking about the untold gallons of fuel the (up to) 7.0-liter V8 engines of these venomous snakes guzzle.

    But does it have to be that way? Is is possible to have your cake and eat it too? Well, that depends on what exactly you are looking to recreate. If you’re feeling a real need for speed and nothing but a fire-breathing monster will do, we have bad news for you. But, if you just want to look like you’re piloting a vintage race car, you may be in luck.

    In standard form (which isn’t very cheap at over $40,000 U.S. or £27,724), the so-called Baby Cobra from Japan is powered by a tiny 660cc engine (yes, that’s less than a tenth of the size of the original 427 cubic incher with fewer than half as many cylinders) yanked from a Suzuki Cappuccino microcar.

    A hefty options list can reportedly drive that price much higher into the stratosphere, but something tells us even the turbocharged, 720cc mill with 158 horsepower will still post significantly improved fuel efficiency over its forebearer. Yes, it’s completely ridiculous… and yes, we’re completely smitten with it.

    Better get yours now before Shelby’s crack legal team gets wind of this thing…

    [Source: Baby Cobra via Auto Express]

    The Kei to a Good Time: Pint-sized Shelby Cobra replica from Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Eco Unfriendly: Dakar 2010 caused 570K of damage in Chile

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    Despite the best efforts of racing organizations the world over to clean up their image, it’s pretty tough to consider any kind of motorsport squeaky clean. Apparently, that’s especially true of the recent Dakar rally in South America. Besides the expected burning of fossil fuels and the emissions associated with it, the National Monuments Council (NMC) of Chile reports that the off-road race caused roughly $570,000 (300 million pesos) of damage to 56 of the country’s 111 heritage sites.

    Further, the NMC says that 13 of those heritage sites suffered from lost archeological data. Apparently, this isn’t the first such instance of collateral damage during the Dakar race. Last year, a similar report was filed by the NMC, and the organization is again asking that the rally organizers pay these costs.

    For what it’s worth, such damage was not unexpected. Late last year, the NMC drafted a detailed report of expected damage to the sites it monitors. Next year, though, the NMC is hoping that its report, which will be completed this August in anticipation of the event early in 2011, will be handed out to rally participants so they know where to tread especially lightly.

    [Source: Moto-Net via Motorbiker | Image: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images]

    Eco Unfriendly: Dakar 2010 caused 570K of damage in Chile originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Report: BMW X4 back on the table?

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    Were you, like us, just thinking that BMW‘s U.S. lineup would be fully complete if only it had just one more crossover utility Sports Activity Vehicle that slotted in somewhere between the small X3 and midsize X5? If so, we have good news. Just such a vehicle – logically and tentatively named the X4 – is rumored to be in development. Again.

    Just as the X6 was designed as a sportier take on the more traditional SUV-shaped X5, the new X4 would inject a bit more Bavarian flavor into the plain ol’ X3. Citing an unnamed source within the company, Autocar reports, “We haven’t made any firm decision… however, the X6’s success shows there is a continued demand for sporty off-roaders.”

    Yes, we’ve heard this rumor before, but not since 2008. Why the possible change of heart? Despite drawing ire from what seems to be a vocal minority, BMW reports that the X6 is handily outpacing its own initial sales projections. In fact, it’s 80,000 sales worldwide is twice what the automaker had expected to sell. And one good turn deserves… something.

    [Source: Autocar]

    Report: BMW X4 back on the table? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Airbags on motorcycles: Alpinestars introduces Tech Air Race motorcycle suit [w/video]

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    Alpinestars Tech Air Race prototype suit – Click above to watch the video after the break

    We traveled out to Alpinestars’ U.S. headquarters near Los Angeles, California today so that the giant manufacturer of automotive and motorcycle safety gear could show us its latest high-tech hardware. The most important aspect of the visit was a closely held trade secret, but it’s now out in the open: the Tech Air Race motorcycle suit.

    Airbags in motorcycle suits aren’t necessarily anything new, but the big breakthrough here is that the system is small enough to be integrated directly into the Electronic Airbag Protection Suit and is controlled by a high-tech electronic brain. As Alpinestars says, a motorcycle crash isn’t all that difficult to describe in words, but in mathematical terms, things get much more difficult.

    As such, there is a very complicated set of algorithms that are constantly monitoring the rider’s movements, and there are five levels of programing that ensures the airbag doesn’t deploy when it’s not necessary. First and foremost, though, the system does not arm unless it senses the rider is moving and the engine is running. Interestingly, it’s been tested on machines powered by both internal combustion engines and electric motors.

    It takes a total of about eight milliseconds for the electronic brain to determine whether a crash is imminent. Once the seven sensors placed all over the suit trigger the airbag system, it takes just 50 milliseconds to fully inflate and stays fully inflated for about five seconds. After 25 seconds or so, the bag completely deflates. After the event, a GPS system is used to help determine exactly where the accident took place.

    Alpinestars’ airbag system includes two separate cylinders that set off a cold charge of nitrogen. It takes roughly one minute for the system to rearm itself after the initial firing. Currently, Ben Spies, Mika Kallio and Dani Pedrosa are running the data logging suits at MotoGP races.

    So, what does the future hold for the Tech Air technology? Alpinestars promises that there will be applications for racing, street and even off-road riding. Currently, the initial consumer-ready suits are targeted for June of 2011, and other applications will follow in the coming years.

    Time will tell how effective such active safety technologies prove, but Alpinestars’ data certainly looks compelling. At present, the technology is expected to add roughly $2,500 to the cost of a standard suit. A hefty tag for sure, but it’s tough to put a price on safety.

    Click past the break to watch a video of the airbag being deployed on a rider.

    Continue reading Airbags on motorcycles: Alpinestars introduces Tech Air Race motorcycle suit [w/video]

    Airbags on motorcycles: Alpinestars introduces Tech Air Race motorcycle suit [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Video: Princess Leia. Car wash. No, we’re not kidding

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    Star Wars Charity Car Wash – Click above to watch the videos after the break

    It could very well be the ultimate car-obsessed/Star Wars fanboy fantasy. What is this latest object of our geekery? How about a car wash carried out by a gaggle of Princess Leias? And not just any Princess Leia, mind you, but slave Leia. We told you already: Ultimate car-obsessed Star Wars fanboy fantasy.

    Not surprisingly, the fertile minds over at G4TV’s Attack of the Show were behind the stunt, and proceeds from the Star Wars Charity Car Wash went to the Make A Wish Foundation. And if you’re worried it was all just a horrible example of male chauvinism (yeah, it probably was), Han Solo, Darth Vader, Obi Wan, a slew of Storm Troopers and even a Tusken Raider and pair of Jawas were also present and accounted for. What, no Olivia Munn?

    Video? Of course, four of them in total. See it all go down after the break.

    [Source: Attack of the Show]

    Continue reading Video: Princess Leia. Car wash. No, we’re not kidding

    Video: Princess Leia. Car wash. No, we’re not kidding originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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