Category: Auto Industry

Max Mosley’s privacy case rejected by European Court of Human Rights

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, UK

Max Mosley

It appears as if Max Mosley has gotten whipped once again. But this time, it wasn’t in an alleged S&M dungeon with a gaggle of hookers dressed up as Nazi officers, it was in no less distinguished a forum than the European Court of Human Rights.

The former FIA president, as you may recall, was outed by the British tabloid News of the World back in 2008 for his sordid sex life. Rather than recoil as most might – particularly in light of longstanding accusations of Mosley and his family’s fascist sympathies and historical ties to high-ranking Nazi officials – Mosley went on the offensive. He made his case into a privacy issue and sued the newspaper, sued its publisher, and he sued a German newspaper that ran the story as well.

Once the dust settled from those lawsuits – including the nearly $100,000 (plus legal expenses) in punitive damages awarded him in court – Mosley took his case to the European Court of Human Rights. In a landmark decision being hailed by some as a victory for free speech, Mosley’s case was dismissed by the courts yesterday.

The decision ostensibly upholds the rights of the British fourth estate (that is, the media) to publish the news as it sees fit without the requirement which Mosley was seeking to notify the subject of reports before they’re published. Mosley may, however, appeal the decision, though to what higher judicial body remains unclear.

Max Mosley’s privacy case rejected by European Court of Human Rights originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Q4 profits fall 77% due to quake

Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

toyota emblem logo

Toyota has announced profits of $314 million for the first three months of 2011, down 77 percent versus the automaker’s fiscal fourth quarter a year earlier. Toyota still managed a profit in spite of the March 11 earthquake that shuttered most Japanese plants, yet the $314 million is only a fourth of what analysts were expecting Toyota to make. Toyota’s sales were predictably low for the quarter, and revenue was hurt as a result.

Toyota’s profits for its fiscal fourth quarter may be disappointing, but the automaker is likely to release still worse numbers for the period through June. The automaker is still struggling through supply issues, with many plants running at only 50-percent capacity if they’re running at all. Further, the automaker says that dealers in the U.S. and China are likely to see less product in the coming months, which could lead to much lower revenue.

On a brighter note, Toyota now says that production should ramp up to 70 percent of capacity by June, up from previous estimates of July or August. That should help get Toyota back on its feet faster, which is good for everyone.

For the year, Toyota earned $5.9 billion, or nearly three times the profit of fiscal year 2009. Revenue was also up by .2 percent to $237 billion on sales of 7.3 million vehicles, up by 71,000 units compared to 2009. Sales in the U.S. were down by 67,000 units.

Hit the jump to read over the Toyota press release, which includes volume and revenue breakdowns by region.

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Toyota Q4 profits fall 77% due to quake originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorist impaled by fence post survives [w/animation]

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Dodge

man impaled by fence pole and lives

Man survives after being impaled by two-inch pipe – Click above to watch the video after the jump

We’re not sure if Andrew Linn is the luckiest man alive or the least lucky, but either way we have no idea how he could survive a two-inch pipe passing through his face and out the back of his head. Linn somehow left the road and hit a chain-link fence (he has no recollection of the event), and when the fence broke apart, the two-inch pipe at the top of the fence snapped off, traveled through the windshield, under Linn’s nose and through his neck. Doctors say that if the pipe entered at any other point or at a slightly different angle, Linn would have been killed instantly.

Hit the jump to watch the ABC News report, which includes an animation that shows how the Dodge Charger may have struck the fence and lead to the pipe passing through Linn. We know it’s just pixels, but we can’t help but shriek every time we see the pipe pass strategically though his neck. Ouch.

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Motorist impaled by fence post survives [w/animation] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Muller says Saab could sell $10,000 Chinese autos in States

Filed under: China, Safety, Saab

spyker ceo victor muller

Saab has been in the news quite a bit lately, and mostly for the wrong reasons. But now that the Swedish automaker appears to have secured loans and buy-in from Hawtai Motors in China, Victor Muller and company are looking to go on the offensive.

Automotive News reports that the Spyker CEO is still talking China, but now he’s entertaining the possibility of partnering with a Chinese company to distribute low-cost autos in the U.S. Muller reportedly says that Saab could utilize its dealer networks in the U.S. and Europe to sell $10,000 Chinese vehicles in two or three years. And just because Saab struck a deal with Hawtai doesn’t mean that the Swedish automaker is restricting its plans to its newest strategic partner. Muller pointed out during an interview in Washington, D.C. that there are 120 companies in China, and that Saab is interested in “the one with a strategy.”

There are many hurdles for Chinese automakers to overcome to finally breach the U.S. market, not the least of which is passing federal safety standards. Muller acknowledges that a five-star-rated Chinese vehicle likely won’t happen any time soon, but he says that made-in-China SUVs can be had with tons of features for about $10,000, adding “Do you really worry about a five-star rating? They Look good.”

Hmmm. We’re guessing there will be plenty of buyers who don’t want to drive a vehicle with compromised safety capabilities, but a low price tag could cure those fears. Of course, we also can’t help but wonder how many luxury car shoppers will want to pay premium prices for Saab automobiles if they share showroom space with discount Chinese offerings – the Swedish automaker’s residual values have been problematic enough as-is.

Muller says Saab could sell $10,000 Chinese autos in States originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last domestic car dealership in San Francisco shuts its doors

Filed under: Etc., Ford, Earnings/Financials

San Francisco Chrysler closed sign

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the very last domestic dealership in the greater San Francisco area closed its doors a little over 10 days ago. Previously, San Francisco Ford, Lincoln, Mercury was the only dealership selling new products with an American badge on the grille in all of the 47.6 square miles of the city (the Chrysler-Jeep dealer shown above went bust in 2008). Ford took over operations at that dealer almost three years ago after the original owners walked away. After talks with various other local franchise owners fell through, Ford has finally cut off the lights for good.

But domestic dealers have faced a tough climate in San Francisco for years thanks to a much larger share of import sales compared to the rest of the country. According to one source quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle, import vehicles outsell their domestic counterparts 4:1 in the Bay area.

Those rare San Francisco domestic owners will now have to travel outside of the city for their factory maintenance and repair, which likely won’t do anything to help American manufacturers better their outlook in the near future.

Last domestic car dealership in San Francisco shuts its doors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatches a bit early

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style

2012 mercedes-benz a-class

2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class revealed – Click above for high-res image gallery

You’re looking at what appear to be the patent images for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The images found their way into Belgian automotive site AutoScoop.be, and you can peruse them in the gallery below.

We expected the car to ditch most of the concept-crazy before it winds up in dealer showrooms. The version seen here does stick to the overall form of the concept, minus the hypnotic grille and several of the deep creases found all over the conceptual car’s body.

What we’re left with is a car that’s clearly a Mercedes-Benz, but not particularly far from the hatchback standard. Bits of CLS can be found in the curving roof-line and that familiar MB mug is staring you down front and center. We’re excited to see this hatch (expect CUV and sedan variants as well) in the flesh at an auto show later this year.

2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatches a bit early originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2,000-hp “Lamborghini” Indomable Concept to find its way into production

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Lamborghini

mostro di-potenza sf22

Mostro Di-Potenza SF22 promises serious power and performance – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Lamborghini Indomable was born from the minds of Daniel Chinchilla Ochoa and Alberto Fernandez Albilares. A concept, it was created as part of a design program sponsored by Lamborghini. Now, however, this conceptual vision is going to become a reality – only it won’t be built in Sant’Agata Bolognese.

A company called 215 Racing has acquired the rights to the Indomable design, and it plans to turn out a production version of the design team’s rendering. Based in Abington, PA, 215 Racing will produce the car, which will be called the SF22, through its sub-company Mostro Di-Potenza. That name means “Monster Power” in Italian, and the moniker doesn’t lie.

According to the company, power for the SF22 will be provided a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 9.4-liter(!) V8 engine. The mill is a General Motors 572, which will be paired with a six-speed sequential gearbox. 215 Racing expects this beast to produce 2,000-horsepower and 2,000 pound-feet of torque. Just a quick recap for you, this isn’t a train we’re talking about but a road-going two-door that is propelled via its rear wheels.

Of course, any company can claim such dramatic power numbers. So, we can only wait to see just how capable the finished Mostro Di-Potenza SF22 turns out – if indeed salable examples are produced at all. The company plans to build 50 examples total, at a rate of two per month over the course of two years, and says it’s now taking orders for mid-2012 deliveries. The initial deposit will only cost you $1,000, but the fully built vehicle will run you close to $950,000. Click past the jump for the full press release and a video that shows off the Indomable concept from all angles.

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2,000-hp “Lamborghini” Indomable Concept to find its way into production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emergency testing a Boeing’s brakes equals awesome

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

Boeing 747-8 Ultimate Rejected Takeoff testing

Boeing 747-8 Ultimate Rejected Takeoff test – Click above to watch the video after the break

Modern-day supercars typically come with brake discs and pads made from exotic carbon and steel compounds, and are more than a foot in diameter. As you would expect, they are capable of hauling the exotic machinery they are attached to from speeds of over 200 miles per hour back down to zero with physics-defying alacrity.

But even the most high-tech automotive brakes have got nuthin’ on the binders holding back the latest Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of the brakes of its massive aircraft, Boeing ground away every last bit of of the carbon surfaces that normally handle braking duties. In other words, these brakes were ready for replacement and would never even have sniffed a runway in real life. In order to pass the test, the 747-8 needs to stop from 200 miles per hour to simulate an aborted takeoff, and it must do so using only its brakes – no reverse thrusters allowed.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that the fully-loaded airplane weighs in at more than 975,000 pounds. That bears repeating: A million pounds!

So, does the million-pound airliner pass this ultimate rejected takeoff test? Check out the video after the break to see for yourself.

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Emergency testing a Boeing’s brakes equals awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Fiat 500 Abarth [w/video]

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Quick Spin, Fiat

Not Exactly Like America’s Abarth – Ours Will Be Better

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth – Click above for high-res image gallery

Covering the automotive business is rife with surprises. Case in point: On a recent trip to the stunning Algarve region of Portugal to test Continental Tire’s new ContiEcoContact 5 (verdict: they’re very good), we had the chance to sample a bit of forbidden fruit.

In the process of learning about the German company’s doughnut-making capabilities (which included a journeyman’s seminar on velocity-excited short- and long-chain polymers, the CEC5’s three-percent fuel economy bump and improved wet-braking capabilities), one test car fitted with Continental’s new rubber was a EU-spec 2011 Fiat 500 Abarth.

Knowing that the factory-fettled 500 is headed our way in two year’s time, we snagged the keys to see if Italy’s hottest hatch was ready to bring the pain to the John Cooper Works-infused offerings from Mini. Continue reading…

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2012 Fiat 500 Abarth [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche to relocate U.S. headquarters to ex-Ford facility, plans to build track

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Rumormill

porsche logo

The North American headquarters for Porsche has been in an Atlanta suburb for years, but a report by the Atlanta Journal Constitution suggests that’s about to change. Unnamed sources claim that the German automaker is planning to announce that it will build a new headquarters on the site of the former Ford Taurus plant, just outside the Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport.

The old plant has since been leveled and the ground has been scrubbed of environmental hazards left from years of industrial use, so Porsche will need to start from scratch. That’s probably a good thing, since the German company reportedly plans to build a new offices where the plant was demolished and a new test track very similar to the automaker’s facility in Silverstone, England. Porsche’s lease at its current location ends in 2013, and it is likely to take several years to complete a new facility.

If true, the move would bring hundreds of new marketing and sales jobs to the region, though most positions are likely already filled at Porsche’s current suburban location. Porsche is expected to make the announcement on Thursday.

Porsche to relocate U.S. headquarters to ex-Ford facility, plans to build track originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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