Automotive Car Blog

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Supercars, Rumormill

McLaren has put up a job posting for a Senior Engineer for Powertrain Hybrid Technology on its official website, which may offer a few clues as to where the automaker may be heading in the near future for its road cars. As far as rumors go, this one seems pretty solid. According to an unnamed spokesperson quoted by Autocar:

It (hybrid technology) is something we want as a forward-thinking, technology-driven company. We have been considering it for future projects. All the advert means is that we are looking for a senior engineer in powertrain hybrid technology. Read into it what you will.

One possibility is that McLaren will attempt to adapt the KERS system from its Formula 1 race cars for street use. It’s widely agreed upon that McLaren’s KERS implementation is the best in F1 and both BMW and Ferrari are also thought to be working on KERS for future road cars.

Within the next few years, McLaren is expected to introduce a couple of new supercars, including a replacement for the current SLR, codenamed P11, and a successor to the famed F1 supercar from the mid ’90s that’s currently known as the P12.

[Source: McLaren via Autocar]

Rumormill: McLaren planning hybrid supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Audi, Lifestyle, UK

The Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place this weekend, and every year the Earl of March, who manages the 12,000-acre Goodwood estate that hosts the event, commissions a giant art piece honoring that year’s featured marque. Audi is the featured marque this year, which is timely since the Ingolstadt-based automaker is also celebrating its centennial.

This year’s sculpture that was commissioned for Audi is a big swoosh of tire tracks with a 1937 Auto Union streamliner and new Audi R8 V10 suspended at either end. Standing 135-feet tall and weighing 40 tonnes, as they say in Britain, the piece is made entirely of steel to support itself without braces or cables. Gerry Judah is the designer, as he has been for Goodwood’s featured art installations since 1997 when he first designed one for Ferrari. This is also the second time he’s produced a piece for Audi, the first one being back in 1999.

It goes without saying that we all want to stick this in the flower bed in our front yard, but unfortunately you’ll only be able to see it if you’re in West Sussex this weekend to enjoy the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Check out more pics of this year’s Audi sculpture, as well as art pieces from prior years, in the gallery below.

[Source: Audi, Photos courtesy of Gerry Judah]

Continue reading Goodwood Festival of Speed featuring 135-foot monument to Audi

Goodwood Festival of Speed featuring 135-foot monument to Audi originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupes, Videos, Dodge, Ford

We love Ford Mustangs of all shapes and sizes, and the age-old adage of “the more power the better” definitely applies. Scott Vanderschoor, a regular on Bang Shift forums, is working on one hell of a pony car; one that carries the panache of a ‘Stang and the power of a Dodge Viper - with a pair of turbochargers providing a little additional motivation. Unsurprisingly, Vanderschoor reportedly needed to move back the firewall a half foot to make room for the massive 8.4L V10 engine, but we’re guessing the labor will pay off with some absolutely incredible power numbers.

Hit the jump to see Vanderschoor’s big beast as it turns over on camera for the first time. The sound is a bit different than you’d expect from a typical Mustang V8 growl and we’re guessing that it has a little more oomph under the hood than most pony cars on the road - even before Vanderschoor tuning gets sorted out. This is one Mustang project we’re looking forward to seeing more of! Check out the gallery below in addition to the video after the jump.Thanks for the tip, Brian L!

[Source: Bang Shift]

Continue reading VIDEO: Twin-turbo Viper V10-engined Ford Mustang looks to be one sick pony

VIDEO: Twin-turbo Viper V10-engined Ford Mustang looks to be one sick pony originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Euro, Dodge, Earnings/Financials, Alfa Romeo

With the ink still wet on the Fiat/Chrysler deal, many auto sites (including Autoblog) have had a bit of fun prognosticating which Fiat/Alfa models would be rebadged as Chrysler products. U.K. site Autocar is reporting that Fiat is exploring bringing in Dodge models to Europe to be rebadged at Alfa Romeos. CEO Sergio Marchionne is said to be considering the move, saying that the two brands share the same core identity.

Autocar quotes Marchionne as saying that Dodge is the muscle car of the U.S. while Alfa is the muscle car of Europe, the latter being an interesting bit of positioning that we Statesiders don’t normally associate with the brand. If the right Dodge-branded products were to make their way to Europe, the theory is that the Auburn Hills marque could actually bolster the products already offered by Alfa. The problem is, though, that there are few (if any) Dodge models that could reasonably be expected to perform well in Europe. The only models that are likely to be of interest are the Charger, Viper and Challenger, and the there is a chance that the Viper could soon find itself outside of the Chrysler portfolio altogether. The Charger and Challenger are likely too big for Europe as well, and would probably only sell in small numbers.

Marchionne also tells Autocar that the Chrysler group is still losing money, but the rate has slowed due to production and labor cuts.

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Dodges to be rebranded as Alfa Romeos in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Maintenance, Government/Legal, Safety

What would you think to be the leading contributor to fatalities in car crashes here in the States? Failure to use seat belts? Speeding? Drunk driving? Think again. According to a new study commissioned by Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), the leading cause of highway fatalities is deficient road conditions. In fact, the study asserts, with a roadway-related crash occurring every minute on American streets, inadequate roadway infrastructure is responsible for the majority of highway fatalities in the United States and over a third of injuries incurred in non-fatal crashes as well.

Given the state of many roadways, you might think that the situation - like America’s road network - is beyond repair. However, the study, entitled “On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways,” assesses the financial cost alone of crashes caused by these substandard roadways - as a whopping $217 billion annually, including medical bills, loss of productivity and property damage. That’s more than three-and-a-half times the $59 billion which local, state and federal governments in the United States invest in improving America’s roadways. PIRE’s solution? Improving road conditions, of course, including better signage and markings, widening shoulders and removing obstacles from roadsides. Follow the jump to read more on PIRE’s findings and suggested solutions for what it deems is one of the largest killers in America.

[Source: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation | Image: STR/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions

STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, BMW

A year ago, we showed you pics of the next-generation BMW 5-Series doing some high-speed testing on the Nürburgring, but that was pretty much the last we heard about this midsize bahnstormer. Well, intrepid spy photographer Rich Truesdell spotted a similar mule out in the desert last week, and he has filled us in on some additional details. The car he spotted appears to be a 2011 BMW 540i sedan. Rich relates that the car was big enough to have him thinking 7-Series at first, but BMW helped out by having a clearly larger current 7 on hand for comparison purposes. How thoughtful of them.

While not a lot of final detail shows through, Truesdell points out that the heavy rear quarter cladding could be a tip that something is brewing in the recently revamped styling department in Munich. In particular, around the C-pillar, there was a lot of camo, indicating that perhaps there’s something worth hiding. Beyond that, the sedan looks like a shortened 7-Series from most angles, and the dual exhausts suggest that this is likely the V8-powered 540i. Follow the source link to read what Rich thought of the vehicle and to see all of the photos in high-res.

All images (C) 2009 Rich Truesdell/Automotivetraveler.com

[Source: Automotive Traveler]

Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 5-Series mule caught in the desert originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: GM, Earnings/Financials

As of 10 am this morning, General Motors stock was trading at about 80 cents. If you think that is a bit of a bargain, you may be a bit of crazy. With The General apparently almost finished with bankruptcy, there is near certainty that the company’s common stock will mean exactly nothing in a manner of days or weeks.

GM is warning investors that the stock grab is a bad idea, releasing a statement reiterating its “strong belief that there will be no value for the common stockholders in the bankruptcy liquidation process, even under the most optimistic of scenarios.”

With GM common stock scheduled for oblivion in the near future, it seems likely that any money spent on stock in the struggling company would be more useful as kindling for a bonfire. Since the new GM will be owned by the federal government, unions and shareholders, the stock-buying public likely won’t have an opportunity to buy in for months - or more likely, years.

[Source: Detroit News | Image: Scripophily Trader]

REPORT: Despite having no real value, investors continue to trade GM stock originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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	Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent A week with Honda’s new Insight proves there’s more to making a dedicated hybrid than aerodynamic sheetmetal and a miserly mill.		Hurst announces Competition/Plus Dodge Challenger Hurst’s Competition/Plus Dodge Challenger gets back to basics with a new hue, Eibach springs, 20-inch wheels and a full exhaust.
	VIDEO: Twin-turbo Viper V10-engined Ford Mustang looks to be one sick pony How do you breath life into a decade-old Mustang? Throw in the Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 and attach a couple of turbos for good measure.	Other news of import Cadillac DTS to be replaced by XTS, which will be built in Canada alongside new Buick Regal BMW 335i Gran Turismo dialed in for 2011 Next Ford Focus to be built exclusively in Europe? Steeda announces 2010 Sport Edition Mustang

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.2.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchbacks, Ford

Ford knows better than most that the way into an American car buyer’s heart is through motor racing, so the latest step in Ford’s North American “Fiesta Movement” is the deployment of the compact hatchback which we’ve driven and enjoyed on several occasions on America’s most popular rally circuits.

Following its entry in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Ford will be fielding a team of rally-prepped Fiestas in the upcoming X Games, the 15th running of the famous stunt competition and the first time Ford will participate. Piloting a trio of Fiestas prepared by the same Swedish MSE outfit that created Marcus Gronholm’s rallycross car will be a star-studded line-up comprised of drift champion Tanner Foust, ten-time X Games medalist Brian Deegan and former Indy champion Kenny Brack. With that much talent behind the wheel, we’ll look forward to the Fiesta Movement getting into motion at the games running in Los Angeles from July 30 to August 2. Details are available in the press release below the fold and a pair of sketches of the X Games Fiestas can be found in the gallery below.

Continue reading Ford attacking X Games with star-studded trio of Fiesta rally cars

Ford attacking X Games with star-studded trio of Fiesta rally cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Hatchbacks, Honda

First impressions can be problematic, even more so when reviewing a vehicle. When the media gets its first shot at a new offering, the automaker typically invites journalists to a location of its choosing to drive under conditions that show the car in its best light. Such was the case with the 2010 Honda Insight. After our First Drive, we came away with the impression that Honda’s hot new hybrid was an engaging alternative to the Toyota Prius, but we quickly came to realize the Insight’s limitations and flaws after a week behind the wheel on our home turf.

Get our real-world impressions after the jump.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent

Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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