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2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Reviews, Luxury

Leaving Little Cuba For A Date With Destiny

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG in Miami

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

Miami’s a giant concrete brothel; a municipal madame hosting sweaty assignations that pair every income with its choice of cruise, cuisine, club, narcotic or panorama. We were there on a quest for a quest, anxious Lancelots after a late night run in a Series II E-Type over the A1A – yes, the Vanilla Ice road – had turned into a late, late evening with two Spaniards and three Ecuadorians discussing the merits of Top Gear and flying to Bogota to learn Spanish.

That’s when Destiny called. Not fate itself, but a ferociously alluring lass with a voice of such fine tenor we had to fight the urge to put the phone down and bow to it whenever she spoke. She requested our presence in Tampa, 271 miles away, and we could only credit fortune for the delivery of a 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG for the purpose. It’s the ultimate in modest-yet-graceful savagery (modest compared to the Bentley Continental GT), two tons of animatronic shark – a modern, mechanical Jaws – that would get us safely through the gators, hawks and sawgrass of the Everglades.

It turns out the predators were the least of it. First, we had to get out of the humid human swamp that is Miami. Continue reading…

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2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dirtbike base jumping in Chile is airborne insanity

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle, South America, Off-Road

Motocross base jump in Chile

Motocross base jump in Chile – Click above to watch the video after the break

For those unaware, the ‘base’ in base jumping is actually an acronym that stands for buildings, antennae, spans (otherwise known as bridges) and earth. In other words, if you jump off pretty much anything that stands tall above the ground below, you’re base jumping.

But what if you base jump from a motorcycle, or, more specifically, a motocross bike? Base jumper Julio Munoz decided to stage just such a stunt, and the results are predictably stunning and insane. And costly.

While Munoz floated safely to earth after a few thousand feet of freefall, the dirtbike didn’t fare so well. After being airlifted via helicopter to the top of the Chilean mountain, then jumped off a low-slung ramp into thin air, Munoz dismounted the machine and let it fall back down to the earth. Wanna watch? Check out the video after the break.

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Dirtbike base jumping in Chile is airborne insanity originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Woman survives 7 weeks in wilderness in her Chevy Astro

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Etc., Chevrolet, GM

woman survives seven weeks in astro van

Rita Chretien survives for seven weeks in her Astro Van – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Chretiens left British Columbia with their Chevrolet Astro Van pointing towards Las Vegas. Rita and her husband Albert were embarking on a 1,200-mile road trip. Unfortunately for the Chretiens, and for reasons we don’t know, that Asto Van ended up stuck in the mud out in the Nevada wilderness.

After sitting helpless for a few days, Rita’s husband couldn’t wait around any more and left on foot to try and find some help. Rita stayed behind, and survived for seven weeks in the Chevy before a group of hunters came across the stuck vehicle. Rita Chretien had survived by rationing her trail mix and drinking melted snow. Sadly, Albert has not yet been found but the search for Mr. Chretien continues. Click past the jump to watch an ABC News spot on this story.

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Woman survives 7 weeks in wilderness in her Chevy Astro originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What you missed on 5.9.11

New Autoblog Beta: Try it out now! *UPDATE

The next version of Autoblog is currently under development, but we’re ready to give everyone a sneak peek at what we’re working on.

BMW 3 Series GT shakes its rump

A smaller take on the hatch/wagon style of the 5 Series GT. Will it be coming to America? Would you want it if it did?

Jaguar: A Look Into The Leaping Cat’s Future – Part 2

We check out Jaguar’s latest diesel-powered XF.

Also of interest:

BMW M6 convertible spotted on the prowl
2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class will offer E63 AMG wagon, AWD-only E550
GM workers suing company, union over pay
Facebook users choose “Mayhem” as name for new Mustang V6 performance package
BMW teases 2012 1 Series [w/video]

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

What you missed on 5.9.11 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pioneer debuts first augmented reality navigation system

Filed under: Aftermarket, Japan, Technology

Pioneer AVIC-VH09CS

Pioneer’s AVIC-VH09CS has all the techie trappings you’d expect from an in-dash navigation system: A seven-inch LCD, DVD and CD player, USB and SD card slots, and Bluetooth connectivity. But what sets it apart is the addition of the Augmented Reality (AR) Scouter Mode.

The double-din head-unit wirelessly connects to a camera installed on the windshield, streaming video and layering the sat-nav information over the image. The system integrates with the road, highlighting lanes, identifying stores and creating 3D representations of destinations so you know exactly where you’re going. It even allows you to “augment” the vehicle in front of you, so if that minivan is too staid for your tastes, the system will superimpose something sexier (think Ferrari) on top.

The AVIC-VH09CS is due to go on sale later this month. The bad news: It’s only available in Japan and comes in at $3,700.

[Source: Pioneer via CrunchGear]

Pioneer debuts first augmented reality navigation system originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LaHood details new tour bus safety measures

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Safety, Work

Tour bus boarding in NY

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced new tour bus safety measures that could make it a lot more difficult for companies to operate their fleets in an unsafe manner. Among the sweeping changes are a requirement for tour bus companies to pass a safety audit before receiving permission to operate. The audit will include a safety exam of both the drivers and vehicles, in addition to an interview with the owners of the company. Current laws permit companies to operate for up to 18 months without a safety evaluation.

The federal agency also finalized a proposal to tighten requirements for offering a commercial driver’s license. The new license can be obtained only after obtaining a learner’s permit, and all states issuing the test will need to use a federal testing system.

While the new operating and testing procedures will help ensure the safety of the estimated 700 million passengers who utilize tour buses every year, several bus safety standards have still not been announced. The Transportation Department is hoping to add requirements that new buses have seat belts and stronger roofs and windows to prevent passengers from being ejected in a roll-over accident.

The renewed interest in tour bus safety came after a string of accidents, including a March 12 crash in New York that lead to the death of 15 passengers. The bus, which was traveling at the maximum speed of 78 miles per hour, fell off an elevated highway and hit a utility pole.

LaHood details new tour bus safety measures originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #229

Filed under: Podcasts

Autoblog Podcast

Click above to subscribe to The Autoblog Podcast in iTunes

We record Episode #229 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, so check out our discussion topics below. Publisher John Neff is coming on to talk about big changes to our site, and we’ve also picked out some news-related topics. You can use the forum below to drop us your own feedback and questions, or vote on your fellow readers’ submissions to help determine what else we discuss this evening. You can subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already to hear your question answered by our esteemed panel of ‘casters.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #229

Big changes for Autoblog.com
Acura RSX Successor coming?
Jaguar C-X75 headed for production
Astra GTC coming as a Buick
Prius going all plug in for 2014

Subscribe to the Autoblog Podacast and hear your questions asked:
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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #229 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hertz offers $2.24B for Dollar-Thrifty

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Dollar-Thrifty

Hertz and Avis have been fighting to get their hands on Dollar-Thrifty for over a year now, with the latest volley coming from the Hertz camp. According to Bloomberg, the world’s largest airport rental car company has offered $72 per share for Dollar-Thrifty, or 24 percent more than a recent offer from Avis. The offer consists of of $57.60 in cash and .8546 Hertz shares per share of Dollar-Thrifty.

In September, Dollar-Thrifty rejected an offer from Hertz that added up to about $1.44 billion in cash and stocks. Avis had countered the last bid with an offer of $45.79 per share and .6543 of its shares. The two companies had decided to delay a deal while seeking regulatory approval, but we’re guessing Dollar-Thrifty is no longer interested in that deal. And since the bidding war seems to be escalating, some analysts feel that the Hertz bid is likely not the last to come from the competing rental car companies.

While both Avis and Hertz have so far come up empty in their bid to snap up their rival, the biggest winners so far have been Dollar-Thrifty shareholders. The stock has reportedly gone up 79 percent since Hertz first bid for the rental car giant back in April, which has worked to drive up the buy price for the company. A share of Dollar-Thrifty stock was worth only 63 cents early in 2009.

Hertz offers $2.24B for Dollar-Thrifty originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi recalls A6, S6, RS6 over possible fuel tank issue

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Wagon, Recalls, Safety, Audi, Luxury

2004 audi a6 avant

2004 Audi A6 Avant – Click above for high-res image gallery

Got a hankering to own an Audi from the beginning of the Aughts? If you’re hunting for an example that wears a model badge with the number “6,” you might want to have a mechanic take a look its nipples. More specifically, make sure the rollover valve in the fuel system has been given proper attention, otherwise the nipple can become cracked and lead to fuel winding up on the ground instead of feeding the engine.

Audi and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have just announced a recall for specific years of the Audi A6, S6 and RS6. This recall affects 2001-2004 A6 models, 2002-2003 S6 models and the 2003 RS6. Up to 5,992 vehicles are potentially affected by this action. Click past the jump for the official recall announcement with more details.

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Audi recalls A6, S6, RS6 over possible fuel tank issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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