Auto racer and car designer Caroll Shelby has died at age 89. Shelby designs included the Shelby Cobra and the Shelby line of Ford Mustang cars. You can see some of the cars on the Shelbyautos.com website. You can find a timeline on the carrollshelby.com. Take a look:
Nevada has given Google's driverlass car permission to hit the road. ABC News reports that Florida may be the next state to allow driverless vehicles navigated by artificial intelligence and GPS. You can see a video of a blind man being driven by Google's driverless car here. Take a look:
Volkswagen has unveiled a Hover Car at Auto China 2012. The concept is the result of the People's Car Project (PCP) launched last year. The zero-emissions magnetic suspension vehicle would hover above the ground as it travels along electromagnetic road networks. The Hover Car features an autonavigation mode and safety sensors designed to help prevent accidents.
Simon Loasby, Head of Design at Volkswagen Group China, says, "The creative ideas from the 'People's Car Project' give us a valuable insight into the wishes of Chinese drivers. The trend is towards safe cars that can easily navigate overcrowded roads and have a personal, emotional and exciting design."
The first video is from Volkswagen. The second clip is an animation from NMA News. Take a look:
A Harley Davidson from the Japanese tsunami in March 2011 has washed up on the coast of British Columbia. The rusty motorcycle has Japanese plates. It was found inside a storage container, which also contained golf clubs and camping equipment. Take a look:
Timereports that authorities were able to track down Ikuo Yokoyama, the 29-year-old owner of the bike using its plates. Yokoyama survived the tsunami, but he lost his home and three family members. Yokoyama says he immediately knew the bike was his when he saw the photograph.
Time also says that the Maritime Museum of British Columbia recently launched the Tsunami Debris Project, an effort to return personal items that wind up on Canada's beaches back to their owners in Japan.
BYD, a Chinese carmarker, has a new plug-in electric car coming out called the Qin. The Qin has a little robot sitting on its dashboard. China Car Times reports on the car here. They are not entirely sure of the purpose of the little dashboard robot, but they suspect it has something to do with the vehicle's "i" networking system. The little bot is outfitted with cameras and is suspected to be the centerpoint for features like a driver fatigue warning system, wireless Internet and voice activated controls.
The Lamborghini Urus SUV made its world premiere at the Beijing Auto Show. The car is still four years away from production. The red concept vehicle is very stylish looking for an SUV. The Urus was introduced with a ceremony that included many dancers. Take a look:
Here is a report from the Wall Street Journal on the SUV. Take a look:
The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety have partnered partnering with actress/singer Victoria Justice to encourage young adults to Act Out Loud for stronger teen driving laws. She is asking teens to visit Facebook.com/ActOutLoud to create an Act Out Loud Yearbook from now until May 6.
Victoria says, "On average, 11 teens die every day in car crashes - and that's far too many. As a teen myself, I want to make sure my friends and I come home safely each and every day. Through Act Out Loud, we can work together to make an impact and help stop this deadly epidemic."
Here are some photographs from the 2012 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). We have provided links to where you can find out more information about each vehicle.
Bentley Continental GT: You can find more about the new Continental GT here.
BMW X1 2013: You can find more about the new BMW X1 2013 here and here.
Bentley Continental GT V8: You can find more about the new Continental GT V8 here.
Lincoln MKZ: You can find more about the Lincoln MKZ here.
Lexus GS350 F Sport 2013: You can find more about the Lexus GS350 F Sport 2013 here and here.
Subaru XV Crosstrek 2013: You can find more about the Subaru XV Crosstrek 2013 here and here.
Photos: PRNewsFoto/New York International Auto Show
Acura debuted its Acura RLX Concept at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. Acura's RLX flagship sedan is slated for launch in early 2013. Here are some highlights of the vehicle:
3.5L direct-injected VTEC V-6 engine and Acura's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system combine for over 370-horsepower
7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and lightweight body to deliver V-8 acceleration with 4-cylinder fuel economy - estimated EPA (city/highway/combined) rating of 30/30/30 mpg.
20-inch forged aluminum wheels and 255/35 R20 high-performance tires
Jewel Eye LED headlamps
Front-wheel-drive versions of RLX will utilize Acura's new Precision All Wheel Steer system
Safety features include Collision Mitigation Braking System, Acura's Lane Keep Assist System, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning. Passive safety features will include front, side and side-curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a driver's knee airbag.
Dual LCD screens (8-inch display and 7-inch touch screen)
14-speaker ultra premium audio system will be offered in addition to Acura's award winning ELS Surround sound system
Bluetooth HandsFreeLink calling and pre-loaded text message replies provide for easy two-way communication
The RLX also will be available with Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognitio
Mitsubishi Motors displayed its 2013 Outlander Sport SUV at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. Mitsubishi says the vehicle has the following design improvements for the new model year:
Redesigned front bumper section; New grille styling; New fog lamp design
New rear bumper design.
Side sills now black in color to match the lower sections of the redesigned front & rear bumpers.
18-in. alloy wheels now standard on all on all trim levels for the 2013 model
New interior fabrics; New chrome accent molding for the front doors; New All Wheel Control (AWC) push button switch.
Revised rear multi-link suspension for improved handling and ride comfort.
The 2013 Nissan Altima made its debut at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. The Altima was the second bestselling car in the United States in 2011. The new vehicle has a wider front and rear track (+1.4 inches) and deeper fenders (+0.8 inches each side). Nissan says it turned to NASA to help with cabin design and reduce fatigue during long road trips. Here are some more highlights of the 2013 model:
38 mpg highway fuel economy (2.5-liter engine)
Premium exterior styling with a powerful presence and improved aerodynamics
Advanced Drive-Assist Display and Bose Premium Audio System
Standard Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System and Streaming Audio via Bluetooth
NissanConnectS and NissanConnect Navigation integrated smartphone connectivity suite with hands-free text message integration, Pandora playback, real-time Google POI search
NBlind Spot Warning (BSW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Moving Object Detection (MOD) systems
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Easy Fill Tire Alert
The vehicle also includes Nissan's Xtronic CVT, which Nissan describes in the following video:
Drivers Drive is now on Pinterest. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets users create pinboards for their favorite topics, such as your favorite car brands. You can find us on Pinterest here.
At the annual auto show in New York City Nissan revealed its prototype, gas-powered Taxi of Tomorrow NV200. The new taxi will hit streets in October, 2013. Features include a new panoramic roof, more legroom, no hump in the floor, USB ports, floor lighting, overhead lighting, and -- best of all -- a new antimicrobial fabric for the seats. Take a look:
Rising New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin has signed an endorsement deal with Volvo. CNN Money reports that Volvo CEO John Maloney says Lin "embodies the best of the human spirit."
Here is a video clip of Jeremy Lin's press conference announcing the Volvo deal. It is a two-year deal. Lin says he will makes sure the term "Linsanity" will not be used. Take a look:
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL went nearly invisible to people (on one side of the street) for a clever marketing campaign designed to promote the vehicle's zero emissions. The car was cloaked by covering it in LEDs. A Canon 5D Mark II was mounted to the other side of the vehicle to shoot video of its surroundings and broadcast it on the LEDs. Take a look:
Bentley unveiled the EXP 9 F, an all-wheel drive luxury SUV concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle features a 6.0 liter, twin turbocharged W12 engine and 8 speed transmission. Bentley features, such as the matrix grille, round lamps and the strong power-line and haunch along each flank, were reinterpreted for the EXP 9 F. The rear lights were inspired by the forms and details of fighter jet engines. Other features include 23-inch alloy wheels, reversible silk wool floormats, TFT touchscreen technology and diamond-quilted leather seats.
The Exp 9 F is expected to go into production in late 2014. The Wall Street Journalsays it could be priced at over$180,000. Take a look:
Porsche unveiled the new generation of its mid-engine sports car Boxster at the International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland. The original Boxster concept was seen at the Geneva Motor Show in 1993. You can see a photo of the original Boxster here. Porsche also released this video about its new Boxster. Take a look:
Porsche has announced the name Macan for its upcoming compact SUV. The name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger. The SUV will start coming off the production lines in Leipzig in 2013.
Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG, says, "The Macan combines all sports car characteristics with the benefits of a SUV and is a genuine Porsche. The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in very many languages and dialects and evoke positive associations."
Porsche also released this teaser for the vehicle. Take a look:
Chrysler has launched a line of "Imported for Detroit" (IFD) merchandise. The IFD collection includes decals, posters, clothing, outerwear, hats, tote and messenger bags, as well as an array of items for kids. Prices start at $5. The products can be found on IFDstore.com.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the 'Imported from Detroit' merchandise to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Habitat for Humanity Detroit, The Marshall Mathers Foundation and Think Detroit PAL.
Fisker Automotive, an American company based in Southern California, has launched a new electric hybrid called the Fisker Karma. Drivers can toggle between the vehicle's all-electric Stealth Mode or fuel assisted Sport Mode with a simple shift of the paddle. One of the vehicle's unique features is a solar roof. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Neil test drives the new Fisker Karma in the video below. Take a look:
Aliens are very curious about the Chevy Volt in the manufacturer's 2012 Super Bowl Ad. The aliens repeatedly visit the garage of a man who owns a Chevy Volt. The aliens want to know how the electric and gas powered vehicle works. Take a look:
Chevrolet is big on the alien themes this year. The Super Bowl ad for the Chevrolet Silverado involves the 2012 Mayan Apocalypse and an alien invasion.
Toyhota unveiled the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II last December. The open top vehicle features a 3.5 liter V6 with front wheels powers by an electric motor. It gets 247 horsepower. The cockpit systems come from the MR-S, but Toyota says everything else is redesigned. Features include aluminum wheels and a new suspension system. You can see a photo gallery here. Take al ook:
Inside Linereports that the 2013 Cadillac ATS is targeting the BMW 3 Series directly with its 2012 Super Bowl ad. Most car manufacturers are using humor, such as Acura's Jerry Seinfeld ad and Honda's Ferris Bueller Super Bowl ad. Cadillac is going for the direct pitch saying the 2013 Cadillac ATS is better than the BMW 3 Series. The Cadillac ATS is seen driving on the "Green Hell" in Nurburgring, Germany, where it was developed to take on the BMW. Take a look:
Drivers Drive now has a Google+ page on Google+. Google+ is a new social network from Google. You can follow us on Google+ by clicking on the Google+ button below and adding us to one of your circles.
The UK's Channel 5's Fifth Gear program did a crash test of a Ford Focus traveling at 120 mph into a concrete wall. It was billed as the "fastest car crash test ever on Earth." Mannequins were used for the crash test instead of expensive crash test dummies. A large wench was used to propel the car towards the concrete wall. There wasn't much left of the compressed vehicle after impact except for the rear end. You can watch the full five minute episode here. Take a look:
We already mentioned the 2012 Ferarri FF, Bespoke. Another vehicle in this year's Neiman Marcus 2011 Christmas Book is the Neiman Marcus-Edition Hacker-Craft Speedboat. The 27-foot, solid mahogany speedboat is handmade in the U.S. The boat is powered by a Mercury Marine 8.2 High Output 425-horsepower engine-CE. The customized interior includes cream-colored seating with purple piping, a monogrammed humidor, refrigerator, GPS, and premium stereo sound system. The boat costs $250,000. Take a look:
You can find more of the luxury gifts in this year's Neiman Marcus 2011 Christmas Book here on shoppingblog.com.
The 2012 Ferarri FF, Bespoke is the car featured in the luxury gifts section of the Neiman Marcus 2011 Christmas Booke. The Ferrari FF jumps from 0 to 60 in less than 3.7 seconds and reaches top speeds of over 200. It features 651-horsepower and a V12 engine, a proprietary, lightweight 4WD system, as well as a 7-speed, dual-clutch transmission for seamless automatic shifting. The interior features soft-touch, semi-aniline leather with a matching custom luggage set. The vehicle costs $395,000.00. Take a look:
You can find a list of more of the luxury gifts in this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book here.
Commuters driving on Interstate 95 in Northern Virgina recorded video footage of a tornado as it passed over the highway. The cars on the highway were showered with debris as the tornado passed. The Washington Postreports that there were a total of seven tornadoes in the region. Note: There is lots of swearing. Take a look:
Phoenix was hit by yet another dust storm today. The storm led to a pileups on I-10 involving dozens of cars. At least one person was killed in the accidents. The blinding dust made it impossible for people to see the cars in front of them. Take a look:
Michelin has announced its support of the Project 56 DeltaWing prototype car in the 2012 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Designed by former Lola Cars chief designer Ben Bowlby, the DeltaWing car is currently being constructed by Dan Gurney at the All American Racers facilities in Santa Ana, Calif.
Michelin says it has developed a tire solution that pushes the performance envelope and matches the DeltaWing strategy to reduce by half the weight, power, aerodynamic drag, and fuel and tire usage of a Le Mans prototype race car - while delivering the same speed and performance. The Michelin tire sizes for the DeltaWing project are: 10/58-15 (front) and 31/62-15 (rear).
ick Shorrock, director of competition, Michelin, says, "The DeltaWing presents exciting new territory for Michelin to explore. Reducing energy consumption and materials - while maintaining, or even enhancing performance - is especially relevant in meeting the needs of consumers worldwide. Project 56 takes fresh ideas and puts them into a dramatic new package and we look forward to these challenges and opportunities."
CNET's Car Tech editor Brian Cooley viewed the sleek red Ford EVOS concept car at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show. Cooley says the face of the Ford EVOS could appear on a future Ford car.
Cloud services connected to the car could enable you to turn things on and off inside your house on your way home. This kind of technology screams security issues, but they are something that will be available in cars of the near future. Take a look:
Here is another video of the Ford EVOS that gives you a look at the foor doors that lift up separately. Take a look:
Parker Brothers Choppers created a real life version of the Light Cycle from Tron: Legacy. Riders lay at a near-horizontal position just like in the film. The vehicle is powered by a Suzuki 996cc, 4-stroke engine. The bike can theoretically attain speeds of up to 120 mph. The bike is being sold for $55,000 by Hammacher Schlemmer. You can find the product page here. Take a look:
Hurricane Irene is currently barreling toward the North Carolina coast. It is expected to continue to the North or North Northeast and will impact the populated mid-Atlantic and New England regions. Over 2.5 million people have been ordered to evacuated low-lying areas from NC to New England. Over 550,00 of the evacuations are in New York City and Long Island.
MSNBC reports that all these sudden evacuations are causing traffic jams - some of them are as long as 20 miles. MSNBC also reports that there are service stations in New Jersey and other states running out of gasoline. WFMZ in also reporting major traffic jams from people trying to exit the New Jersey shore.
Coda Holdings has announced that it has entered into an agreement to develop electric vehicles with China's Great Wall Motor Company. Great Wall has three vehicle lines: Haval SUV, Voleex Sedan, Wingle Pickup and MPV wagon.
The Coda EV propulsion system has a 36kWh battery pack that sits between the front and rear axle. This is with a 134 horsepower motor, regenerative braking system, and air-cooled active thermal management system. Coda says its Coda sedan can get 120 to 150 driving miles per charge.
The Alfa Romeo 4C is reportedly going to be the first Alfa Romeo car for the sports car's return to the U.S. in 2012. The 4C debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2011. The car has a compact shape. Autoblog says the vehicle is less than 8 feet long.
CNET notes that some Maserati dealerships carry 8C models already.
Ford has released details about the 2012 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150. The new truck will feature snakeskin leather interior accents and a bodyside graphic. Other new design features include 22-inch machined-aluminum wheels with painted accents. There is also a new premium exterior color choice - White Platinum Tri-Coat. Autoweek has a photo of the white version of the truck here.
The truck is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine. It has a maximum trailer towing capability of 7,500 pounds. Other features incldue power moonroof, rear view camera, second-row heated seats, ambient lighting, remote start system, 110-volt power inverter and power-adjustable performance pedals.
A traffic jam in northern China is ridiculously long. It stretches for 62 miles and may take days to clear. Reuters says a traffic jam last summer stranded drivers for nine days. That is absurd. Take a look:
Here is a ridiculous and potentially dangerous record. A record was set for the most cars performing donuts simultaneously. The cars had to perform donuts for a full ten seconds. 66 cars were at the start of the record attempt and 57 drivers completed the required donuts at Queensland Raceway (Australia) at the Queensland Raceway in Willowbank, Australia. The previous record was 29. Take a look:
A driver recorded this video while heading into the Phoenix Haboob. The powerful storm reduced visibility to near zero with blowing dust. The driver says "my lights are on" although it looks pitch dark. You can read more about the Haboob here. Take a look:
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This 3D navigation system is called Affected Integrated Driving Assistant, or AIDA 2.0. The interactive map sits on a vehicle's dashboard and provides data in real-time. It was created by Audi and MIT's SENSEable City Lab.
Carlo Ratti of the SENSEable city Lab at MIT, told CBS News, "Today's navigators in your car sometimes are frustrating. You know, you decide to take a different route and the navigator will keep on telling you 'recalculating, please go back' so the question was can you have somebody as a navigator that is more like a friendly companion. Somebody that is next to you in the car, knows where you want to go and will try to help you."
We like the idea of cockpit-like 3D display that is in front of your eyes. However, information overload on the display (such as Twitter updates) could be a bad thing if it distracts drivers and causes accidents. CBS News says tweets on the 3D dashboard is part of the plan. Take a look:
A truck being demolished by a tornado on I-40 in Oklahoma was captured on live television. Jeremiah Morrison, the driver, said he was going to get out of the truck and get down in a ditch, but he looked up and did not see the tornado. He got back and his truck and was trying to buckle up when the tornado hit and he felt the passenger side of his truck being lifted off the ground. It amazing he survived this incident. He does have a broken arm, but it could have been much worse. The first clip shows the truck being destroyed and the second clip is Jeremiah Morrison's interview with Good Morning America. Take a look:
NYC DOT released a new traffic safety campaign to raise awareness about the standard speed limit in NYC and the exponential dangers of speeding. The PSA says if you hit someone at 40 there is a 70% chance they will do, but if you hit someone at 30 there is an 80% chance they will live. Gothamist says NYC also plans to unveil digital traffic signs that show to image of a skeleton if drivers are going over 30. Take a look:
Porsche has announced its 2012 911 Black Edition. The vehicle is based on the 3.6-liter, 345 horsepower 911 Carrera. The 2012 911 Black Edition will be available as a Coupe or Cabriolet and only in Solid Black or the optional Basalt Black Metallic.
The Lexus LF-Gh hybrid concept made its global debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The vehicle, which features a spindle-shaped grille, looks very sleek and shiny in this video from Inside Line. Autoblog has the full press release here. Take a look:
Toyota announced Friday completion of an in-depth analysis of its supplies impacted by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami last month. The auto manufacturer says its global production will begin to ramp up this summer in North America. Toyota expects all models to be back to normal production by November or December, 2011.
Toyota says its manufacturing plants in Japan are working at 50 %t of capacity due to parts availability. Its plants in North America are operating at 30% of capacity because of the parts supply situation.
TMC President Akio Toyoda said, "To all the customers who made the decision to buy a vehicle made by us, I sincerely apologize for the enormous delay in delivery."
The 2010-2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid is pictured on the top right.
Porsche debuted its Panamera S Hybrid at the New York International Auto Show. The vehicle employs a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine that delivers 333 horsepower. It is supported by a 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor. The new Panamera model produces 380 horsepower with fuel consumption of 6.8 L/100 km on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), making it the most fuel efficient Porsche yet.
Porsche has displayed the new hybrid (in the photo above) next to a fully functional Semper Vivus replica. The Semper Vivus is a vehicle from 1900 when Professor Ferdinand Porsche built the first functional hybrid car. The vehicle is based on original drawings and exhaustive research, is a collaborative effort between Porsche Engineering and Karosseriebau Drescher, a coachbuilding company based in Hinterzarten in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.
The Shell Eco-marathon challenged high school and college student teams from around the world to design, build and test energy efficient vehicles. High school and university students from Canada and the United States competed in the two-day street course challenge in downtown Houston. For the third year in a row, the team from Universite Laval in Quebec, Canada took home the Internal Combustion First Prize with a best run of 2,564.8 miles per gallon in the Prototype class. The team's winning vehicle is pictured above. That's incredible mileage but the unique looking vehicle only averages about 15 mph.
Anthony Bernier of Universite Laval said, "With more teams participating this year, there are a lot of really smart and innovative fuel-efficient ideas to be seen on and off the track. We put a lot of time and hard work into our vehicle this year and are very proud of how we did. We are excited to be Shell Eco-marathon Americas champions for the third year in a row and to have beat our mileage achieved last year!"
British police released this footage of a high-speed car chase. The thief in a stolen Mercedes managed to evade officers in pursuit by driving through a rail crossing barrier. A train came through seconds later. Take a look:
Zyvex Technologies announced that its Piranha boat completed sea trials early this morning near Puget Sound in the Pacific Ocean. A conventional aluminum or fiberglass boat would have consumed 50 gallons or more per hour at cruise speed, while test results prove that Piranha, constructed with nano-enhanced materials, consumed only 12 gallons of fuel per hour while cruising at 25 knots. The nano-enhanced materials used to make the boat are 40% stronger than metals, such as aluminum, and result in significant weight reduction and increased fuel efficiency. The Piranha weighs only 8,400 pounds, compared to boats of similar size that typically weigh 40,000 pounds. Take a look:
You would not want to be one of the first drivers to encounter this road collapse along California's Highway 1 in Big Sur. As bad as the damage is, it is a very small matter compared to what motorists in parts of Japan have had to go through lately. Take a look:
Harley-Davidson has introduced the Blackline motorcycle. Harley-Davidson says the bikee was designed to "celebrate the place young riders want to grow into, but not out of." You can read more about the Blackline here on Harley-Davidson's website.
Mike Lowney, director, market outreach for Harley-Davidson, says, "The Blackline is a motorcycle for all those who run by their own rules. It's more than a bike - it's a mindset that is rooted in the spirit of defiance and irreverence embraced by today's young riders."
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