forgus beylan

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Mystery Scoop: Is this the 2014 Cadillac ATS, a Future Buick or Something Else?

Maybe you can help us out here. A Carscoop reader, who prefers to remain anonymous, nabbed these photos of an identical pair of camouflaged prototype sedans at a tollbooth in Ohio.

The photos were shot from a distance with a cell phone camera, so it’s difficult to tell the brand and make of the vehicles. Our unnamed reader told us that the front end looked like a Cadillac but the rest of the car reminded him of a Buick, and we’ll agree with him.

Last January at the Detroit Motor Show, MINI lifted the curtains on the not-so-mini Paceman concept study based on the Countryman crossover. During the presentation of the prototype, BMW board member Ian Robertson had then confirmed that the Paceman will join the MINI line-up in the very near future.

And while we’ve yet to capture a prototype version of the Paceman on the road, today we discovered these official patent images that were filed a couple of days ago.

Most concepts presented at motor shows remain just that: a stylistic exercise by the automaker’s designers, a “what if” proposal, a flight of fancy. At best, a few of them make it into production, mostly in a much more conventional form. But as with every rule, there are always an exception.

Volvo’s SCC Concept is one such example. Presented at the 2001 Detroit Motor Show, the Swedish carmaker’s Safety Concept Car was more than just a glimpse into the future or the main inspiration behind the C30’s design: it was the car that, above any other, influenced Volvo’s technological advances.

More often than not, Brabus’ aftermarket offerings include some heavy performance modifications, but this time, the German tuning firm decided to focus solely on improving the styling of the Mercedes E-Class and S-Class premium sedans with the release of two new aerodynamic packages. Read more »

IKEA to Install Blink Charging Stations for EVs at Select US Stores

Household furnishing giant IKEA announced that it has teamed up with ECOtality to host Blink electric vehicle charging stations for EVs at select stores in the Western United States.

The company said that it is considering 10 locations in Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington with the program set to go in motion this fall.

In the 1960s, customers who could only dream of owning a Corvette often left their local Chevy dealers with the keys to a new Impala or Bel-Air. Now, it seems the same thing is happening with the Chevy Volt don’t-call-it-a-hybrid and the Cruze small car.

Year-to-date sales are up some 32% across the range, though only 567 of the 80,000 plus cars the Detroit automaker sold in June were Volts. The remainder were cars like the Cruze, which has earned the crown of Chevy’s biggest seller.

After making the motorshow rounds, it’s time for Toyota to start preparations for the U.S. launch of its new Scion iQ mini that will begin arriving at dealerships on the west coast in October, and the rest of the country in early 2012.

The Lilliputian four-seater model that is sold in Europe as a Toyota and let's not forget, as an....Aston Martin as well, will carry a base sticker of $15,265. A $730 delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee brings the total to $15,995.

The iQ’s most closest rival in the States is the Fiat 500 that retails for $15,500 in base trim, not including destination and handling.

Last February Fiat recorded Europe’s lowest average CO2 emissions for the fourth year in a row. And now it reinforces its eco-friendly character by introducing an all-Euro 5 engine line-up across the Panda range in Britain. Read more »

Video: Pedestrian Crossing from Hell

If there was ever a pedestrian crossing from hell, this is it. True, we can’t see if there’s a pedestrian light on the other side of the road, but come on, the drivers seen in this video didn’t even attempt to slow down and let the man pass the crossing in safety let alone stop.

Watch the incident for yourself in the video after the break.

The car that helped Fiat get back on its feet at the turn of the century, the nuova Panda, will soon give its place to an all-new model that was snagged by Carscoop’s photographers during hot weather testing in Europe.

It's hard to picture the styling details with the heavy cladding and camouflage on the prototype, but it’s evident that new model will retain the shape of the tall-bodied, second generation Panda.

How adorable is this yellow dress? (And it's only $40!) I'm thinking of getting it for weddings and date nights this summer.

Just Before Launch, McLaren Decides to Make MP4-12C “More Emotional”

McLaren’s MP4-12C has received a lot of praise from automotive journalists. It has even set the second fastest time ever in the Top Gear power lap. But this doesn’t mean that it’s perfect.

Most who have driven it have placed it below its chief rival, the Ferrari 458 Italia, not because its’ slower (it isn’t) or less capable, but because it lacked the aural charisma and emotional character of the Italian supercar. In other words, it was good, but also a bit clinical.

Italian sports carmaker Ferrari has set its eyes on the North American Grand Am series, which it plans to compete in with the new 458 Italia Grand Am that was given its track baptism today at the Fiorano circuit completing several laps in the hands of Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo.

Developed in cooperation with Michelotto Automobili, the racing model is based on the European GT3 version of the 458 Italia but features less efficient aerodynamics as well as a detuned V8 delivering 500-horses due to the different regulations in the American series.

Chrysler announced on Tuesday that it suspended nine workers from its Trenton Engine Plant without pay after FOX aired a report showing them drinking and smoking during lunch break.

It all started when ~~big brother~~ FOX 2 reporter Rob Wolchek received two separate calls from colleagues of the aforementioned workers claiming that they no longer wanted to work with people behaving in such a dangerous manner.

If you’re still with us and haven’t gone out looking for a bug swatter, there’s more of this lime-green creation to be seen in the video after the jump.

Judging from the cuts on the front fenders and the shape of the bonnet, we reckon it’s a mid-1990s Acura Integra Coupe.

The proud owner of the vehicle chopped off the roof to turn the Japanese coupe into a convertible model and then proceeded with the styling transformation that includes a custom body kit imitating the looks of many Mercedes-Benz roadsters and the customary trick doors.

Oh my goodness, who wants a bite of this PB&J candy bar? Delicious.

Toyota to Use Prius Hybrids to Supply Household Appliances with Electricity!

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. In Japan’s case, the devastating earthquake in March and the subsequent damages to the country’s infrastructure put the spotlight on Toyota’s Estima Hybrid minivan that features a system allowing the supply of auxiliary electricity to power household appliances.

The minivan’s owners were extremely satisfied with the system, which effectively turns the hybrid system into an electric generator that runs on gasoline, claiming that it was invaluable during the extended blackouts in Japan.

Small boutique sports carmaker Caterham is looking for ways to expand its sales reach by entering Asia’s most lucrative car market. The UK-based company announced today that it has signed an exclusive deal with import firm Courtenay Trading International (CTI) to sell its iconic Seven model in China.

Caterham said that even though it has had a “long-standing presence” in the Far East, most notably in Japan, this will be the first time the Seven will be available in China.

General Motors and OnStar announced a new program that will be applied to the Chevrolet Volt and which will use the car’s built-in telematics system to send data from the vehicle to the power grid.

This will enable the carmaker to track the charging habits of the vehicle’s drivers so as to better manage the car’s energy supply.

At a press event on Monday, BMW sales chief Ian Robertson said that he expects the brand’s sales in China to grow, albeit not at the extraordinary rate of 61% that it achieved in the first half.

"In the second half of the year we will not have such a fast growth rate in China as in the first half because of the high year-earlier level of comparison, but will still have growth," said Robertson.

2012 Hyundai Sonata Receives its First Facelift in South Korea

Hyundai has blessed the South Korean market version of its Sonata mid-size sedan with its very first mild facelift. Just don’t blink because you may very well miss it.

The light cosmetic surgery on the outside brings a revamped front grille with a little bit less chrome on top and around the sides, plus new LED taillights at the back, reshaped mirror casings and a fresh choice of alloy wheel designs including a set of 18-inch multispoke rims.

We’ve seen some insanely modified Nissan GT-R R35s, but Chicago-based tuning house AMS Performance, has really lifted the bar with its newest creation, the ALPHA 12.

The heavily tuned Nissan GT-R ALPHA 12, which is still in the development and testing phase, was placed on a dyno where it produced an incredible 1,309-horsepower and 994 lb-ft (1,384Nm) of peak torque at all four wheels!

One of my all-time favourite cars is the 1948 Ford Super Deluxe. The station wagon and Sportsman convertible variants were the last true “woodies” and in my mind the best looking of the bunch.

On the opposite end of the scale is this hand-built woodie pick-up from Quebec, Canada. It’s like a child’s drawing of a pick-up truck come to life or maybe the first car designed and built exclusively by the Amish.

One of the highlights in the fourth episode of Top Gear’s 17th season that aired in Britain this past weekend was the test of the 530HP and 612 Nm (451 lb/ft) 2012 Nissan GT-R. Jeremy Clarkson clearly had a blast driving the updated version of Nissan’s twin-turbocharged, four-wheel drive supercar and, unusually for him, almost ran out of expletives. Read more »

Study: Speeding the Most Common Cause of In-Car Arguments Amongst Couples

It’s happened to all of us at some point. You’re behind the steering wheel and just when you think that everything is fine and dandy, the person sitting in the passenger’s seat, be it your spouse, girlfriend of boyfriend, starts yelling: “Slow down, you ‘re driving too fast!”, “You should have listened to me, we missed our exit” or “Keep your distance, we’re gonna hit the car in front of us”.

And that’s how car arguments start, ladies and gentlemen, turning a promising journey into a nightmare…

Volkswagen is confident that a higher percentage of men as well as younger consumers will buy the 2012 Beetle compared to its predecessor when U.S. sales start in September.

VW of America’s Vice President of marketing and strategy Rainer Michel told Autonews that “a more masculine appearance, including a higher beltline, and 20 more horsepower for the base model, should do the trick”.

While female buyers accounted for more than 65% of the previous Beetle’s sales, Michel believes that the percentage for the all-new 2012 model will be split between the two sexes.

Hyundai and Kia have a strange, symbiotic relationship. They share factories, parts as well as engineering knowhow and product testing duties. And yet they remain separate entities with their own marketing, distribution and styling departments.

Michael Sprague, Kia’s VP for marketing and communication describes their relationships to the New York Times likes this:

“Kia Motors America operates as a completely separate sales, marketing and distribution organization in the United States. [Hyundai and Kia share engineering efficiencies] similar in many ways to other global automakers.”

No doubt, World War II was a dark period in history. And even though many years have passed since then, the Nazi regime has a way of surfacing to the limelight – or so to speak. Like Adolf Hitler’s secret bunker that was found under a Berlin parking lot.

Unsurprisingly, most people, both German and foreigners, had no idea that they were parking their cars above the place that Hitler spent the last five months before his defeat and the fall of the Third Reich.

Would you wear this beautiful new hand-block-printed Indian caftan by EmersonMade? It would be effortlessly breezy to wear while reading books, curling up with friends or hosting a late-night dinner party. Reminds me of my mom when she was really young in the 70s.

Thoughts? Would you wear it?

Chrysler Surpasses Ford as Canada’s Biggest Seller of Light Trucks

Canada’s economy seems unaffected by most of the Western World’s woes, where markets are struggling and unemployment is booming. In fact, Canada’s economy is growing and as a result, unemployment is falling and people are getting jobs. Therefore, they have money to buy cars, or light trucks, pickups and SUVs. Read more »

Update: Toyota Says RAV-4 EV Will Be Sold to the General Public

Toyota has just issued a statement disputing a recent report from Reuters by saying that the upcoming all-electric RAV-4 will be available for sale to the general public as well.

The Reuters story, which Carscoop also reported on, said that the RAV-4 EV would only be sold to fleet customers and car sharing programs, citing Geri Yoza, the National Business Planning Manager of Advanced Vehicle Marketing, as the source.

Here’s Toyota’s official statement:

“Recent reports have incorrectly stated that the 2012 RAV4 EV will only be marketed to fleet and car sharing programs. We’d like to set the record straight. The 2012 RAV4 EV will definitely be sold to the general public. We anticipate robust public interest in the RAV4 EV and are keen to inform consumers that their future vehicle options include a battery electric Toyota

With modern cars fitted with more and more electronic equipment, it is logical that electrical problems are popping up much more frequently than in past years. According to a Warranty Direct survey in the UK, electrical faults account for 27% of all car malfunctions every year.

That’s a 17% rise over just five years ago, with more than four out of 10 cars each year facing breakdowns due to electrical problems that are mostly rather complex, and expensive to fix.

Well, that didn’t take long did it? Only a year after launch and while the Leaf is leading the eco-friendly sales race against GM’s Chevrolet Volt, Nissan today announced that it is lifting the base price of the 2012 model year version of its pure-electric hatchback between 7 and 11 percent, depending on the trim grade!

In particular, the entry-level 2012 Leaf SV is now priced at $35,200, or 7.38% more than the 2011MY’s $32,780 sticker. The higher grade Lead SL enters the 2012MY priced at $37,250, an increase of $3,530 or 11.3% more over the 2011MY.

These days, I'm smitten with all the clever tattoos out there, but I'm too wussy to get a permanent one. So I was THRILLED to discover tatt.ly, a new online shop offering awesome, designy temporary tattoos.

Which would you wear?

FIA Investigates Jet Fighter Canopies for Improving F1 Drivers’ Safety

May 1st, 1994: the world watches in shock as Ayrton Senna’s Williams-Renault veers off the track and hits the wall at the Tamburello corner of the Imola circuit. Unfortunately, it was an accident that the most charismatic F1 driver of all times wouldn’t survive as his head injuries were too severe.

Just one day before another fatality had hit F1 for the first time in 12 years. Roland Ratzenberger’s Simtek wing broke off before the Villeneuve corner and he hit the wall at 196 mph (315 km/h). The cause of death was basal skull fracture.

For the past few months, design students from 50 universities across the globe took up Ferrari’s challenge of designing a future supercar for the famous Italian brand. Now, following the completion of the second phase in which seven schools were chosen to move to the final round, we have a winner.

Drum-roll please…and the winners of the Ferrari World Design Contest are…the students from Seoul’s Hongik University. The South Korean school finished first ahead of the second-placed IED of Turin in Italy and London’s Royal College of Arts.

The wait for the next evolution of the Porsche 911 is almost over. In fact, we’re so close to the launch date that the German firm has just entered the teasing phase releasing the first official video of the sports car shot during hot weather testing in South Africa.

The public will have its first chance to see the new 911, codenamed 991, at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. What we know up until now is that, the 911 will look like, well, a 911 – don’t forget, it’s all about evolution when it comes to Porsche's most famous model.

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a study showing that Volvo’s XC60 active safety systems contribute to it being engaged in 27% fewer damage accidents and 51% fewer bodily injury accidents than other mid-size luxury SUVs.

Always according to the study, the XC60 is also 19% less likely to be involved in accidents compared to other models in Volvo’s range. IIHS said that this is due to the SUV's standard low-speed collision avoidance system called City Safety.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Tuesday, July 19, 2011